DIY Blast Templates

These were designed for Paizocon but I intend to do something similar for the Savage Worlds Templates.

First I did up some templates in photoshop. I added grid lines to these so that I could put down the template for ongong spell effects. I have learned that it would have been better to print these onto cardstock first instead of just paper.

Next I used a glue stick to attach the paper to some craft foam. If I had used cardstock, this would have been optional. The problem with plain paper on a squishy backing shows up when I tried to cut them out.

It is good I am learning this now. I intend to make figure flats the same way so they fit on Pathfinder figure stands. Look for new Sci-Fi figure flats in the future!

Repeat After Me... Play It RAW Before You Tinker.

I wasn't overly thrilled with the starship rules in the Sci-Fi Companion as many of you might know. So I set out to build a better starship system. I poured over the Sci-Fi Companion and Daring Tales of the Space Lanes over and over again in an attempt to figure out the math and the means. Keep in mind that I hadn't played either RAW. That was a cardinal sin. When I stepped back from the math, broke out the dice and ran them, a lot of information unfolded. Here's what I learned.

A) When calculating Toughness versus die type, there is no flat ratio. This is because of the potential for acing. The two easily identifiable benchmarks are 2/3s for d6 and 1/2 for d12. Example: a 3d6 weapon is at its sweet spot against a 12 Toughness (3x6 = 18 cut in 2/3s is 12). Whereas a a 3d12 weapon is at its sweet spot against an 18 Toughness (3x12 = 36/2 = 18).

B) Both the SFC and DTotSL work just fine as is. No tinkering needed. But there are some differences that made me choose one over the other. And here they are...

Crafting Ships

Both DTotSL and the SFC have example starships. The need to craft your own is actually quite low. Crafting starships is a mini game of sorts.
I used to play a lot of Mekton and by the time that Mekton Zeta Plus came out, I was arms deep into tweaking and crafting Mecha. My game suffered for it because I was focusing too much on the gear and not on the plot.

DTotSL gives you all the basic ships you need. If you want to make it slightly different, add one of the Modifications listed in the back of Starships of the Galaxy. Less headache. less prep. Point to DTotSL.

Shields

In the SFC, shields act like extra Hit Points. It is at odds with how the rest of the game plays. I get it though. "Shields at 20%, Captain!" It's just not my cup of tea.

In DTotSL, shields use the Powers rules and you have limited uses of them. Also, someone has to run the shields and decide which power to use. It's more interactive for a crew member and it uses rules they should be familiar with. Point to DTotSL.

Summary

I'm going to use Daring Tales of the Space Lanes. I highly recommend it. In fact, if you buy Compendium 1 it comes with it's own world creation rules, the free setting rules are in the book, Random hazards, and four adventures. And it's all written by Paul "Wiggy" Wade-Williams (of Triple Ace Games) & Umberto Pignatelli. Paul wrote the original Sci-Fi Toolkits on which the Sci-Fi Companion is based.

That's not to say that the Sci Fi Comapion isn't good. There is a lot of stuff in there, such as races and alien critters, as well as more refined and balanced race creation. I'm glad I bought it, but I won't be using it for my sci-fi games. It's best that I stick to one setting and the core rulebook at my table so as to avoid confusion.

So from now on, all of my sci-fi work, aliens, worlds, etc., will be in support of Daring Tales of the Space Lanes. I recommend checking out the Free Setting Rules. If that is enough to get you interested, then I suggest buying the DTotSL Compendium 1, DTotSL Extras Pack (which contains Starships of the Galaxy), and Fighter Swarms (Free)!

Just for Giggles

A Starchild of the 80's

My teen years were filled with 80's shlock sci-fi and New Wave/ Mod music. To this day I still prefer the original Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers with Gil Gerard (both technically Disco Sci-Fi) . I can't imagine Cyberpunk without that Chrome and Neon sheen (except for Ghost in the Shell).

Well now I've found music to help me get back into that 80's Sci-Fi groove. They call themselves New Retro Wave, and if you need some music for your Cyberpunk, or Undercover Florida Narcotics Division game then this is it.

Rifts Actual Play!

...Just in case it hasn't been spammed all over the net.

I have an uneasy relationship with Rifts and Palladium in general. I was a huge Robotech fan and when the Paladium Robotech game first came out I was all over it. But it didn't take long before I realized the system just wasn't suited to my play style (that's about as nice as I can get on the subject).

My friends had a few of the other Paladium games and for a while, we mixed up the settings. Ninja Turtles versus Mechanoids, etc. We were playing Rifts before Rifts was a thing and I'm sure Mr. Siembieda was doing the same thing. Rifts was inevitable.

I remember reading the Rifts books and loving the settings. However, the game system was always something that kept me form getting into it.

And now Savage Worlds....

I'm running out of money.

PS> Since I am a local Washingtonian, I will be at Paizocon this memorial day weekend.

I Hate Dealing With Money

I'm slowly getting back the use of my arm, but dreading those emergency room bills I'm about to get hit with during the holidays.

But enough about real life.

I hate dealing with money. In my opinion, the pursuit of treasure is what makes the Murder Hobo meme. I admit I've killed kobolds for their shoes at 1st level. I've stripped enemy bodies clean all to maximize my profits. After all, treasure made you more powerful. The more gold you had, the more healing potions and armor you can acquire.

That was all well and good in a game like AD&D where death and theft was all of the plot you needed, but collecting enemy footwear would look a little awkward in a game like Shadowrun. And what happens when you have all the equipment you need? What do you do with all of that extra money you acquire? For my characters that had no interest in cyberware or fortress management, the result was wealth without purpose. I didn't need to adventure. The only reason I kept that character going was because I wanted to play, but any economic challenges my gm through my way (like everyone has to pay 20 credits if they want into the club where the adventure is happening) was a non-issue. I was so rich that it didn't contribute to the story. In time we just stopped worrying about tracking money.

For those of you who don't know, the Optional Wealth rules for Nemezis has been made into a free pdf download from DrivethruRPG. It handles wealth in a very abstract way and for games where the heroes are can come from very disparate incomes. It creates a Wealth trait rated as a die type and you roll for whether you can purchase an item. My only issue with the system came up in play when a player failed his roll to buy a gun earlier in the game but succeeded with a raise in his attempt to buy a car later. But it didn't occur to me until much later that I could have explained this away with "the gun required cash, but you were able to get a loan for the car." It can get a little twisted when purchasing multiple items of the same cost. Still, if you have players who are willing to go along with the idea that this is a game, it's a cool resource.

If I were to work it into my Cargo Run rules from "Adventure...or Deliver Cargo", I would award a +1 to wealth Purchase rolls when the crew gets their payday. And a -2 if the screw up the delivery (as well as owing a favor to the client).

On Damage, My Damage

Today's post is full of pain.

I was driving home last night on my bike when, yet again, another idiot facing my direction turns left in front of me causing me to crash. Unlike last time, I was doing 50 mph (the speed limit on that road is 55). The person involved fled the scene.

So I dislocated my shoulder, fractured my Humerus, and spent the night in an ER.

So no game posts this week. However I am spending some downtime reading Sly Flourish's The Lazy DM and hope to post my thoughts on it soon.

Peace Ouch!