Author Topic: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG  (Read 5094 times)

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GawainBS

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Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« on: July 11, 2008, 07:17:08 PM »
I'm looking for an RPG system that takes place in the current time, or the near future. In fact, the timesetting isn't so important, as is the kind of character I envision: a well-equipped commando/sniper. I wonder if there are any systems out there that give me a lot of equipment/weapon options, with several upgrades.
D20 Modern is a bit shallow in this regard.
Armageddon 2089 might be good, but I only have the standard book, which isn't exactly suited for this kind of character.
The closest to what I wanted is Star Wars SE, with the gun upgrades, different armours and lowlight vision equipment and such.

Do you know of a system that has such detail/rules? Thanks in advance!

Josh

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #1 on: July 13, 2008, 09:46:56 PM »
Are you looking for a tactical game or something else?  And are you looking to be a player or a GM?
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GawainBS

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #2 on: July 14, 2008, 08:12:56 AM »
RPG or Tactical game doesn't matter, as long as I can have a lot of options.
Since the chances of ever actually getting to play something else than D&D are slim, I'm mostly looking for a ruleset. Long answer short: I'm looking at it from the player's perspective.

Josh

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #3 on: July 15, 2008, 06:44:27 AM »
The problem with most modern tactical games is that they require significant work from the GM and they ultimately depend on his skill.

Something to consider is Burning Empires.  This game features a very different tactical system. 

Savage worlds is also a possibility, but it is a 'heroic' game. 
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GawainBS

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #4 on: July 15, 2008, 11:01:00 AM »
Oh, well, thanks for the pointers. I guess I'll have to make-do with Starwars and P&P Fallout. :)

j0lt

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #5 on: July 18, 2008, 07:48:16 AM »
d20 Modern, despite your review of it being "shallow" (which it isn't), fits the bill exactly.

You need some futuristic stuff?  Add the d20 Future book.
Want a post-apocalypse setting? d20 Apocalypse has an amazing wealth of info.
Need more guns?  Weapons Locker or Ultramodern Firearms are basically gun cataloges in d20 format.
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GawainBS

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #6 on: July 18, 2008, 08:08:24 AM »
I find the classes in Modern a tad on the shallow side. There are also hardly any equipment options/extentions.
One of my main problems with Modern is, is that a Karateka is better at shooting a gun than a Soldier.

j0lt

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #7 on: July 20, 2008, 01:15:30 PM »
So house rule it!
Nobody's stopping you from giving the soldier full BAB.  It won't unbalance anything.
For my d20 Modern games, I have a small binder with about 12 pages of house rules!
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GawainBS

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2008, 01:40:47 PM »
It's a solution, yes.
But still, no idea about some other RPGs? If only to broaden my horizons?

Josh

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #9 on: July 20, 2008, 04:17:39 PM »
It's a solution, yes.
But still, no idea about some other RPGs? If only to broaden my horizons?
I have read almost every RPG currently available and the fact of the matter is that game does not exist. 

A game in development called "Red Sky AM" may help fill this gap.
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GawainBS

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #10 on: July 20, 2008, 05:20:14 PM »
Off to houserule Modern then. :)
Thank you very much for the help, though.

j0lt

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #11 on: July 24, 2008, 05:29:46 AM »
If you need any more help, let us know!
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GawainBS

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2008, 01:59:34 PM »
Well, I'd start out with giving the Soldier high BAB.

Further from that, I'd start with a Dedicated Hero. Dedicated10/Soldier10 seems to be the most fitting.

Any other suggestions?

j0lt

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #13 on: July 26, 2008, 01:49:16 PM »
A lot of people use the following houserules:
- Fast Hero's Defense Bonus changed to the same as Martial Artist's +1  (the +3 defense at the beginning is so front heavy that any and all power-gamers will level-dip for it)
- Use D&D 3.5's non-lethal damage rules (d20 Modern's just don't work for anything except a 100% knockout-focused boxing match)

I'd recommend against going 10/10, there are a lot more viable character builds.
Dedicated 4 (or 5 if you really need another talent from the Dedicated class)/Soldier 10 will get you plenty of great abilities, leaving 6 more levels to play with.

I have yet to see any full Base Class type builds that worked.  What is the concept of your character?
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GawainBS

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #14 on: July 26, 2008, 01:59:15 PM »
The  character I envision: a well-equipped commando/sniper, capable of operating behind enemy lines undetected and performing reconaissance and sabotage. 
Also, he should be a decent general-purpose soldier, with some training in assault weapons and unarmed fighting.
He should also be quite alert and perceptive.

j0lt

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #15 on: July 27, 2008, 06:57:58 AM »
I'd suggest taking a look at the Infiltrator Advanced Class (the first level gives you a really useful ability for that, provided your GM does it right).  Are you going to use the Military Starting Occupation?
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GawainBS

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #16 on: July 27, 2008, 10:10:21 AM »
Probably Military Occupation, yes.

I'll check out the Infiltrator, I don't know it by heart. The name sounds promising, though.

j0lt

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #17 on: July 28, 2008, 05:28:31 AM »
For a commando type character, it works pretty well.  You may have to multi-class a bit more to meet all the prerequisites of both AdCs, but it'll make your character function pretty much the way you'd expect a commando to function.
I had built a similar character with a build kinda like that.
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GawainBS

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #18 on: July 28, 2008, 04:08:16 PM »
I agree that the "Sweep" ability of the Infiltrator is pretty much the DM's bitch. On paper, it seems to be pretty worthwhile.
So far, I envision a a Dedicated5/Infiltrator2/Soldier10. Now I'm off to think about Talents and Feats.

j0lt

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Re: Looking for a Modern/near-SF RPG
« Reply #19 on: July 31, 2008, 10:27:21 AM »
Groovy.

For a commando type, I'd recommend Skill Emphasis and Aware from the Dedicated Hero, any other talents that might work for your character are also in there.
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