you would probably have to make one ...

By Darren Kehrer (Kehrer1701) on Saturday, March 03, 2007 - 05:09 pm: Edit

hmmm...
wonder if ADB license would let them do that?

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 04:07 pm: Edit

Yes, we can do stuff for the play aide programs. No problem. Since it involves our copyrights, talk to me before you turn it loose. We will probably need a legal statement included. If it is possible to sell such things for a profit, we should do so (but this requires a couple of hoop jumps so talk to me early and often).

By Dale C Twigg (Lordtwig) on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 11:39 pm: Edit

I have seen a listing for a Space Combat book. I think it would be nice if Prime Directive had an easy to deal with D20 style starship system. I played SFB when i was a kid but I think the fun of it would be having your character able to role to fix things on the ship during combat etc. Ship based combat should not be the focus of the game but any fan of Trek knows you need to fight the space monster from time to time to keep it fun.

Are there plans to release a creature manual full of all the odd space creatures out there like the Salt Vampires etc? Or should I continue using things like the Monster Manual and Fiend Folio?

By Lee Wood (Fasafan) on Monday, April 02, 2007 - 07:06 pm: Edit

Flabbergasted.

I've known for about 2 hours now that PD20 uses "D&D PHB 3.5" and not D20 Modern...

Flabbergasted.

I've composed myself long enough to peruse the threads here and I understand the call from a marketing perspective I guess...

Oh, how I could lament, but I'll can it.

What kind of burden am I placing on myself if I wish to use D20 Modern instead of "D&D 3.5"? What do I need to consider? What do I need to watch out for? Is there anyone playing PD20 using D20 Modern material that could give me some advice?

I was SO excited about the prospect of using D20 Future, D20 Future Tech, D20 Menace Manual, D20 Cyberscape, D20 Weapons Locker, etc in my PD20 campaign... Can I do so relatively seamlessly anyway?

Signed,

Sad on Antares

By Lee Wood (Fasafan) on Monday, April 02, 2007 - 07:27 pm: Edit

This post is in response to a post in the archives about counters for the RPG.

I've been a ST:RPGer for 20 years now, having cut my teeth with FASA's ST:RPG. It's my obsession- so much so that researching all aspects of the game has become a hobby of mine. I've even worked- off and on- on a "FASA 3.0", complete with a revamped AP system.

Anyway, ST gamers haven't had a need fulfilled adequately in over 20 years- since FASA's 1st edition went OOP.

Counters.

Miniatures are a luxury- counters are not. Counters add so much to a game- especially one like PD20 that's based on such a standardized scale (1"= 5 feet). With the plethora of gaming aids in that scale now available to John. Q. RPGer (OGL anyone?), it is sad that there are no counters available to take advantage of those aids for fans of Star Trek/SFU gaming.

Most folks tend to think of the "cut and fold", full body counters when discussing 2-D counters- much like the excellent counters included in the "G-1 Deckplans" product- a _great_ gaming aid.

However, I think some of the best counters are 1", 2-D counters. Counters of these type were included in the D&D 3.0 Basic Game box set. They were simply the "face" of a character on a 1" round cardboard disc. You don't see counters of these type much anymore, but I think they would be a perfect solution for PD20.

The large counters included with Federation Commander (previously of the MegaHex size) are 1" x 1". The die-cut blanks used for ship counters could be used to place the images of characters on. The images would only include the face of the character/monster/race portrayed. The beauty is the images could be rendered in only two colors and would only be facial portraits and not front and back full renderings.

I've made my own counters using a label making program of all things. I simply find a "face" I like from an image on the web, crop and paste it into the program. I use 1" diameter "stick-and-peel" label paper and print a few out (using the program to number them to distingish them in a game). I then stick the labels on a 1" wooden counter I've found available at hobby stores. Presto- instant counter.

It would be so cool to have counters of SFB races- Andorians, Centaurans, Hydrans...only one (!) different portrait would need be used per sex per race. I'd even buy it as a pdf download- print on cardboard stock and cut.

So simple, it's a crime NOT to do it!! ;-)

EDIT: Existing character portraits could be used... The art appearing in Federation Commander by Dale McKee and others is just extraordinary- and PERFECT for these kind of counters...

Heck, no work would be necessary except for compiling cropped, 1" x 1" faces into a pdf for a $5.00 download!!

Emphatic (!) on Eminar VII

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, April 03, 2007 - 10:42 am: Edit

We debated for months whether to use 3.5 or modern. Without repeating that discussion (there were good points on both sides) we eventually picked one. Plans have existed for some time to also do the modern version, and I gotta remember to pester JT to get it finished.

By Lee Wood (Fasafan) on Tuesday, April 03, 2007 - 11:21 am: Edit

I'll donate time, money, blood, toil, sweat and tears for a D20 Modern version. Mush!!

Seriously, if it is "in the works", I'll go buy the D20 Modern Handbook and D20 Future TODAY.

(and I was serious about the time and money part...)

I see www.fundable.org as a possible solution to get work done around here! ;-)

Example:

This guy said he'd do FASERIP, a project to create an open source/free RPG compatible with TSR's Marvel RPG, for $1,000. Parties interested in seeing this done donated a maximum of $10. 100 people x $10= $1,000. Actually, he's raised more than that:

https://www.fundable.org/groupactions/faserip

What if we found 50 people to donate $10 to ADB/JT/ for a completed D20 Modern version? D6 Version? The Counters I mentioned in my second post? The possibilities are endless...

Hopeful on Honnadau VI

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, April 03, 2007 - 11:30 am: Edit

Oh, that's not necessary. I just need to remind JT to do it. I'm managing too many internal and external projects and just drop too many spoons.

By Tony L Thomas (Scoutdad) on Tuesday, April 03, 2007 - 03:13 pm: Edit

Lee, you forgot an alliterative signature...

Loquacious in Lebanon

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, April 03, 2007 - 04:32 pm: Edit

I talked to JT (when I say I "talked" to someone I generally mean Email) and he says it's no problem. I have to leave early today but I will chat with him on the morrow. Sounds like a fairly easy project to just knock out.

By Lee Wood (Fasafan) on Tuesday, April 03, 2007 - 05:22 pm: Edit

That's Super-Duper news! I'm all for it. Tell him he's got Battlegroup M'boro rooting for him (with Tony's permission, of course) ;-)

True to my word, I just bought "D20 Modern" and "D20 Future"...oh, the possibilities!!

Loquacious? Really? I'll take that! ;-)

Mulling about in Middle TN

By Darren Kehrer (Kehrer1701) on Tuesday, April 03, 2007 - 08:22 pm: Edit

It would be nice to have a d20 Modern version of PD for several reasons:
1.) Using the PHB v3.5 (aka a Fantasy oriented rulebook) to run PD (a science fiction setting) is a bit odd. The PHB, like I said, is fantasy oriented along with the DM Screen, Character sheets, etc.
2.) d20 Modern has plenty of prepublished books that can help build up the d20M PD setting.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 - 10:10 am: Edit

I don't see anything to stop this being a Gencon release (not that we go to Gencon).

By F. Douglas Wall (Knarf) on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 - 05:06 pm: Edit

There are very few system differences between D&D and D20 Modern. Especially since the PD book provides all the races and classes you'll be using. Where there is new material, it is usually reprinted, such as the Action Point, Reputation, and Wealth Bonus systems are in PD20 (at least I'm rather sure I saw those items when I flipped through the book).

By Lee Wood (Fasafan) on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 - 06:42 pm: Edit

I'm excited to be able to use the plethora of D20 Modern material seamlessly without worry that something might be "lost in translation".

I had a chance to flip the D20 Modern Handbook last night and, oh the possibilities!! Even though the core rulebook covers "modern-era" material, the firearm rules especially are handy for sci-fi "slug throwers", etc.

Plus, I don't have to skip over "Woodland Lore" while looking for "Vehicle Expert." ;-)

Gencon release!? Awesome!

Giddy on Gerash II

By Darren Kehrer (Kehrer1701) on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 - 07:45 pm: Edit

I agree, having a "core d20" rulebook would be nice. Like it was said before, having a complete rulebook would get away from having to deal the the PHB 3.5 (fantasy) book.

By Andy Palmer (Andypalmer) on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 - 11:17 pm: Edit

Yeah, I admit being a bit confused by the "but it's not D20 modern" talk given that Action Points, Reputation, and Wealth are included in PD20.

By Lee Wood (Fasafan) on Thursday, April 05, 2007 - 08:38 pm: Edit

I think the broader point is that the material available for D20 Modern (both WotC and 3rd party OGL material; both gaming "fluff" and gaming mechanics) is much more readily adaptable to PD20 than anything out there for 3.5.

Sure, AP, Rep, and Wealth are included in the PD20 Core Rulebook, but there's a lot more than just that in the D20 Modern line. D20 Modern has become emminently more suited _game material wise_ to PD20 than 3.5, IMO (not trying to rehash the 3.5 vs Modern debate again).

I could list several examples from the D20 Modern HB alone, but I'll save us all.

Eye-strained on Hydra I

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Thursday, April 05, 2007 - 10:48 pm: Edit

I've looked at the D20 Modern stuff and agree that it's better and a lot more fun to be looking through while playing a Star Fleet Universe game. The only time D20 3.5 would be preferable is if your landing party landed on a mid-evil period planet. Pictures of Knights, Bard and Wizards just don't fit with the feel of Star Fleet.

I'm glad to here a D20 Modern version is soon coming.

By Lee Wood (Fasafan) on Saturday, April 07, 2007 - 03:29 pm: Edit

More PD20 Core Rulebook Errata...

Some of this has already been addressed in recent posts (like Criminology, Gunslinging, etc.), but for the sake of my sanity, I include it here as well. I believe you'll find a few things not addressed before.

Lee
--------------------------------
NAVAL LINE OFFICER (pg. 46):

+ Strategy (* see note 1. below)

+ Tactics (* 1.)

+ Special section of Table 3/1 is confusing: "H, A, or W" probably mean "Helmsmanship, Astrogation, or Weapons", but in the "Class Specific Feats" section in the next column, the three broad feat lists are designated "Helmsmanship, Astrogation, and Starship Gunnery".


COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST INTELLIGENCE OFFICER (pg. 48)

+ Which is it? Comm Specialist? Intelligence Officer? Both? Recommend dropping Int Officer descriptor to follow same pattern as Science Specialist, Engineering Specialist, Medical Specialist, etc.

+ Decipher Script (* 1.)

GALACTIC INTELLIGENCE AGENT (pg. 51):

+ Bureaucracy (* 1.)

+ Cryptography (* 1.)

MARINE (pg. 53):

+ Forward Observer (* 1.)

+ Gunslinging (* 1.)

+ Scent/Taste (* 1.)

MERCHANT (pg. 56):

+ Bureaucracy (* 1.)

ROGUE (pg. 59):

+ Decipher Script (* 1.)

+ Use Rope (* 1.)

SCIENCE SPECIALIST (pg. 61):

+ Decipher Script (* 1.)

SECURITY SPECIALIST (PG. 62):

+ Criminology (* 1.)

+ Scent/Taste (* 1.)


NOTES:

* 1. Not listed as available for PD20 per pg. 78, either by not being listed as a Skill used from Chapter 4 of The Player's Handbook (D&D) or by not being listed on Table 4/1.

By Lee Wood (Fasafan) on Saturday, April 07, 2007 - 11:03 pm: Edit

More PD20 Core Rulebook Errata / Gray Areas... pt. 2

* Reputation (pg. 67): Reputation bonus is level based in D20 Modern. PD20 discusses Reputation and how to use it, but not how a character gets it (i.e. no class in PD20 has a Reputation Bonus per level listed.

* Medium Combat Armor (pg. 131): AC 4 compared to Tactical Combat Vest at AC 6. Medium Combat Armor and Tactical Combat Vest values appear swapped in Table 7/8.

Lee

By Lee Wood (Fasafan) on Sunday, April 08, 2007 - 12:27 am: Edit

More PD20 Core Rulebook Errata / Gray Areas... pt. 3

* Terms "Defense" and "Armor Class" (AC). Stick with one or the other. "AC" used in racial descriptions and Table 7/8 (pg. 131), but Defense is used in the text on page 130 (and other D20 Modern "lifted" material).

* Table 7/8 has columns missing that are described on page 130: "Type" and "Nonproficient Bonus". "Equipment Bonus" is represented by "AC" in the table. "Progress Level" (PL) is listed in the Table, but not included in accompany text describing table.

Lee

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 02:18 pm: Edit

I talked to JT about d20Modern and he said he would start making the text changes next Monday.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 02:21 pm: Edit

Lee, technically your posts are "questions" or "proposals" or "after action reports". The term "errata" means something officially issued by the publisher. I am concerned others will see your post saying "More d20 errata" and think it's an official post by the company.