Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: Harry von Fleischmann on 19 July 2016, 09:02:10 PM
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Starport Scum is a tabletop game of fierce space adventure, space pirates and salvage crews looking for the next big break.
Drawing on sources such as Traveller, Firefly, Trigun and Borderlands, it's a game about getting by on the outskirts of civilization, always on the look out for that next job.
Combining miniatures war gaming with role playing game touches, Starport Scum is playable as a conventional miniatures game, a narrative RPG or a hybrid beast combining the best of both worlds.
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The core combat rules use a dice pool system to deliver results very quickly.
While the rules cover a variety of situations, the basics can be condensed down to one page and revolve around gathering up a base number of dice (based on character class), adding bonus dice for suitable traits and weapon tags.
For example, an Ace-class character gets 2 dice to shoot, but if she's a QUICK THINKER, she might get a bonus die when its a surprise encounter.
The only need for book keeping or markers during a game is for figures that are pinned down and wounded hero figures. Thus, you can avoid the table being cluttered up by status effects.
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Character design can be as simple as scribbling down a few descriptive words for each character or traits can be built using the "build engine" included.
You also get a random character creation process that helps set up your heroes with a bit of context in the world.
Guns and gadgetry likewise can be invented on the fly or built using a "lego-style" system of combining tags and conditions.
To help you run the game, we include rules for handling common situations, again modifiable to almost any outcome and a full set of campaign rules covering how your figures can gain experience, take a variety of jobs and find interesting loot.
Tables are provided to roll up a random gang of bad guys, as well as a few alien horrors to get eaten by.
Rounding out the package is a collection of random tables to help spur the imagination, aid solo gamers and generally spice things up for those times when the party has touched down on a planet and you're not sure what's out there.
Starport Scum is formatted to be screen friendly and print friendly.
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The game is intended to be played with miniature figures of any scale, with a typical game featuring 4-10 figures on each side.
Provisions and suggestions are included to play without miniatures for those wishing for a more freeform experience.
No canned background is included though the creation tables will suggest the nature of the universe. Adapt your own setting or fit the rules into an existing world.
Available from.....roll of drums....
http://www.wargamevault.com/product/188598/Starport-Scum
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Looking at the preview this is a step back towards FaD with simple but deep tables and interacting effects. I'll probably pick it up once this months pay-check rolls in.
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TBH I've not played FAD but Ivan may have; this is boldly and certainly aimed at fast simple play. In terms of depth, I'd say it's as deep as you want it - you can play it simple with goons and a boss or have a crew that has all sorts of traits and alien features.
The random tables do give you a good idea of the kind of galaxy we had in mind. You can't go wrong by just rolling up a few events or news stories or whatever to flesh out a game. Given that loot such as exotic items can if used openly, increase the "heat" on you, it is indeed quite interactive in term of effect.
If you buy it I'd appreciate your thoughts. Writing it was great fun and I hope that is clear from the final product.....
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TBH I've not played FAD but Ivan may have.
I would think so, I believe he wrote them. :D
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The phrase is "hoots of derisive laughter, Bruce"
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Will be vehicle rules in a future?
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Managed to get my password sorted out at long last.
Blacksmith - A month or so down the road, I think we'll be doing a combined vehicle thing, covering vehicles (hover bikes, robots and that sort of thing) and even some starship action.
The aim is to be able to build vehicles the same way you do a character, really.
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Managed to get my password sorted out at long last.
Blacksmith - A month or so down the road, I think we'll be doing a combined vehicle thing, covering vehicles (hover bikes, robots and that sort of thing) and even some starship action.
The aim is to be able to build vehicles the same way you do a character, really.
Good to hear it, thanks for the reply.