I don’t know how many dopers play role-playing games, but I was curious if any have played Wizards of the Coast’s new(ish) d20 version of star Wars yet. I play 3E Dungeons and Dragons (which I love) and one of the guys in my group has talked about running a Star Wars game, but we’re all having a hard time geting fired up about it.
The main problem I have is the class-based system. I don’t have a problem with classes in D&D, but in Star Wars it seems to make no sense to me. Star Wars characters didn’t have “professions” so much as skills - hence a skills based system (like the old WEG system) seems to make more sense. And I’m not sure how laser-based (ie, more ranged and more deadly) combat would work.
So anyway, if you’ve played it, what are your impressions? Is it fun? Does it work? Should we just play the WEG Star Wars game instead? Is there a different sci-fi game system you feel is better? Any opinions on this game will help.
I’ve played the old d6 based version, and your proffesion was really only superficial. It kind of explained your skills and abilities, but other than that, it was just a biographical thing. The laser-combat was basically shoot and if they didn’t dodge, you most likely hit, IIRC.
I didn’t really care for it very much personally. I don’t care for the class system as I find it far to restraining. I don’t even like it in D&D but I accept it. In fact I really don’t think I’ll like the D20 system for anything but D&D. On the plus side in the D20 version Jedi character can actually advance at a decent rate without outpowering every other PC. This was a problem in the WEG version.
Overall I enjoyed the WEG version of Star Wars more then the D20. The rules and the feel of the game made it closer to the excitement of the movies in my opinion. I used to GM the WEG version. I just sold my D20 version on Ebay yesterday for only $23.00 including shipping and handling.
As for other systems that I feel are better. That’s a toughie because there really aren’t all that many good science fiction games out there. Trinity from White Wolf games is pretty good both rules wise and story wise. Basically you play a psionic character about 200 years in Earth’s history.
Gamma World is another option if you can find it. There are something like 5 editions out there made by the now defunct TSR but they are all out of print. Gamma World was probably my favorite post apocalyptic RPG. If you loved computer games like Wasteland or Fallout then you’ll love Gamma World.
Star Trek The RPG from Last Unicorn games stink. The only thing I really like about it is that skills are actually more important then physical or mental traits. Sure if you’re really smart it helps. But if you haven’t had any training on how to fix that warp core those brains won’t help much. I did hate how it didn’t seem to matter how many dice I rolled unless the “special” die rolled a 6. I forget what the special die was called.
WEll that’s about it for now.