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Sci-Fi RPG systems/settings/core rules (ttrpg.network)
submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by Scallops@ttrpg.network to c/scifi@ttrpg.network
26 comments fedilink hide all child comments

This is meant to be a non-exhaustive list, in stream-of-consciousness order.

Dedicated systems

  • Traveller (in its many incarnations throughout the past nearly 50 years and derivatives such as Cepheus, Hostile)
  • 2300 AD (now a setting for Traveller)
  • Cyberpunk (2013, 2020, V3.0, Red)
  • Paranoia
  • Eclipse Phase
  • Lancer
  • Star Wars roleplaying (different games by different publishers: WEG d6, d20, FFG NDS)
  • Warhammer 40K
  • 3:16: Carnage Amongst the Stars
  • Shadowrun
  • Apocalypse World
  • Coyote & Crow
  • SLA Industries

FATE based systems

  • Bulldogs!
  • Mindjammer
  • Nova Praxis
  • Diaspora
  • Atomic Robo

OSR/d20 based systems

  • Stars Without Number
  • Starfinder
  • Mothership
  • CY_BORG

Year Zero

  • Mutant: Year Zero
  • Alien: The RPG
  • Blade Runner: The RPG
  • Coriolis – The Third Horizon

GURPS

A host of modules and supplements named after the subgenre, GURPS-style. GURPS Transhuman Space, Cyberpunk, etc.

Other systems

  • Star Trek Adventures (Modiphius 2d20)
  • Dune: Adventures in the Imperium (Modiphius 2d20)
  • Rifts (Palladium)
  • Robotech (Palladium)
  • Scum and Villainy (FitD/PbtA)

Solo friendly

  • Stoneburner
  • Ironsworn: Starforged (PbtA)
  • Hostile (Cepheus/Traveller)

Out of print/No longer developed

  • Firefly RPG (Cortex Plus)
  • Serenity RPG (Cortex Classic)
  • Battlestar Galactica RPG (Cortex Classic)
  • Gamma World (D&D)
  • Space Opera
  • Other Suns
  • Albedo
  • Space Master
  • HARP SF
  • Blue Planet
  • Ringworld
  • Living Steel
  • High Colonies
  • Jovian Chronicles
  • Heavy Gear
  • Justifiers
  • Star Frontiers
  • Universe
  • CORPS

Have a suggestion to improve this? Your favorite game missing? Leave a comment.

top 26 comments
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[-] hooknose@ttrpg.network 3 points 6 days ago

Scum & Villainy

I'm enjoying this blades in the dark adaptation quite a lot

[-] Scallops@ttrpg.network 2 points 6 days ago

Added, thank you.

[-] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

For solo players, Ironsworn: Starforged is a must.

[-] Scallops@ttrpg.network 3 points 2 weeks ago

Done and thank you!

[-] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Rifts

Robotech- OOP

There is a new version of Robotech from after Paladium Games lost the license, but I have not looked at, or played it.

And there is the old d6 system for Star Wars from West End Games, and the new books use I think the ~~FATE~~ EDGE system. There was also the short lived d20 system from WoTC.

[-] Scallops@ttrpg.network 3 points 2 weeks ago

Rifts is a classic, but also a very strange animal. And for some reason I thought Robotech was a minis game (must be confusing with something else).

Star Wars is already listed. I know those are technically different games, but I'm trying to keep the list as concise as possible (grouping the multiple versions of the same setting under one entry). I don't know much about the history of star wars RPG though. How would you summarize it? (WEG d6, d20, Fate)?

[-] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

And for some reason I thought Robotech was a minis game (must be confusing with something else).

There was a Robotech minis game, that was a huge debacle, and why Paladium games lost the license. But you are likely thinking of BattleTech, which is historically a mini game but also has an TTRPG version initially called MechWarrior, but I think it has a new name now.

How would you summarize it? (WEG d6, d20, Fate)?

Yes. They all play totally differently, and the newer stuff has newer source books. But the last time I looked the community had taken the newer stuff and adapted it to work with WEGd6.

And despite something being listed, I think if there are multiple versions (not just different editions, but these are totally different games set in the same universe. But to keep the list concise, a note that there are different versions from different publishers.

Another I just remembered, is there is a Firefly RPG, I forget the publisher (possibly Lost Unicorn Games) I will look it up later.

[-] Scallops@ttrpg.network 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

BattleTech! That's the one. Didn't know they made an RPG out of it.

Firefly is an out of print Cortex Plus game by Margaret Weis Productions. It's in the list as well as Serenity (the Cortex Classic game by MWP, isn't IP licensing fun?).

[-] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 4 points 2 weeks ago

Thanks, I missed seeing those in the list!

[-] ZDL@ttrpg.network 2 points 2 weeks ago

The Battletech RPG was called Mechwarrior, if memory serves.

[-] roflo1@ttrpg.network 2 points 2 weeks ago

Aside from the ones mentioned, Star Wars also has the FFG system, right?

[-] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 weeks ago

I misremembered, the current Star Wars game uses EDGE, not FATE. And afaik this is the same system that FFG published. But was moved to a new studio when Asmodee moved all of the Star Wars licenses around killing X-Wing and Armada.

[-] Scallops@ttrpg.network 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

That's right. Arguably the most famous?

Come to think of it, I don't think there ever was a Fate official Star Wars setting. I didn't find it, anyway.

[-] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 weeks ago

Sorry, it is EDGE, not FATE. I edited my initial post.

[-] Scallops@ttrpg.network 2 points 1 week ago

Right, that uses the Fantasy Flight Games' Narrative Dice System (same as WH Fantasy).

[-] Frostbeard@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

You also have Battletch, but dont know Robotech to say if the systems are similar

[-] mholiv@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Strong recommend for Stars Without Number. It’s a great hard sci-fi system if you leave out the optional psychic stuff.

What makes it interesting is that it’s very lethal. A level 5 party can easily get murdered by a group of level 1s if they get trapped or ambushed.

It makes for games where players think hard before committing to combat.

I used it to run a game set in Alastair Reynolds‘ “Revelation Space” universe and it worked well. I chose it because it does not force a very specific sci-fi universe on you. Super happy.

[-] Scallops@ttrpg.network 2 points 1 week ago

Sounds like you’d like Hostile by Zozer Games. They have a solo version too where you control a crew.

[-] myrrh@ttrpg.network 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

...i've wanted to play the original alternity / star*drive for twenty-five years, but i hear dark*matter is a pretty good campaign setting for the system, too...

[-] ZDL@ttrpg.network 2 points 2 weeks ago

🤦‍♀️ How did I forget Alternity?

[-] myrrh@ttrpg.network 1 points 2 weeks ago

...may as well throw in star frontiers while you're at it...

[-] ZDL@ttrpg.network 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Some here that I didn't spot on the list:

  • Space Opera
  • Other Suns
  • Albedo
  • Space Master
  • HARP SF
  • Blue Planet
  • Ringworld
  • SLA Industries
  • Living Steel
  • High Colonies
  • Jovian Chronicles
  • Heavy Gear
  • Justifiers
  • Star Frontiers
  • Universe
  • Timelords
  • Warp World
  • CORPS (first edition was SF, second was generic)

If I dig through my collection I'll probably find a few (dozen) more.

[-] Scallops@ttrpg.network 2 points 1 week ago

Wow. I hadn't heard of a single item in your list except for SLA Industries. Not that surprising considering most are long out of print.

By Jupiter Chronicles do you mean Jovian Chronicles?

[-] ZDL@ttrpg.network 2 points 1 week ago

Yes. Yes I did. My brain was saying Jovian and my fingers typed out Jupiter. 🤦‍♀️

[-] Scallops@ttrpg.network 1 points 1 week ago

Don’t beat yourself over it. 👍

[-] adhocfungus@midwest.social 2 points 2 weeks ago

I tried the Star Trek Adventures recently and liked it. It felt like a middle ground between FATE games and Cortex games. Worth a shot for anybody on the fence.

this post was submitted on 03 Jan 2025
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