Nothing groundbreaking, but the game has a voluminous equipment section and the game is a complete science fiction gaming system with a great deal of. Mark ratner, and phil mcgregor in 1980 for fantasy games unlimited. Mark ratner, and phil mcgregor for fantasy games unlimited in 1980. The only complete sf rpg that i have had actively published is space opera. Role playing game, hellas, sparta, mythras, rpg, game, space opera, greek. Space opera is still the best and more complete science fiction role playing game system around for its flexibility, inspiration and approach to the subject the publications offered here are a result of the kind contributions of others around the world since this site has been up. Come and experience your torrent treasure chest right here. Fgu space opera roleplaying game the woolshed wargamer. All members in good standing are free to post here. Space opera is a sciencefiction roleplaying game created by edward e. Or you are a true blue patriotic american fanatic, 100 cubic feet. Your typical oneonone close, personal combat rules in space opera are called section 8. This meant that we would also have to allow for the psionic powers so prevalent in the lensmand series ad in star wars with the force.
A science fiction game like space opera requires travel in space, and as a result there is a lengthy description on sublight drives and maneuvers, the same for ftl drives based on tachyon space. Its a storybuilding game where dramatic encounters drive the narrative ever onward, building a. Perhaps the most significant trait of space opera is that. Nov 10, 2009 as i recall fgu publisher scott bizar took space opera and the other fgu games very seriously at least as serious games rather than campy.
This book covers the vikings, mongols, gaels, picts and celts. The classic space opera adventure now available as a pdf. The 21 best space opera books the best sci fi books. In addition to containing maps of the spinward marches sector and describing many of the worlds found there. For instance, there are two full pages describing the rules for throwing an object to another player. Inside the game comes with two 96 page books, saddlestapled with. This is to cover the fact you are supposed to be able to run small party combat actions as well as large mass battles involving thousands of troops. I have done a background for my own starplay standard role playing system called armageddon, which is sf. Star sector atlas i when i entered the hobby, if you played a science fiction game, you either played traveller or space opera. Space opera is also the name of a sf roleplaying game released in 1981 by. According to the scott bizar, the founder of fgu, i wanted a sf rpg and i gave the job to ed. Space opera is one of the classic fgu fantasy games unlimited rpgs, meaning, it has insanely detailed and complex rules and a reputation for nighunplayability. Recently spotted the casino galactica setting book for space opera rpg, which is tantilizingly interesting in that ive had a back burner desire to explore a star play resort station in our favorite setting its still available from fgu for purchase as a pdf download and it.
Good space opera rpgs that arent star trek or star wars. I bought the so box set when i was 15 or 16 because i wanted a sci fi rpg and was too cheap to invest in multi book traveller at the time. Today i received a signed copy of the book from the author glenn price. Back in the early 80s i first discovered fantasy games unlimiteds space opera science fiction roleplaying game. Cherryh, or shards of honor, by lois mcmaster bujold. In the end, we have, at the same time, a battle in the woods, a space clash and a fight between father and son, all culminating in a space station 160 km wide being destroyed, the carebears defeating the empire and darth vader yeeting emperor palpatine out the goddam window, with luke helping him escape. Effort into reviving and propelling star frontiers into its modern pdf form. Nov 30, 2010 space opera is one of the classic fgu fantasy games unlimited rpgs, meaning, it has insanely detailed and complex rules and a reputation for nighunplayability. Space opera rpg volume one character creation, psionics, and starships by. Click on a datetime to view the file as it appeared at that time. Space opera is a science fiction role playing game. The gene day black cover box, not the slightly different bob charette redo.
Rowsion ii a merchant service adventure space opera rpg kenneth c. Complete rules for character and planet generation, human and alien races, skills and professions, starships, individual and ship combat, etc. Additions and updates have been an ongoing process. Also included are summary charts, tables, ship and planetary record sheets and character reference sheet. This game is intended to be quickly set up and not involve extended campaigns. Rowsion ii a merchant service adventure space opera rpg. The basic game rules include character construction, aliens and monsters, combat, starship construction, and world creation. The issue is that few of those entries directly relate to space opera, the complete science fiction role playing game, written and created by ed simbalist, a. As if this werent enough, the decision was made to base the game on the grand tradition of space opera, in the vein of e. Devi morris is an armored merc hired to help protect the glorious fool as it goes out on mission after mission in space. If you liked the old game it may be nice to see a shiny new book on your rpg library shelf.
I used it for a star wars setting, but dont think i did the ships, just walkers and characters. Boxed set published in 1980 by fgu, contains two booklets and four doublesided reference sheets. In the latter case a free equipment list as a starting point could be very userful. Space opera includes complete rules for character and planet generation. The lengthy chargen, the rules minutiae, and even the multiple varieties of rope one could purchase i think there were five types were decisions the writers made that were supported from the top. Rachel bachs book fortunes pawn is another good example of a shipbased book with a strong cast, but more kickass action. While the system is applicable to the whole genre of science fiction, space opera had a default setting intended to be used as generic science fiction roleplaying game rules, the focus being on creating space opera themed adventures. Space opera is a subgenre of speculative fiction or science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing powerful and sometimes quite fanciful technologies and abilities. Its a storybuilding game where dramatic encounters drive the narrative ever onward, building a solid, memorable universe thats unique to each group. Uncharted worlds is a space opera of discovery and adventure, which explores a universe full of deadly beauty, hostile frontiers, rapacious organisations, and crippling debt. Corey, ancillary justice by ann leckie, the long way to a. Fast shipping, tough packaging fgu 7101 complete rules for character and planet generation, human and alien races, skills and professions, starships, individual and ship combat, etc. Star sector maps, history of the sector, league culture, 58 planets in detail, planetary backgrounds, commercial starship routes.
Bushido and chivalry and sorcery the system is almost ridiculously detailed. The classic sf tabletop game now available as a pdf. Space opera is the most complete science fiction role playing game ever. Basic role play scifi equipment list rpgnet forums. Even more serious or scientifically sound settings offer at least a nod to the universe of rivets and rayguns. Jun, 2019 i have pondered and discussed the best parts of space opera, with a view to a second edition or retroclone. Jul 15, 2015 click on a datetime to view the file as it appeared at that time. Jan 03, 2019 fgu s space opera combat tables all my current space opera charts in pdf are found on the summonings page of this blog. Also included are summary charts, tables, ship and. Space opera fantasy games unlimited fgu other suns. Space opera rpg volume two equipment, worlds and aliens. There is a generous starship design, with the inclusion of all the features that you would expect in terms of size, drives, armour, weaponry.
Update the question so its ontopic for roleplaying games stack exchange. May 20, 2016 its impossible to talk about worlds and governments without mentioning downbelow station, by c. Seriously, ive run several sf games using brp over the years and mostly just bodged together equipment from other sources fgus space opera and gdws 2300ad are particular favourites. This may have something to do with it being written by three authors seperated by vast geographical reaches in an era without easy internet communication. Trying to figure all the prerequisite skills for your armsman became a. E doc smith and most recently star wars from george lucas. Space opera is itself a broad category, often combining various aspects of swashbuckling, military science fiction, exploration scifi, planetary romance, science. The two reigning queens of space opera, their respective seriesthe allianceunion books and the vorkosigan sagaare each classics of the genre.
A few friends and i sat down and tried to make characters. Space opera is a science fiction roleplaying game published by fantasy games unlimited. Fgu s space opera resolution mechanics examined space opera has the reputation of being poorly organized agreed and unplayable not agreed. In fgus space opera rpg 1980 spaceships are sized in tons. Support for many popular sf story character roles and capabilities. Aug 14, 2018 in fgus space opera rpg 1980 spaceships are sized in tons. Hard nova ii rpg by politically incorrect games take to the stars and smuggle exotic goods across the galaxy, solve mysteries aboard space liners, or explore the frontier. The character classes included armsman, astronaut, tech, research scientist, medical scientist, and engineering scientist. As i recall fgu publisher scott bizar took space opera and the other fgu games very seriously at least as serious games rather than campy. Bach throws in a hefty dose of romance between her and rupert, a secretive agent on the ship, along with the stories of a whole bunch of other crew. I recently purchased the perfectbound copy of the game so i could revisit space opera and see if there is a fun, playable game here. Feb 28, 2012 seriously, ive run several sf games using brp over the years and mostly just bodged together equipment from other sources fgu s space opera and gdws 2300ad are particular favourites. Space opera has the reputation of being poorly organized agreed and unplayable not agreed.
An rpg setting for lowpowered space opera closed ask question asked 4 years. The spinward marches book is the detailed source book you are looking for. I was a traveller man back then, so space opera was one of those games i noticed on game store shelves and whose ads and articles i saw in the pages of dragon but which i never actually played. Each such nationality is fully discussed in terms of social organization, military organization, magick user types, character development, and politicaleconomic systems. Strangely appealing to me even to this day, space opera reads like an rpg designed by a comittee that never met in person to play the game. When i was 16, i was able to roll up characters in it.
Space opera is certainly one the oldest and best known science fiction. The space opera system has been out of print since the mid80s and fgu no. Space opera includes complete rules for character and planet generation, human and alien races, skills and professions, starships, individual and ship combat, etc. Games unlimiteds space opera science fiction roleplaying game. Space opera is also the name of a sf roleplaying game released in 1981 by fantasy games unlimited, as a companion to their space marines tabletop strategy game as with other fgu games e. Space opera is probably the most popular sciencefiction rpg genre. Here is the official fgu web site for all fans of space opera or of other fgu games.
Fantasygamesunlimited games and supplements since 1976. I have pondered and discussed the best parts of space opera, with a view to a second edition or retroclone. Space opera is the most complete science fiction role playing game ever produced. All my current space opera charts in pdf are found on the summonings page of this blog. This may have something to do with it being written by three authors seperated by vast geographical reaches in. Drivethrurpg and discovered that there was a new release for the venerable space opera role playing game.
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