Generic vs Franchise Based RPGs

[Bison]

This is a question I have been pondering over the past few months. Specifically, I have been reading a bunch of rules, reviews, and game settings. The reasons are simple enough. I have a super geek medical condition. First, I like to read rules, design notes, reviews about games.Secondly,, I am looking for a new game setting or two to run at the table.

Anyway I have been looking at some sci-fi games recently. Star Trek Adventures,  Westend Games Star Wars, Traveller (Mongoose 1and 2 edition), Star without Numbers, etc....

The crux of the issue is lore and geeks. I freely admit I like Star War and Star Trek but I don’t know the lore...at all. I’m lucky if I can remember the names of the major protagonists and antagonist, and the general plot line. The issue is GMing for people who KNOW the lore. They watch the movies, the tv shows, read the books, forums, write fan fiction...in the words of the big-eyed squid commander “it’s a trap.” I have a story about running FFG’s Star Wars at a FLGS to teach the rules and explain the dice. It turned into a three hour nerd fight over social dynamics of Jawa and Hut culture...

Anyway, It’s a factor I always consider now. The  pitfalls of a well known franchise on the game.

[bbmike]

It's even worse than that with Star Trek and Star Wars. It seems every individual has there own interpretation of the franchise in question. I know I do with Star Trek. But when it comes to playing an RPG I think ground rules have to be set at the beginning if you are the GM. Your game, your rules, your universe.

[bob48]

Yeah, I tend to agree with Mike. The way people interpret things like Star Trek / Wars is a very subjective thing. There are few things worse in gaming than spending time 'discussing' the meaning of a rule where people are trying to rationalise it with their own individual interpretation.

As GM, I think you have to establish the 'lore' as you wish it to exist within the game framework.

[BanzaiCat]

As GM, I think you have to establish the 'lore' as you wish it to exist within the game framework.

Exactly this. RPGs were made for house rules to exist, whether explicitly stated or not. As long as everyone is having a good time, who cares if it's canon or not?

Admittedly, if it IS canon, that might impact other's enjoyment of a game (e.g. "I can't play this, this isn't REAL Star Trek"). Well, okay, so what IS 'real Star Trek,' eh?

[Bison]

I agree with setting the ground rules. This is the value of session zero. Establish house rules, set context for the game world, roll up characters etc...

The problem with lore isn’t just the background information but how it affects the rules and supplements. The players are coming  with expectations of the world Star Trek/Wars and even Forgotten Realms cause lore issues which are problematic. D&D is easy. Home brewed campaign setting addresses 99% of the lore issues. Elminster simply doesn’t exist. You really cannot do this with The Federation because your characters are part of it. The rules and supplements reinforce this and frankly people who want to play want to play in that world. Sure maybe they want to be Klingons but in the end they want to set phasers to stun.

I think this is why a setting like Numenera is great. No one has any expectations of what the earth a billion years in the future is or isn’t.

[mirth]

We ran several Star Trek RPGs with the PCs as Klingons, Romulans or just mercenary/smuggler types. Was fun to change things up from more straight-laced Star Fleet characters.
Usually the hard part was keeping players in line as Star Fleet officers. Too many people didn't want to follow the Prime Directive or be bothered with setting phasers to stun. We had one campaign devolve into a mutiny with different factions vying for control of the ship (I may or may not have been involved in a scheme to sell Federation technology to less advanced race at war with a neighboring world).

[Bison]

That sounds like a fun campaign!

The one trend I am really not liking with RPGs is proprietary dice. FFG broke me. And Atar Trek while not nearly as bad has them too. It’s just another barrier. I need more coffee this all makes me grumpy!

[mirth]

I'm not a fan of proprietary dice either. It's becoming increasingly common across all gaming genres.

[bayonetbrant]

If you want some good sci-fi gaming without a ton of media license / lore / backstory, go dig up the old Star Frontiers game from TSR, which was a surprisingly playable RPG.

There was also the Amazing Engine setting for The Galactos Barrier that wasn't bad.

I wouldn't wish the old SPI "Universe" RPG on anyone.

Stars Without Number is pretty good, and you could do a lot worse.

The LNLP "Falling Stars" game is pretty good, too, and has some very interesting backstory in the front of the book laying out the setting.


But I hear you about the specificity of the settings.  BattleTech is just as bad as the others you mentioned.

[Bison]

Hardcore Battle Tech fans...Dark Age traumatized many.

[Metaldog]

I'll second Brant on Star Frontiers.  Yazirians forever!!  I saw that you mentioned Traveler upthread, too.  I have a limited experience with it from back in the day.  I don't remember any cumbersome lore cluttering up the place.  Plus, it was fun.

[BanzaiCat]

I recall back in the day, we played the ST RPG (the original with the blue covers). Our group was slightly retarded though. We went on an away mission and came under fire. The guy playing the XO started exclaiming, "one step away from the Captain's chair" and started firing at the Captain. 

[Bison]

I'll second Brant on Star Frontiers.  Yazirians forever!!  I saw that you mentioned Traveler upthread, too.  I have a limited experience with it from back in the day.  I don't remember any cumbersome lore cluttering up the place.  Plus, it was fun.

I played Star Frontiers back in the day but to be honest don’t really remember it.  I remember thinking or being told D&D in space.

[bayonetbrant]

I remember thinking or being told D&D in space.

That's not far off from where it started, but it the resulting game was a bit different and quite entertaining.


Speaking of D&D in space, have you looked into Starfinder at all?

[bayonetbrant]

Here's a new setting that you might find entertaining - Superheroes of 1776