Joined: Apr 2012 Gender: Male Posts: 68 Location: Asteroid-ship on Oort Cloud Karma: 10
Humanspace Empires PBP Game Recruiting Thread « Thread Started on May 1, 2012, 1:35pm »
I see these boards have a lot of games ongoing. Is there any interest in a Humanspace Empires PBP game?
I know at least 3 PBP HE games happened during 2011. I would like to try a 4the attempt. I could run it for as few as 3 players if there aren't many takers.
Is OD&D Discussion the right venue for such a game? What's the procedure for obtaining your own board for a game here?
Some more info on how the game would be run:
* One posting per week, maybe more.
* 1st or 2nd Level player characters.
* Mutants available as per my adaptation of Mutant Future's "Mutants & Mazes", but no more than 1/3rd or the party.
* Non-Humans ok, if the player is sufficientlt familiar with the species from EPT/Tekumel
* Use of my Social Class tables during character creation
* All in-play dice rolls handled by GM, maybe in an online die generator that produces a report players may consult
The type of adventuring is open to personal predilections. I'd be running more from the seat of my pants rather than pre-made and am flexible to player wishes. I envision a Traveller-like game where the PCs are a band of independent troubleshooters with access to a ship, either by outright ownership of having it ceded by a patron; but if the players prefer a game centered around a single system for a more "Sword & Planet" romp that can be done too.
EDIT: I meant to say one or two postings per week, perhaps more
Marv / Finarvyn DCC playtester (2011) C&C playtester (2003) I'm partly responsible for the S&W WhiteBox Builder of the TrollBridge Master of Mutants; MA since 1976 OD&D Player since 1975
"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!" - Dave Arneson
Humanspace Empires PBP Game? « Reply #3 on May 2, 2012, 8:42pm via the ProBoards Mobile App »
Humanspace Empires is a space opera RPG (if I have my genre codewords right) based in the EPT universe before the cataclysmic event that threw Tekumel into its pocket dimension. The common technology of the day includes Eyes and other devices that reshape interplanar power, and what later become the fantastic devices of the ancients in EPT.
It is a nice bit of fan-ware developed by "The Drune":
Re: Humanspace Empires PBP Game? « Reply #4 on May 3, 2012, 5:44am »
I would gladly play this game, and 1 or 2 posts per week seems to be manageable to me (more is hardly achievable by me, but we surely can work something out). I don't know that much about the setting; however, the idea of a spacefaring sandbox is very intriguing.
I may be dense, but.... 1. What is humanspace empires? 2. Is this an Empire of the Petal Throne topic?
I'm probably just confused.
As rleduc said, Humanspace Empires is a fan-made game taking place in the star-spanning super-science pulp setting Tekumel belonged to before being thrown into a pocket dimension. It never intended to be a commercial or official product but afaik had the blessing of The Tekumel Project.
Drune, the author, released an incomplete playtest draft, revised it and placed some more material on his blog. Then he apparently vanished without a trace.
Rules-wise, Humanspace Empires is built on a D&D B/X / Labyrinth Lord frame with some rule features from the original EPT such as background and professional skills and combat critical hits. Besides humans the familiar weird aliens of EPT are available as PC races. Psychic powers and Super-Scientific abilities take the place of sorcery.
To answer your second question, this is sort of an EPT topic, as much as debating/playing a space-faring version of Greyhawk using rules adapted from LL would be an OD&D topic. Hence my original question if OD&D Discussion forums would be willing to host such a game.
Rleduc and Ydasmidgard, nice to see you folks are interested. With a third player we would have a minimum-sized Party and could get started.
Ydasmidgard, I don't know how familiar you are with EPT and Tekumel, but HE is pretty much its own beast. The setting is composed of sparse footnotes that leave a lot to our imaginations. I would suggest checking the links below for a crash course on the "feel" of what HE is like:
The sites for two pbp games that took place in 2011, with complete PC sheets. The second link also has the Spaceswords & Glory Technical Manual on PDF:
I haven not had a response from an administrator about hosting the game in these forums, but I want to move forward with it. The campaign structure is already set out on my mind.
I think I will try to contact the people that played in the HE games that took place on the net last year and see if they're interested in playing again.
I haven not had a response from an administrator about hosting the game in these forums, but I want to move forward with it.
Have you tried sending Marv a PM? He's a busy guy and though he checks in here as often as he can, he doesn't always get a chance to read every thread.
Have you tried sending Marv a PM? He's a busy guy and though he checks in here as often as he can, he doesn't always get a chance to read every thread.
No I have not, who is this person? I cannot find him in the list of forum staff members.
No I have not, who is this person? I cannot find him in the list of forum staff members.
Marv is Finarvyn, the board administrator; our hero for the herculean and (at times) sisyphean task he performs in keeping the place running and happy.
Marv is Finarvyn, the board administrator; our hero for the herculean and (at times) sisyphean task he performs in keeping the place running and happy.
I PM'd Finarvyn, hence thgenee thread has been transferred here. I've also sent a couple of e-mails to some previous HE players whose contact info I could find.
Its time to provide folks with some more information about want I'm planning to run, if the vox pupuli really clamors for something different we will see what can be done. Feel free to make any comments or pose any questions you wish.
Setting
The game will start on a mining planet near the outer edge of Ketyel House Thurd space, within Humanspace, somewhat distant from the Core Worlds but not so isolated as to be a backwater. The local Tech Level is Mixed. The place is an almost planetary-scale hive of scum and villainy nearing ecological collapse due to careless resource exploitation techniques.
The PCs
The party will be a band of troubleshooters trying to make some CR and a name for themselves. They have recently banded together and are seeking a worthwhile patron. Think "Traveller". The party may start with a ship depending on what Social Classes are represented within it.
Recently, one of the PCs obtained a local contact that passed along the information a potential employer would be present on a certain bar at a certain night. A certain code-phrase was provided so that the party may identify themselves on location.
The party has no idea what job the potential employer is offering, but it is almost assuredly to be something not fully within the bounds of the law.
Character Creation
Normal by-the-book chargen as per HE Revised Playtest, which the following changes:
For Ability Scores roll 3d6 in order, but re-roll any die with a value of "1" until you obtain a 2 or more. Thus the lowest possible ability score will be 6.
My Social Class Table will be in use.
After you finish generating a 1st Level character, roll 1d20 and multiply that by 100. Your PC begins with that many experience points. If that puts him at Level 2 go trough the leveling up process.
We will be using the honor system for chargen to speed things up. I don't need to see each step and dice roll.
Every PC in the party should have a Connection with at least one other PC. Nothing too fancy is needed, a "we studied together back at the Academy" will do fine. But this way there will be no absolute strangers within the party when we start. We can leave the establishment of connections until all PCs have been generated.
A description or picture and msone of two paragraphs of Background for a PC would be appreciated. There's no need to write a saga, just enough to help the GM and other players visualize your PC.
If your stuck in coming up with a proper-sounding name I recommend either the Tsolyani Name Generator http://www.weirdrealm.com/tekumel/words.html or Prof. Barker's "Tsolyani Names Without Tears" from Dragon Magazine nbr. 31. The article is available of PDF at Tekumel.com or I can e-mail you a copy.
Races
Whatever you want, including Drune's creations found outside the HE book such as the Sandmen of Canopus 4.
If you want to play a non-human you can lower an Ability Score that is above the limit for that species.
PM me if you want to play a mutant with Mutant Future powers, this will require some ad hoc GM rulings depending on what you roll.
Equipment
Anything on the HE book you wish and your character can afford is available. Primitive weapons can be bought using Labyrinth Lord prices, just change GP to CR.
My new Armor article isn't ready yet but I will be posting the stats for a few new available suits. Remember not all armor is adequate or legal in every occasion and location. It is a good idea for Warriors to have more than one model of armor available.
Every PC will have a few changes of normal clothing adequate for his social class. Citizens and those of higher station will have Imperial Identification Papers proving their status.
Unusual or unique personal items not on the rules will need to be paid for and will be dealt on a case by case basis.
Retainers
PCs can begin the game with retainers, limited by CHA. These come in various kinds.
Anyone can own Slaves except if they are a slave themselves. Slaves do not count to the CHA retainer limit number and cost nothing to maintain except for food. Their prices are as follows:
Servant boy or girl --- 150 CR Untrained Prole (bearer, servant, etc) --- 200 CR (*)Trained Slave --- 1,000 CR Trainable man-at-arms (1st level Warrior) --- (1d4+1) x 1,000 CR Psychic or Super-Scientific Powers (1st level only) --- (2d4+2) x 1,000 CR
Non-Humans (friendly races only) cost double
(*) - a trained slave costs 1,000 CR per each Background Skill he has
For animal followers and pets assume a cost of (1d4 x CR 100) x hit points. Basic robots cost (1d2 x CR 1000) x hit points and a Yeleth or advanced robot costs (1d2 x CR 5000) x hit points.
Hirelings are 0-level locals that can be hired as laborers (1d6 HP) or extra muscle (1d8 HP) on a standard-month basis for 1d100 CR each. They are common enough that they can be hired in-game with a day or two of effort.
Retainers are 1st level classed NPCs or non-classed specialists with positive modifiers on Background Skills.
The salary of a skilled non-combatant retainer (pilot, doctor, mechanic, etc) will vary depending on the type of skill (Basic, Technical, Expert) and its modifier. A warrior will demand a salary of 1d100+100 CR monthly plus room & board.
1st Level PCs can only have 0-level hirelings and retainers, 2nd level PCs can hire 1st NPC retainers too. Note that only PCs of Citizen Social Class or above can hire retainers, until they attain citizenship they are limited to slaves, hirelings, pets and robots.
Hirelings and retainers come with their own equipment (determined by the GM in collaboration with the player), slaves have only the shirts on their back, or maybe not even that.
Fighting hirelings and retainers get 1/2 an experience share of combat encounters in which they participate and survive.
House Rules
There will likely be a few of these but they won't affect character generation beyond what I have explained here. I will be posting them later.
“To be bitter is to attribute intent and personality to the formless, infinite, unchanging and unchangeable void. We drift on a chartless, resistless sea. Let us sing when we can, and forget the rest..” ― H.P. Lovecraft
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