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Firefly
Feb 12, 2011 16:18:34 GMT -6
Post by Finarvyn on Feb 12, 2011 16:18:34 GMT -6
A friend of mine finally got a chance to watch the Firefly TV series DVD's and wants to play a space-western (if only I have time to run one).
I've got a copy of the Serenity RPG (through MWP games) but haven't really run CORTEX much, so I don't know how good it is. I also thought that Firefly seemed similar to Traveller in feel, so I could use that.
In addition, I had thought about taking Boot Hill and converting it over to Firefly. Then I thought about taking SimonW's C&C Go Fer Yer Gun and converting it. Both idea sounded reasonable and not too much work, but I thought I'd consult the sages here on the boards to see (1) if anyone has already done something like this and/or (2) if anyone has a better suggestion I've not thought of yet.
Too many options, not sure which way to go. So... are there any other suggestions on how to run a good Firefly game?
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18 Spears
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Firefly
Feb 12, 2011 17:06:29 GMT -6
Post by 18 Spears on Feb 12, 2011 17:06:29 GMT -6
Well, Mongoose publishes a Firefly/Serenity RPG that I understand is pretty well-written, but I can't personally vouch for it.
I'd say Traveller is probably a pretty good fit. You could use Traveller's skill base with Boot Hills combat mechanic if you wanted to get really fancy (or Boot Hills rules set with Traveller's skills tacked on).
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Firefly
Feb 12, 2011 20:05:39 GMT -6
Post by Finarvyn on Feb 12, 2011 20:05:39 GMT -6
Well, Mongoose publishes a Firefly/Serenity RPG that I understand is pretty well-written, but I can't personally vouch for it. Does Mongoose have a new one, or are you thinking of the Margaret Weis Publications game that uses the CORTEX system. I have the MWP version already, along with most of the supplementary materials. (Which is good since I think MWP lost the rights to continue with the RPG.)
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18 Spears
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Firefly
Feb 12, 2011 21:31:41 GMT -6
Post by 18 Spears on Feb 12, 2011 21:31:41 GMT -6
AFAIK the Weis version is the only one extant.
Lovely woman, btw.
I met her and (Mr.) Hickman once upon a GenCon and both were gracious and more than willing to talk about their work.
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Firefly
Feb 12, 2011 23:21:46 GMT -6
Post by coffee on Feb 12, 2011 23:21:46 GMT -6
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Firefly
Feb 13, 2011 6:05:08 GMT -6
Post by Finarvyn on Feb 13, 2011 6:05:08 GMT -6
Thanks for the links, Coffee, but the middle one (wayback machine) didn't seem to work and I've been unable to find the original Martin Runyon "Risus Firefly" anywhere. The third link was really good, however.
I've never played Risus, although I've looked at it several times. Kind of a loose-funky rules system...
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Firefly
Feb 13, 2011 8:19:23 GMT -6
Post by Falconer on Feb 13, 2011 8:19:23 GMT -6
I think the Serenity RPG would probably work just fine. The Big d**n Heroes Handbook is supposed to improve the rules tremendously.
I seriously LOVE Firefly as a show, but it’s considerably less fantastic than Star Trek, Star Wars, and Battlestar Galactica, so I’m not as excited to play it as a RPG compared to the others.
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Firefly
Feb 13, 2011 15:46:09 GMT -6
Post by Finarvyn on Feb 13, 2011 15:46:09 GMT -6
I seriously LOVE Firefly as a show, but it’s considerably less fantastic than Star Trek, Star Wars, and Battlestar Galactica, so I’m not as excited to play it as a RPG compared to the others. Well, I like westerns and scifi, and Firefly is a neat blend of the two. It also allows for characters to wander aimlessly and find adventure, something hard to do in Star Trek. I agree about some of the others you've mentioned, however. I think of the three, Star Wars is probably the most fun to play as a RPG since it's so action-based. Both BSG and ST have that military background which makes it harder to "freelance" adventures.
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Firefly
Feb 13, 2011 23:21:02 GMT -6
Post by coffee on Feb 13, 2011 23:21:02 GMT -6
Thanks for the links, Coffee, but the middle one (wayback machine) didn't seem to work and I've been unable to find the original Martin Runyon "Risus Firefly" anywhere. The third link was really good, however. I've never played Risus, although I've looked at it several times. Kind of a loose-funky rules system... I may have a pdf-ized copy of it somewhere -- let me check my other computer and get back to you.
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Firefly
Feb 14, 2011 0:05:49 GMT -6
Post by Malcadon on Feb 14, 2011 0:05:49 GMT -6
The Mini Six RPG list an example setting based on Firefly called Perdition. Like the other sample settings, it is the actual setting, but with the serial numbers filled-off. Firefly is a d**n simple setting to run, as its a bunch of cowboys with a spaceship, who cuss in Chinese, so you can use most any system. Like with Star Frontiers before Knight Hawks, you don't need fancy ship-to-ship combat rules to run the game, as adventures usually happen mono e mono. I also recommend the RPG, as its full of useful info, but you can also find info at sites like the FireflyWiki.
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Firefly
Feb 14, 2011 12:06:15 GMT -6
Post by Falconer on Feb 14, 2011 12:06:15 GMT -6
Well, I like westerns and scifi, and Firefly is a neat blend of the two. It also allows for characters to wander aimlessly and find adventure, something hard to do in Star Trek. I agree about some of the others you've mentioned, however. I think of the three, Star Wars is probably the most fun to play as a RPG since it's so action-based. Both BSG and ST have that military background which makes it harder to "freelance" adventures. Okay, how about a Firefly-esque smuggler ship but with the setting of Star Trek’s Rigel system? Best of both worlds (with more than a bit of Burroughs thrown in for good measure)!
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18 Spears
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Firefly
Feb 14, 2011 13:01:43 GMT -6
Post by 18 Spears on Feb 14, 2011 13:01:43 GMT -6
Okay, how about a Firefly-esque smuggler ship but with the setting of Star Trek’s Rigel system? Best of both worlds (with more than a bit of Burroughs thrown in for good measure)! That sounds like this fan-made computer animated Star Trek series ... www.auroratrek.com/index.htmlA two woman freighter tooling around the Federation.
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Firefly
Feb 14, 2011 17:07:29 GMT -6
Post by Malcadon on Feb 14, 2011 17:07:29 GMT -6
I also recommend checking out SimonW's Blake's 7 RPG (B7RPG), as it has vary similar themes (with roguish anti-heroes, running from an all-seeing police-state, and such), but not so cowboy-ish. I have not played this system, but it is full of useful information.
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Firefly
Feb 14, 2011 17:31:45 GMT -6
Post by coffee on Feb 14, 2011 17:31:45 GMT -6
Thanks for the links, Coffee, but the middle one (wayback machine) didn't seem to work and I've been unable to find the original Martin Runyon "Risus Firefly" anywhere. That link worked for me. I've copied it into a rough PDF for you. I'll email it to you.
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Alex
Level 3 Conjurer
Posts: 92
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Firefly
Feb 20, 2011 20:17:03 GMT -6
Post by Alex on Feb 20, 2011 20:17:03 GMT -6
My preference and recommendation would be Classic Traveller. From most accounts, Joss played it and it quite likely could be his inspiration. Just get rid of the Jump Drive, you have Traveller in-system. The Jump Drive number still indicates accelleration and decelleration (1G/jump level if I recall correctly) so a higher order drive would still affect travel time in a meaningful way. And Traveller already has the "pistols over lasers" emphasis that Firefly has. It would take very little effort to run. Heck, most of the main cast were ex-soldiers just like the typical starting Traveller. Just replace the Traveller's Aide Society with the Companion's Guild (sorry, no connection, just had to drop some names and a really interesting twist to the setting).
I've looked at the Serenity RPG many times. It's...beautiful. But as a system, it's definitely not my type. I am not comfortable with third+ generation RPGs that have the advantage/disadvantage (by whatever name they choose), and the whole point-buy character creation approach. I don't want to make the perfect "build" or come up with some really exotic character concept and then try to make it fit within the scope of my starting points or the set of advantages/disadvantages presented in the rulebook. And I'm also not a fan of the "mulligan" points of fourth generation RPGs. Buying your way out of a bad die roll seems so wrong to me. So I would NOT choose CORTEX (although the "Attribute Die + Skill Die" mechanic sounds pretty cool, I think it's simply not enough to balance the other traits I don't like). You may (and likely do) feel quite differently. I'm just giving my side since you asked for opinions.
Off topic: Firefly, Star Trek, Star Wars, Stargate, and Babylon 5 are the five pillars of on-screen Science Fiction. Of those the only one I don't see myself playing in an RPG is Babylon 5 as that show grabbed me by it's elaborate and epic plot arc. Firefly type stories could be done in the Star Wars or Star Trek universes, just with much higher tech gear. The Rigel system sounds like an ideal location for Star Trek Firefly, maybe a thousand years ago before warp drive was discovered.
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Firefly
Feb 21, 2011 15:47:42 GMT -6
Post by Falconer on Feb 21, 2011 15:47:42 GMT -6
Heck, most of the main cast were ex-soldiers just like the typical starting Traveller. Nah, just Mal and Zoe. You could probably count Book, too. That wasn’t part of Sovereign Stone, so I imagine it could be excised from Serenity without trouble. Ahh, what, no Battlestar Galactica (TOS)? My thoughts on the Rigel system.
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Alex
Level 3 Conjurer
Posts: 92
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Firefly
Feb 22, 2011 9:23:10 GMT -6
Post by Alex on Feb 22, 2011 9:23:10 GMT -6
No, I didn't like BSG. The original is much more interesting than the new series, but I just don't like either.
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Firefly
Feb 26, 2011 12:48:04 GMT -6
Post by Mike on Feb 26, 2011 12:48:04 GMT -6
The Firefly team are very much a bunch of 'Traveller' characters. But I wouldn't use Traveller to represent the game world, I'd probably go for Stars Without Number (all the good things about Traveller and none of the ordinary).
I wouldn't use the Serenity RPG. I find the Cortex system to by a little on the lame side and the setting specific rules (such as space ships and trade) are broken, plain and simple.
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