Post by Finarvyn on Oct 21, 2013 3:26:30 GMT -6
Just tinkering and thinking out loud. I've been re-watching episodes of Firefly recently and pondering how to run a good campaign.
My initial thought was Traveller or OD&D. I did some web searching and found some d20 ideas which I suppose I could convert, but not much that looked like my "style" of play without a lot of work. (There is also a Savage Worlds version out there, for example, but I don't enjoy the system.)
Then it hit me. Firefly is basically a space western, so why not return to the grand-daddy of all western RPGs. Boot Hill. I can keep the weapons essentially unchanged, or maybe tinker a little with the names to make 'em sound more sci-fi. Otherwise, most of the system can remain pretty much as written.
Now, the problem that most folks have with Boot Hill is that it's more of a combat simulator than a true RPG, so how might I address the "extras" such as skills and the like? My next connection was to think of the way they do character fill-out in 13th Age where you get to pick (1) one unique thing, (2) several backgrounds that replace skills, and (3) icon relationships. Seemed like this would be a simple fix that I could just staple onto the Boot Hill rules to take care of the missing parts of the rulebook.
Just to elaborate a little, backgrounds replace skills. The idea is that you pick a couple of things you did and from the name given this suggests a "skill package" that you might use as needed. For example, Mal might have selected "Browncoat Sergeant in battle of Serenity Valley" as a background, which might give him benefits in being a soldier, being a leader, organizing logistics, or whatever. It's important to note that the player doesn't pick what the skill package can do beforehand, but if during play it seems to fit the situation then he just mentions it to the game master. Kind of a neat way to go, actually.
The "Icons" of 13th Age are archetype NPCs, and I'd have to create a list for Firefly but they might include contacts, politicians, military leaders, or the like. I could make up a list or let the players create some of their own. When you pick an icon relationship, you also determine if it's good or bad and what kind of backstory ties your character to that person.
What do you think?
My initial thought was Traveller or OD&D. I did some web searching and found some d20 ideas which I suppose I could convert, but not much that looked like my "style" of play without a lot of work. (There is also a Savage Worlds version out there, for example, but I don't enjoy the system.)
Then it hit me. Firefly is basically a space western, so why not return to the grand-daddy of all western RPGs. Boot Hill. I can keep the weapons essentially unchanged, or maybe tinker a little with the names to make 'em sound more sci-fi. Otherwise, most of the system can remain pretty much as written.
Now, the problem that most folks have with Boot Hill is that it's more of a combat simulator than a true RPG, so how might I address the "extras" such as skills and the like? My next connection was to think of the way they do character fill-out in 13th Age where you get to pick (1) one unique thing, (2) several backgrounds that replace skills, and (3) icon relationships. Seemed like this would be a simple fix that I could just staple onto the Boot Hill rules to take care of the missing parts of the rulebook.
Just to elaborate a little, backgrounds replace skills. The idea is that you pick a couple of things you did and from the name given this suggests a "skill package" that you might use as needed. For example, Mal might have selected "Browncoat Sergeant in battle of Serenity Valley" as a background, which might give him benefits in being a soldier, being a leader, organizing logistics, or whatever. It's important to note that the player doesn't pick what the skill package can do beforehand, but if during play it seems to fit the situation then he just mentions it to the game master. Kind of a neat way to go, actually.
The "Icons" of 13th Age are archetype NPCs, and I'd have to create a list for Firefly but they might include contacts, politicians, military leaders, or the like. I could make up a list or let the players create some of their own. When you pick an icon relationship, you also determine if it's good or bad and what kind of backstory ties your character to that person.
What do you think?
