Fantasy Games Unlimted: Space Opera

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Rupert

There was an optional rule that let you start at Psi-19 if you were a Human, Transhuman, or Feline Avatar and had rolled '100' for Psi to start. So it didn't quite need a house rule, just almost.

.

In the later one book/non-boxed set version there was a rules change that allowed you to divert points from other stats to get to PSI 19.

Yes, fully knowing what a mess it was I bought it again because I've worn the covers off my stapled version.

Also in Star Atlas 11 there's a creature encounter that can make it happen. all you have to do to survive it is roll a 1 on D1000. 1 on D10,000 if you do it deliberately.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

Did you have both books? The first edition came in two volumes of stapled books. The info you needed was in the second. They weren't _good_ rules but I managed to figure it out.

We had the two stapled books. We must have failed to spot what we needed.

[RogerBW]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

Also in Star Atlas 11 there's a creature encounter that can make it happen. all you have to do to survive it is roll a 1 on D1000.

Which is described as a "0.001%" chance.

Looking on the bright side, it also makes you immortal (if you survive it).

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by RogerBW

Which is described as a "0.001%" chance.

Looking on the bright side, it also makes you immortal (if you survive it).

Permanently provides you with a Special Friend too. :)

Space Opera was actually somewhat refreshing n that it was one of the first SF sources and definitely first game that had affordable immortality in it as a regular feature.

So there was at least one "transhuman" element in it.

[RogerBW]

Now that I look at it, I realise that Space Master (which I played for quite a few years) owes quite a bit to Space Opera, particularly the terms "Armsman" for the fighter class and "Transhuman" for variant/upgraded humans – and its heavy use of technical character classes.

[Rupert]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

In the later one book/non-boxed set version there was a rules change that allowed you to divert points from other stats to get to PSI 19.

It's in my original boxed set book 1. Now, that book may be from a second printing, because the box had a slightly different cover painting (by Charette, copying the original Day, but with a less busty woman with a much higher neckline). However, the same rule was in my friend's copy, and his had the original box.

Yes, fully knowing what a mess it was I bought it again because I've worn the covers off my stapled version.

Also in Star Atlas 11 there's a creature encounter that can make it happen. all you have to do to survive it is roll a 1 on D1000. 1 on D10,000 if you do it deliberately.

Seems fair. ;)

Originally Posted by RogerBW

Now that I look at it, I realise that Space Master (which I played for quite a few years) owes quite a bit to Space Opera, particularly the terms "Armsman" for the fighter class and "Transhuman" for variant/upgraded humans – and its heavy use of technical character classes.

I noticed that too, though it doesn't have the yummy equipment lists and affordable powered armour. It did have somewhat affordable and worthwhile personal force fields though, like Space Opera.

[Randyman]

I love the mash-up setting of Space Opera, but I fully agree that the rules are a hot mess. If only someone could get permission to do the setting in a different game system...

[robkelk]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

...
Also in Star Atlas 11 there's a creature encounter that can make it happen. all you have to do to survive it is roll a 1 on D1000. 1 on D10,000 if you do it deliberately.

I remember reading that short story, way back when. I don't remember what it was called or who wrote it, though.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by robkelk

I remember reading that short story, way back when. I don't remember what it was called or who wrote it, though.

Are you thinking of _Needle_ by Hal Clement?

[sir_pudding]

1d210? How does that work? 1d2 for the hundreds place and 1d10 for the tens and ones? With some method to discriminate between 200 and 210?

Edit: That doesn't make sense. 1d2 and if 1 then roll 1d10,1d10, and if 2 then roll 1d10, if 0 roll 1d2 and on a 1 read as 00 and a 2 as 210?