WhiteShark
2015-09-13, 06:22 AM
I've got the urge to run a game again, specifically a cyberpunk/scifi style game (mostly inspired by having just finished Shadowrun: Hong Kong). However, I'm extremely torn as to what system I should use, having never used any of them before. Here are the ones I've considered and what I know about them. Any advice/recommendations would be appreciated.
Shadowrun (probably 4th ED)
Pros: Loads of setting material, actual currency system with discrete prices and lots of gear/cyberware, lethal combat
Cons: Lots of separate system mechanics (rigging/decking/magic), have to throw out the setting if magic is undesired (i.e. for a harder scifi game), overall complexity
Cyberpunk 2020
Pros: Another actual currency system with prices, gear and cyberware, lethal combat, seems like a solid representation of a cyberpunk setting
Cons: Probably would have to hack it a bunch (standard DCs for shooting stuff? attractiveness basically not mattering? weird and unnecessary classes/jobs?), lots of complicated netrunner stuff to learn
Ex Machina (tristat system)
Pros: Seems fairly streamlined and customizable, multiple settings presented in the material, somewhat lethal combat
Cons: gear/cyberware as part of character advancement, potentially very unbalanced character options
GURPS (Transhuman Space)
Pros: Supposed to be pretty good? Don't know much about this option.
Cons: Supposed to be pretty complex?
D20 Future
Pros: Familiar mechanics, discrete money/gear/cyberware system
Cons: class system, tired of a lot of d20 system mechanics (d20 style HP, saving throws, others)
Savage Worlds (scifi addon)
Pros: Fast/simple combat, money/gear system
Cons: unsure, I don't know much about Savage Worlds
I think some of my personal preferences are probably clear from how I've described these games, but I'll go ahead and make it explicit anyway. I very obviously enjoy having an actual currency system. Having to make hard decisions about what equipment to buy with a fairly limited amount of cash like in Shadowrun: Hong Kong really makes you feel like a desperate mercenary trying to get by. It's also obvious that I prefer lethal combat systems. It doesn't need to be fast necessarily, but I think that in a hard scifi type setting it is more fitting for catching a bullet to be a Big Deal. Other than that, I mostly want to steer clear of unnecessarily complex game systems, but if the other advantages of a given system are strong enough then I will set aside my apathy. I'm not unwilling to do a small amount of system hacking, but I would rather keep that to a minimum.
So there you have it. I haven't played a single one of these, but I've done a decent amount of skimming through rules for a lot of them. With the help of the playground (thanks in advance), maybe I can overcome my legendary indecisiveness and actually pick one. :smallwink:
Shadowrun (probably 4th ED)
Pros: Loads of setting material, actual currency system with discrete prices and lots of gear/cyberware, lethal combat
Cons: Lots of separate system mechanics (rigging/decking/magic), have to throw out the setting if magic is undesired (i.e. for a harder scifi game), overall complexity
Cyberpunk 2020
Pros: Another actual currency system with prices, gear and cyberware, lethal combat, seems like a solid representation of a cyberpunk setting
Cons: Probably would have to hack it a bunch (standard DCs for shooting stuff? attractiveness basically not mattering? weird and unnecessary classes/jobs?), lots of complicated netrunner stuff to learn
Ex Machina (tristat system)
Pros: Seems fairly streamlined and customizable, multiple settings presented in the material, somewhat lethal combat
Cons: gear/cyberware as part of character advancement, potentially very unbalanced character options
GURPS (Transhuman Space)
Pros: Supposed to be pretty good? Don't know much about this option.
Cons: Supposed to be pretty complex?
D20 Future
Pros: Familiar mechanics, discrete money/gear/cyberware system
Cons: class system, tired of a lot of d20 system mechanics (d20 style HP, saving throws, others)
Savage Worlds (scifi addon)
Pros: Fast/simple combat, money/gear system
Cons: unsure, I don't know much about Savage Worlds
I think some of my personal preferences are probably clear from how I've described these games, but I'll go ahead and make it explicit anyway. I very obviously enjoy having an actual currency system. Having to make hard decisions about what equipment to buy with a fairly limited amount of cash like in Shadowrun: Hong Kong really makes you feel like a desperate mercenary trying to get by. It's also obvious that I prefer lethal combat systems. It doesn't need to be fast necessarily, but I think that in a hard scifi type setting it is more fitting for catching a bullet to be a Big Deal. Other than that, I mostly want to steer clear of unnecessarily complex game systems, but if the other advantages of a given system are strong enough then I will set aside my apathy. I'm not unwilling to do a small amount of system hacking, but I would rather keep that to a minimum.
So there you have it. I haven't played a single one of these, but I've done a decent amount of skimming through rules for a lot of them. With the help of the playground (thanks in advance), maybe I can overcome my legendary indecisiveness and actually pick one. :smallwink: