Mephe
2008-01-11, 11:33 PM
I just got my hands on a copy of CthulhuTech, and I'm not really sure what to make of it. It has rules for PCs (called "Dramatic Characters") that span far too wide a spectrum for any one game. Theres rules for soldiers, sorcerers, technitian, and it just goes up from there, let me give you a little look at some of the odditties:
Mechas: The least odd thing on this list, they're the Tech in CthulhuTech. They are giant robots with guns and all sorts of gadgets. These are standard fare for dealing with the larger alien menaces.
Engels: If you know what an EVA from NGE is, you can stop here. For everyone else, Engels are basically half robot/ half machine creatures with self-awareness. They are controlled by pilots who nuerally interface with the Engel's brain to assert their dominace over the monster. While overall superior to Mecha, Engels have some major drawbacks. Interfacing with a pseudo-alien life form is greatly distubing at best. Insanity is a common side effect seen in pilots. Also, while pilots can usually controll their Engel, if the pilot is rendered unconsious, the Engel goes berserk, destroying everything in can get its hands on.
Tagers: Now, these guys seem pretty interesting, actually. Tagers are people who have taken on a sybionic relationship with a parasite-like creature. In exchange for being able to feed of the host's natural magic energy, the symbiont genetically alters the host in to what could be considered super-human. They also grant the host the ability to shift in to a 7 foot tall monster. Each type of symbiont has different abilities in this form, such as blasts of eldritch energy, flight, and invisibility. The thing DCs need to watch out for is the inherent mental instability brought on by being a Host.
While all of these seem like great and cool additions, my concern lies in the combat "mobility". If you're a soldier/wizard/techie, you'll be challenged by other soldiers/wizrds/techies, Tagers will be a major problem, and you're pretty much SOL if your "Storyguide" (DM) puts you up against any kind of mecha. On the other side of the spectrum, if you're piloting an Engel, you'll be challeneged by mecha, and Tagers might be a nuisance, while troops are a not issue. What this means, basically, is that the SG has to decide what type of game they want to play: Troop-Level, Tager-Level, Mecha-Level, or Engel-Level. And after one is picked, you're pretty much stuck to a few options.
While it may seem like I'm just putting down CTech, I have to say that despite this, I really want to play a game. The idea of fighting against such things as The Dunwich Horror and Pickman's Models makes me more than a little giddy. So, take a look at this book, it's not for eeryone, but if you like d20 Modern/Future and you enjoy H.P. Lovecraft (which you should). You may just find that system you were looking for.
P.S. The motorcycle they show in the book looks like Kaneda's bike and is called the "Akira". So no points to the developers for originality :smallwink: .
Mechas: The least odd thing on this list, they're the Tech in CthulhuTech. They are giant robots with guns and all sorts of gadgets. These are standard fare for dealing with the larger alien menaces.
Engels: If you know what an EVA from NGE is, you can stop here. For everyone else, Engels are basically half robot/ half machine creatures with self-awareness. They are controlled by pilots who nuerally interface with the Engel's brain to assert their dominace over the monster. While overall superior to Mecha, Engels have some major drawbacks. Interfacing with a pseudo-alien life form is greatly distubing at best. Insanity is a common side effect seen in pilots. Also, while pilots can usually controll their Engel, if the pilot is rendered unconsious, the Engel goes berserk, destroying everything in can get its hands on.
Tagers: Now, these guys seem pretty interesting, actually. Tagers are people who have taken on a sybionic relationship with a parasite-like creature. In exchange for being able to feed of the host's natural magic energy, the symbiont genetically alters the host in to what could be considered super-human. They also grant the host the ability to shift in to a 7 foot tall monster. Each type of symbiont has different abilities in this form, such as blasts of eldritch energy, flight, and invisibility. The thing DCs need to watch out for is the inherent mental instability brought on by being a Host.
While all of these seem like great and cool additions, my concern lies in the combat "mobility". If you're a soldier/wizard/techie, you'll be challenged by other soldiers/wizrds/techies, Tagers will be a major problem, and you're pretty much SOL if your "Storyguide" (DM) puts you up against any kind of mecha. On the other side of the spectrum, if you're piloting an Engel, you'll be challeneged by mecha, and Tagers might be a nuisance, while troops are a not issue. What this means, basically, is that the SG has to decide what type of game they want to play: Troop-Level, Tager-Level, Mecha-Level, or Engel-Level. And after one is picked, you're pretty much stuck to a few options.
While it may seem like I'm just putting down CTech, I have to say that despite this, I really want to play a game. The idea of fighting against such things as The Dunwich Horror and Pickman's Models makes me more than a little giddy. So, take a look at this book, it's not for eeryone, but if you like d20 Modern/Future and you enjoy H.P. Lovecraft (which you should). You may just find that system you were looking for.
P.S. The motorcycle they show in the book looks like Kaneda's bike and is called the "Akira". So no points to the developers for originality :smallwink: .