Good Sci-Fi system

[CosmicSol]

This summer I'm planning to run two campaigns, one High Fantasy and the other Sci-Fi. I'm using 3.5 for the High Fantasy one, but I can't for the life of me find a good system for a Sci-Fi campaign. Any recommendations?

[DabblerWizard]

Star wars RPG?... Just try to buy the books before WOTC officially cuts its funding.

[BobVosh]

SWD20 is nice. Alternity is great as you can customize the techlevel, includes psionics you can throw in and out, and is a fairly easy system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternity

[Knaight]

Diaspora, assuming you want hard science fiction. Its a lightweight system, but it works beautifully as it is intended. For something without the restrictions, take a step back in genericnes to Fate, and then Fudge. Otherwise investigate the Cortex system. All these but Diaspora work well for soft sci-fi as well.

[The Big Dice]

Traveller has been reissued and updated a little.

But knowing what kind of scifi you want to run would help a little. There's quite a few different sstems and settings out there.

[CockroachTeaParty]

What would be a good sci-fi system if you wanted to run a game with multiple different races? Ideally, a system that would allow the creation of custom species as possible player character choices...

[Tough_Tonka]

For any type of Sci-Fi game: GURPS

Want the rules to be like DnD: Starwars D20, or True d20, maybe d20 modern.

Want a list of fake chinese cussing words: Serenity

[Dexam]

If you're after some "hard science transhuman future" sci-fi: Eclipse Phase

There's a downloadable "Quick Rules" PDF on the site if you're looking for something for a "try before I buy" and don't want to get the full core rules book/PDF (yet).

[hamlet]

What would be a good sci-fi system if you wanted to run a game with multiple different races? Ideally, a system that would allow the creation of custom species as possible player character choices...

Alternity.

The system does EVERYTHING. You just have to get past a front loaded learning curve, then everything's smooth sailing.

[Kurald Galain]

Alternity.

I'd say anything except that. It's essentially D&D In Space, and there is a reason why it never caught on. Both character generation and task resolution are extremely klunky mechanics that are overly complex with no reason.

Heck, Cyberpunk 2020 does a much better job at scifi, and it wasn't even written for it.

[Blackfang108]

I'd say anything except that. It's essentially D&D In Space, and there is a reason why it never caught on.

Because Wizards pulled it's funding shortly after it was released?

[Yuki Akuma]

Because Wizards pulled it's funding shortly after it was released?

There's a reason Wizards pulled its funding shortly after it was released.

They're not stupid. If something sells, they'll fund it.

[Blackfang108]

There's a reason Wizards pulled its funding shortly after it was released.

They're not stupid. If something sells, they'll fund it.

IIRC, (and it's been a while, so I could easily be wrong), the stated reason for ending Alternity was "it competes with D&D," not "its sales are weak." Wiki was unhelpful on this matter. (Did one of the WotC Star Wars RPGs start around the time they cut Alternity?)

Anyway, personally, I'd probably recommend Serenity for Scifi, depending on what type of SciFi you want to play. as others have said, we need more information to be of more help.

[eepop]

I am a fan of Alpha Omega. There aren't a whole lot of books for it, but its a really interesting system and a nice change of pace from D&D.

[Satyr]

The old Star Wars d6 rules are so much superior to any of the D20 varieties of the same setting, it's not even funny. Fortunately, the system existed on, even without the setting licence, as Space D6. It's a fun system.

Gurps is always worth a try, and in roundabout 90% of the cases, repalcing any given system with Gurps leads to a significant improvement of the game at hand. Besides, it has the advantage that the best Science Fiction setting I have ever seen was written for Gurps, Transhuman Space.

Do you look for a more generic system for your own setting, or do you look for a good SF settingand system combination? For the first part, the two systems mentioned above are your best choice. If you are looking for a setting, you could also consider Burning Empires, based on the Burning Wheels RPG and a game which won an origin award. It's pretty good, as far as I can tell.

[Kurald Galain]

Anyway, personally, I'd probably recommend Serenity for Scifi, depending on what type of SciFi you want to play. as others have said, we need more information to be of more help.

I concur, both with Serenity and with the need for more info.

[Yuki Akuma]

Also, I recommend GURPS, due to high flexibility and nano-wire whips.

Most impractical weapon ever.

[qcontinuum]

Star Wars Saga Edition is one of the best RPG systems I've ever played. Its also set up such that you could pretty easily strip out or reskin all of the Star Wars-specific stuff (no more Jedi/Sith, Force Points become "Action Points", etc...). Plus you only really need one book to run the system; the rest are just nice to have.

That said, it'd probably be best for soft, combat-heavy, heroic/cinematic sci-fi (eg. Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate), rather than a hard or gritty setting.

[Indon]

Mutants and Masterminds is fairly good for Sci-Fi, for much the reason GURPS is (i.e. it's really versatile with fairly freeform chargen), and it's D20ish.

[Blackfang108]

Also, I recommend GURPS, due to high flexibility and nano-wire whips.

Most impractical weapon ever.

...

Would this be something like the guys ring in Johnny Mnemonic?

[clockworkmonk]

If people are suggesting Serenity, that uses the Savage Worlds system, which I happen to really enjoy.

edit: apparently thats not true, I'm just remembering things in an odd way.

[Zeta Kai]

Would this be something like the guys ring in Johnny Mnemonic?

That's the one. And note that he was killed with his own monofilament wire. There's a reason why you don't bring a grenade to a knife fight.

[Artanis]

I'd suggest taking a look at Heavy Gear. It uses a system that can be used equally well for a "traditional" RPG, a tabletop wargame, or anything in between. If you want your players to be fighting in, with, or against vehicles at some point, Heavy Gear is the system for you.

[fusilier]

The old Star Wars d6 rules are so much superior to any of the D20 varieties of the same setting, it's not even funny. Fortunately, the system existed on, even without the setting licence, as Space D6. It's a fun system.

I would second this. It's been years since I've played it, but it was an awesome system. Typically more cinematic than GURPS I would say, but easy to learn and fun to play.

Gurps is always worth a try, and in roundabout 90% of the cases, repalcing any given system with Gurps leads to a significant improvement of the game at hand. Besides, it has the advantage that the best Science Fiction setting I have ever seen was written for Gurps, Transhuman Space.

If you are looking to build custom races, this is possible in GURPS (I've never done it myself though, so I can't comment on how easy it is). GURPS is good for realistic settings, but can also be used for cinematic campaigns. I'm not sure about the D6 system, but it probably has straightforward rules for making races.

[Yuki Akuma]

...

Would this be something like the guys ring in Johnny Mnemonic?

Yes.

They also have nano-wire swords, which are slightly less likely to kill you if you fumble, but God help you if the battery dies.

[Blackfang108]

I would second this. It's been years since I've played it, but it was an awesome system. Typically more cinematic than GURPS I would say, but easy to learn and fun to play.

I forgot about that system.

Sad, as it was my first P&P RPG, back in Junior High. it was a blast.

Literally so, at times. We were destructive.

[Delwugor]

For d20 cinematic/space opera style I'd recommend True20 with the possible addition of the Reigns of Discordia supplements. SWSE without the Force would be a good system but I found that it was the Force and Jedi which added the cinematic feel.
For a space opera non d20 style I'd look at Starblazer Adventures. Haven't played it myself but have heard lots of good things about it.
For a more gritty d20 style then d20 Future is the obvious choice.
For a very gritty non-d20 style then Gurps or Diaspora are good choices.

[Thane of Fife]

While I can't actually speak for its quality, I find Icar so beautiful that I want to play it.

And it's free. That's always nice.

[Malfunctioned]

I actually cannot recommend Traveller enough, I bought it to play with my group and out of D&D, M&M, NWoD and it they preffered Traveller by far.

[Raum]

The old Star Wars d6 rules are so much superior to any of the D20 varieties of the same setting, it's not even funny. Fortunately, the system existed on, even without the setting licence, as Space D6. It's a fun system.

Yes, this!

@the OP: Depending on what you're looking for in a game you may also consider Shadowrun, Wild Talents, Savage Worlds, or many of the other games mentioned.

What do you want out of the system as opposed to the setting? When it comes to setting, do you want anything other than a variety of alien races? Are you looking for an existing setting or thinking of building your own?