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ffuturesThis is a repeat of a 2019 bundle for Stars Without Number, from Sine Nomine Publishing. It's described as a "Sandbox SF RPG", with an emphasis on creating the setting then letting the players loose on it, without imposing a tight plot on them.
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/SWN2024
Last time I looked at this I said
I'll be honest, I looked at this and really didn't feel incredibly interested. It's another "Mankind has expanded to the galaxy then things went badly wrong" setting, this time the problem is development of psychic powers, followed by technological dependence on them and (inevitably) things falling apart when psionics goes blooey. Yet another setting where nobody has heard of redundant systems and backup plans, like the Virus in Traveller, Chaos in WfRP, etc. One of these years I'd love to see a setting where mankind expanded to the stars and things went spectacularly RIGHT, but utopias are a sod to GM so I doubt it'll happen any time soon.
As usual, you're getting a lot for your money if you need it; my personal feeling is that I don't, I already have some excellent SF RPGs, but tastes differ and the games I like may not be your cup of tea. Recommended subject to all of the usual provisos.
In hindsight I think I may have been a little harsh; on the whole it's a nice system, with some good ideas for GM-ing the more freewheeling approach needed for sandbox games. I don't particularly want to use it, but that's mainly because I'm not running campaigns any more and tend to prefer more focused plotting, with predetermined goals (stop an asteroid hitting Britain, kill Harry Potter, etc. etc.) that can be played in a single session.
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/SWN2024
Last time I looked at this I said
I'll be honest, I looked at this and really didn't feel incredibly interested. It's another "Mankind has expanded to the galaxy then things went badly wrong" setting, this time the problem is development of psychic powers, followed by technological dependence on them and (inevitably) things falling apart when psionics goes blooey. Yet another setting where nobody has heard of redundant systems and backup plans, like the Virus in Traveller, Chaos in WfRP, etc. One of these years I'd love to see a setting where mankind expanded to the stars and things went spectacularly RIGHT, but utopias are a sod to GM so I doubt it'll happen any time soon.
As usual, you're getting a lot for your money if you need it; my personal feeling is that I don't, I already have some excellent SF RPGs, but tastes differ and the games I like may not be your cup of tea. Recommended subject to all of the usual provisos.
In hindsight I think I may have been a little harsh; on the whole it's a nice system, with some good ideas for GM-ing the more freewheeling approach needed for sandbox games. I don't particularly want to use it, but that's mainly because I'm not running campaigns any more and tend to prefer more focused plotting, with predetermined goals (stop an asteroid hitting Britain, kill Harry Potter, etc. etc.) that can be played in a single session.
