[RPG]: StarCluster RPG Core Rules, reviewed by Adam Theriault (2/4)

[RPGnet Reviews]

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/9/9610.phtml

Adam Theriault's Summary:

This sci-fi RPG is a nice example of what an Indy Publisher can come up with, but Flying Mice LLC needs to invest in a graphics designer to make their products really shine.

Go to the full review (http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/9/9610.phtml) for more information.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Marco at 2003-08-22 09:25:32
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I have two of the books for Star Cluster and I like them both. The hard-science aspect of the world is similar to an updated Traveler (well, updated from the original, anyway).

The design and engineering books for space ships are both complete and well described. I would have liked to have seen more art (especially interrior art)--as I dig the style and find the appearence of ships really adds to my imagination of the game.

But content wise, I think they're first rate!

-Marco

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Shoggoth at 2003-08-22 09:31:13
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OK, so the game comes in PDF form, and is poorly laid out. There is a rules-set included that sounds like a mix of Traveler character generation and some sort of standard resolution system.

So, how does the game play? Is there a game world included, or is it just a set of generic future-space rules ala GURPS? Is it worth the $10 dollars to find out?

I appreciate hard facts, but a review isn't just a basic summary.

Shoggoth

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Harrek at 2003-08-22 12:29:08
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Yeah. I don't get much of an impression from this either, one way or the other.

I suspect the rules philosophy is more detailed than I care for, from lines like:

"...minute based rounds consisting of 120 half-second initiative segments."

But who knows? The review certainly doesn't say.

Also, is this a set of rules, rules + setting, or what? Most of what the review describes are generic rules-books except this one:

"...for the Book of Jalan. Jalan is a magical world and has variations on some rules for creating characters..."

Is the Book of Jalan a separate game? Part of the same setting?

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Prevert at 2003-08-22 12:56:11
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Yeah, the whole "review" is kind of baffling.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Prof. Plum at 2003-08-22 13:37:40
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Come on now, Prevert! This is just piling on! No need to jump in and say "me too!" It's the guy's first review. Cut him some slack! Nothing you said added anything to the discussion. he's not going to learn to write better reviews from your critique, so why post it?

Prevert wrote:
-------------------------------
Yeah, the whole "review" is kind of baffling.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by clash bowley at 2003-08-22 19:20:18
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Thanks Marco! You gotta know I have the same opinion of JAGS. :D

Maybe next time we can squeeze a few more illos out of our poor over-worked artist. :P

clash
Flying Mice LLC

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by clash bowley at 2003-08-22 19:36:02
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Man, you guys are picky! Dan Davenport has spoiled the lot of you! :P

Adam, thanks! I liked the review! I thought your criticisms were right on the spot, and you got across a good deal of information. :D

BTW, Shoggoth, this was a capsule review, not a playtest review, so Adam couldn't give an impression of game play. :D

clash
Flying Mice LLC

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Richard Wells at 2003-08-22 21:14:42
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clash bowley wrote:
-------------------------------
Man, you guys are picky! Dan Davenport has spoiled the lot of you! :P

Adam, thanks! I liked the review! I thought your criticisms were right on the spot, and you got across a good deal of information. :D

BTW, Shoggoth, this was a capsule review, not a playtest review, so Adam couldn't give an impression of game play. :D

clash
Flying Mice LLC
-------------------------

Capsule reviews should inform how complete the rules are, if there are any obvious ommissions or inconsistencies, if the rules are heavy or soft. With PDF games, knowledge about the exact contents is most useful since it can not be completely browsed prior to purchase.

This "review" read more akin to regurgitating the sales copy you provide on your web site, not information that an informed consumer needs to know.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Whymme at 2003-08-23 03:16:01
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Sorry, Clash and Adam, but I have to agree with the others here. The review did not give much information at all. The game consists of a bunch of books and combat is measured in half seconds. Gosh.

Flying Mice is one of the more interesting posters on the forum, so I was interested to see his game come up for review. I wanted to know more about it. This review doesn't help me much, I'm afraid.

Whymme

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Prevert at 2003-08-23 21:24:56
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<B>he's not going to learn to write better reviews from your critique, so why post it?</B>

Yes, well, if you've made up your mind to judge the merit of my <I>agreement</I> post as a <I>critique,</I> it's bound to fall a bit short, isn't it? :)

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Steve Eley at 2003-08-24 08:15:11
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clash bowley wrote:
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BTW, Shoggoth, this was a capsule review, not a playtest review, so Adam couldn't give an impression of game play. :D
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He could, on the other hand, give an impression of whether he liked what he read, what its perceived strengths and flaws were, and how it stood against other examples in the genre.

You know. A *review*.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Charles Griswold at 2003-08-24 11:37:51
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clash bowley wrote:
-------------------------------
Man, you guys are picky! Dan Davenport has spoiled the lot of you! :P

Adam, thanks! I liked the review! I thought your criticisms were right on the spot, and you got across a good deal of information. :D

BTW, Shoggoth, this was a capsule review, not a playtest review, so Adam couldn't give an impression of game play. :D

clash
Flying Mice LLC
-------------------------------

IMHO, a review should give me some sense of whether a product is worth the effort to acquire, or if it's simply a waste of electrons and/or shelf space. I didn't get that from this review.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Adam Theriault at 2003-08-24 18:01:52
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Sorry that I didn't meet anybody's expectations on what a review should be. If I do further reviews, I'll try to keep all the valid points presented in mind so everybody can get a little more out of it.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Shoggoth at 2003-08-25 06:09:24
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Hey, don't worry about it! You're a pretty good writer, you just need to write MORE for your next review. I look forward to seeing you post another one on here!

Shoggoth

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by clash bowley at 2003-10-07 13:04:51
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Just a note to interested folk reading this review, the StarCluster RPG has been revised and reformatted, and is now available as a single pdf book rather than a collection of PDFs. It will soon be available in paper form from RPGnow, as well.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by clash bowley at 2003-10-28 11:13:02
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The print version is now available through RPGMall.com

The URL is:
http://www.rpgmall.com/product_info.php?products_id=32723&