A wonderful new look at the old game of colonial space and cinematic mecha anime. This new version of Jovian Chronicles breathes new life into an already exiting game.
Post originally by Darrin Bright at 2003-09-29 12:02:07
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Excuse me for maybe asking something blatantly obvious, but does this book use the Silhouette system or the d20 system?
Looks like you're saying it uses both, but it's not clear if this is dual-statted or if there are quirks that run smoothly under one system but are massive headaches under the other.
I'm a little confused about what other books are necessary. Core rules to what? If you prefer d20, do you need the SRD, d20 Modern, or d20 Mecha?
(I guess I'm just looking for the obligatory statement "They completely ruined this product to make it sell, but if you need your 20-sided pacifiers then they're here.")
Post originally by rgalex at 2003-09-29 14:09:43
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The book is dual statted but it's pimarily a SilCore book first with the d20 stuff second. From the looks of it if you have either the SRD or D&D3E you should be all set for the d20 version of JC. I'm not sure about d20 modern though.
Post originally by rgalex at 2003-09-29 14:15:41
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The powers go with the different archetypes. For example, if you take a pilot, you get sixth sense which lets you do things like negate a surprise attack or shake a tail. If you take the Soldier, you can negate an attack (the gun aimed at him jams or some such).
Post originally by Chris Czerniak at 2003-09-29 18:08:33
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Basicaly, anything that is stated in Silhouette is also stated in d20.
The Archtypes use d20 Modern basic classes each starting at level 2. Some are mixed classes and all the anime powers are given d20 variants.
The one problem with the OGL/d20 sections of Jovian Chronicles PG is the exo-armors and space craft. Each vehicle has a few specialized items in the OGL stat block that are not common in d20. I do beleive they are used in the "d20 Mecha Compendium" and were built using GOO Mecha Construction book which has yet to be released.
Dream Pod 9s support of OGL is not great but getting better. An appendix or something would have been helpful for the Mechanical Catalog for both OGL and Silhouette stats.
Post originally by Jeff Klingbeil at 2003-09-29 23:16:44
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Thanks for the review. It told me about this product line, but I am still not sure if this book is for me.
I love that there's a Solar System type space setting, but the giant robots have me wincing a bit.
Where would you rank this product line vs. Transhuman Space, Star Frontiers, Farscape, Babylon 5, Star Trek, and Traveller:T20?
Post originally by Andy Akins at 2003-09-30 06:16:43
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I am a huge Jovian Chronicles fan - but like you I'm not a fan of the giant robots. So what do I do - leave them out. The Exos are not an integral part of the background - they're just another vehicle like the ships or fighters. So my Majestics carriers are loaded with Lancer fighters rather than Pathfinder Exos, and the game doesn't suffer at all.
I think JC is, sans mecha, the best hard sci-fi game out there. Some people will like Transhuman Space better - but I'm not sure I consider TS "hard" - the wetware in it and the AI is pretty beyond the pale IMHO - you opinion may differ.
I play all the games you listed except Farscape and Star Trek, and JC is my favorite. Give it a try!
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