Post originally by Tim Gray at 2005-01-24 04:32:39
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If each player is a complete ship and crew, what is the interaction between them? Entirely hostile/competitive? What is it that makes this an RPG rather than... I dunno... Cosmic Encounter? What do you *do*?
Post originally by Bira at 2005-01-24 06:40:01
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Two things came to my mind when I read this. They probably don't have antything to do with the setting's details, but I think the fit the spirit of the thing:
1) The players are a mercenary fleet. The travel the galaxy, meet interesting lifeforms, and kill them.
2) A paper version of Star Control 3, which is pretty much item 1 with a greater cause. The computer game had a relatively serious storyline (free the Earth from the evil Ur-Quan conquerors!), but the ships and the aliens who piloted them could be hilarious.
Post originally by Matt Drake at 2005-01-24 06:50:32
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While the game has suggestions for campaigns and adventures, the focus of the game is meeting things and blowing them to space trash. Interaction between individual characters is not visited in any depth.
I found that the most interesting thing about Star Thugs was the ship combat system, and the BENDing thing. Well, aside from the hilarious writing, I mean. There really is a dearth of personal interaction, so you are really more or less meant to fly around the galaxy and blow up pirates.
Post originally by William A. Peterson at 2005-01-24 10:25:13
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No, as I read it, it's a two-player tabletop RPG...
{only kind of minus the Role-playing)
The Player controls one side, and the GM the other, to be sure...
And, there may be character interaction, but I gather that's left up to the GM, and not covered by the rules (A lot of the old RPGs were much like this!).
But a 2-player tabletop game would probabley give you maps, and markers, and rules for naneuver, while this seems to keep all the abstractions of a Role-player, without any of the fun parts!
It kind of reminds me of amateur RPGs of the late 1970s...
Post originally by Matt Drake at 2005-01-24 11:05:42
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There are rules for maneuvers, but yes, it is a fairly abstract game. The players can control several ships and go on bounty hunting missions, pirate hunting, exploration, monster hunting, merchantile missions, etc...
Personal combat is covered, but not extensively. Other actions are also possible. The game is not limited to starship combat, but the rules for space combat are considerably more involved than the rest of the rules.
One good use for Star Thugs would be to use the starship combat as presented and graft on your own personal interaction rules. There is no reason characters have to stay in space - they could negotiate with ambassadors, chase assassins through starbase corridors, or hide on remote planets from space monsters. I would personally recommend FATE for more involved character stuff, but you could use nearly anything.
Star Thugs has a good amount of background material. As I said in my review, I think this game is completely playable. It is fairly tactical in starship combat, which might not appeal to some, but it's a good read and could be a fun game.
Post originally by Thornhammer at 2005-01-24 19:32:11
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http://www.ghazporkindustrial.com/?P=StarThugs
That the cover?
Sweet. Looks hilarious. Must own.
Anybody else listened to much of the Maggott Show and care to report? The first one was funny enough, but I haven't heard the others. And this game is based on the show...
Post originally by Skinner's Pigeon at 2005-01-25 08:55:37
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I think that it wouldn't take too much effort to kludge the system to stick multiple players on a single ship. Not only would that allow them all to munchkinize via specialization (Chief Engineer, Boatswain, Captain, etc.) but it could easily lead to some sick Star Trek parodies.
Alternately, the abovementioned "fleet o' pirates" works well too. Perhaps one PC controls the Mothership and others control escorts/fighters/etc.
Linear Mode
