Finally, a setting for d20 Future. And a very good one at that. Dawning Star is about humanity's struggle to survive on the planet Eos in the year 2251, after the destruction of Earth.
Post originally by No2 at 2005-06-03 04:23:34
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Interesting, detailed review. Reminds me a lot of a french comic book called AQUABLUE, and the Blue Planet and Shaan RPGs a bit. Unfortunately, the aliens' humanoid appearance and tree-hugging culture seems star-trekkish to me and deters from the setting.
Post originally by TonyLB at 2005-06-03 06:37:40
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Nice review! I get how various factions are in conflict over various lines (independence vs. order, exploitation vs. co-existence).
What I'm wondering about, though, is where the grounds for uneasy alliances come in. Basically, to be cynical, most alliances follow a pattern: Party A and Party B do not trust or like each other, but set that aside because they can each benefit greatly by temporarily combining to screw Party C.
So... what can the Velin do against the DSR that will benefit the EFL? Do the Greys have information they'll share about the Vaasi, if the humans betray one of their own to the sinister Grey agenda? That sort of thing.
There are tantalizing hints that the book is rife with such stuff, but I can't quite tell from the review. Maybe somebody who knows the material better can say whether such structures are really in place, or whether I'm just seeing what I'd like to see.
Post originally by Justin D. Jacobson at 2005-06-03 07:25:42
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I could see a number of alliances forming in a myriad of ways, depending on how you wanted to run your campaign.
The velin might be disturbed by the expansion of the humans as embodied by the DSR or by the failure of the DSR to acknowledge the threat of the vaasi. An enterprising EDF member could bring a number of velin tribes into the fold. As a "resource" the velin's principal value is information. Knowledge of the planet and how to live in and adapt to it.
I don't think the Tentaari agenda is all that "sinister" (though it could easily be modified to that). Exactly what their agenda is, I won't post here, save to say that they are principally interested in self-preservation, an interest that can easily be exploited.
Post originally by Justin D. Jacobson at 2005-06-03 07:31:11
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No, no, no! Clearly a failure in our marketing machine. :-)
There is a very good reason why the aliens look and act as they do. Let's just say that the velin refer to the humans as "brothers," and that's no mere happenstance. One of the very first people on our project was our technical advisor Robert J. Grady, who's a veritable Reed Richards (okay, pardon the puffery). As mentioned in the intro, this very much a firm-science setting. Honestly, how many product lines do you know that have a technical advisor.
Post originally by TonyLB at 2005-06-03 08:55:33
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Do you see any slant in the product toward either (a) your goals can be won with only the resources of your own side if you're good enough and smart enough, or (b) the fight is hopeless without help, therefore making alliance a necessity, not just an option?
Just trying to get a sense of how it's weighted for use, if at all.
Post originally by Ray the Bhuketi at 2005-06-03 09:03:50
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I just picked this up a few days ago and all I can say is WOW.
I'm not a d20 fan at all, but find d20 modern at least playable, and have been looking for a setting to run a game at my FLGS.
Boy o boy did I find it.
This game is VERY well put together, my only regret is that there wasn't a hardcopy I could order from my store, cuz I can't bring my computer everywhere with me
Post originally by Justin D. Jacobson at 2005-06-03 13:13:14
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Well, the "fight" is only just beginning, and the humans don't yet know what they're in for. I would say, definitely "b". A GM could certainly modify to the contrary, but that's the overall feel. Stuck in a lifeboat with a bunch of people you don't know and, frankly, don't trust. Sounds like a fun campaign to me.
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