[RPG]: Starship Troopers RPG, reviewed by Matt Drake (4/4)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/11/11397.phtml

Matt Drake's Summary:

Finally, the chance to play with the grandaddy of all powered armor suits. Why hasn't someone made this before?

Go to the full review for more information.

[Veiltender]

The ad copy for this book seems to indicate that if you are a book purist, such as myself, the game has the ability to handle that. Any information on exactly how this game handles all its widely disparate source material? I know the review observed that the game is largely drawn from the cartoon series (which, I will admit, I was unaware of), but I am curious if it has the tools to run in any of the various sources.

[Dan Davenport]

Originally Posted by Veiltender

The ad copy for this book seems to indicate that if you are a book purist, such as myself, the game has the ability to handle that. Any information on exactly how this game handles all its widely disparate source material? I know the review observed that the game is largely drawn from the cartoon series (which, I will admit, I was unaware of), but I am curious if it has the tools to run in any of the various sources.

I'm wondering that myself.

In the novel and the movie, the relative power levels of the individual humans and bugs are basically reversed: humans in tank-like power armor wading through bug hordes vs. humans with rifles fighting giant bugs that can slice and dice them. (And then, of course, there's the wide disparity in the tech level of the bugs in the novel as compared to their movie counterparts.) It sounds as though the cartoon, which I've only glimpsed, manages to find some middle ground, but based upon your review, it doesn't sound as though the game does much for the novel purists.

Great review, though!

[Griffon Games]

I had a couple of problems with the book (which I think is pretty good overall)..

Prestige - It's on your character sheet, they tell you how much you get to start, tell you about getting more... but never really tell you what you do with it until you look at picking up equipment for your character. Is that all it's for? Requisitioning equipment?

Rank - I couldn't find anywhere that said what rank you started at and how you gained more rank. Was this a feat that I missed or something because it didn't seem to be near where they actually list what all of the ranks in the military are.

- Jay

[Matt Drake]

Yeah, the movie is basically the opposite of the book, and in my opinion, a waste of time. The cartoon finds a middle ground - the armored troopers are not the powerful death machines you find in the novel, nor are they the chumps in bulletproof vests you see in the movie. And the RPG is based more off the cartoon than anything else, which is good from where I'm sitting.

In other words, a bug and a trooper are close to even. The trooper has the gun, which is a huge edge, but if the bug can get close, the trooper's in trouble. And some of the bugs can shoot, too, and that's pretty intense, especially when they spit acid that can destroy a power suit or spikes that can go right through them.

I know this review isn't about the cartoon, but I seriously suggest it even if you're not going to play the RPG. I'm watching the fourth disc tomorrow night (working late tonight) and I am LOVING IT. It rocks on toast. It sort of splits the difference between the novel and the movie, with bad-ass power armor capable of impressive feats (including those drops from orbit, which are sweet), but weak enough that other stuff is still useful, like skimmers and mechanized armor. The guys in the 'toon call in air strikes, pilot kickass jet skis, fire plasma grenade launchers, and other cool stuff. The bugs from the movie are in the cartoon, so they're not puny, and some even have psionic abilities. The skinnies are in the cartoon, too.

[Chade]

I'm kinda surprised you gave the book a 4 in style, if it is such an editing mess. Which is kinda sucky, considering how much I like the topic. I thought Mongoose had fixed these kind of problems.

[Mongoose_Matt]

The gentleman responsible for editing SST has been removed from editing duties altogether. However, if you like the layout and design of this rulebook, you will be pleased to know he has been transferred to work on the layout of all Mongoose's forthcoming books.

[Matt Drake]

Originally Posted by Chade

I'm kinda surprised you gave the book a 4 in style, if it is such an editing mess. Which is kinda sucky, considering how much I like the topic. I thought Mongoose had fixed these kind of problems.

Yeah, the editing is bad. It's worse than many small-press projects. But the layout, art and massive groove this book has makes it above average. 3 is average. 5 is the top. It is not the top, because the writing and editing were poor. It is not 3, because it is better than average. The only score left was a 4.

If you like the topic, you still ought to consider this book. The writing and editing are bad, yes, but they are sufficient to deliver the content. And the content - whoo, boy, that's some cool stuff. A really cool way to use the OGL for leveling up and a ton of cool gamer options make this still a fun idea. I think you could have tons of fun stomping bugs and blasting skinnies in power armor.

[Skinner's Pigeon]

Originally Posted by Chade

I'm kinda surprised you gave the book a 4 in style, if it is such an editing mess. Which is kinda sucky, considering how much I like the topic. I thought Mongoose had fixed these kind of problems.

No, no, no... the crappy editing is so they can release Starship Troopers: the Roughneck Edition next spring.

It (sorta) worked for Conan, after all...

[erisraven]

I'm kinda surprised you beat up the writer for the editing department's bad job. After all, it seems like you really loved the content.