It's pretty decent. Upon a first reading, the rules seem to hold together. You can definitely create interesting heroes (and a ship) for your own campaign.
There is no character sheet, which is a bit annoying for those of us who like to learn a rules set through creating a sample character and putting them through the paces. The characters are not complex - it's just an odd omission.
Overall, the game feels pretty solid. There's a lot of info from the television series in it, which surprised me considering the terms of the license. Most everyplace from the show is named, and there are even some thinly-disguised versions of some of the minor characters who appeared on the show.
The only things I'm not sure about are the ship combat system (didn't read it yet) and I thought wounds seemed a bit more complex than they needed to be, but that might just be me.
The only thing I'm negative about is the sample group of NPCs (the crew of the Aces & Eights). Not only do they seem somehow wrong for the setting, but they also seem like dandies next to the crew of Serenity.
It's pretty decent. Upon a first reading, the rules seem to hold together. You can definitely create interesting heroes (and a ship) for your own campaign.
There is no character sheet, which is a bit annoying for those of us who like to learn a rules set through creating a sample character and putting them through the paces. The characters are not complex - it's just an odd omission.
Overall, the game feels pretty solid. There's a lot of info from the television series in it, which surprised me considering the terms of the license. Most everyplace from the show is named, and there are even some thinly-disguised versions of some of the minor characters who appeared on the show.
The only things I'm not sure about are the ship combat system (didn't read it yet) and I thought wounds seemed a bit more complex than they needed to be, but that might just be me.
The only thing I'm negative about is the sample group of NPCs (the crew of the Aces & Eights). Not only do they seem somehow wrong for the setting, but they also seem like dandies next to the crew of Serenity.
How do character's work? stats? skills? anything else?
Stats are rated by dice, from d2 to d12+d4. You get an amount of points to purchase them, and they cost the maximum of the roll (thus, a d8 costs 8 points). There are six attributes that more or less map to those from the Unisystem.
Skills are broken into general skills and specialities. For example, Athletics is a general skill, but long-jumping might be a speciality. There are many listed, and it seems easy to create new ones if needed. General skills can be purchased up to d6 in competency, and after that, you specialize with skills beginning at d8, purchasable for 2 points.
Traits are either positive or negative (advantages or disadvantages), and the mechanical value of each is often to bump or lower a dice by steps (such as moving a d6 up to a d8, or down to a d4). Some traits can be taken in minor and major strengths.
Plot Points serve as drama points, and let you roll extra dice (or perhaps just take a modifier), as well as some other stuff.
Most rolls involve a stat + skill against a target number or an opposed roll.
All in all, it's a pretty serviceable system. I'm hoping to see it in play before too long.
Though I have to ask, what does it do to capture the 'space cowboy' feel of the series. Traits sound like a step in the right direction, and plot/drama points seem the right way to go in a cinematic game, does it do anything else?
The system sounds interesting. The 'stepping up' in dice sounds fun, it'll be interesting to see how it plays out (it always seems like it'd be a wonky way of doing things, but Earthdawn was fun).
You know, more details and all that... :-)
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The only thing I'm negative about is the sample group of NPCs (the crew of the Aces & Eights). Not only do they seem somehow wrong for the setting, but they also seem like dandies next to the crew of Serenity.
Huh, I actually liked the NPCs a lot more then I thought I would. Sure, they're not Mal & Co, but c'mon! Anyone trying to follow that act would get panned. And I don't see them as wrong for the setting, just moving in different circles then Serenity's crew (With the exception of Inara, I suppose.)
Honestly, I was ambivalent towards 'em myself until I reached the last two, Devil and Rawhide. That pair just struck a chord...
Anyway, it's a good book, and the system feels right to me.
Though I have to ask, what does it do to capture the 'space cowboy' feel of the series. Traits sound like a step in the right direction, and plot/drama points seem the right way to go in a cinematic game, does it do anything else?
The Traits go a long way towards helping with the flavor of the game, ranging from generic Assets like Allure, Fightin' Type, Healthy as a Horse, Leadership, Nature Lover, and ones that seem pretty specific to the 'Verse, such as Cortex Specter, Reader, Registered Companion, and Wears a Badge.
Complications (flaws) are equally suitable, with stuff like Branded, Credo, Crude, Dead Broke, Easy Mark, Leaky Brainpan, Straight Shooter, Things Don't Go Smooth, Traumatic Flashes, and Ugly as Sin.
In almost every case, I was able to look at a trait and figure out where it originated from the show or film. I'm baffled that the Reaver writeup doesn't have the two Complications I'd most expect - Branded (bad reputation) and Ugly as Sin.
Eh, seems like it could be cool, but it also seems like there is nothing that wouldn't work perfectly fine in any other number of systems.
That's perfectly alright, though. It seems like they didn't fuck it up big time, which was a fear a lot of people had (though not me personally). I probably won't buy it, but I hope it does well.
Eh, seems like it could be cool, but it also seems like there is nothing that wouldn't work perfectly fine in any other number of systems.
That's perfectly alright, though. It seems like they didn't fuck it up big time, which was a fear a lot of people had (though not me personally). I probably won't buy it, but I hope it does well.
These days, when I spend every freaking minute of my spare time doing freelance work, I like not having to adapt anything to anything.
Games that are more or less fine upon release are at the top of my list when it comes to gaming.
So, the fact that they didn't screw it up counts a lot for me, actually.
So, you thinking about running Serenity anytime soon?
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[T]he tabletop roleplaying hobby will not die. It's too ideally suited for the socialization of shy geeks in high school, of which there will be an endless supply - Ken Hite
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