I've been majorly getting my 'Scape on just recently, replacing some of my missing DVDs and starting to watch the series again from the beginning. All of which brought me back to my idea for a Farscape RPG.
I know about the D20 one, I own it, but I really don't like D20, so that's out of the question. But back in the day I'd started work on a set of FUDGE rules for Farscape, which you can take a look at here. I've not done anything with it for a looong time, as y'all can see. But then, just yesterday, I thought: Mmmmmm..... FATE. And the Spirit Of The Century version of it specifically.
I think it would work. Very easily, in fact. Most of the rules would remain the same, even with regards to minions. Some of the skills might need changing or adapting, and you'd need a shedload of stunts to cover racial (and character) abilities... but, for me at least, that is simplified by simply using the list of racial abilities and special abilities I've already compiled.
I figure characters get the usual ten aspects, garnered as usual from a backstory developed over five phases:
Upbringing
Early life
First significant adventure
Second significant adventure
How you got where you are today (recent adventure, imprisonment, whatever)
Most racial-type 'abilities' could come from aspects, such as a Luxan's reputation for violence and the distrust everyone levels at a Sebacean whether they be Peacekeeper or not. Other could be done as strengths and weaknesses, each bought as stunts (in a Luxan package, for example) which, if you have more than, say, five, affect your Refresh by reducing it (for a Strength) or increasing it (for a Weakness).
This is all initial speculation at the moment, though, as most of my ideas I've just come up with while typing this! Anyone who wants to offer suggestions,go for it, and I'll probably add my own ideas as I go, of course.
Let's see where this wormhole takes us!
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"Come a day there won't be room for naughty men like us to slip about at all..."
Races can have Strengths and Weaknesses. A character must also have an Upbringing Aspect (i.e. one of their Aspects from the Upbringing phase must be this Aspect). The total costs of the Strengths less the total cost of the Weaknesses give the 'race package' cost in number of Abilities. I figure everyone's getting five Abilities (Stunts) here.
So the ability of Sikozu (a Kalish) to walk up walls is like SotC's Human Spider stunt on steroids, costing two Abilities; Jool's Piercing Scream Ability lets her do a scream to place an Aspect on some nearby metal object, allowing the Aspect to be tagged for extra breakability. And so on.
I've not defined all the Abilities yet, but here is the first batch of races:
BANIK SLAVE RACE [2] Cloud Thoughts (Resolve Strength, 2) Banik Slave Race (Upbringing Aspect) – invoke for spiritual matters; compel for being treated like a slave or losing mask.
DELVIAN [0] Delvian (Upbringing Aspect) – invoke to take advantage of floral physiology or spiritual nature; compel for risk of Delvian madness, photogasms and starvation issues.
HUMANS [-4] Not From Around Here (Special Weakness, 4) Human From Erp (Upbringing Aspect) – invoke to use that infamous special perspective; compel to be thought a Sebacean, or to get something horribly wrong.
HYNERIANS [0] Small In Stature (Endurance Weakness, 1) Amphibious (Athletics Strength, 1) Hynerian (Upbringing Aspect) – invoke to take advantage of fast metabolism and strong stomach; compel to be thought repulsive or be treated badly because of size.
ILANICS [1] Vacuum Survival (Endurance Strength, 2) Blood Runs Clear (Endurance Weakness, 1) Ilanic (Upbringing Aspect) – invoke to be pragmatic in the face of danger or the weird; compel to raise matters of honour or regarding their mortal enemies, the Scorvians.
INTERIONS [1] Piercing Scream (Special Strength, 2) Easy To Read (Rapport/Empathy Weakness, 1) Interion (Upbringing Aspect) – invoke to make use of their excellent education; compel to be haughty and superior.
KALISH [4] Shift Gravity Centre (Athletics Strength, 2) Reattachment (Endurance Strength, 1) Efficient Metabolism (Endurance Strength, 1) Kalish (Upbringing Aspect) – invoke to be extra knowledgeable and learn quickly; compel to be overly confident about abilities or be mistrusted for belonging to a client race of the Scarrans.
EDIT: It's possible that many of the things that don't get used much (a Kalish eating only rarely, for example, or their limb reattachment trick, or a Luxan's ability to survive in a vacuum for a quarter arn) could be done just as an "invoke for effect" on their Upbringing Aspect instead, costing a Fate point (or more in some cases) to pull off the same effect. It would definitely be tidier.
__________________
"Come a day there won't be room for naughty men like us to slip about at all..."
I'm still pondering racial Aspects/Stunts, so here's something else in the meantime: skills.
Alertness
Art
Athletics
Contacting Cosmopolite
Deceit
Empathy
Endurance
Engineering
Gambling
Guns
Intimidation
Investigation
Leadership
Might
Mysteries Pilot
Rapport
Resolve
Resources
Science
Sleight Of Hand Snurching
Stealth
Survival Unarmed
Weapons
1) I'm not really sure if there is much of a need for a true 'Academics' skill so we have 'Cosmopolite' instead (which, basically, is someone who is cosmopolitan) - it's still really a working name at the moment, though, needs to be something simpler. This covers general knowledge, interstellar geography, current events and so on. It's something Crichton would have at Terrible
2) 'Drive' and 'Pilot' are combined because ultimately there's little difference between a flying ship and a flying/hovering 'car' - or at least not enough of a difference worth worrying about. Plus, no 'car' chases in Farscape that I remember.
3) Snurching is such a great Farscape word it had to appear somewhere! Naturally it replaces 'Burglary'.
4) 'Unarmed' is a better name for 'Fists' in this instance, I think.
I don't think any new skills are necessary. But the stunts will acquire some paring down and adjustments and additions. But that's for another day!
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"Come a day there won't be room for naughty men like us to slip about at all..."
Abilities and powers are the LEAST important part of a Farscape game. Though necessary on some level, delineating these things is against the spirit of Farscape. You shouldn't KNOW what a character is capable of until it comes into play. Farscape is all about confronting the uncomfortable and embarrassing unknown. Take that away, and it's not Farscape.
Which reminds me, one thing I found especially cool is that Farscape was one of the only sci-fi series to have a main alien character that was an EXCEPTION to her race: Chiana. Why is that?
Oh, and what aspects do you people think Moyra and her crew would have?
That's an interesting way to look at it... certainly secrets and surprises are part of any game, but they are always a major part of Farscape.
I'm thinking of ways to pare down the race abilities anyway... and then I plan to make the stunts a bit looser too, I think. Don't want it to get too crunchy, if I can help it.
I figure on using quotes for the aspects of Moya's crew wherever possible. I know some obvious ones already...
Aeryn has "It is my duty, my breeding? Since birth, it's what I am."
D'Argo has "I will not be taken prisoner again." (Lots of compels on that one!)
Crichton has "(insert pop culture reference here)"
Rygel has "If you must address me, do so as your 'Supreme Eminence' ...which you should be doing anyway."
Zhaan has "Soft, yes. Weak? No."
Chiana has "What you need on this jaunt is a talented burglar and distraction-causer."
Lots and lots of good lines to choose from!
__________________
"Come a day there won't be room for naughty men like us to slip about at all..."
Which reminds me, one thing I found especially cool is that Farscape was one of the only sci-fi series to have a main alien character that was an EXCEPTION to her race: Chiana. Why is that?
Actually, Pilot, D'Argo, and Zhaan were all exceptions as well.
Pilot refused to abide by his elders' decision and made a deal to bond with a leviathan despite their admonitions that he wasn't ready. D'Argo tattooed the rank of a general on himself, and married a Sebacian (not sure on the spelling there). Zhaan was an anarchist and a killer before she became a priestess. Only Aeryn was really typical of her race/culture, and she doesn't stay that way for long. All this only heightens the irony when the crew talks about Earth being "full of Crichtons."
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A girl with a bird she found in the snow
that flew up her gown, and that's how she knows
that God made her eyes for crying at birth,
then left the ground to circle the Earth.
-Boy With A Coin, Iron & Wine
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