(Sell Me On, I Suppose) 3:16

[The Unshaven]

From the sound of things 3:16 is a good, fun game that I've been hearing about a lot since before GenCon, and then during it.

My main problem is that I'm getting to feel like I have too many games. It sounds like it does a great job of fun Space Marine/Colonial Marine style mayhem - but I keep thinking "Yeah, but I could throw together something like that using the ORE, without adding something to the bookshelf."

And also, our player group is starting to get a little overloaded by different GMs using different systems.

As such, I was wondering how 3:16 works. What kind of dice mechanic is it based around, and does combat resolve fast?

I am finding that combat bogging down is something we have less and less patience with nowadays.

Anecdotes of interest also probably useful.

- The Unshaven.

[Dr. Tran]

Originally Posted by The Unshaven

As such, I was wondering how 3:16 works. What kind of dice mechanic is it based around, and does combat resolve fast?

From the free pdf of the original version it looks like combat is really the only important thing there. Combat resolves in number of outright kills, not damage. When the energy canon says d100, it really means that 1-100 aliens die in every attack action.

I think you'd be happier with ORE, but that is just a gut reaction.

[Particle_Man]

roll your score or under on a d10 to succeed. Your scores are Fighting Ability and Non-Fighting Ability. You can take three hits before dying (armor can take one).

In other words, a very simple system, and thus very easy to learn and go with.

It is simpler than ORE, so it depends if you like simple rule systems or want a lot more crunch in your space marine soup.

[Gregor Hutton]

Just my usual disclaimer that the Free 24-Hour Version has a system that doesn't work and is in no way representative of the well-oiled machine in the final version. The theme and the cool ideas of the 24-hr version are retained in the finished product though.

With that out of the way...

...what do I think it does well?

For a GM it's really easy to just run the game. You get a strong theme, the planet creation is straightforward and fun, and the use of Threat Tokens makes pacing game sessions and encounters a thankfully simple task. You'll also find cool tactics become apparent as you play, and the Alien Special Abilities each have their own way of working. So, it's hopefully not too repetitive for the GM as each alien race and planet presents a different challenge (mechanically and, as the story unfolds, ficionally too). You'll also find that the NPCs and the Brigade also start emerging from play, and these can be fun to play as a GM.

For a player it's just really easy to play. You get to create a character quickly and then find out what they are like during the sessions. Encounters vary from shooting fish in a barrel to really brutal tests of your courage and mettle. Tough encounters can happen out of nowhere if the dice decide it and here you'll find yourself really making your character in the crucible of battle. The choices you make with the Flashback mechanics will really set your character forth.

Characters can die too, of course, if you run out of Flashbacks or you want to save the Flashbacks for a future character, but bringing in a replacement is really quick.

The rules are simple and you'll find it's more tactical than it first appears. You'll also find that there's a lot of character improvement both mechanically and fictionally to be found in the game, even if you don't level up at the end of a mission.

I designed it to allow you to have campaign play with very little effort and hopefully a lot of reward. I'm pretty happy with how it hits those goals.

[SuperGamera]

Every time I hear this name, I think of John 3:16, from the countless signs held at football games - is the numbering coincidental or otherwise?

[Gregor Hutton]

It's not coincidental, for sure, and I mentioned the <a href="http://www.story-games.com/forums/?CommentID=156826">three sources for it here</a>.

But I can't recall exactly <i>why</i> I named it so. Though "3:16 Carnage Amongst The Stars" has always been its name. Perhaps it's in the original notes I had from the 24-hr version or maybe it's lost to time.

In any case, I leave it to the players on whether they bring any 3:16 cultural connections into play or not.

[Particle_Man]

Hey if you are in the mood to answer a few questions:

1) Is the gaining of bars for a kill badge for 1000, 2000, 3000, etc. kills or 1 000, 10 000, 100 000, etc. kills?

2) If a character gets demoted what, if any, gear does he lose? Does he lose resources, vehicles, weapons, etc? If he gets to keep a weapon above his current rank, can he still get upgrades for it?

3) In the unlikely event a character uses a weakness in the last encounter of a mission, and takes the last alien token, and assuming that PC did not use a strength, then will that PC *both* get a Crimson Sword/Skull medal *and* a chance at a demotion?

4) Under an optional rule, you allow other PCs to gain the weakness "Hatred for Home" when one PC has gained it. Can a PC do this even if does not gain a level, or would this merely mean that, when a PC gains a level and can choose to make a weakness available, that "Hatred for Home" is an available option?

5) If a character makes Brigadier, is he still subject to being potentially demoted either through using a weakness or through calling in an Orbital Bombardment?

Anyhow, love the idea of the game and can't wait to try it on my players. It was certainly fun to read.

[Spinachcat]

I consider Ron Edwards approval of any game a major negative. It's like Uwe Boll liking a movie. The Story Games crowd wanking to it as Flavor of the Week does not help either. And the Bible reference strikes me as a weird reverse Chick Tract. But I am a fan of 40k and Starship Troopers so the game piques my interest.

Why would old school trad gamers buy 3:16?

What would we find enjoyable about the game?

What might not work for us?

And hey, maybe the game is only for the Story Games market. That's fine because if you are not WotC or WW, it's all about aiming at your micro-niche in this hobby.

[d(sqrt(-1))]

Originally Posted by Particle_Man

2) If a character gets demoted what, if any, gear does he lose? Does he lose resources, vehicles, weapons, etc? If he gets to keep a weapon above his current rank, can he still get upgrades for it?

Similarly, on promotion do you change gear? I'm particularly thinking of Corporal to Sgt - does the corporal have to give up his E-Cannon on promotion to Sgt?

We tried it on Monday for 3 planets, so we started to get the feel for it. Works well, we only had 2 players, and I'd say that you really want 3 minimum, as we found that both players went up levels after each mission, and I think you probably want a bit more competition for most kills.

Mark

[d(sqrt(-1))]

Originally Posted by Spinachcat

I consider Ron Edwards approval of any game a major negative. It's like Uwe Boll liking a movie. The Story Games crowd wanking to it as Flavor of the Week does not help either. And the Bible reference strikes me as a weird reverse Chick Tract. But I am a fan of 40k and Starship Troopers so the game piques my interest.

Why would old school trad gamers buy 3:16?

What would we find enjoyable about the game?

What might not work for us?

And hey, maybe the game is only for the Story Games market. That's fine because if you are not WotC or WW, it's all about aiming at your micro-niche in this hobby.

BTW we are fairly trad gamers - we play D&D, GURPS, RQ, Traveller, In Nomine, CoC etc, and we had fun with 3:16. It will definitely work better if you have players who are prepared to put in a bit of effort in their descriptions of what is happening, and to be a bit creative, but I don't think that is too much to ask!

Also, I feel that the aliens may be the opponents, but the real enemies are your fellow players, and there are long term strategies for that that may only become apparent over several planets worth of missions...

Mark