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FTL:2448, Space Adventure in the 25th Century | ||
Author: Richard Tucholka
Category: game Company/Publisher: Tri-Tac Systems Line: FTL:2448 Page count: 2x 198pgs Playtest Review by Papyrus on 05/09/99. Genre tags: Science_fiction Far_Future Space |
I had read some good things about FTL:2448's earliest
edition. The author had a big hand in The Morrow Project (which
receives a cameo in the FTL: 2448 background) and used the same
system to create Fringeworthy (inter-dimensional) and Bureau 13
(horror). FTL: 2448 is his contribution to interstellar scifi
role-play. The 4th edition comes in 2, perfect bound, 192 page
books. Book 1 concentrates on character generation, while book 2
fills in the background. I must say I was very impressed with
the thoroughness and flexibility of the system and the
background.
The author is humble enough to offer his work as a background or sourcebook for other scifi rpg systems and this is an easily accomplished and enjoyable option. The originality and completeness of the background lends itself to a multitude of role-playing situations. All of the elements of the scifi genre are present, from pulp, to dark future, to fantastical, to hardcore, to cinema epic. The history of the campaign universe takes us to a time when faster than light travel is common, mankind has successfully interacted with dozens of aliens and integrated with them to varying degrees of success but mostly with peaceful coexistence. An evil empire boarders the edge of known space, exploration and discovery continues on all fronts, urban sprawls crawl with decay, corporations exploit/colonize new worlds and space pirates dodge the forces of law and the interstellar navy. Accommodations are made for role-playing any of these facets, the possibilities are nearly endless. The complete system is a complicated but comprehensive collection of charts and tables. It seems that every option is explored and available for randomization and/or interpolation via dice and formula. The fact that nearly all of it is optional, non-essential to the system or background, makes the whole work worth while. The GM can decide the level of detail, randomness, and complexity of his game as he sees fit. It's all there for reference but not crucial to play. I would recommend FTL: 2448 to anyone looking for a change, either a change of genre or a change of scifi setting. The system can be used for any degree of detail desired and the background is gigantic in scope as well as complete. Part or all of the campaign background can be woven into any existing scifi campaign or at least provide source material for a change of pace.
Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
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