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Bughunters | ||
Author: Lester Smith
Category: game Company/Publisher: TSR Line: Amazing Engine Cost: $18 Page count: 128 map Capsule Review by Papyrus on 08/04/99. Genre tags: Science_fiction Horror Far_Future Space |
This Amazing Engine worldbook does not contain the core rules, though can be purchased with them in special packages.
The Amazing Engine universe can be described as; Blade Runner meets Babylon 5 meets Predator meets Alien(s). Mankind discovers safe interstellar travel but finds the average human can't handle the physical stress outside of a stasis chamber. Synthetic humans (synths or synners) are cloned from paid average citizens, enhanced and sent out to protect human interests as they settle the cosmos. Along the way they encounter hostile aliens and become involved in a conflict too ancient and basic to fathom. Synners are "born" with all the memories of their hosts, given enhanced attributes, denser skeletons, plastic reinforced organ protection and preprogrammed skills. Only created to serve the United Terran Reconnaissance and Peacekeeping Force (UTRPF or utter-puff) spawning a human rights movement for them back home on Earth. They are slaves and heroes, envied and looked up, abused and entrusted with the future of the human race. PCs explore new worlds, pacify (ala Justifiers, see previous review) them for colonization, perform SAR missions and combat hostiles. An extensive list of gear and weapons are provided. Adequate but no overwhelming, the assortment of alien creatures is horrific and bizarre. Sufficient adventure seeds and campaign possibilities are outlined as well as several sample adventures. The layered plot has players starting with just the idea that they are "bughunters" (alien killers) and they slowly develop the realization that something much larger is afoot. The extent of the truth is a Babylon 5-like conflict of epic proportions. This is the best Amazing Engine campaign I've read (I can only hope it will find its way into the Alternity line, I made some notes on using XXVc to run it). The star system map is inspired by SPI's Universe rpg (review to follow), by admission. I believe Universe also provided the groundwork for the awesome modular starship construction rules. Bughunters' system provides for standard and custom starships with various capabilities and includes deck plans. This system is easily exported to other scifi environments, and well worth the price you'll probably pay for a copy of Bughunters by now.
Style: 3 (Average)
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