I was in Dallas at my crazy family reunion. I was insanely jealous of my
cousin who had just bought "Legends of the Five Rings," when I picked up
this gem. It was either $30, and it is as solid a future science fiction
game as Traveller 2300. This game has a nice set of minimalist mechanics.
You add pluses or minuses to eight characteristics, pick your skills and
you're ready to go. To do anything you roll a number of D6s equal to your
skill level (characteristics can add a plus or minus to each die rolled),
you take the highest roll and add a bonus for each 5 or 6 that you rolled.
The rules allow for normal, cinematic, and gritty realism. It is
well-designed and mechanically sound for each of these genres. The game
includes rules for RPG play, and wargame play- the rules for 3D vector
movement in space are also innovative and simple. There is a nice selection
of mechas, and starships as well. This game is fairly complete- 232 pages
of close set type, and nicely illustrated as well. This game gets a "B." It
gets taken down a grade because some of what they define as optional
character creation rules are in the "Jovian Chronicles Companion." They
should have been in this book. I like this book even if it does seem
pricey. It does a better job for the mecha genre than GURPS: Mecha.
DP9.com is the company web-site, but its never updated enough.
They promise errata, but never seem to deliver.
Style: 5 (Excellent!)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)
