more info on version 4.5

Deryn_Rys's picture
Deryn_Rys
November 27, 2010 - 11:03pm
As I prepare the revisions for version 4.5, I have put the rules in gray scale as was suggested. Also the Players guidebook will only include the core 4 races (Dralasites, Human, Vrusk, Yazirians) and three of the Rim races (Humma, Ifsnits, and Osakar). Mechanons will not be in the book because in the campaign Volturnus hasn't happened yet, and what happens as a result of those adventures will be left up to each gaming group to decide. I'm also going to trim the equipment lists to include only versions of the weapons and equipment from Alpha dawn, and Zebs guide, and more then likely will include the equipment from the Frontiersman mag.

The other races in the Expanded Frontier will be moved to the various Zebulon guides to the Frontier. There will be a guide to the core worlds, one for the central systems, one for the outer systems, and one for the Rim Coalition which will include a section on the races found there and an overview of the systems in the region.

Psionics, Mutations, and Cybernetics will remain in the expanded Frontier book. Robots, and vehicles will have their own Zebs guides as will new equipment. Of course Knighthawks will include all the space craft rules, including rules for characters in space, and I'll probably add the rules for creating star systems in that book rather then in the Administrator's guidebook.

I'm trying to keep the core books close to the format of the original Star Frontiers books and by putting the optional material into various Zeb guides gaming groups can pick and choose what to add to their games. Does this sound good to you guys?
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Comments:

Anonymous's picture
w00t (not verified)
November 27, 2010 - 11:41pm
Sounds like a plan. When done you can always re-arrange the books.

Deryn_Rys's picture
Deryn_Rys
January 6, 2011 - 11:00pm
The first of the core three books is 99% completed, with only the equipment descriptions needing to be done, but instead of doing that I'm trying to get the other core books (Administrator's guide and Knighthawks guide to where they can be used in play. I doubt that I'll get the Space stations in Knighthawks in time but I'm trying to get as much of this done as I can so by February I can have versions of the rules out that are are at least ready for you guys to play the game if you want.

There will always be a lot of work to do but I'm trying my best to get as much of it done as soon as possible so that you guys can hopefully find the rules useful and maybe some of you might add your own ideas into the mix and we can see where this project will go from there.

I will say that version 4.5 will not just be version 4 with a new coat of paint. a lot of material that was glossed over in version 4 (specially in the administrator's guidebook)will be detailed and expanded on, and the creature books will be probably getting a format change and the creatures will be detailed so they are not just stacks of numbers. But that'll come down the road after the core books are released and the Zebs guides to the known Frontier come out. 

As always your comments, and ideas are very important to me, and as I'm not perfect If there's something in the rules that I've missed or that could be made better let me know and we can try to figure out a better way.
"Hey guys I wonder what this does"-Famous last words
"Hey guys, I think it's friendly." -Famous last words
"You go on ahead, I'll catch up." -Famous last words
"Did you here that?" -Famous last words

Deryn_Rys's picture
Deryn_Rys
January 7, 2011 - 8:33pm
I'm chugging along on the rewrite of the Administrator's Guidebook. as most of the game mechanics for the system are already covered in the first core book this book seems mostly to be full of useful tables for Administrators to create nifty stuff for his campaign.

There are rules for zero level characters including rules for making them more formidible challenges for low level troupes (1-3rd level). There are rules covering creating exceptional non hero-classed characters to challenge mid level (4-6 level) characters and rules for creating dread beasts (exceptional versions of creatures), as well as tables for helping Administrator's create new creatures, alien races, star systems and planets. there will also be a section offering advice to novice Administrators on how to design adventures which I've adopted from several sources and expanded opon, and the Mechanon, and Sathar are in this book as well.

Oh and there is the Administrator's list of all the star systems in the Frontier including info not available to players. the book should run about 100 or so pages. It's about half the size of the first core book, but since it isn't game mechanics heavy It allows me to add things that might be useful for Administrators.

I plan to include a section with weapons from other time periods, I'm thinking I'll do some mideval weapons and armor and some modern weapons for those Administrators who might want to do wacky time travel adventures, but I don't know if I want to include sample Ultratech items. Oh and I forgot to mention I will include tables for rolling up treasure In the Frontier, I know it's a strange concept for Star Frontiers, but I want to offer administrators as many tools to help them flesh out their game as possible. 

I hope to expand on the detail in some of the tables that in the previous version was lacking in so that the book is more complete and the tools offered are actually useful to other people (not just me). Anyway that's the update.
"Hey guys I wonder what this does"-Famous last words
"Hey guys, I think it's friendly." -Famous last words
"You go on ahead, I'll catch up." -Famous last words
"Did you here that?" -Famous last words

Ascent's picture
Ascent
January 8, 2011 - 3:01pm
Sounds good. I just downloaded all your documents. I'll have a looksee tonight.
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Deryn_Rys's picture
Deryn_Rys
January 8, 2011 - 3:13pm
Ascent the version you downloaded is a good start though its definitely a rough cut. The new version I promise will be a little more polished.

"Hey guys I wonder what this does"-Famous last words
"Hey guys, I think it's friendly." -Famous last words
"You go on ahead, I'll catch up." -Famous last words
"Did you here that?" -Famous last words

Ascent's picture
Ascent
January 8, 2011 - 3:46pm
I have no doubt. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks. Smile
View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write.
"It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi
"That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi
Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild)

Deryn_Rys's picture
Deryn_Rys
January 9, 2011 - 9:17pm
I'm now deep into the rewrite of the Administrator's guidebook. the mechanon and sathar are where they belong, I fixed up all the information for zero level NPC's (had to make some corrections about placement of subsections) and I finished retooling all the information for creating and modifying creatures and added the tables for randomly generating Alien races into the book.

I don't know at the moment if I'll put the pre-Frontier equipment in this book. I'm leaning towards adding that stuff to the expanded frontier guide to shave off a few pages in this book. If I don't add the equipment I think I can feasably finish this rewrite  and move to the Knighthawks book within the next week or so depending on how much time I can put into this. Still hoping for a February release of at least the core 4.5 books.
"Hey guys I wonder what this does"-Famous last words
"Hey guys, I think it's friendly." -Famous last words
"You go on ahead, I'll catch up." -Famous last words
"Did you here that?" -Famous last words

Deryn_Rys's picture
Deryn_Rys
January 10, 2011 - 2:40pm
I decided to keep the Pre Frontier equipment section in the Administrator's guide, but I stripped it down to just Weapons and Armor for the archaic period, and modern weapons and armor since those are the most common things that come into play when doing a cross over game. Of course there is a notation about finding the more extensive lists of equipment in the other URS rule books.
"Hey guys I wonder what this does"-Famous last words
"Hey guys, I think it's friendly." -Famous last words
"You go on ahead, I'll catch up." -Famous last words
"Did you here that?" -Famous last words

Ascent's picture
Ascent
January 10, 2011 - 5:32pm
I recommend keeping the main book focused on the Frontier. Keeping the number of races down to traditional, familiar Star Frontiers races in that book is also recommended. You can always introduce the rest later.
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"It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi
"That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi
Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild)

Deryn_Rys's picture
Deryn_Rys
January 10, 2011 - 5:49pm
In Version 4.5 The core book only has the core 4 and the Humma, Ifsnits, and Osakar. The administrator's guide has the Sathar and Mechanon. the oher races will reappear in the Zebulon's guide to the Frontier books.
"Hey guys I wonder what this does"-Famous last words
"Hey guys, I think it's friendly." -Famous last words
"You go on ahead, I'll catch up." -Famous last words
"Did you here that?" -Famous last words

Deryn_Rys's picture
Deryn_Rys
January 11, 2011 - 7:06am
working as fast as I can to deliver the next version of the rules.

I've think I'm about half way to my goal of finishing the Administrator's guide by the begining of next week if not sooner. I'm halfway through putting in a s-load of modern pistols/machine pistols for those administrators who like to throw players a curve ball every once in a while.

Next week I should be working on Knighthawks, which completes the revised core books for version 4.5! I might even have time to add a few Space Stations to that book before it gets released to you guys. 
"Hey guys I wonder what this does"-Famous last words
"Hey guys, I think it's friendly." -Famous last words
"You go on ahead, I'll catch up." -Famous last words
"Did you here that?" -Famous last words