Welcome/Basic Design goals

Blankbeard's picture
Blankbeard
July 7, 2013 - 7:15am
Thanks for looking.  I'll be adding to this as I think of new things.

A lot of the basics are covered in the project introduction.  OGL and freely available are the important parts.

Basic Design Items
  1. Freely available.  I'm using enough of d20/Pathfinder to require the OGL.  No problem there.
  2. Should support classic SF themes- exploration, survival, investigation.
  3. Should be able to feel like Star Frontiers.
  4. I would like if the rules would work for other sci-fi too, within reason.
  5. Star Frontiers now, Knight Hawks later.  Optional mentalism/biotics/force/whatever powers.
  6. No BAB - weapons skills instead.
  7. No trick options - something d20 has been bad about.  Characters should be able to contribute to every adventure.  System mastery should be minimal.
  8. It should be obvious what an option does.  It shouldn't matter when you take an option.  You shouldn't have to make detailed plans for characters.
  9. Everyone can shine, but not at the same time.  Some people are good at combat, others at being a face, others survival or pulling solutions out of tech.
  10. No role protection.  If you want to be a soldier who's an awesome people person, do it.
  11. Skills work similarly to pathfinder.  Same with combat, except the greater emphasis on ranged combat. 
  12. Attacks of Opportunity and full attacks slow down the game and make players afraid to exersize their options.  Replace/eliminate them.
Links to resources ›
Comments:

iggy's picture
iggy
July 7, 2013 - 2:47pm
I am excited to see you put this together.  There is another D20 conversion project that has gone cold as of late.  Keep the fire buring.

All of the setting material and adventures developed on this site are done in traditional Alpha Dawn and Knight Hawks Star Frontiers rules for the most part.  This is because it allows people to have a common base to convert from.  A clearly defined guide to converting AD/KH SF to OGL SF will be very helpfull.
-iggy

Blankbeard's picture
Blankbeard
July 7, 2013 - 7:44pm
Thanks for the comment!  I'll try to keep adding documents and feedback is always welcome. 

I'm planning to detail how to convert creatures from AD.  Hopefully it'll be a simple process.  Most equipment should be simple as well.  If things work like I think they can, you'll be able to use about everything.

Robots, computers, and characters are going to be the hardest and I won't guarantee that conversion will be possible for any of them, at least directly.