Ad Astra Game Design RPG

Ad Astra update

Ad Astra (new layout)This weekend I finally continued work on my Ad Astra project. Some time ago fellow blogger Greywulf provided me with his awesome SF-themed render artwork and so I decided to give my Ad Astra PDF a complete overhaul. The new version is also much more printer friendly. You can check out a sample page to the right.

If everything turns out as planned, at least the background section should be done in a few days. But then I have to make some important decisions. Should Ad Astra be just background without any rules or shall I make it a complete game?

I’ve looked at several games released under the OGL that could work with the setting. The problem with most OGL systems is, that usually I will either have to include the complete SRD or I will have to comply to one of the Trademark licenses. Since I am no lawyer nor do I want to pay one for a project that will probably never make me any money, I will avoid doing the latter. But without a Trademark license I can’t claim compatibility.

I am currently looking into creating a stripped down variant of one of the OGL systems. Using Microlite20 would be a viable option, although it’s a bit too stripped-down for me. Another possibility would be to create a system from scratch, like I did for Noir. Decision, decisions!

So, what would you do, if you were in my shoes? Adapt one of the OGL systems (like d20 Fantasy/Modern, Action! or perhaps even FATE or FUDGE), create a system from scratch, or release the book without any rules?
Stargazer

Michael Wolf is a German games designer and enthusiast best known for his English language role-playing games blog, Stargazer's World, and for creating the free rules-light medieval fantasy adventure game Warrior, Rogue & Mage. He has also worked as an English translator on the German-language Dungeonslayers role-playing game and was part of its editorial team. In addition to his work on Warrior, Rogue & Mage and Dungeonslayers, he has created several self-published games and also performed layout services and published other independent role-playing games such as A Wanderer's Romance, Badass, and the Wyrm System derivative Resolute, Adventurer & Genius, all released through his imprint Stargazer Games. Professionally, he works as a video technician and information technologies specialist. Stargazer's World was started by Michael in August 2008.

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6 comments

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Alex Schroeder

I say 1. system-less. 2. a free system that you like. I was very impressed with the 3d renders in Rob Lang's Icar system, for example. PDQ or Fudge/Fate would be my generic systems of choice.
.-= Alex Schroeder´s last blog ..Resource Management using a d6 =-.

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Shingo watanabe

Would be nice, if you did a FUDGE version of PDQ….

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Stargazer

Another system that could work would be Savage Worlds. I reread the fan system license and as long as I don't sell it, it's no big problem.

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Zachary

Savage Worlds wouldn't be bad–it has a good fan license. PDQ is a great system, as well. I would divorce system from setting in the book as much as possible, so fans of other systems could also use it.
.-= Zachary´s last blog ..Thoughts On A Sci-Fi RPG Mag =-.

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    Stargazer

    I already used PDQ for Ad Astra (and wrote a few articles about that) but it doesn't fit what I had in mind. Since I am running Rippers now I am getting more and more comfortable with the system and I believe it could work great for the setting. And the fan license is a great plus.
    And I will keep setting and rules almost 100% separated, promised.

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Andrew Franke

Personally I would use the True 20 License from Green Ronin. Yes there are a couple of legal hoops to jump through however they can be navigated by anyone. It is fairly simple with the True 20 License. You have to include their version of the OGL and then the True 20 OGL.

True 20 is a good way to go because it is can be easily converted back to 3.5 with the True 20 Revised Edition Rulebook if people like. Personally I think you will like the freedom of the system. Some people call it D20 lite, Not me I call it d20 with a brain. Because it is not 3.5 there are not thousands of books you have to worry about players snatching a skill from etc. You can have all of the skills/feats available in your world that are already in True 20 and then invent your own. There are very few True 20 supplements that are character based. MOST of them are like Ad Astra, a game world. It is easy to adapt true 20 as well.

I have written a novel here if you are interested in more about true 20 visit the Green Ronin Website. I do NOT work for them. I just use their license.

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