 February 26, 2012 - 9:45pm | I need a well laid out document to explain SF to new players. The idea comes from Mission to Alcazzar, the pc is instructed to contact CDC if a rival operation is involved. CDC does not give the players a sub space radio. They are railroaded into using the one at Streels compound. This doc would explain equipment, skills, yada. Basically so pc are giving enough info to make educated decisions.
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 February 26, 2012 - 9:53pm | Start with the intro in the SF book for background and then a list of commonly used items and terms in the game. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
 February 27, 2012 - 7:12am | It needs to be one page as players won't read a book to understand a new game. Bold faced headings like: Technology, Government, Star Law, Mega Corporation, the Sathar, and each of these headings is followed by a brief paragraph or two. By brief I mean 1-3 sentences. Best if it all fits on one side of one sheet of paper. That brings me to point number two: sometimes new players remark that they don't want to try to play one of the aliens as they wouldn't know how to or understand what they are all about- same players are comfortable with elves, dwarves and halflings so I thing the issue is simply education and a similar one sheet document on each race might help in that respect. Not like the racial descriptions in the rule book but again with bold faced titles followed with brief paragraphs on Family Structure, educational institutions, culture, racial weapons, religion, philosophy, general out look, mostly stuff that's been discussed in the core four project. In fact this might be a little project for the core four membership. Bundle it with the info sheet w00t is asking for and submit it to the SFman as a game aid. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
February 27, 2012 - 7:54am | That's what I'm thinking. The Referee should help guide new characters, "Blibb would know that a subspace radio is needed to contact CDC." My thought is that sometimes you don't want to give too much away, let players think it through. |
February 27, 2012 - 8:37am | Another technique that could be used, at least on a more civilized planet of say medium to heavy population would be the pro forma interview and review of identity documents with the customs official. Write a paragraph that is the official's special that he says hundreds of times per day. "Do you have any military grade arms, ammunition or long rifles; except those stored aboard ship?" The whole thing is read in a bored monotone the way a bored official might recite it. It conveys info about the big issue of local weapons laws, takes a few seconds and the PC's are forewarned. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
February 27, 2012 - 8:51am | Awesome idea. I can see the players faces, "What game did we sign up for?". Another idea is to hand out scripts where the players read a line either about an event or their character. A clever GM had us read from a script before the game, each of us read for our characters, I was Prince Baron Arboria. :-) We were sitting around a conference table plotting to steal some artifact from Ming. |
February 27, 2012 - 9:39am | Awesome idea.
Have you used this technique? I'm a little skeptical of it. I do write scripts for npcs if I know they have something specific to say and I don't want to forget a detail. Additionally you could have a customs official on a wild and dangerous light population planet warn the PC's not to travel out side the settlements without an armed guide due to the wildlife- that would put them on notice to beprepared for danger. I also think that on a light population planet you could role play the customs official dragging his feet about processing their papers until he relieves a bribe then its all slamming of the rubber stamp and welcome to the planet.I can see the players faces, "What game did we sign up for?". Another idea is to hand out scripts where the players read a line either about an event or their character. A clever GM had us read from a script before the game, each of us read for our characters, I was Prince Baron Arboria. :-) We were sitting around a conference table plotting to steal some artifact from Ming. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
February 27, 2012 - 12:25pm | I have not use scripts as a Ref, just as a Player. I do use foreshadowing. |
February 27, 2012 - 1:31pm | The one sheet back ground info should be neutral on the issue of earth. As some go with no earth and some prefer to have it out there somewhere. I beleive that this document should have 100% applicability to everyone but the GM running his own alternate setting. Call it The Essential Frontier Knowledge Then the one sheets on the dralasite, yazirian, and vrusk can be called: The Essential Dralasite, The Essential Yazirian, etc. Essential Frontier Knowledge History- 3 paragraphs include the SW1 formation of the UPF Star Law- 1 paragraph why it was formed and what its mission is Space Fleet and Ground Fleet- Formation in the SW1 and breif note on their roles. Corporation- role they play, corporate intrigue and wars- about 3 paragraphs PGC its impact as the first mega corp and the things it instituted Brief list of conflict; include corporate and Dramune wars and Free world Rebellion Commerce and Currency Technology Communication and com tech star ship tech (no artificial gravity) Frontier society- Prengular the hub of the Frontier I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
February 27, 2012 - 3:59pm | This goes along with something I've mentioned before, Star Frontiers Quick Start Rules. |
February 27, 2012 - 4:41pm | Started a document in the Star Frontiersman project. |
February 27, 2012 - 5:10pm | Started a document in the Star Frontiersman project.
I think the document needs to be pruned heavily, like with a chain saw. Paragraphs need to be brief and we only want to hit high points. Ultimately the document has to be something that can be read in a very short time, communicate essential information and prepare the player for a game he's never played before.I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 February 28, 2012 - 12:26am | If you wanted to make up a quick one page writeup of each race, I think the easiest way would be to take the AD description and get rid of all but one picture and all of the stats. It looks like if that was done you would have a one sheet brief right there. At least that is with the remastered AD rules. Zeb's guide is the same way. Change the font so a little more detail can be added, like how to role-play that race. In SFman #7, there was some good advice on how to role-play the Alternity races. I think that would be all that is needed to round out what is there already. As for a description of SF itself, I was reading Bill's intro to the remastered AD rules, and he said it, "Exciting Adventures on Alien Worlds". I think that came right from the game. W00T, you posted a link from Smoot that reviewed SF, and I have seen on several of the SF sites a quick blurp about what SF is. I think there are lots of quick and simple ways to describe SF to someone new. It just depends on if they are familiar with rpg's or not. For someone totally new, you would have to give a small paragraph about what an rpg is. If this is for someone new, all you need to do is give them a place to start. No need for covering a lot, just enough to have some fun. Then, if they like what they play, then they can read the book. Just like the original rules that sparked our imaginations, have a small adventure with a few tech items, let them read the race sheet and a SF history sheet, and away they go. A good way to look at it is this: If you were to go into Starbucks, sorry I live in WA, and were to sit down next to someone, how would you explain SF to them in a way to make them interested in playing one session with you? |
