Firelfy RPG by Seshat

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Firelfy RPG

POSTED BY: SESHAT
UPDATED: Thursday, August 28, 2003 02:03
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VIEWED: 16816
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Tuesday, August 26, 2003 9:55 PM

One thing about systems, make sure you make your combat deadly, helps ensure your players roleplay more and don't get into fights as much.

While the Storyteller system has gobs of roleplaying support hardwired into it, its combat system is a bit on the weak side. As an example, if someone with average attribute and ability were to shoot someone, they would have to roll PERFECTLY in order to drop them. Not kill, just drop them. PERFECT ROLL. This tends to make combat situations more cinematic (which is cool, still), but the PLAYERS won't mind starting trouble as much. The weapon rules are also a bit vague in the sense of how weapons work on ppl. Again, good cinematic feel.

Shadowrun 3e system (ignoring magic) is EXTREMELY deadly. The average Joe with a gun in SR3 can stop anyone in their tracks, even without a perfect roll. Granted, luck plays a part in every system, but SR3's combat system tends to be unforgiving to the person receiving the bullets. It also has the added plus of being very fleshed out, rules wise, and allows a more tactical approach to a firefight. It also makes players jump when someone reaches for a gun (as they should). The system is quite gritty, though someone can probably find a more hardcore combat system (please let me know what system, I'm interested!), it does convey the quick, pulse pounding sense of a firefight. Oh, yes, I guess I should mention that this is my favorite game.

GURPS combat system. Haven't played with it enough to rate it. Have heard some odd things about it, but haven't experienced them myself. Someone else will have to rate that one.

D20. This system is fairly simple, quick, and fun for combat. If you use the modern rules, or perhaps the Blood and Guts rules for military types (a fairly new one), it avoids odd happenings like drilling someone with 30 arrows and watching them walk away. The d20 Star Wars uses vitality to represent critical body damage, and makes those crit hits scary. Downside is folks will look at a weapon, know its max damage, and then evaluate the threat level based on whether or not they could suck a direct hit or not. Also has no graded success level of damage, ie. you either hit or you don't, with critical hits being more damaging, but alot more rare. Pros include the fact that just about EVERYONE knows this game. Cons include the fact that just about EVERYONE knows this game.

I have mentioned combat because although I'm sure your players would never think of doing something so reckless to the story as kill your important story character (COUGH COUGH hack splutter COUGH), combat is still a great dramatic moment and tension reliever. Inevitably, someone is gonna draw down on someone else, making someone's life difficult (follow that?). The biggest choice, though, is whether to make it cinematic or gritty. Cinematic has characters making dramatic statements, dying confessions, and heroic leaps into the fray. Gritty has blood, death, and pain; reminding the characters of their own mortality and inspiring heroic acts of bravery.

I prefer gritty to cinematic for gunfights, but cinematic for melee. Whichever you choose for your game, make sure the players know before hand.

Jayne: "How big a room?"

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Wednesday, August 27, 2003 2:46 AM

FARADAY

Quote:
Originally posted by SouthernMerc:
The system is quite gritty, though someone can probably find a more hardcore combat system (please let me know what system, I'm interested!)...

Millenium's End has the most deadly and realistic combat system I've ever seen in a RPG. It accounts for broken bones, bleeding, shock, different types of damage (burns, gunshots, blunt, etc.), hit locations that mirror the position the person's actually in (a crouching person is less likely to be hit in the legs) as well as what you were aiming at. It's very neat.

Unfortunately, all this detail makes it a pain to use. I would not recommend it for a casual gamer who prefers cinematic combat. But for a hardcore gritty combat gamer, I think it's neat.

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Wednesday, August 27, 2003 11:18 PM

SOUTHERNMERC

Thanks! I will take a look at that.

Oh, I just remembered I had seen one even more accurate, "The Morrow Project." One hundred hit locations, each one accounted for (shudder).

By gritty I also mean "OMFG I'VE BEEN SHOT I'M GONNA DIE" deadly. As opposed to "Eh, what's that noise? Oh, bullets hitting my skin."

Jayne: "How big a room?"

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Thursday, August 28, 2003 2:03 AM

ANTHONYT

Freedom is Important because People are Important

I'm sorry I didn't see this thread sooner.

I've been running Firefly with the Friday Night Firefight system for a little while now.

You know, Cyberpunk. Subtract the cyberware, and your remainder is 100% Firefly. I even created stats for a few of the more flavorful Wild West weapons seen on the show.

Anybody ever seen Ariel? (Heh.) That ambulance was an AV if I ever saw one.

--Anthony

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