With their 7th edition rules almost funded on Kickstarter, I’m thinking of running a Battlelords of the 23rd Century game here on RPOL. Battlelords is an excellent, indie sci-fi rpg and the 7th edition of this game is enhanced and streamlined to be more accessible to new players. I’ve spent years playing Battlelords 3rd through 6th editions throughout high school and university with my friends and brothers and would love to try a play-by-post version.
The rules, though at first a little clunky, were designed by some ex-military guys and as such have a realistic feel to them. Combat is fast and deadly, with the critical hit charts being especially gruesome(and entertaining). It’s a percentile based system, which I personally find gives more variety, flexibility and realism. There are a wide variety of player races to choose from including, but not limited to; Human, to Gen-Human (genetically engineered humans), to the sword wielding, honor obsessed Eridani, to the four tentacled, morally ambiguous (evil?) squid-like Phentari, to the Mutzachan, a “little grey men” equivalent race, complete with large melon shaped head, larger eyes and energy controlling powers. There are a vast other number of races, each with a detailed background and racial variants available guaranteeing that each character you create is unique. With hundreds of skills to choose from, hundreds of weapons systems and thousands of armour/helmet combinations, variety and flexibility is the name of the game here.
The game centers on the players running a group of mercenaries employed by one of the various trans-galactic mega corporations to act as security, clean up conflicts/messes, steal equipment, scientific research, materials from rival companies, etc, etc.
The “feel” of the game, when I describe it to new players is, a sci-fi space opera that is; ”One part BladeRunner, one part Starwars, one part Startrek, one part Firefly and one part Starship Troopers. Add a dash of Gundam, two dashes of “Black Hawk Down”, a pinch of WarHammer 40k and a sprinkle of Battletech. Flavoured with some Glen Cook’s The Black Company” and serve chilled.
Given that the Kickstarter campaign for Battlelords is almost complete, would there be interest if I were to start up a game? The play test rules are available for free download on Drivethrurpg if anyone is curious.
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/222020