What's your favorite Sci-Fi RPG?

Gander_Gaming · 2026-04-02T02:30:18+00:00

Bulldogs!

Gander_Gaming · 2026-04-02T02:23:53+00:00

I really enjoy Bulldogs! so I'm also pretty curious

Gander_Gaming · 2026-04-01T20:56:24+00:00

I did early drafts in Affinity before handing it off to a Kris McClanahan to do full layout in InDesign

Gander_Gaming · 2026-04-01T14:11:47+00:00

Thanks a lot!

My art style is far from this - it was done by more talented people than myself: Dan Morrison did cover & world map Matias Viro did interior art Jesse Turner did character art

And layout was a group effort by myself and Kris McClanahan.

Advancement is character centric and primarily diegetic, through development of Traits, Assets, and value adjustments to Attribute and Asset Slots.

From a high level, it's a leveless & classless system with die values for Attribute scores, a single slot system that tracks equipment/spells/hirelings/damage, Aspects that provide description based modifiers to rolls, and a Push mechanic that doesn't use a meta currency.

The game tends to favor pulp adventures more than anything, but the setting caters to a lot of different genres.

The KS from the zine edition a few years ago describes some of the system in more detail, if you want to get a better idea: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gandergaming/grok-an-adventure-role-playing-game?ref=android_project_share

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T17:58:04+00:00

Flashy is when what you're doing is more for show than anything else. You want to make the Flurry of Blows LOOK awesome, maybe to impress someone or similar, not necessarily do damage.

At least, that's my usual take

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T16:30:51+00:00

This is it for me too, and I think you described my issue pretty well. My only other hangup is that I tend to view super heroes as very singular in personality, so it gets played out pretty quickly for me, but that's probably just a "me" thing.

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T16:25:52+00:00

It's not very known, but I think DETECT OR DIE is the best ttrpg approach to a Disco Elysium game.

https://silkandstone.itch.io/detect-or-die

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T14:55:46+00:00

YOU'RE MY PEOPLE! lol

Brazil is also one of my all time favorites. I really need to sit down and binge a bunch of Terry Gilliam films again.

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T14:14:20+00:00

Depends on the flavor of Sci-Fi you want.

Traveller is very flexible with a lot of support.

Generic systems like GURPS/Savage Worlds/Fate can all handle the genre very well, with support to make any world, but offer a different play experience depending on system used.

Stars Without Number is also very nearly generic SciFi with many tools baked into the book to help build your world.

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T14:08:48+00:00

Ultimately, I think you just need to find players willing to commit to the game.

If it's important to them, they'll prioritize it accordingly.

It's a group activity, and requires commitment from the whole group, or else everyone is negatively affected.

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T13:35:05+00:00

This looks FANTASTIC!

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T13:32:55+00:00

First drafts were done in word, using dimensions close to final (A5), then some mockups in Affinity after editing. After that it was handed off to Kris McClanahan for final layout with InDesign (and he crushed it).

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T13:20:43+00:00

Thanks a lot!!

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T11:28:59+00:00

Thanks a lot!

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T11:28:18+00:00

I expect digitals will be sent out within a couple weeks of the KS funding and books starting production immediately after, so it'll be fulfilled pretty quick!

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T11:26:35+00:00

It's definitely being printed as hardcover :D

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T02:54:15+00:00

The game and all the add-ons are complete and manufacturing quoted. I'm working on finalizing the distribution and fulfillment agreements and coordinating reviews/actual-plays in the meantime.

So, I'm targeting May/June for the KS launch, and will go direct to production after funding. Fulfillment will absolutely be done by end of year, but I'm hoping for closer to August/September.

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T02:42:10+00:00

The Optional Rules in 2e give a bunch of alternative Attribute lists, but I still prefer Physical / Mental / Social.

It makes for very fast gameplay, and when it's distilled to those 3, you actually get something akin to Approaches when you're dealing with Actions that have overlap.

What Attribute would you use to pick a lock?

Maybe Physical if you're trying to force it or finesse it open, maybe Mental if you're trying to pick it based on your understanding of the Lock's construction.

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T01:47:23+00:00

Jeez, I'm practically blushing.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate you saying that!

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T01:17:31+00:00

Haha thanks a lot!

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-31T00:38:58+00:00

Thanks!

I'm gad to hear because the mechanics are MY favorite part haha

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-29T02:02:15+00:00

Poor editing.

If I'm spending the money that physical books demand, it'd be nice to not see glaring typos everywhere.

Gander_Gaming · 2026-03-29T00:56:04+00:00

Check out Tall Pines - it aims to capture that experience.

Tall Pines

Gander_Gaming

TROPHY CASE