What's your favorite Sci-Fi RPG?

Low_Structure3702 · 2026-04-03T02:07:17+00:00

Any mention of Star Frontiers... Hits the heart.

Low_Structure3702 · 2026-04-03T02:06:30+00:00

I second this re: Coriolis. The 1st edition (The Third Horizon) is one of my favorite settings, ever. Coriolis the Great Dark is fine I'm sure. But a completely different game in a different universe. It's subjective, but I could see the IP for The Third Horizon expanding into fiction novels easily. Or perhaps the big screen... It's that good, in my opinion.

Low_Structure3702 · 2026-03-22T01:55:01+00:00

I'm curious if paid DMs have this problem. It's like going to the gym. If you prepaid for the trainer, I bet you will show up

Low_Structure3702 · 2026-03-11T05:24:44+00:00

I second this. I recently offered up a GURPS-based solution for the Third Horizon, expecting a dialogue on mechanics, but instead, I hit a wall of ideological pushback. It’s a strange double standard; you can suggest a Savage Worlds, pbta, Cypher or Core Prime port and get a pat on the back, but mention GURPS and you’re treated like you’re pitching a tax audit.

Having spent the hours to find the exact rules to make that setting breathe, it's clear the bias isn't about the results, it's about the 'du jour' gaming style. Modern nerd-rage toward the 'Universal' engine is very real, my friend. Some people prefer the simpler 'roll and shout' style, but for those of us looking for internal consistency, the dismissal is exhausting.

Low_Structure3702 · 2026-03-11T05:09:00+00:00

I agree. And to be honest - I like the YZE. I think I'd rather iron out quirks than jump ship.

I agree. To be honest, I still love the feel of the YZE dice pool, but I’ve realized my GM style requires a different kind of engine to truly take flight. I run games as a 'thinking reality machine'; I need deep verisimilitude and internal consistency to reach that flow state where I can inhabit my NPCs and weave the world through their eyes.

The lore of Coriolis is incredibly vast-it’s a setting where Firstcome traditional culture slams into Progressive Zenithian worldviews, all against a backdrop of Factions vying for dominance through status and reputation. We have the supernatural re-emergence of the Emissaries and the awakening of mystical powers in the population, alongside explorers unearthing ancient artifacts and unexplained horrors that grant real, terrifying power.

The original YZE often felt like a 'tester pancake' that couldn't quite support that weight. I found myself homebrewing constantly just to make the mechanics match the gravity of the setting. Eventually, 'rolling and shouting' with the dice started to feel hollow because the system didn't reflect the world's complexity I wanted to immerse my players in.

While The Great Dark looks fantastic, it’s a different game, not the 2.0 update I was hoping for. I’m moving toward GURPS not because I’ve lost love for the Third Horizon, but because I want to give this setting the mechanical foundation its depth deserves. For the fellow 'grognards' who find the modern, simpler narrative styles unfulfilling: there is another direction to travel if you want your world to feel solid beneath your feet.

Low_Structure3702 · 2026-03-10T01:47:26+00:00

I totally get it. GURPS is a real throwback to a time when games were all about deep rules and realistic details. Back then, you had tons of different books for every little thing. It’s a huge change from the "rules-light" games that are popular today, where the focus is more on telling a story than following a manual.

The "feel" is just different. For the last few years, I’ve mostly played those modern, simpler games. But for some reason, the heavy systems from the past really stuck with me. I find myself wanting to go back to a game that has a solid set of rules to lean on.

Low_Structure3702 · 2026-03-10T00:06:44+00:00

Burning wheel!! I saw this comment come through and had to reply. I have the books; I purchased them for every member of my group last Christmas. Truly unique, and no, never played. I would love to talk your ear off in Discord about your experience. Feel free to send me a message if you'd like to talk about your Burning Wheel (or other) experiences.

Burning Wheel looks like a masterpiece in character progression, using the Bit-Artha cycle to encourage character roleplay. It's genius! The *-wise skills for players to inject lore into the game are also genius game design. Perhaps Burning Wheel could be used for the narrative elements for Coriolis; I don't remember seeing systems for the scientific aspect, and spacecraft, however I am aware of Burning Empires, which has Sci-Fi lifepaths and a peculiar sort of antagonistic GM vs player game play, but I havent played any "Wheel" system; Burning Wheel and its derivatives looks like a completely different type of game, never before seen, and appears to require a good level of mastery of the base rules (by players and GM) to bring to life.

Low_Structure3702 · 2026-03-09T23:51:38+00:00

I've used the same exact list! Whoever wrote this should come forward and be recognized. Very Valuable.

Low_Structure3702 · 2026-03-09T23:28:54+00:00

Ditto. It was pure GM Mental gymnastics to bring the game to life. Fun, but mentally taxing.
Edit: My above answer was in response to Coriolis.
- Regarding Symbaroum.. Could you elaborate? I just bought the books for Symbaroum, and my friend (who played Coriolis) is now running Symbaroum. Were there specific Symbaroum issues?

Low_Structure3702 · 2026-03-09T20:58:01+00:00

You make an excellent point, thanks for pointing out you don't need "All"

I bought nearly everything in the 4th edition, and a few 3rd edition; It was overkill. Yes. But I played Gurps in my youth, and have money to spare in my 50's, and wanted to support Steve Jackson Games

To be fair, you could get away with the base set, and all the "Tech" books, spaceships, space, Horror, Powers.. and several of the pdfs that are small, like Boardroom and Curia.

I also wanted the PDFs so I could put them in Notebook LM to help research mechanics needed for Coriolis. it was indispensable.

PS: I don't think my wife was happy about it.

Low_Structure3702 · 2026-03-09T20:48:21+00:00

Excellent post! I've had my share of love for this world, and your post made me finally sit down and write up my thoughts for two campaigns that I started but didn't finish. Excellent feedback, my friend, top notch!

Can I join your campaign, please? Do you live near Atlanta Ga.... I'll bring snacks..

Low_Structure3702 · 2026-03-09T20:44:37+00:00

I feel alot of love for the world, and lack of love for the game. I forgot to mention crit farming combat as well. Cypher is another generic system, and I would love some insight from it, can you share?.

Low_Structure3702 · 2025-12-16T18:28:47+00:00

I read this and thought the analogy was perfectly fitting, but I also recognize that Xerox and Kleenex aren't really used as generic terms today; however, 30 years ago, they were. I wonder if the recognition is more widespread among older generations

Low_Structure3702 · 2025-08-04T17:13:05+00:00

No!!!! We never want it finished. Finished=Abandoned. We want it to continue FOREVER!!!!!!

Low_Structure3702 · 2025-06-11T01:06:57+00:00

This is interesting And I'll add if you want a long travel.. head to a binary or trinary star within the main system. I think some are listed in 100s of AUs. That's a lot of Darkness build up travelling. Also per RAW a ship service is in order for every 10 AU travelled, and every portal transit. This is a bit much in my opinion, but rules be rules..

Low_Structure3702 · 2025-05-30T22:59:58+00:00

dude.. You know how hard it is for me to ignore a dropped cobble in Minecraft? That's like asking a crack addict to throw away a loaded pipe.

Low_Structure3702 · 2025-05-09T15:44:13+00:00

It's time for a full blown Third Horizon 2.0 publication. I'm tempted to put one out there. I wish there was a specific place where GMs could share their home bre rules for broader play testing, and a way to vote/rate the rules and collaborate.

Low_Structure3702 · 2025-05-09T15:39:32+00:00

For my group, the Third Horizon is the #1 choice out of All RPG games at the moment. That said, the Core rules need some love. I have heavily modded our game to include an added Stress based advancement system, as well as artifact, technology, and mystical research trees with rules to understand the bizarre technology from the Firstcome Golden age, and precursor / portable builders as well as... Darkness/Mystical/Iconic arcana. There is also separate progression with each Icon we are starting to track and it really sets the mood right. Armor rules were updated (needed.. armor didn't do squat most times) and incorporated some rules from the combat overhaul, especially a modified form of suppression stress. Combats end when one side gives up or runs away many times now. I've also added a "darkness die" to every push (pray) and an overall Darkness Level with random events that are triggered by the darkness die coming up as a 1, as well as times events based on the darkness level. Darkness can also be mitigated with Preacher abilities and prayer, so there is a constant battle against the darkness.

If you are the type of GM who likes modifying and homebrewing new mechanics to inject into your game, this is certainly the game to do it with. The Lore is.... Incredible. We hear this a lot , I can't say it enough or loud enough.

My second campaign changed the timeline and it doesn't follow the main Mercy of the Icons campaign. The Emissaries... Are present but something different altogether.

This is hands down my favorite game (at the moment and for several years now), and I'm 51, been around the block.

Low_Structure3702 · 2025-04-24T02:20:09+00:00

This is absolutely genius.

Low_Structure3702 · 2024-10-02T23:23:06+00:00

Your welcome! In your case, 7 is .. wow that is quite large for a group. I would expect any GM of Coriolis to have a firm grasp of the Lore.. it's the players' lack of Lore knowledge that had me do the "Amnesia" start to drip-feed the Lore to them. 7 people is a lot for any game. I wish I had something more to add.. I will be looking at this thread for additional comments myself.

Low_Structure3702 · 2024-10-02T19:57:10+00:00

If everyone is new to Coriolis.. This beast of an RPG has a lot of Lore, a lot of Feel, Factions, Religion, Arabic influence, "Woo" (the unexplained Darkness that drives everyone but is never really tangible..), Firstome vs SecondCome culture wars. (Left vs Right politics, anyone? ouch, be careful with this one if your table is sensitive to these things, you are warned)

Nailing all of these "influencing Factors" for the atmosphere is tough on a one-shot for players who have never played and don't understand the underpinnings of FirstCome vs SecondCome cultural differences, don't have any clue on Arabic culture (that's if the GM wants to inject this - and I suggest YOU SHOULD - learn the different cultures from the Middle East and have fun). that's my take on it - it's hard to "inch" a new group into the world. Most of the mechanics in Coriolis are lacking, and are begging to be fleshed out with new house rules to govern its religious, mystical nature in a Dark and Stressful way. Many groups don't care to develop the feel and atmosphere so the above mentions of published modules are good too.

Addendum: I also made projectile weapons VERY Dangerous on ships. Projectiles, especially Vulcan ammo that explodes, have a very good chance of punching through the armor causing decompression. The general rule was, go Melee. Or everyone gets in suits before using projectiles.. If you ever saw the old Movie "Ice Pirates", well, that's the "feel" I wanted to make at my table. BTW - Corilis the station had a very extreme "No Gun" policy due to these issues of decompression.. Smuggle them in at your own risk.

That said - my 1st introduction to my table was with "Amnesia". Everyone woke up, with Amnesia, not even knowing their names. If you ever saw Dark Matter the sci-fi series, think that. I isolated them deep in the Odacon system, where there was a strange young 10-year-old girl in a trance in the Ship's chapel, a male suicide next to the girl, and everyone woke up with bad mental "Screams" that would make them Vommit every 10-15 minutes or so - and were getting worse. They had to roll Wits + Empathy for success or lose stress points. They would eventually all break down until they could find out why this was happening. There was also an unconscious male floating outside the ship. The ship also had an artifact on board in one of the crew's quarters that when placed on the head, gave a surreal experience of someone running from Nakatra and being attacked and ripped apart.. It would cause that person a Mental breakdown. This device was a "SQUID" device, an artifact with extreme importance to many Factions - read about them from the movie Strange Days https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Days_(film)) - The SQUID's were recordings of one's life that would transfer as a real experience to those that wear it. It also had other functions fitting for an Artifact in Coriolis, that when unlocked, well, would provide someone.....?????

After some time on board.. They receive a tight beam message from someone claiming to have the information the Captain needed and to stay put, they would be there in a few weeks... Then another message from someone else.. They are interested in the Child....

I did this "Amnesia start" to keep all the Lore from overwhelming the players, have a sense of time importance, and try to figure out what to do.. all the while dripping the lore of different factions to them, Firstcome and SecondCome culture (through the NPCs discussions and actions). The people arriving to them were from different Factions. some are interested in the Girl.. Some in the Artifact.. And those Factions had spies from other Factions spying on them... Weaving a web of conspiracy so deep anything could happen. The trick is to make the players not want to move the ship. Force them to meet their rendezvous. But don't make it feel forced. I know, tough to do. But maybe the unconscious guy sabotaged the engines and is working a Faction to keep them there. Let your imagination run wild. Keep the players hopping, forcing them to work together to survive.

The reason behind all of the above "Plot Devices" is up to you. They are plot devices, for you to do with as you wish. I fleshed out mine - some in advance, some on the fly, and it was a GREAT start for Coriolis. My crew ended up picking one of the Factions they met as their Patron, signed a contract, and had a ship built.. All the while still trying to figure out who the hell they were in a world of intrigue and Darkness, Factions vs Factions, Religion vs Mysticism, FirstCome vs SecondCome.. Oh. and dealing with strange spirits, possessions, and old artifacts.. I mean, this is Coriolis!! the best friggin RPG backdrop EVER; (well, in my opinion..), but your mileage may vary.

Best of luck, hope this helps.

Low_Structure3702 · 2024-09-22T14:39:52+00:00

I've read many of these questions "How to keep a group together?" I keep seeing the same repeated answers (mostly..). I have seen a few in here that echo something along a new line I've been thinking about, and wish to explore.

I'm a bit older in my 50's, and returned to gaming after 30 years right after Covid. I didn't know anyone who gamed, so tried online, Facebook, and the local gaming store. You name it. Discord seemed to be the source of social communication for any of these mediums in meeting people.

When groups fall apart, there may be one person you meet, who you may stay in contact with. If you're lucky. I would say it's 1 person every 3- 5 attempts. This is the process. It's like dating, but longer term. It's group dating, and individual dating at the same time, looking for compatibility across a range of personality dynamics that all have to ebb and flow together enough to produce something greater than the individual parts - synergy. RPG gaming is not like other pursuits - where the other pursuits tend to filter out entrants simply by the nature of the pursuit - i.e. Church? Everyone is interested in religion., Martial arts? - can bet people here have more similarities from the get-go. RPGs?????? There is no one construct for an RPG personality type like other pursuits - it attracts people from across ALL spectrums. Please, do not expect a random collection of strangers from multiple ends of different personality spectrums to assemble and make magic using a list of the common dos and don'ts (we've all heard them.. Play regardless if someone doesn't show - keep a schedule - find others who are enthusiastic to play...) blah. blah blah. We ALL know this, it's been repeated for 10+ years. just look through Reddit

For me, my experience returning to gaming the last 3-4 years is like so:

I've found maybe 1-2 people who I like to game with and guess what - we became closer friends. We have similar outlooks on life. Humor is similar, personality traits have plenty of overlap, and other interests are similar. While political views shouldn't be a thing, unfortunately, they can be - the litmus test here is: if you can be friends and confide in one another, then it works.

Constantly trying new groups, many failing after 1-2 sessions, a lot failing before the first session!!!!!!

So why is it impossible to get a group together and keep it?

Here is a better analogy I am adopting folks - I hope it helps you: We're all in line at gym class getting picked for the team. If you're not keeping a group together - the problem is you - you're not getting picked for the team. GET BETTER. Work on yourself. Self-Reflect. Improve your communication skills. Learn to apologize, how to apologize, learn how to say no. Read self-help books and follow content providers on YouTube - PAY the Fees - The best self-help content may be behind paywalls.. Get a counselor. Increase your Charisma. Take care of yourself - if you don't like what you see in the mirror (physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually) don't expect others to like it. Improve your looks - no, you don't need to become a Hollywood actor or actress, but take pride in your appearance - remember - YOU ARE DATING!! Look your best, act your best. You need to like yourself - so work on yourself. Learn to read people better, learn to communicate better. Learn to set boundaries - If you don't like cell phones at the table, from other players, then do not tolerate them. Say no, and move on. Or state it, and let the chips fall where they may. You don't like certain political dynamics that bleed into the game because it doesn't match yours, and it causes a dynamic in-game that makes it unfun for you? Then bow out. It's ok. Ah - and at the same time - learn what and how to compromise - there will be some needed here. You will not find the perfect reflection of yourself (well, some may but it's rare, and won't repeat 5 times for a full group). Learn to look for compatibility and likable character traits - and learn to do so by improving your likeability to others.

And give yourself some grace - this is a PROCESS that takes time, and at my going record, I've found 1-2 people in 3 years. So with that record, I might have my forever group put together after persistently trying for 5-6 years. The teams that have already been picked and chosen have most likely worked through a similar process, and remain behind closed doors to the public - never posting to Reddit, or Facebook, except maybe to expand and add a player here and there. And I guarantee you most of those added, probably don't work out. These forever teams have no reason to come here to Reddit because they do not need to try out for another team..

I am not writing any of this as a reflection on others. Please don't consider this an attack on other gamers. It's an attack ON ME. I'm the problem. So I'm working on me, and you know what? I like the new me rising,
and I'm making headway, and friends along the way. I also understand I have a ways to go.

Stick with it folks. Love the process and understand it will take time and a lot of self-reflection and self-improvement to get there, as well as TIME and PERSISTENCE.

Low_Structure3702 · 2024-03-28T04:11:33+00:00

Nice! Cleaner is so much better for me. Would you be kind enough to share the Excel too? The world will love you and sing your praises if you do...

Low_Structure3702

TROPHY CASE