From: v057qkmm@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (BABBLING SAGE)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: Sci-Fi Suggestions
Keywords: battlelords
Date: 9 Sep 92 23:59:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <tb5yc+b@rpi.edu>, cleggp@aix.rpi.edu (Paul Jason Clegg) writes...
>In article <BuBo9r.4o9@acsu.buffalo.edu> v076jy2p@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Cosmo Of The Cosmos) writes:
>>As for the skills...
>>	I've found the system works well.  Besides, if you have cybernetic
>>engineering, what the Hell are you doing in a combat zone?  Get your ass
>>in a nice safe lab where you can make oodles of money, and live to enjoy it!
> 
>The problem then, is that the skills are not designed well for the genre.
>IMHO, one of two things should be selected:  1) the game should not be
>advertised as the "complete sci-fi roleplaying game".  Or.  2) the skills
>should be rethought to be tailored to the hack & slash nature of the game.

	Actually, with the exception of the cybernetic skills, most of
the skills are accessible to any race. If you think the game is just 
hack n slash, youre wrong - see later.

> 

> 
>>
>>
>>As for the races...
>>	Yep. Well... in normal life, they'll live together alright.
>>But I fear that the Alliance is... *OOMPH*  Oh, hi!  No I wasn't going
>>to... *WACK* OK, OK!  Anyways, read Lock-N-Load.  You'll pick up a
>>whole lot of info on the state of affairs in the alliance.
>>
>>
>>in short...  Its still in its infant stage.
>>
>>
>>						-Rob G.
> 
>Races:  Not quite.  From what I've seen in the rules, these the are the
>problems (off the top of my head) from the various races:
> 
>Orion Rogues:  A society based on theivery and partying will not be able to
>     manage amazing feats of technological splendor, nor would they be able
>     to organize themselves to do anything tremendous.

	They had help from the Phentari. Read Lock N Load. 
> 
>Ram Pythons, Python Lizards:  Big, stupid, and combative.  Should not be
>     included in a technologically advanced society.
> 
	They became part of the Alliance for a reason. read lock N load.
	And it still wont explain it. But there is an underlying reason
	to be explained later.
	
>Phentari:  A society solely hinged on war.  Not going to work, sorry.
> 

	The strongest shall survive. Thats evolution. It has its problems.
	Not nice, but actually rather efficient.

>Mazian:  Blind and water-based?  What the hell kind of roleplaying are youg
>     going to do with a blob like that?  Sure, they can look like humans,
>     but if they <can't read> (something their sonar doesn't compensate for!)
>     what kind "espionage" duties are they going to be able to form.  I don't
>     THINK so!

	Their sense of touch is so developed they can read ink with it.

> 
>Eridani:  See Phentari.

	Honor is everything. The self is realized through discipline. 
	Inferior life forms have no place. Brutal, but effective.

> 
>The only races that are logical are humans, gen humans, mutzachans, zen rigeln,
>tza zen rigeln (in small doses).  Chatilians maybe; but their telepathic powers
>would be a bit upsetting, so they'd have to be dealt with carefully.  And then
>the cats (name escapes me), are kinda silly.  How do they get their weapons
>harnesses on?

	They have paws which function as crude hands. 

> 
>If Simms was the only person who worked on this, he'd better learn QUICK to 
>find help..

	He has, since the book you received. Trust me. 

> 
>BTW, what's Lock n' Load?  An expansion?  When's it going to be available? Why
>haven't I been notified?

	Lock n' Load is the largest most complete equipment manual EVER 
compiled. It contains over 2000 pieces of equipment, only about 1/4 of
which are weapons or armor. The errors have been corrected, and it will be
available within a few weeks at stores.

> 
>....Paul
> 
>PS>  What gets me is that Simms was pushing his game when I bought it as being
>a really cool game, that doesn't concentrate on combat ("Look, only 4 pages of
>combat rules!").  Of course, he neglected to include the 25 types of armor, the
>25 types of helmets, the 75 armor options, the 100 weapons, and the six combat
>monger character races.  And that's not including the fact that the whole game
>concept seems to be "find something and kill it good."

	Wrong. if you had ever played the game with Larry, you would know
that getting into combat should be avoided if at all possible. After all, 
characters tend to DIE or get MAIMED when they are shot by automatic lasers.
Its really better to roleplay. And it can be done because the races are 
so varied.


> 
>....Paul

-> Bluerazor

PS the combat system problems have been ironed out too. i suspect you dont
have the second printing of the third edition. Look for the cover showing
a full color night battle scene, with an Eridani prominent.
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc