From: gdg019@cch.coventry.ac.uk (Ridley McIntyre)
Subject: Re: Let's talk REAL sci-Fi systems
Keywords: The best
Organization: Ironpig Arcadia, Coventry, UK
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 13:22:40 GMT

In article <BuC6KL.Fpw@acsu.buffalo.edu> v057qkmm@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Bluerazor) writes:
>
>	Ok, I'm going to objectively compare Battlelords to those OTHER 
>so-called Sci-fi game systems out there. So listen up gamers, and flame
>away!! I'm going to be brutally honest.

Objectively compare. Yes.

>	Battlelords has twelve of the COOLEST races you'd ever want to play,
>and they are all original, not based on some hokey elven lore!!!! I don't
>know about you, but I'd rather play my first level Mutzachan any day than
>some "elven decker" or "Ork". Leave the elves to D&D, I want ALIENS!

The game has a level system. I hate it already. At least with Shadowrun elves
you can play anything you want, rather than having an entirely two-dimensional
race of creatures. Orion Rogue? An entire planet of thieves? They don't even
try to pass it off as "borrowing" or "holding something for someone". Even
Kender would never class themselves as thieves.

>	Battlelords has the best combat system of any Sci-Fi system on the
>market, bar none. I have fifty dollars that says so. No other system 
>simulates discharge combat so realistically. Its quick, efficient, and 
>deadly. It's not like some systems where you roll 30d6 and fail to do any
>damage. What kind of system is that, Yahtzee?? And theres none of these 
>"wound levels" either. Get hit by any heavy weapons in Battlelords and
> you're likely to be looking at a mangled limb or some internal organs
> being reduced to jelly! Imagine the look on your enemy's face as
> your plasma cannon removes his groin!!!!

I've got a system that works without hit points, too, and you only ever roll
2d6 to work out the damage. It's called Jorune, and people never want to get
into combat in this game. It ain't lethal, it's just more than likely going
to incapacitate you for long periods of time. Let's face it, *that's* a
realistic combat system.

>	Battlelords now has the LARGEST, most complete equipment manual
>ever compiled, Lock 'N Load. It has over 2000 pieces of equipment, fully
>described, and is 160 pages long!! Other systems are missing the basics of
>life, like radios and beer.  Battlelords has everything, even tomb stones
>to mark your shallow grave on an alien hunk of rock!!!

I'm making up my own multi-genre game system. I'm currently working on a 
sci-fi space game using my rules. I'll probably buy this supplement to help
me make up a decent futuristic equipment list.

>	Battlelords doesn't have "spells" or "magic" or "mana". Sure, you
>can play characters with psychic powers who can generate matrices... but
>you wont be turning anyone to goo by rolling d6s. Leave mages out with
>that hokey elven lore.

Psionics is just another word for sci-fi magic. Every game seems to feel the
need for some system where the players get to control things without actually
touching it. Why?

>	You like some other system? 
>		Rifts - Haven't looked over this, but if its anything
>	like Palladium's other stuff with SDC and MDC, I don't want to
>	have anything to do with it.

Yep, true, RIFTS is pretty bad, but it ain't space-faring, so it's not 
a comparison.

>		GURPS - Get real. Want to play a generic system which 
>	requires you to buy an infinite supply of supplements? I like 
>	my games specific.

Tip. Get GURPS basic. Get GURPS Space. Get Lock N Load. Instant Battlelords
game and you even have a system for computers and space combat thrown in.

>		Chart master?

The universe in Space Master sounds a damn sight better than the one in
Battlelords. Any GM who has the balls to run a SpaM game is worth my vote.

>		Sure, there's plenty of systems out there you COULD play.
>But why waste your time with inaccurate or incomplete systems?

Battlelords is *complete*. What about Lock N Load? What about a space
combat system? What about playing the kinds of characters I want to play
without having to resort to being a human all the time just to get some
depth into the character (he's an Orion - keep away from him, he'll nick your
bike... he's a human - Cthulu knows what he might do next).

 For sheer
>combat efficiency and overall playability, you just cant do any better.
>Yeah, you might point out some mistakes or omissions from the basic rulebook.
>Too vague, too unorganized... whatever. These problems are being fixed.

You're shooting the game in the foot. I won't buy the game until the mistakes 
have been fixed. By the Third Ed. their shouldn't *BE* any mistakes. If there
are, then the game ain't worth my $20.

>	No space combat system? Of course not - its still under development 
>because when its released it will be the BEST. Can't fit it into a 250-page
>rulebook which already explains the basics.

You mean they released three editions of a space faring game and they don't
even know the rules for space combat yet? This game just keeps getting worse
and worse.

>	And Battlelords has only improved since Lock N Load was released:
>more historical development, the final compilation of weapons and equipment
>(all you'll ever need), and a section on tactics. Coming soon: Modules,
>and the COMPLETE race book - explaining how the races live and work together
>in the Alliance, plus new exciting races to play, and for NPCs!!
>
>
>	So go ahead, try toget that fifty bucks. Show Me a better combat
>system. Oh and by the way it has to be a published game. 

Oh, shit. You would have to make sure it was *published*, wouldn't you?

>Flame away.

>	PS dont gimme any of that hokey elven lore. 

PS, don't gimme any of that hokey Orion Rogue lore. I'll wait until I can play
any f*cking character under any f*cking race I want before I touch your system
with a iron stick. That's an objective opinion from someone who's seen the
game and how it works and who's seen about twelve other sf games and think
there's something wrong with them all, but Battlelords has to be the worst.

Now, where have all you LEGACY players gone?


-- 
        	 **Ridley McIntyre - Ronin Ironpig**			
		     gdg019@cck.coventry.ac.uk
		 -----------------------------------
     "It'll be a cold night tonight... If it's cold." - Iain Morales