From: batemanc@p4.cs.man.ac.uk (Mad Chris)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.advocacy,rec.games.frp,rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: Let's talk REAL sci-Fi systems
Keywords: The best
Date: 14 Sep 92 14:41:03 GMT
Followup-To: rec.games.frp.advocacy

gdg019@cch.coventry.ac.uk (Ridley McIntyre) and v057qkmm@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Bluerazor) rage:

>>	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.

Doesn't that mean this should be in advocacy?

>>	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!!!!

'Quick, efficient, deadly.' 
Sounds like Living Steel to me (yes, it can be played quickely. I don't like
it much, but it's very realistic). Can I have 50 dollars?

>>	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!!!

Much as I dislike Traveller, it has more than 2000 pieces of equipment.
Can I have 50 dollars?

>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?

No No NO!!!! This is why almost all Psionics systems are DREADFUL!
Psionics is NOT magic. This is why I hate Spacemaster. If you want to see
WHY psionics isn't magic, watch 'Akira' or read 'Dune'. 'Outlands' has 
(a mon avis) the best psionic system because it FEELS like psionics,
not 'sci-fi magic'. It also has a nice combat system, but it probably `
isn't as 'realistic' as 'Battletoast' because it is intended to be used
as a fast, dramatic system.

>>		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.

The SpaceMaster universe is painfully cliche. It's only saving grace is that
GM's are encouraged to throw bits out that they don't need. Spacemaster has
some nice rules but these are buried under the weight of the trash.
If you want a 'realistic' system AND universe, play Living Steel. Your
characters won't last a week - but that's because it IS realistic!

>>	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. 

Living Steel, Living Steel, Living Steel. Can I have my 50 bucks?
( I also recommend Outlands if you actually intend to role-play rather
than play 'realistically' and die all the time ).

>>Flame away.

WHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH! <Frazzle!>

>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.

Oh, I don't think it's the worst. But it sure ain't the best. The worst 
sci-fi sysem is still `Star Frontiers`, AMA.

Now, can I have me 50 dollars?

Blood and Souls for my lord Arioch!

Mad Chris.