Lovely cover by the way.

Will have to look out for this at Fan Boy 3,my local games shop which stocks indie games - in fact I'll pester them to get copies in :) (which might be earlier than a general release because the owner goes to Gen Con US and picks up a bundle of stuff ).

Regards

;O)Newt
D101games -An Imaginary Company

Congratulations Gregor, it looks and reads great. I can't wait to play.

http://www.solipsist-rpg.com/

Does indeed look gorgeous. Now on my reading pile for the weekend.

- Neil.
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Games Co-ordinator
Dragonmeet 2008

"There is no place for Messiah here - it`s only hobby" - Deckard @ The Burning Wheel Forums

I'm curious about the campaign play (it's something dear to the heart of my group) - how does the game support campaign play and character development? Mechanically? Naratively?

Andrew

In quite some detail

Campaigns are played as a series of missions to different planets, with an assumption of 1 planet per session. Characters can expect promotions through the ranks, improved weapons, and (crucially) increasing responsibility for the actions of the Brigade and, quite possibly, increasing disenchantment with the whole endeavor of the human military, as things progress. As well as mechanical improvement (in stats and weapons), the use of Strengths and Weaknesses will develop and deepen characters over time, revealing previously unknown aspects of themselves each time one is used.

There are planets, alien ability calculations, and alien types, for 20 planets (and thus 20 sessions), but a campaign is not limited to that length, since after 20 the GM is free to re-use favourite races and abilities again, developing the story still further.

http://www.solipsist-rpg.com/ - http://cubicle-7.com/starblazer/

Yup, just as David says.

Missions are single game sessions, or sometimes you can fit in two missions a session (we did that at GameWang and Paul in Seattle did that with his playtesting too).

While you could play it as a one-off, you'd miss out on the levelling up, improving your weapons, gaining rank and responsibility and learning to manage your limited resources (like Flashbacks, the APC, Drop Ship and TPK bombs, etc.).

So, there's candy there for you both in the fiction and the mechanics to play more than one session. It also scales with more sessions as the equations for the aliens are based off the group's stats, and certain ranks kick the Threat Level up even more (but then again these ranks have Nuclear Grenades and vehicles, as well as Starkiller missiles to just wipe planets off the pick-from list).

For campaign play I think there is scope. Tree-huggers will no doubt hammer along trying to get the big stuff and Hatred For Home so they can toast Terra ASAP (and then post about it on StoryGames). Fine, if that's what they want to do. Other groups will be happy to go along thumping out missions and playing their characters, and if they get the big blams resisting using them on Terra. David pointed out to me that using "Hatred for Home" could easily be a Flashback to something on Terra that made you leave and join the 3:16 --cementing your characters happiness in the army that they never got back home. The game also allows players to cycle through a series of PCs without having to go back to the bottom of the pile each time.

And at higher ranks the GM can start handing over the responsibility for setting missions to those players. As GM you still get to pick the equation and special ability of the aliens, but it'll be the players setting targets and deciding how they go about it in the fiction.

I think the GM and player advice is pretty helpful, actually, and thanks to Ron Edwards, Ralph Mazza and David Donachie for asking probing questions about that stuff and getting me to put it on the page. Joe and Malcolm also gave me feedback on the text in general which was very helpful too.

Bought the PDF and I'm impressed. I may try running this at Continuum as a counter point to Traveller and a Dune version of Conspiracy of Shadows.

Dom

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Dom Mooney
http://www.bits.org.uk/
http://www.powerprojection.net/

Oi! Bog off Mooney, that was my plan! :)

Looks like there might be quite a bit of 3:16 at Continuum then?

- Neil.
--

Games Co-ordinator
Dragonmeet 2008

"There is no place for Messiah here - it`s only hobby" - Deckard @ The Burning Wheel Forums

Let me know how the games go.

I picked up some AT-43 figs at the weekend for using as my Troopers. They really are the business!

Just ordered a load of bits from BrickArms (nice modern and futuristic weapons), BrickForge (Halo style helmets and armour) and Lego (minifig legs and torsos).

Now I'm scouring eBay for some cheap Clone Troopers as backup :)

Will definitely report back on any games run.

- Neil

Games Co-ordinator
Dragonmeet 2008

"There is no place for Messiah here - it`s only hobby" - Deckard @ The Burning Wheel Forums

Just bought the game and skimmed through it and it looks like a ton of fun!

I am fuzzy on a couple of things:

1. In a one player game (1 GM, 1Player), what rank should the player start as?

2. In a two player game, how does gaining a level work? The text says the player with the most kills gains a level and at least one other player. So, do both players gain a level between missions?

Thanks!

Oh, there are two ways you can go about One-Player Gaming looking at the rules. And there are two situations of play possible.

(i) 1 GM, 1 Player, no rotating of the GM duties.
(ii) 1 GM, 1 Player, rotate the GM.

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CHARACTER CREATION
In (i) you'll be a Sergeant as, by definition, you have the highest NFA and that's the first measure of rank. But if you wanted to start lower than that then you could.

In (ii) both the initial GM and player create their characters, one will be the Sergeant, the other a Corporal. Again you can always elect to be a Trooper if you'd prefer.

LEVELLING UP
In (i) you'll always level up at the end of a Mission. I think you'll need this as you're the only one with access to Flashbacks to keep you alive.

In (ii) the PC of the player will always level up. The GM's PC will level up every second mission the GM runs, alternating with that PC gaining a weapon improvement.

OTHER STRANGENESS WITH 1-PLAYER GAMING
The Force Weakness option is by definition available to the lone PC but of no use as there are no other PCs to use it on.

The campaign ends up being shorter since it's basically a level a mission.

You might well end the Campaign with a PC different from the one you started with.

The Threat Tokens work out at 5 per planet, with encounters being a mixture of 1- and 2-Threat encounters. This will still be stiff at times for a PC depending on how the dice go, but you might find you can fit two planets in during a game session. Or you could keep the initial assault on a planet as being 3 Threat Tokens' worth. That might well be deadly!

You don't get demoted since no other PC can complain about your Weakness between missions. You might decide that the GM can ask for a test for demotion using the AA of the previous planet as the opposing NFA.

With a GM and 1 player the missions go faster and you don't get other PCs interfering your plans for Carnage (or stealing your kills). You also don't have anyone to bail you out when you end up Crippled and out of Flashbacks.
-----

TWO-PLAYER GAMING
Paul's playtest group in Seattle had three PCs overall and a rotating GM. That worked out OK for them, Paul drifted it and had the GM PC be part of the party since the GM's control over aliens is quite well controlled.

But, yes, at the end of each Mission you both Level up. One for kills and the other for being the best of the rest. With two PCs you do still have use for Force Weakness and demotion, though. And stealing kills and fragging each other "accidentally" is possible.

Crossing fingers that they don't fall foul of customs now.

I *so* want to play this now.

- Neil.

Games Co-ordinator
Dragonmeet 2008

"There is no place for Messiah here - it`s only hobby" - Deckard @ The Burning Wheel Forums

Will i be able to buy it at indiecon??

I'm fairly sure you will, yes. You'll be able to play it too!

Gregor is going to be at Indiecon (I believe) so I'd be *very* surprised if copies weren't available for purchase.

And as you already know, games will definitely be happening. In actual fact 3:16 is currently the only thing I'm certain I'll be running at Indiecon! :)

- Neil.

Games Co-ordinator
Dragonmeet 2008

"There is no place for Messiah here - it`s only hobby" - Deckard @ The Burning Wheel Forums

I am looking forward to it and so is Srgt Bryon, hope there is enough Lego to go around when the e cannon's go off

...but, my copies have evaporated at such a rate that they might be in very short supply.

FanBoy3, Leisure Games, Black Lion games are your friend.

Anyway, I will be at IndieCon and rocking out!