Re: SG2 vs DS2 vs FT

Tom,

Thanks for the insight. Admittedly, my exposure to FT and SG is limited 
pretty much to this mailing list. It just seems like a lot of the
examples 
and battles discussed do refer directly to ships designs, or at least
minis, 
straight from the story line. If the other games are as generic as DS,
Mr. 
Tuffley's more of a genius than I've already given him credit for.  And 
while the official story line does sound pretty detailed and full of 
possibilities, there's something equally fun about creating your own.

What I've started to do is basically GM a whole universe, where my
friends 
are recruited to represent new budding powers, and we apply this story
line 
to different RPG's and wargames, depending on the situation.

Brian Bilderback

----Original Message Follows----
From: "Thomas.Barclay" <Thomas.Barclay@sofkin.ca>
Reply-To: gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
To: "GZG List (E-mail)" <gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU>
Subject: SG2 vs DS2 vs FT
Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2000 21:30:51 -0500

Brian:

AFAIK, SG2 is pretty "generic". Nothing in the rules (except the "if you
want to use em" TO&E starters at the back) ties you to NAC, ESU, or
anybody
else. All the rules are thoroughly generic. Me and Mr. Goodall have
discussed Traveller done SG2 before, and I think you could easily do
2300AD
or many other backgrounds VERY easily without doing much to the basic
rules
(just modifying kit a bit to match the millieu).

FT - strange you should suggest FT as tied to the Tuffleyverse. If you
run
the aliens, then yeah maybe. But the design rules certainly aren't. And
from
what I've seen on the list MOST folk use non-standard designs. Those who
stick to FB or basic FT designs are in the minority. The rules include
beams, pulse torpedos, etc. etc. but any of these systems could be
installed
on a newly designed ship. Some of the KV stuff from the old world (pre
FB2)
would have tied you to a very Tuffleyverse design, but nothing on the
human
sides would tie you thusly.

I think the only reason DS2 seems more generic is because very little
has
been done (officially) to provide large force tables and army lists
(unlike
most mircoarmour games...). SG2 at least included a fair cross section
(though still far from complete) of units at the back of the book, as
did FT
(esp FB).

Now, many of us like the 'canon' history, which is why you'll see it
discussed a lot. Sure it has holes (like North America and Canada would
gladly revert to being servants of the English Crown...NOT...), but it
is
quite interesting, rich with opportunities, and a lot of fun.

Tom.

Thomas Barclay
Software UberMensch
xwave solutions
(613) 831-2018 x 3008

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