My Top 5 Sci-fi Tabletop Roleplaying Games

[@Everstrut]

Stars without Number is my absolute favorite.

[@HeadHunterSix]

I cannot believe that Traveller wasn't even mentioned. It's the granddaddy of all science fiction RPGs and it's stood the test of time - even 45 years later it's still in production and actively played.

[@andrewrobinson7774]

Just what I came here to say 👍

[@Insomnolant1335]

It's a terrible game with an awful core resolution system. So little granularity that it crunches all bonuses from skills and gear down into irrelevantly small ranges.

[@HeadHunterSix]

@@Insomnolant1335 Imagine that - it's about role-playing rather than making numbers the focus. Different strokes, some like more complex games but it doesn't change the fact of its historical significance and longevity.

[@Insomnolant1335]

@@HeadHunterSix No, it's very much about focusing on the numbers. But the numbers in question are the trade values and cargo weight. Nice try with the taqiyyah, but I've actually played the game.

[@n.ludemann9199]

@@Insomnolant1335 just as with Spacemaster - it depends on how you play it. You can play it in a mercantile or military setting, but I prefer the proto traveller exploration and safari style. One subsector, maybe a handful of subsectors, that's enough. I could imagine the whole last season of Discovery as a proto traveller style campaign, Macguffins and all... I know my players would have loved that. The Explorer Edition, Cepheus Light, Quantum Starfarer or Rogue Space could power it with ease. Of course, a mercantile campaign, always looking for profit etc. works differently. But this is not my cup of tea, just as I didn't like Domain Play in D&D. To me, the rules are a tool, and I want them simple. That's why I love Proto Traveller style games, no High Guard, space or ground battle. Just the 3 to 5 guys on a scout ship, exploring the ruins of the Ancients or looking for exotic life/sophonts (no Major Races and Jumpships under 100t though in my game, esp. no Jumptorpedos...)

[@myevilplans]

Traveller has been my go to sci-fi game since it came out and I was in highschool ('77)

[@capressley]

Across a Thousand Dead Worlds is now the king of sci-fi rpg gaming. This game has taken the D20 system and refreshed it and created a single book that gives you everything you need forever to run exciting adventures. It's genius!

[@Exaltedenoch]

Been out of print forever, but my group has been playing Alternity for over 20 years. Such an amazing system.

[@myevilplans]

2000, had two year run before retired by WOTC after buying tsr...great game that was never given the chance to prove it.

[@TheGladGolem]

I LOVE Alternity! First system I ever played. Even before D&D.

[@callor719]

5 - Gamma World, 4 - Traveller, 3 - Star Wars RPG (fantasy flight), 2 - Starfinder, 1 - Alien

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

That’s a most excellent Top 5 as well.

[@Pinseeker01]

Was curious why Star Wars FF was not on the list? It's so expansive with a unique dice system... And I did like your Gamma World suggestion. Brought back come memories.

[@HeadHunterSix]

I would definitely give Gamma World an honorable mention on my list. Lots of good times playing that back in high school.

[@n.ludemann9199]

@@Pinseeker01 I like the books, but the system is not my cup of tea. The dice were very expensive, and I don't like dice rolling apps at my table. It was easier and cheaper to buy several starter sets to get the dice... they were cheaper...

[@yoggerzzz]

I friggin' adore the Alien RPG it's so good

[@nabra97]

"An advantage of a Starfinder is that it's still Pathfinder in space, so you apply the same suspension of disbelief here. In Shadowrun, you not only have a technogenic elf, but he also got in debt to the mafia, became a drug addict, and got divorced three times, and it's all in the last few hours. And we are expected to take it all very seriously" (c)

[@multieyedmyr]

Showing up for Corvus Belli’s infinity rpg. The setting is freaking amazing!

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

I keep hearing that. I need to check it out.

[@KyleMaxwell]

Traveller (especially Classic) and Mothership would definitely be way up on my list, but Star Wars d6 is on there too!

[@HachimanMVP]

I love WEG Star Wars. Still play it with my kids. Of course, Star Wars is not sci-fi by definition. *evil grin*

[@driver3899]

@@HachimanMVP Star Wars is not sci-fi?

[@HachimanMVP]

@@driver3899 It is not. There are a few determining factors on what makes something sci-fi, most of which I'm not going to take the time to explore in a youtube comment. In short, Star Wars is not sci-fi because it does not deal with the deeper questions of what it means to be human and discovery. Further, sci-fi makes an at least passing attempt to explain how technology and such works, but Star Wars does not. In Star Wars, everything simply is. As a more smug point, Star Wars literally has Space Wizards running around with laser swords.

[@driver3899]

@@HachimanMVP That's an interesting take, would you consider Dune to be sci-fi?

[@HachimanMVP]

@@driver3899 Now THAT is a fascinating question. On one hand, Dune contains many of the Fantasy Space Opera elements like Star Wars, which makes sense because Lucas half ripped it off. On the other hand, Dune delves into quite a few of the questions and themes that defines great science fiction. Star Wars is a fantasy opera set in space, and could just as easily work in a traditional fantasy setting with sailing ships. Dune is a masterful blend of both science fiction and fantasy. I'll have to consider your question a while, but my gut reaction is to say yes.

[@myevilplans]

TSR's Alternity (retired when WOTC bought that so had only a two year run) was really good but never given a chance.

[@n.ludemann9199]

yes, I loved the Star Drive setting... Could have been a great 3rd Edition too. There where conversion tables from 2e to Alternity in the back...

[@sy4380]

Star Frontiers, 2300AD (GDW). Traveller, d6 WEG Star Wars.

[@bopaintsminis]

GURPS, Cyberpunk 2020, Classic Traveller. I have an awesome group with a regular Fri night GURPS game- best system ever.

[@LutherGary17]

My favorite is Aeternus. My own sci-fi ttrpg that allows you to use virtually any sci-fi source in the game. Vulcan Jedi, Klingon Street Samurai, etc.

[@matthewconstantine5015]

I really need to play Dune. I have it, but haven't read it yet. Agreed on Star Wars. The second edition revised is great. My top 5...in no order: Fading Suns (The system is meh. I think I'll use BRP when I run it again, but the setting is amazing) Alien Tales from the Loop Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Ed. I've only just started playing it over the last year, in spite of knowing about it since I was a kid in the 80s. It's really good though. I like that it's a system that is as crunchy as you want it to be. Basic rules are actually really simple.) Cyberpunk 2020

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

Dune is solid and my favorite version of the 2D20 system.

[@randycrockett9758]

My favorite Space Sci-fi RPG for one-offs would be Free Leagues Alien RPG. But for campaign play, my favorite space Sci-fi RPG, hands down, would be Traveller RPG. I grew up with it, and I really love the richness of the universe that has come out of it. I also really enjoy the character creation process. It's a game in itself.

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

Traveller is very good as well.

[@jonathanhicks4735]

100% Star Wars D6 RPG - excellent game with a fantastic system, and I still use the first edition book. It's fast, easy and so much fun.

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

There is a reason it still has such a large active community of players. Without a doubt.

[@TheBrevosidy]

Id have to put Cyberpunk 2020 in my top 3. Im looking forward to this new game Within Cold Stars

[@craftsmenMC]

The Dune rpg is absolutely my favorite sci fi rpg, and my second favorite rpg overall. The concept of Drives is so interesting to me, especially since they affect each and every skill check: it’s not just “what are you doing” but “why are you doing it”. We just hit the halfway mark for our Dune campaign (though slightly home brewed to fit a different setting) and it’s been a massive hit. Close second in terms of sci fi though is the Alien rpg. Stress is an awesome mechanic and the rules are super easy to pick up. Just wish I had more chances to play it: I only got to do, like, five or so sessions with it in the 3 years since I bought it.

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

I agree. Both do a phenomenally great job of fitting the system to their settings. I was hopeful when the Dune RPG was announced and once it was released I was pleasantly surprised.

[@craftsmenMC]

@@VictoryConditionGaming I think part of it might have been that I absolutely love it when the backstory or personality of your character can serve a mechanical benefit, and Drives do that perfectly IMO.

[@rob7953]

Yes! The Drives mechanic emulates the internal dialog used so heavily in the novels really well, IMO.

[@tonyx6380]

mothership is dope but i see all that super robot tech in the background, whats up with LANCER

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

I havent played LANCER yet. I need to. It's on my list of games to play.

[@mattshaw8542]

I'm curious, any feelings on Stars Without Number?

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

I have the PDF but I've never played it. I didn't feel like I could adequately rank it based on the fact that I haven't played it.

[@mattj1871]

There is an actual 5e sci-fi/sci-fantasy system called Esper Genesis (i.e., Starfinder is to Pathfinder what Esper Genesis is to D&D 5e).

[@BillPaine]

My list is a little different. I get why Coriolis is on your Honorable Mentions list. Alien is just that well done! I would have Traveller on my list - and Fasa’s Star Trek, Star Frontiers, and ICE’s SpaceMaster get “sentimental mention” from me. Had lots of fun with them, but they’re nearly unplayable by my standards now. I pray that The Icons bless your adventures given your attention to them. 🙏 You are of course correct about D6 Star Wars, though!

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

It was hard to make a top 5. I probably could have made a top 10 list fairly easily. I guess that might have to be for 2024!

[@n.ludemann9199]

Spacemaster was fun, and the PDFs are available for a decent price at dtrpg, but I know my players would not like it...

[@mikew4436]

Lately I've been real fond of of TinyD6 Frontiers/ Mecha & Monsters. There's just a simple elegance to the system

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

Totally agree.

[@rob7953]

You've apparently played neither Traveller nor Stars Without Number. Traveller has been my number one SF game since the late 70s, though I play the Mongoose version now. I'd place SWN at 3 or 4, but only because I've been shying away from level-based games. FASA Trek has a special place in my heart, as does Star Frontiers (though it also uses levels). I have Dune, but have yet to play more than the quick-start scenario. I like the way Modiphius tweaked their 2d20 system to kind of emulate the way internal dialog was used so heavily in the novels. I have played a bit of Starfinder, and... yeah. Pathfinder in space. No thanks, but that's just my tastes. I've played Alien once, too, but it was a scenario that utilized the system to play a Terminator-based game. It was a blast, and I can see how an actual Alien game would be great. The Transhuman Space setting for GURPS seems like it would make for a wild game. I've never had the opportunity to play any of the Star Wars games either, though I'd like to. Rambling over.

[@rob7953]

And oh yes! Seeing it mentioned so much reminded me of 2300AD. Really enjoyed it (the GDW version), but apparently it's been so long that it slipped my mind.

[@Jay-ql4gp]

WEG Star Wars is the _best_ Star Wars game. Hands down. End of. And they introduced so many things that are still used in other rpgs to this day. And even things that made it into Star Wars cannon.

[@exeus3826]

Hmm 5 : Cyberpunk:2020 - one of my favourite games I played in rather than ran. Brilliant, simple system. 4 : Death In Space *or* Vast Grimm (both of which have Mork Borg DNA and I'm a sucker for a good dystopia) 3 : Traveller (any version except TNE, and probably mostly Mongoose these days ... my first RPG, way back in 1980/81) 2 : Mothership (because it's _the_ Sci Fi horror system, bar none - beats Traveller only because I've played so much Traveller I'm a little weary of it now lol) 1 : 2300AD (original, not Mongoose, as the Mongoose one is just Traveller really - it's just so well done, from the national divisions in humanity, the actually "alien" aliens, the hard sci-fi basis and the NSL, the works)

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

Some really great games there as well. I thought about including cyberpunk but then I kind of ruled it out in case I wanted to do a list just for around that genre.

[@CuriosityWorldco]

Across a thousand dead worlds of Alex T. From blackoath entretainment

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@PpAirO5]

Some of the Sci-fi's i'll recomend: Alien Star Trek Adventures Starwars (West End D6) Dune Adventures in the Imperium Coriolis Death in Space Tales From the Loop Things From the Flood Not in any specific order.

[@russellparker5043]

WEG Star Wars brings back so many great memories from high school. Truly bizarre for Traveller not to even get a mention… honorable or not.

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

I just never grew up with Traveller. I think it was because I had found the system that I liked a lot early on. WEG Star Wars was just so great for so many reasons and the major one is nostalgia for a lot of us. I’m glad it brought you a lot of great memories like me.

[@junvloeberghs6999]

I also really like the babylon 5 rpg and ofcourse cyberpunk red

[@vincentcleaver1925]

Mine would be GURPS Space, FASA Trek, WEG Star Wars, 2300 and old school Traveller, all ancient classics, although I never actually ran Traveller, unless you consider GS a complete ripoff, which some people do. I have been tempted by Stars Without Number, but it ties psionics into the setting too heavily. The Force was always something I avoided when I ran generic D6 Space (later Cortex/Firefly). Starfinder has straight up magic plus I hate class and level

[@lmedved5000]

Alien RPG is one of the best IP based rpgs I’ve ever seen, in my opinion. Thanks again for convincing me to buy it 🙏🏻 It’s amaaaazing.

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

It's so good. I'm really glad you enjoy it.

[@jessesierke6264]

Loved this commentary! Thanks!

[@rogziel]

I'd like to see a video where you discuss why you prefer the West End Star Wars RPG over the Fantasy Flight Edition.

[@galinor7]

FrontierSpace, Galactic Odyssey, Galaxy Prime. World's Beyond, Traveller. All D00 except Traveller and apart from Traveller all pretty obscure. Only FrontierSpace is really supported.

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

I think d00 systems are SO underloved.

[@composedreamgames1919]

Free Spacer and The 13th Fleet are a couple by Canadian designed games that I highly recommend. Of course I am pretty biased, as I carry them both on the Compose Dream Games Marketplace -- I've also run both, which I can't say about all the titles we carry.

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

Interesting. I’ll check them out. Thanks for the heads up on them.

[@andrelemon3802]

You should to know about ttrpg cavalry. It's a great dark sci fi mech game from M87*GAMES

[@daric_]

Great list. I have started learning about Starfinder. I have played ALIEN and it's a lot of fun. One I want to play with others is MechWarrior Destiny. I love BladeRunner and would like to try that system, too. Since it's also made by the same company as the ALIEN TTRPG, it will probably feel very similar.

[@docsavage8640]

Free League shill. 😆 "Classic" Traveller for the win.

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

Hahaha.

[@jasonkasprick6370]

How do the FF Star wars rpg's (Edge of the Empire, etc) compare to the original rpg one?

[@WendyGa]

Good call on Dune. I haven't gotten to play it yet. But the system seems elegant and the source book is full of awesome info on the Dune universe. I'm not sure how the house roles and various scales of play work in practice, but I'd love to give it a try. Alien has got to be my favourite though. As you pointed out, the rulebook an awesome source of info on the Alien canon. And the cinematic scenarios have obviously been crafted with so much care and come with awesome goodies. Those campaigns wow the players and are so tense. As sci fi is not my most played genre, that's the list for me. Though I'm also intrigued by "Those Dark Places" by Osprey Publishing. Seems like it should also scratch that space horror list.

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

We played Those Dark Places on the show with the designer Jonathan Hicks. It was super fun and rules light. It’s worth picking up if just for that.

[@HowardSumnerPhoto]

Mothership should be on this list.

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

I thought about it, but I put Alien higher and I think it fills a lot of that… well, “space” that Mothership is for me.

[@benkernow280]

Being a Star Trek fan, I have become a big fan of Star Trek Adventures and running been running a campaign(es) for just under 3 years. In that time I have managed to dabble in the Alien RPG and the current Star Wars system which where both fun.

[@noveltyconduit679]

Cool video! You said we'd see more about why Coriolis wasn't in the top 5 but nothing concrete stood out. I'm looking at it for a medium crunch game as a step up for new players currently using a rules-lite game. Do you can any specific pros/cons that kept it out of the top 5?

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

So Alien is another Year Zero Engine game that made that list that I rank higher than Coriolis. I think Alien just nails the setting better and it’s probably the best version of that ruleset for a setting IMO. Coriolis is great don’t get me wrong but I think Tomas at Free League has gotten more time to develop other RPGs since putting out Coriolis and I’d be curious if he’d change some of the mechanics if he were to put it out today? If you are looking for a medium crunch Scifi RPG it’s really great and I’d suggest it highly as that next level.

[@D3vious113]

Starfinder's great. I ran the Attack of the Swarm module for some friends...honestly wasn't a fan of the module, but the system itself was great. Also played in the Starsong living setting for a while and had a blast. Lost my character day one, full dead, and the GM had a backup plan because it was a new player friendly run XD great memories on that one. Death in Space is very firmly near the top of my list for RPGs to get ASAP, right next to Mork Borg and a couple others. Half because it looks fun and half because the book is pretty. Dune is at the very top of my list, because my local game shop has a bunch of the books for it. They're very pretty and everything I've got from Modiphius has been great quality. Keep seeing the Alien rpg but for some reason it doesn't pop for me, if that makes sense. Local game shop has it and I like the Alien movies/books etc, but it just hasn't made its way to my list yet. I've heard good things about the West End Star Wars game but never looked into it. I ended up buying a whole collection of the d20 Star Wars books when I was in the army, this massive pile of books I had to keep packed away in my barracks room. Lately though I've gotten really tired of the Star Wars IP. When they dropped Legends as cannon it kind of took the wind out of my sails. Personal top five, in no particular order (because I don't like ranking them): Traveller, Starfinder, Savage Worlds Adventurer's Edition Rifts, Five Parsecs from Home, and Lancer. Always wanted to try Coreolis and the original Rifts alongside a couple others, and for perfect clarity I've never actually played Traveller but I love their character creation and all the tools included in one book.

[@shockerck4465]

Star Frontiers. Mothership.

[@LurkerERS]

What's your thoughts on the new Stargate RPG?

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

It s 5e system and I feel it's good but not great. I think fans of Stargate that also play 5e will love it. That also was not a show I got all that into. So that also might have a little reason why it's lower on my rankings.

[@JamesEck9095]

Traveller? Mothership?

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

Both are great and would have made my top 10.

[@RobOfTheNorth2001]

No Stars without Number? Mothership?

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

Both very good games. I think Alien has replaced Mothership for me though and I haven’t played Stars without Number enough to adequately put it on my top 5.

[@alamb1101]

Another great video! Thoughts on the Firefly RPG or Tales from the Loop? The latter isn’t exactly space based but certainly has all of the science fiction elements.

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

Thanks, Andrew. Firefly is one that I know is huge fan favorite. I have not played it though. It’s definitely on my list to eventually play because I’m a big fan of the show. Now I should go out and pick up a copy… Tales from the Loop I didn’t consider because it’s not space like you said. Love that game.

[@anabasis76]

Sweet list!

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

Thank you! I’ve got a few lists headed your way!

[@rorymacleod4520]

I'm shamelessly promoting my game, Infinite Galaxies.

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

Another great scifi game!

[@Hagen024]

Always been a fan of Heavy Gear.

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

I don't think I'm familiar with Heavy Gear. I'll have to look it up.

[@loconius]

Seconded!!! I love heavy gear!!! It’s no longer in publication, but one of the designers has made a lot of the game in the Star Wars d6 system!!

[@cgabriel7311]

Defo WEG Star Wars - such an elegant system for a more civilised time. Has anyone tried Shatterzone?

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

I have not. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@HeadHunterSix]

My Top Five of all time: #1 Ironsworn Starforged - I am mostly a solo player now, and this is an unbelievably well-designed and enjoyable system. I've gotten a lot of enjoyable play over the last couple of years. #2: Traveller - I'm most partial to the old-school GDW 2d6 system, especially its evolution into the Cepheus engine. But even 1st Edition Mongoose is good IMO. I'm not interested in GURPS, New Era, or T4/T5. #3: Battlelords of the 23rd Century - I've been playing this since the very beginning, but it's become crunchier with each new edition. But the new Savage Battlelords has revitalized my interest in the setting. #4: Star Wars - specifically the d6 system from West End Games. I've got a lot of fond memories of sessions and I ported my tabletop character into the Star Wars Galaxies MMO #5 Star Frontiers - back in the early '80s in the 9th grade, we had a gaming club that met in the library after school, and this was our RPG of choice. It's not a great system from a design perspective, but it was fun and memorable.

[@HeadHunterSix]

I'd give honorable mentions to Gamma World and Star Trek Adventures: Captain's Log (I simply haven't had enough experience with it yet to rate, but it looks like a great system!)

[@RyantntfromBC]

Wow…. Mothership?!?!

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

It would have made my top 10 but I like Alien and Death in Space more. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@michealbohmer2871]

Stars Wars d6 is not just the best Sci-fi RPG, it's the best RPG period. The game is really the beginning of the EU. When Timothy Zahn was commissioned to write the Heir to the Empire trilogy, Lucasfilm sent him the complete set of the RPG to use as reference material. The game never covered the prequel era because West End lost the license before it those movies were released. You can find fan created Galaxy Guides for Episode One and Two in PDF online. The game did cover the Old Republic Era, the New Republic Era and the Dark Empire. It also had rules for playing a freighter captain/smuggler campaign as well as a bounty hunter campaign and a scout campaign. All in all, the game could be played in so many ways just from the published material, but it was such an adaptable system that a creative and enterprising GM could easily use it to play in any genre or setting. I once used it for a Star Trek campaign and a Western campaign; as long as you had reference material for those settings, it was an easy job to convert. Thanks for the video, mate, and happy gaming.

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

Totally agree! Thanks for watching, Michael!

[@ogaburan]

lol, no traveller? And you want to be taken seriously? Much nerd cred lost

[@ItzArmadillo]

LANCER ALL THE WAYYYYY 🎉

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

There is a reprint of Lancer coming in 2024 if I’m remembering correctly right?

[@eyehatescott]

I don't think Death In Space is an entry level game. Sure the mechanics are easy but it's very demanding of players

[@Helghast73]

Yeah WEG Star Wars was what we played masses of along with AD&D but also, Spacemaster, you gotta love ICE critical hits charts 😂 No love for Eclipse Phase or Numenera eh 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

Not yet. Maybe if I get them to the table at some point.

[@HachimanMVP]

WEG Star Wars just fits the Star Wars universe in a way that no other version has. Though, Star Wars is not sci-fi by definition. *evil grin*

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

I agree with the WEG Star Wars statement 100% - it's so good and another really has come close in my opinion. With Star Wars not being sci-fi... I mean... yes and no. hahaha

[@vincentcleaver1925]

Shout out to WEG!!!

[@Tampahop]

My favorite? I have the unpublished Mass Effect rpg for Fate Core. My short lived game starred a Krogan Spectre and his failed Spectre handler.

[@redninja005]

I hit the like button.

[@VictoryConditionGaming]

Appreciate it. :)

[@erikriggiola6780]

The FFG(now Edge Studios) Star Wars rpg system (Genesys) is far superior to West End D6 version.

[@strangebeer]

Struggling with short attention span possible reason why I found myself getting board by you repeatedly saying top 5 games but not getting around to mentioning them. I didn't come here for honourable mentions ...edit your waffle

[@zombietotseater3894]

🥱 🫤

[@n.ludemann9199]

Well, if I have to rank my favorite Scifi RPGs, I have to look at broader categories. Some of those fall into the OSR-category, while others are from the 2d6 and Gurps realms... 1. 2d6/Traveller-Style games a) Rogue Space Dark Frontier - free core rules b) Classic Traveller (TTB, LBB/Facsimile, LWB Facsimile is free, PODs available, German translation) c) Cepheus Engine (esp. the Light and the EE Deluxe version, free editions and cheap PODs available) d) Mongoose Traveller (Book 0 free, Explorer's Edition 1EUR, POD core book 25EUR) e) Traveller The New Era (among the best, unified system, POD available ) 2. WEG Star Wars (great system, but not available for purchase, d6 system is available though... there was a german edition) 3. OGL/OSR/d20 Scifi RPGs a) White Star (Basic and Galaxy edition) b) Stars Without Numbers c) Star Finder d) Traveller d20 e) Prime Directive d20 4. Prime Directive (cheap core rules) 5. Star Frontiers (cheap core rules, POD available) Maybe I have to explain ... As is obvious, most of those are old, even venerable franchises. I grew up with traveller, I grew up with Star Trek and Star Wars. So I mostly love the settings, thats why Traveller is among several systems, just like Star Trek. I didn't like FFG Star Wars though, because I prefer rules light systems. One of my most important aspects why I prefer a game is: Is it free for my players. Can they get a set of the rules for just a little money or no money at all. Facsimile Traveller and some iterations of Cepheus Engine are completely free, just like Rogue Space. The Basic Rules of d6 (WEG Star Wars) are available at a decent price, and Wookiepedia has all the information on star wars. Same for Star Trek/Prime Directive. All the setting Info is on Memory Alpha and Beta. Gurps light is available as a free pdf, same for White Star and the free Stars without Numbers. Traveller-esque/2d6 games are my favorites, especially when it comes to Hard Scifi. I prefer playing Proto Traveller, that is a slow, exploration based variant, including the Little Black Books/Traveller Book/Facsimile-Editions of classic traveller, with several Books and Supplements like Citizens of the Empire, Scouts, Patrons, Animal Encounters etc. I could give you my IMTU if you like :) (people who are deeply into Traveller will know what I mean...) I also love the ultralight versions of Stellargama/Cepheus Engine, Zozer Games and Dark Space, which is a 2d6 pocket RPG, fitting onto 8 pages, but there is a 114 pages 15EUR rulebook too. I have some honorary mentions though, most of them are too expensive to recommend in my opinion, and I know my players want to have copies of the games they play: GURPS a) Gurps Traveller (played with Gurps Light) b) GURPS Traveller: Interstellar Wars c) Gurps Prime Directive d) Gurps Lensmen Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0 using the Deep Space sourcebook Cortex System (by Margaret Weis and Larry Elmore) a) Firefly/Serenity b) Battle Star Galactica Mothership 2d20 Modophius a) Star Trek Adventures b) Infinity FASA Trek, Decipher Trek, Unicorn Trek I really like the Modophius system, but their core books are expensive, and they trend to splat books. I don't support that. Their Star Trek is among my favorites because there is a free generation Tool and all important rules for a character are available on the character record. But I know my players, they would buy all the Alternate Cover/Deluxe Edition and Splat Books... What I like about Infinity is the setting and it has a cheap Players Guide available. But same as above: Too many collectors items and splatbooks... The 2d20 is a bit too rules heavy though, this is nothing I would use for a one shot. Usually I only use those rules in the Quick Starts... Their Digest Size Core Rulebook and the Captains Log solo rules are decently priced though. The 1980s and 2000s Trek RPGs are great, but they are not really available. I like them, but - as I said - I want the games to be readily available for the players as far as possible. I mostly play in a Traveller, Star Trek or Star Wars setting, gritty, grimdark, with many ethical questions and much social interaction... further honory mentions are Trinity (old and new...) and Alternaty by TSR. And I am looking forward the Planet of the Apes RPG

[@n.ludemann9199]

Ah, forgot another honorary mention... the Perry Rhodan RPG, using the german Midgard rules. But this is a german thing. Traveller was also available in German, the 15EUR pocket Edition of Mongoose Traveller 1e was great, but it is no longer available...

[@n.ludemann9199]

on Mothership: the players guid is available for free as a PDF, but no PODs, the standard and deluxe boxes are not available atm. And very pricey if one can find them. I like it, but it is not among my favorites because the printed products and third party items are quite expensive for what one gets...