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Superluminary™™ A space toolkit for Other Worlds™

WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY Mark Humphreys

ILLUSTRATED BY Storn A. Cook

EDITED BY Harriet Evans

LAYOUT BY Ruben Smith-Zempel

THANKS TO Blake Hutchins, Brian Isikoff, Fred Hicks, Justin D. Jacobson, Steve Jones, Paul Newland, Richard Green, Ben Reynolds, Ian Meachin, and Mike Holmes Techno-sorcery developed from an idea by Mike Holmes, used with permission.

Copyright© and Trademark™ 2017 Mark Humphreys. All rights reserved.

A Signal 13 production

FAC 13 5299

Go to www.OtherWorldsRPG.wordpress.com for more!

TMA-1 Table of Contents And So It Begins... 4 What Is ? 6 Crafting a Story 7 What’s in This Book 8 Scenes from a Space Opera, Episode IV: A Message to the Rebels 9 Big Bang Theory 10 What Is the Astrographical Scope of Your Campaign? 10 How Many Races Are There? 12 What Does the Look Like? 13 How Does FTL Work? 14 What Other Conflict-Driving Supersciences Are There? 15 What Form Do Special Powers Take? 16 What Is the Team’s Focus? 16 Scenes from a Space Opera, Episode V: Hunter, Prey 17 Heroes of the Future 18 Homeworlds 19 Professions 29 Trademarks 39 Scenes from a Space Opera, Episode VI: Attack Run on Battle Station Copernicus 55 Aliens, , and Other Strangeness 56 Alien Species Templates 56 Chassis Templates 66 Virtual Minds 74

2 Scenes from a Space Opera, Episode I: Prisoners of the Slime People 75 The Weirding Way 76 Psionics 77 The Lifeforce 80 Techno-Sorcery 83 Scenes from a Space Opera, Episode II: Last Days on Volcanis Ultra 87 Brave New World 88 High and Superscience 89 Trading and Commerce 94 Superscience and the Arms Race 96 Hovercars and Spaceships 99 Travelling the Spaceways 106 Bizarre Landscapes 112 Creature Feature 118 Supporting Characters 127 Factions 129 Scenes from a Space Opera, Episode III: Possible Kill Screen 135 Appendix: The Merovinthian Sector 136 Core Worlds 137 Other Factions 140 Index 142

3 1 And So It Begins...

Superluminary is a space opera toolkit for Other Worlds. if that weren’t enough we’ll also show you how to han- It is designed to act as a comprehensive supplement dle the different types of conflicts that are likely to come to the main rulebook, giving you enough templates, up in your game, from computer hacking and laserblade worlds, and adventure ideas to fuel just about any kind duels to speederbike chases and massive space battles, of campaign you can think of – and then as well as giving you a whole stack of random encounter, some! With this book at your disposal you will never be item, and ability generation tables to use as quick inspi- short of inspiration or excitement. ration in an emergency.

But that’s not all! The material in this book is still only Science fiction storygaming has never been this excit- a starting point. After all, no one knows what belongs in ing, nor this easy to prepare. So what are you waiting your space opera setting better than you do. So we’ve for? Your trusty old spaceship is fuelled up and ready also thrown in lots of detailed advice on how to go about on the launchpad, your twin-linked magnacoil railguns building your own science fiction from the are locked and loaded, and your co-pilot is giving ground up, from designing your own worlds, empires, you a big metallic thumbs up. Those slimy alien maraud- and subdimensions to fleshing out the many races, ro- ers aren’t going to know what hit ‘em. bots, monsters, and vehicles that go inside them. And as Ready? Three... two... one... ignition!

4 5 1: And So It Begins... . The templates in . The templates are might help Curiosity Reckless might make it harder for harder it make might Honour of Sense Naive its socio-cultural ramifications. This author has used This author ramifications. its socio-cultural run a mythic to here presented the material SF game, and a hard horror game, a Victorian opera space interlinked as two game as well exploration success. games, all with great using Superluminary with some other game If you're (heresy!) altogether to thing main the then system is what abilities across translate a huge number of different characters this book give not is importantit but abilities, are these that note to has that anyone of rules and exceptions mini packets – simply adjectives they Instead, are remember. to you can apply as circumstance that flexible descriptors For you see fit. roll whenever to an existing modifiers example, a character's them to hack into that tomb world supercomputer, but supercomputer, world that tomb hack into them to their In afterwards. it about cops space the to lie to them sheet can actually character this way an Other Worlds in and work system another game alongside sit entirely adjectives two or one use just will you Generally parallel. a particular to add a bit of colour at a time, enough to without overwhelming it, but with the most dramatic roll and importantyour story of you might go all in conflicts everythingand use absolutely That's fine. that's relevant. as much know get to The purpose of this is so that we and relationships, personality, about the character's toughness, do about their strength, upbringing as we that these things moreover – and powers and cool vocalised being constantly at the table by out come and just staying on the page. This repetition than rather is at the heart of the game and is the reincorporation truly stories and your characters making your to key alive. come Rarefied Mystics Rarefied become become Utility Grav-Sleds A Secret Report Within the Guild A Secret Force Mages, Force to run a campaign in some to Other Worlds , and High Elves become become Telekinetics Deciphering Deciphering Superluminary: become become Atlantean Sky-Chariots Atlantean set Campaigns example. for , edge to or that just want a harder in the near future tone down or fiction can simply ignore their science a little fantastical elements and dwell some of the more and details of the technology longer on the practical other – especially heroic ones like pulp, fantasy, fantasy, pulp, ones like – especially heroic other genre material the that find should you then – superheroes or just is this Often verythis book is in carryto easy over. – or laser– from space like of deleting prefixes a matter a newa few name abilities and then giving the template – If you're using If you're If you're a GM planning to run a space opera campaign opera run a space a GM planning to If you're this to the answer system, using the Other Worlds it for through read You straightforward. is pretty session and worldbuilding your run to on how advice let you conflict, of types different structure to how sections during loose on the template players your world, random the to flip you and generation, character need a quick you tables whenever and trait encounter, Ta- in the middle of an adventure. shot of inspiration The only trap awesomeness! opera dah, instant space in this book as the material is treating here avoid to idea your if things; do wayone just to than rather canon zombie or a space freighter of what abilities a cargo mine, then please go right from is different should have as well. the players to This extends ahead and use yours! just work zombies and space freighters cargo Obviously they than universe of the end your at bit differently a to that this book is intended do at mine. Remember one reason (that's it replace not supportcreativity, your setting). isn't a fixed why there How do you use this book? do you How What Is Space Opera? Good Against Evil When we talk about science fiction in this book we are In a space opera the bad guys wear black and the good mostly talking about a particular sub-genre called space guys wear white (metaphorically, if not literally). With- opera. Space opera tends to be the most popular sort out a clear distinction between the heroes and at least of science fiction and encompasses such classics asStar some of their foes you rob the players of the moral high Wars, , , and . So, what distin- ground and therefore the opportunity to be truly - guishes space opera from other kinds of science fiction? ic. That’s not to say there’s no room for more ‘morally complicated’ characters – indeed, genre archetypes like the grizzled mercenary or the cynical smuggler can pro- Story and Adventure over vide a useful contrast to the usual moralising – just that Scientific Realism they should be the exception rather than the norm. Let Story and adventure are really the bywords of space op- the heroes be heroes and let the villains be villains! era; as long as it makes for an exciting story, just about anything goes. The only real limit is your own imagina- Exploring the Infiniverse tion. Scientific realism, by contrast, is not usually much The universe is a wondrous place indeed, full of mys- of a concern. The protagonists of a space opera routine- teries and strange powers, and the protagonists of a ly break the laws of by travelling faster than the space opera rarely stay in one part of it for long. There , using strange mental powers, and jump- is a whole galaxy full of single-environment worlds out ing backwards and forwards in time – and the stories are there, each stranger than the last, but all of them just all the more fun because of it. Don’t let worries over be- waiting to be explored, pacified, and then stripped of all lievability and verisimilitude spoil the flow of the action natural resources by a party of brave space adventurers or the thrill of the chase; special effects take precedence in their beaten-up old cargo freighter. And if you run out over practical considerations every time. Whenever you of planets, never fear; , pocket , have to choose between doing something realistically parallel , and even the mysteries of the time- and doing something spectacularly... do it spectacularly! stream itself all wait for similar investigation by our in- trepid heroes. The universe of the far future is certainly Tales of a very colourful – and very deadly – place to try to make Swashbuckling Romance a living.

1: And So It Begins... Space opera games should have an epic, swashbuckling feel to them, the sense of an idealistic crusade to save Pseudomysticism the universe from evil against impossible odds. Above What truly distinguishes space opera from more tradi- all else, what the characters think and do should matter. tional hard SF is an underlying spiritual, almost mythic, Build melodramatic plot twists around their personal- quality. The heroes resemble those from ancient legend ity traits and relationships, and encourage them to try as much as from the far future – they have great destinies death-defying stunts and hare-brained schemes that to fulfil, mysterious prophecies to interpret, and tragic ‘might just work’. Raise the stakes on the characters at flaws to overcome. They may also be accompanied by every opportunity – put them up against planet-bust- more overtly fantastical elements such as weird ancient ing doomsday devices, intergalactic civil wars, and dark artifacts, unique and powerful wonder weapons, wizard- conspiracies of ancient evil. Have family members and ly alien advisers, and even magical abilities of their own close personal friends turn out to be secret supervillains, such as ESP, faith healing, or telekinesis. inspirational resistance leaders, and helpless govern- ment hostages. Have experimental , terrible Underlying Camp Sense of Humour secrets, and powerful weapons just fall into their laps. Give them a real chance to make a difference, and don’t A certain degree of camp is an important part of any space be afraid to hit them with the consequences if they fail. opera, so feel free to introduce some more overtly comic They are not mere flotsam and jetsam on the galactic tide elements every now and again to lighten the mood. Ec- of events; they are Heroes, and whether by power, desti- centric robots, bizarre-looking aliens with funny names, ny, or sheer dumb luck, the fate of whole worlds, perhaps and swashbuckling rivals in outrageous silver spandex even the entire damn universe, rests on their shoulders. jumpsuits can all provide a welcome relief from the latest Make every decision, and every conflict, count! desperate quest to save the galaxy from annihilation.

6 7 1: And So It Begins... - - - - is a game that defines characters in Other is a game that defines characters Worlds parent dangers they may face. Each story typically brings face. Each story parent dangers they may a explore, location to with it a newor other planet exotic overcome and a new solve, to foe new set of problems to of an old nemesis).(or the return book is packed This of sciencefull of these trappings fiction adventure, from desert planets and star destroyers. and aliensrobots to But remember – trap things are that that’s all these come from has to The emotional story of the core pings. you. cul- your with how in – fit fuel you do well story of terms your are what with, relationship a have you do who ture, The worldbuilding notes, etc. your flaws, goals, what are all about and GM advice sections are rules, conflict these ele- stress-test explicit opportunities to creating ments by putting them with one another in opposition fictional situations and seeing which during interesting be literature, games aren’t to going Your one prevails. think they in cannot result but there to is no reason satisfying stories. and ultimately deep, engaging, a bad thing! On that genre are trappings say That’s not to moral explore to they can give us an excuse the contrary, a or political themes to if applied that might feel forced settingreal-world fictional rather than an exaggerated can be very powerful. The sheer scale one. Metaphors operaand spectacle of the typical space also help can sense a real of grandeur and give your underlying story deci pathos as the wider of the characters’ ramifications or uni a whole world, star system, out across sions play classic the further emulate to might even like verse. You SF serials byexperimenting such tricks stylistic with scrolling as a distinct episodic introductory structure, cliffhanger -offs, endings, sequels, prequels, text, too can use their Players and explosive season finales. the out flesh to points spotlight and authority narrative inventdetails of their home culture, alien weird side- with relationships familial plot-twist and build in kicks, your stories make happens try to Whatever villains. key them personal, and above all try to make mythic, try to them memorable! make Crafting a Story Crafting serial SF drama The classic heroes has the wandering newof search adventure;in galaxy the of reaches far the on the heroes and very focus heavily to such serials tend themof all or most assumption that implicit an carry of the ap regardless see the next mission will survive to Inspiration and Reference and Inspiration 2001: A StanleySpace A and Arthur Kubrick by 2001: C Clarke James Cameron Aliens by J Michael Straczynski 5 by Babylon D Moore Ronald by (2003) Herbert Frank Dune by and Jack Kirby Stan Lee by Four Fantastic by and Firefly Matt Groening by of the Galaxy James Gunn by Guardians movie EE ‘Doc’ Smith series by Lensman JRR Tolkien of the Rings by Lord by Dwarf and Doug Naylor Red Grant Rob by Lucas George by Chris Claremont by Uncanny X-Men Games Workshop by 40,000 Warhammer These are some of the creative works that have helped that have works some of the creative These are this book. inspire to What’s in This Book Chapter 5: The Weirding Way The rest of this book contains the following material: A study of three different types of special abilities and their practitioners, from the subtle manipulations of psionics and the mystical energies of the lifeforce to the Chapter 2: Big Bang Theory terrifying raw destructive power of untrammelled tech- Full guidelines on building your own complete space no-sorcery. opera universe, from designing the overall look and size of your setting to figuring out what weird technologies, cool special powers, and gribbly alien races should go Chapter 6: Brave New World in it. Everything you always wanted to know about running a space opera campaign but were too afraid to ask, in- cluding handling technology, money, weapons, vehicles, Chapter 3: Heroes of the Future space travel, and planetary exploration. And, for those Enough homeworld, profession, and trademark templates moments when your inspiration runs dry, we’ve also to fuel a lifetime’s worth of gaming, from assassins to thrown in a whole bunch of random charts and tables to xenoarchaeologists and everything else in between. create interesting new encounters, NPCs, planets, mon- sters, and spaceships, all at the drop of a hat!

Chapter 4: Aliens, Robots, Appendix: The and Other Strangeness Merovinthian Sector A detailed look at how to create your own species or form templates, including a whole host of sample alien A fully realised for you to explore or races and robotic exoskeletons that you can start play- raid for parts, containing three core worlds at odds with ing with straight away! each other and a variety of smaller factions caught in the middle. 1: And So It Begins...

8 Scenes from a Space Opera, Episode IV: A Message to the Rebels Situation Alien warrior mystic Mun You Co sends the characters off on a mission: to infiltrate the Imperial-occupied world of Kursk, find the leaders of the local resistance, and give them a strange coffin-sized metal box that seems impervious to scanners and las-torches. But what exactly is in the box? And what deeper trouble will everyone be in once it is opened? Complications The Imperials seem to have stepped up security recently. Checkpoints and patrols have been heavily reinforced, and safehouses are being raided with alarming frequency.

One of the resistance soldiers is in fact a traitor, broadcasting troop movements and other operational details to his handler in return for extra food stamps for his family.

The resistance have started losing the support of the people; months of severe rationing have taken their toll and many are now ready to give up the struggle.

Imperial Death Commando General Abilities: Death’s Head Power Armour Rapid-Fire Heavy Blaster Storm the Breach Personality Trait: Fanatical Relationship: Hate Rebel Scum Goal: Serve the Regime Flaw: Blinded by Imperial Propaganda

9 I Index

Templates Black Light Fanatic 132 Cyberoptics 41 Abomination 84 Black Light Infiltrator 132 Cyclone City 44 Admiral Stern 17 Black Reavers 141 Delta Maximus 112 Age of Expansion 93 Blasted World 20 Desert World (Frontier) 21 Agent of Order 40 Blue-Skinned Siren 57 Desert World (Inhospitable) 21 Agent of the Konformitat 79 Bounty Hunter 29 Diminutive Scavenger 59 Agricultural World 19 Brass Claw 40 Dionysius 137 Alien Artifact 40 Brightspring Lizard 122 Diplomat 30 All Terrain Unit 66 Brood Queen 128 Dog Soldier 59 Aloof Supergenius 57 Brown Homunculus 124 Drifter 21 Ancient Monolith 108 Capital World 20 Dropship 54 Android 66 Cargo Freighter 50 Dust Runner 122 Angels of Barathis Zia 141 Carnassial Raptor 133 Dying Race 22 APC 52 Cavern of Zhel’darax 44 Energy Moth 124 Arachnoid Husk Feeder 133 Chameleonic Hunter 58 Enigma Monkey 60 Arachnoid Swarmship 133 Chosen One 42 Eos – the Light 82 74 City World 20 Escaped Slave 30 Assassin 29 Clicker 58 Exiled Royalty 42 Asteroid Field 108 Clumsy Amphibian 58 Felinoid 60 Asteroid X 112 Coalition Guerrilla 130 Ferrus Worm 124 Authority Sun Destroyer 129 Coalition Leader 42 Feudal World 22 Battle Spider 66 Colossus-Class 46 Fishman 60 Beloran Arch-Fiend 120 Combat Interceptor 99 Floating Wreck 108 Bionic Arm 41 Corporate World 20 Gadgeteer 43 Bionic Legs 41 Corvette 50 Gas Giant 22 Bionics 41 Cultured World 21 Giant Beetle 122 Birdman 57 Curious Gremlin 58 Gladiator Bot 68 Black Hole 108 Cyber-Gladiator 29 Grey Watcher 60

142 Grzanski Field Suit 43 Kill Drone 134 Occupied World 25 Guard 30 Kletoidian Bubble Ship 131 Ocean World 25 Guild Cargo Liner 131 Last Days of Mankind 93 Octavius 8 113 Guild Enforcer 131 Last Light Station 113 Operator 33 43 Legendary Hero 45 Overfiend War Leader 134 Gunbot 68 Limpet Mines 108 Phantom Mentor 82 Gunship 50 Lizardman 61 Piglike Thug 62 Hacker 30 Lockheed-Class Mecha 46 Pirate 34 Havoc Engine 68 Logicbot 69 Power Unit 70 Heavy Crawler 99 Lord Sulferus, the Dark Mantis 128 Precog 79 Hell Planet 86 Macau Balecko 141 Prison Planet 26 Hellcat Strike Fighter 129 Machina 17 – Proud Warrior Race 62 Holo-Vid Celebrity 31 the Automatic 113 Psychic Blank 47 Hologram 74 Maintenance Bot 69 Psychic Savant 79 Home Base 44 Malefactor 61 Psychomancer 85 Hotshot Racer 31 Mecha Pilot 46 Pterodactyl 122 Hover Drone 68 Mechanic 32 Rarefied Mystic 62 Hovertank 52 Med-Tech 32 Razorball Player 34 Hulking Brute 61 Medical Unit 70 Recon Walker 100 Index Hydraulic Exoskeleton 99 Medusa 139 Red Scimitar 82 40 Mercenary 32 Resistance Fighter 34 Hyperkinetic Enhancement 45 Militarised World 24 Revenant 48 Hypnopsychologist 31 Mining Colony 24 Rift in Time and Space 109 Icarus Prime 113 Mischievous Imp 61 Robodog 71 Ice World 22 Mk II Coalition Lancer 55 Robodriver 71 Imperial Commander 45 Mnemonic Conditioning 47 Robotechnician 35 Imperial Death Commando 9 Mole Man 62 Rocket Trooper 48 Industrial Lifter 69 Monastic Order 24 Rocketbike 100 Industrial World 23 Monowheel Racer 70 Rogue Telepath 78 Ironclad 50 Mysterious Past 25 Rotmeat Spyder 124 Jetpack 99 Mystic Apprentice 81 Runsuit 100 Jungle World 23 Mystic Knight 81 Salvage Bot 71 Junk World 24 Mystic Sorcerer 81 122 Junker 31 Naval Officer 33 Savage World 26 K’Threx Platoris 138 Necrophage 124 Scabrous the Unclean, Kaitain Mysticism 45 Necrotech Diabolist 84 King of the Gloops 75 Kalgarian Death Leaper 120 Nemesis Swordmaster 47 Scientist 35 Karg Marauder 134 Nightsider 25 Scoundrel 35 Kid 32 Novikova Station 44 Scourge Unit 71 143 Secret 48 Tank Commander 52 Tables Sentinel Guard 130 Tank Walker 52 NPC Random Servant of Darkness 48 Technoid World 27 Personality Trait Generator 127 Shadowcloud 120 Technolock Witchfinder 86 Pocket Dimensions Table 109 Shapeshifter 49 Technomage Adept 84 Flaws Table 119 Shurin Armada 140 Telekinetic 79 Predator Special Silent Ones 109 Telemetry Drone 130 Abilities Table 118 Skullbot Deathstalker 132 Telepath 78 Random Cargo Generator 95 Skullbot Nuklodrone 132 Telepathic Cop 78 Random City Encounter Generator 114-115 Skyfighter 54 Tentacled Manipulator 64 Random Ship Slime Squid 125 Tesla Phantom 53 Trait Generator 104 Sluglike Mastermind 63 Thanatos – the Darkness 82 Random Space Sniper 35 Theocratic World 27 Encounter Generator 110-111 Soldier 36 Titanicus Rex 120 Random War Sonic Executioner 131 Tox Zombie 125 Machine Trait Generator 102 Space Dwarf 63 Trackerbot 72 Random Weapon Generator 97 Spacer 36 Trading World 27 Random Wilderness Encounter Generator 116-117 Spectral Assassin 135 Translator 38 Random World Speedster 100 Ugly Herbivore 64 Generator – Planet Type 107 Sprite-Class Mecha 46 Underboss 53 Random World Generator –

Index Spy 37 Underworld Thug 38 Primary Inhabitants 107 Star Child 109 Utility Grav-Sled 100 Trippy Effects Table 126 Starfighter 51 Viper Attack Tank 130 Starfighter Pilot 37 Void Stalker 141 Captain 50 Volcanic World 28 Stealth Attack Copter 54 Volcanis Ultra 87 Stonebreaker 122 War Leader 27 128 Stranger in a Strange Land 26 Wild West World 28 Submersible 100 Wilderness Scout 38 49 Wing Commander 54 Surger 85 World That Time Forgot 113 Swamp World 26 Xen Tau, Swashbuckler 37 the Technologist Supreme 128 Synaptomorph Technician 133 Xenoarchaeologist 38 Scangoggles 40 Yacht 51 Tailgunner Unit 72

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