Dedication: To My Parents, Stephen and Karen Dakan, without whom this book would not exist, and to Tracy for letting me join the fun. Credits Written and Designed by Richard Dakan Additional Material: Jack Emmert, Alex Jurkat, Bernard Trombley Opening Story by Wes Roberts / Layout, Cover Art, Interior Art and Graphics by Tracy Hickman Editor: Alex Jurkat and Karen Nugent © Copyright 1997 by Omniverse Interactive, Inc. / All Rights Reserved. This file and its contents, both text and graphics, are copyrighted and owned by Omniverse Interactive, Inc. Permission is granted to the purchaser of this product to print limited copies of this work for their personal use only. The transmis- sion, reproduction, and/or copying of this file and its contents either in whole or in part without the express written consent of Omniverse Interactive, Inc. is strictly prohibited. Direct any questions concerning this copyright to: Omniverse Interactive, Inc. / 720 S. River Road, Suite A210 / St. George, Ut. / 84790 / email [email protected]. Contents ObjectLesson ........................................... 6 ChapterOne:AnIntroductiontoStarshield .... 12 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 12 What is a Role-playing Game?................................................................................. 13 The Starshield Universe ........................................................................................... 16 Life in the Greater Galaxy ........................................................................................ 18 The Omnet ................................................................................................................ 22 The Major Empires................................................................................................... 30 Interstellar Travel and Trade .................................................................................... 37 Interstellar War ......................................................................................................... 38 In Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 39 ChapterTwo:CharacterCreation ................ 40 The Vestis ................................................................................................................. 40 A Quick Overview .................................................................................................... 41 Step One: Character Concept ................................................................................... 42 Step Two: Attributes ................................................................................................. 43 Step Three: Flaws and Disadvantages ...................................................................... 44 Step Four: Talents and Abilities ............................................................................... 49 Step Five: Backgrounds ........................................................................................... 54 Step Six: Skills ......................................................................................................... 58 Step Seven: Development Points ............................................................................. 69 Non-Vestis Characters .............................................................................................. 69 Character Creation Checklist ................................................................................... 72 Improving Your Character ........................................................................................ 76 ChapterThree:Drama ................................ 77 Dice Conventions ..................................................................................................... 77 Attribute and Skill Checks ....................................................................................... 77 Skill and Attribute Modifier Description Table ........................................................ 78 Results Description Table ......................................................................................... 80 Combat ..................................................................................................................... 81 Doing More than One Thing at a Time .................................................................... 82 Initiative ................................................................................................................... 83 Resolution................................................................................................................. 83 Special Attack Actions ............................................................................................. 88 Getting Hurt.............................................................................................................. 91 Wound Locations...................................................................................................... 93 Dying ........................................................................................................................ 94 ChapterFour:QuantumZones .................... 97 Reality ...................................................................................................................... 97 A Brief History of Existence .................................................................................... 98 The Q-dex ............................................................................................................... 100 Technology Science Referent Descriptions............................................................ 102 Mystic Science Referent Descriptions ................................................................... 108 Using the Q-dex ......................................................................................................111 Leveling ...................................................................................................................111 ChapterFive:MysticEffects ....................... 115 Mystic Effects......................................................................................................... 115 Creating Effects ...................................................................................................... 117 The Effects Lists..................................................................................................... 119 Programmed Mana Linear (Extraction) Mystic Effects (Intelligence) .................. 120 © Copyright 1997 by Omniverse Interactive, Inc. / All Rights Reserved. Page 3 Mana Bipolar (Ritual) Mystic Effects (Intelligence) ............................................. 122 Enchanted Mana (Golem) Linear (Willpower) ...................................................... 124 Mana/Essence (Thaumaturgy) Mystic Effects (Intelligence) ................................ 126 Ordered Essence Linear (Weave) Mystic Effects (Willpower) .............................. 128 Essence Bipolar (Ley Line) Mystic Effects (Willpower) ....................................... 131 Programmed Essence Linear (Vibrant) Mystic Effects (Intelligence) ................... 133 Life/Essence (Spirit) Mystic Effects (Willpower) .................................................. 136 Enchanted Life Linear (Necromancy) Mystic Effects (Willpower) ....................... 139 Life Bipolar (Personal Power) Mystic Effects (Willpower)................................... 141 Ordered Life Linear (Life Force) Mystic Effects (Willpower) .............................. 143 Life/Mana (Theurgy) Mystic Effects (Intelligence) ............................................... 146 Aberrant zones........................................................................................................ 148 Creating New Effects ............................................................................................. 148 ChapterSix:Equipment ........................... 149 Unizone Equipment ................................................................................................ 149 Low Tech Weapons ................................................................................................ 155 The Problem of Logistics ....................................................................................... 157 Common Equipment .............................................................................................. 158 Quantum Specific Equipment ................................................................................ 171 Biomass Equipment (Programmed Matter Linear) ................................................ 172 Particle Equipment (Matter Bipolar) ...................................................................... 174 Atomic Devices (Charged Matter Linear) .............................................................. 176 Elemental Equipment (Matter/Energy) .................................................................. 178 Primal Clay Equipment (Set Energy Linear) ......................................................... 180 Etheric Equipment (Energy Bipolar) ...................................................................... 182 Astrological Equpment (Programmed Energy Linear) .......................................... 184 Vessel Equipment (Energy/Life) ............................................................................ 186 Flow Equipment (Charged Life Linear) ................................................................. 188 Psychic