"Stars of Empire second edition " Topic

I'm forced to do a second edition of the Stars of Empire Role Playing rule book for The Hive, Queen and Country Universe. So one of the big questions is should I do it as a single book or break it up into a Referee's Guide, a Player's Guide and such

What do folks think? One more expensive book that holds everything and is "one stop shopping" or a couple of books that split things up?

Terry

I've always been a fan of the multiple book system. Sometimes you need to keep some information out of the player's hands. Separate books allow that easier than one big book.

Thanks oh master of triangles!

Now I need someone else to take the other side of the question so I will still be lost!

Terry

I've never been a big fan of the multiple book approach.

The only ones I've thought that worked were original Traveller and AD&D sets. They were small books that came as sets, unlike the more modern approach of releasing "core" volumes over a widely spaced time frame.

All in one. A bitch to edit/proofread but easier on the GM/Players.

Is there going to be a ship build system? If not, how about a ship modification system? You keep the core stats and overall theme/mission of the vessel but let the players/gm alter some aspects.

There is currently an airship book out, which won't need any modifications, since it was originally published by my company, Aerolyth Enterprises. link

Arun did the bulk of the writing and ship design and I did the bulk of the chain saw editing that removed the 300 pages of ship design rules. However I believe that Arun posted them as free downloads. I will check and see if they are still up!

What do folks think of this idea: Publish a referee's guide that has everything AND a players guide that ONLY has the player's information? The referee will need all the player's information anyway, right?

Thanks for the feedback!
Terry

The Airship design rules are still available:

PDF link

However, they were never really polished. Also, most consider them to be very… "mathy". If you like math, they might be your thing, but some simplified rules might be useful / more popular.

Rather than simplified creation rules, you might consider a set of "stock" ships with some "standard options" that allow for simpler that allow for simpler pick and choose if you want that, or full-fledged design if you want to get down to it. That also allows the hybrid option, I want a standard XYZ ship with A and B, but I really want to customize the options for the C.

Etotheipi
If you look though the Flying Machines 1902 book you will see we did exactly that! There are almost 100 designs and many of them have a number of variants. Some of the ships are specifically designed for player character use

Thank you for the pdf. Solves a campaign change I want to do from S1889 to HQC. (Liftwood to Aerolyth-terrible form of 'Dutch Elm Disease', old boy…")
I suggest do the rules in the most cost effective and profitable manner. This hobby is so eclectic in publishing styles a GM/Player can make do with any form. I would prefer if you sold the hardcover with a free pdf download-that way a customer can use the rules quickly while waiting for the shipment.
I was given a 7" Tablet for Xmas and I've put all rule pdf books in it so I wouldn't have to lug books around(e.g., Battletech which has 5 books minimum to use in a campaign).

just thinkin'…

Everything we currently do is available on pdf, so that shouldn't change

I think we can have the best of both worlds with the new technology. We can do a larger referee's book with everything AND pull the player's information out into a player only book. How do folks feel about that idea?