War Panda | 27 Jan 2017 5:26 p.m. PST |
So I've been tempted with breaking back into Mega City-One before but I usually get side tracked or confused by which system to use. I played the GW system in my youth and while I loved the game (probably more than anything I've played since) yet I think it really was down to the setting. I'm an unapologetic fan of 2001ad especially Joe Dredd. The GW system is fine but I'd really like to try something a little grittier with exciting combat and an initiative activation a little less clunky than the GW version. I aware of at least two further conceptions of a JD RPG since… both by Mongoose: d20 version and a module for the Traveler system. I've read pretty nasty things about the d20 one so I'm more interested in the Traveler. What I've discovered in my google investigations is that the Traveler system is excellent in its own right but what it really excels at is creating characters while its combat isn't as dynamic as some one like it. This would be a turn off for me. Apart from combat my earlier games/scenarios of JD did have a certain 'Call of Cthulhu' feel to them. With an obvious restriction to character development and freedom of career that the Judges are faced with (in most cases at least ;) ) I felt the games required a little more detective/suspense feel to them. The setting IMO is perfect for this with lots of room for humour and adventure. I've ordered quite a lot of minis so I'm committed to the project at last but I'd really like to settle on a system before ordering anything. I'm not familiar while the sci-fi genre at all so I'd really appreciate any help. I also remember Weasel (Ivan) mentioning developing something that might suit the theme. Thanks for your time and please let me know any suggestions ((or thoughts) if feel might work. |
shelldrake | 27 Jan 2017 6:34 p.m. PST |
I have a Dredd project on the back burner, and if I do more with it, I would use Weasel's "FiveCore" rules for the game. Fast and fun to play, has a section for characters and special abilities within the rules, so you could have your Psi Judges and mutants. By using the skill system in the rules you can a challenge system when arresting perps. The rules also has a section including civilians, fear (a must for the dark judges), persuasion and information gathering, seaching and sweeps (all good for detective work) and stealth operations (i.e. sneaking in to position for a raid). And, you can use the rules for almost any setting with the minimum of effort, so you can get a lot of different games without having to keep buying new rules. ps – I wish I hadn't replied, as now I want to ressurect my Judges. |
robert piepenbrink | 27 Jan 2017 6:52 p.m. PST |
Can't really advise anyone else on rules. If they're clearly written and you can finish a game in decent order, everything else is a matter of taste. I am a little curious about making a decision "before ordering anything" since you've already ordered the miniatures. At worst, are we talking about buying a rule set which doesn't work out for you? The big Mongoose ones seem to have a bunch of background material which might justify a purchase regardless. Hmmm. Might also just scarf up modules for any of the three when they show up cheap. No RPG ever has enough maps, and with only three systems, a conversion chart for MPCs shouldn't be too tricky. |
War Panda | 27 Jan 2017 8:44 p.m. PST |
ps – I wish I hadn't replied, as now I want to ressurect my Judges. Lol …well some good has come of this thread :) It's become a kind of personal challenge in recent years to try this out. As I mentioned it was the best gaming years of my life and my gaming buddies are not knowledgable of the lore so I'd like to give it my best shot first time. And that moves me onto "I am a little curious about making a decision "before ordering anything" since you've already ordered the miniatures." I'd guess I'd like more info on what type of systems are out there (and I don't just mean JD specifically) in the Sci-Fi area before ordering a bunch of older books. Can't locate a pdf of the Dredd Traveler so it'll be an 2nd hand over priced hard back arriving in a few weeks. I've got ants in my pants to start the ball rolling. I agree though the background info books are a must.
No RPG ever has enough maps, and with only three systems, a conversion chart for MPCs shouldn't be too tricky. Very good point ;) |
Whemever1 | 27 Jan 2017 10:10 p.m. PST |
Your friends need to read some comic books. |
War Panda | 27 Jan 2017 10:58 p.m. PST |
Your friends need to read some comic books. Chicken or the egg. Last time I played this (many moons ago) after the first game everyone started reading 2000AD. This time around one of them has had the misfortune of already seeing the Stallone movie; so I've uphill battle working against that. |
Mister Tibbles | 28 Jan 2017 5:09 a.m. PST |
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War Panda | 28 Jan 2017 7:41 a.m. PST |
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nvdoyle | 28 Jan 2017 11:15 a.m. PST |
Pulp Alley. Flexible, a solid initiative system, customizable. |
Norrins | 28 Jan 2017 3:05 p.m. PST |
Another vote for Pulp Alley here. |
Lion in the Stars | 28 Jan 2017 5:20 p.m. PST |
Savage Worlds would probably work, and Shadowrun might. Savage Worlds is designed for minis combat. |
Fergal | 28 Jan 2017 7:46 p.m. PST |
Void Pirates, super quick and lots of fun! |
Manchu | 29 Jan 2017 10:43 a.m. PST |
The Traveller-based Dredd RPG from Mongoose is excellent and a much better fit with Dredd than d20. Character creation in Traveller is a mini-game in its own right and very cool. The combat rules are fine, although I'm not sure what you are after with "dynamic." Since people are recommending miniatures games rather than RPGs, I'll just recommend the Judge Dredd miniatures game also by Mongoose. Mongoose just gave up the 2000AD license at the end of 2016 and we know that Warlord, who formerly took over publishing of Mongoose's JD game, now has the rights. They will not just be selling the existing Mongoose sculpts, however … those have already been partially sold of to Rebel Minis. |
War Panda | 29 Jan 2017 6:23 p.m. PST |
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and responses. I'm in the process of reading several rule systems right now. Character creation in Traveller is a mini-game in its own right and very cool. The combat rules are fine @Manchu Having read a good sampling of the rules this sums up my feelings pretty well. I really love these rules but feel they are most suited to what they are intended to represent: space exploration and adventure. So much so that I've decided to prepare a campaign :0 The character creation is astounding good and I can't wait to try it out with my group and see where it takes us. As good as the Traveller system is it strikes me that it's greatest strengths would probably be altogether lost in a Judge Dredd game. @Fergal Funny thing about Void Pirates is I've just recently bought Four Colour's Supersystem and I also downloaded their new proto Super Mission Force (SMF) which I believe is similar in mechanics to Pirates?!? Love the simplicity of these sets. I might very end up using these but I think I'd like to try something a little grittier. I read where an option on the initiative activation of SMF is based of the dealing of regular cards, is this the case with VP's as well? I noticed Savage Worlds employs almost exactly same mechanic. So I've downloaded free lite samples of two other suggestions here: Shadowrun and Savage Worlds. Thanks to nvdoyle and Norrins for the Pulp Alley recommendations. Although I've read in a review here on TMP that there's a 'free sample' I don't see one anywhere on their site. One big consideration is initiative activation. I dislike when this is too random. I was interested to read on their site: Control of the Initiative is based on events as they occur during the scenario rather than an arbitrary die-roll. Looking at their site Pulp Alley looks like a worthwhile purchase on it's own merits. EDIT: Ordered Pulp Alley but no pdf yet :) Any comments on comparisons on these rule sets would be great but at this point I'll probably order each one and try them out. If I do I may may a vid showing how each system handles various situations. Thanks again guys. It's been very enjoyable discovering your suggestions |
War Panda | 29 Jan 2017 9:28 p.m. PST |
Ordered Pulp Alley but no pdf yet BTW That remark wasn't meant as a criticism. It's clear from the website that there is no automatic email system but is done manually. I was simply referring to the fact that the rules are not available to me yet :) |
Lion in the Stars | 30 Jan 2017 6:34 p.m. PST |
If you're going for a more RPG side of the house, I strongly suggest grabbing the Cyberpunk Lifepath and Plotpath files. Lifepath is what your character did before you started adventuring (or at least what you did before starting this adventure). Plotpath is what kinds of things might/could happen in this session, and would be Lifepath later on. Here's a link to the files on my Google Drive page, they're PDFs: link I am asserting Fair Use for Lifepath and Plotpath, R Talsorian Games retains copyright of the actual pages. |
War Panda | 30 Jan 2017 6:44 p.m. PST |
Thanks LitS's …I'll take a look (I like the concepts :) |
Norrins | 01 Feb 2017 2:49 a.m. PST |
As you've bought Pulp Alley, here's a link to some Judge Dredd leagues I created – link Feel free to use/ignore ;-) |
The H Man | 01 Feb 2017 4:50 a.m. PST |
Stallone had the best film. He was kind of made for it. But they are both so different, you fall into one camp or the other. 2001 AD tv show, thats what's needed, like twilight zone, several shorts per ep. Any one say necromunda? |
War Panda | 01 Feb 2017 5:35 a.m. PST |
As you've bought Pulp Alley, here's a link to some Judge Dredd leagues I created – linkFeel free to use/ignore ;-) Thanks Norrins I will definitely use it…Really nicely done. Thanks Do you roleplay or just pure skirmish? I noticed "5150 rules for Judges" on your site. Whats' 5150? Great site BTW
Stallone had the best film. He was kind of made for it. 5 actors that would play Judge Dredd better than Sylvester Stallone. 1. Karl Urban 2. Karl Urban's wife Natalie Wihongi 3. Karl Urban's pet dog 'Sly'
4. This… guy (?)
5. Actor who plays Wilson from Castaway PS The H Man We are all entitled to our opinions (except in this case ;) ) I'd love a serial if …done right :) I'd especially love an animated one so the show won't suffer from lack of budget…The latest Dredd did show signs of lack of funding that disappointed me |
War Panda | 01 Feb 2017 5:58 a.m. PST |
I've just bought the Shadowrun 5th Ed. After taking a look at the free pdf I thought the setting was really interesting and the combat/test mechanics looked promising. I'm not a huge fan of buckets O Dice but I think it's a system I would like to try out for Dredd. Intertesting rules on hackers or Deckers ? that I thought could provide interesting material for Dredd. A criminal type Decker helping the Judge's break into a sophisticated system of a new crime syndicate. Also saw a few nice looking investigation type scenarios that I might fit into Mega-City. Might even end up taking my players on a Shadowrun. Anyone write up Dredd or his weapons in SR? Any other settings, systems that fit into this post apocalyptic genre? Thanks again for all responses (even the Stallone ones :) ) |
War Panda | 01 Feb 2017 7:17 a.m. PST |
Any idea which of these two titles of Weasel's Clash on the Fringe and his Sci-fi 5Core might work better for RPGing a small skirmish between 2 or 3 Judges and an Angel Gang |
Weasel | 01 Feb 2017 7:55 a.m. PST |
Either could do it. Clash is more conventional and aimed at being a replacement Rogue Trader. 5core is for very small skirmishes with a handful of characters , particularly intended for campaign play. The former uses a traditional stat line and points system, while the latter uses random rolls or player creation. You may also consider Starport Scum which leans a bit towards the RPG side of things.
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War Panda | 01 Feb 2017 8:41 a.m. PST |
I wasn't aware of Starport Scum. Is combat handled similar to 5core?Thanks Ivan. |
Weasel | 01 Feb 2017 12:19 p.m. PST |
Its not quite one roll but very quick. Grab 2-3 dice based o ntroop type, add 1 for every "trait" you have (like SHARP SHOOTER armed with a ACCURATE gun would be two extra dice). Count 5+'s. 1 hit pins, 2 wounds, 3 is a gruesome death. Its aimed at letting you write a character on an index card. "I am a smugger with a QUICK TRIGGER FINGER, PARANOIA and I am known as a SMOOTH TALKER". There's your character :) |
War Panda | 01 Feb 2017 4:44 p.m. PST |
Sounds quick and deadly… I think there's a place in this world for the slow and detailed combat of perhaps Shadowrun (maybe not the best example there's probably more detailed than it?) But the majority of my gaming is so time restricted recently that the best goto rules are often requiring gamers three most favourite f-words: fast, furious and fun! (I realize they're not ever gamer's favourite f-words every night ) Thanks Ivan |
The H Man | 02 Feb 2017 2:15 a.m. PST |
Actors aside. At least Dredd wasn't locked in side for the first film. That was a bit disappointing, there's a whole universe out there and we're stuck watching Friends with guns. (Or what ever apartment sit com you like) I should watch it again, as there had to be more to it than that? It just didn't feel like it the first time 'round. |
The H Man | 02 Feb 2017 2:16 a.m. PST |
Sheesh, enough with the films already… …Oh, it was me. Sorry. |
War Panda | 02 Feb 2017 4:07 a.m. PST |
At least Dredd wasn't locked in side for the first film No I agree completely. The rending of Mega-City-One in the Stallone was so much better. there's a whole universe out there and we're stuck watching Friends with guns. LoL…The latest Dredd felt claustrophobic. Knowing the richness of the world it seems like a crime (ahem) to stage it all in a City-Block that doesn't look all that convincing to me. For me though the game changer is Dredd himself. If the production had a decent budget (Urban said it was $30 USDmil) than I think they could have made something special. For that reason I do watch it with a forgiving eye… Sheesh, enough with the films already……Oh, it was me. Sorry. No don't apologize; it's good because it almost justifies me posting this ;)
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Norrins | 05 Feb 2017 5:18 a.m. PST |
@War Panda %510 is a set of sci-fi rules by Two Hours Wargames. Pulp Alley is RPG lite and if you follow the Vice Alley storyline, you get a nice series of scenarios that strung together make a good campaign set in Mega City One. |
War Panda | 08 Feb 2017 11:48 p.m. PST |
Thanks Norrins I wasn't familiar with %510 |
srmalloy | 09 Feb 2017 2:48 p.m. PST |
Before I saw Stallone playing Judge Dredd, I would have never thought I'd ever say that he had too _much_ facial animation for a role… |
The H Man | 12 Feb 2017 9:27 p.m. PST |
I felt sly worked, as, like robocop, you have to have a face that stands out under the helmet. |