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Cepheus Engine

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2019 8:54 am
by Linden
Has anyone else investigated this Traveller retro-clone? It seems to underpin an increasing number of games and supplements (e.g. Zozer Games' Hostile and Zaibatsu discussed elsewhere). I've got a copy of the SRD and while I appreciate how it aims to be a comprenhensive rule system and it features some excellent GM advice, on the whole it's not very user friendly e.g. found the rules on computers in ship combat completely baffling. However, I recently picked up the paperback edtion of Cepheus Light, which was much more to my liking. Seems to preserve most of the parent game's core concepts while being easier to follow and faster playing. I reckon you could get a good Aliens style game out of it using a setting like Paul Elliot's freely downloadable Outworld Authority Sector.

There's also a cheap modern supplement on drivethrurpg which claims to cover everything from WW2 guys on a mission adventures to 21st century urban horror. Rules for monsters and magical style psionics included. Quite tempted to go for that - although I suppose any game I'd end up running would almost certainly turn out to be Dark Conspiracy by another name.

Re: Cepheus Engine

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2019 9:28 pm
by Marcus Bone
Looks interesting...

I've purchased a copy (along with a softcover). Have to say that its not the prettiest of documents, but readable and understandable!

In regards to retro Sci-fi my favourite is Frontier Space (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub ... ntierSpace), which is a Star Frontiers clone!

Marcus

Re: Cepheus Engine

Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 5:57 am
by Linden
The modern supplement is no great shakes. Some rehashed careers, plus a magic system and a guide to Shadowrun style fantasy races in place of the starship rules. Other than that it's Cepheus as usual.