D20 Future
Encyclopedia
d20 Future is an accessory for the d20 Modern
role-playing game
written by Christopher Perkins, Rodney Thompson
, and JD Wiker. It facilitates the playing of campaigns in the far future
, using elements such as cybernetics
, mecha
, mutations, robotics
, space travel
, starships, and xenobiology. d20 Future is one of the most extensive of science-fiction d20 games, and has its own SRD
http://d20resources.com/future.d20.srd/, being a source for many other sci-fi d20 games.
but did not include a full-scale setting. Campaign models introduced include:
. It adds more Cybernetics to accompany those found in d20 Future, as well as alternate forms of cybernetics, such as cybernetics in fantasy. It also includes a cyberpunk campaign model called CyberRave, in which the world has become a collection of corporation-owned and run countries.
role-playing game
and the d20 Future supplement. This supplement contains rules which expand on various weaponry and gadgets from d20 Future.
The book contains additional material expands of the following topics already established in d20 Future: Weapons/Personal Gear, Starships, Mecha, and Robotics. Also, there is a chapter on how future technology affects life and one on integrating different types of combat (Mecha vs Vehicle, Starship vs. Mecha, Etc.).
D20 Modern
d20 Modern is a roleplaying game designed by Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, and Charles Ryan. It was published by Wizards of the Coast in November 2002, and uses the d20 System...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
written by Christopher Perkins, Rodney Thompson
Rodney Thompson
Rodney Thompson is a game designer whose writing credits include numerous books for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game and the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
, and JD Wiker. It facilitates the playing of campaigns in the far future
Future
The future is the indefinite time period after the present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the nature of the reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently exists and will exist is temporary and will come...
, using elements such as cybernetics
Cybernetics
Cybernetics is the interdisciplinary study of the structure of regulatory systems. Cybernetics is closely related to information theory, control theory and systems theory, at least in its first-order form...
, mecha
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
, mutations, robotics
Robotics
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...
, space travel
Spaceflight
Spaceflight is the act of travelling into or through outer space. Spaceflight can occur with spacecraft which may, or may not, have humans on board. Examples of human spaceflight include the Russian Soyuz program, the U.S. Space shuttle program, as well as the ongoing International Space Station...
, starships, and xenobiology. d20 Future is one of the most extensive of science-fiction d20 games, and has its own SRD
System Reference Document
The System Reference Document, or SRD, is a set of reference role playing game mechanics licensed under the Open Game License by Wizards of the Coast and based upon their Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. The SRD forms the basis of WotC's various d20 System role-playing games, including the...
http://d20resources.com/future.d20.srd/, being a source for many other sci-fi d20 games.
Campaigns
The book presented a number of campaign models, which provided a framework for building a full campaign settingCampaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
but did not include a full-scale setting. Campaign models introduced include:
- Bughunters, an adventure gameAdventure gameAn adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
and bug hunt setting inspired by AliensAliens (film)Aliens is a 1986 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, and Bill Paxton...
, Starship TroopersStarship TroopersStarship Troopers is a military science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, first published as a serial in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and published hardcover in December, 1959.The first-person narrative is about a young soldier from the Philippines named Juan "Johnnie" Rico and his...
, and its predecessor in Amazing EngineAmazing EngineAmazing Engine was a series of role-playing game books that was published by TSR, Inc. from 1993 until 1994.Each publication employed the same minimalist generic rules, as described in the Amazing Engine System Guide, but each world book had an entirely different setting or genre...
.
- Dimension X, an adventure game setting based on the concept of parallel universeParallel universe (fiction)A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
s, which are referred to as dimensionDimensionIn physics and mathematics, the dimension of a space or object is informally defined as the minimum number of coordinates needed to specify any point within it. Thus a line has a dimension of one because only one coordinate is needed to specify a point on it...
s.
- From the Dark Heart of Space, a Star WarsStar WarsStar Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
style setting inspired by the eternal struggle between good and evil, with a touch of the Cthulhu MythosCthulhu MythosThe Cthulhu Mythos is a shared fictional universe, based on the work of American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft.The term was first coined by August Derleth, a contemporary correspondent of Lovecraft, who used the name of the creature Cthulhu - a central figure in Lovecraft literature and the focus...
.
- GenetechGenetechGenetech is a fictional corporation in the Marvel Comics universe. It is located in Sayville, Long Island in the state of New York.Genetech is involved in many scientific endeavors and appears as both an ally and an adversary of the superhuman team the New Warriors. Genetech should not be confused...
, apparently an uncredited adaptation of the background of the Moreau SeriesMoreau seriesNohar Rajasthan is the private investigator from the Moreau series of books by S. Andrew Swann published by DAW Books...
of books by S. Andrew SwannS. Andrew SwannS. Andrew Swann is a science fiction and fantasy author living in Solon, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, where much of his fiction is set. He was born Steven Swiniarski and has published some of his books as Swiniarski and some as Swann...
. It originally appeared as a mini-game in PolyhedronPolyhedron (magazine)Polyhedron was a magazine which started out as the official publication of the RPGA . Publication began in the year 1981, and the target audience was players of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game...
#155.
- Mecha Crusade, an animeAnimeis the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
-inspired (primarily GundamGundamThe is a metaseries of anime created by Sunrise studios that features giant robots called "Mobile Suits" ; usually the protagonist's MS will carry the name Gundam....
-inspired) setting taking place in the 2050s that focuses on the war between Earth and the Colonists, with giant fighting robots (mecha) being used on both sides. It originally appeared as a mini-game in Polyhedron #154. Mecha Crusade uses a different system than the Guardians of OrderGuardians of OrderGuardians of Order was a Canadian company founded in 1996 by Mark C. MacKinnon in Guelph, Ontario. The company's business output consisted of role-playing games . Their first game is the anime inspired Big Eyes, Small Mouth. In 2006 Guardians of Order ceased operations due to overwhelming...
-published d20 Mecha.
- Star*Drive, a political space operaSpace operaSpace opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
taking placed in the 26th century. It is a remake of AlternityAlternityAlternity is a science fiction role-playing game published by TSR in 1998...
campaign setting of the same name.
- Star Law, a remake of the popular 1980s Star FrontiersStar FrontiersStar Frontiers is a science fiction role-playing game produced by TSR beginning in 1982. The game offered a space-opera action-adventure setting.- Setting :...
space opera-based role-playing game. The mini-setting is cited to use material from Star Frontiers Alpha Dawn and Zebulon's Guide to Frontier Space.
- The Wasteland, a somewhat westernWestern (genre)The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
-flavored post-apocalyptic fictionApocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fictionApocalyptic fiction is a sub-genre of science fiction that is concerned with the end of civilization due to a potentially existential catastrophe such as nuclear warfare, pandemic, extraterrestrial attack, impact event, cybernetic revolt, technological singularity, dysgenics, supernatural...
setting inspired by its predecessors in Metamorphosis AlphaMetamorphosis AlphaMetamorphosis Alpha is a science fiction role-playing game. It was created by James M. Ward and originally produced by TSR, the publisher of Dungeons & Dragons...
and Gamma WorldGamma WorldGamma World is a science fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by James M. Ward and Gary Jaquet, and first published by TSR in 1978. It borrowed heavily from James M. Ward's earlier product, Metamorphosis Alpha.-Setting:...
.
d20 Cyberscape
d20 Cyberscape is an expansion for the d20 Future supplement of d20 ModernD20 Modern
d20 Modern is a roleplaying game designed by Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, and Charles Ryan. It was published by Wizards of the Coast in November 2002, and uses the d20 System...
. It adds more Cybernetics to accompany those found in d20 Future, as well as alternate forms of cybernetics, such as cybernetics in fantasy. It also includes a cyberpunk campaign model called CyberRave, in which the world has become a collection of corporation-owned and run countries.
d20 Future Tech
d20 Future Tech is a 96 page supplement for the d20 ModernD20 Modern
d20 Modern is a roleplaying game designed by Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, and Charles Ryan. It was published by Wizards of the Coast in November 2002, and uses the d20 System...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
and the d20 Future supplement. This supplement contains rules which expand on various weaponry and gadgets from d20 Future.
The book contains additional material expands of the following topics already established in d20 Future: Weapons/Personal Gear, Starships, Mecha, and Robotics. Also, there is a chapter on how future technology affects life and one on integrating different types of combat (Mecha vs Vehicle, Starship vs. Mecha, Etc.).
See also
- Dawning StarDawning StarDawning Star is a science fiction role-playing game by Blue Devil Games built on d20 Modern and powered by d20 Future by Wizards of the Coast. It is the first full-scale campaign setting using the d20 Future ruleset...
- Star Wars Roleplaying Game (Wizards of the Coast)Star Wars Roleplaying Game (Wizards of the Coast)On June 5, 2007, Wizards released the Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Saga Edition. The game was streamlined to be easier to play and a greater emphasis was placed on miniatures. Some of the major changes include:...
- Traveller (role-playing game)Traveller (role-playing game)Traveller is a series of related science fiction role-playing games, the first published in 1977 by Game Designers' Workshop and subsequent editions by various companies remaining in print to this day. The game was inspired from such classic science fiction stories as the Dumarest saga series by...
- D20 ApocalypseD20 Apocalypsed20 Apocalypse is a 96-page softcover supplement to the d20 Modern role-playing game, providing a rules framework and setting guides for campaigns set in a post-apocalyptic setting.-Scenarios:...
External links
- Wizards of the Coast's official d20 Future product page
- D20 Modern Wiki (including related derivatives, e.g. d20 Future)
- Myth Weavers, a PbP site featuring d20 Future games.
- d20 Resources - HTML reference documentation for d20 Open Content.
- The d20 Future System Reference Document.