Review - Battlestar Galactica RPG Corebook

It's Friday and that means Doctor Who is back! It also means I'll be watching Battlestar Galactica right after that. I'm a fan of the show, and I enjoy it even though they made Boomer a female Cylon, they got rid of the Cylon Raider, took away the Centurions' voice, and, most tragic of all, they got rid of (sniff) Muffit. The only saving graces are the story, special effects, they kept the Viper, and, most importantly of all, Edward James Olmos plays Adama. I expect him to say to Helo, "It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does?" I still miss that mechanical daggit, though. Margaret Weis Productions has published The Battlestar Galactica Roleplaying Game. This company seems bent on making role playing games from television shows. First Serenity, now Battlestar Galactica, and they're going to do Supernatural. They did a good job on the Serenity book, and they did a good job on this one to. Since they've done so well on television based games, I hope they can get the license for a Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles RPG. The Battlestar Galactica corebook is well produced and well organized. The book is hard-cover, with full color pages. Like most games based on television shows or movies, they use a lot of stills from the source with a touch of original artwork as needed. The background section is not cluttered with rules references, only including stats for the key characters from the show. The back of the book includes a dictionary of military and slang terms from the show, including everyone's favorite, frak. The game uses the Cortex system, similar to the system used in the Serenity RPG. Some Serenity players have called Battlestar Galactica, Serenity 1.5. While most of the mechanics are the same, there are some subtle differences. Players and gamemasters familiar with Serenity should read through the rules and make sure that they're aware of all the minor differences. Hopefully the upcoming Cortex System rule book will bring the two games in sync. Not that I need no gorram Cylons messin' with me and mine out in the black. Character creation and advancement use a point buy system. Players are given a number of points based on the starting level (Recruit, Veteran, Seasoned) to buy attribute levels, and to buy skill levels. Two different point pools, one for attributes and the other skills. Characters also get a point pool for starting assets (advantages). If you don't have enough points, you can get more by taking complications (disadvantages). During a campaign, characters will earn advancement points to improve their skills, attributes, and maybe buy off complications.If you really must roll dice, a random attribute system is included. There are no classes that you must shoe-horn your character concept into, and no alignments to lead to those long philosophical debates on good and evil. The Cortex system doesn't depend on one type of die. Attributes, skill, trait, and complications levels are all expressed by dice. 1st level is a d2, 2nd d4, all the way up to d12. After a stat reaches the d12 level, another die is added to it starting with a d2. The only die not in use is the d20, but there are other games you can use that in. Task resolution is handled by beating a target number (3 for easy, 7 average, 11 hard, etc) with the appropriate attribute and skill dice or attribute and attribute dice added together. If you really need a boost, you can use plot points to help you out. The plot point system is one of my favorite features. Players can use plot points can be used to improve their skill rolls, save their bacon, or bribe the game master for subtle story changes. This allows players to be more involved in the story creation, not just slaves to the die rolls. Characters can now execute crazy stunts like using your Viper to push another Viper back to Galactica before it jumps the frak out of there. No need to hoard all your plot points till the end, game masters reward plot points during the course of the game for playing up complications, or just doing something awesome. Serenity player will be happy to learn that the points spent on extra dice become the minimum bonus you get. No more spending 6 plot points to buy a d12 only to roll a 1! This is a beautiful book, and for $44.95 it better be. Story driven gamers who are fans of the show will enjoy the game. The simplified ship combat rules may drive those looking for a simulation style roleplaying game crazy. Rules lawyers and munchkins might get obnoxious about the plot point bribing system. This game is best suited for a mature group of gamers. Gamers who like either White Wolf's Storyteller system or Eden Studios' Unisystem will be happy with the Cortex System, and should at least check out the system if they're not fans of the show.