RAD ASTRA!: setting

Showing posts with label setting. Show all posts

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Seeking Artists for Concepting

Rad Astra is heavily influenced by the science fiction and fantasy of the 1970s and 80s. I'm currently looking for illustrators to help flesh out visual concepts (e.g., character classes, technology, spacecraft, aliens/monsters, scenes) for the setting.

My immediate need is for 3-5 black and white concept illustrations for the following four core character classes:

Starbuckler - Luke, Han, Leia & Lando, Starbuck & Apollo
Starbarian - Thundarr, Beastmaster, She-ra, St. Examin
Astrocaster - Dr. Strange, Sorceress (MotU), Adam Warlock, Evil Lynn
Astrosassin - Barbarella, Stella Star, Black Widow, Gamora

*Astrocaster's description is pending completion, but there is enough to give you some general direction.

Interested?
If interested, please send me a message via my Google Plus profile (private message or email listed there). Please include your rate sheet for commission work. I can't consider hiring anyone without this basic information (sorry).

Setting Influences and Inspiration
Check out the Player Character classes and Rad Appendix for inspiration. The Rad Astra and Space Opera Pinterest boards below should also be useful.

Follow Rad Astra on Pinterest.

Follow Space Opera on Pinterest.

*Updated 3/18

Friday, December 25, 2015

BEGIN TRANSMISSION

MORE SOON.

Monday, September 29, 2014

PLAYERS: Explore your campaign setting...

When I'm running a roleplaying game as game master, I encourage my players to follow the Golden Rule (as written by me). It's pretty simple:

GOLDEN RULE: Ask the GM questions and try stuff. Have fun!

Cover for Isaac Azimov's "David Starr - Space Ranger"

That also includes, by the way, the expectation that you'll be an "excellent gamer." Someone who is generous with other players, looking for ways to include them in what you're character is doing, as well as basically being a courteous real life person at the table.

Beyond that, there are a wealth of things you can learn during your game. Here's a list that can be helpful for players that's not means exhaustive and frankly, there may or may not be an answer for all of the questions (depending on your GM) but it's worth a shot!

You'll likely want to ask your GM using setting-appropriate terminology. A lightsaber may be called something else in your game (if you have something like them at all).

Explore your campaign setting:

What is the deal with my psion's order?
Where can we go to buy standard mission gear?
Where can we go to get custom cyborg implants for this alien/mutant/monster I just befriended?
Who is the meanest warlord in the galaxy?
Who is the greatest warrior in the galaxy?
Who is the richest person in the galaxy?
Where can we go to get some discount medbay healing?
Where can we go to get cures for the following conditions: poison, disease, space witch curse, level drain, mutagen contamination, nanomite infestation, brain swapped back into original body, death, zombification?
Is there a vocational guild my PC belongs to or that I can join in order to get better at that thing I do?
Where can I find an scientist, techno wizard, psion master or other expert NPC?
Where can I hire mercenaries like bounty hunters, smugglers, pirates, or laser riflemen?
Is there any place on the map where lightsabers/weirding modules are illegal, advanced technology is outlawed or any other notable hassles from [insert name of ruling space authority]?
Which way to the nearest space station for fuel, repairs, upgrades, supplies, and entertainment?
What infamous interstellar criminals are terrorizing the outer rim sufficiently that if I kill them I will become famous?
Are there any wars brewing I could go fight?
How about gladiatorial space arenas complete with hard-won glory and fabulous cash prizes?
Are there any secret societies with sinister agendas I could join and/or fight?
What is there to eat out of this 3D food printer thing?
Any legendary lost artifacts of the ancients I could be looking for?
Where is the nearest kaiju or other monster with Type H treasure?

Here's a few more items to consider:

What's the state of the galaxy at present moment? Does my planet of origin still exist?
Where can I get a ship to take me to this dangerous planet on my star chart?
Where can I buy or get parts to build a robot to do my bidding?
What are the planets that no one dares visit?
Are there any dives on this rock we shouldn't go into?
What aliens will blast my hand off on sight?
What aliens are allies that I can call for help?
Are there any space derelicts or abandoned asteroid outposts we can go raid?
Where can I sell this relic/spacejunk/secret weapon I found/stole/inherited?
Where can I get a decent cape to romp around in?

Also, be aware that it's the GM's prerogative to not tell you certain information until the timing is right. And you may need to go investigate some of these before you find the answers--that is to say, don't expect your GM to just tell you the answer. Where's the fun in that?

Part of this list was adapted from a post by Jeff Rients.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Some ideas on classes, other boring stuff

Rad Astra or, as it's more commonly translated "Awesomely to the Stars!" is based largely on exploitation tropes from terrible movies and other detritus that I love (see previous, all-caps-shouting post).

So the base rules will be X-plorers as it's the simplest solution for anyone else who wants to pick it up and tweak for their game of choice. Plus the game is just super easy/fun to play.

I'm ripping out all the "mega corporations in space!" setting material from the game (which is like, a whole page and a half!) and substituting poorly thought out space opera aesthetics. Here are some planned classes:

Starbuckler (rogue/bounty hunter/pirate type, same skills but different sides of the law)
Astrosassin (spy, secret agent, ninja, assassin -- formal martial arts training is a prerequisite)
Starbarian (space barbarian, -- melee weapon swingin' grunt in a gundark loin cloth)
Starlocke (space warlock/witch -- magical manipulator of the physical laws of the universe)
Conartisan (noblemen, diplomat, gambler, grifter, huckster, companion, salesforce minion, politician, spam king, Imperial stooge--anyone who wields B.S. as an offensive strategy and manipulates others to get ahead)
Scientician (scientists and those who style themselves technical gurus be they mad or just pushed around in high school)

Occupations, titles, and organizations that either act as multi-class options or provide some sort of vocational guide for PCs:

Space Ranger Corps. (for "lawful" starbucklers and astroasassins)
Warrior of the Warp (space Amazonian-Vikings: highly trained and live by a code and yet very boisterous; e.g., St. Examin, Vultan)
Lodge of the Lost Moon (for starbarians who reach a certain level of notoriety and influence; e.g., Masters of the Universe, Dar from Beastmaster, etc.)
Lasersniper League (guild for assassins, bounty hunters, and ex-military; e.g., Boba Fett, the Terminator, and let's pretend Barbarella knew how to use a laser rifle.)
Supreme Church of Super Science (the largest scientific research body in the known universe; i.e., Vulcan Science Academy with unlimited funding and unchecked ambition)
Paragon of the Power Cosmic (for starlockes of a certain level and prestige; i.e., the Jedi Order as led by Dr. Strange, the Silver Surfer, and Darkseid)

One important note about classes--there are no "pilots". Do you go out to your car and consider yourself a "driver". No, you know how to drive. For those characters who "drive professionally in space" I take no pity. Choose a class and consider "space trucker" a cover for something more interesting.

Military pilots are likely some sort of officer in a regional space authority. To clarify, Luke (circa Episode 4), Han, Starbuck, Apollo, Space Ghost, that dork from the Last Starfighter and even Jim Kirk would be starbucklers. Some might have ranks, others might work for themselves--but in the end, they all have similar skills and functions.

I had a stray thought about including a rule that PCs not revealing their class to anyone but the referee until after the first session or other characters figure it out. Just to make things interesting. Any thoughts on that?

NEXT: Androids, Aliens, and Dimensional Interlopers!

I retain copyright on the classes, factions and their descriptons above. I've permission from X-plorers publisher, Brave Halfling to use the game's rules and stats and intend to publish a supplement. It's fine to use them in your personal gaming, but they are not to be published without my express consent. :)

Monday, October 1, 2012

RAD ASTRA: Space-ploitation campaign setting!

IN A FAR CORNER OF THE PASTICHE-VERSE (B-GRADE AND EXPLOITATION MOVIES OF THE 60s, 70s, AND 80s...AND ANYTHING STARRING THE HOFF, PLUS COMIC BOOKS, AND OTHER JUNK THAT CAN BE SQUISHED INTO A NEW X-PLORERS SETTING) COMES A BATTLE FOR THE FRONTIER BEYOND INSANITY AND QUESTIONABLE TASTE...

STARRING: NICODEMUS HASSELFURY, EXPELLED SPACE RANGER AND CAD...