Answering the Top Ten Troll Questions...

My answers to Random Wizard's questions.

Race (Elf, Dwarf, Halfling) as a class? Yes or no?

Of course yes, as long as I use any character classes.

Do demi-humans have souls?

Of course yes, because they may trade / lose them!

Ascending or descending armor class?

Classic 'un.

Demi-human level limits?

I don't know! No one ever survived long enough!

Should thief be a class?

[link]

Do characters get non-weapon skills?

Yes.

Are magic-users more powerful than fighters (and, if yes, what level do they take the lead)?

It depends but there's no general rule. There are spells capable of wiping out entire cities but swords don't run out of charges / slots.

Do you use alignment languages?

I don't use alignment system so I guess nah.

XP for gold, or XP for objectives (thieves disarming traps, etc...)?

Gold and slaughter. And, of course, carousing!

Which is the best edition; ODD, Holmes, Moldvay, Mentzer, Rules Cyclopedia, 1E ADD, 2E ADD, 3E DD, 4E DD, Next ?

For me? 0e.

Unified XP level tables or individual XP level tables for each class?

Individual.

Answers to another set of questions

Answers to Brendan's questions. Any questions? :D

Ability scores generation method?

3d6 in row but some of my current players are yellow-bellied sissies so I allow them to roll 3d6 and arrange them freely (except rolling for Tech Level). I don't care about it as stats do not prolong their lifespan.

How are death and dying handled?

PCs are unconscious when HP drops to zero. When HP is down for (level+1), PC is dead. Treating wounds can restore 1d4 HP but no more than amount lost in the last combat. Drinking bottle of booze (wound binding or drinking only, once per session) can restore 1d6 HP but if "6" is rolled PC loses one HP.

What about raising the dead?

Raise Dead is unavailable in my campaign but there are three other (more dangerous to use) spells that can raise dead: Soul Graft, Hands of Sethra and Infernal Return.

Also, check out my Death Experience table.

How are replacement PCs handled?

Sometimes they simply appear out of nowhere :D For many years I was very focused on "realistic" aspects of adding new PCs to the party but now we simply do not care.

Initiative: individual, group, or something else?

Individual and determined by Referee. No rolls. Armor heaviness, weapon reach, agility and heaviness of the weapon can affect the initiative, as well as millions of other factors.

Are there critical hits and fumbles? How do they work?

Critical hit - maximum damage (6 in most cases). Fumble - many possible fuckups - dropping the weapon, falling prone, hitting a friend etc etc etc.

Do I get any benefits for wearing a helmet?

Anti-critical hits + possible damage reduction for stone blocks hitting one's head.

Can I hurt my friends if I fire into melee or do something similarly silly?

Yes, definitely.

Will we need to run from some encounters, or will we be able to kill everything?

Sometimes you may be killed in one, two rounds if you decide to stay and try to kill the "random spawn".

Level-draining monsters: yes or no?

Yes, but they are rather rare.

Are there going to be cases where a failed save results in PC death?

Yes. Poison, effects of player's (not PC's) stupidity, dragon breath, wrath of god etc.

How strictly are encumbrance & resources tracked?

Encumberance - only common sense is a factor, resources - yes, definitely.

What's required when my PC gains a level? Training? Do I get new spells automatically? Can it happen in the middle of an adventure, or do I have to wait for down time?

Level gaining occur automatically but all XP is given at the end of each game session. PCs must to obtain new spells in some way.

What do I get experience for?

Carousing, killing monsters, wasting cash, sacrifices, discoveries, stupid ideas, great ideas, luck, Referee's whim.

How are traps located? Description, dice rolling, or some combination?

Description.

Are retainers encouraged and how does morale work?

Morale works mostly in role-playing way but most retainers are rather courageous (or maybe stupid?), at least during their first fight :D Easiest way to encourage henchmen is good payment and fair treating.

How do I identify magic items?

Lol, I don't know. Easiest way is to pay someone to do it in the city. Potions may be identified by tasting them, magic weapons and armor may be automatically id'd after several "uses".

Can I buy magic items? Oh, come on: how about just potions?

Yeah, potions may be bought but they are rather pricey. Also I think about adding non-magical +1 weapons as master-crafted and ridiculously overpriced stuff.

Can I create magic items? When and how?

Yes but it requires high level and epic deeds or huge ammount of cash, knowledge and luck.

What about splitting the party?

No problems with that. I can handle it even if there are three, four groups :D

Answering Barking Alien's questions...

Another good survey. Maybe it's time to post my own questions? :D

1) What is the most common type of environment or terrain encountered thus far in your current or most recent campaign?

Cavern. Huge one. Really huge part of Underworld Wilderness.

2) What is the most exotic or unusual environment or terrain encountered thus far in your current or most recent campaign?

Forest of huge, eight-meter-tall psilocybes :D

3) What environment or terrain type have you never used but always wanted to? Why haven't you?

Jungle Cave (dinosaur-filled cavern in the jungle). Why I've never used it? Because PCs hadn't reached it yet :-(

4) Do you have a combat rule or mechanic from another game system you are using in the game system you currently play, played recently or generally play?

Warhammer-style hit locations used in Call of Cthulhu game.

5) In your opinion, what genre has received too little attention in regards to RPGs based on that subject?

Science Fantasy, Sword&Planet. Or maybe there are too little games of that genres.

6) If a quality RPG on the aforementioned neglected genre came out tomorrow, what would make you buy it? What would prevent you from buying it?

Its genre will force me to buy it immediately! I can't wait to get Planet Algol and Warriors of the Red Planet :D And what prevents me from buying Carcosa? Lack of money - it's rather expensive for me (printed version - PDF is too huge to print it :D)

7) Do you find it easier to learn the rules of a game by reading the rule book or by sitting down and just playing it?

Little of both - usually I read most important rules and go play - rest can be learned / figured out during game.

8) Name a currently available artist not normally associated with RPGs who you'd love to see do some RPG work.

Rodney Matthews, but I know that it won't happen.

9) What one book, movie, video, etc. that is not an RPG that you think should be.

DARK TOWER.

10) Can you think of an RPG you've run or played in which the GM (be it you or someone else) used/referenced non-game related books to run the campaign more often then game related books?

Yeah, one of my friends from the very beginning of my RPG gaming used to run games based on obscure, B-class movies. Too bad that I've lost my contact with him. And my previous campaign (currently on hold) was in the world based on the books of King, Mieville, Sergey Lukyanenko, Strugatsky brothers, Vampire Hunter D manga and little or no "classic RPG stuff".

GM survey

Answers to questions from Zak's Playing D&D With Porn Stars.

1. If you had to pick a single invention in a game you were most proud of what would it be?

Games I run are 99% improvisation.

2. When was the last time you GMed?

Last weekend of December 2011.

3. When was the last time you played?

Last sunday.

4. Give us a one-sentence pitch for an adventure you haven't run but would like to.

Postapo / ultra-tech (Blame!/Gigacrawler-style) setting, players are recently awaken cyborgs from the ancient past and they don't know about their nature.

5. What do you do while you wait for players to do things?

I invent something new for a game / draw obscene pictures on their char sheets / read my notes.

6. What, if anything, do you eat while you play?

Almost everything. Noodles, snacks, sandwiches, cake... You name it.

7. Do you find GMing physically exhausting?

Never.

8. What was the last interesting (to you, anyway) thing you remember a PC you were running doing?

I was on a date with beautiful noble woman :D

9. Do your players take your serious setting and make it unserious? Vice versa? Neither?

Yes, definitely. We constantly laugh at our ideas / acts.

10. What do you do with goblins?

I haven't seen any goblin for years!

11. What was the last non-RPG thing you saw that you converted into game material (background, setting, trap, etc.)?

Ideas about spaceships, taken from Johji Manabe's Outlanders manga.

12. What's the funniest table moment you can remember right now?

One of the PCs thrown bucket full of human refuse out of window. Bucket hit the knight's horse in the head and killed it instantly. It was at Dark Heresy game session (on a feudal world).

13. What was the last game book you looked at--aside from things you referenced in a game--why were you looking at it?

World of Synnibarr, because of its notoriety.

14. Who's your idea of the perfect RPG illustrator?

Rodney Matthews, Katsushika Hokusai, Albrecht Durer, Caspar Friedrich. Other, less 'unavailable' picks would be Paul Bonner, Zak Smith (no shit!) and Erol Otus.

15. Does your game ever make your players genuinely afraid?

Yes, but maybe once or twice in my entire GM career.

16. What was the best time you ever had running an adventure you didn't write? (If ever)

House of Dust and Ash for Dark Heresy and Power Behind the Throne for WFRP (in about 1999).

17. What would be the ideal physical set up to run a game in?

With both players and DM on acid. More serious - comfortable seats, big table and shitloads of food and beer.

18. If you had to think of the two most disparate games or game products that you like what would they be?

OD&D and 3e. Or maybe Amber RPG and Rules Cyclopedia.

19. If you had to think of the most disparate influences overall on your game, what would they be?

Poetic Edda and Cave Story?

20. As a GM, what kind of player do you want at your table?

Creative one, not caring about game balance and mechanics. And with sense of humor.

21. What's a real life experience you've translated into game terms?

Effects of illness and drug experiences.

22. Is there an RPG product that you wish existed but doesn't?

Exile series RPG, Outlanders RPG and mostly Dark Tower RPG.

23. Is there anyone you know who you talk about RPGs with who doesn't play? How do those conversations go?

I don't think so.

Poll results

As you can see, most of the people want complete game rules in the book. It means that Battlestation Omega will be integrated with Bandits & Battlecruisers ruleset, but as I'm not fully convinced to this option I will also produce version without these rules (will work as ordinary supplement / campaign setting). When it will happen? I don't know - at the moment I try hard to write something every day but I'm not always successful.

If you have any questions regarding rules and/or campaign setting - feel free to ask :-)

Poll!

Sorry for the lack of updates, but recently I try to focus on Bandits & Battlecruisers ruleset and quick (but probably rather massive) setting for it. And here goes a question - should I include complete game rules (fusion of B&B and Terminal Space space-faring rules) in my campaign setting PDF? Probably PDF will be not free this time, but even if you want to include ruleset in it, I will publih some free BnB/TS fusion files.

About setting: probably it will be exaggerated, pretentious and slightly absurd Space Opera game (currently I'm highly influenced by Multinauts and 1985-87 Outlanders manga).

EDIT: Unfortunately I can't edit poll's options now and I don't know if my question was clear - I meant complete game rules, not additional / house rules.