RPG Nostalgia: Alternity

[Cynical Cat]

So back in the 90s TSR rolled out a generic Sci-Fi RPG called Alternity. The game was pretty decent, with some of its early flaws being corrected toward the end of the run. Two specific campaigns were created for it, a modern X-filesish conspiracy setting called Dark Matter and a space opera setting called Star Drive.

Star Drive had some awesome novels. Roland Green, not a military sci-fi neophyte, wrote On the Verge which had slam-bang action, good humour and characterization, and weren and Concord Marines kicking ass.

Richard Baker wrote the treachery and betrayal fest of Zero Point as a bounty hunter, his machine empathy target, his crooked corporate client, and pirates battle of the colossal prize of a derelict alien space ship containing advanced technology that might not be the rich prize they all assume it is.

And then there is the Harbringer Trilogy by Diane Duane, which deals with the central threat of the setting: the incursions of multiple powerful, hostile alien species with similar and disturbing technology into the Verge.

"My name is Gabriel Connor. I used to be a Concord Marine, until..."We think you're guilty or murder. You're blacklisted." When you're burned, you've got nothing: no cash, no credit, no job history. You're stuck in the Verge and can't go back to the Stellar Ring. You do whatever work comes your way. You rely on anyone who's still talking to you: a wise old fraal; a mechalus doctory; A Concord Administrator too — if you're desperate. And a heavily armed heavy gee adapt you met along the way. Bottom line: As long as you're burned, you're not leaving the Verge."

[LadyTevar]

LOL! I'd read/watch the "BlackList" :-D

[SirNitram]

I remember AD&D to Alternity conversion rules. In fact, I have them on this PC! Tale of the Comet is lovely.