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You are here: Home / Archives for science fiction

Review: “Cosmic Patrol” RPG

January 17, 2013 by Bartoneus

Cosmic Patrol is a retro-futuristic roleplaying game published by Catalyst Game Labs that focuses on storytelling and building a narrative from various cues provided by each player/character around the table and an overall adventure structure chosen by the players. I’ve had the main rulebook for a long time, but finally had a chance to sit down with some friends and play a session in late 2012. The game has a very evocative setting introduced throughout the rulebook and with short stories that highlights a very pulp, “golden age” style of science fiction space exploration featuring rockets, laser pistols, and asteroids infested with lizard men.

Filed Under: Reviews, Roleplaying Games, Science Fiction & Fantasy Genre Tagged With: catalyst game labs, cosmic patrol, narration, retro futuristic, Reviews, roleplaying games, science fiction, Storytelling

The Architect DM: On Modern and Futuristic Settings

November 10, 2011 by Bartoneus

I’ve talked quite a lot about worldbuilding and running roleplaying games in fantasy settings, but I’ve been planning on addressing modern and futuristic RPGs for a long time as well. One of the big hurdles that I have to overcome when thinking and writing about modern/future settings is that they seem inherently more difficult to deal with than their fantasy counterparts. For a modern or even a historic RPG I believe the difficulties come from the game being based in a real world that brings with it a vast amount of expectations from the players. If you’re running a game in these settings and a player at your table knows more about history than you, it can become very intimidating to even try to plan or run the game. Science fiction and futuristic games are a little bit better, but you’re still dealing with a lot of heavy science and realistic elements that can lead to issues where they might not have arisen in your typical elves and magic infused setting.

Filed Under: Featured, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: advice, architect dm, D&D, DM, dnd, Dungeons and Dragons, fantasy, future, gamemastering, gamma world, GM, modern, roleplaying games, sci-fi, science fiction, star trek, star wars, worldbuilding

3:16 Carnage Among Friends: Part 2, Lead 4 Dead

June 20, 2010 by The Chatty DM

To say that 3:16 little prep is like saying that rain is wet. With the help of a few charts to pick planet names, planetary environments, alien appearances, alien powers and various NPC names, the GM just needs to add a few creative sparks to create a 2-3 hour long adventure.

Filed Under: Actual Play, Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 3:16 Carnage Among the Stars, Actual Play, science fiction, Space Marine, Tropes

Review: “Eagle Eye”

September 24, 2008 by Bartoneus

Last night my wife and I had the privilege of seeing an advanced screening of the movie Eagle Eye, thanks to Paramount Pictures and local morning radio host Elliot in the Morning.  The movie is listed as an action/mystery/thriller and takes place in modern day America, staring Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan with Rosaria Dawson, […]

Filed Under: Featured, Movies, Reviews Tagged With: eagle eye, fiction, movie, Reviews, science fiction, technology

Why You Shouldn’t Watch Firefly

July 30, 2008 by Sucilaria

Many, if not most of you, have already viewed Joss Whedon’s Firefly series and the follow-up film, Serenity. This article is not intended for you; however, let me say that I’m sorry. I now feel your pain, because some supposed “friends” convinced Bart and I to view the series. I had many reservations about it, […]

Filed Under: Anime, Editorial, Featured, Movies, Science Fiction & Fantasy Genre, Television Tagged With: firefly, joss whedon, sci-fi, science fiction, Television, TV, tv shows

About the Author

  • Bartoneus

    Danny works professionally as an architectural designer and serves as managing editor here at CH, which means he shares many of the duties of being an editor but without the fame and recognition. He also writes about RPGs, videogames, movies, and TV. He is married to Sucilaria, and has a personal blog at Incorrect Blitz Input. (Email Danny or follow him on Twitter).

    Email: bartoneus@critical-hits.comWeb: https://critical-hits.com//author/Bartoneus/

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