d100 Science Fiction Gaming

There are many science fiction D100 games, including some of the best in gaming. Let's start on the BRP side of the D100 hobby, and we have M Space, a Mythras/Legend-derived sci-fi game that comes in a square book (and has a companion). I love the art in this book; it has a Free League look to it, almost Blade Runner-esque.

From the Open Quest side of the BRP sphere comes Rivers of Heaven, another nice-looking d100 sci-fi game that feels lighter and easier to understand. This one has a Traveller, cyberpunk, Dune, and Event Horizon feel, with an established universe and organizations.

Remember Basic Roleplaying when talking about d100 sci-fi! This is my second favorite d100 sci-fi game on this list, especially when Call of Cthulhu and Runequest's monsters are 100% compatible. Your starship combat rules are less robust than the other entries. Still, the rules are amazingly solid and easy to use, and you can run generic sci-fi, movie sci-fi, cyberpunk, Road Warrior,  Alien, 1950's matinee sci-fi, Buck Rogers, or any other genre of sci-fi with these rules and not have to change game systems. Since Call of Cthulhu is the 2nd most popular RPG in the world, and BRP is the core system for that game, people will know how to play this game without too much work.

You may have to put in a little work to create a setting here, so this is more of a "build a sci-fi game" sort of book than the others, which come with worlds ready to go. If you want a BYO universe and setting, start here; the combination of rules, familiarity, and an open system will take you to the stars.

On the Rolemaster side of the d100-verse, we have the classic (and complicated) Space Master. This is an older game we actually played, and the skill lists for characters could extend pages. Space Master is just like Rolemaster Classic, just as chart-filled, detailed, and crit-table-packed as that game. It does take a lot of time to create characters and figure out the rules, so it is not for those looking for a simple game.

We also have HARP SF, which feels like a lighter-weight Space Master. If you are into HARP, this is an excellent sci-fi game in the same style. It has a set universe, and a Mass Effect meets Blade Runner theme, which is fantastic if you like that vibe.

Saving the best for last, we have the excellent Frontier Space, a throwback tribute game like the original Star Frontiers but far better in terms of rules, characters, and action economy. If you are playing Star Frontiers for the memories, consider upgrading your rules system to Frontier Space and using this as your "modern operating system" for that universe. These rules fix the "skills over 100%" problem with a system integrated into the action economy and defense rolls, and it is a genius rule that encourages pulp adventure and exploration.

Frontier Space is worth your time and is the best in sci-fi gaming now. Forget Starfinder, random 5E sci-fi, and everything else; if you love the original 1980s Star Frontiers vibe, this will give it to you on a rocket thruster and blast you into orbit. As a bonus, this is also very compatible with the monsters and magic from Barebones Fantasy, so you can mix and match things between the DWD Studios systems easily. If you need to, since the FS Referee's Handbook has many tables and monster generators, enough to last you a lifetime.

d100 sci-fi gaming is where the fun is, especially when you consider Frontier Space and Basic Roleplaying as two of the best d100 sci-fi systems out there.

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