I've been wanting to make a Sci-fi one off for some time now, but I don't want to have to buy Starfinder or Play by Numbers for a single session. Is it possible to have a futuristic space themed sci-fi story with D&D 5e rules? If so, could you help me with some examples on how it would work? I know they have normal guns like the pepperbox and with the new gnome mindflayer a laser pistol, but there's also things past the equipment like rules for vehicles and whatnot that I am unsure of.
I'd say if you want to pull it off, just use the normal rules and re-skin everything. That way you know its all balanced against each other. A long bow becomes a laser rifle. A half orc is a klingon. Spellcasters are actually just using the force. Or setting off scientific experiments. Plate mail is power armor. Gold Pieces are credits. A ship is a spaceship. And so on. If you don't want it to be religious, say clerics get their powers from studying whatever their domains are. Druids are biologists. That kind of thing. And as a plus, an artificer in an iron man suit doesn't seem out of place.
I've never run a sci-fi one off before, but if you're not willing to spend money on additional source books then I would start modding pre-existing things in the PHB. Bows are now laser rifles, swords are now chainsaws -- keep the stat block but change the name and flavor. For vehicles just change handle animal to "handling" and use that skill check whenever PCs want to drift their hoverbike around a curve or guerillapimp their way through 6 lanes of congested space traffic.
S3 Expedition to Barrier Peaks. The DMG has int checks on using future weaponry. And future weaponry. LIMIT Ammo on laser/phaser guns. DON'T Allow them to recharge. (Yes there is a story..)
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I've been wanting to make a Sci-fi one off for some time now, but I don't want to have to buy Starfinder or Play by Numbers for a single session. Is it possible to have a futuristic space themed sci-fi story with D&D 5e rules?
If so, could you help me with some examples on how it would work? I know they have normal guns like the pepperbox and with the new gnome mindflayer a laser pistol, but there's also things past the equipment like rules for vehicles and whatnot that I am unsure of.
I'd say if you want to pull it off, just use the normal rules and re-skin everything. That way you know its all balanced against each other. A long bow becomes a laser rifle. A half orc is a klingon. Spellcasters are actually just using the force. Or setting off scientific experiments. Plate mail is power armor. Gold Pieces are credits. A ship is a spaceship. And so on. If you don't want it to be religious, say clerics get their powers from studying whatever their domains are. Druids are biologists. That kind of thing. And as a plus, an artificer in an iron man suit doesn't seem out of place.
I've never run a sci-fi one off before, but if you're not willing to spend money on additional source books then I would start modding pre-existing things in the PHB. Bows are now laser rifles, swords are now chainsaws -- keep the stat block but change the name and flavor. For vehicles just change handle animal to "handling" and use that skill check whenever PCs want to drift their hoverbike around a curve or guerillapimp their way through 6 lanes of congested space traffic.
Xalthu, how in the hell did you copy everything I said in my post and have it appear higher in the chain? What sorcery is this?
I’m quite skilled 🙂
S3 Expedition to Barrier Peaks. The DMG has int checks on using future weaponry. And future weaponry. LIMIT Ammo on laser/phaser guns. DON'T Allow them to recharge. (Yes there is a story..)
No Gaming is Better than Bad Gaming.