The Dark Frontier

It's the subtitle for Rogue Space and I think it fits and gives the the idea of space, exploration and the unknown.   Edit complete, my wife's art contribution are complete...layout commencing.

Sneaky Peeky

Well my wife is giving shape to my mad visions and I guess the editing delays are good in that they are allowing her to continue to create some kick-ass art. (yes I am very prejudiced, it's my wife!)

The editing is really almost done and the layout is this weekend, and then straight to the dark side of the moon! We will have lift off my friends!  Thanks again for all your patience and support, I sure hope you will think it is as worthwhile as I do!

Monkeying Around

Well after a loooooooooooooooong week on the road I am finally home.  My wife has cranked out quite a bit of wicked great art and I have the final edit and layout to finish this weekend.

Once complete test books will be printed.

Final reviews done.

Then it goes up for sale at cost.

Again I hope the Rogue Space Program donation idea works, but that is out of my hands...and in yours.

Fear not fellow Rogues, the destination is in sight, stay on target...we are almost there!

Meanwhile...at the Captain's Blog

I had a request from a friend to convert my skirmish rules over for use with his 15mm miniatures...and a few emails and reviews later we have AWAY TEAM.  It is a Trek inspired rules set for play with his Astro miniatures!  I won his Astro Crew minis and they are fantastic!  New sculpts are coming from Eli (from I See Lead People fame)for other races.  Set phasers for stun, break out your tricorder, and beam on over and check it out.

Editing on the rules book continues...my wife's artistic additions continue to grow...and I can't wait to "Release the Kraken" so to speak...

The Manual

Despite almost being done with the manual I've decided to add a few extra bits that seemed to be needed.

1. A short solo adventure by Paul Ingrassia
2. A brief outline of sci-fi genres to consider for your own settings/adventures
3. A brief referee's role/hints section
4. Sample Setting
5. Short refereed adventure

All of it remains lean and mean, but it fills out a few gaps and I think adds a bit more Rogue to the Space.

Between my work schedule and the necessary editing and layout work, I believe late February would be the timeline most likely for the manual launch.

     (not the cover!)

Creature update

For those endeavoring to create creatures for Rogue Space, below is the format from the complete rules book--which should come out soon...

Broadly defined, aliens represent non-human paradigm entities. Aliens are classified by behaviors and relative expected reaction. This is summarized by the acronym H.A.I.K.U. representing-Humanoid, Animal, Insect, Known, Unknown

• Humanoid: They look similar to humans with minor differences in skin color, antenna, forehead ridges, pointed ears and such, but in general react and act like humans.
• Animals: They react like animals on earth, concerned with the basics of life: lizards, horses and bears.
• Insect: They are hive based with specialized breeding/build patterns to create specific job based offspring: bees, ants, xenomorphs, robots and androids.
• Known: They are kind of a catch all for a behavior pattern that is somewhat known but different and thus far unclassified: like a giant space Amoeba. You know it’s an amoeba, but it's flying in space somehow so who knows what it will do.
• Unknown: They would be like Ancient Aliens, terrors form the void, and things man was not meant to know. We have no idea how they function, how they will react nor why. It’s a complete mystery.

Creature Sizes

These sizes are all in relation to human or humanoid perceptions. They are categorized broadly in order to give you the most leeway in defining your own aliens. Sizes are defined by the acronym T.S.A.R.Z.

• Tiny 1 foot or smaller
• Small 2 to 4 feet
• Average 5 to 7 feet
• Really big 8 feet or larger
• ZOMG! Something so gigantic or strange it boggles the mind

Non-Player Aliens (NPA’s)

Non-playable aliens are those types which act as a potential challenge or challenger to the characters in Rogue Space They will be defined by categories: Type, Size, Movement, Physical, Mental, Armor, Damage, Hit Points and Special.

P (P): this represents the dice roll modifier for all physical based target rolls the creature makes.

T (T): this represents the dice roll modifier for all mental/technical based target rolls the creature make

Type (Tp): Represent which part of H.A.I.K.U. the alien falls under

Size (Sz): Represents how big it is in relation to human point of view

Movement (Mv) How it moves, and how far in a 5 second turn.

Armor (Ar): Refers to its protection from damage

Damage (Dm): Refers to how it attacks what type of damage it will do.

Hit Points (Hp): This is an average of damage the species can sustain

Special (Sp): A catch all for anything unique like laser eyes, fire breath, or Psionics. A “+” denotes something special.

Notes on Alien Categories

Movement will tell you if it walks rolls, slithers, flies, hops, swims, drifts, or some other form of locomotion. The number in parenthesis after the type shows an average distance traveled in a 5 second combat turn.

NPA Example:

Xenomorph (Adult)

P:+2 T:+1 Tp I Sz A Mv Biped (40’) Ar: M Dm: M (claws or bite) Hp: 8 Sp:+

 

The Xenomorph is an insidious hive-like parasitic race and a deadly predator. While it has no technology base of its own it has spread as various governments, agencies, or smugglers pick up its eggs to trade in military schemes and black market deals. In combat it uses claws or a double set of teeth to attack. Unlike many insects it can be either warrior or worker depending on the hive's need. If near a nest it will not kill an opponent. It will try to knock them out and use it as a host for breeding a new xeno. SPECIAL: The xeno has acid for blood. If hit with a non blunt weapon it does L damage from blood spray to anyone within 5 feet.

Rogue Transmissions

Rogue Transmissions is an idea to put out a quarterly journal of cool, innovative, interesting and new stuff supporting Rogue Space RPG. 

What I need is articles from YOU!  Build a whole sector, a whole setting, a planet, NPC's and a ship, add-on new rules or create whole adventures!  Submit art if you like as well, my poor wife will get tired of drawing space cthulhunauts eventually!

YOU remain the rights holder for your work, I just have the right to publish it in the quarterly and in any reprints (such as a yearly annual).  This is a labor of love, so I cannot pay you...and I will only charge production cost for the quarterly. 

Again this will be part of the Rogue Space Program, so if you donate to the program, we'll keep exploring Rogue Space.  No donations, the program ends.

To those who contribute, I will send you a PDF copy of the completed issue you contributed to.  Rogue Transmissions will only be sold as a physical booklet, so your possession of the PDF is a special thank you!  In addition, I will of course call out your blog or site in each issue as the lead into your contribtuion and on a summary contributors page.

So if you have designed some great stuff for Rogue Space, or were thinking about it...now is the the time to explore those ideas and send along your own Rogue Transmissions.

You can submit your articles in MS WORD or Open Office word document to me at Fenway5@frontier.com

Thanks for your support!

Porky in space!

 Porky (Of Porky's Expanse fame) has created a one stop post with links to all of his innovative and cool additions for Rogue Space!  It's definitely worth your time to check  out his cool add-ons and innovations!