Starship: A Vessel RPG is a role playing game system written and published by Samuel E H Yeager. The system is derived from the original Longship: A Vessel RPG.
The supplement is available from itch for $5 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. It comes in two versions, an epub and a PDF. The PDF has 11 pages with one page being the front cover and one page being thanks.
Chapter 1: Engine Check explains that this is a role playing game and requires at least three players and a GM, plus six-sided dice, with eight for each player recommended. The game mechanics require players to roll a six-sided dice whenever they attempt something risky. Each stat can be rolled its value number of times in an encounter, assuming the stat is relevant. A result of 4 or more results in success, and a number of successes are needed to meet an encounter’s threshold. A second challenge system decides ship against ship contests. (There are tips for running the game; it appears that the text has been duplicated here.)
Chapter 2: A Tiny Spark in the Void has character creation. Characters have four stats; Strength, Speed, Endurance and Cunning. Six d6 are rolled for these, rerolling any ones and the highest and lowest die, with the four remaining numbers are the stats, applied as the player sees fit.
The ship also has stats; Hull, Drive, Power and Electronics. These have starting numbers that can increase or decrease as the game progresses.
Characters then have destinies, which are different roles, each of which has different advantages.
Finally, there is the ship itself. There are three classes of ship and its stated that characters can gain new ships and upgrades, though no others are given.
Chapter 3: A Piece of the Sky has details on creating different factions for the game.
Chapter Four: The Flow of Play covers ship to ship combat.
Engage is some final words.
Starship: A Vessel RPG
The PDF lacks bookmarks and, although short, these would have been appreciated. Navigation could be better. The text maintains a single column format and a couple of errors were noted; the duplicated text and a change in chapter numbering style. There are no illustrations. Presentation could be better.
This is the third Vessel game and, finally, conflict between vessels has been considered, which would appear to have been an important element in such a game but has never been covered before. This is quite a minimalistic RPG but it does feel more comprehensive than the previous two. It’s still quite pricy at full price, though. Starship: A Vessel RPG can be found on itch.
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