Cepheus Engine SRD

[Reban]

I'm putting this in Non-traveller Gaming because its not Traveller (but it is). Mods feel free to move it.


Jason "Flynn" Kemp has launched his Cepheus Engine SRD which is described as "A Classic Era Science Fiction 2D6-Based Open Gaming System" and is derived from the Traveller SRD.

I picked up a copy yesterday and my initial thoughts are that I like it. It is in many ways an updated and reorganized version of the CT LBBs. While I've always liked CT as a system, and like the OTU for its inspiration as a starting point, I've also been turned off by its dated 70s presentation and its organization, being spread across many books and supplements.

I like the fact that Cepheus is one core document, setting free, with all that I need to roll up characters give them equipment and access to vehicles and spacecraft and throw them into combat and adventure.

I've only had a first read-through but I'm interested to hear what others think about it.

[mike wightman]

I thought it would take a bit longer for someone to get this out the door

Looks interesting though.

[MichaelSTee]

Saw this yesterday on another forum. Downloaded it for free from DT, and liked what I saw, so I slipped Flynn a few bucks for it
I hope he adds more to this, like design systems for aliens, vehicles, and robots.

I'm not crazy about the name. But that's the only quibble I have with it.

[aramis]

Originally Posted by Reban

I'm putting this in Non-traveller Gaming because its not Traveller (but it is). Mods feel free to move it.

NTG is the right place.

[BeRKA]

My review:
http://zho.berka.com/2016/07/04/cepheus-engine/

[simonh]

Open rules sets like this are very valuable when constructing your own setting but where established systems are almost what you need but not quite.

I have an SF campaign called Horizon that I've already run a few times before. When I was selecting a rules system for it there were really two main options I was considering. One was Traveller using an adaptation of the Traveller SRD and the other was GUMSHOE. I wanted a semi-hard SF feel like Traveller, but with a lighter weight more flexible game system (I'm a big GUMSHOE fan), but the existing GUMSHOE SF game is far too much 'More Star Trek than Star Trek' for my tastes. Then the GUMSHOE SRD came out and my decision was made.

It was the existence of the Traveller SRD that made it an option in the first place, and the existence of the GUMSHOE SRD that made it an option. This is a very narrow niche - pared down base rules systems you can use to build your own custom system and setting - but for me it's an important one.

That's why this would be so much more useful and valuable to me in an editable document format. As a PDF it really doesn't offer me much value over the bare SRD. Still, perhaps there's a useful niche for it for other people's uses. At a minimum it ensure that there's a version of MGT 1st ed out there and presumably could be used as a handout rules set for GMs to give to Traveller players without pirating the Mongoose PDFs. For Samardan Press it means they have a rules system available that's 100% compatible with their existing Traveller products. In fact I'm surprised their Flynn's Guide series don't have 'Compatible with the Cepheus Engine' in their DTRPG descriptions.

Simon Hibbs

[kilemall]

OoooOOoh, will check out.

[simonh]

Apparently it will be coming out in an editable format as well. Excellent, and bought!

Simon Hibbs

[savage]

Originally Posted by simonh

Apparently it will be coming out in an editable format as well. Excellent, and bought!

Simon Hibbs

It appears like there is a pdf version and word version (editable). Not sure if the pdf has anything special about it missing from the word. There are no examples of the word version.

[Meteoric Assault]

I am looking into purchasing it and if anyone has anymore feedback I would be most appreciative.