Re: Mass Effect Campaign Setting
Where was I when this started? Oh yeah, I didn't make an account for the boards. Anyway, I've been tirelessly working on a Mass Effect campaign so I'll give you what I've come up with if you'd like. I found that going in the prefabricated sets of the video game were just too limiting and after explaining how biotics and technology worked, I gave my players free reign to make whatever they wanted bearing my approval. I have been tossing around ideas for weapons and armor if they decide to use them. I made up some templates for the major races if you want my take on them. Don't beat your head against the wall with biotics. I gave my players the option of making up their own powers so long as it fit in with the manipulation of dark matter. The more you limit your players, the less fun it is. I made a preset for the beginning of the campaign with a 50AP cap on any given power. Once we had things we could all agree on it worked out nicely.
The tech mines were the one thing I just couldn't give up though. I made an NPC who uses Sabotage, Overload, and Damping along with some custom builds that fit. I wrote them like grenades with different powers and effects. For instance I wrote up Overload as a Dispel Shields, Sabotage as a Suppress weapons and Damping as a suppress biotics.(and tech if you'd like) It worked out best when I put them into a multipower. As many others have said, some things don't come over to tabletop very well. That's the reason I wrote them up as physical mines that are thrown like grenades.
As far as the world is concerned I put them about a year before Eden Prime gets attacked. Plenty of stability and chances to get a feel of the galaxy. When I feel they have a full grasp on it, I'll start paralleling the game's story for my own amuzement and flavor. (none have played the game yet)
But more to the point I would love to bounce ideas off of people here since I only did my introduction last night and still have much work to do.
