Shatterzone

[CRMcNeill]

I've heard rumblings of a WEG game called Shatterzone for years, but never really looked into it. My understanding is that it was a sci-fi game based on the D6 system, but more along the lines of cyber-punk than Star Wars. I also heard that it served as a dumping ground of sorts for ideas that WEG designers had for Star Wars that didn't make it past Lucas' canon police. I've been trying to find copies of the books, but I'm coming up empty. Anyone have any ideas?

P.S. If your suggestions involve file-sharing, please contact me by PM, as this site does not condone copyright violation.



[2021 ADMIN EDIT: Shatterzone]

[cheshire]

Err... you realize that your above phrase could appear as though you're ASKING people to send you PMs about violating copyright, right? Advertising as such on a board that doesn't condone copyright violation still doesn't look good.

Anyhoo... yes, I've seen some of the books. Once I even got shipped the Stock Ships from Shatterzone instead of from Star Wars. Just looking at the ships, I couldn't see any information there that was useful in terms of stats. It looked like it was a totally different system, looking at the stat blocks.

A search on eBay revealed that there are quite a few books available for pretty cheap. What book or books are you interested in?
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Before we take any of this too seriously, just remember that in the middle episode a little rubber puppet moves a spaceship with his mind.

[CRMcNeill]

I'm not sure, really. I've been trying to find excerpts from the main rulebook just to see if it's compatible with Star Wars D6. If you're saying it isn't. then I probably won't even bother. WEG's D6 books specifically state that they use material from Shatterzone, converted to what amounts to a 3E D6 gaming system, so I may just stick with that.

[schnarre]

...Shatterzone has a system that isn't really like Star Wars, but it is nonetheless a detailed system that isn't hard to start learning. Among its intricacies are a type of Merits & Flaws system that lets one add more capability early on. If memory serves it employed a D10 system rather than a D6--it's been a while, so anyone reading feel free to correct me. It also had a system of random card draws that added an element of suspense even beyond the randomness of the dice (I think this alone makes it worth checking out at least). One the plus side, the artwork is excellent, the setting is very detailed (& can be easily borrowed from), & is great for a game set one the fringes of society (there's even a book for the game called "Fringers" which covers this among other things).

...My advice would be to check out the main boxed set if you can get it!
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The man who thinks he knows everything is most annoying for those of us that do.

[mdlake]

Shatterzone is a gritty space opera adaptation of the Torg system, which uses a d20 but relies just as much on cards from its signature "action deck." Those cards were later added to the revamp of the D6 system, but otherwise there's no connection to D6SW.

Task resolution matches a target number to the sum of the player's attribute (9-13, usually), a skill bonus (from 0 on up), a number produced by an open-ended die roll against a logarithmic chart (usually -5 to +5, but occasionally very large), and any incidental bonuses, notably including cards and that round's approved actions.

The action deck has several uses, only two of which I will address here. First, every player is dealt a small hand which can be used for timely bonuses: anything from an extra action to a hint from the GM to a romantic subplot. Second, a card is drawn every round (in combat) or every scene (out of combat) to produce temporary advantages to one side or another, or randomly to designate certain kinds of actions--bluff, attack, maneuver, etc.--for temporary bonuses. The point of both features is to mix things up a bit, encouraging players through temporary bonuses to do something other than "hitting the next guy in line" or using their best skill over and over, and throwing the flow of battle back and forth.

Elegant it ain't, but sometimes it works, and when it does, it's pretty cool. I find the results aren't worth the hassle; ultimately, the deck just becomes another layer to minimax, serving the plot no better than simple dice rolls. Others are very enthusiastic about the action deck. If you want to try it, be sure to get an action deck in the deal, or you're missing out on the system's most distinctive feature.

[CRMcNeill]

Interesting note: In the back of WEG's D6 Space Opera book, there is a Shatterzone-to-D6 Conversion formula. Just found this last night.
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[CRMcNeill]

Related: A couple links to Shatterzone-to-D6 conversion pdfs...

Cyberware
Weapons & Armor

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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[Whill]

Nice necro! I moved this to Miscellanea.

Fluffwise, legend has it that Shatterzone was the repository for some WEG SW ideas nixed by Lucasfilm. Two books were recommended to me that had good ideas for Star Wars, a Fringers book and a Fleet book. Of those, I only ever got the Fringers book but haven't opened it in many years. I also have a Shatterzone universe guide that also has the D6 Space Opera in the back with the D6 conversion info. It does seem like gritty space opera.

Ruleswise, Shatterzone's game system is the middle step of a three-part evolution, as indicated below:

TORG
Shatterzone
Masterbook

I've never played Shatterzone and don't have the core rules, but I have the other two. I don't remember much about TORG but maybe the system was good for that game, the game it was invented for. Masterbook sucked. I played Indiana Jones (not just the setting–I played the character of Indiana Jones himself), and I died. It is too deadly.
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[CRMcNeill]

[CRMcNeill]

A question... Since WEG made "their systems" free to access, and Shatterzone was fully produced and owned by WEG, is the discussion of sharing Shatterzone pdf's exempt from the Pit ban on file sharing?
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[Whill]

[CRMcNeill]

Just legally downloaded the series; cost ~$65.
_________________
"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[CRMcNeill]

I expect it'll take me a while to fully grok it (never played any Masterbook games), but there's a few useful tidbits in there. There's several tech concepts and scenarios that'd port over to the SWU with relative ease. First impression, the $6.95 for the download is worth it.
_________________
"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[Whill]