Welcome to the inaugural post in a series of posts in which I read Stars without Number ( SWN 📖 ).
Interested in reading along? Grab a copy of the Stars without Number: Revised Free Edition or buy a copy of the Stars without Number: Revised Edition.
Introduction
The rules light sci-fi RPG 📖 Stars without Number provides extensive tools that support the three pillars of adventure:
- Exploration
- Social Interaction
- Combat
Basic/Expert Dungeons & Dragons (or B/X 📖 ), while lacking a skill system, provides the foundation. Stars without Number further draws inspiration from Classic Traveller’s skill system and technology. From these venerable precursors, Stars without Number steps into its own with:
- Quick character creation with some interesting options (though no character death during character creation)
- Random tables and systems to help the GM 📖 create and maintain the setting for their game
In upcoming posts, we’ll dive deeper into these pieces as we read each chapter.
Chapters
- Into the Waiting Light
- Character Creation
- Psionics
- Systems - Combat and Healing
- Systems - Scenes, Saves, Skill Checks
- Systems – Hacking, Advancement, and Hazards
- Equipment and Vehicles
- Starships
- The History of Space
- Sector Creation
- Adventure Creation
- Xenobestiary
- Factions
- Game Master Resources
Additional Notes
This is a revised edition, yet fully compatible with, the previous Stars without Number: Core Edition and the free core edition (originally published in 2010).
update
I wrote up an example of Stars without Number character creation. In part to provide an example of character creation to compare with my Traveller’s character creation examples.
Review Summary
Stars without Number is a rules-lite sci-fi old school inspired RPG with ample Referee tools. Perfect for running a sandbox RPG.
I give it 5 of 5 stars.
Let's read “Stars without Number” is a review of Stars without Number: Revised Edition by Kevin Crawford.