Author Topic: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition  (Read 5451 times)

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Offline Terry K. Amthor

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Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« on: December 24, 2013, 02:44:35 AM »
I can't believe that I don't have a copy of Space Master 2nd edition! Shame on me. Anyway, a question for those of you who might be familiar with both 1st and 2nd. I only have 1st Edition, and it will be a few weeks before I can get my 'hands' on PDFs of the 2nd Edition books. I am working on a Shadow World module which will involve NPCs (and perhaps PCs) having SPAM skills, and from what I remember, the skills did not really change between 1st and 2nd. Anyone?

I remember when Kevin and I first worked on this baby. Do you know that it started with Kevin cold sending us a proposal for something like 'Space Law' which would have just been a supplement to RM?

It sure would be fun to work on a 3rd Edition (Imperium universe, like the 1st and 2nd) revision. I am sure a lot of those skills could use updating.
Terry K. Amthor
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Offline Ynglaur

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #1 on: December 24, 2013, 11:25:23 AM »
Wow, it's been well over a decade since I looked at 1st edition, but I seem to recall that 2nd edition had a larger set of skills by a good margin (40%).  I don't recall the exact differences: more Science skills, perhaps?

Once RMU is done, I'd love to see SMU, Star Strike, and Armored Assault unified into a single sci-fi RPG.  A lot of it could be re-written and made more realistic/believable given advances in science and engineering in the last 30 years. 

P.S.  Please give me a reason to use anything other than Laser Cannons or MLA Cannons on my constructs, and a reason to use anything other than CAT 24, 26, 29, or 30.  :)

Offline Defendi

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #2 on: December 24, 2013, 12:27:19 PM »
I think that the main difference between 1st and 2nd edition was them folding the companion into the second edition core set.

BTW, SM:P started the same way.  I was supposed to do a Future Law sup for RM.  They asked for too many words.  I told them they were asking for too many words.  They stood firm.  They got too many words.  :)
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Offline RandalThor

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #3 on: December 24, 2013, 11:09:41 PM »
I guess it is a matter of: ask and ye shall receive.
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Offline Defendi

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #4 on: December 24, 2013, 11:53:41 PM »
Yeah it was 851 pages long, bound in two volumes, at a 10 point font and 1.5 spacing (their minimum for submissions at the time).
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Offline Terry K. Amthor

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #5 on: December 25, 2013, 01:21:38 AM »
Thanks guys for the info. I'll ask Nicholas for copies of the 2nd Ed PDFs when he gets back from vac, but being the impatient sort and struck by the muse to work on awakened Taranians in Shadow World, I wanted to know what skills to give them. Happy Holidays!
Terry K. Amthor
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Offline VladD

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #6 on: December 25, 2013, 05:46:22 PM »
I really loved the SM2 format of the one BIG book. Loved it to bits actually. Anyway: think these links will help out a bit.

www.guildcompanion.com/scrolls/1999/may/rm2tormss.html
http://www.realroleplaying.com/rmsmf/index.php?topic=312.0
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Offline Terry K. Amthor

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2013, 01:31:50 PM »
I really loved the SM2 format of the one BIG book. Loved it to bits actually. Anyway: think these links will help out a bit.

www.guildcompanion.com/scrolls/1999/may/rm2tormss.html
http://www.realroleplaying.com/rmsmf/index.php?topic=312.0


I totally missed this, in one book?

And it turns out that I have a spare pristine copy of the old 'Space Master Companion' book (1990, yellow spaceport cover) in case anyone wants one.
Terry K. Amthor
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Eidolon Studio Art Director


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Offline VladD

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2013, 10:18:44 AM »
http://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/53296/space-master-2nd-edition

I loved the formatting and if I recall correctly, lots of new stories and it just felt complete.
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Offline Terry K. Amthor

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #9 on: December 28, 2013, 07:51:10 AM »
http://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/53296/space-master-2nd-edition

I loved the formatting and if I recall correctly, lots of new stories and it just felt complete.

Maybe I'm confused, but this looks like SM 2nd edition boxed set, with 3 books.
Terry K. Amthor
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Eidolon Studio Art Director


"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
-- Clarke's First Law.

Offline Guillaume

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #10 on: December 28, 2013, 01:29:58 PM »
There's been two boxed sets for Spacemaster.

The First Edition : Tech Law and Future Law with a booklet for tables and the Star Map.
Second Edition : Player Book, Tech Book, GM Book and the Star Map.

The Second Edition is basically a re-edition of The First One, with all the starship and vehicular combat removed ( those were carried by Star Strike and Armored Assault Boxes ), and with the Spacemaster Companion ( Unnumbered ) added. It got also a complete skill lift up à la RM2.

There's also been a reprint of the Second Edition in a single Book ( the 3 books bunched together )

Edit : Also, you could buy Tech Law and Future Law as separate books, while the second edition books came only in the boxed set.
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Offline VladD

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #11 on: December 29, 2013, 01:28:18 PM »
I have that big book in my hand, so it wasn't a boxed set and it exists:

http://rpggeek.com/rpgitemversion/9093/single-book-version
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Offline Hurin

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #12 on: December 29, 2013, 01:37:27 PM »
Personally, I prefer having the books split into Player/GM/Tech. it makes it easier to flip around in the Tech book when you are running a combat.
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Offline Terry K. Amthor

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #13 on: December 30, 2013, 05:08:17 AM »
I have that big book in my hand, so it wasn't a boxed set and it exists:

http://rpggeek.com/rpgitemversion/9093/single-book-version

Ah, Vlad, 1992 was the year I left ICE full-time and moved to DC (a move that I have had reason to regret, but live and learn), so I missed out on that product. But strangely enough I have the actual box from the 2nd Edition boxed set (and the starmap!), but none of the books :-(.
Terry K. Amthor
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-- Clarke's First Law.

Offline Terry K. Amthor

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #14 on: December 30, 2013, 05:21:26 AM »
Meanwhile, the Guild Adventurer #4 is soon to be released (so I hear). Since they have been popular, who would be interested in a Space Master 2nd Ed style adventure set in #5?
Terry K. Amthor
Shadow World Author, Rolemaster & SpaceMaster Co-Designer, ICE co-founder.
Eidolon Studio Art Director


"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
-- Clarke's First Law.

Offline Hurin

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #15 on: December 30, 2013, 09:30:56 AM »
I would! I am currently running a Spacemaster game.
'Last of all, Húrin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed'. --J.R.R. Tolkien

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Offline RandalThor

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #16 on: December 30, 2013, 11:33:01 AM »
Me too!!!!!!! (Not about running a game, just would like to see more SM adventures.)
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Offline Terry K. Amthor

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #17 on: December 31, 2013, 10:55:36 AM »
And what sort of adventure would you like... hypothetically? Set on an outstation, an alien planet... action, intrigue, slimy aliens or all of the above?
Terry K. Amthor
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Offline yammahoper

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #18 on: December 31, 2013, 12:01:12 PM »
A space station were the AI has taken over and now is making the crew and residents provide it with mobility, with its primary desire to become a safe haven for AI.  Of course, the crew and residents have been slaughtered and animated by the Station AI.  The cause of the problem is a small child that tinkered with the AI for "fun", resulting in the mayhem and a small genius hiding in the duct work.  Hell, call her Willow.

A BEZERKER (tm?) wanders into the solar system and begins exterminating the outer most bases (mostly mining post).  A mad dash to find the BEZERKER, enter it and take over its core with virus/software.  Of course, every corporation in or near the system is sending teams.  Conflict is inevitable.
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Offline Wōdwulf Seaxaning

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Re: Spacemaster 1st vs. 2nd Edition
« Reply #19 on: February 08, 2014, 12:32:50 PM »
Alien Planet. I love SP2, it's my favorite edition of SM. I own SM2 & SM:P, but partial to SM2 as I play in a RM2 campaign & love it's ruleslite cyberpunk game Cyberspace RPG.
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