Spycraft Third and non-Espionage Settings

[snake]

WOW. All change !!!. But change for the better I think.

New releases sound great and I like the way you'ved tidyed up the forums.

Bringing Spycraft firmly into the Mastercraft camp should make it seemless to mix an match with FantasyCraft and whatever else comes along. Good Move 

I do have a couple of questions though.

If SC 3 is more focused towards Espionage, will I still be able to use to run Apocalyptic, Pulp, and Horror games  ?

Also would it be possible (on the Wiki maybe) to have a kind of Mastercraft SRD document (eg Creating Origins, Classes, Gear etc) or guide to developing worlds for MC ? I know you can work things out from FC and SC but some general guidelines would be useful and might assist in developing new games. 

[Doublebond]

Also would it be possible (on the Wiki maybe) to have a...guide to developing worlds for MC ?

If they keep the format they set in Fantasy Craft, it seems likely there will be a guide to making settings in every book, though 10kB seems to be set solidly in its own setting.

[Crafty_Alex]

If SC 3 is more focused towards Espionage, will I still be able to use to run Apocalyptic, Pulp, and Horror games  ?

Sure. The focus for now will remain on espionage, however. Ten Thousand Bullets will be the first permutation of modern Mastercraft, focusing on cops vs. robbers and street action.

Also would it be possible (on the Wiki maybe) to have a kind of Mastercraft SRD document (eg Creating Origins, Classes, Gear etc) or guide to developing worlds for MC ? I know you can work things out from FC and SC but some general guidelines would be useful and might assist in developing new games. 

Crafty Games has no plans to release an SRD at this time. There are already plenty of fan-built guides out on the wiki and in the License to Improvise boards that discuss just that, however!

[Crafty_Pat]

WOW. All change !!!. But change for the better I think.

New releases sound great and I like the way you'ved tidyed up the forums.

Bringing Spycraft firmly into the Mastercraft camp should make it seemless to mix an match with FantasyCraft and whatever else comes along. Good Move 

Thank you. That's great to hear.

If SC 3 is more focused towards Espionage, will I still be able to use to run Apocalyptic, Pulp, and Horror games  ?

You could, certainly, but it won't be the focus of the core book. If we've learned one thing over the years, it's that folks like focus.

Now, will we (eventually) release books with other focuses - other core Mastercraft books and supplements for our existing Mastercraft games, and will those present new genres and flavors of play? Absolutely! But they're not the focus just now.

Also would it be possible (on the Wiki maybe) to have a kind of Mastercraft SRD document (eg Creating Origins, Classes, Gear etc) or guide to developing worlds for MC ? I know you can work things out from FC and SC but some general guidelines would be useful and might assist in developing new games. 

We're looking at how to develop tools - mostly in our products - that make building everything easier. I doubt we'll release an official SRD but I think you'll find that a lot of what we have planned for our new Mastercraft books will greatly ease every facet of the process. And if they don't, outside giving our material away, we'd love to hear your thoughts on improving the system and presentation!

[Desertpuma]

I like the idea of doing a strictly MC/SC book. It does beg the question: does this completely free you from AEG once this comes out?

Also, I was curious if you had ever looked at acquiring the rights to the Top Secret game from TSR/WOTC? ... Some good missions in their stuff.

Or attempted to regain the Stargate license?

I think the Pulp would be a big seller as would a revised version of the 60s book and a horror book.

How compatible will 3rd be with 2.0? ... As much as 2.0 is with FC?

[Sletchman]

I'm willing to bet that running the genre's you mentioned will be as easy with SpyCraft 3rd as it is with SC 2.0.  Probably easier, what with modular content from other MasterCraft books - you want some fringe, import it from FC, horrors from beyond with spell like abilities - Natural Spell is ready to go.  Gear up from any book that suits the game.

[Crafty_Pat]

I like the idea of doing a strictly MC/SC book. It does beg the question: does this completely free you from AEG once this comes out?

Nope. AEG still owns the Spycraft brand. We're merely exclusive licensees.

Also, I was curious if you had ever looked at acquiring the rights to the Top Secret game from TSR/WOTC? ... Some good missions in their stuff.

Or attempted to regain the Stargate license?

Top Secret probably doesn't have the legs required to justify the expense. Stargate... While I'd love another crack at that one under different circumstances, it's a safe bet it's outside our price range.

How compatible will 3rd be with 2.0? ... As much as 2.0 is with FC?

Answered here.

[Desertpuma]

Yep, I bet it will. ... As a matter of fact, a PA game will be even easier to duplicate, especially if you want to do something Rifts like in setting or something similar. I've been germinating an idea for when MC gets more fully well-rounded that is PA in setting. ... That and my D-Gate game will be easier to manipulate into resurrection.

"When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer. Benefits of a classical education." -- Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), Die Hard

While Top Secret might not have enough legs on its own, some of the ideas and certainly the produced missions by TSR at the time would be worthwhile additions when converted into MC/SC. I've already done a homebrew conversion of Lady In Distress (the 3rd mission in their series) and it works quite well.

You know I had to ask about Stargate, Pat. Maybe in the future, you'll get another crack. It is one of two main franchises for MGM as it is with Bond being the other.

So the question with AEG is, will you ever be out from under them completely?

[Crafty_Pat]

So the question with AEG is, will you ever be out from under them completely?

Well, we're not really "under" them now. AEG continues to be a great partner and we have no plans to change that.

[Desertpuma]

Very Cool, Pat. Good to know.

I'd hate to think they were trying to yank on a leash or something. I'd lose respect for them at that point.

[ThunderMonkey]

Yep, I bet it will. ... As a matter of fact, a PA game will be even easier to duplicate, especially if you want to do something Rifts like in setting or something similar. I've been germinating an idea for when MC gets more fully well-rounded that is PA in setting. ... That and my D-Gate game will be easier to manipulate into resurrection.

ACK!! Rifts... I've lost some sleep in trying to drum up a decent conversion for it.

[Desertpuma]

Yep, I bet it will. ... As a matter of fact, a PA game will be even easier to duplicate, especially if you want to do something Rifts like in setting or something similar. I've been germinating an idea for when MC gets more fully well-rounded that is PA in setting. ... That and my D-Gate game will be easier to manipulate into resurrection.

ACK!! Rifts... I've lost some sleep in trying to drum up a decent conversion for it.

But MasterCraft will allow you, not only another opportunity to attempt it, to succeed in solid fashion methinks.

[MilitiaJim]

ACK!! Rifts... I've lost some sleep in trying to drum up a decent conversion for it.

Rifts had some cool concept stuff and some nice fluff, but they were awful for unbalanced combos and expansion power creep.

[Desertpuma]

The Rifts setting and background is what I would be most emulating... it may take some work in certain areas but on the whole, it would be entertaining.

[ThunderMonkey]

ACK!! Rifts... I've lost some sleep in trying to drum up a decent conversion for it.

Rifts had some cool concept stuff and some nice fluff, but they were awful for unbalanced combos and expansion power creep.

Exactly... Yeah. It has a great setting, but trying to find a balance between a starting Glitter Boy and a Ley Line Walker was about to turn me to the drink. Rifts Mercenaries and Rifts Japan are two of my all-time favorite RPG books and are always handy regardless of what my current interest or system.

However, I resolved that Glitter Boy is a rather stupid name for a class ... unless you're from San Francisco ("Not that there's anything wrong with that.")