Best Star Trek/Mass Effect-like RPGs in your opinion?

[Ruin Explorer]

What games do you recommend/think are cool that are in the sort of Star Trek/Mass Effect kind of strike zone? Like, space opera, but with a crew on an at least mid-sized ship, and an actual mission and so on, not just space traders or space fascists or space vikings.

Actual Mass Effect-based games, are, hilariously, ruled out (not that there's an official one), because one of my players is a Certified Hater (TM) when it comes to Mass Effect for reasons only he understands! But something that was Mass Effect with the serial numbers filed off? That could work.

Definitely interested to hear what people's opinions are on the actual Star Trek RPG(s) as well, if anyone has played it.

Big bonus points if the game has good mechanics that support the genre (so generic games may suffer a bit there).

 

[Breaking Star Games]

Both may be in the Space Opera genre, but the actual themes and plot are quite different. Mass Effect makes me think of heroic combat with a magic system (which is actually kind of rare in Sci Fi, Fantasy has the majority here), so that basically leaves Genesys and Starfinder of the ones I know off the top of my head. Or using a specific style of a generic system like using Bulldogs (which isn't very military sci fi) with FATE. You may also get away with using Stars Without Number with its Space Opera rules and starting at level 3+ to be less lethal. That lethality is why I wouldn't recommend most Sci Fi games that tend to be grounded, but I've heard people use Traveller with enough gear, you can be pretty tough.

Whereas Star Trek is more about discovering/solving a mystery, negotiation, morality and a hopeful, peaceful future. I imagine the gameplay will rarely have you charge down hallways guns blazing, though we did see it a few times. I have less knowledge how to run this well - I'll let others comment on Star Trek Adventures. But I find you don't necessarily need too many mechanics here instead well-designed situations are key - I could see just using Lasers and Feelings just fine. But for good situations, the Agon system (cleverly named PARAGON), Endeavor looks very good here, stays rules light and has some great planets.

Genesys has rules for social situations, so if you did want some mechanical scaffolding around that, it could be a good option. Being a generic system, it can do negotiations and combat at the same time.

 

[billd91]

We used Star Wars Saga Edition for a Mass Effect universe game and it did pretty well. Biotic powers were just replaced with Force powers. But I'm not sure it would be too good a fit for Star Trek considering how non-combaty Star Trek tends to be compared to Star Wars (or even Mass Effect).

 

[SJB]

There’s a very nice game called M-Space from Frostbyte Games. The core game reminds me of Mass Effect. There is a campaign called Elevation which specifically emulates Star Trek.

This all depends on one’s attitude to d100 roll under rules (I love them).

 

[payn]

I was working on a D&D 4E adaption to ME. Bloodied is shields.armor down, and healing surges where medigel application. I felt the tactical nature of 4E play would lend itself well to the style of ME. It ended up being too much work, id never find anybody to play it, and I dont like 4e all that much to begin with. It just seemed like a glove fit.

I've been playing Traveller forever, and think it works pretty good for a star trek type game. Probably not ME though as its combat is pretty vanilla (which I find to be a boon becasue it puts a lot more focus on exploration and social game aspects, hence ST).

 

[Bladesinger]

I have recently discovered Esper Genesis. It is a 5E game based on the 2014 Rules. It is very Mass Effect adjacent, but can also fit the Star Wars, Firefly, Babylon 5 feel. It could possibly do Star Trek if you file the numbers way off, but the crew of a government ship exploring the universe is definitely on the table.

Also, Starfinder done by Paizo is another similar, good option if you are into the Pathfinder Rules.

Enjoy!