Space: 1999 Coming From Modiphius

The Space: 1999 Roleplaying Game will allow you to join the crew of Moonbase Alpha! Created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson (Thunderbirds, Joe 90, and so much more) in 1975, the British show told the story of a moonbase after a nuclear explosion throws the moon into deep space. The game is written by Andrew Peregrine (Dune) and Modiphius Entertainment, and is powered by Modiphius' 2d20 system.

You can sign up for more information at the Gerry Anderson website.

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[Paul Farquhar]

We had the passenger pod. But I think the head was gray or white?

The ones in the show were all white. They were inspired by the Apollo Eagle lander. I had the passenger pod with the green cockpit and the cargo pod with a white cockpit.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Is Corgi still an ongoing business? As a kid, I thought their Batmobile and James Bond cars were the height of coolness.

I think they were bought out, and recently revived as a nostalgia brand. The Batmobile and James Bond cars are about £60 now!

Edit: checking up, my Eagles were Dinky, not Corgi.

 

[Von Ether]

I remember buying a few tanks from them as they were right scale for WW II wargaming only a few years ago.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Corgi are/were awesome. I had a space shuttle with opening doors as a kid, and a couple other pieces. Put Matchbox and Hot Wheels (ugh) to shame, doubly so since I was into things more than just automotive.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Gives me hope that Airwolf the RPG or Iron Eagles the RPG might someday come out.

Knight Rider RPG. Everyone has their own talking car with turbo boost, and you're fighting crime.

I guess an A-Team RPG would work much easier, the A-Team is actually a party of different roles!

 

[Paul Farquhar]

We had Car Wars in the 1980s.

 

[Corone]

I missed this one or I'd have jumped in earlier!
I'm the writer behind this one, and yes there is a certain element of labour of love as Space 1999 is something I loved as a child (even though it was also terrifying). But having rewatched it all again recently it still stands up, and in some cases much better than original series Star Trek.

But beyond that I believe its a great setting and ripe for a game, with some elements you don't usually see in an RPG setting.
-Using 2d20 means its compatible with Star Trek (both versions) which is something I thought important given you can do pretty much all the same things. If you like one its worth checking out the other.
-The moving moon means all adventures have a time limit, the pressure is always on for any 'away mission'.
-The PCs can't avoid the adventure, the moon is going to go there!
-What the series got wrong about science is a feature not a bug. Its a great setting to switch things up with different expectations.
-Technology isn't that important anyway, as humanity isn't ready to go out into deep space they are painfully underprepared. Adventures rely on the dedication and skill of the characters, not just the application of advanced technology.
-There is a wealth of potential stories. Space 1999 covered a vast array of themes, even ghost stories. It wasn't afraid to be surreal and frightening as much as it had action and adventure.

If it doesn't float your boat thats up to you, its not like there arn't plenty of other games out there. But it is a very viable games setting with great potential for all manner of stories and adventures. I'm not expecting it to set the world on fire, but there has been a very positive response so far and I'm excited to get it out there. (and yes I would do Blakes 7 too given half the chance) .

 

[Paul Farquhar]

also terrifying

Yeah, who would have thought being crushed by foam could be so distressing? (At least when you are 7).

Is Brian the Brain in the game?

 

[ugavine]

I will 100% be getting this.

 

[kronovan]

I watched the series when I was in my mid teens. Mostly what I remember is that I thought at the time that it was better than the original Battlestar Galactica, which I didn't care for at all. I watched every episode of TOS umpteen times and still to this day I feel between it and Space 1999, TOS was the better series. Admittedly, my opinion was somewhat tainted by my older brother's strong dislike of it, who being my TOS viewing and SciFi reading buddy had a big influcence on me. That said, as a series with a moving setting in which new locations and phenomena are being encountered, Space 1999 had a good sense of adventure and I can see it working for a TTRPG setting.

The Gerry Anderson series that really drew my brother and I in was UFO - still love that the characters called them U FOs. I rewatched it on Prime last year and started getting an itch for a TTRPG adaptation. I was looking to use Cepheus Engine or maybe Savage Worlds+SciFi Companion. The problem though, is there's little details available on the vehicles (big aspect of the series) and the series and the one good book covering it is long OOP and cost mega $ preowned.

I own Star Trek Adventures and have Savage Worlds, Cepheus Engine, MgT2, M-Space and True20 for homebrewing SciFi, so I can't say Space 1999 is something I'll likely buy in to.