Space Gothic (1st / 2nd Edition)

Space Gothic is a German dark sci-fi RPG set in the year 2244, seven years after a devastating corporation war. The TSU (Terran States Union) is the main political power of Terra and its colonies. The PTI corporation, victorious in the war, heavily influences TSU politics and provides the police forces in the TSU.

At the edges of colonized space, satanic cults are spreading. And while aliens do not exist officially, in reality there is a growing threat of fearsome creatures. Adding to that, Shark Investments, the corporation defeated during the war, has gone into hiding and tries to sabotage PTI with terrorist acts.

A Space Gothic character is mainly defined by his character class, nine attributes (ranging from 1 to 100), and skills (also rated 1 to 100).

Attributes are determined randomly. Every character class defines which dice must be rolled for which attribute. Skills are bought with learning points derived from the experience attribute.

Attribute and skill checks are done by rolling under or equal to the attribute or skill in question. Modifiers may be applied based on the difficulty of the task.

Characters have two different sets of hit points. "Base hit points" can be lost due to wounds, fatigue, poison, radiation, etc. The "body hit points" are hit location specific points derived from the base hp.

Combat rules for melee and ranged combat exist, mainly based on the skill check system with rules for special situations, critical hits, etc. There are also rules for vehicle and space ship combat.

Characters earn experience points during their missions. These increase the character's experience attribute and may advance the character's military rank (if he has a class with ranks). They also provide him with learning points that can be used to increase skills or attributes.

Rules for space travel and running space ships exist, but none for ship construction.

The first and second editions have been published by Fantastische Spiele GbR in 1993 and 1997. The last adventure was released by Fantastische Spiele GbR in 2003. In 2009, Ulisses Spiele presented the short-lived 3rd Edition with a revised rules system.