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Black Star

From

LakeSide Games

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PDF

$4.95

Darkness has fallen over the galaxy. The once-noble Galactic Imperium now serves only the Grand Imperator and his inner circle. But the galaxy is vast. While the core worlds may be caught in the Imperium’s grip, many more exist beyond the galactic core, in the barely charted expanse of space known as the black star sector. A haven for criminals and unsavory characters of every stripe, the black star sector is also where the resistance against the Imperium is strongest. If there is any hope of overthrowing the Imperium, the galaxy will need heroes, and those heroes will come from under a Black Star.

Black Star is a rules light sci-fi roleplaying game you can carry around in your pocket. Using the latest version of the Furious Games Engine first used in Magnum Fury and refined in Six-Gun Fury, Black Star is designed for fast play and high-flying action, perfect for classic space opera and heroic science fantasy.

Print version available through the Lulu bookstore at ...

https://www.lulu.com/shop/leonard-pimentel/black-star/paperback/product-74g7kg.html?q=black+star&page=1&pageSize=4

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Reviews (16)

Discussions (40)

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Timothy Peter F September 05, 2023 12:59 am UTC

This book would print well as is as a 5.5 by 8.5.
Due to much more affordable shipping costs for your international clients (i.e. me in Japan) on this site, I hope you will simply enlarge the PDF to a 5.5 by 8.5 and make the POD print available on this site.

Leonard P September 13, 2023 3:00 am UTC

PUBLISHER

Hey Timothy

Thanks for your interest. We have had enough requests that we are planning on doing something in print (and slightly larger font) through this site. We just don't know exactly what; at least not just yet. So hang tight. :)

Thanks!
Len

Jim M September 21, 2023 3:26 pm UTC

I too would love a POD version and large font is GREAT! I love to be able to easily read my rule books in various lighting!

Joachim S August 25, 2023 10:25 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Quick rules question: Which Ability is used for the defense roll when using Deflect?

Leonard P August 27, 2023 4:37 am UTC

PUBLISHER

Quick answer: You use Brawling. If you have the Battle Power, then you can use Discipline if you prefer, or Power if you need to do so while completely blind (good luck with that as a new Hero).

I hope that helps! Thank you for checking out the game! :)

Jason S August 19, 2023 4:34 am UTC

PURCHASER

I am itching to run a campaign using this game. Everything about it I love. I do have a question which I am sure I will find the answer to once I add my comment here. In character creation it says: "New Heroes begin play with five Talents" but it looks as though the example character, Jake Starlighter has 6. Did I miss something? I have looked all over the book and I cant seem to find why this is so. Awesome work on this! -Jason S

Leonard P August 19, 2023 9:23 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

Thank you so much for the kind words! Jake has the Attuned Talent, which automatically grants to the Sense Mystic Power for free.

Jason S August 21, 2023 6:11 am UTC

PURCHASER

Leonard,
Thanks for the quick response. And now that you said it I see it plain as day in the book. Again, awesome work!
- Jason S

Leonard P August 23, 2023 2:47 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

Thanks! :)

Kyle W August 08, 2023 1:13 am UTC

PURCHASER

So I now have another rules question about Black Star. And an observation. There are 10 Abilities (skills and attributes combined). Technically, there are 11 with the Mystic Knights having "Power" as another.

Also, there are 10 Archetypes. Well, it seems logical that each Archetype is associated with an Ability. Blasting with the Soldier, Diplomacy with the Diplomat, and Instinct with Scout. However, the Knights use Discipline. Except they don't. They use the extra, 11th Ability of "Power" to roll all of their important dice rolls, and Discipline is more of a secondary thing.

Now that the Companion book is also out we now have a Archetype that uses Discipline as their primary dice roll, the Fringer. Even more, the new Psychic (not a knight, but a traditional Sci-Fi psychic) who uses Discipline, but ALSO gets the "suffers no complication when spending a Resolve to buy a Costly Success for both Discipline and Psi".

I'm thinking it would...See more

Leonard P August 08, 2023 6:26 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

Excellent idea! So good, in fact, that it's already there. :)

Page 33, paragraph 1, last sentence. "Attuned Heroes may apply the Mystic Talent to Power rolls as well as Discipline rolls."

I hope you have a blast with the game!

Len

Kyle W August 09, 2023 1:31 am UTC

PURCHASER

I assume this was there from the first version? I feel like I should be ashamed I brought it up, but maybe not? It might not be that clear, but at least it’s there.

I do like the Fringer Archetype. At least somebody uses Discipline. I get the feeling from their Talents that they’re a cross between a scavenger and a person who just does not stop. Thru shear force of will and focus, they get it done. John Wick or Rambo. Right?

Leonard P August 10, 2023 2:32 am UTC

PUBLISHER

LOL, no worries, and yes, it was always there.

And yeah, the Fringer baseline is probably the frontier settler or the often primitive fringe world native, but that's mostly due to needing willpower to survive in harsh environments. As such, any character who is supposed to have high willpower could fall under the Fringer archetype.

matthew J August 04, 2023 1:11 am UTC

PURCHASER

Looks fantastic! PoD version?

Leonard P August 04, 2023 3:09 am UTC

PUBLISHER

Thanks! The PoD is available from Lulu because this site doesn't have an option to print at the game's small size (it's tiny: 4.25 by 6.875).

matthew J August 04, 2023 4:56 am UTC

PURCHASER

Any chance of a PDF if we order a print from Lulu?

matthew J August 04, 2023 5:05 am UTC

PURCHASER

Eh you know what, screw it. Ordered two books (one for a friend) and I will support creators by purchasing the PDFs too. Cool game!

Leonard P August 08, 2023 6:23 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

Thanks! Hope you enjoy!

Andrej C August 03, 2023 10:59 am UTC

PURCHASER

Is there a chance to make a character sheet as a separate product?

Leonard P August 04, 2023 3:10 am UTC

PUBLISHER

Sure! Just give me a few days (actually, probably a week or two). Also, check out the Facebook group for LakeSide Games RPGs. Someone made a homemade sheet that I like better than the one I could fit in the book! :)

Kyle W July 29, 2023 10:31 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Love the game. It’s a three-way fight with Mini-6 Bare Bones: Imperium in Revolt (pretty much rules lite D6 Star Wars), and Star Adventurer (traditional D&D d20 rules), but Black Star won that fight.

My only question is the Meditation Talent for Mystics also able to recover a Will point instead of a Resolve?

Leonard P July 30, 2023 10:03 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

Thank you! I am honored to even be mentioned in such august company! :)

As for Meditation, I would probably allow that.

Kyle W August 02, 2023 1:09 am UTC

PURCHASER

Thanks for the reply.

It was always going to be a game I like due to ease of use. I will say that Black Star was not an immediate clear choice for me, as I didn't "get" the rules at first reading. That was mostly due to Black Star using terms that don't seem normal, such as Resolve, when everyone else would say Hit Points. However, now that I do get the game, it makes sense now.

I also have two hard copies on order from Lulu.

The biggest win for the game is that it is so easy to play. Also, it is so easy to play as a solo game (yup, that is a thing). Because Black Star uses player facing rolls, the non-existent GM isn't missing out anything. Even better, the two times that things can get subjective would be GM imposed costs whenever a player spends a Resolve point to flip a dice roll to Success-with-a-Cost. But in combat, that cost is up to the PLAYER, so, again, the non-existent GM isn't a problem.

I don't think you realize just how well you...See more

Leonard P August 02, 2023 1:52 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

Thank you so much for the kind words! I don't think people realize how much it means. Very kind of you and, as always, feel free to send any questions or comments our way. You can find me at the LakeSide Games Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2992814180984944

Thanks again!
Len

Leonard P July 20, 2023 1:52 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

For the many who have asked, a print version is now available through Lulu. You can get it here...

https://www.lulu.com/shop/leonard-pimentel/black-star/paperback/product-74g7kg.html?q=black+star&page=1&pageSize=4

At least until DTRPG starts offering 4.25 by 6.875 sized printing!

Thanks!
Len

Steve R June 29, 2023 8:25 am UTC

PURCHASER

Hey Leonard. Finally got to run Black Star last night and it went down a storm with my players. This was the second session of a Star Wars game that began with D6. I swapped the characters over, spent two minutes outlining the rules and we were off. It handled the genre so well and really encouraged the players to be more creative and allowed me to think bigger. Everyone loved it. I'm excited to run more. It also struck me that this game would really work well for a pulp game, if that's not already on your radar to do. I look forward to more material for this great game. Will also be looking to pick up a print version.

Leonard P July 05, 2023 1:36 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

Hey Steve!

Excellent! I am very happy to hear that you and your group enjoyed it. We are still working on getting a print version out and available. And the companion is nearing completion (thankfully). Feel free to reach out or find us online if you have any questions and, in the meanwhile, enjoy the game!

Francisco B June 28, 2023 4:44 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Hi. The book doesn´t contains enemies examples with Tags? Thank you.

PS: A spanish version would be great.

Leonard P June 29, 2023 3:56 am UTC

PUBLISHER

Hey Francisco!

We did not include sample enemies in the core book. I honestly thought people would want to make up their own. But there will be sample enemies in the Black Star Companion (coming soon).

Also, I would love a Spanish version, but I'd need a translator. Yo puedo hablar espanol, pero no lo puedo escribir, no al nivel necessario ...

Thorsten P June 26, 2023 7:26 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I'm working on a German character sheet and would like to know what font you used for the text logo?

Leonard P June 27, 2023 7:45 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

How very cool! The Logo is in "Futura XBlk BT." Having said that, someone on the LakeSide Games FaceBook Group created a sheet in Italian that looks amazing. You may want to check that out as well.

Larry C June 25, 2023 10:37 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Fantastic game! I know there is a supplement for Black Star coming out...looking forward to it. Any chance of adapting this system (Furious Game Engine) to a gritty fantasy setting?

Leonard P June 26, 2023 1:09 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

Thank you!

As my other games might suggest, sword and sorcery is one of my 3 favorite settings, along with classic epic fantasy and space fantasy. I have long toyed with a S&S version of this game, but for whatever reason, these rules tend to push me towards modern to sci-fi. I couldn't even tell you why. So, while it might be coming down the line, there's probably a cyberpunk FGE game coming out before that, and possibly another Black Star supplement.

Larry C June 27, 2023 3:29 am UTC

PURCHASER

You break my heart sir! By This Axe I Hack will have to suffice until logic prevails and you come out with an S&S version of this gem of a game :)

Thorsten P June 24, 2023 9:31 am UTC

PURCHASER

I saw in a reply of yours in reaction to a review that a companion book is in the works. What's going to be in it besides ship stuff? :)

Jarrod S June 25, 2023 3:23 pm UTC

PURCHASER

If you find "LakeSide Games RPGs" on Facebook, they talk more about it and even have a couple of teasers. "New talents, new archetypes, new space magic (classic psionics), new optional rules, rules for a grittier game experience, rules for expediting planning, expanded starship rules, capital ships, and more."

Sounds like it should be pretty awesome!

Thorsten P June 25, 2023 8:53 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I don't use FB so thanks for the info!

Leonard P June 26, 2023 1:03 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

Also planet generation, a (very) simple system for wealth and commerce, a bit more about Tags, and some sample adversaries. Thanks! :)

Thorsten P June 24, 2023 8:55 am UTC

PURCHASER

Hey, thanks for the game, got it last night and liking it!

Question about bot generation:

(b) Talents: Bot Heroes only get one Archetype, but they get the
Primary Function Talent for free, plus any 5 other Talents they
wish.

How many Talents does this result in? Is it analogous to the generation of organic characters where the Talent of the Archetype itself counts towards the 5 Talents? Primary Function is free, is it Archetype Talent plus 4 or plus 5?

Dan E June 29, 2023 12:07 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I also wondered this. Personally I ran it as you take your archetype talent out of one of the 5 granted, otherwise I can see no point in selecting an archetype as a bot. So you get Prime Function, archetype talent, and 4 more to choose from.

Thorsten P June 30, 2023 8:21 am UTC

PURCHASER

Yeah, that would make sense.

Dan E June 20, 2023 6:32 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Question! On page 22 for creating aliens, it says: "During character creation, an alien Hero can lower their Abilities by up to 2 points in exchange for up to 2 extra Innate Talents." Am I correct in assuming this means you can lower the score of two abilities once, or one ability twice? And it doesnt mean lower -all- abilities by up to 2 points?

Leonard P June 20, 2023 7:10 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

Hey Dan!

Think of it this way: all Abilities start at 1. You get 10 points to increase them (Max 3). Reduce the 10 points to 9 points for +1 Innate Talent. Reduce the 9 points to 8 points for +2 Innate Talents.

I hope that helps, and thanks for checking the game out!

Len

Dan E June 20, 2023 7:32 pm UTC

PURCHASER

That does indeed help, thank you!

Leonard P June 22, 2023 3:28 am UTC

PUBLISHER

My pleasure! Hope you enjoy!

Julian R June 16, 2023 7:33 am UTC

This sounds like a really fun game, something that might work with a group of kids I work with- are there any example settings/scenarios for the hurried/harried/time short? :-)

Leonard P June 19, 2023 2:41 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

Hey Julian,

Thanks for your interest! The game itself comes with 6 1-page adventure seeds and 4 pregens. We don't have any settings or scenarios out yet, so if you are looking for more, I'd recommend using anything you have for any other sci fi game you want to emulate. Conversion is pretty easy since NPCs are just a collection of Tags (if that).

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