Help creating true20 mass effect

[johnlturner]

Hello all looking for help wit creating /mass effect with the true20 system.

[Andrew23]

You might be able to use:
Widen Power (Adept)
You can broaden the effect of one of your powers. When using powers
that normally affect a single target, you can affect an area with a radius
of up to twice your adept level in feet. The power affects all targets in
the area normally. You must still meet any requirements for range,
including mental contact, that the power requires. Make a single
check and compare the results to each target in the area. Targets save
individually against the power’s effects. The widened power’s fatigue
Difficulty increases by +6.

pg 52 in the 1st edition

[ValhallaGH]

I think he's looking to simulate the popular video game.

Since I haven't played it, I can't give any advice.

[johnlturner]

yes sir, I am, I thought it would be a great game to run and I can see it being done in true20, I mean they have dragon age way not a Mass effect rpg.

[face_p0lluti0n]

"Gravity Control" from the Adept's handbook makes a great biotic power, and in addition, the classes of Mass Effect apply rather well to the classes of True20: Soldier -> Warrior, Engineer -> Expert, and Adept -> Adept. The only thing you'd have to do is cut down the Adept's power list so that only in-setting powers are allowed. I was working on a Mass Effect conversion in my spare time, I hadn't gotten any further than the Adept power list, but here's my suggestions:

Adept (As written in True20, but only the following powers can be learned):

Core Book Powers:
Energy Shaping
Elemental Blast
Manipulate Object (Lift)
Move Object (Lift)
Second Sight

Adept's Handbook Powers:
Deflection (Barrier)
Gravity Shaping
Blast Redirection
Dispel
Gravity Shaping (Singularity)
Levitate

For balance's sake, and because Mass Effect Adepts are still supposed to be military, you might want to increase Adept's base attack progression to match Experts to make up for the shorter power list.

The only thing I'm having trouble with is how to represent the Krogan's regenerative ability. The best thing I can come up with so far is to give all Krogans a self-only Cure power with a power rank equal to 3 + their total level.

The Quarians' immune systems is another difficult issue, but for that I'm going to do something like "-5 to Fort saves against disease when not wearing environmental suit."

Gotta sleep now, but I'd be interested in swapping more True20 ideas with fellow Mass Effect fans.

[pheylorn]

This is a great idea! I've been toying with converting Mass Effect to d20 for a long time, and this works nicely! Keep up the great ideas!

[face_p0lluti0n]

Here are my basic notes about backgrounds:

Human
Same as written in the True20 Revised Core Book.

Turian
+1 Intelligence, -1 Charisma (I was thinking either Charisma or Wisdom, to represent that the Turians are good strategists and technologists but poor intuitive thinkers due to being too rigid)
Bonus Feats: Firearms Training, Attack Focus (due to the compulsory military service), Iron Will. Their autocratic society and military discipline makes the average Turian willful and combative.
Favored Feats: Attack Specialization, Master Plan.

Asari
+1 Wisdom, -1 Strength (for balance's sake more than anything, Asari don't seem to be particularly lacking in anything)
Bonus Feats: Lightning Reflexes, Attractive
Bonus Skills: Diplomacy and Sense Motive.
Favored Power: One power chosen off of the Biotic List, which treats the Asari's total hero level as her Adept level for the purposes of that power's power rank and effects.

Krogan
+1 Constitution, -1 Intelligence
Bonus Feats: Regeneration (Cure power that can only work on self, uses Krogan's total hero level as their Adept level for all purposes), Firearms Training, Improved Strike
Favored Feats: Tough, Stunning Attack

Salarian
+1 Intelligence, -1 Strength
Bonus Feats: Improved Initiative, Eidetic Memory
Bonus Skills: Two Knowledge skills
Favored Feats: Evasion, Skill Mastery

Quarian
+1 Intelligence, -1 Constitution
Bonus Feats: Improvised Tools, Dedicated (Toward the Migrant Fleet unless there's a good reason not to be, in that case, as appropriate to the story)
Bonus Skills: Repair, Craft
Favored Feats: Skill Mastery, Favored Opponent (Constructs)

It's been a couple months since I played Mass Effect 2, so I might be forgetting something important, but if I was running a Mass Effect Tabletop game tomorrow, this is what I'd pass out to the players for Background choices.

[ValhallaGH]

If Asari aren't particularly lacking in anything then it could be that (like humans) they have no ability adjustments.

There is no repair skill, by default (True 20 uses Crafts instead), so Quarians shouldn't have it as a bonus skill unless you're altering the skill list.

Otherwise it looks very good.

Good luck.