Product– Striker

System- Striker

Producer– Zenith Games Foundry

Price– $ 13.41 here https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/460945/Striker-Core-Rulebook-1st-Edition&affiliate_id=658618 

TL; DR– classless 5e/3.5 IN SPACE! 87%

Basics– DnD 3.5/5e/Shadowrun IN SPACE!  This is a new riff on the 5e system by building in classless systems into the basic math of 5e.  The universe has gone to war in a way that nearly destroyed it and now at least four different dimensions are all interacting.

Let’s break down the system.

Classless, but not levelless– This system does use levels, but when you take a level you choose a profession and possibly an archetype within it. This gives you places to spend forte and fine-forte points.  These are the equivalent of skill points.  You can freely change profession when you gain a new level.

Base mechanic- 5e has proficiency, but you don’t really change your class in 5e.  Here you do things a bit different.  It’s still a d20+number, but how you get to that number is a bit more complicated.  Your modifier is ½ ability modifier +½ forte modifier + fine-forte modifier.  This way almost all things have the feeling of 3.5 DnD and Shadowrun skills as you choose where you spend skill points to make some better or worse depending on how you want to build your character.  Saves, attacks, and skills all have this basic mechanic built in.

Powers and special abilities-  Characters gain resources on level up that come back and are used like hitpoints, but this system also introduces focus points and energy points.  DCs are determined just like basic 5e, with one exception being how we determine bonuses (described up above) When you do something cool or use psychic powers, you spend the points as needed.  Again, it’s classless so multiple paths will get you the same powers and abilities. 

There is always more, but that’s the basics to get you mechanically in.  Ok, now to my thoughts.

Mechanics or Crunch– This is an interesting system that might be a bit over complicated.  The idea of classless 5e is a fun one.  I do miss the days of crazy class combinations (until I play some 3.5 with a friend who has at least five different classes in a 7th level character).  But this builds nicely together.  It’s a tad clunky as its DEEP point management at level gain, but that’s what the designer wanted.  That’s not bad, but it’s an intentional thing.  A cheese stick of basic 5e vs the fondue of this system.  Both are highly rated and good, but it’s what you want when.  Some streamlining may help with this system though.  4.5/5

Theme or Fluff– For the fuff, the big question is do you like Mass Effect?  That’s the big question here.  If you like the idea of flying a ship around and meeting creatures of multiple races with multiple different goals, then this is the game for you.  I do, so this has some crazy fun places to go.  5/5

Execution– This book has some solid things, but some near unforgivable issues.  Let’s start with the unforgivable that can easily be fixed: no pregens, character build walkthrough, nor premade adventure.  As I get older, I want to pick up a book and play with six buds ASAP.  Sure, I need to read how to do the dice things with this dice game, but give me an adventure and pregens and a four hour simple adventure I can print off and play after I glance over your rules.  It has some pre-made things, but give me those please.  For a new system, that is a requirement!  Next, this is a pretty deep pool to dive into without a step by step walkthrough of one character build.  That would make the issues I had in mechanics evaporate.  There are examples of how to do some things, which are great.  And, while missing those things is unfortunate, what’s here is good.  There’s art to break up text.  The text could be a different font or background to make it more readable, but it works decently enough and my tablet can zoom in.  There’s hyperlinks in the text, so I can hop around quickly to get to where I want to be.  Some of you may not like its Midjourney art, but this is an extremely small publisher with an over 400 page book and one author.  That’s a feat!  Just give me some quick start assets built in and I’d be much happier.  3.5/5

Summary– If you want 5e classless Mass Effect, then this is what you want.  That’s the basic summary.  I like the basic mechanic, even if I think its a tad overcomplicated.  The theme is the sci-fi I love.  The stumble is the lack of quick start and pregens to the book.  I don’t even need a crazy space adventure with ships, just a dungeon crawl fighting something in a cave would be nice.  Even a link to a free adventure would fix that need, but there isn’t one quite yet.  One is coming, but not yet.  However, I like what’s here enough to stay interested for when it does.  87%