Machinations of the Space Princess — Monochrome Print Edition

Sexy, sleazy, swords and sci-fi—in an economical black-and-white edition.

Machinations of the Space Princess is a complete science-fantasy roleplaying game combining science fiction, magic, psionics and old-school adventure.

Its inspirations lie closer to Métal Hurlant and Star Wars than to 2001: A Space Odyssey or hard-science speculation.

This is a game of:

• Space pirates.

• Beautiful alien princesses.

• Living planets.

• Robot hordes.

• Blasters at noon.

• Strange worlds and stranger inhabitants.

• Heroes attempting to make their fortunes in a dangerous universe.

The emphasis is firmly upon style, action, strangeness and fun.

Old-School Foundations, Expanded for Space Opera

The game combines old-school roleplaying ideas with newer design elements, providing a familiar foundation adapted for science-fantasy adventures.

Characters can be created as:

• Experts

• Killers

• Psions

• Scholars

Classes include their own specialities, attack progression, skills and other abilities. Psions receive access to psychic powers, while the broader character rules support alien species, different cultures and exotic forms of life.

The skill system uses six-sided dice, with characters improving their chances in individual areas of expertise.

Create Your Own Aliens

Machinations of the Space Princess provides tools for constructing alien characters rather than limiting players to a short list of fixed species.

Species, cultural and exotic traits can be combined in different ways, allowing groups to create a wide variety of inhabitants for their own setting.

A reviewer for The Other Side praised the flexibility of this approach, while a reader commenting on the review noted that the core book could cover almost any alien species their group might wish to create.

Weapons, Armour and Equipment

The book supplies straightforward tools for creating and modifying:

• Weapons.

• Armour.

• Equipment.

• Monsters.

• Adversaries.

• Vehicles.

• Starships.

The system allows Games Masters and players to build material suited to their own version of the universe rather than relying entirely upon fixed catalogues.

Rules are also provided for cybernetics and other enhancements, giving characters access to further forms of technological modification.

Starships and Space Combat

Starships are an important part of the game rather than simply transport between adventures.

Ships can possess their own qualities and modifications, allowing groups to create everything from a customised freighter to a heavily armed vessel with a particularly impressive paint job.

A detailed review praised the space-combat rules for remaining simple while giving every player something to contribute during a battle, rather than leaving the entire encounter to the pilot.

Explore Space and Strange New Worlds

The rules address both space travel and planetary exploration, including the dangers characters may face away from familiar environments.

The game does not attempt to become a hard-science textbook. Its scientific elements support adventure while leaving room for:

• Planetary romance.

• Swords-and-planets stories.

• Alien ruins.

• Psionic powers.

• Hostile environments.

• Space battles.

• Treasure hunting.

• Criminal schemes and dangerous work.

The default setting includes the decline of the Urlanth Matriarchy, providing opportunities for rogues, smugglers, pilots and other ambitious characters.

Advice for Both Sides of the Table

Machinations of the Space Princess contains substantial advice for players and Games Masters.

The player guidance concentrates upon creating active, entertaining characters and contributing positively to the group.

The Games Master material covers tone, adventure design, adversaries and keeping play enjoyable.

Reviewers have specifically praised this emphasis upon character-centred play and practical advice, noting that the game is interested not only in rules, equipment and setting, but in helping the people at the table produce an entertaining campaign.

Praised for Its Sense of Fun

Reviews have repeatedly highlighted the game’s energy and personality.

The Other Side praised its focus upon exciting player characters and described its sense of fun as one of the strongest among the old-school science-fiction games reviewed on the site.

The RPGPundit distinguished it from more serious science-fiction games by calling attention to its deliberately gonzo space-opera tone and distinctive artwork.

Welcome to the Deathtrap praised:

• The flexible ship-building system.

• Space combat that involves the full crew.

• The humorous setting prompts.

• The bright, comic-book-style artwork.

• The conversational writing.

• The player and Games Master advice.

• The ease with which parts of the system can be adapted to other games.

Inside the Book

Machinations of the Space Princess includes:

• A complete science-fantasy roleplaying game.

• Old-school rules adapted for space opera.

• Experts, Killers, Psions and Scholars.

• Skills and psychic powers.

• Alien species and character-creation options.

• Weapons, armour and equipment.

• Cybernetics and enhancements.

• Retainers and hired specialists.

• Space and planetary exploration.

• Starship construction and combat.

• Tools for creating monsters and adversaries.

• Advice for players and Games Masters.

• Character and starship sheets.

• A black-and-white interior throughout this edition.

The Monochrome Edition

This edition presents the complete core game with a black-and-white interior, providing a lower-cost alternative to the colour printing.

The rules and game content remain complete.

Only the interior printing format differs.

Find a Ship and Start Scheming

The old order is weakening.

Strange planets wait beyond the trade routes.

Pirates, criminals, princesses and opportunists are competing for whatever wealth and power remain.

Create an alien.

Hire a crew.

Arm the ship.

Begin your own Machinations of the Space Princess.

This listing is for the physical monochrome edition of Machinations of the Space Princess, written by James Desborough. It is a 240-page, black-and-white A5 perfect-bound paperback. ISBN: 978-0-244-39663-3. Dice and other ordinary gaming materials are not included.