Spica career books - any reviews?
- Thread starter JP42
- Start date
GypsyComet
Emperor Mongoose
They hop around a bit from what I've seen, from "should have thought of that" to more esoteric than many people need. I can't speak for the additional contents of #2 and #3, but #1 didn't go very far past the careers themselves. If the other two are similar, they won't add up to those missing Career books.
Rikki Tikki Traveller
Cosmic Mongoose
Book 1 expands the Mishaps and Events tables for the basic careers (except those found in Mercenary and High Guard which were almost out when Book 1 was being written). TWO expanded Life Event tables are provided for your choice. There are also new careers and some sample NPCs (Stats and skills only, not full writeups).
Book 2 provides University and Graduate School options expanded as 1-term careers. There are also alternate Per-Service skills - giving you several options for how to determine those skills. Book 2 also starts expanding some of the Core book careers, treating each specialization within the original career as a separate career with additional specialties. There are also some new careers including Prisoner and Slave (which obviously won't apply to every setting). More NPCs for these new careers are provided.
Book 3 expands on character development by providing height and weight tables as well as hair/eye color etc. There are alterate Benefits tables (using 2d6 vs. 1d6) for every career in the core book and in all three Career Books. These are not for everyone. Some people wanted more options or didn't like that you had the same chance to get a scout ship as get a Blade. These tables take that into consideration. There are also expansions of more of the core careers and some new careers as well. NPCs are also provided.
The intent of these books was to expand on what was in the core rulebook trying to dodge around what Mongoose was publishing and not necessarily duplicate their info, so some of the career expansions might seem hit-or-miss, but between the Mongoose books and these three books, ALL of the core careers have been expanded in some way.
Hope that helps.
Book 2 provides University and Graduate School options expanded as 1-term careers. There are also alternate Per-Service skills - giving you several options for how to determine those skills. Book 2 also starts expanding some of the Core book careers, treating each specialization within the original career as a separate career with additional specialties. There are also some new careers including Prisoner and Slave (which obviously won't apply to every setting). More NPCs for these new careers are provided.
Book 3 expands on character development by providing height and weight tables as well as hair/eye color etc. There are alterate Benefits tables (using 2d6 vs. 1d6) for every career in the core book and in all three Career Books. These are not for everyone. Some people wanted more options or didn't like that you had the same chance to get a scout ship as get a Blade. These tables take that into consideration. There are also expansions of more of the core careers and some new careers as well. NPCs are also provided.
The intent of these books was to expand on what was in the core rulebook trying to dodge around what Mongoose was publishing and not necessarily duplicate their info, so some of the career expansions might seem hit-or-miss, but between the Mongoose books and these three books, ALL of the core careers have been expanded in some way.
Hope that helps.
I really like the Spica books, I use them for key and mid-level NPCs and options like Chancer (gamblers and such) and Cosmonaut (spacer roustabouts and repairmen) can give PCs a term or two of background flavor that is unique and a couple skills they may not otherwise have gotten. Also the careers themselves help flesh out the feel of a setting, with Port Authority, Space Patrol, Politician and the like. Overall, quite nice.
They're not as deep as the expansion books such as Scoundrel or Agent but then I don't believe they're meant to be.
They're not as deep as the expansion books such as Scoundrel or Agent but then I don't believe they're meant to be.
I'll admit, I'd hoped for in-depth versions of civilian, scientist and the like, in the same way that Merchant Prince and Scoundrel does, but it's nice to have some other flexible options. The bonus life events are a huge bonus, and I think I like the idea of an expanded 2d mustering out table.
The three books are outstanding and valuable. They have a load of careers some redundant, Some worthless. Each book has extras; physical characteristics, expanded benefits (I didn't like them), College, Family, Life events (good!), 2 background skill options.
Here are the careers with notes on several
ATHLETE
CHANCER (Conmen, gamblers)
COMPANION (Sex worker)
COSMONAUT (Local vacc suited workers, i.e. space station)
ENFORCER (Criminal)
INSURGENT
MEDIA PRACTITIONER
MYSTIC WARRIOR (Kung Fu)
POLITICIAN
PORT AUTHORITY
PRISONER
PUPPETEER
SECRET POLICE
SLAVE
ADVENTURER
BOUNTY HUNTER
CLERGY
COLONIST
CORPORATE CITIZEN
MILITANT RELIGIOUS
SPACE PATROL
Worker
Licensed Physician
Broker
Assistant
Bodyguard
Secretary
Steward
Field Researcher (science)
Free Trader
Inheritor (Scavenger)
Journalist
Mariner
Merchant Marine
Physician
Privateer
Psionic Guild
Renaissancer 16th cent types related to more primitive barbarian
Scientist
Wastelander Scavengers in hazardous areas
Here are the careers with notes on several
ATHLETE
CHANCER (Conmen, gamblers)
COMPANION (Sex worker)
COSMONAUT (Local vacc suited workers, i.e. space station)
ENFORCER (Criminal)
INSURGENT
MEDIA PRACTITIONER
MYSTIC WARRIOR (Kung Fu)
POLITICIAN
PORT AUTHORITY
PRISONER
PUPPETEER
SECRET POLICE
SLAVE
ADVENTURER
BOUNTY HUNTER
CLERGY
COLONIST
CORPORATE CITIZEN
MILITANT RELIGIOUS
SPACE PATROL
Worker
Licensed Physician
Broker
Assistant
Bodyguard
Secretary
Steward
Field Researcher (science)
Free Trader
Inheritor (Scavenger)
Journalist
Mariner
Merchant Marine
Physician
Privateer
Psionic Guild
Renaissancer 16th cent types related to more primitive barbarian
Scientist
Wastelander Scavengers in hazardous areas
Lord High Munchkin
Mongoose
As mentioned, some of the careers are redundant, some are worthless (I don't use psionics, so those careers are a waste of space to me).
That said, the books are very good. I find them some of the most useful 3rd party supplements out there.
That said, the books are very good. I find them some of the most useful 3rd party supplements out there.
