sci-fi rules for shadowdark

SPECIES

DarkSpace works with all existing Shadowdark ancestries as well as introducing 20 SPECIES TRAITS that you can use to build your own alien species or play as familiar species from your favorite science fiction properties.
DarkSpace also introduces Androids as both a playable species and as a playable archetype with the         Multi-Function Android.

the triad

THE TRIAD represents the metaphysical abilities sometimes found in science fiction. Whether through a mystical connection, scientific experimentation, or natural psionic abilities you have the ability to manipulate aspects of reality. Each rules-light TRIAD POWER affects a different aspect of reality: Body, Mind, and Soul.

Adventures in the Dark of Space

Journey into the shadows and darkness of space for fortune and glory! Will you play a blue collar scavenger, a hardened mercenary, a swashbuckling adventurer, or explore the boundaries of what it means to be human?

DarkSpace is a sci-fi rules hack for the rules-light Shadowdark RPG and requires a copy of those rules to play. The Shadowdark rulebook along with free Quickstart Rules can be found at www. thearcanelibrary.com

archetypes

Classes in DarkSpace are focused more on classical archetypes and less on profession. As such, they are referred to as Archetypes. DarkSpace introduces 7 NEW ARCHETYPES - Strong, Quick, Tough, Clever, Wise,  Charming, and the             Multi-Function Android.

Motivation

Adventures in DarkSpace are less about the struggle between Law and Chaos and more about what it takes to survive in the cold vacuum of space and on strange alien worlds.
Alignment is replaced by Motivation. Are you VIRTUOUS and hold to traditional virtues like justice, courage, and honor? Are you VILE and have embraced the darker aspects of ambition, manipulation and greed? Or maybe you’re just a SURVIVOR and choose to adapt, overcome, and do whatever is necessary to survive.
Motivations provide character insight that in turn  gives you a small starting bonus and a way to earn Luck Tokens.
DarkSpace Blog
DarkSpace Transmission 0.01.02 Design - Motivation

I first encountered the idea of alignment when I began playing tabletop role-playing games in the early 1980s. My introduction came through Tom Moldvay's Basic Dungeons & Dragons booklet. At the time, I found alignment to be a fun and fascinating way to look at the world. In that Basic set, just like in the Shadowdark RPG, there were only three alignments: Law, Chaos, and Neutrality.

backgrounds

Your Background is as much a part of who you are as your Archetype and gives you advantage in certain situations. Choose from 20 PRE-MADE BACKGROUNDS like Outlaw, Roughneck, Hacker, Medic, or come up with your own.
Combined with your Background you have 140 different character combinations like a Strong Pilot or a Quick Soldier to fit whatever flavor of sci-fi you want to play.

starfaring

Traveling in space isn’t like dusting crops, but it’s also not complicated in DarkSpace. DarkSpace includes LIGHTWEIGHT RULES for both SL (sublight), and FTL (Faster Than Light) travel. Random encounters and mishaps for travel through space are also included.
SHIP-TO-SHIP COMBAT as as simple as character to character battle is in Shadowdark. Track your ship's weapons, systems, features, and cargo on its own character sheet and take on the various roles needed to fly it.