Against the Starmaster news

Against the Darkmaster (VsD) is one of my favourite role-playing games of the 21st Century (matched only by Mythras). I’m currently running a long-term campaign for it (it’s been going on for over three years now) and recently ran a two-year campaign set in Middle-earth (information for both campaigns are available via links on the righthand side of this blog). While VsD is clearly inspired – mechanically and thematically – by ICE’s Middle-earth Roleplaying (MERP) RPG from the 1980s and 1990s (it’s easy to use old MERP material with VsD), it’s nonetheless not a “retro-clone” as it modifies many elements of MERP and introduces some of its own mechanics, perhaps the most impactful being “drive points” and associated “heroic paths.” 

Since I’ve posted quite a bit about VsD already, I won’t continue rambling about it now. But I mention it because the producers of VsD – Open Ended Games (OEG) – are developing a game that uses the VsD rules but adapts them for the “space opera” genre (the original Star Wars trilogy appears to be a primary inspiration). I’ve mentioned this RPG – called (appropriately enough) Against the Starmaster – here before. But I mention it again now because there are some new developments that I thought might be of interest to some readers.

First, a new version of the playtest ruleset is available here. The picture above is taken from the sample adventure. 

Second, there is an interview with the game’s lead designer Massimiliano Caracristi at Geek Native.

Finally, a Kickstarter campaign for VsS starts on 23 November 2026 (link). I backed the Kickstarter campaign for Secrets of the Golden Throne, and Open Ended Games did a great job in fulfilling that project, so I have full confidence that the Kickstarter process will help support an excellent final rulebook.

For what it’s worth, here is my very brief review of the playtest rules (which I previously posted on DrivethruRPG):

An excellent adaptation of the Against the Darkmaster rules to the space opera genre. 

Against the Starmaster (VsS) employs a straightforward unified mechanic: roll 1d100 and add/subtract modifiers. But rolls can “explode” at the extremes, leading to “open ended” results (i.e., an unmodified roll of 1-5 prompts a second roll that is subtracted from that amount; an unmodified roll of 96-100 prompts a second roll that is added to that amount; etc.). These can produce wonderfully unpredictable and memorable outcomes in play, as extreme successes or failures differ from standard successes or failures. 

For characters, VsS is a skill-based system, wherein skill selection and progression is organised via “vocations” (rogue, champion, mystic, etc.) and levels. There are a lot of charts (the system is a descendant in many ways of RPGs like MERP, Rolemaster, and Spacemaster). However, in VsS these are clear and easy to use. The critical strike charts are vivid and colourful. (E.g., the most lethal result for “Blast”: “A cataclysmic shockwave rips the target apart. Death is immediate and violent. Nothing remains but ash. Need a dustpan?”)

While the combat system can be brutal, “drive points” can be used by players to reroll certain results. Acting on the characters' “passions” can replenish such points. So while combat is dangerous, the heroes have resources – albeit limited in nature (no more than 5 drive points can be accumulated at any given time) – to engage in actions of derring-do.

There is no system quite like it out there today. Highly recommended!

(Note that these are the playtest rules. So rules on character creation, etc., are not included. However, a number of pre-generated characters are provided, as is an introductory adventure.)

Overall, and especially with respect to role-playing games, I generally am much more of a fan of the fantasy genre than I am of pulpy space opera. So, part of me wishes that OEG’s focus had remained on producing more VsD material (e.g., a bestiary, more adventures, perhaps a proper setting book) instead of a different game. Nonetheless, variety is the spice of life, and having looked at the rules, I now anticipate someday running a VsS campaign for a change of pace. The first two Star Wars films (and especially The Empire Strikes Back) remain favourites of mine. And even though I think that most Star Wars movies and shows have been rubbish after 1980 (Return of the Jedi is barely tolerable), both Rogue One and Andor were excellent. (I also quite like the Dune films, another inspiration cited for the rules.) So, I can see the appeal of a campaign of high adventure involving some plucky and determined rebels against a galaxy-spanning evil imperial order!