Introducing Battle Century G Remastered

I really wanted to post this last month, but it wasn't in what I'd call a presentable state. It's still incomplete, but what is finished is good enough to use. Without further ado, let me tell you about Battle Century G Remastered.  

This baby's got big 80's energy.

In order to explain what Battle Century G Remastered (BCGR for short) is, I first need to explain what it isn't: It is not a second edition of the game. BCGR is an update and improvement to BCG, but doesn't break away from the mold enough to count as a second edition. If the current version of BCG is v1.2 and the suggested balance changes & errata I posted a while earlier are an unofficial v1.3, this would be the game's v1.4 update. 

Here's what the finished version is going to have:

• A compilation of the rules in BCG and BCZ.
• Integration of the errata and suggested balance changes posted way back in 2018. 
• A handful of additional improvements to Intermission abilities (Miracles, Equipment, etc.)
• Substantial editing and rewording to make the text easier to parse.
• Improvements to the alternative rules modules in BCZ (plus some new ones).
• Updates to the premade NPCs in BCZ.
• A better, more fleshed out and cooler setting.
• A premade campaign scenario 6 to 12 episodes long.

Currently, I'm up to the first four bullet points. You can check out the System Reference Document here. The remaining four bullet points (particularly the final two) are going to take longer to finish.

Here's the full v1.2 to v1.4 Changelog: LINKING IT BECAUSE IT IS SEVEN PAGES LONG. I'm also noting which ones are from v1.3.

So I've been wanting to make a second edition of BCG for a while, because there are a bunch of things in the game that I think I would do differently today. There are two problems with it though: 1) It's very different from BCG, it's like the jump from GGG to BCG. Still recognizably the same game, but I can see some considering it a downgrade. 2) It's gonna take a long time to finish and I think I owe you all some content before that's done.

This Remaster is that content. BCG:R is my way of saying thank you for sticking with BCG after all these years. I don't want to spend millenia tweaking and adjusting rules again, but I think I can make a few changes here and there to make the game just a tiny little bit better for everyone.

I've learned a lot about game design since BCG came out. Making MP, in particular, has given me the chance to practice with tighter worldbuilding, easier character creation for beginners and premade campaign scenarios to help give GMs a good idea of how the game should go. I intend to put these skills to use. Once it's finished, the Remaster will be the same BCG experience but with a prettier package and easier to learn.

The one thing I will be sad to see go is the flavor text. The little references like Sunbot 3 and the Nu Ganmen make me smile to this day, years later after having written them. But BCG is a game that can be somewhat difficult to get into and a more cohesive and better written out setting makes that part so much easier. Flavor text can be a big help to properly convey worldbuilding so I should redo every entry from the beginning. Some references may survive the process, others may not. I think it's a worthwhile price to pay.

So that's what I'm doing. I haven't said anything about what I want to do for the setting, modules, etc. but I'll get to that in future posts.

Gimmick Out.