DriveThruRPG.com
Browse Categories
$ to $















Back
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition Pay What You Want
Average Rating:4.2 / 5
Ratings Reviews Total
24 10
20 4
11 1
5 0
0 0
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Click to view
You must be logged in to rate this
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Publisher: Bedroom Wall Press
by Philip C. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 07/07/2021 07:04:22

Love this game. The mechanics are 1st Edition of the Gygax game which work fine for an RPG that is all about Dungeon Crawling or more appropriately a lost starship, space station, pod colony, science complex and ruined city crawler. While there are no starting adventures in the book (sorry to those who need everything handed to them), there are more than enough examples and charts (lots of charts) that make it easy to create an advanture which is tailored to your play group.

The only down side of this game is that there was never any follow up and the game looks to only have this one book.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Publisher: Bedroom Wall Press
by David D. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 03/11/2019 11:05:04

An excellent scifi OSR Variant. Play as a Pilot, Soldier, Scientist, or Psyker and delve into ancient hulks full of mutants and battledroids. Every bit as strong as Stars Without Number or White Star and in some ways better designed than either.

My one complaint to keep me from giving a 5 star review is that the 'programs' of the scientist class don't make any sense. They have battery life and 'high level programs' in a similar way to how a psyker has psychic talents and psychic energy, but for something mechanical that doesn't make sense. Even a low level scientist should be able to buy or steal high level programs and batteries. it's about as silly as saying a soldier can only use assault rifles once he reaches a certain level and has a limited number of bullets based on his level. very immersion breaking.

Other than that it's one of the strongest scifi rulesets out there. Well worth checking out



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Publisher: Bedroom Wall Press
by Stephen Y. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 03/29/2016 11:30:43

156 pages, 153 are the content. The stats are Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. Page 6 & 51 has a TAAC0 (To-Hit Armour Class 0): should be THAC0?

Hulks and Horrors can be described as D&D/AD&D in space (with the THAC0).

It really is well detailed, with sections on classes (Pilot, Soldier, Psyker, Hovering Squid, Omega Reticulan, and Bearman); Psychic powers, Equipment, Weapon, Armour, Grenades, Protective Devices, Power sources, Drugs, Computerised Devices, Goods & Services. The next section continues with fleshing out your character (name, background, appearance). After that, we have Environmental hazards, Foot travel, Food & water, Experience, Combat, Spaceships, Ship combat, Exploration, The Surveyor's Guild, Generating star systems, Ruins & wrecks, Loot, Monsters (creating them as well), Dungeon Mastering, Alternate concepts, Tweaking the rules, Being a Red shirt (P145-146), Converting to and from other RPGs. I think I've covered everything. All this for free! The softback book is £13.22/$18.75. I remember purchasing a RPG system costing about £10.30/$15.99 last year, and it had nowhere NEAR anything as much as this in it's contents (rather bare actually). But H&H on the other hand, is quite 'full', and can be increased in content with items from similar systems/RPGs.

'Borrowing' other bits from other OSR RPGs should be easy to add to H&H. Well worth obtaining; you'd be daft not to.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Publisher: Bedroom Wall Press
by Jacob R. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 08/04/2015 15:50:30

This is a fantastic RPG. If Stars Without Number is a mix of D&D and Traveller, and White Star is D&D and Star Wars, then Hulks & Horrors is D&D meets Doctor Who and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Easy to learn, even more customizable (IMHO) than Traveller, SWN and WS.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Publisher: Bedroom Wall Press
by Jason C. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 02/26/2014 22:40:29

I have never really connected with any of the "old school" RPGs that I've come across over the last few years. I thought I kinda got it in the days of Castles & Crusades but eventually I just couldn't see the point - others could and that was fine, but it was over my head. However, there have been a few games that have piqued my interest and gotten across their purposes and systems solidly enough for even a dummy like me to grasp it. Interestingly, they tend to be more science fictional than fantasy, perhaps reflecting that I didn't connect that much to fantasy novels when I was but a boy and a beardless youth, but would chew through a H. Beam Piper story without realizing that the world was still turning and a girl may have been trying to talk to me. Sorry, Jeannie.

I backed Hulks & Horrors in its first incarnation (it was unsuccessful there), so I was thrilled to see it come across rpgnow and even more excited to see that it nailed down everything it promised.

Hulks and Horrors combines dungeon crawling with space exploration, two things which might not seem to go together at first - the advantage of dungeon crawling being a constrained environment with clear choices, and the allure of space exploration being literally infinite possibility in all directions. Yet for me, one of the drawbacks of dungeon crawling was that I couldn't envision most dungeons in some modules I played in as being real places with real functions (since that time I've come to appreciate the surreal nonsense of certain dungeons in their own right), and one of the drawbacks of space exploration games I've played has sometimes been the lack of clear objectives. Combining the two is an amazing idea because the dungeon crawl aspect gives a solid objective to all player activities, and the space exploration element puts it in a context that I can connect to.

In Hulks & Horrors, the player characters are Surveyors - basically looters and scavengers on a lawless frontier. They bring important data back to galactic civilization, but the real riches are in robbing hulks (potentially ancient starships), star pirates (piles of jewels!) and maybe even the mysterious artifacts of the Ancients. It posits a universe where the characters have primarily mercenary motivations and a situation where they can exercise that to the fullest.

Characters are disposable in this game - they're generated quickly and disposed of just as quickly. The deadly situations they will get into are almost certainly going to kill player characters, but the decidedly "old school" method of rolling 3d6 for a character's stats - each assigned in order, of course - before glancing at the list of classes to see what they qualify for, picking one, and getting going, makes it so that you can just give a battlefield promotion to some faceless member of your crew and be back playing again immediately. (The adorable "Redshirt" class, which you have to choose when you don't qualify for any of the real classes, is a great idea but it doesn't seem too likely to me that it will ever get used.)

Character abilities are very broad - even a character's equipment and tools have very broad applications. This means that players are encouraged to be creative with the uses of their abilities and tools, a key factor since actual confrontation with enemies, traps ("boy, the security systems on this thousand year old ship sure are reliableerrrrrrggghh!") and so on are very serious matters.

The simple, fast-moving system will keep the game moving along. Interestingly, the DMs section is largely dominated by random tables to assist in the creation of scenarios in different types of location and facing different sorts of monsters. The monster list is evocative, and actually tells you more about the setting perhaps than anything else, something I really appreciate since conflict with monsters that tells me something about a setting is always more interesting than just hearing a GM say it to me.

If I could pick one way to improve Hulks & Horrors, I might try to integrate more system notes and "cheat sheet" material onto the character sheet.. Because the system's so simple, there's no reason to take up so much of the character sheet with just a list of 6 numbers for stats when you could, say, have a die rolling precis or a combat flowchart or something. (But maybe that's an old school thing? Who knows.) The other suggestion I might have is to provide a sample complex or hulk for exploration. Although a random star system, uh, system has an example, there isn't one for the actual meat of play, which is the very specific facility or location that the player characters are exploring/looting.

Maybe the best thing about Hulks & Horrors is the Dungeon Mastering section (and yes it is called a Dungeon Master, get over it.) It gives a clear idea of what Hulks & Horrors play is about and what the job of the DM is. Yeah, I've been a GM for a long time, but it really helps a game a lot for me to understand where the creator is coming from.

The most remarkable section in Hulks & Horrors, unquestionably, is the "optional rules" section. While the game has been diligent about telling you how to design your own spaceships, characters, star systems, facilities and monsters, it also goes into detail on rules extensions, options and different ways that you can change the rules to fit your own style or goals of play. On the one hand, this is possible because the core system is so simple - but I also think it reflects a constant, relentless focus on customization of your game experience to your table, and it's a major asset to the game.

I'm really excited about Hulks & Horrors - I have been since that crowdfunding effort long ago. I'm almost certainly going to run it at this year's RinCon. If you want a fast-moving, action-based science fiction exploration/fighting/looting RPG, this is absolutely the one you want.

Oh, and forget the haters saying they don't like this RPG because there's no art in it, it's their loss. Wait, wait, ummm.....I mean, uh, there's no pictures in this really solid, really well-crafted RPG and I almost gave it five stars just on the basis that there were no pictures. WAIT, this keeps coming out wrong. What I mean is if you want there to be art in your RPG book, there isn't any in this one. And you have bad taste. AGH, I can't stop myself. I should probably end the review before I make more people mad.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Publisher: Bedroom Wall Press
by James L. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 01/17/2014 08:17:23

Rules-wise I really like H&H, I think it compares favorably to Stars Without Number.

However, $15 for an artless PDF? I don't think so.



Rating:
[3 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Publisher: Bedroom Wall Press
by Thomas B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 06/09/2013 19:40:18

WHAT WORKS: I love the random charts. I always love the random charts. The Redshirt option for characters that don’t qualify for a character class is great as well. I do like how the classes have been balanced for the game, instead of just doing a straight renaming of the D&D Classes. Some of the tongue in cheek effects for various pieces of loot are also great as well.

WHAT DOESN’T WORK: I’d prefer a d20 chart over a d12 chart every time. Less chance of repeating an option. The space combat rules seem like they would leave non-pilots in the cold…moreso than non-Pilots will be left out on the ground. Contested checks are just clunky (rolling higher than the opponent but under your stat).

CONCLUSION: I’m not a big fan of the older school D&Ds, and I think that’s where I wind up displeased with some of the mechanics here. That said, I actually like the premise of exploring space hulks and dead planets more than I do straight up dungeon crawls. The extensive use of random charts is always a plus, and I do like that there are multiple options for acquiring a ship. If you’re a fan of old school D&D and you want something more than a different coat of paint on it, then definitely check this out.

For the full review, please visit http://mostunreadblogever.blogspot.com/2013/06/tommys-take-on-hulks-and-horrors-basic.html



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Publisher: Bedroom Wall Press
by Jonathan H. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 04/24/2013 15:17:52

I must say that Hulks and Horrors is a joy to read.

The universe building tables are fantastic for taking your adventures in new directions.

Character creation is a snap, the aliens are fantastic! (Who doesn't want to be a flying squid or psychic bear!), and game play is fast.

Hulks and Horrors has been one of the best game finds of the year for me.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Publisher: Bedroom Wall Press
by Christopher W. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 04/22/2013 09:40:11

Fantastic little system built on D&D's core strengths with something akin to Traveller's interstellar travel, coupled with some incredibly useful starship, sector, and solar system generating tables. Quick chargen and amusingly deadly!



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Publisher: Bedroom Wall Press
by Paul B. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 03/30/2013 20:20:09

Humorous old school rpg action.

First Edition has come to the stars. And what a grand trip it is!

Simple start up, monsters that harken back to Gamma World & Metamorphosis Alpha, & cool Star Frontier like loot & alien races.

This game is a great find.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Publisher: Bedroom Wall Press
by Travis N. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 03/30/2013 02:40:56

I really like this Edition because I can use it with many different game systems!



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Publisher: Bedroom Wall Press
by Benjamin M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 03/23/2013 20:09:38

I skim read this in a day, mostly reading it for the background and story. The rules as I looked at them are a good basic set of rules, and will require that the players and game master agree to expand upon them in play. it is much like the old style rules that I learned on in the early-mid 1980's. I feel that the background is fairly well done, with lots of room to expand for the game master, or for the game developers. I could wish that they had at least run the levels to ten, but six is a nice level. I feel that they could differentiated the skills of the races a bit better for the players if they where going back to the old school style game design, but I also see that most current players will never stand for that level of focus.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Publisher: Bedroom Wall Press
by Richard G. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 03/23/2013 15:56:11

This is great. Plenty of flavour, not over-long on rules or too serious in intent. Refreshing, old-skool RPG fun.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Publisher: Bedroom Wall Press
by Michael H. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 03/11/2013 21:32:17

Is there any possible way to refresh the oldest idea in role playing games, the dungeon crawl? Move it to Space! In this excellent mix of Old School Mechanics and science fiction space opera, the characters are a salvage team with a Claim to a sector of space who seek out the remnants of the great galactic civilization destroyed by a plague of destruction and mutation when mankind were figuring out how to chip rocks.

The mechanics are a straightforward use of the d20, rolling low is good. Very clearly written and certainly as flexible as most OSR games. A well populated bestiary of space horrors to people the derelict space stations and colonies of the old ones, all laid out with special powers and stats sufficient without being overwhelming. Lots of good advice for DMs new and old. Robust tables and tools for creating systems, worlds and all such kind of necessities.

For most folks, it would be a good buy.

The only lack is that there is no interior art. But then it is the "Basic Black" edition, so no bells and whistles to be expected or missed.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Hulks and Horrors - Basic Black Edition
Publisher: Bedroom Wall Press
by Alexander M. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 03/10/2013 12:29:03

I have to applaud John Berry's Hulks & Horrors. It is the first science fiction RPG that has successfully carried Dungeons & Dragons into space. D&D is a fun amalgamation of every fantasy trope from the 20th century, a blend made possible by the focus on dungeon and wilderness exploration. Hulks & Horrors is the same: A fun amalgamation of every sci-fi trope, focused on exploring deep space and alien ruins. If you're looking for extensive rules for mercantile commerce, or in-depth politicking in the Galactic Empire, or hard science fiction focused on terraforming and xenobiology, H&H is not that game. But nobody I game with wants that. What we want is to be a band of space explorers who course through deep space in search of ancient alien ruins, delve where no man has gone before, face hideous aliens and killer robots, and return with strange super-science. This is THAT game.

Some key things to call out:

  1. The tools provided to the GM to generate star systems, alien ruins, and artifacts are amazing. I want to start creating space hulks today.
  2. H&H's class system models all of the classic archetypes of sci-fi in a way that makes the classes mechanically different. Mechanical differentiation - e.g. different classes play in different ways - is to me one of the keys of a D&D-style game. In H&H, a Scientist, a Psyker, and a Soldier will viscerally feel different when you play them, with different trade offs and resource management issues.
  3. The list of monsters is quite extensive, with lots of familiar favorites and some creepy new entries.
  4. It has a complete ship-building system and ship combat rules that let the whole crew get involved.

Awesome!



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Displaying 1 to 15 (of 15 reviews) Result Pages:  1 
pixel_trans.gif
pixel_trans.gif Back pixel_trans.gif
0 items
 Gift Certificates