Whilst surfing the net, I found this article...might help you if you decide to go retrospective or if FFE ever get their act together and get the reprints done...
2300AD Product Recommendations
for various Campaign Themes
Copyright © 1999, 2002 by Kevin Clark. All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer
Here is a list of how I rate the various 2300AD products released by GDW ( and now owned by FFE), which depends, in part, on the type of campaign you want to run.
All Campaigns
First, you definitely need the main RPG rules boxed set:
2300 AD Boxed Set -- This is the second edition/version of the game. You get double the background material, plus GDW fixed the broken rules that were in first edition ( Do NOT buy the first edition/version called "Traveller:2300", unless you are a collector).
Note that the last batch of 2300AD boxed rules released had a free copy of the module "Kafer Dawn" included inside -- so it might be cheaper to get them in one box, versus as separate items.
Plus get these two equipment books, as they will provide you with most of the equipment you'll need for any type of campaign ( military, exploration, crime, etc.).:
Ground Vehicle Guide ( a few were from the main RPG rules 15%)
Equipment Guide ( although about 40% is a repeat from the main RPG rules -- so if on a tight budget you could skip this one to get something else).
Plus for details on the colony worlds get:
Colonial Atlas
Starship Combat campaigns
Second, if you want a slightly more detailed set of starship combat rules than those given in the RPG boxed rules, then buy:
Star Cruiser ( a boxed boardgame with cardboard ship counters).
Ships of the French Arm ( more starship's for use in the game).
Military Campaigns
Third, if you like military sci-fi ( things like the movie Aliens), then you definitely need the supplements that cover the Kafer War:
Kafer Sourcebook
Aurore Sourcebook
Invasion -- details the Kafer Invasion of Human space in 2301.
Mission Arcturus ( my favorite adventure module)
Kafer Dawn ( adventure module that was included in some of the boxed main RPG rules)
Operation Overlord ( adventure module published by 3W, also has some details on game's history, after the Invasion supplement ).
The two sourcebooks plus Invasion and OpOver are more important than the two modules ( MA and KD) if you just want facts and background, but all are good if you like the genre.
Adventure Campaigns
Fourth, if you like non-warfare adventures try these modules:
These two are terrific:
Ranger -- Texas Rangers on a frontier world dealing with friendly alien species that starts acting uncharacteristically violent.
Nyotekundu Sourcebook -- a less violent mix of Outland meets 2001, taking place on an ice asteroid mining station.
This one needs an experienced GM:
Bayern -- science vessel voyage to the Pleides constellation/star cluster, the basis of a campaign, but leaves most of the encounters/adventures along the voyage to the referee to invent. You will need to detail about 80% of it, if you try to run it as a full campaign ( they give you the ending, plus two encounters on the way).
These next two were weak modules -- only buy them if you can find them dirt cheap, or really desire a complete collection.
Beanstalk -- adventure dealing with sabotage on a space elevator ( from planet surface to orbit). Note: If you plan on running a lot of campaigns in the French Arm and think your players will visit Beta Canum Venaticorum frequently you may want it for the few pages it has detailing the world.
Energy Curve -- your ship crashes, can you make friends with a new plant based alien race, and survive the harsh winter.
Fifth, if you want details about Earth in 2300AD consider getting:
Earth/Cybertech Sourcebook -- But you can get by without it. It was not my favorite supplement since it was the start of GDW trying to make the game more 'cyberpunk-ish', which was all the rage back in the late 1980's. They added netrunning and cyberlimbs, but the rules were poorly done compared to say Cyberpunk 2020 by R.Talsorian. After this supplement was released, all the modules that followed it were also unfortunately 'cyberpunk', and very poor adventures.
Deathwatch Program
Rotten to the Core
Conclusion
I don't think I missed any of GDW's ( now FFE's) 2300AD products. If you want my opinion on any others, or more information on the above, just ask.
Hope this helped.
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Last Update: 2002 Oct 24
First Online: 2002 Oct 24
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Website maintained by: Kevin Clark (kevinc AT cnetech DOT com)
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