It's a vast and dangerous sea of planets and stars...

Humankind reached beyond Earth centuries ago, forced by conditions on that planet to seek a future elsewhere. Colonies sprang in unlikely places, technology improved, and Humans traveled far. It was feared that control would be lost over these far-flung colonies, leading to the establishment of the Consortium, a loose union of worlds. Conflicts eventually led to the coalition of military units, forming the body known simply as Fleet. Megacorporations exploited the resources of newly-discovered planets. The frontiers continued to expand, bringing conflicts with radical groups who claimed planets as their own. Despite all this, opportunities for expansion still seemed limitless.

Then the shatterzone was discovered. A vast field of matter and energy, the shatterzone is where light and dark matter collide and combine—a beautiful, deadly, and ever-changing river in space. Humans and other species cautiously probed its depths, but believing it to be an impenetrable barrier between known space and the rest of the spiral arm, they relented in their investigations. The zone can be a treasure trove of uncountable wealth, albeit one that can demand equal payment in blood. Ships have finally managed to breach the other end of the zone.

Fortunes can be made, dangers encountered, and dark mysteries solved. Do business in the Core Worlds where bureaucracy rules, and Fleet makes sure of it. Smuggle in the Near Colonies where there is slightly more freedom, provided Fleet does not take an interest. Sign up for mercenary work in the Inner Frontier where new worlds can be discovered, as can bolters, aliens who have fled the other side of the shatterzone. The true brave of heart can enter the shatterzone, in search of the next big discovery or simply for the huge salary. Finally, the Outer Frontier reportedly holds many verdant worlds, but also a terror beyond anyone’s imagination...

Why Shatterzone?

• Character creation is simple: pick a profile or build your own from scratch by allocating points to attributes, skills, and advantages/compensations.
• Create your own alien species.
• Use the Value Scale to quantify times, distances, weights, and sizes. Every attribute, action, effect, or skill use can be converted to a numeric value with this scale to determine the results.
• Variable results determine the outcome of both combat and social interaction.

• Increase drama and cinematics with the MasterDeck card deck: introduce subplots, complications, skill bonuses, critical skill resolution, initiative effects.
• The deceptively simple system adds rich detail to the action.
• Cybernetics and psionic powers provide for even more sci-fi themes.
• Explore limitless stories of adventure: from primitive worlds to high-tech megacorporate bases, from alien discoveries to the unknown mysteries of the shatterzone itself.

Click here for an overview of the rules.