Aurora vs Mothership
Compare Aurora and Mothership side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Aurora | Mothership | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Scifi | Scifi, Horror |
| Play Style | Crunchy, Combat-Heavy, Skill-Based, Mission-Based, Base-Building, Character Building, Lore-Heavy, Deadly, Random Tables, Random Character Creation, Superhero | Rules-Light, Deadly, One-Shot Friendly, Survival, Atmospheric, Low-Prep, Cinematic, Fast-Paced |
| Core Mechanic | Roll d100 equal to or under skill value for a standard success. Degrees of success scale with the margin: standard (full value), difficult (half value), very difficult (quarter value), legendary (01 only). Misfortune triggers on rolls of 96+ (99+ for skilled characters). Combat uses initiative based on Dexterity, with major actions, minor actions, and reactions (number limited by Dexterity / 30). Defenders choose to dodge, parry, counterattack, or maneuver as reactions. Superpowers cost energy points and risk destabilizing the dimension when used in front of witnesses. | Roll d100 under stat/skill. Stress and panic mechanics escalate tension. |
| Dice | d100 | d100 |
| Complexity | High | Low |
| Accessibility | Low | High |
| Community | Very Low | Medium |
| License | All Rights Reserved | 3rd Party License |
| Cost | $$ | $ |
| Publisher | GrubyBang | Tuesday Knight Games |
| Year | 2024 | 2022 |
| Best For | Groups who want a crunchy BRP-based sci-fi game where superpowered agents travel to other dimensions on tactical missions, build up a shared base between operations, and face detailed combat with location-based wounds. | Terrifying sci-fi horror one-shots and short campaigns. Panic table creates unforgettable moments. |
| Highlights | Dimension-hopping premise supports any genre or historical period within a single campaign. 16 superpowers with leveled upgrades and a risk-reward discretion system. Base-building expands Facility 13 with modules like the Isomer Forge (iconic weapons) and Nanite Workshop. 120+ weapons spanning primitive, modern, and futuristic eras. Detailed wound tables by body location and weapon type. | Rules-light, well-regarded module library, panic system creates mechanical tension |
| Considerations | 11-step character creation process is detailed but lengthy. Translated from Polish — occasional language inconsistencies. No free rules or SRD available. | Panic table can cascade and end sessions abruptly, limited long-campaign support in core rules, stress mechanics can feel repetitive over extended play |