Scum and Villainy vs Stars Without Number
Compare Scum and Villainy and Stars Without Number side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, and more.
| Scum and Villainy | Stars Without Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Sci-Fi | Sci-Fi |
| Tags | Narrative, Heist, Faction Play, Low-Prep, Roleplay-Heavy, Exploration, Atmospheric | Sandbox, Exploration, Low-Prep, Faction Play, Tactical, Ascending AC, Vancian Casting |
| Core Mechanic | Forged in the Dark. Roll d6 dice pool, read highest: 6 = full success, 4–5 = partial success, 1–3 = bad outcome. Position (controlled/risky/desperate) sets stakes. Flashbacks replace planning. Progress clocks track complex obstacles. | 2d6 + skill + attribute ≥ target for skills; d20 + modifiers for combat. OSR-inspired. |
| Dice | d6 dice pool | 2d6 / d20 |
| Complexity | Medium | Medium |
| Availability | Paid | Free core rules |
| Runnability | 5 of 5 book tools | 5 of 5 book tools |
| License | Forged in the Dark | Proprietary |
| Third-Party Publishing | Not yet researched | Not yet researched |
| Publisher | Evil Hat Productions / Off Guard Games | Sine Nomine Publishing |
| Year | 2018 | 2017 |
| Languages | English | English |
| Best For | Groups who want Firefly/Star Wars-style spaceship crew adventures with Blades in the Dark's fiction-first mechanics. | Sandbox sci-fi campaigns with comprehensive GM tools for faction turns, sector generation, and adventure creation. |
| Highlights | Flashbacks eliminate tedious planning, ship playbooks level up alongside characters, detailed faction system, low GM prep | Free version is generous, comprehensive sandbox tools, faction system |
| Considerations | The game is tightly tied to its specific setting. Ship playbook progression can overshadow individual characters. The faction system requires significant GM prep between sessions. | OSR combat can feel flat compared to modern tactical systems, B/X heritage means limited mechanical support for social or narrative play |