I would recommend Savage Worlds. Some of the guys have already explained the pros and cons of the SW system, and you have seen the attractive price. There are basic sci-fi rules and bits in the main rulebook, plus there are supplements that allow you to really construct and run a sci-fi setting to your liking.

I have used SW on a number of occasions, especially for RPG demos, and have found that the system really does allow the players to focus on the game at hand rather than the rules.

Does a quick web-search for some previous game reports...........

Blimey!!!!! The old WWG Blog is still there

http://www.worldworksgames.com/store/blog/

Here you can find some of the Game Reports from the demos I ran some time back.

There is also another Game Report on our LGS forum:

http://wolfgameshop.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=723

Hopefully from the links I can show some evidence of how SW can be very suited to tabletop RPGs. In fact, there is a 'Showdown' version of the rules which is designed more for tabletop gaming rather than RPGing, but they do work very well together allowing an RPG group to get involved in larger battles very easily. The basic SW rules are perfectly suited to smaller/normal sized encounters.

Triple Ace Games has a free SW Space download to start you off.

http://tripleacegames.com/Downloads/Dar ... 31024A.pdf

Have fun and post pictures of the game sessions with all the terrain!!!

I will be the voice of dissent in regards to Savage Worlds - I found it boring, bland and tasteless rather than fast, furious, and fun. Sometimes there is a reason to use different rules rather than stretch an existing rule to fit.

It can handle a simple context just fine, but when you try to add depth... it's cold unseasoned mashed potato time. Blech. Overly simplistic.I don't much like GURPS, but I do think it is a good system, if overly concerned with minutiae. I do not think that about SW. I'd rather have rules that I am willing to ignore than have a rules set that pretends that everything is the same.

The Auld Grump

As with all games, everything lives or dies with the GM. I've played in a couple of Savage Worlds games (pirates and deadlands). One was totally awesome and the other blew chunks. Same rules, different outcomes. I can say the same about Gurps. The latest edition (4th) has a ton of rules but, as has been said before, most are optional. If I had to choose, I would go with gurps, but that may have something to do with the 4 linear feet of gurps books I have. You can get into Savage Worlds for $10, though vs. Gurps at $80 (?) for the two core books. They can all be fun, good luck with whatever you choose.

If you do find GURPS to your taste I suggest Transhuman Space. Set in the next century, give or take a decade, Transhuman Space provides a rich background for any genre. There are story hooks ranging from military ops to industrial espionage to street-level neo-noir detectives.