# Battlelords of the 23rd Century tags: #game/rpg/battlelords-of-the-23rd-century ![[Battlelords of the 23rd Century (cover).png|400]] **Battlelords of the 23rd Century** is a military science-fiction tabletop RPG where you can live out your wildest corporate mercenary fantasies in a galaxy at war. Imagine a universe where mega-corporations run the show, and you’re just a cog in their well-oiled, heavily armed machine. The game has been around since 1990, evolving through seven editions, each adding more layers of complexity and more ways to blow things up. ## Core Die Resolution Mechanics The core mechanics of **Battlelords of the 23rd Century** revolve around a percentile system. In the earlier editions (1st through 6th), the game used a d100 system. You roll two ten-sided dice to generate a number between 1 and 100, aiming to roll under your skill level after modifiers. Simple, right? Well, not quite. The game is notorious for its detailed and sometimes cumbersome combat system, where every little modifier counts. In the 7th edition, also known as the Kickstarter Edition, the game introduced the **x150 system**. This system still uses percentile dice but caps all stats and chances to succeed at 150. A roll of 01 always succeeds, and a roll of 00 (double zeroes) always fails. The x150 system aims to streamline gameplay while maintaining the game’s signature complexity. Armor mechanics, for example, involve multiple layers and stats like Threshold, Absorption, and Integrity, making sure your character’s demise is as detailed as possible. ## Editions Comparison - **1st to 6th Editions**: These editions used the d100 system and were known for their crunchy, detailed rules. The focus was on tactical combat and a rich, albeit complex, universe. - **7th Edition (Kickstarter Edition)**: This edition introduced the x150 system, aiming to simplify and standardize gameplay without losing the original setting’s feel. It also added new species and streamlined some of the more cumbersome mechanics. ## References - [Battlelords of the 23rd Century Official Site - 23rd Century Productions](https://www.23rdcentury.net/battlelords) - [Battlelords of the 23rd Century - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlelords_of_the_23rd_Century) - [Review of Battlelords of the 23rd Century 7E - RPGnet](https://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/19/19071.phtml) - [Battlelords of the 23rd Century, 7th Ed. Core Rules (PRINT) - 23rd Century Productions](https://www.23rdcentury.net/product-page/i-m-a-product-1) - [Battlelords of the 23rd Century Kickstarter Edition - Studio 2 Publishing](https://studio2publishing.com/products/battlelords-of-the-23rd-century-kickstarter-edition)