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Alternity
''Alternity'' is a science fiction role-playing game (RPG) published by TSR, Inc., TSR in 1997 in games, 1997. Following the acquisition of TSR by Wizards of the Coast, the game was discontinued in 2000 as part of a broader rationalisation of TSR's business holdings, but it retains a small and devoted fanbase. Parts of ''Alternity'' as well as TSR's classic ''Star Frontiers'' game were later incorporated into the ''d20 Modern'' game, especially the ''d20 Future'' setting. ''Star*Drive'' was the first campaign setting published for ''Alternity'', and was introduced in 1998. System Characters were created with a point-based system, and could be either humans, mutants, one of several alien species presented in the core books, or original aliens created by the GM. Classes were replaced by professions, which dictated what skills and abilities were cheaper for any given hero to get, though a few skills (in particular, psionics) were restricted to specific professions. Skills are clas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Star*Drive
''Star Drive'' (stylized as ''Star*Drive'') is a science fiction campaign setting that was published in 1998 by TSR, Inc. for the ''Alternity'' role-playing game. The first published setting for ''Alternity'' was provided in the ''Star Drive Campaign Setting'' book in 1998. It was written by David Eckelberry and Richard Baker. This setting book also requires the ''Player's Handbook'' and ''Gamemaster Guide'' for the ''Alternity'' game system. Much of the material created for this campaign setting was later reused in the '' d20 Future'' supplement of the ''d20 Modern'' role-playing game. Synopsis ''Star Drive'' is set in the 26th century, starting in the year 2501. Humankind has gained access to faster-than-light technology called the stardrive, a merger of technology between humans and the alien Fraal. A period of stellar colonization of habitable worlds ensues, led by six wealthy power blocs. New powers emerged, forming the Terran Empire in 2250. Tensions between the colonies l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dark•Matter
''Dark•Matter'' is a science fiction/conspiracy theory campaign setting set in the modern day. It was originally published in December 1999 by Wizards of the Coast as the second campaign setting for the ''Alternity'' science fiction role-playing game. It was written by Wolfgang Baur and Monte Cook. It was later converted to '' d20 Modern'' rules as a stand-alone book in 2006. Development Wolfgang Baur did considerable research into the occult, UFO, and government conspiracy theories in preparation for writing the ''Dark•Matter'' game. Setting The Hoffmann Institute investigates strange creatures and phenomena. Players take on the roles of members of this organization, and delve into the supernatural and mysterious. The premise of the game is that nearly every strange or supernatural story ever widely told is true, but a web of conspiracies and secret organizations hide this truth from the average person. The premise was not unique to ''Dark•Matter'' and had first been u ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gamemaster Guide
''Gamemaster Guide'' is a 1998 role-playing game supplement published by TSR for ''Alternity ''Alternity'' is a science fiction role-playing game (RPG) published by TSR, Inc., TSR in 1997 in games, 1997. Following the acquisition of TSR by Wizards of the Coast, the game was discontinued in 2000 as part of a broader rationalisation of T ...''. Contents ''Gamemaster Guide'' is a supplement of a science-fiction role-playing system. Publication history Shannon Appelcline commented that "Rather uniquely, the ''Alternity Player Handbook'' was released in a limited edition (1997) at the 1997 Gen Con Game Fair, and then in a regular edition (1998) — along with the ''Alternity Gamemaster Guide'' (1998) — the next spring. The reason for the first release being limited was — of course — the death and rebirth of TSR, but the delay also gave Wizards the chance to get feedback on the original printing and revise the system a bit before its full roll-out." The ''Gamemaster Guide'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gamma World
''Gamma World'' is a post-apocalyptic science fantasy role-playing game in which player characters explore Earth centuries after the collapse of civilization, searching for artifacts from the time before "The Great Upheaval". The game was originally designed by James M. Ward and Gary Jaquet, and first published by TSR in 1978. It borrows heavily from Ward's earlier role-playing game, ''Metamorphosis Alpha''. Setting ''Gamma World'' takes place in the mid-25th century, more than a century after a second nuclear war had destroyed human civilization. This war is only vaguely described in most editions of the game, and what details are provided change from version to version: The first two editions explained that ever-increasing material prosperity and leisure had led to ever-more radical and violent social movements, culminating in a final war in the years AD 2309–2322, and ascribe the final annihilation to a terrorist group called "The Apocalypse" and the ensuing retaliation ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bill Slavicsek
Bill Slavicsek (born October 6, 1971) is an American game designer and writer who served as the Director of Roleplaying Design and Development at Wizards of the Coast. He previously worked for West End Games and TSR, Inc., and designed products for ''Dungeons & Dragons'', ''Star Wars'', ''Alternity'', '' Torg'', ''Paranoia'' and ''Ghostbusters''. Biography Early life Bill Slavicsek was born and raised in New York City. Slavicsek was a comic book, horror, and science fiction fan as a boy: "Some of my earliest memories involve looking at issues of Marvel Comics, drawing my own comics, and watching old SF and horror movies on TV". Interested in gaming from an early age, Slavicsek was introduced to role-playing games in 1977 when he discovered ''Dungeons & Dragons''. Originally intending to pursue a career as a comic book artist, Slavicsek switched to journalism and communication at St. John's University. West End Games After working for a year at a community newspaper, Slavicsek w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richard Baker (game Designer)
Richard Baker (full name L. Richard Baker III) is an American author and game designer who has worked on many ''Dungeons & Dragons'' campaign settings. Early life, education, and military Rich Baker was born and raised in Florida, then moved with his family to New Jersey at age ten. Baker graduated from Virginia Tech in 1988 with a degree in English. He received a commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy, and served as a deck officer for three years on board the USS ''Tortuga''; he qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer and was a lieutenant (junior grade) by the time he left the Navy. Baker married his college sweetheart, Kim Rohrbach. They have two daughters, Alex and Hannah. Career Baker began looking for a new career, and found one at TSR. "I'd been playing the '' AD&D'' game off and on since 1979. When I decided to leave the Navy, I sent TSR my résumé just for the pure hell of it. TSR sent me back a writing test, which I must have done pretty well on, since they broug ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
StarCraft
''StarCraft'' is a military science fiction media franchise created by Chris Metzen and James Phinney and owned by Blizzard Entertainment. The series, set in the beginning of the 26th century, centers on a galactic struggle for dominance among four species—the adaptable and mobile Terrans, the ever-evolving insectoid Zerg, the powerful and enigmatic Protoss, and the godlike Xel'Naga creator race—in a distant part of the Milky Way galaxy known as the Koprulu Sector. The series debuted with the video game '' StarCraft'' in 1998. It has grown to include a number of other games as well as eight novelizations, two ''Amazing Stories'' articles, a board game and other licensed merchandise, such as collectible statues and toys. Blizzard Entertainment began planning ''StarCraft'' in 1995 with a development team led by Metzen and Phinney. The game debuted at the 1996 Electronic Entertainment Expo and used a modified '' Warcraft II'' game engine. ''StarCraft'' also marked the cre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dataware
''Dataware'' is a 1998 role-playing game supplement published by TSR for ''Alternity''. Contents ''Dataware'' is a supplement about computers, artificial intelligence, and robots. Reviews *'' SF Site'' *'' Backstab'' #12 *''Casus Belli A (; ) is an act or an event that either provokes or is used to justify a war. A ''casus belli'' involves direct offenses or threats against the nation declaring the war, whereas a ' involves offenses or threats against its ally—usually one bou ...'' #117 References {{reflist Alternity supplements Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1998 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
TSR, Inc
TSR, Inc. was an American game publishing company, best known as the original publisher of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D''). Its earliest incarnation, Tactical Studies Rules, was founded in October 1973 by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye. Gygax had been unable to find a publisher for ''D&D'', a new type of game he and Dave Arneson were co-developing, so he founded the new company with Kaye to self-publish their products. Needing financing to bring their new game to market, Gygax and Kaye brought in Brian Blume in December as an equal partner. ''Dungeons & Dragons'' is generally considered the first tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG), and established the genre. When Kaye died suddenly in 1975, the Tactical Studies Rules partnership restructured into TSR Hobbies, Inc. and accepted investment from Blume's father Melvin. With the popular ''D&D'' as its main product, TSR Hobbies became a major force in the games industry by the late 1970s. Melvin Blume eventually transferred his shares to his ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
D20 Modern
''d20 Modern'' is a modern fantasy role-playing game system designed by Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, and Charles Ryan. The system's core rulebook was published by Wizards of the Coast on November 1, 2002; by 2006, ten additional supplements were released. The game is based on the d20 System and the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3rd Edition ruleset. It includes various campaign settings along with the tools to build campaigns in modern/contemporary settings. History Wizards released ''d20 Modern'' in 2002 while the company was overhauling its ''Star Wars'' role-playing game. Wizards then expanded on the game, developing one of its settings into a sourcebook, the '' Urban Arcana Campaign Setting'' (2003). Wizards then extended this development of d20 even further, with the science-fiction game '' d20 Future'' (2004) as well as the historical game '' d20 Past'' (2005). Wizards ended this line in 2006 by updating their classic campaign setting ''Dark•Matter'' for ''d20 Modern ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
D20 Future
''d20 Future'' is an accessory for the ''d20 Modern'' role-playing game written by Christopher Perkins, Rodney Thompson, and JD Wiker. It facilitates the playing of campaigns in the far future, using elements such as cybernetics, mecha, mutations, robotics, space travel, starships, and xenobiology. ''d20 Future'' is one of the most extensive of science-fiction d20 games and has its own SRD, which is a source for many other sci-fi d20 games. New rules ''d20 Future'' introduced a number of new elements to ''d20 Modern'', including: * New classes, occupations, feats, and skill applications * New equipment, include cybernetics and mecha * Rules for robot player characters * Rules for mutations * Rules for scientific engineering, spaceships, and constructs * Hazards and environments, including vacuum and radiation * Progress levels, describing global levels of technological development Campaigns The book presented a number of campaign models, which provided a framework for bui ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
