''Ragnarok and Roll'' is a

role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within ...

adventure published by TSR in 1988 for the '' Marvel Super Heroes'' role-playing game. The adventure was the second in a trilogy of high-level adventures titled the "Elders of the Universe" series.

In the first adventure of the "Elders of the Universe" trilogy, ''Cosmos Cubed'', the Elders of the Universe had used an immature Cosmos Cube to summon and then attempt to destroy Galactus. Although the destruction was unsuccessful, Galactus was divided into three beings and disappeared. In ''Ragnarok and Roll'', a high-level adventure for the

Marvel Super Heroes Advanced Set ''Marvel Super Heroes Advanced Set'' is a role-playing game supplement published by TSR in 1986 for the '' Marvel Super Heroes'' role-playing game. Contents ''Marvel Super Heroes Advanced Set'' is a more complex version of the basic rules that ...

Uatu the Watcher Uatu (), often simply known as the Watcher, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, he first appeared in ''The Fantastic Four'' #13 (April 1963). He is a member of ...

summons the mightiest heroes — the player characters — to discover what has happened to Galactus. At the same time, the heroes must prevent one part of the missing Galactus from sacking Asgard.

Publication history

TSR acquired a role-playing game license from

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...

, and produced ''Marvel Super Heroes'' in 1984, as well as dozens of supplements and adventures over the next five years. Three of those adventures were contained in the "Elders of the Universe" series, a 1988 trilogy of high-level outer space adventures with appearances by The Watcher and

Galactus Galactus () is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Formerly a mortal man, Galactus is a cosmic entity who consumes planets to sustain his life force, and serves a functional role in the upkeep of ...

that included '' Cosmos Cubed'', ''Ragnarok and Roll'' and ''

The Left Hand of Eternity ''The Left Hand of Eternity'' is a role-playing game adventure published by TSR in 1988 for the '' Marvel Super Heroes'' role-playing game. It is the final installment in the "Elders of the Universe" trilogy. Contents ''The Left Hand of Etern ...

''. The second of those adventures, ME2 ''Ragnarok and Roll'', was a 48-page book with large full-color map and outer folder written by Troy Denning, with cover art by Mike Machlan and Jeffrey Butler, interior art by John Statema and

Mark A. Nelson Mark A. Nelson (born 1953)Nelson entry
''Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999''. A ...

, and cartography by Dave "Diesel" LaForce.

Reception

In ''

The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games Rick Swan is a game designer and author who worked for TSR. His work for TSR, mostly for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, appeared from 1989 to 1995. Swan also wrote '' The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games'' (1990), published by St. Martin's Pr ...

'',

Rick Swan Rick Swan is a game designer and author who worked for TSR. His work for TSR, mostly for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, appeared from 1989 to 1995. Swan also wrote ''The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games'' (1990), published by St. Martin's Pre ...

recommended ''Ragnarok and Roll'' and the entire "Elders of the Universe" series as a good introduction to super hero role-playing games, calling all three adventures "an excellent outer space campaign setting."

References

{{reflist Marvel Comics role-playing game adventures Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1988