Space Marines is a science fiction miniatures wargame created by
A. Mark Ratner.
Publication history
There were two editions. The first was published by FanTac Games (1977) and the second by
Fantasy Games Unlimited (1980). Both versions include artwork by
David C. Sutherland III.
The FanTac version of the game included conversion rules for the original
Dungeons & Dragons
''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) originally created and designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical ...
and
Metamorphosis Alpha
''Metamorphosis Alpha'' is one of the first science fiction role-playing games,Several sources call ''Metamorphosis Alpha'' the first science fiction role-playing game, but others name ''Starfaring'' as the first. ''Designers & Dragons: The '70s ...
. These were later removed in the FGU edition.
Stan Johansen created a line of 25mm figures for Space Marines, some of which are still in production as of 2011.
The Space Marines universe became the background to FGU's
Space Opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes Space warfare in science fiction, space warfare, with use of melodramatic, risk-taking space adventures, relationships, and chivalric romance. Set mainly or entirely in outer space, i ...
role-playing game.
[http://www.space-opera.net/GB/interviews/mark.htm Interview with Mark Ratner]
Reception
Lynn Willis
Lynn Willis (died January 18, 2013) was a wargame and role-playing game designer, best known for his work with Metagaming Concepts, Game Designers' Workshop (GDW), and Chaosium.
Biography
Willis began by designing science fiction wargames for M ...
reviewed the Fantac version of ''Space Marines'' in ''
The Space Gamer
''The Space Gamer'' was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and tabletop role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the la ...
'' No. 13.
Willis commented that "''Space Marines'' presents a superior version of what we already have."
Mike Hodson-Smith reviewed the Fantac version of ''Space Marines'' for ''
White Dwarf
A white dwarf is a Compact star, stellar core remnant composed mostly of electron-degenerate matter. A white dwarf is very density, dense: in an Earth sized volume, it packs a mass that is comparable to the Sun. No nuclear fusion takes place i ...
'' #8, and stated that "the games played were realistic and very enjoyable and well worth the while."
William A. Barton reviewed the FGU version of ''Space Marines'' in ''
The Space Gamer
''The Space Gamer'' was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and tabletop role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the la ...
'' No. 34.
Barton commented that "if detail and realism without any sacrifice of playability is what you're looking for in a SF miniatures rulebook, you won't be going wrong by adding ''Space Marines'' to your collection."
Reviews
* ''
Dragon
A dragon is a Magic (supernatural), magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but European dragon, dragons in Western cultures since the Hi ...
'' #45 (January 1981)
See also
* ''
Galac-Tac''
* ''
Starweb''
References
External links
*
Stan Johansen Miniatures
Fantasy Games Unlimited games
Miniature wargames
Wargames introduced in 1977
{{wargame-stub