10-Year Update

[hengest]

Apr 23, 2022 4:56:40 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

I talk about one of my favorite role-playing games in T is for Talislanta.

Good post and cool-sounding game (not sure I had even heard of it before). 

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Apr 23, 2022 18:56:47 GMT -5 hengest said:

Apr 23, 2022 4:56:40 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

I talk about one of my favorite role-playing games in T is for Talislanta.

Good post and cool-sounding game (not sure I had even heard of it before). 

It's cool with a really simple system.  There are 100 or more archetypes (race & class combination) and they vary quite a bit.  The creator has released all of the stuff for free online so check it out.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 11, 2022 2:10:46 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

My next post is I is for Illuminati.

I am really enjoying this and learning about games that I was never aware of.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 12, 2022 2:29:24 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

Continuing on with J is for Just a Game

Just a game is still a phrase used now, but I suppose for a little different reasons than it was back then. Also the Cold War was in full flower back in the 60s when I was a kid and almost became hot a few times.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 13, 2022 2:30:59 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

Another entry with K is for Krull.

Wow, another one I never saw, but I really saw very few movies between 1974 to 1996.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 14, 2022 2:19:37 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

The newest post is L is fort Living Steel.

Wow, I followed the links, this game sounds like a lot of fun. If I had the chance to play, I would want to.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 15, 2022 14:28:11 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

After a mishap with the link, I have reposted.

Can any series of posts about gaming in the 1980s be complete without listng M is for Mazes & Monsters?

Great post, I have never seen that movie, but I would like to.

Get ready, kid, you're going to have plenty of face palm moments ahead in your life.

Sad, but true. That's life!

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 16, 2022 0:37:15 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

The newest post in the series is N is for Nintendo Entertainment System.

I have never done any console gaming. When these things came out I was already out in the work world and I barely knew of them until quite a bit later. I have never used any of the systems and have not played the games.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 18, 2022 4:34:09 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

I talk about the Steve Jackson classic in O is for OGRE.

Another game, I've never played. I was slightly aware of it when it came out, but being on the road all the time, games were not on my radar. Most of my gaming was worldbuilding for OD&D, with hours to drive my mind was occupied. Shame I had no way of writing it down.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 19, 2022 2:03:28 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

The next post is P is for Palladium Books.

I bought some Palladium Fantasy books after the year 2000 and there is a lot in them that I like.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 20, 2022 2:08:04 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

The next entry is Q is for Quest of the Ancients.

Hmm, another one I never knew about, but I would love to take a look at it.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 21, 2022 2:13:54 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

Continuing on with R is for Rogue.

The only reason I know that there were computers in the classroom in the 80s is because my sister had an Apple IIe (IIRC) at home and my niece was a wiz with it. Any teacher that had a computer problem would come get her out of class to fix the problem. She got a double promotion out of it.

I checked it out at the Internet Archive, that it wild.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 22, 2022 2:12:53 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

The next post is S is for Shadowgate.

Watching that video, I hope they have it speeded up or does it really run that fast?

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 23, 2022 4:56:40 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

I talk about one of my favorite role-playing games in T is for Talislanta.

I downloaded this several years ago and have glanced at a little of it. I need to take a longer look at it. I loved the name.

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Apr 23, 2022 23:22:39 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Apr 23, 2022 4:56:40 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

I talk about one of my favorite role-playing games in T is for Talislanta.

I downloaded this several years ago and have glanced at a little of it. I need to take a longer look at it. I loved the name.

Great name! 

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Apr 23, 2022 23:19:27 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Apr 22, 2022 2:12:53 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

The next post is S is for Shadowgate.

Watching that video, I hope they have it speeded up or does it really run that fast?

It is sped up.  It runs slow and steady.

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Apr 23, 2022 22:52:48 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Apr 12, 2022 2:29:24 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

Continuing on with J is for Just a Game

Just a game is still a phrase used now, but I suppose for a little different reasons than it was back then. Also the Cold War was in full flower back in the 60s when I was a kid and almost became hot a few times.

I've seen reviews of Twilight 2000 by people that were born too late to remember the Cold War.  These reviews usually talk about the lack of credibility when it when it comes to the basic scenario.  The Cold War was a scary time!  I still remember participating in bomb drills multiple times a year in school.  TV shows, movies, and the news bombarded the viewers with doomsday inching ever closer.  I remember exactly what you're talking about. 

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Apr 23, 2022 22:49:54 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Apr 11, 2022 2:10:46 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

My next post is I is for Illuminati.

I am really enjoying this and learning about games that I was never aware of.

Cool!  I'm glad people are running across games they either never heard of or played.

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Apr 23, 2022 22:54:06 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Apr 13, 2022 2:30:59 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

Another entry with K is for Krull.

Wow, another one I never saw, but I really saw very few movies between 1974 to 1996.

I think you'd dig it!

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Apr 23, 2022 22:57:09 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Apr 14, 2022 2:19:37 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

The newest post is L is fort Living Steel.

Wow, I followed the links, this game sounds like a lot of fun. If I had the chance to play, I would want to.

I agree with you.  Plus, it was designed by actual rocket scientists!

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Apr 23, 2022 23:10:24 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Apr 19, 2022 2:03:28 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

The next post is P is for Palladium Books.

I bought some Palladium Fantasy books after the year 2000 and there is a lot in them that I like.

Palladium Fantasy is another game that I'm going to catch up on buying products.  

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Apr 23, 2022 23:08:10 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Apr 18, 2022 4:34:09 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

I talk about the Steve Jackson classic in O is for OGRE.

Another game, I've never played. I was slightly aware of it when it came out, but being on the road all the time, games were not on my radar. Most of my gaming was worldbuilding for OD&D, with hours to drive my mind was occupied. Shame I had no way of writing it down.

That's definitely a shame.   I always carry a notebook in my bag at work so I can capture spare thoughts I have BUT it's not always possible.

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Apr 23, 2022 23:02:22 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Apr 15, 2022 14:28:11 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

After a mishap with the link, I have reposted.

Can any series of posts about gaming in the 1980s be complete without listng M is for Mazes & Monsters?

Great post, I have never seen that movie, but I would like to.

Get ready, kid, you're going to have plenty of face palm moments ahead in your life.

Sad, but true. That's life!

Mazes & Monsters is slow and goofy in the 80s way, but I still do pull it out from time to time.  Fortunately, the DVD can be found at used stores for $2-$5 usually.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 24, 2022 4:39:00 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

Apr 23, 2022 22:52:48 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Just a game is still a phrase used now, but I suppose for a little different reasons than it was back then. Also the Cold War was in full flower back in the 60s when I was a kid and almost became hot a few times.

I've seen reviews of Twilight 2000 by people that were born too late to remember the Cold War.  These reviews usually talk about the lack of credibility when it when it comes to the basic scenario.  The Cold War was a scary time!  I still remember participating in bomb drills multiple times a year in school.  TV shows, movies, and the news bombarded the viewers with doomsday inching ever closer.  I remember exactly what you're talking about. 

I also remember the drills even in the 60s and I also remember the two Kennedy assassinations and the MLK, Jr. assassination.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 24, 2022 4:41:47 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

Apr 23, 2022 22:57:09 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Wow, I followed the links, this game sounds like a lot of fun. If I had the chance to play, I would want to.

I agree with you.  Plus, it was designed by actual rocket scientists!

Wow, then I would really like  to see it to see what they brought to the game.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 24, 2022 11:35:32 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Apr 24, 2022 4:41:47 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

I agree with you.  Plus, it was designed by actual rocket scientists!

Wow, then I would really like  to see it to see what they brought to the game.

Here is a thread about the game The fall of Leading Edge Games? where they say it was insanely complex. But that is in the eye of the beholder soooo.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Apr 24, 2022 11:40:48 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Apr 24, 2022 11:35:32 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Wow, then I would really like  to see it to see what they brought to the game.

Here is a thread about the game The fall of Leading Edge Games? where they say it was insanely complex. But that is in the eye of the beholder soooo.

Modular Propulsion Clusters October 1st, 2001

A report proposes the development of modular propulsion clusters (MPCs) — small, self-contained propulsion systems that would be standardized, mass-produced, and readily installed on a variety of miniature future spacecraft. The MPCs would be inexpensive, "turn-key" alternatives to expensive conventional propulsion systems that are designed and built integrally with other spacecraft systems and structures. Each MPC would contain its own propellant tank, isolation valve, gas plenum, and valve/nozzle thruster assemblies. Each MPC would be delivered fully loaded; installation on a spacecraft would involve only mounting and electrical connections. The propellant would be a liquid that, by electrical actuation of valves, would be metered into the plenum as needed to vaporize and generate thrust. An important advantage of using a vaporizing propellant liquid (as opposed to a propellant gas) is that stopping a liquid leak is orders of magnitude easier than is preventing a gas leak.



This work was done by Barry Nakazono of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. To obtain a copy of the report, "Modular Propulsion Cluster," access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.nasatech.com/tsp under the Machinery/Automation category.

Yeah, real rocket scientists!

[The Perilous Dreamer]

After seeing a lot of people in that thread slamming the game(s) by Leading Edge, it does have some fan who not think it is overly complex.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

One of the Leading Edge games was Phoenix Command which has an unofficial support page here www.phoenixcommand.com/ but some of the fan stuff posted apparently gets the blessing of the author.

Also this was posted in the linked thread by someone who seems to know what they are talking about:

It is apparent that no PCCS supporters post here regularly just as it is clear that no one here has any real knowledge about why Leading Edge Games disappeared. They did not go belly up because they couldn’t sell their product lines. Instead, they had the moderately successful Phoenix Command and Living Steel lines which they supplemented by investing very heavily in marketing and developing products based upon cinematic franchises such as “Aliens”, “Army of Darkness”, “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” etc. While these titles generating decent sales Leading Edge did not manage to ultimately recoup the massive licence and development costs which made the company marginally profitable with a dim long term outlook. In the end, the owners decided to peruse far more lucrative careers made possible by their MIT degrees and obvious genius.



Reading the comments about Leading Edge here it’s painfully obvious that the detractors of PCCS and Living Steel have little familiarity with those product lines or are committed to ultra-simplistic systems like d20 or free form White Wolf style gaming. Now I am not condemning d20 or freeform style gaming but rather stating that such material has no appeal to me and that Leading Edge style gaming should not be judged using the same criteria accepted by mainstream RPGers. Given that modern RPGs lack even a vaguely plausible, let alone realistic, combat system play style is almost always tactics free and not very interesting for those of us not interested in simply collective story telling with rules as an afterthought. The appeal of an elaborately detailed gaming universe is amplified, rather then diminished, by an internally consistent and realistic rules system that encourages caution and forethought (and hence tactics) on the part of players. Pretty much all Leading Edge products achieve that goal with complexity being pretty variable depending upon one’s playing style.



I clearly can see that I am very much out of the mainstream here. I love Leading Edge products and I will say with no hesitation that Phoenix Command is the best core rules system ever published bar none. The rules for character generation are fairly simple and flexible. The combat system is no more complicated then that found in “Twilight 2000" or RPG Publishing’s (as in Rocket Propelled Grenade) “Merc” system and far simpler then Aftermath while being far more realistic and flexible then those systems or anything else made before or after PCCS. Those wishing to simplify PCCS but keep most of the realism (a good idea for larger battles) I suggest: www.grantdavis.net/games/pc/Simplify.html



While I have never been big on the “swords and sorcery” style of RPGs I had plenty of excellent heroic campaigns over the years set in various mediaeval, ancient and colonial periods using nothing but the Phoenix Command mallee combat rules and alternate character generation found the Hand to Hand supplement. If you have any version the PCCS (first edition is for some reason the easiest to find), the Hand to Hand supplement and core rules for Living steel you can run pretty much any RPG or tactical war game campaign that does not have magical elements you can think of. Those interested in high quality tactical PBEming are encouraged to check out:http://www.saunalahti.fi/~ejuhola/7.62/



Of course as I like the mythos of Lovecraft it’s a good thing that the PCCS can be easily adopted to CoC as you can see here: hammer.prohosting.com/~pccs/ . I’ve been in, but not run, survival horror campaigns that were very successful using PCCS as the basis. Those into “The Thing” and PCCS should see: www.outpost31.com/vistar/fangames.html .

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Apr 24, 2022 15:06:38 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

One of the Leading Edge games was Phoenix Command which has an unofficial support page here www.phoenixcommand.com/ but some of the fan stuff posted apparently gets the blessing of the author.

Also this was posted in the linked thread by someone who seems to know what they are talking about:

It is apparent that no PCCS supporters post here regularly just as it is clear that no one here has any real knowledge about why Leading Edge Games disappeared. They did not go belly up because they couldn’t sell their product lines. Instead, they had the moderately successful Phoenix Command and Living Steel lines which they supplemented by investing very heavily in marketing and developing products based upon cinematic franchises such as “Aliens”, “Army of Darkness”, “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” etc. While these titles generating decent sales Leading Edge did not manage to ultimately recoup the massive licence and development costs which made the company marginally profitable with a dim long term outlook. In the end, the owners decided to peruse far more lucrative careers made possible by their MIT degrees and obvious genius.



Reading the comments about Leading Edge here it’s painfully obvious that the detractors of PCCS and Living Steel have little familiarity with those product lines or are committed to ultra-simplistic systems like d20 or free form White Wolf style gaming. Now I am not condemning d20 or freeform style gaming but rather stating that such material has no appeal to me and that Leading Edge style gaming should not be judged using the same criteria accepted by mainstream RPGers. Given that modern RPGs lack even a vaguely plausible, let alone realistic, combat system play style is almost always tactics free and not very interesting for those of us not interested in simply collective story telling with rules as an afterthought. The appeal of an elaborately detailed gaming universe is amplified, rather then diminished, by an internally consistent and realistic rules system that encourages caution and forethought (and hence tactics) on the part of players. Pretty much all Leading Edge products achieve that goal with complexity being pretty variable depending upon one’s playing style.



I clearly can see that I am very much out of the mainstream here. I love Leading Edge products and I will say with no hesitation that Phoenix Command is the best core rules system ever published bar none. The rules for character generation are fairly simple and flexible. The combat system is no more complicated then that found in “Twilight 2000" or RPG Publishing’s (as in Rocket Propelled Grenade) “Merc” system and far simpler then Aftermath while being far more realistic and flexible then those systems or anything else made before or after PCCS. Those wishing to simplify PCCS but keep most of the realism (a good idea for larger battles) I suggest: www.grantdavis.net/games/pc/Simplify.html



While I have never been big on the “swords and sorcery” style of RPGs I had plenty of excellent heroic campaigns over the years set in various mediaeval, ancient and colonial periods using nothing but the Phoenix Command mallee combat rules and alternate character generation found the Hand to Hand supplement. If you have any version the PCCS (first edition is for some reason the easiest to find), the Hand to Hand supplement and core rules for Living steel you can run pretty much any RPG or tactical war game campaign that does not have magical elements you can think of. Those interested in high quality tactical PBEming are encouraged to check out:http://www.saunalahti.fi/~ejuhola/7.62/



Of course as I like the mythos of Lovecraft it’s a good thing that the PCCS can be easily adopted to CoC as you can see here: hammer.prohosting.com/~pccs/ . I’ve been in, but not run, survival horror campaigns that were very successful using PCCS as the basis. Those into “The Thing” and PCCS should see: www.outpost31.com/vistar/fangames.html .

I remember Phoenix Command; seeing it, not playing it.  I'm going to check out those links.  Cool stuff.