Archaeron

Last updated March 10, 2019

Archaeron is a role-playing game published by Archaeron Games Ltd. in 1980.

Description

Archaeron is a fantasy system similar to Chivalry & Sorcery , for which only two rulebooks were ever published.^[1]

<i>Chivalry & Sorcery</i> Fantasy roleplaying game

Chivalry & Sorcery is a fantasy role-playing game that was first published in 1977 by Fantasy Games Unlimited. Originally created by Edward E. Simbalist and Wilf K. Backhaus in 1977, Chivalry & Sorcery (C&S) was an early competitor to Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Historically, the two designers of the game were dissatisfied with the lack of realism in D&D and created a gaming system derived from it, which they named Chevalier. They intended to present it to Gary Gygax at Gen Con in 1977, but changed their minds once at the Con, where they met Scott Bizar who wrote out a letter of intent. After some final changes to get rid of the last remnants of D&D, Simbalist and Backhaus published the first edition of their game - now renamed Chivalry & Sorcery - shortly after the release of the first edition of Advanced D&D.

Mage , the first book, is a fantasy magic system with complex rules for spellcasting, creation of magician characters, and various types of magic and spells.^[1] There are three types of spellcasters: Psychics (divided into Mediums, Seers, and Natural Psychics); Magic Users (Conjurers, Thaumaturges, and Enchanters); and Theurgists ("cleric" types: Symbolists, Mystics, and Necromancers).^[1]

Mage is a 1980 rulebook for the Archaeron Game System.

Warrior, the second book, is a fantasy combat system for medieval European-style combat, with rules for creation of warrior characters; detailed weapon skills; melee, missile, and mounted combat; wounds and healing; etc.^[1]

Publication history

Archaeron was designed by Wilf K. Backhaus and published by Archaeron Games Ltd. in 1980 as the digest-sized 48-page book Mage .^[1] The digest-sized 48-page book Warrior was written by Backhaus with Jan Vrapcenak and Richard Fietz, and published by Archaeron Games Ltd. in 1981.^[1]

Wilfried Karl Backhaus was a role-playing game designer, business professor, and lawyer.

Reception

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References

1 2 3 4 5 6 Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Prometheus Books. p. 119. ISBN 0-87975-653-5.

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[HW-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Prometheus Books. p. 119. ISBN 0-87975-653-5.