Helltank is a science fiction board wargame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1981 as part of its MicroGame line. The game simulates combat in the future between a supertank and more conventional forces.
Helltank is a science fiction board wargame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1981 as part of its MicroGame line. The game simulates combat in the future between a supertank and more conventional forces.
Helltank is a 2-player game featuring asymmetric forces: one player has a large and advanced supertank, while the other player has more numerous but weaker forces such as infantry and artillery. The map depicts a city, wooded hills, a canal, and a highway, and the players select a scenario and a time period. [1]
Metagaming's very first entry in their MicroGame line was Ogre , a science fiction wargame between a large semi-intelligent tank and more numerous but less powerful foes that was designed by Steve Jackson. When Jackson left Metagaming to form Steve Jackson Games, he took with him the rights to Ogre. In an effort to replace this loss, Phil Kosnett designed Helltank, which was published by Metagaming in 1981 as the 19th MicroGame, packaged like previous games in the series in a ziplock bag. Metagaming published the sequel Helltank Destroyer the following year, shortly before the company went out of business. [2]
W. G. Armintrout reviewed Helltank in The Space Gamer No. 49. [1] Armintrout commented that "Helltank got shortchanged somewhere in production. I do like the game, but I can recommend it only for experienced gamers who don't mind second-guessing the rules on a few vital points and who don't mind doing mental bookkeeping. Too bad - this game could have been a contender." [1]
Tony Watson reviewed Helltank in Ares Magazine #13 and commented that "Helltank isn't without its problems; the rules could have been tightened in some places and the type face used in the rules book approaches downright ugly, but it's an interesting little game, a sure winner for the asking price." [3]
In Issue 27 of Simulacrum, Brian Train noted, "There are some interesting points in the design. One is the sequence of play, involving alternating activation of units – move one unit, attack with it, then your opponent gets a chance to respond, so most players are involved most of the time. Another is the changing relationships among families of weapons as technology levels advance." Train concluded, "the Combat Results Table is very bloody and the small map does not give much scope for maneuver." [2]
In Issue 35 of Warning Order, Matt Irsik commented, "Helltank is not a bad game, but if you had Ogre , what was the point in spending time on this? This game got a bad rap, but in reality it's a good little tactical game that was overshadowed by too many other things." [4]
OGRE is a science fiction board wargame designed by the American game designer Steve Jackson and published by Metagaming Concepts in 1977 as the first microgame in its MicroGame line. When Steve Jackson left Metagaming to form his own company, he took the rights to OGRE with him, and all subsequent editions have been produced by Steve Jackson Games (SJG).
G.E.V. is a science fiction board wargame that simulates combat in the near future between supertanks and other futuristic weaponry. The game was designed by American game designer Steve Jackson as a sequel to his Ogre board game when he was working for Metagaming Concepts. When Jackson left Metagaming to form his own company, he took the rights to both G.E.V. and Ogre with him, and all subsequent editions have been produced by Steve Jackson Games.
WarpWar is a science fiction board wargame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1977 that simulates interstellar combat. It was the fourth in Metagaming's MicroGame series.
Melee is a board wargame designed by Steve Jackson, and released in 1977 by Metagaming Concepts. In 2019, Melee was revived and re-released by Steve Jackson Games.
Chitin: I is a science fiction microgame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1977 in which bands of intelligent insects vie for resources.
Annihilator & One World are two board wargames released in one package by Metagaming Concepts in 1979 as the 14th addition to its MicroGame line.
Hot Spot is a science fiction board wargame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1979 that simulates the battle for possession of a molten planet.
Artifact is a science fiction microgame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1980 as part of its MicroGame line that simulates combat on the moon over a recovered alien artifact.
Holy War is a science fiction board wargame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1979 in which two groups battle each other inside a pocket universe.
Ice War is a board wargame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1978 that hypothesizes a Eurasian attack against American oilfields in Alaska.
Olympica, subtitled "The U.N. Raid on Mars, 2206 A.D.", is a science fiction microgame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1978.
Black Hole is a science fiction board wargame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1978 as part of its MicroGame line.
Invasion of the Air-eaters is a science fiction near-future board wargame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1979 in which aliens invaders attempt to replace the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere with sulfur dioxide.
Rivets is a post-apocalyptic board wargame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1977.
Ram Speed, subtitled "Naval Warfare in the Bronze Age", is a two-player microgame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1980 that simulates naval combat between galleys in the Mediterranean during the Bronze Age when the preferred method of attack was ramming a ship.
Dimension Demons is a science fiction board wargame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1981 as part of its MicroGame line.
The Fury of the Norsemen is a two-player board game published by Metagaming Concepts in 1980.
Helltank Destroyer is a science fiction board wargame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1982 as part of its MicroGame line that features combat between supertanks and other futuristic weapoons systems. The game is a sequel to 1981's Helltank, which is itself based on Ogre.
Starleader: Assault! is a science fiction microgame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1982 that was designed to introduce the rules of combat with firearms for a forthcoming science fiction role-playing game that did not get published before Metagaming went out of business.
Sticks & Stones is a board wargame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1978 that is set in the Neolithic Age.