High Colonies

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Cover art by Eric Hotz High Colonies.jpg
Cover art by Eric Hotz

High Colonies is a science fiction role-playing game published by the Canadian firm Waterford Publishing House in 1988.

Contents

Description

High Colonies is a science-fiction space-adventure game, a hard-science system set in 2188. [1] The Earth has been ravaged by a nuclear/biological holocaust, and human society has continued only in the orbital colonies that surround Earth and are scattered throughout the Solar System. [1] Each space colony is a self-contained ecology with a unique culture, ideology, and legal system. Some of the colonies have banded together with others of like ideology, in opposition to other groups of colonies. [2]

The game includes rules for character creation (a skill-based system), robots, one alien race, genetic engineering, melee combat (between people and/or robots), and spaceship combat. [1] There is campaign setting material describing the factions that control the various colonies, and an introductory scenario, "Hard Times at Lyric 3." [1]

The timeline which establishes the background for High Colonies runs to almost 8,000 words. [3]

Publication history

High Colonies was designed by Eric Hotz and Edwin King, [2] and Hotz also created the artwork. The 104-page book was published by Waterford Publishing House in 1988. [1]

Reception

Stewart Wieck reviewed High Colonies in White Wolf #15 (April/May 1989), rating it a 4 out of 5 and stated that "Even if you have a pet game system you prefer, the information provided in 'High Colonies' would allow for a fascinating setting for adventures. Little suspension of belief is required on the part of the participants as the people and places are very believable." [4]

Rick Swan wrote two reviews of High Colonies:

Other reviews and commentary

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Prometheus Books. p. 306. ISBN   0-87975-653-5.
  2. 1 2 3 Swan, Rick (1990). The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games . New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 102–103.
  3. Hotz, Eric, et al. “High Colonies: Science Fiction Role-Playing.” 1988. Scribd.com -- uploaded 19 Mar. 2015, www.scribd.com/document/259326269/High-Colonies-Scifi-Rpg.
  4. Wieck, Stewart (April–May 1989). "Capsule Reviews". White Wolf Magazine . No. 15. p. 56.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  5. Swan, Rick (July–August 1989). "High Colonies". Space Gamer . 2 (1). World Wide Wargames: 30–31.