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