Revolt On Antares

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Intergalactic assassin Corvus Andromeda on the cover of TSR's Revolt On Antares microgame Revolt on antares.jpg
Intergalactic assassin Corvus Andromeda on the cover of TSR's Revolt On Antares microgame

Revolt On Antares is a science fiction themed microgame designed by Tom Moldvay and produced by TSR, Inc. in 1981. Similar to the microgames produced by Steve Jackson Games, it was sold in a transparent plastic shell case and came with rulebook, full-color hex-map, counters, and one six-sided die. Other games in this series (called "minigames" by TSR) include They've Invaded Pleasantville! , Remember the Alamo , Attack Force , Vampyre , Viking Gods , Icebergs and Saga .

Contents

The action of the game takes place on Imhirrhos, the ninth planet in the Antares system. Two to four players assume the roles of leaders of different factions fighting for control of the planet as the influence of Earth's Imperial Terran Empire begins to weaken. The factions include seven different ruling families or houses, Terran Empire forces, natives, and alien Silakkans. Players can choose from one of three different game scenarios.

House Leaders

Each of the seven houses has a leader with varying numbers of forces to command such as Hovercraft, Jump Troops, Laser Tanks, and Power Infantry as well as one Artifact (see below). Each leader also possesses a special ability.

Galactic Heroes

If a house leader is killed during combat, the player has the opportunity to recruit a Galactic Hero to replace him. Like house leaders, Galactic Heroes also have special powers or lead additional forces.

Other Factions

In addition to the seven house leaders there are three other power groups that may or may not come into play depending on the game scenario.

Artifacts

Each house has possession of a special alien artifact, chosen at random at the beginning of the game.

Scenarios and Gameplay

Revolt on Antares has three different game scenarios: Revolt Against Terra (the basic game), The Silakka Invasion, and Power Politics on Imirrhos.

Reception

William A. Barton reviewed Revolt On Antares in The Space Gamer No. 44. [1] Barton commented that "Although Revolt On Antares isn't overly exciting, it can be an interesting little game to play, especially if you like the smaller games with an SF (make that science fantasy) flavor." [1]

Duke Ritenhouse commented in a 1998 article that "The big red dragon from Lake Geneva even got into the act by 1981, taking time out from counting its Advanced Dungeons & Dragons profits to release a series of minis that came in ridiculous unwieldy, clear plastic cases. Anyone remember They've invaded Pleasantville? Revolt on Antares? Vampyre? For that matter, does anyone remember Remember the Alamo?" [2]

In a retrospective review of Revolt On Antares in Black Gate , Ty Johnston said "Remembered fondly today by many old-school players, Revolt on Antares has become something of a collector's piece, often selling for nearly a hundred U.S. dollars on various online sites. Is it worth it? Perhaps, especially to those of us who warmly recall it as a part of our childhood." [3]

Reviews

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References

  1. 1 2 Barton, William A. (October 1981). "Capsule Reviews". The Space Gamer (44). Steve Jackson Games: 30.
  2. ↑ Ritenhouse, Duke (April 1998). "Three-Dollar Wars. A look back at the Golden Age of Metagaming's Microgames". Vindicator. 2 (1): 11. Retrieved 2024-03-25– via Internet Archive.
  3. ↑ "Revolt on Antares: Small but Packed with Thrills… and Memories – Black Gate".
  4. ↑ "Asimov's v07n03 (1983 03)".
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