TWERPS

Last updated
TWERPS
TWERPScover.jpg
TWERPS Basic Rules, second edition, first print
Designers "Jeff & 'Manda Dee"
Publishers Gamescience
GenresUniversal
SystemsTWERPS

TWERPS (The World's Easiest Role-Playing System) is a minimalist role-playing game (RPG) originally created by Reindeer Games in 1987 (whose sole product was the TWERPS line) and distributed by Gamescience. Presented as a parody of the complicated RPG systems which were prevalent at the time while still being a playable game in its own right, its simple structure and humorous nature gave it unexpected popularity.

Contents

Description

TWERPS, [(T)he (W)orld's (E)asiest (R)ole-(P)laying (S)ystem)], is a humorous universal system of minimalist rules. [1] Characters have only one ability, Strength. [2] Rules sections cover Strength, Combat, and "How to Do Everything." [1] The game includes a sample character sheet, a combat hex sheet, cardstock miniatures, and an introductory micro-mini-scenario. [1]

The actual rules of the game are indeed extremely simple. Characters are defined by a single attribute, "Strength", which is used for determining all traditional role-playing elements, such as whether or not the character successfully hits in combat, how fast they can move and how much damage they can take before dying. A de facto skill system exists in the form of "character classes" which give numerical bonuses to certain activities if their role called for it (for instance, a pilot having a +1 modifier on their roll to fly an aircraft). [3]

Publication history

TWERPS was originally created, written and illustrated (in a distinctive cartoony style) by "Jeff & 'Manda Dee", Jeff Dee being a noted game illustrator and co-writer of Villains and Vigilantes . It was published by Reindeer Games in 1987 as a digest-sized 8-page pamphlet, with four cardstock sheets. [1]

First Edition titles

Originally each installment of the TWERPS system was sold in a small plastic bag containing an 8-page leaflet, a sheet of cardstock counters to be cut apart, little cardstock hex-maps and a tiny ten-sided die, each being a downsized imitation of elements often found in larger, more elaborate games. The initial run of titles was printed at low cost with black ink on various colored papers to distinguish the various titles (the main rules were on pink paper, the kung-fu rules were on yellow, and so on).

Second Edition titles

As the game grew in popularity, the supplements were re-printed in expanded form with more pages and multi-color printing. New supplements covering new genres and specific objects of parody were also added. These expansions and later supplements were mainly written by Norman F. Morin Jr., Brian Rayburn, Jon Hancock and Niels Erickson rather than Jeff & 'Manda Dee. The tone of these second edition titles was noticeably one of more overt humor and silliness, peppering the text with puns (and even calling on fans to mail in suggested puns of their own for future supplements).

Reception

Stewart Wieck reviewed the product in the December 1986 to January 1987 issue of White Wolf. He downplayed generic role-playing games in general but noted this product was inexpensive, which was part of the appeal of these systems. [4]

Game critic Rick Swan reviewed the game twice:

Other reviews

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Villains and Vigilantes</i> Tabletop superhero role-playing game

Villains and Vigilantes is a superhero-themed role-playing game which competed primarily with Champions and Superworld in the early to mid-1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoenix Command</span> 1986 military role-playing game

Phoenix Command is a combat-oriented role-playing game system published by Leading Edge Games in 1986. Variations of its rules system have also been used in other military games such as Morning Star Missions, Living Steel, and Aliens Adventure Game.

<i>Talislanta</i> Fantasy role-playing game

Talislanta is a fantasy role-playing game published by Bard Games in 1987 that forgoes many of the tropes used by popular games of the genre in favor of a unique world and many new game mechanisms. There have been six different English-language editions and several foreign language editions published.

<i>Mekton</i> Science fiction/mecha role-playing game

Mekton is a role-playing game which centers on the conventions of mecha anime and science fiction. It has seen several editions since its introduction in 1984, the most recent, Mekton Zeta being first published in 1994.

<i>Battlesystem</i> Tabletop miniature wargame

Battlesystem is a tabletop miniature wargame designed as a supplement for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The original Battlesystem was printed as a boxed set in 1985 for use with the first edition AD&D rules. For the second edition of AD&D, a new version of Battesystem was printed as a softcover book in 1989.

<i>Skyrealms of Jorune</i> Science fantasy role-playing game

Skyrealms of Jorune is a science-fantasy role-playing game that was first published in 1984 through SkyRealms Publishing. The game is set on the fictional alien planet of Jorune above which float levitating islands. The second edition was published in 1986 as a boxed set, and a third edition was published by Chessex in 1992. The computer game Alien Logic: A Skyrealms of Jorune Adventure was published in 1994. The various editions received positive reviews in game periodicals including Casus Belli, White Dwarf, White Wolf, Different Worlds, Dragon, Polyhedron, The Games Machine, and Challenge.

<i>Living Steel</i> Science fiction role-playing game

Living Steel is a high-tech science fiction role-playing game published by Leading Edge Games in 1987.

<i>Powers & Perils</i> 1983 fantasy role-playing game

Powers & Perils (P&P) is a fantasy role-playing game published by Avalon Hill in 1984. The highly complex game was Avalon Hill's first foray into the role-playing game market, and proved to be a commercial failure.

<i>Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay</i> Fantasy roleplaying game

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay or Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play is a role-playing game set in the Warhammer Fantasy setting, published by Games Workshop or its licensees.

<i>Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space</i>

Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space is a 1989 boxed set accessory for the Spelljammer campaign setting, part of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) fantasy role-playing game. It supplies rules and materials for playing AD&D in space. The set was well received by critics and fans.

<i>Judge Dredd: The Role-Playing Game</i> Tabletop science fiction role-playing game

Judge Dredd: The Role-Playing Game is a science fiction role-playing game published by Games Workshop in 1985. A second edition was published in 1989.

<i>Skull & Crossbones</i> (role-playing game) Tabletop pirate role-playing game

Skull & Crossbones is a role-playing game published by Fantasy Games Unlimited (FGU) in 1980 in which players take on the roles of pirates.

<i>Merc</i> (role-playing game) Tabletop military role-playing game

Merc is a modern combat role-playing game published by Fantasy Games Unlimited (FGU) in 1981.

<i>Other Suns</i> Tabletop science fiction role-playing game

Other Suns is a science-fiction role-playing game published by Fantasy Games Unlimited (FGU) in 1983.

<i>Psi World</i> Tabletop science fiction role-playing game

Psi World is a science fiction role-playing game published by Fantasy Games Unlimited (FGU) in 1984 that takes place in a near-future society in which certain individuals have psionic powers.

<i>Behind Enemy Lines</i> (role-playing game) WWII tabletop role-playing game

Behind Enemy Lines is a military role-playing game published by FASA in 1982 that is set during World War II; it was the first role-playing game of this genre.

<i>Crime Fighter</i> Tabletop role-playing game

Crime Fighter is a role-playing game published by Task Force Games in 1988 that is based on popular television "cop shows" of the 1960s such as Dragnet and Adam 12.

<i>Eternal Soldier</i> 1986 combat role-playing game

Eternal Soldier is a set of rules for role-playing game combat that was published by Tai-Gear Simulations in 1986.

Ironhedge is a role-playing game published by Empire Wargames in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marvel Super Heroes Advanced Set</span> Tabletop role-playing game

Marvel Super Heroes Advanced Set is a role-playing game supplement published by TSR in 1986 for the Marvel Super Heroes role-playing game.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Prometheus Books. p. 398. ISBN   0-87975-653-5.
  2. 1 2 Swan, Rick (1990). The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games . New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 229–230.
  3. 1 2 Swan, Rick (September 1993). "Roleplaying Reviews". Dragon . No. 200. TSR, Inc. p. 118.
  4. ↑ Wieck, Stewart (December 1987 – January 1998). "Capsule Reviews: TWERPS". White Wolf. No. 8. p. 61.
  5. ↑ "Envoyer Nr. 7 (Mai 1997)".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.