 Star Probe (1975) | |
| Designers | John M. Snider |
|---|---|
| Publishers | TSR, Inc. |
| Publication | 1975 |
| Players | 1–8 |
| Playing time | 360 minutes |
| Age range | 10 + |
Star Probe is a science fiction game written by John Snider and published in 1975 by TSR, Inc. with artwork by Paul Snider. It was to be the first of a series of interconnected space games, followed Star Empires . [1] The game consists of a 36-page rulebook with a map and counters that players use in their quest for interstellar exploration.
The object of the game is to discover new worlds with potential for colonization. Each player has a ship which they must equip with personnel, weapons, fuel, and rations, funded by an initial grant and later by cash gained through exploration. [2] These are lost or consumed during the course of play. The star systems on the map have numbers indicating how far above or below the plane of the map they are; hence the ships are free to move in three dimensions.
The generic type (amoeboid, insect, feline, avian, etc.) of inhabitants on a planet can be determined by a roll of percentile dice—a similar system appears in Traveller . Players can battle with hostile inhabitants as well as spaceship battles with other players, but doing so costs the players' cash and materials. Star Probe is divided into 60 game turns, with each turn corresponding to one month in the game, although this time limit can be adjusted for the number of players. The winner of the game is the player who has gained the most cash and materials through exploration in this time limit. [2]
According to Shannon Appelcline, "Star Probe (1975) by John M. Snider was scheduled for 1974 but slipped into 1975. It was a science-fiction board game of the sort that was just emerging as its own new field — as could be seen in Metagaming's The Space Gamer (1975–1980). Star Probe was supposed to be the first game in a trilogy, but by the time TSR released the second game, Star Empires (1977), they'd already found their niche, and it wasn't in science-fiction board gaming after all. They eventually returned the rights to the games to Snider in 1980." [3] : 16–17
Edward C. Cooper reviewed Star Probe in The Space Gamer No. 3, commenting that "Star Probe has something for everyone". [2]
In a retrospective review in the February 2000 of InQuest Gamer , Tom Slizewski states that the game's rulebook "reads like a 36-page math equation" and had a negative opinion of the game. [4]
Star Frontiers is a science fiction role-playing game produced by TSR from 1982 to 1985. The game offers a space opera action-adventure setting.
The Fantasy Trip (TFT) is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game designed by Steve Jackson and published in segments by Metagaming Concepts starting in 1977 and culminating in 1980. In 2019, Steve Jackson Games republished it as The Fantasy Trip Legacy Edition.
Spelljammer is a campaign setting originally published for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, which features a fantastic outer space environment. Subsequent editions have included Spelljammer content; a Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition setting update was released on August 16, 2022.
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).
White Bear and Red Moon is a fantasy board wargame set in the world of Glorantha, created by Greg Stafford and published in 1975. Stafford first tried to sell the game to established publishers, but despite being accepted by three different game companies, each attempt ended in failure; eventually he founded his own game company in 1974, the influential Chaosium, to produce and market the game.
Alternity is a science fiction role-playing game (RPG) published by TSR in 1998. Following the acquisition of TSR by Wizards of the Coast, the game was discontinued in 2000 as part of a broader rationalisation of TSR's business holdings, but it retains a small and devoted fanbase. Parts of Alternity as well as TSR's classic Star Frontiers game have been incorporated into the d20 Modern game, especially the d20 Future setting. The first campaign setting for the Alternity game, the Star*Drive setting, was introduced in 1998.
Ares was an American science fiction wargame magazine published by Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI), and then TSR, Inc., between 1980 and 1984. In addition to the articles, each issue contained a small science-fiction-themed board wargame.
Empire of the Petal Throne is a fantasy role-playing game designed by M. A. R. Barker, based on his Tékumel fictional universe. It was self-published in 1974, then published by TSR, Inc. in 1975. It was one of the first tabletop role-playing games, along with Dungeons & Dragons, and was the first published RPG game setting. Over the subsequent thirty years, several new games were published based on the Tékumel setting; however, to date, none have met with commercial success. While published as fantasy, the game is sometimes classified as science fantasy or, debatably, as science fiction.
Starfaring was the first science fiction role-playing game (RPG) published, released by Flying Buffalo in August 1976. Although it was the first to market, it didn't attract an audience, and was soon superseded by the much more popular Traveller published the following year.
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.
Lords of Creation is a multi-genre tabletop role-playing game published by Avalon Hill in 1983. Although expectations were high when Avalon Hill entered the role-playing game market, the game failed to find an audience and was discontinued relatively quickly.
A gamemaster's screen, also called a GM's screen, is a gaming accessory, usually made out of either cardboard or card stock, and is used by the gamemaster to hide all the relevant data related to a tabletop role-playing game session from the players in order to not spoil the plot of the story. It also hides any dice rolls made by the gamemaster that players should not see. In addition, screens often have essential tables and information printed on the inside for the gamemaster to easily reference during play.
Richard Leonard Snider was a game designer who worked primarily on role-playing games.
Star Empires is a 1977 board wargame published by TSR.
The Siege of Minas Tirith is a 1975 board wargame designed by Richard Jordison and published by Fact and Fantasy Games. It depicts both the Battle of Pelennor Fields and the siege of Minas Tirith from the novel The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Battle of the Five Armies is a 1975 board wargame published by LORE / JMJ Enterprises and by TSR later.
Starguard! is a 1974 miniatures wargame created by Michael Kurtick and Jon McEwan and published by McEwan Miniatures. It is a game of tactical-level ground combat of the future. The games Star War 2250 (1975) and Orilla: 1st StarGuard Supplement (1977) were released as strategic companions to Starguard!.
Grail Quest is a solitaire Arthurian fantasy combat adventure published by Metagaming Concepts in 1980 that uses the combat rules from The Fantasy Trip.
Godsfire is a science fiction board wargame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1976 that simulates planetary empire building, economics, and diplomacy. The game was reissued by Task Force Games in 1985.
Introduction to Star Fleet Battles is a supplement published by Task Force Games in 1986 for the science fiction combat game Star Fleet Battles that is inspired by the TV series Star Trek.
