Secret Wars (adventure)
| Publisher(s) | TSR |
|---|---|
| System(s) | Marvel Super Heroes |
Secret Wars is a role-playing game adventure published by TSR in 1984 for the Marvel Super Heroes role-playing game.
Plot summary
Secret Wars is a scenario describing the "Secret Wars", conflicts between heroes and villains in another dimension. It is based on the notorious comic-book series of the same name.[1]
Secret Wars is a campaign package, detailing the main events and characters of the comic series. The first episode beings with the destruction of an entire galaxy and the construction of a planet made of lumps of some of the destroyed worlds. A creature called the Beyonder has built this structure in order to determine the exact nature of the war between superheroes and villains. For this reason he captures a random selection of heroes and villains, mostly from Earth, and promises to give the victors their hearts' desire.[2]
The pack contains a sixteen-page "adventure" book outlining the main events and detailing Karma awards for various actions, a sixteen-page "roster" booklet listing 33 heroes, villains, and others, a large double-sided map, and a useful table of Superhero and supervillain characteristics and powers. This table is printed inside the cover, and contains every character in the campaign, including a few whose statistics aren't reprinted in the roster because they can be found in the basic game.[2]
Publication history
MHSP1 Secret Wars was written by Jeff Grubb, with a cover by Mike Zeck, and was published by TSR, Inc., in 1984 as two 16-page books, a large color map, and an outer folder.[1]
Reception
Marcus L. Rowland reviewed Secret Wars for White Dwarf #69, rating it 7/10 overall.[2] He criticized the Beyonder's behavior and motivations, saying he "committed genocide on a scale which makes Galactus look like a small-timer" and wonders why "the Beyonder doesn't just use a telescope and watch Earth without interfering".[2] He found the table of superhero and supervillain characteristics and powers to be "a much more useful referee's shield than the official TSR publication".[2] Rowland found that this pack would be "an essential source for anyone who wants to run a campaign based on 'Secret Wars', or wants the statistics of a host of useful characters" although he found a few flaws, such as lower popularity ratings than expected for some characters, and skewed Karma ratings for other characters.[2] He concluded by saying: "A more basic flaw in this package is the inability of players to earn Karma, except by combat, or make any use of their secret identities. Some characters automatically lose Karma for each day of the campaign, since they are worried about their jobs or loved ones. However, this lack of personal development is a common disadvantage of such mega-adventures. Excellent art, black and white reprints of the magazine illustrations, make this a good buy."[2]
Reviews
- Space Gamer (Issue 75 - Jul 1985)
References
- 1 2 Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Prometheus Books. p. 54. ISBN 0-87975-653-5.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rowland, Marcus L. (September 1985). "Open Box". White Dwarf (Games Workshop) (69): 14.