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Jeffro's Space Gaming Blog
Microgames, Monster Games, and Role Playing Games
Free Eighties Role Playing Games Available in PDF
Posted by on February 12, 2013
Talislanta — I remember the ads for this game in Dragon back in the day. I never did see a copy at the game store, though. Now I can read… the entire line!
Star Frontiers — Not only can you get all the rules and modules… but you can get all the Dragon magazine articles to boot. (I’d seen a site earlier that had someone else’s reworking of all the material… but I couldn’t quite get up the nerve to play unless I was sure it was the real thing. This stuff is the real McCoy!) Note that Delta is responsible for alerting me to this site’s existence.
Marvel Superheroes — I admit, I’ve always been more curious about the old DC Heroes game… but this is the Marvel Universe as I grew up with it. The set of trifold cardboard miniatures look super neat, too. Check under the “Other Stuff” tab to see the download lists.
That’s all the ones that I know of. Am I missing any?
There’s definitely more available.
The Powers & Perils rules can be found at http://www.powersandperils.org/rules.htm.
The DragonQuest rules can be found at http://www.fantasist.net/dragonquest.shtml.
I know there are more available and I will see if I can find them…
That DragonQuest pdf looks fantastic. It’s almost like… the guys that made Pacific War put together an rpg or something! Incredible.
I’ve been fascinated by the game for years but I have never gotten around to playing it. I like that it doesn’t try to be kiddified or politically correct also.
The numbered sections and subsections gave me a strangely Starfleet Battles vibe.
ZeFRS: Zebs Fantasy Roleplaying System is the old TSR Conan game with all of the intellectual property references removed and can be found at http://www.midcoast.com/~ricekrwc/zefrs/.
Star Frontiers is one of those games that could use a reboot. The “background” info is sketchy and in some areas contradictory, and very definitely incomplete. But the races are compelling and the frontier nature of the stretch of the galaxy that you’re presented with is solid for adventuring. Add in the Knight Hawks rules for some cheesy space battle action and you’re all set.
Star Frontiers is a quirky system, but I still love it and recently started running it again. Also, check out this really impressive fanzine:
http://starfrontiersman.com/downloads/starfrontiersman
19 issues and counting. This magazine is part of what got me back into playing it.
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