I ran this again the other day. Just thought I'd go "hey, Mutant Epoch!" and see if another else is playing this, thinking of playing this, hates it, whatever...
I've run it, found it can be wildly unbalanced. It has some neat ideas, and pretty solid suggestions for play. Although the cybernetics are very very early 80's (Almost body horror cybernetics.)
I'd avoid random characters in the future. (We ended up with rather power heavy characters like our mutant wolverine, and the guy with the laser arm.)
I've only vaguely heard of it. All I know us that it's post-apocalyptic. What is it like?
I think there's a few reviews around but the short version is that its a lot like Gamma World. Post-apocalyptic, lots of mutants everywhere; the nature of the apocalypse is somewhat up to the GM. Character generation is totally or almost totally random (including race, if you want) and includes humans, mutants (varying degrees of severity, including 'ghost mutants' which are sort of a la The Chysalids - they look entirely human), clones, genetically engineered superhumans ('transhumans'), replicants a la Blade Runner, cyborgs and various mutant animals (more or less).
Game mechanics are a bit clunky unless you like tables (combat is d100+bonuses, most skill or attribute checks are table lookup) but it has a huuge number of mutations. The mutations are fairly entertaining in that it gives exact Appearance reductions for having, for instance, two heads or an upside-down face.
Hm, I haven't heard of this until today ...
To me it seems like it may be yet another version of the Originally Swedish rpg "Mutant".
The original game was done in the 80's, based on Basic Roleplaying, I think, so randomized stats and 80's bionics sounds very much like it ... in addition to the name, of course.
It's fun. Character creation is a blast. Fantastic art. Old school feel... up to and including the awkward, math in your head combat system.
Here's the review I did months ago: http://vengersatanis.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-mutant-epoch-rpg.html
VS
Sort of interesting that there's a fantasy version coming out.
Review is pretty good. One thing I did notice on the example man-horse character..there's a footnote on the Beastial Humans table (after 'Traits') where it explains if a rating doesn't have a '+' it replaces the normal roll instead of adding on. So for the horse the +55 to END and +22 STR is right, but APP would be only 9+d12 and INT only 10+d20. Its unbalanced but not quite that unbalanced.
Quote from: Bloody Stupid Johnson;771348Sort of interesting that there's a fantasy version coming out.
Review is pretty good. One thing I did notice on the example man-horse character..there's a footnote on the Beastial Humans table (after 'Traits') where it explains if a rating doesn't have a '+' it replaces the normal roll instead of adding on. So for the horse the +55 to END and +22 STR is right, but APP would be only 9+d12 and INT only 10+d20. Its unbalanced but not quite that unbalanced.
Good catch, thanks!
VS