Despite the recent thread over at RPG.net, I've always been surprised that the game Dragonquest didn't become more popular in the early 1980s.  It was really quite innovative for its day.

I remember having a lot of fun with a game called Thieves Guild produced by a company called Gamelords back in the day (i.e. early 1980s).  It was essentially an AD&D rip-off, but had tons of rules specifically tailored for thieves, and all of its adventures were oriented towards 'breaking the law' as well.  They had a detailed setting -- the 'Free City of Haven' -- to go along with the game.  I would certainly not play it today, although I often consider reworking some of the adventures and the city for C&C.
(Apparently you can still buy Gamelords stuff here: http://www.diffworlds.com/gamelords.htm )

Quote from: Zachary The FirstThat sucks.  I need to run another session here.  We had a really fun one-shot, but I just haven't had the time to get it back in the rotation, and I need to.

I went ahead and put my combined review up here.  I'm really glad they're compiling Epic into a single game manual.  That'll help a lot, I think.

Well, , *shuffle*, thanks guys.  

James, that sucks about your hard drive.  My sympathies.

We're very excited about the single volume release, as well, and are deep in the final editing process (which is why I haven't been around much over the past, uh, two months.

Quote from: ReimdallWe're very excited about the single volume release, as well, and are deep in the final editing process (which is why I haven't been around much over the past, uh, two months.

It's good to know it's on the way!  I'm really excited to see it out there--make sure to let me know, and I'll do a review at all the usual haunts, if you'd like--I'm curious to see if it fixes a couple of the issues I had in the game (well, hey, 1 volume is the big one right there!).

F'ing Thieves World!   This is one that, like Jared said, I can't believe hasn't been spawned into a MMORPG or PC game of some sort.

I know, Green Ronin d20'fied it, but i'd like to see it in another system, or with cross-system stats like the original.

Also, as jacked up as the system was/is, Man, Myth, & Magic was a fave waaay back in junior high, and The Morrow Project is another that doesn't get much love.

Quote from: SilverlionYour facts are in error.
Buck Rogers XXIV was based on rather hard science (genetic engineering, only travel amongst other Sol-system planets)  but had no relation to the TV series. It also predated 'High adventure Cliffhangers" by 7 years. (Published 1988, vs High Adventure 1995)

You misremembered there.  XXVc was a 1990 game.

Quote from: AkrasiaDespite the recent thread over at RPG.net, I've always been surprised that the game Dragonquest didn't become more popular in the early 1980s.  It was really quite innovative for its day.

Man, I really wish that SPI-style "legalistic" rules had caught on. I started playing wargames at exactly the same time as I started playing D&D, and the SPI style just obviously beat the hell out of the more "descriptive" AH style.

In DragonQuest, I especially liked skill descriptions that told you exactly what they meant and how to use them. Things like "Tactics: in each combat round you may take a timeout of 5 seconds + 2 seconds per skill rank to decide your actions instead of the standard 3 seconds. You may command 2 other persons in combat + 1 person per skill level. Etc." (Paraphrasing from memory here.)

Of course, I never got to actually use the system either as GM or player...

Ringworld should have gone on to greatness, or have been picked up by some other company.

It was wonderfully done, too bad chaosium insisted on becoming the call of cthulhu game company.

Even though Tribe 8 usually does get a lot of love from the people who discover it, I still think it's horribly underrated. It was crippled by the double-whammy of a presentation that just didn't click with some people (by presenting almost all of the setting information as subjective narrative...I love it, but other people not so much) and some kind of weird idea that the game was written by or for feminazis. During the first couple years the game was released I could have just copied and pasted the same explanation over and over again about what the game was really like versus these coked out misconceptions people had. It's still one of the best games I've ever played.

As for underrated gems, I gotta throw in Dream Park. We had some great one-off games using that system and the Beat Chart was so cool I still use to loosely plot scenarios.

A guy named Sean Wipfli created a game called Dead Meat: Ultima somethingsomething which was basically about 5 pages of sparsely written text on how to play a zombie survival horror-type one-shot.  And it rocked!  It was a pickup and play game with disposable characters (you made 3 at the beginning) that you could run on the spur of the moment which made it great for newbies and veterans alike.  Had some really good times with that game.  

Pete

Quote from: AkrasiaI remember having a lot of fun with a game called Thieves Guild produced by a company called Gamelords back in the day (i.e. early 1980s).

The old Thieves Guild! I've still got TG 1-3, The Free City of Haven and The Compleat Tavern. For some reason I couldn't bring myself to get rid of them when I unloaded AD&D (which is what I used it for).

Quote from: Dominus NoxRingworld should have gone on to greatness, or have been picked up by some other company.

It was wonderfully done, too bad chaosium insisted on becoming the call of cthulhu game company.

http://www.rpg-outpost.com/gameguide.htm

Scroll to the bottom!

-clash

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!Do the books take up that much space?

Look at MY cajones!

HA!
Que cajones tan grandes!

Quote from: WilEven though Tribe 8 usually does get a lot of love from the people who discover it, I still think it's horribly underrated. It was crippled by the double-whammy of a presentation that just didn't click with some people (by presenting almost all of the setting information as subjective narrative...I love it, but other people not so much).

I be one of thems. I think I have everything produced for the game, but I've barely read it. My mind skips over such narratives.

Seanchai

Swordbearer, an excellent fantasy RPG with a good skill system and evocative magic based on elements and humours.

Justice Inc., 1920s era game using the Hero System. Especially with Aaron Allston's "Lands of Mystery" supplement.

DragonQuest was pretty good. It does tend to suffer from adoring fans when the reality it is was "just fine".

Everyway is a good game, but I really for epic demi-god types only.

Man, Myth and Magic was a great idea but god-awful execution.