I remember looking through an RPG mail order catalog that I received in the mail back in mid 1986. I'd sent away for it from an ad in Dragon Magazine, and inside, there it was... The ad for GURPS 1st edition box set!! I begged my grandparents to get it for my Christmas present and they did. It was that moment that made me start digging into the past of Steve Jackson Games, and I ended up buying The Fantasy Trip at a used gaming store. While, GURPS is the game I still play and run today... This was a ton of fun back in the day, and I just want to thank you for bringing back the nostalgia with this. Thanks Trevor!!
I would enjoy seeing more of this and then perhaps Season 4 with GURPS? Alternatively return to your first love and do Savage Worlds again. We don’t need everything to be a new game. Just watching you spin stories is what many of us keep coming back for.
Great! I ran a D&D campaign for friends decades ago then switched to The Fantasy Trip just when we took a break - and never returned to it with them! Still have my original books so it’s great to see TFP getting some love again. Would like to see more from this system.
Another thing about dead bodies in TFT, is that they cause DX penalties to fight while standing on them: -2, and another -1 per additional dead body. So in a fight with more figures, terrain can start getting created, even if there wasn't any to begin with.
A little late to the game here (pun fully intended), but I am an avid solo RPGist and recently decided to pull the trigger on The Fantasy Trip Legacy Edition. I would absolutely love seeing you cover this system in whatever capacity you could manage. To me it feels like one of the best combat systems combined with a fresh (at the time and even to this day) re-imagining on the original roleplaying game. Curious to hear your thoughts of it in relation to your distaste for D&D. No matter what, though, I will continue to enjoy everything you do. Thank you for your continued excellence, Trevor!
I've been solo playing with GURPS (my fav system) and yeah I can see the DNA of the combat system in Melee. And I like that it is in some ways a bit more simple, I may just adopt that in GURPS. Again a very interesting video, Mr Devall. Thanks for showcasing this neat little game/component for us.
Great stuff. Would love to see you run Death Test! Melee and Wizard were my introduction to RPGs back in 78. Lived in Austin and spent time at SJG offices playtesting, eventually got to write a couple of early GURPS sourcebooks. This brings back a lot of fond memories. Thx!
It does. and there are quite a few published programmed adventures for TFT, not just from SJG, but Gaming Ballistic, the original publisher (Metagaming), and the clone Dark City Games, and some others.
If you like this kind of hex-based melee game with individual combatants, there's also the old "Cry Havoc" series that's been re-released in recent years. "Ager Sanguinis" is one of the titles, regarding the 12th century medieval crusader state of Antioch versus the Seljuk Turks, seems to be regularly stocked here in the US (at Noble Knight). It still has it's old school '80s style, albeit with color counters & maps, and includes a randomized campaign ( + map). Basically running a varied little band of knights/horsemen, infantry, archers, etc in medieval raids and such. There are a couple vids people did here on YT for games in the Cry Havoc series. Anyway, thought I'd mention it for those who might be interested in this type of skirmish hex game in a specific historically-based context. There's also another one based on the Norman invasion of Britain that came out (Diex Aie 2) recently, IIRC.
Yes, I would love to see more tft. Specifically, wizard, hand to hand (which I find very confusing), and death test. I was wondering, the spear was a pole are so that orc should always attack first? Then you would not have had to roll off to see which one got to attack because they had the same DX. Thanks for doing this.
More of the Fantasy Trip PLEASE! It would be wonderful to see a Wizard battle and some Deathtrip action. Thank you for taking us through this, also for posting your foibles in the episode.
This is great. There is a thong about Steve Jackson's games where they just feel a bit bland with the basic rules but you immediately can come up with ideas on how to customize them with add-ons and extra rules.
FWIW, not only would the orc have gotten to strike first with the spear as Blackjay closed the distance with him, but his attack would have been at +2 to hit, and would have done an extra die of damage on a charge, so with similar rolls, Blackjay would've taken 1d damage after armor before getting to try to attack the orc.
TFT was the first RPG I played, starting freshman year in high school. It forever set my expectations for how RPG rules should be written. In college, I played D&D because that's what my college friends played. But I always liked TFT better. The rules felt like simplified science or math. While I thought the AD&D rule books were like a lawyer and a historian trying to write a computer manual while drunk.
Yep. I too started with TFT, and then saw D&D, and have never been able to stomach D&D when TFT or GURPS are available, and offer such fun tactical combat that's not just a grind through hitpoints.
This was the system I subbed for DnD combat way back then (early eighties?). However, more than 8 fighters on 8 fighters it gets confusing in a combat round, and some simplification is recommended, though not that bad if every fighter knows their numbers. I'm glad you are giving it a playthrough on this channel, I think it's a great combat system, and is often overlooked. It can be played outside of an RPG context for fun and quick contests, as I think your video illustrates.
It gets easier with practice, or it did for me. It didn't seem like too many figures until I ran a battle with over 300 figures as a campaign finale. That was quite spectacular (and was the right and intended climax for that campaign, which had been about recruiting and organizing a rebel army), but it took a couple of days to play out.
I kickstarted the fantasy trip legacy box, and every time i look at the Death Test cover art, I think, "Pull my finger!" and that old dude farts. It's the death fart. I'd also enjoy seeing more of this. I can see this being more crunchy with terrain and other encumbering things added, too.
I've seen a few demos of this on youtube and this is by far the best. I was sort of interested before but it didn't really grab me, I like the level of crunch that this video demonstrates.
Oh my word! I remember playing that back when it was first put out (by Metagaming, I think? Microgame 1, I think it was?) We replaced our D&D combat system with it. Much fun, much nostalgia. Proto-GURPS.
I've been looking for a good tutorial of the fantasy trip for ages. This is the best one I've seen. A lot of other people covered the in theory, but actually showing the game makes it all come together.
Great video! Played Melee back in the early 80s. Great pick up fantasy combat. Would play with my buddies when we needed some time to kill but not enough to commit to an RPG.
I would definitely like to see more of this, including the solo adventure. Many years ago I had the original Melee and Wizard, and Advanced Wizard, but lost them during a move. Last year I picked up the hardbound reprint of In the Labyrinth, with all the rules (but none of the other boxed set contents), but I haven't had a chance to play it yet.
This was great. I used to play this back in the day (very early 80s) when it was just a booklet and counters in a clear plastic folder, MicroGame 3 according to BGG. Yes please to more The Fantasy Trip content, Wizard and Death Test. I vaguely remember having Wizard.
One of my favorite Convention memories is of a Metagaming sanctioned Melee Tourney in the early '80s. I decimated my opponent in the first round, took my Stat Boosts and was ready to spank in the 2nd. ...Instead I started rolling crit failures. If memory serves, one of my heavy crossbows broke so badly it injured my PC. BOTH my crossbows broke in the 1st round. Then I broke or dropped my sword, then I got skewered ☠️ Ahhh, good times 🤓
I would like to see you show off Wizard, and Death Test. I've played TFT, and the combat is simple enough, and fast enough, that you can run several people per side and it still moves quickly. Also, when there is terrain, you suddenly find more tactical options. The thing that is most charming about TFT, is that the rules are a LOT simpler than D&D, but the tactical choices are greater. Just a good design. Warm regards, Rick.
More TFT, Trevor, please! Wizard and Death test next! Also consider this system for the fourth season of MM&D. It is decently tactic in combat and light at the same time. I spose it would go fairly well for the show and help in visualizing the action for you and us.
You can feel the progenitor GURPS genes in this, I love it! I hope to see how the Magic book works, but even otherwise I'd love to see more FGP videos.
I would love to see Wizard! Also, isn’t there some weirdness when the fighters engage in hand-to-hand combat? What would happen if both combatants lost/broke their weapons and had to murder each other with their bare hands? If you could please demonstrate that slowly, carefully, and twice in your Wizard follow up I would really appreciate it. TFT and VtM Chapters are about as close to an RPG as I can get my fella, an old school hex and counter war gamer, to play. TFT’s hexes, ordinary d6, and the clear options/goals put forth in the published scenarios (both from Steve Jackson and from Dark City Games) make it approachable for non-role players. It’s also solo playable. I can noodle around with Mythic and funny voices on my own, and he can jump in whenever he wants and have a satisfying punch-em-up or take a PC through a published scenario with me. I’m not crazy about hexes and excessive combat in RPGs. But honestly, it’s always nice to play something with him that doesn’t involve WWII. Games like this are potentially marriage savers. More please?
Woah so cool to see old school games. Would love to see your MM&D of the Death test. Thanks for sharing these games most of us never heard of since joining in the past ~3 years since Dnd was in stranger things
I'd love to see you try out the Wizard rules, I've glanced through the rulebook for both Melee and Wizard but haven't had a chance to sit down and play something out.
What I've done in the past is create several characters and populate them on a chart assigning numbers to them. Roll as many times as I want opponents and use those stats for the enemies. What I did then was roll up one new character for my forces and use them with others previously created at random to compose my party. That way I can get into a game fast. Once done with that game, I add those stats of the new character to populate my ever increasing chart as potential future game characters. After several games you a a repertoire of characters and opponents that can be used at a moments notice and with variable and interesting if somewhat unexpected games/results.
I remember saying sword as "swah-ord" until my step mother corrected me. She was the kind of mother that would reply "I don't know can you?" in response to all of the "can, I questions I directed at her."
Would love to see you do a run-through of Death Test. The Fantasy Trip is my second favorite, after Call of Cthulhu, role-playing system. Love your solo stuff!
I have owned this game since 1978 I have wizard the fantasy trip advanced maylay advanced wizard the Dungeon Master's screen and several of the adventures that I don't have at hand but I recall security station perhaps.
That poor first orc...st 13 and only gets a spear(st11), misses his first chance to charge and do double damage, and gets cheated out of his first attack with polearm...he was fated to die... good basic information however, for my first introduction to RPGs in the early 80s
I would love to hear a compare/contrast between GURPS and The Fantasy Trip. I play GURPS Lite with all the Advantages and Skills thrown in and have been wondering if TFT would be a better fit for me.
Love this! I cut my solo teeth with TFT, and still my favorite. Love to see a follow-up using Wizard rules, which are a lot of fun. Any chance of using this system for your next solo campaign??
Winning initiative and moving first seems like a disadvantage because the subsequent counter move is able to position with advantage prior to the attack. I've seen "fixed" with the declaration of the initiative loser's move prior to the winner's move decision.
Moving first is often not the best choice, as you say, but it sometimes is. The thing is that winning _initiative_ gives that side the _choice_ of whether to move first or second.
Very nice! TFT is very fun and easy to play, but Steve Jackson Games always sucked with their rulebooks. They're like 95% telling, 5% showing. So this is very cool of you!
I generally really like the idea of keeping stuff as it was originally. But in this case I think it would've been nice with colored counters. Too much black and white for my taste.
Create characters, put them in an arena and let them slaughter each other. Fun, but gets old. The Fantasy Trip modules add meaning to battles and longer term re-playability.
I like how this manages to be simultaneously quick and (comparatively) simple, and yet tactical
It would be cool to see how other RPG systems would deal with this combat scenario, beginning with GURPS because it's the most similar to Melee.
Well that was a blast from the past! Loved that game as a kid.
It was great getting to meet you in the Harn booth, and this is a great video to watch on the long ride home.
I remember looking through an RPG mail order catalog that I received in the mail back in mid 1986. I'd sent away for it from an ad in Dragon Magazine, and inside, there it was... The ad for GURPS 1st edition box set!! I begged my grandparents to get it for my Christmas present and they did. It was that moment that made me start digging into the past of Steve Jackson Games, and I ended up buying The Fantasy Trip at a used gaming store.
While, GURPS is the game I still play and run today... This was a ton of fun back in the day, and I just want to thank you for bringing back the nostalgia with this. Thanks Trevor!!
I would enjoy seeing more of this and then perhaps Season 4 with GURPS? Alternatively return to your first love and do Savage Worlds again. We don’t need everything to be a new game. Just watching you spin stories is what many of us keep coming back for.
If not gurps perhaps maybe brp
That seems like it might be the origin of the concept of disadvantage? Fascinating.
Definitely would like to see Wizard in play.
Well, I just ordered Melee and Wizard!
Would love to see more of this!
Great! I ran a D&D campaign for friends decades ago then switched to The Fantasy Trip just when we took a break - and never returned to it with them! Still have my original books so it’s great to see TFP getting some love again. Would like to see more from this system.
Another thing about dead bodies in TFT, is that they cause DX penalties to fight while standing on them: -2, and another -1 per additional dead body. So in a fight with more figures, terrain can start getting created, even if there wasn't any to begin with.
Having played TFT since the early '80s I would like to see more of this and Wizard and TFT.
A little late to the game here (pun fully intended), but I am an avid solo RPGist and recently decided to pull the trigger on The Fantasy Trip Legacy Edition. I would absolutely love seeing you cover this system in whatever capacity you could manage. To me it feels like one of the best combat systems combined with a fresh (at the time and even to this day) re-imagining on the original roleplaying game. Curious to hear your thoughts of it in relation to your distaste for D&D. No matter what, though, I will continue to enjoy everything you do. Thank you for your continued excellence, Trevor!
I've been solo playing with GURPS (my fav system) and yeah I can see the DNA of the combat system in Melee. And I like that it is in some ways a bit more simple, I may just adopt that in GURPS.
Again a very interesting video, Mr Devall. Thanks for showcasing this neat little game/component for us.
Great stuff. Would love to see you run Death Test! Melee and Wizard were my introduction to RPGs back in 78. Lived in Austin and spent time at SJG offices playtesting, eventually got to write a couple of early GURPS sourcebooks. This brings back a lot of fond memories. Thx!
I'd like to see more of this, it looks like it would work nicely for solo play.
It does. and there are quite a few published programmed adventures for TFT, not just from SJG, but Gaming Ballistic, the original publisher (Metagaming), and the clone Dark City Games, and some others.
@@pzokz What are the others? Are Metagaming items available in pdf? I imagine that stuff from them would not be available to buy as new?
Orb quest, grail quest, master of amulets, hnicorn gold, silver dragon , security station death test 1 & 2...
If you like this kind of hex-based melee game with individual combatants, there's also the old "Cry Havoc" series that's been re-released in recent years. "Ager Sanguinis" is one of the titles, regarding the 12th century medieval crusader state of Antioch versus the Seljuk Turks, seems to be regularly stocked here in the US (at Noble Knight). It still has it's old school '80s style, albeit with color counters & maps, and includes a randomized campaign ( + map). Basically running a varied little band of knights/horsemen, infantry, archers, etc in medieval raids and such. There are a couple vids people did here on YT for games in the Cry Havoc series. Anyway, thought I'd mention it for those who might be interested in this type of skirmish hex game in a specific historically-based context.
There's also another one based on the Norman invasion of Britain that came out (Diex Aie 2) recently, IIRC.
This sounds awesome! :D Thanks a lot for the recommendation~!
YESSS
Yes, I would love to see more tft. Specifically, wizard, hand to hand (which I find very confusing), and death test.
I was wondering, the spear was a pole are so that orc should always attack first? Then you would not have had to roll off to see which one got to attack because they had the same DX.
Thanks for doing this.
More of the Fantasy Trip PLEASE! It would be wonderful to see a Wizard battle and some Deathtrip action. Thank you for taking us through this, also for posting your foibles in the episode.
This is great. There is a thong about Steve Jackson's games where they just feel a bit bland with the basic rules but you immediately can come up with ideas on how to customize them with add-ons and extra rules.
... And thongs always add a little extra spice 😜
FWIW, not only would the orc have gotten to strike first with the spear as Blackjay closed the distance with him, but his attack would have been at +2 to hit, and would have done an extra die of damage on a charge, so with similar rolls, Blackjay would've taken 1d damage after armor before getting to try to attack the orc.
TFT was the first RPG I played, starting freshman year in high school. It forever set my expectations for how RPG rules should be written. In college, I played D&D because that's what my college friends played. But I always liked TFT better. The rules felt like simplified science or math. While I thought the AD&D rule books were like a lawyer and a historian trying to write a computer manual while drunk.
Yep. I too started with TFT, and then saw D&D, and have never been able to stomach D&D when TFT or GURPS are available, and offer such fun tactical combat that's not just a grind through hitpoints.
Anyone else start humming the Captain Kirk vs Gorn combat music when the orc started circling the soldier?
This was the system I subbed for DnD combat way back then (early eighties?). However, more than 8 fighters on 8 fighters it gets confusing in a combat round, and some simplification is recommended, though not that bad if every fighter knows their numbers. I'm glad you are giving it a playthrough on this channel, I think it's a great combat system, and is often overlooked. It can be played outside of an RPG context for fun and quick contests, as I think your video illustrates.
It gets easier with practice, or it did for me. It didn't seem like too many figures until I ran a battle with over 300 figures as a campaign finale. That was quite spectacular (and was the right and intended climax for that campaign, which had been about recruiting and organizing a rebel army), but it took a couple of days to play out.
Very nice. More please. Would love to see the magic and death test.
As someone who got my love for RPGs from old GURPS splatbooks bought from used bookstores, this is a huge nostalgia trip!
"Nostalgia Trip". I see what you did.
Man-to-Man was my intro proto-GURPS and where I learned about min-maxing. :)
I kickstarted the fantasy trip legacy box, and every time i look at the Death Test cover art, I think, "Pull my finger!" and that old dude farts. It's the death fart.
I'd also enjoy seeing more of this. I can see this being more crunchy with terrain and other encumbering things added, too.
Definitely would love to see an FGP on the other stuff sent 😮
I've seen a few demos of this on youtube and this is by far the best. I was sort of interested before but it didn't really grab me, I like the level of crunch that this video demonstrates.
simple effective combat system
I would really like to see more of Fantasy Trip and especially the solo adventure. I'd also like to see you do an episode of FGP with GURPS.
Please do more The Fantasy Trip videos. I would love to see Wizard explained!
Oh my word! I remember playing that back when it was first put out (by Metagaming, I think? Microgame 1, I think it was?) We replaced our D&D combat system with it. Much fun, much nostalgia. Proto-GURPS.
I loved Melee, Wizards, and Death Test! Played so much of that back in the late 70s/early 80s.
The Fantasy Trip is my favorite system! (not a surprise to those who know) Explore more is my advice!
MORE OF THIS.. wow i want that boxset
I've been looking for a good tutorial of the fantasy trip for ages. This is the best one I've seen. A lot of other people covered the in theory, but actually showing the game makes it all come together.
Great video! Played Melee back in the early 80s. Great pick up fantasy combat. Would play with my buddies when we needed some time to kill but not enough to commit to an RPG.
13:09 I’ve got this image of the two fighters circling each other warily waiting for an opening.
I definitely want to see more this is pretty awesome ❤
I would definitely like to see more of this, including the solo adventure.
Many years ago I had the original Melee and Wizard, and Advanced Wizard, but lost them during a move. Last year I picked up the hardbound reprint of In the Labyrinth, with all the rules (but none of the other boxed set contents), but I haven't had a chance to play it yet.
Steve Jackson micro games were so kewl when they first came out. I think they started at $2.95?!? Who remembers when three bucks was real money? 🤣
This was great. I used to play this back in the day (very early 80s) when it was just a booklet and counters in a clear plastic folder, MicroGame 3 according to BGG.
Yes please to more The Fantasy Trip content, Wizard and Death Test. I vaguely remember having Wizard.
I would like to see more of The Fantasy Trip, appears a good system for solo combat!
Would definitely be interested in seeing more of Fantasy Trip featured.
One of my favorite Convention memories is of a Metagaming sanctioned Melee Tourney in the early '80s. I decimated my opponent in the first round, took my Stat Boosts and was ready to spank in the 2nd. ...Instead I started rolling crit failures. If memory serves, one of my heavy crossbows broke so badly it injured my PC. BOTH my crossbows broke in the 1st round. Then I broke or dropped my sword, then I got skewered ☠️ Ahhh, good times 🤓
Never heard of this game. Kind of cool. Wouldn't mind seeing the wizard part of it as well. Thanks for the demo!
Black J has been pulled into so many combats across the Featureless Grey Plain. He must be tired of the endless battles.
Wizard & Death Test? Yes, please!
I would like to see you show off Wizard, and Death Test.
I've played TFT, and the combat is simple enough, and fast enough, that you can run several people per side and it still moves quickly. Also, when there is terrain, you suddenly find more tactical options.
The thing that is most charming about TFT, is that the rules are a LOT simpler than D&D, but the tactical choices are greater. Just a good design.
Warm regards, Rick.
More TFT, Trevor, please! Wizard and Death test next! Also consider this system for the fourth season of MM&D. It is decently tactic in combat and light at the same time. I spose it would go fairly well for the show and help in visualizing the action for you and us.
You can feel the progenitor GURPS genes in this, I love it! I hope to see how the Magic book works, but even otherwise I'd love to see more FGP videos.
I would love to see Wizard! Also, isn’t there some weirdness when the fighters engage in hand-to-hand combat? What would happen if both combatants lost/broke their weapons and had to murder each other with their bare hands? If you could please demonstrate that slowly, carefully, and twice in your Wizard follow up I would really appreciate it.
TFT and VtM Chapters are about as close to an RPG as I can get my fella, an old school hex and counter war gamer, to play. TFT’s hexes, ordinary d6, and the clear options/goals put forth in the published scenarios (both from Steve Jackson and from Dark City Games) make it approachable for non-role players. It’s also solo playable. I can noodle around with Mythic and funny voices on my own, and he can jump in whenever he wants and have a satisfying punch-em-up or take a PC through a published scenario with me. I’m not crazy about hexes and excessive combat in RPGs. But honestly, it’s always nice to play something with him that doesn’t involve WWII. Games like this are potentially marriage savers. More please?
so happy that you are covering this game.
Trevor this series is really awesome, I've always been interested in checking out TFT but just never did. Thanks for doing it for me! ✌
Woah so cool to see old school games. Would love to see your MM&D of the Death test. Thanks for sharing these games most of us never heard of since joining in the past ~3 years since Dnd was in stranger things
I'd love to see you try out the Wizard rules, I've glanced through the rulebook for both Melee and Wizard but haven't had a chance to sit down and play something out.
What I've done in the past is create several characters and populate them on a chart assigning numbers to them. Roll as many times as I want opponents and use those stats for the enemies. What I did then was roll up one new character for my forces and use them with others previously created at random to compose my party. That way I can get into a game fast. Once done with that game, I add those stats of the new character to populate my ever increasing chart as potential future game characters. After several games you a a repertoire of characters and opponents that can be used at a moments notice and with variable and interesting if somewhat unexpected games/results.
I remember saying sword as "swah-ord" until my step mother corrected me. She was the kind of mother that would reply "I don't know can you?" in response to all of the "can, I questions I directed at her."
The 🤡 music kills me every time Trevor! Would love to see Death Test tested. Your production quality is so, so appreciated
Would love to see you do a run-through of Death Test. The Fantasy Trip is my second favorite, after Call of Cthulhu, role-playing system. Love your solo stuff!
I have owned this game since 1978 I have wizard the fantasy trip advanced maylay advanced wizard the Dungeon Master's screen and several of the adventures that I don't have at hand but I recall security station perhaps.
That poor first orc...st 13 and only gets a spear(st11), misses his first chance to charge and do double damage, and gets cheated out of his first attack with polearm...he was fated to die... good basic information however, for my first introduction to RPGs in the early 80s
I would love to hear a compare/contrast between GURPS and The Fantasy Trip. I play GURPS Lite with all the Advantages and Skills thrown in and have been wondering if TFT would be a better fit for me.
Love this! I cut my solo teeth with TFT, and still my favorite. Love to see a follow-up using Wizard rules, which are a lot of fun. Any chance of using this system for your next solo campaign??
+1 for Wizard then Death Test.
That's good stuff but I really miss the main serie.
Luckily, it’s still on the channel! 😜
Finally! I’ve been blessed with TFT play by a master. TFT seems to have been put on the back burner by everyone :-/
Will you make a review of Chainmail someday?
Winning initiative and moving first seems like a disadvantage because the subsequent counter move is able to position with advantage prior to the attack. I've seen "fixed" with the declaration of the initiative loser's move prior to the winner's move decision.
Moving first is often not the best choice, as you say, but it sometimes is. The thing is that winning _initiative_ gives that side the _choice_ of whether to move first or second.
More TFT!
Very nice! TFT is very fun and easy to play, but Steve Jackson Games always sucked with their rulebooks. They're like 95% telling, 5% showing. So this is very cool of you!
I generally really like the idea of keeping stuff as it was originally. But in this case I think it would've been nice with colored counters. Too much black and white for my taste.
Will you ever do a Traveller solo game or what
Create characters, put them in an arena and let them slaughter each other. Fun, but gets old. The Fantasy Trip modules add meaning to battles and longer term re-playability.
It doesn't make a lot of sense that armor would make you miss more often