Underrated Games (or Little Known Gems)

Warthur · February 26, 2007, 07:41:21 AM

The Whispering Vault never got enough love, even when it was in print. It's a bizarre horror game, a genuinely interesting twist on the "you are the monsters" genre. Rather than exploring White Wolf style angst, the PCs were terrifying ex-humans recruited by the Powers That Be to take down even more terrifying opponents, deranged monsters who have become trapped in the world of flesh. It was designed as a pick-up game, and while the system was good for that the setting was slightly too complicated to explain in 15 minutes (which is my litmus test for whether a game is really "pick up and play").

Jared A. Sorensen · February 26, 2007, 02:49:47 PM

Whispering Vault is crazy mad cool and was inspirational in my development of InSpectres' fixed scenario structure. I have an ashcan from GenCon '95 that i bought in a used games section for $5 and it's one of my personal treasures.

My "unloved" games include:

Talislanta (okay, maybe not unloved but man, why doesn't someone do a Tal MMORPG or RTS game?!)
Over the Edge (blew my mind back in the early 90's)
Street Fighter (stupid, but awesome)
...and that's about it.

Zachary The First · February 26, 2007, 03:16:28 PM

I will stick with the Epic RPG by Dark Matter Studios (Reimdall on this board is one of the creators). This has a great damage system, fun guild/profession customization and advancement, some of the best and most unique arcane disciplines I've ever seen (the magic system is seriously one of the most fun I've ever played with), and even good skirmish/army rules. Definitely one of the most coherent small-press fantasy games I've seen.

C.W.Richeson · February 26, 2007, 03:23:36 PM

For under rated but not unknown I'd throw Werewolf: the Forsaken into the mix. I see little discussion of the line online, and White Wolf seems to be putting out fewer and fewer supplements for it, but the line is really fantastic.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!Hollow Earth Expedition doesn't seem to get much love. Although I haven't actually played it yet, I *have* read the rules, and they are good. Plus, it's absolutely gorgeous.

It comes up with some regularity on RPG.net, though it does seem like folk are more interested in being sold on it than actually discussing the fun they've had with it. I'm hoping that future supplements help to develop and call more attention to this product, as I really enjoyed it.

Review for anyone interested: http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12635.phtml

jdrakeh · February 26, 2007, 03:38:33 PM

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)

I tend to view XXVc as Space Opera, despite bits of hard science (the alien menace of a race of sentient robots was pretty far from hard science). Ultimately that point is not a question of fact, but of subjective opinion.

The other stuff you're correct about, though (my bad -- it has been a while since I parted with my XXVc box set). At any rate, XXVc is not based on the original comics (and apparently not the television series, either). Point was, it's not pulp anything, but relatively pure science fiction.

That said, you're flatly in error about the HAC publication date -- the books very clearly display a 1993 copyright.

jdrakeh · February 26, 2007, 03:42:14 PM

Quote from: Zachary The FirstI will stick with the Epic RPG by Dark Matter Studios (Reimdall on this board is one of the creators). This has a great damage system, fun guild/profession customization and advancement, some of the best and most unique arcane disciplines I've ever seen (the magic system is seriously one of the most fun I've ever played with), and even good skirmish/army rules. Definitely one of the most coherent small-press fantasy games I've seen.

Oooo. . . seconded. I reviewed the Epic line (well, all but the setting book, the review of which was lost in a HD crash) and was very impressed. In many ways, it's my preferred d20-influenced fantasy RPG. That said, I couldn't find anybody locally who had enough cajones to play it. Pussies. :mad:

obryn · February 26, 2007, 03:48:04 PM

Quote from: mythusmageDangerous Journeys (Aint I predictable? )

Percentile task resolution, flexible, dozens of skills and vocations, killer combat. And about a dozen different kinds of horses in the Mythus Bestiary. The Epic of Ærth book is full of good stuff too. (The Phæree random environment tables are tons a' fun. )

Player: Yesterday Count Repugsive's castle was 20 miles away, the sky was blue, and a yellow sun travelled from east to west. Now a purple sun is traveling from south to north, the sky is green, and Count Repugsive's hamburger stand is right before us and offering a two for one deal on "Grovel Meals". Who, besides me, feels up to murdering that damn elf?

The more I think back on my days playing Mythus, the more amazed I am that I could ever run a compelling game in it...

-O

flyingmice · February 26, 2007, 03:50:03 PM

My little known gem is Timeless Gamez' The Terran Story, which was withdrawn from publication a couple of years ago. It was only published in pdf, and is not available now in any form, though you can still get several pdf supplements. Timeless is producing an entirely new game partly based on The Terran Story which will be released this year. It looks really good so far, based on my reading of an advance copy.

-clash

jdrakeh · February 26, 2007, 04:04:06 PM

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!And where did you say I can get this?

I suspect that you can snag a copy via Noble Knight games, as it has been OOP for quite a while. The sole supplement (War With the Han) seems to be prolific, though, as I've run across multiple copies of it in California, Washington, Kansas, and (now) Colorado. The box set seems to be much less common (the only copy I've ever seen is the one that I now own).

jdrakeh · February 26, 2007, 04:05:56 PM

Quote from: SeanchaiI like Dragon Storm, a card based fantasy game. And Earth & Sky, where you play living faerie tales who vie against the forces of...unimagination.

Seanchai

They have a mint condition copy of a campaign book for this game at the FLGS here (Compleat Games & Hobbies). I'd seen the cards in the past, but never the campaign books. It looks (though it's shrink-wrapped, so I can't say with 100% certainty) like a mini-campaign complete in one folder.

Seanchai · February 26, 2007, 06:22:11 PM

Quote from: jdrakehThey have a mint condition copy of a campaign book for this game at the FLGS here (Compleat Games & Hobbies). I'd seen the cards in the past, but never the campaign books. It looks (though it's shrink-wrapped, so I can't say with 100% certainty) like a mini-campaign complete in one folder.

It's probably just background information rather than an adventure. I haven't look at my materials in a while, but I don't remember them ever printing adventures. There's a new book out I don't have, but I'm pretty sure it's a sourcebook, too.

Seanchai

Dr Rotwang! · February 26, 2007, 06:31:22 PM

Quote from: jdrakehThat said, I couldn't find anybody locally who had enough cajones to play it.

Do the books take up that much space?

Look at MY cajones!

Ian Absentia · February 26, 2007, 07:03:48 PM

!i!

Zachary The First · February 26, 2007, 09:54:11 PM

Quote from: jdrakehOooo. . . seconded. I reviewed the Epic line (well, all but the setting book, the review of which was lost in a HD crash) and was very impressed. In many ways, it's my preferred d20-influenced fantasy RPG. That said, I couldn't find anybody locally who had enough cajones to play it. Pussies. :mad:

That 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.

Balbinus · February 27, 2007, 05:56:31 AM

Quote from: C.W.RichesonIt comes up with some regularity on RPG.net, though it does seem like folk are more interested in being sold on it than actually discussing the fun they've had with it. I'm hoping that future supplements help to develop and call more attention to this product, as I really enjoyed it.

Review for anyone interested: http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12635.phtml

The game has as part of its core narrative delving into the Hollow Earth in search of Atlantean super-tech and psychic power. Neither of which is detailed in the core rules.

The authors seem to think it's just typical gamer desire for kewl powerz making people complain about their absence, but for me they look pretty central to the setting as written and I'm not persuaded I can run the game as written until they release those rules in a later book.