Cyborg Commando
 Cyborg Commando Set 1: The Battle For Earth | |
| Designers | Gary Gygax, Frank Mentzer, Kim Mohan |
|---|---|
| Publishers | New Infinities, Inc. |
| Publication | 1987 |
| Genres | Science fiction |
| Systems | Custom |
Cyborg Commando is a science fiction role-playing game (RPG) published by New Infinities, Inc in 1987 and created by Kim Mohan, Frank Mentzer and Gary Gygax, the creator of the original Dungeons & Dragons system.
The game is set in 2035 at a time when the earth is invaded by aliens called Xenoborgs intent on subduing humanity and taking control of the planet. Luckily humanity has developed a new kind of solider: the Cyborg Commando, a mechanical/electronical man-like structure that can be implanted with a willing human's brain.
Whilst innovative in some ways, it has been claimed that the Cyborg Commando game is the worst role-playing game ever written.[1]
System
Cyborg Commando introduces the d10x system. This is a dice rolling system where players roll two ten-sided dice and multiply the numbers together. This is then used with a player's skill levels to determine whether given actions have been successful or not.
Whereas a system that rolls a number of dice and adds the result produces a nice bell curve distribution, multiplying the two dice together as above produces a sparse distribution that favours lower numbers. This leaning towards failure or only slight success might be intentional, given the gritty and dangerous setting, to simulate a lack of actual heroism.
Literature
Three Cyborg Commando books were published not long after the game. With minor modifcations of the Cyborg Commando's skills and behaviour, which prompted a short explanation at the back of the books for game owners detailing why the changes were made.
- Planet in Peril by Kim Mohan and Pamela O'Neill. Published in November 1987 by Ace/New Infinities, Inc. ISBN 0-441-66883-6.
- Chase into Space by Kim Mohan and Pamela O'Neill. Published in January 1988 by New Infinities, Inc. ISBN 0-441-10294-8.
- The Ultimate Prize by Kim Mohan and Pamela O'Neill. Published in March 1988 by New Infinities, Inc. ISBN 0-441-84325-5.
References
- ^ "Review of Cyborg Commando". rpg.net. 2004-04-19. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
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