Mindjammer - The Roleplaying Game
 | |
| Designers | Sarah Newton |
|---|---|
| Publishers | Cubicle 7 (Mindjammer - Starblazer Adventures in the Second Age of Space) Mindjammer Press (Mindjammer - The Roleplaying Game) |
| Genres | transhuman Science fiction space opera |
| Systems | Fate Core System |
Mindjammer - The Roleplaying Game is a space opera role-playing game (RPG) created by Sarah Newton, published by Mindjammer Press in 2014, and distributed by Modiphius Entertainment.
Description
[edit]Mindjammer is set in the distant future, when humans have spread across the universe, and in some cases have evolved into Hominids, races with new abilities.[1] Humans have also raised various animals to sentience (Xenomorphs), have created androids (Synthetics) to use as cheap labor, as well as sentient spaceships. Altogether, these are known as the Communality. In their explorations, humans have encountered a race dubbed the Venus, who have become the mortal enemies of the Communality.[1]
The game uses the Fate System. Players can create player characters that can be anything from humans to hominids, xenomorphs, synthetics, aliens, or sentient spaceships. Characters are defined by traits that serve as modifiers for dice rolls.[1]
Publication history
[edit]In 2008, Cubicle 7 Entertainment published a space opera RPG, Starblazer Adventures that used the FATE System.[2][3] A year later, Sarah Newton created a background supplement titled Mindjammer. In March 2014, Cubicle 7 announced they would no longer publish or support the game as their licensing agreement had come to an end.[4] Newton subsequently re-published Mindjammer as a standalone RPG later the same year. [5][6]
The first adventure supplement for the second edition, Hearts and Minds, was published in 2015. In November 2015, Mindjammer Press ran a successful Kickstarter campaign that funded a massive expansion of the line.[7] By 2018, ten new supplements had been published,[8] as well as a version of the game for use with Traveller.[9]
Reception
[edit]Steve Dean of the British Fantasy Society was impressed, calling the second edition book "a solid chunk of SF goodness, printed on high-quality paper [...] The internal artwork is good but not intrusive and leaves plenty of room for the content." Dean concluded with a strong recommendation, saying, "Overall, this is an impressive volume of work. I would say it achieves everything it sets out to do, and does it with style, quality, and passion. Sarah Newton, and all her Newtonians, deserve a hearty round of applause. If I was giving out scores, this would be a perfect 10."[10]
In a review of Mindjammer in Black Gate, Howard Andrew Jones said "lest you think that it’s somehow bereft of fun because it is a little more plausible, rest assured that it oozes adventure. Scenario hooks are sprinkled throughout the text, and story ideas blaze up from nearly every page."[11]
Other reviews and commentary
[edit]- Freelance Traveller #54/55 (June/July 2014) and #89 (Sept-Oct 2018)
- Le Maraudeur #15 (Dec 2014, in French)
Awards
[edit]- The first edition of Mindjammer won a Judges' Choice Award at the 2018 ENnie Awards.[citation needed]
- The second edition won a Griffie Award at the 2014 Conpulsion RPG convention,[12] was a finalist for a 2014 Golden Geek RPG of the Year,[13] and was nominated for two ENnies.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Mindjammer". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ^ Appelcline, Shannon (2014). Designers & Dragons: The 00s. Evil Hat Productions. p. 346.
- ^ "Step into a world of Rock 'n Roll space adventure!". Archived from the original on 2011-02-07. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
- ^ "Starblazer Adventures and Legends of Anglerre Goodbye Sale | Cubicle 7". www.cubicle7.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ Girdwood, Andrew (February 21, 2014). "Mind blowing: Mindjammer Roleplaying Game review".
- ^ "Mindjammer RPG: Transhuman Sci-Fi Adventure in the Second Age of Space – Black Gate". 5 March 2014.
- ^ "Kickstarting the Mindjammer Universe: A Far Future Transhuman Utopia? – Black Gate". 18 November 2015.
- ^ "Mindjammer (2nd Edition) | RPG | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com.
- ^ Sunglar (28 February 2017). "What About Mindjammer for Traveller? A Review..." Stargazer's World. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
- ^ Dean, Steve (2014-08-21). "Mindjammer RPG by Sarah Newton. RPG review". The British Fantasy Society. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
- ^ "Mindjammer Returns – Black Gate". 29 October 2015.
- ^ "Experience the Second Era of Space with Mindjammer – Black Gate". 24 August 2014.
- ^ "2014 Golden Geek RPG of the Year Nominee | RPG Honor | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com.