Lords of Creation (role-playing game)
Encyclopedia
Lords of Creation was a table top role-playing game
published by Avalon Hill
in 1983 and 1984. The game was written by Tom Moldvay
who also worked on the games Dungeons and Dragons and Star Frontiers
.
Lords of Creation was not set in a single genre but was designed to allow players to play their characters through scenarios in settings varying from fantasy to science fiction to modern espionage. Characters gained powers and skills as they progressed including magical abilities and high tech cybernetics. They progression lead to demigod
status, the character becoming a "Lord of Creation" with the ability to create their own pocket universe
.
The game broke the fourth wall
, encouraging players who had advanced their characters to Lord of Creation status to then in turn take the role of gamemaster
, refereeing the game in their character's pocket universe.
The game came in a box containing the rulebook, the Book of Foes (containing statistics for creatures to fight, historical figures and examples of other Lords of Creation), dice and a pad of character sheets.
Three adventure modules were published for the game:
The Horn of Roland was an introductory adventure, the beginning of which is set in a science fiction convention and eventually leads to the Bermuda Triangle.
The Yeti Sanction was set in the 1980s (modern day at the time of publication) and involved the characters tracking down the kidnapped Secretary of State
.
Omegakron was set in the future, after a nuclear war in the city of Akron, Ohio.
Two other adventure modules were announced, The Tower of Ilium and The Mines of Voria, but were never released.
The game was reviewed in Steve Jackson Games
Fantasy Gamer issue #6. Reviewer Warren Spector described the game as "...hopelessly mediocre--good at some things but great at none."
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
published by Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill was a game company that specialized in wargames and strategic board games. Its logo contained its initials "AH", and it was often referred to by this abbreviation. It also published the occasional miniature wargaming rules, role-playing game, and had a popular line of sports simulations...
in 1983 and 1984. The game was written by Tom Moldvay
Tom Moldvay
Tom Moldvay was a game designer and author most notable for his work on early materials for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons .-Career:...
who also worked on the games Dungeons and Dragons and Star Frontiers
Star Frontiers
Star Frontiers is a science fiction role-playing game produced by TSR beginning in 1982. The game offered a space-opera action-adventure setting.- Setting :...
.
Lords of Creation was not set in a single genre but was designed to allow players to play their characters through scenarios in settings varying from fantasy to science fiction to modern espionage. Characters gained powers and skills as they progressed including magical abilities and high tech cybernetics. They progression lead to demigod
Demigod
The term "demigod" , meaning "half-god", is commonly used to describe mythological figures whose one parent was a god and whose other parent was human; as such, demigods are human-god hybrids...
status, the character becoming a "Lord of Creation" with the ability to create their own pocket universe
Pocket universe
-In science:A pocket universe is a concept in inflationary theory, proposed by Alan Guth. It defines a realm like the one that contains the observable universe as only one of many inflationary zones.-In fiction:...
.
The game broke the fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
, encouraging players who had advanced their characters to Lord of Creation status to then in turn take the role of gamemaster
Gamemaster
A gamemaster is a person who acts as an organizer, officiant for questions regarding rules, arbitrator, and moderator for a multiplayer game...
, refereeing the game in their character's pocket universe.
The game came in a box containing the rulebook, the Book of Foes (containing statistics for creatures to fight, historical figures and examples of other Lords of Creation), dice and a pad of character sheets.
Three adventure modules were published for the game:
The Horn of Roland was an introductory adventure, the beginning of which is set in a science fiction convention and eventually leads to the Bermuda Triangle.
The Yeti Sanction was set in the 1980s (modern day at the time of publication) and involved the characters tracking down the kidnapped Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
.
Omegakron was set in the future, after a nuclear war in the city of Akron, Ohio.
Two other adventure modules were announced, The Tower of Ilium and The Mines of Voria, but were never released.
The game was reviewed in Steve Jackson Games
Steve Jackson Games
Steve Jackson Games is a game company, founded in 1980 by Steve Jackson, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games, and the gaming magazine Pyramid.-History:...
Fantasy Gamer issue #6. Reviewer Warren Spector described the game as "...hopelessly mediocre--good at some things but great at none."