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Space Opera (game)
Encyclopedia
Space Opera is a science-fiction role-playing game
created by Edward E. Simbalist
, A. Mark Ratner
, and Phil McGregor in 1980
for Fantasy Games Unlimited
. While the system is applicable to the whole genre of science fiction the focus is on creating space opera
themed adventures. Space Opera resolved to give gamers a system and universe which they could mold into any popular science fiction milieu, be it Star Wars
, E.E. "Doc" Smith's Lensman
, Larry Niven
's Known Space
, Frank Herbert
's "Dune
", Battlestar Galactica
, Galactica 1980, etc.
Though it gained a dedicated following, the game never achieved the popularity enjoyed by Traveller
. Like Traveller
, Space Opera had a default setting, though also like Traveller it was also intended to be used as generic science fiction role-playing game rules. As well, it would be a "complete" system. With the basic rules one got most everything one would need: character construction, aliens, monsters, combat, starship construction, and world creation.
, Mark had little input into Space Opera itself.
, where there was more emphasis on "throw-away" characters.
Players choose from the following Character Classes: Armsman, Tech, Research Scientist, Medical Scientist, Engineer Scientist, and Astronaut. The classes are especially important for where bonuses can be applied to Personal Characteristics and later ease cost to acquire skills.
Space Opera characters are supposed to be larger-than-life. As such their Personal Characteristics average out higher than the "common man". For each of the 14 Personal Characteristics a d100 is rolled. These are Physique, Strength, Constitution, Agility, Dexterity, Empathy, Intelligence, Psionics, Intuition, Bravery, Leadership, GTA, MechA, ElecA. Depending on the Character Class chosen, bonus points can be applied to these rolls. The final number is compared against a table resulting in a number between 1 and 19 for the Personal Characteristic. Characteristic Rolls (CRs) are then made on a d20 during play.
Planet of Birth is made up of three rolls for Gravity, Atmosphere, and Climate. This could have effects on the Personal Characteristics, and some on the choice of race.
Races could be Human, Humanoid, Transhuman, Pithecine, Canine, Feline, Ursoid, Avian, and Warm-blooded Saurian for player characters. The races are general and don't necessarily bind to a particular star culture.
A variety of other capabilities, such as Carrying Capacity, Damage Factor, and Stamina, based on Personal Characteristics help to further define the character.
The Career path, is very similar to Traveller's with the main exception being that there was no risk of death prior to the start of play. The character goes through the recruitment process, participates for a random number of tours-of-duty, has opportunities for promotion, and then finally musters out.
Finally the player calculates the generous number of skill points available and goes through the process of picking skills. The rich assortment of choices often makes this the most time-consuming part of creating the character.
Humanoids: These include current Earth homo sapiens as well as well-known Science Fiction races. Example: Fremen
Transhumans: Any kind of humanoid race which has achieved a greater level of evolution. Example: Vulcan
Pithecine: Anthropomorphic primate races resembling monkeys, gorillas and the like. Example: Planet of the Apes
Canine: Anthropomorphic canine races.
Feline: Anthropomorphic felines come in two general strains: Mekpurr, the smaller and more technically adept and Avatar, larger, hunting cat varieties. Example: Kzinti
Ursoids: Anthropomorphic bear races. Example: Wookie
Avian: Anthropomorphic bird races.
Saurian: Anthropomorphic reptilian races. Example: Gorn
Irsol: Low gravity, fragile humanoids which have been raised on space stations or other orbital installations. They are treated as the librarians of the universe.
, and further defined through a series of Star Sector Atlases.
The Space Opera core game consisted of two volumes and four double-sided 8x11" cards, in a box. Although there were three different box covers
probably corresponding to three printings, the contents remained the same.
The rights to the game are jointly held by the authors and Fantasy Games Unlimited, whereas the rights to the title were probably held by FGU solely. The rights to the game were to revert to the authors if the company went out of business. Despite going into dormant periods operating as a company in name only, FGU is still in operation. Ed Simbalist sought to buy the rights from the publisher Scott Bizar, however Bizar's asking price was judged too high.
From a December 2000 interview with Ed Simbalist:
"I won't write another version of Space Opera. Scott Bizar owns that property, hasn't done anything much to promote it, hasn't paid royalties that offer any hope that an author will be compensated for his considerable effort, and won't release it back to the authors. I know of the many persona[l] reverses he's experienced, and I doubt that FGU would ever become a viable publishing company in the future. Any revision work on my part would be a waste of time. Similarly, the expense of legally recovering the right to publish Space Opera isn't worth it. Apart from a highly inflated value placed by FGU on the game (actually on the NAME), why would I wish to purchase several thousand copies of a recent reprint that just won't sell in the current market? It makes no sense." Reportedly the asking price was $100,000, though the authors felt it was only worth $10,000.
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...
created by Edward E. Simbalist
Edward E. Simbalist
Edward E. Simbalist was a role-playing game designer. Two of the most famous games he designed are Chivalry & Sorcery with Wilf K. Backhaus and Space Opera with A. Mark Ratner & Phil McGregor. He was Canadian and lived in Edmonton. He also was a teacher at .-Books written or co-authored by Edward E...
, A. Mark Ratner
A. Mark Ratner
A. Mark Ratner is an American game designer, notable for his work on Space Marines and Space Opera.-Early life:Ratner lived in New Jersey until he joined the Army in 1972...
, and Phil McGregor in 1980
1980 in games
This page lists board and card games, wargames, miniatures games, and table-top role-playing games published in 1980. For video and console games, see 1980 in video gaming.-Significant games-related events of 1980:...
for Fantasy Games Unlimited
Fantasy Games Unlimited
Fantasy Games Unlimited, often referred to as just FGU, is a publishing house for both table-top and role-playing games. They have no in-house design teams and rely on submitted material from outside talent.-History:...
. While the system is applicable to the whole genre of science fiction the focus is on creating space opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
themed adventures. Space Opera resolved to give gamers a system and universe which they could mold into any popular science fiction milieu, be it Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
, E.E. "Doc" Smith's Lensman
Lensman
The Lensman series is a serial science fiction space opera by Edward Elmer "Doc" Smith. It was a runner-up for the Hugo award for best All-Time Series ....
, Larry Niven
Larry Niven
Laurence van Cott Niven / ˈlæri ˈnɪvən/ is an American science fiction author. His best-known work is Ringworld , which received Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards. His work is primarily hard science fiction, using big science concepts and theoretical physics...
's Known Space
Known Space
Known Space is the fictional setting of some dozen science fiction novels and several collections of short stories written by author Larry Niven. It has also in part been used as a shared universe in the Man-Kzin Wars spin-off anthologies sub-series....
, Frank Herbert
Frank Herbert
Franklin Patrick Herbert, Jr. was a critically acclaimed and commercially successful American science fiction author. Although a short story author, he is best known for his novels, most notably Dune and its five sequels...
's "Dune
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
", Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The franchise began with the Battlestar Galactica TV series in 1978, and was followed by a brief sequel TV series in 1980, a line of book adaptations, original novels, comic books, a board game, and video games...
, Galactica 1980, etc.
Though it gained a dedicated following, the game never achieved the popularity enjoyed by Traveller
Traveller (role-playing game)
Traveller is a series of related science fiction role-playing games, the first published in 1977 by Game Designers' Workshop and subsequent editions by various companies remaining in print to this day. The game was inspired from such classic science fiction stories as the Dumarest saga series by...
. Like Traveller
Traveller (role-playing game)
Traveller is a series of related science fiction role-playing games, the first published in 1977 by Game Designers' Workshop and subsequent editions by various companies remaining in print to this day. The game was inspired from such classic science fiction stories as the Dumarest saga series by...
, Space Opera had a default setting, though also like Traveller it was also intended to be used as generic science fiction role-playing game rules. As well, it would be a "complete" system. With the basic rules one got most everything one would need: character construction, aliens, monsters, combat, starship construction, and world creation.
Development
According to the Scott Bizar, the founder of FGU, "I wanted a SFrpg and I gave the job to Ed Simbalist. During the process I’ve never met Ed, nor Phil McGregor and Mark Ratner, who lived in the Canadian west, Australia and the east of the USA, respectively. The project was completed over more than two years entirely by correspondence." Ed was responsible for all the editing and coordination. Phil McGregor sent some technology and space ship related stuff, which Ed liked so much that he incorporated it in the finished product. While the background universe was based on Mark Ratner's Space MarinesSpace Marines
Space Marines is a science fiction miniatures wargame created by A. Mark Ratner. There were two editions. The first was published by FanTac Games and the second by Fantasy Games Unlimited . Both versions include artwork by David C. Sutherland III.The FanTac version of the game included conversion...
, Mark had little input into Space Opera itself.
Character Creation
Character creation is a long process in Space Opera, typically taking an hour or more. While the number of random rolls is limited, the player has wide discretion in how points are applied and many choices especially when it comes to skills. This was a significant break from the tradition in earlier role-playing games such as D&D and TravellerTraveller (role-playing game)
Traveller is a series of related science fiction role-playing games, the first published in 1977 by Game Designers' Workshop and subsequent editions by various companies remaining in print to this day. The game was inspired from such classic science fiction stories as the Dumarest saga series by...
, where there was more emphasis on "throw-away" characters.
Players choose from the following Character Classes: Armsman, Tech, Research Scientist, Medical Scientist, Engineer Scientist, and Astronaut. The classes are especially important for where bonuses can be applied to Personal Characteristics and later ease cost to acquire skills.
Space Opera characters are supposed to be larger-than-life. As such their Personal Characteristics average out higher than the "common man". For each of the 14 Personal Characteristics a d100 is rolled. These are Physique, Strength, Constitution, Agility, Dexterity, Empathy, Intelligence, Psionics, Intuition, Bravery, Leadership, GTA, MechA, ElecA. Depending on the Character Class chosen, bonus points can be applied to these rolls. The final number is compared against a table resulting in a number between 1 and 19 for the Personal Characteristic. Characteristic Rolls (CRs) are then made on a d20 during play.
Planet of Birth is made up of three rolls for Gravity, Atmosphere, and Climate. This could have effects on the Personal Characteristics, and some on the choice of race.
Races could be Human, Humanoid, Transhuman, Pithecine, Canine, Feline, Ursoid, Avian, and Warm-blooded Saurian for player characters. The races are general and don't necessarily bind to a particular star culture.
A variety of other capabilities, such as Carrying Capacity, Damage Factor, and Stamina, based on Personal Characteristics help to further define the character.
The Career path, is very similar to Traveller's with the main exception being that there was no risk of death prior to the start of play. The character goes through the recruitment process, participates for a random number of tours-of-duty, has opportunities for promotion, and then finally musters out.
Finally the player calculates the generous number of skill points available and goes through the process of picking skills. The rich assortment of choices often makes this the most time-consuming part of creating the character.
Races
In Space Opera races are treated very generally. Instead of assigning a unique name to a particular specific race, the races were named as their general, anthropomorphic stock. This allowed any race seen in fiction before or since to be simulated.Humanoids: These include current Earth homo sapiens as well as well-known Science Fiction races. Example: Fremen
Fremen
The Fremen are a group of people in the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. First appearing in the 1965 novel Dune, the Fremen inhabit the desert planet Arrakis and are based on the desert-dwelling Bedouin and Kalahari Bushmen. In Herbert's novels, Arrakis is the sole known source...
Transhumans: Any kind of humanoid race which has achieved a greater level of evolution. Example: Vulcan
Vulcan (Star Trek)
Vulcans, or sometimes Vulcanians, are an extraterrestrial humanoid species in the Star Trek universe who evolved on the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt to live by reason and logic with no interference from emotion. They were the first extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek...
Pithecine: Anthropomorphic primate races resembling monkeys, gorillas and the like. Example: Planet of the Apes
Canine: Anthropomorphic canine races.
Feline: Anthropomorphic felines come in two general strains: Mekpurr, the smaller and more technically adept and Avatar, larger, hunting cat varieties. Example: Kzinti
Ursoids: Anthropomorphic bear races. Example: Wookie
Wookiee
Wookiees are a species of bipeds in the Star Wars universe. The most notable Wookiee is Chewbacca, a companion to Han Solo.-Inspiration:...
Avian: Anthropomorphic bird races.
Saurian: Anthropomorphic reptilian races. Example: Gorn
Gorn
In Star Trek, the Gorn are humanoid reptiles from the Gorn Hegemony.-Fictional history:The Gorn had contact with the Orion Syndicate as early as 2154...
Irsol: Low gravity, fragile humanoids which have been raised on space stations or other orbital installations. They are treated as the librarians of the universe.
Official Universe
While the Space Opera rules can be adapted to any imagined universe, the official universe was based on the nations described in Mark Ratner's Space MarinesSpace Marines
Space Marines is a science fiction miniatures wargame created by A. Mark Ratner. There were two editions. The first was published by FanTac Games and the second by Fantasy Games Unlimited . Both versions include artwork by David C. Sutherland III.The FanTac version of the game included conversion...
, and further defined through a series of Star Sector Atlases.
| Star Culture |
|---|
| United Federation of Planets (UFP) |
| Mercantile League |
| Azuriach Imperium "Azzis" |
| Galactic Peoples Republic (G.P.R.) |
| United Ranan Worlds "Ranan Horde" |
| Rauwoof Worlds |
| MekPurr |
| StarKingdom of the Blarad |
| IRSOL |
| Whistlers |
| Hissss'ist |
| Bugs |
| Klackons |
| Confederate Systems Alliance |
| Korellian Empire |
Combat
Combat was generally a four step process. One first determines if a character scores a hit with his chosen weapon. Things like range, size of the target, movement, and amount of cover come into play. If one scores a hit, then one rolls to determine hit location. After hit location, one then determines if the attack penetrated the armor. Finally, damage is determined.Books
| Title | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Space Marines | related wargame | 1979 |
| Space Opera | core rules (2 books) | 1980 |
| Ground & Air Equipment | supplement | 1981 |
| Seldon's Compendium of Star Craft 1 - Ship's Boats, Traders, Liners and Patrol Vessels | supplement | 1981 |
| Seldon's Compendium of Star Craft 2 - Starships of War Azuriach, GPR, Mercantile League and Terran | supplement | 1984 |
| Seldon's Compendium of Star Craft 3 - Starships of War Blarad, Mekpurr, Ranan and Hissss'ist | supplement | 1988 |
| The Outworlds | supplement | 1981 |
| Star Sector Atlas 1 - The Terran Sector | supplement | 1981 |
| Star Sector Atlas 2 - The Mercantile League | supplement | 1983 |
| Star Sector Atlas 3 - The Azuriach Imperium | supplement | 1984 |
| Star Sector Atlas 5 - The United Ranan Worlds | supplement | 1985 |
| Star Sector Atlas 11 - The Confederate Systems Alliance | supplement | 1982 |
| Star Sector Atlas 12 - Korellian Empire | supplement | 1984 |
| Alien Base | module | 1980 |
| Martigan Belt - An Adventure in the Asteroids | module | 1981 |
| Probe NGC 8436 | module | 1981 |
| Fasolt in Peril - An Anti-Terrorist Adventure | module | 1982 |
| Rowison II - A Merchant Service Adventure | module | 1982 |
| Vault of the Ni'er Queyon | module | 1982 |
| Incedus III | module | 1982 |
| Agents of Rebellion | module | 1983 |
| Casino Galactica - Adventure Setting and Scenarios | module | 1983 |
| Operation Peregrine - The Quanchiovt Conspiracy | module | 1983 |
| Clash of Empires | supplement | not published |
| Star Sector Atlas 4 - The GPR | supplement | not published |
| Star Sector Atlas 6 - The Hiss'isst | supplement | not published |
| Seldon's Compendium of Star Craft 4 | supplement | not published |
The Space Opera core game consisted of two volumes and four double-sided 8x11" cards, in a box. Although there were three different box covers
probably corresponding to three printings, the contents remained the same.
Technology
The technology of Space Opera follows the grand tradition of its name. Notably missing are the influences of cyberpunk, mechs, and nanotechnology, which all came later than the publication of the game. Computers were based on a monolithic, mainframe-style that seemed a bit dated even in 1980.Reprints
Some components of Space Opera are in print again after a long absence and are available via FGU's online store and the RPG download sites DriveThruRPG and RPGNow.The rights to the game are jointly held by the authors and Fantasy Games Unlimited, whereas the rights to the title were probably held by FGU solely. The rights to the game were to revert to the authors if the company went out of business. Despite going into dormant periods operating as a company in name only, FGU is still in operation. Ed Simbalist sought to buy the rights from the publisher Scott Bizar, however Bizar's asking price was judged too high.
From a December 2000 interview with Ed Simbalist:
"I won't write another version of Space Opera. Scott Bizar owns that property, hasn't done anything much to promote it, hasn't paid royalties that offer any hope that an author will be compensated for his considerable effort, and won't release it back to the authors. I know of the many persona[l] reverses he's experienced, and I doubt that FGU would ever become a viable publishing company in the future. Any revision work on my part would be a waste of time. Similarly, the expense of legally recovering the right to publish Space Opera isn't worth it. Apart from a highly inflated value placed by FGU on the game (actually on the NAME), why would I wish to purchase several thousand copies of a recent reprint that just won't sell in the current market? It makes no sense." Reportedly the asking price was $100,000, though the authors felt it was only worth $10,000.