Systems Failure
Encyclopedia
Systems Failure is a role-playing game
written by Bill Coffin
and published by Palladium Books
in 1999
.
The fictional premise for the game is that during the "millennium bug" scare, actual "bugs" appeared. They were energy beings from beyond Earth (whether another dimension or another planet is not clear), and they invaded earth at the end of 1999 leaving a post-apocalyptic world in their wake. The "bugs" feed on energy and are capable of transmitting themselves through modern power transmission and phone lines.
The "bugs" come in several varieties. There are the drone-like Army Ants, who have only basic intelligence, the more intelligent Assassin bugs (who can replicate human speech, though imperfectly), and the flying Lightning Bugs, amongst others. All of them are able to turn themselves into energy or rapidly call up reinforcements. In addition to these, there are "brain bugs"; a variety of bug that can invade a human mind and turn them into a zombie-like servant of the bugs.
Players take the part of survivors of this invasion. Some groups, such as survival-oriented militia groups
, were well-prepared for something to go wrong, and so form the nuclei of stable societies and resistance to the Bugs. Military units have converged on NORAD, which is using genetic engineering to create new weapons that the "bugs" cannot gain control of, and to create super-soldiers; both those that have psionic
powers and those who have been mutated into insect-like supermen using bug DNA. In addition, there are those who have been driven mad by the stress, those who have joined gangs and seek to exploit others, and those who trade their skills as mechanics, medics, scientists, or merchants.
The gameplay utilizes the standard Palladium ruleset, the Megaversal system
.
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...
written by Bill Coffin
Bill Coffin
Bill Coffin is a writer of novels and role-playing games in the fantasy and science fiction genres. Perhaps best known for his work at Palladium Books from July 1998 through May 2002, he made significant contributions to several of Palladium's game series, most notably Palladium Fantasy, but also...
and published by Palladium Books
Palladium Books
Palladium Books is a publisher of role-playing games perhaps best known for its popular, expansive Rifts series . Palladium was founded April 1981 in Detroit, Michigan by current president and lead game designer Kevin Siembieda, and is presently based in Westland, Michigan...
in 1999
1999 in games
This page lists board and card games, wargames, miniatures games, and table-top role-playing games published in 1999. For video and console games, see 1999 in video gaming.-Game awards given in 1999:...
.
The fictional premise for the game is that during the "millennium bug" scare, actual "bugs" appeared. They were energy beings from beyond Earth (whether another dimension or another planet is not clear), and they invaded earth at the end of 1999 leaving a post-apocalyptic world in their wake. The "bugs" feed on energy and are capable of transmitting themselves through modern power transmission and phone lines.
The "bugs" come in several varieties. There are the drone-like Army Ants, who have only basic intelligence, the more intelligent Assassin bugs (who can replicate human speech, though imperfectly), and the flying Lightning Bugs, amongst others. All of them are able to turn themselves into energy or rapidly call up reinforcements. In addition to these, there are "brain bugs"; a variety of bug that can invade a human mind and turn them into a zombie-like servant of the bugs.
Players take the part of survivors of this invasion. Some groups, such as survival-oriented militia groups
Constitutional militia movement
The modern constitutional militia movement, the constitutionalist wing of the "militia movement" in the United States, became active in the mid 1990s in response to outrage about the violent confrontation at Ruby Ridge, the Waco Siege and gun control legislation...
, were well-prepared for something to go wrong, and so form the nuclei of stable societies and resistance to the Bugs. Military units have converged on NORAD, which is using genetic engineering to create new weapons that the "bugs" cannot gain control of, and to create super-soldiers; both those that have psionic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
powers and those who have been mutated into insect-like supermen using bug DNA. In addition, there are those who have been driven mad by the stress, those who have joined gangs and seek to exploit others, and those who trade their skills as mechanics, medics, scientists, or merchants.
The gameplay utilizes the standard Palladium ruleset, the Megaversal system
Megaversal system
The Megaversal system, sometimes known as the Palladium system, is a set of mechanics specifically employed in most role-playing games published by Palladium Books, the exception is Recon. It uses dice for roll-under percentile skill checks, roll-high combat checks and saving throws, and...
.
External links
- Systems Failure at Palladium Books