''Judge's Screen'' is a

role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within ...

supplement published by TSR in 1984 for the '' Marvel Super Heroes'' role-playing game.

''Judge's Screen'' is a

GM's screen A gamemaster's screen, also called a GM's screen, is a gaming accessory, usually made out of either cardboard or card stock, and is used by the gamemaster to hide all the relevant data related to a tabletop role-playing game session from the playe ...

for the Basic rules, with a map and guide to Manhattan as depicted by Marvel Comics. The side for the

gamemaster A gamemaster (GM; also known as game master, game manager, game moderator, referee, or storyteller) is a person who acts as an organizer, officiant for regarding rules, arbitrator, and moderator for a multiplayer role-playing game. They are m ...

includes a selection of important tables, such as the 'universal' table for resolving the majority of game actions. The side for the players displays this same 'universal' table, along with a map of the Manhattan as seen in the Marvel universe. The package also includes an eight-page booklet to go along with the map, detailing the city and showing where both the major criminals and

S.H.I.E.L.D. S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage, special law enforcement, and counter-terrorism agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in ''Strange Tales'' #135 (August 1965), it often dea ...

operate. The outside of the screen is protected by enamel, and its map of Manhattan and Universal Table are presented in full color. The assorted tables on the inside of the screen for the

include items such as another Universal Table, random

non-player character A non-player character (NPC), or non-playable character, is any character in a game that is not controlled by a player. The term originated in traditional tabletop role-playing games where it applies to characters controlled by the gamemaster o ...

s, speeds, weapons and damage, and rank numbers. The booklet 'Hero's Guide to New York' provides a brief history of Manhattan, with some of its scenic features, and information on a selection of organizations found there.

Publication history

MHAC1 ''Judge's Screen'' was written by

Jeff Grubb Jeff Grubb (born August 27, 1957) is an author who writes novels, short stories, and comics and a computer and role-playing game designer in the fantasy genre. Grubb worked on the ''Dragonlance'' campaign setting under Tracy Hickman, and the ''F ...

, with a cover by

Al Milgrom Allen L. Milgrom (born March 6, 1950) is an American comic book writer, penciller, inker and editor, primarily for Marvel Comics. He is known for his 10-year run as editor of ''Marvel Fanfare''; his long involvement as writer, penciler, and inker ...

, and was published by TSR, Inc., in 1984 as a cardstock screen with an 8-page pamphlet.

Reception

Craig Sheeley reviewed the ''Marvel Super Heroes Judge's Screen'' in ''

The Space Gamer ''The Space Gamer'' was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and tabletop role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the la ...

'' No. 71. He commented that "It seems that every game needs a GM's screen, and the one for the ''Marvel Super Heroes'' RPG is a pretty good one." He stated that "The 'Hero's Guide to New York' is almost more useful than the screen itself" and that it has "a very useful section on how to get around Manhattan if you don't fly, hop, swing, or teleport". Sheeley added: "The screen is typical, distinguished only by its outside protective covering. The real meat of this package is the Guide. It makes running a campaign in Marvel's New York possible, even if you've never been there." He continued: "''The Marvel Super Heroes'' RPG has never had that many tables that require instant access during combat, and some of the tables on the screen were thrown in to take up space. Monetary resources are not likely to be important during combat, but the Resources table is there." Sheeley concluded his review by saying, "The ''Marvel Super Heroes Judge's Screen'' is a good deal, thanks to the Guide. The two will be of great value to a campaign." Marcus L. Rowland reviewed ''Judge's Screen'' for ''

White Dwarf A white dwarf is a stellar core remnant composed mostly of electron-degenerate matter. A white dwarf is very dense: its mass is comparable to the Sun's, while its volume is comparable to the Earth's. A white dwarf's faint luminosity comes fro ...

'' #62, rating it 4/10 overall. He described it as "a fairly standard triple cardboard sheet". Rowland commented: "This pack doesn't add much to the game (the 'universal' table appears twice on the covers of the original rule books, for example), and will probably only appeal to completists."

Reviews

*''Game News'' #6 (Aug. 1985)

References

{{Reflist Gamemaster's screens Marvel Comics role-playing game supplements Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1984

Contents

Publication history

Reception

Reviews

References