''Kafer Sourcebook'' is a supplement published by
Game Designers' Workshop (GDW) in 1988 for the
hard science fiction role-playing game ''
2300 AD
''2300 AD'', originally titled ''Traveller: 2300'', is a tabletop science fiction role-playing game created by Game Designers' Workshop (GDW) and first published in 1986.
Publication history
GDW created the popular science fiction role-playing ...
''.
Description
With the introduction in 1987 of the major "Kafer War" storyline, where humanity encounters an aggressive space-faring alien race called the Kafers, ''Kafer Sourcebook'' provides detailed information for the
gamemaster about the Kafer race, including their physiology, psychology, social structure, government and politics, language, home planet, and technology. Several ideas for adventrures are included.
Publication history
GDW published ''Traveller 2300'' in 1986, quickly retitled ''2300 AD'' to prevent confusion with GDW's previous
space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes space warfare, with use of melodramatic, risk-taking space adventures, relationships, and chivalric romance. Set mainly or entirely in outer space, it features technological and soci ...
role-playing game ''
Traveller
Traveler(s), traveller(s), The Traveler(s), or The Traveller(s) may refer to:
People Generic terms
*One engaged in travel
*Explorer, one who searches for the purpose of discovery of information or resources
*Nomad, a member of a community withou ...
''. The following year, GDW introduced the "Kafer War" plotline in ''
Kafer Dawn
''Kafer Dawn'', subtitled "The Frontline of Mankind's Fight for Survival", is a supplement published by Game Designers' Workshop (GDW) in 1987 for the hard science fiction role-playing game ''2300 AD''.
Contents
''Kafer Dawn'' is set on the wo ...
'', and then published a number of supplements including 1988's ''Kafer Sourcebook'', a 104-page paperback book with a color map written by
William H. Keith, Jr.
William H. Keith (born August 8, 1950) is an American author mainly contributing to military science fiction and military fiction and related game design, who writes also under several pen names, such as Ian Douglas, Robert Cain and H. Jay R ...
, with a cover by
Steve Venters
''yes'Steve is a masculine given name, usually a short form (hypocorism) of Steven or Stephen
Notable people with the name include:
steve jops
* Steve Abbott (disambiguation), several people
* Steve Adams (disambiguation), several people
* Steve ...
.
Reception
In Issue 145 of ''
Dragon
A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...
'' (May 1989),
Jim Bambra was very pleased by the high production values,and called the alien development and psychology "very believable." He concluded with a strong recommendation, saying, "The ''Kafer Sourcebook'' is a perfect example of how to design a detailed and properly motivated alien race
..There’s enough information here to please even the most ardent Kafer hunter. Once again, GDW has proved itself to be the foremost designer of alien races."
In a retrospective review of ''Kafer Sourcebook'' in ''
Black Gate'', Patrick Kanouse said "The combination of a vicious and merciless enemy, a perplexing and mysterious species with a strong contextual background, and a path for uncovering that mystery without either abject terror or killing everything on sight make the Kafers the best villainous alien in tabletop role-playing games that a I have encountered to date."
Other reviews
*''Tidewater Traveller Times'', Vol. 2, Issue 2 (July 1988, p. 3)
*''
Australian Realms'' #5
References
{{reflist
2300 AD supplements
Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1988