Manhunter (role-playing Game)

''Manhunter'' is a science fiction role-playing game published by Kingslayer Productions in 1988.

Description

''Manhunter'' is a game set in the distant future. Two civilizations, human and Aglian, were at war but have been forced to become allies in the face of an invasion of killer robots known as Manhunters. The game provides a history of the humna/Aglian conflict as well as star charts.

The rules also cover personal combat, space combat, experience, robots, three alien races, and a brief spell list to go with a short section on magic.

Character generation

Players can create characters that are human, Aglian or eleven other alien species. Each alien race has different advantages and disadvantages.

Each character has eleven attributes, and each race has a certain range that each attribute will fall in. For example, the frail Aglians will have a range of strength that will be much less than that of the physically powerful Ulars.

Each character also has various skills in one of four categories — Finesse (acrobatics, archery, light blades, etc.); Manual (brawling, climbing, heavy blades, etc.); Mental (scientific, magical, psionic); and Reaction (piloting, fast draw, etc.).

Game system

The game mechanics of skill resolution and combat are complex and require reference to charts and tables. For example, the calculation of the Total Defense score for a player character is: experience bonus (Chart 2.1) + total defense stat bonus (add Deftness + Speed, then consult Chart 2.1) + weapon modifier (Chart 2.2) + combat skill modifier (Chart 2.3).

Publication history

''Manhunter: Science Fiction-Fantasy Role Playing Game'' was designed by Ramon P. Moore, with art by Jerry Bingham, and published by Kingslayer Productions in 1988 as a 72-page book that included a cardstock gamemaster's screen.

A second edition was published in 1990 as a 112-page book. It added an introductory scenario, but did not include a gamemaster's screen.

''Rifts: Manhunter: A Megaverse Sourcebook'' was written by Buck Shomo based on Ramon P. Moore's concept, with cover art by Jerry Bingham, and was published by Myrmidon Press in 1994 as a 196-page book. This book uses the Megaversal System published by Palladium Books and is designed to be used as supplemental material within the Rifts role-playing game. The book also includes a foreword by Kevin Siembieda.

Reception

In his 1990 book ''The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games'', game critic Rick Swan reviewed the first edition, and thought the character generation system was "quite clever", and likewise thought the section on robotics was "excellent." However, he found the actual game mechanics "far too complicated, most notably the combat system, whose convoluted formulas slow the action to a crawl." Given the hard science edge to the game, Swan found the magic system an oddity, commenting "though playable, it's jarringly out of place in this setting." Swan concluded by giving this game a rating of 2.5 out of 4, saying, "''Manhunter'' has a number of good ideas, but it's hard to tell how they're supposed to fit together. A sample adventure would have helped, as would a sharper focus. Still, for a first-time designer, ''Manhunter'' is an impressive effort."

Other reviews and commentary

*'' White Wolf'' #15 (April/May, 1989)
*'' White Wolf'' #40 (1994)

References

{{reflist

Campaign settings
Role-playing games introduced in 1988
Science fiction role-playing games
Space opera role-playing games