''Midnight at the Well of Souls Role-Playing System'' is a science fiction role-playing game published by TAG Industries in 1985 that is based on the " Well of Souls" novels by

Jack L. Chalker Jack Laurence Chalker (December 17, 1944 – February 11, 2005) was an American science fiction author. Chalker was also a Baltimore City Schools history teacher in Maryland for 12 years, retiring during 1978 to write full-time. He also was a m ...

Description

''Midnight at the Well of Souls'' attempts to recreate the setting of the novels by Jack L. Chalker. The game book covers 150 character races, a combat system, starship blueprints, and space combat rules, plus an introductory scenario. The game includes a partial map of the vast Well World, where each terrain hex simulates the conditions on a different alien planet.

Publication history

''Midnight at the Well of Souls Role-Playing System'' was designed by Timothy A. Green, and published by TAG Industries in 1985 as a

boxed set A box set or (its original name) boxed set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box and offered for sale as a single unit. Music Artists and bands ...

with cover art by H.R. Van Dongen that contained a 112-page book, a map, and dice.

Reception

In Issue 83 of '' White Dwarf'' (November 1986)Phil Frances commented, ""I endeavoured to like this game. Honest. I looked for nice things to say about it, but I couldn't really find any. I can see the intentions behind it, and the designer ought to be commended for his perseverance - few people could ever manage anything like this without being a professional games company. The box makes it sound all very wonderful, but it doesn't seem to amount to much when you've read it - a sort of third-rate '' Ringworld'', actually. Worth buying if you're a rabid Chalker fan, hopelessly rich, or 90% insane." In his 1990 book ''

The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games Rick Swan is a game designer and author who worked for TSR. His work for TSR, mostly for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, appeared from 1989 to 1995. Swan also wrote '' The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games'' (1990), published by St. Martin's Pr ...

'', game critic

Rick Swan Rick Swan is a game designer and author who worked for TSR. His work for TSR, mostly for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, appeared from 1989 to 1995. Swan also wrote ''The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games'' (1990), published by St. Martin's Pre ...

advised even fans of the Jack Chalker novels to avoid this game. "The premise has a lot of potential .... but the game doesn't do much with it." Swan also found "The game mechanics are unimaginative and superficial." Swan concluded by giving the game a poor rating of only 1.5 out of 4.

Reviews

*'' Different Worlds'' #42 (May/June, 1986)

References

{{reflist Role-playing games based on novels Role-playing games introduced in 1985 Science fiction role-playing games