Space Marines is a science fiction miniatures wargame created by
A. Mark Ratner.
Publication history
There were two editions. The first was published by FanTac Games (1977) and the second by
Fantasy Games Unlimited
Fantasy Games Unlimited (FGU) is a publishing house for tabletop and role-playing games. The company has no in-house design teams and relies on submitted material from outside talent.
History
Founded in the summer of 1975 in Jericho, New York b ...
(1980). Both versions include artwork by
David C. Sutherland III
David C. Sutherland III (April 4, 1949"United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JT69-9Y8 : accessed 12 Feb 2013), David C Sutherland, 6 June 2005; citing U.S. Social Security Administra ...
.
The FanTac version of the game included conversion rules for the original
Dungeons & Dragons and
Metamorphosis Alpha
''Metamorphosis Alpha'' is a science fiction role-playing game. It was created by James M. Ward and originally produced by TSR, the publisher of ''Dungeons & Dragons''. It was the first science fiction role-playing game, published in July 1976 ...
. These were later removed in the FGU edition.
Stan Johansen created a line of 25mm figures for Space Marines, some of which are still in production as of 2011.
The Space Marines universe became the background to FGU's
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.
[http://www.space-opera.net/GB/interviews/mark.htm Interview with Mark Ratner]
Reception
Lynn Willis
Lynn Willis (died January 18, 2013) was a wargame and role-playing game designer, best known for his work with Metagaming Concepts, Game Designers' Workshop (GDW), and Chaosium.
Biography
Willis began by designing science fiction wargames for Me ...
reviewed the Fantac version of ''Space Marines'' in ''
The Space Gamer'' No. 13.
Willis commented that "''Space Marines'' presents a superior version of what we already have."
Mike Hodson-Smith reviewed the Fantac version of ''Space Marines'' for ''
White Dwarf'' #8, and stated that "the games played were realistic and very enjoyable and well worth the while."
William A. Barton reviewed the FGU version of ''Space Marines'' in ''
The Space Gamer'' No. 34.
Barton commented that "if detail and realism without any sacrifice of playability is what you're looking for in a SF miniatures rulebook, you won't be going wrong by adding ''Space Marines'' to your collection."
Reviews
* ''
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 ...
'' #45 (January 1981)
See also
* ''
Galac-Tac''
* ''
Starweb
''Starweb'' (or ''StarWeb'') is a closed-end, space-based, play-by-mail (PBM) game. First published by Flying Buffalo Inc. in 1976, it was the company's second PBM game after '' Nuclear Destruction'', the game that started the PBM industry in 1 ...
''
References
External links
*
Stan Johansen Miniatures
Fantasy Games Unlimited games
Miniature wargames
Wargames introduced in 1977
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