Commando is a man-to-man tactical combat game that simulates commando operations from World War II to the present.[1] Although it was marketed as a role-playing game, reviewers called it primarily a board wargame with a set of role-playing rules grafted onto it.[1][2] The role-playing rules include character creation, skills, cooperative fire teams, and hero characters.
twelve geomorphic 11" x 17" double-sided paper maps with a square grid scaled at 3 m per square
47-page wargame rulebook
23-page role-playing rulebook
two copies of 8-page booklet of charts
addenda sheet dated September 1979
two 20-sided dice
four small six-sided dice
Gameplayedit
If using the role-playing rules, a group of players create commando characters to be sent out on missions presented by a gamemaster. The players can increase the hero rating of their character at the end of each successful mission. These can be used to gain special abilities.[2]
Publication historyedit
Commando was designed by Eric Goldberg[3]: 99 as the first commercial role-playing game with a modern military theme.[2] It was published by SPI in 1979 as a boxed set with cover art by David Wenzel and graphic design by Redmond A. Simonsen.[1] After publication, the game appeared on SPI's Top Ten Bestseller list for four months, rising as high as #4.[4]
Receptionedit
In Moves #57, Ian Chadwick liked the game, saying, "It's a good game, a remarkably smooth system which has accepted the compromise of a lightweight framework in exchange for a well designed, complete tactical system."[5]
In Issue 65 of Fire & Movement, Jeff Petraska wrote, "Commando uses no counters and has square grid maps and at first glance looks a bit unwieldy. With some play experience however, the game shows itself to be a lot of fun and a good simulation of commando operations."[6]
Joe Scolari, writing a retrospective review in Simulacrum #6, recalled that the game could be played as both a straight two-player wargame, or as a role-playing game, but noted unlike many modern games, Commando had a plethora of optional rules and charts. He concluded, "Commando furnishes all the details, charts, and rules you'd expect from a wargame from back then, which makes it the kind of game that tends to send today's gamers running in terror!"[2]
^"SPI Best Selling Games – 1979". spigames.net. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
^Chadwick, Ian (June–July 1981). "Commando". Moves. No. 57.
^Petraska, Jeff (April–May 1990). "Commando". Fire & Movement. No. 65.
^"Fantastic v27n10 [1980-07] (Daisy Chainsaw)". July 1980.
^. Archived from the original on December 16, 2012.
^. Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design. Archived from the original on 2007-08-30. Retrieved 2007-09-14.
January 01, 1970
commando, role, playing, game, commando, role, playing, game, published, simulations, publications, 1979, cover, david, wenzel, contents, description, components, gameplay, publication, history, reception, other, reviews, commentary, awards, referencesdescript. Commando is a role playing game published by Simulations Publications Inc SPI in 1979 Cover art by David Wenzel Contents 1 Description 1 1 Components 1 2 Gameplay 2 Publication history 3 Reception 4 Other reviews and commentary 5 Awards 6 ReferencesDescription editCommando is a man to man tactical combat game that simulates commando operations from World War II to the present 1 Although it was marketed as a role playing game reviewers called it primarily a board wargame with a set of role playing rules grafted onto it 1 2 The role playing rules include character creation skills cooperative fire teams and hero characters Components edit The game box contains 2 twelve geomorphic 11 x 17 double sided paper maps with a square grid scaled at 3 m per square 47 page wargame rulebook 23 page role playing rulebook two copies of 8 page booklet of charts addenda sheet dated September 1979 two 20 sided dice four small six sided dice Gameplay edit If using the role playing rules a group of players create commando characters to be sent out on missions presented by a gamemaster The players can increase the hero rating of their character at the end of each successful mission These can be used to gain special abilities 2 Publication history editCommando was designed by Eric Goldberg 3 99 as the first commercial role playing game with a modern military theme 2 It was published by SPI in 1979 as a boxed set with cover art by David Wenzel and graphic design by Redmond A Simonsen 1 After publication the game appeared on SPI s Top Ten Bestseller list for four months rising as high as 4 4 Reception editIn Moves 57 Ian Chadwick liked the game saying It s a good game a remarkably smooth system which has accepted the compromise of a lightweight framework in exchange for a well designed complete tactical system 5 In Issue 65 of Fire amp Movement Jeff Petraska wrote Commando uses no counters and has square grid maps and at first glance looks a bit unwieldy With some play experience however the game shows itself to be a lot of fun and a good simulation of commando operations 6 Joe Scolari writing a retrospective review in Simulacrum 6 recalled that the game could be played as both a straight two player wargame or as a role playing game but noted unlike many modern games Commando had a plethora of optional rules and charts He concluded Commando furnishes all the details charts and rules you d expect from a wargame from back then which makes it the kind of game that tends to send today s gamers running in terror 2 Other reviews and commentary editPhoenix 24 Campaign 97 The American Wargamer Vol 7 6 Fantastic Science Fiction v27 n10 7 Awards editAt the 1980 Origins Awards Commando won the H G Wells Award for Best Roleplaying Rules of 1979 1 8 9 References edit a b c d Schick Lawrence 1991 Heroic Worlds A History and Guide to Role Playing Games Prometheus Books p 253 ISBN 0 87975 653 5 a b c d e Scolari Joe Spring 2000 Commando Simulacrum No 6 Shannon Appelcline 2011 Designers amp Dragons Mongoose Publishing ISBN 978 1 907702 58 7 SPI Best Selling Games 1979 spigames net Retrieved 2020 02 20 Chadwick Ian June July 1981 Commando Moves No 57 Petraska Jeff April May 1990 Commando Fire amp Movement No 65 Fantastic v27n10 1980 07 Daisy Chainsaw July 1980 1979 Origins Awards Winners Archived from the original on December 16 2012 Origins Award Winners 1979 Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts amp Design Archived from the original on 2007 08 30 Retrieved 2007 09 14 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Commando role playing game amp oldid 1143223976, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
