The Mechanoid Invasion
The Mechanoid Invasion (and its source books, supplements and sequels) was the first role-playing game from Palladium Books, conceived and written by Kevin Siembieda, with contributions from Erick Wujcik.[1]
Front cover of The Mechanoid Invasion core rulebook, illustrated by Kevin Siembieda | |
| Designers | Kevin Siembieda |
|---|---|
| Illustrators | Kevin Siembieda, Michael Gustovich, William Messner-Loebs, James A. Osten |
| Publishers | Palladium Books |
| Publication | April 1981 |
| Years active | 1981–1988 |
| Genres | Science fiction |
| Languages | English |
| Website | palladiumbooks |
Concept Edit
The Mechanoid Invasion centered on a powerful, malevolent, and numerous race of bio-driven machines that had come to invade a planet called Gideon E that was colonized by humans. In its original edition, published in 1981,[2] the game was published as a series of three comic-book sized sourcebooks:[3]
- the first, The Mechanoid Invasion, dealt with the eponymous invasion of Gideon E
- the second, Journey, dealt with human survivors living within a mechanoid mothership after the destruction of the Gideon E colony and introduced "minor magic and some psionics",[4]
- the third, Homeworld, dealt with the Mechanoid homeworld itself.
Legacy Edit
The first book was revised and republished in an expanded form in 1985 as The Mechanoids.[5]
In Spring 1991 Caliber Comics also produced a 3-book series called The Mechanoids which adapted the RPG into comic book stories.[6]
In the early 90s "Sourcebook Two" of Rifts was released, titled The Mechanoids, and it included MDC conversions for the Mechanoids for use in a Rifts Earth setting, along with a storyline on how they got there.[7]
In Winter 1998 a Collected Mechanoids RPG was released, compiled as the Mechanoid Invasion Trilogy[8] which is still available.[9]
Mechanoids Space, a complete RPG first announced in 1993 for release the following year, was last promised for publication in December 2002 as late as September 2002.[10] As of 2020,[update] it is still available in the store labelled "coming soon".[11]
Reception Edit
William A. Barton reviewed The Mechanoid Invasion in The Space Gamer No. 42.[12] Barton commented that "If you can overlook its amateurish production (and the price helps in this), I think you'll find The Mechanoid Invasion worth the investment. It should provide some enjoyable role playing in an SF setting as a break from Traveller or your other favorite SF RPG."[12]
Review Edit
References Edit
- ^ article: Talking Roleplaying and Computing Careers with Erick Wujcik
- ^ REVIEW OF THE MECHANOID INVASION TRILOGY
- ^ Monster Robots From Outer Space - Kevin Siembieda - Rifts Sourcebook Two Mechanoids - Epinions.com.
- ^ Company Profile, palladiumbooks.com.
- ^ The Vortex Rifts Mechanoids.
- ^ History of Caliber 2014-12-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Rifts Sourcebook 2 retrieved 20 June 2015
- ^
- ^ Palladium Books description of the Trilogy compilation
- ^ The Palladium FAQ Version 4.00: September 1, 2002 Section 11: The Mechanoids on Stan Bundy's Website retrieved 20 June 2015: 11.02. When is the Mechanoids RPG going to be reprinted?
- ^ Mechanoids Space retrieved 12 February 2016
- ^ a b Barton, William A. (August 1981). "Capsule Reviews". The Space Gamer. Steve Jackson Games (42): 30.
- ^ "Different Worlds Magazine".
External links Edit
- The Mechanoid Invasion official discussion board at Palladium Books Forums of the Megaverse
- The Mechanoid Invasion at RPG Geek Database
- The Mechanoid Invasion at RPGnet Game Index