This is the original Star Frontiers box set (1980), TSR’s take on space opera. As a kid, I thought of it as a mash-up of Star Trek and Star Wars, but looking back on it now it feels very much like its own thing and seems to have anticipated a lot of ideas used in the Mass Effect series of videogames. The set-up is essentially the same: humans, along with three alien species, independently developed what amounts to hyperdrive technology, met in the Frontier Sector, formed a federation and found themselves embroiled in a violent conflict with a mysterious species of worm-like aliens.
The system is a straight forward percentile system. Skills are handled interestingly, with 13 main ones split among three Primary Skill Areas. Many main skills have sub-skills (for example, major surgery is a sub-skill of medical, which is part of the biosocial PSA) and all the various values create synergies among themselves, attributes and any penalties from complexity (usually from dealing with tech). It is robust and flexible for the time, especially for a TSR game whose box prominently displays “from the makers of Dungeons & Dragons.” Combat is often strangely non-lethal and medical tech provides the same services as healing and resurrection magic. Folks either love this hardiness or hate it, and house rules for increasing damage are pretty common.
Inside the box, you get two rule books, an introductory adventure called Crash on Volturnus (which would be the setting for two additional adventure modules). There are also a couple of maps and a bunch of wargame-style chits.
It always struck me as odd that TSR created its own sci-fi setting instead of flexing its bank account and licensing Star Wars (or even Battlestar Galactica). I am glad they didn’t (and not just because I own the Adventures of Indiana Jones box set). What they created , despite some obvious homages, has its own unique vibe and, looking back, I appreciate them going out on a limb and taking the risk to make it.
More tomorrow on the different aliens and that sweet, sweet cover art.
