First off, I lost my notation as to who sent me the near-complete run of Stardate magazines. If it was you, please drop me a line!

Stardate was started in 1984 as a house magazine for FASA’s Star Trek RPG. Later it would include Battletech, Doctor Who and others. Volume 1 ran seven issues before it was taken up for four more issues by Associates International in 1985. In 1986, after nearly ten months, a third volume was started by the this-name-is-sure-to-inspire-confidence Reluctant Publishing. It lasted six issues. This is the last, from October 1987, which is a bit depressing, since the editor’s letter talks about next Halloween’s issue and the fact that this was the first issue that could be bought in B. Dalton stores.

It isn’t surprising though. Science fiction games have always struggled in comparison to fantasy. And Stardate is ALL crunch. Crunchy crunch stats for mechs and ships and a star port and massive 24-page chart converting BattleTech units into their BattleForce equivalents. Crunch crunch crunch. There are about six pages of short reviews and a two page article on vampires – the lone acknowledgment of Halloween.  

There is also no justification inside the magazine for the use of Frank Frazetta’s Death Dealer on the cover. Not that I am complaining, I love that painting. But I suspect it was calculated to fuel sales at B. Dalton. I wonder how many people picked it up only to see page after page of space ship schematics and put it right back down?