Universe (role-playing game)

Universe
Cover art by John Pierard
DesignersJohn H. Butterfield, Gerard C. Klug
PublishersSimulation Publications
Publication1981 (1st edition)
1982 (2nd edition)
GenresScience fiction
SystemsCustom

Universe: The Role-Playing Game of the Future is a science fiction role-playing game published by Simulation Publications, Inc (SPI) from 1981 to 1983. It was praised[1][2][3][4] for its innovative and tightly organized rules for such sci-fi RPG concerns as generating planets, applying character skills to in-game situations, and resolving the initial moments of alien encounters; however, it was also criticized for its cumbersome encounter/combat system and its lack of compelling background material. Universe was also noted for its "striking"[1] Interstellar Display, a poster-sized, astronomically accurate map of all stars within 30 light-years of Earth.[5]

Universe was SPI's answer to Game Designers Workshop's award-winning Traveller sci-fi RPG. Universe co-developer Gerry Klug[6][7][8] (who was an experienced Traveller referee) set out "to 'fix' all the ill written and illogical rules [he] felt had been perpetrated on the science fiction role-playing community".[9]

The first edition of Universe, published in March 1981, was released as a boxed set.[1] A year later, the second edition consolidated most of the game components into a single softcover book, published by Bantam.[10] SPI planned several adventures and supplements for Universe, but in 1983, financial difficulties led to SPI being bought out by TSR, Inc[11] (creator of Dungeons & Dragons). TSR, which had its own sci-fi RPG (Star Frontiers), soon ended development of Universe. The last official mention of Universe was in July 1984, in the "StarQuestions" Q & A feature of TSR's Dragon magazine #87.[12]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference dragon55 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference spacegamer44 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference lafayette2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference papyrus1999 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ https://www.blackgate.com/2020/07/19/ten-rpg-moments-of-awesome/
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference despain2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference etc_faculty was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference costiykan1997 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference ares10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference second_edition was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference perlya1990 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference dragon87 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).