Ravenloft the RPG

What's the ad for?

Ravenloft
Year
1990

Spotted in...

The Scoop

Ravenloft is a role playing game that uses the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons rule set. From my limited understanding, the Ravenloft universe is an alternate time-space existence that consists of pocket universes which can appear anywhere in the Dungeons and Dragons universe. I primarily know the name Ravenloft from a popular board game that was released  a couple years ago entitled Castle Ravenloft. There have been numerous books and three video games based on the Ravenloft pocket universes, almost all of them released in the nineties. Perhaps the popularity of the board game will cause a renewed interest in the Ravenloft universe.

Not knowing why- but programed to purchase...

What's the ad for?
  Star Frontiers RPG
Year
1983

Spotted in

 

 

The Scoop

Star Frontiers was made by TSR, the same company that brought the world Dungeons and Dragons. However this early foray into Sci-fi role playing games had some major differences when compared to D&D. For starters there was no leveling up of characters. You were given a set amount of health but you could buy skill points with the experience points gained. The game system also ran on a percentile system. A player would role two ten sided dice, 2d10 for those in the know. The role would result in a number from 1-100.

Similar look to the D&D boxes. Image by Dave Bernazzan. 

Coming this fall...James Bond 007. License to roll play

What's the ad for?
James Bond 007 the role playing game
Year
1983

Spotted in

Another Dungeons and Dragons advert

What's the ad for?
Dungeons and Dragons
Year
1982

Spotted in

AD&D Player's handbook

What's the ad for?
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Player handbook
Year
1989

Spotted in

D&D Immortal Rules

What's the ad for?
Dungeons and Dragons Set 5: Immortal Rules
Year
1986

Spotted in

The Scoop

I'm not a role play gamer. I dabbled a bit in my youth but never really got into it. However this ad along with the one for the Basic Rules set really appealed to me. It just looked really cool. I wish I did play D&D, I want to be part of the club. Now in my mid thirties I sometimes contemplate picking up the basic rule set and getting together with my friend Trevor, whom I've known since grade three, and try cranking out a campaign. Then again Trevor has two kids and we are both fairly busy. Plus I have a copy of Descent with the Road to Legend expansion. I think I'll just stick with that. Maybe I'll have to wait until I have teenage children of my own to play with.

D&D Basic Rules- The Red Box

What's the ad for?

Dungeons and Dragons Set #1: Basic Set

Year

1989

Spotted in

The scoop

 I'm not a role player, at least not much of one. I did however try and get into it when I was a kid. My friends and I started out playing a lesser know RPG called Boot Hill. It must have been the theme that attracted us, I don't really know how we stumbled on to it. From there we created our own world and system based on Roman gladiators. You have to take into account that we were probably around 12 years old at the time. Then I saw the Dungeons and Dragons Basic Set at my local comic book shop. We had a lot of fun with the system although thinking back we probably played all those games so wrong, but hey it was all fun. They recently re-released this box although I've heard it's not a straight reprint.

Top Secret/ S.I. roleplaying game

What's the ad for?

Top Secret/S.I. RPG game
Year
1988

Spotted in

The scoop
A Role-playing game from TSR. This one is about the world of espionage.  

Castle Mammon

What's the ad for?

Castle Mammon telephone adventure
Year
1990

Spotted in

The Scoop

Okay, so what is this advertising? Well it's a role-playing game you play by the telephone! If that isn't an antiquated notion than I don't know what is. It was designed by Steven Jackson, a well known analog game designer who you might know through his popular Munchkin game. By analog I mean not video game. Jackson was approached by a company who ran an  astrology-by-telephone lines gig. The ones you dial up and press number 6 to get the Gemini horoscope. Anyway, Jackson designed the F.I.S.T system (Fantasy Interactive Scenarios by Telephone) and in his own words was able to buy a Spanish Villa with the royalties received. This is not surprising as the first minute is $1.50 with additional minutes clocking in at $0.75. So a ten minute game will run you $8.25 and leaving you with a piece of scrap paper covered in chicken scratches.

This is what you would have heard, whispered in a low voice, upon phoning the Castle Mammon adventure line...

"The number you have dialed is not of this earth. You have opened the gateway to an alternate reality. You are being connected to another world in another time, where you are another person. Welcome to the world of FIST! "

So I have to ask, did any of you ever phone these F.I.S.T. adventures lines as kids? And more importantly...did you have you parents permission?

Thanks to http://fightingfantasy.wikia.com for the information...