The Fantasy Trip via Email
One of the problems I always ran into was a lack of opponents for TFT
and MicroQuest games. Recently, I've gotten back into the thick of gaming
with TFT thanks to Walt O'Hara's original Melee gamebox for the CyberBoard
PBEM utility written by Dale Larson.
One thing's led to another, and I ended up modifying Walt's original
gamebox, and lately I've been creating gameboxes for various MicroQuests
so that I can play them by email as well. I'm glad I have, since I've had
the best RPG experience I've ever had being run through Guy
McLimore's GrailQuest (MicroQuest #3).
I'm thrilled to be able to play these games again through email. In
that spirit, I'm making the games available to others as well. There is
a catch, though: because no one's been able to find Howard Thompson, who
owns the copyrights on these games, I'm not going to make them downloadable.
Instead, I ask that you send an email
to jh@brainiac.com with a copy of the following statement of intent,
in its entirety, in the body of the message, stating that you own the game
that you want the gamebox file for, and that you will use the gamebox file
for your own personal, private gaming use. Note that you must fill in the
names of the games you wish to get the gamebox files for on the blank line
in the statement.
Statement of Intent - Fair Use of Copyrighted Materials In accordance
with the provisions of Title 17 United States Code, Chapter 1, Paragraph
107, et al, I hereby affirm that I intend to acquire these unlicensed,
copyrighted materials for my own personal and private use, and that I own
a full and legally acquired copy of the original published game, and that
I will not redistribute this gamebox file, or any images derived from this
gamebox file, to any other person for any purpose contrary to the provisions
of reasonable and fair use of said copyrighted material. The title(s) of
the game(s) for which I enter this statement of intent is(are) _______________________________________________________
Microgames, published in various editions by Metagaming, Inc."
I'm sorry to be such a stickler about this, but in the event Howard
Thompson does re-appear, I'd like to be able to show that I've tried to
respect his copyright in the hopes that he'll authorize these gameboxes.
Now, on to the games!
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Melee and Wizard are the 2 basic components of The Fantasy Trip and
are required to play the MicroQuests. This is not true of the MicroQuest
gameboxes available here, though. Each of the MicroQuest gamebox files
includes some or all of the components from the Melee/Wizard gamebox, along
with any MicroQuest-specific counters and maps, if any. |
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The Death Tests are basic slash-n-grab adventures. There's no plot
and no objective other than to get out alive with all the booty you can
carry. This is a good way to get accustomed to the game and to build
up characters' statistics. These games introduced the Thorsz, who
re-appears in OrbQuest (MQ #8). |
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GrailQuest is set in the days of King Arthur's court. As a Knight of
the Round Table, you have been charged with the Quest to find the Holy
Grail. A wonderful game! This is regarded by many as the best of
the MicroQuests. I'm thrilled that its author, Guy
McLimore, is a list subscriber, and has gone on to continue making
some wonderful games. Click here for a screen
shot from one of the battles in my GrailQuest game!
Treasure of the Silver Dragon was the first MicroQuest to have a built-in
treasure hunt with a $10,000 prize. (Don't bother looking for it
- Thomas Davidson found the Dragon 6 weeks after the game was originally
released!) This game is based on a Toltec mythology, and is an enjoyable
solitaire run-through.
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Jaz N'orn was Cidri's most renowned collector of the weird and bizarre.
When he found a functioning remnant of another world destroyed in a nuclear
holocaust, he brought it back for his collection. Now, centuries later,
Jaz N'orn is forgotten, but his discovery still functions, and you've just
stumbled upon it. Explore the bunker in Security Station. You
may even come out alive!
Treasure of Unicorn Gold is the second MicroQuest to offer a $10,000
treasure hunt. No one knows whether this prize was ever claimed!
Unicorn Gold continues the Toltec theme of Silver Dragon.
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Venture into the wizard Dirringer's Lost Valley, where powerful Amulets
(and a few not so powerful) lay scattered across the countryside. the brave
may seek, the clever find, and the lucky escape. This game seems
to lend itself to repeated solitaire play better than other MQ's due to
the random nature of the Amulet distribution.
Run through a round of MotA by downloading this .GAM file
and replay the moves!
In OrbQuest, you've been hired for a secret quest at the
behest of the Thorsz, and whisked magically away to a huge, forbidding
tower. You reflect that life is hard and short, as the gods will. It's
small comfort that Thorsz at least pays well, for survivors. The cowards
never make it.
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