Indiana Jones (role-playing game)
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| Indiana Jones (role-playing game) | |
|---|---|
 The Adventures of Indiana Jones Role-Playing Game |
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| Designer(s) | David Cook |
| Publisher(s) | TSR, Inc., WEG |
| Publication date | 1984, 1994 |
| Genre(s) | Period adventure/alternate history |
| System | Custom |
The Adventures of Indiana Jones Role-Playing Game was a role-playing game designed and published by TSR, Inc. in 1984. It was produced under license from LucasArts, and based on the successful films, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Temple of Doom. It also used some material from the comic series, Further Adventures of Indiana Jones
Contents |
[edit] Setting
The setting of the game is historical, defining no specific year but the setting of Temple of Doom was in 1935, and the setting of Raiders of the Lost Ark was in 1936, players can choose to set aspects of the game at any point in the mid to late 1930s. Some adventure packs establish a particular timeline, while others are left to the player's discretion.
[edit] System
Designed for 2 to 8 players, the game is run, and scenes are laid out by a game master, called a referee. Each adventure pack specifies which of pre-made characters are available to be played, and provide a character dossier which displays their attributes, abilities, and a health chart. Provided maps, tables, and cut-out game pieces represent the setting and characters, and are used to determine character positioning, range, line of sight, and movement.
[edit] Characters
The players choose one of seven pre-made characters based on those from the movies: Indiana Jones, Marion Ravenwood, Short Round, Willie Scott, Sallah (the digger), Jock Lindsay (the pilot), or Wu Han (an old friend of Indy's).
Each character has seven attributes to decide basic factors in the game: strength (physical strength), movement (action speed), prowess (manual dexterity, coordination), backbone (courage, determination), instinct (perception, intuition), appeal (personality, physical beauty). When a particular feat is attempted, a check is made against the character's appropriate attribute by rolling a d100. Modifiers to the roll or attribute may be applied by the referee, based on game circumstances. If one rolls higher than their modified attribute score, the action is successful. If it is below, the action fails. Outcome is determined by the referee.
[edit] Combat
Combat is done in turns, each of which equals five seconds of in-game time. Players with the highest movement attribute have the chance to act first with a check against that attribute. Whether one is able to land a blow depends on a check against their prowess attribute, and the amount of damage done is determined by a "Modified Check Table" provided in the game rules. There are three levels of damage: light, medium, and serious. The reversed number rolled for the prowess check, looked up on the provided "Action Results Table" determines where the blow landed, if not otherwise decided by the referee. Other forms of combat, such as shooting are done in the same way, only the provided maps must be used to determine range and line of sight. No formal system of hit points or determining actual character death is put forth, and instead is left to the referee as a role-play element.
[edit] Themes
Most of the themes of the game are centered around the movies and comics, with Indiana Jones and his companions procuring items of archeological importance, while battling Nazis, rival archeologists, violent natives, gangsters, and anything else the referee chooses to put forth in the storyline. Even in the prepared adventure packs, sequence results are largely left open to player determination based on referee guidance.
[edit] History
The TSR books for the game are currently out of print. Publication stopped when the licensing rights to the Indiana Jones property expired. All unsold copies of the game were destroyed at that time. Employees at the UK office of TSR Hobbies mounted a portion of the burnt remains of the last copy in a small pyramid trophy made of Perspex. Beginning in 2000, the trophy became known as the "Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Gaming".
A set of pewter miniatures were also marketed in 1984 for use with the game, which the player could choose to use instead of the cardboard cutouts that were provided with each book.
An entirely new interpretation of a role-playing game based off the Indiana Jones movies was produced by West End Games (WEG) in 1994, called The World of Indiana Jones. It was designed by Brian Sean Perry and was offered in a boxed set, and several adventure modules were written for it. Two sets of pewter minuatures were marketed for use with the game.
[edit] References
[edit] Adventure packs
- Tracy Hickman & Michael Dobson. IJ1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Adventure Pack (TSR, 1984)
- Douglas Niles. IJ2 Raiders of the Lost Ark Adventure Pack (TSR, 1984)
- Tracy Hickname. IJ3 Indiana Jones, Crystal Death (TSR, 1984)
- Ed Carmien. IJ4 Indiana Jones, the Golden Goddess (TSR, 1985)
- Marlene Weigel. IJ5 Indiana Jones, Nepal Nightmare Adventure Pack (TSR, 1985)
- Tracy Hickman. IJ6 Indiana Jones, Fourth Nail Adventure Pack (TSR, 1985)
[edit] Accessory packs
- Johnson, Harold. IJAC1 Indiana Jones, Judge's Survival (TSR, 1985)
[edit] Other modules
- Bill Olmesdahl & David Pulver. Indiana Jones and the Rising Sun (WEG, 1994)
- Peter Schweighofer. Raiders of the Lost Ark (WEG, 1994)
- Ken Cliffe, Greg Farshtey & Teeuwynn Woodruff. Indiana Jones and the Tomb of the Templars (WEG, 1995)
- Sanford Berenberg, Bill Smith & John Terra. Indiana Jones and the Lands of Adventure (WEG, 1995)
- James Estes, Evan Jamieson, Brian Sean Perry & Lisa Smedman. Indiana Jones and the Golden Vampires (WEG, 1995)
- Adam Gratun, Evan Jamieson, Richard Meyer. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (WEG, 1996)
- John Robey, Peter Schwighofer, George Strayton, Paul Sudlow, Eric S. Trautmann. Indiana Jones Adventures (WEG, 1996)
- Scott Baron & John Terra. Indiana Jones Artifacts (WEG, 1996)
- Greg Farshtey & John Terra. Indiana Jones and the Sky Pirates and other Tales (WEG, 1996)
- Lee Garvin. Indiana Jones Magic & Mysticism; The Dark Continent (WEG, 1997)
