Dallas (role-playing game)
Dallas is a role-playing game published by Simulations Publications, Inc. in 1980.
Description
Dallas is a TV soap-opera/crime system in which the PCs are major characters from the Dallas series interacting in "plots."[1] Character abilities include power, persuasion, coercion, seduction, investigation, and luck; ability scores are compared and dice are rolled to determine the results of actions.[1] The game includes the "Rules of Play" (16 pages), "Major Characters" booklet (16 pages), and the "Scriptwriter's Guide" (16 pages) for the GM, plus dozens of minor characters on cut-apart cards.[1]
Publication history
Dallas was designed by James F. Dunnigan, with art by Redmond A. Simonsen, and published by Simulations Publications, Inc. in 1980 as a boxed set containing three 16-page books, two sheets of cards, and dice.[1]
In an attempt to expand its customer base even further beyond the "hobbyist" core, SPI entered into a much-publicized arrangement with Lorimar Productions to produce the Dallas role-playing game based on the soap opera Dallas in 1980.[2] Dallas: The Television Role-Playing Game was the first ever licensed role-playing game.[3]:99 The game proved to be an infamous failure, and Simonsen later remarked that the 80,000 copies printed were 79,999 too many.[2]
Reception
Lawrence Schick comments: "As much a card game as a role-playing game, it was widely loathed by SPI's devoted following of wargamers."[1]
Reviews
- The Space Gamer (Issue 42 - Aug 1981)