Melee (game)
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| Designers | Steve Jackson |
|---|---|
| Publishers | Metagaming |
| Genres | Man to Man combat with medieval weapons |
| Systems | Custom |
Melee is a simple man-to-man combat boardgame released in 1977 by Metagaming.
History
Melee was designed by Steve Jackson, and was originally released in 1977 as MicroGame #3 by Metagaming Concepts.[1]: 79 At the time Jackson was getting involved with Dungeons & Dragons, but he found the various-sized dice irritating, and he found the combat rules confusing and unsatisfying, particularly the lack of tactics, so he designed Melee as something different.[1]: 79 Jackson had originally joined the Society for Creative Anachronism to gain a more visceral understanding of actual combat, and based Melee on his studies of the SCA.[1]: 79
Metagaming released a number of small games in ziplocked bags. The game came with a small empty hex map, counter sheet of men and monsters, and a 17-page rulebook. In 1979, magic was added to the game system with the release of Wizard (pocket Microgame #6), and in 1980 the system was turned into a fantasy role playing system (known as The Fantasy Trip) with the release of In the Labyrinth, Advanced Melee and Advanced Wizard, three magazine sized publications. Over the next two years, several modules were released for the system, called MicroQuests.
Steve Jackson later founded Steve Jackson Games. After Metagaming went out of business, Steve Jackson's GURPS borrowed heavily from his first role-playing ruleset The Fantasy Trip, with strength, dexterity, intelligence (added in Wizard), and a new ability, Endurance, being the primary abilities that determined in-game results.
Gameplay
Melee was an arena combat game where each player generated a character by purchasing Strength, Dexterity and equipment as part of a point-based character creation system, and then these characters fought via a tactical combat system that used six-sided dice.[1]: 79
Every figure had a strength and dexterity attribute. Strength governed the size of weapons used,with higher strength weapons allowing an increase to the damage one inflicted in combat, and also served as "hit points," dictating how much damage one could take. Dexterity determined how likely one was to hit one's opponent. The two attributes totaled to 24 for a beginning figure. In addition, each figure had a Movement Allowance, or MA, that indicated how many hexes could be moved in a turn on the map. Armor could be worn, which would reduce the amount of damage taken in combat while lowering one's dexterity and MA.
Each attack, whether missile or melee, is governed by throwing three six sided dice (four dice, if the opponent dodged or defended). If the total rolled is equal or less than the attacking figure's adjusted dexterity score (adjustments included penalties for wearing armor and effects of wounds) then a hit is scored. Each weapon has a wounding capability, throwing one or more dice with some adjustments. For example, a dagger does 1 die minus 1 point (for a damage range of 0 to 5), while a battle axe does 3 dice of damage. This damage is then adjusted by any protection (armor and shields) employed by the opponent. For example, chain mail stops 3 hits of damage; if a battle axe struck this figure and the score rolled was 9, the figure would only take 6 damage because of the armor. Wounds can affect a figure either by giving a temporary or permanent (until healed, at least) penalty to dexterity, or single powerful blows can knock a figure down.
A figure that wins a fight gains experience points; when enough points are gained they can be traded in for additional attribute points, allowing a figure to advance in power.
Advanced Melee was tied more closely to In the Labyrinth, and featured more combat options, such as called shots, additional weapons, and greater detail in general. Also, IQ (introduced in Wizard) becomes important for allowing a figure to use combat relevant talents, such as Fencing, Two Weapons Combat, and so forth, making figures more varied.
References
- Melee at BoardGameGeek
- Jackson, Steve. Melee (1st Printing). Metagaming. Austin. 1977
- Jackson, Steve. Advanced Melee. Metagaming. Austin. 1980