Aftermath!
Encyclopedia
Aftermath! is a role-playing game
created by Paul Hume & Robert Charette which was published in 1981
by Fantasy Games Unlimited
.
It is set in a post-apocalyptic world in which the characters typically have to fight for food, water, basic supplies and shelter. The rules are reasonably complex and include many flow charts and tables to enable the Games Master to simulate the world. This leads to a very immersive gaming experience. However, it does require a good knowledge of the rules to play.
The nature of the Apocalypse is up to the Games Master but it is often reminiscent of the Mad Max
films. There is even an expansion (Aftermath! Magic!) to play in a universe dominated by dragons in the style of the film Reign of Fire.
The game designers responsible can be found in the credits list below (see External links).
Characters also have a set of talents – Charismatic, Combative, Communicative, Esthetic, Mechanical, Natural, and Scientific. These talents govern the progress in skills, and can be used in a pinch as a “Natural Talent” instead of a skill.
Aftermath! is a true skill based system, with no “levels” to artificially balance gameplay. A character has a set of skills that define the tasks that they are proficient in. Skills are rated on a skillscore, which is converted to a D20 roll (BCS) for convenience. If the D20 is under the BCS, then the skill test succeeds.
The combat system is a tiered system. You only resolve the combat to the level of detail needed for the encounter.
A basic attack is roll to hit (D20). If the target is an “extra” there’s no need to even roll for damage.
An average attack (for a player attacking) is roll to hit (D20), and then roll for damage.
A detailed attack is roll to hit (D20), roll for hit location (D100), then roll for damage.
A personality attack (or an attack against the PC) is roll to hit (D20) roll for location(d100) roll for damage, and resolve any special effects as needed.
Damage dice are based on the mechanism causing the damage. If it’s a muscle powered or melee weapon, it’s based on the character’s strength. Firearms are based on the Muzzle Energy of the projectile.
Simply put – if a character has a strength of 20, then they do a base of 1d10 damage with melee weapons.
A 7.62NATO rifle has a BDG of 27 (2700fp of muzzle energy) for 3D10+3 damage.
Skill advancement is based on attempting a task “Under Duress”. A check is made against the governing talent, and if successful, the skill used advances by 1%.
Damage is rated against a character’s DRT (based on Health, Strength, and Willpower). If more damage is done than the Character’s Shock Factor (based on Health) in a single attack, then they may succumb to shock.
Timing in the game is based on Combat Turns with Action Phases. Each activity takes a number of actions by the character, which take a number of action phases to complete based on their Speed and Deftness.
Most everything the player needs to know to play the game is summarized on their character sheet.
websites.
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
created by Paul Hume & Robert Charette which was published in 1981
1981 in games
This page lists board and card games, wargames, miniatures games, and table-top role-playing games published in 1981. For video and console games, see 1981 in video gaming....
by Fantasy Games Unlimited
Fantasy Games Unlimited
Fantasy Games Unlimited, often referred to as just FGU, is a publishing house for both table-top and role-playing games. They have no in-house design teams and rely on submitted material from outside talent.-History:...
.
It is set in a post-apocalyptic world in which the characters typically have to fight for food, water, basic supplies and shelter. The rules are reasonably complex and include many flow charts and tables to enable the Games Master to simulate the world. This leads to a very immersive gaming experience. However, it does require a good knowledge of the rules to play.
The nature of the Apocalypse is up to the Games Master but it is often reminiscent of the Mad Max
Mad Max
Mad Max is a 1979 Australian dystopian action film directed by George Miller and revised by Miller and Byron Kennedy over the original script by James McCausland. The film stars Mel Gibson, who was unknown at the time. Its narrative based around the traditional western genre, Mad Max tells a story...
films. There is even an expansion (Aftermath! Magic!) to play in a universe dominated by dragons in the style of the film Reign of Fire.
Game design
While it undoubtedly adds a richness and depth to the game lacking in others, the sheer detail involved really cannot be overstated. One fan commented on a forum... "I've heard legends about early games like Aftermath, which were said to cause bleeding from the eyes due to the sheer complexity of their rules".The game designers responsible can be found in the credits list below (see External links).
Aftermath! 101 (Courtesy David Harmer, Fantasy Games Unlimited)
Characters are rated on a set of 6 stats – Wit, Will, Strength, Deftness, Speed, and Health. These are rated as follows:- 1-5 below average
- 6-10 average
- 11-14 above average
- 15-24 Superior
- 25-34 Above Superior
- 35-40 Heroic
Characters also have a set of talents – Charismatic, Combative, Communicative, Esthetic, Mechanical, Natural, and Scientific. These talents govern the progress in skills, and can be used in a pinch as a “Natural Talent” instead of a skill.
Aftermath! is a true skill based system, with no “levels” to artificially balance gameplay. A character has a set of skills that define the tasks that they are proficient in. Skills are rated on a skillscore, which is converted to a D20 roll (BCS) for convenience. If the D20 is under the BCS, then the skill test succeeds.
The combat system is a tiered system. You only resolve the combat to the level of detail needed for the encounter.
A basic attack is roll to hit (D20). If the target is an “extra” there’s no need to even roll for damage.
An average attack (for a player attacking) is roll to hit (D20), and then roll for damage.
A detailed attack is roll to hit (D20), roll for hit location (D100), then roll for damage.
A personality attack (or an attack against the PC) is roll to hit (D20) roll for location(d100) roll for damage, and resolve any special effects as needed.
Damage dice are based on the mechanism causing the damage. If it’s a muscle powered or melee weapon, it’s based on the character’s strength. Firearms are based on the Muzzle Energy of the projectile.
Simply put – if a character has a strength of 20, then they do a base of 1d10 damage with melee weapons.
A 7.62NATO rifle has a BDG of 27 (2700fp of muzzle energy) for 3D10+3 damage.
Skill advancement is based on attempting a task “Under Duress”. A check is made against the governing talent, and if successful, the skill used advances by 1%.
Damage is rated against a character’s DRT (based on Health, Strength, and Willpower). If more damage is done than the Character’s Shock Factor (based on Health) in a single attack, then they may succumb to shock.
Timing in the game is based on Combat Turns with Action Phases. Each activity takes a number of actions by the character, which take a number of action phases to complete based on their Speed and Deftness.
Most everything the player needs to know to play the game is summarized on their character sheet.
Contents
- 3 rulebooks - Basic Rules, Player's Guide and Gamemaster's Guide
- an introductory scenario
- character sheet
- a 3 panel reference sheet (full of tables and charts)
- counters and a feedback sheet
Scenarios
A number of add-on scenario and campaign books were published. Because of the detailed rules, it was possible to build extremely detailed and believable worlds around actual places, such as Sydney University, where for example every room in the University was modeled with lengthy descriptions of items in each room, and maps based on actual university blueprints.- Aftermath Scenario Pack 1: Into The Ruins - The City of Littleton (1981), by Robert N. Charrette and Paul R. Hume. Published by Fantasy Games Unlimited. Takes place in the city of Littleton, IllinoisLittleton, IllinoisLittleton is a village in Schuyler County, Illinois, United States. The population was 197 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Littleton is located at ....
. - Aftermath Scenario Pack A1: Operation Morpheus - The Ruins of the University (1982), by Phil McGregor. Published by Fantasy Games Unlimited. Takes place in Australia centered on Sydney University
- Aftermath Campaign Pack A2 - Sydney, The Wilderness (1984), by Phil McGregor. Published by Fantasy Games Unlimited. SydneySydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
region. - Adventure Pack K1 - The Empire of Karo (1984), by William Pixley. Published by Fantasy Games Unlimited. Set in Cairo, IllinoisCairo, IllinoisCairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The rivers converge at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant...
. - Aftermath Campaign Pack C1 - The City State, Chicago & The Illinois River Valley (1987), by J. Andrew Keith. Published by Fantasy Games Unlimited.
- Aftermath! Technology (1992), by David S. Harmer. Published by Dinosaur Games. Rules expansion and technology supplement.
- Aftermath! Technology (2008), by David S. Harmer. 2nd edition Published by Fantasy Games Unlimited. Rules expansion and technology supplement.
- Aftermath! Survival Guide (2008), by David S. Harmer. Published by Fantasy Games Unlimited. Rules expansion and technology supplement covering roleplaying during the collapse.
- Aftermath! - The Lost Adventures (2009), is a reprint of Aftermath Scenario Pack A1: Operation Morpheus - The Ruins of the University and Adventure Pack K1 - The Empire of Karo in a single volume.
- Aftermath! Magic! (2010), by David S. Harmer. 2nd edition Published by Fantasy Games Unlimited. Magic rules expansion and campaign supplement. Covers playing after a Magical collapse.
Fanbase
The game attained cult status rapidly and is still very much alive and well, mainly in the hands of enthusiasts. There seems to be a lot of interest on FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
websites.