Fantasy Games Unlimited
Encyclopedia
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.
from TSR
, the company turned its attentions to role-playing games, seeking out and producing systems created by amateurs and freelancers. Rather than focusing on any one line and supporting it with subsequent supplements, FGU instead produced a continuous stream of new games. In its time, FGU Incorporated published dozens of different role-playing games, more than any other company.
In 1989, Fantasy Games Unlimited won the All Time Best Ancient Medieval Rules for 1979 H.G. Wells Award
at Origins 1980 for Chivalry & Sorcery.
In 1991, Fantasy Games Unlimited Inc. was dissolved for nonpayment of taxes, causing some contracts with various creators to terminate. Despite the dissolution of the original Fantasy Games Unlimited corporation, Scott Bizar continues to do business under the name Fantasy Games Unlimited.
A new FGU website appeared in July 2006 offering the company's back catalog. It promised new products "coming soon". New Aftermath! products began to appear in 2008. By 2010 much of the company's back catalog was available. FGU is now seeking submissions to allow the publication of new adventures for some of their existing titles to which they do not have the rights.
History
Founded in 1975 by Scott B. Bizar, the company's first publications were the wargames Gladiators and Royal Armies of the Hyborean Age. Upon the sudden appearance and massive popularity of Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
from TSR
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, the company turned its attentions to role-playing games, seeking out and producing systems created by amateurs and freelancers. Rather than focusing on any one line and supporting it with subsequent supplements, FGU instead produced a continuous stream of new games. In its time, FGU Incorporated published dozens of different role-playing games, more than any other company.
In 1989, Fantasy Games Unlimited won the All Time Best Ancient Medieval Rules for 1979 H.G. Wells Award
Origins Award
The Origins Awards are American awards for outstanding work in the game industry. They are presented by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design at the Origins Game Fair on an annual basis for the previous year, so the 1979 awards were given at the 1980 Origins.The Origins Award is commonly...
at Origins 1980 for Chivalry & Sorcery.
In 1991, Fantasy Games Unlimited Inc. was dissolved for nonpayment of taxes, causing some contracts with various creators to terminate. Despite the dissolution of the original Fantasy Games Unlimited corporation, Scott Bizar continues to do business under the name Fantasy Games Unlimited.
A new FGU website appeared in July 2006 offering the company's back catalog. It promised new products "coming soon". New Aftermath! products began to appear in 2008. By 2010 much of the company's back catalog was available. FGU is now seeking submissions to allow the publication of new adventures for some of their existing titles to which they do not have the rights.
Publications
- Aftermath!Aftermath!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...
- BushidoBushido (role-playing game)Bushido is a Samurai role-playing game set in Feudal Japan, originally designed by Robert N. Charrette and Paul R. Hume and published originally by Tyr Games then Phoenix Games and subsequently by Fantasy Games Unlimited...
- Bunnies & Burrows
- Blue Light Manual
- Chivalry & Sorcery (1st & 2nd editions)
- Daredevils
- Diadem
- Down Styphon
- Fire, Hack & Run
- Flash Gordon & the Warriors of Mongo
- Flashing Blades
- Frederick the Great
- Freedom Fighters
- Gangster!
- Gladiators
- Land of the Rising Sun
- Lands of Adventure
- Legion
- Merc
- Middle Sea
- Odysseus
- Other Suns
- Privateers & Gentlemen
- Psi World
- Royal Armies of the Hyborean Age
- Skull & Crossbones
- Space MarinesSpace MarinesSpace Marines is a science fiction miniatures wargame created by A. Mark Ratner. There were two editions. The first was published by FanTac Games and the second by Fantasy Games Unlimited . Both versions include artwork by David C. Sutherland III.The FanTac version of the game included conversion...
- Space OperaSpace Opera (game)Space Opera is a science-fiction role-playing game created by Edward E. Simbalist, A. Mark Ratner, and Phil McGregor in 1980 for Fantasy Games Unlimited . While the system is applicable to the whole genre of science fiction the focus is on creating space opera themed adventures...
- Star Explorer
- Starships & Spacemen
- SwordbearerSwordbearerSwordbearer is a fantasy role-playing game. It was originally published by Heritage Games in 1982, and then republished by Fantasy Games Unlimited in 1985. The game was written by B. Dennis Sustare with contributions from Arnold Hendrick. Illustrations are by Dennis Loubet and David Helber...
- Tyrannosaurus wrecks
- Villains and VigilantesVillains and VigilantesVillains and Vigilantes is a superhero-themed role-playing game which competed primarily with Champions and Superworld in early to mid 1980s.-Origin:...
- Wargaming magazine
- Wild West
- Wizards' World
- Year of the Phoenix