Tri Tac Games
Encyclopedia
Tri Tac Games is a publisher of role-playing game
s based in Pontiac, Michigan
. The company is built primarily on the work of Richard Tucholka
, its founder and president.
's Dungeons & Dragons
.
The company's first product was the humorous microgame
Geriatric Wars. Shortly thereafter followed Fringeworthy
, the first interdimensional travel-based RPG, Bureau 13: Stalking the Night Fantastic, a late 20th Century Horror
RPG, and FTL:2448
, a space RPG, all Tucholka creations. The company name was changed to "Tri Tac Games" to reflect what the company saw as the more serious nature of its new products.
Currently the company sells a number of series of games, as well as books, including a book of cartoons, and a cookbook called Damn Strange Recipe Collection.
In 1994 the Tri Tac offices were raided by the FBI, because of alleged similarities between promotional ID badges distributed by Tri Tac personnel at a conference and certain official U.S. government ID badges. After the raid the federal prosecutor assigned to the case elected not to press charges. A year later the FBI showed up at the Tri Tac booth at Gencon 95 to make sure Tri Tac was in compliance. Tri Tac was no longer selling the badges but they did display one of the badges that got them in trouble. It was sealed in a frame with a newspaper report about the raid. The FBI determined Tri Tac presented no threat to national security and left without comment.
Hardwired Hinterland
Fringeworthy
Fringeworthy d20 Rogue 417 Invasion US Catalogue of Alternative Worlds
Space RPGs
Incursion
EZ SPACE 2010
Microgames
Duck Wars
Clay squash classics
Other
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...
s based in Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
. The company is built primarily on the work of Richard Tucholka
Richard Tucholka
Richard Tucholka is a writer, game designer and publisher, best known for his work in the creation of the role-playing game Bureau 13: Stalking the Night Fantastic.-Career:...
, its founder and president.
Company history
Tri Tac Games was founded in 1978 as "Tacky Tack Games". Tri Tac is one of several small companies that rode the wave of interest in RPGs beginning in the 1970s with TSRTSR, 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....
's Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & 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...
.
The company's first product was the humorous microgame
Microgame
A microgame is a board game or wargame packaged in a small set. Microgames enjoyed popularity during the 1980s...
Geriatric Wars. Shortly thereafter followed Fringeworthy
Fringeworthy
Fringeworthy is a role-playing game first published in 1982 by Tri Tac Games. In 1984, a second edition saw a print run of 4000 and new expanded version was released in 1992. Fringeworthy is famous for being the first alternate history adventure role-playing game ever published. In 2009 a d20...
, the first interdimensional travel-based RPG, Bureau 13: Stalking the Night Fantastic, a late 20th Century Horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
RPG, and FTL:2448
FTL:2448
FTL:2448 is a science fiction role playing game, created by Richard Tucholka, and published by Tri Tac Games in 1982, about faster-than-light travel with alien races. In 1985, there was an expanded edition, and in 1990, a two-volume version of the game was released. Book One covered character...
, a space RPG, all Tucholka creations. The company name was changed to "Tri Tac Games" to reflect what the company saw as the more serious nature of its new products.
Currently the company sells a number of series of games, as well as books, including a book of cartoons, and a cookbook called Damn Strange Recipe Collection.
In 1994 the Tri Tac offices were raided by the FBI, because of alleged similarities between promotional ID badges distributed by Tri Tac personnel at a conference and certain official U.S. government ID badges. After the raid the federal prosecutor assigned to the case elected not to press charges. A year later the FBI showed up at the Tri Tac booth at Gencon 95 to make sure Tri Tac was in compliance. Tri Tac was no longer selling the badges but they did display one of the badges that got them in trouble. It was sealed in a frame with a newspaper report about the raid. The FBI determined Tri Tac presented no threat to national security and left without comment.
Current Games (not all have work currently in progress)
Bureau 13- Bureau 13: Stalking the Night Fantastic
- Bureau 13 Adventures: Hellsnight, Haunts, The Lost Files, Vols 1 & 2
- Bureau 13: Black Powder 1859-1889
- Bureau 13: Scenes for Horror, Industry and Adventure
- Bureau 13: Special Edition by Pollotta & Tucholka
- Bureau 13: d20 EDITION
- Bureau 13: SCREAMS IN THE NIGHT (Outpost/Tritac)
- Bureau 13: ALIENS AMONG US (Outpost/Tritac
- Bureau 13: STALKING THE STEEL CITY (Outpost/Tritac
- Bureau 13: EXTREME
- Bureau 13: BRASS & STEAM (2011)
Hardwired Hinterland
Fringeworthy
Fringeworthy
Fringeworthy is a role-playing game first published in 1982 by Tri Tac Games. In 1984, a second edition saw a print run of 4000 and new expanded version was released in 1992. Fringeworthy is famous for being the first alternate history adventure role-playing game ever published. In 2009 a d20...
Fringeworthy d20 Rogue 417 Invasion US Catalogue of Alternative Worlds
Space RPGs
FTL:2448
FTL:2448 is a science fiction role playing game, created by Richard Tucholka, and published by Tri Tac Games in 1982, about faster-than-light travel with alien races. In 1985, there was an expanded edition, and in 1990, a two-volume version of the game was released. Book One covered character...
Incursion
Incursion
Incursion is a science fiction role playing game created by Richard Tucholka and published by Tri Tac Games in 1992.-Overview:The player characters are humans abducted by alien slave traders...
Microgames
- Cosmic Wow!
- Baby Boomer
- Geriatric Wars
- Escape from Westerville State
- Drive By
- War on High
- Viral Vegetable Wars
- The Hunt for Bread in October
Duck Wars
- Duck Trooper
- Polywumpus
- Pterroductyl
Clay squash classics
- Monster Squash
- Mec Squash
- Bug Squash
- Mutant Squash
- Japanese Monster Squash
- Panzer Squash
- People Squash
Other
- Beach Bunny Bimbos with Blasters
- Guests: An Invasion of the Earth Supplement
- Holes: Wild Miniatures Combat
- DM's Book of Nasty Tricks & Misfit Magic