RPG Encyclopedia: German
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Abenteuer in Magira
1st ed by Steffi Seipp, Dieter Steinseifer, Norbert Weiser, Harald Zubrod (1988) Abenteuerrunde GbR
"Adventures in Magira" -- a German-language fantasy RPG set in the world of Magira novels by Hugh Walker. The game was developed from a long-standing fan club of the fantasy work. It uses a d20 based system, except for damage which uses Nd6. Three attributes (strength, skill, and constitution) are determined with d100 table which gives values from -1 to +3. Modifiers for attributes, skill, and difficulty are added to 1d20, which must be at least 15 for success.
Angeli
1st ed by Michael Deflize, Rainer "Blum" Wagner (1993) Astra Poesis
A German-language fantasy horror RPG about the eternal fight between angels and demons. PC's can be almost any intelligent creature, though. Sample character templates include a dog, ghosts, golems, and ordinary humans as well as demons and angels.
Arcane Codex
1st ed by Saskia Naescher, Alexander Junk (2002) Nackter Stahl
A German-language dark fantasy RPG. It is set in a world called Kreijor, which mixes various traditional high fantasy elements including Roman-esque empires, Northern barbarians, orcs, trolls, high elves, wood elves, dark elves, and so forth. The system emphasizes heroic epic action, cinematic combat, and a magic-rich setting. Action resolution uses stat + 2d10 vs difficulty. Character creation is point-based.
Das Schwarze Auge
1st ed by Ulrich Kiesow (1984) Schmidt Spiel & Knaur Verlag
2nd ed (1988)
3rd ed by Ulrich Kiesow, Ina Kramer, Michelle Melchers, Thomas Römer (1992)
4th ed (2001) FanPro
4th (English) ed (2004) FanPro Fast Forward Entertainment
A popular German-language heroic fantasy RPG, set in a traditional fantasy world called Aventurien -- i.e. elves and dwarves, with cultures mostly based on medieval Europe. The rule system is complex although with few tables, using mostly d20 although with d6's for damage. Character creation is class and level-based, with random rolls in creation and development. There are seven good attributes and seven bad attributes for each character. It includes a magic system with a skill for each spell. In the 4th edition, the random elements were replaced with a point-buy system, and classes were replaced by race, culture, and profession. The history of Aventurien grows with the "Aventurische Bote", the official magazine, and with every adventure that is published.
Degenesis: Das Endzeit Rollenspiel
1st ed by Christian Günther, Tim Struck (2001) Degenesis
A German-language post-apocalyptic RPG, originally published as a free RPG on the web. It is set in post-apocalyptic Germany, in the devastated area where the rivers Rhine and Main meet. Several clans are struggling for power over the region. The system uses action resolution by rolling 1d20 against the sum of an attribute and a skill. Characters are defined by their five attributes and several skills. The damage system involves three hit locations and a pool of life points.
Endland
1st ed by B.S. Ilktac (2001) Moloch Studios
A German-language post-apocalyptic RPG, originally released as a free RPG over the web. The world was devastated long ago, and now five races fight for survival. The equipment ranges from handmade items to "high-tech" gear retrieved from the remnants of the old civilization. It uses a skill-based system, where players roll 1d10 against the sum of an attribute and a skill. Characters have five attributes and a variable number of skills, as well as personality stats such as curiosity, greed or vengefulness. Character creation includes various professions, including unusual ones (whores or jesters). In combat, the attacker has always to select a hit location, which determines the difficulty of the attack. Damage is determined by the weapon's damage class and is subtracted from a character's hit points.
Engel
1st (German) ed by Oliver Graute, Oliver Hoffman, Kai Meyer (2001) Feder & Schwert
1st (English) ed (2002) White Wolf
A biblical fantasy RPG, set in the 27th century after the Biblical End Times has fallen over the land. The PCs are either "engels" or their human allies -- where engels are essential angels created to battle insectile demons known as the Dreamseed. The original German edition uses a system (the "Arcana" system) using tarot cards, with an emphasis on storytelling. The English edition uses a standalone system based on the D20 System used by 3rd edition D&D. Engels have five new classes, while Humans may be Fighters and Rogues priests of the Angelitic Church tend to be Experts or Aristocrats (the OGL NPC classes).
ERPS: Das neue deutsche Rollenspiel
1st ed by Ernst-Joachim Preussler (1995) Edition Ulisses
A German-language low-magic fantasy RPG, aimed at beginning roleplayers. The system uses stat + an open-ended d10 roll (on a 10 reroll and add) vs difficulty. Character creation is point-based. The player distributes 4 priority points among 4 fields (2 max): physical, weapons, mental and psi. This defines how easily you can learn skill in those fields. There are 6 attributes (Strength, Skill, Constitution, Knowledge, Charisma, and Psi) and 5 sense values (seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, smelling). Skill selection is also point-based with fields and attributes making it easier to gain related skills. It also includes a magic system.
Das E.R.S.T.E.
1st ed by Ralf Sandfuchs (1997) Harlekin
A German-language universal RPG system aimed at beginners: the name means "The First One" and is an acronym for "Beginner's RPG, very easy". It is a small booklet with no character classes, skill lists, or magic systems.
Karma
1st ed by Matthias Heimpold, Oliver Hoffmann, Linda Heweker (1994) Feder & Schwert
A German-language oriental fantasy RPG. "Honor is the law of Karma. Imprisoned between Yin and Yang your characters experience fascinating scenarios within a world of the spirit and demons..."
LodlanD: Ein Rollenspiel in den Tiefen des Meeres
1st ed by André Wiesler (2003) Image 3033
A German-language post-apocalyptic RPG, set in a future where the Earth's surface has become uninhabitable and humanity survives in domed cities beneath the oceans, complete with farms of genetically engineered algae. See www.lodland.de for more information.
Mächte, Mythen, Moddermonster
1st ed (1989) Edition Einhorn
A small-press German-language fantasy RPG, similar to D&D. It includes a range of classes including slave, prostitute, and combat mage -- plus races such as half-trolls.
Midgard - Das Fantasy-Rollenspiel
1st ed by Juergen E. Franke (1981) Verlag für Fantasy und SF-Spiele
2nd ed (1985) Verlag für Fantasy und SF-Spiele
3rd ed (1989) Klee Spiele
4th ed (2001) Klee Spiele
5th ed (2005) Verlag für Fantasy und SF-Spiele Pegasus Spiele
A German-language medieval fantasy RPG, set in a Norse-themed fantasy world ("Midgard") with giant, dragons, elfs, and dwarfs. It is mid- to low-level fantasy. The rules system is class- and level-based. Character creation has random-roll attributes but point-based skill development. This was the first German-language role-playing game to be published, and has since had several new editions and two spin-off RPGs: the Victorian RPG Midgard 1880 and the licensed sci-fi RPG Perry Rhodan (2004).
Midgard 1880
1st ed by Heinrich Glumpler (1994) Klee Spiele
A variant of the German-language fantasy game Midgard, set in Victorian times. It features master criminals, anarchists, and conspiracies as well as mummies, werewolves, vampires, and so forth. Support for the game was later taken over by Pegasus Spiele and Verlag für Fantasy und SF-Spiele. There were at least 14 adventures published for the game as well, along with the long-titled sourcebook, "Doctor Nagelius' wohlfeiles und weitschweifiges, exzentrisches und eklektisches Enzcyclopaedisches Compendium der bekannten Welt" (Doctor Nagelius' ... Encyclopedic Compendium of the Known World).
MOD RPG System
1st ed by Sebastian Dietz (2000) Nimble Ogre Games
A German-language universal RPG system, designed to be a modular game with genre modules for Fantasy, Magic, and Guns (modern-day firearms and explosives). There are currently no predesigned settings, however. Action resolution is by rolling under skill on 1d20 + modifiers. There are also drama points which may be used to influence die rolls and prevent damage, but they are single-use and can only be replenished with new experience points. Character creation is open point based, using a single pool of points for attributes, skills, race, advantages, and disadvantages.
In combat, characters have a number of short, long and very long actions to spend (long and very long actions are multiples of a short action). A character may defend himself by parrying or dodging without spending actions, but every subsequent defense is more difficult than the previous. A character may spend actions to improve his defense. The damage system uses six hit locations, each with its own hit points and armor points.
Mondagor
1st ed by Christian Neff (2004) fiveSTORMS Productions
A German-language fantasy genre RPG, set in an original fantasy world of the same name. Player characters can be from 10 races (including humans, elves, and dwarves) and 16 sub-races (including 3 human, 4 elven, and 2 dwarven). Character creation is limited point-based, starting with choosing a race (and sub-race) if any, then spending attribute points, skill points, and combat/magic talent points. The experience system emphasizes "learning by doing". It includes a magic system with three spheres of magic.
Myranor: Das Güldenland
1st ed by Britta Herz, Jörg Raddatz, Thomas Römer (2000) FanPro
A fantasy-genre German-language RPG related to Das Schwarze Auge system. It is set on a different continent of the same world as DSA, called the "Golden Land" by Aventurians. It uses a precursor to the 4th edition DSA rules. Character generation is open point-bought, and it includes a very open magic system.
Nova
1st ed by Daniel Schuler (1997) self-published
A German-language sci-fi RPG, set at the end of the 27th century. It is set in a vast galactic set of empires both human and alien. The system is similar to Das Schwarze Auge. cf. the official website.
Perry Rhodan - Das SF-Rollenspiel
1st ed by Detlef Wenzlik (1993) Agema
A German-language sci-fi RPG based on the popular sci-fi series Perry Rhodan. It uses a complex rules system. The character creation system is very detailed, and is focused on naval officers of human origin. (This is an earlier game, ISBN 3925728252, unrelated to the later game based on the Midgard system.)
Perry Rhodan - Das Rollenspiel
1st ed by Alexander A. Huiskes, Jürgen E. Franke (2004) Verlag für Fantasy und SF-Spiele
A German-language sci-fi RPG based on the popular sci-fi series Perry Rhodan. It uses a rules system based on the fantasy RPG, Midgard. (This is a new game with the Perry Rhodan license, unrelated to the 1993 game by Detlef Wenzlik.)
Plüsch, Power, und Plunder
1st ed by Ralf Sandfuchs, Steffen Schütte, Thomas Finn (1991) Games-In Verlag
2nd ed (1995)
A humorous German-language RPG where you play stuffed animals who have strangely come to life, and have adventures in the world of humans. There were a number of adventures and supplements, including: "Cyberplunder", "Keep the Secret", "Plüsch, Drugs, & Rock'n'Roll", "Der Woolminator", "Baerotech", "20th Century Plunder", "Playbä", "Popcorn, Plüsch & Petticoats", "Big Shop Tango", and "Gamemaster Supply Package". After the 2nd edition, the rights to the game were bought by Phase Publishing.
Private Eye: Detektiv-Rollenspiel im Viktorianischen England
1st ed by Jan Christoph Steines, Frank Bezner (1990) B&B Productions
2nd ed (1991)
3rd ed (1993)
A German-language crime-story RPG, set in historical Victorian England (1880 to 1900). The subtitle translates as "Detective Role-playing in Victorian England". It uses a percentile skill-based system, with non-percentile rolls only for damage and hit points. Character creation includes six attributes, and a selection from a small set of professions including solicitor, policeman, journalist, and private detective. The core book includes an extensive introduction to Victorian society in general and London in particular. There is also a twenty page treatise on Victorian criminology, including advances during the period including fingerprinting, forensic chemistry, and ballistics. There were at least five adventures: Abenteuer 1 "Eine tdliche Wette" (A Deadly Bet), Abenteuer 2/3 "Der Schrecken von Randall Castle/ Der Millionencoup" (The Horror of Randall Castle/The Million Pounds Heist), Abenteuer 4 "Der doppelte Biber" (The Double Beaver), Abenteuer 5 "Auge um Auge" (An Eye for an Eye).
QCCS - Quick Charakter Creating System
1st ed by Uwe Mundt (1995) Dreamland Worx
2nd ed (1998)
A German-language universal RPG system. It uses a percentile skill-based system, with 22 attributes. Roll stat + d100 to get over 100. The basic game also includes 11 races and 37 occupation packages. A free version of the rules is apparently available on the web.
Ruf des Warlock
1st ed by Olaf Heinen, Goesta Krengel, Silvia Eckelt (1992) Games-in Verlag
A small-press German-language medieval fantasy RPG. The world is high fantasy (e.g. teleporting castles) with a few twists (i.e. orcs are proud barbarians rather than evil) and highly interventionist gods. The rule system is class and level-based, with random-roll attributes. There are multiple critical hit tables.
Saga System
1st ed (1985) G+S Verlag
A German-language universal RPG system. This developed out of a line of universal supplements for any system, which eventually developed its own house system.
Söhne des Lichts
1st ed by Michael Schröder, Tim Wehle (1990) Verlag M. Wehle
"Sons of the Light" -- a German-language medieval fantasy RPG, set on an original world. Besides the usual races it also has centaurs and giants.
Space Gothic
1st ed by Gerhard Winkler, Michael Greiss (1993) Fantastische Spiele GdbR
2nd ed (1997)
A German-language sci-fi/horror RPG, set in the year 2245. After a devastating war of megacorporations, Prometheus Technical Industries (PTI) has absolute power over the colonies of the Terran Union. The armed forces of the space navy were displaced into the external colonies and organized along feudal lines with knights. There are strange races, whose existence is denied by the totalitarian government. It uses a complex percentile system. Character creation is class-based, with 20 classes. It uses random-roll attributes and point-bought skills.
TRI
1st ed by Gunter Rumland u.a. (1999) Rumland & Flory
A German-language dimension-hopping RPG with 3 backgrounds: a 30's pulp setting (Terra), a fantasy setting (Rulegard), and a cyberpunk setting (Ion). The PC's are special figures ("Nebelgaenger") who can jump between the worlds. The rules come in three books: Player book (208 pages), World book (232 pages), and GM book (176 pages).
John H. Kim <jhkim@darkshire.net>
Last modified: Thu May 1 21:40:24 2008