Pyramid Review
Roleplaying Mini-Campaign #1: The Planet of Dr. Moreau (for Battlestations)
Published by Gorilla Games
Written by Jeff Siadek
Cover & Illustrations by Tegre Layne
48-page b&w softcover; $14.95
From the Justifiers and Albedo RPGs to SkyRealms of Jorune and Traveller, science-Fiction roleplaying has a long tradition of anthropomorphized animals, or humans in furry animal suits. Of course, this tradition is a bit old fashioned by contemporary mores, and today it is more likely that you will find an Elf or an Orc in a spacesuit than your cat, dog, or gerbil. This trend though, is bucked by The Planet of Dr. Moreau, a new supplement for the hybrid RPG/boardgame, Battlestations, which brings the anthropomorphic critter back to gaming.
The Planet of Dr. Moreau is not only a new supplement for Battlestations, but a new type of supplement for the game. In Battlestations, the players take the roles of a Universal Republic Expeditionary Force (or U.R.E.F.) ship's crew, undertaking a series of Star Trek-like missions, the game combining roleplaying and frantic personal action with ship-to-ship combat. The crew must run between stations, operating and repairing them as required, and even fending off boarders, all the while maneuvering to get the best shot on the opposing ship. To date, the two Battlestations supplements support this style of play along particular themes, including civil war with Galactic Civil War and exploration on the new frontier in Pax . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: May 18, 2007
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