Striker (miniatures game)

The miniatures game Striker was a science fiction tactical wargame that was published by Game Designers' Workshop in 1981 as a boxed expansion to the Traveller role-playing game.[1]

This article is about miniatures game. For video game, see Striker (video game).

Gameplay

It was notable for attempting to cover a broad range of technological levels and having an intricate "engineering" style of vehicle design by the player using formulas and tables. The game also had an innovative command system that forced the player to lead a force and execute a plan with limited time/command pressure and constant communication/morale to maintain.

The combat rules were an elaboration on the rules introduced in the Azhanti High Lightning game, using a 2D6 mechanic very different from the original "Traveller" rules. A later game, Striker II, was based on the systems in GDW's Command Decision World War II rules and tied to the role-playing game Traveller: The New Era.

The game used 15mm scale figures that were produced by the now defunct Martian Miniatures.* All of the major Traveller races were represented, including Zhodani, Aslan, and Imperial humans. The game enjoyed popularity in the early 1980s but was quickly eclipsed by new products by rival companies like Fasa's Battletech and Games Workshop's Warhammer 40k. One reason for its decline may have been the rules mechanics which attempted to combine the decision making of a roleplaying game with the tactical maneuverings of a miniatures war-game. The result of this fusion was seen as a "worst of both worlds" situation which left players looking for a more streamlined game.

  • The range of figures made by RAFM for Striker are still available, just not in their Striker unit compositions.

Reception

In the July 1982 edition of The Space Gamer (Issue No. 53), William A. Barton gave a thumbs up, saying, "Striker is probably the most thorough, well-conceived and worthwhile set of miniatures rules yet published for SF or any post-19th century conflict. I heartily recommend it to Traveller players and miniature enthusiasts and look forward to future expansions."[2]

Andy Slack reviewed Striker for White Dwarf #33, giving it an overall rating of 6 out of 10, and stated that "it covers and integrates all the elements of the Traveller combat environment for the first time, and allows vehicle design – although the game is enjoyable in its own right, and perfectly playable as a stand-alone set of miniatures rules; however, referees and players do have limited time available, and I for one prefer to spend it playing rather than designing tanks. The clean simplicity of Traveller is getting lost in a maze of calculations. Still, Striker, is believable and fun."[3]

In the Fall 1983 edition of Ares (Issue 15), Thomas J. Thomas liked the well-organized "clear and concise" rules, and especially admired the fact that they were cross-referenced. Thomas also thought the command and initiative rules "demonstrate the limits on both a commander's time and the varying abilities of troops to respond to changing situations." However, he thought the need for written orders might be a problem for some players, and he criticized the use of the phrase "all statements must be clear and unambiguous", arguing that the statement itself was ambiguous. Thomas also thought the process for designing vehicles and aircraft was "incredibly time-consuming." He concluded with a strong recommendation for beginning miniatures players, stating, "Striker presents a significant advance for miniatures games... Though not without its flaws, Striker, nevertheless, is probably the most interesting and coherent modern miniatures game available."[4]

Awards

Striker won two Origins Awards:

  • "Best Miniatures Rules of 1982"[5]
  • "All Time Best Miniatures Rules for Science Fiction Battles of 1982 "[5]
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References
  1. "Striker". boardgamegeeks.com. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  2. Barton, William A. (July 1982). "Featured Review: Striker". The Space Gamer. No. 53. Steve Jackson Games. pp. 24–26.
  3. Slack, Andy (September 1982). "Open Box". White Dwarf. Games Workshop (Issue 33): 12.
  4. Thomas, Thomas J. (Fall 1983). "Games". Ares. No. 15. Simulations Publications, Inc. pp. 17, 41.
  5. "The 1982 Origins Awards". gama.org. Game Manufacturers Association. Archived from the original on 2012-12-16.
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