The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Published in 1984 Psi World was a game I always wanted. I looked at it in the shop, an eleven-year old with his nose pressed against the glass, but I could never afford to buy the game. Then it disappeared.

But I always held a secret desire to possess it, and this year I finally purchased it through the communication possible only via the internet. In almost mint condition and packed in foam the game finally arrived and I tore into it, excited and thrilled that my long quest was over.

At first I was intensely disappointed. The box with the evocative picture of a policeman being stalked by a wraith-like figure contained two very thin books and a GMs screen.

Further examination did nothing to reassure me of my investment, the game lacks any substantive source material and consists mainly of a simple system (percentile driven, with similarities to D&D), skill lists and a detailed list of psionic powers (but nothing especially radical there). The game focuses on psi powers (naturally) and combat.

Of the world in which the game is set we are provided with a tantalising glimpse: A world divided between Psionics and Normals, with a technology level similar to Earth (some travel to LEO and Lunar colonies, not discussed). The authors have left finalisation of this gameworld open to the desecration of the GM, however the two sample scenarios provided are set in a world where Psionics are a minority, who are distrusted and shunned by the Norms who are suspicious of them.

Overall most people today would be disappointed with any purchase of the game (rare as that may be), however the game is illustrative of the type of RPG that was common at the time (more than a decade ago now) and shows that once we were able to play without two hundred page books with hundreds of "clan books", "modules" or volumes. But it does take me back to a time when all you needed was a few friends, dice, and little else...

Style: 3 (Average)
Substance: 2 (Sparse)

Psi World
Author: Del and Cheron (?) Category: game Company/Publisher: Fantasy Games Unlimited Cost: n/a Page count: under 60 Capsule Review by Peter Chen on 06/24/98. Genre tags: none	Published in 1984 Psi World was a game I always wanted. I looked at it in the shop, an eleven-year old with his nose pressed against the glass, but I could never afford to buy the game. Then it disappeared. But I always held a secret desire to possess it, and this year I finally purchased it through the communication possible only via the internet. In almost mint condition and packed in foam the game finally arrived and I tore into it, excited and thrilled that my long quest was over. At first I was intensely disappointed. The box with the evocative picture of a policeman being stalked by a wraith-like figure contained two very thin books and a GMs screen. Further examination did nothing to reassure me of my investment, the game lacks any substantive source material and consists mainly of a simple system (percentile driven, with similarities to D&D), skill lists and a detailed list of psionic powers (but nothing especially radical there). The game focuses on psi powers (naturally) and combat. Of the world in which the game is set we are provided with a tantalising glimpse: A world divided between Psionics and Normals, with a technology level similar to Earth (some travel to LEO and Lunar colonies, not discussed). The authors have left finalisation of this gameworld open to the desecration of the GM, however the two sample scenarios provided are set in a world where Psionics are a minority, who are distrusted and shunned by the Norms who are suspicious of them. Overall most people today would be disappointed with any purchase of the game (rare as that may be), however the game is illustrative of the type of RPG that was common at the time (more than a decade ago now) and shows that once we were able to play without two hundred page books with hundreds of "clan books", "modules" or volumes. But it does take me back to a time when all you needed was a few friends, dice, and little else... Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 2 (Sparse)