Changes: Star Trek: The Role Playing Game

Revision as of 14:27, 3 October 2010

Template:Realworld Role-playing games and reference works by FASA.

Titles

Games and rules supplements

Deck plans

Adventures and rules supplements

Ship recognition manuals

Gaming miniatures

When FASA released the "Starship Combat Simulator" (No.2003) in 1983, re-released in 1985 and added as an extra component in the deluxe edition of "Star Trek the Role Playing Game" (No.2001) of 1983, they simultaneously released, during 1983 and 1984, a line of starship gaming miniatures to give the game, which was standard equipped with carton playing tokens, an extra dimension. They could also be used in the one year later released "Star Trek III Starship Combat Game" (No.2006). The miniatures, which had a stated scale of 1/3900, were made out of pewter (a lead-tin alloy in a 60%-40% ratio respectively, according to sculptor Ab Mobasher) and packaged in a transparent bubble attached to a card (blister pack). They came unpainted and most of them required a certain amount of constructing with the aid of super-glue. The 1983 edition also came with transparent plastic hexagonal stands, on which the miniatures were to be mounted, and which fitted the hex grid maps accompanying the Combat Simulator. They were colored to denominate the major factions in the game, blue for The Federation, red for the Klingon Empire, purple for the Romulan Star Empire, green for the Gorn Hegemony and neutral for the Orion Syndicate. Apart for the then known canon ships, the range was expanded with non-canon ships as earlier designed by the FASA staff. The quality and imaginative designs of the non-canon ships, made the miniature line the most popular item of the whole Star Trek FASA product-range, as they became collectibles in their own right amongst non-gaming Star Trek fans as well. Remarkably, most of the 1983-1984 releases were issued with ISBN numbers, something normally only given to books.

FASA re-issued the line twice, once in 1985 and once in 1988, which each issue expanding the line with further additions. The color coding of the stands was abandoned with the first re-issue as all models were from then on accompanied by neutral transparent plastic stands. Each release had its own distinctive design style of the cards on which the models were mounted. In 1985 FASA sub-licensed the UK-based Citadel Miniatures to manufacture the miniatures for the UK market. Apart from being mounted on different style cards, the models differed from their US counterparts in that for many models less construction was needed and that they were more detailed, due to the fact that the pewter had a higher tin content. Although that made the metal more brittle, it also made the metal harder than their relative soft US counterparts and thus more susceptible to retain detailing. Eventually, Citadel released 14 out of the eventual 34 models FASA produced, when the latter lost its license in 1989. Apart from the ship models, FASA also produced 17 small pewter crew members figurines in 1983 as gaming pieces (one release only). The sculptor of the first 22 pieces, Abbas Mobasher, received a H.G.Wells Science Fiction Award in 1985 for his work.[1] FASA had their miniatures of the 1983/84 issues manufactured by "Ral Partha Enterprises, Inc.", while their 1985-1988 issues were manufactured by Canadian company "Rafm Co. Inc.".

The popularity of the models attracted outside attention when "Rawcliffe", a renowned producer, founded in Rhode Island in 1903, of high quality bronze, silver and pewter ornaments, figurines and sculptures sought out FASA in order to release the models as high-quality ornaments. In cooperation with FASA, Rawcliffe started to release the models in 1988 as solid high quality pewter pieces, the stand now an integral part of the model in their SS-series of which eventually 13 were made. FASA was mentioned as co-licensee both on the clear plastic boxed packaging and on the bottom of the stand. When FASA lost its license in 1989, Rawcliffe renegotiated with Paramount Pictures a separate license and acquired the molds of the models from FASA. In 1991 Rawcliffe re-issued the models in their new RF-series (which included larger scale ship models not having originated as FASA miniatures), but, per their license agreement only the canon ships. With all reference to FASA and their status as gaming miniatures dropped, the models were from now on packaged in Rawcliffe's neutral white carton boxes, only stating the company's name, and the models were accompanied by a colored small carton nameplate which emphasized that they were produced as display pieces. In 1989 FASA was gearing up to include Star Trek: The Next Generation into their product line and already had announced the release of two TNG ships and had the molds already made, but never got around to releasing them. Rawcliffe eventually did in 1992. The former FASA miniatures became the basis for Rawcliffe for their Star Trek line which included larger scale ships, figurines, and sculptures until they themselves had their license expire in 1999.

FASA Role Playing Game Star Ship Miniatures, Figurines and Collector Series
No.	Issue	Company	ISBN	Item
2501	1984	FASA	0425069303	USS Enterprise
2501	1985	FASA	n/a
ST01	1985	Citadel
2501	1988	FASA
SS2501	1988	Rawcliffe
RF789	1991	Rawcliffe
2502	1983	FASA	n/a	USS Reliant
2502	1985	FASA
ST02	1985	Citadel
2502	1988	FASA
SS2502	1988	Rawcliffe
RF787	1991	Rawcliffe
2503	1983	FASA	n/a	Template:ShipClass
2503	1985	FASA
ST03	1985	Citadel
2503	1988	FASA
SS2503	1988	Rawcliffe
RF788	1991	Rawcliffe
2504	1983	FASA	n/a	Romulan Bird of Prey (FASA 1983 issue in unassembled and assembled variant)	''No image yet''
2504	1985	FASA
ST04	1985	Citadel
2504	1988	FASA
2505	1983	FASA	0425069346	USS Enterprise (Old design)
2505	1985	FASA	n/a
ST06	1985	Citadel
2505	1988	FASA
SS2505	1988	Rawcliffe
RF786	1991	Rawcliffe
2506	1983	FASA	0425069354	Regula One
	1985		n/a
	1988
SS2506	1988	Rawcliffe
RF790	1991	Rawcliffe
2507	1983	FASA	n/a	Larson Class Destroyer
	1985
	1988
2508	1983	FASA	0425069370	Klingon D-10 Heavy Cruiser
	1985		n/a
	1988
SS2508	1988	Rawcliffe
2509	1983	FASA	0425069389	Klingon D-18 Destroyer
2509	1985	FASA	n/a
ST09	1985	Citadel
2509	1988	FASA
2510	1983	FASA	0425069397	Klingon K-23 Escort	''No image yet''
	1985		n/a
	1988
SS2510	1988	Rawcliffe
2511	1983	FASA	0425069400	Gorn Cruiser (two pieces)
	1985		n/a
	1988		n/a
2512	1983	FASA	n/a	Orion Blockade Runner (three pieces)
	1985
	1988
2513	1983	FASA	n/a	Klingon L-9 Frigate
	1985
	1988
SS2513	1988	Rawcliffe
2514	1983	FASA	0425069438	Loknar Class Frigate
	1985		n/a
	1988		n/a
2515	1984	FASA	n/a	Romulan Winged Defender
2515	1985	FASA
ST15	1985	Citadel
2515	1988	FASA
2516	1984	FASA	n/a	USS Chandley Frigate
2516	1985	FASA
ST16	1985	Citadel
2516	1988	FASA
SS2516	1988	Rawcliffe
2517	1984	FASA	0425066428	USS Excelsior
2517	1985	FASA	n/a
ST17	1985	Citadel
2517	1988	FASA
SS2517	1988	Rawcliffe
RF791	1991	Rawcliffe
2518	1984	FASA	n/a	Klingon L-42 Bird of Prey
2518	1985	FASA
ST18	1985	Citadel
2518	1988	FASA
SS2518	1988	Rawcliffe
RF792	1991	Rawcliffe
2519	1984	FASA	0425066444	USS Grissom
2519	1985	FASA	n/a
ST19	1985	Citadel
2519	1988	FASA
SS2519	1988	Rawcliffe
RF793	1991	Rawcliffe
2520	1984	FASA	0425066452	Deep Space Freighter
2520	1985	FASA	n/a
ST20	1985	Citadel
2520	1988	FASA
2521	1984	FASA	0425066460	Romulan Graceful Flyer (Citadel issue contains two pieces)
2521	1985	FASA	n/a
ST21	1985	Citadel
2521	1988	FASA
2522	1984	FASA	0425066479	Orion Wanderer (two pieces; the only FASA design elevated to canon status)
2522	1985	FASA	n/a
ST22	1985	Citadel
2522	1988	FASA
2523	1985	FASA	n/a	Kobayashi Maru Though named for a canon ship, the design is non-canon as the design was never portrayed in the Star Trek prime universe.
2523	1988	FASA	n/a
2524	1985	FASA	n/a	Romulan Gallant Wing
2524	1988	FASA	n/a	Romulan Gallant Wing
2525	1985	FASA	n/a	Gorn BH-2 Battleship (one issue only)
2526	1985	FASA	n/a	USS Baker Destroyer
2526	1988	FASA	n/a	USS Baker Destroyer
2527	1985	FASA	n/a	Romulan Nova' Battleship
2527	1988	FASA	n/a	Romulan Nova' Battleship
2528	1985	FASA	n/a	Romulan Bright One Destroyer
2528	1988	FASA	n/a	Romulan Bright One Destroyer
2529	1985	FASA	n/a	Klingon L-24 Battleship
2529	1988	FASA
SS2529	1988	Rawcliffe
2530	1985	FASA	n/a	Klingon D-2 Destroyer
2530	1988	FASA	n/a	Klingon D-2 Destroyer
2531	1985	FASA	n/a	Romulan Whitewind Cruiser
2531	1988	FASA	n/a	Romulan Whitewind Cruiser
2532	1988	FASA	n/a	USS Northampton Frigate (one issue only)
2533	1988	FASA	n/a	USS Remora Escort (one issue only)
2534	1985	FASA	n/a	USS Andor Cruiser
2534	1988	FASA	n/a	USS Andor Cruiser
2535	n/a	FASA	n/a	USS Enterprise-D (announced but not released by FASA)
RF794	1992	Rawcliffe	n/a	USS Enterprise-D (announced but not released by FASA)
2536	n/a	FASA	n/a	Template:ShipClass (announced but not released by FASA)
RF796	1993	Rawcliffe	n/a	Template:ShipClass (announced but not released by FASA)
2599	1984	FASA	n/a	Starship Support Stand (five color variants)
RF795	1992	Rawcliffe	n/a	Template:ShipClass
RF16	1997	Rawcliffe	n/a	USS Enterprise-E (at the time only available through Star Trek: Communicator)
2601	1983	FASA	n/a	Admiral Kirk
2602				Mr.Spock
2603				Dr.McCoy
2604				Lt.Saavik
2605				Scotty
2606				Uhura
2607				Sulu
2608				Chekov
2609				Khan
2610				David Marcus
2611				Joachim
2612				Dr.Carol Marcus
2613				Captain Terrell
2615				Khan (robed)
2615				Klingon Officer with Agonizer
2616				Klingon with Disruptor Rifle
2617				Klingon with Disruptor Pistol
3001	1983	FASA	0425059443	Number One:USS Enterprise and Crew (contains 2501, 2601, 2603 (remolded), 2604, 2605, 2606, 2607 and 2608)
3002			0425069451	Number Two:USS Reliant and Khan's Crew (contains 2502, 2609, 2611, 2615 and 4 figurines not separately released)
3003			042506946X	Number Three:Space Laboratory Regula One and Staff (contains 2506, 2610, 2612 and 5 figurines not separately released)
3004			0425069478	Number Four:Klingon Battle cruiser and Crew (contains 2503, 2615, 2617 and 6 figurines not separately released)

The appeal of FASA's 1/3900 scale gaming miniatures did not end when FASA and Rawcliffe lost their licences. In the decade after official production had stopped small, non-licensed, amateur companies (also known as "garage" companies) like "Impulse Models", "FMX Models", "Macro Trek", and UK-based "Future Legend" re-released the FASA starship model line, typically in resin. In most cases relatively short-lived, they often expanded on FASA's line with canon ships of the later Star Trek productions. Particularly noteworthy was "Future Legend", who not only expanded the line with canon ships, but also released FASA designs (in resin as well as pewter), which FASA herself never got around of releasing.

Playing aids

Micro-Adventure Games

External link

Star Trek role-playing game (FASA) at Wikipedia

@@ Line 436: / Line 436: @@
 |rowspan="2" | FASA
 |0425066444
-|rowspan="6" | {{USS|Grissom}}
+|rowspan="6" | {{USS|Grissom|NCC-638}}
 |rowspan="6" | [[File:FASA 2519 RPG miniature USS Grissom 1984.jpg|105px]] [[File:FASA 2519 RPG miniature USS Grissom 1985.jpg|105px]] [[File:FASA-Citadel ST19 RPG miniature USS Grissom 1985.jpg|105px]] [[File:FASA 2519 RPG miniature USS Grissom 1988.jpg|105px]] [[File:FASA-Rawcliffe SS2519 RPG miniature USS Grissom 1988.jpg|105px]]
 |-