Gamma World (Alternity Sci-Fi Roleplaying, Gamma World Campaign Setting) [Paperback]

Wizards Team (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000

An all-new update of the classic post-apocalyptic world. The original Gamma World campaign setting was considered by many to be the definitive post-apocalyptic environment. Now Gamma World has returned to the Alternity(r) line, and it's stronger than ever. Old fans will want to see what's changed and update their existing campaigns, and new fans will be drawn to the classic dark, apocalyptic feel that only the Gamma World setting delivers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078691629X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786916290
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,565,636 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not quite bad, not quite good., June 8, 2000

By 

"vadvaro" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gamma World (Alternity Sci-Fi Roleplaying, Gamma World Campaign Setting) (Paperback)

This is the fifth time Gamma World has reared its head from the depths of "dead game" limbo. I have been anticipating it since I first heard about it and took a survey a year ago on what I would like to see in it.

The art and layout of the book is great. I will say this is the coolest looking Gamma World yet. To bad the system it uses is "finished."

The game works fantastic with the Alternity system, but it lost a little in the translation. Not one drop of the drama and action are missing, but rather a (in my opinion) very critical part is: the mutant animals and robots. Sure the rules for animal PCs are in the Dragon issue 272 but I would have rather it have been in the main book.

Another thing I find a blessing and a curse is that they reprint much of the Alternity rules in this book. This is nice because Gamma World is its own self contained book but it also does two things. One it makes me feel like Gamma World really isn't part of the Alternity system, but rather a way to tap a forgotten market. It also takes space away from other things more Gamma World specific.

To be fair the animals were said to be removed because they didn't fit in with the image WotC designers were going for. However (as I said before) animals make up a critical part of my game and therefore feel odd to be missing.

All and all it is a good addition to my collection, but a little flawed.

14 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another fine work in the Alternity line of books., June 7, 2000

By 

WithPalmInHand "yardobeef" (a cold, dank basement) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gamma World (Alternity Sci-Fi Roleplaying, Gamma World Campaign Setting) (Paperback)

Before Wasteland, Fallout and the Road Warrior, there was Gamma World! In their salad days, TSR created their vision of the post-nuclear war world to the delight of many fans who had been seaching for a non-fantasy setting in which to roleplay. It was met with fair success, but never got the following of AD&D and was an early casualty to the TSR turmoil of the early nineties.

This product brings the game up to date with the Alternity rules. Even though you don't need the Player's Handbook and GameMaster's Guide, I highly recommend getting them to enhance play. Gamma World can easily fit into a current Alternity campaign as a world visited via spaceship or an alternate dimension setting.

The book does not have a lot of the light-heartedness that made the original such a favorite of my friends, but it still looks like a blast to play. It provides a fair amount of material to introduce to your players as you see fit without stagnating your own sense of creativity.

My only real complaint is that we can't expect much in terms of future development. Wizards of the Coast decided to scrap Alternity and Gamma World represents one of the few products that didn't get the axe before shutting down production completely.

17 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars If you are a Gamma World veteran don't waste your time on it, October 15, 2000

By 

Jeff (Clyde, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gamma World (Alternity Sci-Fi Roleplaying, Gamma World Campaign Setting) (Paperback)

Having played and owned every version of the Gamma World rules (1st - 4th edition) This new book from Wizards of the Coast is not Gamma World (just like 3rd edition is not AD&D). Mutated Plants and Mutated Animals is no longer part of the game. Sure there are some premade of each in the game, but if you decided to play a mutated wasp it is no longer possible. None of the rules have been kept and when reading the book it lost the sci-fi feel that is gamma world. Veteran players don't matter anymore as this is apparent from current releases from WOTC. The only use I have found for the rulebook is as a room divider for my gerbil.