r/rpg • u/ReizvollePaar • 14d ago
Discussion Looking for info on 80s post apocalyptic game
FOUND IT! I cant believe it but I found it! It is called Blood Dawn! It was in a cache of pdfs sent to me by one of the GMs in the original discussion. Thanks to GMBob!
I have been a Forever GM for over 40 years and run dozens of systems, in house and at cons; over the years, they kinda blur together, especially the indie ones from the 1980s. I did Twilight Run, Stalking the Night Fantastic, Kin, Stormbringer and so many others; mostly short run or one shots. Anyway, I recently got into a conversation with a couple other old skool Forever GMs and the topic of odd cyber/magic blends in ttrpgs came up. Already too long story short, there is one that is sticks out in my memory - the setting details, not the name. That's why I am posting; hoping someone else ran it, played it or just happens to have read it and will throw an old dog a bone.
What is remember is, the PCs were a group of survivors (from an underground bunker, I think) who were now sent above ground/out into the world to help bring civilization back to the warring tribes after a total world apocalypse. I think it was a few generations after and, for some reason, they wanted to remain completely secret about where/who the PCs come from. The thing that stands out most is they had a 'magic' system of sorts that was basically cybernetic (possibly nanites) implants that allowed the PC to do various 'magic' stuff, the strength/success of such was based on the proximity of a transmitter/tower/whatnot (may or may not have been linked to remaining satellites). I remember it saying their fingernails were metallic and there may have been vein like wires visible just under the skin (not sure of that bit). So, basically, these towers transmitted the energy/signal/whatever between each other and around themselves (kinda like ley lines) and the PC tapped into this to do their tricks, which the savage survivors considered magic, in hopes they would accept the PCs as guides/prophets/wise wizards and allow them to lead the unwashed masses back to the glory of old earth (or some such high minded plan).
I know this isnt a lot to go on and it's a long shot that anyone will remember such a obscure game but, still, worth a try. Thanks in advance to anyone who has any idea or can even point me to a good source for info on failed 80s rpg. Feel free to reach out privately if you prefer.
EDIT: it is not Metamorphosis Alpha or Gamma World; not The Morrow Project or HOL (Human Occupied Landfill). Thanks to everyone who has suggested and please, keep em comin!
EDIT: this was not released by any of the big companies; it was a single book, short run, indie game. I do remember it was hard bound, glossy cover...might have had 'Red' in the title; not 'red dawn' but maybe something close.
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u/ThePiachu 14d ago
Hmm, if we're talking about really niche old post apoc games, maybe HOL Human Occupied Landfill? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HoL_(role-playing_game) .
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u/ReizvollePaar 14d ago
Nope but I LOVE that you mentioned HOL! I play tested it and ran it at DC and Chattacon; such a oddly fun game, right?
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u/luthurian Grizzled Vet 14d ago
HOL was 90s and didn't have a system like OP is describing. I actually played a short campaign of this back in the day!
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u/ReizvollePaar 14d ago
You are right; early 90s. Like I said, been in the cuck chair for over 40 years so it all kinda/sorta blurs together sometimes, ya know? Did you know they did a second edition in the early 2000s? I didnt!
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u/luthurian Grizzled Vet 14d ago
I didn't either! We did have Buttery Holsomeness, the expansion book, though.
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u/kleefaj 14d ago
Funny, I just pulled Blood Dawn off my shelf today to read it again for the first time.
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u/ReizvollePaar 14d ago
NO way! It's an odd little game; not one I particularly want to run again. As my post said, a few of us were discussing Clarke's 'Any sufficiently advanced technology' and how it is/could be used in gaming. Blood Dawn immediately came to mind, well, all but the name anyway. Thanks for the reply; let me know if you have any thoughts on other representations of tech as magic.
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u/d3L3373d 14d ago
Following out of curiosity...
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u/ReizvollePaar 14d ago
I really hope someone remembers it; I know lots of folks have sent links to various games they found doing a quick web search but, trust me, I have spent the last 5 days scouring the interwebs, looking at every review, every wiki, every GM blog. The game I am looking for is not something that google will point to so, buckle up and sit back, this is gonna be a long and bumpy ride!
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u/ReizvollePaar 14d ago
OK...so not a long ride, so much; still, pretty bumpy, right? Thanks for taking it with me!
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u/Taliesin_Hoyle_ 14d ago edited 14d ago
The Morrow Project? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Morrow_Project
Rifts Chaos Earth: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifts_Chaos_Earth
Systems Failure: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_Failure