The Culture: The Other Post-Apocalypse Game That Matters

Credit where it's due. Palladium Books holds the top spot for all things post-apocalypse--RIFTS--because when TSR screwed the pooch Uncle Kevin was there to step into the breech. Magic-Users By The Water didn't even try to take that spot back, as its own efforts were not even half-hearted and neither was its proxy attempts via licensing.

Others have tried--infamously so at times--but despite Palladium's omnipresence the game it dethroned remains in the mix just waiting for a chance to take back its throne.

As with Boot Hill, Gamma World also has conversion notes for use with Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st Edition.

Gary and Dave have shown that they have no problems following the lead of MAR Barker (of Tekumel) and the many pre-1980 fantastic adventure literature works that dominates Appendix N by mixing "sci-fi" and "fantasy". Including those notes indicates that Gary, and TSR, wanted users to have that option for their campaigns.

Why not go for it?

No, go further. Mix all three together.

What do you get when you mix all three together? You get RIFTS about a decade before Uncle Kevin published what is now Palladium's flagship game, but you get better than RIFTS because you get a full and complete game and not crippleware for frustrated comic book writers. For those reminscing White Wolf's attempt, Exalted, this same product combo (including Deities & Demigods) allows you to scratch that itch.

For you more familiar with vidya, you get this:

Just add magic and gods, since there's already monsters.

"I bet you-"

Yes, you can probably loot Star Frontiers as well as Metamorphsis Alpha (and a few other TSR also-rans) to do the space stuff.

You can get Gamma World 1e for $16 in softcover. That's a steal considering what RIFTS goes for these days, and it's going to be more reliable than scouring the used market for original physical product.

"But-"

Anon, really, I am serious. By 1981 you had all you needed to play out one of hottest mecha series of 1983: Aura Battler Dunbine.

Panzer World Galient is easily recreated with this set-up.

And there are plenty of other examples of the mashup of "fantasy" and "sci-fi" that this mix enables far better than AD&D1e alone- both East and West.

Which means that those seeking go beyond what the #BROSR has already done now have a path to follow, if they are bold enough to take it.