The Doctor Who Role Playing Game (Fasa 1985) | Rules Breakdown

[@jackphoton]

Had this, the daleks and Master, but not the cybermen supplement. Ran it a little. I remember it being clunky, but the biggest problem is you have all of space and time to choose from. Too many options in too many directions with little cohesion to get it all together. I understand why they went with a 'matrix', but it's unwieldy and takes away from the game. The books were all awesome. Defintiely worth it for normal fans to buy even if never game. The game winds up being akin to the likes of Paranoia -where you don't really have traditional long term campaigns, more likely one-offs on a weekend when no one wants to game their normal routine. Granted this is all limited memories from when it was released in, what, 1986 or so? Thanks for the review!

[@RPGGamer]

That's cool. My memories of the Doctor Who RPG are slightly weird as I never played it back in the 80's, but I remember it being stocked here in the UK in Boots the Chemists (a national drugstore which also stocked computer games and records for some strange reason), and I remember looking through it and wishing that I had the money to get a copy, but always getting Commodore 64 games instead. I have no idea why the store stocked it, although I don't know why they had a computer game and record department either to tell the truth.

[@jackphoton]

​@@RPGGamer If you have the chance, give it a go. It's a dash of Doctorly fun and you can give the Daleks a right kick up the backside. So, the guys who wrote trek wrote this for FASA as well. Funnily, while Trek is very much a game where you want to be your own person in that universe, Dr. Who i think lends itself better to playing established roles or new companions to a known Timelord. Never did a Master-centric campaign, but now thinking that could be a wicked bit of fun. Doesn't end well for everyone else involved, but that's the Master for ya! lolz.

[@jackphoton]

Thinking a little more about it, yes, having an established character whether a known time lord or companion helps ground the game from so many options that you are paralyzed for the choices to so many options but with a guiding familiarity. Maybe a game run around Susan and her post-show exploits, lots of action and drama there to draw upon. The Sarah Jane Adventures is a perfect example of the basis for a Dr. Who game -strict limitations of character, time and place yet with plenty of room around the edges for as much fudge as one can stuff into the milieu. Whereas Maisie Williams and her Tardis-to-anywhere is a perfect example of the extreme other end of where a game can go. Having a familiar face, whether as PC or NPC, makes the difference. Star Trek: make your own character on your own ship doing your own thing. Dr. Who: take your shot at playing your fave Doctor or companion -or a new face to one of those known faces and live it up with known quantities. For a fan of the show it's delightful fun no matter.

[@danelmore2783]

You should try to get ahold of the Time Lord RPG by Ian Marsh. We switched over to playing that after I picked it up. Concerted the characters over and off we went. It's a much more simple system.

[@RPGGamer]

I actually remember owning it at one point, but it's gone from my collection now (I've misplaced so many during house moves), I must pick it up again. Cheers for reminding me it exists, I had forgotten about it over the years.