Gamma World

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Gamma World is a science fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by James M. Ward and Gary Jaquet, and first published by TSR in 1978. It borrowed heavily from James M. Ward's earlier product, Metamorphosis Alpha. Thus far, there have been 6 editions, with another in development.

The game's designers took inspiration from the post-apocalyptic novels and movies of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s; the first edition rules cite Brian Aldiss's Hothouse, Andre Norton's Star Man's Son (also published as Daybreak - 2250 A.D.), Sterling E. Lanier's Hiero's Journey, and Ralph Bakshi's Wizards.

Setting

Map of Gamma World from the second edition rule set.

The details provided change from version to version, but for the most part, Gamma World takes place in the mid-25th century, more than a century after a nuclear war had decimated human civilization.

In the early editions, humanity became a high-tech utopia, that effectively ended human suffering, and reversed man-made pollution. Without the daily struggles of life, mankind focused on politics, and eventually became galvanized in their own views - to the point of fanaticism and terrorism! With the world falling apart through wars and bloody skirmishes, a fanatical group called "The Apocalypse" tried to force world peace, by threatening the world with total annihilation! Their plan of absolution was not that absolute, as the world still survived, but a bit... altered. The aftermath resulted in the fall of civilization, and a state of Darwinism unleashed! Early on, the setting was focused on finding the hidden Apocalypse Base, but in truth, the setting was open-ended enough for a wide range of adventures. The shards of civilization are primitive, and xenophobic. Some people from into secret parties - formed together by a common philosophy. These groups are called Cryptic Alliances. With each edition, these groups became larger, more well-known, and more tied to the setting - to the point of controlling large areas on the map, and spread across North America.

Early editions are fairly open-ended, but with each new edition and module, the more developed and established the setting becomes.

(WIP)

Second edition map noting the regions of the Cryptic Alliances.

The Rules

The first edition was based on an unproductive gamed called Munant, and was further developed by Ward and Jaquet. Attributes are rolled like D&D Abilities, but Strength is called Physical Strength, and Wisdom is called Mental Strength. The playable races are Pure Strain Human (PSH), Humanoids, and Mutant Animals. Their are no character classes, and levels only grant a bonus to combat, or an Attribute - in fact, advancement was mostly tacked-in and optional. Hit Points are rolled, based on the Constitution score, and always uses a d6. Initiative is unrolled, and based on Dexterity. The ability to hit is more based on Weapon Class, then character level (although, an advancement could allow for a +1 to hit with melee weapons). For the most part, the combat mechanics was rather piece-mail, and required a bit of twinkling.

The second edition was a major upgrade to the first edition game. Beyond a lot of superficial indexing and rule clarifications, the combat rules are more complete, the races are more defined in capability, and mutant creatures have listed Attributes rolls. This game also introduced Tech Levels, to help grade technology. Beyond the rules feeling more "complete", the additional codes and sub-systems can get really redundant at times.

The third edition rules replace specialized matrices with the Action Control Table (ACT), a single, color-coded chart that allowed players to determine whether a character action succeeded, and the degree of success, with a single percentile roll. (The ACT concept is drawn from the Marvel Super Heroes, and was used in a number of TSR games at that time) This game suffered from a number of editorial mistakes, including cross-references to rules that didn't appear in the boxed set (the errors were serious enough that TSR published a Gamma World Rules Supplement containing the "missing" rules).

Gamma World's fourth edition abandoned the ACT system in favor of mechanics derived from the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition rules. The rules are extensive, and includes different ways to roll attributes based in genotypes, a new attribute called Perception, animal and plant templates for mutant races, 4 playable classes - Enforcer, Esper, Examiner, and Scout - with their own specialized skills, attack and stealth rolls prolifically similar to the AC/DC mechanics used in the third edition D&D. Where the core book lacked rules for powered armor, Gamma Knights featured highly customizable suits with attachable weapons and equipment reminiscent of the classic '80 cartoon The Centurions.

The fifth edition was a setting supplement for Alternity. That is, it required the Alternity core rule book to play.

The sixth edition was a licensed game by White Wolf Studio, and uses the Modern d20 rules. Like The fifth edition, it was no a complete rule set, so you'll need Modern d20 (or a similar rulebook) to play, but their are enough rules to be nearly complete.

The up-and-coming seventh edition is going to use the 4th edition D&D rules (also called the "4e" system). Besides the relativity new and systematic rule set, this game also features a controversial method of using collectible cards for mutations and artifacts.

Conversion with Mutant Future

Mutations

Physical Mutations

1st Ed Gamma World	2nd Ed Gamma World	Mutant Future
------	Actual Metamorphosis	------
------	Anti-Life Leech	------ (typically includes Albinism)
------	Bodily Control	------
Chameleon Powers	Chameleon Powers	Chameleon Epidermis
Density Control (self)	Density Control (self)	Density Alteration
------	------	Dermal Poison Slime
------	Displacement	------
------	------	Dual Headed
Electrical Generation	Electrical Generation	Energy-Retaining Cell Structure
------	------	Fragrance Development
Gas Generation – Musk (or other)	Gas Generation – Musk (or other)	Toxic Weapon
------	Gills	Aberrant Form: Xenomorphism
Heat Generation	Heat Generation	Energy Ray
Heightened Balance	Heightened Balance	Increased Balance
Heightened Constitution	Heightened Physical Attribute (Constitution)	Increased Physical Attribute: Constitution
Heightened Dexterity	Heightened Physical Attribute (Dexterity)	Increased Physical Attribute: Dexterity
Heightened Hearing	Heightened Sense (Hearing)	Increased Sense: Hearing
Heightened Precision	Heightened Precision	-
Heightened Smell	Heightened Sense (Smell)	Increased Sense: Smell
Heightened Strength	Heightened Physical Attribute (Strength)	Increased Physical Attribute: Strength
Heightened Taste	Heightened Sense (Taste)	Increased Sense: Taste
Heightened Touch	Heightened Sense (Touch)	Increased Sense: Touch
Heightened Vision	Heightened Sense (Vision)	Increased Sense: Vision
------	Horns or Antlers	Aberrant Form: Natural Weapon
Increased Speed	Speed Increase	Quickness
Infravision	Infravision	Thermal Vision
Light Generation	Light Generation	------
------	Mane & Bristles	Bizarre Appearance or otherwise a superficial trait
------	Modified Body Parts	Aberrant Form: Enlarged Parts or an other superficial trait
Multiple Body Parts	Multiple Body Parts	Aberrant Form: Extra Parts
New Body Parts	New Body Parts	Aberrant Form: Xenomorphism
------	------	Night Vision
Oversized Body Parts	Oversized Body Parts	Aberrant Form: Enlarged Parts
Partial Carapace	Partial Carapace	Natural Armor (moderate)
Photosynthetic Skin	Photosynthetic Skin	Epidermal Photosynthesis
Physical Reflection	Physical Reflection	Reflective Epidermis
------	------	Prehensile Tail
Quills or Spines	Quills or Spines	Spiny Growth
------	Radar or Sonar	Echolocation
Radiated Eyes	Radiation Eyes	Optic Emissions
Regeneration	Regeneration	Regenerative Capability
Shapechange	Shapechange	Metamorph
Shorter	Shorter	Dwarfism
------	Skeletal Enhancement	-------
Sonic Attack Ability	Sonic Blast	Shriek
------	Sound Imitation	------
Symbiotic Attachment	------	Parasitic Control
Taller	Taller	Gigantism
Total Carapace	Total Carapace	Natural Armor (extreme)
Ultravision	Ultravision	Ultraviolet Vision
------	------	Unique Sense
Wings	Wings	Complete Wing Development

Physical Defects/Drawbacks

1st Ed Gamma World	2nd Ed Gamma World	Mutant Future
------	(Anti-Life Leech usaully comes with Albinism)	Albinism
------	Anti-Charisma	------
Attraction Odor	Attraction Odor	Prey Scent
------	------	Bizarre Appearance
Body Structure Change	Body Structure Change	Frailty
------	Dark Dependency	(use Epidermal Susceptibility and Vision Impairment)
Diminished Sense	Diminished Sense	Sensory Deficiency
Double Physical Pain	Double Physical Pain	Pain Sensitivity
------	Energy Sensitivity	(use Unique Sense and Epidermal Susceptibility)
Fat Cell Accumulation	Fat Cell Accumulation	Obese
------	Heat Reaction	Epidermal Susceptibility
Hemophilia	Arterial Weakness	Hemophilia
------	Light Dependency	(use Epidermal Susceptibility)
------	Narcolepsy	------
Increased Metabolism	Increased Metabolism	Increased Caloric Needs
------	Inhibiting Field	------
------	Insanity	------
No Resistance to Bacteria	Bacterial Susceptibility	Reduced Immune System
No Resistance to Poison	Poison Susceptibility	Poison Susceptibility
No Nerve Endings	No Nerve Endings	Pain Insensitivity
------	------	Pituitary Deformation
(see Mental Defects)	Phobia	(see Mental Drawbacks)
(see Mental Defects)	Poor Dual Brain	(see Mental Drawbacks)
Poor Respiratory System	Poor Respiration	Reduced Oxygen Efficiency
Skin Structure Change	Skin Structure Change	Epidermal Susceptibility
------	------	Simian Deformity
------	------	Slow Mutant
Vision Defect	Vision Defect	Vision Impairment
------	Water Dependency	Epidermal Susceptibility
Weight Decrease	Weight Decrease	------

Mental Mutations

1st Ed Gamma World	2nd Ed Gamma World	Mutant Future
Absorption	Absorption	Accumulated Resistance
------	Beguiling	(use Fragrance Development)
Cryokinesis	Cryokinesis	Temperature Control
------	Confusion	------
Death Field Generation	Death Field Generation	Killing Sphere
De-evolution	De-evolution	Ancestral Form
Density Control (others)	Density Control (others)	Density Alteration (Others)
Directional Sense	Directional Sense	Know Direction
Dual Brain	Dual Brain	Dual Cerebellum
Empathy	Empathy	Empathy
------	Fear Generation	------
Force Field Generation	Force Field Generation	Force Screen
Genius Capability (military, scientific or economic)	Genius Capability (military, scientific or economic)	Intellectual Affinity (martial, tinkerer or bartering)
Heightened Brain Talent	Heightened Brain Talent	Quick Mind
Heightened Intelligence	Heightened Intelligence	Increased Willpower
Illusion Generation	Illusion Generation	Mental Phantasm
Intuition	Intuition	Combat Empathy
------	Levitation	------
Life Leech	Life Leech	Vampiric Field
Light Wave Manipulation	Light Wave Manipulation	Control Light Waves
Magnetic Control	Magnetic Control	------
Mass Mind	Mass Mind	Metaconcert
Mental Blast	Mental Blast	Mind Thrust
Mental Control	Mental Control	Possession
Mental Control Over Physical State	Mental Control of Body	Body Adjustment
Mental Defense Shield	Mental Defense Shield	Mental Barrier
------	Mental Multiplier	------
------	Mental Paralysis	------
Molecular Disruption	Molecular Disruption	Disintegration
Molecular Understanding	Molecular Sense	------
Planar Travel	Planar Travel	Plane Shift
------	Plant Control	------
Precognition	Precognition	Precognition
------	Psychometry	------
Pyrokinesis	Pyrokinesis	Temperature Control
Radar/Sonar	(see physical mutations)	(see physical mutations)
Reflection	Reflection	Damage Turning
Repulsion Field	Repulsion Field	Force Screen, Greater
------	Repelling Force	------
Sound Imitation	------	------
------	Stunning Force	------
------	Summoning	------
(see physical mutations)	Symbiotic Attachment	(see physical mutations)
Telekinesis	Telekinesis	Neural Telekinesis
Telekinetic Arm	Telekinetic Arm	------
Telekinetic Flight	Telekinetic Flight	Flight, Psionic
Telepathy	Telepathy	Neural Telepathy
Teleportation	Teleportation	Teleport
------	Teleport Object	------
------	Temporal Fugue	------
------	The Gamma Eye	------
Thought Imitation	Thought Imitation	Mind Reflection
------	Time Distortion	------
Time Field Manipulation	Time Field Manipulation	------
------	Time Suspension	------
Total Healing	Total Healing	Acute Hyper Healing
Weather Manipulation	Weather Manipulation	Control Weather
Will Force	Will Force	Ability Boost

Mental Defects/Drawbacks

1st Ed Gamma World	2nd Ed Gamma World	Mutant Future
------	------	Atrophied Cerebellum
------	Attack Reversal	------
Anti-reflection	------	Mind Reflection
Complete Mental Block	Complete Mental Block	------
------	Energy Sensitivity	(use Unique Sense and Epidermal Susceptibility)
------	Energy Negation	------
Epilepsy	Seizures	------
Fear Impulse	Fear Impulse	Phobia
Hostility Field	Hostility Field	Negative Empathy
Mental Defenselessness	Mental Defenselessness	Weak Will
Multiple Damage	Multiple Damage	Phantasmal Damage
------	Periodic Amnesia	------
Poor Dual Brain	Poor Dual Brain	Dual Cerebellum (defective)
------	Unconscious Summoning	------

Plant Mutations

1st Ed Gamma World	2nd Ed Gamma World	Mutant Future
Adaptation	Adaptation	Accumulated Resistance
------	Allurement	Fragrance Development (plants)
------	Anti-Life Leech	------
Aromatic Powers	Aromatic Powers	------
Bacterial Symbiosis	Bacterial Symbiosis	------
Barbed Leaves	Modified Leaves (barbed)	Natural Vegetal Weapons
------	Death Field Generation	------
------	Beguiling	------
Berries	Berries	------
Boring Tendrils	Modified Vines and Roots (boring tendrils)	Natural Vegetal Weapons
Carnivorous Jaws	Modified Vines and Roots (carnivorous jaws)	Carnivore
Color Sensitivity and Imitation	Chamelion Powers	Chameleon Metamorph
Contact Poison Sap	Contact Poison Sap	Dermal Poison Sap (or Natural Vegetal Weapons)
Dissolving Juices	Dissolving Juices	Dermal Acid Sap (or Natural Vegetal Weapons)
Divisional Body Segments	Divisional Body Segments	Free Movement
Electrical Generation	Electrical Generation	Electric Charge Generation
------	Energy Absorption	------
------	Energy Negation	------
Explosive and/or Radiated Fruit or Seeds	Explosive or Radiated Fruit or Seeds	Grenade-Like Fruit
Heat Generation	Heat Generation	Thermal Emissions
Increased Senses	Increased Senses	Full Senses (if rolled again)
Manipulation Vines	Modified Vines and Roots (manipulation vines)	Prehensile Tendrils: Simple tendrils
Mobility	Mobility	Free Movement
New Plant Parts	New Body Parts	Animal Limbs or Organs
New Senses	New Senses	Full Senses
Parasitic Attachment	Symbiotic Attachment	Vegetal Parasite
Physical Reflection	Physical Reflection	Reflective Cellular Structure
Poison Throwing Thorns	Throwing Thorns	Projectile Thorns
Poison Vines	Modified Vines and Roots (poison vines)	Injected Poison Sap
Radiated Plant Fiber	Radiated Plant Fiber	Radioactive Emissions
Razor-edged Leaves	Modified Leaves (razor-edged)	Natural Vegetal Weapons
Saw-edged Leaves	Modified Leaves (saw-edged)	Natural Vegetal Weapons
Seed Mobility	Seed Mobility	Animate Seeds
Size Decrease	Size Decrease	Abnormal Size
Size Increase	Size Increase	Abnormal Size
Sonic Attack Ability	Sonic Blast	Shriek (plant)
Squeeze Vines/Roots	Modified Vines and Roots (squeeze vines/roots)	Prehensile Tendrils: Constrictive Tendrils
Spore Cloud and/or Shooting Seeds	Spore Cloud	Poisonous Spores
Sucker Vines	Modified Vines and Roots (sucker vines)	Natural Vegetal Weapons
Tangle Vines	Modified Vines and Roots (tangle vines)	Tripping Tendrils
Texture Change	Texture Change	Natural Armor (plant)
Thorns/Spines	Thorns/Spines	Natural Vegetal Weapons
Throwing Thorns	Throwing Thorns	Projectile Thorns
Wings/Gas Bag	Wings/Gas Bag	Flight

Plant Defects/Drawbacks

1st Ed Gamma World	2nd Ed Gamma World	Mutant Future
Attraction Odor	Attraction Odor	Prey Scent
------	Dark Dependency	------
Daylight Stasis	Daylight Stasis	Nocturnal
------	Heat Reaction	------
------	Light Dependency	------
Low Fertility	Low Fertility	Reduced Fertility
Temperature Sensitivity	Temperature Sensitivity	Thermal Sensitivity

The Apocalyptic Post

Back in 2000 a group of Gamma World fans made a free unofficial, semi-monthly online e-zine that lasted for only 5 issues. The editors are: Chris Conboy, Benjamen Hebert, Derek Holland, Lord Irish, Neil "Tormentor" Whitlow, and John Traglio. Guest contributors includes: Brian Judt, Brutorz Bill, Colin Chapman, David Little, Derek Winston, Fabian Benavente, Kerry Jordan, Mike Leach, Moses "Wolfy" Wildermuth, Randy Messick, Sean Kindred, Sidhain, and Tetsubo. Most of the the people involved are iconic figures in the tight-knit fan community, and can still be found posting on GW forums.

External Links

• Gamma World article on Wikipedia
• Text-only download of the first to third editions
• The Apocalyptic Post
• Post Apocalyptic Forge
• Tormentor's Virtual Wasteland
• Brutorz Bill's Alterniverse
• Adventures in the New West
• Dugger's A Glowing Wasteland
• The Fourth Pyramid
• Tamerthya's Gamma World Site
• Cheff the Tellers Legends of the After Years
• Darkonnia Gamma World Downloads (NSFW)
• Wayne's Books Gamma World Reference

Forums:

• Gamma World Mail Group
• The Post Apocalyptic Forge