Supervillains (role-playing game)

Supervillains is a superhero role-playing game published by Task Force Games in 1982.

Gameplay

Supervillains, set in New York City, is a combination of a board game and a role-playing game involving tactical combat between superheroes and supervillains. It is a "generic" superhero game that is not associated with a line of comics such as Marvel or DC.

The game comes with a board map and cardboard counters representing the pregenerated heroes and villains. A few role-playing rules are included.

Publication history

Supervillains was designed by Rick Register and published by Task Force Games in 1982.

Reception

In Issue 56 of The Space Gamer, Steve List commented that "While super-powered villains are the stuff of comic books, a game about them must be designed at a level demonstrating more sophistication than a comic book. SV fails in this regard. Mr. Register has a vivid imagination, but has failed to translate his ideas into a coherent form. Coupled with this is the typical lack of care shown by [Task Force Games] in proofreading, editing, and organizing their products. The combination is deadly. Avoid Supervillains."

In his 1990 book The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games, game critic Rick Swan questioned whether this was a role-playing game at all, writing, "there's a lot more board-gaming than role-playing, and it's dismal board-gaming at that." Swan found the rules were "so full of holes that the players are virtually forced to invent their own game." Swan concluded by giving this game a dismal rating of only 1 out of 4.

Other reviews

• Different Worlds #23 (Aug., 1982)