[X] My Assistant

[lodestar]

A buddy of mine recently lent me a copy of the Metabarons rule book. It seems to use the old Star Wars D6 system from when it was put out by West End games. It seems like it could be sort of fun in that 70's-ish Heinlein type Sci-fi way, Being a pretty fast and simple rules set. Two questions though, First, any comments on the system? I remember using it a few times and it seemed to run alright, but never used it in any campaign type setting. Secondly the game is based on a comic book series (French I'm told) Does anyone know any more about it?

[RainOfSteel]

I've acquired a single copy of the comic book series (don't ask about the service at the local comic shops), in addition to the gamebook itself.

The game is excellent in a lot of ways, but it is essentially an orphaned system, unsupported. The only background material is the comic book series itself. While the game is crying out for a medley of sourcebooks, I haven't heard of any coming.

As for the d6 system, I've played it several times. It's quite simple, maybe a little too simple, but I suppose it gets the job done. It depends on the type of mechanics you like.

[Atrox]

The series is actually called L'Incal. There are also spin-offs. It's a very good comic; if you can get it I recommend it highly. Jodorowsky and Moebius do excellent work. :D

According to the Fédération Francaise des Jeux de Roles, the game is indeed dead, even in France. I wouldn't know about its status in the US.

[Nath]

More precisely, the metabarons idea first appeared in L'Incal, by Jodorowsky and Moebius, and there was a spin-off serie in 1992, La Caste des Meta-Barons telling the family' story by Jodorowsky and Gimenez. And there is a third serie, John Difool avant l'Incal (a prequel to l'Incal as the title says) by Jodorowsky and Janjetov. On my own I only read the Metabarons.

The RPG was published in France by Yeti Entertainment, who bought the remnants of WEG, the D6 system and what left of their game (Star Wars was too costly and Paranoia returned to its authors IIRC, which left Torg, Shatyterzone and other obscure games). At some point they also bought DC Heroes RPG license when Mayfar Games died. Yeti published a corebook, a GM screen, a rulebook and three sourcebooks for the Metabarons before also going bankrupt in late 2001. Then from what I know, Les Humanoïdes Associés, the Swiss publishers of the orignal comic series, acquired at least West End Games in the US. But there are nothing scheduled for release, and there are selling at discount price. Seemingly, there were still alive in August 2003 to put that date on one page of their website, but the line have been flat long enoug to declare the game clinically dead.