Phoenix Command
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Designers | Barry Nakazono, David McKenzie |
|---|---|
| Publishers | Leading Edge Games |
| Publication | 1986 |
| Genres | Military |
| Systems | Phoenix Command |
Phoenix Command is a combat-oriented role-playing game system published by Leading Edge Games in 1986. Variations of its rules system have also been used in other military games such as Morning Star Missions, Living Steel, and Aliens Adventure Game.
The boxed set contains two books: a spiral-bound rule book for character creation and combat; and a lengthy supplement on modern small arms.[1]
Although Phoenix Command is ostensibly a role-playing game, and does have character generation and skills resolution systems,[2] the extremely detailed rules for small arms combat are the central focus of the game.[2] The game utilizes lookup tables which resolve injuries to specific digits, organs, and bones, and simulates the physics of different attacks, such as bullets with different velocities.
The rulebook is divided into five chapters:[3]
- "The Character": Character creation has been characterized as simple,[1] with only 4 attributes created by rolling three dice. The rules suggest that skills could be on a 1 to 20 scale, but that the skills system used should be open to the gamemaster and players to agree on.[1]
- "Movement and Combat": Guide du Rôliste Galactique calls this the heart of the system. Combat is dependent on movement tactical displays, and a large number of statistics that are subject to adjustment based on conditional factors. Critic Dave Nalle called the combat system slow but realistic.[1]
- "Medical Aid and Recovery": A well-detailed and realistic overview of injuries suffered during modern combat, treatments and recovery times.[1]
- "Game Tips and Playing Aids: Gameplay advice. Two short scenarios are included to provide insight into game mechanics.
- "Optional Rules": A multitude of rules to cover many situations. This includes rules for reconnaissance, shotguns, explosions, initiative, morale, and automatic fire. Dave Nalle commented, "I would certainly use or ignore [these] depending on how much I wanted to get bogged down in play."[1]
The second book, "Modern Military Small Arms", contains detailed descriptions of 151 weapons, with game statistics for each.
Publication history
Phoenix Command was designed by Barry Nakazono and David McKenzie, and was published by Leading Edge Games in 1986 as a boxed set containing a 56-page spiral bound rule book, 32 page modern military weapon data supplement, reference tables, blank character sheets and one ten-sided die.
Additional supplements were subsequently published, including Hand to Hand Combat System (1988), World War 2 Weapon Data Supplement (1988), Wild West Weapon Data Supplement (1989), Civilian Weapon Data Supplement (1987), Living Steel Power Armour Sourcebook (1991), Advanced Damage Tables (1987), High Tech Weapon Data Supplement (1987), Phoenix Command Advanced Rules for Small Arms Combat (1986), Phoenix Command Damage Tables: Small Arms (1986), and Phoenix Command Small Arms Combat System (1989).