The game was released by Global Games in 1997. It was written and designed by Marco Precota and Wes Johnson. Global games also produced the game Inferno which is a tactical war game. The combat system in Abyss is based on what is used in Inferno. I am uncertain about how well the idea worked. The overall mechanics of the game are D6 based were the players get to roll a certain number of dice and a six signified success and more indicate greater levels of success.
The character build is accomplished using Soul Points. Again I have to think how that would have played out back in the era were TSR had to rename Demons and Devils to use them. There are archetypes provided but the player can decide to use their own ideas and the game allows them to be unique in everything from stats, to spells, to powers and to equipment. Since I think character generation can be interesting and allow creativity, and in some games th most fun to be had with it, this appeals to me.
The cover art is easily recognizable as Brom and that is something that will make the game stand out to many. The interior art uses art from Gustav Dore who was already famous for his illustrations of Hell. The problem is that not all is by Dore and so the rest is a hit or miss collection. The layout of the text could be done better. Designers need to really run that portion of their books by more people. Creative is good but sometimes simple is better.
I purchased the game to read though and will most likely never play it. I am not sure I am fully comfortable with the setting and the material. My fear is that to play demons and devils correctly will end up not being fun for many and perhaps jarring to those who play with anyone who can role play it right. For the right group of players this could be a great game and loads of fun. I wanted the book for mining purposes.
Below is the material from the back of the book....
Abyss is a roleplaying game set in the fantastic world of Dante's Inferno.
It is a world of treachery and evil, where violence is a continual threat and doing a good deed could get you killed. Powerful Archfiends dominate a world filled with the lost and the damned, but are themselves dominated by the Lords of the Inferno. It is a world where absolute evil is mirrored by absolute good. Even the Lords of the Abyss must heed the servants of the Divine, or face the Wrath of God and his sword, the Host.
Spell:
Pass Weapon
Level: Second
Range: None
Duration: Special
Ares of Effect: One Weapon
Components: V,S
Casting Time: One Round
Saving Throw: None
This spell enchants the magic user's weapon with the ability to ignore armor while in combat. The spell does not affect the armor or cause any effect for the weapon is used by others. The spell only has any affect while the weapon is in use by the caster.
The spell will only ignore actual physical armor. If the target is wearing items that magically improve their armor class then these will be applied as if there were no other armor involved. If there is an item that gives an armor class as if armor was being worn those items will still work against the weapon.
The spell will remain in effect until the weapon has done a specific amount of damage. The amount of damage is calculated using the casters level and intelligence when the spell is cast. There will be some bookkeeping involved with this spell. The weapon will bypass armor until it has done damage equal to five times the casters level plus three times their intelligence.
Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the write ups last, were all written up or conceived of back in the 80's so the terminology may not appropriate for anything other than 1e and depending on how well I did back then it may be slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of spells that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :) Please feel free to comment on them but try not to be too hard on me. If anyone wishes to use these in anything they print please let me know in advance and all I ask is proper credit.
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