Time Trap
Cover
PublishersTSR
SystemsMarvel Super Heroes

Time Trap is a role-playing game adventure published by TSR in 1984 for the Marvel Super Heroes role-playing game.

Plot summary

Time Trap is a scenario in which the Avengers must travel through time to prevent the destruction of the Earth. Villains include Dragon Man, the Grey Gargoyle, and the Super-Skrull.[1] In the Time Trap, six of the Avengers fight Kang, a time-travelling super-villain who wants to trick them into destroying their own past. Three of seven chapters are encounters designed to weaken the Avengers' position in the present, by making it less likely that the Avengers will be formed or survive the stormy events of the group's early history.[2] The remainder are encounters with Kang and attempts to thwart his plans.[2]

In Time Trap, Kang the Conqueror, and his later incarnation, Immortus, are taking the Avengers on a trip through time to save the Earth from mass nuclear meltdown. The Avengers must journey into the past to prevent events leading up to the critical overload from happening, thereby preventing the overload from happening. They must battle the Mimic, the alien Skrulls, Drax the Destroyer, and even the Grey Gargoyle before proceeding to the Omega Dimension to gain the only weapon which will defeat Kang and his time-dabbling.[3]

Publication history

MH2 Time Trap was written by Bruce Nesmith, with a cover by John Byrne, and was published by TSR, Inc., in 1984 as a 16-page book, a large color map, and an outer folder.[1] This scenario has 16 pages, and is packed with a cover folder containing character details and a double-sided 22"x17" map.[2]

Reception

Craig Sheeley reviewed the adventure in The Space Gamer No. 72. Regarding the plot, he said "Sound simple? It isn't: the foes are extremely tough (the Grey Gargoyle alone is a match for all six of the Avengers), the goals are difficult, and no matter how you try, the meddlings of Kang always seem to get worse! Can the world be saved?"[3] Sheeley commented that "Time Trap will be welcomed by Avengers fans. The game stats and profiles of the current Avengers (Captains America and Marvel, Starfox, the Wasp, the Scarlet Witch, and their leader, the Vision) are valuable to those who didn't buy the TSR release Avengers Assembled. The large map is a real prize, too, adding a wilderness battleground to the game, as well as maps of the fortress in the Omega Dimension and the fabled Avengers' mansion! Most of all, gamemasters with players who are continually altering adventures through unforeseen actions will like Time Trap: It is so thoroughly laid out that there is practically nothing players can do to disrupt the adventure flow."[3] He continued: "However, this iron control is the biggest problem in Time Trap. As in an earlier MSH release, Breeder Bombs, the players are led around by their noses. In Time Trap, they are teleported through time from place to place by the gamemaster, with no choice in the matter. The only thing they players can do is fight! A far cry from the adventure included in the Marvel Super Heroes game, where the heroes did a little detective work. I have yet to see a MSH adventure where the heroes get to do some thinking; TSR seems to have a problem with this. Another problem, in view of the section in the game on creating your own heroes, is that Time Trap (and Breeder Bombs) will not work well with any group but the Avengers; it is set up for the Avengers, to the exclusion of other possibilities (the X-Men from Breeder Bombs could not be substituted for the Avengers in Time Trap, nor would the Avengers work at all in Breeder Bombs). I doubt that even a different mix of Avengers would work well."[3] Sheeley concluded the review by saying: "If the Avengers are among your favorite groups; if you want a scenario with lots of combat that doesn't require much thought, where nothing can go wrong, no matter what; if, after you think about the problems, you still like an evening of beer-and-pretzels gaming, then Time Trap is a good buy. After all, it is quite reasonably priced."[3]

Marcus L. Rowland reviewed Time Trap for White Dwarf #62, rating it 6/10 overall.[2] He commented that "Players and referees with extensive knowledge of the Aventers' history will have a considerable advantage in this adventure."[2] Rowland reviewed the adventures The Breeder Bombs, Time Trap, and Murderworld! together, and declared that "All three adventures work reasonably well, but stress combat above role-play or campaign development. None give any opportunity for the characters to use their secret identities (an important feature of the game rules), all are extremely violent."[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Prometheus Books. p. 52. ISBN 0-87975-653-5.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rowland, Marcus L. (February 1985). "Open Box". White Dwarf. Games Workshop (62): 10–11.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Sheeley, Craig (January–February 1985). "Capsule Reviews". The Space Gamer. Steve Jackson Games (72): 44–45.
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