Metamorphosis Alpha

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Metamorphosis Alpha is a Post-Apocalyptic Science Fantasy roleplaying game created by James M. Ward and originally published by TSR all the way back in the hoary forgotten age of 1976, leading to some to consider it the very first sci-fi RPG to ever exist!

The game is set within the decaying interior of the generation ship Warden, an enormous starfaring vessel intended to house hundreds if not thousands of humans in its sublight voyage through space to a far-flung unsettled colony world, with generations of children being born to replace those who died of old age upon the voyage and raised up to take their progenitor's place - hence the term "generation ship". Now, this would have all been hunky-dory, except something went wrong and the majority of the humans aboard the ship were wiped out, whilst the Warden was flooded with radiation and alien flora, fauna and fungi. Now, who-knows-fucking-when later, the Warden has become inhabited by techno-barbarian tribes of humans, mutants, sapient plants and animals (which could be mutants, aliens or both), cyborgs, clones and robots, none of whom realize that their "world" is an artificial environment gone to shit and all struggling to survive against the many, many, many nasties now inhabiting it.

Basically, think of it as a cross between old-school Dungeons & Dragons and Red Dwarf, and you've kind of got the basic gist of things. In fact, the D&D module S3: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks is officially the result of a piece of the Warden somehow detaching and crash-landing in a mountain range in Greyhawk.

It's generally regarded as the "precursor" to TSR's other Post-Apocalyptic Science Fantasy RPG, Gamma World.

Playable Races/Mechanics

The original race setup for Metamorphosis Alpha was Human, Mutant Human, Mutant Animal, and Mutant Plant, with Dragon Magazine adding the rules for cyborgs, robots and clones.

Players have five characteristics: radiation resistance, mental resistance, dexterity, strength, and constitution. Humans have a sixth characteristic, leadership potential, while mutated humans and creatures add a random number of mutations, both physical and mental. Metamorphosis Alpha's combat rules resemble those in the original edition of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D).

Dragon Articles

Metamorphosis Alpha articles can be found in issues #4, #5, #6, #8, #13, #14, #16, and finally in #23.

Editions & Supplements

Metamorphosis Alpha was first published in 1976 by TSR. It was written by James M. Ward and illustrated by Dave Sutherland III.

In 1981, Ward announced plans to rewrite the game as Metamorphosis Alpha to Omega, a supplement for the 1st edition Gamma World rules (Anon 1981). The Gamma World supplement was never completed, but in 1994, TSR used the title Metamorphosis Alpha to Omega for an Amazing Engine supplement (ISBN 1-56076-851-7) written by Slade Henson.

In 2002, Ward's company, Fast Forward Entertainment, published a new version of the game, entitled Metamorphosis Alpha: 25th Anniversary Edition. It was designed by Ward himself.

In 2006, Metamorphosis Alpha 4th Edition was released by Mudpuppy Games (ISBN 0-9763601-2-8). This edition contained original material by Ward and additional new material and photography by Craig J. Brain. The book cover and interior illustrations were painted and drawn by Jim Holloway with most of the cartography by Ryan Wolfe.

In 2007, WardCo. released an official errata sheet for Metamorphosis Alpha First Edition, which is available from the official website and released a revised edition of the first-edition rules through OneBookShelf as a PDF.

In 2010, WardCo. released The House On The Hill adventure module (ISBN 145360412X) for Metamorphosis Alpha (1st edition) as a PDF through OneBookshelf and the printed edition through Amazon. The adventure was written by Craig J. Brain, with bonus content by James M. Ward. The illustrations for the adventure were by Lee Smith and Dave Sutherland III.

In 2012, WardCo. released a reprint of the original edition of the game via Lulu with the addition of a new adventure and a number of corrections.

In 2014, WardCo and Goodman Games. released a hardbound deluxe edition of the original 1st edition via kickstarter including new adventures and consolidated other content from magazines and new content.