This is the version I had as a kid. I don't know why, but other versions just didn't hit the mark like this one. And, yes, it includes the Reference Book you used to have to send off for.

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2024/05/retrospective-tsrs-gamma-world.html

There are currently seven editions of Gamma World, all following the same general theme: It is the 25th Century, and the Earth has been nearly destroyed by some global cataclysm. The nature of this cataclysm and the amount of humanity that survived changes from edition to edition.

All editions of Gamma World are credited to James M. Ward and Gary Jaquet. It was based on Ward's earlier sci-fi game, Metamorphosis Alpha. MA would give us Gamma World and the AD&D adventure Expedition to the Barrier Peaks.

The remnants of humanity and other beings now struggle to survive in a harsh and mutated world filled with bizarre creatures, dangerous mutants, and remnants of advanced technology.

Like Dungeons & Dragons, players take on the roles of adventurers exploring this radioactive wasteland. They can choose from various mutant characters with unique abilities, ranging from humanoid animals and plant people to cyborgs and psychic mutants.

Characters adventure in abandoned, destroyed cities, looking for the remains of civilization or something to survive in the wasteland.

In many, many ways, Gamma World IS Dungeons & Dragons. There is no magic, but there are high-tech, weird radiation and psychic powers. Making Gamma World into a D&D world is not a stretch. The 1st and 2nd edition rules are similar enough to Basic-era and AD&D 1st editions to make translations easy. In fact, the 1st edition of the AD&D Dungeon Master's Guide has conversion guidelines. Gamma World 4th edition is also very close to AD&D 2nd edition to make translations there east too. Dragon Magazine #183 has a conversion guideline for Gamma Word 4th edition and AD&D 2nd edition.

Gamma World 3rd Edition

This version of Gamma World also expands on the earlier editions. Notable setting changes include doubling the number of humans that died in the apocalypse and the rules have changed. While characters are still generated the same way and all the stat blocks look similar there is an addition of an "Action Table" for rolling outcomes. The feel is similar to what we see in 1st Edition Chill from Pacesetter and TSR's own Marvel Super Heroes RPG's FASERIP system. The system requires only a d6 and a d10. There are notes on how to use to generate other types of dice rolls.

Unlike GW1 and GW2, this version was not as out of the box compatible with D&D to the same degree the others were. Characters, as did the monsters, still looked very similar, but the system was different enough to increase the incompatibility.

The idea here was to streamline the game and make the action faster. Sadly, several errors in the game made this difficult. It did feature one of the first meta-plot arcs for Gamma World, but sadly was not finished in print.

Which one should you get?

All things being equal, I would go for the 4th edition rules myself. The 1st and 2nd have a great nostalgia factor for me, and while I have the 1st Edition, I likely go with the 2nd.

The 1st, 3rd, and 4th edition rules are all available as Print on Demand versions now. So that is also in their favor. I understand the 4th edition rules are very clean and a good print. I can vouch for the 1st edition rules myself. The 3rd has some issues, but I am also not a fan of the action table, so I am giving it a pass.

I always loved the original gamma world. It's nice to see that there is a version of it back available where we can get it.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>

The 3rd Edition of Gamma World was an attempt to design a very comprehensive, streamlined version, updating the Gamma World game eight years after it was first introduced. Unfortunately, TSR had some significant editing problems when they sent it to the printers in 1986. Evidently, editing problems has become the tradition for this edition.

The .pdf of this product is missing the "All new six-panel Player???s Screen with useful tables and player information" described on the back of the box. This missing screen
includes:

The Wilderness - an outdoor map necessary to play the Rite of Passage adventure in the Adventure Book;

The images and stats for four (Rank 5) characters to use in the Rite of Passage;

A Weapons Table - listing weapons from the (Tech A I level)blowgun to the (Tech G V level)zapper

A Defenses Table - including armor, shield, and combat modifiers tables;

A copy of the ACT which is included in the download.

<br><br><b>LIKED</b>: Everything else including the Errata sheet appears to be available. The 3rd Edition rules were very comprehensive in their day and may be translated to the d20 rule.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: I didn't care for the missing material. Additionally, I still don't care for the Marvel Superheroes game style color chart and the confusion left by the original editing problems. It leaves me longing for the ability to download the old 1st and 2nd editions.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Disappointing<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Disappointed<br>

REAL SAD! Many pages are missing, and this 3rd edition was not only unpopular, but all the other PDFs available for Gamma World are for other editions!!! Almost unplayable. I shouldn't have bothered wasting my money.

I got this before I knew there was a 4th edition. 4th is more similar to D&D as it has classes/professions, while this one is just random mutants. I guess that I used to play 4th editon because I was expecting to roll up a scout character but there is no such thing in this editon. Nonetheless this will still be fun, although some tweaks may be necessary, but most games need tweaks anyway.

I had this game when I was younger. It's a great game and I'm very happy with the download. It's great

wow this brought back memories of my childhood. It was great being able to print this book off again.

I've wanted to get back into playing these old games for a long time. I'm glad WoTC and RPGNow have teamed up to bring them back.

Nostalgic. It is missing the Weapon Descriptions/Damage/data.