"Chitin, the Harvest Wars?" Topic

Anyone here remember this old game from Metagaming Concepts?

I ask because I am thinking of making a line of 15mm human (or larger) size insectoid aliens and want to base it, at least loosely, around some existing system. I would of course not base the models on actual images from any editions of this game.

Does anyone here remember it? Would it serve as a good springboard for a miniatures line? Was the game any good? Any feedback on the game appreciated -- though I'm not looking for advice on alternate worlds to base the bugs on.

By the way, don't ask me to do bugs in 28mm because I already have!!! I just released my arachnians, though I only have an image of the pre-production green up now. A photo of the colour model will have to wait until Chris paints it! That's when I will announce it as a TMP news item ….

But anyway -- Chitin? Thanks.

lost my copy years ago

I played it and Boppers or what ever the name of the Robot Wars game was by the same folks back in the late 70's.

The ideas were interesting the game play in both not so much. Regardless I think you'll do ok with a line of bugs in 15mm.

I remember it fondly.
Our dear editor was somehow involved as well I think.

Our dear editor was somehow involved as well I think.

I'm innocent this time.

I remember this game – it was a hoot! It was a $2.95 USD "pocket game" by Steve Jackson. It came with counters you had to cut apart, a small paper map and a ziploc bag. Same format as the original OGRE and Car Wars. I remember one race was vaguely "praying mantis" like. Don't remember much of the rest though. It was called Chitin or Chitin I.

It was indeed called Chitin 1 the harvest wars and Howard Thompson was the author. He was supposed to produce a much more involved game called Hymenoptera but nothing has been published nor does it seem it ever will be.

Boppers were the units in Metagamings Rivets game. And our beloved leader was the author of the classic Metagaming title Hot Spot

I think this may be buried in my drawers some place. I remember liking that all the casualties (yours and your opponents) were food markers so possession of them added to the victory points.

x42

I never picked up the original Chitin 1, but I did play it a couple of times. They also ported many of the bugs to The Fantasy Trip system as well.

I found the electronic version of this online a few years back but the site has since gone dodo. Have Rivets, Helltank, and Helltank destroyer also…some good games. :)

Who here remembers the scenario in the Space Gamer, I believe, with a Rivets factory going up against an Ogre Mk. V? Aaagh, the good ol' days of Metagaming…

Yes, make the bugs, can never have too many bugs.

Ken

Chitin 1 is a good game, still have all my microgames from metagaming and the spacegamer mags

I still play it one or two times a year. Love it.

"I would of course not base the models on actual images from any editions of this game."

Bummer! I'd definitely buy 2 armies worth of 15mm minis (or 2mm, 6mm, or 10mm minis), about 120 minis total, as long as they looked like the Paul Jaquays artwork. I wouldn't be as big a fan of "generic" bugs – there are some generics out there already.

According to 28mmMan in this earlier TMP thread, Paul does retain ownership of his Chitin images:http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=99895

E-mail him and see if he'll let you base your miniatures on his artwork: jaquays.com/paul/index.html

I'm still a big fan of Rivets, too.

Ah, Metagaming. Alas they went under before they were able to release Hymenoptera, the full-scale version of Chitin. That would have been a great game!

"Who here remembers the scenario in the Space Gamer, I believe, with a Rivets factory going up against an Ogre Mk. V?"

Yep. That can be seen here:

link

There are also Chitin I/Ogre crossover rules on BoardGameGeek:

link

Allen

x42brown said:

I think this may be buried in my drawers some place.

You've got bugs buried in your drawers, and you're not sure?

andy

I had it years ago … Not sure where it ended up ?

I think this may be buried in my drawers some place.

You've got bugs buried in your drawers, and you're not sure?

May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your underpants.

TMP link

Jpattern, did Paul do the art for Rivets too?

I used to have a copy of Chitin I. I only got to play it a few times but loved it. I'd buy an army or 2 of bugs in 15mm as well!

I've got a copy right here – it would make a lovely minis game and base for minis! Please do it!

Never forget Chitin, Rivets, Invasion of the Air Eaters, Warp War, Holy War, OGRE, GEV, and others that I can't think of off the top of my head. I also have a copy of this as well as almost all of the Metagaming pocket games and board games. Since I collect old board games, I never had the heart to get rid of any of them. :)

Since nobody has mentioned it yet, the game drew heavy inspiration from "The Dragon Masters", a novella by Jack Vance published in the early 60s, which also included human armies.

This is another one of those "I have absolutely no what I'd use them for but I really, really, really want some" ideas that keeps my bank balance in single digits. 8>)

Sadly I think I sold my Chitin I, or at least I haven't seen it in years.

You can't go wrong with 15mm bugs.

Andrew

Jpattern, did Paul do the art for Rivets too?

No, the first edition artwork was by R. Ansley, second edition by Brian Wlson.

Another vote for 15mm bugs. This would rock!