Odysseus (role-playing game)

Odysseus is a legendary/historical system, mixing the heroic and classical ages of ancient Greece.[1] The game includes rules for character creation, combat, warship movement and combat, plus guidelines for campaigns and interference by the gods.[1]

Odysseus was designed by Marshall T. Rose and published by Fantasy Games Unlimited in 1980 as a 32-page book and four cardstock sheets.[1]

Elisabeth Barrington reviewed Odysseus in The Space Gamer No. 31.[2] Barrington commented that "As new RP systems go, this one is above average. Only one book, and it is well-designed. Historical gamers specializing in the classic period, this is for you."[2]

Donald Dupont reviewed Odysseus for Different Worlds magazine and stated that "Odysseus is a disappointment. The role-playing world could use a good Heroic Age game system. With a great deal of interpretation and interpolation, Odysseus is perhaps usable by players familiar with role-playing systems, but the confused nature of its rules, and the lack of color in its world hardly make it worthwhile."[3]

Lawrence Schick commented that the game was "Indifferently researched; closer to fantasy than to history."[1]