The Realm of Yolmi

The Realm of Yolmi is a science-fiction system with class-and-level rules that covers human characters on a future Earth (soldiers, cyborgs, scientists, and psychics), their skills, experience, equipment, et al.[1] Combat includes both futuristic weaponry and unarmed fighting.[1] The background material covers space travel, galactic trade, alien races (including the evil Yolmi), over 140 creatures, plus starship statistics and combat rules.[1] Character class chosen dictates what skills are available.[1] The game includes combat rules, equipment, and five levels of psionic abilities.[1]

The Realm of Yolmi is set on a future Earth which has suffered a catastrophe in which humans have become semi-barbaric, animals have been mutated, and automatons are allowed to roam.[2] A leading news commentator discovered immortality through drugs and started his own religious sect: the Undead of Yolmi (Cronk).[2]

The Realm of Yolmi was designed by Ken Black and Marshall Rose, and published by West Coast Games in 1977 as a 116-page book.[1] The book is A4 size and neatly bound in a spiral plastic binder.[2] The second edition was published by Avant-Garde Simulations Perspectives (ASP) in 1978 as a 180-page book.[1]

The Realm of Yolmi was reviewed by Don Turnbull in White Dwarf #10 (December 1978-January 1979), who gave the book a rating of 2 out of 10, and called the game "in effect, technological D&D".[2] He complained of the game's humor: "The rules are peppered with attempts at humour and what are obviously 'in-jokes.' I wasn't particularly amused, but other readers may find it funnier than I did."[2] He added: "This attempt at light banter rather spoiled the rules for me, though they appear to be complete and comprehensive if you can stomach the unnecessary attempts at wit."[2] Turnbull did note the similarities to the contemporarily-released Gamma World, and suggested that "adherents of that game may find some useful hints within Yolmi".[2]

Dana Holm reviewed The Realm of Yolmi in The Space Gamer No. 21.[3] Holm commented that "Outside of a few nice touches that any new game will have, my impression is that this game is a deliberate spoof on Dungeons & Dragons."[3]

Lawrence Schick felt that the class-and-level system was derived from Dungeons & Dragons, and commented: "What a title - Realm of Yolmi - just kind of rolls right off the tongue, doesn't it?"[1]