TimeTripper

GJK · August 04, 2013, 02:00:04 AM

Does anybody remember this old SPI classic? http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5503/time-tripper

I picked up a copy recently. Not in great shape but I've scanned the rules and paragraph pages and am converting it all to an ebook. I understand that there is a rogue VASSAL module for it with all custom maps and counters. VASSAL was asked to drop all support for SPI games a few years back so I'm trying to track down this module (I've emailed the module designer). If I don't get a copy of it, I think that I'll make a ZunTzu (www.zuntzu) gamebox for it.

This game was known for having some of the most bland graphics of all time for a board wargame (a Redmond Simonsen design nonetheless) but with a fairly detailed combat system and the "trippy" idea of taking a modern day (Vietnam era) soldier back and forward in time to fight (or negotiate with) warriors and animals (including dinosaurs). The key is to "catch the flux" and try and get back home. A successful "trip" was one done in 10 or less "jumps" or with a certain amount of collected treasure. This game could be played either solitaire (usually) or even in teams of "trippers". I think that it will be a fun way to kill a few hours once I have the electronic kit ready. :)

Boggit · August 04, 2013, 04:13:28 AM

Quote from: GJK on August 04, 2013, 02:00:04 AM
Does anybody remember this old SPI classic? http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5503/time-tripper

I picked up a copy recently. Not in great shape but I've scanned the rules and paragraph pages and am converting it all to an ebook. I understand that there is a rogue VASSAL module for it with all custom maps and counters. VASSAL was asked to drop all support for SPI games a few years back so I'm trying to track down this module (I've emailed the module designer). If I don't get a copy of it, I think that I'll make a ZunTzu (www.zuntzu) gamebox for it.

This game was known for having some of the most bland graphics of all time for a board wargame (a Redmond Simonsen design nonetheless) but with a fairly detailed combat system and the "trippy" idea of taking a modern day (Vietnam era) soldier back and forward in time to fight (or negotiate with) warriors and animals (including dinosaurs). The key is to "catch the flux" and try and get back home. A successful "trip" was one done in 10 or less "jumps" or with a certain amount of collected treasure. This game could be played either solitaire (usually) or even in teams of "trippers". I think that it will be a fun way to kill a few hours once I have the electronic kit ready. :)

I remember it. I've got a copy stored away somewhere, but haven't played it for 15/20 years. Quite a different take on things, but it took quite a leap of imagination with the counter mix. IIRC it played out a bit like Ludo - having to get the right die combo to get back to the flux. IIRC 10 combats was the probably the minimum you'd fight and things would soon go pear shaped when ammo started to get low. IIRC you have an M16, some greandes, a .357 magnum, and I seem to recall another pistol, and a shotgun? You could pick up battlefield loot, but I recall that was quite abstracted. Have I got that all right, or is memory playing tricks?

Do these links help you?
http://misternizz.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/time-tripper-spi-by-java/

This is the download link for the game (3.6mb)
http://timetripper.dewkid.com/download/timetripper_v0.6.zip

bob48 · August 04, 2013, 06:00:45 AM

Yep, I remember it. Three or four of us would play it quite often a good few years back. Was good fun.

bayonetbrant · August 04, 2013, 06:46:49 AM

I think I saw it on a few store shelves and tried to figure out what that did that Gamma World didn't do better. I think at the time I was far more of an RPGer than wargamer at the time.

GJK · August 04, 2013, 10:21:24 AM

Quote from: Boggit on August 04, 2013, 04:13:28 AM
Quote from: GJK on August 04, 2013, 02:00:04 AM
Does anybody remember this old SPI classic? http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5503/time-tripper

I picked up a copy recently. Not in great shape but I've scanned the rules and paragraph pages and am converting it all to an ebook. I understand that there is a rogue VASSAL module for it with all custom maps and counters. VASSAL was asked to drop all support for SPI games a few years back so I'm trying to track down this module (I've emailed the module designer). If I don't get a copy of it, I think that I'll make a ZunTzu (www.zuntzu) gamebox for it.

This game was known for having some of the most bland graphics of all time for a board wargame (a Redmond Simonsen design nonetheless) but with a fairly detailed combat system and the "trippy" idea of taking a modern day (Vietnam era) soldier back and forward in time to fight (or negotiate with) warriors and animals (including dinosaurs). The key is to "catch the flux" and try and get back home. A successful "trip" was one done in 10 or less "jumps" or with a certain amount of collected treasure. This game could be played either solitaire (usually) or even in teams of "trippers". I think that it will be a fun way to kill a few hours once I have the electronic kit ready. :)
I remember it. I've got a copy stored away somewhere, but haven't played it for 15/20 years. Quite a different take on things, but it took quite a leap of imagination with the counter mix. IIRC it played out a bit like Ludo - having to get the right die combo to get back to the flux. IIRC 10 combats was the probably the minimum you'd fight and things would soon go pear shaped when ammo started to get low. IIRC you have an M16, some greandes, a .357 magnum, and I seem to recall another pistol, and a shotgun? You could pick up battlefield loot, but I recall that was quite abstracted. Have I got that all right, or is memory playing tricks?

Do these links help you?
http://misternizz.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/time-tripper-spi-by-java/

This is the download link for the game (3.6mb)
http://timetripper.dewkid.com/download/timetripper_v0.6.zip

Thanks Boggit, I have seen that. In fact, I've downloaded it and tried to get it to work but it won't run. I'm guessing something with the current/later versions of java breaks the code. I don't want to install an old version of java to get it to work either but I'd really like to give it a try somehow.

GJK · August 04, 2013, 10:30:04 AM

Quote from: bayonetbrant on August 04, 2013, 06:46:49 AM
I think I saw it on a few store shelves and tried to figure out what that did that Gamma World didn't do better. I think at the time I was far more of an RPGer than wargamer at the time.

I remember GW as well. I "flirted" with RPG's back in the day and this was one that I owned. It's me, but I just never really got into D&D and the RPG stuff but I liked using "miniatures" and playing out battles using their combat systems. Boot Hill was/is still my favorite for doing that.

That said, I was working on the ebook version for TimeTripper, doing the "paragraphs" that run the game and really got that deflated balloon feel when reading the "fantasy" paragraphs. It really seems that Jim Dunnigan and team spent all of their time writing up detailed paragraphs covering the past battles (easy enough because the history is there) but they really skimped on the future/fantasy stuff and you can see how what was big at the time that the game was being created made it into the game. There's "Jaws" (land sharks) and some others that I came across. I think that with our current history, the "Future/Current" battles sections could easily be redone by adding in the years of Mid-East conflicts. It would be interesting to have our doped up Vietnam warrior "Tim" flux in on a group of Taliban fighters for example.

The future stuff could be redone as well. Get rid of the silly land sharks and man eating plants and bring in Star Wars/Trek like characters or some such. I'm not much for Sci-Fi stuff so not sure on this, but I didn't really care for what I've read in the original game.

weateallthepies · August 05, 2013, 03:37:36 AM

There is a really nice redesign on Boardgamegeeek if you want some better graphics. Files are there as PDF so you can either build or rip the images for a zuntzu/vassal design.

You need to download the PDF from the files section:

http://boardgamegeek.com/files/thing/5503

GJK · August 05, 2013, 06:18:34 AM

Thanks waatp's, I have seen that. The map and the charts look really good but I'm not a fan of those counters so I will probably redo them in a more tradional "Simonsenesque" style. There is definitly enough there though to put together a module in either VASSAL or ZunTzu.

weateallthepies · August 05, 2013, 07:03:36 AM

Yeah the counters are my least favourite part too, though I think they are largely icons from http://game-icons.net/, the board and record tracks and things are much nicer though.

Anyway, good luck. I've got a beat up copy that I'm going to update somehow. Currently building the redesign of Magic Realm though so might be busy for a while. :)

GJK · August 05, 2013, 07:30:17 AM

All of the work so far has been scanning, OCR'ing and formatting the rules and paragraphs for the ebook. I'm just about done with that and then I'll put together a VASSAL or ZunTzu module for it.

I was reading on BGG some posts that were made about 2 years ago from a guy that wanted to update the paragraph book (as do I) so I may reach out to him and see if he abandoned that work or otherwise would be interested in sharing what he has.

MisterNizz · August 18, 2013, 03:02:04 PM

I'll follow your efforts with interest. I liked Time Tripper when I was a kid, but wasn't' a fanatic about it. As some folks have already said, it was hard to visualize with the ultra bland counter mix. I'd love to give it another go in Cyberboard. The redesign kit is a nice start but I agree, those new counters are a little silly for the subject matter. Perhaps Tom Mouat's military symbols font is the way to go here. http://www.mapsymbs.com/

V/R

Walt
aka Mister Nizz (I posted the blog post about TT on my blog a while back, referenced above).

LongBlade · August 18, 2013, 06:00:05 PM

Welcome MisterNizz!

Boggit · September 05, 2013, 07:23:27 PM

Quote from: GJK on August 04, 2013, 10:21:24 AM
Quote from: Boggit on August 04, 2013, 04:13:28 AM
Quote from: GJK on August 04, 2013, 02:00:04 AM
Does anybody remember this old SPI classic? http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5503/time-tripper

I picked up a copy recently. Not in great shape but I've scanned the rules and paragraph pages and am converting it all to an ebook. I understand that there is a rogue VASSAL module for it with all custom maps and counters. VASSAL was asked to drop all support for SPI games a few years back so I'm trying to track down this module (I've emailed the module designer). If I don't get a copy of it, I think that I'll make a ZunTzu (www.zuntzu) gamebox for it.

This game was known for having some of the most bland graphics of all time for a board wargame (a Redmond Simonsen design nonetheless) but with a fairly detailed combat system and the "trippy" idea of taking a modern day (Vietnam era) soldier back and forward in time to fight (or negotiate with) warriors and animals (including dinosaurs). The key is to "catch the flux" and try and get back home. A successful "trip" was one done in 10 or less "jumps" or with a certain amount of collected treasure. This game could be played either solitaire (usually) or even in teams of "trippers". I think that it will be a fun way to kill a few hours once I have the electronic kit ready. :)
I remember it. I've got a copy stored away somewhere, but haven't played it for 15/20 years. Quite a different take on things, but it took quite a leap of imagination with the counter mix. IIRC it played out a bit like Ludo - having to get the right die combo to get back to the flux. IIRC 10 combats was the probably the minimum you'd fight and things would soon go pear shaped when ammo started to get low. IIRC you have an M16, some greandes, a .357 magnum, and I seem to recall another pistol, and a shotgun? You could pick up battlefield loot, but I recall that was quite abstracted. Have I got that all right, or is memory playing tricks?

Do these links help you?
http://misternizz.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/time-tripper-spi-by-java/

This is the download link for the game (3.6mb)
http://timetripper.dewkid.com/download/timetripper_v0.6.zip
Thanks Boggit, I have seen that. In fact, I've downloaded it and tried to get it to work but it won't run. I'm guessing something with the current/later versions of java breaks the code. I don't want to install an old version of java to get it to work either but I'd really like to give it a try somehow.

@GJK
You're very welcome. As to getting it to work, I don't know. I have those files too, but haven't tried to play it yet. Perhaps someone with a lot of good tech knowledge like Ghostrider can point you in the right direction?