Editing Star Frontiers (section)

==Reception==
In Issue 37 of ''[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]]'', Andy Slack stated that "Unfortunately, I can't say the system struck me as especially realistic; but if you like action adventure, thinking with your fists, and ''Star Wars'' (and who doesn't from time to time) you can have a lot of fun with this game." Slack concluded by giving it an overall rating of 7 out of 10.<ref name="WD37">{{cite magazine| last =Slack | first =Andy | title =Open Box  | magazine=[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]]  | issue = 37  | pages =14–15  | publisher =[[Games Workshop]]  | date = January 1983  }}</ref>

In the February 1983 issue of ''[[The Space Gamer]]'', William A. Barton commented, "''Star Frontiers'' probably isn't going to lose TSR any money. But I wish there were a lot more to commend it than that."<ref name="SG">{{cite magazine|last=Barton |first=William A. |date=February 1983 |title=Featured Review: Star Frontiers|magazine=[[The Space Gamer]]|publisher=[[Steve Jackson Games]]|issue=60|pages=12–14}}</ref>

In the inaugural issue of the UK role-playing game magazine ''[[Imagine (AD&D magazine)|Imagine]]'', [[Jim Bambra]] liked the game, saying, "In summary, the ''Starfrontiers'' game is an excellent introduction to Sci Fi gaming, a game I heartily recommend to beginners and experienced gamers. A lot of expertise has gone into the designing of this product and the result is a very enjoyable and easy to learn game."<ref name="Imagine1">{{cite magazine| last = Bambra|first = Jim| author-link = Jim Bambra| title =Game Reviews | type = review | magazine= [[Imagine (AD&D magazine)|Imagine]] | issue = 1| pages =36–37 | publisher = TSR Hobbies (UK), Ltd. |date=April 1983}}</ref>

Ian R. Beste reviewed ''Star Frontiers'' for ''[[Different Worlds]]'' magazine and stated that "It would be easy to say that ''Star Frontiers'' is just ''D&D'' with lasers. It isn't exactly, but it's unlikely to make anyone drop their existing campaign to set up one for ''Star Frontiers''. This game just don't have a solid science fiction feel to it."<ref name="dw29">{{cite journal | last = Beste |first = Ian R. | title = Reviews | journal = [[Different Worlds]] | issue = 29 | pages =40-42 |date=June 1983}}</ref>

In the November 1983 issue of ''[[Asimov's Science Fiction]]'', [[Dana Lombardy]] commented, "Warning: these games can be addictive! Successfully completing an adventure (which sometimes means simply surviving!), or having your character obliterated in one of them, will probably make you want to play even more challenging adventures. TSR has a lot to offer the novice and experienced SF gamer in ''Star Frontiers''."<ref name=asf>{{cite magazine|last=Lombardy| first=Dana| authorlink=Dana Lombardy| date=November 1983|title=Gaming |magazine=[[Asimov's Science Fiction]]| volume= 7| number=11|pages= 19–20}}</ref>

Also writing for ''Imagine'', Stephen Nutt reviewed ''Star Frontiers Character Record Sheets'', and stated that "it makes up handsomely for the originals in the boxed set, which are rather pedestrian in comparison."<ref name="Imagine15"/>

The French games magazine ''Jeux et Stratégie'' dismissed this game as fantasy masquerading as science fiction, commenting, "The fact remains that it is simply a transfer of ''D&D'' into a sci-fi world. We find the same type of scenarios, the monsters being replaced by extraterrestrial life forms, and the elves by Yazirians."<ref name=jeux>{{cite magazine |title= Jeux et Joueurs |magazine= Jeux et Stratégie |date= December 1985 |issue= 36 |page= 16 |language= fr }}</ref>

In Issue 30 of the French games magazine ''[[Casus Belli (magazine)|Casus Belli]]'', Jean Bolczesak liked the game but found its science fiction content a bit simplistic, commenting, "''Star Frontiers'' is playable, interesting and ESPECIALLY entertaining. But ''Star Frontiers'' is a game that presents a rather caricatured vision of science fiction. Since [[Philip K. Dick|Dick]] and [[Frank Herbert|Herbert]], SF is no longer necessarily a literary genre reserved for the simple-minded and the mentally ill. You can be passionate about space opera without being completely stupid." Bolczesak also pointed out the lack of content about spaceships and planet creation. Despite this, Bolczesak concluded, "''Star Frontiers'' is not a bad game, however, far from it. To be honest, it is even excellent for all 'dungeoners' who dream of exploring the galaxy. Especially if they like action and sci-fi, but not 'hard science'."<ref>{{cite magazine | last =Bolczesak | first =Jean| title =Têtes d'Affiches | magazine = [[Casus Belli (magazine)|Casus Belli]] | issue =30| pages =15| date =September–October 1988 | language =fr }}</ref>

In his 1990 book ''[[The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games]]'', game critic [[Rick Swan]] called ''Star Frontiers'' "a streamlined, easy-to-learn game stressing general concepts while minimizing complicated mechanics." Swan concluded by giving the game a solid rating of 3 out of 4 and a qualified recommendation, saying, "It's an excellent game for beginners, but experienced players may be disappointed that it lacks the scope of more elaborate science-fiction games such as ''[[MegaTraveller]]''."<ref name=swan>{{cite book | last =Swan  | first =Rick | author-link=Rick Swan |title =[[The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games]] | publisher =St. Martin's Press | date =1990 | location =New York | pages =190–191}}</ref>

Scott Taylor revisited ''Star Frontiers'' several times for ''[[Black Gate (magazine)|Black Gate]]'':
* In 2014, Taylor listed the ''Star Frontiers Alpha Dawn'' boxed set by [[Larry Elmore]] as #9 in The Top 10 TSR Cover Paintings of All Time.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.blackgate.com/2014/09/17/art-of-the-genre-the-top-10-tsr-cover-paintings-of-all-time/ | title=Art of the Genre: The Top 10 TSR Cover Paintings of All Time – Black Gate | date=September 17, 2014 }}</ref>
* In a retrospective review of ''Star Frontiers'' in 2020, Taylor said "''Frontiers'', in my opinion, is a 'clean' game, which is to say there aren't any rough edges, shadowed pasts, massive interstellar threats, plagues, or the like. It's like a perfect joining of ''Star Trek'' and ''Star Wars'', where characters find themselves challenged to explore new worlds while still dealing with a handful of alien races as trusted friends."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackgate.com/2011/04/13/art-of-the-genre-star-frontiers/|title=Art of the Genre: Star Frontiers – Black Gate|date=April 13, 2011}}</ref> In another review for ''Black Gate'', Patrick Kanouse said "''Star Frontiers'' remains a playable and enjoyable game. A group of devoted fans have kept the game alive and expanded on it, so if you're looking for an easy-to-learn RPG with a focus on action, give it a go. I think you may like the retrofuture it inhabits."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackgate.com/2020/07/22/protect-the-frontier-star-frontiers-roleplaying/|title = Protect the Frontier: Star Frontiers Roleplaying – Black Gate| date=July 22, 2020 }}</ref>
* In 2015, Taylor rated the ''Volturnus'' series as #5 in "The Top 10 Campaign Adventure Module Series of All Time, saying "Acres & Moldvay spin a nice thread that pervades all of the ''Star Frontiers'' universe with the additions of ''SF1 Volturnus, Planet of Mystery'' and ''SF2 Starspawn of Volturnus''."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.blackgate.com/2015/03/31/art-of-the-genre-the-top-10-campaign-module-series-of-all-time/ | title=Art of the Genre: The Top 10 Campaign Adventure Module Series of All Time – Black Gate | date=March 31, 2015 }}</ref>