Ogre (1977)

OGRE and its sequel G.E.V., are tactical ground combat games set in the not-so-distant future. In 2085 A.D., armored warfare continues - faster and deadlier than ever. Hovercraft, tanks and infantry slug it out with tactical nuclear devices. But the most feared weapon of all needs no human guidance. It's a giant cybernetic tank called the OGRE.

The basic OGRE game gives one player a force of infantry and armor, and a command post he must defend. The other player has only one unit - but it's an OGRE. It's an even match. Advanced games allow solitaire or multi-player action, with OGREs on both sides.

Microgame #1 in the Metagaming Microgames series, and the original release of Ogre. Origin of the Ogre/GEV Family.

Later publication by Steve Jackson Games is title Ogre/G.E.V. includes the sequel game, G.E.V., which adds new rules and unit types for greater tactical gameplay.

Online Play: VASSAL module

Expanded by:

• Ogre Battlefields
• The Ogre Book
• Shockwave
• Ogre Reinforcement Pack
• Ogre Scenario Book 1
• Ogre Scenario Book 2

Re-implemented by:
Ogre Miniatures

Microbadges

Ogre fan
GEV fan
Ogre fan (Kwanchai redesign)]
Metagaming fan

Magazine References:

The Space Gamer

• No.9 (Dec/Jan 1976) NOTES ON THE OGRE, by Steve Jackson
• No.10 (Feb/Mar 1977) TANK: Present, Future, OGRE, by Charles Bowles
  • Duel (Ogre Fiction), by Stephen Cole
• No.11 (Apr/May 1977) Continental Siege Aircraft in Ogre (Variant), by Greg Costikyan
  • Review, by Robert C. Kirk
• No.12 (Jul/Aug 1977) Designer's notes, errata, variants for Ogre, by Steve Jackson
  • Iron Mountain (Ogre scenario and variant with new map, new counters and variant rules), by J. Richard Jarvinen
  • Ogres and The "Fuzzy Wuzzy Fallacy" (Strategy and variant on the cloud-of-GEVs swarming tactic), by Lawrence Duffield
  • Review, by William A. Peterson
• No.13 (Sep/Oct 1977) BPC Subs (Ogre naval variant introducing submarines and sea-going GEVs), by Matin Halbert
  • OGRE meets STARSHIP TROOPERS (Variant introducing Ogre tanks), by Mike Lazich
• No.14 (Nov/Dec 1977) Modifications in Ogre (Duel and solo scenario variations), by Brian McCue
• No.15 (Jan/Feb 1978) Ogre Update (Differences between first and second editions), by Steve Jackson
• No.17 (May/Jun 1978) Encounters of an Unlikely Kind (Combining Ogre and Rivets), by Mike Crane
• No.21 (Jan/Feb 1979) Playing the Odds at OGRE & G.E.V. (Notes on tactics), by Roland Parenteau
• No.23 (May/Jun 1979) ICE OGRE (Ogre meets Ice War), by Timothy C. & Lynn Wiedel
• No.24 (Sep/Oct 1979) The Four Howitzer Defense in OGRE, by Chester Hendrix
• No.81 (Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer Apr/May 1988) So You Want To Build An Ogre..., by Scott Robert Ladd

Game Contents - Steve Jackson Games Deluxe Edition

• Rules
• 11" x 17" Folding board
• 1 six-sided die
• 38 plastic counter stands
• 79 Counters:
  • 1 x Command Post
  • 12 x G.E.V. (Ground Effect Vehicle)
  • 12 x Heavy Tank
  • 5 x Howitzer
  • 10 x Infantry 1
  • 11 x Infantry 2
  • 12 x Infantry 3
  • 12 x Missile Tank
  • 2 x OGRE MK III
  • 2 x OGRE MK V