{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1154968"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1154968/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PH2344/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PH2344/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PH2344","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1154968/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1154968","accessionNumber":"B.126:1 to 8-2009","objectType":"Fantasy game","titles":[{"title":"Merc","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"'Merc' is a fantasy role-playing game. This is where the player constructs characters who simply live in a specifically designed game world. This game's world is operated by a referee who sets up the situations which the players confront. The game is mainly an interaction between players who operate the characters, and a referee, who oversees the world in which these adventures occur.\r\n\r\nThe original form of this type of game is conducted through speech. In live action role-playing games players perform their characters' physical actions. Role playing games are fundamentally different from most other types of games in that they stress social interaction and collaboration, whereas most board games and card games emphasise competition.","physicalDescription":"The game comes in a rectangular green box which has the title 'Merc' printed on the front in yellow. This title is repeated on the sides of the box. There is an image of a silhouetted figure on the front holding a gun standing in front of an explosion. Inside the box, there are many booklets and instructions for how to play the game.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Fantasy Games Unlimited","id":"A30771"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Card","id":"x30344"},{"text":"Paper fiber product","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Card and paper","categories":[{"text":"Children & Childhood","id":"THES48980"},{"text":"Games","id":"THES48947"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"YVA","id":"THES48593"},"images":["2025PH2344"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES344363"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES344363"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES344363"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES344363"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES344363"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES344363"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES344363"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES344363"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"introduction sheet","id":""}],[{"text":"rulebook","id":""}],[{"text":"game sheets","id":""}],[{"text":"sheet","id":""}],[{"text":"character sheet","id":""}],[{"text":"3 dice","id":""}],[{"text":"box base","id":""}],[{"text":"box lid","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"United States","id":"x29333"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1981","earliest":"1981-01-01","latest":"1981-12-31"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Ann Garrett","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"28.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"box","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"23.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"box","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"2.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"box","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'MERC / Fantasy Games Unlimited, Inc'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"This game was given to the museum along with other games by Ann Garret in 2009. They belonged to Bob Dixon, the well known poet, author and peace activist. He was born on 29th November 1931 and died on the 4th October 2008. Publications by him included 'Catching Them Young', 'Now Read On', 'Agitpoems', 'Playing Them False', 'More Agitation', 'Make Capitalism History' and 'The Wrong'.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"A fantasy game titled 'Merc' made in the United States by Fantasy Games Unlimited in 1981","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["B.126:8-2009","B.126:7-2009","B.126:6-2009","B.126:5-2009","B.126:4-2009","B.126:3-2009","B.126:2-2009","B.126:1-2009"],"accessionNumberNum":"126","accessionNumberPrefix":"B","accessionYear":2009,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","introduction sheet","rulebook","game sheets","sheet","character sheet","3 dice","box base","box lid"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-02","recordCreationDate":"2010-02-16","availableToBook":false}}