title: Zimbabwe national cricket team

text: As of April 25, 2021 Zimbabwe had played 3 T20i matches against Pakistan marking a remarkable win in second T20 match held at 23 April in Harare restricting opposition to 99/10 against 119 and that was also their first ever victory in T20 against Pakistan.


title: Zimbabwe national cricket team

text: In Group A, United States and Zimbabwe both won their first two matches to secure their places in the semi-finals of the tournament. The Netherlands and Zimbabwe reached the final of the tournament to qualify for the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Hosts Zimbabwe beat the Netherlands by 37 runs in the final to win the tournament.


title: Zimbabwe national cricket team

text: The Bangladesh cricket team toured Zimbabwe in July and August 2022 to play three One Day International (ODI) and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches.Zimbabwe won the opening T20I match by 17 runs. It was the team's sixth-consecutive win in T20Is, their best in the format. Zimbabwe won the third T20I by 10 runs to win the series by 2–1 margin, which was their first T20I series win against Bangladesh and defeated them in ODI matches too 2-1. Sikandar Raza was player of the series in both the series, Ryan burl also made a record of 34 runs in a over against Nasum Ahmed bettering shakib al hasan's record of 30 runs a over which dates back in 2019


title: Zimbabwe national cricket team

text: Although they lost the series 3-0 , there was a good fight back against India in 3rd ODI ,completely whitewashed by India.


title: Zimbabwe national cricket team

text: Zimbabwe lost the matches 2-0 , but sprung up a surprise to Australians to win the 3rd final ODI . Ryan Burl starred again with his 5/10 being the best bowling by a Zimbabwe player against Australia in ODIs, which incidentally was their first ever win on Australian soil .Ending the series 2-1 . Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton was impressed by team's performance.


title: Zimbabwe national cricket team

text: Zimbabwe qualified for the Super 12 of the 2022 T20 World Cup after victory over Scotland and Ireland and a loss to the West Indies. The first game of the Super 12 was a no result against neighbhours South Africa. The second game brought about a famous 1 run win over Pakistan.


title: Zimbabwe national cricket team

text: This is a list of players who have played for Zimbabwe in the past 12 months or have been named in the recent Test, ODI or T20I squad. Uncapped players are listed in italics. Updated on 17 July 2022.


title: Zimbabwe national cricket team

text: In Test cricket, Zimbabwe wears cricket whites with the Zimbabwe Bird insignia on the left side of the chest and the sponsor logo on the right side of the chest. Fielders wear a dark green cap or a white sunhat, also with the Zimbabwe Bird insignia. The helmets worn by the batsmen are coloured similarly.


title: Zimbabwe national cricket team

text: In ODI and T20 cricket, Zimbabwe wears red kits, usually with yellow accents, or sometimes green or black. Fielders wear a red baseball cap or a red sunhat. The batsman helmet is dark green. In ICC competitions, the sponsor logo is on the left sleeve and the inscription "ZIMBABWE" is on the front of the shirt.


title: Zimbabwe national cricket team

text: The current uniforms are manufactured by Vega Sportswear. Previous manufacturers were Reebok (2011-2013), Ihsan Sports (2004-2007), Asics (1999) and International Sports Clothing (1992-1996). PPC Zimbabwe is the current sponsor since 2018. Previous sponsors were Castle Lager (2013-2018), CBZ Limited (2010-2013), Old Mutual Life Assurance (2002-2004) and Zimbabwe Sun.


title: Zimbabwe national cricket team

text: "Players are included here because of outstanding achievement or another prominence/notoriety. For a fuller list of Zimbabwean cricketers, see ."


title: Jujubee (drag queen)

text: Airline Inthyrath () (born June 21, 1984), known by her stage name Jujubee (sometimes stylized as jUjUBee), is an American drag queen, reality television personality, and recording artist from Lowell, Massachusetts. She first rose to prominence in 2010 as a contestant on the second season of "RuPaul's Drag Race", and later returned to compete on the first and fifth seasons of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars", and the first season of "" (2022), becoming one of the most popular queens from the franchise. She has the unique distinction of being the only contestant to reach the finale of the competition four times. Additionally, she was a main cast member on the makeover television series "RuPaul's Drag U" (2010–2012), "Dragnificent" (2019–2020), and "RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race" (2022). In 2021, she competed on the first season of Paramount+ singing competition "Queen of the Universe".


title: Jujubee (drag queen)

text: Inthyrath was born to a Laotian Buddhist family in Fresno, California and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts. Her father died when Inthyrath was 15 years old and the same year her mother abandoned her and her two sisters. Her drag mother is Boston performer Karisma Geneva-Jackson Tae. She graduated from Lowell High School in Lowell, Massachusetts. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in theatre arts from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.


title: Jujubee (drag queen)

text: Jujubee appeared on the second season of "RuPaul's Drag Race" when she was 25, finishing in third place out of twelve. Jujubee, along with fellow season two contestants Tyra Sanchez, Raven, Pandora Boxx, and Morgan McMichaels served as drag professors on "RuPaul's Drag U", a spin-off of "Drag Race" that premiered on the Logo network in June 2010. She made at least one appearance on all three seasons of "Drag U". She was also nominated for a 2010 NewNowNext Award for "Most Addictive Reality Star".


title: Jujubee (drag queen)

text: On August 6, 2012, it was announced that Jujubee was one of twelve past "Drag Race" contestants selected to join the of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars", which premiered on the Logo network on October 22, 2012. Paired with contestant Raven to form "Team Rujubee" the duo managed to make it to the finale which aired on November 26, 2012, where she landed in third/fourth place with fellow contestant Shannel.


title: Jujubee (drag queen)

text: In 2014, an animated version of Jujubee appeared in the "RuPaul's Drag Race: Dragopolis 2.0" mobile app. She was featured in a series of ads with Gilead to raise HIV/AIDS awareness. She and Raven appeared as guests on "Snatch Game" during the second season of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars". She was a guest on the first episode of season 10 for the first mini-challenge. She appeared in the music video for RuPaul's song "Jealous of My Boogie". She later appeared in the music video "Queen" by Mimi Imfurst's band Xelle, along with other "RuPaul's Drag Race" contestants. She was also in the video for Blair St. Clair's "Call My Life" in 2018.


title: Jujubee (drag queen)

text: She appeared with BeBe Zahara Benet, Thorgy Thor and Alexis Michelle in the TLC show "Drag Me Down the Aisle", which premiered on March 9, 2019. Jujubee appeared in the Netflix series "AJ and the Queen" starring RuPaul in 2020 as pageant contestant Lee St. Lee.


title: Jujubee (drag queen)

text: On May 8, 2020, Jujubee was announced as one of the ten past "Drag Race" contestants selected to join the fifth season of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars", which premiered on VH1 on June 5, 2020. She became the fourth queen, along with fellow All Stars 5 competitor Alexis Mateo, to compete on three different seasons of Drag Race, following Shangela, Latrice Royale, and Manila Luzon. She won her first ever main challenge in episode 3, after designing a signature hotel suite entitled "The Glamazone" alongside Mateo and India Ferrah. She would lose her first ever lip-sync later in the episode, falling in a lip sync for your legacy to Lizzo's "Juice" against the lip sync assassin Monét X Change. She went on to reach the top 3 of the season, becoming the first queen in Drag Race herstory to make it to the finale in three separate seasons.


title: Jujubee (drag queen)

text: In November 2021, Jujubee was announced as one of fourteen contestants on the debut season of "Queen of the Universe", an international drag queen singing competition, and a spin-off of "RuPaul's Drag Race". She was eliminated in the second episode after singing Ariana Grande's "Into You".


title: Jujubee (drag queen)

text: In January 2022, she was announced as one of the nine contestants on "", becoming the very first "Drag Race" queen to compete on four separate seasons in the franchise. After the show aired, Jujubee announced that it would likely be the last time she competes in a drag competition.


title: Jujubee (drag queen)

text: She is among the most followed queens from "Drag Race", and as of October 2021, has accumulated over 1.1 million Instagram followers.


title: Jujubee (drag queen)

text: Jujubee released her debut extended play record, "Good Juju: Vol. 1", on June 23, 2020. The song "Don't Wanna Love" was performed on the first episode of "All Stars 5". A sequel, "Good Juju: Vol. 2", was released on July 21, 2020, with the lead single "Tonight or Forever" featuring fellow "All Stars 5" contestant Blair St. Clair being released on July 14, 2020.


title: Jujubee (drag queen)

text: In May 2022, Jujubee portrayed the voice of The Tigress in Alaska's "", a studio recording of a planned stage production about two rival drag bars that go head-to-head while struggling through financial troubles.


title: Hellyeah

text: Hellyeah, stylized as HELLYEAH, was an American heavy metal supergroup formed in Dallas, Texas, in 2006. The band's last lineup consisted of lead vocalist Chad Gray, guitarists Christian Brady and Tom Maxwell, bassist Kyle Sanders, and drummer Roy Mayorga. The idea to form a supergroup originated in 2000 on the Tattoo the Earth tour, although plans were constantly put on hold due to scheduling conflicts. The summer of 2006 allowed the band to take the project seriously and record its first album. Recorded at Chasin' Jason studio in Dimebag Darrell's backyard, their self-titled album entered the "Billboard" 200 at number 9, selling 45,000 copies. They went on to release five more studio albums between 2010 and 2019. As of 2021, the band is on hiatus.


title: Hellyeah

text: Hellyeah's beginnings can be traced back to 2000 on the Tattoo the Earth tour featuring Mudvayne, Nothingface, Slayer, Slipknot, and Sevendust. Nothingface guitarist Tom Maxwell became friends with Mudvayne vocalist Chad Gray, and they talked about the possibility of forming a supergroup. The following year, Nothingface toured with Mudvayne and talks to form the supergroup continued, although were constantly put on hold due to scheduling conflicts. At this time, Gray and Maxwell had brainstormed five band names.


title: Hellyeah

text: Mudvayne guitarist Greg Tribbett approached Maxwell "out of the blue" and wanted to join the band. Nothingface drummer Tommy Sickles originally helmed the drum kit for the band's demo, however, things did not work out and the search for a new drummer began. The band knew former Pantera and Damageplan drummer Vinnie Paul, and tried to persuade him to join the band as their drummer. Originally, Paul was not sure if he would return to music after the death of his brother, Dimebag Darrell and an 18-month hiatus: "It was one of those things that I didn't think I'd be a part of this ever again without him, and after about a year and a half had gone by, these guys called me up, Chad [Gray] and Tom [Maxwell], they were like, 'We're thinking about putting this band together, would you be into it?' First couple of times, I told them, 'No, I don't think I'm ready to do this yet.' And they just were real persistent, they kept calling me. And one night, I had been drinking some red wine and listening to some Kiss on 12" vinyl record and I said, 'You know what, lets take a shot at this, lets see what happens.'"


title: Hellyeah

text: The band's persistence paid off and Paul joined the project. Paul commented about joining the project: "Everybody had their head in the right place and that let's-tear-the-world-a-new-ass attitude".


title: Hellyeah

text: In their previous bands, there had only been one guitarist, so having two was a new experience for all members. Paul felt two guitarists brought back the "old school Iron Maiden thing where they play two parts and give you a grinding rhythm part with a badass melody on top". In 2006, Mudvayne did not have any plans to tour and were taking most of the summer and fall off, while Nothingface was preparing to record their next album. The time over the summer allowed the band to pursue the project which had been talked about for years.


title: Hellyeah

text: Gray flew into Baltimore to Nothingface's home studio to discuss the project further. The song "Waging War" was written in two days, followed by Maxwell tracking it the next day, and Gray completing vocals. During the summer of 2006, schedules were clear, which allowed members to take the time to record a studio album. The album was recorded at Paul's backyard studio, Chasin' Jason in Arlington, Texas. Filled with photos of his late brother Dimebag, Paul found it tough entering the studio where the last albums by Damageplan and Pantera, and the collaboration "Rebel Meets Rebel" were recorded, but felt "the dark cloud that was there went away", due to everyone's positive energy. Maxwell and Tribbett were the primary writers of the album, and Paul was there to "steer them in the right direction", with Gray adding his opinion on musical arrangements.


title: Hellyeah

text: Paul built the members a cabana style house on his pool deck with air conditioning, a TV, and beds so the members felt comfortable while recording. Paul produced the record and Gray felt Paul "facilitated the whole thing". The album was completed in roughly a month, with three recording sessions. The band worked on the record for eight days and returned home for a break. A 14-day session followed the break, and then another 10 days in the studio. Gray asserts the breaks in between recording sessions were to "re-charge the batteries", and "get a fresh head". As the line-up was complete, the band started to brainstorm names. When a member thought of a name, they would write it on a piece of paper and put it in an amp box outside the studio. Someone wrote "Hellyeah", and the band thought it was a perfect choice. Paul says it's "very affirmative and full of attitude. When your buddy asks if you want to get a beer tonight, you don't just say 'yes,' you say, "Hell yeah!". Gray attributes the name to "late teens, keggers and chicks and AC/DC and Metallica".


title: Hellyeah

text: "Revolver" was one of the first print publications to feature the band in March 2007. The self-titled track, "Hellyeah", started gaining satellite radio airplay in February 2007, and the first single "You Wouldn't Know" hit American radio airwaves the same month. "You Wouldn't Know" peaked at number 5 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, and 35 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks. The album's second single, "Alcohaulin' Ass" peaked at number 7 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. The band's self-titled album, "Hellyeah" was released on April 10, 2007, via Epic Records. The album debuted at No. 9 on the "Billboard" 200 album charts, with sales of just under 45,000. The album peaked on the Top Hard Rock albums at number 15, and number 3 on the Top Rock Albums. As of October 18, 2007, the album has sold 204,000 copies.


title: Hellyeah

text: "Hellyeah" received generally positive reviews. William Ruhlmann of Allmusic awarded the album three and a half stars out of five, commenting; "Their album is a competent example of its genre, in which Tribbett and Maxwell combine to create crushing riffs over the pummeling rhythm section of Paul, while Gray howls typically enraged, expletive-littered lyrics to songs". However, Ruhlmann believes Hellyeah is not a notable variation from members' previous bands. Blabbermouth.net reviewer Don Kaye awarded the album 7 out of 10, praising the track "Matter of Time" for its slashing main riff, and "One Thing" as it "marches to the finish line with a rumbling, crunching wall of guitars worthy of Dimebag himself". Kaye thought that Hellyeah's first studio effort was not equal to any of its members' main output. "KNAC" contributor Andrew Depedro stated "it's a set of good songs recorded by 5 accomplished musicians from diverse backgrounds not letting their pasts define them and those songs in one form or another speak to you in different ways".


title: Hellyeah

text: Bassist Montano was asked to leave Hellyeah after the album's release party, where he assaulted guitarist Tom Maxwell and made numerous gun threats while heavily intoxicated. The band's publicist stated his departure was due to "personal reasons on both sides" The band considered Damageplan bassist Bob Zilla as Paul thought; "It was kind of hard to go ahead and commit to this band without Bob being part of it". Zilla was invited to audition and got the gig immediately.


title: Hellyeah

text: Hellyeah embarked on their first tour in May 2007 titled Fire it Up, made an appearance at the Download Festival, and underwent Australian tour in July 2007. The Family Values Tour with Korn and Evanescence, saw the band start touring in late July, which also consisted playing with Alter Bridge in San Antonio before passing through thirty cities before ending in Washington, D.C. A DVD titled "Below the Belt" was released on November 13, 2007, and featured a documentary, music videos, performance footage from the making of the album, first studio sessions, coverage of the band's world tour, and personal interviews. It was produced by members of the band and Ryan Ziemba.


title: Hellyeah

text: Hellyeah headlined a tour in the spring of 2010 with: Seether, Five Finger Death Punch, Drowning Pool, and Lacuna Coil. The first date was May 11, 2010 in Madison, WI. They were also confirmed to play the main stage at Download Festival 2010. In 2009, the band revealed that they were in the studio recording a new album, later revealed to be titled "Stampede".


title: Hellyeah

text: For "Stampede", the members went to drummer Vinnie Paul's Texas home studio, for a recording process draped in a relaxed, pressure-free atmosphere, surrounded by the obligatory cocktails, good eats and familial brotherhood. "We were doing it at my house solely. We ate, drank and BBQed together, which made the brotherhood that happened, come through in the music," Paul said. The band members lived in bungalows on the grounds and turned Paul's house into a studio. Drums were recorded downstairs and guitars were recorded upstairs, with video screens in each room so the members could see one another while tracking. "It’s a broad, diverse album that covers rock, heavy metal and Southern rock ground. That is the main thing that I like about it: it’s not so focused on one thing," Paul said. The high ceilings at the Paul home allowed for the creation of a big, booming sound. They also were able to work at their own natural pace. "We slept there, so if one of us just came up with an idea, we could jump on it," guitarist Tom Maxwell said.


title: Hellyeah

text: "Cowboy Way", a song from the new album, was released for a free download via the band's website on April 21, 2010. The music video for "Cowboy Way" premiered on May 20, 2010. The first single, "Hell of a Time", was released on June 1, 2010. The music video for "Hell of a Time" premiered on June 16, 2010. The song "The Debt That All Men Pay" premiered on the Ultimate Guitar Archive on June 22, 2010. "Stampede" was released on July 13, 2010, via Epic Records and sold 28,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at No. 8 on the "Billboard" 200, making it the band's highest-charting album to date.


title: Hellyeah

text: The group was confirmed to be playing the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival along with other headliners Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold, Stone Sour, and Halestorm.


title: Hellyeah

text: Hellyeah finished recording a new album, titled "Band of Brothers", and were extremely satisfied with the production of the record; which was produced by Jeremy Parker, who has produced albums for Godsmack and Evanescence, and was recorded in the home of drummer Vinnie Paul's studio in Arlington, Texas; VP's Upstairs Studio. "Band of Brothers" was released on July 17, 2012, via Eleven Seven Music, the band's new record label home after leaving Epic Records. The digital single "War In Me" was released on iTunes on April 3, 2012.


title: Hellyeah

text: They played the Download Festival on Sunday June 16, 2013 and played at Graspop Metal Meeting on Sunday June 30, 2013.


title: Hellyeah

text: In late 2013, the band posted updates to their Facebook page, detailing that they were in the process of writing and recording their next album. A few short clips were posted by the band showing some of the guitar work underway. In 2014, the band announced the track list and title of their album to be" Blood for Blood", released on June 10. It was also announced that guitarist Greg Tribbett and bassist Bob "Zilla" Kakaha had departed the band, and were shortly replaced by Christian Brady, ex-guitarist of Magna-Fi and Überschall, and bassist Kyle Sanders, ex-member of Skrew, Bloodsimple, and MonstrO, and brother of Troy Sanders of Mastodon. Hellyeah and Adrenaline Mob have announced a few tour dates together. On June 3, the full album was available for streaming via YouTube.


title: Hellyeah

text: In 2015, Hellyeah released the official video for the album's third single, "Hush". The song was also used to promote the "No More" campaign against domestic violence.


title: Hellyeah

text: Slayer was chosen to headline the 2015 Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival. The bands Hellyeah, King Diamond, The Devil Wears Prada, Thy Art Is Murder, Whitechapel, Jungle Rot, Sister Sin, Sworn In, Shattered Sun, Feed Her to the Sharks, Code Orange & Kissing Candice also participated in the Rockstar Tour. The festival covered 26 stops from June 26 through August 2.


title: Hellyeah

text: In 2016, the band released a new song called "Human" from their fifth studio album. The album was titled "Unden!able" and released June 3, 2016. Tom Maxwell has stated that included on the album will be "a lot of stuff they never tried before", calling it "moody, dark and crushing". Included on the album is a cover of "I Don't Care Anymore" by Phil Collins which features archived guitar work from Dimebag Darrell recorded before his death.


title: Hellyeah

text: On October 26, 2017, Blabbermouth.net reported that the band would start recording for their sixth studio album in early November.


title: Hellyeah

text: Vinnie Paul died on June 22, 2018; his cause of death was later announced as dilated cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease. Paul was last seen in public partying at a rock concert at Beauty Bar Las Vegas hours before his passing. Shortly before his death, Vinnie laid down the drum tracks for Hellyeah's sixth album at The Hideout recording studio in Las Vegas.


title: Hellyeah

text: On March 14, 2019, the band announced the new album will be released on June 28, and the single "333" was also released.


title: Hellyeah

text: On May 6, 2019, Hellyeah made the announcement on their official Facebook page that Stone Sour drummer Roy Mayorga would join Hellyeah for their upcoming show on May 11, 2019, celebrating the life of their late drummer Vinnie Paul.


title: Hellyeah

text: A week later, the band announced Mayorga as the new drummer for Hellyeah, while also announcing "Welcome Home" as the title of their new album and that the release date was pushed back to September 27.


title: Hellyeah

text: In May 2021, Mayorga revealed during his appearance on "The New York Hardcore Chronicles Live!" podcast that Hellyeah is currently on hiatus, partly due to Gray's commitments with Mudvayne, who had announced the month before that they were reuniting for their first shows in over a decade.


title: Hellyeah

text: Hellyeah's late drummer, Vinnie Paul, described the band's sound as "a familiar groove, with a new sound". Blabbermouth.net reviewer Don Kaye commented "with little of the complexity of Mudvayne or angularity of Nothingface and much more of the full-on, pedal-to-the-metal style of Vinnie Paul's previous work". However, Kaye said the songs "Star" and "Thank You" border on musical cliché. Andrew Depedro of "KNAC.com" stated "'Alcohaulin' Ass' showcases Gray's hidden talent as an outlaw country and western-type crooner in the intro", although he thought the band's lyrics were repetitive. Hellyeah has been categorized as heavy metal, alternative metal and groove metal.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: Tactical role-playing games (abbreviated TRPGs), also known as strategy role-playing games and in Japan as (both abbreviated SRPGs), are a video game genre that combines core elements of role-playing video games with those of tactical (turn-based or real-time) strategy video games. The formats of tactical RPGs are much like traditional tabletop role-playing games and strategy games in appearance, pacing, and rule structure. Likewise, early tabletop role-playing games are descended from skirmish wargames such as "Chainmail", which were primarily concerned with combat.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: This subgenre of role-playing video games principally refers to games which incorporate elements from strategy video games as an alternative to traditional role-playing game (RPG) systems. Like standard RPGs, the player typically controls a finite party and battles a similar number of enemies. And like other RPGs, death is usually temporary. But this genre incorporates strategic gameplay such as tactical movement on an isometric grid. Unlike traditional RPGs which are traditionally single-player, some tactical RPGs feature multiplayer play, such as "Final Fantasy Tactics".


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: A distinct difference between tactical RPGs and traditional RPGs is the lack of exploration; for instance, "Final Fantasy Tactics" does away with the third-person exploration of towns and dungeons that is typical in a "Final Fantasy" game. In "Final Fantasy Tactics", instead of exploration, there is an emphasis on battle strategy. Players are able to build and train characters to use in battle, utilizing different classes, including warriors and magic users, depending on the game. Characters normally gain experience points from battle and grow stronger, and are awarded secondary experience points which can be used to advance in specific character classes. Battles have specific winning conditions, such as defeating all enemies or surviving a certain number of turns, that the player must accomplish before the next map will become available. In between battles, players can access their characters to equip them, change classes, train them, depending on the game.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: A number of early role-playing video games used a tactical form of combat, such as "Tunnels of Doom" (1982) and "" (1983), as well as "The Dragon and Princess" (1982) and "Bokosuka Wars" (1983), which introduced party-based, tiled combat to America and Japan, respectively. Further, tactical RPGs are descendants of tabletop role-playing games and wargames, such as "Dungeons & Dragons" and "Chainmail", which were mainly tactical in their original form. Nevertheless, much of the development of tactical RPGs has diverged on each side of the Pacific, and the term "tactical RPG" is sometimes reserved only for those titles that were created in Japan.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: One of the earliest Japanese RPGs, Koei's "The Dragon and Princess", released NEC's PC-8001 home computer platform in 1982. This game can also be considered a precursor to the tactical RPG genre. It used a combat system where, following a random encounter, the game transitioned to a separate, graphical, overhead battle screen, and tactical turn-based combat ensued. That same year, in 1982, "Tunnels of Doom" used a similar combat system; as did "Ultima III: Exodus" released in 1983.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: During the 8-bit era, "Bokosuka Wars", a computer game developed by Koji Sumii for the Sharp X1 in 1983 and ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) by ASCII in 1985, was responsible for laying the foundations for the tactical RPG genre, or "simulation RPG" genre as it is known in Japan, with its blend of role-playing and strategy game elements. The game revolves around a king who must recruit soldiers and lead his army against overwhelming enemy forces, while each unit gains experience and levels up along the way. It is also considered to be an early prototype real-time strategy game.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: Another notable early example of the genre was Kure Software Koubou's 1988 PC-8801 strategy RPG, "Silver Ghost", which was cited by Camelot Software Planning's Hiroyuki Takahashi as inspiration for the "Shining" series of tactical RPGs. According to Takahashi, "Silver Ghost" was "a simulation action type of game where you had to direct, oversee and command multiple characters." Unlike later tactical RPGs, however, "Silver Ghost" was not turn-based, but instead used real-time strategy and action role-playing game elements. It also featured a point-and-click interface, to control the characters using a cursor. A similar game released by Kure Software Koubo that same year was "First Queen", a unique hybrid between a real-time strategy, action RPG, and strategy RPG. Like an RPG, the player can explore the world, purchase items, and level up, and like a strategy video game, it focuses on recruiting soldiers and fighting against large armies rather than small parties. The game's "Gochyakyara" ("Multiple Characters") system let the player control one character at a time while the others are controlled by computer AI that follow the leader, and where battles are large-scale with characters sometimes filling an entire screen. "Master of Monsters", developed by SystemSoft and released in 1989 for the MSX2, added fantasy characters and magic attacks to the gameplay of the wartime combat "Daisenryaku" series, which had instead opted for tanks, planes, and other vehicles of real-world modern combat. "Master of Monsters" also added experience bars for the character units, a concept which would be adapted and popularized by later console-based series like "Fire Emblem". Unlike many other early titles in the genre, "Master of Monsters" made its way to the west via a port to the Sega Genesis in 1991, albeit only in North America.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: However, the genre did not become prolific until Nintendo published the game that set the template for tactical wargame RPGs, "". Developed by Intelligent Systems and released exclusively in Japan for the Nintendo Famicom in 1990, "Fire Emblem" would become an archetype for the whole genre, establishing gameplay elements that are still used in tactical RPGs today, though many of these elements were influenced by earlier RPGs and strategy games. Combining the basic concepts from games like "Dragon Quest" and simple turn-based strategy elements that the development team gained experience with in their 1988 release "Famicom Wars", Intelligent Systems created a hit, which spawned many sequels and imitators. It introduced unique features such as how the characters were not interchangeable pawns but each of them were unique, in terms of both class and stats, and how a character who runs out of hit points would usually remain dead forever. The latter mechanic was used to introduce a non-linear storyline to the genre, where different multiple endings are possible depending on which characters are alive or dead, a concept still used in recent games such as "", and "Final Promise Story". However, it was not until the release of "" for the Game Boy Advance, many years later, that the series was introduced to Western gamers, who until then were more familiar with localized precursors like "Nobunaga's Ambition", as well as later tactical RPGs partially influenced by "Fire Emblem", including the "Shining" and "Ogre" series and "Final Fantasy Tactics", and Nippon Ichi games like "Disgaea".


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: During the 16-bit generation, among the first imitators was "Langrisser" by NCS/Masaya, first released for the Mega Drive / Genesis in 1991. It was translated for North American release and retitled "Warsong". The "Langrisser" series differed from "Fire Emblem" in that it used a general-soldier structure instead of controlling main characters. "Langrisser", too, spawned many sequels, none of which were brought to North America. "Langrisser" set itself apart from other tactical RPGs in its time with larger-scale battles, where the player could control over thirty units at one time and fight against scores of enemies. Since "Der Langrisser" in 1994, the series offered non-linear branching paths and multiple endings. The player's choices and actions affected which of four different paths they followed, either aligning themselves with one of three different factions or fighting against all of them. Each of the four paths leads to a different ending and there are over 75 possible scenarios. "Langrisser III" introduced a relationship system similar to dating sims. Depending on the player's choices and actions, the feelings of the female allies will change towards the player character, who will end up with the female ally he is closest with.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "Master of Monsters" was a unique title by SystemSoft. Where "Langrisser" and "Fire Emblem" used a square-based grid, "Master of Monsters" used a hexagonal grid. Players could choose one of four different Lords to defend their Towers and areas on the grid by building an army of creatures to destroy the opposing armies. This game had a sequel for the PlayStation called "Master of Monsters: Disciples of Gaia", which had limited success and was criticized for its slow gameplay. Both "Warsong" and "Master of Monsters" were cited as the inspirations behind the 2005 turn-based strategy computer RPG, "The Battle for Wesnoth".


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: The first game in the long-running "Super Robot Wars" series is another early example of the genre, initially released for the Game Boy in 1991.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: Another influential early tactical RPG was Sega's "Shining Force" for the Sega Genesis, which was released in 1992. "Shining Force" used even more console RPG elements than earlier games, allowing the player to walk around towns and talk to people and buy weapons. It spawned sequels, "Shining Force II" for Sega Genesis and "Shining Force CD" for Sega CD, besides the Shining Force Gaiden 1, 2 and 3 for Sega Game Gear and Shining Force III for Sega Saturn. The game's creator, Camelot Software Planning's Hiroyuki Takahashi, cited Kure Software Koubou's 1988 tactical RPG, "Silver Ghost", as his inspiration. One game released solely in Japan for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), "Bahamut Lagoon", began Square's (now Square Enix) famous line of tactical RPGs.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: Four games from the "Ogre Battle" series have been released in North America. The first was "" was released for the SNES in 1993 and was more of a real-time strategy RPG in which the player forms character parties that are moved around a map in real-time. When two parties meet, the combat plays out with minimal user interaction. The game is notable for introducing a moral alignment system that not only affects the gameplay but where tactical and strategic decisions influence the outcome of a non-linear branching storyline, which is affected by factors such as the moral alignments of the troops used to liberate a city, whether to keep certain liberated cities guarded, making popular or unpopular decisions, concentrating power among just a few units, making deals with thieves, and a general sense of justice. These factors lead to one of 13 possible endings, alongside other factors such as how many and which units are used, how battles are fought, the army's reputation, player character's alignment and charisma, and secrets discovered.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: The sequel, "", was originally a 1995 SNES game that was not released outside Japan. It was later ported to the PlayStation, along with "Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen". Both of the PlayStation re-releases were marketed in North America by Atlus, as was "" for the Nintendo 64. "Tactics Ogre's" gameplay is more similar to the genre of tactical RPGs that "Final Fantasy Tactics" belongs to (which was developed by former members of Quest and created/written/directed by Yasumi Matsuno), complete with battles taking place on isometric grids. It was also the first to bear the name "Tactics" in the title, a term gamers would come to associate with the genre. Not only are characters moved individually on a grid, but the view is isometric, and the order of combat is calculated for each character individually. The game also expanded the non-linear alignment system of its predecessor, with three types of alignments for each unit: Lawful, Neutral, and Chaos, neither of which are portrayed as necessarily good or bad. The game gives players the freedom to choose their own destiny, with difficult moral decisions, such as whether to follow a Lawful path by upholding the oath of loyalty and slaughter civilian non-player characters on the leader's command, or follow the chaotic path by following a personal sense of justice and rebelling, or instead follow a more neutral path. Such factors affect the game's ending, which is also affected by decisions such as whether to obtain the most powerful class, which can only be acquired by making a tragic sacrifice. Another feature was "Warren's Report", a type of database on the land, people, encounters and races of Valeria (similar to, but much more expansive than, the troves of knowledge in "Mass Effect"). Although this game defined the genre in many ways, it was not widely recognized by American gamers because it was released to American audiences several years later. "Final Fantasy Tactics" shared some staff members with "Tactics Ogre" and shares many of its gameplay elements. A prequel to the original "Tactics Ogre", "", was later released for the Game Boy Advance. A remake of "Let Us Cling Together" was later released for the PSP in 2011.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: In 1996, the tactical role-playing game "" also featured a non-linear branching storyline, but instead of using an alignment system, it used a relationship system resembling dating sims that gave players the ability to affect the relationship points between different units/characters. This in turn affected both the gameplay and storyline, with the different possible relationships in the first generation of the game's plot leading to different units/characters appearing during the second generation, ultimately leading to different possible outcomes to the storyline.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: The 32-bit era saw many influential tactical RPGs, such as Konami's 1996 "Vandal Hearts series", which feature branching storylines that can be altered by the player's dialogue choices that lead to different endings, as well as Sega's 1997 "Shining Force 3", SCEI's "Arc the Lad Collection" (1996–1999), and Square's 1997 "Final Fantasy Tactics" and 1999 "Front Mission 3". Konami's "Vandal Hearts" was an early PlayStation title that helped popularize tactical RPGs in the US. It was released by Konami and featured a 3D isometric map that could be rotated by the player. A sequel was subsequently released, also for the PlayStation, and Konami has announced a third title in development for the Nintendo DS.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: One of the first 32-bit tactical RPGs, "Guardian War", was developed by Micro Cabin and released in 1993 on the Panasonic 3DO. While the game lacked in story, it included many game mechanics that are seen throughout many of the 32-bit tactical RPGs; like isometric camera rotation, interchangeable and hybridization of "jobs" or "classes" for each character, the combination of moves between characters, and the capture of NPCs and having them play on your side.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: Sega's "Sakura Wars", released for the Sega Saturn in 1996, combined tactical RPG combat with dating sim and visual novel elements, introducing a real-time branching choice system where, during an event or conversation, the player must choose an action or dialogue choice within a time limit, or not to respond at all within that time. The player's choice, or lack thereof, affects the player character's relationship with other characters and in turn the characters' performance in battle, the direction of the storyline, and the ending. Later games in the series added several variations, including an action gauge that can be raised up or down depending on the situation, and a gauge that the player can manipulate using the analog stick depending on the situation. The success of "Sakura Wars" led to a wave of games that combine the RPG and dating sim genres, including "Thousand Arms" in 1998, "" in 2002, and "Luminous Arc" in 2007.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "Final Fantasy Tactics" was arguably the most responsible for bringing tactical RPGs to North America. Developed by former employees of Quest, the developer responsible for the "Ogre Battle" series, it combined many elements of the "Final Fantasy" series with "Tactics Ogre"-style gameplay. It also expanded on the isometric grid combat of "Tactics Ogre" by allowing players to freely rotate the camera around the battlefield rather than keeping the camera in a fixed position. The storyline of "Final Fantasy Tactics" was also more linear than its predecessor, in order to provide a deeper epic narrative. Thanks to Hiroyuki Ito, lead designer on the game, it also successfully implemented a modified job system, previously used in "Final Fantasy V", which allowed the player to change a unit's character class at any time during the game and learn new abilities from job points earned with each class. The game was acclaimed for both its highly tactical gameplay and its well-written storyline that touches on issues such as class, privilege, religion, and politics. The game's reputation led to other developers adding the word "Tactics" to their titles to indicate the tactical RPG genre. It was later ported to the PSP as "" and is still regarded as one of the greatest tactical RPGs of all time.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: On sixth-generation consoles, a loyal American fan-base has been established by Nippon Ichi, makers of the PlayStation 2 games "", "Phantom Brave", and "". Of these games, "Disgaea" has been the most successful to date, and was the second Nippon Ichi game released in North America, the first being "" (published by Atlus). Throughout this generation, companies have recognized the large audience and popularity of these types of games, particularly Atlus and Nintendo. "La Pucelle: Tactics" and "Disgaea: Hour of Darkness", which Atlus re-released due to high demand, have become cult hits for the PlayStation 2.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: In 2001, "Sakura Wars 3" for the Dreamcast introduced a new combat system that incorporates action elements, and abandons the use of grids in favour of allowing each character to move around freely across the battlefield but with a limited number of moves each turn illustrated using a bar at the bottom of the screen. This type of combat system would later be the basis for the combat system in "Valkyria Chronicles", developed by much of the same team in 2008. The "Sakura Wars" series would not be released in the West until the fifth game, "" (2005). The "Front Mission" series also continued on to the PlayStation 2, with "Front Mission 4" and "Front Mission 5", the latter of which never saw a Western release, but a fan translation.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: The Game Boy Advance would also see the release of "" (2005) by "X-COM" creators, Nick and Julian Gollop. The game would be highly praised for adapting the combat mechanics of the highly detailed and acclaimed PC strategy series; but would also receive criticism for sub-par presentation, a lackluster storyline, and lack of link-mode support. The game ended up receiving an average score of 77.83% at GameRankings. In early 2006, Idea Factory's "Blazing Souls" featured nonlinear gameplay that allows the player to progress through the game and the story in whatever order they wish. In addition, instead of having separate screens or maps for exploration and battle, the game features a seamless transition between exploration and battle. This time period also saw the Western debut of "Fire Emblem" in "" (simply titled "Fire Emblem" outside Japan.).


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: On seventh-generation consoles, Sega's "Valkyria Chronicles" (2008) for the PlayStation 3 utilizes the seventh-generation console processing power by using a distinctive anime/watercolor art style, as well as incorporating third-person tactical shooter elements. After selecting a character in the overhead map view, the player manually controls him/her from a third-person view. This mechanic allows for, among others: free movement to a certain range, manual aiming with extra damage for headshots, a limited cover system, and real-time hazards, such as interception fire and landmines. The game has been described as "the missing link between "Final Fantasy Tactics" and "Full Spectrum Warrior"."


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: In 2004, Konami released "Metal Gear Acid", which combined the stealth game elements of the "Metal Gear" series with turn-based tactical RPG gameplay of games like "Fire Emblem", "Final Fantasy Tactics", and "Disgaea", along with the random-draw, forethought and resource management appeal of card battles like in Konami's own "Yu-Gi-Oh!" games (1999 onwards). Developer Kuju Entertainment released "Dungeons & Dragons Tactics" for the PlayStation Portable in 2007. The game intended to adapt the rules and mechanics of the popular table-top role-playing game, "Dungeons & Dragons", but suffered from a poor interface and awkward camera controls.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: The Atlus title "" (2009) blended together both traditional and tactical RPG gameplay along with non-linear adventure game elements. It also featured an innovative demon auction system and a death clock system where each character has a specified time of death, with the player's actions and choices having consequences on who lives and dies. "Infinite Space" (2009) by PlatinumGames, for the Nintendo DS, is a hybrid of tactical role-playing, real-time strategy and space simulator elements, and features a non-linear branching narrative with numerous choices that can have dramatic consequences, and an epic scale spanning hundreds of planets.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "Radiant Historia", released by Atlus for the Nintendo DS in 2010, combined the gameplay of traditional RPG titles with a highly tactical grid combat system, with several unique features such as a queue allowing party members to switch turns and perform combo attacks when near each other on the queue, and the manipulation of enemy positions by knocking a target onto another grid space and attack multiple targets when enemies fall onto the same grid space. The game is most notable for its unique take on the concept of non-linear branching storylines, which it combines with the concepts of time travel and parallel universes, expanding on the "Chrono" series. "Radiant Historia" takes it much further by giving players the freedom to travel backwards and forwards through a timeline to alter the course of history, with each of their choices and actions having a major effect on the timeline. The player can return to certain points in history and live through certain events again to make different choices and see different possible outcomes on the timeline. The player can also travel back and forth between two parallel timelines, and can obtain many possible parallel endings. Square Enix's PSP version of "", released around the same time, featured a similar "World" system that allows players to revisit key plot points and make different choices to see how the story unfolds differently.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: Atlus title "" (2012) features a unique battle system that blends turn-based and real-time strategy. The player controls each character in turn, but the actions play out in real-time. Imageepoch's upcoming "Saigo no Yakusoku no Monogatari" ("Final Promise Story") for the PlayStation Portable has a strategic command-based battle system where enemies learn from previous skirmishes. The characters can also die permanently during gameplay which in turn affects the game's storyline.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: Many Western PC games have utilized this genre for years, as well. Western games tend to have stronger military themes, without many of the fantasy elements often found in their console (and mainly Japanese) counterparts; as well as greater freedom of movement when interacting with the surrounding environment. Notable examples include the "Jagged Alliance" series (1994-2018) and the "Silent Storm" series (2003-2005), with many titles owing considerably to the "X-COM" series (1994-2016) of strategy games. In fact, Western PC games in the genre were largely defined by "X-COM" in much the same way as Eastern console games were by "Fire Emblem".


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "" (1997), part of the "Battle Isle" series, was one of the first strategy titles to use fully 3D graphics and support hardware acceleration on the 3dfx Voodoo. Other titles in the series are mainly tactical wargames featuring vehicle combat and base capturing. The game was generally well received by critics.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "Gorky 17" (1999, a.k.a. "Odium") is a tactical RPG by Polish developer Metropolis Software featuring elements of survival horror. It is also the first title in a series featuring the main character, Cole Sullivan. Later titles in the series were third-person shooters. The game's reception was mixed.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "Vantage Master" is a series of tactical RPGs similar to "Master of Monsters" developed and published by Nihon Falcom for Microsoft Windows, beginning in 1997. The first game in the series was never released outside Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The latest game, "Vantage Master Portable", was announced for the PSP on December 20, 2007, and released on April 24, 2008.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "Jagged Alliance" is tactical turn-based RPG series developed by "Sir-Tech Canada". First game was released in 1995, second in 1999.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "Shadow Watch" (2000) is a video game adaptation of the "Tom Clancy's Power Plays" novel of the same name developed by Red Storm Entertainment. It has also been compared to "X-COM", though it features a different action point system and is missing the latter game's upgradable units. The game's reception was mixed.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "" (2001) is a spin-off of the "Fallout" series of CRPGs by Interplay Entertainment developed by Australian company Micro Forté. Unusual for the genre is the option to choose between real-time and turn-based play, or between "Continuous Turn-Based Mode" (CTB), "Individual Turn-Based Mode" (ITB), and "Squad Turn-Based Mode" (STB) modes as the developers put it. The game even allows the player to switch modes in the middle of play. The game received generally favorable reviews from critics, though was not as well-received as the series' more traditional RPG titles.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "Soldiers of Anarchy" (2002) is a squad-based real-time tactics computer game by German developer Silver Style Entertainment. Gameplay involves squad tactics, vehicles and a wide variety of weapons and ammunition. The game received mixed reviews from critics.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "Freedom Force" (2002) and its sequel, "Freedom Force vs. the Third Reich" (2005) - both by Irrational Games - are two examples of comic book superhero tactical RPGs that are played in real-time instead of turns. Both games received favorable reviews from critics.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "Paradise Cracked" (2003), "COPS 2170: The Power of Law" (2005), "Metalheart: Replicants Rampage" (2004) and "Shadow Vault" (2004) are poorly received tactical RPGs by MiST Land South, Akella and Mayhem Studios of Russia and Slovakia, respectively. "Paradise Cracked" was inspired by cyberpunk works such as "The Matrix", "Blade Runner", "Ghost in the Shell", and Philip K. Dick novels; and "Metalheart: Replicants Rampage" is a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk tactical RPG inspired by "Jagged Alliance", "Syndicate", and "Fallout". "COPS 2170: The Power of Law" is set in the same "Reality 4.13" universe that first appeared in "Paradise Cracked".


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "Hammer & Sickle" (2005) is a tactical RPG co-developed by Russian companies Novik & Co and Nival Interactive, and published by CDV. It is set in the "Silent Storm" universe and follows the events in the main series. After this came "Night Watch" (2006) and its sequel, "Day Watch" (2007), also by Nival Interactive, but instead based on the Russian novels and films of the same name. All three games received mediocre-to-poor review scores despite utilizing the highly regarded "Silent Storm" engine.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: Other titles inspired by "Jagged Alliance" include "" (2006) and its sequel, simply titled "7.62" (2007), by Russian developer Apeiron; "" (2007) by GFI Russia; and "" by bitComposer Games. The "Brigade E5" series incorporates an innovative hybrid real-time system the company calls "Smart Pause Mode" in an attempt to heighten realism; "Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge" began its life as "Jagged Alliance 3D" before Strategy First withdrew the rights to the series name; and "Jagged Alliance: Back in Action" is a 3D, real-time remake of "Jagged Alliance 2". Lastly, "" was released in 2014 following a successful Kickstarter. The developer Full Control gained notoriety, however, for feuding with its backers, and the company stopped making games shortly thereafter.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: Additional titles inspired by "X-COM" include "" (2003), "" (2005), "" (2007) and "" (2007) by Czech developers ALTAR Interactive and Chaos Concept; as well as "Xenonauts" (2014) by Goldhawk Interactive. ALTAR's "UFO" series features real-time play; Chaos Concept's "UFO: Extraterrestrials" received only mixed reviews; and "Xenonauts" currently has a "Very Positive" rating on Steam. The open source, cross-platform "X-COM"-clone "" is also under development.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "The Battle for Wesnoth" (2005) is another "Master of Monsters" and "Warsong" clone, released under an open source license for multiple platforms. It also is continually updated.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: The tactical isometric cyberpunk/fantasy RPG, "Shadowrun Returns" (2013), was funded via a successful crowd-sourced Kickstarter campaign that raised a total of $1.9 million for development. The game is based on the popular "Shadowrun" pen-and-paper setting by Jordan Weisman, and features tactical combat in a world filled with cybernetics, magic and fantasy creatures. Two sequels, "" (2014) and "" (2015) quickly followed. An online tactical game not directly related to the previous three games, "", was released to less-than-positive reviews in 2015.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: In 2014 the tactical RPG "" based on the German "The Dark Eye" pen-and-paper setting was released to mixed or average reviews. A sequel, "Blackguards 2", was released in 2015.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: 2015 saw the release of "Invisible, Inc." for OS X, Windows and Linux. It has been described as a "tactical RPG that mixes stealth with procedural generation", since it introduces elements of espionage and roguelike gameplay. It received generally favorable scores from reviewers. A version for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch has been released.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: In March 2017 the German indie developer Overhype Studios released its tactical RPG "Battle Brothers" out of Early Access to generally favorable reviews. This mercenary company simulation was described as a "cleverly constructed, carefully balanced board game".


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: Other games combine similar mechanics, but typically belong in other genres. Tactical wargames such as the "Steel Panthers" series (1995–2006) sometimes combine tactical military combat with RPG-derived unit advancement. "Avalon Hill's Squad Leader" (2000), a man-to-man wargame utilizing the "Soldiers at War" engine, has also been compared (unfavorably) to "X-COM" and "Jagged Alliance". "Rebelstar" (1984) and "Laser Squad" (1988) were precursors to "X-COM" created by the same developer, Julian Gollop. They did not, however, feature the statistical character development and strategic map of the later series.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "Bokosuka Wars" (1983), a game regarded as the progenitor of the strategy/simulation RPG genre, is also difficult to clearly define. While often referred to as a strategy/simulation RPG, it is also sometimes referred to as a prototype real-time strategy, an early reverse tower defense game, and an early action role-playing game. "Nobunaga's Ambition" (1983) and later Koei titles as well as Capcom's "Destiny of an Emperor" (1989) have blurred the line between a role-playing game, turn-based grand strategy wargame, and simulation video game. Similarly, Kure Software Koubou's "Silver Ghost" (1988) combined elements of both tactical RPGs and action RPGs, while "" (1993) blurred the line between a tactical RPG and a real-time strategy. "Metal Gear Acid" (2004) blurs the line between a stealth game, a genre the "Metal Gear" series is normally known for, along with tactical role-playing inspired by the likes of "Fire Emblem" and "Final Fantasy Tactics", infused with card gameplay found in games like Konami's own "Yu-Gi-Oh!" series.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: In addition to a turn-based tactical combat layer, the "X-COM" series also possesses a real-time 3D strategic layer, complete with global defensive map as well as a technology tree that the player must research in order to unlock new weapons and armor. "Jagged Alliance 2" features a country sector map with fortified towns and roving bands of enemies that must be defeated before entering the capital city of Meduna. "Knights in the Nightmare" (2009) combines elements of traditional tactical RPGs with bullet hell–style shoot 'em up gameplay.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: Sega's "Valkyria Chronicles" (2008) blurs the line even further by incorporating tactical RPG gameplay with both real-time strategy and third-person tactical shooter elements, including over-the-shoulder manual aiming and a cover system. This has led to the game being described by one source as "the missing link between "Final Fantasy Tactics" and "Full Spectrum Warrior"." In an interview with Eurogamer, "X-COM" developer Julian Gollop mentioned how surprised he was how close "Valkyria Chronicles" was in design to his cancelled game "Dreamland Chronicles".


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "Infinite Space" (2009) by PlatinumGames is a hybrid of tactical RPG, real-time strategy, and space simulator. "The 3rd Birthday" (2010), the third game in the "Parasite Eve" series, features a unique blend of action role-playing game, real-time tactical RPG, survival horror and third-person tactical shooter elements.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "Dead State" (2014) is a turn-based RPG developed by DoubleBear Productions and Iron Tower Studios set in a zombie apocalypse scenario. Players are tasked with leading a group of survivors living in a shelter in the fictional town of Splendid, Texas. "Dead State" mixes tactical combat and RPG character development with survival horror and base management elements. An "enhanced edition" was released in 2015 under the name, "Dead State: Reanimated".


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: A number of "full-fledged" computer role-playing games could also be described as having "tactical combat". Examples from the classic era of CRPGs include parts of the aforementioned "Ultima" series beginning with "" (1983); SSI's "Wizard's Crown" (1985) and "The Eternal Dagger" (1987); the "" (1992-1996) series based on the German "The Dark Eye" pen-and-paper system; and the "Gold Box" games of the late '80s and early '90s—many of which were later ported to Japanese video game systems. Other examples include Troika Games' "The Temple of Elemental Evil" (2003), which features a highly accurate implementation of the "Dungeons & Dragons" 3.5 edition ruleset; "Knights of the Chalice" (2009), which implements the d20 Open Game License; and "Pyrrhic Tales: Prelude to Darkness" (2002), an open world RPG featuring one continuous game world. More recent examples include "Wasteland 2" (2014), "" (2014) and "The Age of Decadence" (2015). Partly due to the success of "Wasteland 2", "Divinity: Original Sin", "Shadowrun: Dragonfall", "Blackguards" and "Dead State", 2014 has been labeled "the first year of the CRPG renaissance".


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: "Tir-nan-óg" (beginning in 1984) is a series of role-playing video games that premiered in Japan on the PC98 and later released for Windows. The latest title in the series is also being released for the PlayStation 2 and PSP. "Heroes of Jin Yong" (1996), a Chinese role-playing game based on the popular historical Wuxia novels by Jin Yong, features a number of melee and ranged kung fu skills to train and develop, as well as a grid-based battle system. A remake of the game under the title of "Tale of Wuxia" was released in Chinese in 2015, and later on Steam in both Chinese and English in 2016.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: Several massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) have combined multiplayer online gaming with tactical turn-based combat. Examples include, "Dofus" (2005), "The Continuum" (2008), as well as the Russian game "Total Influence Online" (2009?). "Tactica Online" was a planned MMORPG that would have featured tactical combat, had development not been cancelled in 2006. "Gunrox" (2008), "Poxnora" (2006) and "Wakfu" (2012) are some other recent examples.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: Many tactical RPGs can be both extremely time-consuming and extremely difficult. Hence, the appeal of most tactical RPGs is to the hardcore, not casual, computer and video game player. Traditionally, tactical RPGs have been quite popular in Japan but have not enjoyed the same degree of success in North America and elsewhere. However, the audience for Japanese tactical RPGs has grown substantially in the West since the mid-90s, with PS1 and PS2 titles such as "Final Fantasy Tactics", "Suikoden Tactics", "Vanguard Bandits" and "Disgaea" enjoying a surprising measure of popularity outside Japan. Further, older Japanese tactical RPGs are also being re-released via software emulation—such as on the Wii's Virtual Console—as well as on handheld systems, giving these games a new lease on life.


title: Tactical role-playing game

text: However, in the 2000s, some developers complained it was becoming increasingly difficult to develop games of this type (though several had been developed in Eastern Europe with limited success); and even some developers were beginning to complain about a supposed bias against turn-based systems. Reasons cited include publishers' focus on developing real-time, action-oriented games; as well as a perception that games with turn-based mechanics were "too niche" to become successful. However, things may have turned around in the 2010s, at least in the West. A few high-profile titles, such as 2K Games' strategy video games, "" and "XCOM 2"—as well as a number of Kickstarter-funded RPGs, such as Larian's "", inXile's "Wasteland 2" and Harebrained Schemes' "Shadowrun Returns"—were successfully developed and published in recent years, in part due to new means of funding and distributing them. According to Dan Tudge of n-Space, "The resurgence of tactical-isometric RPGs has a lot to do with accessibility. ... Changes in the ecosystem like Steam and digital distribution have made it easier than ever for developers to connect with players."


title: Surge protector

text: A surge protector (or spike suppressor, surge suppressor, surge diverter, surge protection device (SPD) or transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS) is an appliance or device intended to protect electrical devices from voltage spikes in alternating current (AC) circuits. A voltage spike is a transient event, typically lasting 1 to 30 microseconds, that may reach over 1,000 volts. Lightning that hits a power line can give a spike of over 100,000 volts and can burn through wiring insulation and cause fires, but even modest spikes can destroy a wide variety of electronic devices, computers, battery chargers, modems and TVs etc, that happen to be plugged in at the time. Typically the surge device will trigger at a set voltage, around 3 to 4 times the mains voltage, and divert the current to earth. Some devices may absorb the spike and release it as heat. They are generally rated according to the amount of energy in joules they can absorb.


title: Surge protector

text: In an AC circuit a voltage spike is a transient event, typically lasting 1 to 30 microseconds, that may reach over 1,000 volts. Lightning that hits a power line can give many thousands, sometimes 100,000 or more volts. A motor when switched off can generate a spike of 1,000 or more volts. Spikes can degrade wiring insulation and destroy electronic devices like light bulbs, battery chargers, modems, TVs, and other consumer electronics.


title: Surge protector

text: Spikes can also occur on telephone and data lines when AC main lines accidentally connect to them or lightning hits them, or if the telephone and data lines travel near lines with a spike and the voltage is induced.


title: Surge protector

text: A long term surge, lasting seconds, minutes, or hours, caused by power transformer failures such as a lost neutral or other power company error, are not protected by transient protectors. Long term surges can destroy the protectors in an entire building or area. Even tens of milliseconds can be longer than a protector can handle. Long term surges may or may not be handled by fuses and overvoltage relays.


title: Surge protector

text: Category A loads are more than 60 feet of wire length from the service entrance to the load. Category A loads can be exposed to 6kV, 0.5kA surge currents.


title: Surge protector

text: Category B loads are more than 30 feet from the service entrance and less than 60 feet of wire length from the service entrance to the load. Category B loads can be exposed to 6kV, 3kA surge currents.


title: Surge protector

text: Category C loads are less than 30 feet from the service entrance to the load. Category C loads can be exposed to 20kV, 10kA surge currents.


title: Surge protector

text: A building's wiring adds impedance that limits the surge current that reaches the loads. There is less surge current at longer wire distances and where more impedance is present between the service entrance and the load.


title: Surge protector

text: A coiled extension cord can be used to increase the wire length to more than 60 feet and to increase the impedance between the service entrance and the load.


title: Surge protector

text: The terms "surge protection device" ("SPD") and "transient voltage surge suppressor" ("TVSS") are used to describe electrical devices typically installed in power distribution panels, process control systems, communications systems, and other heavy-duty industrial systems, for the purpose of protecting against electrical surges and spikes, including those caused by lightning. Scaled-down versions of these devices are sometimes installed in residential service entrance electrical panels, to protect equipment in a household from similar hazards.


title: Surge protector

text: A transient surge protector attempts to limit the voltage supplied to an electric device by either blocking or shorting current to reduce the voltage below a safe threshold. Blocking is done by using inductors which inhibit a sudden change in current. Shorting is done by spark gaps, discharge tubes, zener-type semiconductors, and metal-oxide varistors (MOVs), all of which begin to conduct current once a certain voltage threshold is reached, or by capacitors which inhibit a sudden change in voltage. Some surge protectors use multiple elements.


title: Surge protector

text: The most common and effective way is the shorting method in which the electrical lines are temporarily shorted together (as by a spark gap) or clamped to a target voltage (as by a MOV) resulting in a large current flow. The voltage is reduced as the shorting current flows through the resistance in the power lines. The spike's energy is dissipated in the power lines (and/or the ground), or in the body of the MOV, converted to heat. Since a spike lasts only 10s of microseconds, the temperature rise is minimal. However, if the spike is large enough or long enough, like a nearby hit by lightning, there might not be enough power line or ground resistance and the MOV (or other protection element) can be destroyed and power lines melted.


title: Surge protector

text: Surge protectors for homes can be in power strips used inside, or a device outside at the power panel. Sockets in a modern house uses three wires: line, neutral and ground. Many protectors will connect to all three in pairs (line–neutral, line–ground and neutral–ground), because there are conditions, such as lightning, where both line and neutral have high voltage spikes that need to be shorted to ground.


title: Surge protector

text: Additionally, some consumer-grade protectors have ports for Ethernet and coaxial cables, and plugging them in allows the surge protector to shield them from external electrical damage.


title: Surge protector

text: A transient voltage suppressor or TVS is a general classification of electronic components that are designed to react to sudden or momentary overvoltage conditions. One such common device used for this purpose is known as the transient voltage suppression diode, a Zener diode designed to protect electronics device against overvoltages. Another design alternative applies a family of products that are known as metal-oxide varistors (MOV).


title: Surge protector

text: The characteristic of a TVS requires that it respond to overvoltages faster than other common overvoltage protection components such as varistors or gas discharge tubes. This makes TVS devices or components useful for protection against very fast and often damaging voltage spikes. These fast overvoltage spikes are present on all distribution networks and can be caused by either internal or external events, such as lightning or motor arcing.


title: Surge protector

text: Applications of transient voltage suppression diodes are used for unidirectional or bidirectional electrostatic discharge protection of transmission or data lines in electronic circuits. MOV-based TVSs are used to protect home electronics, distribution systems and may accommodate industrial level power distribution disturbances saving downtime and damage to equipment. The level of energy in a transient overvoltage can be equated to energy measured in joules or related to electric current when devices are rated for various applications. These bursts of overvoltage can be measured with specialized electronic meters that can show power disturbances of thousands of volts amplitude that last for a few microseconds or less.


title: Surge protector

text: It is possible for a MOV to overheat when exposed to overvoltage sufficient for the MOV to start conducting, but not enough to totally destroy it, or to blow a house fuse. If the overvoltage condition persists long enough to cause significant heating of the MOV, it can result in thermal damage to the device and start a fire.


title: Surge protector

text: Many power strips have basic surge protection built in; these are typically clearly labeled as such. However, in unregulated countries there are power strips labelled as "surge" or "spike" protectors that only have a capacitor or RFI circuit (or nothing) that do "not" provide true (or any) spike protection.


title: Surge protector

text: A surge arrester, surge protection device (SPD) or transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS), is used to protect equipment in power transmission and distribution systems. The energy criterion for various insulation material can be compared by impulse ratio. A surge arrester should have a low impulse ratio, so that a surge incident on the surge arrester may be bypassed to the ground instead of passing through the apparatus.


title: Surge protector

text: To protect a unit of equipment from transients occurring on an attached conductor, a surge arrester is connected to the conductor just before it enters the equipment. The surge arrester is also connected to ground and functions by routing energy from an over-voltage transient to ground if one occurs, while isolating the conductor from ground at normal operating voltages. This is usually achieved through use of a varistor, which has substantially different resistances at different voltages.


title: Surge protector

text: Surge arresters are not generally designed to protect against a direct lightning strike to a conductor, but rather against electrical transients resulting from lightning strikes occurring in the vicinity of the conductor.


title: Surge protector

text: Lightning which strikes the earth results in ground currents which can pass over buried conductors and induce a transient that propagates outward towards the ends of the conductor. The same kind of induction happens in overhead and above ground conductors which experience the passing energy of an atmospheric EMP caused by the lightning flash. Surge arresters only protect against induced transients characteristic of a lightning discharge's rapid rise-time and will not protect against electrification caused by a direct strike to the conductor. Transients similar to lightning-induced, such as from a high voltage system's fault switching, may also be safely diverted to ground; however, continuous overcurrents are not protected against by these devices. The energy in a handled transient is substantially less than that of a lightning discharge; however it is still of sufficient quantity to cause equipment damage and often requires protection.


title: Surge protector

text: Without very thick insulation, which is generally cost prohibitive, most conductors running more than minimal distances (greater than approximately 50 feet) will experience lightning-induced transients at some time during use. Because the transient is usually initiated at some point between the two ends of the conductor, most applications install a surge arrester just before the conductor lands in each piece of equipment to be protected. Each conductor must be protected, as each will have its own transient induced, and each SPD must provide a pathway to earth to safely divert the transient away from the protected component. The one notable exception where they are not installed at both ends is in high voltage distribution systems. In general, the induced voltage is not sufficient to do damage at the electric generation end of the lines; however, installation at the service entrance to a building is key to protecting downstream products that are not as robust.


title: Surge protector

text: These are some of the most prominently featured specifications which define a surge protector for AC mains, as well as for some data communications protection applications.


title: Surge protector

text: Also known as the let-through voltage, this specifies what spike voltage will cause the protective components inside a surge protector to short or clamp. A lower clamping voltage indicates better protection, but can sometimes result in a shorter life expectancy for the overall protective system. The lowest three levels of protection defined in the UL rating are 330 V, 400 V and 500 V. The standard let-through voltage for 120 V AC devices is 330 volts.


title: Surge protector

text: Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a global independent safety science company, defines how a protector may be used safely. UL 1449 became compliance mandatory in jurisdictions that adopted the NEC with the 3rd edition in September 2009 to increase safety compared to products conforming to the 2nd edition. A measured limiting voltage test, using six times higher current (and energy), defines a voltage protection rating (VPR). For a specific protector, this voltage may be higher compared to a Suppressed Voltage Ratings (SVR) in previous editions that measured let-through voltage with less current. Due to non-linear characteristics of protectors, let-through voltages defined by 2nd edition and 3rd edition testing are not comparable.


title: Surge protector

text: A protector may be larger to obtain a same let-through voltage during 3rd edition testing. Therefore, a 3rd edition or later protector should provide superior safety with increased life expectancy.


title: Surge protector

text: A protector with a higher let-through voltage, e.g.400 V vs 330 V, will pass a higher voltage to the connected device. The design of the connected device determines whether this pass-through spike will cause damage. Motors and mechanical devices are usually not affected. Some (especially older) electronic parts, like chargers, LED or CFL bulbs and computerized appliances are sensitive and can be compromised and have their life reduced.


title: Surge protector

text: The Joule rating number defines how much energy a MOV-based surge protector can theoretically absorb in a single event, without failure. Better protectors exceed ratings of 1,000 joules and 40,000 amperes. Since the actual duration of a spike is only about 10 microseconds, the actual dissipated energy is low. Any more than that and the MOV will fuse, or sometimes short and melt, hopefully blowing a fuse, disconnecting itself from the circuit.


title: Surge protector

text: The MOV (or other shorting device) requires resistance in the supply line in order to limit the voltage. For large, low resistance power lines a higher joule rated MOV is required. Inside a house, with smaller wires that have more resistance, a smaller MOV is acceptable.


title: Surge protector

text: Every time a MOV shorts, its internal structure is changed and its threshold voltage reduced slightly. After many spikes the threshold voltage can reduce enough to be near the line voltage, i.e. 120 vac or 240 vac. At this point the MOV will partially conduct and heat up and eventually fail, sometimes in a dramatic meltdown or even a fire. Most modern surge protectors have circuit breakers and temperature fuses to prevent serious consequences. Many also have an LED light to indicate if the MOVs are still functioning.


title: Surge protector

text: The joule rating is commonly quoted for comparing MOV-based surge protectors. An average surge (spike) is of short duration, lasting for nanoseconds to microseconds, and experimentally modeled surge energy can be less than 100 joules. Well-designed surge protectors consider the resistance of the lines that supply the power, the chance of lightning or other seriously energetic spike, and specify the MOVs accordingly. A little battery charger might include a MOV of only 1 watt, whereas a surge strip will have a 20 watt MOV or several of them in parallel. A house protector will have a large block-type MOV.


title: Surge protector

text: Some manufacturers commonly design higher joule-rated surge protectors by connecting multiple MOVs in parallel and this can produce a misleading rating. Since individual MOVs have slightly different voltage thresholds and non-linear responses when exposed to the same voltage curve, any given MOV might be more sensitive than others. This can cause one MOV in a group to conduct more (a phenomenon called current hogging), leading to possible overuse and eventual premature failure of that component. However the other MOVs in the group do help a little as they start to conduct as the voltage continues to rise as it does since a MOV does not have a sharp threshold. It may start to short at 270 volts but not reach full short until 450 or more volts. A second MOV might start at 290 volts and another at 320 volts so they all can help clamp the voltage, and at full current there is a series ballast effect that improves current sharing, but stating the actual joule rating as the sum of all the individual MOVs does not accurately reflect the total clamping ability. The first MOV may bear more of the burden and fail earlier. One MOV manufacturer recommends using fewer but bigger MOVs (e.g.60 mm vs 40 mm diameter) if they can fit in the device and to match them and derate them. In some cases it may take four 40 mm MOVs to be equivalent to one 60 mm MOV.


title: Surge protector

text: A further problem is that if a single inline fuse is placed in series with a group of paralleled MOVs as a disconnect safety feature, it will open and disconnect all remaining working MOVs.


title: Surge protector

text: The "effective" surge energy absorption capacity of the entire system is dependent on the MOV matching so derating by 20% or more is usually required. This limitation can be managed by using carefully "matched sets" of MOVs, matched according to manufacturer's specification.


title: Surge protector

text: According to industry testing standards, based on IEEE and ANSI assumptions, power line surges inside a building can be up to 6,000 volts and 3,000 amperes, and deliver up to 90 joules of energy, including surges from external sources not including lightning strikes.


title: Surge protector

text: The common assumptions regarding lightning specifically, based ANSI/IEEE C62.41 and UL 1449 (3rd Edition) at time of this writing, are that minimum lightning-based power line surges inside a building are typically 10,000 amperes or 10 kiloamperes (kA). This is based on 20 kA striking a power line, the imparted current then traveling equally in both directions on the power line with the resulting 10 kA traveling into the building or home. These assumptions are based on an average approximation for testing minimum standards. While 10 kA is typically good enough for minimum protection against lightning strikes it is possible for a lightning strike to impart up to 200 kA to a power line with 100 kA traveling in each direction.


title: Surge protector

text: Lightning and other high-energy transient voltage surges can be suppressed with pole mounted suppressors by the utility, or with an owner supplied whole house surge protector. A whole house product is more expensive than simple single-outlet surge protectors and often needs professional installation on the incoming electrical power feed; however, they prevent power line spikes from entering the house. Damage from direct lightning strikes via other paths must be controlled separately.


title: Surge protector

text: Surge protectors don't operate instantaneously; a slight delay exists, some few nanoseconds. With longer response time and depending on system impedance, the connected equipment may be exposed to some of the surge. However, surges typically are much slower and take around a few microseconds to reach their peak voltage, and a surge protector with a nanosecond response time would kick in fast enough to suppress the most damaging portion of the spike.


title: Surge protector

text: Thus response time under standard testing is not a useful measure of a surge protector's ability when comparing MOV devices. All MOVs have response times measured in nanoseconds, while test waveforms usually used to design and calibrate surge protectors are all based on modeled waveforms of surges measured in microseconds. As a result, MOV-based protectors have no trouble producing impressive response-time specs.


title: Surge protector

text: Slower-responding technologies (notably, GDTs) may have difficulty protecting against fast spikes. Therefore, good designs incorporating slower but otherwise useful technologies usually combine them with faster-acting components, to provide more comprehensive protection.


title: Surge protector

text: The 3rd Edition of UL Standard 1449 for SPDs was a major rewrite of previous editions, and was also accepted as an ANSI standard for the first time. A subsequent revision in 2015 included the addition of low-voltage circuits for USB charging ports and associated batteries.


title: Surge protector

text: EN 62305 and ANSI/IEEE C62.xx define what spikes a protector might be expected to divert. EN 61643-11 and 61643-21 specify both the product's performance and safety requirements. In contrast, the IEC only writes standards and does not certify any particular product as meeting those standards. IEC Standards are used by members of the CB Scheme of international agreements to test and certify products for safety compliance.


title: Surge protector

text: None of those standards guarantee that a protector will provide proper protection in a given application. Each standard defines what a protector should do or might accomplish, based on standardized tests that may or may not correlate to conditions present in a particular real-world situation. A specialized engineering analysis may be needed to provide sufficient protection, especially in situations of high lightning risk.


title: Surge protector

text: In addition, the following standards are not standards for standalone surge protectors, but are instead meant for testing surge immunity in electrical and electronic equipment as a whole. Thus, they're frequently used in the design and test of surge protection circuitry.


title: Surge protector

text: Systems used to reduce or limit high-voltage surges can include one or more of the following types of electronic components. Some surge suppression systems use multiple technologies, since each method has its strong and weak points.


title: Surge protector

text: The first six methods listed operate primarily by diverting unwanted surge energy away from the protected load, through a protective component connected in a "parallel" (or shunted) topology. The last two methods also block unwanted energy by using a protective component connected in "series" with the power feed to the protected load, and additionally may shunt the unwanted energy like the earlier systems.


title: Surge protector

text: A metal oxide varistor (MOV) consists of a bulk semiconductor material (typically sintered granular zinc oxide) that can conduct large currents when presented with a voltage above its rated voltage. MOVs typically limit voltages to about 3 to 4 times the normal circuit voltage by diverting surge current elsewhere than the protected load. MOVs may be connected in parallel to increase current capability and life expectancy, providing they are "matched sets".


title: Surge protector

text: MOVs have finite life expectancy and degrade when exposed to a few large transients, or many small transients. Every time an MOV activates its threshold voltage reduces slightly. After many spikes the threshold voltage can reduce enough to be near the protection voltage, either mains or data. At this point the MOV conducts more and more often, heats up and finally fails. In data circuits, the data channel becomes shorted and non-functional. In a power circuit, you may get a dramatic meltdown or even a fire if not protected by a fuse of some kind.


title: Surge protector

text: Modern surge strips and house protectors have circuit breakers and temperature fuses to prevent serious consequences. A thermal fuse disconnects the MOV when it gets too hot. Only the MOV is disconnected leaving the rest of the circuit working but without surge protection. Often there is an LED light to indicate if the MOVs are still functioning. Older surge strips had no thermal fuse and relied on a 10 or 15 amp circuit breaker which usually blew only after the MOVs had smoked, burned, popped, melted and permanently shorted.


title: Surge protector

text: A failing MOV is a fire risk, which is a reason for the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) UL1449 in 1986 and subsequent revisions in 1998, 2009 and 2015. NFPA's primary concern is protection from fire.


title: Surge protector

text: Therefore, all MOV-based protectors intended for long-term use should have an indicator that the protective components have failed, and this indication must be checked on a regular basis to ensure that protection is still functioning.


title: Surge protector

text: Because of their good price–performance ratio, MOVs are the most common protector component in low-cost basic AC power protectors.


title: Surge protector

text: A transient-voltage-suppression diode (TVS diode) is a type of avalanche diode which can limit voltage spikes. These components provide the fastest limiting action of protective components (theoretically in picoseconds), but have a relatively low energy-absorbing capability. Voltages can be clamped to less than twice the normal operation voltage. If current impulses remain within the device ratings, life expectancy is exceptionally long. If component ratings are exceeded, the diode may fail as a permanent short circuit; in such cases, protection may remain but normal circuit operation is terminated in the case of low-power signal lines. Due to their relatively limited current capacity, TVS diodes are often restricted to circuits with smaller current spikes. TVS diodes are also used where spikes occur significantly more often than once a year, since this component will not degrade when used within its ratings. A unique type of TVS diode (trade names Transzorb or Transil) contains reversed paired "series" avalanche diodes for bi-polar operation.


title: Surge protector

text: TVS diodes are often used in high-speed but low-power circuits, such as occur in data communications. These devices can be paired in "series" with another diode to provide low capacitance as required in communication circuits.


title: Surge protector

text: A Trisil is a type of thyristor surge protection device (TSPD), a specialized solid-state electronic device used in crowbar circuits to protect against overvoltage conditions. A SIDACtor is another thyristor type device used for similar protective purposes.


title: Surge protector

text: These thyristor-family devices can be viewed as having characteristics much like a spark gap or a GDT, but can operate much faster. They are related to TVS diodes, but can "break over" to a low clamping voltage analogous to an ionized and conducting spark gap. After triggering, the low clamping voltage allows large current surges while limiting heat dissipation in the device.


title: Surge protector

text: A gas discharge tube (GDT) is a sealed glass-enclosed device containing a special gas mixture trapped between two electrodes, which conducts electric current after becoming ionized by a high voltage spike. GDTs can conduct more current for their size than other components. Like MOVs, GDTs have a finite life expectancy, and can handle a few very large transients or a greater number of smaller transients. The typical failure mode occurs when the triggering voltage rises so high that the device becomes ineffective, although lightning surges can occasionally cause a dead short.


title: Surge protector

text: GDTs take a relatively long time to trigger (longer than a lightning strike of 60 ns to 70 ns), permitting a higher voltage spike to pass through before the GDT conducts significant current. It is not uncommon for a GDT to let through pulses of 500 V or more of 100 ns in duration. In some cases, additional protective components are necessary to prevent damage to a protected load, caused by high-speed let-through voltage which occurs before the GDT begins to operate. The triggering voltages are typically 400–600 volts for gas tubes and those that are UL Standard 497 listed typically have high surge current ratings, 5,000 to 10,000 amperes (8x20 µs).


title: Surge protector

text: GDTs create an effective short circuit when triggered, so that if any electrical energy (spike, signal, or power) is present, the GDT will short this. Once triggered, a GDT will continue conducting (called follow-on current) until all electric current sufficiently diminishes, and the gas discharge quenches. Unlike other shunt protector devices, a GDT once triggered will continue to conduct at a voltage "less than" the high voltage that initially ionized the gas; this behavior is called negative resistance. Additional auxiliary circuitry may be needed in DC (and some AC) applications to suppress follow-on current, to prevent it from destroying the GDT after the initiating spike has dissipated. Some GDTs are designed to deliberately short out to a grounded terminal when overheated, thereby triggering an external fuse or circuit breaker.


title: Surge protector

text: Many GDTs are light-sensitive, in that exposure to light lowers their triggering voltage. Therefore, GDTs should be shielded from light exposure, or opaque versions that are insensitive to light should be used.


title: Surge protector

text: The CG2 SN series of surge arrestors, formerly produced by C P Clare, are advertised as being non-radioactive, and the datasheet for that series states that some members of the CG/CG2 series (75-470V) are radioactive.


title: Surge protector

text: Due to their exceptionally low capacitance, GDTs are commonly used on high frequency lines, such as those used in telecommunications equipment. Because of their high current-handling capability, GDTs can also be used to protect power lines, but the follow-on current problem must be controlled.


title: Surge protector

text: An "overvoltage clamping" bulk semiconductor similar to an MOV, though it does not clamp as well. However, it usually has a longer life than an MOV. It is used mostly in high-energy DC circuits, like the exciter field of an alternator. It can dissipate power continuously, and it retains its clamping characteristics throughout the surge event, if properly sized.


title: Surge protector

text: A spark gap is one of the oldest protective electrical technologies still found in telephone circuits, having been developed in the nineteenth century. A carbon rod electrode is held with an insulator at a specific distance from a second electrode. The gap dimension determines the voltage at which a spark will jump between the two parts and short to ground. The typical spacing for telephone applications in North America is (0.003 inches). Carbon block suppressors are similar to gas arrestors (GDTs) but with the two electrodes exposed to the air, so their behavior is affected by the surrounding atmosphere, especially the humidity. Since their operation produces an open spark, these devices should "never" be installed where an explosive atmosphere may develop.


title: Surge protector

text: Inductors, Line Reactors, Chokes and Capacitors are used to limit fault currents and can reduce or prevent overvoltage events. In applications that limit fault currents, inductors are more commonly known as an electrical line reactors or a choke. Line reactors can prevent overvoltage trips, increase the reliability and life of solid state devices, and reduce nuisance trips.


title: Surge protector

text: Metal marshalling cabinet panels can allow surge protection device (SPD) failures to be contained remotely from digital devices and electrical controllers. Direct flashes of lightning and lightning surge on secondary systems can cause catastrophic failures of SPDs. Catastrophic failures of SPDs can release fireballs of metal fragments and clouds of conductive carbon soot. Marshalling panels keep such hazards from reaching the digital and control devices that are mounted in the remote main control panels. Marshalling cabinet panels are used for digital system panels (fire alarm, security access control, computer clean power, etc.). Wiring and cables to be protected include both the power supply and any wiring (signaling circuit, initiating device circuit, shields, etc.), which extend beyond the building by underground, overhead or other means, such as walkways, bridges, etc. In addition, it should include the wiring of devices located in high places such as attics, roof levels of parking lots, parking lights, etc. After passing through the SPDs in the marshalling cabinets the wiring can pass through conduits into other remote, nearly adjacent, cabinets that contain the input & output connections to for digital system panels (fire alarm, security access control, computer clean power, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), etc.


title: Surge protector

text: Used in RF signal transmission paths, this technology features a tuned quarter-wavelength short-circuit stub that allows it to pass a bandwidth of frequencies, but presents a short to any other signals, especially down towards DC. The passbands can be narrowband (about ±5% to ±10% bandwidth) or wideband (above ±25% to ±50% bandwidth). Quarter-wave coax surge arrestors have coaxial terminals, compatible with common coax cable connectors (especially N or 7-16 types). They provide the most rugged available protection for RF signals above ; at these frequencies they can perform much better than the gas discharge cells typically used in the universal/broadband coax surge arrestors. Quarter-wave arrestors are useful for telecommunications applications, such as Wi-Fi at 2.4 or but less useful for TV/CATV frequencies. Since a quarter-wave arrestor shorts out the line for low frequencies, it is not compatible with systems which send DC power for a LNB up the coaxial downlink.