Metagaming released Melee in 1977 as Microgame #3. It was designed to be a simple, fast-playing man-to-man combat boardgame. The game came with a small empty hex map, a counter sheet of men, monsters, and weapons (for any weapons dropped in combat) and a 17-page rulebook.
Every figure had a strength and dexterity attribute. Strength governed how much damage a figure could take and the size of weapons which could be used; heavier ones increased the damage one inflicted in combat, while dexterity determined how likely one was to hit one's opponent. Armor could be worn, which would reduce the amount of damage taken in combat while lowering one's dexterity.
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