The Fantasy Trip

It's happening again...

That bizarre flood of ideas that occurs in my brain when a series of vaguely related elements collide and combine to create something new.

In this case, an RPG recommendation from blog friend Jonathan Linneman, a commemt from the ever-inspiring Tim Knight, and a Fantasy TRPG from Japan that I came across have collided together with thoughts that have been rolling around in my head and the result might just be my next big RPG project and campaign.

Let's start with Fie, I Say!, the Comedy-Fantasy-Parody RPG recommended to me by Jonathan. Essentially built upon a version of West End Games' D6 System seen in the original, officially licensed Ghostbusters RPG, it diverges in a few ways that had me thinking, 'hmm, maybe it shouldn't have?'. Don't get me wrong, I think Fie! is pretty great. It sets out to be a humorous take on the classic quasi-Medieval Magic games of yore and it absolutely works [and well].

I'm just thinking that a couple of the small changes they made to Player Characters might have worked even better as they were in Ghostbusters or even Ghostbusters International, the 2nd Edition of the game that coincided with the release of Ghostbusters II. I concede that this is merely my personal opinion and the game doesn't suffer in any way from the changes. It's more a matter of my own preferences.

The thing is, what Jonathan noted that really got me excited about Fie! was when he wrote, "...and your experience tweaking GB to the style of you and your group may prove to have similar success here". Indeed! The Ghostbusters variant of the D6 system has proven quite adaptable and easy to kitbash with other similar systems and you know how I love to kitbash! 

Which brings me to a discussion Tim Knight and I had in the comments of my post about the Anime/Manga/JRPG-inspired Fantasy game BREAK!!. We observed the heavy crunch in many Fantasy games designed to emulate Japan-Does-Western-Fantasy on from both sides of the Ocean. BREAK!! is fun but in my view a little too complicated for what you gain. The latest edition of Japan's seminal Sword World RPG is even crunchier. While I've not been certain about what I want in a Fantasy TRPG, I know I don't want that. Definitely leaning in the opposite direction these days.

From there we slide seamlessly towards my recent deep dive into a bunch of Japanese TRPGs that are much more in the vein of what I have in mind. Most notably 'We Met in a Dungeon...',  a Dice Fiction system TRPG that while focused on the interpersonal relationships between the PCs, is nonetheless a functioning Fantasy Adventure game at the same time. 

What I like about it is the way it handles Classes or 'Jobs' as they are referred to in the rulebook. Each is built more like a Star Wars D6 Template and comes with a Special Skill, a near-magical Talent, a Weapon or key piece of Equipment, Armor and [in some cases] a Shield.

The player then customizes the character with additional general skills available to everyone and whatever extra gear they wish to buy. It's simple, fast, and makes each character feel a little different without having to reinvent the wheel for every Job.

Another part I like [a lot] is that each player chooses a Motivation for their character to explain why they are delving into the dungeon. It might be for Treasure and Wealth but it could just as well be Fame, Glory, Discovery/Exploration Revenge, or any of several other driving forces.

While it doesn't have a direct mechanical effect, it indirectly influences the characters' attitudes towards each other and that is the real crux of the game. Matching or closely aligned goals keep the party together, while conflicting goals can threaten to tear it apart. 

All of these thoughts and more ideas are brewing in the cauldron of my brain and the concoction is starting to bubble nicely. I think I may have something soon...

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Barking Alien

Hey, before you go...

I'm still looking for questions for next month's 31 Questions for Barking Alien. Please through some queries my way! What's my favorite food to eat while gaming? How did my experience with Solo RPGs turn out? What's a genre I don't care for that I'd still love to run as a campaign? 

Don't make me do all the work! Ask away!

Thanks in advance!

BREAK!! On Through To The Other Side

Ten Years In The Making...

Is WAAAY Too Long!

But still...

 

For a long while now, nearly as long as I've had this blog, I've been aware of and interested in an RPG project called BREAK!! 

Well, it turns out a Kickstarter for the release of the BREAK!! rulebook is starting very soon and I'd be VERY surprised if this didn't get funded and freakin' quick! 

Created by author Reynaldo Madriñan and artist 'Grey Wizard', BREAK!! is a Tabletop RPG inspired by Japanese Anime and Video Games that seems to have been in development for a least a decade. It uses multiple die type (Booo!) but mostly D20 and D12.

Characters are essentially defined by a Calling, an archetype not unlike a Template or Class in other RPGs but broader as I understand it. Each Calling gives the PC a framework or outline structure while also providing a wide array of options that enable the player to customize their characters. In addition, PCs have a Species, a Trait, a Quirk, Equipment, and all the things you'd expect to see in a 'Classic' or 'Old School' RPG. 

For the GM there is a ton of setting material, from locations and monsters, to magic and technology, and many other things with which to create adventures and campaigns. In addition, and most interesting to me, are guidelines you can use to create stuff all your own. Tools for adding my own components? I do love that. Remember that this is a game with Anime/Manga/Computer Games inspirations. In addition to Goblins, Wizards, and trap filled Dungeons, you'll also see Mecha, adorable Witches with Rocket-Powered Brooms, and bizarre terrain frozen in Day Time, Night Time, The Past, or The Future. 

This is a game I've been extremely curious about for, as noted above, an especially long time. I've checked back regularly, watched the YouTube videos on Character and Adversary Creation, and signed up for the mailing list. That last part is how I found out about the Kickstarter Pre-Launch and I have to admit, I was surprised. 

After so many years of following the project with no completion in sight, the idea that BREAK!! might actually come out wasn't something I consciously considered. The website was fun to check in with, the art is awesome and inspiring, but the thought, 'I can't wait until I can buy this!' hadn't seriously occurred to me since waaay before the height of the Pandemic. I viewed the game as something akin to actively developing vaporware. 

Now it might actual come out and I'm both excited and more than a little nervous. I don't need a Fantasy RPG but I do like the aesthetic and Anime/Video Game elements. I don't like Multiple Die Type systems (why do games I am initially excited about keep using all the dice?! So rude!) but I think I could mine the ideas in this for other systems, making it a fantastic resource.

All that aside, I want to see this! I really do. I just want to see what a decade of work on a single product can achieve. Having worked on pet projects of my own for decades, I know how difficult it can be to finally say you're done.

I am amazed not only by the effort and talent showcased here but seriously inspired by whomever said..."OK, it's finished."

I will be supporting this and I will keep you posted on how things go.

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Barking Alien