Hi guys, first time poster here but long time gamer. Figured I'd talk about one of my favorite RPG's of all time, Big Eyes Small Mouth.

I'm an anime fan and personally, I love BESM for its rules-light approach and adaptability. I can literally GM anything with just my BESM 1e corebook, and I've been wondering if anyone else here likes this game?

If so, what was your favorite edition? Did you like the licensed books for the system (such as Sailor Moon or New Dominion Tank Police)?

TL;DR, Big Eyes Small Mouth general discussion.

Curious fact: this forum was originally set up by cosplay fans of Sailor Moon.

Quote from: Bilharzia;867337Curious fact: this forum was originally set up by cosplay fans of Sailor Moon.

Was it? I did not know that. I just discovered this site today.

I must admit, the Sailor Moon RPG for BESM 1e is one of my favorite RPG supplements out there.

On another note, I am working on some rules conversions to BESM 1e. Most notably I am trying to create a Resident Evil campaign for BESM (based on the classic Playstation games, not those awful movies from Paul W. Anderson) as well as a rules conversion of Vampire: The Masquerade 1e to BESM 1e as well (I have been inspired by reading 1993's GURPS: Vampire The Masquerade and thought I'd do something similar but with a system I am more familiar and experienced with), and I picked 1e Vampire because it is my favorite edition of VTM, with its open and mysterious setting, before the metaplot sank it and became overbearing.

I have the core game and both Cute Fuzzy "Cockfighting" Seizure Monsters, and Big Ears - Small Mouse. Both fun games.

I found the system to be a little clunky, much like GURPS. But overall not bad.

Also have the Dominion and Tenchi books somewhere. Not quite as detailed as the Palladium Macross or TMNT books but not bad overall.

I mainly have a hard copy of the 1e corebook and a PDF of the Sailor Moon Role-Playing Game and Resource Book. That's really it for now, but that's all I need for now.

I love BESM, it's so flexible.

Unfortunately looks like White Wolf via Arthaus is trying, or has now, acquired BESM.

Quote from: Omega;867349Unfortunately looks like White Wolf via Arthaus is trying, or has now, acquired BESM.

I remember that, they quietly released the 3e corebook and then did nothing, letting it fall out of print. Hell, it wasn't even part of the licensing deal when Onyx Path was formed.

Hopefully with White Wolf's IP's under new ownership, there is now a slim yet possible chance that BESM can get revived, relicensed to Onyx Path, or otherwise re-released.

Speaking of White Wolf IP's, I am currently working on a rules conversion of Vampire: The Masquerade to BESM 1e as I said before.

Mind if I post my conversion notes and ideas here or should I make a separate thread?

WW/AH's track record for fucking up their acquired IPs does not instill any confidence or hope. Especially if they carry over the staff.

As I mentioned in the artwork thread. One of my players loved BESM. But hated Okums art in it. We were at a hobby shop last year and there on the shelf was Draw Super Manga!: by Okum. The look on the players face was priceless.



Though have to agree. How do you botch drawing TinTin???



Also approximates the look on said players face. :rotfl:

True, that's why I said it's a slim chance. From what I heard, the reason why Onyx Path did not get to license or purchase BESM was due to complicated legal issues stemming from the messy and complicated downfall of Guardians of the Order. I don't know if that is true and I hope it's not, because I would love to see BESM make a comeback one day.

Oh well, at least I have my copy of BESM 1e's corebook to keep me happy.

BESM 3rd edition came out under the Arthaus imprint in 2007.  It's kind of an odd duck with a roll over rather than a roll under system like the other versions have.  

The system is serviceable if a little clunky.  The Silver Age Sentinels version looks like an improvement but I haven't had a chance to actually use it in play to be sure.  I would probably use that version if I were running Tri-stat DX.  It's made for superheroes but most of the difference between that and shonen anime or magical girl anime are tropes and conventions.  It uses 2D10 which allows for a greater range of power levels.

The generic version, Tri-stat DX, is available free on Drivethru RPG.

Quote from: yosemitemike;867355BESM 3rd edition came out under the Arthaus imprint in 2007.  It's kind of an odd duck with a roll over rather than a roll under system like the other versions have.  

The system is serviceable if a little clunky.  The Silver Age Sentinels version looks like an improvement but I haven't had a chance to actually use it in play to be sure.  I would probably use that version if I were running Tri-stat DX.  It's made for superheroes but most of the difference between that and shonen anime or magical girl anime are tropes and conventions.  It uses 2D10 which allows for a greater range of power levels.

I am familiar with BESM 3e, I think I have it on PDF but I am unsure. I prefer 1e though. I will check out Silver Age Sentinels though, it sounds good.

But for the sake of familiarity, I will stick to classic 90s BESM 1e for my campaigns and my rules conversions. After I finish converting and playtesting BESM Vampire: The Masquerade, I may convert Werewolf: The Apocalypse and Mage: The Ascension to BESM as well.

Quote from: Doc Sammy;867356But for the sake of familiarity, I will stick to classic 90s BESM 1e for my campaigns and my rules conversions. After I finish converting and playtesting BESM Vampire: The Masquerade, I may convert Werewolf: The Apocalypse and Mage: The Ascension to BESM as well.

You may want to look at Cold Hands, Dark Hearts--it's got a very WoDesque vibe to it, although I only have a passing familiarity with WoD.

I have BESM 2E, several supplements, and 3E, and occasionally think about going back to it and using it for something.

Quote from: Armchair Gamer;867363You may want to look at Cold Hands, Dark Hearts--it's got a very WoDesque vibe to it, although I only have a passing familiarity with WoD.

I have BESM 2E, several supplements, and 3E, and occasionally think about going back to it and using it for something.

I've looked into it, and while it is a good book, it's not what I am seeking. I want a straight-up remake of 1e Masquerade, but with some very minor tweaks to the fluff and the system of BESM 1e.

Quote from: Doc Sammy;867333Hi guys, first time poster here but long time gamer. Figured I'd talk about one of my favorite RPG's of all time, Big Eyes Small Mouth.

I'm an anime fan and personally, I love BESM for its rules-light approach and adaptability. I can literally GM anything with just my BESM 1e corebook, and I've been wondering if anyone else here likes this game?

If so, what was your favorite edition? Did you like the licensed books for the system (such as Sailor Moon or New Dominion Tank Police)?

TL;DR, Big Eyes Small Mouth general discussion.

well im a fan of besmd20 my self its the core inspiration for the system im cooking on

I thought BESM D20 had potential but that the actual implementation was a hot mess.  It seemed very slap dash and slapped together.

Quote from: Doc Sammy;867356But for the sake of familiarity, I will stick to classic 90s BESM 1e for my campaigns and my rules conversions. After I finish converting and playtesting BESM Vampire: The Masquerade, I may convert Werewolf: The Apocalypse and Mage: The Ascension to BESM as well.

If you like that roll under style system, BESM Revised Second Edition is the best iteration imo.  The core of the game is the same but it has a lot of tweaks to make the system run better and a lot of character options.  New copies are absurdly priced since it has been OOP for so long but you can get a PDF copy for a fairly reasonable price.

Quote from: Armchair Gamer;867363You may want to look at Cold Hands, Dark Hearts--it's got a very WoDesque vibe to it, although I only have a passing familiarity with WoD.

Kind of but not really.  It has a much more stylized, Romantic feel than WoD typically does.  It's much more slanted to stuff like Vampire Princess Miyu, Blood+, Shingetsutan Tsukihime  or even semi sci-fi stuff like Strike the Blood or Dance in the Vampire Bund.