I acquired this book recently and I'm loving it. It is, unfortunately, animé, and it is, of course, over-the-top. However, I love how freeform and customizable it is. Has anyone here played it/does anyone have suggestions on running a game?
I've done a couple one shots with the game...
Unless other players a VERY familiar with the system...I suggest you use template charcter types.
Other than that...it's very simple. Get creative with you desrciptors and you'll have a good time :D
Before Silver Age Sentinels came out, we used BESM 2nd edition to run a low powered supers game. The system is very generic and flexible. For a quick supers or pulp game, I'd use it. For a campaign or regular game...I might look elsewhere....
Quote from: B.T.I acquired this book recently and I'm loving it. It is, unfortunately, animé...
That's an odd criticism to make of BESM, considering that's what it tries to be. :)
Quote from: RezendevousThat's an odd criticism to make of BESM, considering that's what it tries to be. :)
Exactly my point.
Quote from: RezendevousThat's an odd criticism to make of BESM, considering that's what it tries to be. :)
Odder still, because the "anime" aspect lies only in the published art and intended campaign genre, but never really translated into actual rules. The Tri-Stat rules, in all forms as far as I could tell, were always just generic "lite" mechanics with varying degrees of top-heavy crunch tied on.
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaOdder still, because the "anime" aspect lies only in the published art and intended campaign genre, but never really translated into actual rules. The Tri-Stat rules, in all forms as far as I could tell, were always just generic "lite" mechanics with varying degrees of top-heavy crunch tied on.
True, very true.
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaOdder still, because the "anime" aspect lies only in the published art and intended campaign genre, but never really translated into actual rules. The Tri-Stat rules, in all forms as far as I could tell, were always just generic "lite" mechanics with varying degrees of top-heavy crunch tied on.
Note that several (obviously delusional) individuals did/would contend this.
So the anime spin they put on it actually worked, at least for a while.
Quote from: Consonant DudeSo the anime spin they put on it actually worked, at least for a while.
To the game's credit, at least in its first edition, the rules of
BESM were so simple that they really did lend themselves pretty well to the sort of fast, loose, character-interaction-heavy business that goes on in so much anime and manga. In a sense, it was sort of like
Toon -- a loose framework of rules that set the scene more than really dictating the action.
Ultimately, though,
BESM never really got around to the whole business of genre emulation. The artwork got you in the mood, but the rules didn't make the game "anime".
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaThe Tri-Stat rules, in all forms as far as I could tell, were always just generic "lite" mechanics with varying degrees of top-heavy crunch tied on.
There is a small amount of anime in the mechanics (haven't read 3e yet). Many of attributes/flaws were anime inspired. The breakdown of body/mind/spirit works well for most anime. The special powers and their costs have a slight anime slant - for example jumping and flying are relatively cheap.
But yea, 90% of the mechanics is fairly generic.
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaOdder still, because the "anime" aspect lies only in the published art and intended campaign genre, but never really translated into actual rules. The Tri-Stat rules, in all forms as far as I could tell, were always just generic "lite" mechanics with varying degrees of top-heavy crunch tied on.
!i!
There is little game balance at all. One can easily create a character capable of destroying...well, a lot. I considered that to be a mark of animu.
Fair enough. Like I stated in one of my later posts, though, BESM is a lot like Toon -- rather like a wide open field that allows anime-styled play, instead of specific rules that actively facilitate it. That's not necessarily a bad thing, and, in fact, I think this is rather a virtue as far as your tastes are concerned, because there's very, very little "anime" that you need to excise from it.
With regard to concerns over "game balance", this really boils down to a gentleman's agreement among players in most cases, anyway. Outline the expected scale of action and mayhem, and most players will cooperate. Perhaps this finally qualifies as helpful advice from me on the topic of BESM. :)
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaFair enough. Like I stated in one of my later posts, though, BESM is a lot like Toon -- rather like a wide open field that allows anime-styled play, instead of specific rules that actively facilitate it. That's not necessarily a bad thing, and, in fact, I think this is rather a virtue as far as your tastes are concerned, because there's very, very little "anime" that you need to excise from it.
With regard to concerns over "game balance", this really boils down to a gentleman's agreement among players in most cases, anyway. Outline the expected scale of action and mayhem, and most players will cooperate. Perhaps this finally qualifies as helpful advice from me on the topic of BESM. :)
!i!
Yes, that's what I'm doing. I basically said, "BESM is broken, but don't try to break it too badly."
(Plus, I can break it right back.)
Anyway, I'm more interested in cool characters than game balance (something that I think D&D should focus on). I'm outrightly not allowing one or two things--for instance, the companion thing, where you can get 30 of them fairly easily.