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Author Topic: OVA - Open Versatile Anime Role-Playing Game [B]Tell me about it[/B]  (Read 2118 times)

UmaSama

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I've been looking for a system that suits my needs for a Saint Seiya campaign in which I've been working for a while now, I tought about BESM, also I though about using True 20 with modifications.
But I'm still searching for the right system, so what can you tell me about OVA?

fonkaygarry

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OVA - Open Versatile Anime Role-Playing Game [B]Tell me about it[/B]
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2007, 06:39:32 AM »
Silverlion is running a damn fine OVA campaign, admittedly one that is pretty light on the dice-rolling.

It has no-brainer chargen, a unified resolution mechanic, is rules-light (but not freeform) and generic enough to handle most anything you can toss at it.

Something as combat-heavy as Saint Seiya (especially if you want to focus on the power differences between characters) might benefit from the more substantial crunch of a BESM.  I can't say for sure, having run neither system.
teamchimp: I'm doing problem sets concerning inbreeding and effective population size.....I absolutely know this will get me the hot bitches.

My jiujitsu is no match for sharks, ninjas with uzis, and hot lava. Somehow I persist. -Fat Cat

"I do believe; help my unbelief!" -Mark 9:24

Silverlion

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OVA - Open Versatile Anime Role-Playing Game [B]Tell me about it[/B]
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2007, 07:20:03 AM »
Quote from: fonkaygarry
Silverlion is running a damn fine OVA campaign, admittedly one that is pretty light on the dice-rolling.



That will change a bit though--I don't believe in rolling dice for their own sake, there must be something at risk. (and something your trait can influence)
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C.W.Richeson

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OVA - Open Versatile Anime Role-Playing Game [B]Tell me about it[/B]
« Reply #3 on: April 28, 2007, 08:21:01 AM »
It offers me all the options I need in a compact format, definitely recommended.

Why not check out my review?  You can find it here: http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12379.phtml
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RedFox

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OVA - Open Versatile Anime Role-Playing Game [B]Tell me about it[/B]
« Reply #4 on: April 28, 2007, 12:23:55 PM »
What fonkaygarry said.  My impression is that it's very similar to BESM 1e.  The system is extremely light.  Almost RISUS-light.
 

UmaSama

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OVA - Open Versatile Anime Role-Playing Game [B]Tell me about it[/B]
« Reply #5 on: April 29, 2007, 11:02:23 PM »
Quote from: C.W.Richeson
It offers me all the options I need in a compact format, definitely recommended.

Why not check out my review?  You can find it here: http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12379.phtml


For what I see on your review it seems way too rules lite for what I have in mind, and given its similarity with BESM I think the best thing to do would be to work out on BESM and adapt it to fit my needs.
Thank you guys for the feedback.

Andy K

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OVA - Open Versatile Anime Role-Playing Game [B]Tell me about it[/B]
« Reply #6 on: April 29, 2007, 11:13:38 PM »
I own OVA (bought the PDF about two weeks ago, printed it out), but I have not had the chance to read the whole thing yet nor play it. It looks to do what I want to do with Anime (when I'm not just in the mood for running anime games with Primetime Adventures instead, which works remarkably well for anime as the TV theme caries over), but without all the baggage that BESM started to develop (and I was a big fan of BESM 1e and 2e-minus-skills).

I'm very interested in seeing reports from someone with play experience. I'm actually bringing OVA to a gaming event this coming weekend: I'm not positive it will get busted out, but if it does I will totally hook you up with a play review.

I will say: The book is gorgeous. Not just the pics, which are nice, but the layout is sharp and skillfully done. Navigation through the document is easy.

-Andy
I've worked in film, television and advertising; I know evil.  -Luke Crane

fonkaygarry

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OVA - Open Versatile Anime Role-Playing Game [B]Tell me about it[/B]
« Reply #7 on: April 29, 2007, 11:19:32 PM »
What do you want to know about the play experience?
teamchimp: I'm doing problem sets concerning inbreeding and effective population size.....I absolutely know this will get me the hot bitches.

My jiujitsu is no match for sharks, ninjas with uzis, and hot lava. Somehow I persist. -Fat Cat

"I do believe; help my unbelief!" -Mark 9:24

Andy K

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OVA - Open Versatile Anime Role-Playing Game [B]Tell me about it[/B]
« Reply #8 on: April 29, 2007, 11:47:16 PM »
Quote from: fonkaygarry
What do you want to know about the play experience?

Hmmm. Let me think:

1) Was character generation fun? Did it let you make the kind of character you wanted to?

2) In most anime, protagonists have various flaws. Were you encouraged to come up with character flaws? What did you come up with?

3) How does the flow of the game feel when resolving tasks?  How about combat?

4) What element of the game most makes it feel like it's a great, or at least fitting, game to run anime?

5) What are your favorite bits about the game?

6) What are your least favorite bits, if any? (if you'd be hard-pressed to think of some, then nevermind)

7) Edit, thought of one: Silverlion (Tim Kirk) is a buddy of mine from way back, so I'm just curious: What's cool about the game that he's running for you?  Can you drop a thing or three, stuff that happened in the game that you really liked? Note that this has nothing to do with OVA really (unless he "used OVA really well"), this is more me asking how your session went. :)

Thanks man!

-Andy
I've worked in film, television and advertising; I know evil.  -Luke Crane

fonkaygarry

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OVA - Open Versatile Anime Role-Playing Game [B]Tell me about it[/B]
« Reply #9 on: April 30, 2007, 02:40:20 AM »
Quote from: Andy K
Hmmm. Let me think:

1) Was character generation fun? Did it let you make the kind of character you wanted to?

Chargen was fast and loose.  Painless is the word that comes to mind.  My character, an overconfident teenage pastry chef, made his way from my brain to the page largely intact.

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2) In most anime, protagonists have various flaws. Were you encouraged to come up with character flaws? What did you come up with?

Character flaws are very much a part of the rules.  In this game, at least, we were forced to take a point of flaws for each point of abilities.

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3) How does the flow of the game feel when resolving tasks?  How about combat?

Task resolution is one roll (multiple d6s, though) and passes quickly.  Combat uses the same mechanic entirely and is a poor fit for tactics-heavy games (you'd be better served by something with more focus on the shooting and hitting and bleeding.)

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4) What element of the game most makes it feel like it's a great, or at least fitting, game to run anime?

The best thing about OVA is that it stays out of your way.  If you want characters to have stats in things like "staredown" or "drug addict" for a game of Oniisama Ee, or "Cosmo Dragoon" for GE 999 you can.  No headaches, no supplements, no "hay guise I wanna use the sniper duel ruleset for sex-combatives, how can I?" posts over at TBP.  You want a power, you put it on your sheet.  That's it.

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5) What are your favorite bits about the game?

See above.  I can make Harlock.  I can make Koji Kabuto.  I can make Mr. Yotsuya, Lynn Min May, Devilman, Spike Spiegel and that one dude from Gonad the Barbarian who does nothing but say "God damn!"

And I can do it in five minutes.

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6) What are your least favorite bits, if any? (if you'd be hard-pressed to think of some, then nevermind)

Combat.  To make combat nice and chewy, you need rules for combat.  You add enough rules to combat, you'll turn that deeeeeeelightful chargen system into a pointbuy clusterfuck on the level of BESM 3.

It's a trade I'll make happily.

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7) Edit, thought of one: Silverlion (Tim Kirk) is a buddy of mine from way back, so I'm just curious: What's cool about the game that he's running for you?  Can you drop a thing or three, stuff that happened in the game that you really liked? Note that this has nothing to do with OVA really (unless he "used OVA really well"), this is more me asking how your session went. :)

Sid's a bad, bad man when it comes to setting mood.  He can do goofy, he can do emotional.  That really helps when you're trying to figure out what your PC's supposed to think or how he would react to a situation.

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Thanks man!

-Andy

Tell you what, put out Tenra Bansho before I'm bouncing my grandson on my knee and we'll call it even. ;)
teamchimp: I'm doing problem sets concerning inbreeding and effective population size.....I absolutely know this will get me the hot bitches.

My jiujitsu is no match for sharks, ninjas with uzis, and hot lava. Somehow I persist. -Fat Cat

"I do believe; help my unbelief!" -Mark 9:24

Silverlion

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OVA - Open Versatile Anime Role-Playing Game [B]Tell me about it[/B]
« Reply #10 on: April 30, 2007, 12:46:04 PM »
Quote from: fonkaygarry

Sid's a bad, bad man when it comes to setting mood.  He can do goofy, he can do emotional.  That really helps when you're trying to figure out what your PC's supposed to think or how he would react to a situation.



Aaaw shucks..Garry, thanks!

As for me.


Currently I'm enjoying OVA, and it does have a bit more advantage in combat that's not come up into play yet much. (Spending Endurance for Dramatic Boosts), Refooting (Rerolling init by maneuvering), Countering (make an attack roll, highest wins--but if enemy wins your defense is 0 which is very bad) and so on are rules that will come  up--it is still simple and elegant, but not so free form as all that. (We've not had a serious need for a tactical combat yet)

It is just enough stuff to keep combat from being boring, but not so much that it gets in the way of freeflowing decisions (which I vastly prefer players to come up with cool stuff on the fly)


Tactics offered mechanically :Refooting, Countering, Attack, Defend, Multiple Attacks,Knockback/Collateral damage,Recovering,Kamikaze Strike, Mark, Submission attack, Don't Hurt me!, Protect, Run for Cover, and the Endurance  "Dramatic Miracles" effect. In addition to Gag Damage, and angry female strike!
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RedFox

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OVA - Open Versatile Anime Role-Playing Game [B]Tell me about it[/B]
« Reply #11 on: April 30, 2007, 01:33:08 PM »
Knockback/collateral damage?  My big shy ogre needs to make use of that somehow!

I just feel like I undercut him a bit, because while he's strong as hell, his fighting skill is rather low, making it hard to hit.

Obviously, I need xps!  ;)
 

fonkaygarry

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OVA - Open Versatile Anime Role-Playing Game [B]Tell me about it[/B]
« Reply #12 on: April 30, 2007, 04:37:05 PM »
Quote from: RedFox
Obviously, I need xps!  ;)

Of course, Sid throws around xps like they were manhole covers.  :D
teamchimp: I'm doing problem sets concerning inbreeding and effective population size.....I absolutely know this will get me the hot bitches.

My jiujitsu is no match for sharks, ninjas with uzis, and hot lava. Somehow I persist. -Fat Cat

"I do believe; help my unbelief!" -Mark 9:24