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Author Topic: Righteous Blood Ruthless Blades  (Read 2733 times)

RPGPundit

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Righteous Blood Ruthless Blades
« on: October 17, 2022, 05:56:41 AM »

I review Righteous Blood Ruthless Blades: Wuxia Roleplaying RPG. Is the book's approach to setting enough to make up for its very non-OSR system?
#ttrpg

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Rhymer88

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Re: Righteous Blood Ruthless Blades
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2022, 06:23:11 AM »
Nice review and I will have to compare these rules to the other wuxia-themed rpgs I already have.
Btw, few wuxia movies/series are produced in Hong Kong nowadays. They mostly come from the PRC. In the video you also talk briefly about wuxia in a more modern setting. A recent example of that is the series Lost in the Kunlun Mountains, which has a Min Guo (Republic of China, primarily 1920s/1930s) setting:

 

Bedrockbrendan

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Re: Righteous Blood Ruthless Blades
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2022, 12:35:35 PM »
Thanks for the review Pundit. I'd say that accurately sets expectations for the game (in terms of content and system).

Bedrockbrendan

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Re: Righteous Blood Ruthless Blades
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2022, 12:46:18 PM »
Nice review and I will have to compare these rules to the other wuxia-themed rpgs I already have.
Btw, few wuxia movies/series are produced in Hong Kong nowadays. They mostly come from the PRC. In the video you also talk briefly about wuxia in a more modern setting. A recent example of that is the series Lost in the Kunlun Mountains, which has a Min Guo (Republic of China, primarily 1920s/1930s) setting:


I haven't seen this one yet but it is on my list.

Hope you like RBRB. I am one of the co-writers/designers for RBRB. The movie we were thinking most of for modern was something like Wu Xia with Donnie Yen (sometimes this one is named Dragon). I'd say most of the movies we take inspiration from are Hong Kong era (though there are a number of key ones from after the change over like Reign of Assassins, The Swordsman, and the Four among others). Largely we were inspired by classic Shaw Bothers and 90s Hong Kong wuxia like Bride with White Hair

Rhymer88

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Re: Righteous Blood Ruthless Blades
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2022, 01:37:27 PM »

I haven't seen this one yet but it is on my list.

Hope you like RBRB. I am one of the co-writers/designers for RBRB. The movie we were thinking most of for modern was something like Wu Xia with Donnie Yen (sometimes this one is named Dragon). I'd say most of the movies we take inspiration from are Hong Kong era (though there are a number of key ones from after the change over like Reign of Assassins, The Swordsman, and the Four among others). Largely we were inspired by classic Shaw Bothers and 90s Hong Kong wuxia like Bride with White Hair

Thanks for your reply. I own Strange Tales of Songling and Wandering Heroes of Ogre Gate, so I look forward to seeing how they differ from RBRB. Your co-author, Jeremy Bai, certainly knows his stuff, given how he has also translated wuxia/xianxia novels into English. I've also read his book Understanding Chinese Fantasy Genres because the "cultivation" concept can require some getting used to from a Western perspective. With regard to Min Guo China, it makes a great setting for Pulp-era adventures. 

Bedrockbrendan

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Re: Righteous Blood Ruthless Blades
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2022, 02:20:44 PM »

I haven't seen this one yet but it is on my list.

Hope you like RBRB. I am one of the co-writers/designers for RBRB. The movie we were thinking most of for modern was something like Wu Xia with Donnie Yen (sometimes this one is named Dragon). I'd say most of the movies we take inspiration from are Hong Kong era (though there are a number of key ones from after the change over like Reign of Assassins, The Swordsman, and the Four among others). Largely we were inspired by classic Shaw Bothers and 90s Hong Kong wuxia like Bride with White Hair


Thanks for your reply. I own Strange Tales of Songling and Wandering Heroes of Ogre Gate, so I look forward to seeing how they differ from RBRB. Your co-author, Jeremy Bai, certainly knows his stuff, given how he has also translated wuxia/xianxia novels into English. I've also read his book Understanding Chinese Fantasy Genres because the "cultivation" concept can require some getting used to from a Western perspective. With regard to Min Guo China, it makes a great setting for Pulp-era adventures.

Thanks. RBRB exists somewhere between Strange Tales and WHOG, but it also brings in some new approaches because while we developed it from that core system, and from a working premise of doing Ogre Gate kung fu techniques but in an easier to manage way, we also wanted to build something from that as a foundation (so there are elements like the Occupations, Alcohol rules, etc). One of the major ways it differs is how initiative works. There is a talking and analysis phase at the start of combat, which is meant to capture the tension you see in wuxia movies before anyone makes an attack (especially in Gu Long because he an approach that is a bit like a samurai movie or western in many of his fight sequences). That gives you a time to assess your foe, psych them out, or just say something before the fight begins. In my experience, that is the thing that makes it feel most different from Ogre Gate. That and the number of martial arts abilities you have are substantially lower (and counters are extremely low compared to Ogre Gate).

In terms of setting, like Pundit pointed out in his video, it's set in China, whereas Ogre Gate and Strange Tales are set in fantasy analogs.

Jeremy definitely knows his stuff. And it was great collaborating with him because his knowledge of the language, culture and his experience translating (plus he lived in China for a number of years). He and I connected over a shared interest in Gu Long's Heroes Shed No Tears (a story he translated into English) and the movie adaptation by Chor Yuen. And he was in some of those very early Wandering Heroes of Ogre Gate campaigns. Actually 2/3 of my Friday game group are people I connected with because they were fans of his translation of I Shall Seal the Heavens (and the other person in my group is a fan of the translation as well but someone I've gamed with before either of us found out about Wuxia World). They came on as playtesters when I was working on the House of Paper Shadows adventure, and we hit it off well.


RPGPundit

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Re: Righteous Blood Ruthless Blades
« Reply #6 on: October 19, 2022, 09:11:14 AM »
Damn! I forgot to talk about the Talking Phase, it's one of the things that really stands out as Genre Emulation. It's so typical to see that before the fight starts in any Wuxia action scene.
LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you've played 'medieval fantasy' until you play L&D.


My Blog:  http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/
The most famous uruguayan gaming blog on the planet!

NEW!
Check out my short OSR supplements series; The RPGPundit Presents!


Dark Albion: The Rose War! The OSR fantasy setting of the history that inspired Shakespeare and Martin alike.
Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.

Bedrockbrendan

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Re: Righteous Blood Ruthless Blades
« Reply #7 on: October 19, 2022, 12:22:06 PM »
Damn! I forgot to talk about the Talking Phase, it's one of the things that really stands out as Genre Emulation. It's so typical to see that before the fight starts in any Wuxia action scene.

Thanks! It was one of the more fun mechanics to play around with in the game