BESM 2nd Edition Table of Contents Big Eyes Small Mouth Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Character Creation 1 Step 1: GM Discussion 1 Step 2: Character Outline 2 Step 3: Assign Stats 2 Step 4: Character Attributes 3 Step 5: Character Defects 8 Step 6: Skill System 12 Step 7: Derived Values 16 Step 8: Background Points 16 Special Attributes 17 Mecha Only Attributes 41 Combat and Game Mechanics 44 Expanded Combat Rules 47 Campaigning in Anime Universes 49 Skill Chart Weapon Chart Big Eyes Small Mouth Second Edition RPG By: Guardians of Order Scanned by: The Apocalyptic Muse OCR Edition What is Anime? the 1990's, the growing popularity of amine allowed companies to release longer TV series (notably Ranma I/1, one of the first Anime is the accepted term for animation from Japan. It has successful non-mecha series in America) direct to video. In 1995, the garnered much more respect in its native country than North "impossible" happened when the magical girl show, Sailor Moon, American cartoons have in Canada and the United States. One reason began appearing on North American television, the first shojo (young for the popularity of anime is its diverse subject matter, ranging from girl) amine to do so. Its success has added a new generation of young fantasy and science fiction to romantic comedy and horror. While female (and male) fans. North American cartoons tend to be written for younger audiences The end of the decade and the start of the new century is (with a few exceptions), anime includes many shows aimed explicitly seeing an explosion in amine with TV series being translated and at teenagers older viewers, and this in turn permits more sophisticated released on video within months of their appearance in Japan, and story lines and a wider array of genres. amine returning to mainstream American television. Over the last few Another factor in the appeal of anime is the ongoing years, shows such as Dragonball Z, Gundam Wing, Tenchi Muyo!, mufti-episode story arcs that are a common feature of many Card Captor Sakura, Digimon, Monster Rancher, Escaflowne, and live-action TV dramas. A show can tell a complete story with a Pokemon have begun broadcasting on television. It's a good time to beginning, middle, and end rather than simply present a series of be an amine fan! disconnected episodes that lurch onward until cancellation. Science fiction and fantasy fare very well in anime. Freed Chapter 1: Character Creation from the budgetary constraints posed by the high cost of live-action special effects, coupled with a willingness to tackle ideas that appeal STEP 1: GM Discussion to older viewers, many shows bring fantastic visions to vivid life. You and the other players should discuss the nature of the Alien invasions, world-shaking sorcery, transforming robots, upcoming game with the GM. Before the characters are created, the super-powered heroes, demonic asters, obsessively-detailed military GM should outline such details as genre, setting, campaign duration, hardware, and realistic depictions of life in space are all trt of anime. story boundaries, and expected time commitment. A variety of game Characters in these shows are often larger than life: angst-ridden, genres are discussed in Chapter 6: Role-Playing in an Anime World. utterly less, burning for revenge, or hopelessly in love. As a player, you should listen closely to the GM's descriptions since it The first anime series produced in Japan was Tetsuwan will impact directly on the character you wish to create. It is certainly Atom (1963), created by Osamu tka and his animation studio, Mushi not useful if you decide to create a computer hacker character should Productions. Later, this series became popular in the t as Astro Boy, the GM set the game in late Seventh Century Japan. From the 1980's through the 1990's, anime has improved in both Ask for clarification of any rule modifications the GM plans tistication and quality, with series like Space Battleship Yamato to use as well as any background restrictions on your character. If you (1975, space opera), Urusei sera (1981, alien girlfriend comedy), have any game preferences involving issues 1Ilch as combat intensity, Mobile Suit Gundam (1979, military drama), Macross 33, science maturity level, or drama versus comedy ratio, let the GM know about fiction soap opera), Sailor Moon (1992, magical girl drama) and (hem. Help the GM create the game that you all want to play. Ranma 1/2 4, martial arts comedy) exemplifying particular genres. A One of the most important things that the Game Master major breakthrough came in the r 1980's, when direct-to-video (OAV should discuss with his or her players is the Character Point total. Original Animation Video) anime releases caught allowing Character Points are a measure of the relative power and capability of production studios to produce shows aimed at smaller niche audiences characters. The GM decides how many Character Points will be or older ,ors in a much greater diversity of genres. The legacy of this available to each player. He or she will usually assign the same "OAV boom" (and the rise of iality cable TV) was a renaissance in number of Character Points to each player for the creation of their original television anime in the late 1990'x, of which most influential character while the NPCs may be given widely varying Character series was the mecha-conspiracy saga, Neon Genesis Evangelion Point totals depending on their role in the game. The number of (1996). Character Points the GM assigns will depend on the game's intended In North America, relatively few anime-derived series were power level. The GM may run a low-powered game (15, 20, or 25 translated and adapted for television in the 1970's and 1980's. Most of points), an average-powered game (30 or 35 points), a high-powered those that did appear were heavily altered, often .g those Japanese game (40 or 45 points), a very high-powered game (50 or 55 points) elements (such as a continuing story arc) that made them interesting or an extremely high-powered game (60 or more points). in the place. Notable exceptions were Star Blazers (1979, the U.S. version of Space Battleship tto) and Robotech (1985, a compilation of The GM tells Elizabeth (one of his players) that he plans to run a Macross and two other anime shows), whose tations left their story mini-campaign once a week during the month of August. The game arcs largely intact. The fandom that developed around these shows will be a space Opera set in an inner-stellar empire in the year 2500. ustained by various comics, books, and fan activities and helped fuel The empire spans many worlds, but some of its culture and fashions the first anime-inspired robot board games and RPGs. In 1986 and are strangely reminiscent of medieval Japan. Elizabeth Lets the GM 1987 the first American anintr magazines ared. More and more know that she would prefer a swashbuckling adventure with an Westerners became active in the distribution of Japanese language or opportunity, for politics and courtly romance. Based on Elizabeth's ubtitled tapes, as fans became aware of the "OAV boom" taking plact, and his other players' preferences, the GM decides to center the in Japan, Successful c book translations of high quality' Japanese campaign on the adventures of the Imperial Bodyguard, an elite unit manga (such as Akira, Lone Wolf and Cub, icaa and Appleseed) and of giant robot and fighter pilots who protect the throne and. perform the theatrical release of the Akira motion picture captured new fans. special missions for the Emperor. It will he a high-powered game - In the Into 19H0'A, a number of American wnynutlrn began the characters will be built with 40 Character Points. rrlraain K quality subtitled and duhhrc) trnnplatlwtp of amine releases, including some of the best of the then-new science IIrtIwi OAV Aeries like ( iunhuster (19HH) and Bubblegttm Crisis (1988). In STEP 2: Character Outline such as cars, motorcycles, or rock stars, making them sound suitably A character outline is a broad concept that provides you exotic without being totally unfamiliar. Unless your campaign is a with a frame on which the character is built. It is not fully detailed; comedy, however, try to avoid a silly name since it may ruin the there is no need for you to concern yourself with the character's suspension of disbelief for the other players. specific skills, powers, or background details at this stage. Use Step 3: Assign Stats established game boundaries from your discussion with the GM as the Stats (or Statistics) are numerical assignments that reflect starting point for your character and build your outline on that your character’s base abilities. Higher Stat values indicate an foundation. Discuss your character ideas with the GM to ensure your advanced level of accomplishment or achievement. Big Eyes, Small character will work with those of the other players and with the Mouth is part of the Tri-Stat System, game line and uses three stats to overall themes and focus of .e campaign. Here are some issues to represent your character's abilities: Body, Mind, and Soul. consider. Body Stat Is the Character human? This Star measures the physical aspects of your character. There are settings where everyone will be a human being, This includes overall health, strength, endurance, quickness, rate of such as a modern day "cars and guns" game or one set in the historical healing, manual dexterity, and ability to withstand trauma.