Transmedia’s Implications of the use of RPG and Wargame as tools to support Vast Narratives of Medieval Fantasy
Leonardo A. de Andrade Professor in the Department of Arts and Communication (DAC) - UFSCar and game designer. Currently finishing his doctorate in stereoscopy at USP - São Carlos E-mail: [email protected] Tiago E. dos Santos Substitute Professor in the DAC - UFSCar and animator. Graduated in Design by UNESP - Bauru. E-mail: [email protected]
Diogo Augusto Gonçalves Graduate student in Image and Sound, UFSCar. E-mail: [email protected]
Layla Stassun Antonio Graduate student in Social Science, UFSCar. E-mail: [email protected]
Revista GEMInIS ano 2 - n. 2 | p. 135 - 166 Resumo
Surgidos na década de 1970, o Wargame Chainmail e o primeiro RPG compartilharam o gênero da fan- tasia medieval para explorar narrativas interativas. Neste artigo são analisadas as principais vastas narrativas do gênero fantástico medieval envolvendo RPG e Wargame e as implicações transmidiáticas das adaptações. Alguns sistemas de regras têm suas mecânicas de jogo discutidas, trazendo base para a experiência do uso do RPG como ferramenta de apoio criativo e de coesão de narrativa no cenário Terras de Shiang. Utilizando regras de RPG e de Wargame, o artigo mostra o processo criativo e as im- plicações transmidiáticas da experiência analisada.
Palavras-Chave: D&D, Narrativa Vasta, Terras de Shiang, ReOPS, RPG, Wargame.
Abstract
Emerging in the 1970s, the Wargame Chainmail and the first RPG shared the medieval fantasy genre to explore interactive narratives. In this article, we’ll analyze the main vast narratives of the medieval fantasy genre involving RPG and Wargames and its transmedia’s implications. Some systems of rules have their game mechanics discussed, building the basis for the experience of using the RPG as a tool for creative support and cohesion of narrative in the scenario Shiang’s Lands. Using rules of both, RPG and Wargame, this article exposes the creative process and the transmedia’s implications of the expe- rience analyzed.
Keywords: D&D, Shiang’s Lands, ReOPS, RPG, Vaste Narrative, Wargame. 1 Introduction
n the early 1970s in the U.S.A. were created the first Wargames and RPGs (Role Playing Games) of medieval fantasy. The first 1960’s Wargames would use Ihistorical references to simulate combat, but that changed with the release of the Wargame “Chainmail” which used a mythology based on medieval fantasy created by Tolkien in his trilogy “The Lord of the Rings” (Tolkien, 1954). There would be the use of mythical beings and races adapted to a game engine, miniatures, board and scenario to simulate combat in a fictional world. Three years after the creation of “Chainmail”, in 1974 is released the first RPG using the same fictional elements, but this latest would individualize the characters. With the rules of RPG you could define, through a system of rules, each of the characters who were previously treated as sets. “Dungeons and Dragons” (or simply D&D as it is known) and “Chainmail” were created by Gary Gygax in two partnerships (with Jeff Perren in “Chainmail” and Dave Arneson in D&D) and published by TSR. It opened up possibilities for exploring fictional realities through games (Gygax & Parreno, 1973) (Gygax & Arneson, 1975). Figure 1 shows the cover of the Wargame “Chainmail”.
Figure 1 - Cover of the rulebook of the Wargame “Chainmail”. Transmedia’s Implications of the use of RPG and Wargame as tools ... • Leonardo A. de Andrade - Tiago E. dos Santos - Diogo Augusto
138 Gonçalves - Layla Stassun Antonio : The third category deals with the fictional games in which participants in participants with the fictional which games deals : The third category In this category the games are associated with a frantic search for a search for with a frantic are associated the games In thiscategory : In this category, even if equality among competitors is requested, it it is requested, competitors if equality among even : In this category, : In this category randomness and chance appear. It’s in the game that manin that the game It’s chance and appear. randomness In: this category Agôn According to the anthropological perspective of Roger Callois (Callois, 1958), 1958), (Callois, Callois Roger of perspective the anthropological to According Mimicry Alea Ilinx: When we analyze “Chainmail” and D&D under this classification, we have the have analyze “Chainmail” and D&D under this classification, we When we four categories can be listed for classification of games: of classification can for listed be categories four escape the circumstances and the domain of man’s ability to predictability. to ability the man’s circumstances of escape theand domain the game, despite the players having received attention in training can attention expertise, and received having the players despite the game, of what is not logical or systematic in the eyes of man. The set of all substances of of all man. The of set substances of in the eyes systematic or logical is not what of which could even result in the victory. result even could which improbability; and contingency random, with the reality of has the deal opportunity to already known. As in chess, each move can promote or permit a temporary imbalance, imbalance, a temporary permit or can promote move in As each known. chess, already opponent. In the possibility of operating his cleverness, the player can go to a situation a situation to can go the player his cleverness, operating of In the possibility opponent. promoted by the rules can be exemplified by statements and observations by the by observations and statements by the rules by can exemplified be promoted exist in games, a competitor or team will always end up benefited. These imbalances These imbalances benefited. up end will team or always competitor a inexist games, strength and skills, endurance and cleverness, or by the rules and conventions that that the rules by conventions and or cleverness, and strength skills, endurance and cannot be fully met. Either by the characteristics of individual competitors, as muscle as muscle competitors, individual of the characteristics by cannot Either fully be met. playing a role, or at least of going through a character. through going of least at or a role, playing reality different than the one they already own. The mimicry explores the pleasure of of the pleasure The mimicry own. than explores reality different already they the one take upon themselves the role of certain characters. It’s a way of appropriating another another appropriating of a way It’s certainof characters. the role themselves take upon mimicry, alea and agon. Figure 2 shows the cover of the rulebook of D&D. of the rulebook of mimicry, alea and agon. Figure 2 shows the cover and other narrative situations, makes this a game related more equitably between situations, makes this a game related more equitably between and other narrative varied number of sides (four, six, eight, ten, twelve and twenty sides) to resolve combat sides) to resolve and twenty of sides (four, six, eight, number ten, twelve varied (marked on the character sheet) and the use of these parameters with dices that have a that have with dices these parameters of the use sheet) and the character on (marked in which the rules define specific parameters textual and numeric to a single character numeric textual and parameters define specific the rules in which to agon (strategic) and alea, and less to mimicry. On the other hand, D&D is a game to mimicry. On the other hand, D&D to agon (strategic) and alea, and less with basic units of twenty men, with six-sided dice (d6), relating this game strongly with basic units of twenty first game focused on strategic thinking, in which the rules are used to simulate combat first game focused implies a stunning psychic. and implies both organic maximum of ecstasy. The Ilinx covers the different varieties of an exaltation which which an of exaltation varieties the different The Ilinx covers ecstasy. maximum of situation that puts the body into exhaustion reaching momentary frenzy, but also a but frenzy, reaching momentary exhaustion into the body puts that situation Figure 2 - Cover of the rulebook of D&D RPG, the first American edition (A) 139 and the Brazilian version, the classic “black box”, RPG released by Grow (B). R evista G E M I n IS | | ano 2 - - 2 n . 2 .
A B
The game D&D introduced two new concepts, the first being his introduction of the notion of Dungeon Master (or DM) which acts as judge and narrator and is responsible for maintaining the fictional scenario of the game, applying the rules at each situation as described. The second new concept is the one of evolution of the character. After the players embark on an imaginary adventure in which they face monsters, gather treasure, interact and gain experience points, those are used to evolve the character, making it more powerful as the game progresses within a campaign. A ‘campaign’ is a series of adventures or scenarios, usually using the same characters and players, and using the same system of rules (Masters, 1994). Uniquely, this game proved to be an activity that unites the narrative and the playful in an intrinsic way. D&D opened the doors for a genre in which it was possible to explore different realities, historical or fictional. In the years following the launch of D&D (1975) many RPGs with different historic and fictional thematics began to emerge, like “En Garde!”, set in 18th century France (Hanny & Chadwick, 1975), “Boot Hill” set in the old American West (Gygax & Blume, 1975) and “Empire of the Petal Throne” set in a complex fictional world (Barker, 1975). Currently there are over one thousand titles of RPG (Andrade & Godoy, 2004). However, since its release, D&D dominated the American industry of RPG. In 1977, the game was divided into two versions: The simplest, called “Dungeons & Dragons”, and the more complex one, “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons”, abbreviated as AD&D (Gygax, 1979). The 1980s and 1990s brought to the market a large number of RPGs and D&D and AD&D began to share the public more equitably. Figure 3 shows the cover of the AD&D second edition (Cook, 1989). In 1999, TSR was sold to the company Wizards of Transmedia’s Implications of the use of RPG and Wargame as tools ... • Leonardo A. de Andrade - Tiago E. dos Santos - Diogo Augusto
140 Gonçalves - Layla Stassun Antonio - Cover of the second edition of AD&D. of the edition of second - Cover - Cover of the RPG D&D 3.5. the of D&D RPG Figure 4 - Cover Figure 3 with explored be to made were worlds fantasy medieval creation, its Since In 2000, the simpler version was discontinued and the complex version was was version the and complex discontinued was version the simpler In 2000, One example of this is the “Forgotten Realms” scenario, initially created in literary in literary initially created scenario, Realms” this of is the “Forgotten One example the scenario in other media such as literature, comics and games in a unique way. in way. unique a games and comics asliterature, such thein media scenario other the rules of D&D, some of which explored the transmedia, that is, the exploration of of the exploration is, that the transmedia, explored which of some the D&D, rules of Figure 4 shows the cover of D&D 3.5. D&D of the cover 4 shows Figure closely related to the agon (strategic) and mimicry, reducing the relationship with alea. with alea. the relationship reducing mimicry, and (strategic) the agon to related closely characters, which may vary in race and class. The developments made the game more more the game made The developments class. and vary in race may which characters, its game engines (to the D&D 3.5), allowing a better balance between different types different between of balance a better allowing 3.5), the D&D engines (to game its 4th Edition (the current one, launched in 2008), the D&D has evolved in three decades in three decades has evolved the D&D in 2008), launched current one, (the Edition 4th Dragons v3.5”, version known as D&D 3.5 (Cook et al, 2003). With the exception of the of the exception With 2003). al, et (Cook 3.5 known as D&D version v3.5”, Dragons renamed “Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition”. In July 2003 is released “Dungeons & “Dungeons is released 2003 In July Edition”. 3rd Dragons & “Dungeons renamed the Coast, which reissued in the following year the first of all RPGs to a new version. a new the all to first of RPGs year in the following reissued which the Coast, form for children in the late 1960s by Ed Greenwood. In the 1980s, the author wrote 141 several articles for a magazine specialized in RPG1, which culminated in the creation R of an RPG book in 1987 (Greenwood & Grubb, 1987). The RPG has opened space for evista
transmedia exploration of novels, comics and adaptations to computer RPGs (which G E include titles such as “Eye of the Beholder” series, “Baldur’s Gate” and “Neverwinter M I n Nights”) creating a vast narrative of this scenario. In the 1980s a highly successful IS | |
adaptation for animation, Dungeons & Dragons, leads a group of youths of our world ano to a classical world of medieval fantasy. - 2 n
The relationship of the medieval fantasy RPGs with Wargames had a new 2 . binding in the early 2000s. Concurrent with the release of 3rd Edition D&D, “Chainmail” Wargame was relaunched. Taking advantage of some rules of D&D 3.5, the new miniatures game hit the market still tied to some rules of the traditional miniatures games, such as using measuring tape to mark the distance (current games use maps with determined areas - as squares or hexagons - which facilitates the application of the rules). Despite some innovations, such as the use of rules of engagement for smaller groups, “Chainmail” was not a hit, but opened the market for this genre of game. The release of D&D 3.5 innovated the use of miniatures in order to mark the placement of characters on the map. Due to the wide public acceptance a Wargame called “D&D Miniatures” was released. Their battles are made of character against character, where each has a miniature to be placed on the board, an illustrated card, containing the game data in one of its sides and the information about the RPG on the back. Through this new system, there was the possibility of direct integration between the Wargame and RPG. The experience of using RPG and Wargame for transmedia products has been explored in the scenario “Shiang’s Lands”, a fantasy world, where there are no human and the predominant races evolved from apes, tigers and lizards. The technological evolution is close to the medieval times and the elements of the scenario are closer to the Eastern cultures (with emphasis on Japanese and Chinese). The world of “Shiang’s Lands” was created in 1993 using the AD&D system (second edition) and was adapted to a system of general rules, called “OPERA RPG”2 at the time. The rule system has evolved along with the scenery, being published in 2004 in its 6th version (Andrade & Godoy, 2004). Nowadays the system is in its 8th version, and was relaunched with the name “ReOPS”3 (Andrade & Godoy, 2010). Currently a vast campaign is running on “Shiang’s Lands” scenario with the
1 "Dragon Magazine", published by TSR, from 1976 to 2007. 2 It is said that a generic system is one that can be adapted to any type of scenario, historical or fictional. 3
142 Gonçalves - Layla Stassun Antonio - Cover of the box of “Empire of the Petal Throne”. the of Petal “Empire of the of box Figure 5 - Cover The world of Tékumel brought a level of detail and quality to their campaign their quality campaign and to detail of a level brought Tékumel of Theworld Contemporary to D&D, a medieval fantasy world that did not use Tolkien’s use Tolkien’s not did that world fantasy a medieval D&D, to Contemporary the company and continued publishing the RPG until the present day, including: day, the until RPG the publishing present continued and the company combat tactics inherited from Wargame. Because of support issues in TSR, Barker left left Barker in TSR, issues support of Because Wargame. from inherited tactics combat which was unknown at the commencement of the RPG industry, with less emphasis on on emphasis with less the industry, RPG of unknown the commencement was which at world. Figure 5 shows the cover of the basic box of this of RPG. box the basic of the cover 5 shows Figure world. the world’s largest continent and due to its complexity, can be compared to Tolkien’s Tolkien’s to can compared be complexity, its to due and continent largest the world’s 1950s with grammar guides and dictionaries (Barker, 1950). This language is spoken in This is spoken language 1950). (Barker, dictionaries with grammar and guides 1950s of languages like Urdu, Pushtu and Mayan, the Tsolyáni language was created in the created was language the Tsolyáni Mayan, and Pushtu like Urdu, languages of world of this RPG, the fictional Tékumel, was created in the 1940s. Through the study the Through study in the 1940s. created was this the of fictional Tékumel, RPG, world 1975) and it was created by a university professor and linguist M. A. R. Barker. The Barker. linguist R. and A. M. professor university a by created was it and 1975) important historical role. The RPG was called “Empire of the Petal Throne” (Barker, (Barker, Throne” the Petal of called “Empire was The RPG role. historical important elements was released, and although it never achieved the success of D&D, it hasan it D&D, of the success achieved never it although and released, was elements Medieval Fantasy’s RPGs and Vast Narratives RPGs and Vast Fantasy’s 2 Medieval implications on the fourth topic and finally, the conclusions on theon fifth topic. the conclusions finally, and the on fourth topic implications third topic; the creation using the RPG scenario “Shiang’s Lands” and its transmedia’s transmedia’s its and Lands” “Shiang’s the scenario using RPG the creation third topic; vast narratives in the second topic; the game mechanics of RPG and Wargame in the Wargame and RPG mechanics the of game topic; in the second narratives vast transmedia creation within the scenario will be addressed, discussing the creation of of discussing within the creation the creation willtransmedia scenario addressed, be in the RPG campaign and history of the world itself. Through this experience, the this Through experience, itself. the world of history and in the campaign RPG an epic battle, runned by the rules of the Wargame, which its results directly intervened directly intervened results its which runned the the rules Wargame, by of battle, an epic help of RPG in the construction and cohesion of the narrative, including the triggering of of the triggering including the narrative, of in RPG the cohesion and of construction help - “Swords & Glory”, published in 1983/4 in two volumes; 143 - “Gardasival: Adventures in Tékumel”, published in 1994; R
- “Tékumel: Empire of the Petal Throne”, published in 2004. evista
In terms of scenery, Tékumel has much greater detail than other worlds of G E
D&D. Barker detailed gods, religions, rituals, government, clothing, customs, habits, M I n and more importantly, the languages were established for each nation on the planet. IS | |
And these elements did not come from a Westernized medieval world. Barker took ano his experiences with India and Asia to create an extremely unprecedented culture - 2 n and totally different from what the roleplayers are used to, as they are familiar with 2 . medieval fantasy-influenced Tolkien. “Empire of the Petal Throne” is a game in which the system and settings work together to produce a world where the characters are tied to the power structure - religiously and politically - and the decisions of these powers serve as background to the campaigns. Unlike most D&D scenarios, where players faced monsters, in Tékumel they face Tsemels (warrior-cardinal), leading a holy war against heretics neighbors. Following the publication of the first RPG set in Tékumel, Barker went on to coordinate RPG campaigns with Game Masters spread all over the North American continent, and this made it possible that his fictional universe could expand in a unique way. From 1984 onward, novels setted in Tékumel were published, expanding its vast narrative - in total there were five, the last being in 2004. In this scenario, the role of mimicry has been highlighted in relation to agon and alea, a trend that was followed in later decades by some RPG scenarios. In the 1970s the publisher Chaosium was founded and it was responsible from them on for titles that prized the narrative more deeply into the possibilities of representation. Creating a system of simple rules based on percentages4, the production of RPGs from Chaosium drew attention to the wealth of detail present in the narratives and descriptions of their titles. Figure 6 shows the cover of the manual of “Basic Role-Playing”.
4 Generic system of rules called "Basic Role Playing", originally published by Chaosium in 1980 and reissued in 1981, 2002 and 2008. Transmedia’s Implications of the use of RPG and Wargame as tools ... • Leonardo A. de Andrade - Tiago E. dos Santos - Diogo Augusto
144 Gonçalves - Layla Stassun Antonio and this is used as the basis for many many this and for asis theused basis 5 - Cover of “Basic Role-Playing”. “Basic of Figure 6 - Cover - Cover of the of “RuneQuest”Figure RPG. 7 - Cover In his first title, the RPG “RuneQuest” (Perrin & Stanfford, 1978) is inset 1978) Stanfford, & (Perrin the “RuneQuest” In RPG his first title, influenced by the work of Joseph Campbell Joseph of thework by influenced comics, Wargames, RPGs, video games, novels and so on. The universe is greatly isgreatly The universe on. so and novels games, video RPGs, Wargames, comics, mythology, theology, among others. It houses narratives in different media such as such media in different narratives houses It others. among theology, mythology, the mythical world of Glorantha. An extremely rich fantasy setting rich fantasy contains which An extremely Glorantha. of the world mythical 5 There are a great numberbooks of Josephby Campbell,scholar a mythic of Hisbestnarratology. known work is entitled "The Hero with a Thousand In and this was published it Faces" in work, the (Campbell, 1992). 1950s Campbell defines a basic narrative journey', structure the 'hero's present in stories. most epic market (Maranca, 2001). Figure 7 shows the cover of the “RuneQuest” RPG. the “RuneQuest” of the cover 7 shows Figure 2001). (Maranca, market the RPG “RuneQuest” is historically considered the second most played RPG of the of RPG played most the second considered is historically the “RuneQuest” RPG several tools that contribute to an unique experience for players. Due to all those media, all to those media, Due players. for an experience to unique contribute that tools several provided to the RPG “RuneQuest” an extremely immersive environment, bringing environment, immersive an “RuneQuest” extremely the RPG to provided myths. Because of this universe, whose expansion happens in various media, Glorantha Glorantha media, in various happens expansion whose this of universe, Because myths. The “Stormbringer” RPG (Andre & Perrin, 1981) is set in a medieval scenario 145 of dark fantasy created by Michael Moorcock, in the series of novels about Elric of R Melnilboné. This RPG, created around the albino former emperor Elric of Melnilboné, evista
has several mediatics bifurcations, ranging from comic books, movies, music and novels. G E
In transmedia universe, the RPG does not work as a tool of narrative construction, M I n but as a complement to the scenery created. Immersion in this narrative is guided in IS | |
the use of all media content. The basis for this story is rooted in the character of RPG ano
Elric of Melnilboné, former emperor of a civilization, which has the ability to summon - 2 n supernatural beings and has the sword Stormbringer, which gives name to the RPG. 2 . The sword gives strength and health, however it must be powered by souls. Campaigns can rely on the stories of doom that the protagonist brought to their civilization with the use of his sword, or even in the rich fantasy scenario whose influence comes from Bertolt Brecht to the mythology of Tolkien, among other great names. Figure 8 shows the cover of “Stormbringer” RPG.
Figure 8 - Cover of RPG “Stormbringer”.
In the RPG “King Arthur Pendragon”, also known as Pendragon (Stanfford, 1985) the setting is medieval historic fantasy with a small fantastic intervention (where there is the use of magic - but more discreetly than in other scenarios alike). This game’s main motto are stories experienced in the context of King Arthur, based on the result of over ten years of study of that period, providing a narrative construction that uses of tragic aspects, conflicts and some cooperativism of the historical period in which it passes. The thematic also suggests fantastic facts rooted in myths or issues related to religion, paganism, etc. As the narrative is contextualized in legends as the Holy Grail, or other various myths of the Dark Ages, it opens a very extensive range of external references that can be used to enhance the campaign. Despite the fact that the Pendragon Transmedia’s Implications of the use of RPG and Wargame as tools ... • Leonardo A. de Andrade - Tiago E. dos Santos - Diogo Augusto
146 Gonçalves - Layla Stassun Antonio - Cover of the of Pendragon. RPG Figure 9 - Cover The mathematization of reality through a game mechanic gives narrative narrative mechanic gives reality a game through of The mathematization Looking at the examples, we note that narrative of RPG differs from traditional traditional from differs RPG of narrative that note we the examples, at Looking leads to models that allow a simulation within the reality of the scenario, which can within which the the scenario, reality of a simulation allow that models to leads the scenario, even in fantastic worlds, such as the settings of D&D. The mathematization The mathematization as the such settings D&D. of worlds, in fantastic even the scenario, cohesion to the RPG and enables the equating of characters and situations presents in presents situations and characters of the equating enables the and RPG to cohesion 3.1 RPG3.1 3 Game Mechanics presented in topic. the next presented realistic and less fantastic scenario. An analysis of some rules systems of RPG will RPG of be rules systems some of An analysis scenario. fantastic less and realistic D&D scenarios that excel fantasy over realism. In the Pendragon RPG, we have a more more a have we RPG, In therealism. Pendragon over fantasy excel that scenarios D&D direct implications on the choice of the game mechanics. There are several examples of of examples are several There mechanics. the game of the on choice direct implications being able to accommodate multiple protagonists. The variability of characters has characters of The variability protagonists. multiple accommodate to able being make your story move forward. RPG campaigns are built without a main character, a main character, without are built campaigns RPG forward. move story your make narrative of literature and film because they provide a single focus of characters to to characters focusof a single film and provide they because literature of narrative cover of this of RPG. cover of a world full of idealism, tragedy and legends about immortality. Figure 9 shows the 9 shows Figure immortality. about legends and tragedy full idealism, of a world of an immersive experience very interesting, providing education through these through conflicts education providing interesting, very experience an immersive heir, bringing a singular continuity to the campaign. Pendragon is a RPG that features features that is a RPG Pendragon bringing the a singular campaign. to continuity heir, years and there is the question of the character’s death causing the player to assume his assume to the player causing death the character’s of is there the and question years relatively common conflicts over the period, for example, the campaigns can lasts for can the for campaigns lasts example, for the period, conflicts over common relatively game system (Harrigan & Wardrip-Fruin, 2009). The narrative becomes concise through through concise becomes The narrative 2009). Wardrip-Fruin, & (Harrigan system game in which players follow a campaign referring to events of the time, enriched by the enriched by thetime, of events to referring a campaign follow in players which RPG does not have a vast media extension, the RPG has served as a means of research, research, asof means a has the served RPG extension, media vast a have not does RPG be explored with characters permitted by the game mechanics. To understand its 147 importance we will see the evolution of the rules from the first edition of D&D to its R third edition, and also discuss the system of rules of other RPGs such as the “Basic evista
Role-Playing” and “ReOPS”, whose cover is shown in Figure 10. G E M I n
Figure 10 - Cover of “ReOPS”. IS | | ano 2 - - 2 n . 2 .
In its first edition, D&D utilizes mainly stereotypes and archetypes to create characters, even though all of them, the main as well as the supporting cast, share certain parameters such as: • Attributes:
In DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, six skills are used to define a character: Strength, Intelligence, Wisdom, Dexterity, Constitution and Charisma. Strength defines physical power. Intelligence measures the speed of learning and reasoning. Wisdom indicates the level of common sense of the character. Dexterity is speed and agility. Constitution refers to the health of character and Charisma determines how much a character can be handsome and friendly, in the opinion of others. The skill points are determined by throwing 3d6, so they vary between 3 and 18. The higher the points, the better the character in that skill. For example, a character with Strength 3 is extremely weak, while another that has Strength 18 is very strong. (GYGAX, 1979, p. 4).
• Hit Points: they define how much damage the character can take before passing out or dying. • Alignment: in D&D, there are three alignments: Lawful, Chaotic and Neutral. Every character or monster behaves according to one of these alignments. Each class (as are called the archetypes in D&D) has its own specifications and choosing a pre-determined class, the player chooses therefore these singularities. Transmedia’s Implications of the use of RPG and Wargame as tools ... • Leonardo A. de Andrade - Tiago E. dos Santos - Diogo Augusto
148 Gonçalves - Layla Stassun Antonio The system of attributes and skills was simplified and improved, there was the was there improved, and simplified skills and was attributes of The system The changes in the rules were not limited only to details, but also affected the but details, to only limited The not changes in the rules were With the advent of the third edition, AD&D went back to being called D&D. called D&D. being to back went AD&D the third of edition, the advent With The emergence of AD&D brings a separation in the archetypes. In this a separation brings edition, AD&D of The emergence The alignment of D&D became a trend and was expanded. In AD&D the moral the moral In AD&D expanded. was and a trend became D&D The alignment of The main changes of AD&D with respect to the first edition of D&D was the was D&D of the first to with edition respect The main AD&D of changes Some years after the launch of the first edition came its development, “Advanced “Advanced development, its came the first of edition after the launch years Some The first system of rules of D&D is simple, and it was the basis not only for the for only not the basis was it and is simple, D&D rules of of The first system Each class has a table of progression, its own evolution, powers (as the spell (as powers evolution, own its progression, of class has a table Each In this first edition of D&D we have eight main archetypes for player characters: characters: main archetypes player eight for have we In D&D this of first edition introduction of the half-orc as a race. There aren’t any more subdivisions in character in character subdivisions more any aren’t There as a race. the half-orc of introduction became open causing many generic AD&D systems to disappear. to systems AD&D generic many causing open became structure. The great advantage of the new version is a game system called “D20” that that called “D20” system is a game version the new of advantage structure. The great and improvements compared to their older versions. their older to compared improvements and This new version comes with a different and current guise, bringing many differences current and guise, differences bringing with a different many comes This version new two or more classes, which increased the possibilities of archetypes. of the increased possibilities which classes, more or two Priest (which subdivided into Druid and Cleric). In addition to being able to combine combine to able being to In addition Cleric). and Druid into subdivided (which Priest into Mage and Specialist), Rogue (which is subdivided into Thief and Bard) and the and Thief Bard) and into is subdivided (which Rogue Specialist), and Mage into (which is subdivided into Fighter, Ranger and Paladin), Wizards (which is subdivided is subdivided (which Wizards Paladin), and Ranger Fighter, into is subdivided (which halfling, half-elf and gnome. While the character classes are subdivided into: Warrior Warrior into: halfling, While classes are subdivided the character gnome. and half-elf the possibilities of characters. The races presented in the AD&D are: human, elf, dwarf, dwarf, elf, human, are: in the AD&D presented The races characters. of the possibilities the class does not define the race of the character, it is chosen separately, thus increasing increasing thus is separately, chosen it the character, of the define race not the classdoes Evil, Neutral, Lawful and Chaotic. and Lawful Neutral, Evil, orientation of the character is built through the combination of the concepts: Good, Good, theconcepts: of the through combination isbuilt thecharacter of orientation depth of gameplay and the launch of various supplements. various of the and launch gameplay of depth fantasy scenarios. scenarios. fantasy and resources, development of more creatures, more spells and the creation of entire of the and spells creation more creatures, more of development resources, and ambiance content in relation to classic fantasy such as: further description of the classes of further as: such description fantasy classic to in relation content ambiance became thicker, enabling the development of various supplements with plenty of of with plenty supplements various of the development enabling thicker, became were designed to meet the need for a game more entertaining. Its game mechanics game Its entertaining. more a game the for need meet to designed were Dungeons & Dragons” or AD&D. With a more complex system and more rules that more and system complex more a With AD&D. or Dragons” & Dungeons evolution of its own mechanics as for the evolution of the whole RPG in RPG general. the whole of the evolution mechanics own as for its of evolution points that are set by the roll of a dice. of the roll are by set that points for Mages, divine powers to the Clerics) and specific skills. Besides the number of hit hit of the number specific and skills. Besides the Clerics) to divine powers Mages, for includes not only the skills and abilities as well as the character’s race. as the character’s as well the skills only abilities and not includes Warrior, Cleric, Mage, Thief, Dwarf, Elf and Halfling. The separation of these classes of Halfling. Elf and The separation Dwarf, Thief, Mage, Cleric, Warrior, classes, different from the second edition (AD&D), these classes over the course of their 149 levels acquire special skills that make them unique, whereas before the differences R are summarized in just a few skills, at the points of life and in other small details. The evista
classes of the third edition of D&D are: Fighter, Bard, Barbarian, Monk, Wizard, Druid, G E
Sorcerer, Rogue, Ranger, Paladin and Cleric. There was the creation of some prestige M I n classes that are archetypes that the characters can get in the game after some experience IS | |
in order to make the character more unique. The evolution of the skill system, better ano description of the items and weapons, among other improvements. - 2 n
It seems natural that the third edition of D&D would be an evolution of its 2 . predecessors, however there were many RPG systems that failed to improve their game mechanics, so they came to losing players and its market share (Rosson, 2011). “Dungeons & Dragons” until version 3.5, is a good example in terms of evolution of the system. Another important rule system that allows us to explore the world of medieval fantasy system is the “Basic Role-Playing”. It was developed from a set of attributes similar to “Dungeons & Dragons”. It uses the following attributes: Size, Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Power and Appearance (or Charisma). The hit points are dependent on the average size and the constitution of each character becoming partly static and not following the evolution of the character as in other systems. It was then possible to develop a system especially designed for simulation. An important point of their differentiation in relation to other mechanisms is that the system of “Basic Role-Playing” is based on percentage, so it uses a dice of one hundred faces (or two ten-sided dices) instead of a dice set each, with a number of different faces (dices of: four, six, eight, ten, twelve and twenty faces) as used in D&D. This system simplifies the gameplay, but without reducing its effectiveness for most cases of simulation. The percentage is generally used for both skills and character development simulating the path travelled to fully develop a skill, creating a learning curve. The combat system is differentiated because it allows a number of defenses. In D&D the defenses were generally equal and did not directly dependent on the decision of the player. In “Basic Role-Playing” defenses and attacks were more strongly linked to interpretive and narratives decisions and less fixed in the game mechanics. Another important element of “Basic Role-Playing” rules is the fact that there are no different rules for character and skills creation of heroes, supporting characters, monsters or enemies. By varying the values of the skills, the same system is used for both the hero and the villain. This system quickly encouraged players to create a wide Transmedia’s Implications of the use of RPG and Wargame as tools ... • Leonardo A. de Andrade - Tiago E. dos Santos - Diogo Augusto
150 Gonçalves - Layla Stassun Antonio - : “O Mais Longo dos Dias”, Dias”, dos MaisLongo : “O 6 Some of the scenarios adapted to “ReOPS” are “ReOPS” to theadapted scenarios of Some Thus, one can provide from a realistic approach to the heroic, through several several through the heroic, to approach a realistic from can one provide Thus, This system uses mainly a triadic separation (Physical and Mental, and in and Mental, and (Physical separation uses mainlyThis a triadic system The “ReOPS” is an example of a generic rule system that allows basically any any basically allows that rule system a generic of is an example The “ReOPS” The different systems have their particular rules and simulate the reality of the the reality of their particular rules simulate and have systems Thedifferent When battles involving a large number of characters are necessary for the for necessary are characters When battles involving a large number of rules. cenários". loads/ intermediate steps, all to ensure that the style of play is “absorbed” by the system of of the system by is “absorbed” play of all ensure the that to style steps, intermediate 6 The scenarios mentionedand many otherscan in be the obtained section in "down
Figure 11. G E M I n
Figure 11 - Cover of the rulebook of Wargame “D&D Miniatures”. IS | | ano 2 - - 2 n . 2 .
The Wargames generally make use of a board (the field where the battle will unfold), miniatures that represent the fighters and rules for regulating combat. Figure 12 shows a character sheet and a miniature of the game “D&D Miniatures”.
Figure 12 - Character sheet (A) and miniature from the Wargame “D&D Miniatures” (B).
A B
The first medieval fantasy Wargame is “Chainmail” and it brings several innovations such as: Each miniature represents a number of fighters, rather than just one Transmedia’s Implications of the use of RPG and Wargame as tools ... • Leonardo A. de Andrade - Tiago E. dos Santos - Diogo Augusto
152 Gonçalves - Layla Stassun Antonio The scenario began as an island present in a classic medieval fantasy world, world, fantasy medieval in a classic present as anThe began scenario island The scenario “Shiang’s Lands” began to be developed as part of a RPG world, but but world, a RPG as part of developed be to began Lands” The “Shiang’s scenario The correct use of the game mechanics is essential for the success or disaster of of disaster or the success mechanics the is essential for game useThe of correct In this context the “Jogo de Miniaturas Terras de Shiang” is born, which relies relies Shiang” which is born, de Miniaturas Terras de the “Jogo In thiscontext Concurrent with the launch of D&D 3.5 was released the “D&D Miniatures” the “D&D released was 3.5 D&D of with the launch Concurrent respectively), yet insulated from contact with other races present in the world. Among Among in the world. present races with other contact from insulated yet respectively), inhabited by races of apes and tireses (humanoids evolved from monkeys and tigers, tigers, and monkeys from evolved tireses and (humanoids apes of races by inhabited initiated in 1994 to the present day. the present to in 1994 initiated it was detached of it (earning its own literary history) and has evolved into campaigns, campaigns, into has and evolved history) literary own its (earning it of detached was it 4.1 RPG and and Creating using Literary Narrative Transmedia Exploration in “Shiang’s Lands” in Exploration “Shiang’s 4 Transmedia will bring the security to create almost any scenario imagined. will scenario any almost the bring security create to and balance to the narrative and should not interfere with its progression. A right choice choice A right progression. with its interfere not should and the narrative to balance and a vast narrative that uses its rules as a support, since such system should bring cohesion cohesion bring should system such since rules as a support, uses its that narrative a vast orientation of the miniature the of six directions. of any can that facing be orientation something that the square does not meet. Each face of the hexagon best represents the represents best the hexagon of face Each meet. not the does something that square it enables effects like explosions and spells to propagate in an almost round wave, wave, in an round almost propagate to spells and effects like explosions enables it its system privileges strategy. The use of the hexagon is an advantage itself, because because itself, is an advantage the The hexagon use of strategy. privileges system its dice instead of one with twenty faces (used in “D&D Miniatures”) and also because also and because Miniatures”) in “D&D (used faces with twenty one of instead dice Its randomness is less than their counterparts, first due to the use of two six-sided six-sided two the use to of than first due is less their counterparts, randomness Its game was designed so that its gameplay were simple, fast and easy to understand. understand. to easy and fast simple, were gameplay its that so designed was game on the “ReOPS” system of rules for its construction. In its conception, the miniatures conception, In its construction. its rules for of system theon “ReOPS” also contributed to the popularization of Wargame directly. Wargame of the popularization to also contributed addition to contributing in setting up their new game mechanics, the “D&D Miniatures” the mechanics, “D&D in game setting their new contributing to up addition characteristics, making a direct connection between the D&D RPG and Wargame. In Wargame. and RPG making a direct thecharacteristics, connection between D&D the individualization of each miniature including the use of sheets to describe their describe to miniature sheets theuse each of of including the individualization movement that later the use of the hexagon will contemplate. It is the first to apply is the apply first to It will contemplate. the the hexagon use of later that movement creating problems, since the square has four sides and doesn’t meet the freedom of of the freedom meet doesn’t and sides the has four square since problems, creating instead of the measuring tape to calculate distances, optimizing the playing time, but but time, optimizing distances, the playing calculate to the tape measuring of instead Wargame with a great improvement compared to its predecessors. It uses squares usessquares It predecessors. its to compared improvement great witha Wargame having a balanced randomness, but with some problems in its gameplay. in its problems with some but randomness, a balanced having has been vitally important as the basis for the evolution of medieval fantasy Wargames, Wargames, fantasy medieval of the evolution for as the basis important has been vitally the units and the six-faced dice to ensure randomness. As a precursor, “Chainmail” a precursor, As ensure randomness. to dice the units theand six-faced (twenty fighters in general), a measuring tape is used to calculate the distance between the between distance calculate to is used tape measuring a in general), fighters (twenty the possible classes in its first version of 1993 that used the AD&D system, there were 153 tireses characters: Sacred Weapon warriors, Traveling Mages-warriors and rogues. And R for apes characters, the possible classes were Warrior, Archer and Monk of the Elements. evista
In particular, the island attracted a lot of attention from the creator that he G E decided to separate it from the rest of the world and extend it into a continent giving it M I n a new history. In 1994, the “OPERA RPG” system began to be develop and nowadays it IS | |
is used to ambience games narrated in the scenario “Shiang’s Lands”. This new world ano was defined by having a slightly lower gravity than Earth, bathed by a red sun with no - 2 n seasons. A world where the plants can reach dozens of meters and also the insects and 2 . arachnids can grow to gigantic proportions. Giant lizards and very strong mammals coexist in this hostile world, causing the humanoids to team together to increase their chances of survival. The literary history of “Shiang’s Lands” has been developed since 4000 years before the ground zero7, passing by the Great War that involved people of all races inhabiting the great continent, and advanced to about 700 years later, when the vast majority of tireses and about half apes were living in cities and under a general government. Other races were added to the scenario, as the lantros (humanoid lizard people that has more advanced technology than the apes and the tireses) and the banques (humanoid amphibian people). The lantros got into conflict around the year 70 with the tireses that inhabited the plains and the apes that lived in the forest. The conflict happened because of the lantros’s expansionist policies of territories. After several defeats by weapons, spells and tactics, apes and tireses decided to unite against the common enemy. The Great War was unleashed for more than a decade with many twists involving magic. Finally, desperate lantro magicians made a big mistake using magic, which brought a powerful and evil being to Shiang’s Lands. The dragon D’rask ends up doing a deal with the lantros, but he was killed by the hands of apes and tireses. His death happened in the terrestrial dimension, but the spirit of the resentful creature began to inhabit a dimension, in which indirectly had contact with the terrestrial dimension. After the defeat of D’rask, the lantros were cornered, and it is believed that another magic error took the lantros away from the earth dimension. After the war, the apes started to live in fortresses and the tireses, cities. While the apes performed trades on an exchange basis, the tireses began to use metal as currency. Around the year 400, a commercial guild dominated the guilds of other cities
7 As the calendar of the current scenario was created by the tireses, the ground zero is the construction of a gigantic bridge made of wood, an architectural work that brought together two villages previously separate by a large river, which led to the foundation of the tirese city of the Middle. Transmedia’s Implications of the use of RPG and Wargame as tools ... • Leonardo A. de Andrade - Tiago E. dos Santos - Diogo Augusto
154 Gonçalves - Layla Stassun Antonio The literary narrative of “Shiang’s Lands” was completed in 1995, when the when in 1995, completed was Lands” “Shiang’s of narrative The literary At this point the literary history of the scenario ends. The next 200 years of of years 200 The next the ends. scenario of history this the literary At point The tireses started to worship the storms after a long period of drought and the and drought of period after a long the storms The tireses worship to started In the decade of 560, a magic performed by spirits of lantros mages, created a created mages, lantros of spirits by performed a magic 560, of In the decade Parts of the apes tribes started to inhabit the fortresses by joining theirby the cultures fortresses inhabit tribes to started the apes of Parts Meanwhile, the spirit of Dras’k united to the spirits of lantros wizards lantros that of the spirits to united Dras’k of the spirit Meanwhile, the classes mentioned in subsection 4.1. Within the game mechanics of “OPERA RPG”, RPG”, “OPERA mechanics the of Within game 4.1. in subsection the classes mentioned allowed players to do campaigns with characters both apes and tireses, being permitted permitted tireses, and being both apes with characters campaigns do to players allowed the system was in its second version with the basic mechanics and magic defined, and it it and defined, mechanics magic and with the basic version second in its was the system first games began to be realized, already with the system “OPERA RPG”. At that time that At RPG”. “OPERA with the system already realized, be to began first games Evolution of the Rules along with along the the Narrative of Rules 4.2 Evolution cohesion, such as the RPG Pendragon mentioned in the second topic. in the second mentioned as the Pendragon such RPG cohesion, the world’s history now relies on the support of the RPG as a tool to the creation and and the creation to the as a tool RPG of the on support relies now history the world’s who often stood against their governors. against stood often who Thunder-God began to act in the earth dimension through his heralds, the Travellers, the Travellers, in act the his to through earth began heralds, dimension Thunder-God fortress of the Dawn. Both of these monstrosities were destroyed by local heroes. local by destroyed were these monstrosities of Both the Dawn. of fortress city of the Middle. Eight decades later, an Aberration scares the apes population of the of population scares the apes an Aberration later, decades Eight thecity Middle. of evil spirits. The deformed beast became known as Aberration and terrorized the tirese terrorized and known as Aberration became beast The deformed evil spirits. boby for an abyss creature from a mass of dead bodys. The creature was inhabited by by inhabited The creaturewas bodys. dead of mass a creaturefrom an abyss for boby occupies about a quarter of the largest continent’s territory. continent’s the largest of a quarter about occupies the Gods and Deities evil, continued with nomadic habits into the great forest which which forest the great into habits withnomadic continued evil, Deities and the Gods around the elements. Other tribes less morally advanced and with cults geared to to with cults and geared advanced Other morally tribes less the elements. around informed, the war was forgotten. was the war informed, of enemies that exist in other dimensions. Despite the fact that the population was not not was the that population the fact Despite in dimensions. exist that other enemies of responsible for the expulsion of the lantros, showed using its magic the intervention the intervention magic its using showed the lantros, of the expulsion for responsible apes and tireses) showed the true to the rulers of both nations. The Summit, which is which The Summit, the both nations. truethe of rulers to showed tireses) and apes two people, but the intervention of the entity that was thought extinct (composed of of extinct (composed thought was the that entity of the intervention but people, two and the plains. Each race suspected of the other and almost started a war between the between a war started almost and the other of suspected race Each theand plains. plague that affected the waters of the River of Life, extensive river that crosses the forest crossesthe that forest river extensive Life, of the River of affectedthe that waters plague dimension between their habitat and the terrestrial dimension and created a magical a magical created and the and terrestrial dimension their between habitat dimension wanted revenge against the apes and tireses, managed to cross the intermediate cross the intermediate to tireses, and managed the apes against revenge wanted weaken asa nation. weaken too ambitious rulers and the intrigues and misuse of power made the tirese people to to the tirese people made the power and rulers misuse intrigues and of ambitious too and the tireses began to be organized into a kingdom. Unfortunately, the tireses were the tireses were Unfortunately, a kingdom. the into and organized be tireses to began the classes began to be called archetypes. The cover of “OPERA RPG” can be seen in 155 Figure 13. R evista Figure 13 - Cover of the basic module of “OPERA RPG”. G E M I n IS | | ano 2 - - 2 n . 2 .
Before the first campaign to take place, about fifteen adventures of RPG were performed with characters apes and tireses, but independently. The ape heroes faced giant snakes and insects, while the tirese heroes fought against gladiators (fighters trained and paid by the Kingdom of Shadows). The first RPG campaign was held in the tirese city of Rocks, capital of the Kingdom of Shadows, in the tirese year of 690 and it involved a Sacred Weapon character, two Travellers and a Rogue against a tirese family of great power in the city, which used magical knowledge learned from the lantros’s scrolls of the Great War. Using the magic of fire, the Yamada family controlled a large number of gladiators characters and aimed to capture apes to put in the arena of the city of Wind. The politics aimed to entertain the tirese people and to promote the betting market. With the promotion of interaction between an ape warrior hero and the tirese people, several battles were fought with gladiators and Shadow mages. The closing of the campaign had two dead characters (the Rogue and a Traveller), but the action prevented a disagreement with the apes, which was the pursuit conceived for this campaign. In 1997, “OPERA RPG” in its third version incorporates rules for psychological profiling, psychic powers and the first version of martial arts. This became the archetypes of characters with boundaries of conduct, with implications within the gameplay which allowed defining codes of honor for the characters to follow. Furthermore, the inclusion of psychic powers brought the possibility of defining spirit characters. Finally, following the suggestion of the players of the first campaign themselves, martial arts were created in the scenario based on animals of the fauna of the world. The black snake (giant and treacherous reptile) and the godo (docile bipedal mammal, very Transmedia’s Implications of the use of RPG and Wargame as tools ... • Leonardo A. de Andrade - Tiago E. dos Santos - Diogo Augusto
156 Gonçalves - Layla Stassun Antonio Analyzing the experience of the second campaign, we created characters very very characters created we campaign, the second of theAnalyzing experience The second major campaign of “Shiang’s Lands” happened in the year 720, 720, in the year happened Lands” “Shiang’s of campaign major The second To the ape characters were created two new archetypes, the Scouts, who who archetypes, the new Scouts, two created were characters the ape To For introducing this archetype, we created a campaign of three mini adventures three of mini a campaign this adventures created archetype, introducing we For different from humans that used to have some problems to their representation within their representation to problems some have to humans used that from different artifacts magic). or or ape trained in combat, which fights on behalf of the Summit with the help of magical magical of behalf with the theon help Summit of fights which trainedin ape combat, or the Summit. This character, in the future, gave rise to the archetype Mercenary (tirese rise the archetype to (tirese Mercenary in the gave future, Thisthe Summit. character, only survivor was an ape warrior hero who fought with a magic weapon borrowed by by borrowed weapon with a magic fought who hero warrior an ape was survivor only most of the apes and tireses heroes involved, including the mage of the Summit. The the Summit. of the mage including tireses involved, and heroes the apes of most known as the ‘Ten-Eyed Horror’. The monster, a floating tentacular orb, slaughtered slaughtered orb, tentacular a floating The monster, Horror’. known as the ‘Ten-Eyed Valley ended up joining the surviving apes against the giant monster, Aberration Aberration joining the giant the against monster, surviving up apes ended Valley investigating the mysterious disappearance of animals of in creatures and the city of disappearance the mysterious investigating players of this narrative focus were unable to prevent it. The second group of players, players, of group The second it. prevent to unable focus were this of narrative players with spirits who warned of the chaos that would be promoted by the creature, but the but the creature, by promoted be would the that chaos of warned who with spirits apes, had as its mission to prevent the invocation of that monster. The apes had contact contact had The apes monster. that of the invocation prevent to mission as its had apes, showed the limits of the system of magic. The first group of characters consisting of consisting of characters of The first group magic. of thethe system limits of showed with a character sheet), one of which was delivered to an experienced player, which which player, an to experienced delivered was which of one sheet), with a character Aberration ever invoked. This game had mages of the Summit (created narratively and and narratively (created the Summit of mages This had game invoked. ever Aberration dimensions, especially lantros mages who were plotting the creation of the largest thelargest of the creation plotting were who mages lantros especially dimensions, and the campaign focused on an action promoted by the inhabitants of the inferior the inferior the of inhabitants by promoted an focused on action theand campaign taking place interconnections between the narratives. All the archetypes were explored All the explored archetypes were the between narratives. interconnections taking place with two categories of campaigns (one with the apes and the other with the tireses) with the the and tireses) other with the apes (one campaigns of categories with two force soldier, while the Scout and the Spearmen would be most basic training soldiers. basic most be would the and Spearmen the Scout while soldier, force these two archetypes of the Warrior, this archetype has come to be treated as a special this treated be archetype to has come archetypesthese two the Warrior, of very important in fighting against the beasts that inhabit the forests. To differentiate differentiate To the forests. inhabit that in the beasts against fighting important very specialize in tracking and surveillance, and the Spearmen, a special type of soldier a special typespecialize the and soldier Spearmen, in of tracking surveillance, and be replicated in tirese other cities. replicated be of divinity, the Sacred Temples began to be worshiped by the locals and soon began to to began soon and the locals by worshiped be to began Temples the Sacred divinity, of shelter in the temple, which in a mystical way, resisted the action of nature. As a kind As nature. of the action resisted way, in which mystical a in the temple, shelter the naginata spear and with the bow, helped the younger and older population to take to population older and the younger helped with the and bow, the spear naginata the largest known storm of Shiang’s Lands, those characters who were trained with were who those characters Lands, Shiang’s of known storm the largest with characters that lived in a temple built with stones in the city of Waters. During in the Waters. city of with stones built in a temple lived that with characters Sacred Temple that can that archer. specialize or in warrior Temple Sacred characters. Another new tirese character archetype was created, the Guardian of the of the Guardian tirese archetype new created, character Another was characters. strong and with a powerful kick) were chosen as chosen the initial tirese martial were for arts kick) styles with a powerful and strong the “OPERA RPG” system (such as the Aberration). This problem was also found in 157 other genres explored in campaigns with different scenarios (especially involving R super creatures). This promoted the first version of the rules for super creatures and evista
nonhuman characters in the fourth version of “OPERA RPG” system in 1998. G E
The next change in the history of the scenario was the introduction of the M I n Emperor Shiang, a deity that incarnates on the earth dimension to prevent a war against IS | |
the apes and to oppose to the Shadows. Until then, the RPG was called by “Oriental ano
Adventures” and it was renamed “Shiang’s Lands” with the introduction of this fact in - 2 n its history. 2 . In the next stories series, there were profound changes in the scenario. A new race, coming from another dimension and with great magical powers, came to inhabit Shiang’s Lands. The Cyclops, beings more morally evolved and with a strange appearance, came into contact with the apes and tireses. The former Shadows rulers made an agreement in which magic gems were exchanged for knowledge, which was misused by the new mages causing madness and destruction of some of their own people. It was created at this time more styles of martial art for tirese characters (Night Bird and Krondai’s Embrace). To the ape characters, the archetypal Gunner was added, an ape that uses the crossbow, a weapon of simian origin fired by trigger. With a dozen of games, the third campaign put in contact tireses and apes heroes with some of the kings of Shadows that learned spells of manipulation of the body, mind and to get in contact with spirits. The rules of magic were revised and the Shadows mages, for the first time, carried magic items causing unexpected results (such as the death of several characters). At that time emerged the idea to let characters that could not complete their missions in life, to represent spirits in the campaign (until their goals were met). Within the possible archetypes, the Ecclesiastical Guardians (mages) were included, worshiping the Sacred Temple. The third campaign started in 793 (year of the coming of the Emperor), when several heroes fought against the Shadows kings, in combats involving Shadows fighters, mages and some Shadows kings. This resulted in combats between characters present in the earth dimension and characters with the psychic power of astral projection and spirits. At the beginning of the campaign, there were six Shadows kings with magical knowledge and each had created an item capable of opening portals to a dimension. The heroes were able to eliminate three of these, but the others escaped. This campaign counted with the Summit again with the mages being played by experienced players. This experience allowed to successfully test the system of magic. As the bell-portals were very dangerous, later campaigns end up involving the holders of these fearsome items. Transmedia’s Implications of the use of RPG and Wargame as tools ... • Leonardo A. de Andrade - Tiago E. dos Santos - Diogo Augusto
158 Gonçalves - Layla Stassun Antonio Begun in 814 and ended in 818, the sixth campaign was quite long. A Shadow Shadow A long. quite was the sixth campaign in 818, ended and Begun in 814 The next series of stories featured the first versions sheets of the Emperor sheets of the Emperor the first versions The next series of stories featured The fifth campaign was played exclusively by ape characters that faced the faced that characters ape by exclusively The fifth played was campaign The fifth version of the “OPERA RPG” system of 2000 allowed the creation of of the creation allowed 2000 of system RPG” the “OPERA of Thefifth version Shadows. at the moment of their graduation received, as a present, a magical blade to fight the as a present, a magical blade to fight the at the moment of their graduation received, characters, the Lethal Blades. Trained by Emperor Shiang over six years, the warriors warriors the six years, characters, the Lethal Blades. Trained by Emperor Shiang over to direct their worship to the tirese people). This led to the emergence of a new class of of a new class of to direct their worship to the tirese people). This led to the emergence the code of honor of the Sacred Weapon was devotion to the Emperor, so they began devotion to the Emperor, so they began was the code of honor of the Sacred Weapon end of the connection between the Sacred Weapon clan and the Emperor (formerly, clan and the Emperor (formerly, the Sacred Weapon end of the connection between on cultural causes - apes are herbivores, and refused to eat meat). This fact brought the the brought meat). This fact to eat - apes are herbivores, and refused on cultural causes the Sacred Weapon tireses and the apes in training, there was a disagreement (based a disagreement (based tireses and the apes in training, there was the Sacred Weapon began to train apes to be able to access it. An adventure in which the players interpreted interpreted in which the players An adventure began to train apes to be able to access it. The success of the archetype was such that at the insistence of some players, tireses tireses such that at the insistence of some players, The success of the archetype was Weapon that received from Shiang the power to make the weapon go back to his hands. go back to his hands. to make the weapon from Shiang the power that received Weapon destroy the Shadows kings. Begun in 800, the highlight was in the character Sacred in the character Sacred destroy the Shadows kings. Begun in 800, the highlight was the competitors played with experienced heroes with great skill in battle, in order to to order in battle, in skill great with heroes experienced with played competitors the Shiang (which has seven copies in the terrestrial dimension and another as God) and and God) as another dimension and terrestrial the in copies (which has seven Shiang it utilized the the rules RPG. it of which miniatures were used in a hexagonal map to determine positions in combat, but but in combat, positions determine to map in used miniatureswhich a hexagonal were and tactics to apes (it was a huge lizard, named Rorag). This campaign was the first This inwas campaign Rorag). named lizard, huge a was (it apes to tactics and the campaign there was the first appearance of the Animal God who brought advice advice the brought Animal of who God the first appearance was there the campaign with artefacts and weapons from the lantros and the power of giant insects. of During the the and from lantros power weapons and with artefacts Shiang), in this campaign the banques used his magical shamanic knowledge combined combined shamanic his knowledge used in this magical the banques campaign Shiang), banques allied with giant insects. Passed in the year 791 (just before the coming of the of coming before (just 791 allied in with giant insects. the year Passed banques of apes and tireses. apes of were created with spells that affected animals, fact that tipped several battles in favor in favor battles several affected animals, tipped that with that spells fact created were tireses lost their connection with animals and spirits after the Great War. The Shamans War. their with connection animalstireses after lost the Great spirits and into the history of the world and has existed only for ape characters. Historically, the Historically, characters. ape for only has and existed the world the of history into of mage that has spiritual powers and over animals. This archetype was incorporated animals. This over and archetype incorporated was powers has spiritual that mage of numbers. This campaign brought the need for a new archetype, the Shaman, new a type a for the need This brought campaign numbers. and the apes and tireses heroes characters had inferior armorial, but were in greater in greater were but armorial, inferior had tireses characters and heroes theand apes character archetypes. In this campaign the enemies of the players were the lantro army the army lantro were archetypes. the players In character of this the enemies campaign psychic characteristics of apes, tireses, lantros, banques and cyclops, in addition to the to in addition cyclops, and banques tireses, lantros, apes, of characteristics psychic the Great War. At that time, the rules already differentiated races with physical and and with physical races differentiated the rules time, already that At War. the Great all kinds of characters. This allowed a fourth campaign in the tirese year of 72, during during in 72, the a fourth of campaign tirese This year all allowed characters. kinds of king who had deformed his body in order to become a monstrosity made improper 159 use of a bell-portal and ended up trapped in another dimension. This fact caused the R need to create a map of all the dimensions above and below the terrestrial dimension, evista
and of spells that can connect these dimensions. It was established three dimensions G E below: Affliction (home of D’rask and lantros mages), Darkness (home of Shadows M I n kings and mages) and Ashes (home of old evil Gods and spirits that have not fulfilled IS | |
their mission in life) and a higher (home to the Gods and Deities of good character). ano
A race to obtain magical gems started (the Emperor, the Summit and the - 2 n
Shadows needed them for magic items), which made the limits of the territory to be 2 . explored. The first sheets of apes cultists as enemies were created in this campaign. At the end of it, the three bell-portals had been destroyed, but the Shadows kings were able to plant a cursed legacy on volumes in which are described magics in the language of the lantros, to control the body, causing pain, besides rituals for creating magic items and invocation of Aberrations. In an adventure in which players must recover a magic item stolen, they stumbled upon a powerful magical ritual that was interrupted so desperate that led to the coming of a Shadow king to the terrestrial dimension. Surprisingly, the only character who was not terrified at the sight of the monster managed with a great hit (caused by chance in the dice’s randomness) to eliminate the creature. This character that after this adventure became a figurant, assuming the post of Shogun. Also in this campaign, Shadows mages using the tomes of knowledge created two more bell-portals capable of opening portals between the same dimensions and between others ones. In particular we can mention an adventure with a bell-portal in which five heroes and one of the Lethal Blades were stuck to the dimention of the Ashes, a unusual ending ever for the Game Master. The first publication of the “OPERA RPG” happened in 2004 (Andrade & Godoy, 2004), in its sixth version of the system. Fine adjustments of costs and power were made in relation to the previous version and the rules of magic were optimized for the scenario. The first sheets of Animal Gods were made also during this period. The eighth campaign started in the year 901, with the introduction of two tirese character archetypes, the first being the Server, a type of cleric that deals with spirits, and the second a fighter named Tigers Claw, fighting style created by Emperor Shiang. This campaign was the longest so far, with about thirty adventures. Its story happened in a time of transition, because when Shiang took over as Emperor, allowed that for three generations the families of great power in the cities ruled as Shoguns and Daimyo. In the year 901 in the city of Rocks, the Shogun showed himself as a Shadows mage and holder of one of the bell-portals. His plan was to bring back his master, Daichega Transmedia’s Implications of the use of RPG and Wargame as tools ... • Leonardo A. de Andrade - Tiago E. dos Santos - Diogo Augusto
160 Gonçalves - Layla Stassun Antonio In 2010 it was released the eighth version of “OPERA RPG” under the name of the of name under RPG” “OPERA of version the eighth released was it In 2010 In this campaign were created the first characters named Divine Disciples, Disciples, Divine named the first characters created In this were campaign The first transmedia experience with the scenario “Shiang’s Lands” was a was Lands” with the“Shiang’s scenario The first experience transmedia (Andrade, 2011b) and in a book (Andrade, 2011a). (Andrade, in and a book 2011b) (Andrade, 8 8
A B
The last campaign created is passed in the tirese year of 903 and involves a complex plot with various characters involved. Within the scenario, two characters were built: • Sacred Weapon Flying Blade: Tirese hero that lives in the lower (and poorer) part of the city of Rocks. Flying Blade has a heroic nature and serves to the tirese people with devotion; • Hong Po: Young tirese of rare pelage that guarantees him certain skills with special types of spells. Separated from his parents at birth, Hong Po was educated in music and literature. At the age of six, his grandfather found him and freed him from the tutelage of Shadows. Currently, grandfather and boy live in the suburbs of the city of Rocks (in the area of protection of the hero Flying Blade). Besides these characters, others pre-existing ones also have involvement in the plot: • Vishir: Animal Goddess whose body was destroyed in the earth dimension, known as the Golden Vigilant since antiquity. Vishir protects Shiang’s Lands until these days of evil forces from the dimention of the Eternal Souls. She has apes worshipers, which are treated as Shaman within the archetypes of the scenario; • Kor-Tur: character of the race of cyclops, a race more morally advanced with great magical powers that fights the evil forces. Kor-Tur knows all the Shiang’s Lands and has an ancient magical artifact, a bell-portal; • Dargon: Lizard Animal God killed many centuries ago by another Animal Transmedia’s Implications of the use of RPG and Wargame as tools ... • Leonardo A. de Andrade - Tiago E. dos Santos - Diogo Augusto
162 Gonçalves - Layla Stassun Antonio A B A – The flight the of Animal B – Tirese city Rocks. of Godness Vishir. Shadows: are aware of Hong Po existence, the Shadows begin to fear him begin fear to the Shadows existence, Po Hong of are aware Shadows: - Frames of the stereoscopic animation “Um Estranho Pedido”. Estranho animation Pedido”. the “Um Figure of stereoscopic 15 - Frames After Kor-Tur joined the fate of Flying Blade and Hong Po, these sought help help these sought Po, Hong and Blade Flying of the fate joined AfterKor-Tur God, still alive to this day, named Rorag. About 150 years ago, Dargon almost almost Dargon ago, years 150 About Rorag. named this to still day, God, alive withthe a tirese, of returned withthe the help terrestrial to dimension bell-portal; a and Po, Hong of characteristics • the with earth to dimension back go to wishes Dargon that after find they out kill to this him. want they reason, For his help. the on centered created was plot basic a initial game, the campaign’s create To After a short period of time collected in the home of the Shogun, the characters decide decide the the Shogun, characters of in the time home collected of period After a short Flying Blade and Hong Po became aware of the power connected to the bell-portal. the bell-portal. to connected the power of aware became Po Hong and Blade Flying from the Shogun and the high priest of the Sacred Temple. In private conversations, conversations, In private Temple. the Sacred of thefrom the Shogun and high priest Est ra n ho Ped ido”. four minutes long. Figure 15 shows two frames of this animation pilot, titled “Um “Um titled this of frames animation two pilot, shows 15 Figure long. minutes four campaign, with a few exceptions, was used entirely for the script of a pilot animation a pilot of the script for entirely used was exceptions, with a few campaign, of situations and lines. In particular in this case, the narrative developed during the during lines. In and particular developed in situations thisof the narrative case, RPG with a transmedia goal, the campaign served as a collective force of creation creation of force as a collective served the campaign goal, with a transmedia RPG asking him to ensure that the young man never use it. As in several plots created with created plots in As several use it. man never asking him ensure the that young to request for help of Kor-Tur to Flying Blade to care for Hong-Po and the bell-portal, the and bell-portal, Hong-Po care for to Blade Flying to Kor-Tur of help for request to travel to the city of the Rising Sun (former city of the Middle and now capital of the 163 tirese empire). This second plot was developed with the assistance of RPG. R
At the beginning of the trip, Hong Po and Sacred Weapon were surprised by evista
gigantic snakes but counted with the help of imperial soldiers and some heroes to G E face the real enemy: cultists apes, led by the Shaman Molgur and the Warrior Gurok, M I n which along with several worshipers of the evil God Dargon, planned the kidnapping IS | |
of Hong Po. ano
The unwinding of the story counted with the use of rules of the Wargame “Jogos - 2 n de Miniaturas das Terras de Shiang” (Andrade, 2011c) described in the third topic. It was 2 . used to coordinate an epic battle with more than twenty characters involved, as shown in Figure 16. The strategic and tactical possibilities of the game proved to be efficient to lead the conflict, which result in the victory of the cultists apes, who abducted Hong Po. The Sacred Weapon Flying Blade was seriously wounded during the battle, lost possession of the bell, bringing a bleak future for the Shiang’s Lands.
Figure 16 - Photography of the board where the epic battle unfolded.
It is noteworthy that during the drafting of the rules of the Wargame, the imperial soldiers are shown as a new archetype. Less powerful than the heroes but in greater numbers, the imperial soldiers had its archetype added to the RPG, showing that the transmedia with narrative cohesion of this experience contributes to the expansion of the vast narrative present in the scenario. The campaign has not yet been completed and it will use the RPG as a tool for cohesion and if in the future another great battle unfolds, also the Wargame will be utilized as support to the narrative.
Conclusions
When examining the campaigns developed in the scenario of “Shiang’s Lands” we can observe that the RPG is an important tool to the cohesion of the narrative itself, Transmedia’s Implications of the use of RPG and Wargame as tools ... • Leonardo A. de Andrade - Tiago E. dos Santos - Diogo Augusto
164 Gonçalves - Layla Stassun Antonio . Edição do Autor. ISBN 978- ISBN Autor. do . Edição , 1981. . Primeira Edição. TSR, 1974. TSR, Edição. . Primeira . Editora Comic Store, 2004. ISBN: ISBN: 2004. Store, Comic . Editora . Edição do Autor. ISBN 978-85-911802- ISBN Autor. do . Edição . Edição do Autor, 2010. Autor, do . Edição . Edição do Autor. ISBN 978-85-911802-0-2. São São 978-85-911802-0-2. ISBN Autor. do . Edição ungeons & Dragons & ungeons . M. OPERA. M. RPG . M. ReOPS. M. . D . Stormbringer. Chaosium. Stormbringer. , R , R , G , S ax doy doy o o yg errin .; G .; RPG Terras de Shiangde . RPG Terras .; G .; Jogo de Miniaturas das Terras de Shiang de MiniaturasTerras das de . Jogo Netbook RPG Terras de Shiang de Terras RPG . Netbook .; G .; . A. R. (1950). A Useful Grammar (1950). R. . A. (por of MessìliuTsolyàni Badàrian). L , L , L , L , , L , D . S.; P . S.; , M , K Within the genre of medieval fantasy, the role of mass combats has great hasgreat combats mass of the role fantasy, medieval theWithin of genre The synergy between mechanics and narrative with a concise system of rules of system with a concise Thesynergy mechanicsbetween narrative and drade dre drade drade drade drade neson r n n n n n n arker Seattle. Pp. 1–13 Pp. Seattle. B A A 978-85-891610-5-3. A References transmedia construction directly, such as novels, comics, animations and video games. animations video and comics, as novels, such directly, construction transmedia the characters are and with whom they interact in that setting. This contributes to a to in setting. This that contributes they interact are with whom and the characters with the help of miniatures, players have a better sense of the environment in which the sense a better environment of have miniatures, of players with the help A A A jointly, which provided a new plausible and even a more visual experience, once that that once visual experience, a more even and plausible a new provided which jointly, A Carlos, 2011. 2011. Carlos, São 1-9. 2011. Carlos, São 85-911802-2-6. to Wargame related to RPG was established a new way to play RPGs and Wargames Wargames and RPGs play to way a new established was RPG to related Wargame to for this narrative management. From the 2000s, with the emergence of game mechanics game of with thethe emergence 2000s, From management. thisfor narrative importance and the combat described in the rules of RPG is not the most appropriate appropriate the most in is not the RPG described rules of the and combat importance process of creating using RPG allows multiple narrative focus and even simultaneous. focus even and narrative multiple allows RPG using creating of process narrative exploration centered on a character, as in cinema, literature and theater, the theater, and as in literature cinema, a character, on centered exploration narrative more detailed and creative stories than conventional individual narratives. Unlike the Unlike narratives. individual than conventional stories creative and detailed more narrative. The experiences of the RPG table, filtered by the Game Master, lead to to lead Master, theGame by filtered the table, RPG of The experiences narrative. powerful collective instrument, as each player can contribute with their ideas to the to with their ideas can contribute player instrument, aseach collective powerful and contributing to its evolution. In relation to the creation, the RPG is shown asa the isshown RPG the creation, to In relation evolution. its to contributing and allowed the controlled exploration of the scenario, realistically increasing its complexity complexity its increasing realistically the scenario, of exploration the controlled allowed and also as a support for the expansion of its vast narrative. vast its of the expansion for alsoand as a support Barker, M. A. R. Empire of the Petal Throne. TSR, Inc, 1975. 165
Barker, M. A. R. Swords and Glory. Gamescience, 1983-1984. R evista
Blume, B.; Gygax, G. Boot Hill. TSR, Inc. 1975. G E M
Brady, P.; Saul, J.; Voskamp, E. Tékumel: Empire of the Petal Throne. Guardians I n IS of Order, 2005. | ano
Caillois, R. Os Jogos e os Homens. Editora Cotovia. Lisboa, Edição de 1990. - 2 n Campbell, J. O Herói de Mil Faces. São Paulo: Cultrix, 1992. 2 .
Cook, D. Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. Segunda Edição. TSR, Inc, 1989. ISBN: 0-88038-716.
Cook, M.; Tweet, J. Willians, S. Dungeons & Dragons, Version 3.5. Revisão por David Noonan e Rich Redman. Wizardsof the Coast, 2003.
Greenwood, E.; Grubb, J. Forgotten Realms Campaign Set. TSR Inc, 1987. ISBN 0 - 88038 - 472-7.
Gygax, G. Advanced Dungeouns & Dragons. Primeira Edição. TSR, Inc. 1977-1979.
Gygax, G.; Perren, J. Chainmail: Rules for Medieval Miniatures. Guidon Games, 1973.
Hanny, D.; Chadwick, F. En Garde! Game Designer’s Workshop. 1975.
Harrigan, P.; Wardrip-Fruin, N. Third Person: Authoring and Exploring Vast Narratives. The MIT Press. Cambridge/Londres, 2009.
Jackson, S.; Punch, S.; Pulver, D. GURPS Basic Set: Campaings. Quarta Edição. Steve Jackson Games, 2004.
MacDonald, G.; Peterson, S.; Bell; R. Hero System. Primeira Edição. Hero Games/Iron Crown Enterprises, 1990.ISBN: 1-55806-094-4.
Maranci, P. The History of RuneQuest. Dísponível em: http://www.maranci.net/ rqpast.htm em 10 de outubro de 2011.
Masters, P. On the Vocabulary of Role-Playing. Interactive Fantasy 2:57-74. Disponível em: http://www.philm.demon.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Vocabulary.html em 20 de julho de 2011.
Perrin, S.; Stanfford, G. RuneQuest. Chaosium, 1978. Transmedia’s Implications of the use of RPG and Wargame as tools ... • Leonardo A. de Andrade - Tiago E. dos Santos - Diogo Augusto
166 Gonçalves - Layla Stassun Antonio . Disponível em: http:// em: . Disponível . Chaosium, 1985. . Chaosium, . Editora Europa-América. Edição de 2002. 2002. de Edição Europa-América. . Editora . Quarta Edição. Chaosium, 1999. ISBN: 1-56882-148-4. ISBN: 1999. Chaosium, . Quarta Edição. . King Arthur Pendragon . Call of Cthulhu , G , S . Looking Back on Dungeons & Dragons . R. R. - O R. . R. Senhor dos Anéis , J , L n kien nfford osso ol ettersen ta Vol. 1 à 3. Vol. T S de outubro de 2011. de outubro de lorenrosson.blogspot.com/2011/09/looking-back-on-dungeons-and-dragons.html em 10 em 10 lorenrosson.blogspot.com/2011/09/looking-back-on-dungeons-and-dragons.html R P