Thrash Anime and Fighting Game Martial Arts RPG Version 1.8 by Ewen “Blackbird” Cluney 1 Thrash: Martial Arts RPG Chapter 1: Introduction mind you), rather than picking from what the game Chapter 1: Introduction designers have seen fit to provide. This does, however, “Violent fighting to begin again...” have an interesting result on character descriptions; truth -- King of Fighters ‘96 be told, they tend to end up as a maneuver followed by a Capcom’s Street Fighter II changed the face of video (long) list of modifiers (e.g., “Chi Blast (Flaming, Extended games forever by introducing the world to a new style of Range, Ground Blast, Moving Blast)”). Even so, once you game, where two characters faced off in a one-on-one fight look at the system in this way, it becomes very easy to to the finish. This has since spawned countless other define virtually any fighting game character, with similar games, to the point that it has created an entire comparatively little work. genre of video games, collectively known as Fighting Thrash is not a game for muchkins! Admittedly, the Games. rules are easy to abuse. For example, one GM told me of Thrash is a book-and-dice RPG that deals with anime a player who wanted to create Athena Asamiya, and and fighting game style martial arts. This main rulebook proceeded to make her a psychic and then selected some presents only general rules, info on real-world martial arts, four different styles, thereby reducing the cost of all Focus and some general fighting game info, though additional maneuvers to 1 CP each! This is not only abusive of the sourcebooks will deal with an assortment of popular system, but just plain stupid. Athena’s only style is Wu fighting game worlds. Shu, for one thing (not to mention the fact that cost The Thrash system is heavily based on the now out- modifiers aren't cumulative). I cannot stress enough that of-print Street Fighter Storytelling Game from White Wolf, the whole point of Thrash is the storytelling. The rules as well as Mekton Z, and, to a lesser extent, Ninjas & themselves are secondary to EVERYTHING. When Superspies. The martial arts and the whole system are creating a character do not buy stuff just to make your designed to simulate both fighting games and anime and character more powerful; the statistics are a numerical manga based on them, the result being a highly cinematic reflection of the conceptual character, the one that exists game with lots of nifty special moves, energy blasts before the numbers come into play, and both need to be galore, and so forth. plausible for the game world and other parameters set by Thrash is not intended to be a particularly complex or the game master. in-depth game. The object in roleplaying is to have fun, but in Thrash that may at times be the sole concern. Sourcebooks Furthermore, the rules are designed to play relatively There are currently two "official" sourcebooks for quickly, since the game is intended to simulate extremely Thrash; Karyu Densetsu, and original campaign setting, fast-paced martial arts combat. To play Thrash you will and the Thrash Sourcebook, a collection of generic need only this book, some pencils and papers, and some material. dice (10-sided and 6-sided). Planned future sourcebooks include adaptations of Thrash is public domain. It may be distributed freely Street Fighter, Ranma ½, DarkStalkers, King of Fighters, provided that no fee is charged and this document and Samurai Shodown, plus Metal Rage (crossover rules remains unmodified. And if you really enjoy it, you might for Mekton Z) and Road Thrash (a sourcebook on combat consider sending a donation to the author. ^_^ racing). Before you ask, yes, I did take an awful lot of stuff directly from Warrior’s World (my SF:STG sourcebook) Revision History and paste it into Thrash (albeit with appropriate changes). 0.8 “Pre-Release Version”: Basic rules and such, but no appendices. Design Theory of Thrash 1.0 This is the complete version, including the appendices One of the most important things to remember about not included in version 0.8, as well as a handful of Thrash is they way the system is designed to work. It other additions (armor rules, a character creation functions in much the opposite of how other RPGs do. example, etc.). Rather than picking items from a list in the book to define 1.2 Several corrections made, as well as many revi sions your character, you create your character and their to the basic system, based on feedback received. I’ve abilities in story terms, and then create that using the tried to close up some of the loopholes in the system, rules. This is especially true where a character’s and generally spruce it up a bit. maneuvers are concerned. Chances are you won’t have to 1.8 Incorporated a lot of the game material and such stuff make up a new maneuver to create the special move you from Karyu Densetsu and the Thrash Sourcebook, want; it’s all a matter of combining maneuvers and plus made some clarifications and rules changes. modifiers, and occasionally combo maneuvers, to create Created construction systems for styles and what you want. maneuvers, then revised existing styles to account for The idea is to let the players create precisely what that, including creation of "Discipline Styles". Revised they want (you still have to worry about your point totals, multiple styles rules considerably. 2 Thrash: Martial Arts RPG Chapter 1: Introduction Rob Pool Net Stuff Sir Sanjiyan The Official Thrash Home Page can be found at And probably a few others I've managed to forget (gomen http://www.blueneptune.com/~jcluney/ewen/thrash.htm nasai!). and I can be e-mailed at [email protected]. Disclaimer Thanks Street Fighter, DarkStalkers, CyberBots, and all I would like to thank the following people for support, related characters are owned by Capcom Co., Ltd. King of encouragement, and informing me when I screwed up: Fighters, Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, Samurai Shodown, Alan Weeks and all related characters are owned by SNK. Ranma ½ Chris Hoffmann was created by Rumiko Takahashi. Other games and Sir Fireball13 characters mentioned herein are likewise owned by their Mike Foulk respective creators. This document is not in any way a The Immortal Frog God challenge to that ownership. The Learning Lich 3 Thrash: Martial Arts RPG Chapter 2: Character Creation Goals Chapter 2: The Martial "It has been a year since the incredible tournament took place. Those who fight to find their true selves, those Arts who fight to preserve the future -- they have assembled to “Once there was a man who tried to make his skill fight again, and so the next tournament begins." ultimate. Because of that, it was no wonder he was -- Battle Arena Toshinden 2 involved in the troubles.” Real-life martial artists usually want to better -- Samurai Shodown II themselves, and be able to defend themselves if need be. This section gives general information on the martial In anime and fighting games, however, most martial artists arts as practiced in and out of fighting games, including have other motives. Many want revenge for something or general information on learning and practicing the martial other, most often for killing a relative or friend (as is the arts, tournaments, and various other stuff of note. case with Chun Li, Terry Bogard, Wolfgang Krauser, Shizumaru, Guile, and others), or some personal sleight, Realism and Lack Thereof real or imagined (as with Genjuro and a significant portion Any serious examination of the occurrences in a of the cast of Ranma ½), or in some cases they are fighting game will prove that there is no real form of logic continuing an ancient conflict that has raged between two operating. In fighting games everyone can take the same (or more) families or clans (as with Kyo Kusanagi and Iori amount of damage, knows martial arts, has unlimited Yagami). amounts of chi energy, can block any attack by holding Other sorts of goals vary a great deal; some fighters up their fists, cannot actually be cut by weapons (though have grown greedy for the spoils of winning a tournament, blood can fly out everywhere), and if they have an animal others are merely carrying out the orders of whoever they companion, that critter is indestructible and immortal. work for (like Gen-An and Billy Cane). Some merely seek The point is, Thrash tries to find a midpoint between to prove the power of their style, their nation, their creed, the insanely illogical and real life. The game is intended to or themselves, to the world (like E. Honda and Zangief), be run with some degree of seriousness and while taking and a for a few, the fights themselves have become the into account the normal laws of the universe, but also to only important thing, the quest for perfection coming integrate some small measure of its violations of common before all else (as with Ryu). sense, mainly in that the characters can possess special A few others include carrying on one’s family maneuvers and powers very similar to those presented in traditions (Ranma and Akane, any ninja, etc.), to further the games, and the plots and situations, with certain their quest for spiritual attainment (like Dhalsim), and to conventions removed (like the part about using quarters to get into an organization (Birdie). And, of course, there’s resurrect the character). For this purpose it would be always the number one motivation; cold, hard cash.