Asian RPG
Kenji Goto
>I am currently collecting data on RPGs played in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and
>Japan (and anywhere else in Asia, for that matter).
>
>What are the most popular Role-Playing Games being played now? I am most
>interested in tabletop RPGs (like Dungeons & Dragons, GURPs, Traveller,
>and the like) but would also be happy to hear about the computer RPGs.
>
>I am less interested in knowing about those who play translations of the
>American RPGs then I am about local Asian (ie, Chinese or Japanese) RPGs.
>Now . . . I have been told that more tabletop RPGers are more likely to
>be playing with the predominantly American rules systems, so if that's so
>please tell me what the local variants are. As far as translations go, I am
>more interested in knowing about the Chinese translations -- for obvious
>reasons [like I live in the R.O.C.]. I have heard from a few different
>people that they've seen a Chinese version of D&D in a game shop in Hong Kong
>about five years ago but I couldn't find anything like that when I was there
>this past Lunar New Year (got married, :-) ) -- although I did find some
>basic D&D sets in English at Toys R Us {Taiwan's doesn't have it, drats}.
>If you know of any translations, pass on the info to me and I'll try once
>again to hunt that snipe again.
>
>Do you know of any local RPGs? I would be interested in knowing the names
>(in English and Romanized Chinese or Japanese) as well as a brief summary
>of the game mechanics and plots . . . as well as your personal reactions
>to the games.
There are some local TTRPGs made in Japan. I prefer "The Sword-world
RPG". This is produced by the same game desiginers who made "Record of
Lodoss War Companion". As you can see, this RPG is strongly connected
"Record of Lodoss War"(you can find out the young "Mercenary King
Kashue" in this world). The spells and character levels are limited,
as the aim of this game is not to become a god but make an adventure
of humanbeing. Combat system is not time-consuming like Rune Quest.
There are three game rule books(basic, expansion, monster) and many
senario books. Fortunateley, they are paperback, so they are
cheap(about 500 yen /book). Unfortunately, there is no translation in
English nor Chinese, so far. ;o;
Another one is "Worth Blade(sorry, I'm not sure the spelling)". This
background world is based on "Rune Worth 1092 (Sei-koku 1092)"(I read
only novels. I'm not sure whehter or not there are OVAs. However, the
characters are designed by Mr.Hataike, and mechas are fascinating.)
This is not pure fantasy RPG but Science-Fantasy. This world includes
both "Sword & Sorcery" and Mecha(Sou-hei).
However, main stream of TTRPG in Japan is "D&D"(include advanced
D&D). The other candidates are "Rune Quest" and "Traveler". Only few
people plays "Universe","Gamma World","Dragon Quest","Middle-Earth
RPG","Talisrantania" and so on. Anyway, most of us play the translated
RPGs from USA.
Speaking about Computer RPGs, Dragon Quest(not by SPI but by Enix
^-^) and Final Fantasy are very famous in Japan. These Japanese RPGs
are more familiar than Wizardry or Ultima, Birds Tale.
Kenji Gotoh
Visiting Industrial Fellow
EECS, University of California, Berkeley
Steven E Barnes
> Another one is "Worth Blade(sorry, I'm not sure the spelling)". This
> background world is based on "Rune Worth 1092 (Sei-koku 1092)"(I read
> only novels. I'm not sure whehter or not there are OVAs. However, the
> characters are designed by Mr.Hataike, and mechas are fascinating.)
> This is not pure fantasy RPG but Science-Fantasy. This world includes
> both "Sword & Sorcery" and Mecha(Sou-hei).
Sounds like "Wares Blade" I looked at a copy, and it seemed fairly
interesting, unfortunatly, it would have taken far too much work
for me to understand it.
Other games I saw advertised were: W.A.R.P.S. (Wild Action Roleplaying
System). This seemed to be the GURPS concept of genre suppliments,
including one for Appleseed and one for Lupin (I think).
A good way to find out more would be to buy one of the monthly
gaming magazines published in Japan.
-steve