BESM Worlds - Building Game Settings
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Creating your very own Anime inspired RPG World
BESM is a universal rpg. The participants can play in practically any setting their imagination allows. Anime and Manga encompass many different themes and genres. Just as western animation and comics range from the serious to the comic, so too do their eastern counterparts. Now imagine trying to design a Manga or Anime RPG world from the ground up. Daunting isn't it?
It will be less traumatic if you stick to some key rules and a few guidelines. The tips here are from the Big Eyes Small Mouth RPG but I've also learned that the process translates well to other role playing games not just multi-genre games.
It will be less traumatic if you stick to some key rules and a few guidelines. The tips here are from the Big Eyes Small Mouth RPG but I've also learned that the process translates well to other role playing games not just multi-genre games.
Contents at a Glance
What is BESM?
BESM or Big Eyes Small Mouth is an Anime inspired tabletop RPG. This game system is setting neutral or generic. Because of this, the system is well suited to the varied genres of anime. Read more about BESM here
How to make an Anime Setting
Begin by defining the basic elements
The key is to come to a consensus about the characteristics of the world. By describing the world the gaming group sets the allowed mechanics as well as the accepted descriptive elements.
Creating a consensus is a major step in BESM. In most role-playing games, many of these milieu characteristics are dictated by the game system. DnD has its particular brand of heroic fantasy, Exalted has a different kind. Call of Cthulhu has its own flavor of horror and it differs from Vampire: the Requiem. Once a consensus is established you can avoid incongruence such as people playing talking animals in a realistic setting or toting lasers in a medieval world.
If people are confused about what is acceptable in the world, it will be impossible to have a satisfying game experience.
Creating a consensus is a major step in BESM. In most role-playing games, many of these milieu characteristics are dictated by the game system. DnD has its particular brand of heroic fantasy, Exalted has a different kind. Call of Cthulhu has its own flavor of horror and it differs from Vampire: the Requiem. Once a consensus is established you can avoid incongruence such as people playing talking animals in a realistic setting or toting lasers in a medieval world.
If people are confused about what is acceptable in the world, it will be impossible to have a satisfying game experience.
Characteristics in BESM
- Genre
- Time Period
- Category
- Game Concept and Theme
- Power Level
Sword and Rose
Worldbuilder Guides
Genre
The Main Category
Genre is a shorthand for identifying the main tropes used in a setting. It is a collection of conventions that is used to describe your setting. It can also be called a collection of characteristics typical of the setting. The Fantasy genre has Knights and Wizards, Sci-Fi has aliens and Space Ships. Mecha are a seperate breed from Sci Fi because of the focus on the Big Robots. Defining the genre of your game is the first step in getting the gaming group on the same page.
BESM Categories are :
- Alien Visitor
- Exotic Girlfriend
- Gun Bunnies
- Hero Teams or Magical Girls
- Heroic Fantasy
- Hot Rods
- Idols or Sports
- Interdimensional Exiles
- Martial Arts
- Mecha
- Period Piece
- Pet Monster
- Science Fiction
- School Days
- Space Opera
- Supernatural
You can mix and match genres. Its done all the time in anime and Manga. Vision of Escaflowne is fantasy mecha. Sailormoon is Magical Girl with School Days mixed in.
Katekyo Hitman
Period
when is the game set?
Time period is an important determinant of flavor. The Period helps determine descriptive elements in the same way that genre does. The Samurai period would have people freely roaming around with swords, something unlikely in a modern setting. A sword toting person in the modern age would arouse suspicion at least.
Periods in BESM
- Samurai Japan
- Other Pre-Industrial Periods
- Recent History
- Alternate History
- Modern Day
- Near Future
- Far Future
- Another World: Fantasy
- Another Universe: Sci-Fi
Karate
Visual Inspiration
Designs from Anime and Manga Pros
Anime and Manga Art Books. Fantasy and Sci Fi picture books
The Anime Art of Hayao Miyazaki by Dani Cavallaro
The thought-provoking, aesthetically pleasing animated more...0 points
Anime and the Visual Novel: Narrative Structure, Design and Play at the Crossroads of Animation and Computer Games by Dani Cavallaro
This book describes the thematic and structural tr more...0 points
Groundworks of Ghost in the Shell - Stand Alone Complex Art Book by Production I.G
Production I.G. and Mag Garden team on the first G more...0 points
Art of Gundam Wing
Gundam Wing revolves around young pilots sent to e more...0 points
Yoshikazu Yasuhiko Art Book by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
A fine collection of Yasuko's anime art and book i more...0 points
Category
The feel of the game
In Film, Category refers to the genre. in BESM, Category states how the game tells its story and what elements are emphasized. It describes the feel of the game. An Action Game would tell the story through physical action as opposed to dialogue. Comedy weaves humor into its story and is predominant in each session.
BESM Categories are :
- Action
- Drama
- Comedy
- Romance
- Mixed
Bird Street
Game Concept and Theme
What are the Characters doing?
The theme is a shorthand for the main activity of the player characters. It also determines the issues emphasized in the plot. This is where the playing group can get really creative. Try mashing two themes together to get an odd twist to your setting. For example a theme about "confronting the supernatural" can have many variants. Mixed in with Sci-fi and it becomes Silent Moebius. Mixed with humor and you get Ghosts at School.
Groundworks Anime Books
Fans Unite!
Vids from Games
Power Level
Do you want to benchpress the sun?
Power Level is another technical term. It describes how superhuman the setting and characters are as compared to "real life". As a mechanic it helps determine how many points players can assign to their characters.
Low power games have characters who have the capabilities of above average humans. In contrast, the High Power Games will feel like Dragonball Z, where combatants regularly tear up the surface of planets.
Low power games have characters who have the capabilities of above average humans. In contrast, the High Power Games will feel like Dragonball Z, where combatants regularly tear up the surface of planets.
Horsman of the Apocalypse
Wikipedia Links for World building and setting creation
- Fantasy tropes and conventions
- elements in a fantasy game
- World Building
- Methods for creating worlds
- High Concept
- the one sentence setting definition
Heart of Swords
Tropes Elements and Conventions
- TV Tropes
- a list of conventions you see on TV and other Media
Which planet do you come from?
Or maybe dimension if you live that far away...
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Mar 2, 2012 @ 3:32 am | delete
- I also think so, I agree with kingrpg, your website is so great. and the design, I like
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kingrpg
Dec 30, 2010 @ 11:37 pm | delete
- Your website is really cool and this is a great inspiring article. Thank you so much. I always wanted to write in my site something like that.
Can I take part of your post to my blog?
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khael
Jan 1, 2011 @ 11:54 pm | delete
- Sure. Just put a link to this page and cite me as the source. Your website has some interesting stuff for anime fans.
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kingrpg
Dec 30, 2010 @ 11:37 pm | delete
- Your website is really cool and this is a great inspiring article. Thank you so much. I always wanted to write in my site something like that.
Can I take part of your post to my blog?
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updated 8 24 11
by khael
Has a penchant for all sorts of games but prefers tabletop roleplaying games. Tends to listen to unusual music. Currently looking for recipes from oth... more »
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