My D&D Game would suffer without Anime!!!!

[Desdichado]

Anime's popularity has drastically increased over the last five-six years, mainly due to Cartoon Network and a few other channels.

I have no doubt that that's true, although I did a little poking around and could not corroberate your numbers. I did find similar claims about Adult Swim, though--which is not solely anime in nature.

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

I managed to watch Cowboy Bebop once, and mostly I was just frustrated because I didn't know the characters or the continuing story, which meant I could at least stomach the art and the dialogue for fitteen minutes, making it a huge leg-up on anything else I'd seen. I'd be willing to give this another shot, if I can start from the beginning.Popular doesn't make it good - it just makes it popular.

The thing about Bebop is that while there is an overarching plot (centered around the main character Spike), the series itself stands well without. Cowboy Bebop starts very in media res, and it basically follows the formula throughout. In fact, most Bebop episodes can be summed up in the following:

- The Bebop and her crew are on a bounty mission
- They encounter the bounty and everything is not quite what it seems
- Things go awry
- Bad (and sometimes weird) stuff happens

This isn't a negative, IMO. On the contrary, I think a simple formula is hard to follow, and Bebop's done it better than most other television shows out there, let alone anime. There's also a lot of humor to counteract the very dark and nasty world they live in. It's also heavily influenced by Native American spiritualism. And of course, if you like jazz you'll love the music.

 

[BroccoliRage]

So while we're naming bad anime, I'll just chuck "Those Who Hunt Elves" in the fire-pit as well.

 

[Crothian]

So what game engine would you recommend for Record of the Lodoss War?

Fantasy Hero

 

[JoeGKushner]

Fantasy Hero

Oh, good choice!

I'd avoid systems like Rolemaster as they were far too intent on the 'critical' damage being inflicted but Fantasy Hero, especially the new edition, might be worth exploring.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

You're right. I haven't seen those, although Lodoss War is familiar in as much as it's been recommended by someone who I know well enough to take seriously. My experience of anime, however, has left me with nothing but unpleasant recollection, despite apparently having seen some of the best of what the genre has to offer, and I'm in no hurry to see any more.

I have had a similar experience. I had no experience with literature, and someone recommended I read some Tolstoy, Conrad, Melville, and Proust to get an idea of what the medium had to offer. Instead, I read some poop-fetish pornography and watched Faces of Death and then punched myself in the face over and over again. My experiences have led me to believe that all literature is disgusting and painful, despite apparently having seen some of the best of what the genre has to offer, and I'm in no hurry to see any more.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

My game totally plays like Haibane Renmei.

Holy crap, dude. That sounds like a damn good game.

 

[The Shaman]

The thing about Bebop is that while there is an overarching plot (centered around the main character Spike), the series itself stands well without.

I caught the last fifteen minutes of the show I watched, so I missed both the context of that episode as well as the series continuity. Even with that, I didn't come away from it with the feeling, "Wow, I'd like that time out of my life back," like I did with literally every other anime movie or program I watched.

And I'm a Traveller player, so admittedly the premise has home field advantage.

It's also heavily influenced by Native American spiritualism.

That doesn't wow me.

And of course, if you like jazz you'll love the music.

I'm more of a Latin jazz fan, but yes, the soundtrack/score caught my attention.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

As a result of this, most people's experiences with anime have been zany, over the top shows like Dragon Ball Z (Or its thinly veiled imposter of recent days, Naruto)

Not that there's anything wrong with this. On their own terms, these series are a lot of fun. They're over-the-top Supers genre stuff, and that can be a total riot to play. Supers is, in fact, a popular role-playing genre. But if you're looking for careful intrigue and in-depth character development, you'll probably find it elsewhere. Of course, you probably shouldn't go looking for these things in American four-colour superhero comics either.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Anime is not one but many styles of film animation, ranging from the serious artwork (e.g., Robotech/Macross) to the kiddie "face faults" (e.g., Pokemon, One Piece).

Exactly. It's like saying that "American" is a genre or a style. Debbie Does Dallas has about as much in common with The Dark Crystal as Serial Experiments: Lain does with The Elven Bride.