All Flesh Must Be Eaten Unisystem vs. Cinematic Unisystem

[daddystabz]

I am pretty new to the Unisystem, having just gotten into All Flesh Must Be Eaten, and have never played any of the other games based on this system previously. I keep hearing people making a distinction between Unisystem from AFMBE and the Cinematic system version found in Buffy/Angel. Can anyone please compare/contrast these 2 and tell me what their similarities and differences are? I am very interested in knowing. I am extremely interested in starting a dark vampire romantic RPG based on Forever Knight, one of my favorite all-time shows and was thinking that a more cinematic version of Unisystem might be great for this.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Crothian]

One is simple, one is more complex. That's what it really comes down to. It is the same basic system. One example is in Cinematic damages are set, in the other they are random.

 

[daddystabz]

So are you saying that the Buffy/Angel cinematic system is more complex than the AFMBE version of Unisystem?

 

[Nikosandros]

So are you saying that the Buffy/Angel cinematic system is more complex than the AFMBE version of Unisystem?

It's the other way around.

 

[Draksila]

Basically, Cinematic has fewer skills that are more general in nature; 16 total skills, if I recall, compared to the more specific set in AFMBE/Witchcraft/Armageddon. Also, as stated above, damages for attacks in Cinematic are set to the average number that the dice would give you if you rolled the damage in Classic Unisystem. Also, Cinematic introduces the concept of Drama Points; a number of points a player can spend to add bonuses to attempted actions, cut the damage they've taken in half, or even simply bribe the GM to give them a lucky break.

All told, Cinematic Unisystem is the simpler version that tries to emulate movies and TV. Heroes are larger than life and capable of amazing feats. Classic Unisystem is more grounded in reality and provides an edgier, grittier game with more realistic protagonists. Which is better for your campaign really depends on the level of realism you're shooting for.

If you do go for Cinematic, I'd suggest the Angel core rulebook for a Forever Knight style game. Angel is a bit darker and has rules for organizations, both NPC and PC. Buffy Revised is the same ruleset, but has a more teenage tone and more detailed magic rules. Army of Darkness, like the movie, is a bit more comedic but has mass combat rules. Of those selections, my guess is Angel fits the tone and details needed for what you're looking for.

 

[Draksila]

Oh, and as a note? If you want magic rules and some basic monsters for Classic Unisystem, the Witchcraft core rulebook is available as a free PDF. The PDF doesn't include the flavor stories that the hardcopy book does, but everything else is in there.

However AFMBE, with a touch of imagination, is very good for creating your own monsters. The zombie creation rules are very flexible, and it's easy to make up your own powers and guess at a power cost based on existing abilities.

 

[daddystabz]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the help and suggestions!

 

[Crothian]

There is also the newly released Ghosts of Albion that uses Cinematic rules of Buffy with a much better magic system.

 

[Wormwood]

Cinematic Unisystem is easily my favorite system---Classic is fine but once I went to Buffy I just couldn't handle AFMBE's skill system and assorted simulationism baggage.

Plus, with Cinematic the GM never has to roll dice. Ever.

*wistful sigh*

 

[daddystabz]

Well, technically you never have to roll dice in the AFMBE Unisystem either. You can take the average number after the die roll, for instance 2d6 (3) or you can use cards as well.