Anime d20 and d20 Mecha by Guardians Of Order

[Guardians Of Order]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Guelph, Ontario
27 September 2002

Contact: Mark C. MacKinnon, President

ANIME AND MECHA D20 SYSTEM RPGS BY GUARDIANS OF ORDER

Guardians Of Order, Inc. announced today plans to publish a d20 System
version of their three-time Origins Award-nominated multi-genre Japanese
anime role-playing game, Big Eyes, Small Mouth (BESM), in spring 2003.
Additionally, they will produce d20 Mecha, a giant robot, starship, and
vehicle compendium based on the Origins Award-nominated Big Robots, Cool
Starships by David L. Pulver, which can be used to supplement any d20
System game. This announcement follows one month after they revealed
plans for the summer 2003 premiere of a d20 game based on the wildly
popular fantasy anime series, The Slayers.

"Many long-time Big Eyes, Small Mouth fans, as well as supporters of d20
System innovation, have been asking us to bring an anime flavour to the
d20 System, and we are listening," said President Mark C. MacKinnon.
"BESM d20 will present a flexible and easy-to-learn point-based power
creation system that can be added on top of any d20 System game, while
maintaining all the familiar elements, including feats, skills, levels,
classes, races, and spells. Since the game handles all genres with ease,
BESM d20 is a perfect addition to a fantasy, science fiction, espionage,
superhero, horror, or wild west campaign."

d20 Mecha, also releasing in spring 2003, provides a detailed creation
system for all things mecha: giant transforming robots, sleek power armour,
star-spanning space cruisers, speedy hot rods and motorbikes, military
assault vehicles, combat jet fighters, mechanical monsters, and much more.
Additionally, d20 Mecha explores the common anime mecha conventions,
with game rules covering prestige classes, character options, combat
manoeuvres, hit locations, and campaign suggestions. "Individually or
together, these two books are the perfect products for players looking to
spice up their d20 games with some over-the-top anime action," MacKinnon
added.

Founded in 1997, Guardians Of Order, Inc. is the recognized industry
leader for Japanese anime role-playing games and reference books, with
specializations in authorized anime Ultimate Fan Guides and
superheroic/cinematic role-playing games. In addition to their Origins
Award-nominated Big Eyes, Small Mouth RPG, they currently publish licensed
anime fan guides and RPGs for Trigun, Hellsing, Tenchi Muyo!, El-Hazard,
and more. They also produce the critically acclaimed superhero RPG, Silver
Age Sentinels. Guardians Of Order is headquartered in Guelph, Ontario. For
more information, contact Guardians Of Order at info@guardiansorder.com,
or visit the company's website at http://www.guardiansorder.com.

"d20 System" is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast.

 

[Morrus]

I'm sure this was announced a couple of weeks back - or am I thinking of something else?

 

[beta-ray]

First I have heard of it... Caught me by surprise actually!

[Edit: Actually read it at Gaming Report first and came looking here for reaction... but just heard about it today is what I meant]

 

[Ranger REG]

JUST A RANDOM OBSERVATION...

Hmm. Why do I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot of products with titles being prefixed "d20 _____"?

First it was d20 Modern from Wizards. Now d20 Mecha from GOO. I think it's already a given that D&D is an alias for d20 Fantasy. I wonder who will be the first to publish a d20 Future rulebook?

 

[EarthsShadow]

if they redid it and renamed it d20 Fantasy, that would be awesome...

on the news of BESM for d20 and d20 Mecha, all I can say is totally awesome and its about time. I just got Silver Age Sentinels, and that has gotten me back into the purchasing of comic books. That system is the best for super heroes that I have ever seen and captures the feel of what its like to be a real hero.

Thanks for a wonderful product, and to bad it isn't spring right now so I can buy those two books.

 

[Horacio]

Will they use "standard d20" or "SAS" d20 or an hybrid?

 

[Ranger REG]

if they redid it and renamed it d20 Fantasy, that would be awesome...

Nah. Dungeons & Dragons is too popular a brand name to discard or fade into obscurity. If such a product is planned, d20 Fantasy will have to exist alongside with D&D in the market.

 

[whisper_jeff]

Will they use "standard d20" or "SAS" d20 or an hybrid?

BESM d20 will primarily be a character creation aid. Thus, it will be more akin to SAS d20. That said, we will be working to make it more obvious how to use BESM d20 with other d20 material (as many people know, I strongly assert that SAS d20 is completely compatible with other d20 material though I know some people disagree...). I guess that basically means something along the lines of a hybrid of tradtional d20 and SAS d20.

Will there be Feats? Yes (ala the Feats Attribute like the one I posted to the EnWorld thread regarding SAS).

Will there be Spells? Yup.

Will there be some differences? Yes, only if it serves to make a better product for use in an anime-styled (which basically translates into cinematic) game.

Hope that answers your questions.

 

[Horacio]

That answer my questions, and gets me very very interested in the game.

After an initial shock, I've learned to love SAS d20, it's not what I thought it was going to be, but it's a great game, and a wonderful blending between Tri Stat and d20. So I think I will like a lot BESM d20.

Thanks!

 

[Geoff Watson]

I hope it's more compatable with the majority of d20 games than SAS d20 was. SAS d20 was obviously designed to be as similar as possible to TriStat SAS, just so the supplements would be easier to make, rather than for compatablity with other d20 games.

Geoff.