BtVS/AtS D20

[Kheti sa-Menik]

Maybe this has been posted before..it fact in probably has, but since I don't have access to search and I'd like to stir some ideas up, I'm posting a new thread.

I am a big fan of the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" universe. I like its flavor, I like its mythos.
So, all you buffyheads and angelfanatics, I am looking for D20 ideas for a game in that universe.

Anything, stats, story ideas, game mechanics, magic system, anything.

Yes, I know that there is a Buffy and Angel game in existence. It is very poorly done and fails to pass any substantial test in mechanics or experience.

So I want D20 ideas.

If you hate BtVS and Angel, rather than post something derogatory, please move along.
Thanks.

 

[drothgery]

Start with the "Shadow Chasers" campaign model in d20 Modern (largely the Buffyverse with the serial numbers filed off), raid Urban Arcana and various third-party d20 Modern supplements for additional crunch, and add houserules to taste.

 

[Crothian]

Bastion has a book (Out for Blood) with some major buffy themed things in it

 

[Kheti sa-Menik]

Start with the "Shadow Chasers" campaign model in d20 Modern (largely the Buffyverse with the serial numbers filed off), raid Urban Arcana and various third-party d20 Modern supplements for additional crunch, and add houserules to taste.

Thanks for the input.
Indeed there are parts of Shadowchasers and Urban Aracana that can be canabalized to fit within a B/A (Buffy/Angel) paradigm.

Timeline-wise, I suppose I would approach the game after the events of both shows' last seasons. That would put both series completely as background canon but going forward, one could forge a new campaign world.
It would provide opportunities for pretty good adventure: rebuilding of the Watcher's Council, multiple slayers running around so one or two players could play them (not sure of the mechanics of this), the destruction of the Circle of the Black Thorn and Wolfram and Hart in LA leaving a power vacuum, plus there are a lot of threads still lingering out there in both series.

Mechanics wise, magic would be difficult. I imagine casters would be divided into two kinds: those casters that control and shape magic with their will but still require study to master (ala Willow Rosenberg, Tara Mc Clay, Amy whatshername, Rack) and casters that are skill-based and are better served by casting in groups...they may be complete novices but still can manage to pull off tricks, especially with other casters' (of both types) assistance (Angel, Xander Harris, Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, Rupert Giles).

Creature types need to be adjusted. In B/A's universe, anything not human (besides werewolves) are generally labelled demons. I kind of equate what both shows called demons with any creature from outside our reality. That really pares down the creature types substantially, which may or may not be a bad thing.

Thoughts on a Slayer mechanics? Template? Superpowers from the superheroes game "Blood and Vigilance," perhaps?

 

[Jim Hague]

Maybe this has been posted before..it fact in probably has, but since I don't have access to search and I'd like to stir some ideas up, I'm posting a new thread.

I am a big fan of the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" universe. I like its flavor, I like its mythos.
So, all you buffyheads and angelfanatics, I am looking for D20 ideas for a game in that universe.

Anything, stats, story ideas, game mechanics, magic system, anything.

Yes, I know that there is a Buffy and Angel game in existence. It is very poorly done and fails to pass any substantial test in mechanics or experience.

So I want D20 ideas.

If you hate BtVS and Angel, rather than post something derogatory, please move along.
Thanks.

I'm just agog at the accusation that the Angel and Buffy books are 'poorly done'. Unisystem's plenty solid, and works quite well at what it does - rules-light, cinematic play. And you're frankly not going to find better gameable information than in those books. That said...

Out for Blood and Shadow Chasers are a decent place to start, though SC is D20 Modern, which has, IMO, serious problems with fast action, modern combat and very serious problems with level bloat. I'd reccommend picking up Spycraft 2.0 - it's modular, fast enough to simulate the action of the series and is literally a one book game; no need to go hunting around for extra source material. Hell, being able to do up a gang of NPCs in less than a minute is worth the price of admission alone.

As always, YMMV.

 

[Crothian]

Yes, I know that there is a Buffy and Angel game in existence. It is very poorly done and fails to pass any substantial test in mechanics or experience.

Obviously you don't know much about it then. Its a very well done system, captures the TV series of both better then pretty much any other liscned RPG out there, and the mechancis and experince of it it stand up very well.

 

[Kheti sa-Menik]

Obviously you don't know much about it then. Its a very well done system, captures the TV series of both better then pretty much any other liscned RPG out there, and the mechancis and experince of it it stand up very well.

Thanks for everyone's replies.

Perhaps I was hasty..barroooommm (Sorry a little LoTR humor)
I have read most of both B/A campaign books and some additional material and I think Unisystem is clunky, inelegant and awkward, like it was grasping for a really great idea but failed to achieve. I don't think it captured either series particularly well.

But, I do like the content though, I'll give you that. There's plenty of pure information about the series, little insights into creatures.

I just wish the mechanics were more sound.

Anyway, let's not bash systems. That's the last word I will say on Unisystem, promise.

Let's get back to the thread.
Out for Blood has been recommended twice. I will take a look at it.