(GOO) Slayers D20 -- Out Now!

[Michelle Lyons]

Okay, so I'm not technically a company representative. I am one of the authors, though, and I'm darn proud of it, and I have the okay to do this, so...

Slayers D20, a full D20 game set in the universe of the Slayers anime series, is out now and available through your local retailer! In addition to an episode guide and extensive universe information, the game system is compatible with both the 3.5 SRD AND BESM D20, GOO's popular version of the core game. The system includes new races, classes, prestige classes, feats, and skills (along with new uses for old skills), along with a new magic system, spells, monsters, and rules for fast, fun anime-style combat, including psychological warfare! The content is good both in and out of the given setting, and is sure to be a valuable addition to anyone who wants to run a d20 game that's a bit out of the ordinary.

The Slayers anime series is based on the adventures of Lina Inverse, a beautiful sorcery genius, and her cohorts -- including a dashing (if memory-impaired) swordsman, a princess who longs to battle for justice, and a mysterious half-golem shaman, who is determined to regain his human body once more. Slayers D20 allows you to follow in Lina's footsteps, seeking out treasure, good food, and the greatest new exploit to add to your reputation (not necessarily in that order).

Written by David Lyons, Michelle Lyons, and Anthony Ragan, at 208 pages of happy Slayers goodness, it's a bargain at any price! Go get one today!*



*NB: Aside from marketing hyperbole, I actually believe this. If your milage varies, however, please do post about the book and say so. Opinions are always welcome, and I'm looking forward to hearing what others think of it. Thanks for your time.

 

[JoeGKushner]

It sounds like it has some potential. I thought that Trigun d20 was very weak in the d20 game department, more of a compilation/update of the Ultimate Fan Guides that had come out previously done up in hardcover. Nice for fans of Trigun but not necessarily a great thing for d20 people looking for details.

How much of the book is broken up into game mechanics? Are there new BESM d20 core classes? Fess up.

 

[Pseudonym]

How closely does it follow the series? Did you acutally incorporate rules not allowing female sorcerers to use their powers during "that time of the month"? How did you model the Dragon Slave spell?

 

[Michelle Lyons]

How much of the book is broken up into game mechanics? Are there new BESM d20 core classes? Fess up.

At least half the book is game mechanics. I think it came out to nearly 100,000 words. All the classes are custom built for the game, both core and prestige classes. The only basic class kept was the rogue, and even it got a facelift to keep it in scale with the rest of the setting.

How closely does it follow the series? Did you acutally incorporate rules not allowing female sorcerers to use their powers during "that time of the month"? How did you model the Dragon Slave spell?

I think it follows the series very closely. We took great pains to make sure you could model the series as closely as possible in the d20 system, and the feedback I've had so far seems to indicate others see it the same way.

"That Time of the Month" is an optional rule, included in a sidebar, that can be used if the group feels it suits their game.

Given that we designed a new magic system for the game, including new ways of categorizing spells, it's difficult to describe it. It can definitely deliver a sizable blast, however. If there's something more specific you're looking for, I can try and give you a better description of it if you'll let me know.

 

[WayneLigon]

I'll check it out today. I just watched the first Slayers DVD last week, and it's the first comedy anime series I've seen that actually made me laugh.

 

[Voadam]

Are the classes, magic and other mechanics designed to be balanced for possible inclusion in a straight 3.5 game or do they use the 3.5 base rules and tweak the power levels and balance to fit the mood of the series?

 

[Arnwyn]

It sounds like it has some potential. I thought that Trigun d20 was very weak in the d20 game department, more of a compilation/update of the Ultimate Fan Guides that had come out previously done up in hardcover. Nice for fans of Trigun but not necessarily a great thing for d20 people looking for details.

I've had it for almost 2 weeks (got it last Saturday) and it's nothing like Trigun d20 (which I own and also thought was weak). It really is a d20 rulebook for playing a Slayers campaign.

I haven't read it (only skimmed through it), but know that it does have all new classes for use in Slayers, most (if not all) of the different monsters from all 3 TV seasons are fully statted up (all in 3.5 format), and there is a hefty spell section.

However, I didn't notice any maps of the world of Slayers, so I was pretty disappointed there. Can anyone who has spent more time with it correct me?

Are the classes, magic and other mechanics designed to be balanced for possible inclusion in a straight 3.5 game or do they use the 3.5 base rules and tweak the power levels and balance to fit the mood of the series?

It's not balanced with 3.5 base rules - it's tweaked to fit the mood of the series (and is fully explained right in the introduction).

I, personally, was quite disappointed with this decision (I presumed that Slayers was essentially just high-level campaigning), but it certainly does not look to be an insurmountable problem. (And the stats of the main character are *still* high-level, and are given 3 different sets of power levels for where they were in each of the 3 seasons. I really appreciated that - they seem to be statted up very well.)

 

[Michelle Lyons]

I, personally, was quite disappointed with this decision (I presumed that Slayers was essentially just high-level campaigning), but it certainly does not look to be an insurmountable problem. (And the stats of the main character are *still* high-level, and are given 3 different sets of power levels for where they were in each of the 3 seasons. I really appreciated that - they seem to be statted up very well.)

I'm sorry you were disappointed. As you point out, though, I agree that the difference is not pronounced enough that the problem is insurmountable. I believe the classes will fit well in a somewhat more high-powered, non-Slayers game. Alternatively, one could apply an ECL to them if the GM felt they would be very unbalancing his or her game, and still give them a wider use if so desired.

Overall, I'm glad you're finding use out of the book, and I hope you're pleased with your purchase. Thanks for checking it out.

 

[Mr. Kaze]

I've had it for almost 2 weeks (got it last Saturday) and it's nothing like Trigun d20 (which I own and also thought was weak). It really is a d20 rulebook for playing a Slayers campaign.

Note that this has a side-effect (as is nicely disclaimed at the front of the book) of making a lot of it grossly overpowered for a conventional campaign. Bits of it can be recycled for generalized D20 (like psychological warfare), but the magic system -- which is the core of the series -- is very different.

However, I didn't notice any maps of the world of Slayers, so I was pretty disappointed there. Can anyone who has spent more time with it correct me?

No map. I was disappointed about that, too.

The OVAs -- which provide as much material as a whole 'nother season -- were abjectly missing from the write-up. The visioning of spells was generally a bit boring, really -- spellcasting system is great, but the spells just don't stand out as having any particularly special distinctions between "damage" and "more damage". Mazoku also suffer from a "it's just damage" syndrome, leaving the side-effects of the power to the DM and one-episode mazoku were pretty much just plain ignored. Some items -- like Brass Rackets -- are noticibly missing in the short items section.

But if you want a Slayers campaign, this is a great place to start. If you want psychological warfare to throw your poor players off balance, this has rules & feats. If you want a "Cute" feat, it's in here. If you want "Craft (Cooking)" synnergies, they're in here. And if you're a Slayers fan, it's a pretty nifty purchase, too.

::Kaze

 

[whisper_jeff]

The OVAs -- which provide as much material as a whole 'nother season -- were abjectly missing from the write-up.

You are correct. They are missing because they are owned by a different company and would have required a separate license. The unfortunate thing about many Japanese licenses is that various parts (anime, manga, novels, etc.) are often owned by separate parties. Legally we are only allowed to cover what is in the material we've licensed and nothing else. To go beyond (such as covering the OAVs) would require a different license with a different company. And would have to appear in a different book...