Sword World to Get Official English Translation

Sword World, an incredibly popular TTRPG in Japan, is getting its first official English translation courtesy of Mugen Gaming. The publisher announced a partnership with Group SNE to produce an official English translation, with a Kickstarter coming in 2026 to produce the Sword World 2.5 Deluxe Rulebook, with additional product to follow.

Mugen Gaming also has a free 60-page one-shot RPG, complete with basic rules, for those who sign up on their English language website.

Sword World is a fantasy RPG with origins tied to D&D. Group SNE started as a gaming group that played Dungeons & Dragons and recorded the events of their game as Record of Lodoss War. After TSR rejected Group SNE's overtures to make an official Record of Lodoss World campaign setting, the group created their own rules system which eventually became Sword World.

The system uses a 2D6 system, where a 12 is an auto-success and a 2 is an automatic failure (but also automatically earns XP). The game is on the crunchier side, with skill checks adding multiple modifiers to determine success and damage rolls coming from a table based on power level and the roll of a 2D6 instead of rolling damage dice.

 

[Aldarc]

I wondered more than once wether this TTRPG has a connection to Record of Lodoss War, and I can now see it does. Ive seen what looked like official maps for Lodoss & its bigger continent (can't recal its name) so Im guessing those were from an eaier edition of this game.

Alacrast.

I believe that it's also the same world for the short-lived anime Rune Soldier Louie,* which was created by the author/creator of Record of Lodoss War.

* A more comedic fantasy series about three female adventurers (a priestess, a thief, and a warrior) recruiting the male wizard Louie to complete their party, but their wizard Louie prefers to solve problems with his fists instead of magic. Moreover, the priestess receives a holy vision from her god Myrii (the god of war and valor) that Louie is her champion.

 

[Spellslinging Sellsword]

Just got this today:

Thanks for signing up - and welcome aboard!

We’re thrilled to have you here as we get ready to bring Sword World RPG to English for the first time.

Our 60+ page one-shot adventure is nearly ready - we’ll be sending it your way in early August. Keep an eye on your inbox!

In the meantime, we’re at Gen Con this weekend meeting tons of amazing players, publishers, and fellow fans of Japanese game design. If you’re in Indy, stop by Booth #2566 and say hi!

 

[DarkCrisis]

TSR fumbling the hell out of D&D in Japan is hilarious. I'm excited to see Sword World.

 

[Skywalker]

Alacrast.

I believe that it's also the same world for the short-lived anime Rune Soldier Louie,* which was created by the author/creator of Record of Lodoss War.

And Legends of Crystania.

 

[Skywalker]

I wondered more than once wether this TTRPG has a connection to Record of Lodoss War, and I can now see it does. Ive seen what looked like official maps for Lodoss & its bigger continent (can't recal its name) so Im guessing those were from an eaier edition of this game.

Alacrast was the setting in SW1.0. It has since been replaced in SW2.0 and 2.5.

I can't say this new tramslation is something Id get to run a campaign with, but if it does a decent trearment of the setting & lore, I might consider it for that alone. My daughter tho - might be a good Xmas or bday present.

SW2.5 is a solid and flexible fantasy RPG. I would play it over the likes of 5e, Daggerheart and other modern D&D fantasy equivalents. It won't cover Alacrast as said, as SW2.5 has its own setting, which is also good. The system would be perfect for a Record of Lodoss War game though, as SW1.0 was.

 

[overgeeked]

Over on Facebook the Mugen people are saying it's soon for the preview PDF. Next 24-48 hours or pushed to next week. But it's Soon™.

 

[Distracted DM]

Am I the only one who can't access their site?

 

[overgeeked]

Turns out Soon™ was this morning. Got my email.

 

[Spellslinging Sellsword]

Just checked and nothing. Hopefully it will arrive in my email soon.

 

[overgeeked]

Just checked and nothing. Hopefully it will arrive in my email soon.

Apparently it's going out in waves.

There's also a discord set up by the publisher, Mugen Gaming.