GURPS Anime...what should be in it?

[Kelly Pedersen]

Originally Posted by Mgellis

I think you might have an "anime" book, but I think it would be a collection of the things that make anime distinctive

The problem is, there is no such collection. Anime is, basically, "animation made in Japan". Any attempt to put a bunch of "anime style" rules in one place would either a) become ridiculously large, and essentially indisinguishable from the Basic Set, or b) only cover a limited subset of anime, in which case it would be better marketed as that subset, rather than dissapointing people who went in expecting something else.

[Mark Skarr]

Originally Posted by Mgellis

I see the logic of what you (and others) have said on this subject. I think you might have an "anime" book, but I think it would be a collection of the things that make anime distinctive--templates, races, commonly seen powers (you can't get all of them, but you could do what was done in Supers, outlining several of the more common "types"), perks, etc.

See, I don't think you could do this, and do any part of it justice. You'd be better off writing a little GURPS Anime in Space for the general sci-fi of Anime. I mean, you could do a GURPS Shojo book, but I can't imagine it selling very well. Just like, while I'd love a GURPS Magical Girls book (mmmmm, Fate Testarossa), I think that would just be a subset of Supers. I don't think it would have enough useful information to be anything other than an incredibly niche product that wouldn't be worth the cost of development.

Sniped by Kelly!

[Mailanka]

Originally Posted by Mark Skarr

Just like, while I'd love a GURPS Magical Girls book (mmmmm, Fate Testarossa), I think that would just be a subset of Supers. I don't think it would have enough useful information to be anything other than an incredibly niche product that wouldn't be worth the cost of development.

I think you could argue something similar of Psionic Powers being a subset of Powers, or Tales of the Solar Patrol being a subset of space, and certainly a niche product.

There might be a proper balancing point, not quite as narrow as Magical Girl and not quite as broad as Shojo, but I do think the more specific, the better. Yes, it would be niche, but that's the sort of thing e23 was made for. If you can pull out a good 20k words on a topic, it's probably worthwhile to put online.

EDIT: If the comment is "SJGames should make GURPS Magical Girls," then I agree, it's not worth their time. If the comment is instead "I want to make GURPS Magical Girls!" well, knock yourself out!

[Mark Skarr]

Originally Posted by Mailanka

EDIT: If the comment is "SJGames should make GURPS Magical Girls," then I agree, it's not worth their time. If the comment is instead "I want to make GURPS Magical Girls!" well, knock yourself out!

The comment is:
"While I would like, and would buy, GURPS Magical Girls, I know that it is unfeasable. There simply isn't enough of a market for it."

And, I'm pretty sure that my title would preclude me from being allowed within 500 feet of a GURPS Magical Girls authorship or playtest. Kromm would take one look at me submitting a book on Magical Girls and have it burned and his hands and eyes sterilized.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Kelly Pedersen

The problem is, there is no such collection. Anime is, basically, "animation made in Japan".

Yeah but c'mon. This is roleplaying games so we aren't talking about animation made in Japan. We're just talking shonen action, a much more restricted field. Nobody's llooking for seinen romantic drama.

[Mark Skarr]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Yeah but c'mon. This is roleplaying games so we aren't talking about animation made in Japan. We're just talking shonen action, a much more restricted field. Nobody's llooking for seinen romantic drama.

Speak for yourself, I think that Bill Stoddard could run an awesome campaign based on Chobits (I have faith in you, man!). Or you could set a campaign to run in the world of ARIA: The Animation. I would much rather play in a Clamp! shojo world than in Naruto.

And, honestly, even shonen action anime is better served by various other books: you want to play Naruto or Bleach, that would be a subset of Martial Arts and Supers. You want something like Blood Plus, welcome to Horror and Supers. You want Macross, you'll need Space, and Spaceships, and if you're talking Macross Frontier, Powers. And wouldn't Deathnote be an awesome campaign idea for Transhuman Space?

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Mark Skarr

Speak for yourself, I think that Bill Stoddard could run an awesome campaign based on Chobits (I have faith in you, man!). Or you could set a campaign to run in the world of ARIA: The Animation. I would much rather play in a Clamp! shojo world than in Naruto.

And, honestly, even shonen action anime is better served by various other books: you want to play Naruto or Bleach, that would be a subset of Martial Arts and Supers.

Supers is pretty much covered by Powers for that matter apart from a couple of chapters at the start. Everything is covered by Characters, Campaigns, Martial Arts, Thaumatology, Space and the Tech books. We don't _need_ anything else. But you know, if I wanted to play anime ninja, it might be useful to have "transposing your body with that of a log dressed in your outer clothing" covered. Martial Arts and Supers doesn't mention nekomimi. They don't give any superhero write-ups for characters who are transvestites who dress like masked maids. None of these things are insoluble problems of course. You can do the research, yourself and design or improvise the stuff you need. But secondary source books are for convenience, inspiration and entertainment not necessity.

Then again, I never DID figure out how to do the battle zone, a sphere of "nobody's business" that mundane people can't see into or notice so the superhuman can fight, or victimize in peace.

[Mark Skarr]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Supers is pretty much covered by Powers for that matter apart from a couple of chapters at the start. Everything is covered by Characters, Campaigns, Martial Arts, Thaumatology, Space and the Tech books. We don't _need_ anything else.

You are correct.

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

But you know, if I wanted to play anime ninja, it might be useful to have "transposing your body with that of a log dressed in your outer clothing" covered.

Right, which would go in a GURPS Shonen Ninja Anime book and not be a terribly big seller. I could be wrong.

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Martial Arts and Supers doesn't mention nekomimi.

No, but I think BioTech might. [edit]Yep, it's mentioned as "cat-girl nanovirus" on page 187.[/edit]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

They don't give any superhero write-ups for characters who are transvestites who dress like masked maids.

You . . . you are correct, sir! And, honestly, I don't think it needed to.

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

None of these things are insoluble problems of course. You can do the research, yourself and design or improvise the stuff you need. But secondary source books are for convenience and entertainment not necessity.

I just don't see a series of GURPS Anime Sourcebooks being terribly big sellers. I would love to be wrong, but I just don't think there would be enough demand for them.

[Xenarthral]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

http://www.sjgames.com/toon/

Yeah. Knew that would happen when I shortened my post in an attempt at greater coherency.
(In addition to what Kromm wrote) Toon is not "Animation the roleplaying game", it deals with a specific genre/related group of genres and, arguably, style/styles. It's like calling Marvel Superheroes Roleplaying game "Comics the roleplaying game".

[rcarter]

hmm, lots of weird perverted japanese people and some american counter culture weirdos that think that watching preteens engage in sexual acts with monsters is a good modern medium?

Or an advantage that turns people into cartoons?

Obviously i don't support this idea and would be embarrassed for SJG if they supported this idea.

Seriously though, cowboy bebop was cool and everything but really what is the difference between that and say - gurps space? D&D made a cartoon back in the day but i don't think that D&D published a Anime supplement because of it... because it would throw all thier credibility out the window.