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View Full Version : ugh... [B][I]THAT[/I][/B] system. [BESM D20]



Dark_Nohn
2010-10-26, 10:14 PM
Tomorrow, it was organized, that my group is running the most notoriously awful system (as far as other RPG boards I've seen are concerned,) after our round-robin D&D 3.5 game fell through when people left town.

Going into the book, I knew what to expect, as it's Tristat D20, the same way that Silver Age Sentinels is Tristat D20. We've been trying to get a SAS campaign going for literally years, so I was somewhat familiar with it, in addition to having made an ad-hoc character for a BESM campaign years ago on the day of play, so the character was rushed. What I had made that time was under the class "Pet Monster Trainer" but the theme of my character was that the "Pet Monsters" were living distillations of elemental energies, and had stats of -/-/1/-/10/1, and a few abilities that I would use via the Mimic attribute.

Originally I was going to roll up a jedi-like character, but the character points would be spread out too thin over too many different abilities that I wouldn't have anything with enough power that it would be effective, and the only class that almost works with the concept is Samurai, with using all of my points in telekinesis, telepathy, dodging, and any kind of other force powers that I'd probably use... well, I wouldn't quite have the right point value.

Then, I decided, what the hell, why not go dynamic sorcerer. The DM said it's fine "As long as you don't break the game like [insert guy's name that I don't know.]" But the way the rules work, it all seems like a pile of useless-or-cheese.

If anyone wants more info, I'll probably give it, but without info, what's the playground's opinion on this subject?

Artanis
2010-10-26, 10:27 PM
BESM and d20 are as different as it is physically possible for two systems to get. Seriously, they are exact opposites. Blending two things that are different in every possible way just plain don't work.

DementedFellow
2010-10-26, 10:32 PM
BESM and d20 are as different as it is physically possible for two systems to get. Seriously, they are exact opposites. Blending two things that are different in every possible way just plain don't work.

I agree with this. The hardest part is actually finding a character sheet that makes sense of both systems.

As far as Dynamic Sorcery goes, you can never go wrong with Dynamic Sorcery. The spells available should be picked by the DM if he doesn't want to upset the balance in this already unbalanced game.

Dark_Nohn
2010-10-26, 11:02 PM
BESM and d20 are as different as it is physically possible for two systems to get. Seriously, they are exact opposites. Blending two things that are different in every possible way just plain don't work.

It's an actual system, I would link to the website of the publisher, but even the website is dead, so here's the amazon link. (http://www.amazon.com/BESM-Revised-Anime-Role-Players-Handbook/dp/1894938526/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288150885&sr=8-1)

My first post was going to be about how the system has holes in it, (Such as Attributes having a "Relevant Ability," but all except a few having no say on the effect of the "Relevant Ability")


As far as Dynamic Sorcery goes, you can never go wrong with Dynamic Sorcery. The spells available should be picked by the DM if he doesn't want to upset the balance in this already unbalanced game.
At level 1, an unwise player who takes Dynamic Sorcery class, but no additional levels of the Dynamic Sorcery attribute, nor ranks of Energy Bonus can cast a whopping total of 1 (approximately, assuming the character has a dump stat) 0-th level spell per hour.
As for the spells, the default 8Pt/Rank gives you spontaneously access to ALL spells in the PHB, while the 4Pt/Rank gives access to one (and only one) school of magic. There's also a 2Pt/Rank that I'm not going to say anything about, but there's also a 20Pt/Rank version that I can use without any restriction whatsoever (and unlimited use,) and the book doesn't state which version I get, (though I'm guessing it's the 8Pt/Rank version, otherwise the class is useless or retarded OP.)

herrhauptmann
2010-10-26, 11:04 PM
I had thought that the absolutely worst system in the world was FATAL....

Dark_Nohn
2010-10-26, 11:48 PM
I had thought that the absolutely worst system in the world was FATAL....

After finding out what this FATAL/TGTMNBN is... it makes Nymphology and BoEF look mature. Also, I would like to point out, now knowing what this FATAL game is, that you've just invoked the RPG-equivalent of Godwin's Law by mentioning it

herrhauptmann
2010-10-26, 11:57 PM
I forget which is Godwins law?
The one that mentions hitler, or the one regarding porn of any item you can think of.

In either case, how have I violated those laws by saying I thought that FATAL was the worst ever (with the unspoken question of "Is BESM/D20 worse?"_

horngeek
2010-10-27, 12:23 AM
BESM is just unplayable. FATAL... is actively degrading. Of a great many things.

As well as so complex as to be nearly unplayable.

Lord_Gareth
2010-10-27, 12:27 AM
I've never had any problems in the BESM D20 games I've played in...

The Tygre
2010-10-27, 12:36 AM
I've never had any problems in the BESM D20 games I've played in...

Indeed. And I feel the need to point out that the magic system presented in Slayers d20 is almost universally praised as an excellent alternative to Vancian magic.

Dark_Nohn
2010-10-27, 12:59 AM
Indeed. And I feel the need to point out that the magic system presented in Slayers d20 is almost universally praised as an excellent alternative to Vancian magic.

What's the Slayers d20 magic system?

Morph Bark
2010-10-27, 01:08 AM
After finding out what this FATAL/TGTMNBN is... it makes Nymphology and BoEF look mature.

Silly FATAL, Nymphology and BoEF are for kids! :smalltongue:

Artanis
2010-10-27, 03:41 PM
It's an actual system, I would link to the website of the publisher, but even the website is dead, so here's the amazon link. (http://www.amazon.com/BESM-Revised-Anime-Role-Players-Handbook/dp/1894938526/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288150885&sr=8-1)

Oh, I know that BESM d20 is an actual system. That doesn't mean that it worked out well.

TheThan
2010-10-27, 04:15 PM
You need to do your gaming group a favor and pick up the 3rd edition rules. It’s a much better system than the dreaded D20 version. As others have said, the two systems are NOT compatible.

seriously, check it out, you will be amazed at how much a better a system it is when compared to the D20 version.