Darker than Black RPG

[Noedig]

So one of my group members got me hooked on this little anime gem, and now we want to run a game based off of it.

We'd rather not invent an entirely new system, so I come here asking anyone familiar with the show if there is a setting that would be appropriate. My initial thought was an edition of Shadowrun, but I'm not sure.

[Tiki Snakes]

I'm thinking it might be worth looking at some of the superhero rpg systems, actually. The gifts can be wildly powerful or completely pointless and everything in between, after all, so a system with that kind of flexibility built in might be very helpful.

[Noedig]

So like mutants and masterminds?

[Need_A_Life]

The Necessary Evil setting for Savage Worlds would be my suggestion, actually.
While the GM will need to house-rule obeisance (Major hindrance; fluff action), it has the right street-level superhero level, plays fast and gives you room for a lot of customization while keeping game-breaker level powers (mostly) out of the picture. No time-stops or time travel, but Hei's blasting, fast movement and uncanny dodging would all be available.

If you're doing like the series and having non-Contractor PCs (I like to think whatsherface, the police woman with a crush on Hei, is a PC), I'd suggest giving them plain more XP, because they'll be a lot weaker than Contractors.

Stuff to watch out for.

• It's a lot easier to deal lots of damage than you might think. Keep an eye on someone to puts all their points into a damaging power. They will destroy most anything they manage to hit (although that's not exactly unusual in the series).
• Trying to build an invulnerable character practically cannot be done, due to the exploding dice technique. If people go this route, they need to realize that they're only getting 2 Toughness or 3 armour for every d6 of damage someone investing the same points into damage will get. Of course, Heavy Armour will be more useful against non-contractor enemies, so they can use a few points to get Immunity to Mook.
• Super-Sorcery or Gadgeteer(something like that, at least) may be too versatile to fit with the "rules" of being a Contractor, though Super-Sorcery has a built-in Obeisance (don't push your luck OR F-ING BLOW UP!)

[Milo v3]

I'd use The Window.
It works perfectly when I played it as it is so versatile.

[tensai_oni]

Mutants and Masterminds, Power Level at about 6. Will fit like a glove.

[Krazzman]

I'd suggest Marvel with lots of DM intervening.

[Noedig]

At all of these, Mutants and Masterminds is the only one I'm familiar with. Has anyone ever run this system with Darker than Black?

[Aidan305]

Fate, possibly the Dresden Files, is a good one as well, possibly better than MMO because you can force contractors to keep their contract by compelling their aspects.

[tensai_oni]

In Mutants and Masterminds, I would give powers limited uses and make renumeration their "reload" condition. Possibly make renumeration a flaw, the bigger (so more PPs for the character) the more awful or difficult it is.

[Noedig]

Hmm. I confess that I'm now more interested in playing this than DMing it. Oops.

[DoctorGlock]

I'll add a vote for mutants and masterminds, PL 6 or lower, DM at my school used the system for exactly this.