True20
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 True20 Adventure Roleplaying | |
| Designers | Steve Kenson |
|---|---|
| Publishers | Green Ronin Publishing |
| Publication | 2005 |
| Genres | Universal, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror |
| Systems | True20 |
True20 is an award winning[1] universal generic role-playing game designed by Steve Kenson and published by Green Ronin Publishing.
Settings
Although presented as a generic role-playing game, the original hardcover printing of the True20 Adventure Roleplaying book included four sample settings. These were chosen among publisher submitted setting with the winners announced in Dragon Magazine[2]:
- "Caliphate Nights", a fantastic version of the golden age of Islam, circa 800 AD. A full-color stand-alone hardcover was released for the setting at Origins 2006.[3]
- "Lux Aeternum", a swashbuckling space opera.
- "Mecha vs. Kaiju", in which giant robots protect Japan from giant monsters.[4]
- "Borrowed Time", a setting of Kung Fu action and gunplay against a backdrop of time-controlling conspiracies.
A follow up volume, True20 Worlds of Adventure includes five additional settings:
- "Agents of Oblivion"
- "Blood Throne"
- "Land of the Crane", an Asian fantasy setting.
- "Nevermore"
- "Razor in the Apple", a horror setting in which kids face monsters lurking the neighborhood, inspired by films such as The Goonies.
System
Utilizing the Open Gaming License, True20 is derived from Wizards of the Coast's d20 System. Differences from the parent game include the following[5]:
- There are only three character classes, referred to as roles: warrior, adept and expert.
- A single 20-sided die is used for each roll.
- Ability scores are given as simple modifiers (+1, +2, etc.) rather than as a statistic ranged from 3-18 (which in other systems would then be cross referenced against a table to convert them to simple modifiers).
- There are no class-specific or restricted skills, thus characters of any role can have any skill.
- New feats are available at each level.
- Magic spells are treated as feats and do not have "levels".
- Instead of hit points, characters simply experience "damage conditions".
- Instead of experience points, characters automatically increase in level at the Narrator's discretion, usually after one or two adventures.
History
The True20 system was originally used in Green Ronin's award winning Blue Rose[6] (Blue Rose won the Gen Con ENWorld Roleplaying Silver Medal for Best Rules in 2005[7]) which itself was based on their multiple award winning Mutants & Masterminds RPG.[8] Later that year, Green Ronin released a PDF distillation of the Blue Rose rules, with an appendix of some modern-era rules, as a generic form of the game. This was followed by an expanded hardcover release in 2006. A revised softcover rulebook, combining the rules section of the True20 Adventure Roleplaying book with the True20 Companion is slated to appear in April 2008. [9]
See also
- Blue Rose
- Mutants & Masterminds - True20's damage mechanics are shared with this game.
References
- ^ "Ogre's Choice 2006". Ogre's Cave. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ Strohm, Keith (Februrary 2006). "True20 Adventure Roleplaying: Worlds of Adventure". Dragon. 30(9) (340). Bellevut, WA: Pazio Publishing: 19. ISSN 1062-2101.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Paradigm Concepts News : d20 / True20 Archives". Paradigm Concepts. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ Wright, John; Todd, Michael. "Mecha vs Kaiju". Big Finger Games. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ Schneider, Wesley (December 2005). "First Watch: Natural 20". Dragon. 30(7) (338). Bellevut, WA: Pazio Publishing: 20. ISSN 1062-2101.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Gray, Tim (2005-07-11). "REVIEW OF TRUE20 ADVENTURE ROLEPLAYING". RPGNet. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ "2005 ENnie Awards Archives". ENWorld. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ Grigsby, John (2006-09-20). "True20 Adventure Roleplaying Review". d20 Magazine Rack. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ Message by Chris Pramas concerning 2008 True20 products
- Steve Kenson True20 Adventure Roleplaying (Green Ronin Publishing, 2006) ISBN 1-932442-57-X
- Various Authors True20 Worlds of Adventure (Green Ronin Publishing, 2006) ISBN 1-932442-65-0