Usagi Yojimbo HERO

[Susano]

I've just finished UY Book 19 Fathers and Sons and have decided to get back to my UY character sheets for HERO. First, I want to revise Zato-Ino and Jei (which I originally wrote up some time ago) and make them more in-line with material published in FH and DC (adding things like "Deadly Blow" for example). Then I intend to start on the rest of the UY cast. Aside from Usagi himself, who else do you think is important enough to warrant a character sheet? (or... who would you want to see?) I know I want to do some generic ninja character sheets, as well as a generic hannya (female demon) character sheet, as Sakai uses them quite often.

Here is my current list of possible characters:


Gennosuke
Inazuma
Jei
Kitsune
Miyamoto Usagi
Sasuke the Demon Queller
Stray Dog
Tomoe Ame
Yagi (and Gorogoro)
Zato-ino
Generic Komori Ninja
Generic Mogura Ninja
Generic Neko Ninja

[TheQuestionMan]

* Generic Bandit/Yakuza
* Generic Ronin
* Generic Shugoshin/Student Warrior
* Generic Demon/Oni
* Generic Nobleman
* Generic Thief
* Generic Duelist
* Generic Priests/ of Various Sects

Generic to me meaning "PACKAGE DEALS!!!"

Ahem... Yes I would very much like to see Usagi Yojimbo Series

QM

[Black Rose]

:D More ninja please!

Seriously, anything (and everything) UY you could do would be great... providing it in no way, shape, or form distracts you from Asian Bestiary. I mean it, I want that book, and I want it sometime last year.

[Susano]

* Generic Bandit/Yakuza
* Generic Ronin
* Generic Shugoshin/Student Warrior
* Generic Demon/Oni
* Generic Nobleman
* Generic Thief
* Generic Duelist
* Generic Priests/ of Various Sects

Generic to me meaning "PACKAGE DEALS!!!"


In truth? Buy the Fuzion version of SENGOKU from Gold Rush Games. It has all of what you're asking for. In addition, NINJA HERO has packages for a ninja, samurai, kenshi, and buddhist monk. GURPS JAPAN is also a good source.

[teh bunneh]

Sensei Katsuichi
Lord Noriyuki
Lord Hebi
Sanshobo
The detective (whose name I can't recall)
The Neko Ninja chick (whose name I also can't recall)

[Susano]

Sensei Katsuichi
Lord Noriyuki
Lord Hebi
Sanshobo
The detective (whose name I can't recall)
The Neko Ninja chick (whose name I also can't recall)

Detective Ishida? I think his name is Ishida.

Edit II: Yes! Correct again! Inspector Ishida! Hah!

The Neko Ninja leader's name starts with a "C" that much I am sure... (I think...).

Edit: Hah! I was right, it's Chizu!

Sanshobo is a great addition. Noriyuki and Hebi are (IMO) peripheral characters... but then, Lord Hebi is around 15-20' of snake, so there is that to go with... Say? Does Hebi get the Phys Lim of "No arms" or do you define his tail as an Extra Limb (he can use it to open and close doors and carry a candle!).

[Susano]

For the record, I hope to start with an introduction to Usagi's world much like the intros I did to Cowboy Bebop (http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptionsanime/bebop/cbseeyou.html), Hellsing (http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptionsanime/hellsing/helhellsgate.html), Outlaw Star (http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptionsanime/outlawstar/outlawstar.htmll), and Blade of the Immortal (http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptionsanime/blade/bladeintro.html). Hmm... anyone have any suggestions for a cool name for the world guide?

Anyway, I want to touch on such things as magic, monsters, and humans, as well as the general setting. I also want to have a section where I discuss my design work, and explain how I went about doing the character sheets. I know I'm going to drop Zato-Ino and Jei to SPD 4, and keep virtually everyone at either 3 or 4. On the other hand, I'm going to be generous with Naked Advantages on HKAs, giving out various AOE Advantages to reflect the highly cinematic chambara style of fighting seen in Usagi Yojimbo.

For example -- Yagi (the Lone Goat) fights (and kills) 40 veteran samurai in one sequence, Jei takes on an entire lord's processional (and wins), and Usagi has been seen to tackle upwards of two dozen or so bandits, ronin, and/or ninja and escape virtually unscathed (so yes, the DEXs of 20-24 will stay). Also, the one-hit, one-kill style of fighting seen in UY will call for a generous allotment of Deadly Blow Talents among the main cast (which is OK, since the world of UY is much like Leone's Westerns -- you have a small sampling of unstoppable sword gods -- who can only really duel each other, and you have everyone else). Also, Levels versus Hit Locations, so our heroes can do things like always strike the torso or aim for (and hit) limbs and/or necks with reasonable accuracy. Granted, UY is a story and the character sheets are for a game (which does have the random element of dice), but I'd rather overpower the characters and thus make it easier for a GM to remove powers, then underpower them.

As a final note, I fully expect the power levels of most of the main cast to be comparable to Cinematic Samurai Toji Shin, found on pages 119-121 of Ninja Hero, who totaled 222 points, sans equipment! (which the UY characters will purchase).

My sources will be the Usagi Yojimbo RPG from Gold Rush Games (although I just found out the Jadeclaw/Ironclaw people are releasing a new RPG this month), Books 1-19 of Usagi Yojimbo trades, the Art of Usagi Yojimbo, Ninja Hero, The Ultimate Martial Artist, and Sengoku (also from Gold Rush Games).

Any comments and/or suggestions?

[Susano]

:D More ninja please!

Seriously, anything (and everything) UY you could do would be great... providing it in no way, shape, or form distracts you from Asian Bestiary. I mean it, I want that book, and I want it sometime last year.

The Asian Bestiary is done. :)

[ChaosDrgn]

Or (fuzion or not) you could find a cheap copy of the game and see what you can draw from that.

[Susano]

Or (fuzion or not) you could find a cheap copy of the game and see what you can draw from that.

I own this already. See my post above.

[Black Rose]

The Asian Bestiary is done. :)
But not yet in my grubby li'l paws, now is it? Does it have to go through playtest, or will the PtB simply give it a proof-read and send it off to be bluelined?

[Susano]

But not yet in my grubby li'l paws, now is it? Does it have to go through playtest, or will the PtB simply give it a proof-read and send it off to be bluelined?

It requires playtest, proofing, and all that. I figure Steve will ask for it sometime after GenCon.

[Lethosos]

I believe you'll also want the Monsters! suppliment (which I have riiight here! :D )

Also, aren't you infringing on my territory, since I'm doing Eight Sages? For shame! :nya: I'll still help you, however. Sword Saints aren't exactly uncommon, but UY is what I'd call a Historical Furry Cinematic with a Mystic background. So take that statement with a grain of salt, and consider the centerlight characters to be an exception even compared to their mundane counterparts.

At the beginning, I'd set a hard point value for racial packages--no more than 15, IMO. (Mine needs to be higher so I can apply their racial Gifts.) The bulk of the UY universe seems to be roughly feline, perhaps generic Cats. (There are Lions and Tigers in there, of course.)

(Oh, and FYI, there is a monstrous beast called a Hebi--I consider Counsellor Hebi to be a smaller non-poisonous version of the one defined in the Monsters! sourcebook.)

[Susano]

I believe you'll also want the Monsters! suppliment (which I have riiight here! :D )

Own it.


Also, aren't you infringing on my territory, since I'm doing Eight Sages? For shame! :nya: I'll still help you, however. Sword Saints aren't exactly uncommon, but UY is what I'd call a Historical Furry Cinematic with a Mystic background. So take that statement with a grain of salt, and consider the centerlight characters to be an exception even compared to their mundane counterparts.

At the beginning, I'd set a hard point value for racial packages--no more than 15, IMO. (Mine needs to be higher so I can apply their racial Gifts.) The bulk of the UY universe seems to be roughly feline, perhaps generic Cats. (There are Lions and Tigers in there, of course.)

I'm not sure how far I'm going to go with things like Racial Package, or if I'll even bother with them.

[Lethosos]

Well, YMMV, as the saying goes. I just feel justified in figuring out what the racial packages would be for such species.

[Susano]

I need to start writing, before my mind and energy are distracted elsewhere... I do know that writing the introduction to the universe will be a big help in setting everything else up. Anyway, here's some rough notes on the process for people to look over. Remember -- I intend to design the characters as if this was a Wuxia-level Martial Arts campaign.

I did some tinkering with GRG's USAGI YOJIMBO RPG material and decided to create a comparison chart for people to look over. GRG's UY RPG used Fuzion as the base, compressing it down into three basic stats: Physical, Mental, Combat; as well as Move, DEF, and Hits. Expanded this into full Fuzion (and thus HERO) we get: Physical = STR, CON, BODY; Mental = INT, EGO, PRE; and Combat = DEX. Move = Running, Swimming, Leaping; DEF = PD & ED; and Hits = ... nothing really (but makes a good basis for STUN). USAGI YOJIMBO stats convert to HERO stats using a simple x3 multiplier. Thus, a Physical of 3 = a 9 STR, CON, and BODY, and so on.

Now, here is the chart. Values given are for the RPG, I have added my Jei character sheet as well.



Usagi Tomoe Zato Gen Kitsune Yagi Jei
STR 15 12 15 18 12 15 15
DEX 24 18 24 21 12 24 23
CON 15 12 15 18 12 15 20
BODY 15 12 15 18 12 15 18
INT 12 12 10 10 18 12 13
EGO 12 12 10 10 18 12 20
PRE 12 12 10 10 18 12 30
COM 10
PD 8 8 10 12 8 10 9
ED 8 8 10 12 8 10 8
SPD 4 4 4 4 4 4 5
REC 8
END 40
STUN (25) (20) (30) (30) (20) (25) 36

Running: 7" 6" 7" 6" 7" 7" 6"
Kenjutsu: 8 8 9 8 4 8 NA


Here are my suggestions & corrections:



Usagi Tomoe Zato Gen Kitsune Yagi Jei
STR 15 13 15 18 8-10 15 15
DEX 24 18 24 21 14-15 24 23
CON 15-18 13-15 16 18 11 15-18 20
BODY 12-13 12 13 15 9 13-14 18
INT 13-15 13+ 13 10 18 13-15 13
EGO 15-18 12-14 10 11-12 16 15-18 20
PRE 18-20 18 13 15 13 15-18 30
COM good good 8 10 high 10 8?
PD 8 7 8 9 fig 8 8
ED 8 7 8 8 fig 8 8
SPD 4 4 4 4 3 4 4
REC fig fig fig fig fig fig 8
END fig fig fig fig fig fig 40
STUN fig fig fig fig fig fig 36


PD & ED will probably be x2 figured with one level of Combat Luck. This should help capture the feel of the series. I

Here is a rough scale of fighting skill as I see it (good for statting everyone else):

Zato-Ino
Katsuichi/Koji Nakamura
Usagi Miyamoto/Yagi
Sasuke/Inazuma
Chizu Kashira/Gennosuke Murakami/Stray Dog
Sanshobo/Tomoe Ame
Ishida
Kitsune

Comments?

[Lethosos]

Hrmm... I would adjust the ED/PDs appropriately--we're talking about feudal-era Japan with Magic being a reality but not overwelming the setting. So the majority of combat will be against normal mooks up to sword saints. You want the PCs to be wary of mysical influences, since not many of them will have training/knowledge/defense of those estoric arts. Besides, most of what they do are primarily physical/EGO based--I'd have to comb through the source material for anything that might need PD to defend against.

[Susano]

Hrmm... I would adjust the ED/PDs appropriately--we're talking about feudal-era Japan with Magic being a reality but not overwelming the setting. So the majority of combat will be against normal mooks up to sword saints. You want the PCs to be wary of mysical influences, since not many of them will have training/knowledge/defense of those estoric arts. Besides, most of what they do are primarily physical/EGO based--I'd have to comb through the source material for anything that might need PD to defend against.

The x2 Figured gives PDs of around 6 for most people. One level of Combat Luck adds in +3 DEF, meaning they have a PD of 9. This does sound a bit high, so base PD of x1.5 Figured may work better.

[Michael Hopcroft]

Anyone seen Sanguine's new Usagi Yojimbo RPG yet? Converting stuff from the "Claw" system to HERo is tricky (modeling the stats would be much better) but I have been looking forward to this book.

Ironclaw and Jadeclaw are two of the most under-played games I've seen.

[Susano]

Anyone seen Sanguine's new Usagi Yojimbo RPG yet? Converting stuff from the "Claw" system to HERo is tricky (modeling the stats would be much better) but I have been looking forward to this book.

Heard about it, haven't seen it yet. I'll probably get it, if it looks like a good guide to the UY universe.

[TheQuestionMan]

Heard about it, haven't seen it yet. I'll probably get it, if it looks like a good guide to the UY universe.

Dido, I also look foreward to the new art work by Stan Sakai. Combined with Albedo Platinum for Space Usagi.

Cheers

QM

[Lethosos]

They're doing a UY book? Huh, will have to buy it along with the Mondreclive supplments. Ironclaw/Jadeclaw has its potentials--I just don't see anyone suggesting a game unless it's at a furry con.

Translating the Claw system into HERO can be confusing, but once you create a framework for deciphering the abilities (a fair number are primarily repeats, such as the Heaven Sword and Earth Sword techniques.) You'll want to keep to the source, and not the rules, of course--I can completly handwave Ads/Disads and use general HERO methods, as it gives me more to play with.

One point of contention--I'm trying hard not to use too many ideas from Jadeclaw/UY when writing Eight Sages.

[Markdoc]

Also, if you are interested there's an UY conversion of all the characters and generic NPCs

http://www.geocities.com/markdoc.geo/Gaming_stuff/Sengoku/npc.html

from my Hero system Sengoku game, which might be useful for reference.

cheers, Mark

[Michael Hopcroft]

They're doing a UY book? Huh, will have to buy it along with the Mondreclive supplments. Ironclaw/Jadeclaw has its potentials--I just don't see anyone suggesting a game unless it's at a furry con.
There are a lot of people who see the Claw series as njiche "furry" games, and thus disdain them because they want to look cooler than the one fan clique considered less cool than gamers by the geenral public.

The reality, of course, is that the Claw series is actually a well-thought-out fanatsy game and setting, emphasizing social and poltical intrigue. Unfortunately, the cover of ironclaw leads you to expect a furry Slayers-style RPG, which is the polar opposite of what Ironclaw really is.

And Jadeclaw has a superb pseudo-Asian setting, ceneterd on China rather than the usual Japan. I wish it were more popular (and easier to find).

Sanguine seems to be exploring the furry niche very strongly with Albedo and Usagi Yojimbo. I keep hoping they'll create a Starclaw original space game -- that would be cool.

[Susano]

Unfortunately, the cover of ironclaw leads you to expect a furry Slayers-style RPG, which is the polar opposite of what Ironclaw really is.

Yeah, I saw the cover and thought about a subtle as a sledgehammer to the brainpan.

The artist has stated that's what the company wanted and didn't draw the Naga & Linna like-a-looks on purpose. Er... well, she did, but only because of what the art director wanted.

[Michael Hopcroft]

Yeah, I saw the cover and thought about a subtle as a sledgehammer to the brainpan.

The artist has stated that's what the company wanted and didn't draw the Naga & Linna like-a-looks on purpose. Er... well, she did, but only because of what the art director wanted.
Lina must be miffed that her fox-analogue has bigget ****.

Didn't draw Lina and Naga look-alikes on purpose? Right. No way it could be the coincidence Sanguikne always insisted it was. The odd thing is that a duo of wandering warrior-sorceresses would be completely out of place int he world of Ironclaw, and that magic in that setting never comes anywhere near lina Inverse levels of power. (then again, GOO gives Lina Inverse a d20 CR of 23 -- meaning they think she's a 23rd-level character, which is low-Epic from what I've heard.)

[bblackmoor]

Or (fuzion or not) you could find a cheap copy of the game and see what you can draw from that.

The Usagi Yojimbo RPG is, in my opinion, is one of the best things Gold Rush Games ever published (although they've published a lot of good stuff, Sengoku included).