Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

[Susano]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

Has anyone seen a review for the book anywhere?

[Eldos]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

I haven't seen one . . . so I wrote one. It's at RPG now under the game but here is the text here.

 

 

 

I recently purchased Kazei 5 for a couple of reasons. I’m a hero system player and aspiring GM but don’t really have the skill in the system to work out the true crunch of the system – so I need a framework to hang things off of.

 

Secondly, with the new Hero 6th edition I don’t want to go through and try to convert things from 5th ed.

 

Finally, I’m a little tired of the generic fantasy settings and wanted something more modern.

 

Kazei 5 works on all of these and does so very well. Considering that the book has been created more by fans and freelancers as opposed to a company of paid staff, the professionalism of the book is even more impressive.

 

I have the bookmarked PDF version through choice – I live in an isolated area and prefer to receive things quickly rather than waiting a week. I also like the ability to search for text. But a hardcopy version is available for those that prefer.

 

After the introduction, which explains a few of the setting assumptions and concepts, the book goes into specifics concerning many of the powers and abilities that will effect characters; namely Cyberware, Cyborgs, Cyberspace, Espers and Mecha. While I consider cyberware and cyborgs merely an extension of the same thing, this is probably going to be a major part of the game so extra coverage is justified. The cyberspace rules could use a little work in my opinion but are innovative in approaching what could be a problematic rules area.

 

The book also explains that you can remove any or all of these concepts and the system still works. In my campaign, since I’m not a big fan of Mecha, my plan is to change (nerf) it to more powered armor rather than giant robots.

 

The real meat of the book comes next where it talks about character options, how skills can be customised, etc. It then goes into specialist equipment characters (and NPCs) can have. It uses the system described in the Hero book Dark Champions and it is very useful to have access to that as the list provided in Kazei 5 is not comprehensive and even suggests that Dark Champions supplement this. However, the equipment that is included is definitely well thought out.

 

The next section, also very meaty, contains details of the future timeline for Kazei 5 as well as details of what has happened on each continent. It does include a great deal of detail on what has happened in the US and South East Asia – Japan and China specifically but there is plenty of scope for a GM to set campaigns elsewhere. Indeed, I plan on setting my own game in Melbourne, Australia. This is my favourite section of the book and I can’t help thinking perhaps it should have been earlier in the book which would have helped me make sense of some of the things that came before. Still, this is a minor quibble and doesn’t really detract from the book itself.

 

Finally there are some NPCs which help expand the US and SEA sections of the world as well as providing me the vital templates I’ll need to fashion my own NPCs. As well there is a GM only section which reveals many of the secrets of the campaign as well as a ‘future timeline’, a feature I haven’t seen before but I find very useful and intriguing.

 

All and all, Kazei 5 is an excellent book for anyone who wants to start or play in a cyberpunk, anime or even a futuristic Dark Champions setting. The permutations are somewhat endless – the concepts of zero zones could be expanded into a post apocalyptic campaign. For myself, I’m not terribly keen on the anime elements like ‘cat girls’, but they are easily edited out without getting rid of other game elements. It’s given me pretty much everything I want.

[Susano]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

Thanks!

 

If there's ever a follow-up book I'd like to get opinions and suggestions for improving the cyberspace/hacking chapter and offer them to the reader.

[Eldos]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

If there's ever a follow-up book I'd like to get opinions and suggestions for improving the cyberspace/hacking chapter and offer them to the reader.

 

My suggestion would be to give a bonus for a skill. At the moment it just seems to be power of device A Vs power of device B with no player interaction. The rules could also be improved by some curcumstance bonus' such as access to a secure terminal, access codes, etc. Finally, I'd also suggest a good list of what someone gets for various levels of success ie. power +2 allows you to see file titles, +5 lets you open but not edit, +10 gives you full access.

 

These are just suggestions mind you.

[Susano]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

My suggestion would be to give a bonus for a skill. At the moment it just seems to be power of device A Vs power of device B with no player interaction. The rules could also be improved by some curcumstance bonus' such as access to a secure terminal, access codes, etc. Finally, I'd also suggest a good list of what someone gets for various levels of success ie. power +2 allows you to see file titles, +5 lets you open but not edit, +10 gives you full access.

 

These are just suggestions mind you.

 

Hopefully people will have more ideas after play and tell me what works and what doesn't. I like your ideas and ask that you email me these directly.

[mojo_bones]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

I just checked out the Kazei 5 website and noticed Mojo has no description. How sad .

[Susano]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

I just checked out the Kazei 5 website and noticed Mojo has no description. How sad .

 

You'll have to send me one. I don't think I have it anymore.

[Susano]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

If you'd like to assist with the 5E to 6E migration of Hero Designer files for Kazei 5, please email me directly at susano@guisarme.net.

[mojo_bones]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

Woohoo! I just received my order yesterday so I will be reading through it over the next few days (as long as my kids give me some time to that is). At a quick glance I like the layout and the pics. If I thought I would have enough time I would love to help you out with conversion stuff Mike, but alas the 3 kids keep me quite busy. Good luck!

[Susano]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

Woohoo! I just received my order yesterday so I will be reading through it over the next few days (as long as my kids give me some time to that is). At a quick glance I like the layout and the pics. If I thought I would have enough time I would love to help you out with conversion stuff Mike' date=' but alas the 3 kids keep me quite busy. Good luck![/quote']

 

Reading this, I am A) trying to figure out how the Man With Three First Names ended up in Hawaii, and the line "the three kids."

[teh bunneh]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

At a quick glance I like the layout and the pics.

 

w00t!

[mojo_bones]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

Yes 3 kids, sigh. I have no idea how that happened (no Bunneh, I don't mean that literally. I do not need any visual aids). As for Hawaii, I have the US military to thank for that. The wife has us booked here for the next 2 years. Plenty of time to come out and visit us!

[Susano]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

The things you find....

 

I was using Google to search for material relating to Kazei 5 (trying to see if there's any buzz about it) and found this: http://www.tsgfantasy.com/foro/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=14

[Eldos]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

Hi all

Sadly it doesn't look like I'm going to get my K5 game going. My gaming group has shrunk quite a bit recently and *sigh* the thing they really wanted to do was play some D&D. Yes, I know, it is the cross I carry.

Anyway, my idea for an adventure, since I probably won't have time to develop it went something like this.

· PCs take on the role of private investigators in Melbourne (this could be any city though). It works on the premise that the Federal police don’t really have the rescources to do much. Fast response mercenary units are employed to keep the peace on the streets and private investigation companies provide justice by finding guilty parties.

· They receive a call from a private hospital that has noticed that it has had some data thefts recently and would like to hire them to find out what is behind it.

· While the PCs are meeting with the hospital director, the hospital is attacked - the aggressors are using bean-bag shotguns so as not to kill anyone. They manage to kidnap one of the hospital’s leading surgeons (specializing in cybernetic replacements) and his portable computer files, but leave one or two of their people behind (either killed by the PCs or an NPC security guard).

· PCs must then find clues which will point them in one of two directions. This will mostly consist of work with PCs skills, contacts, etc., as well as rewarding clever ideas from PCs. The idea for this was to reward the PCs for thinking and investigating.

o Through investigating the body and equipment they discover that the raiders are most likely a mercenary group in Sydney and they will have to go there to find more answers.

o If they manage to track the kidnapped surgeon (there are a couple of ways such as CCTV cameras for traffic, the rented vehicles the raiders used, etc). They find that he is being held in a warehouse in Canberra.

· Whichever place they go to, they must get in somehow (stealth, direct gun play, bluff, etc). If they successfully do this they will learn that a politician is behind the kidnapping and is forcing him to work for them. They must confront this politician to find out why.

· His plan is to create a new cyborg body for himself, the same as the body made for the CEO of a large bank (I was going to use the ANZ). Then, the politician would disable the real CEO’s body and assume his identity for a massive heist. The PCs must get past bank security (or clever ones will just know that they just have to trip it at the right time) to confront the corrupt politician wearing the CEO’s cyborg body.

That’s basically it. If anyone wants to use it, they can feel free.

[Susano]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

Shion in model kit form....

 

 

It's pre-painted and due out in the fall. I've pre-ordered it.

[matrix3]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

Shion in model kit form....

 

 

It's pre-painted and due out in the fall. I've pre-ordered it.

 

Link so we can preorder?

[Susano]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

Link so we can preorder?

 

http://www.hobbyfan.com/product_info.php?products_id=9698

[Steve]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

In the K5 sourcebook, there are write-ups for Mitsumi's Lynx and Puma replicates. Have you done write-ups for the other models you mention in the book?

[Susano]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

There are also character sheets for the Escort models in the book. I don't have anything else written... as of yet. Perhaps in the (hopeful) expansion book.

[Steve]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

I was curious to see what the heavy combat models are like that Mitsumi produces. Since the Lynx/Puma models follow a 20/25 STR setup, I was curious if the light/heavy combat models were 25/30 STR and light/heavy Domestic models were 10/15 STR.

 

And I still think that Mitsumi is leaving a lot of money on the table by neglecting the Pleasure model market.

[Susano]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

I was curious to see what the heavy combat models are like that Mitsumi produces. Since the Lynx/Puma models follow a 20/25 STR setup, I was curious if the light/heavy combat models were 25/30 STR and light/heavy Domestic models were 10/15 STR.

 

And I still think that Mitsumi is leaving a lot of money on the table by neglecting the Pleasure model market.

 

Hmm... I'll have to consider that if there's an expansion book.

[Susano]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

BTW Steve, how are you liking the book?

[Steve]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

BTW Steve' date=' how are you liking the book?[/quote']

 

Oh, I'm liking it very much. My gaming group is interested in doing a campaign in that universe, but that won't be for a while.

 

I've also been toying with a post-apocalypse K5 alternate future campaign, combining K5, the Moonshattered Earth from PA Hero, and a bit of the Horseclans novels. I'll be posting things as I get them together.

[Susano]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

Oh, I'm liking it very much. My gaming group is interested in doing a campaign in that universe, but that won't be for a while.

 

I've also been toying with a post-apocalypse K5 alternate future campaign, combining K5, the Moonshattered Earth from PA Hero, and a bit of the Horseclans novels. I'll be posting things as I get them together.

 

That's great to hear!

[Steve]

Re: Announcing Kazei 5, Second Edition

 

A Kazei Five webcomic I came across here.