Mecha & Manga

161 Pages·2009·13.42 MB·English

by  Alejandro Melchor

ADVENTURE IS GO!
Mecha & Manga
a green ronin production
Design Alejandro Melchor Development Steve Kenson
Graphic Design & Art Direction Hal Mangold Editing Joanna G. Hurley
Cover Art Andrew Hou Publisher Chris Pramas

Interior Art Attila Adorjany, Jeff Carlisle, Vince Chui and Jasper Ng
for Empty Room Studios, Jonathan Floyd, and Annie Hill
Playtesters Jason Orman, Aaron Sullivan
Green Ronin Staff Chris Pramas, Nicole Lindroos, Hal Mangold, Steve Kenson,
Jon Leitheusser, Evan Sass, Marc Schmalz, and Bill Bodden
First Edition Graphic Design & Art Direction Sean Glenn
Permission granted to print one copy of the epectronic version of this publication for personal purposes only.
Mecha & Manga is ©2009 Green Ronin Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Reference to other copyrighted material in no way constitutes a challenge to the
respective copyright holders of that material. Mecha & Manga, Green Ronin, Mutants & Masterminds, Freedom City, and their associated logos are trademarks of
Green Ronin Publishing, LLC. Any reference to any other company or product in this book is not intended as a challenge to any associated trademark or copyright.
The following is designated as Product Identity, in accordance with Section 1(e) of the Open Game License,
Version 1.0a: all character and place names and descriptions (with the exception of Yig and The Yellow Sign), hero points, power points.
The following text is Open Gaming Content: all stat blocks and game rules, except for material previously declared Product Identity.
Printed in Canada
Green Ronin Publishing
3815 S. Othello St, Suite 100 #304
Seattle WA 98118
[email protected]
www.greenronin.com
www.mutantsandmasterminds.com
Mecha & Manga was typeset in ITC Quay Sans, designed by David Quay in 1990,
and HTF Gotham Condensed, designed by Tobias Frere-Jones in 2002.
MECHA & MANGA TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION MECHA & MANGA
T Ab lE • Of • c O N T E N T S
INtROduCtION .....................................5 Powers .............................................................44 Hero Concepts ........................................116
CHAPtER 1: WORLdS OF MANGA .......6 Complications and Drawbacks ...............51 Visual Stunts ...........................................118
Manga Genres .................................................7 Visuals .............................................................54 A Primer on ............................................119
The Manga Setting ........................................9 Quirks ..............................................................54 Japanese (pop) Culture .......................119
CHAPtER 2: MANGA HEROES ............13 CHAPtER 3: MECHA ...........................55 Drama and Relationships...................120
Species Templates.........................................13 The Mecha Genre ........................................55 The Relationships Map ........................122
Base Templates ........................................14 Mecha Types ..................................................59 Attack Names .........................................123
Natural ESPer ..........................................14 Creating Mecha ............................................60 Flashbacks ...............................................124
Elf Template ..............................................14 Using Mecha .................................................72 Comedic Systems ...................................125
Dwarf .........................................................14 The Role of Mecha ..................................72 Power Tiers ...............................................126
Cat Person ................................................14 Pilot Traits ..................................................73 Conflict and Challenges ..........................127
Spacer ........................................................15 Mecha Skills and Feats ..........................74 Conflict Basics ........................................128
Beastfolk ....................................................15 Mecha Combat ........................................75 Alternative Conflict Types ...................129
Batfolk .......................................................15 Sample Mecha ..............................................78 Antagonists .................................................133
Bearfolk ......................................................15 Saber Mechsuit Mark IV........................79 Antagonist Concepts...........................134
Catfolk .......................................................15 Special Tactics Dark Swordsman ..................................135
Dogfolk ......................................................15 Armored Unit (STAU) ........................79 Exiled Demon ........................................136
Animal ........................................................16 MF-15 Raptor (humanoid) ...................79 Invader Entity .........................................137
Artificial......................................................16 Panzerblade ...............................................80 Ghost in the Machine ........................138
Service Bot Template ..............................17 Kerberaltes .................................................80 jealous Schoolgirl .................................139
Cyborg Template ......................................17 Titanzor-V ...................................................81 Kaiju .........................................................140
Persona Template ....................................17 Ace Mecha Pilot .......................................82 Megacorp CEO .......................................141
Golem Template .......................................17 Mobile Armor Trooper ............................83 Supporting Cast .........................................142
Otherworldly .............................................17 CHAPtER 4: MARtIAL ARtS...............84 Agent 5 ...................................................142
Kitsune Fox-Spirit Template ..................18 Followers of the Way ..................................84 Class Rep ................................................142
Energy Being Template ..........................18 Martial Arts Themes ...................................87 Commander ...........................................142
Novice Godling/Demon Template ....18 Martial Arts in Play .....................................89 Common Shikigami .............................142
Undead .......................................................18 Ninja ............................................................99 Cool Teacher ...........................................142
Young Vampire .........................................19 Super Martial Artist .............................100 Supporting Cast Concepts ................143
Ghost ..........................................................19 CHAPtER 5: PEtS ..............................103 Cute Pet-like Thing ...............................143
Customizing a Template .......................19 The Pet Genre .............................................103 Mission Controller ................................143
Character Archetypes .................................20 Pets Unleashed ...........................................105 School Kid ...............................................143
Child Assassin ..........................................21 Pet Feats ..................................................106 Support Techie .......................................143
Circumstantial Idiot ...............................22 Pet-Related Powers ................................107 CHAPtER 7: MANGA SERIES ............144
Cool Sempai ..............................................23 Pet-Related Drawbacks .......................108 Soul Mirrors .................................................144
ESPer ............................................................24 Creature Types .......................................108 The Dark Fortress .......................................145
Exiled Deity ...............................................25 Minion Horde Template .......................110 Destiny Guard Urageas ...........................147
Exorcist .......................................................26 Pet Combat ..................................................110 Culture Festival Amazing Preparation
Future Warrior...........................................27 Pet and Master Actions .......................110 Squad ........................................................148
Idol ...............................................................28 Pet Training .............................................111 Mugen no Odyssey ...................................148
Magical Girl ..............................................29 Pet Monster Trainer ...............................113 Echoes & Shadows ....................................150
Modern Sorcerer .......................................30 Sample Pet Monster: Dogbone .........113 Legend of Demon Fist .............................151
Priest ............................................................31 Summoner ................................................114 Shards: Unsung Destiny ..........................152
Student .......................................................32 Evolution ..................................................115 Background ............................................152
Techie/Artificer ........................................33 Hordes and Legions ..............................115 Plot Frameworks ....................................156
Troubleshooter ..........................................34 CHAPtER 6: Elements ...................................................157
Warrior ........................................................35 GAMEMAStERING MANGA ...........116 INdEx .................................................158
Skills .................................................................36 Role-Playing and Running a Manga CONtRIButORS .................................159
Feats .................................................................39 Series .........................................................116 LICENSE ..............................................160
4 TABLE OF CONTENTS
MECHA & MANGA TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION MECHA & MANGA
INTRODUcTION
N
orth American superheroes blast evil with powers born from radiation, Manga creators produce stories aimed at everyone–children, bored house-
mutation, training, or magic, flying through the cityscape in their wives, company executives, everyone can find a title that will interest them.
colorful costumes and protecting their secret identities. Meanwhile, Because manga and anime cross the axes of multiple genres and have a
on the other side of the world, their Japanese counterparts uncover wide demographic spectrum, the types of stories that they can tell are virtu-
ancient martial arts, pilot giant robots, and train cute little monsters, while ally infinite. For example, the theme of space exploration can be treated
worrying about exams and catching the attention of the overachieving pop- as a children’s playful farce in a show like Wandaba Style or as a serious
ular girl or guy. extrapolation of the social and psychological impact of the space race, as in
Mecha & Manga extends the possibilities of the main Mutants & the Planetes manga and anime series. The all-time favorite genre of sword
Masterminds rules toward the far shores of Japan’s manga, where nobody and sorcery can be comedic, as in Slayers, classically epic, as in Record of
sees anything wrong with angsty teenagers piloting humanoid machines of Lodoss Wars, or even dreadfully gritty and horrific, as in Berserk.
mass destruction, where being an exorcist is a full-time and respected job,
and where school girls routinely save the world from unimaginable evils. ThE DIffERENcE
WhAT IS MANGA?
Boiled down to their most basic description, manga and Western comics are
essentially the same. However, manga displays a unique attitude, a bold
desire to explore the boundaries of genre and style for a wider audience at
In Japan, comics are called manga (with their Korean and Chinese versions
the same time that it caters to the base common denominator, without such
called manwha), literally meaning “playful images.”
explorations relegated to obscure corners away from the mainstream. Or,
Evolving from Buddhist paintings through the crucible of Japanese his-
perhaps, the difference is simply that manga is produced by an exotic and
tory and culture, manga expanded to target all sorts of audiences, rather
distant culture, and their narrators provide their inimitable contributions to
than limit itself to a narrow demographic and a few thematic genres. The
all the genres they touch.
first step that the art and industry of Japanese comics took toward their
current form was the work of Osamu Tezuka who, inspired by Disney’s visual hOW TO USE ThIS bOOk
style, created works such as Tetsuwan Atom (aka Astro Boy). capturing the
hearts of the public and opening the door for a new generation of man-
gaka, the artists and creators. Like Mutants & Masterminds, Mecha & Manga is organized into chapters
While equal in basic principles to Western comics, manga developed covering the major aspects of the game, but this time giving it the manga
their own visual language and methods for telling stories. The difference in treatment, exploring old and new options and how to use them to play an
style goes beyond the big googly eyes (which Western artists begin to copy anime-themed series. The breakdown of the book is as follows.
today), the diminutive mouths, and the almost non-existent noses. Manga
• Chapter 1 explores the different worlds of manga and how you can
artists make different uses of graphic elements such as panels, dialogue
assemble different elements to create your own manga setting.
balloons, sound effects, and the omnipresent speed lines, not to mention
cultural expressions such as the bleeding nose and the big sweat drop on • Chapter 2 deals with character options such as skills, feats, powers,
the back of characters’ heads. and drawbacks that are common in manga, from those that already
exist in Mutants & Masterminds to completely new ones.
MANGA AND ANIME
• Chapter 3 describes one of the main staples of manga and anime:
mecha. This includes power armor, giant robots, and the different ways
The success of manga in popular culture inevitably led to the adaptation
in which they can appear in a Mecha & Manga series.
of their stories to the realm of moving pictures, with Tetsuwan Atom once
more paving the way for other animators. In its animated form, manga is • Chapter 4 takes a closer look at martial arts, from the mundane styles
called “anime,” a word borrowed from the West. Anime developed its own of after-school clubs to world-shattering techniques, as well as how to
language based on the groundwork laid out by manga artists, but soon use feats and powers to simulate them.
enough, it found its own voice. Nowadays, the Japanese industry provides • Chapter 5 describes pets, creatures that manga heroes can call upon
all sorts of animated works, from miniseries to full-length movies that push to do their fighting for them or supplement their own powers and abili-
the boundaries of animation technology. ties.
ThE GENRE ThAT ISN’T • Chapter 6 has loads of advice on how to run a manga-inspired series.
Themes, concepts, clichés, and alternate genre-specific systems are the
ingredients that both Gamemaster and players can use to create their
Manga and anime are not genres in the common sense of the word; they are
own manga adventures.
better described as media or artistic styles (although debate still rages about
this). Manga can be used to tell stories in virtually all genres of narrative, • Chapter 7 provides several story seeds that you can use to launch a
from serious psychological drama to light comedies, although the most widely Mecha & Manga series, as well as Shards: Unsung Destiny, a complete
distributed titles fall within the fantastic genres such as fantasy, science fic- manga setting ready for use.
tion, and horror, with spandex-wearing superheroes practically unknown, even
if plenty of equivalents abound on the shelves of specialized stores.
INTRODUCTION 5
MECHA & MANGA CHAPTER ONE: WORLDS OF MANGA CHAPTER ONE: WORLDS OF MANGA MECHA & MANGA
chApTER 1: WORlDS Of MANGA
M
anga and anime can tell thousands of stories, but they have a few or it can be as complex as creating everything from scratch and detailing
unique elements. Before you begin playing Mecha & Manga, you every last corner of the world for players to explore and exploit. The steps for
must decide what kind of story you want to create. Creating the sto- developing a manga setting are:
ry’s setting is a step that the Gamemaster can do by himself before
• Choose a Genre: This is the most general descriptor for a setting and
he gathers other players, or it can be a collective effort between everyone
implies several recognizable elements that it will have.
who will play, coming up with a setting that everyone will have fun playing
in because everyone had a hand in its creation. • Envision the Scope: This is the setting’s level of complexity and how
A setting is the world a story happens in; it has its own internal rules about much juice you want to squeeze out of it.
what can exist in it and what cannot. It defines the boundaries, and in a way,
• define the Setting Parameters: Like fixing a dial, defining a Tech
it restricts the options available to the players. At the same time, the setting’s
Level and power level gives a hard numeric value to the sort of things
definitions open many possibilities, as the players must think of innovative ways
that the setting can include.
to guide their characters through the story, given the limits to their options.
There are two approaches to creating a manga setting, independent of • decide on a theme and tone: A matter of preference, the theme
how many people gather to create it. You can start with the chicken and and tone of a setting suggests the kind of events that will happen in
create the setting before anything else happens or start with the egg and the story and how the world and the characters react to each other.
develop the setting once everyone says what kind of character he or she • Include Story Elements: Given a genre, scope, and parameters, add-
wants to play. Neither approach is inherently better than the other, so you ing elements is like making a salad, tossing in options available to the
can use the one best suited for your group. story’s protagonists, including powers and descriptors.
This chapter gives you a few guidelines and hard rules about creating
and running a manga setting, whether it is the work of a single Gamemaster • Write the Synopsis: In a few words, this simple aid helps to visualize
or one or more players, and if this step is the first or the last when setting up the setting and describe it to potential players, getting them excited
a game of Mecha & Manga. about it.
Creating a manga setting can be as simple as taking your favorite manga • See Chapter 7: Manga Series for a step-by-step example on how the main
or anime series and recognizing its setting’s elements and characteristics, scenario, “Shards: Unsung Destiny,” was created with these guidelines.
6 WORLDS OF MANGA
MECHA & MANGA CHAPTER ONE: WORLDS OF MANGA CHAPTER ONE: WORLDS OF MANGA MECHA & MANGA
MANGA GENRES
For story purposes, the definition of genre is a category of artistic composi- • Examples: Gundam Wing, FLAG, Vandread, Robotech, Battlecruiser
tion marked by a distinctive style, form, or content. A genre is a label that Yamato (aka Starblazers), Martian Successor Nadesico, Armitage
encompasses similar themes or elements to make it easier for people to III, Dominion Tank Police, Ghost in the Shell – Stand Alone Complex,
find titles they will like. As artistic media, manga and anime can tell stories Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Ergo Proxy, Desert Punk, The Big O,
in many different genres, and before developing the setting for a game of Steam Detectives, Samurai 7, Planetes, Wings of Honneamise.
Mecha & Manga, you have to start there, by choosing to which genre the
hORROR
setting will belong.
Genres are not straitjackets to lock a setting inside a narrow definition.
One of the trademarks of manga and anime is the way they mix and match In horror, the supernatural is dark and dangerous and has it in for normal
genres, forging worlds in the space where genre definitions overlap. When people. Monsters are not vanquished with a sword, as in fantasy, but are
you choose a genre for your setting, keep in mind that you are free to select something that can drive people to madness or death, often to both. Horror
more than one, and that you can break the limits of any particular genre by is more open-ended than other genres and mixes a lot with them, as their
borrowing elements from another. focus is to depict and cause fear.
Gothic horror deals with traditional monsters such as ghosts, vampires,
“REGUlAR” GENRES
and werewolves, either by pitting hapless people against them or by using
them as the story’s protagonists. Cosmic horror is tied to the works of writer
H.P. Lovecraft and his Cthulhu mythos, dealing with forces outside human
The same labels that other media use to classify their stories can also
comprehension that lurk in the shadows of reality, waiting for their chance
describe the stories of manga and anime, although they bring their unique
to return and eat everyone. Psychological horror is normally devoid of the
interpretations to them.
supernatural element, focusing on the monstrous aspects of people such as
fANTASy serial killers and psychopaths. Survival horror focuses on putting a person or
group of people in horrible circumstance that they must survive (hence the
name) with their lives, sanity, and even their morality intact.
The most important definition of the fantasy genre is the presence of magic
in one form or another. Fantasy is a very broad genre that has many sub- • Examples: Vampire Princess Miyu, Pet Shop of Horrors, 3x3 Eyes,
classifications born from the way a story handles its magical elements. Perfect Blue, Monster, Mermaid Forest, Mononoke, Night Walker, Silent
Sword and sorcery deals with forgotten times (often medieval in outlook) Möbius, Chrono Crusade, Boogiepop Phantom, Vampire Hunter D,
and worlds where wizards wield magic and adventurers fight mythological Requiem From the Darkness, Ghost Hound, Hell Girl, Death Note.
monsters with spells and swords. Urban fantasy is often the territory of chil-
DRAMA
dren’s tales, with low-key magic intruding upon an everyday world ruled by
science or coexisting with normal technological advancements.
Although the word “drama” means “movement” and is present in all inter-
• Examples: Record of Lodoss Wars, Berserk, Claymore, Scrapped Princess,
esting stories, as a genre label, it refers to stories where the protagonists’
Princess Mononoke, Tales of Earthsea, Everyday Dreamers, Card Captor
emotions are the engine that moves everything. Drama is a very, very broad
Sakura, Howl’s Moving Castle, Mushishi, My Neighbor Totoro, The Cat
category, as the cause of the portrayed emotions varies. Suffering and emo-
Returns, Fancy Lala.
tional pain are very common in drama, but they need not even be part of
ScIENcE fIcTION the story; they are just the easiest way to elicit an emotional response from
the readers.
Family dramas tell the stories of a family and how it braves hardships
Where fantasy deals with magic, the focus of science fiction is, as its name
together. Social dramas use the protagonists’ misadventures to comment on
implies, on science. Science fiction has even more subgenres than fantasy,
social and political issues of importance. War dramas portray how people
as science and technology continue to evolve, and creators explore new ave-
respond to the extreme situation that is being in the middle of a war, either
nues and new ways to look at the genre. Science fiction stories often focus
as a combatant or any kind of civilian. Catastrophe dramas have the pro-
on the cool gadgets, but the best stories deal with how normal people act
tagonists facing a natural or man-made catastrophes and pulling through
around the technology and its impact on society.
them, while psychological dramas delve deep into the minds of the peo-
Space opera deals with high adventure, with starships sailing across gal-
ple experiencing life. Romance dramas are very popular and deal with the
axies and many scientific developments that can (and sometimes do) cross
romantic entanglements of several people and how boy meets girl, loses
over with fantasy. Cyberpunk explores a future where technology has created
girl, then recovers girl (a lot of permutations exist).
a hellish world dominated by the corruption of the powerful, destitution of
the poor, human augmentation through cybernetics, and advanced com- • Examples: Candy Candy, Remi, Belle & Sebastian, Fruits Basket, The
puter networks, with a few rebellious operatives carrying out their exploits Virgin Mary is Watching, Video Girl Ai (with a heavy dose of fantasy),
and alternatively hired and persecuted by governments and companies. Gravion, Gundam Seed (with a lot of science fiction), Grave of the
Post-Apocalypse stories revolve around a cataclysm—natural, man-made, or Fireflies.
as the result of an alien attack—that brought the end of civilization as we
MySTERy
know it and the efforts of the survivors to rebuild or create a new society.
The scientific romance is both the grandfather of modern science fiction at
the hands of authors such as Jules Verne and H.G. Wells and a basis for This genre can have supernatural elements but does not in most cases. The
the modern genres known as steampunk and dieselpunk, where alternate focus of mystery is to present an enigma and to have the characters try to
societies develop advanced technology based on the discoveries of the time, solve it armed only with their wits and resourcefulness. In the West, the
most commonly steam and fossil fuel technology, as well as early attempts detective story is the most famous example of the mystery genre.
at electricity. Crime stories portray troubled investigators figuring out the clues to solve
a crime of varying seriousness; the protagonists can be actual members
WORLDS OF MANGA 7
MECHA & MANGA CHAPTER ONE: WORLDS OF MANGA CHAPTER ONE: WORLDS OF MANGA MECHA & MANGA
of law enforcement agencies, amateur investigators, or private detectives. than the historical period themselves. Ninja stories are just the same, except
Thrillers raise the stakes in a normal mystery by putting the lives of the that they are more peppered with fantasy due to the mythic status of ninja.
protagonists at extreme risks as they delve deeper and deeper into darkness. Alternate history stories take the question of “what if this happened in that
Technothrillers are borderline science fiction, as the protagonists make use way?” and run with it, creating a setting of alternative history or even an
of cutting-edge technology and resources to solve the enigma, with the dif- alternative present that would have resulted had events in the past been
ference being that such technology currently exists. Conspiracy stories often different.
have normal people stumbling upon dark and terrible secrets regarding
• Examples: Samurai Champloo, Rurouni Kenshin (aka Samurai X),
obscure organizations or corrupt branches of government, fostering para-
Wings of Honneamise, Jin-Roh, Otogizoushi, Lone Wolf and Cub, The
noia as the characters do not know whom they can trust.
Hakkenden, Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto, Samurai Deeper
• Examples: Detective Academy Q, Great Detectives Poirot & Marple, Kyo, Peacemaker Kurogane.
Spiral, .hack//SIGN (with a lot of fantasy and cyberpunk), Paranoia
“UNIqUE” GENRES
Agent, Patlabor: the Movie, Serial Experiments Lain (also with lots of
cyberpunk and transhumanism), Detective Conan, Steam Detectives,
The Silent Service.
Besides the regular classifications of Western media, manga and anime
AcTION/ADVENTURE have developed their own unique genres. These unique manga genres are
often the result of the hybridization of other categories, but they repeated a
formula so much that they became genres in and of themselves.
The genre’s name pretty much describes it. Protagonists are immersed in
situations of extreme danger, which they usually confront by violence or ShOUNEN
through daring feats of physical prowess. Lots of explosions are the norm in
an action/adventure story, with characters escaping from certain death by
Literally “young boys,” shounen manga is all about the action, showing the
the skin of their teeth.
adventures of tough characters fighting for their ideals. Character develop-
Pulp is an often-whimsical action genre, where two-fisted scientists battle
ment and intricate plot twists are kept to a minimum, exalting manly virtues
menaces ranging from Nazis to invaders from the planet Mongo to giant
like courage, comradeship, honor, and persistence.
apes, mixing freely with fantasy and science fiction. War action depicts the
exploits of the hero who, an assault rifle blazing in each hand, can wipe • Examples: Bleach, Saint Seiya, Naruto, Hunter x Hunter, Scr.y.ed.
out hundreds of the enemy without delving too much into the emotional
impact. Martial arts and gun fu stories are typical of the Asian action genre, ShOUjO
portraying heroes who excel at the arts of unarmed and firearm combat,
whether in ancient or futuristic times. Heroes jump, twist, kick, stab, vol- Literally “girls,” shoujo manga is the counterpart of shounen, concentrating
ley, and perforate their enemies with wild and remorseless abandon. Hunt on girls as a target audience. Shoujo stories can be as action-packed as any
stories are all about the heroes running away from overwhelming odds or other, but their focus is really on the characters’ feelings and relationships
alternatively chasing after someone or something, such as a lost treasure. with each other, inevitably including romance.
• Examples: Riding Bean, Gunsmith Cats, Noir, Gunslinger Girl, Madlax, • Examples: Fruits Basket, His and Her Circumstances, Revolutionary
Initial D, Dragonball Z, The Legend of Condor Hero, Cowboy Bebop Girl Utena, Tokyo Babylon, Paradise Kiss.
(against a sci-fi backdrop).
MARTIAl ARTS
cOMEDy
An off-shoot of shounen manga, martial arts stories belong to the action
Comedy stories often belong to other genres but have a light-hearted genre but differ from it in their focus on the characters’ training in the mar-
approach, making them stand on their own, with the main objective of mak- tial arts, be they the real traditions of both China and Japan or invented.
ing people laugh. Exaggeration and suspension of the normal rules of reality There will be at least one tournament depicted in a martial arts manga,
are the norm for comedies. The romantic comedy is a popular version of the where the protagonists face off against each other to show who is the bet-
genre that takes the usual romance story and twists it around to make it ter martial artist.
funny. A comedy of errors takes the basic premise that all the protagonists
are morons that misunderstand a simple situation so that hilarity ensues. • Examples: The Legend of Condor Hero, Dragon Ball, Fist of the North
The parody is all about making fun of another genre or even another spe- Star, Ranma ½.
cific work, taking its elements to ridiculous extremes.
MEchA
• Examples: Excel Saga, Love Hina, Azumanga Daioh, Slayers, Fooly
Cooly, Abenobashi Magical Shopping District, NieA Under 7, Those
There is little as characteristic of manga and anime as giant robots. Mecha
Who Hunt Elves, Project A-ko, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu (spin-off of a
have crossed the genre barrier and appear in everything from quack comedy to
slightly more serious anime).
military drama, having started in science fiction and fantasy. Some robots are
hISTORIcAl intelligent, others are simple piloted vehicles, a few can transform into other
types of machines, and others combine to form even bigger robots or vehicles.
• Examples: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gasaraki, Vision of Escaflowne,
A cross-genre that can take the form of another of the previous genres, its
Macross Plus, Giant Robo, Soukyuu no Fafner, RahXephon.
main characteristic is that it is set in some historical period, and such set-
ting exerts a primary influence on the story’s premise or development. Being
pET cOMbAT
Japanese products, historical manga and anime deal primarily with Japan’s
history, mainly the Heian, Sengoku, Edo, and Meiji eras. Sometimes the story
takes place in China, with the rest few in other parts of the world and peri- A relatively new genre, this story has the protagonists fighting vicariously
ods of history. through some sort of pet or entity whose sole reason for existing is to fight
Samurai stories are set primarily in the Edo and Meiji eras, when the under the orders of its master. The pet can be a creature born of magic or
warrior caste prospered, but they focus on the role of such persons rather technology, a mirage, a computer program, or anything else that acts as an
8 WORLDS OF MANGA
MECHA & MANGA CHAPTER ONE: WORLDS OF MANGA CHAPTER ONE: WORLDS OF MANGA MECHA & MANGA
agent for the master’s will. Most of the series from this genre are tied to larity of dating games and their adaptation to anime form has increased the
commercial products. number of dramas, and there is at least one horror title worthy of merit.
A very close genre is the exotic girlfriend, where the aforementioned guy gains
• Examples: Pokemon, Monster Ranchers, Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh.
a girlfriend that’s not quite normal—she’s a goddess, an alien, or the daughter of
MAGIcAl GIRl the local Yakuza gang—and having gained such an unusual partner, the guy is
immediately beset by other girls who just noticed he’s kind of cute.
A venerable genre that is often the off-shoot of shoujo, magical girl manga • Examples: Love Hina, Tenchi Muyo!, Oh My Goddess!, Lunar Legend
has a very distinctive formula: a young girl is granted powers by a special Tsukihime, Seto no Hanayome (for a girlfriend who’s a daughter of the
(magical or technological) advisor so that she can defend her loved ones, mermaid Yakuza).
people in general, or the entire world. The girl’s adversaries tend to follow
DIMENSIONAl TRAVElERS
a theme, as do her powers. She may or may not have allies in the form of
other young people with similar powers.
While certainly not unique to manga and anime, stories where ordinary peo-
• Examples: Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon, Card Captor Sakura, Earth
ple suddenly find themselves stranded in another world are very popular. In
Maiden Arjuna, Corrector Yui, My HiME.
some cases, the travelers gain special powers by their crossing, or it is later
hAREM revealed that they always possessed those powers and their trip triggered
them. The world they travel to can be just about anything, from an epic
fantasy setting to a dystopian post-apocalyptic world.
This unappealing name is actually quite appropriate for the genre. A lonely
guy, frequently with one or more character flaws but a nice person nonethe- • Examples: El-Hazard The Magnificent World, Dual! Parallel Trouble
less, suddenly finds himself surrounded by girls, some of them pining or Adventure, The Mysterious Play, Magic Knight Rayearth, Now and Then
lusting after him. Most harem manga belong to comedy, although the popu- Here and There, Kyo Kara Maoh!, Zero no Tsukaima.
ThE MANGA SETTING
SETTING pARAMETERS
A setting is as simple or as complex as you want to make it, and at this
point, you want to make sure it is not so plain that you have to make things
up during extended play nor so convoluted as to have a graphic novel’s
A Mecha & Manga setting has two numeric values to describe it: the Tech
worth of notes go to waste from a game that only lasted a few sessions.
Level (TL) and the power level. This is the only step of setting design that
Some settings are so open and detailed that they can accommodate hun-
you cannot gloss over, since these values will affect how the characters’
dreds, if not thousands, of stories in them, sometimes not even with the
abilities will work.
same protagonists. Other settings are created for the purpose of telling a
single story, changing or ending after it is done so that no more stories can TEch lEVEl
be told with the same elements. Both types of settings are equally valid,
and often the line blurs between these two types.
To help you envision the scope of your setting, use the formats that manga The Mastermind’s Manual introduced the Tech Level (TL) option to help
and anime adopt to tell their stories as a reference. Think about your game establish the availability of equipment and devices depending on the
as a manga or anime series. Do you want it to be an ongoing series like game’s setting. In Mecha & Manga, it also determines its looks and style;
Dragonball or Naruto, where there are stories after stories with no end in the Tech Level describes the kind of technology and science that its societ-
sight as the characters explore their world? Alternatively, maybe it is a one or ies have achieved. Although corresponding to rough historical periods, Tech
two-season series where the story has a definite end and is told over 13, 26, Levels are not markers that reflect the Earth’s history but simply a set of
or 52 episodes? It could also be like a graphic novel series or OVA (original tiers to describe equivalent states of technological advancement. A setting’s
video animation), telling a self-contained story over a few gaming sessions, or TL usually pervades all aspects of its society but, especially in manga, it is
it could even be like a graphic novel or movie, with an even tighter story that entirely possible that it has elements of lower or higher levels, such as a pre-
will definitely end when the characters meet their objectives. industrial civilization whose warriors have swordfights riding on mecha.
And, of course, there is the holiday special, a single session celebrating Many manga authors treat technological progression more like a salad
some sort of holiday that may or may not be part of the main story. bar than as a list that obeys the laws of cause and effect, mixing impos-
The shorter you expect a setting’s gaming life to be, the less details you need sibly advanced technologies with obsolete items. For this reason, Mecha
to flesh out beforehand, focusing on those aspects that are important to the & Manga classifies technology in five broad and vague levels, rather than
story. It is quite possible, however, that you like a short-lived setting so much that the ten more specific and conjectural ones in the Mastermind’s Manual. For
you wish to continue playing with it, spawning its own longer series and giving manga heroes, the laws of physics behave more like sensible suggestions,
you the chance to increase the depth of detail of your initial creation. and their technology follows suit.
AlTERNATE pROGRESS
While TL usually refers to normal science and technology as we know them, a manga setting can base its progress on entirely different factors, such as a
society that has achieved all the comforts we are familiar with but did it with industrialized magic, biotechnology, or psychic potential. Alternate worlds
somehow developed technology ahead of their time due to one or another event. A Victorian setting, for example, can have commercial air travel available
thanks to the discovery of water that, when hit by moonlight, levitates anything that contains it. Consider these curious combinations to create unique
settings where technology is not dependant on science or natural resources with which we are familiar.
WORLDS OF MANGA 9