True20
This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (June 2010) |
Designers | Steve Kenson |
---|---|
Publishers | Green Ronin Publishing |
Publication | 2005 |
Genres | Universal, Fantasy, Science fiction, Horror |
Systems | True20 |
True20 is a role-playing game system designed by Steve Kenson and published by Green Ronin Publishing. The system was first published as a part of the Blue Rose RPG before being published as a standalone universal generic role-playing game, True20 Adventure Roleplaying.
History[]
The True20 system was originally used in Green Ronin's award-winning[1] Blue Rose,[2] itself based on their multiple-award-winning Mutants & Masterminds RPG.[3] 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.[4] A revised softcover rulebook, combining the rules section of the True20 Adventure Roleplaying book with the True20 Companion was released April 25, 2008.[5][6]
Settings[]
The original setting for the system was the Blue Rose in which the system first saw print.[2] In its 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:[7]
- "Caliphate Nights", a fantasy version of the golden age of Islam, circa 800 AD. A full-color standalone hardcover was released for the setting at Origins 2006.[8]
- "Lux Aeternum", a swashbuckling space opera.
- "Mecha vs. Kaiju", in which giant robots protect Japan from giant monsters.[9]
- "Borrowed Time", a setting of Kung Fu action and gunplay against a backdrop of time-controlling conspiracies.
The Revised Edition has four different settings:
- Fantasy Adventures
- Space Adventures
- Horror Adventures
- Modern Adventures
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:[10][11]
- 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 in the range from 3-18 (which in some other systems, such as d20, would then be converted 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" like that of Mutants & Masterminds.
- Instead of experience points, characters automatically increase in level at the Narrator's discretion, usually after one or two adventures.
Licenses and third-party products[]
Since before its release, the True20 system has been open to users under the terms of the Open Gaming License.[12] To use the True20 logo though required a separate license and license fee purchased from Green Ronin. Several companies have taken advantage of this to produce their own True20 titles.[8][9][13][14] On April 12, 2008, Chris Pramas of Green Ronin Publishing announced a new, free licensing agreement with third-party publishers to produce True20 products. Details were posted on the company's website[15] and forums,[16] and met with praise from publishers, freelancers and players alike.[17]
See also[]
- Blue Rose
- Mutants & Masterminds - True20's damage mechanics are shared with this game.
- - Campagne RPGS "Les Larmes des Dragons" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNPkWx9t_Ps&list=PLuwv9qe8zXIJfdS0I52sGt36z6I66qYRw
References[]
- ^ "2005 ENnie Awards Archives". ENWorld. Archived from the original on 2008-01-20. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ a b Gray, Tim (2005-07-11). "REVIEW OF TRUE20 ADVENTURE ROLEPLAYING". RPGNet. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ Grigsby, John (2006-09-20). "True20 Adventure Roleplaying Review". d20 Magazine Rack. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ Richeson, Christopher (2006-06-23). "REVIEW OF TRUE20 ADVENTURE ROLEPLAYING" (Review). RPGNet. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
- ^ Message by Chris Pramas concerning 2008 True20 products Archived 2008-02-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Amazon.com True 20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/193454714X
- ^ Strohm, Keith (February 2006). "True20 Adventure Roleplaying: Worlds of Adventure". Dragon. Bellevut, WA: Pazio Publishing. 30 (9–340): 19. ISSN 1062-2101.
- ^ a b "Paradigm Concepts News : d20 / True20 Archives". Paradigm Concepts. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ a b Wright, John; Todd, Michael. "Mecha vs Kaiju". Big Finger Games. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ "True20 Adventure Roleplaying". Green Ronin. 2005-06-16. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ Schneider, Wesley (December 2005). "First Watch: Natural 20". Dragon. Bellevut, WA: Pazio Publishing. 30 (7/338): 20. ISSN 1062-2101.
- ^ Baichtal, John (2008-06-09). "True20: D&D With a Twist". Review. Wired. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
- ^ "RPGNow.com – True20 titles". One Bookshelf. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
- ^ Robertson, Megan (2007-07-20). "RPG Resource – True 20" (Review/Analysis). RPG Resource. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
- ^ Pramas, Chris (2008-04-12). "Licensing True 20" (website). Green Ronin Publishing. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
- ^ Pramas, Chris (2008-04-12). "True 20 Licensing details" (post). Green Ronin Publishing. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
- ^ "True20 Licensing Fee to Go Away" (Announcement). RPG Net. 2008-01-14. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
- 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
External links[]
- Universal role-playing games
- D20 System
- Green Ronin Publishing games
- Role-playing game systems
- Role-playing games introduced in 2005