The ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game'' (''BtVSRPG'') is a role-playing game published by
Eden Studios, Inc.
Eden Studios, Inc. is an American role-playing game publisher founded in 1996 by George Vasilakos, M. Alexander Jurkat, and Ed Healy. Currently run by Mr. Vasilakos, Eden Studios is best known for ''Conspiracy X'', the '' Buffyverse role-playi ...
in 2002. It is based on the popular television series ''
Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' that ran from 1997-2003. The BtVPSRPG uses the
Unisystem
''Unisystem'' is a generic role-playing game system produced by Eden Studios, Inc. It is used in '' All Flesh Must Be Eaten'', the Buffyverse role-playing games, '' CJ Carella's WitchCraft'', '' Conspiracy X (2nd Ed.)'', and several other games ...
game engine that many of Eden's games used.
Books and products
There are six available titles in the ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer Role-playing Game'' product line. In order of release, these are:
BtVSRPG: Core Rulebook
() The ''Core Rulebook'' provides an introduction to the setting, characters and rules. The book is broken down into discrete sections which describe the mechanics and style of the game in a clear and concise manner, so as to appeal to both new gamers and experienced gamers, as well as fans of the show. The text is frequently informal and tongue-in-cheek, in keeping with the general feel of the series itself.
The book includes a series appendices, which describe the unique dialogue and slang used on the show, lay out the differences between the ''Classic'' and ''Cinematic Unisystem'' rules, provide charts and summaries of the more important concepts, and finally offer a full glossary and index.
The ''Core Rulebook'' was initially released alongside a Limited Edition () which featured a cream-colored leatherette color, red foil ''Buffy'' logo, and red cloth bookmark. Only 1000 copies of this edition were produced. In 2005, Eden Studios released the ''Revised Core Rulebook'' () which incorporates existing errata into the book, updates some rules to bring the Buffy RPG more in line with the ''
Angel Roleplaying Game
The ''Angel Roleplaying Game'' is a role-playing game published by Eden Studios, Inc. in 2003.
Background
Based on the ''Angel'' TV series, this game uses Eden's Unisystem game system.
Books and products Angel RPG: Corebook
() Though it is pr ...
'', and expands upon the material provided in the original ''Core Rulebook'', providing updated characters and adversaries for the sixth and seventh seasons of the series.
BtVSRPG: Slayer's Handbook
() The first supplement for the ''BtVSRPG'', the ''Slayer's Handbook'' features - as the title would imply - an expanded look at the possible backgrounds and major life events unique to Slayers, and includes such additions as the Slayer-in-Training Quality, which represents Slayers such as
Kendra Young
This article lists the major and recurring fictional characters created by Joss Whedon for the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. For detailed descriptions, see individual character pages.
Cast Main cast
The following characters we ...
who were able to receive training before their calling. However, it also goes on to provide a number of new Qualities, Drawbacks, weapons, archetypes, and more. Aside from the new perspective on Slayers, the book may be most famous among fans for its expansion into alternate settings, offering a number of suggestions on setting a game in different time periods, locations and even parallel realities. Three complete settings exploring these themes are provided within the book. Finally, the ''Slayer's Handbook'' includes "The Chosen Two," an adventure which can be used to continue the Djinn Season.
The ''Slayer's Handbook'' was also published alongside a Limited Edition (), which featured a blue leatherette cover, red foil "Slayer" graphic, and red cloth bookmark.
The name ''Slayer's Handbook'' is a double reference. In the
Buffyverse
The Buffyverse or Slayerverse is a media franchise created by Joss Whedon. The term also refers to the shared fictional universe in which the TV series '' Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and ''Angel'' are set. This term, originally coined by fans ...
, the watchers have a book for slayers referred to as the ''Slayer's Handbook'' (Giles didn't think Buffy would learn well from a book and so did not use it in training her). It is also an homage to ''Player's Handbook'', the core book of Dungeons & Dragons, one of the first role playing games.
BtVSRPG: Monster Smackdown
() The ''BtVS'' equivalent of a ''
Monster Manual
The ''Monster Manual'' (''MM'' is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'' fantasy role-playing game, first published in 1977 by TSR. The ''Monster Manual'' was the first hardcover D&D book and includ ...
'', this supplement explores vampires, demons, and other adversaries in greater depth, providing an expanded and updated collection of villains and elaborating upon a number of supernatural abilities. It also introduces a few more supernatural creatures as possible player characters - notably the
Troll
A troll is a being in Nordic folklore, including Norse mythology. In Old Norse sources, beings described as trolls dwell in isolated areas of rocks, mountains, or caves, live together in small family units, and are rarely helpful to human be ...
, as defined within the Buffyverse. Like the previous books in this line, ''Monster Smackdown'' includes a Djinn Season episode, "The Once and Future HST," which plays with events from the series as well as mythological elements.
Like the ''Core Rulebook'' and ''Slayer's Handbook'', ''Monster Smackdown'' was published alongside a Limited Edition () which featured a black leatherette cover, red foil "Evil" graphic, and red cloth bookmark.
BtVSRPG: Director's Screen
( ) While the main component of this accessory is a four-panel cardstock screen, designed to shield notes and other sensitive information from the eyes of players while providing quick reference charts to the Director, the ''Director's Screen'' comes shrinkwrapped with a 56-page booklet offering a number of Directing tips as well as three pregenerated adventures for the Djinn Season.
BtVSRPG: The Magic Box
() As implied by the title, this supplement offers an expanded ruleset for magic spells and spellcasters; however, it also provides a number of new mystical and psychic abilities, new Qualities and Drawbacks, and expands the magical milieu of the game to include Enchanters (who create blessed swords, lightning-throwing gauntlets and other such items) and Superscientists (such as
Warren Mears
Warren Mears is a fictional character that is portrayed by Adam Busch in the American television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. The character also appears in canonical comic book series continuation of that series. He is the main antagonist ...
). This supplement also includes an adventure, "Orphan Trouble," which does not necessarily connect to the Djinn Season, but can be modified to fit within that story arc. Released as a softcover, ''The Magic Box'' did not receive the Limited Edition treatment.
BtVSRPG: Character Journal
() Designed as an expanded version of the character sheet already provided for the game, the ''Character Journal'' is a 16-page booklet providing a great deal of space for a single character's statistics, background, experience gains and expenditures, and even notable achievements. It is the only ''BtVSRPG'' product which does not include a pregenerated adventure module.
BtVSRPG: Welcome to Sunnydale
() Originally solicited for 2003, this supplement was never released. Eden Studios lost the ''Buffy'' franchise in October 2006, and with the franchise went this supplement. ''Welcome to Sunnydale'' was supposed to include historical and geographical information regarding the setting of the series, expanded descriptions of recurring characters, suggestions on setting series in Sunnydale at various points in the town's history, and a pregenerated adventure closely tied to the town.
BtVSRPG: Tea and Crossbows
According to author
Phil Masters
Phil Masters is a British role-playing game designer and author.
Career
Phil Masters' writing credits in role-playing games go back to ''White Dwarf'' Magazine #20 and the ''Fiend Folio'' of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''. Masters wrote about ...
, he had just submitted a solicited manuscript, a guide to the Watchers called ''Tea and Crossbows'', a few days before the Eden Studios announced the loss of their license.
Canon
The ''Buffy RPG'' has already contributed to Buffyverse canon, in that
Faith Lehane
Faith Lehane is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series), Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. Played by actress Eliza Dushku, Faith was introduced in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (se ...
and
Kendra Young
This article lists the major and recurring fictional characters created by Joss Whedon for the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. For detailed descriptions, see individual character pages.
Cast Main cast
The following characters we ...
's last names were provided by
Joss Whedon in response to queries from Eden Studios. These names are now used widely throughout fiction based upon the series.
Reviews
*''
Pyramid
A pyramid (from el, πυραμίς ') is a structure whose outer surfaces are triangular and converge to a single step at the top, making the shape roughly a pyramid in the geometric sense. The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilat ...
''
References
{{reflist
Contemporary role-playing games
Eden Studios games
Horror role-playing games
Origins Award winners
Role-playing games based on television series
Role-playing games introduced in 2002
Vampires in games
Works based on Buffy the Vampire Slayer