The Inside Scoop on Gaming

As is my habit, this is not a regular review of the subject product but instead an overview of it and a discussion of its usefulness as a supplement to other game systems. On its own, this is a well done project. 96 pages of easy to read, well formatted and appropriately illustrated gaming information. The details provided allow even those uninitiated in the Usagi Yojimbo comics to enjoy its campaign setting. Rules are provided for using a simplified (believe it or not) Fuzion (Instant Fuzion) system as well as conversion to the equally flexible FUDGE system.

I have never read a single Usagi comic though I do remember an identical samurai rabbit of the same name in the Teenage Mutant Nina Turtle toy line and cartoon show. The campaign background is simple enough and has nothing to do with the TMNTs. The basics are a culturally serious copy of feudal Japan, inhabited by anthropomorphic beings with an added light touch of occasional humor ranging from sarcasm to visual schtick. The point is worth making again, this is not a humor based game, the characters are very serious, the humor is appropriate and minimally applied. Usagi is a classically trained samurai, whose personal life includes forbidden love, arch rivals, competing ronin/samurai, childhood friendships, feudal loyalties and everything else one would find in a classic Japanese story from the same period.

Fuzion data is provided for creating characters using 10 animal types as bases and 9 character professions. Choice modifies attributes and skill effectiveness. Apparently all of the major characters and reoccurring extras are described in Fuzion terms. A large collection of appropriate skills are made available to PCs and NPCs. Aside from the actual rules, the book also contains adventures, campaign timeline, character form and a sample comic strip.

Based on above comment, it should be no surprise that this campaign is easily run using Palladium's TMNT rpg rules, especially with the additional options supplied in the After the Bomb supplements. Less obvious should be that TSR's 4th edition of Gamma World is equally suited to support an Usagi Yojimbo campaign. Both systems have compatible supplements that would add authentic oriental flavor, Ninjas and Superspies (Palladium system), and Oriental Adventures (GW4 is very AD&D compatible). TMNT and GW4 also use animal templates to build anthropomorphic characters by modifying attributes and skills, and access to character classes that satisfy all occupation and skill options offered in the Usagi Yojimbo Fuzion rules. I'm sure nearly any system that creates humanoid animal characters could support an Usagi campaign (eg. Justifiers, by StarChilde), the two mentioned above are just so much more supported with usable supplements than other games.

Bottom line is, whether you know Fuzion or Fudge, TMNT or GW4, read Usagi Yojimbo comics or not, you can enjoy gaming in the Usagi Yojimbo universe. Even knowledge of feudal Japan is not critical as enough information is provided by the author. So regardless of if you use it as a rule book or a source book, you can be confident that you will feel good about your purchase. Barring all that, it's a good example of what an independent game should be, an enjoyable read and a well done source of campaign information. At $16 msrp, it would be expensive as an example of a job well done, unless you intend to write your own game books or have some interest in feudal Japan or anthropomorphics.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Usagi Yojimbo
Author: Greg Stolze Category: game Company/Publisher: Gold Rush Games Line: Fuzion Cost: $16 Page count: 96 Capsule Review by Papyrus on 05/12/99. Genre tags: Fantasy Historical Anime Asian/Far_East	As is my habit, this is not a regular review of the subject product but instead an overview of it and a discussion of its usefulness as a supplement to other game systems. On its own, this is a well done project. 96 pages of easy to read, well formatted and appropriately illustrated gaming information. The details provided allow even those uninitiated in the Usagi Yojimbo comics to enjoy its campaign setting. Rules are provided for using a simplified (believe it or not) Fuzion (Instant Fuzion) system as well as conversion to the equally flexible FUDGE system. I have never read a single Usagi comic though I do remember an identical samurai rabbit of the same name in the Teenage Mutant Nina Turtle toy line and cartoon show. The campaign background is simple enough and has nothing to do with the TMNTs. The basics are a culturally serious copy of feudal Japan, inhabited by anthropomorphic beings with an added light touch of occasional humor ranging from sarcasm to visual schtick. The point is worth making again, this is not a humor based game, the characters are very serious, the humor is appropriate and minimally applied. Usagi is a classically trained samurai, whose personal life includes forbidden love, arch rivals, competing ronin/samurai, childhood friendships, feudal loyalties and everything else one would find in a classic Japanese story from the same period. Fuzion data is provided for creating characters using 10 animal types as bases and 9 character professions. Choice modifies attributes and skill effectiveness. Apparently all of the major characters and reoccurring extras are described in Fuzion terms. A large collection of appropriate skills are made available to PCs and NPCs. Aside from the actual rules, the book also contains adventures, campaign timeline, character form and a sample comic strip. Based on above comment, it should be no surprise that this campaign is easily run using Palladium's TMNT rpg rules, especially with the additional options supplied in the After the Bomb supplements. Less obvious should be that TSR's 4th edition of Gamma World is equally suited to support an Usagi Yojimbo campaign. Both systems have compatible supplements that would add authentic oriental flavor, Ninjas and Superspies (Palladium system), and Oriental Adventures (GW4 is very AD&D compatible). TMNT and GW4 also use animal templates to build anthropomorphic characters by modifying attributes and skills, and access to character classes that satisfy all occupation and skill options offered in the Usagi Yojimbo Fuzion rules. I'm sure nearly any system that creates humanoid animal characters could support an Usagi campaign (eg. Justifiers, by StarChilde), the two mentioned above are just so much more supported with usable supplements than other games. Bottom line is, whether you know Fuzion or Fudge, TMNT or GW4, read Usagi Yojimbo comics or not, you can enjoy gaming in the Usagi Yojimbo universe. Even knowledge of feudal Japan is not critical as enough information is provided by the author. So regardless of if you use it as a rule book or a source book, you can be confident that you will feel good about your purchase. Barring all that, it's a good example of what an independent game should be, an enjoyable read and a well done source of campaign information. At $16 msrp, it would be expensive as an example of a job well done, unless you intend to write your own game books or have some interest in feudal Japan or anthropomorphics. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty)