The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Sengoku is a role playing game that attempts to simulate Chanbara (Japanese samurai action movies) movies. For the most part, the game is very well done. Like all Role Playing Games, however, it has its ups and downs.

I'll start at the very beginning. The cover artwork for the book is great. San Julian did an excellant job, and the cover alone will probably be responsible for attracting the attention of more than a few potential buyers.

The book itself starts with a general yet good description of Japan and its customs, including everything from sake to etiquette to religion. This is where the greatest strength of the book lies. Even if you don't wish to use the Fuzion system included in the pages, Sengoku is a wonderful sourcebook to any oriental-based RPG. It even includes conversion notes to some of the other samurai games out there (like Legend of the Five Rings, AD&D: Oriental Adventures, and the old classic Bushido).

The game system is, as mentioned before, Fuzion powered. From what I have read, Fuzion has gotten mixed reviews, but this has been my first Fuzion game. The system worked well for the game, and had one of the features I value most in a game. A lack of classes.

You can create any type of character you want, and you aren't weighted down by classes like in other games. You want to have a skilled swordsman who also has a knack for picking locks and pockets? Fine! If you aren't creative enough to make up a character from scratch, there are 47 (I think) example templates you can customize to fit your needs. Plus there are talents, perks, and complications to add some unique flavor to an otherwise everyday samurai.

As I said before, there are ups and downs to this game. I've already explained the good points (great art, wonderful setting info, liberal character creation), and now to detail some of the less appealing portions of the book.

First off, there are alot of typos. Alot. Sometimes it isn't just missing a letter or something trivial. Typos in certain sections (such as the 7 in the "Losing Honor" section) can throw a beginning RPGer off into the depths of confusion. Fortunately, GRG has a Sengoku FAQ that corrects all of this. Dave Crowhurst also has a very nice Unofficial FAQ thats worth checking out.

The combat section also gave me trouble, but a few emails to the Gold Rush Games guys, and I completely understood. Thier response to my questions can be found in thier Official FAQ (the first four questions in the combat section were mine :).

Two other very minor quibbles are the limited number of spells and creatures in the bestiary, but both of those will be augmented in upcoming Sengoku supplements.

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

Sengoku: Chanbara Roleplaying in Feudal Japan
Author: Anthony J. Bryant & Mark T. Arsenault Category: game Company/Publisher: Gold Rush Games Line: Sengoku Cost: $30.00 Page count: 336 ISBN: 1-890305-10-3 SKU: S100 Capsule Review by Dana Brem on 10/27/99. Genre tags: Fantasy Historical Asian/Far_East	Sengoku is a role playing game that attempts to simulate Chanbara (Japanese samurai action movies) movies. For the most part, the game is very well done. Like all Role Playing Games, however, it has its ups and downs. I'll start at the very beginning. The cover artwork for the book is great. San Julian did an excellant job, and the cover alone will probably be responsible for attracting the attention of more than a few potential buyers. The book itself starts with a general yet good description of Japan and its customs, including everything from sake to etiquette to religion. This is where the greatest strength of the book lies. Even if you don't wish to use the Fuzion system included in the pages, Sengoku is a wonderful sourcebook to any oriental-based RPG. It even includes conversion notes to some of the other samurai games out there (like Legend of the Five Rings, AD&D: Oriental Adventures, and the old classic Bushido). The game system is, as mentioned before, Fuzion powered. From what I have read, Fuzion has gotten mixed reviews, but this has been my first Fuzion game. The system worked well for the game, and had one of the features I value most in a game. A lack of classes. You can create any type of character you want, and you aren't weighted down by classes like in other games. You want to have a skilled swordsman who also has a knack for picking locks and pockets? Fine! If you aren't creative enough to make up a character from scratch, there are 47 (I think) example templates you can customize to fit your needs. Plus there are talents, perks, and complications to add some unique flavor to an otherwise everyday samurai. As I said before, there are ups and downs to this game. I've already explained the good points (great art, wonderful setting info, liberal character creation), and now to detail some of the less appealing portions of the book. First off, there are alot of typos. Alot. Sometimes it isn't just missing a letter or something trivial. Typos in certain sections (such as the 7 in the "Losing Honor" section) can throw a beginning RPGer off into the depths of confusion. Fortunately, GRG has a Sengoku FAQ that corrects all of this. Dave Crowhurst also has a very nice Unofficial FAQ thats worth checking out. The combat section also gave me trouble, but a few emails to the Gold Rush Games guys, and I completely understood. Thier response to my questions can be found in thier Official FAQ (the first four questions in the combat section were mine :). Two other very minor quibbles are the limited number of spells and creatures in the bestiary, but both of those will be augmented in upcoming Sengoku supplements. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Sengoku: Chanbara Roleplaying in Feudal Japan