Document Text Contents
Page 2
IN
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O
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B I G E Y E S , SMALL MOUTH – REV I S ED SECOND ED I T ION 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Introduction 4
What is Anime? 5
Anime Genres 6
What is a Role-Playing Game? 9
Playing Big Eyes, Small Mouth 9
The (Revised) Second Edition 10
Chapter 2: Character Creation 11
Character Creation Summary 12
Step 1: GM Discussion 13
Step 2: Character Outline 14
Step 3: Assign Stats 15
Step 4: Character Attributes 16
Mecha-Only Attributes 93
Step 5: Character Defects 100
Mecha-Only Defects 114
Step 6: Skill System 117
Step 7: Derived Values 129
Step 8: Background Points 130
Chapter 3: Game Mechanics 132
The Passage of Time 133
Taking Action 133
Combat Dice Rolls 137
When to Roll Dice 138
Combat 139
Combat Flowchart 139
Non-Combat Actions 144
Defensive Actions 145
Damage 146
Recovery 148
Weaponry and Equipment 149
Chapter 4: Expanded Game Mechanics 152
Expanded Movement Rules 153
Expanded Combat Rules — Attacks 156
Expanded Combat Rules — Defending 160
Expanded Combat Rules — Damage 161
Mind Combat 163
Psyche 163
Destroying Buildings and Planets 165
Staged Stat Cost 166
Unknown Superhuman Power 166
Chapter 5: Role-Playing in Anime 167
Campaigns, Mini-Campaigns, and One-Shots 168
Choice of Genre 169
Creating a Game Setting 172
World Building 178
The Supporting Cast 179
Designing Adventures 179
Fan Service 182
Character Advancement 188
Advice for the GM 189
Advice for the Player 190
Reference 191
Contributor Biographies 191
Reference Section 192
Index 196
Character Sheets 202
Page 104
GIRL/GUY MAGNET
Type: Normal
The character attracts susceptible girls (or guys, or even both sexes) like bees to nectar. For some reason
they are just drawn to the character, fall helplessly in love (or lust), and will not let go nor give the character a
minute’s peace. Even worse, they will fight each other over the character to keep one another from
consummating the relationship. The Girl/Guy Magnet does not represent some unusual charisma on the part of
the character but rather his or her fate to constantly meet obsessed people.
HANGAR QUEEN
Type: Special
The character has an artificial body (a cyborg, for example) that requires extra careful maintenance to
function properly. If this maintenance is not available, the GM can impose breakdowns of various systems
whenever it seems dramatically appropriate.
INEPT COMBAT
Type: Normal
This Defect reflects a character’s poor judgment in combat situations, which can often place him or her in
precarious positions. A character with the Inept Combat Defect suffers a penalty to the Combat Value. The
penalty cannot lower the Value below 1. See Step 7: Derived Values for more information on the Combat Value.
INVOLUNTARY PHYSICAL CHANGE
Type: Special
A character with this Defect will undergo a physical change when a specific game condition is met.
Changes can include height, weight, sex, colour, body shape, as well as partial or whole transformations into
plants or animals. The alternate form should not give the character an obvious advantage over his or her normal
form but may provide an unexpected or unique benefit that is usable in some situations. For example, a character
who changes into a fish when he or she gets wet may be the only survivor from a sinking ship. The exact nature
of the involuntary change, how it will affect the character, and the conditions under which it will occur should
be discussed with the GM.
A character who has undergone an Involuntary Physical Change will normally be unable to transform back
until additional conditions are fulfilled.
1 BP The character spends much of his or her time under repairs. Every hour “awake” or “in operation”
requires at least an hour of maintenance.
2 BP The character spends most of its time under repairs. Every hour “awake” or “in operation” requires at
least two or more hours of maintenance.H
AN
GA
R
QU
EE
N
1 BP The character’s Combat Value is decreased by 1 point.
2 BP The character’s Combat Value is decreased by 2 points.IN
EP
T
1 BP A physical change that occurs infrequently.
2 BP A physical change that occurs frequently, or one that occurs infrequently but is very disadvantageous.CH
AN
GE
D
E
F
E
C
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B I G E Y E S , SMALL MOUTH – REV I S ED SECOND ED I T ION 105
CHAPTER 2: CHARACTER CREATION
Page 105
MAGICAL RESTRICTIONS
Type: Special
Only someone with the Dynamic Sorcery or Magic Attributes can take this Defect. The character’s magic
is either difficult to perform or occasionally ceases to function or both. Magical restrictions can be minor or major.
Some examples of minor restrictions are:
• The character must always dress in a peculiar set of ritual clothing (or body paint, or whatever) to use
magic.
• The character must transform into a special costume in order to use his or magic. This is very common
for “magical girl” type characters.
• The character’s magic works at the pleasure of a patron spirit, god, goddess, or demon and may cease to
function if the character disobeys the patron’s commands or violates particular religious or other strictures.
• The character’s magic is limited if the character violates certain minor taboos.
• About half of the character’s magic powers are dependent on possession of a particular item, which may
or may not also be an Item of Power. Should the character ever lose or misplace the item, he or she cannot access
these powers.
Some examples of major restrictions are:
• The character’s magic ceases to function if he or she is in contact with metal, carrying it, or wearing it
on his or her body.
• The character must perform blood sacrifices for his or her magic to work.
• The character’s magic only functions half or less of the time; for example, it may not work during
daylight or only work when the moon is visible.
• Nearly all the character’s magic (except possibly a minor power or two) is dependent on possession of a
particular item, which may or may not also be an Item of Power. Should the character ever lose or misplace the
item, he or she cannot access the item-dependent powers.
Magical Restrictions of this sort are a good way to establish the nature of a particular form or school of
magic. This Defect cannot be taken if its BP value would be equal to or greater than the points the character
spent to acquire Magic or Dynamic Sorcery.
MARKED
Type: Normal
A character is considered Marked if his or her body hosts a permanent and distinguishing design that may
be difficult to conceal. The design may be a family symbol, an identifying birthmark, a permanent scar, or a
unique tattoo. If the mark is not considered out of the ordinary (such as freckles or a common tattoo), this Defect
does not apply.
1 BP The character’s magic suffers from 1-2 minor restrictions.
2 BP The character’s magic suffers from a major restriction, or 3-5 minor restrictions.
RESTRICTION
1 BP The mark is easily concealable because it is small or in an inconspicuous location.
2 BP The mark is difficult to conceal because it is large or in an obvious location.
MARKED
D
E
F
E
C
T
S
B I G E Y E S , SMALL MOUTH – REV I S ED SECOND ED I T ION106
CHAPTER 2: CHARACTER CREATION
Page 207
TRI-STAT/BESM MAILING LIST
Exchange ideas with other anime RPG fans and
pose questions to the game designers.
To sign up, send an email to
[email protected]
GUARDIANS OF ORDER
MESSAGE BOARDS
Be a part of our growing community and join discussions
on game rules, anime characters, and other Guardians Of
Order role-playing games.
Visit http://www.guardiansorder.com/forums/
GET CONNECTED!
Page 208
WRI T T EN BY: DAV ID L. P U LV ER AN D MARK C. MACKIN N ON
ED I T I N G BY: MARK C. MACKIN N ON , KAREN A. MCLARN EY, JOH N R. P H Y T H Y ON JR., JESSE SCOBLE
GRAPH I C PROD U CT I ON BY: JEFF MACKIN T OSH
COV ER ART WORK BY: JU LIE DILLON ART WORK BY: AX EL, JU LIE DILLON , V AN ESSA DU RAN ,
JAMES WILLIAM FRAN CIS, KEIII, JU N O KIM, DAV ID OKU M, SAKA, IRMA SU RIAN I AH MED, Z ID
I n t h e m y r i a d r e a lm s o f i m a g i n a t i o n
t h e r e a r e a n i n f i n i t e n u m b e r
o f w o r ld s t o b e d i s c o v e r e d .
BESM SECO N D ED I T IO N
h e lp s y o u e x p lo r e
t h e m a ll.
BIG EY ES, SMALL MOU T H
T h e m u lt i - g e n r e
a n i m e a n d m a n g a
r o le - p la y i n g g a m e .
ORIGINS AWARD NOMINATIONS
FOR BESM SECOND EDITION
BEST ROLE-PLAYING GAME OF 2000
BEST RPG GRAPHIC DESIGN OF 2000
IN
T
R
O
D
U
C
T
IO
N
B I G E Y E S , SMALL MOUTH – REV I S ED SECOND ED I T ION 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Introduction 4
What is Anime? 5
Anime Genres 6
What is a Role-Playing Game? 9
Playing Big Eyes, Small Mouth 9
The (Revised) Second Edition 10
Chapter 2: Character Creation 11
Character Creation Summary 12
Step 1: GM Discussion 13
Step 2: Character Outline 14
Step 3: Assign Stats 15
Step 4: Character Attributes 16
Mecha-Only Attributes 93
Step 5: Character Defects 100
Mecha-Only Defects 114
Step 6: Skill System 117
Step 7: Derived Values 129
Step 8: Background Points 130
Chapter 3: Game Mechanics 132
The Passage of Time 133
Taking Action 133
Combat Dice Rolls 137
When to Roll Dice 138
Combat 139
Combat Flowchart 139
Non-Combat Actions 144
Defensive Actions 145
Damage 146
Recovery 148
Weaponry and Equipment 149
Chapter 4: Expanded Game Mechanics 152
Expanded Movement Rules 153
Expanded Combat Rules — Attacks 156
Expanded Combat Rules — Defending 160
Expanded Combat Rules — Damage 161
Mind Combat 163
Psyche 163
Destroying Buildings and Planets 165
Staged Stat Cost 166
Unknown Superhuman Power 166
Chapter 5: Role-Playing in Anime 167
Campaigns, Mini-Campaigns, and One-Shots 168
Choice of Genre 169
Creating a Game Setting 172
World Building 178
The Supporting Cast 179
Designing Adventures 179
Fan Service 182
Character Advancement 188
Advice for the GM 189
Advice for the Player 190
Reference 191
Contributor Biographies 191
Reference Section 192
Index 196
Character Sheets 202
Page 104
GIRL/GUY MAGNET
Type: Normal
The character attracts susceptible girls (or guys, or even both sexes) like bees to nectar. For some reason
they are just drawn to the character, fall helplessly in love (or lust), and will not let go nor give the character a
minute’s peace. Even worse, they will fight each other over the character to keep one another from
consummating the relationship. The Girl/Guy Magnet does not represent some unusual charisma on the part of
the character but rather his or her fate to constantly meet obsessed people.
HANGAR QUEEN
Type: Special
The character has an artificial body (a cyborg, for example) that requires extra careful maintenance to
function properly. If this maintenance is not available, the GM can impose breakdowns of various systems
whenever it seems dramatically appropriate.
INEPT COMBAT
Type: Normal
This Defect reflects a character’s poor judgment in combat situations, which can often place him or her in
precarious positions. A character with the Inept Combat Defect suffers a penalty to the Combat Value. The
penalty cannot lower the Value below 1. See Step 7: Derived Values for more information on the Combat Value.
INVOLUNTARY PHYSICAL CHANGE
Type: Special
A character with this Defect will undergo a physical change when a specific game condition is met.
Changes can include height, weight, sex, colour, body shape, as well as partial or whole transformations into
plants or animals. The alternate form should not give the character an obvious advantage over his or her normal
form but may provide an unexpected or unique benefit that is usable in some situations. For example, a character
who changes into a fish when he or she gets wet may be the only survivor from a sinking ship. The exact nature
of the involuntary change, how it will affect the character, and the conditions under which it will occur should
be discussed with the GM.
A character who has undergone an Involuntary Physical Change will normally be unable to transform back
until additional conditions are fulfilled.
1 BP The character spends much of his or her time under repairs. Every hour “awake” or “in operation”
requires at least an hour of maintenance.
2 BP The character spends most of its time under repairs. Every hour “awake” or “in operation” requires at
least two or more hours of maintenance.H
AN
GA
R
QU
EE
N
1 BP The character’s Combat Value is decreased by 1 point.
2 BP The character’s Combat Value is decreased by 2 points.IN
EP
T
1 BP A physical change that occurs infrequently.
2 BP A physical change that occurs frequently, or one that occurs infrequently but is very disadvantageous.CH
AN
GE
D
E
F
E
C
T
S
B I G E Y E S , SMALL MOUTH – REV I S ED SECOND ED I T ION 105
CHAPTER 2: CHARACTER CREATION
Page 105
MAGICAL RESTRICTIONS
Type: Special
Only someone with the Dynamic Sorcery or Magic Attributes can take this Defect. The character’s magic
is either difficult to perform or occasionally ceases to function or both. Magical restrictions can be minor or major.
Some examples of minor restrictions are:
• The character must always dress in a peculiar set of ritual clothing (or body paint, or whatever) to use
magic.
• The character must transform into a special costume in order to use his or magic. This is very common
for “magical girl” type characters.
• The character’s magic works at the pleasure of a patron spirit, god, goddess, or demon and may cease to
function if the character disobeys the patron’s commands or violates particular religious or other strictures.
• The character’s magic is limited if the character violates certain minor taboos.
• About half of the character’s magic powers are dependent on possession of a particular item, which may
or may not also be an Item of Power. Should the character ever lose or misplace the item, he or she cannot access
these powers.
Some examples of major restrictions are:
• The character’s magic ceases to function if he or she is in contact with metal, carrying it, or wearing it
on his or her body.
• The character must perform blood sacrifices for his or her magic to work.
• The character’s magic only functions half or less of the time; for example, it may not work during
daylight or only work when the moon is visible.
• Nearly all the character’s magic (except possibly a minor power or two) is dependent on possession of a
particular item, which may or may not also be an Item of Power. Should the character ever lose or misplace the
item, he or she cannot access the item-dependent powers.
Magical Restrictions of this sort are a good way to establish the nature of a particular form or school of
magic. This Defect cannot be taken if its BP value would be equal to or greater than the points the character
spent to acquire Magic or Dynamic Sorcery.
MARKED
Type: Normal
A character is considered Marked if his or her body hosts a permanent and distinguishing design that may
be difficult to conceal. The design may be a family symbol, an identifying birthmark, a permanent scar, or a
unique tattoo. If the mark is not considered out of the ordinary (such as freckles or a common tattoo), this Defect
does not apply.
1 BP The character’s magic suffers from 1-2 minor restrictions.
2 BP The character’s magic suffers from a major restriction, or 3-5 minor restrictions.
RESTRICTION
1 BP The mark is easily concealable because it is small or in an inconspicuous location.
2 BP The mark is difficult to conceal because it is large or in an obvious location.
MARKED
D
E
F
E
C
T
S
B I G E Y E S , SMALL MOUTH – REV I S ED SECOND ED I T ION106
CHAPTER 2: CHARACTER CREATION
Page 207
TRI-STAT/BESM MAILING LIST
Exchange ideas with other anime RPG fans and
pose questions to the game designers.
To sign up, send an email to
[email protected]
GUARDIANS OF ORDER
MESSAGE BOARDS
Be a part of our growing community and join discussions
on game rules, anime characters, and other Guardians Of
Order role-playing games.
Visit http://www.guardiansorder.com/forums/
GET CONNECTED!
Page 208
WRI T T EN BY: DAV ID L. P U LV ER AN D MARK C. MACKIN N ON
ED I T I N G BY: MARK C. MACKIN N ON , KAREN A. MCLARN EY, JOH N R. P H Y T H Y ON JR., JESSE SCOBLE
GRAPH I C PROD U CT I ON BY: JEFF MACKIN T OSH
COV ER ART WORK BY: JU LIE DILLON ART WORK BY: AX EL, JU LIE DILLON , V AN ESSA DU RAN ,
JAMES WILLIAM FRAN CIS, KEIII, JU N O KIM, DAV ID OKU M, SAKA, IRMA SU RIAN I AH MED, Z ID
I n t h e m y r i a d r e a lm s o f i m a g i n a t i o n
t h e r e a r e a n i n f i n i t e n u m b e r
o f w o r ld s t o b e d i s c o v e r e d .
BESM SECO N D ED I T IO N
h e lp s y o u e x p lo r e
t h e m a ll.
BIG EY ES, SMALL MOU T H
T h e m u lt i - g e n r e
a n i m e a n d m a n g a
r o le - p la y i n g g a m e .
ORIGINS AWARD NOMINATIONS
FOR BESM SECOND EDITION
BEST ROLE-PLAYING GAME OF 2000
BEST RPG GRAPHIC DESIGN OF 2000
