[RPG]: Chi-Chian: the Roleplaying Game, reviewed by Dan Davenport (4/4)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/11/11050.phtml

Dan Davenport's Summary:

Imagine what might happen if Tim Burton, William Gibson, and David Cronenberg all dropped acid together and decided to create an anime. The rules aren't that great, but the setting has to be seen to be believed.

Go to the full review for more information.

Post originally by No2 at 2005-02-11 09:07:35
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Interesting review! Thanks!

Post originally by Kiriath at 2005-02-11 10:44:44
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Yay! The Chi-Chian review!

That sounds weeeeird.

Mechs that sprout Swiss Army Knife weapons? Sounds very Toon.

I must download the series.

Post originally by Cith at 2005-02-11 12:38:16
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Good review, as always, tovarich!

Post originally by Dan Davenport at 2005-02-11 12:43:17
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Cith wrote:
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Good review, as always, tovarich!
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Thanks, Cith! You make a fine, fine cockroach.

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Dan Davenport

Post originally by Dan Davenport at 2005-02-11 12:44:08
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Thanks, No2 and Kiriath! And yes, it's very weird, and yes, you must download the series.

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Dan Davenport

Post originally by Aka-Chan at 2005-02-11 14:09:07
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Yay! Your review voiced most of the same opinions I got looking over the book. Only your review was...y'know, articulate. And witty.

I noticed you mention system conversions. How easy do you think it would be to convert Chi Chi'an to Cinematic Unisystem? I'm really interested in playing a game in the world of Chi Chian, but wouldn't want to put up with that system. I think Cine-Uni would be perfect, though.

Post originally by Dan Davenport at 2005-02-11 15:46:00
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Aka-Chan wrote:
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<b>Yay! Your review voiced most of the same opinions I got looking over the book. Only your review was...y'know, articulate. And witty.</b>
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Heh. Thank you.

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<b>I noticed you mention system conversions. How easy do you think it would be to convert Chi Chi'an to Cinematic Unisystem? I'm really interested in playing a game in the world of Chi Chian, but wouldn't want to put up with that system. I think Cine-Uni would be perfect, though.</b>
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I think Cinematic Unisystem would be perfect as well. The one tricky part is the greater emphasis that Chi-Chian puts on attributes. If you were going to do a direct conversion -- i.e., keeping the Chi-Chian stats but using Cine-Uni for task resolution -- you'd need to treat most rolls as Cine-Uni standard attribute rolls (attribute x 2), adding any points from Capabilities on top of that. Otherwise, the characters are going to end up being really incompetent.

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Dan Davenport

Post originally by Dan Davenport at 2005-02-11 15:48:16
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I'd like to hear some opinions regarding the value of purchasing a license as obscure as Chi-Chian. Do you think it's worth buying a license simply because the setting is cool, even if the "brand name" isn't likely to draw in buyers on its own?

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Dan Davenport

Post originally by Brad Elliott at 2005-02-11 19:13:49
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Speaking from experience...

If nothing else, you get to use lots of really cool art!

(If you like the art of the license, I suppose, is the caveat).

I love the Aetherco stuff, though I've not played their systems a lot... I usually adapt the setting to whatever system I'm using at the time, like I did when I added NaRCISSIST to the World of Darkness.

Nice review, Dan!