Sword World RPG

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The current edition, known as the "Sword World 2.0", was published in 2008, but the original was published in 1989, so many Japanese RPG gamers recognize it as the most famous role-playing game with a long history.

Sword World RPG's system was given the name "2d6 System" in 2003. Scrapped Princess RPG and Dragon Half RPG's system are also "2d6 System", though the games are only partially compatible.

word World 2.0

Infobox RPG
title=Sword World 2.0


caption="Sword World 2.0 cover"
date=April 2008
designer=Kei Kitazawa, Group SNE
publisher=Fujimi Shobo
genre=Fantasy
system= "2d6 System"

The newest edition Sword World 2.0 (SW2.0 for short) was released in April 2008. It has a new campaign setting named "Rakusia". There are 15 classes (Bard, Conjurer, Enhancer, Fairy Tamer, Fencer, Fighter, Grappler, Magi-tech, Priest, Ranger, Rider, Sage, Scout, Shooter and Sorcerer) and 8 races (Human, Dwarf, Elf, Rune-folk, Tabbit, Nightmare, Lilldraken and GrassRunner) in the rulebooks #1-3. It uses only two 6-sided dice as with previous editions.

;Original races in Rakusia
*Tabbit - A bipedal rabbit race who are travelling around the world.
*Rune-folk - An artificial humanoid race who has a hunger to serve other races by instinct.
*Nightmare - They are mutants of other races and are born with the gift of both fighting and magic. However, because it is believed that their souls are distorted and polluted, Nightmares are looked askance.
*Lilldraken - A race of bipedal dragon-folk who like commerce and peddlery.
*GrassRunner - A diminutive race like as hobbit and halfling. They are curious and hilarious fairy folk dwelling in the grass. GrassRunners have a lack of affinity for mana, they mostly can't use magic. Instead, they have a immunity to magic.

word World RPG in previous editions

Infobox RPG
title=Sword World RPG


caption="Sword World RPG Complete edition cover"
date=1989 (1st edition)
1996 "Complete edition"
designer=Ryo Mizuno, Miyuki Kiyomatsu, Group SNE
publisher=Fujimi Shobo
genre=Fantasy
system= "2d6 System"

etting

Sword World's world, "Forcelia", includes Lodoss island (of Record of Lodoss War) and Crystania continent (of Legend of Crystania). However, the largest continent, "Arecrast" is the main setting. Forcelia is ordinary fantasy world influenced heavily by games such as Dungeons & Dragons and RuneQuest. For instance, the GrassRunner race is similar to D&D's Halfling and several magic systems (spirit magic, sorcery and divine magic) is similar to RuneQuest's.

Rune Soldier is Sword World RPG's novel and anime. Over a hundred light novels or replays (session logs) have been published.

ystem

Sword world RPG's classes are called nihongo|"ginou"|技能|lit. skill. Each "ginou" has packaged a number of skills. It is considered as a hybrid system between class system and skill system, so it is often called "class-skill system".

There are 8 classes (Bard, Fighter, Priest, Ranger, Sage, Shaman, Sorcerer and Thief) for Player Characters and 2 classes (Dark Priest and Dragon Priest) for only NPCs. 5 major races (Human, Dwarf, Elf, Half-elf and GrassRunner) can become PCs.

The game uses only two 6-sided dice, as other polyhedral dice aren't common in Japan. 2d6 dice roll is translated into a more wide range of random numbers by using a "Rating table". The Rating table is used for damage roll, damage reduction roll and such. An excerpt of the Rating table follows. Key number is equal to weapon/armor's requirement strength, or power of spell. Heavier weapon/armor is stronger.

Magic systems in Forcelia

All magic systems in Forcelia are called nihongo|"mahougo"|魔法語|lit. magic language, magic tongue based upon belief in the power of words. Each magic system has a proper language system as follow, and the language has magic power in itself.

Replays

Group SNE pioneered a new book genre called "replay". Replays are RPG session logs arranged for reading, similar in style to light novels. The first replay, Record of Lodoss War, is a replay of "Dungeons & Dragons". From that time, replays became popular in Japan, and not only with RPG gamers; several characters and parties in replays are as popular as characters of anime. For example, the beautiful female elf Deedlit in "Record of Lodoss War" (who is played by the (male) science fiction novelist Hiroshi Yamamoto.) Sword World's replays are popular, too. 43 books of Sword World's replays were published until July 2007.

External links

* [http://www.fujimishobo.co.jp/sw/ Official Website of Sword World 2.0] jp icon
* [http://www.fujimishobo.co.jp/game/sord/ Official Website of Sword World RPG (previous editions)] jp icon

References