Sword World RPG
Encyclopedia
is a very popular Japanese role-playing game
created by Group SNE
. 10 million copies of the related books including rulebooks, novels and replays have been sold.
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.
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
) and Crystania continent (of Legend of Crystania
). However, the largest continent, Alecrast (often featured in Louie the Rune Soldier
) 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 novel
s or replays (session logs) have been published.
There are 8 classes (Bard, Fighter, Priest, Ranger, Sage, Shaman, Sorcerer and Thief) for Player Character
s 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.
s. 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.
s released by T&E Soft
officially based on Sword World. These were Sword World PC for the NEC PC-9801 in 1992, Sword World SFC for the Super Famicom
in 1993, and Sword World SFC 2: Inishie no Kyojin Densetsu for the Super Famicom in 1994. These were multiplayer video games and early attempts at recreating an open-ended
, table-top role-playing experience on video game platforms, being set in the same world of Forcelia and implementing the same rules and scenarios as Sword World.
In 2009, Sword World 2.0 was released for the Nintendo DS
handheld game console
as a role-playing visual novel
adventure game
that attempts to simulate the full experience of playing a tabletop RPG. The game features branching plot paths and multiple endings
, as well as virtual dice rolls that partially determine the events, character parameters, and enemy encounters.
Japanese role-playing game
Japanese role-playing games made their first appearance during the late 1980s. Today, there are hundreds of Japanese-designed games as well as several translated games...
created by Group SNE
Group SNE
Group SNE is a Japanese company founded in 1986 by the current president Hitoshi Yasuda, which produces role-playing games, light novels, board games and card games. Ryo Mizuno was one of the founding members. Group SNE is named after Syntax Error, the programming language BASIC's term...
. 10 million copies of the related books including rulebooks, novels and replays have been sold.
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
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
with a long history.
Sword World RPG's system
Role-playing game system
A role-playing game system is a set of game mechanics used in a role-playing game to determine the outcome of a character's in-game actions...
was given the name 2d6 System in 2003. Scrapped Princess
Scrapped Princess
is a Japanese light novel series by Ichiro Sakaki and illustrated by Nakayohi Mogudan, a popular adult dōjin artist. In 2003, it was adapted into an anime series produced by Bones...
RPG and Dragon Half
Dragon Half
is a manga created by Ryūsuke Mita and serialized in Monthly Dragon Magazine from 1988 to 1994. It was adapted into a two episode anime OVA series in 1993...
RPG's system are also 2d6 System, though the games are only partially compatible.
Sword World 2.0
The newest edition Sword World 2.0 (SW2.0 for short) was released in April 2008. It has a new campaign settingCampaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
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
Dice
A die is a small throwable object with multiple resting positions, used for generating random numbers...
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 similar to a hobbitHobbitHobbits are a fictional diminutive race who inhabit the lands of Middle-earth in J. R. R. Tolkien's fiction.Hobbits first appeared in the novel The Hobbit, in which the main protagonist, Bilbo Baggins, is the titular hobbit...
and halflingHalflingHalfling is another name for J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit which can be a fictional race sometimes found in fantasy novels and games. In many settings, they are similar to humans except about half the size. Dungeons & Dragons began using the name halfling as an alternative to hobbit for legal reasons...
. They are curious and hilarious fairy folk dwelling in the grass. GrassRunners have a lack of affinity for manaManaMana is an indigenous Pacific islander concept of an impersonal force or quality that resides in people, animals, and inanimate objects. The word is a cognate in many Oceanic languages, including Melanesian, Polynesian, and Micronesian....
, they mostly can't use magic. Instead, they have an immunity to magic.
Setting
Sword World's world, Forcelia, includes Lodoss Island (of Record of Lodoss WarRecord of Lodoss War
is a franchise of fantasy novels by Ryo Mizuno based around the work he originally created for a world called Forcelia for role-playing games . There have since been multiple manga, anime and computer game adaptations, several of which have been translated into English...
) and Crystania continent (of Legend of Crystania
Legend of Crystania
is a full-length Japanese animated motion picture. The film has been officially released on VHS and DVD in North America by ADV Films. It takes place in the same fantasy world as two other series, Record of Lodoss War and Rune Soldier, albeit on a different continent...
). However, the largest continent, Alecrast (often featured in Louie the Rune Soldier
Rune Soldier
is an anime and manga series based on the original novel series by Ryo Mizuno, which features soldier Louie as the hero. The series takes place on the continent of Alecrast on the world called Forcelia, and is related to the novel, anime, and manga series Sword World...
) is the main setting. Forcelia is ordinary fantasy world influenced heavily by games such as Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
and RuneQuest
RuneQuest
RuneQuest is a fantasy role-playing game first published in 1978 by Chaosium, created by Steve Perrin and set in Greg Stafford's mythical world of Glorantha. RuneQuest was notable for its original gaming system and for its verisimilitude in adhering to an original fantasy world...
. For instance, the GrassRunner race is similar to D&D's Halfling
Halfling
Halfling is another name for J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit which can be a fictional race sometimes found in fantasy novels and games. In many settings, they are similar to humans except about half the size. Dungeons & Dragons began using the name halfling as an alternative to hobbit for legal reasons...
and several magic systems
Magic (gaming)
Some role-playing games or game systems can include a set of rules that are used to portray magic in the paranormal sense. These rules simulate the effects that magic would have within the game context, according to how the game designer intended the magic to be portrayed...
(spirit magic, sorcery and divine magic) is similar to RuneQuest's.
Rune Soldier
Rune Soldier
is an anime and manga series based on the original novel series by Ryo Mizuno, which features soldier Louie as the hero. The series takes place on the continent of Alecrast on the world called Forcelia, and is related to the novel, anime, and manga series Sword World...
is Sword World RPG's novel and anime. Over a hundred light novel
Light novel
A is a style of Japanese novel primarily targeting junior high and high school students . The term "light novel" is a wasei-eigo, or a Japanese term formed from words in the English language. Light novels are often called or for short...
s or replays (session logs) have been published.
System
Sword World RPG's classes are called . 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 Character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s 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
Dice
A die is a small throwable object with multiple resting positions, used for generating random numbers...
, 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.
| 2d6 / Key number | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 50 |
| 2 | failure | failure | failure | failure | failure | failure |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
| 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 10 |
| 8 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 12 |
| 9 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| 10 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 13 |
| 11 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 15 |
| 12 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 15 |
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 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.| Magic system | class (ginou) | language name | system's name |
| Sorcery | sorcerer | High Ancient | |
| Spirit magic | shaman | Silent Spirit | |
| Divine magic | priest | Holy Pray | |
| Dark magic | dark priest | Demon Scream | |
| Dragon magic | dragon priest | Dragon Lore | |
| Common magic | - | Common magic | |
| Bard's songs | bard | - |
Replays
Group SNE pioneered a new book genre called replay. Replays are RPG session logs arranged for reading, similar in style to light novelLight novel
A is a style of Japanese novel primarily targeting junior high and high school students . The term "light novel" is a wasei-eigo, or a Japanese term formed from words in the English language. Light novels are often called or for short...
s. The first replay, Record of Lodoss War
Record of Lodoss War
is a franchise of fantasy novels by Ryo Mizuno based around the work he originally created for a world called Forcelia for role-playing games . There have since been multiple manga, anime and computer game adaptations, several of which have been translated into English...
, is a replay of Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
. 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
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
. For example, the beautiful female elf Deedlit in Record of Lodoss War (who is played by the (male) science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novelist Hiroshi Yamamoto.) Sword World's replays are popular, too. 43 books of Sword World's replays were published until July 2007.
Video games
There have been three role-playing video gameRole-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
s released by T&E Soft
Technology and Entertainment Software
, fully titled as Technology and Entertainment Software, is a Japanese based video game developer founded in 1982. Although they have made games with a wide variety of genres, they are primarily known in the U.S...
officially based on Sword World. These were Sword World PC for the NEC PC-9801 in 1992, Sword World SFC for the Super Famicom
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
in 1993, and Sword World SFC 2: Inishie no Kyojin Densetsu for the Super Famicom in 1994. These were multiplayer video games and early attempts at recreating an open-ended
Open world
An open world is a type of video game level design where a player can roam freely through a virtual world and is given considerable freedom in choosing how to approach objectives...
, table-top role-playing experience on video game platforms, being set in the same world of Forcelia and implementing the same rules and scenarios as Sword World.
In 2009, Sword World 2.0 was released for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
handheld game console
Handheld game console
A handheld game console is a lightweight, portable electronic device with a built-in screen, game controls and speakers. Handheld game consoles are run on machines of small size allowing people to carry them and play them at any time or place...
as a role-playing visual novel
Visual novel
A is an interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art, or occasionally live-action stills or video footage...
adventure game
Adventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
that attempts to simulate the full experience of playing a tabletop RPG. The game features branching plot paths and multiple endings
Multiple endings
Multiple endings refer to a case in entertainment where the story could end in different ways, described as an alternate ending.-Literature:...
, as well as virtual dice rolls that partially determine the events, character parameters, and enemy encounters.