Unisystem
Encyclopedia
Unisystem is a generic role-playing game system
produced by Eden Studios, Inc.
It is used in All Flesh Must Be Eaten
, the Buffyverse role-playing games
, CJ Carella's WitchCraft
, Conspiracy X (2nd Ed.)
, and several other games. Games designed using Unisystem have been nominated for, and won, Origins Award
s.
Unisystem was developed by C.J. Carella for the first editions of his WitchCraft and Armageddon role-playing games,
published from Myrmidion Press. Eden Studios uses Unisystem under an exclusive license, but has offered other game companies to license the system from them. Eden Studios published WitchCraft 2nd Edition and their original All Flesh Must Be Eaten games as Unisystem games. Armageddon 2nd Edition and a new 2nd Edition of Eden's own Conspiracy X were later published, also using this gaming system.
Attributes represent the character's main six abilities, which in this case are three physical attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution; and three mental attributes: Intelligence, Perception, Willpower. Characters also have a variety of Skills, and Qualities and Drawbacks to give the character added perks or faults (respectively). Other Qualities and Drawbacks are of a Supernatural sort and are used to designate a character as a particular type of character (be it a Gifted human, a Vampyre, a Spirit, and so on) or detail what sort of magic they can do.
Actions are resolved by adding together the character's relevant Attribute, the applicable Skill, and a ten-sided die roll, plus any modifiers for difficulty; if the total is nine or greater, the action succeeds. Gamemaster
s (called 'Chroniclers' in Classic, and 'Directors' in Cinematic Unisystem) are also given tables of successes: characters that get a higher roll than the required nine have bonuses on their final outcome; this table describes how successful they turn out to be, and gives guidelines to figure out the resulting bonuses.
Classic Unisystem was developed first and is featured in All Flesh Must Be Eaten, Armageddon, Conspiracy X 2.0, Terra Primate
and WitchCraft. It is typified by grittier, more realistic play, greater attention to detail in skills and combat, and the use of Secondary Attributes that are typically derived from the Primary Attributes. Essence, or the measure of life-force and magic, is also central to Classic Unisystem play.
Cinematic Unisystem was designed to mimic the “cinematic” exploits of characters. First developed for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game, it was later adopted for use in Angel,
Army of Darkness
and Ghosts of Albion
. Cinematic features a limited set of skills that cover most situations, no Secondary Attributes or Essence, simplified combat and flat damage resolution. Cinematic games also feature the use of Drama Points which allow the character to do things above and beyond what they could do under the system alone.
The chief difference between the systems are the use (or lack of) Drama Points, and differences in magic sub-systems; essence-based vs. Sorcery/Magic.
Despite the differences the two are still largely compatible, though every Cinematic Unisystem game offers an appendix for a more complete conversion and the Buffy RPG’s Magic Box supplement offers an appendix on converting between Buffy’s Sorcery magic system and Classic Unisystem’s WitchCraft RPG based essence.
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...
produced by Eden Studios, Inc.
Eden Studios, Inc.
Eden Studios, Inc. is an award-winning American role-playing game publisher founded in 1996 by George Vasilakos, M. Alexander Jurkat, and Ed Healy. Currently run by Mr...
It is used in All Flesh Must Be Eaten
All Flesh Must Be Eaten
All Flesh Must Be Eaten or AFMBE is a multiple Origins Award winning and nominatedsurvival horror role-playing game produced by Eden Studios, Inc. using the Unisystem game system....
, the Buffyverse role-playing games
Buffyverse role-playing games
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel Role-playing Games are complementary, officially licensed role-playing games published by Eden Studios, Inc. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Core Rulebook was published in 2002, while the Angel Corebook followed in 2003...
, CJ Carella's WitchCraft
CJ Carella's WitchCraft
CJ Carella's WitchCraft, or more informally WitchCraft , is a modern horror role-playing game published by Eden Studios, Inc. It is based on the Unisystem game system and had been previously published by Myrmidon Press. In both cases it was designed and written by C. J. Carella...
, Conspiracy X (2nd Ed.)
Conspiracy X
Conspiracy X is a role-playing game published by Eden Studios, Inc. The current version is based on the Unisystem, but previous versions have used GURPS and its own system...
, and several other games. Games designed using Unisystem have been nominated for, and won, Origins Award
Origins Award
The Origins Awards are American awards for outstanding work in the game industry. They are presented by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design at the Origins Game Fair on an annual basis for the previous year, so the 1979 awards were given at the 1980 Origins.The Origins Award is commonly...
s.
Unisystem was developed by C.J. Carella for the first editions of his WitchCraft and Armageddon role-playing games,
published from Myrmidion Press. Eden Studios uses Unisystem under an exclusive license, but has offered other game companies to license the system from them. Eden Studios published WitchCraft 2nd Edition and their original All Flesh Must Be Eaten games as Unisystem games. Armageddon 2nd Edition and a new 2nd Edition of Eden's own Conspiracy X were later published, also using this gaming system.
Gameplay
Unisystem games use a point-buy system to generate characters. Points are then spent on Attributes, Skills, Qualities and Metaphysics. Drawbacks can then be used to gain extra points.Attributes represent the character's main six abilities, which in this case are three physical attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution; and three mental attributes: Intelligence, Perception, Willpower. Characters also have a variety of Skills, and Qualities and Drawbacks to give the character added perks or faults (respectively). Other Qualities and Drawbacks are of a Supernatural sort and are used to designate a character as a particular type of character (be it a Gifted human, a Vampyre, a Spirit, and so on) or detail what sort of magic they can do.
Actions are resolved by adding together the character's relevant Attribute, the applicable Skill, and a ten-sided die roll, plus any modifiers for difficulty; if the total is nine or greater, the action succeeds. Gamemaster
Gamemaster
A gamemaster is a person who acts as an organizer, officiant for questions regarding rules, arbitrator, and moderator for a multiplayer game...
s (called 'Chroniclers' in Classic, and 'Directors' in Cinematic Unisystem) are also given tables of successes: characters that get a higher roll than the required nine have bonuses on their final outcome; this table describes how successful they turn out to be, and gives guidelines to figure out the resulting bonuses.
Classic versus Cinematic
Unisystem can be divided into two sub-systems; Classic and Cinematic.Classic Unisystem was developed first and is featured in All Flesh Must Be Eaten, Armageddon, Conspiracy X 2.0, Terra Primate
Terra Primate
Terra Primate is an American role-playing game, designed by Patrick Sweeny, David F. Chapman, Al Bruno III and CJ Carella, and published by Eden Studios, Inc....
and WitchCraft. It is typified by grittier, more realistic play, greater attention to detail in skills and combat, and the use of Secondary Attributes that are typically derived from the Primary Attributes. Essence, or the measure of life-force and magic, is also central to Classic Unisystem play.
Cinematic Unisystem was designed to mimic the “cinematic” exploits of characters. First developed for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game, it was later adopted for use in Angel,
Army of Darkness
Army of Darkness
Army of Darkness, also known as Evil Dead III: Army of Darkness or simply Evil Dead III, is a 1992 horror comedy fantasy action film directed by Sam Raimi. It is the third and final installment in The Evil Dead trilogy. The film was written by Raimi and his brother Ivan, produced by Robert Tapert,...
and Ghosts of Albion
Ghosts of Albion
Ghosts of Albion started as a computer-animated web movie series on the BBC's website and has now spawned two book adaptations and two novels with a new role-playing game on the way.The works in order of release:...
. Cinematic features a limited set of skills that cover most situations, no Secondary Attributes or Essence, simplified combat and flat damage resolution. Cinematic games also feature the use of Drama Points which allow the character to do things above and beyond what they could do under the system alone.
The chief difference between the systems are the use (or lack of) Drama Points, and differences in magic sub-systems; essence-based vs. Sorcery/Magic.
Despite the differences the two are still largely compatible, though every Cinematic Unisystem game offers an appendix for a more complete conversion and the Buffy RPG’s Magic Box supplement offers an appendix on converting between Buffy’s Sorcery magic system and Classic Unisystem’s WitchCraft RPG based essence.