Zen and the Art of Mayhem
Encyclopedia
Zen and the Art of Mayhem is a generic role-playing game system
designed to simulate anime
, tokusatsu
, and action genre
worlds. The core rules systems could be considered a balance between detail and ease of use. The character creation
system is fairly detailed allowing for construction of many different and detailed character types. Yet the rest of the rules remain easy and simple to use making it a merger between simple and fast game play
, with a characters being will developed and detailed.
under the banner
Panic Studios, in the late 90's. Since then the rules have been placed on the current site. It has been referenced and link to
The system itself is still under development as additional rules sets, called More Power More Damage, are created to allow for more detailed Combat, Magic, Psi, and even Mecha and Super Robots.
Generic role-playing game system
A generic role-playing game system or universal role-playing game system is a role-playing game system designed to be independent of setting and genre...
designed to simulate 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....
, tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
, and action genre
Action genre
The word action has more than one meaning in fiction. Action is one of the fiction-writing modes authors use to present fiction. The term is also used to describe an exiting event or circumstance.-Action as a fiction-writing mode:...
worlds. The core rules systems could be considered a balance between detail and ease of use. The character creation
Character creation
Character creation is the process of defining a game character or other character. Typically, a character's individual strengths and weaknesses are represented by a set of statistics. Games with a largely fictional setting may include traits such as race and class...
system is fairly detailed allowing for construction of many different and detailed character types. Yet the rest of the rules remain easy and simple to use making it a merger between simple and fast game play
Gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
, with a characters being will developed and detailed.
History
Early versions of the game were called Animenia, surfacing in the early 1990s, and was a very rules-light system meant for quick and fast games. As the system evolved through play testing the characters became more detailed, although the core system remained fairly simple to use. A PDF version of the rules was placed on the Hexawizards.com, and now defunct websiteWebsite
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
under the banner
Banner
A banner is a flag or other piece of cloth bearing a symbol, logo, slogan or other message. Banner-making is an ancient craft.The word derives from late Latin bandum, a cloth out of which a flag is made...
Panic Studios, in the late 90's. Since then the rules have been placed on the current site. It has been referenced and link to
The system itself is still under development as additional rules sets, called More Power More Damage, are created to allow for more detailed Combat, Magic, Psi, and even Mecha and Super Robots.
External links
- Zen and the Art of Mayhem PDF Location of the Core Rules and More Power More Damage Optional Rules.