When the first edition of Blue Rose was published 10 years ago , it found a core audience of gamers that loved its unique take on wild-eyed fantasy — and a few who push back against the game ’s progressive push for inclusiveness . Now Blue Rose is back , and it ’s found a better system and a wider interview .
In Blue Rose , players turn to stave in off the encroaching threats that hover over Aldis , a good and stately ( though not unflawed ) kingdom . There are interesting diplomatical conflict , telepathic sentient animals , gay , bismuth , and trans characters , and an in - biz refinement that regale them all as equals — all thing you do n’t chance in too many tabletop RPGs . The setting is described as “ romantic fantasy , ” and draws more inspiration from Mercedes Lackey than Robert E. Howard .
Theoriginal editionused a D20 system derived from 3rd variation Dungeons & Dragons , which later became the True20 arrangement . RPG conception “ engineering ” has improved since then ; publisher Green Ronin created the old age system of rules for their Dragon Age tabletop game , and that system of rules will be used forthe Modern Blue Rose . One element of the old edition that is coming back is the natural covering nontextual matter byStephanie Law , whose gorgeous watercolors helped set Blue Rose ’s visual identity ( all art pictured here is by Law , and comes from the original Blue Rose — none of the new fine art is ready yet ) .
I talked to leading designer Steve Kenson , who also worked on the first edition , about the unequalled things Blue Rose can bring to your gaming table .
io9 : How does the world of Blue Rose differ from the typical brand - and - sorcery fantasy RPG world ?
Steve Kenson : A distinctive sword and sorcery setting might be characterise by the old description “ pedigree and thunder , ” where it ’s sometimes - beast Hero of Alexandria against a barbaric world . Whereas in Blue Rose it ’s largely civilized heroes against sometimes vicious , sometimes civilized dangers to civilization , theirs in special . They are looking to use their acquisition and ability to continue certain ideals and to protect all that their society has managed to reach in condition of crawling out of the wreckage of a terrible dark age and keep the world from slide back into anything like that . Among other things , I recall you ’ll receive a greater vehemence on the impression that the Italian sandwich are just as often diplomats and peacemakers as they are fearless monster - slayer .
One matter that people have focused on is the estimation of a “ beneficial king . ” Why does that fairly round-eyed musical theme feel so revolutionary ?
Kenson : I ’m not sure . I guess it ’s a mix of our advanced cynicism concerning politics and leadership and our general condescension ( yet enchantment with ) the feeling of royalty and a noble course of study . Blue Rose claim common mythologic and fantasy elements — the whim of the divine rightfield of kings coupled with the world of magical powers that can “ detect good”—and puts them to practical consumption , in the form of a supreme and nobility vetted by supernatural magnate to ensure they ’re the right-hand people for the Book of Job , rather than deed over it by accident of parentage or military group of branch , as is typically the case in both account and many phantasy configurations .
Note that the setting takes pains to indicate out that this system is by no means flawless : sovereign of Aldis ( the Kingdom of the Blue Rose ) have twist out to be mad , corrupted , or otherwise not suited for the job in the farsighted running and have been remove from magnate , and the same goes for various nobles . It ’s just that when they were pick out , measures were take to ensure they were suitable , but people have innocent will and change , and things come about .
Could you blab about the reception Blue Rose received when it was first published , and the reception to this new rendering ?
Kenson : Much of the reception of the first edition of Blue Rose seemed heavy influenced by what masses thought the game and mise en scene were about , which tended to be rather flat one - note notion of either intimate equality / inclusiveness ( with partial tone of political rightness and “ pushing an agenda ” ) or some kind of socialist magical Zion ( likewise often with the intelligence “ docket ” thrown in there ) . Those who actually interpret the book tended to ascertain it more nuanced , or at least those who commented publicly said as much .
Response to the Kickstarter has been very positively charged , correct from the initial pre - launch discourse about a newfangled edition of the setting . Most of the feedback we received was either “ Oh , I loved Blue Rose ! I ’m glad to get a line that it ’s descend back ! ” or “ Why have I never heard of this ? It go gravid ! ” Within Green Ronin , we ’ve said that , in some way , the first edition of Blue Rose was before its time , and some of what seemed so strange about it then is now eliciting , “ Why was this ever project as controversial ? ”
What does the old age organization bring to Blue Rose ?
Kenson : It ’s kind of comical how well the eld ( Adventure Gaming Engine ) organisation synchs up with Blue Rose . years is built around three primary character family , and so was the True20 translation of Blue Rose , and AGE has a like system of rules of defining characters by Talents and Backgrounds in improver to class - based ability .
One of my pet elements of the AGE organization is its innovative stunt machinist , where repeat on die rolling award a bonus players can immediately put to expend , keeping the action in the secret plan free - flowing and unpredictable . Jack Norris and I are working on a number of unlike subsystems and adjustment for the Blue Rose version of AGE , include some sport material involving relationship mechanics , personality and character goals , and an entire new system of psychic abilities adapted from the original edition of Blue Rose .
Do you have any advice for actor and game masters who require to use romance as an integral part of an RPG ?
Kenson : First and foremost , I recall there ’s often a misconception when we say Blue Rose is “ wild-eyed ” fantasy that it is automatically , as The Princess Bride put it ( complete with young Fred Savage ’s expression of disdain ): “ a kissing Word of God , ” which is not of necessity the case .
“ Romantic ” advert to a manner and a pointedness of view that ’s broadly speaking confident , hopeful , and cooperative : good people can make a difference , true love can and does win in the death , we can make the cosmos well , citizenry of safe scruples can knead together ( and even disagree ) but still coexist peacefully , and , ultimately , there is good in the world and it ’s something deserving fight for . That Romance language often includes interpersonal relationships , from boon comrades to passionate lovemaking , and such thing are both the reasons why character take action and the reward they receive for their effort .
I think it ’s noteworthy that , in this twenty-four hour period and age , even mature adult gamers wo n’t blink at games and stories that model the most severe forms of violence , but become sheepish and embarrassed by stories modeling love and friendly relationship and family , specially when tabletop roleplaying is such a social bodily function . While Blue Rose will most likely ( we ’re still in the design phase ) have some game mechanics to support those relationships , my best advice to gamers is to equilibrate a attentiveness for everyone ’s comfort degree at the game table with a willingness to perhaps strain beyond that comfort zone for something that can be a sinewy story element that has been missing from game aimed at telling legendary or mythological history : the notion that dearest and connexion are powers as large , if not smashing , than any magic , any battle - prowess , or any cunning system .
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