Thread by @ulsairi

For my first game, I'll be talking about Tenka Ryoran! It's made by Ukyo Kodachi and published by F.E.A.R., using their venerable SRS system. The tagline for this game is "Super Time-Space Period Drama," as in, a samurai game with time (and demon!) shenanigans. #JTRPGInfo

As a warning, I can't guarantee 100% accuracy as I don't want to like, pour over these books to make sure I have every detail right. I may also not bother to translate some terms because they may be better translated with full context. #JTRPGInfo

Tenkan Ryoran is set in the Edo Period. In this setting, there are creatures I might call Twisted (妖異), which are born from the darkness in human hearts. Opposing them are humans called... maybe Masters (英傑) who possess supernatural abilities. #JTRPGInfo

There's a thing in this setting called the Lingering Star (宿星), and only the Masters can see it. Furthermore, it only shows up where there's evil! It's kind of like a samurai period bat signal. Essentially, the Twisted show up somewhere, the Star lights up, Masters go fight.

However, there's complications. Several years ago, Mt. Fuji erupted! And it tore open a space-time rift. Through this rift came Twisted from different ages, and moreover, the leader of the Twisted, King Enra, showed up. Or rather, several Enras from different time periods. Oops.

But moreover, Masters from different time periods showed up! Sengoku Era samurai, the Shinsengumi, and even Strangers (gunslingers from foreign lands, you'd better believe they're blonde bombshells in the game art). And the conflict heated up, basically. #JTRPGInfo

(I knew I'd mess up the hashtag thing, I'm so unused to using them. Sorry! Some posts didn't get tagged, but they're always chained, so.) #JTRPGInfo

The system for Tenka Ryoran is SRS, which you may see come up a lot. SRS is kind of like saying "d20"--there's a lot of things that are very similar, even cloned, across SRS games. Many games (like Kamigakari~!) are not SRS but are heavily modified SRS even so. #JTRPGInfo

Most checks are 2d6+stat, roll over. Character creation is done by selecting three classes, with multiples allowed. So for example you could be Fighter 1/Wizard 1/Thief 1, or Fighter 2/Wizard 1, or Fighter 3, or whatever. #JTRPGInfo

Higher class levels means more specialization. Some skills require being Fighter 2 or Fighter 3, for example. But if you're those, naturally you give up bredth of skills from Wizard or Thief. #JTRPGInfo

But Tenka Ryoran doesn't have those classes! No! Here's a short list: Seiryu, Suzaku, Genbu, Byakko, Onmyoji, Oniblooded, Swordsman, Professional, Priest, Shinobi, Demon Painter (think Relm), Stranger, Warrior, Shinsengumi, Youkai. #JTRPGInfo

Goodness though, this is gonna get boring if I don't get y'all some PICTURES to look at! Let me bust out my scanner. They may be crappy, but well, better than nothing. #JTRPGInfo

Here we are! I'll try to incorporate more in future reviews. The whole point is to stir up interest and excitement, and you do that with great art, after all. (Also yes, that is absolutely not at all Horo.) #JTRPGInfo

After thinking on it a bit, I'm really only going to cover unique mechanics, plus maybe mention classes (to be evocative). So many games are based on the SRS shell that they basically all handle the same? #JTRPGInfo

Tenka has 覚悟, Prepared. When you're down to 0 HP, you're incapacitated. But you can decide that you are Prepared. You get some HP back, purge all conditions + gain immunity, ignore costs of skills and stand up. But if you get knocked to 0 HP again... you're dead. #JTRPGInfo

At my quick reading, this is the ONLY way you can die. Essentially you can only die in a way wherein you as a player are willing to stake your character's life on the outcome. A bit like Tenra Bansho Zero, which Andy K has already brought over! #JTRPGInfo

I'll sign off with the following. They don't make these comics for JTRPGs anymore.;;
"Have you no pride as a Master?"
"Listen. That crap ain't gonna fill my belly."
"I can't believe you!"
"This ain't the Sengoku era. Money is everything, these days."
"Fine! I'm leaving!"

"W... Why are you here?"
"I don't give a crap about Masters or the Star."
"But if I swagger around, thinkin' I'm a samurai while I let evil go free..."
”Then I'd be a bigger piece of crap than him!"
(To people who can read it: It's almost 3am, leave me alone!!)

And that's all for Tenka. I'll pull another game off my shelf and give y'all and look inside soon. ♥