Tenra Bansho Zero (TBZ) is a story-telling game that you play in the real world with your friends, usually around a table. In Japan, these kinds of games are called "Table-Talk Role Playing Games", or "TRPGs". One player acts as the "game master", akin to a director of a play or movie: She sets the stage, creates the background of the story, and keeps the story moving along. The rest of the players are like actors in the play: They each play a part, interact with each other and the director, and keep the story interesting for each other as they move the plot along.

There is no winner in a game of TBZ. There is a definite goal though, and that is to together tell a story that is entertaining for everyone involved.

Tenra Bansho Zero is like a kabuki or western play or stage drama, but one where the actors also serve as the audience. In the game, there will be conflicts, combat, and character goals and plot goals to meet (which the players give themselves, which the players give each other, and which the Gamemaster gives the players). But at the end of the session, the point isn't only to slay enemies, follow a narrow string of events laid down by the storyteller, or run in a beeline to the end of the adventures and scenarios; the point is to take part in a make-believe theatrical production over a gaming table, through the unfolding events tell a story together, and make it as interesting and enjoyable for everyone as possible.

Tenra Bansho Zero takes place on another planet in the far future: Having been exiled there, and left to develop their own culture for centuries, the people of Tenra have built their culture on the foundations of Japanese culture, advanced technology and magic. Samurai exist side-by-side with cyborg footsoldiers, taoist demon-summoning wizards, medicine men that keep colonies of useful 'pet' insects inside their bodies, and magically-enhanced mecha that are powered by innocent children.

The system behind Tenra Bansho Zero is fast and very easy to learn. Using common six-sided dice, the players use their skills and abilities to determine their fortune. The system was designed to be easily understood by beginning roleplayers and enjoyed by experience roleplayers alike. You can understand how the game works within minutes, which is important to keep the focus of the game on the story and characters.

On top of that, a majority of the rules are designed to keep a game session of Tenra Bansho Zero working like a theatrical play: You get bonus points for Acting. The more you roleplay, the more impressive, interesting or amusing your acting is, the more bonus points you'll receive from your audience, the other players. These bonus points can be used to improve your character's abilities, or used on the fly to make difficult tasks easier.

For more information on the game, please continue browsing the site, especially the Blog. Visit the site every once in awhile to see new updates and information about the game. Once the game is published, you will be able to download introductory information, rules samples, and other useful information about the game.