We are currently in the process of building a frequently asked questions page. If you have any questions that you'd like to have answered or added to the FAQ, please ask via the Support page or post to the Tenra Bansho Zero mailing list.

When will the game be released?

Currently, there's been enough push-backs due to real world issues that the current release date is "As soon as it is ready". Things are on track to make it hopefully come to pass in 2009.

Do I need to know anything about Japanese or its history to play this game?

You don't need to know anything about Japan or its history to play, but a general interest in Japan or other asian cultures will help out! The core book will contain great deal of information about the setting and what life was like in the Sengoku period, which this game emulates.

Is this game "Class Based"?

Class-based refers to popular role-playing games where you are expected to choose a type of character and "gain levels". "4th level Fighter", "6th level Thief", etc.

In TBZ, there are certainly "archetypes" geared towards fast and easy play, but you are free to make up your own kind of character, by combining multiple existing Archetypes together (Oni template + Samurai template + Punk template = A Punk Oni Samurai). It is recommended that you stick to playing one of the dozens of ready-to-play chracters for your first game of TBZ before you try creating your own character from scratch using archetypes.

What's More Powerful in this game, a Soulgem-studded Samurai who can "Hulk Out" with cybernetic implants and a gun-sword, or a Worm-using Taoist demon-summoner Oni ninja with "Fist of the North Star" style martial arts training?

Traditional RPG questions like this kinda lose meaning in TBZ. First off, almost any character archetype can "kick ass" in some form or other (martial arts, ninja skills, magic, worm use, sword styles, etc), but the heart of the game is not "How many enemies can my character kill?", but rather "What will my character have to do to meet and overcome her Destiny?" To do "better" in this game, to get more dice to overcome opponents, you have to get bonus chits from your friends, the other players. You can only get these bonus points by acting in character, and entertaining the other players by coming up with cool lines, getting into character, and doing cool deeds in play.

Therefore, the most powerful character in the game, at whatever level of skill, is the one that is being used by the player who puts the most effort into acting in character and entertaining the other players. Bonus points lead to Focus, and Focus grants your character power in play: You can use Focus to roll more dice, temporarily improve your skill level, permanently increase your attribute or skill levels and the like..

"Acting Rules"? What kinds of rules does TBZ use for Acting?

Every RPG has a gimmick: Some games have "realistic combat" or "exotic setting and background". Others "emulate high-action movies" or "are universal". Tenra Bansho Zero's gimmick appears to be its unique "Hyper Asian Fantasy" setting. However, its real gimmick, what the game is built around, are its rules that reflect Acting and Drama.

Future playtest demos will make these rules clear, but you gain "Focus points " which you spend for more dice, to gain powers and skills, or to do incredible feats, all are given to you when you give it your best to act out your character in a scene- When you make your other players say "Wow- That was awesome!", or laugh, or react to something you say or do, you get a bonus chit. These bonus chits are cashed out for Focus points.

You don't have to be a stage actor to play the game, though. It's assumed that the group is going to judge your acting by yourself, not by the best actor. If you are a quiet player who comes out of your shell a little, that's good enough. If you try your best to entertain your friends, your friends will recognize this and reward you. Eventually, by playing the game enough, you just might develop some interesting role-playing skills!

What does "Tenra Bansho" mean? Why "Zero"?

Tenra Bansho is a play on the poetic phrase "Shin Ra Ban Sho", which means "Everything in Earth and Heaven", or "All of Nature". The name of the planet that this game takes place in is called "Tenra". A poetic transliteration of the title into English might be "Tenra : Heaven and Earth"

Tenra Bansho was the original name of the game, released back in 1997. In 2000, the second edition, complete with revised rules, was released. For this version, the name "Zero" was adopted, representing among other things "The Beginning", both of a new century and millenium, but a new beginning for a new kind of roleplaying. It is this version that we are translating, so we are sticking with the "Zero". Besides, it sounds kind of cool.

Will there be supplements for this game?

Yes. However, we are not planning on starting up a "supplement treadmill", an endless supply of supplements to flesh out the setting. At this point, there is only one supplement book planned. It will be an optional book which will contain more minutiae about the game, lesser used yet interesting character archetypes, extra powers and abilities, and more play advice for players and game masters.

While a sourcebook may feature more background information, more pictures from the original artists, more scenario and adventure ideas, more advice for running a TBZ game, or more rules and fiddly bits, you will have everything you will ever need to play the game in the Tenra Bansho Zero core book.

I / My Friend / My Girlfriend speaks Japanese. Can I help with translation?

Currently, for ease of localization and for contractual issues, we are doing all the translation ourselves. However, if you have the skills (1kkyu to 2kkyu level or BA Degree in Japanese, no lower) and the time, please send us a holler via the Feedback Form on the Support page, and we'll add you to the list of folks to call if we need to subcontract out some of the work (or gather names to translate future RPG releases).