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{{Short description|Tabletop science fiction role-playing game}}
'''Serenity''' is a soon-to-be-released ] based on the ] series by ].
{{italic title}}{{Infobox RPG
|title=''Serenity Role Playing Game''
|image=]
|caption=''Serenity'' cover
|designer=]
|publisher=]
|date=2005
|genre=]
|system=]
|footnotes=
}}
'''''Serenity Role Playing Game''''' is a ] ] released in ] and set in the ] of the movie '']'' and the television series '']''. It was produced by ], and its mechanics were the first iteration of the ]. It won an ] for Best ] in 2005.<ref></ref> Margaret Weis's license came to an end on January 31, 2011.<ref></ref>


In February 2013, Margaret Weis Productions announced they now had a license to produce a game based on the '']'' TV series, this time with the rights to the characters who appeared in the series rather than those who appeared in the film.<ref></ref> At ] 2013, a preview of the system entitled ''Gaming in the 'Verse'' was offered for sale both at ] and for a limited time as a ].<ref></ref> In 2014, the '']'' was released, followed by four game supplements in 2014 and 2015.
It is being produced by Margaret Weis Productions of Dragonlance fame, and it will be not be d20 or based on any other already existing game systems. According to the Serenity RPG panel at the 2005 San Diego Comic Con, the only dice that will be used in the system are d4, d6, d8, d10, and d12. They decided that wanted to stick with two number increments and that the d20 just wasn't logical for their purposes.


==Contents==
The game includes information from the show but because of licensing agreements, cannot include episode titles. However, they are able to refer to events that happen within that episode, therefore, they can't say, "In the episode 'The Train Job'..." but can say, "When Mal first encountered Niska".
The book was published in full colour, and includes character ] as well as biographies written in the words of ], the ] of the Firefly franchise. Each chapter opens with a narrative to characterize the tone and mood of the setting. These narratives alternate between a crew created by ] and the crew of ''Serenity.'' All of the photographs in the book are sampled from the film ''Serenity'' as opposed to the show '']''. This is due to MWP acquiring their rights from ] rather than ]. Thus, the previously mentioned narrative text may seem similar to something that happened in an episode of ''Firefly'' but will diverge in some way to stay within the license purchased through ].


The first chapter introduces the character and setting, giving a brief history of The Verse and the basic concepts of play. The next few chapters deal with character creation as well as details on Attributes, Skills, and Traits. Following the character creation chapters, there are chapters pertaining to more detailed play systems, additional setting information, equipment, how to run the game, and samples of crews and ships as well as attributes for secondary characters in the film. At the end of the book, there is an appendix for common Chinese phrases that are used in the world of the ''Firefly'', giving players the option to use these phrases during the course of the game.
From a preview copy seen at Comic Con, the book will be in full color (primarily brown) and also include full character bios and statistics of the crew and of Serenity as it is often referred to as the 10th character of the show. It also includes sample characters for those who want to play in the Firefly universe without playing the main crew. The RPG also contains a guide to Chinese in Firefly.


===Related products===
The book is slated for an August 30th release.


''Out in the Black'' by ] and ], the system's first ], was released on March 15, 2006.<ref>{{Citation | last1 = Hickman | first1 = Tracy | author-link = Tracy Hickman | last2 = Hickman | first2 = Laura | date = 2006-03-15 | title = Out in the Black | place = Lake Geneva, WI | publisher = Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd. | isbn = 1-931567-52-2}}</ref> ] has also released a ]<ref>{{Citation | last = Weis | first = Margaret | author-link = Margaret Weis | year = 2006 | title = Serenity Role Playing Game Game Master's Screen | place = Lake Geneva, WI | publisher = Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd. | isbn = 1-931567-51-4}}</ref> as well as specialty ] die for sale on their website. Two more books were released for the ''Serenity'' RPG in 2008 (''Serenity Adventures'', a collection of short adventures and winner of the 2008 Origins Award,<ref>{{Citation | last = Weis | first = Margaret | author-link = Margaret Weis | year = 2008 | title = Serenity Adventures | place = Lake Geneva, WI | publisher = Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd. | isbn = 978-1-931567-80-0}}</ref><ref name="2008 Origins"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227145234/http://gama.org/OriginsAwards/OriginsAwardsWinnersThe2000s/The2008OriginsAwards/tabid/3203/Default.aspx |date=2013-12-27 }}</ref> and ''Six Shooters and Spaceships'', a ship and technology sourcebook<ref>{{Citation | last1 = Blackson | first1 = Lynn | last2 = Durall | first2 = Jason | year = 2008 | title = Six Shooters and Spaceships | place = Lake Geneva, WI | publisher = Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd. | isbn = 978-1-931567-81-7}}</ref>) with a third the following year titled ''Big Damn Heroes Handbook'', a rule expansion that won the 2009 Origins Award for Best Supplement.<ref>{{Citation | last = Banks | first = Cam | year = 2009 | title = Big Damn Heroes Handbook | place = Lake Geneva, WI | publisher = Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd. | isbn = 978-1-931567-82-4}}</ref><ref name="36th Origins"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227143655/http://gama.org/OriginsAwards/OriginsAwardsWinnersThe2000s/The2009OriginsAwards/tabid/3196/Default.aspx |date=2013-12-27 }}</ref> The first installment of the ''Echoes of War'' series for the Firefly RPG, ''The Wedding Planners Cortex Classic Set'', was also released under the rules for the ''Serenity'' RPG.<ref></ref>
links:


In the run-up to the release of the ''Firefly Role-Playing Game'', MWP produced four more books in the ''Echoes of War'' series of adventures—''Gaming in the 'Verse'' (preview released at GenCon 2013),<ref>{{citation | first=Cam | last=Banks | title=Gaming in the 'Verse: Gen Con 2013 Preview | year=2013 | isbn=9781936685318 | publisher=Margaret Weis Productions}}</ref> ''Echoes of War: The Serenity Crew'' (containing stats for the various members of the ''Serenity'' and quickstart rules), ''Echoes of War: The Wedding Planners'', ''Echoes of War: Shooting Fish'', and ''Echoes of War: Friends in Low Places''<ref></ref>


==System==


The ''Serenity Role Playing Game'' was the first game to be produced under the ]. It is a rules-light generic roll-over system using ] dice. Each of a character's attributes and skills is assigned one of these dice types, with larger dice representing greater ability. When a character attempts an action, such as piloting a spacecraft, shooting a gun, or punching someone, the player rolls the die for the character's applicable attribute and the die for their appropriate skill.

The ''Firefly Role-Playing Game'' was produced under the ] system, and the dice pool includes three basic sections; an attribute (Physical/Mental/Social), a skill, and a distinction chosen from a list that may be rolled to gain a plot point. Each distinction comes with two possible traits, and starting characters pick two out of the possible six. If there is an asset used or a complication on the other party, the two highest are used for task resolution.<ref name="GNInterview"></ref>

==Reception==
''Serenity'' won the 2005 ] for the Gamer's Choice Best Role Playing Game of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.originsgames.com/awards/2005|title=Origins Awards winners (2005)|accessdate=2007-09-11 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070830114324/http://www.originsgames.com/awards/2005 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-08-30}}</ref>

''Serenity'' won the 2006 Gold ] for "Best Production Values".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ennie-awards.com/history/2006.asp |title=The ENnie Awards -- 2006 Awards |website=www.ennie-awards.com |access-date=19 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720101730/http://www.ennie-awards.com/history/2006.asp |archive-date=20 July 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Reviews==
* '']''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=5785 | title=Pyramid: Pyramid Review: Serenity Role Playing Game }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Firefly}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Serenity Role-Playing Game}}
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Latest revision as of 19:06, 26 November 2024

Tabletop science fiction role-playing game
Serenity Role Playing Game
Serenity cover
DesignersJamie Chambers
PublishersMargaret Weis Productions, Ltd
Publication2005
GenresScience fiction
SystemsCortex System

Serenity Role Playing Game is a science fiction tabletop role-playing game released in 2005 and set in the universe of the movie Serenity and the television series Firefly. It was produced by Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd, and its mechanics were the first iteration of the Cortex System. It won an Origins Award for Best RPG in 2005. Margaret Weis's license came to an end on January 31, 2011.

In February 2013, Margaret Weis Productions announced they now had a license to produce a game based on the Firefly TV series, this time with the rights to the characters who appeared in the series rather than those who appeared in the film. At Gencon 2013, a preview of the system entitled Gaming in the 'Verse was offered for sale both at GenCon and for a limited time as a PDF. In 2014, the Firefly Role-Playing Game was released, followed by four game supplements in 2014 and 2015.

Contents

The book was published in full colour, and includes character attributes as well as biographies written in the words of Mal, the protagonist of the Firefly franchise. Each chapter opens with a narrative to characterize the tone and mood of the setting. These narratives alternate between a crew created by MWP and the crew of Serenity. All of the photographs in the book are sampled from the film Serenity as opposed to the show Firefly. This is due to MWP acquiring their rights from Universal Studios rather than 20th Century Fox. Thus, the previously mentioned narrative text may seem similar to something that happened in an episode of Firefly but will diverge in some way to stay within the license purchased through Universal.

The first chapter introduces the character and setting, giving a brief history of The Verse and the basic concepts of play. The next few chapters deal with character creation as well as details on Attributes, Skills, and Traits. Following the character creation chapters, there are chapters pertaining to more detailed play systems, additional setting information, equipment, how to run the game, and samples of crews and ships as well as attributes for secondary characters in the film. At the end of the book, there is an appendix for common Chinese phrases that are used in the world of the Firefly, giving players the option to use these phrases during the course of the game.

Related products

Out in the Black by Laura and Tracy Hickman, the system's first adventure, was released on March 15, 2006. Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd has also released a gamemaster's screen as well as specialty d2 die for sale on their website. Two more books were released for the Serenity RPG in 2008 (Serenity Adventures, a collection of short adventures and winner of the 2008 Origins Award, and Six Shooters and Spaceships, a ship and technology sourcebook) with a third the following year titled Big Damn Heroes Handbook, a rule expansion that won the 2009 Origins Award for Best Supplement. The first installment of the Echoes of War series for the Firefly RPG, The Wedding Planners Cortex Classic Set, was also released under the rules for the Serenity RPG.

In the run-up to the release of the Firefly Role-Playing Game, MWP produced four more books in the Echoes of War series of adventures—Gaming in the 'Verse (preview released at GenCon 2013), Echoes of War: The Serenity Crew (containing stats for the various members of the Serenity and quickstart rules), Echoes of War: The Wedding Planners, Echoes of War: Shooting Fish, and Echoes of War: Friends in Low Places

System

The Serenity Role Playing Game was the first game to be produced under the Cortex System. It is a rules-light generic roll-over system using polyhedral dice. Each of a character's attributes and skills is assigned one of these dice types, with larger dice representing greater ability. When a character attempts an action, such as piloting a spacecraft, shooting a gun, or punching someone, the player rolls the die for the character's applicable attribute and the die for their appropriate skill.

The Firefly Role-Playing Game was produced under the Cortex Plus system, and the dice pool includes three basic sections; an attribute (Physical/Mental/Social), a skill, and a distinction chosen from a list that may be rolled to gain a plot point. Each distinction comes with two possible traits, and starting characters pick two out of the possible six. If there is an asset used or a complication on the other party, the two highest are used for task resolution.

Reception

Serenity won the 2005 Origins Award for the Gamer's Choice Best Role Playing Game of the Year.

Serenity won the 2006 Gold Ennie Award for "Best Production Values".

Reviews

References

  1. Serenity RPG entry on RPG Geek
  2. Tenkar's Tavern
  3. Board Game Geek copy of the press release
  4. RPG Now review
  5. Hickman, Tracy; Hickman, Laura (2006-03-15), Out in the Black, Lake Geneva, WI: Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd., ISBN 1-931567-52-2
  6. Weis, Margaret (2006), Serenity Role Playing Game Game Master's Screen, Lake Geneva, WI: Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd., ISBN 1-931567-51-4
  7. Weis, Margaret (2008), Serenity Adventures, Lake Geneva, WI: Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd., ISBN 978-1-931567-80-0
  8. 2008 Origins Awards Archived 2013-12-27 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Blackson, Lynn; Durall, Jason (2008), Six Shooters and Spaceships, Lake Geneva, WI: Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd., ISBN 978-1-931567-81-7
  10. Banks, Cam (2009), Big Damn Heroes Handbook, Lake Geneva, WI: Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd., ISBN 978-1-931567-82-4
  11. The 2009 Origins Awards Archived 2013-12-27 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Drivethru RPG listing
  13. Banks, Cam (2013), Gaming in the 'Verse: Gen Con 2013 Preview, Margaret Weis Productions, ISBN 9781936685318
  14. Drivethru RPG listing
  15. Geek Native interview
  16. "Origins Awards winners (2005)". Archived from the original on 2007-08-30. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  17. "The ENnie Awards -- 2006 Awards". www.ennie-awards.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  18. "Pyramid: Pyramid Review: Serenity Role Playing Game".
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