It sounds similar to D&D but I wasn't sure, I might consider buying it but I don't want to risk not liking it. Is there a Dugeon Master type person driving the RP or what? Could someone explain a bit more?

it's a RPG, with GM and PCs

have a look at this thread

Anima is a fairly complex RPG, particularly when compared to D&D 3,3.5 & 4. It is broader in scope for PC generation and advancement than D&D. The game requires heavy involvement from players as well as GM as many of the abilites ( Ki powers, Psychic talents, Summons, Creature generation) have extensive power creation rules that allow for genuinely individual characters. The rules have examples of powers that can be created but it is expected that players will create their own, with the GM as final arbiter on what is allowable. As a roleplayer of 29 years I found the game to require careful reading but to ultimately be highly versatile.

As an example of what can be done with a first level character, one of my players has a Thief with heavy martial arts techniques. One of his powers is a flying kick. In game terms it gives a free move, a bonus to initiative and enhanced unarmed combat damage. As the game is influenced by anime and Chinese cinema the player describes the power as a fast flying kick to full move distance (ie a full on wire fighting move). As a GM I was happy with it as it takes 3 combat turns for a 1st level character to generate enough power (Ki power in this case) to pull it off. It also has the characterful side effect of as he fills up on Ki, the power manifests in blowing wind and levitating rocks and pebbles around the PC. His first use of it basically kicked the head off of one enemy.

The combat system is highly interactive during the combat round with attack rolls being opposed by defence rolls (dodges and blocks). With closely matched opponents this can result in wild flurries of blows in and out of intiative sequence. Highly entertaining for players as their crappy attack roll resulting in a counterattack from their opponent can result in a masterful parry. Compare to D&D: rolled a 3, arrgh miss, wait to next turn to do something.

Magic is fully developed in comparison to the other powers with multiple paths to follow. Magic is highly powerful as most low level opponents have no defence to it. Each path has 50 spells available to it, split between general magic and path specific spells. The highest level spells have power that beggars the imagination. As you read the campaign background you realise that some of the level 100 spells have been cast in the past and are major turning points in game history.

There is a system for attracting the attention of the major powers in the game giving the players heavy duty abilites. The heavy duty abilites in turn promote role play, as if you don't follow the higher power's commandments, you will quickly lose the abilites.

There is a lightly developed campaign background simular in level of detail to the old Living Grayhawk gazetter from D&D 3. There is scope within the campaign background for many styles of play from dungeon crawling, intrigue, city based crime, gritty military adventures and horror. I belive there is much more detail available in the Spanish and French versions of the game that hasn't been translated to English yet.

To sum up:

Anima is a highly detailed game that requires careful reading and investment of time by GM and players. The time invested is rewarded by a rich and detailed game experience. I would recommend the game to those prepared to put in the time to really learn the system. If you are not looking for this level of detail the game is probably not for you.

It seems like someone took Japanese Animation and carried it to the RPG realm. Is this an accurate statement? The artwork seems to suggest a Final Fantasy type of feel.

There is definitely a pronounced Final Fantasy influence on Anima. Advent Children represents Anima's combat style, while Final Fantasy 6 is the best analogue to the setting, Gaia.

Gaia, by the way, is much more fully detailed than the core book would indicate. There's a 300 page sourcebook that covers just one of its two continents, a good portion of its history, etc. al.

Unfortunately, that book is presently only available in Spanish and French and FFG's translation efforts are pretty slow and disappointing.

Swordwraith said:

hmm, in that case - I'll pass.

I was looking for something different than DnD, but can't really stand anything Final Fantasy related (even if it's just influenced)..

Gaia is wide and complex enough for you to find the style you prefer. Final Fantasy is one of the inspirations, but a lot of manga too, other video games, books, etc. I don't really like mangas (and I don't know it very well), but I love the setting anyway !

If you don't like the FF style, it doesn't matter

Ysalaine said:

What Ysalaine said. Anima is influenced by a lot of other things as well, including Wuxia (House of Flying Daggers, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, etc.), Norse mythology....

However, if you really can't stand Final Fantasy because you don't like the Japanese RPG take on the fantasy milieu, you'll probably end up skipping it. The whole Asian spin on Western fantasy thing is pretty key.

Swordwraith said:

ah well, there are like gazillion other RPGs out there, I guess I'll find something else

thanks for the info, though.

flervk said:

Probbly a bit late to influance this guys Decision, but I didn't honestly get a Final Fantasy vibe really at all from it, I was more reminded of Anime such as Beserk and Claymore, On one of the other forums someone is making Rules for Mecha, which is a testiment of the versitility of the system.

If I have a slight complaint it's the potential for being a very brutal "Fast kill" system, if your players are used to the "Yo-yo Healing" of dnd 4th Edition, then there going to be in for a shock when theres the potential for low level characters to be cut down swiftly by a lucky swing, and critical hits are marvously brutal with the potential to permantly cripple major organs without Magical aid.

Of course I would have to see how they work out in an actually game which is why I use teh word "Potential" allot.

flervk said:

Checked out Exalted by WW? I am looking at Anima 'cause Exalted doesn't allow creation of powers/abilities and TOO much history (akin to LoT5R where you go "where do I start?".