Hey there,

So I'm new to this game and to FFG's forums. This is actually my first post.

So first off, if there is a thread already started for this then I'm sorry and if someone could link it that'd be great.

My reason is pretty much explained in the topic.

If anyone could give me some tips for running a smooth game I'd really appreciate it.

~B~

Anima can be a challenge for a GM, let alone a new GM However, take heart in that Anima is mostly frontloaded in terms of PC creation. In play, it gets a lot easier.

There is lots of generic stuff to be said but here is spme advice specific to this game:

1. Break it down. The base system for Anima is pretty simple. Start with some basic Ki stuff and magic if you can, and work up to other stuff like Psychics, Summoning, Elan as required

2. If a player wants to play a specific power source, co-opt them as your agent to learn and teach the rules to others.

3. Use the pregens from the GM Screen for the first game. The adventure is good too.

4. The other books are great, get them Honestly, the corebook for Anima is probably my least favourite of the line You can also use Those Who Walekd Amongst Us and Dominus Exxet to avoid going near the creature creation and Ki Technique creation respectively for some time.

beware of the occasional typo and misprint, especially in the corebook. ambiguity can also cause hold ups, so make sure everyone is willing to take a few steps back if you find out you interpreted a rule wrong.

feel free to root through these forums to see if there is a thread about any particular problem you may have, that's what i do.

Also, there's another great resource for the game on the Official Anima Forums. i know some people post in one or the other exclusively, and some use both forums. Here's a link: cipher-studios.com/AnimaBB/

You can find lots of good information in both forums, but I've found new people don't necesarrily know about one forum or the other. Took me quite some time to find the Official Forums.

And I think a general rule is: Learn to improvise. Your players will do things you didn't excepted, but which are cool. So, have only a roughly plan for the session and go with the flow, if your players have a great idea, you haven't tought of, let them take their course.

And also: No rule discussion in a game session. If you think the rule xy goes so and it would take some time to look it up, you should use it, like you think. After the session you and your players can look up the rule. But long rule discussions and looking through the books kills the atmosphere and stops the game.

Thanks so much everyone. I've been sifting through the forums read this and that. I really appreciate the advise. I plan to run my first game at a con this weekend. and have been making characters to gain a good understanding. The first character was really tough to get through. However, after what seems like dozens I think I have a good grasp of how to do it. The combat and ability test system seems easy enough. I've run a couple of practice combats versus some of the weaker enemies in Those That Walk Among Us, and I think I have combat down. though I want to try not to make the game about the fighting but I want to create as cool an image as possible when there is fighting.

Any more help y'all can give would be awesome!

~B~

I ran Shadows Within Dreams as a Con scenario. The system is a touigh call for a Con IMO and I made 6 simplified PCs from the pregens which are a lot easier for people to run for the first whilst still giving the feel of system. If you are interested, I can email them to you (PM me your email).

Well truth be told I don't know how to send a PM. But I would love to see those characters.

~B~

Go to your Friends page. I have sent you a message

Skywalker said:

Friend me and I will send you a PM with my email.

This may make it easier: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/14355510/SWDPC.pdf

The PCs are simplified in significant ways for a demo. Everything is roll d10 and add. Resistances have been redcued to 2 and Armour is a single score.

It also includes a number of things I did when I ran Shadows Within Dreams such as NPC stats (simplified), notes on shorting the scenario for 3 to 4 hours, a map overlayed with a scene flow etc.

Any questions, please let me know.

It seems like there is almost endless things available to the game. In fact there is so much available My friend and I also have a saying for it.

"There's a rule for that." lol.

A good measure of a game is to see how far you can run with it and still keep things reasonably balanced. There are a few things that I find unavailable ...

(a.) reducing, or expanding size for any kind of bonus. (what type of benifit might that prove?)

Now i know something like that is using ki, but that also requires a certain amount of ki constantly. Rather than spending ki I'd gather and concentrate ki to become smaller or in order to save ki for latter use. Like saving it rather than haveing it bleed off if not spent. Or maybe spent to become smaller or bigger.

(b.) is there any additional psychic abilities available?

Given some more time of learning the system I'd be happy to see to what extent we can use the system to create wonderful stories, and dire battles of good, bad, and episodes that are truly challenging to both the characters abilities and the player's imagenation.

Bleakheart26 said:

Arcana Exxet covers both magic and psychic abilities. Its been released in Spanish and should be up after Core Exxet for translation into English.

you forgot to mention it's also in french.