Guardians of Order
Encyclopedia
Guardians of Order was a Canadian
company founded in 1996 by Mark C. MacKinnon in Guelph
, Ontario
. The company's business output consisted of role-playing games (RPGs). Their first game is the anime
inspired Big Eyes, Small Mouth
. In 2006 Guardians of Order ceased operations due to overwhelming debt.
The Big Eyes, Small Mouth game used the Tri-Stat System. The Tri-Stat System would later be modified for use in other games and be more generally named the Tri-Stat dX
system. Most of Guardians of Order's game use some form of the Tri-Stat dX system.
After Big Eyes, Small Mouth, Guardians of Order would go on to achieve significant success with the Sailor Moon
Role-playing Game and Resource Book. The game was built on Big Eyes, Small Mouth but featured an extensive reference to the Sailor Moon universe. Guardians of Order acquired licenses and published Big Eyes, Small Mouth-based RPGs for a number of other anime series including Dominion Tank Police, Demon City Shinjuku
, and Tenchi Muyo. After El Hazard, the last such game, the company's strategy with licensed anime series changed and it began issuing "Ultimate Fan Guides" which served the same purpose while avoiding the need to reprint the same BESM-based mechanics. All of these books included game statistics for characters in the series as well as extensive episode guides and character summaries.
Guardians of Order expanded beyond anime based games when the Tri-Stat dX system was adopted for the superhero
game Silver Age Sentinels
.
Guardians of Order later acquired the rights to publish the Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game
from Phage Press. Guardians of Order licensed the rights to produce role-playing games set in existing fictional works. These include games based on The Authority, Tékumel
, and A Song of Ice and Fire
.
Between 14 February 2006 and 1 August 2006 there were no official updates to the Guardians of Order website. There was speculation on the official forums that the company was out of business. On 28 July 2006 a post to George R. R. Martin
's official web site announced that Guardians of Order was out of business. In response, on 1 August 2006 Mark MacKinnon posted confirmation that Guardians of Order "ceased operations." According to MacKinnon the company had too much debt. MacKinnon is attempting to place Guardians of Orders games with other companies. He promised that existing orders would be filled.
On 9 September 2006 ArtHaus Games, whose titles are published by White Wolf Publishing
, announced that it has acquired the Big Eyes, Small Mouth RPG. The announcement stated the company was "extremely confident" that a release date of January 2007 would be met and confirmed that those who pre-ordered and prepaid for the book would be "in good hands," though it was also said that they have not taken on Guardians of Order's liabilities.
On 7 March 2007 George R. R. Martin wrote that he had regained control of his intellectual property
rights and was "all square" with Guardians of Order. As part of their settlement, Mr. Martin received all remaining stock of the limited edition version of the RPG. No further information regarding the settlement was revealed, nor the status of other creditors' claims on the property.
Guardians of Order hired David Pulver. In 1999, Jeff Mackintosh was
hired. 2000 brought Liz Fulda and Lucien Soulban.
In 2002, Guardians of Order launched their "Magnum Opus" program, licensing the company's intellectual property to third parties to create new games.
By 2005, Guardians of Order downsized to just Mark C. MacKinnon.
In early 2006, the company ran out of capital, and closed their doors on August 1, 2006. The third edition of BESM is acquired by ArtHaus Games on September 9, 2006.
series. The books also served as resource guides, summarizing the episodes in the series and the characters.
Standalone RPGs
Resource books requiring BESM
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
company founded in 1996 by Mark C. MacKinnon in Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The company's business output consisted of role-playing games (RPGs). Their first game is the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
inspired Big Eyes, Small Mouth
Big Eyes, Small Mouth
Big Eyes, Small Mouth is a roleplaying game that was designed to simulate the action of anime and manga. It is frequently referred to by the acronym BESM. The title alludes to the common anime drawing style of characters with huge, expressive eyes and comparatively small mouths.BESM uses a...
. In 2006 Guardians of Order ceased operations due to overwhelming debt.
The Big Eyes, Small Mouth game used the Tri-Stat System. The Tri-Stat System would later be modified for use in other games and be more generally named the Tri-Stat dX
Tri-Stat dX
Tri-Stat dX is a generic role-playing game system developed and published by Guardians of Order in 2003. Like other generic role-playing game systems, Tri-stat dX has adaptable rules that can be applied to many genres and settings....
system. Most of Guardians of Order's game use some form of the Tri-Stat dX system.
After Big Eyes, Small Mouth, Guardians of Order would go on to achieve significant success with the Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon, known as , is a media franchise created by manga artist Naoko Takeuchi. Fred Patten credits Takeuchi with popularizing the concept of a team of magical girls, and Paul Gravett credits the series with "revitalizing" the magical-girl genre itself...
Role-playing Game and Resource Book. The game was built on Big Eyes, Small Mouth but featured an extensive reference to the Sailor Moon universe. Guardians of Order acquired licenses and published Big Eyes, Small Mouth-based RPGs for a number of other anime series including Dominion Tank Police, Demon City Shinjuku
Demon City Shinjuku
is a novel by Hideyuki Kikuchi that was adapted into an original animated video in 1988, directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. The title has also been translated as Hell City Shinjuku and Monster City....
, and Tenchi Muyo. After El Hazard, the last such game, the company's strategy with licensed anime series changed and it began issuing "Ultimate Fan Guides" which served the same purpose while avoiding the need to reprint the same BESM-based mechanics. All of these books included game statistics for characters in the series as well as extensive episode guides and character summaries.
Guardians of Order expanded beyond anime based games when the Tri-Stat dX system was adopted for the superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
game Silver Age Sentinels
Silver Age Sentinels
Silver Age Sentinels is a superhero role-playing game published in 2002 by Guardians of Order, creators of Big Eyes, Small Mouth, an anime-themed RPG....
.
Guardians of Order later acquired the rights to publish the Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game
Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game
The Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game is a role-playing game created and written by Erick Wujcik, set in the fictional universe created by author Roger Zelazny for his Chronicles of Amber...
from Phage Press. Guardians of Order licensed the rights to produce role-playing games set in existing fictional works. These include games based on The Authority, Tékumel
Tékumel
Tékumel is a fantasy world created by Professor M. A. R. Barker over the course of several decades from around 1940. With time Barker also created the role-playing game Empire of the Petal Throne, set in the Tékumel fictional universe and first published in 1975 by TSR, Inc...
, and A Song of Ice and Fire
A Song of Ice and Fire
A Song of Ice and Fire is a series of epic fantasy novels by American novelist and screenwriter George R. R. Martin. Martin began writing the series in 1991 and the first volume was published in 1996. Originally planned as a trilogy, the series now consists of five published volumes; a further two...
.
Between 14 February 2006 and 1 August 2006 there were no official updates to the Guardians of Order website. There was speculation on the official forums that the company was out of business. On 28 July 2006 a post to George R. R. Martin
George R. R. Martin
George Raymond Richard Martin , sometimes referred to as GRRM, is an American author and screenwriter of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He is best known for A Song of Ice and Fire, his bestselling series of epic fantasy novels that HBO adapted for their dramatic pay-cable series Game of...
's official web site announced that Guardians of Order was out of business. In response, on 1 August 2006 Mark MacKinnon posted confirmation that Guardians of Order "ceased operations." According to MacKinnon the company had too much debt. MacKinnon is attempting to place Guardians of Orders games with other companies. He promised that existing orders would be filled.
On 9 September 2006 ArtHaus Games, whose titles are published by White Wolf Publishing
White Wolf, Inc.
White Wolf Publishing is an American gaming and book publisher. The company was founded in 1991 as a merger between Lion Rampant and White Wolf Magazine, and was initially led by Mark Rein·Hagen of the former and Steve and Stewart Wieck of the latter. Since White Wolf Publishing, Inc. merged with...
, announced that it has acquired the Big Eyes, Small Mouth RPG. The announcement stated the company was "extremely confident" that a release date of January 2007 would be met and confirmed that those who pre-ordered and prepaid for the book would be "in good hands," though it was also said that they have not taken on Guardians of Order's liabilities.
On 7 March 2007 George R. R. Martin wrote that he had regained control of his intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
rights and was "all square" with Guardians of Order. As part of their settlement, Mr. Martin received all remaining stock of the limited edition version of the RPG. No further information regarding the settlement was revealed, nor the status of other creditors' claims on the property.
History
Guardians of Order was founded by Mark C. MacKinnon in 1996. In 1998Guardians of Order hired David Pulver. In 1999, Jeff Mackintosh was
hired. 2000 brought Liz Fulda and Lucien Soulban.
In 2002, Guardians of Order launched their "Magnum Opus" program, licensing the company's intellectual property to third parties to create new games.
By 2005, Guardians of Order downsized to just Mark C. MacKinnon.
In early 2006, the company ran out of capital, and closed their doors on August 1, 2006. The third edition of BESM is acquired by ArtHaus Games on September 9, 2006.
Original properties
- Big Eyes, Small MouthBig Eyes, Small MouthBig Eyes, Small Mouth is a roleplaying game that was designed to simulate the action of anime and manga. It is frequently referred to by the acronym BESM. The title alludes to the common anime drawing style of characters with huge, expressive eyes and comparatively small mouths.BESM uses a...
- Guardians of Order's original game had four revisions before the company went out of business, with the third edition being in development and published by another company.- Core rules
- Big Eyes, Small Mouth (1997) - 94 black and white pages.
- Big Eyes, Small Mouth Second Edition (2000) - 280 full color pages
- BESM d20 (2003) - Similar to the original BESM, this replaced the Tri-Stat rules with d20 SystemD20 SystemThe d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
rules. - BESM d20 Revised Edition (2004)
- Expansions
- Big Robots, Cool Starships (1999) - Rules for science fictionScience fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
anime-inspired games, especially those featuring mechaMechaA mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
. - BESM Game Master's Screen (2000)
- Cute & Fuzzy Cockfighting Seizure Monsters (2000) - Rules for pet monster battling style games, inspired by cartoons like PokémonPokémonis a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
. Also published as Cute & Fuzzy Seizure Monsters due to censorship concerns. - Hot Rods & Gun Bunnies (2000) - Rules for modern day action adventure anime-inspired games.
- Centauri Knights (2001) - Science fiction setting
- Mecha d20 (2003) - Also usable as an expansion for Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
3rd edition, d20 ModernD20 Modernd20 Modern is a roleplaying game designed by Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, and Charles Ryan. It was published by Wizards of the Coast in November 2002, and uses the d20 System...
and other d20 SystemD20 SystemThe d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
games. - BESM Dungeon (2003) - Additions to BESM for running more fantasy oriented anime-inspired games.
- Cold Hands, Dark Hearts (2003) - Rules for playing supernatural monsters in a gothic horror setting.
- Big Robots, Cool Starships (1999) - Rules for science fiction
- Core rules
- Silver Age SentinelsSilver Age SentinelsSilver Age Sentinels is a superhero role-playing game published in 2002 by Guardians of Order, creators of Big Eyes, Small Mouth, an anime-themed RPG....
(2002) - Superhero role-playing game. Based on modified BESM rules using ten-sided dice instead of six-sided dice. - Tri-Stat dXTri-Stat dXTri-Stat dX is a generic role-playing game system developed and published by Guardians of Order in 2003. Like other generic role-playing game systems, Tri-stat dX has adaptable rules that can be applied to many genres and settings....
(2003) - a small generic role-playing system based on BESM. - Ex MachinaEx Machina (role-playing game)Ex Machina is a cyberpunk role-playing game published by Guardians of Order covering a range from classic cyberpunk to postcyberpunk. It exists under both the cinematic Tri-Stat dX and d20 RPG systems.-Setting:...
(2004) - Cyberpunk role-playing game using the Tri-Stat rules. - Dreaming Cities (2005) - Urban fantasy role-playing game
- Reality Storm (in conjunction with Hero GamesHero GamesHero Games is the publisher of the Hero System, a generic roleplaying rules set that can be used to simulate many different genres, and was the co-developer of the Fuzion system.-History:...
)
Licensed products
Guardians of Order licensed the rights to a variety of titles to convert them into role-playing games. The majority were based on Big Eyes, Small Mouth and licensed from animeAnime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series. The books also served as resource guides, summarizing the episodes in the series and the characters.
Standalone RPGs
- Sailor MoonSailor MoonSailor Moon, known as , is a media franchise created by manga artist Naoko Takeuchi. Fred Patten credits Takeuchi with popularizing the concept of a team of magical girls, and Paul Gravett credits the series with "revitalizing" the magical-girl genre itself...
RPG and Resource Book (1998) - Dominion Tank Police RPG And Resource Book (1999)
- Demon City ShinjukuDemon City Shinjukuis a novel by Hideyuki Kikuchi that was adapted into an original animated video in 1988, directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. The title has also been translated as Hell City Shinjuku and Monster City....
RPG And Resource Book (2000) - Tenchi Muyo RPG And Resource Book (2000)
- El-HazardEl-Hazardis a Japanese anime franchise written by Ryoe Tsukimura and directed by Hiroki Hayashi. The series was produced and animated by AIC.There is also a manga adaptation, which is published in English by VIZ Media. The series was formerly distributed in the U.S. by Pioneer LDC, now known as Geneon...
RPG And Resource Book (2001) - Ghost Dog: The Way of the SamuraiGhost Dog: The Way of the SamuraiGhost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is a 1999 American crime action film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. Forest Whitaker stars as the title character, the mysterious "Ghost Dog", a hitman in the employ of the Mafia, who follows the ancient code of the samurai as outlined in the book of Yamamoto...
RPG and Resource Book (2001) - Based on a live-action movie - A Game of Thrones (2005) - Uses the d20 System and based on the A Song of Ice and FireA Song of Ice and FireA Song of Ice and Fire is a series of epic fantasy novels by American novelist and screenwriter George R. R. Martin. Martin began writing the series in 1991 and the first volume was published in 1996. Originally planned as a trilogy, the series now consists of five published volumes; a further two...
novels. Published in conjunction with Sword and Sorcery Studios. - The Authority RPG And Resource Book (2004) - Based on a comic book. Uses Silver Age Sentinels as a base.
- Amber Diceless Roleplaying GameAmber Diceless Roleplaying GameThe Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game is a role-playing game created and written by Erick Wujcik, set in the fictional universe created by author Roger Zelazny for his Chronicles of Amber...
- This would have been the second published RPG based on the The Chronicles of AmberThe Chronicles of AmberThe Chronicles of Amber is group of novels that comprise a fantasy series written by Roger Zelazny. The main series consists of two story arcs, each five novels in length. Additionally, there are a number of Amber short stories and other works....
novels. However, while the rights were acquired in 2004, a new version was never published. - NobilisNobilisNobilis is a contemporary fantasy role-playing game created by Jenna K. Moran, writing under the name R. Sean Borgstrom. The player characters are "Sovereign Powers" called the Nobilis; each Noble is the personification of an abstract concept or class of things such as Time, Death, cars, or...
(2002) - Original role-playing game in which players portray abstract concepts or classes of things like "time". Originally published by Pharos Press, then Hogshead Press. - TékumelTékumelTékumel is a fantasy world created by Professor M. A. R. Barker over the course of several decades from around 1940. With time Barker also created the role-playing game Empire of the Petal Throne, set in the Tékumel fictional universe and first published in 1975 by TSR, Inc...
: Empire of the Petal Throne (2005) - Fantasy role-playing based on the novels of M. A. R. BarkerM. A. R. BarkerMuhammad Abd-al-Rahman Barker is a retired professor of Urdu and South Asian Studies who created one of the first roleplaying games, Empire of the Petal Throne, and has authored several fantasy/science fantasy novels based in his associated world setting of Tékumel.-Early life:Born in Spokane,...
. This would be the fourth published RPG based on Tékumel.
Resource books requiring BESM
- BESM HellsingHellsingis a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano. It first premiered in Young King Ours in 1997 and ended in September 2008. The individual chapters are collected and published in tankōbon volumes by Shōnen Gahosha. As of March 2009 all chapters have been released in 10 volumes in...
Ultimate Fan Guides: #1 (2002), #2 (2003). Not a self-contained RPG, relied on BESM. #1 covered episodes 1-6, while #2 covered 7-13. - BESM HellsingHellsingis a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano. It first premiered in Young King Ours in 1997 and ended in September 2008. The individual chapters are collected and published in tankōbon volumes by Shōnen Gahosha. As of March 2009 all chapters have been released in 10 volumes in...
d20 (2003): Reprinted fan guides as a single hardbound book. - BESM TrigunTrigunis a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yasuhiro Nightow, published from 1996 to 2008 and spanning 17 collected volumes....
d20 (2004): Hardbound book covered all 26 episodes of the TV series. - The SlayersSlayersis a series of over 52 light novels written by Hajime Kanzaka and illustrated by Rui Araizumi. It was later developed into several manga titles, five televised anime series, two three-episode original video animations , and five movies. It also spawned several console role-playing games for the...
d20D20 SystemThe d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
Role-Playing Game (2004) - Based on the BESM d20 rules instead of the original BESM Tri-Stat rules. Only covered the first 26 episodes. The remaining episodes were covered in later resource books: BESM: The Slayers: Next (2004, Episodes 27-52), BESM: The Slayers: Try (2004, Episodes 53-78) - BESM: Revolutionary Girl UtenaRevolutionary Girl Utenais a manga by Chiho Saito and anime directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara. The manga serial began in the June 1996 issue of Ciao and the anime was first broadcast in 1997. The anime and manga were created simultaneously, but, despite some similarities, they progressed in different directions. A movie, was...
: The Rose Collection (2004) - Covers episodes 1 through 13.
External links
- Archive of the Guardians of Order Website - At archive.org
- Publication list on Pen & Paper
- BESM 3 Blog (formerly GoO Blog)