Ninjas and Superspies
Encyclopedia
Ninjas & Superspies is a role-playing game
written by Erick Wujcik
and published in 1988 by Palladium Books
. The game is designed around espionage
and martial arts
action in the modern world, similar to movies such as the James Bond
series or Chinese martial arts films
. To that end, the game contains game rules for martial arts and mystic powers alongside rules for playing spies with gadgets, cybernetics
and other high-tech toys. Mystic China, the game's only published supplement, adds character classes, martial arts, and campaign material focused on Chinese traditional culture (Feng shui
geomancers
, Taoist
priests, etc.).
Characters in Ninjas & Superspies can take several forms. They may be members of a martial arts dojo
, operatives for a government or private intelligence agency
, soldiers involved in counter-intelligence
, or even private eyes
, depending on the selection of Occupation Character Class (O.C.C.). Each O.C.C. provides a base age which is modified by whatever combat training a character has and, in some cases, how long they have spent in prison. Most characters are highly skilled, with characters from the main book using the skill programs system to determine their skills, which provides a collection of related skills, and those from Mystic China using the O.C.C./Elective/Secondary skills method, which allows the selection of skills a la carte. Almost all characters have access to contacts from their backgrounds: martial arts characters may know people from competitions, secret agents may have worked with someone in the past, thief characters may have done time with certain people, etc.
While the game makes use of Palladium's Megaversal system
, several unique elements should be mentioned. First is that the combat system in Ninjas & Superspies is far more detailed than in other Palladium games, containing more options for attack and defense to go along with the large number of martial arts offered. Instead of the standard four combat forms offered ("Basic", "Expert", "Assassin" and "Martial Arts"), Ninjas & Superspies has more than forty unique styles, with additional styles found in Mystic China. These are somewhat abstracted from "real" styles of the same names, attempting to maintain the feel of an individual style without necessarily showing every way in which it can be taught. Some martial arts have entirely unique forms of attack or defense, or unique powers, but most draw from the expanded list of standard maneuvers, combining them with martial arts powers to create the individual style.
Ninjas & Superspies also incorporates the idea of Chi
, which is presented as a life-energy
force which is present in the world and can be directed by trained individuals. This concept has been interpreted several times into other Palladium games, often as different aspects of metaphysical energy. Other elements of East Asian mysticism are considered, especially in Mystic China.
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
written by Erick Wujcik
Erick Wujcik
Erick Wujcik was an American designer of both pen-and-paper and computer role-playing games, and co-founder of Palladium Books.- Gaming career :...
and published in 1988 by Palladium Books
Palladium Books
Palladium Books is a publisher of role-playing games perhaps best known for its popular, expansive Rifts series . Palladium was founded April 1981 in Detroit, Michigan by current president and lead game designer Kevin Siembieda, and is presently based in Westland, Michigan...
. The game is designed around espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
and martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
action in the modern world, similar to movies such as the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
series or Chinese martial arts films
Cinema of Hong Kong
The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
. To that end, the game contains game rules for martial arts and mystic powers alongside rules for playing spies with gadgets, cybernetics
Cybernetics
Cybernetics is the interdisciplinary study of the structure of regulatory systems. Cybernetics is closely related to information theory, control theory and systems theory, at least in its first-order form...
and other high-tech toys. Mystic China, the game's only published supplement, adds character classes, martial arts, and campaign material focused on Chinese traditional culture (Feng shui
Feng shui
Feng shui ' is a Chinese system of geomancy believed to use the laws of both Heaven and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu ....
geomancers
Geomancy
Geomancy is a method of divination that interprets markings on the ground or the patterns formed by tossed handfuls of soil, rocks, or sand...
, Taoist
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
priests, etc.).
Characters in Ninjas & Superspies can take several forms. They may be members of a martial arts dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
, operatives for a government or private intelligence agency
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
, soldiers involved in counter-intelligence
Counter-intelligence
Counterintelligence or counter-intelligence refers to efforts made by intelligence organizations to prevent hostile or enemy intelligence organizations from successfully gathering and collecting intelligence against them. National intelligence programs, and, by extension, the overall defenses of...
, or even private eyes
Private investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
, depending on the selection of Occupation Character Class (O.C.C.). Each O.C.C. provides a base age which is modified by whatever combat training a character has and, in some cases, how long they have spent in prison. Most characters are highly skilled, with characters from the main book using the skill programs system to determine their skills, which provides a collection of related skills, and those from Mystic China using the O.C.C./Elective/Secondary skills method, which allows the selection of skills a la carte. Almost all characters have access to contacts from their backgrounds: martial arts characters may know people from competitions, secret agents may have worked with someone in the past, thief characters may have done time with certain people, etc.
While the game makes use of Palladium's Megaversal system
Megaversal system
The Megaversal system, sometimes known as the Palladium system, is a set of mechanics specifically employed in most role-playing games published by Palladium Books, the exception is Recon. It uses dice for roll-under percentile skill checks, roll-high combat checks and saving throws, and...
, several unique elements should be mentioned. First is that the combat system in Ninjas & Superspies is far more detailed than in other Palladium games, containing more options for attack and defense to go along with the large number of martial arts offered. Instead of the standard four combat forms offered ("Basic", "Expert", "Assassin" and "Martial Arts"), Ninjas & Superspies has more than forty unique styles, with additional styles found in Mystic China. These are somewhat abstracted from "real" styles of the same names, attempting to maintain the feel of an individual style without necessarily showing every way in which it can be taught. Some martial arts have entirely unique forms of attack or defense, or unique powers, but most draw from the expanded list of standard maneuvers, combining them with martial arts powers to create the individual style.
Ninjas & Superspies also incorporates the idea of Chi
Qi
In traditional Chinese culture, qì is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as life energy, lifeforce, or energy flow. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts...
, which is presented as a life-energy
Vitalism
Vitalism, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is#a doctrine that the functions of a living organism are due to a vital principle distinct from biochemical reactions...
force which is present in the world and can be directed by trained individuals. This concept has been interpreted several times into other Palladium games, often as different aspects of metaphysical energy. Other elements of East Asian mysticism are considered, especially in Mystic China.
External links
- Ninjas and Superspies in Palladium's catalogue.
- Company profile for Palladium Books