Silver Age Sentinels
Encyclopedia
Silver Age Sentinels is a superhero
role-playing game
(RPG) published in 2002
by Guardians of Order
, creators of Big Eyes, Small Mouth
, an anime
-themed RPG.
Silver Age Sentinels features an original game world inspired by classic "four-color" DC
and Marvel
comic book series, updated to modern political and moral sensibilities. The Empire City Universe (referred to after its central location, an alternative version of New York City) has a distinctive history.
The original system is a variant of the Guardians of Order Tri-Stat system, later ported into a generic form called Tri-Stat dX
. It expands the system, adding additional modifiers to allow more customized powers and characters. It also uses the ten-sided die (d10) as its base die as opposed to the six-sided dice (d6) used in Guardians of Order's previous RPG titles.
A d20 version, using a similar power creation structure modified for compatibility with the d20 System
line, was released two months after the Tri-Stat version. Many of its concepts were adapted to the d20 version of Big Eyes, Small Mouth
.
The original Deluxe version is a full color hardcover, while the Unlimited version is a hardcover with a full color cover only. Silver Age Sentinels d20 System
version is also hardcover with a black and white pages. The d20 Stingy Gamer Edition was softcover.
The game is also the foundation for a game based on Warren Ellis
's The Authority. That game features a much higher power level, and uses twelve-sided dice (d12) as its main action resolution.
Two anthologies of creator-copyrighted short stories tied to the SAS universe were published by Guardians of Order. Path of the Just (2003) featured an introduction by Denny O'Neil and included stories by John Ostrander
, Steven Grant
, and Ed Greenwood
. Path of the Bold (2004) featured an introduction by Elliot S! Maggin
and included stories by Robert Weinberg
, John Kovalic
, and Mike W. Barr
. Both anthologies were edited by James Lowder
.
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 —...
role-playing game
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...
(RPG) published in 2002
2002 in games
This page lists board and card games, wargames, miniatures games, and table-top role-playing games published in 2002. For video and console games, see 2002 in video gaming.-Death:...
by Guardians of Order
Guardians of Order
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 . Their first game is the anime inspired Big Eyes, Small Mouth. In 2006 Guardians of Order ceased operations due to overwhelming...
, creators of 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...
, an 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....
-themed RPG.
Silver Age Sentinels features an original game world inspired by classic "four-color" DC
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
and Marvel
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
comic book series, updated to modern political and moral sensibilities. The Empire City Universe (referred to after its central location, an alternative version of New York City) has a distinctive history.
The original system is a variant of the Guardians of Order Tri-Stat system, later ported into a generic form called 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....
. It expands the system, adding additional modifiers to allow more customized powers and characters. It also uses the ten-sided die (d10) as its base die as opposed to the six-sided dice (d6) used in Guardians of Order's previous RPG titles.
A d20 version, using a similar power creation structure modified for compatibility with the d20 System
D20 System
The 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...
line, was released two months after the Tri-Stat version. Many of its concepts were adapted to the d20 version of 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...
.
The original Deluxe version is a full color hardcover, while the Unlimited version is a hardcover with a full color cover only. Silver Age Sentinels d20 System
D20 System
The 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...
version is also hardcover with a black and white pages. The d20 Stingy Gamer Edition was softcover.
The game is also the foundation for a game based on Warren Ellis
Warren Ellis
Warren Girard Ellis is an English author of comics, novels, and television, who is well-known for sociocultural commentary, both through his online presence and through his writing, which covers transhumanist themes...
's The Authority. That game features a much higher power level, and uses twelve-sided dice (d12) as its main action resolution.
Two anthologies of creator-copyrighted short stories tied to the SAS universe were published by Guardians of Order. Path of the Just (2003) featured an introduction by Denny O'Neil and included stories by John Ostrander
John Ostrander
John Ostrander is an American writer of comic books. He is best known for his work on Suicide Squad, Grimjack and Star Wars: Legacy, series he helped create.-Career:...
, Steven Grant
Steven Grant
Steven Grant is an American comic-book writer best known for his 1985-1986 Marvel Comics mini-series Punisher, with artist Mike Zeck and for his creator-owned character Whisper.-Biography:...
, and Ed Greenwood
Ed Greenwood
Ed Greenwood is a Canadian writer and editor who created the Forgotten Realms. He invented the Forgotten Realms as a child, as a fantasy world in which to set the stories he imagined, and later used this world as a campaign setting for his own personal Dungeons & Dragons playing group...
. Path of the Bold (2004) featured an introduction by Elliot S! Maggin
Elliot S! Maggin
Elliot S. Maggin, also spelled Elliot S! Maggin , is an American writer of comic books, film, television and novels. He was a main writer for DC Comics during the Bronze and early Modern ages of comics in the 1970s and 1980s...
and included stories by Robert Weinberg
Robert Weinberg (author)
Robert Weinberg is an American author. His work spans several genres including non-fiction, science fiction, horror, and comic books.-Biography:...
, John Kovalic
John Kovalic
John Kovalic is a cartoonist, illustrator, and writer.Kovalic is best known for his Dork Tower comic book, comic strip and webcomic, and other humorous work set in and about the fantasy role-playing game genre, such as The Unspeakable Oaf...
, and Mike W. Barr
Mike W. Barr
Mike W. Barr is an American writer of comic books, and mystery, and science fiction novels.-Biography:Barr's debut as a comics professional came in DC Comics' Detective Comics #444 , for which he wrote an 8-page back-up mystery feature starring the Elongated Man...
. Both anthologies were edited by James Lowder
James Lowder
James Daniel Lowder is an American author and editor, working most often within the fantasy, dark fantasy, and horror genres.-Early life and education:...
.