The Slightly Above-Average Animals Club - A Golden Sky Stories RPG Campaign
So, the prerelease PDF of Golden Sky Stories came out earlier today! For those not familiar, Golden Sky Stories is a Japanese tabletop RPG, where you play a magical animal, a henge, who helps the other animals and humans of a town solve their problems and form bonds. If you've ever played Persona 3 or 4, think the Social Links aspect, but without any actual FIGHTING: there are monsters, but even the monsters are just people too.
Needless to say, I am extremely interested in this for a number of reasons, which is why I've been working on coming up with a campaign for it! But since A) I'm not the BEST at organizing an entire campaign, and B) I don't WANT to organize an entire campaign, I'm coming up with a unique way to do it. But I'll get into that AFTER I give you the pitch for the story itself.
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The Slightly Above-Average Animals Club
In Shizuoka Prefecture, close to the coast, there lies Matsei, an average-sized town, of average resources, full of mostly average people. But there is one thing that isn't average about Matsei: it plays host to rather a lot of henge. In days past, Matsei was known as a haven for onmyoji and mystics, but as the modern world has marched on, all that has remained has been the undeniable presence of the henge themselves. It could be something in the water, something in the foggy air that flows in from the sea, something about the scent of flowers that blows down from the mountain. But whatever the cause, as average as Matsei is otherwise, magic and wonder surrounds it.
So integrated into the town are the henge, in fact, that many hold down normal jobs, own homes, and many attend school. And this is where our story begins, for a tradition among the town is a school club, exclusively for henge, dedicated to helping the people of the town solve their problems. There's only one barrier to entry: you have to be at least a little better than average at something to get in.
Lucky you, you've got an invitation to join.
Wait, what?
This campaign is going to focus on the henge who form the Slightly Above-Average Animals Club, of which your character is either a standing member or a new recruit. You'll attend school with both human and henge classmates, but as soon as school lets out, your duties to the club take over, and you will work to help out those around you. The skeptical might call you meddlesome, nosy, or even pushy... and they are largely correct. But you have a mission, and your special powers as a henge mean you've got the ability to bring a little magic and wonder into people's lives.
The feel of the campaign will be that of a slice-of-life comedy anime, albeit a fairly heartfelt, earnest one: it's about growing up, forming friendships, making mistakes, and probably feeling a little awkward sometimes. But you'll always come out of it feeling like you learned something or helped out! If you wanna get a sense of what I mean, check out stuff like Azumanga Daioh and Nichijou. To get a feel for 'magic animals helping people,' Princess Tutu might be a good entry point.
That all sounds boring. I wanna kick butt and loot stuff!
Golden Sky Stories isn't really a traditional sort of tabletop RPG. If you're looking to valiantly slay monsters and steal their stuff, you may wish to look elsewhere. However, if you like the idea of, for example, playing matchmaker between an oni who has a crush on the local baker, but can't get her a gift without accidentally breaking it, then this might be the game for you.
So what kind of animal can I be?
While there's rules for more henge varieties coming in a few months, the base rules allow for foxes, cats, dogs, tanuki, birds, and rabbits. Each henge has certain strengths and certain weaknesses, and is particularly good at certain ways of making people feel better. Ultimately, while the variety of animal you are affects the way you play, you can still be any kind of actual person you like.
So why do we wanna help people out?
Because that's what henge do! It's not pure altruism; henge get stronger and more magical the more Connections they have with others. Forming bonds is the crux of gameplay, drawing on the strength and wonder you receive from others to make the world a happier, more magical place. If you've played Persona, think of Connections as being like Social Links. Every person you form a bond with makes you more able to do cool stuff.
What kind of powers are we talking here?
All kinds! Some henge can fly, bring forth magical rain, or turn into inanimate objects. Some might make mystical snacks to share with others, or have the ability to scare off bullies by transforming into a monster. Some very powerful henge can even turn humans into animals, and animals into humans!
So what about the way you're running this campaign is different?
Well, the main thing is that we're ALL gonna run it! I'll be using a 'Rolling Storyteller' system. Essentially, each session will be presented as an episode of the notional anime series we're a part of. If you get tired of being the Storyteller, or want to give someone else a turn at the wheel, you can give their character a Focus Episode that's all about them, letting them have the spotlight for that session in exchange for them taking over Storyteller duties for the next one. That way, both the burdens and benefits of running the game and being a player are shared between everyone!
I'm also houseruling a few aspects of the book, mostly 'when you can change into an animal or human and how much it costs' and the way Weaknesses and Bonus Powers work. Don't worry, it won't be particularly serious alterations, just some stuff to make it better fit the format.
So when is this campaign gonna go down?
I have no idea! Ideally I'd like to get it rolling soon, but I'm gonna need help for that, a decent amount of folks who are willing to both play and do storytelling every now and then, and of course some kind of digital space to hold sessions. But rest assured, I am working on it! Help is always appreciated, however.
Needless to say, I am extremely interested in this for a number of reasons, which is why I've been working on coming up with a campaign for it! But since A) I'm not the BEST at organizing an entire campaign, and B) I don't WANT to organize an entire campaign, I'm coming up with a unique way to do it. But I'll get into that AFTER I give you the pitch for the story itself.
--
The Slightly Above-Average Animals Club
In Shizuoka Prefecture, close to the coast, there lies Matsei, an average-sized town, of average resources, full of mostly average people. But there is one thing that isn't average about Matsei: it plays host to rather a lot of henge. In days past, Matsei was known as a haven for onmyoji and mystics, but as the modern world has marched on, all that has remained has been the undeniable presence of the henge themselves. It could be something in the water, something in the foggy air that flows in from the sea, something about the scent of flowers that blows down from the mountain. But whatever the cause, as average as Matsei is otherwise, magic and wonder surrounds it.
So integrated into the town are the henge, in fact, that many hold down normal jobs, own homes, and many attend school. And this is where our story begins, for a tradition among the town is a school club, exclusively for henge, dedicated to helping the people of the town solve their problems. There's only one barrier to entry: you have to be at least a little better than average at something to get in.
Lucky you, you've got an invitation to join.
Wait, what?
This campaign is going to focus on the henge who form the Slightly Above-Average Animals Club, of which your character is either a standing member or a new recruit. You'll attend school with both human and henge classmates, but as soon as school lets out, your duties to the club take over, and you will work to help out those around you. The skeptical might call you meddlesome, nosy, or even pushy... and they are largely correct. But you have a mission, and your special powers as a henge mean you've got the ability to bring a little magic and wonder into people's lives.
The feel of the campaign will be that of a slice-of-life comedy anime, albeit a fairly heartfelt, earnest one: it's about growing up, forming friendships, making mistakes, and probably feeling a little awkward sometimes. But you'll always come out of it feeling like you learned something or helped out! If you wanna get a sense of what I mean, check out stuff like Azumanga Daioh and Nichijou. To get a feel for 'magic animals helping people,' Princess Tutu might be a good entry point.
That all sounds boring. I wanna kick butt and loot stuff!
Golden Sky Stories isn't really a traditional sort of tabletop RPG. If you're looking to valiantly slay monsters and steal their stuff, you may wish to look elsewhere. However, if you like the idea of, for example, playing matchmaker between an oni who has a crush on the local baker, but can't get her a gift without accidentally breaking it, then this might be the game for you.
So what kind of animal can I be?
While there's rules for more henge varieties coming in a few months, the base rules allow for foxes, cats, dogs, tanuki, birds, and rabbits. Each henge has certain strengths and certain weaknesses, and is particularly good at certain ways of making people feel better. Ultimately, while the variety of animal you are affects the way you play, you can still be any kind of actual person you like.
So why do we wanna help people out?
Because that's what henge do! It's not pure altruism; henge get stronger and more magical the more Connections they have with others. Forming bonds is the crux of gameplay, drawing on the strength and wonder you receive from others to make the world a happier, more magical place. If you've played Persona, think of Connections as being like Social Links. Every person you form a bond with makes you more able to do cool stuff.
What kind of powers are we talking here?
All kinds! Some henge can fly, bring forth magical rain, or turn into inanimate objects. Some might make mystical snacks to share with others, or have the ability to scare off bullies by transforming into a monster. Some very powerful henge can even turn humans into animals, and animals into humans!
So what about the way you're running this campaign is different?
Well, the main thing is that we're ALL gonna run it! I'll be using a 'Rolling Storyteller' system. Essentially, each session will be presented as an episode of the notional anime series we're a part of. If you get tired of being the Storyteller, or want to give someone else a turn at the wheel, you can give their character a Focus Episode that's all about them, letting them have the spotlight for that session in exchange for them taking over Storyteller duties for the next one. That way, both the burdens and benefits of running the game and being a player are shared between everyone!
I'm also houseruling a few aspects of the book, mostly 'when you can change into an animal or human and how much it costs' and the way Weaknesses and Bonus Powers work. Don't worry, it won't be particularly serious alterations, just some stuff to make it better fit the format.
So when is this campaign gonna go down?
I have no idea! Ideally I'd like to get it rolling soon, but I'm gonna need help for that, a decent amount of folks who are willing to both play and do storytelling every now and then, and of course some kind of digital space to hold sessions. But rest assured, I am working on it! Help is always appreciated, however.