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Blue Rose: The AGE Game of Romantic Fantasy
A decade ago Blue Rose shook up the RPG scene with its vision of romantic fantasy and inclusive gaming. Now the world of Aldea returns in a new edition using the Adventure Game Engine (AGE), the popular rules that power the Fantasy AGE and Dragon Age RPGs. This beautiful, full-color book contains everything needed to create and tell stories of heroic envoys of the Sovereign's Finest as they protect their homeland of Aldis from threats like the shadowy Kingdom of Kern and the fanatical Theocracy of Jarzon, as well as monsters and artifacts from the cruel reign of the Sorcerer Kings. Aided by the rhydan--their psychic animal allies--the champions of the Kingdom of the Blue Rose safeguard the light of the world against the power of Shadow. Will you answer the Sovereign's call?
384 pages, Hardcover
Published May 16, 2017
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31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 5, 2021
I bought this book because it was pretty and I like Green Ronin's other work (Freeport, Dragon Age). I was absolutely thrilled when I discovered:
1) This book is girly and completely unapologetic about it. It even states that it's based on the works of female fantasy authors such as Tamora Pierce, Mercedes Lackey, and Diane Duane. The "iconic character" art is all women and all dressed awesomely, not skimpily.
2) It's based on the same engine as Dragon Age, which means I can try out the cool system of 3d6 based play without trying to drag my friends into playing in the Dragon Age world (something that wasn't going to happen).
There are three classes: Adept, Expert, and Warrior (Mage, Rogue/Bard type, Fighter, basically) and no multiclassing, but there are a wide variety of specializations you can pick up to expand or differentiate yourself.
Overall I am very excited about trying this out.
1) This book is girly and completely unapologetic about it. It even states that it's based on the works of female fantasy authors such as Tamora Pierce, Mercedes Lackey, and Diane Duane. The "iconic character" art is all women and all dressed awesomely, not skimpily.
2) It's based on the same engine as Dragon Age, which means I can try out the cool system of 3d6 based play without trying to drag my friends into playing in the Dragon Age world (something that wasn't going to happen).
There are three classes: Adept, Expert, and Warrior (Mage, Rogue/Bard type, Fighter, basically) and no multiclassing, but there are a wide variety of specializations you can pick up to expand or differentiate yourself.
Overall I am very excited about trying this out.
July 24, 2023
Took me a bit to finish this book, but it was absolutely worth the time spent. I found myself originally thinking that Blue Rose was a 3-star book in a beautiful 5-star package. I am glad that I was ultimately wrong.
The Book does not open well - it begins with basic system and character creation which doesn’t do much to distinguish itself from other fantasy RPGs. It isn’t until the setting section that you see how all of it work together to create a massively beautiful romantic fantasy world that breaks free of many of the tropes of classic fantasy.
This is romantic and feminist fantasy at its finest. The nation of Aldis is a sex-positive, egalitarian, progressive nation that is worth fighting for. I would actually like to live there. Each piece of the world is well thought out and is seamlessly integrated in the solid (but not great) Adventure Game Engine. This is an extraordinary work of gaming literature.
The Book does not open well - it begins with basic system and character creation which doesn’t do much to distinguish itself from other fantasy RPGs. It isn’t until the setting section that you see how all of it work together to create a massively beautiful romantic fantasy world that breaks free of many of the tropes of classic fantasy.
This is romantic and feminist fantasy at its finest. The nation of Aldis is a sex-positive, egalitarian, progressive nation that is worth fighting for. I would actually like to live there. Each piece of the world is well thought out and is seamlessly integrated in the solid (but not great) Adventure Game Engine. This is an extraordinary work of gaming literature.
September 20, 2018
6 stars. One of the most innovative RPGs of recent times, this is one step forward in fantasy. Character-and-relationships-driven (as Romantic Fantasy is) the setting of Blue Rose stuns with a progressive world born of darkness and chaos: a second golden age sustained with one of the most beautiful societies ever depicted in a RPG. The AGE system mechanics are a wonder in simplicity and versatility, and the graphic design and artwork are gorgeous in extreme. A book in which more than a half is setting! Almost never before seen. The adventure types that are playable are nothing like the common dungeon-bashing or creature-killing so commonly found in most fantasy setting: here the name Hero acquires a meaning less legendary and out of touch, and more grounded on being someone that really helps to build toghetherness through helping and doing.
Blue Rose is a real wonder, a beautiful jewel inside the fantasy RPG genre.
Blue Rose is a real wonder, a beautiful jewel inside the fantasy RPG genre.
December 2, 2022
Fantasy RPG with a sufficiently different emphasis to the norm to make it interesting. Using the AGE system is a positive step because it allows them to shift away from the D&D sacred cows which the original True20-powered system retained. Full review: https://refereeingandreflection.wordp...
October 5, 2022
If you're looking for a ttrpg system and setting that focuses on storytelling and relationships though with combat still being a fairly large part of the game, this might be the book for you! It's a book very friendly to new players and game masters alike - to the point where I as a fairly experienced dice roller felt there were a number of sections I could skip, so I ended up skimming a few chapters of this.
This is a dense book, which has its ups and downs. Over all, it's an enjoyable and comprehensive read. There are parts that I felt were a little wordier than necessary, but not in a way that makes the game not-fun to prep for or understand. Will be interesting to try this version of the game, since I've already played the first edition. Also, the winged cats still being part of the game? Perfection~!
This is a dense book, which has its ups and downs. Over all, it's an enjoyable and comprehensive read. There are parts that I felt were a little wordier than necessary, but not in a way that makes the game not-fun to prep for or understand. Will be interesting to try this version of the game, since I've already played the first edition. Also, the winged cats still being part of the game? Perfection~!
September 12, 2024
Good evening and welcome fellow Children of Chaos.
I haven't gotten to play it yet, but I actually really like the AGE system. Roll 3D6 and add a stat. One of the D6 is a different colour and considered the Drama Dice. If you roll doubles you look at the drama die and depending on what you roll you can do neat extras. It's a really fun way to spice up critical hits, that's been around since the dawn of roleplaying more or less unchanged in 80% of games.
And it also works doing exploration, social interactions, ext not just combat.
3 Classes, Fighting dude, skilly dude, magic dude. And the 5 playable races, Humans, Elves, Other Elves, Orcs, and Animals. Not animal people. Just really smart animals. Wanna play a super smart dolphin or weasel. Here you go.
The game is actually one I'd really like to try, but it has one major failing.
The world is REALLY REALLY boring. Like there are some threats but most of them seem so far away. The evil empire of Kern lead by a Lich, but that's about it. If I was going to run it I'd either have it start with the resurrections of the sorcery kings, or do a whole "The Golden Hart is secretly a fascist" plot.
STill all in All I'd play the hell outta this game.
I haven't gotten to play it yet, but I actually really like the AGE system. Roll 3D6 and add a stat. One of the D6 is a different colour and considered the Drama Dice. If you roll doubles you look at the drama die and depending on what you roll you can do neat extras. It's a really fun way to spice up critical hits, that's been around since the dawn of roleplaying more or less unchanged in 80% of games.
And it also works doing exploration, social interactions, ext not just combat.
3 Classes, Fighting dude, skilly dude, magic dude. And the 5 playable races, Humans, Elves, Other Elves, Orcs, and Animals. Not animal people. Just really smart animals. Wanna play a super smart dolphin or weasel. Here you go.
The game is actually one I'd really like to try, but it has one major failing.
The world is REALLY REALLY boring. Like there are some threats but most of them seem so far away. The evil empire of Kern lead by a Lich, but that's about it. If I was going to run it I'd either have it start with the resurrections of the sorcery kings, or do a whole "The Golden Hart is secretly a fascist" plot.
STill all in All I'd play the hell outta this game.
December 3, 2020
Aclaro, no me leí lo del máster ni el bestiario... quero que sean sorpresa!!!
Después de aplazarlo por que la vida, la pandemia y porque ajá... al fin vamos a jugar, así que lo leí.
El mundo es complejo y amplio, las razas -especialmente los rhydan- son preciosas y únicas, la magia y el combate -ya veremos en acción-. Pero el aspecto único de las relaciones: tener relaciones sentimentales, diversas -con reglas especiales para los personajes trans- y que sean parte integral y motor del personaje!?!?!? Son elementos que lo distancian de cualquier otro juego en el mercado y que tiene leyendo fantasía romántica, para tener mi corazón AroAce listo para la aventura
Después de aplazarlo por que la vida, la pandemia y porque ajá... al fin vamos a jugar, así que lo leí.
El mundo es complejo y amplio, las razas -especialmente los rhydan- son preciosas y únicas, la magia y el combate -ya veremos en acción-. Pero el aspecto único de las relaciones: tener relaciones sentimentales, diversas -con reglas especiales para los personajes trans- y que sean parte integral y motor del personaje!?!?!? Son elementos que lo distancian de cualquier otro juego en el mercado y que tiene leyendo fantasía romántica, para tener mi corazón AroAce listo para la aventura
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews