I'm not quite sure whether this is the most appropriate forum to post this topic in since it's talking about roleplay rather than actually doing it, but I figured it must be safe and if it isn't the appropriate forum the thread can be moved, right?

In my introduction, I mentioned that I've been working on a forum-based game off and on for the past two years. Now, part of that information is true. I have been working on an Utena forum-based game, but it wasn't until recently with the revival of Sailor Moon that I decided to create a crossover game that would, hopefully, draw in a wider audience. My contacting Giovanna about permission for gallery usage is actually what spurred me to create an account here and chat with you lovely fans about it.

Rather than rewriting the entire thread, I'm going to copy and paste from RPG-Directory with a few edits here and there, if you don't mind.


Introduction

Over two years ago, I had the thought of re-imagining the '90s animanga series, Revolutionary Girl Utena. The only way I could explain it at the time was both being "based upon" and "inspired by" because so much that worked for the animanga series only worked in the sense of the manga or the anime series itself. It would be hard to translate it wholly into a forum-based game, and for fans who have already analyzed it to death, it would not be much fun either.

Since the debut of Sailor Moon Crystal, I have been giving the magical girl and shoujo genres much thought. I turned to both the original Sailor Moon animanga series and the Revolutionary Girl Utena anime series solely for answers as to why these particular series tend to hold up so well story-wise. I still have yet to figure that out completely, and my love for them had me torn between whether I wanted to join a Sailor Moon forum or create a character inspired by Utena Tenjou herself to play somewhere, either reality or fantasy.

Then it occurred to me...



It has been done before, I have heard, so why not give it a shot?

Below, you will find a rough outline of the original Revolutionary Girl Utena game I was outlining. Much of the plot was borrowed from the series, but as I mentioned earlier, it was re-imagined, both to cure some of the complexities of the plot -- because, let's face it, the series' ending and symbolism is still being debated today -- and to give it a more modern feel.

In a way, it should play out like an exclusive high school setting, but on the flipside, it should also function as a fantasy mystery.

Following my original outline, you will also find a new, unfinished plot write-up along with proposed member groups and canons which reflect the addition of the Sailor Moon series.


Canons, Original Characters, and PBs
•    Character-driven with bi-monthly events
•    Begin with canon-based characters and open up to originals
•    Face claims over anime claims

Dueling on the Honor System and Alternate Realities*

Members registering their characters as duelists would receive an anonymous letter from the Student Council asking to attend an event hosted by the Ohtori Academy's famous dueling club where, upon proving their worthiness, would be given a Rose Seal to participate in officially sanctioned duels. As they progress through the duels, they will be poked and prodded about what they desire to change about the world, and the person who wins would be "engaged" to their respective Rose Bride, who in turn will be given the power to "revolutionize the world."

Revolution would come in the form of a manifesto written by the champion duelist that details the world they see fit to embody their ideals, and once that manifesto is signed and delivered to the Rose Bride, that world becomes an alternate reality that the students of the Ohtori Academy are completely oblivious to. The only way to escape this new reality would be for a new duelist to become the champion and introduce their own manifesto, changing the world for the better—or worse.

Example: Juri Arisugawa wants to disprove the power of miracles. By some twist of fate, she becomes a dueling champion, Shiori Takatsuki becoming her Rose Bride, and is given the power to revolutionize the world. In doing so, she writes a manifesto that includes such details as those suffering from cancer no longer go into remission—they die to spare any hope of possibly getting better. Babies who had a slim chance of survival now have no chance of survival so parents can get on with their lives. Natural disasters kill everyone involved instead of igniting false hope that a loved one had weathered the storm. The list goes on and on, and unless someone steps up, challenges her ideals and becomes the new dueling champion, this alternate reality is now everyone's reality.

So how does one win a duel? Originally, I was going to try and implement a combat system strictly for duels, but after much discussion and debate, this seemed like the wrong route for the game. Instead, members will be dueling on the honor system in which they will discuss who wins and loses under which conditions. As much as I would like to leave the results up to chance, this seems to be the best way going about these things and not frightening away potential members. I could always suggest, however, that the two combatants roll for the highest number out of 100 or something. That way, it's still left up to chance but doesn't include time-consuming battle stats and dice roll checks.

Premise #1 (Utena-inspired)

For several decades, the all boys Ohtori Academy had been famous for its prestigious dueling club, drawing young men all across the country to participate in its annual open exams. Out of these exams, only a handful of brilliant minds were chosen, but in the 1980s, a fire consumed one of the dormitories on the western side of the campus, taking the lives of 100 young men. The incident gained international media attention and sparked a debate on the subject of Japan’s highly competitive educational system. An investigation into the peer pressure, which plagued the school and the mistreatment of its students, forced the school to close its doors.

Following the incident, it was revealed that one of the school’s own students had premeditated the heinous act. Souji Mikage, a high school genius who first caught the public eye after achieving the highest score on the entrance exams to date, disappeared without a trace. It is believed that the motivation behind the arson came on the heels of a student suicide. Mamiya Chida, a terminally ill student, had been caught up in the school’s first sex scandal. It had been hush-hush, but the scandal exposed Chida and Mikage as lovers. The tragedy had been too much to bear, and according to various student accounts, Mikage grew increasingly despondent. He began repeatedly cutting class, leading to his expulsion the day of the fire. He was last seen in the custody of local authorities.

In the early 2000s, son of the former academy chairman, Akio Ohtori, announced plans to reopen the school after extensive renovation, including the addition of new dormitories to the western and eastern sides of the sprawling campus and new facilities within the main building to accommodate the enrollment of female students and new technology, respectively. Ohtori’s announcement shocked the country, as this was the first time in the school’s history that female students would be accepted. In a scale model of the renovated campus, it was revealed that the boys dormitories would remain on the western side of the campus while the girls dormitories would be setup on the eastern side.

Three years ago, after nation-wide exams, the infamous Ohtori Academy opened its doors to the first wave of students since the 1980s. A survey conducted of the school’s students revealed that a number of young men and women came from various socio-economic backgrounds but that a high percentage came from wealthy families with previous ties to the school before its closure. Once again, the school had been thrust into the media spotlight, this time regarding its enrollment procedures. Many people began to wonder whether the formerly meritorious academy had become a cesspool of overindulgent bluebloods with a sense of entitlement. These suspicions were temporarily quelled, however, when the school revived its notorious dueling club and students all over the country came flocking.

Since then, things have been rather quiet—unless you count the rumors of ghosts lingering the halls at night and the sound of torturous screams emanating from the boys dormitories...

Premise #2 (Sailor Moon-inspired)

Long ago in an age before recorded history, there resided a prosperous kingdom on the moon known as the Silver Millennium. Ruled by the fair Queen Serenity, she watched over the troubling Earth Kingdom known as Elysion, whose denizens opposed her rule. Due to the kingdom’s violent history, she forbade her daughter, Princess Serenity, from ever visiting Elysion; however, the princess’s curiosity growing, she disobeyed her mother’s orders and travelled to the Earth Kingdom where the met the Crowned Prince Endymion. Something about the Inner Senshi protecting the princess.

A true example of love at first sight, Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion hid their love, secretly meeting as often as possible, until finally they announced their engagement. Outrage surged from every corner of the kingdom, including that of a young girl named Beryl who envied them, her own feelings for the prince unrequited. In the end, she turned to the Dark Kingdom for revenge. Using her ill-gotten powers from Queen Metaria who wished for nothing more than to rule the Elysion herself, she waged war upon the Earth Kingdom, but the Rose Guardians, under the command of the prince’s generals, marched into battle, determined to protect their beloved kingdom. Blinded by her rage, she destroyed that which she held most precious in an attempt to kill the princess, and distraught over the death of the prince, the princess committed suicide.

Inevitably, both Elysion and the Silver Millennium crumbled under the assault of the Dark Kingdom but not before Queen Serenity could seal away Queen Metaria. She used her last bit of strength and the power of the Silver Crystal to ensure the revival of the Silver Millennium in the years to come. In time, the princess and her protectors would be reborn, hopefully during an era of peace, where they could find true happiness and regain that which was lost.

Several thousand years later in Tokyo, Japan, they were reborn, all memories of their past lives erased, and reunited under the roof of the prestigious Ohtori University. No one remembered exactly how or when the school appeared, but its reputation as one of the best universities in the country was undeniable. The large, sprawling campus looked like something out of a fairy tale with its grand staircases, vaulted ceilings, and stained glass windows. But as beautiful as it appeared on the outside, something hideous lurked on the inside.

Rumors had spread of an invitation-only dueling club sponsored by the two main fraternities and sororities on campus, and while no one truly knew what went on within the duels, it was said that challenging duelists left empty handed and heartbroken. What were these duelists losing? And how did one gain an invitation?

Member Groups
•    Rose Guardians
•    Black Rose Guardians
•    Rose Brides
•    Sailor Soldiers
•    Sailor Starlights
•    Moon Kingdom
•    Dark Kingdom

Canons
Revolutionary Girl Utena:
•    Akio Ohtori
•    Anthy Himemiya
•    Juri Arisugawa
•    Kanae Ohtori
•    Kozue Kaoru
•    Kyouichi Saionji
•    Mamiya Chida
•    Miki Kaoru
•    Mitsuru Tsuwabuki
•    Nanami Kiryuu
•    Prince Dios
•    Ruka Tsuchiya
•    Shiori Takatsuki
•    Souji Mikage
•    Touga Kiryuu
•    Utena Tenjou
•    Wakaba Shinohara


Sailor Moon:
•    Ami Mizuno
•    Artemis
•    Diana
•    Haruka Tenou
•    Hotaru Tomoe
•    Jadeite
•    Kunzite
•    Luna
•    Makoto Kino
•    Mamoru Chiba
•    Michiru Kaiou
•    Minako Aino
•    Nephrite
•    Queen Beryl
•    Rei Hino
•    Seiya Kou
•    Setsuna Meiou
•    Taiki Kou
•    Usagi Tsukino
•    Yaten Kou
•    Zoisite

*I'm taking all the tips, advice, suggestions, etc. I can get on how to implement a text-based dueling system that doesn't scare people away with stats or complicated dice rolls -- or just another completely different way to do this without making roleplayers feel like the whole game is rigged (which we all know was the case in Utena but shouldn't be in roleplay.)

DISCUSS~