Cowboy Bebop was a 2021 live-action sci-fi show on Netflix.
No, I’m kidding. Sorry.
Cowboy Bebop was a relatively short-lived but extremely popular anime originating in the late 90s. Unlike some popular animes such a Dragon Ball Z (291 episodes), Naruto (220 and 500 episodes across two different series), and Bleach (366 episodes), Cowboy Bebop only ran for 26 episodes. I think this gives it the advantage of not getting stale. it’s the same argument of British Vs American sitcoms, and why short-lived shows like Firefly stay beloved.
I can’t claim to be well-versed in Cowboy Bebop, having only seen an episode or two. I have friends who adore the series though, and I understand that it maintains a very loyal fanbase. Thematically, it’s a sci-fi series that follows a group of bounty hunters, led by Spike Spiegal, the protagonist. It has a bit of a noir twist to it as well, particularly around Spike’s story and his coming to terms with his past. From what I’ve seen, I’d agree that rather than being a sci-fi story, Cowboy Bebop seems more of a noir story in a sci-fi setting.
Now, Mana Project Studio and Don’t Panic Games are putting out an RPG based on the show. Mana project Studio mostly publishes 5E D&D-related content, though has put out one original RPG in the past. Don’t Panic Games has more of a pedigree in anime-themed games, having previously worked on games based on Cowboy Bebop, Naruto, Attack on Titan, and Tokyo Ghoul. I also really like the miniatures they put out as part of a previous Cowboy Bebop game:
They’re just lovely, aren’t they? I posted these in our local gaming club‘s Discord and someone had purchased them within the hour. The fandom is real.
Going back to the Kickstarter campaign, the game promises to use an original system. It’s a dice pool system, which I really appreciate. My favourite RPGs are mostly dice pool sysytems, like World of Darkness, the current edition of Paranoia, Mutant Year Zero, Soulbound, and others. It also feels a wee bit like Blades in the Dark, which I’d call a good thing.
They’ve actually gone and put out a quickstart set of rules. I think is a good move, and one that more would-be publishers on Kickstarter should do. This is esepcially true when they don’t have a load of content creators lined up with endorsements and playthrough videos to go with the campaign. I think they really missed a trick on this one. Still, it’s good to give a Quickstart, which they are distributing for free via DriveThruRPG.
Worth a look, certainly. I’d definitely take a look at the Quickstart before committing to buying the full game. I’d call Mana Project Studio a proven outfit, but this is by far the most ambitious project that Don’t Panic Games has undertaken. Caution is sensible.
As usualy for such campaigns, there are a range of pledge levels and add-ons. The main four addons for this campaign are:
- Deluxe edition rulebook (I adore this cover)
- GM Screen
- A range of character-themed dice sets (mixed selection shown below)
- Risk Point-themed poker chips
Yeah, these are some cool goodies. Each one will obviously add quite significantly to the cost of the pledge, but if you’re going all-in, then you’re getting some cool swag.
So, what’s the verdict? Well, let’s start with a look at the price. You’re looking at a €19 buy-in for the PDF edition or €49 for the physical hardback book. Add in another €18-€30 for UK/US shipping on the book or any additional items, and you’re looking at a not insignificant chunk of change. I’m a little disappointed that the art I’ve seen so far has all been from the show. I get why. It makes sense. The thing is, Mana Project Studio’s projects have been consistently outstanding in art direction and the quality of art used. It’s a pity that this project won’t share this quality, instead apparently relying on stills from the show. Again, this is fine. It’s just not as cool as it could have been.
This is already very well funded and will be a success. I’d suggest taking a look at the Quickstart before jumping in, but I do think this is going to do well, and will hopefully open up a path for more fantastic anime-themed RPGs.
You can click here to visit the project page at Kickstarter.
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