Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game

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For other Buffyverse role-playing games, see Buffyverse role-playing games.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Revised Corebook cover, 2005
DesignersC. J. Carella
PublishersEden Studios, Inc.
Publication2002; 23 years ago (2002)
GenresAction, adventure, horror, drama
SystemsUnisystem
Websitewww.edenstudios.net/buffyrpg.html
ISBN1-891153-88-9

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game was published by Eden Studios, Inc. in 2002. It is based on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer that ran from 1997–2003. It is written by C. J. Carella, and uses the Unisystem game engine that many of Eden's games used.[1][2][3]

Development

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According to M Alexander Jurkat, Eden Studios' editor-in-chief, his colleague George Vasilakos learned that the publishers of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer collectible card game, Score Entertainment, were looking for a publishing partner to develop a roleplaying game based on the series. Jurkat and Vasilakos thought their experience at Eden Studios, publishing games such as CJ Carella's WitchCraft and Conspiracy X, gave them an advantage, and pitched their version of the game to Score Entertainment.[1]

After their bid was successful, Jurkat contracted C.J. Carella, creator of WitchCraft and the Unisystem rules engine, to write the game with a team of contributors and playtesters.[1][2][4] Jurkat edited the game and Vasilakos did the graphic design.[4][5] Believing the game had broad appeal, the Eden Studios team decided to pitch it at non-roleplayers, using accessible language and lots of examples to help those new to the hobby.[2] The game also makes extensive use of quotations and photography from the TV show, and includes the show's main characters as playable options.[6][7]

Books and products

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There are six available titles in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Role-playing Game product line.[8] In order of release, these are:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game: Core Rulebook

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The Core Rulebook (ISBN 1-891153-88-9) provides an introduction to the setting, characters, rules, and appendices. The appendices include the dialogue and slang used on the show, the differences between the Classic and Cinematic Unisystem rules, charts and summaries of concepts, and a full glossary and index.[9][3][10] The book features extensive photography from the show, as well as original artwork from Randy Post and Christopher Shy.[6]

Core Rulebook limited edition

The Core Rulebook was released alongside a limited edition (1000 copies) (ISBN 1-891153-92-7) with a cream-colored leatherette cover, red foil Buffy logo, and red cloth bookmark. In 2005, Eden Studios released the Revised Core Rulebook (ISBN 1-933105-10-0). It incorporated errata and rules updates to bring the game in line with the Angel Roleplaying Game, and included updated characters and adversaries for the sixth and seventh seasons of the series.[9]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game: Slayer's Handbook

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The Slayer's Handbook (ISBN 1-891153-89-7) and limited edition (ISBN 1-891153-93-5), with a blue leatherette cover, red foil "Slayer" graphic, and red cloth bookmark.[11] This first supplement included expanded backgrounds, major life events unique to Slayers, new qualities, drawbacks, archetypes, weapons.[12]

The book also contains suggestions on setting a game in different time periods, locations, and parallel realities. Three complete settings exploring these themes are provided. Finally, the Slayer's Handbook includes "The Chosen Two", an adventure which can be used to continue the Djinn Season.[12]

The book is named after the Slayer's Handbook in the Buffyverse. In the series, the watchers have a book for slayers referred to as the Slayer's Handbook which is given to Slayers-in-training.[12]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game: Monster Smackdown

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(ISBN 1-891153-90-0) and limited edition (ISBN 1-891153-90-0) with a black leatherette cover, red foil "Evil" graphic, and red cloth bookmark.[13][11] This supplement includes rules and abilities for various supernatural and mundane adversaries. A few, such as the troll and Miquot Clan Demon, may be player characters. Like the previous books, it includes a Djinn Season episode, "The Once and Future HST", which plays with events from the series as well as mythological elements.[14][13][15]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game: Director's Screen

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(ISBN 1891153919) This four-panel card stock Gamemaster's screen included a 56-page booklet with directing tips and three adventures for the Djinn Season: "When Giants Clash", "All A-buzz", and "The Bricklayer".[16][17][18] These follow on from the adventure "Sweeps Week" in the core rulebook.[19]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game: The Magic Box

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The Magic Box cover.

(ISBN 1-891153-94-3) This softcover supplement, written by John Snead, includes an expanded ruleset for magic spells and spell-casters, new mystical abilities, new Qualities and Drawbacks, enchanters (who create magic items), super-scientists (such as Warren Mears), and an adventure, Orphan Trouble. The book also introduces several magical organizations and rules for psychic powers such as telepathy, telekinesis, psychometry, and so on.[20][21]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game: Character Journal

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(ISBN 1-891153-57-9) This is a 16-page booklet that expands the game's character sheet.[22][23]

Unreleased

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game: Welcome to Sunnydale (ISBN 1-891153-95-1) was completed but never released, as Eden Studios lost their licence to the franchise in October 2006. Similarly, Tea and Crossbows, written by Phil Masters, was also completed but never unreleased.[citation needed]

Canon

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The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game contributed to Buffyverse canon, with Faith Lehane and Kendra Young's last names. These were provided by Joss Whedon in response to queries from Eden Studios.[24]

Reviews

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Jurkat, M Alexander. "BBC - Cult - Buffy - Behind the scenes at the Buffy Roleplaying Game - Starting Up". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Jurkat, M Alexander. "BBC - Cult - Buffy - Behind the scenes at the Buffy Roleplaying Game - Pleasing Buffy Fans". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "BBC Cult - Buffy Role Play game review". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Jurkat, M Alexander. "Behind the scenes at the Buffy Roleplaying Game - Testing it out". BBC Cult. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  5. ^ Jurkat, M Alexander. "Behind the scenes at the Buffy Roleplaying Game - Pleasing Fox". BBC Cult. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "OgreCave.com - Reviews - Buffy the Vampire Slayer". www.ogrecave.com. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Delahunt, Scott (September 9, 2016). "Lost in Translation 177: Buffy the Vampire Roleplaying Game". Psycho Drive-In. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  8. ^ Girdwood, Andrew (March 9, 2022). "Buffy and Angel both had official tabletop RPGs: Back together in a bundle!". Geek Native. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Eden Studios, Inc. - Buffy the Vampire Slayer RPG Corebook". www.edenstudios.net. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  10. ^ Carella, C. J. (2003). Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game: Core Rulebook. Eden Studios, Inc. ISBN 978-1-891153-88-4.
  11. ^ a b "Eden Studios, Inc. - Buffy The Vampire Slayer". www.edenstudios.net. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c Davenport, Dan (August 30, 2004). "Review of Slayer's Handbook". www.rpg.net. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game - Monster Smackdown". www.edenstudios.net. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  14. ^ Davenport, Dan (August 8, 2005). "Review of Monster Smackdown". RPGnet. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  15. ^ Darlington, Steve (June 30, 2003). "Playtest review of Monster Smackdown". RPGnet. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  16. ^ Chapman, Paul (2004). Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Director's Screen. Eden Studios, Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-891153-91-4.
  17. ^ Darlington, Steve (January 7, 2003). "Review of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Director's Screen". www.rpg.net. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  18. ^ Oxbrow, Craig (December 11, 2002). "Review of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Director's Screen". www.rpg.net. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  19. ^ Davenport, Dan (October 27, 2003). "Review of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Director's Screen". www.rpg.net. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  20. ^ Davenport, Dan (November 21, 2003). "Playtest review of The Magic Box". www.rpg.net. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  21. ^ Darlington, Steve (October 3, 2003). "Review of The Magic Box". www.rpg.net. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  22. ^ Buffy Character Journal. Eden Studios, Inc. 2003. ISBN 978-1-891153-57-0.
  23. ^ "Buffy The Vampire Slayer RPG Products: Character Journal". offline.buffy.de. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  24. ^ Whedon, Joss (January 2005). "Whedonesque".
  25. ^ "Pyramid: Pyramid Pick: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game".
  26. ^ Davenport, Dan (April 10, 2003). "Review of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game". www.rpg.net. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  27. ^ White, Alex (September 5, 2002). "Review of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game". www.rpg.net. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  28. ^ "Scrye Magazine Issue 58 - April 2003". April 21, 2003 – via Internet Archive.
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