History TabletopGame / BlissStage

* AdultsAreUseless: Both averted and played straight, in different ways. The world's economy and infrastructure collapses without the adults, but the [=PCs=] actually getting stuff done during the game are all teenagers. The one adult character, called the Authority Figure, is inevitably a MagnificentBastard at best and a JerkAss at worst.

[[caption-width-right:350:Logo]]

The story involves [[AlienInvasion alien invaders]] afflicting humanity with "the Bliss", a form of stasis locking the [[OnlyFatalToAdults adult population of the world]] into a [[LotusEaterMachine sleep with apparently blissful dreams]]. Children and teenagers are left to deal with societal collapse and the occasional [[StarfishRobots alien terror drone]] attack.

A lone, insomniac, and probably AxCrazy adult manages to [[LaResistance rally some survivors]] and, to their enduring astonishment, capture one of the drones. They reverse engineer it into the [[AppliedPhlebotinum Alien Numina Inversion Machine,]] or [=ANIMa=], a machine that [[ThePowerOfLove converts relationships]] into a source of PsychicPower taking the form of a HumongousMecha. The deeper the relationship, the more power it contributes to the mecha. [=ANIMa=] pilots need to be properly Anchored (in a manner similar to the Operators from ''Film/TheMatrix'') by a [[InformedAbility "trained psychologist"]], usually just someone they have a crush on. Some players take the role of pilots, while others are anchors.

* CrapsackWorld: No electricity. No food. No ''sewage systems.'' Aliens trying to kill you. And you fall into a coma at age 18.

* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: The Bliss, which has knocked out all adults before the start of the game.

* {{GMPC}}: Required in the form of the Authority Figure. In fact, if any other player's character usurps the Authority Figure, that player must become the new GM!

* LoveTriangle: In the rulebook examples and the one-shot. TriangRelations Type 4: Josh is A, Sarah B, and Keenan C. Happens a lot in actual play, too, sometimes to the point of a--

* EldritchLocation: The dream realm where the pilots carry out missions is open to interpretation by the pilots' Anchors...at least until things go awry and the Anchor loses control, then it can quickly become a BlackBugRoom.

-->--Back cover copy

[[PresentDayPresentTime The moment the game begins]], malevolent aliens afflict humanity with The Bliss, a form of stasis locking the [[OnlyFatalToAdults adult population of the world]] into a [[LotusEaterMachine sleep with apparently blissful dreams]]. Children and teenagers are left in a CrapsackWorld ravaged by societal collapse and the occasional [[StarfishRobots alien terror drone]] attack.

A lone, insomniac, and very probably AxCrazy adult manages to [[LaResistance rally some survivors]] and, to their enduring astonishment, capture one of the drones. They reverse engineer it into the [[AppliedPhlebotinum Alien Numina Inversion Machine,]] or [=ANIMa=], a machine that [[ThePowerOfLove converts relationships]] into a source of PsychicPower taking the form of a HumongousMecha. [[LevelUpAtIntimacy5 The deeper the relationship, the more power it contributes to the mecha]]. [=ANIMa=] pilots need to be properly Anchored (in a manner similar to the Operators from ''Film/TheMatrix'') by a [[InformedAbility "trained psychologist"]], usually just someone who they have a crush on. Some players take the role of pilots, while others are anchors.

Troper Tropers/TsundereLightning was [[PromotedFanboy tapped by the authors]] for a VisualNovel adaptation, ''VisualNovel/BlissStageLoveIsYourWeapon'', which also fizzled out and never released. Overall the game did not receive much attention, though a Website/SomethingAwful user did write a critical and somewhat humorous review which can be read [[https://writeups.letsyouandhimfight.com/purplexvi/bliss-stage/ here]].

* {{GMPC}}: Required in the form of the Authority Figure. In fact, if any other player has a character who becomes the Authority Figure, that player must become the new GM!

* LevelUpAtIntimacy5: Trope namer; the only way to be effective in [=ANIMa=] combat is to deepen your relationship with your Anchor [[LoveDodecahedron and others.]] In order to reach the actual Intimacy 5 level with someone, you need to either be family or sleep with them, which is kinda creepy considering all the [=PCs=] are underage.
* LoveTriangle: In the continuing examples and the one-shot. TriangRelations Type 4: Josh is A, Sarah B, and Keenan C. Happens a lot in actual play, too, sometimes to the point of a--

* OnlyFatalToAdults: The Bliss. Specifically, it's only fatal when you turn eighteen. Except it might not actually kill you. The survivors certainly don't know.

A lone, insomniac, and very probably AxCrazy adult manages to [[LaResistance rally some survivors]] and, to their enduring astonishment, capture one of the drones. They reverse engineer it into the [[AppliedPhlebotinum Alien Numina Inversion Machine,]] or [=ANIMa=], a machine that [[ThePowerOfLove converts relationships]] into a source of PsychicPower taking the form of a HumongousMecha. [[LevelUpAtIntimacy5 The deeper the relationship, the more power it contributes to a mecha]]. [=ANIMa=] pilots need to be properly Anchored (in a manner similar to the Operators from ''Film/TheMatrix'') by a [[InformedAbility "trained psychologist"]], usually just someone who they have a crush on. Some players take the role of pilots, while others are anchors.

The game being a {{Deconstruction}} of ThePowerOfLove, developing more and stronger relationships is encouraged as a way to make your mecha more powerful, so [[LoveDodecahedron extremely complicated romantic entanglements]] happen a lot but can have nasty consequences. In addition, each pilot accumulates a "Bliss score" through various means, and dies or otherwise becomes unplayable when they reach [[Mystical108 108]] Bliss. The game's ending is often [[BittersweetEnding bittersweet]] or [[GainaxEnding a little more disturbing]].

There are two editions of the game, "Ignition Stage" and "Interim Stage", the latter apparently only containing minor rules & wording clarifications (the authors, to their credit, offered to provide a free upgrade for anyone who bought the first edition.) A third edition with significant rules changes, "Acceleration Stage", was announced but never released. Troper Tropers/TsundereLightning was [[PromotedFanboy tapped by the authors]] for a VisualNovel adaptation, ''VisualNovel/BlissStageLoveIsYourWeapon'', which also fizzled out and never released. Overall the game did not receive much attention, though you can read a critical and somewhat humorous review from Website/SomethingAwful [[https://writeups.letsyouandhimfight.com/purplexvi/bliss-stage/ here]].

* RelationshipValues: There are six stats in the game. Three of them [[RelationshipValues measure the status of an interpersonal relationship (Intimacy, Trust and Stress) and the other three measure a character's mental state (Trauma, Terror and Bliss).

* CrapsackWorld: No electricity. No food. No ''sewage systems.'' Aliens trying to kill you. And you Bliss at age 18.

* DoWellButNotPerfect: The stronger your relationships, the more dice you roll during missions, getting a plus, minus, or zero for each die. A plus is good, a zero is bad, and a minus is really bad. You then assign these dice to various categories: one die to succeed at that step of the mission, one to keep yourself safe, and one for each relationship you're using in order to protect that relationship. However, unassigned dice give you points of Bliss. No points for zeroes, but you get one point for a minus and a whopping three for every unassigned plus. When you hit 108 points of Bliss, your pilot stops being a playable character—running away, falling asleep forever, taking over for the Authority Figure, or [[HeroicSacrifice dying heroically]]. A character with multiple strong relationships can keep everyone they care about safe, but [[GlassCannon will end up Blissing Out sooner rather than later]].

* RelationshipValues: There are six stats in the game. Three of them are RelationshipValues - [[LevelUpAtIntimacy5 Intimacy,]] [[YouLoseAtZeroTrust Trust and Stress]]. And the other three measure your pilot's mental state.

* {{Tsundere}}: Anna Lin in the running examples and introductory adventure.
* TeenageWasteland: Most survivors have formed into gangs that scavenge for supplies, often turning violent against each other.

[[PresentDayPresentTime The moment the game begins]], malevolent aliens afflict humanity with The Bliss, a form of stasis locking the [[OnlyFatalToAdults adult population of the world]] into a [[LotusEaterMachine sleep with apparently blissful dreams]]. Children and teenagers are left in a CrapsackWorld ravaged by infrastructure breakdown and the occasional [[StarfishRobots alien terror drone]] attack.

A lone, insomniac, and very probably AxCrazy adult manages to [[LaResistance rally some survivors]] and, to their enduring astonishment, capture one of the drones. They reverse engineer it into the [[AppliedPhlebotinum Alien Numina Inversion Machine,]] or [=ANIMa=], a machine that [[ThePowerOfLove converts relationships]] into a source of PsychicPower taking the form of a HumongousMecha. [[LevelUpAtIntimacy5 The deeper the relationship, the more powerful its weapons.]] [=ANIMa=] pilots need to be properly Anchored (in a manner similar to the Operators from ''Film/TheMatrix'')]] by a [[InformedAbility "trained psychologist,"]] usually just someone who they have a crush on. Some players take the roles of pilots, while others are anchors.

The game being a {{Deconstruction}} of ThePowerOfLove, developing more and stronger relationships is encouraged as a way to make your mecha more powerful, so [[LoveDodecahedron extremely complicated romantic entanglements]] happen a lot and can have nasty consequences. In addition, each pilot accumulates a "Bliss score" through various means, and dies or otherwise becomes unplayable when they reach [[Mystical108 108]] Bliss. The game's ending is often [[BittersweetEnding bittersweet]] or [[GainaxEnding a little more disturbing]].

[[PresentDayPresentTime The moment the game begins,]] malevolent aliens afflict humanity as a whole with The Bliss, a form of stasis locking the [[OnlyFatalToAdults adult population of the world]] into a [[LotusEaterMachine sleep with apparently blissful dreams]], leaving the child and teenaged survivors in a CrapsackWorld ravaged by occasional [[HumongousMecha alien terror drone]] attacks.

A lone, insomniac, and very probably AxCrazy adult manages to [[LaResistance rally the local survivors]] and, to their enduring astonishment, capture one of the drones. They reverse engineer it into the [[AppliedPhlebotinum Alien Numina Inversion Machine,]] or [=ANIMa=], a machine that [[ThePowerOfLove converts relationships]] into a source of PsychicPower taking the form of a HumongousMecha: [[LevelUpAtIntimacy5 The deeper the relationship, the more powerful its weapons.]] The pilot of this [=ANIMa=] needs to be properly Anchored [[Film/TheMatrix (in a manner similar to the duties of the Operators)]] by a [[InformedAbility "trained psychologist,"]] usually just someone who they have a crush on.

The game being a {{Deconstruction}} of ThePowerOfLove, a pilot's [=ANIMa=] is powered by their relationships with other characters, so [[LoveDodecahedron extremely complicated romantic entanglements]] ''just happen'' in this game. In addition, each pilot accumulates a "Bliss score" through various means, and dies or otherwise becomes unplayable when they reach [[Mystical108 108]] Bliss. Endings are often [[BittersweetEnding bittersweet]] or [[GainaxEnding a little more disturbing]].

* ActionFilmQuietDramaScene: Encouraged by the Interludes, which are shorter scenes played in the real world and primarily serve to develop relationship between pilots (though not necessarily in a positive way...)

* CompetenceZone: Between the ages of 13 and 17. Before that you can't Pilot; after that you fall into a Bliss coma.

* EldritchLocation: The dream realm where the pilots carry out missions is open to interpretation by the pilots' anchors...at least until things go awry and the anchor loses control, then it can quickly become a BlackBugRoom.

* InsistentTerminology: They're a Creche and a Cradle, not a hangar and an [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Entry Plug,]] respectively.

* OnlyFatalToAdults: The Bliss. Specifically, it's only fatal when you turn eighteen. Except it might not actually kill you, no-one really knows.
* ParentalAbandonment: The results of the invasion in general -- and Josh Preston's father, the Authority Figure of LaResistance in the rulebook stories, who ''didn't look for him'' after the Bliss hit, in particular.

%%* TeenageWasteland

* ThisIsNotADrill: Uttered in the example first action.
* WordSaladTitle: While it may seem like this, the trope is averted: the name is a reference to the "Bliss Stage" of a relationship - basically, the psychological term for the honeymoon period.

* AdultsAreUseless: Both averted and played straight, in different ways. The economy and infrastructure of the civilized world collapses without the adults, but the [=PCs=] are all teenagers and the Authority Figure is inevitably a MagnificentBastard at best and a JerkAss at worst.

* FunWithAcronyms: Alien Numina Inversion Machine shortens to [=ANIMa=]. ...Sure, Ben. Sure.

%%* LaResistance
* LevelUpAtIntimacy5: Trope namer; the only way to be effective in [=ANIMa=] combat is to deepen your relationship with your Anchor [[LoveDodecahedron and others.]] In order to reach the actual Intimacy 5 level with someone, you need to either be family or sleep with them, which is kinda creepy considering all the PCs are underage.

* PsychicPowers: Mechanically significant combat takes place entirely in a bizarre dream-world.

Bliss Stage is a tabletop roleplaying game by Ben Lehman & PH Lee. It was released in 2007 and picked up by publisher TAO Games in 2011. It is an homage to Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion and similar works such as Manga/{{Bokurano}} and Anime/RahXephon. Currently it can be found at the [[http://www.tao-games.com TAO website]] and sold by various various RPG PDF sites.

A lone, insomniac, and very probably AxCrazy adult manages to [[LaResistance rally the local survivors]] and, to their enduring astonishment, capture one of the drones. They quickly reverse engineer it into the [[AppliedPhlebotinum Alien Numina Inversion Machine,]] or [=ANIMa=], a machine that [[ThePowerOfLove converts relationships]] into a source of PsychicPower taking the form of a HumongousMecha: [[LevelUpAtIntimacy5 The deeper the relationship, the more powerful its weapons.]] The pilot of this [=ANIMa=] needs to be properly Anchored [[Film/TheMatrix (in a manner similar to the duties of the Operators)]] by a [[InformedAbility "trained psychologist,"]] usually just someone who they have a crush on.

* LevelUpAtIntimacy5: Trope namer; the only way to be effective in [=ANIMa=] combat is to deepen your relationship with your Anchor [[LoveDodecahedron and others.]]
* LotusEaterMachine: The Bliss itself could potentially be one, depending on interpretation.

A lone, insomniac, and very probably AxCrazy adult manages to [[LaResistance rally the local survivors]] and, to their enduring astonishment, capture one of the drones. They quickly reverse engineer it into the [[AppliedPhlebotinum Alien Numina Inversion Machine,]] or [[FunWithAcronyms ANIMa]], a machine that [[ThePowerOfLove converts relationships]] into a source of PsychicPower taking the form of a HumongousMecha: [[LevelUpAtIntimacy5 The deeper the relationship, the more powerful its weapons.]] The pilot of this [=ANIMa=] needs to be properly Anchored [[Film/TheMatrix (in a manner similar to the duties of the Operators)]] by a [[InformedAbility "trained psychologist,"]] usually just someone who they have a crush on.

There are two editions of the game, "Ignition Stage" and "Interim Stage", the latter apparently only containing minor rules & wording clarifications (the authors, to their credit, offered to provide free upgrades for anyone who bought the first edition.) A third edition with significant rules changes, "Acceleration Stage", was announced but never released. Troper Tropers/TsundereLightning was [[PromotedFanboy tapped by the authors]] for a VisualNovel adaptation, ''VisualNovel/BlissStageLoveIsYourWeapon'', which also fizzled out and never released. Overall the game did not receive much attention, though you can read a critical and somewhat humorous review from Website/SomethingAwful [[https://writeups.letsyouandhimfight.com/purplexvi/bliss-stage/ here]].

* HandsomeLech: As of the beginning of the one-shot, Keenan Caine has snagged all of the girls (judging by their Intimacy scores). Depending on what names and genders you assign to the Anchors, [[GayOption he's also snagged a couple of the guys.]]

* LoveTriangle: In the continuing examples and the one-shot. TriangRelations Type 4: Josh is A, Sarah B, and Keenan C. Happens a lot in actual play, too, sometimes to the point of a --

* NeverSleepAgain: The Bliss only gets you when you go to sleep, so any surviving adults have managed to remain awake for ''seven years''. The rulebook doesn't mention how they've done this -- AppliedPhlebotinium, presumably -- but does note it's taken a toll on their psyches.

* RelationshipValues: There are six stats in the game. Three of them are RelationshipValues - [[LevelUpAtIntimacy5 Intimacy,]] [[YouLoseAtZeroTrust Trust and Stress]]. And the other three measure [[LotusEaterMachine how screwed your Pilot is]].

[[caption-width-right:350:The Bliss Stage logo. It didn't exist, along with any cover art, up until ''Love is Your Weapon'' adaptation.]]

Bliss Stage is a tabletop roleplaying game written by PH Lee and produced by TAO Games on May 29, 2011. It is explicitly an homage to Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion and similar works such as Manga/{{Bokurano}} and Anime/RahXephon. It is available at their website, [[http://www.tao-games.com These Are Our Games]].

[[PresentDayPresentTime The moment the game begins,]] malevolent aliens afflict humanity as a whole with The Bliss, a form of stasis locking the [[OnlyFatalToAdults adult population of the world]] into a [[LotusEaterMachine sleep with apparently blissful dreams]], leaving the child and teenaged survivors in a CrapsackWorld ravaged by occasional attacks by [[HumongousMecha alien terror drones]].

A lone, insomniac, and very probably AxCrazy adult manages to [[LaResistance rally the local survivors]] and, to their enduring astonishment, capture one of the drones. They quickly reverse engineer it into the [[AppliedPhlebotinum Alien Numina Inversion Machine,]] or [[FunWithAcronyms ANIMa]], a machine that [[ThePowerOfLove converts relationships]] into a source of PsychicPower [[RuleOfCool taking the form of a]] HumongousMecha: [[LevelUpAtIntimacy5 The deeper the relationship, the more powerful its weapons.]] The pilot of this [=ANIMa=] needs to be properly Anchored [[Film/TheMatrix (in a manner similar to the duties of the Operators)]] by a [[InformedAbility "trained psychologist,"]] usually just someone who they have a crush on.

The game being a {{Deconstruction}} of ThePowerOfLove, a pilot's [=ANIMa=] is powered by their relationships with other characters, so [[LoveDodecahedron extremely complicated romantic entanglements]] ''just happen'' in this game. In addition, each pilot accumulates Bliss throughout the game, eventually reaching 108 Bliss, whereupon they either die or otherwise become unplayable. Endings are often [[BittersweetEnding bittersweet]] or [[GainaxEnding a little more disturbing]].

Troper Tropers/TsundereLightning was [[PromotedFanboy tapped by the original author]] for a VisualNovel adaptation of the game, ''VisualNovel/BlissStageLoveIsYourWeapon'', which eventually fizzled out and never released. Overall the game did not receive a lot of attention, though you can read a somewhat critical and humorous review from Website/SomethingAwful [[https://writeups.letsyouandhimfight.com/purplexvi/bliss-stage/ here]].

* CompetenceZone: Between the ages of 13 and 17. Before that you can't Pilot; after that you Bliss.

* HowDoIShotWeb: The [=ANIMa=] was created six years after "the present day" (i.e. when you're reading this). The war began in earnest after another year of deadly trial and error. And it's still very hard to control an [=ANIMa=] without the guidance of an Anchor.
* HeroicBSOD: The probable result of getting to 108 Bliss in the Endgame.

* JerkAss: Any Authority Figure, period. [[TheScrappy Some also say this about Keenan.]]

* OnlyFatalToAdults: The Bliss. Specifically, it's only fatal if you turn eighteen.
* ParentalAbandonment: The Bliss in general -- and Josh Preston's father, the Authority Figure of LaResistance in the continuing examples, who ''didn't look for him'' after the Bliss hit in particular.

Bliss Stage is a tabletop roleplaying game written by PH Lee and produced by TAO Games on May 29, 2011. It is explicitly an homage to Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion and similar works such as Manga/{{Bokurano}} and Anime/RahXephon. It is available at their website, [[http://www.tao-games.com These Are Our Games,]] with more information at the blog and fansite [[http://www.loveismyweapon.com Love Is My Weapon.]]

The game being a {{Deconstruction}} of ThePowerOfLove, a pilot's [=ANIMa=] is powered by their relationships with other characters, so [[LoveDodecahedron extremely complicated romantic entanglements]] ''just happen'' in this game. In addition, each pilot accumulates Bliss throughout the game, eventually reaching 108 Bliss, whereupon they either die or leave the game. Endings are often [[BittersweetEnding bittersweet]] or [[GainaxEnding a little more disturbing]].

Troper Tropers/TsundereLightning was [[PromotedFanboy tapped by the original author]] for a VisualNovel adaptation of the game, ''VisualNovel/BlissStageLoveIsYourWeapon'', which eventually fizzled out and never released. Overall the game did not receive a lot of attention, you can read a somewhat critical and humorous review from Something Awful [[https://writeups.letsyouandhimfight.com/purplexvi/bliss-stage/ here]].

* HowDoIShotWeb: The [=ANIMa=] was created six years after roughly "'''Right Now'''". The war began in earnest after another year of deadly trial and error. And it's still very hard to control an [=ANIMa=] without [[ThePowerOfLove the guidance of an Anchor.]]
* HeroicBSOD: the probable result of getting to 108 Bliss in the Endgame.
* HumongousMecha: the [=ANIMa=] and the alien terror drones.

Bliss Stage is a tabletop roleplaying game written by PH Lee and produced by TAO Games on May 29, 2011. It is explicitly intended as their homage to Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion and similar works such as Manga/{{Bokurano}} and Anime/RahXephon. It is available at their website, [[http://www.tao-games.com These Are Our Games,]] with more information at the blog and fansite [[http://www.loveismyweapon.com Love Is My Weapon.]]

Troper Tropers/TsundereLightning was [[PromotedFanboy tapped by the original author]] for an official VisualNovel adaptation of the game, ''VisualNovel/BlissStageLoveIsYourWeapon'', which launched [[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1041711353/bliss-stage-visual-novel?ref=category a Kickstarter page.]]

* {{Animesque}}: An unusual example. While there's no art or animation, [[WordOfGod Ben Lehman]] listed ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''Anime/{{Macross}}'' and ''Anime/RahXephon'' as influences, and the influence of Japanese tropes is evident.

* {{Expy}}: Averted. The whole "mecha fueled by ThePowerOfLove" conceit sounds very ''Film/PacificRim'' - but ''Bliss Stage'' actually predates that movie by two years.