History TabletopGame / SenZar

* OurDragonsAreDifferent: The Dragon is [[LifeStream really not a dragon]] in either the eastern or western sense. (Although more familiar dragons also exist in the [=SenZar=] setting.)

* {{Stripperific}}: If the main rulebook's illustrations are anything to judge by, female adventurers on [=SenZar=] are almost uniformly buxom and scantily-clad. (Though, in fairness, there's a good share of ''beefcake'' on display, too.)

* WolfMan: The G'rru race.

The actual rule system uses d20 rolls over a target number (with the roll increasing to d100 for stats of 20+, which are typically reserved for gods). Characters have a race, a class, and a level like in most D&D clones, but ''unlike'' most D&D clones, the power of spells reaches city-leveling heights (even before godhood), warrior types can be lovingly fleshed out with enough martial arts powers to give most superheroes a run for their money, dozens of increasingly-powerful exotic materials are available to artifice super-powerful equipment with, and players get 'Fate Points' allowing them to edit poor die rolls. Oh, and even a first-level character can start with magic items that wouldn't be permitted as major artifacts in a more sane setting.

The actual rule system uses d20 rolls over a target number (with the roll increasing to d100 for stats of 20+, which are typically reserved for gods). Characters have a race, a class, and a level like in most D&D clones, but ''unlike'' most D&D clones, the power of spells reaches city-leveling heights (even before godhood), warrior types can be lovingly fleshed out with enough martial arts powers to give most superheroes a run for their money, dozens of increasingly-powerful exotic materials are available to artifice super-powerful equipment with, and players get 'Fate Points' allowing them to edit poor die rolls. Even a first-level character can start with magic items that wouldn't be permitted as major artifacts in a more sane setting.

* CoolSword: Most of the "aggressive" player races have one of these as a signature weapon.

* InterspeciesRomance: The Tauran race has this as an inborn feature, as they can only reproduce by mating with Humans -- much to the unspeakable disgust of the [[FantasticRacism Rellians]].

* MedievalStasis: [=SenZar=] has been inhabited by the playable races for at least 8000 years, but is still mostly a fantasy world.

* PowersThatBe: The Dragon, which is the LifeStream of [=SenZar=] (and the universe), is about as mysterious and abstract as it gets. However, the Dragon's EvilCounterpart -- Cthon, the Dark Earth Mother -- does ''not'' qualify for this trope. (''She'' is only too happy to meddle in the affairs of gods and even mortals who give her an opening.)

''[=SenZar=]'' is a very high-powered and heavy metal influenced {{tabletop RPG}} which first appeared in the mid-1990s, during the 2nd Edition ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'' era. It immediately met with controversy due to a [[InternetBackdraft botched Usenet advertising effort]] by the creators. (Nowadays, however, games like FATAL and Wraeththu have eclipsed ''[=SenZar=]'' as the "[[WorstWhateverEver worst game EVER]]".)

* AGodIsYou: The point of the game. It is made clear from the opening pages of the rulebook that your goal is to become badass enough to ascend to godhood and play the Dragon's Game.

''[=SenZar=]'' is a very high-powered and heavy metal influenced {{tabletop RPG}} which first appeared in the mid-1990s, during the 2nd Edition ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'' era. It immediately became met with controversy due to a [[InternetBackdraft botched Usenet advertising effort]] by the creators. (Nowadays, however, games like FATAL and Wraeththu have eclipsed ''[=SenZar=]'' as the "worst game EVER".)

A very high-powered and heavy metal influenced {{tabletop RPG}} -- the goal of the game is to have your character reach immortality and kick as much ass as possible on the way. Even a first-level character can start with magic items that wouldn't be permitted as major artifacts in a more sane setting.

''[=SenZar=]'' first appeared in the mid-1990s during the 2nd Edition ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'' era, and immediately became met with controversy due to a [[InternetBackdraft botched Usenet advertising effort]] by the creators. (Nowadays, however, games like FATAL and Wraeththu have eclipsed ''[=SenZar=]'' as the "worst game EVER".)

The actual rule system uses d20 rolls over a target number (with the roll increasing to d100 for stats of 20+, which are typically reserved for gods). Characters have a race, a class, and a level like in most D&D clones, but ''unlike'' most D&D clones, the power of spells reaches city-leveling heights (even before godhood), warrior types can be lovingly fleshed out with enough martial arts powers to give most superheroes a run for their money, dozens of increasingly-powerful exotic materials are available to artifice super-powerful equipment with, and players get 'Fate Points' allowing them to edit poor die rolls.

* DefectorFromDecadence: Player character Dragon Slayers are explicitly not the hypocrites that other Rellians are, but their desire to ''actually'' live by the Cause means they have [[TheOnlyBeliever little place among their fellow believers]].

* OurDragonsAreDifferent: The Dragon -- ''the'' Dragon -- is [[LifeStream really not a dragon]] in either the eastern or western sense.
* OurElvesAreBetter: [=SenZar=] elves -- or Starin -- are smarter, more perceptive, more magically talented, and more inclined to goodness than Humans.

* {{Stripperific}}: If the main rulebook's illustrations are anything to judge by, female adventurers on [=SenZar=] are almost uniformly buxom and scantily-clad. (Though, in fairness, there's plenty of ''beefcake'' on display, too.)

''[=SenZar=]'' first appeared in the mid-1990s during the 2nd Edition ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'' era, and immediately became met with controversy due to a [[InternetBackdraft botched Usenet advertising effort]] by the creators. (Nowadays, however, games like {{FATAL}} and {{Wraeththu}} have eclipsed ''[=SenZar=]'' as the "worst game EVER".)

* BlessedWithSuck: To a certain extent, the game paints all three paths of godhood with this brush. Hooray, you're immortal and you have more power than you ever dreamed as a mere mortal! But...

* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: When it comes to going below 0 HP in ''[=SenZar=]'', there is "[[CombatResuscitation down but not dead]]", there is "[[CriticalExistenceFailure dead but resurrection is still on the table]]", and there is "[[ChunkySalsaRule pulped beyond any hope of resurrection]]". (There's also getting soul-snuffed, which [[DeaderThanDead kills you beyond resurrection no matter how much HP you have left]], but that's a different matter.)

''[=SenZar=]'' first appeared in the mid-1990s during the 2nd Edition ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'' era, and immediately became met with controversy due to a [[InternetBackdraft botched Usenet advertising effort]] by the creators. (Nowadays, however, games like FATAL and Wraeththu have eclipsed ''[=SenZar=]'' as the "worst game EVER".)

* BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil: A prominent feature of the Dragon's Game. Every other age or so, either the forces of good or evil will manage to almost utterly dominate [=SenZar=], but it never lasts -- and the conflict between them will never end.

** Material God: Good or evil, you are now a playing piece in the Dragon's Game, warring with opposing Material Gods forever. If you do well and things get too unbalanced in your side's favor? You can expect the [=VoidSpawn=] to come restore the balance (at the Dragon's request, no less) by snuffing you out. Oh, and if you ''are'' the [=VoidSpawn=]? Then the entire point of your existence is to preserve the universe's status quo by killing whichever gods the Dragon wants you to -- and you have absolutely no choice in the matter.

* DeityOfHumanOrigin: Rel, the first Human to ascend as a Deific God. But this [[NiceJobBreakingItHero screwed him up badly]], as he started a brand new pantheon, and thus didn't have the support he needed to deal with all the energy from the masses of Humans who worshiped him. Rel's original creed of tolerance and unity for all the free races was thus replaced by the xenophobia and bigotry of his Human followers, and the religion Rel started became yet another of [=SenZar=]'s destructive hordes -- with Rel himself backing them up.

* TheFairFolk: The Sidhe have a touch of this trope.

* InterspeciesRomance: Taurans have this as an inborn feature, as they can only reproduce by mating with Humans -- much to the unspeakable disgust of the [[FantasticRacism Rellians]].

* RatedMForManly: If you're not interested in becoming a god -- and showing off the MostCommonSuperpower while you're at it -- this isn't the game for you.

The setting itself is a fantasy world with hints of a SpaceOpera background. The planet [=SenZar=] was settled in ancient times as a slave world by the intergalactic Death Horde, only for the Dragon -- the LifeStream of [=SenZar=] -- to inspire the slaves to overthrow their Death Horde masters and begin the eight ages of recorded history in an unending CosmicChessGame between good and evil. Playable races include typical (but 'metalled up') fantasy fare like [[OurElvesAreBetter Starin]] and [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Khazak]], as well as various PettingZooPeople, PlantPeople, demonic humanoids, a CaptainErsatz race or two, and a host of others.

* BackFromTheDead: The Seven Stars, who perished at Lord Valthrustra's hands at the end of the seventh age, only to be reborn on Earth, where they regained their memories of godhood. (Then they returned to [=SenZar=] to put Valthrustra in his place and usher in the eighth age.)

* JerkassGods: ''[=SenZar=]'' offers too many examples of this trope to count (potentially including jerkass [=PCs=] who ascend to godhood), but the prize for ''most'' jerkassness goes to the Eternals, the only type of gods who actually gain (even more) power for being jerkasses -- pranking, manipulating, tasteless, holy war-starting jackasses.

* OurDragonsAreDifferent: The Dragon -- ''the'' Dragon -- is really not a dragon in either the eastern or western sense.

* TakeThat: Though it didn't name names, the foreword of ''[=SenZar=]'s'' first edition was not very subtle about the developers' frustrations with D&D.

** Eternal: Imagine the dregs of 4chan, but with god powers and a universe that rewards them for trolling ''everyone''. Congratulations, now you're one of them.
** Deific God: The good news is that you're part of a pantheon, and you can expect their support and guidance. The bad news is that your pantheon's problems -- and wars -- are now your problems and wars. Oh, and your big plan to skyrocket to supreme godhood by amassing hordes of followers? Pretty much everyone on [=SenZar=] who ''wants'' to worship a god already does, and poaching another Deific God's followers is a great way to start yet another god war.

* FantasticRacism: A common theme in the game, particularly concerning races aligned with the Dark Earth -- and Human Rellians.
* GodsNeedPrayerBadly: ''Deific Gods'' do not actually need the prayers of mortals to exist -- but they are the only type of god who gain anything from it.
* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: More than once, Humans -- both mortal and immortal -- have caused more harm to [=SenZar=] than all the forces of the Dark Earth.

The actual rule system uses d20 rolls over a target number (with the roll increasing to d100 for stats of 20+, which are typically reserved for gods). Characters have a race, a class, and a level like in most D&D clones, but ''unlike'' most D&D clones, the power of spells reaches city-leveling heights (even ''before'' godhood), warrior types can be lovingly fleshed out with enough martial arts powers to give most superheroes a run for their money, dozens of increasingly-powerful exotic materials are available to artifice super-powerful equipment with, and players get 'Fate Points' allowing them to edit poor die rolls.

The actual rule system uses d20 rolls over a target number (with the roll increasing to d100 for stats of 20+, which are typically reserved for gods). The goal of the game is to gain enough levels to rise to godhood, the power of spells gets to city-leveling heights even ''before'' godhood, and players get 'Fate Points' allowing them to edit poor die rolls. There is also a general martial arts fetish, and the artwork is high in [[FanService cheesecake]].

The setting itself is a high-powered fantasy world, though the campaign history notes the planet was settled as a slave world by the intergalactic Death Horde. Typical (but 'metalled up') fantasy races like [[OurElvesAreBetter Starin]] and [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Khazak]] are present, as well as a host of other races including various PettingZooPeople, PlantPeople, demonic humanoids, and even a CaptainErsatz race or two.

[=SenZar=] first appeared in the mid-1990s during the 2nd Edition ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'' era, and immediately became met with controversy due to a [[InternetBackdraft botched Usenet advertising effort]] by the creators. The system uses d20 rolls over a target number (with the roll increasing to d100 for stats of 20+, which are typically reserved for gods). Races are typical fantasy but 'metalled up' including [[OurElvesAreBetter Starin]] and [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Khazak]], plus Demonians, Golgothans (the aliens from Predator), Saurans (regenerating massive lizard men), G'rru (werewolves) and others. All characters can cast spells (though warriors do it badly), and get 'Fate Points' allowing them to 'edit' poor die rolls. The artwork is high in [[FanService cheesecake]].

The game itself is a typical fantasy world, though the campaign history notes the planet was settled as a slave world by the technologically advanced 'Death Horde'.

* PointBuildSystem: [=SenZar=] characters are built by spending Fate Points rather than rolling dice; one feature that helped the game stand out from D&D and most other class.

* BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil: A prominent feature of the Dragon's Game. Every other age or so, the forces of good or evil will manage to almost utterly dominate [=SenZar=], but it will never last -- and the conflict between them will never end.

[=SenZar=]first appeared in the mid-1990s during the 2nd Edition ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'' era, and immediately became met with controversy due to a [[InternetBackdraft botched Usenet advertising effort]] by the creators. The system uses d20 rolls over a target number (with the roll increasing to d100 for stats of 20+, which are typically reserved for gods). Races are typical fantasy but 'metalled up' including [[OurElvesAreBetter Starin]] and [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Khazak]], plus Demonians, Golgothans (the aliens from Predator), Saurans (regenerating massive lizard men), G'rru (werewolves) and others. All characters can cast spells (though warriors do it badly), and get 'Fate Points' allowing them to 'edit' poor die rolls. The artwork is high in [[FanService cheesecake]].

* BlessedWithSuck: To a certain extent, the game paints all three paths of godhood with this brush. Hooray, you're immortal and you have more power than you ever had a mere mortal! But...
** Eternal: Imagine the dregs of 4chan, but with god powers -- and a universe that rewards them for trolling ''everyone''. And now you're one of them.

* DeityOfHumanOrigin: Rel, the first Human to ascend to deific godhood. But this [[NiceJobBreakingItHero screwed him up badly]], as he became the head of a brand new pantheon, and didn't have the support he needed to deal with all the energy from the masses of Humans who worshiped him. Rel's original creed of tolerance and unity for all the free races was thus replaced by the xenophobia and bigotry of his Human followers, and the religion Rel started became yet another of [=SenZar=]'s destructive hordes -- with Rel himself backing them up.

* ScienceFantasy: With more emphasis on the "fantasy" side of the scale.

* AwesomeButImpractical: Many of the highest-level attack spells can fall into this category. Being able to blast everything in a 1,000 foot radius is indeed awesome... and [[TakingYouWithMe potentially suicidal]] when your enemy is right there in your face.
* BeyondTheImpossible: The game encourages this approach for when a [=PC=] ascends as a Material God, dying or exploding in a godlike conflagration that ''no one'' could conceivably survive -- only for the omnipotent Dragon to remake the PC as a new Material God.

* JerkassGods: ''[=SenZar=]'' offers too many examples of this trope to count, potentially including jerkass [=PCs=] who ascend to godhood), but the prize for ''most'' jerkassness goes to the Eternals, the only type of gods who actually gain (even more) power for being jerkasses -- pranking, manipulating, tasteless, holy war-starting jackasses.

SenZar first appeared in the mid-1990s during the 2nd Edition ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'' era, and immediately became met with controversy due to a [[InternetBackdraft botched Usenet advertising effort]] by the creators. The system uses d20 rolls over a target number (with the roll increasing to d100 for stats of 20+, which are typically reserved for gods). Races are typical fantasy but 'metalled up' including [[OurElvesAreBetter Starin]] and [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Khazak]], plus Demonians, Golgothans (the aliens from Predator), Saurans (regenerating massive lizard men), G'rru (werewolves) and others. All characters can cast spells (though warriors do it badly), and get 'Fate Points' allowing them to 'edit' poor die rolls. The artwork is high in [[FanService cheesecake]].

* NoPointsForNeutrality: Brutally played straight. Committing to "good" codes (Good Earth/The Cause) or "evil" codes (Dark Earth/Anti-Life) can award players up to 40 more Fate Points to build their characters -- but there are no neutral codes.

* TooDumbToLive: If you take the [ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Total Stupidity] karmic manifestation, you are obligated to play this way in the most obnoxious manner possible.

* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: This is how Deific Gods ascend, as they get a plane of their own. This is both a blessing and a curse - on one hand, the only way to permanently kill a Deific God is to beat them on their own plane, where they will have their full power, the home ground advantage, and any help their pantheon wants to lend them. On the other hand, they can only affect the mortal world with 1 primal point avatars which are ''much'' more fragile than a Material God or an Eternal.

* BeyondTheImpossible: The game encourages this approach for when a [=PC=] ascends as a Material God, dying or exploding in a godlike conflagration that ''no one'' could conceivably survive - only for the omnipotent Dragon to remake the PC as a new Material God.

* DeityOfHumanOrigin: Rel, the first human to ascend to deific godhood. But this [[NiceJobBreakingItHero screwed him up badly]], as he was the head of a new pantheon, and didn't have the support he needed to deal with all the energy from the masses of humans who worshipped him. Rel's original creed of tolerance and unity for all the free races was thus replaced by the xenophobia and bigotry of his human followers, and the religion Rel started became yet another of [=SenZar=]'s destructive hordes -- with Rel himself backing them up.

* JerkassGods: ''[=SenZar=]'' offers too many examples of this trope to count, potentially including jerkass [=PCs=] who ascend to godhood), but the prize for ''most'' jerkassness goes to the Eternals, the only type of gods who actually gain (even more) power for being jerkasses - pranking, manipulating, tasteless, holy war-starting jackasses.

* NoCampaignForTheWicked: Averted, as players have the option to start with the evil Dark Earth and/or Anti-Life codes - and without the usual "only for advanced players" disclaimers that high fantasy games often have for playing evil alignments.
* NoPointsForNeutrality: Brutally played straight. Committing to "good" codes (Good Earth/The Cause) or "evil" codes (Dark Earth/Anti-Life) can award players up to 40 more Fate Points to build their characters - but there are no neutral codes.

* TheFairFolk: The Sidhe have a touch of this trope.

SenZar first appeared in the mid-1990s during the 2nd Edition ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'' era, and immediately became met with controversy due to a [[InternetBackdraft botched Usenet advertising effort]] by the creators. The system uses d20 rolls over a target number (with the roll increasing to d100 for stats of 20+, which are typically reserved for gods). Races are typical fantasy but 'metalled up' including [[OurElvesAreBetter Starin]] and [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Khazak]], plus Demonians, Golgothans (the aliens from Predator), Saurans (regenerating massive lizard men), G'rru (werewolves) and others. All characters can cast spells (though warriors do it badly), and get 'Fate Points' allowing them to 'edit' poor die rolls. The artwork is high in cheesecake.

The game itself is a typical fantasy world though the campaign history notes the race was settled as a slave world by the technologically advanced 'Death Horde'.

* ElementalCrafting: Taken to an extreme.

* JerkassGods: Too many examples to mention individually, but the Eternals are actually awarded more god power for actively being pranking, manipulating, holy war-starting jackasses. Note that [=PCs=] can ultimately become gods themselves, so this trope can potentially include them as well.
* KarmaMeter: You score in whatever codes you've burdened your character with.

A very high-powered {{tabletop RPG}} -- the goal of the game is to have your character reach immortality. Allows for incredibly powerful characters from first level.

Appeared in the 1990s during the 2nd Edition ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'' era, and immediately became unpopular on rpgnet due to a botched Usenet advertising campaign by the creators. The system uses d20 rolls over a target number (with the roll increasing to d100 for stats of 20+). Races are typical fantasy but 'metalled up' including Starin (elves) and Khazak (dwarves), plus Demonians, Golgothans (the aliens from Predator), Saurans (regenerating massive lizard men), G'rru (werewolves) and others. All characters can cast spells (though warriors do it badly), and get 'Fate Points' allowing them to 'edit' poor die rolls. The artwork is high in cheesecake.

* JerkassGods: Too many examples to mention individually, possibly including the [=PCs=].
* TheLoonie: The flaw "Total Stupidity" not only turns your character into The Loonie, it gives you bonus points for it.

A very high-powered tabletop RPG -- the goal of the game is to have your character reach immortality. Allows for incredibly powerful characters from first level.

Appeared in the 1990s during the 2nd Edition D&D era, and immediately became unpopular on rpgnet due to a botched Usenet advertising campaign by the creators. The system uses d20 rolls over a target number (with the roll increasing to d100 for stats of 20+). Races are typical fantasy but 'metalled up' including Starin (elves) and Khazak (dwarves), plus Demonians, Golgothans (the aliens from Predator), Saurans (regenerating massive lizard men), G'rru (werewolves) and others. All characters can cast spells (though warriors do it badly), and get 'Fate Points' allowing them to 'edit' poor die rolls. The artwork is high in cheesecake.

!!Tropes featured include:

A very high-powered tabletop RPG - The goal of the game is to have your character reach immortality. Allows for incredibly powerful characters from first level.

Appeared in the 1990s during the 2nd Edition D&D era, and immediately became unpopular on rpgnet due to a botched Usenet advertising campaign by the creators. The system uses d20 rolls over a target number (with the roll increasing to d100 for stats of 20+). Races are typical fantasy but 'metalled up' including Starin (elves), Khazak (dwarves), plus Demonians, Golgothans (the aliens from Predator), Saurans (regenerating massive lizard men), G'rru (werewolves) and others. All characters can cast spells (though warriors do it badly), and get 'Fate Points' allowing them to 'edit' poor die rolls. The artwork is high in cheesecake.

Appeared in the 1990s during the 2nd Edition D&D era, and immediately became unpopular on rpgnet due to a botched Usenet advertising campaign by the creators. The system uses d20 rolls over a target number (with the roll increasing to d100 for stats of 20+).
Races are typical fantasy but 'metalled up' including Starin (elves), Khazak (dwarves), plus Demonians, Golgothans (the aliens from Predator), Saurans (regenerating massive lizard men), G'rru (werewolves) and others. All characters can cast spells (though warriors do it badly), and get 'Fate Points' allowing them to 'edit' poor die rolls. The artwork is high in cheesecake.