Chapter 1. Introduction
Welcome to Log Horizon!
The world of Log Horizon is full of adventure and excitement!
This is a rulebook for a TRPG based on the Log Horizon novels. This may be your first time in Log Horizon, or you may be a TRPG fan very familiar with Log Horizon.
Whatever your background, please read this chapter first. You will find a variety of information as you descend as an adventurer into another world (Theldesia). Let's start by preparing for the adventure.
About the Log Horizon novels & Log Horizon TRPG
Log Horizon is originally a fantasy/sci-fi novel series written by Touno Mamare.
The story of Log Horizon begins as players of the online RPG Elder Tale are transported into its world of Theldesia.
TRPG
A tabletop role-playing game, or TRPG for short, is a game in which participants play fictional characters in a fictional world and engage in stories.
One of the participants serves as the Game Master (GM). The remaining participants play characters, and create player characters (PCs).
The GM explains a scenario that the PCs find themselves in, and in response the player considers which actions to take. The GM decides the success or failure of the action and the resulting situation. By repeating this exchange, the players form their own story.
There is no win or loss in a TRPG. You can consider a "win" to be when the participants, the GM and the players, enjoy the game together. PCs may die during the adventure, missions may fail, but if you enjoy story of the process, you're a winner.
Reading this Book
In this book, game rules are divided into several chapters. This section outlines the contents of each chapter.
There is no need to memorize the contents of this book. If you have trouble grasping a part, you can skip over it and refer to it later, when need arises.
Further, this book does not distinguish between rules "for GM" and "for players". By describing common rules, players and GM can better understand the mechanics of the game and play more smoothly.
Chapter 2. Grand Rules
Explains the core concepts of Log Horizon TRPG (LHZ), including how to read data such as special skills and items. If you have any doubts about how gameplay works, you may want to reread this chapter first.
Chapter 3. Characters
Describes the rules for adventurers, who can be considered the alter-ego of the player; the rules for creating PCs, and data for that. It also includes some ready-made characters that may be used immediately.
Chapter 4. Items
Equipment such as weapons and armor, consumables such as recovery medicine and food, and magical items.
Chapter 5. Sessions
Explains the overall flow of playing the game. If all participants familiarize themselves with this section, gameplay can proceed more smoothly.
Chapter 6. Adventures
It describes the mechanics of determination, the resolution, and the rules for dealing with various situations encountered during the adventure. During the session, the GM will provide solutions to players according to the rules in this chapter.
Chapter 7. Combat
Describes the rules of combat—one of the major obstacles encountered by PCs in completing missions. Combat is particularly exciting in a TRPG, but there are many rules. Both players and GMs should have a good understanding of the battle process.
Chapter 8. World
All about the world of Theldesia; the stage to LHZ and those who inhabit it.
Chapter 9. Assembly & Operation
The GM's guide to world-building. This includes data such as traps and enemies encountered during an adventure, and a treasure table that determines the treasure to be acquired. Players may also read this chapter to better understand the risks of adventuring.
Chapter 10. Scenario
Includes one sample scenario so you can play LHZ immediately. GMs should read this chapter and recruit players to play with. If you plan to play this scenario as a player, then refrain from reading this chapter until the end of the session.
Chapter 11. Reference
Lists tags that are frequently referred to during the game, execution conditions, various statuses, basic operations, etc. If you have any data or items that you do not understand, reference this chapter.
What You Need To Play
In order to play LHZ, it is necessary to prepare some things in advance.
Participants
LHZ requires a GM and several players (3-5 players work best).
6-sided dice
LHZ uses hexahedral dice with faces numbered 1 to 6. Each player will want 3-5 dice. In some cases, you may need more than ten, so it may be useful to have more.
Pens & pencils
Gameplay is primarily tracked with pencil and eraser. All participants should have a set. Also prepare a pen for signing.
Rule book
This book. If each participant has their own book, it will be possible to refer to information more smoothly.
Character sheets
To play LHZ, you will need to make copies of the following sheets in advance:
- Character sheet: one per player
- Log ticket: one per participant
- Encounter sheet: at least one
- Hate management sheet: one
Token/Marker
Used to mark the position of characters on various sheets (the Encounter Sheet and Hate Management Sheet). You can also use tokens, minifigures, coins, or different colored pawns sold at hobby shops.
Sense of Adventure
More than anything else, you need to bring an adventurous spirit. As long as you can provide this, you will enjoy the session.
Foundational knowledge
Unique notations and terminology are used throughout this book. This section describes the notation used in “LHZ” and the basic processing of the game.
Division remainders
Fractional numbers are typically rounded down.
Third person
Use of he/she/they is inclusive of any person.
Variables
An "n" where the number should be indicates the number will vary depending on the case.
Reading dice
6-sided dice are used to produce random numbers. How you roll the dice are notated as follows:
- nD: Roll n number of dice and add them together. For example, "3D" means roll three dice.
- D66: Roll two dice and read one as the tens place, and the other as the ones place. Results are one of 36 numbers from 11 to 66.
ROC
Roll or Choice (RoC) allows the player to roll for a selection, or make a selection. If ROC is mentioned, it means an item is to be selected by this process. Numbers outside 1-6 that cannot be rolled are used only when selected.
Bracket Syntax
The original Japanese version uses the following syntax to notate various game terms. If the terms are used in a formula, substitute the respective numerical value.
【 】 | Ability base, ability modifier, property name, etc | e.g. 【STR】, 【HP】, 【落とし穴】 |
---|---|---|
⟪ ⟫ | Special skill name, EX power name, etc. | e.g. ⟪Taunting Blow⟫ |
[ ] | formula, tag, game term, etc. | e.g. [3D+10], [Direct Damage] |
⟨ ⟩ | Game term, etc | e.g. ⟨adventurer⟩, ⟨Elder Tale⟩ |
〔 〕 | Execution term | e.g. 〔Check Pass〕 |
Glossary
This section lists terms used in LHZ gameplay and world.
Game terms
Describes terms used in LHZ, especially those related to game rules.
- Player
- GM
- Character
- PC
- NPC
-
Non-Player Character. Refers to "non-PC" characters played by the GM. There are three types of NPCs, depending on their role in the game:
- Guest
- An adventurer like PCs, with ability values and HP.
- Extra
- A character with no data in the rules.
- Enemy
- Those that fight against PCs, such as monsters. They have detailed battle data such as HP and enemy skills.
- Session
-
One gameplay session of LHZ.
- Scene
-
The building blocks of an LHZ session. It is similar to a scene in a movie, where each scene has its own setting and characters.
- Interlude
-
One of the components of an LHZ session. It represents time between scenes. It is analogous to an intermission, or backstage work, in a play.
- Dice Roll
-
Dice rolls determine the success or failure of an action.
- Tag
-
Data that expresses functionality of actions, items, and characters in LHZ. See "Tag" (Chapter 2) for details.
- Prop
-
Props are non-character things that players may interact with, such as terrain, dangerous weather, traps in dungeons, treasure chests, and doors. All elements that make up a scene are called props.
- Hate
-
Tracks how hostile enemies will be in battle. It serves a similar purpose to aggro in MMOs. As you use powerful attacks or heal allies, you gather hate which taunts the enemy, and gives the enemy a benefit to attack.
- Union
-
A collection of characters and organizations for mutual support. There are territorial nations and adventurer guilds. Belonging to the Union can benefit from organizing support and more.
- Round Progress
-
A unit of time that tracks progress in a battle.
Session participants. Players are responsible for playing a PC.
Game Master. The participant who hosts the game. They are responsible for conducting the session and arbitrating game rules.
A character in the LHZ session. There are two types of characters, PCs are played by players, and NPCs are played by the GM. They may be called persons, but can also refer to non-human beings such as animals and monsters.
Player Character. A character who is played by a player.
World terms
This explains several of the terms taken from the Log Horizon novels. Refer to Chapter 8: World for detailed settings.
- Elder Tale
-
The largest fantasy themed MMORPG in the world. It has a 20 year history and 100000 active users in Japan alone. After the Great Catastrophe, the online users found themselves transported into the game world.
- Half-Gaia Project
-
A project to reproduce a one-half size Earth within Elder Tale. As a result, the world of Elder Tale has a familiar terrain, but travel distance is halved, and has one-quarter the area.
- Theldesia
-
The name of the world of Elder Tale, created by the Half-Gaia Project. It also seems to be the world where the adventurers found themselves in after the Great Catastrophe. Equivalent to real-world Earth.
- World of Old
-
The name for the ancient civilization predating modern Theldesia. Ruins in the form of run down subways and decayed buildings can be seen all throughout the world as a monument to it.
- Great Catastrophe
-
On the day of the latest update, Elder Tale users found themselves transported into its world, Theldesia. It is estimated that more than 30,000 Japanese users were involved.
- Adventurer
-
Those who have found their way into the world of Theldesia, including the PCs.
- People of the Land
-
The native residents of Theldesia. In Elder Tale, they were treated as NPC characters of the game. After the Great Catastrophe, they became largely indistinguishable from regular people, with their own personalities, families, and motivations. People of the Land are important allies in adventurer's quests.
- Yamato
-
The equivalent of Japan in the world of Theldesia. In Elder Tale, this region was managed by Japanese game company F.O.E. (Fushimi Online Entertainment).
- City of Akiba
-
Home to the majority of players in Yamato (the Elder Tale Japan server). Since the founding of the city's self-governing body, the Round Table Conference, the adventurers have been loosely governed. Today, the friendship with the People of the Land has deepened and is known as a vibrant city.