Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Revised Corebook cover, 2005
DesignersC. J. Carella
PublishersEden Studios, Inc.
Publication2002 (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 uses the Unisystem game engine that many of Eden's games used.

Books and products

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

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Role-playing Game: Core Rulebook

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.

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.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Role-playing Game: Slayer's Handbook

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.[1] The first supplement included expanded backgrounds, major life events unique to Slayers, new qualities, drawbacks, archetypes, weapons.[2]

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.[2]

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.[2]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Role-playing Game: Monster Smackdown

(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.[1] This supplement contains vampires, demons, and other adversaries and villains and their supernatural abilities. A few including the troll 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.[3]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Role-playing Game: Director's Screen

(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.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Role-playing Game: The Magic Box

The Magic Box cover.

(ISBN 1-891153-94-3) This softcover supplement included an expanded ruleset for magic spells and spell-casters, new mystical and psychic abilities, new Qualities and Drawbacks, enchanters (who create magic items), super-scientists (such as Warren Mears), and an adventure, Orphan Trouble.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Role-playing Game: Character Journal

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

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Role-playing Game: Welcome to Sunnydale

(ISBN 1-891153-95-1) This was supplement was never unreleased as Eden Studios lost their franchise in October 2006.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Role-playing Game: Tea and Crossbows

This written by Phil Masters, was supplement was never unreleased as Eden Studios lost their franchise in October 2006. ,

Canon

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.[4]

Reviews

References

  1. ^ a b "Eden Studios, Inc. - Buffy The Vampire Slayer". www.edenstudios.net. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Review of Slayer's Handbook - RPGnet RPG Game Index". www.rpg.net. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  3. ^ "Review of Monster Smackdown - RPGnet RPG Game Index". www.rpg.net. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  4. ^ Whedon, Joss (January 2005). "Whedonesque".
  5. ^ "Pyramid: Pyramid Pick: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game".
  6. ^ "Scrye Magazine Issue 58 - April 2003". April 21, 2003 – via Internet Archive.