The ‘Shin Megami Tensei’ RPG Gets An English Translation After 20 Years
Demi-fiends and Demons abound in the tabletop RPG version of Shin Megami Tensei. Meet demons, recruit them, and fuse them all!
Did you know that Shin Megami Tensei, the popular series that spawned the Persona games, as well as a whole world of demons that are actually just weird little guys like this one:
…in addition to being a cult classic whose spinoff series helped revitalize dating sim mechanics for a wider audience, it also has a tabletop RPG. It has for more than two decades now! It would make sense if you didn’t know that because the RPG hasn’t really broken through for English-speaking audiences. However, that is all about to change as Shin Megami Tensei, the RPG: Tokyo Conception, gets its own English translation, coming later this year. Here’s what we know.
Shin Megami Tensei the RPG – Coming Soon in English
The game “faithfully recreates” the storyline of Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne, in which players are swept up in the battle for Vortex World Tokyo. As you can see from the Trailer, meeting and recruiting demons is a big part of the game. The tabletop RPG will encourage that via a “Talk Flow” system, which gives players a variety of approaches to negotiating with the various demons of the world.
Shin Megami Tensei – The Roleplaying Game: Tokyo Conception is an enthralling and accessible tabletop RPG for 3-5 players + 1 GM (Game Master) that faithfully recreates the Shin Megami Tensei video game series and allows players to immerse themselves in the SMT universe like never before.
Shin Megami Tensei – The Roleplaying Game: Tokyo Conception is an enthralling and accessible tabletop RPG for 3-5 players + 1 GM (Game Master) that faithfully recreates the Shin Megami Tensei video game series and allows players to immerse themselves in the SMT universe like never before.
Each class will have its own skillset for recruiting demons, which is an important part of the game, as is fusing them together to create new beings to use in battle. Or, you know, however you want. While the setting and storyline follow that of Nocturne, with organizations like the Nihilo Assembly that you might recognize from the game, it will quickly spiral into tabletop RPG chaos. You can see it happening in a live-play of the game from LionWing themselves:
But what about the game itself? Here are some details from LionWing:
Tokyo Conception further preserves the franchise’s essence by incorporating staple elements such as demon negotiation, the Affinity system, and punishing status ailments like Poison and Stun while also introducing more typical TTRPG mechanics such as critical hits, fumbles, and exploding dice, to ensure encounters are both challenging and rewarding.
- EXQUISITE WORLD DETAIL – Tokyo Conception is based on the world of Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne™. The game designers have recreated every region with great attention to detail. The book offers nearly 100 pages of stats for every demon, including bosses like Ahriman, Baal Avatar, Noah, and Kagutsuchi itself, and plenty of seeds for brand-new adventures.
- A BOOK SUITABLE FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS – For video game enthusiasts who enjoy Japanese RPGs and are interested in exploring the world of tabletop roleplaying games, Tokyo Conception is an excellent starting point, as no prior knowledge of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise is needed to enjoy the game. For existing and seasoned TTPRG enthusiasts, Tokyo Conception contains plenty of familiar gameplay features, compelling pre-made scenarios, engaging mechanics, and a deep character advancement system that can be played over days, weeks, months, or longer!
- CLASSES AND PROGRESSION – In Tokyo Conception, players start out by choosing one of three character classes: Human, Fiend, or Demon, with each class possessing its own unique strengths and weaknesses.
- FACTION DYNAMICS – While a lot of Tokyo Conception deals with fighting demons, it definitely doesn’t stop there. Kagutsuchi still burns brightly in the middle of the Vortex World, and it awaits to judge those who would offer their Reason as the basis for the new world. Will players support one of the three existing factions? Help the manikins develop their own Reason? Or will they use the robust faction rules to establish their very own? The choice is theirs… if they have the will.
- DEMON NEGOTIATION – Similar to the video game series, players must carefully navigate Tokyo Conception’s Talk Flowchart and use an array of talk skills to engage in conversation and negotiate with demons to earn items, gems, or even acquire their Demon Cards. Make a wrong move, though, and the demon may attack or even flee entirely!
Look for Shin Megami Tensei the RPG later this year!
