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{{short description|Tabletop role-playing game}}
{{italic title}}
{{Expand Japanese|date=August 2018}}
{{nihongo|'''''Sword World RPG'''''|ソード・ワールドRPG|Sōdo Wārudo Āru Pī Jī}} is a Japanese [[tabletop role-playing game]]<ref name="trpgfaq">{{cite web|title=RPG FAQ from Japan|url=http://www.trpg.net/en/faq/|accessdate=2006-07-27}}</ref> created by [[Group SNE]]. 10 million copies of the related books including rulebooks, novels and [[Tabletop role-playing games in Japan#Replays|replays]] have been sold.<ref name="sales">{{cite journal |date=April 2008 |title=Sword World 2.0 Tokushū |journal=[[Monthly Dragon Magazine]] |pages=82}}</ref> The game was first published in 1989; the updated edition, known as the "Sword World 2.0", was published in 2008; the current edition "Sword World 2.5" was published in 2018.

''Sword World RPG'''s [[role-playing game system|system]] was given the name ''2d6 System'' in 2003. ''[[Scrapped Princess]]'' RPG and ''[[Dragon Half]]'' RPG's system are also ''2d6 System'', though the games are only partially compatible.

==Sword World RPG (original edition)==
{{Infobox RPG
|title=Sword World RPG
|image=SwordWorld1.jpg
|caption=''Sword World RPG'' first edition cover. Cover art by [[Yoshitaka Amano]].
|date={{plainlist|
* 1989 (1st edition)
* 1996 (''Complete edition'')
}}
|designer=[[Ryo Mizuno]], [[Miyuki Kiyomatsu]], [[Group SNE]]
|publisher=[[Fujimi Shobo]]
|genre=Fantasy
|system= ''2d6 System''
}}

===System===
Sword World RPG's classes are called {{nihongo|''ginou''|技能|skill}}. Each ''ginou'' is a package of skills for that class. It is considered a hybrid system between a [[character class|class]]-based system and a [[skill (roleplaying games)|skill]]-based system, and is often called a ''class-skill system''.

There are eight classes (Bard, Fighter, Priest, Ranger, Sage, Shaman, Sorcerer and Thief) for [[player character]]s and two classes (Dark Priest and Dragon Priest) exclusive to [[non-player character]]s. Five major races (Human, Dwarf, Elf, Half-Elf and GrassRunner) can become PCs. GrassRunners are a diminutive race similar to a [[hobbit]] or [[halfling]].

The game uses two 6-sided [[dice]]. Each 2d6 dice roll is translated into a more wide range of random numbers by using a ''rating table''. The rating table is used for damage rolls, damage reduction rolls and such. An excerpt of the rating table follows.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Rating table (excerpt)
!2d6 / Key number|| 0 || 5 || 10 || 15 || 20 || 50
|-
|2|| failure || failure|| failure || failure || failure || failure
|-
|3|| 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 4
|-
|4|| 0 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 6
|-
|5|| 0 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 3 || 8
|-
|6|| 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 4 || 10
|-
|7|| 2 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 10
|-
|8|| 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 12
|-
|9|| 3 || 4 || 5 || 5 || 7 || 12
|-
|10|| 3 || 5 || 5 || 6 || 8 || 13
|-
|11|| 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 9 || 15
|-
|12|| 4 || 5 || 7 || 8 || 10 || 15
|}
Key number is equal to weapon/armor's requirement strength, or power of spell. Heavier weapon/armor is stronger.

===Setting===
Sword World's setting, ''Forcelia'', includes Lodoss Island (of ''[[Record of Lodoss War]]'') and the continent of Crystania (of ''[[Legend of Crystania]]''). However, the largest continent, ''Alecrast'' (where ''[[Rune Soldier]]'' takes place) is the main setting. Forcelia is a typical fantasy world heavily influenced by games such as ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' and ''[[RuneQuest]]''. For instance, the GrassRunner race is similar to D&D's [[Halfling]] and several [[magic (gaming)|magic systems]] (spirit magic, sorcery and divine magic) are similar to RuneQuest's.

''[[Rune Soldier]]'' is Sword World RPG's novel and anime series. Over a hundred [[light novel]]s or replays (session logs) have been published.

===Magic systems===
All magic systems in Forcelia are called {{nihongo|''mahougo''|魔法語|{{lit}} magic language, magic tongue}} based upon belief in the power of words. Each magic system has a proper language system as follow, and the language has magic power in itself.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Forcelia's magic systems
! Magic system || Class (''ginou'') || Language name || System's name
|-
| Sorcery || Sorcerer || {{nihongo|''Kodaigo''|古代語|{{lit}} "Ancient language"}} || ''High Ancient''
|-
| Spirit magic || Shaman || {{nihongo|''Seireigo''|精霊語|{{lit}} "Spirit language"}} || ''Silent Spirit''
|-
| Divine magic || Priest || {{nihongo|''Shinseigo''|神聖語|{{lit}} "Holy language"}} || ''Holy Pray''
|-
| Dark magic || Dark priest || {{nihongo|''Ankokugo''|暗黒語|{{lit}} "Dark language"}} || ''Demon Scream''
|-
| Dragon magic || Dragon priest || {{nihongo|''Ryūgo''|竜語|{{lit}} "Dragon language"}} || ''Dragon Lore''
|-
| Common magic || {{ref|a|a}} || {{nihongo|''kyoutsūgo''|共通語|{{lit}} "Common language"}} || Common magic
|-
| Bard's songs || Bard || {{nihongo|''Juka''|呪歌|{{lit}} "Magic songs"}}{{ref|b|b}}|| -
|}
{{note|a|a}} - Every character can use common magic (weaker cantrip of High Ancient sorcery) by the use of commercial magic devices and the chant of the keyword in common language.<br />
{{note|b|b}} - Songs with lyrics in the ancient language of High Ancient sorcery.

==Sword World 2.0/2.5==
{{Expand Japanese|ソード・ワールド2.0|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox RPG
|title=Sword World 2.0
|image=[[Image:SwordWorld2.jpg|186px|center]]
|caption=''Sword World 2.0'' cover
|date={{plainlist|
*April 2008 (2.0)
*July 2012 (2.0 revised)
*July 2018 (2.5)
}}
|designer=[[Kei Kitazawa]], [[Group SNE]]
|publisher=[[Fujimi Shobo]]
|genre=Fantasy
|system= ''2d6 System''
}}

The new edition '''Sword World 2.0''' ('''SW2.0''' for short) was released in April 2008 and revised in 2012. In 2018 '''Sword World 2.5''' ('''SW2.5''') was launched.

===System===
Currently (after the release of Abyss Breaker supplement), there are 23 classes:
*Warrior type: Battle Dancer, Fighter, Fencer, Grappler, Marksman
*Wizard type: Abyss Gazer, Conjurer, Demon Tamer, Druid, Fairy Tamer, Magitechnician, Priest, Sorceror
*Other type: Alchemist, Bard, Dark Hunter, Enhancer, Geomancer, Ranger, Rider, Sage, Scout, Tactician
Sword World RPG uses only two 6-sided [[dice]] as with the previous editions.

The supplements Epic Treasury and Raxia Life have introduced so-called work skills. Adventurers can choose common jobs at a basic level in order to gain new skill checks, roleplaying opportunities and even earn some gamels between adventures.

===Setting===
It has a new [[campaign setting]] named ''Raxia''. Several old and new races can be found in the rulebooks #1-3.

;Original races in Raxia
*Abyssborn - Born in the Shallow Abyss, these mutants have dark purple skin and are tall and slender
*Alv - A humanoid race born with one soulscar. They are slender, have white skin and golden or red irises. They need to suck mana out of other beings once per week or they will die.
*Dark Dwarves - These pale dwarves are used to living underground and serve the Barbarous as excellent blacksmiths.
*Fluorite - Mineralbodied beings with glowing heads and good mental capabilities as well as a good amount of MP.
*Leprechauns - A seclusive race of humanoids with furry ears, specializing in magitech and items.
*Lildraken - A race of bipedal dragon-folk who like commerce and peddlery.
*Lykant - Humanoid looking race with tails and ears covered with fur which can change its heads into the form of a carnivouros beast.
*Meria - Humanoids with flowers on them which don't need to sleep.
*Newman - A very intelligent race with snowwhite skin created by the Ancient Magic Civilization via magic.
*Nightmare - They are mutants of other races and are born with the gift of both fighting and magic. However, because it is believed that their souls are distorted and polluted, Nightmares are looked at askance.
*Runefolk - An artificial humanoid race who have a desire to serve the other races by instinct.
*Shadow - This humanoid race has grey skin, three eyes and flexible limbs making them quite dexterious and agile. Therefore, they often work as spies and assassins.
*Soleil - A race of big, strong, optimistic humanoids. They can make their bodies glow and can regenerate HP by basking in the sun. Unforunately, they are quite dumb.
*Spriggans - Small humanoids that can transform in over 2.5m high giants for a short amount of time.
*Tabbit - A bipedal rabbit race who are travelling around the world.
*Tiens - An artificially created humanoid race with metallic-coloured hair and jewels on their forehead, chest and the back of their hands.
*Weaklings - Weaklings are Barbarous born with fewer soulscars and are therefore often being abused in Barbarous society. While being quite sturdy, they are not the most intelligent. There are currently four types of Weaklings: Garuda, Tannoz, Basilisk and Minotaur.

The supplement "Arcane Relics" has also added several subraces to core classes like Snow Elves, Small-Winged Lildraken, Pico Tabbits and Alisha Grassrunners. These optional subraces slightly alter class bonuses or attributes.

==Replays==
Group SNE pioneered a new book genre called ''replay''. Replays are RPG session logs arranged for reading, similar in style to [[light novel]]s. The first replay, ''[[Record of Lodoss War]]'', is a replay of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''. From that time, replays became popular in Japan, and not only with RPG gamers. Several characters and parties in replays are as popular as characters of [[anime]] (for example, the beautiful female elf Deedlit in ''Record of Lodoss War'', who was played by the male [[science fiction]] novelist Hiroshi Yamamoto).

''Sword World'' replays are popular, too: about 10 series and over 40 books of original ''Sword World'' replays were published until 2008. Since 2008, more than 30 series and over 80 books of ''Sword World 2.0'' replays were published, as of 2016 September.

==Video games==
There have been three [[role-playing video game]]s released by [[Technology and Entertainment Software|T&E Soft]] officially based on ''Sword World''. These were ''Sword World PC'' for the [[NEC PC-9801]] in 1992, ''Sword World SFC'' for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]] in 1993, and ''Sword World SFC 2: Inishie no Kyojin Densetsu'' for the Super Famicom in 1994.<ref>[http://www.groupsne.co.jp/products/sw/list/index.html Sword World RPG related work] ([https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.groupsne.co.jp/products/sw/list/index.html Translation]), [[Group SNE]]</ref>

In 2009, ''Sword World 2.0'' was released for the [[Nintendo DS]] [[handheld game console]] as a role-playing [[visual novel]] [[adventure game]] that attempts to simulate the full experience of playing a tabletop RPG. The game features [[Nonlinear gameplay|branching plot paths]] and [[multiple endings]], as well as virtual dice rolls that partially determine the events, character parameters, and enemy encounters.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tabletalk RPG, Sword World 2.0, Transformed Into A DS Book|author=Spencer|date=May 12, 2009|publisher=Siliconera|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2009/05/12/tabletalk-rpg-sword-world-20-transformed-into-a-ds-book/|accessdate=2011-05-15}}</ref>

==External links==
* [http://www.groupsne.co.jp/products/sw/ Official Website of Sword World 2.0/2.5] {{in lang|ja}}
* [http://sw25.wikidot.com/ Wiki of the English fan translation of Sword World 2.0/2.5] {{in lang|en}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Record of Lodoss War}}

[[Category:Japanese role-playing games]]
[[Category:Fantasy role-playing games]]
[[Category:Record of Lodoss War]]
[[Category:Kadokawa Corporation franchises]]
[[Category:Role-playing games introduced in 1989]]