The new Genesys role playing game from Fantasy Flight offers a universal game system suitable for nearly any genre.  The Genesys Core Rulebook will release in Q4.

Genesys is built around Fantasy Flight’s Narrative Dice System, the same game system that drives the company’s many Star Wars role playing games. 

The game uses a unique set of dice that show a variety of symbols instead of traditional numbers.  By comparing “Success” and “Advantage” symbols rolled to “Failure” and “Threat” symbols, players and gamemasters determine the outcome of a character’s action.  This guided yet freeform method allows for a broader and more nuanced set of results compared to the more rigid success or failure mechanics common to traditional role playing games.

The Genesys Core Rulebook includes a complete explanation of how to use and interpret the special dice used in the game.  The book also offers up five different potential game settings, along with guidelines on how to play games using the Narrative Dice System.  The five genres included are familiar to role players:  Fantasy, Steampunk, Weird War, Modern Day, and Science Fiction.  Players can modify these settings for their own purpose, or create their own.  MSRP for the Core Rulebook will be $39.95.

Fantasy Flight plans to support the new game with a series of more in-depth game setting guides in the future.  A pack of dice for use with the game will also be available, consisting of three Ability dice, three Difficulty dice, two Setback dice, two Boost dice, two Proficiency dice and a Challenge die. MSRP is $14.95.

Next month, Fantasy Flight’s parent company Asmodee North America will enter an exclusive distribution arrangement with Alliance Game Distributors (see “Asmodee-Alliance Deal Follow-Up”).