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Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA) was a cult classic animated series until Netflix started streaming it, ushering in an entirely new generation of fans. The hype around the show even provided a second wave of fans for The Legend of Korra (LOK), the series that followed ATLA albeit with a much more hesitant Nickelodeon.
While there have been video games in the past, the Avatar franchise has never released a tabletop RPG— until now. The Avatar universe will be blown wide open thanks to the start of Avatar Studios, so expanding the world even further with a tabletop world-building RPG seemed like the logical next step.
10 Powered By The Apocalypse Will Be The Framework
Power by the Apocalypse is a design framework for tabletop RPG games created back in 2010 by Meguey and Vincent Baker for the game Apocalypse World. It has since been used as the basis for over 25 games since its inception.
The games powered by this framework typically revolve around character moves. Characters are given basic moves for typical tasks one might expect to have to do during gameplay, such as a generic fight move in a fighting-heavy game. Sometimes these moves can be specific to certain classes depending on how the game is structured, and it’s assumed the Avatar game will have a class system based around element bending and other skillsets.
9 Mark Truman & James Mendez Hodes Are Taking The Time To Do It Right
The CEO of Magpie games, Mark Truman, and the lead designer for the Avatar game, James Mendez Hodes, are being very careful with their approach to creating the game. They are working on combining the aspects of the shows that fans fell in love with initially with the nuances of actual gameplay to make an enjoyable masterpiece.
Both of them love the franchise themselves, and unlike Netflix, want to use the original content as inspiration for their story. They are taking their time to develop the bending styles and are incorporating martial arts and eastern cultural influence with finesse.
8 Structured To Encompass Asian Cultures Without Offensive Stereotypes Or Derivative Concepts
An important part of the game for Truman and Hodes is ensuring players feel comfortable portraying characters meant to be Asian without falling into stereotypes or overused tropes such as villainous dragon lords and every character knowing some form of karate. Hodes has indicated that the question he gets asked most is how to portray an Asian character without being offensive.
Hodes and Truman are making sure that all cultural significance will be included within the gamebook and character guides. Essentially, the intent is for players to just play a character and the game will supply everything else one might need. All players need to do is interface with the game material and the rest will come.
7 The Core Book Is Planned For February 2022
The initial release for the game is less than a year away and fans couldn’t be more excited. Not a whole lot has been revealed by the creative team and much of what they want to do is likely changing and evolving as work progresses. Though the team has confirmed a few details released such as the potential to play during multiple eras of different Avatars.
Additionally, while they’ve decided that players can’t play as actual characters from the shows, the creative team understands that those characters are a huge part of the franchise’s success. As such, it sounds like the team has decided to integrate canon characters into the game but without allowing players to use them for gameplay.
6 The First Supplemental Book, Republic City, Is Planned For August 2022
In addition to the first book, the creative team already has plans for at least two supplemental books which will probably lead to a handful of others if the game is successful. The first expansion book will be called Republic City and will largely focus on Republic City and interacting with its citizens.
With so many exciting technological advancements and the palpable tensions between benders and non-benders, playing in this city could make for an interesting parallel to the real world. While there are no benders in the real world, technology plays a huge role, and there will always be the “haves” and the “have-nots.”
5 The Second Supplemental Book, The Spirit World, Is Planned For February 2023
The second expansion book to be released will be called The Spirit World which will obviously focus heavily on the Spirit World and more than likely interacting with spirits. Perhaps players may be able to play during the time of Harmonic Convergence and must either help Raava or Vaatu, depending on their alignment.
However, considering the Spirit World wasn’t really explored all that much in the shows (at least until LOK), the creative team may use the opportunity to blow the Spirit World completely wide open. After all, the Spirit World is assumed to encompass the same space as the mortal world, and fans have only seen glimpses of places and beings from the Spirit World in the shows.
4 Element Bending Will Be More Unique Than Typical Tabletop RPG Moves Or Attacks
The creators have indicated that the moves for characters in the game will be a bit more relaxed than standard D&D gameplay. For example, if one is a firebender they won’t have to roll the dice every time they want to firebend. Or characters who are non-benders but tech-savvy wouldn’t have to roll dice to successfully turn on a Satomobile.
This will certainly open things up for players and make it more fun than typical “roll for everything” games such as D&D. Allowing characters to utilize their specialties makes a lot more sense than subjecting a master bender to a roll of the dice to complete a menial task.
3 The Game Will Include Five Playable Avatar Eras
One of the more exciting tidbits fans have learned about the series is that there will be five different playable eras. One era will center around Aang’s run as the Avatar and another will focus on the era that Korra protects.
Additionally, the eras of Avatars Roku and Kyoshi will be playable. These two are some of the other more popular Avatars among fans— after Aang and Korra, of course. The fifth era is the time during the 100-Year War when Aang was frozen in the ice. Each era has potential for incredible campaigns, though fans are certainly hoping for an Avatar Wan era down the line.
2 Hybrid Animals & Canon Characters Will Be Included
Another exciting part of the game is that the incredibly unique animals will be a part of it as well. There will likely be the option for certain characters to choose animal familiars such as Winged Lemurs (Momo) or Fire Ferrets (Pabu), or maybe even animal steeds such as Flying Bison (Appa), Polar Bear Dogs (Naga), or Dragons (Druk).
Additionally, the team has indicated, despite their reservations, that there will be canon characters from the franchise within the game perhaps as villains, friends, and/or other non-player characters. A party might come across Iroh’s spirit when seeking wisdom in the Spirit World, or they may cross paths with Katara should their journey take them to the Southern Water Tribe.
1 The Creative Team Has Suggested That The Avatar Will Not Be Playable, But Energybending May Be Possible
While everything is still very much in development, it appears as though one thing is decided for certain (at least for now), and that is that players will not be able to play as the Avatar. While this may upset many fans, it’s likely to avoid one character being too overpowered which would be unfair and likely less fun for everyone else playing.
However, they have also suggested that energybending may be possible, even if the Avatar isn’t playable. This may have been an off-the-cuff remark during an interview, or perhaps something more. Allowing players to use energybending to subdue spirits or nullify enemies could be a great way to make one feel like the Avatar.
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