Anima: Beyond Fantasy

ABF · Anima: Beyond Fantasy · Anima RPG

Anima: Beyond Fantasy

Anima: Beyond Fantasy is high fantasy viewed through an anime lens. You’ll encounter vast empires, masked villains, secret societies, and blade-on-blade duels on sky bridges. The world evokes strong emotions and a distinct style. Players appreciate the extensive character customisation, ranging from mystical swordsmen to court sorcerers to psychic agents. A professional Game Master channels that energy into vivid scenes, character drama, and set-piece battles that feel like a season premiere.

A session alternates between fast-paced tactical clashes and narrative moments that reward clever decisions. Newcomers can easily join in with prebuilt heroes, while detail-oriented players can delve deeper between sessions. It’s perfect for birthdays and team events seeking cinematic action, as well as campaigns that relish politics and power dynamics. Ready to find the right guide for your table? Browse Game Masters who run Anima, either in person or online.

How to play Anima: Beyond Fantasy

At the table, you act out scenes. When the outcome is uncertain, you roll percentile dice, add your skill or combat bonuses, and aim to beat a difficulty or an opponent’s roll. Combat is competitive, with your attack tested against a block or dodge, followed by the resolution of damage and critical effects. Exceptional success can elevate your performance, while mistakes can escalate, making fights feel dynamic and cinematic.

You bring a character concept and a flair for stylish action. Choose a fighting style, spell path, or psychic focus, then describe your appearance and movements. A professional Game Master provides prebuilt options, cheat sheets, and clear guidance so the game flows smoothly. For remote tables, they set up online play with shared sheets and dice.

In a one-shot, expect a self-contained mission with two to three set pieces and time to showcase your signature moves. Advancement is streamlined, and characters may be provided. In a campaign, you develop techniques, unlock Ki abilities, research spells, craft gear, and engage with factions and rival champions. Political arcs and long-standing rivalries unfold over multiple sessions.

Close-up of a hand holding a painted tree creature miniature used in a tabletop fantasy game.
Close-up of a hand holding a painted tree creature miniature used in a tabletop fantasy game.
Close-up of a purple six-sided die with a gold number 5, used for tabletop role-playing games and dungeons and dragons games.
Close-up of a purple six-sided die with a gold number 5, used for tabletop role-playing games and dungeons and dragons games.

Common questions

Do I need to be familiar with Anima’s rules before we start playing?

No. You bring a hero concept and some anime inspiration. A professional Game Master provides you with a straightforward starting sheet and the few actions needed to get going. They call for rolls, interpret results, and maintain the pace. New players can use pre-generated characters or a quick-build template. You learn the rules as they become relevant, rather than all at once. If you appreciate the depth, your GM can introduce options between sessions, such as new techniques or spells, without slowing down the game.

Which edition do you run, Core Exxet or the 1st Edition?

Many Game Masters prefer Core Exxet, the Revised Core, as it streamlines skills and combat options. Some can run 1st Edition upon request. If you bring a 1e character, the conversion is typically minimal, involving adjustments to development costs, secondary abilities, or a technique’s prerequisites. Check a GM’s listing for their edition, or inquire during booking. You can browse available Game Masters here: find a GM for Anima.

How does Anima differ from D&D at the table?

Characters use point buy with professions instead of fixed classes, allowing for highly customised builds. You can mix martial techniques, magic, and psychic powers from the outset. Defence is an action, so deciding whether to parry or evade is important. Armour reduces damage rather than just making you harder to hit. The tone leans towards anime, with signature moves, rival duels, and secret orders taking centre stage. If you enjoy dramatic set pieces and personalised characters, Anima offers a unique twist compared to traditional dungeon-focused fantasy.

What group size and session length are ideal for Anima?

Anima works best with 2 to 6 players, with 3 to 5 being the ideal number to ensure each hero gets their moment in the spotlight. A typical session lasts between 3 to 4 hours. The initial fight for a new group may take longer as everyone familiarises themselves with their options, but it tends to speed up thereafter. One-shots usually consist of two to three scenes, allowing time for players to showcase their signature moves. For groups of 5 or 6 players, using pregenerated characters can help the game flow more smoothly. Campaigns benefit from regular sessions of 3 to 4 hours.

Is Anima appropriate for children or teenagers?

Yes, with the right setup. The rules are detailed, so it works best for ages 12 and up who enjoy anime action and can manage a few options. A professional Game Master can simplify choices, provide pregenerated characters, and keep scenes clear. Content can be tailored to be teen-friendly, featuring stylised combat and fade-to-black for sensitive topics. Safety tools and boundaries are implemented upon request. For younger children, consider a lighter system, or plan a shorter Anima one-shot with streamlined choices.

What do I need to bring, and how do you run it online?

In person, two ten-sided dice for percentile rolls are useful, along with a pencil and your character sheet. Miniatures are optional. Your Game Master can provide sheets, reference cards, and maps or tokens. Online play is seamless with shared sheets, integrated dice, and voice or video. Many GMs run Anima on popular virtual tabletops. See what online setups they use here: how online play works.

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Genres you can play in Anima: Beyond Fantasy

  • by Amber

    Anime

    Big emotions, striking archetypes, and dynamic battles. Assemble your team, exchange witty banter, and progress through narratives that…

    View genre: Anime
  • Heroic

    Stand tall, make the right choice, and triumph in the end. Heroic games evoke the spirit of The Lord of the Rings, featuring brave oaths…

    View genre: Heroic
  • Epic

    Grand tales of world-altering stakes and legendary heroes, from the initial spark to the ultimate showdown. Imagine the scale of The Lord…

    View genre: Epic
  • Occult

    Candlelit rituals, cryptic symbols, and whispered conspiracies. Imagine The X-Files as you pursue clues through secret lodges and concealed…

    View genre: Occult
  • Pirate

    Salt spray, creaking decks, and cutlass duels as you pursue treasure and rivals across treacherous seas. Swashbuckling adventure…

    View genre: Pirate

What players have to say

  • Tom was brilliant! He was really great with the kids and very patient with his explanations. It was a wonderful evening and definitely worth doing again! The children asked the next day when we would be doing this again.

    Danny

  • First of all, I want to say that Sebastian was really great as a DM. For his first run as a booked DM, he did an excellent job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot yet wasn't a complete story. Discovering that there are two more parts wasn't very positive for us, as it meant there was no satisfying conclusion to the story. 2. As new players, it was difficult for us to understand the English character sheets in such a short time. In German, it would have been much easier. Even receiving the character sheets a few days in advance would have been helpful for preparation. 3. More guidance would be beneficial. Especially for beginners, a more linear one shot would have been preferable. We wasted a significant portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't fully understand how the game worked. Overall, I think the StoryForgers concept is really good and I see a lot of potential in it, especially for introducing new players to D&D. I hope you don't take my feedback the wrong way but see it as honest criticism. Best regards, Mario

    Mario

  • Bryan was exceptional. We had a group with varying levels of experience, and he managed to keep everyone engaged and involved. His positive attitude made the game enjoyable for all. I really appreciated how he could clearly explain what was needed from our less experienced players while keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his deep knowledge of the game. Everyone in our party had a fantastic time thanks to Bryan.

    Jeremy

  • Dayron was fantastic. Well-prepared, punctual, and had a brilliant sense of humour.

    Corey

  • Dayron was fantastic; he provided a brilliant experience. Thanks!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

  • The game was really engaging. I got a game as a present for my boyfriend, who is very keen on it, and he was very pleased and appreciated Leonardo's professionalism. I don't have much experience with DnD, but I found the game to be quite straightforward and enjoyable.

    Marina

  • Baptiste was an excellent GM who adapted well to our group and helped us progress in this one-shot. However, there was one issue with the character sheets provided, as they were not complete or clear. Some of the French translations were rather approximate. For instance, our cleric was missing spells, including a healing spell, even though they were meant to have some.

    Pierre

  • Rachel was fantastic; my daughter and her friends left the game saying it was the most fun they’d ever had, and my daughter wanted to sign up for another session with her straight away. She was friendly, and her approach let the players fully immerse themselves in the game by giving them control over how they wanted their actions to unfold. I would definitely work with her again.

    John

  • A nice and clear first experience with D&D. Amber was able to explain and guide the game effectively, allowing us as players to quickly get into the flow and focus on the story. Collaborating with my colleagues to devise attack routes was an enjoyable activity and provided great insights into each other's characters, thought processes, and differences. Overall, I found it to be a very enjoyable session.

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

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