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Over the Edge is a surreal role-playing game of secrets and conspiracies, taking place on the mysterious Island of Al Amarja. It was created by Jonathan Tweet with Robin Laws, and published by Atlas Games.
Over The Edge can be considered a groundbreaking roleplaying game in numerous ways:
- It was the first game that departed from the model of predefined character attributes and skills, in favour of player-chosen traits.
- It is based on the dice pool, where the number of dice rolled, rather than how they are interpreted, is determined by the characters' abilities.
Both Over the Edge and The Masquerade were based upon a project between Jonathan Tweet and Mark Rein·Hagen which followed their development of Ars Magica for Lion Rampant. They share the concept of a dice pool, which they presumably inherit from that initial design. This game mechanic had previously been seen in West End Games' Ghostbusters and Star Wars roleplaying games, but was far from common before it was popularised by Over the Edge and Vampire.
While Vampire has achieved far more popularity than Over the Edge (largely due to the greater popular appeal of its setting), Over the Edge has distinguished itself with critical acclaim and its influence on later RPG design on the independent scene cannot be overstated. In particular, Over the Edge has been acknowledged as a major source for the indie role-playing game movement.
System
Instead of representing characters using attributes and skills, characters are quantified with "traits" – freeform descriptors, like "Fireman", "Quick" or "Monster from another Dimension", which are created and defined by the player. Each character has one primary trait, two secondary traits, and one flaw. One of the three positive traits is chosen as superior. If a character attempts an action based on their primary or secondary traits, they get (usually) four (for the superior trait) or three six-sided dice to roll.
If a character has a particular advantage, they may add a bonus die – they roll one more die, and discard the lowest roll. If they have a particular disadvantage (such as their flaw), they must add a penalty die – they roll one more die, and discard the highest roll.
For most tasks where the traits don't apply, they get two dice. For a routine, very easy task, the difficulty is 4; for an easy task, 7; for a moderately difficult task, 11; for a difficult task, 14; for a very difficult task, 18; and for a nearly impossible task, 21. If an opponent is resisting the action, the difficulty is their roll.
Setting
The game is set in the fictitious Mediterranean island of Al Amarja.
Geography
Al Amarja is an independent island state in the southern Mediterranean. The western side of the island is covered by three interconnected cities; Skylla, The Edge and Traboc. Most of the population lives there. Freedom City, the capital of Al Amarja, is on the eastern end of the island. Is consists mainly of government buildings and homes of government officials. The rest of the island is undeveloped hilly forest, at the center of which lies an extinct volcano called Mount Ralsius.History
During its history, Al Amarja has been colonized and conquered in succession by Greeks, Romans, North African muslims, Catalonians, Castilians, various Italian states and eventually unified Italy. In 1940 president-for-life Monique D’Aubainne took over. Officially she drove out the fascists with the aid of her bodyguard. In reality, she just bought the island from Benito Mussolini. She founded the new state and legislation using USA as a model.Politics
Al Amarja is an independent state. It is not member of United Nations or any other international body. It does not maintain embassies anywhere in the world.Al Amarja's official language is American English, but Al Amarjan patois has numerous loan words from just about any other language in the world, including various versions of the word for Yes.
Al Amarja gets its income from various sources - decadent tourists, private donations and investments, legal and illicit business, smuggled ivory and other forbidden animal products, lecherous sailors, expense accounts of various operatives and pirated products. Business likes the lack of copyright and trademark laws, absence of safety regulations and easily bribed law enforcement.
Guns, explosives and bulletproof vests are illegal. Only the Peace Force, heavily armed law enforcement, can carry guns and they enforce this law very vigorously. Drug laws are similar to those in Europe and USA but enforced only sporadically. Otherwise the police and government lets everybody do whatever they want unless it threatens the state or they have something to gain in stopping it.
Al Amarja is also a center of just about any kind of global conspiracy and all of them have their own operatives in the island.
Over the Edge's specific political stance tends toward a Leftist libertarian perspective, as it presents in a positive light libertinis, New Age mysticism and drug consumption, but conversely in a negative light firearms, private industry and participatory democracy.
Population
Mixed history of the island means that locals look like a mix of various racial characteristics. Current population of Al Amarja has also been increased by a mix of Mediterranean, European, North American and some Asian and Sub-Saharan African immigrants. They also include mutants, maniacs, outlawed psychics, magicians, intelligence and conspiracy operatives, fringe scientists, unscrupulous businessmen, rich patrons and anything else. There is no accurate census numbers.Al Amarjans – also known as ‘Martians – are rough people. Self-expression is common to the point of self-indulgence. Instead of neckties, they may carry a noose around their neck. Knives and steel-reinforced boots are universal accessory. Street and bar brawls are common entertainment. Because of the common mutual hostility and suspicion, it is a custom to serve beverages and snacks in their original containers.
Al Amarjans practice just about any religion from Christian Science to human sacrifice. They include Satanists and Sommerites, religiously oriented fans of rock star Karla Sommers. There is only one official but multi-religious temple in Al Amarja.
External links
- Atlas Games' official site for the game
"Over the Edge (role-playing game)"