The magical girl genre and the idol industry have always been intertwined, constantly drawing inspiration from one another. This has led to several memorable shows, including Ojamajo Doremi, Fancy Lala, and the legendary Symphogear. Thankfully, TTRPG fans who want to spend an evening ruling the stage and rocking monsters can now realize this dream, thanks to SuperIdols! RPG: A New Stage.
Created by ErynCerise, SuperIdols! RPG: A New Stage is a Masks and Powered by the Apocalypse-inspired TTRPG set in a world where some performers have access to magical powers that bestow supernatural abilities upon them and allow them to transform from their regular civilian forms into powered-up SuperIdol forms.
A New Twist On A Classic Base
Those who have played other games based on Masks or Powered by the Apocalypse will know what to expect here, as the game features these systems’ now legendary hallmarks. Most notably, the moment-to-moment gameplay is based around moves (Of the “When X happens, do Y” variant), with each move having options for full and partial successes depending on how the dice land.
The game also features a take on MonsterHearts Strings mechanic, dubbed Sync and Verses. In SuperIdols, Sync represents your character caring about another character in some manner (both positive and negative). These points of Synch can be used to guide the character’s story and spent to influence dice rolls and level the character up (provided they have enough).
However, don’t think that SuperIdols is just a reskin of PbtA or Masks, as it brings a lot of original and unique ideas to the table, including Star Power and the Mail Bag.
An idol is nothing without an audience, and this is where Star Power and Buzz come into the equation. Star Power has five levels, going from 0 (Dormant Star) to five (Super Star).
To progress through the levels of Star Power, characters must earn Good Buzz. Like in the real world, Good Buzz is gained through doing cool or memorable things in front of an audience, be it acting cool at a party or putting on an excellent performance at a concert. Once a player gets six points of Good Buzz, they move up a Star Power level.
However, players should be complacent, as doing uncool things or letting their fans down can lead to the character generating Bad Buzz. If a character earns three points of Bad Buzz, they go down a Star Power level, meaning that players have to watch their step, as a few poorly chosen actions can lead to you losing all of your fans.
Star Power level also feeds into another of SuperIdol’s bespoke mechanics: Mail Bag. At the start of each session, each player gets to draw cards equal to their current Star Power level plus one from the Mail Bag Deck. These cards are then placed face-up in the middle of the table. Then, players take turns to pick cards from this pile, with the player with the lowest Star Power Level getting to choose first.
Each card represents a different type of mail, from regular flyers and junk to rude letters of complaint and gushing fan letters. Each type of mail comes with a special ability, some of which activate instantly, while others can be kept by the player, allowing them to activate it whenever they see fit. While this mechanic may seem small on paper, it has a massive effect on the game.
Not only do the various card abilities allow players to take the story in unexpected directions and change the tide of battle, but the mechanic’s concept deeply enhances the game’s overall mood. Having your idols receive fan mail helps make the world feel so much more alive, makes your characters feel like actual idols, and makes Star Power feel like a defined idea rather than just another XP system. It also opens the door for some excellent storytelling moments, as the players can use the mail to guide their character or foreshadow their actions, making each session feel like a rollercoaster.
SuperIdols Has A Deep Dedication To The Theme
This mechanic reflects one of SuperIdols’ best aspects, its commitment to its central theme. It’s clear that everyone working on the game loves and deeply understands both the idol industry and the magical girl genre, as every mechanic has been given a themed flair that perfectly complements the genre. The game’s basic moves are the best example of this, as each one is clearly designed with the genre’s core storytelling beats in mind.
For example, to use your performance skills to connect with an audience, your character uses Perform To Impress. Attempting to mess with someone requires the use of Upstage. Finally, trying to read someone else’s intentions needs players to deploy the Vibe Check move. These little details do a great job of gently guiding the players toward the types of plot the game is designed to tell, making the whole gameplay experience feel utterly intuitive. Letting players effortlessly bring their idol dreams to life.
Another nice element of SuperIdols is the book’s informal tone, with the dialogue sounding more conversational than is regular for TTRPGs, a decision that enhances the game in several ways. Notably, this informal tone makes reading and understanding the rules much easier, which is helpful as certain sections of the book get pretty dense. Additionally, this style of text matches the game’s tone, further enhancing the reader’s immersion and making the experience feel even more cohesive.
Despite only being in the Ashcan phase, SuperIdols! RPG: A New Stage feels amazingly polished. The game strikes a perfect mechanical balance, including every mechanic a player could need to recreate the genre’s most iconic storylines without including so many niche mechanics that the game becomes overwhelming, and some rules feel surplus to requirements. Combine this with the game’s dedication to theming everything to make it fit the genre, and you’re left with a must-play title for fans of magical girl or idol anime.
