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Defenders of Aqua City 8:00 a.m.
My Alien Brother 8:30 a.m.
The Transbots 9:00 a.m.
Warriors of the Cosmos 9:30 a.m.
By Cynthia Celeste Miller
Credits
Copyright 2002 by Spectrum Game Studios. This material is
protected by the copyright laws of the United States of
America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the
material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without
the express written consent of Spectrum Game Studios.
The reference to any companies or products in this
book is not meant to challenge the trademarks or
copyrights concerned.
Written and Developed by
Cynthia Celeste Miller
A
DDITIONAL
D
EVELOPMENT BY
Sabrina Belle, Steve Ratkovich, Kai Tave, Norbert Franz,
Ron Edwards and Jeff Webb
E
DITOR
Ron Edwards
L
AYOUT AND
D
ESIGN
Matt Snyder
C
OVER
A
RT
Jared Brown
I
NTERIOR
A
RT
Leanne Shaw and Jared Brown
C
ARTOON
A
CTION
H
OUR
L
OGO
Matt Snyder
W
EBMASTER
Rod Hannah
P
LAYTESTERS
Steve Ratkovich, Norbert Franz, Jeff Webb, Sabrina Belle, Shelly Bateman,
Brad Weaver, Elissa Carey, Peter Millholland, Aaron John, Adrian John, Jen
Steele, Heather Jaborsky, Jon Szeto, Mary Webb, Clint Hill, Dixie Hill, Reed
Livingston, Scott McKinlay, Andrew Lucas, Eddy Webb, Ravi Duvvuri
A
DDITIONAL
T
HANKS
Lightning Printing and Meta-Games Unlimited
D
EDICATION
Cartoon Action Hour is dedicated to my grandfather, Johnnie "Bup" Miller, who
encouraged me to always follow my dreams no matter how much people scoffed
at them. He was an inspiration, a role model and most importantly, a friend.
Without his support, I never would've written this book. And no one....no one...was
more fun to watch my favorite cartoons with. I love you, Bup. Rest in peace.
C
ONTRIBUTORS
' W
EBSITES
Darkstream Productions (http://www.geocities.com/jaredbrown12)
Zartan's Domain (http://willslade.freeservers.com/zd/frames.html)
The Dumpshock (http://bull.dumpshock.com/)
Chimera Creative (http://www.chimera.info/)
Stratos' Page (http://www.angelfire.com/md/stratosmacca2/heman.html)
The Forge (http://www.indie-rpgs.com)
Wrestling Marks (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wrestlingmarks/)
Bull's CAH Page (http://bull.dumpshock.com/cah/)
C
ONTACT
I
NFORMATION
926 North Grant Avenue
Springfield, MO 65802
spectrum@spectrumgamestudios.com
www.spectrumgamestudios.com
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Channel 1: Introduction
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
The Action is Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Time to Gear Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Crash Course in Roleplaying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Don't Touch That Dial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Lifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Falling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Drowning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Goons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
SUB-CHANNEL ONE: GAME MASTERING
. . . .58
The Jobs of the GM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Skills of the GM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Embracing the Genre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Tr icks of the Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Channel 2: Character
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
What is a Character? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Series Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Ta g line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Personality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Appearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Character Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Tr aits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Specialties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Oomph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Stunt Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Hurt Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Special Abilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Animal Companions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Ve hicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Story Hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
SUB-CHANNEL THREE: THE SERIES
. . . . . . . . .66
The Series Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Creating NPCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Villainy 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
SUB-CHANNEL FOUR: THE EPISODE
. . . . . . . .71
Segment One: Establish the Situation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Segment Two: Present the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Segment Three: Confront the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Segment Four: Climax and Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Channel 6: Line-up
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
SUB-CHANNEL ONE:
READY-TO-RUN SERIES
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Wa rriors of the Cosmos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
To mmy K and the Star Kitties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Dark Brigade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
The Defenders of Aqua City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Channel 3: Game Rules
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Using the Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Action Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Opposed Action Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
SUB-CHANNEL TWO: SERIES SEEDS
. . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Te e n A n g e l S q u a d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
The Outlaws of Skull Gulch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Planet Patrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Ruined World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
My Alien Brother . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
The Transbots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Te xas 2351 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Team Bulwark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Final Lap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Dekkledd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Strikeforce Freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Superadvanced Rocketship GARMON XL . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Inter-Galactic Wars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Holoverse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
The Super Battle Brothers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Channel 4: Combat
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Bashing, Smashing, Zapping and Whapping . . . . . . . . . .42
Initiative and Turns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Close Combat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Ranged Combat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Situational Modifiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Mental Attacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
That's Gonna Leave a Mark! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Other Combat Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Ve hicles in Combat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Channel 5: Game Mastering
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
SUB-CHANNEL ONE:
MISCELLANEOUS RULES
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Episodes and the Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
The Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Experience Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Character Advancement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Degrees of Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Wealth and Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Inventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Appendix I: Glossries
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Cartoon Action Hour Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Glossary of 80s Slang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
Appendix II: Recommended Viewing
. . . . . . . .101
Appendix III: Designers Notes
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
3
CHANNEL 1: Introduction
The Action is Back
Remember, if you will, back to those magical days of
the 1980's, when Saturday morning and weekday after-
noon cartoons offered kids of all ages a heaping dose of
fun, excitement and action.
From huge sentient robots, to paramilitary strike forces,
to post-apocalyptic barbarians ... and everything in between!
The world of cartoons knew no bounds!
We ll, guess what?
Those days have returned! With Cartoon Action Hour, you
can re-live it all ... but this time, you're the star!
Cartoon Action Hour is the roleplaying game of 80's-style action
cartoons. With this one book, you'll have everything you need to
recreate your favorite cartoon show ... or even come up with your
own series! It's up to you!
The game itself is powered by a system that is easy to learn and sim-
ple to play. The versatility of the system is absolute, making it possible
to cover a multitude of different types of series with little effort on your
behalf.
So, put your old underoos on, fix yourself a bowl of sweetened breakfast
cereal and get ready for a fun-filled trip back to the days you thought
would never return!
CYNTHIA SEZ
To spice up the game a bit, I decided to
use my Handy-Dandy Alternate Universe
Transporter Doohickey (TM), travel to
Cartoon World and find a cartoon charac-
ter to add some insight. I was after a
brave protagonist with fists of steel. Or
perhaps a vile villain who craves nothing
more than world domination.
Instead, I got stuck with Kargorr.
Kargorr is a down on his luck wanna-be
conqueror who hasn't had a gig since
Galactic Heroes was cancelled back in
1985 (after a dreadful six-episode run, no
less). I couldn't help but feel sorry for him,
so I convinced him to come back to our
world and work for me.
Who knows—maybe he'll prove to be
entertaining if nothing else. But, be pre-
pared: he likes to shout the word, "Bah!"
an awful lot. It tends to get annoying, but
he works cheap.
Time to Gear Up
While this book gives you nearly everything you need to get started, you’ll also
need a few basic supplies. Don’t worry, there’s major investments here, gang.
Pencils and Paper: ‘Nuff said!
Dice: The ultimate randomizers! You'll just need a few 12-sided dice (often
referred to as d12's)
Imagination: Chances are, if you were interested enough in this game to be reading
it, you already have an abundant supply.
Crash Course in
Roleplaying
The roleplaying game (RPG) is a game of
imagination and cooperative storytelling.
Everyone works together, within context of the
rules, to create a satisfying story that will be
remembered for many years to come.
KARGORR SEZ
It's apparently my duty
to pass on some infor-
mation about gender
and the use of words
such as he, him, his and that manner of
bilge. Supposedly, the use of the male pro-
noun herein has nothing to do with the
obvious superiority of males over fe....
Uh oh.
Okay, let's rephrase that a bit, shall we? The
blasted author has chosen to use the male
pronoun throughout this tome for purposes
of clarity and to avoid a bunch of clumsy
"his/her" situations which would no doubt
prove quite unsightly. So, if you don't like
it.....tough!!
How does it all work?
Rpg’s are played by two or more people. One of
them acts as the Game Master (GM), who interprets
the rules and designs the episodes the characters will
be taking part in. The rest of the participants are called
players. Each player creates a player character to act as
an alter-ego in the game world.
The game starts with the GM describing a particular
scene or setting. The players then describe what their
4
CARTOON ACTION HOUR: Channel 1
characters will do. In turn, the GM tells them
what the effects of their characters' actions are. If
there is ever any doubt, the game rules come into
play. Any characters the player characters meet up
with are controlled by the GM. These are called non-
player characters. Anytime, we say "character" (i.e.,
without "player" or "non-player" preceding it), we are
referencing to both types.
This verbal interplay goes back and forth, creating an
interactive story.
KARGORR SEZ
Bah! This whole role-
playing thing is positive-
ly propostrous! How can
anyone have fun while
having to act like a do-gooder like my old
arch nemesis, Bravesteel? It simply doesn't
make sense! Rubbish!!
*Ahem*
Alright, alright, you doddling designer of
ludicrous games....I'll calm down. I happen
to be one of the greatest rulers in all the
cosmos, yet I'm stooping so low as to assist
with this horrendous tome! She should feel
lucky that I'm doing her the favor! It's not
every day that a divine conquerer such as
myself graces someone's game, you know!
Ingrate!
Things to Remember
Here are a few important notes about roleplaying games.
✭
The GM is not out to beat the players. He’s there to challenge
them, sure, but it’s not about killing off the player characters.
✭
There are no "winners" or "losers" in an rpg. The goal is to
create interesting and exciting stories. If you have fun, you’re
a winner.
✭
Rpg’s use no boards or playing pieces. All the action takes
place in your mind.
Don’t Touch That Dial
Unlike a novel or text book, you don’t have to read this game from
cover to cover. Feel free to skip around as you see fit. If you aren’t plan-
ning on GMing, you can get by with reading only Channel 3 in its entire-
ty.You can skim over Channel 2, gleaning just enough info to get started
making your character. Channel 4 is also handy, but hardly mandatory.
If you plan on GMing, you should read most of the book, though not nec-
essarily in any particular order. The GM must be pretty familiar with the
rules of the game.
Lastly, if you are new to the roleplaying hobby, you should check out all of
Channel 1 (the one you’re reading now).
Channel 1: Introduction
This channel goes into detail to explain what the game is all about.
Channel 2: Characters
This channel is your one-stop source for creating characters.
Channel 3: The Rules
This channel teaches you all the core concepts behind the game system, as well as its
various applications.
Channel 4: Combat
This channel deals with all things relating to beating the tar out of the bad guys (and
vice versa)!
Channel 5: Game Mastering
This channel is the ultimate source for running Cartoon Action Hour. Setting up a series,
capturing the flavor of the cartoons, and a lot more!
Channel 6: The Fall Schedule
A few ready-to-run series for you to use as well as numerous series seeds designed to kick-start
your imagination
Appendix
Ta ke a quick gander here to find an assortment of goodies—recommended cartoons, a character sheet
and, well, just go check it out for yourself if you want to know all the details. You won't be sorry!
5
CARTOON ACTION HOUR: Channel 1
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl adbuxwork.keep.pl
Defenders of Aqua City 8:00 a.m.
My Alien Brother 8:30 a.m.
The Transbots 9:00 a.m.
Warriors of the Cosmos 9:30 a.m.
By Cynthia Celeste Miller
Credits
Copyright 2002 by Spectrum Game Studios. This material is
protected by the copyright laws of the United States of
America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the
material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without
the express written consent of Spectrum Game Studios.
The reference to any companies or products in this
book is not meant to challenge the trademarks or
copyrights concerned.
Written and Developed by
Cynthia Celeste Miller
A
DDITIONAL
D
EVELOPMENT BY
Sabrina Belle, Steve Ratkovich, Kai Tave, Norbert Franz,
Ron Edwards and Jeff Webb
E
DITOR
Ron Edwards
L
AYOUT AND
D
ESIGN
Matt Snyder
C
OVER
A
RT
Jared Brown
I
NTERIOR
A
RT
Leanne Shaw and Jared Brown
C
ARTOON
A
CTION
H
OUR
L
OGO
Matt Snyder
W
EBMASTER
Rod Hannah
P
LAYTESTERS
Steve Ratkovich, Norbert Franz, Jeff Webb, Sabrina Belle, Shelly Bateman,
Brad Weaver, Elissa Carey, Peter Millholland, Aaron John, Adrian John, Jen
Steele, Heather Jaborsky, Jon Szeto, Mary Webb, Clint Hill, Dixie Hill, Reed
Livingston, Scott McKinlay, Andrew Lucas, Eddy Webb, Ravi Duvvuri
A
DDITIONAL
T
HANKS
Lightning Printing and Meta-Games Unlimited
D
EDICATION
Cartoon Action Hour is dedicated to my grandfather, Johnnie "Bup" Miller, who
encouraged me to always follow my dreams no matter how much people scoffed
at them. He was an inspiration, a role model and most importantly, a friend.
Without his support, I never would've written this book. And no one....no one...was
more fun to watch my favorite cartoons with. I love you, Bup. Rest in peace.
C
ONTRIBUTORS
' W
EBSITES
Darkstream Productions (http://www.geocities.com/jaredbrown12)
Zartan's Domain (http://willslade.freeservers.com/zd/frames.html)
The Dumpshock (http://bull.dumpshock.com/)
Chimera Creative (http://www.chimera.info/)
Stratos' Page (http://www.angelfire.com/md/stratosmacca2/heman.html)
The Forge (http://www.indie-rpgs.com)
Wrestling Marks (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wrestlingmarks/)
Bull's CAH Page (http://bull.dumpshock.com/cah/)
C
ONTACT
I
NFORMATION
926 North Grant Avenue
Springfield, MO 65802
spectrum@spectrumgamestudios.com
www.spectrumgamestudios.com
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Channel 1: Introduction
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
The Action is Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Time to Gear Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Crash Course in Roleplaying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Don't Touch That Dial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Lifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Falling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Drowning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Goons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
SUB-CHANNEL ONE: GAME MASTERING
. . . .58
The Jobs of the GM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Skills of the GM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Embracing the Genre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Tr icks of the Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Channel 2: Character
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
What is a Character? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Series Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Ta g line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Personality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Appearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Character Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Tr aits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Specialties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Oomph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Stunt Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Hurt Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Special Abilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Animal Companions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Ve hicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Story Hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
SUB-CHANNEL THREE: THE SERIES
. . . . . . . . .66
The Series Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Creating NPCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Villainy 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
SUB-CHANNEL FOUR: THE EPISODE
. . . . . . . .71
Segment One: Establish the Situation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Segment Two: Present the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Segment Three: Confront the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Segment Four: Climax and Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Channel 6: Line-up
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
SUB-CHANNEL ONE:
READY-TO-RUN SERIES
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Wa rriors of the Cosmos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
To mmy K and the Star Kitties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Dark Brigade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
The Defenders of Aqua City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Channel 3: Game Rules
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Using the Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Action Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Opposed Action Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
SUB-CHANNEL TWO: SERIES SEEDS
. . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Te e n A n g e l S q u a d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
The Outlaws of Skull Gulch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Planet Patrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Ruined World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
My Alien Brother . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
The Transbots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Te xas 2351 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Team Bulwark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Final Lap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Dekkledd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Strikeforce Freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Superadvanced Rocketship GARMON XL . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Inter-Galactic Wars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Holoverse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
The Super Battle Brothers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Channel 4: Combat
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Bashing, Smashing, Zapping and Whapping . . . . . . . . . .42
Initiative and Turns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Close Combat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Ranged Combat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Situational Modifiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Mental Attacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
That's Gonna Leave a Mark! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Other Combat Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Ve hicles in Combat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Channel 5: Game Mastering
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
SUB-CHANNEL ONE:
MISCELLANEOUS RULES
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Episodes and the Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
The Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Experience Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Character Advancement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Degrees of Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Wealth and Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Inventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Appendix I: Glossries
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Cartoon Action Hour Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Glossary of 80s Slang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
Appendix II: Recommended Viewing
. . . . . . . .101
Appendix III: Designers Notes
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
3
CHANNEL 1: Introduction
The Action is Back
Remember, if you will, back to those magical days of
the 1980's, when Saturday morning and weekday after-
noon cartoons offered kids of all ages a heaping dose of
fun, excitement and action.
From huge sentient robots, to paramilitary strike forces,
to post-apocalyptic barbarians ... and everything in between!
The world of cartoons knew no bounds!
We ll, guess what?
Those days have returned! With Cartoon Action Hour, you
can re-live it all ... but this time, you're the star!
Cartoon Action Hour is the roleplaying game of 80's-style action
cartoons. With this one book, you'll have everything you need to
recreate your favorite cartoon show ... or even come up with your
own series! It's up to you!
The game itself is powered by a system that is easy to learn and sim-
ple to play. The versatility of the system is absolute, making it possible
to cover a multitude of different types of series with little effort on your
behalf.
So, put your old underoos on, fix yourself a bowl of sweetened breakfast
cereal and get ready for a fun-filled trip back to the days you thought
would never return!
CYNTHIA SEZ
To spice up the game a bit, I decided to
use my Handy-Dandy Alternate Universe
Transporter Doohickey (TM), travel to
Cartoon World and find a cartoon charac-
ter to add some insight. I was after a
brave protagonist with fists of steel. Or
perhaps a vile villain who craves nothing
more than world domination.
Instead, I got stuck with Kargorr.
Kargorr is a down on his luck wanna-be
conqueror who hasn't had a gig since
Galactic Heroes was cancelled back in
1985 (after a dreadful six-episode run, no
less). I couldn't help but feel sorry for him,
so I convinced him to come back to our
world and work for me.
Who knows—maybe he'll prove to be
entertaining if nothing else. But, be pre-
pared: he likes to shout the word, "Bah!"
an awful lot. It tends to get annoying, but
he works cheap.
Time to Gear Up
While this book gives you nearly everything you need to get started, you’ll also
need a few basic supplies. Don’t worry, there’s major investments here, gang.
Pencils and Paper: ‘Nuff said!
Dice: The ultimate randomizers! You'll just need a few 12-sided dice (often
referred to as d12's)
Imagination: Chances are, if you were interested enough in this game to be reading
it, you already have an abundant supply.
Crash Course in
Roleplaying
The roleplaying game (RPG) is a game of
imagination and cooperative storytelling.
Everyone works together, within context of the
rules, to create a satisfying story that will be
remembered for many years to come.
KARGORR SEZ
It's apparently my duty
to pass on some infor-
mation about gender
and the use of words
such as he, him, his and that manner of
bilge. Supposedly, the use of the male pro-
noun herein has nothing to do with the
obvious superiority of males over fe....
Uh oh.
Okay, let's rephrase that a bit, shall we? The
blasted author has chosen to use the male
pronoun throughout this tome for purposes
of clarity and to avoid a bunch of clumsy
"his/her" situations which would no doubt
prove quite unsightly. So, if you don't like
it.....tough!!
How does it all work?
Rpg’s are played by two or more people. One of
them acts as the Game Master (GM), who interprets
the rules and designs the episodes the characters will
be taking part in. The rest of the participants are called
players. Each player creates a player character to act as
an alter-ego in the game world.
The game starts with the GM describing a particular
scene or setting. The players then describe what their
4
CARTOON ACTION HOUR: Channel 1
characters will do. In turn, the GM tells them
what the effects of their characters' actions are. If
there is ever any doubt, the game rules come into
play. Any characters the player characters meet up
with are controlled by the GM. These are called non-
player characters. Anytime, we say "character" (i.e.,
without "player" or "non-player" preceding it), we are
referencing to both types.
This verbal interplay goes back and forth, creating an
interactive story.
KARGORR SEZ
Bah! This whole role-
playing thing is positive-
ly propostrous! How can
anyone have fun while
having to act like a do-gooder like my old
arch nemesis, Bravesteel? It simply doesn't
make sense! Rubbish!!
*Ahem*
Alright, alright, you doddling designer of
ludicrous games....I'll calm down. I happen
to be one of the greatest rulers in all the
cosmos, yet I'm stooping so low as to assist
with this horrendous tome! She should feel
lucky that I'm doing her the favor! It's not
every day that a divine conquerer such as
myself graces someone's game, you know!
Ingrate!
Things to Remember
Here are a few important notes about roleplaying games.
✭
The GM is not out to beat the players. He’s there to challenge
them, sure, but it’s not about killing off the player characters.
✭
There are no "winners" or "losers" in an rpg. The goal is to
create interesting and exciting stories. If you have fun, you’re
a winner.
✭
Rpg’s use no boards or playing pieces. All the action takes
place in your mind.
Don’t Touch That Dial
Unlike a novel or text book, you don’t have to read this game from
cover to cover. Feel free to skip around as you see fit. If you aren’t plan-
ning on GMing, you can get by with reading only Channel 3 in its entire-
ty.You can skim over Channel 2, gleaning just enough info to get started
making your character. Channel 4 is also handy, but hardly mandatory.
If you plan on GMing, you should read most of the book, though not nec-
essarily in any particular order. The GM must be pretty familiar with the
rules of the game.
Lastly, if you are new to the roleplaying hobby, you should check out all of
Channel 1 (the one you’re reading now).
Channel 1: Introduction
This channel goes into detail to explain what the game is all about.
Channel 2: Characters
This channel is your one-stop source for creating characters.
Channel 3: The Rules
This channel teaches you all the core concepts behind the game system, as well as its
various applications.
Channel 4: Combat
This channel deals with all things relating to beating the tar out of the bad guys (and
vice versa)!
Channel 5: Game Mastering
This channel is the ultimate source for running Cartoon Action Hour. Setting up a series,
capturing the flavor of the cartoons, and a lot more!
Channel 6: The Fall Schedule
A few ready-to-run series for you to use as well as numerous series seeds designed to kick-start
your imagination
Appendix
Ta ke a quick gander here to find an assortment of goodies—recommended cartoons, a character sheet
and, well, just go check it out for yourself if you want to know all the details. You won't be sorry!
5
CARTOON ACTION HOUR: Channel 1
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