What's so great about ZODIAC?
I created ZODIAC because I wanted a Final Fantasy game system that
a) Was a balanced Final Fantasy-related system where no character class overwhelms the others, as they often did in the FF games.
b) Remained true to the spirit of the Final Fantasy games without being mechanically ruled by them.
c) Allowed the freedom to create unique characters and abilities for them.

With ZODIAC, I believe we've succeeded.

Why is it called ZODIAC? Is this a Final Fantasy Tactics RPG?
No, it isn't. The system is called ZODIAC because
a) I needed a name.
b) ZODIAC sounded good.
c) It had a connection to Final Fantasy.
Why is it capitalized? Well, because it looks better capitalized.

What is ZODIAC's philosophy towards emulating the Final Fantasy games?
ZODIAC does not try to recreate any of Square's games in pencil-and-paper format. Rather, ZODIAC is an attempt to capture the spirit of the games, not emulate them exactly. As such, ZODIAC allows the player a great deal of leeway when creating a character. In addition, the rules may seem somewhat "loose" compared to other FFRPG systems and other RPGs in general. You won't find rules for encumbrance or maximum land speed in ZODIAC; rather, it leans towards the light, high fantasy of the Final Fantasy games themselves. ZODIAC includes rules for combat, but everything else is either in the Optional Rules section, or left up to the players and Masters that use the system.

What game world is ZODIAC set in?
ZODIAC is not designed for a specific game world; it can easily be adapted to any game world or used in the Game Master's own original setting. ZODIAC's game mechanics- for instance, the magic and armor systems- tend towards a more medieval setting; however, the Optional Rules is under development and will eventually contain rules for playing ZODIAC with skills, Materia, the Job system, and other world-specific game systems.

Gameplay-Related Questions

Is ZODIAC a computer game?
I'm not sure where this question came from, but no, it's not. ZODIAC is a pencil-and-paper RPG; if you're not familiar with these, you may want to read the Introduction to Roleplaying Games.

Is this an online sparring RPG?
No, absolutely not. ZODIAC is not intended to be used for two people to sit in a chat room and bash each other for hours. It is a role-playing game, not Street Fighter II.

Where are the classes?
There are none. This is where ZODIAC shines. A formal class list would take up a huge number of pages, due to the sheer volume of different character classes that have appeared in the Final Fantasy series over time. In addition, it would be quite limiting to the player, forcing him or her to essentially play a character from one of Square's games, not to mention the extensive problems that would inevitably come with balancing so many classes from so many different game engines. Rather than providing a list of classes from Final Fantasy, ZODIAC allows the player to create his or her own unique character with a unique set of skills and powers. Each character in the Final Fantasy series was unique; there was only one Cyan and one Steiner. ZODIAC allows a very high level of flexibility when designing your character, right down to the elements your black mage uses. We believe this approach is the best, as it allows almost any sort of character you can imagine.

Where are the skills?
Skills are located in the Optional Rules. Why are they optional? Because although ZODIAC is a pencil-and-paper RPG, it is also a Final Fantasy RPG, and a skill system isn't a core Final Fantasy concept. Therefore, I have written a skill system for those who wish to use it, but until Final Fantasy incorporates a skill system, Skills won't be core material.

What about races? Why can't I be a moogle?!
Once again, having a formal list of races detracts from the spirit of the game. Final Fantasy is all about new and original characters. Having a list of allowable races would not only be self-defeating- many races in the e-games, including elves, were specific to a certain world, or totally unique unto themselves (Cait Sith)- but would limit the game in a way similar to having a list of premade classes. In addition, we feel that your choice of race should be a purely role-playing choice, not one that depends on a particular race's stat bonuses and penalties. Oh, and yes, you can be a moogle... if you really want to.

How do you play?
I get this question a lot. Read the rules. If you're new to role-playing games, you might want to look over the Introduction to Role-Playing Games to learn how to play.

Where do you guys play?
"We" don't. There's no huge, official online ZODIAC campaign that you have to sign up for. ZODIAC can be used by anyone for any kind of campaign they like. If you're looking for a place to play, try OpenRPG.

Can I be (Insert name of Final Fantasy character here)?
Why would you want to? Make your own character - don't constrain yourself to playing as Cloud Strife. Creativity is the entire point of a roleplaying game.

Administrative Questions

Who's in charge here?
I guess that would be me, S, the webmaster and creator of ZODIAC.

What about your staff? Can I be (treasurer, moderator, secretary of war, etc)?
I don't have a "staff" per se, nor is there a hierarchy, spoken or unspoken. I'm the big guy, and I keep things running, but anyone is welcome to contribute ideas, articles, source material, worldbooks, or what have you. If anything, my "staff" is made up of the people who work with me on the ZODIAC mailing list; we all work together to improve and expand the game.

Can you help me write an RPG / create a web site / etc?
I never thought anyone would ask me this, but I've gotten quite a few requests. Sorry, but I'm too busy working on and maintaining ZODIAC and its web site to help you out. (Besides, can you imagine the work load if I said "Yes" to everybody that asked me?)

Can you send me info / cheats / pictures / saved games / whatever for Final Fantasy?
No, I can't. That's not what we're here for. The ZODIAC web site is not intended to be a source for Final Fantasy files and material, and has no connection to SquareSoft. If you're looking for something like this, you're looking in the wrong place.

What goes on behind the scenes?
Usually one of two things:

• Nothing at all.
• Somebody working on new source material for the game.

If that's too vague for you, and you'd like to be better informed, you're welcome to join the ZODIAC Message Board. This is where you'll find general discussion about the game, as well as what's on the horizon. If you're just curious, you can view the message archive to see what we're talking about, but you must be a member to post anything.

What's the message board for?
The ZODIAC Message Board is a forum for the discussion of anything related to ZODIAC. New source material written by ZODIAC players is also submitted and critiqued through the message board. If you'd like to join, click here - it's 100% free.

When's the next update?
Impossible to say. Updates don't happen on a regular schedule; I update when something needs to be updated. This usually means when a new article is finished, or when we find a game mechanic that needs adjusting. Once in a while the News page will mention that a certain update may be coming soon, but most of the time, there's no set time for the next update.

I'd like to contribute something. How do I do it?
Easy. Just subscribe to the message board and tell us what you're plotting, just to make sure it's not already under development. If the position is free, and your idea is at least somewhat applicable to the project, there should be no problem. If you'd just like to propose a rules change or point out a fatal flaw in the ZODIAC mechanics, go right ahead; we'll discuss it and decide if something needs to be changed.

Does my article have to be Final Fantasy-related?
No. Rules from EarthBound, Breath of Fire, Lufia, or just about anything else are more than welcome, but most of the time they'll go into the Optional Rules.

I'll bet I could write a great worldbook for (name of game here)! I'm on the message board, so what should I do next?
There are only two guidelines for worldbook authors:

1. Stick to what happened in the game. Worldbooks should be set immediately after where the game ended; you may have to extrapolate a little (what happened to the Light Warriors?), but don't add 500 years of history to the world you're writing about. Stick to what the game tells you. What happens to the world after the game ends (or, to some extent, before it begins) is up to the Masters who run campaigns in that world.

2. Make sure you've covered any special mechanics specific to the world you're writing about, unless they've already been written. For example, an FF7 worldbook would require rules for Limit Breaks and Materia. Some Masters just want to use a particular world; others only want to use a particular game's magic system; still others want to use both in conjunction.

Hopefully, this FAQ will answer any questions you may have about ZODIAC. If you still don't understand something, just let me know and I'll answer your question as soon as possible.