Upcoming Superhero RPGs Coincidence or Zeitgeist

[Reynard]

There are lots of supers games because everyone has OPINIONS on supers. I really like M&M3 but my supers group prefers M&M2 or Hero. I can't stand narrative supers games but lots of people put Masks at the top of the heap. I think it may be the most divisive TTRPG genre.

As an aside: I'm still waiting for that really great superhero cRPG.

 

[overgeeked]

People have many legit gripes with D&D, but it's ubiquity is what makes it a good entry point into the hobby for the overwhelming majority of people. There is no gateway superhero rpg

While I agree up to a point, I don’t think it’s an insurmountable hurdle. Sure, there is no single utterly dominant gateway superhero RPG, but I think that’s a feature not a bug. The three most popular at last check were Marvel Multiverse, Masks: A New Generation, and M&M3E. Though that last is getting long in the tooth (14-years-old). With the ubiquity of Marvel movies and comics, that one’s probably the best entry point for most people, despite the game having lots of problems.

 

[Professor Murder]

While I agree up to a point, I don’t think it’s an insurmountable hurdle. Sure, there is no single utterly dominant gateway superhero RPG, but I think that’s a feature not a bug. The three most popular at last check were Marvel Multiverse, Masks: A New Generation, and M&M3E. Though that last is getting long in the tooth (14-years-old). With the ubiquity of Marvel movies and comics, that one’s probably the best entry point for most people, despite the game having lots of problems.

Is Marvel produced by Disney or is it a licensed property? If it is the latter, then it has the issue of any licensed media property rpg, which is a limited production and supported window.

 

[overgeeked]

Is Marvel produced by Disney or is it a licensed property? If it is the latter, then it has the issue of any licensed media property rpg, which is a limited production and supported window.

No, it’s by Marvel themselves. They’re really pushing support for the line. It’s up to 4 books besides the core. It came out in 2023.

 

[Wofano Wotanto]

"I am digging Superhero media and culture and have never played an RPG before. What's the game to play?" I don't have a good answer.

Why not? Pick whatever light-ish rules* you feel like running a demo for and do so. Ask them what kind of hero they'd most like to play and do a pre-gen for them, maybe collaboratively if you think they can handle it and it'll improve their grasp of the game. Run 'em through a newbie scenario like a bank robbery with a few scrub minions and a real villain so they can see the mechanics in play, then do some Q&A afterward to see how they liked it. If they did, great, show them where to get the rules. If they didn't, ask them why and see if there's a better fit. Which there probably will be.

Supers as a genre has rules for almost every superfan's taste, and the fact that there isn't a D&D equivalent means you don't have to worry about recommending one based solely on sales figures, which mean a lot less than playability to a new player.

*For me, that'd be Supers RED, Icons, or Bash! depending on my mood that day. Maybe Sentinel Comics if they express an interest in narrative roleplay over mechanics, but only because I've got a bajillion pregens ready for it and know it well.

 

[RenleyRenfield]

So if you were asked "What is the go to Superhero RPG?" what would be your answer?

oohhh I was gonna ask this question, I am so glad you did

For me its Marvel Heroic Roleplaying (Cortex Prime) , by such a long shot .. that no supers game ever released is even close enough to consider or sniff at.

If you took that from me, I would stomp on each one of your toes... but then i would accept City of Mist as a good second choice..

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

As an aside: I'm still waiting for that really great superhero cRPG.

City of Heroes was so close but fumbled some key things, partly due to weird worldbuilding choices.

 

[Reynard]

City of Heroes was so close but fumbled some key things, partly due to weird worldbuilding choices.

I want a Bethesda "Super Skyrim" and will repeat that desire until my final breath.

 

[Wofano Wotanto]

As an aside: I'm still waiting for that really great superhero cRPG.

Freedom Force is good enough for me, the most I'd want is a remaster and maybe another storyline, maybe something 80's themed. City of Heroes will do for MMO play.

M&M3E. Though that last is getting long in the tooth (14-years-old).

The Valiant Universe version should be out soon, and between that and the long-overdue Vigilantes book it seems like Green Ronin is at least rolling over in its sleep, and might even get up and do something to freshen up the game. Not sold on it needing a 4th ed, but a tweaked Revised version of the core books would be okay.

For me its Marvel Heroic Roleplaying (Cortex Prime) , by such a long shot .. that no supers game ever released is even close enough to consider or sniff at.

It's great if you've got a copy, but just cruel to recommend to anyone who doesn't.

And Sentinel Comics is at least on par with it, despite its awful support from GTG.

What we really need is someone to take the best of both of them, ditch the IP-locked settings, and make a generic supers RPG that's open to 3PP support and isn't constantly endangered by licensing and/or logjams caused by micromanagement. Still would be everyone's idea by a long shot, but it'd be hard to top for many folks.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

What we really need is someone to take the best of both of them, ditch the IP-locked settings, and make a generic supers RPG that's open to 3PP support and isn't constantly endangered by licensing and/or logjams caused by micromanagement. Still would be everyone's idea by a long shot, but it'd be hard to top for many folks.

Well, if the Invincible RPG does well, I think we'll probably see a book of generic additional powers to go along with it, which will be the basis for a generic superhero RPG. And if/when Free League loses the license, all the stuff will be right there to just keep on going with a generic supers game.