Check Out This Preview of the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game

On April 20th, the 120-page softcover playtest book for the new Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game by Matt Forbeck will be available to purchase for $9.99; the final game is due to be released next year, in 2023.

Marvel has revealed some of the playtest book, in which you use the new d616 system and profiles for Spider-Man, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Wolverine and more, in an introductory scenario called Enter: Hydra. The scenario involves a hostage situation at the Howard & Maria Stark Center for Galactic History.

Marvel Multiverse RPG Alternate Covers

Marvel has revealed some alternate covers for its upcoming Marvel Multiverse RPG (written by Matt Forbeck). The new covers are by Peach Momoko and Logan Lubera, and the standard cover is by Iban Coello. The game uses a new "D616" system and will be released next year with a playtest book. "“…...

www.enworld.org

The d616 system uses three d6s. Designer Matt Forbeck says "If you get a 1 on the Marvel die, you get a fantastic result and something amazing happens. If you get 6 on both of the other dice—or a 6-1-6 result—that’s an ultimate fantastic roll, which is even better."

The words MARVEL contains initials for the game's six ability scores -- Might, Agility, Resilience, Vigilance, Ego, and Logic. Each character has an archetype, such as a striker or blaster, and the archetype combines with the abilities to give bigger attack rolls.

Here's a quick look at Spider-Man! For reference a normal human stat is between -4 and +4.

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Get a First Look at the New Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game

Plus an exclusive Q&A with game designer Matt Forbeck!

www.marvel.com

 

[humble minion]

Ultimately they're attempting to compete with Mutants & Masterminds, which is already the most popular supers RPG on #Roll20 and only growing. What they fail to realize is unless Green Ronin pulls a 4e they will never achieve a similar market share because there are already established products which fill that niche better than they do.

I'm not on roll20 so can't speak for the popularity of M&M there, but from where i stand the gameline seems to be on life support. There hasn't been a new book for literally years, the 3rd-party publishers who used to produce M&M material have all but vanished (which says something about the sales volume they were getting), and the Patreon has dwindled into a lets-play stream once a month or so.

The Marvel game certainly doesn't appear to be going in a direction that I'd personally prefer in a supers system, but it looks to me like M&M is ripe for being knocked off the perch if something good enough arrives on the scene. And I'm saying this as a bit of an M&M tragic from way back.

 

[teitan]

I'm not on roll20 so can't speak for the popularity of M&M there, but from where i stand the gameline seems to be on life support. There hasn't been a new book for literally years, the 3rd-party publishers who used to produce M&M material have all but vanished (which says something about the sales volume they were getting), and the Patreon has dwindled into a lets-play stream once a month or so.

The Marvel game certainly doesn't appear to be going in a direction that I'd personally prefer in a supers system, but it looks to me like M&M is ripe for being knocked off the perch if something good enough arrives on the scene. And I'm saying this as a bit of an M&M tragic from way back.

There have been a couple M&M books in the last two years... recently the Time Traveller's Codex came out, not long before that the Deluxe GM Handbook, the SUperteam Handbook. Yeah the releases are slow but there are monthly pdfs so the game is supported, with a lot more content than some RPGs are that have steadier release dates. 3pp isn't nearly as important these days as it was during the 2000s except for OSR games or indy 5e developers. That's not to talk down about 5e developers, its just not been the industry it was during the 3.x heydays.

 

[humble minion]

There have been a couple M&M books in the last two years... recently the Time Traveller's Codex came out, not long before that the Deluxe GM Handbook, the SUperteam Handbook. Yeah the releases are slow but there are monthly pdfs so the game is supported, with a lot more content than some RPGs are that have steadier release dates. 3pp isn't nearly as important these days as it was during the 2000s except for OSR games or indy 5e developers. That's not to talk down about 5e developers, its just not been the industry it was during the 3.x heydays.

Time Traveller’s Codex was published in late 2020, and the Deluxe GM Handbook over a year before that. And there’s not even a whisper of the vigilante book which was talked about as the 2021 release. I suspect we’ll never see it. It’s not like Green Ronin lacks capacity - they’ve been pumping out Expanse supplements and various AGE variations like it’s no tomorrow. They’ve simply chosen not to put serious resources into M&M for a long time now. Licenced stuff is their bread and butter these days.

And the 3pp ecosystem was very productive well into M&M3e, long after D&D went to 4th Ed and the d20 boom faded away. There were dozens of publishers working with M&M at its height, you can find scores of settings and villain books on dtrpg. Vigilance Press were doing big full-colour supplements up until a few years ago, but they were the last.

Not to say people still aren’t playing it. It’s still a really good game, even though there’s a few annoying system things I wish they’d address in an errata or supplement. But it’s nothing like as big or prominent as it used to be.

 

[teitan]

Time Traveller’s Codex was published in late 2020, and the Deluxe GM Handbook over a year before that. And there’s not even a whisper of the vigilante book which was talked about as the 2021 release. I suspect we’ll never see it. It’s not like Green Ronin lacks capacity - they’ve been pumping out Expanse supplements and various AGE variations like it’s no tomorrow. They’ve simply chosen not to put serious resources into M&M for a long time now. Licenced stuff is their bread and butter these days.

And the 3pp ecosystem was very productive well into M&M3e, long after D&D went to 4th Ed and the d20 boom faded away. There were dozens of publishers working with M&M at its height, you can find scores of settings and villain books on dtrpg. Vigilance Press were doing big full-colour supplements up until a few years ago, but they were the last.

Not to say people still aren’t playing it. It’s still a really good game, even though there’s a few annoying system things I wish they’d address in an errata or supplement. But it’s nothing like as big or prominent as it used to be.

I will stand corrected then, I did not realize it has been that long even though they have a full time developer and steady stream of pdf content coming through the website. Perhaps a new edition is in the offing?

 

[humble minion]

Perhaps a new edition is in the offing?

I hope so. M&M 4th Ed, even if it was just a neatened and tightened version of 3rd, would be a ‘shut up and take my money, and then get back to making supplements so you can take my money for those too’ product for me.

 

[aramis erak]

Looking through my copy of the MU PT... it's not as horrible as I was lead to believe... especially with key tables duplicated in back.

It shows some non-D&D influences, too.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Since no one has been updating any info on this lately, the first playtest revision, updating to version 1.1, was released back in July and a second update, and likely the final one, is coming soon. Also, back on Monday, we got the official announcement of release dates for the Core Book and first Adventure Book, along with the cover art for both. So June 2023 for the Core Book and July 2023 for the Kang adventure book. Still no official prices yet, that I can find, but standard hardcovers like this are still retailing between $50-60. Also, it is interesting that on the Marvel site, the RPG is not in the Games or Books section, but in the Culture & Lifestyle section.

Marvel Launching Core Rulebook for New Tabletop Role-Playing Game in Summer 2023

'Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game: Core Rulebook' available June 2023. Followed by 'Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game: The Cataclysm of Kang' available July 2023. Use the D616 game system to embody your favorite Super Heroes and Super Villains!

www.marvel.com

 

[aramis erak]

Having read the playtest, and my FTF group giving it a hard pass just by seeing the character sheet... I'm forced to ask, "Have they improved it any?"

If not... no point in me buying final.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Having read the playtest, and my FTF group giving it a hard pass just by seeing the character sheet... I'm forced to ask, "Have they improved it any?"

If not... no point in me buying final.

I think we are waiting for the next update to the playtest rules, which is supposed to have some major changes to it, for that decision. But that said, since Matt Forbeck is the one writing the game, I have faith in the final product.

 

[Greg K]

Regarding M&M, Chris Pramas just announced on Thursday's livestream that GR is reprinting several of their 3e books and are also going to release a $30 bundle containing pdfs of all 1e and 2e products.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Regarding M&M, Chris Pramas just announced on Thursday's livestream that GR is reprinting several of their 3e books and are also going to release a $30 bundle containing pdfs of all 1e and 2e products.

I tried playing M&M 3e again recently and I realized that I am over everything based on 3.x D&D. I guess I have become spoiled by D&D 5e.

 

[Greg K]

I tried playing M&M 3e again recently and I realized that I am over everything based on 3.x D&D. I guess I gave become spoiled by D&D 5e.

Although I own both M&M 3e and the 4 DCUniversse books in pdf, I never made the switch to M&M 3e. My current superhero system of choice is Icons (followed by BASH:UE, Marvel Heroic, and M&M 2e).
The reason that I mentioned 3e was the comments regarding it in the thread. and to pass along what I heard while waiting for GR news regarding both the upcoming revised Fantasy Age and Modern Age

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

I see this new system is the characters and enemies might be adapted to d20, but you are who have to guess the right XPs reward/changeling rating.

This is not only a product for roleplayers, but the classic comic fanbase. Other reason is the superheroes franchises to survive in the age of the videogames they have to be "nerferd" in the right way. The youngest generations are used to the heroes from videogames, and these are designed with a balance between power and vulneravility, success and failure. The superheroes too powerful are "boring" into the eyes of the new generations. And the rebalance power is harder to be redesigned if you want to publish a videogame with an optional list of different PCs.

 

[corwyn77]

My question is if the leveling-up will be as d20 system. If it is not, then the players will not need to buy monster compediums when they can create their homemade version. The lore/mythology by Marvel comics ir very rich, but this can be found free in the fandom wiki, and the players who want to buy books for the crunch, they would rather d20 because it is the most used.

* How would be a D&D-Marvel crossover? It would be the first intercompany crossover in the TTRPG market, wouldn't it be?

Nope, Champions had a couple - Reality Storm is a crossover adventure with Silver Age Sentinels (Guardians of Order) and Autoduel Champions was Champs characters in the Car Wars universe.

 

[corwyn77]

Participate in the playtest process, I guess. That's what it's for.

Remember when we got incentives for helping with playtesting. Now we get to pay to help out.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Remember when we got incentives for helping with playtesting. Now we get to pay to help out.

Early adopters who were willing to spend a few dollars, sure, but there are ways now to access the playtest rules without directly buying them. One is anyone with a Marvel Unlimited sub gets the playtest included at no extra charge.

But then there were all the "playtesters" who bought the Eberron pdf, which was a high enough number that a bigger, finalized hardcover got published. Or Paizo charging for physical copies of their Pathfinder playtest. And so on, long before Marvel charged for this.

 

[Grendel_Khan]

But then there were all the "playtesters" who bought the Eberron pdf, which was a high enough number that a bigger, finalized hardcover got published. Or Paizo charging for physical copies of their Pathfinder playtest. And so on, long before Marvel charged for this.

Just because someone else previously charged people to playtest their products doesn't make it any less unseemly. But hey, as long as there are massive corporations there'll be people riding to their defense.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Update 1.2 for the playtest is now available, plus a character profile for Shang-Chi. Lots of changes in this one for the final version of the game. No mention of the feedback stage being over, so there should be one more update before the rules have to go off to the printer for the June 2023 release.

Of course, people who think someone showing an interest in something, or just pointing out facts, is actually defending or shilling for the person or company, shouldn't bother.

 

[Grendel_Khan]

The fact that "Hurled Shield Deflection" is a power in a supers RPG in 2022 is pretty funny stuff. Is there a "Baton Throw Ricochet" specifically for Daredevil, and "Distractingly Snarky Comment" for Deadpool.

What a mess, doing supers as an endless laundry list of slightly different and character-specific powers.

 

[Retreater]

Has anyone compared the new game to the 1980s FASERIP version? Some of my players are getting nostalgic for the old game.