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.

​

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

 

[MarkB]

At the very least, the derived stats are pretty simple to calculate. Modifier appears to be entirely linear (with a 0 = +7), and Defense is just the Modifier +11.

And the number of spaces a character can move seems to be their speed divided by 5, rounded to whole numbers.

It does not sound like the dice are added together, as the opening post quotes from the article itself:

"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."

Given the size of the modifiers, I'd expect it to be 3d6 + modifier. If it were something like "roll 3d6, pick highest result", the variable die result would be overwhelmed by the modifiers.

 

[Greg K]

It is just a preview, but already not impressed so far.

 

[MarkB]

Basically, it's a game with six ability scores, from which you derive both modifiers and defenses, and multiple movement modes in some unit of distance, which you divide in order to work out how many squares you can move.

So far, so D&D.

 

[Lord Shark]

Looking at the powers, I wonder exactly is the difference between Webcasting, Webgrabbing, Webslinging, and Webtrapping, and why you would need to break down "slings webs" into several different abilities.

I assume Spider-Dodge and Mighty 1 reflect superhuman levels of Agility and Might?

Also, movement is broken into spaces? I hope they don't expect us to run superhero combats on a 5-square-foot grid...

 

[JarooAshstaff]

This looks exciting to read, I want to find out what the "Weird" trait is, I would have thought spiderman was the least weird.

 

[Rabulias]

Why assume that something like an intro character exists?

Looking at this cover art shown:

the blank character in the foreground suggests "you can make your own hero."

 

[Jer]

Looking at this cover art shown:
View attachment 155197
the blank character in the foreground suggests "you can make your own hero."

Make your own hero isn't the same as an intro character.

You can make your own hero in every superhero RPG out there - depending on the power level of the game you might be making a peer to Superman or to Daredevil. But you don't typically start out as Daredevil and work your way up to Superman by leveling - the power level and complexity of your character pretty much starts at one level and stays roughly there for a whole campaign (you might gain more breadth or have a slight power up, but nothing like the D&D improvement curve).

 

[Rabulias]

Make your own hero isn't the same as an intro character.

You can make your own hero in every superhero RPG out there - depending on the power level of the game you might be making a peer to Superman or to Daredevil. But you don't typically start out as Daredevil and work your way up to Superman by leveling - the power level and complexity of your character pretty much starts at one level and stays roughly there for a whole campaign (you might gain more breadth or have a slight power up, but nothing like the D&D improvement curve).

You may be right, but I think there will be a segment of the audience that will want to have a way to improve their hero, be it an original creation, or one of the established Marvel heroes. And I think this parallels plot points in the comics and films. Iron Man is a prime example, building improved versions of his armor. Spider-Man comes up with new ways to use his webbing. The Hulk can integrate Bruce Banner's mind with Hulk's strength. I think the game will at least provide an option for character advancement/improvement. Some of this can be more than just slight power ups.

 

[overgeeked]

I wonder if this will be 3d6+mod resolution where a 1 on the marvel die while 6 on one or two of the other die does something special.

That's what they've said. In that linked preview no less. 3d6 is the standard resolution mechanic. One die is the Marvel die. If you roll double sixes on the regular dice and a 1 on the Marvel die, something amazing happens. Hence the "d616 System".

 

[overgeeked]

Ah yes, the Spider-Strike power. Everyone knows what that is. Very intuitive.

With every new supers game that tries (yet again) to atomize the experience into a massive pile of numbers and endless lists of specific powers, the more I appreciate the genius of Masks.

It really is a great game. Even with the buckets of dice you need, MHR still looks like a better game than this. I'm sure it'll have fans, but the last thing I want from a superheroes game is another clunky, cruchy mess of a behemoth.