DC Heroes Role-Playing Game Gets New Reprint from Cryptozoic

Cryptozoic Entertainment is reprinting the classic DC Heroes Role-Playing Game to celebrate the RPG's 40th anniversary. A Kickstarter pre-launch page for the new "archival edition" of DC Heroes went live earlier this week, with Cryptozoic promising a "faithful reissue" of the original game line with upgrades and exclusive dice. From the looks of a promo image for the new project, it appears that the line will be published in a single volume.

DC Heroes was originally designed by Greg Gorden and published by Mayfair Games. The game uses a 2d10 system to resolve checks, with players consulting a table to determine the success or failure of checks. Additionally, the game's attribute point system was logarithmic in nature to allow for the game to handle the immense range of powers within the DC Universe. Three editions of the game was published between 1985 and 1993, with the game incorporating various contemporaneous comics events such as Crisis on Infinite Earths and Death of Superman.

No launch date for the Kickstarter has been announced. A full description of the project can be seen below:

DC Heroes is an innovative and award-winning role-playing game that was first published in 1985. It allows you and your friends to take on the roles of iconic Super Heroes like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Cyborg, or to create heroes of your own. The object of the game is to create brand-new stories pitting these heroes against The Joker, Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Sinestro, or any of the hundreds of other villains who threaten the DC Universe!

Over eight years of product releases, DC Heroes produced dozens of adventures and sourcebooks, many featuring contributions from some of DC’s finest writers and artists of the 1980s—Jack Kirby, Alan Moore, Denny O’Neil, George Perez, John Byrne, and many others. Thousands of gamers and comics fans are still playing DC Heroes even though it’s been unavailable for decades.

To celebrate DCH’s 40th anniversary, we’re reprinting the line in definitive archival editions. Whether you’ve never experienced DCH before or you’re a long-time fan looking to plug the holes in your collection, we’ve got you covered.

 

[General_Tangent]

There was a reprint of the some of the DC Mayfair material in the Watchmen companion, it just appears to be the sourcebook with none of the rules though.

 

[EthanSental]

Did you play much superhero stuff back then after you discovered D&D. I just find peoples' paths through gaming genres interesting.

We did a few one shots for MSH and DC Heroes to break up the D&D, MERP, pathfinder fantasy routine but nothing like a story or campaign. As teenagers, all 4 of us read comics, now only 2 of us still do so it’s mainly for youthful nostalgia for the one shots and those are fun enough for us now.

 

[mxmarkargent]

There was a reprint of the some of the DC Mayfair material in the Watchmen companion, it just appears to be the sourcebook with none of the rules though.

the Watchmen Companion has full reprints of both first edition DC Heroes Watchmen adventures, the second edition DCH sourcebook, a reprint of The Question #17 of the O'Neill/Cowan run that had Rorschach in a dream sequence, and some miscellanea.

 

[Skywalker]

Is there a reason to go 1e over 2e?

Nostalgia. Normally that may not be compelling, but this whole product release is built on nostalgia, so I can see people choosing 1e over 2e.

Where did you spot the FAQ? I seem to have overlooked it.

It was posted on social media by Ray Winninger:

 

[Dire Bare]

Nostalgia. Normally that may not be compelling, but this whole product release is built on nostalgia, so I can see people choosing 1e over 2e.

It was posted on social media by Ray Winninger:
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This is, of course, awesome.

But I wish they'd take a cue from how Chaosium is reprinting the classic ElfQuest RPG. Chaosium is "remastering" the books, meaning they are starting with scanning in the original material, but then cleaning up artwork, OCR'ing text, and incorporating errata. That would be even awesomer for DC Heroes.

 

[Parmandur]

This is, of course, awesome.

But I wish they'd take a cue from how Chaosium is reprinting the classic ElfQuest RPG. Chaosium is "remastering" the books, meaning they are starting with scanning in the original material, but then cleaning up artwork, OCR'ing text, and incorporating errata. That would be even awesomer for DC Heroes.

That could be problematic with the nature of the license.

 

[Dire Bare]

That could be problematic with the nature of the license.

Possibly. I doubt it. But it doesn't seem to be the way they are going with this project anyway. I'm just wishlisting.

 

[Mark Craddock]

Both 1st and 2nd edition box sets are getting reprinted from the FAQ.

Where did you find the FAQ?

 

[ShinHakkaider]

I still have a 2nd edition box of this in cellophane / plastic wrap. I mostly played 3rd Ed and I loved DC HEROES. It was the super hero game we played between Marvel FASERIP and Champions 4th Ed.

 

[Greg K]

I may have to pick up the first edition box set. I love the 1e box set cover, but I got rid of my copy of 1e around the time 2e came out.

I also have my eye on the following sourcebooks if reprinted.

• 1e sourcebooks: The Bell Reve Sourcebook, Green Lantern Corps Sourcebook, Strangers in Paradise, Legion of Super-Heroes vol 1, Legion of Super-Heroes vol 2, Night in Gotham (adventure/ Gotham City design accessory)
• 2e sourcebooks: The 2995 Legion of Super-Heroes Sourcebook, The Atlas of the DC Universe, Watchmen Sourcebook

Finally, there are a couple of 1e adventures that I would not mind owning again.