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Message: <blockquote data-quote="fuindordm" data-source="post: 2140151" data-attributes="member: 5435">I had a great, long-running fantasy campaign using Fantasy Hero.Advantages: 1) You can build any game effect you want within the system, and it's not even difficult to do so--it's just a matter of choosing the base effect, advantages and disadvantages then doing some arithmetic.2) You can build any kind of character you want just as easily.  The process is 100% point-buy, and taking disadvantages gets you more points to spend--but also gives the DM permission, nay, an obligation to mess with your character (e.g. Hunted by Organization was one of my favorites).3) Characters typically earn 1-3 character points per game session--about the cost of a skill or stat increase.  You could very easily, if you wish, assign 50% of earned experience yourself to skills used in the game to get the kind of use-it-or-lose-it feel that you want.Disadvantages:1) It requires a lot of work on the GMs part to create new monsters and NPCS--but perhaps no more than in D20 these days (both are essentially budgeting problems)2) Just because the SYSTEM allows the characters to do anything, doesn't mean that the SETTING should allow it.  The GM needs to rule over the character creation and development with an iron fist, vetoing any improvements that violate the precepts of the setting.  This can be frustrating for the players at times--the wizard wants to research a Flying spell, and you don't allow it, or the warrior wants to buy up their speed to six, and you won't allow it...3) In a simiar vein, you have to make sure that the power level of the game doesn't get out of hand.  One of the reasons I went back to D&D after 4 years of HERO is that I was tired of the tightrope walk between easily ignored popocorn and overwhelming enemies.  HERO is a system that works best when all the PCS and their enemies are at exactly the same power level.  In D&D a troop of goblins might not threaten an 8th level party, but they will at least whittle them down a little--that kind of encounter is much more difficult in HERO.In summary, I would highly recommend HERO more for short-term campaigns (say, less than a year) than for long-term campaigns.  Not that it can't work for long term campaigns, but it takes a lot more work to make it work.Ben</blockquote>

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