Green Ronin and Super Unicorn Team Up for Mutants & Masterminds

[Guardians Of Order]

Actually, what I was commenting on was a point based character creation system. You can't include that without losing use of the logo or playing dangerously fast and loose with the d20 system trademark license.

If by "dangerously fast and loose" you mean "provided you don't violate the d20 license in the process," then I agree. As I'm sure Green Ronin and others know, the d20 license is very specific regarding what you can't say about character creation. This specifically includes;

* generating ability scores
* assigning class
* assigning skills

When adding in a point-based power creation system, the d20 license restrictions do not apply. From what little I've read about M&M's powers, it appears GR has taken the same route as we did with SAS: a point-based, level-based, effects-based, customizable power creation system.

Whether M&M uses the d20 logo or not most likely has nothing to do with GR's superpower system, but other marketing concerns.

 

[Guardians Of Order]

When 2WS-Steve said 'I bet being the first to market with a fully developed point based character making system fully comptabile with "the world's number one tabletop roleplaying game"' I believe he was talking about Mutants & Masterminds coming out as an OGL product with a full character creation and character advancement system, aspects that a product carrying the D20 logo isn't allowed to include.

If we were to go "all the way" with Mutants & Masterminds, I think we'd be considered first to market for that kind of game.

You would absolutely be the first (unless there's some web stuff I'm not aware of). Based on 2WS-Steve's most recent post, it appears that is indeed what he intended to say. Though as I said in my message above, a point-based power creation system is not forbidden by the d20 license either.

To stretch it even further, M&M would be the second RPG to be only OGLed (right behind Everquest). Possibly an untapped market ready for GR's dominance...

 

[2WS-Steve]

Ahh, I see the source of the confusion.

When 2WS-Steve said 'I bet being the first to market with a fully developed point based character making system fully comptabile with "the world's number one tabletop roleplaying game"' I believe he was talking about Mutants & Masterminds coming out as an OGL product with a full character creation and character advancement system, aspects that a product carrying the D20 logo isn't allowed to include.

If we were to go "all the way" with Mutants & Masterminds, I think we'd be considered first to market for that kind of game.

Nicole

Yah, what Nikchick said. I think it would be pretty exciting to see and I've always thought that a supers game would be the best vehicle for broaching a class/level-less SRD-based game. But it's easy to gamble other people's money...

 

[Samurai]

If you want a class-less and level-less OGL supers game, Godlike already beat both of ya to it...

 

[Dread0395]

For anyone wanting to check out what the pc's look like and a bit of the new combat rules overview, Game Trade Monthly #30 (from Alliance Distribution) has a 4 page preview in it!

It should be available at your local FLGS supplied by Alliance.

Eric the Dread0395

 

[Kenson]

If you want a class-less and level-less OGL supers game, Godlike already beat both of ya to it...

Not quite, Samurai. The Godlike OGL rules do have character levels (p. 343, to be exact). No character classes, but there are still levels.

 

[Kenson]

For anyone wanting to check out what the pc's look like and a bit of the new combat rules overview, Game Trade Monthly #30 (from Alliance Distribution) has a 4 page preview in it!

The Dread Eric is, of course, referring to a preview of Mutants & Masterminds that's in Game Trade (and a damn fine-looking one, thanks to the guys at Super Unicorn). Keep an eye on the boards and on Green Ronin's website. There are more previews in the works, and I think folks will like what they see.

 

[Shayd3000]

SAS and M&M

I got to play in SAS and M&M at ORIGINS this year, and needless to say, I was impressed immensly with both systems! I would have liked to try out SASd20 to compare with M&M, but sadly that opportunity was not available.

I had a great time with both games, and am very excited about the upcomming SASd20 and M&M releases and have plans to purchase them both.

The problem is, we don't know which one we want to play yet, because they're all so good! Will probably end up playing all three.

I will say this, having never seen M&M before, we were able to sit down and get into play fairly quickly, and our characters forged into a pretty good super-team almost immediatly. The game moved very quickly, and the innovations Steve has slipped in are extrememly impressive. This game is a MUST BUY for any super hero gamer.

Having said that, SAS is also another MUST BUY. The tri-stat system (yes, I know not d20) is also very quick and easy to play, and the game moves fast, keeping up with the high-action needed for superheroic play. The production quality on the SAS book is extremely good, and that book rests on my shelf next to the Cthulhu Anniversary rulebook. I hope to put M&M in that place of honor as well.

Champions is in BIG trouble is all I can say, having been a VERY LONG TIME Champions player (1st ed anyone?).

Thanks to Mark and Steve both for GREAT GAMES!!!!!

George

 

[NLP]

Re: SAS and M&M

Champions is in BIG trouble is all I can say, having been a VERY LONG TIME Champions player (1st ed anyone?).

"Hello. My name is Nathan Price and I am a Champions player."

Most of the people who really like Champions more than likely won't be switching. It will be more along the lines of people like yourself, who play many different games and have no real affinity for any one system, but just use it because it is the one available, that will look at switching.

I have already bought SAS and I plan on buying M&M, but I do not plan on playing either game system. Both games will be nothing more than additions to my current Champions campaign. Empire City and Freedom City will be added to my game right along side Hudson City, San Angelo, and Millennium City.

Any new heroes, villains, and organizations that are in SAS and M&M will be added to my current Champions game – assuming they do not overlap with an existing character in my game. To me, this is as good as it gets: three respected game companies all producing superhero material. What more can a superhero fan like myself ask for? It is almost as good as the old days, when I had Champions, V&V, Marvel, and DC Heroes material to buy and use.

 

[Kenson]

Re: SAS and M&M

I will say this, having never seen M&M before, we were able to sit down and get into play fairly quickly, and our characters forged into a pretty good super-team almost immediatly. The game moved very quickly, and the innovations Steve has slipped in are extrememly impressive. This game is a MUST BUY for any super hero gamer.

Thanks, George! I'm glad that you enjoyed the demo game so much. It was a blast to run them, and I'm looking forward to doing the same at GenCon. While we did extensive playtesting for Mutants & Masterminds I was still very relieved to prove to myself that I could sit down with a group of people who'd never played the game before, teach them the basics, and run a complete adventure (including a couple good fights) in the space of about two hours.