Help! I need a rules-lite super hero RPG

[ForceUser]

I've been perusing Mutants & Masterminds, but I think there's too much going on there for me to bother with. I just left 3E for 4E D&D and I'm not thrilled about going back to the standard d20 system and all of its crunchy numbers for a supers game. But the system can't be Marvel Super Heroes either, which I played in high school and which is essentially one chart and a couple d10s. That's a little too rules-lite for me.

Ideally my super hero game would be based on something like true20, but any fast-paced, rules-lite system could work, with the following caveats. One, it needs to feel like choices made during character creation are mechanically meaningful while being completely customizable. Two, the system needs to be designed such that story is never sacrificed at the expense of rules lawyering or number crunching (I'm looking at you, 3E prestige classes). Three, when dice are rolled, outcomes need to be variable, fun and fulfilling regardless of success or failure; after a school year of playing Marvel Super Heroes, rolls on the FASRIP chart became repetitive and dull. And, finally, it's a super hero game! The system needs to be equally fulfilling at street level and among the cosmos.

In sum, the system needs to have some gravitas without being overly complex. Anyone know a super hero RPG like that?

 

[ffanxii4ever]

I don't know from personal experience, but maybe pick up Savage Worlds Explorer's Edition and the sourcebook Necessary Evil

If you don't know about it, Savage Worlds is a rules-lite generic system that alot of good things are said about, and Necessary Evil is the sourcebook for a supers game that the same company published for Explorer's Edition, though I am sure you can find another setting, or tweak the fluff if you want

Just my 2 c

 

[ValhallaGH]

Take a look at Truth and Justice (at the bottom of the page).

Very simple character creation, pretty straight-forward system, robust power set. At least as accommodating as Savage Worlds' Necessary Evil system-setting; not quite as accommodating as M&M (which isn't nearly as bad as 3E, but it has it's moments, especially if you want something more complicated than a bruiser-type).

Overall, I've been really impressed by it. It's not my style (M&M 2E is) but it's very good.
** Atomic Sock Monkey - Products **

 

[Silvercat Moonpaw]

I don't know from personal experience, but maybe pick up Savage Worlds Explorer's Edition and the sourcebook Necessary Evil

If you don't know about it, Savage Worlds is a rules-lite generic system that alot of good things are said about, and Necessary Evil is the sourcebook for a supers game that the same company published for Explorer's Edition, though I am sure you can find another setting, or tweak the fluff if you want

Just my 2 c

Savage Worlds now has its own Super Power Companion, so you can get super power rules without the Necessary Evil setting if you feel like it.
Savage Worlds Super Powers Companion - Pinnacle Entertainment | RPGNow.com

 

[Sen Udo-Mal]

BASH Ultimite Edition is pretty cool and the art is great

 

[scruffygrognard]

I'd go with [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Heroes-Role-Playing-Game-Special/dp/0966528034/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264033727&sr=8-3"]Blood of Heroes[/ame]. It has crappy production values (the art is atrocious) but is based on the awesome DC Heroes RPG... my favorite supers game.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Heroes

 

[ForceUser]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I am perusing your suggestions. That said, anything that ties action resolution to a chart is right out. I hate referencing charts

 

[Piratecat]

For what it's worth, I'd argue that MnM plays MUCH more smoothly than you might think. I just ran a 3 hour, 3 combat encounter PL10 game that didn't reference a rulebook or combat stats (for my bad guys) once. It was fast, cinematic, and incredibly easy to GM. Any game where I can keep every bad guy stat in my head is a game I want to play.

I'm happy to share some of the tips if that'd be useful.

 

[Elric]

For what it's worth, I'd argue that MnM plays MUCH more smoothly than you might think. I just ran a 3 hour, 3 combat encounter PL10 game that didn't reference a rulebook or combat stats (for my bad guys) once. It was fast, cinematic, and incredibly easy to GM. Any game where I can keep every bad guy stat in my head is a game I want to play.

I'm happy to share some of the tips if that'd be useful.

M&M is a great game and, as Piratecat says, it plays very smoothly. I don't want to compete with Piratecat where gaming advice is concerned, but the following resources, many from M&M's official forums, may be useful:

M&M FAQ

Character Creation Examples: Minotaur (a Powerhouse) and Martial Artist (the core book archetype).

Download a useful Excel Spreadsheet for building characters here. You can find an Open Office character sheet here.

My Fight Examples (written from the perspective of the players and GM, so designed to help people understand the rules; these are less smooth than M&M actually plays, because I'm trying to be very complete for the sake of teaching the rules)
Fight #1: X-Men vs. Brotherhood of Evil Mutants
Fight #2: Avengers (Luke Cage, Black Widow, Beast) vs. White Knight

Taliesin's builds, a thread with a ton of (very high quality) conversions for M&M from every conceivable genre.

Edit:
The Mutants & Mastermind's Beginner's Guide is now free on RPGNow and DriveThruRPG. You have to register to download the book, but that only takes a minute.

Two notable errors: Megastar's "Combat" stat-line is that of Bolt, duplicated by mistake. His actual combat stats (from Freedom City) are supposed to be:
Combat: Attack +10 (melee), +8 (ranged), Grapple +26, Damage +10 (unarmed, Blast), Defense +9, Knockback –10, Initiative +1

The other error: the Guide states in more than one place that when already suffering a Staggered condition, a Bruised result on a Toughness Save will make the character Unconscious:

Bruised: Mark a check or slash under the Bruised section of the damage track on character’s sheet. Each bruised mark subtracts 1 from the character’s further Toughness saving throws. A target that’s already staggered getting this result is knocked out; see Unconscious, following.

Staggered: The character is staggered: check off the Staggered box on the damage track on the character’s sheet. Any further damage—that is, any Toughness save less than the required DC, means the character is unconscious

The Beginner's Guide is wrong. Both the M&M errata (1st/2nd printing) and a response from Steve Kenson (M&M's designer) confirm that only another Staggered result will lead to Unconsciousness.

 

[ForceUser]

I'm happy to share some of the tips if that'd be useful.

Sure, thanks.

You, too, Elric.