Hero 5th Edition questions

[Flinx]

I was thumbing through the 5th Edition Hero Sourcebook and Ultimate Martial Artist earlier today. I think the books are great and pretty much cover everything you need to know. However, I didn't see too many changes from the 4th edition of Champions (certainly not as drastic as DND 2E to 3E). So I have two questions:

1) Did anybody who has played this version note any significant changes to the game? Were they better or worse than the old Champions?

2) As I said, the books covered everything. So what's going to be in the 5th edition Champions supplement that's supposed to come out in a couple of months? The description on Hero Games' website was vague. Other than a campaign setting and some sample characters, I can't think of anything that wasn't already included in the big black book.

 

[N Hammer]

1) Did anybody who has played this version note any significant changes to the game? Were they better or worse than the old Champions?

I don't there is any significant changes (at least none that I have seen). Shapeshifting has changed quite a bit.
The main thing they did was clarify MANY things. They also added some new ideas.

2) As I said, the books covered everything. So what's going to be in the 5th edition Champions supplement that's supposed to come out in a couple of months? The description on Hero Games' website was vague. Other than a campaign setting and some sample characters, I can't think of anything that wasn't already included in the big black book.

The genre books (super, fantasy, star hero) will have ideas on how to adjust the rules to fit them. I think the genre books will be more usefull to the new Hero Games GM.

 

[NLP]

1) Did anybody who has played this version note any significant changes to the game? Were they better or worse than the old Champions?[/i]

There are many powers that a different in 5th Edition. Some are major differences and some are minor. Some of the changed powers include: Aid, Change Enviroment, Darkness, Enhanced Senses, Flash, Force Wall, Healing, Life Support, Multiform, Shape Shift, Stretching and Transform.

There are also altered combat situations such as including modified and new combat maneuvers. Things like Rapid Fire, Sweep and Multiple-Powers Attacks can change the very nature of Hero System combat.

I have found most of the new rules better, though there are some exceptions such as the new Haymaker, but overall I believe that 5th Edition is the best version of the rules ever.

2) As I said, the books covered everything. So what's going to be in the 5th edition Champions supplement that's supposed to come out in a couple of months? The description on Hero Games' website was vague. Other than a campaign setting and some sample characters, I can't think of anything that wasn't already included in the big black book.

The Champions Sourcebook will cover all the information the player and GM will need to help them create a vibrant superhero game world. There will be character examples for the new Champions Universe, but the book is mostly geared toward getting information to gamers to use in their homebrew games. There will be examples of superhero vehicles and bases, as well as talking about the heroic "arch-types" that are used in superhero comics.

If you really want more information I'd suggest you head over to the Hero Games website www.herogames.com and check out the free downloads section, the message boards and the chat rooms. You'll find a couple of thousand gamers there willing to help you and answer any questions you might have.