Iron Heroes...what's your opinion?

[Turjan]

I've only skimmed the IH PDF and noted that the art/layout utterly turn me off.

Heh, funny ! I'm aware that the appreciation of art always boils down to personal preference (and I find it quite nice), but I cannot really understand the discontent with the book's layout. IMO, the layout is a definite high point for me.

As far as the contents is concerned, I'm not overly excited, but this was to be expected. I bought the book out of mild curiosity, fully aware of the fact that the direction the book goes is not really what I expect from a D&D style game. Therefore, that's not the book's fault . I'm really looking forward to seeing how the NPC generation will be streamlined in the DM's book .

 

[Shieldhaven]

Apparently my take on Iron Heroes is not one shared by anyone else here, unless I missed a post or two in skimming. In its heart of hearts, this rules system wants to be used for a Middle Earth campaign. It doesn't matter that arcanists have to be super high level to accomplish anything - in Middle Earth, only the Istari have significant magic, and they're immortals. The elves? Same deal, but with much less power. This rules system actually embraces the rarity (but not nonexistence) of magic items that you see in LotR.

Aragorn? Hunter.
Legolas? Archer.
Gimli? Armiger.
Boromir? Man-at-Arms, maybe.
Sam? Definitely a man-at-arms.
Frodo and the Indistinguishable Backup Hobbits? Thief. Eventually multiclassing, probably.

Haven

 

[mhacdebhandia]

Last night, I was visiting some friends and while I relaxed on the couch and waited for them to finish playing Heroes of Might and Magic IV, I was thinking about Sin City.

Specifically, about the bit where Marv thinks in voice-over, "Impossible. No-one can sneak up on me -" and gets bushwhacked by Kevin.

That, right there, is Improved Uncanny Dodge being beaten by someone higher-level. So if Marv is a berserker (with the Bloodthirsty and Strong traits?) - he even gets inspired to greater and greater efforts (i.e. tokens) when his allies fall - Kevin is clearly an executioner.

The action throughout Sin City is very much what I think of when I think of Iron Heroes. Jumping off a second-story window ledge and running to your car; throwing a littler slug with pinpoint accuracy into a gun barrel; grenades exploding at your feet and just throwing you back; leaping towards a car hurtling at you and slamming your feet through the windshield to kill the occupants.

 

[Particle_Man]

Ever watch Warner Bros. cartoons where Bugs Bunny takes Elmer Fudd/Yosemite Sam/Tazmanian Devil/insert bad guy/etc. and starts feeding him a line of absolute b.s., but the bad guy believes it for a while, giving Bugs time to slip away *yet again*?

Bug Bunny is a *very* high level Thief with Bluff maxed out. Daffy Duck is lower level, as evidenced by the infamous "It's Rabbit Season! It's Duck Season bit."

Mind you, toons have INFINITE reserve points.

 

[wizofice]

Bug Bunny is a *very* high level Thief with Bluff maxed out. Daffy Duck is lower level, as evidenced by the infamous "It's Rabbit Season! It's Duck Season bit."

Hm. I would have said he made Daffy think he heard the opposite, giving him a few levels of arcanist, but I think yours makes more sense.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

The action throughout Sin City is very much what I think of when I think of Iron Heroes. Jumping off a second-story window ledge and running to your car; throwing a littler slug with pinpoint accuracy into a gun barrel; grenades exploding at your feet and just throwing you back; leaping towards a car hurtling at you and slamming your feet through the windshield to kill the occupants.

I thought of this as well.

 

[Tharen the Damned]

Now I really love the combat mechanics. I haven´t played IH yet, but am preparing a one shot for my Players.
What I do not like is the "unfinished" or "sloppy work" feeling the magic system has.
This is the first time I feel like that with a Malhavoc product.
And this leaves me disappointed, because I am used to the high Malhavoc standards.

What I do not understand: Every mechanic was playtested. The magic system too. Did the playtesters not point out, that it was flawed? And if they did, why was it incorporated?

This is my gripe. Not the great new IH system (except magic of course) itself.

 

[Odhanan]

True! I experienced that when criticizing Beyond Countless Doorways, even while I tried to write a fair (although opiniated) review...

Aww... come on, Turanil! You mean the review filled of "childish"s and "foolish"s ? When you write an "opinionated review", you shouldn't be surprised if some people discuss/reject your "arguments", especially if it is a product like Beyond Countless Doorways which seems to have pleased a lot of its customers.

 

[Malachias Invictus]

What I do not understand: Every mechanic was playtested. The magic system too. Did the playtesters not point out, that it was flawed? And if they did, why was it incorporated?

Mike himself said that he wanted it excised (presumably to be done right in another book). Of course, that is not his sole decision.

 

[wizofice]

Mike himself said that he wanted it excised (presumably to be done right in another book). Of course, that is not his sole decision.

Essentially, he didn't have the time to devote to it to get it to the point he was happy with it, as you'll read in our exclusive interview with him this Thursday at the Iron-League (shameless plug).