Mutant/Superhero Gaming

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Not to press one way or another, but if you're influenced by X-Men in particular, BnV has "Origins" for PCs ... where their powers come from, that determine some of their basic starting powers and abilities.

One of those is "Mutant", heavily influenced by the flavor of the X-Men cartoons, even up to the public fear of mutants. It goes along with the "Jinx" origin, which is for those unfortunate muties who have only 1-2 weak powers, but get alot of benefits of being associated with the mutant underground.

... ... I should probably go do some reading or something. Posting too often in this thread.

--fje

 

[C. Baize]

For X-Men style action... I'd go with Blood and Vigilance. Starting at 7th - 10th level.. I'd likely go the lower end.

 

[Ranger REG]

Didn't we answer this for like a hundred times?

 

[malien]

Didn't we answer this for like a hundred times?

Yeah, probably. Same with like a million other questions, I'm sure. But, I really needed to get a conversation going on this topic I could point my fellow group (most of whom don't come to ENWorld) and point and say 'See? People with experience say this and that. Let's take a look at what they suggest.'

It all works out quite nicely.

 

[Watchdog]

Another alternative if you're looking for a Pulp style superhero game is Golden, by Pisces All Media. Or if you're after a modern day superhero game they put out Eternium as well. About a thousand new feats between the two games and the ability to create just about any character from any comicbook ever.

Check out http://www.piscesallmedia.com/golden/

Good games, nice and cheap. Not that I'm biased or anything...

 

[Watchdog]

System Alternative

Another alternative if you're looking for a Pulp style superhero game is Golden, by Pisces All Media. Or if you're after a modern day superhero game they put out Eternium as well. About a thousand new feats between the two games and the ability to create just about any character from any comicbook ever. They're both based on 3.0 and are made under the OGL.

Check out http://www.piscesallmedia.com/golden/

Good games, nice and cheap. Not that I'm biased or anything...

 

[C. Baize]

Also, with Blood and Vigilance, there's a thread around here somewhere that has some powers, feats, and power stunts I created, along with a few gadgets that Ledded created.

 

[Ranger REG]

It all works out quite nicely.

Sighs.

I strongly recommend Mutants & Masterminds. Get the latest second printing version.

Pick up Freedom City for a starting city setting. Also a fun read.

Pick up Crooks! for some challenging pregenerated archenemies, and extra rules.

Look for M&M Superlink products. They support/supplement M&M the way d20 product supplement D&D/d20 Modern.

Check out MutantsAndMasterminds.com and The Atomic Thinktank Forums.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

My personal favorite superhero RPG (heck, favorite RPG, period) is HERO system (AKA Champions). Currently in 5th edition. Quite simply, nothing simulates any kind of comic book genre and supports cross-genre play like HERO. It is, as noted, number crunchy, though.

My second favorite supers RPG (by the slimmest of margins) is the oft-lauded Mutants & Masterminds. Nearly as flexible as HERO, its much less complex, expecially if you're already D20 savvy. It isn't quite D20, but its durn close. In a sense, M&M is kind of like a cross between HERO (flexibility), D20 (systemic underpinnings), and Marvel Superheroes (simplicity).

Also of note:

Godlike has a pretty good system, and has an excellent campaign setting: the first appearance of superheros occurring in WWII. If you want to set your game in this era, you MUST buy this game- the designers did a lot of good work, and why spend the time duplicating it if you have the $$$?

The OoP game Underground also has an excellent campaign setting: a Blade-Runner meets Soylent Green meets Rollerball dystopia. Worth it if you can find it.

Of course, if you want to play in an already published comics company's world, it is hard to argue against Marvel Superheroes (OoP) or DC Heroes (which, while OoP, has its mechanics reprinted in Blood of Heroes). Everything you would want to sim is already written up- once again, why spend time copying someone else's work? (Answer- only if you don't like the game system.)