Super Heroes R Us..annn maybe a rant...annn maybe some run on sentences...annn

[Aaron L]

DC Heroes is the coolest.

 

[Vigilance]

I think the original Marvel game was one of the best superhero games ever designed. It had an elegant simplicity and many of its concepts were (imo) a big influence over d20 Modern (the wealth system especially).

Chuck

 

[LoneWolf23]

Allow me to speak in defense of GURPS Supers, which has mainly suffered from the design flaws of GURPS 3rd edition. The game just didn't have a truly centralized character creation system allowing players to make superhero characters easily.

But now, with 4th edition, it's a lot easier. Most superpower concepts have been integrated into the basic advantage list, with "Innate Attack" allowing for anything from flaming breath to electrical bolts to built-in cyberguns, for exemple. Even the Psionic powers have been integrated into the basic rules, rather then being a seperate, tack-on list of advantages...

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

PJ,

I am surprised and pleased how much I agree with you on just about everything.

 

[ledded]

So is Vigilance and Blood and Vigilance the same game, or are we talking about two different games? Does BAV use the Quick Hero and Strong Hero classes like standard D20 Modern? That might be the first time i like the use of those generic classes for a game. hmm.

Blood and Vigilance is a later revision of the original Vigilance that is much cleaner, tighter, and totally d20 Modern based.

So you start with the base classes, and the Hero stereotypes (Brick, Speedster, Mastermind, etc) are advanced classes, but not necessary. It adds some feats to support the genre, and the powers are done very similar to skills; you get a certain amount of Power Points at start/per level to spend, and you have 'class powers' similar to class skills. There are various ways to get a power as a 'class power' though. You still have skills, talents, etc just like in d20 Modern, so BnV sort of 'sits on top' of Modern fairly seamlessly.

Of course, if you'd rather stay away from d20 or d20 Modern, it's obviously not a good choice as it requires d20 Modern, but it has worked out very well for us so far.

Since it seems a bunch of SuperHero RPG lovers are all in one place i was wonderin'...

Is there a MnM, or even just a Super Hero Story in the Story Hour Forum that is updated regularly?
I searched through a bit and didn't find anything, so i thought i would Ask.

P.S. Sorry for Hijacking this Thread!

Heapthaumaturgist has a fabulous pulp-supers one going right now.

The 88th Floor: Episode 1 - Tesla's Radio (9/22)

Broccoli_head had a good MnM story hour that ran for a while, but he hasnt updated in quite some time. I cant find the link right off hand.

I have my own Story Hour 'We were like gods once...' that is World War II Supers, link is in my sig. It's not average superhero fare, but I do try to write it like a gritty comic book, for what it's worth.

 

[woodelf]

This is what came out. Feel freed..up.. to add to freely...uh...Make your own lists and post em!! sheesh.

DC Heroes - first, second, and third editions
Blood of Heroes
DC Universe
Gurps Supers
Aberrant
Heroes Unlimited - original, revised, and second editon, revised,
M&M
Marvel (Classic)
Marvel (Saga)
Marvel Universe
Four Color to Fantasy
Vigilance
Deeds Not Words
Guardians Superhero rpg
Cosmic Enforcers
Golden Heroes (aka Squadron UK)
Heroes & Heroines
Champions
Champions: New Millenium
Brave New World
Silver Age Sentinels
Super Squadron
Providence
Super World
Foundation

Some comments:

• SAS is both Tri-Stat and D20 System, both released at once, rather than a port from one to the other. In fact, i believe that the Tri-Stat version is the only one to have gotten further support after the core book
  
• Marvel SAGA apparently works quite well--i know a group that's been running it for a couple years now, and loves it.
  
• Marvel Universe seems quite sound from a read-through, but i haven't actually had a chance to play it yet.
  
• There's now a D20 System version of Abberant, but i know nothing more about it
  

You missed:

• Godsend Agenda
  
• Godlike
  
• Four Colors al Fresco
  
• Panels (free online)
  
• With Great Power...
  
• something forgettable that i saw in the $5 bin at Chimera, and which i've, well, forgotten the name of
  

No time to discuss/describe them right now--i'm late for work.

 

[PJ-Mason]

Allow me to speak in defense of GURPS Supers, which has mainly suffered from the design flaws of GURPS 3rd edition. The game just didn't have a truly centralized character creation system allowing players to make superhero characters easily.

But now, with 4th edition, it's a lot easier. Most superpower concepts have been integrated into the basic advantage list, with "Innate Attack" allowing for anything from flaming breath to electrical bolts to built-in cyberguns, for exemple. Even the Psionic powers have been integrated into the basic rules, rather then being a seperate, tack-on list of advantages...

I haven't seen 4th edition, so i'll take your word for it that its a better game. It really needed some serious help!

 

[PJ-Mason]

PJ,

I am surprised and pleased how much I agree with you on just about everything.

So the mind-control helmet IS working! Whew. I was beginning to worry!!

Uh....don't tell anyone about that helmet, ok? You can keep a secret can't you?

 

[PJ-Mason]

Blood and Vigilance is a later revision of the original Vigilance that is much cleaner, tighter, and totally d20 Modern based.

So you start with the base classes, and the Hero stereotypes (Brick, Speedster, Mastermind, etc) are advanced classes, but not necessary. It adds some feats to support the genre, and the powers are done very similar to skills; you get a certain amount of Power Points at start/per level to spend, and you have 'class powers' similar to class skills. There are various ways to get a power as a 'class power' though. You still have skills, talents, etc just like in d20 Modern, so BnV sort of 'sits on top' of Modern fairly seamlessly.

Of course, if you'd rather stay away from d20 or d20 Modern, it's obviously not a good choice as it requires d20 Modern, but it has worked out very well for us so far.

Thank you ledded! I all was confused up!

I've messed aroung with D20 Modern/Future lately and its not the fate-worse-than-death that i thought it was. Having a free form power system is important, though, especially if you have class-based system. Otherwise you end up needing to create 300 classes to model all the possible Hero/power combinations that exist. Ouch.

I might try this one out! I don't know if it will knock of my favorite supers game, but it seems like it might be decent enough to go on my shelf. Or is a PDF?

 

[PJ-Mason]

There's now a D20 System version of Abberant, but i know nothing more about it

Oy!! Whats that? Something like 6 D20 supers games now? Man, this ain't Baskin-Robbins!! Do we need 32 flavors!!??

You missed:

• Godsend Agenda
  
• Four Colors al Fresco
  
• Panels (free online)
  
• With Great Power...
  
• something forgettable that i saw in the $5 bin at Chimera, and which i've, well, forgotten the name of
  

No time to discuss/describe them right now--i'm late for work.

When you have more time please come back and expound.

I offer you mercy if you expound.

Expound, or your soul shall burn in damnation!!

DO..YOU..EXPOUND????!!