Superhero D20?

[Mistwell]

Let me all chime in with my complete and total recommendation for Mutants & Masterminds.

This is, bar none, the best-written RPG I've read.

It's just fantastic. The streamlining, smoothness, and exciting flow they added to the game is simply amazing.

I promise you will not regret checking M&M out.

 

[Teflon Billy]

Hey there,

Do I really need to add my voice? M&M all the way.

-SJ

You're writeup of "The King" was fantastic

Though my game isn't as tongue-in-cheek as yours, there is still a place for the reincarnation of Super-Elvis in my setting

The Big "E"

Alternate Identity: Enis Prexel
Group Affiliation: None
First Appearance: Legends #5
Quote: “Thankyuhverrymuch Chief. You’ve been a fantastic backup. Uh-huh.”
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 240 lbs.
Power Level: 10 (150pp)

Str: 18 (+9) (Super-Strength)
Dex: 14 (+2)
Con: 13 (+1)
Int: 13 (+1)
Wis: 13 (+1)
Cha: 18 (+11) (Super-Charisma)
Total: 29

Base Attack Bonus: 4
Melee: 8
Ranged: 6
Total: 12

Base Defense Bonus: 2
Adjusted Defense Bonus: +14
Initiative: +6
Total: 4

SAVES
Damage: +3 (Amazing Save)
Fort: +3 (Amazing Save)
Ref: +2
Will: +1

Powers:
Cosmic Power +8: (Extra: Illusion {Limited: Sound Only}; Power Stunt: Dazzle; Immunities: Aging, Criticals, Disease, Cold, Heat, Poison, Pressure, & Suffocation; Flaws: No Flight, Sense Cosmic, Alter Matter; Source: Mystical; Cost: 50pp.)
Super-Strength +5: (Extra: Protection; Source: Mystical; Cost: 25pp.)
Flight +6: (Power Stunt: Super-Flight; Source: Mystical; Cost: 14pp.)
Strike +8: (Flaw: Heroic Effort; Source: Training; Cost: 8pp.)
Super-Charisma +5: (Source: Mystical; Cost: 10pp.)
Amazing Save-Damage +2: (Extra: Fortitude; Source: Mystical; Cost: 4pp.)
Total: 113

Feats:
Improved Initiative
Attractive
Identity Change
Connected: (Memphis Mafia)
Fame
Total: 10

Skills:
Intimidate +12, Knowledge (Marital Arts) +3, Profession (Musician) +3
Total: 2

Weaknesses:
Disturbing (It’s freakin’ ELVIS!) (-10)
Quirk (Always Hungry) (-10)

Grand Total: 150

Origin: The day the King died, a baby boy was born to trucker Roger (Red) Prexel and his wife Victoria of Tenesee who was named Enis, after an uncle of Victoria’s. He grew up strong and smart with a a passion for rock n’ roll and an admiration for all things Elvis. After touring as a roadie and later backup for several bands, Enis got out of the business and became a trucker like his daddy. One night, after delivering a food order to Graceland, he was jumped by a couple of thieves intent on stealing his truck. He was knocked out and thrown into the bushes. Waking up and head throbbing, he staggered into Graceland and collapsed.

Enis woke up in the hospital after having the strangest dream. In it, Elvis Presley appeared to him, told him that the world is not a nice place anymore, and it saddens his heart. He wants to bring back hope and Good Music to people. He also said that as penence for his drug-induced past, God had Elvis choose Enis as his avatar, to do good works and help the oppressed. “Whenever you see injustice, just utter the word T-R-O-U-B-L-E, which stands for:

“T” for Turner
“R” for Rivers
“O” for Orbison
“U” for Ultimate
“B” for Berry
“L” for Lewis
“E” for Elvis

…and I will walk the Earth again, doing right and atoning for my transgressions against the Lord and my Momma. Will you do this for me?” Enis agreed and Elvis said “Thankyuhverrymuch. May the Spirit of God and Rock N’ Roll guide you…” Elvis then vanished, with strains of American Trilogy in the back and a small voice announcing that he had “left the building.”

After recovering, Enis went to find his truck. He tracked down the crooks and, in a moment of desperation from being trapped by the miscreants, uttered the word “TROUBLE.” Enis was instantly transformed into the King of Rock N’ Roll and made short work of the bad guys.

As Elvis, Enis finds he has enhanced strength, toughness and dexterity, the ability to fly, shoot laser blasts and temporarily blind his opponents with a blinding flash. In addition, his martial arts training is greatly enhanced and his physical attractiveness gets a boost. Not only that, but his personality is altered in such a way that people recognize him as the real Elvis, not an imitator. Even Elvis’s closest friends and associates recognize him as such.

Thus was born the first Rock N’ Roll Superman. Uh-huh…

Appearance: Enis, as Elvis, looks like a rather buff version of the King at the height of his talent and charisma. He is clad in an all-black leather suit and cape with a big “E” on the left breast.

 

[SmokestackJones]

Hey TB,

Oh, Lord, I'm (in)famous. What's next? Fløør?

BTW, he's fun to play, too...

...if I ever get to play again.

Thanks.

-SJ

 

[Piratecat]

This? This is glorious.

 

[Ranger REG]

Heya REG

The way Vigilance handles character disadvantages is simple, you get nothing up front. When the disad appears in the game, you get XP equal to the disadvantage rating as if it were a CR (in effect your disadvantage is treated as a foe to overcome).

I think that's pretty cool, but Im biased

Chuck

Don't worry, I'll check out Vigilance, but I gotta tell ya, I already have two ways of playing d20 Super, and the one I like more does not have the little red-and-white square logo.

 

[Vigilance]

Don't worry, I'll check out Vigilance, but I gotta tell ya, I already have two ways of playing d20 Super, and the one I like more does not have the little red-and-white square logo.

I dont have any illusions that I am going to somehow replace M&M with this book Ranger

From my perspective a new Vigilance was a way to do a d20 Modern supers game, and it was the first game of that kind, but the main reason was a way tie together the rest of the "Blood and" books.

I figured I had a gothic horror game, a martial arts game, and a military/counter terrorism game, and supers is one genre that allows all those books to work together.

So I wasnt looking to compete with M&M, just looking to make a nice complimentary product to my other games that I hope people like

Chuck

 

[DMScott]

I just bought Mutants and Masterminds this past weekend, and the V&V comparisons seem particularly apt - is it just me, or is the first scene in the M&M sample adventure basically lifted from Crisis at Crusader Citadel? Gave me a good chuckle.

Overall, I really like the book, and I'm looking forward to playing (or more likely, running) a game. I have a few balance concerns on my first read through... I have a feeling a Champions-savvy point shaver would have a field day. But that's par for the course, and the good far outweighs the suspect - it's a gorgeous book, and looks like it captures supers pretty well.

 

[Teflon Billy]

I just bought Mutants and Masterminds this past weekend, and the V&V comparisons seem particularly apt - is it just me, or is the first scene in the M&M sample adventure basically lifted from Crisis at Crusader Citadel? Gave me a good chuckle.

I thought the same thing when I read it...see also the "Adventure generator", it's a direct lift fro V&V.

The author, Steve Kenson, is a longtime V&V fan and admitted that the addition of the V&V Random Adventure Generator was a gaffe by him (it was included in his handwritten notes from years and years ago and he forgot he hadn't written it).

He admitted this immediately, the very fiorst time it was pointed out to him ( I think over on RPG.net) He was humble, he was frank and he gave credit where credit was due (to Jeff Dee, author/artist on V&V)

It really boosted the guy's credibility in my eyes. everyone makes simple mistakes, most people don't admit it

...I have a few balance concerns on my first read through... I have a feeling a Champions-savvy point shaver would have a field day.

Actually, the "Champions Savvy Point Shavers" don't stand a chance with M&M. The system just isn't fine enough if you get my meaning. The minimum you can make any power cost is 1pp/level. So there is precious little point in piling on the "Limitations" (Grrr...those "not in a powerful magnetic Field" guys boiled my blood) or "Flaws" as they are called in M&M, becasue the cost can only go so low.

Also, the "Disadvantages" (Weaknesses in M&M) are not "tuneable" at all, and are actually disadvantageous (unlike most of the "Dislikes Cabbage" type stuff my point shavers would come up with). No points for having a secret ID, no points for not Killing people...just actual mechanical hindrances.

It can still be done if you worl at it, but at the end of the day it will take a CSPS a lot less time to get his character made, and he will be going "that's as many points as I can mooch out of the system? *sigh*"

...the good far outweighs the suspect - it's a gorgeous book, and looks like it captures supers pretty well.

You will be amazed how fast actual play goes compared to Champs...the gameplay itself feels like Superheroes.

 

[DMScott]

Actually, the "Champions Savvy Point Shavers" don't stand a chance with M&M. The system just isn't fine enough if you get my meaning.

I probably didn't phrase it correctly. What I mean is on first read through, it seemed to me that there were some obvious ways to do certain power combos/templates, and also efficient ways to do them... and the two aren't necessarily the same. A player who always looks for the efficient way to do things will end up having more points to throw around than one who does things the obvious way. If you just save one point each off of three PL 10 powers, that's 30 points to toss around - maybe not earth-shattering, but enough that it's worth doing.

I play with a group that's somewhat split between players who really get into analyzing the rules and those who just want to write down their character and go, and I remember that as one of the main issues we had with Champions. Hence the association. I suspect we'll end up using the same fix - have a couple of dedicated point shavers design everybody's characters, so they're all getting about the same bang for the points.

 

[Goose1009]

Man, you guys suck. As i sit here reading this im cursing the UPS and Amazon.com for not getting these books to me already!! I am looking forward to this more than you could know. Unfortunately, there are no good comic/game shops around this god forsaken place. So i have to order everything online.....