The Foundation

[Orion]

Although the -idea- of a superhero RPG is incredibly appealing, there has yet to be a system that really works, including this one. I wouldn't say it's the worst I've seen (anything by Paladium still holds that title), but it is half-assed at best. I was genuinely excited when I saw the book, then I opened it. Out of around 250+ pages, there are 75 pages of rules. The rest is filled with some designer showing off how cool his world is. And for this, cheaply printed, paper-back manual they want $30CDN.

The rules themselves are little more than an after-thought to 3rd Ed. D&D. Several classes just are D&D classes (rogue, sorcerer, wizard), and a few are only superficially different (of course, everyone has to have a 'fighter' class). Not only that, but half of the useful information for this system is available on-line anyway. I just have to wonder how the creators of this game system would think we'd shell out our money for it. I'm still waiting for a -good- superhero system, and at this point, I think I'll have to make it myself... say, maybe I can photocopy some badly written back-story, staple it together, and charge $35 for it?

 

[Archer]

This brings up serious questions about how well the d20 license is going to work applied to other genres other than fantasy. I felt GURPS did poorly in this regard. I read the designed's explanation of why he what he did and more details than I really cared about the OGL and d20 licensing rules. I don't know if I even want to look at another non D&D 3E d20 product ever again. I've never run a successful game of this genre and it doesn't seem like I ever will so I might be biased.

 

[Messageboard Golem]

The Foundation is a d20 game of Superheroics. We've developed complete rules for superpowers and grafted them into the d20 system by way of the Open Game License. The Foundation is set in the universe of the Guardians. It includes a synopsis of many of their past adventures and stats for all of the major characters.

 

[Warchild]

This game is quite possibly the worst product i have bought, for any game system, in my 18+ years of gaming.
Ever.
i mean it.
This is not a joke.

Its classes are ripped form the Players handbook with, it seems, no consideration to how badly they fit the superhero genre.
The powers are nothing more than badly converted D&D spells.
The skills are a bizarre mish mash of modern skills and apparently some of them are supposed to be used for combat bonuses, such as the autofire weapons skill. Not that they explain or demonstrate the expected use of any of these...er, DARN skills.
There are no equipment lists or statistics for equipment, although several of their character examples tote .45's and the like.
The Setting provided is terribly stock and inpsires absolutely no interest and the art is at a level to which i can only wish i was actually blind.

 

[RaveN]

This is my first review and while I may not be proficient at the writing or format, my intentions are pure. To warn anyone who is considering buying The Foundation that it is...

Absolute garbage.

To echo other reviewers, the WORST roleplaying product that I have purchased in 22 years of gaming.

Embodies the worst aspects of the OGL.

Art could have been done by a eigth-grader sitting in a boring English class.

The core storyline was amatuerish and uninspiring.

No meaty chunks. All super powers stolen directly from the PHB and placed in a modern setting. Heck, there weren't even any modern combat (i.e. firearms) rules in the book, although you could download them from the publishers site.

I would not recommend this book to anyone.

 

[Messageboard Golem]

Great review! I really enjoyed it!