The HERO System

[mmadsen]

Recently, I asked about TriStat and a few folks were nice enough to answer my questions.

I missed that thread, but I did write a review of SAS for RPGnet (that began as a series of posts here).

 

[Hatchling Dragon]

Quick tip for anyone playing HERO, pardon me if I'm repeating an earlier post, get a Whiteboard and some dry-erase markers. Also good would be the margins of your Battlemat, or even a spare mat that you aren't actively using. I've found that it's a huge help, especialy to new players, if you have a copy of the Speed Chart showing the Segments that everyone acts on (ie: thier Phases).

If you're like my group, and your character sheets are pretty-much public domain, then just list END and STUN (or more) on the Board to help people keep track of just what sorta shape thier character's in. Right at first we even listed all 'Mobs' on the board too, just to let everyone get more of a feel for how the system works. We still list enemy Phases on the chart, it's just too convient for the GM and PC's to keep track of who's going before whom.

I suppose this means we've been following that already mentioned idea of the "Throw Away Starter Game", one of the best tips I've heard for a new HERO group. And I'm not saying this just because it was my idea for our group to try it

Hatchling Dragon

 

[Sir Whiskers]

Quick tip for anyone playing HERO, pardon me if I'm repeating an earlier post, get a Whiteboard and some dry-erase markers...snip...If you're like my group, and your character sheets are pretty-much public domain, then just list END and STUN (or more) on the Board to help people keep track of just what sorta shape their character's in.

I really like this idea - consider it yoinked. I've seen too many players who just can't keep track of these things on their own, so having one player do this during a session should work nicely. And that frees me up to keep track of the villains.

 

[buzz]

I was directly quoting Jhamin's tongue-in-cheek characterization of the con side's argument.

Right. But...

And wouldn't it be great if we could have a consistent, flexible system without the pile of stats that can choke a horse?

The implication of this and other posts of yours have been that HERO does "choke horses" and have "redundant" stats and so forth. While this is a common "con" argument against HERO, I don't think that there's any consensus that it's *true*. Your thread on streamlining HERO assumes that HERO needs to be streamlined. There's a big group of HERO players out there who'd say it doesn't.

See, I told you I wouldn't agree.

 

[Sketchpad]

Lots of info, thanks folks.

I think I am going to buy HERO 5th Ed and join the ranks of the thoughtful!

I don't think you'll be disappointed PCD Feel free to drop by the Hero boards as well (www.herogames.com/forums) and say howdy ... IMHO, it's one of the best fan-bases you'll find with TONS of conversions and info for anyone playing the system Just tell 'em Sketch sent ya

 

[mmadsen]

Recently, I asked about TriStat and a few folks were nice enough to answer my questions. So, now I am asking about the HERO System.

If you'd like to compare supers games, check out Tri-Stat vs. Hero vs. M&M over on RPGnet.

Also, check out this PDF of the Incredible Hulk statted out in multiple game systems. It should give you a great feel for the various games.

 

[PCD]

Thanks for that PDF. I like how M&M works, but both HERO and TriStat still attract my attention. Hmmm...

 

[Greatwyrm]

Well, here's my 2cp.

First, there's a significant difference in the quality of HERO 4e and HERO 5e. I had 4e. I sold it on ebay, hoping someone could at least make a nice coaster out of it. I flipped through 5e at the FLGS and couldn't believe it was the same game. I am very happy with the purchase of 5e and hope to run a game of some sort if I ever get time.

Second, I've played a lot of GURPS and even though I haven't played HERO, I like the design of the rules better. In GURPS, you have the standard rules and then bolt-on rules for everything else (computers, magic, psionics, vehicles). In HERO, everything runs of the same core rules. A magic wand, a pistol, and a bow that all do the same damage all cost the same points.

Third, there is a big learning curve, but some of it is imagined. I've seen plenty of game systems for just about everything under the sun. I even managed to understand char gen in the newest edition of Mechwarrior. I had to read through the basics of the rules a few times before I got it. Once everything clicks though, it's pretty darn easy.

Next, don't get hung up on it being a "supers" game. With the right ground rules and point limits, HERO can handle just about anything you want to run. There's official and fan-created material for supers, low fantasy, high fantasy, swords and sorcery, cyberpunk, space opera, hard sci-fi, pulp adventure, and just about anything else you can think of.

Finally, as someone said on the HERO boards, "there are usually more ways to build a power in HERO than there are people who want to build it." That's an exaggeration, but not by much.

 

[Felon]

Also, check out this PDF of the Incredible Hulk statted out in multiple game systems. It should give you a great feel for the various games.

Heh. So the Hulk has an Entangle attack? Lol, I forgot that aspect of playing Champions: buying Powers to represent any super-tactic not expressly outlined in the combat rules.

First, there's a significant difference in the quality of HERO 4e and HERO 5e. I had 4e. I sold it on ebay, hoping someone could at least make a nice coaster out of it. I flipped through 5e at the FLGS and couldn't believe it was the same game. I am very happy with the purchase of 5e and hope to run a game of some sort if I ever get time.

This is a line I just don't get. I've got both editions. Not much difference. There are the little nickel-and-dime plug-ins to buy for powers, and some sidebars making recommendations for the GM, but the text is largely copy-and-paste from 4e. So what are the major improvements?

 

[Greatwyrm]

I've got both editions. Not much difference. -- snip -- So what are the major improvements?

As I mentioned, I sold my 4e version. Consequently, I can't give you a side-by-side comparison. All I can tell you is that I never "got" 4e, but 5e has really grown on me.

Maybe it's better organization. Maybe it's all the sample powers in the sidebars. Maybe it's just cleaner overall writing to explain the very same rules. I can't really put my finger on it, but I like HERO 5e. Same for the supplements. I've tracked down 4e versions of books they don't plan on updating for a while. I think the newer stuff (for 5e) is much better in both the clarity of the rules and the overall quality of the books.