Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="Thimble the Squit" data-source="post: 1485158" data-attributes="member: 6756">I have HERO and wish I didn't.&nbsp; This system ranks amongst the very few RPG purchases I regret.&nbsp; Along with this, I count RIFTS and a few really cheaply produced fanboy games that I thought might deserve a bit of attention.&nbsp; I also bought Synnabar because I couldn't believe it was as bad as everyone said.&nbsp; Yes.&nbsp; It is.&nbsp; Trust me.Over and over again, HERO extols its own virtues of simplicity and clarity -- and then proceeds to delve into the most heinously complicated, poorly constructed, over-blown jargonese that I have ever seen in any roleplaying rulebook ever.&nbsp; I am an advocate of the Campaign for Plain English and, if I ever wanted to show how NOT to write clearly and concisely, I would uphold HERO as a shining example.OK.&nbsp; Maybe the 5th Edition book is better (I have a 4th ed. copy) but I cannot see how; not if it's by the same authors.&nbsp; I cannot understand the game at all, so I cannot judge the game based on its rules -- and I cannot understand the game because these guys do not know how to write.As far as I can tell, the rules are overly complicated, such that, in play, the GM will perforce be endlessly referring back to the tables in the book.&nbsp; Of course, to validate this criticism would require actually playing it.&nbsp; Which I simply cannot be bothered to try and do.Sorry to all you HERO fans out there.&nbsp; This is all just my opinion.&nbsp; I'll rant about RIFTS next, if you like.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Thimble the Squit, post: 1485158, member: 6756"] I have HERO and wish I didn't. This system ranks amongst the very few RPG purchases I regret. Along with this, I count RIFTS and a few really cheaply produced fanboy games that I thought might deserve a bit of attention. I also bought Synnabar because I couldn't believe it was as bad as everyone said. Yes. It is. Trust me. Over and over again, HERO extols its own virtues of simplicity and clarity -- and then proceeds to delve into the most heinously complicated, poorly constructed, over-blown jargonese that I have ever seen in any roleplaying rulebook ever. I am an advocate of the Campaign for Plain English and, if I ever wanted to show how NOT to write clearly and concisely, I would uphold HERO as a shining example. OK. Maybe the 5th Edition book is better (I have a 4th ed. copy) but I cannot see how; not if it's by the same authors. I cannot understand the game at all, so I cannot judge the game based on its rules -- and I cannot understand the game because these guys do not know how to write. As far as I can tell, the rules are overly complicated, such that, in play, the GM will perforce be endlessly referring back to the tables in the book. Of course, to validate this criticism would require actually playing it. Which I simply cannot be bothered to try and do. Sorry to all you HERO fans out there. This is all just my opinion. I'll rant about RIFTS next, if you like. [/QUOTE]

Verification