The Versatile Hero

[Messageboard Golem]

Written by: Jeremy Forbing
Page Count: 8 pages, plus cover and OGL.
Format: Portrait, fully bookmarked.
(Includes pdf and print-ready rtf format.)


The Versatile hero is the proverbial jack-of-all-trades. If you've ever imagined a character concept so unique and original that you couldn't quite fit it into one of the pre-existing base classes, the Versatile hero is for you! Never settle for "almost" the character you wanted to make again!

The Versatile hero includes:

A new base class for modern d20 games, one that does not depend on any specific ability score!

Six new talent trees (one for each existing base class), comprised of both new talents and abilities from various OGC sources, edited for game balance and consistency -- all usable with the Versatile hero, since the Versatile hero can use talents from any class!

A uniquely integrated "Development Point" mechanic, allowing you to customize all aspects of your modern d20 character, from base attack bonus to class skills to talent trees!

 

[Crothian]

Versatile Hero

D20 Modern is an odd game for me. I find it tough to wrap my head around the generic classes that they have like the Fast Hero, the Strong Hero, etc. They seem to be versatile, but just not enough to actually do what I want them to do. And then I look at a product like this, the Versatile Hero. It is even more adaptable then the six base classes, with the possibility of doing them better then they do. But I am not sure it is actually better.

Versatile Hero is a ten page PDF by Big Finger Games. They have a few other PDFs like Troll for the Mutants and Mastermind Superlink system. There is no art and the layout could use a little help. It is nothing that makes the PDF unreadable, but the font and table sizes are a bit big and the last page has a big empty space that just does not look good. The book has book marks though at this size it might not actually need them.

The Versatile Hero is a single class that can do the job of all the others. Or that is what it seems to be able to do. It has a simple point system that allows it to select the saves, hit points, skills and skill points, base attack bonus, and talent tress it has access to. Since it can select any talent tree of the other classes, it can really become those classes.

There is also one new talent tree for each of the six original classes. They range from really not that great like the Rage talents for the Tough Hero to pretty cool like the Authority Talents for the Charismatic Hero. The talents offered are interesting and seem pretty well suited for the game.

The Versatile Hero is versatile but not in the right way. It can mix different class mechanics like the base attacks, saves, etc. but it does not really bring anything new with it. It would have been nice to see a talent tree specifically for the Versatile Hero to take advantage of it being able to be assembled in so many configurations. The Talent tress I feel are the more useful part of this book.