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Path: utzoo!watmath!jagardner
From: jagardner@watmath.UUCP (Jim Gardner)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: Superhero RPGs
Message-ID: <15570@watmath.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 4-Jul-85 11:01:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: watmath.15570
Posted: Thu Jul  4 11:01:04 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 5-Jul-85 03:14:14 EDT
References: <3140@garfield.UUCP> <2038@genat.UUCP> <6203@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Reply-To: jagardner@watmath.UUCP (Jim Gardner)
Distribution: net
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 45

In article <6203@ucla-cs.ARPA> vss7101%uclavm@wiscvm@ucla-cs.UUCP (Michael Gersten) writes:
>In article <2038@genat.UUCP> mike@genat.UUCP (Mike Stephenson) writes:
>>There is a new Champions book out, called "Golden Age of Champions" or
>>something similar.  This game deals with superheros in the so called
>>"Golden Age"; specifically, WWII.  One of the nice things about this
>>version of the game is that the superheros are kept "powered down" to
>>more respectable levels (eg. about 250 ap instead of ~500 ap in regular
>>Champions games). I know that this is not quite what you are looking for,
>>but it is quite a good game all the same.

>Wait a sec. Like the book says, anything above 275 points makes your character
>WEAKER, not stronger. This assumes that the GM is playing the disadvantager
>correctly.

Creating a hero at 275 points means you're going to get mulched by
disadvantages, but building a character to a high number of points
is a different thing.  I have a 300 point character who started at
225 (we used the old Champions recommendations) and he's doing quite
nicely, thank you.  He's bought off a bunch of his disadvantages,
upgraded his powers to the point where he can hold his own in a fair
fight, and now he's picking up a few skills (it's tough being stealthy
in a suit of metal armour, but he's trying...)

On a different note, Hero Games have finally brought out their fantasy
RPG, Fantasy Hero (introduced at Origins last week).  It comes as a
book of rules; no dice or other playing aids.  The company seems to
have decided that this is the way they'll be going from here on out.
I have not had a chance to go through the book carefully, but a quick
skim says it looks very good.  Not only do they have the usual explanation
of the hero system, they have added a lot of examples, new (medieval)
combat maneuvers, stats for animals and selected monsters, campaign
suggestions and all that kind of stuff...even conversion rules for
Runequest-Fantasy Hero!  I would strongly recommend this for anyone
who is curious about the Hero Games system, as well as for those who
play other Hero games.  (Haven't you Champions people always wanted
good stats for lions and other nasties superheroes might fight.)

Other stuff retrieved from Origins by friends who went there: an RPG
based on Jack Chalker's "Well of Souls" series; "Lands of Mystery",
a guide to "Lost Valley" adventures for Justice Inc., Call of Cthulhu,
and other pulpish games; and other good stuff.  Of course, I'm waiting
desperately to hear news from others who went to Origins...

				Jim Gardner, University of Waterloo