Super Hero Roleplaying Games

[xbuilder]

As you may or may not know I'm I own a roleplaying game publishing company.

Although there are lots of cool Superhero RPG's out there including my own (you can buy pick it up at Amazon.Com here (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0970584105/qid=997300276/sr=2-1/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/103-5739258-7495044)

orAt my site here (http://www.maximumcng.com)

Yes guys Paul Dini did right the forward)

The lack of people buying superhero games is far less than the fan base. As a publisher I'm asking all you gamers and none-gamers why.

What makes a good Superhero RPG, what does not.

What would you do if you were making a super hero RPG.

Thanks.

[Domino]

Originally posted by xbuilder
The lack of people buying superhero games is far less than the fan base. As a publisher I'm asking all you gamers and none-gamers why.

What makes a good Superhero RPG, what does not.

What would you do if you were making a super hero RPG.



The reason that the superhero gaming population isn't as large as the fan base is simple. It's that way for the same reason that millions of people went to see the X-Men movie but only thousands read the comic books. It's a subculture within a subculture. Not everyone who reads comics want to roleplay the characters. It adds an extra "geek factor" to the hobby.

I'm a superhero gamer and I have been playing Champions for 18 years, finally settling on 4th edition. I like the system, having tried Marvel Super Heroes, DC Heroes, Villains and Vigilantes, Heroes Unlimited, and others. Champions, while complicated, allows the freedom to make virtually any printed character. It has good software support (I have the rules in Adobe Acrobat format on my laptop) as well as character creation software, with both Heromaker and Hero Creator. There are scads of supplements that make examples of many different genres. Those are the things I look for in a good superhero RPG.

Your last question is a bit harder to answer, because although I don't think Champions is perfect by any stretch of the imagination, I don't think I could improve upon it enough to devote time and energy into a game that isn't going to make enough money to be a worthwhile investment of those personal resources. If anything, I like simpler, faster games that don't rely on detailed rules, like Mayfair's DC Heroes used to be. The problem is, you need that level of detail to deal with rules lawyers who want to take advantage of every loophole.

Hope this helps!

[xbuilder]

Originally posted by Domino


The reason that the superhero gaming population isn't as large as the fan base is simple. It's that way for the same reason that millions of people went to see the X-Men movie but only thousands read the comic books. It's a subculture within a subculture. Not everyone who reads comics want to roleplay the characters. It adds an extra "geek factor" to the hobby.

I'm a superhero gamer and I have been playing Champions for 18 years, finally settling on 4th edition. I like the system, having tried Marvel Super Heroes, DC Heroes, Villains and Vigilantes, Heroes Unlimited, and others. Champions, while complicated, allows the freedom to make virtually any printed character. It has good software support (I have the rules in Adobe Acrobat format on my laptop) as well as character creation software, with both Heromaker and Hero Creator. There are scads of supplements that make examples of many different genres. Those are the things I look for in a good superhero RPG.

Your last question is a bit harder to answer, because although I don't think Champions is perfect by any stretch of the imagination, I don't think I could improve upon it enough to devote time and energy into a game that isn't going to make enough money to be a worthwhile investment of those personal resources. If anything, I like simpler, faster games that don't rely on detailed rules, like Mayfair's DC Heroes used to be. The problem is, you need that level of detail to deal with rules lawyers who want to take advantage of every loophole.

Hope this helps!

Thanks Domino.

I agree on a lot of that.

While creating our game we ran across a lot of people wondering how complex our game is. we would say just 2D6...2 dice is all you need. Most would then think complexity was low by adaptability was low too. Then I would say 150 powers, 200 plus spells and tons of skills and martial arts.

I'm saying all of that to say this.

Complexity I think has injured the superhero game genre. While at the Origins game Expo saleing our game I discovered also that female gamers are turned off by the complexity and pretentiousness of most superhero games also. I think of the many games we sold over 30% were to female gamers because we leaned parts of the game to that audience.

As for the support statement. We have email rule support, free modules given to registered members and Character creation software in the works.

Superhero games should be as big fantasy by all means and I think it will be. Its just a matter of hard work. And I think you have a lotof good ideas.

btw.
The geek thing...face it people your GEEKs...EMBRACE THE GEEK!

[Domino]

Hero Games has been purchased by a group called Cyber Games, and a new edition of Champions will be forthcoming. They are also trying to get new players involved, so maybe the rules will be streamlined. For those who have never tried RPGs, you may find them a whole lot of fun and a great way to release your creativity!

Go to cybergames.com for more details!