Anyone know a good superhero-themed RPG system?

[maskmanjoe]

John, if you want to continue with the Basic D&D game. Just let me know!

Yes please lets do this!

[Wolf]

I do like a *little* randomness, because otherwise people might just end up fixated on "builds".  But the thing is, it wasn't designed to be a point buy system.  And here's a blog post that illustrates some of its shortcomings:
http://rpg.brouhaha.us/2009/01/10/building-a-better-marvel-super-heroes-rpg/

I dunno. I read the article and I never really encountered his problems much. I guess it depends on the GM. Sure Iron Man can heal but in our games, it actually can take days to heal up unless you have Regeneration or something similar. Also with respect to role playing, we had our share as well. It wasn't just all action.

I wish I could play again with my old gm.

[catch8088]

I'm near complete with M&M 1st, 2nd, and 3rd edition.

Another SH themed RPG is White Wolf's Aberrant.

[Titus]

Rolf, as catch8088 mentioned, there's Mutants & Masterminds. The 3rd edition just came out last year. It's based on the d20 system.

I'm actually gonna use it for a campaign I'm about to run and I highly recommend it. It has a very flexible powers system and character creation is point-buy based on a power level that depends on the flavor of the campaign.

The same publisher (Green Ronin) also has the DC license and they came out with the DC Adventures RPG using the same system.

[Rolf]

Thanks catch & Titus in your experience, how rules-heavy/number crunchy is M&M?

How does the D20 system scale things like super strength, from ordinary humans to unearthly levels (Thor, Hulk et al)?

[zhenxiao]

If you want, I'll let you read my MnM book.  I've got ed 2, I believe.  I'll also let you look at Silver Age Sentinels.  You might find what you are looking for there.

[Titus]

Thanks catch & Titus in your experience, how rules-heavy/number crunchy is M&M?

How does the D20 system scale things like super strength, from ordinary humans to unearthly levels (Thor, Hulk et al)?

It's pretty rules light and not number crunchy at all. Think d20 but simplified. Numerical scaling is linear. Ordinary humans have an average Strength of 0 while super-strong guys can have a Strength of 12, for example. PCs are limited by the power level of the campaign but NPCs can have power levels beyond the PCS'.

I have PDFs of most of the 2nd ed book, the 3rd ed core rulebook, and the DC Adventures book, in case you want to take a look at them.

[Rolf]

Thanks a lot guys in that case, may I borrow Joe's Silver Age Sentinels and Titus' 3rd ed M&M?

[zhenxiao]

no problems. 

[vladsee]

Just heard of this news.  Margaret Weiss Productions just got the license to do the new Marvel RPGs

http://www.margaretweis.com/news/116-marvel-mwp-2012

[Rolf]

That's interesting, I wonder if they'll use one of their existing rpg systems?  I don't think I ever learned any of those...

edit: found more info.  It's going to be the Cortex+ system which I know nothing about.

http://cinerati.blogspot.com/2011/08/its-marvel-margaret-weis-productions.html

MWP plans to release 16 products within 15 months for the game structuring the expansions around major comic events.  The first product will be a Basic game, which has everything you need to play, and the first event will be Marvel's "Civil War" -- a perfect playground for relationships.  Each "event" line will have two editions an essential edition which merely has the campaign advice and an edition that includes a copy of the basic rules.  The events will be supported by three support products, and then it's on to the next event.  All of the products will be designed to be shelved with the trade paperbacks covering the same event.

[zhenxiao]

I believe it will be based off the Cortex system.  Same system that Supernatural is using, as well as Serenity. It will be interesting how they do it.  But from reading the article, I wonder how they are going to do character creation?

From the article, it sounds like its going to be templates that you tweak here 'n there, and the game sounds like it runs on modules that are based from existing storylines from the Marvel Universe, so I wonder how friendly the game is going to be for GMs who want to create their own games.

I have the Cortex system in PDF, and have glanced through it, but I've read both Supernatural and Serenity, which I have both. Cortex system works well for licensing of TV shows, in my opinion, but I don't know how well it will handle superheroes and their powers.

Should be interesting to see.

[Rolf]

Well, we have time - the goodies are supposed to start coming out in February.

edit: links
http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?586994-Cortex-Marvel!!!
http://www.margaretweis.com/news/116-marvel-mwp-2012

[Nychuus]

Just off the top of my head:
Mutants and Masterminds
Hero System (6th ed now I think, so crunchy you can stat out a sandwich)
Mutant City Blues
Aberrant/Trinity
Wild Talents