Since the "super" threads are just bumpfag talking to himself, I decided to make this thread instead of waiting to post in another oneMy GM wants to make a super game, but he is still stalling on choosing a system since there's so many options and he doesn't want to read a bunch of books to decide. I need your recs for a system, and one or more REASONS for the recs so that I can pitch it to him. Whoever wins gets a (you)
Check this one out.https://gegalix-halcyon.itch.io/customizable-hero
>>98810687I like Powers Unlimited but I got taught Palladium from a department of corrections graduate, apparently the source of where people learn the system.There is the Marvel RPG with the FASERIP system, some people swear by that. They also loudly say all proceding Marvel TOG systems have sucked in comparison.
>>98810815>REASONSFor that there is a very big selection of powers and classes. Powers are both major and minor with their own complexities. It covers everything from magic to technology to regular humans with normal specialized abilities. Palladium is basically just 2e with more rules tacked on so its a familiar wound if you know it.The upside/downside is that there are lots of supplemental books as well as a lot of stuff in their annual mag, the Rifter. Also there is kind of no official setting. You can find background for things in the book and plenty of campaign settings in the supplemental stuff, everyone has ignored that and just does whatever they want when they GM.
>>98810687I recommend Prowlers & Paragons. It's easy to use, there are a few google sheets that do your math for you floating around if you're inclined to use them, and the core system is easy to grasp. The powers are a good time and IMO fairly priced, the way games play out does require getting used to if you're used to more "meat points and damage" type systems (i.e. D&Dfinder) but once you understand it it's really fun, and the pros/cons (I can't recall the exact name but you can add drawbacks to powers to reduce their cost and pick extra boons like being rich or having a sidekick) add depth despite the general simplicity of the system.Again, if you're not used to systems where your HP isn't really HP and are more failure points (the nature of supers systems in general in my experience, because a lot of heroes are too strong to kill conventionally at higher power levels, which the system does account for), there's a learning curve, but most supers systems have this. It also comes pre-packaged with a ton of pre-made bad guys, simple rules for mooks, and the power system lets you choose your relevant stat based on how your hero's powers work. You can go all tech and be batman or iron man, opt for psychic powers and be an xavier type, or even innate powers and be a superman clone, or mix powers entirely if you want to get crazy with it.
>>98810854Ah, right, its also unbalanced and insane. Its seamless compatible with TMNT, Ninjas and Superspies, Nightbane, and other palladium joints that dont use 'mega damage' but that in no way means you will not be outclassed or underpowered in comparison to others. Your temu ninja turtle or James Bond will be contributing bupkiss when on a team where they picked powers that does what you do but better.
>>98810854>>98810940Never thought of Palladium, but it looks too crunchy for the group. And my GM did express the worry of some characters being more powerful than others, Hawkeye-style. Regardless, thank you for the effortposting, anon
>>98811043>but it looks too crunchy for the groupWell I was going to suggest HERO System but if Palladium is too crunchy HERO absolutely is. I'll suggest Danger League.
>>98810687Savage Worlds with the Super Powers Companion or the Necessary Evil setting.Pros>Has clear power level distinctions starting at street and going all the way to cosmic>You can build around a theme pretty easily because powers (the spells, single instant powers like eye blasts, etc) are easily modified so one basic power can be very malleable>Always on abilities like super strength and speed are laid out mechanically and are strong as fuck but nowhere near as malleable as powers>The basic rules are Savage Worlds rules so you also are training your players how to use a generic system so you have a shitload of options for future games using established settings or making your own which is easy as hell to do with Savage Worlds.Cons>You have to keep shit at the agreed upon power level. Bringing in a villain just one level higher will have your group get bodied really fast and one level lower will have something laughably weak compared to your group even if the villains team up>Savage Worlds is action focused. If you want to get into the soap opera bullshit with comics (social shit) and investigative stuff is possible but not very good. In fact, it is just a bad system when you aren't playing action focused games in general. A large amount of people want action focused games though, so if that's your jam, run it.
>>98810815Prisons are the only place I ever encountered people playing GURPS.
>>98811077When looking up Danger League, all I found was some amateur-looking pdf on Scribd. Have a link?
>>98810687>PROSEveryone knows how to play, you already feel like you're superheroes, the DM will cue maniacal laughter but knows that no matter what can barely challenge the players. >CONSReskinning should make you feel bad even though its super easy. Also, I hate this idea, but... I also hate that it works.
>>98811189>>You have to keep shit at the agreed upon power level. Bringing in a villain just one level higher will have your group get bodied really fast and one level lower will have something laughably weak compared to your group even if the villains team upThis seems like a pretty big issue. Taking on superhumans as a Batfamily is pretty core to the experience.
>>98812662Batman isn't street level. The guy survived falling through the Earth's atmosphere from orbit and physically beat up Reverse Flash that was not depowered and was not surprised and was actively engaged in one v one combat with him.That said, a street level hero can have super powers MOST of the X-men and mutants in general are street level. Just how most of the X-men and mutants in general would get their shit kicked out their eye sockets if they fought Superman.The breakdown for power levels goes by Super Power points that you use for setting up your tool kit and a limit for how many points can be invested in a single power.>Young/teen heroesSuper Power Points 15PP limit 5Hilariously, this is your street level stuff. Despite the next level being called Streetfighters.>StreetfightersSPP 30PP 10Gritty crime fighting. Not enough to take on any kind of military presence, but can definitely get most shit done beneath that level.>Four ColorSPP 45PP 15THIS is you standard comic book group of B-listers. X-force/X-factor, Great Lake Avengers. Not the BIG hitters but no slouch at all >Heavy HittersSPP 60PP 20That military force mentioned earlier? THESE guys can solo most military engagements. It will be taxing, but it can be done. A team of these guys will shut down most armies.>World Class/CosmicSPP 75 or higherPP 25 or higherOne of these guys clearly outperforms most national militaries. A group of them are when you are reaching for Cosmic level threats to stop them.
>>98810879How big is it?
My group uses Marvel Multiverse RPGPros>Easy to learn use>Lots of stated out official characters in every book>Robust character creation, even with just the core book Cons>You all better like Marvel, you can reskin powers and even characters but the system is intended for marvel characters>Additional rules are in every expansion book, like character progression rules (called Getting Schooled) are in the X-Men and Avengers expansionsAll in all it's a simple system with some flexibility, but you'll want all the books (mind you that's the core + 4 expansions atm) to really see what it can do
>>98812791I misread that as "Heavy Hitlers" for a sec
>>98812791I heard that the Four Color tier and above tends to really throw in a wrench in the normal flow of SW gameplay. Is that true or is that just the Internet exaggerating things?
>>98813530doesn't Marvel have 3 or 4 very different systems that people like?I remember one that was kinda like a proto-BoB, you bet stats to do stuff and slowly recover them.
>>98813876Marvel Multiverse RPG is the newest one produced inhouse by MarvelI don't know which system you're referring to
>>98810687Where do you guys come up with ideas for hero concepts?
>>98810687use one he's most fluent withor old MSHRPG aka FASERIP, it has basically most hero stated, some ready adventures and easy system
The answer to this question is always 4th edition Champions (The big blue book). It is, quite literally, the perfect superhero RPG. Flexible, balanced powers creation.3d6 skill/combat system for nice bell curveSplatbooks like NinjaHero to add focus to particular genres.A good selection of adventures and sourcebooks with character examples, NPCs, organizations, etc.Despite the memes it is not complicated. If you can add & subtract, you can play Champions.
>>98810687Just ignore Prowlerfag.
>>98810687It would help to know what sort of system he's looking for, in terms of complexity, and what types of systems he typically runs.
>>98815098I've read the newest iteration of the FASERIP system (Hero World) and I liked it, particularly the idea of power extensions. The hero point system is ok, but the karma system seems better, as it rewards actually fighting crime.>>98815177Champions is a name that obviously always comes up, but I always heard it was crunchy, as a post above said. Is 4th edition better in this regard?>>98815453He's a beginner GM, he only ran one or two games with simple made up homebrews and maybe played a few sessions of D&D. This would be his first time running a proper system, hence him not having a clue where to start. Since I'm gonna be a player, he's not keen on giving much details, but he wants something that neither too crunchy nor too freeform. I tried shilling Masks but he didn't want it, so I guess narrative games are off the table
>>98810687What are the pros and cons of using DC as a setting compared to Marvel besides DC heroes being more spread out than Marvel, which focuses more on NYC? What about the pros and cons of other supers settings like MHA, One Punch Man, Invincible, Worm, Aberrant, etc.? And if you prefer making your own settings, what would you take as inspiration from those settings, if anything?
>>98816761Kys bumpfag, this is my thread. Make your own
>>98816761How about you actually contribute to thread instead, you fucking faggot?
Since we're doing system recs, which is best for low-powered stuff? Bonus points for weird borderline-useless powers
>>98813753It's a pretty big jump in power levels to the point the PCs are only going to experience difficulties in similar powered individuals. That would mean the base power level of mooks would be high enough it's hard to justify the main villains not already have conquered the planet at that point. One of the benefits that Necessary Evil has is the big bads already killed the heroes and effectively did take over the planet so the power scaling works there. Four color and up really highlights just how incredibly unrealistic the world state of comic books are. You can run those power levels but the PCs are only going to really work if they just hang out in a headquarters and go out to fight big threats while ignoring every other negative societal situation (which is what comic books do) but it is kind of shit for roleplaying purposes for a lot of people. Honestly though, if your group treats it like an episode of a Sat AM cartoon with zero interconnective, it's fine.
>>98810687What advice do you have for making original supers settings and/or heroes and villains for said settings?
>>98813043Wow. Pretty small PP.
>>98810687What’s your biggest pet peeve about supers games/settings? Mine is the Clark Kenting trope.
>>98826501You're never escaping that, PPfag :P
>>98815665>newest iteration of the FASERIP system (Hero World)dunno aboout it, I use old oneone change you should expect is system should promote proper heroic behaviour, my group gives no fuck about collateral damage and then they complaint about no experience/karma to evolve characters
>>98821629have some gallery of heroes and villains, maybe generate them randomly to have some at hand to throw at players
>>98827679But that's a real phenomenon that actually happens in real life. We have documented evidence of Tom Cruise, Anthony Starr, and Marilyn Monroe Clark Kenting and it works
