Mastermind's Manual
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MUTANTS & MASTERMINDS SUPPLEMENT GRR2504e ISBNISBN 1-932442-55-31-932442-55-3 GRR 2504 Produced and Published by Green Ronin Publishing, LLC STEVE KENSON · GREEN RONIN PUBLISHING P.O. Box 1723, Renton WA 98057-1723 www.mutantsandmasterminds.com • www.greenronin.com MASTERMIND’S MANUAL A GREEN RONIN PRODUCTION Design & Development Steve Kenson Cover Art Udon with Chris Stevens Editing Steven Marsh Executive Producer Chris Pramas Graphic Design Hal Mangold Art Direction Hal Mangold & Steve Kenson Interior Art Attila Adorjany, Brett Barkley, Eric Canete, John Christopher, Storn A. Cook, Tom Feister, Tariq Hassan, Scott James, Georges Jeanty, “Rey” Lewis, Tony Parker, Ramon k Perez, Steve Scott, Kevin Stokes, Craig Taillifer, Udon with Chris Stevens, Dexter Vines Green Ronin Staff Chris Pramas, Nicole Lindroos, Hal Mangold, Steve Kenson, Evan Sass, Robert J. “ Dr. Evil” Schwalb and Marc Schmalz Playtesters Rui Anselmo, Dwyane T. Butchino and the Midnight Legion (Charity Ens-Butchino, Sara Dean, John Szczypien, Jamieson Long, James Taylor, Ralph Duell, David Laramie, James Kavanagh), Bob Huss, Tom Miskey, Jason “Valdier” Orman, Ben Robbins, Garth “The Shadow” Rose, Stephen Scholz, Robert Stehwien, Aaron Sullivan, Ron Willingham, and all the fans on the Atomic Think Tank forums \ who provided questions, feedback, and inspiration. MUTANTS & MASTERMINDS Special Thanks to AEG, Guardians of Order, Malhavoc Press, Sword & Sorcery Studios, Wizards of the Coast, and all the other publishers who have honored the spirit of the Open Game License by contributing content and helping to make this and other products more than just the sum of their parts. Mastermind’s Manual is ©2006 Green Ronin Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Reference to other copyrighted material in no way constitutes a challenge to the respective copyright holders of that material. MASTERMIND’S MANUAL, MUTANTS & MASTERMINDS, M&M Superlink, FREEDOM CITY, World of Freedom, Green Ronin, and their associated logos are trademarks of Green Ronin Publishing, LLC. The Atomic Brain, Butcher Boy, Cyclone, Damocles, the Enthusiast, Gepetto, Gimmick, Headcase, Hyena, Inferna, Kalak the Mystic, Knock-Off, Lady Hex, Marathon, META-4, Minotaur, Mister Mystery, Moodswing, Murder Man, Protonik, the Pugilist, Remlok the Rover, Silver Shrike, and the Twist are ©2002 Super Unicorn and are used with permission. The following is designated as Product Identity, in accordance with Section 1(e) of the Open Game License, Version 1.0a: all character and place names and descriptions, all artwork and images, power points, and hero points. The following text is Open Game Content: all text in Chapters 1 through 9 and the Appendices, except for material previously declared Product Identity. Printed in Canada Green Ronin Publishing PO Box 1723 Renton, WA 98057-1723 [email protected] www.greenronin.com www.mutantsandmasterminds.com Mutants & Masterminds was typeset in ITC Quay Sans, designed by David Quay in 1990, and HTF Gotham Condensed, designed by Tobias Frere-Jones in 2002. MASTERMIND’S MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE • OF • CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .....................................6 Additional Saving Throws .................... 23 Optional Feats .......................................... 43 Rules Options & Variants ........................6 Speed & Jumping .................................... 23 CHAPTER 5: POWERS ..........................48 Optional Rules and CHAPTER 3: SKILLS ............................24 Power Creation ..............................................48 First Edition M&M .................................6 New Uses for Skills ......................................24 Effects ......................................................... 48 Rules from Other Games ..........................6 Bluff ............................................................. 24 Modifying Existing Powers ................... 50 How to Use This Book ..............................6 Computers ................................................. 24 Creating New Powers ..............................51 CHAPTER 1: THE BASICS ......................8 Notice .......................................................... 26 Other Traits as Powers ........................... 56 Just the Basics ................................................. 8 Sense Motive ............................................. 26 Power Creation Examples: Basic Rules Options & Variants ................. 8 Sleight of Hand ...................................... 26 Martial Arts Powers ........................... 56 Stunt Bonuses ..............................................8 Creating Skills ................................................26 The Art of Power Design ....................... 59 Automatic Success and Failure .............8 Sample New Skills ................................... 27 The Care and Feeding Alternate Dice .............................................8 Skill Options & Variants .............................29 of Power Arrays ................................... 60 Players Make All Rolls ............................10 Simple Skills .............................................. 29 Power-Ups and Power Level .................. 62 Card-Based Resolution ............................11 Background Skills .................................... 29 Gamemastering Powers ..............................64 Card-based Hero Points ..........................11 Combat Skills ........................................... 29 Managing Power Stunts ........................ 64 Challenges ..................................................12 Variable Skill Costs ................................. 30 Gaming Powers vs. Power Gaming .... 64 Team Checks ..............................................15 Mix-and-Match Key Abilities ................ 30 Consistency vs. Realism ......................... 66 Templates ........................................................15 Broad Skills ............................................... 30 Keepin’ It Real ...........................................67 Template Format .......................................15 Narrow Skills ............................................. 30 Plot-Stopping Powers ...............................67 Template Stacking ....................................15 Full and Half Skills ..................................31 Game-Stopping Powers .......................... 70 Racial Templates .......................................15 Active, Secret & Power Options & Variants .........................70 Vocational Templates ..............................16 Passive Skill Checks ............................31 Power Level Point Limits ........................ 70 Power Templates .......................................16 Multitasking ...............................................31 Unreliable Powers .................................... 70 Advancement .................................................16 Critical Skills ............................................. 32 Partial Concentration Checks ..............71 Skills and Feats .........................................16 Skill Synergy .............................................. 32 Stun Timing ................................................71 Powers ..........................................................17 Extended Skill Checks ............................ 32 Partial Countering ...................................71 Downtime and Advancement ..............17 Masterful Tactics ...................................... 35 Energy Points ............................................ 72 Advancement During Play ....................17 Graded Language Ranks ...................... 35 Fatigue Saves ............................................ 72 Hero Creation Options & Variants .........17 Language Checks .................................... 35 Power Boosters ......................................... 72 Additional Power Level Limits ..............17 Notice Specialties .................................... 35 Alternate Progressions ............................73 Re-allocating Power Points ....................18 Professional Skills .................................... 35 Partial Saves vs. Trait Powers ...............73 Level-Based Advancement .....................18 Stealth Specialties ................................... 35 Dynamic Variable Powers ......................73 Faster or Slower Advancement ............18 CHAPTER 4: FEATS ..............................36 Flight Maneuverability ...........................74 Unlimited Power Level ............................19 Creating Feats ...............................................36 Point-Based Nullify ................................. 75 Unlimited Power Points ..........................19 Powers as Feats ........................................ 36 Power Combos .......................................... 75 CHAPTER 2: ABILITIES ........................20 Options as Feats ...................................... 38 Null Arrays ................................................ 75 Ability Options & Variants ........................20 Fighting Styles ...............................................39 Wide Arrays ............................................... 76 Random Ability Scores ........................... 20 Unarmed vs. Weapon Styles ................ 39 Alternate Power as a Flaw ................... 76 Shorthand Abilities ................................. 20 Skills and Styles ....................................... 40 Alternate Effects ...................................... 76 Casual Strength ......................................