The Superhero Genre Rating Characters and Characteristics
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CHamPIOnS THE SuPER ROlEPlayIng gamE USING THE Hero SyStem Authors Steven S. Long and Aaron Allston Additional Contributions Dedication Darren Watts and Diana Sherman To all the Champions and HERO System fans out Editing and Development there who have kept this game alive and vibrant for Steven S. Long thirty amazing years. Aaron’s Special Thanks Layout and Graphic Design Fred Hicks Thanks must go to the players who have made the Strike Force Universe campaigns so much fun, and Cover Art so instructive to a gamemaster and writer, over Paul Pelletier the years: Mark Bennett, Eric Bunker, Earl Cooley III, Kerry Gaber, Jeff Jacobson, Jan Lewellen, Beth Interior Art Loubet, Denis Loubet, Billy Moore, Matt Pinson- Brett Barkley, Storn Cook, neault, Susan Pinsonneault, Bob Quinlan, Roxanne Brian & Brendon Fraim, Joshua Guglielmo, Quinlan, Luray Richmond, Mark Richmond, Allen Sam Kennedy, Bradley McDevitt, James Nguyen, Sikes, Beth Ann Sikes, and Sean Summers. Klaus Scherwinski, and Jason Williford And From Cryptic Studios Aléjandro Garza, Chris Legaspi, and Imario Susilo HERO System™® is DOJ, Inc.’s trademark for its roleplaying system. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form HERO System Copyright © 1984, 1989, 2002, 2009 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, reserved. recording, or computerization, or by any information storage and Champions, DarkSample Champions, and all associated characters © 1981-2009 Cryptic Studios, Inc. All retrieval system, without permission infile writing from the Publisher: rights reserved. “Champions” and “Dark Champions” are trademarks of Cryptic Studios, Inc. DOJ, Inc., 226 E. 54th Street, #605, New York, NY 10022-48541. “Champions” and “Dark Champions” are used under license from Cryptic Studios, Inc. Printed in the USA. First printing January 2010. Fantasy Hero Copyright © 2003 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. Produced and distributed by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. Pulp Hero Copyright © 2005 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. Stock Number: DOJHERO1100 Star Hero, Justice Inc., Danger International, and Western Hero Copyright © 2002 by DOJ, Inc. ISBN Number: 978-1-58366-125-3 d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. TABLE OF CONTENTS It’s a rare Date Night in Millennium City For Defender and Witchcraft... ... turns out they’re rare for For a reason! INTRODUCTIONLooks .................................................... 5 CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE WITH gREaT POWER...: Heeere’s ...COmES gREaT RESPOnSIBIlITy: like ICHAPTER owe you ONE another SuPERHERO CHaRaCTER CREaTIOn gamEmaSTERIng CHamPIOnS TRuTH, JuSTICE,rain anD THE amERICan WAY: JOHNNY! check. BEING SUPERHUMAN ......................................... 70 CREATING YOUR SUPERHERO SETTING ............ 120 THE SuPERHERO gEnRE RATING CHARACTERS AND CHARACTERISTICS .. 71 TIMELINE ....................................................... 120 WHAT SUPERHERO STORIES ARE ALL ABOUT ...... 8 SUPERHERO ORIGINS ......................................... 73 Sources Of Superpowers .............................. 120 SUPERHERO ELEMENTS ..................................... 10 ORIGIN CATEGORIES ......................................... 73 The Appearance Of Supers ........................... 124 SECRET IDENTITIES, MASKS, AND COSTUMES ... 10 Born Great .................................................... 73 Number Of Superhumans ............................. 125 UNREALISTIC VILLAINY ...................................... 14 Achieve Greatness ......................................... 74 SUPERS AND SOCIETY .................................... 126 DAY JOBS ........................................................ 16 Have Greatness Thrust Upon Them ................. 74 Historical Events .......................................... 126 THE ACHILLES’ HEEL......................................... 16 SUPERHERO MOTIVATIONS ............................... 75 Culture ........................................................ 127 FAR AWAY PLACES ........................................... 17 ................................. 76 Law ............................................................ 128 SUPERHERO ARCHETYPESOgre! SUPER-MAGIC AND MYSTICISM ........................ 19 BRICK .............................................................. 76 Technology .................................................. 131 You’re too dumb The Superhuman Community ....................... 132 SECRET SOCIETIES ........................................... 20 ENERGY PROJECTORto have ........................................ busted out 78 well HAR-DEE- It’s a rare Date SUPER-MYSTERIES ......................................... 133 SUPER-AGENCIES .............................................At least we20 GADGETEER .....................................................of Stronghold 80 HAR! Why Don’t ya Night in Millennium POINTS ANDcome POWER over LEVELS here........................... 134 CHAMPIONS SUBGENRES .................................. 21 yourself ...! City For Defendercame prepared MARTIAL ARTIST ............................................... 81 THE GOLDEN AGE .............................................for a quick22 POINT TOTALS ................................................and say— 134 and Witchcraft... MENTALIST ...................................................... 83 THE SILVER AGE ...............................................change!27 Point Total Options....................................... 135 METAMORPH .................................................... 84 Point Total Problems .................................... 138 THE BRONZE AGE ............................................. 35 MYSTIC ............................................................ 86 CREATING AND RUNNING THE IRON AGE .................................................. 41 POWERED ARMOR ............................................ 88 CHAMPIONS CAMPAIGNS ................................. 140 GALACTIC CHAMPIONS ..................................... 45 SPEEDSTER ...................................................... 89 CAMPAIGN TONE ............................................ 140 MYSTIC CHAMPIONS ........................................ 50 HAHAHAHA! WEAPONMASTERYer ............................................. gonna have tA 91 Morality ....................................................... 140 TEEN CHAMPIONS ............................................ 51 META-ARCHETYPESpack .......................................... more of a 92 Realism ....................................................... 142 MIXING GENRES ................................................. 53 Anthropomorphicpunch ........................................... Dan Dat ta 92 Outlook; Importance Of The PCs ................... 142 META-GENRESSorry .................................................to 54 Cosmic .........................................................beat da Ogre, 92 RUNNING THE CAMPAIGN................................ 143 interrupt Adventure ..................................................... 54 Detective .......................................................Sweetcakes. Dat94 hocus The Limits Of Superhero Genre Simulation .... 143 All this Comedy ........................................................ 56 Patriot ...........................................................pocus94 ain’t doin’Campaigns As They Age .............................. 147 DramaFlirting! .......................................................... 58 Robot/Android ............................................... 96 ta me ...SQUAT turns outCREATING AND RUNNING EPISODES ................ 148 Horror ........................................................... 59 today! MORE POWERFUL THAN A LOCOMOTIVE:they’re rare forVillain .......................................................... 149 Romance ...................................................... 61 CREATING SUPERHERO CHARACTERS ................For 98a reason!Plot ............................................................. 149 OTHER GENRES ................................................ 63 General Suggestions ...................................... 98 Theme ........................................................ 151 SUGGESTED GAME ELEMENTS .......................... 99 He’s immuneSubplots ...................................................... 151 Characteristics ..............................................to99 my magic.Gaming This It Out .............................................. 152 Looks Skills ............................................................. 99date justChampions keeps Instant Plot Generator ................. 154 like I owe you Heeere’s Perks .......................................................... 103gettingTHE better! CARE AND FEEDING OF COMPLICATIONS .. 159 another rain Complications ..............................................JOHNNY!104 check. VILLAINS .......................................................... 162 SUPERTEAMS ................................................... 111 LEVELS OF VILLAINS ....................................... 162 GAHRR! HOW TEAMS GET TOGETHER .......................... 111 Villainous Agencies ...................................... 164 TEAM MEMBER TYPES .................................... 112 A COWARDLY, SUPERSTITIOUS LOT: TEAM ATTRIBUTES .......................................... 113 VILLAIN ARCHETYPES ..................................... 167 TEAM BENEFITS ............................................. 118Greaaat. My turn!RUNNING