ANY HERO LESS SYSTEM! The critically-acclaimed HERO System rules are now The Basic Rulebook includes: HERO SYSTEM BASIC RULEBOOK available in a condensed form: the Basic Rulebook! H A quick introduction to the HERO System rules, The Basic Rulebook contains all of the core with guidelines and suggestions for character HERO System rules, including character creation, creation combat and adventuring, and equipment — but H Character creation rules, including Characteristics, without all of the options and details found in the stan- Skills, Perks, Talents, Powers, Advantages, Limita- dard rulebook. The Basic Rulebook boils the HERO tions, Complications, and more System down to its essential elements so you can easily teach yourself the game, bring new players into H Combat, adventuring, and task resolution rules your campaign quickly, or refresh your memory on a that are easily learned but offer a wide range of crucial rule. And when you’re ready to move up to the tactics and abilities complete HERO System, learning it will be a snap be- H Five sample characters, plus hundreds of example cause the Basic Rulebook’s already taught you the abilities, spells, weapons, and vehicles. basics! Sample file H A comprehensive glossary and index so you can But the Basic Rulebook doesn’t sacrifice the easily find just the rule you’re looking for. flexibility, customizability, and freedom that are the hallmarks of the HERO System. With it you can create any sort of character, ability, weapon, spell, gadget, or vehicle you can think of. It lets you do just what you want to do: create great characters and games. 978-1-58366-122-2DOJHERO1003 HERO GAMES ISBN: 978-1-58366-122-2 DOJHERO1003 $19.99 US www.herogames.com ANY HERO LESS SYSTEM! The critically-acclaimed HERO System rules are now The Basic Rulebook includes: HERO SYSTEM BASIC RULEBOOK available in a condensed form: the Basic Rulebook! H A quick introduction to the HERO System rules, The Basic Rulebook contains all of the core with guidelines and suggestions for character HERO System rules, including character creation, creation combat and adventuring, and equipment — but H Character creation rules, including Characteristics, without all of the options and details found in the stan- Skills, Perks, Talents, Powers, Advantages, Limita- dard rulebook. The Basic Rulebook boils the HERO tions, Complications, and more System down to its essential elements so you can easily teach yourself the game, bring new players into H Combat, adventuring, and task resolution rules your campaign quickly, or refresh your memory on a that are easily learned but offer a wide range of crucial rule. And when you’re ready to move up to the tactics and abilities complete HERO System, learning it will be a snap be- H Five sample characters, plus hundreds of example cause the Basic Rulebook’s already taught you the abilities, spells, weapons, and vehicles. basics! Sample file H A comprehensive glossary and index so you can But the Basic Rulebook doesn’t sacrifice the easily find just the rule you’re looking for. flexibility, customizability, and freedom that are the hallmarks of the HERO System. With it you can create any sort of character, ability, weapon, spell, gadget, or vehicle you can think of. It lets you do just what you want to do: create great characters and games. 978-1-58366-122-2DOJHERO1003 HERO GAMES ISBN: 978-1-58366-122-2 DOJHERO1003 $19.99 US www.herogames.com THE HERO SYSTEM BASIC RULEBOOK Quick-Play Rules for the HERO System Author: Steven S. Long Layout and Graphic Design: Bill Keyes Cover Graphics: Andy Mathews, Albert Deschesne, Fred Hicks Interior Artwork: Brett Barkley, Christopher Burdett, Storn Cook, Anthony Cournoyer, Aléjandro Garza, Joshua Guglielmo, Brian & Brendon Fraim, Melissa Gay, Sam Kennedy, Chris Legaspi, Greg Smith, Christian N. St. Pierre, Imario Susilo, and Jason Williford Dedication: We’d like to dedicate the Basic Rulebook to our hard- Steve Jones, Oliver Kammann, Ali Kaplan, Cary Karraker, Daniel working corps of volunteer GMs who run games for us at Origins Kasatchkow, Kevin Keel, Matthew Kerwin, Christine Kinney, Jona- and GenCon, and anyone else who runs HERO System games thon Kirkland, Ben Kisner, Stephen Klozik, Dave Kramer, Kerstin at conventions, game stores, or other places where gamers first Kramer, Scott Krok, Jenn Lach, Mike Lach, Keegan Lacy, Michael encounter the HERO System. Thanks for helping to spread the Larrimore, Kristen Lebowski, Steven Lebowski, Feral Lewis, John faith! Longenbaugh, Aimee Love, Aidan Malony, Ian Malony, Mike Malony, Ryan Malony, Sean Malony, Pedro Manholer, Vince Special Thanks: The HSBR’s roots lie inHERO System Sidekick, Mariotte, Adrian Martinez, Keith McGee, Jr., Keith McGee, Sr., a similar book that Hero Games published in 2004. We were for- Charles McGinnis, Chris Meid, Luiz Gilberto O. Messias, Ron tunate to have a large group of playtesters help with the creation Micksch, Douglas “Hive” Miller, Will Mistretta, Justin Mitchell, of that book, and we’d like to thank them here once more: Tobie Susanna Mitchell, James Morris, David Mowery, Ray Moyer, Abad, Toby Akers, Katherine Allen, Jay Anyong, Kate Aton, Dexter Baraka Murdaugh, Eric Nannamen, Brendon Nuenfeldt, Mela- Ball, Barry Battle, Torsten Beck, Tommy Bisanz, Thomas Biskup, nie Oehlmann, Alexander Osias, Jeff Overman, Deanna Palmer, Lee Blankenship, Jonathan Bodey, Brett Bowman, Jackie Brenegar,Sample Jaguar Palmer,file Peter T. Palmer, Peter W. Palmer, Tania M. Palmer, Mike Brown, Gwynne Brunet, Christopher M. Cadeau, Amie Wylie Palmer, Meredith Peck, Scott Petersen, Marion Peuschel, Marie Carey, Sabrina Carlin, Sean Carlin, Ken Carlson, Marcelo Keith Phemister, Greg Piasentin, Jenny Precht, Dan Poryanda II, H. Cerri, Thomas Clegg, Barbara Coble, William Coble, Joseph Robert Pulchini, Mike Rodriguez, Ted Rowe, Jr., Slobodan “Slobo” Cocco, Randy Conklin, Robert Cote, Jesse Cox, Russel Cox, Char- Sardi, Jörg Schumacher, Chris Shaffer, Vincent Michael Simbu- lie Critz, The Cumberland Fire-Eaters (Dave Insel, Paul Reed, lan, John Simons, Tomas Skucas, Brian Sniffen, Justin Stamen, Cody Reichenau, S. John Ross), Dan Dean, Matthias Deigner, Kyle Stephens, Heather Strange, Chris Streb, John Stepp, James Thomas Dembach, Thalles de Mello, Patrick Deters, Beth Drum- “Cracky” Summa, Jacob Szeluga, Chris Tatro, James Tauscher, mond, Zachary Drummond, Bryant Durrell, Suzanne Eggebrecht, Jochen Terstiege, Thorne, Gary Trumble, Kim Roark Trumble, Ian Eller, Derek Ellis, Ali Eslami, Gabriel Falcon, Doug Field, Mark Ulbrich, Wagner Utiel, Richard Vaillancourt, Brett Walston, Tammy Field, Aaron Fink, James Flanagan, Ken Flickstein, Rob Lorraine Walston, Taylor Walston, Joel Williams, Jennifer William- Flock, Sven “8t88” Flottmann, Anthony Flynn, Dick Forney, Bruce son, William Yon, Bonnie “B-Chan” Zabytko, Argelia Zaucha, and Frazier, Slaine Fullerton, Wes Ganote, S. Alexander Gentry, Aaron Joe Zaucha. Gilbank, Lisa Graff, Ryan Graff, Melissa Grant-Ricks, Jason Gray, Phillip Green, Tara Green, Rick Haufe, Scott Henry, Don Hoban, Sean Hoban, Lenard Ignacio, John Jelsovsky, Chris Johnson, HERO SystemTM ® 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. or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, All rights reserved. recording, or computerization, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Publisher: Champions, Dark Champions, and all associated characters © 1981-2008 Cryptic DOJ, Inc., 226 E. 54th Street, #605, New York, NY 10022-48541. Studios, Inc. All rights reserved. “Champions” and “Dark Champions” are trade- marks of Cryptic Studios, Inc. “Champions” and “Dark Champions” are used under Printed in Canada. First printing August 2009. license from Cryptic Studios, Inc. Produced and distributed by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. Fantasy Hero Copyright © 2003 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. Stock Number: DOJHERO1003 Pulp Hero Copyright © 2005 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. ISBN Number: 978-1-58366-122-2 Star Hero, Justice Inc., Danger International, and Western Hero Copyright © 2002 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. Table of ConTenTs INTRODUCTION ................................5 LIMITATIONS ..................................67 PRESENCE ATTACKS ....................105 What’s The Difference? ....................5 Taking Limitations ..........................67 EXAMPLE OF COMBAT..................106 Where Can I Get Some Help? ...........5 Limitations Descriptions .................68 LIVING IN A DANGEROUS WORLD .110 What Else Is Out There? ...................5 MULTIPOWERS ...............................72 BREAKING THINGS .......................111 BASIC RULES AND CONCEPTS .........6 EXAMPLE POWERS ........................73 VEHICLES .....................................113 Game Basics ...................................6 Cyberware .....................................73 Using Vehicles .............................115 Character Creation ...........................6 Psionic Powers ..............................74 Vehicles In Combat ......................115 Combat ...........................................7 Spells ...........................................75 WEAPONS AND ARMOR ................116 Character Points ............................14 Enchanted Items ............................76 HERO SYSTEM GLOSSARY ...........130