Kick Ass 2 rekindled the interest in a campaign I've had in the back of my head for awhile: a non traditional "superhero" setting based on the idea of a group of "Real Life Superheroes", that sorts that dress in costumes and perform neighborhood watch style patrols, community services and other low key but positive activities that decides to take things to the next level and actually, actively fight crime in an aggressive, vigilante manner.

The mood would be somewhat gritty but optimistic cinema with the the PCs in real danger and facing competent (and ruthless) opponents but very capable (or lucky) themselves with the potential to make good on their efforts. Action would high octane action movie, not totally over the top but would definite push the envelope of nominal realism. There would be no overt supernatural elements, at least at first but I reserve the possibility of it coming up later, at least in small discrete doses so no actual superpowers, magic or completely science fiction elements. The laws of science may be stretch, even bent but not mutilated or shattered so the most common "powers" would be extreme levels of skill, talent even luck or meta abilities.

System wise my choices are Hero System and GURPS. Though Hero System is my personal favorite, I'm leaning towards GURPS as it will allow for a somewhat more down to Earth feel while allowing for some cinematic excess and provides a greater variety of character design and development choices in the "human" range. Can anyone provide any suggestions for different rules set or reason for or against my two selections?

Any thoughts on developing the setting, potential problems/plots and anything else would be welcome as well.

Quote from: Nexus;682258Kick Ass 2 rekindled the interest in a campaign I've had in the back of my head for awhile: a non traditional "superhero" setting based on the idea of a group of "Real Life Superheroes", that sorts that dress in costumes and perform neighborhood watch style patrols, community services and other low key but positive activities that decides to take things to the next level and actually, actively fight crime in an aggressive, vigilante manner.

The mood would be somewhat gritty but optimistic cinema with the the PCs in real danger and facing competent (and ruthless) opponents but very capable (or lucky) themselves with the potential to make good on their efforts. Action would high octane action movie, not totally over the top but would definite push the envelope of nominal realism. There would be no overt supernatural elements, at least at first but I reserve the possibility of it coming up later, at least in small discrete doses so no actual superpowers, magic or completely science fiction elements. The laws of science may be stretch, even bent but not mutilated or shattered so the most common "powers" would be extreme levels of skill, talent even luck or meta abilities.

System wise my choices are Hero System and GURPS. Though Hero System is my personal favorite, I'm leaning towards GURPS as it will allow for a somewhat more down to Earth feel while allowing for some cinematic excess and provides a greater variety of character design and development choices in the "human" range. Can anyone provide any suggestions for different rules set or reason for or against my two selections?

Any thoughts on developing the setting, potential problems/plots and anything else would be welcome as well.

Gurps may handle very low powered supers better than Hero.

I greatly prefer Hero as a game system, but I can't in good conscience badmouth Gurps for low powered heroes.

Unfortunately GURPS stats are linear instead of logarithmic in scale, so generally GURPS could only do low-power well before 4th Edition and even then it takes some work.

If this is going to be based on Kick-Ass, there needs to be a special stat called "Profanity."  

JG

This is probably one of the few supers campaigns where I think GURPS might actually be capable of handling it.

Quote from: James Gillen;682263Unfortunately GURPS stats are linear instead of logarithmic in scale, so generally GURPS could only do low-power well before 4th Edition and even then it takes some work.

If this is going to be based on Kick-Ass, there needs to be a special stat called "Profanity."  

JG

A specialization of Public Speaking?

Edit: In case it wasn't clear I want a tone more like the movies than the comic which were pretty dreary, IMO, with moments that bordered on nihilistic or at best very dark humor.

Quote from: Nexus;682636A specialization of Public Speaking?

Edit: In case it wasn't clear I want a tone more like the movies than the comic which were pretty dreary, IMO, with moments that bordered on nihilistic or at best very dark humor.

I know what you mean.  I actually LIKED the movie.

JG