Do you like superheroes?

dadiceguy · April 08, 2006, 10:30:37 PM

Quote from: SilverlionWell do you? and do you play superhero RPG's?

I love supers games. Ran Champions and V&V for a while, but havent had a chance in far too long. No-one in my regular gaming group is into comics, so I havent had much interest. Even though I have many supers game sysytems.

And even though I know that I would never use it I want a copy of Super-Hero 2044. Thr granddaddy of all supers RPGS.

Sojourner Judas · April 08, 2006, 11:09:02 PM

The most superhero gaming I generally get is at the Institute.

Silverlion · April 09, 2006, 01:38:16 AM

Quote from: dadiceguyAnd even though I know that I would never use it I want a copy of Super-Hero 2044. Thr granddaddy of all supers RPGS.

I picked it up at one point. It does have a cool idea or two. (the Patrol "tracking" iirc..) but it was just what it was, a tiny thing that was quickly surpassed by more efforted attempts.

Silverlion · April 09, 2006, 01:39:58 AM

Quote from: willpaxBeen meaning to check out Astro City.

Part of the problem is that I've been doing an interdisciplinary class in Super Heroes, so I've been a bit immersed in the whole history of the genre and its traditional formulas. I probably just need some time off.

Yeah that could wear ya out. Anytime you study something as a class/literature you get removed a bit from the aspect of what makes it FUN--you think to much about it. (English Lit major once upon a time is my background in saying that.)

dadiceguy · April 09, 2006, 05:51:34 AM

Quote from: willpaxBeen meaning to check out Astro City.

Part of the problem is that I've been doing an interdisciplinary class in Super Heroes, so I've been a bit immersed in the whole history of the genre and its traditional formulas. I probably just need some time off.

I understand completley. When I was running the comic & game shop I was surrounded by all the mainstream books every day at work and was more and more draw to the smaller press stuff.

dadiceguy · April 09, 2006, 01:34:20 PM

Quote from: SilverlionI picked it up at one point. It does have a cool idea or two. (the Patrol "tracking" iirc..) but it was just what it was, a tiny thing that was quickly surpassed by more efforted attempts.

I want it more for the fact that it is the original than any desire to play it. Just it is very unlikely for me to play Champions, V&V, or Marvel Super-heroes again. Too many newer systems do the supers genre better now.

Dr_Avalanche · April 09, 2006, 04:27:01 PM

I like playing them much more than I like reading about them (superheroes, that is). Weird, that. I guess I'm too much of a munchkin to resist the power-trip...

kanegrundar · April 09, 2006, 04:27:50 PM

I love Super hero RPG's. I started out with the Advanced MSH game way back in the day. It was natural for me to want to play supers games since I used to read comics (up until the day of the $3 comic with multiple chomium covers) and I player RPG's, so it was a no-brainer.

My current system of choice is M&M 2E. It's easy to use and flexible enough to emulate just about anything seen in the comics. I would like to try Hero someday, but that MASSIVE core rules book is a bit daunting to get past.

Caesar Slaad · April 09, 2006, 04:56:55 PM

I haven't gotten much into supers RPGs of late.

I'm not sure I could get back into four-color style supers again. Something more low-key, with more subterfuge and less public mayhem, might be workable.

jcfiala · April 09, 2006, 07:30:19 PM

I really do enjoy Superhero roleplaying, although I haven't had the chance to play it that much, which is a shame. I've mostly used Champions and Silver Age Sentinels, myself.

el-remmen · April 09, 2006, 10:24:24 PM

I ran Session/Issue #0 of my first Mutants & Masterminds campaign today. It is called Urban Legend and is set in a fictional 1977 New York City.

Obviously, I like the idea of a supers campaign, but 1) it has to be different (i.e. the setting I chose) and 2) I have never tried to do it "seriously" before (ran V&V when I was a teen) - so we'll see if my DM skills transfer over. :hmm:

CleanCutRogue · April 10, 2006, 08:51:17 AM

QuoteObviously, I like the idea of a supers campaign, but 1) it has to be different (i.e. the setting I chose) and 2) I have never tried to do it "seriously" before (ran V&V when I was a teen) - so we'll see if my DM skills transfer over.

I have the same problem, Ultimate Nullifier. I've run quite a few Supers games (several systems, but memorably Marvel Super Heroes Advanced, Champions, Villains & Vigilantes, DC) in my past. But they never become a serious campaign. Despite the fact that I try, my players always end up wanting to battle it out in a big city and cause tons of collateral damage... yelling taglines and such. Deep role-playing just doesn't happen. Maybe my fault... dunno. But it seems to be the way my players prefer to play supers so I just go with the flow and have fun with it. I'm curious to know if yours turns out different.

Xavier Lang · April 10, 2006, 10:43:16 AM

I don't love or hate superheroes, there a middle of the road thing for me. I can enjoy them but I wish I wouldn't get stuck running them. I don't think I'm very good at running super hero games. I don't think I do a terrible job at it, but I can tell its not my best work when I'm running.

willpax · April 10, 2006, 12:52:34 PM

QuoteI've run quite a few Supers games (several systems, but memorably Marvel Super Heroes Advanced, Champions, Villains & Vigilantes, DC) in my past. But they never become a serious campaign. Despite the fact that I try, my players always end up wanting to battle it out in a big city and cause tons of collateral damage... yelling taglines and such. Deep role-playing just doesn't happen. Maybe my fault... dunno. But it seems to be the way my players prefer to play supers so I just go with the flow and have fun with it.

This is part of the "limitations of the genre" that I was talking about--when it comes right down to it, the superhero genre is strained to deal with serious issues and real life consequences (that is, after all, a key point in both Watchmen and the Incredibles). Instead, it offers simple conflict and greater-than-life ability as substitutes. Not that those things aren't fun at times, but, if you want to develop a more substantial story arc, you often find yourself needing to borrow from a genre that has a bit more in the way of stage props and plot potential.

The nullifier's campaign looks like a promising example of this--combining supers with some X-Files-ish type stuff. I'm interested to see how it palys out.

Silverlion · April 10, 2006, 03:11:11 PM

Quote from: willpaxThis is part of the "limitations of the genre" that I was talking about--when it comes right down to it, the superhero genre is strained to deal with serious issues and real life consequences (that is, after all, a key point in both Watchmen and the Incredibles). Instead, it offers simple conflict and greater-than-life ability as substitutes. Not that those things aren't fun at times, but, if you want to develop a more substantial story arc, you often find yourself needing to borrow from a genre that has a bit more in the way of stage props and plot potential.

I disagree, fundamentally with that theory--I think that the problems and plot potential are just as significant even within the superhero genre--it hasn't always been written that way (the Comic's Code Authority hurt some, but also forced creativity on others) but the idea that its somehow less potential for storytelling is a flaw in the end user perception, on in the genre tropes.