The Ultimate Mentalist - 5th ed?

[Gwena Kitten]

Though the Hero System 5th Ed book mentions that it "incorporates new rules from Dark Champions, (and) the Ultimate series..," it does not mention many of the of the rules, skills, and power combinations that are described in The Ultimate Mentalist. Will there be a 5th edition version of this handbook? If so, when can we look forward to its publication?

Many changes have been made in the conversion from 4th to 5th edition in the interest of balance. Are you planning to change any of the costs for the advantages and powers in The Ultimate Mentalist, if you do decide to re-vamp it? In the meantime, should we simply use the 4th edition rules?

In specific I am worried about mental signatures and traces. There is no reference to them in the Hero System 5th book nor The Champions Genre book, though there was never any mention in the original 4th edition book either. Is invisible power effects to both mental awareness and leaves no signature / trace still worth a +3/4 advantage? Will the skills Cloak, Facade, and Veil be re-instituted? Will Psionically enhanced skills still exist? And will the costs or effects of these skills change?

My character is heavily based around these skills and powers, so it very important for me to understand any changes to them before I can convert my character from 4th to 5th.

Your help is greatly valued. Thank you for your time.

[Steve Long]

I've moved this to "Company Questions," since it's not about rules and thus better suited to other parts of the boards.

We will eventually do a 5E-compatible version of The Ultimate Mentalist, though it's not currently on the production schedule. In the meantime, I'd say it's reasonably safe to assume that anything from TUM not changed or contradicted by 5E materials (either directly or by implication) remains in effect as an optional rule. You can see plenty of instance where I've already adopted (or adapted) TUM materials in 5E, the USPD, and other books.

[TheQuestionMan]

Thread Necromnacy

More Later

QM

[Steve Long]

I don't see any particular reason why a two year-old thread needs to be revived, but in any event, for those who care TUM is on the schedule for later this year.

[Gwena Kitten]

Thank you for the update. I am looking forward to its release.

[Thia Halmades]

... shocking, both the original poster AND me both care, Steve. It's like we want to buy your book or something. :p

[TheQuestionMan]

There was a wonderful Digital Hero Article on Mental Powers and I want to know if there will be something like it inclueded in The Ultimate Mentalist. I would also like to see and even more on Genres and Sub Genres. Everthing from Psiber Punk, to Mytics and Mediums of the Victorian & Pulp Eras, to Conspiracy/Weird Conspiracy Hero (It just lends itself to it so well)

One of the few things I liked about the previeous owners was there take on PSI. A Superhero Conspiracy twist on the old Classic.

More Later

QM

[Steve Long]

There was a wonderful Digital Hero Article on Mental Powers and I want to know if there will be something like it inclueded in The Ultimate Mentalist.

You're going to have to give me more to go on than that -- I'm not lookin' through 30-some issues in the hopes of guessing which one you mean. ;)

I think it's safe to say that TUM will follow the same general pattern of UMM and USP (though I realize you haven't seen the latter yet ;)): Chapter One, character creation and in-depth review of all the Mental Powers; Chapter Two, hundreds of example mental powers (with options); Chapter Three, genre-by-genre with example characters; and Chapter Four, campaigning and combat stuff. (USP has a fifth chapter in there, but so what, you get the picture.) :hex:

[FenrisUlf]

OT, but how many 'Ultimate' books are coming out this year? We've got Ultimate Metamorph (and I'll have it soon, if that %^&*! game shop finally straightened the order out), Ultimate Speedster, and not Ultimate Mentalist.

I'm asking because these are 'must get' books to me, so I'd just appreciate knowing in advance how much cash to squirrel away.

Oh, and by the way, this news is :thumbup: :rockon:

[Sketchpad]

I think the Ultimate Skill is coming out also, n'est pas?

[ghost-angel]

The Ultimate Line currently contains: Ultimate Martial Artists, Ultimate Vehicle, Ultimate Mystic, Ultimate Brick, Ultimate Metamorph.

Ultimate Speedster is being edited. Ultimate Skill is being written currently (slated for this year).

Everything beyond that is speculation until Steve gets the manuscript. :)

[TheQuestionMan]

Digital Hero Issue #32 – “Mind Over Matter” by Charles Braden (Sample)
http://herogame.dans.cust.servlets.net/digitalHero/Samples/dh32mind.jsp

A great Article and one I think belongs in the Ultimate Mentalist. I know that "The Ultimate Series" primarily deals with mechanics, but I "BELIEVE" (A stong word for me BTW) it really needs more in reguards to Genres and Sub Genres.

I would also like to enter a plee that Soltaire/Witch Craft not be one of the sample characters. She is a Mystic more than a Mentalist. Let us try to keep the distinctions clear.

Also the Psychic Soldiers from The Ultimate Mentalist, 4th Edition did not really capture the feel.

Re: Chapter 5: "Whatta yah mean" -- "USP has a fifth chapter in there, but so what, you get the picture."
I do not see anything. How about you get Storn to draw us a picture. LOL.



More Later

QM

[Steve Long]

I would also like to enter a plee that Soltaire/Witch Craft not be one of the sample characters. She is a Mystic more than a Mentalist. Let us try to keep the distinctions clear.

Since Witchcraft isn't a mentalist (except in the loosest and least helpful sense), there's no reason to put her in the book. Since there's no Solitaire in this setting, there's no chance of her being in the book.


Also the Psychic Soldiers from The Ultimate Mentalist, 4th Edition did not really capture the feel.

I could not disagree more strongly. I can virtually guarantee they'll be in there in very much the same way.


"Whatta yah mean" -- "USP has a fifth chapter in there, but so what, you get the picture."

I mean the fact that USP has five chapters, and TUM likely only four, doesn't diminish the usefulness of the comparison showing they'll have the same general organization.

[Steve Long]

how many 'Ultimate' books are coming out this year?

Ultimate Speedster (currently in editing and development)
Ultimate Mentalist
Ultimate Skill (the big GenCon release)

[ghost-angel]

I sooo can not wait for the Ultimate Skill.. I've been drooling over this one

[Thia Halmades]

GenCon... I have to wait until JUNE?!

*spits bullets*

[TheQuestionMan]

I could not disagree more strongly. I can virtually guarantee they'll be in there in very much the same way.
Then we will have to agree to disagree. I respect your opinion and hope you do not take it as a critizism, just my own view. I will reread the 4th Edition though and tell you exactly what I did not like.


I mean the fact that USP has five chapters, and TUM likely only four, doesn't diminish the usefulness of the comparison showing they'll have the same general organization.
Is that a Tease of a Marketing Strategy ;) What is going into it?

Thank you again for responding and taking part.



Cheers

QM

[FenrisUlf]

Ultimate Speedster (currently in editing and development)
Ultimate Mentalist
Ultimate Skill (the big GenCon release)

Ultimate Skill will be a BIG help. This will make me sound like an idiot, but I've long had problems coming up with valid Professional Skills, as well as defining just what is the difference between the knowledge you get from, say, KS: RPG Writing and PS: RPG Writing.

[Lightray]

I sooo can not wait for the Ultimate Skill.. I've been drooling over this one
My copy'd better not arrive damp, then!

[Teflon Billy]

GenCon... I have to wait until JUNE?!

*spits bullets*August, GenCon is in August.

TB

[Steve Long]

I sooo can not wait for the Ultimate Skill.. I've been drooling over this one

Believe me, I'm right there with you. TUS is on my "I've been waiting 10 years to write this book" list, a list which thanx to having been running Hero for over four years now has dwindled considerably. In fact, there are only one or two titles left, so I guess I can put yet another checkmark in the "job satisfaction" column. ;)

[Steve Long]

GenCon... I have to wait until JUNE?

No, absolutely not! You have to wait until August. :eek:

Sorry, TH, but even with 120,000 words already written I'm gonna need every second I can get to finish this puppy on time. Having it ready for Origins definitely ain't gonna happen.

[Steve Long]

Is that a Tease of a Marketing Strategy What is going into it?

The "extra" USP chapter is called "The HERO System Movement Companion." Basically speaking, it takes 5ER 363-69 and expands it into a whole chapter with additional rules, information about things like racing, real-world physics considerations, and other such nonsensery. ;) I just felt it made more sense, organization-wise and user-friendliness-wise, to keep that information in its own chapter, rather than wedging into Chapter One or Chapter Five.

[Lord Liaden]

Ultimate Skill will be a BIG help. This will make me sound like an idiot, but I've long had problems coming up with valid Professional Skills, as well as defining just what is the difference between the knowledge you get from, say, KS: RPG Writing and PS: RPG Writing.

Not an idiot at all, it's a common problem from what I've heard. Not everyone has an encyclopedic knowledge of every past or possible future science or profession. :rolleyes:

Some of those HEROphiles have benefitted from Franklin W. Cain's huge list of Background Skills (http://fcain.tripod.com/h5skills/background_00.html). The names and descriptions of these Skills are decidedly helpful, and you can easily ignore Franklin's notes regarding his House Rules for Skills... although those are interesting, too. :thumbup:

[Sketchpad]

That's an awesome resource LL ... Rep for you!

[ghost-angel]

...other such nonsensery....
This is the part that really keeps me coming back to Hero as a System. Especially as 5E keeps on a rollin'.

Steve Long is the reason I'm still a roleplayer.

[Lollygagger]

I don't see any particular reason why a two year-old thread needs to be revived...


Because some of us are more interested in getting the Ultimate series of books than we are getting a stack of useless monster write-ups from a cultural mythology we have no interest in and won't ever include in our campaigns, maybe?


Just sayin' is all.

[TheQuestionMan]

Not an idiot at all, it's a common problem from what I've heard. Not everyone has an encyclopedic knowledge of every past or possible future science or profession.

Some of those HEROphiles have benefitted from Franklin W. Cain's huge list of Background Skills (http://fcain.tripod.com/h5skills/background_00.html). The names and descriptions of these Skills are decidedly helpful, and you can easily ignore Franklin's notes regarding his House Rules for Skills... although those are interesting, too. :thumbup:
You have given out too much Reputation in the last 24 hours, try again later.
:rolleyes:

[Steve Long]

Because some of us are more interested in getting the Ultimate series of books than we are getting a stack of useless monster write-ups from a cultural mythology we have no interest in and won't ever include in our campaigns, maybe?

You're completely missing the point. I didn't say the question was invalid at all. That's why I answered it. My point was that spending the time to dig up a years-old thread is absurd when you can just start one saying, "Hey, any updated information on the Ultimate Mentalist?".

[TheQuestionMan]

Peace folks, Peace. I resurrected this post because I found it during a Search of the HGDBs and it closely resembled what I most wanted. I did not want to raise contraversy.

Apologies

QM

[Steve Long]

No apologies needed at all, QM! ;) I was just puzzled at the thread necromancy, is all. I'm always glad to see that people are interested in a particular project and have questions about it.

After all, better that than the chirping o' the crickets. ;)

[TheQuestionMan]

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Steve Long again."

LOL

QM

[FenrisUlf]

Not an idiot at all, it's a common problem from what I've heard. Not everyone has an encyclopedic knowledge of every past or possible future science or profession. :rolleyes:

Some of those HEROphiles have benefitted from Franklin W. Cain's huge list of Background Skills (http://fcain.tripod.com/h5skills/background_00.html). The names and descriptions of these Skills are decidedly helpful, and you can easily ignore Franklin's notes regarding his House Rules for Skills... although those are interesting, too. :thumbup:

"You must wait before Repping Lord Liaden". Rats! But you're owed, LL.

And thanks for the list. :hail: :hail: :hail:

[Thia Halmades]

I still need a copy of UMM. But I have two copies of UMys (and I'm none to thrilled with it, but that's a discussion for another time).

I mixed up my cons. A side effect of not attending them. I have to wait until AUGUST?!?

*busts out the howitzer*

WRITE. WRITE NOW.

... argh...

[Nightshade]

Peace folks, Peace. I resurrected this post because I found it during a Search of the HGDBs and it closely resembled what I most wanted. I did not want to raise contraversy.

Apologies

QM

Admit it, you just like the power to resurrect dead threads. ;)

Nightshade

[TheQuestionMan]

Admit it, you just like the power to resurrect dead threads. ;)

Nightshade
But, I do such a lovely job of it don't you think?

[TheQuestionMan]

Sections of TravellerHERO that might be applicable to The Ultimate Mentalist would definitely be the Psionics section (pp 45-51) which includes psioinics, 2 drugs and 1 psi shield, as well as some notes on page 38 about how Talents can simulate low-level psionics. Maybe the Droyne invisibility and mind link powers on page 11 and the Zhodani template on page 15 and the Psionic Researcher template on page 32.