Quasi-Serious Suggestion for a HERO System License

[TheEmerged]

In the opinion of some, one of the reasons HERO isn't as well known as it deserves to be is that it's never had a good license. Personally, I remain dubious that licenses are a good idea... but it occured to me today that I know the perfect license for HERO.

The Crossovers

You may need to select The Crossovers on the Title tray to get this link to work (http://www.crossgen.com/cgentertainment/data/default.asp?page=onsalecge.asp).

Speaking for myself, I was drawn into HERO at a time I had basically quit pencil-and-paper RPG's when I saw the 4th Edition Rulebook *back cover* (the book had been turned over on the store's shelf). Even today, it is HERO's consistency across genres that is its strongest attribute in my opinion.

The Crossovers would put this consistency in the forefront, showing HERO for what it is: a *truly* generic system.

[John Desmarais]

Licences for RPGs are a real double-edged sword. Gernerally, if teh licence was affordable enough for an RPG publisher to get it, the property probably isn't well known enough to bother with. If the property is well know enough to bother with, it's probably astronomically expensive.

Steve Jackson seems to do about as well with licencing as anyone, but the type of properties he has licenced generally aren't the types of things that you really really really want to see a Hero System supplement for (let's face it, we really want to see a Hero supplement for one of the big superhero comic properties).

Personally, my vote for "cool property for Hero to licence that will never happen" would be Alan Moore's America's Best Comics. (<u>Top Ten Hero</u> anyone?) Back when Wildstorm was still semi-independant this just might have been darn near affordable.

John Desmarais

[buzz]

Originally posted by John Desmarais
Personally, my vote for "cool property for Hero to licence that will never happen" would be Alan Moore's America's Best Comics. (<u>Top Ten Hero</u> anyone?) Back when Wildstorm was still semi-independant this just might have been darn near affordable.

I second this emotion. I've been thinking of running a Top 10 campaign for a while now. If any RPG can handle the diversity of characters in Neopolis, it's HERO.

Of course, the real coup would be an Astro City license. :)

[Uncle Shecky]

Originally posted by TheEmerged
...The Crossovers would put this consistency in the forefront, showing HERO for what it is: a *truly* generic system.

DOJ/HERO seem to have a low opinion of licenses, as has been explained in a few threads. (I'm sure you already know that, TE. Just pointing it out for others.) So this probably isn't very likely, but it does make me wonder what it would be like to deal with a company like CrossGen.

From what I've seen, the entire CrossGen universe is perfect for a universal game system. My knowledge of the company is limited, but they seem focused on the business side of comics much more than the other independent companies. There are probably good and bad aspects to that. They do seem interested in different approaches: they have very few superhero titles (maybe none?), and they've tried some different publishing and marketing strategies. Would they be willing to give DOJ/HERO the free, no-interference, complete-access licensing deal they want? I have no idea, but they couldn't be less likely to do so than Marvel or DC would.

[Monolith]

Originally posted by Uncle Shecky
They do seem interested in different approaches: they have very few superhero titles (maybe none?), and they've tried some different publishing and marketing strategies. Would they be willing to give DOJ/HERO the free, no-interference, complete-access licensing deal they want? I have no idea, but they couldn't be less likely to do so than Marvel or DC would.
Well CrossGen has already announced the publisher who will have their game license, so there is no way that DOJ will get that license. Also, CrossGen came to DOJ first and offered them the license, but DOJ turned them down. I think that shows a pretty stong commitment on DOJ's part to use available resources to make the current Hero Universe better. I can respect that. I know I would not want to lose 3-4 Hero supplements just because everyone was busy on the license.

[Uncle Shecky]

Originally posted by Monolith
...CrossGen came to DOJ first and offered them the license, but DOJ turned them down.

Well, at least CrossGen seems to have good taste in RPGs.


... I think that shows a pretty stong commitment on DOJ's part to use available resources to make the current Hero Universe better. I can respect that. I know I would not want to lose 3-4 Hero supplements just because everyone was busy on the license.

I agree. I would prefer HERO make it's own universe so interesting that comic book companies try to license HERO characters instead. :)

[Blue]

Whew. When I saw the "Quasi-Serious" in the title I half expected Tanuki (http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2776&highlight=tanuki) Hero. :D

[Darren Watts]

Originally posted by Monolith
Well CrossGen has already announced the publisher who will have their game license, so there is no way that DOJ will get that license. Also, CrossGen came to DOJ first and offered them the license, but DOJ turned them down. I think that shows a pretty stong commitment on DOJ's part to use available resources to make the current Hero Universe better. I can respect that. I know I would not want to lose 3-4 Hero supplements just because everyone was busy on the license.

A quick correction: our discussions with Crossgen never actually got to the point of any formal offer from them. It seemed pretty clear to both sides early on that for various reasons we weren't a good match, though everything was very polite and friendly and we had a lovely dinner with them. dw