RPG Purchase desisions...

[Sweeper]

As silly as it sounds, I've decided to regulate my RPG book buying. Ive decided to just buy for two systems, Hero, naturally, and GURPS. My plan is to buy one, maybe two RPG books a month, I figure it'll satisfy my RPG jones while leaving my small paycheck for real-life needs, like rent and food.

I figure these two Systems compliment each other in terms of what they offer and between the two of them, I can run some great campagins. What do all think?

[Curufea]

It's better than buying D20 :)

The sourcebooks for GURPS are some of the best (I hear) so it's probably a good idea.

[Dust Raven]

My personal opinion is that buying both GURPS and Hero System are somewhat redundant. Hero is like GURPS on meth high when it comes to versitility and adaptible game mechanics (or GURPS is like a straightjacketed Hero System, depending on your point of view). My other personal opinion is that Hero System is the better buy because of that versitility and adaptibility, but others may not want all the crunchy bits or just be happy with the way GURPS does things. If anything, devoting oneself to more than one "universal" game system seems pointless.

If I were to limit myself to only two RPGs, one would be Hero System, and the other would be some prepackaged setting enriched game where the rules are already where I'd like them and I don't have to do any work to design the campaign (something like anything from White Wolf, D&D+campaign setting, Cyberpunk, 7th Sea, etc). That way when I want to just sit and play something out of the box, I can play the one game, and when I want to delve in and play something else (anything else), I can design a campaign from the ground up with Hero System (and maybe use one of the campaign/setting books to get me started).

[Roter Baron]

Admirable!
I buy WAY too much roleplaying stuff. Without even reading some of it! That is the case with Conan and Warhammer FRPG at the monemt, and with Mutants & Masterminds to some degree.
The "logic" behind it is like this: If I don't buy it now, I will regret it in 2, 5, 10 years because then it will be hard to get these supplements.

This is a lesson I learn during the pre-e-bay- days. Makes NO SENSE any more because now I could get the old stuff for cheap(er) on the internet.

But buying games is like a drug ... need ... my ... fix! NOW!

But the idea is good. But I cannot afford the cost for a rehab clinic right now, and gaming rehabilitation is not covered in my medical plan. So I continue on the road of (and to) doom.

[mangahunterd]

I am on the same page as Mitchell. Right now mainly all I buy is Hero items... which is sad since I have not been in a group for over 18 months :drink: .... However if I see something that i like that is in a different setting I will buy it just to get ideas and to see what else is going on out in the world. Currently I am obsessed with the Midnight Setting... mainly because I think that someone stole my brain and sucked several of my thoughts on a setting out... but I digress...
Since none of my firends where i moved to play RPG's I have looked more at OOtB items like Axis and Allies, Zombies, Munchkin etc.. that may interest them enough to play once or twice. Of course sometimes that is hard because all that most the people I know want to play is poker...
From what I remember about GURPS it is basically HERO repackaged with some differences, D20 :thumbdown ... Maybe something totally dissimilar from all of the Systems, like Star Fleet Battles.. now that is a great old game... I have not had much experience with White Wolf... Of course from the last trip to a game shop there are tons of new systems out there to explore...
Wow, I am sad.. I guess I need to find a cheaper hobby. Maybe Guns :bmk:

[Lord Mhoram]

Sounds good to me. I tend to follow game lines rather than genre.. with one exception.

I collect all the HERO stuff, and a goodly amount of Fantasy D20 (ie plug and play D&D stuff - the d20 that strays to far from D&D I tend to skip). But then I tend to get a lot of superhero RPG stuff - just because I love the superhero genre.

And as an avid collector, putting that mental line in sand of "Beyond this I will not buy" helps the pocketbook; otherwise I'd buy way way too much.

[Spectrum]

My RPG purchases have been jumping between Hero (mostly Champions related) and Exalted.

[Sweeper]

WW stuff would be great if it wasn't for the type of players they atracted, not to mention the pathetic LARP guidelines

[Spectrum]

Would you please fill me on what this type of player White Wolf attracts. I hear about it but I'm lacking the details. All I know is that it tends to aply more to the World of Darkness line.

[Dust Raven]

You mean the melodramatic whiner-baby wanna-bees that got kicked out of the Drama Club in high school for over acting? That kind of player?

:D

j/k (besides, I quit the Drama Club... they're all over actors. ;))

[Spectrum]

Ah, ok. I had the impression that it tended to attract the brooding-goth-wanna be's, or maybe that was just Vampire....

I strongly doubt Exalted is the kind of game that lures that type of crowd. Now those who watch too much wuxia or anime, I'd be inclined to agree.

[CSgeekHero]

As silly as it sounds, I've decided to regulate my RPG book buying. Ive decided to just buy for two systems, Hero, naturally, and GURPS. My plan is to buy one, maybe two RPG books a month, I figure it'll satisfy my RPG jones while leaving my small paycheck for real-life needs, like rent and food.

I figure these two Systems compliment each other in terms of what they offer and between the two of them, I can run some great campagins. What do all think?
I've done much the same thing. Dust Raven is right as they are two sides of the same coin. However, sometimes GURPS gives me ideas for additional skills or talents to add to HERO. The GURPS supplements are chock full of ideas and neat tables for stuff like star system generation. What I am starting to think about is using GT: Interstellar Wars as a piece of the puzzle to my Star HERO campaign universe.
So, in the end, I restrict myself to HERO and whatever GURPS material enhances the HERO experience at the gaming table.:cool:
Of course, ignoring d20 is easy now that they've discontinued Star Wars.:sneaky:

[Sweeper]

True, but Wotc botched D20 Star Wars by concertrating too much on force users, IMHO. The D6 ver did it right by making Jedi and Sith just one small part of a larger universe. It's too bad Wotc couldn't use all the fantastic material WEG had produced over the years. Lucas Books didn't help either with thier Jedi 1st last and always stance.

[Sweeper]

After I purchase a new copy of 5ER, which genre do y'all think I should start on?

...Don't scoff, money's usually tight so I had to sell my Hero stuff. I at least kept Sidekick

[Derek Hiemforth]

After I purchase a new copy of 5ER, which genre do y'all think I should start on?Well, whichever one you like best, of course. :) Seriously. I'm not trying to be flippant at all. I think the stuff Hero Games has come out with for each of the genres they've supported so far is worthwhile material.

If you're asking which genre they've done the best job on, that's a really tough call. I think all of the genre books (Champions, Star Hero, Fantasy Hero, Ninja Hero, Pulp Hero, and Dark Champions) have been outstanding. If you held a gun to my head and made me pick which of those was the best, I guess I'd say Pulp Hero, but that may reveal my own genre preference more than saying anything about the books themselves.

On the other hand, Champions has the most additional support material available once you get past the genre book. So if you're looking to run a game, and want support material to draw from, that may be your best bet. After the Champions book, I'd suggest Champions Universe, Conquerors, Killers, and Crooks, and Millenium City (the other "core" books of the Champions line), with Villainy Amok, Demon: Servants of Darkness, UNTIL Superpowers Database, and VIPER: Coils of the Serpent as the "best of the rest" from the Champions line. (I'm not in an unbiased position to comment on whether Champions Battlegrounds or Vibora Bay belong on that list, so I'll have to leave that to others. :) )

If you're looking more to get exposure to the Wide Wonderful World of Hero, I'd probably suggest getting each of the genre books before delving deeper into any single genre. As good as many of the supporting books are, for sheer gaming geek goodness, the genre books are the best, IMO.

[bigdamnhero]

Second the previous posters - all the 5ed genre books have been very well done. Pulp Hero and Star Hero are probably my current personal favs, but that's just me.

I typically buy games in one of two categories:

Hero books, and
Setting books from other systems that I plan to convert to Hero.
;)

[Enforcer84]

Would you please fill me on what this type of player White Wolf attracts. I hear about it but I'm lacking the details. All I know is that it tends to aply more to the World of Darkness line.
He's talking about you! I keed I keed.

[Captain Obvious]

Dark Champions probably has the most material applicable across genres, followed by Pulp Hero. Although, if you're looking for something with a good chance of attracting players, Fantasy Hero would have to be the one...seems to be the most popular genre, as a whole.

[ghost-angel]

My personal favoriet is Pulp Hero - and Steve's treatment of the genre is beyond top notch.

But I suggest buying into the Genre you're most likely to play honestly.

[Sweeper]

Interesting sugestions, we'll see what goes on. My FLGS owner gave me a deal on a fresh copy of 5ER. I'm picking it up tomorrow. Then a GURPS book,(probably Powers), and I'll make my choice next time I'm up in Tuscon, (they have the only FLGS that carries a pretty large selection of Hero products between Pheonix and Alberquerqe that I know of.

[CSgeekHero]

I must apend my earlier statements. I have changed my stance slightly...No more GURPS stuff. For many reasons, besides being underwhelmed by Space 4e. It is now HERO, HERO, HERO.

[Thia Halmades]

Ah, ok. I had the impression that it tended to attract the brooding-goth-wanna be's, or maybe that was just Vampire....

I strongly doubt Exalted is the kind of game that lures that type of crowd. Now those who watch too much wuxia or anime, I'd be inclined to agree.

*long suffering sigh*

I'M one of those people, Spectrum. Good heavens. Dark brooding overly complex story lines? Death, pain and war? Any of this RINGIN' A BELL? OY!

Point being. *cough* I play(ed) White Wolf but likely wouldn't do it again, because it makes my teeth hurt. I also buy for two systems; HERO & d20. Because I'm a collector, and I go a little crazy if I don't have all the current d20 books, even if I'm not playing it anymore.

[Spectrum]

You never struck as the "dark brooding" type. As for complex story lines involving death, pain and war, I've heard stories of some of your game sessions.

[John Desmarais]

After I purchase a new copy of 5ER, which genre do y'all think I should start on?

As other have said, it depends a lot on what you like. Here's my take on the major supported genres.

Champions is the best supported genre (ie. has the most number of supplemental books). The core book is a execellent treatment on superhero rpgs and how to use Hero to do them. The huge pile of Champions Universe campaign books average a high level of quality. It's hard to go wrong with Champions.

Fantasy Hero is (arguably) the easiest genre to attract new players too - particularly if you're trying to subvert old D&D players. The core book contains a monsterous amount of information and the two (soon to be three) settings Hero has published are all intersting and diverse. Turakian Age is the "typical" high-fantasy setting of a type that most D&Ders would recognize. Valdorian Age is a low-magic, Conan-esq/Lahnkmar-esq/Thieves-World-esq king of setting where magic is rare, difficult, and usuallt controlled by bad people; and heroes swing big swords. Tuala Morn (sp?) will be a psuedo-Celtic setting - and that's about all I know about it.

Star Hero, so far, seems to be the least popular of the major genres they've put out - which is a shame as the Star Hero book is extremely well done. SF games have always been a tough sell, and I think the core setting (Terran Empire) is just a little to generic to really grab people's interest in a strong way.

Pulp Hero is the new kid on the block, and is getting a lot of attention. The core book is great and there are several additional books on the release schedule. Plus, there are a bunch of cheap, downloadable, adventures for sale. The down side to Pulp is that it is probably the hardest one to get players (who have never played a pulp game before) to try.

Dark Champions: There's been a lot of new discusion regarding the name of this book in another forum. I (personally) don't view Dark Champions as a genre book, but as a quasi-realistic supplement for any modern-day genre.

Ninja Hero was interesting, but was really a niche genre. There really haven't been any follow-up books for it.

[CourtFool]

You mean the melodramatic whiner-baby wanna-bees that got kicked out of the Drama Club in high school for over acting? That kind of player?

Oh sure! I take an easy shot at a Gamist and its pile on the llama but you can get away with going after Narratavists. :p

[Dust Raven]

Oh sure! I take an easy shot at a Gamist and its pile on the llama but you can get away with going after Narratavists. :p

I can because I am one. It's like gay people making gay jokes. Okay for us, not for you! God bless America!

:doi:

[teh bunneh]

Oh sure! I take an easy shot at a Gamist and its pile on the llama but you can get away with going after Narratavists. :p

The Bunny, at least, jumped in to defend you (http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1033470#post1033470).

Bill.
(Not that we should be taking easy shots at anyone...) :drink:

[CourtFool]

I noticed that. Not something you would expect from an arch-nemisis.

I actually was not referring to him specifically. I have taken a couple shots at a few Gamists. It is because my mother did not love me enough when I was a cria.

[Robyn]

It is because my mother did not love me enough when I was a cria.

Uh-oh. That can lead to BMS :(

[CourtFool]

What's your excuse? :p

[teh bunneh]

I noticed that. Not something you would expect from an arch-nemisis.

It's because you're my nemesis. No one else is allowed to pick on you but me. :eg:


It is because my mother did not love me enough when I was a cria.

That's funny. She certainly loves me enough. :nya:

Bill.
(Oh, snap!) ;)

[Sweeper]

I was up in Tucson and I couldn't decide. So I picked up vols 1&2 of PS238 trades. I highly recomend it even if you're not a superhero fan. It's written by the Arron Williams, the Genius behind Nodwick. Check out www.ps238.com for details