Looking for an equipment guide

[Senoj]

I am relatively new to Heroes. I played some in 4th edition and have had the new FREd and 5th Edition on my shelf with several other books for a while.

I am looking at giving the game a go, but looking for an equipment guide to supplement a Dark Champions or DC:TAS campaign.

Do I go with Hero System Equipment Guide or Gadgets & Gear? The PDF Previews appear to be broken (I understand that the site was just upgraded) so I am unable to peek and decide.

Thanks for your help.

[Lord Liaden]

For Dark Champions stuff, you'd probably be better off with the HERO System Equipment Guide. That book compiles stuff from various books for the "heroic level" (non-superheroes) game genres, while Gadgets And Gear is more for four-color superheroic games.

Since you say you're interested in a DC style game, I do have to ask whether you already own the Dark Champions genre book? If you already have that plus the Fifth Edition rulebook, you have at least 75% of what's in the EQ.

[Rapier]

Most everything you would need is in DC and 5eR.

The equipment books might be some additional help. For the most part, there is also not much that is not in DC and 5eR that you can't just whip up pretty quick and easy.

You're also going to find that some things are going to be conspicuously missing. No write-ups for things like rope, power bars, ladders, climbing gear, etc.

If you are looking for a D&D-esque list of equipment (I always loved the price list that included chickens...I always wanted to hit a dungeon crawl with a couple of live chickens) you aren't going to find it.

For some things it's just easiest to say "yes, you have it, it's 1 Resource Point."

The problem is that Hero greatest strength and weakness is the fact that it is a point based system. It has great versatility and balance, but you can easily end up spending 40 points on a spoon.

[Senoj]

Thanks for the responses.

It sounds like I definitely want to get the Hero System Equipment Guide; however, if I do go with DC:TAS, I may want to look at Gadgets and Gear also.

Currently, I own the following:

5th Revised
Dark Champions
Hudson City
DC: TAS
Predators
Ultimate Skill
Hero System Combat

Tomorrow, I will probably purchase the following:

Ultimate Vehicles and Heroes Vehicle Guide Bundle
Heroes Equipment Guide
Ultimate Martial Arts

Thanks for the suggestion of the default resource cost of 1 pt for alot of the equipment. Except of course the 10-foot pole would be 2 pts due to its versatility :) I did not need stats for the ladders and rope. Even though I can not break them down hero stat wise, I am sure I could adjudicate their use. What I was really looking for were stats for the sniper rifles, flash grenades, very good body armor, ect.

[Shaft]

(I always loved the price list that included chickens...I always wanted to hit a dungeon crawl with a couple of live chickens)

Apologies for going off topic: this is a great way to spring traps.

Back on topic: the Gadgets & Gear might be worth it for a DC:TAS campaign.

1 page has on average 2 gadgets on it:

Blasters: 12 pages
Gas Weapons: 3 pages
Melee Weapons: 6 pages
Mind-Affecting Weapons: 4 pages
Muscle Powered Ranged Weapons: 12 pages
Restraining Weapons: 9 pages
Theme Weaponry (like Attack Toys, Botano Weapons, etc...): 3 pages
Miscellaneous weapons (Acid Squirters, Allure Perfume, Combat Analyzers, Darkness Rays, Gravity Control Pods, Matter Condensers): 17 pages

Power Armor Systems: 19 pages
Concealment/Stealth Devices: 1 page
Force Field Devices: 2 pages
Helmets: 2 pages
Misc Defensive Gadgets (Battle Vests, Deflection Orbs, Psi-Static Generators, Questionite Skeletons, Questionite Shield, etc...): 3 pages

Movement Gadgets (Jet Packs, LineGuns, Mechano Stilts, Teleportation Disks): 9 pages

Sensory Gadgets: 5 pages
Communications Gadgets: 4 pages

Costumes Gadgets (Costume materials, Arm Attachments, Belts- including Utility Belts, Capes, Boots, Masks): 15 pages

Miscellaneous Gadgets (Bosster Pills, Robot Servants, Cosmic Staffs): 6 pages

I'd say it's worth it.