Champions of the North

[HeroTina]

is now in the online store..

[Lord Liaden]

And the Great White North resounds with glad tidings!

:bounce: :cheers: :rockon:

[ghost-angel]

Yes.. as soon as the PDF is up I order both.

[archermoo]

A quick initial perusal of the book looked pretty good. :)

[GestaltBennie]

Out of (author's) curiosity, has anyone got it yet?

[Killer Shrike]

I haven't completely read the book -- after an initial flip thru I lent it to a friend as the perusal didn't fill me with a great desire to read it immediately -- but Ill be honest, these were my initial thoughts:

* I was disappointed by a lack of Teleios usage in the forefront.
* Necrull...whats up with the spate of death themed villains lately? Not only do we already have Takofanes, there were a clutch of leering deaths head villains in VVV, and now a necromancer type in CotN? Maybe the details are different on closer reading, but enough already.
* The heroes seem to be pretty high pointed. No wonder supervillains seem to prefer attempted takeovers of the US.

[ghost-angel]

I ordered it yesterday, I should have it next week, so a full review by the 22nd shouldn't be too unreasonable.

[GestaltBennie]

I haven't completely read the book -- after an initial flip thru I lent it to a friend as the perusal didn't fill me with a great desire to read it immediately -- but Ill be honest, these were my initial thoughts:

* I was disappointed by a lack of Teleios usage in the forefront.
* Necrull...whats up with the spate of death themed villains lately? Not only do we already have Takofanes, there were a clutch of leering deaths head villains in VVV, and now a necromancer type in CotN? Maybe the details are different on closer reading, but enough already.
* The heroes seem to be pretty high pointed. No wonder supervillains seem to prefer attempted takeovers of the US.


Thanks for the feedback, KS.

Teleios is not a huge "upfront" villain, and he doesn't really have a lot of regard for borders (at least IMO). Lumping Teleios into CotN would have been like consigning Ra's Al-Ghul to a middlen eastern DC sourcebook. Sure hee's from the region and maintains many strongholds there, but that's not what the character's about. Doing him justice would have eclipsed the rest of the book. Hopefully, there's still enough of Mr. T. in CotN for a GM to grab onto and develop.

Necrull was in the works long before VVV.

A lot of the lower point heroes (COMET, Les Esprits Guardien) were cut from the book because Steve felt there were tioo many NPC heroes in the book. They may appear at some point in Digital Hero. If the book awems a little topheavy, that's why.

[Lord Liaden]

Hero book cuts have a long tradition of appearing in Digital Hero, and I for one would strongly support these, especially if Les Esprits Guardien are Quebecois superheroes as they sound. It's simply not credible nowadays to have Canadian supers without a separate Quebec contingent. ;)

[Andrew Cermak]

Out of (author's) curiosity, has anyone got it yet?

Yes, and I've enjoyed it quite a bit.

I'm particularly impressed by the sense of CU Canada being part of a real superhuman universe with real superhuman history, something hard to capture in an RPG that doesn't have 40 years worth of monthly issues to draw from. The CU has done well in this regard so far, but CotN kicks it up another notch. :thumbup:

And I'd love to see more characters in Digital Hero. Besides those mentioned, I'd especially like to see a Thundrax write-up; a guy who appears to have been on more superteam rosters than Wolverine is a guy I want to know more about.

[Steve Long]

Teleios is not a huge "upfront" villain.... Lumping Teleios into CotN would have been like consigning Ra's Al-Ghul to a middlen eastern DC sourcebook.

Scott has summed up this point quite nicely. Teleios is not a Canadian villain, any more than Dr. Destroyer is an Indian villain because he happens to have a base in India. He's a master villain of international scope. He might deserve his own book a la The Book Of The Destroyer at some point, but beyond mentioning what he happens to be up to in Canada COTN really isn't the appropriate place for in-depth coverage of him, or extra usage of him as a driver of plots (beyond what you'd get simply because he happens to live there, and I think the book handles that pretty well).

[Bygoneyrs]

Hey Steve I have a question for you,

Now with "Champions Worldwide", after reading my copy of CoN why was
there a need for this book instead of a Champions Worldwide: Update?
I don't mean to offend anyone but why a specific book just for Canada Heros?
Are you planning on doing each country or region of the world like:
Central America, South America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and etc?

Penn

[BobGreenwade]

Well, I guess I better add this to my wish list, eh? :)

[Killer Shrike]

Scott has summed up this point quite nicely. Teleios is not a Canadian villain, any more than Dr. Destroyer is an Indian villain because he happens to have a base in India. He's a master villain of international scope. He might deserve his own book a la The Book Of The Destroyer at some point, but beyond mentioning what he happens to be up to in Canada COTN really isn't the appropriate place for in-depth coverage of him, or extra usage of him as a driver of plots (beyond what you'd get simply because he happens to live there, and I think the book handles that pretty well).

Well, my understand was that Teleios doesnt just happen to have a base in Canada, but rather that its his power base, but very well -- lets have a Teleios book then. He's too interesting and useful of a Master Villain to be neglected. ;)

[Shaft]

why a specific book just for Canada Heros?


I think DOJ used their Precognitive Clairsentience to predict the rise of the Canadian Dollar and saw an opportunity to cater to the legions of HERO Canucks on the board. :D

[Lord Liaden]

Hey Steve I have a question for you,

Now with "Champions Worldwide", after reading my copy of CoN why was
there a need for this book instead of a Champions Worldwide: Update?
I don't mean to offend anyone but why a specific book just for Canada Heros?
Are you planning on doing each country or region of the world like:
Central America, South America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and etc?

Penn

Game-world-wise, if your American heroes are looking to do any international adventuring, such as chasing villains trying to flee the United States, Canada is the logical first stop. We're right on your doorstep, we're a major First World country, and our two nations are closely linked on many levels. There's plenty of adventure potential in a strange land, but not too strange to be easily understood (by Americans, anyway). ;)

Also, as Shaft points out, there's a significant percentage of Champions fans from the Great White North, at least one of the largest groups outside the United States.

There's precedent here too. Fourth Edition Champions had its own Champions Of The North sourcebook. Various sources on the Fifth Edition Champions Universe highlight the activity of Canada's superhuman community (homegrown and supplemented by American expatriates), so the country is quite capable of filling a book.

Hopefully it won't be too long before we get a Fifth Edition version of Kingdom Of Champions, the 4E supers-sourcebook for the United Kingdom.

[Killer Shrike]

Also, as Shaft points out, there's a significant percentage of Champions fans from the Great White North, at least one of the largest groups outside the United States.

Using my own websites metrics for the past couple of weeks, Canada is the second highest nation of origin, but its a distant second -- about 1/5th as many hits as the number one (US).

Its not imperative or anything, but its probably a good indicative microcosm of the HERO community. I wouldn't be surprised if Canadians were the second most populous group of HERO gamers at any rate.

[Darren Watts]

All of the above is true- I'd only add that Canada has a fine and underappreciated history of superhero comics, as well (as a fan of Captain Canuck, the Penguin and others.) England does too, which is why KoC will probably turn up on the list eventually. dw

[Steve Long]

Now with "Champions Worldwide", after reading my copy of CoN why was there a need for this book instead of a Champions Worldwide: Update?
I don't mean to offend anyone but why a specific book just for Canada Heros?
Are you planning on doing each country or region of the world like:
Central America, South America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and etc?

CWW specifically left out two areas, Canada and the British Isles, which are of sufficient interest and usefulness to merit books of their own. The rest of the world doesn't merit that sort of treatment, though we might consider it if we received a proposal from a quality author with personal experience living in the region who made a compelling case.

[Shaft]

CWW specifically left out two areas, Canada and the British Isles, which are of sufficient interest and usefulness to merit books of their own. The rest of the world doesn't merit that sort of treatment, though we might consider it if we received a proposal from a quality author with personal experience living in the region who made a compelling case.

Alas. I had my heart set on the eventual release of Champions: Réunion island ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%A9union ) :D

[Derek Hiemforth]

Using my own websites metrics for the past couple of weeks, Canada is the second highest nation of origin, but its a distant second -- about 1/5th as many hits as the number one (US).Wow, I'm surprised it's that close... considering that Canada's population is barely more than 10% of the U.S.'s, the fact that 20% of the hits are coming from Canada seems pretty significant in terms of speaking to HERO's popularity up north. :)

[Derek Hiemforth]

CWW specifically left out two areas, Canada and the British Isles, which are of sufficient interest and usefulness to merit books of their own. The rest of the world doesn't merit that sort of treatment, though we might consider it if we received a proposal from a quality author with personal experience living in the region who made a compelling case.[obscure GURPS Supers reference]
What, no UNTIL Kingston?!?
[/obscure GURPS Supers reference]

;)

[voodoo54]

Is there a picture of COTN anywhere?

[GestaltBennie]

Hey, people want a clown sourcebook, even though clowns probably rank well under 1/10th of 1% of the US popularion....

Sorry. :-)

[Hermit]

Hey, people want a clown sourcebook, even though clowns probably rank well under 1/10th of 1% of the US popularion....

Sorry. :-)

:snicker::thumbup:

I'm hoping this one is in my stocking... that way Hero still gets cash, and I still get the goods without the cash being mine :sneaky:

[Bygoneyrs]

Well I understand now and hope to see the source book for UK as well as one for
Europe as well too!!! I am cool with CoN, that is why I bought it already. I just was
wondering why no update for CWW is all. So Steve L. while your eating all that
yummie Peanut Butter Fudge, make another clone of yourself and write those two
books also....LOL!!!

Penn

[BobGreenwade]

All of the above is true- I'd only add that Canada has a fine and underappreciated history of superhero comics, as well (as a fan of Captain Canuck, the Penguin and others.) England does too, which is why KoC will probably turn up on the list eventually. dwAny chances for Champions Down Under? :)

[Jhaierr]

Any chances for Champions Down Under? :)

Unfortunately, that book would have to be printed upside down. That would be a significant cost increase!




:D

[GestaltBennie]

Unfortunately, that book would have to be printed upside down. That would be a significant cost increase!




:D

If Steve wouldn't spring for the back bacon and beer laced ink I wanted, I doubt he'll spring for that.

[Sketchpad]

If Steve wouldn't spring for the back bacon and beer laced ink I wanted, I doubt he'll spring for that.
Mmm ... beer laced ink

[Sketchpad]

If Steve wouldn't spring for the back bacon and beer laced ink I wanted, I doubt he'll spring for that.
Mmm ... beer laced ink

[FenrisUlf]

Darn, and I missed this!

Any word from other posters on just how good the book is?

[FenrisUlf]

[obscure GURPS Supers reference]
What, no UNTIL Kingston?!?
[/obscure GURPS Supers reference]

;)

I was hoping for South of the Border: Champions of Mexico myself.

[ghost-angel]

Darn, and I missed this!

Any word from other posters on just how good the book is?

My copy should arrive tomorrow. I'll have a review Friday night.

[Lord Liaden]

My copy should arrive tomorrow. I'll have a review Friday night.

Even for you, that would be impressive. :hail:

[Derek Hiemforth]

My copy should arrive tomorrow. I'll have a review Friday night.


Even for you, that would be impressive. :hail:

'Course, it would take ghost-angel a lot longer to write the reviews if he actually read the books first. :nya: :D


(Kidding, of course. :))

[Blue]

I was shocked to find a copy of this NEW book at my local game store that is closing down. Guess they must have ordered it before they made that final decision. Their loss is my gain, cuz I got it for quite a discount.

Now I just need to bait the heroes up there.

[ghost-angel]

'Course, it would take ghost-angel a lot longer to write the reviews if he actually read the books first. :nya: :D


(Kidding, of course. :))

Read? I was just reviewing the pictures.....

[Shaft]

Now I just need to bait the heroes up there.

Easily done in a Teen Champions game: the minimum drinking age up here is 19 (18 in Quebec) instead of 21. We get floods of American university students up here anytime a long weekend rolls around. :D

[ghost-angel]

OK fine. Saturday sometime. Or at my current rate of being distracted 2009! AUGH!

good book. I like Necrull.