Top 5 Favorite 5E Supplements

[Steve Long]

As we here at Hero prepare to escort 5E off the stage with full honors and usher in the era of 6E, we thought it would be fun to list our Top 5 supplements for 5E. This is one of those harmless "feel-good" sorta threads, so if you want to participate (and we hope you do!), please stick to (a) 5 choices, (b) 5E supplements only, and (c) positive commentary. ;)

Note that picks aren't necessarily listed in order from 1 to 5; it's just the picker's 5 favorites, not a ranked list.


STEVE’S TOP 5 PICKS:
Pulp Hero
Post-Apocalyptic Hero
Tuala Morn
Hudson City
The Ultimate Skill


DARREN’S TOP 5 PICKS:
Pulp Hero
DEMON
Lucha Libre Hero
Villainy Amok
USPD


JASON’S TOP 5 PICKS:
Gadgets and Gear
Alien Wars
Terran Empire
Fantasy Hero
Ultimate Martial Artist


TINA’S TOP 5 PICKS:
Sorry, you’re not cleared to know Tina’s Top 5 picks.


FRED’S TOP 5 PICKS:
Post Apocalyptic Hero
Pulp Hero
Book of the Machine
Hero System Sidekick
Ultimate Skill


SECRET MASTER #1’S TOP 5 PICKS:
Fantasy Hero
The Book of Dragons
The Turakian Age
Tuala Morn
Post-Apocalyptic Hero


OTHER SECRET MASTERS’ TOP 5 PICKS:
Sorry, other Secret Masters are so secret their Top 5 picks are secret! ;)


So... what are your Top 5 favorite 5Es?

[Derek Hiemforth]

In alphabetical order...

Champions
Fantasy Hero
Post-Apocalyptic Hero
Pulp Hero
Star Hero

What can I say? I loves me some genre books! ;)

However...

I suppose some might say that picking all genre books is sort of cheating, since they're about as close to the core rules as you can get without being the core rules, so picking them all is like picking 5ER as a "favorite 5th edition book." So for the benefit of those people only, I also offer the following 5 non-genre-book choices. (This is not a transparent attempt on my part to get to pick 5 more books... not at all!)

DEMON: Servants Of Darkness
Gestalt: The Hero Within (from BlackWyrm Games)
Hudson City: The Urban Abyss
Terran Empire
Villainy Amok

[GamePhil]

Well, I really have a list of about 10 that are all kind of crowded into my top 5 with lots of ties, but I'll be good and follow the rules, unlike certain obsessed fans. Plus, I don't want to repeat the others too much. I also left out a couple of books that weren't published by HERO, even thought there's no rule against it, it just felt like a separate category somehow, but I've been subtly advertising for one of them for a long time.

DEMON: Creepiest superhero book ever, and he somehow contrived to actually make that a good thing.

Post-Apocalyptic HERO: Not normally a fan of the genre, but this re-defined it in my mind to include things other than surviving a nuclear war or other modern disaster.

Galactic Champions: Any book with a giant Mechanon head in it is a win in my lexicon.

Mystic World: I've always been fond of mapping out the multiverse.

Valdorian Age: Any book that can get me even moderately enthusiastic about an Age of Conan style setting must be good. I even built a superhero based on the magic of the age (loosely: the other realms are just nicer in Champions).

[mayapuppies]

Fantasy Hero
Ultimate Skill
Post Apocalyptic Hero
Dark Champions
USPD

[Kraven Kor]

FREd, naturally
Star HERO
Gadgets & Gear
Ultimate Vehicle
Fantasy HERO

[Netzilla]

Tuala Mourn!!!!!!!!eleventyone!!!!
* Now if only I could convince certain members of my group to play this.
* Also, if only I could get one member of my group to give me back the copy I loaned him. Fortunately I also bought the PDF and I know where he lives. :sneaky:

USPDB 1&2 (yes, I know I'm cheating :p)

Fantasy Hero Grimoire 1&2

Ultimate Martial Artist

Post Apocalyptic Hero

[Vondy]

Vondy's Top 5:


The Ultimate Skill
The Ultimate Martial Artist
Dark Champions
Champions Everyman
USPD1-2


Only 5?

Honorable mention: Vibora Bay(!), Hudson City, Pulp Hero.

[Jhamin]

1) Villany Amok
2) Conqurers, Killers, & Crooks
3) Pulp Hero
4) Champions Battlegrounds
5) Star Hero

While I love Hero in general, 95% of my play time in the Hero System has been spent in a long running Champions game. Thus, the Champions books loom large in my memory of 5th edition. Pulp Hero & Star Hero get the nod for actually being cool enough to get me to take off the spandex for a few sessions & play something else.

[aylwin13]

In no particular order:

1) USPD's 1 & 2
2) The Ultimate Martial Artist
3) The Ultimate Skill
4) Villainy Amok
5) Dark champions

[Deejmeister]

Dino's Top 5

1) Hero System Resource Kit (I get more use out of the game screen than any other Hero Product.)
2) Ultimate Martial Artist (Real world martial arts writeups are cool even when I don't agree with them!)
3) USPD (A book I first thought I didn't need, now I can't run superheroes without it.)
4) DEMON (Best. Sourcebook. Ever.)
5) Dark Champions (Guns!)

[Egyptoid]

H.S. Bestiary
Galactic Champions
Villainy Amok
My Haymaker Articles (crouches)
THE USA-5O (dives backstage)

[JohnTaber]

Boy...this was hard...


Fantasy Hero- This book is really fantastic even for non-Hero gamers.
Champions Anniversary Hardback Version - I love the intros by my favorite Hero folks and Ken Hite (Honorary Hero-ite).
Ultimate Skill
Scourges Of The Galaxy - I love the way quotes are done in this book and the stories from Jason are killer.
Beastiary - This is my most used Hero book not counting the main rulebook. Have to mention it for that reason alone.

GAME ON! :D

[Kraven Kor]

FREd, naturally
Star HERO
Gadgets & Gear
Combat Handbook (was Ultimate Vehicle)
Fantasy HERO

I'm changing mine - how could I forget the excellent Combat Handbook?

[Steve Long]

yes, I know I'm cheating

Well, I think it's OK to make USPD 1-2 or FHG 1-2 one pick. ;)

[mallet]

Hmmm....

Star Hero
DEMON
Alien War
Post Apocalyptic Hero
Ultimate Skill

But that still leaves out a lot of other great books.

[Hierax]

Fantasy Hero (Genre)
Valdorian Age / Atlantean Age (Setting)
Fantasy Hero Grimoire(s) / Ultimate Super Powers Database(s) (Powers)
Hero System Beastiary / Monsters Minions Maurauders (Creatures)
Enchanted Items (Equipment)

[steamteck]

My picks would be

1- Pulp Hero
2- Ultimate Skill
3- HERO sidekick
4-HERO system Bestiary
5- Ultimate vehicle

[mattingly]

1. CKC
2. USPDs
3. Villainy Amok
4. Ultimate Skill
5. Bestiary

Honorable mention goes to Sidekick.

[Hyper-Man]

I don't think I could pick just 5 books but I do want to give an honorable mention to the Hero Designer software.

[teh bunneh]

bunneh's picks:

Fantasy Hero
Star Hero
Lucha Libre Hero
Tuala Morn
Ultimate Martial Artist

:thumbup:

[Alibear]

Fantasy Hero
Hero Bestiary
Conquerors, Killers and Crooks
Star Hero
Dark Champions

[Edsel]

My Top 5 Supplements

The Ultimate Skill
Dark Champions
The Ultimate Martial Artist
Predators
DEMON

[Dr. MID-Nite]

Judged by their usefulness and how often I look back at them...

1) Conquerers, Killers, and Crooks-Nice updates and some interesting new villains like Masquerade and Gravitar.

2) Villainy Amok-Enough here for multiple campaigns almost without touching another book.

3) Ultimate Martial Artist- A GREAT reference book...bar none.

4) VIPER-Coils of the Serpent- Nice update to the organization and plenty of returning bad guys...

5)Shades of Black-Takes a second(maybe even third tier) bad guy and turns him into one hell of a threat and sends the players on one hell of a ride.

Rob

[IndianaJoe3]

My top 5 (no particular order:

Ultimate Martial Artist
Fantasy Hero
Pulp Hero
Champions
Dark Champions


Western Hero from 4e gets an honorable mention.

[Lord Mhoram]

Fantasy Hero
Post Apoc Hero
Ultimate Martial Artist
Algernon Files
Gestalt

[EvilDrPuma]

In no particular order:

1. Pulp Hero
2. Fantasy Hero
3. Ultimate Martial Artist
4. Ultimate Skill
5. Tuala Morn

[culhwch]

My picks in no particular order:

1) Fantasy Hero
2) Ultimate Skill
3) Tuala Morn
4) Ultimate Martial Artist
5) Hero System Bestiary

[rjcurrie]

Pulp Hero
Villainy Amok
DEMON
USPD 1-2
UNTIL: Defenders of Freedom (have to love the GATEWAY Commander)

[Chris Goodwin]

Fantasy Hero
Urban Fantasy Hero
Post Apocalyptic Hero
Ultimate Mentalist
Star Hero

Honorable Mention: Robot Warriors. Just because.

[GestaltBennie]

1. Sidekick
2. Pulp Hero
3. DEMON
4. Hudson City: The Urban Abyss
5. USPD 1&2.
Honorable mention to Vibora Bay, CKC, Post Apocalypse Hero, UMA, Lucha Libre Hero, Shades of Black, and anything with my name on it. :)

[archermoo]

In no particular order

Ultimate Skill
Combat Handbook
Tuala Morn
Ultimate Martial Artist
Dark Champions

[megaplayboy]

Galactic Champions
Terran Empire
Post-Apocalyptic Hero
Ultimate Skill
USPD

[Doc Shadow]

In no particular order:

Champions
Hudson City: The Urban Abyss
Pulp Hero
Masterminds and Madmen
Gadgets and Gear

[Nolgroth]

Star HERO
Dark Champions
Urban Fantasy HERO
Fantasy HERO
Hudson City: The Urban Abyss

In that order.

[Susano]

Okay, aside from the required "anything with my name on or in it"....

In no order, my "go-to" books for character building:

1) Ultimate Martial Artist
2) Hero System Bestiary
3) The Ultimate Skill
4) USPD 1 & 2
5) TFHG 1 & 2

[Balok]

Hmmmmm...


DEMON
Dark Champions
Fantasy Hero
The Ultimate Skill
Hudson City


I believe DEMON stands head and shoulders above the rest. It turned an organization I always regarded as a joke into a really creepy threat.

[Killer Shrike]

1. Ultimate Martial Artist
2. Ultimate Skill
3. Combat Handbook (easier to take to games)
4. Champions Universe (collectively, including villain books and News of the World)
5. toss up between Dark Champions genre book and Hudson City; I get more use out of the former, but the later is IMO the perfect city book.

Ok, so I cheated on #4, but I treat the CU supplements as if it were a homogeneous body of work in practice.

[Burrito Boy]

1. Fantasy Hero - The most jam-packed, best bang for your buck Hero book.
2. Pulp Hero - Would have liked to see Robert E. Howard mentioned (Lovecraft was in there so why not REH?) and Pretty Boy Floyd but it captures its subject better than all the other Hero books.
3. Star Hero - Shorter than I would like but one of the most useful of them all. When you can explain astronomy in terms even I can understand, you've done something right.
4. Alien Wars- I really like the writing style in this one. And the Xenovores ain't bad. No wait, they are.
5. Post-Apocalyptic Hero - This one wasn't as good as I'd hoped but I'm a post-apocalypse junkie so it automatically goes on the list. Note to Steve: If you ever rewrite this book, make sure it's at least as long as 5er.

Those are chosen from the books I own and have read. I've still got a few I haven't made my way through and I'll be ordering a few more soon. So the list might change soon. We'll see.

[JmOz]

Basing it on how often it comes off my bookshelf =)

5th edition
UMA
Gadgets and gear
Beastiary
& Fantasy Hero

[Shaft]

Dark Champions
Hudson City
Ultimate Martial Artist
Viborra Bay
Predators

[Nevenall]

Demon & Hudson City for best writing.
Urban Fantasy Hero
Valdorian Age
Combat Handbook for most referenced.
The Ultimate Skill for most exhaustively researched.

[Crypt]

Ultimate Martial Artist
Equipment Guide
Star Hero
Fantasy Hero
Post Apocalyptic Hero

[phookz]

Interesting stuff. I compiled all of the entries so far to see what the favorites were. I've hidden the results in a spoiler tag if you haven't voted yet and don't want to be influenced by the masses.


The Top Five
Fantasy Hero with 19 votes.
Ultimate Martial Artist / Ultimate Skill with 18 votes each.
Post-Apocalyptic Hero with 13 votes.
Dark Champions / Pulp Hero / USPD 1 & 2 with 12 votes each.
Star Hero with 10 votes.

All votes
Fantasy Hero with 19 votes.
Ultimate Martial Artist with 18 votes.
Ultimate Skill with 18 votes.
Post-Apocalyptic Hero with 13 votes.
Dark Champions with 12 votes.
Pulp Hero with 12 votes.
USPD 1 & 2 with 12 votes.
Star Hero with 10 votes.
DEMON with 9 votes.
Hero System Bestiary with 9 votes.
Hudson City with 7 votes.
Tuala Morn with 7 votes.
Villainy Amok with 7 votes.
Combat Handbook with 4 votes.
Conquerers, Killers & Crooks with 4 votes.
Gadgets and Gear with 4 votes.
Alien Wars with 3 votes.
Champions with 3 votes.
Fantasy Hero Grimoire 1 & 2 with 3 votes.
Galactic Champions with 3 votes.
Hero System Sidekick with 3 votes.
Urban Fantasy Hero with 3 votes.
Valdorian Age with 3 votes.
FREd with 2 votes.
Lucha Libre Hero with 2 votes.
Predators with 2 votes.
Terran Empire with 2 votes.
*Egyptoid's Haymaker Articles with 1 votes.
*The USA-50 with 1 votes.
Algernon Files with 1 votes.
Book of Dragons with 1 votes.
Book of the Machine with 1 votes.
Champions Anniversary Hardback Version with 1 votes.
Champions Battlegrounds with 1 votes.
Champions Everyman with 1 votes.
Champions Universe with 1 votes.
Enchanted Items with 1 votes.
Equipment Guide with 1 votes.
Gestalt with 1 votes.
Hero System Resource Kit with 1 votes.
Masterminds and Madmen with 1 votes.
Monsters Minions & Maurauders with 1 votes.
Mystic World with 1 votes.
Scourges of the Galaxy with 1 votes.
Shades of Black with 1 votes.
Turakian Age with 1 votes.
Ultimate Mentalist with 1 votes.
Ultimate Vehicle with 1 votes.
UNTIL: Defenders of Freedom with 1 votes.
Viborra Bay with 1 votes.
VIPER: Coils of the Serpent with 1 votes.

For those interested, here's the raw data:

Name, Book
Steve Long, Pulp Hero
Steve Long, Post-Apocalyptic Hero
Steve Long, Tuala Morn
Steve Long, Hudson City
Steve Long, Ultimate Skill
*Darren, Pulp Hero
*Darren, DEMON
*Darren, Lucha Libre Hero
*Darren, Villainy Amok
*Darren, USPD 1 & 2
*Jason, Gadgets and Gear
*Jason, Alien Wars
*Jason, Terran Empire
*Jason, Fantasy Hero
*Jason, Ultimate Martial Artist
*Fred, Post-Apocalyptic Hero
*Fred, Pulp Hero
*Fred, Book of the Machine
*Fred, Hero System Sidekick
*Fred, Ultimate Skill
*Secret Master #1, Fantasy Hero
*Secret Master #1, Book of Dragons
*Secret Master #1, Turakian Age
*Secret Master #1, Tuala Morn
*Secret Master #1, Post-Apocalyptic Hero
Derek Hiemforth, Champions
Derek Hiemforth, Fantasy Hero
Derek Hiemforth, Post-Apocalyptic Hero
Derek Hiemforth, Pulp Hero
Derek Hiemforth, Star Hero
GamePhil, DEMON
GamePhil, Post-Apocalyptic Hero
GamePhil, Galactic Champions
GamePhil, Mystic World
GamePhil, Valdorian Age
mayapuppies, Fantasy Hero
mayapuppies, Ultimate Skill
mayapuppies, Post-Apocalyptic Hero
mayapuppies, Dark Champions
mayapuppies, USPD 1 & 2
Kraven Kor, FREd
Kraven Kor, Star Hero
Kraven Kor, Gadgets and Gear
Kraven Kor, Combat Handbook
Kraven Kor, Fantasy Hero
Netzilla, Tuala Morn
Netzilla, USPD 1 & 2
Netzilla, Fantasy Hero Grimoire 1 & 2
Netzilla, Ultimate Martial Artist
Netzilla, Post-Apocalyptic Hero
Vondy, Ultimate Skill
Vondy, Ultimate Martial Artist
Vondy, Dark Champions
Vondy, Champions Everyman
Vondy, USPD 1 & 2
Jhamin, Villainy Amok
Jhamin, Conquerers, Killers & Crooks
Jhamin, Pulp Hero
Jhamin, Champions Battlegrounds
Jhamin, Star Hero
alywin13, USPD 1 & 2
alywin13, Ultimate Martial Artist
alywin13, Ultimate Skill
alywin13, Villainy Amok
alywin13, Dark Champions
Deejmeister, Hero System Resource Kit
Deejmeister, Ultimate Martial Artist
Deejmeister, USPD 1 & 2
Deejmeister, DEMON
Deejmeister, Dark Champions
Egyptoid, Hero System Bestiary
Egyptoid, Galactic Champions
Egyptoid, Villainy Amok
Egyptoid, *Egyptoid's Haymaker Articles
Egyptoid, *The USA-50
JohnTaber, Fantasy Hero
JohnTaber, Champions Anniversary Hardback Version
JohnTaber, Ultimate Skill
JohnTaber, Scourges of the Galaxy
JohnTaber, Hero System Bestiary
mallet, Star Hero
mallet, DEMON
mallet, Alien Wars
mallet, Post-Apocalyptic Hero
mallet, Ultimate Skill
Hierax, Fantasy Hero
Hierax, Valdorian Age
Hierax, Fantasy Hero Grimoire 1 & 2
Hierax, USPD 1 & 2
Hierax, Hero System Bestiary
Hierax, Enchanted Items
Hierax, Monsters Minions & Maurauders
steamteck, Pulp Hero
steamteck, Ultimate Skill
steamteck, Hero System Sidekick
steamteck, Hero System Bestiary
steamteck, Ultimate Vehicle
mattingly, Conquerers, Killers & Crooks
mattingly, USPD 1 & 2
mattingly, Villainy Amok
mattingly, Ultimate Skill
mattingly, Hero System Bestiary
teh bunneh, Fantasy Hero
teh bunneh, Star Hero
teh bunneh, Lucha Libre Hero
teh bunneh, Tuala Morn
teh bunneh, Ultimate Martial Artist
Alibear, Fantasy Hero
Alibear, Hero System Bestiary
Alibear, Conquerers, Killers & Crooks
Alibear, Star Hero
Alibear, Dark Champions
Edsel, Ultimate Skill
Edsel, Dark Champions
Edsel, Ultimate Martial Artist
Edsel, Predators
Edsel, DEMON
Dr. MID-Nite, Conquerers, Killers & Crooks
Dr. MID-Nite, Villainy Amok
Dr. MID-Nite, Ultimate Martial Artist
Dr. MID-Nite, VIPER: Coils of the Serpent
Dr. MID-Nite, Shades of Black
IndianaJoe3, Ultimate Martial Artist
IndianaJoe3, Fantasy Hero
IndianaJoe3, Pulp Hero
IndianaJoe3, Champions
IndianaJoe3, Dark Champions
Lord Mhoram, Fantasy Hero
Lord Mhoram, Post-Apocalyptic Hero
Lord Mhoram, Ultimate Martial Artist
Lord Mhoram, Algernon Files
Lord Mhoram, Gestalt
EvilDrPuma, Pulp Hero
EvilDrPuma, Fantasy Hero
EvilDrPuma, Ultimate Martial Artist
EvilDrPuma, Ultimate Skill
EvilDrPuma, Tuala Morn
culhwch, Fantasy Hero
culhwch, Ultimate Skill
culhwch, Tuala Morn
culhwch, Ultimate Martial Artist
culhwch, Hero System Bestiary
rjcurrie, Pulp Hero
rjcurrie, Villainy Amok
rjcurrie, DEMON
rjcurrie, USPD 1 & 2
rjcurrie, UNTIL: Defenders of Freedom
Chris Goodwin, Fantasy Hero
Chris Goodwin, Urban Fantasy Hero
Chris Goodwin, Post-Apocalyptic Hero
Chris Goodwin, Ultimate Mentalist
Chris Goodwin, Star Hero
GestaltBennie, Hero System Sidekick
GestaltBennie, Pulp Hero
GestaltBennie, DEMON
GestaltBennie, Hudson City
GestaltBennie, USPD 1 & 2
archermoo, Ultimate Skill
archermoo, Combat Handbook
archermoo, Tuala Morn
archermoo, Ultimate Martial Artist
archermoo, Dark Champions
megaplayboy, Galactic Champions
megaplayboy, Terran Empire
megaplayboy, Post-Apocalyptic Hero
megaplayboy, Ultimate Skill
megaplayboy, USPD 1 & 2
Doc Shadow, Champions
Doc Shadow, Hudson City
Doc Shadow, Pulp Hero
Doc Shadow, Masterminds and Madmen
Doc Shadow, Gadgets and Gear
Nolgroth, Star Hero
Nolgroth, Dark Champions
Nolgroth, Urban Fantasy Hero
Nolgroth, Fantasy Hero
Nolgroth, Hudson City
Susano, Ultimate Martial Artist
Susano, Hero System Bestiary
Susano, Ultimate Skill
Susano, USPD 1 & 2
Susano, Fantasy Hero Grimoire 1 & 2
Balok, DEMON
Balok, Dark Champions
Balok, Fantasy Hero
Balok, Ultimate Skill
Balok, Hudson City
Killer Shrike, Ultimate Martial Artist
Killer Shrike, Ultimate Skill
Killer Shrike, Combat Handbook
Killer Shrike, Champions Universe
Killer Shrike, Dark Champions
Killer Shrike, Hudson City
Burrito Boy, Fantasy Hero
Burrito Boy, Pulp Hero
Burrito Boy, Star Hero
Burrito Boy, Alien Wars
Burrito Boy, Post-Apocalyptic Hero
JmOz, FREd
JmOz, Ultimate Martial Artist
JmOz, Gadgets and Gear
JmOz, Hero System Bestiary
JmOz, Fantasy Hero
Shaft, Dark Champions
Shaft, Hudson City
Shaft, Ultimate Martial Artist
Shaft, Viborra Bay
Shaft, Predators
Nevenall, DEMON
Nevenall, Urban Fantasy Hero
Nevenall, Valdorian Age
Nevenall, Combat Handbook
Nevenall, Ultimate Skill
Crypt, Ultimate Martial Artist
Crypt, Equipment Guide
Crypt, Star Hero
Crypt, Fantasy Hero
Crypt, Post-Apocalyptic Hero

[Steve Long]

Thanx, phookz! I was actually thinking of making that list myself, you just saved me some time. ;) Take +2 XP out of petty cash! :thumbup:

[ghost-angel]

I can't decide!!

:cry:

[eternal_sage]

Fantasy HERO
Star HERO
Ultimate Martial Artist
Asian Bestiary I
Asian Bestiary II


and my wife's input is:

Ultimate Martial Artist
Ultimate Skill
Fantasy HERO
Star HERO
UNTIL Superpowers Database I


is it obvious that we play alot of Fantasy and Sci-Fi? :D

[Susano]

Fantasy HERO
Star HERO
Ultimate Martial Artist
Asian Bestiary I
Asian Bestiary II


Wooho! :D

[ghost-angel]

Alright. . . After some long long thought on it.

Ultimate Skill
Combat Handbook
Tuala Morn
Lucha Libre Hero
Urban Fantasy Hero

(the first two because they are most often used books outside the main rules; the last three because they were just the most fun to read - and I have read them all.)

[phookz]

Thanx, phookz! I was actually thinking of making that list myself, you just saved me some time. ;) Take +2 XP out of petty cash! :thumbup:

Woot! Now I can finally get that extra point of DEX I've been saving up for. Hmm, with 6E on the horizon maybe I'll just sit on that XP and see how best to spend it with the new edition. ;)

[TheQuestionMan]

TheQuestionMan's Top 5 Favourite 5 Edition Supplements
1. Champions
2. Villainy Amok
3. UNTIL Superpowers Database I & II
4. UNTIL: Defenders of Freedom
5. VIPER: Coils Of The Serpent


Cheers


QM

[Steve Long]

Hmm, with 6E on the horizon maybe I'll just sit on that XP and see how best to spend it with the new edition.

Herein lies wisdom. ;)

Maybe in a week or two I should try this experiment again, but with the additional instruction of "no genre books." Those are obviously pretty likely to appeal to Hero's market, so I can take it as given that they'll be favorites of a lot of people. It might be interesting to try looking beyond that.

Heck, though, I'm just happy a few people mentioned Hudson City and Tuala Morn. :D

[Nolgroth]

Hudson City fit rather perfectly to both your writing style and to the modern genre. I have even decided to use it outside the HERO system for games like Shadowrun or Top Secret/S.I. Tuala Morn I have but have not gotten very far in. When it was first announced, I was on the whole Celtic kick. When it was published I was elsewhere. Giving that I could not give it a fair review, I decided to skip it until that mood/muse rolls 'round again.

[eternal_sage]

i love Tuala Morn... however, i only run homebrew settings (even Shadowrun and World of Darkness are done in my own cities). it is, in fact, the only pure setting book i have outside of Accordlands for 3rd ed DnD and Eberron (and those were both the wife's purchases so i don't count them as mine :D)

i do plan on mining the crap out of it sometime in the near future for my own setting. some of the concepts are great, and it was a great tutorial on how to make low fantasy work. if i didn't love both Asian Bestiaries, it likely would have ended up on my list.

[Tasha]

The Equipment Guide
Fantasy Hero
Ultimate Martial Artist
Dark Champions
Until Superpowers Guide (1&2 that is)

Those are the 5 books that I keep going back to time and time again. I don't know if I could live without these supplements.

BTW Ultimate Skill gets runnerup status :D

Also a HUGE shout out to Hero Designer! It makes all of our work creating Characters a TON easier/faster!

Tasha

[Steve Long]

If HD's thrown into the mix, that will definitely skew the voting. ;) I'm willing to assume many people would pick it as a favorite. :thumbup:

[Steve]

My Top 5 Picks


Ninja Hero
Ultimate Martial Artist
Gestalt
Champions
Dark Champions

[Ghost Archer]

My top five

Champions
Dark Champions
Ultimate Skill
Ultimate Speedster
Ultimate Martial Artist

[PhilFleischmann]

This took me a while to figure out (partially because I moved recently and had all my HERO books packed in boxes). Among the ones I own, in no particular order:

Fantasy HERO
Star HERO
Ultimate Martial Artist
Ultimate Skill
Monsters, Minions, and Marauders

Honorable mention: Valdorian Age - it gets bumped out of the top five because of the utter lack of illustrations of any place in the setting. Turakian Age had the same flaw. I don't have Tuala Morn or Atlantean Age yet, but I sure hope there are some illustrations of the actual settings in those books.

Steve mentioned a restriction of "No Genre Books" in which case, I'd take off FH and SH, and put on Ultimate MetaMorph and Fantasy HERO Battlegrounds.

Ultimate books I don't have (yet), which otherwise might have made the list, but I don't know:
Mentalist
Speedster
Energy Projector

[jye42]

Ultimate Skill
Ultimate Martial Artist
Dark Champions
Vibora Bay
Champions

[i3ullseye]

Heres mine...

Sidekick
Fantasy HERO
Ultimate Martial Artist
Post Apocalyptic HERO
Dark Champions

[danbuter1]

Urban Fantasy Hero
Fantasy Hero
Grimoire
Dark Champions
Hudson City

[Kisska]

Hmm only one I still have is the Ultimate martial artist I did like that book. still a bigger fan of 4th editon and if I can ever replace my lost book I will run champs again my fave supplement from that was the 4th edtion VIPER book always liked Scott Bennie's work and enjoyed playing with Cliff in the past, but my fave stuff always by scott b and scott h. No offense Steve. Wasnt a fan of 5th edtion as it seem the point scaling seem to rise abit from 4th.