Dark Champions its own board? (OPINION and POLL)

[zornwil]

(First, briefly, in general I think there should not be more genre boards added)

I REALLY dislike the idea of creating a board just for Dark Champions. Many of us mix elements of both that and "regular" or "four color" Champions. I think Dark Champions holds a vital place as a reference point within the larger Champions community. The overlap is too great. The current Champions board certainly has a lot of activity but is not overwhelming nor should it be with Dark Champions IMHO.

However, I'm interested to see if (as usual!) I'm in the minority, hence the poll.

I understand that Steve Long will not (and really should not) make the decision based on "popularity" but I'm sure that has at least some place in the decision process since the boards are as much (from our perception, regardless of how true) a customer as a company service.

Of course if Dark Champions is going to introduce so many different constructs and rules "tweaks" that it will be hotly debated, which right now only Steve would know, then I suppose it will need a board no matter what.

[zornwil]

Hey, 100% now say "No."!

I must be right! Anyone responding later really doesn't care, if they haven't responded by now...

[Doug Limmer]

Since I voted 'maybe', I should probably explain.

From what I understand, what used to be Danger International is being rolled into Dark Champions. That is, it will deal with 'modern action'. This part of the genre may not have much to do with superheroes of any sort.

If the Danger International part is a heavy emphasis, then it probably deserves to be separated from Champions. But then, if the modern action hero genre is indeed a major part of the book, then I think the name of the book should be changed. Perhaps to Danger International.

[Monolith]

Considering that Dark Champions is probably Hero Games' second most popular genre, it would seem fairly logical that once the book is introduced (Gen Con 2005 I believe) that a forum should be added to the website.

Considering that DC now includes the old Danger International and Super Agents genres from earlier editions, it seems right that a forum should be made available for people who will want to discuss their "dark" superhero, black ops, and UNTIL commando campaigns that will start up after the books come out. I do not expect the DC forum to be as popular as the Star Hero or Fantasy Hero forums but I would expect it to be larger than the Herosphere or Other Software forums.

[Blue]

I definitely think that not every genre needs it's own board, but this is one of those rare cases where I think a board will eventually be merited.

But after the new product is out. That's when you'll see the traffic spike.

[Tom McCarthy]

If there's a Dark Champions board, I'll look there for interesting stuff for my 4 colour adventures, but such a division will prevent someone jumping into a discussion on powers for costumed hit men to say, 'He really needs 10 more points of rPD'.

In the spectrum of Champions - Dark Champions - Super Agents - Danger International (as they were defined in 4th edition), I found useful information from the heroic end became less and less useful as we drifted up to the superheroic end, and almost nothing drifted usefully back the other way.

[Hermit]

I put down a 'uh, maybe?'

Really, it depends on demand, how different DC really is, and other ramifications (will it cause bad blood for fans of other genres who don't have one?, for example).

At least I think it does...maybe.

[Bartman]

Put me down as a maybe. My gut response is fewer boards are better. But the 'modern hero' theme is both sufficiently broad and popular that it should be able to support at least a half dozen active threads at any one time. I expect if Dark Champions is as inclusive as it is being made out to be, a new board would probably be justified.

Although I do have to say I would prefer some other name than Dark Champions. When the book was a Punisher/Batman subgenre book the name worked well. But it seems like a poor title for something which is supposed to cover all Modern gaming including Danger International and Super Agents.

[Starwolf]

Dark Avenger is mad! He has been sitting around in his Battlevan just waiting for his own discussion board. Don't make DA mad, you wouldn't like him when he's mad....

Seriously, I don't think every genre needs it's own group, but Dark Champions, and Pulp hero at least should be added, when the books come out!

[Toadmaster]

Originally posted by Bartman
Although I do have to say I would prefer some other name than Dark Champions. When the book was a Punisher/Batman subgenre book the name worked well. But it seems like a poor title for something which is supposed to cover all Modern gaming including Danger International and Super Agents.

I agree with this, DI and DC may have similarities but DC suggests that it is part of the Champions setting while DI shares little with the Supers genre. For that reason I say DC should have its own board but idealy DI should be its own product.

[JmOz]

The only problem I currently have is its name, with what Steve has said a name more along "Danger International" or Modern Hero would be better, I feel the current name will cause some confusion...

[Celt]

How about Action Hero then?

I can see a separate board for modern roleplaying, be it spies, mercs, cops, vigilantes or what have you. However it would probably be best done on approach of publication for the book.

[Toadmaster]

Originally posted by JmOz
The only problem I currently have is its name, with what Steve has said a name more along "Danger International" or Modern Hero would be better, I feel the current name will cause some confusion...

I think that this post following the initiation of the poll pretty well establishes the problem with lumping DI, JI and low powered supers under the single title of DC

Originally posted by zornwil
I REALLY dislike the idea of creating a board just for Dark Champions. Many of us mix elements of both that and "regular" or "four color" Champions. I think Dark Champions holds a vital place as a reference point within the larger Champions community. The overlap is too great. The current Champions board certainly has a lot of activity but is not overwhelming nor should it be with Dark Champions IMHO.

Not picking on you zornwil but this statement is common, and illustrates the potential problem of combining DI and DC, although I primarily play heroic level games and particularly like modern games (DI) I passed up DC products for years because I associated the products with the supers genre, not modern heroic games. While I can see that there is some cross over in product line I would prefer to see the product lines seperated, if DOJ doesn't do this I hope they at least aggressively market DC as a multi genre modern setting, some material is appropriate to combine but I can think of many that would not really fit both subgenres well.

[Hermit]

The name situation really IS a double edge sword here. Some folks clearly think "Dark Champions" is going to confuse folks, or make them think it's just about super heroes Iron age style. Others I've talked to think "Modern HERO" or even "Action HERO" doesn't have the same zing, and Dark Champions at least has something of a rep/following which any other name might lose a part of.

I think maybe it should be a mix
instead of the old "Dark Champions: Heroes of Vengeance"
maybe "Dark Champions: Modern Action HERO"

Covers both bases that way.

[Celt]

Originally posted by Hermit
I think maybe it should be a mix
instead of the old "Dark Champions: Heroes of Vengeance"
maybe "Dark Champions: Modern Action HERO"

Covers both bases that way.

An elegant solution, Mr. Hermit. Make it so. Or we can hope.