Why We're Creating The 6th Edition -- Please Read Before Posting

[hfergus]

I just have a couple of things to say.

1) If I can do what I want with the new system, I do not care much about how. If I can build Volt, Olorin, Futurian and Doctor Destoyer, I'm probably happy. Converting would possibly be a pain, but I can deal with that. I'd start with my characters and certain favorite villians. I did that with fourth edition to fifth. I have a lot of 4th ed books; I can use them as I wish or not. They are idea starters, not the law. Let me build a concept without artificial D&D "classes", and if I were a cat I'd purr.

2) I hope, and have confidence, that if certain stats are removed, It'd be no problem. COM has never really come in in my games and PRE is rare. Also, if frameworks (EC, VPP, multipower) is changed or removed, make sure one type (brick, energy projecter, etc) does not become too powerful compared to others, or too weak.

3) I've always thought the killing attack vs normal is odd. Killing should be rare in Gold Age/Silver Age, but not too hard in fantasy hero. Killing vs normal attacks are the hardest to explain to newcomers, and the hardest to keep track of sometimes. As long as the "flavors" of the genres are kept, I see no problem.

4)I'm still buying the 5th Ed books I want. I use them as ideas, not rules as I have stated before.

5) I will buy 6th Ed. If I do not like it, I will not use it. 6th Ed books? If I see them as idea books, yes. Otherwise, maybe. I can use almost any type of book as an idea. I use D&D books as ideas for Hero System, even Champions.

6) The only possible "negative" thing I will say. One reason I dropped D&D was the rapid 2nd to 3rd to 3.5th to 4th change. Some of this was needed, but I feel it was mainly to bring in money. I do not think this is the case here, however. If the game does not change a little, it could die out. If it changes too much or too rapidly, it will die out as old gamers drop it and new ones see it as "a money pit".

Go with the change Steve, and I await it with money in my hand. Just remember the old gamers and make sure they can still do what they want. I have confidence you will.

7) Ok, I thought of this late. If the creation rules are simple, it will be hard to do everything people want. If they are complex, we will need a new computer aid. I can do it without, but most people are not math nerds like I am. If possible, have it in the rule book. It was one of the few things D&D did right with version 3.

[Kirby]

I just have a couple of things to say.

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Heh, couple = two.

[Enforcer84]

You know, as an aside, I submit that in fact the Supers have been removed from HERO.

Since, you know, Champions & Dark Champions just got sold. *blink blink* So the rat-powered-lamb gets his wish. And Chad will now cry.

Nah, CU is sold, not Superheroes. Supers still run over your piddly high tech soldiers like steamrollers over icecream cones.

[Enforcer84]

You're a sharp one.

Thankyew!

Wait. What were we talking about?

Monkeys.

With pointy sticks.

[Enforcer84]

Heh, couple = two.

He meant swinging couple

[CourtFool]

Gigity, gigity!

[Opal]

Since, you know, Champions & Dark Champions just got sold.

While Hero will still be able to publish super-hero genre books, the sample group the Champions - whatever thier current line up is - and Harbinger may well go the way of Marksman, Rose, Flare, &c ....

[rjcurrie]

While Hero will still be able to publish super-hero genre books, the sample group the Champions - whatever thier current line up is - and Harbinger may well go the way of Marksman, Rose, Flare, &c ....

Well, Harbinger was not part of the deal, so yes, he will likely not appear in any Champions/Dark Champions products. But the Champions still exist. Defender still leads them. And Witchcraft is still on the team. This can be gleamed from the slight info that is already up on the Champions Online web site (http://www.champions-online.com).

[Drell]

I can't wait to see what you bring with 6th Ed. I'm a looong time player (since the mid-80's), and absolutely love what you & your team has done with the game.

[Opal]

But the Champions still exist. Defender still leads them. And Witchcraft is still on the team.

Well, they do, for now. If a dispute rises between Cryptic and Hero in the future, though, Hero may lose access to them. I'm just pointing out that it's happened before.

[archermoo]

Well, they do, for now. If a dispute rises between Cryptic and Hero in the future, though, Hero may lose access to them. I'm just pointing out that it's happened before.

While there is the theoretical chance that it could happen, my understanding from Steve and Darren at Dundracon was that the contract for the sale of the Champions and Dark Champions IP is pretty solid. Part of the deal gives DoJ a free license in perpetuity to continue publishing RPG supplements using the Champions and Dark Champions IP. There are also a number of other provisions that they couldn't go into details on. They did say that there is a buyout clause in case Cryptic would ever want to remove the license, but that it was for a truley grotesque sum of money.

So much as I don't worry about getting hit by meteors, I'm not going to worry about DoJ losing the rights to publish Champions and Dark Champions stuff. Keep in mind that Steve was a practicing lawyer before he became a part of DoJ.

[rjcurrie]

Well, they do, for now. If a dispute rises between Cryptic and Hero in the future, though, Hero may lose access to them. I'm just pointing out that it's happened before.

And if it came to that, they'd do what Hero Games has done before -- create new characters and carry on. Sure they might not have the Champions name anymore but I think this move is worth the gamble.

[rjcurrie]

While there is the theoretical chance that it could happen, my understanding from Steve and Darren at Dundracon was that the contract for the sale of the Champions and Dark Champions IP is pretty solid. Part of the deal gives DoJ a free license in perpetuity to continue publishing RPG supplements using the Champions and Dark Champions IP. There are also a number of other provisions that they couldn't go into details on. They did say that there is a buyout clause in case Cryptic would ever want to remove the license, but that it was for a truley grotesque sum of money.

So much as I don't worry about getting hit by meteors, I'm not going to worry about DoJ losing the rights to publish Champions and Dark Champions stuff. Keep in mind that Steve was a practicing lawyer before he became a part of DoJ.

Exactly, I don't see the need for doom and gloom. I'm quite willing to have faith that Darren and Steve and company know what they are doing and are aware of any risks.

[Opal]

2. To take advantage of the opportunities presented by the release of the CHAMPIONS ONLINE MMORPG.

If I wanted to attract new players, I think I would publish an inexpensive, slim, perfect-bound book comparable to Sidekick to sell them on it, rather than push out a 2-enormous-volume hardcover set of rules with every persnickitty thing 27-year veterans of the system have been arguing about for 27 years.

When the very succesful release of d20 was done with D&D, they put just enough in the Players Handbook to play the game, and sold it as a loss leader. And that was a system that most people knew (or easily found out) you needed three books to play. Hero has managed to gain a reputation as a one-book system.

[McCoy]

Wait. What were we talking about?

The same thing we talk about every evening, how we'll take over the world!