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

[Chris Goodwin]

I think a thing that will really help 6th edition will be books that you can use "out of the box". Something that you can pick up and in an hour have characters made and be playing. You could do that with first edition Fantasy Hero, but since 4th edition I don't think I've seen a Hero System book you could.

[CourtFool]

And here I have to disagree with Chris. I do not need another fluff filled role playing game. Give me the mechanics and I will steal the fluff from somewhere else. Of course, I am alone in this. You better go with Chris. Kids these days can't think for themselves and want one stop gaming all pre-packaged with pretty pictures and pre-built worlds.

[Chris Goodwin]

And I disagree with you and..uhh...agree with me. I honestly think that such a book would do more to attract new players, especially if that book was small and usable with (or packaged with!) Sidekick, even as an all-in-one a la PS238 and Lucha Hero, than all the simplifying and new-editioning.

Edit: More in-depth response here to keep it off the 6th edition board.

[Gadodel]

Waiting, watching, reserving judgement.

Seconded...or thirded...anyways...

I spent a lot of time learning the rules for 5E. I finally got comfortable enough to actually Game Master for it just last year. More impressive, I managed to get some Die Hard-other System Users to try it out. Trust me, the latter was nothing short of a wish being fulfilled.

So, part of me is very nervous and the other part wondering if I can repeat the efforts I've made thus far. Time, will tell; I guess.

[Enforcer84]

I am not asking for BESM level rules light...but yes, I am curious to see how rule heavy 6e will be. I am still allowed to agree to disagree around these parts...right....right? Guys?

No. Back to your corner

[Enforcer84]

And with a straight face and no malice I ask: "If making the game lighter is the goal why did we spend the last few years printing Ultimate books that added more crunch?"

But beyond that question I'll make no judgments until I hold 6th Ed in my hand.

[James Gillen]

And with a straight face and no malice I ask: "If making the game lighter is the goal why did we spend the last few years printing Ultimate books that added more crunch?"

But beyond that question I'll make no judgments until I hold 6th Ed in my hand.

Not to answer that question for Steve but I always assumed that the Ultimate books were take-it-or-leave-it stuff that added on to the base and were not strictly necessary, with the possible exception of The Ultimate Martial Artist, which is just too useful in general not to be "canon." I don't know how many of us need Mental Combat Modifiers, for example.

JG

[CourtFool]

No. Back to your corner

Yeah...that is what I expected from this board.

[Enforcer84]

Yeah...that is what I expected from this board.

You know you like it.

[caris]

Seriously, I do not find myself getting excited about this decision/announcement. If anything, it actually kind of bothers me. While I'm not perfectly happy with 5th, I don't feel that there are enough things I want changed to warrant a new edition. Which of course, leads to the part that is really worries me, that I'm going to see little/few changes to the things I have problems with, and huge changes to things that I do like and/or have no problem with, changes that might detract from my gaming experience.

I really have to disagree with a decision that was apparently made with 5th Ed. That was the time to introduce the level of changes that I’m inferring are Steve’s intent/hope for this new edition. You had such a nice clean break from the previous edition there would be little of the compatibility issues that are coming up in people’s minds that we have already heard here.

I have a somewhat different concern. Unlike 6 years ago, I’ve had six years of exposure to Steve’s style of gaming as expressed in the rules and his rulings. I’m pretty sure that I don’t want to see the base rules moved more in that direction.

[lemming]

I've liked changes in each edition and hated changes in each edition. Every time there's been entertainment derived from reading & digesting the rules, so I'm fine.

[Boll Weevil]

I too will withhold judgment until I see the changes. I was a little upset when 5Er came out. My less-than-two-years-old rulebook was functional but all my page numbers were wrong (I use these boards for guidance A LOT). I would welcome a restructuring of the rules a la 4th to 5th but a drastic change that would render my several hundred dollars worth of current material worthless would end my Hero purchases.

[Hugh Neilson]

Not to answer that question for Steve but I always assumed that the Ultimate books were take-it-or-leave-it stuff that added on to the base and were not strictly necessary, with the possible exception of The Ultimate Martial Artist, which is just too useful in general not to be "canon." I don't know how many of us need Mental Combat Modifiers, for example.

The size of the core rules is often noted as an impediment for new players. Paring the base rules down and adding optional rules in other books seems the norm. I like having everything in one book, but is it getting unwieldy? Should some options be saved for later books?

Consider that many detractors of Hero's "very complex, huge, intimidating rulebook" offer the option of games with smaller base rulebooks and a few dozen (or few hundred) supplemental books. They don't have less rules, they deliver in smaller parcels.

[steamteck]

I'm pretty happen with the core mechanics of 5th and everything bandied abot on the boards seems quite inferior to the current way of doing things for the core concepts so I'm wary but listening. Won't take too much fundamental change to turn me off

[MisterBaldy]

I'm curious if this smacks of GURPS 4th to anybody else? I stopped buying GURPS when the new edition came out, largely for the same reason that I'm reluctant to getting into a HERO 6th. I'm sure the new edition will be superior mechanically, but I'll take tons of support from years of good books ('mostly compatible' notwithstanding) over relaunch, rehash, and rewritten (but sitll mostly the same books) any day.

Heck, GURPS is STILL releasing books covering material that I already own from 3rd... and 4th has been on the market for what, 3 years?

Guess that sums up my problems with any talk of a 'new edition' for any RPG I'm already invested in.

Thoughts?

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

This indeed seems like too much of a coincidence. I smells a lot like GURPS 4e.

Okay, in all fairness, I can understand to some extent a release of a HERO System 6th Edition.

1. From a financial stand point, it makes perfect sense. A new edition creates a potential for increased revenue.
2. It also gives a chance to clear some issues from a "game mechanics" point of view as well. Some of the issues of "over-complication" (like the whole "Regeneration issue") in the mechanics can be finally dealt with, and cleaned up.
3. It gives a chance to "streamline" the book formatting, making it more "user-friendly".

From a consumer standpoint, it raises some issues and questions.

1. Should I continue to buy new books for HERO System 5th Edition, Revised, knowing that in about one year... they will become "obsolete" and "outdated"? Shouldn't I wait, stop spending my $$$ for the materials related to HERO System 5th Edition, Revised, and wait until HERO System 6th Edition is released?
2. Is it worthwhile for me to buy the most current version of Hero Designer? This would mean that I would be buying a "two year" support agreement, and I may not be able to use it with the new HERO 6th Edition?

For a consumer, like myself, I have to choose very carefully where I spend my $$$. I don't have the free money that I once had. These are decisions that I have to personally make, considering my financial standing. Although this is my issue, I know that I am probably not alone.

Personally, I am torn about the decision to release a HERO System 6th Edition.

So, for now... I'm just going to wait to see how this develops.