Report from the Hero Announcement #2

[MorpheousXO]

Well, if there really IS unprecedented customizability, then you can bet yer sweet betsy I'll be trying it. Anyhoop, good is good, can't wait to hear more!

[Silverbullet]

I think for the most part I'll end up buying the two main rulebooks and then just filling in corners when books come out covering ground that hasn't been covered in 5th Edition -- like the Dr. Destroyer and Mechanon books, which already have me salivating. I certainly won't be ponying up the thousand+ bucks to re-purchase everything.

As far as the big announcement goes, I find myself a little leery that they SOLD the IP instead of licensing it, but hopefully they have the language worked out so that when the MMO goes belly up (either in two years if unsuccessful or in eight if successful) it doesn't drag the Champions paper books into the dumpster with it. MMOs just don't have the legs PnP games do.

I hope there is something that says that if the project goes belly-up, as you say--either 2 years, eight years or if god forbide the project never totally gets off the ground-- that the IP can/will revert back to Hero Games...

[devlin1]

But for me, personally, I don't MMO - I've been down that nasty timesink road, and simply can't invest in it anymore juggling an amazing wife, 2 great kids, and being a full-time cop.

Hmm... what if we downgrade you to having a merely good wife, two average kids, and a job as a carnival security guard?

[MorpheousXO]

Hmm... what if we downgrade you to having a merely good wife, two average kids, and a job as a carnival security guard?

>.<

[rjcurrie]

I hope there is something that says that if the project goes belly-up, as you say--either 2 years, eight years or if god forbide the project never totally gets off the ground-- that the IP can/will revert back to Hero Games...

There are apparently clauses that deal with such things. Steve and Darren are not that concerned. As Darren said the worst that could happen is they start over with a superhero genre book named "Super Hero" and create a new universe.

[CpSpalding]

I have played in about 7 MMOs, but I never get real addicted to them like some of my friends do--If I play 4-5 hours in a week that's a lot. I was practically drooling when I saw COH was coming out and I got it as soon as I could. It was a fun concept and I created a Golden Age themed super group on three servers that is still really strong. The game though has gotten stale for me. There's something that feels missing. I hope that Champions Online might fill that in. Nobody in their right mind expects all these MMO players to come over to pencil and paper roleplaying. However, there are a lot more of them and if 1% come over to play Hero System with the MMO as a sort of gateway drug that'd be huge for Hero.

[SAVeira]

There are apparently clauses that deal with such things. Steve and Darren are not that concerned. As Darren said the worst that could happen is they start over with a superhero genre book named "Super Hero" and create a new universe.

That good to hear. To be honest, I have never really used the Champions Universe. However, I should be sad to see the name Champions go.

[Edsel]

The announcement sounds good to me.

[Hermit]

rather than Cryptic licensing the Champions Universe from DoJ, they are buying the Champions and Dark Champions IP (except Harbinger of Justice ), and as part of the deal are licensing the rights to print RPG books for those IP back to DoJ in perpetuity (and DoJ doesn't have to pay for it).

Foxbat's been pimped out!!

This boggles my mind.

I still want in, though

[BobGreenwade]

I have two concerns about this announcement.

According to the news as given, Cryptic is actually buying Champions and Dark Champions, apparenlty including the Champions Universe.

Concern one: What should happen if (God forbid) Cryptic suddenly goes out of business? Do the rights revert back to DOJ?

Concern two: Does this include other aspects of the Hero Universe? I've been writing Space Wizards as taking place in the Hero Universe, including elements featured in the Champions Universe; what kind of licensing nightmare will this entail if I actually get around to publishing it?

[Silverbullet]

That good to hear. To be honest, I have never really used the Champions Universe. However, I should be sad to see the name Champions go.

Ditto... But I figured Steve and Darren wouln't go into this lightly no matter how tantalizing it may be.

[Supreme Serpent]

Question...if Cryptic owns the IP for 'the Champions universe', what does that really mean? Just the modern day superhero stuff? Or since Hero's made it a point to shoehorn everything into one overall timeline, do they also own the IP for Turakian Age, Terran Empire, etc? I'm assuming what's covered was explicitly spelled out in the contracts (lists of characters, etc.) but thought I'd bring it up.

[voodoo54]

Where can you find the official announcement for this?

[Comic]

Sincere congratulations to all involved; it sounds like there's a long way to go, so we'll be quietly enjoying our champagne over hear while you guys are at work.

[gojira]

Question...if Cryptic owns the IP for 'the Champions universe', what does that really mean? Just the modern day superhero stuff?

I bet it is just the modern day stuff. That might include a lot, like Lands of Legend and other parts of the modern CU world. But it also might expressly not include place names and person names from other genre lines.

I'm sure DOJ will give us at least some details when they get back to their offices.