Can I recommend the basic rulebook to potential players?

[Kruhl Sentru]

The sheer size and cost of the Character Creation and Combat and Adventuring rulebooks seems to be putting off some of the potential players for the HERO System in my local area. So, what I'd like to know, is if they can play the game with just the Basic Rulebook even though I'll be GMing using the full volumes 1 and 2 rulebooks. I understand that the Basic Rulebook contains most of the rules, but does it contain enough when I'll be using some of the optional rules as well?

[mayapuppies]

So long as you explain the differences in your campaign from those in the Basic book, I'd think that would be a great solution.

[Lord Liaden]

The Basic book was specifically designed to teach the game to new players, without the intimidation factor of the main books. All the elements and mechanics it describes are identical to the full rules, so once your players learn those it will be pretty easy to explain any elements from the main books that you want to add. OTOH the Basic book is a complete playable game in itself. It's surprising how much of the full ruleset it packs in once all the detailed clarifications and optional elements have been trimmed.

[Gearhead]

The basic rulebook covers the basics; it's fine for a beginner. Considering that in my first campaign of champions we had one book set between the six of us, we just kind of trusted the GM when it came to more complicated things.