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PDFs for early editions


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Wow, I have much rarer games in full OCR .pdf files. Microgames! But not Champions? That seems odd.

Again, the first issue to overcome is rights to the products. Champions/Hero has gone through multiple hands over the years. And, as a consumer, I have no idea what those original contracts included as far as rights. Or if/how those rights transferred as the IP was sold. Even some (all?) of the original (playtester) characters are owned by the original players, and would need to be licensed separately.

 

This is not likely to be a money-making proposition. So, while I don't speak for DOJ, I'm pretty certain this won't happen as a company project. I can't imagine they would object if you wanted to take on the task yourself though.

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A few 4E and earlier items do exist in PDF form. I know because I either have them or have seen them. ;)

 

The Hero Games website online store is selling a PDF of the pre-4E genre book, Robot Warriors, with its own unique version of the Hero rules included.

 

There are two PDF supplements for 4E Dark Champions in the online store, New Bedlam Asylum and Widows and Orphans.

 

For Champions, you can download the PRIMUS sourcebook, which organization hasn't yet been updated for the latest version of the setting. All of the above are very inexpensive.

 

Hero Games used to sell PDF versions of the 4E Hero System rule book; the 4E version of the Fantasy Hero genre book; and the 4E Ultimate books: Ultimate Martial Artist, Ultimate Mentalist, Ultimate Super Mage, and a supplement to that last, The Super Mage Bestiary. As I recall, they were taken out of the store when Hero Games created a comparable edition for 5E. It should be possible to put any of those back up for sale, should the company wish to and if there was any interest in buying any of them.

 

There were also a couple of licensed settings in 4E PDF, Bright Future for sci-fi, and Broken Kingdoms for fantasy. The license for those may have lapsed, though.

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A few 4E and earlier items do exist in PDF form. I know because I either have them or have seen them. ;)

 

The Hero Games website online store is selling a PDF of the pre-4E genre book, Robot Warriors, with its own unique version of the Hero rules included.

 

There are two PDF supplements for 4E Dark Champions in the online store, New Bedlam Asylum and Widows and Orphans.

 

For Champions, you can download the PRIMUS sourcebook, which organization hasn't yet been updated for the latest version of the setting. All of the above are very inexpensive.

 

Hero Games used to sell PDF versions of the 4E Hero System rule book; the 4E version of the Fantasy Hero genre book; and the 4E Ultimate books: Ultimate Martial Artist, Ultimate Mentalist, Ultimate Super Mage, and a supplement to that last, The Super Mage Bestiary. As I recall, they were taken out of the store when Hero Games created a comparable edition for 5E. It should be possible to put any of those back up for sale, should the company wish to and if there was any interest in buying any of them.

 

There were also a couple of licensed settings in 4E PDF, Bright Future for sci-fi, and Broken Kingdoms for fantasy. The license for those may have lapsed, though.

These are also available through drivethrurpg, so I figured the OP had seen them.

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I have almost everything from the first few editions of Champions ... Island of Dr. Destroyer, Strike Force, AC #1, first ed rules, the GM screen, etc. (I sold Wings of the Valkyrie ages ago though!)

 

There's very little in PDF form on sites like drivethrurpg.com. Is there a way to get PDFs for these?

Looking back at your original post, I would be remiss in not mentioning that Strike Force will be available as a PDF as an add-on the the NEW Strike Force currently funded on KickStarter. You can find the campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2000633882/aaron-allstons-strike-force/description.

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Hero was one of the first companies that sold PDFs of their products. The Hero Plus line was a bunch of PDF only books available for 4e. I don't remember seeing the 4e Core Rulebook or even Champions New Millennium being released as PDF.

 

The originals for the core rulebook and the CNM books should exist in Electronic Format. Though doing the conversion from Pagemaker to inDesign may be a bit difficult. Who knows if the files still exist though. Anything earlier than that would probably have to be scanned.

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  • 3 months later...
  • 10 months later...

It sounds like the Bundle of Holding for next week is going to be offering 60 4th edition books in PDF format...

 

From the update they sent out today:

 

 

 

On Tuesday, April 11 we launch two all-new offers featuring the complete line for a classic RPG in one of its best-regarded editions. Few of these SIXTY, we said SIXTY rulebooks, supplements, or adventures have ever before been available in .PDF. Many of these books are BIG, and one big book is BLUE. If you know what that means, spread the word, and if not -- stay tuned!
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Yeah, they send you out monthly teasers for all kinds of things you think you might want for prices that are pretty easy to afford. It is all temptation, no commitment though... :-)

 

It is a great way to build up a suite of game pdfs, especially to supplement the paper copies you might have.

 

Doc

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