BishopofB&W Posted August 19, 2003 Report Share Posted August 19, 2003 I picked mine up at my FLGS Friday and gave it a once-over. The art is great. The scenarios are fairly standard and straightforward. The real value is in the setting and character descriptions and behind-the-scenes flavor text. The normals are one of my favorite parts. How can you not like Dylan the leisure suit-selling Scotsman? I was dubious about the soap opera To Save The World, but after reading the flavor text and descriptions of the cast and characters I can see how it would work without being hokey. The KCK villains used have their personalities better fleshed out. Black Harlequin's style of humor is distinct from Joker's. It is more subtle and dry. There are probably better comparisons, but the best I could think of is Lord Edmund Blackadder from Blackadder II written as a psychotic. All-in-all I enjoyed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemming Posted August 19, 2003 Report Share Posted August 19, 2003 Hmm. I guess I will need something to read next week while I'm cut off from the net. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nato Posted August 19, 2003 Report Share Posted August 19, 2003 Yeah, I'm really enjoying this book as well. Only have read the first couple of adventures, and while they are relatively straighforward I think they're extremely well written. In addition to great flavor text like you mentioned, there are plenty of GM "Coaching" bits, especially helpful to a someone who has never run a HERO and/or supehero game before. The maps in the book are excellent; a big thanks to Keith Curtis. I'm a map junky. The maps are also accompanied by thurough descriptions of the settings, with DEF and BODY and other stats for just about any object you could need. Gadget pools for the gadgety villains have been thoughtfully written up to show all the tools they will use on the adventure - not just mearly suggested. I loved the art in the book. The wraparound cover is loads of fun, and there's plenty of goodness from guys such as Storn, Greg Smith, and Eric Lofgren and Bob Cram. Oh, fans of Scott Heine will enjoy his work in a humourous chapter of the book. The adventures tie seemlessly together for those that wish to use them as a continous story arc. Not only is this a solid adventure book, it's a great tool for novice GMs or GMs wishing for plenty of great settings, maps, and ideas for their own games. Highly recommended book. I hope sales are strong and Hero continues to produce adventure supplements in this format. Grade: A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mastermind Posted August 19, 2003 Report Share Posted August 19, 2003 gonna go pick up mine after work!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klytus Posted August 19, 2003 Report Share Posted August 19, 2003 Originally posted by Nato I'm a map junky. The maps are also accompanied by thurough descriptions of the settings, with DEF and BODY and other stats for just about any object you could need. Maps? It has MAPS?? Damn! Now I need to buy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nato Posted August 19, 2003 Report Share Posted August 19, 2003 LOTS of maps! More maps in an adventure supplement then I've ever seen. A very large park complex, with a nice hex map of a baseball diamond. A two-story hex map of a large mall. A huge amusement park map. A hex map of one of the attractions. A nice 3D map overlooking several city blocks. Several colnstruction site maps. Several maps of a master villain's lair. Oh I forgot to mention, the book goes as far as providing combat record sheets for each major encounter in each adventure. Has all the characters' stats on them, with blanks for the PCs stats as well. VERY cool. Many maps are in the back on a full page by themselves for ease of photocopying. Great stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyM Posted August 19, 2003 Report Share Posted August 19, 2003 Keith's the man I cannot say enough good things about Keith Curtis' work in Champions Battlegrounds. He really helped make this book. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secret Master Posted August 19, 2003 Report Share Posted August 19, 2003 What Andy Said! We writers may have shaped the clay of CB, but it was our artists who breathed life into this creation. Thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mastermind Posted August 20, 2003 Report Share Posted August 20, 2003 ::SPOILER WARNING:: This book is beautiful! I flipped through it and read the first scenario last night. Can't wait to run it, though I may change some of my villians to suit my own Champions Universe. i.e. Zephyr will have to be replaced by another female mutant (maybe Icicle ) since the Zephyr in my world was recently capture by the Crowns of Krim...were she will soon return as the Queen of the Crowns..mwhahahahaha But the great thing is that the scenarios are easily modified and adapatable, plus it is very GM friendly... with lots of notes and sidebars and gadget pool equipmemt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Heine Posted August 20, 2003 Report Share Posted August 20, 2003 Just got my copy today. Very impressive book, with useful scenarios & maps, but also lots of catalysts for creative GMs who are looking for some "jump starts" for their own adventures. And that has to be my all-time favorite Hero product cover, finally topping the original Fantasy Hero. Outstanding! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Heine Posted August 20, 2003 Report Share Posted August 20, 2003 Oh My... Heh... I just noticed that my name is spelled wrong in the art credits. Let's see... I was left out of the credits for Champions. I was left out of the credits for Conquerors, Killers & Crooks. My name is mispelled in Champs Battlegrounds... Think someone is trying to tell me something...? -- Scott P.S. Nah... I'm just teasing. It's truly an honor to have work included in the new Hero line. I am so proud of the great work DOJ is doing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCUBA Hero Posted August 20, 2003 Report Share Posted August 20, 2003 Sic Coatlicue on 'em, Scott! umm, as long as it doesn't negatively impact the production schedule, that is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyM Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 -SCUBA Hero "I still call the Hero System, Champions. And everytime I do, Steve hits me in the head with a bag of d6's." -Andy Mathews When did I become quotable??? Andy PS: Sorry Scott. I'll work on that. AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Watts Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Re: Oh My... Originally posted by Scott Heine Let's see... I was left out of the credits for Champions. I was left out of the credits for Conquerors, Killers & Crooks. Think someone is trying to tell me something...? -- Scott Geez, I tried to make the Champs and CKC miscues up to you by naming the street the warehouse in Chapter 5 after you, and now I've got to come up with something else! Let's see, how about a duchy in the Turakian Age or something? dw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jhamin Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Originally posted by Klytus Maps? It has MAPS?? Damn! Now I need to buy it. Back when this product was first announced, Steve made a point that it was supposed to be half adventure, half map book. Having read the playtest manuscript, I thought the thing came off as a bunch of maps with an adventure written around them. And that is a good thing. Long after you finish the adventure you Characters will still end up duking it out with other baddies in the Park, at the Mall, or in an evil subterrenian lair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCUBA Hero Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Originally posted by AndyM "I still call the Hero System, Champions. And everytime I do, Steve hits me in the head with a bag of d6's." -Andy Mathews When did I become quotable??? When you said that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Heine Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Re: Re: Oh My... Originally posted by Darren Watts ...I tried to make the Champs and CKC miscues up to you by naming the street the warehouse in Chapter 5 after you... Ooo, you did? Wow! You did! WAY cool!!! A duchy, you say? Heh... I've never had my own kingdom before... Nifty! Hey, how about a planet in some Star Hero book? No, wait! An entire galaxy! -- Scott P.S. Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha! You guys are the greatest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevHooligan Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Are these maps "slap down on the table and play" scale or nice maps for reference? How does CB rate for a GM who doesn't use CU or prepared adventures? Are there more "Battlegrounds" than "Champions"? I'd love a bunch 1' scale hexmaps of the places described... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevHooligan Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Um, no. I really don't want 1 FOOT scale hexes. My apartment is too small. That was my Spinal Tap moment for the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheQuestionMan Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Champions Battlegrounds Too cool for words , it's a great product and in truth I call it Champions too ( ducks imagined dice bag ) . Eager to buy , aquire and read more Hero Games products soon . As always make mine a HERO . P.S. = more maps with future products please . Thanks E. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Long Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Are these maps "slap down on the table and play" scale or nice maps for reference? How does CB rate for a GM who doesn't use CU or prepared adventures? Are there more "Battlegrounds" than "Champions"? I'd love a bunch 1' scale hexmaps of the places described... They're not to 1 hex = 1 real-world inch scale; we can't afford to bind maps that size into books. They're an 8.5" x 11" page or some portion thereof, with a hex grid on them and a notation as to scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Neilson Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Re: Champions Battlegrounds Originally posted by TheQuestionMan Too cool for words , it's a great product and in truth I call it Champions too ( ducks imagined dice bag ) . So what IS the limitation on PD, only vs dice bags? I can use some Armour for that too! I think the longer you've been playing, the more likely you'll still call it Champions. Up until 3e, it WAS Champions, and even the Big Blue Book from 4th had that title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
assault Posted August 22, 2003 Report Share Posted August 22, 2003 Re: Re: Champions Battlegrounds Originally posted by Hugh Neilson I think the longer you've been playing, the more likely you'll still call it Champions. Up until 3e, it WAS Champions, and even the Big Blue Book from 4th had that title. I've been playing since 1e. My conventions are: Hero System = the whole generic system. Champions = Superhero roleplaying using the Hero System. It just happens that I am using the Hero System for superhero ropeplaying at the moment. Therefore I am playing ***Champions***. At some point I may want to use the Hero System for the Pulp genre. Then I will be playing Justice, Inc. That would probably be true even if Hero Games published a product called "Pulp Hero" or something of the sort. (Grond Pulp Hero!) I would be using my old copy of Justice Inc., as well as, no doubt, some material from Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu, and any other game that covered the same period. (Oops!) I might also choose to cross to set a game in the late 1930s - which would be Golden Age Champions, since experienced pulp characters look quite a lot like non-powered superheroes. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterVimes Posted August 22, 2003 Report Share Posted August 22, 2003 Got mine the other day and I was/am Thrilled. Interestingly enough, I've been laying the plot seed for Utility to form a Mercenary group called "The Thieves' Guild"... and lo and behold... adventure one has most of my suspects! And Keith... the art was amazing And I loved the maps And the new villain and... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur Face Posted August 22, 2003 Report Share Posted August 22, 2003 Arrived in Phoenix AZ My FLGS got it yesterday (Game Depot, Southern & McClintok) and I picked it up this afternoon. These are some of the best maps I've ever seen. The attention to detail is exquisite and very well thought out. Heck, so is the entire product! My hats off to all of you! My FLGS just keeps reordering & restocking all the DOJ products it can get its hands on. Good Grief, Fantasy Hero is bigger than many college textbooks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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