darthbutternutz Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Hello and like the subject says, I'm a old Palladium Heroes Unlimited player and gm and I would like to start playing with the HERO System. I've heard a lot of good things about it and I think its time for a change. The problem I'm having is there are a TON of books out for HERO and I have no idea which one i should start with. I believe the Hero System 5th Edition Revised is the one I need, but I'm not sure. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Main Man Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM Well, here's the thing: there's a 6th edition coming out soon (late summer) so it's up to you as to buy the current edition or to wait a little while longer. I would say that checking out Sidekick (~$15), a more basic version of the rules, should get you started enough to upgrade to 6th edition when it comes out. Nice to get a new recruit, and a fellow ex-Palladium player at that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthbutternutz Posted June 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM Wow, thanks for the quick response. Thanks for the heads up on the 6th edition as well. So it appears that in order to run a full game, all I would need is the HERO System book. Is that correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragdoll Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM Wow' date=' thanks for the quick response. Thanks for the heads up on the 6th edition as well. So it appears that in order to run a full game, all I would need is the HERO System book. Is that correct?[/quote'] Sure. Get yourself the sidekick so you can get familiar with the rules. It's 5th ed. 6th ed will be out eventually, but it's likely best to learn on 5th, then if you like it, decide what direction you want to go in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthbutternutz Posted June 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM Groovy, I'm buying that Sidekick book now. $5.25 for the PDF is a steal, seems like the ticket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Main Man Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM Yes. I'm suggesting Sidekick since it is cheaper and teaches the essentials of the system, but you also won't get hosed when the next edition comes out very quickly afterwards. Otherwise, the core book is all that you really need to play; everything else is interpretation, builds, and the occasional rules expansion, but otherwise that's all you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM well with 6th ed there will be 2 core books 1 for players and 1 for GMs then a basic play book replacing SideKick Yes. I'm suggesting Sidekick since it is cheaper and teaches the essentials of the system, but you also won't get hosed when the next edition comes out very quickly afterwards. Otherwise, the core book is all that you really need to play; everything else is interpretation, builds, and the occasional rules expansion, but otherwise that's all you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Main Man Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM well with 6th ed there will be 2 core books 1 for players and 1 for GMs then a basic play book replacing SideKick Oh yeah, that would be helpful to know indeed. I remember that each core book hard copy will be $40 and that there will also be a bundle of the two for $70. I do not know what the PDF costs will be though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tech Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM What genre are you looking to play in? Superheroes? Sci-fi? Fantasy? There are genre books available to help, but not necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Main Man Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM Well, I can help out in this regard: Palladium Fantasy - Fantasy HERO Heroes Unlimited - Champions Ninjas & Superspies - Dark Champions and Ninja HERO Nightbane - Fantasy HERO, Urban Fantasy HERO, maybe Dark Champions Rifts - Post-Apocalyptic HERO, Star Hero, Fantasy HERO, just about all of them, really, but those three weigh in the most. Same goes for Chaos Earth. Systems Failure - Post-Apocalyptic HERO Beyond the Supernatural - sadly there is no 5e Horror HERO but I hear that there will be one for 6e Such a book would also be helpful for Nightbane and Rifts. This also means Dead Reign. Recon Modern Combat - Dark Champions After the Bomb - Post-Apocalyptic HERO has a basic setting called After the Blast that is basically a HERO version of AtB in only 40 pages. Couple that section with Ninja HERO and you generally have TMNT & Other Strangeness covered as well. Splicers - Star HERO Did I miss any settings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenn Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM Geez, MM, you sound like you work in a gaming store.... BTW, does TIY still have the birthday club? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Main Man Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM Well, I haven't for about a year... ... ... Nonetheless it still does, but it currently has an "Economic Stimulus" sale where many products, including RPG's, are at ~20-30 percent off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthbutternutz Posted June 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM What genre are you looking to play in? Superheroes? Sci-fi? Fantasy? There are genre books available to help' date=' but not necessary.[/quote'] Im into Super Hero and Fantasy type games. I figure I'll start by recreating some of my old Heroes Unlimted for the Hero System to get started ( and to practice a little ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Democracy Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM Im into Super Hero and Fantasy type games. I figure I'll start by recreating some of my old Heroes Unlimted for the Hero System to get started ( and to practice a little ). Post a word description of the characters and I think you'll get a few other people putting up their versions as well. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM Welcome aboard, darthbutternutz! (With that name I like you already.) As you've seen we're a pretty friendly and helpful bunch to newcomers. You've chosen a good game with a great community -- I don't think you'll be disappointed. Im into Super Hero and Fantasy type games. I figure I'll start by recreating some of my old Heroes Unlimted for the Hero System to get started ( and to practice a little ). In that case you may benefit from these links to guidelines and examples for converting Heroes Unlimited characters to HERO System: Character conversion guidelines: http://web.archive.org/web/20070328063026/http://www.herogames.com/oldForum/Rules/000322.html HERO writeup for Strongarm: http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptationsrpg/HUstrongarm.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjcurrie Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM Welcome aboard, darthbutternutz! (With that name I like you already.) As you've seen we're a pretty friendly and helpful bunch to newcomers. You've chosen a good game with a great community -- I don't think you'll be disappointed. In that case you may benefit from these links to guidelines and examples for converting Heroes Unlimited characters to HERO System: Character conversion guidelines: http://web.archive.org/web/20070328063026/http://www.herogames.com/oldForum/Rules/000322.html HERO writeup for Strongarm: http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptationsrpg/HUstrongarm.html Welcome. I see you've met Lord Liaden aka Lord of the Links, as I like to refer to him. He aspires to be a Wal-Mart greeter when he grows up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM Welcome. I see you've met Lord Liaden aka Lord of the Links' date=' as I like to refer to him. He aspires to be a Wal-Mart greeter when he grows up. [/quote'] You're assuming I'm not already. While you gamers play at taking over the world, we're actually doing it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Main Man Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM *tied up in chair* You'll never get away with this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthbutternutz Posted June 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM Wow, thanks everyone for the help and the great links!! I'm certainly getting ready to dive headlong into this system, I've enjoyed reading the Sidekick and I am eager for the 6th edition to come so I can buy it. As soon as I finish my first character conversion, I'll definitely post it here. And by the way, this is where I got my name.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thereisnoart Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM Looks like we're in similar situations! I recently decided to convert over to Hero from HU as well. I decided to dive right in with 5th Edition Revised instead of Sidekick. There was some confusion for me, but thanks to the extremely helpful (and prompt) people on these forums, I was able to get around a lot of my questions. Besides being extremely well balanced and infinitely more nuanced (for the better, in my opinion), the biggest advantage Hero has over HU is the wonderful, friendly community surrounding it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattern Ghost Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM I'll have to say, though, that Heroes Unlimited was fun. So was TMNT and Robotech. (Though at the time FASERIP Marvel was a lot better than HU, but I still had some fun games with the system.) Palladium didn't really start going downhill for me until Rifts came out. Cool concept, but mixing the mega damage rules in just spoiled it. The different Palladium systems were far from being universal. They missed an opportunity to overhaul the game mechanics into something that could handle Rifts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thereisnoart Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM HU and TMNT were, and still are, great fun - but in different ways. My biggest complaints about HU were the base characteristics meant little to the game mechanics and that two characters of the same level could be WILDY different, in terms of superiority. Random powers are fun (and play off of the "do what you can with what your dealt" dynamic), but that huge imbalance made designing villains for my players to fight rather difficult. I like that in Hero, two characters of the same point totals can be roughly equal (as long as someone isn't trying to abuse the system). Plus your starting characteristics play a huge role in what (and how) your character can perform (at least for the time being ). If I were going to run a "quick and easy" campaign for new players, though, I would probably still use HU for that. The rules aren't as complex and combat is more abstract, meaning its easy for a GM to fudge some rules together on the fly to handle certain situations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM Just to let you know, there are significant free fan-created HERO conversions on the Internet for the Palladium RIFTS and Robotech games which we could direct you to, should you be interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattern Ghost Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM I remember a huge thread on building Rifts from a long time ago. I'm not even sure if it was on this version of the boards or the old, old one. Was a pretty good thread, and a pretty good demonstration of how good Hero is at scaling up damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Main Man Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Re: Old Palladium player wanting to start with the HERO SYSTEM I know that I started one of them in my earlier days on the boards. Nowadays I don't convert Rifts so much as translate and flavor it to my liking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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