Hero System: Easy Mode

[Christougher]

Planning to run a convention game in October (LoneStarGameExpo.com).   I'm planning to streamline the provided character sheets to make things easy for new players.  Captain America was used to provide an well known example with medium complexity.  Any critiques or clarity issues between the following two character sheets? 

 

Captain America

10 STR 20

30 DEX 20  13-  OCV 8 + 11 - 3d6  DCV 8

20 CON 20       +1 Overall

10 BOD 15       +2 with MA, +1 with Shield

 3 INT 13  12-

16 EGO 18  13-  ECV 6

10 PRE 20  13-

 1 COM 12

 

 4 PD   8       16/8r

 4 ED   8       16/8r

 2 AD   6

 2 MD   6

10 SPD  4         3  6  9    12

   REC  8

   END 40

   STN 35

 

16/24 Armored Uniform +8 PDr/+8 EDr OIF(-1/2)

 6 Running +3m(9m w/Running)

 2 Leaping +2m(6m w/Leaping)

 

27/40 Shield MP OIF(-1/2)

 1/ 2 +3 Levels with DCV

 1/ 2 Hand Attack +4d6(8d6 w/STR)

 3/ 4 Missile Deflect +3 OCV Adjacent(+1/2)

 3/ 4 Missile Deflect +Reflect Any

 3/ 4 Energy Blast 8d6

 3/ 4 Armor +13 PDr/+13 EDr

 

Martial Arts

 5 Defensive Strike +1/+3

 4 Fast Strike +2/0 +2d6

 4 Martial Block +2/+2

 4 Martial Disarm -1/-1

 3 Martial Throw 0/+1

 8 +2 Martial DCs

 1 Use MA with Shield

 

31 Skills (Unspecified)

10 +1 Overall Level

 6 +1 Level with Shield MP

 4 +2 Levels with Shield Energy Blast

 8 +2 Levels with Martial Arts

 

 

Captain America

STR 20  13-  4d6 Damage

DEX 20  13-

CON 20  13-

INT 13  12-  PER 12-

EGO 18  13-

PRE 20  13-

 

SPD  4        3  6  9    12

Run  9m

Leap 6m

Swim 4m

 

OCV  18-

DCV  7

MCV  7

ECV  7

 

PD   16/8r

ED   16/8r

AD   6

MD   6

 

END 40

STN 35

REC  8

BOD 15

 

+1 to any CV or any Skill Roll

 

Shield Multipower (Pick One)

  Shield Throw: OCV 21-, 8d6 Damage (-1 OCV to Bounce or Return, max 3)

  Shield Smash: OCV 19-, 8d6 Damage (can add to Martial Arts)

  Carried: +4 DCV (can still attack)

  Braced: +1 DCV, +13 PDr/+13 EDr (for unavoidable attacks)

  Deflecting: OCV 22- (block bullets and lasers)

  Reflecting: OCV 19- (re-aim incoming attack at OCV 18-)

 

Martial Arts Multipower (Pick One)  (shield smash adds 4d6 damage)

  Punch: OCV 21-, DCV 10, 6d6 damage

  Kick: OCV 20-, DCV 9, 8d6 damage

  Block: OCV 20-, DCV 11

  Dodge: No OCV, DCV 10

  Trip: OCV 18-, DCV 10, 6d6 Damage (+Velocity)

 

Skills

  (Not listed yet)

 

Complications

  Uniform is armored and obvious, can be removed with difficulty.

  Unbreakable shield can be blocked or taken away.

 

[Tom Cowan]

the 2nd one looks good for a EZ mode sheet, thou I would not name the martial arts as a Multipower, maybe skills or moves?

[Doc Democracy]

Yeah - multipower is jargon, options is plain English...

 

:-)

 

personally I think it is all about how much you want to do to get the players away from the detail of the system to play the game and how much you want playing the game to be an intro to the system....  

 

I have posted a few examples of a stripped down sheet to hand out to people simply to play the game.  Like this one.

 

 

Doc

[mrinku]

Yeah, looks fine, and I'll add +1 to the above comments about leave the combat maneuvers as just that. I assume the stardard maneuvers are still being used? Just do that list with the martial ones added, or replacing those standard ones they're an upgrade of.

 

IMHO the combat maneuver system is the real gem at the heart of the HERO system, and it's pretty easy to understand.

[Brian Stanfield]

Yeah - multipower is jargon, options is plain English...

 

:-)

 

personally I think it is all about how much you want to do to get the players away from the detail of the system to play the game and how much you want playing the game to be an intro to the system....  

 

I have posted a few examples of a stripped down sheet to hand out to people simply to play the game.  Like this one.

 

 

Doc

 

Doc, what's the chance you have that simple layout as a hero designer export?

[Doc Democracy]

Doc, what's the chance you have that simple layout as a hero designer export?

I am sorry, I never got into playing with Hero Designer. My friend was starting to do a lot then got married and moved away. :-(

[indy523]

I would give him motr leaping.  He is able to fall from tall buildings and land on his feet but other than that should play as the movies.

[mrinku]

I would give him motr leaping.  He is able to fall from tall buildings and land on his feet but other than that should play as the movies.

 

Good DEX, CSLs, PD and Breakfall can allow a character to fall safely from quite high up. Plus the old Acrobatics rolls to grab/snap flagpoles, awnings and such on the way down.

 

Normally you take 10d6 for a 20m fall (about 7 stories, definitely a tall building). This write-up would walk away from that even without the shield, probably not even stunned. If he braces the shield to land on it the stun damage should be minor. If he makes a Breakfall roll at -5, he halves that. Even if he only has base level Breakfall at 13-, he's got a 9- roll with his overall level, better if the Combat Levels are allowed, which they probably should.

 

Putting the shield aside, if he makes that Breakfall roll, he lands on his feet or rolls and comes up fighting while shrugging off a puny 5d6 normal damage.

[Brian Stanfield]

I am sorry, I never got into playing with Hero Designer. My friend was starting to do a lot then got married and moved away. :-(

The nerve of some people and their so-called "real" lives,

[Doc Democracy]

The nerve of some people and their so-called "real" lives,

 

I am currently running a retro RuneQuest game (using HeroQuest for God Plane stuff).  When that finishes, my next game needs to be Champions and then I may find the time to invest in learning to properly use the export facilities on Hero Designer.