Jason S.Walters

In 1989, I found myself admiring an RPG I had never seen before. It was what I like to call “the big blue book.” The title splashed across an awesome George Perez cover art said: Champions. It was the 4th edition of the game, and it captured me like few other games ever had. Little did I know that one of the supplements for this game, published one year earlier, would change the way I played RPGs forever. That supplement was called Strike Force, and it was penned by a man I came to know as a friend and a very talented, creative writer: Aaron Allston. Strike Force was not just a setting book, or an enemies book, or a GM’s book. It was all three, and yet it was also something more than the sum of its parts. Strike Force was the first book that ever taught me what it was like to run a long-term RPG campaign, to seize the superhero tropes and themes and make them fit into the experience of a role-playing game. Strike Force was the first time I was taught that different players want different things out of a gaming experience – common knowledge these days, but a revelation back then. Aaron used Strike Force as a way to introduce people to his world, to his style of gaming, to his very immersive approach to cooperative storytelling. Strike Force told me about engaging players into rich scenes that I had never seen before. I was fascinated by the idea that games like Aaron’s long-running campaign were possible, that people were actually playing this way. Long before the internet, Strike Force introduced me to the idea of a gaming community beyond my hometown, where other people were taking the ideas and techniques of roleplaying and applying them in new and exciting ways. From the genesis of his campaign, to the unexpected challenges that Aaron overcame while running Strike Force, all the way to “top 10 ways to RUIN your campaign,” the advice in this book broadened my young mind. It would be years later that I would learn how to apply many of Aaron’s techniques –foremost amongst them, “blue-booking,”—but when I did, I was able to build an RPG campaign that has lasted ten years so far. To me, that’s the ultimate proof of Aaron’s approach: it works. Just a couple of years ago, in 2014, Aaron Allston told me about an update to Strike Force. A new edition that he was working on. I was incredibly excited about the idea of introducing a new generation to this landmark world and the “Strike Force Method” of running superhero RPGs. Tragically, Aaron died that year… but thanks to Jason Walters and High Rock Press, we have an incredible opportunity to finish what Aaron started. I’m honored to be involved in the new version of Aaron Allston’s Strike Force, and I can’t wait to share this amazing book with all of his fans! -Ross Watson

New from the twisted mind of Greg Elkins! Welcome to the inaugural installment of Monster Mash. Here you will find new creatures and/or new takes on old creatures for your Fantasy Hero Campaign. This installment will cover a new creature known as Draklings. Draklings are a small race of reptilian humanoids that have been seen in the realm of late. They are small but very cunning and vicious in nature. They attack caravans and unexpecting parties of adventurers using ambush and pack attack tactics. Includes Hero Designer Files And Cardboard Miniatures

It’s one thing to hear a campaign has been run for twenty years; it’s another thing to see it. When I first received the files for Aaron Allston’s Strike Force campaign, I was astounded. I had been given a 600 MB zip file, which eventually unpacked itself into 872 MB and over 5,800 items. And once everything had been unpacked, I started to poke through this extensive collection of files…. And what did I find? First, many of Aaron’s contributions to the HERO System APA Rogues Gallery. This was of immense importance to me, as many of these articles were about Aaron’s Strike Force setting and the characters he’d created for it. Second, the collected Chronicles for Aaron’s gaming group. This included not only the Strike Force campaign, but also Aaron’s Zorandar campaign (seen in Lands of Mystery), his martial arts campaign (created for his work on Ninja Hero), his Age of Heroes campaign (created for his Mythic Greece sourcebook), and many more (including campaigns created and run by some of his Strike Force players). Third, the original 1988 Strike Force manuscript. Also highly useful, as it contained a great deal of material I would need for the 2016 version of Strike Force. Fourth, Numerous folders and files detailing various elements of the Strike Force universe. This included 72 files Aaron had created for his proposed series of Strike Force supplements, not to mention a directory containing another 103 directories, each of which contained anyone from 1 to 72 character sheets! Probably the most important find was the collected Chronicles itself. There were two, dated 1999 and 2001, with the first one an incredible 2,659 pages in length, while the second one was a whopping 3,290 pages. And it was my job to read all of this. Well, not really. Most of that 3,000+ pages was devoted to other campaigns, or house rules, or martial arts notes, or other subjects I didn’t need at this time. What I really wanted to look at was the collected Strike Force play sessions. Aaron was a meticulous note taker, and each session of any game he ran was eventually typed up and saved, allowing me to read what happened in every play session he ran, be it for Strike Force, or Zorandar, or Twilight Falls, or… well… you get the idea. And he ran a lot of sessions. For example, The Empire Club ran for 48 sessions, Zorandar also ran for 48 sessions, Twilight Falls for 122 (or so), and Strike Force ran for at least 260 sessions. This last item, all 797 pages of it, was pure gold. It covered every play sessions of Strike Force, from their first game (run August 21, 1981) to session 251 (run December 02, 2000). In it I found Strike Force’s first encounters with Overlord; Phosphene’s initial discovery of his Blood relatives (such as the Affrighter); the events leading up to, occurring during, and after World War III; the fight to save Earth-Kaiser; the invasion of the planet Valhalla; encounters with extra-dimensional monsters; and fights with innumerable supervillains. I thought I could read all of this in a week or so… but I was very, very wrong. I ended up spending around a month reading through the Chronicles, taking extensive notes on Strike Force’s history, as well as noting down what each of the files contained so I could easily reference them later. And once I was done reading, it was time to write….

Over at the Play Better Podcast you can hear Ross Watson of Evil Beagle Games and Michael Surbrook of High Rock Press interviewed about their work on the upcoming 2nd edition Aaron Allston's groundbreaking Hero System supplement Strike Force! This project will be launched on Kickstarter on February 1st of this year.

New from Greg Elkins! S.I.D.s is short for Super-powered Individual Database. This is a database that various government agencies are starting to use to keep track of all the various villains and heroes. Over the last few years the number of super-powered individuals has skyrocketed. It has become a full time job to try and keep track of them as well as update information about the, that is the purpose of this database. The database is designed to give law enforcement as much information as possible on supervillains or superheroes they may need to call for help. This is a series of small products that will introduce new villains and heroes for you campaign. This installment will cover three new heroes for your Champions campaign. These heroes are: Hydro a water wielding wise cracking hero, (originally published in Villainy Codex #1). Ms Justice, A strong women who can fly and who secretly gained her power from Project Sunburst. Papa Durrango, mystic extraordinaire and self-appointed protector of this realm. Includes Hero Designer files & printable cardboard miniatures.

New from Greg Elkins! Every fantasy hero campaign needs magical treasures for the adventures to find. This series houses varies information on just such treasures. Adventurers want to have a magical item to help them in their adventures. Here you will find over 36 items to add to your Fantasy Hero campaign. An amulet that will let you travel to various planes or a brooch that will help protects its wearer from the deadly affects of poisons. An armband that increases the wearer’s strength or a necklace that can shoot a fiery missile. Here you will find information on these items and many more.

New From Steve Long and Elvensong Street Press! Watch out for things that go bump in the night! THE STUFF OF NIGHTMARES presents nine horror monsters for use in any HERO System campaign: --the mysterious Chupacabra, or "Goatsucker" --the Degenerated (a.k.a. Cannibal Cultist Hillbillies) --Demon Bats --Dreamreavers, who can torment and kill you from within your own dreams --Implacables, who just keep coming and coming as they try to kill you. It includes three types: the Homicidal Clown; the Masked Ones; and the Skinmask. --Living Dolls, whose small size and cute appearance disguises their evil intent --the Voltus Dentata, which has a lamprey-like mouth where its face should be

Recent press release from Evil Beagle Games and High Rock Press! Featuring original and new material by Aaron Allston (Star Wars Legacy of the Force and X-Wing series; the Doc Sidhe series; Dungeons & Dragons Mystara; numerous Champions and other RPG products), the Aaron Allston's Stike Force project is a revival of one of the greatest roleplaying products in the hobby’s history. Strike Force was originally published in 1988 as part of the Champions line of superhero roleplaying products. While it’s primary purpose was to present Aaron’s rather well-known and popular home campaign (which was renowned for the waiting list of folks – including many gaming luminaries – wanting to join) for use by otherChampions game masters, the real glory of this book was its function as an amazing guide on how to run a campaign – not just for superheroes, but just about any RPG. Co-Written, Researched, and Developed by Michael Surbrook (Fantasy Hero Complete, Kazei 5, Larger Than Life, Ninja Hero), with Ross Watson (Accursed, lead developer of Warhammer 40k Roleplay, writing and development, Savage Rifts) as the Project Lead, this new version incorporates over 22 years of campaign play, notes, and ideas. Aaron intended to publish a new version all along, and his family is thrilled to see his wishes come true with this project. In addition to the campaign material and Aaron’s GM advice, new material is included from Surbrook, Watson, and other notable writers like Steve Kenson (Mutants & Masterminds, ICONS) and Sean Patrick Fannon (Shaintar, Savage Rifts, The Fantasy Roleplaying Gamers Bible). This project is intended to expand and enhance the original book’s goals of presenting a fantastic setting and extraordinary advice on how to successfully maintain a living, breathing RPG campaign over the span of years. AARON ALLSTON’S STRIKE FORCE will be a high quality, full-color hardback, featuring artwork by Denis Loubet – one of the original Strike Forceplayers (as well as one of Aaron’s best friends) and the artist for the first version of the book. Also included will be testimonials from a wide variety of RPG and other luminaries, all of whom were moved and motivated by Aaron’s kindness, creativity, and enormous influence on both gaming and other genre media. The Kickstarter campaign to fund this important book is planned for February, 2016, with the first stretch goal planned as a book of fiction featuring threenever-before-published short stories by Aaron himself!

A new product from Greg Elkins. S.I.D.s is short for Super-powered Individual Database. This is a database that various government agencies are starting to use to keep track of all the various villains and heroes. Over the last few years the number of super-powered individuals has skyrocketed. It has become a full time job to try and keep track of them as well as update information about the, that is the purpose of this database. The database is designed to give law enforcement as much information as possible on supervillains or superheroes they may need to call for help. This is first in a series of small products that will introduce new villains and heroes for you campaign. The first installment will cover Russian Triplets and the experiment that created them. Identical twin brothers and their slightly younger sister collectively referred to as The Russian Siblings Includes Hero Designer files & printable cardboard miniatures.

A new product from High Rock Press! The streets of London are teeming with orphaned and abandoned children. Why does one small girl going missing make a bit of difference? Something lurks in the shadows of Westminster, something inhuman. Perhaps the traveling freak-show that has just come to town has some of the answers… The Dog-Boy of Westminster is a short adventure for The Widening Gyre. Guide a team of 4-6 Seasoned adventurers as they search for a lost child and uncover a terrifying secret. This PDF contains a full adventure for a Hero System steampunk game, including a new master villain and a dozen freaks and geeks to challenge your players.

Every fantasy hero campaign needs magical treasures for the adventures to find. This series houses varies information on just such treasures. Adventurers want to have a magical item to help them in their adventures. Here you will find over 36 items to add to your Fantasy Hero campaign. From boots that allowed them to fly or run up walls, bracers that protected a mage from harm or made them quicker in combat or gauntlets that made a fighter stronger or allowed them to swim as fast as a fish. Here you will find information on these items and many more. The ZIP file includes the PDF and Hero Designer files. From the fevered imagination of Greg Elkins.

Steve Long strikes again! Martial Enemies, Volume 2: The Cult of the Red Banner is the second in a series of PDFs to detail the villains, monsters, and other dangerous beings who inhabit the Martial World of the Champions Universe. It describes the mysterious Cult of the Red Banner and its crusade to bring more evil and suffering into the world. It includes seven villains to fight on behalf of the Cult: Bai Daochang, the Cult’s leader, master of both martial arts and magic Deathforce, who channels the evil energies of the “Dragon King” through his punches Iron and Gold, a brother and sister team who wield powerful magic swords Na-Leng the Mad, a bizarre, terrifying sorcerer The mystically-powerful ninja of the Sekihara clan Sodeptan, a nigh-unstoppable brute known for crushing his opponents’ skulls

Oh Steve Long, Steve Long. Living alone in his fortress of Steveitude. He just can't resist writing yet more Hero System products! Paladin Magic presents 20 spells for holy warriors and crusaders of every faith! You can put a Battle Blessing on your allies or protect them with a Divine Shield, blast your enemies with Holy Lightning or Smite Evil, and heal injuries and illness by Laying On Hands!y Laying On Hands!

From Kestrel Arts! Miniatures can bring a great level of dynamic visual element to your Hero adventures, and this product provides you with more than 250 different creatures taken from the Jolrhos Bestiary. Each of the unusual and unique creatures listed in the Bestiary is presented in this set to be printed out and folded for a simple tent familiar.

From Steve Long! Martial Enemies, Volume 1 is the first in a series of PDFs to detail the villains, monsters, and other dangerous beings who inhabit the Martial World of the Champions Universe. In this PDF you’ll find five villains, all eager to confront your PCs: Kazeronin, modern-day samurai who wields the mystical Sword of the Four Winds Otokoyama, the super-strong man-mountain who cannot be moved against his will Talon, a lethal warrior who grows bone claws and spurs from her hands, feet, and joints Xiu Kwan, the last of the lin kuei, the legendary “forest demons” of ancient China Zhua Teng, who uses martial arts powers learned in dark Agharti to enrich himself at the expense of others

New from Greg Elkins! Welcome to the first collection of Wondrous Treasures. Here you find varies magical items to add to you Fantasy Hero campaigns. This collection houses stats for Wondrous Treasures - Cloaks, Robes, Wondrous Treasures - Wands, Wondrous Treasures - Potions and Wondrous Treasures - Rings. You will also find handy random charts for all these items as well. The ZIP file includes the PDF and Hero Designer files.

From Legendsmiths! Narosia: Sea of Tears HERO Designer Character Pack includes all the files necessary to create Narosia characters using the HERO Designer software, including: Racial Templates All Narosia Character QuickStart elements Cultural Templates Archetypes, Vocations, & Backgrounds Characteristic Templates Complications Talents, Perks, and Heroic Abilities Equipment Spells Bestiary Additionally, we have included three custom Export Formats: Writer's Guidelines RTF Compact RTF Character Summary (similar to the book layout)

New from Steven S. Long! Hell’s Half Acre is a setting book for Western Hero. It describes a fictionalized version of the town of Perry, Oklahoma — home to a thousand people and over a hundred saloons, gambling halls, and cathouses! There’s never a dull moment in the Acre no matter what sort of trouble you prefer to get into. Hell’s Half Acre includes: —a complete description of the town, with information about hundreds of NPCs —the low-down on the “Saloon Wars” — an increasingly deadly fight between several of the wealthiest townsfolk to control all the saloons in the Acre —plenty of secrets, conspiracies, strange goings-on, and even mystical occurrences for campaigns that want a touch of the weird and mysterious —details about drinking, eating, gambling, and other forms of entertainment in the Wild West —an extensive dictionary of Western lingo and slang —a “GM’s Vault” revealing many of the Acre’s secrets to the GM only So strap on your shootin’ iron, saddle up your best horse, and get ready for action and excitement in Hell’s Half Acre!

Every fantasy hero campaign needs magical treasures for the adventures to find. This series houses varies information on just such treasures. Rings – Every adventurer wants to have ring to help him or her in their adventures.Here you will find over 36 rings to add to your Fantasy Hero campaign. From the Ring of Flying or Ring of Health or Ring of The Dragon and of course the famous Ring of Invisibility. The ZIP file includes the PDF and Hero Designer files. A Greg Elkins production.

In the middle ages there was little to no organized sport as we know it. Oh, there were sports and games aplenty, and any time traveler could go back and find the distant (or not so distant) ancestors of such modern games as field hockey, football (i.e. soccer), lawn bowling, and even baseball. But there were no regulated sports with one exception. This was the tournament, a martial sport performed by the nobility, of the nobility, and for the nobility. Tournaments were often planned well in advance (up to a year or more), featured a great deal of pomp and spectacle, and often had carefully spelled out rules for what would be (and would not be) allowed. Best of all, a tournament might last for a week or even longer, and would bring a great influx of people and money to whatever town was lucky enough to have one held nearby. Thus, a medieval tourney makes for an excellent Fantasy Hero scenario, and can feature all the action and adventure a GM and his players may wish for -- even if no one is actually fighting in the tournament itself! The latest addition to the Surbrook's Stuff product line will jousting with the best of them.

The Book Of The Empress describes the eerie, dangerous patchwork Qliphothic dimension of Tatterdemalion. This PDF details five types of monsters characters might encounter in that horrid place: —Carrionites, whose semi-undead flesh constantly remolds itself into different forms; —the Foul-Skinned Men, humanoid warriors whose very touch is corruptive both physically and spiritually; —Orons, invisible things who seem to be composed entirely of fanged mouths; —Skeinrippers, who have the power to harm living beings by attacking their destinies; and —Zodiac Beasts, predators said to be made of the stuff between constellations From the strange mind of Steve Long!

Heroes, villains, legends … the folklore of America features all of this and more. In this volume you can find pirates and soldiers, lumberjacks and steel drivers, mountain men and lawmen, cowboys, Indians, inventors, and eccentrics. All of whom are just waiting to be included in your campaign! And don’t let the time period fool you, just because these characters existed in the 18th and 19th Centuries, doesn’t mean you can’t use them in your Pulp Hero, Champions, Dark Champions, or even Star Hero campaigns! After all, these characters are Larger Than Life! Larger Than Life features 20 archetypes, ranging from Blackbeard the Pirate to the man who invented the 20th Century: Nikola Tesla. In addition, there are a total of 24 full character sheets, each with a detailed history and description of the character in question. But that’s not all! You also get over 120 biographies of other people related to each archetype, as well as famous ocean-going ships, famous outlaw gangs, Paul Bunyan’s entire logging gang, and other historical trivia. Each archetype also comes with at least one template, allowing you to build your own version of that archetype. So what are you waiting for? Dive in and start discovering those tidbits of American history you never new existed. But watch your step, because after all, these characters are… Larger Than Life! Larger Than Life! is a 240 page, black-and-white paperback written by veteran Hero Games author Michael Surbrook. PDF and Character Pack versions also available.

Evilution Unchained is a three act mystery adventure by publisher Blessed Machine that takes the heroes throughout the city to solve a series of high profile kidnappings. Heroes will hunt for clues on nine fully detailed color maps to discover a horrific plot that threatens the entire campaign city. Also, the heroes will meet a fresh batch of supervillains as they try to solve the mystery of Evilution Unchained. This adventure is fully compatible with Champions Complete and the Hero System Sixth Edition rule books. What's Inside: This 144 page full-color adventure book includes a 48 page adventure along with supporting cardboard heroes, top-down tokens and nine maps to cut and paste together for exploring or combat.

Every fantasy hero campaign needs magical treasures for the adventures to find. This series houses information on varies information on just such treasures. Potions – Every adventurer wants to have potion to help him or her in their adventures. Here you will find over 36 potions to add to your Fantasy Hero campaign. From the Potion of Cure Wounds or Potion of Enlargement to the favorite of thieves, the Potion of Invisibility The ZIP file includes the PDF and Hero Designer files. From Greg Elkins Designs.

Technomancy: The art of using technology to create magical spell like effects. Technomancers use technology to create magic in a universe where magic doesn't exist. They are feared and sought after for knowledge and to look into the future. Can you handle such knowledge? Are you ready to be sought out for help? Are you ready to be hounded by the masses? This supplement is designed for use with Star Hero and Post-Apocalyptic Hero. This supplement contains over 30 spells to choose from as well as magic system guidelines. This supplement comes with a 27 page PDF and HD files. From Greg Elkins Designs.