pbemguy

Whoops, meant to quote you!

I've seen some variations, but this is how mine go: You enter the bank and see a masked gunman holding an old man hostage (see attached pic). The gunman sees you, and says GUNMAN: "Get on the floor or Orville Redenbacher dies." (The voice comes through a vocoder, overblown, sounding demonic.) It's all playing out like your dream. The gunman seems quite surprised that you're here, since no alarms have sounded and the robbery has just begun. There are about a dozen people on the floor: nine are patrons of the bank, but there is also one female security guard lying face down. She doesn't have her gun. Phase 12 The gunman is 6" away, standing at the teller counter--the old man is beside him, but not being held, though the gun is pointed at him. There is a male teller on the other side of the desk, hands up, looking terrified. And what do you do? (Then you declare your action, I do all the rolls, say what happened. But sometimes we switch to an online dice roller and slow things down a bit to get into the nitty-gritty.) (We usually post dialog in screenplay format: name of character and then statement. We tried a number of ways but the screenplay format keeps everything running the smoothest.)

I know. I just throw game ideas out here and there. I actually have a really great bunch of players in my PBEM. I think this would be fun because it's a short adventure and the scenario has a lot of potential. It will probably only last 3 weeks or so, about an email a day.

Bruce Campbell is always amazing, but the guy who played Pete Hutter really did an amazing job. When I think back to the show I always think of Pete.

There was a point in LOST when I realized (honestly) "Oh my God, they're just going to leave it this big unexplained mess." But I realized that I was okay with that. My favorite parts of LOST were how Jack grew as a leader, how he dealt with the crap that was thrown at him, how he looked out for his people. I didn't love the ending, but I was fine and I still love the show. The early tip-off for me was that a lot of the same people working on LOST were the people who did The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., and that show was a spiraling mess but with a helluva charismatic lead, so I kind of knew it was just going to end as kind of a shaggy dog story sorta thing.

The game takes place circa 1980. We can start as soon as I have at least three players. Even 3e would be okay, especially if you're using the 1988 big book. When I say editions 3e-6e, I mean all of them (as opposed to choosing one for the game). I'll convert on my end so it all works. You just need to make a sheet in one of the editions.

Sort of. We will build agents of 50 points of characteristics and skills, +50 points of spy gadgets and weapons, with 50 points of disads, in Hero 3, 4, 5, or 6. We use the Hero rules but play through this module: I will GM. It will be entirely by email (that's my shtick). I will mostly follow the module but room must be left for artistic license! Respond here if you might be interested. PM me instead if you're shy. Or just post ideas to jazz this experiment up!

I have a love/hate thing for him, so I get it.

I gotta say, I find the use of "fan-creator" insulting in this context. There was no need to use it in this response, even if someone mentioned that phrasing on his end at some point. This is why, when you're running a company, you need to know about public relations. By the way, try that one on JJ Abrams... And, when you say "fan-creators," are you not reminding the very people that you want to do free work for you that hold them in lower regard than paid creators--the very people that are trying to help you? I personally don't see the sense in it, but I will try not to let this dissuade me.

As far as I am concerned, it has been all good news so far. And this thread is helping me get a feel for how to publish within CHampions/Hero, and it has never felt more accessible to me. Please look at this thread as a newbie navigating how to get some Hero 4e/5e material out there to help popularize the game. If you're in the same boat, please jump on. I know I can't do it all by myself. Projects like these are something I enjoy on their own, and I enjoy getting to know who's in the know and who has the pull etc. To me, even this part, the hacking through all the hullabaloo and red tape, is fun.

I will copy and paste exactly what was said in the PMs: JASON: Well, I'm about to release a Print On Demand version of Champions 4th Edition. So let's hold off on doing a new version of that book until I see how that goes. I'm not saying no: just not yet. Jason Walters, Publisher ME: Can I mention on the thread that you have a 4e coming out? JASON: Yes. I should have it available as a physical book soon. I need to order a proof copy and send it to Ruben for review. Jason

Maybe what I need to work on is updating some old modules--new artwork, formatting. Has Stronghold had a good update? Is there a recent VIPER book? Enemies? And what's the status of Foxbat? Can we use him? Do I need to talk to Bruce Harlick? (Because that would be fun anyway!)

I need to think a bit, but I'm sure there is something I can do, along the lines I was thinking. It feels like this company is set up to make ideas like this work, and that makes me happy.

Jason wrote back. He has a 4e rule book coming out right away! He didn't want to discourage this idea but he recommended we hold off for a bit to see how the book does etc. It's a great idea and I'm glad he's doing it.

This would be cool, especially give the current world situation: We make characters in Hero, play some Top Secret modules, all by email. We set the game in the era the modules were created (The Eighties!!). Message me if anyone is interested--I can GM. PS: This won't work for Boot Hill--the original game system is too cool in Boot Hill to justify this approach!

Thanks!!!! I will contact Jason. You guys are awesome.:)

I played a *lot* of Boot Hill. I loved the lethality of it. I remember multiple times there was a shoot-out and we'd roll new characters just to get back into the battle.

I love Top Secret! I'd love to play that again!

I'm pbemguy. I have a background in publishing and copy writing. I am intimately familiar with InDesign, Photoshop, and even Microsoft Publisher when I'm stuck without InDesign. I have played Champions since around 1986. I got the boxed set of 2e and then collected all the softcovers (Champions II etc.) then bought the 3e softcover. When the 4e hardcover came out I was thrilled. I played hundreds of hours in 4e, tabletop. I quit Champions in the mid-nineties and picked it up again around 2011 for my PBEM. There I chose 5e, because it was handy. Currently I GM a long-running PBEM that is purely by email (no forums etc.). I'm 50 years old, just like Marksman (a.k.a Donald Henderson).

I have to admit my bias: I really prefer 4e/5e to 6e. I have played 6e and it's great, but the battle I'm choosing is 4e (originally I chose 5e, but my interactions here make me think 4e is the smarter choice). Who does own the rights to 4e? I assumed it would be the current owner of Hero, but you're absolutely right that it may be more complicated than that. Anyone know?

I totally agree. This is *not* a rewrite of the rules, but mostly a reformatting of the the rules. (I originally suggested 5e but honestly most of my play hours are in 4e.) QUESTION: Is 4e the most popular version? Is that when Hero reached its apex is what I'm asking. What I would do, and others, is basically copy-and-paste 4e and then change a few examples, add new art, and make it look like the Savage Worlds books and/or the D&D 5e ones. I would highly recommend that the PDF is free but the book is available to buy here on the forums and elsewhere. The key to the whole thing is repackaging 4e in a modern style. Period.

This is a good plan! I agree, if you can get 3 or 4 of them using the system, it is a success.

I agree with Duke that the difference between 4e and 5e was pretty slight. Even the 3e book that came out in 1988 was pretty good, but if I had to draw a line I would say 4e is the furthest back I could go. Anyway, if Hero did a rewind to 4e, that would do it. But the rules would need a polish, and a re-typsetting etc. It needs to look modern and reflect the style of the other books on the market.

My PCs are in Eastern Europe, but the team is split and they need help. Anyone want to drop into the pure-email campaign for 5-7 days? I need to know before midnight, March 22, 2020, or else I won't be able to write you in. Use a write-up you already have, 200 + 150 disads, in 4th or 5th, or 6th Edition--but the character will have to be Eastern European to fit the plot. Please email me quick at pbemguy at yahoo dot calm

I'm not married to the Perez idea. I just figured he'd be game because he probably got a lot of positive attention wayback when he did the first one, and he might find it cool to revisit. But I am married to the concept: an A-list artist that would probably charge $800-$1500 for the finished product.