Checkmate

My idea I went with the VPP but I limited it by INT. The player had to come up with a number of spells = 1/2 his INT score, and these were the only spells he could use his VPP for. He could increase the number of spells by spending real cost/10 XP's. So a mage with an 18 INT buys his VPP, he then creates 9 spells that fit into that VPP, and these are the only 9 spells he can use.

I've noticed a habit that if I play a Male character I usually have his COM at 10-12, and if I play a female character her COM is usually 14-18. Don't know why, but I don't want to play a plain looking female character, but have no problem playing a plain looking male.

Fred As far as why I (as well of a bunch of others) call the book Fred is actually Steve's fault. Before 5th Ed. Came out we were discussing what we were going to call it since we call 4th Ed. the BBB (Big Blue Book). Steve said something like, "I don't care if you call it Fred as long as you buy it", and since then it's name (in my mind anyway) Has been Fred. After the fact people started coming up with what Fred could stand for, but originally it was just a name. Mr. Creneans- I never really paid attention to artists before, but being on these boards I've gotten to "meet" a lot of, if not all, the artists that do work for Hero (heck Keith Curtis GM's in an online game I'm in), so I've started paying more attention to the names. I have to say my ALL TIME favorite piece of Hero art is on page 26 of Star Hero. It's not becasue she's not wearing much either (well not totally the reason ). It's her hair the spots on her shoulder the way she's standing, but most of all it the eyes. That picture just rocks. Is there any story behind that picture?

Okay Anotherskip- You are absolutely right, all you really need is Fred, but if don't don't buy Star Hero and Terran Empire you are seiously missing out. I have never played in a game that uses the "Official" setting, and I doubt I ever will, but the amount of ideas and cool information and springboards I got from thses two books make them both worth every penny I spent on them. Agent- Andrew has always been my favorite Hero Artist. Nothing worng with the other guys, I just prefer his style.

There are all kinds of different aliens. A lot of the book consists of aliens, what they look like, perosnalities and governments. Most are humanoid (consistant with Space Opra genre), but they do have energy beings, and my personal favorites a little bug that uses apes for a host body. Again the only complaint I could think of to make was I wish the alien write ups could have been longer, but I can't even make any suggestions of what to cut to keep the book from being 800 pages. I have to say I'm really impressed with the quality of the book.

Well I have to say Hero did it again. Terran Empire every bit as good as Star Hero. The write ups for the races were awesome (I wish they were longer but the book would have to be 800 pages) and the art is top notch. I have to say I'm really happy with the Star Hero line of books. IMO they have been better than the Champions books, and this is coming from a guy who has never used Hero System for anything but Campions except for online games.

I just finished Star Hero, and I have to say, I am so sorry for all the mean things I said about the way the Hero System has been going. That book is awesome. I had turned into a serious Hero Skeptic, but after this book I'm so glad I stuck around. The art is top notch throughout the book (the shapeshifter on page 26 is my all time favorite picture, those eyes...). I can't praise this book enough.

On the old boards awhile ago, Natoman posted a couple of color pictures from classic enemies that he had done. Obviously DoJ (or is it DOJ?) doesn't want someone posting a bunch of pictures of their IP. So I was wondering if we could convince Steve et al to collect Nato's pictures and perhaps sell them as a download if Nato is also willing. If enough people were interested maybe they'd be inclined to do this. They were excellent and Nato added some awesome computer effects to the pictures. So how 'bout it fellas?

The old Ninja Hero was turned into UMA and the new Ninja Hero is well new. It has everything you need for running Anime/Wuxia/Video Game Martial Arts. I don't particularly care for those Genres but the book is very well written and the art is for the most part top notch (again I don't like anime, so the anime art didn't appeal to me) The New UMA vs. 4th UMA. If you are on a budget, don't buy the new one. It duplicates a lot of the old stuff. Save this for when you have all the books you want and have some extra cash to burn. It's not that it is a bad book, it is awesome, but the 4th UMA was awesome too and there isn't enough new stuff in the 5th ed to get it right away. I completely agree with everything that was said about the bestiaries. Hope this helps

Dramatic Licence I just award bonus for a particularly "cool" stunt. If Swashbuckler man wants to jump off the balcony to a hanging light (couldn't for the life of me spell chandaleir) to swing out a window and he could have just said "I full move to the window and jump out it" I'll always let the player succeed. Hmm rolled a 17 on your acrobatics, well you made it due to a bonus for coolness.