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Korgoth

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Everything posted by Korgoth

  1. It is oft said on the internets rpg'o'sphere that GURPS is better for running campaigns/settings that are closer to 'human/normals' power scales and that GURPS tends to break down at higher 'superhero/cosmic' power scales. And it is oft said that the HERO System is better for running at higher power level 'superhero/cosmic' scales but lacks the granularity to run campaigns/settings closer to 'human/normals' power scales. Now IMO I'd say HERO does lack the amount of 'granularity' I'd like for near normals/heroic roleplaying and has no problem at all modeling superheroic/cosmic scale power level games. (HERO is my all time favourite RPG engine/took-kit and I love it dearly. It's also the system I mechanically know the best and am most comfortable with, 'system mastery' you'd call it) GURPS however is a system I am only tangentially familiar with (despite owning many world books from the 3E era, and the 4E core books) And I've always had this niggling feeling in the back of my head that I'm cheating on HERO when I begin to read the GURPS rulebooks as their are so many similarities between the two systems (I know I know it's silly, I have the same issue with watching 'Family Guy' vs the Simpsons. It's stupid but it is what it is) So I am making a concerted effort to learn GURPS 4E as of late but I also am curious if it's worth the effort in a sense that it will replace HERO as my go to do everything generic rpg engine. Will it handle 'Heroic Scale' games as smoothly and effortlessly as it will Superhero gaming? Or Will I never achieve the holy grail of gaming (one system to rule them all)(I'm also a notorious/rabid system collector and ever in search of the 'perfect' RPG engine for any particular genre, let alone the ultimate prize of the perfect generic RPG engine) and just accept that HERO is for High Power stuff and GURPS is for lower powered stuff. Also feel free to disagree with my thesis and tell me why HERO is the best at Low Powered games and fails at Cosmic Supers or vice versa. P.S. Both systems are 3d6 bell curve based at their cores. And a +1 to a roll is a big deal in both systems. So if that is the case, to me at least how can GURPS be more granular/better at human scale/heroic games when many (not all of course) folks feel HERO isn't, yet HERO also uses the 3d6 bell curve, and a +1 or -2 to a skill roll is a pretty big deal. Bigger impacts than a +1 in a d20 game or a +5% or +10% to a roll in a d100/BRP game. P.P.S.Thanks in advance for everyone's feedback and opinions. I value the thoughts of those with experience and system knowledge of both rpg engines. And also I'm not looking to poo poo on GURPS or HERO, this question comes from a place of love for both RPG's and Generic systems. * Post EDITED for grammar/spelling/formatting*
  2. I'd say it's not an official HERO Games product/book but a fan website that best captures rules for a Greyhawk/Dragonlance type D&D campaign. That website is my favorite of all the HERO fan-sites, Killershrike's 'High Fantasy HERO' site (it's primarily 5th edition content to boot). I'm willing to bet his 'World of Generica' is just what your looking for, He breaks down feats, classes, races and especially magic in 5E mechanics. It's got SO MUCH content it's amazing IMO. If I won the lottery I'd pay to have all that content professionally laid out and setup for Print on Demand books. I'd also recommend checking out his other HERO content, he's got Sci-Fi and Cyberpunk and Super-HERO pages just as detailed and content rich as his Fantasy HERO page. Not to mention pages for other RPG systems.
  3. Good podcast, thanks for sharing and interesting to learn more about you and your RPG history.
  4. Awesome, thanks for looking that up Kuma Shinobi. In reading the rules for "Staredowns" I really like them, but... for Melee Combats. In Westerns sometimes it's the Town Drunk, or a Simple Farmer that stands up to Black Bart and shows that he has true courage. So that sort of Hero I don't envisage having much Presence above 10 if any, heck maybe even lower than 10. Also a Bully/Villain could have a High Presence, rep as a "Bad Man" but in actuality when he's alone without his gang backing him up he may be a coward deep down. I guess the real question is... What do you all reading this think. Do you consider the HERO "Presence" stat as encompassing more than just a character's/npc'c reputation and fame/notoriousness? Does it also encompass courage?
  5. As per the title why is this forum so stingy with the upvote per day amount. Some days I want to upvote 10 posts, another day 0. Why should it be limited? I can only upvote each post once anyways. The Dream Pod 9 forums uses the same interface/forum software as the HERO forum, so maybe it's an odd/default setting for this forum software? If so could it please be change.
  6. Would be nice to get an answer to this question, but the lack of one I think is an answer in and of itself.
  7. I never thought of that! but that is EXACTLY the same sort of thing isn't it. For Samurai it's an "honor/test of skill" thing I think, not flinching first. Thanks for mentioning that. If you find that bit please post the book and page number as I own most of the 4th, 5th, and 6th edition books.
  8. To me that's a big part of "Westerns" (and by extension Western RPG's). That is the "Duel in the main street of town at High Noon". Whomever draws first is the aggressor (be they the White Hat or the Black Hat) and the one who draw's second is acting in self defense. At least if there are witnesses (Towns folk) who'll vouch for the Hero if he didn't draw first, but was faster than the Villain. To me it's one thing that's been missing from all the Western RPG's I've looked at, though that's by no means an exhaustive list. A "Stare-down/Flintch first" system where the Player and the Villian have to play a game of chicken and make the other one flinch and draw their gun first, thus making themselves acting in self defense, and safe from prosecution by the law. I'd like to see some sort of "Grit" stat (not sure what I'd use in HERO for that? Presence? EGO?) on which each part in the duel has to roll against their "Grit" and if they fail they draw their gun. Each round they succeed the next round is at a cumulative -1 to simulate the building tension till one of the parties snaps and goes for their gun. Now As for gunfights when no ones is watching, well... anything goes pard'ner.
  9. I've done some googling, but I've come up with nothing so I thought I'd ask the HERO denizens here on the forums. Does anyone know if there is one of those Let's Read threads for the HERO 5th Edition Revised Core Rules book any on the web? Same Idea as the ones below for 4th and 6th editions respectively. Lets Read 4th ed https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/hero-lets-read-the-big-blue-book.454655/page-4 Lets Read 6th ed https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/lets-read-hero-system-6th-edition-volumes-1-2.767046/
  10. I ask as I haven't found one either here or at drivethrurpg, though maybe I just failz @searching. I can find the PDF that says '#450' on the cover and #400 on the inside but I already own that one in dead-tree and pdf. I'd like to get a new copy of the 'revised/451' edition as my old book is really showing it's age now. So I'm specifically the 'Product Code 451' version which, according to RPGG has a bit of re-formatting, art and layout. https://www.rpggeek.com/rpgitemversion/5177/deluxe-printing This deluxe edition of the Big Blue Book differs from the standard editions as follows: New interior graphics and layout. The new layout uses page borders, large gray bars for chapter headings, gray boxes that look like torn sheets of paper for tables and a serif font compared to the more plain layout of earlier editions. The Sourcebook and Campaign Book no longer have their sections starting at S1 and C1 respectively but are now numbered like the rest of the book. The Deluxe cover, other than the obvious additions of the word "Deluxe" and the banner mentioning HeroMaker, has much more vibrant colors than the regular hardcover and softcover. In addition, a metallic sheen has been placed on various surfaces, notably Seeker's sword and Dr. Destroyer's armor. Rules corrections. The rules have been updated to reflect changes that first appeared in the Hero System Rulesbook. The earlier hardcover and the softcover do not have these changes. An index. The hardcover and softcover only had a comprehensive table of contents. Smythe-sewn hardcover binding. The pages are laid out in signatures of 16 or 32 pages and sewn together, then glued to a backing. The text block of all the hardcovers, regardless of printing, "floats". This means the pages are attached to a backing which is then glued to the covers of the book, but not the spine. The first printing hardcover, in a cost-cutting measure omitted the sewing and glued the pages directly to the backing, similar to a softcover book. The glue used in the first printings became brittle and the pages fell out, requiring Iron Crown Enterprises to send out replacement copies with better glue to owners of the first printing that requested a replacement. HeroMaker Software. The Deluxe edition includes this software to create characters with. The last 35 or so pages of the Deluxe book is the instruction manual for HeroMaker. The software requires MS-DOS to run and is no longer supported. Nick: Deluxe Printing Publisher: Hero Games Year: 1995 Hard Cover Product Code: 451 ISBN-10: 155806205X
  11. I'd suggest adding Killershrike's Cyberpunk stuff to your Cyber Ombnibus book. http://www.killershrike.com/MetaCyber/MetaCyberSetting.aspx It would have to be copy/paste of his web content but it's really good stuff (as is all of Killershrike's content)
  12. Just came across this thread and am really glad to see you're testing these waters out (HERO Games). I also was hesitant at first to try the print on demand service at RPGNow/DriveThruRPG. But the soft cover and hard cover books I've bought are of great quailty. You can't really tell the difference from a store bought book IMO. I'm off to order both books right now. Please add the new "Ultimate Skill" to the print on demand service as well :-)
  13. Re: Possible HERO System Supplement Kickstarters From Steve -- What Interests You? All 4 projects interest me. And I'd want a hard copy of each so I'm guessing the 50$ amnt for each of them.
  14. Re: HERO System Grimoire Looking forward to the print copy as well.
  15. Re: HERO System Equipment Guide I was just going to ask if their is a "print" version availible yet for this title.
  16. Re: Champions Beyond Is Champions Beyond availible in dead tree format? I ask as I don't see it in the HERO Games store availible as a book, just a PDF. Also searched Amazon for good measure and didn't see it listed their either.
  17. Re: Fantasy Hero could certainly use some reviews online I've been looking and looking for this very review (Fantasy HERO 6E) and can't find anything sofar.
  18. Re: Post Apoc Setting I'm a big PostApoc setting fan myself. And my Fav HERO page on the subject is WASTELAND HERO. Lots of good resources and material here for PostApoc gamming using the ole HERO system. http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/3440//rpgs.html
  19. Re: What setting does your campaign use? Hello Markdoc Does your friend Fritz ever post here on the HERO forums? And if so under what nicname. I ask as I'm a big fan of his Fantasy HERO (well his RPG website period) page and content. I've gotten allot of good use out of it in the past. I guess I should thank you too as your Massive Spell Book is there as well correct? P.S. I don't know why I never put this together, the fact that the "Ultimate Grimore" page is your work. I have to say a special thankyou to you for all your hard work on this project. I've used this page so many times in the past, I owe you a Pint of Guiness at the very least.
  20. Re: What setting does your campaign use? WHY IS THIS FANTASTIC IDEA not occured to me already What a great Idea. I mean what would be more fun than acctualy exploring, discovering the world. Any Wargame like Civilization or the old Empire game was all about uncovering the map. I think Players tend to resit being railroaded into Adventures or Directions or Travel. Letting them do the Exploring with open ended, loose goals might be a great way to do it. The entire World could already be Mapped out, your just uncovering it like a Dungeon map would be on an old school Dungeon Crawl. At least for me the Map and exploration was half the fun in those Old School sessions. I can imagine a Fantasy World that was Devistated Centuries ago in a Great War of the Gods, and it took that long till there City/Kingdom whathaveyou to recover and set out to discover what happened to the rest of the world. You could even throw the Players a loop and make it our earth and the Magic Items and Mosters as Genetic Mutations or Robotic Leftovers. Sort of an "Expedition to the Barrier Peaks" take on Magic. Don't tell the Players right out, but drop hints and see if they figure it out on there own. Heck playing World of Warcraft or any other MMO I enjoy the exploration and discovery more than anything else myself. Thanks for the great Idea Dale A.Ward.
  21. Re: Old Testament Hero I have to say, personally the Mythic Vistas line is my Favorite d20 work yet. Let alone RPG work period. Testament, Skull & Crossbones. The Black Company, Eternal Rome, The Red Star, Trojan War. I would love to fine Spiros Blaak and Mindshadows too but can't find them anywere. All stuff is ripe for HERO conversion.
  22. Re: Old Testament Hero No Other Gods - An Adventure for Testament http://www.rpgnow.com/product_reviews_info.php?products_id=6079&reviews_id=11241& Ahhhhhhh, this is the one I was refering to. I didn't realise there was a Hittites book and I thought you meant this Adv. Looks like I have 2 pdf's to grab now. And its nice to see Highmoon (thats you Scott?) is set to release more books for Testiment?
  23. Re: Old Testament Hero Thanks everyone for the replies. I never thought about Baal, and thats a good point. I could even play up the Dualisim or whatever you'd call it and make it bigger fight between the two faiths of the early Isrealites. Thank you Scott and Spike as well for the great feedback and again a great suppliment. I have seen the Testement:Hittite PDF before but it was my bad for not reading it more closely, as I always thought it was a Adventure, not a Sourcebook. http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=4717 I've always wanted the Troy book so I think I'll pick it up. I'll try to hunt down GURP's Egypt as well based on your advice. The Wargods of Aegyptus are excellent and I've been tempted to order the Crocodiles for some time now I have also heard of the Necromancer's Mesopptamia book as well, but thought of it as an Adventure as well. If its cheap as a PDF what the hey. To answer CourtFools question For me, the Old Testament stories were always Interesting. The more Fire and Brimstone the better. I liked the conflicts and harsh justice of those tales. I'm not even religious by any means and they still apealed to me. It seemed to me, as Scott mentioned, this timeperiod and setting make an excellent place to role play in. Also I've always thought to myself, even as a kid, of what would the world be like if all the myths, legends and beliefs of the worlds cultures were real. Sometimes these stories and faiths are stranger than fiction and todays Stock Fantasy settings. Add to that the idea that each Faith or Cultures beliefs are equally valid and real, no one is right or wrong, true or false. And it is a true War of Faiths when they come into conflict, it seemed like a fantastic opportunity for a setting full of strife and adventure potential. One Faith wipes out and eventually converts or eliminates the followers of another. Gaining power and "mana?" for there own religion/religions. Harsh stuff perhaps but no worse than Slaying a bunch of Protohumaniod Greenskinned peoples just to take there stuff. Since the Fertile Crescent has such a rich history, and there are a great variety of Cultures present. It seemed liked a perfect place to set a Campaing. One I never got off my **** to start or research much So along came the Mythic Vistas: Testament book and I got interested again. It's always on the backburner of my mind. Just need to get cooking and flesh out some other cultures around Isreal, buy HERO Designer finnaly and put up a weeb page. I'm sure I can get feedback from Scot and the other assorted HERO "Faith"full on the msg brds too. P.S. If the God's of a Culture gain there relative power based upon the amount of Worshipers they attract, let alone how devoted those worshipers are. Then how would a go like say Ancient Greece's Ares fair in "strength". He is part of a Pantheon of God's so shares his worshipers with a dozen or so other Gods. But his worship is not exclusive to that of other Greek Gods, so he is prayed to by all Greeks, just not all the time. And those that do pray, particularly Soldiers and Sparta (I can't find what citystate if any favored Ares) are particularly dedicated to him. So hes loose Power/Mana by sharing all Greek worshipers to the other Gods in Olympus, but gain more from those that pray to him as they are quite Dedicated or at least Desperate and Passionate when they do. Just as thought on how a Polytheistic vs. Monotheistic Peoples Gods would rank in power vs. each other.
  24. Re: Recommend a fantasy world map? I'm personally into the Artesia Comic/Artesia RPG world right now. Beautifull Water Colour Map. www.theknownworld.com Also as good as the day it was released. HARN.http://www.columbiagames.com/cgi-bin/query/cfg/zoom.cfg?product_id=5001 Just the core HARN setting which is rules independant. Plus there are HARN to HERO conversion on the weebernet. If you can't find one then I can email it to ya.
  25. Re: Old Testament Hero First off I wanted to say THANK YOU Scott for a wonderfull book (Testament). I bought it as soon as it came out, and loved the Idea and setting. Odd in a way since I'm an Atheist myself, yet whenever I roleplay I seem to always go for the Hard Line Religious types, go fig . BUT here is my acctual question to you Scott, or anyone else here on the forums. Are there any other Game Products set in the same time period, but dealing with other Cultures in or near the Biblical Lands. That is Egypt, Assyria, Sumeria, Babylon, Hitties, Greeks? and so on. I personally have always kicked around the idea of a Biblical/Classical age setting, where every cultures Gods are not only real, but take an active part in there worshipers lives. I would probably base the Gods relative Power on the number of the faithfull devoted to them. Also I'd make the God/Gods more powerfull nearer there own temples or the homelands of there worshipers. This give would make a People such as the Israelites and advantage over a Pantheistic People. As all the Israelites worship one God, where as the Egyptions, although more populus, spread there worship across many Gods. Deffinate advantage to a Monotheistic people. So anyways asside from the Fantasy version of Egypt "Hamunaptra" and the other Mythic Vistas book "Troy" (I don't own it, I wonder if it could work with Testament for the same time periods) can anyone offer any other resources?
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