February 11th, 2011:
My original plan was to use the 6th Edition of the HERO System but I’m not really enjoying the design process with it.
After some more research and careful consideration I will be changing the campaign to use the Chaosium’s BASIC ROLEPLAYING rules. I’ll be redoing some of the pages in the near future to reflect this change.
Some links to BRP stuff:
Chaosium
Basic Roleplaying Central
Personally, I’d be using the HERO System, either 5th Edition Revised or 6th Edition. Barring that, GURPS 4th Edition would be a good choice, or maybe even Chaosium’s BRP. (Mind you, these are the systems I’ve been looking at for my own game that could be similar to this, with more influence from Bureau 13 and Torchwood. I used to run a similar game with BtS First Edition, before I realized that Palladium makes a good background and campaign setting, but a terrible RPG system.
My suggestion would be to look at something that’s not level-based, or at least a system that doesn’t rely on levels to completely govern advancement like Palladium does. I wouldn’t want gaining a level to dictate that all my skill levels increase, just the ones I’ve been using.
Then again, this is just my opinion (gathered from 27+ years of gaming) talking. Take it for what you will.
I hadn’t looked at the HERO System but found it today and am liking what I’m seeing! Thanks for the recommendation!
Hero would be a terrible system to use! Any games that are based on a property needs to be more stream lined and narrative based to try and get non gamers into it. Hero is very detailed and very rules heavy. The Cinematic Unisystem or even Cortex would be a better chose for a more ‘traditional’ RPG System. If you want an all narrative ‘non-traditional’ PDQ or FATE would be more the ticket. I would use a D20 varient before Hero though.
I’m liking the HERO system, it’s fully configurable to any setting and will be a good fit for the M.H.I. genre. The group that will be playing are a bunch of gamers so I’m not too worried about the level of detail and if you think HERO is very detailed then you must not be familiar with Phoenix Command – now that game is detailed and rules heavy…
Thanks for the recommendation!
I tried Phoenix Command, and agree, very rules heavy. Have use Hero system since it’s inception, the main person to know the rules is the ‘Game Master’, usually me.
On a curious note, except for Fantasy Hero games, I’ve not run a game using ‘hard’ economics (buy and sell stuff). Have you been doing this? Have you incorporated the PUFF bounties?
The plan is to use ‘hard’ economics for most items but the specialty stuff like the M.H.I. body armor or any kind of unique weapon will cost Character Points. There will be PUFF bounties and have gleaned some amounts from Larry’s book, but not many, it will be a work in progress.
Just a note; with internet access, it is surprisingly easy to work hard economics into the game. A lot easier than I thought. Most of the weapons and electronics equipment manufacturers list ‘market retail values’ right on their sights. It was fun looking at the STI weapons sight! Nice selection, though expensive. I even found some web sights that deal with making silver bullets (as well as silver ‘cored’ ammo). One sight even discussed silver flechette rounds for shotguns!
During the game, the players can even web surf to find items they want to ‘buy’!
Glad to see you like HERO. I’d love to see the material you come up for it.