So, no more Champions?

[Ghost of Bob]

I think a superhero game now and again is refreshing! Are we gonna take a stab at playing Champions again any time?

[aaronthecow]

I'd be up for it, but it is a huge diversion from dnd and a pain in the ass to teach to noobs...

[David]

I would actually LOVE to run a Champions game. I have SEVERAL scenarios in my head (as well as many characters). Long-term players may recall that when I ran StarQuest, I couldn't GET players to play Dnd anymore cuz they enjoyed it so much...!

[Ghost of Bob]

As long as noobs have a modicum of accounting ability and know how to make obscure power ideas translate into actual ability categories, it's not that tough. I usually just had the new folks tell me their character creation story and describe their character's abilities and lifestyle then made the character for them. It saved several hours.
We used to do character creation off-line and players were required to create a complete back story for their characters describing what exactly made their character special, their life and career status, etc. We would also ensure their disadvantages were worked into the back story so the players would remember the character's limitations. Those were then submitted to the GM with a completed character sheet for review and a math audit of the points used.
I would suggest this approach if we were considering dusting off the Champions books.
BTW, I have all the first run books and have used those for the past 25 years. Please tell me they didn't revamp everything five years ago into a v2.0.

[David]

Hmmm...I take it you wouldn't want to hear about Hero Systems 5.0 and 6.0...?

Actually, I run 4.0. I have two copies of the main book plus spreadsheets and cheat-sheets.

I am STRICT about both powers and defects. I also punish characters without a clear concept or who can't do math. On the flip, I reward PCs with a clear, focused idea.

We generally do one "kick-off" game for noobs. I have a few house rules (like I STRICTLY enforce normal characteristic maxima and it's a SEPARATE power to exceed SPD 4).

[Ghost of Bob]

I have some of the newer Hero System books. The Champions books were great in that loosely defined powers allowed one to tailor the exact effect envisioned for the character according to their origin story. The Hero System, although basically the same, over defined some of the powers and separated them too much. I feel they dumbed everything down.
That said, Champions did have exploitable loopholes which needed house rule circumventions (or the occasional thumb of God action) to balance everything.

So, what point level do you play? I prefer heroes with actual powers as opposed to a person who paid all their points and could only afford to be double-jointed and literate. If allowed enough points for both a movement power AND offensive defensive powers, then we're talking... The super strong character who needs to wear armor and hail a cab to get around lacks that certain flare one imagines in a hero. Just sayin'.

[Artec]

hey Red Dot is ready to go. and Brick is ready to throw a VW bug or lamp post at someone

[aaronthecow]

I think you played 100 plus 100 defects, right?

[Ghost of Bob]

Does that mean a zero-sum game with a 100 point cap? We often played a 100 point budget with a 200 point cap (equal points in defects for each point spent after 100).
But then, the GM liked to have actual super villains.

[David]

My Champions world has 100 "free" points plus up to that amount in defects, for a potential total of 200pts. You'd be amazed what you can do for 200pts. And I do allow DM APPROVED additional defects once play begins WITH SERIOUS LIMITS. But, again, I can do almost any of the X-men in this system as well as most other superheroes. I am, after all, a VERY avid comic book fan -- or was back in the day.

For what it's worth, a few years ago I did myself and figured I'm worth like 33pts...

[Ghost of Bob]

So, all that said, wanna start something after the school term is over? (When IS your current term over?)

[David]

I'm snowed with school until mid-May. Then I can have much more freetime and fun. Next year shouldn't be as bad as I won't be taking any grad-level classes at least for the first semester.

[Ghost of Bob]

So, there we go! Which rules books are you using (and editions)?

[David]

Fourth Edition with the various supplements. I have the first three, I believe. But it's basically the hardcover BLUE book with those elements from the BLACK book which didn't make it in the earlier edition.

[Ghost of Bob]

Of course with the sixth edition out, the fourth is a rarity for the discerning shopper...