Marvel Heroic Roleplaying

[urbwar]

I got my copy yesterday. What I've read seems neat. I'm a bit surprised there is no formal character creation mechanic for the game.

There's a random design datafile on the MWP website now, and iirc, there might be a regular character creation one being developed. There were 2 fan made ones created over on rpg.net that I recall. I'll see if I can dig one up, and cross post it here for you Falgrim

[urbwar]

Ok,

Here's the one that SteveD posted on RPG.net:

For Avengers levels, spend 25 points.
For X-Men at school kind of levels, spend 15 points.

Powers cost:
1 point for d6
2 for d8
3 for d10
5 for a d12

+1 point for each SFX
-1 point for each Limit

+1 point for each suite of powers beyond the first

Expert Specialty costs 1
Master costs 2

GM may enforce category spending, eg At least 1-3 suites, 0-5 specialties, 0-2 d12 powers, etc.

Under this scheme, you can build almost anyone in the data file. Wolverine's 30 points not 25 but nothing's perfect.

Another can be found here

[Falgrim]

Cool stuff urbwar. Thanks!

[urbwar]

Cool stuff urbwar. Thanks!

Your welcome! I haven't really gone over them myself (still haven't really read the rules all the way through either), but I look forward to playing this again soon!

[urbwar]

Another system posted on rpg.net today, courtesy of TheMouse:

Affiliations and Distinctions you just get. Just like in the book. Any Power Sets you get have a free SFX and Limit. You can add more Limits if you want.

Then you get some starting total of dice. My initial was 3d12. Any Power or Specialty you buy as a die. So a Master Specialty costs a d10, as does a d10 Power. This uses the following equation to break up the d12s:

1d12=2d10=4d8=8d6

To buy other things that aren't rated as dice, you need a second equation:

1d8=SFX=2nd Power Set

I was considering increasing the cost of 2nd Power Sets, but I figure that the SFX in one will generally not work with the other, so that's probably enough of a restriction there.

So a very skill based character with minimal powers might turn 1d12 into 4d8 and buy Strength d8, Reflexes d8, Stamina d8, Durability d8 for the baseline "physically superior specimen" package. They then break another d12 into 4d8 for four Expert Specialties and the final d12 into 2d10 for two Master Specialties. (You can mix and match where the dice from a single d12 go, but I didn't to make the example simpler.)

[dorje]

I got my copy yesterday. What I've read seems neat. I'm a bit surprised there is no formal character creation mechanic for the game.

It seems to me that would be a HUGE oversight. Or is it supposed to be a 'feature'?

[Falgrim]

Once I read more of the rules I'll test out both of those character creation schema urbwar, and let you know how they work. Of course, since I haven't played my opinion will be a little skewed I'm sure. Still, I'll let you know.

I got my copy yesterday. What I've read seems neat. I'm a bit surprised there is no formal character creation mechanic for the game.

It seems to me that would be a HUGE oversight. Or is it supposed to be a 'feature'?

They have a VERY vague suggestion section for making your own characters, but it is very informal and not fleshed out very much. I can see it making unbalanced groups, and requiring a lot of collaboration with the GM to prevent players from making characters that are hugely powerful or accidentally gimped.

As for why they did it that way, I imagine it has a lot to do with them focusing on people playing iconic Marvel characters. They provide a fair, but by no means expansive cross section of heroes to pick from. There are some glaring oversights on who they do not include, but I'm sure those heroes and villains will appear in future supplements. For example, I didn't see Loki, but they do have Thor.

Anyhow, I really like aspects of the system. So much so I actually picked up some poker chips on the cheap to use with it to represent Power Points and Doom Points that seem to build up and flow rather freely. It seems like it does high octane hero action well in that regard, and provides for a lot of twists, turns, and interaction with the Marvel universe given the general ease to pull in outside help from time to time.

So, yeah, the lack of formal character creation is an oversight in my opinion, but if what urbwar says is true that is in th works, and being able to play one's favorite Marvel characters is pretty cool.

[Tekatana]

I went through some character creation for the Marvel RPG this past Friday and ee relied heavily on pre-existing characters and just avoided using d12's for any powers. What makes this loose process work is that the game is good at handling lower and higher powered characters being in the same game so hopefully balance won't be an issue. We'll certainly find out more about that, though, once we start playing.

[Falgrim]

I went through some character creation for the Marvel RPG this past Friday and ee relied heavily on pre-existing characters and just avoided using d12's for any powers. What makes this loose process work is that the game is good at handling lower and higher powered characters being in the same game so hopefully balance won't be an issue. We'll certainly find out more about that, though, once we start playing.

That makes sense. It'd have to be able to handle power disparities well if it deals with heroes like the Hulk fighting alongside Hawkeye, and such. Let us know what your gameplay reveals. I'd be eager to hear it.

[dorje]

I just got the basic book today and have skimmed it a little. The hero list was somewhat disappointing. The villain list--WTF? I get what they are doing (annual event-drivel sourcebooks) and feels like a money grab (not surprised).

What are some good sources for fan-made villain and hero data files?

I found this one:

http://marvelplotpoints.wordpress.com/