Champions may be a bit too new-school and storygamey for most of the crowd here ;), but the Kickstarter for a new version of the famous campaign guide Strike Force has just launched:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2000633882/aaron-allstons-strike-force (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2000633882/aaron-allstons-strike-force)
This has been a Gaming Public Service Announcement.
I have the original it is an excellent campaign sourcebook and has good advice that applies to any campaign of any genre.
I'd prefer a straight reprint of the original since I've never seen a copy for less than $75...I hope they don't re-jigger too much and turn it into junk.
I'll wait until it's published to pick it up, but it's intriguing me.
Champions has always been a struggle for me.
I'm not sure if it's the genre or the complexity of the mechanics but no matter how I try, and I have tried, I just can't ever seem to grok with the game.
I don't begrudge anybody else from liking it though! :)
Quote from: Matt;876485I'd prefer a straight reprint of the original since I've never seen a copy for less than $75...I hope they don't re-jigger too much and turn it into junk.
Well, a PDF of the original is a $10 add-on.
And it's already 80% funded!
QuoteThis new edition builds on that success, including advice from superhero RPG guru Steve Kenson!
This is the sort of thing that drives me crazy.
While I realize that Aaron Allston being dead kind of puts a big hamper on providing more content to the book, at the same time, when you are releasing a product by a guy, it should be by that guy. Not some other guy.
Quote from: JeremyR;876697This is the sort of thing that drives me crazy.
While I realize that Aaron Allston being dead kind of puts a big hamper on providing more content to the book, at the same time, when you are releasing a product by a guy, it should be by that guy. Not some other guy.
Games evolve and change. The key element is to accept that, and find stuff you like, and change what you don't. Assuming of course, the concept interests you.
Part of it is that they'd rather release an edition that's compatible with the current 6th Edition of Hero. Of course, that depends on your feelings about 6th Edition.
Another valid reason for a different book is that the new material contains a lot of notes about how the campaign world proceeded after the first Strike Force was released and that Allston really didn't organize before his death.
JG
Can any backer tell me if they have mentioned whether the post-campaign retail PDF will also be $20?
I'd ask on the KS page, but you have to be a backer to comment, and I don't feel like forking over a buck to ask a question.
I'd be willing to back this, except that board games KS have eaten all my money as of late.
Quote from: drkrash;876767Can any backer tell me if they have mentioned whether the post-campaign retail PDF will also be $20?
I'd ask on the KS page, but you have to be a backer to comment, and I don't feel like forking over a buck to ask a question.
I'd be willing to back this, except that board games KS have eaten all my money as of late.
You can contact the creator directly from the KS page. You don't have to back and post comments. It's on the main page where it says High Rock Press on the right. There's a link that says "contact me"
Quote from: urbwar;876798You can contact the creator directly from the KS page. You don't have to back and post comments. It's on the main page where it says High Rock Press on the right. There's a link that says "contact me"
Thanks, urbwar.
Quote from: TrippyHippy;876513Champions has always been a struggle for me.
I'm not sure if it's the genre or the complexity of the mechanics but no matter how I try, and I have tried, I just can't ever seem to grok with the game.
I don't begrudge anybody else from liking it though! :)
Funny. This has always baffled me. I've had exactly the opposite experience.
My standard defense of HERO:
"Look. It's as simple or as complex as YOU want to make it. For success, you have to roll eleven or less on three dice. The idea is to get as many plusses, and as few negatives as possible. So a plus three would mean you need fourteen or less on your roll. A minus three would mean you need eight or less to succeed.
That's it. Now you know the basic HERO system. The complexity comes from the systems ability to attract 'mathletes' who will happily spend hours digging around for that one last obscure, elusive plus."
OTOH, I've always had trouble with FATE. INVOKING an aspect will give you a bennie, but cost a fate point. COMPELLING as aspect will cost you, but give you a fate point. Like the character I discuss below: Is her goddess like beauty an advantage, or a limitation? I know it depends on the situation, but I can easily think of spots where it could be either at the same time.
BTW, not arguing with you, just making conversation and comparing experiences.
Quote from: James Gillen;876712Part of it is that they'd rather release an edition that's compatible with the current 6th Edition of Hero. Of course, that depends on your feelings about 6th Edition.
Another valid reason for a different book is that the new material contains a lot of notes about how the campaign world proceeded after the first Strike Force was released and that Allston really didn't organize before his death.
JG
Loved Strikeforce, back in the day. But yeah, there is at least one problem converting it to 6E. One character had a 70 COM. What would that be, six levels of Striking Appearance?
There was more to the world? I got the idea that the campaign ended when so many events had made it no longer a parallel Earth with superheroes: It had become a superheroic fantasy set on a planet resembling late 20th century Earth.
Quote from: Crawford Tillinghast;876811Loved Strikeforce, back in the day. But yeah, there is at least one problem converting it to 6E. One character had a 70 COM. What would that be, six levels of Striking Appearance?
That would probably the most streamlined way to do it.
QuoteThere was more to the world? I got the idea that the campaign ended when so many events had made it no longer a parallel Earth with superheroes: It had become a superheroic fantasy set on a planet resembling late 20th century Earth.
For instance, there is a new character in the promo materials called Man-Mountain Thunder. Who, based on the art, apparently got his powers from being bitten by a radioactive Chia Pet.
JG
Quote from: Armchair Gamer;876477Champions may be a bit too new-school and storygamey for most of the crowd here ;), but the Kickstarter for a new version of the famous campaign guide Strike Force has just launched:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2000633882/aaron-allstons-strike-force
This has been a Gaming Public Service Announcement.
Funded!
Only $28,866 left to go for ALL bonus material to be unlocked!
(https://www.kicktraq.com/projects/2000633882/aaron-allstons-strike-force/minichart.png) (https://www.kicktraq.com/projects/2000633882/aaron-allstons-strike-force/)
HM
While we're discussing Champions, I thought I might point out that the Bundle of Holding folks are running two offers for Fifth edition Champions PDFs - quite a lot of them if you get them all.
Quote from: jcfiala;877005While we're discussing Champions, I thought I might point out that the Bundle of Holding folks are running two offers for Fifth edition Champions PDFs - quite a lot of them if you get them all.
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/ChampionsFifth
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/UltimateChampions
:)
HM
I was never much for Champions, but Allston's material for Mystara was mostly awesome.
Quote from: RPGPundit;877777I was never much for Champions, but Allston's material for Mystara was mostly awesome.
Strike Force was where Allston first presented concepts that have become well known not only in Hero System but other games. For instance, if you've ever heard of "blue booking" PC/NPC conversations outside the game, that's where the term comes from.
JG
Quote from: Hyper-Man;877003Funded!
Only $28,866 left to go for ALL bonus material to be unlocked!
(https://www.kicktraq.com/projects/2000633882/aaron-allstons-strike-force/minichart.png) (https://www.kicktraq.com/projects/2000633882/aaron-allstons-strike-force/)
HM
Color & Hardback stretch goals are funded with 2 hours to spare!
Good for them! 200% funding isn't bad for a first kickstarter, and they managed to get full color hardcovers unlocked.
I didn't back it, but I'll keep an eye out for it when it's released.
Oh, frabjous day, Calloo, callay!
He chortled in his joy.