Yes, that Ron Edwards. The goal of Champions Now is to recreate (or reimagine?) the 1st through 3rd editions of Champions:

Quote from: KickstarterHero Games is proud to present Champions Now, to be created by pioneering game designer Ron Edwards, author of Sorcerer and co-founder of The Forge. Ron will revisit the original three editions of first-generation Champions (1981 to 1988), recovering the power of this foundational era of superhero roleplaying.

As a Hero fan, reading the Kickstarter page--and a glance through the design document, which admittedly is very alpha-- leaves me puzzled and skeptical. Puzzled, becuase a return to Elemental Controls, Figured Characteristics, and Comeliness is a step backwards. Skeptical, because Edwards working on Champions is alot like Glenn Beck aspiring to be the chair of the DNC. Possible, I guess, but it just doesn't sit right. Ron has spilled a lot of ink about narrative games and "collaborative storytelling" but Champions ain't that.

I won't be supporting this one. When I purchased Fantasy Hero Complete I admitted to myself I was basically tossing Hero Games $10 to stay afloat. But what I'd like to see going forward is a plan to breathe some new liife into the game-- a Lite version to draw in new players, in sync with a vision towards a 7th Edition.


(EDIT: Mods, not sure if this belongs on the Main Discussion forum or News. I was aiming for the former.)

I don't have a link but I recall reading that Ron Edwards first positive experience of RPGs was related to Champions and the Hero System. The only thing I remember was thinking, "He thought AD&D sucked, and then discovered Champions and that what he liked." Seen that story before and that was basically what happened to me with Champions and Fantasy Hero.

Pioneering?

Isn't Ron Edwards that Forge guy with the crazy theories that have been debunked for the most part? Honest question, I know that name from somewhere, but I don't honestly know where.

Quote from: Aglondir;1041210... because Edwards working on Champions is alot like Glenn Beck aspiring to be the chair of the DNC. ...

That made me LOL. :-D I may have to add that my signature block.

As a died-in-the-wool Polly-Anna Rose-Colored Glasses wearing Optimist... I might have to see where this is going.

Quote from: Christopher Brady;1041213Isn't Ron Edwards that Forge guy with the crazy theories that have been debunked for the most part? Honest question, I know that name from somewhere, but I don't honestly know where.

He's that actor that played the lead role in American History X, right? Also, opposite Brad Pitt in Fight Club? Not sure how fans of Fight Club are going to appreciate your stance that he was debunked.

Cautiously optimistic. Ron has shown a real affection for the Hero system, this is a passion project for him. And there is limited downside due to Hero's anemic state anyway. A failure won't really ruin things for the company or the current 5e/6e fan base.

I'm not opposed to a lite version of Hero. In fact, I think focusing on superheroes and going back to Champions 3e as a base and including Unified Power and removing Figured Characteristics would be a step in the right direction. I also think there are easier ways of building characters than point buy.

Quote from: trechriron;1041218He's that actor that played the lead role in American History X, right? Also, opposite Brad Pitt in Fight Club? Not sure how fans of Fight Club are going to appreciate your stance that he was debunked.

Is he?  I don't actually know.

Wow. 4k so far. I guess they didn't do any marketing before launch.

Good for Hero games and good for Ron:)  Going to watch this one.

Quote from: Christopher Brady;1041213Isn't Ron Edwards that Forge guy with the crazy theories that have been debunked for the most part? Honest question, I know that name from somewhere, but I don't honestly know where.

Yep, that Ron Edwards. The one who claimed traditional RPGs cause "brain damage" and other little gems and also pretty much the spearhead for the Forge and Pundits "Swine" who are still around making their crackheaded claims as usual.

There is a free playtest document  if anyone  wants to check  it out. Edwards has always been consistent  in his like fir the Champions  system. The  brain damage nonsense  seemed mostly aimed at Vampire. Given what'shappened  with RPGNet moderation, maybe he was on to something.

Quote from: ArrozConLeche;1041259There is a free playtest document  if anyone  wants to check  it out. Edwards has always been consistent  in his like fir the Champions  system. The  brain damage nonsense  seemed mostly aimed at Vampire. Given what'shappened  with RPGNet moderation, maybe he was on to something.

Beast: The Primordial proved Edwards right but not in a way anyone wanted.

Quote from: Christopher Brady;1041213Isn't Ron Edwards that Forge guy with the crazy theories that have been debunked for the most part? Honest question, I know that name from somewhere, but I don't honestly know where.

You are thinking of the correct individual.

Quote from: Aglondir;1041210Skeptical, because Edwards working on Champions is alot like Glenn Beck aspiring to be the chair of the DNC. Possible, I guess, but it just doesn't sit right. Ron has spilled a lot of ink about narrative games and "collaborative storytelling" but Champions ain't that.

I would liken it more to... I don't know... Bob Ross being the judge of a waterskiing competition or those random "quotes" on the internet from Carl Sagan or Einstein about the importance of honeybees or that Simpson's episodes where Little Richard presides over a national teacher-of-the-year award. It is more random than antithetical. Champions isn't a story-game, nor is it a regular target of the storygaming community's interest/ire.

Perhaps this is a completely tangential side-project on his part, completely unrelated to Forge theory and the like. In which case, good for him, but that means that his status as a 'pioneering game designer' is pretty much irrelevant, and it scans to me the same as 'unknown game designer Joe Smith to revisit the original three editions of first-generation Champions (1981 to 1988) in new product called 'Champions Now'.