We revisit the topic of superhero roleplaying games. The overlap between Western comic book fans and tabletop gamers, it’s no surprise that superhero games are one of the largest genres of roleplaying games out there. We’ve talked about the different games in Episode 23, but how do you play and run a superhero game? And what impact have the games had on the industry at large?
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Our Guest
Michael Surbrook
Superhero Games
Marvel Heroic Roleplay (Note: It does use the Cortex Plus system, though highly modified. So Ross and I were wrong.)
Monkey House Legal Defense Fund
BAMF Podcast (Ross and Michael recorded with them along with Steve Kenson about Strike Force just before recording this episode. That episode should be up next week.)
Declaration: This episode spends a lot of time talking about Strike Force. Ross Watson (host and producer on Gamer’s Tavern) and Michael Surbrook (co-host of our Keep on the Borderlands 2 live stream) are both heavily involved in the new edition of Strike Force being Kickstarted and Gamer’s Tavern is involved as a backer reward level. Gamer’s Tavern Media has not been compensated and receives no funds from the Strike Force crowdfunding efforts.
One thought on “Episode 57: Superhero Games Part 2, or Tapioca Showers”
Another great setting I think would be perfect for an RPG is Brandon Sanderson’s The Reckoners series. It depicts a world in which people received superpowers, however whatever gave them their powers also made them evil. In short, it’s a world of supervillains with no superheroes.
The Epics, as the supervillains are known, have taken over the world and turned it into a dystopia. The Reckoners of the series title are a group of non-powered humans who are fighting against the tyranny of the Epics.
Not sure which system would work best, but I’m thinking maybe something with more of a narrative focus. (I can’t imagine regular humans would fare too well in an overly crunchy system.) My personal choice would be SUPERS! Revised Edition or BASH! Ultimate Edition, using the Extreme Earth supplement for either.