MARVEL SuperHero RPG by TSR (now a WotC license)

[PochoMan]

Has anyone else played the Marvel SuperHeroes RPG by TSR?

Recently Ive been only using the Marvel Universe: the Official Marvel Wiki and MarvelDirectory.com to come up powers and/or stats to create my customs. Then I remembered TSR's Marvel SuperHeroes RPG.

Back in the 80's TSR came out with an RPG based on Marvel SuperHeroes which lasted into the early 90's. Later on it was bought by WotC and they tried to revive it to no avail.

Unlike D&D you didnt gain levels or experience but it was fun none the less. So I decide to surf the web and see if anyone had some stats or a database and wallah... MARVEL RPG NETWORK.

On Marvel RPG Net you can find alot of TSR's old RPG books, in PDF format, which includes stats on all phases of heroes powers and abilities. But remember the latest update was in the 90's, so its not really up-to date. But its a good start to try and research older and or deceased characters.

MARVEL SUPERHEROES RPG STATS FOR HEROSCAPE CONVERSION Im going to post some RPG stats here for people to see what I mean and to come up with the correct, or as close as possible, HS power to recreate these.

[PochoMan]

1st up Sentinels.
Most SENTINELS from MARK I - the Alternate Rachelle Summers time line share much of the same abilities thru out there models.

Originally Posted by SENTINEL ABILITIES

Originally Posted by Mark I

Originally Posted by Mark II (NEO-Sentinels)

Originally Posted by Mark II, Number Two

Originally Posted by Mark III

Originally Posted by X-Sentinels

Originally Posted by Mark IV

Originally Posted by Mark V

Originally Posted by Mark VI

Originally Posted by 21 Century ALPHA (Warrior) Sentinel

Originally Posted by 21 Century OMEGA (Executive) Sentinel

Originally Posted by MASTER MOLD

Originally Posted by NIMROD

Originally Posted by TRI-SENTINEL

[allskulls]

Here's another great source...

http://www.classicmarvel.com/

[Taeblewalker]

I have played all three versions: The Original Set in 1984, the Advanced Set in 1986, and the Basic Set in 1994 - which combines many of the best elements of the first two. The only game I like better is D20 Silver Age Sentinels. DC Heroes is okay, but not terribly intuitive. Also, modeling powers in it can be very tricky.

[Mort_isha28]

I used to play MSH I think I even have some of the books lying around somewhere.....I wonder if I have any of my characters still...

[naps420]

I used to have a buddy a few years ago who loved running Marvel RPG, the old one done by TSR. I wasn't much of a fan of the game, but everyone else seemed to love it in our play group. I didn't like the random powers during character creation, the % style system, and some of the rules seemed a bit outdated (But then again, this game was done in the 80s). I almost gave up on superhero RPGs because of this and GURPS superheroes. About a year ago, a friend of mine introduced me to a game called Mutants and Masterminds and I must say, I love this game. It's everything Marvel should have been, but reworked using the d20 system. It saved me the work, I was in talks about trying to rework Marvel into a d20 system and they beat me too it. If you loved the Marvel RPG, check out Mutants and Masterminds, I am sure you wouldn't be disappointed.

[Wytefang]

I preferred the newer Marvel SuperHero game from TSR which used the card system (DragonLance 5th age used this as well). Superbly fun and a great RPG system.

Highly recommended, though finding the books might prove tough unless you use eBay.

[PochoMan]

Originally Posted by allskulls

Here's another great source...

http://www.classicmarvel.com/

Thank you. I've added this to my favorites.

Originally Posted by Taeblewalker

I have played all three versions: The Original Set in 1984, the Advanced Set in 1986, and the Basic Set in 1994 - which combines many of the best elements of the first two. The only game I like better is D20 Silver Age Sentinels. DC Heroes is okay, but not terribly intuitive. Also, modeling powers in it can be very tricky.

I've played both TSR versions; DC RPG; BATMAN RPG; Palladium Books Heroes, Villians, and Aliens Unlimited;

Originally Posted by Mort_isha28

I used to play MSH I think I even have some of the books lying around somewhere.....I wonder if I have any of my characters still...

I don't have any of my characters lying around but I'm thinking bout making new ones.

Originally Posted by naps420

I used to have a buddy a few years ago who loved running Marvel RPG, the old one done by TSR. I wasn't much of a fan of the game, but everyone else seemed to love it in our play group. I didn't like the random powers during character creation, the % style system, and some of the rules seemed a bit outdated (But then again, this game was done in the 80s). I almost gave up on superhero RPGs because of this and GURPS superheroes. About a year ago, a friend of mine introduced me to a game called Mutants and Masterminds and I must say, I love this game. It's everything Marvel should have been, but reworked using the d20 system. It saved me the work, I was in talks about trying to rework Marvel into a d20 system and they beat me too it. If you loved the Marvel RPG, check out Mutants and Masterminds, I am sure you wouldn't be disappointed.

Like with any game there are "House Rules". We never thought the random power generation was all that great, especially when you end up with a character who ends up with Flying, Elongation, and Running? I will check out Mutants and Masterminds.

Originally Posted by Wytefang

I preferred the newer Marvel SuperHero game from TSR which used the card system (DragonLance 5th age used this as well). Superbly fun and a great RPG system.

Highly recommended, though finding the books might prove tough unless you use eBay.

Do you mean the little orange bordered cards that come with the Advanced set? As for finding the books you'd be surprised how many books that the MARVEL RPG NETWORK currently has.

[Wytefang]

No, I'm not referring to any orange-bordered cards. I'm referring to the TSR Card-based Marvel RPG. It was awesome. It had tons of excellent supporting material and it used a unique card-based system to resolve combats and many other aspects of gameplay.

I'll take a picture of it if I can find it and post it here. It was the best of the superhero RPGs, imho...

[Wytefang]

Here's the picture of the main rule book for the Marvel Superheroes Game using the SAGA system:



And here's the link to a review of it, though I disagree with a few of the negative comments (and agree with a few others):

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12950.phtml

[Fatespuppet]

I'm not sure it technically classifies as a Super hero RPG, but I've played the HERO system quite a bit. We did a super hero campaign, which it handles quite nicely. I've never played the official marvel one. I think we stayed away from it since it the world was too familiar to a couple of our players.

They were the classic Encyclopdedia Brown types that can quote issue and page numbers for stuff. The most hilarious thing from my point of view is that they had the hardest time coming up with 'original' characters.

Actual conversations(edited for broadcast)

Geek 1 - "Okay, my guy is a large body-builder type with a crew cut. He is super strong and can turn his body into metal."

Me - "Okay, maybe I'm not up on current heroes, but he sounds a lot like Colossus"

Geek 1 - "Not at all. His name is Le Steel"

Me - "whatever"


Geek 2 - "My guy can fly, is super strong, can shoot lasers from his eyes, is a super pacifist and has an extreme weakness to this very rare crystal called Neutronium"(can't recall the actual crystal he came up with)

Me - *sigh* "Alright Supes, what's your name?"

Geek 2 - "He's not Superman!"

Me - "this is gonna be a LONG campaign"

With hindsight, maybe playing the Marvel one would've been better. :P

[Manchine]

Originally Posted by Wytefang

Here's the picture of the main rule book for the Marvel Superheroes Game using the SAGA system:



And here's the link to a review of it, though I disagree with a few of the negative comments (and agree with a few others):

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12950.phtml

The Classic one was SO much better.

Free downloads for everyone!

http://www.marvelrpg.net/