Topic: Champions of the HERO System (Read 3923 times)

jsnlxndrlv · « **on:** May 13, 2008, 10:36:38 AM »

Five or six years ago, my gaming group and I decided we were done with D&D. There were lots of little reasons and one big one: combat just wasn't any fun, particularly at high levels. We switched to the HERO system and never looked back.

I have only just realized that Cryptic Studios' Champions Online will be using a similar ruleset. I guess I'll be getting back into MMOs, then.

Anybody else play Champions?

Beat Bandit · « **Reply #1 on:** May 13, 2008, 10:48:16 AM »

I've been nerdgasming over Champions since I first heard about it.

Everything else aside, it doesn't hurt that the devs are pretty much saying "you know all those requests and ideas we ignored the entire time we worked on CoH? Well they're all going to be in Champions at launch."

Zaratustra · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2008, 11:25:25 AM »

From what I've heard of the game, it's likely it will be based more on City of Heroes than HERO System.

* Your powers, on your terms: There are a multitude of astonishing powers to choose from in Champions Online, and its flexible character creation system gives you total control over your hero's abilities. - The real problem - what is the range of 'total control' we have? Do we have a point-based system or is it yet another level-grinder? We just don't know.
* You can even pick the appearance of your powers. Do you want purple force fields? Green fire blasts? Jet black claws? In Champions Online, you decide! - You mean we can pick the color of our powers? Wow.
* Vanquish evil, and your successes will be rewarded with costume pieces to enhance your powers and abilities. Then customize the appearance of those rewards to your vision of your hero's look and abilities! - GRIND GRIND GRIND GRIND THAT PERFECT OUTFIT
* The story of Champions Online is constantly changing, continually evolving. Villains are defeated. Heroes rise and fall. Cities transform. Your actions may decide the future! - There will be 'story missions' every two months, then every six-to-eight months, then they'll say ' fuck it' and fire their story department.

TA · « **Reply #3 on:** May 13, 2008, 12:26:42 PM »

Champions Online isn't gonna be based on the HERO system. They licensed the Champions IP, not the mechanics of the game.

McDohl · « **Reply #4 on:** May 13, 2008, 12:28:09 PM »

On a related note, a few months back, those of us still tenuously clutching to City of Heroes did an episode on Jerk Radio about prognosticating about Champions Online. Myself, Aesir (Doctor Rob Sisco) and OHakubi talk about some of the neat features and stuff. Plus we make fun of the setting. Also, I make a complete ass of myself (at least I think so).

Jerk Radio Episode 7

jsnlxndrlv · « **Reply #5 on:** May 14, 2008, 11:04:52 PM »

Quote from: TA on May 13, 2008, 12:26:42 PM

Champions Online isn't gonna be based on the HERO system. They licensed the Champions IP, not the mechanics of the game.

Oh really?

Quote

If we turn to Champions Online, we won't be using the exact same point system, power advantages, characteristics, power limitations or disadvantages (all of this is Hero lingo). We are using systems that are essentially the same, but fit the MMORPG genre somewhat better. In Champions Online, we will have Dark Blast, Ice Blast, etc. Now, a player will be able to affect how these things develop, but this won't be an orthogonal to the choices in the HERO system.

Our inspiration from the Champions RPG is to allow players to customize their powers. Rather than trying to copy the specific power advantages and limitations (and the +/- fractions), we're trying to achieve the same goal of power customization. So yes, we'll have advantages and limitations, but they won't be the same type in the HERO System core rulebook. They'll be different ...

It may not be a perfect one-to-one relationship, but I wasn't expecting anything of the sort. I mean, it's sounding like an action RPG, for god's sake; there's no way you're going to map Champions onto that perfectly. But if this game is to the Champions ruleset anything at all like Neverwinter Nights was to D&D, it opens the door to other developers to say, "you know, we can make a much more faithful adaptation; let's get that license." And then the HERO system version of The Temple of Elemental Evil comes out, and we all groan because that perfect adaptation is saddled with a brain-dead scenario and gamekilling bugs.

At least, that's how it all goes down in my imagination.

Niku · « **Reply #6 on:** April 15, 2009, 08:03:07 PM »

I finally got around to playing the beta I've been in for months now.

It's NDA-riffic!

(it also feels pretty much just like city of heroes 2 thus far)

Norondor · « **Reply #7 on:** April 15, 2009, 08:05:11 PM »

i want to try but the person i know who is in the beta and doesn't play won't give me the key because he doesn't like the game and wants to protect me

>:\

Niku · « **Reply #8 on:** April 15, 2009, 08:07:18 PM »

i don't think it is nda breaking to say that i made a chick with giant bug pinchers and wings in a flaming orange color scheme and named her fire aunt and that her combat basically involved lighting things on fire to build up energy and then biting shit really hard

jsnlxndrlv · « **Reply #9 on:** April 15, 2009, 08:07:36 PM »

Any word how faithfully HERO rules hold up? I guess it's not really too important, since D&D-derived games seem to actually be good in inverse proportion to the fidelity with which they preserve the tabletop rules.

Norondor · « **Reply #10 on:** April 15, 2009, 08:08:08 PM »

fuck you niku

Niku · « **Reply #11 on:** April 15, 2009, 08:11:30 PM »

Quote from: Newbie on April 15, 2009, 08:07:36 PM

Any word how faithfully HERO rules hold up? I guess it's not really too important, since D&D-derived games seem to actually be good in inverse proportion to the fidelity with which they preserve the tabletop rules.

Skimming over the HERO system, it doesn't seem to be how things work.

jsnlxndrlv · « **Reply #12 on:** April 15, 2009, 08:23:58 PM »

Looks like TA was right after all. Fuckin' hell.

TA · « **Reply #13 on:** April 16, 2009, 11:50:07 AM »

And, from everything I've heard, it's fundamentally terrible. Almost no instancing, no incentive to team aside from the rare giant monster beyond the ability of a single player to take down, only going to have one server ...

TA · « **Reply #14 on:** August 17, 2009, 08:48:06 AM »

Well, Beta goes open this week. You can see first hand how much things suck.

Bonus fact: Last week, they tripled the HP and damage of all enemies. To encourage teaming. That's pretty much the development in a nutshell.

Norondor · « **Reply #15 on:** August 17, 2009, 09:22:28 AM »

(iwata laughs)

TA · « **Reply #16 on:** August 17, 2009, 09:58:36 AM »

Well, to be fair, prior to that I'd soloed to level 25 out of 40 in about 15 hours of play, over the course of about three beta days.

Cthulhu-chan · « **Reply #17 on:** August 17, 2009, 11:13:13 AM »

This surprises me not at all. Statesman couldn't game balance his way out of a paper bag.

Norondor · « **Reply #18 on:** August 17, 2009, 11:33:37 AM »

Quote from: TA on August 17, 2009, 09:58:36 AM

Well, to be fair, prior to that I'd soloed to level 25 out of 40 in about 15 hours of play, over the course of about three beta days.

oh, so you're saying they had 1/3 of their intended HP and damage values so people could level and test things. ok.

Cthulhu-chan · « **Reply #19 on:** August 17, 2009, 11:40:03 AM »

I stand by my statement.

News:

Author Topic: Champions of the HERO System (Read 3923 times)