Hero System

The Hero System is a universal RPG system. In addition to the basic rules, there are genre books providing adaptations to different game worlds.

Since the Hero System is not available in bookstores, are the main distribution channels of the related publications as direct mail and the download of artwork in the form of files in Portable Document Format ( PDF).

History

Originally, the Hero system from the superhero RPG Champions arose, which was published in 1981 by George MacDonald and Steve Peterson in the first edition. Previously, MacDonald had during his college years in the late 1970s developed the first drafts of the control system, while recourse to the mechanism of super powers on suggestions by Wayne Shaw. While MacDonald tested the rule designs in practice, Peterson worked on the texts to be published for the first edition of Champions. At its appearance also Jim country, Ray Greer, Glenn Thain and Tom Tumey involved.

The fourth and final edition of the Champions rules appeared in 1989. During their formation, the owner of Hero Games, MacDonald, Peterson and Ray Greer developed, in collaboration with Iron Crown Enterprises (ICE ) from the Champions rules the universal Hero system. Since 1987, the developers had been working on a reorganization that would unify the control systems and provide on its own feet. These dedicated ICE Rob Bell to organize the unification. The successful fourth edition of 1989, was about ten years, numerous supplementary volumes were published on its basis.

From ICE to Hero Games parted in 1995 to soon enter into a collaboration with R. Talsorian games. In this phase, you also awarded licenses to other publishers who wanted to publish supplements, especially at Gold Rush Games. The simplified control system variant Fuzion went from the cooperation of Hero Games with R. Talsorian Games forth. A new rule Edition planned Hero Games in 1997. For you, Steve S. Long a, who had also previously been published system for the Hero, and now wanted to be working as a full role-playing game designer. By May 1999, the manuscript of the fifth edition was completed and discussed with Peterson, but at this time had Hero Games from our cooperation partner R. Talsorian games released since this had not been active since 1998 in fact. Therefore Hero Games did not have the necessary funds to pay employees and pre-finance a new edition, and had these plans initially Reset. In 2000, the publisher Cyber ​​Games Hero Games purchased together with the rights to the Hero System and invested in the project so that the first time permanent employees at the Hero system worked. But financial and logistical problems, continued to block the appearance of the fifth edition.

In 2001, the corporation acquired DOJ Inc. brands and Hero Games Hero System, together with the already existing materials for the fifth edition of the Hero system and brought it out in the spring of 2002. Good sales figures and reviews led to the publication of more than two dozen volumes within two years. Subsequently published in 2004 a revised version of the fifth edition. The new product manager and lead developer since 2001, Steven S. Long, co-owner of DOJ, Inc. and self Champions player since 1982. Long was also responsible for the development of the sixth rule Edition from 2007 until her release in autumn 2009. Together with the President by Hero Games, Darren Watts, also co-owner of DOJ, Inc., is Long, who helped develop since 1997 many role-playing games, primarily responsible for the development of the Hero system.

Rules Overview

Characters, attributes, skills, advantages, disadvantages and special forces acquire at character creation with dots and improve throughout the game with experience points gained.

During the game usually are three six-sided dice, called W6 (English: d6) used. With this must be a result below a threshold, which is composed of a character value and a difficulty to be achieved.

Publications

6th Edition

  • Steven S. Long: Hero System Sixth Edition. Volume 1: Character Creation. 2009 ISBN. 978-1-58366-120-8.
  • Steven S. Long: Hero System Sixth Edition. Volume 2: Combat and Adventuring. 2009 ISBN. 978-1-58366-121-5.

The genre -specific volumes and the rule supplementary volumes of the 5th edition should be easily compatible with the basic rules of 6th Edition, since keeping the fundamental rule changes in boundaries. For the sixth edition rule many additions have already been published as a PDF download. Were published as a printed volumes:

  • Steven S. Long, Darren Watts: Champions Universe. , 2010.
  • Steven S. Long: Champions Powers. , 2010.
  • Steven S. Long: Fantasy Hero. 2010

5th Edition

For the fifth edition of the Hero system usually published until January 2008 more than 70 books.

  • Steven S. Long: Hero System Fifth Edition Revised. The Ultimate Gamer's Toolkit., 2004. ISBN 1-58366-043-7 ( usually the 5th Edition first appeared in 2001).

As the Hero of rules was also the Ultimate series across genres used. In their discussions and amendments were published in special concepts, including:

  • The Ultimate Brick
  • The Ultimate Energy Projector
  • The Ultimate Martial Artist
  • The Ultimate Mentalist
  • The Ultimate Metamorph
  • The Ultimate Mystic
  • The Ultimate Skill
  • The Ultimate Speedster
  • The Ultimate Vehicle

As a genre-specific books have been published, among other things:

  • Champions. 2002 ( superhero ).
  • Star Hero. 2002 ( science fiction ).
  • Fantasy Hero. 2003 ( Fantasy).
  • Dark Champions. 2004 ( " Urban", modern superheroes with less super powers, comparable to Watchmen ).
  • Pulp Hero. 2005 ( Pulp ).
  • Steven S. Long: Post-Apocalyptic Hero. 2007 ( Post Apocalypse ).
  • Michael Surbrook: Ninja Hero. 2002 ISBN. 1-58366-008-9.

Older editions

  • Rob Bell, George MacDonald, Mark Williams: Hero System Rules Book. Iron Crown Enterprises, 1990. ISBN 1558060944th

Until 1989, the following genre -specific books have been published, each as completed RPG based systems had not yet been published independently Hero system:

  • George MacDonald, Steve Peterson: Champions. 1981 ( first edition ), 1982 (2nd Edition ), 1984 (3rd Edition ), 1989 (4th Edition, with Rob Bell) ( superhero ).
  • Espionage. 1983 ( secret agents ).
  • Justice Inc. 1984 ( Pulp in the 1920s and 1930s ).
  • Danger International. 1985 ( revision of secret agent settings).
  • Fantasy Hero. 1985 ( universal fantasy setting without game world description).
  • Robot Warriors. 1986 ( Mecha ).
  • Star Hero. 1989 ( universal science- fiction setting with little exemplary game world description).
Champions (role-playing game) Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction Pulp magazine
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