"Favorite Rules for Superhero Gaming?" Topic

When wargaming with superheroes, what is your favorite ruleset?

"When wargaming with superheroes…"

I see the words.

They don't make sense.

Do you mean like SS, or fallschrimjagers, or British airbourne?

Then the answer is Flames of War, of course!

I think he means Capt America and Sgt Rock

Oh, Michael Wittmann and Turner Turnbull. Got it. FoW exactly.

The Supersystem set

I think I like the idea of Cap as a command/hero stand…

Supersystem – nice open system, you could even have mounted nubian/numidian pikemen in it, Allen.

Curious that Allen's idea of a superhero is an SS trooper, or an ubernazi like Michael Whitmann…

Yep, you've got me pegged.

Super System, like Streetline said its nice and open so you can customize it to whatever you want.

I like Heroclix and their figures.

The pre-GW version of Golden Heroes – pure brilliance.

Super System for me thanks.

There actually is NO viable option to that question besides Supersystem!

Another "me too" for Supersystem…

Gracias,

Glenn

Battleground Weird WWII.

Brian

For mixing supers into their native habitat (WWII) as a wargame, FoW will certainly work.

For skirmish gaming in classic four-color fashion, Supersystem has the right level of detail.

For an RPG, I'd use either Mutants & Masterminds or Hero 4th edition (no, NOT 5th).

Why not use an RPG as a skirmish game?

M&M looks like a hoot!

The RPGs will work for that, but the work can be a bit much for a light "punch up" skirmish session.

Champions by Hero Games – RPG but I have used it for 'skirmish' too. True the pre-work is paper and pencil heavy but always been part of the fun for me.

SuperSystem

What would be the lowest age limit that a person could conceivably play SuperSystem?

I've been working on my own system for the past several years.

Russell, we have had nine and ten year olds play in our games with no problem. I would say much younger kids could easily grasp the system, though.

My kids were about 8-20 and they had a hoot playing Supersystem. I also think there are plans to upgrade the system and release it..sometime in the future. Not sure when. Right now it's called SuperSystem 2.

Also I think Ganesha Games plan to put a set out but I think it's way down the road unfortunately.

oop meant 8-10, not 8-20

Thank you,

I have been reading my 5 year old the compilations of the original Spider-man comic and (less) Daredevil for about a year now, and he is pretty much a fanatic.

I think I will get a copy and take a look.

When I was 20 something kid I had some fun playing in superhero RPGs but never could get involved in one that could keep running past a few adventures.

I do remember getting beaten up a lot playing Champions. We had an anemic group that lost every single fight it was involved in in its short illustrious career. I think that was more an indication of the GMs play balance talent than the rules though.

Most of my superhero stuff was Champions, but I really liked Supersystem.

I also wanted to play Superhero 2084 once. This was the original superhero rpg. It was as badly written as anything else done in the 80s, but had some interesting ideas, and I thought it could be fun.

nazrat "There actually is NO viable option to that question besides Supersystem!"

You've gotta be kidding! With all of the DC and Marvel clickies out there? You may not like clickie gaming, but that hardly means it isn't an option.

Superhero 2044 was released in 1977. Sooo bad.

If you're going to go retro, there is also Villains & Vigilantes.

That's right. It was 2044, wasn't it?

I've got a huge clickie collection downstairs, and even my preferred system is Super System/Superfigs/whatever you call it.

For WAR gaming, I go with "Supersystem". Good simple rules.

For RPG gaming, I go with "Mutants & Masterminds". Good rule set designed specifically for superheroes and very well supported with lots of supplements.

The Big Bill drops a thread bomb and runs for cover…I love it! :)

If Mr Bill (ooohhh nooooo…it never gets old, deal with it :) is saying WARgaming to mean actual war and perhaps historical gaming with the great addition of superhero blood to the mix, then it is assumed that it would be a larger scale game? 6mm or 15mm I would assume.

If 20mm or 28mm then the skirmish/RPG titles carry their own following.

It would greatly depend on what you are trying to accomplish by adding superheroes to the mix, besides making it so much better and interesting?

A Capt America on the field of normal battle would do some serious damage, offer crazy levels of moral boost, and could make a serious wedge through any normal historical obstruction…never mind a hero with powers.

I am more curious as to the why of this thread topic?

It is a good one, no doubt.

But I would say the main stay of Champions for RPG/skirmish lite and Super System for adding to an existing rules set for historical gaming…do the conversion work to equate the powers to the real world stats of a normal game.

Would be fun, potentially.

I like where you are going with this thought … but in a big battle only heroes of the Superman stature are going to have a real effect. Even if Batman joins the special forces unit it's only going to resolve into a +1 die modifier somewhere along the line for a battle of the bulge scale game.

However adding lesser heroes could be quite interesting for a company level game…it's a nice idea, I'm going to think about this one for a little bit I think.

"You've gotta be kidding! With all of the DC and Marvel clickies out there? You may not like clickie gaming, but that hardly means it isn't an option."

I've played the clicky games and I maintain my position. But it IS only an opinion-- I don't intend it as fact or anything!

But it's a good opinion, nazrat!

Gracias,

Glenn

20th…late response but here it is anyway.

Yes a Superman could throw tanks across the battle field and batman could not…but…batman could move through the battle field untouched by common men (automatic fire not included) and remove any given target be it a bunker, communications tower, etc..

Batman has enough stuff to cause panic and morale breaks with ease.

Minor heroes with singular powers…just strong or just fast or just bullet proof would be a blast because they could be hidden among the sheep.

A flying guy could give the ground guys fits just as a plane could.

A bullet proof brick running like a steam train through your barricade, your ranks, and straight on through your camp woudl certainly shake up the mob.

The human bomb…a mortar template around the character once a round.

The human torch…a flying flame thrower…yikes.

The Blurr…your trooper moves 3" and the Blurr moves 18" + 2 free attacks.

Weather Wizard…fog, sleet, and grapefruit hail is the prediction for your side of the board.

etc.

I think 6mm would be a great example of superpowered miniature play…finally get to use full movement rates instead of just what we have to work with in 28mm…and full scale field affects would be a blast.

Yes sir I think 6mm is perfect for superpowered miniature play.

PS
think about the Giantman character…use a 6" GI Joe!