D6 Supers

[dcurpgfan]

Just ordered the game (and bought the D6 Powers pdf) -- looks very similar to the DC Universe game that I loved (which is a good thing obviously). Anybody who wants a resource for the old game that I suspect will be fairly compatible with the Godsend game, can check out http://www.aric-dacia.com/dcu/

Definitely planning on supporting the new game!

Barry

[prophet118]

ive had friends speak fondly of the old dcu, but in the end its all about how they wish things had been... i think i remember something about batman not being done correctly, or something...lol

[dcurpgfan]

ive had friends speak fondly of the old dcu, but in the end its all about how they wish things had been... i think i remember something about batman not being done correctly, or something...lol

With any licensed game, there's going to be carping about how Captain X isn't statted properly, but I found the system to be perfect for fast-paced superhero action and really enjoyed it. I'm hoping to enjoy Godsend Agenda D6 for the very same reasons. Most of the problems I had with the system were with certain types of characters (superspeed for instance) but by the end, they had released supplements that addressed most of the problems that were present in the main rulebook.

[prophet118]

well, ive never played the old dcu.lol

personally, godsend blows away any of the other super games i have..

and i have a few

Adventure!
D6 Adventure
Heroes Unlimited
Brave New World

i think thats it..lol

[J.T.]

Hi there,

I would have to agree with prophet, Godsend is, for me, one of the best Supers games on the marked using one of the all time best systems and the best setting I've ever come across.

I've also bought most of the supers games out there and not many if any can match Godsend for flexibility or fun and as the list below shows I've played them all.

Villains and Vigellanties (good beer and pizza game if a bit lacking)
Champions (Old classic but a bit long in the tooth for todays marked)
Golden Heroes (classic game great for beginners and the rules work well for show games )
Godlike (great idea not bad system couldn't get to grips with the playing style)
Brave New World (I liked this if no one else did. Liked the fact you only got one power per character this being the one thing it got slated for- good for running an early Xman type setting)
Mutants and Masterminds (both editions- Enjoyed the first addition can't get on with the 2nd)
Authority (Tri system by Guardians of Order Ok but felt it had no structure to the powers)
Silver Age Sentinals (both editions though the D20 sucked the Tri system is same as above)
Super World ( Choasium % rules now that's a suprise)
Psi World (by Fantasy Games Unlimited)
Unsanctioned (by crunchy Frog Ok if a bit cluncky)


The above comments are personal opinions and not intended to start a flame war especially on this forum.

Regards

J.T.

[prophet118]

brave new world was pretty nice... notice that in some form or another, Matt Forbeck worked on Godsend Agenda..lol

[Jerry D. Grayson]

Hi there,

I would have to agree with prophet, Godsend is, for me, one of the best Supers games on the marked using one of the all time best systems and the best setting I've ever come across.

I've also bought most of the supers games out there and not many if any can match Godsend for flexibility or fun and as the list below shows I've played them all.

Villains and Vigellanties (good beer and pizza game if a bit lacking)
Champions (Old classic but a bit long in the tooth for todays marked)
Golden Heroes (classic game great for beginners and the rules work well for show games )
Godlike (great idea not bad system couldn't get to grips with the playing style)
Brave New World (I liked this if no one else did. Liked the fact you only got one power per character this being the one thing it got slated for- good for running an early Xman type setting)
Mutants and Masterminds (both editions- Enjoyed the first addition can't get on with the 2nd)
Authority (Tri system by Guardians of Order Ok but felt it had no structure to the powers)
Silver Age Sentinals (both editions though the D20 sucked the Tri system is same as above)
Super World ( Choasium % rules now that's a suprise)
Psi World (by Fantasy Games Unlimited)
Unsanctioned (by crunchy Frog Ok if a bit cluncky)


The above comments are personal opinions and not intended to start a flame war especially on this forum.

Regards

J.T.
I own…
Marvel Super Heroes (basic and advanced)
DC heroes (the best supers game ever made!) all three incarnations
Underground
Marvel Universe Role-playing game
DC Universe
U.N. Sanctioned
Hero
M&M
Necessary Evil
With Great Power
Capes
Heart and Soul (PDF on sale now!)
Godlike
Legends Walk
Aberrant
Heroes Unlimited
Marvel Superhero Adventure game
Silver Age heroes
Champions the New Millennium
Super world (an old favorite)
Super Megatopia
Supersystem (super hero miniature rules)
Sketch
GURPS Supers
Heroes and Heroines
Brave New World
Providence
In Nomine
The last two are loosely super hero games but lump them in there all the same. I know Im forgetting a few…

[Jerry D. Grayson]

BTW, Barry’s resource site is great and everyone should go check it out. He even had stats for Backlash
How cool is that!

[prophet118]

I own…
Marvel Super Heroes (basic and advanced)
DC heroes (the best supers game ever made!) all three incarnations
Underground
Marvel Universe Role-playing game
DC Universe
U.N. Sanctioned
Hero
M&M
Necessary Evil
With Great Power
Capes
Heart and Soul (PDF on sale now!)
Godlike
Legends Walk
Aberrant
Heroes Unlimited
Marvel Superhero Adventure game
Silver Age heroes
Champions the New Millennium
Super world (an old favorite)
Super Megatopia
Supersystem (super hero miniature rules)
Sketch
GURPS Supers
Heroes and Heroines
Brave New World
Providence
In Nomine
The last two are loosely super hero games but lump them in there all the same. I know Im forgetting a few…

... show off... lmao

no seriously, impressive.. i see a few in there i have, or recognize..lol

[Silverlion2]

No Superbabes?

I own orf have owned:
4 colors (freebie )
4 colors al fresco (freebie)
Ace Agents (supers book whatever it was called)
Aberrant
Batman (Stripped down DC)
Blood of Heroes (uses MEGS/Mayfairs system)
Brave New World
Champions TNM (Fuzion)
DC Heroes (Mayfair)
Hero System (Champions)
Godsend Agenda
Golden Heroes
Guardians
Gurps Supers (and Wildcards)
Heroes and Heroines
Heroes Unlimited
Living Legends
Marvel Superheroes (Advanced and Basic)
Marvel Superhero Adventure Game (Saga)
Marvel Universe Role Playing game
Mutants and Mastermings
Providence
Powergame (was a freebie)
Villains and Vigilantes
Top Secret/SI Freelancers sourcebook (superespionage)
Truth and Justice
Underground

I've read (but not owned) DC Universe, Superworld, Stuporpowers, Nemesis:Superpunk roleplaying, UNSanctioned, Necessary Evil, Capes



Honorable mention but not "true" supers: Adventure!


And of course I wrote Hearts and Souls so I own it too :) (and Paragons, my attempt at a template based/archtype supers game incomplete--originally was working on it via discussion on WEBRPG when it was like RPG.net is now--a place for game discussion)

Why do I feel like I'm forgetting some?

[prophet118]

theres always some to forget somewhere..lol

i consider all of the Aeon Continuum to be basically super hero games..lol.. althought they arent really.

it seems that alot of people like Brave New World.

[J.T.]

I want to be as big a show off as Attis..... I forgot to add the following games to my list

Aberrant (Liked the feel of the rules hated the setting too much megaplot)
Champions TNM (good go at making Champians less rules heavy)
Marvel Superheroes (Advanced and Basic) (never played it but have the books)
Marvel Superhero Adventure Game (Saga) (played it once like the rules got all the books)
Marvel Universe Role Playing game (nicely produced books had difficulty with the rules but if I'd have been able to play it I think I'd have liked it...so they go and discontinue it)
Providence (as Attis says not necessarily a Supers game but great background nastey rules)
Necessary Evil (have to admit this is a fun game but then I like Savage Worlds as a set of rules...great for letting your hair down and being a villain for a change can't see a long running campaign lasting though)


J.T.

[Silverlion2]

theres always some to forget somewhere..lol

i consider all of the Aeon Continuum to be basically super hero games..lol.. althought they arent really.

it seems that alot of people like Brave New World.

BNW was the only RPG I ever returned to the store.

Ever.

Stricly speaking a few others (Enforcers! THat's what I forgot! *shudder* *shudders again*) I would have returned if I hadn't bought them used.

[prophet118]

ouch..lol

BNW is a nice game, as is most of the others, but so far none really capture the feel super heroes like i desire...

Godsend gets close, but the problem there is the name, it suggest (correctly) a massive meta plot, when d6 supers comes out i'll probably get it, just to see if a generic supers world can happen.

the times ive run GSA ive only used minor elements from the game, because anything else felt like i was trying to hit the wow button too often, the problem was that if i said something like "they look like USER agents" the players would just stare blankly at me...

so i had to restart one group with no knowledge of the setting (characters and players), but then when i introduced these elements, i felt like the slimiest guy around, Malcom Rhand basically had em eating out of his hand (which of course he could..lol)

[Silverlion2]

ouch..lol

BNW is a nice game, as is most of the others, but so far none really capture the feel super heroes like i desire...


like "they look like USER agents" the players would just stare blankly at me...


)


I felt cheated by BNW, and at the time I wanted a low powered supers game. (But not one that used a LOT of white space, large fonts, then intentionally shoved powers in another book that was published at the same time..which they did.)

As for presending the Godsend Agenda world:

A character may have no knowledge of the settings secrets either (even if your players have read the book, the player has that knowledge NOT the PC)

So when you have to introduce say USER. "They look like Feds, dark glasses, suits, the whole affair..." then slowly reveal who and what USER is through the course of play-- Unless they have REALLY good reasons to know about USER in character. Then even if they haven't read the book you can give them a "This is what you know about USER" note.

With any game element that people come to can always get them the information/knowledge as a GM via things going on in play. A spiked water supply, feds showing up to test for contamination then vanishing after saying its clear, and then the PC's discovering its still tainted with mutagenic chemicals? That's a plot you can use to convey "USER is NASTY and UP to something" bring it into play--if you want them to know/react or behave in regards to that material.

[prophet118]

well, the game of BNW can be ran with just the main book (ive done it, the only extra book i have is ravaged planet)

but anywho

[Alric]

I liked the system in BNW, especially the damage system. The problem was that the game was mis-advertised. It billed itself as a superhero rpg when it really wasn't. There was some talk about expanding it into a full supers rpg with an "alphas" sourcebook but it died long before that became a reality.

My favorite superhero rpg remains Hero.

I ran DCU for several sessions and it worked quite well. There were some things about the system I didn't like but overall it was enjoyable. After reading through Godsend Agenda it looks as if they cleaned up many of the problems with the original DCU rules. I'm hoping to try D6 Supers someday.

[prophet118]

i always felt that BNW was more of a street level game, personally.


but thats basically because of my own opinions on games and power levels of super hero games..

BNW cant possibly ever hope to be in the same power category as abberant, or even heroes unlimited... or any other game that makes level and experience matter.

[Jerry D. Grayson]

I think BNW doesn’t get a fair shake because people expected it to do something it never promised to do. I can see where people would feel upset with the idea that the game would dole out info and new powers as the game went on but beyond that I really liked the game.
Looking back I believe what they were trying to do is give you easy to use templates like the D6 books did except theirs were a little more involved. I think BNW was just like GODSEND Agenda because it has elements of super heroes in it but its not a “true” super hero game. When you stray to far from the center people either really like it or really hate it. Its hard to please everyone when you do something extreme. I understand when folks gripe that GODSEND isn’t as generic as M&M or Champions, it isn’t meant to be. There was a very specific design goal when creating GA.

[prophet118]

ive read background information (story stuff) that Matt posted sometime in 2004... lemme tell ya, i could see ALOT of of things similiar between GSA and BNW

makes me wonder if that was why Matt is in the GSA book.... which leads me to ask, what all work did matt do on godsend?

im just really curious, as i said, ive seen the BNW story..lol, i know what was going to happen

[Jerry D. Grayson]

He wrote and essay on page 262. I wish he could have written more, Matt is a very talented writer. You should go by his website and take a look ate what he's up to. The man is very busy with a lot of projects.

[prophet118]

i'll just have to do that, got an address for me?... or is it www.mattforbeck.com?

[J.T.]

I have to admit I like BNW as well. I think it has a lot going for it (I also have all the books) and as a simple fast game with very few rules it works well. The setting is ok ( I've only used it once for a game) but tended to use the rules in my own super setting (a very early X men type world where powers weren't mega strong and those with them were seen as outsiders)

I Didn't like the fact that powers were dotted throughout the books and felt a good powers / tricks book should have been produced early on in the games life (but then that would have lessened the sale of the other books) but I understand the marketing value of doing what they did.

For me GA has the same fell as BNW in that the rules are simple and fast (something I always like) but GA went the right way in creating a fantastic setting that the rules hang on but both can be seperate entities as well (if you like the rules but not the setting you can use them ...... if you like the setting but not the rules then it can be easily converted to another system).

I know that, like BNW, there will be poeple out there that hate GA for some reason or another and will turn round and compare it to another game.
I prefer to take a game on its merrits and assess it on a list of criteria that I want to see in a game without comparisons to others as thery say "horses for courses"

I like the way GA is heading and has ticked many of the boxes I like to see in a superhero game.

J.T.

[Alric]

I think BNW was just like GODSEND Agenda because it has elements of super heroes in it but its not a “true” super hero game. When you stray to far from the center people either really like it or really hate it. Its hard to please everyone when you do something extreme. I understand when folks gripe that GODSEND isn’t as generic as M&M or Champions, it isn’t meant to be. There was a very specific design goal when creating GA.

BNW and GODSEND are different in one very important way. GODSEND has rules for creating pretty much any super hero you can imagine. The system is not quite as flexible as HERO but it's close. BNW failed because you couldn't create your own super, you were limited to just a few predifined power sets.

If there had been more templates or some sort of power creation rules it would have done better. The unrelenting dark, grim, and gritty setting didn't help either. I wonder how the setting would be recieved now with the current political climate.

[prophet118]

well, its not like BNW was a game that came out so long ago... granted we didnt have all the issues we did now, 3 years ago (or hwoever long ago)

but i dont see anything really changing, Matt obviously had things laid out the way he wanted

for that matter, why didnt Jerry do more political things with Godsend?... given the nature of the meta story...

if we want to go down that road, we'd have alot of what ifs, but Jerry has allowed us to bring in what we want from our world

[Alric]

well, its not like BNW was a game that came out so long ago... granted we didnt have all the issues we did now, 3 years ago (or hwoever long ago)


It came out in mid 1999, almost 7 years ago! Egad! Where is the time going?

[prophet118]

ok, i'll give ya that one..lol

course, since BNW history technically starts diverging at kennedy's almost assassination anything from then on would be different from our own world structure