Category: RPG

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The Fires of War: The Algernon Files Volume 2 – Excellent Golden Age BlackWyrm universe value

A BlackWyrm Golden Age supplement – with the moment chosen as being 1942. It includes a timeline and several pages of optional rules and what happened to some of the characters, where appropriate, postwar.

This is of similar quality and value to the first.

Anthem, Amadeus, American Eagles [Angelo “Jackie” Benzetti, Cassandra “Cassie” Jennings, Samuel Lincoln, Percy Tidwell,], — Abraxas, Alchemist, Amazon, Atlanteans,
— Blut [Eisen,], Baron Brass,
Cagliostro, Cogito,
Doc Steel, Doc Epoch, — Donner, Dagon, Dr Diablo, Dr Prometheus, Dr Scarab,
— Element of Crime, Emperor of Heaven, Evergreen,
Fearless Five [Malachite the Magician, Pathwork Man, Queen of Hearts, Tommy Triumph, El Toro,], — Falken, Feuerzahn, Dr Veronika Von Frankenstein [Die Shocktruppen,], Fantasia,
Glorianna, Gryphon, Gunslinger, — Grendel, Gilgamesh,
Quincy Harkness, Avery “Red” Hawkins, — Hachiman, Hag,
— Iron Skull,
Jack B. Quick, John Bull, — Jaegerin, Jotun,
Kid Galahad, — Kamikaze,
Quentin “Kid Congo” McKenzie, — Madrigal, Malice Afterthought, Maximus Rex, Morpheus,
— Needle, Nic Time,
Old Glory, Orphans [Juliet, Hans, Otto, Ferdinan, Andrew,], — Oni
Pendragon, — Parzifal
— Requiem, Rex Mundi,
Silent Knight, Sea Devil, Scorpion, — Schreckmaker, Schwarzenritter, Spinne, Saurian Dominion [Shocktroops, Counselors,], Salamanca, See Hexe, Simple Simon,
Thunderbird, Tom Thumb, Timesavers [Archimedes Jones, Samson Smith, Matthew Tangent, Folding Dragon, Zara the Dinosaur Slayer,], — Dr Ernst Thule [Valkyrie, Acolytes,], Tetsujin, Terrible Triumvirate [Esmerelda Griffith, Harcourt Jeykll, Etienne Moreau, Beast Men,],
Ultranaut, — Ungeneur
Watchman, Jackson Wilde, Laurel Wilde, — Wunderkind
— Zeitgeist, Zavier Zodiac,

Both the M&M and Hero versions are $14.95 – http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/19852/The-Fires-of-War…

0.14 Character Cost
0.81 Character Density

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The Algernon Files – Quite impressed with this superhero universe

Basically, an entire superhero universe/campaign from Black Wyrm games. A nice layout, with groups and independents and gear and even a several page timeline to finish. Illustrated, in colour.

A good hero to villain balance, to boot.

Algernon, Anthem, Nkebo Achebwe, Lady Absinthe, — Adonis, Assembly,
Rosalyn Berkowitz, Blackheart, Blackbird, Brimstone, Best Man, — Bellerophon, Bloodstar,
Jasper Caldwell, Cyberhawk, Umberto Corvaggio, Chronicle, — Carapace, Carrionette, Cadmus, Charon, Carnelian, Crone [Walking Hut, Lorusski, Vodyanoi, Puzushka, Rusalka,], Crucible,
Emily DaCosta, Dr Rune, Dr Chiropterus, — Dr Prometheus, Damocles, Dervish,
Film Noir, — Facade, Figment,
— Goth, Geryon, Guardian Drones, Golem, Ghoul,
Hardcore, Horus, — Hauntress, Heartbreaker,
Iron Angel, — Ice Queen,
Stan Kirby, Dorian Killgrave [Historians, Soldiers, Magicians, Counterintelligence, Seraphim,], — Kid Shiva, Krait,
Dr Ellen Li, Darren Long, Miss Liberty, — Lament, Lord of Mirrors,
Minuteman, — Magog, Mean Machine,
— Nemesis, Nergal, Night Archer,
Onyx, — Opaque
Peacekeeper, — Prodigal, Perdition, Perseus, Phalanx, Platinum Blonde, Praetorian [Time Tower, War Dogs, Bloodhawks, Battle Sphere, Stridermechs,], Sepulchre, Serpent Queen [Pit Vipers, Initiates of the Hidden Coil, Divine Form of the Snake,],
Quantum Mechanic,
Raptor, Roc,
Doc Steel, Dr Ramohan Shakar, Sebastian Arcane [Nicodemus,], Speed Demon, Spoil Sport, Sundance, Sabbath, — Sanguine, Seventh Son, Singularity, Smog, Speed Metal, Stiltskin, Surefire,
Matthew Trasker, Technomancer, Troll, Think Tank, Templar,
US Steel, — Terminal Velocity, Telemachus, Tiresias,
Wildflower, Wendy Wildstar, Wraith,

Excellent numbers below, too. The M&M version is $14.95 and is the one I was looking at :- http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/20332/The-Algernon-Fil…
The Hero version is more…licensing, more work? at $19.95

I am quite impressed by this book.

0.13 Character Cost
0.80 Character Density

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Adepts of the Arcane – Long on backstory

Characters from Big Finger’s creation Infiniverse, apparently. These of the magical variety. 12 mentioned but there are a few antagonists scattered throughout extensive character backgrounds and adventure hooks.

Armageddon Girl [Kid Apocalypse,], Aspirant,
Carmody the Rebel, Cold Comfort [The Bride,],
Deadworks,
Magister, Midnight Edition,
Nether [Red Monk,],
Prime-Mortal [Batrachian Hybrids,], Patriarch
Radian,
Sweet Synn,
Troll,

$8.24 – http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/23323/Adepts-of-the-Ar…

0.52 Character Cost
0.19 Character Density

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Children of the Atom – Fabulous Mutant Numbers value

The Marvel Super Heroes Advanced Set version of Project Wideawake, Children of the Atom called itself the official guidebook to mutants. That means the good and the bad. And there is a lot of bad in this one.

Angel, Avalanche, El Aguila, Aurora, — Ariel, Annalee, Ape, Apocalypse, Arcade, Amphibus, Acanti, Astra,
Banshee, Beast, Binary, — Black Bishop, Black King, Black Queen [Selene], Black Rook, Blob, Beautiful Dreamer, Burner, Black Tom, Barbarus, Brainchild, Brood,
Changeling, Colossus, Cyclops, Rusty Collins, Cannonball, Cypher, Lila Cheney, Dr Valerie Cooper, Peter Corbeau, Corsair, Ch’Od — Catseye, Chance, Callisto, Caliban, Joseph “Licorice” Calhoun, Mr Chambers,
Dazzler, — Destiny, Devil Dinosaur, Darkstar, Diamond Lil, Deathbird,
— Empath, Erg, Willie Evans Jr, Equilibrius, Earthquake, Electron,
Firestar, Forge, Sharon Friedlander, — Alexander Flynn, Frenzy, Flashback, Fenris [Andrea/Andreas Strucker], Fang,
Peter Henry Gyrich, — Gremlin, Gypsy Moth, Gaza, Gladiators, Gladiator,
Havok, Stevie Hunter, Hepzibah, — Healer, Cameron Hodge, Hobgoblin, Hussar,
Iceman, — Imperial Guard, Impulse,
Karma,
— Jetstream, Juggernaut,
Lockheed, Lilandra, — Lorelei, Leech, Link, Lifter, Legion, Miss Locke, Lady Deathstrike, Living Monolith, Lupo,
Magneto, Mimic, Marvel Girl, Arthur Maddicks, Magik, Magma, Mirage, Moira MacTaggert, — Mastermind, Mystique, Madrox, Moon Boy, Masque, Mandrill, Mesmero, Magus, Morlocks, Magic, Manta, Mentor, Midget,
Nightcrawler, Northstar, — Michael Nowlan, Nekra, Nuklo, Nightshade, Nimrod
Phoenix [original], Phoenix [current], Polaris, Professor X, — Pyro, Piper [Morlock, Plague, Poltergeist, Peeper, Proteus, Piper [Savage Land],
Quicksilver,
Oracle,
Quasar,
Rogue, Judith Rassendyll, Raza, — Roulette,
Shadowcat, Storm, Sunfire, Skids, Sunspot, Scarlet Witch, Amanda Sefton, Sikorsky, — Spider-Woman, Spiral, Siryn, Sunder, Slither, Shocker, Sabertooth, Silver Samurai, Sauron, Smasher, Starbolt, Sidri, Sentinels [Mark I-VI, X, Alpha, Omega,],
Thunderbird (original), Tattletale, — Tessa, Tarot, Thunderbird [current], Toad, Time Bomb, Tar Baby, Timeshadow, Taskmaster, Larry Trask, Tempest, Titan,
— Unus, Ursa Major,
— Vanisher, Vanguard, Viper [and agents,],
Mariko Yashida,
Wolverine, Warlock, Wolfsbane, Waldo — White Bishop, White King, White Queen, Whirlwind, Warstar,

Compare 100 pages of this to 200+ of Champions Worldwide. Great value character density thanks to the triple column format and simple but descriptive game stats of MSH. Best value monster manual style supplement I ever came across that wasn’t a GHOTMU.

It wasn’t just my imagination over the years how good a deal this one was :-

1.84 Character Density [Otherwise know as The Leader]

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Batman Sourcebook – Wayne Manor Detailed

In the first edition one at least, Batman may have had a higher bad guy to good guy ratio than most.

Alfred,
Batman, Batgirl, Harvey Bullock, Black Lightning,
Catwoman — Clayface II, Croc, Cat Man, Crazy Quilt,
— Deadshot,
Lucius Fox,
Commissioner Gordon, Geo-Force,
— Joker,
Katana,
Halo,
Metamorpho — Mr. Freeze, Man Bat, Mad Hatter,
Nightwing, Nocturna, — Night-Slayer,
— Penguin, Poison Ivy,
Robin, Julia Remarque, — Riddler, R’as Al Ghul,
— Hugo Strange, Scarecrow,
Talia, Two Face,
Vicki Vale,

There’s an extensive map of the various levels of Batman’s joint, too.

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Batman Sourcebook: Second Edition = Less Map, more characters

Mr Atom,
Batman, Batgirl/Oracle, — Black Spider, Bonecrusher,
Commissioner Gordon, Catwoman, — Cat-Man, Cavalier, Clayface II, Clayface III, Crazy Quilt, Calvin & Clifford Clate, Brain Taylor, Elton Craig,
— Deacon Blackfire, Deadshot, John Dolan, Joe Dolan,
Lucius Fox, Fay “Ma” Gunn,
Sergeant Harvey Hainer,
— Joker, Shorty Jackson,
— KGBeast, Killer Moth,
— Mad Hatter, Man-Bat, Mister Freeze,
Nightwing,
— Penguin, Poison Ivy, Alfred Pennyworth,
Robin, — Reaper, Riddler, R’as Al Ghul,
— Hugo Strange, Scarecrow, Charley Stark, Eddie Stark,
Dr. Leslie Thompkins — Two Face, Talia, Tweedledee, Tweedledum,
Vicki Vale,
Warhead,

The second edition has some adventure, Batcave and Utility Belt diagrams

CD = 0.47

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Adventures into Darkness – Public Domain and Horrors

Heroes — Villains

The American Eagle, Ace Buckley, — Arsenath the Body Snatcher,
— Baron von Jundt: The Black Scholar, Blitz,
Captain Future, The Cavalier,
“Doc” Strange, The Dreammaster, — Dagon, Devilfish,
The Fighting Yank, — Professor Fenton,
The Ghost,
— Henry Akeley,
Kara: Jungle Princess, — Keziah the Witch,
The Liberator, — Lucifuge,
The Mask, Mystico: the Wonder Man,
The Night Terror, Nodens,
The Oracle, — Outer Ones, The Ooze,
Pyroman,
The Scarab,
— The Yellow Lama,

So some Public Domain fun and games here. I have the PDQ version.

CC = 0.34 CD = 0.63

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Another 13 Shades of Darkness – Double Century Campaign Sized

Average PDI Agent, Elijah Al-Alim [Commando X],
Black Phantom, Borderers,
Code Name Wifebeater, Cretin [Captain Valiant], Cryptic Star, Mr Chiang,
Discarded, Delirium, Angelica De Lynn, Malcolm Deckerd, Dr Moloch PHD,
Goop, Generic Security Goon,
Horrible Thing, Donna Hopewell, Heavy Brother,
Jet-Metal,
Eileen Kowalski-Wright, Epsilon,
Longing Dead, Lash Lightning,
Mary Blood [Mary’s Brood, Van Helsing Foundation Vampire Killer], Misery [The Black Skull, Army of the Black Skull, Lady Justice,], M’aal’iss’ha, Maiden,
Dr Natalia Noble, Eric Noble [Project Paragon MK],
Out-Warder,
Penitent, Professor Purgatory, Neco-Wyrms
Rage Angels [Megan, Taylor,], Regiment [Dr Groovy, Vile Frog Monster From 30 Million AD,],
Sweet Adeline, Sister Tranquility, Sister Splendor, Hector Sandovar, Dr Shock, Stink-Wortle the Imp, Scrivener Demon,
Violator Red, Vore Dogs, Voracious Legion, Captain Valiant,
X-Hort the Converted,

This supplement says 13 villains…but it is 233 pages, which does cause you to wonder.

As you can see, a lot of other characters included under there. The major thirteen get several pages of backstory writeup, plus there are adventures, spells, gear and assorted supporting characters, aliens and monsters

You could do a campaign with this book.

So call it 50 odd characters of so for $14.99.

How about character cost CC is price per character and character density CD = characters per page.

The lower the density the more other material there is, or other formatting.

CC = 0.28 CD = 0.23

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G-Core Deluxe Superhero Roleplaying Breakdown Review

G-Core Deluxe Superhero Roleplaying Breakdown Review – Jay Libby

71 Pages

Table of Contents – Page 2

Foreword – Page 4 – Reminiscences by Bob Cram

What is a Game – Page 5 – Some general advice

Character Creation Flow – Page 7 – Steps to Follow

1: Type
2: Origin
3: Assign Points to Physical and Mental stats
4: Pick your powers and assign points
5: Pick your Special Focus…assign points to careers and Power Stunts
6: Pick Flaws or Weaknesses
7: Determine your Resources
8: Buy any extras. Armor, gear, weapons.
9: Personal description.

Then a sample character generation, Mr Tinker.

HERO TYPES – Page 8

There are several, from Cop to Student to Genius and some Cosmic Hero types that have varying point totals to assign to Physical and Mental Abilities in 10 point blocks. They have different Special Focus and Flaws.

Modelling Nightblack again we’ll take Vigilante, Physical pool 60 and Mental Pool 50, Special Focus, Martial Arts or Weapon +10. So that works.

The FASERIP abilities here are Rumble, Agility, Might, Moxie, Smarts, Perception, Spirit. Doubling adjective start letters not so good perhaps.
RAMMSPS.

R: 20
A: 10
M: 20
M: 10
S: 20
P: 10
S: 10

ORIGINS – Page 11

Alien, Android, Demi-God, Experiment, Cosmic, Evolutionary, Sentient Robot, Human, Human: Accident, Human: Cursed, Human: Cyborg, Human: Experiment, Human: High Tech, Human: Psychic.

Make him Evolutionary. 50 Power Points, 10 Gear Points, 30 Free Points. Starting Popularity is -10. 1d10 free points of 3 for 30.

R: 50
A: 20
M: 20
M: 30
S: 20
P: 10
S: 10

Darkness Generation: 50
Health = 120
Wild = 40

GAME MECHANICS – Page 15

1d10 * 10 is the roll used to add to statistics and compare to Static Difficulties or Opponent rolls. Easy task is 25 and a Super Task is 100.

Wild – Page 16 – can be added to rolls in multiples of 10. It refreshes between sessions.

Damage – Page 17 – also Stacking two people’s.

Finally some tables. Popularity, statistic benchmarks, and then descriptions following.

POWERS DEFINED – Page 22

Cosmic Powers – Page 39 – with ranks – Cosmic 2 Terraform can affect a Whole Planet.

Magic – Page 43 – with tables for necessary Spirit and Intelligence.

Vehicles, Armour and Weapons – Page 46+

With the relevant statistics and point costs.

GENERICS – Page 49

A list of NPC statistics for use. Cops, crooks, kids, alligators, sharks, rats, etc. Also an environmental effects table for breathing, fire, radiation, weather and that sort of thing.

Experience – Page 56

How to get it.

Villains and how to use them.

Levels of Game Play –

Street – Abilities up to 30
Classic Comic – Abilities up to 50
Super – Abilities up to 100 with a Major Weakness
Pulp – Only one over 30

Power Failure – Page 60 – Overloading and what happens when you do it.

Character Worksheets – Page 61

Genre Suitability: Any. Street level is perhaps the weakest point for FASERIP games and would need the most tweaking, but this point buy version might handle those slightly better. Colourful heroics are fine. There are rules in here for the really Cosmic as well. So should be able to take a crack at that.
Artwork: Poor computer modelled variety.

0 0ut of 10 Price (lower is cheaper per page)
3 out of 10 Length (lower is shorter)
5 out of 10 Complexity (lower is easier)
6 out of 10 Playability
1 out of 10 Artwork

5 out of 10 Overall

This takes the Marvel Super Heroes FASERIP game and gives it a 4CS inspired redo. With point-buy by character and origin type which is an interesting mix and match idea.

With eye-battering fluro green borders and somewhat messy layout raising the decipher the difficulty level. Using a d10+Ability opposition or target difficulty check to do away with the Universal Table, further diverging from the source. For an amateur production is understandably written and you can definitely play it. It could use some early table summary use when some game concepts are introduced and also perhaps as included handout/printout separate pages at the end. There is only one included character for use.

A playable game, but it isn’t easy being bright green when reading, so have to mark it down for layout.

2.5 out of 5

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