Marvel Super Heroes: The Heroic Role-Playing Game
| Publisher(s) | TSR |
|---|---|
| System(s) | Marvel Super Heroes |
Marvel Super Heroes: The Heroic Role-Playing Game is a role-playing game supplement published by TSR in 1984 for the Marvel Super Heroes role-playing game, and was the debut boxed set for the game.
Marvel Super Heroes: The Heroic Role-Playing Game is a boxed set detailing a superhero system based on the characters and universe of Marvel Comics. The very simple, introductory rules use one "Universal Table" to determine success of all actions. A round is defined as 'one panel in a comic book' rather than as a specific period of time. A universal table, coupled with a simple battle effects table, is used for dice resolution.
The Battle Book (16 pages) is primarily intended as a simplified introduction to the game. The book covers combat, which is position-oriented. as well as the basic rules of the game, including characteristics, and how to perform basic feats and fight stats. It demonstrates the seven main characteristics (Fighting, Agility, Strength, Endurance, Reason, Intuition, and Psyche) plus the four variable characteristics: Health (hit points), Karma, Resources (such as money) and Popularity. It also emphasises that all of these statistics vary throughout the game. The value of each characteristic is rated on a scale of 11 grades ranging from "Feeble" (subhuman) to "Good" and "Amazing" to "Class 1000" which is incomprehensibly powerful and unattainable by players. Powers and skills are rated on the same scale and their use is regulated by a dice roll. These are emphasised on the back cover of both game books. Dice rolls can also be altered by expending Karma which can be recovered by performing good deeds or fulfilling obligations. Karma can also be removed from the player by misdeeds, crimes, and other mistakes. "Super-villains" earn Karma by committing crimes or defeating and humiliating opponents.
The "Campaign Book" (48 pages) covers characters (including a sample character creation sequence), vehicles and equipment, and information on how to run a campaign. The Campaign Book deals with character generation, the nature and use of powers, and the design and proper use of equipment. The Campaign Book provides several examples for each character characteristic and rank. The Campaign book suggests two methods for character generation: a purely random system, and a free-choice system in which the player selects characters levels, powers and skills, and then submits them to the referee for approval and modification to appropriate levels for the campaign or scenario. As the game progresses, Karma points may be saved in "pools" to buy or improve characteristics and powers. These points must be allocated to a specific purpose before they are saved. Bad Karma losses can wipe out accumulated pools before they can be spent.
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