I've been going through the Superhero RPG Mystery Men! by John Stater and I've been really enjoying this set of rules for a Supers game. Though I have yet to take it out for an actual test-drive, the quick pace, familiar rules-lite system is much to my liking.
The one thing that has just blown me away is the inspired campaign setting that comes with the rules: Shore City. Stater has put together a really fantastic broad-stroke hero's setting that gives you just enough to spark your imagination but without getting bogged down in over-descriptive location and characters. An imaginary industrial city on the Great Lakes, Shore City is filled with all manner of colorful neighborhoods, characters and plot hooks that can keep a campaign going for ages. Rich industrialists, ambitious politicians, gangsters and clever scientists all help to bring this city to life in any style of campaign; whether it be for a gritty street-fighting hero or a powerful cosmic entity. Shore City can cover the gambit with room to spare.
Every good comic hero has as his backdrop a city that is as much a character as himself; Bat-man has Gotham City, Superman has Metropolis, Marvel Comics has all of New York City. The city itself should be a major character and in Shore City you get that.
Reading it I couldn't help but feel that I wanted to dive right in there and cause some havoc or chase some baddies down and there was plenty of room to add enough color of my own. That's a sign of a well written setting.
I've really enjoyed reading this rule set. It's well put together and written with passion of the genre. I'm hoping to get a game started this fall. I'll keep you posted.
Totally agree. Mystery Men is good stuff
ReplyDeleteThanks guys - it means a lot!
ReplyDeleteYou just stay away from my warehouses in Shore City, or I'll have to have my boys come down and have a little talk.
ReplyDeleteWould this future game be over the internet, by any chance? The game sounds interesting and if the game was online, I would love to play.
ReplyDelete@Matt - yeah, it's a very well written game. Looking forward to getting into it.
ReplyDelete@Matthew - The Firefly isn't afraid of a couple of goons. I may have to stop by the warehouse district later tonight.
@Human's folly - I actually have been thinking of running this game online this fall. No definite plans yet, but I'll be talking about it here on the blog.