Meme-Free Zone

More games and supplements for Hero System, the RPG system that (almost) launched the superhero RPG genre as Champions - there were some predecessors, none especially good - then diversified to cover the whole spectrum of genres. One is for the system as a whole, the other focuses on Champions This is mostly new to these bundles but there are a few repeats mixed in with them:

Hero System 6E

https://bundleofholding.com/presents/Hero6E

"This is one of two offers now in progress featuring the 2009 Sixth Edition of the HERO System from Hero Games. This HERO System 6E Bundle has the core rulebook and essential supplements. Its companion offer, Champions 6E, has the superheroic line of campaign supplements and sourcebooks, including the standalone Champions Complete rulebook.

Across five editions from 1980 to 2009, Champions and the HERO System maintained remarkable consistency. A character built way back in First Edition, though underpowered by the standards of Fifth Revised Edition, can nonetheless wade into a FRED battle basically unchanged. But Hero Games line developer Steven S. Long, the prolific mainstay of the line, saw opportunities to fix a few minor issues that had bothered him and others. On the Hero forums in 2008 he solicited discussion and feedback in a topic that eventually accumulated several thousand posts. Steve read them all, discussed them a lot, and eventually synthesized a truly gigantic two-volume, 788-page rules set that did, indeed, fix those minor issues.

Sixth is the first version that makes breaking changes to backward compatibility, though these revisions make barely a ripple compared to, say, D&D 3.x > 4E > 5E. Most heroes designed for previous editions still work fine in 6E, though if you care about accurate point totals, a conversion requires significant tuning. [Jargon alert: For those familiar with HERO, Sixth Edition drops the venerable cost breaks for Figured Characteristics, and compensates by upping a character's starting character points. Some skill prices have changed, a few powers (especially Adjustments) are reworked and repriced, and Elemental Controls have given way to "Unified Power." The most significant design revision is a slight nerfing of Killing Attacks: The Stun Multiple is reduced, and non-resistant defenses work against KAs by default. On the other hand, Armor Piercing is now a +1/4 advantage -- cheap!]

For a few years after its debut, 6E amplified in the HERO community the previously negligible annoyance of edition wars. Much of this tension arose because 6E requires a technical shift in thinking about character conceptions and point costs. Now players tend to view its changes as logical and sensible, if sometimes over-detailed. (When a HERO fan calls rules "over-detailed," you may justly raise an eyebrow.) Sixth Edition, like every HERO edition, has its particular adherents -- but 6E has earned wider respect as one more evolution of a landmark system that, across 40 years, still draws devoted fans.

In both page count and discount off retail price, these two offers represent some of the best values we've ever presented. We provide each ebook complete in .PDF (Portable Document Format). Like all Bundle of Holding titles, these books have NO DRM (Digital Restrictions Management), and our customers are entitled to move them freely among all their ereaders.

Ten percent of each purchase of these two HERO offers (after gateway fees) goes to their pandemic-related charity, Direct Relief.

The total retail value of the titles in this offer is an impressive US$258. Customers who pay just US$24.95 get all seven titles in this offer's Player Collection (retail value $135) as DRM-free .PDF ebooks, including three complete 6E core rulebooks -- the 138-page HERO System Basic Rulebook (retail price $15) and the complete two-volume corebook, V1 Character Creation (retail $20) and V2 Combat and Adventuring (retail $20) -- as well as the rules expansions Advancd Player's Guide (retail $19) and Advanced Players' Guide II (retail $18); and the 6E Equipment Guide (retail $17.50) and Skills (retail $20, both previously in our November 2013 Hero Bundle).

Those who pay more than this offer's threshold (average) price, which is set at $39.95 to start, also get this offer's entire Game Master Collection with six more titles worth an additional $128, including Star Hero 6E (retail $33) and Fantasy Hero 6E (retail $20, both also in the November 2013 offer); the Grimoire (retail $20), Bestiary (retail $20), and Martial Arts (retail $15); and The Ultimate Base (retail $20).

Champions 6E

https://bundleofholding.com/presents/Champions6E

"This is the second of two offers now in progress featuring the 2009 Sixth Edition of the HERO System from Hero Games. The first offer, HERO System 6E Bundle, has the universal rulebooks and generic supplements and sourcebooks that let you create any kind of character and campaign.  This companion offer, Champions 6E, adds the superhero-specific rules, campaign books, and sourcebooks.

We provide each ebook complete in .PDF (Portable Document Format). Like all Bundle of Holding titles, these books have NO DRM (Digital Restrictions Management), and our customers are entitled to move them freely among all their ereaders.

Ten percent of each purchase (after gateway fees) goes to these two HERO 6E offers' pandemic-related charity, Direct Relief. Direct Relief gets protective gear and critical care medications to health workers, with emergency deliveries to medical facilities across the US and to regional response agencies across the world.

The total retail value of the titles in this offer is a very rich US$198.50. Customers who pay just US$24.95 get all six titles in this offer's Campaign Collection (retail value $105) as DRM-free .PDF ebooks: the Champions Complete rulebook (retail price $20 -- previously in our November 2013 Hero Bundle); the Champions Sixth Edition campaign sourcebook (retail $20), one of the last game supplements with work by the late Aaron Allston; Powers (retail $20); the 6E version of Champions Universe (retail $20); the Galaxy-spanning Champions Beyond (retail $20); and the recent collection of pregenerated superhero characters, Book of Templates (retail $5).

Those who pay more than this offer's threshold (average) price, which is set at $39.95 to start, also get this offer's entire Villain Collection with four more titles worth an additional $93.50: all three volumes of the massive Villains series -- V1 Master Villains (retail $20), V2 Villain Teams (retail $20), V3 Solo Villains (retail $28.50) -- and Book of the Empress (retail $25) plus its Booklet of the Empress, a 45-page bonus collection of characters provided to backers of the December 2011 Kickstarter campaign
 

Most of the material in both offers is new to these bundles, and very good value if you're a long-time Hero System or Champions fan who has been thinking about going over to the new rules,  or adapting new material to the old rules, or a newcomer who wants to dive in with the latest revisions.

The down side to all this is that the Hero System has never been the simplest of games - the rules can get complicated and reward optimaxing. Some activities, most notably combat, play fairly slowly. In short, there are alternatives that may be more suitable for a newcomer or someone who prefers a faster style of play.

I'll be honest, I'm not enough of an enthusiast to want to dive in and learn it all over again, since I don't think I've actually played any of these games any time this century! If you're already using another multi-genre system you might do better to look at its superhero rules first, but if you're already using the Hero System this could be a very good buy.

Also posted at https://ffutures.dreamwidth.org/2223630.html, where there are comments. Please comment here or there using OpenID.

This is a slightly odd one because it's selling stuff you can download free if you look for the right sites, and will only last a couple of days. But all of the proceeds will be going to a charity which aids game creators who have fallen on hard times, which I have to consider a good thing even if I hopefully will never need to take advantage of it it.

https://bundleofholding.com/presents/Birthday2021

This offer launched Friday, February 19, and runs for just three days, through 11PM Eastern US time (GMT -5) Sunday, February 21.

"The Bundle of Holding launched 20 February 2013. We mark the site's eighth anniversary with this benefit offer featuring high-quality free RPGs we wouldn't otherwise be able to present in the Bundle format. You can find all these .PDFs free elsewhere around the web (links below). But, for just a small donation, customers get convenient access to them on their Wizard's Cabinet download page here on the Bundle site -- and the entire donation (after gateway fees) goes to this offer's designated charity, the RPG Creators Relief Fund. The RCRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity founded to provide financial assistance to tabletop roleplaying creators suffering hardship due to medical emergencies, natural disasters, and other catastrophic situations.

We provide each ebook complete in .PDF (Portable Document Format). Like all Bundle of Holding titles, these books have NO DRM (Digital Restrictions Management), and our customers are entitled to move them freely among all their devices.

Customers who donate just US$1 get all three free games in our Starter Collection as DRM-free .PDF ebooks, including the universal Forge Engine from Hero Forge, the fast and simple superhero RPG Kapow!, and a historical story game about the suffragette movement, Deeds, Not Words.

And if they instead donate $2 or more, customers receive the entire Starter Collection and also get our entire Bonus Collection with eight more free games and scenarios, including the mordant horror-satire Apocalypse Engine game The Happiest Apocalypse on Earth, the high-crunch strategic FRPG Zafir: Tactical Roleplaying, Zap! (the science fiction version of Kapow!), and five scenarios of cosmic horror by Caleb Stokes (Red Markets) set in the Great Depression, originally presented in the 2013 collection No Security: Bryson Springs, Revelations, The Fall Without End, The Red Tower, and The Wives of March.

I haven't had time to take a good look at the books, but it seems to be a pretty good idea, and there's enough diversity in the games that most people should find something they like: where else will you find an RPG about the Suffragettes? Recommended!

Also posted at https://ffutures.dreamwidth.org/2223501.html, where there are comments. Please comment here or there using OpenID.

Started feeling a bit of a headache and generally achey this evening, which is more or less as expected, I think. Hoping I'll be feeling better tomorrow or by the weekend.

13 hours later, after a couple of ibuprofen tablets and a  good night's sleep feeling pretty much OK. Hopefully that's it for my reaction.

Also posted at https://ffutures.dreamwidth.org/2223196.html, where there are comments. Please comment here or there using OpenID.

Six hours after vaccination with the Astra Zeneca vaccine, and no evil reactions whatever so far. My temperatures up about half a degree, which is not especially significant, that's about it. I'm guessing I'll probably feel it a little more tomorrow.

Also posted at https://ffutures.dreamwidth.org/2222914.html, where there are comments. Please comment here or there using OpenID.

A new bundle of stuff in the "old school" genre - dungeon-bashing and general adventuring intended to bring back the "good old days" of RPGs.

https://bundleofholding.com/presents/OSCool

"Old School Cool is a new collection of RPGs and sourcebooks with stylish takes on the Old School Revival spirit of roleplaying's earliest days. This offer presents Ben Dutter's Vagabonds of Dyfed and Dortoka, Hypertellurians from Mottokrosh Machinations, Diogo Nogueira's rules-light Sharp Swords / Solar Blades / Dark Streets games, and more.

We provide each ebook complete in .PDF (Portable Document Format). Like all Bundle of Holding titles, these books have NO DRM (Digital Restrictions Management), and our customers are entitled to move them freely among all their devices.

Ten percent of each purchase (after gateway fees) goes to this offer's pandemic-related charity, Direct Relief. Direct Relief gets protective gear and critical care medications to health workers, with emergency deliveries to medical facilities across the US and to regional response agencies across the world.

The total retail value of the titles in this offer is US$89.50. Customers who pay just US$7.95 get all five titles in our Starter Collection (retail value $33) as DRM-free .PDF ebooks, including Vagabonds of Dyfed (retail price $8), Ben Dutter's unholy union of OSR ideals with Powered by the Apocalypse mechanics; Pariah (retail $7), Sofinho's psychedelic proto-Neolithic animist Old-School zine; Diego Nogueira's rules-light sword-and-sorcery game Sharp Swords & Sinister Spells (retail $3.50), plus its Addendum rules expansion that's twice as long as the corebook (retail $4.50); and the Iron Age comics-inspired street vigilante game Fallen Justice (retail $10).

Those who pay more than the threshold (average) price, which is set at $17.95 to start, also get our entire Bonus Collection with seven more titles worth an additional $56.50, including the hyper-stylized science-fantasy RPG Hypertellurians (retail $15); the Vagabonds location guide Dortoka: City on the Sea of Glass (retail price $8); Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells (retail $15), plus its campaign-changing adventure The Egyptian Situation From Outer Time (retail $5); and the modern urban-fantasy horror RPG Dark Streets & Darker Secrets (retail $10), with its GM Screen (retail $2) and its anarcho-punk vampire supplement Streets of Blood (retail $1.50)."

I don't think that there's actually anything here that screams "I want this" to me, but it looks like there's an interesting range of genres. Several different rules systems are used, if you don't already own them it might be worth checking how much work you will need to do to adapt this stuff for your preferred game.

Also posted at https://ffutures.dreamwidth.org/2222791.html, where there are comments. Please comment here or there using OpenID.

Got a letter from the NHS asking me to book a Covid vaccination today, and (contrary to expectations) had no trouble finding a nearby centre with plenty of time slots and booking an appointment. Accordingly I will be trekking a whole 2.2 miles on Wednesday afternoon, and getting the booster at the same place in May. It's very near the school where I used to work, and if things were more normal I might drop in and say "hi", but not under the current circumstances.

More on the horrors to come (if any) as and if they come.

Also posted at https://ffutures.dreamwidth.org/2222542.html, where there are comments. Please comment here or there using OpenID.

 OK, the sun is shining, there is about a quarter inch of show on the ground at most, and it looks like we're going to have a couple of relatively sunny days followed by warmer wetter weather. I think that it's all a bit anticlimactic.

Which probably means that the forecasters have got it completely wrong and we'll have a blizzard tonight or something...

Also posted at https://ffutures.dreamwidth.org/2222096.html, where there are comments. Please comment here or there using OpenID.

I don't normally comment on Humble Bundle computer games offers, but since I know that several people who read this are into railways I might as well mention that they currently have an offer on Dovetail Games Train Simulator 2021 (for Windows) and some add-ons

https://www.humblebundle.com/games/train-sim-expedition-bundle

79p gets you the game and a few engine add-ons, pay more to get more.

I think that this used to be Microsoft train simulator but I could be wrong. You need a Steam account to download everything. How appropriate...

Also posted at https://ffutures.dreamwidth.org/2222064.html, where there are comments. Please comment here or there using OpenID.

 Still snowing, not settling as much as I expected. I don't think the outside temperature has been lower than 1 centigrade since Sunday night - not much warmer, but hovering just above freezing. Don't know if it'll stop snowing or start settling first.

Also posted at https://ffutures.dreamwidth.org/2221574.html, where there are comments. Please comment here or there using OpenID.

Another game (and a comic) I've somehow never heard of, which is odd because several people tell me that the comic is very good. Basically, this is a big bundle of the Atomic Robo comic collections (nine of them) and an RPG based on them using the FATE rules.

https://bundleofholding.com/presents/AtomicRobo

"This new offer presents nine complete .PDF graphic albums of the Eisner Award-nominated Atomic Robo comic series from Tesladyne LLC, plus the 2014 Atomic Robo RPG from Evil Hat Productions. In 1923 Nikola Tesla unveils a robot with automatic intelligence: Atomic Robo! Granted full American citizenship in 1938 after a secret military operation, Robo founds Tesladyne, a two-fisted think tank that explores the fringes of scientific inquiry. After decades of high-octane, full-contact hypothesis testing at the edge of human knowledge, Robo and the Action Scientists of Tesladyne are the go-to defense force against the unexplained.

Created in 2007 by Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener, Atomic Robo has been online since 2015 at atomic-robo.com. There the creators post Robo's century-spanning adventures, supported by a Tesladyne Patreon campaign and eight successful Kickstarters. There's giant monsters, rogue agencies, underground cities, trans-dimensional vampires, one particularly annoying dinosaur, and lots of explosions. (Lots of explosions.) Atomic Robo reads like the Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones, Buckaroo Banzai, and Rocketeer movies crammed into a robot who wears pants. Jump in anywhere -- each graphic album is a self-contained story, so you can read them in any order.

We provide each ebook complete in .PDF (Portable Document Format). Like all Bundle of Holding titles, these books have NO DRM (Digital Restrictions Management), and our customers are entitled to move them freely among all their devices.

Ten percent of each purchase (after gateway fees) goes to this offer's pandemic-related charity, Direct Relief. Direct Relief gets protective gear and critical care medications to health workers, with emergency deliveries to medical facilities across the US and to regional response agencies across the world.

The total retail value of the titles in this offer is US$138. Customers who pay just US$12.95 get all seven titles in our Starter Collection (retail value $70) as DRM-free .PDF ebooks, including Evil Hat's complete standalone 322-page Atomic Robo RPG rulebook based on Fate Core (previously presented in the November 2015 Bundle of Fate 3), three Tesladyne graphic albums (Atomic Robo and Other Strangeness , The Ghost of Station X, and The Shadow From Beyond Time), and Action Science resources like the Tesladyne Field Manual and FM-Ultra Field Manual -- and behold the pulpy fruit of a vastly superior reptilian intelligence in Dr. Dinosaur's Time Travel Guide!

Those who pay more than the threshold (average) price, which is set at $24.95 to start, also get our entire Bonus Collection with seven more titles worth an additional $68, including the Atomic Robo RPG supplement Majestic 12; four more Atomic Robo graphic albums (The Ring of Fire, The Savage Sword of Dr. Dinosaur, The Spectre of Tomorrow, and The Temple of Od); and two collections of the Robo companion comic Real Science Adventures: Flying She-Devils of the Pacific and The Nicodemus Job.

I've had a quick look at the comic and the game system, and both look pretty good. The comic looks to be a lot of fun, and the game makes heavy use of illustrations and examples from the comic for a very enjoyable setting. It uses the FATE rules which means you need a few special dice, but they're basically 6-siders with faces marked with +, - , or blank, and it's easy to use ordinary D6 instead. Recommended!

Later - I should probably say that there are no adventures - lots of material on running them, and a few outlines, but no actual adventures. Thanks to original_aj for asking!

Also posted at https://ffutures.dreamwidth.org/2221531.html, where there are comments. Please comment here or there using OpenID.