tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post7687327316639886504..comments2024-03-29T00:32:33.920-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Retrospective: Marvel Super HeroesJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-22065430541758466602010-02-06T16:14:51.075-05:002010-02-06T16:14:51.075-05:00Jeff,
Thanks for stopping by -- and thanks for gi...Jeff,<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by -- and thanks for giving us all a great and memorable roleplaying game. We are in your debt.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-65877640189644107422010-02-06T12:38:57.626-05:002010-02-06T12:38:57.626-05:00And James, I implore you: Why would you play a Mar...<i>And James, I implore you: Why would you play a Marvel game if you didn't want to play Spider-Man, or Captain America, or someone like that?</i><br /><br>You mean like the way that someone playing <i>Star Wars</i> wants to play Han Solo or Luke Skywalker? For me, playing a licensed RPG is about playing <i>in that world</i> but not playing different characters rather than those we already know. I don't see a lot of point in using an existing character; doing so removes one of the key elements of fun for me: creating my own character.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-68923077469451333442010-02-06T12:36:47.628-05:002010-02-06T12:36:47.628-05:00Typo in posting: "Normally, only a white succ...<i>Typo in posting: "Normally, only a white success was needed..."; actually, white was always a failure, green was the first general success category.</i><br /><br>Not a typo but a memory lapse. It's been years since I last played the game.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-68374132674333163562010-02-05T23:05:51.822-05:002010-02-05T23:05:51.822-05:00Even at the age of 15 I suppose my group and I wer...Even at the age of 15 I suppose my group and I were already looking to customize as much as possible. We loved comic books but never wanted to 'be Spider-Man' or 'be Batman'. We wanted to be our own guys. As Jeff Grubb himself stated, that wasn't the primary goal of the game when it first game out and so that soured our initial reaction to it I'm afraid.<br /><br />Additionally, I am more of a DC fan. ;)<br /><br />By the way, Mr. Grubb, its a pleasure to read your blog and so cool of you to come here and rap with us. The ol' guard dudes just rock.<br /><br />Regarding the names for levels of power thing - BigFella hit it right on the head for me.<br /><br />@Matthew...Yeah. I took the SATs...but anything that reminds me of high school gets a boo hiss.Adam Dicksteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-65777894654780433232010-02-05T16:47:34.909-05:002010-02-05T16:47:34.909-05:00When I was eleven or so, we played the advanced MS...When I was eleven or so, we played the advanced MSH ruleset with the Ultimate Powers Book every day after school. I rolled a sentient vegetable with the Nemesis power (copy one power from anyone within range) at Monstrous rank. I modeled my character after Bob Burden's Flaming Carrot, and I had some truly ridiculous adventures, culminating in becoming the herald of Galactus, whereupon I became the Silver Carrot.<br /><br />Great game.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-45532114180267943132010-02-05T12:40:07.390-05:002010-02-05T12:40:07.390-05:00Thanks to all for your kind comments. They encoura...Thanks to all for your kind comments. They encouraged me to get around to telling some of the secret history of MSH, over at my <a href="http://grubbstreet.blogspot.com/2010/02/secret-origins.html" rel="nofollow">Grubb Street</a> blog. Enjoy.Jeff_Grubbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16326936187418519745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-76851999998025258212010-02-05T10:25:39.234-05:002010-02-05T10:25:39.234-05:00Hi, I would just like to add my gratitude to Jeff ...Hi, I would just like to add my gratitude to Jeff and Steven for creating such an elegant game. <br /><br />I have been running a superhero campaign, set in its own world and with totally original characters, that is now in its sixteenth year and still going strong. <br /><br />In addition, I have found the system so flexible that I and my friends have run everything from zombie horror adventures, to all-out sci-fi and wild west (with some creative tailoring of new skills such as Quick Draw and Hard Drinkin'). <br /><br />For my regular role playing group it is our favourite system of all time. (And believe me, we've played almost every system under the sun.)<br /><br />Thanks once again, Jeff and Steve, for almost 2 decades of role playing entertainment.<br /><br />Brady WebbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-9578948753764069832010-02-05T03:02:37.175-05:002010-02-05T03:02:37.175-05:00The game's most serious flaw is the lack of an...<i>The game's most serious flaw is the lack of anything other than a rudimentary -- and random -- character creation system.</i><br /><br />Not to me; I dumped even that "system" and went to free-form modeling! The many examples of familiar characters served very well in providing benchmarks.dwayanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17567179462076785024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-70761038638708198682010-02-04T15:26:17.758-05:002010-02-04T15:26:17.758-05:00@Matthew: Yet, curiously, Amazing is a higher rank...@Matthew: Yet, curiously, Amazing is a higher rank than Incredible in Marvel Super-Heroes...Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15039997817901860557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-76235258487462328772010-02-04T11:10:22.091-05:002010-02-04T11:10:22.091-05:00Barking Alien: incredible is to amazing as the Hul...Barking Alien: incredible is to amazing as the Hulk is to Spider-Man. (Didn't you ever take the SATs?)Matthew Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04905727799828366356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-72842300693734645022010-02-04T09:57:58.587-05:002010-02-04T09:57:58.587-05:00@ Eli Arndt
Simple, elegant, and very much one of...<b>@ Eli Arndt</b><br /><br /><i>Simple, elegant, and very much one of the most organic and loyal superhero RPG systems out there. The GM's job was so easy in that game almost never ground to a halt, even when the players might otherwise have thrown him for a loop.</i><br /><br />Perfect summation!TJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10571173651083878606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-4248077724829607732010-02-04T09:43:18.255-05:002010-02-04T09:43:18.255-05:00I loved the super flexible Marvel mechanics. In th...I loved the super flexible Marvel mechanics. In the late 80's & early 90's I used it's universal table to create a custom games like a Pulp campaign based on <i>Temple of Doom</i>, a Dawn of Dead-like zombie campaign, a Marvel game based on <b>Project Wide Awake</b> campaign with the players playing straight laced G-men taking down freaky mutants, and a campaign based on Marvel's horrible <i>New Universe</i>. I even know of a friend's 12 year old who is currently using the Marvel mechanics to run a <i>Lord of the Rings</i>/D&D-like game. <br /><br />Not only did Marvel supplant D&D with my group, but I spent my spare time after school creating a "random character roller" on my Commodore 64 which would spit out random characters with "hollow bones" and the "Power Cosmic" which would show up in my games as random baddies/mutants.<br /><br />I think the Marvel Universal table is probably the easiest, rules light system available.TJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10571173651083878606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-73055444448847001652010-02-04T07:16:51.484-05:002010-02-04T07:16:51.484-05:00I just got it!
It's funny how you can look at...I just got it!<br /><br />It's funny how you can look at something 20+ years later and see it in a completely different light.<br /><br />Marvel-Phile as in "lover of Marvel" and also "The Marvel-File." LOL!<br /><br />It didn't help of course that the last time I looked at an old Dragon magazine I was reading "Marvel-Phill" whatever that meant.<br /><br />Can't say I didn't learn anything in college.goeticgeekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806200047269447375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-62181692599770352142010-02-04T06:23:52.745-05:002010-02-04T06:23:52.745-05:00I doubt the word 'Excelsior' by itself is ...I doubt the word 'Excelsior' by itself is owned by anyone; Stan Lee didn't invent the word, and a couple of other people have apparently used it in the same way he did (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excelsior )anarchisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05546197561922726279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-80942480597318948822010-02-04T00:48:42.567-05:002010-02-04T00:48:42.567-05:00I am not sure I agree with your assumption that MS...I am not sure I agree with your assumption that MSH was intended to be used with pregens. They were provided yes, but as much for team-ups and oppositions as for playing. <br /><br />The character generation system allowed for both random generation and a method called "modelling" in which a player was allowed to work with the Judge to create a character that was thematic as opposed to random.<br /><br />The creation of the Marvel Phile was not intended exclusively to provide more pre-gen characters but to provide a steady stream of supporting characters for your games. Anybody who's read Marvel comics knows that at some point all heroes team up with Spider-Man and that nearly every hero is in some way affiliated with the Avengers.<br /><br />Heck, they put out several three-hole volumes detailing, alphabetical listings of practically every character in the Marvel universe.<br /><br />I do gree with your review of the system, though. Simple, elegant, and very much one of the most organic and loyal superhero RPG systems out there. The GM's job was so easy in that game almost never ground to a halt, even when the players might otherwise have thrown him for a loop.<br /><br />The system also allowed for and encouraged the development of a characters' powers throug hthe use of Karma (XP) during game play to create new "power stunts". Spend the points and perform the stunt enough times and it became a permanent part of your character's bag of tricks.<br /><br />Great game!<br /><br />-EliEli Arndthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10445801567500822187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-51157251041845700642010-02-04T00:04:06.099-05:002010-02-04T00:04:06.099-05:00One of the greatest RPGs of all time.
In fact, I ...One of the greatest RPGs of all time.<br /><br />In fact, I might rate this 2nd to D&D.Chuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05334071256551332865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-20251603209005474522010-02-03T23:07:01.872-05:002010-02-03T23:07:01.872-05:00Oh, and last bit of gushing: The last few days I&#...Oh, and last bit of gushing: The last few days I've also been re-reading my "Secret Wars" compilation. That was a good time for comics, gaming, and synergy between the two.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-25184715615524353102010-02-03T22:10:00.946-05:002010-02-03T22:10:00.946-05:00had a joy and then it got shot ;)had a joy and then it got shot ;)Forever DMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14377944405270117523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-65282882335502269222010-02-03T21:38:52.146-05:002010-02-03T21:38:52.146-05:00Just so you know, I'm pretty sure that 'Ex...Just so you know, I'm pretty sure that 'Excelsior' is trademarked by Stan Lee himself.Nathan P. Mahneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01184246437497081701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-22880200867824373662010-02-03T21:32:45.056-05:002010-02-03T21:32:45.056-05:00I'll add in another "thank you" to J...I'll add in another "thank you" to Jeff if he's still reading. MSH gave me some of my longest-lasting, most enjoyable gaming experiences.<br /><br />They I got his Thor entry in the Marvel-phile is still one of my fondest memories. :)Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-56009283423596233482010-02-03T21:18:36.133-05:002010-02-03T21:18:36.133-05:00I really loved this game.
Only odd thing--I remem...I really loved this game.<br /><br />Only odd thing--I remember them having to put in a Beyond column, and then a few years later Marvel nerfed the Beyonder by making him an egotistical cosmic cube?JRThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06028363896728357260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-87949718555637709652010-02-03T20:01:05.702-05:002010-02-03T20:01:05.702-05:00http://greywulf.net/2010/02/is-it-september-yet/
...http://greywulf.net/2010/02/is-it-september-yet/<br /><br />Pardon me, off-topic.<br /><br />WOTC is apparently releasing a Red-Box Old School product.jdh417https://www.blogger.com/profile/14541882649762424101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-30972549586686238572010-02-03T19:36:09.154-05:002010-02-03T19:36:09.154-05:00Jeff I want to thank you for giving me and my frie...Jeff I want to thank you for giving me and my friends 20 years of some of the most fun gaming we have ever had.<br /><br />While no system is perfect, MSH was perfect for us and still is.<br /><br />Cheers and well done mate.Forever DMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14377944405270117523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-74119013921927098502010-02-03T19:25:18.848-05:002010-02-03T19:25:18.848-05:00Jeff, I always like the excellent combat/results t...Jeff, I always like the excellent combat/results table and adapted it to other games we played.<br /><br />The one MSH game I remember was when the GM had us play ourselves as superheroes, in our own city. Our fight with the villains trashed most of the town, which made it even more memorable. Man that was fun.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-66659689804499808152010-02-03T19:11:00.362-05:002010-02-03T19:11:00.362-05:00I ran two Advanced MSH campaigns back in my colleg...I ran two Advanced MSH campaigns back in my college days. Players always created their own characters, but we never regretted having the stacks of stats for all the various Marvel characters - it just meant we had lots of NPC's to beat the crap out of...<br /><br />After an almost two-decade hiatus, I've started using the MSH rules once again, this time to run an online game, set in the 1960's, separate from the Marvel universe (or any other published one, for that matter).Knightskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08397391662639446678noreply@blogger.com