MARVEL. SUPER HEROQES Players’ Book waeta) Ao GAME DEGIGN-B4- JEFF GRUBBS EDITING-BY-KAREN MARTIN GRAPHIC DESIGN-BY-DENNIS KAUTH TYPOGRAPHY-BY-BETTY ELMORE GARTOGRAPHY-BY-DAVE LAFORCE COVER ART-Bu- JEFF BUTLER INTERIOR ART-BY-OEFF BUTLER ¢€ THE MARVEL SS ed Wis oo Weas mos) \RE =) ; wey Bg NYMARVE\. SUPER HEROES PLAYERS BOOK Table of Contents 4: Heroes Definition: Abies... Character Creation Character Modeling 2: FEATS Making FEATS . <2... ‘Types of FEATS I Movement ......000.0000 Life, Death, and Health». 3: The Campaign .... KAMA ese site ncs Popularity and Contacts Resources: 2 2 2 4 2 14 “4 14 14 15 218 15 19 31 33, 33. 40 40 4: Hardware, Magie, and More Equipment: Weapons : Vehicles . Setting Up House Magic n the Marvel Universe - Hardware: Building, Modifying, ‘and Alien Technology The Resource FEAT and Bi Time and Building Things . . Success! or — Eureka! Ihave i KitBashing Modiying items ee Programming and Reprogrammi Appendix A: Powers ......... ‘Appendix B: Talents Appendix C: Contacts... Universal Table ‘Tiss s prose une he copyigh soa Unted Sas Aaa Ar repracion oe rand ve tha male or apo cahed Fron eproeg whoa he express toncongen Ts, ne sel Comes Group. irate ebook vase nr Ue tls by Pans onan, adn nasa Random owned eared Ld Detinaeato oy ‘roy roe by gil sists ‘Trenance een estou toot wo ary pron igo ee. Ay desc prs nung sas pera Ivngor ad ata mately ciers Aaecharces an {he Sette tanesae hrs! re vacomar th Manel Camco Oto, AWEL SUPER HEROES and MARVEL SUPER VLA tm rans he Mara Sorace up nck ot ‘rhs ental by TSR ie 1086 TSA ne A Fig Reserved gis Reward Gare sign cop 186 TSA, ie. At ihe Reseed Pras BUSA PROOUCTS OF YOUA MAGATTON ere Tg aceDefinition: What Is a Hero? ‘Anhero is an individual who uses his talents ‘and abilities for the good of others as ‘opposed to his own good. In the MARVEL SUPER HEROES Role-Playing Game the players take on the roles of heroes in the Marvel Universe. A hero who is being ‘controlled by a player is called Player-Character or PC. One that is being run by the Judge, including most opponents land supporting characters, is called 2 Non-Player Character or NPC. Abilities (Characters in the MARVEL SUPER HEROES game are defined by their abilities. These abilities determine their ‘chances of performing certain actions ‘game. There are three types of abilt primary, secondary, and special. Ablities ‘are usually given a rank and rank number 10 etine their levels of power. the ‘The primary abilifes are the seven already familiar to players of the MARVEL SUPER, HEROES Original Set: Fighting, Agi, Strength, Endurance, Reason, intuition, land Psyche. These primary abiities are ‘shared by almost al characters in the Marvel Universe — they are a measuring stick of how well a character can perform ccortain acts. Primary abiltos are also called {ixed abilities because while they may be improved overtime, they do not normally ‘change from adventure to adventure. All primary abilities have a rank and rank rumpet. ‘Secondary abilties are Health, Karma, Resources, and Popularity. These are ‘sometimes called variable abilities, as they may change within the course of a'single adventure. All normal individuals and most ‘characters the players encounter have ‘secondary abies. Secondary abilities may be defined by ranks or separate numbers, ‘Special abilties are skls and abilities that are not common to all characters, and indeed may be unique to a particular ‘character. These include all Powers, Talents, Equipment, and Contacts. Special abiliies use rank numbers or modify ‘existing rank numbers. Ranks and Rank Numbers: Abilities are often defined by a word (Amazing, Incredible) known as the abllty's rank. In the MARVEL SUPER HEROES Original Sot, each rank had a rank number, which ‘was used to determine effects such as Health, starting Karma, and damage inflicted. in the MARVEL SUPER HEROES. ‘Advanced Set each ability has a rank and rank number, but that number must be within a range available for that rank. When 2 rank number isnt defined (a weapon inflicts Good damage), use the Standara Rank Number. Check the table below: Rank Standard Rank Range Rank Number Shift o 0 Foeble 12 2 Poor 34 4 Typical 57. 6 Good es 10 Excellent 1625 20 Remarkable 26-35 30 Incredible 36-45, 40 ‘Amazing 46-62 50 Monstrous 63-87 75 Unearthly 88-125 100 shit 1284175 180 shitY 176-350 200 ShIRZ 351-UP 500 Class 1000 1000 1000 Class 3000 3000 3000 lass 6000 +5000 5000 Beyond Infinite Ranks labeled “Shift” are normally used for actions that are moved by modifiers above ‘or below the Feeble and Unearthly ranks on the Universal Table, Class 1000, 3000, '5000, and Beyond levels are not available to most heroes, but are used to define such powerful universal forces as Eternity and Galactus. ‘The rank range includes all the rank ‘numbers for that range. A character with a ‘Strength of 15 can be sald to have Good ‘Strength. The Hero rank numbers above the rank range are for use with existing heroes in the Marvel Universe. Spider-Man, for example, has Remarkable Fighting ability (his initial rank number is 20). A new hero entering the Marvel Universe with Remarkable Fighting ability would have a rank number of 26. This is because established characters in the Marvel Universe can be assumed to have been improving their skills over some time. Let's look at those abilities in detail Primary Abilities Fighting: ** Ameasure of raw combat ability * Used to determine if the character lands a blow in hand-to-hand (called Slugfest) combat + Used to determine ita character ‘evades a blunt attack + Used to determine it @ multiple combat attack or other FEAT involving hand-to-hand combat is successful * Used to determine the secondary ability known as HealthAgility: * Ameasure of dexterity and nimbieness * Used to determine ifthe character hits with a thrown or aimed weapon at a distance ‘+ Used to dotermine i the character dodges a missile attack ‘= Used to determine ifthe character catches an object, holds onto a ledge, of ‘suocesstully performs actions that require quick action or co-ordination ‘= Used to determine how well ‘character handles a vehicle * Used to determine the secondary ability known as Health Strength: ‘A measure of physical muscle power ‘+ Used to determine damage inflicted in slugfest combat + Used to determine success and damage in wrestling combat and ‘success in Grabbing, Escaping, and Blocking maneuvers + Used to determine success in destroying materials. * Used to datermine ita character can lita heavy objector perform other acts that require physical power + Used to determine the secondary ability known as Health Endurance ‘+ Ameasure of personal toughness and physical resistance ‘+ Used to dotermine normal moving speed +" Used to determine success in charging attacks * Used to determine success in avoiding the effects of disease, poison, and gas. * Used to dotormino success in matters ‘that require the character to perform actions over a long period of time, such as holding one’s breath ‘+ Used to determine the secondary ability known as Health ‘= Used to resist the effects of Slams, ‘Stuns, and Kill resuits directed againet the hero ‘= Used to determine the amount of Heat egained by a wounded individual Reason: ‘=A measure of inteligence and the capacity for logical thought + Used to determine the character's ssuceess in building things ‘+ Used to determine the character's. success in understanding unknown technology and languages ‘+ Used to determine the secondary ability known as Karma Intuition: * A measure of wisdom, wits, common ‘sense, and bate reflexes + Used to discover clues + Used to determine who may act fist in ‘combat (eee Initiative) + Used to detect hidden or potentially dangerous items, as well asin situations where the the character plays a hunch +" Used to resist effects of emotion ‘control powers, spells, ang ablitios * Used to determine the secondary ability known as Karma Psych ‘+ A measure of mental strength and willpower * Used to show resistance to mental and will-dominating attacks + Used to determine resistance to magical attacks ‘+ Used to determine inital Magical abilties for those characters who wield magic + Used to determine the secondary bility known as Kerma Secondary Abilities Health: ** Used to determine the amount of physical damage the character can absorb before losing consciousness and potentially dying ‘= Does not have @ rank or rank number, bt rather is the sum ofthe rank ‘numbers of the character's Fighting, Agility, Strength, and Endurance ‘+ Lost through combat, accidents, attacks, and other potentially dangerous and ifethreatening situations ‘+ Flecovered after damage is taken, 10 turns after damage is inflicted * Regained through normal healing by the Endurance rank number of points per day (in criss situations, Health may be figured as regained by the hour or turn, See the table under Healing) ‘= Ifreduced to 0, the characteris ‘unconscious and may begin to lose Endurance ranks (see Life, Death, and Health) Karm * Used by the hero as a measure of ‘experience, allowing the hero to perform ‘actions that may otherwise be Impossible ‘Does not have a rank or rank number. Starting Karma is determined when the characteris created by the sum of the Initial rank numbers of the character's Reason, Intuition, and Psyche ++ Gained through performing heroic and basically "honorable" acts, 3 * Lost through performing harmful, of “dishonorable” ‘+ May be spent by the player-character 10 perform actions otherwise impossible ‘or unlikely. These include modifying die rolls, staying alive, bulging things, using ‘magical ablities, and raising the hero's, abil rank numbers and ranks through advancement Resources: * Ameasure of how wealthy a character 's, and how the character may use that, wealth * Generated when the characteris created + Presented as a rank with a rank number (replacing the Resource Points of the MARVEL SUPER HEROES Original Set) ‘+ Used to determine ifa character can afford a particular item or service ‘+ See under Resource FEATS in the next ‘chapter for tll effects of Resources reputation in that character's normal environment * Generated when the characteris oreatod + Represented as a rank and rank ‘number. Heroes generally have positive Popularity. Villains generally have negative Popularity * Used to determine reactions of large groups of people and neutral NPCs* Used to gain favors, information, and ‘equipment from Contacts Special Abilities Pow * Super-human abiities possessed by individual heroes and vilains in the Marvel Universe ‘Used to perform actions above and ‘beyond the limits of normal morals, + Each Power is individual. Powers may have a rank number, or modity an ‘existing primary or secondary ability ren May be improved through expenditure ‘of Karma. New Powers may be added at 8 risk to the player character + Full ist of powers found in Appendix A Talents: ‘= Non-super-human abilities that may be possessed by characters in the Marvel Universe + Used to perform specialized actions at a speciic benbiit * Are individual; modify an existing primary or secondary ability rank, or Provide special abilities * May be learned as a hero gains experience + Flllist of Talents found in Appendix B Contacts: ‘+ present social, political, and personal friends and allies through whom the character may gain information and equipment ‘Have no rank number. Contacts aro ‘considered as Friendly to the character {for purposes of determining reactions ‘+ May be increased through spending of Karma, of performing missions for that Contact ++ “Standard Contacts are described in full in Appendix C ofthis book Character Creation Inthe MARVEL SUPER HEROES Original Set, there was an assumption that most characters the players would run would be ‘rom among those available inthe original set and its accessories. The MARVEL ‘SUPER HEROES Advanced Set allows ‘three types of characters: pregenerated ‘characters based on those in the Marvel Universe and used speciicaly for the MARVEL SUPER HEROES Game: ‘generated characters created by t players; and modeled characters which are from the Marvel Universe but do not have “official” stats generated by TSR. The label erated,” generated,” and “modeled” have no bearing once play begins. Pregenerated Characters ‘The character cards provided with this set are for the most popular individuals in the ‘Marvel Universe. These cards may be cut ‘up and used by players and Judges with the ‘game. Their presentation is outlined as ‘above for primary, secondary, and special abilities, and where space permits, some background is given, Full backgrounds for thase characters, as well as their personalities and any restrictions on thelr Powers, are listed starting in Chapter 3 of the Judge's Book. Pregenorated characters have the advantage of being “ready-to-play” as well as being a recognized part of the Marvel Universe. When playing an official Marvel ‘character, however, the player is free from all offects of the ever-changing Marvel Universe except those that the Judge chooses to inflict upon the player. (For ‘example, a player running the original Guaraian will not be fated to die of a suit ‘maltunetion, but by the same token a player running She-Hulk would not benefit rom an provement of abilities after the character becomes a player-character.) When running a character of the Marvel Universe, the player's decisions guide that character's actions and reactions, Progenerated charactors always have the ‘Standard Rank Number (listed on page 2) 4s their starting rank number. This Tepresents the fact that the heroes noted have had some adventuring history before play in the MARVEL SUPER HEROES: ‘Campaign begins. Therefore, when She-Hulk’s Strength is stated as Monstrous, itis set at a rank number of 75 as opposed 10.63, the maximum rank number at which a ‘generated character may start, Rank ‘numbers may be improved with time and experience as normal In adaition to having his starting rank rumers set at the standard value as ‘opposed to the minimum, the pregenerated ‘character's Health and initial Karma willbe higher as a result of the higher abilty ranks. ‘The character's Resources and Popularity also reflect the hero's status in the books he ‘or she appears in atthe time of this writing, ‘The pregenerated character's Powers, Talents, and Contacts are described as specific to that hero, Nightcrawier's ‘wallcrawiing Is different from Spider-Man's, and the German X-Man's teleport is different from that of Cloak. The Powers, Talents, and Contacts sections are for that hero alone. Descriptions that apply to generated heroes (such as alien, robot, ‘mutant may or may not apply tothe hero in question, Included in this sot are a number of shoots that may be cut out for use as reference ‘cards for pregenerated heroes. Abilties are ‘summarized along the let hand side, Including rank number and rank. In the ‘upper right the Health, initial Karma, Resources, and Popularity are listed, with space below for changes. The Powers, Talents, and Contacts are provided in very brief form below. Note: These abilities are ‘roviged in limited form only, for easy use in play. The full powers, etc tallored to that hero are explained under that hero's entry inthe Judge's book, While checking out the cards, note that four ‘of them are blank, one side noting only the abilias without numbers, the other a grey ‘screen of several heroes. These are for Your own use as cards for generated or modeled heroes. Permission to photo-copythese four cards is given for those players who don't want to mess up their existing copies. regenerated characters, once brought into the game, are treated as any olher type of character, Generated Characters ‘The following system is for creating new characters in the Marval Universe. Generated characters have an advantage in that they are individuals created by the player and in that form they are unique. ‘Their disadvantages are that they begin the campaign weaker than pregenerated. characters, they lack the background of the ‘Marvel Universe, and their powers are more standardized than those of pregenerated characters, (Character generation has five steps. * Generate an origin + Generate primary ablities * Generate secondary abilities * Generate special abilities ‘Flin the blanks ‘Starting from the top. Origins ‘The MARVEL SUPER HEROES game has {iva types of origins, each with certain ‘advantages and disadvantages. Origins at Used only for ganerated characters as a base for those characters, Pregenerated ‘characters have their own specific origins. “The player desiring a generated character, ‘must either choose an origin from those. below of roll onthe table below for an ‘origin. Those that roll on the table must take the specific type of nero rolled. (No second thoughts.) Dice Roll Origin 0130 Altered Human 31-60 Mutant 61-90 HiTech 91-95 Robot 96-00 Alien * Altered Humans: Altered Humans are everyday people like you and me (well, me, anyway) vino have been accidentally or urposetully exposed to weird radiation, Secret formulas, of chose to be instructed in strange and powerful talents. The Fantastic Four, Hulk, Nick Fury, and Doctor Strange ‘are exampies of altered humans. * Altered humans rol theie random ranks {or primary abilities on Column 1 of the Random Ranks Table. ‘= Alter the primary ability ranks are rolled, altered humans may raise any single primary abilty rank by one rank, ‘+ Mutants: Mutants are members of the race of Homo Superior, a new race of man ‘born from the race of Homo Sapiens (that's Us). Mutant powers often though not always) first manifest themselves in the teen-age years. Mutants are generally feared and disliked by the populace at large. Examples of mutants include the Xen, X-Factor, and New Mutants. When Creating a mutant character: * Random ranks are rolled on Column + ‘of the Random Ranks Table. ‘+ Mutants gain one additional Power, up to the total number of Powers avelable to the Hero (maximum of 5). ‘+ Resources are reduced by one rank. ‘Starting Popularity is always 0. ‘+ Mutants gain and lose Popularity at a slower rate than other character types. Endurance is raised by one rank, ‘The majority of a mutant's Powors aro Inborn as opposed to equipment-based, + They may be affected by mutant detection and mutant nullification devices. * High Technology: Also called Hi-Tech Wonders, these heroes derive their abilities solely through equipment, whether that ‘equipment is mystical or technological in nature, such as Iron Man or Captain Britain, High technology heroes start with lower primary ability scores and in addition may ‘ot uso their powers without their equipment; however, they receive many other benefits * High technology heroes rol on column of the Random Ranks Table. + The intial Reason is raised by two ranks (I Good i rolled, then intial teason is Remarkable). * Initial Resources are set at Good, or ‘optionally rolled. + High technology heroes must have at east one Contact, and they must