Marvel Big Damn Heroic Roleplaying

[siebharinn]

I've spent a lot of time with the flavor of Cortex used in Serenity, and for the most part, I like it. The core mechanics were good, but I wasn't a big fan of needing to know the all of the specific rules related to assets and limitations. I really like the Marvel flavor of cortex, with building the dice pool, and always rolling against another roll (if even the doom pool), rather than set difficulty numbers, although those certainly work. I like the way plot points work in Marvel.

I like the Serenity setting quite a bit more than Marvel. Given the choice, I would use the Marvel rules in the Serenity background.

So, how to mutate Serenity into a Marvel context .

Stats and skill. Do we really need them? Marvel approaches this with the idea that almost everyone is normal, so what's the point of documenting normal. Only exceptional people need traits. So I think that distinctions and specialties work really well for that. Perhaps a complication section (think Mal swordfighting) that is on the character and can be used against him.

So drop the d2 (that was a pain in the ass anyway), assemble a die pool out of each of the areas, roll exactly like in Marvel, spend the plot points the same way. Equipment would take the place of powersets, and they would have SFXs and Limits. Mals gun might be a d6, Vera might be d8, the anti-aircraft gun in the pilot would be a d10, and a cruiser fire would be 1 or more d12s.

Milestones and XP would work the same way.

It seems to me that where the bulk of the thought needs to be spent in how to come up with areas that generate dice. Affiliation? Doesn't seem like it should be as big a factor. Distinctions? Definitely! A weapon set, and then specialties. Maybe a few more specialties, due to the science fiction. Perhaps a section of traits (like distinctions) that cover where the person fits in the 'verse. Alliance? Browncoat? These could be at various die, so someone that is d10 alliance is very staunch in his beliefs. Maybe a section that indications relationships, so when Kaylee is in trouble and Mal is going after her, his d10 relationship die goes into the pool.

It seems like 4 or 5 dice in a pool would be a reasonable goal. Two for the total, one for the effect die.

Thoughts? Has anyone tried this?

I'll admit, I have not yet looked at smallville or leverage.

Has anyone given some thought to this already? Would smallville / leverage be a better fit?

[MidnightBlue]

I think Distinctions could work well straight from the MHR rules.

Browncoat D8 or D4+PP.

Mal is fighting against an Alliance strike team or in working towards some goal where his independence is at stake...D8.

Mal is trying to get an Alliance officer to look the other way or do something for him...D4 + PP if the officer has access to Mal's records.


I like the idea that the entire Power section (Power Sets, Power Traits, SFX & Limits) could be used for special assets/equipment/disadvantages the character has. In that case, you might even let Power Trait dice go to D4 for something that is more of a hinderence and can't be best served with a Distinction or Limit. Obviously it would be easy to model a "reader" with the power rules as written.


I actually think Affiliation dice can still be a good trait for showing how well a character works alone, with a partner or with a group. Some characters probably make better teammates than solo operatives...others, might be better to wind him/her up and just watch 'em go.

Anyway, I think you're right, Siebharinn. I don't think you really have to do much with the MHR system to have it ready for a Serenity hack.

It's just a matter of statting the various aspects with the MHR template and using the Serenity setting.

If you do any work on this, I'd love to see where it goes.

[pksullivan]

Have you seen the Cortex+ reworking of Serenity that the guys at Exploring Infinity did? It uses the Leverage variant as the base, which works well for the setting.

[Cam]

Leverage would make a terrific baseline for a Serenity/Firefly hack, as has been proven!

Cheers,
Cam

[Arcane Springboard]

Have you seen the Cortex+ reworking of Serenity that the guys at Exploring Infinity did? It uses the Leverage variant as the base, which works well for the setting.

I'd say it's more of a blend between Leverage and Smallville, but yes, I think that hack would do nicely. Probably better than Marvel, since you don't need the flexibility that Power Sets provide.

[siebharinn]

Somehow, I have managed to completely miss the exploring infinity site. Lots of good stuff over there!

The Super Smah Brothers hack looks fun.