#15: Genres: Super Heroes, Part One

[RPGnet Columns]

http://www.rpg.net/columns/briefhistory/briefhistory15.phtml

Summary:

From <i>Superhero '44</i> to the 1990s fall of superheroes.

Go to the column (http://www.rpg.net/columns/briefhistory/briefhistory15.phtml) for more information.

[Drake2000]

I just wanted to make mention of Wayne Shaw here. He was, I believe, the original person modifying the Superhero 2044 ruleset (such as it was) into a point-based system, which was later heavily modified by George MacDonald into Champions.

[Tim Kirk]

Great Article set Shannon (even with no mention of my wee little game *LOL*)

[ShannonA]

I just wanted to make mention of Wayne Shaw here. He was, I believe, the original person modifying the Superhero 2044 ruleset (such as it was) into a point-based system, which was later heavily modified by George MacDonald into Champions.

Yep, he makes an appearance in my (unpublished) Hero Games article, which will more fully look at Champions:


The story of Champions began when George MacDonald--bored during college classes--started playing with the idea of adding more detailed super powers to Superhero 2044, based on some early designs by Wayne Shaw. He quickly decided to completely replace the Superhero 2044 play mechanics with his own. Trying this set of rules, then simply called “Superheroes”, with his gaming group in San Mateo MacDonald quickly discovered that he had a hit on his hands. While everyone in the group made suggestions, it was Steve Peterson who was willing to type up the ideas and spend hours going over the rules of the game—a game that would soon become the super hero RPG, Champions (1981).

[Drake2000]

Yep, he makes an appearance in my (unpublished) Hero Games article, which will more fully look at Champions:

Very cool! :D