In sum, this is the superhero game to get if you enjoy Silver Age high-impact melodramatic superheroics. It’s a niche, but it fills that niche well. And the Thought Balloon is back!
I think it's hard to get an idea of how this game plays without an example of play. Are there any available? I checked the official site briefly but didn't see anything.
I'm concerned that this game might be so "different" that my players would not be able to warm up to it.
__________________ Running:Nothing, sadly Playing:Nothing, sadly Wish I was running/playing:Waste World; Hollow Earth Expedition; Fireborn; Talislanta; Top Secret/SI; Cartoon Action Hour; Rune RPG; Gear Krieg; High Medieval; Shadowrun; Pendragon; Paranoia XP; Champions; Atlantis: The Second Age; BASH!; Lord of the Rings RPG; Deadlands Reloaded
I think it's hard to get an idea of how this game plays without an example of play. Are there any available? I checked the official site briefly but didn't see anything.
Basically, not only are there examples of play scattered throughout the game, Mike also included something that until this point only Japanese RPGs have done: Gave rule examples visually (through comics), to get the visual learners in the audience who have a hard time picking up stuff by reading alone (like me) into the rules faster.
With the text and visual examples throughout the book, it's much easier to pick up than with text alone. This is coming from a guy who loves RPGs, but gave up on Nobilis because I just couldn't digest all that fucking text with my eyes. WGP breaks up the play examples well, and especially caters to the folk who are more visually oriented.
For that alone, it's a revolutionary game in the English RPG market.
Mike also included something that until this point only Japanese RPGs have done: Gave rule examples visually (through comics), to get the visual learners in the audience who have a hard time picking up stuff by reading alone (like me) into the rules faster.
That does indeed rock, but it was also done by Champions: New Millennium. They had a full-color comic book section showing a battle play out, and narration boxes were used to explain how the rules were making various things happen.
__________________ Running:Nothing, sadly Playing:Nothing, sadly Wish I was running/playing:Waste World; Hollow Earth Expedition; Fireborn; Talislanta; Top Secret/SI; Cartoon Action Hour; Rune RPG; Gear Krieg; High Medieval; Shadowrun; Pendragon; Paranoia XP; Champions; Atlantis: The Second Age; BASH!; Lord of the Rings RPG; Deadlands Reloaded
That does indeed rock, but it was also done by Champions: New Millennium. They had a full-color comic book section showing a battle play out, and narration boxes were used to explain how the rules were making various things happen.
Cool- I'll see if I can check that out. It is veeeeery slightly different, though, if I'm reading it right?
It sounds like the above shows scenes of the <i>characters</i>, with the narration in little siedbars. WGP actually shows the players going through the motions of declaring actions, drawing cards etc (interjected with scenes of the characters). But the focus is definitely centered on the PLAYERS, and how the game is physically played.
Reason: Because as the first poster pointed out, the play is a little new-ish, and would be hard to understand with verbal cues alone for "visual" or "tactile/kinesthetic" learners.
Re: [RPG]: With Great Power..., reviewed by Carl (4/5)
Yeah, you're right, the C:NM book doesn't show the players going through the motions. It just shows one character attacking another, and in a narration bubble it says, "He's using this power and he gets these bonuses...etc". If you ignore the rules boxes, it's basically like reading a comic book. I think they got a pro comic book writer to illustrate it?
C:NM (both editions) are out of print now, so it might be a little work to get a copy. If I recall, the 2nd edition printed this stuff in black and white to save money...but I'm not positive. I do know that the first edition had full-color comic book sections, though.
__________________ Running:Nothing, sadly Playing:Nothing, sadly Wish I was running/playing:Waste World; Hollow Earth Expedition; Fireborn; Talislanta; Top Secret/SI; Cartoon Action Hour; Rune RPG; Gear Krieg; High Medieval; Shadowrun; Pendragon; Paranoia XP; Champions; Atlantis: The Second Age; BASH!; Lord of the Rings RPG; Deadlands Reloaded
You might also want to look up some second-edition World of Darkness stuff - they have comic book style examples of play too, though like Champions the comic is about the characters, not the players. Changeling and Werewolf definitely have them...can't remember about the others.
~Benjamin
__________________ Currently running: Homebrew D&D 4E (Fourth Frontier) Currently playing: Forgotten Realms D&D 4E (Keep on the Shadowfell) Current wishing for: Primetime Adventures
+1 Sword - the only comedy show that grants a bonus to attack and damage rolls. New performance dates for 2010 to be announced soon!
Re: [RPG]: With Great Power..., reviewed by Carl (4/5)
Yeah, I should have put down an example of play. There were so many in the book to choose from, plus I think there's still the Interim Edition floating around somewhere.
Re: [RPG]: With Great Power..., reviewed by Carl (4/5)
Carl, if you're going to make a point of "Thought Balloons" in your summary, don't you think the review should tell what they are and why they're important?
Re: [RPG]: With Great Power..., reviewed by Carl (4/5)
Quote:
Originally Posted by CJNeum
Carl, if you're going to make a point of "Thought Balloons" in your summary, don't you think the review should tell what they are and why they're important?
The Thought Balloon is a prop. You hold it over your head when you speak what your character is thinking at that moment. No mechanical value, but helps get you into the game.
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