[RPG]: Algernon Files 2: The Fires of War, reviewed by Brian Kilkowski (4/5)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/11/11660.phtml

Brian Kilkowski's Summary:

Blackwyrm Games does the Golden Age. . . and now in Hero System.

Go to the full review for more information.

[Lord Liaden]

I have to compliment Brian Kilkowski for his very clear, informative review. I feel it's given me a good idea of what this book is about and what's in it, which is what I ask for in a review.

However, I do want to add to one point which he raised: besides Reality Storm: When Worlds Collide (jointly produced by Hero Games and Guardians of Order), there have been a couple of other licensed Champions Fifth Edition products published by other parties than Hero.

Omlevex from Z-Man Games was originally written for the Mutants and Masterminds system, but includes HERO and Tri-Stat writeups for all its characters. The HERO stats were generated by Hero Games staff using a "translation matrix" for M&M, so it could arguably suffer from the "conversionitis" that Brian attributes to Reality Storm.

OTOH The Kandris Seal from Hartfelt Productions was written in and for Fifth Edition HERO System, and IMO counts as a legitimate "outside perspective" on supers for Champions. Mind you, the focus is primarily on "mystic" supers rather than more traditional costumed types.

[WillyPete]

Originally Posted by Lord Liaden

<SNIP>

Omlevex from Z-Man Games was originally written for the Mutants and Masterminds system, but includes HERO and Tri-Stat writeups for all its characters. The HERO stats were generated by Hero Games staff using a "translation matrix" for M&M, so it could arguably suffer from the "conversionitis" that Brian attributes to Reality Storm.
<SNIP>
.

Speaking of M&M, is this new Algernon Files done exclusively for Hero Games, or does it also cover Mutants and Masterminds game stats, as well?
I understand that the reviewer has no interest in M&M, but a good review should at least mention this sort of thing!

[Atom Man]

Originally Posted by WillyPete

Speaking of M&M, is this new Algernon Files done exclusively for Hero Games, or does it also cover Mutants and Masterminds game stats, as well?
I understand that the reviewer has no interest in M&M, but a good review should at least mention this sort of thing!

To answer your question: Yes, there is also an M&M "superlink" version. It uses the 2d edition rules.

[Lord Liaden]

You're right, that is worth bringing up, because there are in fact two distinct versions of Fires of War being published, one for M&M 2E, the other for HERO 5E.

Later this year the original Algernon Files will be updated to M&M 2E, but at the time that comes out there will be a HERO edition for it, too. IMHO this is a good move by Blackwyrm Games, increasing their potential customer base substantially.

[WillyPete]

Okay, thanks a lot, both of you!
Personally, I would have done one version, with both sets of stats, rather than two completely different books...
But, then, no one asked me, now did they?

[Wyvern76]

It would be nice if reviewers could always be counted on to explain what the products they review are actually *about*. Y'know, show us the big picture before getting into the nitty-gritty details. Don't assume that all your readers are already familiar with the product. All I could deduce from this review is that <i>Algernon Files 2</i> is a WW2 campaign sourcebook for the HERO System. So what's the premise? How does it compare with <i>Godlike</i>? Who's Algernon? And what is/was <i>Algernon Files 1</i>?

Wyvern


"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
- William Shakespeare, "Hamlet"

[WillyPete]

Yes, it would, wouldn't it!
I don't have the new one, but, since I own the first 'Algernon Files', I can help you out a bit!
First, if it's like the first book, it's really NOT a 'campaign sourcebook'...
It's more of an "Enemies" style Character Compendium, with a bit of effort to set them all in the same general 'universe'...
but there's no real description of the Universe other than what you get from the Character write-ups!
Of course, since the write-ups tend to be very well done, that's still quite a bit...
It's got nothing to do with 'Godlike', thank goodness...
It's probably a lot closer to "Freedom Force", or other Silver/Bronze age material.

Algernon, in the first book, at least, was the Base AI/Computer, that also doubled as Jarvis/Alfred Pennyworth...
The sourcebook represents the information that Algernon has available on the various Heroes and Villains, hence it's "The Algernon Files".
I hope that helps!

[Lord Liaden]

Those are reasonable questions.

Regarding the first Algernon Files, it's a generic supervillain compendium originally published by Blackwrym Games for the Mutants and Masterminds system under the M&M Superlink banner. The concept of the book is that these various villain writeups and backgrounds are presented as files maintained by "Algernon," the Artificial Intelligence device which runs the home base of the Sentinels superhero team (writeups for them also included). For more details about that book, I couldn't do better than this previous RPGnet review: http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/10/10329.phtml

I'm afraid I'm not in a position to answer all your questions about Fires of War, as I haven't seen it yet myself. However, as I mentioned earlier on this thread, FoW is being printed in two versions, one with M&M Second Edition stats, the other in HERO. A new edition of The Algernon Files updated for M&M 2E will be issued later this year, with a HERO version released at the same time.

Hopefully someone will be along to answer your other questions.

[WillyPete]

Other than the comped reviewers, I don't think anyone has it, yet!
It's not quite available for sale, yet, according to their website (though it should be, soon!).
I hop someone comes along with a review of the actual contents, and not just how suitable it is for Hero...