Champions: The Super Role-Playing Game, No. 450

by George MacDonald, Rob Bell

Book by MacDonald, George

Genres: Role Playing Games, Gaming, Gamebooks, Reference, Superheroes, Comics, Games

Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Librarian Note: there is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database. This is George^^^MacDonald.

Reviews

[The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This turned out to be great fun. I'm not sure it counts so much as an RPG though we treated it as such. Once combat started it usually evolved into a three dimensional strategy/tactical game using 3D miniatures rules...but boy...lots of fun.

Combat system had some pluses to it and some drawbacks. Character generation took a lot of time, and rarely got put to use. Rule monsters could buck the system and nitpick power beasts, but, seasoned gamers quickly developed "house rules" to deal with those guys.

It's fun, I remember when it came out. Not much need for modules or story-thinking since combat is where this is at. Hey, it's super heroes... how cool is that!

[Love of Hopeless Causes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Considered to be one of the better four color superhero games with some fine art. I don't play it because it is a roll low system, and it's rules heavy. In the past I favored the Rifts compatible Heroes Unlimited. If I was to GM a heroes game today, I would peruse Savage Worlds compatible products.

[Muzzlehatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Champions" succeeds at offering the feel and texture of super-heroics despite a sometimes bewildering and bordering-on-incomprehensible rules system. Not that the mathematics of it are difficult: all 6-sided dice, most characteristics doubling in value with each 5 points, a rigorous "fairness" attempted towards all class-types; but the variety of powers and skills is enormous and many of them overlap to an extent that makes choosing what's best for your character a challenge; and I never really did get the hang of all of the various multipowers/elemental controls. Nonetheless, the best system I ever found for playing superhero types in a "real" world. The edition I've used the most is from 1989.

[Little Timmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this edition of Champions is the edition that made me into a total covert . They stream-lined all their role playing books into one basic system. Now I could play any character in any era or setting. Excellent! If you want a easy to use but in-depth universal role playing system then this was the system for ya. Very recommended for gamers

[Arthur B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sweet spot for Champions: before the system accumulated truly absurd levels of crunch, but after it had a decent amount of polish. Full review: https://refereeingandreflection.wordp...

[Robert Mclean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros: you can practically do anything.
Coins: complex rules