D&D "Compatible" Supers

[paladinn]

Hola all,

So I've been a comic book geek even longer than I've been a D&D grognard. Outside of D&D, my all-time favorite game has been the old Marvel Superheroes RPG (aka FASERIP). I've sampled some other supers games, but MSHRPG remains my fav. The DC Heroes game, Champions, GURPS Supers and Heroes Unlimited were all really cool; but the Marvel game always struck me as having a good balance of simplicity and, in the Advanced game, crunch.

I always wished that there was a good D20-type Supers game. When Mutants & Masterminds came out, I was soo stoked. Unfortunately there were things right from M&M1 that started to go off the D20 reservation. Now with M&M3, I feel like it's really gone off in a different direction completely.

Does anyone know of a good supers game that would be really close to D&D Supers? The closest I've ever found was the (now defunct) Silver Age Sentinels D20. You could almost port some SAS characters into a D&D/D20 campaign and make it work! I'm looking for games that would be either D20 or 5e "compatible" if possible. There are options in Amazing Adventures 5e to have sort-of low-level supers. Just looking for other options.

Gratzi!

Edit: something BXECMI or LL-based would be a hoot too..

[LibraryOgre]

Do you know of Villains and Vigilantes?

Version 1 (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/186128/Villains-and-Vigilantes-10?affiliate_id=315505)
Version 2.1 (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/81970/Villains-and-Vigilantes-21?affiliate_id=315505)
Version 3 (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/220501/VV-30-Mighty-Protectors?affiliate_id=315505)

I grew up on Version 2, myself. While the game assumes you're playing yourself, but with super powers (we usually played an origin story then a couple more sessions, then played something else), you can easily make your own character.

[paladinn]

Do you know of Villains and Vigilantes?

Version 1 (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/186128/Villains-and-Vigilantes-10?affiliate_id=315505)
Version 2.1 (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/81970/Villains-and-Vigilantes-21?affiliate_id=315505)
Version 3 (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/220501/VV-30-Mighty-Protectors?affiliate_id=315505)

I grew up on Version 2, myself. While the game assumes you're playing yourself, but with super powers (we usually played an origin story then a couple more sessions, then played something else), you can easily make your own character.

I think I looked at it briefly back in the day. It was advertised in Dragon, and I found a copy at my local FLGS. I think I got lost in the math.. lol.

[Curbludgeon]

RPG Objects put out some interesting things under the lines Blood and Vigilance and Supers20, meant to work with d20 Modern. There was an Aberrant d20 port, which I didn't care for. I've only skimmed Phoenix Project/Words not Deeds, but there is something of an SRD (http://www.ergo.numenor.ca/). I'd have to imagine one might have more luck with 5e-likes than d20, but others could better speak to that.

[paladinn]

RPG Objects put out some interesting things under the lines Blood and Vigilance and Supers20, meant to work with d20 Modern. There was an Aberrant d20 port, which I didn't care for. I've only skimmed Phoenix Project/Words not Deeds, but there is something of an SRD (http://www.ergo.numenor.ca/). I'd have to imagine one might have more luck with 5e-likes than d20, but others could better speak to that.

I've seen a few 5e-based modern games. Amazing Adventures 5e is particularly cool. I think it's my idea of a 5e Modern. And there is an option for low-level supers. But definitely low-level. Still looking around.

[paladinn]

I have found a few D20/3e-type games that aren't bad. Paragon seems promising. I like how they handle super-attributes.

I'm thinking 5e isn't the best basis for a full-blown supers game due to bounded accuracy.

[LibraryOgre]

I have found a few D20/3e-type games that aren't bad. Paragon seems promising. I like how they handle super-attributes.

I'm thinking 5e isn't the best basis for a full-blown supers game due to bounded accuracy.

I could see some weird hacks on it, and have always felt that warlock invocations make a good chassis for superpowers, but, yeah, 5e would have some limits on what it could do for supers without a lot of hacking.

[Rilmani]

I’ll recommend Open Legend, https://openlegendrpg.com/core-rules/introduction , for a superhero campaign. Important deviations from standard d20 rules:

Instead of adding a number to your d20 roll, you roll one or more attribute dice which are added to your result.
Advantage and Disadvantage exist, but they only apply to your attribute dice, not your d20 roll.
The game is all about Banes and Boons. https://openlegendrpg.com/core-rules/banes-boons ; these are your spells, special attacks, auras- everything Active, just about. You can perform any of the Banes and Boons on your list if you have sufficient Attributes (ability scores), though most characters acquire feats to specialize in a few. Scroll down on the Character Creation page and look at Favored Action for the archetypes.

I swear this game will let your players design the characters they imagine with less hassle and more moment to moment flexibility than traditional hero ttrpg rulesets.