Want to try a new RPG this year? Gamers trying new games is good for the industry. If you like what you sample perhaps you’ll go on to support publishers and please your friends by buying some supplements.
It can be expensive buying and testing new RPGs though and so, each year, DriveThru RPG holds a big sale; “New Year, New Game” with up to 40% off core rules.
Geek Native readers can use the code happynyng2013 to score a further 15% off in the sale.
But which RPG to try?
One of the popular games in the sale is Green Ronin’s Mutants & Masterminds. The Hero’s Handbook has 40% off until January the 14th.
Geek Native got in touch with Steve Kenson, the designer of M&M with some questions and set about trying to establish whether this superhero RPG might be something you would like to try in 2013.
How would you describe Mutants & Masterminds Hero’s Handbook to experienced gamers?
Mutants & Masterminds is a superhero RPG that evolved from the d20 System Reference Document and the Open Game License. While it has left some elements of d20 behind (e.g. classes, levels, hit dice) it retains the core of the d20 system to create a streamlined, fun, fast-playing game where you can create any superhero you want to play.
How would you describe the game to groups new to the hobby?
Want to play a game like what you’ve seen in “The Avengers” movie or your favorite comics? Mutants & Masterminds is it! You’ll find lots of ready made heroes so you can jump right in and play, or you can design you own heroes to fight crime and save the world!
Why is Mutants & Masterminds Hero’s Handbook a good choice for a “New Year, New Game” buy?
The Hero’s Handbook is a bargain even at full price because you get a complete game: everything you need to create and play superhero characters. It’s a terrific change-of-pace game for groups looking to try something different, or perhaps inspired by recent comic book and superhero media.
What’s your favourite thing about Mutants & Masterminds Hero’s Handbook?
One of my favorite things is how Mutants & Masterminds uses rank measurements to quickly and easily handle in-game things like speed and distance. Want to know how far your hero can throw something? Subtract the weight rank from the Strength rank and you get a distance rank! Want to know how fast you hero can get somewhere? Speed rank + time rank = distance rank! It’s that easy!
Which music would you recommend groups play in the background of a game or for inspiration?
Favorite superhero themes like the score to the original “Superman” movie, one of Danny Elfman’s “Batman” scores, or music from the recent “Spider-Man” or “Avengers” movie, as well as themes from favorite superhero cartoons.
Are there are any books, movies or TV shows that are a good match for Mutants & Masterminds Hero’s Handbook?
There’s the whole 75+ year history of comic books! Plus all of the TV and movie spin-offs of those colorful superhero stories.
Is there a Pinterest board, or similar, which is a good visual match for the game?
You can use any superhero comics or media to inspire your Mutants & Masterminds games.
Are there any supplements or accessories you’d recommend for gamers who decide they want more of the game?
The M&M Gamemaster’s Kit has the super-useful random character generator, allowing you to roll up an M&M character in minutes. The Mutants & Masterminds Gamemaster’s Guide is full of useful resources for Gamemasters, including villain and supporting cast archetypes and tons of series and adventure ideas. The Power Profiles series of PDFs offer lots of worked examples of superpowers and, lastly, the Emerald City Knights adventure series offers a ready-to-play series perfect to kickoff a new M&M game.
Which forums, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or blogs should gamers keep an eye on for news about Mutants & Masterminds Hero’s Handbook?
The go-to source is M&M’s own forum, the Atomic Think Tank: www.atomicthinktank.com. Fans can also find us on Facebook and Google+ (in the new Mutants & Masterminds Community) and follow Green Ronin at www.greenronin.com, the Green Ronin page on Facebook or Google+ or @GreenRoninPub on Twitter.
Is there anything new for Mutants & Masterminds Hero’s Handbook coming out this year?
Fans of Mutants & Masterminds should expect the forthcoming Gadget Guides series of PDFs, the Emerald City setting set, and the upcoming Cosmic Handbook for the game, amongst other exciting new products.
You can grab Green Ronin’s Mutants & Masterminds Hero’s Handbook with 40% off until January the 14th and use happynyng2013 for an extra 15% discount too.
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