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I only really liked a few of the powers from PU1, so I'm not to sure about getting this book if I can find it around here. I am also wondering about PU3, but I did see a thread that had a few saying it was good. Out of PU1 I liked APS: Lava & Sand (Light was good too), the three powers that made tracking difficult were neat, as were most of the Energy Expulsion ones. But most of the others I saw I didn't like.

One question about the new book. Is there an updated random power table that combines all three PU books and the HU main book?

MaddogMatarese wrote:I only really liked a few of the powers from PU1, so I'm not to sure about getting this book if I can find it around here. I am also wondering about PU3, but I did see a thread that had a few saying it was good. Out of PU1 I liked APS: Lava & Sand (Light was good too), the three powers that made tracking difficult were neat, as were most of the Energy Expulsion ones. But most of the others I saw I didn't like.

PU2 actually only contains a total of 4 new superpowers, one page. it is jam packed with new Power Catagories to make for your character. Updated Eugenics, Gestalt Heros (Many People, One Hero), Super Invention (where you have an item that gives you your powers though mechanical means (For exsample, if say you want a power armor, instead of picking the Robot catagory, you could pick this one, and it has some basic stats and you could install it with powers like Energy explulsion, Invunerability, Superhuman strength, Invisibility, or virtually any power. Note, some powers (it gives the list) cannot be "invented" though scientific means (Totem Animal Aura for exsample). it does not have to be armor and in fact can be virtually any kind of device or machine.

other kinds are Immoratls (various beings and special rules for making ancient characters), Symbiotes (powers are granted by a being that bonds with you though some manner), and several more.

it's great.

One question about the new book. Is there an updated random power table that combines all three PU books and the HU main book?

Yes, Kittenstomps Random Tabels of DOOM, as found in a sticky at the top of this forum.

for the classes? Definately. Avoid PU1 and PU3 in my personal opinion

All three PU books are worth the purchase price. Like was said above even if you don't like some of the powers or classes then most of the rest is very useful.

The opinion against new powers being added every so often to me is silly unless you want to change the name of the series from Heroes UNlimited to "Heroes of a Limited scope like my small little game which is not to everyones taste" but unless you want that to be the case then new powers are a good thing every now and then.

except that not about scope but personal creativity. It's like being lead by the hand to make minor adjustments and creating a whole new power for it. It's like the way they came out with Mega heroes, why not just stack powers or give them more powers on our own. Because in a game of imagination we need to be told what to do. We can't do something so outrageous as to perform deeds outside of canon.

I personally got like 1 or 2 useful powers out of PU1, got 3 classes out of PU2 and 4 powers and some mods out of pu3. So is it all crap? no. would I hav wrather borrowed it fromt he library or a friend than buy it? yep. I'd still buy PU 2.

PU1 and 2 didn't have anything but powers in them, no NPCs no adventures etc just powers. While if most of them were used to modify existing powers for a specific character not many of them were really original to the game itself. For example, I've taken control darkness and made it into APS Darkness and along side that APS light years ago.
Still some pwoers seemed more like Spells or Psionics to me than actual powers and I dislike when the lines get blurry. Mental Stun still makes me think twice.

And necessity builds creativity. Ok I got XPS AGAIN what can I do to make it different for this character? How can I combine power X and Y to make it more suited for my PC?

More powers is yes a good thing but make them original to the game not slightly modified off shoots. So I am not for keeping the powers small, I'm for uniqueness within the game.

Speaking of which I am designing a mega powers list to go along with Minors and Majors. it's coming but ever so slowly.

KillWatch wrote:except that not about scope but personal creativity. It's like being lead by the hand to make minor adjustments and creating a whole new power for it. It's like the way they came out with Mega heroes, why not just stack powers or give them more powers on our own. Because in a game of imagination we need to be told what to do. We can't do something so outrageous as to perform deeds outside of canon.

Not about scope but personal creativity?!?!?!? That is crazy. How does haveing new products in any way take away from personal creativity?

Lead by the hand? Doesn't make any sense. How does Palladium coming out with new PU books to add to their ongoing series equal being lead by the hand?

Do something outside of canon? Where the heck did anyone mention not doing anything outside of canon? Also how does it stifle imagination to have more powers or have guidelines to creating Megas or any other class?

We are not being told what to do we are choosing to play a system and use the system to have fun and let our imaginations go into a comic book like game.

As for canon itself, it is a good form of reference when interacting with hundreds or even thousands of other fans of a particular gaming system.

KillWatch wrote:I personally got like 1 or 2 useful powers out of PU1, got 3 classes out of PU2 and 4 powers and some mods out of pu3. So is it all crap? no. would I hav wrather borrowed it fromt he library or a friend than buy it? yep. I'd still buy PU 2.

PU1 and 2 didn't have anything but powers in them, no NPCs no adventures etc just powers. While if most of them were used to modify existing powers for a specific character not many of them were really original to the game itself. For example, I've taken control darkness and made it into APS Darkness and along side that APS light years ago.
Still some pwoers seemed more like Spells or Psionics to me than actual powers and I dislike when the lines get blurry. Mental Stun still makes me think twice.

Titles called Powers Unlimited only had powers in them?!?! What are the odds. Almost as bizarre as a book called Mutant Underground being about a Mutant Underground in the HU2 world.

OK so some of the powers mimicked spells or psionics. Still not seeing how that crushes creativity? Please explain?

KillWatch wrote:And necessity builds creativity. Ok I got XPS AGAIN what can I do to make it different for this character? How can I combine power X and Y to make it more suited for my PC?

Ok

KillWatch wrote:More powers is yes a good thing but make them original to the game not slightly modified off shoots. So I am not for keeping the powers small, I'm for uniqueness within the game.

They are not all slightly modified offshoots. Also how can you go for 100% uniqueness in a game that is suppose to mimic comic book settings? I wonder how hard it would be to create a 100% original power these days?

KillWatch wrote:Speaking of which I am designing a mega powers list to go along with Minors and Majors. it's coming but ever so slowly.

Really? Any truly original powers?

Not about scope but personal creativity?!?!?!? That is crazy. How does haveing new products in any way take away from personal creativity?
-New Products don't But I didn't say it did

Lead by the hand? Doesn't make any sense. How does Palladium coming out with new PU books to add to their ongoing series equal being lead by the hand?
-It doesn't unless like I said the powers are blatant in their contirived natures

Do something outside of canon? Where the heck did anyone mention not doing anything outside of canon?
-No one, but taking a power modifiying ever so slightly and being grateful for it is silly

Also how does it stifle imagination to have more powers or have guidelines to creating Megas or any other class?
-I didn't say it stifles. and more powers are great if they really are NEW. Are you sure you are erading what I'm writing?
-As for Megas? They aren't megas they are watered down wet dreams that can't hold a candle to the icons they are suppose to represent

We are not being told what to do we are choosing to play a system and use the system to have fun and let our imaginations go into a comic book like game.
-Do you really think I meant that kevin was sending people thretening letters to everyone who buys his books to follow the rules or die? Yeah I get that we are playing a comic book based game. but it doesn't seem that necessity is driving this innovation if you want to call it that. There are some good gems in the pile of muck but most of it is just muck. Some of the powers just aren't to my liking and seem wrather silly. But again many are simple alterred viersons of powers that already exist that didn't need to be a whole new power

As for canon itself, it is a good form of reference when interacting with hundreds or even thousands of other fans of a particular gaming system.
-true

Titles called Powers Unlimited only had powers in them?!?! What are the odds. Almost as bizarre as a book called Mutant Underground being about a Mutant Underground in the HU2 world.
-Yeah totally bizarre like PU2 that had classes in it waitaminute,........ or the GM's guide that had adventures in it rather than just tips for GMing ohhhhh wait


OK so some of the powers mimicked spells or psionics. Still not seeing how that crushes creativity? Please explain?
-Sure I will explain. I also didn't say crushes. I just think it's like the Movie Elf. He clearly didn't belong. He wasn't an elf and fitting into that category was unwieldly. Or more to the point why not just make it a spell? Because PU needs filler? Because people need more power to feed Mr. Jones even if it's crap?
Sure you need to eat, but do you really want to wash down that 6 month old pizza with that gallon of 3 month old milk? or better yet Soy/Skim milk Milk that is but not really


They are not all slightly modified offshoots.
-um I know some are good some are silly smost are slightly modified rip offs

Also how can you go for 100% uniqueness in a game that is suppose to mimic comic book settings?
-which is exactly why I said In System. We obviously want to be faster than a speeding bullet or strong like big green guys ect.

They are not all slightly modified offshoots. Also how can you go for 100% uniqueness in a game that is suppose to mimic comic book settings? I wonder how hard it would be to create a 100% original power these days?
-um yes hard but it shouldn't canibalize itself only to wretch out poor material. I mean if you are going to gnaw your own foot off at least make it look like something else and not just a foot on a bun

Really? Any truly original powers?
100%? nope not yet. A cosmic version of APS Fire that will be unrecognizable as such called APS: Star and some others but that's my point. Don't take a 86 corvette and an 87 corvette and claim that they are different cars. What I am saying is take a power, be inspired and create something new from it. Like from a Corvette to a Mustang. Inspired? Sure. Recognizable? no or how about the corvette engine in the motorcycle. That's creative innovation. But from year to year it isn't that impressive. I'm saying wait til you have soemthing real to add and not just adding another setting too the air conditioner.

Personally, I like that they've created powers that are only minor distinctions from each other. In fact, I ignored HU2 completely until I heard that there were at least two other power books. The reason I like this is simple: consistency.

I played Champions for years and I loved it. But I got tired of all the argueing over the smallest little nuances. You could easily have ten people playing something ten different ways and each insisting it was canon.

If you've already come up with nuance changes for HU2, that's great. But chances are nobody else is playing it that way. And when I see published adventures, I want to know what the canon is.

Additional powers aren't for everyone. Just like setting books aren't for everyone (I don't use them; it's not an issue of quality, I just don't need them).

Could I have come up with my own APS: Blood? Sure. But unless the canon one has some horrid mechanical defect I would prefer to use a version that I know most other people are using too. It saves on arguements if nothing else.

If you like lots of powers and character types with clear distinctions (however minor) then yes, you should buy all three PU books. If not, don't.

jolt

Chances are you will be drawing up a new PC for most new GMs. They are going to have their house rules etc.

I don't know what kind of changes would be so extreme to a power as to disrupt a game,.. I mean like an altered Energy Expulsion where the light comes in streams with in a beam and is only effective within ten feet but does say an extra 3 pts per level because of the hinderance
is that worthy of a new power status? no. Would it make PU 4 I wouldn't be surprised.

As for canon um obviously this would per character and GM approval so the canon problem doesn't exist.

MaddogMatarese wrote:One question about the new book. Is there an updated random power table that combines all three PU books and the HU main book?

yes

surprised NMI hasn't slapeed the SILENCE MANGEY CUR bumper sticker on me yet

KillWatch wrote:surprised NMI hasn't slapeed the SILENCE MANGEY CUR bumper sticker on me yet

Wait for it. The 1st week looks bright and green for you and your significant other.

As for everyone else....
Yes some of the powers may seem redundant, but a majority of the new powers in PU2 and PU3 are fairly unique and interesting. Some powers (when the rest of you get the book), I can see you all going "I already have that in my game, or been there done that" The question is, why didnt you publish it or attempt to get it published. Instead of criticizing the book (PU3) or the need for it, why dont you wait til its out and then make your opinions.

got it had it signed but you are right I should have published it but my stuff is so tweaked it never would have made it

KillWatch wrote:got it had it signed but you are right I should have published it but my stuff is so tweaked it never would have made it

you have good stuff. you should have tried and I think you should still try today, tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that and etc...

maybe your right but this would require some upsets but who cares it's just going to sit around awing my players anyhow lol