A Superheroic Guide to Sentinel Comics RPG Character Creation (Part 1)

[@templar51]

I have never had the opportunity to play a super's game in real life, but conceptually it is my favorite! It's a bucket list item for me :)

[@The_Rusty]

Supers is my favorite genre too. Interested to watch this and see how Sentinel Comics RPG plays.

[@captaindudeman3613]

This is the vid that put this game on my radar, have since purchased and am in the middle of making my first super. Came back to say thank you.

[@RPGElite]

No problem. That's what I am here for. 👍🏿

[@domarvisais6178]

Superhero RPGs have been my guilty pleasure since the early 90's. Extremely excited to hear your take on the Sentinels RPG, I am a huge fan of the Sentinels of the Multiverse card game.

[@zarekodynski9077]

Excited to see you give some love to your favorite genre! Been waiting for Superhero stuff for a while.

[@RPGElite]

It was due. 👊🏿😉

[@jamesturner9851]

My favorite superhero RPG is Heroes Unlimited. I love it because of how you can pull from the other Palladium Books to create your adventures and characters. If you like Horror, then I go with Nightbane. In the Palladium system, you can create adventures from stuff like Gotham all the way to Infinity War: Endgame. Make sure you get the books Powers Unlimited. I am planning on running a game using Rifts Phaseworld Dimension Book Skraypers. Give it a look.

[@sharpmountaingames9303]

Like you, I actually played very little D&D back in the day. Since I was usually the forever DM, I spent much more time running Star Frontiers, Star Trek, Star Wars, and a homebrew superhero game I wrote myself. So great to hear a fellow traveller talking about it!

[@rogerb181]

WOOT! Dark Conspiracy!

[@edgargriffie2458]

My first TTRPG was Champions and I LOVED it. I had the Marvel Yellow Box set and was trying to figure it out when a friend of mine saw what I was reading during a play rehearsal and invited me to play Champions. My first character...Troubleshooter! He was a cybernetic, street level guy with a Dial-A-Gun!!! It was ALL kinds of Crunchy but I still love breaking out that big, fourth edition hardback with the George Perez cover and doing some character creation! I used my copy so much that I bought a second one because the first started to fall apart. I still have my notes with all the characters I created and adapted from first through third editions. Good Times!!!

[@victorvonmetal6384]

Sentinel Comics is a really good game. The system creates a very comic book feel during play . Fun stuff.

[@TroyBanks]

I GMd Marvel a few sessions of Marvel back in the day. My friends never really took to it. I watched AP of Icons I enjoyed it. So bought the PDF. I also bought the PDF of Sentinel. I think I may want to run a limited run once I learn the system. Thanks for the great content, I appreciate what you do, Bro.

[@darzen]

The marvel TTRP I miss the most. Had two custom characters Blade from the movie. The shadow from the movie with Baldwin in it. Fantastic power list in that old marvel book. Good memories!

[@jeframdenkar]

Super RPGs are a guilty pleasure of mine as well. So happy i found your channel

[@Tygertyger8008]

I see you too are a man of culture. I also am a big fan of the superhero genre -- I have 22 of them, not counting personal projects that I wrote.

[@shadowandson3550]

Awesome! As a collector of superhero ga es myself id love to see a list of the super hero games you own and possibly reccomend a few if you dont alreadyown them.

[@RPGElite]

I own many as I said in the vid. 20+ last count. Even so, I'd be willing to take a look at any I don't have. 👍🏿

[@tommiskey]

I have read or played a ton of supers RPGs as well. I started collecting comic books first and only later that year did I discover RPGs. While D&D was my first RPG, it wasn't long before I got the Marvel Superheroes game, DC Heroes, Gamma World, Champions, and Heroes Unlimited from Palladium. Those were just my earliest supers games growing up. Mutants and Masterminds, ICONS, Savage Worlds Supers, Brave New World, Godlike, Silver Age Sentinels, and more were added to the pile! Like you, I love supers games because they can cover such a huge range of characters: magic, super science, mutants, aliens, highly trained vigilantes, time travelers, etc, all with a wide range of powers and abilities. Oh, right now, I think ICONS Assembled is my favorite supers game. Great art with a classic feel that includes characters reminiscent of real comic characters, lots of power options, and I like the fairly rules-lite system. For a more complex supers game, if that was what I was feeling like that day, I'd go to Mutants and Masterminds 3e/DC Adventures.

[@startingoverpodcast]

COH FOR LIFE!!!!

[@ottawamonsterpocalypse7729]

I've been waiting for this. Never played a Superhero RPG because every attempt fell through due to scheduling, though some people say I run my fantasy games like superhero ones. Systems I own: M&M, I believe an old copy of Champions that was inherited, Feng Shui (counts in my books), Tenra-Bashou Zero (mix of Superhero and fantasy), and a few do-anything systems that could be used for it, also several fanmade Tokusatsu ones. I'm interested to see where your Sentinels coverage goes.

[@marca81]

I've played Champions 1,2,3,4th and5th. (I'm old school) . Also, Mutants & masterminds, Marvel FASERIP, DC Super Heroes, Villain and Vigilantes. MY favorite to this day is still Hero system. I know its crunchy but all the options and power structures are the best for creating exactly what you're looking for. I haven't played much of the others you've mentioned, mostly because I've already got so much Hero system stuff. Also, its very difficult to find new players interested in games that aren't fantasy.

[@FMD-FullMetalDragon]

This game is a lot of fun to make characters in.

[@Tygertyger8008]

As to which SHRPGs I've played, the published games are Champions, Villains & Vigilantes, Marvel Superheroes (of course), Mutants and Masterminds, and a superhero variant of GURPS. But most of my superhero rping was done with a system that I wrote to play with my siblings and friends. I'm supposed to run a session of Marvel Heroic Roleplaying in a couple of weeks, so we'll see how that goes.

[@lancegarrison1919]

Elite all the way!!!!

[@BangsNaughtyBits]

Do you remember when NCSoft was about to release City Of Heroes in Germany and they had to hard redact the 5th Column to get it past their ratings board? The skin-swapped Council came out and fought the 5th Column in the streets that whole weekend as a super-powered gang turf war with vampires and werewolves. I miss that game. Glad the licensing got worked out for the return. !

[@KAONABO08]

I have played and still playing Hero system 5e and 4e aka champions. Three year ago I played M&M 3E in the DC universe. Champions still my favorite.

[@minimoose7890]

I got Sentinels due to liking the Tabletop card game that came before it. I also have a Masks next generation(?), but I've never played either rpg. Never had other players willing to do a superhero rpg, so I've only played fantasy and Scifi ones.

[@keithparker1346]

I've never been impressed by Sentinels card game but thought the xcom like turn based pc game was pretty good

[@BobtheOdd]

Marvel Super Heroes(FASERIP) is the only SH game you need, but I am interested in this mini-series cuz I'm not familiar with this game.

[@ericliljenberg6493]

I have played Marvel Super Heroes (original and advanced), DC Heroes - 1st edition, and Golden Heroes. I really enjoyed both Marvel and Golden Heroes. I did not care for DC Heroes. It has been since late 80's since I have played a SH game though.

[@stormbringerpdx]

I played a few. Marvel Superheroes Basic and Advanced Champions Heroes Unlimited GURPS Supers > Wildcards (Wildcards is my favorite setting) Cypher System >.Claim the Sky > Origins I have many great memories of Marvel, and I am a total Cypher System nut so at this time those are my favs. I should make CS supers using Wildcards for the setting mixed with some of Origins. Thanks for the inspiration !!!! Leet for Life

[@DMRaptorJesus]

Thanks for doing this man! Im in your same boat with the amount of superhero rpgs I've ran (I hardly get to play lol), lots of MSH and fuzion mostly (I used to use allot of netbooks for super powers). Superhero RPGs need some love these days.

[@rob7953]

My gaming buddies all gifted me Champions for my 17th birthday way back in 1981. Many, many hours were spent playing that game, and led to us dabbling in a few other Superhero games as well. Recently played through a couple of the old TSR Marvel Superheroes scenarios that had been converted to Mutants and Masterminds (yeah, I know about your love for Green Ronin...) and had a blast as Hercules. Been itching to start up a Champions game (now Hero System), but also keeping an eye out for a potential alternate system -- one possibly easier to teach/learn. So I'm looking forward to this series very much.

[@Tampahop]

Absolute Power might be for you then. It borrows heavily from Champions. Look at the book. You'll know what I mean.

[@rob7953]

@@Tampahop I'll give it a look. Thanks!

[@davidskidmore3442]

Sentinel Comics is quite easy mechanically. And character creation can be done without a spreadsheet, unlike Champions/HeroSys. Sentinel Comics also seems to capture the vibe of comics, especially the GM advice and scenario creation advice is very true-to-genre.

[@davidskidmore3442]

I've played Necessary Evil, a BESM Supers game, and Aberrant. I own Sentinel Comics, Aberrant, Unmasked, and PDFs of the old Marvel game. My group, like yours, plays shockingly little actual D&D; lots of White Wolf games (Mage, Werewolf, Changeling, Aberrant), Savage Worlds (Rippers, Necessary Evil, Deadlands), Cyberpunk 203x, Numenera, and some OSR games like Godbound or Worlds Without Number. I look forward to seeing more content on Sentinels; I've been trying to get my crew to try it out, it looks great.

[@Ratenef]

QofV - I played both versions of Marvel Superheroes from TSR back in the 80's. More recently I have played Mutants and Masterminds. Both were enjoyable but neither stuck with me or my group for very long.

[@zraal3759]

I have ran a superhero one shot using the cypher system's claim the sky. My group seemed to enjoy it, but a couole members like less of a narrative based rule set. Ran a one shot in deadlands for the group and everyone enjoyed the savage worlds rules system and deadlands setting so much more. I know run a deadlands game twice a month, but been trying to see if my group would like to try the savage worlds superhero companion.

[@Skeloric]

I have Sentinel Comics RPG. I like how it builds a string of comic book stories. I am still a bit perplexed by the lack character growth, at least in a classic manner. The character creation seems to styled as a "phrase" in a way, so altering that phrase is the growth. Even so, it was a riot.

[@davidskidmore3442]

The thing is, Super Hero stories are rarely about becoming more powerful, or traditional 'advancement'. It does sometimes happen, and there's an obvious jump when they go from being a normal human to having powers of some sort, but once empowered they may become more knowledgable, a bit more skilled or gain understanding of their own powers, but they don't tend to become more powerful in the way a fantasy wizard or fighter adventurer does. The characters tend to grow internally, working on character flaws or teamwork or personal relationships or perhaps the trauma that gave them powers in the first place. A lot of the way the systems work is more about the story and less about murder-hobo-ing.

[@Skeloric]

​@@davidskidmore3442 I am thinking of the long long term of going from the Golden Age to Silver to Bronze to Modern and how Superman of 1938 grew to be the Superman of 1956 just before the Julius Schwartz reboot into the Silver Age - and how he leaped 1/8th mile to flying. Sentinel Comics don't (quite) do that. I got a few superhero RPGs and they each have their strengths and weaknesses. Silver Age era is exactly where Sentinels goes.

[@davidskidmore3442]

@@Skeloric To me that's more like a retcon; and I think Sentinals does support you straight-up changing out powers/skills between collections. It's not like Supes' was written as gradually increasing in jump height/distance until he could basically fly... just 'new author, different interpretation'. Often with no explanation, either.

[@davidskidmore3442]

I agree that different RPGs bring different things to the table. Aberrant, for example, has better 'gradual progression' mechanics if that is something important to the table.

[@derekburge5294]

Super glad to hear that more modern games are working with random character creation. Discovering a character as you create them is a unique joy. I've only played Mutants and Masterminds, and maaaaan, I didn't have a good time there. Just felt like all the worst parts of the 3.x era of games without the parts that made me love that time. Looking forward to seeing how Sentinels plays out.

[@joshuashaw5524]

I haven't played any yet, but am looking forward to playing or running one (or more). Thinking of it, I'll need to gage the players interest in this or Traveller.

[@royclimer4311]

So I've played marvel superheroes by TSR I thought that it was really really into this day I might think that it's the best system for running a superhero game. Though the system lack the crunch. I also played champions what should I still has a bad system not only for general mechanics but for running a superhero game. Last but not least is mutants and masterminds even though this was crunchy like I love in a. I don't feel that the d20 system is really built for

[@nikcochran2971]

I never played a Superhero rpg. But Dragon magazine used to have character additions to the marvel rpg every month for a while. I wonder if there is a pdf with a collection of those Dragon mag articles?

[@sppd297]

More Supers content please

[@megasquidd]

This series is so timely for me. I've been searching a for a supes RPG. I used to play Mutants and Masterminds back in the mid 2000s, but it soooo crunchy. Masks a New Generation is very narrow in focus and a little too light. I'm looking for something in the middle. I'm hoping this is it.

[@RPGElite]

I think this may be what you are looking for. Keep following the series. 😉👍🏿

[@JAH711]

You should gush about your favorite genre more often, at least once a month? If you enjoy the genre, give yourself (and us) a video to revel in Superheroes

[@Tampahop]

I ran a game of Champions for three years with one session almost every weekend. Talk about your major GM burnout. I measure every other superhero rpg against it. It might not qualify as "the best" superhero game, but it has the most detailed character creation I've seen for the genre. I could create any Marvel or DC hero with the Hero System blindfolded (except for Superman where you needed almost unlimited points to create him... so unfair). BTW, Absolute Power borrows heavily from Champions. As for City of Heroes/City of Villains, what an amazing game. Half the game for me was costume design. The options for your look were staggering. I initially played until Marvel weighed in and caused the game creators to ban all characters with a look similar to Marvel characters. I had a character called Dr. Mood that looked exactly like Dr. Doom that had the Marvel hammer lowered on it. Marvel really screwed the pooch on this one as the look-alike characters were done by fans, not the game company, and could never be confused for the licensed versions created by Marvel. I only realized later that Marvel was doing their own game and didn't want the competition. Ultimately, I settled on a character called Soulslinger who looked like a western gunfighter, but used undead/souls to fight instead of six shooters.

[@thomasmarshall97]

I caught that Heroclix promotion box! :)

[@davidhobbs6292]

I've played Marvel, champions, GURPS supers, icons, and TMNT and other strangeness. (It kind of counts.) My favorite for supers was Marvel as a kid... it was just more fun to play

[@WretchinWilson]

Have you ever played ABERRANT? Coming into RPGs from White Wolf World of Darkness, that was my first supers RPG.

[@RPGElite]

I have it. Have never played it though.

[@jasonmabry8526]

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the new Marvel Multiverse rpg. The rank system really puts out some WEIRD combats but I love the basics of the system.

[@indyvisualist]

For me it has always been the Hero system, Champions but I am open to other games.

[@lancegarrison1919]

I like you dude,your a cool fellow.

[@gavinruneblade]

Question: FASERIP/Marvel (my favorite), Hero System, GURPS (which is not a good way to do superheroes but we did it anyway), TFOS (also not a good way, but better than GURPS), and I know I'm missing something.

[@VerumAdPotentia]

lol... Telling you about CoH, then after I hit comment, you start talking about it. XD Shout if you ever need/want a team-up.

[@VerumAdPotentia]

I've tried a lot of superhero rpgs, but none of them were as much fun or as engaging as the classic Marvel FASERIP. What can I say, I guess I'm a snob.

[@JAH711]

I haven’t played a Superhero RPG. I just never found the interest, I feel like RPGs already put folks in the steps of being “Heroic”. I need to witness or play a game to understand the difference at a table. Though I can say, Spider-Man is my favorite Superhero.

[@Skeloric]

Too many to list. Marvel FASErip. DC Heroes. Aberrant and Adventure. Mutants and Masterminds. GURPS Supers. Claim the Sky. The Nile Empire portion of TORG - pulp supers. ... I think I am missing a bunch by now.

[@matthewesch8758]

QotV: I haven't gotten to superhero RPG's yet, in large part because of time & opportunities for it. Though I have Palladium's Heroes Unlimited & a few of its spinoffs, I'd do it in Alternity. Sick of me beating that drum yet, Servant? 😂

[@lancegarrison1919]

BTW...what zone are you playing on in COH...im on Everlasting.

[@RPGElite]

@@lancegarrison1919 Same. 👍🏿

[@BondingWithBoardGamesRPGs]

I’ve never played a Super Hero RPG. But a question for you and the viewers. My son is always thinking up super powers and combos. Which system or top 3 systems have great “open” creation rules. He loves role playing. Chief

[@rob7953]

Hero System can seriously build just about any ability you can think of, but it's as crunchy as they come. GURPS Supers, too, but I'm not a fan of how the system handles the genre.

[@mikewalsh875]

Try Fate or Fate Accelerated. Simple rules leaning towards narrative control leave things wide open for players. Venture City uses this system but you would be fine just using Fate Accelerated.

[@BondingWithBoardGamesRPGs]

Thank you Rob

[@BondingWithBoardGamesRPGs]

Thank you Mike. I’ve played some games using Fate and my son used it for a fantasy setting he created. I’ll look into the Hero version

[@jacoba191]

I would love to run a Supers game but have no idea which to try. I am open to any suggestions and do not mind hunting down the classics!!! Any advice?

[@RPGElite]

Classic Marvel Advanced. Hands down the best superhero RPG ever made. Sentinel Comics looks promising and Golden Heroes, another classic.

[@jacoba191]

@@RPGElite do you recommend the whole box set or the two books will do?

[@PatrioticGestalt]

Hmmm... Try redrawing your hero with AI