Superhero game recommendations

[acctingman1969]

Hello all!

I'm an ex-Heroclix and current MCP player looking for something new.

Heroclix - too expensive, too much a collectible game, WAY too much power creep, cards/powers are just overdone but I do like the variety.

MCP - it's a scenario card game and has little to do with KO'ing your opponent.

Here are some of my "wants"
Combat, combat, and more combat. I do not want any RPG elements and I'd like offense & defense to not be too swingy. When I roll my dice it needs to make sense...hope that makes sense! 😁

A good selection of abilities and powers. I don't mind page flipping to try and remember what does what.

One other thing that would be nice is a set of rules that have player made conversions for Marvel and DC characters. Now, this isn't a "must" but it would save me a load of time which I have very little these days.

Honestly, that's about it.

I have done some looking around and have read some info on the Four-Corner games, mainly Super Mission Force and Super Skirmish Gaming and have read some positive things.

Just seeing if there is anything else out there people might suggest.

Thank you and I appreciate your time

[Inkpaduta]

One that I like and seems to meet what you want is Power Legions.

[Cat]

It's been quite awhile since I played, but SuperSystem gives a good combat game.  And great for larger sized skirmishes if the likes of the Kree-Skrull War is your sort of thing.
: 3

[DS615]

I've played quite a few, and even wrote my own set, but I always come back to Super Mission Force. 
If combat is your primary driver, I recommend that one.
It has the "feel" I think you're looking for.

I also like Power Legions, it plays fine, but it never gave me that "feel" of over the top superhero action.

[Rick]

I have a couple of different sets of rules that are pretty good I think. I have 3 editions of the Supersystem rules - 1st, 2nd and 4th - of those I can heartily recommend 2nd edition as a wargame, 4th edition is starting to go into 'rpg lite' territory. The other system I have is Squadron UK rpg, a reprint/reboot of the old GW Golden Heroes rpg - the reason I mention it here is that it has a very good combat system and I do know that many players used to ignore much of the rpg mechanisms and create characters to battle as a wargame. Both systems rely on figures (or counters) on the table but Supersystem uses an open table and measuring whilst Squadron UK/Golden Heroes uses a gridded map board and as an ex Heroclix player you might have map sheets that fit in well. The Golden Heroes rules are often up on Ebay and I think both Squadron UK and the various editions of Supersystem are still available as PDF/POD but you may have to search for them. As to DC/Marvel conversions - someone on this very forum mentioned that you may find that info on the various Superfigs groups for the Supersystem rules.

[Cusm]

I have several of the Four Color Studio games and the one I like the most is Super Skirmish Gaming https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/409525. It is written for solo, co-op or vs and it can have RPG elements, but you have to put it in. Four Color has done Super System, Super Mission Force, Slugfest, Super Action Role Playing and the latest Super Skirmish Gaming. SSG is a 3D6 system and I find it crunchy enough for character creation, but not too crunchy with the game play.

[Rick]

I'd not heard of some of these games but I think I might look at getting Super Mission Force simply because it uses a similar mechanic to SuperSystem. Are we about at the point where we need a stickied rules repository thread just for the different Supers rules?

[kimryoung]

Super Mission Force is superior product and provides great flexibility for character creation. Easy to learn and play and is in it's second edition along with supplements too.

Kim

[Inkpaduta]

Power Legions is a good straight forward game.

[Chief Lackey Rich]

Four Color's games would be my first choice.  I'm a little more partial to Supersystem than I am to Super Mission Force, but that's at least partially nostalgia - been playing the former since 1st edition way back when.  Quarter of a century now?

[Cusm]

Here are the author's comparisons of his systems to help decide.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTpecWQ0FbiaTxY76pMfPbBy57i-xKSAMeOGZidA5MD8GAH0BKIpW8DS0Jum-pZUrJ2cQkt1WHvhsdS/pub

And a detail of Super Mission Force vs Super Skirmish Gaming.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RJo2OF0wVRWx57nv_POuDpRodVJfol0rJSoVrb10iSo/edit?usp=sharing

[Rick]

Thanks for that Cusm - I hadn't seen that but it echoes what I thought I knew about the various systems. I have SS4, I've ordered SMF2 and I think I might get Slugfest at some point. I like the 4 color games and I hope, at some point, that the author might get around to writing a broad(ish) sort of worldbook for the world and local parts of the galaxy as a sandbox type of thing.

[leonmallett]

I'd not heard of some of these games but I think I might look at getting Super Mission Force simply because it uses a similar mechanic to SuperSystem. Are we about at the point where we need a stickied rules repository thread just for the different Supers rules?

 I think so.

Some to include:

Super System 1st to 4th editions
Super Mission Force 1st and 2nd editions ( I wrote some of the supplementary material in Athwart Time and Annual 1); there are pregen 2nd edition characters for my Supers Unlimited range
DC Universe Miniatures Game
Batman Miniatures Game
Marvel Universe Miniatures Game
Marvel Crisis Protocol
Pulp City original pdf (half edition, ), 1st edition and Supreme Edition (2nd edition)
Power Legions
SUPERS (Slow Death Games)
Simple Supers (Normal Guy Games)
Heroes Among Us
Atomic Super Humans

[sundayhero]

Heroclix - too expensive, too much a collectible game, WAY too much power creep, cards/powers are just overdone but I do like the variety.

Personaly I still play heroclix first edition. No cards, cheap minis, and great fun.

Other than that, I like power legions. I also have super system, wich is a bit more complex. I never tried super mission force or super skirmish, I may have a try since I readed a lot of good things on these.

[obsidian3d]

Power Legion’s point formula is a bit whacky and makes it tough to build teams to a specific point level, but the game is fun.

Supersystem 3rd or 4th edition are a bit complex when it comes to building characters, but will give you the most freedom to build what you want. I prefer Super Mission Force 2nd edition for simplicity of character building and play.

I’ve also played a lot of the Batman and DC games by Knight Models. They’re both good games with great figures, but KM no longer includes printed cards with their models…and their game apps seem to have largely ceased worked.

If you don’t care to stat up your own figures, or want to play with some awesome non-IP minis I would strongly recommend Pulp City. It’s easily tied with SMF for my fave superhero skirmish game, and the models are fab.