What system would you use for a Pen and Paper CoH?

Asked this at the recent ustream, and Protean asked this question back. I actually was kind of surprised, even more so to realize I didn't have an answer.

Is it something that could be done with an existing system? Probably, there are multiple "Super Hero" games out there, but I dunno. The few I've touched were.. over complicated for my taste.

I have a soft spot for AEGs Roll and Keep system, because it's simple to pick up and uses a single dice type. But converting that to CoH is something I've boggled on for years, because the main issue is going to be the powers, and that's the hardest thing to transition over.

this one
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=286072

Hero system. It's probably the one you were thinking of when you said over complicated, but it will absolutely allow you to mimic every power in the game, and then some.

I know it's a weird twist, but I'd use the Hero System rules - the one that the RPG Champions uses. It's a great system and very flexible, especially if you like rolling 2.7 tons of six-sided dice for damage.

EDIT:
Heh, looks like someone else agrees!

I´d use the old World of Darkness system. Just modify the disciplines/gifts/spheres/or whatever to power sets. Maybe take a look at Scion too, it has great examples for really superhuman stuff.

@Redcap

Hero System or GURPS Supers. Both would allow for flexibility and I have successfully taken quite a few of my old tabletop Champions characters and made them here.

I have also made a few old Shadowrun characters who translated nicely.

But Hero/GURPS is likely the easiest with the least amount of work for the GM.

I've always had a soft spot for Mutants & Masterminds, so... that one. Of course, that's a totally uninformed opinion since I just own a couple rulebooks and have never actually played it...

If you wanted something flashy and fun and simple to learn, the original Marvel Super Heroes by TSR. You can still find free PDF copies of the game and supplements on the net. Even the latest iteration of the game harkens back to the original.

If you want detailed, more custom versions, then try Aberrant by White Wolf. Went to a lot of trouble talking about supers in the real world and the impact they have. Those are always my go to's.



S.

Add my voice to the loud chorus advocating Hero system's Champions or GURPS Supers. They have a steeper learning curve but once you get used to them, they're actually pretty easy to run and flexible as hades. You have to be careful with rules lawers who know the system well. Get them on your side as GM to rein in the power gamers and everyone will learn quickly and have fun.

I'd go with Mutant and Masterminds 2e.

I never tried the Hero system, but it is often mentioned in thread like this one. I should take a look at it.

I actually ran a City of Villains based campaign with Mutants & Masterminds 2e a year or two ago. The ultimate big bad of the campaign even turned out to be the Banished Pantheon, with Mot the most powerful. >_>

Hands down the Hero System and nothing else will come close. I played the very first Champions edition back in 1981/82 and IMO it is hands down the best hero system every created. I could very easily write every powerset in this game and then some. It is the most flexible system ever written for Superhero RPG. Unfortunately you cannot completely mimic all that could be done on PnP in a video game. I played Marvel, DC and VnV and none of them were as good.

I still have probably 60 6-sided dice in my house somewhere in all different colors...

and I STILL have my lucky 3... never failed ever when I needed a roll..

I always liked DC Hero (as opposed to the Hero system, although that's fine too), but I have no idea if that's still in print anywhere.

Man, I wish I still had my aberrant book. I forget pretty much everything in it.

And I dunno, the old school Marvel RPG is super popular, BUT, everytime I look at characters for it (or the old DC one) I go cross eyed.

The Storyteller system is probably IMO the easiest Ive ever picked up and played BUT, also has the drawback of having the least fulfilling combat.

while Hero is my favorite superhero system (BASH is also fun, but lighter), it bears no resemblance to City of Heroes.

if the question is what system would you use for a superhero game that you could make your CoX characters in - Hero works. But it won't play like CoX. Character creation is massively more complicated (okay, not if you include IO sets in CoX).

Hero system, certainly. If run with the "4-color" options it can be reasonably simple, although parts of CoH would be difficult to simulate that way.

Biggest difference is the two system's control of attack timing. Hero assigns characters a SPD rating to control how often characters act, while CoH has the luxury of being able to use actual time.

Mutants & Masterminds 2e, totes. For lower level stuff, PL 5-6. For endgame stuff? You could swing everything a character can do into PL 10 pretty easy. Especially if you drop something like Side Effect 2 (Fatigue) on your arrays. Sustained effects even act like toggles!

We play a lot of M&M 2e. Usually use it to play concepts I can't make in CoH, because the system is so open and can model just about anything.

Just use the Trinity and Aberrant powers with the Storyteller system. Easy, quick set up and play.

GURPS IST.

Worked wonders for my group in the day.

HERO is just too broken...too many over the top powers (Intang comes to mind) and our group had to ban swaths of abilities to create a balanced game.