Unofficial Super-Hero Book?

[BlackPanther]

1. Should I start with DC/Marvel/Image?
2. Should it be in order of power or importance?
3. Should I use optional rules? BAB/DB, 3:1 skills or just plain normal.
4. Should I include art next to the character or should I do full page (art) then writeup?
5. Favorite Artists to use in book?
6. Should I balance the Marvel/Image characters with DC characters?

Any input is appreciated.

[DrObvious]

1. Should I start with DC/Marvel/Image?

Yeah, but you may want to add the big time indies, like Judge Dredd.

2. Should it be in order of power or importance?

I would say group by PL, index by name.

3. Should I use optional rules? BAB/DB, 3:1 skills or just plain normal.

I wouldn't. Those are ez enough to impliment yourself

4. Should I include art next to the character or should I do full page (art) then writeup?

Depends. If its a .pdf, go big.

5. Favorite Artists to use in book?

If you can, who ever 'defined' the char. Claremont for some Xmen, Ditko for Spidey, Dillion for Punisher, ect.

6. Should I balance the Marvel/Image characters with DC characters?

Well, I would go with the most important characters, not what company makes them.

[AaronUnicorn]

1. Should I start with DC/Marvel/Image?

Breaking it up by comics company will probably make it easiest to navigate through. So, a Marvel Section, a DC Section, an Image Section, and a "Other Independents" sections seems to be in order.

2. Should it be in order of power or importance?

I would say neither. Those are arbitrary, and could lend to confusion in terms of finding people. Alphabetical is nice and easy to navigate.

3. Should I use optional rules? BAB/DB, 3:1 skills or just plain normal.

Stick with straight book rules. Anyone who uses optional rules can implement them themselves, as they're probably already used to. Straight core book rules will make the game easiest to use by the greatest number of users.

4. Should I include art next to the character or should I do full page (art) then writeup?

I think full page art will make for far too big of a book. I'd do art next to the character.

5. Favorite Artists to use in book?

Mix and match. If you can find someone who just has an iconic, defining picture of the character, use it. This will often be the person who did the most work on the character, but not always. Try to avoid using the same artist over and over. Alex Ross's portraits are beautiful, but I'd get tired of them eventually.

6. Should I balance the Marvel/Image characters with DC characters?

Yes, although I find it odd that you phrased it that way and not Marvel/DC characters with Image. Use some of the other independents too. If the goal is to gather as many of the write-ups as have been done on this board, then use 'em. It's not like there's a printing cost to be considered here.

[Witchblade]

1. Should I start with DC/Marvel/Image?

Actually, I'd much rather see a book of wholly original heroes/villains.

2. Should it be in order of power or importance?

Alphabetical.

3. Should I use optional rules? BAB/DB, 3:1 skills or just plain normal.

I'd say stick with the rules as written. Too many people do use them as such to be trying to introduce house rules.

4. Should I include art next to the character or should I do full page (art) then writeup?

As a general rule, the more color ink I have to use when printing (when we're talking about PDFs), the lower the score gets.

5. Favorite Artists to use in book?

Well, if you're taking my suggestion to use original heroes, whoever you can find to draw them.

6. Should I balance the Marvel/Image characters with DC characters?

See above.

The fact is, I much prefer an original setting without a bunch of established heroes for my campaigns. I've even stripped Freedom City of it's native sons in favor of my own creations. A book of completely original heroes and villains would be far more useful to me than a book of Marvel/DC/Image writeups. Just my $.02.

[mdf2]

One minor point...

DrObvious, in your response to Black Panther regarding artists, you said
'whoever defined the character. Claremont for some X-Men'

The defining artist is fine but Chris Claremont defined the X-Men as a WRITER, he was never an artist. He had a whole bunch of talented guys working under him though -- Dave Cockrum, Paul Smith, Jim Lee -- which ultimately just makes some of those decisions harder.

Hope I didn't offend, but I thought that point should be corrected.

[DrObvious]

Ha! Don't I feel silly? Your absolutly right. I'm going to go pretend like I know how to use google to check up on stuff now.

[Samurai007]

1. Should I start with DC/Marvel/Image?
2. Should it be in order of power or importance?
3. Should I use optional rules? BAB/DB, 3:1 skills or just plain normal.
4. Should I include art next to the character or should I do full page (art) then writeup?
5. Favorite Artists to use in book?
6. Should I balance the Marvel/Image characters with DC characters?

Any input is appreciated.

1) Original characters which retain a strong comic-book feel. Some may even pay homage to classic characters. If you do go with established characters, use Marvel and DC (very few, if any, Image, and no minor company characters)

2) Alphabetical by name

3) Despite being a big fan of alternate rules myself, I'd say stick with the official rules. There are many alternate rules, most of which conflict with each other. If you want to create a 2nd version of the file that includes some of the most popular alternate rules, you could, but start with the established rules 1st.

4) A simple 1/4 page full body picture of the character is best, IMHO.

5) Use fairly well known, classic artists if you are doing established characters. Otherwise, do the best you can with what you've got.

6) DC and Marvel are the big 2. Image is rather childish and their readership is much smaller now. Wildstorm, the best branch of Image by far, has moved to DC. I would just stick to DC and Marvel...

[Strict31]

He had a whole bunch of talented guys working under him though -- Dave Cockrum, Paul Smith, Jim Lee

Definitely would add John Byrne to that list. Even though his style might not suit the tastes of modern eyes. And I'd put Marc Silvestri (sp) before Lee (merely as a note of personal comparison), but that's just me. Lee seemed to be a refinement of Silvestri's style. Silvestri helped crystalize the modern look of the X-Men, but his work wasn't always as tight as Lee's.Oohh! And John Romita Jr., too!!

But I digress from the point of the thread...

Strictly Speaking

[AaronUnicorn]

Just a quick FYI. A couple of people have suggested mainly original characters for this book. The point of this unofficial book is that BlackPanther is collecting the "Unofficial" write-ups of established characters that various members of this board have posted.

I too would normally prefer a book of all original characters, but that's not what BP is doing. He's offered the valuable service of collecting the write-ups scattered around the board, so his question of "Mainly Marvel/DC/Image?" starts with that parameter in mind.

[BlackPanther]

Progress is about 25%, I have a few questions.
1. Superman's Super-Speed: Should it be Running (With Super-Running), or Super-Speed (Flaw: Hero Point).
2. Would you prefer to see the point cost on the bottom of the character writeup.

[BlackPanther]

Could anyone point to writeups by mouthymerc and any other writeups of Marvel/DC/Image characters. If you've seen writeups anywhere else on the net, please post thanks.

[Nightlynx]

Panther...
The best way to go about finding stuff on the boards would be to start with the search fuction! It really is a handy lil tool! As the Merc has been a very busy fellow in the past Kudos to you Merc! His stuff is honestly all over the boards!

peace and good gaming

Nightlynx

[Whiteknight]

I am very interested in seeing the final product since I am still getting the hang of the game and use said writeups for my education and edification of the rules and its applications. Can I ask where the final product will be available for download? One of the M&M Yahoo Groups or a private site?
This will save me a lot of time searching for these writeups and printin g them out!

Frank
ftroise@si.rr.com

[BlackPanther]

It will be on the Yahoo Group page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MNMWriteups/
The opening page is up now. Take a look.

[Mucknuggle]

1. Should I start with DC/Marvel/Image?

Marvel

2. Should it be in order of power or importance?

Alphabetical

3. Should I use optional rules? BAB/DB, 3:1 skills or just plain normal.

Normal rules and I would also like to see the 3:1 skills rule version as it is a very common house rule in the community on this board.

4. Should I include art next to the character or should I do full page (art) then writeup?

Depends on the picture, but I would like to see it somewhat resemble the writeups in Crooks.

5. Favorite Artists to use in book?

I prefer the modern stuff.

6. Should I balance the Marvel/Image characters with DC characters?

No, just write them up as you see them in terms of power.

[Kenpo Wolf]

Could anyone point to writeups by mouthymerc and any other writeups of Marvel/DC/Image characters. If you've seen writeups anywhere else on the net, please post thanks.

Valdier has some great writeups on his site. I love how he did Captain America, Thor and the Scarlet Witch