Does Kurt play Champions or City of Villains? Wonder what type of hero he plays as...
I like both the grand scale fiction (Silver Surfer vs. cosmic powers, All Star Superman) but weaker characters are easier to manage. The highest-end characters have to always be working on a interdimensional/galactic scale or have their powers nerfed (Hulk's weakened on Planet Hulk). Starting with weaker characters works well for a plot w/newly-powered villains.
Nice review. Kurt, did you happen to look at Savage Worlds Dawn of Legends? If so, what did you think? Better then Necessary Evil? Not as good? Just as good? I'd like to pick up a Savage Worlds Supers setting but I'll only get one so I'd like to get the better of the two.
As always, love the reviews and thanks for providing this service for us!
I'd suggest getting the Superpowers Companion. It has the same powers rules as Necessary Evil but is built as a toolbox to build your own supers setting. You can scale it for different power levels of supers so you aren't restricted in power level like with the default NE system. I checked out Dawn of Legends and wasn't really all that impressed
I don't particularly like the setting, but I admire the Explorer's Editions for their ability to maximize gameable content and utterly minimize bullshit. The game is rather empty of fluff, and most of it's pages are taken up with rules, scenerios, GM advice, etc. Very packed book.
He he he what do you know, I had an odd feeling that Kurt would review Necessary evil, just didn't know when. So far, I'm loving the Savage worlds stuff, even though I have yet to run a game of my own.
I would love to see a Low Life review, though I'm sure it counts as a dark fantasy setting, hence Kurt may not dig it like others.
Good review Kurt and Rob. Don't forget folks they're doing this simply for your entertainment and education on what's out there free of charge to you. So while I would imagine suggestions are loved, demands are futile and childish.
The big difference between 1st and 2nd Edition is the Plot-Point-Campaign. It has another... plot point?! Also some powers (i.e. Armor & Toughness) are now a little bit revised.
Like what? another d20-based game? or maybe you mean yet another world of darkness game. just be happy he's reviewing new games. Though, to be honest, I would like to see his take on the new Hackmaster game.
Dude, look at this guys reviews. They're mostly Savage Worlds, then Chaosium. It's like PEG and Chaosium pay him to make these vids. There's a TON of games out there that don't fall in those two categories. Some more variety of games would be nice.
Name 12. That are easily available to the public. and are currently still making new supplements. WITHOUT going to DRVIETHRU RPG or Indie press revolution. Then send him copies of them without expecting return so he can review them.
We review what we can get our hands on and yes Kurt loves Savage Worlds and Call of Cthulhu. If we don't have the product we can't review it simple as that. We have lots coming up , next week I promise no Savage Worlds and due to GenCon coming up we are putting up two episodes next week and taking the following week off.
Well, could you review something you didn't have access to?
Would that be MAKING STUFF UP? Why debate stupid requests from people who obviously feel the need to be served by others reviewing whet they want after you make an even mores stupid dare to start naming other games?
Boy, some times even supporters can cause unnecessary arguments.
How about not falling for it and waiting to see what Kurt reviews that you might actually like instead of making a wishlist that you just won't help fulfill in the slightest?
I mean, c'mon people... This is a public service and we should all be thankfull for the time and effort these guys put into it.
Make suggestions, not absurd arguments or write as if your are demanding something.
To our loyal watchers, we will be putting the 1st 25 episodes back up and you can find links to them on our web site in the episode guide. I'll get one or two up a week, the first 2 are up already. We appreciate your watching and commenting on our show, if you love us or hate us we enjoy making the show for you and thank all the game producers who, with out there product we wouldn't have anything to review.
Hey Kurt, I love these reviews, but how about a review of Witch Hunter: The Invisible World? An interesting game I'd like to see your take on. Thanks and keep up the stuff.
Interesting idea. I know some of my players like to walk the line between good and evil when we play Heroes Unlimited or Superworld. They might find this interesting.
The Main problem I have is that the kind of Evil your supposed to play in the game is the wishy washy evil you get in General interest Prints of Batman and Spider-man, you dont get the VERY dark badguys, the real Phychos but the game can support htis if you change the base setting as i did.
How is the dynamic between the villains different than a team that wants to work together? My impression is that since characters are villains, they're less likely to get along. Are there mechanics for this, or is this just left up to the players? If the latter, I can see it being good for any sort of supers campaign, but it also would feel like the villain aspect is watered down.
The alien menace is a common threat that would give the villains an excuse to pool their resources. However, you, as a GM, have to sort of poke their insecurities here and there, and give them opportunities to score something that might give one or two PCs a perceived advantage over the others, such as a piece of alien technology. No one PC can just up and kill the others, or the others would gang up on him. However, each PC can work to undermine the others in subtle ways.
You have to try to "remind" them that they're not friends if you want the villain motif to even exist. In other words, you may have to, sort of, frame a PC in the eyes of another PC in order to suspect duplicity. It can't be too verifiable, just a hint of impropriety. It takes practice, but soon, if you do it right, you'll have each PC plotting against each other, forming alliances, and working to "one-up" each other. Kind of like what you see in Survivor.
Also, give your PCs a chance to be villains in such a way as not to deliberately go out to screw the other PCs over. Have them put their new found alien tech to work on extorting a business, or have them take over a power plant or something that can give them some material power.
after playing in the annual froth barrel tourney this year, alot of guys were praising the system and this book specifically (the event was a supervillians game). While we did not play SW, I did finally gain the confidence to pick up the book and I've been trying to find NE to see how the setting books work, though I may end up picking up Deadlands: Reloaded as. Love what I've seen so far and am preparing a game right now for it, so hope to finally leave 4th in the dust (play with believers :P )
What I like about Savage Worlds settings, like Necessary Evil, is how easy it is to prep. I take a lot of time to create what I call a GM's Battle Book for every game I run, and some games are more complex to do than others (I really don't like to burden myself with a lot of books at the table). Necessary Evil is rather fast where it came to prepping. I was able to digest the game relatively fast and come up with a good, solid adventure that my players enjoyed. I highly recommend it.
I'm intrigued - what do you usually include in your Battle Books?
It sounds like a good idea; I hate having to shuffle through books at the gaming table, and since many of my books are in PDF format, it's a little annoying to flip between scores of windows or scroll down to find the page I need...
Basically, I break it down into two sections: PCs, and The World. Under PCs, I should know all their stats and everything they have, and I often include their backgrounds or other pertinent information (magic effects, curses, debts, flaws, etc). And in the World, all my prominent NPCs, maps of certain locales, monsters, and anything I need to run the game for the next session is right there.
I also create files for various locales that I know my PCs will explore....more continued
In those files, there will be shopkeepers, complete with inventory, for example. I'll make dozens of these folks on little notecards that I just have on hand. It doesn't always matter who these people are, since 99% of the time PCs don't really care.
Also, I have a list of names that fiti with the campaign. These names are for people I haven't thought of that a PC might want to talk to or deal with in some way. I may not have stats for him, but at least I have a name.
Comment removed
SpartanCXVII 4 days ago
!:05 Evil's in the eye of the techno-beholder.
Does Kurt play Champions or City of Villains? Wonder what type of hero he plays as...
I like both the grand scale fiction (Silver Surfer vs. cosmic powers, All Star Superman) but weaker characters are easier to manage. The highest-end characters have to always be working on a interdimensional/galactic scale or have their powers nerfed (Hulk's weakened on Planet Hulk). Starting with weaker characters works well for a plot w/newly-powered villains.
Kogerii 1 year ago
Nice review. Kurt, did you happen to look at Savage Worlds Dawn of Legends? If so, what did you think? Better then Necessary Evil? Not as good? Just as good? I'd like to pick up a Savage Worlds Supers setting but I'll only get one so I'd like to get the better of the two.
As always, love the reviews and thanks for providing this service for us!
ixnay66 2 years ago
I'd suggest getting the Superpowers Companion. It has the same powers rules as Necessary Evil but is built as a toolbox to build your own supers setting. You can scale it for different power levels of supers so you aren't restricted in power level like with the default NE system. I checked out Dawn of Legends and wasn't really all that impressed
Jimalcoatl 2 years ago 2
I don't particularly like the setting, but I admire the Explorer's Editions for their ability to maximize gameable content and utterly minimize bullshit. The game is rather empty of fluff, and most of it's pages are taken up with rules, scenerios, GM advice, etc. Very packed book.
azirk83 2 years ago
one of my favorite settings, and an incredible idea. I wish there were a movie or something about this. a series of books would be nice.
aderier 2 years ago
He he he what do you know, I had an odd feeling that Kurt would review Necessary evil, just didn't know when. So far, I'm loving the Savage worlds stuff, even though I have yet to run a game of my own.
I would love to see a Low Life review, though I'm sure it counts as a dark fantasy setting, hence Kurt may not dig it like others.
rebirthangel 2 years ago
Good review Kurt and Rob. Don't forget folks they're doing this simply for your entertainment and education on what's out there free of charge to you. So while I would imagine suggestions are loved, demands are futile and childish.
Odexian 2 years ago
I have the older hardcover edition.
Is there any difference between the two?
Please review more savage worlds stuff.
highpriestrsw2 2 years ago
The big difference between 1st and 2nd Edition is the Plot-Point-Campaign. It has another... plot point?! Also some powers (i.e. Armor & Toughness) are now a little bit revised.
hoboyho 2 years ago
He reviews what he plays, if you want other stuff done, send it to him.
acm4bass 2 years ago
How about a Dr. Horrible Sing -along Blog setting with necessary evil...with cinematic bennies for singing...lol
acm4bass 2 years ago
good review kurt but can we have something else reviewed than savage worlds games please...
nozzer2002 2 years ago
Another frakkin' Savage Worlds review??? Geez, I can't wait until you run out of those books and actually review something else.
tschulze 2 years ago
Like what? another d20-based game? or maybe you mean yet another world of darkness game. just be happy he's reviewing new games. Though, to be honest, I would like to see his take on the new Hackmaster game.
jesternario 2 years ago
Dude, look at this guys reviews. They're mostly Savage Worlds, then Chaosium. It's like PEG and Chaosium pay him to make these vids. There's a TON of games out there that don't fall in those two categories. Some more variety of games would be nice.
tschulze 2 years ago
Name 12. That are easily available to the public. and are currently still making new supplements. WITHOUT going to DRVIETHRU RPG or Indie press revolution. Then send him copies of them without expecting return so he can review them.
jesternario 2 years ago
Warhammer FRP, Conan 2e, Hero 5, GURPS 4, Dark Heresy, Shadowrun, RuneQuest, Paranoia, HackMaster, Aces & Eights, CthulhuTech, Mutants & Masterminds. There's 12, none of which are PEG or Chaosium.
tschulze 2 years ago
We review what we can get our hands on and yes Kurt loves Savage Worlds and Call of Cthulhu. If we don't have the product we can't review it simple as that. We have lots coming up , next week I promise no Savage Worlds and due to GenCon coming up we are putting up two episodes next week and taking the following week off.
pugknowspro 2 years ago
great. now do the other part of what I said. Buy all 12 in hard copy and ship them to kurt as a GIFT.
jesternario 2 years ago
Yeah right. Since we're asking for things we know will never happen, how 'bout you give me a million dollars.
tschulze 2 years ago
My point is made. He can only review the games he has access to. Like they said, if they don't have the product, they can't review it simple as that.
jesternario 2 years ago
Well, could you review something you didn't have access to?
Would that be MAKING STUFF UP? Why debate stupid requests from people who obviously feel the need to be served by others reviewing whet they want after you make an even mores stupid dare to start naming other games?
Boy, some times even supporters can cause unnecessary arguments.
DoktorZinieztro 2 years ago
How about not falling for it and waiting to see what Kurt reviews that you might actually like instead of making a wishlist that you just won't help fulfill in the slightest?
I mean, c'mon people... This is a public service and we should all be thankfull for the time and effort these guys put into it.
Make suggestions, not absurd arguments or write as if your are demanding something.
DoktorZinieztro 2 years ago
thank you
jesternario 2 years ago
don't forget to send 2 copies of each , I want one too :)
Rob
monstermodelreview 2 years ago
Look lake a great game :]
zorlak21 2 years ago
To our loyal watchers, we will be putting the 1st 25 episodes back up and you can find links to them on our web site in the episode guide. I'll get one or two up a week, the first 2 are up already. We appreciate your watching and commenting on our show, if you love us or hate us we enjoy making the show for you and thank all the game producers who, with out there product we wouldn't have anything to review.
Thanks for watching
Rob and Kurt
pugknowspro 2 years ago
Hey how about some cyberpunk stuff like cyberpunk 2020 or shadowrun.
kevhodge777 2 years ago 2
Hey Kurt, I love these reviews, but how about a review of Witch Hunter: The Invisible World? An interesting game I'd like to see your take on. Thanks and keep up the stuff.
cccfranks 2 years ago
Interesting idea. I know some of my players like to walk the line between good and evil when we play Heroes Unlimited or Superworld. They might find this interesting.
NaturalTwentyFilms 2 years ago
The Main problem I have is that the kind of Evil your supposed to play in the game is the wishy washy evil you get in General interest Prints of Batman and Spider-man, you dont get the VERY dark badguys, the real Phychos but the game can support htis if you change the base setting as i did.
zompire 2 years ago
How is the dynamic between the villains different than a team that wants to work together? My impression is that since characters are villains, they're less likely to get along. Are there mechanics for this, or is this just left up to the players? If the latter, I can see it being good for any sort of supers campaign, but it also would feel like the villain aspect is watered down.
nutherefurlong 2 years ago
The alien menace is a common threat that would give the villains an excuse to pool their resources. However, you, as a GM, have to sort of poke their insecurities here and there, and give them opportunities to score something that might give one or two PCs a perceived advantage over the others, such as a piece of alien technology. No one PC can just up and kill the others, or the others would gang up on him. However, each PC can work to undermine the others in subtle ways.
WayfinderX 2 years ago
You have to try to "remind" them that they're not friends if you want the villain motif to even exist. In other words, you may have to, sort of, frame a PC in the eyes of another PC in order to suspect duplicity. It can't be too verifiable, just a hint of impropriety. It takes practice, but soon, if you do it right, you'll have each PC plotting against each other, forming alliances, and working to "one-up" each other. Kind of like what you see in Survivor.
WayfinderX 2 years ago
Also, give your PCs a chance to be villains in such a way as not to deliberately go out to screw the other PCs over. Have them put their new found alien tech to work on extorting a business, or have them take over a power plant or something that can give them some material power.
WayfinderX 2 years ago
Doesn't seem that bad of a game, once I move and have a new player base I'll give it a try
Andulvar 2 years ago
after playing in the annual froth barrel tourney this year, alot of guys were praising the system and this book specifically (the event was a supervillians game). While we did not play SW, I did finally gain the confidence to pick up the book and I've been trying to find NE to see how the setting books work, though I may end up picking up Deadlands: Reloaded as. Love what I've seen so far and am preparing a game right now for it, so hope to finally leave 4th in the dust (play with believers :P )
mynamesaretakenwtf 2 years ago
What I like about Savage Worlds settings, like Necessary Evil, is how easy it is to prep. I take a lot of time to create what I call a GM's Battle Book for every game I run, and some games are more complex to do than others (I really don't like to burden myself with a lot of books at the table). Necessary Evil is rather fast where it came to prepping. I was able to digest the game relatively fast and come up with a good, solid adventure that my players enjoyed. I highly recommend it.
WayfinderX 2 years ago
I'm intrigued - what do you usually include in your Battle Books?
It sounds like a good idea; I hate having to shuffle through books at the gaming table, and since many of my books are in PDF format, it's a little annoying to flip between scores of windows or scroll down to find the page I need...
mysterycycle 2 years ago
Basically, I break it down into two sections: PCs, and The World. Under PCs, I should know all their stats and everything they have, and I often include their backgrounds or other pertinent information (magic effects, curses, debts, flaws, etc). And in the World, all my prominent NPCs, maps of certain locales, monsters, and anything I need to run the game for the next session is right there.
I also create files for various locales that I know my PCs will explore....more continued
WayfinderX 2 years ago
In those files, there will be shopkeepers, complete with inventory, for example. I'll make dozens of these folks on little notecards that I just have on hand. It doesn't always matter who these people are, since 99% of the time PCs don't really care.
Also, I have a list of names that fiti with the campaign. These names are for people I haven't thought of that a PC might want to talk to or deal with in some way. I may not have stats for him, but at least I have a name.
WayfinderX 2 years ago
Nice stup for a story ^^
Kapelannew 2 years ago