Everyday Heroes is a relatively new RPG system which I will go into in a little bit and in some subsequent posts. The things that are most cool about it to me is not that ‘its another’ RPG system to learn, as it is not. Everyday Heroes [EH] is built upon a d20 system set in the modern era built upon a “well known well loved” but clearly unnameable system [ Would you care to guess which one? ].
The system in essence builds characters around abilities vs occupation and a simplified wealth model to allow for easy tracking of capacity versus minding pennies. You still roll up your dude or dudette, create a background and profession, choose archetypes, develop talents, acquire ‘feats’ you name it. One of the slickest but clean concepts is around Ability checks, 1d20 + [relevant modifier, i.e. intelligence], and your scale the task from trivial to near impossible and must roll at or above the check number ranging from 5 to 30!
The systems roots harken back to the early days of RPG and had a fruitful following. Twenty years on Jeff Grub and his team have redeveloped the system, adapted it to the ‘real’ modern world to reflect comms, weapons platforms, computer tech. Mechanics have evolved all 460 gloriously illustrated pages of it.
Ok. So what?
Here is the kicker for this RPG. Taking movie concepts and turning them into resource books and campaigns!
121 Pages of Escape from New York City!
Get the Actual out…of HERE.
I don’t know about you guys but if you have never wanted to be Snake and rescue the President from the hell of New York City now a giant Jail city then your wood is for sure wet and you need to go watch a lame sitcom.
This adventure takes you through 3 Acts that culminate the iconic scene at the Statute of Liberty. All the cool characters, a world well developed with more than a dozen factions, loads of antagonists, and the characters from the movie too, Maggie, Brain, Bob Hauk, US President, Romero and of course Snake.
There is of course an entire world here to explore and rummage around in and other adventures could be had. This specific adventure has a timed element to it linked to a significant event [no spoiler!].
Looks epic. Now not only can you run around role playing as Snake but they have released another module for the Crow.
I will note an oddity in the intro for EFNYC, his dates appear to be off. And as this is a non wargame title we have entered into the don’t offend anybody zone, so there are lots of trigger warnings, diversity statements and what not. Once you get past the first few pages of that they drop back into clean crisp writing.
The system has planned released for other titles in 2023 as well. You can see the full list here: www.evilgeniusgames.com. Pacific Rim, Highlander, Total Recall, Rambo [DAMN] and even Universal Soldier!
Releases in Jan ’23.
I have not run a campaign with friends etc. What I did do is read cover to cover, and take a stock character thru a set of steps to test the abilities, and then did some combat against 2 NPC’s. If you have played any RPG you will get into the groove quick enough. What might have been cool, or something to have for players is a summary sheet of rules vs needing to flip through pages, perhaps what is included for the GM on his screen? Chapter 14 covers creating your own adventures. I suspect this is the lightest part of the system at just 13 pages, as they really want you to buy into their Cinematic Adventure books.
I really liked how they coach new RPG’ers on running a game investing time in some of the real fundamentals on how to narrate, how to say ‘yes and’, drawing players attention to specifics that are needed for continuation etc etc.
Purchase here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/21898/Evil-Genius-Games
As a contrast Twilight 2k, invests a lot of time in the micro management of survival and encourages ranged combat avoidance [ you die quickly], it can be a gritty depressing world to play in. This to me feels much more Hollywood, full bore adventure and much more approachable. I still love T2k. This Everyday Heroes is more like chocolate coated pretzels vs the make your own pretzel from scratch variety of RPG.
Thanks for the heads-up Kev, will bookmark it. My teenage D&D group got back together a few years (we are all mid-50`s now) and play regularly. I`m always on the lookout for something thematic to add into the mix, this may be it!
🙂