Hero System 5th Edition Bestiary Pdf Download
This topic was inspired by the recent 'Love The Setting, Hate The System' discussion thread. It seems there's quite a few gamers out there who would like to be able to use a given cool gameworld setting without the particular system it was written for. For whatever reason, HERO System gamers appear to be especially fond of converting other game settings into that system, often putting a lot of time and thought into it. We've been at this for a long time now, and as a result there's a lot of stuff out there, much of it on the Internet freely available to anyone. (Another recent Roleplaying Open discussion thread, 'Exalted HERO Conversion,' is one example of this tendency.) Since there seems to be an interest in alternative systems for settings, I decided to collect the various HERO system websites and webpages I've come across that deal with this subject here in one place for interested folks to sample.
The material covered here ranges from notes and guidelines for doing straight system conversions, to HERO writeups for characters, spells, tech etc. From a game setting, to full-blown web sourcebooks suitable for starting a HERO campaign in these game worlds. These are not 'official' system conversions (with a couple of exceptions), but created by fans for fans. You may notice an absence of Palladium games on this list. It's not that conversions don't exist, but posting them here would likely be asking for grief.:( Let me state very clearly that in putting these conversions up I'm in no way criticising these game systems or gamers who enjoy them, nor am I trying to raise HERO over all others. For people who might be interested in alternatives, though, here's one available for your consideration.
I'm certain there are other good websites that I've missed, and I'd welcome input on them. In fact it would probably be generally helpful for people who have done or are aware of good setting conversions using any system to post them on the Roleplaying Open forum, as well. Here are the links - I hope some of you find them interesting and useful.:) ADVENTURE! I've come across more webpages that I thought people might like to check out. Some of these are additions to games that I listed in my first post, while others are links to new games and/or settings done in HERO System.
Recently I've been working on DragonStar (by Fantasy Flight Games) conversion notes for HERO. I've been liberally taking various packages from Fantasy Hero, Star Hero, Terran Empire and Spacer's Toolkit for a quick reference document. I've created a few of the missing things that are kind of unique to DragonStar like SoulMechs, StarCasters (FTL drive) and SpellWare (magical bioware). I'm still futzing with how I want to do magic though. I don't want to copy D&D spells as is, but use them for a basis of spells that belong to schools of magic probably. I'll keep the Domain aspects for Clerics for spell types/categories and use/modify the Psionics information in Star Hero with some ideas thrown in from the Psionics Handbook.
Now I just have to find a group to try it on:) JorrJorr. Jorr Jorr, it sounds like you might get some use out of Killer Shrike's 'High Fantasy HERO' website. (That's under the first D&D-related link I posted at the top of the thread.) He does a very good job of adapting and extrapolating both the magic and psionics systems from D&D3, and his observations and guidelines might help you. I'd specifically recommend this webpage (to start with. You might also benefit from the extensive spell lists, suggestions and examples from the online Ultimate Grimoire (http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Castle/9529/Gamingstuff/Grimoire/theultimategrimoire.htm). It's time for me to pass on another new batch of links. As before, I'll start with changes and additions to existing entries: DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS 3E/ AD&D 2E Converted PC races from the Eberron setting: Notes on converting AD&D creatures: MARVEL SUPER HEROES First Edition conversion notes: SKYREALMS OF JORUNE The previously posted link to the conversion document no longer functions.
Here's the updated link: WARHAMMER FANTASY RPG Alternate stat conversion notes, and discussion of Warhammer spells: Now for the new entries: FUZION Conversion notes: Alternate conversion notes: VILLAINS AND VIGILANTES Detailed conversion notes: Writeups for the Destroyers villain team, from Death Duel with the Destroyers: Writeup for Surge, from the DNAgents Sourcebook: ADDITIONAL NOTE: I've posted the same list of conversions to the discussion boards on the Hero Games website. Because there's no time limit on when I can edit posts there, I've been able to update my initial list with the most current info, and clean up the organization so that all the entries are easy to find in one spot. If you'd like that list to refer to you can find it here: http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23298. Many people who play superhero RPGs like to introduce characters from the major comic publishers into their campaigns as NPCs or PCs, or even base their own campaigns in those comicbook universes. Due to Champions' long history a great many of these characters have been written up by HERO System players and their character sheets posted on various websites. I figure that this is as appropriate a venue as any to link to the main sites that I know of, for people who would like to use those settings.
These sheets include both 4th and 5th Edition HERO System writeups, but the differences between the two are relatively small and easy to figure out for people familiar with either version of the system. The Great Net Book of Real Heroes (is probably the largest archive of comicbook character writeups for HERO on the net, very well organized. Multiple writeups of the same character by different people highlight how the characters can be interpreted differently. Deejay's Champions Writeups (is another substantial and well-organized collection. This section of 'The Wild Hunt' Champions campaign website features many fine writeups for The X-Men and related characters (The portion of the vast 'Surbrook's Stuff' websight devoted to Comics-Derived Character Adaptions (is particularly strong in characters from smaller publishers. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Characters from the series: Angel (Buffy Summers (Cordelia Chase (Drusilla (Rupert Giles (Kendra (Oz (Spike (The Master (Willow Rosenberg (Xander Harris (Buffyverse Vampire (http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptionsmovie/buffy/vampire.html).
WHEEL OF TIME Discussion and writeups for The One Power, Ogier, Angreal, Ter'angreal and Sa'angreal, Channelling and Burnout, cutting one off from the Source, Linking and Circles, and the Blademaster Arts: Full character writeups: Magic system writeups: I'm also going to repost this link (to my listing of these sites on the Hero Games discussion boards, partly because I've been able to constantly update and reorganize them into one clean alphabetized list, and partly because that site includes entries which were impractical for me to include here for one reason or another.;). Lord Liaden, would you happen to know of any material online on handling Lankhmar and the world of Newhon using Hero, especially on some approaches to magic? Very little specific to Lankhmar, I'm afraid.:( Of course if you have access to the Lankhmar supplements for Dungeons and Dragons published by TSR, the conversion website links that I put in my original post could be used to port over that material.
Hero System 5th Edition Bestiary Pdf Download Torrent
Not a perfect solution, I know. I might suggest looking up HG's upcoming fantasy world sourcebook, The Valdorian Age, scheduled for release sometime next month. It's intended to be a 'low fantasy' world like Lankhmar and Howard's Hyboria, and includes an extensive magic system suitable to that kind of campaign. Hopefully that would be useful to you.
Very little specific to Lankhmar, I'm afraid.:( Of course if you have access to the Lankhmar supplements for Dungeons and Dragons published by TSR, the conversion website links that I put in my original post could be used to port over that material. Not a perfect solution, I know. I might suggest looking up HG's upcoming fantasy world sourcebook, The Valdorian Age, scheduled for release sometime next month. It's intended to be a 'low fantasy' world like Lankhmar and Howard's Hyboria, and includes an extensive magic system suitable to that kind of campaign. Hopefully that would be useful to you. Sounds like it would be, yes.
The conversions from D&D are possibly more suited to producing D&D-style magic than what one would want in a Newhon game. Thank you for your reply. With all the additions and corrections that this list has seen, I figured that it was about time I updated and consolidated these links in one post again. Below is the latest version as of the time I write this: 2300 AD Detailed conversion notes: AMBER Writeups for Amberite abilities: Discussion of shadow walking and changing probability: ABERRANT Characteristic and power conversion guidelines: Conversions of specific powers: See also 'Published Character Conversions' below. ADVENTURE! I really love this thread, Lord Liaden.
However, it's contributing to the big problem I have with the HERO system: Too many good ideas to use.:p Given the choice I'll take too much over too little.;) One thing I find intriguing about these conversions is that they provide a framework for taking ideas you like out of one game, and inserting them into another. There's a lot of potential for cross-pollenation. I do regret not daring to put up anything for Palladium, though.
Hero System 5th Edition Revised
There's no small amount available for those games.:(. This update adds to the available D&D/AD&D resources. First up is Grey HERO, a partial conversion of the World of Greyhawk into HERO 5E. Although far from complete it does have a number of useful items, including PC races and 'monsters,' plus a detailed psionics conversion: This next one is much more comprehensive.
Dungeon Hero is a wide-ranging conversion of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (First Edition) into 4E HERO System. Most of the classics are here: character classes and races, monsters, spells and magic items, and psionics. The author takes a unique approach to levelled advancement that more accurately reflects the source material, should that be of interest: http://www.planetx.org/%7Ejoed/gaming/dh.html. But there have been a few changes and additions to this list in the meantime, so I thought it was time to update things. I'll be posting the latest version of the conversions list below, but just to summarize - first the changes to existing entries: GURPS 3E The HERO stats for the GURPS Supers adventure School of Hard Knocks by Aaron Allston are no longer available on his website, but can still be found as a ZIPped text file by going to the archive below, then downloading KNOCKS11.ZIP. SHADOWRUN Here's more general concept discussion, character conversion guidelines, and writeups: VILLAINS AND VIGILANTES Additional published V&V characters: WARHAMMER 40,000: Further discussion and detailed writeups for Space Marine abilities, including implants: Tyrannid writeups, in both HTML format and Hero Designer templates: Now for the new entry: ROLEMASTER/ SPACEMASTER PDF with character stat conversions: http://www.hierax.com/hero/shadow/cha.pdf. Here's the latest updated conversions list: - 2300 AD Detailed conversion notes: ABERRANT Characteristic and power conversion guidelines: Conversions of specific powers: See also 'Published Character Conversions' below.
ADVENTURE! Couple of new links here, one expanding on a previous entry, the other for a newly added setting. First, the expansion: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER/ ANGEL This website devoted to the Buffy and Angel TV series includes HERO writeups for many regular and guest characters, plus some converted spells and several Package Deal character templates: Now the addition: HIGHLANDER 20 page Acrobat PDF containing background information, rules, character construction guidelines, powers, how to handle the Quickening, and package deals: http://www.starherofandom.com/hhighlander/index.php.but I haven't been idle. I've continued to collect lots more links to new conversion resources as I've come across them, both expanding on previous entries and adding new games and settings. I've been inputting them to the version of my list on the Hero Games company website discussion boards, because there's no limit to the time that I can edit posts there; so I've been able to reorganize the list, update or delete outdated links, update descriptions of the linked websites as their owners change them, etc. With that in mind, I've decided that the cleanest and most efficient use of my time and yours would be to just post a link to take interested parties directly to that list. I'll be confining any future additions and changes to that one, but I'll let you know about them here with update posts.
So, here you go. Hope you enjoy: http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23298. Figured it was time to apprise y'all of the most recent list action. You'll now find an entry for Cyberpunk 2020 taking you to detailed conversions of all the cyberware, bioware, weapons and armor from the CP 2020 core book.
There's also a new link for Fading Suns to a website converting a number of elements of that setting and game mechanics to HERO. Not a huge amount of material there yet, but what is there is interesting and useful, and the site shows promise. There's a lot more extent HERO stuff listed for Traveller, including weapons, vehicles, templates for major and minor races, profession packages, and starship modules and ship building instructions. This is all the work of several fans who are putting together an entire Traveller HERO PDF, available for free download in the near future. For fans of Gotrek Trollslayer, the popular character from Bill King's novels set in the universe of the Warhammer FRPG, the listing for that game now includes a HERO 5E writeup for Gotrek, along with comments thereon by several other posters to the Hero Games discussion boards.;) (Cue the chorus of Munchkins singing, 'Follow the link in my sig, / Follow the link in my sig.' To dig this thread up without the Search function working, but since I last posted here there have been a number of additions to my conversions list, so I thought I should pass them on to you. As always you can find alphabetical listings for these games by following the link in my signature, below.
I've put in links to guidelines for writing up magic spells appropriate to the settings for Call of Cthulhu and Feng Shui - check the listings for those games. I've added a link to another website to the Gamma World listing. This includes direct conversions of character stats and basic concepts from various editions of GW, plus several elements of the setting written up in 5E HERO.
In the GURPS section, I've linked to a worldbook adaptation of the famous manga series 3X3 Eyes. It's there because to a large extent it's a HERO translation of an 'unofficial' GURPS sourcebook. For the Highlander fans, I found a Hero Games discussion board thread debating various features of the setting and how best to represent them in HERO terms. These make interesting alternatives to the defaults in the Highlander HERO PDF. Interested parties can check out the new links to partial conversion notes and discussion for Mutants and Masterminds. I discovered more HERO writeups for published Villains and Vigilantes characters, which you can read via you-know-where.:) Finally, you can find new detailed writeups for Tyrannids and Necrons in the Warhammer 40,000 section.
It's under the link which mentions races; after you get to the website, click on the button marked, oddly enough, 'Races.' Lucky my thread-necromancy-fu is powerful;), because over the last couple of months there have been several notable additions to ye olde conversions list, which it's high time for me to share with you. Best cracks serials and keygens. Probably the most notable is the completion of a project I mentioned a few months back: Traveller HERO, a 152-page free PDF converting just about all elements of the Traveller setting to HERO System. The authors of this work consulted with Mark Miller of Far Future Enterprises, current holders of the Traveller property, while writing it, and the result has his blessing. TH includes packages for setting-based professions and major and minor races, skills, weapons and other tech, psionics, starships and detailed ship-building guidelines. The PDF does sometimes refer to other Traveller reference books so it's not totally self-contained, but if you're familiar with this setting TH has all you'll need to convert it to HERO.
You can download the PDF by following the link in my signature below, and scrolling down to the TRAVELLER listing. There have also been only slightly less auspicious developments for Warhammer Fantasy RPG: one of the higher-quality HERO fan websites is now hosting detailed, extensive and well-organized conversions of both the First and Second Editions of WFRPG. You'll find the links to them under the listing for that game. In superhero RPG developments, there's been a massive infusion of converted writeups for characters from the classic Villains and Vigilantes game, as well as a new listing for characters from Chaosium's entry in the field, Superworld. As part of the Runequest listing you'll find guidelines for adapting the fabled world of Glorantha to HERO, including writeups for several creatures and races from the setting.
There's also new guidelines for converting spells from Rolemaster, and several sample spells. As always, head for my sig, and enjoy.:).