[BNW] Re: bnw-digest.19990308

["Lane Pearson" <regault@u.washington.edu>]

>Exactly! This is the problem we've had from day one. Sure, it's a
superhero
>game, since it's about people with paranormal powers in a modern-day
setting,
>but it's not at all generic. There's a strong backstory that informs the
rest
>of the game, and that includes what kinds of heroes there are to play. 

>Thanks again for the feedback--to all of you. Even if it doesn't always
change
>my mind, it helps me refine my reasoning. ; )

>Matt Forbeck
>Pinnacle

	You know, although some people really hated the game (I'm not one of
them), the game as desribed so far sounds very similar to the
CyberGeneration supplements for CP2020, insofar as it involves certain
classes of superhero versus a fascist government.
I seem to remember the classes in that game being pretty detailed. Although
its similar in content, I believe BNW will probably be a better game simply
because it can avoid the flaws CG had built in, like the inability to take
any real direct action against the government, or the lack of useful
information in the sourcebooks, or not being able to decide if it was
deadly serious or light hearted.
	It also sounds a little like Underground, but since your not trying to
scale down a system meant for superman to the level of street combat, and
your not trying to write a simultaneous political satire, you should do
okay.
All told, I'd advise you to describe the game as more of a freedom fighting
game on the back cover. Make it seem like a freedom fighting game that just
happens to have superpowers, not a game where the powers are the be all and
end all.
	That said, if I were you, I'd personally keep the Deadlands dice rolling
system. Open ended dice rolls are very appropriate to a superheroic
setting, and the combat system is pretty much the best one I've ever seen.
The only foreseeable problem would be the need to rework and clarify the
hand to hand combat system as it pertains to superstrong characters and to
decide how hand to hand damage works against armor in definitive way,(Why
does a punch hurt people in armor when a sword doesn't?) I'd suggest two
kinds of armor, soft, which is like kevlar and provides less protection in
HtH, and hard, which is like tank armor and totally blocks any HtH damage
unless the weapon is strong enough.
Lane Pearson, Nutjob