the Hero system, or champions as I knew it way back when is still the best stand alone super hero system around. providing you have the tenacity to pore through every tweak to maximize your damage output. you can make just about any kind of hero you want if you work at it.

HERO/Champions is my all time favorite system for roleplaying in the superhero genre. I love the fact that you can completely customize your character according to a point system, and it is pretty easy for the GM to keep individuals from getting out of control simply by enforcing the active point limits for powers and keeping a close eye on endurance cost.

I think that the system is best for supers, and I rarely use it for other genres, especially fantasy. That is, unless, you want a really high fantasy with powerful characters. The system also works great for kung fu games, since a lot of those get over the top. (I'm thinking "Kung Fu Hustle" type moves)

The fifth edition was well worth the price, and I plan on picking up the "ultimate" series soon, once I get through re-reading the basic rules.

Unless you are well-versed in a former iteration of the HERO system, this book, weighing in at 660+ pages, just rules, no genre materials--JUST HERO SYSTEM RULES--will likely be way too much. If you are new to the system or gaming in general, get the Hero System Sidekick, which is a 120 page book with all the essntials of the system, which may be all the rules you'll ever need. Later, you can graduate to this monster.

The revision fixes errata, refines the rules, and offers a ton more examples of the rules being applied. I wasn't sure it would be worthwhile to get this , since I had the regular 5th Ed., but I have to say unreservedly, yes, get this. You will not find a more flexible, interesting, exciting, and fun rule system, and the best thing about it is: it is TRULY universal, and it TRULY works in all genres. This is all my groups plays now.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: Massive, covers everything, even rule mechanics you never thought you'd ever need. All the rules, with tons of examples, in one place.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Off-putting to new gamers or those new to the HERO system, in that it is a book of rules only (no genre info) that is more than 600 pages, and is 2 or 3x as thick as a D&D 3.5 Ed book.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>

500+ pages! Seems a little overwhelming, but my gaming group is running Champions next, so I guess I'd better get studying.

Everyone seems out of the hardcover of this book. :(<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: Lots of supporting source material. If I want to try another genre with the same system, it's there (like GURPS).<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Lots of supporting source material. For someone just coming into the Hero System, the sheer amount of sourcebooks available can seem overwhelming.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Acceptable<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>