So I’m trying to put together a demo game with some friends, and while I love the game, I don’t think my players will be quite the superhero or RPG nerd that I am. So I’m attempting to put together a list of characters who fit into each playbook – from both Marvel and DC – to use as examples. So far, what I’ve come up with is:
The Bull- America Chavez, X-23
The Nova- Wiccan, Justice, Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes)
The Outsider- Starfire, Lucy in the Sky
The Legacy- Superboy, Kid Flash, Wondergirl, Nightwing, Nova (Sam Alexander)
The Protege- Robin, Speedy
The Janus- Spider-Man
The Delinquent- Speed, Chase Masterson
The Doomed- Raven, Veil, Hazmat
The Transformed- Cyborg, Beast Boy
The Beacon- Kate Bishop, Shadowcat
The Innocent – time-travelling X-Men
The Soldier- Patriot
The Star- Striker
The Joined- Stepford Cuckoos, Wonder Twins
The Harbinger- Iron Lad
I know I’m missing a few playbooks, and some more good examples from at least a couple. Any ideas?
Looks pretty good. Although I think you mean Chase Stein from Runaways, right? Chase Masterson was the actress who played Leeta in Deep Space Nine.
You could add Mettle to the Transformed.
Magik from New Mutants as either Doomed or Outsider.
Jubilee as Delinquent
I feel like there should be lots of heroes that fall under Janus but I can’t think of them. Fortunately, Spider-Man is so well known that it pretty much makes that playbook clear.
From a certain point of view you can make most any hero fit into any category. The trick is to not focus on their powers or background, but their relationships with each other and the world they live in.
That being said, the team mechanic is pretty key so you want to look at teams of young heroes. Young Justice, the various incarnations of Teen Titans, New Warriors, The Runaways, The Power Pack, Cloak & Dagger, certain X-Men, Secret Warriors are all DC/Marvel. You might also look outside to indie comics (Invincible) or tv shows (like Smallville). Look at the places your players know and love!
Booster Gold is totally the Star. Beast and the Thing are classics for the Transformed.
Adam West I dunno, the gal playing Leeta might have some superhero game. 🙂 But yes, I meant Chase Stein.
Jason Cox I’m not trying to force associations, but I think these are helpful milestones for players who aren’t too experienced with either superheroes or RPGs. With those initial ideas to help them, I think it will make it easier to then focus on relationships.It’s good info to keep in mind, though – I don’t want the examples to be so overpowering that my players can’t go their own directions.
Jamie Smith to help avoid forcing associations, I’d include a few examples of characters that could be in two or more playbooks in your lists. That might help your players realize there is some flexibility.
I don’t think Lucy in the Sky is an Outsider. She was created on earth, and always tought of earth as home.
Superboy is more the bull then the legacy but totally works as one