Masks unbound is really cool generally, and the Spiderweb playset is really cool specifically.
And yet, I find myself not really digging the central conceit: that it takes place in a parallel timeline in which there were no costumed heroes until the present day.
To me, that seems like a needless distraction. The DC and Marvel universes are full of examples of dark, street-level stories that take place in a world full of costumed heroes. The existence of the Avengers doesn’t negate Daredevil and the gritty world he faces.
I think if I run the playset, I’m going to ignore that aspect, while still matching the tone, using the extra agenda and custom moves and so forth.
Other folks: have you run/played spiderweb yet? How much has the parallel timeline stuff come up or mattered?
I’ve not played it, but if you don’t see an obstacle, I don’t see a problem using it in the same timeline.
I’ve already done some parallel timeline stuff in my own games. I developed a lot of cool stuff for my first Masks run that had some players flake out. So I called game 2 a parallel timeline and tweaked some things.
It definitely seems like it would work to use some of the Spiderweb mechanics sans alternate timeline. I think the most interesting parts are about building up neighborhood connections/weaknesses + the overall tone of crimebosses being able to hold their own against heroes.
So I don’t think you have to use the alternative timeline to get there, but maybe you just still don’t want it to be a world of adult Nova types. powerful Legacies, etc. No timey-wimey reason, but powers are more street level and there’s no calvary to call.
I think it’s a huge barrier, especially to getting the kind of folks I want to introduce to masks with a powers-lite playset.
I’m personally trying to rewrite the backstory, to give me a city that feels rIght without the Shift.
But I do think, like Leah Libresco said, you can set it in regular halcyon, as long as the PC storylines don’t feel dwarfed or driven by the conventionally powerful heroes that spiderweb (imho correctly) writes out
I feel like the fact that there isn’t anything beyond street level powers is important – the PCs have no one who can step in to solve their problems and it’s not because people who are capable won’t do anything. They simply don’t exist.
I’m not a fan of the parallel timeline/Brass Brilliant/Satin plot myself, if I ran The Spiderweb I’d just say superpowers recently began to show up and no one is sure why.