Ratings for - RPGnet RPG Game Index

Statistics: HERO System Fifth Edition

Core Game Ratings

Rating: 7.11 / Ranking: 123

These ratings are based on 57 ratings with 1.90 average weight and 10 reviews.

This is compared to an index-wide 3.64 average ratings and 1.98 average weight.

This rating earns an average level of trust.

Ratings + Reviews:

14%

33%

19%

Index Ratings Only:

10%

15%

13%

26%

RPGnet Reviews Only:

20%

10%

60%

10%

Core Game Comments

All User Comments

Rating	User	Comments
10 / 10	Ahrimanius	Real Bang for your Buck.This is the real deal The Ultimate Toolkit and useful for other rpg systems.
10 / 10	Andrew Cermak	The best edition of the best rules system I've yet played.
10 / 10	ghost-angel	For me this is the Holy Grail of gaming. The system has a versatility and ease of use I've yet to encounter anywhere else. The 'Reason From Effects' concept is the perfect fit for my style of gaming. Able to scale up and down easily, as well as add or subtract complexity without altering the core of the system is one of the greatest appeals.
10 / 10	GojiraRed	Definitely one of the best game systems out there. System is crunchy but very reasonable it play. One of the best systems for running Super Heroes with. Many prefer it to Mutants and Masterminds. Runs a large number of genres well, well supported by the publisher.
10 / 10	John Desmarais	Still hands down my favorite rules set - and arguably the best "universal" system on the market today.
10 / 10	Lord Mhoram	Simply the greatest rulebook ever published.
10 / 10	Mesa Virga	Does exactly what is says on the tin. Definitely daunting for those who don't like rules though!
10 / 10	nseidenb	The size of the book might seem daunting, but it is a very good system. It's very flexible. I'd recommend the "Sidekick" for beginning players.
10 / 10	Tenci	One of the best rulesets Evar! Not at all that complex people tend to say.
9 / 10	Gitrog	This is the system we've been using in our roleplaying games in recent years. It is a bit rules-heavy, but with some experience you can crank out characters, and can always skimp over the details while playing if that is best for moving the story along. The great thing about this system is having complete freedom to define a setting with any mix of magic and technology desired, and any number of inventive character classes, species, monsters, etc.
9 / 10	BigJackBrass	For many people this is the only system they'll ever need. I like a little variety, personally, but HERO is astonishingly versatile.
9 / 10	Quixon	A classic
8 / 10	Lazarus	The HERO system is the eponymous effects-based system. Its character creation is slow, the game is slow, but it's very detailed and customizable - it has more power in it than almost any other game I've seen.
8 / 10	leonmallett	This game rates so highly for me because it was very much ahead of it's time, but suffers because I no longer like rolling buckets of dice. If they did away with the buckets of dice, and so adapted all attacks to be variations of killing attacks, we could be talking. Skills also need better emphasis. END needs to be looked at in power construction - how often is reduced END cost not bought? If it is rarely, then keeping the END rules as is remains a design flaw.
8 / 10	Sangrolu	An old favorite of mine because the sheer flexibility of the power system makes it the ultimate tool in the hands of an enterprising GM. However, some players just don't grok the power system and this does, de facto, tend to limit your play options.
7 / 10	DrFaust	HERO is a marvelously crunchy and detailed system. The trick is decided where to pare it down to suit your tastes.
6 / 10	Nomad4life	Impressive potential as a toolkit system, but far too math/rules heavy for me to honestly enjoy playing.
5 / 10	yorrick	A book that is the epitomy of Roll Playing. If you like that, you may love it. If not, you will feel as I did that the "Brick" is incredibly thorough, minutely detailed, and very, very boring. For the life of me I can't see why a system with combat this slow and such a wonky dice damage mechanic (counting Stun and Body)is seen as great for emulating superhero action. Reading through it is very much like reading a textbook or a computer manual, except the layout and art of most textbooks are more interesting. There's nothing about this weighty tome that encouraged or inspired me to play a game, and once I realized it wasn't assigned reading I traded my copy with relief. I would rate it lower save for the fact that as manuals go, the writing is very clear and well organized. If the Society for Technical Communication gave an award for RPGs, Hero 5th would win it.
4 / 10	Pseudo Nymh	As much as I love the HERO system, I don't recommend this book. It's a lot pricier than FReD (the unrevised versiion) and contains (I think) only one actual rules change. Buy FReD, unless you feel the need for a lot of various setting examples and exposition.
3 / 10	SJBenoist	Game strictly for experienced gamers, despite claims to the contrary. Has not aged well. Possibly good game for "One System" approach to gaming.
3 / 10	Zachary The First	Too "big" and heavy for most gamers to get into or properly utilize. Still, likely the Holy Grail for some.
2 / 10	Crom	Too much effort for too little payoff.
2 / 10	Simple Man	This ancient system has seen better days, days when other Supers systems around it weren't better than it. Days when it could scoff at them for not being as rules-intensive as itself. Those days are no more. It's only conceivable use now is as a sizable doorstop.

Core Game Reviews

All RPGnet Reviews

[ Link Reviews ]

Rating	User	Summary
4 + 5	Daniel L. Willers	HERO System. This system was once listed as the best RPG of all time by InQuest Magazine. How does the newest edition of this book stack up? [ Read Review ]
3 + 5	Viktor Haag	HERO System. The HERO 5th Edition is worth it for existing HERO fans; for new players, you may want to look before you buy. [ Read Review ]
3 + 4	pawsplay	HERO System. A nice companion to the 4th edition, but new players may find this book daunting. Hero System is almost unique in being a good generic system as well as a good superhero game. [ Read Review ]
4 + 5	Gary N. Mengle	HERO System. A very solid package which finally realizes the true potential of the Hero System in a set of universally adaptable core rules. [ Read Review ]
3 + 5	Brand_Robins	HERO System. This game is thick, crunchy, and solid as a brick; but lacks the spark and sexy design that so many games offer. Whether this is good or bad will depend completely on your approach to gaming. [ Read Review ]
3 + 3	Almafeta	HERO System. If you already own Hero 3/4, read this line and move on to the next review: Steve Long's houserules have become canon. [ Read Review ]
2 + 4	Darrin Kelley	HERO System. If a very complex and detailed game system is what you want, the Hero System is for you. But for those who don't want that, stay away. [ Read Review ]
5 + 5	Shrub	HERO System Fifth Edition Revised. In some people's minds, HERO has always been shackled to Superhero gaming. That was then- this is now. What is the HERO System really trying to do... and, in today's marketplace, how well does it succeed? [ Read Review ]
4 + 5	Andy Staples	HERO System Fifth Edition Revised. An admirable re-presentation of a superb RPG. Good for old hands, but especially useful to introduce new bloods. [ Read Review ]
3 + 5	ghost-angel	HERO System Fifth Edition Revised. HERO is a universal game system, with a little bit of work you can play a game in any genre you can think of. Fantasy, Science-Fiction, Superheroes, and more can all be created with one ruleset. [ Read Review ]