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Awesome book! New powers, better explained, clearer rules. If you play ICONS, then you definitely want this! Dan Houser's art is fun & fits the ICON comic style. I hope there are more books like this in the future.
If you played Marvel RPG, this is like the Ultimate Powers book, but better! GET IT!
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Awesome book! New powers, better explained, clearer rules. If you play ICONS, then you definitely want this! Dan Houser's art is fun & fits the ICON comic style. I hope there are more books like this in the future.
If you played Marvel RPG, this is like the Ultimate Powers book, but better! GET IT!
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Does a game as straightforward as ICONS really need a GM screen? “Need” might be too strong a word, but ICONS GMs will certainly find much to like about this low-priced collection of tables and reminders. Also, a printable GM screen might seem inconvenient, but it’s great for those running the game from an iPad or similar tablet, or for GMs who, like me, use customizable GM screens that allow you to swap out insert pages. The PDFs (the screen and printer versions contain the same charts) provide eight pages of tables. Here’s a quick rundown, by page:
1. The standard scale from ICONS, test formulas, outcomes, the “Benchmarks” table from Great Power, and a table of dice probabilities. All but the last are close to indispensable. Fans have been asking for benchmarks for years, and I’m always forgetting where the cutoffs are for major and massive successes and failures. It should be noted that the outcomes table incorporates the “0 = marginal success” concept from the still-unreleased ICONS Team-Up product from Adamant Entertainment. This would definitely make the cut for my three-panel customizable GM screen, even though I really have no use for the dice probabilities table. I would much rather have had the “Uses for Determination” panel from p. 5 here instead.
2–4. Character creation tables. Page 2 includes origin, level determination, number of powers and specialties, and power type tables. Pages 3–4 include power tables for each of the power types, and p. 4 has a list of specialties. The power tables assume the use of Great Power rather than the original ICONS rulebook. (This is a good thing, but you should be aware of it going in.) I wouldn’t really want or need these in-game.
5. A collection of sample vehicles, definitions of the distance categories, and a bullet list of ways to use Determination. I’m inclined to cut out the “Uses of Determination” list and paste it on an index card to hand to players for their quick reference. I would definitely include this page in my customizable screen.
6. Random plot elements, villain origin, and a strong reminder to keep Determination flowing freely. I might include this as the third panel in my customizable screen if I expected to play pick-up games of ICONS. Otherwise, I’d just refer to it on-screen during my game prep.
7. A collection of sample animals, reproduced from the ICONS core rulebook. I think I’d keep this nearby, but probably wouldn’t insert it into my screen (if I had four panels, I’d include it, but I only have three).
8. A collection of stock characters and a collection of dinosaurs. I’d probably use this as my third panel, for the stock characters. There’s also a big ICONS logo here, which I don’t really need, but I’m not sure what else they might have put down there. Probably a table of weapons and other common devices would have been more useful than dinosaurs.
I’m very happy with this product except for one thing: the PDF presents the pages in portrait orientation, although the material is arranged on the pages in landscape orientation. In other words, when you open this on your computer or tablet screen, the pages will be sideways. You can quickly rotate the pages in Adobe Reader, but you shouldn’t have to. This, however, is really the product’s only significant drawback, and something that Ad Infinitum could easily fix with an update.
The “PF” (for “printer-friendly”) PDF omits the “heroes vs. villains” artwork that Dan Houser contributed for the outward-facing side of the screen, so look for it in the other PDF. The package also includes a panoramic JPG, but you’ll probably find it more convenient to print out the version from the PDF. While the artwork is beautifully executed in Dan’s signature style, the layout is disappointing because the three panels overlap. The repetition of elements from the center panel on the side panels creates an unattractive and distracting visual “stuttering.” Personally, I would probably use the outer panels only, replacing the center panel with page 1, with a copy of the “Uses of Determination” table pasted over the dice probabilities table.
So the product isn’t perfect, but it’s incredibly useful and only a dollar. The cost-to-benefit ratio is really, as we say in ICONS, “off the scale.”
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Two thumbs up! I love the layout. The art is spot on. This really is a wonderful addition to the ICONS line!
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Great Power is an awesome product! I love the art and the layout is amazing! As always, Steve Kenson has put out the best material possible for the ICONS line. The only thing I can say negative about Great Power PDF is the lack of bookmarks and the Vehicle power is a little unclear as to what kind of vehicle you can get for your power level. Otherwise perfect!
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This add on neatly updates and simplifies an already excellent systems!
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I love this newest addition to my library. I had been reluctant to commit to the Icons system after reading the book. It seemed nebulous on too many details. Once I wrapped my head around it, though. It proved to be a system very ideally suited to me. It is in essence a simplified rendition of Marvel Superheroes tier system with the Aspect mechanic of the Fate system. Oh, and using an easier to acquire d6-d6 mechanic which was always my favorite equivalent to the FUDGE dice.
I still had problems with the system. The powers were too limited. Heck, they werent even listed alphabetically which really stunk. I didnt yet fully trust the range and movement systems. This book is like a patch filling in all the holes in the system. It makes Icons purr like a kitten. A lot of ideas I had been totting around from other systems, like a list of inter-related power listings from Alpha Chronicles, have been made redundant by this one book. Imagine how wonderful it is to just not have to concider and peruse three or more other books to get the feel you want from your setting or magic.
In one book is everything you need to really customize your character. If you are a FASERIP fan, this is like the 'Ultimate Powers' book. It adds a few twists to the system, twists which I at first resisted, like not having some powers be twice as expensive as others. Once you get the feel of the system, though, you start to understand. Instead of just rolling stupid powers on some list... you are developing and interweaving your abilities... almost effortlessly. The book showing you how even just with its listings which suggest possibilities and, as stated before, alphabeticaly listed for ease of use with symbols to help organize the seven different power catagories. It even has a Servent power... and listings under Summon. This is always wonderful for smoothe mechanics for making up characters on the spot.
If you are even the vaguest bit interested in the Icons system and if you have some knowledge of the basic system, this book is a wonderful read which really opens up the possibilities of this system. Of course, being a sourcebook, it doesnt cover all the basic rules like panel and page meaning and such. It assumes one has those rules in place. This book mostly just streamlines the power and stunt systems. It is much simpler than most crunchy type games, like the Hero system or even D&D. It still gives you a lot of variance, though, and a lot of options. To me, this system is an ideal hybrid of the story driven Aspects (called Qualities) with the very simple and direct 10 level mechanics. I could give no higher endorsement to a game.
I hope they keep making these kind of products, but could they vary the art a bit. Maybe in the next issues they make a remake of the Icons basic book without its power and stunt system... and just try a different tone or two from the Silver Age illustrations. They are exciting and evocative, but kind of childish sometimes. Id like it if they made a 'gritty' edition of thier next book or urban fantasy toned edition. Maybe even the same book with different tones so the rulebook can be matched with the tone of the game. Hopefullly at a reduced price, because its a reprint, of course.
I look forward to a future with even more Icons material.
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Great Power updates the ICONS power rules with more detail, more flexibility, and greater variety, while remaining true to the original game's rules-light sensibilities. Extras, Stunts, and Limits allow powers to be customized to suit just about any concept a player can come up with. More detailed information is provided for nearly every power, explaining how to apply it in game terms, and indicating which Extras and Limits work well with it.
The power list here is better organized than the one in the original book, so it's easier to find the specific ability you're looking for. Many 'constructed powers' like Prehensile Hair and Possession get their own entries in the alphabetical list which refer the reader back to the necessary Powers, Extras, and Limits used to build them. It's very easy to use as a reference during play.
The artwork is by Dan Houser, so the book has strong visual continuity with the rest of the ICONS line, but the updated layout and power-icons give the whole package a fresh graphic look.
Summary: If you play ICONS, you want this book!
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I give this highest marks on page layout and design. After nearly going blind from questionable font choices and page decorations, Iconistas are finally treated to a beautiful module. Dan Houser's art has also risen to the challenge. I'm taking this as a sign of great things to come for the line.
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SEAN'S PICK OF THE DAY: This isn't just a supplement; this is a complete revision of the game. It's just coming off the highly successful Kickstarter, and it's fully in the hands of the creator, the inestimable Steve Kenson. It's a must-have for any supers fan, period.
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Excellent resource to bang out a character in no time.
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Current ICONS players and curious onlookers wondering about the game will both appreciate this compact set of tables for character creation. The grayscale version that initially went up when this product went live has now been replaced by a new version that fixes a couple of small errors and, more significantly, reflects changes to the game introduced in the upcoming Great Power supplement from Ad Infinitum. If you’re running a pick-up or convention game or starting a new ongoing ICONS campaign, having several copies of these charts on hand will speed things along significantly. As a free product, it’s a no-lose proposition!
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It’s exciting to see a new release from Ad Infinitum Adventures supporting the ICONS line! This one, like the Hero Packs previously released by Adamant, presents a collection of superheroes suitable for use as PCs or NPCs in your ICONS games. If you’re looking for villains, you should be aware that only one appears in this pack (Sigma, p. 42); all the others are heroes. This makes HP4 less useful for ongoing campaigns, but a good source of pregens for cons or pick-up games. Twenty-two of the characters featured here were submitted by ICONS fans who backed the Great Power Kickstarter (in the interests of full disclosure, I should say that I am one of those backers); the others were created by Steve Kenson and/or Dan Houser, and are either updates of iconic characters from earlier publications (like the core rulebook) or are previews of new iconic characters featured in Great Power (and perhaps other AIA publications to come). There are plenty of cool superheroes in this pack; some are more similar than others to existing comic-book characters. One thing that stands out is the prevalence of characters grounded in Celtic lore—Boudicca, Ruadan, Lugh—although you also have one character each drawing on Norse (Greta Dammerung), Egyptian (Sekhmet), and Greek (Shepherd) mythology. The initial release contained some embarrassing cut-and-paste errors and typos, but Dan Houser acted quickly to repair the most egregious ones in the stat blocks. The character bios and descriptions still have some inconsistencies and mechanical errors, probably due to using backers’ text “as is” without substantial editing. On the other hand, the cover price of $8 comes out to less than a quarter per character, so you’re getting good value despite the writing errors. And, as always, Dan Houser’s artwork is flavorful and evocative. Aside from my own contribution, my favorite characters in this pack (whether due to artwork or stats and backstory) are the Blade (think John Constantine with a magic sword), Dr. What (a plot device, not a PC), Ghost Fox, Gerta Dammerung (for her name if nothing else), Megaton, Megavolt (admittedly kind of a cross between Captain Marvel/Shazam and Johnny Thunder), Ruadan, and Tesla.
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This is one of the best "simple" game systems I've ever seen. With nods to the old FASERIP "Marvel Super Heroes" system, but with a far better dice mechanic, it plays fast and fun, and avoids long dice-rolling exercises in an effort to keep the story moving in a fast and fun manner. I like that as a GM, I don't even have to roll - the players make all the die tests. The art is simple, clean and fun, with a "Saturday Morning Cartoon" feel. Sure, it lacks the "meat" of a game like CHAMPIONS, but in this day and age, I don't have time to run 8-hour combats. This is a great system for a 4-5 hour session!
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An excellent tool for rapid character generation, or creating slick and handsome character sheets for existing characters! The ability to import pictures and print them with the character sheet is a welcome one!
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