Marvel Universe Roleplaying Game
Encyclopedia
The Marvel Universe Roleplaying Game (abbreviated MURPG) is a role-playing game
(RPG) set in the Marvel Universe
. It was published in 2003
by Marvel Comics
. The game used a diceless
system different from either of the previous RPGs set in the Marvel Universe.
The game included versions of several popular Marvel characters, including Spider-Man
, Hulk
, Captain America
, the Fantastic Four
, and the X-Men
. It also allowed for designing one's own heroes and villains.
Normal tasks have both a Difficulty Level and a Resistance. The Difficulty Level determines the minimum value one must have in a relevant trait to have any chance of success at all. If the character's trait meets or exceeds the Difficulty Level, then the player may allocate red stones of effort to the task; the number needed to succeed is the Resistance. For some tasks, the Resistance must be overcome in a single action; for others, it may be overcome in a series of actions. The latter type usually applies where a task can be accomplished over some time -- e.g., safecracking, solving a puzzle, or other such tasks.
In an effort to emulate comic book conventions, the game allows players to choose not to lose Health from an attack, but to instead have their character be "knocked out" for a time.
The main form of advertising was a 75 page pull out preview of the game featured in the April 2003 issue of InQuest Gamer
which included the basic rules, minus most notably character creation, and a number of character profiles to allow people to play the game.
The system was a heavy seller with multiple print run for the main book. However, Marvel did not consider the game a massive hit. Designers for the system revealed that Marvel did not consider the system a success since it did not sell in quantities similar to its top selling comics or in quantities similar Dungeons & Dragons, the most popular roleplaying system in the world. Marvel also closed the system when it made a change in CEOs.
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
(RPG) set in the Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
. It was published in 2003
2003 in games
This page lists board and card games, wargames, miniatures games, and table-top role-playing games published in 2003. For video and console games, see 2003 in video gaming.-Game awards given in 2003:*International Gamers Award: Hammer of the Scots...
by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. The game used a diceless
Diceless role-playing game
A diceless role-playing game is a role-playing game which is not based on chance: it does not use randomisers to determine the outcome of events in its role-playing game system...
system different from either of the previous RPGs set in the Marvel Universe.
The game included versions of several popular Marvel characters, including Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
, Hulk
Hulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
, Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
, the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
, and the X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
. It also allowed for designing one's own heroes and villains.
System
The central game mechanic is the allocation of energy/effort, in the form of "red stones". These stones, initially equal in number to the character's "Energy Reserve" statistic are allocated to powers, attacks, and defenses by the players and GM. Allocated stones are then compared to determine success or failure at tasks.Task Resolution
Opposed tasks are handled by comparing how many red stones each character has allocated to the struggle, with the character who has put in more winning. The degree of success is determined by how many more stones the winner put in.Normal tasks have both a Difficulty Level and a Resistance. The Difficulty Level determines the minimum value one must have in a relevant trait to have any chance of success at all. If the character's trait meets or exceeds the Difficulty Level, then the player may allocate red stones of effort to the task; the number needed to succeed is the Resistance. For some tasks, the Resistance must be overcome in a single action; for others, it may be overcome in a series of actions. The latter type usually applies where a task can be accomplished over some time -- e.g., safecracking, solving a puzzle, or other such tasks.
Recovery
At the end of each turn, characters lose the red stones they expended during the turn. They then "regenerate" red stones, regaining a number depending on their Health or Intelligence, possibly modified by special powers. They cannot regenerate to a number of stones greater than their starting level, and regeneration rates are typically small compared to a character's Energy Reserve.Combat
Combat tasks are resolved using the basic task resolution system. Red stones are allocated to each character's powers, attacks, and defense (note that there is a single defense pool). Stones are then compared; defense stones count against all attacks for the turn, so the same stones may be used multiple times for defense. Some powers give bonuses to defense, but some attacks can ignore some defensive powers. If the attacker has a higher attack than the defense total, then the defender loses a number of Health equal to the attacker's excess stones (above those needed to get past the defense total). (Note, though, that some powers will make a defender lose double or triple the excess.) When Health reaches zero, a character is stunned and can no longer regenerate red stones. Further attacks have the possibility to cause a coma or kill the character.In an effort to emulate comic book conventions, the game allows players to choose not to lose Health from an attack, but to instead have their character be "knocked out" for a time.
Time
MURPG used an abstract, flexible system of turns called "panels" and "pages". Thus, a single "page" could represent a few seconds of combat, or hours or days of building a device or searching a city.Hype and Cancellation
The game received a moderate level of hype from Marvel, which indicated that it would be different from existing RPGs and trigger a change in the market. The use of the resource based resolution mechanic was an attempt to tap into the market for both RPGs and collectible card and miniature games with a single product. While both groups have similar interests, the RPG aspects didn't appeal to CCG/CM players and the game was not helped in RPG circles by statements that dice-based RPG games were too complex and old-school, with resource-decision being superior to probability-based resolution using dice.The main form of advertising was a 75 page pull out preview of the game featured in the April 2003 issue of InQuest Gamer
InQuest Gamer
InQuest Gamer is a discontinued monthly magazine for game reviews and news that was published from 1995 to 2007. Originally, the magazine was named InQuest and focused solely on collectible card games ; InQuest, along with its competitor Scrye, were the two major CCG magazines...
which included the basic rules, minus most notably character creation, and a number of character profiles to allow people to play the game.
The system was a heavy seller with multiple print run for the main book. However, Marvel did not consider the game a massive hit. Designers for the system revealed that Marvel did not consider the system a success since it did not sell in quantities similar to its top selling comics or in quantities similar Dungeons & Dragons, the most popular roleplaying system in the world. Marvel also closed the system when it made a change in CEOs.
Released
- The Marvel Universe Roleplaying Game (ISBN 0-7851-1028-3)
- Guide to The X-men (ISBN 0-7851-1035-6)
- Guide to the Hulk & the Avengers (ISBN 0-7851-1158-1)
Unreleased
- Guide to Spider-Man's NYC (ISBN 0-7851-1305-3)
- Guide to Wolverine (ISBN 0-7851-1353-3)
Fan-Made Products
- The Unofficial Spider-Man's Guide to New York (http://ozbot.typepad.com/spideyguide/)