Mutants and Masterminds (M&M) is not just a game; it is a portal to a world brimming with heroic possibilities. This tabletop roleplaying game (RPG) empowers players to craft unique superheroes and villains, fostering epic clashes and thrilling adventures within a comic book-inspired setting.
This article delves into the exciting world of Mutants & Masterminds (M&M), a tabletop roleplaying game (RPG) that thrusts players into the heart of the superhero genre.
What is Mutants and Masterminds?
Mutants & Masterminds (M&M), a brainchild of Steve Kenson and published by Green Ronin Publishing, is a tabletop roleplaying game (RPG) that thrusts players into the heart of the superhero genre.
Utilising a modified version of the d20 System, popularised by Dungeons & Dragons, M&M empowers players to craft unique heroes and villains, fostering epic clashes and thrilling adventures.
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The Genesis of Mutants & Masterminds
The late 1990s saw Steve Kenson brimming with ideas for a superhero roleplaying setting. He had secured a contract to develop this concept but, unfortunately, the project ultimately fell through.
Left with an unfinished manuscript, Kenson embarked on a quest to find a publisher receptive to his vision. However, the superhero RPG market was experiencing a lull, and his efforts initially proved fruitless.
A turning point arrived when Kenson connected with Chris Pramas, the president of Green Ronin Publishing. Pramas recognised the potential in Kenson’s setting and expressed interest in its publication.
However, he proposed an enticing caveat: The creation of a superhero game system alongside the setting, leveraging the popular d20 System as a foundation. Kenson readily agreed and began work on this dual project.
During the development process, a crucial decision emerged. Releasing the game under the d20 Standard Trademark License would restrict the inclusion of core mechanics like character creation and advancement. Kenson prioritised a comprehensive game experience over mere branding, and thus, the team opted to utilise the Open Game License, forgoing the d20 logo but ensuring a complete and engaging system.
The year 2002 marked the triumphant arrival of Mutants & Masterminds (M&M). The initially envisioned “Century City” setting transformed into “Freedom City”, providing a vibrant canvas for superheroic adventures. The first edition boasted captivating visuals courtesy of design studio Super Unicorn, although subsequent editions employed the talents of different artistic teams.
M&M’s success story continued with the second edition’s debut at Gen Con in 2005, followed by a wider release later that year. Green Ronin Publishing further expanded its superhero RPG portfolio in 2011 by releasing a third edition for M&M, alongside an Italian translation courtesy of Kaizoku Press.
Notably, the year prior saw the introduction of DC Adventures, another superhero RPG employing the same core mechanics and boasting full compatibility with M&M. This strategic move solidified Green Ronin Publishing’s position as a powerhouse in the superhero RPG scene.
Mutants and Masterminds game
Mutants & Masterminds (M&M) employs a heavily customised version of the d20 System. This bespoke system deviates from its foundation in several key ways:
- Character creation: M&M eschews the traditional class system prevalent in many RPGs. Instead, players have a point-based system at their disposal, allowing them to sculpt a truly unique hero. This fosters immense flexibility, enabling the creation of anything from a powerhouse with superhuman strength to a cunning strategist wielding an arsenal of gadgets.
- Injury and damage: M&M implements a distinct system for handling injuries and damage sustained by characters, differing from the standard d20 approach.
- Hit points: M&M uses a modified system for hit points, catering to the resilience typically associated with superheroic characters.
- Hero points: A novel feature of M&M is the inclusion of “hero points”. These points empower players to influence the narrative in dramatic moments, allowing them to pull off incredible feats or shrug off potentially fatal blows.
- Superhuman abilities: The heart of M&M lies in its robust system for creating superpowers. Players can meticulously design their characters’ unique abilities, be it superhuman strength, energy manipulation or telekinesis. The vast array of options ensures that no two heroes are alike.
- Character classes and attacks of opportunity: M&M streamlines character creation by eliminating the need for pre-defined classes. Additionally, the concept of attacks of opportunity, found in many d20-based games, is absent in M&M.
- Skills and feats: M&M employs a modified skill list tailored to the superhero genre, alongside a distinct selection of feats that complement the unique abilities of these characters.
- Equipment integration: Unlike some RPGs, M&M treats equipment as an integral part of character creation. Players use the same point-based system to acquire equipment as they do for superpowers and other abilities.
M&M departs from the traditional level-based progression found in many RPGs. Instead, characters have a “Power Level” (PL). This PL typically starts at 10, reflecting the established nature of most superhero characters. The PL dictates the maximum rank of any combat abilities a character can possess.
Each PL increase grants a pool of points that can be used to enhance various aspects of the character, including attributes, attack and defence bonuses, saving throws, feats, skills and, of course, superpowers. The system encourages flexibility, allowing Game Masters to adjust the point allotment per PL to suit the desired campaign style.
The PL system also sets a limit on the maximum bonus a character can possess in skills, abilities, feats, and most superpowers.
However, it is important to note that while the PL restricts bonuses, it does not necessarily restrict the overall power of an ability. For instance, a PL 10 character could theoretically possess a superhuman strength score of 40.
Mutants & Masterminds (M&M) throws out the traditional hit point system found in many RPGs and replaces it with a unique damage mechanic.
Here is how it works:
- Toughness saves: M&M introduces a fourth saving throw – the “toughness save” – based on a character’s Constitution score, similar to the fortitude save in other d20-based games.
- Ranked damage: Weapons and powers do not roll dice to determine damage. Instead, attacks are categorised by their overall potency through a ranking system. For example, a regular punch from a healthy human might be classified as “+1N” damage (non-lethal), while a supervillain with enhanced strength and razor-sharp claws could unleash a “+12L” attack (lethal).
- Resolving attacks: When a character is struck by an attack, they make a toughness save. The target number for this save is determined by adding 15 to the attack’s rank. Success indicates the character shrugs off the attack with minimal injury. Failure, however, results in an injury based on the degree of failure and the damage type (lethal or non-lethal).
- Accumulated damage penalties: As characters sustain injuries, they accumulate penalties for future toughness saves. This rising penalty stack increases the likelihood of subsequent attacks knocking them unconscious. This damaged system aims to mimic the nature of superhero comics, where heroes can often endure every day blows but remain vulnerable to powerful attacks. The Mastermind’s Manual even acknowledges this and provides optional guidelines for converting the system to a traditional hit point system, catering to players who prefer that approach.
Mutants & Masterminds (M&M) employs a system called “power points” (pp) to represent character advancement. These points serve multiple purposes:
- Purchasing abilities: Players can spend power points to acquire a diverse range of abilities for their characters. This includes superpowers, feats, skills, enhanced attributes, and even gadgets.
- Evolving your hero: The way power points function underwent a significant change with the release of the second edition of M&M. Originally, accumulating 15 power points triggered a “power level” increase. This power level boost raised the maximum ranks achievable for powers and skills, along with the cap on stacking power bonuses.
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Shifting gears in the second edition
The second edition decoupled power points and power levels. Under this revised system, the Game Master sets the power level based on the campaign’s overall tone and power scale. The power level solely dictates the maximum bonus any individual power can grant and doesn’t necessarily reflect whether a character possesses enough points to purchase enough ranks in that power to reach that limit.
While presented as entirely independent mechanics, the M&M rulebook suggests awarding a power level increase for every 15 power points accumulated, offering a recommended path for character progression.
Earning hero points
Similar to other superhero RPGs, Mutants & Masterminds (M&M) incorporates “hero points” as a way to mitigate the impact of bad luck and inject a touch of heroism into the gameplay. These points empower players in a few key ways:
- Rerolling the dice: Faced with a crucial moment and a potentially disastrous failed roll? A hero point can be your saving grace. It allows you to reroll any dice roll, be it an attack, skill check, or even a vital toughness save to avoid injury. When you utilise this reroll, any result below 11 is automatically bumped up by 10, significantly increasing the odds of success.
- Pushing through fatigue: Temporary feats offer a temporary boost to your character’s abilities but often come with the drawback of fatigue. A hero point allows you to bypass this fatigue penalty, enabling you to leverage these powerful feats without any negative consequences.
The responsibility of awarding hero points falls upon the Game Master. These points are typically bestowed upon players when their characters face unfortunate circumstances, such as the villain escaping their grasp. Situations that directly tie into a character’s disadvantage (a negative character trait) are particularly encouraged to trigger hero point rewards.
In essence, some disadvantages might not offer any inherent benefit other than the potential to earn valuable hero points.
How to play Mutants and Masterminds
Mutants & Masterminds (M&M) invites players to weave their tales of superheroic grandeur. To embark on this thrilling journey, here’s a foundational guide:
1. Assemble your team
- Gather players and a Game Master (GM): M&M requires at least two participants – players who control the heroes and a GM who acts as the narrative director, crafting the world and challenges your heroes will face.
- Character creation: The heart of M&M lies in crafting your unique hero. The rulebooks provide a point-based system allowing you to sculpt a character that embodies your vision, be it a superhuman powerhouse or a cunning strategist with an arsenal of gadgets. Consider their powers, strengths, weaknesses and personality to forge a truly compelling hero.
2. Mastering the mechanics
- Action resolution: M&M utilises a modified d20 System. When attempting actions, players roll a 20-sided die, adding or subtracting modifiers based on their character’s abilities and the situation. The result is compared to a target number set by the GM, determining success or failure.
- Hero points: Spice up your gameplay with “hero points”. These points empower you to influence the narrative, allowing you to reroll failed checks or shrug off debilitating injuries in pivotal moments. This injects a layer of heroism and dynamism into your adventures.
3. Embark on your adventure
- The GM’s Role: The GM sets the stage, weaving the narrative, portraying villains, and presenting challenges for your heroes to overcome.
- Cooperative storytelling: M&M thrives on collaborative storytelling. Players describe their heroes’ actions, while the GM adjudicates the outcomes based on the game’s mechanics and the established narrative. Work together to create a thrilling and engaging superheroic saga.
4. Resources and support
- Rulebooks: The core M&M rulebooks provide comprehensive instructions on character creation, combat, and general gameplay.
- Online resources: The M&M community flourishes online. Official forums and fan communities offer a wealth of resources, from pre-generated characters to campaign ideas, to bolster your superheroic exploits.
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