SAGA vs. Oiginal Marvel Superheroes

[bf8...@binghamton.edu]

Just for the hell of it, I bought the new Marvel SAGA game, although I had
no previous experience witht he system, nor had I even seen it. I read
thought the rule book and the roster book, but I have not actually played
it yet. I was a fan of the original RPG, although I admit there were many
flaws in the game; it was fun, and as I was mostly Judging, it became
exremely familiar to me (I sometimes think of characters in comics in
terms of the game's ranking system). I tried to alleviate flws taht
came up by introducing my own House Rules. As such, I am obviously biased
when I say the new game doesn't seem all too spectacular to me. Although it
introduces some interesting features, such as the Fate Deck, overall I
found it rather unspecific in description and definitions and overly
structured in terms of role-play. However, as I've said, I never actually
played, nor does it look like I'll be able to in the near future, so I'd
like a few opinions comparing the two sytems.

[Iczer2]

well in my usage the saga system is ok but the cards are a bit distracting
for me, not just the simple tools the dice are, the game lacking in even a
simple tactical system and speed charts hinders my style, the gm section
seems to encourage the "faster than light plpt" to keeps the heros moving,
powers list is a little light for my taste, lacking in the customizeable
option, ie:: power absorption is just like rogues no real branching
off........on the plus side charicters can be made quickly..on the minus::
lack of balence due to the drawing of your pool of points..over all good
game for the new marvel universe, but not the marvel i remeber.. no im not a
marvel junki or such i havent played the other in about a year,

old marvel had flaws but it covered all the bases, a tactical system the
ultimate powers book, a huge resource, the mood was diifernt to, percentile
rock !
no 26d6rolling in old marvel its easy to run a whole villan team on the
fly..BTW in the old everyone had health not just cards...i defineatley dont
like that,
well thats all the rambling i can do
in closing i will get the new marvel stuff hoping it picks up in expansions.

Sapphire.
"its not heroism if the villan needs a trama team when your done"
bf8...@binghamton.edu wrote in message >like a few opinions comparing the
two sytems.

[The Superdude]

Now I really can't compare the two because I've never played the old
system (just read a few modules) but I do like the new one. I do have to
agree with the health/card system being....well, how to put it
mildly....Dumb!!! I hate it, which is why we (my group and I) suggest
ignoring it and sticking with health for damage. It's easier, and more
fun when the players are struggling by with 1 lousy health point left
(and STILL miracuosly defeat the villian).
If you get a chance to play the system go for it. It's easier to learn
while playing then reading the book (which is too busy telling you to
keep the game upbeat. Something every GM should already know.).
As for the Fate deck, I like it. It's a change of pace from dice, and
the trump card idea is really fun. It lets a person come up with a
REALLY high number when the cards are in your favor, allowing for some
amazing moves.

[Mikel70]

One thing that people need to remember is that when MSH came out with the Basic
set, most of the rules were as vague as with the new SAGA. It wasn't until the
Advanced set came out that they were more specific. I think that the same will
happen with SAGA. I have actually played both, being a Judge for MSH and a
Narrator for SAGA. I must say that a campaign is much easier to run in SAGA.
I don't need an entire library of books, nor do I need to use the charts to
slow down the game. There are fewer questions from my PC's, and overall a game
runs smoother and faster. SAGA is a system that I will be sticking with and
converting all of my PC's too