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12:20, 7th November 2024 (GMT+0)

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

Posted by Aerith Firebird
Aerith Firebird
member, 496 posts
Author, game designer
All-around nerdy girl!
Mon 19 Aug 2024
at 21:05
  • msg #1

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

I was looking for a GM for a high-powered DCU game, or at least one that offered Kryptonians. After talking with a fellow potential player, we've been brainstorming some ideas for a game I may set up myself. I figured it would be good to ask here what might interest potential players if I do this game.

Do we do a classic DCU, with the "take what you need as you need it from across DCU history" approach? Do we do a sort of "Ultimate DC" and start sort of fresh?

I like the Marvel Universe more but I specifically want certain elements of the other world. What if we merged them? That could be interesting.

Is the merging a discrete event that we refer back to in the story? Or is it easier to just say things have always been that way and we choose the elements we want for our setting a la carte?

If we do straight DCU, I prefer more of a classic approach with the willingness to just take the things we like from that long history and jettison the rest.

For the merger, I'm not sure what would be better. Histories colliding could be a fun story, but does sort of overpower all other stories. "It's always been that way" might be an easier way to set up.

What are your thoughts?
smokinbarrel
member, 805 posts
Mon 19 Aug 2024
at 21:10
  • msg #2

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

It’s ambitious, but remember the DC/Marvel Crossovers, especially JLA/Avengers or X-Men/Teen Titans? A game could come out of that idea, or even the crossovers that i mentioned. For example, Marv Wolfman & George Perez were supposed to do the X-Titans sequel, where the heroes would fight Brother Blood & the Hellfire Club.
Cyclops Was Right
member, 3 posts
Just another mutant
Tue 20 Aug 2024
at 12:18
  • msg #3

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

Hi, I'm the other player Aerith was brainstorming with. :)

I wouldn't mind a sandbox setting, where the players establish in-game continuity as it's needed, rather than trying to work out every detail ahead of time.

I wouldn't mind just setting up a world like something out of Grant Morrison's Multiversity, where what we create is what's always been there. Maybe at some point we determine that there are other worlds with alternate canonicity (i.e. Earth One and Earth 616), but to us those aren't our worlds. That would give free reign to the players to play across publishing companies without reprisal, and we could set up our characters with only the backstory we want to bring in. Our internal canon would be set as we write it, and we could have a thread dedicated to that to avoid confusion. As an example, Player Two decides  Batman is the protector of London rather than Gotham. Boom. Done. Someone decides Namor is the king of Atlantis. That's canon now. Want to play Aquaman? awesome, but Atlantis already has a king.

Tonally, we both agreed that we want the game to be more focused on hope and heroism rather than darkness and despair.
This message was last edited by the user at 13:27, Tue 20 Aug.
smokinbarrel
member, 807 posts
Tue 20 Aug 2024
at 15:48
  • msg #4

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

That sounds interesting! The X-Men/New Teen Titans crossover worked under the premise that they already shared a world, but hadn’t met prior to the story. So, Emma Frost’s Chicago complex being destroyed in her fight with Phoenix was part of that continuity. What about Wonder Woman, the Amazons, and a more heroic Hercules?
soulsight
member, 367 posts
Reality is 10% perception
and 90% interpretation.
Tue 20 Aug 2024
at 18:13
  • msg #5

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

Technically, you wouldn't have to worry about the event if you use the characteristics you want from both universes but avoid identifiable names, places, et al.
Sir Swindle
member, 431 posts
Tue 20 Aug 2024
at 18:22
  • msg #6

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

I think the point is very much to use identifiable names. There have been like 3 games in the last few months where someone could have pitched a Supergirl expy. The point here as I understand it is to play THE Supergirl of earth 256 or whatever.

I would pitch something. I like to go out of the box a little more on characters. If a game could accommodate a What-if type scenario that would be great.

I don't see a reason you couldn't do a combined universe and pose it as an alternate universe that just is that way. Go with the first come first server + yes and model Cyclops posed.
Cyclops Was Right
member, 4 posts
Just another mutant
Tue 20 Aug 2024
at 18:51
  • msg #7

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

That would work. Are you still thinking of using Mutants & Masterminds 3rd edition/DC Adventures as the rule set?
Choomie
member, 10 posts
Tue 20 Aug 2024
at 18:54
  • msg #8

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

This is an awesome idea and I'm glad to see so many collaborating. It reminds me of a premise I had been tinkering with: two groups are sent to their mirror universe in search of some crucial Macguffin to save their home universe. Basically, Marvel's Thunderbolts traveling to the DC universe and DC's Suicide Squad traveling to the Marvel universe.

A idea that came to mind is that perhaps the game starts with the two universes already merged, and later in the story everyone realizes that it wasn't meant to be that way and they can work on reversing the merge in some way. Eventually work up to a major scale event of epic proportions.

There are a lot of awesome ideas to tinker with from the posts everyone has made so I really hope this gets off the ground. And there are plenty of characters for everyone to play. Talking about your concept is really exciting.

M&M would be a popular idea but I'm not sure if the DCA characters are entirely accurate to who they're supposed to be representing.
smokinbarrel
member, 808 posts
Tue 20 Aug 2024
at 19:32
  • msg #9

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

For the deep cuts, would FASERIP be out of the question? I could still do M & M, too.
serrasin
member, 54 posts
Tue 20 Aug 2024
at 20:00
  • msg #10

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

I generally prefer marvel to dc, specifically the x-men. I also favor identifiable licenced(tm) characters, but with thematic twists like the Mavel Noir or Zombies lines. that way the characters are familiar but there is still room to make it your own. I also have a strong preference for game systems over freeform. I am roughly familiar with MnM3, but have also flipped through the new Marvel system.
Choomie
member, 11 posts
Tue 20 Aug 2024
at 21:09
  • msg #11

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

You could also consider Marvel Heroic Roleplaying / Cortex Prime. I think that would fit the scope and tone of the concept very well.
Cyclops Was Right
member, 5 posts
Just another mutant
Wed 21 Aug 2024
at 14:36
  • msg #12

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

I'm a fan of Marvel Heroic, but there's no datafile for the DC character the original poster is interested in, but for sure is one for M&M 3.0/DC Adventures
This message was last edited by the user at 14:43, Wed 21 Aug.
Aerith Firebird
member, 497 posts
Author, game designer
All-around nerdy girl!
Wed 21 Aug 2024
at 15:29
  • msg #13

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

A datafile is easy enough to make or find. It's just deciding on the setting and getting started.

Did I see that we had a potential GM? Because that makes potentially two and we can start planning in earnest, maybe make a game forum or two.
Primuson
member, 25 posts
Thu 22 Aug 2024
at 01:15
  • msg #14

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

Have you thought about maybe something like starting out in the Young Justice TV show - right at the start of the show. Each character has to be tied to a Justice League character. Yet doesn't need to be the canon one. Maybe you have Kara Zor-El show up early and be on the team. Maybe the group was formed by the sidekicks finding a clone of Wonder Woman who is this universes version of Donna Troy. Perhaps you have Red Blizzard - a new brother of Red Tornado formed to be like a teenager. Etc. It gives you a lot of room to make characters but also gives you some framework to work with.

Something similar could be done in Marvel with a Young Avengers Team if you prefer Marvel.
Aerith Firebird
member, 498 posts
Author, game designer
All-around nerdy girl!
Thu 22 Aug 2024
at 06:53
  • msg #15

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

That would be good.

Looks like we have enough interest for at least one game. Did we have another potential GM? Because if I do one, too (possibly using Mythic GME or something to help), that covers a lot of ground.
Seandiggersby
member, 10 posts
Thu 22 Aug 2024
at 14:18
  • msg #16

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

In reply to Primuson (msg # 14):

I've always thought that something young justice inspired would make for a great game. I feel like the premise has a lot of potential for interesting characters.
Aerith Firebird
member, 499 posts
Author, game designer
All-around nerdy girl!
Thu 22 Aug 2024
at 16:55
  • msg #17

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

I've done it, and it's great, yes. You can go legacy or original and still have a good time.
ilovebooks1000000000
member, 9 posts
Mon 9 Sep 2024
at 03:55
  • msg #18

DC Superheroes or a Marvel/DC Mash-Up?

I am interested in a mash-up.
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