Champions superhero RPG co-creator (and HERO Games co-founder) George MacDonald with guest co-host Michael Stewart (Victorious RPG creator; Save For Half and The Crusader podcasts co-host). The origins of Champions from the why, to the playtesting to the launch and beyond. Was the initial reception to Champions disappointing or encouraging? George came out of wargaming and his RPG mechanics reflects that. Did early players prefer to play licensed characters or their own superheroes? Crunchy versus streamlined game mechanics. Estimating the damage between wet and dry avalanches. Why did George decide to do superheroes for his first RPG game genre? The difference in adventure structure between RPG genres (fantasy, cyberpunk, superheroes). Some of the business thinking behind printing a game and creating a company (two different things!). Game distributors dangled the carrot a lot back in the day. The great Hero Games Box Shuffle of the Early Eighties. A speed round of Champions questions for George from Facebook. The pros and cons of wearing a cape. Foxbat’s secret identity REVEALED! What term in sci-fi RPGs has always bugged Shane? A little bit of chat about George’s time in computer games including Pool of Radiance.

Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #261 - 9/9/2022

Like what you hear?
Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays

Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories).

Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links!
Humble Bundle
https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays
DriveThruRPG.com
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?affiliate_id=488512

SHOW NOTES

George MacDonald (game designer)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_MacDonald_(game_designer) 

Save For Half Podcast Episode 17: Champions 1st Edition
https://saveforhalf.com/2019/04/23/episode-17-champions-1st-edition/ 

Matt Chat 490: George MacDonald
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyaIyNDaOZw 

World of Supers RPGs Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1605211436420082 

I tried to recreate a comic book using DALL-E and Alan Moore’s script
https://rubikscode.net/2022/08/22/i-tried-to-recreate-a-comic-book-using-dall-e-and-alan-moores-script/ 

---

Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition
Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Desktops-History-Computer-Role-Playing/dp/1138574643/