Converting Marvel Super Hero Adventure Game Character to 4th Edition Hero System

A Work in Progress

Last Update: 6-May-1999

Goal: Create a system for translating characters from the Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game (Saga System) to Champions (Hero System) in such a way as to create character who's power levels are vaguely consistent with the Standard Superheroic power levels described in the Champions Sourcebook (Champions Deluxe, pg. 237).

What this means: Characters converted using htis system may or may not accurately reflect the character abilities as described in the various comics they appear in.

Example: Converting the Hulk's strength from MSHAG to Champions yeilds a STR of 84 (24 higher than the expected PC maximum) - is this an accurate portrayal of what we've seen in the comics? Maybe, maybe not (probably not in fact, as comic book characters' power levels tend to fluctuate from writer to writer), but it does give him a STR which is about the same as Grond (Classic Enemies, pg. 68), a villain designed to be able to single handedly take on a PC hero group (and a pretty blatant Hulk rip-off).

Bugs: The system I use to convert Saga Ability to Hero Characteristic breaks down slightly in the middle (upper end of normal human ability), mostly due to my own slightly anal-retentive need for a flat formula for conversion.

Example: Converting Mr. Fantastic's intellect from MSHAG to Champions yields an INT of 35, which strike me as being about 5 points to high (the MSHAG rules describes an Ability of 11-12 to be "enhanced or peerless"), but nobody's perfect.

Converting Abilities to Hero

MSHAG Abilities have two values associated with them, a score (from 0-30) and a code (A, B, C, D, X). The score is the raw "power level" of the Ability, the code represents the characters skill at using the ability. For purposes of converting MSHAG to Hero we will map the Ability Score to a Hero Characteristic, and use skill levels to reflect what is represented by the Ability Code.

To determine the value for most of the Hero characteristics (as well as the base cost for many Hero powers) you can use the chart below to convert the Saga Ability Score to an appropriate Hero value. (If you're really interested in how the numbers were generated, the equation looks like this: (Ability / 2) ^ 1.9 + 5 (Silly looking, but it gave me the number spread I was looking for - oh yeah, I made up a value for 0).

Saga	Hero	Saga	Hero
0	3	16	57
1	5	17	63
2	6	18	70
3	7	19	77
4	9	20	84
5	11	21	92
6	13	22	100
7	16	23	109
8	19	24	117
9	22	25	126
10	26	26	136
11	31	27	145
12	35	28	156
13	40	29	166
14	45	30	177
15	51

Convert Saga Abilities to Hero Characteristics as follows:

Primary Characteristics

Hero Characteristic	Conversion
STR	Convert from Saga Strength via chart
DEX	Convert from Saga Agility via chart
CON	Saga Strength * 2
BODY	Saga Health / 3 + Saga Strength
INT	Convert from Saga Intellect via chart
EGO	These two get a little odd. Saga Willpower encompasses aspects of both of these Hero stats so there is going to be some "guess work" involved. First, run the Saga Willpower Ability Score through the chart, assign the result to whichever of these two stats seems to be of greater signifigance to the character (look at the Willpower-based skills the character has for assistance). Next, if the Saga Willpower was 10 or less, give the "other" stat the same value as the "Signifigant" stat; if the Saga Willpower was over 10, then assign the "other" stat a value of (10+"Signifigant Stat") / 2.
PRE
COM	Guess

Figured Characteristics

Hero Characteristic	Conversion
PD	Add (Saga Strength / 2) to figured based on Primary Characteristics.
ED	Add (Saga Strength / 2) to figured based on Primary Characteristics.
SPD	Round up to nearest whole number from value as figured.
REC	Use value as figured based on Primary Characteristics.
END	Use value as figured based on Primary Characteristics.
STUN	Use value as figured based on Primary Characteristics.

Skill Levels to Reflect Saga Ability Codes

As mentioned above, Abilities in MSHAG have two values associated with them, a Score (which we dealt with above) and a Code, which we will translate into Hero Skill Levels. My base rule of thumb was to convert them code into 5 pt Skill Levels for "skills based on appropriate stat" per "Code Level" (In the case of Combat Skill Levels, you may wish to mix-and-match, trading in some 5 pt skill levels for a greater number of lower point levels or a smaller number of greater point level, do whatever you feel best reflects the character).

Intellect: Skill Levels with INT based skills.
Willpower: Skill Levels with PRE based skills. (Special: If the character is a mentallist, use the Willpower Code to determine a separate pool of ECV Based Combat Skill Levels.)
Strength: Hand to hand Combat Skill Levels.
Agility: Special. Use the Agility Code to determine two separate pools of Skill Levels. One pool is allocated to Skill Levels with DEX based skills; the other pool is allocated for Combat Skill Levels with Ranged Combat and/or Martial Arts (split between the two as appropriate).

Saga Ability Code	Points in Hero Skill Levels
A	20
B	15
C	10
D	5
X	0

Converting Skills to Hero

The Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game has a fairly extensive list of skills, most of which have obvious Hero counterparts. Use the chart below to help map MSHAG skills to Hero skill. For the most part, you can stick with just base level skills as the Ability Codes have been translated into group skill levels which will increase those skills that are based on stats the character has honed. For those skills which don't have a definite cost listed, treat the value of the assocciated MSHAG Ability as Hero Points for buying skill.

Note 1: No attempt was made to make all skills cost the same, all I did was try to reflect the usability of the skill.

Note 2: There are some differences between the Ability that a MSHAG Skill is based on and the Characteristic a Hero System Skill is based on. This may lead to characters having much lower skill rolls (with levels added in) for some skills than they should have. Simply increase those skills that seem to have "fallen through the cracks".

MSHAG Skills	Hero Counterpart (use base level for most abilities)	Cost
Acrobatics	Acrobatics & Breakfall	6
Aerial Combat	Combat Skill Levels: with all combat manuevers used in flight	3 points per level
Animal Handling	Animal Handler	3
*Archery	Weapon Familiarity: Bows & Combat Skill Levels with bows	1 & 2 points per level
Art	Professional Skill Artist	3
*Artillery	Weapon Familiarity: Heavy Weapons & Combat Skill Levels with Heavy Wepons	2 & 3 points per level
Assessment	An odd bit of game mechanics with no obvious Hero System counterpart
*Axes	Weapon Familiarity: Axes & Combat Skill Levels with Axes	1 & 2 points per level
Boating	Combat Piloting: Boats	3
*Boomerang	Weapon Familiarity: Boomerang & Combat Skill Levels with Boomerang	1 & 2 points per level
Boxing	Martial Arts: Boxing (manuevers only)	22
Brawling	Martial Arts: Dirty Infighting (manuevers only)	17
Climbing	Climbing	3
*Clubs	Weapon Familiarity: Clubs & Combat Skill Levels with Clubs	1 & 2 points per level
Computers	Computer Programming	3
Construction	No obvious counterpart
Contingent Attack	Represents a rules construct not supported by Hero System
Criminology	Criminology	3
Cryptography	Cryptography	3
Demolitions	Demolitions	3
Disguise	Disguise	3
Driving	Combat Driving	3
Electronics	Electronics	3
Energy Control	A game mechanic mostly closely represented in Hero System by the skill requirement of the "Requires A Skill Roll" Limitations. I would probably choose to ignore it in most cases.	n/a
Espionage	No single Hero System counterpart. Rather a collection of skills such as Bugging, Concealment, Deduction, Security Systems, & Shadowing would encompass (and surpass) the abilities granted by the MSHAG Espionage skill.	3 points per
Equestrian	Riding	3
Escape Artist	Contortionist	3
Fast Exit	Combat Skill Levels with Snap Shot (Optional Combat Manuever)	2 points per level
Finance	Trading	3
Flinging	Combat Skill Levels with Throwing	3 points per level
Gadgetry	Inventor (many character with Gadgetry are good candidate for a Gadget Variable Power Pool using Inventor as the skill roll)	3
*Garrottes	Weapon Familiarty: Garrottes & Combat Skill Levels with Garrottes	1 & 2 points per level
*Hammers	Weapon Familiarty: Hammers & Combat Skill Levels with Hammers	1 & 2 points per level
Hyper-Breath	Telekinesis, area effect cone, active cost equal to or less than STR, Only to push away or knock down(-1/2)	Varies
Intimidation	Persuasion	3
*Knives	Weapon Familiarity: Knives & Combat Skill Levels with Knives (throw or stab)	1 & 2 points per level
Law Enforcement	Profession Skill: Police + Perk: Local Police Powers + Perk: Concealed Weapons Permit	7
Leadership	Oratory	3
Linguistics	Linguist	3
Manipulation	Seduction	3
*Marksmanship	Weapon Familiarty: Rifles & Combat Skill Levels with Rifles	1 & 2 points per level
Martial Arts	Martial Arts: Classic Comic Book (manuevers only)	20
Martial Arts Weapons	WF: Martial Arts Weapons (vague, but can include a large number of weapons)	2
Mechanics	Mechanics	3
Medicine	Paramedic	3
Meditation	No obvious counterpart, the rules on "Taking additional time" amount to much the same effect with no special skill required.	n/a
Mental Control	A game mechanic mostly closely represented in Hero System by the skill requirement of the "Requires A Skill Roll" Limitations	n/a
Mesmerism	Modified from Hero System Almanac 1. Mind Control, Obvios Accessible Focus (-1), eye must make contact with victim (-1/2), Extra Time: 5 minutes (-2), Requires a Skill Roll {Hypnosis} (-1/2), Incantations throughout (-1/2), Invisible Power Effects (+1/2)	Approx 1 ²/₃ points per die (don't trust this number, calculate it based on active cost, modified by limitations and advantages) plus a 3 point skill "Hypnosis"
Military	Knowldge Skill Military + Tactics	6
Natural Weapons	Combat Skill Levels Natural Weapons (Claws, Teeth, Horns, etc.)	3 points per level
Observation	Levels with Perception Roll and a game mechanic mostly closely represented in Hero System by the skill requirement of the "Requires A Skill Roll" Limitations	3 points per level for all senses, 2 points per level for 1 sense (ie. sight)
Performing	Acting or a Professional Skill in any performance art you choose.	3
Photographic Memory	Eidetic Memory	10
Piloting	Combat Piloting	3
Politics	Oratory & Professional Skill Politics	6
Profession Skills [Architecture, Journalism, Law, Photography, Teaching, Writing]	Pressional Skill of the same name.	3 points each
Repair	Professional Skill: Repairman	3
Ricochet	A mechanic covered by the "Bouncing an Attack" rules. Perhaps Agility/3 levels specifically for "bouncing an attack"	2 point per +1
Scientific Genius	Scientist	3
Science Skills [Aeronautics, Archeology, Astronomy, Biochemistry, Biology, Bionics, Chemistry, Dimensional Geograghy, Genetics, Geology, History, Lore (normal people would call this Anthropology), Oceanography, Physics, Psychiastry, Radiology, Robotics, Socialogy, Spacecrafts, Super-Pychology, Time Machinery, Weapon Systems]	A Science Skill of the same name.	3 points each.
Shields	A skill to satify the "Requires Skill Roll" for using said limitation on Armor bought as a shield.	Varies
Skating	Knowledge Skill: Skating (Skates, Skateboards, Inlines, Iceskates, etc)	3 (Dex based)
Skiing	Knowledge Skill: Skiing (Snow & Water)	3 (Dex based)
Sleight of Hand	Sleight of Hand	3
*Slings	Weapon Familiarity: Slings & Combat Skill Levels with Slings	1 & 2 points per level
Sonic Slam	Physical Energy Blast, Area Effect Radius, Hole in middle, No range, active cost equal to or less than STR * 1.5.	varies
*Spears	Weapon Familiarity: Spears & Combat Skill Levels with Spears (throw or stab)	1 & 2 points per level
Study Skills [Mythology, Occult, Trivia]	A Knowledge Skill of the same name	3 points each
Surfing	Knowledge Skill: Surfing	3 (Dex based)
Survival	Survival	3
*Swords	Weapon Familiarity: Swords & Combat Skill Levels with Swords	1 & 2 points per level
Taunting	No obvious counterpart, but I like it.
Thievery	Stealth & Lockpicking	6
Tracking	Tracking	3
Trance	Simulate Death	3
*Whips	Weapon Familiarity: Whips & Combat Skill Levels with Whips	1 & 2 points per level
Wrestling	Martial Arts: Wrestling (manuevers only)	23

* Generally, in Champions (as opposed to non-Superhero games using the Hero System) weapons are built using character points. As such, the Weapon Familiarity skill is typically not required in Champions, so the 1 or 2 points allocated for such in the table above can probably by disregarded.

Converting Powers to Hero

The Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game has a large list of skills that follow a different design philosophy that the Hero System powers. The Marvel powers are "special effect" driven, while the Hero powers are more generic and "effect" driven.

Example: Marvel has the power "Fire Control" which implies several different fire related abilities, each of these abilities would be modeled by a different generic Hero power, but the base power is a fiery energy blast that in Hero Sytem would be the power "Energy Blast". The Marvel power "Air Control" has as it's base effect the ability to use the air as a distance weapon; this would also be modeled in Hero Systemwith the power "Energy Blast". In each case, the Hero power would have a different "special effect" even though the game mechanic used in identical.

In addition to the base effect of the powers, each Marvel power also details several "stunts". Each of these stunt would be modeled with yet another of the generic Hero powers.

Example: The Marvel power "Fire Control" has as a stunt "Blinding" which would be modeled in the Hero System with the generic power "Flash Attack" which would have as it's special effect "a bright, flame induced, light".

The other component of the Marvel powers are "limits". Each limit is (in theory) supposed to halve the number of circumstances that the power can be used or halve it's effectiveness in all situations. In exchange for this limit, the intensity of the power is increased (by an amount that makes no sense within the framework of Hero System powers). My reading of the limits associated with each of the powers gives me the opinion that some of them can be modeled with Hero System Power Limitations, and other can be modeled using Hero System Character Disadvantages, but some are going to fall through the cracks due to their representing game mechanic concepts that simly don't apply to the Hero System.

Note 1: No attempt was made to make all powers cost the same, all I did was try to reflect the effectiveness of the power.

Note 2: This list is not yet complete - I'm still building it..

Power Intensities

In general, the same basic formula used for converting Abilities should apply (Hero Real Cost = (Marvel Intensity / 2) ^ 1.9 + 5) but there is some required "finagling" of the numbers; due in part to the slightly random nature of the Marvel character generation system; and (mostly) to the fact that the system was designed around the premiss that the characters from the Marvel Universe would be used in game play and thier power and ability levels are not all the same (go ahead, try to convince me that the Wasp and Thor should be built on the same number of points).

The Powers

Ability Boost

Base Ability: Aid (choose a Characteristic).
Stunt: Dual Ability Boost: Simply buy twice as many dice of the Aid (as per Base Ability) and split between two different characterisitics.

Absorption

Base Ability: Force Field, with a -1/4 to -1 (varies depending on how common the type is) limitation only vs a specfic type of attack (ie. Fire damage, Cold damage, Kinetic damage).
Stunt: Absorption Boost: Absorption to Strength, linked to Force Field (-1/2), with a -1/4 to -1 (varies depending on how common the type is) limitation only vs a specfic type of attack (ie. Fire damage, Cold damage, Kinetic damage).
Stunt: Absorption Conversion: Absorption to {a ranged attack possessed by the character}, linked to Force Field (-1/2), with a -1/4 to -1 (varies depending on how common the type is) limitation only vs a specfic type of attack (ie. Fire damage, Cold damage, Kinetic damage).
Stunt: Absorption Healing: Absorption to Body, linked to Force Field (-1/2), with a -1/4 to -1 (varies depending on how common the type is) limitation only vs a specfic type of attack (ie. Fire damage, Cold damage, Kinetic damage).

Adaptation

Base Ability: Variable Power Pool. Use basic Marvel to Hero formula to convert Intensity to Pool Base. Apply "Change as 0 Phase Action" (+1), "No Skill Roll required" (+1), "Only to adapt to environment" (-½) to Control.
Stunt: Life Support: Life Support "Character doesn't need to eat, excrete, or sleep" - 5 pts.
Stunt: Situational Adaptation: Remove the "Only to adapt to environment" limitation from Control.

Body Armor

Base Ability: Armor. Unless the character has specific reason not too, buy equal amounts of rPD and rED). If armor is artificial (not actually part of the body) apply Obvious Inaccessible Focus (-1/2) or Inobvious Inaccessible Focus (-1/4) to the cost.
Stunt: Self-Repair. By default, Hero System Armor doesn't break. If you want your armor to break you can apply the Ablative limitation (-1) to the cost, but the "in game" ramifications of this are (as the value of the limitation would imply) extreme, much more so than would be indicated by the way in which the MSHAG uses Body Armor. I would, unless the concept demanded ablative armor, just skip the whole idea so far as game-mechanics go, and just role-play the concept.
Stunt: Unbreakable. See Self-Repair.

Energy Blast

Base Ability: Energy Blast .
Limit: Touch Only: "Power has no range" limitation (-1/2).
Stunt: Blast Reflection: Missile Reflection, limited to attacks of same special effect (-1/4 or more, depending on how common special effect is). Possibly in a Multi-Power with primary blast.
Stunt: Explosion: Another Energy Blast with the "Explosion" advantage (+1/2). Possibly in a Multi-Power with primary blast.
Stunt: Momentum: Telekinesis, Effects all of target (-1/4), only to push (-1/2). Possibly in a Multi-Power with primary blast.
Stunt: Resistance: Extra defense (Armour, PD, ED, or Force Field - as appropriate for special effect) only vs same special effect as blast (-1/4 or more depending on how common special effect is).
Stunt: Richocet: Levels used for bouncing an attack.
Stunt: Wide-Angle Beam: Another Energy Blast with the "Area Effect Cone" advantage (+1). Possibly in a Multi-Power with primary blast.

Energy Sheath

Base Ability: Energy Blast with Damage Shield advantage.
Limit: Constant: 0 Endurance, Persistant, Always On
Stunt: Energy Blast: Energy Blast, linked to Damage Shield (-½)
Stunt: Flight: Flight, linked to Damage Shield (-½)
Stunt: Life Support: Life Support, as appropriate to special effect, linked to Damage Shield (-½)
Stunt: Lightning Speed: See Lightning Speed, linked to Damage Shield (-½)
Stunt: Resistance: See Resistance, linked to Damage Shield (-½)
Stunt: Partial Sheath:

Flight

Base Ability: Flight
Limit:
Stunt:
Stunt:

Invulnerability

Base Ability: This is one of those concepts that really isn't supported in the Hero System - there simply is no "invulnerability" power. My recommenation is a sizable amount of defense, only vs a specific special effect of attack. Figure the value of the limitation, based on how common the special effect is (-1/4 or more), then choose (guess) the appropriate defense power to stop the special effect in question and buy enough of it so that, when all limitations are applied, the real cost if approximately 26 points.

Life Support

Base Ability: Life Support. Intensity 0-14 = "Character doesn't need to eat, excrete, or sleep" - 5 pts. Intensity 15+, add in "The character's breathing is self contained" - 10 pts.
Limit: Transformation-Linked: Apply limitation "On while in Hero ID" -1/4
Stunt: Adaptation: See Adaptation.
Stunt: Reformation:
Stunt: Suspended Animation: Simulate Death

Lightning Speed

Base Ability: Extra points of whatever the character's primary movement power is.
Limit: Burst Only: Apply limitation "Continuing Charges" as appropriate to special effect.
Limit: Inaccurate: Instead of buying extra movement, buy an appropriate number of Nun-Combat Multiples to achieve the same amount of movement.
Stunt: Invisibility: See Invisibility
Stunt: Mach Control: Ignore
Stunt: Passengers:
Stunt: Phasing: See Phasing
Stunt: Power Slam: Enough combat levels with Monve Through to offset all minus due to velocity.
Stunt: Resistance to Pressure: See Resistance.
Stunt: Run Up Walls: Clinging
Stunt: Spinning Drill: Tunneling
Stunt: Water Walking: Flight, only to simulate water walking (-1)
Stunt: Whirlwind: Telekinesis (no fine manipulation), Area Effect Radius (+1), Hole in Middle (+¼)

Resistance

Base Ability: Varies. Choose a defense as appropriate to special effect of the attacked the character is resistant to as you can. In some cases your best bet may be "Damage Reduction, only vs a specific special effect". In some cases, a compenent of Life Suuport may serve.

Additional Sensor(s)

Affliction

Air Control

Alchemy

Animal Control

Animal Form

Animation

Astral Projection

Blending

Blinding

Body Armor

Resistance