Mutants & Masterminds: Instant Superheroes Sourcebook (Mutants & Masterminds Sourcebook) (Paperback)

~ Michael Hammes (Author), Philip Reed (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The world needs heroes; but more importantly, your game needs super-heroes right now! Instant Superheroes provides a selection of super-hero archetypes for Mutants & Masterminds, each with detailed information on how to modify, customize and play these new heroes in the game. With Instant Superheroes, character creation has never been easier: all you need to do is pick an archetype and make a few simple modifications and you're ready to play. If you're looking for inspiration, this has it, with plenty of options for creating the hero you want to play. Gamemasters can use Instant Superheroes for both immediate supporting cast characters and ready-made villains, making it an indispensable resource for any Mutants & Masterminds game.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Green Ronin Publishing (May 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932442820
• ISBN-13: 978-1932442823
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #602,932 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for Masterminds in a Hurry, May 28, 2008

By	TB (NY, USA) - See all my reviews

Like the name says, this book contains ready-made characters for use in the Mutants & Masterminds superhero role-playing game. Like the examples from the Player's Handbook, character descriptions start with base archetypes, but also include a couple of variations on each archetype and suggestions for additional modifications to make characters even more unique.

The book's archetypes (and variations) are: Agent (Fixer, Imposter), Amphibian (Atlantean, Sea Deity), Android (Golem, Robot), Battlesuit (Cryosuit, Mystic Garment), Costumed Detective (Conspiracy Theorist, Dark Avenger), Cyborg (Braincase, Cybertrooper), Demon (Dhampir, Revenant), Duplicator (Duality, Spirit Caller), Elemental (Air, Earth, Fire, Water) Energy Controller (Magnetism Master, Pyrokineticist), Fortunate Hero (Black Cat, Good Luck Charm, Hex), Gadgeteer (Disabled Genius, Mystic Artisan), Jungle Lord (Barbarian, Beast Man), Living Weapon (Physical Booster, Nano-Augment), Martial Artist (Iron Palm, Wandering Monk), Martian (Alien Star Captain, Star Child), Mimic (Animal Mimic, Nemesis, Power Thief), Mystic (Illusionist, Witch) Paragon (Eternal Champion, Perfect Specimen), Powerhouse (Bulk, High Gravity, Titan), Psionic (Psychic, Psychic Investigator), Ring Bearer (Galactic Cataphract, Guardian of Light), Sentient Plant (Plant Spirit, Wood Beast), Shapeshifter (Elastic Hero, Size Changer), Speedster (Teleporter, Time Controller), Super-Soldier (Futuristic Law Enforcer, Soldier of Fortune), Swashbuckler (Mystic Knight, Samurai), Totem (Amoeba, Bear, Eagle, Insect, Leopard, Lizard, Monkey, Raven, Serpent, Shark, Spider, and Wolf), Tracer (Gumshoe, Supernatural Scholar), Wealthy Thrill-seeker (Affluent Dilettante, Patron), Weapon Master (Archer, Mystic Warrior), and Weather Controller (Temperature Controller, Wind Controller).

Reasons to buy: to add supporting characters to your M&M game without taking a lot of time; to find villains for one-shot adventures on the fly; to gain ideas about character archetypes not covered in other M&M books.

A bit pricey for its 96 pages, this collection of character descriptions is well organized and an efficient time-saver, but not essential to play the game.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource, February 5, 2009

By	TiG "Government Worker Bee" (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews

Wow, what a time saver. Not only are there a great many examples of popular Marvel and DC characters with the serial numbers filed off, but there is even a PL 6 version of all the main templates (not variations) so you can use them as minions or for a street-level game.

Plus, all kinds of animals are statted up for shape-shifters, and each entry has some cool advice on tactics unique to each type of hero.

It is a little pricey, but I recommend it based on the time it can save a busy GM.