WATCHER SHEET & 2012 MARVEL AND SUBS

TO PLAY, YOU NEED:

The Operations Manual and a MARVEL HEROIC Event.
Datafiles for each player.
Tokens to represent Plot Points (PP).
Index cards and pencils.
A FOUR, SIX, EIGHT, TEN, and TWELVE-SIDED DIE for each player:


SETUP
Read the Operations Manual and MARVEL HEROIC Event.
Have each player choose a hero datafile.
Go over the datafile's traits, SFXs, limits, and Milestones.
Players may replace one or both of their Milestones with Event-
Based Milestones. Players can choose the same Milestones.
Players start with 1 Plot Point (PP). At the start of each Act,
PP reset to 1. So spend them before the Act ends!
The Doom Pool starts at 2D6, unless specified otherwise.
Write any Scene Distinctions on index cards.
TELL THE PLAYERS
They don't need to know Marvel comics to play this game.
Everything they need is on their datafile.
Don't worry about playing your hero "incorrectly". And if you
have a player who is an expert on Marvel comics, be very
clear that every character is different depending on who
writes them. Right now, you are the writer!
GLOSSARY
Trait: words that describe something important to our story
and a die (bigger is better) that tells us how important it is.
Dice Pool: a collection of dice from the traits on your datafile.
Die Size: your die's number of sides (a D4 has 4 sides).
Die Value: the number on your die after you roll.
Step back: switch out a trait's die size for a smaller die.
Step back a D4: that trait is removed from the game.
Step up: switch out a trait's die size for a larger die.
Step up a D12: something special happens! For example:
stress past a D12 means a target can no longer act this scene.
Spend: when you spend something, remove it permanently.
Rolling the Doom Pool does not spend the dice rolled.
Watcher: Player responsible for the rules, the Event, and
characters in the story that aren't the main Heroes.
WHEN TO ROLL
Roll the Dice when
Youre not sure if your hero will succeed or fail.
You want to try something thats challenging or dangerous.
You want to hurt, help, or heal another character.
Dont roll the Dice when
The outcome isnt an interesting part of the story.
Theres nothing or nobody to stop your hero.
The situation is outside your heros ability to change.
ROLLING DICE
Taking Action!
1. Decide who you want to hurt (attack), help (support), or
heal (recover) and describe how.
2. Build your dice pool. (see p1)
3. Spend Plot Points (PP) or doom dice on your pool. (see p2)
4. Roll your dice.
5. Set aside opportunities (dice that roll a 1, you can't use them).
6. Add together two dice for your total (higher is better).
7. Choose a die (from your remaining dice, not in your total) as
your effect die. If you have none, it's a D4.
8. Spend PP or doom dice on your roll. (see p2)
9. Declare your final total, effect die, and opportunities.
10. Opponents may buy your opportunities with PPs. (see p2)
11. Opponents try to stop you (reaction rolls) by following
steps 2-10 above. If you want to hurt a target, they roll dice
from their datafile. If you want to help or heal a target, the
Watcher rolls the doom pool (plus any affected traits).
12. You win if your total is equal or higher (you win ties).
13. Adjust and use effect die. (see p1, bottom right)
Building Your Dice Pool
Quick version: grab one trait from every box on your datafile.
Detailed version: Look at your datafile then add















Adjusting Effect Dice
If your total's value is 5 or higher than your opponent's total,
for every 5 over, step up your effect die. If you step it up
past D12, you may use a second effect die from your roll.
If you try to hurt your opponent but their effect die size is
larger than yours, step back your effect die.
Using Effect Dice
Create a trait equal to your effect die size. Stress is used to
hurt a target and lasts till recovered (see p3). Complications
are like Stress but last 1 scene. Assets are used to help, last
1 roll, can be given to someone else, and starts at least as a D6.
Step up or down a trait (except trauma). If stress or complications
exceeds D12, target can take actions till recovered. (see p3)
Shut down or remove a trait if your effect die size is equal or
larger (except trauma).
Add your effect die to the Doom Pool.
one die from your
current Affiliation.

(solo if you're alone, buddy
if you're with an ally, team
if you're with 2+ allies)

one Distinction, either
as a or a +1PP.

( means your Distinction
gives you trouble but you
also get 1 Plot Point)

one die from each
Power Set.

one die from a Specialty.
if available, one asset die, one push, stunt, or resource die,
one complication die, and one of our oppositions stress dice.
Datafile
WATCHER SHEET & 2012 MARVEL AND SUBS
SPENDING PLOT POINTS (PP)
Before You Roll
Add an extra trait (from your datafile or other sources).
Add a D8 stunt die (if you use a Power or Specialty creatively).
Add one of your stress dice (not trauma). Then step up it up.
Add a D6 push die.
After You Roll
Use an effect die from your reaction roll as a counter attack!
Add an extra die to your total (from your roll).
Use an extra effect die (from your roll).
Change stress youve taken to another type of stress.
Make an asset last till the end of this scene.
Make a complication last till the end of the next Action scene.
Anytime
Use special effects (SFX) that cost PP to activate.
Activate a Villain's Limit. Assuming it makes sense in the story.
If a power could easily remove a trait, ask the Watcher and they
may let you skip rolling, spend a PP, and succeed automatically!
In Transition Scenes
Create resource linked to a Specialty. D6 for Expert, D8 for
Master. Lasts until end of next Action Scene. Only you can use it.
When Watcher Rolls Opportunities
Step up a push, stunt, asset or create a resource (lasts 1 scene).
EARNING PLOT POINTS (PP)
Use your or a scene Distinction against yourself.
Activate a Limit on your Power Set.
When the Watcher buys your opportunities with PP.
Watcher may reward you if you roleplay being stressed out.
DOOM POOL
Starting Doom Pool
The Doom Pool resets at the start of each Act.
By default, the Doom Pool starts at 2D6.
If the stakes are High, step up the dice to D8s.
If the stakes are Catastrophic, step up the dice to D10s.
If the threat is Global, increase the number of dice to 3D.
If the threat is Cosmic, increase the number of dice to 4D.
Spending Doom Pool Before a Roll
Add a doom die to a villains dice pool.
Spending Doom Pool After a Roll
Use an effect die from your reaction roll as a counter attack!
Add an extra die to your total (from your roll) but the doom
die spent must be at least equal in size to the extra die.
Use an extra effect die (from your roll) but the doom die
spent must be at least equal in size to the extra die.
Spending Doom Pool Anytime
To use any affect that normally costs a Plot Point.
Use special effects (SFX) that cost doom dice to activate.
Split a hero off from other heroes or force them together.
Activate a Hero's Limit. But first offer to pay them 1 PP instead.
Create a new Scene Distinction (costs a D8 or higher). Anyone
may use this Distinction instead of their own Distinctions.
To have a Villain interrupt the Action Order.
Activate Scene or Event effects.
Spend 2D12 to end a scene immediately. If the Heroes were
close to winning, ask them to describe how they get most of
what they want and then present them with a tough choice,
you win but X happens or at Y cost. If the Heroes were not
close to winning, ask them to describe how they lost or what
they had to sacrifice (something significant) to win.
Growing the Doom Pool
When a player rolls an opportunity, give the player 1 PP to
step up the doom pool's lowest die or add a D6.
If the player rolls multiple opportunities, do the above
multiple times or give the player 1 PP and step up a D4 for
every opportunity rolled, and then add it to the doom pool.
Add effect dice from a villain's action to the doom pool.
When a Villain uses a Distinction as a D4 or activates a limit,
add a D6 or step up the smallest die in the doom pool.
VILLAINS HELPING OTHERS
When Villains want to help someone, dont roll, just take an
action and give someone one of their traits (as an asset).
THE ACTION ORDER
The Watcher chooses a hero to go first.
After the chosen hero acts, they choose who acts next.
The person who goes last can choose to go first at the start
of the next action order.
Everyone, including Villains, must act before anyone acts again.
The Watcher may interrupt the action order to have their
character go next (or first) by spending a D6 from the doom
pool or a die at least equal to the highest Reflexes or Senses
powers a heroes possess.
Use index cards to track who is in the scene. When the action
order starts, everyone puts a token on their index card. After
your character acts and it's time to pick the next character to
act, remove your token so that it's clear you've acted. Once
everyone has taken an action and it's time for a new action
order, put your token back on your index card.
You can make unlimited reaction rolls. They don't cost actions.
EVENT STRUCTURE
Events are single, overarching story-lines. Usually 2 or 3 Acts.
Acts represent multiple Scenes, leading up to a climax.
Action Scenes involve the characters doing something to
drive the story along and move it forward.
Transition Scenes connect Action Scenes together and are
used to recover, gather information, or plan the next Scene.
Panels are moments in a Scene representing action. If it can fit
into a comic book panel, it's doable with a character's action.
WATCHER SHEET & 2012 MARVEL AND SUBS
STRESS
There are three types of stress: physical, mental, and emotional.
When rolling against someone, if their stress affects their
ability to succeed, add 1 of their stresses to your dice pool.
Stress starts out equal to the effect die size that inflicted it.
If you already have stress of a certain type and take more of
it, compare the old and new stress dice size. If the new die is
larger, replace the old with the new. If the new die is equal
to or less than the old, step up the old die.
Once any stress exceeds D12, the character is stressed out
and can't take any actions until they recover.
If a hero roleplays how they are stressed out, the Watcher
may reward them a Plot Point.
TRAUMA
Anyone who is stressed out gains a D6 of trauma (emotional,
mental, or physical) that takes longer to recover from.
Trauma or stress (not both) can be added to opposing die pools.
If you're already stressed out in a Scene and take more
stress, it translates directly to trauma.
If any trauma is stepped up beyond D12, your character dies.
RECOVERY
Stress during Transition Scenes
Step back all stress by one.
If you were stressed out last scene, remove all of that stress.
Each stress and trauma must be recovered separately.
Build you dice pool. Add in a trait from another hero, if
appropriate, but you need to hand them a Plot Point for it, or
they can roll their own support action to give you an asset.
Watcher opposes with the doom pool plus the stress you're
trying to recover.
If you win and your effect die size is equal to or greater that the
stress die size, it's gone. If it's smaller, step down the stress.
Spend a Plot Point to keep an additional effect die to try
again, comparing it to the same stress at its new die size.
Stress during Action Scenes
You can't make a recovery action during an Action Scene
unless you have a power trait or SFX that lets you. But an ally
can use an action to roll against your stress and the doom pool.
If they win and their effect die size is equal or greater than
your stress, it steps back. If it's smaller, nothing happens.
If the action fails, your ally makes things worse and your
stress steps up. Your ally can choose to use multiple effect
dice with PP to step your stress back more than once.
Trauma
Trauma steps back at the start of an Act.
Recovering trauma works like stress. See recovering stress
above. But if the effect die size is smaller, nothing happens
and if the recovery action fails, the trauma die steps up!
The Watcher may frame an Action Scene for your hero where
your trauma makes things worse, so you can immediately
step back the trauma at the beginning of the next Transition
Scene and recover it like stress (instead of trauma).
XP
Gaining XP
You may hit the 1 XP Milestone trigger as often as you like.
You may hit the 3 XP Milestone trigger once per Scene.
You may hit the 10 Milestone XP trigger once per Act. Once
you hit this trigger you may choose a new Milestone.
Gain 1 XP when the Watcher spends a D12 doom die.
Spending XP
You may only spend XP during Transition Scenes.
Spend 1 XP to gain 1 Plot Point. This increases the minimum
PP you start each session with by +1 to a maximum of 5 PP.
But PP resets to 1 at the beginning of a new Act.
You can spend 5 XP to: Switch two Affiliations. Replace a
Distinction with a new one. Add or replace a Limit in a
Power Set. Unlock a minor Event resource.
You can spend 10 XP to: Add a new SFX to a Power Set.
Step up a D6 or D8 power trait. Add a new D6 power trait
to a Power Set. Remove a Limit from a Power Set that has
two or more Limits. Unlock a major Event resource.
You can spend 15 XP to: Step up a D10 power trait.
Replace an existing Power Set with a new one. Add a new
Expert Specialty or upgrade an Expert to Master.