History TabletopGame / MutantsAndMasterminds

* AcceptableBreaksFromReality: the core book even points out how many things like [[RequiredSecondaryPowers realistic consequences of certain powers]] or [[RealityEnsues logistical concerns like keeping track of ammo, vehicle fuel, or monetary cost of equipment]] are often [[HandWave HandWaved]] in favor of having [[RuleOfFun fun]] in a setting that runs on SuperheroTropes and RuleOfCool.

A tabletop RPG from GreenRonin Publishing, ''{{Mutants}} [[MagicAmpersand &]] [[DiabolicalMastermind Masterminds]]'', also known as ''[[FanNickname M&M]]'', describes itself as "The World's Greatest [[SuperHero Superhero]] [[TabletopGames Role-Playing Game]]." DCComics sure seemed to think so. The game uses a heavily modified version[[note]]So heavily modified that it is now legally ''not'' a version[[/note]] of the TabletopGame/D20System from ''[[DungeonsAndDragons Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]]'', and its [[PointBuildSystem point-buy character creation system]] is designed to allow players to create just about any character they can think of. In fact, the "Roll Call" section of [[http://www.atomicthinktank.com the Atomic Think Tank]], the official ''Mutants & Masterminds'' forum, contains fan-submitted stats for [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny pretty much every fictional character that's ever existed]], from Comicbook/{{Superman}} to ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' to [[ScoobyDoo Shaggy Rogers]][[note]]Even JustForFun/TropeTan[[/note]].

GreenRonin has recently published ''DC Adventures'', a licensed [[TabletopGames RPG]] based on TheDCU and using the 3rd edition of the ''M&M'' rules.

* TheBadGuyWins: The book "Crooks" has rules for if this happens, which basically allows the villain to spend "villain points" to make the setting DarkerAndEdgier

* TheBadGuyWins: the book "Crooks" has rules for if this happens, which basically allows the villain to spend "villain points" to make the setting DarkerAndEdgier

* AsLethalAsItNeedsToBe / AlmostLethalWeapons: Sometimes the lethal weapon is lethal, sometimes not depending on drama. The former covers the minion rule in that whether you get killed depends on who you are.

A tabletop RPG from GreenRonin Publishing, ''{{Mutants}} [[MagicAmpersand &]] [[DiabolicalMastermind Masterminds]]'', also known as ''[[FanNickname M&M]]'', describes itself as "The World's Greatest [[SuperHero Superhero]] [[TabletopGames Role-Playing Game]]." DCComics sure seemed to think so. The game uses a heavily modified version[[note]]So heavily modified that it is now legally ''not'' a version[[/note]] of the TabletopGame/D20System from ''[[DungeonsAndDragons Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]]'', and its [[PointBuildSystem point-buy character creation system]] is designed to allow players to create just about any character they can think of. In fact, the "Roll Call" section of [[http://www.atomicthinktank.com the Atomic Think Tank]], the official ''Mutants & Masterminds'' forum, contains fan-submitted stats for [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny pretty much every fictional character that's ever existed]], from Comicbook/{{Superman}} to SailorMoon to [[ScoobyDoo Shaggy Rogers]][[note]]Even JustForFun/TropeTan[[/note]].

* ThouShaltNotKill: [[SuperStrength Super strong]] characters can pummel normal humans without fear of accidentally causing lasting damage. In fact, the game's assumption is that everyone deals nonlethal damage by default, and because of the way nonlethal damage works, it's literally ''impossible'' to accidentally kill someone. However, if you'd like a "darker" game, there are also detailed rules for lethal damage accompanying the "default" option, though this was taken away in 3rd Edition (with lip service paid to the old way as a possible house-rule in the book).
** Lethal damage as an option is discussed in the 3rd Edition Gamemaster's Guide. As written, it's still not easy to outright kill a major character with a single attack (it'd take a fairly massive botch on the damage save to even reduce them to "dying but not dead yet", and having "instant" death is a separate option in its own right), but as discussed under One Hit Kill above ''Minions'' are fair game...and ''any'' damage inflicted by a source declared to be "lethal" takes a lot longer to recover from than the usual nonlethal default.

A tabletop RPG from GreenRonin Publishing, ''{{Mutants}} [[MagicAmpersand &]] [[DiabolicalMastermind Masterminds]]'', also known as ''[[FanNickname M&M]]'', describes itself as "The World's Greatest [[SuperHero Superhero]] [[TabletopGames Role-Playing Game]]." DCComics sure seemed to think so. The game uses a heavily modified version[[hottip:*: So heavily modified that it is now legally ''not'' a version]] of the TabletopGame/D20System from ''[[DungeonsAndDragons Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]]'', and its [[PointBuildSystem point-buy character creation system]] is designed to allow players to create just about any character they can think of. In fact, the "Roll Call" section of [[http://www.atomicthinktank.com the Atomic Think Tank]], the official ''Mutants & Masterminds'' forum, contains fan-submitted stats for [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny pretty much every fictional character that's ever existed]], from Comicbook/{{Superman}} to SailorMoon to [[ScoobyDoo Shaggy Rogers]][[hottip:*:Even {{Trope-Tan}}]].

** Constitution can be a dump stat. Constitution is mostly good for raising Toughness & Fortitude[[hottip:*:(It also handles recovery checks, which are nothing to sneeze at, but are more of a "downtime" factor than a combat one.)]], and it costs exactly the same to buy them both up directly. In fact, robot or undead heroes dump their Constitution all the way down to zero and buy immunities and protection[[hottip:*:(and regeneration)]] to compensate.

A tabletop RPG from GreenRonin Publishing, ''{{Mutants}} [[MagicAmpersand &]] [[DiabolicalMastermind Masterminds]]'', also known as ''[[FanNickname M&M]]'', describes itself as "The World's Greatest [[SuperHero Superhero]] [[TabletopGames Role-Playing Game]]." DCComics sure seemed to think so. The game uses a heavily modified version[[hottip:*: So heavily modified that it is now legally ''not'' a version]] of the {{d20 System}} from ''[[DungeonsAndDragons Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]]'', and its [[PointBuildSystem point-buy character creation system]] is designed to allow players to create just about any character they can think of. In fact, the "Roll Call" section of [[http://www.atomicthinktank.com the Atomic Think Tank]], the official ''Mutants & Masterminds'' forum, contains fan-submitted stats for [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny pretty much every fictional character that's ever existed]], from Comicbook/{{Superman}} to SailorMoon to [[ScoobyDoo Shaggy Rogers]][[hottip:*:Even {{Trope-Tan}}]].

* TheSixStats: As a game using the {{d20 System}}, M&M 1E and 2E had them. 3E changed the names on everything, and added "melee attack bonus" and "ranged attack bonus" as abilities (with attendant skills) instead of being handled by a separate value.

* CharacterLevel: "Power Level" (not to be confused with PowerLevels), though they don't mean quite the same thing as in other [[D20System d20-derived]] games. "Power Points" are what actually increase your character's abilities -- Power Level only restrict how you can spend your points (e.g., the total amount of damage you do per attack cannot exceed your power level without trading off from your attack bonus).

* AcceptableBreaksFromReality: the core book even points out how many things like [[RequiredSecondaryPowers realistic consequences of certain powers]] or [[RealityEnsues logistical concerns like keeping track of ammo, vehicle fuel, or monetary cost of equipment]] are often [[HandWave HandWaved]] in favor of having fun in a setting that runs on SuperheroTropes and RuleOfCool.

* PlayByPostGames: There are several on the Internet, hosted on both the official M&M forums and third-party sites. FreedomCityPlayByPost is the [[ShamelessSelfPromotion largest, most active, and longest-running]]. [[LegendsOfReckoningCity Legends of Reckoning City]] is [[SmallNameBigEgo pretty awesome too]].

* PlayByPostGames: There are several on the Internet, hosted on both the official M&M forums and third-party sites. FreedomCityPlayByPost is the [[ShamelessSelfPromotion largest, most active, and longest-running]].

* {{Immortality}}: All eleven types can be purchased even as a starting character though some of the types are pretty expensive.

** Of course, now that DC Adventures is here, characters are receiving [[{{Your Mileage May Vary}} official stats]].

''{{Mutants}} [[MagicAmpersand &]] [[DiabolicalMastermind Masterminds]]'', also known as ''[[FanNickname M&M]]'', describes itself as "The World's Greatest [[SuperHero Superhero]] [[TabletopGames Role-Playing Game]]." DCComics sure seemed to think so. The game uses a heavily modified version[[hottip:*: So heavily modified that it is now legally ''not'' a version]] of the {{d20 System}} from ''[[DungeonsAndDragons Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]]'', and its [[PointBuildSystem point-buy character creation system]] is designed to allow players to create just about any character they can think of. In fact, the "Roll Call" section of [[http://www.atomicthinktank.com the Atomic Think Tank]], the official ''Mutants & Masterminds'' forum, contains fan-submitted stats for [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny pretty much every fictional character that's ever existed]], from Comicbook/{{Superman}} to SailorMoon to [[ScoobyDoo Shaggy Rogers]][[hottip:*:Even {{Trope-Tan}}]].

GreenRonin have recently published ''DC Adventures'', a licensed [[TabletopGames RPG]] based on TheDCU and using the 3rd edition of the ''M&M'' rules.

** Attacks with Perception as their range can hit anyone the character can perceive with an accurate sense (sight, touch, or some super-sense alternative), at any range, without requiring an attack roll. Aside from the modest cost increase, there isn't really any disadvantage. Some groups use HouseRules to ban or mitigate it by forcing such attacks to allow an additional saving throw instead.

* HitPoints: {{Averted}} completely and replaced by damage saving throws.

** The ''Masterminds Manual'' came out with optional rules for extra attacks per round years previously. But in both cases, most [=GMs=] avoid both rules like the plague, for two reasons: First, in an effects-based system like M&M, any "single" attack can be ''described'' as a flurry of multiple blows in rapid succession. Second, being able to force a second consecutive saving throw in a game where every save might be your character's last if she fails it badly enough means something a lot different than a chance to chip away a few more hit points from a big pile.