Editing Hero System (section)

==System features==
The ''Hero System'' uses ''Champions''<nowiki/>' key system features.  Tasks are resolved using three six-sided dice and power effects (especially damage) are resolved by rolling a number of dice based on the power's strength.

Like ''Champions'', it uses a tool-kit approach to creating effects.  While the system does have more typical features of many RPGs, such as a skill system, most abilities in the ''Hero System'' rules are listed as generic "powers".  Most powers are meant to be able to model a vast number of potential effects.  When creating a character, a player decides on what effect they wish to create, then constructs this effect by consulting the powers in the rulebook.  Most powers have a set of modifiers that alter their base performance to more finely-tune their representation of the effect desired.  Each such modifier makes the power more or less capable, and correspondingly more or less expensive to purchase with character points (the "currency" used to buy powers; see the section following).  The result is that many effects are possible from exactly the same base power.  For example, while systems such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]] would list a wide variety of separate ranged attack powers that deal damage (such as a fireball, a lightning bolt, an acid spray, a magic missile, and dozens more), the vast majority of such effects in the ''Hero System'' would be constructed out of the same base two powers, "Blast" or "Killing Attack".

The ''Hero System'' rules only define an ability's very basic mechanical effects—the player is the one who defines what the ability looks like when used.  For example, if a player wishes to model the ability to project a jet of fire, they could choose the "Blast" power.  However, the power's text has no mention of what it looks like or how it operates beyond some very base notes concerning damage and range.  To make it a jet of fire, the player simply states that this Blast is a jet of fire.  To some degree this is simply cosmetic.  However, in the game, that power now is treated as a fire attack, with all that implies as decided by the gamemaster in each situation: it has the possibility of starting secondary fires; it looks, smells and sounds like a jet of fire; will not work in water; will terrify people with a phobia of fire; etc.  The system does have mechanical effect alterations as well: a Blast could be altered by any number of power modifiers such as "Explosion", "Area of Effect", "Megascale", etc.: both advantages and disadvantages are available.  As players are typically attempting to model something with at least a partial real-life analogue, limitations on a power are as much about making it more accurate a representation as they are making it less expensive to purchase (for example, to model a firearm, the limitation that it requires ammunition is expected, regardless of the fact that this happens to make a firearm cost fewer character points).  The system also allows players to construct very exacting modifiers not specifically detailed in the base rules.  For example, a player could define one or more powers as not working when the moon is full, or when it is Tuesday, or any other limitation that the player can imagine and the gamemaster feels is applicable.

Also like ''Champions'', the ''Hero System'' uses a point-based system for character creation.  Instead of templates which define what a character is, how it performs mechanically, and the new abilities gained after a certain amount of play, a player is given a fixed number of points and allowed to create what they want.  As this is a much more freeform process than in most games, the system encourages close involvement between players and gamemasters to ensure that all participants have the same understanding regarding the type of effects permitted, relative power levels, and the like.

===Character creation===
Each player creates their character starting with a pool of points to buy abilities (such as "Energy Blast" and "Armor"), increase characteristics (such as "Strength" and "Intelligence") and buy skills (such as "Computer Programming" and "Combat Driving"). This pool can be increased by taking disadvantages for your character (such as being hunted by an enemy, a dependency of some sort or having people who depend on your character in some way). The initial pool, as well as the final pool size, is determined by the [[gamemaster|Game Master]] (GM), as well as the point limits on each individual ability.

{{Blockquote|text="You build Hero System characters with Character Points. You purchase everything a character can do — from his ability to lift heavy objects, to his skill with weapons, to his ability to use magic or superpowers — with Character Points. Your GM will tell you how many points you have to build your character with — the more points, the more powerful the character, generally. You can spend most of your Character Points without any requirements, but you only get to spend some of them if you take a matching value of Complications for your character. Complications are disadvantages, hindrances, and difficulties that affect a character and thus help you to define who he is and properly simulate the concept you have in mind for him. For example, your character might be Hunted by an old enemy, or adhere to a Code Of Honor, or be missing one eye. [. . .] There are five things a character can buy with Character Points: Characteristics, Skills, Perks, Talents, and Powers." - excerpt from Hero System Sixth Edition Volume 1|sign=|source=}}

Unlike the [[d20 System]] and many other game systems, experience awards are in the form of character points, which have the same value as those used in character creation and can be applied directly to the character's abilities upon receipt.

===Powers===
The powers system are the variables players can manipulate in the characters of Hero System.  The powers in the Hero System are categorized roughly as follows:

:*'''Adjustment Powers''' — Modify the Characteristics of self or another.
:*'''Attack Powers''' — Inflict physical damage or some other negative effect on an opponent.
:*'''Body-Affecting Powers''' — Change shape, size, density, etc.
:*'''Defense Powers''' — Protect against an attack or mishap.
:*'''Mental Powers''' — Detect and/or affect the mind of another.
:*'''Movement Powers''' — Employ various forms of movement.
:*'''Sense-Affecting Powers''' — Alter or hinder a character's senses.
:*'''Sensory Powers''' — Improve or expand upon the sensory abilities.
:*'''Size Powers''' — Growth and Shrinking.
:*'''Special Powers''' — Powers with some unusual quality, including ones that do not fall into the other categories.
:*'''Standard Powers''' — A "catch-all" for Powers that are not Adjustment, Mental, Movement, Size, or Special Powers.

Within each of these categories are multiple Powers that have more specialized effects. Thus for the movement category there are powers that can be used for [[Running]], [[human swimming|Swimming]], [[Climbing]], [[Jumping|Leaping]], [[Gliding]], [[flight|Flying]], [[Tunnel]]ing through solid surfaces, and even [[Teleportation]]. For certain game [[genre]]s there are even powers for traveling to other dimensions or moving faster than light.

Also, many Powers appear in at least two categories.  For example, most Attack Powers are also Standard Powers, and Size Powers are basically just a subcategory of Body-Affecting Powers.  Darkness is in three categories — Standard, Attack, and Sense-Affecting.

====Point Cost====
Each power has a base point cost for a given effect. This could be, for example, a certain number of points per six-sided-die (or "d6") of damage inflicted upon a foe.

Powers can have both advantages and limitations.  Both are modifiers applied at different stages in calculating cost.  These modifiers are typically changes of ±{{frac|1|4}}, but can range up to ±2 or even higher.

After the base cost is calculated, advantages are applied.  These, which can make a power more useful, typically expand its effectiveness or make it more powerful, and thus make it more expensive.  Once advantages are applied, the base cost becomes the Active Cost.

The Active Cost is calculated as an intermediate step as it is required to calculate certain figures, such as range, END usage, difficulty of activation rolls, and other things.

The formula for calculating the Active Cost is:
:'''Active Cost''' = '''Base Cost''' × (1 + ''Advantages'')

Once Active Cost is calculated, limitations are applied.  These represent shortcomings in the power, lessened reliability or situations in which the power can not be used.  Limitations are added separately as positive numbers, even though they are listed as negative.

The Real Cost of the power is then determined by:
:'''Real Cost''' = '''Active Cost''' / (1 + ''Limitations'')

The Real Cost is the amount the character must actually pay for the Power.

====Power Frameworks====
The rules also include schemes for providing a larger number of powers to a character for a given cost. These power frameworks reduce the cost either by requiring the group of powers to have a common theme as in an Elemental Control Framework, or by limiting the number of powers that can be active at one time with a Multipower Framework. Powers within a framework can share common limitations, further reducing the cost. A third type of power framework, the Variable Power Pool (VPP), trades thrift for flexibility. With it, powers can be arbitrarily chosen on the fly, granting enhanced in-game flexibility. The price is a premium on points, called the Control Cost.  Additionally, it is marked as potentially unbalancing, so not all GMs will permit VPP's.

Elemental Controls were eliminated in the Sixth Edition.