Best system to run an X-Men type game?

[The Kender]

Alright, I've been looking around at the various 'supers' books. Apon my group's request, I said I would run an X-Men game in the future.

I know I could easily find a book that would let me make a character like Superman, The Hulk, or something like that, but I'm looking for something that can keep the players as regular people plus a strange power. I don't want characters able to able to take a bullet to the head and live through it or be able to storm through 100 people without a scratch. The power would be there, but I want them to retain the feeling of being mortal and at least part human.

I would prefer a product in which I can actually buy a hard copy of, so that kinda throws PDF's out.

If no systems on the market can really handle this, I suppose I can run d20 Modern with Psionics thrown in or something. If it really isn't easy to do anything like I've described under the current books available, I'd appriciate hearing that instead of just suggesting your favorite book.

For those interested, we'll be playing in the X-Men:Evolution time line.

Thanks,
-Jared

 

[Judas]

have you looked at Mutants and Masterminds? Very easy to do what you describe. Fully adjustable/customizable.

 

[tsadkiel]

M&M is super great, but since a billion people will recommend it, I'll go with something else.

If you pick up the d20 modern Counter Collection from Fiery Dragon, they have a set of d20 Modern superhero rules. The rules are short, build on d20 Modern, are relatively low powered, in print, and cheap.

EDIT - plus, you get a colection of counters to go with the rules.

 

[The Kender]

I've heard of Mutants & Masterminds. It's the one I'm pretty much thinking of buying. I actually found a link on like the 6th or 7th page of the forums here where somebody statted up some of the X-Men.

Now to find $30. But, for a hardcover, full color, 192 page book, I suppose it isn't so bad.

 

[Anavel Gato]

this might be taboo (since this is a d20 board), but Marvel just released a new rpg. complete with a book on the X-Men. Inquest magazine about two months ago has an sample of the game. I got the core book and the X-men book. They are cool, thin, with tons of pics from the comics. The system I am still up in the air about. I really haven't had time to get into it though.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

M&M all the way. The Marvel system is diceless, something that many gamers, myself included, loathe on principal. (The exception for me is Baron Munchausen. Great game crammed into less than 20 pages...)

The Auld Grump

 

[Voneth]

I'll back up the "M" suggestions, either Marvel or MnM.

 

[Hand of Vecna]

Mutants & Masterminds is the way to go!

And stay far away from the new Marvel Universe RPG -- not only is it a diceless resource allocation-based game, it's also horridly unbalanced. Prime example: the Powers of Stretching & Ventriloquism. For every "rank" you have in Stretching, you can stretch your body 200 feet. For every "rank" you have in Ventriloquism, you can throw yuor voice 5 feet. Yet both powers cost exactly the same....
Also, most all the art's taken from the past 2-3 years only, some of which is utter crap (IMHO).

 

[Tanstaafl]

You might want to check out Guilt Puppy's d20:Modern Serial Superheros game. He's using the d20:Modern rule set, but allowing players to create their own classes to accomidate their particular super-powers.

 

[Hollywood]

M&M all the way. Its very flexible, has no Hit Points [although it has a side-bar about them if you want them] or Classes... both extremely good things for supers.