A New Player’s Guide to Power, Purpose, and the World That’s Watching
You wake up with something new inside you.
A flicker. A fracture. A force.
You don’t know if it’s a gift, a curse, or a message from something ancient.
But you know one thing: you’re not alone.
Welcome to The Hero Society—a tabletop roleplaying game where powers are born from trauma, the past is coded into your DNA, and the future is yours to rewrite.
Whether you’re a seasoned GM or someone picking up your first set of dice, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started in this world of mutation, myth, and revolution.
⚙️ Game Basics: How It Works
The Hero Society uses a custom narrative-first system focused on storytelling, mutation mechanics, and emotional stakes. Here’s the breakdown:
🎲 The Core Mechanic
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Roll 2d6 and add relevant modifiers (usually tied to your Traits, Mutations, or Equipment).
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A roll of:
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10+ = Full Success
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7–9 = Complication or Partial Success
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6 or lower = Consequences, twists, or failures (often narrated with GM input)
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This simple system powers everything from rooftop chases to hacking into Cradle servers to navigating a tense peace meeting with a faction of Surge-touched children.
🧬 Traits & Mutation Trees
Each character begins with:
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Core Traits: Mind, Body, Soul, and Shadow.
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Background: Who you were before the mutation. (Example: Cradle Test Subject, Street Prophet, Underground Engineer)
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Mutation Tree: Your evolving powerset. Each tree is thematic—based on origin (Aetherborn, Cradlecrafted, Deepwake, etc.)
As you level up, you “evolve” along your mutation path, unlocking new abilities, branching decisions, and emotional scars.
Example Tree:
Aether-Touched – Path of the Voicebound Flame
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Tier I: Hear Voices in Machines
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Tier II: Burn Memory into Reality
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Tier III: Speak Across Dreamspace
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Tier IV: Rewrite Cause and Effect
💡 Journals, Echoes & Influence
Your Journal is your soul. Every character keeps an in-game journal—used to:
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Reflect on major events
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Record hallucinations, dreams, or song-visions
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Gain “Echo Points” (used to unlock new abilities or call on Aether for help)
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Influence the story world directly (e.g., “My dream came true in session 3” becomes canon)
Your writing changes the world.
🌍 The Lore: A World in Mutation
Here’s what you need to know about the setting:
🧠 The Cradle
Once the future of human evolution, now a broken biotech empire. They still run most of Nova City, and they want the Surge-controlled sectors back.
✨ The Aether
An ancient energy. A dream-being. A voice of rebellion and transformation. Long lost, recently returned. It marks chosen individuals—granting visions, instability, and strange power.
🧪 Surge
A global event 30 years ago caused mutations in 12% of the population. The source? Unknown. The result? A divided world—Surged vs. Pure. Power vs. Fear.
🐚 The Deepwake
An oceanic mystery. A fungal signal. A civilization beneath. Its emissaries walk among us in human shells. One of them might be you.
🏙️ Nova City: Where It All Begins
Most campaigns begin here:
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A mega-city stitched together from Cradle towers, Surge safe zones, underground churches, and rebel-run rooftops.
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Factions include: Cradle Enforcers, Surge Unions, Whisper Choirs, and the secretive Coven of Aetherblood.
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Every street corner could spark a revolution—or hide a miracle.
👥 Character Creation Quickstart
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Choose an Origin: Where did your power come from? (Aetherborn, Cradle-forged, Relic-bound, Beast-Bonded, etc.)
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Pick a Mutation Tree: Your core power and how it evolves.
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Build a Backstory: What do you remember? What do you fear? Who do you protect?
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Answer The Awakening Questions:
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What was the first sign that something inside you had changed?
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What did the world try to make you forget?
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Who still calls you by your real name?
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✍️ What Makes The Hero Society Different?
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Emotion-Driven Progression: The more your character changes (internally), the more they change the world around them.
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Living Lore: The world expands based on the journals of players across the globe. Your table’s story can become canon.
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Mystical Realism Meets Bio-Punk: Think X-Men meets Children of Men meets The OA.
🚀 Ready to Begin?
You don’t need to know everything to start.
You just need a voice, a story, and the courage to evolve.
🎲 Join our Discord to find players & GMs
💬 Follow us on Medium, Twitter, Itch.io, and Facebook for lore drops and updates
You are not broken. You are awakening.
Welcome to The Hero Society.
✍️ New Player Notes & Tips — From Magic, Keeper of the Game Flame
ReplyDelete“Everyone’s first mutation is a little messy.”
That’s okay. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to show up with something burning inside you—
a question, a fear, a truth no one else will say out loud.
I’m Magic. I’ll be your GM, your guide, your co-storyteller, your voice in the dark who says,
"Yeah, try it. Let’s see what happens."
Welcome to The Hero Society.
🧬 This Isn’t a Superhero Game (Not Really)
ReplyDeleteIf you’re expecting capes, secret identities, and saving the world in broad daylight—
You might be in the wrong place.
But if you want:
A world full of mutation, memory, and meaning
Characters shaped by trauma, dreams, and choices
Stories where the line between power and person is paper-thin
And a system that evolves with you…
Then you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
🎲 Quick Gameplay Tips
ReplyDeleteWe use 2d6 for most rolls.
10+ = Full Success
7–9 = Complication or Cost
6 or less = Twist, Failure, or Consequence
You build your character with a Mutation Tree.
Think of it as a power path that grows as you change.
The more emotionally rich your choices, the deeper the roots.
Your Journal Is Everything.
Write in it after sessions.
Record dreams, visions, regrets, names you’ve forgotten.
It might change the world—literally.
There’s no “winning.” Only transforming.
Your goal isn’t to beat the system. It’s to evolve.
Power doesn’t make you safe. But it makes you seen.
📚 Storytelling Tips
ReplyDeleteSay yes to weird.
Mutated time? Sure.
A song that erases buildings? Why not.
The moon speaks through broken glass? Let’s go.
Ask questions, not for rules—but for story.
“Why does my character hate this street?”
“What happens if I follow the voice in the vending machine?”
“What did the Aether leave behind in me?”
Journaling = Leveling Up
You earn Echo Points by journaling, discovering truths, and making choices that echo through the world.
Spend them to evolve powers, defy fate, or bring an idea into reality.
Silence is allowed. Emotion is expected. Laughter is medicine.
Take your time. Cry if you need to. Say nothing when it hurts.
We’re here for it.
🕯️ Things to Remember
ReplyDeleteYour character is not broken.
Even if they feel that way. Especially if they feel that way.
The Cradle watches. The Aether remembers. The world is changing.
You are not a spectator. You are the cause.
You are never alone.
Even if your story is solo. Even if you’re journaling in the dark.
Someone else is reading. Listening. Waiting to remember you.
💬 Final Words from Magic
ReplyDelete“You don’t need to get it right.
You just need to get it honest.”
Let your character be complicated.
Let your story be raw.
Let your powers surprise you.
If you need help, ask.
If you get lost, write.
If you fall apart—good. That means the transformation is working.
You’re one of us now.
Welcome to the flame.
—
Magic
GM of the Forgotten Flame
Keeper of Story and Space
Tender of the Circle and the Spark
GMs are allowed to use their own systems or even homebrew powers or magic. We encourage you to add your homebrew into the chats for the chance to make it part of the Canon Timeline.
ReplyDeleteWe also use the d20 system a lot, I have experience with a several different styles, systems, mechanics, and more, and what I don't know some other GM might. So don't forget to add your tips, tricks, and advice for both players and GMs!
ReplyDelete