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I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the scenarios presented in each MEGA-MAG. Especially due to their brevity. Each situation and NPC is detailed enough but not too much to prevent melding into any campaign. The campaign world they describe is riddled with real life intrigue and concerns (rape, gay rights, Rush and the ultra-conservatives, Beavis & Butthead, corrupt politicians, sex scandal, random acts of violence, drugs, talk show hosts, rock musicians, government conspiracy) as well as classic comic hero subjects (humorous villains, arch-rivals, death, cybernetics, mutants, aliens, Atlantis, mythological ties, ultimate evil, misunderstood heroes/villains, super science).

Every few issues contain a "No GMs Allowed" adventure for solo or group play without a Game Master. These are equally well done. Although the rhythm is always comic book frame by frame action, the scenarios maintain a need for thought before action and deductive reasoning before reaction.

These guys deserve an award for providing the most impressive cross system support service in any genre. Any style, mood, era or humor will be able to use them. Every adventure includes stats for: Champions (or any Hero Sys), DC Heroes (or Batman RPG), GURPS Supers (or most any GURPS), Good Guys Finish Last (from Better Games), Guardians, Heroes Unlimited (or TMNT and any other Palladium game, most easily convertible to V&V), KAPOW! and Marvel Super Heroes.

KAPOW! is the SHRPG system that the publishers of MEGA-MAG debut in issue number 7. Characters use points to buy abilities and skills (there are no traditional attributes like Strength nor Agility), and may receive extra points by accepting challenges (read disadvantages). This seems all standard enough but there is one other deviation from the mainstream, aside from the lack of attribute/characteristics scores.

KAPOW! is a matrix game, there are no hit points. Abilities/gadgets/etc are entered on a matrix on the character sheet, their order and distribution is somewhat governed to prevent imbalances. These "powers" are divided into defence, attack and move categories. Each is described elsewhere on the character sheet but their categories help determine the characters combat and movement abilities. They are used to determine the pool of dice the player has at his disposal to perform attacking, defensive or movement actions. Much like the board game Risk (and admittedly so), multiple dice are rolled and the top few are compared. Damage is taken by removing access to the powers in the matrix and their associated dice from the players dice pool. Provisions are made for extreme results, knock-outs and death (intended to be rare).

All in all this is an refreshingly flexible little system that provides fast, high action, results. It keeps the emphasis on role playing and doesn't burden players with weighty rules nor a sluggish/slow combat system. My recommendation to anyone into or thinking of trying Super Hero RPGs is to send Exclamation Publishing a $9 check. For your money you should: request a 3 issue/month trial subscription to MEGA-MAG, request a back issue copy of MEGA-MAG #7 (which provides the KAPOW! rules) and you should receive a copy of issue #0 as a gift for ordering a back issue. Otherwise: a single issue is $3, a 3 month trial sub is $6, a full year of 12 mags is $24 and most back issues are available for $3 each. Write to: MEGA-MAG, c/o Exclamation Publishing, 7200 Montgomery NE #391, Albuquerque, NM 87109. **but apparently out of print**

Style: 3 (Average)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

MEGA-MAG and KAPOW rpg (issue 7)
Author: various Category: supplement Company/Publisher: Exclamation Publishing Line: various superhero Cost: $3/issue Capsule Review by Papyrus on 06/02/99. Genre tags: Science_fiction Modern_day Generic	I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the scenarios presented in each MEGA-MAG. Especially due to their brevity. Each situation and NPC is detailed enough but not too much to prevent melding into any campaign. The campaign world they describe is riddled with real life intrigue and concerns (rape, gay rights, Rush and the ultra-conservatives, Beavis & Butthead, corrupt politicians, sex scandal, random acts of violence, drugs, talk show hosts, rock musicians, government conspiracy) as well as classic comic hero subjects (humorous villains, arch-rivals, death, cybernetics, mutants, aliens, Atlantis, mythological ties, ultimate evil, misunderstood heroes/villains, super science). Every few issues contain a "No GMs Allowed" adventure for solo or group play without a Game Master. These are equally well done. Although the rhythm is always comic book frame by frame action, the scenarios maintain a need for thought before action and deductive reasoning before reaction. These guys deserve an award for providing the most impressive cross system support service in any genre. Any style, mood, era or humor will be able to use them. Every adventure includes stats for: Champions (or any Hero Sys), DC Heroes (or Batman RPG), GURPS Supers (or most any GURPS), Good Guys Finish Last (from Better Games), Guardians, Heroes Unlimited (or TMNT and any other Palladium game, most easily convertible to V&V), KAPOW! and Marvel Super Heroes. KAPOW! is the SHRPG system that the publishers of MEGA-MAG debut in issue number 7. Characters use points to buy abilities and skills (there are no traditional attributes like Strength nor Agility), and may receive extra points by accepting challenges (read disadvantages). This seems all standard enough but there is one other deviation from the mainstream, aside from the lack of attribute/characteristics scores. KAPOW! is a matrix game, there are no hit points. Abilities/gadgets/etc are entered on a matrix on the character sheet, their order and distribution is somewhat governed to prevent imbalances. These "powers" are divided into defence, attack and move categories. Each is described elsewhere on the character sheet but their categories help determine the characters combat and movement abilities. They are used to determine the pool of dice the player has at his disposal to perform attacking, defensive or movement actions. Much like the board game Risk (and admittedly so), multiple dice are rolled and the top few are compared. Damage is taken by removing access to the powers in the matrix and their associated dice from the players dice pool. Provisions are made for extreme results, knock-outs and death (intended to be rare). All in all this is an refreshingly flexible little system that provides fast, high action, results. It keeps the emphasis on role playing and doesn't burden players with weighty rules nor a sluggish/slow combat system. My recommendation to anyone into or thinking of trying Super Hero RPGs is to send Exclamation Publishing a $9 check. For your money you should: request a 3 issue/month trial subscription to MEGA-MAG, request a back issue copy of MEGA-MAG #7 (which provides the KAPOW! rules) and you should receive a copy of issue #0 as a gift for ordering a back issue. Otherwise: a single issue is $3, a 3 month trial sub is $6, a full year of 12 mags is $24 and most back issues are available for $3 each. Write to: MEGA-MAG, c/o Exclamation Publishing, 7200 Montgomery NE #391, Albuquerque, NM 87109. but apparently out of print Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

MEGA-MAG and KAPOW rpg (issue 7)