Ratings on DriveThruRPG Make Me Want To Cry

Take a look at the above image. Do you see at the bottom where it says, "As a publisher you cannot review non-publisher resources." That's me. I'm a publisher. Because of that I can't share my thoughts about games that I purchase on DriveThruRPG. I can't tell you how much that breaks my heart. I love this hobby and all I want to do is share that joy with others.

I even took down my publisher page in the hopes that this message might disappear. It hasn't. I could reach out to DriveThru to see if I could get my status changed, but lately I have been working on a new RPG. What if I want to sell Little Colony on DriveThru? So, I haven't pursued it further.

You want to know what's worse? Those ratings above? That average 2.5 out of 5 for 2 ratings? That's the rating listing for BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! It may be worth giving up any hope of ever selling a product on DriveThru just to give BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! a 5 star rating. 

BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! is so good!

A 1 star review? Really? Did this reviewer do their research to learn about the kinds of games that Spectrum Games publishes? Did they even read the product description before purchase? I get that someone probably bought this game expecting one thing while getting another.

But BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! is exactly what it claims to be, and like all of the publications by Spectrum Games the production quality is unequaled. This game should never get a 1 star review. (Gah! Now I'm sick to my stomach. Really. I'm so angry.)

BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! deserves more love.

If you read this, and you have a heart, buy BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! and give it a real review. Yes, I found a few typos. (When you make an item or power "low budget" it costs 1 budget token instead of 2. In at least 2 places in the rules it says "... costs 2 budget tokens instead of 2." Which yeah, it's a mistake and confusing, but I figured it out!) But, 1 Star?! Really??!

The art is beautiful, the layout is stellar, the design is inspired. BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! might be my favorite superhero RPG. This game deserves better than 2.5 stars! What's the matter with people?

DriveThru's Publisher Policy

I'd like to say that I disagree with DriveThru's policy regarding allowing publishers to write reviews. Publishers are also consumers. We are probably some of their biggest consumers. I'd like to think that this community is friendly and honest and that we would only review games fairly (and not review our own games at all.) But, then I see this pathetic 1 star review, and I realize that maybe I am giving our community too much credit.

This all just makes me want to cry.

It also hurts my heart that there are only 2 ratings for this game. Did only 2 people buy it? 

No. 

I bought it, but I can't leave a review. Is every person who buys games on DriveThru also a publisher? 

No. 

So, why only 2 ratings? And why is one of those ratings a 1?! Garrrgh!! 

  

Join my Facebook Group to discuss this post and anything related to RPG's and geekdom!

Creating the Super Friends for BIFF! BAM! KAPOW!

I am in love with BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! This might be the most excited that I have been to play a superhero RPG since the Supercrew!

Super Friends art by Arkan Theo

Character creation is simple. That's one of the things that really appeals to me. But, it doesn't help that actual super powers are an alternative rule. I understand why, but it means jumping around in the rules to figure out what to do. 

Aquaman art by JSenior from Deviantart.

I finally just wrote my own quick short hand version to guide me.

• The four core Attributes are: Action, Thought, Drama and Pluck. Players assign a total of 4 points to these. Values are from 0-2.
• Next are Facets. Players write down 4 skills, items or powers and label them appropriately. Resolution in BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! is narrative, not mechanical. So, there is no master list of powers and it's not needed. (There are plenty of examples.)
• Initial powers and items have a rank of 1. They can be improved in the Enhancement step.

Batman art by JSenior from Deviantart.

• Flaws are part of Facets, but they feel like a different thing. Players have the option of having from 0-2 Flaws. (Flaws grant a bonus in the Enhancement step and are helpful during game play.)
• The last step is Enhancements. You get to choose 3, plus 1 for each Flaw that you took (if you took any.) Enhancements are basically level ups. This gives you a chance to improve and tweak your design to make your perfect hero.

Robin art by JSenior from Deviantart.

Character creation is clean and easy. It's low math, high creativity. The game system focuses on "Intentions." Attribute values speak to Intentions not strengths. There are no bench marks for simulationists in BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! 

Superman art by JSenior from Deviantart.

Intentions aren't measures of physical and mental capability, they are tools for narrative control. It means that Superman can be as powerful as you want and that he can adventure right along side Batman as it was always meant to be.

In fact, to take BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! character creation for a test drive, I created the Super Friends! I used the alternative "powers" based character creation shown above, even for creating Batman and Robin. I am really happy with the results and I can't wait to try them out! 

Wonder Woman art by JSenior from Deviantart.

I designed a form-fillable version of the character sheet. Grab a copy and your own copy of BIF! BAM! KAPOW! and give character creation a try!

PS: I didn't write the "Quick Bios" for the characters. I pulled those directly from the splash pages of bronze age comics (late 70's) in my collection. Those and all characters are copyright DC Comics.

  

Join my Facebook Group to discuss this post and anything related to RPG's and geekdom!

Blog Vacation

On a short vacation from the blog as Julie and I prepare for a trip to attend our son's wedding.

Congratulations to two incredible people.