Character Generation

Three Types of Character

The Advanced Set recognizes three character types:

• Pregenerated characters — based on Marvel Universe characters, used directly from the character cards.
• Generated characters — created by the player using these rules.
• Modeled characters — Marvel Universe characters without "official" TSR stats; modeled by the player from the same rules.

Once play begins, the type label has no mechanical effect. This page covers generated character creation.

Step 1: Determine Origin

Either choose an origin or roll d% on the table below. If you roll, you must take what comes up — no second thoughts.

Per-Origin Rules

Altered Humans

Everyday people accidentally or purposefully exposed to weird radiation, secret formulas, or chose to be instructed in strange and powerful talents.

• Roll Column 1 of the Random Ranks Table for primary abilities.
• May raise ONE primary ability by one rank after rolling.

Mutants

Homo Superior — abilities the result of mutation rather than incident.

• Roll Column 1 of the Random Ranks Table.
• Endurance is raised by one rank (the mutant template advantage).
• Resources reduced by one rank (society discriminates).
• Initial Popularity reduced by 5 (additional −5 if hero is generally unpopular — a player may choose this).

High-Tech Heroes

Powers derive from equipment — mystical or technological.

• Roll Column 3 of the Random Ranks Table.
• Initial Reason is raised by TWO ranks.
• Initial Resources are set at Good, or roll on the modifier table (player's choice).
• MUST have at least one Contact, declared before play begins. Represents the organization the hero works for (or owns if Resources are high enough).
• At least one Talent chosen by the player must be Scientific or Professional in nature.
• If Body Armor is chosen as a Power, the hero may combine ALL Powers into a single battlesuit (the Iron Man option).
• Powers cannot be used without the equipment.

Robots

Artificially-created sentient beings — organic constructs, clones, life-module decoys, mystically-powered golems, synthezoids, androids, and robots.

• Roll Column 4 of the Random Ranks Table.
• Popularity is reduced to 0 (robots have a hard time being accepted by the populace).
• No further penalty regarding earning Popularity going forward.
• All robots may heal normally — simulates internal repair functions.
• NO Karma loss for killing a robot or allowing one to be deactivated.
• A "dead" robot may be REACTIVATED by outside forces (see Damage).

Aliens

Beings from other planets, dimensions, or unknown races of man — including Homo Mermanus (not Homo Superior), Asgardians, Atlanteans, etc.

• Roll Column 5 of the Random Ranks Table.
• Powers may be natural OR from carried Equipment. Player MUST declare which Powers are inborn to the race vs. external.
• Aliens gain ONE FEWER Power than normal (minimum 2).
• Starting Resources are set at Poor.
• Alien starts with ONE Contact maximum, usually their home race, dimension, or people.
• Aliens who don't choose race as a Contact are considered outcasts — usually hunted by others of their kind.

Step 2: Generate Primary Abilities (Random Ranks Table)

Roll d% for each of F/A/S/E/R/I/P, using the column for your origin.

"Initial #" is the minimum rank number for that rank (used by generated characters). Pregenerated characters in the Marvel Universe have higher rank numbers within each rank because they've been improving over time — Spider-Man has Remarkable Fighting (30), a new Remarkable hero would start at 26.

Ability Modifier Table (Applied After Origin Roll)

Used for the one allowed bonus modification per origin (Altered Humans pick one; Hi-Tech raises Reason +2; Mutants raise Endurance +1; Robots roll once). The bonus is rolled on this table:

Unless noted otherwise, no ability may be modified below Feeble or above Monstrous at character creation.

Step 3: Generate Secondary Abilities

• Health = sum of initial F + A + S + E rank numbers.
• Karma = sum of initial R + I + P rank numbers.
• Resources — start at Typical (or Poor for Aliens, or Good for Hi-Tech if chosen). Roll on the Ability Modifier Table to adjust. Mutants reduce one rank.
• Popularity — start at 10 for most heroes, 0 for mutants and robots. Reduce by 5 if hero is generally unpopular (player choice — aliens/mutants/ugly are common reasons).

Secret IDs

The player chooses whether the character has a Secret ID. Secret IDs are optional — the Fantastic Four have long survived without them.

• A character with a Secret ID has two Popularity entries: one for the costumed identity, one for the everyday "secret" ID. Both start at the same level. They drift apart based on which identity does what.
• Karma is NOT split between identities.
• Health, inborn Powers, and Talents are NOT split.
• Contacts MAY be split between identities (Peter Parker has Bugle contacts; Spider-Man has the Avengers and Daredevil).
• A Secret ID may never start with negative Popularity.

Step 4: Generate Powers, Talents, Contacts

Roll d% three times (once each) on the table below. Each row lists Powers/Talents/Contacts in the form X/Y — base number / maximum number.

The number BEFORE the slash = the base number. The number AFTER the slash = the maximum. A character may "purchase" up to the max by reducing starting Resources (see below).

Buying Up Powers, Talents, Contacts (Resource Trade)

After determining base numbers (and BEFORE choosing specific Powers/Talents/Contacts), a character may purchase additional ones by reducing initial Resources. These reductions are permanent.

• Each additional Talent or Contact: −1 rank to Resources.
• Each additional Power: −2 ranks to Resources.
• Floor: Resources cannot be reduced below Feeble.
• Mutants always start with Resources reduced by 1 rank (cumulative).

Step 5: Choose Specific Powers (Roll on Ultimate Powers Table)

For each Power, roll d% on the Ultimate Powers Table to determine which CATEGORY the power falls in, then roll within that category for the specific power. See Powers for the full 461-entry list.

Each chosen power gets a power rank — roll on the Random Ranks Table column appropriate to the origin.

Some powers marked with an asterisk are SPECIAL — they count as TWO Powers from the character's allotment.

Step 6: Choose Talents & Contacts

Talents may be chosen or rolled from the Ultimate Talents List. Each Talent gives a +1CS bonus on FEAT rolls within its area.

Contacts are chosen narratively — they are people, organizations, or groups the hero has standing relationships with. Each Contact has an associated rank that determines the level of resources/influence available through them.

Step 7: Personal Details

Fill in the narrative:

• Hero name, age, real identity
• Personality, occupation, base of operations
• Family, friends, romantic relationships
• Costume description
• Personal goals and quirks

Example: Altered Human Generation (from the Players Book)

Player rolls primary abilities on Column 1:

• Fighting (roll 36): Good (8) → raised one rank to Excellent (16)
• Agility (roll 12): Typical (5)
• Strength (roll 07): Poor (3)
• Endurance (roll 38): Good (8)
• Reason (roll 45): Excellent (16)
• Intuition (roll 67): Remarkable (26)
• Psyche (roll 72): Remarkable (26)

Health = 16 + 5 + 3 + 8 = 32 · Karma = 16 + 26 + 26 = 68 · Resources Typical(5) · Popularity 20.

Advancement

Once play begins, Karma is the mechanism by which the character grows. See Karma → Advancement for the full canonical cost table (Ability rank up = 10× current rank number, +400 Cresting; New Power = 3,000 + 40× starting rank number; new Talent 1,000-2,000; etc.).