Below are the guidelines for all creators who wish to be involved with the Hall of Champions.
Versions Of The Hero System And Champions
There are currently five versions of the Hero System or Champions which Hero Games has or will publish that are available for your use. All of these variants are available for you to use as part of Hall of Champions, though you do not have permission to reprint any of the core rules from any version under the community content license. All products created with a specific version of the Hero System/Champions rules must be specifically labeled as such in their title on DriveThruRPG: for example, Super Hero Product (4th Edition), Super Villain Product (Champions Classic), and Fantasy Hero Product (6th Edition).
Additionally, examples of material for all of them are or will be available through DriveThruRPG. In most cases every product for a particular version ever published is available through DriveThruRPG (they number in the hundreds). They are as follows in chronological order of publication and including the listed core books which may be of use to you:
Champions Classic (Champions editions 1, 2, & 3): Champions: The Super Hero Roleplaying Game (1st Edition), Enemies (1st Edition), Champions: The Super Hero Roleplaying Game (2nd Edition), Champions II The Super Supplement (2nd Edition), Champions III Another Super Supplement (2nd Edition), Champions: The Super Hero Roleplaying Game (3rd Edition), Star Hero (3rd Edition), Fantasy Hero (3rd Edition)
Fourth Edition: Champions: The Super Role Playing Game (4th Edition), Hero System Rules Book 4th Edition (4th Edition), Fantasy Hero (4th Edition), Western Hero (4th Edition), Horror Hero (4th Edition)
Fifth Edition: Hero System 5th Edition Revised, Hero System Equipment Guide (5th Edition), Champions (5th Edition), Fantasy Hero (5th Edition), Dark Champions (5th Edition), Pulp Hero (5th Edition), and Star Hero (5th Edition)
Sixth Edition: Hero System 6th Edition: Character Creation (6th Edition), Hero System 6th Edition: Combat & Adventuring (6th Edition), Hero System Equipment Guide (6th Edition), Hero System Grimoire (6th Edition), Hero System Skills (6th Edition), Champions (6th Edition), Champions Powers (6th Edition), Star Hero (6th Edition), Fantasy Hero (6th Edition), Champions Complete (6th Edition), Fantasy Hero Complete (6th Edition)
Champions Now: Champions Now
Settings Available For Content Creation
There are a variety of different exciting proprietary settings available for you to create content for. If you create original content derived from the Champions Universe Timeline (to be described below), that original content belongs either to Hero Games or Cryptic Studios. We have the rights to sell the work, and we also have the rights to its contents for future works. But if you are publishing original work, we have the right to sell the work as created for the Hero System, but you retain the rights to the contents. So, for example, if you wish to release twenty pages of non-setting specific supervillains for both Champions and Mutants & Masterminds, we don't claim those villains as our property: only the rights to sell the Hero System version of the work.
Additionally, Hero Games does not claim ownership of any artwork you have commissioned. We claim the right to use it, both in the work you've uploaded into Hall of Champions and possibly for future Hero Games projects; but that's not the same as ownership. We don't have the right (for example) to sell it to anyone, or use it for any other purpose. That would all be reserved to you.
Besides the modern Champions Universe itself, the Champions Universe Timeline created by Darren Watts and Steve Long details several other settings which you may create community content for. The Champions Universe Timeline includes (but is not restricted to):
The Turakian Age
The Atlantean Age
The Valdorean Age
Western Hero
Victorian Hero
Horror Hero
Pulp Hero
Golden Age Champions
Champions Universe
Dark Champions
Lucha Libre Hero
Cyber Hero
Solar Hero
Alien Wars
Terran Empire
Galactic Champions
The Champions Universe: You may create additional content for the modern Champions Universe as described in a variety of books published for Champions 5th and 6th edition (But not earlier editions). This is the Champions Universe as a superhero setting, beginning roughly in the 1930’s and ending in the 2020’s. For additional information, please see the Champions Universe Timeline. It also includes the Dark Champions setting. All works created using the Champions Universe ultimately belong to Cyptic Studios, who may redact or use them in any manner they choose.
Lucha Libre Hero: You may create additional content for the Mexico City Lucha Libre Hero setting as described in Lucha Libre Hero. This settings begins roughly in the 1930’s and ends in the 2020’s. For additional information, please see Lucha Libre Hero. All works created using the Lucha Libre Hero setting ultimately belong to Jason Walters, who may redact or use them in any manner he chooses.
What Types Of Content Can I Create?
The following types of content may be submitted as part of Hall of Champions.
Custom Settings: Do you have a homebrew Champions or Hero System setting you would like to share with others? Feel free to do so using Hall of Champions and let others experience the wonder and creativity of the world you’ve created!
Proprietary Settings: Expand upon the Champions Universe Timeline by providing new characters and setting information, or by expanding upon existing or little-detailed information from our books.
Equipment: Share your gadgets, vehicles, weapons, robots, bases, and other artifacts you’ve created with other fans using the Hero System.
Characters: Now you can sell the villains, monsters, gods, animals, and heroes you’ve cleverly created!
Powers: The Hero System is well-known for its ability to create highly customized powers. Sell your customized powers and spells to others!
Adventures/Scenarios: Whats the since of having a character if they have nothing to do? Create adventures and scenarios for the Hero System!
Hero Designer Character Packs: Have some useful HDC and HDP files you’ve created using Hero Designer? Sell them using Hall of Champions!
What Types Of Content Are Forbidden Or Restricted?
The following types of material cannot be published as part of Hall of Champions, or whose use is restricted. If you wish to publish this type of content as part of the program, please contact Hero Games directly to inquire about specific permission for an individual project.
Core Rules: There can be no reproduction of any part of the core rules from any edition of the Hero System or Champions as part of Hall of Champions. You have permission to create content using these rules, not reproduce them! However, with special, individual permission from Hero Games, you may be granted permission to include the core rules set specifically as a Hall of Champions product. If this permission is granted by Hero Games, it must be clear in the product’s opening text that the rules are copyrighted by Hero Games and used with our permission. Additionally, products created with our permission using the core rules may only be sold or distributed in any manner through our Hall of Champions DriveThruRPG community content program.
Note: products created using Hero System or Champions core rules are, by definition, using Hero Games intellectual property, and are thus considered to be property of Hero Games or Cryptic Studios.
Champions Universe Timeline Genre Books: There are many genre books listed as parts of the Champions Universe Timeline that have either not been written yet (for example, Solar Hero), or have not been released as part of the modern Champions Universe Timeline (for example, Western Hero). While it is permissible to create content for these periods on the timeline – for example, a selection of spaceships for Solar Hero or Native American characters for Western Hero – there can be no release of Champions Universe Timeline genre books as part of Hall of Champions without specific, individual project permission from Hero Games.
Rules Variants: You do not have permission to publish your own house rules, optional rules, or variants of the Hero System for use with products that utilize settings or intellectual property belonging to Hero Games or Cryptic Studios. House, optional, and variant rules ARE permitted for products utilizing settings and intellectual property belonging to the creator, so long as those rules are clearly explained at the beginning of the product in bold (though after the credits and copyright text) under the heading HERO SYSTEM RULES CHANGES.
Upgrades/Downgrades: You do not have permission to release earlier editions of characters as newer editions of characters, or vice versa. If you wish to publish this type of content, please contact Hero Games directly for permission.
Previously Published Stat Blocks: You may copy product stat blocks from other Hero Games products with our specific permission on a project-by-project basis. Without specific permission, however, you are forbidden from doing so. Please also make it clear in the opening text that the stat blocks are copyrighted by Hero Games, used with our permission, and which product they have been copied from. Also, products created using previously published Hero Games stat blocks are, by definition, using Hero Games intellectual property, and are thus considered to be property of Hero Games or Cryptic Studios.
Other People’s IP: You do not have permission (or we reserve the right) to release work based on the intellectual property of other people or companies as part of Hall of Champions. If you wish to for example show other fans your Champions 6th Edition write up of DC Comic’s character Green Lantern, please do so FOR FREE on the Hero Games website forums (https://www.herogames.com/forums/) or in some other location. But not here!
Hero Games Images and Artwork: You may use images and artwork from existing Hero Games products. However, make it clear in the opening text that they are the property of Hero Games, used with our permission, and which product they have been copied from.
Note: If you wish to use your own logo as well, it should be placed next to the Hero Games Hall of Champions logo on the lower right hand corner of the cover image.
What Are The Terms of Payment For My Work?
For your work published through the Hall of Champions DriveThruRPG community content program, you will receive 50% of sales, while 20% will go to Hero Games and 30% will go to DriveThruRPG.
You will be able to withdraw your accumulated royalties via PayPal by going to the My Money section of your DriveThru Account page. (Note that the My Money section of your Account page will not display until you have a balance accrued.) There is a $2 fee to cover the cost of each withdrawal, but you will pay no other fees, either to DriveThruRPG or to PayPal, to receive your money.
DriveThruRPG pays royalties only via PayPal. Creating a PayPal account is free and easy, and in most countries, you can connect your PayPal account to your bank account and transfer money from PayPal to your bank in a few business days.
The ideal fixed price varies with the length of your title and its quality of writing, art, and design. Based on historic data from DriveThruRPG sales for PDFs, the most successful price points are $1.00, $2.00, $2.95, $3.95, $4.99, $7.95, $10.00, $14.95, and $19.99.
What Writer's Guidelines Can You Offer?
1) Write a good RPG product. A fun one. An unusual one. The kind that, if you purchased it yourself, you would feel like you got a good deal.
2) Make it look cool. Awesome. Professional, quirky, sleek, or punk rock. It really doesn't matter. Make something you would feel proud to have in your own digital library.
3) Craft it so that a parent who purchases it for their clever and beloved 12-year-old child will feel comfortable.
4) Have an editor check your grammar and spelling. Have an expert Hero gamer check your write ups. (Maybe you're one or both of these things yourself.)
5) Don't have artwork that is or borders on the pornographic. Women like to buy games too! In fact, they are the fastest growing demographic in RPG gaming. So don’t be a slob.
What Legal Stuff Is Required For Publication?
All Hero System/Champions creations published in the community content program must contain the Hero Games Hall of Champions logo on the lower right hand corner of its cover image. It must also contain the Copyright Text listed below.
Copyright Text:
HERO SystemTM ® is DOJ, Inc.’s trademark for its roleplaying system.
HERO System Copyright © 1984, 1989, 2002, 2009 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved.
Fantasy Hero © 2003, 2010 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved.
Star Hero © 2003, 2011 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved.
All DOJ trademarks and copyrights used with permission.
For further information about Hero Games and the HERO System, visit www.herogames.com.
Note: If you wish to use your own logo as well, it should be placed next to the Hero Games Hall of Champions logo on the lower right hand corner of the cover image.
What Are The Terms of Payment For My Work?
For your work published through the Hall of Champions DriveThruRPG community content program, you will receive 50% of sales, while 20% will go to Hero Games and 30% will go to DriveThruRPG.
You will be able to withdraw your accumulated royalties via PayPal by going to the My Money section of your DriveThru Account page. (Note that the My Money section of your Account page will not display until you have a balance accrued.) There is a $2 fee to cover the cost of each withdrawal, but you will pay no other fees, either to DriveThruRPG or to PayPal, to receive your money.
DriveThruRPG pays royalties only via PayPal. Creating a PayPal account is free and easy, and in most countries, you can connect your PayPal account to your bank account and transfer money from PayPal to your bank in a few business days.
The ideal fixed price varies with the length of your title and its quality of writing, art, and design. Based on historic data from DriveThruRPG sales for PDFs, the most successful price points are $1.00, $2.00, $2.95, $3.95, $4.99, $7.95, $10.00, $14.95, and $19.99.