Hero System Resources - Product Types

Product Types

Publishers and gamers classify HERO System products into a few types of books:

• Rulebook: Provides some version of the HERO System rules engine.
• Rules Supplement: Provides new or optional rules (for the game system as a whole, or a particular setting), but not the core rules engine itself.
• Genre Book: Covers creating and running games in a particular genre using the HERO System.
• Subgenre Book: Like a Genre Book, but focusing on a narrower segment of the full genre.
• Campaign Setting: Describes a fictional world and/or provides parameters for a campaign.
• Setting Expansion: Offers more detail on an existing Campaign Setting, such as detailing a single city or country within a larger fictional world.
• Creature Book: Describes general monsters, animals, or similar classes of characters. For example, it might include "demons" or "vampires," but not a specific demon or vampire.
• Enemies Book: Details specific adversaries for use in adventures (villains & villain teams, individually named monsters and antagonists, etc.).
• Characters Book: Contains specific characters (like an Enemies Book), but not necessarily adversaries (allies, supporting characters, etc.).
• Organization Book: Details the structure and workings of one or more organizations (companies, agencies, criminal empires, and so on).
• Adventure Book: Outlines one or more pre-prepared adventure scenarios.
• Powers Book: Offers pre-defined powers, spells, or the like.
• Equipment Book: Details pre-defined gear of one or more kinds.
• Playing Aid: Game-assistance material such as GM screens.