Simon Burley 🔜 StabCon
@squadronuk.bsky.social
Created/co-wrote Golden Heroes (it’s in Wikipedia). Write/publishes various other TTRPGs on an iPAD in his bedroom. Easing back into my gaming & TTRPG con addiction ATM.
My games:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/721/Simon-Burley-Productions
My games:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/721/Simon-Burley-Productions
And I agree with tactical vs. Narrative. I have wondere what it would be like to play my System Agnostic Superhero campaign - Squadron Rising - originally written for my trad SHRPG Squadron UK with my my trindie, more narrative, system The Comics Code. I see no reason why it shouldn’t work.
December 2, 2025 at 3:01 PM
And I agree with tactical vs. Narrative. I have wondere what it would be like to play my System Agnostic Superhero campaign - Squadron Rising - originally written for my trad SHRPG Squadron UK with my my trindie, more narrative, system The Comics Code. I see no reason why it shouldn’t work.
Not gaming. Some of at work produced a list of “who would play” at work. Eg. The Headteacher would be played by Anthony Hopkins that sort of thing. It rounding out the last few names on the list where I came unstuck.
December 2, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Not gaming. Some of at work produced a list of “who would play” at work. Eg. The Headteacher would be played by Anthony Hopkins that sort of thing. It rounding out the last few names on the list where I came unstuck.
OK. Maybe there’s a debate about lists.
But as someone whose got in trouble for the badly thought out last few things I’ve added at the last minute just to finish a list off - without sufficient thought - I’d say maybe you SHOULD try them all out.
But as someone whose got in trouble for the badly thought out last few things I’ve added at the last minute just to finish a list off - without sufficient thought - I’d say maybe you SHOULD try them all out.
December 2, 2025 at 2:30 PM
OK. Maybe there’s a debate about lists.
But as someone whose got in trouble for the badly thought out last few things I’ve added at the last minute just to finish a list off - without sufficient thought - I’d say maybe you SHOULD try them all out.
But as someone whose got in trouble for the badly thought out last few things I’ve added at the last minute just to finish a list off - without sufficient thought - I’d say maybe you SHOULD try them all out.
Your job is to rescue the Prince from the insurgents holding him in the farmhouse. (Abstract.)
How you play this out will vary immensely from system to system. (Specific.)
How you play this out will vary immensely from system to system. (Specific.)
December 2, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Your job is to rescue the Prince from the insurgents holding him in the farmhouse. (Abstract.)
How you play this out will vary immensely from system to system. (Specific.)
How you play this out will vary immensely from system to system. (Specific.)
I suspect there’s probably a bigger overlap of the Venn diagram circles in our trindie part of the hobby than in the general population.
December 2, 2025 at 8:31 AM
I suspect there’s probably a bigger overlap of the Venn diagram circles in our trindie part of the hobby than in the general population.
That’s why one of my pedantries is to use the term “Multi-genre” rather than “Generic”.
GURPS can handle more than one genre, for example. Multi-genre. It cannot handle EVERY genre.
GURPS can handle more than one genre, for example. Multi-genre. It cannot handle EVERY genre.
December 2, 2025 at 8:29 AM
That’s why one of my pedantries is to use the term “Multi-genre” rather than “Generic”.
GURPS can handle more than one genre, for example. Multi-genre. It cannot handle EVERY genre.
GURPS can handle more than one genre, for example. Multi-genre. It cannot handle EVERY genre.
I agree with you. For the reasons I gave in my thread.
FWIW - to date I’ve sold 85 copies of my system agnostic product - Squadron Rising. For a not insignificant amount of income - enough to fund a couple of visits to conventions to “promote my products”.
(Though I’m still on a loss overall.)
FWIW - to date I’ve sold 85 copies of my system agnostic product - Squadron Rising. For a not insignificant amount of income - enough to fund a couple of visits to conventions to “promote my products”.
(Though I’m still on a loss overall.)
December 2, 2025 at 8:26 AM
I agree with you. For the reasons I gave in my thread.
FWIW - to date I’ve sold 85 copies of my system agnostic product - Squadron Rising. For a not insignificant amount of income - enough to fund a couple of visits to conventions to “promote my products”.
(Though I’m still on a loss overall.)
FWIW - to date I’ve sold 85 copies of my system agnostic product - Squadron Rising. For a not insignificant amount of income - enough to fund a couple of visits to conventions to “promote my products”.
(Though I’m still on a loss overall.)
19
I just think the work is in the creation of the stat blocks, not thinking up the story.
Nothing should be published/sold unless it’s been play-tested. If it’s been playtested the stat blocks must exist so why not publish them?
System agnostic products, Yeah or Nay? Your thoughts?
19/fin
I just think the work is in the creation of the stat blocks, not thinking up the story.
Nothing should be published/sold unless it’s been play-tested. If it’s been playtested the stat blocks must exist so why not publish them?
System agnostic products, Yeah or Nay? Your thoughts?
19/fin
December 2, 2025 at 8:18 AM
19
I just think the work is in the creation of the stat blocks, not thinking up the story.
Nothing should be published/sold unless it’s been play-tested. If it’s been playtested the stat blocks must exist so why not publish them?
System agnostic products, Yeah or Nay? Your thoughts?
19/fin
I just think the work is in the creation of the stat blocks, not thinking up the story.
Nothing should be published/sold unless it’s been play-tested. If it’s been playtested the stat blocks must exist so why not publish them?
System agnostic products, Yeah or Nay? Your thoughts?
19/fin
18
….which contain the same scenarios & campaign plus the SqUK rules at a much lower price. I even suspect some people who already own SqUK may have bought these repackaged version just to support me. Thanks! But let’s never do that again, eh?)
So I’m not completely anti system agnostic stuff.
18
….which contain the same scenarios & campaign plus the SqUK rules at a much lower price. I even suspect some people who already own SqUK may have bought these repackaged version just to support me. Thanks! But let’s never do that again, eh?)
So I’m not completely anti system agnostic stuff.
18
December 2, 2025 at 8:13 AM
18
….which contain the same scenarios & campaign plus the SqUK rules at a much lower price. I even suspect some people who already own SqUK may have bought these repackaged version just to support me. Thanks! But let’s never do that again, eh?)
So I’m not completely anti system agnostic stuff.
18
….which contain the same scenarios & campaign plus the SqUK rules at a much lower price. I even suspect some people who already own SqUK may have bought these repackaged version just to support me. Thanks! But let’s never do that again, eh?)
So I’m not completely anti system agnostic stuff.
18
17
Squadron Rising:
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
Though this was mainly to give me something to do, I do think it’s a worthwhile system agnostic product and it has sold a few copies.
(Let’s put aside that it’s priced far higher than the whole Squadron UK rules….
17
Squadron Rising:
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
Though this was mainly to give me something to do, I do think it’s a worthwhile system agnostic product and it has sold a few copies.
(Let’s put aside that it’s priced far higher than the whole Squadron UK rules….
17
Squadron: Rising - Simon Burley Productions | DriveThruRPG
Squadron: Rising
Tired of one-shot superhero adventures? Want to create a lasting, epic campaign for your players? Look no further!
Squadron: Rising is a guide that takes your heroes from rookie to le...
www.drivethrurpg.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:13 AM
17
Squadron Rising:
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
Though this was mainly to give me something to do, I do think it’s a worthwhile system agnostic product and it has sold a few copies.
(Let’s put aside that it’s priced far higher than the whole Squadron UK rules….
17
Squadron Rising:
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
Though this was mainly to give me something to do, I do think it’s a worthwhile system agnostic product and it has sold a few copies.
(Let’s put aside that it’s priced far higher than the whole Squadron UK rules….
17
16
…..when I was emerging from my post covid hiaitus and not yet able to playtest new material, I chose to repackage the (quite decent - I think - and thoroughly playtested) Superhero campaign outline from Squadron UK - Squadron Birmingham - as a stand-alone system agnostic product.
16
…..when I was emerging from my post covid hiaitus and not yet able to playtest new material, I chose to repackage the (quite decent - I think - and thoroughly playtested) Superhero campaign outline from Squadron UK - Squadron Birmingham - as a stand-alone system agnostic product.
16
December 2, 2025 at 8:13 AM
16
…..when I was emerging from my post covid hiaitus and not yet able to playtest new material, I chose to repackage the (quite decent - I think - and thoroughly playtested) Superhero campaign outline from Squadron UK - Squadron Birmingham - as a stand-alone system agnostic product.
16
…..when I was emerging from my post covid hiaitus and not yet able to playtest new material, I chose to repackage the (quite decent - I think - and thoroughly playtested) Superhero campaign outline from Squadron UK - Squadron Birmingham - as a stand-alone system agnostic product.
16
15
Issue 2 even contained a full team of Heroes - Squadron UK - statted up for the multiple systems to allow authors to refer to those heroes when designing their adventures.
I think we even got a couple of these multi-statted scenarios into White Dwarf.
More recently…..
15
Issue 2 even contained a full team of Heroes - Squadron UK - statted up for the multiple systems to allow authors to refer to those heroes when designing their adventures.
I think we even got a couple of these multi-statted scenarios into White Dwarf.
More recently…..
15
December 2, 2025 at 8:04 AM
15
Issue 2 even contained a full team of Heroes - Squadron UK - statted up for the multiple systems to allow authors to refer to those heroes when designing their adventures.
I think we even got a couple of these multi-statted scenarios into White Dwarf.
More recently…..
15
Issue 2 even contained a full team of Heroes - Squadron UK - statted up for the multiple systems to allow authors to refer to those heroes when designing their adventures.
I think we even got a couple of these multi-statted scenarios into White Dwarf.
More recently…..
15
14
- stripped out the GH stats and forwarded them to a group of experts in the various systems. They added stats for the systems they were specialists in and I published a fanzine called Superhero UK which contained the adventure plus stats for the multiple systems.
14
- stripped out the GH stats and forwarded them to a group of experts in the various systems. They added stats for the systems they were specialists in and I published a fanzine called Superhero UK which contained the adventure plus stats for the multiple systems.
14
December 2, 2025 at 8:04 AM
14
- stripped out the GH stats and forwarded them to a group of experts in the various systems. They added stats for the systems they were specialists in and I published a fanzine called Superhero UK which contained the adventure plus stats for the multiple systems.
14
- stripped out the GH stats and forwarded them to a group of experts in the various systems. They added stats for the systems they were specialists in and I published a fanzine called Superhero UK which contained the adventure plus stats for the multiple systems.
14
13
…after the publication of the first unsuccessful attempts to produce Superhero RPGs - Superhero 2044 and (I’m sorry Jeff Dee) 1st Ed V&V - suddenly there was a flood wave of SHRPGS. Golden Heroes, MSH, Champions, Superworld etc.
So I took my scenarios - which I had played and tested -
13
…after the publication of the first unsuccessful attempts to produce Superhero RPGs - Superhero 2044 and (I’m sorry Jeff Dee) 1st Ed V&V - suddenly there was a flood wave of SHRPGS. Golden Heroes, MSH, Champions, Superworld etc.
So I took my scenarios - which I had played and tested -
13
December 2, 2025 at 8:04 AM
13
…after the publication of the first unsuccessful attempts to produce Superhero RPGs - Superhero 2044 and (I’m sorry Jeff Dee) 1st Ed V&V - suddenly there was a flood wave of SHRPGS. Golden Heroes, MSH, Champions, Superworld etc.
So I took my scenarios - which I had played and tested -
13
…after the publication of the first unsuccessful attempts to produce Superhero RPGs - Superhero 2044 and (I’m sorry Jeff Dee) 1st Ed V&V - suddenly there was a flood wave of SHRPGS. Golden Heroes, MSH, Champions, Superworld etc.
So I took my scenarios - which I had played and tested -
13
12
Don’t tell me that you’ve run adventures in every part of your world from the 4-armed Trolls is the Northern wastes to the Vapour-wraiths in the South.
I’ve done this a couple of times in a couple of ways for different reasons.
In the early 1980’s following a short gestation period…
12
Don’t tell me that you’ve run adventures in every part of your world from the 4-armed Trolls is the Northern wastes to the Vapour-wraiths in the South.
I’ve done this a couple of times in a couple of ways for different reasons.
In the early 1980’s following a short gestation period…
12
December 2, 2025 at 7:56 AM
12
Don’t tell me that you’ve run adventures in every part of your world from the 4-armed Trolls is the Northern wastes to the Vapour-wraiths in the South.
I’ve done this a couple of times in a couple of ways for different reasons.
In the early 1980’s following a short gestation period…
12
Don’t tell me that you’ve run adventures in every part of your world from the 4-armed Trolls is the Northern wastes to the Vapour-wraiths in the South.
I’ve done this a couple of times in a couple of ways for different reasons.
In the early 1980’s following a short gestation period…
12
11
At the product has been play-tested.
Then there’s the type of author who has a good idea but can’t be arsed to put in the work to write, develop and refine the stats blocks and actually play and test their idea.
I have no time for this type of author. But they’re out there.
11
At the product has been play-tested.
Then there’s the type of author who has a good idea but can’t be arsed to put in the work to write, develop and refine the stats blocks and actually play and test their idea.
I have no time for this type of author. But they’re out there.
11
December 2, 2025 at 7:56 AM
11
At the product has been play-tested.
Then there’s the type of author who has a good idea but can’t be arsed to put in the work to write, develop and refine the stats blocks and actually play and test their idea.
I have no time for this type of author. But they’re out there.
11
At the product has been play-tested.
Then there’s the type of author who has a good idea but can’t be arsed to put in the work to write, develop and refine the stats blocks and actually play and test their idea.
I have no time for this type of author. But they’re out there.
11
10
Again, I think there are two types.
There are those who created the product for a specific game system. USED the product in their games. And then stripped out the game specific stuff to publish a system agnostic version.
I’ve done that. I don’t know about you but I find that acceptable.
10
Again, I think there are two types.
There are those who created the product for a specific game system. USED the product in their games. And then stripped out the game specific stuff to publish a system agnostic version.
I’ve done that. I don’t know about you but I find that acceptable.
10
December 2, 2025 at 7:50 AM
10
Again, I think there are two types.
There are those who created the product for a specific game system. USED the product in their games. And then stripped out the game specific stuff to publish a system agnostic version.
I’ve done that. I don’t know about you but I find that acceptable.
10
Again, I think there are two types.
There are those who created the product for a specific game system. USED the product in their games. And then stripped out the game specific stuff to publish a system agnostic version.
I’ve done that. I don’t know about you but I find that acceptable.
10
9
And not all adventures are simple story & encounter. Hopefully they’ll include some unique situations - finding the parts of a wand & having to assemble it in an avalanche - where even the most expert Referee would benefit from seeing how another would handle things.
As to writers/creators.
9
And not all adventures are simple story & encounter. Hopefully they’ll include some unique situations - finding the parts of a wand & having to assemble it in an avalanche - where even the most expert Referee would benefit from seeing how another would handle things.
As to writers/creators.
9
December 2, 2025 at 7:47 AM
9
And not all adventures are simple story & encounter. Hopefully they’ll include some unique situations - finding the parts of a wand & having to assemble it in an avalanche - where even the most expert Referee would benefit from seeing how another would handle things.
As to writers/creators.
9
And not all adventures are simple story & encounter. Hopefully they’ll include some unique situations - finding the parts of a wand & having to assemble it in an avalanche - where even the most expert Referee would benefit from seeing how another would handle things.
As to writers/creators.
9
8
Other people, though, (I’d say MOST) would probably need to go through their rulebook and write out their own stat blocks for the encounters before play. Newer Referees or Referees or play multiple systems. These people would benefit more from having a system specific product.
8
Other people, though, (I’d say MOST) would probably need to go through their rulebook and write out their own stat blocks for the encounters before play. Newer Referees or Referees or play multiple systems. These people would benefit more from having a system specific product.
8
December 2, 2025 at 7:47 AM
8
Other people, though, (I’d say MOST) would probably need to go through their rulebook and write out their own stat blocks for the encounters before play. Newer Referees or Referees or play multiple systems. These people would benefit more from having a system specific product.
8
Other people, though, (I’d say MOST) would probably need to go through their rulebook and write out their own stat blocks for the encounters before play. Newer Referees or Referees or play multiple systems. These people would benefit more from having a system specific product.
8
7
This kind of person can run sandbox type campaigns and even “busk” scenarios on the fly. They could pick up a system agnostic adventure and run it for their game with ease.
Why would they need to product? Well maybe they’re finding they’re repeating themselves and use need some new ideas?
7
This kind of person can run sandbox type campaigns and even “busk” scenarios on the fly. They could pick up a system agnostic adventure and run it for their game with ease.
Why would they need to product? Well maybe they’re finding they’re repeating themselves and use need some new ideas?
7
December 2, 2025 at 7:47 AM
7
This kind of person can run sandbox type campaigns and even “busk” scenarios on the fly. They could pick up a system agnostic adventure and run it for their game with ease.
Why would they need to product? Well maybe they’re finding they’re repeating themselves and use need some new ideas?
7
This kind of person can run sandbox type campaigns and even “busk” scenarios on the fly. They could pick up a system agnostic adventure and run it for their game with ease.
Why would they need to product? Well maybe they’re finding they’re repeating themselves and use need some new ideas?
7
6
….bespoke art (multiple pictures of the “4-armed Ice-Trolls of the Northern Steppes”) then maybe I can get some use out of them.
Which brings me to the type of user.
Some people know their preferred system backwards. They’ve got hundreds of stat bocks in their head or know where grab them.
6
….bespoke art (multiple pictures of the “4-armed Ice-Trolls of the Northern Steppes”) then maybe I can get some use out of them.
Which brings me to the type of user.
Some people know their preferred system backwards. They’ve got hundreds of stat bocks in their head or know where grab them.
6
December 2, 2025 at 7:38 AM
6
….bespoke art (multiple pictures of the “4-armed Ice-Trolls of the Northern Steppes”) then maybe I can get some use out of them.
Which brings me to the type of user.
Some people know their preferred system backwards. They’ve got hundreds of stat bocks in their head or know where grab them.
6
….bespoke art (multiple pictures of the “4-armed Ice-Trolls of the Northern Steppes”) then maybe I can get some use out of them.
Which brings me to the type of user.
Some people know their preferred system backwards. They’ve got hundreds of stat bocks in their head or know where grab them.
6