Dedicated superhero gamers and role-playing aficionados won’t want to miss this, because there’s no better way to present Absolute Power than in a stunning two-volume collected set wrapped in a protective slipcase. Both volumes feature vibrant leatherette covers – Book One in red; Book Two in blue – with padded boards and silver foil logo stamping on their covers and spines. The durable slipcase is printed in full colour with the cover illustrations from Books One (the Guard superhero team) and Two (the White Rooks supervillain team) printed on opposite sides. It’s a combined 672 full-colour pages printed on premium glossy paper with durable Smyth-sewn bindings.
The Silver Age has come and gone. Superpowers now bring fear as often as comfort and shades of grey cast the world in shadow, muting the shining colours of yesteryear. Villains have become stronger, and their influence is felt in every nation. The need for heroes is greater than ever. Can you balance superhuman gifts with humility, compassion, and hope? Do you have what it takes to resist the ever-present lure of Absolute Power?
Welcome to the Absolute Power role-playing game – the second edition of 2002’s Silver Age Sentinels RPG. Much has changed in the two decades between editions, from the game mechanic evolution of the Tri-Stat System to the superhero media landscape. Since the dawn of the 21st century, superhero fiction has grown from a popular niche field to become the dominant genre in global entertainment. What has not changed is the heroism that serves as its foundation, regardless of medium.
Absolute Power does not take as strong a position as its predecessor on what heroism looks like, though. The Empire City setting has returned with a greater focus on moral ambiguity and relativism, but our efforts are not intended to disparage the idea of heroics. We did not choose this title to glorify raw might or some concept of necessary corruption. Absolute Power is a warning against the desire to reach for that little bit more power to keep up with those opposed to society’s greater good. All that’s needed is a little more....
Absolute Power Book One: System contains everything you need to create characters across the entire spectrum of superhero power levels, from novice teen wonders to street-level vigilantes to world-renowned metahuman leaders to cosmic godlike entitites. The intuitive and easy-to-learn full Tri-Stat System game engine follows character creation. These rules include everything you need to start playing through superheroic adventures right away, and a bonus chapter details a selection of optional and expanded rules. Book One also includes dozens of pre-built items and gear to equip your characters, a diverse selection of companions, sidekicks, and minions to accompany them, and a comprehensive chapter that explores facets of playing a superheroic character.
Absolute Power Book Two: Essentials provides exquisite setting and genre context for the character creation and game system presented in Book One. This volume opens with an in-depth study of superhero Game Mastering techniques that provides invaluable advice on running dynamic stories at your gaming table. The next several chapters explore the Absolute Power campaign setting, detailing how the Sentinel-Earth world has evolved and changed since the events from 2001 that were detailed in the Silver Age Sentinels RPG timeline. With expanded sections on campaign history, Empire City activities and organisations, Sentinel-Earth geopolitial realities, alternate dimensions, universal cosmology, and extra-planetary civilisations, the Absolute Power setting is waiting to embrace your adventuring ideas. Finally, dozens of diverse canonical heroes, villains, and neutrals across the full power-level spectrum are presented with detailed game stats, backgrounds, and personality profiles.