History TabletopGame / MutantsAndMasterminds

** UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks: The game assumes a default setting of the present, but there is a sourcebook dealing with this era.

** UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks: Another "historic supers" setting, sharing a sourcebook with UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks.

* AlternateCompanyEquivalent / CaptainErsatz / {{Expy}}: The default setting, {{Freedom City}}, is filled to overflowing with these. Players would be hard-pressed to create a character who ''isn't'' very similar to one or more existing comic book superheroes. And [[TropesAreNotBad that isn't a bad thing]].

* TheVerse: FreedomCity is the default setting and "{{Superhero}}es" is the default genre, but the system works for [[UniversalSystem just about anything]]. A few 2E supplements, like ''Mecha and Manga'' and ''Warriors and Warlocks'', for instance, provide new rules (and general guidance) for using the system for anime/manga and fantasy style games respectively.

The FreedomCity [[TheVerse 'verse]] is the default setting for ''M&M'' (and the place for FC-specific tropes).

* HitPoints: {{Averted}} completely and replaced by damage saving throws. Characters are knocked out/killed by failing the save by a large enough margin, and narrower failures penalize subsequent saves until the character is healed, making this gradually more likely. At least in earlier editions, they are available as an official optional rule.

* TheVerse: FreedomCity is the default setting and "{{Superhero}}es" is the default genre, but the system works for [[UniversalSystem just about anything]].

* KickThemWhileTheyAreDown: In the third edition, this is the only way anyone can die. Characters only move to "Dying" status after failing a resistance check against damage after already being incapacitated. After ''that'', they still only die if they accumulate three or more degrees of failure on a DC 15 Fortitude check, or get finished off ''again'' by another source of damage they fail to resist. Thus, barring GM fiat, in order to kill a anything, one would have to first incapacitate it, then "finish it off" with yet another attack, and then finish it off '''again''' to complete the job - [[PaddedSumoGameplay even if the target is a gerbil and the attack is a planet-destroying superweapon]].

* HitPoints: {{Averted}} completely and replaced by damage saving throws. Characters are knocked out/killed by failing the save by a large enough margin, and narrower failures penalize subsequent saves until the character is healed, making this gradually more likely.

* FantasyKitchenSink: The superhero universes this game is based off of tend to be this way, so the rules support the necessary flexibility to build anything from [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]] to [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs dinosaurs]] to [[InstantAwesomeJustAddNinja ninjas]] to [[LordOfTheRings ringwraiths]].

* RandomNumberGod: The game uses the roll of a single 20-sided die and the application of static bonuses to resolve ''everything''.

* KickThemWhileTheyAreDown: In the third edition, this is the only way anyone can die. Characters only move to "Dying" status after failing a resistance check against damage after already being incapacitated. After ''that'', they still only die if they accumulate three or more degrees of failure on a DC 15 Fortitude check, or get finished off ''again'' by another source of damage they fail to resist. Thus, barring GM fiat, a group of gerbils will only be incapacitated by a nuclear explosion in the same room, until and unless debris/fire/radiation harms them further - at which point they still won't die immediately.

A tabletop RPG from Creator/GreenRonin Publishing, ''{{Mutants}} [[MagicAmpersand &]] [[DiabolicalMastermind Masterminds]]'', also known as ''[[FanNickname M&M]]'', describes itself as "The World's Greatest [[SuperHero Superhero]] [[TabletopGames Role-Playing Game]]." DCComics sure seemed to think so. The game uses a heavily modified version[[note]]So heavily modified that it is now legally ''not'' a version[[/note]] of the TabletopGame/D20System from ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]]'', and its [[PointBuildSystem point-buy character creation system]] is designed to allow players to create just about any character they can think of. In fact, the "Roll Call" section of [[http://www.atomicthinktank.com the Atomic Think Tank]], the official ''Mutants & Masterminds'' forum, contains fan-submitted stats for [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny pretty much every fictional character that's ever existed]], from Comicbook/{{Superman}} to ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' to [[ScoobyDoo Shaggy Rogers]][[note]]Even JustForFun/TropeTan[[/note]].

Creator/GreenRonin has recently published ''DC Adventures'', a licensed [[TabletopGames RPG]] based on TheDCU and using the 3rd edition of the ''M&M'' rules.

* GameSystem: A derivative of the d20 mechanic from [=D&D3E=], though with a completely different character creation system (a PointBuildSystem instead of a ClassAndLevelSystem).

* DamageTyping: "Lethal" and "Nonlethal." Under the default rules, all damage is assumed to be the latter unless specifically stated otherwise, but all attacks can inflict either type.

* KickThemWhileTheyAreDown: In the third edition, this is the only way anyone can die. Characters only move to "Dying" status after failing a resistance check against damage after already being incapacitated. After ''that'', they still only die if they accumulate three or more degrees of failure on a DC 15 Fortitude check, or get finished off ''again'' by another source of damage they fail to resist.

* NonLethalKO: Even with super-strength, no matter how high the damage, the worst that can happen to a target is being [=KOed=] when using non-lethal damage.

** In addition, canonically, heroes receive 1-2PP per arc of the adventure and every 10-20PP, gain a new PowerLevel. Each Power Level essentially doubles your power.

* CharacterLevel: "Power Level" (not to be confused with PowerLevels), though they don't mean quite the same thing as in other [[TabletopGame/D20System d20-derived]] games. "Power Points" are what actually increase your character's abilities -- Power Level only restrict how you can spend your points (e.g., the total amount of damage you do per attack cannot exceed your power level without trading off from your attack bonus).

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/grr5510e_mutantsandmastermindsthirdeditiondeluxeheroeshandbook_1_1024x1024.jpg]]

* CompetitiveBalance: The tradeoff mechanic allows for characters of the same Power Level to perform differently, sacrificing, for example, accuracy for damage, or vice versa, allowing different character archetypes:
** FragileSpeedster: A character who sacrifices toughness for defense, and/or damage for accuracy.
** GlassCannon / SquishyWizard / StoneWall: Mostly [[AvertedTrope averted]]. The overwhelming majority of M&M character builds have equivalent offensive and defensive ability, or at least have relatively small tradeoffs compared to Power Level.
** LightningBruiser: Speed is not considered to be part of the tradeoff system, so it's not difficult to have a very fast hero who also hits hard.
** JackOfAllStats: A default character, with no tradeoffs between accuracy and damage or defense and resistance.
** MightyGlacier: A character who sacrifices defense for resistance, and/or accuracy for damage.
** PowerfulButInaccurate: Swapping accuracy for damage.

* CompetitiveBalance: The tradeoff mechanic allows for characters of the same Power Level to perform differently, sacrificing, for example, accuracy for damage, or vice versa.

** FragileSpeedster: A character who sacrifices toughness for defense, and/or damage for accuracy.
** GlassCannon / SquishyWizard / StoneWall: Mostly [[AvertedTrope averted]]. The overwhelming majority of M&M character builds have equivalent offensive and defensive ability, or at least have relatively small tradeoffs compared to Power Level.
** LightningBruiser: Speed is not considered to be part of the tradeoff system, so it's not difficult to have a very fast hero who also hits hard.
** JackOfAllStats: A default character, with no tradeoffs between accuracy and damage or defense and resistance.
** MightyGlacier: A character who sacrifices defense for resistance, and/or accuracy for damage.
** PowerfulButInaccurate: Swapping accuracy for damage.

* PlayByPostGames: There are several on the Internet, hosted on both the official M&M forums and third-party sites. FreedomCityPlayByPost is the [[ShamelessSelfPromotion largest, most active, and longest-running]].

** UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks: This is one of several "historic supers" settings, sharing a sourcebook with TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks.
** [[TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks The Iron Age Of Comic Books]]: The game assumes a default setting of the present, but there is a sourcebook dealing with this era.
** TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks: The game assumes a default setting of the present, but there is a sourcebook dealing with this era.
** TheModernAgeOfComicBooks: The tone and setting assumed by default for the game. A modern day supers [[TheVerse 'verse]] where the DarkerAndEdgier excesses of the [[TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks Iron Age]] are over, and there's a bit of [[TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] idealism returning to the world.
** TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks: Another "historic supers" setting, sharing a sourcebook with UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks.

** TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks: This is one of several "historic supers" settings, sharing a sourcebook with TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks.

** TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks: Another "historic supers" setting, sharing a sourcebook with TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks.

A tabletop RPG from Creator/GreenRonin Publishing, ''{{Mutants}} [[MagicAmpersand &]] [[DiabolicalMastermind Masterminds]]'', also known as ''[[FanNickname M&M]]'', describes itself as "The World's Greatest [[SuperHero Superhero]] [[TabletopGames Role-Playing Game]]." DCComics sure seemed to think so. The game uses a heavily modified version[[note]]So heavily modified that it is now legally ''not'' a version[[/note]] of the TabletopGame/D20System from ''[[DungeonsAndDragons Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]]'', and its [[PointBuildSystem point-buy character creation system]] is designed to allow players to create just about any character they can think of. In fact, the "Roll Call" section of [[http://www.atomicthinktank.com the Atomic Think Tank]], the official ''Mutants & Masterminds'' forum, contains fan-submitted stats for [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny pretty much every fictional character that's ever existed]], from Comicbook/{{Superman}} to ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' to [[ScoobyDoo Shaggy Rogers]][[note]]Even JustForFun/TropeTan[[/note]].