Don't take this reply as trying to start a flamewar (I've been through
that on the M&M, and d20 Modern boards), but I'll try to explain a bit
more.
With D20 Modern (or DnD for that matter), all you really have to do to
create a character is roll or assign stats, pick a character level, and
then pick appropriate feats (or talents for Modern). The only trun
'number crunching' involved is assigning skill points.
In Mutants and Masterminds, although it is still much simpler than
Chanpions, you have X number of points to spend based on character
'level'. However, you can't just plunk down a power for x points; you
have to make sure attack and defense bonuses are balanced according to
level (and this can be further modified by the feats you choose). In
other words, there is still a balancing act to do with M&M, while
'true' level based games like Modern/D&D are just 'plug and play'
(assuming you trust that the producers have already balanced everything
beforehand ^_^).
In other words, M&M had more versitility at the cost of more work
to balance the power of each character. Modern/D&D has less
versitility, but is much easier to just pull out and play 'on the fly.
Don't get me wrong, I think M&M is still a good system (I own the
2ed book as well as the Masterminds Manual). I will probably never run
a game, but would be happy to play in one if a member of my group knew
the rules (same as I did with Champions, where I essentially said to the
GM 'I want this character, make him for me' :-)
Of course, that's assuming I can pull any of my group away from
World of Warcraft/City of Heroes/D&D Online (damn computers ^_^).
Post by MagsTheAxeDude, you're kidding. "Slightly less number crunching?" M&M doesn't
have _near_ as much math as Champions!