Rattles

[Bucky]

We've all seen in the movies where the good guy is trapped somewhere, but unseen. In order to get away from them, our hero throws a rock or in some other manner, makes a noise elsewhere, far from him, in order to distract the bad guys.

My wife's character wants to be able to do this with a slight twist. She wants a device, that is 1) small, about the size of grenade at most 2) contains a motor and power supply, such that pressing a button will cause it to rattle. The idea being that when it is in the hand, or in the air, it makes almost no noise. But when it lands, it rattles, hopefully causing the bad guys to be distracted.

How do we model this in Hero? My first thought was Flash, Hearing group. But that does not seem right. It can't cause any damage, or stun exactly. All it does (hopefully) is distract temporarily. The rattling will continue until the device is deactivated, so it differs from our hero above in that it will (hopefully) cause the bad guys to look for it until they find it.

Any ideas?

[paigeoliver]

Change environment. "Create rattly noise", focus based, charges based, etc.

[Bucky]

Change environment. "Create rattly noise", focus based, charges based, etc.
I had thought of that, but the problem is that, (if I am reading it right) a change of environment might decrease perception rolls, but not increase it. This device should increase its ability to be found, or chased, because it is more visible to hearing group (more audible?)

Or are we talking about the bad guys perceiving the Hero?

[Silbeg]

I believe that it should be bought as Images (which is really what it is, with a sound affect). The more pluses you buy on it, the more likely that it will be noticed.

Perhaps a better construct would be something like this:


50 PRE, Only to distract (-1), OAF (-1) 1 recoverable charge (-1 1/4)

Cost would be 12 points... a 10d6 PRE attack would average 35 effect, and would cause most villains to lose a half or full phase.

I don't realistically think they would continue searching for a rattle (rather than dealing with the PCs attacking), but this would give the momentary distraction effect. Yes, I believe I like this construct! :) Now, for a character who can use it!

[Longshot]

Actually, I think the power you're looking for is Images, affecting the Hearing group and with a Set Effect: "Create Rattle Noise" (-1). The level Images is purchased at can either be subtracted from (making it harder to notice) or added to (making it easier to notice) the perceiver's PER roll. In this case, of course, you would want the modifier to be added to the roll, making it easier to notice the “Rattle Grenade’s” rattle.

Another way to do it would be to purchase some Stealth Skill Levels with an OAF of the “Rattle Grenade”. She would only the extra Stealth Levels in situations where the rattle grenades could be used and if she had some grenades with her.

[Longshot]

If you wanted a really expensive way to do it: Drain INT, AOE Explosion, only to reduce PER rolls, OAF: Rattle Grenade, 6 Charges. : )

Seriously, this is one of the things I love about this game system -- most things have at least 2 or more ways of being written up!

[Silbeg]

Another way to do it would be to purchase some Stealth Skill Levels with an OAF of the “Rattle Grenade”. She would only the extra Stealth Levels in situations where the rattle grenades could be used and if she had some grenades with her.
Now, that wouldn't be a bad way of doing it, to get the cinematic effect. Good call!

[Sean Waters]

Some really good ideas here. My first thought was images to sound, but I like the PRE attck to distract and focussed stealth ideas because they not only model the effect but contain a mechanic to deal with the results.

Kudos to Silberg and Longshot.

[Bucky]

Thanks a lot ya'll. This will be very helpful.