from little plot seeds, mighty games do grow: Share your ideas!

[Hermit]

As I sort through the 5th Edition character write ups, I have to admit one thing I do enjoy is the plot seeds. Next to most characters are 3 plot seeds related to a villain that one can expand on fairly easily.

So, post 'em if you got em'. I'm starting with...

Black Harlequin
1) Tragic 8-Balls: Someone has been sending magic 8-balls, those gaggy prophecy toys that you shake for 'all the answers' only, these give rather ugly responses and dire predictions that always come true. The Black Harlequin must be behind it, mustn't he?

2)Hair made of plastic, She's fantastic!- Some of the most beautiful women of the city, models, actresses, and more have been kidnapped. Through hard work and diligence, the PCs might discover that B.H. is trying to turn his victims into 'Living dolls' for his collection; but will they realise that one of the ladies on their own team (Or DNPCs if there are no attractive ladies on the team) is also a target?

3) Chips' ahoy- Ah, Millenium City where the cars are the 'safest' in the world. What arrogance! Black Harlequin decides to replace 'their special secret chips with ones of his own devising, let's see if they notice!' Now those cars are affected by remote controls, but so many cars to control, even his thuggish minions can't handle them all. Drivers are wanted, and found... thanks to some arcade games. That's right, young tots and teens alike will be in the driver's seat for new video games with titles like 'Red Highway' 'Crash and Burn' and 'Run Pedestrian run!'

[Hermit]

Istvatha V'Han
1) 5th Dimensional Column: The Empress has underestimated the 'superhumans' of Earth twice now. Time, perhaps, to reconsider. Earth's own history has provided a possible solution. While allies are beneath her, she arranges for her scientists to bestow 'super powers' on some of the more sociopathic and dangerous of humankind. Let the Earth Governments and heroes expend their energies dealing with this apparently internal situation that sprang from no where. In the mean time, it allows her to study her foes in even more detail. Should one of those 'chosen' for villainhood suddenly prove difficult ,well, the kill switch wthin each should remedy that.

2) Someone call the INS- Sometimes dimensions fall fast, sometimes they fall slow, but eventually all fall to V'han. Despite her benevolent nature (once she gets her way) however, some choose to flee rather than submit to her rule. One such people have done so, and what's more have the technological know how to escape their home plane entirely. They have come to Earth; dozens, perhaps hundreds (or more?) of them. What's more, no small part of them see no reason why they shouldn't take what they want from the inferior human beings. They maybe a beaten army on thier home plane, but here, the tables seem to be turned. Can the heroes handle them all? Or will they have to inform V'Han they know 'just' where some of her renegades have gone, and could she please pick them up?

3) An Imperial request: V'han finally bites off more than she can chew, and then some. Invading a dimension that seemed primative, she has instead discovered a universe that is full of hostile and extremely powerful alien beings. Her standard troops have not only been thrown back, these beings are pursuing and taking some of 'her' domain. She insists that Earth's champions assist in throwing these beings back. If they do not, why, she will use her own power to create a tunnel FOR these beings that leads straight to Earth and force the heroes' collective hand. Thus far, these strange beings can not be reasoned with.

[Hermit]

Foxbat
1) Special Collector's issue: Foxbat is a tad... 'reality impaired', and some part of him no doubt thinks, as go the comics, so goes my plan. Thus, he breaks into a comic book company, and by stealth, or threat of ping pong ball reprisal, switches the planned issues with ones staring HIM, Foxbat. Triumphant and looking kewl! If your PCs have comics being made of them, imagine their surprise to see themselves getting their butts kicked by the Foxy one. For that matter, how will they feel if they are portrayed as sidekicks and/or love interests? Complications could ensue; Will Foxbat have to be saved from a horde of irate comic fanboys? Will he actually become a cult hit? What if a villain reads the comics and doesn't like the battle scene in one where Foxbat trounces him or her?


2) Did you ever know that you're my hero? : After getting his butt kicked by one of your PCs, rather than being angry; Foxbat becomes incredibly impressed. So impressed in fact, that he adopts that hero's methods and trademark way of fighting crime for DOING his crime. Should, for example, Nighthawk defeat him. Foxbat will change his colors to a silver and black for a time, with an exagerated foxy cowl. He'll ditch the ping pong gun, trade it in for a ping pong paddle ,and overdramatize the hero's whole stichk. Not only is this embarrassing for the hero, some moron out there who is robbed may accuse the hero of doing it instead. Foxbat has to be brought in, and uhm.. well, hopefully your PC won't rough him up tooo badly.


3) I need a rival/hunted/etc: Foxbat is feeling down. He has no rival to compete against. No criminal with similar motiff to compare himself to. Where's the struggle? Where's the race to see who can be the best? Clearly... he must do something. That's when he hears about the High tech armor/experimental power drug/mystical device/whatever being held in the science lab/corporation's office/mueseum/whereever. He takes this, then goes around asking likely folks if they'd like to be a super villain. If they say yes, he hands it over. Naturally, the one who says yes is not likely to share Foxbat's psychosis, and might be a SERIOUS threat to the city. Foxbat may find this new guy plays too rough, and have to run to the heroes telling them "He's not playing by the rules and he won't give it back! Make him!"

[death tribble]

These are very good and in the spirit of the books.
My heartiest congratulations.
And I will steal some of these ideas and am not afraid to admit it.

[Hermit]

Originally posted by death tribble
These are very good and in the spirit of the books.
My heartiest congratulations.
And I will steal some of these ideas and am not afraid to admit it.
Aw shucks, thanks. I am hoping others will join in with their own suggestions. In the mean time, I'm flattered folks would use (or improve) anything I've suggested.

Heck, just to complete my ego boost, which ones did you like if you don't mind? :)

[TheTemplar]

Originally posted by Hermit
Aw shucks, thanks. I am hoping others will join in with their own suggestions. In the mean time, I'm flattered folks would use (or improve) anything I've suggested.

Heck, just to complete my ego boost, which ones did you like if you don't mind? :)

Personally, my favorite was Foxbat Scenario #2 - Where he tries to emulate on of the PC's. Hilarious RP opportunities..as there ALWAYS are when FB is involved. I also liked the Tragic 8 Ball scenario..just because it would be fun to think up diabolic 8 ball responses.

"Will I marry Jonny?" (Shake 8 ball and turn over)

"No.....but you WILL be blown into insignificant bits when this explodes!"

"Huh?"

tick....tick....tick....


-T

[Hermit]

Teleios
1)Damsel in distress : A beautiful, and scantily clad woman is found almost freezing near the PC's headquarters. She is mute (indeed, she lacks vocal cords), but seems to grasp English. Her looks are so exquisite, she puts most models to shame. Along her elegant neck is a marking not unlike a barcode. If the heroes somehow communicate with her (Telepathy would be most telling) they will discover this woman is one of Teleios' creations (his harem hardly needs to 'talk' now does it?). Somehow she's found the freewill his clones are supposed to lack. A mistake? Or is there some deeper secret in this clone than that?

2)You want a piece of me? Various mercenaries who normally go for the kill, start attacking our heroes. Rather than seeking to assassinate, they strive to wound, and take some of the spilled blood or seperated flesh with them. Then they run like hell. What's a few points of body when you just survived a fight with Mechassassin? Well, that depends on if they find out Teleios is rumored to be paying well for the tissue samples of any super heroes. This can't be good.

3) Anger Mismanagement: Curious about the nature of human agression, Teleios has his minions 'taint' a city's water supply with a compound that ups the violent tendencies of anyone who drinks it by attaching certain microscope material to their hypothalmus and other aspects of the 'primitive' brain. Victims become increasingly belligerent. Psychological limitations involving dislikes, hatreds, or combat are more pronounced (Moderate becomes Strong, Strong becomes Total), and Enrageds are more easily triggered. If the super heroes don't stop this (either before the poisoning or after), the whole city could riot.

[Hermit]

Captain Chronos
1)Glory Days are here again: The Captain appears in various nursing homes, Senior dwellings and other areas were now venerable and fragile former golden age (and some silver) heroes are. He then youthens them back to their prime. Suddenly the city is full of potientially active super heroes. Some of which haven't kept up with the changing times in the costumed world. How do the PCs deal with this? Are they the ones who are obsolete now, and how long can this age change last?
2) I oppssed: The Super heroes are in a shielded danger room, or lab, when they step out... they may notice some changes. It would seem the Earth they knew is gone, replaced by something similar but different enough to be alarming. The space program has lead to the alien invasion and domination of their planet for decades. If they search their history, they'll discover that some important historical event went differently this time. The Captain appears, quite humilated, and explains he oppsed, everything is changed but the heroes thanks to that 'inadvertent chronol shielding' and he needs their help to fix it. What will the super heroes do when they find out the 'Second gunman on the grassy gnoll was one of them all along?
3)You broke it, you ninny!: If one of the PCs gets a bit enthusiastic, and uses a killing attack on the poor captain, instead of just laying him out, the attack tears his equipment. The result is spectacular, throwing the heroes, the Captain (and possibly a few innocents at the fight scene) into the past. Captain Chronos says he can repair it, and get everyone back where they should be, but he'll need certain 'things' to do so. Exactly how DO you find a flux capacitor in Ancient Rome, the Wild West, or Victorian England? Naturally, the temporial rule of non interference MUST be enforced. ;)

[TheEmerged]

/* cracks knuckles gets to work

VICTORY Champions Universe
1> Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot? Victory arranges for a covert meeting with the PC's to ask their help. The military needs her to "go rogue" so she can infiltrate a foreign supervillain/government group with a higher degree of credibility, and she needs their help to set it up. However, when the PC's arrive at the scene of her crime, she attacks them from surprise with the aid of a number of other superheroes claiming that THE PC'S have gone rogue -- she has clearly set them up. If the attack succeeds in taking the PC's out (should, but one can never be certain), she covertly lets them know the plan is working! What's going on?
2> That's... Amore! An ongoing rumor has been hitting the hero-gossip vine: Victory and (male PC, preferably one with a very liberal outlook) have been dating on the sly. Wishful thinking? Character assasination? Foxbat in a fit of schoolyard jealousy?
3> It only sounds fun... The PC's suddenly get an alert -- Victory & (insert another superheroine/villainess of sufficient power) are having a very destructive fight downtown. It's clear that the battle is personal, and it's already passed the line on endangering the locals. What started this fight and, more problematically, how are the PC's going to stop it?

FOXBAT & CAPTAIN CHRONOS
I didn't do it! What'd I do? Works best if the PC's know CC's motivation. The PC's are there when CC meets/sees Foxbat for the first time -- and are witness to his reaction. "By the Uncreated -- the Master Plan! It makes sense now! I'm too late! The horror! The horror!" At this point he slumps into a fetal position, babbling.

FOXBAT & GRAVITAR
That's... Amore?. Somehow, these two meet in the right place at the right time and... she's smitten beyond redemption. The problem is, the feeling isn't 100% mutual. However, insane or otherwise Freddy now has 1000 points of raw power hanging on his every word and deed -- and is immature enough to take advantage of the situation like Aladdin with a lamp. Works best if Foxbat is on at least non-violent but less than strictly friendly terms with the PC's.

BLACK HARLEQUIN
doWHA? During an otherwise indescript heist, one of BH's robotic toys slips and calls him "Sado" -- to which BH reacts by immediately destroying the toy and trying to act like nothing happened. Either the PC's witness this, or become aware of it through another channel. What evil lurks behind this Fruedian Slip?

[Hermit]

Oooo.. Emerged, I like Victory option#1

The sample with Foxbat and Captain Chronos is , for some reason, too scary for words. :eek:


Yeah, someone else joined in...

"I just want to spread my diesase."

[TheEmerged]

I'm a Pepper, wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too ;)

Jokes aside, one of my criticisms of Champions Universe was that all 3 of Victory's plot seeds portrayed her as a victim -- this for a 605-point character? Then again, I've got her in romantic trouble and a catfight :rolleyes:

As for the Foxbat/Captain Chronos seed -- that's the sort of thing I'm imfamous for when foreshadowing :p Just twisted enough to make the PC's wonder how sane I am...

[Enforcer84]

GROND:
The PC's are called into stop a Grond Rampage, they arrive to see the green machine directing a very contolled rampage throught the town striking specific targets, ignoring obvious attacks, he is wearing a pollished gray collar and a pained expression. Who is controlling Grond and What do they want? To complicate matters, another villain shows up to "stomp" Grond, how are the heroes going to keep Foxbat from getting killed?

Not much detail, just stop Grond and Giganto from tearing the city down as they battle eachother over the right to be the most powerful being on the planet.

BULLDOZER:
Bulldozer attempts to finance a metahuman Professional wrestling organization with money from his crimes. Failing that he finds investors and thus begins the MWF (MetaWrestlingFederation). Several superstrong villains join for kicks, and maybe some heroes? Then a huge influx of Mid Level Bricks appear to flood the ranks of the MWF; where did they come from? Who is the mysterious investor? How can they claim to be true wrestling if Bulldozer is Champion?

[Haerandir]

Tachyon and Thunderbolt II

The city is plagued by a series of odd burglaries, in rapid succession. Literally, the burglaries are spaced mere minutes apart. Broken doors and safes show that whoever is committing them is apparently very strong as well as incredibly fast. Only after the PC's have begun to investigate should it come out that there are 2 culprits... Tachyon and Thunderbolt II. They appear to be engaged in some sort of bizarre scavenger hunt. Neither is willing to waste time fighting the PC's, being totally focused on outdoing his long-time rival. The PC's will have to find some way of preventing two super-strong speedsters from stealing everything that isn't nailed down. Will they split up, or attempt to tackle the hunters one at a time?

If that isn't challenging enough, Thunderbolt I hears about the burglaries on the radio and shows up to discuss naming rights with Thunderbolt II. Of course, the whole scenario provides Thunderbird with a veritable shooting gallery of miscreants. And what if the scavenger hunt wasn't the idea of the two participants, but bait or a distraction in a cunning scheme by some other villain? (Utility springs to mind. Naturally, so does Foxbat.)

Once you have 5 or 6 villains rampaging around town, all trying to do one another in, and the poor PCs in hot pursuit of all concerned, hilarity should ensue.

[Hermit]

Some good stuff guys. :)
Enforcer, the WWF connection makes me nostalgic for the Unlimted Federation that Marvel got into for a bit with the Thing. :)

And Haerendir, I may borrow that scenerio just to drive my players nuts (in a good way) for a bit :D

I have some more Mechanon ideas. Because you just can't have enough organic hating killer robot mastermind plot seeds.

[Hermit]

Mechanon
1)If you can't beat them, make them join : Mechanon's frustration at the organic infestation's refusal to die threatens to overwhelm its logic circuits. However, if purging continues to be difficult, perhaps transformation would be better. Mechanon schemes to release nanobots that will devour, and at the same time rebuild people into new robotic forms. Sadly, one thing is required that Mechanon is lacking, advanced knowledge of organic life. It's up to the heroes of the city to figure out why large robots are suddenly kidnapping the best doctors in their fields.

2) Countdown to Meltdown: A brand new fully automated nuclear facility becomes operational. While the security there is formidible, it is fully robotic. Mechanon lands, and takes it over easily, sealing it behind him. He makes no secret that he plans to set the plant to expel a radiation cloud, an act that will kill organics for several miles, and render the terrain unhabitable for decades. Experts tell the heroes that the build up Mechanon is seeking will take time. The PCs have to break into the plant, bypass the security now turned against them, and face Mechanon long enough to ruin his scheme.

3)Redundant operation disallowed: As Mechanon 'dies', and seperates his head... it it is blown up by a super hero's energy surge. Normally, a signal is sent out to the robot's nearest base location, and construction on a new body begins. This time, the energy boost accidentally amplifies and disrupts the signal. Two seperate bases recieve it, and both begin working on bodies simultaneously. What will the heroes do when a report of two Mechanons fighting in the streets arise, each arrogantly claiming to be the true 'master unit'? The possibility of them reconciling somehow and 'two' Mechanons working together is too frightning to contemplate.

[Haerandir]

Istvatha V'Han

A new hero has appeared on the scene. He is a cyborg with a big, futuristic-looking raygun, a glowing eye, some funny tattoos, an extradimensional teleportation device and a confusing and self-contradictory backstory involving being somebody's mutant kid from the future. He's Cord! And he's very much interested in knowing everything about everyone, especially anyone with super-powers and/or access to high technology. His stated reason is that he's trying to prevent some castastrophe that will lead to whatever hellish future spawned him. However, he's very vague on what that catastrophe might be, and is insistent that no one should ever discuss him or his origin with Captain Chronos.

I put this under the heading of Istvatha V'Han, because in my universe, he's a spy she sent to gather information about the defenses of Earth. But I suppose he could be legitimate. :p

[Enforcer84]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Hermit
[B]Some good stuff guys. :)
Enforcer, the WWF connection makes me nostalgic for the Unlimted Federation that Marvel got into for a bit with the Thing. :)
TE]

I loved that idea too. They pulled it off pretty well, but I would have liked to have seen more matches.

[Haerandir]

I was hoping someone would like the Tachyon/Thunderbolt scenario. I just hope MY Gm doesn't pick up on it... ;)

Another one:

Mechanon (and Istvatha V'Han, again)

Istvatha V'Han (or, rather, a representative) addresses the UN, to inform us that our recent attempt to invade her territory will inevitably fail, and lead to terrible reprisals. What the heck is she talking about? Turns out that someone has transported one of Mechanon's reserve bases to one of her controlled worlds lock, stock & barrel. Predictably, there's a Mechanon unit rampaging around the heavily industrialized planet, building robot armies, disrupting manufacturing and distribution, and generally wreaking havoc in the way that only he can. If Mechanon can be consulted without blasting the consultee's head off, he denies all knowledge and swears to exact horrific vengeance on whoever stole his backup body.

Who is responsible? What if he/she/they have access to more Mechanon reserve units? Can the UN convince the Empress of a Billion Universes that Mechanon's presence is the work of an individual or private group, not humanity in general? If asked, will the PCs travel to Istvatha V'han's world and help her forces defeat, or at least contain, the malevolent mechanical monstrosity? What happens if the rogue Mechanon unit succeeds in taking over a whole world?

[Enforcer84]

Black Paladin:

The Order of the Black Rose: Sir De Morphant has decided that inorder to properly create a kingdom for himself, he needs to have a group of loyal knights, this leads to his attempted recruitment or creation of a series of loyal "knights". Alternately, he could encounter Talisman and take her as his lover.

[assault]

Originally posted by TheEmerged

1> Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot?


Of course I read this as:
"Whiskey, Tango, FoxBAT?"

It sounds like a good title for a scenario, doesn't it? :)

Alan

[Enforcer84]

Actually it sounds like a horrible blind date.

[Peregrine]

Originally posted by Enforcer84
Black Paladin:

The Order of the Black Rose: Sir De Morphant has decided that inorder to properly create a kingdom for himself, he needs to have a group of loyal knights, this leads to his attempted recruitment or creation of a series of loyal "knights". Alternately, he could encounter Talisman and take her as his lover.

Three words: Shades of Black. Wait for it; that's all I'll say.

[Hermit]

Warlord and Istvatha V'Han
RISK for real:Istvatha V'han sends a small group under command of a general to establish a 'toe hold' on Earth. However, her general makes a mistake by attempting to seize a section of land that happens to be a haven for the Warlord. The full force of the Shadow Army and Warmachine utterly crushes the overconfident intruders. Istavatha sends another emmisary, this one warns the Warlord to return the prisoners of war taken immediately. Warlord not only agrees, he makes a counter offer. He will help Istvatha seize control of this dimension, in return for the right to act as a terroritorial governor over it in fealty to her. When the Empress hears of it, the audacity of this human's ambition intrigues her. She agrees to a "test". The Warlord is given a small sample amount of her army to use to conquer a tiny nation of Earth. That 'small sample' consists of over 10,000 soldiers armed with extra-dimensional techonlogy. Is this the Warlord's dream come true? And is he content to be second in command? or is there a grander gambit at play here?

[Haerandir]

Ha! 10 to 1 he starts in Australia! (That's a Risk joke, not a slam at Australia...)

[Hermit]

Hey, in the 2nd movie, it's what Lex Luthor wanted ;)

[Lord Liaden]

Here are a couple of ideas revolving around my favorite Oriental sorcerous mastermind:

Dr. Yin Wu

Power Vacuum: In 1938, Dr. Wu detected a massive eruption of magic energy out of Europe. Over the years he has studied this phenomenon, determining that it was a spell by the Circle of the Scarlet Moon which went awry, and that the increase in magic has prompted the growing number of superhumans who have plagued and thwarted him. Yin Wu approaches the Circle with an offer to help them reverse the spell, drawing vast magical might to themselves while stripping their greatest enemies of their powers. They will then divide the world between them, Yin Wu taking the East and leaving the West to the Circle.

The PCs are alarmed to find their innate powers or super-tech diminishing and intermittently failing outright. The resident mystic determines the focal point for this effect, a secret holding of the Circle or Dr. Wu. The heroes have to attack quickly before the ritual is completed; can they overcome the combined might of Yin Wu and the Scarlet Moon before their powers fail them completely?

Who wants to live forever? The PCs are enjoying the local Chinatown, when they find themselves in the middle of a heated battle between supernatural Oriental monsters, and futuristic robots. After the battle Dr. Yin Wu contacts them: it seems that Dr. Destroyer has learned that Yin Wu holds the legendary Chinese alchemical secret of the Pill of Immortality, and has determined to wrest that secret from Dr. Wu by force as the answer to his own aging. To prevent further destruction, and the prospect of an immortal Destroyer, Yin Wu persuades the heroes to help him against Destroyer. This can ultimately take the PCs into the People's Republic of China to defend Dr. Wu's home base, involving them in a diplomatic nightmare and confrontation with the PRC's superheroes, the Tiger Squad.

Potential twist: it was Dr. Wu himself who leaked the information about the Pill of Immortality to Dr. Destroyer, hoping that Destroyer would invade China to get to him, weakening the nation enough for Wu to overthrow the Communists and declare himself Emperor.

P.S. This second plot seed was inspired by a suggestion from another poster on Nato's temporary boards, but his username escapes me. :o Feel free to take credit. :)

[Grailknight]

Talisman/Witchcraft

The twins are really a single being that was separated at their birth to prevent a new Archmage from arising. (Linked Duplication and Multiform) As they gain in power, the time will come for them to merge. Which personality will have control of this new and vastly more powerful form?

[Hermit]

Originally posted by Grailknight
Talisman/Witchcraft

The twins are really a single being that was separated at their birth to prevent a new Archmage from arising. (Linked Duplication and Multiform) As they gain in power, the time will come for them to merge. Which personality will have control of this new and vastly more powerful form?
That's so twisted, I like it.
Another option would be for them to have to 'share' the Arch Mage position, one for light, the other darkness. Everyonce in awhile having to team up to face some extra-dimensional threat... Wouldn't they hate that idea? :)

[BoloOfEarth]

<B>THE CROWNS OF KRIM:</B>
<I>Overdue Book: </I> The heroes stop DEMON from killing a rare book dealer and taking a book he recently purchased at an estate auction. (The prior owner committed suicide.) The book dealer gladly turns the tome over to one of the heroes, who then notices the book “follows� him around (appearing next to him in his car, on his desk at work, etc.) and seems to be giving him progressively worse nightmares involving the Crowns of Krim. Also, the book is unreadable – no known language, and the “words� on each page keep changing and are different for each person looking at it. After a few days, the Crowns of Krim come after the book with a vengeance, but they can’t just take it – it automatically returns to its current “owner� unless freely given to another. Does the obviously magical tome give a clue to destroy the Crowns, or does it give the Princes of Evil a route to greater power?

<I>Total Eclipse:</I> A solar eclipse during a unique planetary alignment gives Eclipse incredible powers and turns him into a temporary host/vessel for Krim himself! Can the heroes stop him and the other Crowns before they can make the change permanent?

<I>Trading Places:</I> Force contacts one of the heroes claiming to actually be one of the hero’s teammates. He says something switched his mind with that of Force, perhaps a spell gone wrong. The Crowns of Krim are going to commit a terrible atrocity the next day, and he can’t stop them on his own. Plus, he needs them to capture “him� and figure out how to get him back in his own body. Is he telling the truth, or is this a trap?

<B>FIREWING:</B>
<I>I Challenge Thee!</I> One of the heroes appears on TV, challenging Firewing to one-on-won combat in a public place at a certain time. Of course, that hero never made the challenge, but it certainly looked and sounded like him. Does he go through with the challenge anyway? If he ducks out, how does Firewing react? And just who <I>is</I> behind this, and why?

[Twilight]

Black Paladin and Black Harlequin

The New Odd Couple: In his quest for power, Black Paladin has been searching for doers of evil to reform his evil brotherhood with him as it's leader. As he searched for worthy choices he came upon Black Harlequin on an Escapade. Black Paladin was amused by the evil clown's antics and the pain that was caused, Black Harlequin on the other hand found something he never realised he needed....an appreciative audience. Now Black Harlequin is Black Paladin's court jester and the evil knight is Black Harlequin's dark muse. How will the PC's deal with this new duo?

[McCoy]

Originally posted by assault
Of course I read this as:
"Whiskey, Tango, FoxBAT?"

So did I.

Not so much a plot seed as a running subplot that can be fun.

FOXBAT REFORMED
The PC's are in battle when Foxbat suddenly appears. Suprisingly, he starts fighting the villians! After helping the PC's, Foxbat invokes Venerable Comic Book Cliche #16 ("Any sufficently popular villian will reform and become a hero"), and demand to join their team. If they refuse, he will still show up at every combat. Having Foxbat on your side can be more annoying than having Foxbat as an enemy.

Or he may try to join the team incogneto by either puting on a pair of glasses (over his Foxbat cowl), or claiming to be Freddy's long lost twin Eddie.

FOXBAT and the SUPER VIXENS
OK, the attempt to join the PC's team didn't work out, and Freddy knows why. He should never have attempted to be a follower, he's a born leader! So he will have to assemble his own team of heros/reformed villians, and to maximize sales appeal they will all be female with a COM over 20. But are they really reformed, or just using Freddy as a cover?

[CrosshairCollie]

Originally posted by McCoy
FOXBAT REFORMED
FOXBAT and the SUPER VIXENS


With your kind permission, may I shamelessly steal these ideas? :) As a side note, I haven't read comics in a long, long, LONG while ... could anybody spit a handful of reformed villains-turned-heroes that I could have Foxbat cite as examples?

[Archon]

Originally posted by CrosshairCollie
With your kind permission, may I shamelessly steal these ideas? :) As a side note, I haven't read comics in a long, long, LONG while ... could anybody spit a handful of reformed villains-turned-heroes that I could have Foxbat cite as examples?

That's easy as I'm a big fan of Thunderbolts (up until 3 issues ago).

The Beetle - Mach 1/2/3 (3 versions)
Screaming Meemee - Songbird
The Fixer - Techno
Goliath - Atlas
Baron Zemo - Citizen V
Moonstone - Meteorite
Hawkeye - no name change
Scarlet Witch
Quicksilver

[Marchwarden]

ZORRAN/STINGRAY/CROWNS OF KRIM/TAKOFANES

Zorran approaches Stingray and offers to create a Coral Crown which will draw power from the existing Crowns and imbue her with the power to finally conquer Atlantis. In return, she will pledge the support of her realm to his reconquest of Lemuria. Naturally, there are a few people, places and things that will need to be appropriated first. Will the PCs puzzle out the purpose of these bizarre thefts and kidnappings before or after the other Crown-wearers do? Can our heroes protect the world from the effects of a mystical civil war? And is that the real Zorran, or is Krim (or even Sharna-Gorak) up to some especially devious wickedness?

[AnotherSkip]

Magneto (though that was short lived) (and knowing comic fans should know that this is the _worst example_ Fox bat could use and therefore justified.)
Silver Surfer(technicality)
Catwoman.

[Marchwarden]

Originally posted by McCoy

FOXBAT and the SUPER VIXENS
OK, the attempt to join the PC's team didn't work out, and Freddy knows why. He should never have attempted to be a follower, he's a born leader! So he will have to assemble his own team of heros/reformed villians, and to maximize sales appeal they will all be female with a COM over 20. But are they really reformed, or just using Freddy as a cover?

Hmm...he recruits Esper, Tesseract and Photon. Upon investigation, the PCs learn that he approached Howler and that she spurned the offer violently. How does all this add up? The Super Vixens have several traits in common:

- all villainesses
- all at least somewhat mentally unhinged
- all uncommonly beautiful
- all believed to possess powers of an extraterrestrial origin

So, what does it mean? Has Foxbat gotten hold of some means of influencing Alien-class minds? Has the Trickster smiled upon Foxbat and turned him into a Madness Magnet/Chick Magnet? Has an alien conspiracy decided to advance its designs for Earth behind the facade of three beautiful women who ostensibly work for Foxbat?

[McCoy]

Originally posted by CrosshairCollie
With your kind permission, may I shamelessly steal these ideas? :) As a side note, I haven't read comics in a long, long, LONG while ... could anybody spit a handful of reformed villains-turned-heroes that I could have Foxbat cite as examples?

Permission granted, that's what they're there for.

As for reformed villians, it is Comic Book cliche #16 in honor of Avengers #16, where Hawkeye, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch shed their villian roots to become (with Captain America) the second incarnation of the Avengers.

Others? Black Widow, Rogue, the White Queen, Magneto (sort of), Mystique (sort of), Sabertooth (sort of), Destiny, Nighthawk, Falcon, the Thunderbolts, the Squadron Sinister became the Squadron Supreme (again, sort of).

[Marchwarden]

PSI/TUV

PSIcle Gang : Psimon decides to address his team's general lack of maneuverability by acquiring some fast transport. Of course, being a pack of dysfuncional egomaniacs, they all want their own custom set of wheels. Give each major member (the ones from CKC) 30 xp to spend on 150 points of appropriate vehicle, then have them take a "test drive" through Campaign City.

[Hermit]

Talisman
Bad and Evil Tender: Talisman is finally ready to trade in her soul for more power. Then she learns of something even better, a ritual that can subsitute the souls of others instead of her own. They are not as valued as a soul freely given, but once she gathers thirteen by any means, she can perform the summoning and gain power in exchange. Naturally the heroes have to stop it, and if they can, find a way to get the souls back. They have until the next new moon (or other phase as suits the GM).

Shards of Reality:After having her plans twharted yet again, Talisman decides the problem with this town is it's got too many nice people and law abiding citizens. Using a shard of some ancient now broken mirror she found, she works a bit of mojo and everyone in the city becomes as wicked, selfish, and irresponsible as she is. The only catch is, rather than bending them to her will... the ritual has weakened her, and everyone is doing their own thing. Fortunately, at this time, the PCs were out of town. When they return, a much weaker Talisman has to try to bluff, trick, or...(Horror of horrors) ask the heroes for help.

Recruiting Drive: Continually frustrated by the Champions rushing to the aid of her do gooder sister, Talisman decides it is time to form her own team of super villains to even the odds. This can either be played as a very serious threat as she assembles the most dangerous and dark figures she can find (perhaps testing them against the PC team first), or for humor, as Talisman's incredibly selfish nature works against her and her team and the villains become more of a threat to each other than the town heroes. Alternatively, Talisman could even try to 'make' some villains, by more use of magic.

[Marchwarden]

Axis of Evil?: Eurostar launches a series of terrorist attacks across the Italian peninsula just as the Warlord's forces invade Sicily. The timing suggests a definite connection...but who is working for whom? And what is their ultimate goal?

Shadow Warriors The PCs play agents of UNTIL or PRIMUS (or perhaps it is a joint venture between several agencies) whose mission is to pose as mercenaries and infiltrate the Shadow Army. Are the PCs up to the challenge of both soldiering and spycraft? What if VIPER has the same idea?

Casualties of War Battle has always been Roger Warwell's chief love...but at one time, Red Cross medic Ana Seidlitz was a very close second. Dr. Seidlitz's clinic has just been obliterated by belligerents armed with weaponry purchased from the Warlord. Will this fill him with rage - or prompt him to rethink his ways?

[Highwayman]

Cateran
There Can Be Only One? A mysterious cloaked figure has been visiting a selection of mutant, magical, and non-human immortals, telling them the fate of humanity depends on them gathering at a particular mystic place on a particular date. The mystery man didn’t give many details, but clearly radiated power and knew things about each immortal that no mere mortal could have known. Still, Cateran didn’t get to be as old as she is by being a fool, so she maneuvers the PCs into investigating. Is there some legitimate mystic crisis, or is someone setting a trap to catch some unaging DNA or particularly potent blood sacrifices? Is the mystery man some kind of mystic guardian, Captain Chronos, or Foxbat after watching too many Highlander episodes?

Thunderbird
It Takes More than One to Make an Army Thunderbird has begun contacting the victims and survivors of recent superhuman crimes. Most aren’t emotionally or physically cut out to be vigilantes, but he’s recruiting those that are and putting them though intense training, hoping to create an elite cadre of agents to take on the masterminds and organizations that are too big for one man to tackle alone. But where are the equipment, facilities, and money for his army coming from?

[TheEmerged]

By popular demand :rolleyes:

FOXBAT
Whiskey, Tango, Foxbat?. A female PC is forced to undergo the most dreaded of horrors -- a blind date. The rich guy she's set up with is pleasant enough but not really her type, still they end up in a club together. The first clue that something is wrong is when he says his "master plan" for the evening is going well.

The second clue is when it's announced over the intercomm for everyone to go to the safe areas: Foxbat has defeated the rest of the PC's (or another superhero team in the city) and is challenging the female PC to rescue them. The screen shows the news footage. "But, that can't be me! I'm me! And I'm much better looking than that!"

DR. SILVERBACK
Bad Mojo. Quite by accident, the PC's discover that Dr. Silverback (MC) registers as a mutant (nova/metahuman/whatever you call someone born with their powers in your campaign). Is Dr. Silverback lying about his origin? Has a mutant shapeshifter replaced him? Has the equipment/power been sabotaged, or "spoofed"? What secrets does this portend?

[Insaniac99]

anybody got any Destroyer ones? i haven't seen much of him here...

[Hermit]

Dr. Destroyer
Silver is a soft metal: Destroyer is returned, and in a big way. To further teach the United States Govt. the futility of impeding his will, he seeks to cripple it's most obvious champions: The Silver Avengers of PRIMUS. He makes a public declaration that each and every Silver Avenger will be eliminated in the next month, and challenges PRIMUS to stop him. Will PRIMUS be able to twhart him? Will they have to turn to the PCs for help? And really, what can 'they' do? And is this just a distraction from some more ominous plan?

Repo-Men: Menton now walks his own path. Destroyer does not forget treachery. If Menton will not serve, he will at the least not be a rival. The PC team gets hints and clues that seem to lead to the master mentalist's latest lair. Any teleporting heroes will find that power does not work in that area, for some reason. If they attack Menton, they discover he is clearly affected as well. Whether they win, or merely weaken Menton; that is when Destroyer unleashes his robots to finish Menton off (or perhaps capture him for a more satisfying personal engagement). The heroes have been used. The question arises, is Menton worth fighting for?

Sauron Who?: Without warning, five satellites, each the size of a small city, decloak, and 'land' in the nation of New Zealand. The link the just landed fortresses form blocks all communication into and out of the country, and Destroyer begins his conquest.. or should we say exploitation? The volcanoes are taped for thermal energy, the pressure from the glaciers, and the nation's greenery stripped. All of this energy is being gathered for something fiendish, but whatever the reason... the beauty of the land will be destroyed if it can't be stopped. It's going to take as many heroes as the world can spare to stop this.

(The last is a variant on both story seeds I've seen elsewhere, and a PBEM story line I read)

[Insaniac99]

Consider them STOLEN!

Thanks hermit!

[death tribble]

Mechanon

The Heroes are fighting Mechanon one on one and not doing too well when Mechanon is attacked by someone else, Mechanon ! What is going on ?

[Mutant for Hire]

Last Heroes on Earth
Heroes wake up one morning and find themselves the only people on the planet. Who is doing it? Why?

The Missing Day
Everyone wakes up and finds that a complete day has passed by that no one on the planet can remember. Again, who did it and why?

[Syberdwarf2]

Be Careful What You Wish For
Our heroes go to bed one night after a particularly stressful "day at the office". Constantly complaining that they just want to be able to walk down the street and not have anybody recognize them.
So of course, they wake up to their significant others, go to work at burgerworld (or whatever), only to find that nobody knows who the hell they are. Especially traumatic for the significant others.
Worse yet,.....
"I just wish people didn't fear me."
Naturally, Our Heroes wake up to a world where nobody fears them because they have no reason to. Our Heroes are now the weakest beings in the universe. And everybody else is their MoPow,NCI,Kill 14 or less Hunteds.

[Tamashii2000]

FoxBat

Weapons of Mass Destruction - Foxbat interupts tv signals acrost the nation informing everyone that he now has a weapon of mass destruction and will use it if he is not made 'master of the world'. The goverment (or anyone else) refuses to take the loon seriously provoking the use to the weapon. The device is truely a weapon of MASS destruction.. can the PC find and stop foxbat before everyone in the city becomes lighter then air and floats away?

[Insaniac99]

Originally posted by Tamashii2000
FoxBat

Weapons of Mass Destruction - Foxbat interupts tv signals acrost the nation informing everyone that he now has a weapon of mass destruction and will use it if he is not made 'master of the world'. The goverment (or anyone else) refuses to take the loon seriously provoking the use to the weapon. The device is truely a weapon of MASS destruction.. can the PC find and stop foxbat before everyone in the city becomes lighter then air and floats away?

*groans* OMFG!!!! that is Classic for a moment you had me thinking that you have never even heard of Foxbat because it sounded too much like a Doom plot, but that is an AWESOME plot seed!

[Highwayman]

Menton

Mind Games The PCs capture a mentalist who was using Mind Control to manipulate political and judicial decisions for cash, sparking a wave of anti-psi paranoia. At the height of the hysteria, a scientist announces a breakthrough: The first artificial mental shield suitable for mass production. The device passes all the tests put to it. It’s not cheap, but soon the elite from all over the nation and the world are clamoring for one, and work begins on a factory to meet the demand.
If the PCs look deeper, though, they find a few oddities. The mentalist, the person who gave them the vital clue that broke the case, and some of the media figures involved in whipping up the panic show small signs of subtle mental tampering. There are some minor features in the design of the shield the inventor himself is unable to fully explain, saying only the idea just “came to him.� A search for the source of his funding eventually leads to a Spanish gentleman no one remembers very clearly… Can the PCs stop Menton before the Who's Who of the world are wearing conduits for his power?

Puppet Wars An up-and-coming Congressman is murdered, apparently by someone with mental powers. A few days later, the same thing happens to the long-time personal assistant of a billionaire businessman. At the same time, ordinary citizens are committing violent, unmotivated attacks on several unconnected businesses, the offices of a self-help group, and a private school. What’s going on?
A short time ago, PSI decided they were ready to take down Menton. They were wrong, and barely escaped with their lives. However, during the battle, Psimon managed to slip inside Menton’s shields for a moment, and came away with the names of some of his mind-controlled sleeper agents. PSI is now killing them to decrease Menton’s power base. For his part, Menton hasn’t been able to find the core PSI members, but he’s discovered their front organizations, and is attacking them with mind-controlled puppets in order to draw them out. Can the PCs stop the death and destruction?

[Mayday]

Shards of Reality:After having her plans twharted yet again, Talisman decides the problem with this town is it's got too many nice people and law abiding citizens. Using a shard of some ancient now broken mirror she found, she works a bit of mojo and everyone in the city becomes as wicked, selfish, and irresponsible as she is. The only catch is, rather than bending them to her will... the ritual has weakened her, and everyone is doing their own thing. Fortunately, at this time, the PCs were out of town. When they return, a much weaker Talisman has to try to bluff, trick, or...(Horror of horrors) ask the heroes for help.

Or worse, only one or two of the team were out of town. This would be alot of fun to spring on the guy who missed last weeks gaming session and has no idea what happened.

[William Bushway]

Survival of the Fittest : A variation on Hermit's Redundant operation disallowed , what happens when the systems that determine how Mechanon's newest incarnation should adapt to the means of his previous defeat come up with 2 equally viable solutions? Of course, it's a one-in-a-quadrillion chance, but what if Hermit's scenario doesn't produce to identical Mechanons, but two slightly different Mechanons? And what if, before they can run into each other, they are each defeated by radically different superteams?

What happens when the two "species" of Mechanon finally do meet? Do they fight it out, to see which is more fit to continue their mission objective? Or, do they exchange data, and pool their resources to create a "child" unit with the best traits of both? Or, do they creat multiple children, and set them loose in the world to test out possible combinations of traits? Those that survive reconvene and pass on new traits, continuing the cycle.

Of course, this assumes a more logical, less megamaniacal Mechanon, but it would make for an interesting campaign arc.

[Insaniac99]

Originally posted by Mayday
Or worse, only one or two of the team were out of town. This would be alot of fun to spring on the guy who missed last weeks gaming session and has no idea what happened.

that is so evil you can't not do it!

;-)

[Marchwarden]

Originally posted by Mutant for Hire
Last Heroes on Earth
Heroes wake up one morning and find themselves the only people on the planet. Who is doing it? Why?

The Missing Day
Everyone wakes up and finds that a complete day has passed by that no one on the planet can remember. Again, who did it and why?

Sorry, not especially "super". Happens all the time when I go for the cheap vodka...;)

[death tribble]

In reply to Hermit regarding the stuff I would steal, I would adapt the Vhan ones as I don't really like the idea of her and loathe Tyrannon ever since I got the Mystic book way back. It can work another way though.
And the Black Harlequin 8 Ball idea. Nasty. Might give that to Storn's picture of 8 Ball.

But the Foxbat comic one can run as is.

I lik the Emerged's idea of Chronos and Foxbat, and Fobat and Gravitar. I need to read up on Victory again to see what she is like.

As to Enforcer84's idea about Bulldozer, wasn't there a thread here about a new years fight similar to the WWE Royal Rumble that one guy ran with the heroes from the Voice scenario ? The guy ran it each year and one of his players always did Jo-Tan the martial artist and got creamed. Except this one year when two powerhouses were fighting and up comes Jo-Tan only to throw off the disguise to show it is the Harbinger of Justice. I can still vividly recall reading through this and the announcer crying out. 'Oh my God ! It's the Harbinger of Justice, it's the Harbinger of Justice !'

[Hermit]

Originally posted by death tribble
In reply to Hermit regarding the stuff I would steal, I would adapt the Vhan ones as I don't really like the idea of her and loathe Tyrannon ever since I got the Mystic book way back. It can work another way though.
And the Black Harlequin 8 Ball idea. Nasty. Might give that to Storn's picture of 8 Ball.

That's cool. I actually think I'm going to like V'han, but on the flip side, I'm not crazy about Gravitar. I think it's the 'I will personally, single handedly take over the world' thing. It just strikes me as ... well, moronic. She's got to sleep sometime. If UNTIL had black ops, she'd be out and then some.

However, I think I'll try to think of some plot seeds for her, just to help overcome my own bias.

[Tamashii2000]

Originally posted by Insaniac99
*groans* OMFG!!!! that is Classic for a moment you had me thinking that you have never even heard of Foxbat because it sounded too much like a Doom plot, but that is an AWESOME plot seed!

heh thanks ;)

[Tom McCarthy]

...if only UNTIL had black ops... suggested Hermit.

That's one reason I expect I (and many others) to do a TriStat D10 Stormwatch: Team Achilles to HERO conversion, using the guidelines from Reality Storm.

[Tamashii2000]

Originally posted by Hermit
That's cool. I actually think I'm going to like V'han, but on the flip side, I'm not crazy about Gravitar. I think it's the 'I will personally, single handedly take over the world' thing. It just strikes me as ... well, moronic. She's got to sleep sometime. If UNTIL had black ops, she'd be out and then some.

However, I think I'll try to think of some plot seeds for her, just to help overcome my own bias.

Got to admit, I got the same reaction from Gravitar. I never liked the "I will rule the word cause I am just that damn bad" type villians. (even if she is..that damn bad)

[Hermit]

Gravitar
Black Opps!: UNTIL finds where Gravitar is spending the night, and send in their best black ops squad to remove her in her sleep. Something goes terribly wrong, and what was meant to be a quick, clean kill backfires. Every UNTIL agent involved is slain, but not before she finds out who is responsible. Now Gravitar is engaging in an all out war against UNTIL and leveling the city to boot, just when their own super group, Unity is away (Ironically, sent away lest the heroes of that team find out and object to the assassination attempt). The PCs recieve a call for help, and have to fight off the wrathful gravity wielder. Even if the heroes survive this, what steps might this particular branch of UNTIL take to make sure the PCs don't go spreading the news that UNTIL even HAS Black ops, and that the damage to the city (and lives lost) is Gravitar's reaction to an assassination attempt?

Where there is a will, there's a slave: The news lately is grim, Gravitar has been extra active. She has been hitting selective targets, eliminating certain key figures, and so forth. The only patterns that can be deduced make little sense, as they don't help the villainess' long range plan of conquest much at all. If the PCs ever encounter in one of these endeavors ,she says little, none of her usual bravado. Any PC with Mental Awareness realizes she's being mind controlled! But by whom? Conversely, if they do not encounter her first, the team might have Gravitar break into their base, and DEMAND They help her deal with these blackouts she's been having. She's not a popular lady, and had few others she could turn to.

Savior of Mutant Kind: The IHA makes a bold move with it's minute men robots on a pro mutant rally. The mutants in the rally are weak ones at best, and this is sure to be a slaughter. It almost is, but Gravitar swoops down, and litterally saves the day. She then re-announces her intent to conquer this world. This time however, a chunk of the protesters agree. Weeks later, a new group, the "Gravitar Liberation Front" is preforming activities varying from more protests, to outright sabatogue of government projects deemed "... mutant phobic in purpose or effect". Does Gravitar even know about this? How will she react to this sudden burst of followers? And how ugly will the actions of the GLF get?

[Hermit]

Originally posted by Tamashii2000
Got to admit, I got the same reaction from Gravitar. I never liked the "I will rule the word cause I am just that damn bad" type villians. (even if she is..that damn bad)
Heh, as you can probably tell by my plot seeds, I am this close to making Gravitar Menton's pawn.

[Enforcer84]

Well, she's obviously a Graviton clone from marvel. His time in the Thunderbolts pointed out that he never really had a plan, just I am powerful and should rule the world. Its this kind of attitude that makes her dangerous (unpredictable) and at the same time her aimlessness makes her easier to contain.
She might mature to a true world conquerer; the type of villain that strikes fear into all our hearts, or she might just grow up and become something more normal. I find her interesting, her aimlessness and lack of clear planning mean she can show up anywhere and leave just as quickly.

[Lord Liaden]

Enforcer84, you just gave me an idea:

Born Again

Gravitar has suffered a thorough and humiliating defeat at the hands of the heroes, and has had her confidence and self-identity badly shaken. She has started to question her obsession with conquest. At this vulnerable time Gravitar is contacted by a charismatic individual who claims to be the leader of a new religion/philosophy/political movement. This person convinces Gravitar that her failure was due to a lack of a worthy cause to fight for, a purpose and focus to her life.

When Gravitar next appears, she proclaims her allegiance to this cause which will bring about a new Golden Age, with her help. Moreover, her attacks are no longer random, but clearly working to a plan at the direction of the movement's leader. But is this person legitimate in his or her intentions, or merely manipulating Gravitar for some more insidious purpose? And what will Gravitar do if she discovers she's been someone's pawn?

[Hermit]

Good one, Lord Liaden. I think I may use that one if I use Gravitar enough times for the heroes to beat her in such a fashion (Right now, they wouldn't have a chance unless I reduced her a lot).

[Insaniac99]

ok i have one... this would be for any villian though it seems to work best with the big enemies that the whole team has to take them on at once... (simply to cause more troulbe for thePlayers)

The heroes Come across another Super in a fight who has with him a kid around 6 wearing some simple Costume (ski-mask seems to sound best) As they arrive to help out an Innocent gets in danger and this other super rushes to save them the Villian decides to take advantage of this oportunity and put everythin he has to take the hero out, it works, the hero is knocked down and looks seriously injured (having not protected himself so as to save the innocent) as the Heroes Rush to his aid he asks the heroes to take care of his kid brother and not let him know his Identity or let him out of their sight. meanwhile the Villain has escaped with whatever he was after, the Heroes must struggle with taking care of a kid and finding out what the Villian is up to...


Oh and it is best if the kid has some simplistic name, for example the one wearing the ski mask would call himself Ski-Man! (said in the same way as "Captain CAAAAVEman" for best effect) this only adds humor to the situation..

so what'dya think?

[death tribble]

Interesting idea. In Aaron Allston's Strikeforce Champions campaign, after the heroes had defeated some of the villains a woman came up and asked them to look after her daughter whose beauty and pheromone powers the mother could no longer cope with. Thus was Lorelei born. Similar sort of concept.

But as I had these ideas shame not to post them.

Binary: Let's Split !

The heroes are fighting a group of villains or a single one when Binary turns up. He duplicates and then duplicates again and again as does his duplicate much to his surprise and horror. He also finds that he has weakened. When the villains are dealt with, his duplicates won't recombine with him. The company insist but some of the duplicates insist that they are free beings and demand legal help while others flee. Binary and the company rep there don't know what is going on and Binary is very worried. What is going on and what will the heroes do.

Binary: It must be mine !

Binary loves luxury so looking after the newest, most sleek, luxury car is a real pleasure. Until Grab and/or Foxbat turn up and make off with the car. It is the only one in existence and is priceless. Now he must get it back and undamaged so no combat or high speed pursuits. In desperation he turns to the heroes. What will they do ?

[death tribble]

Here's one where Telios could ask the heroes for help. One of my old characters was a magic user called the Demoness. Originally called Cosmic Girl, she was captured by the evil Black Magic using organization The Pentacle. They in turn fused her soul with part of a demon's soul resulting in two entities. When reunited with her team mates the 'Cosmic Girl' took the name the Demoness to frighten villains in the same way that Batman did. (One of the two entities died so the Demoness was stuck the way she was).
Later Morgan Le Fey also got hold of the Demoness and created a demonic hybrid bound with a worshippers soul as well. This was destroyed leaving the Demoness back in her normal form.

So Telios gets hold of her and tries to create a clone. This is where the problems come in. First off is the clone is not loyal to him. Secondly it is not an exact clone. So he tries it again and the same thing happens. And these clones have self will and different powers to their parent. Why ? Partly due to the demonic heritage and partly due to Le Fey's magic. And then they get loose.......

The idea can be adapted for your heroes but this is one idea where using one of my original characters clarifies the issue.

[levi]

UTILITY
Utility grows tired of the interference of the local team's resident Mutant and decides to build a weapon that will neutralize the mutant gene in the target in a very public way (Supress v. All Mutant Powers simultaneously, OAF, 1 continuing charge if GM fiat isn't enough for you points mongers). How will the mutant deal with sudden loss of power (blessing or curse)? GENOCIDE would definitely want this technology. GRAVITAR would want the tech destroyed and possibly the inventor as well.

[Hermit]

GRAB
Scavenger Hunt- While GRAB gets along, they do enjoy the occasional good time. Just for kicks, they decide to have an old fashioned Scavenger hunt. The PCs may hear of the oddest things vanishing all across the city. A zoo animal, the helmet from the local pro football team's quarterback, the mayor's desk, and so on. Even if they ignore this, the PCs will get involved anyways eventually. You see, one of the things on the list is a PC's costume,vehicle, or foci

"Aren't you guys supposed to handle this sort of stuff?"- While performing what they think is a routine robbery of 'generic snobby rich guy', the folks of GRAB end up stumbling onto the latest plot of a crazed (and powerful) mastermind. Fleeing for their lives, they realize this villain is out to kill them. They need help. They need protection. They need the PCs.

For Truth, Justice, ...and a few perks: we made a list-The nearest city to the PCs own that doesn't have a superteam is getting a bit tired of being treated as 'boring' in the papers just because they don't. A hip new team suddenly assembles and volunteers its services to that City's mayor. While they go about calling themselves Nimbus, Oriole, Blindside, and Marrionette... the PCs might realize it's been awhile since Black Diamond, Bluejay, Cheshire Cat and Hummingbird have been seen. Is that neighboring city the victim of a giant con, or is this yet another amazing coincidence in the Champion's Universe? And if the first, how do the PCs prove it to a town that only sees them as rivals to the 'hometeam'?

(Naturally, I'd like to thank both the Flashmen and the Thunderbolts for this last one)

[Hermit]

Takofanes
Remember me?- Both for a strategic advantage, and his own dark amusement, Takofanes uses his black necromatic arts to raise and restore someone into a powerful vampire or other undead (preferably one that would still be recognizable). Who this 'someone' is, depends on your PCs. If one of them has a public identity, then the choice would be a departed loved one or family member. If the PCs have secret Identities all, then Takofanes would choose a fallen super hero of the past, either one all loved and respected by nearly everyone in the city("The one you called Shadowboxer now serves MY will...")
or a more recently fallen team mate of the PCs. Can the heroes bring themselves to destroy this new agent of the Arch Lich? Or is there hope that somehow, a spark of goodness survives in the now corrupted shell?

Slaughter the shepherds, and the sheep are yours- Takofanes is among the most unholy of beings. Holy ground, and priests of true faith are a danger to his glorious designs. He thus sends out his agents to kill the various clergy of all religons in the PCs' city. By night, his minions seek to slay in silence the men and women of the cloth so that by the time the authorities see a pattern, it will be too late. Individually, the PCs stumble onto these attempts... when they gather together and trade notes, they may realize there is an ochestrator of these designs. If they didn't know of Takofanes' weakness before, this is their chance to learn... much good may it do them.

"Bring her to me or Else!"-In a surprise all out amassing of his forces, Takofanes litterally has the PC's town surrounded by armies of undead. This message is delivered, "Bring me Akanta Cel, or I will crush your city. You have till the moon is new." This is pretty ominious, especially given that the PCs will have no idea who the heck Akanta Cel is and Takofanes doesn't seem wiling to put up with a Q&A session about the subject. They have to find out from another source who this being is, and why the master of the dead wants her. The GM, of course, must decide what that answer is. Perhaps Akanta Cel is the past life name of a very confused young woman who has no idea she is Takofanes greatest enemy, past true love, or both reborn.

[Lord Liaden]

This last bunch are winners, Hermit. Thanks for the "Flashmen" tribute - they were among my favorite NPC pains in the keister. :)


Originally posted by Hermit
Takofanes
Remember me?- Both for a strategic advantage, and his own dark amusement, Takofanes uses his black necromatic arts to raise and restore someone into a powerful vampire or other undead (preferably one that would still be recognizable).

"Professor Muerte" for real! :eek:

[Hermit]

Originally posted by Lord Liaden
This last bunch are winners, Hermit. Thanks for the "Flashmen" tribute - they were among my favorite NPC pains in the keister. :)
Oh, they were great! *nod nod nod* The loathing they inspired in the PCs (And the players, in a 'can't wait till we expose these frauds' kind of way) was more than many villain groups got. When they finally busted them, my players were practically whooping. :)




"Professor Muerte" for real! :eek:

*Blinks* You know, your never ending streams of ideas never ceases to amaze me (Your greatest accomplishment being the suggestion of my own handle of course ;) ). The image of the undead Professor, half melted armor stuck to his walking cadeaver just came to mind. Wow, the directions that idea could take. And there is no doubt Takofanes could DO it.

[assault]

Tyrranon strikes at Istvatha V'han.

Weakened, she takes refuge in a human body, suffering from amnesia, and looking like Morgan Fairchild...

She falls in with Foxbat, who decides she is the perfect tool in the latest stage of the Master Plan: stealing all existing specimens of a new variety of mutant radish.

Needless to say, Pulsar contacts the PCs for assistance in his attempt to rescue her.

Oh, of course you will need to design Foxbat's Gazebo of Solitude, but that shouldn't be too difficult for anyone silly enough to actually attempt to run this scenario.

Alan

[levi]

Eurostar & Professor Muerte
A Dish Best Served Cold: An ocean liner comes into Campaign City's port a ghost ship, empty of passengers and crew with signs of vile mystic rites littering the decks.

The PCs respond to an assault on their local foreign embassy to find EUROSTAR holding the diplomats hostage until the heroes arrive. FIACHO explains that SCORPIA and FEURMACHER have both come up missing after reporting several weeks of disturbing dreams. FIACHO uses the hostages to coerce the heroes into finding his lost lambs.

Did Muerte have ties to the Occult?
Has he returned from the dead and reclaimed his traitors?

[Lord Liaden]

Hey, levi, that would be a great way to introduce the concept that Hermit and I were discussing: having Prof. Muerte revived by Takofanes. I've been thinking about how to go about it, and that would fit in nicely with what I had in mind:

Takofanes determines that one of his ancient sites of occult power has survived as an island in the Pacific off the coast of South America. Travelling there he is incensed to find that the ruins and artifacts he sought have been pulverized by construction of modern buildings and technology, although these have been mysteriously abandoned. A scrying spell reveals the island's recent past as a base for Terror Incorporated, until the betrayal and murder of Professor Muerte. Intrigued by the prospect of creating a loyal minion adept in this new sorcery called "technology", Takofanes locates the watery resting place of Muerte's body. Snaring a conveniently passing cruise ship, Takofanes performs the necessary ritual sacrifices to raise Hernan Cortez to unlife.

Now the man who wanted to rule the world is slave to an even more terrible would-be tyrant. Takofanes does not always require his services, however, and enough of the man Cortez was remains that his cold heart burns with the desire for revenge against his betrayers.

(A little melodramatic, but I think it works.);)

[Hermit]

Originally posted by Lord Liaden


(A little melodramatic, but I think it works.);)

Well, melodramatic is practically Pr. Muerte's middle name

Hernan "melodramatic" Cortez :)

And definitely, I'm already starting ties between one PC's concept and the bearer of the Dragon Crown. She's not ready to face HIM yet.... but... if Takofanes were to send an agent...mwhahahahaha!

:)

[Lord Liaden]

Tough Love

Gravitar and Holocaust coincidentally pick the same target to attack. Impressed by each other's destructiveness, they pause to talk and discover that they have a great deal in common. Smitten with each other, they agree to become partners (on several levels).

The Player Characters respond to an attack on Campaign City by both Holocaust and Gravitar! If the PCs are too strong for the two villains (not impossible in some campaigns), one of them can start the attack and the other can strike the heroes from surprise when they arrive. OTOH if the PCs are overmatched, Holocaust and Gravitar can start squabbling over who's in charge, perhaps even coming to blows.

Assuming the heroes succeed in driving off the villains, Holocaust shows up later at their headquarters (or wherever they may appear publicly if their HQ is secret), apparently terrified. He claims that his conflict over leadership with Gravitar came to a violent head, and now he's running for his life from a more powerful woman scorned. Holocaust asks the PCs for protection and agrees to help them stop Gravitar. But is he telling the truth, or setting the heroes up for a trap?

[Hermit]

Thorn
A Rose in Voter Turnout-The city council, even the mayor begin to act quite pro-enviroment. This is welcome by many voters, but increasingly the polices grow more and more radical and absolute. Soon, it's not just the industrualists complaining. The perceptive PCs may notice that the city politicians have taken to having roses in their lapels. The politicians get almost violent if asked to remove them. It looks like mind control.... Thorn style.

Love is a many splintered thing -Though he broke up with her, Thorn's thoughts turn back again to Deborah Greaves... his ex-fiance. He realizes that some mammalian remnant left in him (the shame of it) desires her still. Thorn considers killing her, and will make one attempt. No doubt, the PCs will intrude and interfere. Damn their numbers. Then it occurs to him how to rectify that, and sate his biological lust at the same time. A new plan is sent into motion, where he attempts not to kill Deborah, but kidnap her. Thorn now plans to alter her as he was altered. If the heroes can't stop this plan, they may end up facing the combined botonical might of Thorn...and Bramble!

Plant Trek- Thorn begins numerous attacks on high tech industries. Navigational devices, fuel, and life support equipment is taken, which is very unusual for the plant obssessed Thorn. If the PCs don't put the pieces together from that... his goal should become clear when he tries to seize a space shuttle from NASA! Why would he want to seek the vacuum of space? Is there some plant race out there he seeks? Does he seek a new home? Or does he plan to gather some new weapon and return to wage war on the animals?

[Rick R Mortis]

The Worst Villains In Europe

The Ten Worst Villains in Europe - Figuring that what he needs is more villains, not better ones, Mammoth holds a try-out contest to determine who should be the next wost villain in Europe! Villains form all across Europe are flocking to the normally peaceful city of Rek... Rekja... Rjekl... The capital of Iceland and commiting henoious acts to impress Mammoth! The PCs must bring the city-wide rampage under control while locating the real culprits behind it all.

Who's Real Worst Villains in Europe? - Sick of all the competition with ECLIPSE (Who also claim the coveted title of Worst VIllains in Europe), The WViE kidnap a feminist hippie commune and threaten to feed a hippie a slice of deap-dish meat supreme pizza until ECLIPSE shows up. The PCs have o proevent the fight and save the hippies from a fate worse then tofu burgers!

The Worst Heroes In Europe - The tiny country of Lichenstein announces its official superhero team. However, the oddly-familliar team consists of Mastadon, Der Brick, Emporer Napoleon III, Willaim Tell and The Spoony Bard, who look like nothing so much as the WVoE wearing bad disguises. Is somehting going on here? Are the good people of Lichenstein being takne for a ride or are the legitimate?

[Nato]

Have I mentioned how cool this thread is?

[Hermit]

Originally posted by Nato
Have I mentioned how cool this thread is?

Not sure, but feel free to do so. :)

[Tom McCarthy]

Finders Keepers

Dr. Destroyer's damaged helmet was all that was found of him when they cleaned up after the Battle of Detroit, officially. If some entrepreneurial minded looter found the good Doctor's discarded and obsolete armour, he might just have had enough pieces to activate the abandoned Destruga base. With those 'bona fides', he could recruit enough superpowered muscle to make a serious showing against a bunch of heroes. Just his bad luck to launch his scheme at the same time Dr. Destroyer has sent 3 destroid robots into Millennium City to steal some military grade spy satellite components...

The Medina Candidate

Menton isn't adverse to making long-range plans, and he's casually cruel enough to turn someone's life on its ear to do so. A news report mentions young Geoffrey Haganstone continues to make the social rounds but surprisingly never seems to take a serious shot at the family business of politics. Menton easily contrives to meet the young fellow in high society, with the intent of giving him a shove in the direction of 'public service'. Nothing like having another tool in the US government, don't you know. Haganstone probably will win easily; he's got the family connections, funding, brains, and winning good looks. He's just never applied himself before; he's been too busy trying to take over the world. Did Menton recognize Holocaust when he gave Haganstone an attitude adjustment ? If he did, does he have long-term plans for Holocaust ? If he didn't, how will Holocaust's personality be affected by a mental tampering ?

Ideologies Make For Strange Bedfellows

Champions is one of the few universes without a prominent Master Trapster/Master Jailer type of ovber-the-top misguided hero / villain (probably a forthcoming Dark Champions character). When done well, one of those characters can be a source of great stories about where to draw the line, and what constitutes reasonable incarceration (a real issue with Hot Sleep and such at Stronghold facilities). Of course, in the Champions Universe, anybody that obsessed about confining and punishing the guilty will definitely seek out Nebula and the Duress gauntlets. (And if the players fail to stop him, the GM can say that the jailer doesn't find sending criminals to Duress really satisfies his drives to incarcerate and punish; he may attempt to return or destroy the gauntlets, unaware or not realizing how Nebula will react to his theft).

[Hermit]

PSI
Welcome to Psi High- Recruiting is going slow for PSI, so they try a bold (perhaps even rash) new plan. Infiltrating a local high school under the guise of teachers, counselors and so forth, PSI begins to taint the water the students drink, and the food they eat with traces of the PSI serum. They attempt to make the dose diluted enough to prevent sickness in those with no potiential, yet constant enough to bring it out in those who do. They then plan to reap the benefits at a veritable garden of potiential recruits ready for plucking and indoctrination. Of course, so many things can go wrong. Some of the kids may end up becoming sick anyways, and others who do start manefesting powers might use those same powers to realize that they are in terrorible danger. Others may start to (accidentally or otherwise) abuse their powers. The girl who is never asked for a date suddenly has the school quarterback madly in love with her. The bully is found in a coma, perhaps one of his victims now had the means to retaliate. For a truly nightmarish reaction, perhaps the students begin to form a psychic gestalt, a unimind of incredible power that PSI can not handle. Clearly, this general plot makes good origin stories for both new villains, AND new heroes.

"It's in the shop and ready for pick up"- PSI very badly needs increased transport for it's various members. Psimon has looked into teleporation technology, but frankly, few have the ability to master that. It is then that Medusa reminds him that ARGENT not only has the capability, but owes them for abusing their 'trust'. They have heard rumors of ARGENT working on just such a thing in this very city. The PCs manage to hear reports of a raid on a local factory, only to find that factory is a cover for one of ARGENT's many projects. By the time they get there, the raid has turned into an all out war. Which side will the PCs focus on? And, is this an ambush for PSI? Perhaps ARGENT leaked the news of the development, hoping to capture a mentalist that it needs to power the prototype?

If you thought 'I' was bad...- Who should arrive at the base of the PCs, but Psimon himself! He looks terrible, like he hasn't slept in days. It would seem Menton has decided PSI 'might' be of use, and has taken over the organization. Psimon claims to be the only one to escape the assualt, and insists the PCs help him. After all, if they think his group is a pain now, wait till Menton really coordinates his power. Psimon knows his groups' weaknesses and the buildings that they use like the back of his hand, and he's willing to share that information out of desperation. He refuses to 'turn himself in' if the heroes ask, but will agree to remove PSI from 'their town'. Do the PCs take the deal? And will Psimon keep it? And... is this the real story?
(Naturally, this last works best if the PCs actually DO know of Psi and Psimon)

[Tom McCarthy]

Not Dr. Livingstone, I presume

Giganto has disappeared into the tropical jungle following the death of Prof. Muerte. Mute, isolated and unique, inhuman in appearance, he truly is a pathetic figure. In the jungle, he discovers another figure, strikingly similar. Mute, isolated, inhuman in appearance, unique, the Slug is in the jungle humidity, building up his resources for his next scheme.
Could Slug choke back his arrogance long enough to gain a competent ally ? How long could he maintain the ruse ? Alternatively, perhaps he has the power to make Giganto the first of a new slave race for the Elder Worms.

Going deeper, perhaps Giganto already is a member of of a former slave race. If the Elder Worms had a mutant race of humans to perform manual labour for them, perhaps Giganto is an atavistic throwback, triggered by Muerte's experimentation. It would explain his easy acceptance of the doctor's rule.

Elemental Control

The Crowns of Krim have been forced to make a bold move. They need to coordinate strikes in several parts of the country at once, and need to do so in sufficient strength to oppose the heroes they'll face at each location. Each Crown has performed the Ritual of Elemental Supremacy, effectively gaining temporary control over other super-villains with similar themed SFX. Each Crown will lead their underlings on an attack against the organization they need to stop.

Who is this organization ? DEMON and Takofanes are prime choices, as are Dr. Destroyer, superheroes, or even a religion.

Possible servants for the crowns include:
Dark Seraph - mystical servants; Leech, Monster, Morningstar
Bloodstone - subjects of biological experimentation or mutation giving body-shaping powers; Fenris, Hornet, Masquerade, Menagerie, Ogre, Rakshasa
Eclipse - darkness powers; Shadowboxer
Force - telekinetics and force; Gravitar, Teke, Mindslayer
Phoenix - flame wielders; Blowtorch, Feuermacher, Firewing !
Temblor - mass or gravity manipulators; Blackstar, Gravitar

[Lord Liaden]

A recent discussion I had with a gaming buddy wanting to prepare for the coming of Tyrannon, the other-dimensional tyrant mentioned in Champions Universe and as rival to Isvatha V'han from Conquerors, Killers and Crooks, led to these suggested foreshadowing scenarios:

Kick sand in MY face, will you!
A relatively minor mystic villain (such as Dr. Macabre from CU) who has been defeated by the heroes in the past, shows up at their HQ or wherever the PCs are appearing publicly, attacking them with vastly increased powers while ranting about his new "ally" Tyrannon, and how he will have an honored place in the "new order." After the heroes vanquish him they may try to question him; before the villain can talk, though, his eyes widen as if he sees something terrifying. He screams, "It wasn't my fault! Mercy, Master, please..." before bursting into flame/withering to dust etc. before the heroes' eyes.

The Winning Side?
The heroes are called to a museum in Campaign City which is hosting a display of occult artifacts when DEMON is reported to be raiding it. When the PCs arrive they find two distinct groups of DEMON cabalists locked in furious battle with each other! One of these groups is chanting, "Tyrannon! Tyrannon!" over and over.

The PCs can either stand back and let them fight it out (which would devastate the museum and any innocents still inside), attack both groups (who would unite to oppose them), or help one side against the other. Whichever group they side with will attempt to escape when their rivals are defeated (the GM should make sure that any Morbanes present do escape). The lower-level cabalists know only that a splinter group has broken away from DEMON, its leaders pledging service to a new god called "Tyrannon" who they claim is preparing to take dominion over the Earth. The heroes may later hear reports about conflicts between factions of DEMON breaking out all over the world.

Regime Change
If the PCs have regular cordial contact with some other dimension or parallel Earth, they discover on their latest visit that that world has been ravaged and its people enslaved. The very shape of the land and patterns of the stars has been altered. The terrified inhabitants tell of an invasion by a host of powerful and hideous beings, all claiming to be the "god" Tyrannon. If the heroes attempt to confront Tyrannon to free their friends, they should be met with as many of Tyrannon's avatars and as much firepower as necessary to overwhelm them, no matter how powerful the PCs are, and force them to flee this world. As they escape Tyrannon calls mockingly after them: "Run, insects! Your world is not yet ripe for the arrival of Tyrannon the Conqueror. But soon, soon..."

[Hermit]

Originally posted by Lord Liaden


Kick sand in MY face, will you!
A relatively minor mystic villain (such as Dr. Macabre from CU) who has been defeated by the heroes in the past, shows up at their HQ or wherever the PCs are appearing publicly, attacking them with vastly increased powers while ranting about his new "ally" Tyrannon, and how he will have an honored place in the "new order." After the heroes vanquish him they may try to question him; before the villain can talk, though, his eyes widen as if he sees something terrifying. He screams, "It wasn't my fault! Mercy, Master, please..." before bursting into flame/withering to dust etc. before the heroes' eyes.


Those are all good, but I like this one most of all. Very Baron Mordo :)

[Lord Liaden]

Green Space

The heroes are called to a region of isolated forest to deal with an apparent rampage by Grond. A lumber company has been licensed to log the previously protected region of timber. However, shortly after the loggers started working, Grond appeared, smashing their vehicles and equipment to scrap before disappearing back into the forest. A second attempt was made days later, with the same result. No one has been seriously injured - so far.

When the PCs investigate the region, they are amazed to discover a colony of the legendary Sasquatch! Even more unsettling, though, is when they are attacked by the beast-men's new protector. Grond has discovered a peaceful land whose simple inhabitants accept him without reservation, and will not let the humans who have hounded him destroy it.

Will the heroes attempt to subdue Grond, or will they have sympathy for the plight of the Sasquatch and try to help him protect them? Can they find a compromise between the two sides, or a way to keep the Sasquatch's secret safe? And whatever plan they come up with, can they get Grond to trust them?

[Lord Liaden]

I've noticed that the CU agencies have gotten kind of short shrift on this thread, so I thought I'd try adding a little collective flavor to the mix ;) :

Training Day
The PCs are asked by PRIMUS to help with the training of their field agents; PRIMUS has concluded that the best way to prepare to fight supers is to practice fighting supers. The heroes are brought to a specially-prepared training facility.

Unbeknownst to the heroes or PRIMUS, one of the heroes' enemies has learned of the exercise and decided that this would be a perfect chance to rid himself of them. He secretly insinuates himself into the facility, replacing the "blank" rounds in the agents' weapons with live ammo, and taking control of any automated weapons on the base.

The heroes are shocked when they apparently come under a real attack! The PCs may assume at first that they've been set up by PRIMUS, especially if they've had conflicts with the agency in the past. They'll have to overcome their suspicions to join forces with the agents and find the true enemy.

Magic Bullet
PRIMUS comes to the PCs with a request for help: a debilitating, and possibly lethal illness has swept through the agency, affecting only those agents who have undergone the Cyberline augmentation process. PRIMUS has determined that an artificial virus is responsible, and has traced the source of the contagion to a facility believed to belong to Teleios.

But PRIMUS has been weakened too severely to mount an assault, and their agents have already proven vulnerable to Teleios's bioweapons. They're asking the PCs to penetrate the base and try to find information leading to a cure, before the brave men and women of PRIMUS start dying in droves. Hopefully the heroes can also find out how Teleios learned enough about Cyberline to develop the virus - is there a mole in the agency?

Press Gang
A representative of PRIMUS confronts the PCs with disturbing news. PRIMUS has been running extensive surveillance and intelligence gathering on the heroes for some time; he shows them evidence of their secret identities, weaknesses, DNPCs, etc. The representative gives the heroes an ultimatum: work for PRIMUS, or this information will find its way to parties that the PCs do not want to have it. Will the heroes agree? Will they try to destroy the evidence, requiring them to infiltrate PRIMUS facilities? And is this person really working with the full authority of PRIMUS, or part of some rogue faction within the organization?

[Hermit]

Originally posted by Lord Liaden
I've noticed that the CU agencies have gotten kind of short shrift on this thread, so I thought I'd try adding a little collective flavor to the mix ;) :

Hmm, let me get my thinking cap on, you've got a point.

[Lord Liaden]

Hi-Tech 'Hood
A new street gang has been taking over the territories of other gangs in Campaign City, backed up by very advanced weaponry. PC legwork determines that ARGENT has been selling weapons to the gang. The heroes track down the distribution point, and will probably stage a raid on the place. They have one more nasty surprise waiting for them, though: ARGENT's deal with the gang included augmentation of its leaders. When the heroes attack they're faced not only with the blaster-toting gangstas, but several brand-new supervillains!

Behind My Back
During the PCs' latest conflict with ARGENT, the team gadgeteer is shocked to realize that the agency's forces are using devices based on his designs! How did ARGENT acquire his secret technologies? Is someone close to him selling his secrets to ARGENT; colleague, friend, perhaps even a teammate?

The Big Blackout

Government intelligence proves that ARGENT has been developing advanced weapons of mass destruction for its patron, the "rogue state" of Awad. The international community decides to deal with this threat once and for all, assembling a military coalition to invade Awad. The PCs can either be part of this force (an opportunity for a military mass-combat adventure), or stay behind to protect the homefront.

In either case, on the eve of battle the PCs intercept intelligence that ARGENT is about to deploy an orbital EM pulse weapon capable of disabling electronic devices over a wide but targetted area. Awad will use the weapon to render the coalition's advanced weapons inert, leaving their forces all but helpless before the army of Awad.

The PCs are the closest friendly force to the control center for the weapon, which is guarded by the best that Awad and ARGENT have to offer, and have no time to call for help before the weapon is deployed. The fate of the allied army rests in their hands.

[Hermit]

UNTIL
Project Jericho- All American Patriot Archetype super hero (A PC if one of them qualfies) suddenly finds himself getting bad press. His every minor mistake is magnified, and his every victory down played. He (or she) gets the uncanny feeling of being watched. If he checks news in other U.S. cities, he'll find out he's not alone. If an NPC, he comes to the PC team, rambling about a 'Project Jericho'. A plan to destroy the credibilty of 'American Flag' type super heroes, particularly those who speak out against giving up national soveriegnty to an unelected world body. He claims UNTIL is carrying out this covert operation on behalf of other nations that want to demoralize the American "Hyperpower" and needs the PCs help. Could he be right?

UNITY WEST- UNTIL approaches one or two of the PCs (Who must have good reputations) with an offer to join a new branch of UNITY, the UNTIL sponsored Super team. North America is just too big, and too active in the superhuman area for the team in New York to handle it alone. UNTIL offers a chance for the supers to move into a state of the art base (Located on the west coast, natch... perhaps L.A., perhaps Vancover), with full funding, support, and international sanction. The problem? They only want SOME members of the team.

Storming Hell, Taking Paradise- A group of superhumans has claimed (or even made) an island to establish a new nation where they do not have to sacrifice their privacy or civil rights to a government simply because of their abilities. The problem? This island is in waters claimed by another nation, and on that nation's behalf, UNTIL is amassing to take it back. The PCs are contacted and asked to back up UNTIL in the raid. Will they? Or will their sympathies fall in line with those paranormals who have founded "New Sanctuary"?

[SKJAM!]

Not One of My Better Plans

Years ago, Dr. Destroyer created a shapeshifting robot with the combined powers of the Champions, programmed to destroy that hero team. Unfortunately, there were a couple of glitches, and Championsbane had to be put on the shelf, and shortly thereafter that base was abandoned.

Now, a person or persons unknown has awakened Championsbane, and is attempting to use it for his/her/its own purposes. But those programming glitches have never been fixed....

Championsbane has the combined known powers and skills of the Champions team as it existed several years ago. It does not, however, have any personal knowledge that Dr. Destroyer was unable to gain from public sources (such as the team's Secret IDs. Nor does it have any actual mental or magical powers; they are approximated by mechanical means.

While the robot must obey its new master's commands, it will always interpret them in such a way as to facilitate destroying the Champions. Of course, in your campaign, the Champions may have drastically changed in the intervening years, or even ceased to exist! Championsbane isn't going to let little details like that stand in its way....


SKJAM!

[Lord Liaden]

Flowers for Greystoke
Dr. Silverback asks the PCs for help; he has begun to lose his enhanced intelligence. His research indicates that his body has started to reject his genetic enhancements, and that before long he will revert to the simple ape he once was. The Doctor believes that he can reverse the process before it's too late, but to do that he will need data possessed by only one person - his creator, Dr. Phillippe Moreau.

The heroes will have to track down Moreau's current laboratory, and then "liberate" him from the protection not only of his newest (and most powerful) generation of animal-men, but of his current patrons: VIPER.

[Patriot]

Sorry to say this is the first time i have perused this thread, I like the Foxbat joinng the team story line, and have used it my self.

Genocide/Minutemen MK XII
Genocide had aquired micronized technology , and as such has re-modeled its Minuteman line
They are now 6 feet tell with the abilitys of the huge ones, and one other , A doppelganger module, they can change identities, and there cell structure can changed down to past the cellular level, making them nearly impossible to be detected, Utilizing a point to point transmission system , they can have there identities changed at will, with the beaming of brain engrams from genocide
They Remain passive in a normal identity, till they witness use of mutant powers, then they activate keeping in mind that they may have had the opportunity to observe there mutant opponent for quite some time.
In my Campaign they have infiltrated governments and agancies all over the worl , there are around 1020 of then that have not been rooted out, and they are nearly impossible to find until they ativate, even them you need to be watching with a scanner of some sort, to pick up the radio wave burst around them to id them for sure

The Orginization Genocide is a major part of my campaign , (moreso then VIPER) If you wish, a will post the minutemen MK XII here, after i convert him over to HD/5th ed.

[Mastermind]

The Star of Karnak

GRAB is hired by an unknown patron to steal the Star of Karnak on display at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston along with other Egyptian funerary objects on tour from a recently uncovered tomb in the Valley of Kings. They ask Catteran to join for some more muscle. Catteran may know one of the PCs and tips him off or asks him to join in on the job.

However, DEMON also wants the artifact and hire Blowtorch, Riptide, Zephyr and Temblor (calling them the Elemetal Evils).

Mayhem ensues as the groups attempt to steal the gem on the same night, causing a three way battle between GRAB, the Elemental Evils and the Heroes. It gets worse when Anubis shows up, animates mummies from some of the displays, and tries to get the gem for himself.

Who is the unknown patron that hired Grab? Will Blowtorch be distracted and start burning millions of dollars worth of art? Will the rest of the Crowns of Krim come and recover Temblor? Will the PCs be sympathetic towards GRAB? What about international ramifications if the object, property of the Egyptian government, is stolen?

-----------------
actually this will soon be played out in my campaign!

[Irishman]

I have a whole spiral notebook FULL of these things, most of them related back to 2nd and 3rd edition Villians (Anyone remember the Blood? Or Circle?. Viper or even the most horrible of suppliments HEROES OF THE NORTH! Evil Canadians! IEEEEEEeeeeee.....

If you guys are interested in these types of things, let me know and Illl post them.

We really should ask the moderator for a "Sticky" set for this thread. Its an invaluable reference tool.

Irishman

[Insaniac99]

Originally posted by Irishman
I have a whole spiral notebook FULL of these things, most of them related back to 2nd and 3rd edition Villians (Anyone remember the Blood? Or Circle?. Viper or even the most horrible of suppliments HEROES OF THE NORTH! Evil Canadians! IEEEEEEeeeeee.....

If you guys are interested in these types of things, let me know and Illl post them.

We really should ask the moderator for a "Sticky" set for this thread. Its an invaluable reference tool.

Irishman

I atleast am interested in them, please post them!

[bryanb]

Originally posted by Irishman
I have a whole spiral notebook FULL of these things, most of them related back to 2nd and 3rd edition Villians (Anyone remember the Blood? Or Circle?. Viper or even the most horrible of suppliments HEROES OF THE NORTH! Evil Canadians! IEEEEEEeeeeee.....

If you guys are interested in these types of things, let me know and Illl post them.

We really should ask the moderator for a "Sticky" set for this thread. Its an invaluable reference tool.

Irishman


I say bring them on Irishman!!

[SKJAM!]

Sooperpets

VIPER's latest attempt at creating hideous genetic monsters hasn't gone too well, due to them turning out pretty darn wimpy. But after watching some Saturday morning cartoons to unwind, the VIPER leader has come up with a new evil plan.

Shortly thereafter, "Sooperpets" become all the rage. These adorable little creatures are cuddly, easily trained, and have extremely low-level powers (flame breath equivalent to a Bic lighter, for example.) They come in several different varieties and colors, some combinations quite rare.

The trick is that the Sooperpets don't have any of the hideous secrets a paranoid hero might suspect, like a taste for human flesh, the ability to grow to building-wrecking size, or acting as VIPER spies. Attempts to prove any of these theories just make the heroes look silly.

Instead, the evil twist is that VIPER operatives are working behind the scenes to make the possession and sale of Sooperpets illegal. This will cause the black market value of Sooperpets to rocket, ensuring big profits for VIPER, which is the only source. Also, by making these cute, mostly harmless critters illegal, VIPER hopes to turn children against legitimate government regulations and thus easier prey for other inticements to crime.

Of course, other criminals might find their own ways of exploiting Sooperpets.....

SKJAM!
"We are still here!"--Morpheus

[Irishman]

An Old CLOWN plot I used against the players. A plot that will forever be known as....

THE GREAT JELLO CAPER!
Clown, for reasons that we cannot understand, decided to fill the Charlotte Coloseum with JELLO(tm) to make the worlds largest Jello Mould. During this time, they take all the cleaning staff hostage. They then dress up as the hostages, and put animatronic robots of themselves in the scaffolding. When the heros arive, they see Clown (robots) and the Hostages (disguised members of CLOWN).

So a fight breaks out. HOWEVER, the robots are (1) Extremely lifelike (2) Extremly Fragile, and (3) Set to self destruct.

SO when the PCs attack, horrible things happen, like villans' arms getting shot off, energy beams setting the villans (robots) on fire where they burn horribly to "death". All the time the heros dont know these are robots. They think they their powers are somehow supped up.

[GM Note, roll a handfull of dice behind your screen every time your players roll damage to have them think this is going on. *evil grin*.]

In the end, 2 PCs were truamatised by the incident, 1 PCs Enraged when People are Killed, went of and attacked another PC, and one PC tried unsucessfully to revive a dying Villan (robot), who died in her arms.

In the end, (the fight taking so long, the JELLO(tm) had plenty of time to set), the characters took the hostages out of the coloseum. The hostages thanked them profusley, walked over to the CLOWN car, hopped in and dissapeard.

At which point the Characters knew they had been Duped.

The real hostages were later found in a room under the JELLO filled anlke deep with plastic spoons, and a note spraypainted on the wall saying. "Dont eat all of this at once".

:D :D :D :D :D :D

IT WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST GM COUPS OF MY CAREER!.

Never had I had so many Players look at me wide eyed and slack jawed with disbelief. The anger creeping across their faces only enhanced the howls of laughter I produced.

Alas, it was early in their career as Players, and they soon learned that in MY campaign... NOTHING is as it appears on the surface.

Irishman

[Insaniac99]

BWAHAHAHYHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! POST MORE!@!!!!!!!!

[Lord Liaden]

That was truly inspired, Irishman, and a great bit of strategic GMing. Unfortunately, IMHO it's also an example of why so many players have come to hate CLOWN. Even more than being beaten or captured, many players resent having their PCs humiliated, and CLOWN all too often was used to that effect. Fun for the GM, but your players' anger hints that it was less fun for them.

In my experience a GM can get away with using CLOWN this way one time. If it happens more often, though, you start seeing Codes vs. Killing being bought off for when Merry Andrew and Co. come to town again. ;)

Of course, you may have found the right balance with your players to avoid that. :)

[Rechan]

That's... EVIL. EVIL EVIL EVIL, Irishman. :)

Using androids as yourself, and dressing as the hostages. Hehehe. On the other hand, I wish I could do that for My PCs... I can't, because one of the PCs has this power of perception that allows him to analyze non-living things; if it's alive, or has an 'aura' (like magic) he can't see it, has this big blob. So he would detect the robots.

[Irishman]

Ah Rechan,

You must still be early in your quest for GM-ness. Sit at the foot of the master and learn. Every PC has his weakness, and it is your duty, nay your Divine Right, to exploit that weakness. For the ones known as PCs are a crafy lot, and will work hard to derail your most dedicated of adventures.

If your character can dectect life, simply have a mentalist in the group mind control the hostages to put on the suits, so the PCs really beat up the hostages, and rescue the villans.

Cruel...

Yes...

But remember the words of Machiavelli. "All is Fair in Love, War, and Champions".

However, now my PCs are on to my ploys, so I must get even more devious in my actions. Together though, we both grow stronger. One day, one of them will rize up and strike me down and take my place.

Such is the way of the Dark Side.

[Rechan]

To tell you the truth, Irishman, I don't like mentalists. The PCs really have Bad Egos, and any Mentalist worth their salt could wipe the floor with them; they is UBER.

However, I have devised a way or two. The PC cannot descern anything with an 'Aura' (This term 'Aura' has been left vague for GM manipulation).

I devised that since the PC cannot see organic things, then simply take the anamatronic skeleton, and place biological functions atop of it. Synthetic, living skin, etc. Rig a few vat-grown organs to a system to let them survive. That way, it produces a falce 'aura' due to biological functions (And when they hit it, it gets all sticky and gooy and realistic!).

Or a mystic places a spell or so over the androids, giving them an 'aura', because it is an extension of his power, linked to him.

[Mastermind]

Originally posted by Rechan
To tell you the truth, Irishman, I don't like mentalists. The PCs really have Bad Egos, and any Mentalist worth their salt could wipe the floor with them; they is UBER.
.

And there's a problem with that?
Bad guys should exploit their weaknesses. I believe that once in a while, in good comic book tradition, that the characters should get the beat down.

[mr_nau]

Okay, this isn't really a single plot seed, but may be an interesting idea for a new game... I'm imagining a world worse for wear in the near future. This is merely conjecture, but it makes for an interesting gaming environment I think.

4 years down the road, the dollar has dropped to an all time low as countries switch to the euro as the main trade currency. America, in the throes of a deep depression continues to push on with a military economy. Canada, is suffering, but less so than America, and mostly due to loss of trade with the US as their economy slumps. The US administration, sees Canada's weak military as an open door for annexation and does so, further straining the economy. The sagging US economy ends up hurting the rest of the world economy as it writes off debts to countries it is overseeing. It is in this time and this place that heroes are needed. Everyone is hurting for money, which means crime pays, and mostly it pays the government officials to look the other way. Large scale business can survive because they have more money, but the average citizen is living in dirty run down cities. I'd run it as a heroic game, maybe some small super powers, if they were significantly limited.

[Rerednaw]

============
Job Opening
============
Villains: Ultimates, Pulsar, or any other group/solos that can be used for comic relief.

After yet another humilating defeat at the hands of the PCs/Hunteds/Whatever, which resulted in one or two of his teammates being sent to Stronghold, Binder has decided that his group needs fresh/stronger blood. So he posts an ad on villainyunbound.com announcing a grand melee to determine who is worthly of joining his team.

Pulsar: "The Ultimates? Recruiting? Well they aren't as powerful as me, but I suppose they would at least make decent human shields, er I mean teammates while I reap the glory. Morgan Fairchild will finally be mine!"

Grond: "RRrrrrrrrR!" [translation:"Me strongest! Me show world me toughe..touff...er strong!"]

Like all good ideas (or evil ones) this one gets out of hand and entire plethora of villains decend upon the site of the melee (an old deserted ballpark, the franchise expansion team left for a better contract in another state). The conglomeration of rivalries, petty hatreds, megalomania, mental instabilities and sheer firepower result in a highly volatile situation with almost an unlimited potental for destruction.

The PCs could hear of this through the grapevine, their contacts, or simply the news that states that a great deal of villains have been sighted in their city, yet oddly none have perpretrated any crimes (the villains don't want to get caught and miss to join the premier group). Or they could simply see it on the news when a new copter flying over the city sends live pictures of the combat taking place below.

As a GM you could opt out the truly bloodsthirsty or cosmically powerful villains, as the Ultimates aren't really in their league (and aren't prone to casual killing either). Or one or more of them could show up just to prove who's REALLY the boss.

===============================================
Foxbot Model 101 "Fox One! Fox Two! Fox Three!"
===============================================
Villains: Foxbat, Mechanon.

Foxbat has conceived of his greatest master plan! Every great supervillain always has a legion of cybernetic robots slavishly loyal to his every whim. Besides, after Foxbat has seen the Terminator movies 80 times, he figures cyborgs are cool...really cool. And robots don't complain or whine like human lackeys do, they don't need to get paid or eat, nor do they hurt his feelings or run away when the going gets a little tough.

But what to use as a prototype model to create his vast army? Well only the best will do! Mechanon of course. A little judicious reprogramming after the robot falls for his ingenously clever trap/ambush (a swimming pool and some plugged in household appliances) and Foxbat will be all set. Foxbat will also have few custom modifications to his ping pong ball gun (water and shock charges, everyone KNOWS robots always short out) and Mechanon will be helpless before the might of Foxbat!

Reprogramming Mechanon should be easy, after Foxbat's vast experience with Lego robots.

The PCs hear about this of course when Foxbat issues challenges to Mechanon over the radio, television and even on the Goodyear blimp. The players may or may not arrive, or chose to arrive when Mechanon makes his appearance to disintegrate the organic for his impertinence.

As a fluke the GM could have Foxbat's master plan actually work...for a little while. A freak (unbelievably lucky) hit with the ping pong ball gun combined with the immersion in the electrified pool during a peak solar flare and a temporary fluctuation of the EM field of the Van Allen belt briefly randomizes Mechanon's programming so he follows Foxbat's every command, even to the extent of turning over a manufacturing facility to Foxbat's control. Of course Foxbat immediately begins churning out a dozen different designs of Foxbots.

The PCs should find the hideout/factory just when Mechanon's backup programming reasserts itself and restore the killer cyborg to his usual chipper personality.

Just a couple ideas I have tossing around.

Cheers.

[Haerandir]

Three Systems for Steve Jackson under the sky,
Seven for White Wolf in their halls of stone,
Nine for the alternative publishers doomed to die,
One for TSR on his dark throne
In the Land of Wizards of the Coast where the money lie.
One System to rule them all, One System to find them,
One System to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Wizards of the Coast where the money lie.


LOL. Might scan better if the final line read:

"In the land of WotC where the dollars lie."

You might even want to spell out WotC phonetically: Like Wotsee or something.

[Rerednaw]

Originally posted by Haerandir
LOL. Might scan better if the final line read:

"In the land of WotC where the dollars lie."

You might even want to spell out WotC phonetically: Like Wotsee or something.

Yeah I thought about that, but not everyone knows what WotC stands for...but it does read better...hmmm. And since WotC is worldwide...money over dollars, although dollars is more in sync with shadows...well maybe moneys...

Cheers.

[Rechan]

Originally posted by Mastermind
And there's a problem with that?
Bad guys should exploit their weaknesses. I believe that once in a while, in good comic book tradition, that the characters should get the beat down.

Well, I play a Dark Champions game. So... beaing 'beat down' will Not Be Pleasant.

When the Mentalist can go 'Oh Look, the Ghost Knight, notorious dude who all the mafia and various other individuals wants to put down immediately. *Telepathic Zap*. Ah ha. I have his secret Id. He is now screwed!" and screw an entire campaign over.

Ah, no. :)

[death tribble]

Foxbat takes out Mechanon ?

The sheer disbelief on characters faces would be worth it.

[TheEmerged]

Originally posted by Rechan
When the Mentalist can go 'Oh Look, the Ghost Knight, notorious dude who all the mafia and various other individuals wants to put down immediately. *Telepathic Zap*. Ah ha. I have his secret Id. He is now screwed!" and screw an entire campaign over.

One of many reasons why the whole Secret Identity thing is probably the least believable genre convention in comics.

[Hermit]

This is a repost from another earlire thread that's since faded back, but as it's about plot seeds for the Champions, I figured I could repost it here.

Defender: James Harmon IV is holding a charity ball (Or some other social function, it works best if you have a PC in Charity work or high society as well). That is when ARGENT agents attack, having infiltrated as the serving staff. They know Defender has a knack for showing up when Harmon Industries is in trouble. This 'hold up' is a ruse, to try to get a scan of the Defender armor. ARGENT would then have Defender's tech in their hands. The PCs present just became the wildcards that might prevent this ambush and theft from working.

Ironclad: We tend to forget the Dorlavian is AWOL from his people's military forces. Perhaps this part of the story is something he's not shared, even with his teammates. A crack team of Dorlavian commandos arrives, and attempts to 'repo' Ironclad for official court maritial and punishment. Perhaps his fellow Champions are out of town when this occurs. Will any of the PCs help someone who is labelled 'deserter' ? And why now? Maybe this is a ruse to save some higher officer's carreer.

Nighthawk: Your team of PCs returns to their own base. They might, or might not notice (depending on senses and perception rolls) that some security measures have been bypassed. There is a scent of blood. They find the wounded (And possibly dying if he doesn't get help) Nighthawk. The Champions have been captured, Homestead is compromised... and he's the only one to have escaped.

Sapphire: Corrie is holding another concert, something she doesn't get to do as often now that she's a hero. It's political in nature, kind of a "Para-normals are people too" message to it. Encouraging tolerance and understanding. Naturally, not everyone is so fond of this stuff. One Wyoming Senator is there, scowling. He gets up on stage to protest her open display of mutant powers...things get heated, and a there is a sudden dimming of the lights and a blue flash! And the Sentator lays dead, the glowing Sapphire looking around and swearing "I didn't do it"!
The IHA , working behind the scenes, is quick to pull strings. A Judge in their pocket puts a restraining order on Corrie's team mates NOT to interfere OR participate in the crimework (Clearly, the Champions would be biased). That's where the PCs come in. Hello Mystery.

Witchcraft: The normally quiet occultist is acting weird lately. She's acting more confident, and that's good. She's wearing more revealing costumes.. and that's... bewildering, though no guys are complaining. She may even be commiting crimes on the side. The Champions might try to defend their friend from the PCs until they can figure out what's wrong. The PCs maybe trying to capture her (or heck, one might be dating her, how many women does Defender NEED besmitten anyways?). What is going on? Is Witchcraft being corrupted by her sister or parents? or is it Witchcraft at all? Perhaps Talisman has been watching old Bewitched reruns where relations swap identities for a time.

[BoloOfEarth]

Originally posted by Rerednaw

===============================================
Foxbot Model 101 "Fox One! Fox Two! Fox Three!"
===============================================
Villains: Foxbat, Mechanon.


Okay, I must say, I loved this one. And with one of my player characters hunted by Foxbat, I'm running low on ideas for using our favorite lunatic. Many, many thanks!

[zakueins]

One of the members of the super-team I'm building is an openly lesbian Brick. Unfortunatly, she has Foxbat as a Hunted, but at the "mildly capture" level.

Turns out that Foxbat-
1)Has a crush on her
2)Won't take "no" for an answer
3)She gets enraged when dealing with people that won't take "no" for an answer about her sexual preferences and-
4)The last time she faced down Foxbat, she tied him into a square knot.

So...in the interests of hilarity and insanity, we have-

FOXDATE!-
Foxbat decides that he really, really likes a certian female NPC/character, so he's going to Make Her His! So, Foxbat steals some very advanced technology from ARGENT (a mind-control ray) and using his Impressive Reprogramming Skills, he now has a Love Ray!

Unfortunatly, when it hits the Woman of His Dreams, it doesn't work! Instead, EVERY woman but the Woman of His Dreams in ten miles has fallen head-over-heels for Foxbat and is willing to do ANYTHING to get rid of the competition! And, I do mean ANYTHING....

(Works well when you have several groups of female super-villans around....Eurostar's in town to do a robbery, while GRAB is casing the same joint, and Warmonger's working on increasing the crime rate, with a couple of squads of Shadow Army soldiers...).

[Hermit]

Eurostar
-Someone- save the Queen!: Fiacho is not pleased with the U.K.'s often independent behavior, especially recently. To make an example of it, he plans to have Eurostar kill the royal family and leave Buckingham palace a smoldering ruin. Fortunately, Brittish Intelligence has caught wind of this plan, and sees a chance not only to twhart it, but perhaps ambush Eurostar. They certainly aren't going to use the real queen as bait, but a double? That might work, it might work indeed. Obviously the official government super heroes can't be used, Eurostar would likely get suspicious if that group vanished. However, one of the PCs might do... the U.K. has everything from Make up to a prototype holo emmiter to help pull off the ruse. Convincing that PC maybe a problem, but governments of any sort can be quite... creative when they have to.

Bora, Bora, Bora: Bora, is dead, to begin with. Yet, the deceased mistress of winds is sure to come to mind when reports of a veritable hurricane following Eurostar wherever it goes come in. It seems no matter where the superterrorists head, a huge windstorm plagues them. As few love Eurostar, they wouldn't care, except that Eurostar is fleeing to major population centers as it tries to stay ahead. Is this the ghost of Bora haunting them for failing to protect her against VIPER? Did Eurostar meddle in something, mystical or scientific that has backfired? Or is some other figure behind this ill wind?

Americans need not apply: All over Europe, villains, new and established begin audacious raids and attacks on embassies, national monuments, and leaders. Each seems to be competing against the other in the areas of ferocity and damage. Eurostar has let leak that it's looking for new members, and the one who proves 'most worthy' will get to join. The prestige of the villain team is such that there are many applicants. Can the PCs stop them all?

[zakueins]

GROND!-

When Menton used Grond for one of his operations, he accidentaly releases the super-powered mind that matches the body of Grond (up the IQ to 30+, add a whole bunch of skills). After Grond punches Menton out, he escapes the players-then shows up around town robbing banks much more intellegently, making calls to ARGENT to get guns, etc, etc, etc...

A few days later, the Grond Gang shows up-Grond, perhaps 2-3 other supervillans (like Anklyosaur, Armadillo, and Pulsar), and a bunch of agents armed with ARGENT weapons. Does this newly intellegent Grond represent a threat that will one day rival Dr. Destroyer? Stay tuned...

[Twilight]

Originally posted by zakueins
GROND!-

When Menton used Grond for one of his operations, he accidentaly releases the super-powered mind that matches the body of Grond (up the IQ to 30+, add a whole bunch of skills). After Grond punches Menton out, he escapes the players-then shows up around town robbing banks much more intellegently, making calls to ARGENT to get guns, etc, etc, etc...

A few days later, the Grond Gang shows up-Grond, perhaps 2-3 other supervillans (like Anklyosaur, Armadillo, and Pulsar), and a bunch of agents armed with ARGENT weapons. Does this newly intellegent Grond represent a threat that will one day rival Dr. Destroyer? Stay tuned...


For some reason when I read this I got the mental image of Grond dressed like a 1930's gangster, complete with fedora and stogie in his mouth and speaking with the stereotypical gangster accent.

"Grond smash, schee."

;)

[zakueins]

Whyja think he's robbing all those banks?

Do you realize how much that kind of custom taloring costs?


Originally posted by Twilight
For some reason when I read this I got the mental image of Grond dressed like a 1930's gangster, complete with fedora and stogie in his mouth and speaking with the stereotypical gangster accent.

"Grond smash, schee."

;)

[zakueins]

GRAVITAR-

Call it "A Learning Experience"-Gravitar has been knocked around the block one too many times by teams of superheroes, and she comes to the realization that she can really only be in one place at one time.

Besides, she can't rule the whole world herself, can she? She'll still need some form of middle managment, so Gravitar decides to recruit some-and forms her own supervillianess team, in the form of Talisman, Esper, Howler, and enough others to round out a team roster (say about the same size as the players, in terms of points). To give her new team a good test run, she takes them to the PC's campaign city, and decides to stage a good, old-fashioned bank robbery (to fund her new little team and to test out their skills).

Gravitar is no fool-she already had some code-word strategies and has bought the Teamwork skill, and a few other members of the new team have the skill as well.

[Twilight]

Originally posted by zakueins
Whyja think he's robbing all those banks?

Do you realize how much that kind of custom taloring costs?

To say nothing of the cost of purchasing enough cuban cigars to satisfy him. :D

[zakueins]

TAKOFANES, THE UNDYING LORD-

*The Crowns of Krim come to the PCs, under a flag of truce. They tell the PCs that Takofanes plans to start a ritual that will bind them completely and utterly to His will-a ritual that will take place tonight, and can only take place once every 1000 years. The Crowns are not lying (and will submit to a mind-scan), but the ritual enchantments surrounding the area will keep them out. The Players have to stop the ritual-but the Crowns also warned Takofanes, via an intermediary, that "somebody" was coming-and the Crowns hope that their two greatest enemies slaughter each other.

*In a battle wtih Takofanes, something odd happens-he spares no effort to protect a little girl-whom appears to be utterly ordinary. Why?

[John515]

Zakeuins! I want to know why! Sounds pretty good.......

[zakueins]

That's up to you, as a GM.

Maybe Takofenes needs her sometime in the future for some ritual of arcane signifigance-and the only way to stop it is to kill this cute-as-a-button little girl...

Or, perhaps he recognized something in her-a previous love, perhaps, reincarnated?


Originally posted by John515
Zakeuins! I want to know why! Sounds pretty good.......

[Nato]

I couldn't sleep last night so I took all these plot seeds and made an alphabatized PDF file. It weighs in a 22 pages, formatted to look similar to Hero books. I'll forward the file to Ben to post in the freebies section. Hopefully people will get some use out of it.

[Hermit]

That's just cool. :) Thank you kindly, Nato.

(Not that my excitement shows any vanity on my part... ;) )

[Mastermind]

Originally posted by Nato
I couldn't sleep last night so I took all these plot seeds and made an alphabatized PDF file. It weighs in a 22 pages, formatted to look similar to Hero books. I'll forward the file to Ben to post in the freebies section. Hopefully people will get some use out of it.

Wow! That sounds very cool Nato. Thanks...

[Lord Liaden]

Originally posted by Nato
I couldn't sleep last night so I took all these plot seeds and made an alphabatized PDF file. It weighs in a 22 pages, formatted to look similar to Hero books. I'll forward the file to Ben to post in the freebies section. Hopefully people will get some use out of it.

Nato, you are the man! (At least you were before you changed your username.) ;)

I've noticed that we have a lot of fan-created free stuff available on this website: indices to the various books, FAQ and errata PDF files, listings of characters, character standup illos, spreadsheets, etc. I'm not terribly familiar with the web communities for other games: is it usual to have this level of fan contribution?

[lemming]

Originally posted by Nato
I couldn't sleep last night so I took all these plot seeds and made an alphabatized PDF file. Very cool Nato. note to self; send more coffee to Nato...

[Insaniac99]

that's AWESOME nato!

[Enforcer84]

too cool.

[zakueins]

CATERAN-
*A mysterious mystical sword somehow gets into her posession, and the Crowns of Krim come after her. Terrified, she turns to the PCs for protection.
*A man wearing traditional Scottish Highlander regalia is tearing the city apart, looking for "the McGowerie slut." Everything indicates that he's about as old as Cateran-and wants nothing more than her head on a pike.

[death tribble]

Lord Liaden,

Necromancer Games has a similar thing going with various of its posters now contributing to the works etc.

[death tribble]

ALIENS !

Howler becomes increasingly paranoid about losing her amulet to the aliens. She becomes convinced that any alien is working for THEM and is intent on removing her amulet. So in short order she takes out Vibron and Nebula. The problem is that the PCs find out that her next target is Firewing. Is Howler being manipulated by someone else or is her amulet affecting hjer sanity ? And will the PCs aid her against Firewing ?

Luck of the Draw

Mechanon's latest analysis of his defeats leads him to target those whos luck might be affecting his plans. For no apparant reason some of his plots have failed leading the robot to investigate the phenomenon of luck. Attacking the 'luckiest' kid alive Mechanon falls foul of the PCs who 'just happened' to be in the neighbourhood and then Howler who flys in and grabs the kid. Howler sets about seducing the kid in order to improve her own fortune and counteract the bad luck from superstitions. How will the PCs fend off the robot and foil Howler's plans ?

Superstition Mountain

An old children's show or cartoon reminds Howler of a place where the people can cause a known superstition to come true ie breaking a mirror is seven years bad luck. She therefore researches the place before heading off to prepare traps for the PCs. Can they stop her before they are doomed ?

[Lord Liaden]

I have seen the Dark!
A DNPC or other close acquaintance of one of the heroes has become involved in a cult, and the PC becomes concerned over his or her changed behavior. If the PC attempts to remove the convert from the cult headquarters by force, he is suddenly confronted by a host of hostile DEMON Brothers, including his DNPC. Alternatively, in a battle with DEMON the PC recognizes his friend among the forces opposing the heroes. The convert may even be possessed by a demon and have super-powers of his own.

The heroes will doubtless try to rescue the convert without actually harming him. Even if they succeed, they will still have to deprogram him or exorcise the possessing demon. They may think they've succeeded, but the DNPC could have actually been a willing participant in DEMON activities and is just waiting for the chance to betray the heroes to his masters.

It followed me home, honest.
After an attack by the heroes on a Demonhame, they're surprised to discover a small, adorably cute creature has hitched a ride back with them on their super vehicle, under a hero's cape, or the like. The creature ingratiates itself with the PCs who may decide to adopt it as a mascot.

Some time after bringing the creature to their base of operations, the heroes start to experience a string of non-damaging but bizarre failures of their facilities and equipment: blaster pistols shoot soap bubbles, the base computer won't stop singing "Daisy, Daisy," gravity-defying costumes stop defying gravity at inopportune times, etc.

The heroes begin to suspect that their new mascot is responsible. (It is in fact one of the infamous Gremlins, mischievous fouler of gadgets and machinery.) Trying to find and remove the elusive creature from their headquarters may prove difficult, though, since the gremlin doesn't want to leave.

As a further complication, DEMON may have planted the gremlin on the heroes, waiting for their base security to be impaired and the PCs distracted by their gremlin-hunt before launching an attack.

A Night at the Museum
The PCs break up a raid by DEMON on a museum, library, or other facility hosting a collection of rare books or mystic artifacts. The administrators of the collection ask the heroes to remain at the facility overnight to guard the collection until it can be removed, or to take the artifacts back to their base for temporary safe-keeping.

However, the attack by DEMON was a ruse. Their goal may have been to steal another, more closely guarded item, or to assassinate the heroes. One of the items now in the PC's care has been switched with a vessel containing a powerful demon, which is released that night. The PCs find themselves being stalked through the shadowed halls by a powerful and cunning monster.

Who would miss them?
A social or charity worker or street contact of the heroes comes to them asking for help: over the past month a large number of homeless people have disappeared off the streets. Investigation by the PCs will reveal the number to be nearly a hundred. They may find a common connection among several cases - a medical or similar facility offering to pay for volunteers for medical research.

When the PCs visit the facility they stumble across a DEMON operation. DEMON may be using the homeless people as sacrifices for a summoning ritual, or to create a host of undead monsters under their control, or simply as food for some horror. Whatever the heroes discover, all signs indicate that this facility was only using a handful of victims; DEMON must have much bigger plans for the scores more in their possession.

[FogHat]

Some seeds:

Stop Crying
1:) The news includes a story as public interest about a couple with a 2 year old who stopped sleeping and have a chuckle at their expense. "Boy Monica (other anchor) wonder when his parents sleep?. ha ha.. Well Goodnight Friends."

It isn't announced publically, at first, but all children who are around 2 years have stopped sleeping. The children are healthy but the parents can't keep awake 24/7.

Why is this happening? Will it spread? How many parents will lose it when confronting with a non-sleeping "Terrible Two" constantly? Will businesses grind to a halt as a large percentage of the workforce is forced to stay up all night? How single parent families would survive I have no idea. Can't work so can't pay for daycare so who is watching the kid(s) when the parent sleeps?

So, will it wear off or will they little nightmares become non-sleeping teens if they are allowed to live that long. Or can you figure out who is behind it and why.

Screw the Ratings
2:) Several TV anchors die at their news desk in campaign city while doing live broadcasts. It is reported as natural causes. However, could his have an connection with President (or some other important figure) planned live speech? How do you fine out if the deaths are natural and if not who is doing it and how to stop them?

[Tech]

Originally posted by death tribble
Lord Liaden,

Necromancer Games has a similar thing going with various of its posters now contributing to the works etc.

Makes you wonder if someone saw this and said, "Hey, this is great! Let's try it here."

GROND:
A rotten rich-kid has been denied entry into a city-wide art contest as he was found to be cheating by his teacher at school. While on his way home, he comes across Grond, who is simply wanting a place to stay for awhile. The kid lets Grond stay at his home/mansion and a thankful Grond decides to help him get in the art contest one way or the other.

[death tribble]

They were doing it before hand. I was there before joining here so can attest to it.

They didn't copy Hero and Hero didn't copy them.
Different genres, different philosophies but the same committed and dedicated fan base.

[Hermit]

Originally posted by death tribble
They were doing it before hand. I was there before joining here so can attest to it.

They didn't copy Hero and Hero didn't copy them.
Different genres, different philosophies but the same committed and dedicated fan base.

Which is the best kind. :)

As for me, I'm going to try to think on a few more, though we're actually running low on my favored characters/teams/organizations :)

[Nato]

Why don't we post some challenges then. Who do we need to make some plots for yet? Hmmm...

How about Hazard from Millennium City?

[Hermit]

Hazard
Fall Out: Tremendous luck can run out, and few in the CU have more Luck than Hazard. Lately, he's been hiring himself out to, and working with some of the PCs' enemies. Lucky breaks begin working against the PCs in more than one encounter. Assuming the PCs can figure the cause out, how do they break up the alliance and thus stop the 'luck infection', especially considering Hazard's merc code means he stays bought?

There's another one?: There's a new display of antiquities coming to town, collected from the Middle East. Hazard would normally pay it little mind, until he notices a picture of another bracelet that looks just like the one he himself has! While such theft is not normally his gig, the idea of doubling his luck makes him giddy with anticipation. However, his first attempt actually botches! Is the other bracelet protecting itself? or what?

Nighthawk Down: In yet another fierce fight with Hazard, Nighthawk unsuspectingly hits hard enough to endanger the charm. With an almost sentient response to protect both itself and its master, the bracelet strikes the Champion with enough bad luck to cause him to fall. Nighthawk nearly dies instantly, but instead hits his head and goes into a dangerous coma which he does not seem to awaken from. Witchcraft determines Nighthawk has been jinxed, and will likely die soon as fortune itself ruins his chances of recovery. The other Champions are out of town, so she turns to the PCs asking them for help in capturing Hazard, who has somehow done this. Of course, capturing Hazard, or even just convincing him to help somehow is not going to be easy.

[Hermit]

Anyone have ideas for 'Freakshow' from MC ? :)

[Rechan]

I know what I'm using Freakshow for. :D

Newshound Freakshow wants some publicity. But he's not about to spend the cash to do it. Nono. There's this nice, abandoned wearhouse in North Detroit where his old company had buried a few barrels. Freakshow tips off a reporter. Then plans on hunting the snooping reporters through the abandoned building. Of course, he's not prepared incase those chemicals accidently get all over his prey...

(Very good if you have a PC with an NPC that works for the newspaper... Like one of mine!)

Spine Tingler The local movie theater is having an old fashioned 'Horror Movie Marathon', to boost sales up. However, this isn't any fun when Freakshow slips into the projection booth, and slips in his Own copies of the movies, complete with subliminal messages.

Sorry if these aren't up to par; I just woke up and this caught my fancy. :)

[Hermit]

Nice, but I think you are now supposed to name the next 'Challenge' :)

"Is your plot seed fu strong?"

;)

[SKJAM!]

Campaign City is startled when a robbery is broken up by a Black Mask--but not the female one. Over the next few days, it becomes apparent that several Black Masks are now operating in the city, each one seemingly duplicating one of the past incarnations ot the heroes.

Is it 1) An elaborate prank?

2) A plan to lure the current Black Mask into a trap?

3) The result of a mysterious mastermind pulling all the Black Masks to the present for inscrutable purposes? And if so, is the timestream in danger?

SKJAM!

Next: Jimmy Dugan!

[Rechan]

Okay. Sorry; thought Hermit was steadily issuing challanges. :)

You want a challange, eh? ;) If I was feeling mean, I would suggest Zigzag. ;)

Instead, anybody got Plotseeds for Fenris from CKC?

[Nato]

Oh, PLEASE do ZigZag! I like him a bunch, so throw as many out for him as you can think up. One of my favorite new villains.

[Rechan]

Well, I like Fenris (And never see him mentioned). Atleast, I like the *attempt* with Fenris, but I don't like some aspects of his background. I found a much nicer explination for his behavior. :D

[Hermit]

Fenris
The Great Hunt: Frederick Rice had always believed there was "some truth" to the legends of werewolves. It is what lead him to his discovery in the first place. However, imagine his surprise when he encounters Reginald Talbot, a man who claims to be a 'True' Werewolf of the supernatural sort, and informs Rice that Talbot and other werewolves consider Fenris an abomination. They intend to hunt him, and kill him. The hunt will be violent, messy, and deadly for any normals who get in the way. That's where the PCs come in.

One Mixed Up Pup: Rice grows increasingly frustrated with his studies on how to 'cure' his loss of control. Inspired by a broadcast about Dr. Silverback; he decides working backwards might not be a bad idea.What if he were to talk a wolf, and make it more human like? He attempts to steal a timber wolf from a local zoo and do just that. Assuming the PCs don't find out and stop this, soon there will be a very confused wolf gaining the intellect of a man. Will he end up joining Fenris in becoming a killer of men? Or will it seek to find a higher purpose? How does the infamous Dr. Moreau feel about his work being duplicated?

"You don't know wolves":On a job, Fenris encounters Dr. Annette Kingston, an expert on wolves even more reknowned than his own secret identity. She totally disputes his assertion that his 'killer nature' comes from his wolf side, and believes he's just using it as an excuse. Rice has to wonder: What if she's right? Is his killer nature something he surpressed but was always in his human side? On the other hand, he may decide to share his experience with what he sees as a self righteous woman and give her a dose of the wolf as well!

[Hermit]

ZigZag
A Plastic Frame: The crime of a century is pulled off. A crime that could only be achieved by someone with super powers. PRIMUS finds clues that indicate ZigZag is the criminal, but when they find the guy with the goods; he claims he didn't do it!
The authorities don't believe him, so he ends up begging the PCs for help. Given his mouthy nature, the list of people he's offended is pretty long. Will the PCs bother?

My kind of guys!: While robbing a high tech lab, ZigZag somehow opens a portal to an alternate dimension full of fun loving, stretching beings. He tells them about "his" own place, and they decide to visit. They seem to accept ZigZag as ruler/owner of Earth, and go on the extradimensional equivalent of a rave while partying down with their host. ZigZag is litterally king of the carnival, and loving every minute of it. How do the PCs break this up?

Loss of Face: In one of his capers, ZigZag gets covered with another chemical spill. This one however, causes him to lose consistancy, and disfigures him horridly. Will he come to the PCs begging for help in finding a cure? Or will he end up deformed, bitter, and hateful? What or who caused the spill?

[Hermit]

You pick:
Either The Circle of the Scarlet Moon
or
Samhain

(Both mentioned in CU)

[Lord Liaden]

Battered Soul Syndrome
A terrified young woman named Angela Musgrave comes to the PCs for help. She claims that her husband Walter has been engaged in horrible occult rituals involving cannibalism, and has forced her to participate. She offers to tell the PCs all she knows about his activities as part of the Circle of the Scarlet Moon if the heroes will protect her.

Whether or not the heroes believe her story, Angela will shortly be attacked by supernatural horrors dispatched by her husband to silence her. To stop the attacks the PCs will have to confront Musgrave at his base of operations. As a further complication, Musgrave may succeed in recapturing his wife from the heroes to use as a sacrifice in an upcoming ritual, which the PCs must rush to prevent.

Let slip the gods of war!
The Crowns of Krim have apparently gone mad! They are rampaging openly and with incredible ferocity, causing death and destruction as never before. If the PCs confront them they are ruthlessly overwhelmed (if the heroes would be a match for the Crowns, the villains' power should be increased).

In the aftermath of the battle the heroes meet a regal woman named Michaela Sorensen. She freely admits to being the cause of the Crowns' rampage; a former student of the man who became Dark Seraph, she attempted a ritual to draw the power of the Iron Crown to herself, but only succeeded in weakening the restraints on the destructive impulses of all the Crowns. She claims that the Crowns are now driven to hunt her down and kill her.

Sorensen believes she can reverse the effects of the spell, but she needs to have all the Crowns in one specific spot - the PCs will have to lure the Crowns to it. If the heroes decide to accept her help, they will have to watch Sorensen for treachery; she may still hope to steal the Crowns' power or bind them to herself.

Top of the Heap
The activities of the Circle of the Scarlet Moon have become more extensive and more organized. Whether through confronting the Circle, via contacts with the Trismegistus Council, or being tipped off by one of the Circle members, the PCs learn that one member of the Circle, the necromancer James Abbot, has taken firm control of the group and is apparently working toward some major goal.

The heroes may have to thwart several of Abbot's schemes before confronting the Circle's leader himself. That's when they learn that James Abbot's greatest fear has come true: the Archlich Takofanes has stolen his soul, and Abbot now serves that monster's bidding and channels part of his power. The PCs may even be faced with Takofanes himself!

Note: I want to think a little more about Samhain, but anyone else who wants to take him on should feel free to do so. :) For my challenge, I nominate Photon.

[Lord Liaden]

Alpha Malvan
In the absence of Firewing a new young gladiator, Prismat Axe, has risen to the top of the heap in the bloody arena of Malva. Determined to prove himself the greatest gladiator of all, he has journeyed to Earth to challenge Firewing to single combat, which the elder fighter of course readily accepts.

In order to stop the two gladiators' incredibly destructive battle, the PCs will have to try to step in between them. Unfortunately Firewing and Prismat Axe will be so incensed at an interruption of honorable combat that they'll both attack the heroes!

(Note: "Prismat Axe" was mentioned in the fine 4E Champs supplement Invasions: Target Earth by Cyrus G. Harris. I just always liked that name.) :cool:

Edge
Firewing has been bested by Earth's superheroes one too many times; his pride demands that he gain even greater power so as to become unbeatable. The heroes may note a shift in the targets of Firewing's attacks: scientists, mystics, ancient artifacts, anything that Firewing suspects might give him the power he seeks.

Eventually Firewing learns of or is contacted by a scientist or sorceror who agrees to help him augment his abilities, if Firewing obtains the finances he needs for the process. The PCs may be startled to confront Firewing robbing a common bank! If the heroes have figured out what Firewing is after, they may be able to track down the site of the experiment. Can they stop it before Firewing becomes virtually invincible?

It's also very possible that the person "helping" Firewing has hidden motives. Perhaps Firewing's power boost is only temporary, and he must continue to help this person in exchange for maintaining his might. This scientist might be in the employ of Teleios, who hopes to clone an army of Firewings. Or he may be trying to steal the gladiator's power for himself, resulting in a new Firewing with a very different agenda from the old one.

[Enforcer84]

<b>Don't Cross the Streams!</b>
Hazard encounters a hero, also possessing of amazing luck. The ensuing battle results in a temporary(?) nullification of <b>both</b> combatants abilties. Now Hazard and this hero must find away to return their lick or figure out how to press on with out it.

[Rechan]

Originally posted by Hermit
Fenris

"You don't know wolves":On a job, Fenris encounters Dr. Annette Kingston, an expert on wolves even more reknowned than his own secret identity. She totally disputes his assertion that his 'killer nature' comes from his wolf side, and believes he's just using it as an excuse. Rice has to wonder: What if she's right? Is his killer nature something he surpressed but was always in his human side? On the other hand, he may decide to share his experience with what he sees as a self righteous woman and give her a dose of the wolf as well!

Delicious, Hermit! :D That's actually how I retooled Fenris. I don't like the fact that 'the inner wolf is bloodthirsty and murderous and desirse death'. No. Any predatory species could probably use that motif, but really, wolves aren't *that* savage, and generally don't Hunt that much; their main diet consists of rodents.

However, I reasoned that psychologically, it is not the *Inner wolf*, buat the *inner Man*. Man, stripped of his morales and his ethics, reason and common sense, is very brutal and savage. The 'wolf' merely opens a door in the mind to a much simpler mindset, more base desires that aren't very complex; instinctive.

Okay, so I'm a wolf softie. :)

I also like the first one! And the second...

[Trebuchet]

Originally posted by Rechan
Any predatory species could probably use that motif, but really, wolves aren't *that* savage, and generally don't Hunt that much; their main diet consists of rodents. Try telling that one to a herd of caribou... :D

(I'm a huge fan of wolves myself, ever since I read Farley Mowat's classic Never Cry Wolf.)

[Hermit]

Originally posted by Rechan
Delicious, Hermit! :D That's actually how I retooled Fenris.

Glad you like :) Actually, in all honesty, it was your earlier comment about finding a 'much nicer explanation for his behavior' that inspired that one, though I'm not sure homicidal tendencies from the human side are really NICER per se (Though, if you're a wolfophile, I can see why they might be ;) )

The amusing thing is I can see a lot of origin stories for PCs in some of the seeds. For example, nothing to stop Annette from becoming "She-Wolf", a lupine powered superheroine determined to fight her own instincts and stop Fenris.

And, I like Lord Liaden's Alpha Malvan, a lot. I may vary that one for making my own Malvan PC if I ever get the chance. Sure, I know that alien Gladiators are over done, but that's only true in the 3rd person, such as THEIR Alien Gladiators ;)

[Rechan]

Yeah. I'd pondered an entire 'Team' with a wolf or predatory theme. One having merely the power of Mind-Link and some offensive capabilities; basicly the Pack Coordinator. :) (Blame me for watching Dog Soldiers ;) )

But yeah, that sounds pretty good, to me.

So... Okay, folks. Gimmie some... RIPTIDE Plotseeds.

[BoloOfEarth]

Riptide

Dreams Die Hard: Margie has decided that, if Sapphire can make it as a singer, so can she. So she begins disrupting various concerts, clubs, and other musical events, holding the audience hostage long enough to perform a few songs. At one of these gigs, an agent (musical, not criminal -- well, no more so than normal) decides he wants to represent her. However, he has no way to contact her, and manipulates the heroes to get his meeting. But it won't work if she ends up in prison, so he also recruits some... other help. (This is a guy who makes Frasier's agent seem like a paragon of virtue and ethics.)

Get This Gunk Outta Me! Riptide does a side job with the Ultimates and has the misfortune to get caught in one of Binder's wide glue-beams. His glue has bound itself with her body chemistry and threatens to kill the poor girl, but Binder has better things to do than help her. So she begins kidnapping chemists and doctors in the hope that somebody can provide a cure.

Water, Water, Everywhere: Riptide discovers that, in addition to turning into water herself, she can control other bodies of water. Well, maybe "control" is a little too strong a word. Perhaps "influence" is better. Heck, she has little if any control of her new-found power and is causing massive coastal waves, water main breaks all over town, widespread droughts, etc. Can the heroes convince her to stop before it's too late?

[BoloOfEarth]

Has anybody found a good use for Devastator (from Champions)? Let's hear a few!

[Hermit]

Well, I believe Lord Liaden challenged first, for Photon plot seeds. :) Here we go...

Photon
Dowry: As suggested in an official plot seed in CKC, the source of Photon's power could be ancient Malvan technology. While she is unaware of it, Photon's genetic code is turning more and more Malvan in nature. Then she encounters Firewing, though he does not pay her any mind. Suddenly overcome by new drives, Photon decides she must become worthy of being his consort and mate. She immediately goes out seeking to defeat as many heroes as possible to lay at his feet. How will this new irrational urge affect her normal refusal to kill? And when he learns of it, will Firewing accept her as an equal, or will his arrogance only make him all the more furious if she succeeds against foes that Firewing himself could not best?

Light Resistance: A new super heroine named “Glimmer� arrives in the PC's city. She seems determined to do good and acquits herself admirably in service to the community. Glimmer may even impress the PCs enough to get a spot on their team. Photon will also be making more appearances however; never at the same time. It would appear that Colleen's old personality has emerged, and now struggles for dominance with the new one. Given how stress triggers the change of which side is in charge as well as her power control, she may "flip" at the worst time. Can they help her?

She lights up my life: Greg is dating Colleen, when it happens. In a stressful moment, she transforms right in front of him, and flies off! After he gets over his shock, Greg realizes this may explain why Colleen has been so different. He doesn't want to go to the authorities with this knowledge, convinced they'll just arrest her. Greg tries to meet with the PCs with an offer of exchange, the secret ID of Photon, but only if they don't send her to prison and instead help to "cure" her. If Photon finds out about this "betrayal", her wrath will be terrible. Should the ambush work and she be captured, but the PCs break their word, Greg will do his very best to free her again. He still loves her.

Doctor's House Call: Colleen Dewey's lenses were indeed superior to her peers. News of her designs gets to Destroyer himself via his agents, and he soon leans how to expand on her work in directions she never considered. He also easily deduces that she must be Photon. He comes across a plan to make new orbital lasers, ones that are much smaller, and a dozen times more powerful. All he needs are energy projectors of the light emitting variety. Photon (along with any PC with similar powers) is at the top of the list as a key ingredient for their construction.


......
Okay, NOW someone do Devastator ;)

[Rechan]

Hee! Hermit watches Fraiser. :)

[Rechan]

Moths in the Closet: Devestator's suit is seen causing large amounts of damage. Reckless destruction. If the PCs have delt with Devestator, they know this isn't his normal MO, or the Media does, atleast. The damage is usually quick, hard hitting, and then gone before anyone can mount a full scale attack against the powersuiter. And about this time, Richard Wittgenstien shows up, asking the PC's help. He says that he turned his suit on one day and... it got up, and destroyed his wall, and flew out on its' own. He can tell them how to beat the suit, but they have to promise to give it back. Who's controlling the suit? Why? Can the PCs deal with the suit, and Richard?

Professional pangs: Richard Wittgenstien is proud of his old days. He misses them, and now these days are pretty easy, what with his suit. But he wants to test his skills against some other superthieves. Devestator issues a challange to the members of GRAB. He dares them to come after his suit, to try and steal it. If the PCs have had run ins with GRAB, they may realize how non-lethal and decent GRAB is. Devestator is going to splatter them. If the PCs aren't concerned, maybe someone close to GRAB who *is*, but realizes GRAB is deadset. Or maybe this is the chance for the PCs to get both GRAB and Devestator. Can the PCs avoid a bloodbath? How about catch two birds (A cat, a diamond, and a burglar) with one stone?

Test of a Tailor: The Warlord has noticed Devestator. He's tracked him down. However, the Warlord, having followed Devestator's carreer, isn't about to kill him. No, he is idly interested. This thief had the skill to get past his defenses, and worked his butt off to get a suit. So he's going to Test this bold little crook. He's going to send the War Machine after him, and see just how well he handles himself in a fight. The War Machine isn't going out for killing, but how many will get hurt in the crossfire? And if Devestator has faced the PCs and gotten wooped, what will he do, if he gets the backing of the Warlord, and now wants to *really* settle scores?

Let's see Kevin Poe and the New Purple Gang.

[BoloOfEarth]

Meeting of the Minds: Kevin Poe tracks down Utility and convinces him to pit his skills against PSI. With Kevin's scientific knowledge and Utility's real-world skills, they create a device to render psionic individuals powerless over a massive radius. Unfortunately, it has some detrimental effects on non-psionics. (This can be lessened intelligence, loss of emotional or ethical control, or anything else that strikes the GM's fancy.)

Old Meets New: Joseph Sorrelli (p. 74, Millennium City), whose father got his start in the original Purple Gang, decides it's time to bring these new upstars under his flag as he makes a bid to control organized crime in the city. This will not sit well with Kevin Poe, and threatens to cause widespread bloodshed.

Greater Minds Than Mine: After PSI unwittingly destroys one of Menton's ongoing schemes, the Mental Master decides to rid himself of the group. Learning of Kevin Poe's vendetta against PSI, Menton decides to provide some help, including influencing the Champions to lend a hand. What will the PCs do when Millennium City's premier hero team takes a much harsher stance against PSI and simultaneously ignores New Purple Gang crimes? And will Kevin Poe take the assistance without question, or will he wonder what the final price will be?

[BoloOfEarth]

BTW, Hermit, I'm sorry. I didn't catch that Lord Liaden had issued a Photon challenge before Rechen brought up Riptide.

I really like these challenges. They force me to consider individuals or groups that I normally don't use or maybe didn't even really look at before.

So, how about Bulldozer for the next challenge?

[Hermit]

No worries :) I miss stuff all the time so I surely can't throw stones. Also, I concur, the challenges were a good idea in that they do make you excercise the old gray matter. I hadn't really considered using Photon anytime soon, but that little challenge now has me thinking of bringing her into my games, and if/when I do- I'll be more prepared.

Bulldozer eh? Can't wait till someone tackles him ;)

[Lord Liaden]

SKJAM!'s earlier challenge kind of got lost in the shuffle; so without further ado, may I present Super World magazine's intrepid ace reporter:

Jimmy Dugan :eek:

Bad boys, watcha gonna do?
Through his keen journalistic instincts (and/or blind stinking luck), Jimmy Dugan unearths some embarrassing information about a PC hero: secret ID, past trouble with the law, romantic indiscretion with a supervillain, etc. Now, even though this would make a top selling story, Jimmy is understanding enough to cut the hero some slack and keep it under his hat - in exchange for an exclusive "ride along" with the hero and his teammates on their next patrol or mission.

Assuming the PCs go along with this, they'll have Dugan constantly leaning over their shoulder, trying to interview them in the middle of a firefight, slipping off alone to scout the villain's base, and generally complicating their lives even more than usual. Can the heroes keep Jimmy safe - or keep from killing him themselves? And will Dugan be content to keep his mouth shut for just this one favor?

Watch your back, I'm on your heels.
Another magazine has been launched competing with Super World for the superhero fan market, with a gung-ho reporter who considers him/herself the new Jimmy Dugan and hounds the heroes with the same aggravating dedication. Jimmy is feeling the heat from the competition, and redoubles his efforts to find ever more spectacular stories, and spectacular ways to report them. The heroes are suddenly tripping over two journalistic gadflies, each trying to outdo the other and causing progressively greater trouble.

Psst! Wanna hot tip on an armored car?
The super-hero story well has been pretty dry for Jimmy Dugan lately, and Jimmy's publisher has suggested moving him to "fluff pieces." He's actually hinting that he thinks Dugan may have lost his edge! Anxious to prove he still has what it takes, Jimmy decides to "inspire" a story. Hearing from his sources about a secret shipment of valuables (gems, high-tech components, rare artworks) that the PCs have been asked to guard, Jimmy contacts a minor villain he's bumped into on his beat, suggesting that he stage a robbery on the shipment. Jimmy will be there to record all the flashy details. The villain is to give up after putting on a good show, of course, but Dugan will pay for his bail, give him a tidy sum under the table, plus plenty of press coverage.

The villain agrees, and at the appointed time Jimmy waits with his camera and tape recorder as the shipment approaches, guarded by the PCs. Only when the villain arrives, he's brought more supervillains with him to ambush the heroes and make a real effort to steal the cargo! Whether or not the villains succeed, the PCs may spot Dugan lurking nearby and put two and two together. Do they finally have the ammunition to put this pest away for good, or can Jimmy talk his way out of this one? Maybe he has more information to trade for leniency: say, the villain's hideout, or where he's likely to take the stolen goods.

[Nato]

Hermit, thanks for thanks for the Zig Zag plot seeds. Would have thanked you earlier but my PS/2 ports on my motherboard died. Just now grabbed a USB keyboard so I can type again. Anyway, keep up the good work.

[death tribble]

Is this just real, is this a fantasy ? (Bulldozer)

Bulldozer turns up at GenCon to show the male gamers what a real man is and to hit on the girls in the costume parade. Only he picks on the wrong Drow babe to mess with. Sneering that 'No mere mortal touches Lolth, Demon Queen of the Spiders !' the woman transforms into a giant spider and pursues the petrified Bulldozer. Is this a mentalist from PSI picking on Bulldozer's secret fear ? a trick of Mirage ? Or horror of horrors the real thing ?

(I am not issuing challenges as I came up with a load of ideas and will post them)

[death tribble]

It's a hot time in the old town tonight ! (Blowtorch and Firewing)

Blowtorch loves fire and Firewing is the pre-eminent example of a fire wielder. However Blowtorch begins to develop an excessive dislike and then hatred for the coverage that Firewing receives. So he puts out a boast that 'he will show people what real fire is like and as a result put Firewing in his place.' Blowtorch sets off a massive fire that the PCs will have to rush to intercept and try to contain while Blowtorch hinders them. Then Firewing turns up. The alien is furious that anyone would do anything so dishonourable and so proceeds to take out his anger on Blowtorch. The PCs now have the fire and an angry Firewing to contend with.

[death tribble]

Machines that go bump in the night (the Warlord, War Machine and others)

The Warlord sends the War Machine out to 'collect' Devastator. However they are ambushed by Laser, Steel Commando, Devastator and Mechassassin. The Warlord does what any rational crime boss would do: Grabs someone close to the PCs and threatens to harm/kill them unless the PCs not only pick up the Laser and Devastator but find out how the War Machine was betrayed. And the clock is ticking.

Save our Supermodels ! (Leech)

The new season collection is being shown in Millenium City when the back stage area is attacked by Leech who forcibly kidnaps the models. Can the PCs find Leech before he does something permanent to the beautiful people he despises ?

Wild Thing (Menagerie)

During combat with the PCs, Menagerie suffers a head wound but still manages to escape. Some time later a freak show hits town with an amazing act. A woman who turns into beasts. Is Menagerie trying to turn over a new leaf ? Is she suffering from Amnesia ? Or is she suffering from amnesia and being exploited by a cynical promoter ? What will the PCs do ?

[death tribble]

We are the robots ! (Cybermind and Mechanon)

The PCs are called out when Mechanon turns up to finish off Cybermind once and for all. While the PCs try and stop either or both of them, Cybermind is saved by an unlikely savour, Dr Destroyer. Although Cybermind is grateful for his life he tells the 'good' doctor that he cannot do anything that would endanger the lives of people in the way that most of Destroyer's plots usually do. Destroyer accepts this and says he had no intention of being rewarded in this way. Instead he challenges Cybermind to break into another of Mechanon's bases and either trash it or give any recovered data to the PCs. Cybermind's hacker code accepts this as it will also get Mechanon off his back and not get anyone killed. But what will the PCs do ? How will Mechanon react to being thwarted again and this time by Dr Destroyer ? And why exactly does the 'good' Doctor want Mechanon sidelined ?

There Can be Only One ! (Brainwave)

Everybody knows who is the strongest mind but few, if any, would say that it is Brainwave. So Brainwave comes up with a complex and convoluted plan. He plants Viper armaments on PSI and sets these two enemies against each other while also enticing Menton to dispose of the mentalist organization that could threaten him. Brainwave also leaves clues for Dr Destroyer to locate Menton and punish his treacherous subordinate. The PCs then receive an anonymous tip off and will engage all the participants. Brainwave can then activate the Brainwave Device taking down all of them at one foul stroke leaving the city as free pickings for him. What could possibly go wrong ? (Like a hunted turning up after one of the above or a proxy being sent in place of Menton/Dr Destroyer say) And what will some of these do when they find out that someone tried to lure them into a trap ?

Sibling Rivalry. (Menton, Mentalla)

Mentalla has never really forgiven her dear brother for the beatings she received when Menton fled Dr Destroyer. So when she hears that her brother has been defeated or hurt, she rushes to the scene. To give her brother some payback for the pain she went through. How do the PCs seperate the warring siblings ? Has PSI set them both up to remove two powerful players ? Or has their ex-employer set things up for a joyous reunion ?

[death tribble]

Out of the frying pan and into the Firewing.

Firewing seems to have been extra active of late. PCs tracking him suddenly find themselves confronted with not one, not two but three Firewings ! Has the firey Alien found a way to duplicate or triplicate himself ? Is this some form of Magic ?
Has Telios overstepped the bounds again ? Or is this some trick of Mirage ?

One for all and All for one !

PCs watching television come across a live feed of an impending fight between Herculan and Ironclad. Before a blow is struck, Firewing appears. He launches into a passionate speech lamenting what has become of them all and asking has it come to this and where has all their honour gone ? He suggests that they team up together. The two aliens pause and then first Herculan and then Ironclad agree.
Is this some plot of IHA to smear Ironclad ? Is some mentalist toying with one or more of the aliens ? Is Mirage altering the feed in order to get the PCs to attack Ironclad ?

Fire ! I'll teach you to learn.

Firewing's latest battle sees a spirited Lady Blue diving in and out of the action. When a haughty Firewing insists that she desists, she refuses pointing out that she is saving lives from the debris and loose exchanges that Firewing and his opponent are responsible for, people that the press and others care little for and what kind of warrior is Firewing to scare those who cannot harm him ? This gives the alien pause as he notices the fear of the ordinary folk, something he never saw in the arena. He departs insisting that Lady Blue accompany him and tell him what he can do. The PCs do not get the rest but now Lady Blue may have something very dangerous to play with and some big business interests are certain to put a stop to this before it starts.

[death tribble]

ch-ch-ch-Changes (PSI)

A PSi scheme goes wrong and the group are forced into combat, a combat that results in Mind Slayer being badly injured and captured. PSI are then forced on the run by hot pursuit which never seems to let up. PSI's fortunes seem to be on the upturn again when Mind Slayer escapes incarceration and rejoins her comrades. She has suffered some memory loss but is otherwise her old self. Checks confirm she is the real deal and is not under coercion. However this is not their Mind Slayer but one from a different Time Line. One who suffered abuse at the hands of PSI and one who is bent on revenge on her former tormenters. Can the PCs take down the organization with Mind Slayer's help or will they end up saving PSI from Mind Slayer ? And how exactly were Law Enforcement officials able to track PSI so easily, was it Lancer making her push for the leadership ?

That old gang of mine (PSI)

Lancer turns up at the PCs HQ. Injured she asks for assistance from the PCs. Having survived the above scenario, the real Mind Slayer returned to PSI and sought to prove her love to Psimon by leading the group against the renegade version of her who she is sure is a puppet of Telios. Unfortunately Mind Slayer brought friends: Avar-7, Herculan, Timemaster and Firewing, The Alliance of Supervillains. The leaders of PSI (Medusa, Mind Slayer and Psimon) were captured as well as some of the others. Lancer is desperate to free them as it reminds her too much of her previous life.
Is this a PSI trick to capture the heroes or divert them ? And if this is true who do the heroes consider the bigger threat, PSI or the Alliance ?

A new Flame has come (PSI)

Psimon tires of both Medusa and Mind Slayer and kicks both of them out of PSI. While Medusa is upset and outraged, Mind Slayer is distraught. Then Psimon is seen out with a new lady love. The two rivals are forced to work together to get back to PSI and Psimon. How can the PCs stop the fury of two women scorned and just who is that woman with Psimon ? And isn't there just the oddest tone to her voice ? And why is Psimon so much in her thrall ?

[death tribble]

Anger is a many splendid thing (Holocaust)

Holocaust's latest scheme had him put to flight by the heroes. But on a TV interview a kid disses Holocaust big time saying the heroes put a righteous smackdown on him and stating that Holocaust is a real loser, matched only by that bimbo Gravitar. Holocaust sees red and begins tearing the city apart so that he can get his hands on the kid. And then Gravitar turns up with a similar idea in mind. How can the PCs save the kid and get Holocaust and Gravitar to calm down ? Or is this some plot of Mirage to pit the two powerhouses against each other and the PCs ? And if so why ?

If I could change the world (Talisman)

A swarthy, smoking, slightly overweight taxi driver is caught in the cross fire between the PCs and Talisman. As soon as she sees what has happened Talisman panics and rushes to his side, trying desperately to save his life. However he dies and Talisman becomes hysterical. Captain Chronos then appears and assures her that it was meant to happen despite how she feels. Talisman is not mollified and declaring that if Chronos won't change the past then she will, she grabs his tech and jumps back in time. Chronos begs the PCs to stop her but won't explain why Talisman is reacting this way. How do the PCs stop her and can they still save the taxi driver as well ?
(Note Talisman time travelling should really worry the PCs.
and everyone has kids or the elderly as being the source or secret. So why not a NYC taxi driver instead to really throw the PCs for a loop)

Should Old Acquaintance (Black Paladin)

Surveillance of the Black Paladin gives the PCs a real problem. He meets a strange woman who he obviously knows and has some reverence for, and she offers to restore his lady love if he defeats the PCs without using his medeaval equipment. The Paladin rises to the challenge acknowledging the woman who he refers to as the 'rightful queen of England' and Morgan. Has the surveillance equipment been rigged by Mirage to set them onto the Black Paladin ? Was the woman really King Arthur's sister Morgan Le Fey ? And how exactly did the Paladin and Le Fey fail to notice the surveillance ?

Oh and if anyone wants a challenge, Icicle.

[Mastermind]

Blue Hawaii

Always one to follow and "serve" the surfing community Slick of the Ultimates decides to hit the Hawiian Nationals. However, feeling a little sorry for Radium, unable to talk and cooped up all the time, he takes his buddy along without permission from Binder.

Enter the Heroes...either as surfing afficionados themselves or just vacationing. After a big Luau hosted by the notorius Rick Powell, several of the competitors are hospitalized and show symptons of radiation poisoning. When Rick is tracked to his hotel room, the heroes find Radium as well. Rick attempts to run only to return as Slick to help a probably overwhelmed Radium. They both attempt to flee and call the rest of their team. Will Binder, Blackstar, Cyclone, and Thuderbolt show up in time for round two or will they even show up at all, allowing Slick and Radium to pay for their unsanctioned holiday?

[Rechan]

Melting hearts: Icicle has fallen for one of the PCs. Be it the superhero persona, or the secret ID. Either way, she wants to impress her beau to be, and goes on a small crime spree for gifts, clothes, etc. Will the PC stumble upon her and have to deal with her? If the PC finds out, and he spurns her, will it send Icicle into a momentary emotional eruption? Eating ice cream doesn't cut it; icing the supermarket may.

Frozen Bonds: Someone has tracked Christine down. A someone claiming to be it a sibling, or parent, who also displays some form of power. Can the PCs handle a duo going on a celebrational spree? Or is this some way to manipulate the otherwise carefee cryokinetic to do something for their 'long lost relative'.

Premature Eruptions: Icicle's powers are getting out of control. She's freezing everything she's touching, blasts are erupting from her out of her will, and she's scared. Will the PCs be willing to help her cure this cold Midus's touch before watermains and sewers begin to suffer? And is this merely something wrong with her powers, or is something stronger here at work?

Man, those are kinda bland, aren't they?

I know it sounds really odd, but I can imagine Icicle and Riptide teaming up (Despite RIptide's vulnerability to cold). Their powers compliment one another just a little; water for the ice, water to stop flames that will harm Icicle, and the two have similar MOs.

Anyone else want a better crack at Icicle, go for it.

Next challange: Deuce from the MC book.

[Lord Liaden]

Fire and Dragons
The legendary Tournament of the Dragon is nigh, and the greatest martial artists around the world are preparing for the competition to determine the champion who will face the terrible Death Dragon. Unfortunately these warriors are also encountering an unexpected challenge: Firewing has heard rumors of the Tournament, and decided that this would be an excellent event to test his mettle and win great glory. The alien gladiator has been attacking prominent martial artists (including PCs) to learn the location of the Tournament, prove his worthiness to compete, and whittle down the potential competition.

However, Firewing is not a "martial artist" as the term is usually defined on Earth, not to mention a non-human from another planet; the Watchers of the Dragon who direct the Tournament would be unlikely to invite him to participate. The Watchers might request the help of powerful PC heroes to restrain Firewing before he incapacitates any more potential champions. Furthermore, any PCs participating in the Tournament may have to help defend the site from a Firewing incensed at being excluded and determined to crash the competition!

[death tribble]

So many colours in the Rainbow (Rainbow Archer)

The PCs are called in after a series of daring thefts. No-one has been killed. The sole evidence left is a coloured arrow, a different one each time. The targets have all been different and investigation reveals the angle or window to have been difficult. Can the PCs stop the Rainbow Archer from pulling off a series of seven crimes ?

This town ain't big enough for the both of us (Rainbow Archer vs Warpath)

Rainbow Archer does not like killers or agencies that have no compassion for human life (Dr Destroyer and Viper). So when Warpath starts using an improved design and shafts that mirror her own work, Marion Locksley won't take it. She hunts down Warpath and asks the PCs to keep the rest of the War Machine off her back while she settles matters with the other archer. Will the PCs agree or try and bring them all in ?

Robbing Robin

The producers of the Robin Hood show are having problems with destruction of the sets, spoiling of the film/video and 'unexpected' difficulties at the special effects studio. They ask the PCs for help as normal security has failed them and point to a bulletin board where Maid Marion has declared that the show MUST stick to the truth. No magic, giants or anything that does not correspond with the proper time period. And that she will stop them if they don't. Is Rainbow Archer taking the programme a tad too seriously and what can the PCs do to stop her ?

[death tribble]

Fight Night

During an attack by Grond, Ripper suddenly appears and attacks him from behind. He then proceeds to hit him a number of times while down before escaping. Grond then turns up at a newsroom and bad mouths Ripper promising revenge. Grond then returns the favour hitting Ripper with a car on Ripper's next outing. Ripper then appears on the news and bad mouths Grond asking if Grond has the stones for a fight. The two alternate appearances on news channals upping the ante each time.
The PCs are called in by Vince McMahon of the WWE. Wrestlemania is coming to Millennium City and Vince is concerned that the two plan on being an unexpected main event. Contrary to his TV personna Vince is concerned for the public and asks the PCs to stop the two behemoths from clashing. He also asks if it was not the idea of the two bricks, who was behind it. Can and will the PCs stop two powerhouses and find out why they seem to be imitating wrestlers ?

[Mastermind]

Originally posted by death tribble
Fight Night

. Can and will the PCs stop two powerhouses and find out why they seem to be imitating wrestlers ?

That's really very funny!:D

[Highwayman]

No Nukes is Good Nukes (Warlord)

The PCs get a tip about a weapons cache in Campaign City. After finding the well-hidden facility and fighting past surprisingly stiff Shadow Army resistance, they find the place filled with stolen Soviet nukes and weapons-grade uranium!

It turns out the the Warlord is the reason nuclear terrorism hasn't become the threat everyone feared it would be. For years, he's been using his arms market contacts to snatch up black market nukes in order to keep them out of "irresponsible" hands. But now the secret's out, and terrorists, supervillians, and would-be conquerers are coming by the score to fight over the prize. Will the PCs join the War Machine to beat them back, even if it means the Warlord gets away with the nukes, or do they take on all comers, and hope they weren't the only good guys to get the tip? Whatever they do, they better be careful with stray shots...

[death tribble]

Me and my shadow (Deuce)

Psimon shows up at the PCs base. Deuce's shadow self is missing and he is worried that Deuce's physical self will deteriorate. Unfortunately several individuals have been taking an unhealthy interest in Deuce. These include Mechanon, Talisman and Dr Destroyer. Who has got the Shadow self and what do they intend with it ? Or is Psimon up to some trick and duping the PCs.

BTW: Mastermind, thanks.

[death tribble]

Voices in my head (Signal Ghost and Tesseract)

After hearing about the robberies that Signal Ghost is committing, Tesseract's voices advise her to investigate. Signal Ghost finds that it's bad enough being pursued by Viper let alone a woman who appears out of nowhere from a strange angle. She resolves to let the PCs handle Tesseract by leaving clues to a job she intends to do and then get out quick when both Tesseract and the PCs turn up. But Viper are also able to follow clues and decides to crash the party. What do the PCs do when confronted by the men in green and two women who can seemingly vanish at will ?

Challenge. Dreamwitch from the UNTIL Superpowers Database.

[Highwayman]

Triple Cross (Slug, Stormfront, and Tesseract)

The Slug hires Stormfront and Tesseract to steal some Elder Worm artifacts. Put together, they create a pair of devices that can amplify superpowers in humans. Stormfront finds out, and persuades Tesseract to help him run a con on the Slug and steal the finished devices for themselves...

...which is just what the Slug wanted. If they use them, they will find their powers amplified a thousand times greater than they expected, and completely out of their control. Their amplified powers will eventually kill them, but not before they've permanently changed the Earth's climate, and punched a hole in time back to the Age of the Elder Worm...

Unnatural Selection (Slug and Teleios)
Teleios stumbles over the Elder Worm sequence in human DNA. Fascinated, he starts creating monstrosities the likes of which he has never imagined before, but he may find his conditioning techniques don't quite take on Elder Worm minds. If the Slug finds out, he will of course try to kill this blasphemous monkey and steal any useful discoveries for himself.

[death tribble]

You Little Monsters ! (Talisman and the Monster)

Kids. Doncha just hate them ? Talisman certainly does so she takes the Monster along to a kids party at McDonalds. And then casts a horrible spell. The Monster disappears but all the kids turn into miniture versions of the Monster and then run amok in the mall. How can the heroes stop Talisman and return the kids to normal ? And why did she do it in the first place ? And what happens when the kids come back and so does the Monster ?

[SKJAM!]

Omiai? Oh my!

Four of the five Zen Team member (Zen Mouse being the exception) have at least one living parent. And they're all single. One team member's parental unit gets really anxious to have grandchildren, and goes to the length of hiring a professional matchmaker to find a good prospect.

Now, this isn't the "family honor demands that you marry this person you've never met before"-style of arranged marriage. It's more, "cultural tradition requires you to at least give this meeting a serious try, and besides, we paid a fortune to set this up."

Some possibilities: If any of the PCs are single Japanese people, they get approached (in Secret ID usually, but perhaps in their super ID for some real wackiness) to be the marriage prospect. The matchmaker won't take "no" for an answer.

A master of disguise PC might be called upon if the matchmaker is unaware of the Zen Team member's double identity, to impersonate either the civilian or costumed identity since they need to be seen in two places at once.

Zen Scorpion becomes jealous of one of the parties to the omiai, and attempts to prove himself a superior suitor in his ineffable melodramatic style. (He has no intention of actually marrying the woman even if he wins her, of course.)


Banzai,
SKJAM!

[Lord Liaden]

Since Hermit first posted this challenge, I've been trying to think of plot seeds for the Spirit of Terror (from Champions Universe) that wouldn't necessarily limit him to one side of the Atlantic. You can tell me if you think I've succeeded:

Houseguest from Hell
A cult of neo-Druids has committed kidnappings and ritual sacrifices in the vicinity of Campaign City. The police or investigative PCs succeed in tracking down the cult, but all they find are the bodies of the cultists who apparently killed each other in an orgy of bloodshed. Shortly thereafter the level of random violence, gang warfare and violent protests in the city starts to rise dramatically.

The cultists were attempting to summon Samhain, and succeeded, but were less successful at controlling it. Now the fear demon is loose in a new area. The PCs will have to determine the source of the increased social unrest, and may have to research Samhain to learn how to defeat it.

Scarlet Lunacy
A powerful member of an occult organization, such as a DEMON Morbane or one of the Circle of the Scarlet Moon, is using Samhain as his agent, having bound the demonic being to his will - or so he believes. Actually Samhain has stimulated its "master's" distrust and fear of his rivals within the organization, and their fear of him, leading to open conflict between them.

PC heroes will notice a greatly increased incidence of harmful magical events and supernatural monsters on their streets, with corresponding casualties among innocent civilians. They may quickly learn that the occult group has decended into civil warfare, but it should take several encounters before they discover what sparked it. Can they persuade the cultists that they're being used? If the heroes finally do confront Samhain, they'll be in for an unpleasant surprise: the monster has been feeding on the fear and magical energies stirred up by the conflict, and is now stronger than ever!

Spirit of the Times
Britain's foremost hero team, the New Knights of the Round Table, have been expressing increasingly radical political views. They claim that the United States' unchecked power is a threat to world stability, and that the United Kingdom should oppose it, not stand as its ally. Surprisingly, a growing number of members of Parliament and of the general British populace are expressing support for the New Knights' views. The New Knights finally start attacking American interests on British soil, or British diplomats or industrialists in the United States, which brings them into conflict with PC heroes.

Samhain has been stirring up fear of America in the British heroes and the people of the UK, hoping to provoke open warfare between the two countries. Even if the PCs can defeat the New Knights, they will still have to find and contain Samhain before he sets off a new Anglo-American war.

[memesis]

Originally posted by Mastermind
And there's a problem with that?
Bad guys should exploit their weaknesses. I believe that once in a while, in good comic book tradition, that the characters should get the beat down.

There's a problem here :)

Any villain, properly constructed, can probably render a beatdown on even a decent party. Mentalists, however, are special. If the NPC has any of the stock mentalist powers (Mind Control, Ego Attack or Telepathy) and is played with ANY brains whatsoever, it's more than a beatdown - the hero team has no chance. And now that our hero team is lying stunned on the floor, either with Telepathy or a bit of deft costume-removal, the heroes' private lives are basically OVER. This is a major shift in any campaign's tone, and not all GMs are willing to go for it.

This whole "I will drop you into a shark-infested deathtrap while I go off to destroy the world but I won't peek under the cowl" stuff is fine for certain cinematic games. But it doesn't work in all games.

[memesis]

Originally posted by TheEmerged
One of many reasons why the whole Secret Identity thing is probably the least believable genre convention in comics.

Nine out of ten secret agents, undercover cops, bank robbers and KKK members agree that a Secret Identity is a valuable thing to have when you're committing acts that someone else very much wants to stop you from accomplishing.

Powered vigilantes who want some sort of private life fall into this category too. The solution is not always "screw Secret ID, your family and friends are now on Larry King Live and looking like deer caught in headlights". Sometimes, the solution is not to bring in NPC characters who are capable of effortlessly discovering facts characters spent years working to hide. :)

[death tribble]

Lord Liaden,

I have had difficuty working out how and why I would use Samhain. So these seeds work.
And as for the last one all it takes to start this off is one American bragging about Winning the War of Independence or saving everyone in World War 1 and 2.

[death tribble]

The next batch of ideas

Grond Smash ! (Grond)

The opening of the Hulk movie has not gone unnoticed by the paranomal community. And someone in particular is keen to show that there is only one green skinned Goliath. So Grond crashes the premiere in Los Angeles. Can the heroes stop Grond AND simultaneously stop property damage particularly near that famous Chinese theatre ?

That joke isn't funny anymore. (Black Harlequin and others)

The Black Harlequin's last little escapade resulted in over 10 dead including children. There is a quite a manhunt for him by the police and law enforcement authorities. Security everywhere has been tightened up. The effect of this is that several lucrative jobs for people like Grab have been spoiled due to heavy PRIMUS/UNTIL and Superhero presence. Also some of the villain community, who will not kill, are sick of the psycho and now begin hunting him down as well. What will the heroes do when confronted by the Harlequin and then a vengeful underworld ?

So Sue Me ! (Leech)

The latest woman to bear the mantle of Britannia is on a good will visit to the States. As she is quite the looker, Leech attacks her and is promptly thrashed. A lawyer then appears to represent the 'poor wretch' and sets about sueing Britannia and the British government and getting lots of positive TV coverage for his client. The British government take a very dim view of this and start asking why their ambassador is being treated like this. The heroes have to find out whether the attack was pre-meditated, if anyone is behind the attack and prevent Britannia from finishing what she started.

Don't mention the war (All American)

On one of the talk shows that regularly descend into bear pits regarding politics, the All American is manoeuvred into saying something less than complimentary about France and Germany. This is at a time when patriotic representatives of both countries (Marie and Captain Germany) and Britannia from Britain are visiting America trying to build bridges. The three Europeans then embark on an arrest spree chasing after Viper, other organizations and various paranormals. Some of these are ones that All American has not been able to capture or who have given him a bad time. The three patriots also make a point of praising the local law enforcement and judiciary who they work with. At no point do they say anything in retaliation either about America or against the All American. The All American comes to the PCs for help. Some shadowy figures want the Europeans embarrassed and perhaps one of them dead to show that Europe should know its place. He can't act as 'they' are keeping tabs on him. There is also the fact that the three visitors are remarkably well informed. What will the PCs do ?

Dream a little dream of me (Dreamwitch form USPD)

People begin falling asleep and then not waking up. Physically they are fine but they are sleeping. The PCs have to track down the Dreamwitch who is known to possess a similar power and find out if she is responsible and why, and how they can wake up the sleepers.

And have we tackled all the challenges ?

[death tribble]

Revenge is a dish best served old (Gravitar and Eurostar)

Fiacho has finally found the ideal way to repay Gravitar for the instance when she suspended him in mid-air and ripped out his cybernetic implants. Eurostar tails her and hits her with a devitalization ray. This has the effect of ageing Gravitar and turning her into an old woman with all the infirmities of old age. The supervillainess stricken with Alzheimers and as frail as a kitten is then unleashed in the city. Can the heroes neutralize the threat of the senile villainess and stop Eurostar before they use the ray on other people ? And if Gravitar is restored to normal health what will she do to Eurostar ?

I'm only a Beard in a Gilded Cage (DEMON and Rakshasa)

Rakshasa is captured by DEMON and held in a cage laced with gold which neutralizes his powers. The Morbanes have captured him as they need facial hair below eye level from a shapechanger as an ingredient in the creation of mystical supersoldiers. Rakshasa manages to send a dream to mystic characters asking for help. (If no mystics the Trismegistus council will ask for help). The dream shows them what DEMON will achieve if he is not rescued. Will the heroes be able to stop DEMON or is this a trap set by Dr Destroyer or DEMON ?

Teknowizardry (Takofanes ?)

A pirate TV and Internet broadcast advertises a new cult for the young. If they want to be hip and cool, all they have to do is sacrifice their friends to the lich Takofanes and he will reward them with power undreamt of. The PCs are approached by the Trismegistus council to track down and put a stop to the broadcasts before someone takes the cult up on its promise.

[death tribble]

The new challenge is:

For someone else to post a plot seed. Preferably about someone we have yet to cover like Hummingbird or Cheshire Cat for example.

[PhantomGM6101]

Witchcraft and Dreamstar[CHS]
Bubble Bubble,Two times the trouble!
Now that Witchcraft is training Dreamstar as her desciple
after deafeting Talisman in battle, the humiliated scorceress decides to get a deciple of her own,preferably from the one of the Dream Princess's enemies. She finds one in a bigoted snob rejected from the cliques[which accepted Dreamstar in her secret ID] and endows her with dark magic powers. Now the bigot names herself the Dark Enchantress,vowing to destroy Dreamstar along with her mentor and all she holds dear. Can the Teen heroes help out the teen enchantress or will she fall alongside her mentor Witchcraft?

Growing powers+a Spirit quest= Two Mystic masters!
The Spirit of the original Archmage summons both Witchcraft and her desciple on a Spirit Quest to recover the artifacts of his office that were scattered in the explosion that destroyed him. One hitch: some of the Talismans were thrown into the Dreamzone Where Dreamstar hangs out on her dream missions. Also: the Circle of the Scarlet Moon has heard about the Talismans and have sent two of their deciples to retreive them and capture both Dreamstar and her mentor. Enter the PCs into this mess[preferably mystics who can travel through the Dreamzone otherwise they will use a teleporter] can they help the scorceress and her deciple thwart the Cirlcle's plans?

MOre to Come From CHS!! be here!!

[PhantomGM6101]

Champions High School

Here's some more Plot seeds from my CHS campaign.

Dataswipe and Dreamstar

Case of the Rock-n-Rollers

Compter and techno parts are being stolen by a group of totally bizarro super wannabees who use loud heavy metal music comig from boomboxes to incapacipate the police to discourage persuit,even Dataswipe and Dreamstar could'nt stop them because of certain magical safeguards placed on the boom boxes that twart her magic sand attacks. In desperation she turns to the PCs[who are students at the school ]for help in slowing down those rock-n-roll bandits.
can the PCs stop the robbers who also use rollerblades to get away from thier persuiers? :cool:

Within a Little Girl's Mind....
The PCs help Dreamstar make contact with an austic little girl who happens to be the witness to a murder committed by Menton.
There's one small detail---the girl's been mute since the murder and the Princess of Dreams figured there's something more to the murder than the police are finding out. So she intends to enter the girl's mind via the DreamZone in order to find the block in her memory,with one or two of the PCs to go along for the ride, what will they find in her mind?

Mystic COMBAT!
Dreamstar,Witchcraft,andother mystic heroes are challenged
to a series of magical battles known to the ancient Trismegistus Council as MYSTC COMBAT. Each White Magi is challenged by a team of Dark magi[Talisman,Black Enchantress,Dreamwitch] in a series of magic battles that will determine the fate of the world. This year,a certain Princess of dreams is chosen to battle a Magi of Darkness,guess who's the challenger to help decide the fate of the universe?[hint: her twin sister is Dreamy's master]

Successor of the POWERQUEEN!
Power Princess,PowerQueen's sidkick and trainee is about to crowned the new PowerQueen by the current one and wants her to find a sucessor to take her place as Power Princess. So in a press conference she anounces a contest to choose her successor in a series of events of athleticism, Martial arts, and gymnastics. Some girls dropped out and more quit the competittion until there are five left.But someone is cheating to get the prize and she'll do anything[even sabotage] to get it. Can the PCs put a dent in the cheater's plan before she spoils it for the true compettitors?:cool:

[Arandmoor_Keet]

Hi, this if my first time here...so bear with me...

Foxbat

Foxbat Inc. -- After the stunning (literally) success of his latest Master Plan (TM), Foxbat has gotten it into his head that he has what it takes to be a Criminal Mastermind and work behind the scenes (besides...he figures that he'll get a desk too...c'mon...who wouldn't want a desk?)

Unfortunately, all of Foxbat's prior experience with other supervillans has convinced him that working with them usually ends up costing a lot of money, so he has decided to open up his own buisness: Foxbat Inc.! (right on the corner of 5th and Main) Being a legitmate buisness, the Heroes and the law can't touch him (the successful Master Plan (TM) didn't leave any clues) and the Master Plans (TM) start at $19.95 and come with a contract absolving Foxbat of any responsibility for the use of the plans (while Foxbat might be a loony, his lawyer isn't)

While some of the heroes might feel safer at least knowing where the little guy is from 9-9pm, what happens when some of his plans actually work? Bwa Ha Ha Ha Ha!



So, How Do I Look? -- The heroes get a phone call from a contact/the police/see it on the news/etc... that Foxbat has taken around three hundred people at a high class fasion show hostage!

When they finally get to the scene, everyone is safe and Foxbat is loooooong gone? What's going on here? If the heroes interview anyone (hell, even if they don't they'll find out as it gets broadcast over every newscast in America and Europe) they find out that Foxbat took the entire show hostage, for just long enough to walk the catwalk (while singing "I'm a Model" slightly off key...) and leave.

Well, after an imbarasingly long streak of Master Plans (TM) that not only backfired, but almost got him caught, Foxbat has done some additional research into the Study of Successful Villans and has come to the conclusion that all successful villans look really cool! The fact that he might (gasp!) have a stupid looking costume comes as quite a shock, and the Great Foxy One takes it upon himself to prove that he is indeed the best dressed supervillan in the world!

The fasion show's next stop is in Paris and the owner asks the heroes if they would please travel with them for a little extra security. The Paris show is not only debuing the fasion designer's latest summerwear evening lien, but his best friend's latest jewlery collection worth, in total, over three million dollars.

In Paris, Foxbat crashes the show and when the heroes go to trounce him, find that the models run into the lines of fire, grappel with martial artists, and just generally try to get in the way. What's going on? Well...the models think he's cute and they don't want the heroes to hurt him! After all, he only wants to "do a little turn on the catwalk"!

Possible complication: several supervillianesses (possibly Esper, Medusa, Mentallia, etc...anyone with a secret identity, who is able to control minds, or who can appear as someone else) infultrated the show several weeks prior in order to get access to the jewles. Now not only are the PCs in their way, but they stopped the show before Foxbat could get to their favrite part ("and I shake my little tush on the catwalk!)

Arandmoor Keet

[FenrisUlf]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rechan
[B]Delicious, Hermit! :D That's actually how I retooled Fenris. I don't like the fact that 'the inner wolf is bloodthirsty and murderous and desirse death'. No. Any predatory species could probably use that motif, but really, wolves aren't *that* savage, and generally don't Hunt that much; their main diet consists of rodents.

However, I reasoned that psychologically, it is not the *Inner wolf*, buat the *inner Man*. Man, stripped of his morales and his ethics, reason and common sense, is very brutal and savage. The 'wolf' merely opens a door in the mind to a much simpler mindset, more base desires that aren't very complex; instinctive.

Yes -- I'm a big fan of wolves myself, and that sounds like a much better explanation.

'Course, my problem is, I made up a super-powered lupine character before I got my hands on CKC and named /him/ Fenris! (He's more mystic in origin; he has a link from the original chain used to bind Fenris and can use it to tranform himself into a sort of lupine brick as well as a tiger-sized wolf.)

Sometimes I wonder if supers ever get into battles over who has the 'rights' to any given name.

[Supreme Serpent]

Originally posted by FenrisUlf

Sometimes I wonder if supers ever get into battles over who has the 'rights' to any given name.

There were a series of stories in Marvel where Erik Josten went after Power Man (Luke Cage), Goliath (Clint Barton), and I think even Wonder Man (Simon Williams) over the name. There's also the Tick story with Tick vs Tick (Barry).

So yeah, happens. Could be a good scenario for a campaign. Work up a villain w/same name as hero, and have them come gunning for the PC to prove who the REAL Thunderbunny is!

[Lord Liaden]

In point of fact, the Champions villain compendium Conquerors, Killers and Crooks has two different villains named Thunderbolt, each of whom resents and wants to eliminate the other for "stealing" his name. So FWIW the concept has Hero Game's "official" stamp of approval. ;)

So it seems your Fenris could have a ready-made Hunted. :cool:

[PhantomGM6101]

Originally posted by PhantomGM6101
Champions High School

Here's some more Plot seeds from my CHS campaign.

Dataswipe and Dreamstar

Case of the Rock-n-Rollers

Compter and techno parts are being stolen by a group of totally bizarro super wannabees who use loud heavy metal music comig from boomboxes to incapacipate the police to discourage persuit,even Dataswipe and Dreamstar could'nt stop them because of certain magical safeguards placed on the boom boxes that twart her magic sand attacks. In desperation she turns to the PCs[who are students at the school ]for help in slowing down those rock-n-roll bandits.
can the PCs stop the robbers who also use rollerblades to get away from thier persuiers? :cool:

Within a Little Girl's Mind....
The PCs help Dreamstar make contact with an austic little girl who happens to be the witness to a murder committed by Menton.
There's one small detail---the girl's been mute since the murder and the Princess of Dreams figured there's something more to the murder than the police are finding out. So she intends to enter the girl's mind via the DreamZone in order to find the block in her memory,with one or two of the PCs to go along for the ride, what will they find in her mind?

Mystic COMBAT!
Dreamstar,Witchcraft,andother mystic heroes are challenged
to a series of magical battles known to the ancient Trismegistus Council as MYSTC COMBAT. Each White Magi is challenged by a team of Dark magi[Talisman,Black Enchantress,Dreamwitch] in a series of magic battles that will determine the fate of the world. This year,a certain Princess of dreams is chosen to battle a Magi of Darkness,guess who's the challenger to help decide the fate of the universe?[hint: her twin sister is Dreamy's master]

Successor of the POWERQUEEN!
Power Princess,PowerQueen's sidkick and trainee is about to crowned the new PowerQueen by the current one and wants her to find a sucessor to take her place as Power Princess. So in a press conference she anounces a contest to choose her successor in a series of events of athleticism, Martial arts, and gymnastics. Some girls dropped out and more quit the competittion until there are five left.But someone is cheating to get the prize and she'll do anything[even sabotage] to get it. Can the PCs put a dent in the cheater's plan before she spoils it for the true compettitors?:cool:

The Penticle Plot
After many deafeats at the hands of the HOT SHOTS[some of which were pretty embarrassing!],DEMON decides to play hardball and chooses some teenagers of evil dispositions intending to create evil counterparts of the PCs with demon endowed powers and demonic technology. There's one snag in the equation: how to duplicate Dreamstar's Dreamzone endowed talismans and powers. Dispite their many tries DEMONSPAWN managed to snag her DreamCrystal and create from it an evil demon filled duplicate which produces nitghtmare attacks in counter to her Dream powered attacks.
Now the PCs recieve a challenge from their DEMON spawned duplicates: the stakes,CHS and the World. If the DEMON superteam loses they'll leave them and the school alone,but if the PCs lose,they'll be banished from their world forever and the school and it's secrets belong to DEMON.
Will the PCs accept,especially when the evil superteam will cheat to win?

Enter-----ANGEL 3!
As part of a project involving robotics,DataSwipe,Liberty and Dreamstar created a computer program based on the
now defunct ANGEL 1 project-- thanks to a glitch in the system[and a little bit of magic]it gained sentience, creating in the process a fully formed teenaged android with an AI programed merged from the program and a computer borrowed from a classmate of thiers. Naming her ANGEL 3
they introduced her to the class as a foriegn exchange student while training her in the aspects of being a teenager.
One problem: the android wants to battle evil alongside her 'creators',a desire which may blow their covers out of the water and bring her to the attention of Mechannon.
Can the PCs help keep angel a secret or will the android's desires blow everything they've worked for [specifically the project] out of proportion?

Mother Get out of my life!
Librty's real mother has escaped from the mental institution where she was committed and wants her daughter back.
but when she confronts Liberty, she refuses to see her , remebering the times that she was used and want to have nothing to do with her. Unfortunately she's hooked up with another physcotic and tries to instigate a court battle to get 'her ' baby back,prompting Liberty to call a restraining order for her to stay away. Enter the PCs in this mess,can they put the very demented mother back where she belongs or will liberty have to fight the courts in order to bury the past that haunted and tormented her since she was 6?

The Eden Project pt1

Thousands of teens,normal and mutant have turned up missing,including three members of TEAM ALPHA! The rest of the teen PCs must find some traces of thier missing friends and the one who kidnapped them.But will they find those who were abducted and what will they find when their investigation turns up maps of an island,missing technology,and a possible connection to Teleios?

The Eden Project Pt2

The Pcs had put together the pieces of the puzzle and had indeed found out [to thier surprise] that all of the missing kids have been genetically mutated and were paired with other Mutant teens in a effort to breed Prime generation Mutants. Among the missing are their teammates,now brainwashed into living with their prospective mates! Who's responsible for this
hedonistic travesty and how will the PCs break their friends out of the the mental conditioning they're in?

[Chuckg]

Originally posted by Lord Liaden
However, Firewing is not a "martial artist" as the term is usually defined on Earth, not to mention a non-human from another planet; the Watchers of the Dragon who direct the Tournament would be unlikely to invite him to participate. The Watchers might request the help of powerful PC heroes to restrain Firewing before he incapacitates any more potential champions. Furthermore, any PCs participating in the Tournament may have to help defend the site from a Firewing incensed at being excluded and determined to crash the competition!

OTOH, Firewing *is* capable of kicking the Death Dragon's butt, provided that he gets a little more Mental Defense... which Dr. Yin Wu is capable of providing.

And the whole objective of the Tournament *is* to find the warrior who can defeat the Death Dragon. It's only been martial artists because for several millennia, that's all that were available to show up.

Hmmm... possible plot seed about the ramifications of the first Tournament of the Dragon to be held in the modern superhero age... or even the explanation for why the Tournament seems no longer to be held by the days of the Terran Empire?

[Lord Liaden]

Originally posted by Chuckg
OTOH, Firewing *is* capable of kicking the Death Dragon's butt, provided that he gets a little more Mental Defense... which Dr. Yin Wu is capable of providing.

And the whole objective of the Tournament *is* to find the warrior who can defeat the Death Dragon. It's only been martial artists because for several millennia, that's all that were available to show up.

Valid points. There is one complication, though: supposedly the nation of the winner of the Tournament will be blessed by the gods as the preeminent nation on Earth. The implications of a Malvan winning might be disturbing, to say the least. :eek:


Originally posted by Chuckg
Hmmm... possible plot seed about the ramifications of the first Tournament of the Dragon to be held in the modern superhero age... or even the explanation for why the Tournament seems no longer to be held by the days of the Terran Empire?

This is one of those tricky issues behind the "magic behind superpowers" rationale underlying the current CU timeline. What happens to all these magical phenomena and entities that supposedly continue to exist over the centuries, during times of waning magic as during the Terran Empire period? Does the Tournament of the Dragon simply go on "hold" when magic is low?

[Chuckg]

> The implications of a Malvan winning might be disturbing, to
> say the least.

Good Lord. It might reverse the curse of the Elder Worm that's kept the Malvans locked in decadence!

Of course, it might be a restriction that the Death Dragon's defeat only counts if it is at the hands of a citizen of Earth... which means Firewing would have to "go native" here in order to compete.

OTOH, it still lets Ironclad in, as he *has* accepted permanent residency here IIRC.

[Wormhole]

Here's one right up Teleios' alley:

Garenteed To Drive The Ladies Wild: A company that makes men's hygene products has started marketing a new deodorant body spray for men called "Incubus", which is allegedly enhanced with highly potent "human alpha-male pheremones". Incubus becomes infamous after the company makes outlandish and highly contraversial product claims in their ads that infuriate femenist groups and net them record-breaking sales. As it turns out, the product actually works as advertised....alittle too well, infact. As more and more men buy and use the spray, the streets are soon overrun with lust-crazed "beast women".

[death tribble]

After a little browsing the Viper book I came up with this:-

Everyone Knows it's Windy

Viper kidnap the team's resident mystic or a mystic NPC friend of the team. Investigation reveals that a number of recent Viper plans have been foiled by inexplicable winds. Is a new wind using hero/heroine evading their detection or is Bora back with a vengeance ?

The Sidewinder sleeps tonight.

In the jungle, the mighty jungle
See Viper flex their might
In the jungle, the quiet jungle
Witch doctors see their plight

A Wim away etc

Hush my people ! Don't fear my people !
Sidewinder sleeps tonight
Hush my people ! Don't fear my people !
All Viper sleeps tonight

A Wim away etc

Viper kidnap some people close to the team. If the team go to darkest Africa and rescue/revive Viper personnel including Viper, their friends go free. But what were Viper up to in the first place and what exactly took down Sidewinder and friends ?

[Arandmoor_Keet]

I thought I'd dig up one of my favorite threads...

C'mon...it's been four months...

surely people can come up with some new stuff :D

Arandmoor

[PhantomGM6101]

Originally posted by Arandmoor_Keet
I thought I'd dig up one of my favorite threads...

C'mon...it's been four months...

surely people can come up with some new stuff :D

Arandmoor
:cool:
Want some new stuff?? How 'bout a couple of ideas that's been running in my head and are listed in the Coming soon
list. I'll post ASAP.

[Mike W]

I don't remember where I got the idea for this adventure. I think it was loosely build around a plot line in a published product, but it's been years.

Black Mamba vs. King Cobra

Black Mamba as a dark hero/antihero was one of my favorite characters. The story I did for my campaing I think was the best centered around Mamba and Cobra. King Cobra was going to release a mutagenic compound into the water supply to turn everyone into snake that he could control. Black Mamba got wind of it before the players and started hiring people to help him steal technology(including some potential dangerous prototypes)to help him develop a treatment/cure for the mutagen. I deliberately placed one well known killer on the roster(who Mamba was stringing along) to give the players something else to worry about. One potential complication for the players(which happened to my group) is that if they come in hard and fast they run the risk of fighting Mamba's group in the lab, which could(and in this case did) result in the destruction of Mamba's work...

[Foxx!]

Heroes:

My favourites are Hermit's GRAB, Lord Liaden's Jimmy Dugan, and Carl Sagan's 'You just won a date with FOXBAT! (http://herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=13073)'

ISTVATHA V'HAN, OUR HERO
Istvatha V'han makes a peaceful visit to a troubled third world country and, in exchange for their joining her empire, she offers to raise their quality of life beyond any other country's on Earth. Is this a sincere offer? What happens if she gets a legitimate foothold on Earth? Will other countries join by free choice, by being conquered, or by secret manipulation? Will she name her league of nations 'The IV League'? If super villains attack the empire, what will the heroes do? If Istvatha V'han eventually gains control of the world, peacefully or by force, will the heroes serve the new regime or become super rebels?

THE CAT'S OUT OF THE BAG
Cheshire Cat discovers that the old man supporting GRAB is actually a front for Dr. Destroyer. At the same moment, Dr. Destroyer discovers the discovery, and only Cheshire Cat's Teleportation saves him. Wounded and fearing Dr. Destroyer has preparations in case of this event, Cheshire Cat does not go back to base but directly to the PCs. He asks them to fetch the other GRAB members and give them all sanctuary, but he is too injured to help. How will the heroes convince the other GRAB members to come quietly? Has Dr. Destroyer already fed the GRAB members another story, or arranged an 'office visit' for them? Was the old man really in league with Dr. Destroyer from the start? If Dr. Destroyer seems too much, use DEMON, PSI, or another.

FOXBAT, EMPEROR OF A BILLION DIMENSIONS
In CKC, there is a plot seed where Istvatha V'han falls in love with a PC. What if she fell in love with Foxbat?

Does anyone have any stories involving Foxbat and Captain Chronos? I imagine Foxbat having a new scheme and Captain Chronos saying it needs to succeed.

Cheers

[Benzini]

Who is Dreamstar? and Power Princess? Power Queen? Please enlighten?

[Benzini]

One of the ecological type heroes on your team (you don't have one of those?) One of the Aquatic based members of our team, no? Shore Patrol DNPC? you decide... A rise in certain bacteria is rising at an alamingly high rate, and Stingray has been spotted in the area...However, fathoms below the surface, VIPER is building/rebuilding an underwater base and the bi-products of the construction is causing the disruption in the undersea ecosystem. Will the heroes discover yet another base? Or will they be under the false impression that Stingray is involved? Or will they chase down even more *red herrings*, before, or even if, they discover the base

[War Admiral]

>shudder< ooo, Hermit, that 3rd Mechanon idea (redundant operation disallowed) gave me shivers! That's so evil! I love it.

[TheEmerged]

The following are based off the encounter my PC's just had with...

The Protectors

Doc Sonic
Doc Sonic approaches the PC's asking for help on something she describes as "a personal matter". She asks them to investigate the disappearance of Silver Streak, a nova (person with super-powers) who has not been seen since 7:43PM EST August 25, 1997. Concurrently, she wants them to see if they can find any references to a hated villain named The Disruptor *before* this date AND to determine the whereabouts of a popular, long-time male good guy appropriate to your campaign (but not one of the PC's) around that time.

PC's that think to check the date will realize this is not quite a week before Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed were killed -- by the Disruptor (unless having them murdered by this character contradicts your campaign world). Obviously Doc Sonic thinks there's a connection, but why is she farming it out?

General. The Protectors recently captured Tesseract (CKC) -- and were forced to turn her over to PRIMUS. PRIMUS contacts the team and asks/orders them to find and re-arrest Tesseract immediately and covertly -- the public must not learn she's on the loose. Do the PC's accept? What's so urgent about this mission? It's obvious there's some kind of subtext but why?

Silverfist. The Protectors send an urgent message to your team -- especially the team gadgeteer if appropriate. It seems that the Protectors and Ravagers have had a confrontation, and that Silverfist took a direct hit from the Disruptor's "Gremlin Ray" -- shutting down all his systems. Although they thought they were able to repair him, it seems that his self-repair functions have gone beserk and are tearing him apart again. They need the PC's help in acquiring materials or expertise (whichever is most appropriate for you team) while they keep him alive and guard their other wounded.

[Hermit]

The new challenge is:

For someone else to post a plot seed. Preferably about someone we have yet to cover like Hummingbird or Cheshire Cat for example.

Okay, it's been awhile, and I confess I lost a bit of interest when it drifted away from the 5E Universe (Nothing personal, just that's the one I use) but I'll take a stab. Oh, and Foxx had a Cheshire Cat one above, nice.


Cheshire Cat
1) Curiosity Woke the Dragon: Cheshire Cat loves his teleportation powers, but he's prouder still of his martial prowess. After all, he worked hard for them.There's little he likes more than proving his superiority over other martial artists in masks. Imagine his surprise when as he gets ready to challenge one (Green Dragon makes a good canidate) he hears of some Tournament of the Dragon and ultimate fight? Deciding he's GOT to get in on this, he seeks out and finds the a location said to lead to this 'dragon'. It's sealed, and seemingly impregnable as "the time is not yet right". Pshaw, that's no barrier to a teleporter. Cheshire Cat, at the height of one of his confident moodswings decides just to teleport in. Seeing what awaits him, he quickly gets the heck out of there... but the Dragon follows. The time is indeed, "not right" and the Death Dragon is loose before the Fates decreed. The PCs must find a way to trick the Dragon back to the temple, a way that may require the same cat who foolishly let it out in the first place!

2) Can't Buy Me Love: A variation on the second plot seed of pg. 85 in CKC, Cheshire Cat's Ex discovers that her former husband recently scored and scored big. Her mercenary little heart decides to seduce him so she can share the wealth, and none of the risk. She attempts to convince the PCs that she is sincere in her love, and needs their help to 'rehabilitate' him. Should they fall for it, she'll either arrange for his capture (after learning from him where his loot is kept), or betray the heroes to live the high life while letting Robert do the dirty work. She might even wean him away from GRAB. Naturally, the ladies of GRAB are more likely to see her for the gold digger she is but besmitten Robert is deaf to their hints. Can the PCs figure out the ruse? And what happens when/if Cheshire discovers his heart is being played with? He's got a code vs killing, but his revenge might be terrible nonetheless.

3) Reactor S.O.S. Cheshire Cat used to be a Nuclear Reactor tech. They really haven't changed that much, and his identity is public. When a group of Terrorists realize that his blend of knowledge and powers mean he can infiltrate any reactor in America and sabatoge it for them, they decide to enlist his aid. Knowing he's 'squeemish', they get some leverage. Perhaps his ex wife, perhaps a fellow GRAB member, and hold her hostage. Now Cat is trapped, he won't kill.. especially on that grand a scale, yet he has to save the hostage while under the terrorists' watchful eyes. If they spot him trying to contact the heroes, they'll surely kill the hostage and run. Cat hits on a plan, in the days before the terrorist act will be required, he goes on a crime spree that's bigger than he's ever been on... leaving hints and clues all the way. Can the PCs put the pieces together and help Robert out, or will he be forced to risk a loved one rather than kill millions?

[Hermit]

Hummingbird
1) I Spy With My Little Eye: Thefts have been down lately, GRAB is in a lull. Hummingbird is bored, bored, bored. She tries to occupy herself with minor robbery, where she meets a 'mysterious stranger' who offers to pay her big bucks if she'll just spy on local superheroes, and find out their secret identies. Incredibly curious by nature anyways, Hummingbird eagerly agrees! After all, who could be hurt? The answer is, of course, a lot of people. As Hummingbird makes her reports, NPC superheroes end up captured, blackmailed, or just plain dead- And her none the wiser since she's already moving on to the next one. The PCs need to find out who's the spy, and stop her; if they don't, they're probably on the list further down themselves! And who is this ruthless 'stranger' anyways?

2) I've Shrunk, and I Can't Grow Up!: On their latest robbery, GRAB ends up getting hit by some chemicals. The others are fine, but Hummingbird discovers she is stuck small! Sure, it's fun when it's a choice, but no one wants to be small all the time; now she's in a panic. Her GRAB mates assure her they'll find a cure, but none of them have an expertise in this sort of thing. Hummingbird must either kidnap (a harder crime than she's ever done) renowned scientists to help her, or go to the PCs for help if one of them is known to have the knowledge she needs. Will the PCs help her out, or just introduce her to the world's smallest Stronghold cell?

3) Cry Father ! Stealing never hurts anyone, right? Melissa decides to have a real blast and rob her own parents blind. It's probably a subconcious desire to get them to pay attention to her (even if it's in her supervillain I.D.). She handles this one solo, as she's almost sure Black Diamond would 'yadda yadda' about hitting too close to home. Quick as a lark, she begins her purloining, only to find out her dad is actually home. She flees, mocking him all the way as she swoops over the stairs. Her father gives chase... and falls. There's a horrid 'snap' sound and Hummingbird must now deal with the consequences of her actions about a father she loved, even if she barely knew him. Torn apart, she's seemingly inconsolable. Will she turn herself in? Will she become a superhero to make amends? Will she hide from responsiblity and become even more jaded? Karma shouldn't be this cruel.

[Hermit]

Black Diamond
1) A Poor Rolemodel: As an African-American woman with super powers, B.D. is definitely a minority to say the least. That aside, her race is not something that she really dwells on. Imagine her surprise when a black super hero (Kinetik or Commando Rubberbando are good for this use) describe her as a "Poor Rolemodel" on TV. Stung, more than she thought she'd be by such a comment, Black Diamond decides she's going to do more for the Black Community than any hero ever did... and she'll do it her way. She begins a one woman crime spree, targetting clubs that discourage minority membership, KKK members, and anyone else she considers racist and robbing them blind. She then donates the money to various college funds for minority scholarships, or helping to revitalize community centers. Her powers do not, however, include telepathy, and she's bound to make mistakes in her judgement. Besides, theft is theft, even if it is Robin Hood style. Can the PCs stop her, even if they may feel some sympathy?

2) Drowning In Your Eyes: While doing a solo robbery by the docks, Maxine ends up encountering the PCs. Realizing she's out matched, she makes a hasty run for it, only to fall through a weak board, and start to sink into the harbor floor. The PCs have to save her, and pull her out as her own weight will surely drown her. One of them may even have to do Mouth To Mouth on her (Not a large sacrifice, she's an attractive woman). She comes up coughing, and realizes that these people just saved her. What's more, gratitude mingles with her typical impulsive nature and she begins to see one of the male PCs in a new more romantic light. Very alarmed by these feelings, Black Diamond now has to deal with them. Will she try to strike up a romance while staying a GRAB member? Will she try to go straight? Or will she try to quelch these new feelings of affection by making the guy's life miserable so he'll be a jerk again? Ah, romance.

3) The Trade: The rest of GRAB has bitten off more than they can chew, and been captured by some really bad guys. Black Diamond comes to the PCs and offers a trade, "Free them, and I'll turn myself in." She refuses to turn the others in, as she won't sell them out, but having her go to jail will surely weaken GRAB (Rash or no, she's the closest thing to a leader they've got in the field) and since she's agreeing to serve her time, there will be no escape attempts. Or will there? It could be a ruse, with the whole thing as a set up. How much trust are the PCs willing to risk?

[Hermit]

Blue Jay
1) The Spare: Lisa designed the suit, and feels no guilt about reclaiming/stealing it from McNeil (well, maybe a bit of guilt, stupid fire). She had thought the prototype of the suit was destroyed and that she possessed the only one (as well as the plans for it's design). However, when news of a new costumed "Hitwoman for Hire" hits the streets, using the name Shrike, and battle armor that looks all too familiar, Blue Jay is no longer sure. Worse yet, some people maybe mistaking one for the other, and Blue Jay has a bad enough reputation as it is. Determined to get her technology out of the hands of a killer, she girds up for battle with the more ruthless Shrike. When the PCs stumble into the middle of an aerial battle, can she convince them to help, or at least butt out till it's done?

2) "I'm Innocent! Of that anyways...": Blue Jay has a bad rep and a lot of unluck. She's never been seen blatantly killing anyone though... until now. News crews catch a blurred image of a flying figure streaking past someone, and breaking the neck at full speed before rushing off again. The colors match the costume of Blue Jay, and many are eager to jump to conclusions. Not wanting to endanger GRAB by leading those after her to them, Blue Jay instead comes and beseeches the PCs for help proving she's not the killer everyone thinks she is. It's a frame up! But who would do such a thing, and why? (Possible tie in with 'The Spare').

3) A Wish For Wings That Work: The PCs finally get the resources (and exp?) to purchase a team vehicle. The problem, a lot of these guys don't work cheap, and any PC inventor doing the work solo will be out of game play for a time. Fortunately, they discover via internet or contact a talented (and currently unemployed) aeronautical engineer named Lisa Anderson. Assuming they call on her, Lisa will be stunned. She's not used to super heroes meeting her in her secret identity, and (assuming she doesn't panic and blow her cover) will be highly flattered at the offer, enough to put aside her typical greed. She might even start to like the super heros, and if they ask her to stay on as staff, consider it. Will the PCs notice their new friend is never around when GRAB is robbing someone blind? How will they react if they find out who Lisa really is? Lisa herself may grow so fond of the heroes that she grows tempted to join them fully.

[Hermit]

This overlap more than I'd like but... here are some seeds for Dr. Destroyer's right hand man

Gigaton
1) Never Leave a Man Behind: After studying Gigaton all this time, Dr. Destroyer feels confident he can take the remaining coma victims of Project Sunburst and awaken them. Soon he'll have an entire squadron of atomic powered beings. He chooses to send Gigaton to break into the area they are held, and retrive them. Inside of Tom Colt's subconcious is concern for these men. He wants to help them, but he doesn't want to see them reduced to fodder. For the first time in a long time, Gigaton is suffering a crisis of loyality. Given his total dedication to Destroyer, he'll end up carrying out this mission, unless the PCs can stop him, and sense this chance to sway him.

2) Thin Line: Gigaton is about in his secret identity, when he spots the woman who was once his fiance. She sees him as well, and begs him to stay with her. He has a duty to the Doctor first and foremost, yet her presence sends out messages at odds with his brainwashing. He flees her, and over the next few nights tries to resolve what to do about her before finally deciding she must die, she's causing him to fail the Doctor. The PCs will recieve a phone call from this woman later, "He's after me, help..." and find that one of the most powerful and reclusive of Dr. Destroyer's servants is out to kill what seems to be a perfectly ordinary woman. Why she's not dead already is a mystery, for Gigaton seems suddenly incompetent when it comes to the coup de grace. Could it be some part of him within resists this? And what will the Doctor think of this?

3) Mentonian Canidate: Dr. Destroyer has methods to protect his own mind from Menton's attacks, but his Lackey is not so guarded. Menton has a proposal for the PCs. He reccomends they help him distract Gigaton in battle. During this, Menton claims he'll undo Dr. Destroyer's brainwashing. What Menton really wants to do is turn Gigaton into a time bomb ready to betray the Doctor when he appears weakest, but it will be up to the PCs to prevent their rescue from turning into a double dupe. It's entirely possible that Menton will free Gigaton, but not have time to do the rest. Used by Destroyer as a pawn, betrayed by the Military, and having lost years of his life, Gigaton maybe come an independent threat to society out of sheer bitterness.

[zornwil]

Wow, thanks for all the work Hermit! I'll have to look through in more detail later tonight, I don't use HERO characters but from what I saw there are certainly good usable ideas mostly easily adaptable. Thanks!

[Hermit]

Thanks Zornwil, in the mean time, here are seeds for Dr. Destroyer's left hand man...

Rakasha
1) Use Your Delusion: In order to remove a thorn from Dr. Destroyer's side and get in good with his boss (and because it's fun to betray), Rakasha creates an alternate identity of a super hero mentalist called 'Delusion' (hiding the fact he has shapechanging powers). He tries to get a good reputation as an honest hero, and to befriend the PC team. If he can work it, he'll even try to get them to invite him to join their team. 'Delusion' will prove to be very useful on a few misions, but in the mean time will gather all the data he can. Then he'll start to use his powers to turn one team mate against the other, hoping to cause the group to break up without ever knowing why. Fortunately for the PCs, Rakasha is just the sort to underestimate loyalty and friendship.

2) The Fist of Kali: Imagine the PC's surprise when a crime wave consisting of dangerous Thugees who are of a fringe fanatic cult of Kali come to their city to commit everything from murder of select officials, to robberies of high tech research. Each one is willing to die before betraying a secret, but if the PCs can trace it back, they will eventually wing their way to a remote location in India. It would appear Kali herself is reborn and directing the cult, or so Telepathy of their memories will show.
When the PCs find the 'goddess', they discover it is actually Rakasha in disquise. Can they expose him, and end his hold on this army of killers?

3) When Tigers Fight in Shadow : Nothing obvious on the super scenes, but in the streets whispers go on about crime bosses giving odd orders that start whole gang wars, and other movers and shakers commiting apparent suicide. Hit men are hired for targets that make no sense. It's in the underbelly of the city, but innocent people are increasingly endangered. In a complex tangle of skullduggery, the PCs discover that there is a shadowwar, between Rakasha, and ... someone with similar powers if not identical ones. Who is the other, and why are he(she?) and Rakasha doing their level best to kill each other?

[Hermit]

The use in another thread of the MC-8 against Mechanon got me nostalgic, and when I double checked this old thread, I realized it fit into the plot seeds thing and newcomers might not have seen it but still might find it of use:

http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7848

[Mutant for Hire]

http://www.theonion.com/opinion/index.php?issue=4024&o=2

Any guesses as to what it does?

[PhantomGM6101]

Who is Dreamstar? and Power Princess? Power Queen? Please enlighten?
Dreamstar POWERQUEEN &Power Princess are three of my characters created for my CHS campaign in yahoo groups
here's the background on each of them:
DREAMSTAR
She's a Magic girl/Teen Mystic with magic powers and devices derived from the DReamzone. She sometimes uses magic sand to put her opponents to sleep,but uses a crystal scepter for spells and firing magic blasts.

PowerQueen & PowerPrincess:
The WonderWoman and WonderGirl of the Champions Universe.
Super strentgh,speed,and flight powers. the current PowerPrincess is a member of the current Team Alpha. The Current PowerQueen received her powers from the First PowerQueen in the 1950's&60's.

[SKJAM!]

Executive Sanction doesn't seem to exist yet in the 5E Champions Universe, but PRIMUS does, so a bit for one of the Allies characters....

Silver Avenger Rackham

(For those of you who don't have Allies, Rackham is the sort of fellow who has always come in second best, but is otherwise a fairly standard Silver Avenger.)

Silver Threats Against the Gold : The Golden Avenger has had several narrow escapes from death in the last few days, both direct attacks by supervillains and boobytraps. Whoever is doing this seems to have way too much inside information, and is therefore probably a member of PRIMUS itself. GA has noted Rackham's surly attitude towards him, and thinks Rackham the most likely suspect, but in order to avoid internal leaks, asks the player characters to look into the possibility for him.

Full Court Press : This one is primarily for campaigns where the heroes are protecting a second- or third-tier city, as opposed to NYC, LA or Millenium City. Rackham is now the Silver Avenger assigned to said city. Obviously, this assignment is far below his capabilities. Something must be done. What Rackham decides to do is absolutely crush supercrime in the city, by any means semi-legally available to him. And do it quickly. That should impress the brass enough to get him a real assignment.

Harrison Bergeron Lives : A raid against DEMON yields a bunch of prisoners, and a "lucky charm" that Silver Avenger Rackham feels compelled to pick up. It makes him feel more competent. What he doesn't know is that it does so by making sure that no one around Rackham is better than he is--at anything. (a large Suppress vs. Everything, Area Effect Radius, Invisible Effects, 0 END Persistent, "Only to bring Characteristics, Powers, Skills and Talents down to equal with bearer's.") DEMON's original plan was to trick one of the PCs' wimpier friends (Incompetent DNPC by choice) into wearing the charm, then attack while they were depowered. But Rackham will have to do. Oh, and the charm's powers don't work against extra-dimensional beings such as demons.


SKJAM!
http://www.livejournal.com/users/skjam

[Kirby]

GROND:
The PC's are called into stop a Grond Rampage....

Grond is one of my favorite bricks! :rockon: Add this to your scenarios involving Grond (a previous GM of mine did): Grond will stop fighting for Ho-Ho's. He'll even hug you if you give him Twinkies. After the heroes discover this, so eventually does Foxbat. The next time the heroes face Grond, Foxbat is rewarding him with snack after snack. :nya:

[Bengal]

As the hero's DNPC waits at the bus stop, a man in a wheelchair comes up and says, "Does this bologna smell funny to you?" DNPC smells bologna, only to discover why it smells funny: chloroform! Hilarity ensues.

[zornwil]

Grond is one of my favorite bricks! :rockon: Add this to your scenarios involving Grond (a previous GM of mine did): Grond will stop fighting for Ho-Ho's. He'll even hug you if you give him Twinkies. After the heroes discover this, so eventually does Foxbat. The next time the heroes face Grond, Foxbat is rewarding him with snack after snack. :nya:
Ha, this sounds like those Hostess ads in the back pages of comics from the 70s. Superman and Batman solved many problems with Twinkies and Hostess cupcakes.

[death tribble]

Ha, this sounds like those Hostess ads in the back pages of comics from the 70s. Superman and Batman solved many problems with Twinkies and Hostess cupcakes.

During Assistant Editors month in Marvel, Franklin Richards and Aunt May took on Galactus and defeated or satiated him with Twinkies and Hostess cupcakes. It was a fun story.

[lemming]

As the hero's DNPC waits at the bus stop, a man in a wheelchair comes up and says, "Does this bologna smell funny to you?" DNPC smells bologna, only to discover why it smells funny: chloroform! Hilarity ensues.
See! That's why Spectrum refuses to have anything to do with bologna!

campaign inside joke, move along

[Hermit]

Cavalier
1) Going for a Ride: Eric Trammell is rightfully proud of his powered armor, but as skilled as he is at technology, there are those that are truly its master. One day, while on patrol (and seeking to get a little air time) he loses control of the suit. Seemingly of its own violation, it begins to fire upon hapless citizenry, and tear up the local buildings. In short, the armor is on a rampage, and Cavalier is trapped inside during this. Who's doing this, and how are they doing it? And, of course, how will the PCs stop it?

2) The Battle Armor Brawl for it All- Ellis Wheatley (his manager) convinces Cavalier to take up his most audacious publicity stunt yet. They arrange for a grand gathering of high tech armored heroes for a tournament of modern knighthood. Each armored hero gets to put his suit to the test against his peers. The grand prize is a lot of cash that either the hero can take for himself, or donate to his favorite charity. What's more, it is a chance to study other suits of power armor up close and maybe swipe a few ideas. It's a hard call to resist for those brave or foolish enough to risk their own armor in it. Besides, Ellis assures Eric that this will be his best shot at humiliating "that snob Defender"
� legally! Eric is convinced, but Ellis is a weasely guy, is it possible he's putting in the fix so his client can't lose?

3) Protect this!: Being thwarted by a super hero in a tin can is bad enough, having your plans interfered with by a super hero in a tin can who makes MONEY off your defeats is too galling to bear. A high placed VIPER operative in MC gets the go ahead to start "Operation: Dismount"�, the goal of which is nothing less than the total ruination of Cavalier's credibility as a protector of corporate properties. A list of this properties has been researched and verified. Money is given to the villains who agree to make robbing these places their top priority (and they get to keep the spoils themselves as an added bonus). What's more, VIPER knows Cavalier can't be everywhere at once, so tries to arrange the attacks on the very same night. Perhaps the PCs will get a clue of this operation from a captured agent, or perhaps it won't be until that night when they see Cavalier nearly exhausted streaking back and forth. Maybe Cavalier himself will radio the heroes begging for their assistance, as big as a showboat as he is, he maybe forced to swallow his pride if he wants to keep his customers.

[Hermit]

And now I lay down a challenge for any who have "The Ultimate Brick", do some new plot seeds for either White Rhino or Der Westgote!

EDIT: Sorry for the exlcamation point, I just can't seem to mention german villains without raising my voice. :o

[Blue Jogger]

Psi

A) The Intro
A crime wave is sweeping the city. Villians are dressed in a popular science-fiction television show and crimes are usually to steal some wonderous technology (or sometimes just hard cash). The blasters seem like cheap plastic, but fire phased energy bolts in their hands. They communicate in what appears to be something like an upside-down cell phone, but does not transmit or receive radio waves. Worse yet, they always manages to remotely teleport them away.

B) What do you mean someone stole it?
In order to explore space, they need a spaceship. Luckily, a nearby government base has one under security. Their mission, steal it, repair it, and launch it back into space. (They've probed the alien on how the technology works.)

[Kirby]

V.O.I.C.E.:

1) Evil feeds upon itself: One member from each from various supervillain groups around the world turns up dead about once a week. The connection: A rival villain drops the deceased body at a news station (on camera) with a note. Tension mounts as a groups such as GRAB, WITCH, Terror, Inc., Assessininos, and the Ultimates all feel the sting. Chaos breaks loose when a member of Euorostar gets killed. Their rival was an American villain from the PCs home city/state and now Eurostar reeks havoc in that location.
What's happening? V.O.I.C.E. has a new member (or two), one (or two) of the Masq. V.O.I.C.E. assassinates a villain, the Masq poses as a rival and dumps the body off publicly. (The note is becasue the Masq may not speak the local language). V.O.I.C.E. is weakening the strength of potential rivals hoping to eliminate several groups. If and when a group is eliminated, V.O.I.C.E. moves into that territory (PCs area?) with no opposition.

2) The Great Super Villain Contest: A new super group appears in a neighboring city doing a few good deeds. Only once again, the GSVC starts. Things are "typical" for the contest until the neighboring city group starts killing a few villains. Repurcussions abound: Citizens are split on these actions. "Supers/Anti-mutant" hate groups have fuel for their fire. Local politicians want restrictive measures. Citizens become split on their feelings for supers. Some villains start killing other supers ("do it to them before they do it to us") and complain about the rules of the GSVC. The entity holding the contest decides to send his own troops to subdue this new hero group on their next major appearance.
The PCs are attacked by many villains (safety in numbers, 7-12) and are being severely beaten. In come the heroes next door to help out. Who do the PCs support? The killing heroes who are helping them or the destructive villains who are out to get them? Toward the end of the conflict (when only two groups are left), the assault group from the GSVC host has arrived. Now what?
What's happening: V.O.I.C.E. was starting up a recruiting drive when the GSVC started. Angered that he couldn't get any responses since the GSVC was receiving more "press," Lung Hung has the Jaws dress as heroes to sow dissention amongst the public, heroes and villains. With the GSVC vanguard's appearance, LH must decide whether to regroup or fight. Also, what if someone in the GSVC is a mentalist and discovers the ploy? Which side will the heroes be on?

3)Recruitment drive: V.O.I.C.E. is looking for new members. To prove themselves worthy, they must kill a hero (preferably a martial artist). One of the PCs is attacked and bloodied. When the heroe is stunned, the villain boasts about the recruitment drive and then starts the attack again. Several more PCs arrive to help out and the villain flees. After this news is reported, several new costumed & masked martial artists pop-up the next week announcing they'll help stop V.O.I.C.E.
The next day, the PC that was originally attacked is found dead. The strange thing is, is that he's at home/the base watching the news story. Each day following another martial artist is found dead. After a few days of this, the police come to the PCs base to discuss important private business. It turns out that all of these dead heroes are exact copies of the original PC. The PCs try to find out where these clones are coming from. Turns out a scientist figured he could create clones to die in the place of real heroes. The heroes have an ethical & moral problem here. Plus, how long has this guy had cloning technology? Who else has he clone?

[steriaca]

White Rhino

1) <i>Enter The Red Rhino</i>: White Rhino and Taisman got together and pulled off a job together stealing a mystical artifact from a museam (and letting WR keep the other loot). Durning this encounter, she notices (through her magic) that he has some sort of compeling spell on him. Trying to remove it, she acadently creates a more evil, demomic Red version of White Rhino who goes on a rampage. Can the heros stop a charging Red Rhino? Will thay figure out what caused him to go berserk? Can thay get White Rhino's help to subdue the other Rhino?

2) <i>A Serpent In Africa</i>: White Rhino gets a compultion and follows it, ending up at the lair of the Surpreme Serpent. Or, more corectly, <b>under</b> it. He leaves, but not before being noticed by the Surpreme Serpent. Now, someone knows where the Surpreme Serpent's Nest is. And the Surpreme Serpent wants to keep it a secret. Asasions are unleashed, and White Rhino flees to the campain city. Asasions follow. All heck breaks lose as White Rhino tries to stay alive agenst some prety modivated group of Dragon Branch agents.

[Kirby]

Green SpaceWhen the PCs investigate the region, they are amazed to discover a colony of the legendary Sasquatch! Even more unsettling, though, is when they are attacked by the beast-men's new protector. Grond has discovered a peaceful land whose simple inhabitants accept him without reservation, and will not let the humans who have hounded him destroy it.
Woohoo! Another Grond episode! I really like this one, too. I know your post will be a month old this Saturday, but I just signed up in June!

Another related Grond theme could be the PCs are notified of a Grond sighting in the forest and asked to stop him from rampaging through. When the PCs arrive, they see Grond is officially employed by the lumber company to help chop wood. With his strength he chops down trees in one swing. With four arms he chops down two trees at a time, maybe four! Sure, it's not as great as your idea, but it is a thought.

My original thought was like this:
King Grond: The PCs' base is alerted that Grond has been sighted scaling a construction site in downtown. When the PCs arrive, they find out Grond in now a construction worker; the fellow who called it in didn't think to find out the story first. (This idea I had since in one of the campaigns I was in, one of the other PCs -Thor- had a public ID and was a contstruction worker.)

[Kirby]

GROND:
A rotten rich-kid has been denied entry into a city-wide art contest as he was found to be cheating by his teacher at school. While on his way home, he comes across Grond, who is simply wanting a place to stay for awhile. The kid lets Grond stay at his home/mansion and a thankful Grond decides to help him get in the art contest one way or the other.
:eek: Hey! Don't use Grond to reinforce a bad student's bad behavioral patterns!

-Sorry it's the teaching aspect in me.

Maybe they meet, kid tells story and Grond says he wishes he had an art teacher. Kid tries to get revenge on teacher and sends Grond after her. PCs are told of Grond sighting, fly to school and find teacher actually teaching art to Grond.
-Yeah, I'm sentimental about Grond. :D

[Kirby]

The next batch of ideas

Grond Smash ! (Grond)

The opening of the Hulk movie has not gone unnoticed by the paranomal community. And someone in particular is keen to show that there is only one green skinned Goliath. So Grond crashes the premiere in Los Angeles. Can the heroes stop Grond AND simultaneously stop property damage particularly near that famous Chinese theatre?

Great Grond scene! :D

How about adding this whenever the PCs beat Grond and he gets taken away:

A Hollywood producer, loving Grond's performance at the theater, visits Grond in prison. He offers Grond the role of an action star if he will behave while locked up. Defense lawyers convice the county to have a hearing for Grond to be released doing community service. The PCs are requested since they help beat Grond. Will they help Grond go straight?

"Grond smash!" - Grond at the movies
"Grond smash puny super friends!" - Extended DVD version

[Kirby]

VIPER:
From a street contact, the PCs learn that VIPER is doing something concerning the next football game in town. The contact doesn't know much, he overheard (spied) a bit, but was too scared to stick around when agents thought they heard something (him).

The PCs go to the game (incognito) and search and search and search, but don't find any signs of VIPER before the game, so they take their seats and wait. For the first time, the players really notice the field. It's the local team versus the Green Bay Packers. Something clicks. Green Bay colors are green and yellow. VIPER colors are green and yellow. VIPER has legitamately, but quietly bought the team. Hmm... I wonder what this means for the Baltimore Ravens?

[Chuckg]

Minor note -- the Packers are the one team in the league whose ownership is spilt up among the populace of the town.

In order to 'buy the packers' -- yes, a large plurality is tied up in a few owners...

... the rest of it is spread out in little packets among thousands of people all over Green Bay. Perhaps tens of thosuands, I'm not certain.

The thing is, the NFL has always wanted to move the Pack out of Green Bay, 'cause the television market there is deadsville. The only reason they're up there in the first place is 'cause of the grandfather clause, 'cause they're one of the original NFL franchises.

So the Packers did a new stock issue -- and deliberately spread it out all over the county.

And then passed a bylaw saying that the team couldn't move w/o the approval of a supermajority of stockholders.

The NFL is *still* fuming. :)

But anyway, the Packers are the last team in the league where the franchise truly belongs to the community, not some corporate owner.

[Kirby]

The Seven Horsemen:

War, hmph, what is he good for? A local villainous brick beats up a lone PC or two while he/they is/are out on patrol. Somehow, it makes the news. A few nights later, the PC(s) is/are on patrol again and run into the same brick. Before combat can ensue, War attacks the brick to see who is better. The PCs can either intervene or watch. If victorious (and really, why not?), War makes some tactical suggestions on how to beat this guy, then he leaves.

Mayhem and Destruction: Fear and Destruction have arrived downtown during lunch hour. Fear is bringing aspects to the forefront, granting normal power. He is looking for an eighth Horseman (Mayhem), maybe because Destruction wants a boy-toy. Can the heroes stop them? And how many new low-powered supers are created with dominant aspects? (Passion, humor, competitiveness, etc.)

We have nothing to fear but Fear himself: Perhaps either tired of the PCs' popularity, boldness, or just wanting more people beneath him, Fear has the Seven Horsemen attack the PCs. When the PCs are beat, they are spirited away to some abandoned warehouse that has been prepared for them. When they come to -all chained, bound, and restrained- Fear tells them he's going to recruit them into his army, whether they like it or not. He tries to manipulate all the PCs at once, and somewhat succeeds. Anyone with a beserk, has the rolls changed (for the worse), those with enraged now have beserk (same roll) and those without, now have enraged (with the best rolls possible: 8- to go, 14- recover). They all also have a minor psychological fear of Fear and a 1.5 vulnerability to one of the member's powers. (Maybe one PC has a vuln. to one of Famine's attacks, one PC has a vuln to a Dread attack, etc.) The other side effects? Each PC is now 50 to 100 points stronger! Either in a new power, a boost in current stats or a mixture of both!

[Kirby]

Minor note -- the Packers are the one team in the league whose ownership is spilt up among the populace of the town.
:mad: Curse you to the seven seas! (I mean that in the nicest way. :yes: )

Sigh, well, not in my campaign, gosh darnit. :hex:

[Hermit]

One could learn to like the city of Green Bay :)

[Kirby]

Ha, this sounds like those Hostess ads in the back pages of comics from the 70s. Superman and Batman solved many problems with Twinkies and Hostess cupcakes.
I think they went into the 80's also. But those were advertisements, with Grond, it's an adventure! :D

Besides, wouldn't you want to be eating a cupcake while being lassoed by Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman? :thumbup:

[Chuckg]

One could learn to like the city of Green Bay :)

Hey, football isn't a sport up there, it's a *religion*. My aunt's family lives there, and I live in Chicago(*), that's how I know.





(*) Which means I get to see the Pack kick our asses an average of twice a season. It gets to the point you know your rivals better than your own team. Ah, but I'm wandering again. :)

[Kirby]

In order to 'buy the packers' -- yes, a large plurality is tied up in a few owners...

... the rest of it is spread out in little packets among thousands of people all over Green Bay. Perhaps tens of thosuands, I'm not certain.

But anyway, the Packers are the last team in the league where the franchise truly belongs to the community, not some corporate owner.
Silence! I shall not have you tainting my idea with foul, factual references! :tsk: (Somehow, this does sound familiar, though. Can anyone else confirm this?) Okay, maybe Green Bay, Wisconsin is the secret base to the North American leaders of VIPER and they have the more VIPER agents in Green Bay than the next three nests combined! :cheers: Yes! The fact that most of these employees are the pencil pushers and lawyers means nothing to me. Nothing, I tell you! :sneaky: Now begone before I have to turn you into an an e-newt. But have a nice day while you're at it. :snicker:

[Kirby]

Foxbat:

The death of a pet: A PC's DNPC's pet gerbil dies. The PC is asked to take him to the store to buy another. When the PC goes to the store, all the gerbils, hamsters, mice and similar rodents are sold out. The PC goes to another store. The same thing has happened! If the PC mentions this to a store employee, the employee offers to call their other stores in town. What a coincidence, all of these animals have been purchased. After doing some minor investigating, the heroes discover that at each store a few people came in buying all of the same tye of pet, but none of the descriptions really match. What's going on? The stores mention they'll be resupplied in about a week.

A few days later, on a night patrol, the power in the city goes out in a bad storm.* Only one building in the neighborhood has power. If the PC(s) investigate, they see Foxbat and team playing cards or some such. If PC(s) investigate further or enter by crashing the party, they'll eventually discover that there is a floor dedicated to housing hundreds of gerbils, hamster, mice, etc. It turns out Foxbat was tired of paying a very expensive electric bill and uses these rodents to supply him with electricity. All the cages have wheels that are attached to the electric layout. Ingenious and legal! (Of course, if Foxbat is wanted for any crimes....)

The check is in the mail: Post offices around the city are reporting break-ins, but they can't figure out what the criminals are looking for. Once the news is spread and stake-outs are posted, the crimes stop. Then postal 18-wheelers are being robbed! The drivers are knocked out from either sleeping gas, or hit on the head from behind when at truck stops. Eventually, the PCs come upon Foxbat and company exiting a mail truck with a few bags full of mail. During the fight, a missed shot hits a bag (or a successul hit where the bag is used to intercept the shot) and many envelopes fall out; the villains flee. When investigating, or if Foxbat is then captured. It turns out all stolen envelopes were from Publishers Clearing House. Foxbat was hoping that by eliminating all competitors in the city, he might win. The next day or so, PCH announces a winner in the neighboring city.

Hmm... I can't think of a third one, other than Foxbat embaresses Eurostar and they chase him back to campaign city. But it's just not as creative. UNLESS the PCs are vacationing in Europe at the time, and Foxbat come retreating right past them!


*A few weeks ago, Dallas County had a standard storm with some high winds that ended up knocking out power to 500,000 homes, apartments, and buildings. It was more due to a lack of well-maintained lines than fierce lightning, but still.

[Kirby]

To tell you the truth, Irishman, I don't like mentalists. The PCs really have Bad Egos, and any Mentalist worth their salt could wipe the floor with them; they is UBER.
Bah, humbug! And a hogwash while ye 'r at it. :drink: Just because they're a mentalist, doesn't mean they have to be a powerful mentalist. Maybe they're only built on 200 points, or 175.

In a game I ran, the "mentalist" of the group had only a 4d6 ego attack with an ECV of 7. She didn't have any mind reading abilities. There was a scene where she was trying to take out a criminal normal who had all primary mental stats at 10 and primary physical stats between 12-14. On her first ego attack, she missed. :nya: Her second attack did 6 points, straight, no defenses. :think: Her next attack did 10 points. She switched dice and rolled 10 points again. :stupid: Luckily for her, that knocked the guy out.

I say attack the PCs with a low-powered mentalist or two. A psychokinesis mentalist doesn't read minds necessarily. A mentalist doesn't make one a Jedi.
If your PCs didn't buy energy defenses, would you refuse to use energy attacks? In a game where I was a player, a new GM tried running a Dark Champions game, and didn't use energy attacks at all, figuring it wasn't a DC kind of thing. We didn't buy energy defenses and became a little too well defended. :bmk:

PS: At 11:50 PM yesterday evening, my first 5E was scanned in at the local UPS hub. Today, I shall receive it. Yahoo! :bounce: