Finally played HERO... and a question!

[roch]

Yes, we finally had our first HERO sesh yesterday, running a Fantasy HERO adventure. Hopefully I'll post a playtest review of HERO soon on rpg.net to go with my capsule review (http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/11/11044.phtml), but in the meantime, a question or two about CSLs.

A character has a few 3-pt CSLs on a Power Framework that's defined as "Demonic Fire Sorcery".

o If the CSLs are switched to DCV, what can that DCV bonus be applied to? Anything at all that is defined as "Demonic Fire Sorcery" (whether it's BOECV or some wierdo Power with UAA, whatever) and nothing else? Anything using any of the same Powers that are in the Framework (this seems a bit powerful to me)? Nothing at all?

o If 4 such CSLs are switched to add damage, then presumably any Power in the Framework can have an extra 2 DCs of damage added irrespective of that Power's Advantages? Thus, Active Point Caps can be neatly subverted, and attacks with lots of Advantages can get a nice big boost :)

Generally, people had a lot of fun, but I (as GM) had a tough time balancing encounters. I found that if any "boss" style monster kept attacking just one character, that character was in dire trouble, but if the monster alternated its attacks, the characters found it pretty easy :straight:

Anyway, answers to the above questions much appreciated.

(_8(0)

[Doc Democracy]

A character has a few 3-pt CSLs on a Power Framework that's defined as "Demonic Fire Sorcery".

My first thought was that you'd need 5 point levels for a power framework - am I in wrong edition mode??


o If the CSLs are switched to DCV, what can that DCV bonus be applied to? Anything at all that is defined as "Demonic Fire Sorcery" (whether it's BOECV or some wierdo Power with UAA, whatever) and nothing else? Anything using any of the same Powers that are in the Framework (this seems a bit powerful to me)? Nothing at all?

Once again - don't you need 8 point levels to apply generally to DCV? You can use 3 and 5 point levels for HtH and need 8 pointers for everything...


o If 4 such CSLs are switched to add damage, then presumably any Power in the Framework can have an extra 2 DCs of damage added irrespective of that Power's Advantages? Thus, Active Point Caps can be neatly subverted, and attacks with lots of Advantages can get a nice big boost :)

From memory, its more complicated than that :) and that's because the advantages do count.


Generally, people had a lot of fun, but I (as GM) had a tough time balancing encounters. I found that if any "boss" style monster kept attacking just one character, that character was in dire trouble, but if the monster alternated its attacks, the characters found it pretty easy

That is one of the things that the heroes have to work out for themselves. If the boss monster is attacking one character then the others should be working hard to divert its attention while said character does whatever he can to make himself harder to hit and to hurt.

Doc

[Hugh Neilson]

Yes, we finally had our first HERO sesh yesterday, running a Fantasy HERO adventure. Hopefully I'll post a playtest review of HERO soon on rpg.net to go with my capsule review (http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/11/11044.phtml), but in the meantime, a question or two about CSLs.

A character has a few 3-pt CSLs on a Power Framework that's defined as "Demonic Fire Sorcery".

Whether that's legit depends on whether you consider "demonic fire sorcery" to be a tight group or not. As DD points out, in some games you would be requied to take 5 point levels for that. To my way of thinking, levels restructed to demonic fire sorcery are more restrictive than levels with "all ranged combat", so I'd likely allow a cost break and make then 3 point skill levels. On the other hand, if the character's suite of powers in that framework is broad enough, I might require 5 point levels to reflect the fact these abilities are broad enough to be simila r in scope to "all HTH combat" or "all ranged combat".


o If the CSLs are switched to DCV, what can that DCV bonus be applied to? Anything at all that is defined as "Demonic Fire Sorcery" (whether it's BOECV or some wierdo Power with UAA, whatever) and nothing else? Anything using any of the same Powers that are in the Framework (this seems a bit powerful to me)? Nothing at all?

First off, I believe that levels applied to DCV must apply either to HTH DCV OR Range DCV, not both. I would consider ECV a separate type of DCV for this purpose as well. A 5 point level specifically for DCV can raise overall DCV, but cannot be used for anything else. It takes an 8 point ("all combat") level to be able to choose applications other than DCV, or apply them to DCV for an overall DCV bonus.


o If 4 such CSLs are switched to add damage, then presumably any Power in the Framework can have an extra 2 DCs of damage added irrespective of that Power's Advantages? Thus, Active Point Caps can be neatly subverted, and attacks with lots of Advantages can get a nice big boost :)

Many advantages increase DC, if I recall correctly. They certainly do in my game. For example, 1d6 NND is considered 2 DC in my game. Advantages which don't impact damage don't increase damage classes (logically enough) so an Energy Blast with 0 END, No Range Modifiers and Variable SFX could get the same 2d6 boost as an EB with no advantages. The boost stops at doubling the power's DC's.

And yes, it iis important to consider skill levels in assessing caps (another reason I'm not a fan of management through caps - i subscribe to the "total character" approach. By the way, I would consider 4 skill levels to reflect a lot of skill and experience with the abilities in question, and I would question a starting character having this level of expertise.

I don't know the type of game you're playing, but frameworks always suggest Superheric to me. Generally, use of levels to enhance DC's isn't applied in superheroic games.


Generally, people had a lot of fun, but I (as GM) had a tough time balancing encounters. I found that if any "boss" style monster kept attacking just one character, that character was in dire trouble, but if the monster alternated its attacks, the characters found it pretty easy :straight:

I find this an issue in most games, but it depends on the manner in which the Boss is built. If he's just like the PC's, only with a larger attack and better defenses/DCV, he will clean up on anyone he's attacking. Te only hope is to concentrate fire on him, and hope he can be taken down before he takes out too much of the group for them to remain a threat.

On the other hand, if the Boss has a higher SPD than the PC's, coupled with some levels with, say, Sweep, or some Area Effect abilities, he can generally attack several PC's at once, but use damage similar to theirs, and be as easily damaged by their attacks as any minion, buit still present a tough fight.

A common compromise strategy is to give Boss defense levels similar to the PC's, but buy up his Stun and BOD, or alternatively give him Damage Reduction, so PC attacks do generally get something through, but he can last longer.

[roch]

Thanks for the help, guys - I think I missed the bit of the rules which clarifies that a CSL applying to a "type" of attack refers to whether the attack's HtH or Ranged; things actually make sense now!

Ish.

Oh, and I like the idea of big baddies having lots of STUN/DR but reasonably modest attacks so that the group can chip away at them and then feel like they actually achieved something. The FOOLS!

(_8(0)