What Champions characters might survive to the Terran Empire?

[Balok]

This assumes, of course, that their enemies don't kill them first.

Cataran seems an obvious choice; she was immortal before the magic burst.

Could a character like Menton survive that long, perhaps by decanting his mind into a succession of new bodies? An ability he doesn't have ... yet. Could Teleios do the same thing, only with clones?

I'm not saying any of them *have* survived; it might be that their special gifts evaporated when the magic went. That hinges on whether your opinion is that the magic changed them or sustains them.

Opinions?

[Space Cadet]

My guess would be that only those beings possessed of tremendous
natural, magical or cosmic powers and/or abilities would have the potential
to survive to the Terran Empire era. Cateran and Teleios are good choices
(Cateran by virtue of her immortality, Teleios as a result of his advanced scientific
knowledge). Menton could concievably survive by means of psionic transference
(vis-a-vis the Witchmen of the Horseclans novels).
Superhumans who are immortal as a result of being endowed with cosmic-
level energies could also survive to that future era. In all cases, though,
they would either have to live in near-isolation from other people, or
go the Highlander route: spend ten or twenty years in one identity,
then move on or "die", then start all over in a new location.

Space Cadet :cool:

[Monolith]

I am in the process of writing some alien information for new races and star systems to expand upon the information in Terran Empire. Here is part of one write-up you might find interesting (I'm only including the opening statement and biology sections here. I need to keep the homeworld, society, and tech sections secret as some of the players frequent these boards).

Mechanoids
A silent and secret terror of the Terran Empire, Mechanoids are a race of sentient machines descended from a 20th Century horror. Concealed from the eyes of all, Mechanoids carry out the edicts of the Supreme Automation as they slowly build a technological army with which to conquer the Earth.

Mechanoid Biology
Mechanoids, as their name implies, are made entirely from mechanical parts and have no biological systems within them. The average Mechanoid is 1.6 meters tall and weighs 90 kilograms. Nearly all Mechanoids are humanoid in shape, having two arms, two legs, a torso, and a discernable head. Mechanoids wear no clothing and their skin has a metallic sheen; the skin colors range from chrome-like silver to a dull, almost black, gray.

Mechanoid heads have an optic band which runs completely around them, giving their species a full 360 degree view at all times. Mechanoid have a grated opening in the front of their head similar to a mouth which they use to verbally communicate with other species. When communicating within their own species, Mechanoids emit ultrasonic radio signals which, at this point in time, are completely undetectable by Terran science. There are also two small sensor pads on each side of their head which function as ears; it is also believed the sensor pads are what make it possible for the Mechanoids to receive their ultrasonic radio transmissions.

Mechanoids do not need to consume food on a daily basis as most other species do, but they do need to recharge their systems with energy on a weekly basis. Fortunately for them, Mechanoids are very adaptable and seem to be able to consume virtually any type of energy ranging from simple AC/DC currents to antimatter and fusion emissions. The eating of energy requires the Mechanoid to completely power-down for thirty minutes, and it is at this time that Mechanoids are the most vulnerable.

The few Terran scientists who have been able to examine Mechanoid remains have found their systems to be extremely sophisticated; so much so that a Mechanoid even seems to emulate the feelings of pain, desire, and even fear to some extent. A Mechanoid’s cerebral circuits are similar in design to the human brain and it believed they can even dream during their short recharging periods. Unfortunately for the Mechanoids, but fortunate for those who have encountered them, the design of the cerebral circuits makes it possible for them to be knocked unconscious, and even stunned. This differentiates the Mechanoids from virtually every other AI android and robot currently in existence.

Mechanoid physiology allows them greater than human strength and also the ability to move across the ground at a slightly quicker pace than a normal human. Each Mechanoid also has “Jump Jets” built into its leg-units. These propulsion units, along with their ability to instantly calculate distances, allow Mechanoids to leap vast distances, especially in low-gravity worlds, and to accurately hit their targeted landing destination. Each Mechanoid is equally equipped with metallic “wrist piercers.” These one foot long piercing spikes spring from the palms of a Mechanoid’s hands from their hiding place within the forearm. The blades are incredibly strong and sharp, and are easily capable of penetrating most types of protective body armor.

[lemming]

Pretty cool, except for this bit of science technobable.


Originally posted by Monolith
When communicating within their own species, Mechanoids emit ultrasonic radio signals which, at this point in time, are completely undetectable by Terran science.

I would just make it some sort of radio signals, with backup ultrasonic or even communication lasers.

Though I do like the overall idea of how Mechanon survives. The lower power of these could be explained that when the magic waned, Mechanon could of deduced this and built a lower tech version of itself free of the strange enhancements.

Either that or he and Dr. Destroyer merge.

[Steve Long]

Heh heh... just wait 'til you see what I've got in mind for some of these guys in the Galactic Champions era.... :)

[Monolith]

Originally posted by lemming
Pretty cool, except for this bit of science technobable.

I would just make it some sort of radio signals, with backup ultrasonic or even communication lasers.
The power is purchased as Mind Link. The idea is that they are communicating on a yet-undiscovered mental radio frequency - one no one has ever yet encountered before. This will give some psionics the unusual ability to pick-up Mechanoid transmissions by accident. The idea with the ears is to give players a focal point which they can then use to create receivers as the campaign would progresses.


Though I do like the overall idea of how Mechanon survives. The lower power of these could be explained that when the magic waned, Mechanon could of deduced this and built a lower tech version of itself free of the strange enhancements.
The history section has Mechanon pretty close to devastated for several dozen decades. It was only through sheer hatred that he survived in any fashion at all. His programming has been altered by the experience though. He no longer has as great a desire to exterminate biological life. His hatred is more focused at the Earth and the humans who live there. He believes the humans caused his near-destruction (having no real concept of how magic waxes and wanes, and how that effects everything) and wants revenge. The Mechanoids, the Death Spheres, and his ATRI 12 technology (much of it stolen from the Varanyi and surviving Mandaarian worlds) are just the first steps in his revenge. :)

[BobGreenwade]

Originally posted by Steve Long
Heh heh... just wait 'til you see what I've got in mind for some of these guys in the Galactic Champions era.... :) I'm actually looking forward to seeing what's happening in that era with Doctor Destroyer, Mechanon, and Takofanes.... :D

[Steve Long]

Just to keep everyone's minds from boggling too much, I should point out that many -- indeed, the vast majority -- of 2003-era CU characters aren't going to be around in the year 3000. Not even most of the major baddies, or all the really popular ones. Just the ones who have the means to survive a millennia of quietude, he said malevolently.... ;)

[Lord Liaden]

Steven S. Long, you tempt your customers with near-sadistic glee - and we love ya for it. :D

It's doubtless too early to start talking about a "What do *you* want to see?" for Galactic Champions, but I am hoping that the new roster of characters will include some "cosmic entity" type beings. The Ultimate Supermage filled in a lot of the mystical ones, and there is some obvious spillover between mystic and cosmic; but I would like to see a few beings with a more sci-fi slant like Marvel Comics' stable (Galactus, the Watcher, the Elders of the Universe, etc.)

But I shall be patient until that fine day comes. :)

[Balok]

Takofanes could have returned to his vault (or one like it) to wait out the low magic time. He could have set some sort of spell to reawaken him at the proper time.

We don't know enough, one way or t'other, about some of the characters who are largely based on energy. Specifically, do they need the magic to keep their powers functioning and themselves alive? Or did the magic simply change them, and they now sustain themselves by natural processes. The answer to that question will determine much about how many -- and who -- can survive.

What might the perspective of someone who is over a thousand years old be like?

[Mutant for Hire]

The question is, will there be Foxbat?

[Hermit]

Hmm, my own thoughts on what would be neat.

I think it would be kind of cool to have Witchcraft alive, she became sorcerer supreme in her time, extending her life..and as magic waned she set herself to slumber in a pocket dimension until it was time to 'awaken' again.

Firewing might be dead, but the a new Malvan might dare the Furnace of the First Ones and claim the same name.

There should indeed be a Foxbat, perhaps even distantly related to the original... however with so much damage to earth records on the 20th and 21st Century; have the details horribly skewed. The new Foxbat thinks the original was a great hero, and thus treats his mantle with great dignity and seriousness at all times :D

[Gary]

Istvatha V'han could easily do so. Heck, with time travel abilities, she could be in constant contact with her future self. :cool:

[Balok]

I don't think they come out and say it specifically (could be I missed it), but the clear implication is that Istvatha V'han's dimension spanning empire is the product of millennia of work. Since she has been along for the entire ride, she is either immortal, or has developed some way of surviving past her allotted span.

[Morningstar]

Istvatha V'han has full liffe support including immortality. Maybe she waits that long to reappear after it becomes to easy to conquer our dimension after magics fall. :)

What about the mech's that don't pay for life support immortality? (Mechanon) I cant see them just rusting!

[Delthrien]

Originally posted by Hermit
There should indeed be a Foxbat, perhaps even distantly related to the original... however with so much damage to earth records on the 20th and 21st Century; have the details horribly skewed. The new Foxbat thinks the original was a great hero, and thus treats his mantle with great dignity and seriousness at all times :D

Hey, why not the original? Perhaps his using an experimental (and horribly unstable) power source for his new FoxBatWatch was not quite the clever idea he'd originally thought.

"I dunno... One minute I was checking the accuracy of the bus schedule for a potential getaway option, the next I'm standing in line for a sample grbnfflx... whatever the hell that is..."

[Mutant for Hire]

I raised the possibility of Foxbat being found in a cryogenic chamber. All Steve said was, "No, it's not him."

It was at that point he flashed his Evil Union Card.

[sbarron]

Doctor Destroyer seems a likely choice to make it to the year 3000. Either he cryogenically freezes himself in hopes that the future will have the tech needed to extend his life, or he makes use of a time travel device to go to the future for the technolgy he needs. Either way, I think his character would have the will and the intelligence to make it to Galactic Champions.

We'll have to see what Steve thinks. It would be a little boring to keep having the same major threat villians in the future, though. So while I think DD could make it to the future, I'm not sure I want him to.

[BobGreenwade]

Originally posted by sbarron
We'll have to see what Steve thinks. It would be a little boring to keep having the same major threat villians in the future, though. So while I think DD could make it to the future, I'm not sure I want him to. From what I understand of the Galactic Champions setting, "major threat" villains of the 21st century would be something like "secondary threat" villains in the higher-powered 31st century. Doctor D would have to ramp up his armor considerably, and form a supervillain team, just to be competitive with other villains (Istvatha V'han is an excellent example).

[Morningstar]

It would be a really interesting part of this book if they gave various accounts of what happened to some of the bigger threats even if they aren't still around. Maybe Doc Destroyer isn't around because he is finallly killed in a world spanning battle, or even killed by a bigger threat of the 31st century.

[lemming]

Maybe we could have a melding of Dr. D and Mechanon? Dr. D downloads his intellect into a computer and once he's mechanized, perhaps he and Mechanon will have complementary goals?

[Doug Limmer]

Personally, I hope Dr. Destroyer doesn't make it out of the 21st century. I just don't think he fits as a 'villain for all time'. Vhan and Mechanon are fine, but not Dr. D.

[Jeff]

Originally posted by Morningstar


What about the mech's that don't pay for life support immortality? (Mechanon) I cant see them just rusting!

Well no - it's not like they have an audience for that kind of private function!

In Mechanon's case, no particular body needs to be ageless when none of them is more than a temporary ride anyway.

[Crimson-Hawk]

Considering that the whole premise of the Xenophore Wars, Terran Empire, and Terran Federation (and possibly a Cyber Hero style setting just before the Xenophore Wars?) is that magic almost literally drops off the face of the galactic map leads me with two questions.

1) What even occurs in 2020 to close the floodgates of magic opened by the Nazi sorcerers during WW2? This would have to be a pretty mind-blowing event that doesn't really cause that much destruction at all....

2) What opens the floodgates again in the Year 3000 era? Considering that both the heroes and the threats in Galactic Champions universe are comparatively stronger than in the Champions Universe (at least, I'm getting the impression of such), this was probably a huge, HUGE event in the history of the Terran Federation.

Things that make you go hmmmmm...... :)

[Steve Long]

Dale, both those questions will be answered in the intro to Galactic Champions. ;)

[BobGreenwade]

Originally posted by Crimson-Hawk
1) What even occurs in 2020 to close the floodgates of magic opened by the Nazi sorcerers during WW2? This would have to be a pretty mind-blowing event that doesn't really cause that much destruction at all.... Someone in another thread suggested that Mechanon and Takofanes might team up in a grand attempt to wipe out all life on Earth. I proposed (in the same thread) that this could be the Big Event of 2020.


2) What opens the floodgates again in the Year 3000 era? Considering that both the heroes and the threats in Galactic Champions universe are comparatively stronger than in the Champions Universe (at least, I'm getting the impression of such), this was probably a huge, HUGE event in the history of the Terran Federation. Maybe the Church of the Infinite Dark succeeds in locating the Crowns of Krim, or the Thane manage to reassert themselves.

[Monolith]

2020: Tyrannon finally decides to move on the Earth dimension. He rips a hole between the dimensions and begins his assault. After several months of battle with the Earth’s heroes and military, Witchcraft, the Sorceress Supreme, realizes that the only way for the Earth to survive is to eliminate the mystic energy which is fueling Tyrannon (Tyrannon conquers dimension to gain access to their mystically energy reserves – he uses them as fertilizer). Witchcraft’s plan is a success and Tyrannon, growing weaker by the day, is forced to withdraw as he feels the mystic well he was searching for has dried up. As a parting gift to Witchcraft, Tyrannon contaminates her body, infusing it with some of his own malicious mystical energy. Witchcraft is too week to defender herself and she slips into a coma.

2970: Witchcraft awakens and is fully transformed by the mystical energy stored within her body. She has but one purpose: to reignite the mystical fires of the Earth dimension so that her lord and master can have dominion. Using the carefully stored power within her body, Darkcraft, as she now calls herself, seeks out and rips asunder the Portal of Contemplation which had been hidden deep within the Himalayas for centuries. The resulting rupture sends a mystic wave pulsating around the earth, restimulating the dormant mystical nexus which exists around it. The age of superhumans would once again be upon the world. Soon the reserves would be large enough and Tyrannon would return!

:D

[BobGreenwade]

Originally posted by Steve Long
Dale, both those questions will be answered in the intro to Galactic Champions. ;) You mean... we're going to have to wait a year to find out? :eek: ;)

[Castaigne]

It might be interesting if some of the sources of power survive in some form, even if the heroes and villains who use them now don't make it.

The Crowns of Krim, the source of Meteor Man's power, and the Elder Worm could all be buried, dormant and forgotten, until discovered again.

[Balok]

Oh, I'm sure we haven't seen the last of the Elder Worm.

And considering what they did to the Malvans, it's fair to say that their return will not be good news for anyone...

[Powerhouse]

"Someone in another thread suggested that Mechanon and Takofanes might team up in a grand attempt to wipe out all life on Earth. I proposed (in the same thread) that this could be the Big Event of 2020."

EEK!!!! I hope not! That's just too scary!

[Lord Liaden]

Originally posted by Powerhouse
"Someone in another thread suggested that Mechanon and Takofanes might team up in a grand attempt to wipe out all life on Earth. I proposed (in the same thread) that this could be the Big Event of 2020."

EEK!!!! I hope not! That's just too scary!

The discussion developed into a rather interesting concept, in a nightmarish sort of way:

http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2908&highlight=sick+alliance+notion

[Space Cadet]

As far as who might survive to the "Galactic Champions" era goes,
I'd think that the Empyreans would definitely make it to that future
time with no problem at all.

Space Cadet :cool:

[Balok]

It seems likely that the "big magic draining event" of 2020 has something to do with stopping either Takofanes, or the Elder Worm (the Slug). It's possible that this was determined to be the only way to put the threat down, or maybe the people who did it didn't realize the long term consequences.

This, of course, raises the question of what might make someone want to re-enable magic in 3000 or so...

[AnotherSkip]

I think the rael question is what ones will you find really.


most have such a differing theory that basically recognising them will be a feat in and of itself.

[Space Cadet]

Originally posted by Lord Liaden
The discussion developed into a rather interesting concept, in a nightmarish sort of way:

http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2908&highlight=sick+alliance+notion

Just got through reading that particular thread.

What else can one say about such a hideous notion but...
BRRRRRR!!!!

By the way, Liaden, I rather like your current avatar. The idea
of Lord Smith, Chief Agent of Rivendell is amusing, to say the
least.

Space Cadet :D

[Polaris]

I would think that Dr. Destroyer would make it to Galactic Champions (at least his suit, perhaps in the hands of someone else).

I think his huge army of followers could suffice as a 'superviallain team'.

I would suspect that Dr. D right now is of the belief that time is all that can stop him... and, would be putting some resources toward making sure that not even time could.

Well, that is my opinion...:)

Polaris

[BobGreenwade]

Going back to the original question...

It seems to me that the only contemporary characters who would be active during the Terran Empire period would be Cataran and possibly Mechanon (albeit probably as an AI more than a super-powerful robot). Many others might survive to that period, but they'd probably be dormant because of the low flux of magic at the time, only to revive at during the Galactic Champions period.

[Jhamin]

Having Captain Chronos show up in the year 3000 isn't even a matter of him surviving. He claims to come from several thousand years in the future, so the Galactic Champions period would also be ancient history for him.

Perhaps another great chrisis will happen in that time period, forcing his intervention?

[AnotherSkip]

in answer to the original question:

Mine.



:)

[Tech]

Pardon me if this is a little out of context, but I have one superheroine in my current Champions campaign who'd survive. I guess it helps she's from another dimension with immortality, hm?