Make something difficult: FateMan

[Dr Divago]

Ok, dunno if this is right section (or should i post into "champions" section?)

I'm building a character, name it "FateMan", the man with Destiny Changing Power
Basicly, his powers are limitless, expand to all the world (and more) and goes through space-time barrier
he can do anything save alter universe's laws, and make people gain a little advantage, or a great disadvantage
BUT
he can't control it

This is a "scientific explanation" of how he can do what he does: change the Luck

in my idea his powers are something like
a) he got an hig luck (maybe 6d6? 7d6? or like) with a side effect: unluck (same amount); he call this "wheel of destiny" and special effect are rolling a die (or tossing a coin). Obviously, unluck point and luck point cancel themself (or not... he can gain an incredible lucky shot and then an incredibly unlucky side effect... like a van interposing between he and his enemies protecting him from bullet damage, then exploding and tossing him a city block away :) )

b) he can create small "luck gift" for other people; he concentrate on a coin, amulet, ring, etc creating a "luck charm" (a 2d6 or 3d6 luck someone else can use). How to create this power? transform (suitable item into luck charm); only one at time? Luck w/ useable by other, focus, only one at time? something else?

c) he can alter enemies' luck, effectively giving them "unluck". How can i create this one? transform (bad guys in unlucky bad guys, heal back in a few minutes)?

d) what else?

and more important: this guy will be fun to play? or just a complete waste of point, 'cause is too much dipendent by gm's mood and creativity?

ty for answer

[Lord Liaden]

Scientific explanation? How about "psionically manipulating probability at the quantum particle level?" That used to be the explanation for Marvel's Scarlet Witch's "hex" power, before it was changed to "chaos magic".

I proposed a character on the boards with a similar type of power, "Count Infinity," whom you can read about here (http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=641821). (You might appreciate that he's Italian.) ;) That post was part of a larger thread in which I asked for suggestions for villain concepts based on that name, which you might find interesting (http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28826).

[Sean Waters]

Well you can do the whole thing with EDM, butt hat kinda runs aground on the reefs of 'Has To Be Fun To Play' Island.

[Dr Divago]

I proposed a character on the boards with a similar type of power, "Count Infinity," whom you can read about here (http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=641821). (You might appreciate that he's Italian.) ;) That post was part of a larger thread in which I asked for suggestions for villain concepts based on that name, which you might find interesting (http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28826).cool, ty, i'll give it a look

btw, i was thinking about some "starting pc" to start a campaign with OR make a single adventure / game session for some event (so something cheap in cost, simple to play, funny, very funny, and difficult to make with some other no-diceless no-ruleless game :) )

[Dr Divago]

Well you can do the whole thing with EDM, butt hat kinda runs aground on the reefs of 'Has To Be Fun To Play' Island.
what is "EDM" for?

[Sean Waters]

what is "EDM" for?

Extra Dimensional Movement: basically you move to a dimension where the thing you wanted to happen has happened, but everything else is the same. If your cosmology will stretch to it...

[Dr Divago]

Extra Dimensional Movement: basically you move to a dimension where the thing you wanted to happen has happened, but everything else is the same. If your cosmology will stretch to it...Oh ok. right. like time travel and wish for djinni :)

nice idea
but problem is still the same: this will be funny? for a little/no experienced player with a little experienced master? (experienced: about hero/champion :) )

[Sean Waters]

Oh ok. right. like time travel and wish for djinni :)

nice idea
but problem is still the same: this will be funny? for a little/no experienced player with a little experienced master? (experienced: about hero/champion :) )

No fun at all I'm afraid :(

I'd build (especially for an inexperienced player) some thing like this:

1. Decently statted basic normal, possibly with low superhuman characteristics, probably some sort of martial artist build (although it might just be 'Co-incidence Fu': the guy ran at me and, as I tried to get out of the way, he tripped over my foot and fell, knocking himself out...that spun me round so this other guy who was attacking from behind missed me and ran straight into my fist...

2. Several overall skill levels

3. Quite a few levels of luck, built in various ways as you suggest

4. Some danger sense: fate intervenes to warn him of impending danger

5. Some No Conscious Control clairsentience built as precognition - occasionally the GM can give him a clue which might help him make a good choice.

Should be simple enough to play and fun too, and it allows the GM significant input without necessarily feeling like meddling.

[Dr Divago]

No fun at all I'm afraid :(

I'd build (especially for an inexperienced player) some thing like this:
snip and snapnice ideas :)

[Killer Shrike]

Ok, dunno if this is right section (or should i post into "champions" section?)

I'm building a character, name it "FateMan", the man with Destiny Changing Power
Basicly, his powers are limitless, expand to all the world (and more) and goes through space-time barrier
he can do anything save alter universe's laws, and make people gain a little advantage, or a great disadvantage
BUT
he can't control it

This is a "scientific explanation" of how he can do what he does: change the Luck

in my idea his powers are something like
a) he got an hig luck (maybe 6d6? 7d6? or like) with a side effect: unluck (same amount); he call this "wheel of destiny" and special effect are rolling a die (or tossing a coin). Obviously, unluck point and luck point cancel themself (or not... he can gain an incredible lucky shot and then an incredibly unlucky side effect... like a van interposing between he and his enemies protecting him from bullet damage, then exploding and tossing him a city block away :) )

b) he can create small "luck gift" for other people; he concentrate on a coin, amulet, ring, etc creating a "luck charm" (a 2d6 or 3d6 luck someone else can use). How to create this power? transform (suitable item into luck charm); only one at time? Luck w/ useable by other, focus, only one at time? something else?

c) he can alter enemies' luck, effectively giving them "unluck". How can i create this one? transform (bad guys in unlucky bad guys, heal back in a few minutes)?

d) what else?

and more important: this guy will be fun to play? or just a complete waste of point, 'cause is too much dipendent by gm's mood and creativity?

ty for answer

Blackjack (http://www.killershrike.com/MillennialMen/MillennialMen_Allies_Blackjack.aspx#CHARACTER%20SH EETS) (twice in one day, even)...

[Dr Divago]

Blackjack (http://www.killershrike.com/MillennialMen/MillennialMen_Allies_Blackjack.aspx#CHARACTER%20SH EETS) (twice in one day, even)...nice the idea of a "lucky form" :)

[Killer Shrike]

nice the idea of a "lucky form" :)

Thanks. The character was difficult to GM for, but definitely enriched the campaign. Dan Simon, of HERO Designer fame was the player. All in all Blackjack is one of my favorite characters from over 15 years of playing / running HERO -- it's a character that would be nearly impossible in pretty much every other game system.

Mechanically the character evolved into this state and is the culmination of Dan's original idea, my mechanical meddling, a few shtick and name suggestions from WilyQuixote, and OddHat's voice of reason that led to a few conceptually cool but mechanically suspect abilities being cut or streamlined. With that much HERO Fu focused in one place, the result almost had to be good. ;)