Most challenging campaign concept or character design to simulate using Hero System

[Steve]

What character design or campaign concept proved to be the most difficult for you to simulate with Hero?

[Richard Logue]

Its a work still in progress for me as I haven't used the character yet. And I haven't used him yet because I have not been truly satisfied with the results.

Essentially, he's an angel, fallen from grace and on a personal mission for (as yet undefined) mystical power. His power concept seems relatively simple, but its been a nightmare for me to stat it out. He steals your "soul," and can then use your powers. Laid out, his touch renders a super powerless and in a comatose state, and he can now use that super's powers and abilities. (Point of interest here... he's meant to be a very powerful villain in my campaign world.)

Hand of Death: Drain BODY 4d6, Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/4), BOECV (Mental Defense applies; +1) (90 Active Points) (uses Personal END); 90 points, 4 END

Soul Stealing: Major Transform 3d6 (people into powerless, comatose people, Dispel), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), BOECV (Standard Defenses apply; +1) (112 Active Points); Linked (Hand of Death; -1/4); 90 points, 0 END

Aid Power Defense 3d6, Delayed Return Rate (points return at the rate of 5 per Year; +2 1/2) (105 Active Points); Linked (Soul Stealing; -1/2); 70 points

Transfer 2d6 (END to END Reserve), Can Transfer Maximum Of 32 Points, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), BOECV (Mental Defense applies; +1) (100 Active Points); Linked (Soul Stealing; -1/2); 67 points

Endurance Reserve (50 END, 50 REC) (55 Active Points); 55 points

Power Mimicry: VPP, 120 base + 65 control cost, Powers Can Be Changed As A Zero-Phase Action (+1), No Skill Roll Required (+1) (300 Active Points); Limited Power - VPP Powers can only Transform victim's powers at the victim's levels or max available Power loses about half of its effectiveness (-1); all slots Limited Power - Cannot Mimic powers based on Foci. Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic powers based on Magic or Sorcery. Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (-1/4); 185 points

Characteristics Mimicry: MP, 90-point reserve, (90 Active Points); Limited Power - Can only mimic Transform victim's Characteristics at the victim's levels or max available Power loses about half of its effectiveness (-1); all slots Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on Foci. Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on magic/sorcery. Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (-1/4); 33 points
5m 1) +60 STR (60 Active Points); No Figured Characteristics (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on Foci. Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on magic/sorcery. Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (-1/4) (uses END Reserve); 6 END
5m 2) +20 DEX (60 Active Points); No Figured Characteristics (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on Foci. Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on magic/sorcery. Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (-1/4)
5m 3) +30 CON (60 Active Points); No Figured Characteristics (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on Foci. Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on magic/sorcery. Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (-1/4)
6m 4) +5 SPD (50 Active Points); Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on Foci. Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on magic/sorcery. Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (-1/4)

I dunno....

[Ghost who Walks]

I've had this character idea buzzing around in my head for weeks, and have no idea how to write it up.

Basicly, guy finds a ancient egyptian jar, containing the disembodies brain on the Egyptian God, Horus. God thanks dude for finding the jar, and uses him to fight for justice and goodness.

As for the powers, I'm leaning towards a multipower, but I want the effect to be that its actually Horus casting the spells. He is simply using the character as conduit/pack mule.

The dominant character (PC) of the two is supposed to be the guy who found the jar, not the brain in a jar.

[caris]

Originally posted by Ghost who Walks
I've had this character idea buzzing around in my head for weeks, and have no idea how to write it up.

Basicly, guy finds a ancient egyptian jar, containing the disembodies brain on the Egyptian God, Horus. God thanks dude for finding the jar, and uses him to fight for justice and goodness.

As for the powers, I'm leaning towards a multipower, but I want the effect to be that its actually Horus casting the spells. He is simply using the character as conduit/pack mule.

The dominant character (PC) of the two is supposed to be the guy who found the jar, not the brain in a jar.

Well, I'd start with some variant of No Conscious Control lim.

[McCoy]

Scarlet Witch. Champions, AFAIK, doesn't have a mechanism for the "Wand of Wonder" effect, where the character doesn't know what's going to happen when the power is activated. Variable intesnity can be achieved by nesting activations, but this character needs variable Sx, variable advantages, and even variable base powers.

Vertigo. Yes, DEX drain, but seems like there is something more.

Proteus and Malace. Never seen possession handeled well in Champions.

[Intrope]

Well, I don't have an example of a hard construct. But I have some thoughts about the examples so far:

Soul-stealer Angel: That's rough (any variant of Rogue is always tough). How about:
Transform (Spirit) BOECV (into 'spiritless being') and a VPP, only to buy Multiform into me+stolen powers. By selecting the size of the VPP, you can limit how much of the target's powers the angel can borrow. Naturally, the VPP control can be limited (it requires you take someone's sould, that's pretty limiting). I'm assuming that the Angel retains all it's own powers once it's stolen a target's, of course.

Horus-in-a-jar (neat idea, BTW): if Horus isn't independent (he just casts spells when needed, and acts as an information source): he's just a cool OAF on your multipower/skills. I'm assuming you want H-jar to be a little more active; in that case, why not duplication?

Vertigo: instead of DEX drain, how about Flash (to all senses, yipe) BOECV? or maybe NND defense: not having human-class mind? That would give you a power that completely disconnects a character temporarily. After all, if all your senses have been flashed you can't make a PER roll to lessen your blindness penalties!

[McCoy]

Originally posted by Intrope
Vertigo: instead of DEX drain, how about Flash (to all senses, yipe) BOECV? or maybe NND defense: not having human-class mind? That would give you a power that completely disconnects a character temporarily. After all, if all your senses have been flashed you can't make a PER roll to lessen your blindness penalties!

Flash doesn't ssem right either, she usually does get tagged, by Beast or the highest DEX opponent available. But attacking perception may be the way to go. Maybe Change enviroment with negatives to DEX, movement, OCV, and all perception?

Has the virtue of not having been tried. Let me think about it.

And thanks!

[lemming]

Hmm, sort of thinking of the Scarlet Witch scenario.

No Conscious Control just on the Variable SFX advantage?

[austenandrews]

Originally posted by lemming
Hmm, sort of thinking of the Scarlet Witch scenario.

No Conscious Control just on the Variable SFX advantage?

The Scarlet Witch is an interesting case. I wouldn't use NCC because that takes the action out of the player's hands. Rather I'd say that the player can control the specifics of the power, but the character can't. Make the player pick a special effect from the environment (I'd give it a -1/4, or at best a -1/2 similar to "focus of opportunity"). The GM can modify or veto the decision, since he rules on what the environmental resources are.

Naturally this would only work for a player who has no trouble distinguishing between his own motivations versus the character's. For instance, the character might cast a hex to take down a villain. The player decides that a high-tension power line will snap and land on top of said villain. Now the character might not have chosen this option, because it inconveniences one of her allies; but the player should be willing to make the sacrifice if it's the only reasonable option. (If you want to force such a situation with game mechanics, add Unluck as a Side Effect.)

The Scarlet Witch would be fun to play, but you'd definitely have to work at it.

-AA

[Ghost who Walks]

Originally posted by caris
Well, I'd start with some variant of No Conscious Control lim.

Not quite what I am looking for. The general idea is a guy who knows nothing about magic, yet is able to cast really powerful spells.

Originally posted by Intrope
Horus-in-a-jar (neat idea, BTW): if Horus isn't independent (he just casts spells when needed, and acts as an information source): he's just a cool OAF on your multipower/skills. I'm assuming you want H-jar to be a little more active; in that case, why not duplication?

The jar will be sitting back in his house on a shelf, a "mystical link" will prvide the power to cast the spells.

Duplication might work, but if he is on all the time then it would pretty much be a follower. I wonder if I could build it as a computer?

[caris]

Originally posted by Ghost who Walks
Not quite what I am looking for. The general idea is a guy who knows nothing about magic, yet is able to cast really powerful spells.


The jar will be sitting back in his house on a shelf, a "mystical link" will prvide the power to cast the spells.

Duplication might work, but if he is on all the time then it would pretty much be a follower. I wonder if I could build it as a computer?

OK, mind if I back up a bit? How much actual control do you want the player, not the character to have over the abilities?

[Intrope]

Originally posted by Ghost who Walks
Not quite what I am looking for. The general idea is a guy who knows nothing about magic, yet is able to cast really powerful spells.

...

The jar will be sitting back in his house on a shelf, a "mystical link" will prvide the power to cast the spells.

Duplication might work, but if he is on all the time then it would pretty much be a follower. I wonder if I could build it as a computer?

Well, how about just buying all of Jarman's powers with a -1/4 limitation: only while he owns the jar (about as restrictive as OIHID, someone could steal the jar or he could be taken to a place the jar can't reach) and a Psych Lim: doesn't understand magic? And possibly Accidental Change: Horus sometimes casts a spell other than what Jarman wants, or a times he doesn't want to cast?

If you want Horus to be an active participant all the time, he could be an AI (or permanent duplicate) with Clairsentience (only through Jarman's eyes) and all powers: indirect, megascale range (1" = 1km) and Only through Jar Bearer ( -3/4?). So long as Jarman is within say 500km Horus ought to be able to cast through him (the GM would have to waive the range penalty though). Maybe Jarman also has to concentrate to channel the power?

I think I'll steal this idea though; Horus in a jar (warbles: Horus in a jar-o ) could be very cool.

[Ghost who Walks]

Originally posted by Intrope
If you want Horus to be an active participant all the time, he could be an AI (or permanent duplicate) with Clairsentience (only through Jarman's eyes) and all powers: indirect, megascale range (1" = 1km) and Only through Jar Bearer ( -3/4?). So long as Jarman is within say 500km Horus ought to be able to cast through him (the GM would have to waive the range penalty though). Maybe Jarman also has to concentrate to channel the power?

I think I'll steal this idea though; Horus in a jar (warbles: Horus in a jar-o ) could be very cool.

This sounds like the way I will do it. I wanted Horus to be able to withdraw his magical support, and this seems to be the way to do it.

I got the idea from reading up on egyptian mummification, they used to remove all the organs and put them in sealed jars. They would sometimes do it with the brain, usually they would toss it out. I figured he would be useful for mystical plot hooks and what not.

[gewing]

Posession as Jericho did it was my first thought.

[Pattern Ghost]

Originally posted by gewing
Posession as Jericho did it was my first thought.

Same here.

Then there's auto-hit and full invulnerability, since absolutes are ruled out by design philosophy. Homing attacks are also a pain.