British SF HERO

**Michael Hopcroft** · Aug 8th, '03, 06:22 PM

In the period from 1955 to 1990, the British Broadcasting Corporation produced several remarkable science fiction series for its television service. It was the age of Quatermass and the Pit , Doctor Who ,Blakes 7 and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy . The shows were marked the the paradoxical combination of cheap, often cheezy effects and often truly creative storytelling.

The era ended when Star Trek: the Next Generation proved concolusively that a government agency that relied on TV license fees could never raise the financial resources to compete. Since then BBC SF has been limited to satires like Red Dwarf , which have proved popular but not quite as satisfying to me at least.

Could Star HERO be used to put together a campaign in ther style of one of those classic series?

**Monolith** · Aug 8th, '03, 06:38 PM

Star Hero could easily do that. But really what you are describing is more of a campaign tone than a rules issue. Having garbage cans with brooms sticking out of the tops running around saying "Exterminate!" is really more of a style of play than anything else. It would be no different than using Champions to play a Golden Age game (where the heroes are heroes and the villains are villains) as compaired to a Dark Champions game (where no one is sure who the heroes are).

IMO, 80% of all gaming is campaign/genre tone and only 20% is dependent upon the rules of the game.

**comfortmd** · Aug 8th, '03, 07:41 PM

Originally posted by Monolith
Star Hero could easily do that. But really what you are describing is more of a campaign tone than a rules issue. Having garbage cans with brooms sticking out of the tops running around saying "Exterminate!" is really more of a style of play than anything else. It would be no different than using Champions to play a Golden Age game (where the heroes are heroes and the villains are villains) as compaired to a Dark Champions game (where no one is sure who the heroes are).

IMO, 80% of all gaming is campaign/genre tone and only 20% is dependent upon the rules of the game.

Hey the daleks also said the phrase "Kill the Doctor", heh heh heh (Do you know they have a remote control dalek now

). I have almost all the Doctor Who's recorded from PBS and transferred to med quality mpeg 2 (just in case the stupid BBC tries to destroy all the episodes of Doctor Who again) and i agree that making a Hero mod would be cool. The only problem would be that it wouldn't be "Doctor Who" it would be PC's running around the universe in a T.A.R.D.I.S.... Time travel / sci fi would be cool, but i would need Brigadeer Leftbridge Stuart and John Pertwee or Tom Baker to really enjoy it, and i understand the venerable John Pertwee has passed on.

**Michael Hopcroft** · Aug 8th, '03, 07:56 PM

Pertwee died in the late '90s. I met him once on a tpour to Portland -- we traded notes of having been in the same show ("A Funy Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" -- he played Lycus on the West End, I played Hysterium in college.)

Every actor should do Forum at least once in their careers....

Tom Baker has aged visibly and not very well, but is still active and still has that incredible voice of his. He was in the suppedly excreble Duneons & Dragons movie, and when he appeared in one of the BBC Narnia series ("The Silver Chair", I believe it was), the old magic was still there.

Peter Davison has gone quite bald over the years. His major role after Doctor Who was the title role in Campion, a series that ran in America on Mystery!, and he was very good.

I haven't heard anything about Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart) in years.

**comfortmd** · Aug 8th, '03, 07:58 PM

doctor who and Lord of the rings / The Hobbit were my childhood. The last Episode i believe Leftbridge Stuart was in was Mawdryn Undead, part of the Keys to Time series (somewhat right before Terminus when Nyssa leaves to help the lepers...)

**Michael Hopcroft** · Aug 8th, '03, 08:11 PM

Courtuney would play the Brigadier twice more -- in the 20th anniversary story "The Five Doctors" 9where he was transported with patrick Troughton to the Dead Zone on Gallifrey and got to knock the Master out with a hard right) and in the Sylvester McCoy story "Battlefield" (where we met his successor at UNIT, Brigadier Winifred Bambera, who was a formidable character in her own right).

And nit=pick here -- the Key to Time storyarc was four years before "Mawdryn Undead", a Peter Davison story which began a plot to kill the Doctor by inserting an evil companion itno his party. (Turlough later rejected evil and reformed).

**comfortmd** · Aug 8th, '03, 08:17 PM

Originally posted by Michael Hopcroft
Courtuney would play the Brigadier twice more -- in the 20th anniversary story "The Five Doctors" 9where he was transported with patrick Troughton to the Dead Zone on Gallifrey and got to knock the Master out with a hard right) and in the Sylvester McCoy story "Battlefield" (where we met his successor at UNIT, Brigadier Winifred Bambera, who was a formidable character in her own right).

And nit=pick here -- the Key to Time storyarc was four years before "Mawdryn Undead", a Peter Davison story which began a plot to kill the Doctor by inserting an evil companion itno his party. (Turlough later rejected evil and reformed).

*blink* you are right, they were with the first romana...right?????

**tkdguy** · Aug 8th, '03, 10:36 PM

The first Romana (Mary Tamm) was way hotter than the second one (Lalla Ward). I always thought Ms. Ward looked like an emaciated Cabbage Patch Kid (sorry, Lalla!). I heard she and Tom Baker got married. Is it true?

**Shadow Warrior** · Aug 8th, '03, 11:34 PM

I heard she and Tom Baker got married. Is it true?

Yes it is. However, they got divorced not much more than a year later.

**Armitage** · Aug 9th, '03, 12:01 PM

Originally posted by Michael Hopcroft
I haven't heard anything about Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart) in years.

Actor - filmography

TravelWise (2000)
Lust in Space (1998) (V) .... Time Judge/Himself
... aka Doctor Who's Lust in Space (1998)
Downtime (1995) (V) .... Brig. Gen. Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart
Myth Makers Vol. 12: Ian Marter (1994) (V)
Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time (1993) (TV) .... Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart
Cybermen: The Early Years (1992) (V) (archive footage) .... Brigadier
Born Kicking (1992) (TV) .... Tim Ayling
Resistance Is Futile (1992) (TV) (archive footage) .... Brig. Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart
Doctor Who: The Pertwee Years (1991) (V) (archive footage) .... Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart
Bullseye! (1990) .... Sir Hugh
"French Fields" (1989) TV Series .... The Marquis
Wartime (1987/I) (V) (voice) .... Brig. Lethbridge-Stewart (1997 version)
Jenny's War (1985) (TV)
To Catch a King (1984) (TV) .... de Oliveira
Doctor Who: The Five Doctors (1983) (TV) .... Brigadier
"Then Churchill Said to Me" (1982) TV Series .... Lt. Col. Robin Witherton
Soft Beds, Hard Battles (1974) (uncredited) .... French Intelligence Officer
... aka Undercovers Hero (1975) (USA)
Endless Night (1971) (uncredited) .... Second Auctioneer
... aka Agatha Christie's Endless Night (1971)
"Doctor Who" (1963) TV Series .... Brig. Alastair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart (1970-1974)
... aka "Dr. Who" (1963)
Take a Girl Like You (1970) .... Panel Chairman
Doppelganger (1969) (uncredited) .... Medical Data Analyst
... aka Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969) (USA)

Himself - filmography

Chronotrip (2002) .... Himself
Where On Earth Is... Katy Manning Because She'd Really Like to Know! (1998) (V) .... Himself
... aka Where On Earth Is... Katy Manning (1998) (V) (UK: short title)
Return to Devil's End (1996) (V) .... Himself
... aka Doctor Who's Return to Devil's End (1996) (V) (UK)
Doctors, 30 Years of Time Travel and Beyond, The (1995) (V) .... Himself
Doctor Who: Thirty Years in the Tardis (1993) (TV) .... Himself/Narrator ('Bret Vyon/The Brigadier')
... aka Doctor Who: More Than Thirty Years In the Tardis (1993) (TV) (UK: video title)
Myth Makers Vol. 7: Myth Runner (1989) (V) .... Himself

Notable TV Guest Appearances

"Sir Bernard's Stately Homes" (1999) playing "Senior policeman" in episode: "Stebson Towers" (episode # 1.6) 16 June 1999
"Bill, The" (1983) playing "Judge" in episode: "Crown V Cooper" (episode # 1991.4) 10 January 1991
"Doctor Who" (1963) playing "Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart (retired)" in episode: "Battlefield" (episode # 26.1) 6 September 1989
"Only Fools and Horses" (1981) playing "Charles" in episode: "Dates" 25 December 1988
"Doctor Who" (1963) playing "Tourist" (uncredited) in episode: "Silver Nemesis" (episode # 25.3) 23 November 1988
"Yes, Prime Minister" (1986) playing "Police Commissioner" in episode: "A Diplomatic Incident" (episode # 2.3) 17 December 1987
"Juliet Bravo" (1980) playing "Superintendent Austin" in episode: "Inspection" (episode # 6.10) 9 November 1985
"Minder" (1979) playing "Raymond Wilkins" in episode: "The Balance of Power" (episode # 5.8) 31 October 1984
"Doctor Who" (1963) playing "Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart (retired)" in episode: "Mawdryn Undead" (episode # 20.3) 1 February 1983
"Doctor Who" (1963) playing "Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart" (archive footage) (uncredited) in episode: "Logopolis" (episode # 18.6) 28 December 1981
"Shelley" (1979) playing "Bank Manager" in episode: "Owner Occupiers" (episode # 2.4) 8 May 1980
"All Creatures Great and Small" (1978) playing "Paul Cotterell" in episode: "Matters of Life and Death" (episode # 3.12) 15 March 1980
"Doctor Who" (1963) playing "Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart" in episode: "Terror of the Zygons" (episode # 13.1) 30 August 1975
"Doctor Who" (1963) playing "Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart" in episode: "Robot" (episode # 12.1) 28 December 1974
"Doomwatch" (1970) playing "Philip" in episode: "Cause of Death" (episode # 3.10) 1972
"Jason King" (1971) playing "Dr. Straymam" in episode: "Wanna buy a television series?" (episode # 1.1) 15 September 1971
"Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)" (1969) playing "Max" in episode: "The Ghost Who Saved the Bank at Monte Carlo" (episode # 1.11) 30 November 1969
"Callan" (1967) playing "David Forbes" in episode: "The Running Dog" (episode # 2.12) 26 March 1969
"Doctor Who" (1963) playing "Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart" in episode: "The Invasion" (episode # 6.3) 2 November 1968
"Champions, The" (1968) playing "Dr. Farley" in episode: "The Experiment" (episode # 1.4) 16 October 1968
"Doctor Who" (1963) playing "Colonel Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart" in episode: "The Web of Fear" (episode # 5.5) 3 February 1968
"Avengers, The" (1961) playing "Captain Gifford" in episode: "Mission... Highly Improbable" (episode # 6.8) 18 November 1967
"Doctor Who" (1963) playing "Bret Vyon" in episode: "The Dalek Masterplan" (episode # 3.4) 13 November 1965
"Avengers, The" (1961) playing "Captain Legros" in episode: "Propellant 23" (episode # 2.2) 6 October 1962

**Mark Taylor** · Aug 9th, '03, 02:41 PM

A couple of years ago I ran a very successful GURPS campaign based on the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I'm sure I could have done it just as easily with Star HERO.

**Mark Rand** · Aug 9th, '03, 05:13 PM

Hi all,
You can find Doctor Who gaming information for various systems, which includes a 4E Hero Time Lord package deal, on the scifi RPG page of the open directory project (DMOZ.ORG).
If I read the Ultimate Vehicle book right, the Chronoportation Box on page 103 is a TARDIS.
I found images of more than one TARDIS and several TARDIS control panels through a Google image search. There's even a plan of the Master's TARDIS there. It could inspire the creation of your own.
Comment is invited.
Yours,
Mark Rand

**comfortmd** · Aug 9th, '03, 07:02 PM

Originally posted by Mark Rand
Hi all,
You can find Doctor Who gaming information for various systems, which includes a 4E Hero Time Lord package deal, on the scifi RPG page of the open directory project (DMOZ.ORG).
If I read the Ultimate Vehicle book right, the Chronoportation Box on page 103 is a TARDIS.
I found images of more than one TARDIS and several TARDIS control panels through a Google image search. There's even a plan of the Master's TARDIS there. It could inspire the creation of your own.
Comment is invited.
Yours,
Mark Rand

The tardis is whatever the chameleon circuit is programmed to make it, inside and out. Also, a time lord is any gallifreyan that has been imbued with the extremely long life span, inherent time sense, and regenerations bestowed by Rastelon
THAT should make it EXTREMELY easy....

On a different Note, just get the Hitchhikers books, remember that the point of them was that Life was just not stressing about, have some fun and laugh at yourselves, and you will do ok... Tales from the floating Vagabond (OOOLD RPG) was the closest thing that approximated the Zany Feel of the books, even if the game was not in Hitchhiker's universe. Anybody have any info on Plot lines from Dark Star?? I've heard that would be a cool one, too.

ALSO, THANK YOU for the filmography on Nicolas Courtney. He was my favorite companion / co-worker of the Doctor, he was just cool, and i wanted to show appropriate appreciation.

**Kevin Scrivner** · Aug 9th, '03, 07:45 PM

I threw a squad of Dalek clones at a group of pulp adventurers a few years ago. The players were all "Dr. Who" fans and loved it. There was a 175-point leader, three to five 125-point warriors, and a robot technician to repair the others. They had enough Armor so the heroes' sidearms couldn't easily take them down but were slow (4" Running) and clumsy (CV 4, 5 for the leader). They captured the PCs to make them repair the portal the robots had used to invade our world. The heroes eventually defeated them by burning down the Victorian mansion the robots were using as a base (don't use elevator in case of fire, and Dalek clones can't climb stairs). The one surviving robot (it got stuck in the mud after the requisite dark and stormy night) was taken away by terse-speaking G-men to be studied by "top men."

**Michael Hopcroft** · Aug 14th, '03, 08:48 PM

One of the classic scnees in the Sylvester McCoy era of Doctor Who involved Daleks and stars. The Doctor had found a Dalek "transmat" pad in the basement of Coal Hill School (which happened to be where his first companions taught all those many years ago, although the story took place in 1963!) and a Dalek suddenly appeared. Naturally it recognized the Doctor and went after him.

"The Stairs!" cries the Doctor and he and Ace scramble up the basement stairs. The door is locked, so the Doctor turns around and is horrified to see the Dlaek pulling itself up the stairs by its hovercraft-style bottom panels....

It is a common misonception that Daleks can't climb stairs. Even the Doctor had been lulled into complacency, and barely got out of the situation alive. (Naturally it was a cliffhanger!)