Base, Sponsors & Free points

[Opale]

Heya all

 

My Group is wanting to find sponsors and some kind of "crowdfunding" to create their supergroup, become media stars, etc in order to build and buy their base and vehicles.

 

So now I get a problem in order to calculate what amount of money and advantages those sponsors ccan give them ? I mean, did anyone had this problem before ? Is there a rule of thumb to evaluate how many free points such operation could give them to get bases & Vehicles ? or in percentage of the total cost ? 

 

i'd need to make it something clean and official, so peace up things among the group ^^

 

Help wanted here !

 

Regards

 

Architect Opale

 

 

[Christopher]

We are in superheroics, so we should think in points. Point to real world money just does not work.

In turn Points can be converted into game effects. And to some degree, Complications can be converted into points.

Bases and Vehicles can carry some Complications - distinctive features for example.

Why not have some other complications that simulate the "sponsor responsibilities" the heroes have for those extra points? I have no idea how to model that exactly, but maybe the DNCP mechanic could be adapted?

 

You as GM can give them free points for specific purpsoes and even free equipment (JLU communicators; bases).
However that free gear is also under your full control. Without having to need any power build you can say "the batcar you got for free is not operational right now". You got full rights to block useage of point free equipment if it might be a problem for the story/might be usefull for the story to do so. People often forget that "what not to spend points on" rule is actually to the benefit of the GM more then the players.

 

In the end if you can not use the construct as GM, just do not have one.

"Spending points on a shared base" could also mean drumming up the sponsor money without having to deal with Sponsor related issues in game. The points cover the "sponsor obligations" just as well as a additional Complication would. Maybe the stuff just happens "off screen".

[Greywind]

Points from Sponsors can be "Watched" bound to some type of responsibility to the sponsor. "We're paying your bills, so technically you are employees. We have a little job we want you to do..."

[TheQuestionMan]

Quick way to alienate players or characters with Psych Comp/Lim Distrusts Authority

[bigdamnhero]

When we've done this sort of thing in the past, I've always just sort of handwaved the exact point totals available. "ABC Corporation has agreed to fund your new base, here's what they propose..." and then hand them the plans for the mid-size base that I designed and roleplay the characters negotiating with ABC to get a faster computer, better security, etc. Ditto for vehicles. Essentially "what is available" is driven by how much the GM wants them to have and thinks will enhance the game without unbalancing it.

 

If you want something more mechanical, you could use the Resource Point rules from APG1 (or 5ed Dark Champions). Basically it's like a mini-VPP only for gear, where the players get an allowance of X points for a Base, Y points for Vehicles, etc. There may be a "vehicle pool" they can choose from, or the players might get to design whatever they want within those limits. What's available may or may not rotate in between games. Resource Points are mainly used in Heroic games where the heroes get their gear from Q* or draw it from the company vehicle pool or whatever. But it seems like you could make it work here.

 

Either way, the fun part here is that "Keeping the sponsors happy" can end up having a direct impact on the PCs' effectiveness. You can play this up straight: "After you saved the City from beat Dr. Badass last week, ABC Corp has increased your funding - add another X points of stuff to the Base." Or you can play it for annoyance/humor: "ABC Corp wants you to endorse their new sportscar so they're giving you one for free, but you have to agree to do a couple commercials and oh the car doesn't actually work right." Or you can play it against them: "ABC expects some sort of reciprocity in return for their largess." Or all of the above at different times.

 

* Bond not Trek.

[BoloOfEarth]

Resource Points are mainly used in Heroic games where the heroes get their gear from Q* or draw it from the company vehicle pool or whatever. But it seems like you could make it work here.

 

* Bond not Trek.

 

I dunno, I think getting "assistance" from the Q of Star Trek would be great roleplaying fun. 

[Nothere]

Well I don't know that I can really offer much in a way of advice. I've done the superteam starts with sponsors thing twice now. But  I didn't give them much in the way of specialized equipment. One of the sponsors was a Nick Fury type so he gave them some cell phones to use while getting organized. The main thing I did was give them a starter base. The first time a run down mansion on the outskirts of town. The second time I gave them three options. As starter bases they didn't really have anything super. Just big hidden areas where the teams could build as they saw fit. Both times the teams ignored the bases. I did tell them they'd get paid for working together but kept it vauge. The Avengers I believe get 1k a week, don't know if the Jla get anything.

[Tjack]

The "on the other hand" of that kind of sponsorship is that if the team doesn't come off so well in the public eye....a character with Berserk attacks a cop, Viper frames the team for a bank robbery, an alternate universe version of your group busts up the downtown.

Whatever evil plotline the GM can come up with, all your neat toys can suddenly go away just when you need them most. Plus, if and when you do manage to clear your name there's no guarantee that those same easy going sponsors will return to the fold.

The replacement sugar daddy's may crack the whip a little more than you're used to since now they're the ones in charge and your Rep is as "damaged goods".

[Christopher]

I dunno, I think getting "assistance" from the Q of Star Trek would be great roleplaying fun. 

That is what everyone thinks. Then you end up in Sherwood forest and he seduces your Ex.

[Opale]

thank you all for the answers and feedback ^^

[freakboy6117]

Looking at patreons top earners many of them are bringing in 10-25k a month I can totally see a super team raising that if they where to release regular battle footage behind the scenes YouTube videos and much more from merchandising and licensing.

[PaladinAg]

Champions 6e has some useful pointers on this which I think are very good. In essence, like real life, nothing comes for free. Stuff can be paid for with CPs and XPs and/or granted by the GM. However, there will be a 'price' extracted by the GM in terms of additional complications for the players such as hunted by superillain team,watched by sponsor, subject to orders and extra DNPCs.

 

PaladinAg

[Hadmar von Wieser]

  I see the ultimate super hero team for the 2010s forming:
THE KICKSTARTER
MERCHANDIZING MAN
LADY LICENSE
SERGEANT SHAREWARE
PRODUCT PLACER
CASTING GIRL
CROWDSOURCE KID
MAJOR FLASHMOB
ENDORSING MAN
LOBBY LAD
and the Amazing AMAZON
 

[steriaca]

Anyone seen the superhero anime Tiger And Bunny? That is all about corporate superheroes in a semi-reality TV show.

[bigdamnhero]

I once played in a shortlived M&M campaign that had corporate sponsorship as a big component, mostly played for laughs. My brick started out as Captain Smash, but after he lost his sponsorship it turned out the cereal company owned that name, not him. So for awhile he was just TUG: The Unsponsored Guy, fighting crime in sweats and a ski mask.

[Sketchpad]

I use sponsorship quite a bit in my campaigns. In the past, I've always kept a Watched complication attached to the base, as well as allowing the team to pay X% of the base depending on how much control they want over it. For example:

 

• Team needs a base and they have little wealth in game? They can get a base 100% funded (0 pts.), but they have to attend press conferences, do commercials, have their likeness licensed out, etc.

• Team needs a base and they want to have some control? They can get their base 40-60% funded (~1/2 pts.), but they have to answer to shareholders or a council of some kind. 

• Team needs a base and they want total control? They fund their own base (100% of points) and determine who and what they want attached to it.

 

The same works for vehicles and certain gear. Mind you, I use Resource Points in my superhero games. 

[TheQuestionMan]

Resources (Subsidizing Crime Fighting Activities)  

 

Marketing their Images 

 

Product Endorsements 

 

Souvenirs, Toys, and Games 

 

Apparel (Hats, Shirts, PJ's, Colouring Books etc...)  

 

Action Figures and Play Sets  

 

Special Appearances (Dancing with the Superheroes)  

 

Natural Disasters (Earthquakes, Hurricanes, Wildfires)  

 

Anthropogenic Hazards (Societal, HazMat, Transportation, Environmental )  

 

Museum (Memorial, Trophy Room, Replicas)  

 

Bounty Hunting  

 

Biographies, Comics, etc...  

 

Cartoons, Video Games, etc...  

 

Police Special Operations  

 

Celebrity Charities  

 

Community Crime Fighting  

 

Civil Rights Activism    

 

Base Contributors: 

PC's 

NPC's  

 

Base: Team  

Computer/Artificial Intelligence: (What? No Team Technoweenie?)  

Follower: (Security & Surveillance Robot Drones)

Vehicle: Team Transport

 

 

Perks: 

Law Enforcement Powers: Municiple, State, or National.

Wealth: Pay Roll/Team Salary  

 

Dependent NPC's: Support Staff  

Operations (Facilities, etc...):  

Public (Human) Relations:

Legal: Superhumans and the Law?

Computer Specialist:   

Communications Specialist:  

Medical Specialist: 

Security & Surveillance Specialist:   

Science & Technology Specialist:(Gadgeteer/Inventor)  

Transport Specialist: 

 

Sanctioned Superhero Team:

[Christopher R Taylor]

I think that is a fun idea, and they should get bonus points for roleplaying.

[TheQuestionMan]

The Hollywood Knights

Amber: mutant w/Amber/Sap Manipulation Powers

Employment Opportunities;

 

Hardcore: mutant Brick (Tank) Superhuman Resistance to almost everything.

Employment Opportunities; Bodyguard (too rough), Bounty Hunter, or Stunt Person.

 

Hive: mutant w/Queen Bee Physiology and Bee Manipulation Powers.

Employment Opportunities; USDA, EPA, and Scientific Research & Development. (The Bee Whisperer) 

 

Midnight: mutant Brick, Flyer (Combat, Non-Combat, & FTL), Life Support (Full), and Matter (Geokinesis) Manipulation Powers

Employment Opportunities; NASA, Private Spaceflight Companies, etc...)

 

PSI-Kick: mutant Combat Precog, Martial Artist, & Mental Powers.

Employment Opportunities; Security Consultant (Background Checks, Loyalty Checks, & Consulting Detective) 

 

Street Angel: mutant Living Light Manipulation, Healer, & Martial Artist.

Employment Opportunities; Healer (Holistic, Naturopathic, etc...) Founder of the Mutant American Medical Association (or MAMA) 

 

Twister: mutant Aerokinetic Manipulation Powers.

Employment Opportunities; Stunt Person (Master of the Air Ram and Fall Guy) Note: 2 levels of Handsome (Devil) Appearance

[Opale]

Ty Again QM ^^