Braum Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 I'm going through the mind-boggling process of figuring out who pays for what and how it is charged? Say for example, I have a Tony Stark-esque character on my team. He is the CEO and primary stock holder of a major techno corporation with deep pockets, and the Hero team has almost unlimited access to corporation resources. The team has an independent headquarters on the grounds of one of the larger corporate installations, and several members have their own sanctum sanctorum elsewhere. I would assume that each member pays for their own private base, and that each would pay a portion of the cost of the team HQ, but . . . Do I handle the team member's access to the corporation's resources using the fringe benefit rules? Does the team member who is the big cheese of the corporation also gain his/her access via the fringe benefit rules, or does he have to pay for the actual company facilities as if it/they were a base? If you allow a PC to be a reserve or associate team member with limited access to base/team resources, is it appropriate to only charge them the fringe benefit cost but waive the contribution to base cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent X Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 It might be easier just to let them have the base for the whole team. The base cost allocation thing is one of the most annoying elements of Hero Design Philosophy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syberdwarf2 Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 Discuss this with the group first, of course, but.... Have them buy the bases/equipment/whatever "on credit". Let them know that any resources that they will be using that warrant a writeup must be paid for like everything else. However, as the cost of such things can get a bit steep, let them know that, for example, 1 experience point per character per adventure will be deducted from the available experience points awarded at the end of said adventure. Just a suggestion... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JmOz Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 The way I handle it follows: I will be using Comics as an example: The Base, normal vehicles, etc as a part of the Membership Perk for being on the team: HOWEVER I get to design the base and vehicles, they will not be fortresses/offensive vehicles, but rather plot enablers (Why do you have a museum? Because I want you to). This is what the Avengers have The JLA probably did the same: HOWEVER Wonder Woman paid points for her Jet (yes the invisible Jet is back) Superman paid for the Fortress of Solitude Batman paid the points for the cave and vehicles The difference here, and it is important, is how does it work in the story? If it is for personal use, or is an offensive/Defensive thing then use the vehicle or Base perk, if it's only purpose is to get the characters to the story, then include it in membership... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patriot Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 Freebies Be aware of this, If you give them a base, they will probably never be satisfied with it!!! "Viperia rips the front door of the base" ...... How come, dont we have any defenses...yes but its Viperia shes tough. (Next game) Ok, we want all the walls to be 30/30 x3 hardened, we want deflector sheilds on all windows and doors, and since she torched Galahad(Base computer) we want 3 backup computer cores... Oh and by the way Lockdown wants to add a new lab to the research area( Finally something reasonable) I want A Porn lab! The sad thing is this really happened:eek: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JmOz Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 With my method I would tell them: That's nice, start paying the points for it or you get what you are given Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zornwil Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 Re: Freebies Originally posted by Patriot ...I want A Porn lab! The sad thing is this really happened:eek: Why did someone want a porn lab??? As to the overall question, I (typically) only let the team have a base of their own design after they've gone a few issues, in accordance with my Reputation system. At that point they get points they can spend - and they can spend their own points as well. Otherwise, much like JmOz, I may provide a base that is at my mercy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coach Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 My understanding, and my ruling would be that characters do not have to contribute the same amount to any given base/vehicle/etc. However, those with more points in it tend to get more say so. Same kind of thing with the money. If you have one character who is the rich one, then he pays for the money perk. If the others want to mooch off of him, then that's fine, they don't need to pay anything for it, as long as he says it's okay. Of course, the rich guy might have to deal with the consequences of all these other spendthrifts using his money, but that's just plot-grist for future adventures. Also, it is still his money, so if one of the moochers wants something (say, a lamborghini) and Mr. Rich doesn't want to pay for it, then tough luck for the moocher. We do this kind of thing all the time in games, where one character is rich and the rest of us kind of mooch off them, but only the rich character pays for the money, and he is really the only one who gets to say what it goes for. On the group base, even if it is technically on corporate land, if they really want to have a true "super" base, then they do indeed need to pay points for it. However, there's no reason that they cannot allocate the points amongst them as they see fit. If somebody wants to put in more and another member can't afford as much, that shouldn't be an issue. However, if they just want a base that is pretty much designed by the GM and consists of only regular tech, then I wouldn't bother having them pay points. I would do as others suggested and have it be a humorous plot point, more than anything else. I was in a high-powered team that once had a freebie, normal tech base and it was hysterical. We eventually just took down the big chain-link fence and put up a white picket fence (it was a decommissioned air force base, so the fence was miles long) because the big fence wasn't doing us any good against the vilains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braum Posted December 15, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 If a PC wants his/her own Fortress of Bats or Solitude Cave, they pay the points, they design the thing, and the GM holds the mighty veto mallet . . . sounds like the best way to approach that point IMHO. I have no problem with the way HS5E handles the contribution split between members for a team HQ either. I guess my main point of concern is the separation between what is associated with my Mr. Moneybag PC's heroic persona and his alter-ego, and the vicarious mooching that his teammates do through this arrangement. Technically, Stark Inc. is not Avenger property nor does the JLA claim ownership of Wayne Industries, but both groups benefit greatly from their association with these firms. It would seem that handling GL's authorized use of WayneTech resources or Captain America's borrowing access to Stark's research facilities is best addressed as a fringe benefit or contact, but . . . What is the best way for you to charge Batman or Ironman for their access to the companies that their alter-egos run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherSkip Posted December 16, 2003 Report Share Posted December 16, 2003 PLot Driven SFX for his Wealthy Perk? the writer doesn't care? Frankly I ran a rich guy once. everytime he wanted something it took at _least_ two weeks, required board meetings and was notably recorded. He had a few npc's that he could trust, but there was allways a point at which he was threatening his Secret Identity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.