Pittsburgh: City of Champions

[Spark]

2 hours ago, Mark Rand said:

What do you think of my above-mentioned characters?  Since Helen has, at least, basic first aid training, Andrea and Melody might call on her for an assist, if they're at the same scene, even if it's just to help carry gear or a stretcher.

 

I think they are very helpful. With NPCs we need to consider the following:

1. Game Mechanics: Where do the NPCs come from? Are they DNPCs that belong to the base and if so, do they have useful skills that will earn the base fewer complication points.
2. The NPCs should be swappable and/or deletable
   1. The NPCs should not duplicate a player character skills. After all, the game is about the players.
   2. The NPCs need to be unrelated to each other. For example, three related NPCs with complimentary helpful skills, a coheseiv set of names (i.e. Ben & Jerry), and a really cool intertwined background would be lost when a player character has the skills of one of the twins and you have to remove that character to avoid stepping on a player's toes.
   3. We probably need an entire "rogue's gallery" of those helpful NPCs. They should probably be listed together, but also in a chart that details all the skills. How many or which ones will be needed for a campaign will be dictated by the player's characters and the GMs needs. These NPCs will need to be organized and easily selectable.

 

[Mark Rand]

I'm not sure if all of these count as helpful NPCs.  Any can be deleted.

 

Thomas Avery is an occult expert and retired mystic whose power has waned and has health issues.  He can provide background info and serves as a contact with the Trismegistus Council. 

 

Detective Eve Belding is with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Burglary Squad.

 

Helen Davenport is the superhero team’s helicopter pilot and a former AH-64E Apache Guardian pilot. 

 

 

Andrea Winslow is a pilot of STAT MedEvac 4, the H145 STAT MedEvac keeps at Allegheny County Airport.  Melody Samuels, RN, CFRN (Certified Flight Registered Nurse), is her usual flight nurse.  

 

 

Bonnie Knight, a mechanical and electronics genius, and Christine Valentine, an IT genius, are the superhero team’s main technical people.

 

 

Jeannette Barstow is the superhero base’s head of housekeeping.

 

Detective Lieutenant Samantha McDonald is with the superhero team liaison the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.

 

 

Margo LaFleur is the superhero base secretary.

 

 

 

 

[steriaca]

Some more NPCs.

 

Ruy no Yuri: Litterly Dragon of the Lilies. A young albino lung dragon assigned to Lady Heart and other good aligned magic users. She can't actually enter Earth dimension in her true form (dragon), but can appear in the form of various animals of the Chinese Zodiac (except dragon), cat, and human. She is technically still a teenage girl and works for her father (another dragon of course), who works for another dragon, etc., and ultimately the Jade Emperor. 

 

Her job is to find and advise choosen magical Guardians. She is known by various mystical organizations, but she keeps her existence secret. The current high level threat her employees feel needs to be taken care of is Queen Nightmara. 

[steriaca]

Rodrick Trueheart and Rosemary Trueheart: Rodrick is a simple, slightly overweight certified public accountant. Rosemary is his young second wife who works as a school nurse. There son is Robert Trueheart, a teenage actor and dancer, and secretly Lady Heart.

 

If a superhero needs an accountant, Rodrick is your guy. If your a teenage superhero and need a quick wound dressing off the record, Rosemary is your girl. They both know that Robert is the selected host for the godstone of love. And they accept both aspects of their son (Rosemary is especially keen about having a daughter around the house, othoe they refer to his female side as Robert's cousin in public...you know, got to protect that secret identity).

[Steve]

2 hours ago, steriaca said:

Rodrick Trueheart and Rosemary Trueheart: Rodrick is a simple, slightly overweight certified public accountant. Rosemary is his young second wife who works as a school nurse. There son is Robert Trueheart, a teenage actor and dancer, and secretly Lady Heart.

 

If a superhero needs an accountant, Rodrick is your guy. If your a teenage superhero and need a quick wound dressing off the record, Rosemary is your girl. They both know that Robert is the selected host for the godstone of love. And they accept both aspects of their son (Rosemary is especially keen about having a daughter around the house, othoe they refer to his female side as Robert's cousin in public...you know, got to protect that secret identity).

I’m reminded of the webcomic “Sparkling Generation Valkyrie Yuuki” when I read this.

 

I suppose it could be played for “Ranma 1/2” wacky hijinks. Maybe the snarky girl next door suspects something is off and keeps snooping around Robert like a cross between Lana Lang and Nabiki Tendo. The captain of the high school football team develops torrid feelings for the new girl seen around town. The queen bee of the school/captain of the cheerleading squad hates the new girl and wants to stomp her into the mud. A young superheroine from another town keeps dropping by with rivalrous intentions. You get the idea.

[steriaca]

Well, Ranma 1/2 is one of my favorite anime. So is Sailor Moon.  So...

[Mark Rand]

The queen bee of the school is probably like Cordelia Chase from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, who enjoys ridiculing those she sees as inferior and dismissing some of her classmates as “losers”.

[Steve]

8 minutes ago, Mark Rand said:

The queen bee of the school is probably like Cordelia Chase from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, who enjoys ridiculing those she saw as inferior and dismissing some of her classmates as “losers”.

Yeah, then imagine how things would be if Xander was the Secret ID and Buffy was the superhero ID of the same person.

 

Wacky hijinks.

 

All you’d need is a version of a Watcher to act as a mentor character to the young superhero and a Willow homage as childhood friend, and then things start becoming quite a twisted version of BTVS.

 

It would then get even more interesting if the proud queen bee of the school becomes empowered and goes into full-blown arch-enemy nemesis territory.

 

You could also throw in a teacher or two getting supervillain IDs from lab accidents or cursed artifacts and really start playing up that high school drama, bringing in a bit of Smallville to add to the fun.

[Mark Rand]

This might be the Willow homage.  Sharon Ten Bears, who has been to Space Camp, is, like her parents, a member of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh (AAAP) and her high school Stage Crew lead techie.  She wears her Space Camp flight suit to star parties at the Wagman Observatory in Deer Lakes Park and the Mingo Creek Park Observatory in Mingo Creek Park.  The cheerleaders and “popular” girls have dubbed Sharon “Pocahontas”.         

[Mark Rand]

One idea is that Coyote the Trickster gave a number of people at an area comic book convention the abilities of the people they were costumed as.  One was Rosemary, who attends the area comic book convention as Catwoman from Batman: The Animated Series (the claws on her costume’s gloves are rubber).  She could be the mentor.

[Steve]

On 4/24/2022 at 11:27 AM, Mark Rand said:

As far as the occult world goes, Thomas Avery is an occult expert and retired mystic whose power has waned and has health issues.  He can provide background info and serves as a contact with the Trismegistus Council.  He shares his house with Marie Wells, his housekeeper, who might be a witch, Christina Valentine, a computer genius, Phoebe, his familiar, an orange tabby cat, and Muffin, Marie’s pet calico cat (her familiar if she’s a witch).  (It’s the GM’s call as to whether or not Marie’s a witch.)  There are also astrologers and occult bookstores in the city.

 

 

 

I keep feeling like Thomas Avery needs a nephew (possibly with a high level of magical potential) to come live with him as his apprentice, and the boy could also start hanging around with the squad of magical girls popping up around town like Lady Heart and the Jewish Sailor V.
 

He could be a possible love interest for one or both, but then there’s also the Court of Hate who can keep trying to entice him to the Dark Side, or perhaps Queen Nightmare lusts after him. The boy could be a first-class snarker with a shadowy edge to him like a young Professor Snape, or maybe brighter with a BTVS Xander sort of nerdiness to him.

[steriaca]

1 hour ago, Mark Rand said:

One idea is that Coyote the Trickster gave a number of people at an area comic book convention the abilities of the people they were costumed as.  One was Rosemary, who attends the area comic book convention as Catwoman from Batman: The Animated Series (the claws on her costume’s gloves are rubber).  She could be the mentor.

Find another name for Catwoman and I can see it. Remember, this is to be published. 

[Mark Rand]

7 minutes ago, steriaca said:

Find another name for Catwoman and I can see it. Remember, this is to be published. 

Any suggestions would be appreciated.  The original concept for Rosemary was that she went as a generic cat burglar.  She could, with care, eat and drink with a three-hole ski mask on.

[steriaca]

1 minute ago, Mark Rand said:

Any suggestions would be appreciated.  The original concept for Rosemary was that she went as a generic cat burglar.  She could, with care, eat and drink with a three-hole ski mask on.

Humm...Kat Burgler comes to mind. A short lived adventure show about Katherine Burgler, a thief with a heart of gold and love of justice (but not exactly law). She also likes cats. She doesn't exactly have a secret identity, but the world doesn't exactly know she exists more than being a generic female thief (at least in the show).

[TCArknight]

42 minutes ago, Mark Rand said:

Any suggestions would be appreciated.  The original concept for Rosemary was that she went as a generic cat burglar.  She could, with care, eat and drink with a three-hole ski mask on.

What about Bastet or Bast? Perhaps she has some kind of Egyptian heritage and is paying homage?

[Mark Rand]

10 hours ago, TCArknight said:

What about Bastet or Bast? Perhaps she has some kind of Egyptian heritage and is paying homage?

Nice idea.

 

Of course, we could just call her a cat burglar from pop culture.  There are plenty of those around.  Rosemary might also patronize The Light-Fingered Lady.  She does, after all, love the cat burglar look.

[steriaca]

2 hours ago, Mark Rand said:

Nice idea.

 

Of course, we could just call her a cat burglar from pop culture.  There are plenty of those around.  Rosemary might also patronize The Light-Fingered Lady.  She does, after all, love the cat burglar look.

True. We can do everything but name the name.

[Mark Rand]

14 hours ago, Steve said:

I keep feeling like Thomas Avery needs a nephew (possibly with a high level of magical potential) to come live with him as his apprentice, and the boy could also start hanging around with the squad of magical girls popping up around town like Lady Heart and the Jewish Sailor V.
 

He could be a possible love interest for one or both, but then there’s also the Court of Hate who can keep trying to entice him to the Dark Side, or perhaps Queen Nightmare lusts after him. The boy could be a first-class snarker with a shadowy edge to him like a young Professor Snape, or maybe brighter with a BTVS Xander sort of nerdiness to him.

Good points.  Of course, Marie could be his apprentice.

[Mark Rand]

Our "queen bee" is Cordelia Carpenter.

 

Jodie Bailey, the captain of the girls swimming team, is trying to be the "queen bee".  She's the kind of girl who just decides that she’s dating someone, even without the other person knowing, displays a superficial attitude, and shows that she is only interested in someone for the abilities as an athlete and not for what kind of person they are. 

 

She likes to tease Nancy Anderson, the swim meet lifeguard, because she’s a good swimmer, but not on the team.  Nancy usually responds that being the EQT Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta’s official mermaid, and Coach Kramer’s student assistant for the weekend “Learn to swim like a mermaid” classes, and getting a stipend for both, she’s considered a professional swimmer and not permitted to be on the girls swim team.  She then adds that her mother, is a collegiate swimming coach and that she can attend that college for free.

[Steve]

Cordelia Carpenter needs a retinue to help her rule the school with a well-manicured fist.   Two or three girls should be sufficient. They shouldn’t all be vapid little twits, and one might be dangerously smart, smart enough to crack a secret ID with enough clues.

 

Just for variety from the norm, perhaps a strong boxing team exists on campus that could provide some interesting NPCs, a break from the usual football or baseball jock sorts. They don’t all have to be bullies, but an homage to Kobra Kai might work.

[Mark Rand]

11 hours ago, Steve said:

Cordelia Carpenter needs a retinue to help her rule the school with a well-manicured fist.   Two or three girls should be sufficient. They shouldn’t all be valid little twits, and one might be dangerously smart, smart enough to crack a secret ID with enough clues.

 

Just for variety from the norm, perhaps a strong boxing team exists on campus that could provide some interesting NPCs, a break from the usual football or baseball jock sorts. They don’t all have to be bullies, but an homage to Kobra Kai might work.

I'm working on giving Cordelia's friends' names.  There is going to be at least one twit in the group.

 

Usually, the jocks have to be football or basketball players to avoid being called a wimp by the other jocks and have a letterman's jacket to avoid being called a poor poser. 

 

The cheerleaders and popular girls like to call the girls swim team, and Nancy Anderson "mermaids". and the jocks like to call the boys swim team "mer-boys".  Most of them accept the term as a badge of honor, especially Nancy, who can out-swim anyone.

[steriaca]

411 on Queen Nightmara 

 

Note: the "a" at the end of her name.

 

Queen Nightmara: A powerful mystical being who feeds on dark emotions.  She increases dark emotions in a dimension she wants to conquer. She gives corrupted Godstones to four teenage girls (through one of her agents which CAN enter our dimension without any sweat), and the four become her Court of Hate.

 

Lady Sorrow: A magical girl who uses the corrupted Godstone of Joy, called the Godstone of Tears. All of her magic deals with sadness and in lesser amount water.

 

Lady Pain: A magical girl who uses the corrupted Godstone of Health, called the Godstone of Pain. She is able to use magic around Pain and sickness. 

 

Lady Fear: A magical girl who uses the corrupted Godstone of Bravery, called the Godstone of Fear. She can cast magic based on dark emotions including Fear.

 

Lady Panic: A magical girl who uses the corrupted Godstone of, well, unknown thing. She has the Godstone of Panic, and controlled magic around panic.

[Steve]

1 hour ago, steriaca said:

411 on Queen Nightmara 

 

Note: the "a" at the end of her name.

 

Queen Nightmara: A powerful mystical being who feeds on dark emotions.  She increases dark emotions in a dimension she wants to conquer. She gives corrupted Godstones to four teenage girls (through one of her agents which CAN enter our dimension without any sweat), and the four become her Court of Hate.

 

Lady Sorrow: A magical girl who uses the corrupted Godstone of Joy, called the Godstone of Tears. All of her magic deals with sadness and in lesser amount water.

 

Lady Pain: A magical girl who uses the corrupted Godstone of Health, called the Godstone of Pain. She is able to use magic around Pain and sickness. 

 

Lady Fear: A magical girl who uses the corrupted Godstone of Bravery, called the Godstone of Fear. She can cast magic based on dark emotions including Fear.

 

Lady Panic: A magical girl who uses the corrupted Godstone of, well, unknown thing. She has the Godstone of Panic, and controlled magic around panic.

 

Fear and Panic seem to overlap too much. How about Lady Loneliness or Lady Rage instead? Rage could be a lightweight brick melee type.

[steriaca]

14 minutes ago, Steve said:

 

Fear and Panic seem to overlap too much. How about Lady Loneliness or Lady Rage instead? Rage could be a lightweight brick melee type.

Thank you. I thought up Lsdy Panic because I forgotten about Lady Anger. Forget that Lady Panic exists. And yes, she is a mystical brick.

 

If your wondering why 4 of them? Cause in Japanese the word for four and the word for death sound the same ('Shi'). This is considered an unlucky number. Same with six (which is also sounds th he same for the Japanese word for pain).

[Mark Rand]

While classes go from 7:15AM to 2:15PM, the school opens at 6:45AM.  Students can eat breakfast there for free, but staff and faculty have to pay.  After classes, the school is still busy.  Clubs meet after school, athletic teams practice after school, and the pool is open for three hours after school and all day on weekends and during the summer, swim meets, swim team practices, and mermaid swimming classes excluded.  

 

 

Cordelia and her friends, Mercedes Kendall, a real twit, Gwen Winnicki, and Katherine Chester, whose nicknames are “Kate”, “Katie”, and “Kat-woman”, love to call the school choir, Drama Club, orchestra, and Stage Crew “geeks”.  One favorite target is Donna Gray, an African-American member of the Stage Crew, and a skilled draftsman, who likes to dress in black, standard stagehand garb, and, due to an to a severe allergy to nickel alloys that cause rashes, always wears gloves.   

 

The school principal tolerates, to a certain extent, the name calling.  When it gets out of hand, he assigns the offender to work as part of the Stage Crew until the next big production is over.  For the first time, they will get a tech pack, a tour of the auditorium from one of the Stage Crew, and a set of stage keys that must be returned.  Mercedes, to quote her, “Puts my foot in my mouth,” and often gets assigned to the crew.