Vermithrax Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 This is, as you will see, several questions at once - I don't know if this is ethical, but they all have the same origin, so I hope no body will mind! I have found a few things in another game system (no names, but it's generic and universal) and I have been trying to translate them into Hero terms - and failed utterly! Firstly, is there any way of emulating a terminal illness which the character starts with (a bit existential I know!). Obviously this would be a Disadvantage, but what sort (especially if drugs can slow it down, but not necessarily halt it)? Next; the universally generic game system has a skill called Scrounging, which gives the character the ability to find (potentially) useful items (obviously different to the standard search when a character knows what they're looking for). Presumably this should be a very low powered luck with some limitation so it can only be used for such a purpose (does -1 sound OK?) And finally, this other RPG has an advantage called Voice which gives the character a nice, clear voice that people respond well to - I intend to reproduce this with a 5 Point (+1 with similar) Skill Level. If, however, I wanted an annoying, unpleasant voice, what would be the best solution - or would Distinctive Feature cover both possibilities? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemming Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Re: Things I Stole From . . . another RPG Originally posted by Vermithrax Firstly, is there any way of emulating a terminal illness which the character starts with Next; the universally generic game system has a skill called Scrounging, And finally, this other RPG has an advantage called Voice 1) If it doesn't really come into play, it's not really a disad. There could be other consequences though: Reckless (I'm about to die, etc...) 2) Survival: Urban is one way I've seen it done. 3) Skill levels, perhaps extra PRE or COM even. Vermithrax used to be a dragon in one of our champions games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monolith Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Re: Things I Stole From . . . another RPG Originally posted by Vermithrax Firstly, is there any way of emulating a terminal illness which the character starts with (a bit existential I know!). Obviously this would be a Disadvantage, but what sort (especially if drugs can slow it down, but not necessarily halt it)? This would be a Physical Limitation with variables depending on what the disease or lllness is. Next; the universally generic game system has a skill called Scrounging, which gives the character the ability to find (potentially) useful items (obviously different to the standard search when a character knows what they're looking for). Presumably this should be a very low powered luck with some limitation so it can only be used for such a purpose (does -1 sound OK?) I would just buy this as Luck, Requires a Concealment Skill Roll. And finally, this other RPG has an advantage called Voice which gives the character a nice, clear voice that people respond well to - I intend to reproduce this with a 5 Point (+1 with similar) Skill Level. If, however, I wanted an annoying, unpleasant voice, what would be the best solution - or would Distinctive Feature cover both possibilities? For voice I would use +5 PRE, Incantations to simulate when he is talking he is more impressive. You could also go with just buying the Oratory Skill as well. For an unpleasant voice I would use Distinctive Feature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kolava Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Scrounging can be a VPP with the "no control" limitation, meaning the GM decides what is gained each time the character searches. The 5 point skill level and distinctive features for good and bad voices sound fine. As for the terminal illness, this sounds like an addiction (there is probably a more general term for this limitation but I don't remember it) The character recieves gradual damage unless they take the substance. This damage comes gradually even if the drugs are taken (at a predetermined or semi-random rate)and, for the final touch, can never be healed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Re: Things I Stole From . . . another RPG Originally posted by Vermithrax This is, as you will see, several questions at once - I don't know if this is ethical, but they all have the same origin, so I hope no body will mind! I have found a few things in another game system (no names, but it's generic and universal) and I have been trying to translate them into Hero terms - and failed utterly! Firstly, is there any way of emulating a terminal illness which the character starts with (a bit existential I know!). Obviously this would be a Disadvantage, but what sort (especially if drugs can slow it down, but not necessarily halt it)? If his expected lifespan is going to be less than the expected lifetime of the campaign, then it's a physical limitation the value of which depends on exactly how soon he dies. If it's greater, then no limitation. For example, if the character is expected to live 5 years and you expect the game to last 1 year, it's worth nothing (perhaps a vulnerability to aging or entropy attacks). Originally posted by Vermithrax Next; the universally generic game system has a skill called Scrounging, which gives the character the ability to find (potentially) useful items (obviously different to the standard search when a character knows what they're looking for). Presumably this should be a very low powered luck with some limitation so it can only be used for such a purpose (does -1 sound OK?) A combination of Streetwise and Bureaucracy should handle it. Originally posted by Vermithrax And finally, this other RPG has an advantage called Voice which gives the character a nice, clear voice that people respond well to - I intend to reproduce this with a 5 Point (+1 with similar) Skill Level. If, however, I wanted an annoying, unpleasant voice, what would be the best solution - or would Distinctive Feature cover both possibilities? Probably this can be built as a Talent for the positive voice, and as a distinctive feature for the negative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Cross Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Uh,everybody realises that the initial poster stole those ideas from GURPS ,right? And i'd say that Voice would be a 3 point Talent in Hero.I'd build it as +5PRE,Incantations(-1/4),Does not defend against PRE Attacks (-1/2) (5 Active,3 Real). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snarf Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 For voice I would use +5 PRE, Incantations to simulate when he is talking he is more impressive. I suggested this to my players once, but when do you ever use presence without talking? They thought it wasn't much of a limitation so they just buy the 5 presence straight. For an unpleasant voice, we would probably just do the opposite and sell back 5 presence. For terminal illness I use physical limitation, with seriousness mostly depending on the day-to-day symptoms rather than the amount of time left to live, unless it's a really short amount of time. For fairly realistic scrounging, I would make a professional skill and use the description directly out of ... that unnamed universal generic RPG. For super scrounging which can find anything I would use a gadget VPP with appropriate limitations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vermithrax Posted January 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Since that was my first posting I was very pleased with the rapid response and the plethora of suggestions - thanks! (yes it was GURPS but I though that might counted as a rude word here! and Vermithrax is indeed a dragon's name - if you've never seen Dragonslayer do yourself a favour, I don't think even Peter Jackson CGI could compare!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monolith Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Originally posted by Snarf I suggested this to my players once, but when do you ever use presence without talking? Lots of characters make PRE Attacks without saying a word. They just strike the pose. PRE also involves how other people view you. They might think someone is only average until the start speaking. James Earl Jones has that sort of effect on me, for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vermithrax Posted January 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Originally posted by Monolith Lots of characters make PRE Attacks without saying a word. They just strike the pose. PRE also involves how other people view you. They might think someone is only average until the start speaking. James Earl Jones has that sort of effect on me, for example. Funny that you should mention how 'average' James Earl Jones until he speaks when his main alter-ego (Mr Vader) has presence without saying a single word! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snarf Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Originally posted by Vermithrax Funny that you should mention how 'average' James Earl Jones until he speaks when his main alter-ego (Mr Vader) has presence without saying a single word! It all comes from the costume. The guy is as scary as a sick baby without it. Don't even get me started on young Anakin... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monolith Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Originally posted by Vermithrax Funny that you should mention how 'average' James Earl Jones until he speaks when his main alter-ego (Mr Vader) has presence without saying a single word! Yeah, but Vader's PER is bought OIF Armor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemming Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Originally posted by Southern Cross Uh,everybody realises that the initial poster stole those ideas from GURPS ,right? Well, he did say Universal, etc... without actually saying so. I guess obvious to anyone with GURPS 8- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Originally posted by Snarf It all comes from the costume. The guy is as scary as a sick baby without it. Don't even get me started on young Anakin... Whatever do you mean? Pray tell! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Originally posted by Vermithrax Since that was my first posting I was very pleased with the rapid response and the plethora of suggestions - thanks! (yes it was GURPS but I though that might counted as a rude word here! It seems to be alright to write it down, just as long as you don't say anything about actually liking the game . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemming Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Originally posted by L. Marcus It seems to be alright to write it down, just as long as you don't say anything about actually liking the game . . . Actually you'll find a lot of praise for GURPS' sourcebooks all over the board. We steal from it all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Originally posted by lemming Actually you'll find a lot of praise for GURPS' sourcebooks all over the board. We steal from it all the time. I have far more Gurps books than Hero books for precisely that reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chromatic Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Originally posted by Southern Cross Uh,everybody realises that the initial poster stole those ideas from GURPS ,right? Oh man! you let the cat out of the bag! Now the thought police are gonna come after us all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ndreare Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 Man I love GURPS and have aboute forty of their books. I also have all the hero books but GURPS rocks it takes simplicaty to the perfect level for players who do not like the "Percieved Dificulty" of HERO (I personaly think the only "Dificult" part of hero is character creation takes so much time but since I have both the hero creater programs and several GURPS character makers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Celt Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 Re: Things I Stole From . . . another RPG Originally posted by Vermithrax I have found a few things in another game system (no names, but it's generic and universal) and I have been trying to translate them into Hero terms - and failed utterly! Unlike WotC's boards there's no backlash here for mentioning other games systems or publishers such as GURPS or Steve Jackson Games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caped Crusader Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 Well, there are more GURPS books than there are Hero books (at least so far) I have about 75 GURPS books (not counting duplicates), and almost all of the 4th Edition Hero books (plus 1st, 2nd, and 3rd edition, for that matter...) plus my FREd & Champions 5th. (Been unemployed lately, so I have some catching up to do on my 5th Edition printed material...) The current edition of GURPS has been on the market longer, so they've had more time to build a library. Ahem, and the entire name was Vermithrax Pejorative. Let's be respectful of the old lizard, shall we? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemming Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 Originally posted by Caped Crusader Ahem, and the entire name was Vermithrax Pejorative. Let's be respectful of the old lizard, shall we? Actually, I'm blanking on the name of the lizard's origin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dugfromthearth Posted January 9, 2004 Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 "Yeah, but Vader's PER is bought OIF Armor." Actually it is bought OIHI since it is only removed at the very end once he puts it on. also he has change environment "Vader's Theme" plays whenever he is around and it reduces other people's PRE in the area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caped Crusader Posted January 9, 2004 Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 That'd be a cool talent... "Can hear the background music" It could act as a modified form of Danger Sense, where the character always knows when danger is near because the music changes. The character would also be privy to other information - like the girl he's making eye contact with likes him because a soulful saxophone starts playing, or thinks he's a dork because of a clowny tune by an oboe or something. Almost a form of empathy, but works with inanimate objects as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farkling Posted January 9, 2004 Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 Theme Music Man...the perfect sidekick.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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