James Gillen Posted September 25, 2004 Report Share Posted September 25, 2004 I'm planning to make HERO writeups of the 4 charter members of Freedom Force (Irrational Games PC story game). Minuteman, Mentor and El Diablo are fairly straightforward. Man-Bot is the problem. Basically, his power is an 'always on' energy build up that discharges randomly if he isn't wearing his containment suit. However, even with the suit, the game lists him as 'unstable' and prone to explode if he takes enough damage (no range Explosion EB, NO Personal Immunity). How does one model this? My friend Gary suggested an 'Uncontrolled' EB Explosion Triggered if the character reaches his maximum END in an END Reserve- either naturally (without the suit) or through Absorption (with the suit). Of course, that would also drain the END Reserve, and most Uncontrolled abilities also need to be Constant. I'm not sure how to make this legal. JG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OddHat Posted September 25, 2004 Report Share Posted September 25, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force It's a Side Effect, always occurs in a given circumstance (which reduces the value of the Side Effect by 1/4). Attach the side effect to his Absorbtion or to his End Reserve. A -3/4 SE would get you the full active points of the power it's attached. So, a 30 point power would yield a 4d6 explosion that he would get no defenses against. Looking over the Side Effect rules might give you more ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Obvious Posted September 25, 2004 Report Share Posted September 25, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force He doesn't take damage from his own explosion, does he? I haven't played it in a while. I'd build it as a No Range EB with No Conscious Control, with or without Personal Immunity as appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OddHat Posted September 25, 2004 Report Share Posted September 25, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force He doesn't take damage from his own explosion, does he? I haven't played it in a while. I'd build it as a No Range EB with No Conscious Control, with or without Personal Immunity as appropriate. If he takes no damage from the explosion, then the side effect takes +1/4 for "affects nearby environment". A Side Effect equal to the active point cost of the power would thus be worth (-1, +1/4 for always in a given situation, +1/4 for affects nearby environment) -1/2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metaphysician Posted September 25, 2004 Report Share Posted September 25, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force I'd put down the detonations set off by impact as a Side Effect, as mentioned, put on his big 0 Range Explosion EB. The "constant detonation" deal I'd do as a Physical Limitation ( "Detonates every 3d6 phases when not in suit" ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrosshairCollie Posted September 26, 2004 Report Share Posted September 26, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force No, Man-Bot doesn't take damage from his own explosions. Using Radium's writeup from CKC may be a good start (he is in CKC, right?) as he essentially has the same basic power setup ... he leaks energy and is contained only by his suit. Now, the tricky part is the Unstable Energy ... which is the same problem *I* had when I tried to make them for Champions. In the game, Man-Bot doesn't explode just because he reaches maximum Energy ... he explodes when he gets hit (he must take damage, though, I've discovered; a wussy enough attack or a non-damaging one doesn't set it off). Now ... Man-Bot does also, eventually, gain the ability to generate these Energy Explosions intentionally. Now ... here's my question. Could this same power have a Side Effect that it triggers sometimes when he takes damage (probably only an 8- or so, but even that's often enough to scare people)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Gillen Posted September 26, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force No' date=' Man-Bot doesn't take damage from his own explosions. [/quote'] Actually he does. Not as a 'no defenses' Side Effect, but he does get stunned and knocked down a lot by the effect. Using Radium's writeup from CKC may be a good start (he is in CKC, right?) as he essentially has the same basic power setup ... he leaks energy and is contained only by his suit. Good idea. I'll look it over. JG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metaphysician Posted September 26, 2004 Report Share Posted September 26, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force I don't know, Radium is a radiation-type character, where as Manbot is more of an energy adjustment person. He's also more of a brick than Radium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMHammer Posted September 26, 2004 Report Share Posted September 26, 2004 For Freedom! The Minuteman Rap For your listening pleasure: http://www.georgeledoux.com/sounds/freedom_force/for_freedom.mp3 "Frrreeeeedom Force! Daaaaanger!" -Mentor Man, I hope that the sequal Irrational Games is developing will be ported to the Mac as well as the original game was... John H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgrandjean Posted September 27, 2004 Report Share Posted September 27, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force Side effect works. I like NCC though. He explodes whenever the GM wants him to... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgrandjean Posted September 27, 2004 Report Share Posted September 27, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force Actually had a bit more to comment on. Man-Bot seems to function more as an Energy Projector/ Brick. The energy absorpion trick is neat, but his mobility is abysmal until you purchase flight. He was one of the toughest characters in the game to make work for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Gillen Posted September 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force Side effect works. I like NCC though. He explodes whenever the GM wants him to... The writeup I'm hammering out now would have the Explosion bought as a Power (since he does eventually learn to use the effect consciously, and because Side Effects aren't supposed to help you in combat) but either 'Limited Conscious Control' or 'Extreme Side Effect' would be about -1. JG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Cross Posted September 27, 2004 Report Share Posted September 27, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force True enough-a viable strategy with Man-Bot is letting him get pounded until he explodes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Obvious Posted September 27, 2004 Report Share Posted September 27, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force I would always target Man-bot for somewhere deep in enemy territory, and then take the faster guys out around the flanks to work their way in. Man-bot would take out all the mooks that got in his way and tie up the big bad guy until everyone else was ready to move in. He was also really good at throwing stuff. Those fuel barrels were awesome weapons in his hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Cross Posted September 27, 2004 Report Share Posted September 27, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force Yes,if you actually hit with one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgrandjean Posted September 28, 2004 Report Share Posted September 28, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force I'd just have him toddle along with the rest of the party. Alternately refueling Inferno with a transfer, or blasting mooks/scenery/whatever. I tried front-lining him at times, but he couldn't cut it. He'd take all the damage no problem. He just couldn't strike back worth a damn. He was a neat concept, just too slow for most missions. BTW: When you finish them up please post them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Gillen Posted September 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force I sent them to Surbrook's Stuff. JG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrosshairCollie Posted September 28, 2004 Report Share Posted September 28, 2004 Re: Help With Freedom Force I'd just have him toddle along with the rest of the party. Alternately refueling Inferno with a transfer, or blasting mooks/scenery/whatever. I tried front-lining him at times, but he couldn't cut it. He'd take all the damage no problem. He just couldn't strike back worth a damn. He was a neat concept, just too slow for most missions. BTW: When you finish them up please post them! I was able to put Man-Bot to pretty good use frequently. His energy blast had decent damage and good range, and his ability to recharge characters was great. During the Mr. Mechanical levels, I just had him automatically re-energizing Man O' War so he could throw supercharged Storm Bolts around. And once he got Flight, always the first thing I saved up for, he got a LOT more mobile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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