Trebuchet Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Pursuant to the idea proposed in the "Jane's Superhuman" thread, I'm trying to come up with some quasi-military terms to use for our major metagaming archtypes. Would a Martial Artist be plausibly called a "Light Close Combatant"? Somehow "Brick" just lacks that unique military cachet. So I put it to Herodom assembled: What better non-metagamed terms can we come up with for: Bricks Martial Artists Energy Projectors Mentalists Speedsters Stealth-types Miscellaneous (Teleporters, etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyper-Man Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Re: Alternative terms for archtypes? Pursuant to the idea proposed in the "Jane's Superhuman" thread' date=' I'm trying to come up with some quasi-military terms to use for our major metagaming archtypes. Would a Martial Artist be plausibly called a "Light Close Combatant"? Somehow "Brick" just lacks that unique military [i']cachet.[/i] Bricks Armor/Tank Martial Artists Infantry/Soldier Energy Projectors Artillery/Air-Support Mentalists Psi-Ops Speedsters Cavalry/Recon Stealth-types Spec-Ops/Recon Miscellaneous (Teleporters, etc.) Smart-Bomb/Weapon Maybe oversimplified but it is consistent (I think). HM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OddHat Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Re: Alternative terms for archtypes? Pursuant to the idea proposed in the "Jane's Superhuman" thread' date=' I'm trying to come up with some quasi-military terms to use for our major metagaming archtypes. Would a Martial Artist be plausibly called a "Light Close Combatant"? Somehow "Brick" just lacks that unique military [i']cachet.[/i] So I put it to Herodom assembled: What better non-metagamed terms can we come up with for: Bricks Martial Artists Energy Projectors Mentalists Speedsters Stealth-types Miscellaneous (Teleporters, etc.) Bricks Type A Metahumans Physically Enhanced Metas - PEs Tanks Beach Boys Muscle Beachers Roiders Martial Artists Type B Metahumans (assuming that normal MAs do not require a special designation) Trained Metahumans - TMs Bruces Chans Chop Sakis Energy Projectors Type C Metahumans Photokinetics/Pyrokinetics/Electrokinetics/Psychokinetics/Whateverkinetics Shockers Burners Icers Mentalists Type D Metahumans Telepaths Brainiacs Eggheads Berkleys Speedsters Type E Metahumans Accelerated Metahumans Indis Speedos Quix Stealth-types Type F Metahumans Stealth Metahumans Griffins Snarks Spooks Miscellaneous Type A/C Metahumans, Type D Primary E Secondary Metahumans Pan-Psionics Jaberwoks Alphabet Supes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent X Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Re: Alternative terms for archtypes? I like the idea of a typology although I think the military would try to be precise as possible. Considering the possibility that a super fulfills a combination of archetypes or classes or what have you, I could see the military designating a hero a Type AB, BD, etc. The designations might not completely correspond to normal archetypes. The classifications could be a bit different: Ranged Threat - A Close-In Threat - B Ranged and Close-In Threat - C Superhuman Durability - D Superhuman Evasion - E Flight - F Superhuman Ground Movement - G Teleportation - T Superhuman Stealth - S Aquatic - Q Space - K Telepath - P1 Telekinetic - P2 Psychic - P3 Enhanced Senses - H Advanced Technology - M 1 Superhuman Intelligence - M 2 Highly Trained - M 3 Vulnerability noted - V "insert vulnerability here" Superman would be a CDEFGQKHV"kryptonite" (That's a bit complicated but he's a special case.) Defender would be a CDFM1M2 Anyway, I'm not really happy with this code but I do hope it helps when thinking about how the military would work this out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Publius Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Re: Alternative terms for archtypes? Brick: Physically Enhanced Combatant, Kinetic & Energy Resistant (PECKER) Sorry, I had to do that. G'night folks! I like the idea of a typology myself. You just have to figure out what you are going to type them on: power level, abilities etc. You could have a multiple typology going on as well (the following designations are just off the top of my head): "Zippy" Kress, Class II Translocator (Green) The Class II might be the threat level, as a Class two he is neither a world class threat (Class I) nor a Tactical Null (Class V) but probably pretty powerful, "Translocator" of course refers to his abilities (Teleportation) and (Green) might indicate his status, Green=loyal to gov't, Blue=friendly to gov't, Red = Hostile etc. Again, these specific designations are just off the top of my head, the point is that there does not have to be just one typology, we can use more than one of them to get more specificity without being clunky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyper-Man Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Re: Alternative terms for archtypes? I like the idea of a typology although I think the military would try to be precise as possible. Considering the possibility that a super fulfills a combination of archetypes or classes or what have you, I could see the military designating a hero a Type AB, BD, etc. The designations might not completely correspond to normal archetypes. The classifications could be a bit different: Ranged Threat - A Close-In Threat - B Ranged and Close-In Threat - C Superhuman Durability - D Superhuman Evasion - E Flight - F Superhuman Ground Movement - G Teleportation - T Superhuman Stealth - S Aquatic - Q Space - K Telepath - P1 Telekinetic - P2 Psychic - P3 Enhanced Senses - H Advanced Technology - M 1 Superhuman Intelligence - M 2 Highly Trained - M 3 Vulnerability noted - V "insert vulnerability here" Superman would be a CDEFGQKHV"kryptonite" (That's a bit complicated but he's a special case.) Defender would be a CDFM1M2 Anyway, I'm not really happy with this code but I do hope it helps when thinking about how the military would work this out. some people take this stuff so much more serious than I do... I like your take. It reminds me of the Psi-Cop designations for Telepaths (P 1-12). I would maybe add that type of detail for all the relevant categories. I think the total number of different categories is a little too high though since what you have is more of a background file format whereas, I think, Treb was looking for more combat situational catch phrase terminology that agents would use amongst each other. I also think characters like Superman would get their own type of designation like WMD or something which means that they can virtually do anything short of mental powers on the battlefield. If we were to combine your detailed approach and my very simple take you might get the following: The Flash: Class 12 Calvary/BEG Another take might be to incorporate Chess Piece designations. Example: Queen: (Superman) Queen-side Rook: Speedster Queen-side Bishop: Energy Caster Queen-side Knight: Special (teleport, desol, etc.) King: (Batman/Captain America) King-side Rook: Brick King-side Bishop: Martial Artist King-side Knight: Mentalist HM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent X Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Re: Alternative terms for archtypes? some people take this stuff so much more serious than I do... I like your take. It reminds me of the Psi-Cop designations for Telepaths (P 1-12). I would maybe add that type of detail for all the relevant categories. I think the total number of different categories is a little too high though since what you have is more of a background file format whereas, I think, Treb was looking for more combat situational catch phrase terminology that agents would use amongst each other. I also think characters like Superman would get their own type of designation like WMD or something which means that they can virtually do anything short of mental powers on the battlefield. If we were to combine your detailed approach and my very simple take you might get the following: The Flash: Class 12 Calvary/BEG Another take might be to incorporate Chess Piece designations. Example: Queen: (Superman) Queen-side Rook: Speedster Queen-side Bishop: Energy Caster Queen-side Knight: Special (teleport, desol, etc.) King: (Batman/Captain America) King-side Rook: Brick King-side Bishop: Martial Artist King-side Knight: Mentalist HM Yeah, the categories need to have catch-alls that cover a good deal of ground and then codes for more precise detail allowing troops the luxury of the most basic info and slightly more detail when time allows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reneshat Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Re: Alternative terms for archtypes? Brick-GI Bob Energy Blaster- GI Dave Martial Artist- GI George Speedster- GI Chuck Mentalist- GI Francis Various- Maggot Or is that not what you were asking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopscotch Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Re: Alternative terms for archtypes? The Millitary alphabet soups everything. I actually like how you started. Martial Artist = Skilled Hand Combatant or SHaC Brick = Heavy Close Combatant or HeCC Energy Projector = Energy Projector or EPRO Speedster = Accelerated Combatant or ACC COM Mentalist = Psionc or PSI Stealth Type = Concealed Operative or CON OP Miscellaneous = Unclassified or UNCLe These are just ideas. Remember that any group of millitary classifications will avoid terms that rhyme or sound alike to avoid confusion in the field. The millitary should always have some alphabet soup name for everything, because the real army does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebuchet Posted December 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Re: Alternative terms for archtypes? I think the terms used need to be self explanatory to a certain degree. "Class A" or the like doesn't really tell the reader anything. We're trying to recreate the feel of a "Jane's Fighting Ships" or "Jane's Military Aircraft". Jane's is a non-military publication, although widely read by militaries worldwide. Publius has come up with the title of "Blackstone's Metahumans" since "Jane's" is a registered trademark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freakboy6117 Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Re: Alternative terms for archtypes? Military terms would tend towards the military tactics that that power set would be used for and a designation used in abbreviation or slang Short-range movement powers speedsters short ranger teleporters Tactical delivery AKA TD Long-range movement long-range teleprocess flight suitable by others etc Strategic delivery AKA SD, travel agent, deuce and a half. Energy projector non-flying Internal ordinance [tactical for small arms level damage heavy for anti material or higher] AKA blaster cannon zapper flamethrower Flying energy projector Tactical air support AKA mini B pocket air support Super strength Structural damage specialist AKA smasher Super toughness Ordinance neutralization AKA bullet sponge bomb magnate, tank, Sherman. Martial artists Close range combatants, infantry neutralization, silent take down AKA Bruce designated jap-slapper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinman Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Re: Alternative terms for archtypes? In my campaign UNTIL has three general categories for threat ratings: Offensive Ability, Defenses and Difficulty to Restrain. Each is rated from 0-3 (where 0 is a normal unarmed human). A light brick would be 2/2/1 (able to kill easily at close or medium range, ummune to standard small-arms fire, must be held in a reinforced structure). A teleporting martial-artist would be 1/1/3 (able to kill at close range, difficult to target, cannot be restrained while conscious). Superman would be a 3/3/3 (able to kill hardened targets at long range, immune to all conventional weapons, cannot be restrained by any known method). More detailed explanations of the individual's abilities would be available in their dossier of course, but the three ratings are easy for agents to remember and refer to if they should find themselves facing someone without having been briefed first. This also provides each superhuman a "power-level" rating which is simply the three threat levels added together ("In other news, a class 7 metahuman was killed in a prolonged battle with UNTIL agents in Hannover today. The incident left six agents dead and seventeen wounded."). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebuchet Posted December 2, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2004 Re: Alternative terms for archtypes? In my campaign UNTIL has three general categories for threat ratings: Offensive Ability, Defenses and Difficulty to Restrain. Each is rated from 0-3 (where 0 is a normal unarmed human). A light brick would be 2/2/1 (able to kill easily at close or medium range, ummune to standard small-arms fire, must be held in a reinforced structure). A teleporting martial-artist would be 1/1/3 (able to kill at close range, difficult to target, cannot be restrained while conscious). Superman would be a 3/3/3 (able to kill hardened targets at long range, immune to all conventional weapons, cannot be restrained by any known method). More detailed explanations of the individual's abilities would be available in their dossier of course, but the three ratings are easy for agents to remember and refer to if they should find themselves facing someone without having been briefed first. This also provides each superhuman a "power-level" rating which is simply the three threat levels added together ("In other news, a class 7 metahuman was killed in a prolonged battle with UNTIL agents in Hannover today. The incident left six agents dead and seventeen wounded."). Interesting system. I'll give that one more thought. (A 1 -5 or 1 - 10 system might work better, with the overall rating being the average of the three individual categories: "He's rated 8.2 on the Power Scale. We're in deep doo-doo, Agent Smith." It still doesn't provide catch names or acronyms for the archtypes, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinman Posted December 2, 2004 Report Share Posted December 2, 2004 Re: Alternative terms for archtypes? Interesting system. I'll give that one more thought. (A 1 -5 or 1 - 10 system might work better' date=' with the overall rating being the average of the three individual categories: "He's rated 8.2 on the Power Scale. We're in deep doo-doo, Agent Smith."[/quote'] Yeah, it could probably stand to be a little more fine-grained. It still doesn't provide catch names or acronyms for the archtypes' date=' though.[/quote'] I've never been able to come up with anything that sounds like something real people would actually use. The PC agents in my campaign generally just refer to all supers (regardless of powers) as "heavies". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebuchet Posted December 2, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2004 Re: Alternative terms for archtypes? I've never been able to come up with anything that sounds like something real people would actually use. The PC agents in my campaign generally just refer to all supers (regardless of powers) as "heavies".I'm trying to come up with "official sounding" terms for the archtypes as would be used in an identification manual or doctoral thesis on metahumans. I suspect your typical agents on the street and normal military types might just end up calling them "bricks" and "speedsters" just like we do. Or a collective term like "supers" as used in The Incredibles. Problem is, I don't think much like a bureaucrat. (Or at least I hope not.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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