Look at this character please...

[Foxiekins]

A while back, I tried running a Sci-Fi campaign with a homebrew system... Now I'm looking at maybe using Hero System instead...But, to get some idea of point levels, I recreated an Engineer NPC as much as possible... But, to do it, he wound up at 300 points...So I need to either shave 50 points from him, or ignore the point guidelines and have all the players make 300 point characters...Or maybe just use the Standard Superhero point levels, but have Heroic Characters... Oh, and I'm using a Max for Speed of 6 instead of 4...What do y'all think...?Xavier LargayPlayer: NPC

Val**	Char***	Cost
10**	STR	0
15/23**	DEX	15
10/20**	CON	0
13**	BODY	6
18**	INT	8
15**	EGO	10
10**	PRE	0
10**	COM	0
	*
3/13**	PD	1
3/13**	ED	1
5**	SPD	25
5**	REC	2
20**	END	0
25**	STUN	2

*7"**RUN25"**SWIM32"**LEAP0Characteristics Cost: 75

Cost**	Power	END
12**	+8 DEX (24 Active Points); Only When Swimming (-1/2), No Figured Characteristics (-1/2)*
8**	+10 CON (20 Active Points); Only To Resist Food Bad Enough To Require A CON Roll (-1), No Figured Characteristics (-1/2)*

Powers Cost: 20

Cost**	Martial Arts Maneuver
3**	Martial Throw: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +1 DCV, 2d6 +v/5, Target Falls*
4**	Martial Dodge: 1/2 Phase, -- OCV, +5 DCV, Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort*
3**	Grappling Throw: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +2 DCV, 4d6 Strike; Target Falls; Must Follow Grab*

Martial Arts Cost: 10

Cost**	Skill
3**	Acrobatics 12- (14-)*
5**	Bureaucratics 12-*
5**	Climbing 13- (15-)*
3**	Demolitions 13-*
3**	Electronics 13-*
3**	Inventor 13-*
3**	Language: French (idiomatic; literate) (5 Active Points)*
3**	Language: French Creole (idiomatic; literate, Varient of French) (4 Active Points)*
3**	Language: German (idiomatic; literate) (5 Active Points)*
2**	Language: Latin (completely fluent; literate) (4 Active Points)*
0**	Native Language: English (idiomatic; Literate) (4 Active Points)*
3**	Riding 12- (14-)*
3**	Scholar*
2**	1) KS: Astronomy (3 Active Points) 13-*
4**	2) KS: CAD/CAM (5 Active Points) 14-*
3**	3) KS: Cargo and Fuel Handling (4 Active Points) 14-*
2**	4) KS: Carpentry (3 Active Points) 13-*
2**	5) KS: Computer Databases (3 Active Points) 13-*
3**	6) KS: Computer Networking (4 Active Points) 14-*
4**	7) KS: Computer Security (5 Active Points) 15-*
2**	8) KS: Computer Viruses (3 Active Points) 13-*
2**	9) KS: EVA (3 Active Points) 13-*
4**	10) KS: Emergency Damage Control (5 Active Points) 15-*
2**	11) KS: Law (3 Active Points) 13-*
2**	12) KS: Lifesystems (3 Active Points) 13-*
2**	13) KS: Logistics (3 Active Points) 13-*
3**	Scientist*
2**	1) SS: Chemistry 13- (3 Active Points)*
3**	2) SS: Computer Control Systems 14- (4 Active Points)*
2**	3) SS: Electrical Engineering 13- (3 Active Points)*
3**	4) SS: Hyperspace Physics 14- (4 Active Points)*
4**	5) SS: Materials Science 15- (5 Active Points)*
4**	6) SS: Mathematics 15- (5 Active Points)*
3**	7) SS: Naval Architecture[starships] 14- (4 Active Points)*
2**	8) SS: Neural Interface Technology 13- (3 Active Points)*
3**	9) SS: Nuclear Physics 14- (4 Active Points)*
3**	10) SS: Physics 14- (4 Active Points)*
1**	11) SS: Psychology 8-*
3**	12) SS: Quantum Physics 14- (4 Active Points)*
2**	13) SS: Software Engineering 13- (3 Active Points)*
4**	14) SS: Starship Engineering[Hyperdrive] 15- (5 Active Points)*
4**	15) SS: Starship Engineering[Powerplants] 15- (5 Active Points)*
4**	16) SS: Starship Engineering[sublight Drive] 15- (5 Active Points)*
4**	17) SS: Structural Engineering 15- (5 Active Points)*
4**	18) SS: Sub-Atomic Physics 15- (5 Active Points)*
4**	19) SS: Weapons System Engineering 15- (5 Active Points)*
3**	Stealth 12- (14-)*
7**	Systems Operation (Communications Systems, Air/Space Traffic Control Systems, FTL Sensors, Starship) 14-*
14**	Systems Operation (Environmental Systems, Computer, Engineering, Security) 16-*
4**	TF: Grav Vehicles/Hovercraft, Military Spacecraft, Small Motorized Boats, Small Motorized Ground Vehicles*
5**	AK: Solar System 15-*
5**	CK: New Orleans 15-*
5**	WF: Beam Weapons, Emplaced Weapons, Unarmed Combat, Vehicle Weapons*

Skills Cost: 178

Cost**	Perk
15**	Contact (Contact has useful Skills or resources), Lots of Girls he's helped out by repairing various different things (x3) (15 Active Points) 13-*

Perks Cost: 15

Cost**	Talent
2**	Environmental Movement (no penalties in Zero Gravity)*

Talents Cost: 2

Cost**	Equipment	END
**	Power Cell: (800 END, 100 REC) Reserve: (180 Active Points); OAF Durable (-1); REC: (100 Active Points); Recovers only when Connected to Power (-2)*	0
**	+9 with Ranged Combat (45 Active Points); OAF: Patrol Laser Durable (-1), Linked to Multipower (-1/2) [Notes: Levels Usable = Shots Fired - 1]*
**	Patrol Laser: Multipower, 82-point reserve, (82 Active Points); all slots OAF Durable (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4), Beam (-1/4)*
u**	1) High: Killing Attack - Ranged 2d6, Increased Maximum Range (410"; +0), +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+1/4), Armor Piercing (+1/2), Autofire (10 shots; +1) (82 Active Points); OAF Durable (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4), Beam (-1/4)*	8
u**	2) Medium: Killing Attack - Ranged 1d6+1, +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+1/4), Autofire (10 shots; +1) (45 Active Points); OAF Durable (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4), Beam (-1/4)*	4
u**	3) Low: Killing Attack - Ranged 1 point, +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+1/4), Autofire (10 shots; +1) (11 Active Points); OAF Durable (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4), Beam (-1/4)*	1
u**	4) Flashlight: Sight Group Images Increased Size (64" radius; +1 1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (30 Active Points); Only to create Light (-1), OAF Durable (-1), Unavailable if END Reserve empty or missing (-1/4), Real Weapon (-1/4), Beam (-1/4)*	0
**	Ship Suit: Armor (10 PD/10 ED) (30 Active Points); OIF Durable (-1/2), Activation Roll 15- (-1/4), Real Armor (-1/4) plus Life Support (Safe in Low Pressure/Vacuum; Self-Contained Breathing), 1 Continuing Fuel Charge lasting 1 Hour (+0) (12 Active Points); OIF Durable (-1/2), Extra Time (Full Phase, Only to Activate, -1/4) [Notes: Ship Suit Mass = 10% of Character's Mass]*	[1 cc]

Equipment costs shown above are for reference only, and are not included in Total Cost.

Val**	Disadvantages
0**	Human Characteristic Maxima*
20**	Social Limitation: Subject to Orders Very Frequently (14-), Major*
15**	Psychological Limitation: Cant resist technology (Common, Strong)*
10**	Psychological Limitation: Perfectionist (Common, Moderate)*
5**	Distinctive Features: Curses in French Creole when Upset (Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Virtually Everyone; Not Distinctive In Some Cultures)*
15**	Hunted: The Patrol 11- (As Pow, NCI, PC has a Public ID or is otherwise very easy to find, Watching)*
15**	Social Limitation: Public Identity Frequently (11-), Major*
10**	Psychological Limitation: Curious (Common, Moderate)*
10**	Vulnerability: 2 x Effect From Persuasion rolls from Women (Uncommon)*

Disadvantage Points: 100

Base Points: 200Experience Required: 0Total Experience Available: 0Experience Unspent: 0Total Character Cost: 300

Height: 1.75 m	Hair: Brown
Weight: 70.00 kg	Eyes: Brown

Appearance: Personality: Xavier has 2 favorite things, girls and technology. Then again, at his age that isn't uncommon.Quote:Background: Xavier was recruited from the bayous of Louisiana at age 14. Some patrol members on an incognito mission there found his repair efforts helpful, when the motorboat they had rented developed mechanical difficulties. Xavier didn't have a clue they were patrol members at first, he just thought they were a couple of drole in bikinis. After he had helped repair several other items, gotten shot at, and seen the high cavalry arrive to pacify the area, he knew differently. When they offered him a tryout at the patrol academy, he accepted, although they didn't expect him to hitchhike out to Texas almost immediately with a family friend. He got mixed in with a group touring the academy grounds, bothering the cadet stuck playing tour guide with his tale of being there for testing, and bothering the cadet further when he turned out to be telling the truth. Almost four years later, he's ready for Sabbatical.Powers/Tactics: Campaign Use: I'm interested in just about anything anyone has to say, as I haven't settled on point totals yet, even...

[JohnTaber]

Re: Look at this character please...

 

Wow...this dude is really really powerful. Some comments...

 

+ Is he really a scientist in all of those areas? You could shave a lot of points by getting rid of a lot of sciences and KS. Most of those could be absorbed by the skills or abandoned until the PC gets EP. For example, Sys Op:Star Ship or Sensors might be fine instead of buying three or four sciences on all of the engine types. Computer Science might be fine instead of the four or five additional KS. See what I mean?

 

+ Could you shave all of the MA? Is he a combat guy AND a scientist? Same argument for Acrobatics. Acrobatics is not that useful in Heroic play anyway...

 

+ Get Linguist. Would save a point or so. Are all of the languages needed?

 

+ Could you scrap all of the contacts? Could you get those with EP or through roleplaying?

 

+ Why the swimming, Dex, and Con bonuses? Is he a fish man? Toss all that unless he is a fish alien or something...

 

Just some ideas...

[Foxiekins]

Re: Look at this character please...

 

Wow...this dude is really really powerful. Some comments...

 

+ Is he really a scientist in all of those areas? You could shave a lot of points by getting rid of a lot of sciences and KS. Most of those could be absorbed by the skills or abandoned until the PC gets EP. For example, Sys Op:Star Ship or Sensors might be fine instead of buying three or four sciences on all of the engine types. Computer Science might be fine instead of the four or five additional KS. See what I mean?

 

+ Could you shave all of the MA? Is he a combat guy AND a scientist? Same argument for Acrobatics. Acrobatics is not that useful in Heroic play anyway...

 

+ Get Linguist. Would save a point or so. Are all of the languages needed?

 

+ Could you scrap all of the contacts? Could you get those with EP or through roleplaying?

 

+ Why the swimming, Dex, and Con bonuses? Is he a fish man? Toss all that unless he is a fish alien or something...

 

Just some ideas...

 

 

Actually Scientist is to make those skills cheaper... I'll have to look at Linguist... The character was originally in another system, and I wanted to make sure I didn't omit anything... The other system also had something like Talents, and he had a Cast Iron Stomach, and a knack for Swimming...

 

Hmmm... Hey, Life Support could be used for the Cast Iron Stomach, and I can put his Swimming at Max and give him Skill Levels in it... That will eliminate those double values for DEX and CON that have been annoying me...

 

He's a Patrol Engineer... The Patrol polices the Solar System, and eventually Human Space in general... They need *someone* to keep their ships running... I was looking at the Martial Arts as the basic level of training, so I took the minimum for him...

 

What does everyone think...? Would it make more sense for him not to have Martial Arts at all...? (thanks, John...)

[Foxiekins]

Mark Two version...Xavier LargayPlayer: NPC

Val**	Char***	Cost
10**	STR	0
18**	DEX	24
10**	CON	0
13**	BODY	6
18**	INT	8
15**	EGO	10
10**	PRE	0
10**	COM	0
	*
3/13**	PD	1
3/13**	ED	1
5**	SPD	22
5**	REC	2
20**	END	0
25**	STUN	2

*7"**RUN25"**SWIM32"**LEAP0Characteristics Cost: 81

Cost**	Power	END
1**	Cast Iron Stomach: Life Support (Immunity: Bad Food)*	0

Powers Cost: 1

Cost**	Martial Arts Maneuver
3**	Martial Throw: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +1 DCV, 2d6 +v/5, Target Falls*
4**	Martial Dodge: 1/2 Phase, -- OCV, +5 DCV, Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort*
3**	Grappling Throw: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +2 DCV, 4d6 Strike; Target Falls; Must Follow Grab*

Martial Arts Cost: 10

Cost**	Skill
4**	+2 with Swimming*
3**	Bureaucratics 11-*
5**	Climbing 14-*
3**	Demolitions 13-*
3**	Electronics 13-*
3**	Inventor 13-*
3**	Linguist*
2**	1) Language: French (idiomatic; literate) (5 Active Points)*
2**	2) Language: French Creole (idiomatic; literate, Varient of French) (4 Active Points)*
1**	3) Language: German (completely fluent; literate) (4 Active Points)*
1**	4) Language: Latin (completely fluent; literate) (4 Active Points)*
0**	5) Native Language: English (idiomatic; Literate) (4 Active Points)*
3**	Scholar*
2**	1) KS: Astronomy (3 Active Points) 13-*
4**	2) KS: CAD/CAM (5 Active Points) 14-*
3**	3) KS: Cargo and Fuel Handling (4 Active Points) 14-*
4**	4) KS: Computer Security (5 Active Points) 15-*
2**	5) KS: EVA (3 Active Points) 13-*
4**	6) KS: Emergency Damage Control (5 Active Points) 15-*
2**	7) KS: Law (3 Active Points) 13-*
2**	8) KS: Lifesystems (3 Active Points) 13-*
2**	9) KS: Logistics (3 Active Points) 13-*
3**	Scientist*
2**	1) SS: Chemistry 13- (3 Active Points)*
3**	2) SS: Computer Control Systems 14- (4 Active Points)*
2**	3) SS: Electrical Engineering 13- (3 Active Points)*
3**	4) SS: Hyperspace Physics 14- (4 Active Points)*
4**	5) SS: Materials Science 15- (5 Active Points)*
3**	6) SS: Naval Architecture[starships] 14- (4 Active Points)*
2**	7) SS: Neural Interface Technology 13- (3 Active Points)*
5**	8) SS: Physics 16- (6 Active Points)*
5**	9) SS: Starship Engineering 16- (6 Active Points)*
4**	10) SS: Structural Engineering 15- (5 Active Points)*
4**	11) SS: Weapons System Engineering 15- (5 Active Points)*
3**	Stealth 13-*
6**	System Ops (Com Systems, FTL Sensors, Starship) 14-*
14**	System Ops (Environ, Computer, Engineering, Security) 16-*
4**	TF: Cars, Grav Vehicles, Small Motorboats, Spacecraft*
3**	Traveler*
3**	1) AK: Patrol Academy (4 Active Points) 14-*
2**	2) AK: Solar System (3 Active Points) 13-*
3**	3) CK: New Orleans (4 Active Points) 14-*
5**	WF: Artillery, Beam Weapons, Unarmed, Vehicle Weapons*

Skills Cost: 141

Cost**	Perk
15**	Contact (Contact has useful Skills or resources), Lots of Girls he's helped out by repairing various different things (x3) (15 Active Points) 13-*

Perks Cost: 15

Cost**	Talent
2**	Environmental Movement (no penalties in Zero Gravity)*

Talents Cost: 2

Cost**	Equipment	END
**	Power Cell: (800 END, 100 REC) Reserve: (180 Active Points); OAF Durable (-1); REC: (100 Active Points); Recovers only when Connected to Power (-2)*	0
**	+9 with Ranged Combat (45 Active Points); OAF: Patrol Laser Durable (-1), Linked to Multipower (-1/2) [Notes: Levels Usable = Shots Fired - 1]*
**	Patrol Laser: Multipower, 82-point reserve, (82 Active Points); all slots OAF Durable (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4), Beam (-1/4)*
u**	1) High: Killing Attack - Ranged 2d6, Increased Maximum Range (410"; +0), +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+1/4), Armor Piercing (+1/2), Autofire (10 shots; +1) (82 Active Points); OAF Durable (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4), Beam (-1/4)*	8
u**	2) Medium: Killing Attack - Ranged 1d6+1, +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+1/4), Autofire (10 shots; +1) (45 Active Points); OAF Durable (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4), Beam (-1/4)*	4
u**	3) Low: Killing Attack - Ranged 1 point, +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+1/4), Autofire (10 shots; +1) (11 Active Points); OAF Durable (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4), Beam (-1/4)*	1
u**	4) Flashlight: Sight Group Images Increased Size (64" radius; +1 1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (30 Active Points); Only to create Light (-1), OAF Durable (-1), Unavailable if END Reserve empty or missing (-1/4), Real Weapon (-1/4), Beam (-1/4)*	0
**	Ship Suit: Armor (10 PD/10 ED) (30 Active Points); OIF Durable (-1/2), Activation Roll 15- (-1/4), Real Armor (-1/4) plus Life Support (Safe in Low Pressure/Vacuum; Self-Contained Breathing), 1 Continuing Fuel Charge lasting 1 Hour (+0) (12 Active Points); OIF Durable (-1/2), Extra Time (Full Phase, Only to Activate, -1/4) [Notes: Ship Suit Mass = 10% of Character's Mass]*	[1 cc]

Equipment costs shown above are for reference only, and are not included in Total Cost.

Val**	Disadvantages
5**	Distinctive: Curses in Creole if Upset (Concealable; Noticed, Recognized; Detectable; Not Always Distinctive)*
0**	Human Characteristic Maxima*
5**	Hunted: Criminals 8- (Less Pow, Harshly Punish)*
20**	Watched: The Patrol 11- (More Pow, NCI, PC easy to find)*
10**	Psych Lim: Curious (Common, Moderate)*
15**	Psych Lim: Fascinated with technology (Common, Strong)*
10**	Psych Lim: Perfectionist (Common, Moderate)*
5**	Social Lim: Object of Prejudice (Frequent, Minor, Not all Cultures)*
15**	Social Lim: Public Identity Frequently (11-), Major*
20**	Social Lim: Subject to Orders Very Frequently (14-), Major*
20**	Vulnerable: 2 x Effect From Persuasion by Women (Common)*

Disadvantage Points: 125

Base Points: 125Experience Required: 0Total Experience Available: 0Experience Unspent: 0Total Character Cost: 250

Height: 1.75 m	Hair: Brown
Weight: 70.00 kg	Eyes: Brown

Appearance: Personality: Xavier has 2 favorite things, girls and technology. Then again, at his age that isn't uncommon.Quote:Background: Xavier was recruited from the bayous of Louisiana at age 14. Some patrol members on an incognito mission there found his repair efforts helpful, when the motorboat they had rented developed mechanical difficulties. Xavier didn't have a clue they were patrol members at first, he just thought they were a couple of drole in bikinis. After he had helped repair several other items, gotten shot at, and seen the high cavalry arrive to pacify the area, he knew differently. When they offered him a tryout at the patrol academy, he accepted, although they didn't expect him to hitchhike out to Texas almost immediately with a family friend. He got mixed in with a group touring the academy grounds, bothering the cadet stuck playing tour guide with his tale of being there for testing, and bothering the cadet further when he turned out to be telling the truth. Almost four years later, he's ready for Sabbatical.Powers/Tactics: Campaign Use: I did some modifications, and cleared out what looked like duplication of skill coverage along with other things John suggested, and managed to get him down to 250 points... I also managed to up his disads to 125, so that brings him in line with the guidelines for Very Powerful Hero types... Other specialists are expected to be at least as capable as he is in combat, but a security person is expected to be far, far better for example... Any further suggested tweaks or changes...?

[Blue Jogger]

Re: Look at this character please...

 

Looks good to me. If you're going with 250 points, you might want to explain that you are expecting 100+ points to be in skills and be ready to give lots of suggestions.

[Foxiekins]

Character Building...

 

Yeah... When I ran this background before, I had 3 NPCs, and 3 players that had 2 characters each... One player was a jerk, and eventually walked on us... He was one of the main reasons I wasn't doing Hero System, and lack of an Aide program was the other, so I'm converting over...

 

Once I get all 3 NPCs converted, I plan to take the core elements between them, and let players build their characters up from that... Heroic rules, so the only characters that will have lots of points in powers will be any psionic types...

[atlascott]

Re: Look at this character please...

 

Do you need the hi, medium, low multipower settings on the laser?

 

Dont you automatically get to decide how much damage dice you roll, and if you dont, isnt that a limiation whihc limits the power cost?

 

If true, you could save a few that way...

[Foxiekins]

Re: Look at this character please...

 

Do you need the hi, medium, low multipower settings on the laser?

 

Dont you automatically get to decide how much damage dice you roll, and if you dont, isnt that a limiation whihc limits the power cost?

 

If true, you could save a few that way...

 

Not with the Beam Limitation in place... The original weapon had high, medium, and low settings in place of a percentage power scale because the theory was, while you were quibbling about the *exact* setting to use the enemy would shoot you...

 

The designers of the weapon much preferred that it be used to shoot the enemy instead, so they did the 3-setting control for simplicity...

 

Oh, yeah, and remember this is *equipment*... Heroic characters don't pay points for equipment...