Vondy Posted May 6, 2003 Report Share Posted May 6, 2003 As a point of fact: It is not uncommon for federal agents in sensitive positions, such as the FBIs counter espionage division, to identify themselves with a pseudonym when interacting with the public in order to keep their exact job with the agency unknown. Further, the identities of federal agents and local law enforcement personnel involved in paramilitary operations, HRT, SWAT, are generally restricted. If you were to confront one in the field and ask his name you wouldn't get it. You can get them with a court order, but even then , whether or not that identiy remains sealed by the court is at the discretion of the judge - in the Waco incident most were withheld, at Ruby Ridge they were not. When the CIA has to go to court they actually have pseudonymns that are used IN COURT DOCUMENTS. You would have to be cleared for the information to ever get the agents name. The judge doesn't always know the actual identities of the people in question. The FBI agents in counter intelligence are often handled in the same way. We have special courts that handle these situations. I understand Shelly's decision, and I think its a good one, but it would be perfectly reasonable to presume that people in the Avengers positions could have their identities witheld from the public in a realistic fashion. Its just a matter of GM preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShelleyCM Posted May 7, 2003 Report Share Posted May 7, 2003 Originally posted by D-Man As a point of fact: It is not uncommon for federal agents in sensitive positions, such as the FBIs counter espionage division, to identify themselves with a pseudonym when interacting with the public in order to keep their exact job with the agency unknown. Just a quick clarification: David is quite right, and I could easily see an agent having a secret id for this reason (I even had to read Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the Bureau of Narcotics this semester). But to me, there's a huge distinction between the undercover agent and the Avenger. Again (and it's always the same): it's a matter of taste! -Shelley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peregrine Posted May 7, 2003 Report Share Posted May 7, 2003 Personally, I like the "Avengers as 50s-60s astronaut-level celebrities" route, meself. (Can you say 'PRIMUS trading cards?' Sure, I knew you could.) That, and the 'mutual agreement' between PRIMUS and the bad guy organization du jour works to create the feel I'm looking for. (I'm also toying with limiting supers such that the Avengers are actually among the most powerful superheros in the campaign.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShelleyCM Posted May 7, 2003 Report Share Posted May 7, 2003 Originally posted by Peregrine Personally, I like the "Avengers as 50s-60s astronaut-level celebrities" route, meself. (Can you say 'PRIMUS trading cards?' Sure, I knew you could.) That, and the 'mutual agreement' between PRIMUS and the bad guy organization du jour works to create the feel I'm looking for. (I'm also toying with limiting supers such that the Avengers are actually among the most powerful superheros in the campaign.) Sounds like a campaign after my own heart. -Shelley Only one more final to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peregrine Posted May 8, 2003 Report Share Posted May 8, 2003 Originally posted by ShelleyCM Sounds like a campaign after my own heart. -Shelley Only one more final to go! Well, considering the amount of inspiration I've taken from your material... And best of luck on your remaining final! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted May 11, 2003 Report Share Posted May 11, 2003 Hi all, A quick thank you to those who replied to my questions and have given me such good advice. The PRIMUS liaison won't be a former CIA black-bag specialist. However, the intelligence agency liaison will be an expert in that field. Also, there will be a room in the headquarters where the PRIMUS liaison, the intelligence agency liaison and the team's techie, who is also a ninja, keep equipment, each in its own area. Only PRIMUS has access to the area where their agent's equipment is kept. Our world has Immortals, as in "Highlander", the Stargate, as in "Stargate SG-1" and vampires, as in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". With the existance of superheroes, the Society of Watchers has revealed the existance of Immportals and has had some of the chronicles published. When the existance of the Stargate becomes public knowledge, I'm sure PRIMUS, UNTIL, the FBI, the police and the local heroes will offer to help when needed and the DOSPA, United Nations, NASA and the State Department will insist on sending liaison officers. The existance of vampires and the Slayer is known only to a chosen few intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Yours, Mark Rand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted May 17, 2003 Report Share Posted May 17, 2003 Hi all, Forgot to tell you about the local Silver Avenger. She looks like Maria Chow and is Terry Kestler with ninjitsu training and Mayte Sanchez's adrenaline junkie style. She owns and carries some martial arts weapons, including a katana, shuriken and a weighted chain. As always, comment is invited and I thank you, in advance, for them. Yours, Mark Rand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShelleyCM Posted May 17, 2003 Report Share Posted May 17, 2003 Sounds like she's the best of all possible worlds. -Shelley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted May 26, 2003 Report Share Posted May 26, 2003 Hi all, Thanks, Shelley. That's why I created her. However, unlike Maria Chow, she's a Japanese-American. How would PRIMUS and Mariko Namura, out lady silver avenger, react to Immortals, the Stargate and the Slayer (and the Hellmouth) and, if they're in the campaign, the MIB (from the movies) and the goings on in Prefection (from the Tremors movies and tv series)? How does PRIMUS react to her using her own weapons?" Yours, Mark Rand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShelleyCM Posted May 27, 2003 Report Share Posted May 27, 2003 Originally posted by Mark Rand Hi all, Thanks, Shelley. That's why I created her. However, unlike Maria Chow, she's a Japanese-American. How would PRIMUS and Mariko Namura, out lady silver avenger, react to Immortals, the Stargate and the Slayer (and the Hellmouth) and, if they're in the campaign, the MIB (from the movies) and the goings on in Prefection (from the Tremors movies and tv series)? How does PRIMUS react to her using her own weapons?" Dunno about Mariko, but Maria Chow (who is part Japanese) would react by dating what/whoever the phenom of week was. As for PRIMUS and the rest...well, I suppose it depends on what would suit your campaign world best. The safest bet would be heavy skepticism. I'm not familiar enough with the TV shows or movies to make much more of a statement. As for her own weapons...I'm not sure. I suppose it would depend on the weapon's origin. Lifted from VIPER? Bad. One of a kind item that she has legitimately? Might be OK, but would want to have R&D look at it. -Shelley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted May 31, 2003 Report Share Posted May 31, 2003 Hi all. Good comments from Shelley. Thank you. Silver Avenger Mariko Namura's katana was made in the 16th century's finest swordsmiths. The rest of her weapons were purchased from a relative's martial arts supply company. Earth's stargate, one of over one million in the gate network, is under the control of Stargate Command, which is headed by Major General George Hammond, USAF. Since the gate is under military control, PRIMUS would, I think, let them worry about it. Mariko would, I think, visit Stargate Command once she knew about it to leave her business card with General Hammond, in case there was a problem. Mariko found out about Slayers, vampires and the Hellmouth when assault agents raiding a suspected DEMON nest discovered instead 50 vampires. Fortunately, the Slayer and some friends arrived to help with the vampires, brief them on the situation and show them the Hellmouth. In my opinion, PRIMUS considers it the Slayer's job. Mariko keeps in close contact with them and they exchange intel. Would the local PRIMUS office assist the Secret Service, if asked, when the President's in town? I think so, but I'm not sure. More information on mentioned tv programs and movies to follow. Yours, Mark Rand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted June 20, 2003 Report Share Posted June 20, 2003 Hi all, The TV series "Tremors" takes place in Perfection, Nevada, a small town 20 miles north of the larger town of Bixby, Nevada. Of course, in a Champions campaign, Perfection and Bixby could be placed anywhere. The town first came to public netice when Graboids, large underground eating machines, were discovered there. Now, the town is home to El Blanco, a great white Graboid. Unlike others of his kind, he can't morph into Shriekers, which burst from the Graboid and eat the remains. Since Graboids are an endangered species, and Perfection Valley is El Blanco's range, the U.S. Department of the Interior keeps an eye on things there. A recently discovered underground lab, used by the federal government in the 1940s, is the source of another problem, Mixmaster, a compound that lets DNA of different species combine. Due to Mixmaster, fantasy creatures could become real. Imagine, a pegasus or a house cat with wings and a scorpion's tail. Kind of boggles the mind. In a Champions campaign, PRIMUS would, I think, take an interest in Prefection Valley and keep an intelligence agent there. Since she's the closest Silver Avenger, Mariko probably would be the one to come there when called. As always, your comments are requested. Yours, Mark Rand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShelleyCM Posted June 20, 2003 Report Share Posted June 20, 2003 Originally posted by Mark Rand In a Champions campaign, PRIMUS would, I think, take an interest in Prefection Valley and keep an intelligence agent there. Since she's the closest Silver Avenger, Mariko probably would be the one to come there when called. Sure, sounds good to me. And as someone who lived in Northern Nevada long enough to be considered native (8 years), I know for a fact it's a perfect place to set adventures -- I've done it myself, many times. -Shelley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted June 21, 2003 Report Share Posted June 21, 2003 Hi all, Wonderful comments, as usual, from Shelley. Thank you. Now, all I have to do is figure out where in Northern Nevada Perfection is. If Mariko is Las Vegas's silver avenger, it might be near Ely. Any ideas? Comment is also requested on my post of 5/31/03 which gives more information on Mariko's weapons and my opinion on PRIMUS's reaction to the Stargate Project, the Slayer and her helpers and Presidential security. Yours, Mark Rand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rand Posted June 23, 2003 Report Share Posted June 23, 2003 Hi all, Oops, almost forgot, in the campaign, Prefection Valley doesn't have to be in Northern Nevada. I'm sure there are other places that could have the right geographic isolation, an immence box canyon with rocky cliffs on one side, mountains on two others and, on the fourth, the only road out of town. Any ideas? The closest town doesn't have to be Bixby, it could be another one. Also, Stargate Command could be in one of the mountains. Discovering that and finding out that a PRIMUS intelligence agent was moving into Prefection itself would make Burt go nuts. Yours, Mark Rand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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