Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

[Mark Rand]

In 1965, Thomas Lindmer, who had just become Doctor Arcane, watched, with his middle-aged maid and butler, as fire destroyed the mansion his grandfather had built. Two days later, the fire marshal reported that the fire had been caused by a broken gas line. Deciding to rebuild, Lindmer consulted with his teacher, drew up plans, then contacted The Verminax.

 

Forty years later, Lindmer has retired and is now living in a retirement home. His mansion, which is based on the Mobius from the 4E book Mystic Masters, is now the home to the superhero team Lindmer sponsors.

 

The house is bigger inside than outside, has gates that lead to various places, rooms that are pocket realities, and ghosts that look like they did when the house was created. These ghosts are good natured and, while desolid, can handle solid stuff.

 

Here's a partial listing of what's there. Some of it was suggested by others on the original thread.

 

The garage has a pocket reality that's 300 x 100 feet inside.

 

Going through the front door, one finds themselves in a large lobby with a large stone statue flanking either side of the door and a large and ancient block of carved stone in the center. It bears cuneiform writing and carvings of the PCs. Huge windows look out onto a weird rocky landscape. There are two moons and a duststorm can sometimes be seen. Beyond the stone is a reception desk. It's always manned by at least one Japanese office lady. Four doors are behind the desk.

 

The statues form a mystical security system that displays its information on a monitor behind the desk. The landscape outside is Mars. The office ladies are ghosts. One door leads to the house, a second to the conference room, the third to the mailroom, and the fourth to the administrator's office. She's human, but her pet is a three foot long fire-breathing dragon.

 

More to come.

["V"]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

Going through the front door, one finds themselves in a large lobby with a large stone statue flanking either side of the door and a large and ancient block of carved stone in the center. It bears cuneiform writing and carvings of the PCs.

 

I love that idea.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

I love that idea.

 

Thank you. Drhoz came up with the idea. Moquif suggested the security system. Both Theron and transmetahuman suggested the windows that look onto other places.

 

The conference room has a prefunction area with a coat rack and rest rooms, and tables of food at the rear. When there is no conference there, ghosts, clad in formal wear from the 1880s waltz to music from a formally-clad orchestra.

 

Elaine Davis, the team administrator, who dresses like the office ladies, wears gloves to hide the fact that the skin on her hands look like a snake's. Additionally, she has what she considers a cute pet, a three foot long, fire-breathing, green dragon (Puff from The House That Jack Built).

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

On to the first floor. It consists of a living room, dining room, kitchen, library, hall, and a bathroom. The floors, walls, and ceilings in the living room, dining room, stairs, and library are all mahogany panelling, polished to a mirror finish.

 

The living room is an actual "Living" Room. The eyes of the painting above the fireplace seem to follow the people in the room.

 

Gates from the dining room and kitchen lead to a large butler's pantry.

 

In the kitchen, the oven pre-heats instantly to whatever temperature is dialed and the dishwasher puts the dishes away at the end of the cycle. A Gelatinous Cube is the garbage disposal. Food won't spoil in the fridge and it can even unspoil food.

 

The infamous east gate leads to a shed in the garden of a house near Washington County Raceway.

 

A gate connects a botanical conservatory to the library.

 

Some ideas from the first edition of this thread. Thanks to moquif, StGrimblefig, ParagonAlpha, Drhoz, and transmetahuman.

 

Second and third floors and basement are next.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

Before we go to the upper floors and basement, I thought I'd mention that the door stops, door knobs, and water spouts are quite eclectic in style. The mantle of the living room fireplace is the focus of a spell that makes magical happenings look mundane. On to the second floor.

 

The six bedrooms on the second floor have highly polished mahogany paneling on the walls, floors, and ceilings, as does the hall. While bedrooms one and six have walk-in closets, the other bedrooms have wardrobes that hold the same amount of clothes. There are two bathrooms on the floor. One in the hall and one in bedroom six.

 

The fireplace in bedroom three will instantly burn anything flammable tossed onto it while electricity won't work in bedroom four. Fortunately, it has gas lamps that don't need refilling.

 

Bedroom five is occupied by Elaine Davis. Bedroom six is occupied by Marie Anders, the housekeeper.

 

There are a number of viewing portals in the hall.

 

On to the third floor. It has a forest, three bedrooms, a hall, a living room leading onto bedroom two, and a fountain room leading to bedroom three. Bedrooms one and two, the living room, and hall all have mahogany paneling.

 

Bedroom one belongs to Mariko Yamamoto, the technical manager. A gate in the room leads to the basement of a house near Washington County Raceway. The kitchen gate leads to that house's garden shed.

 

Bedroom two, and its connecting living room, are occupied by John Harrison and Kate Thompson. A gate in the bedroom leads to a 10 x 10 foot room that Kate keeps her burglar gear in. A second gate, in the iving room, leads to the three bedroom suite occupied by their daughter, Molly, and her nurse, Melissa McReady. (The third bedroom in that suite contains medical supplies and equipment.)

 

The third floor hall contains a magical portrait gallery that enables contact with the subject. A gate in the fountain room leads to a hallway leading to various danger rooms, including one designed just for stealth. (Kate calls it the "cat burglar danger room".) Thanks, Prometheus and Amber Nytstar.

 

Basement next.

 

Edit: The forest is either inhabited or haunted by owls. Additionally, the balcony formed by the back porch has two doors on it. One leads into bedroom one on the second floor. The other leads into the forest.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

Finally, the basement.

 

The main room has a pool table, a ping-pong table, and a fireplace.

 

The utility room has laundry equipment, the HVAC system, and hot water heater. The HVAC and hot water heater tie into the elemental planes. The laundry equipment perfectly cleans and folds the clothes.

 

The laboratory has a gate to an air-ponics garden filled with needed plants.

 

The shop (Mariko's lair), is fully equipped and larger inside than it should be.

 

Thanks, moquif and Pavanne for cool ideas.

 

Next, outside and the house in general.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

Before we go on, it should mention that the various Pittsburgh historical organizations would do their best to force Mr. Limdmer to rebuild the house as closely to the original as possible.

 

Additionally, since he was, publicly, a socialite as well as an investor and philanthropist, the first, or social, floor would have no outward signs of anything magical being there.

 

I guess that means that I'll be using Wayne Manor as the basis, not the Mobius.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

Okay. I found my Wayne Manor map and copy of the original thread. Here goes.

 

The painting with the moving eyes was placed over the dining room fireplace in 1995.

 

The foyer's marble floor absorbs stains of all kinds. The two sculptures by the door are the sensors for a mystical "security walk-through". Most people in the house where a pendent that lets them receive signals from the sensors in their minds.

 

The parlor is an actual "living room."

 

More to come.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

The mansion has good security. If someone breaks in, they get teleported into the pool, which trips the floodlights and alarm back there. If heavily-armed people try to attack, they get teleported elsewhere.

 

The kitchen range pre-heats in an instant and is self-cleaning. All refrigerators and freezers keep food from spoiling and defrosts themselves as needed. The dishwasher unloads itself when finished. The water is always at the right temperature. The HVAC system is tied into the elemental planes. The temperature and lighting in the rooms is perfect and the bedrooms and library are soundproof.

[Drhoz]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

I love that idea.

 

thankyou

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

The laundry equipment perfectly cleans and folds the clothes.

 

The library and gym have hidden gates. The library's leads to a library to end all libraries. One of the gym's two lead to the hall with various danger rooms. The other leads to a pocket reality consisting of a collegiate gymnasium, complete with indoor pool.

 

When not in use, the ballroom is haunted by the ghosts of an orchestra and waltzing couples in early 20th century formal wear. A hero may join the dance without any ill effects.

[GoldenAge]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

Map?

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

Map?

 

Soon as I change the two maps from bitmap to jpeg format. Also, I'm not sure if posting them violates any copyrights.

 

The source of the maps is the Batman Sourcebook, published by Mayfair Games for their DC Heroes RPG. It has since been modified, by me, to remove errors made by the person who drew it. While it has a square grid, no scale is listed. I think it's one square equals 2 feet 6 inches, but I'm not sure.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

The mansion plans are attached. They will be removed if a complaint is made.

 

On "Manor 1", the unmarked area on the right side of the basement is the workshop. On the first floor, the area labeled "private study" is the secretary/receptionist's office. The area labeled "Dr. Wayne's Office" is the team leader's office. The area labeled "Gallery" would make a good trophy room.

 

On "Manor 2", the second floor has most of the living quarters. There are also two gates here. The first, by "Jason Todd's Bedroom" and "Dick Grayson's Bedroom", leads to a pocket reality containing additional living quarters and other things. I might move the large library and the big gym here. The second gate, by "Balcony #1", leads onto the dark hallway that breathes.

 

On the third floor, the "Private Video Library" is no longer private, Bruce's bedroom and office belong to the liaisons, and "Future Expansion w/Storage" has the communications and computer equipment.

 

A map of the gate area by Dick and Jason's bedrooms will be added when I create it.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

Another idea I had was that the Ward family is the team sponsor. Daughter Lisa, better known as the mage Warder, lives with the team in the house, when she's in town. Most of the time, she's doing the stuff dimension-hopping mages do.

 

Lisa and team technical manager, and handywoman, Mariko were debs together. While Lisa studied the occult, Mariko got a masters in electronics engineering, became active in motor sports, and joined Mensa International.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

Following up on the above post, I'll probably make the engineer male.

 

He's Jewish. the housekeeper's lover, has a masters in electronics, is a handyman and shadetree mechanic, and competes in SCCA-sanctioned races in either an Eagle Talon or something of equal power.

[Dawn Darke]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

Couple of things.

 

We need a map of the connections to "other planes" and also how the "large inside" places go.

 

You can't see two moons from Mars' surface. If Phobos is within 20º-40º of the zenith, it barely shows a disk. Phobos farther from zenith, and Deimos at all times, is just a point of light.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

Couple of things.

 

We need a map of the connections to "other planes" and also how the "large inside" places go.

 

You can't see two moons from Mars' surface. If Phobos is within 20º-40º of the zenith, it barely shows a disk. Phobos farther from zenith, and Deimos at all times, is just a point of light.

 

Repped for Mars.

 

The "bigger inside than out" factor is an increase of five feet in any direction.

 

The gallery has a gateway to the trophy room. It's the size and shape of the first floor. The area that resembles the ballroom has the following "A large and ancient block of carved stone, standing in pride of place in one of the social rooms. It bears cuneiform writing and carvings of the PCs." (Suggested by Drhoz.)

 

The family library has a gateway to a huge library. Each of its three floors is the size and shape of the mansion's first floor.

 

The gym has a gateway to a two-story recreation center. The plan for it is attached. (It's actually the rec center at Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, MA.)

 

More, on this topic, to come.

[Dawn Darke]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

Repped for Mars.

 

Thanks muchly!

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

Thanks muchly!

 

You're welcome.

 

Your attention is directed to "manor 2", the second and third floors.The secretary's office mentioned there is the team leader's office and the guest suite closest to it is the team leader's. (The liaisons use Dr. Wayne's Office on the first floor, map "manor 1".)

 

Guest #2 on the map is the first aid room. The gate attached to it leads to a larger medical office. (The team nurse is the ghost of a nurse who died in the 1970s, which is why she wears a white uniform and cap instead of scrubs.)

 

A gate on th east wall, between Dick Grayson's and Jason Todd's bedrooms, leads to the fourth floor of a hotel. From papers found there, it is from the 1960s.

 

Maps of the large medical office and hotel floor are attached.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

Before we go any further, let's look at some cool stuff in the house. All of it was suggested by people on the original "mystical superhero mansion" thread. Thanks everyone.

 

The twin exotic statues on either side of the front door are the transmitters of a mystical security screening device. The pendent Elaine, the secretary/receptionist wears lets it alert her to any problems.

 

The oven preheats to the desired temperature in an instant. Food won't spoil in the fridge. The garbage disposal is a Gelatinous Cube. The foyer and parlor are actual living rooms.

 

The dishwasher cleans everything perfectly, then puts it away. The laundry equipment cleans and folds everything.

 

The lighting in each room adjusts itself to the needs and moods of the people using the room. The bedrooms, offices, and libraries have infinitely effective soundproofing.

 

The wine cellar keeps the bottles at the proper conditions and the HVAC equipment is connected to the elemental planes.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

I will soon be taking the various plans on the mansion down and replacing them with a word file containing the plans and an explanatory text.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

It occurs to me that a "great house", like Wayne Manor, is more suited to the suburbs than the city. The Mobius, from Mystic Masters, would be better suited for a headquarters within a city.

 

Various parts of it could easily exist within pocket realities, creating an office and conference area and other rooms.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Brainstorming a mystical superhero mansion, version 2.0

 

I'm considering ending this thread and the one on the staff and replacing them with one on The Mobius from the 4E book Mystic Masters.

 

Information on the house will be in an MS Word document attached to the first post.