Guest zarglif69 Posted July 24, 2003 Report Share Posted July 24, 2003 why don't they just do their job and beat up bad guys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobGreenwade Posted July 24, 2003 Report Share Posted July 24, 2003 Smart-alecky answer #1: Why not? Smart-alecky answer #2: Because it's the Right Thing To Do. Real Answer: Because it's the Right Thing To Do. It's why Jimmy Carter "wastes time" building homes with Habitat For Humanity. It's why Jerry Lewis "wastes time" raising money for muscular dystrophy. It's why I like to donate my time to community theater, entertaining the citizens of Corvallis or guiding children and teens through the theatrical process even though my financial return for it consists mostly of photos, momentos, and a pizza on closing night. Real good guys aren't good 9-to-5, they're good guys 24-7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermit Posted July 24, 2003 Report Share Posted July 24, 2003 I asked each of the Champions, this is what they said. Defender- "Because our Job doesn't excuse us from being good citizens. Far from it, because we fight on the side of law, we have to hold ourselves to high standards. We're a part of this world, and that goes a lot further than busting heads. It was my concern for my fellow citizens that motivated me to become Defender, that and the courage the average citizen has shown in the time of crisis. It's inspiring." Ironclad- "If there is one thing my time as a gladiator on Malva has taught me, it is that those who live only for battle are empty hungry things. As I have no 'secret identity' I am, in a sense, always on duty, but I see no shame in the sculpting of metals that I perform. Humanity should see more in other peoples of the universe than the violence they can do. Mostly, however, I do it for myself. I love to fight for a good cause, but there is room in my heart for that, and beauty and friendship as well." Nighthawk- "Good question, I often wonder that myself. We'd get a lot more done around here if we'd worry less about public image and go with what works. On the other hand, who the hell are you to be judging? And why am I wasting time even responding to this when I could be on the streets?" Sapphire- "Hello, I was a superstar before I was a superhero, and I'm not giving that up. Some people will never be satisfied, you'll never do enough to please them. It'll drive you loco trying soooo don't bother; just do your best. Besides, my fans could get violent if I shut down my music carreer. You thought VIPER was bad." Witchcraft- "Yes, we could do more. However, there's a balance, or at least a need for some balance, in things. Some of us have made mistakes, or have some evil in our past. Rectifying that isn't just about beating evil, it's about being good yourself." Kinetik- "Hellooo, A brother in tights here, not as rare as it was, but that doesn't mean I can just slack off. African Americans, especially the kids, need a role model, positive rolemodels. Now,I'm not going to throw myself in their face about it, but I AM going to do more than get my rocks off trashing thugs at 50 plus m.p.h. Besides, I do have to eat and I don't charge for heroing so I need a job in the big S.I.D. Who's going to pay my rent? You?" AlgaeNymph 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enforcer84 Posted July 24, 2003 Report Share Posted July 24, 2003 I didn't know Hermit was on such good terms with the Champions... could you get me Witchcraft's autograph? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermit Posted July 24, 2003 Report Share Posted July 24, 2003 Originally posted by Enforcer84 I didn't know Hermit was on such good terms with the Champions... could you get me Witchcraft's autograph? Sure, just send $25 dollars to an address I'll be PMing you soon and make the check out to... What's that, Darren? Seeking to profit from DoJ's copyrights is a crime you say? *cough* uhm, it was all going to charity I swear... (drat, never do these deals in an open forum) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba smith Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" another reason they are good citizens if they WEREN'T they'd spend more time behind bars than the crooks they stop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freakboy6117 Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" because Mechanon only attacks Millenium city every other Tuesday. They've got to do something other than sitting around watching the view in your undies and mask like Nighthawk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywind Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" Because they can... Seriously, would you rather be the idol of millions or the guy that the idol of millions is looking for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egyptoid Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" It has to do with Psych Disads and the Hero-System time scale. Combats in Champions are brutally quick by television standards. What are ya gonna do with the other 5.75 hours of the miniseries ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnia Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" Good citizens don't necro threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba smith Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" Because they can... Seriously, would you rather be the idol of millions or the guy that the idol of millions is looking for? i'd prefer the former myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemming Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" Yum, Necro Wafers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTaylor Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" Also: the better public face a group of heroes has, the better off they are when the public turns against them or some group tries to smear them in the press or with advertisements. Sure, Viper can run anti-Champions ads, but the people will say "yeah, but they worked to rebuild my home after that meteor shower" and stuff like that. And, if you're a hero your driving purpose is to help people and do good, which includes helping people when they are in need. The same thing that motivates you to be a hero rather than a thug that happens only to beat up on bad guys is what makes you want to do community service, help out those in need, and be a positive influence on your community. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperJerry Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" Also: the better public face a group of heroes has, the better off they are when the public turns against them or some group tries to smear them in the press or with advertisements. Sure, Viper can run anti-Champions ads, but the people will say "yeah, but they worked to rebuild my home after that meteor shower" and stuff like that. And, if you're a hero your driving purpose is to help people and do good, which includes helping people when they are in need. The same thing that motivates you to be a hero rather than a thug that happens only to beat up on bad guys is what makes you want to do community service, help out those in need, and be a positive influence on your community. Amen brudda! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narratio Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" As CTaylor said. What else are you going to do? Once you've helped people by stopping whatever it was the GM threw down on this night, how can you not go out and help people when the dangers, while maybe not so nasty, are still as harmful to the innocents. It's why Superman stops to rescue cats from trees. That's as emotionaly harmful to the young child crying at the trees base, as standing near Doomsday would be physically dangerous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba smith Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" why don't they just do their job and beat up bad guys? because the they'd be DARK CHAMPIONS and mr. long wants to keep them as separate as possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nexus Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" Well even Dark Champions characters (in the sense of street level supers) can do good deeds and be heroes outside of clobbering/shooting the bad guys. The "Dark" in dark Champions isn't necessarily a moral judgment or an indicator of the only mood possible Batman: The Animated Series is much as a street level game as The Punisher just like the Superfriends is as much as an example of high end Champions as The Authority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narratio Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" There's a difference between say the 60's Superman who'd take time out to rescue kittens from trees and the 70's / 80's Superman who had 'causes' like digging water wells, replanting forests etc. But it's a difference of degree, not intent. Nonbody questions that the firefighters and rescue crews who were still climbing the twin towers and working to get people out even as they collapsed, count as heroes. So to me, a decent definition of a "hero" is that a "hero" will help others when he/she does not need to. When there is no personal gain other than the satisfaction of having done thier best or having done so in defiance of all logic or even the call of self preservation. Thus they can't just sit around waiting for the bad guys to do something nasty. They have to help prevent, not just clean up afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utech Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" You might ask another question: Why don't the Champions do more good? Why do they spend so much of their time dealing with crime when they really ought to combating larger issues? global education global environmental issues global poverty inequality war homelessness hopelessness mental illness hunger extremism discrimination Of course you then run into problems of cultural imperialism, intolerance, and moral ambiguity. Should the Champions work for regime change in democratically elected governments that support terrorism? What happens when one of them is Pro Life and another is Pro Choice? Should they work to eliminate weapons of mass destruction -- all of them -- from the world? What should they do about the people who have always hunted whales and can't understand why others want them to stop? When the poor in a poor country burn down a foreign-owned superstore because it is destroying their ability to run their traditional business, who should the Champions champion? I'm not saying I'd like to run or play in campaigns that focus on these issues. Just saying that I'm not sure the Champions really do spend a lot of time being "good citizens" when you take the long view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Archeville Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" By that view, neither do most comic book superheroes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nexus Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" Mainly because the Adventures of Political Activist Man and the Socially Conscious Crew makes for dull four color funny books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
assault Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" There's a difference between say the 60's Superman who'd take time out to rescue kittens from trees and the 70's / 80's Superman who had 'causes' like digging water wells' date=' replanting forests etc. But it's a difference of degree, not intent.[/quote'] That's right. 60's Superman would do all the stuff the 70's/80's version would do and rescue kittens as well. The answer to the main question is: how much time do the Champions actually spend punching people? How often do aliens actually invade? How often do loonies actually try to take over the world? Basically, they have a lot of downtime. They choose not to waste it, but to use it profitably by being "good citizens". Except Nighthawk who spends his time trashing underworld bars, and sitting around on stakeouts eating donuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enforcer84 Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" Because it's Tuesday and there's nothing on TV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korvar Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" Should they work to eliminate weapons of mass destruction -- all of them -- from the world? No. Because that way lies Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. And nobody wants that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markdoc Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Re: Why do the Champions waste so much time being "good citizens?" You might ask another question: Why don't the Champions do more good? Why do they spend so much of their time dealing with crime when they really ought to combating larger issues? global education global environmental issues global poverty inequality war homelessness hopelessness mental illness hunger extremism discrimination Of course you then run into problems of cultural imperialism, intolerance, and moral ambiguity. Should the Champions work for regime change in democratically elected governments that support terrorism? What happens when one of them is Pro Life and another is Pro Choice? Should they work to eliminate weapons of mass destruction -- all of them -- from the world? What should they do about the people who have always hunted whales and can't understand why others want them to stop? When the poor in a poor country burn down a foreign-owned superstore because it is destroying their ability to run their traditional business, who should the Champions champion? Mainly because the Adventures of Political Activist Man and the Socially Conscious Crew makes for dull four color funny books. Well, that was the whole point behind The Authority: what would it be like if the "Heroes" started getting involved in issues like that. It was actually pretty good, too, for the first two trades, before the original authors quit and the series went to ****. cheers, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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