Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

[input.jack]

I, as so many other Gms, have a few megalomaniacal supervillians running loose in my campaign world. Id -really- like to have the PCs thwart some of their diabolical schemes, but Ive hit a snag...

 

I cant think of any megalomaniacal evil schemes to have them thwart.

 

People like the Atomic Khan ought to be out there causing trouble. But I just cant seem to get my head aroun d plans and schemes of that scale. I try to come up with things for these guys to be doing, but on reviewing my ideas, I always either think "Thats beneath him", or "thats just plain -dumb-; hed never be stupid enough to try that".

 

So help a GM out, please, and give me some ideas of the kinds of things that the Dr Doom types in your games have gotten up to in the past, or describe the brilliant and Machiavellian ideas that youve had for people like that which youd like to see tried.

 

Thanks

[Nerdnumber1]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

What kind of characters and power levels are we talking about? Also, do any of them have any good hunteds, enemies, or DMPCs? Personalized plots are a great touch to any plot.

[Logan D. Hurricanes]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

Start an evil cult.

 

 

 

 

Like, say, Scientology...

[Nerdnumber1]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

Other variables include:

1. How deadly do you want the plot to be for your characters?
   
2. What are the consequences for a failed investigation? (destroying the Really-evil-thing actually summons Cthulhu and only a virtuous soul could do it, thanks for the help bringing about the apocalypse)
   
3. What type of force do they fight? (magic, tech, mentalist, mixture, politics, etc.)
   
4. What solutions do you want open to the players? (I got a BIG bomb duct taped to lady-liberty's head, come and stop me! or here's a near-impossible riddle telling you where the bombs are hidden throughout the city, tick-tock heroes)
   

Also, how cruel a GM do you want to be? Do you like making the players make hard choices or trick them into helping the villian?

[Derek Hiemforth]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

On a more generic note, I'm not sure you need to worry too much about whether the plan (and especially the goal) would make any sense to anyone else (i.e., whether anyone other than the Evil Mastermind would think it was a good plan or a worthwhile goal). Because remember... Evil Masterminds are notorious for not caring how dumb their plans are. The fact that lesser minds think their plans are dumb is just further proof of their own brilliance! Only a true geeeeenius could take a plan this absurd and succeed with it anyway!

[input.jack]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

The PCs are relatively powerful. They are about on the level of "typical" Avengers. They are:

 

Atlas: Flying Brick Paragon, who is actually a shape-changing alien android. The alien race his type of Android originally served were wiped out by a plague. They created "super-Droids" like the PC, and sent them out into the stars to find other races to help and serve. Atlas cant currently fulfill his mission, because Earth is -so- much lower-tech that the equipment to create the "race" of servant droids he wants to give Humanity doesnt exist yet. So he is doing what he can to serve his adopted planet by protecting the world from threats, and helping people by being a crime-fighter. He is about on the same power level as Wonder Man would be.

 

Ajax: Brilliant inventor in a powered armor suit. He is -very- tightly based on the movie Iron Man.

 

Dart: Super-speedster. He is comparable to the DCAU interpretation of the Flash

 

Starhawk: Essentially a cute alien Jedi. She can mainfest a "Starblade" of psychic energy, and wears a combat suit that acts like a light battlesuit. She has minor telepathic abilities.

 

They have some associates who are (generally) lower powered.

 

Recluse: Take Batman's mental outlook, and hand it to Spider-man. Not as brilliant as Bruce Wayne, but still very smart and very determined. On par with the PCs.

 

The Hooded Man: Chosen of Hern, he weilds a bow with terrific accuracy, and has some "spoiler powers" like being able to teleport between trees, and become invisible in the forest. He can also track almost unerringly, as a supernatural ability. On par with the PCs.

 

Thunderball: Gorgeous and able to generate -powerful- electrical blasts, as well as having the power of flight, and a forcefield. But shes not very bright. On par with the PCs power-wise.

 

Watchdog: Extremely well-trained Olympic level athlete, with a dog costume and a weird sense of humor. Take "Wolf" from American Gladiator, and put him in a costume. (Yes, he barks at people). About as powerful as Daredevil, overall.

 

The Eye: Brilliant but quirky. A bit of a conspiracy nut. He is an investigator. He is competent at fighting thugs, but actual super-villains are a stretch for him. On the same power level as Watchdog.

 

There are several other street-level heroes the PCs havent interacted with yet. The core team is Atlas, Ajax, Dart, and Starhawk. Recluse is likely to get dragged into things a lot. Hooded Man travels too much to join the team officially, and Thunderball currently lives in another city (but may soon move to the campaign city).

 

I hope that helps

[ParagonAlpha]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

What evil megalomaniac are you planning on using?

 

Also a list of Hunteds, DNPC's and Rivalries would help.

 

I might have a couple of workable ideas for you. My twisted mind loves these things.

[Guest Major Tom]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

You want a diabolical, world-threatening scheme for your supervillain of choice?

 

Try this:

 

The evil (insert supervillain's name here), having successfully designed and

built a contraterrene bomb, decides to use it in a massive blackmail scheme.

Now, most villains with a bomb and an agenda tend to focus their efforts on

a single target, but not our villain. No, his scheme is far more ambitious than

that.

 

The plan is to place the bomb out in the ocean (Atlantic or Pacific -- take

your pick) in a location that, upon detonation, will send massive tidal waves

racing toward every major coastal city that borders the blast site. Once the

bomb is in place, the supervillain then sends a message to the mayors of the

endangered cities telling them that, unless they each pay him a specific

amount within 24 hours, he'll detonate the bomb.

 

 

 

Major Tom

[SKJAM!]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

Mass mind control.

Replace world leaders with obedient duplicates.

Unleash plague to which megalomaniac has only cure.

[csyphrett]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

The one guy I use most of the time believes in turning people into monsters and so forth. One scheme was to release a gas in the city to do such an effect on a mass scale.

CES

[Nerdnumber1]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

New super-power granting energy drink is put on the market. The powers are temporary and randomly generated with each use, causing many accidents when people gain superstrength, heat vision, and flight. The drink is tecnically legal, but between the accidents and criminal use, the damage is too much for the heroes to handle. Bribed politicians are turning a blind eye and having such power is becoming addictive. "Supply shortages" cause riots giving the President of the company increasing power, influence, and wealth. The law is not on the PCs' side of the conflict, but they have to do something!

[Hagadorn]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

Someone's been stealling several of the world's most valuable gems. The world's largest Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire and Diamond have all been stolen.

 

Seemingly unrelated is the theft of several tonnes of gold and more bizzarely several tonnes of pure rock Salt...

 

What do they all mean? Who did them? WHY!?

 

Maybe have the PC's thwart a low powered villain trying to make off with an ancient Kabbalistic relic. The suitably stupid villain will of course spill some info before he shuts up.

 

Someone is trying to build something mystical!

 

Of course, this really would only work in a magic heavy campaign.

[Enforcer84]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

Well there's always:

- replacing world leaders with androids/robots.

- Stealing genetic material to make a "Perfect (Bride, Heir, Servant, etc.)"

- hijacking nuclear weapons and holding the world hostage (also available in chemical, alchemical, and Exotic Energy weapon)

- Summoning the Legions of Hell to do your bidding

- Summoning the Legions of Death to do your bidding

- Summoning the Legions of Innocent MindControlled Citizens to do your bidding

- Summoning lots and lots of cute rodents to do your bidding

- Leveraging a hostile takeover of several necessary companies

- Crippling a national space program and steal the technology

- Trick two countries to war, sell to both sides and/or take over after they've exhausted their resources on each other.

- The above might work with criminal organizations as well.

- Rig an Election

[CoreBrute]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

Here we go, a plot suitable for those with super technology, Magic or mass teleportation powers.

 

Working on his wormhole generator/Spell/trick He captures a US missile which was carrying a portable Nuclear bomb. Now with that in hyper space he threathens to release it on a country (which he hasn't disclosed yet) at such speed the plane will blow up, activating the nuclear bomb and destroying a large part of the country, if his demands aren't met.

 

The PCs need to travel into hyper space, and rescue the plane, while facing what ever ghouls and natives you decide to put in Hyper space.

[input.jack]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

Great stuff! I love these ideas! Thanks all

[input.jack]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

What evil megalomaniac are you planning on using?

 

Also a list of Hunteds, DNPC's and Rivalries would help.

 

I might have a couple of workable ideas for you. My twisted mind loves these things.

 

Ive got several. My campaign is home-brewed, so they arent characters youd be immediately familiar with, but here are a select few

 

Atomic Khan!: Analogous to Dr Doom. Armored megalomaniac. (Im really proud of his name )

 

The Cult of the Faceless: Chaos / Entropy cult that worships nothingness. Can summon Chaos Walkers that are basically giant Wraiths

 

The Angler: Vice President Dick Cheney. He secretly arranged to have a Khan-Bot reprogrammed to assassinate President Bush (last night's adventure). The PCs saved Bush's life and thwarted Cheneys (first) attempt to become President, so that he can declare a state of emergency and suspend the upcoming elections....

 

Caine: Claims to be the First Vampire, and is quite powerful. There is a cult of Vamps that worships him as their God

 

Doctor Anthrax: A deranged scientist who loves playing with bio-weapons. Occasionally lets one out somewhere to see what it will do.

 

Doctor Noah: A guy who loves to gene-splice Humans and animals, creating "Moreaus".

 

Dorian Drake: Your typical corrupt CEO type, except that hes actually a Dragon in Human form.

 

Cutter John: A guy who likes to make zombies out of body parts.

 

Master Mind: The world's smartest man (so he claims). May also possibly have telepathic powers (I havent decided; hes not on paper yet)

 

Set: Current Avatar of the Egyptian God

[Nerdnumber1]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

The Angler: Vice President Dick Cheney. He secretly arranged to have a Khan-Bot reprogrammed to assassinate President Bush (last night's adventure). The PCs saved Bush's life and thwarted Cheneys (first) attempt to become President, so that he can declare a state of emergency and suspend the upcoming elections....

 

You mean to tell me that Cheney couldn't have George "Brownie, you're doing a hellova job" Bush killed? He's on vacation or away most of the time! Blow up the plane, get a sniper, don't attack him through superheroes. Please say he wasn't stupid enough to leave a trail for the PCs to follow.

 

Also, evil satirical Cheney doesn't seem like someone that wants to be president. Better to have a puppet on the throne so you have a scapegoat. He just need to control the next president... or place someone he already controls in. Have you noticed how McCain has changed most of his policies... (Ominous music)

 

(Please note that this is more of a joke based on satirical shows that I've seen than fact, but Cheney does have a man-sized safe in his office.)

[CoreBrute]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

Ok here is one that combine two of your villains/groups:

The States of Emergency: While Dick Cheney is investigating a new way to overthrow Bush (Yay!) while taking control of the world for himself (Boo!) he is contacted by some members of The Cult of the Faceless, who say they have a visitor from the chaos who wants to speak with him. The man is another version of himself except 5 years older and whose plans succeeded. His world has changed to such an extent since,(War refunded, Martial rule, Racism reinforced) but for some reason the dimension is dying.

 

With the help of his younger counter part, Chaos Dick Cheney states the plan to merge the two worlds, until they have a world where Dick rules, but can sustain itself. For some reason the Cult agrees to help the fusing.

 

All of a sudden fields arrive all arround the world, where inside they have been exchanged with their other world counterpart. anyone in at the time arrives in this new world. They fluctuate and disappear. How do the PCs stop this, and what happens if one of them (Or a DNPC) is trapped in a bubble and is sent over! Can they be brought back?

 

 

Here's the twist though. The Cult is helping, not due to plans of world domination or the goodness of their own heart, but due to the fact they know the cause of that dimension dying. In that Chaos world the Cult of the were succeeding in their plan, and contacted the Campaign universe ones. By joining the universes they would spread the posion and destroy both universes! Nothingness will reign free! Bwahahahaha!

 

 

Might do another one later.

[matrix3]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

Does the Atomic Khan work alone? Or, like Dr. Destroyer, does he have a private army? If so, and if you don't mind a bit of a bait and switch, I'd try something like this:

 

There is a crime wave in the city, with nightly thefts of large amounts of mundane items. Three tons of rhinestones from a costume jewelry factory, 1000 cubic yards of synthetic batting from a mattress manufacturer, 2000 gallons of dish soap, etc. The heroes are brought in when a witness at the latest theft reports that the thieves were soldiers of the Atomic Khan! Further investigation at other thefts will turn up corroborating evidence. You can throw in twists and turns, confounding your players with the random nature of the thefts, maybe throwing out hints of dire concoctions that can be made by combining rhinestones and dish soap, with a final confrontation with the Atomic Khan himself! After a hard fight, they take the Khan down -- only to find out he's a robot! A robot put in place who knows how long ago, but long enough for his programming to degrade.

 

Ok, maybe not the best idea, but at least you wouldn't have to worry about not portraying the Atomic Khan as a genius...

[Nerdnumber1]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

Does the Atomic Khan work alone? Or, like Dr. Destroyer, does he have a private army? If so, and if you don't mind a bit of a bait and switch, I'd try something like this:

 

There is a crime wave in the city, with nightly thefts of large amounts of mundane items. Three tons of rhinestones from a costume jewelry factory, 1000 cubic yards of synthetic batting from a mattress manufacturer, 2000 gallons of dish soap, etc. The heroes are brought in when a witness at the latest theft reports that the thieves were soldiers of the Atomic Khan! Further investigation at other thefts will turn up corroborating evidence. You can throw in twists and turns, confounding your players with the random nature of the thefts, maybe throwing out hints of dire concoctions that can be made by combining rhinestones and dish soap, with a final confrontation with the Atomic Khan himself! After a hard fight, they take the Khan down -- only to find out he's a robot! A robot put in place who knows how long ago, but long enough for his programming to degrade.

 

Ok, maybe not the best idea, but at least you wouldn't have to worry about not portraying the Atomic Khan as a genius...

 

This could serve as an experiment for Khan to gauge the heroes' abilities and weaknesses while scouting out the most threatening super group in the area if more than one exsists.

[bubba smith]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

New super-power granting energy drink is put on the market. The powers are temporary and randomly generated with each use' date=' causing many accidents when people gain superstrength, heat vision, and flight. The drink is tecnically legal, but between the accidents and criminal use, the damage is too much for the heroes to handle. Bribed politicians are turning a blind eye and having such power is becoming addictive. "Supply shortages" cause riots giving the President of the company increasing power, influence, and wealth. The law is not on the PCs' side of the conflict, but they have to do something![/quote']

this one sound sounds good

[CoreBrute]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

New super-power granting energy drink is put on the market. The powers are temporary and randomly generated with each use' date=' causing many accidents when people gain superstrength, heat vision, and flight. The drink is tecnically legal, but between the accidents and criminal use, the damage is too much for the heroes to handle. Bribed politicians are turning a blind eye and having such power is becoming addictive. "Supply shortages" cause riots giving the President of the company increasing power, influence, and wealth. The law is not on the PCs' side of the conflict, but they have to do something![/quote']

 

An interresting twist to this, just to surprise/irritate your PCs is to have Doctor Anthrax set up a support centre under a false alias, where he 'cures' the people of their addiction but either does one of two things:

 

1. Never release the patients but experiment on them with different variations of the drug until he becomes a permanent super which he can use for further nefarious purposes. Doesn't help that the subjects will probably be insane at this point...
   
2. Release the patients but inject some kind of controlling bio-device, that when triggered externally will cause them to revert to a super powered state but wild and cause danger. He would use this for a distraction for one of his bigger, more extravagant schemes which don't need some pesky super heroes messing it up.
   

[matrix3]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

 

New super-power granting energy drink is put on the market. The powers are temporary and randomly generated with each use' date=' causing many accidents when people gain superstrength, heat vision, and flight. The drink is tecnically legal, but between the accidents and criminal use, the damage is too much for the heroes to handle. Bribed politicians are turning a blind eye and having such power is becoming addictive. "Supply shortages" cause riots giving the President of the company increasing power, influence, and wealth. The law is not on the PCs' side of the conflict, but they have to do something![/quote']

 

this one sound sounds good

 

 

I wouldn't make it every bottle of this energy drink, rather more like 1:100 or 1:1000. This way, the manufacturer can claim someone is tampering with their product, while still reaping the benefits of everyone trying to get one of the superpower inducing bottles. Then, the heroes can investigate whether it really is the company, or if someone really is tampering. And, either way, why give random people superpowers? Is it just to drive up demand and make the company money that hasn't been seen since Viagra, or is there something more sinister?

 

Maybe the powers aren't so temporary. Or so benign.

 

Maybe, after three or five or ten doses, the consumer...changes.

[ZootSoot]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

The most dastardly plamn imaginable for any Dr. Doom type villain. Patent your technology and make it available on the open market. Soon everyone is dependent upon your tech and you own everything and you can activate your back door program whenever you want to shut down, pre-empt or take over other folks machines. of course the heroes will never be able to stop this nefarious scheme and the campaign will end with the villain triumphant, unless his mental illnesses act up and make him do something breathtakingly stupid . . .

[Lawnmower Boy]

Re: Evil Schemes for the Average Megalomaniac

 

The most dastardly plamn imaginable for any Dr. Doom type villain. Patent your technology and make it available on the open market. Soon everyone is dependent upon your tech and you own everything and you can activate your back door program whenever you want to shut down' date=' pre-empt or take over other folks machines. of course the heroes will never be able to stop this nefarious scheme and the campaign will end with the villain triumphant, unless his mental illnesses act up and make him do something breathtakingly stupid . . .[/quote']

 

You mean ....release Vista?