Regulators

[Laundry Knight]

I am creating a number of NPC heroes for my campaign with the initial build being based on standard point costs with the intention of adding more to model the fact they gained some experience since the were "initially" created.

 

Does anyone have a rule of thumb regarding how much extra cp to reward based on the character's XP? I would assume things like length of service, continuity of service, and scope of service would be considered but to what degree?

 

As examples,

 

Regulars, Old Guard (400)

 

Cardinal-strategic leader/mentor. He's in his mid to late fifties and started out as a teen hero and has been very active throughout. He would have a slight reduction of physical characteristics due to age but would more than make up for it with skill levels and mental characteristics. He has been the inspiration for many younger heroes.

 

Black Bowman-grizzled sergeant. Also late to mid fifties but started in early to mid twenties and has been less and is more deteriorated but still respectfully skilled. Came out of retirement to help the Cardinal train younger heroes. Maintain teams physical training activities but not active in hero work.

 

Swashbuckler-bored immortal. Was a silent action hero in the twenties. Received experimental treatment that left him with incredible recuperative powers, including immunity to aging. He has come in and out of retirement multiple times when he starts getting bored. Recently recruited by the Cardinal.

 

Atalanta-reformed bad girl. She was exiled from her home dimension after unsuccessfully trying to usurp the throne during the thirties. Experience caused a change of heart and she has been very active in trying to undo her evil past. Becoming more reflective and retiring as she nears the end of her exile and is contemplating returning back to her dimension. Aiding Cardinal in training project.

 

Blue Blitzer-pilot and super engineer. Similar to Black Bowman accept that he came out of retirement to deal with teams technical and vehicular needs. Not active in adventuring.

 

Regulators, New Guard

 

Purple Martin-tactical leader/team founder/martial artist. Martial arts expert who idealized the Cardinal. Took up adventuring in his honor and founded the team. Happily reduced his role when the Cardinal expressed an interest in training the team. Has been around for some time. Is mainly active in seeing to the growth and safety of his team.

 

Anaximander-detective/scientist/martial artist. Became a hero as a publicity stunt for the company he works for. Utilizes most of his time giving lectures about staying off drugs and away from crime. Does drive alongs with local police juvenile crimes squad. A fully qualified hero but mainly uses his celebrity status to promote good behavior.

 

Brother Oculus-armored engineer. Followed Anaximander into heroing but had taken a more active role in adventuring having work alongside many other heroes. Team tech guru and outfitter.

 

Nike-super athlete. Former teen protege of Atalanta now grown up and a respectable hero in her own right. Encourages Anaximander into being more active.

 

Captain Spectacular-flying brick/hero of the city. Is one of the most active and loved heroes by the populace. He is not an official member of the team but happily helps out when he can.

 

Mister Invisible-martial artist/spy. Came into prominence while helping protect the South Pacific from an alien invasion. Now, primarily, deals with street crime but likes being part of a bigger group.

 

Crimson Aura-force wielder. Was part of the alien invasion that attacked Japan. Received powers while manning the force field controls when energy using super blasted ship causing backlash. Has been since becoming a protect of humanity as she adapts to Earth life.

 

Tawodi Osdi-winged wonder. Received powers in same incident that gave Captain Spectacular his powers but only recently came out as an adventurer.

 

Red Dragon II-kung fu warrior. Recently started following in the foot steps of his father, Red Dragon I, as a costumed adventure.

 

Lightning Man-speedster/lightning caster. Has had powers for awhile but has been using them more for fun and only recently started heroing seriously.

 

Irregulators-various members built with between 100-300 points of various experience and activity levels.

[Greywind]

Re: Regulators

 

Well, since one CP is one XP the whole question is rather moot...

[Laundry Knight]

Re: Regulators

 

Maybe, I posed the question badly. I shouldn't have used the abbreviation of experience since the abbreviation assumes I meant experience in the mechanical sense when I mean experience in reference to the characters' seasoning, as in in what the character has done and what he has learned from it.

 

For instance, Let's say your start out with a pair twins each starting out with the exact same build. The one has spent the last five years digging water wells in Africa would have a great deal more seasoning than the one that spent the last five years on his couch playing Xbox.

 

So, the question is how many more points should the ditch digger should the ditch digger get to in order to reflect his greater seasoning?

[Christopher]

Re: Regulators

 

So' date=' the question is how many more points should the ditch digger should the ditch digger get to in order to reflect his greater seasoning?[/quote']

The same amount.

 

While I can certainly say it is less healthy and less mobile, I don't think playing computergames is inherently bad.

Doing 2.558 days nothing but "digging wells" might be good for your body, but will also deteriorate your mind.

At least with the X-Box, there is some variancy and propably some internet connection to contact onlines friends.

[Laundry Knight]

Re: Regulators

 

The same amount.

 

While I can certainly say it is less healthy and less mobile, I don't think playing computergames is inherently bad.

Doing 2.558 days nothing but "digging wells" might be good for your body, but will also deteriorate your mind.

At least with the X-Box, there is some variancy and propably some internet connection to contact onlines friends.

 

It doesn't follow that digging wells in Africa would deteriorate a mind, especially when you consider that he would be picking up language and cultural knowledge from the Africans as well as social contacts. He would also be developing the engineering prowess in well building and learning how to survive in a harsh environment. Besides, regular exercise helps to maintain good brain health. Therefore, experience growth coming from well-building in Africa would both broader and deeper than playing Xbox. I'm not saying that the Xbox gamer wouldn't gain some experience but not as much as the well digger. They would have a better virtual understanding of tactics, technical knowledge and social networking but virtual knowledge is inferior to real knowledge. The well digger should have gained more XP for his five years.

[Christopher]

Re: Regulators

 

It doesn't follow that digging wells in Africa would deteriorate a mind' date=' especially when you consider that he would be picking up language and cultural knowledge from the Africans as well as social contacts. He would also be developing the engineering prowess in well building and learning how to survive in a harsh environment.[/quote']

So you mean "digging wells in africa, interacting with it's population, and acutally learning the technique behind what he does".

You original presmisse said nothing of that. As you said it first he did nothing but dig holes by the things ohters said, didn't interacted anymore with the environment than the X-Box Player does with his environment and never learned how to plan to built a well.

 

Therefore' date=' experience growth coming from well-building in Africa would both broader and deeper than playing Xbox. I'm not saying that the Xbox gamer wouldn't gain some experience but not as much as the well digger. They would have a better virtual understanding of tactics, technical knowledge and social networking but virtual knowledge is inferior to real knowledge. The well digger should have gained more XP for his five years.[/quote']

And there is the problem:

This experience gain has nothing to do with "building a well". It comes from the stuff he does besides digging wells: "learning how to built a well", "learning the new language", "interacting with local population".

Digging holes/repeating a certain amount of steps after plans made by somebody else, without know what you do is less variation than playing X-Box.

 

Now what if the X-Box player entered a comptuer club, learned how to repair computer for people, learned how Operating Systems and Networks work and watches Videos with the friends form his club (including going to the cinema).

[Laundry Knight]

Re: Regulators

 

Maybe, I should have been more specific. By when I said Xbox player, I should have indicated he was a couch potato, and well digger was a missionary in Africa digging wells. There are many more steps to take to dig a well in Africa than there is to play Xbox. To dig a well in Africa, it is necessary to go to Africa which means dealing with bureaucratic issues and cultural differences. One does not merely teleport to Africa with a shovel in his hand. Digging a well is much more complicated than merely pushing a shovel into the ground and hoping water comes up. If he does not know what to do right away, he would need someone around telling him how and where to dig so he can learn. There is a necessity of learning basic survival needs if one were to go Africa. So on and so forth. If he merely gardened in his back yard, he shouldn't get more XP than his Xbox playing brother, but due to the adventure factor, he should get more for digging wells in Africa.

 

It is not necessary to become a computer expert in order to play Xbox nor is it necessary to join computer clubs or learn computer repair and networking though some may be inspired to do so because of Xbox. It is not a survival skill to know how to walk to the nearest convenience store to buy a package of Ho-Ho's.

 

Essentially, there is no sense of logical progression in your argument.

 

If you think in your own life, you have probably learned more during periods of challenge than during periods of ease. The well-digger would be facing more challenges than the Xbox player and therefore, should receive more experience for his deeds.

[Captain Obvious]

Re: Regulators

 

Taking into account physical deterioration, the Old Guard might not necessarily have any extra points. They would just have more points put into skills and skill enhancers rather than pure physical abilities. Even Swashbuckler (the immortal) looks like he's probably spent some time getting lazy and fat and then getting back into fighting trim, so he doesn't necessarily have skills far beyond what another similar but younger super would have.

 

If, after you've put the character together, you feel like he's underpowered, then by all means throw some added points in there to get him to where you think he should be. If you feel they absolutely must have the points to reflect the extra experience, then I suggest giving something like 3-5 per year of adventuring experience. You don't want them to be TOO much better than the new guys...

[Laundry Knight]

Re: Regulators

 

That would make sense regarding power levels since I would want the PC's being the real heroes while the NPC's will be around mainly for support and an occasional rivalry, and the occasional bacon saving and spanking givings for foolish PC's.

[Ockham's Spoon]

Re: Regulators

 

Why did the old guard retire from active duty? If it is because they aren't physically up to it anymore due to a hernia or cataracts or something, then as noted above their point totals might be similar to the new PCs, they are just aren't in as good a physical condition. If there is some social or psychological reason, like they now have children and don't want to risk their lives or they are under court order because of accidentally killing someone, then you could replace the Physical Complications with Social or Psychological ones.

 

If they old guard is inherently less powerful, just more experienced, again their point totals will be similar, but the old guard will have more skills and contacts while the new PCs will probably have more points in powers and characteristics. It is sort of the difference between a character that is built on 200 points and then earns 200 XP and one that is build from scratch on 400 points. The former tends to be less powerful in combat but much more rounded out.

[Christopher]

Re: Regulators

 

That would make sense regarding power levels since I would want the PC's being the real heroes while the NPC's will be around mainly for support and an occasional rivalry' date=' and the occasional bacon saving and spanking givings for foolish PC's.[/quote']

One great equalizer is the "knowledge factor":

Totally normal guy can save Superman, because somebody found a glowy green rock or a nice red sun lamp. Once the lamp is down...

 

The Arch nemesis tend to exploit the heroes weaknesses to capture and finally destroy him (personally), but don't even bother with those "freshlings" that are in his base. Surely minions that can take on superman (by exploiting his weaknesses) can't fail against booster gold!

 

In the Intro to DC Universe Online Wonder Woman casually wipes the floor with Metallo - she isn't stronger than superman, but simply doesn't cares for the green glow and without it Metallo is only mediocre.

 

Another thing could be that villains are overfocussed on fighting this one big threath, have special equipment against him, and thus are underarmed against anything else. ("We jsut took down Iron Man with our Electro Weapons, who are you that you think you can chalenge us?" "Electro Absorbing Guy.")

 

Or it could be that the villains has a weakness the new heroes can exploit. Maybe one of them has the SFX that can overcome the foes Desolid. Or a foe with very strong PD defenses (wich works against his nemesis) is weak against ED. Or fire just hits the Vulnerability.

 

Perhaps the heroes have to "guard the gate" to delay the evil army, while the new heroes have to face the real threath.

[Laundry Knight]

Re: Regulators

 

In my world, supers have been around and active for a long time. Even many of the gods of myth were merely the supers of the their time. Supers built on 400+ points would be the elites with most supers being gadgeteers, martial artists, and other non-powered heroes though genuinely super powered heroes aren't uncommon. With so many heroes on the scene, even the elites can come to question their significance; therefore, super careers tend to be short anyway. Only the truly dedicated stick at year after year, like the Cardinal and Atalanta, and even they have lulls in their careers.

 

The Black Bowman was a Green Arrow/Hawkeye type that retired due to stomach related issues received in combat. The Blue Blitzer is a tinkerer, engineer, and pilot that invented an armed and armored hover car to to fight crime. Being kind of lame when compared to Ironman and Superman types, he retired to employ his engineering skills in invention rather than crime fighting and provides advanced vehicles to various super and governmental organizations.

 

Cardinal goaded many of the retired and semi-retired former acquaintances to deal with issues in my campaign city that he feels will lead to an impending catastrophe. In my campaign, city there are two main super teams, the Justice Squadron and the Regulators. The Justice Squadron is a long time team who in their heyday would have been on the scale of the Avengers or the JLA, but the latest incarnation is rife with internal politics and inter-personality issues, and though they are still a team to be reckoned with and though still respected, they are not as well liked as the used to be. The Regulators were founded by a local circus troupe similar to the Cirque du Ley(sp?) who into to action when some thugs were hassling the circus. They remained a team and their open-minded nature attracted anyone who had a desire to wear a costume and do good whether they had abilities or not and they acted primarily as a neighborhood watch in tights. They were liked but not respected. And, between the two teams and a number of individual operators like Captain Spectacular, Mister Invisible, and Crimson Aura, the city was relatively peaceful, until recently.

 

There were more super menaces and strange monsters appearing seemingly out of nowhere. Villains that were once mere nuisances became threats. Petty gangs were getting armed with futuristic weapons, and for some reason, the Regulators were specifically targeted. The Cardinal suspected there something diabolical afoot (he's right) and wanted to recruit local talent to deal with it. He also suspects that the powerful Justice Squadron was infiltrated by a mole and is compromised (right again), and the only team available was the fairly weak but numerous Regulators. He approached the Purple Martin and other Regulator leadership and offered to secretly train and equip the Regulators, and he also recruited the old guard to help in the training and equipping, and the team has been trying to recruit more elite heroes to add to their roster (this is where the PC's will come in).

 

Red Dragon, Tawodi Osdi, and Lightning Man are newly minted elites fresh out of the package, and they should work easily as 400~ pt characters.

 

Anaximander, Brother Oculus, and Purple Martin would have been pushed into the 400 pt range because of the Cardinal's influence, and Nike came in with Atalanta and started as a teen hero who graduated to 400 under Atalanta, but I want them to have a slight advantage over the new mints due to various degrees of actual field experience, but not much.

 

Invisible Man, Crimson Aura, and Captain Spectacular are the tested field veterans. These are the guys to beat. They've been a elite for a few years are at the top of their games though they would be less experienced than the average Avenger or Leaguer. Captain Spectacular is especially so. He is the champion of the city along the line of Superman and is the one the local authorities want to call when things go bad, and other heroes either look up to or are inspired to beat. Ironically, he is only active due to his sense of responsibility and not for the love of the game. If he were to lose his power and someone else of appropriate power and character were to stand up, he would gladly go back to being an average guy.

 

I don't know if I offered too much detail or too little, but that is what I am aiming for.