dougmacd Posted January 20, 2020 Report Share Posted January 20, 2020 I've seen a pretty consistent use of the term "rookie build" for starter superheroes (or existing supers built on a reduced budget). Are there similar terms for more experienced builds? Like 50, 100, 200 points in? I suppose "veteran build" would be obvious, but it doesn't have the same ring for me. I'd like to make pre-gen characters for my players at a few different levels of experience: Rookie is a simple build for the first play session, intended to introduce the players to the Hero System and some standard archetypes. Veteran? is the same character with a few years of experience. Used in the second play session to introduce players to the campaign world -- how has the world adapted to the emergence of supers. Mechanically, it would show there are multiple ways to improve characters when they're not locked into the idea of a D&D "level". GodAmongstMortals? is not for play. This is the Justice League-level final stage NPC build, showing the character at the height of their powers, recognized as a preeminent hero of the world. So I'm looking for terms to fill in the last two levels of experience. For example, as titles for the character sheets: Lamarckian, Rookie Hero Lamarckian, Veteran Hero Lamarckian, Unstoppable-Force-Sure-to-Doom-Us-All-Should-She-Ever-Stop-Being-a Hero So does the Hero community have any standard terms for this sort of thing? Or terms you personally use? Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Democracy Posted January 20, 2020 Report Share Posted January 20, 2020 No standard terms but I tend to throw about Rookie hero Established hero Legendary hero dougmacd 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tjack Posted January 20, 2020 Report Share Posted January 20, 2020 Usually it’s apprentice, then journeyman, and finally master. pinecone 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Bushido Posted January 20, 2020 Report Share Posted January 20, 2020 Novice or neophyte works well just after or before rookie, if you are just hunting terms. "journeyman" just after rookie, if you want to go the union route. "known" works well as a step before "established." What sort of "vibe" are you hunting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsatow Posted January 20, 2020 Report Share Posted January 20, 2020 How about: Noobie/Rookie Seasoned/Established Veteran Expert/Ace/Ranked Legend - wait for it - dary Personally I am using in the campaign I am running: Vigilante City State Region National International Galactic These are based on influence and pull. Finally, you could also do it on school ranks. This would also be good if they have to go through training. Freshman Sophmore Junior Senior "Graduate" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wcw43921 Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 Perhaps "Novice" could be substituted for "Noobie/Rookie." Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninja-Bear Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 How about Seasoned before Veteran? I like Novice but Green also works. Rookie isn’t bad either. wcw43921 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywind Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 According to the dictionary, "rooky" comes after. 6 minutes ago, Ninja-Bear said: How about Seasoned before Veteran? I like Novice but Green also works. Rookie isn’t bad either. What are veterans seasoned with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 Hickory and regret. Doc Democracy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome BODY (important!) Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 40 minutes ago, Greywind said: What are veterans seasoned with? SocLims, Hunteds, Reputations, and a thin glaze of PsyLims. Eyrie, dsatow and wcw43921 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougmacd Posted January 22, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 Thanks for the feedback! I really like: Novice - A more appropriate term than rookie, for someone who's not part of a team.I'd use this term for a 0xp build of a character (equivalent to Rookie) Journeyman - Spot-on definition: "a worker or sports player who is reliable but not outstanding".I'd use this term for a 25xp build of a character. Seasoned - Perfect for my use (despite Greywind's efforts to ruin it with a pun): "accustomed to particular conditions; experienced".I'd use this term for a 50xp build of a character. Veteran - Someone with "long experience".I'd use this term for a 100xp build of a character. Renowned - Just throwing something in, to fill the geometric experience point ranges....I'd use this term for a 200xp build of a character. Legendary - By now they've earned multiple epithets. Spidey, Wallcrawler, Webhead, Webslinger, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-ManI'd use this term for a 400xp build of a character. The geographic terms also look useful as a proxy for power level, but all the characters I'm building would count as "international" heroes. (Even at the starter level, they're the only superheroes in the campaign world.) Doug Duke Bushido, Doc Democracy and pinecone 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted January 25, 2020 Report Share Posted January 25, 2020 I like how the published Gestalt setting by Scott Bennie does it, although there it is more a description associated with power level and points. Novice Hero Experienced Hero Respected Hero World-Beater/Galactic Beyond Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted January 29, 2020 Report Share Posted January 29, 2020 On 1/21/2020 at 1:45 AM, Ninja-Bear said: How about Seasoned before Veteran? I like Novice but Green also works. Rookie isn’t bad either. All 2nd that, seasoned sound like some experience, veteran seems more entrenched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougmacd Posted January 29, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2020 On 1/25/2020 at 1:10 AM, Steve said: I like how the published Gestalt setting by Scott Bennie does it [...] Respected Hero World-Beater/Galactic Bit of a jump in power level there, eh? Is https://www.herogames.com/store/product/257-gestalt-the-hero-within-pdf/ the setting you're referring to? I might grab a copy. Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywind Posted January 29, 2020 Report Share Posted January 29, 2020 On 1/25/2020 at 1:10 AM, Steve said: I like how the published Gestalt setting by Scott Bennie does it, although there it is more a description associated with power level and points. Novice Hero Experienced Hero Respected Hero World-Beater/Galactic Beyond Shouldn't there be a "disrespected hero" before novice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted January 29, 2020 Report Share Posted January 29, 2020 Kate Jackson if they're lucky. Duke Bushido 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Bushido Posted January 29, 2020 Report Share Posted January 29, 2020 Aawww, yeah.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted January 30, 2020 Report Share Posted January 30, 2020 13 hours ago, dougmacd said: Bit of a jump in power level there, eh? Is https://www.herogames.com/store/product/257-gestalt-the-hero-within-pdf/ the setting you're referring to? I might grab a copy. Doug Yes, that is what I refer to. I find it to be a very interesting setting concept, and the character-building section is very useful in my own campaigns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinecone Posted February 1, 2020 Report Share Posted February 1, 2020 Rookie Rookie, first class Lance Rookie Lead Rookie.....what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BNakagawa Posted February 10, 2020 Report Share Posted February 10, 2020 (if you're playing teen Champions) Hero-in-training Rookie Hero Hero Veteran Hero ( for long-running campaigns) Retired Hero Scott Ruggels 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BNakagawa Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 A further observation: The way I see it, labels applied by outsiders is pretty much irrelevant. At least to lifer supers, it will probably be viewed as nothing but armchair quarterbacking. For the most part, game recognizes game. If you are part of the elite strata of supers that gets called whenever there is an extinction-level event threatening the earth, then you probably have all of the other usual suspects on speed dial. At that point, labels aren't really relevant or necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tech Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 I like alot of these. I've got to get this thought of out my head: when I first saw the threat title, "What comes after rookie?", I thought "Wookie". So, there you have it, Rookie then Wookie. Chewbacca would agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinecone Posted February 14, 2020 Report Share Posted February 14, 2020 On 2/11/2020 at 10:11 AM, Tech said: I like alot of these. I've got to get this thought of out my head: when I first saw the threat title, "What comes after rookie?", I thought "Wookie". So, there you have it, Rookie then Wookie. Chewbacca would agree. Rookie Wookie Wookie Master Cookie Monster? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted February 21, 2020 Report Share Posted February 21, 2020 I use the following Legend Superhero Hero Elite Veteran Competent Normal Incompetent You could add Expert Experienced Novice Inexperienced Amateur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclevlad Posted February 21, 2020 Report Share Posted February 21, 2020 And it might not be about points per se. A fairly significant change to the character sheet...change out a Hunted (the organization's dismantled) to a DNPC (in the process of doing so, you became obligated to take care of a kid.) Change the static Multipower to a VPP where the theme's the same, the powers are the same but you can use em in a whole bunch of new ways. Reputation, among the public in the character's operational area, or sometimes with his peers or the authorities responsible for Supers activities, can be a great freebie for the GM to assert...positive OR negative. In a lot of ways, a positive reputation with the public can be considered the definition of "established." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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