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I unexpectedly received a box from my mother containing the notes and character sheets from my long-running "old school" D&D campaign. This game ran for years, from childhood to young adulthood. I haven't seen this stuff in 20+ years. After the nostalgia wore off I though "I really need to translate this into hero (something I considered doing "way back when") and reboot it yet again. Post One. Real World History. My early D&D campaigns were shared with an eponymous co-GM so that we could both play. We originally used Lankhmar as its base city. We didn’t know much about Newhon. Our only reference was the Newhon Mythos section of Deities & Demigods (1980) and a beat-up copy of Swords and Deviltry. We decided that the Northmen, in addition to Kos, worshipped the Finnish Pantheon, while Bacob and Hecate became Lankmari demigods. That covered religion. We ran a lot of modules. Newhon’s Great Salt Marsh and Sinking Lands were perfect stand-in locations for a lot of the 1st edition modules from “The Known World” and the Hool River / Marshes region of Grayhawk. These modules often featured reptilian or amphibian monsters. We saw far more Bullywugs, Lizard Men, Sauhagin, Troglodytes, and the Yaun-Ti than we did the standard “evil” humanoids. They also seemed to fit better with Newhon’s weird pulpy groove. It didn’t occur to us not to include demi-humans, but with the exception one long-running dwarf and elf, the vast majority of player characters were humans with a smattering of half-elves thrown in. There were an awful lot of fighters, thieves, and fighter-thieves. No one liked playing clerics and, with the exception of a long-running illusionist, we had few mages, and none of those advanced past the mid-level range. Our heroes were very much “freebooting mercenary adventurers” and “loveable rogues.” Most NPC mages were Fire Mages, Snow Witches, Necromancers, or Scribes and Alchemists (Dragon Magazine). So, magically speaking, the traditional D&D wizard acting as “mystic artillery” was not a prominent fixture in our games. We weren’t too far off the S&S mark. Our characters relied far more heavily on potions, scrolls, dusts, powders, and disposable items (e.g., wands). Permanent magic items were rare and often were often cool “utility” items rather than weapons and armor. That was the zeitgeist for magic. When Lanhkmar: City of Adventure (1985) was published we snapped it up. It was much clearer about how Newhon should differ from generic D&D. I had also read Swords Against Death at this point. Over time we derated demi-humans as new PCs and either removed those races or sidelined them to the hinterlands along with the more common “evil huanoids.”. One long-running and nigh-iconic half-elf PC became “some demigod’s bastard.” We also implemented the supplements interesting, if not-quite satisfactory, system for “white” and “black” magic. We then decided to play-through a series of desert-themed modules and homebrew adventures (including a pastiche of Tower of the Elephant). These were set on the far bank of the Eastern Sea. I hadn’t done much reading that would cover that part of Newhon, but I had read Thieves’ World and had Chaosium’s Thieves’ World boxed-set (1981), so we used Sanctuary as our base city with a handwave towards it being on the frontier of the now-decaying Rankan Empire. Hyperborea’s Shadizar and Sukhmet also made appearances. One notable interpolation was that the Scarlet Brotherhood made an appearance as the shadowy hand of fallen Quarmall. The campaign closed with the heroes returning to Lankhmar. The rebooted Lankhmar campaign focused more on character-driven stories and personal drama, which often vibed like a “D&D Telenovela,” but around this time the shift to 2nd edition was taking place and a lot more Lanhkmar materials were being published for D&D. I had also read a lot more thieves world, farfd and gray mouser, and conan stories at this stage. I ran the homebrew stuff (the 1985 book has pages of maps with places to record homebrew notes for locations) while one of my players ran the modules so that I could trot my own characters out every so often. The rebooted game was much truer to the swords and sorcery milieu in general, and Newhon in particular, but we also managed to work in some eldritch and gothic horror elements, which jived really well with Newhon’s “weird.” Beholders, mind-flayers, reanimated flesh golems, necromancers, and the occasional vampire were a thing in this game. Anyhow. That’s the history of my long-term campaign and how it developed (without going into the character's crazy backstories). Next up: What old-school modules were played alongside the homebrew adventures?

Well, that is a theory. However, based upon what we know as opposed to what we fear, I don't think that theory is well supported. Long time Marvel character and Cap partner, Sam Wilson has been promoted to Captain America in a story that feels organic to the MCU. Spectrum has been introduced to the MCU and appears set to become a member of Avengers 2.0. Fan favorite character Kamala Khan is getting her own Disney+ show, and while she has the name Ms Marvel, she is definitely her own character. America Chavez is set to appear in Dr Strange 2, and whatever else you might say about her, she is an original character that is not a swapped version of anyone else. Black Panther had a movie and it was huge. Shang Chi has a movie coming out in September. Isiah Bradley has been introduced in the MCU. IOW, Marvel has continued to take existing great minority characters and introduce them to the MCU rather than leaving them to languish in obscurity or simply race swap white characters.

Not exactly a picture, but I just feel so compelled to share it:

Compare Danvers to Maverick in Top Gun. There's a lot of similarities in their arrogance and confidence. But it's okay for Maverick because he's a guy and not okay for Danvers?

Quite a few Marvel movies have been based on some other genre, but with supers mixed in... which is what comics in general have long done anyway. Thor is Shakespearean dynastic drama, with supers. Captain America: The First Avenger is a war movie, with supers. Ant-Man is a heist movie, with supers. Spider-Man: Homecoming is a coming-of-age movie, with supers. The Incredible Hulk is Jekyll and Hyde/Frankenstein, with supers. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a political thriller, with supers. Black Panther is Afro-futurism, with supers. IMHO borrowing from other genres has helped keep the MCU fresh and interesting.

“When you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression."

Hey, nobody asked for a Guardians of the Galaxy movie, either.

I'll just wait for each movie to come out and judge each on their own.

I'm afraid I don't see the relevance of your comparison. Nobody in this video is from China. The Chinese system isn't under discussion. The United States is not supposed to be an authoritarian regime engaging in clandestine oppression, it's the wealthiest country in the world, supposedly the land of opportunity. These people are reacting to information that's freely available, from the perspective of their own experiences. The average cost of American health care, and the average lifespan of Americans, compared to all the other countries on that list, are objective statistical facts. The systems these global citizens live under have functioned for decades, in many cases generations. You don't need to be an expert on America to recognize these profound disparities, and that with America's vaunted wealth and resources it doesn't have to be that way. These people are collective proof that it doesn't have to be that way.

“Star Trekkin’ ‘cross the universe!” Is anybody else so old they actually used to listen to Dr. Demento?

An Amazonian looking woman in a red and black costume with exaggerated spikes on her shoulders steps out as the commercial starts, "Hi. I'm the villainess Bonecrush! Some folks know me for my amazing Prius chucking abilities, others scream in terror as I dangle their chosen heroes such as Australian Ninjas over the wreckage of a building I helped decimate. I was having a successful career as a bad guy! I was really getting up there, but like many twenty first century super-criminal women, I wanted MORE than just career. I wanted someone special in my life. Someone I didn't have to kidnap to get a 10 minute conversation with." A Mars Unit pulls up, their law enforcement vehicle being used as cover as they draw out their high powered weapons "Freeze!" She sighs, grabs an empty garbage dumpster and flinging it up where will land on the Mars Police unit, forcing them to flee. After it comes down with a huge smashing WHAM she continues, "I admit it, I was lonely, and I was missing romance. Sure, I knew other supervilains, but a lot of them just weren't connecting with me. I'm okay with world conquerors, high tech assassins, and vengeful maniacs, but... some of them get handsy before they know you- Ugh, what a turn off." Bonecrush holds up her smart phone, "That's when I found Rend-er! The Dating app for Supervillains! I took a compatibility test, gauging my limits of what's acceptable to me ethically. A personal example? Removing spines non surgically? YES. " She smiles , then goes on "Ketchup on Spaghetti? NO" A look of disgust, before her expression turns cheerful again, "And Rend-er takes that all into account! And now I'm meeting with bad guys who don't just desire and admire this big bullet proof body, they respect and want to talk about what I value in my life of mayhem! Who knows? The chances of meeting Mister Right just went up, " She pauses and covers her mouth coquettishly with a glove that has an old blood stain on the index finger that just hasn't quite washed out, then winks and smiles as she removes it "Or should I say ? Mister WRONG for everyone else... but me!" SUBTITLES FLASH ACROSS COMMERICAL SCREEN IN SMALL PRINT: Render is for Entertainment only. Render is not responsible for undercover superheroes who may use you to get information on your next crime and or make you want to reform. Some applicants may lie and seek to use your genetic material, blood, or very soul for even grander dark schemes. Render is also not responsible for your secret identity or plans being discovered by spunky reporters you will want to kill later. Please use the Rend-er app with caution for these reasons and more. But isn't love worth it?

There's a little mountain town in southwestern Montana that was something like a family shrine when I was growing up. My mom's side of the family would gather there every summer for a week or so. That's where my mom's mom (Granny) and older sister are buried. It looks like we're going to have a simple memorial service and burial for her there the early part of next week. Thank you all so much for your kind words in your sympathy. It means the world to both Lady P and me.

Captain Marvel isn't trying to realistically portray military pilots; it is very deliberately evoking the action movies of nineties including and especially Top Gun. By the end of the movie, she has regrounded herself by renewing her connection to those closest to her, has claimed her full power, has seen through the lies told to her, overcome her hatred of Skrulls and has set out to rescue the Skrull species from extermination. That sounds like a Hero to me.

There is a significant advantage to a "meh" property. You can adapt them to better appeal to the audience and/or better fit the new media. Change Superman and there is a huge outcry. How many people have expectations of who the Eternals are and how they will act in the movie? The success of G0tG proved that MCU can make successful movies with "below B-list" properties. "Movies no one asked for"? Who asked for Iron Man or Thor in the first place? Really, what we now call "Phase 1" was a bunch of comic fans who believed they could bring characters they loved to the movies and make the audiences love them too. They pulled it off.

Endgame was the highest grossing movie in recorded history ($2.7B) until Cameron re-released Avatar. “Not outstanding” Captain Marvel grossed $1.1B. Failed sequels Thor 2 and Iron Man 2 each brought in over $600M. Thor 1 looks like the worst MCU film revenue wise at $400M. Clearly the franchise is doomed. Doooooooomed.

Champ was over 13 years old - that’s a long life for a GSD. It’s rare that there’s an autopsy when a dog that old passes, unless there was some cause for concern or other mystery to the passing beyond simply being time. Run free, Champ.

The house is now free of my Housemate's elderly mother. I put this in the happy thread because it's been a godsend. She's in a home with care, and, perhaps most importantly, no stairs to hurl herself down during her next dementia fit where she has decided to 'drive off' to visit her dead parents. Her daughter seems so much better: but in truth we're all better over all now that we're getting more than 4 hours of sleep a night

-CHAT Logs, 6/15/21- Mom made this cape: So, 'Bigpikture' you're a former member of GENOCIDE? Srsly? How messed up with hate are you? BigPikture: You're the one who chose me out a bunch of bad guys to interview, sidekick. Mom made this cape: More because my mentor made trying to understand certain criminal mindsets a part of my training. I thought you were reformed, But now I learn the only reason you're not still a member is because the organization is dead. You still hate mutants? Srysly? in 2021? BigPikture: The problem is still the same, and with Genocide gone, accelerating. Mom made this cape: Oh no, more flying people. How will mankind survive? Jelly much? BigPikture: Geez kid, how old are you? Mom made this cape: Old enough to know a Nazi. BigPikture: Says the vigilante in training who will one day bypass laws 'for the greater good'. Mom made this cape: Man, if I didn't have to put up with you in order to get an extension on my patrol time, I'd exit this chat now. Fine, if it's not jealousy that fuels the hate, then what is it? BigPikture: I'm trying to save mankind, and believe it or not, future generations of mutants too. Mom made this cape: .... wth? How is killing mutants SAVING them? BigPikture: How much do you know about Evolution, Genetics? Mom made this cape: Enough to know it's natural, and inevitable. BigPikture: Is it natural to have a species fracture at an accelerated rate? The answer is 'no', should it be so random an inconsistent ? Again, no. Mom made this cape: It's adaptive is all... BigPikture: Adapting to WHAT? Tell me, what strange evolutionary need has two brothers, both mutants: one gets gills, the other sets things on fire with his mind? Where is the consistency? Mom made this cape: Scientists are looking into that. BigPikture: Yes, we are. You think we didn't have scientists in Genocide? We did look into it. What we saw was not normal mutation! It was not typical evolution. It was a genetic apocalypse brewing ready to kill billions. Mom made this cape: You're full of #$$#. Maybe not all mutants pass on the same powers, but a lot of times its similar when it passes down at all. BigPikture: Not as often as you would think, and believe me, we had more time to study such than 90% of folks out there. Sure, sometimes the genetics hold, and eventually some will lock down. How much do you know about human nature? Sociology, Power Dynamics? Mom made this cape: Obviously still a student, but if this is a 'mutants are inherently driven to crime' argument, you can go #$## yourself. BigPikture: Actually, there does seemed to be heightened aggression among mutants according to certain studies into their brain chemistry. Yes, not everyone agrees. I'd show you the study but it would be over your head. But no, let's focus on the fracturing lines, then human nature. Let's say some powers breed true. Homo homo Sapiens become a minority. Some will say it's time for Homo Divergent will rise, no big deal. But Homo Divergent is a catch all, what you'll really end up with is Home Divergent Fortis, Homo Divergent Solaris, and everyone's favorite, Homo Divergent Psychicae! You won't have 'the next step in evolution', you'll have dozens of steps, many of them mis-steps, but essentially different species! And as soon as they start competing and fearing others not in their particular evolutionary track, they'll turn on each other. Mom made this cape: That's crazy. They're in the same boat. They need each other. BigPikture: Do they? Maybe the idea of a hundred people with the ability to take down a bridge with a single punch doesn't frighten you. How about mind control? Telepaths. Don't think they wouldn't click together, band together and think they were better than the OTHER Mutants divergent lines. Mom made this cape: This is conjecture. BigPikture: PSI. (A pause) BigPikture: Ah, you have heard of them, either that or you're googling fast as you can. They're supremacists as well as a criminal organization, and they don't think for one moment they'd see a standard 'brick' as an equal. They'd eventually rationalize, enslave the others. And not just them, how about Home Divergent Velox? You know, Speedsters. Everyone else would be so annoyingly slow. The only ones they could relate too would be is each other. They wouldn't see other genetic adaptations, they'd see them just like they often see you or me: tortoises acting as speedbumps on their highway. Mom made this cape: You don't know that's how it will go down. BigPikture: Right, and people would never war or enslave over SKIN Color either, or Cultures, or whatever. Wake up, MMTC , Powers are ten times more reason to form rival tribes, and tribes do not play well with each other for the same resources. GENOCIDE Kept those numbers thin, like culling rabbits that would other wise pick things clean, only on a scale beyond just devouring nature. Mom made this cape: We can BE better. And fear of what might be doesn't excuse the hate. And you still don't make sense. Why just mutants? Why not the guys who had lab accidents, or aliens who visit Earth? or mystical sorts? BigPikture: Ah, the real question. Some guy gets flight and super strength from putting Kelvarite in a blender, why isn't he a target but the mutant with super strength and flight is? Come on, Cape. You know this. Lab accidents are not as likely to carry on mutation in their genomes. Some might, but it's not nearly as great a threat. Aliens? We already have folks watching them, and the Earth Authorities and heros DO fight them, otherwise we'd be invaded a dozen times over. It's not Genocide that's hypocritical, it's supers like you who pat yourselves on the back for stopping the latest threat from outside our solar system, while shutting your eyes to the threat from our biological systems run wrong. Mystics? They appear to have their own rules that have nothing to do with genotype. Honestly, we didn't have time for the 'whataboutism' of pissants who tried to equate the few dozen lab accidents, aliens, or mythic things that might breed true compared to the hundreds of mutants that eventually would. Mom made this cape: You've got an excuse for everything. If Genocide rises again, I, and others, will stop you. We'll fight for our mutant friends. Hell, we'll fight for the mutant strangers! BigPikture: Oh god, you actually think we haven't adapted with the times already? Oh kid you have no idea how the mission carries on. Genocide is gone, but we've learned how it works now. And you can't stop what the movement to save humanity has become with a punch. Mom made this cape: Genocide is dead. BigPikture: Not dead. Just evolved. You'll thank us one day, when you see for yourself we were right, if you live long enough. Later, Cape. -END OF CHAT-

If I put slavery into a campaign it's always to show the bad guys as bad guys. It's something for the heroes to oppose.

The super speed villain known as "The Dash" was in the 'Great Supervillain Contest' along with few other villains, including the megavillain. I still use "The Dash". You can get a PDF of it in the Hero Game store, in 3rd edition Champions.

As far as I can tell, it works the same. An area-affecting constant power affects anyone who enters it when the enter it, and every one of the power owner's phases thereafter while they remain in it. A Damage shield using area of affect-surface affects anyone who touches it when they touch it, and every one of the power owner's phases thereafter while they remain in contact with it.

Well, you can stake that claim Good work is the key to good fortune Winners take that praise Losers seldom take that blame If they don't take that game And sometimes the winner takes nothing We draw our own designs But fortune has to make that frame We go out in the world and take our chances Fate is just the weight of circumstances That's the way that Lady Luck dances Roll the bones Roll the bones Why are we here? Because we're here Roll the bones Roll the bones Why does it happen? Because it happens Roll the bones Roll the bones

Jimmy Carter has been called the best ex-President the United States ever had. He wasn't well suited to managing the myriad dilemmas a POTUS faces, but in since using the profile and contacts he gained thereby to promote and direct humanitarian causes, Jimmy found his true calling.

Charisma and likability are subjective. I found her likable enough and a number of female movie critics whose reviews I read found her more likable and relatable than Wonder Woman. As treating everyone except women like dirt, no. The character that she forms the strongest bond with is Samuel Jackson's Nick Fury, who is very definitely male. The people that she "treats like dirt" are those who try to push her around or take advantage of her.

What amazes me is the amount of people in the country that openly support authoritarian fascism. It's insulting and frightening at the same time.

I see this dynamic over and over, even in real life. It comes up a lot in women's sports. As just one example, people jumped all over Danica Patrick for being a cocky and self centered auto racer, even though you pretty much have to be cocky and self centered to even make it to the grid in auto racing. And many of the people being critical were women. To address another point, I don't see the MCU shifting to activism so much as shifting away from the egregious whitewashing that plagued early comics. And it's not as though comics themselves haven't been activist since the seventies if not earlier.

It's hard for me to believe I'm saying this but come this June, our campaign will be 40 years old, along with the 40th Anniversary of the game Champions. It's actually mind-boggling to me, that any campaign could be that long. The campaign is older than my friend's marriage as well as some people in the campaign. I'm planning on buying some plastic award medals that you can put your own emblem inside of and giving them out in June. By the way, this is the same continuous campaign - never stopped or retconned. It's gone through changes over the decades and has seen players & characters come and go, but the core players are still playing some of the same characters that the campaign started with. So along with saying it's been 40 years, I also want to say that it is the Champions game that is so durable and flexible that made this happen. My hat off to you, Hero Games and more specifically, to Champions.

This is the House Rule I've used for Dispel in various settings...works for me but YMMV: DISPEL (5e & 6e) DISPEL DICE OF EFFECT + DICE ROLL When used as per the rules, Dispel suffers from point disparities which generally result in a Dispel ability either being very narrowly defined and corner case, or so encumbered by advantages that the dice of effect are too low to be reasonably capable of affecting equivalently pointed target abilities. Due to this lack of teeth, Dispels are rarely ever actually taken by player characters, unless their cost can be subsumed into a Multipower or Variable Power Pool, and in general Dispels tend to go unused during play as they hardly ever work vs creditable opponents. This house rule allows a reasonably defined Dispel with some degree of Expanded Effect to still be viable vs abilities with equivalent Active Points. Dispel grants a base effect equal to the number of dice the character has in Dispel, plus the roll. Thus a 6d6 Dispel confers +6 points of automatic effect, while a 12d6 Dispel confers +12 points of automatic effect, and so on. ABORT TO DISPEL Even though Dispel has a defensive use (countering attacks before they can take effect), the Power is not flagged as a "Defensive" ability, and is flagged as an "Attack". The rules more generally allow a character to Abort to a defensive action, but does not allow characters to Abort to an attack. It has been a long standing house rule of mine that a character can abort to a Dispel if it would protect them from harm. A character with a relevant Dispel can Abort to Dispel an incoming attack that would harm them.

I'm pretty cool with just having the extra two months of peace of mind that I wouldn't have had if I'd waited until someone tried bribing me to get vaccinated.

Friends who claim to know more about Reagan than I do add another difference: Whatever his politics, Reagan liked people, or at least a lot of people. He didn't live in a Trumpian world of fear, calculated cruelty and vindictive rage. (Cannot so vouch for some of the people around him.) Dean Shomshak

On the plus side... from Speaker's Comments About Freed Slaves and Original Memorial Day Censored at Hudson Event | WKSU Statement from the Facebook page of the American Legion — Department of Ohio: It is clear and evident through the statement sent to our Department that the Officers of American Legion Post 464 intentionally censored Lt. Col Bernard Kemter, US Army (Ret.) during his Memorial Day speech hosted by American Legion Post 464 of Hudson, Ohio. This action was highly inconsiderate and proved to be a feeble judgment call made by the Officers of Post 464 and not at all aligned with the Principles, Pillars, and People, of The American Legion. Not acknowledging or discussing history that involves people of a different race and color is akin to eliminating or making invisible the fact that people of color exist and were/are part of this vital piece of history regarding a ceremony that veterans, families of veterans, and community members, hold reverent. Therefore, Department Commander Roger Friend asks for the resignation of James E. Garrison, Post 464 Adjutant, and Cindy Suchan, Auxiliary President of Post 464 effective immediately. A formal letter from Commander Roger Friend has been sent to the said parties and a decision for the existence of this Post and a trial-board hearing for this incident is currently pending.

I read these words as an English sentence but they don't make sense. Everything is made for me and I'm a middle-aged White man who used to buy comics thirty years ago, so clearly Captain Marvel was made for middle-aged White men who used to buy comics thirty years ago. Or maybe it was forty? Anyway, point is, I paid my dues back when comics cost a buck and a quarter every issue, and now I'm entitled!

I'm nothing if not original....

One thing to consider is that teleport can have a lot of different special effects besides moving through other dimensions. Just because your power protects you from the most common form of teleportation does not mean it protects you from others. You could have a speedster that has teleport with the special effect he moves so fast you cannot see him. How is a dimensional vortex going to stop that? UAA requires that the power have a reasonable common and obvious set of defenses to the power. For Teleport UAA the most common defense is having your own teleportation powers. So if your character already has teleport chances are you already have the defense to stop teleport UAA. That does not prevent a teleporter from grabbing your character and teleporting both of you. The problem with using desolidificaiton is that technically this requires that all your power has affects solid. A lot of GM’s will probably let it pass, but according to the rules you need it. Density increase is actually a very good solution. Buy 7 levels of density increase 0 END, Persistent, Only for purpose of resisting dimensional powers (-1 ½) for 20 points. This gives you 12,800 kg of mass and +35 STR, +7 PD +7 ED, -14m of knockback. This would cover both teleportation UAA (with the correct special effect) and Extra Dimensional movement UAA. It would also give you +35 STR to resist oddball effects and a little extra PD and ED vs dimensional power (attacks with the transdimensional). If you cannot turn it off add always on to reduce the cost to 16 points. This is a lot cheaper than desolidification and actually works better.

My favorite Daxamite is Jadzia, with Kurzon and Ezri as close runners-up.

"You got two males in there. You need to take one of them out and bring in a female." "I'm not bringing nothing in! You change one of 'em!" "Come on, you know I don't work like that."