Vanguard00

Re: Musings on Random Musings

Qu'est-ce que c'est

Uh....parlez vous yoplait?

Re: A Thread for Random Musings

When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed.

Say something once, why say it again?

Re: Divide by 3?

I'm a long-time Champions player who’s just starting to play in a Fantasy game. Everyone involved is new to Fantasy Hero.

 

I was wondering what the "Divide by 3" rule for magic in Fantasy hero is. Can someone help?

Determine the cost of a spell as you would any power construct within Hero System, but divide said cost by 3 to give you the Actual Cost as charged to players.

In other words, a decent Ball of Fire spell might be 60 Active Points, but it only costs the character 20pts (60/3 = 20) to buy it. It's a way to balance the cost of characters so that spellcasters aren't completely overshadowed by more physical characters.

Are there any other special rules out there that we should know?

Heh...probably. That's a rather vague and open-ended question.

Re: Lines in the sand...

Anyone think that it's entirely possible the Toolkit was left vague enough that everyone could interpret it as they needed for the enjoyment of their own games on purpose?

 

And to remove that vagueness would not only destroy it's usefullness as a toolkit but kill all the fun to begin with?

Close enough for me to say 'Yep'.

Re: A Thread for Random Musings

I wonder if, instead of faking it, had I taken all those naps I was supposed to as a child I'd be less tired than I am right now.

Re: What Are You Listening To Right Now?

Home - Marc Broussard

Re: Mechanics vs. SFX... Where is the line?

To actually "sit down at the gaming table' date=' and roll some dice!" requires interpreting "What do these dice mean? What effect do they have? How does this fit my expectations?" etc. [/quote']

 

Note that I’m not one of the “big brains†of this outfit. I’m a journeyman with the rules, at best, and certainly no expert. Maybe that’s why I’m having such a difficult time with this concept. That is, the concept of needing some sort of specific answer to a non-specific question. I know and understand Neil’s intent, but I don’t understand how one can take the game this far.

 

I used to play Pretend. That’s a game, you know. Pretend. I imagined myself to be someone else, somewhere else, somewhen else. In my Pretend world, I was different. I was better there than I was here. I could do whatever I wanted. Every so often I was lucky enough to find someone (or someones) who wanted to play Pretend with me. We set rules like, “Okay, but you can’t be Superman or Captain America or someone like that. You have to make up your own guy.†Sometimes we got a little more detailed, but not by much.

 

The Hero System is a highly-detailed and categorized system of rules that all come from the game of Pretend. You don’t need those rules to play Pretend. You shouldn’t need rules to play Pretend. You should just...well, pretend, and let it go from there. If you do have rules, they should make sense of course. Yes, you bought Flash Defense as a pair of sunglasses, but no, sunglasses aren’t going to work against a swath of darkness. That wouldn’t make sense, and I don’t care how many points you spent. By the same token, it doesn’t make sense that someone could poke you in the eye while you're wearing sunglasses, either. You didn’t buy 1PD Armor, Eyes Only, but I’d probably give it to you, just because it made sense. And no, I don't really care too much what the book might say in that situation, because right then and there it made sense to me to do it that way.

 

Rules should help balance things, not knock ‘em out of whack. Rules are something to work with, not work for. Champions is a Game. Hero System is the rules by which you can play that game, not by which you have to play. If you don’t like the rule, change it or throw it out. Don’t seek enlightenment from the rules, seek it in spite of the rules.

 

Sorry if the above sounds overly simplistic in light of what’s trying to be accomplished, but I honestly believe that the questions posed by Neil and others actually drag them (and others) farther away from the Game.

 

You shouldn’t ever need rules to play Pretend, in my opinion, and if you do—if you really need rules to play Pretend—then perhaps you shouldn’t be looking at the rules or the game, but something inside.

Re: What Are You Listening To Right Now?

Superstition - Stevie Wonder

Re: Daily Art Findings

Not that I don't love the pic--it's tres cool, mind you--but there's something wrong with it. It's a specific inconsistancy that always seems to jump out at me. In this case the rags on the creature are blowing back away from him, and the woman's hair and clothing are blowing back away from her. Apparently the wind begins somewhere between them and spreads out from there.

I know, I know...nitpicky. But it's my pet peeve as an art lover.

Re: Uberworld - Character and Art

Thanks for your patience - and thanks for noticing the site was down Vanguard00!

I like the site. The premise, the extensive characters...y'all got a good thing goin'. If I had my **** together I'd see about getting in on another PBEM.

Re: What Are You Listening To Right Now?

That's one of my faves' date=' it's also the only one I've seen live so far. Really amazing show that was.[/quote']

Mystere is the only one I've seen live (not counting what I've seen on Bravo), but I just ordered all the soundtracks for myself. Love the music.

 

Oh, and I'm listening to Van Morrison's Wild Nights at the moment.

Re: Epic Fantasy: The Five Essentials

I'd personally suggest seeing Kirosawa's original movies from which those two were copied...

 

"Seven Samuari"

 

"Hidden Fortress"

I was gonna suggest it--and should have, probably--but I tend to offer the Westernized versions because they're more identifiable to this audience, and the Western approach to the films lends more credence to the particular genre.

Re: On Fantasy [G.R.R.M.]

They're not as graphic, but I noted an apparent increase in "casual" sexual scenes in Feast of Crows. I don't know if it can be considered gratuitous or not but it detracted a little (granted, only a little) from my overall enjoyment of the most recent book.

Re: Best supporting non-super character in comics?

Aquaman

BWAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahaha...heheh...

That's not funny.

gigglesnort.

Re: What Are You Listening To Right Now?

Varekai (Cirque de Soleil) soundtrack - not sure which track as it's on random on a copied cd. Good stuff, though.

Re: Ultimate Customisation

Not to disparage the tossing out of ideas in any way, but in essence that's what we do here. The rules as provided are discussed at length and in great detail (and at times ad nauseum). They already offer suggestions of use to a certain degree, and leave just about everything open for interpretation and adaption to personal needs and preferences. Options, variations, additions and subtractions are constantly offered on the boards for critique.

I think a book dedicated to what we as a community do anyway would be redundant.

It would, however, make an interesting e-book if authored by one or more actual players (and not offered as a canon sourcebook).

Re: Daily Art Findings

Verra nice.

Re: Best supporting non-super character in comics?

Mr Miracles promoter' date=' he made me laugh.[/quote']

Oberon? The little grumpy guy? Yeah, I liked him a lot.

 

Kinda like the 4thed deathstroke reboot promoter

Not sure who you mean here, but I'm not as up on my Deathstroke history as I should be. Wasn't Winters his man for a long time (at least until he killed him)?

 

PS I just got HD and cant open HD files from heo central, what gives.

Um...dunno. Hit the HD forum and give Simon a shout.

Re: On Fantasy [G.R.R.M.]

They can keep their heaven. When I die, I'd sooner go to middle Earth.

Hear hear.

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat

NT: Strange new worlds that the Enterprise (whatever version) would decide to give a miss.

"An entire planet of tribbles, Number One? I believe my predecessor had some interesting encounters with the little creatures. Assemble an away team. This should be most enlightening."

"If I may, sir."

"Yes, Data?"

"There appear to be some anomalies with the tribbles scanned thus far."

"Anomalies?"

"Yes sir. For example, at least one of the tribbles appears to have flaming eyebrows..."

"Right, then. Geordie, warp us out of here. I want no part of that...that....thing."

"Aye aye, sir."

Re: Help / fun project

I think I understand. The consciousness goes from body to body, but the agency might not always feel inclined to present said consciousness with a ‘prime’ form. For example, an AI that does consistently well will move up the ranks and the agency will be more inclined to give them additional abilities (i.e. more points to spend). An AI that does poorly will be unlikely to receive a ‘prime’ body, instead taking one of less ability and/or stature (less points) until they’ve proven their worth. Character points might reflect the cost put into developing the bodies.

If this is correct, then of course INT and EGO should carry over. They’re the essence of a character (at least in terms of characteristics). Assuming the minds of the bodies are created equally, it’s simply a matter of how the AI uses said minds, so the characteristics will remain constant.

In addition to INT and EGO, you should consider allowing PRE to carry over. Each body should have it’s own stat, just like normal. I would go with an 8 for average and work up to 15 or so for a physically impressive specimen. The AI could add anything from 0 to 5 points to that to reflect strong personality, bearing, etc.

In a similar vein, it would not be too outlandish to allow 0-5 points of DEX and/or 0-1 SPEED to accompany an AI from body to body, to reflect that AI’s ability to act and react faster. The AI is still limited by the body, but training and experience should count for something.

Similarly, INT-based skills should carry over without penalty. DEX and STR skills might have to be looked at, but you could reflect this knowledge through skill levels instead of actual skills. For example, an AI might know climbing, or swordplay or dancing, but the body isn’t conditioned for that specific activity. A house rule to allow characters a base 8 or less familiarity with any skill for which they have purchased levels might be instituted (example: an AI is an experienced climber and has +2 to Climbing. The body it receives isn’t conditioned for that activity, but is still considered to have an 8 or less familiarity for as long as that AI inhabits it).

Martial arts and other skills might require a penalty. You might have the mental conditioning of a black belt, and know all the moves, but the body hasn’t ‘learned’ said moves and thus doesn’t respond as well. A penalty to CV and/or damage class might be in order.

[Alternately, you might institute a sort of house rule that allows an AI’s new body to reflect certain strengths. For example, an AI that knows martial arts will receive a body capable of performing the necessary actions every time. Make that part of the package.]

Psych Lims and similar disads should carry over to also reflect personality traits of the AI.

STUN and BODY should be purchased normally. Assuming the AI’s have tactile senses in each body, their ability to feel pain should remain intact. If nothing else call it ‘psychic feedback’.

Consider building each AI character almost as a computer but without the ‘programs’. INT, EGO, possibly DEX, PRE and SPD, skills, levels, psych and related disadvantages…

Hrm, hard to figure this one. 50 pts + 50 pts disads for the AI. Take that and stack it onto a 100 pt body (75 pts plus 25 disads? Whatever). That might work.

Anyway, that’s my take on it right now.

Good idea, though. A lot of interesting angles to work out but it has a lot of potential, as well.

Oh, and welcome!

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat

NT: Bad day to attempt that masterplan to take over the world

"...which will split Europe, thus creating an easily exploitable rift and completes my plan. My time table is meticulously thought out to cover every eventuality. Nothing can go wrong! Nothing will stop me! Soon I will rule EVERYth--"

"Son? What are you doing up there?"

"Um, nothing mom!"

"Clean your room or you're grounded!"

"mmmblgrmblefrcknmmbl"

Re: Which one is it?

Nothing more is needed than to define it as "magical". The proof of the build is in the sword. If it took the limitation' date=' [i']not vs. yellow[/i], you wouldn't need to buy the color yellow for someone's armor. Unique SFX weaknesses should be put on the thing that bears the special quality. Thus a vampire buys "fears the cross". You do not buy a cross with "+30 PRE vs. vampires, only for making presence attacks."

 

Keith "Keeping it Simple" Curtis

I think I'm overcomplicating the question, but...

Jkeown makes two claims:

1) The tabard is proof against the sword

2) The tabard functions as armor.

For clarification:

1) Is the tabard functional only vs. the sword?

2) Does the tabard possess any other abilities outside of being proof against the sword (i.e. is it armor against anything other than the sword).

If #1 is "Yes", then Keith is correct in saying "keep it simple". Put a limitation on the sword, "Not vs. Thundai Tabard" and call it a day.

If, however, the answer to #2 is "Yes", then there's nothing wrong with your second build.

The application of a "magical" component is strictly a fiat and shouldn't have to be reflected by any particular build or construct.

Re: Best supporting non-super character in comics?

Alfred ranks pretty near the top, if not numero uno. Aunt May is a close second, with Jarvis and Jameson tied for third.

Honorable mention to Ben Urich, Robbie Robertson, Alicia Masters, Commish Gordon and Willie Lumpkin. Some of my favorite "non super" moments in comics have been with these characters. Does Sharon Carter (Agent of SHIELD) count?

Re: Crimson Spider Lin Kuei - Chinese 'ninja' clan

Didja know yer site is down?