Agent X

If you want to know every science in the book, it's simple. Buy Science Skill: Comprehensive Terran Science at a 31 or less. With an Intelligence of 25, it's what? 37 points. When something comes up and someone says, hey, that's impossible unless you studied that exact science - you say "sure" and apply the -10 penalty - so you have a 21 or less. If they say it's impossible because it would require specific scientific knowledge AND it's not Terran Science you say "sure" and apply a -10 and another -10 and you have an 11 or less. Works just fine and keeps your character sheet nice and short.

How can they copyright a house rule I have seen several other sites use - and I came up with independently (not that my group uses it) - for a game they don't own?

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Who saved all those wonderful names from Project 3,000?

Powers don't make the character. Background, personality, and role play make the character. You can run a character that is a direct translation of Superman's stats and skills, change the background and personality - and the character becomes your own. It's a wonderful thing. This is where arguments over who the best Flash or Green Lantern come from - not necessarily a wonderful thing.

There is another option: Role-playing. If this player has his/her character constantly oppose or interfere or ignore everyone elses' game plan - seems to me, your characters may get fed up with his/her character and kick them out. It is a wonderful tactic. It is "in game," totally fair, and a very blunt assessment of what is going on (It is also the most likely outcome of such behavior if you were to play your characters realistically.) A player will either get the message or get the message the next round with the same kind of character. The player might get upset, make a scene, and leave - oooh what a shame. Their character is obviously unconcerned with every other character - why are your characters concerned about theirs. In a D&D Game, we had a player who just about got us killed for the fourth time, attempted to "charm" another character, AND stole from us. This character lost their spell book and was put aboard a ship heading far from our destination. The player was livid and left our game - and we found peace.