Tungsten Shephard

Re: Possession Actually I do like transform, when applied correctly. Possession N actual holding or occupancy, either with or without rights of ownership. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Possession Please read the latin on the low portion of the page to get a full understanding of what is intended by the original word. I did not state the definition to be rude, just to clarify the word for discussion. With your power example when using transform, is like applying Transform to possessing someone else's gun, knife, pants, super powered armor, etc. For example: I take his gun: Major Transform 4d6 vs. the Gun Body (His Gun from his hands to his gun in my hands, Healed back over time) Yeah sure you can do it but does it make sense in the case of a Ghost, Spirit, Entity, Demon, Etc, taking possession of somebodies body, mind, or spirit? As rediculous as the above transform example is I think you are over stepping the intended powers effect by applying transform to a possession. Ask yourself would you use Transform to re locate or use transform to take possession of someones house? wife? car? dog? or gold fish? or would you as a GM require other means of possession such as mind control, bribery skill, or extortion through role play? How about using Transform for relocation instead of using the powers of Teleport, Flight, Running, etc? As I said above I like Transform when used appropriately. When used to simulate another power, use the intended power instead. How about using transform instead of Flash, Flash: Minor Transform 1d6 (From Seeing person to temporally blind person. , Healing over time) This is not to say you cannot use transform to cause permanent blindness. There is a basic rule that says: Transform should not be used to simulate other powers. (Page 240 5th ed Revised) Furthermore transform should not "hurt" the target. You should look into another power such as an attack power. (in this case I suggest Mind Control with Extra Dimensional Movement to simulate the Ghost, Spirit, Entity, Demon, Etc, moving into the subjects body.)

Re: Possession I strongly disagree with how you are applying Transform. Transform by its nature transforms one thing into something else. Possession by its very nature and word used, is the occupation or ownership to someone or something else. I'm not saying my EDM applied is the only way to go as it only applies to the metaphysical movement of a Ghost into a body. I'm just disagreeing with what power you are applying for the SFX. How does Transform make someone Possessed? Since the act of Possession is an act in itself, not the end result of a transformation how is one transformed into being possessed? Thats like applying Transform to create a Mental Illusion. Transforming someones mind, into a mind that sees only what I want them to see or using Transform for invisibility on someone else, rather than using Invisibility usable on others. Isn't that like swatting a fly with a gold brick?

Re: A Spell like effect of Knockdown. Thank you. You seem to understand what I'm trying to do here. I always tend to forget the indirect nature of TK, and your first cost suggestion is a good one. However I don't want to use TK as a martial maneuver if I can avoid it in a HEROIC setting. Introducing martial maneuvers as Spells for a cheaper cost than Martial Arts at range would hinder the advantage of a character using Martial Arts. Why ever take the time to study Martial Arts when I can use a spell instead for a cheaper cost? Some things I would like to accomplish here. a) teach the new player the value of skills. simulate some creative use of spells from the Guild Wars universe. c) knock the opponent down, not knock him back, not shove him, not legsweep him, not throw him, etc... Furthermore 13 STR TK seems legit for the STR needed to push someone down. Gust of Wind [Telekinesis (13 STR) AC 29 R 6], Does Knockdown Page 122-123 HSCH (+1/4), Area Of Effect Nonselective (One Hex; +1/4); Power does no damage and can only be used for knockdown (-1 1/2), Spell (-1/2), Instant (-1/2), Requires A Spell Roll (-1/2), Incantations (-1/4), Gestures (-1/4), Cannot Be Used With Multiple-Power Attacks (-1/4)

Re: A Spell like effect of Knockdown. Wind Gust: [Active cost 34 real cost 7] Telekinesis (13 STR), Area Of Effect Nonselective (One Hex; +1/4), Does Knockdown Page 122-123 HSCH (+1/4), Indirect (Same origin, always fired away from attacker; +1/4) (34 Active Points); Limited Power Power Does No STUN (-3/4), Spell (-1/2), Requires A Spell Roll (-1/2), Increased Endurance Cost (x2 END; -1/2), Instant (-1/2), Incantations (-1/4), Gestures (-1/4), Concentration (1/2 DCV; -1/4), Only for Knockdown (-1/4) The Spell still seems too expensive IMO.

Re: Possession Possession: [purchased as a compound power] (Total: 195 Active Cost, 78 Real Cost) Mind Control 14d6 (Human class of minds), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Continuous (+1) (175 Active Points); No Range (-1/2), Lockout (-1/2), Cannot Be Used With Multiple-Power Attacks (-1/4), Conditional Power Power does not work on Holy Ground, etc (-1/4) (Real Cost: 70) PLUS Extra-Dimensional Movement (Single Dimension) (20 Active Points); Requires An EGO Roll (RSR Skill is subject to Skill vs. Skill contests [EGO Based]; -1 1/4), Conditional Power Power does not on Holy Ground, etc (-1/4) (Real Cost: 8) Cost is so irrelevant to a Monster.... Furthermore Possession should be both powerful and frighting. You can always add this as a disadvantage to a Ghost Susceptibility: Holy Ground or words Spoken from a Holy Text 3d6 damage Instant (Uncommon) Here is how EDM Skill vs. Skill is applied..... The Ghost must still succeed at a Skill vs. Skill Roll EGO vs EGO. The two pair off and make EGO rolls, the victim can modify the Ghosts Roll by imposing a penalty of -1 per point he made his EGO roll by. Thus the contest would commence as follows..... The victim has an EGO of 13 giving him a roll (9+ STAT/5) of 12 or less. The victim rolls an 8, only 4 less than the 12 needed. The Ghost having an EGO of 18 (13 for a EGO Roll 9+ STAT/5) and applies a -4 to his EGO roll (now a 9 or less) to move into the victims body plus another -2 negative modifier (now a 7 or less on an EGO roll) for the 20 points of Extra Dimensional Movement Cost. If the Ghost wins by rolling a 7 or less he gets to enter the persons body. You can also apply Skill Levels to EGO based Skills to simulate the Ghosts will power and dominance. You can also change the roll to a PRE roll vs. the Victim's EGO. This might simulate the presence and fear of the Ghost vs. the Will power to resist what the Ghost wants to do via a possession. Also the Power itself is a compound power thus it would not be subject to multiple power attack limitation listed within the power itself. I hope this helps.

Re: A Spell like effect of Knockdown. No it only simulates the game effect of Knockdown. The Spell does no damage whatsoever. Look on Page 417 of 5ed R, and you can understand better of the effect I want. As it is Knockdown is tied to damage however you can argue that it is possible to knock someone down without damaging them. Also look at Does Knockdown Page 122-123 in HERO System Combat Handbook. Another effect I want to add to the spell is "Area of Effect one HEX". Telekinesis's Indirect is interesting way of doing this, but the cost seems to expensive for me. Especially since you could buy Martial Maneuvers to simulate the same effect. LONG TERM GOAL: I am in the process of translating many of the spells, skills, enchantments, and hexes from Guild Wars a very popular MMO. Some of the monsters I am creating will need to simulate many of the special effects found in the game. Knockdown is a very popular in game effect for many of the spells, binding Rituals, etc, etc. I can simulate many of the Enchantments even energy required enchantments but not knockdown. The other option I am considering is creating a custom power simply called Knockdown. If I were to create this as a custom power I am unsure what cost to give it. 15 per knockdown phase perhaps? or is that too much?

Re: What rule don't people know? I agree just simplify it. This would be a good rule to explore for HERO v6

I'm seeking a way to build a Spell that has the effect of a gust of wind. This in turn would only knock someone down to the Ground. (Target Falls Down like effect, or leg sweep effect from Martial Arts) I would need to be able to build the power in HERO designer of course. Any suggestions?

Re: A little Touch of Chaos The problem with using it in a VPP is that the power may end up being in an EC. For this reason I want to keep it out of a VPP. This power is part of a "special effect" when a particular creature hits you and could only qualify for a VPP slot but not as a VPP in itself.

How do I build this effect? “Touch of Chaos” The power is built as a custom power with the following six possible effects. Each effect would cost about 20 active points each with KA POW costing 22 active as a naked modifier. I want to keep the cost low since this power is not in itself a very powerful attack but has a cool effect instead. This power should cause one of the following 6 things to happen to the recipient or victim. 1) Blinded (Flash vs. Sight) 2) Extra Damage (Hand-to-Hand Damage) 3) Dexterity Drain (Drain “DEX”) 4) Cripple effect (Suppress vs. Movement powers) 5) Exhaustion (Drain vs. “END” and “REC”) 6) KA POW! (Double knock back purchased as a naked modifier @ 30 active points) Building the power is easy as a compound power but may not be necessary. What power limitations should I place on the powers to simulate randomness regarding what power is activated when the victim is hit? The victim of the “Touch of Chaos” would have to be touched of course so all ranged attacks would have no range. How should I build it? or How would you build it?

Re: S.H.A.R.D. - Super Hero Acronym Resource Directory S.T.U.P.I.D Secretly Trained United Planetary Intelligence Division An organization dedicated to monitoring everyone else’s personal business and stresses the importance of non interference.

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... My group chose to finish up d20 this week in preparation for a move to Fantasy HERO. Our HERO's are on the run from the law again in Eberron and we need a sky ship to Xendrik fast. We contact the local Sky ship captain and meet in the most run down bar we have ever seen. Our party has two Druids, my Kid Rogue, and our Fighter leader, since the other two players (a Cleric and Wizard who are desperately wanted by the authorities) have made their own way across already. The conversation is as follows in the local villainous pub. Captain: So Whats the cargo? Fighter: The Kid over there, Two Druids, and no questions asked... Its was said with such a strait face that the GM lost it and had to take a break to regain his composure. STAR WARS references are always FTW!

Re: buying weapons (money or points?) I know that I'm going to get hung for this but we have a house rule that says, "if you can buy it at Wal-Mart or reasonably order it online legally" then you can have it and use it for money. REALLY weird yet cool stuff you must pay points for it. This includes super HERO champions games. So far I've not had any issues even with shot guns & Claymores being in the hands of the supers from time to time by very abusive players. That said the rule was implemented to instill a sense of balance and should remain as a general rule.

Re: What happens in Vegas... I'd just leave him be. If my team was in Vegas and the Zapper got lucky so be it. We took that risk bringing him along anyways. Next time we leave him at HQ. We also do a background check on the woman, if she was an agent or woman of paid leisure Cap Zapp is so fired from the team. "Aegis" our information gathering super and sensor platform guy should be able to run a DNA sweep of her from a distance. Also "Phantasia" our resident Mentalist should be able to get a mind scan for a named identification. After the background check we should be able to determine if he or the team is in any danger from his acquaintance. However as a point to be made I'd have the team make an Audio & Video recording of the event to use in the next meeting, on surveillance techniques. This would be within the normal powers of our team to do and cause some humiliation or some embarrassment to Cap Zapp as well. Besides the GloryFox can handle anything! Just ask him. A bunch of low powered supers and normals.... pff.... (GloryFox suffers from extreme overconfidence anyways.) Furthermore during any press conferences later when I get asked the question where is Cap Zapp my reply would be "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas". If pressed on the issue GF would reply "He was plugging in for a recharge" and "no further comment".

You mean I have ANOTHER child with my mortal enemy? Cool she was always hot to begin with. Just one question... Am I captured and forced to mate with her over and over again? :D

Re: Images....abuse or no? OK I might be to quick to respond I'll have to double check the power once I get home but it appears the player in question is using Images as an attack power. Furthermore Images should not be a replacement for darkness either IMO. There is a basic rule that states. One power should not do the job of another power but I don't have my book with me to say where it's at. Void Spheres: Sight, Touch and Hearing Groups Images Increased Size (16" radius; +1) (16" Any Area; +0), +/-6 to PER Rolls, Alterable Size, Selective Target (+1/2) (107 Active Points/ Real Cost) ? Now that I think some more on it. It would help to see how he purchased the power.

Re: Unmaking I understand the face value logic of your argument but oddly enough it did leave a bad impression for my group of players for years. It also resulted in an unnecessary death of another PC who tried to save the sacrificial character from dying. The GM and the other player did not inform the group that the sacrificial character in question was in fact going to die and agreed upon the event ahead of time. Even afterwards the potential hostility that can occur by mistakes on either side is never worth the effort IMO. Don't get me wrong, I understood the fullness of the posters thought before I posted the word STOP. Furthermore, yes, I have a strong bias for my response but this is after a debate that spawned for several years. Do what you want for your games but I truly believe that little good comes from a paradox resulting in a PC death. Mistakes happen even if the predetermined result is the death of a PC with that players full approval.

Re: Unmaking STOP STOP RIGHT THERE.. There should never be a no win scenario. Even if that player agrees that its ok to kill his character it leaves a bad impression with the other players. I've had 3 no win scenario's, two with the same GM. It hurt our friendship, his friendship with the other players. He was telling a good story, but the other players held a grudge for years after words. This brings up another question. When is it O.K. for a GM to kill a PC? My reply to this is, "Never, but sometimes crap just happens."

Re: Unmaking The above is quoted for truth. I've had this experience from a G.M. once. I have never played in his game since for good reason, he was a jerk for doing it. Forced paradox, situations suck for players IMO. I'd also like to add I ended up loosing a character I had loved playing for 10 years over it as he (GM) still played through the paradox. Makes me mad just thinking about it. ..... Paradox

Re: What gives the "rightful" king the right? Blasphemy! Off with his head! In my D&D group we asked this question ourselves then launched a campaign to place the rightful heir back on the throne under the obligation that the heir would give us land and gold, women seem to arrive with gold. Then it dawned on us. The goal is to place someone the people like on the throne so that the people the heir likes gets the land and the gold. Then the people will look past the heir's friends who get the women.

Re: Seeking Magic Systems for the following Fantasy Settings VPP should do the work for the Black Company just emphasis the aspect of "theme" for your VPP powers. If you can remember the "Taken" were all theme based magic. The ten that were taken.... * Soulcatcher * The Limper * The Howler * Shapeshifter * Stormbringer * Bonegnasher * The Hanged Man * Nightcrawler * Moonbiter * The Faceless Man Each of the ten had something in their magic ability that gave them their names. Then you can apply naming magic as suggested in Fantasy HERO p.268. One other aspect to keep in mind. The Magic system used in Glen Cook's world was very very very powerful. Id also suggest you pick up a copy of The Black Company by Green Ronin publishing. Green Ronin's Mythic Vistas: The Black Company Campaign Setting (Green Ronin Publishing, 2004, ISBN 1-932442-38-3) yeah its d20 but the information contained within is very valuable.

Re: Is it really so wrong? Toy villains are fun. Circus Freak A clown villain who makes giant demonic versions of every day toys to terrorize the city. His motivation is mostly for the grins. One of his best inventions was a remote control monster truck. My son terrorizing the cat with his toy monster truck inspired me.

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... No that's what made it so funny and still funny today.

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... So my players in my current game are investigating a new drug that is hitting the streets called “PAINS” (Porous Adrenalin Intensifying Nerve Stimulant). In order for the players to discover the primary distribution point they had to go into a strip joint for information from another characters use of contacts. One of the strong moral players simply could not justify entering such a location ill repute “Reputation and Social Disadvantage of High Moral Standards”. Player 2 then begins making jokes about the Player 1’s sexual preference since he has never seen the character flirt or otherwise engage in casual conversations with any female NPC’s. (Personally I thought it was a great use of his disadvantage and gave him an xp for it.) Player 2 has Rivalry with Player 1 as a disadvantage so it was expected of him from the other players. Now that the group finds the location of the primary distribution point and the possible source of the distributors name they decide to follow up. Once again they players find themselves at another house of ill repute; a very loud dance club called, “Bottoms Up” a local gay bar in the middle of downtown San Francisco. Player 1 Unwilling to enter said place says out loud and with much enthusiasm. “Ok guys its time to get some action, I have the rear entrance covered.” The jokes never ended for the next 4 game sessions for player 1. Gotta love professional Rivalry appropriately applied between two good players.

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... Allow me to demonstrate how you can salvage this and still have the lying unreliable undead to still be telling the truth without screwing the players. Seems to me there are several objectives here. 1) To get the players to engage in research. 2) To prolong or play out several well planned out situations for the players to enjoy. 3) To not end the game within 15 minutes for the people who drove 30-45 minutes just because someone believed the villain (head of vecna applied). Here are some examples of what a good GM could do and not play against the players. You can alter the events quietly not ruin the evening by requireing the life to be taken in a specific place. (Spirit was telling the truth, just not all of it.) You can alter the events quietly by requireing the life to be taken in a specific mannor. (spirit was still telling the truth, again just not all of it) You can just change the requirements for getting rid of the spirit. (undead spirit was lying,) I think you get the idea. What the players know is that the only source of how to get rid of the spirit is from the spirit itself. I don't believe I'm working against the players by quietly altering the end events to prolong the evening. If you see that as bad GMing then please PM me, to ask for a better explanation instead of sending the message to public. "I'm not the bad guy" - Deardevil