Thrakazog

Re: A "The West Wing" Secret Service question, version 2.0

Not a problem. Any thoughts on how the Secret Service in general and Special Agent Ron Butterfield in particular might react to Immortals on the staff and the offer of over 100 Amazons and family members' date=' complete with heavy weapons?[/quote']

 

Sure. If they weren't on the Secret Service, he'd ask them to stay at home and away from his principals, and manage their contact with the principals heavily. He's run deep background checks on all of them, like he would for anybody he might expect to have regular or frequent White House access. He might even try to have an agent infiltrate their numbers.

 

But if they weren't one of his people, he'd refuse to allow them to be a part of the security detail. SOP, I believe.

Re: A "The West Wing" Secret Service question, version 2.0

I liked the show. We're discussing possible Secret Service procedures about various things in a superhero universe' date=' using characters from [i']The West Wing[/i] to aid us.

 

Right now, we're discussing their reaction to the fact that three of the President-Elect's staffers are Immortal, that the NID, or its equivalent, and the NSA may attack, and what they're going to do about it.

I understand all that. I was joking. My bad.

Re: Traveller Hero... an update from the authors

I'm so there, dude.

Re: Traveller Hero Core Books Now Available!

Woot! Awesome.

Re: Online Hero Games??

I've found a good site, and there's a fantasy campaign in the works that will be calling for players soon. Check my sig.

Re: A "The West Wing" Secret Service question, version 2.0

Nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure bad television stays dead.

Re: Cruiseship Deckplans

Sweet, thanks.

Re: The Mind Controlling Hero

Thanks for the input, all.

Re: WWYCD: The Destruction Of The Conqueror

All: Count my blessings and turn the place into a mini-mall. Santa could use the throne around Christmas time for pics with the kiddies.

Re: New Power: Invulnerability

I know it doesn't address the BODY-only aspect, but I've seen:

Damage Reduction, 100% - 80 AP

Damage Reduction, resistant, 100% - 120 AP

You could always apply a modifier such as "doesn't reduce STUN -1/2", and there you go.

Re: Thoughts on SPD

It's a game balancing mechanic. Maybe we're overthinking this?

Re: Scene Sheets

I often write up notes before running a game. I find I'm much less organized and things don't flow as well when I try to wing it.

I typically associate mind controllers with villains based on the ethical implications. But I was wondering, has anybody had any experience with a mind controller as a hero? Is it possible to be a mind controlling hero? I'm thinking of making the attempt but am seeking guidance.

Re: Car Wars Hero

Car Wars, Anyone?

Re: HERO System Vehicles

Speaking of Car Wars Hero...

I haven't worried too much about vehicle design yet. The campaign has only just started - you can read it here. I had initially planned on using Car Wars vehicle design and combat rules and Hero System rules for everything else. It's all invisible to the players, anyway. Now I'm thinking I might actually just build out the vehicles using Hero System vehicle rules and just not worry about point costs and instead focus on translating from system to system properly.

I have the Ultimate Vehicle and the old Autoduel Champions book to work with, as well as just about every Car Wars publication. I'll let you know how I do.

A la the Hipshot & Movement question: does the same apply to the hurry optional maneuver? Can hurry only be used for actions, or could it be used for movement as well?

Scenario: two characters of the same SPD and DEX (call it DEX N), acting simultaneously. Al is chasing Bo. Segment starts with Bo around the corner from Al, fleeing.

Al declares a hipshot to gain an initiative advantage (DEX N+1) so as to stop Bo before the simultaneously-acting Bo gets away. At DEX N+1, Al uses a half-move to get around the corner and gain line-of-sight so that he can shoot.

Is this proper? I was always under the assumption that a hipshot was an immediate combat action, a quick shot sacrificing aim for speed. Is it proper for a player to declare a hipshot and then, having gained an advantage in speed, take a half move before firing? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of the maneuver? Shouldn't the shot be made immediately upon reaching DEX N+1?

I hope I'm being clear. Please tell me if I'm not.

Re: Another Brick in the Wall (Tell me about your Brick!)

Stone will likely always be my favorite. He's a flying brick concept and has a background as a biker, with lots of leather and attitude.

Shrinking Violence was very fun to play. She was a shrinking flying brick, whose powers were proportionate to her shrinking. The smaller she got, the stronger, tougher, and more flight-worthy she got. She could get as small as a couple of inches in height, at which point she had 45 STR, 35 PD/ED, and very agile and quick flight. Think Wasp on steroids without the sting blasts.

Re: Phase 12, GM's what do you allow?

If combat is a foregone conclusion, there's no surprise, and everybody is starting combat together, then phase twelve is the most logical starting point. Everybody starts fighting, with DEX deciding who acts fastest right then and subsequently.

Re: Phase 12, GM's what do you allow?

I'm not sure I'm buying the philosophy behind starting combat on a random segment. When combat begins, more often than not, everybody begins at the same time. It's just a matter of reflexes as to who starts. The only segment that covers this situation is segment 12 (everybody acts, sorted by DEX). Thus, it makes the most realistic starting segment. I could see using the random roll only if the group is walking in on a combat in progress.

As for how I treat segment 12 itself, other than the post-12 recovery, I don't treat it any differently than any other segment with regards to holding, extra time, or anything else.

Re: Bricks Get Hosed, Or Not

So are you saying that if you build a 6+ speed 'brick', it's not a 'brick' but a 'martial artist'? Even if that said 'brick' has no 'martial arts'?

 

Sounds like you are trying to make the defining characteristic of a brick it's speed stat.

 

No flame. Genuine curiosity.

I refer to a PC with STR around 35-50 and SPD of 5 or higher as a martial brick. STR isn't his main schtick, nor are martial arts (although he probably has a few maneuvers), but he's a well-rounded tough HTH combatant.

Re: Traveller Hero... an update from the authors

74 2) 6G Maneuver Drive: (Total: 216 Active Cost' date=' 74 Real Cost) Flight 60", Position Shift (125 Active Points); OIF Bulky (-1), Realistic END Cost: Requires STR/5 Additional END per phase (-1/2), Costs Endurance (-1/2), Real Equipment (-1/4) (uses Personal END) (Real Cost: 38) plus +17 DEX (51 Active Points); OIF Bulky (-1), Real Equipment (-1/2) (Real Cost: 20) plus +4 SPD (40 Active Points); OIF Bulky (-1), Real Equipment (-1/2) (Real Cost: 16)[/quote']

 

Okay, I know I must be missing something. I'm a fan of CT. I know that a 6G maneuver drive is considered fast. I imagined maneuver drives in Hero terms would include some level of megascaling. But the way it's built here, this ship would take roughly 29.6 years to make the 56 million kilometer journey from Earth to Mars.

 

That can't be right. What am I getting wrong?

Has anybody out there ever tried designing a Langston field in Hero terms? I'm contemplating this issue in a current campaign and was wondering what approach others had taken.

I'm thinking absorption as a defense, with the absorbed points going towards a large AoE explosive KA that doesn't fire until the absorption limit is reached. Then again, I never fully understood the absorption as a defense rules. Thoughts?

Re: Bricks Get Hosed, Or Not

There are so many useful things that a high-STR character can do without more elaborate Power builds (Grabbing' date=' Throwing, Leaping, improvised AOE attacks, lifting/pulling things) that other character types often need Frameworks just to keep up.[/quote']

 

Out of curiosity, could you define or give an example of an "improvised AOE attack" which wouldn't require a point-purchased brick trick power?

 

So no, I don't believe this ruling hoses bricks. If anything it helps balance them with other characters.

 

This was, I assumed, the reason behind the current rules regarding zero-END powers in frameworks.

Re: Bricks Get Hosed, Or Not

How many plain-vanilla bricks lose multiple powers when just one of theirs is drained*?

 

This is the primary drawback to Elemental Controls imho.

True, it depends on the concept. A Wonder Man clone, for example, derives all it's powers from the singular fact that it is a being comprised completely of ionic energy. I could see all the brick powers suffering from a transformation attack.