Here's the basic premise for a new campaign I'm working on:
For the last couple years, there has been a sense that something big, something important is going to happen. There has been the financial crisis. There have been natural disasters. Interest in the end of the Maya calendar is increasing.
The date: January 11, 2010.
The place: San Francisco, California.
In the past 24 hours, something just happened.
I'm designing a campaign in the vein of Heroes, Fringe, FastForward, and Darker Than Black.
Character creation: Make either a Standard Normal, Skilled Normal, or Competent Normal. Then, boost that character up to a Standard Heroic character. 175 points, 50 pts Complications. Powers are available, but the scale is Heroic (Normal Human Maxima, etc.)
Thoughts? Does anyone have ideas for NPCs? I'll need a bunch...
Here's one NPC to start:
Clinton Newmark is the eccentric yet brilliant CEO of Peach Technologies, a big mobile technology and research software firm. His popular devices have made their way into the pockets of people worldwide, and everyone knows their slogan, Life's a Peach. He is well known for his secretive nature, and people have accused him and his firm of various nefarious search-based activities, even though none are apparent. Mr. Newmark, of course, does not confirm or deny any rumors, and is constantly defending against governments, hackers, and the like, trying to learn whatever he's up to, whether it's to uncover some dark scheme, or just to learn about the next generation of awesome product. It is rumored that he has a giant database that stores information from all around the web.
Earlier this week, Mr. Newmark awoke with a start. His mind filled with names, places, distances... and associated powers. The cacophony was so great, he stumbled about, no longer able to process what was in front of him. Assuming it to be some form of hysterical blindness brought on from the stress of his job, his doctors rushed him through MRI, and noted that his pineal gland was producing a large amount of sympathetic activity on its own. The hysterical blindness was brought under control with exceptionally high doses of melatonin, and a preparation of pineal tissue allowed him to regain control of his senses. That is when he realized the he now knew that some other people (he estimates the rate at 1 person per 500,000) are experiencing a sudden change in their physiology, resulting in new powers. He realized he knew where they are, and what powers they had.
He knows that people are going to be searching for these people. Companies, governments, organizations, religions... the future will depend on the actions of these people. And he aims to hold the monopoly on their services, given first mover advantage.
He has had to accept a drug pump that constantly pours pineal tissue preparation into his system, but he considers this a small price compared to his advantage.
Clinton Newmark
STR 10, DEX 10, CON 10, BODY 10, INT 20, EGO 18, PRE 20: 28 pts.
PD 2, ED 2, SPD 2, REC 4, END 20, STUN 20
Run 12m, Swim 4m, Leap 4m
OCV 3, DCV 3, OMCV 3, DMCV 6: 9 pts.
Skills:
Bureaucratics 14-, Computer Programming 13-, Oratory 14-, High Society 14-, Trading 14-, Persuasion 14-, Conversation 14-, Deduction 13-, KS: Management 13-, AK: Bay Area 13-, Language (English) 4, Language (Mandarin) 4. (Numbers reflect Modern Everyman skills and Skill Level in Interaction Skills.) 36 pts.
Perks:
Well-Connected, 4 Favors, 5 Contacts 11-, Filthy Rich, Worldwide Computer Link. 35 pts.
Talents:
Speed Reading x10, Eidetic Memory, Lightning Calculator. 12 pts.
Powers:
Enhanced Sense: Detect Powered individuals (Unusual Sense), Passive, Sense, Discriminatory, Analyze, 360-deg Arc of Perception, Fully Penetrative (blocked by lead, gold), Range, Telescopic +24, Rapid x10, Tracking, PER +1. 55pts.
Complications:
Hunted (Multiple sources want his secrets) 11-. -20 pts.
Psychological Complication (Secretive to eccentricity, Mild). -5 pts.
Dependence (Pineal tissue, Incompetence effect every minute, uncommon substance) -25 pts.