CorpCommander

Re: The Ultimate Brick, wacky examples?

 

:blush: Really' date=' it was a matter of figuring out that I wanted to get a result where the number timesed itself 5 times equaled 2. Once I got that everything else fell in place. Like you, I wanted a smoother formula than the method that the lifting tables used, so about a year ago I figgured out the formula.[/quote']

 

What I like is it takes advantage of basic algebra which I was re-teaching myself at math.com. (x^y)^z == x^y*z .2 x 5 = 1 which is a nice perfect doubling. It matched my numbers quite well and is a cleaner formula (no magic number! Not that I wouldn't want a constant named after me someday...)

Re: The Ultimate Brick, wacky examples?

 

I use the formula 25kg*((2^.2)^STR) for positive values.

 

Yeah, that works nicely. I was trying to figure out something along those lines and I was reasonably close at one point. Nicely done!

Any help appreicated from min-maxing to "that isn't legal" to whatever you have to say about it. Several of the tricks were taken from The Ultimate Brick which I highly recommend.The Character is by all appearences a man from India who owns a taxi service in Millenium city. His name is Taj Mahal Bombay (not original). However he can transform into Vishnu like Boddhisattva - a sort of Hindu angle whose purpose is to make the Universe right and help enlighten all sentient beings. He is portrayed here as a brick with minor mystical powers. The way I look at it, Boddhisattvas are the superheroes of indian mythology.Kedar means Mountain God or Powerful in sanskrit.KedarPlayer: Peter Mancini

Val	Char	Cost
30/60	STR	20
10/17	DEX	0
15/25	CON	10
10/20	BODY	0
10	INT	0
10	EGO	0
10/40	PRE	0
10	COM	0
14/20	PD	8
17/19	ED	14
2/4	SPD	0
9/29	REC	0
30/50	END	0
33/63	STUN	0

6"/16" RUN02" SWIM06"/12" LEAP0Characteristics Cost: 52

Cost	Power	END
24	+30 STR (30 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)	3
16	+10 CON (20 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)
17	+7 DEX (21 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)
16	+10 BODY (20 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)
24	+30 PRE (30 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)
16	+2 SPD (20 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)
19	+12 REC (24 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)
2	Change into Heroic Form: Cosmetic Transform 2d6 (10 Active Points); Only on Self (-2), No Range (-1/2), Extra Time (Full Phase, -1/2), Incantations: By Buddha! (-1/4), Gestures: Raised Fist (-1/4) [Notes: Uses Standard effect rule, since self only no attack roll necessary. Method of healing back is shouting "By Buddha!" with a raised fist again.]	1
4	2 extra arms: Extra Limbs (2) (5 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)	0
5	Damage Resistance (6 PD/6 ED) (6 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)	0
16	Long Legs: Running +10" (6"/16" total) (20 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)	2
5	Heavy: Knockback Resistance -3" (6 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)	0
6	Long Reach: Stretching 1", Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (7 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)	0
4	The Third Eye: Ornamental Jewel of Liberation: Multipower, 10-point reserve, (10 Active Points); all slots OAF (-1), Arrangement: Must be worn in turban (-1/4)
1u	1) Detect lies, deception and illusion A Large Class Of Things 11- (Unusual Group) (10 Active Points); OAF (-1), Arrangement: Must be worn in turban (-1/4)	0
1u	2) Nightvision, Discriminatory (10 Active Points); OAF (-1), Arrangement: Must be worn in turban (-1/4)	0
1u	3) Buddha Sees All: Increased Arc Of Perception (360 Degrees) with Sight Group (10 Active Points); OAF (-1), Arrangement: Must be worn in turban (-1/4)	0
34	Enlightened Powers of Strength: Multipower, 60-point reserve, (60 Active Points); all slots Requires An Enlightenment Roll (-1/2), Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)
2u	1) Arm Sweep: Naked Modifier: Area Of Effect (up to One Hex; +1/2) for up to 60 Active Points, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (45 Active Points); Requires An Enlightenment Roll (-1/2), Can be blocked (-1/4), Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4) [Notes: -4 Enlightenment Roll]	0
1u	2) Barrier Penetration: Naked Modifier: Indirect (Same origin, always fired away from attacker; +1/4) for up to 60 Active Points (15 Active Points); Requires An Enlightenment Roll (-1/2), Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4) [Notes: -1 Enlightenment RollKedar is so strong he can punch his fist through a wall or force wall or any other barrier creating a hole just big enough to reach through and hit or grab a target without collapsing the barrier.]	1
3u	3) The Bombay Whallop!: Naked Modifier: Double Knockback (+3/4) for up to 60 Active Points, Reduced Endurance (Half END; +1/4) (56 Active Points); Requires An Enlightenment Roll (-1/2), Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4) [Notes: -5 Enlightenment RollThe Bombay Whallop is a special attack designed to send the enemy flying!]	2
2u	4) Demon Touch: Naked Modifier: Affects Desolidified Any form of Desolidification (+1/2) for up to 60 Active Points (30 Active Points); Requires An Enlightenment Roll (-1/2), Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4) [Notes: -3 Enlightenment RollAllows Kedar to affect any form of desolid figure, a popular defense of Demons and other supernatural beings.]	3
3u	5) Flick of Unconsciousness: Energy Blast 6d6, NND ([standard]; +1) (60 Active Points); No Range (-1/2), Requires An Enlightenment Roll (-1/2), Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4) [Notes: -6 Enlightenment RollA flick of Kedar's powerful finger against the head chakra and unconsciousness usually follows.]	6
3u	6) Life is but a Dream: Healing 3d6, Variable Effect: BODY + STR simultaneously (+1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (60 Active Points); Requires An Enlightenment Roll (-1/2), Extra Time (Delayed Phase, -1/4), Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4) [Notes: -6 Enlightenment RollSince life is a transcendental state anyway, properly modifying the dream through meditation will return life and strength.]	0
3u	7) Buried: Entangle 5d6, 5 DEF (Stops A Given Sense Group Sight Group) (60 Active Points); Requires An Enlightenment Roll (-1/2), Limited Range: 10" (-1/4), Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4) [Notes: -6 Enlightenment RollKedar can lift tons of sand, dirt, stone and rubble and drop it on an opponent, trapping them. The covering can be thrown a short distance and still remain tight enough to cover the target.]	6
1u	8) Vishnu's Heavy Hand: Naked Modifier: Area Of Effect (up to One Hex; +1/2), Ranged (+1/2) for up to 30 Active Points (30 Active Points); Extra Time (Full Phase, -1/2), Requires An Enlightenment Roll (-1/2), Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4) [Notes: -3 Enlightenment RollKedar is able to find large objects, section of pavement, building parts - whatever is necessary and hurl them at single open hexes using up to 30 strength [6D6]. Range is limited by the throwing table (pg. 22, 5E).]	3

Powers Cost: 229

Cost	Skill
12	Power 17- (18-) (15 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4) [Notes: Used to access special enlightened strength powers (based on dex as described in The Ultimate Brick Pg 32. These are deft uses of strength, not intelligent ones. As with many paths to enlightenment, this one is a physical discipline not a mental one.)]
5	+3 with DCV (15 Active Points); Only when using Enlightened Powers (-1 1/2), Visible: Faint Golden glow, as if lit from behind (-1/4)
	Taxi Related Skills
3	1) Shadowing 11-
3	2) Combat Driving 11- (12-)
3	3) Navigation 11-
3	4) Mechanics 11-
6	5) AK: Millennium City 14-
2	6) PS: Taxi Operations 11-
3	7) Trading 11- (17-)
2	Acrobatics 11- (12-) (3 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)
4	Language: Hindustani (Idiomatic, native accent)
6	WF: Common Martial Arts Melee Weapons, Common Melee Weapons, Common Missile Weapons, Off Hand (7 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4) (7 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)

Skills Cost: 52

Cost	Perk
13	Vehicles & Bases
4	Contact (Contact has significant Contacts of his own, Very Good relationship with Contact) 8-

Perks Cost: 17

Val	Disadvantages
25	Psychological Limitation: Must always practice the virtues of the Primitas Very Common, Total [Notes: Virtues: Giving, Ethics, Patience, Joyous Effort, Concentration, Wisdom]
15	Physical Limitation: 10' Tall, can't enter buildings or small spaces Frequently, Greatly Impairing
5	Dependence: Lackshmi's Curry -10 Active Points from Strength, Uncommon, 1 Day [Notes: If Lackshmi were out of the picture for some reason her curry would be extremely hard to recreate. Kedar could not simply go to Sitar Indian Resturant and order up some curry. Hers is made with love and thats the secret ingredient. It would not be /impossible/ to replace but certainly extremely difficult at best.]
20	Dependent NPC: Lackshmi and sons 11- (Occasionally), Slightly Less Powerful than the PC, Group DNPC (x4 DNPCs)
5	Enraged: If anyone damages the taxi (Uncommon), go 8-, recover 14-
25	Hunted: DEMON 11- (Frequently), More Powerful, NCI, Harshly Punish
15	Hunted: VIPER 8- (Occasionally), More Powerful, Harshly Punish
25	Distinctive Features: 10' Tall, blue skin, 4 arms - yeah, people are gonna notice this! Not Concealable, Extreme Reaction (Fearful), Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses
15	Enraged: In combat with any type of demon Uncommon, go 11-, recover 11-

Disadvantage Points: 150

Base Points: 200Experience Required: 0Total Experience Available: 0Experience Unspent: 0Total Character Cost: 350

Height: 3.06 m	Hair: Brown
Weight: 180.00 kg	Eyes: Brown

Appearance: Taj - 5'5" ordinary Indian man from Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay.)

Kedar - 10' tall, blue skin, 4 arms

Personality: He tells positively the worst jokes. Some of his clients ride in the cab just to hear his dumb founding unfunny jokes. It’s not so much that they aren’t good comedy but more that they are incomprehensible to the people of Millennium City. Here is an example:

 

A Marwadi guy and a Gujarati guy went out to a very expensive restaurant for dinner one night. Finally, the waiter came over and asked, "Who should I give the check to?" The Marwadi guy said, "Give it to me. I'll take care of everything." "Fine," said the waiter. The next day the headlines read: 'Gujrati Ventriloquist Strangled to Death'

 

After he has dispatched a criminal he is often heard to shout: “T’ank You! Come Again!†When transforming into Kedar he is sometimes heard to say “By Buddha!†When taunting opponents he can often be heard to say “Did you ever T’ink to ask, what would Buddha Do?â€

 

Kedar’s 3 sons (Sashish, Ahmed and Sanjay) are minor Bodhisattvas (known as Protectors.) His wife, Lakshmi, is an ordinary woman of great enlightenment and radiant love for her family. She doesn’t always understand Taj’s coming home late and if she has suspected his supernatural powers she hasn’t let on. Certainly she would be very proud to know her sons are enlightened super-beings!

 

Kedar knows and is known by several Asian super-beings. The 5 million gods of Hindu and Japanese culture all have some knowledge of each other. Of course he is also hunted by the demons and oni of those cultures as well. Further, the Super Villian group known as DEMON in particular hunts Kedar. They want his supernatural artifacts Arahat and The Jewel Ornament of Liberation. VIPER is also after Kedar; they refer to him as Cobra Killer. Kedar has thwarted some of their plans and they see him as a threat to their ongoing operations.

 

Kedar is attempting to achieve the 10 levels of the Buddha: Great Joy (seeing the benefits of Enlightenment – Current level which he has attained), Stainless (untouched by moral corruptions), Radiant (with the Light of Dharma), Luminous (a light that burns that which opposes Enlightenment), Train the Untrainable (an enlightenment to reaches even the most recalcitrant sentient being), Obviously Transcendent (able to abide in the here and now as if in either Samsara or Nirvana), Gone Afar (perfection of helping others with skillful means), Immovable (in the perfection of aspiration able to choose his place of rebirth), Good Discriminating Wisdom (the perfection of strength), Cloud of Dharma (the perfection of wisdom). All of this will lead to Buddhahood.

 

Kedar is bound by the practice of several virtues, known as Parmitas. They are the perfection of:

· Giving

· Ethics

· Patience

· Joyous Effort

· Concentration

· Wisdom

These are not guidelines – the Vow of the Parmitas is very serious and would have a major impact on the blessing granted to Kedar (as well as be reflected in his normal life as well.)

 

Finally, in or out of heroic form Taj is not preachy. While he is a supernatural being his emphasis is on enlightenment and transcendental issue. He believes that preaching and quoting religious scripture is a wasted effort. The truth and true enlightenment is visible and that others will become enlightened when the light of truth is shined on them. True, some require longer exposure than others and the “light of truth†can, in fact, be fists of righteousness!

 

Taj fears no death, he is immortal in a transcendental sense – he believes in rebirth and since he will be on the wheel of life until the end of time a single lifetime makes no difference to him. Taj is extremely optimistic at all times. Taj enjoys his normal life with his wife, his sons and his business. He is rather obsessive with his taxi and he can’t resist a good curry (an Indo-man’s Kryptonite!) In fact he needs to have Lakshmi’s Curry at least once a day. If he is going to be on a long adventure outside of the City either she must come or preparation need to be made. As is traditional she never asks too many questions so long as Taj keeps her informed when he won’t be around.

Quote:"T'ank you! Come again!"Background: Taj long ago immigrated to Millennium City and set up shop as a taxi driver. He has made a good living for his family building his business, which he runs with his three sons. Golden Poem Taxi Service has the cleanest and shiniest taxis in the entire great metropolis. In fact Taj is a bit obsessive about keeping his taxi clean. For him it represents his mission on Earth, which is to help free every mortal from hell and help everyone find enlightenment. For Taj is no ordinary Indian Taxi Driver. Taj is a Bodhisattva.

 

The Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have made a special vow to continue on the wheel of life until every soul has made it to Nirvana, holding off their own entry until everyone can join them. They do this through their immense compassion, aiding others while also themselves remaining on a quest for the highest state of development, the full enlightenment of a Buddha. This involves saving innocents from disaster and crime, stopping crimes and restraining criminals so that they may seek enlightenment and making things right in the Universe.

 

Taj is an expert at knowing every street, alley, park and corner of Millennium City. He prides himself on getting his clients to their destinations with speed but also safety. His job as taxi driver also ends up performing another role: patrolling Millennium City. Once he sees trouble Taj leaps into action!

 

Taj transforms into his savior form and takes the name Kedar. In the heroic form of Kedar he is able to fight the toughest of villains using his enlightenment powers. When Taj transforms into Kedar he goes from being a 5’5†middle age Indian Man to a 10’ tall, blue skinned multi-armed God. Relying as much on non-lethal force as he can, Kedar uses his immense strength to restore enlightenment. In his Turban is a great Ruby known as the Third Eye that has great mystic powers. Kedar’s body is extremely strong. He also is capable of wielding the 9 Spoke Vajra known as Arahat (literally “Foe Destroyer†or also translated as “Worthy of Respect.â€) It is a special double-ended dagger used for vanquishing Demons. It has multiple shapes it can assume like Kannon (the Bodhisattva that enlightened Taj who can assume any shape or form.)

Powers/Tactics: Kedar knows several martial tricks. He can throw his fists through walls and force walls without collapsing them. He can use an arm sweep to get at pesky, agile adversaries. He can find weakness in objects and opponents alike. There are several other powers Kedar uses where he exerts his strength.

 

Kedar’s Third Eye gives him great enlightenment allowing him to detect lies, deception and illusion. It can even help him with blind fighting. The Jewel Ornament of Liberation is one of several gifts passed down by the Buddhas to help achieve Universal Enlightenment.

Campaign Use: 

Re: The Ultimate Brick, wacky examples?

 

The examples of in the expaned strength table in the Ultimate Brick are not meant to represent how much the machine indicated in the example can lift' date=' it's an example of what a character with that strength can lift using his STR.[/quote']

 

Yes, that is correct. No one has said otherwise. You can use the strength table to figure out how much a vehicle can carry by cross referencing the vehicle's strength.

 

ON Another Subject

I was able to reverse engineer the series uses to calculate the table. I think there is probably a better formula. Basically you start with 25 at STR 0. From there you multiply that number by 1.148698975 to get the value for STR 1. Then you multiply that number by 1.148698975 to get the value for STR 2 and so forth. It would be nice to have an arbitrary formula where f(x) = lift(kg) where x is the strength of the character. Any math wizards looking at this thread?

Re: The Ultimate Brick, wacky examples?

 

Why would you use casual strength for this? The 797 burns through a heck of a lot of fuel to move a load like that. It's not like it's just moving 360 metric tons of earth with the engine in idle. It's probably using most or all of its strength to do it.

 

I can bench press 200lbs. Easy. More if I am training for it (I think my max was 260.) That means my casual carrying capacity, in the rules at least, is 100lbs. I can walk around carrying 100lbs but I am going to sweat a lot and use up a ton of ATP (your bodies energy.) But I can do it. I am not going to go far with 200lbs on my back excepts to stagger around and maybe hurt myself. I don't see how it is any different than the CAT 797 able to haul 360MT of dirt 3 miles from pit to removal field.

 

I think the word 'casual' here is not a greatly useful one. Another word that irritates me for the same reason is depression. It means a slight dip in the road or a very serious mental health issue! Casual sounds like something you would buy to wear from Old Navy so that you'll look cool sipping a Mai Tai. Casual Strength, as described, should perhaps be named maximum safe mobile strength. For example. If I have a 100lbs 21" monitor in my hands there isn't anything casual about the conversations I am going to have with people in the hallway as I am trying to carry it. "Ugh this is frickin heavy!" and "Heavy and expensive! Please step aside!" Those are typical conversations while carrying something with my maximum "casual" strength! None of this: "So how about them Red Sox! Yeah, I can't believe that about Garciapara either! Jeeze, what was management thinking? Anyway, I've got to get this big assed monitor down to Phil's office but first let me tell you about that date I had with Stacey last night!"

 

A little tongue in cheek but thats my point.

 

--Pete

Re: The Ultimate Brick, wacky examples?

 

Vorsch, I am only going by the description in the rules. The capacity given to lift something on the STR table is the amount to get it off the ground and stagger a couple of inches. Since the CAT 797 can drive around for miles with 360 MT it has to be a near casual STR of 123 or more.

Re: The Ultimate Brick, wacky examples?

 

The expanded strength tables is not about how much those machines can lift or move' date=' it's about how much said objects weigh.[/quote']

 

I don't disagree, but I also never made that assertion. I thought it was funny they had buldozer seveal times with really high weights that I thought were too much until I looked it up.

 

You can figure out the STR of a piece of equipment if you can look up how much it can pick up and move around with.

Ok, have been enjoying TUB greatly but have been having some laughs reading the expanded strength table.

 

Example: 100 Tons, modern examples are the Space Shuttle (sans booster) and a... bulldozer. what? 100 Tons? Metric? are you out of your mind?

 

I did some looking up. Most bulldozers don't top 14,000kg. However a few very large machines used in open mining do. I think the examples could have been better expanded out. Also bulozer as an example appears many times. The Catapiller 797 dump truck for open mining can haul 360 tons and weighs in at 1.230 million pounds. Converted to metric tons that is: 558. Wow. Thats big. It has a strength of about 123 or 124 - I think that is enough to lift 360 tons and walk around with it using casual strength. What is the formula to determine what you can lift by the way? I know every 5 points doubles your lifting capacity. What is the exact formula? I've been trying to work it out as perhaps some sort of log formula but haven't gotten it right yet.

Re: Thunderbolt Heavy Strike Fighter

 

The Light Particle Cannon can't attack anything closer than 1km (read up on megascale.)

Re: The fall of the Soviet Union sucked.

 

I've been to the former USSR. Don't kid yourself, they are still Godless Commies. The government is repressive as ever, the thing that is missing are the cool red stars on everything and the tolerance of American Reality TV (which has done more aginast America than 60 years of Soviet produced propaganda.)

 

As for their cool superheros, hey, once a commie always a commie - old habits die hard!

Re: Speedster Trick : Area Effect STR

 

Force Wall 10 PD

+

Force Wall 5 PD with Feedback

 

I like that a lot.

 

Missle deflection is nice in that it is a constant power and a defense power. Once you start deflecting you keep deflecting so long as you pay the END. The only problem is there is the caveat that you can't deflect attacks against your hex. However for cinematic reasons and drama I am sure a reasonable GM will ignore that. If you want to hold back lots of massive landslides (they are so common of course!) you may want to buy lots of extra OCV just for the purpose of missile deflect so that when those massive landslides come you have a decent chance of it.

 

For AOE STR as a defense, it all comes down to how the landslide is defined. I think a way of doing it (and there are lots of ways) would be to set it up as multiple attacks that are 1-hex accurate that have a SPD of 3. A light landslide might have 2 3D6 attacks. A moderate landslide might have 3 3d6 attacks. A heavy landslide might have 3 3d6 attacks and 2 5d6 attacks! Now then, the landslides could also be rated in cubic hexes of material. .1,1,2 respectively for each attack. That would be 1.87 metric tons for a light slide of granite, 18.7 metric tons for a moderate slide and 37.4 metric tons for a massive landslide! A light landslide would be totally deflected AOE STR 30 (I rounded down math geeks). A moderate landslide would be deflected by AOE STR 48 and a heavy landslide would need AOE STR 53!

 

Now if you don't have enough STR to hold it back its up to the GM how do deal with it. You might just take the raw percentage of what you could hold back vs. what was actually against you and then multiply that against the attacks, removing the lighter ones first. I leave it up to GM fiat in this situation.

 

Also, the volumes I chose are somewhat bogus and pulled from the air. One person might use smaller numbers and others might use much mightier numbers. YMMV!

Re: Requires a Skill Roll

 

Derek, that is perfect. Add to it the fact that an attack is normally a half-phase action unless its your first action in which case it becomes a full phase action regardless. This then is a definitive answer: a failed RSR on an attack is a failed attack.

 

In a multipower attack I assume each power has to be looked at individually. This makes sense.

 

Thanks everyone for their input. Ahhh the power of herodom combined!

 

--Pete

Re: Turakian Age: Drakine Population Dynamics

 

You can give them wings and electricity producing organs.

 

Can we make the breasts produce electricity cause, uh, that would be kinda neat.

 

 

"Hissss, You really do not want to mess with our women..."

ZAAAP

hehe!

Re: Speedster Trick : Area Effect STR

 

The area effect STR really isn't the right mechanic for "catching/deflecting" is it though?

 

I think of it has holding back a wall of stone. The AOE makes a loose jumble of stones look like a wall of stone. The GM has to determine what the kilos per square meter are to determine if the character can actually do this with his own strength. Otherwise he gets crushed too!

Re: Requires a Skill Roll

 

Technically you have used your attack - it just didn't do anything useful. So, no you can't throw another punch or shoot another gun.

 

A failed RSR uses a 1/2 phase. Think of it as missing the target.

 

in a Mulitiple Power Attack, I'd rule that the other non-RSR attacks go off as normal and take effect.

 

OK well I will go with that. Its not like I don't get a benefit from RSR making powers cheaper. I haven't designed the charcter yet, just written the back story (3 pages worth) and Enlightenment checks are going to be an important factor. The charater is a Boddhisattva who drives a taxi when not in heroic form!

Re: Requires a Skill Roll

 

Acualy' date=' both yes and no. [/quote']

 

That sounds about right. Any power based off of that power skill roll would therefore be out of the question. For example if you had a ninja hero with a bunch of powers related to chi focus, they would all fail to activate if you failed to achieve focus. But a straight up punch, swing with a prosaic weapon, or some power not associated with the failed power skill I could see getting off.

 

I'm interested in hearing what some of the long time Hero GMs do in this situation.

 

I didn't pose it in the Hero Questions forum for Steve for 2 reasons. A) he is busy editing and writing books I want to read and this one has the feeling of GM discretion. I can see a case being made either way depending on the flavor of the campaign.

Lets say I have an attack power defined with RSR.

 

Lets say I blow my die roll to activate it.

 

Can I still make an attack using another power or HTH?

 

I think the answer is YES because the power did not activate and therefor no attack was thrown. Plus its fair compensation considering the ridicule I will get from the other players for having such lame dice.

Re: Turakian Age: Drakine Population Dynamics

 

I have nipples.

 

You can milk anything that has nipples. (If you've not seen "Meet the Parents" with Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro, this is a classic scene.)

Re: Speedster Trick : Area Effect STR

 

I just read this trick in The Ultimate Brick actually. Naked Advantage Area of Effect (1 Hex) for up to X strength. See 'Arm Sweep', Pg. 51 TUB!

Re: Recreational Drugs

 

Keep the good ideas coming. Everything said so far is helpful. (Even things that are contradictory -- I can take different approaches with different drugs.)

 

Its amazing what you can find on the web...

 

Yaba (aka Nazi Speed) is a Rave drug that started hitting Europe in 1999. Its currently manufactured in Thailand and it was originally developed by German doctors on Hitlers demands that they find a way for soldiers to fight around the clock.

 

Yaba is extremely addictive and can cause elevated blood pressure and body temperature, irregular heartbeat, hallucinations, stroke and death.

 

The central nervous system (CNS) actions that result from taking even small amounts include increased wakefulness, increased physical activity, decreased appetite, increased respiration, hypothermia, and euphoria. Other CNS effects include irritability, insomnia, confusion, tremors, convulsions, anxiety, paranoia, and aggressiveness. Hypothermia and convulsions can result in death. May cause uncontrolled singing of "Whose got the Funk?" as well.

Re: We're Gonna Need Guns

 

The OCSW 25 mm full auto will only weigh 35 lbs therefore' date=' the point is???? [/quote']

 

The Barrett has field experience and the OCSW is a lab experiment, so perhaps its the differene between evolution and revolution. The Barrett has a clearer legacy to objective transition path. However, when the M307 comes out people are going to go "Barrett who?" if it performs up to snuff!

 

I just found out they make an even lighter version of the Barrett .50 that can carry 5 shots and is bolt action. What good is that?

 

Stats and pic for the OCWS can be found here.

 

Put that sucker on a jeep with extra tins of ammo and YOU HAVE A PARTY!

Re: We're Gonna Need Guns

 

Wow, Toadmaster. Sounds like we are going back to the age of the Anti-tank Rifle! The current Barret is lighter than the LMG they are using now. M240 I think. This 25mm Payload Rifle ought to be mighty big. Might require a crew if it ends up with a heavy tripod.

 

They are just a few miles from here. I wonder if they have a public relations office.

 

--Pete

Re: New (old) site found :City of Solis

 

City of Solis is one of the oldest entries in the "What's Cool" list at RPG Library. If you want to recommend any other cool links, just email them to me.

 

Or post them here.

 

Just checked out

Dark Dungeons at that site. Funniest link I've seen in weeks!

 

--Pete

Re: Questions about Hero from a DnD GM

 

Well, you can get Sidekick for $10 which has enough of the rules you can easily get started. Honestly, the big black book is totally loaded and for some a bit overwhelming in my opinion. In the long run you'll want it but getting Sidekick is a great introduction. Besides being cheap when you are done with it you can give/sell it to a potential player when you get the revised book.

 

The supplement books are almost all great. They are full of examples and generally don't contain rules not already found in the main book. They may have suggested skills and power writeups. Generally if you want to do the work you can recreate many of the supplements from the main book excepts the Genre Books which contain information about running games of said genre.

 

I got back into Hero after a 10 year absence in 2003 and to catch up I bought the big book and some supplements. I then started to read the posts at this site daily. I am very comfortable with the system now. The majority of the learning curve took 2 months. Since then its been just a matter of sticking with discussions and looking at real world things and trying to invent stats for them.

 

You will have to unlearn what you have learned with DnD. Freedom can be threatening. At least I know I felt that way originally. Without structure it feels chaotic - but the reason Hero works is you start with effect you want and work your way to the powers/talents/skills/characteristics you need.

 

Lets say you want to make a rogue. What does a rogue do? What defines your idea of a rogue? Access to secretive theives guilds? Silent movement? Trap disarmament? Finding hidden things? For each of those points you can search the book and find something that allows you to do those abilities. Then its a matter of building the power to suit your exact needs.

 

Good luck! I think you will end up loving Hero. Don't be afraid to answer questions - I've almost always had some great responses to questions I've posed here.

Re: Recreational Drugs

 

Sounds good Bob, hope you share your write up with us.

 

While many in game mechanics seem to work well, some things that drugs do are more like character disadvantages (social and psychological limitations) so keep that in mind.

 

Can't wait to see what you come up with.

 

--Pete