incrdbil

Re: Top 10 Insupportable Premises in Comic Book Universes

Duri

The Last Line takes its name from the slogan "The Last Line of Defense". The Last Line is a top-secret combat squadron designed for one specific purpose. To combat and defeat Superman. Led by Amanda Waller, the Last Line's primary function was to protect humanity in the event that Superman should ever turn against the United States. The group's membership includes soldiers from all branches of military service including the United States Marine Corps, the U.S. Army, Navy and even the Defense Department. All of the members of the Last Line are outfitted with body armor powered by Kryptonite. For years they have managed to stockpile an immense cache of Kryptonite by drilling from an asteroid just outside of Earth's orbit. When Superman and Batman undertook a quest to rid the Earth of all Kryptonite, they stumbled upon a trail which ultimately led them back to the Last Line's underground bunker. Waller's resourcefulness enabled her to capture and contain Batman, while the Last Line attacked Superman with weapons made of Kryptonite.

Is it just me, or would everyone else be pleased to see some ordinary schmuck from the DC universe put a bullet in Wallers head?

On topic: I'd love to see a comic where a superhero comes upon a former villian..who is now legit, and does private industary work, making far more money than he ever stole, and living far richer (and with more professional respect) than the superhero.

Your average dumb brick could make a firtune in the construction indutry, the moving industry, salavge. Even better, telekenesis. you coudl be on retainer for so many emergency situations, especially with indirect abilities. Nuclear reactor emergency response, bomb disposal..'street' level villains driven by greed to steal make more sense to me than many super-powered villains.

And as for a telepath..yeesh.

Re: Common 6E House Rules

I'm contemplating reinstating my 5e house rule reducing the costs of vehicles and bases to 1 per 10, not 1 per 5.

Re: More Complications, Please

I like the new number. I think its getting closer to actually reflecting the amount of complications that can be adequately featured in a medium or larger sized group.

Complications should be viewed as requests by the player. "These are some of the challenges i want to see my character deal with. Please weave them into your plot and make a fun, interesting story for me."

And, like any requests, a GM should try to treat everyone equally, and scheduel in enough time for them. The fewer complications to deal with in total means more time spent focusing on the ones that are there.

Recall early Champions days.."So, what 4 hunteds do you have?" And having enough enraged and even beserks to make the Hulk look mellow...

Re: Public ID or Secret ID

It depends. If both are values the same as a complication, then they shoudl be equally hard, though possibly in different ways. If not, your GM is doing it wrong.

Re: Eeep! Buck Rogers!!!

I'd never seen Star Trek Phase II..so good link

Re: Common 6E House Rules

I haven't implemented any house rules yet. Way too early, and no situation has arisen that has justified such yet.

Re: The Beam limitation?

Spreading an attack is handy. It's sort of like a poor mans autofire. I mainyl see it used by heroes with big blast players who find agents who or villains who have unfortunately tightly grouped.

If your OCV is already at the game limits spreading is a handy way of adding some insurance. I guess if you were really desperate you coudl haymaker an attack, then spread all of dice. hmm, brace, set one phase, haymaker the next and spread some dice..that should give you a chance of hitting what you need to hit.

I plan to make much more use of it now that I read the 6e section on it and other applications.

It does have a game impact on agents--a combination of sweeps, multiple power attacks, and spreading lead to a one phase wipeout of 15 Argent agents in a game yesterday. It surprised me a little, I thought I'd get at least two phases of combat, but no big deal.

Re: Margarita Man for 6th Edition...

Using standard effect rules, thats 256 actions to get to full cumulative status.

Assuming speed 6, but two phase a turn are spent sipping a drink..12.8 minutes.

Put Margarita Man on the beach. Players have 12.8 minutes to notice the completely invsible attack, track him down, and stop him.

Re: Margarita Man for 6th Edition...

Mind Control 1d6, Custom Modifier (Must Always take "Target thinks Mind Control is own idea" modifier; +0), Custom Modifier (May not change commands when refilling his drink.; +0), Area Of Effect (4m Radius; +1/4), Telepathic (+1/4), Invisible Power Effects (Invisible to Mental Group; +1/4), Persistent (+1/4), Personal Immunity (+1/4), Armor Piercing (+1/4), Constant (+1/2), Uncontrolled (+1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Affects Desolidified Any form of Desolidification (+1/2), Penetrating (+1/2), Custom Modifier (Reduced Endurance to Maintain Control 0 End; +3/4), Cumulative (768 points; +2 1/4), MegaScale (1m = 1 million km; +2 1/2); Mandatory Effect EGO +30 or Greater (-3/4), No Range (-1/2), Extra Time (Full Phase, Only to Activate, -1/4)

There you go. 52 active, 21 real points.

Secindary power

Summon Bartender with Drink 100-point Bartender with Margerita, Slavishly Devoted (+1)

I was redoing Fiacho, and there it was sitting, 25 points of former Find Weakness, now just gathering dust. I wanted to make Fiacho fearsome again.

At first I tried a multiplepower, with hth damage, NND hth damage, and HKA with requires skill roll. Workable.

But then, i recalled my usage of skill levels..especially trading them in for Damage Classes.

So, I gave Fiacho the Analyze Combat skill, and then this.

+8 with a large group of attacks (Martial Arts); Requires A Roll (Skill roll; -1/2)

So, he can have up to 4 extra damage classes on his attacks, or 2 DC's and +4 levels..or simply +4 OCV/DCV based off his skill roll result. Making the roll exactly gives him 2 levels, by 2 gives him 4, by 4 gives him 6, and by 6 gives him all eight.

It adds something old find weakness didn't have, allowing the extra OCV/DCV option instead of just adding damage.

Lots of ways to do it, really. The joy of being freed from a rule....

EDIT: just thought--maybe an extra 1/4th limitation for the skill roll having to be made per different opponent.

Or leave it as it is--if you fight a group of fighters who all fight the same way, (the same amrtial arts style) the one skill roll might be all you need.

Belwo is the outline for an adventure I used on a past campaign. Found it cleaning out the hard drive. I'm posting it for general use by anyone who wants to adapt it. It takes place in chiocago, but coudl easily be changed for other cities. It features a way to bring the team together, good opponents, and the 'mysterious benefactor' at the end who can be the sponsor of the PC's (maybe even offering a free headquarters)..as a quick excuse to bring a group together.

I hope it is useful to someone.

The characters, throughout the normal course of the day, become aware of a series of crisis that occur in Chicago. In the span of a few minutes, emergencies across the city occur. Players will respond each to their own emergency, get a chance to save others, and spot clues.

Scenario one: Disaster on the Adali Stevenson Expressway.: Several tanker trucks experience devastating accidents; not only is traffic on this vital artery blocked, but innocents are endangered by explosions and possible chemical spills.

1: Hazard one car with 2 young children and 2 parents trapped upside down; nearby tanker truck overturned, river of fuel approaching the vehicle. (Fuel is moving about 2 “ per segment, tanker is about 24 inches away; resulting explosion on phase phase of 2nd turn will be 6d6rka (fire). Other trucks block traffic, including ambulances with critically ill, the ever present pregnant lady entering delivery, and various road raging normals complicating the matter.

Clue #1: Accidents take place near exit, blocking traffic. (Deduction roll, or asking about it)—the accidents happened in chronological order, and worked their way back up the expressway. (interviews, investigation of police will reveal this if player does not note it)

Clue #2: Talking to drivers notes that all of the vehicles ‘suddenly seized up and jacknifed, like the brakes just locked up. (Conversation, Persuasion) One reports his vehicle moved sideways, all of a sudden, and then just flipped over. Investigation of that vehicle using SS Metallurgy or Mechanic will sow the vehicle oddly warped, stretched apart. Perception rolls –3 will find foot shaped indention’s into concrete and asphalt bordering the hiway.

Clue 3: Once not completely destroyed tanker has some time of residue (now desolving); possibly a resin, and very sticky around the wheel wells. (Chemistry, Criminology, Perception –3)

Clue 4: A small highly complex webcamera is found, with a wireless connection, placed so as to strategically view the various accident areas. It has no distinguishing features, has a generic power source, and is no longer transmitting. (Very good perception roll, -8 to notice, if the PC is just looking around the scene.) Just as this incident ends, the following emergency happens.

Incident 2: Emergency at O'Hare Airport. Mysterious electrical problems disable Radar systems, and strange windbursts cause several flights to abort takeoffs under emergency conditions.

PC’s will have 2 turns to stop 3 separate mid air collisions. This can be done by reaching pilots via radio and effectively warning them, or somehow repairing O'Hare Communications and Radar. Somehow communicating with pilots or forcing emergency diversions may work as well. The area will be very chaotic, with Federal Authorities, including Primus (including the local Silver Avenger), responding to reports of a possible terrorist attack.

Clue 1: O'Hare's primary Radar and Communication antennas have been electrically shorted out, as if hit by lightning; the grounds that normally would protect such equipment mysteriously failed to work. Even more oddly, no storms were in the area. (Electronics; Systems Operations)

Clue #2 Barometers indicate that just above the runways unexpected air pressure changes of a very intense, concentrated nature occurred, mini cyclones that defy any meteorological explanations. (Systems Ops to check weather systems: KS Weather)

Clue #3 One emergency crew worker will insist he was ‘buzzed’ by a flying man in silver. (Perception roll –2)

Clue 4: A small highly complex webcamera is found, with a wireless connection, placed so as to strategically view the various accident areas. It has no distinguishing features, has a generic power source, and is no longer transmitting. (Very good perception roll, -8 to notice, if the PC is just looking around the scene.)

Finally, the following occurs.

Incident #3 Radiation Scare: Several Radiation Sensors go off at the Chicago Port Authority, and numerous workers report feeling ill, and will test positive to some radiation exposure (not lethal, but far above normal). There has been severe damage to several ships trying to offload cargo—large cargo modules suddenly crashed, rolled, or otherwise tumbled free from the decks. Fires started as a result. Several people are trapped by debris, and one vessel is leaking fuel into the Lake due to a hull puncture. Heroes need to free trapped longshoremen, stop the fuel leak, and find the source of radiation! (No source can be found, whatever set the sensors off, the source can no longer be found.) Federal authorities will respond in force to this as well, FBI assault teams, Primus agents and Iron Guard.

Clue #1: The Hull puncture isn’t from a physical object—the metal has been burned through, and has trace radiation.

Clue #2 Interviews with workers will relate the Chaos—items just slipped free from secure chains, dropped from secure rigging on cranes, and rolled impossibly long distances. Firecrews couldn’t walk, but kept falling, hoses were impossible to hold.

Clue 3: A small highly complex webcamera is found, with a wireless connection, placed so as to strategically view the various accident areas. It has no distinguishing features, has a generic power source, and is no longer transmitting. (Very good perception roll, -8 to notice, if the PC is just looking around the scene.)

The players will be brought together by the Primus Silver Avenger—using requests radioed through to subordinates at the sites he is not present at—though the PC’s might not be registered, anyone without a criminal reputation will be at least acknowledged for their assistance, and asked to stay and make a verbal statement of what they saw. A representative from the FBI, Kevin E. Ness ( a rather bookish, jumpy fellow) will be present, but seems over-awed by the Sa and the players. He turns out to be from their research, not investigative section of the FBI.

If the players do not deduce the following points, the SA may help them; suggested skill rolls may help them find the following:

All events occurred on a rather narrow time span; the probability of so many accidents at once is remote.

If the cameras were found, it is obvious the event was planned, and monitored….but why?

The events all occurred in downtown Chicago, and provoked large emergency response. In fact, much of Chicago’s emergency services were tied up, with many complaints coming from those other emergencies were resources were delayed in responding.

The players may suggest Supervillains; though no direct evidence was noted, the SA will take their suggestion under advisement. He will not offer to share current villain status or information unless the heroes are registered, but thanks them for their efforts. For those with good reputations, he encourages them to register and to apply to be sanctioned.

Agent Ness, however, may be more helpful. He wants to help the heros, but is afraid of breaking rules. Some Persuasion, or a good Presence roll (but NOT Seduction, Bribery, or Intimidation—those will flat out fail) may make him decide to prove the PC’s with some ASPRA notes.

The players, given the clues above, and the general references from ASPRA should be able to deduce that the Ultimates are at large, by comparing known abilities and the variety encountered. The players will not be able to determine immediately what they are up to. Ness promises to bring the players more information in a couple of days. The players may spend this time for private life development, or their own investigation. The news reports will be filled with stories of the disasters, and local coverage (if the players behaved nicely to the press) will be very positive towards the Heroes, commenting how Chicago is now on the map with several metahumans in the area.

Ness informs the Heroes that the various Federal agencies are divided. Primus suspects VIPER, for some reason, the FBI favors mercenary supervillains hired by terrorists. State and Local agencies just demand more assistance in the investigation. Ness agrees with the PC’s that the Ultimates seem the most likely, even though they have not been reported in the Midwest. Ness will provide some impressive research into the Ultimates, ASPRA database info the PC’s aren’t cleared for. If the PC’s express the theory the Ultimates were testing Chicago’s response time, he will agree, and point out the Heroes response time was observed as well, and that if the Ultimates did strike at a target, the heroes may have a chance to intercept them if they could react faster, and anticipate the Ultimates moves.

If no PC suggests, Ness may suggest that the disasters caused may have been a test, but they did tie up available response forces, and even with heightened staffing, a group of such disasters would tie them up again. Of course, the Ultimates would have to separate to conduct such diversions. Ness can provide a list of possible targets (see Chicago places list—museums, the labs at Northwestern and U of Chicago, Quest labs, the Fermi accelerator, the Chicago Board of Trade, (he’ll neglect the Federal Center due to its ‘impregnable’ Security)

A Deduction roll, or KS Supervillains may remind the PC’s of the Starbird, and that it could be used to pick up and Ferry the Ultimates to a target quickly; if the players could track Starbird, they may find the Ultimates ‘ultimate’ target, or at least the general area where they will strike. Of course, if the Ultimates simply create another test, and the heroes don’t respond, many innocents could perish. The PC’s have a few minutes to think this over before reports come in of a new wave of disasters. This time, 5 different incidents.—all further west of Chicago. Explosions, alarms, fires, some sporadic weapons fire and hostage, all serious incidents.

Players can rush to each one. Players with protective of Innocents (Strong) must make an EGO roll not to do so.

Players can try to hold, determine an origin order; Some deduction rolls, INT or Per Rolls reveal a pattern of incidents starting south and heading north within a few minutes.

The players can try to respond and have Ness check for unusual aircraft sightings, or can monitor variosu radio frequencies. If they PC’s do so, as they PC’s get a handle on the worst of the incidents, they will hear citizen complaints about being ‘buzzed’ by a very low flying jetliner over police frequencies; checking in with O’Hare airport will require some persuasion or acting rolls; the PC’s could get Ness to do it as well, though it will delay the response somewhat; will reveal that due to the prior damage, all small airports have been closed due to Ohare’s reduced air tracking capability, and that currently all scheduled flights have checked in, and that none would be in the areas the PC’s ask about. Or, the PC’s could simply respond to each emergency, and after tying up most of them, they may be contacted directly by Ness (if some player gabe him some means to contact, via a dummy cell phone number, or calls Ness, or they can hear reports over police frequencies) that the Ultimates have attacked the Federal Center! (After the adventure, the PC’s should not feel like dupes for responding to the distractions; their actions saved lives as well and should be recognized for it, and told by others, including the Silver Avenger that though it may have been a distraction, the PC’s id a good thing, and that saving the lives of innocents is never a mistake; if the PC’s don’t respond to the distractions, , or leave before all are responded to in order to defeat the Ultimates, well, most city and emergency response teams did go to those distractions, and they will be acknowledged for figuring out the plot and trying to catch the evil doers who arranged all of that destruction—there will not be a ‘no win situation’—the players measure of success or failure will be in the fight versus the Ultimates).

Depending on the PC’s actions above, they will arrive at various points in the Ultimates scheme; as they Ultimates reach the Federal Center; while the Ultimates are inside retrieving the data, or as the Ultimates are exiting the building with their objective.

So, what has all of this been about? The Ultimates thinned out the Fed Center security to penetrate a very secret resource; one of the ASPRA database backups. This network, spread out in several locations to protect it, is very secret, highly guarded. The information between each is protected by firewalls; at the end of every day, very complex data scanners compare each database, to make sure none have been corrupted or changed; only then, simultaneously, are updates to the database accomplished. The data is heavily encrypted, with self destruct mechanisms in place to destroy a particular database to prevent physical capture, and special protective programming to delete the data if any mistakes are made in entering the appropriate passwords, or entering the correct password at the wrong time. The Ultimates however aren’t worried about that; they are simply breaking in to copy the encrypted data, and give it to their unknown employer who says he can retrieve the data; the Ultimates will get several million dollars, and large sections of information on their particular enemies, and a selection of others they specify. Such knowledge of their enemies and potential opposition was irresistible to Binder, who agreed to work for their mysterious employer.

Situation 1: Ultimates met as they arrive at the Federal Center: This is the optimal fight for the PC’s; the Ultimates are not in the building near innocents, and are together in one group; the Ultimates will not be trying to fell, but secure the goal—Binder, upset by the immediate Superhero presence, quickly orders a full scale attack on the PC’s. the battle will take place in the street running between the various buildings, terminating in the large parking structure; the battle area will be a rough square.. 6 lanes of streets, ( about 9 inches) with cars parked on the sidewalks (another 2 inches on each side, then sidewalks and entryways to each building taking up about 3 more inches on each side results in a width of about 22 inches total; the Starbird is hovering about 4 inches off the ground, entry ramp extended to about 1 inch off the ground just 5 inches in front of the parking structure (the traffic lanes continue under the structure and out the other side, exits into the structure are to either side underneath its second level that extends across the street.) Extend the length of the battlefield as needed, at least 20 inches; large 10+ multistory buildings to all sides, All are of reinforced steel, with security/bulletproof windows construction, with large barriers or concrete poles spaced an inch apart in front of each entryway as a barrier to car bombs. Armed Guards are inside buildings foyer, operating sophisticated scanning equipment, but will not come out to engage the Ultimates; they know they are not equipped to deal with Supervillains, and will instead act to alert the Center, evacuate others, and will only engage to protect lives or defend the building.

Special Notes: If the PC’s fight the Ultimates for over three turns, even if they lose, by that time the Ultimates will not be able to stop the immediate data protection/deletion; they will not get their information if the players hold them this long. The PC’s will not know this.

Battle Complications: Ness will feel obliged to help the heroes; he’ll appear on phase twelve of the first combat turn, from the FBI building, armed with a heavy Kevlar Vest, helmet, and Assault Rifle. Despite his timid appearance, he will engage fairly effectively, taking cover, bracing, setting, and shooting to kill at the most appropriate target based on his studies of the Ultimates via the ASPRA database. If the battle is going well for the Ultimates, Ness may lead a team of FBI agents; if things are going well for the PC’s, he comes out alone, and the Ultimates may use him as a hostage.

Other Complications: Don’t play in traffic—traffic will obviously not be coming down the street from the ‘open end’ of the field; drivers will be able to see a superhuman conflict going on, and MOST will stop, turn around, or abandon their cars and flee. Drivers coming from underneath the parking structure may not be so lucky. The traffic will mostly be cars; large trucks are not permitted around the Federal Center; still that leaves room for cars, SUV’s chock full of innocents, or even the Drunk Driver with, obviously, about 5d6 of unluck and really bad timing. The players could wind up dodging traffic, and villains.

Note: News reporters, on ground, and even in helicopter, could arrive on turn two if the GM just feels like making it Chaos. So now you have speeding traffic, fleeing innocents, helicopters flying low, news crews running about, FBI agents shooting or trying to make everyone else leave, and a full out team on team fight. Another homage to the Untouchables would be the lady pushing the baby carriage across the street. PC’s with protective of innocents may need an Ego roll to keep their brains from melting. Of course, if the team is relatively new, reduce the innocents, or just keep them out of the way, and let them have at it with the Ultimates.

Welcome to Chicago baby!

(If this is a comedic campaign, or even 4 color, feel free to have the Blues Brothers drive through with about the Illinois Nazi’s and 70 police cars in pursuit at this point; the PC’s may be too busy to notice.)

Ultimates Tactics: The Ultimates are in a hurry. Binder will order the Ultimates to “extremely aggressive” posture.

Thunderbolt: Will spread an EB for a dice or two to hit multiple PC’s)

Slick and Binder: Combo entangles to leave others helpless for Blackstar to do a sweep attack.

Slick may reluctantly try a multiple move by if he isn’t entangling

Cyclone will try his Area effect EB’s, or spread with TB for grouped PC’s, will be more likely to do the multiple move by.

Thunderbolt may try to grab, and fly/move through a PC into an electrical pole/transformer)

If one PC really poses a problem, Binder will try an entangle, slick will make an area low friction. T-bolt and Cyclone will coordinate and blast the victim towards Blackstar who will move through them, using his running and the characters knockback velocity)

If the Ultimates are down to half strength down, (and the PC’s are not down to one or two members) Binder will call for a retreat to the Starbird—and will order others to create distractions for the PC’s, including endangering innocents (Cyclone will not do this, and will just rush and grab people, as will Binder. Thunderbolt will relish in causing danger.) If the fight goes past turn three, Binder will be well aware it is too late, and call for the retreat to the Starbird.

If the PC’s are all knocked out, Binder will entangle them, and the Ultimates will hurry to grab the database—they will be too rushed to take foci, remove masks, etc.

If the Ultimates are all knocked out, or almost all are down, emergency retreat is in effect. Slick, Cylone will run for the hills, Blackstar desolidifies, T-Bolt teleports. Binder will try to hitch a ride with Cyclone or Slick; (more likely Slick, Cyclone will probably forget about Binder) the agent type flying the Starbird will leave, trying to get to noncombat speed regardless of the sonic boom in the city.

Option 2: the players arrival is slightly delayed.

The Ultimates have made their way into the Fed Center: The scene as described above is present, excepting that there are quite a few unconscious FBI agents around; the Starbird is hovering about 20” up, ramp closed

Their will be signs of forced entry into the FBI building, where Cyclone, Binder, and Slick forced themselves into the ASPRA database area, in the basement. Blackstar used his desolidification, and Thunderbolt teleported via data lines to the room, and used his dispel powers to disable the main computer. Blackstar took out the staff trying to destroy the database.

The PC’s arrive just as the data storage device Binder is using has almost finished downloading the data (phase 12 on the next turn); the Ultimates will try to delay, hinder the PC’s, possibly use technicians as hostages, then evacuate to the surface and escape with the Data; this will be complicated by Blackstar and T-Bolt who will want to stay and scrap. Binder will, in desperate need, give the data for Cyclone to get away with, and then finish off the PC’s and have the rest of the team withdraw in Starbird.

Slick will be very uncomfortable underground; the fight will be in three rooms; on central area, where the security guards were (now unconscious, the sealed door destroyed), then adjoining rooms to the left and right; one room being the programmers room, and the other being the main server and security systems. The main security area is about 4 by 5 hexes; the programmers room 5 by 18 hexes, and the server room about 4 by six hexes—very cramped quarters. The rooms are filled with computer desks, the latest systems, monitors, computer desks and very nice office chairs. If any fire breaks out, a Halon system will activate in the server room (treat as 1d6 NND/Life acting at the bottom of the phase, SPD acting at SPD 3, no recoveries possible unless you have LS: SC breathing or doesn’t need to breathe).

The fighting in here will seriously hamper Slick and Cyclone; still, their powers can cause havoc—the slickness field can affect the entire small combat area; the double KB blast may blind people with a flurry of paper. T-Bolt can teleport almost anywhere in here, and may get several surprise moves. If the PC’s get separated, a Glue/Entangle barrier may separate them.

Upon making their way to the surface, the Ultimates will do about anything to distract the PC’s if Cyclone hasn’t gotten out with the database yet. Repeat the guidance above for the various retreats, description of the area, and the possible complications. The Starbird will be near the ground, hovering, with ramp extended once the Ultimates hit the surface. Binder will try to avoid leaving any team member behind unless necessary.

Option 3: The players took care of all distractions.

They will arrive at the Fed center to see the Ultimates boarding Starbird, with Ness and several agents unconscious/glued/sliding helplessly around. Slick has already placed the database on Starbird. He’ll order the Starbird to leave, with Radium on board as defense and the Ultimates will tangle with the PC’s. (PC’s who don’t notice the fact the Ultimates get-away vehicle is leaving them behind may rate a deduction roll at to figure out they may be missing something). The GM could have Ness yell from his entangle “They’ve got the database, you have to stop that whatever it is, no matter what, or every registered superhero is in danger!”.

The Ultimates will strive to keep the PC’s busy, not as much as focused on taking them out quickly but fighting one on one. Any flyer going after Starbird will be attacked by every ranged attacker, and then engaged by Cyclone.

As a desperate measure, Radium will open one of the hatches (having secured himself before doing so), and blast away at pursuit.

Binder and Slick will do everything they can to delay people; Blackstar will go for a grab/squeeze, Cyclone will try to keep PC’s off their feet. The Starbird is piloted by a standard agent who will move to Noncombat speed ASAP. If the Starbird gets free, Binder will call for a retreat and the Ultimates will withdraw.

If any members of the Ultimates are captured, but the Ultimates get away with or without the data, the PC’s will still have a chance. The transfer of the captured member will be monitored: Binder won’t let his team be weakened by losing a member so easily. If the PC’s think to monitor the transfer, they may get another crack at the Ultimates. This encounter is best improvised, depending on who is captured and who is left free.

The PC’s are thanked for their efforts, even if only a ‘good try’ if the Ultimates succeed. The more efforts aimed at minimizing damage and saving innocents will increase the level of respect; the news media will make them an instant sensation, labeling them as Chicago’s new team before the players may even think about it. Stopping the Ultimates will be newsworthy, capturing a few will get nationwide notice; capturing all of the Ultimates, a Delta Class threat will receive nationwide praise. The goal of the Ultimates, the ASPRA database will not be mentioned, or how close they got to it; the PC’s will be encouraged, for security reasons, not to mention the goal of the attack.

Players will really be requested to register, and assured their ASPRA database is secure, and that the results of the Ultimates attack will only tighten security. Of course, some PC’s may ask how the Ultimates knew how to get to it in such detail. If players agree, they will be scheduled for an intake interview the following week.

As the PC’s prepare to leave the Federal Center, they will be approached by a courier who will bring each PC an certified letter; inside is a certified letter from Charles Worthington. Skill rolls of KS: Buisness, High Society will recall Mr. Worthington being a philanthropist who, despite being seemingly shy of the public eye, is known for fairly generous donations to local charities, (especially for police and veterans) sponsoring several foundations for community improvement and economic development. No hint of scandal has ever been attached to him. His letter reads as follows.

“Dear Friends: Your heroic contributions to the safety of Chicago have not escaped my attention for some time, even before the recent spectacular series of events that have shaken our community to its core. I had been considering sending this invitation to you all individually for some time, foreseeing the potential for good that would result from your combined efforts. Fate, however, chose to reveal this potential in the crucible of a crisis unseen, a crisis that you managed honorably and heroically. Indeed, it seems that the need I saw unfulfilled, and the potential within each of you to meet that need were made manifest in the titanic combat that erupted on our streets, when you pitted your powers, your dedication, and your lives in combat with the minions of greed, cruelty, and avarice. Let us not let this unique opportunity slip away; the machinations of fate have brought us together, and it is unique moments that this that can echo through the halls of history only if people of character, dignity, and courage seize the day and forge a brilliant path that leads to a better future for all. I humbly beseech you to listen to my plea in person, and, afterwards, I will trouble you no more if you wish. I simply hope you will accept my invitation to dinner, and then a brief period afterwards to hear my presentation. If you accept, please arrive no later than 7:00 p.m at the address listed below. If you choose not to respond, there is no need to respond, and I wish you nothing but success and the best of luck in the future.

With my undying respect

Charles Worthington.”

A Card embossed simply with each characters name, and CW’s address, and a date for next week with 7:00 pm embossed in gold is attached to the letter.

With this mysterious invitation, the issue comes to a close.

Re: "Ya better talk Oculon, or you'll get the spike!" (A Super law question)

Ok, Mr. Evil, after a long career of crime is caught and executed.

And yes, he's dead.

So, out come Mr. Evil's Clone. The Clone commits a crime and is brought to justice.

Do we kill the clone to complete the 'death' sentence?

Does the criminal history of the original Mr. Evil apply?

Doe it matter if the clone has a full, or only partial memort transfer? Let's say its a clone (with full memory transfer) of Mr Evil before he committed the heinous crime that got him the Death Penalty?

Re: Champions Online - Cue Dead Parrot Sketch!

Doom. Doom! DOOM!

Yes, I thought that post came from Latveria too.

My latest MMO theorey: some players subscribe to a new MMO hoping it has problems, so they can enjoy the drama of being the outraged consumer. Someone should make an onlien game that caters to thsi market..where the game lets you create an MMO player, who goes from game to game, fighting evil developers who are just trying to steal their money and ruin PVP for them. Character cklasses include the bitterboy, the PVPuberalles fanatic, the fanatic concept builder, the nerfhater, and the elite "I played this game for four hours and learned all I needed to know to make my 4 weeks of criticism posts" commando

Re: Champions Online - Cue Dead Parrot Sketch!

The parrot isn't dead. It's not getting on the cart. It feels happy.

And I have a feeling some of those who sold off/cancelled lifetime accounts might regret the hastiness.

http://forums.champions-online.com/showthread.php?t=99974

http://www.champions-online.com/node/594840

Re: Champions Online - Cue Dead Parrot Sketch!

In a nutshell - they released the game in what most people consider to have been a "non-complete" status, to use the polite term.

and an inaccuate term. It launhced just like most other MMO's.

The "big announcement" that Cryptic PR people made was the announcement of a few features like "flashback" systems (hmmm... that sounds familiar)

took COH how many years to get to that?

a difficulty slider (even more familiar)

A feature many people seem to be wanting. They should be criticized for that?

some new costume pieces, and "Vibora Bay" a new city zone (on the coast of Florida) that would cover content from level 37-40.

 

But it's paid content.

The zone is paid content. Nothign else of that requires the paying. I'm not happy about VB being a pay zone, but it really depends on how much it is for that zone.

That's it.

No raise of the level cap to 50.

Why is this expected?

For perspective, in the same time-frame of City of Heroes opening to 5-6 months in, there were 3 free updates that added 7 new zones, capes, multiple costume slots, costume tailoring, 4-5 new enemy groups. graphics upgrades, renovation and addition of new maps for missions, and oodles of new costume pieces. All for free.

wow, souns like CoH was really incomplete on release then.

(Sorry, had to parody the rather whiny atitude to the CO boards for a moment)

Overall opinion, despite Cryptic's claims to the contrary, is that CO has been left fallow and most of the development team was reassigned to Star Trek Online. Leaving CO as the "red-headed step child".

 

 

Here are some primers. Amazingly enough, there's been little actual "Flaming" going on at the forums. Most people are posting well thought out responses.

what? The childish behavior, the ludicrous signature images..many are living up to the worst stereotype of MMO players.

I THANK GOD I didn't buy a lifetime subscription. And those of you who might be thinking of buying one for Star Trek Online, you'd better look DAMN LONG AND HARD at what Cryptic did here before even CONSIDERING giving them ONE RED CENT.

ah, one of those.

When the company rep (Daeke) who made the announcement of Vibora Bay being paid content is fired (apparently) for mentioning the part about Vibora being paid content early (and thank GOD he did) -

From my POV--Daeke was incompetent, before the VB announcement in his fuction as a community moderator and caused a PR firestorm by an poorly thoguht out release of information at the wrong time.

Since his departure, the feedback and communications has been there. The lack of communication and response, the false expectatiosn of legendary updates came under hsi tenue. somehow he's become a martyr out of this

Re: What do you really think of Champions Online?

As

Why? To put it bluntly CO is graphically inferior to ALL of the above mentioned games, and its not even a close race.

What are you guidelines on that, out of curioisity?

CoX has an amazing character creator as well(Arguably far superior)

And others would say its far inferior. Sort of subjective wouldnt you say?

Sure the bare minimum basics are there, but have you ever pvp'd? Anyone who has will know the following powers - bionic shielding, chainsaw gauntlet, regeneration, acrobatics, teleportation, laser sword, mini device - I won't name them all, but let me put it this way - you had better be rocking these if you want to be successful in any pvp combat.

What, PVP leads to certain optimized builds? How this is different from CoX escapes me. But then, I despise PVP, and I dont care if the PVP experience horribly sucks.

"But I don't care about pvp!"

Then why are you playing CO? Seriously. The pve is a joke, and by no means a challenge.

yeah..I see where this is going.

Don't take my word for it, just look at the boards.

Sort of like the CoX boards. Whiners whining that their preferred play style/build isnt better than all others, and its just unfair....its eternal puberty. IOW, standard for PVP board in general.

EDIT: yes, there are exceptional scholars and gentlepersons among PVP'rs. Sadly, they are the definite minority.

Re: What do you really think of Champions Online?

At which point' date=' if it is also still around, CoX will have progressed beyond that. So it goes, as he said, second-itis.[/quote']

 

By that point, it may be that CoX will be seen as suffering from 'first' itis, as CO has better graphics, powers, less antiquated character creation system tat doesnt force you into a few narrow roles. Grass is always greener etc., etc.,

Re: What do you really think of Champions Online?

- I found the populace to be filled with griefing, kill-stealing, pre-pubescent, power-mad, power-gaming, teabagging assholes that I had absolutely no desire to spend time with.

Well, it is an MMO after all.

Re: What do you really think of Champions Online?

Could you perhaps be a bit more specific?

second-itis:

CoX has the content that it does have after many, many years of development. Sadly, man of CO's players expect the same content amount from a much younger game. Some seem to want the same play experience (more dependancy on the old tired class structure, the need to team as opposed to the ability enjoy more casual solo play).

Just by deciding to do things differently, raher than follow the path of CoX gets criticisms..even I'm subject to it. CoX established an expectation that extra zones should be free upgrades, but, really, there's no reason it has to be free. Given that CoX has been engaging in microtransactions for costume sets and minor powers..charging for a zone expansion really isn't so heretical now that I relfect on it.

Re: What do you really think of Champions Online?

It suffers from a bad case of coming second-itis.

With the announcement that the new zone, Vibora bay, will not be free access, but will cost money, reactions on the CO forums have been pretty unhappy.

How do you guys feel about it?

I don't know enough about it to say, but in general, the idea of paying money for access to a mere zone sounds like a bad idea. Expansion, I have no problem with paying money, but a zone..well, that bugs me. I think Cryptic really misjudged the reaction to this.

Re: A little help for one of my players

Thaanks for all the help. It has been goign well so far.

The player had everyone break out in laughter--at one point of what is a very strange adventure involving extra dimensional centers, cosmic beings, temporal anamolies, he played the song 'chimpanzees on segways' as the players were recovering from one really odd incident and make everyone crack up with laughter. It was one of those 'you had to be there' moments..but the non-talking character is communicating with the party

In one of my play by skype games, a players is facing a challenge: they are playing a character who doesn't talk.

Feedback has sonic powers, and can simulate almost any noise--so its not a physical inability to talk--its a psychological problem.

He communicates through music, and sound bites of lyrics, movie lines, famous quotes. I'm trying to compile list, a cheat sheet of handy musical selections that can be used for situations that may arise in a superhero adventutre.

I'm appealing to the community because Feedback has an enormous appetitie for music of all tastes, so a variety of input from Herodom and its eclectic taqtstes seemed like a good idea.

good selection of fight music is welcome, but music to communuicate with is really essentuial

Music/Noises/Quotes that suggests the following concepts would help

Puzzzlement

anger

amusement

sadness

frustration

surprise

warning

apprehension

wonder

teamwork

commitment

Feel free to suggest your fav TV/Movie lines to handle many situations related to:

attack

retreat

fight

let's work together

I'm here to help

Need help

No need to answer all--but if you could just toss in 3 or 4 of your favorite musical selections and what you feel they express, it would help greatly.

Re: Ranged HA - What so bad about it

If you want to do ranged normal damage, you buy blast. What is there to discuss?

All in all, its come off very poorly.

The timed appearance of the big bad monster is something universally hated from the Halloween event. Sad to see it repeated..with a very annoying, poorly thought out big-bad monster.

Drop rates for action figure collections is horrible.

And the missions/infinite grind quests for the holiday travel powers...wow. You have to be obsessive/compulsive..or just insane to grind that much, spend that much time..for a crappy extra travel power no better (or worse) than what you pick up at level 5.. Even buying the resources will cost you as much gold as you'ld earn in the entire career of a just turned 40 character.

I have to say I'm starting to worry about the investment of a lifetime subscription if they seriously thought this would be a 'fun' winter event. I've been forgiving about the content shortage, adjustment/balance problems, but the failure to learn from fairly recent mistakes troubles me. It's not a balance or tweakign issue, its a sign of not paying attention, or just not having a clue of what the customers like.

Just browsing the forums..everyone hates this event. Even the most ardent defenders are, at best, staying silent.

The CoX holiday missions/activities are a heck of a lot more fun. How could cryptic, with a better game and the advantage of time fail this epically in the design area of the holiday event?