Michael Hopcroft

Has anyhone considered doing a modern-=day camapign with a lot of fantastic elements hidden just below the surface? Like a powerful fianncier being a dragon in disguise, elves hiding in the woods and taking down the occasional loggic crew, Orcs in the sewers mostly keeping to themsevles unless provoked, and the High and Dark Evlves waging a secret war for control of the Earth, using glamours to disguise themselves as humans when not in open combat? Maybe the Elves are in reality giving the orders to all the politicians through subtle means, and anyone who disocvers this is either disposed of or recruited into the conspiracy. ElfMeets in secret places are nbest not stumbled upon -- especially of the Dark Elf variety. magic is real, but only a very few know about this. An amateur casting a spectacular spell in public will draw the attention of the Elves and will be made to learn to control his power more efficiently -- or else.....magic is mainly used for subtle things, like the healing Art, the Cursing Art or the Arts of Decay. the Dark elves use those monsters that are likely to hunt the unsuspecting, such as vampires, as their pawns. The vampires like to believe the dark Elves are THEIR pawns in their bid to make the world their private feeding ground. The High elves counter by training special humans to be monster=hunters who know all the weaknesses of the monsters and can exploit them all. Most ordinary people are completely unaware any of this is going on. The Elves like oit that way. they;d rather the public believe that elves are fairy tales.

Re: Thoughts on Tintin as a HERO Unfortunately, 41-year-old men with bad feet and bad brains can;t enlist in the armed forces. So no enlistment bonuses for me. Then again, i don't have to go into combat unless they invade Portland. In fact, I;'m so broke right now that I really need some money to buy decent meals, not just online services and the HERO books I crave. At least my rent gets paid every month....

Re: Teen Spy Campaigns The strange thing is, the girls are all boy-crazy, yet all the fanfic is yuri. Is it overcompensation, or just the male fantasy that all hot chicks are bi? (A fantasy that the only hot chicks I ever knew in my life would find, frankly, rather insulting.)

Re: Thoughts on Tintin as a HERO Funny, I got the same response when I pposted a thread about Goscinny & Urdezo's Asterix the Gaul over in the Fantasy HERO section. Lots of books people have suddenly decided they want to read....

Since we;'ve been discussing the Belgioan comic Tintin in another part of the forum, I was wondering whether the French comic Atserix the Gaul would be a good example of a comedic fantasy campaign. Asterix the Gaul centers around the last unconquered Gaulish village after Julius Ceasar's invasion in 46 B.S. Although the village is syurrounded by four roman camps, each occupied by three or four cohorts, they hold out because the druied getaifx supplies everyone (well, almost everyone) with a magic potion that makes them incredibly stong and tough. Asterix is the smallest and wiriest warrior you'll ever see, but he cominbed his super-strenght with phenomenal skill and is the bane of the besiegers. Even when he is without the potion (which wears off over time), his wits are still potent enough that he can amlost always otusmart the Romands. Although the cartoonists frequently showed their disdain for anything that isn;t French, the strip was extremely popular internationally and the English-langauge graphic novels sold very well.

Re: Thoughts on Tintin as a HERO The sigth of Thomson and Thompson hoppign on the Moon arm in arm is one I will never forget. One interesting note about Herge is that he did not flee Belgium when the Nazis came. This led to a rather dark period of his career, wher he was compelled to draw anti-Semetic Tintin stories for the occupiers. While these strips durvive, they ahve fortunatrely never been translated into English, and IIRC HErge later renounced them once Belgium was liberated. At least he never got the reputation of being a willing collaborator and his career continued to flourish after the war.

Re: Teen Spy Campaigns There actually was an animated series called James Bond Jr. about 007's teenage cousin (who also happened to be named James Bond) and the adventures he got into. he even had his own nemeses. Totally Spies! has inspired more dirty fanfiction, by the way, than any other show in the genre.

This is more a story-mangaement question than a rules-based question, but how do HERO GMs handly prophesies of doom that come from supposedly reliable sources. prophesies like "Unless (insert relatively weak PC) is killed the world will end" or "The Dark Lord Kvack is destined to cover the world in avian shadow". If the PCs believe the prophecy, will they fight to stop it from coming true? Or will they resign themsevles to the inevitable? Would they kill that unfortunate PC to save the world -- and what if it doesn't work?

One of the most popular fantasy series running right now on American TV is Rumiko Takahashi's anime Inu-Yasha, in which a girl from our time falls through a well, winds up in fedual Japan, and becomes involved in a fued among demons. Has anyone ever wanted to figure how HERO would model any of the characters from that series?

Re: TV Teen Titans Writeups Has anyone tried to writew up Slade, or are we still not sure of all the things the Titans' nemesis can do? In other words, and we going to wait untilt he end of the series because Slade may have even more tricks up his sleeve than we can guess?

Re: Hey Surbook: Playing around with mythology can be fun! Rumiko Takahashi did it all the time. I remember once being told "The best way to understand Urusei Yatsura is to VBE Japanese." Takahashi satirized the tradtional take on Oni by have them as a race of aliens and kaing her main character a young Oni who happens to be gorgeous instead of hideous. Orgiinally she was meant to plague the life of the here, but over time she mellowed consideraly (although she did retain her violent jealous streak). Her electric shocks were also a nice touch.

Re: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow I have GOIt toi find out about this company, but I'm disappointed it's d20. Mayvbe there's soemthing I can raid.

Re: Early "What do you want to see?" for Teen Champions As someone who has experienced school, I can say with some assurance that classmates, especially the wrong kind, do indeed cause problems. Social cliques and ostracism are very potent weapons that can ruin a teenager's life based even on rumor. the problems faced by the Scooby Gang in the early seasons of B:TVS is an excellent example. And finally, as an example of how this peer pressure can be overcome -- at the end, the student body embraced Buffy and even fought at her side.

I've been sorely tempted to replace my long lost coyp of Columbia games' Harnworld set 9which is comp[osed of several books and at least one map). the only rpoblem is that i don;t know how well HERO handles the sort of low-magic setting Harn is made out to be, and I don;t know fi i want to go to the expense of buying (and the trouble of learning) HarnMaster so i can play in Harn. So would this be a foolish investment?

In honor of Christopher Reeve, I got the idea of creating a Champions character based on the concept of a powerful superhero who had, in combat against a foe that would have destroyed the planet, sacrificed his mobility. Now he is paralyzed -- unable to move any of his limbs, occasionally needing a respirator to breathe -- but still determined to not only be an example, but to help those worse off than himself. His combat days are done, but as a voice for peace, justice and compassion he weilds enormous power and influence. People losten to him because they know what he has sacrificed on their behalf. And his teammmates frantically struggle to find a way to let him at least walk again, but the paralysis resists super-medicine and magical healing. Indeed, the days where his courage will be needed most are head of him....

Re: TV Teen Titans Writeups Here's my take. He turned out to be extremely expensive, mainly because of all his skills. Robin Player: Val Char Cost 18 STR 8 30 DEX 60 18 CON 16 19 BODY 18 24 INT 14 18 EGO 16 28 PRE 18 18 COM 4 12 PD 8 9 ED 5 5 SPD 10 12 REC 8 50 END 7 37 STUN 0 6" RUN02" SWIM013 1/2" LEAP0Characteristics Cost: 192 Cost Power END 20 Utility Belt: Multipower, 30-point reserve, (30 Active Points); all slots OIF (-1/2) 1u 1) Robinrangs: Killing Attack - Ranged 2d6 (30 Active Points); 6 Charges (-3/4), OIF (-1/2) [6] 1u 2) Smoke Bombs: Sight Group Flash 6d6 (30 Active Points); 6 Charges (-3/4), OIF (-1/2) [6] 1u 3) Rebreather: Life Support (Self-Contained Breathing) (10 Active Points); OIF (-1/2), Limited Power Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (Ten minute's worth of air; -1/4) 0 17 Battle Staff: Hand-To-Hand Attack +8 1/2d6 (43 Active Points); OAF (-1), Hand-To-Hand Attack (-1/2) 4 20 Increible Leaps!: Leaping +10" (13 1/2" forward, 6 1/2" upward) (Accurate, x4 Noncombat) 2 Powers Cost: 60 Cost Martial Arts Maneuver 4 Block: 1/2 Phase, +2 OCV, +2 DCV, Block, Abort 4 Dodge: 1/2 Phase, -- OCV, +5 DCV, Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort 5 Kick: 1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, +1 DCV, 7 1/2d6 Strike 4 Punch: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +2 DCV, 5 1/2d6 Strike 3 Throw: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +1 DCV, 3 1/2d6 +v/5, Target Falls 4 Atemi Punch: 1/2 Phase, -1 OCV, +1 DCV, 2d6 NND 4 Choke Hold: 1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, +0 DCV, Grab One Limb; 2d6 NND 5 Breaking Throw: 1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, -2 DCV, Grab One Limb; HKA 0 1/2d6 , Disable; Target Falls 4 Knife Hand: 1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, +0 DCV, HKA 1d6 +1 4 Reversal: var Phase, -1 OCV, -2 DCV, 33 STR to Escape; Grab Two Limbs 3 Sacrifice Throw: 1/2 Phase, +2 OCV, +1 DCV, 3 1/2d6 Strike; You Fall, Target Falls 5 Takeaway: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +0 DCV, Grab Weapon, 28 STR to take weapon away 3 Takedown: 1/2 Phase, +1 OCV, +1 DCV, 3 1/2d6 Strike; Target Falls 3 Throw: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +1 DCV, 3 1/2d6 +v/5, Target Falls 1 Weapon Element: Staffs 1 Weapon Element: Polearms Martial Arts Cost: 57 Cost Skill 3 Acrobatics 15- 3 Acting 15- 3 Analyze: Agility Skills 14- 3 Armorsmith 15- 3 Breakfall 15- 5 Bugging 15- 3 Bureaucratics 15- 3 Climbing 15- 3 Combat Driving 15- 3 Combat Piloting 15- 32 +4 with All Combat 10 Computer Programming (Computer Networks, Hacking and Computer Security, Personal Computers, Mainframes and Supercomputers, Military Computers) 14- 7 Concealment 16- 3 Contortionist 15- 3 Conversation 15- 3 Criminology 14- 3 Cryptography 14- 7 Deduction 16- 3 Demolitions 14- 3 Disguise 14- 3 Electronics 14- 3 Fast Draw 15- 3 Forensic Medicine 14- 2 Forgery (Documents) 14- 3 High Society 15- 3 Interrogation 15- 7 Inventor 16- 5 KS: Jump City 14- 5 KS: Gotham City 14- 5 KS: the Suprheroic World 14- 4 Language: Japanese (completely fluent; literate) 4 Language: Spanish (completely fluent; literate) 4 Language: Italian (completely fluent; literate) 3 Lipreading 14- 3 Lockpicking 15- 3 Mechanics 14- 5 Navigation (Air, Land, Marine, Space) 14- 3 Parachuting 15- 3 Paramedics 14- 3 Persuasion 15- 5 PS: Circus Performer 14- 5 Rapid Attack (HTH) 5 Rapid Attack (Ranged) 7 Security Systems 16- 7 Shadowing 16- 3 Sleight Of Hand 15- 3 Stealth 15- 3 Streetwise 15- 16 Survival (Arctic/Subarctic, Marine, Temperate/Subtropical, Tropical, Desert, Mountain, Underground, Urban) 14- 7 Systems Operation (Communications Systems, Environmental Systems, Metal Detectors, Radar, Sonar) 14- 7 Tactics 16- 3 Teamwork 15- 3 Tracking 14- 10 TF: Common Motorized Ground Vehicles, Combat Aircraft, Helicopters, Large Motorized Boats, Large Planes, Rafts, Small Motorized Boats, Small Planes, Spaceplanes, Submarines, Two-Wheeled Motorized Ground Vehicles 9 WF: Common Martial Arts Melee Weapons, Common Melee Weapons, Flails, Homemade Weapons, Nets, Staffs, Whips 4 Weaponsmith (Missiles & Rockets, Muscle-Powered HTH, Muscle-Powered Ranged) 14- Skills Cost: 277 Cost Perk 15 Money: Filthy Rich 6 Reputation: Legedary Sidekick on hiw own (A large group) 14-, +2/+2d6 6 Contact: Batman (Contact has access to major institutions, Contact has extremely useful Skills or resources, Contact has significant Contacts of his own) 8- 25 Vehicles & Bases Perks Cost: 52 Cost Talent 16 Berserk Fury 16 Crippling Blow 18 Evasive 14 Fearless 11 Inspire 3 Lightsleep Talents Cost: 78 Total Character Cost: 716 Val Disadvantages 10 Enraged: When moiral sesne offended (Uncommon), go 11-, recover 14- 30 Hunted: Slade 14- (Mo Pow, NCI, Harshly Punish) 10 Hunted: Kitten 8- (Less Pow, NCI, Harshly Punish) 25 Psychological Limitation: Committed to being the best (Very Common, Total) 15 Psychological Limitation: In Love with Starfire (Common, Strong) 15 Psychological Limitation: Hunting Slade (Common, Strong) 25 Social Limitation: Duty to Teen titans (Very Frequently, Severe) 20 Social Limitation: Secret identity (Dick Grayson) (Frequently, Severe) 5 Social Limitation: Still Under the Batman's Shadow (Occasionally, Minor) Disadvantage Points: 155 Base Points: 200 Experience Required: 361 Total Experience Available: 0 Experience Unspent: 0

Re: TV Teen Titans Writeups Don't do that either. I don;t want you to do anything just because I;'m depressed. Like your robin by the way, but I;'d change a few things by outting a few more items into the utility belt and giving some of the things he uses more evoactive names. The edged darts he throws, for example, could be called Robinrangs, as they are his variation of the Batarang principle. You might also want to make use of some of hois ninja-like abilities -- he has a tendency to show up from the middle of s\nowehgere, or to seem to have avnished complteley only to reappear just in time to take the decisive action. One other note: Robin, like Batman before him, is VERY intimidating in spite of his small size. Robin is always the one who confronts the bad guy and demands information with the air of "tell me what i want to knwo or VERY bad things will happen to you". You also might want to increase the amount of hand-to-hand damage he does, as he has taken down foes that would seem immune to hand-to-hand attacks with single blows.

Re: Help me build a spell: Never-Ending Arrows I can;t see how the one-arrow-per-round would be falling fast enough to do any damage at all -- certainly not fast enough to penetrate armor, and they may even bounce harmlessly off heavy coothing. Plus the flying character makes a nice, fat target for the enemy's archers. If you want to fly and drop something useful, try Quiver-Of-Endless-Oil Flasks. You don;t need to aim -- you;d just drop the flask and on the way down a flint-and-steel lights a cloth. the flask landsm, shatters, and covers whatever it hits with flkaming oil. Elves hate this -- it;s a great way to start forest fires, and nothing annoys elves more than a forest fire.

Re: TV Teen Titans Writeups And now I feel so inadequate. My knoweldhge of the rules is clearly inadequate to the task of writing up Robin now. If it wouldn;t do horrible things to the thread I;'d delete my first Starfire post. This is one of those 'i want to crawl in a hole and never come out" situations. I just feel my Star is inadequate comapred to nexus'.

Re: Help me build a spell: Never-Ending Arrows Now that's a bit much of a stretch, beside which the arrows would be coming down point-up and just bounce off their targets harmlessly.

Re: Early "What do you want to see?" for Teen Champions A juvenile mage, such as a teenage version of Sakura Kinomoto (Card Captor Sakura), might be very interesting. the Harry potter cliches can be avoided very easily, and the fact that the character's teachers will be constantly trying to convince her "there's no such thing as magic" even as she spends her evenings facing down super-necromancers will get very annoying for her after a while. And let's not forget all the fun that can be had by teenagers who stopped aging when they turned 16 -- two hundred years ago. having one of those in your school, because they can't convince the authorities they don;t belong there, can lead to interesting complications. Another complication: the teenage super who has a very large fortune but who, because they haven't come of age, is not in control of their money. If they are orphans, their trustees might be trustworthy -- or they might be out to swindle her, or they might even be supervillaiins desperate for outright control of her money.

Re: Help me build a spell: Never-Ending Arrows How would you build that as a HD prefab? By the way, is there going to be a FH book of items, with point costs and the like, in the same style as the Grimoires?

I;m trying to build a fantasy world centered around North America, using much of the real geography with some of the changes that would result if a circle of mages were to cast a huge spell that would restore the Earth after its industrial-age depletion, re-create the lush gren forests, transform some of the humans, make the soil about ten times more fertile than it is now so nobody has to starve to death, and transform certain people. It would also transform the buildings, roads, etc to be maintainable without such things as electricity and gasoline (the reason the spell was cast in the first place was that the oil was running out). Unfortunately there were inforseen conseuqneces -- the difficuly of communication with no long-dsistance transportation or telephones available meant that the central government fell completely apart and it's difficult to directly govern anything larger than a county. Larger states exist, but they depend on the localities to provide them with what they need, from tax money to military levies to food. (For example, Oregon would probably exist as a kingdom because the people who live in the big cities like Portland and Eugene still need to be fed -- irognically many city-dwellers under these circusmanctes may find themselves heading out to the COUNTRY to look for work in the farms!) So does anyone know where I can get a good atlas so I can map out this strange new world?

Re: Help me build a spell: Never-Ending Arrows

Re: The Authority RPG ???? Don;t have it, and it;'s not high on my prioirtyy list, although I may get ti eventually. It is convertible to HERO using the forumae in Realkity Storm because it uses essentially the Silver Age Sentinels game system. Seems unlikely. GOO doesn;t need those kind of headaches, and I doubt Time-Warner is that interested in tabletop RPGs when they can make so much more money lciensing their characters for video games.