Nightfly

I've been stating since the first epi that Archer has been more manipulated by higher-up mole Romulans than actual Vulcans.

As part of the temporal cold-war, I believe the Romulans (of Archer's day) would be likely to be a pawn in such an effort.

I don't personally believe Vulcans would choose to hold back Earth's progress, nor be so obviously aggressive, secretive, intolerant, etc.

If pattern holds... next season (provided they get one) will certainly see the addition of a new high-profile cast member [ala Se7en on VOY, or Worf on DS9].

I predict this series will build up to & end with the Romulan War, similar to the Dominion War & Janeway's Borg confrontations.

Just my theories

Well said, as usual, Derek

Originally posted by James Gillen

why would Buffy's team want to work with Wesley's dad or any other representative of the old Council?

Sacred duty, yadda-yadda-yadda.

Probably cuz they have a pedigree of knowledge / experience in the area (at least the ones that're left).

Despite the various difficulties they've had with 'em, I'm comfortable believing that (at least, if no one else) Giles retains respect for the institution and it's mission.

Hearing Andrew say, "she's a Slayer" thus "she's ours" sure doesn't sound too much like a softer/gentler Council.  Frankly, it sounds kind of possessive to me (shrug).

Considering the progressions of (both) Giles & Wesley, I'd say the Watchers take their business extremely serious, and don't let a lot of sentimentality get in the way of 'the good fight'.

Didn't someone write-up Adrian Monk (played by Tony Shalhoub] a few months back?  That'd be a cool one to revisit.

On another note,...

Loved Susano's Capt. Jack!  Great Work as Always

Awesome work Eodin!

Finally got around to getting your Dec update!

Wow, this version is about twice the size as the last TNG pdf I had of yours

Without fail, anytime I make a 5E-Trek character your pdf is an equal (if not greater) resource for the creation process than the official books [by Decipher].

Just wanted to let you know your efforts are sincerely appreciated, and utilized

30pts Dragon-Folk Wings: Multipower, 30 Point Reserve

2u (1) Flying (3 END): 15" Flight, Restrainable (-1/2)

1u (2) Wing Buffet: HA + 2d6, Hand-to-Hand Attack (-1/2)

Originally posted by Mark Rand

Hi all,

Any of you see last night's Angel episode, the 99th? I did. Interesting stuff in it.

Yours,

Mark Rand

I loved learning where everyone took off to [Tara/Kennedy = Rio, Buffy/Dawn = Rome, Giles = England).  Too bad the Scoobies aren't together anymore  But at least they are in spirit / mission.

I wonder what Xan's up to in Africa?  Probably doin the spiritual journey of self-discovery thang

Did I miss it, or, where did he say Faith and/or Robin are?  Maybe Faith's out on the open road(s), like her spinoff would've had her [be].

- Can't wait for next week's epi

P.S. Andrew's admission that Buffy & the council don't trust Angel anymore, really makes me believe they sent that (Wesley's Dad) Watcher robot afterall.

Mr. Rand,

My Slayer (I'm about to make another) carries a scythe axe like the one Buffy used in the show's final episodes.

I'm figuring that (beyond a normal stake) it'd become the primary weapon of choice among Slayers - though neither being restricted to it, nor receiving any special bonuses for it.

It's just great for both beheadings & stakings.

How would you write up the BtVS Scythe?  Based, in part, on your Stake writeup I came up w/ this:

12pts - Scythe, [Axe] 1d6 K (Medium, Thr); plus Stake (1/2d6 K, 2d6 N)

Since I've only been into HERO for about a year, I suspect my version is over simplified.  Would you do it different?

Should the plus be changed to linked?

Maybe you could add it to your Buffy writeup on Surbrook's site.

Sounds Awesome, Mark! Nice Idea, Nice ethnic mix

Utilizing the imdb website, I include (exactly) this type of info on my [every] character sheet, in the form of (a) Looks a Lot Like... section (in the background; appearance area) along with a circa. year specifier.

Doing so (continually) helps me better conceptualize my PCs Especially the ladies

don't know how relevant this is, but I have been itching to create a Scooby-Doo type character.

I'm always amused at how Scooby can be in scenes with 'normal' (i.e., canine intelligence) dogs yet be so different w/out notice [by the public].

IIRC one of the DH issues had something modeling this type of character/construct, I'm pretty sure it was in one of the early issues.

I plan to make some time to research that.

I noticed, after some intense examination, that the Bestiary doesn't cover anything like a cartoon animal,... did I miss it?

Time has been tight of late, imagine that.

James Gillen,

I don't really know why but at first I had a negative reaction to breaking (show) canon,... but upon reviewing the Buffy-rpg (by Eden) I noticed it allows for pretty-much anything.  And afterall, Cleveland isn't exactly known as a spiritual nexus either (IMHO).

Addressing your point, though Nevada isn't of the 4-corners region, it definitely carries it's own legacy (see Stephen King's The Stand).

On another note, one Angel episode exposed Los Angeles to quite literally be Hell (I believe it was in Season 2), for what it's worth.  Angel got in an elevator (with deceased Holland), intending to go to Hell, and ended up arriving exactly where he started.

Joss created such a wonderfully open / imaginative universe, I'm starting to see that nearly anything is possible within it.

Originally posted by Xiawarr

You could also visit the on-line store and purchase the E-book, Kazei 5. I own it and it is very useful for the genre.

Me too!  Own it, Love it!

As always, thanks Susano (for such awesome work!)

That sounds really cool. I think it's imaginative (too) that you extend your characters families (up to and) even including 5th cousins

My Slayer ('Cherish' as in Cherish The Vampire Slayer) was also martial-trained, as well as a mutant [already] before being "called" (to Slayer duty). She has two meta-brothers (though based in other cities), and is often joined [on patrol] by the great grandson of Riley Finn.

A WWII era vehicle book seems a must, especially for pulp (Indiana Jones style) adventures - much less more 'period' serious gaming.

This one actually may be silly, but I would really like to see an equivalent of Green Ronin's Ultramodern Firearms for FREd, getting into the detailed minutia of the various (present day) real firearms.

Originally posted by RavensPath

There is a list of disadvantages on this site? Please tell me where. I stumbled across the UNTIL database because someone posted it and have yet to find it on the site. Lucky I bookmarked it!

 

Thanks

Matthew

If no one else has posted it yet (I haven't read the whole thread yet, myself) here's Surbrook's List

Originally posted by McCoy

The Big Book of Disads. Not just the physical, social, and psychological ones from the web site, but a full discussion of distinctive features; hundreds of pre-generated DNPC's (at least 100 at each level); list of substances a character may be dependent on, suceptable to, and special effect list for vulnerabilities. Circunstances where the character might accidently change or go berserk. All set up to allow random selection if a GM wants to flesh out a one-shot character in a hurry.

I'd buy this one in a second!

Originally posted by archer

The Ultimate Dimension. This would not be Champions In 3-D; the latter was a book of alternate worlds. TUD would be a book of how to create other dimensions, how to run games where the whole point is interdimensional adventures (Time Police/Dimensional Police, etc.), how to run genre games interdimensionally (interdimensional fantasy, interdimensional superheroes, etc.) and basically everything C3D wasn't.

 

Tech-Magic Hero. This could probably use a better name, but it would be a worldbook for games taking place in modern day worlds with publically known magic (a la Poul Anderson's Operation Chaos, Heinlein's Magic, Inc. or Harry Turtledove's Case of the Toxic Spell Dump). It might have a short blurb or two on secret magic worlds, but those are done to death already (Witchcraft and Mage being two).

I'd buy 'em both.  Cool TUD idea!!

Originally posted by zornwil

I'd seriously like to see a complete explication of the HERO system, a detailed treatise on the underlying philosophy and its expression via the text of 5th edition.

me too

Re: So many possibilties

Originally posted by topcapfan

Well, I guess they are not useless, if I would use them. . .

 

These aren't really funny, just obscure topics that no one else would be interested in.

 

Underwater Hero - Um, pretty much self-explanatory. Y'know for Aquaman-type characters.

 

The Ultimate Ancient Egypt - An under-utilized but great era for role-playing.

 

Serial Movie Hero - Y'know, the old Dick Tracy and Rocketeer type serials from the 30's and 40's. A great genre to play in, a bit like pulp but not exactly.

 

Baseball Hero - Role play baseball games with players generated on Hero-level rules.

 

Just my little contribution to the list.

I would unquestionably buy all these books, especially Baseball Hero (genius idea)

Originally posted by Mark Rand

Since PRIMUS and other agencies know about Slayers, Vampires and such, what would they do? In my opinion, They'd say, "Since we have enough to do, we'll let the Slayers deal with the problem. All we can do is share information with them."

I'd take it even further and grant that as with The Initiative, they'd be willing to be the (emergency) calvary, and sometimes lend on-the-ground support (in addition to intel)

Originally posted by Mark Rand

A superhero, or superhero team could also provide help, especially with magic, computer hacking, medical care and help in figuring out any high-tech gear the Slayer might find.

This is exactly how I see it. Most Slayer's would either;

1) Join a super-team [as one of the admittedly lower powered members], or maybe even "enlist", which means probably not having an actual Watcher

2) Form a Slayer team of three-to four [like Charlie's Angels ], which virtually guarantees a Watcher (along with whatever white-hats they want)

3) Go it totally alone - almost guarantees not having a Watcher (would certainly need a specialized team of white-hats)

Originally posted by Mark Rand

Although there are only two Hellmouths mentioned in the series, Sunnydale and Cleveland, there could be others. Also, vampires have been found in New York City and other places. Vamps could be drawn to Vegas by the tourists.

You're totally correct.  Vamps should surely be found in nearly any size city (internationally), and in gangs.  And the Buffy-rpg allows players to make their own Hellmouths with Joss' (implied by licensing) blessing.  Las Vegas would be a deserving (as any other city) candidate - especially cuz its both urban & remote (plus isn't it known as "Sin City"?)

I'm liking it

Originally posted by Mark Rand

Mayday. thank you for your comments. They're a great help to me.

Would the Initative, in a superhero universe, tell other federal and international law enforcement and intelligence agencies about Hellmouths, Slayers, Vampires, Demons and such?

I believe The Initiative would share their knowledge / data.

To confess, upon recently watching the Riley (conclusion) epis, it was said that the mission of trying to study / control the demon threat had been abandoned in favor of strictly search & destroy tactics.

So, in that area The Initiative's research aspects probably would've been given over to UNTIL.

Just my $0.02

Originally posted by nolgroth

most of the stuff I like are the tech gadgets that I can incorporate in some (hypothetical) future campaign. The campaign details are what I really like to fill in myself

I completely agree.

I bought the book, and I dig it

Originally posted by Mark Rand

How would you do it, Nightfly?

Well, for one, my preferred rpg-world is more cyberpunk than Silver Age supes.

In my game, Watcher's have a less direct hold over their Slayer charges.  Slayer's tend to group up in teams of 3-4, often choosing to associate w/ other superhero types whenever possible (and of course w/ hackers & magic users).

Watcher's are only utilized to oversee (said) groupings (of Slayers) and are around primarily for their arcane occult knowledge (as well as training of young newbie Slayers).

While I do include State agencies like UNTIL & PRIMUS, they only appear rarely & almost never carry much impact in my scenarios.

Even if I built my world w/ tons of caped-supers flying around, I'd still believe that most folks would (choose to, if necessary) remain blissfully ignorant (that includes the Gov't) of traditionally paranormal threats (ghosts, vampires, etc).  Especially if there are other known (openly dangerous) threats around [such as worldclass villains bent on dominating the human race / planet / etc].

The fact that Africa, England, and the American Southwest (in fact a former Mexican territory) were chosen as cornerstones of Joss' mythology makes sense to me (especially as he is an athiest).  I fail to see Las Vegas (or anything about it) as being next in that line of (spiritual) locales.

From African (tribal) mysticism, to England's rich Arthurian/Merlin legacy, to the shamanism of the southwest, Joss' chosen landmarks belong to a certain paranormal pedigree.

I believe the Watcher's Council would definitely reform & remain in England, their traditional home (where most of the books are)

As to the public's blissful ignorance, I attribute that to the fact that (as usually depicted) Vamps are both cautious and a

(literal) underground threat (ala they stay under the authorities radar on purpose).

In L.A., Angel hardly spends a majority of his time fighting Vamp threats (quite the opposite).  Who needs the feds when Gunn and his rag-tag group of homies were keeping the (regional / local) vamp threat in check??

As to Joss' writings, only two (spoken of) Hellmouths exist in this country (in) Sunnydale & Cleveland.  Now, naturally vamps (as well as many other evil types) congregate near Hellmouths, but outside of such mystical convergences, I believe the assumption should be that vamps (deliberately & expertly) lay low.

In a land where tons of folks have super-powers, even exceeding a Slayer's, I believe their covert nature would be [even] more magnified.

Please understand,... how you create your own Buffy-fan mythos is up to you.  The only reason I chime in w/ my opinions is because I'm known to be a massive Buffy fan... and it just doesn't (wouldn't) seem right if I (philosophically) couldn't enjoy a scenario created by another [great] Buffy fan.  But then again, I never read fan-fiction of any (of my) beloved franchises.

Perhaps a former Marine Sgt. would have his 5E Slayer join the military, I can kinda understand such stuff,... but for me I'd rather keep it as close to canon as I can get (if only out of respect for Whedon & his beloved creation)

A more powerful Lightsabre

One of my first 5E PCs was a Wookiee Jedi!

My Heroes belong to the Majestic League.

The league is named after the Majestic 3 (a group of siblings) which were the first FREd heroes I made (who made it a mission to assemble an interstellar Hero league, to belong to).

UFO enthusiasts may know of Majestic 12, created (pre-Area 51) following the findings of Project Bluebook.

As a sidenote, the controversial exploits of MJ-12 were featured (fictionalized) in the epic short-lived (Bryce Zabel created) tv show Dark Skies.

I borrowed the Majestic name (both times) in honor of that tv show, as well as because my rpg-world includes extra-terrestrials!!

I also give my heroes callsigns (ala Mountaineer, Lone Wolf, etc) for use during radio coomunication