Nightfly

A Starfighter (spaceship)!

Originally posted by Mark Rand

However, in a universe with superheroes, I suspect that the top brass of the DOD would tell the PRIMUS, the DOSPA and, maybe, UNTIL bigshots about their Initiative group, Slayers, Vampires, Demons, Hellmouths and other such things. Somebody in Washington probably would decide that these people either get federal help or supervision, weither they want it or not

Sounds like an oppressive regime?! Too bad that having a world full of heroes means having less freedom from military oversight.

Just my opinion, but, my CU meets Buffyverse (interpretation) doesn't remotely resemble that reasoning.

Too each, his own.

I'd probably just make it a typical EB (but w/ the special effect being it's ectoness)

See Ghostbusters for the answer to that question.

Bill Murray (aka Peter Venkman) took just such a blast.

Originally posted by Mark Rand

One of my main sources of inspiration for involving the Buffyverse and the olice is the Slayer / CSI series. Please note, there are a few spoilers here.

At the end of the third story, Buffy joins CSI as a consultant. They pay her a retainer and, when necessary, a salary and expenses.

The fourth story concludes with, as an epilogue, the Sunnydale earthquake.

After that, the new Watchers Council is based in Las Vegas in a former Enron compound. Of course, there's a price to pay. The Slayers must help law enforcement and follow due process. In return, they learn state-of-the-art police and forensics techniques. Such things help in cities where they're not working closely with the police. (To me, this sounds like they're a sanctioned superhero team.)

A later story gives us some figures. There are in excess of 100 that they've found, the youngest being a nine year old child. (According to a previous story, said nine year old child is still in training and her parents have to give permission before she can start patrolling.)

Is this from the fan-fic you've talked about,... or is it from a real Joss comic, or something else?

It'd be funny to see Frasier go Berserker on someone sometime.  Though somewhat "effete", he does strike me as someone who might blow-up and become like an angry grizzly if properly antagonized.

I thought KG was decently cool in the film "15 Minutes" (co-starring Ed Burns & De Niro).

I liked the series more than I expected to.  Ron Moore did a bang-up job!

I also liked both (shown) varieties of the Cylons, especially the robotic ones (that retained the old school red-light eyes).

If it becomes a series, which I hope it does, I will definitely watch it!!

It'll be nice to (perhaps) have another decent (story driven) space show on TV since Firefly got cancelled.

Originally posted by loraxxx

yeah, yeah,yeah--good book....useful....whatever....!

 

is it just me, or is anyone else bothered by the fact that in order to run a "by-the-book," FRed, champions game you've got to buy $70+ in manuals!! (FRed rules, CU+Champs Genre book)

 

to my eye, that's kind of a steep, especially since it people new to the system that are most likely to get hit with the full cost....

As a buyer of multiple RPG PnP systems, (and) coming back after approx a decade away from 'em,.. I've found that they all are priced about the same.

Try running a Star Wars, or Star Trek, or even Buffy RPG w/out spending $70 (at least).  Not to mention how some companies just put out new versions every few motnhs (automatically three new $30+ books right there).

The Hero Deisgner software really lowers that CC hurdle.  I don't use my HD for anything but the CC math - I format my PCs in HTML (direct to my website).

As for the genre books, I say get 'em all. Terran Empire, all the Champions stuff, Ninja Hero, Viper... all great wealths of ideas that can't help but kickstart whatever aspect your game is needing.

Digital Hero also offers a surprising amount of module type, genre adventures

** IMPORTANT MESSAGE!!! DO YOU NEED MENTAL DEFENSE FOR YOUR SUPERCAR?? IS YOUR SUPERRIDE VULNERABLE TO MIND WARFARE??? etc

** MILLENNIUM CAR ALARMS SECURES ALL YOUR EXTREMELY ADVANCED LOCK NEEDS etc

** IS YOUR BASE SECURE ENOUGH? SAFE FROM POLYMORPHS, PSYCHIC ATTACKS AND THE LIKE? IF NOT YOU NEED MILLENNIUM ALARMS ASAP!!!

** NOT HEALING FAST ENOUGH? ADD SUPER-HEALING TO YOUR LIST OF SUPERPOWERS!!!

** NEED A DANGER ROOM?! etc

** TROUBLE DISPATCHING WITH DEMONS & VAMPS!!! NEED SOME HELP WITH THE UNDEAD?? ALL YOUR OCCULT SUPPLIES NOW FOR HALF THE PRICE etc

** WOULD'NT YOU LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR COMPETITION?? WHO BUSTED WHO TODAY??? -DO YOU KNOW??? ARE YOU STILL CHASING A VILLAiN THAT WAS CAUGHT 2 DAYS AGO?? etc

** NEVER GET FLASHED AGAIN!!! HERO SUNGLASSES PROVIDE YOUR INEXPENSIVE FLASH DEFENSE NEEDS!!! NEXT TIME SOME VILLAIN ATTACKS YOUR VISION DON'T BE NEEDLESSLY BLINDED

** WISHING YOU COULD PURSUE THE BAD GUY OFFWORLD??? MILLENNIUM CITY STAR RENTALS CAN GET YOU BACK ON THE TRAIL OF JUSTICE etc

ad nauseam (The Daily Show)

Edit --

URGENT!! ARE YOU CHANGING MORE THAN YOU THINK IS NORMAL?? ARE YOU SCARED TO TELL YOUR PARENTS?? COME TO MILLENNIUM CITY'S SCHOOL FOR GIFTED CHILDREN etc

As others have mentioned, environmental peril is always reliable.

How 'bout having to rescue oil riggers, floating in a fiery-spill, while taking attacks from their 'normal' rival(s).

With this you get weapon attacks (ballistic, etc), the petro-polluted ocean ([deep] water encumbrance works well), and of course fire raging all around.

Disgusting sewers are also interesting to GM, especially if the PCs are knee-deep in the $#*t

Aren't Aliens somewhat immune to the vacuum of space (also)?

Perhaps having some sort of extended breathing.

Not sure, just asking.

Excellent work, as always Susano!  I'll look for it on your website!

Time for more tales link

And a cool article about 'pagan' comix here

Originally posted by Farkling

EDM:: Move PC to the Matrix

 

When a character arrives in the Matrix, he assumes the mantle of his (350pt) Matrix character. He retains much of his personality, but presentation can be very different, as a Matrix character is able to achieve some wish fulfillment.

 

As a special perk, characters may buy a 15 point Talent, Eidetic Reflexes; which allows for download of certain skills from the operator at contact points. These skills will be downloaded at the 'expert' level of a 14- roll, which cannot be modified by character skill levels or bonuses.

 

There. That should cover it.

I could go with this viewpoint easily if skills could be swapped out ('n around), even within a single gaming session.  Almost like slots (including SSs, PSs, TFs, WFs, AKs, etc).

Anyone wanting to research the various Slayers throughout history can read all about 'em here (in the right hand column)

Excellent Work!

I will definitely be visiting & using your site often from now on (as well as linking to it via my own RPG page)!

Thanks so much (for sharing)

Originally posted by Mark Rand

Could they be on retainer to either the DOSPA or various agencies as consultants? This happened in the CU. In the Millennium City sourcebook, on page 68, it states that Witchcraft serves as one of the senior advisors to DOSPA's Mystic Affairs Bureau.

What is DOSPA?  Dept of Supernatural Paranormal Affairs?? (just guessing).

I would believe that Slayers, on an individual basis (or even occassionally directed by their Watchers) might consult for official state-sanctioned agencies.  I just don't personally believe they'd "join up".

Originally posted by Vorsch

Your opinion seems to label police "pigs" why?

Vorsch

Personal experience.  Not only do I come from a family with many cops in it, I personally went thru (more than half) the police academy - and found it to be overly racist.

I know, not every cop is bad.  But Ice-T's song "Cop Killer" was indicative of a real relationship-dynamic between law enforcement (even here in *liberal* California) and dark-skinned citizens.

Originally posted by Mark Rand

I have five reasons for calling them power-hungry.

The first is the Cruciamentum that Buffy had during season three.

The second is the fact that they employ hit squads. They sent one after Buffy when her mind was in Faith's body.

The third is that they believe that they think that they're the only ones that have the right to try Slayers. They took Faith from police custody to have their own trial.

The fourth is the fact that they fired Giles for telling Buffy about the test and replacing him with Wesley, who was no good as a Watcher.

The fifth is that they permitted Joyce Summers to be the bait in Buffy's Cruciamentum.

Buffy, Giles, Willow and Xander would've told the new Slayers about these events.

Power-Hungry seems too strong a word for them (pre 'Chosen').  Closer to point, IMO, would be 'power-accustomed'.

Though their methods were certainly (at times) untoward, I see them acting very much like strict (single parent) fathers.  In this mindset, the white-haired white-witches/goddesses (that gave Buffy the scythe) would be the absent mother (parent) figure.

Strict fathers often employ (even) extreme measures to enact their will.

And let's not forget they were literally taming the demon-within within these (inherently immature) girls/teens.

I liken certain rituals/ceremonies the Watchers followed as tribal, and more importantly par for the course.

As to their 'hit squads', I think the term is questionable.  I think I'd call 'em Field Teams.  Unless, one is equally willing to call Riley & The Initiative demon 'hitters' or 'hit squads'. Obviously, though, their Field Teams have license to kill.  Considering even Stafleet had Section 31, and our gov't of course has black ops agencies, I'm not personally indignant on this point.

Wesley, was afterall, the Council's "Head Boy".  I'm assuming that title equates somewhat to top of the class?  His Watcher prowess (which today has *though Slayerless* been proven), was hampered by having Faith as his charge.

Giles, often lamented the special treatment (by normal standards) that Buffy required by virtue of her (pronounced)individuality... well Faith was at least twice as unruly *and individualized* as Buffy.  Surely Wesley (fresh off the boat) couldnt've expected that!  So, I'd say his poor performance was (at least) understandable (and forgivable).

How the Council would react to rebuilding in the face of thousands of new chrages,... is anybody's guess.

touché, good Sir Rand

Though I'd assert Watchers exist to assist & advise, but turnabout...etc.

Originally posted by Mark Rand

Since, as I recall, the First destroyed the Watchers Council, the Trismegistus Council has been handling the research chores of the old council, but they're not involved in the training of the Slayers. Other people do that.

A typical team consists of a Slayer, her teacher, an associate of the Trismegistus Council that acts as her researcher, a computer expert and a mage. The researcher and computer expert probably don't have much combat experience.

The UT spell's purpose is for everyday use only. In fact, I came up with the idea after seeing the problems the Chinese potential had understanding everyone else.

Any idea why nobody knew she couldn't drink milk or eat foods made with dairy products or Willow didn't cast a UT spell?

Well, here's where an element of my ignorance shines thru...what is the Trismegistus Council?  Is it another element from the fanfic you've previously referenced?

Only recently the issue of the Watchers Council arose on Angel (via Wesley's dad), and they didn't seem to indicate any giving up on rebuilding on the Council's part.  Nor was any mention made of the Trismegistus Council? (I'm getting pretty curious about it now, cuz if its show related I really should know about it).

As to a UT spell on the show, I just don't think the concept practically exists there.  Perhaps something like that might exist regarding magical texts, but I'd bet the only place the Scooby Gang (or Team Angel) would've heard about UTs would be Star Trek.

I like the concept though.  I bet given the suggestion, Willow (s.7) might've been able to cast just such a spell.

Knowing that 12-25 yr olds would be less (than 4k) sounds better to me!

A Universal Translator spell sounds good, but I'd ask if it'd extend to ancient (dead) languages and/or Alien species?

I rather like that the Watchers are needed to (sometimes roughly) translate ancient mystical texts.

If the UT-spell functioned primarily to aid the Slayers in their everyday (pedestrian) duties it'd be fun,... but I wouldn't want the Watchers to be devalued by it.

Just my two cents, but I could see a UT-spell relating to all actively spoken languages on this globe - but probably only with that limitation.

Re: Questions about Hero E-Books

Originally posted by Count Zero

I was looking at the on-line store and wanted to see what people had to say about some of the e-books.

 

I have only gotten into Hero System with the 5th edition. Awsome system and I am looking for more info.

 

The question is how are the following e-books and how which ones are from 4th edition and what are the high points and low points of each book. Finally, do any of you know if these books are going to be printed. Also, how do these books compare the traditional print value when it comes to quality?

 

The following books are:

 

Kazei 5

Shades of Black

The Kandris Seal

PRIMUS

Ultimate Super Mage

 

Thanks

I too am in my first year of HERO.  I've only been onboard since 5th Edition.

Although I believe all but Shades of Black were written duing 4E, the changes (I hear) weren't that drastic.

I may be wrong about their editions, but I've bought all but The Kandris Seal and have been able to effortlessly apply most aspects to 5E.

The quality of the ebooks IMO are completely on par with the printed books (particularly SoB), in fact some posters here apparently do use Kinkos (or the like) to print some of the HERO ebooks.

Originally posted by Mark Rand

Nightfly, I have my copy of the Sunnydale 5E thread beside me. On page 11, after I make my proposal, you say, and I quote, "Awesome!! Excellent Integration". Have you changed your mind?

I didn't (then) realize the extent (what with the further commentary that has transpired since then) to which your intent was to make them into cops.

Personally, I'm not really a true-believer of the 4000 estimate either.  But its not like my opinion should stop your fun, I'm just pointing out my interpretation of what Joss would approve of (which obviously I can only guess at).  But I believe mine is an educated 'guess'.

The Initiative is cool to 'integrate', but I just think the Slayers should remain independent operators.  If the only way Slayers can exist in your CU is to be assimilated into the law, I guess that's just a personal thing again.

BTW, thanks for considering my views closely enough to be able to recall my past comments.  I appreciate it, even when my qoutes are used against me