Powerhouse

Hi everyone. I hope that people do not mind that I post this topic here since it is more comic than gaming related. I simply wanted to make a request. Please do not read further unless you have read (or don't care about) Civil War #7 * S P O I L E R S * As a Captain America fan, I can't stand what they have done with the character throughout the series and especially now. Just as quiet protest, I'm going to put in all of my sigs "CAPTAIN AMERICA LIVES!" For those who may not remember, the phrase "FRODO LIVES" became popular around the 70's as more and more began to read Lord of the Rings. It was an expression of hope and a protest against the fate of the hero who ultimately succumbs (in Frodo's cast, leaves the world of mortals andgoes to the Grey Havens) to the wounds inflicted upon him during his heroic quest. I think that it applies to Cap. So, I request that you put in your sig "CAPTAIN AMERICA LIVES!" to honor the character, the great writers who created and developed him through the decades, and the fans who embraced him. Thank you.

Re: Richest Man in the World Disease Wealth can be a nice perk to free up characters for more adventuring or define their character. Of the founding Silver Knights, two had the wealth perk: Titan (filthy rich as a CEO/Inventor/African Prince): basically to justify all the tech in his armor as well as finance the team. Lady Silver (Wealthy at 5 pt level): she has a significant inheritance from a major drug company but much of it is tied up in stock and a corporate battle with her corrupt granduncle. Even so, she's probably worth millions but much of that is in massive charity funds. What's left is enough to afford her the time and privacy to pursue her magic and have a small sanctum in a modest penthouse (is that an oxymoron?). Speed Demon, who joined later, has the Wealthy Perk at 5 pt level since he's a very successful B-level actor (think Van Damme or Segal) although he is popular more for his powers than his acting.

Re: Exiled Champions Good news! I finally came up with some new ideas for the final two exiled Champions. I'll try to post in a day or two.

Re: The new face of Iron Man Definitely a What If- cool image though.

Re: Exiled Champions Still working on the last two. In the meantime, I just wanted to encourage people to either comment on what has come so far or make their own Exiled Champions (any character from the Champions Universe) and show them off!

Re: Exiled Champions Still working on the last two- trying to design them with the other characters in mind, ie how they all get along (or not). The crew so far I think is interesting and all would have interesting arcs I hope. Wendy/Defender needs to grow into her role as a hero and it would be interesting to see if she moves into the leader role. Nighthawk I think I'd change even more to make him quieter (remove the enrage or change it) but deadlier... kinda creepy almost. Maybe give him some supernatural abilities as well. Or cybenetics... or BOTH! An interesting mix of east and west, old and new as it were. For Sapphire, I love her just as she is since she is SO different from her normal personality- definitely the innocent and naive one. I could see her as being the "nice" one who might accidently get on everyone else's nerves. And Witchfire is also a 180 as well with her hard-charging and rough edge personality (think a young Batman). She never relaxes, is always training, and will say quite loudly "should we be ****ing DOING SOMETHING?" Nice little conflict between her and Sapphire I bet. Interesting, all have a reason to go home and thus go through the missions (fight for the resistance, avenge his master, be with her family, or continue her grim campaign.) I think one of the next Exiled Champions doesn't WANT to go back home for one reason or another. Also, one might be supernatural in origin.

Re: Archetype Twists I need to think about this but my characters tend to be pretty archetypal to be honest. Closest thing I can think of is Shadowfire who is an energy blaster with darkness and fire powers who gets her abilities from a rather unique mystic origin. Yeah, not very original compared to some of the cool characters here but oh well.

Re: Exiled Champions I'll try to post Ironclad and maybe Kientix later. Just don't have very good ideas for them at the moment.

Re: Exiled Champions Witchfire (based on Witchcraft)- Bethany screams as the cultists tied her down. She begged them to release her but her pitiful cries were ignored as the robed men and women lashed the girl to the stone tablet while her parents watched on critically. She had refused the oath of the Circle of the Scarlet Moon so instead she would be sacrificed to its dark gods. Her own mother held the wickedly curved dagger above Bethany's heart. The dark flames flickered around the blade in a grotesque embrace as the chants grew louder and more obscene. The young girl screamed again but only succeeded in bloodying her wrists against her bindings. The sight of crimson caught her sister Pamela's eye and the evil twin licked her lips in anticpation. The chants reached their crescendo and the mother tensed as she prepared to drive the blade into her daughter's chest. Then gore covered the horrified girl as her mother's head exploded into a crimson mist. Shouts of pain and terror mingled with bullets and running feet before a strong hand severed Bethany's bonds and a man carried her off into the night. That man was Witchfinder (see Arcane Adversaries), a man who had devoted his life to destroying all magic. Bethany, alone and horrified at the depths of evil that magic could unleash, demanded to be trained as his partner. She took the name "Witchfire" for she would be a cleansing fire that would purge the world of the supernatural. For the next several years, they roamed the world destroying magic and killing its practitioners where possible. Witchfinder was killed in battle but Witchfire caries on his legacy as a hard -edged and very intense witch hunter who hates all magic. Her character sheet is the most changed of all. Best to use Witchfinder's from Arcane Adversaries as a base. Knock down str to 15 and raise Com to 16. Reduce a few skills/equipment to boost ego to 23.

Re: Exiled Champions For Sapphire, I present an earlier post I made where the mainstream Sapphire exhanged places with her counterpart: "Kory! Kory wake up!" Muttering, Sapphire rolled over in bed and clutched the pillow over her head. "Oh man... in this reality I still live at home?" Opening one eye, she saw the familiar beige walls of her childhood room. "Oh brother... what a loser my counterpart is." Peeking her head in, an older and pleasantly plump Hispanic woman said, "Kory you have to get up. You have that big meeting with the Parents-Teachers Council. Very important!" Groaning, Sapphire pulled the pillow over her head. "I have that here too!" Last week in her home world, the singer had been force to endure a sit down with the PTC to end a boycott of her records. Like I'm the only singer who bares her midriff and shakes her hips, she thought crossly. Four hours of lectures and arguments had ended with an agreement for speak at about a dozen schools to promote "solid morale values among our young women." "Kory..." Tossing the pillow aside, Sapphire pulled herself into a sitting position. "Fine, fine... I'm coming. I swear that sometimes it seems that the PTC wouldn't even *exist* if it wasn't for me." With a puzzled look on her face, Kory's mother said, "well you could almost say that's true my dear. Now breakfast is almost ready so get dressed." "Yeah, yeah..." the heroine muttered as she stumbled out of bed and walked to her closet. She'd probably pick something business-like... but showing a lot of leg and jus a hint of cleavage. Worked last time, she thought with a grin. Tweed maybe.... "MOM!!!!!" In a rush, her mother was there. "What's wrong Kory?" Frowning, Sapphire asked, "umm... what's this?" A wave of her hand, sparkling a bit with energy as frustration tickled at her mind, indicated row upon rows of long, flowing white dresses that covered from head to toe and left everything to the imagination. The only ornamentation were silver crosses and frilly bows. "Umm... your clothes dears!" "No they're not! Where's my leather! And lace! My tube tops and mini's!" On the verge of tears, she added, "I can't find my favorite belt! It took me 6 days on Rodeo Drive to find the *perfect* one!" "Dear, are you ok?" Placing a hand on Sapphire's forehead, her mother frowned. "Oh it's so hard to tell if you have a fever when you sparkle. Kory... you've *never* been to Rodeo Drive. Remember when you lead that rally against it because it emphasized materialism and waste that could go to charity." Sapphire dropped flat onto her bottom. "Never .... been to Rodeo Drive." Glancing in confusion her eye fell onto the four pairs of sensible shoes in the closet. "Are those... it? I don't have my **** me pumps anymore?" "Kory! You've never said anything like that before! You must be feeling sick! You can't go like that to the meeting. And they were going to give you that award too." "Award?" "Yes! The PTC wanted to thank you for your support in pulling MTV from the air! It was a huge success. In fact, you pretty much did it single-handedly. Isn't it wonderful?" "I took MTV... off the air?" Burying her head in her hands, Sapphire managed to mutter, "what, is VH-1 next?" "Of course not! Especially since they became a solely Christian music channel with my precious Kory as its lead star! Why some even call it VH-Sapphire!" Hands on her cheeks, the woman struggled to control herself. "I'm sorry dear but I'm just so proud and today was going to be so big for you... even bigger than when you received the Virtue Award." Sapphire *was* starting to feel sick. "Virtue Award... I don't even wanna know..." "Well of course *I* don't have to tell you about it. Everyone remembers when you went on national television and pledged to wait until marriage! So many young women were inspired by you." Curling into a fetal position, Sapphire whined, "someone kill me now." Helping Sapphire up, her mother muttered comforting words as the heroine into bed. "Now now dear... I know they'll understand that you're too sick to show up." Tucking her daughter in, the elder woman smiled and added, "still I'm sure you'll be fine for next week's rally." Not wanting to know, Sapphire grimaced and asked anyway. "Rally?" Nodding enthusiastically, her mother said, "the one against the WWE to stop their violence and exploitation of women. Bulldozer will be giving the main speech." Clutching the sheets to her chest, Sapphire squeaked out, "Bulldozer Mom?" "Of course! Who else could deliver that speech but your fiancée?" Basically Sapphire's sheet is unchanged except to change her DNPC to her fiancée : Bulldozer and the Overconfident limit is changed to Devout Catholic (VC, Str). Replace Seduction with Oratory to reflect her character building speeches to impressionable youths.

Re: Exiled Champions And here's Nighthawk: Nighthawk - the Shogun's final scream pierced the ninja's soul. Despite Nighthawk's skill with the blade, he could not cut his way fast enough past the blackclad attackers as they slew his master- the Shogun of Earth in the year 2006. As the last attacker, fell, Nighthawk kneeled before his murdered master. He had failed as the leader of the Shadows: ninjas and spies who protected the empire from threats internal and external. He prepared to take his own life when the doors slammed open and the Shogun's heir swept into the room with his retinue. Rather than be shocked at the display, he smugly declared Nighthawk the true assassin and ordered him killed. Rival Shadows eagerly descended upon the disgraced ninja. Knowing the truth, that his own heir had murdered the Shogun, Nighthawk escaped into the blackness of night and swore that he would avenge his fallen master. Replace Nighthawk's gadgets with bladed killed weapons as well as devices (both modern and ancient) to assist with disguise and infiltration. Replace KS as appropriate. Remove DF and DNPC to be replaced with hunted by Shogun's forces. Change Psych Limits to Honorbound (Com, Tot) and Obsessed with avenging his master (com, tot)

Hi everyone. If you've haven't read the Exiles by Marvel, basically it tells of heroes from alternate worlds as they come together to dimension hope. You might have an Exiled Wolverine from a world where he never gained his adamantium skeleton and claws but instead became a top notched superspy and the head of Shield. Of Spiderman mutated into a monster and is now hunted. So I decided to apply that to the Champions. The setup is that each individual has become "unhinged" in time and are assigned to a team that need to go around Quantum Leap style to fix alternate timelines. Do that enough and they might be able to go home. First up, Defender: Defender: in another world, Doctor Destroyer's base in Detroit was never discovered and the heroes learned too late of his plans to shower the Earth in meteors. Lacking the time to organize, the heroes attempted to stop the attacks piecemeal only to be torn apart by Destroyer's super-powered allies. Around Earth orbit, more heroes were killed in the unorganized attempt to stop the deadly asteroids. After the cities of New York City, San Francisco, London, and Beijing were obliterated, the world capitulated to Destroyer's rule and he quickly culled from the population the most brutal and oppressive to be his enforcers. Patriotism, religion, and philosophy have been ruthlessly attacked so that only the cult of the Destroyer will move man's thoughts. Yet there is always hope. A small group of heroes young and old came together to overthrow Destroyer. In secret they worked lest the bombardment begin anew. Their leader is Defender who has worked tirelessly until at last his team managed to destroy the machine that called the asteroids as well as the intricate plans needed to reconstruct them. This battle cost Defender his life. Before this could get out and crush the morale of the resistance, Wendy Brooks, housekeeper, donned Defender's armor. With his identity, she is a rallying figure in the battle against Destroyer. Only two other people in the resistance know that Defender is dead and an ill-trained pretender is in his place. Although Wendy would love to step down, the armor will only respond to her (the original Defender had programmed that as a joke) and it is too advanced to be replicated. Take the Defender character sheet and reduce characteristics to reflect someone not as smart/strong as James Harmon. Keep the powers but reduce skills to reflect a house keeper with *some* technical skills. For disadvantages, remove the DNPC and replace with Secret: Not the real Defender. Replace the Psych Limit "Must Live Up to Family Reputation" with Psych Limit: Dedicated to overthrowing Doctor Destroyer. Some of her unspent points can be used as the campaign goes foward to reflect greater skill and confidence in her role as well as profiency with the armor.

Wrapping up my series of Christmas inspired post with this one: for the holiday season, what did you character get (if anything) for Christmas and who did they get it from? Also, if you want, what did they ask for or want?

Re: It's a Wonderful Life - Champions Style! Interesting responses so far, and I thank you for them. But what I'm really trying to get at is the differences that your champions made in the lives of others. Just as Bailey found out that he touched so many lives and made them better, I'm sure that your champions did as well. Maybe this is too tough since it's so speculative since you can't know that the young man you saved ten years ago wound up becoming a surgeon who pioneered a new treatment that will save hundreds of lives next year. Still, ya never know. I guess the point is to realize the (hopefully) positive changes and differences that your character made even though they aren't members of the Justice League so that you know (again hopefully) whether putting on the cape and cowl were worth it.

Re: WWYCD: A Christmas Carol, Champions Style! Got it. Economics, history, and logic don't apply, it's a dream of sleeping Vishnu. Being a Buddhist and not a Hindu, Dolphin sits down and waits for it to be over. Hey, it's just a comic book You said that. What you never said was anything that would make it make sense. Actually I did, you just didn't agree. In the end, see above for my response to McCoy. And to all, Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwaanza , HHope ya win the Lottery, and whatever I may have missed.

Not so much a WWYCD but rather more of a tell us about your character. So your champion is having a bad few days/weeks/months/years and wonders if he or she ever really did any lasting good or if putting on the costume was really a good idea. So the Watcher/Phantom Stranger/Clarence decides to show them exactly what they world would be like if they had never become a champion.... so what does he/she/it (if you're Meeb) see? Did they make a difference and if so, how?

Re: WWYCD: A Christmas Carol, Champions Style! What you are apparently no grasping about Dolphin's and Stormwalker's objection is that it is extremely unlikely that a single book would be that influentual. A Christmas Humbug is very unlikely to lead to profitable marketing, unlike A Christmas Carol. Yet it is still a best seller more than a hundred and fifty years later? I said it before, I'll say it again: you're thinking a little too hard. It's just a light-hearted adventure and both Dolphin and Stormwalker are too modern/cynical/analytical to go along with or accept it. It's cool and just not their cup of tea. While I can see that they wouldn't buy the PS's tale, their disbelief doesn't invalidate it as they seem to think it does. Heck, that itself could be a fun little thing involving belief, faith, and miracles or that the largest of journies can begin with the smallest and most unlikely of steps. Fun all around. Somebody is profiting from this. Dolphin wants to follow the money. Except somebody isn't profiting from it.... it's an incorrect assumption that Dolphin is making. I guess the Phantom Stranger analogue knows who not to go to.... hence my little joke about him wanting to find a Silver Age team that doesn't question plot.

Re: WWYCD: A Christmas Carol, Champions Style! McCoy: I think you're missing something about the original Christmas Carol story. It's not really about Christmas or Scrooge's feelings toward it; it's about caring, compassion, love and mercy, all of which Scrooge loathes, in both reality and symbol. So instead of being a powerful novel about a man who learns the value of compassion and love, the novel, still powerful, would become a tale about a man who overcomes spirits seeking to teach him false and foolish values, and his successful rejection of them and confirmation of his ways as right and true. It would become a novel triumphantly crying the "virtues" of callous, greedy and heartless actions, of selfishness and ruthless and unbounded self-interest. Would Dolphin honestly consider this to be better, or at least no worse, than the current state of affairs? Rep to Whitewings for putting it so perfectly. And my apologies for not wording it myself as clearly as this. Much rep and much thanks!

Re: WWYCD: A Christmas Carol, Champions Style! Edited: removed response to Robyn since the mistake was noticed. Cool From McCoy: Now note how in the original story Ebenezer's attitude begain to change once he became aware of the existance of Tiny Tim, once he felt compassion for a single child that he did not feel toward the faceless masses. A single feeling of compassion can begin to melt the heart of a Scrooge, yet attachment to the giving and receiving of gifts would have to be overcome one item at a time. To me, it's that compassion that he learns which is one of the true purposes on the tale, along with emphasis on charity. I think we will have to agree to disagree since yes, Christmas has become too materialistic at times but I think that your (or the character's take on it) focuses too much on materalism and not enough on the virtues of compassion, charity, and goodwill towards fellow man that the Christmas Carol is about. That's just a chasm that neither of us can seem to cross. That said, I do appreciate your responses and their thoughtfulness. There’s something here you’re not quite grasping about your own story. Okay, let’s play along. Assume an unrepentant, morally unregenerate Scrooge. A man who loves the acquisition and accumulation of his own wealth above all else. What is he going to do, specifically re: Christmas? He’s going to write A Christmas Carol, or a book very like it, or, as I said, hire Dickens to write it for him. He is going to do everything in his power to create Christmas as it currently exists, because Christmas is a means for him and his ilk to acquire obscene profits. Of course, he’ll do a lot of other things too – he’ll notice that Prince Albert is making Christmas Trees popular so he’ll buy some land with evergreens and have them cut down, hauled to London, and sold. He’ll invest in sweatshops making cheap ornaments and toys, and stores to sell them. But the one thing he WON’T do is anything to subvert or undercut the idea of Christmas. Except that's NOT what he's done. He did not commision Dickens to write a book telling people to give others presents so that he could profit. He wrote a book instead (and my apologies if I did not make this clear) that puts down Christmas, charity, and gift-giving. Quoting myself: Your character wakes up one Christmas Eve, only to find things are... different. When you say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" the other person just scowls and mutters "Bah Humbug." There are no holiday decorations, Christmas trees, or good cheer. The final part of the puzzle is a display in your favorite bookstore of the month's best seller: "A Christmas Humbug" by Ebenezzer Scrooge! No trees, not decorations, no gift-giving and thus no profit as you have assumed. In the book he has NO use for Christmas, not even to make money. Again, I probably should have been even clearer and not made assumptions. Scrooge is a character who detests Christmas in every way, even as a way to make money. He never indicates any desire to profit. So the book, since he has not been changed, is to put down Christmas and it becomes as much of an influence as the Christmas Carol does although it's a negative one. Admittedly, it can be a stretch that one book could have such an effect but again, light hearted comic book adventure. What you fail to grasp about your own scenario is that it does. not. make. sense. You are presenting us with a character who holds certain values and then asking us to believe that he will behave in a manner utterly at odds with those values. Except he IS acting in character, ie someone who disdains the holiday and all it represents. I'm pretty sure that I didn't miss a section where Scrooge was sending out people to cut down Christmas trees for profit. That he would suddenly decide that it's a money making idea I suppose is plausiable but isn't probable and indeed it's contradicted in the initial post. Please understand, I'm not trying to railroad you and if your character decides that Christmas isn't worth saving, that's fine. But I hope that I've bridged the gap between us so that you at the least understand where I'm coming from and the scenario. Thank you, and thank everyone for your responses so far. Some really great ones so far... but Flesh's still takes the cake.

Re: WWYCD: A Christmas Carol, Champions Style! Quote: Originally Posted by Powerhouse I guess this plotline just isn't for everyone but really, if you can't even save Christmas, what kinda hero are ya? A Buddhist one. With a Buddhist player, whose four other characters nonetheless went along with it. But isn't (and this is no doubt a rather simplistic take), Buddhism in part about walking a path to go past his ignorance and greed to become something better? To do nothing and let this man spread his "philosophy" to make the world a darker would seem to contradict such values. Maybe there is something I'm not grasping here about your faith. Wow, heady stuff we're talking about here. Herogames isn't just for fun for learning as well! Then again, we've always learned math with this system!

Re: WWYCD: A Christmas Carol, Champions Style! Dolphin: "Wait a second. One book, one hundred and fifty years old, in public domane, that can't be uses as a marketng ploy, is having that much effect in America? Not possible. Somebody has a financial or supernatural interest in this. Who's behind it?" PS: "History is replete with books that have been influential: the Bible, Common Sense, Communist Manifesto, Mao's little red book, and the writings of your own faith. Is it so hard to believe that another book could have so much influence? As to your faith, are you not committed to follow the Noble Eightfold Path which seeks to end suffering caused by greed and desire through the silia of Right Actions and Right Livelihood? Or that one seeks Right Thoughts by changing their mindset? Would you abandon your faith now?" "For your question, if this is not the cause, then what has changed your world so suddenly? Who do you think could have caused this? You ask me to name the source and I have yet you demand a new answer which would make me either incorrect or a liar. On this basis, why trust me to answer any more correctly a second time?" OR PS: "I am one with time and space, knowledge of the cosmos streaks through my mind as my sense touch the infinite of..." *looks to see Dolphin looking on unimpressed* *massages his head* "Look Dolphin, it's a Christmas special... work with me here!" OR PS: "Sorry, but I need to take away your superhero union card now..." OR PS: "look, big cosmic guy here with plot information straight from the writer! Christmas storyline to be all sentimental and make the fans say "Ahhhh.... the true spirit of Christmas! "FINE! I'm gonna contact a team that still remember the Silver Age! They ALWAYS go for this sort of stuff! But first I'm gonna wave my little finger and make it legal to stick dolphin into cans of tuna again! Watch out for that f****** harpoon!" *walks away muttering* "Damn Iron Age with its thinking, intricate plots, and adult ideas. In MY time if the bad guy wanted to turn all the socks in the world purple, we ran with that plot! And we were grateful for a single plot twist! And we resolved our problems in one 22 page issue! And every single hero has their chaste and virtous girlfriend who never did the nasty until they got married! Heroes these days!" I'm just teasing. I guess this plotline just isn't for everyone but really, if you can't even save Christmas, what kinda hero are ya?

Re: WWYCD: A Christmas Carol, Champions Style! If approached in Mundane ID: If you want to go back in time to fix things, how about taking me where I can take out Hitler before he does any great damage? *lots of stuff snipped* You can waltz through time, and all you want to do is save some Christmas fairy tale? What’s WRONG with you? PS: "There are things that are beyond my control, include the ability to chose which events to occur and which events not to occur. I am bounded by the balance and must simply let what was, continue to be." Out of character: basically the whole point of this little exercise was that meddling from the future screwed up the past and it has to be rectified. It's should be rather obvious but some characters might not see that. Mucking around with time is a BAD thing in general that can destroy the whole space-time continium which is a reason why the balance has to be righted to be what is should have been before the Spector Smashers screwed up. Quote: Originally Posted by Powerhouse . Besides, how much better is a month of depression, nastiness, and snarling at your neighbor as you act like a Scrooge who forsook all charity? NOT much of an improvement. Doesn’t look any worse to me. Let's see... nastiness, glorification of miserliness, spitting on charity and helping our fellow man is no worse than what Christmas is, in spirit at least, supposed to stand for. Wow. Just... wow. As for depression, want to bet me that the suicide statistics for December are any worse now than they were before? If you want to make that bet, I’ll take it – and you’re a fool. PS: waves his hands and makes this sheet appear: http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/suicide.asp PS: So... Spirit of Christmas Future was it? First of all, the world BEFORE was suffering under the philosophy of misers who extolled the acquisition of wealth above all things. That in fact is what Christmas WAS – a means for the rich to get richer. And I don’t understand why the world looks this way now, but your explanation doesn’t make any sense at all. Apparently, Stranger, you’re laboring under a misapprehension. The story Dickens told is the one Scrooge hired him to tell, but Scrooge paid for that story not because it was accurate to his experiences, but because it was the most profitable story to tell. The real encounter of Scrooge with his deceased partner was more like this: *snip* I'm sorry if I'm being dense but I'm not following. 1. You do realize that your character was exempted from the effects of the change in history and hence he realizes what the original story was as well as how drastic these changes in the world are. 2. If your character has had any dealings with the PS (or like), you'd know that he seldom makes mistakes with all of that cosmic knowledge he has. 3. Finally, the whole take on what Christmas is kinda out there unless your character is a complete cynic. Yes it has become secularized and is more materialistic but to state that Christmas is simply there to make the rich richer ignores a great deal of history, events, as well as the religious aspects. Wouldn’t it make more sense to try to find out what really happened, and how Scrooge came to write that book? As I said – your explanation just doesn’t make sense. It makes plenty of sense if you don't think about it too hard. Historically, the Christmas Carol has been one of the works that has taught people what Christmas should be about and it's not beyond the pale that its antithesis could be as popular or influential. Please remember that this is just intended to be a nice light hearted adventure. Maybe your character is overly cynical. Try moving into a Silver Age mentality. I'm really sorry if I seem mean or rude since I'm interesting in various character responses but your take just seems really out of whack, especially for a hero. Hopefully I clarified a few things.

Re: WWYCD: A Christmas Carol, Champions Style! Dolphin: "Dude, have you noticed I'm Buddhist? People no longer spend ten percent of the year in an orgy of conspicious consumption, bying material things for family and friends rathen than spending time with them, and I'm suppost to change that? ¿Por qué?" Let's try again: Phantom Stranger: "No, instead they now spend ten percent of the year in an orgy of nastiness, miserliness, and hording materials things for themselves and themselves alone. Certainly, they do not spend their time, energy, what little love, or their material wealth on their friends and family. Instead, the importance of friends and family became rather muted period, and that tends to carry throughout the year." "Multinationals are no longer getting rich off of it. I'm not against the Spirit of Christmas, just the very materalistic way it was celebrated in America. If I undo the change, what assurance can you give me it won't degenerate into a marketing ploy again?" "There are no assurances that I could or would give for this task. It is not for me to interfere but to instead to restore the balance that was, so that it shall be as was determined by the actions and beliefs of man. While it is true that materialism has entered this holiday, so has the higher meanings of hope, peace, and charity- concepts that suffer now under the weight of a miser's philosophy that extols the aquisition of weath to the exclusion of all else So are you coming? Or do I need to call upon the Motor City Defenders?" Yeah, the last one was a cheap shot.

Re: WWYCD: A Christmas Carol, Champions Style! LOL @ Flesh Gordon! Regarding Dolphin, I would hope the Phantom Stranger would note that yes, Christmas can be materialistic but it's also a season of hope and peace and the lack of such created by the change in the timeline most definitely worsens the world in general. Besides, how much better is a month of depression, nastiness, and snarling at your neighbor as you act like a Scrooge who forsook all charity? NOT much of an improvement. As a side note, it WOULD be interesting if Dolphin slipped some Buhdist (sp) ideas into one of his ghost renditions. For everyone else, some great responses as well and, as always, I look foward to more.

Yet another TV cartoon inspired thread! Blatantly ripped off from the Real Ghostbusters: Your character wakes up one Christmas Eve, only to find things are... different. When you say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" the other person just scowls and mutters "Bah Humbug." There are no holiday decorations, Christmas trees, or good cheer. The final part of the puzzle is a display in your favorite bookstore of the month's best seller: "A Christmas Humbug" by Ebenezzer Scrooge! Trying to puzzle out what's going, you and the rest of your team is approached by the Phantom Stranger (or equivalent thereof) and imformed that due to some whacky time travel, a local group of anti-super natural specialists accidently trapped the three spirits of Christmas from the Christmas Carol before they could redeem Scrooge! No trusting the Specter Smashers to resolve the problem, the Stranger has removed you and your team from the time stream sufficiently so that you weren't affected but you have only one night to resolve the problem. If not, Christmas, with its good cheer and message of peace will be removed forever from the world. You must go back in time, take the role of one of the three spirits, and carry out the Christmas Carol as it was meant to be! So which spirit do you take, how do you carry it out, and what special touches do you place on the performance to make it all your own? Posters are encouraged to be creative. For those not familar with the spirits: The Ghost of Christmas Past was the first of the three spirits (after the visitation by Jacob Marley) that haunted the miser Ebenezer Scrooge in order to prompt him to repent. It showed him scenes from his youth, that occurred on or around Christmas, in order to demonstrate to him the necessity of changing his ways, as well as to show the reader how Scrooge came to be the person he would become. The Ghost of Christmas Past appeared to Scrooge as a white-robed, androgynous figure of indeterminate age. It had on its head a blazing light, reminiscient of a candle flame. It carried with it a metal cap, made in the shape of a candle extinguisher, with which Scrooge finally banishes it by extinguishing the light on its head. The Ghost of Christmas Present was the second of the three spirits (after the visitation by Jacob Marley) that haunted the miser Ebenezer Scrooge, in order to prompt him to repent. It transported him around the city, showing him scenes of festivity and also deprivation that were happening as they watched. Among those they visited were Scrooge's nephew, and the family of his clerk, Bob Cratchit. The spirit also shares a vision of Tiny Tim's crutch, carefully preserved by the fireplace. Scrooge asks if Tim will die, and, quick to use Scrooge's past unkind comments against him, suggests "they had better do it now, and decrease the surplus population" — reflecting Scrooge's earlier comment to two charitable solicitors. The Ghost of Christmas Present appeared to Scrooge as a large man with a red beard and fur-lined green robe. He carried a large torch, made to resemble a Cornucopia, and appeared accompanied by a great feast. He was given to outbursts of laughter. He could change his size to fit in any space. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is the last of the three spirits (after the visitation by Jacob Marley) that haunts the miser Ebenezer Scrooge, in order to prompt him to adopt a more caring attitude in life and avoid the horrid afterlife of Marley. It is the most fearsome of the spirits – the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come appeared to Scrooge as a figure entirely muffled in a black hooded robe, except for a single gaunt hand with which it pointed, and it never spoke or made any sort of vocal noise. When the Ghost makes its appearance, the first thing it shows Scrooge is three wealthy gentlemen making light of a recent death, remarking that it'll be a cheap funeral, and they'd only go if lunch was provided. Next, Scrooge is shown the same dead person's belongings being stolen and pawned. He also sees a shrouded corpse he implores not to unmask and a poor, debtor famly rejoicing that someone to whom they owed money is dead. After pleading to the ghost to see kindness connected with death, Scrooge is shown Bob Cratchit and his family mourning the passing of Tiny Tim. Scrooge is then taken to a churchyard, where he is shown his own grave, and realises that the dead man the others spoke ill of was him. Implied, however, is that the future does not have to be – but Scrooge must change himself if he is to change his future.