Battlestaff

Re: Name by Dream

This was a dream?

That's it, no more late night pizza for you!!

Re: Magic in a Champions game?

I have a PC with a “magic sword†Special Effect. The sword is purchased as a Multi-Power with the only limitation being the – ½ No Range. At first this seems weird I know' date=' but the sword can be summoned from anywhere – so the PC can not really be disarmed. Anyway a simple 60 MP with the “No Range†makes the cost 40 – plus 8 for variable or 4 for fixed slots. A reasonable and fair construction if all the powers in the sword were originally ranged; which they were.[/quote']

 

I don't know if I would allow the base to have that limitation since, IIRC, that would then apply to all the slots. I would have to see all the slots and get the reasoning behind each one before I would allow it. However, I have allowed use of a focus without taking the focus limitation, which in effect is a focus that cannot be taken away.

 

When I reviewed the PC I found this slot

 

Basic Strike (4d6 Ranged Killing Attack; - ½ No Range, fixed) END: 6 COST: 4

 

Now originally I said no to this, but after thinking it through I think it should be fully legal. A Ranged Killing attack with No Range means the PC can’t add her 15 STR. A Ranged Killing Attack is basically an EB that does killing damage.

 

Would you allow this slot.

 

Yes I would. I don't really see this as difference from buying a 4d6 HKA and adding a -1/2 limitation "STR does not add to damage."

 

Excuse the brain fart, but what does the "fixed" in the slot mean?

Re: Timelines

I have two timelines. One is a handout in narrative form, and is intended to be given to the players so that they have an idea of how events in the real world occurred differently in the game world, and to help them when developing their characters.

I also have a basically year-by-year timeline of the 20th-21st century that I'm debating whether the show to the players. I have three listings on there: real world events (for putting things in context), real world events that occurred differently in the game world, and events that never happened in our world. I'm currently re-working my narrative handout (it was last updated in 1999) for a new campaign I'm planning.

Anyone who wants to see it just PM me.

Re: The 4400

Okay, the season finale is Sunday. Two questions: (1) Is this going to be an ongoing series after the finale? Or are they running a short series to see if the response is strong enough to warrant a series?, and (2) Can you really call it a 'season' for a finale if you only have about 5 episodes?

Re: Silver Age Flash - Any Explanation for Iris West?

Knowing that your boyfriend is The Flash' date=' and having him always late, could make you a bit testy, I guess. On the other hand, if she knew the history of The Flash, it seems like she would know that what he was doing while being late was much more important than dating her.[/quote']

 

She could also be mad at the fact that Barry hasn't told her he's The Flash. She might think he doesn't trust her, etc.

 

Just a thought.

Re: The 4400

I have to admit that I love the show. I think they are handling it well, with both episodic focus on different members of the 4400 and continuing subplots affecting the central characters. I thought it was just going to be a mini-series, so was pretty excited when I I found out it was a regular series.

One of the things I like about the show is that while the people have powers, they (and the special effects) don't overpower the story. I was afraid when they used their powers, it was going to be one of those 'bring the show to a screaching halt while we show you the neat special effects we can do' types of deals. But that hasn't really happened (except maybe Michael Moriarty in the pilot).

One question - Has the guy living with Lily, the former military pilot (I can't remember his name) displayed any powers yet?

Re: A Look at my Version of the CU

It probably doesn't exist in your version of the CU, then. I don't know if you

or anyone else reading this remembers it or not, but there used to be an Andy

Griffith show on TV back in the late 70s called Salvage, which was about

a junkyard owner and his crew who had built a homemade spacecraft out of

stuff from out of their junkyard (the command cabin/nosecone was a convert-

ed cement mixer drum, of all things). It wasn't on TV very long, from what I

remember.

 

Major Tom

My God, and I thought I was the only one who remembered that show! The again I also remember Holmes and Yoyo and Automan, which were also previously mentioned.

I really need to get out more......

Re: I Need a Plot, and Fast!

A bank has been robbed, but the PC's don't get there in time. However, there's a clue there that lead the PC's to think that it might be Villain A, who is a long-standing nemesis of Hero A. So they go and meet Hero A, who says that the it couldn't be Villain A, as he is in Stronghold, but it might be Villain B, arch-nemsis of Hero B. So they go and meet with Hero B, but it can't be Villain B, because he's stranded in another dimension right now. This continues on, until the PC's finally discover that it's New Villain Z, who happens to be an unknown hunted of the new player (or a new identity for an old villain, etc.).

Using something like this, you could easily allow the new player to learn about some of the heroes and villains, and well as places (Stronghold, Homestead, etc.), while the PC's have a goal of solving who the villain is.

Re: Weakest Supers in books you've read?

Weakest Characters? How about the Legion of Super-Heroes...... from the Saturday morning cartoon series. You know, wonder-twin powers activate and all that?

For a fun look at the characters, go here:

http://www.seanbaby.com/super.htm

Re: Does the IHA make sense?

In my campaign, mutants are a slowly growing group. Most mutants (90%+) only have very low-level mutations (10-30 points). And there are many more of them than you usually see in comics. Just about everyone knows someone who's a mutant. I play them as any other minority group, trying to gain acceptance.

I have kept Genocide as a Klan-like organization, secretly terrorizing mutants they see as "thinking they are better than us" and trying to "keep the mutants in their place." They have even taking to burning stylized double-helixes as their symbol (long story where that part came from). I'm trying to incorporate the IHA into a lobbying group that, while publicly distancing themselves from Genocide, secretly support them with supplies, etc. The IHA, however, seeks to stop all supers, not just mutants.

Just how it works for me.

Re: Goofy hero names that you still love

In a group I played in, we had a character who was a speedster/brick. His primary mode of attack was to run at high speed and crash into his target.

His name? Amtrack

Re: I've brought you all here today because...

Okay. I need some assistance.

 

I'm going to be doing a plot for a very Investigations/Detection/Mystery heavy group. They're stationed out of Millennium city.

 

Recently, some really heavy hitters, recognized villains and or people in the underworld have been entering MC lately. The PCs are supposed to investigate why they're converging here.

 

What ideas do you guys have as to why they've come? It doesn't matter who they are, etc, but what are the goals of an amassed group of nasty individuals?

 

My thoughts are thus:

Forming an organization and/or team/group.

Coincidently several are meeting for various reasons, and it's just now.

Testing (getting DNA samples of all these people, conveniently in one area).

 

Please give me some ideas. I'm running tonight.

Well, I'm probably too late to suggest this. But lets think about this. MC is a big city, with lots of things going on all the time. Now, of course some villains are going to be interested in whats going on. But who's to say they are all interested in the same things? All the heavy hitters are coming into town, but each wants to do his own thing. In fact, they might not even be aware that the other villains are in town.

That's right, it's all a total coincidence that they are all there at the same time!! No master plan, no threat to peace and security, just old random chance. But the players will drive themselves crazy trying to find a link. Just make sure you duck when they find out the truth.

To build it up even further, have them all leave without committing any crimes. The players will now be paranoid as to what's going on.

Re: Title for the next HERO villains book

What about "Bad Mother (beep!)"

Watch your Mouth!!

(Sorry, someone had to say it)

Re: German Super Baby Proves Champions is Right

I was shocked when late in the day no one else mentioned this story. It truely is remarkable how double edged this information will be in the coming years and, frankly, is great fodder for any Champions background. The same treatment that cures MD can also be used to create Super Strong humans for good or evil purposes.

 

--Pete

There has been discussion on the NGD Board. You may want to check there for a discussion on uber-baby.

Re: New PRIMUS teams

As to setting up the base in Pittsburgh, it's your world, you can do what you want. Maybe PRIMUS chose Pittsburgh because they got a great deal on land for their base, the city granted some big concession, etc. Or maybe even a non-public reason, which could be the basis for a sub-plot......

As for where the team would be based, that would depend on how the team is organized. If it's set up as an 'on-call' superteam, that agrees to respond any time PRIMUS needs them, but otherwise can act on its own as it wishes, then most likely they will use their own base. However, if they are directly controlled by PRIMUS (the supers are employed by PRIMUS, for example), then they will most likely operate out of the PRIMUS base.

As for agent assitance, again it would depend on the relationship with PRIMUS. The on-call team would most likely have a liaison appointed to the team, but would not have agents working regularly with them or operate out of the hero's base. If need be the team could probably call on PRIMUS for help when things get tough. If the heroes are PRIMUS employees, they could probably call on aid anytime they want, and have agents permanently assigned to work with the team (better teamwork through regular training, etc.).

Re: The Battle of Detroit...an adventure?

Those guys were bad enough, but yes, I had temporarily forgotten that the current Destroyer is after a 10-year program of massive armor upgrading.

 

Man. Somebody really needs to check and see who's been tampering with his anti-paranoia shots.

Hey, its not paranoia if they really ARE out to get you.

(Sorry, had to be said....)

Re: Campaign Idea

I have to agree with Haerandir that 1% is a very high number. The question I have is did all the supers appear at once, or are they continuing to 'activate' over a span of time? There will be a different government reaction if all the supers appeared at once than if they continue to appear over time.

If all the superpowered beings (SPB) appeared at once, the government will most likely be concerned that SPB would appear in the future. When none appeared over time, the government would then turn more toward cataloging the known SPB, and (depending on the public's reaction to SPB) trying to contain (if the public accepts them) or control (if the public doesn't).

If SPB continue to appear over time, I believe the government would again attempt to catalogue any SPB that has appeared, but would also attempt to figure out a way to detect people who are going to become SPB. If it required DNA samples, the government could attempt to require testing of all people (the success depending on the public's acceptance of SPB). If it didn't (and we are dealing with comic book science here, so anything is possible), they may set up discrete investigation units to find SPB before their powers activate. Governmental response would again depend on the public's reaction, openly taking the SPB into custody if the public fears them, or quietly 'acquiring' latent SPB if the public loves them (imagine the public's reaction when it learns that the reason no new SPB have appeared isn't because no new ones have activated, but because the government has kidnapped all SPB prior to their powers becoming active....)

Another question is the power level of the SPB. Are they all of the same general power level, or does that vary by individual? Do the majority have minor or medium powers, with only a handful having powers reaching the level of average game superheroes? Governmental reaction will differ if all the SPB have powers that allow them to topple buildings than if the vast majority have abilities hovering around 10 STR TK, or the power to transform water into wine, and nothing else? (think about the theological implications of that) The more powerful the individuals, the stronger and more direct government reaction is going to be. The weaker the powers, the more likely the government is going to ignore certain individuals with powers deemed 'non-useful,' though certain powers will still be of interest (telepathy, invisibility, etc.).

A few other points:

Are all the powers visible, or can some be bought with invisible power effects? Are all powers required to buy visible power effects (where appropriate)? The more subtle the power, the more the government will have to put into detecting SPB before controlling them, and the more fear the public will have.

Does a person, or even just a few individuals, physically change when their powers activate? Do most continue to look the same, with only a few changing forms (sprouting wings, etc.). This would aid the government in detection, though it would also likely play a large factor in the public's reaction to the SPB. The more drastic the change, the more likely the public will fear the SPB.

Re: Calling all Mages...

Darn. Rub it in! I've been looking for a copy of that book for years.

 

Is it any good?

It's not a bad little adventure. It does put the characters in the uncomfortable position of having to save the lives of the Nazi high command, but the alternative is worse. It gives good detail while leaving enough to flesh out. The characters need to be converted from 3rd, but that's not too bad (though I hate to think what a mage with a 75 point power pool in 3rd ed. would convert to in FrED).

Re: Calling all Mages...

Sorry, I may be a little late on this.

Svargali (Wings of the Valkyrie) - Gypsy magician

Re: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen question

Hyde looks great' date=' though, and interacts with his environment much better than the Hulk, imo.[/quote']

 

I had recently finished reading Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde before seeing League, and I was surprised to find that in the book, Mr. Hyde is described as a small, misshapen man. He was nowhere near the powerhouse seen in the movie.

 

BTW, anyone seen Van Helsing? (If you haven't, don't bother.) The Hyde there seemed almost directly stole from The League. In the very least inspired by.

 

Agreed, and Agreed. When I saw Hyde, the first thing I thought of was League.

Re: Suddenly Alone on the Stations

Didn't this exact scenario-- or something quite like it-- actually happen? I remember Pilot giving up an arm for some reason or other' date=' but that it wasn't a big deal: he knew he'd grow it back eventually.[/quote']

 

IIRC, Pilot voted against giving up his arm. It was the rest of the crew that decided he would give up the arm. They justified it with the knowledge that it would grow back.

Re: Suddenly Alone on the Stations

Just a few considerations:

1) Did whatever happen on the Earth affect any orbiting stations? For example, if it was a nuclear war, were any of the orbital stations targeted? If it was a plague, did any of the few escapees get to a station, spreading the infection? If so, a salvage adventure to one of the stations could lead to interesting situations....

2) Are the space habitats built by the various nations/factions on Earth, or are they open to all nations/factions? If different nations/factions built their own stations, and the devastation on Earth was caused by a war between the nations/factions, would the stations continue to war with each other, carrying out vain efforts to destroy the "enemy?"

3) Is there enough fuel to run the stations indefinitely, or will they have to find alternative power sources? And what about if different habitats use different types of fuel? Could this lead to raiding for fuel sources?

4) Besides the orbiting habitats, are there any satellites still circling the Earth? if so, there could be a race to recover the satellites that are no longer necessary for their raw materials (metals, electronics, fuel, etc.)

This all sounds good. My only suggestion would be to talk with your players so that no one is offended by the take you have on religion and the church.

Originally posted by zarglif69

Nerd? NERD!?!?!?! what yuo say??? Why yuo callin ME a nerd!? in teh words of a jewish carpenter, "let he who is without sins cast teh first boulder!!!"

Okay, maybe Sociotard should apologize for calling you a nerd. After all, aren't we all to some extent nerds just by being here?

As for his other comments, they do have some value. The ability to write a proper sentence is very important. It shows a level of maturity and intelligence that shows others your position should be considered. Your statement from above, what yuo say???, shows a lack of basic writing skills that makes people wonder whether your post has any value. Is English your first language? If so, you should pay more attention to what you write. If not, I do apologize.

Also, good spelling is important. I understand that misspellings do occur, and I think everyone on the board has posted at least once with a misspelling. However, a large number of misspellings in one post shows that the person posting does not care enough to review and correct any mistakes they may find.

In the future, zargllif69, if you wish to be taken seriously on these posts, I recommend (1) a review of your posts for English grammar and spelling, and (2) instead of just attacking other people's positions or likes, as you did in your first post here and in the Foundation string, explain why you don't like something. If you don't have anything constructive, there's really no need to post. If you do feel the need to post, don't just say that something is bad, explain why you disagree with a post (more than just a "no aliens, so the series sucks").

Happy Posting!!

Originally posted by Snarf

Maybe some agricultural tools or systems that can be used converted to weapons? Maybe some scythes, rotating choppers, chemical sprayers, or something like that.

You can use what you've presented as a base for several different types of mecha. Make them plug in modules to your base. One could be for spraying chemicals (and other chemicals could be substituted), one could be for planting (with blades for furrowing), one for harvest (lots of scythes there), and so on.

I could see this coming about so that the colonists don't have to build every mecha from scratch, but rather only have to invest in a set of base units, and a set of modules. One base unit can then be put into use in each phase of planting, but without having to be overburdened so they can do every job.