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Jkeown

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Posts posted by Jkeown

  2. My group voted ... It's Star Hero!

    in Star Hero

    Posted

    Re: My group voted ... It's Star Hero!

     

    We are actually playing Mercenaries in my old GURPS Space setting. Sorta converting it to HERO on the fly. They requested a "Firefly Feel" to it. Having only seen one episode of FF, I don't know how close I'll get. I do think I'll have a look at Firefly Hero, tho....

  4. Valdorian Age

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    Re: Valdorian Age

     

    My Caleon game is set in a steampunk world, but the magic is off the scale.

     

    In Caleon, Magic goes to 11. That's why I'm playing Valdorian Age for a bit. A break for a while... something to give contrast to Caleon. Oh, and we have many, many races. Having just Humans around will be interesting.

  5. Explanations and Apologies...

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    My absence from the Boards lately is due to a number of variables. Not the least of which has been a virus problem my computer and I have struggled with.. Also, my new job as 'Computer Guy" at a local office supply store has prevented me from having any kind of time or inclination to be on my home PC.

     

    It seems like I've been at work, or asleep (nothing else) for 3 weeks. I had no idea this new position would be so stressful. My girlfriend is complaining, my son feels like an orphan and Shadowcat has done all the work on the Ultimate Grimoire project that I started. I didn't get out of letter A... I feel like crap.

     

    Anyway, I'll shut up... I just wanted to apologize publically to those who jumped into a project I couldn't get around to. I'm going back to bed.

  6. Something From Age of Storms...

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    Re: Something From Age of Storms...

     

    They look like a cross between Humans, Elves and Unicorns.

     

    Hair and eyes, multihued and prismatic, with gold, silver or copper horns spiralling up from their foreheads. Often, they sport a pair of horns like those of rams. They show the same variation in height and weight as humans, but tend toward either slim and athletic or curvy without seeming "soft." Males do not tend to bulk up much, and even the strongest among them is much smaller than a human of equivalent strength.

  8. Ultimate Grimoire Letter B Spells

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    Re: Ultimate Grimoire Letter B Spells

     

    My viral issues have abated, thanks to WinAntiVirus 2005. I can now get back to work on UG1LaaT...

     

    I only mention the AV program because it found the viruses that other programs couldn't. My apologies if I offend with that plug. I'm not a fan of commercialism, generally.

  9. Ultimate Grimoire... One letter at a time...

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    Re: Ultimate Grimoire... One letter at a time...

     

    That IS odd...

     

    I think Drain used to cost more... a lot more.

     

    Use 5E rules, obviously.

     

    Oh, and I've named the file "Ultimate Grimoire - A" though a shorter name like UGA, UGB or something might work better...

     

    Or maybe, just to annoy Steve Odekirk...

     

    "From now on, we shall call them... BETTY... " :)

  11. I shouldn't be saying this...

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    Re: I shouldn't be saying this...

     

    You can stop clicking on it... I know you can. Concentrate... think about Citrus Fruit or better yet... what limitation value "Only when in Drag" should have for a Wizard in 10th century Rome. Got it? Concentrate...

     

    There you go... you are healed.

  13. I shouldn't be saying this...

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    Re: I shouldn't be saying this...

     

    I think my people would. They all know Conan, they know the source material. The one stumbling block is my son. He's a dyed in the wool High Fantasy/Space Opera Gamer, if its not Tolkien or Lewis or (Occasionally) Roddenberry, he won't play it.

     

     

    I tried like heck to get him to play d20 Conan when it came out. I think he sees no value in a genre that gave us those... movies... I didn't hesistate to mention that, long before he was born, there were 50-million really bad High Fantasy movies.

     

    I think the root cause is his first exposure to fantasy was watching us play Caleon when he was a child. As he got older, Caleon was all he knew, until he met JRR Tolkien. He compares Tolkien to me. It should be the other way around. Now he's 17, I don't think I can "fix" him.

  14. I shouldn't be saying this...

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    ... but darn if Valdorian Age doesn't wanna make me toss all my Steampunkery in Caleon out the window, pick up an axe and carve a new one in my Player's backsides...

     

    That book certainly looks fun. I bet the Extra Time (-1/2) on all the spells is a right beeatch, tho...

  17. Bony Jaws!

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    Re: Bony Jaws!

     

    Rather than invisibility, I would give it levels in concealment. That combined with its existing mental defence would make it hard to spot. Danger sense won't help you find it - merely tell you just before it attacks.

     

    It would also explain why people can see it easily, or pick it up on sonar, but be unable to see it with "detect giant spiky fish", which seems a bit odd.

     

    cheers,Mark

     

    I wondered about the Detect... could it be ruled that any Detect (Magic, Fish, Ytrann, Predators) would fail to work? That's the intent.

     

    The Invisibility to Danger Sense is nice, and merely an effect tossed on to make the magic items you create from it seem guided somehow. The point of all of this is to make creatures that can be hunted by PCs to create items everybody needs without a PC simply saying, "I make an Amulet of Non Detection out of these Hot Wheel Cars and this Roll of Book Tape. Here's my 7 XP."

  18. Continuing the Magical Parts Concept...

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    Ogre Lion

    Found on both sides of the Razor Peaks, the Ogre Lion is best described as a Great Cat with a few important differences. Firstly, the creatures head is quite clearly that of an Ogre, complete with a full busy beard and pointed ears. The beard twitches and sparks constantly, and can be used by the creature to dispel magic in a large area around itself.

     

    After surviving an encounter withthe beast, the beard retains the ability to dispel, if used in amulets, armlets or bangles designed for that purpose. The number of "Real Points" in the beard, and the exact method of activation is left as an excerise in cooperation between the victorious player and his Ever-Mindful GM.

     

    Val   Char    Cost
    25   STR 15
    15   DEX 15
    15   CON 10
    13   BODY 6
    5   INT -5
    5   EGO -10
    15   PRE 5
    10   COM 0
     
    5   PD 0
    6   ED 3
    4   SPD 15
    8   REC 0
    40   END 5
    40   STUN 6
     12"  RUN02"  SWIM08"  LEAP3Characteristics Cost: 68

     

    Cost   Power END
    15   Bite: HKA 1d6 (2d6 w/STR)  1
    12   Claw: HKA 1d6 (2d6 w/STR) (15 Active Points); Reduced Penetration (-1/4)  1
    6   Heavy: Knockback Resistance -3"  0
    12   Long Legs: Running +6" (12" total)  1
    45   Ogre Lion Beard: Dispel All Magic 10d6, Explosion (-1 DC/2"; +1/2) (45 Active Points)  4
    6   Perceptive: +2 PER with all Sense Groups  0
    4   Reach: Stretching 1", Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (7 Active Points); Always Direct (-1/4), No Noncombat Stretching (-1/4), No Velocity Damage (-1/4)  0
    1   Resilient: Damage Resistance (2 PD)  0
    4   Roar: +10 PRE (10 Active Points); Only For Fear-Based Presence Attacks (-1), Incantations (must roar) (-1/4) 
    6   Tail: Extra Limb (1), Inherent (+1/4) (6 Active Points)  0
    Powers Cost: 111

     

     

    Cost   Skill
    20   +4 with HTH Combat 
    3   Climbing 12- 
    9   Concealment 13- 
    9   Shadowing 13- 
    Skills Cost: 41

     

     

     

     

    Total Character Cost: 220

     

    Val   Disadvantages
    15   Physical Limitation: Animal Intelligence Frequently, Greatly Impairing 
    5   Physical Limitation: Large, up to twice human size (4m, or 2"; -2 DCV, +2 to PER Rolls to perceive) Infrequently, Slightly Impairing 
    75   Big, Antimagical, Ogre-Faced , Bite Ya Soon As Look At Ya Cat Bonus 

    Disadvantage Points: 95

     

    Base Points: 125

    Experience Required: 0

    Total Experience Available: 0

    Experience Unspent: 0

  19. Bony Jaws!

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    I don't recall seeing many magical, deadly fish around here... so here goes.

     

    Tell me.. would expanding the Invisibility power to simulate pattern matching with the sea floor be too overpowering for most PCs? I know it's hard to balance such things with the open-ended nature of HERO... but I thought I'd ask...

    Bony Jaws

    Terror of the Circular Sea to the south of Saduria, the Bony Jaws is valued for the rare Ytrann found in its bones. Ytrann is processed into Rings of Invisibility, Charms of Shielding and half a dozen other magic items of utility. few hunters are brave or stupid enough to go after them, despite the obvious rewards.

     

    Its favored tactic is to hide at the bottom of the sea and wait for prey to pass by. One bite is usually all it takes, but some have survived to struggle with the creature.

     

    The Bony Jaws' only natural predator is the Rammerhorn. They never have any treasure save for any they may have swallowed.

     

    Val   Char    Cost
    40   STR 30
    15   DEX 15
    20   CON 20
    18   BODY 16
    7   INT -3
    5   EGO -10
    20   PRE 10
    10   COM 0
     
    8   PD 0
    5   ED 1
    4   SPD 15
    12   REC 0
    40   END 0
    48   STUN 0
     0"  RUN-1217"  SWIM00"  LEAP-8Characteristics Cost: 74

     

    Cost   Power END
    25   Bony Jaws: HKA 2d6-1 (3d6+1 w/STR)  2
    14   Spikey Bits: HKA 1d6, Inherent (+1/4), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Persistent (+1/2), Damage Shield (+1/2) (41 Active Points); Activation Roll 11- (-1), Always On (-1/2), No STR Bonus (-1/2)  0
    19   There Is Not A Giant Spikey Fish Here: Invisibility to Mental Group, Danger Sense, Combat Sense and Detect   2
    7   Ytrann-laced Bony Plating: Damage Resistance (5 PD/5 ED/5 Mental Def.)  0
    4   Magic Bones: Mental Defense (5 points total)  0
    12   Heavy: Knockback Resistance -6"  0
    15   Echolocation: Active Sonar (Hearing Group)  0
    8   Bony Jaws Eyes: Nightvision, +3 to PER Roll  0
    15   Bony Jaws Body: Swimming +15" (17" total)  1
    Powers Cost: 119

     

    Cost   Martial Arts Maneuver
       Red In Tooth And Claw 
    0   1) Used with Natural Weapons Group: Default Element 
    4   2) Avoid Harm: 1/2 Phase, -- OCV, +5 DCV, Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort 
    3   3) Holding Bite: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, -1 DCV, Grab One Limb, +10 STR 
    5   4) Pounce: 1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, +1 DCV, 12d6 / 4d6 Strike 
    4   5) Smash/Claw Slash: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +2 DCV, 10d6 / 2d6 Strike 
    3   6) Trip: 1/2 Phase, +2 OCV, -1 DCV, 9d6 / 1d6 Strike, Target Falls 
    Martial Arts Cost: 19

     

    Cost   Skill
    11   Concealment 14- 
    3   Disguise 10- 
    2   +2 with Bite 
    Skills Cost: 16

     

     

    Cost   Talent
    3   Bump Of Direction 
    4   Deadly Blow: +1d6 (Attacking with Surprise) 
    1   Lightning Reflexes: +1 DEX to act first with Bite 
    Talents Cost: 8

     

     

    Total Character Cost: 236

     

    Val   Disadvantages
    10   Physical Limitation: Enormous, up to four times human size (8m, or 2.1-4"; -4 DCV, +4 to PER Rolls to perceive) Frequently, Slightly Impairing 
    5   Physical Limitation: Reduced Leap, cannot leap Infrequently, Slightly Impairing 
    15   Physical Limitation: Animal Intelligence Frequently, Greatly Impairing 
    111   Giant Spikey Fish Bonus 

    Disadvantage Points: 141

     

    Base Points: 125

    Experience Required: 0

    Total Experience Available: 0

    Experience Unspent: 0

  20. High Cost Package Deals...

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    Re: High Cost Package Deals...

     

    This has all been very helpful...

     

    Not Real means they aren't flesh and blood people, and folks don't accord them the same rights. My world has few of these beings (A few dozen?) and they haven't reached any sort of agreement on what exactly they are.

     

    Might be people, might be property... might be toys or slaves.

  21. It's not a Robot... It's a Golem... Honest.

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    Re: It's not a Robot... It's a Golem... Honest.

     

    Wizards?

     

    I dunno... I guess I have to check that off... it's supposed to be able to go thousands of years without a snack...

     

    Though I do like the idea of a Wizard a Week... Imagine a village placating one of these things by feeding it a passing Sorceror every few days.

     

    "Oh? Yooti Parhoon? Haven't seen her... since she went up that hill... over there... near the big red arrow... yeah... "

  22. It's not a Robot... It's a Golem... Honest.

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    Another nightmare from the distant days of the Occupation, the Durlozi lurks in caves and ruins, waiting for the "Target." During the wars between the Dharzooni Masters just before the Fall, hundreds of Durlozi were deployed in what we now call Kythros and Threekings. With the coming of the Scattering, they've spread to a much greater area, awaking to kill and destroy, each one convinced the war is still ongoing.

     

    It may be possible to bargain with one, if they could be awakened without setting off their berserk. If turned to the side of the Empire, they could be released in the Warlands and pacify the rebelion of Wardog and his Chaos Cult, but if some evil, cackling necromancer managed to make a deal...

    Durlozi

     

     

    Val   Char    Cost
    40   STR 30
    15   DEX 15
    15   CON 10
    16   BODY 12
    10   INT 0
    13   EGO 6
    20   PRE 10
    10   COM 0
     
    8/21   PD 0
    7/20   ED 4
    4   SPD 15
    11   REC 0
    30   END 0
    44   STUN 0
     18"  RUN02"  SWIM08"  LEAP0Characteristics Cost: 102

     

    Cost   Power END
    90   Essence Beam: Multipower, 90-point reserve 
    7u   1) Standard Beam: EB 18d6 (90 Active Points); Beam (-1/4)  9
    7u   2) Wide Beam: EB 12d6, Area Of Effect (One Hex; +1/2) (90 Active Points); Beam (-1/4)  9
    8u   3) Lethal Beam: RKA 3 1/2d6, Armor Piercing (+1/2) (82 Active Points)  8
    7u   4) Essence Bomb: EB 12d6, Explosion (+1/2) (90 Active Points); Beam (-1/4)  9
    6u   5) Accurate Beam: (Total: 75 Active Cost, 63 Real Cost) EB 12d6 (60 Active Points); Beam (-1/4) (Real Cost: 48) plus +3 with Ranged Combat (Real Cost: 15)  6
    7u   6) Autofire Beam: EB 12d6, Autofire (5 shots; +1/2) (90 Active Points); Beam (-1/4)  9
    24   Enhanced Glass Armor: Armor (8 PD/8 ED)  0
    10   Essence Ward: FF (5 PD/5 ED)  1
    14   Self-repairing Enchantment: Healing 3 BODY, Can Heal Limbs (35 Active Points); Extra Time (Regeneration-Only) 1 Minute (-1 1/2)  3
    35   Essence Sight: Detect Magic 15- (Unusual Group), Discriminatory, Increased Arc Of Perception (360 Degrees), Targeting, Telescopic (+1 versus Range Modifier), Tracking  0
    22   Long Arms: (Total: 25 Active Cost, 22 Real Cost) HKA 1d6 (2d6 w/STR) (Real Cost: 15) plus Stretching 2" (10 Active Points); Limited Body Parts (Arms; -1/4), no Noncombat Stretching (-1/4) (Real Cost: 7)  2
    47   Animated Vitality: LS (Eating: Character only has to eat once per week; Immunity: All terrestrial diseases and biowarfare agents; Immunity: All terrestrial poisons and chemical warfare agents; Longevity: Immortal; Safe in High Pressure; Safe in High Radiation; Safe in Intense Cold; Safe in Intense Heat; Safe in Low Pressure/Vacuum; Self-Contained Breathing; Sleeping: Character only has to sleep 8 hours per year)  0
    26   Elemental Furnance: Endurance Reserve (100 END, 20 REC) Reserve: (30 Active Points); REC: (20 Active Points); Conditional Power Power does not work in Uncommon Circumstances (No Magic Zones; -1/4)  0
    5   4 Legs: Extra Limbs (2)  0
    12   Heavy: Knockback Resistance -6"  0
    24   Long Legs: Running +12" (18" total)  2
    Powers Cost: 351

     

     

    Cost   Skill
    48   +6 with All Combat 
    7   Analyze: Combat 13- 
    3   Analyze: Magic 11- 
    10   Defense Maneuver I-IV  
    4   KS: Dharzooni Tactical Lore 13- 
    0   Language: Dharzooni (completely fluent; literate) (4 Active Points) 
    3   Shadowing 11- 
    5   Tracking 12- 
    Skills Cost: 80

     

     

    Cost   Talent
    3   Absolute Range Sense 
    3   Absolute Time Sense 
    3   Ambidexterity (-2 Off Hand penalty) 
    5   Eidetic Memory 
    14   Fearless 
    Talents Cost: 28

     

     

    Total Character Cost: 561

     

    Val   Disadvantages
    15   Susceptibility: Dispel Magic, 2d6 damage Instant (Common) 
    35   Enraged: Berserk When awoken from its thousand-year slumber, and almost any time after that. (Uncommon), go 14-, recover 8- 
    10   Physical Limitation: DEX reduced to 10 in No Magic Zones (Infrequently, Greatly Impairing) 
    25   Distinctive Features: Enormous Glass-Armored Killing Machine (Not Concealable; Extreme Reaction; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses) 
    20   Physical Limitation: No Manipulation (All the Time, Greatly Impairing) 
    381   Giant Glass-Armored Killing Machine Bonus 

    Disadvantage Points: 486

     

    Base Points: 75

    Experience Required: 0

    Total Experience Available: 0

    Experience Unspent: 0

  24. High Cost Package Deals...

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    Re: High Cost Package Deals...

     

    I'd tell him to go play Eberron. Honestly' date=' I have never really understood the fascination with totally recreating a D&D world into Hero System. To me, Hero is great because it allows for so much conceptual flexibility and for you to make your own world, with its own inhabitants, it's own ideas. Obsessively recreating D&D just seems to miss the point in my book.[/quote']

     

    Cool thing is, this world is one of my own design. It predates Eberron by at least a decade. Maybe even the whole current Steampunk movement (begun by SPACE:1889)... but dates are hard to pin down. I have no idea how long Baker was working on Eberron before it got published. The first Caleon game was in June of 1985 (as a 1st ed D&D game), the steampunk elements were introduced slowly, starting around November of 1988 (in Fantasy Hero). It went through a long GURPS phase while HERO was away, but I've been converting it for months.

  25. High Cost Package Deals...

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    Re: High Cost Package Deals...

     

    Looks fine, although I find the Total Cost of Package notation misleading. The disads apply towards the character's disads, so it doesn't tell the complete picture.

     

    If it can wear armor it will be really tough.

     

     

    Did I err? I thought you subtracted the Disads before figuring the package cost... If by that you mean, I shouldn't subtract them... hmmm... he does look a little deadier...

     

    As for preventing extra armor... Physical Limitation? Cannot Wear Armor (All the Time, Greatly Impairing)?

     

    Not that I'm arguing, but I want the rationale solidly defined before my players start in about it... :)

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