Supreme Serpent

PC to NPC romances can also be more convenient in longer campaigns, such as when player A in romance wants to change characters. And an NPC love interest is usually much more malleable to the GM's plots...

"Fads" I've used/seen used in games: I used a villain named "Bass" with vibration/sonic powers - got fried by experimental super-amplifier/subwoofer and absorbed its powers...penetrating EB's and such. Ran into an "Arcade" type villain that used robotic 'Pokemon' monsters on us. Other ideas: Hero/Villain team set up along 'Boy Band' lines. Anything from the various card-game crazes. "Incredibly Pierced Guy" Hey hey hey...it's PRIIIIIINCE Albert! Bah da dwon ba da dwon...and we're gonna **** our ****** for you...And we're gonna show you a thing or twooo...Come join da fun now with me and all da gang....learning from each other while we do our thanggg...naahh..naaah..naah..have a good time..hey..hey..hey...

I'd look at the whole picture. Is the double KB thing the character's "schtick"? Why is it in a multi pool? Do the other powers in the pool fit the same theme (strength powers, "human bomb" powers, etc)? Or is it just as a points dodge? If he's "The TNT Avenger", and has a multipower pool with the double KB punch, an explosion/AE attack, "blasting" tunnelling, and other "human bomb" type powers, I'd allow it. If he's "Tobor the Robot" and his MP has the double KB punch, a laser, a force wall, and other hodge-podge powers, I wouldn't. I know it's blurring the line a bit between Mulitpowers and EC's (not a discussion I want to start here), but I tend to give cool and/or cohesive characters much more leeway in construction.

To take this in a somewhat different direction, how many of you have used evil versions of the PC's in a supers game? One character or the whole group? How'd it work out?

Become more POWERFUL! Secrets of XP accumulation! Want that extra power, skill, or stat increase but just don't have enough XP? We have the answer! Learn how to accumulate massive amounts of XP working at home! For Secret of XP Accumulation , send 1 XP to: Foxbat PO Box 5841 Pueblo, CO 55555-5841

We've had various romances over the years. Some PC-PC, some PC-powered NPC, some PC-normal NPC. I like it being part of the game - would feel odd without it having at least some presence in the game.

WANTED: Human collaborators for tyrannical alien overlord. Good pay, benefits. Contact X'zzzhaxnor via ansible frequency 105.55.87754 for details.

Dimensional Portal for sale. Guidance system inoperable. Useful for trash disposal, deathtraps, last-ditch escape route.

MSV ISO other MSVs for blatant "Acts of Vengeance" rip off. Hero swapping for fun & profit!

Want a shot at the big leagues? Successful mid-level henchvillain retiring, willing to sell name, costumes, gear to enterprising thug. Will include secret of powers, info on nemesis heroes to watch out for. Referrals to master villains available for extra fee.

FOR SALE: One dozen armored cars, used. Empty, need doors repaired/replaced. Some glass damage. Selection of Brinks, Wells Fargo, SecurTek.

Goblin Glider Autopilot/remote control suggested writeups.

I've been considering trying out a house rule of "If your applicable resistant defense is 2x or more the body rolled on the KA, the KA does no damage, regardless of STUN rolled." That way, light KA's can still put a hurt on lightly armored characters, but the Thing can ignore small arms fire without having to buy extra defenses "only vs bullets" or such. I know there's issues in the mid-defense range, but I just want a way to limit the effect of the stun lottery.

OK, glad we've hijacked this thread to something useful. Some we've used in our games: Zuraguay (South America) Mangladesh (Himalayas) Notthereia (Europe) Kasheem (Middle East)

Steve Jackson Games makes some standups, though most of the ones available now are more fantasy-themed. Root through old 4th Ed hero products (GM screen, alien enemies) and old Marvel Supers RPG sets for tons of standups. You can also get some of the "Clix" figs pretty cheap, especially if you are after things like cops, Hydra agents and such - mostly in the 10-25 cent range each.

A ) If the GM wants you to get rid of it or tone it down, do so. B ) Is it still listed as a Talent in 5th ed? If so, it's a rare GM who will allow advantages on Talents, like No Range Mod. I've allowed limits on them to fit conception better (architect character getting FW "only vs structures" and such) but not advantages. I haven't found FW generally to be too devestating in our games, but we do keep an eye on it - factor in the character's overall effectiveness, why they are having it, etc. Ok for Green Dragon w/his 8d6 martial strike, No-No for Grond with his 18d6 punch. All things relative.

Because gamers are a cowardly and superstitious lot. My group has had a lot of campaigns over the years, and lots of them have died. After so many crashes, you start to see patterns, even if they're coincidental. For example, I have one villain group/story arc that I have begun introducing into three different campaigns, and shortly thereafter, the game falls apart. Nothing directly related - the group doesn't say anything like "we hate those guys, we're not playing" - they actually seem to like facing them, just real world things, scheduling conflicts and the like seem to hit "coincidentally" at the same time. So, the group will likely stay in the binder, never to see the light of play again...just in case. Just curious if anyone else has had similar experiences.

Anyone have any villains/groups/story arcs that seem to doom any campaign you try to bring them into? It doesn't even have to be a visible link between them, but whenever you introduce X to the game, SOMETHING happens and campaign dies off?

Is there any particular goal in mind, or do you just want a discussion about "I like Frank Miller more than Roger Stern due to X" ? Do you want inspiration for a campaign? If so, tell us something about the campaign, world, likely characters and such and maybe we can focus the answers more.

I knew I liked you Hermit.

There could very well also be "facilitator" type villains out there who don't normally go out and do crimes themselves, but supply things to villains that they need. Like Marvel's Tinkerer who made gadgets, AIM that supplied things as well as doing its own plots, or Taskmaster / CU's Thugmaster who train muscle for villains. Someone to get other contacts from, costumes, info on local law enforcement/supers, hideout locations, local muscle, etc. Could be a good business. After all, most interrogations focus on "who do you work for?" not, "Where did you get the lead to hire Guido & Nunzio?"

"PayUpOrElsePal!"

Makes for a fun scenario - why is VIPER robbing candy stores? Ripping off Pokemon cards? Sabotaging schools?

Oh no! It turns out that your son from an alternate, dark future WAS your evil triplet, lost in time to that alternate, dark future! By killing himself before that event, he causes another timesplit, where instead of an alternate, dark future, it becomes a dark, alternate future.

They could easily do something within VIPER itself; among the Nests using the Serpentine Network. Nest A has upgraded its weapons, and no longer needs the piles of old blasters, but Nest B is just starting out, and could use some cheap weaponry...perfect fit. VIPER central could handle shipping/payment arrangements, and gets a cut of the action. VIPER central could even auction out the services of staff supervillains to different nests that way - "OK, who wants to use Ripper for the week of 11/5-11/11?" I like that a lot. Will have to incorporate it in the future.