Lord Liaden

And pursuant to that last point, you want a law on the books that says you're going to take said bastard's head to put on a pike.

Well, one thing that comes to mind is from Hero's Turakian Age setting. Two prosperous city-states are separated by an expanse of jungle called the Greenmaw. It's a dangerous place full of quicksand pits, crocodiles and venomous serpents, and hostile humanoids. To foster trade between them, some adventurous merchants have learned how to navigate the dangers of the Greenmaw. Known as "Goldwalkers," they're a kind of merchant-ranger. Another Hero setting book, the Valdorian Age, describes an empire whose economy is based on slavery. One dense jungle has become a refuge for escaped slaves, consisting of many small bands, but all of whom consider themselves one people, called the Free Men. Because of their shared heritage their society values freedom: each band is led by a chief elected by vote from all men and women in the band, who are also able to speak freely in band councils. Their priorities are survival, and assisting other slaves who make it to the jungle. Back in the Turakian Age, the savannah called the Makari Plains are home to a species of lion-centaur called Leomachi. Their economy is based on herding cattle, with cattle-ownership being the standard of social status. Their society is strongly reminiscent of the Maasai of East Africa -- rather ironic in that for Maasai killing a lion was a rite of passage to manhood, while Leomachi are themselves part lion. (I believe there are 6E stats for them in the Bestiary.) I posted some thoughts about developing a region in the Turakian world, the Ulimar Jungle: https://www.herogames.com/forums/topic/97841-the-turakian-age-is-seriously-underrated/page/9/?tab=comments#comment-2743270 . That prompted our forum colleague and game writer, Dean Shomshak, to offer more general suggestions about jungle-based adventures: https://www.herogames.com/forums/topic/97841-the-turakian-age-is-seriously-underrated/page/9/?tab=comments#comment-2743796 I'll see what else I can think of.

Only part of the function of law is punishment for wrongdoing. Another major component is deterrent to someone from ever trying to commit a crime. Society wants to prevent something harmful from occurring at all. "Probably going to get killed by the PCs" isn't a guarantee, especially if something like this happens when there aren't any powerful PCs around. Scenario-wise you may be right that it won't matter in the end, IF the summons goes off. Setting-logic-wise it does make a difference.

I don't think Trump cared about the bill one way or another. All he ever wants is attention and deference. If McConnell called him and personally begged him to sign (or words that Trump could interpret that way), that would probably be enough to satisfy him that he's still relevant.

But that would be irrational. I don't believe that great intellect and outright arrogance necessarily have to go together. Most scientists today engage in research as part of a team, so cooperation is part of scientific discipline. Even if there is arrogance, it would be directed toward the "inferior" minds of common folk. But if one felt the need for a leader to enforce discipline, the variation on the Ultimates from the 4E book, Enemies Assemble, could be sufficient. In that book Binder experienced an accident involving the alien energy-construct Plasmoid, which dramatically boosted his intelligence. He took to calling himself "the Ultimate Mastermind." In that case his fellows had to concede that he was demonstrably the smartest among them.

Is there anything physical you're experiencing to suggest you're not fine? Of course we'll all be thinking of you and sending prayers or positive vibes, depending on our spiritual beliefs.

In a civilization in which people have access to guns, the authorities typically also have guns. If someone gets their hands on a really big gun, the authorities have recourse to a bunch of really big guns. So, unless magic in this setting is very rare, and/or the offending wizard is exceptionally powerful, law enforcement should have the means to counter and punish them. Local authorities may not be able to bring it to bear immediately, but sooner or later someone will be called on to put the law breaker in their place.

Here's another approach: These monoliths are the first manifestation of other signs and phenomena that may be interpreted as salvation, or invasion, by hyper-advanced aliens; or the arrival of old gods or new, to intervene in the affairs of Man for good or ill; or the breakdown of the natural order, perhaps the coming of the Apocalypse; maybe all of those, depending on what follows a given monolith in a given area, and how that's interpreted. Some segments of humanity fall into mass panic, others prepare for war, while still others stage huge rallies to welcome what they think will be salvation for those who believe. Order begins to fall apart as factions with differing beliefs clash with each other and with authorities. But none of them are right. The monoliths are creations of Professor Paradigm, part of a massive "performance art" experiment. The monoliths generate holograms, energy fields, mind-altering transmissions, to convince people that they're portents of these great changes. Paradigm believes that Reality is flawed, and wants to understand it so he can correct it. In Mankind's instinctive reaction to these potential traumas he hopes to find clues as to which, if any, of them are true.

We have what we need. We just can't get it out to the public as fast as we'd like. But these vaccines are an outstanding example of what scientific research can produce with extraordinary speed, when there's enough will and public support behind it. If we'd devoted the same focus to global warming when the alarms were first raised, climate change would be coming over centuries instead of decades.

If it doesn't cause an inconvenience, I do suggest dropping that last "s" for future releases.

That is funny, but a cop on the street who's that overweight is a liability in any physical confrontation aside from a human shield.

I have to admit, I've often had the same thought.

That may indeed be practical, but there are many logistical issues involved. Until the election results are finalized and official, an incoming new President and his officials can't be given access to classified information and channels. The new team has to be acquainted with their offices. There will be briefings with, and maybe shakeups for, the military staff, intelligence services, and embassies around the world. I don't know whether or not it would be practical to get all that done in a month. The only reason this process is a farce now, is because the outgoing President is a clown.

If we're talking about the current official Champions Universe, the Clarke inspiration would lead to one logical conclusion: the Progenitors have returned. Why they're here and what they decide to do will determine the adventure potential for PCs. Let's say these monoliths are probes through which the Progenitors are examining the progress of their experiment with human evolution. Note that nearly no one on Earth knows Progenitors even exist, what role they played in our world's past, or their motivations, and humans usually fear what they don't understand. It would be even more frightening if these probes disrupt technology in the region where they appear, or tap into human data storage, including classified info. The long-term impact on the world would depend on what conclusions the Progenitors come to. Are they satisfied with the experiment's progress, and will they then just leave? Are any or all of humanity ready to advance to the next stage? (Both the "2000" books, and Clarke's novel Childhood's End, describe ways that could play out.) Or will they conclude the project is a failure, and decide to eradicate the human race (they've done that to other experiments), so the heroes have to convince them otherwise (fighting Progenitors should be nearly impossible for Terrestrial heroes). How will the Empyreans respond if they learn their creators are back? Will they welcome them, reject or oppose them, or form factions of both? Are the Empyreans what the Progenitor probes are looking for? (The majority of them live incognito among humans.) Perhaps some supertech villain can scan one of the monoliths before it disappears, and use what they learn to enhance their own technology. Or perhaps PCs might accidentally be caught by a monolith as it disappears and returns to a Progenitor ship or base, from which they then have to escape. Maybe the Progenitors' return triggers some booby trap doomsday weapon left by their enemies, the Sleynu, in the city of Selenus on Earth's Moon, like their devastating Star Seed.

A recently discovered "snack stall" in Pompeii. Just goes to show that if you invent a way to make a buck, someone probably already thought of it.

No, there is no discount for Powers that draw from an END Reserve.

IIRC in 5E and 6E Steve Long specified that "characters" without EGO, like standard computers, which took a Complication such as, "Affected By Cyberkinesis," would use INT instead of EGO against which Mental Powers with that SFX would work. Same with "undead" which are "Affected By Necromancy."

There were a few things like that that Derek Hiemforth eliminated from Champs Complete, like Classes of Minds for Mental Powers. He seems to have favored a more streamlined approach, whereas Steve Long clearly preferred more granularity. Ultimately it comes down to individual preference. For my part there are a few things eliminated in Complete, and 6E, that I wish were kept from earlier editions; and other things kept that I'd rather were removed. One nice thing about owning multiple editions of Hero System is that they're so cross-compatible, especially since 4E, that I usually can easily insert something I like from one edition into games using another.

"I really wish you'd stop kissing me on my eye."

I usually require Spiritual Transform to change something inanimate into something that's "alive" in the scientific and philosophical senses, rather that simply mobile according to its creator's will. And as I indicated above, I also consider it appropriate when a person is made into someone completely different, with a radically altered personality and world-view. Think of the angel Castiel in his mortal "vessel" from the series Supernatural; or the eponymous vampire of Angel with and without a soul. I also instituted Spiritual Transform as the mechanism by which to alter a person's history and relationship to the world and humanity as a whole, as a curse or wish-fulfillment. E.g. elevate or negate their social status, make them famous or infamous or forgotten, change or undo incidents from their past, and the like. I like to think of it as "editing their karmic path," which seems sufficiently "spiritual" to me.

As per Xarriel's background in Champions Beyond pp. 251-52, that's exactly what he did. "All Ashraaleans serve him unquestioningly; most of them can't even contemplate disobeying him." However, "Xarriel has had to leave a few of his servants with a little bit of free will because they need intelligence and creativity to perform their jobs properly." That's something I'm elaborating.

If this is the route you want to go, I can tell you that if I was one of your players, I would immediately strongly suspect that "Agent Schonenberg" is "maybe more" than an urban mage. In making this offer to the PCs Schonenberg is stepping 'way outside his authority, and playing a very dangerous game with very powerful people. Someone doesn't normally do that unless they're either actually a big deal, or are acting on behalf of a big deal. I would suggest that John Schonenberg is not the great-great-etc. grandson of Johann von Schonenberg. He in fact IS Johann von Schonenberg. He assumes an identity purporting to be one of his descendants from generation to generation, and took his current job to keep tabs on what's happening in the supernatural world. Johann may have been cursed to remain alive on Earth until he atones for his past misdeeds; or he may have found a way to extend his life so he can continue his crusade against what he perceives as evil. In any case, if this is the tack you take I would bet your PCs will investigate Agent Schonenberg to discover if he has a hidden agenda, and if he's really who he says he is. That could become a running sub-plot of the campaign.

Then yes, Mental Transform to give them that Psychological Complication.

If the person taken over actually becomes a new being, with a new soul/lifeforce/whatever inhabiting the host body -- like the Goa'uld from Stargate, or the CU's Slug transforming humans into Elder Worms -- Spiritual Transform might be appropriate. If the victim is only being compelled to obey by this "overmind," Mental Transform seems sufficient.

I agree with Bolo that knowledge of the other timeline's future would be of little practical value now, and acting on it might inadvertently make things worse for this timeline. I don't think that needs to be sweated over. But charges of treason are a very real possibility. But of course the issue is, what would be most fun for your players, that wouldn't mean burning down the whole campaign? Here's how I would go: whoever the interrogating officer's superiors are inform the PCs that they won't take any official action in regards to this revelation. They won't pass it on to their higher ups. The PCs can continue on as they have been. That is, provided the heroes will occasionally perform some special missions "off the books," as it were, for the greater good of course... It isn't necessary at this point to define what those missions may be, or what the true intentions of the superiors are. That can be developed as you and your players move forward. As well as what, if anything, the PCs decide to do about it.