ZootSoot

Originally posted by Cybernaut

My response to such people is this: "I don't care if it's realistic or not. I read comics and fiction for entertainment, not a physics lesson."

 

Fiction is not about realism, it's about willing suspension of disbelief for fun.

Well, yeah, but a certain amount of realism certainly helps in this regard . . .

Re: Mutant Power Dampers

Originally posted by Klytus

4) Make every mutant in the game buy all of their powers with the Limitation: Does not work in a mutant-suppression zone.

- This approach has the benefit of a universal weakness. It also clearly defines which parts of a stat are "mutant-powered" and which are not. I mean, if you have a brick with a 60 STR, exactly how much of that STR is because of his mutation? All but 20 points?15? 10? Making the player buy his "mutant" STR with the limitation ends the guess work.

The obvious drawback, of course, is that it is very easily abused: mutants will have more real points to spend on their powers if everything has a flat -¼ Limitation on it.

Unless your goal is not to have any PC mutants, this is your best bet. There is nothing unfair about mutants getting extra points when you are actually providing (Stupid, stupid, stupid) circumstances where it kicks in. Complaining it is unfair is pretty ludicrou since they will lose their powers whent the (Stupid, stupid, stupid) suppressors show up.

Re: Physical Limitation: Can Do No Evil

Originally posted by Acroyear

Joe is a galactic criminal who also happens to be real powerful. However, since his rehabilitation hasn't been "taking" he has been fitted with implants that prevent him from taking any action that has been pre-programmed as evil by the data stored in them.

 

He can't beat information out of a mook. He can't murder. He can't steal.

 

Now, you can trick him with illusions... or he can do something on accident, but you can't Mind Control him into it or anything like that. It's not a matter of his opinion of morality, but if you make a baby look like a seriel killer with an illusion, he can blast it. But you can't just make him blast a baby if he recognizes it as a baby. Basically, he can't do anything of the sort "on purpose" (just like you can't mind control someone without legs to kick someone).

 

To take it further, he may have another implant (or additional program) that requires him to do good or right wrongs. It's not a choice, he is forced to do so no matter what.

 

Whatcha think?

I think you want to break this into a series of specific limitations, else you are going to spend hours out of every game arguing whether something falls into its parameters or not. (And you'll get more points for it that way )

Re: Supers in the Third World

Originally posted by Mutant for Hire

How many people see supervillains and perhaps even organization-sponsored types taking over in the less developed or stable parts of the world?

 

Of course as I observed in another thread, there is the fact that a super cannot singly overthrow and conquer a nation, they can raise forces, launch a coup. And supers have certain advantages in raising such forces, mentalists especailly.

 

The proposition of native superheroes preventing such a thing from happening may not necessarily be the case in situations where the existing government is exceedingly corrupt? What about a superhero seeking to overthrow the government and establish a fair and just administration.

 

One of the things I like about Doctor Doom is that technically he is a fairly benevolent despot. His country is peaceful and prosperous. For a real world example, Vlad Tepes, Vlad the Impaler, who committed all sorts of atrocities is also considered by some to be a national hero. His land was beset by powers from without and he managed to hold on despite that.

 

You'd think some of these would-be world conquering types would start off with a single nation and then expand from there. Some brilliant if deranged gadgeteer would set up a high tech technocracy, or a powerful sorceror would set up a kingdom of magic. Imagine someone who sets up an aristocracy of metahumans over the non-powered masses. Or mutants setting up their own Israel where they can live free of persecution.

 

How have people handled this?

In my dark future Marvel game I had Saddam hussein contact and ally with Magneto dring the Iran-Iraq war. Magneto conquered the entire area and established a mutant nation, a haven during the darkest days of mutant persecution. Partly in response to this threat the US actually backed away from much of its anti-mutant programs. My PCs were never sure whther the nation Magneto built (but officially resigned as executive of) was an ally or a threat.

There seems to be a strong feeling that Captain America should be done as a Hollywood comic adaptation. Who would you like to see in the role? For me there is no question that the one man who is perfect for the part is Brendan Frasier.

Originally posted by Keneton

Please give me a few good reasons to not buy Strength and strecthing vs. TK! If you think of a few I'd love to hear them. Strength is always the best buy and TK has no action/reaction so we will see which works best!

 

I can think of very few advantages of doing things your way besides ungodly range.

You have to buy both Strength and Stretching with stretching while TK includes both (and the range is vastly superior) action reaction is unimportant since Stretching is not a movement power either, in both cases you have to buy that separately.

Don't buy Stretching, buy Telekinesis with stretching as your special effect and you will be happier.

10. The original Human Torch. A created being who surpasses the power and responsibility of those who created him.

9. The Thing. A monster who is human and a hero.

8. Daredevil. As long as that whole Stick thing was a nightmare.

7. Silver Surfer. Twice faced with the ultimate sacrifice and both times living up to it.

6. Howard the Duck. No powers and forced to make his way on a planet of hairless apes, nonetheless never losing sight of his moral center.

5. Iceman. With great power . . . ahhh, who cares let's go get a beer and check out the chicks.

4. Rorschach. Principles don't stop applying simply because victory becomes impossible

3. Adam Strange. No control over where he is but always a hero.

2. Puck. A congenitally deformed man who nonetheless became a self-trained hero.

1. Plastic Man. A criminal finding redemption through a near death experience granting him powers whose potential is indescribable.

The suggestion of running a agme that emphasises other aspects of play, while good generally, seems to miss the point of the initial complaint. That complaint was that the player did this in order to make combat quicker and less of a focus of play. The initial poster seems to want more, or at least longer lasting, combat. This may not be achievable in a way that leaves both satisfied.

Re: Modern & "Realistic"

Originally posted by RDU Neil

Any of you folks out there watching "24" or "The Shield?"

 

How about movies like Gene Hackman's "The Package" or more recently "Narc" or slightly over the top "The Bourne Identity"

 

This style of adventure... realistic, violent, suspenseful... all about grit and guns and terrorism and espionage... does anyone play these kind of campaigns... or even mini-campaigns or one shots?

 

See... I love this kind of game. No superheroics, no "cinematic" action... real world laws and concerns... characaters who logically DON'T want to get shot at... weapons are deadly... etc. I think I'm alone in loving this level of game.

 

Everyone else I know, and all the posts on these boards, are all about larger than life Player Charcters, magic, super powers, etc. I like this stuff, too, but I miss the days of "Danger International" if you folks remember that old Hero System product from the '80s. Some of the greatest adventures I've ever run, or been involved in, were like a good cop drama or suspense film, and NOT a comic book or Action movie.

 

I guess I just wonder if anyone out there is playing this kind of game at all. I really miss it.

I don't think any of those movies could be considered realistic. Something like Far From Heaven might be realistic (except that the black lead looks like he is about to duck into a phone booth and come out in a cape . . .). Your choices are "dark and gritty" not "realistic" which can be fun as long as your players aren't sulky about death, disability and defeat.