Kzinbane

Re: Paladins of Venus Healing magic... I.e. Viagra spell. Ahem, (slap) I shall shut up now!

Re: Fantasy GM's - question... I expect that "my" TA has Dragons, though I hope not to run into an unpleasant one any time soon. Changing into one is a different matter - maybe if my character ever gets enough points to be at about a dragon's level I'll suggest that he should be allowed to "morph" into one. We shall see.

Re: Fantasy GM's - question... No Problem Lethosos - it wasn't directed your way. Why I should care anyway I don't know, but you've got a pretty good community here so I guess I do! Got thinking about this spell in general - it does look like an awfully "dangerous" one - and I don't mean for the enemy. If you have a group of 150 pt characters and one (or more) can "pop" into 300 pt characters (critters, monsters, animals, whatever) you've got a problem! Some of the spells are pretty powerful, but I can't think of one that lets a fairly low level character potentially kick butt like the "poof I'm a monster" ones. I think were I GM I'd have to find some way to monkey with these spells. Maybe a 25% chance that one or more of your opponents change instead of you would provide a good diversion, LOL.

Re: Fantasy GM's - question... Sheesh people, do you not READ anything? I don't mean to be rude, but I already stated I'm limiting things on purpose. I thought it was clear I was kidding about the Dragon thing after stating a few times I'm not going to push on this spell and am limiting to mundain (mundane?) sorts of critters. My GM has expressed concern about this spell so I'm goign to follow his wishes. I too am a GM and have decided to limit it some - perhaps to a few critters and then maybe only once a day or something else. I guess in this medium it's not clear when somone's kidding but just for the record - again - I'm not intending to screw up the entire game. I simply am looking for a spell or two that will allow the character to get in and mix it up as a fighter type instead of forver casting spells from afar. The monster idea is one of them that would let my wizard do that - and if I DO choose that spell I'm not going to pick a zillion point super beast that is impossible to beat.

Re: Fantasy GM's - question... Oh? heh..heh...ha...hah...HAH..BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Ahem.

Re: They wont die I thought the origial Borg were a great idea. A sort of life completely different and monsterously alien. But then they had to go and humanize them, add a queen and all that rot. Anyone who has kept up on Stargage SG-1 has probably noticed that they have a "borg" too. In Stargate they are called the replecators and they assimilate unknown technologies constantly and run around in the form of roughly foot long metalic insect like constructs. At the start they were the main enemy of the Asgard race. Much like the original borg - they could not be reasoned with, talked to or otherwise even communicated with. Their aim was to be fruitful and multiply - using new technology as they can find it to improve their odds of not being destroyed.

Re: Fantasy GM's - question... There must be a lot of players that whine constantly at GM decisions out there! Several people have advised against badgering the GM about this - and I have already said I will not a few times! I am planning to limit this spell useage on purpose to mundane sorts of monsters not magical ones. It seems utter foolishness for my mage to have a lmited spell list but be able to change into a Dragon with a larger one - for example. I'm going to leave out most monsters with magical powers such as the Basalisk and the like. Bottom line is I want to enjoy the game. I am also thinking of limiting the spell to once per day. If I want to change enemies to stone I'll learn the Thaumatology spell that does that. The only reason I wanted this one and probably the aid strength one is so that at times I can enjoy a good hand to hand battle instead of always casting spells from afar. A change of pace on occasion, don't cha know.

Re: Fantasy GM's - question... Mixed forms like Chimera's or Griffons and the like really should not be too much of an issue. I would not expect the spell to be used for long periods of time due to the potential for personality loss (i.e. forgetting that you're a mage and not a critter). I suppose if my mage gets a giant eagle or something like that in his list though transportation may be a use rather than the main use right now which will likely be fighting off monsters and hordes of orcs and such.

Re: Fantasy GM's - question... I am a GM/DM myself - we tend to move around in my group depending on who wants to run what. As far as the monster spell - I'm not going to push it - but I have suggested that if it's going to be further restricted from the one in the Grimoire that it gets to take additional disad's - making it cheaper. As far as decisions such as this one - I don't take the game seriously enough to really get too annoyed. Mildly yes, because the decision impacts on the fun I have in the game. When I GM I try to let the players have fun, as long as they aren't going to "break" the game. My mage turning into a T-Rex won't do that - but enough complaining - it is his game and that's that! A side note though - I just bought the spell (still pending GM approval) and am going to simply use very large versions of cratures the character is familiar with. In the end while more realistic (lol, well - sorta) the monsters will likely be more effective than if he'd just have let me change into a dinosaur! I'll be changing into things like Giant ants, crabs, spiders and the like. Giant versions of familiar critters in other words. 20 foot long Yellowjacket anyone? I'm spending a few points on Turakian world zoology so hopefully I'll be expanding out of the insects, arachnids and crustatians soon. The problem is the monsters listed in the books are limited. I can't see changing into undead monsters (even if he allows it I'd put restrictions on my own character there) or demons. Dragons though... hmm. Any text anywhere that indicates that the Turakian age setting HAS dragons? If so.... Bwah ha ha ha ha is all I have to say!

Re: Fantasy GM's - question... Ewww! Character is Vegetarian! And he changes into a giant hot pepper and maces the attacking orc hordes!

Re: Monster Manuals needed! Thanks Steve and all, but that only puts us back to square one - we need a guide to the monsters and critters of the world during the Turakian age. The manuals already out don't do the trick. The world book is very detailed as far as the history, cities, etc. but has little or nothing about the plants animals and monsters and such that inhabit the world. I suppose a GM could go thought he various publications already out and put together something of a list of what's real and what isn't - but at least I for one would gladly purchase a Turkanian age book of critters. Field guide to the Turkanian age - by Audobon or some early mage...

Re: Fantasy GM's - question... I'd say this was fairly reasonable, however other spells of the same cost as the monster one - don't have any restrictions and potentially can do a heck of a lot of damage. In fact in poking around for spells for my mage to learn I was thinking of limiting the monster spell to familiar forms as a way to make it cheaper (more limitations in other words).

Re: Fantasy GM's - question... I figure he just uses his imagination and goes for something big and frightening. I'm sure rumors abound about Dragons and whatever - as well as giant squid, sea monsters and the high father knows what else. Monster by definition means freaky and scary - I personally can think of a few forms I could go with that are not "real" or imagined but could be damn frightening! You are probably right though to some degree - I suspect he'd go for HUGE versions of something familiar. Giant crabs, giant insects, whales, etc. The Basic spell allows 32 (IIRC) monsters - I'm really going to have to work at what 32 "real" monsters are allowed. The Turakian critters book will help though - then I'll double check with the GM to see if he objects to what I choose. I suppose I could just make it easier and not pick the spell(s) at all - stick with high power fire bolts and such - but it seems more fun to me to get to wade in and do some damage up close and personal instead of standing back as the wimpy mage casting death and distruction from afar.

Re: Monster Manuals needed! Is it now? Verrrry interesting. Me thinks I need to get a copy and have my mage spend some points in KS - exotic and dangerous monsters. It would not be fair for me to have the book without - it's hard for me not to tell my characters things that I know...

Re: Fantasy GM's - question... Ok, good enough! The reason I wrote here was for opinions - the fact that the replies went in favor of the GM is fine with me. Part of the fun of the game is working around things. Since I'm not going to be able to convince him to change his mind I'll just work with what I have and figure something out. Thanks for the replies!

I see the Champions universe filling up nicely with new books but see a big hole in the Fantasy realm where (IMO) a couple new books would be really nice. How about a Turakian age and Valdorian age Monster manual? One can't just assume that everything in the beastiary is there, and that's all there is. I don't know about others, but I'd buy the book if it were available!

There are several spells in the grimoire that allow a mage to transform into various monsters or animals. Question - would you restrict what a mage and "do" to what monsters/animals the mage actually knows about and that exist in the world? Here is the situation - I am in a Turkanian age campaign, and my mage will soon be learning Calmirs first spell of the monsterous form. My GM mentioned though that the mage won't be able to turn into a dinosaur because he wouldn't know about them. He IS the GM and I will go by his decision, but that doesn't mean I can't gather a few opinions of other fantasy GM's and attempt to change his mind! If he's stubborn then I'll get him....... I'll demand a full Turkanian age Monster manual be created by him, stocked fully with exactly what the mage CAN transform into! Of course then he may just pull those spells as ones I can use... hard to win vs "God". Anyhow... comments? Suggestions? What would YOU do here?

Re: Fellow GM's - help define spacial awareness Hey KS, thanks for the FAQ section and reply - I did look for the FAQ but missed it somehow. My decision to post here instead of the HERO system area was specifically to get GM's to provide their take on it. Many of the rules have various interpretations, if one comes up that I particularly like - even if not "official HERO" then I may want to run with that. Anyhow thanks again!

I have a PC that wants to have spacial awareness. I'm curious how other GM's (or players) see this as working. In the Fred write up it's not completely clear (pun intended) if it allows one to sense through objects or not, or around corners or not. The PC is of the view that it acts like N-ray vision. Since it costs 22 points it should be somewhat more useful than N-ray (10 points). As an unusual sense it can't be flashed so that does provide some benefit - but not 12 points in my mind. I need to come to a decision on how it's going to work so he and I can agree on it before gametime.

Re: Most powerful man in the world A lot depends on how available super powers are, and super tech. If it's like the DC or Marvel universe then the president SHOULD have one HECK of a secret service. Funny thing in both worlds he doesn't though. In my world he has SSS agents (Super Secret Service of course) with some awsome detecting abilities bought through technology (think Star Trek's Tricorders). Also around him wherever he goes are dispel teleports, etc and he's got an invisible force field on at all times. So he is certainly the most protected man on earth, and with an order can put the full force of the US military on someone's butt. Of course Congress/Senate can overrule him in time, but for a while he can make things VERY hot for anyone including Dr. Destroyer. Main issue is - while everyone is out hunting down Dr. D... who else is getting into mischief?

Well, obviously not the weather itself. What I mean is - thinking of a character like Storm who can summon change environment types of weather effects (rain, ice, sleet, cold, heat, etc). To match this effect in Champions it seems one must buy invisible effects. Given the rules about powers being visible by 3 senses it doesn't seem that a weather powered character such as Storm could stay conceled and cause a weather change without obvious effects giving the person away. Am I mis reading the rules on power visibility? I want my character to be able to sneak up, peek around a corner, wiggle his fingers and make it rain around the corner (or whatever) without there being a big neon sign saying "powers at work here".

As I read the rules about blocking in 5th it occurs to me that something seems very wrong. Unless I am missing something, using the blocking rules, Aunt May could block a haymaker from the Hulk IF she rolled right. Shouldn't there be some sort of strength roll involved or perhaps a comparison of total damage from the potential Hand to hand hit and the strength or capabilities of the person blocking? What about blocking a martial strike? Normal block? Aunt may again (this is not her day) blocks Iron fist? Granted he's not hitting as hard as Hulk, but still. I realize that a block isn't (usually) actually putting your hand out and catching the attackers fist. Neither is it actually blocking as such as you would with a shield. It's more along the lines of a sweep where you use lateral force to re-direct the opponents strike so it now misses, and you are now set up for a counter punch. Still there should be some strength contest inolved.

Movie All is not lost... Firefly is in production now to be a movie called Serenity (the name of the ship). Last I heard all the cast except the priest and Doctor were signed on. News today on Cinescape website says they are continuing to cast for other parts. EXCELLENT! Maybe some of the mysteries that popped up in the series will be uncovered in the movie!

for me it's got to be the sort that can't deal with things happening "in game" and in character. GM "you are grabbed from behind". Player - "what? I should have gotten a roll to detect someone coming or something!". I find it hard to stay in the game when someone wants to pop out constantly and complain that this should have happend because of X or that shoud happen due to Y. Stay in the $*#*! game, deal with the situation as your character! If Superman smacks someone and they DON'T go flying he doesn't bitch at the DC writer about knock back, he figures out something else to do!

Green Arrow or Hawkeye or some archer I have seen in my 30 odd years of reading comics had an arrow that allowed some limited swinging ability. I think maybe I have seen one also with an arrow having a rocket or something in it that allowed some flight. I too don't see the MP addition as being too out there provided you can explain how it works. Mad thinker had gravity disks as a gismo... very slow flight that sounds kinda like what you have suggested.