evilaustintom

I saw you used the power suggestions from the book - I was just voicing my thoughts on it. A GM might be flexible, and just go with it. But as you say, the 'implementation' of some of those kinetic powers is an issue. I'm starting a new Champions campaign myself right now. The GM ran the first intro game as, "Everyone as normal people." He then effectively role-played our origin story. We each rolled random 'superpowers', and my guy got 'energy manipulation'. After the first game, the GM lets us build our characters however we want within the 400pt build, but using the 'direction' we rolled up. I decided to narrow the focus of energy manipulation into nulling/suppressing energy, both normal and kinetic. So you caught met at a good time - I've been playing around with kinetics, so I just happened to be the 'kinetic zone' this week. If I get a chance when I get home, I'll try to post some of the kinetic powers I built for him. They may not work for your character idea, but perhaps they'll help with idea of your own. evilaustintom

I would recommend with your Kinetic Missile Multipower, putting the Beam and Limited range limitations on the multipower base cost. Since it's already on every slot in the multipower, you might as well put it on the base cost as well - it'll save you about 9 points, which you can use for other stuff...perhaps on a frictionless slide? Skate on the ground, giving you more movement? Just a thought - I'm sure you saw that as a 'kinetic movement option' in Champions Complete. I'm not particularly keen on the TK to the west only - the idea is cool, but I'm not sure of the implementation. The way TK works for throwing people - the way I understand it - is you have to grab them first (just like normal strength). I could be wrong about that, though...I probably should look it up. Just sending people in a certain direction might be better served by an attack that does a lot of knockback, but no damage - and only in the earth's rotation specific direction (indirect). Or perhaps fly usable on others that you control (again, though - with the appropriate limitations)? Just throwing out ideas. Fun fact - the earth spins at about 1,000 miles an hour (1,600km/hr). At your speed rate, you would need a fly usable on others of about...1,066 meters of movement. Even with noncombat multipliers and the movement advantages that increase acceleration, that would put it over the general active cost limits of most standard superhero campaigns. You know...if you were going for 'realism'. <grin> Then again, we probably don't want to discuss the damage you would take hitting a wall at that speed. evilaustintom

The recommendation of fully unzipping HD was greatly appreciated. I spent a few hours tonight trying different things (updating latest java, uploading javafix, REinstalling all of these programs a few times, searching online for what I was missing, etc). This was all I was missing...full extraction. Oy. Thanks a bunch!

I just picked up this app - great job! It's actually making me interested in going back to look at picking up the HERO Combat Manager and HERO Designer (I'm old school and figure everything by hand on paper right now ). One minor request, since you have a number of toggle options in the damage calculator - perhaps you could add toggle for 'Double Knockback'? Not that I just recently designed a brick with a kinetic punch or anything... - evilaustintom

Re: The Forgettable Man Of course, if you go with a triggered attack that auto-resets, you could make the range LoS rather than AoE. But then you run into the situation of a stealthy foe not being affected because you never became aware of them. Another thought - Sticky. So some bad guy organizes his henchmen to chase you down, but you give them the slip. Even people that didn't see you may forget about you...

Re: The Forgettable Man This power is really affecting memories - not senses (which is why I'd stay away from invisibility). I think the mental transform is the way to go, with the appropriate advantages and limitations, such as: AoE 0 End Constant Persistant Fully Invisible Power Effects Transform based on Ego, not Body AVAD (mental defense, rather than power defense) Always On No range Limited (needs to be aware of PC) ...and possibly... Delayed Effect (perhaps staggered, so it becomes more effective over more time) ...or... Trigger (once the allotted time has passed) ...or... Timed (or something similiar - I can't remember the name of the advantage exactly, but it lets the power take effect at a later date. I may be mixing that up with Delayed Effect) It's still going to be pretty expensive, because if a person only glances at you once, you still need to have enough dice to make the power work.

Re: So, I pulled my arm off to beat a guy...

Re: Bodyguards of Love I considered it earlier, but: 1. It doesn't address AoE attacks, and 2. Even normal ranged and melee attacks will not always work (ie: it's not a definite effect, and a GM would be more arbitrary in when it works and when it doesn't). This just makes it an 'always up' defense method - as long as someone is there to 'take the hit'.

Re: Bodyguards of Love Here's an odd idea. What if you remove the 'aways takes affect' multiplier, and add a 'skill roll', but instead of the traditional skills, you use the active defense of the power? So if Super Guy stands in the way of a gunshot, if he has 20 points of resistant PD (30pts of defenses), he would have a roll of 15-. If it was a 4d6 killing attack (60pt power), that's -6 to the check...so on a 9-, the brick can avoid the 1d6 KA damage... ...but would that mean if the roll is unsuccessful that Aphrodite's defense doesn't apply either to the attack? Hrm. Need to look at my books when I get home tonight... Ah, it may be a little too clunky anyway, always trying to figure out the roll vs the modifiers on the fly.

Re: Bodyguards of Love I see. Well, I can't argue with the danger issue. I don't want it to be a 'nothing' effect (say, 5 active points worth of side effect) - Then no one would ever have a problem with throwing themselves in the way of whatever attack it was ("Hey, free action!"). Whatever power they're blocking could be a 1d6 pistol killing attack, or a 15d6 major transformation into a newt. Since you don't know what the bodyguard is going to be blocking, I just went with the straightforward 1d6 effect. It usually won't kill you, but it also won't be ignored. It does mean the awkward situations where the super tough guy is still getting hurt from minor attacks. I'm not sure what to do about that. I don't see how I can increase the value of the limitation more than 1/4 (which gets doubled, since it always happens, but then -1/4 because it happens to the bodyguard, rather than Aphrodite). Disagree?

Re: Bodyguards of Love

Re: Bodyguards of Love Right. Assuming it's not a killing attack, of course...or a transform, flash, drain, etc.

“Aphrodite” a.k.a. Praxis, Hera, Chrysea, Alitta, Morpho, Nice’phorus, Cypria, Pande’mos (400 pt build) 25 Str [12] 8 Dex [-4] 20 Con [8] 13 Int [2] 28 Ego [14] 30 Pre [18] 1 OCV [-10] 6 DCV [12] 1 OMCV [-6] 10 DMCV [17] 5 Spd [24] 10 PD [6] (8 pts resistant – see powers) 10 ED [6] (8 pts resistant – see powers) 8 Rec [3] 60 End [6] 23 Body [11] 46 Stun [10] 129 in Characteristics (*see notes) Movement 6 – Run 20” (10 hexes) (*) 0 – Swim 4” 6 in Movement Powers 10 – Divine Powers 25 pt Multipower (–½ gestures, –½ concentration 0 DCV, –½ extra time [extra segment]) - 1f – Mortal Guise Shapeshift: sight, hearing, touch, taste/smell, any mortal woman (25 active) - 1f – Bounty of the Gods 2d6 Transform [create objects from nothing] (+¼ AoE 4” radius/2 hexes) - 1f – Gate to Olympus Extradimensional Movement (self plus 1 other) - 1f – Called by the Power of Love Summon friendly 100pt mortal (+¼ friendly, –½ summoned creature must be local, –½ arrives under own power) 10 – When Someone Asks If You’re a God… Life Support (immortal, immunity to all terrestrial STDs, diminished eating [1pt] and sleeping [1pt]) 6 – Heavenly Skin 8 pts of PD/ED are resistant (*) 6 – Detect Emotions Discriminatory (–½ linked to sense limitations, *) 9 – Sense Limitations Discriminatory (–½ only phychological or relationship-based limitations [such as rival, enraged, social limitations, etc], *) 47 –Girdle of Hephaestus Mind Control 14d6 (+¼ invisible to others, +½ invisible to target, +¼ telepathic, –½ extra segment, –½ only to inflict emotional states, –¼ IIF, –½ normal range with limited range [32 hex], –¼ concentration [½ DCV]) 21 – Vision of Love 1d6 Severe Transformation of Mind [in love with Aphrodite] (+½ partial transformation, +½ constant, +½ 0 End, +¼ persistent, +1¼ 64m radius [32 hex], +1½ fully invisible to target and others, +½ penetrating, +¼ works against EGO, not BODY, +0 AVAD [mental defense], –1 male only, –½ no range,–½ limited target [mental ‘objects’ pertaining to emotions in the minds of sentient beings], –½ target must perceive Aphrodite, –¾ Persuasion roll required each phase [–1 per 20 pts {–5}, final adjusted 16-], *) 8 – Blessings of Aphrodite 2d6 Aid (+3½ any power or characteristic, +2½ delayed fade rate [5 pts/week] –½ only aid others, –1 one use at a time, –½ gestures, –¼ incantations, –2 extra time [5 minutes], –1 OAF [gift or sacrifice from recipient], –2 extra End [x5], –1 ½ Limited [only to those who give/sacrifice to Aphrodite a living creature or something of value], *) 2 – Bodyguards of Love Naked Advantage: Trigger Usable On Others with its own Trigger [when Aphrodite is attacked], based on 20 active pts of recipient’s movement (or ½ of his move, whichever is less), see ‘Base Power Effects’ for more info… 1st Trigger (+½ one condition, character does not control activation of personal trigger, trigger resets automatically, –½ ally or love must be nearby, *) Usable on Others (+¼ recipient controls power, but grantor can take it back, can only grant to others, limited range [10 hexes], –1 only works on men, –½ recipient must be aware of attack on Aphrodite, *) 2nd Trigger (+½ one condition, character does not control activation of personal trigger, trigger resets automatically, –½ ally or someone in love with her must be nearby, *) Base Power Effect: recipient moves between attacker and Aphrodite to stop or lessen the attack, which has linked effects: 16 – Physical Damage Negation x9 (–¼ linked to triggered move power, –¼ side effect [1 dice of damage always affects ally], *) 16 – Energy Damage Negation x9 (–¼ linked to triggered move power, –¼ side effect [1 dice of damage always affects ally], –1 only effective when ally moves to protect Aphrodite, *) 4 – Flash Defense 10 (–¼ linked to triggered move power, –¼ side effect [1 dice of damage always affects ally], –1 only effective when ally moves to protect Aphrodite, *) 7 – Power Defense 20 (–¼ linked to triggered move power, –¼ side effect [1 dice of damage always affects ally], –1 only effective when ally moves to protect Aphrodite, *) 5 – DCV +3 (–¼ linked to triggered move power, , –¼ side effect [attack that misses due to this adjustment causes 1 dice of damage to ally], –1 only effective when ally moves to protect Aphrodite, *) 1 – Triggered 2m [1 hex] of Aphrodite’s own movement (+½ one condition [when ally/love shields Aphrodite], activating the trigger is an action that takes no time, trigger resets automatically, *) 6 – Focused Wrath Aid 3d6 to OCV of ally/love that tried to shield Aphrodite (+½ trigger [one condition, character does not control activation of personal trigger, auto-reset], +½ 0 End, +¼ limited range [16 hex], –½ only to aid others, –1 men only, –1¾ side effect [recipient always gains: psych complication “Hatred of Attacker” {Very Common, Strong}, and “Berserk” if Aphrodite attacked again {8-/11- easy to avoid and normal to recover}, –1½ Limited: bump to OCV only affects attacks vs focus of new psych complication, –½ ally must perceive Aphrodite, *) 178 in powers Perks/Talents 6 – Contact: Greek Pantheon 12- (Extremely useful skill & resources, long-lasting relationship, have useful contacts of their own) (*) 2 – Reputation: Greek Goddess of Love 14- 14 – Striking Appearance x6 (*) 22 in Perks/Talents Skills 3 Acrobatics (11-) 3 Acting (15-/21-) 3 Animal Handler (15-/21-) 3 Bribery (15-/21-) 3 Charm (15-/21-) 10 Mental Combat Skill Levels x12 (Mind Control) (*) 3 Contortionist (11-) 3 Conversation (15-/21-) 3 Deduction (12-) 3 Interrogation (15-/21-) 3 Linguist 3 Scholar 3 Traveler 1 Knwlg – Art (11-) 1 Knwlg – Music (11-) 1 Knwlg – Dance (11-) 1 Knwlg – Greek Religion (11-) 1 A. Knwlg – Greece (11-) 1 A. Knwlg – The Mediterranean (11-) 1 A. Knwlg – Earth (11-) 0 L. – Greek (native) 2 L. – English 1 L. – Egyptian 1 L. – Spanish 1 L. – Turkish 1 L. – Arabic 3 Oratory (15-/21-) 3 Persuasion (15-/21-) 65 in Skills Total Costs: 129 Characteristics 6 Movement 178 Powers 22 Perks/Talents 65 Skills 400 total Complications 5 – Dependant NPC (Eros/Cupid – Slightly Less Powerful than Aphrodite, Infrequently) 5 – Distinctive Features (Beautiful – Easily Concealable, Noticed and recognizable) 15 – Psychological Complication (Cowardice – Common, Strong) 10 – Psychological Complication (Promiscuity – Common, Moderate) 5 – Rivalry [Romantic] (Same power level, other pretty female PCs, others are unaware of rivalry) 10 – Social Complication (Famous [Known as the Goddess of Love], Frequently, Minor) 10 – Social Complication (Harmful Secret [Promiscuous even though married], Frequently, Minor) 10 – Watched (Hephaestus [husband], More Powerful, Frequent) 5 – Watched (Ares [one of her secret lovers], More Powerful, Infrequently) Notes: All higher stats bought with –¼ OIAID from base value (except PRE base 20, and REC 5) All powers/Percs/Talents with * purchased with OIAID as well, except for Divine Multipower Background/History: It’s Aphrodite, Greek Goddess of Love. Read a book, people. Personality/Motivation: At heart, Aphrodite is a coward. While she is as haughty as most Olympian gods, a powerful show of force may cow the goddess. However, she still has the ego of a god, and it takes a lot to rattle her. However, she is normally a very loving goddess, and often blesses her worshipers who still pray to her. She often blesses mortals with love for one another, or gives them gifts that will endear them to one another. Since she can see into the heart of mortals and gods alike, she often knows the emotional secrets that many hide even from themselves. Since worship of the Olympic gods is rare nowadays, she sometimes wanders the earthly world in mortal form, watching out for those searching for love in their lives. Quote: “I am known by many names by many people. You may call me ‘Goddess’, if you wish…” Powers/Tactics: In most conflicts, she will start out with a presence attack – often in the form of baring skin, or a simple seduction. Once the foes are affected by her beauty, she uses her magic belt to sway those most affected into love with her. From that point, she uses them to protect her and carry out her will, using simple suggestions and begged requests. If the target is male, and is around Aphrodite long enough, the goddess’s natural charms will eventually cause true love to bind them into the god’s service. When not directly involved in conflict, she sometimes directs negative emotions towards allies, to cause them to attack one another (requiring little verbal influence). Jealousy and anger are useful emotions when applied carefully, particularly when Aphrodite can see when someone has a psychologically predisposition towards certain emotions (ie: her sense limitations power). However, emotions take a moment to kick in, and may not effect someone’s actions as quickly as Aphrodite prefers. Appearance: There are few living creatures as lovely as the Olympic goddess of love. She wear’s little – only a simple cloth wrapped around her body almost as a toga. Her only ornament is a thin, metal, ornate loop wrapping around her waist – a gift from her smith husband, the god Hephaestus. Often, Aphrodite walks the world as a mortal, appearing as any type of pretty woman she wishes (never as beautiful as her own image). Using her divine gifts, she can create any garb needed for her mortal form.

Re: Bodyguards of Love I've already got a summons in the build - she is a goddess, after all. As to the whole morality thing, traditionally in myth, many gods are vain. Aphrodite should be no exception. I hadn't thought about the Standard Effect rule. That would make it simpler...but I still think I like the triggered move better. Also, if a PC decides to do it, that keeps him from giving up his next action. I might want to put a limitation on it, though - no character should be able to leap into the way of an attack more than once per one of his phases. Otherwise, you'll potentially have one tough guy leapfrogging around me in the battle multiple times in a segment. I think I've got the power tweaked enough that I can post the character. I ended up going with a minor side effect - ally who blocks attack takes 1d6 of damage/effect. So it's not killer, but still affects the blocker (like a glancing blow).

Re: Bodyguards of Love The speed aid aura is an idea, but I think a bit prohibitive practically. First, the active cost of the power (speed's not cheap). Then the practical side of rolling aid dice every turn, for everyone to refigure their speed, and only for 'dodging into the way' seems a bit action intensive. I think I prefer the constant status effect of 'triggered movement that auto-resets' just for this effect. It ends up being easier to manage in-game, and doesn't additionally penalize the ally (ie: player) of potentially giving up their next action. Speaking of dodging in the way - is there a regular mechanic where a PC can 'take the hit' for an ally? ie: give him cover, and if the attack misses the target because of the cover, it hits the bocking ally? If so, where? That might be an option to look into. If that works, then I can use the adjusted penalty to the defense as you suggested (-1, as long as ally defends/blocks the attack). I could even put a minor side effect in that effect, where the ally will take a bit of the effect, regardless of whether it hit/miss (the minimum for side effects)...