Zephrosyne

I have a player who is creating a power that is Darkness with the Usable as Attack Advantage. He wanted to add Personal Immunity so that he could clearly see the subject (and thus attack him). I told him "no" because Personal Immunity wouldn't apply to someone who isn't technically affected by the power in question. Am I correct? Thanks.

I appreciate that fact that you don't use this board to answer "how to" questions but since this is based on an "official" build I was hoping that it was close enough to a rules question to be allowed. For the record, I have tried the FAQ and there wasn't anything there to help me. If I am understanding the rules correctly on page 169, the Takes No Damage From Attacks Advantage means that a character who is entangled does not receive the benefits of the entangle's DEF and Body because the Entangle itself is transparent to attacks. However, the Entangle itself can be targeted at a -3 OCV. Now, a BOECV Entangle (as per page 169) can be attacked by Ego Attacks and therefore has the +1/4 version of the Advantage. I have noted that on page 41 of the UNTIL Superpowers Database that the power Paralysis has the +1/2 version of the Advantage. What would you attack that with to break free? Healing? At first I thought that meant that you simply couldn't attack the Entangle until I realized that a pair of handcuffs (as per page 168), which are clearly attackable, are built with the same Advantage. Lastly, I think that I am missing something with the rules for Entangle in general even after re-reading them. It doesn't seem logical that brute force such as physical strength or an energy blast could free a target from an effect such as the above Paralysis via body control example or the Dimensional Trap power (pg. 62 UNTIL Superpowers Database). Does the special effect specifically dictate what is and is not effective in damaging the Entangle itself? I am basing this assessment on the second to last paragraph on page 167. Thanks.

Re: Has HERO achieved maximum desirable complexity? For me the biggest thing I look for in a game is a good balance of realism/detail versus playability. I don't mind a bit of complexity or detail if it is actually adding something to the game that is worth the extra effort. I think that Hero does that well. That being said, I still believe the damage system for Hero is a bit more tedious than it needs to be.

Re: Has HERO achieved maximum desirable complexity? Well, I for one just hope that there isn't a 6th edition for a very, very long time. LOL.

Re: Has HERO achieved maximum desirable complexity? I have to agree that the rules for damage are just too much. I just read them last night for the first time in a while. I just don't understand why it was necessary to make them so complicated. I don't think that they are hard, nothing in Hero System really is, but I do feel that they are unnecessarily tedious. Was there some sort of a balance issue with a previous edition?

Re: UNTIL Superpowers Database 2 Well, I just got back from my local hobby store and purchased the Until Superpowers Database 2 and the Equipment Guide (I get to nuke my players...oh hell yeah!!!). However, they didn't have the Revised Edition of the First Edition Superpowers Database. My hobby store called their distributor and they didn't even have the book listed. I guess I can just order it here. I assume that if I order here, I am guaranteed to get the revised edition. Correct?

Re: UNTIL Superpowers Database 2 Well, I think that I am sold. I will probably pick up both the Revised 1st Edition and the 2nd Edition today and just give my old 1st Edition to one of my players. Thanks for the replies! Now, I need to dig up the goods on the new equipment book, LOL. Thanks again.

Re: UNTIL Superpowers Database 2 Thanks for the replies. I was just wondering what does it offer compared to the first one. I already have Killers, Crooks, and Conquerors (good book). Combat book, geez, I couldn't imagine needing more combat options, lol. The main book is a handful by itself. The equipment guide seems like it might be a good investment.

I am thinking about changing my current Mutants and Masterminds 2 campaign to Hero System (basically I want a more detailed rule set). I have the UNTIL Superpowers Database and I am wondering if the second one brings anything really new to the table. I know that there is more content but how essential would you say that it is? Thanks.

Re: New Avengers? I guess I am the dissenting opinion. I have always hated Wolverine (my best friend's favorite character though). I too enjoyed when Spiderwoman shoved his claws into his throat (almost as much as I enjoyed Magento pulling the adamantium off of his bones). I wish I had a poster of it to give to my best friend--a really big poster!!!

This isn't a rules question per se as much as a statistical clarification. First of all, I know absolutely nothing about tanks so this may come across as a dumb question. On page 476 of Hero System Revised, a tank is listed as having a Defense of 30/20 but on page 448 a tank is listed as having a Defense of 20 in the front and 16 everywhere else. Incidentally, the Body of both are different as well (25 and 19 respectively). Which numbers are correct? Thank you in advance.

Re: HERO system observations and beefs Well, I for one think the system is absolutely phenomenal and I can't say that enough. I don't really have a problem with the art either; but I have a tendency to be more of a "substance" over "style" type person. I don't know, maybe I am just weird, but I have always cared more about content in a rpg than I did about art.

Re: The Fameous Ice Slide Actually, a power with Uncontrolled does not require the user to maintain Line of Sight with the target, just an Endurance supply to run off of or in the case of a 0 Endurance power a set of circumstances that would deactivate it, which you already have in the construct in question. According to the last paragraph of the first column on page 272 (the new book), the character can "move away from the target of the power" without affecting the Uncontrolled power at all. So, I still don't quite see how Persistent is required since Uncontrolled allows you to do almost everything that Persistent does within the above mentioned parameters of course. Just wondering. Thanks for the reply.

Re: Pregnancy and combat This thread makes me think of the time when Saturn Girl (of Legion of Superheroes fame) went into labor while fighting the fourth incarnation of the Legion of Supervillains. She was all but outright incapacitated by the pain. One of the villains, I think Tyr (don't hold me to that), was about to kill her. I think it was one of her teammates that saved her bacon.

Re: The Fameous Ice Slide Dust Raven, just out of curiosity, why does the Energy Blast part of the power construct have to have both Persistent and Uncontrolled? Isn't that a bit redundant? Also, shouldn't the Link Limitation be applied to either the Energy Blast or the Entangle? I'm guessing the Entangle since it is the cheaper power; of course, if the Persistent Advantage is removed from the Energy Blast, they will cost the same. I'm not trying to be contentious or anything; I'm just trying to see what I am missing.

Re: FYI: why more people aren't playing HERO (rpg.net) I just read the entire thread. I must admit that the part about having to purchase Telescopic Vision; Obvious Inaccessable Focus (Tree) just to climb a tree and see what's ahead was absolutely hysterical. I was laughing for about 5 minutes.

I apologize in advance if this is a stupid question but I did try to find the answer on my own before troubling you. On page 15 of 5ER there is a character called Firebrand. One of his Elemental Control slots (the first slot)has the following construction: HKA 2d6 (3d6 w/Str), Armor Piercing (+1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 End;+1/2). Here is my problem. The character has a Strength of 15 which would normally bring the total damage of the HKA to 3d6 as per the character example in the book. However, on page 408 and 409 it states that HKA's with Advantages that directly affect how a victim takes damage (e.g. Armor Piercing but not Reduced Endurance) require more Strength to increase the attack's total damage. Since the attack has Armor Piercing wouldn't the damage only be increased by two Damage Classes (to a final total of 2 1/2d6) since the base damage is increased by one damage class per 7.5 Strength (5 times 1.5 for Armor Piercing). Am I missing something, if so, could you please tell me what it is for future reference. Thanks.

Re: Does Hero System "break" at higher levels, and if so, at what level? I must be the house moderate. I couldn't see me having any NPC in my game that required more than 1,200 points to make. While I am not overly generous with the points that I would allow in the game, I am fairly liberal when it comes to allowing players to spend them.

Re: Mental Transforms? Gee, I guess there are no real guidelines for this. Looks like it is just one big judgement call.

I have a problem with Mental Transforms. I realize that Transform (mental) can be used to alter/erase memories, alter Psychological Limitations, Mental Powers, Berzerks, etc as well as mind transferences. However, these all seem like they would be Major Transforms. What would be examples of Cosmetic or Minor Transforms? How do you all handle Mental Transforms in your campaigns? Any help would be much appreciated.

Re: No Frameworks? You guys are really starting to scare me!

Re: No Frameworks? First of all, I would like to thank all of you for your responses. They are much appreciated. RDU, I did read the 5th Edition book--twice to be exact. Believe me, I would not come to this board and ask questions without having done that. Gary, I made the same observation that you did as far as the efficiency of the Characteristics: Dexterity, Strength, and Constitution. I also looked at examples of "Bricks" in the sourcebook Conquerors, Killers, and Crooks. Durak, Black Diamond, Cateran, Gargantua, Grond, Monster and Morningstar were all built without frameworks but still compare favorably to characters of the same power level (in terms of point cost) who were built with frameworks. I suspect the same would be the case with "Martial Artists" who are probably about as less likely to use frameworks as "Bricks." So I can only conclude that frameworks are more or less essential to this level of play. Frameworks are probably required to maintain balance moreso than being an impediment to it, especially when the efficiency of physical Characteristics are taken into consideration. I have no choice but to reconsider my position. I should just probably watch each case carefully. Thank you.

I am thinking about starting a Hero System game after my d20 Modern game runs its course. The last time I ran a Hero System game it was fourth edition and some time ago. This will be a superhero game in terms of the power level except that everything will be supernatural/mystical. I don't really like frameworks and I was wondering if anyone has every ran a game at that level without using frameworks? If so, how did it work out? Are there any potential balance issues to look for since I may not be using frameworks?

Re: Body, Only to Allow Continued Action Yeah, I sorta assumed that myself.

Re: Bringing new players to HERO System. John, I live in Fayetteville. To bad you live so far away. I am currently running a Dungeons and Dragons game, but I plan to give Hero System a go after this campaign has run its course. I have always been a big fan of the system. I ran it briefly about twelve years ago and look foreward to taking another stab at it. My best friend likes it too.