Nolgroth

Maptool 1.5.1 Release
 
Plus a new release of Token Tool, release 2.1 This version understands PDFs so you can drag them automatically onto the tool, like you can with images.

Great post.
 
But I have to disagree with changing the damage system.
I think the stun/body system does a great job simulating things whether it is cinematic or realistic. As CRT points out, add in all the exiting damage options or even a few and things get deadly fast. 
 
What current Hero lacks is a hit location system that is dialed in or detailed enough for duels.  
 
The friends and I were initially drawn to Champs back in the day because even though it was cinematic, it was the only system where a person could take physical damage (Body) like a stab wound and yet take little (or in our case no) stun such as can happen in real life combat.  We did the stun multiplier of 1D6-1 but without the minimum of 1.  So we went x0 to x5 which aligned with the training we had in our combat first aid and the importance that troops check each other for wounds that they may not realize they have.  I understand that some people prefer no surprises and use pre-calculated predictable results.  But I prefer the fun that comes with unpredictability. 
 
My take is to have the hit chart location set a base damage and the randomizer die to give a multiplier.  Hero already handles the various conditions as an integral part of the system, stunned, knockdown, etc. 
 
 
 
 

Been awhile since I ran a game and studied the deep esoterica of Hero System, but I would judge that Aid would require AoE. It is a good method if the spell wears off but might get prohibitively expensive to do so.
 
Transform is not something I would recommend.
 
Barrier is your best bet if the change is permanent. The special effect of transforming the rock to this new "dense rock" can easily be simulated using that rule more easily than others. Just toss on a "Only to harden the existing rock"  requirement (which, at best, I would allow a -¼ Limitation on) and define it as the existing rock in the defined area. I know the Barrier power says "create," but sculptors "create" art from existing clay or stone. This is much the same concept.
 
Just my $0.02.

Been awhile since I ran a game and studied the deep esoterica of Hero System, but I would judge that Aid would require AoE. It is a good method if the spell wears off but might get prohibitively expensive to do so.
 
Transform is not something I would recommend.
 
Barrier is your best bet if the change is permanent. The special effect of transforming the rock to this new "dense rock" can easily be simulated using that rule more easily than others. Just toss on a "Only to harden the existing rock"  requirement (which, at best, I would allow a -¼ Limitation on) and define it as the existing rock in the defined area. I know the Barrier power says "create," but sculptors "create" art from existing clay or stone. This is much the same concept.
 
Just my $0.02.

The lost city is a staple of pulp fiction as well as S&S, but the jungle-swamped ruin is a bit overdone. Here are a couple of alternative examples, both discovered in the 20th Century.
 
Derinkuyu in Turkey, a multi-level underground urban complex capable of housing up to 20,000 people, with their livestock and food supplies.
 
Machu Picchu in Peru, a pre-Columbian citadel built atop a high peak in the Andes Mountains, never found by the Spanish conquistadores.

The Hero System definitely offers more options than most game systems for dialing things up or down to suit a desired outcome, and in the hands of a skilled GM who knows what they want for the campaign they are running that level of control can afford a "better" result than if using a system that does not offer such tunability.
 
However, while I've had a lot of success over the years using the Hero System for a wide variety of genres at a similarly wide variety of power levels and grittiness, I'm also not blind to the cost of the game in my time as the GM or the learning curve for the average player. 
 
The question often isn't "does the Hero System do this better?"...to which the answer often is "yes" or at least "maybe". Instead the question more typically is "does this other system do it well enough and are there people who will agree to play it with me?". 
 
If time and players were abundant, I would likely still be using the Hero System for everything. But as they aren't, often times I'm looking for the game system I can wring the most amount of fun out of with the least amount of effort. Sad but true. 
 
 

Hello Herophiles,
 
I've corrected and re-uploaded my campaign to the RPTools site at http://forums.rptools.net/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=18939&p=199843#p199843
 
I will not be posting or responding here at the Hero Games site, but I will check the RPTools thread.

I actually have a hard time visualizing aliens that are not anthropomorphic so I also tend to think in human only terms. Of course, I also tend to think cybernetics and genetically engineered "breeds" designed for specific tasks. Add in A.I.* like androids and you have a pretty diverse body of playable "races" without touching upon true aliens. I think, in Hero terms, Alien Wars without the presence of friendly alien species is probably the best of the settings. I would reign in access to FTL and use a "gate" system, but otherwise the setting would be incredibly fun as a foundation. I would make the tech a little bit more futuristic
 
 
* I'm of the "A.I. are not all automatically hostile and different A.I. constructs will have different motivations based upon their interactions with organics and underlying programming" school of thought. 

I think the vast majority are based on D&D, which borrowed liberally from Tolkien. The whole multiple fantasy race setup being the most identifiable aspect of both D&D and Tolkien. 

I don't get the connection.

So Tasha, you want to actually have a full game built upon the foundation of Hero, sans the part of Hero that is supposedly the big draw to the system? That is both bold and, coincidentally, sort of like the project I am working on. I admit that I never envisioned keeping the Power building rules out completely. I always figured a sort of mini-rules presentation, methods of pre-generating characters with a very D&D-esque Race/Class system (mechanically done for my project), and the support material to tweak interest in the system. After that, I thought about tutorials on how to do it yourself by starting simple and increasing complexity. The idea of expanding that idea to an entire product line and omitting the "here's how YOU do it" aspect did not occur to me. Interesting.
 
I really need to get some more information of Savage World's Plot Points. What book(s) would be a good place to start looking? 

My first night's efforts ended with a massive 565 words.
 
I decided to try Nanowrimo this year to try to kickstart my writing. I've spent more than a year dealing with a disintegrating marriage, a separation, and ultimately a divorce. Unsurprisingly, I've had very little left over for writing. But it has been about a year since I moved out of the apartment I shared with my ex (into my current Fortress of Solitude), and we're officially divorced now (for several months). I'm ready to try again.
 
Tonight's effort was very difficult, as I expected. I made a couple of false starts before writing what I officially claim. And I may very well scrap that and start again tomorrow. I'd like to get 50,000 words done on a novel, but if I just get back into the habit of sitting down and trying to write, I'll count that as a win.

I endorse this. Then again, I am an unrelenting proponent of the 2nd Amendment and I am NOT a racist. 

Actually I've heard blacks were buying guns at record numbers due to trump's election. https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/trump-s-victory-has-fearful-minorities-buying-guns-n686881

Here's the relative article:
 
 
 
Then again, he's not really on active duty in his present position, so not sure how far this really goes.
 
In the meantime, you go ahead and get riled up about this, while Trump goes and does something far worse. I'm paying more attention to the N. Korea stuff and the Mueller investigation.

One of my favorites:
 

J.S. Bach's "Toccata in D Minor", played on the magnificent Mormon Tabernacle organ
 

For those of you that are still playing and/or interested in play SWTOR again just found out that you can get Rise of the Hutt Cartel, Shadows of Revan and a free speeder.
 
For Cartel and Shadows redeem code: REVANRETURNS
 
For the speeder: KOTOSPEEDER
 
Both codes expire on Nov 6th.
 
PS: I don't feel bad about including them here because A) They were sent out as an email so most of you that played before probably already got it and the codes are in this thread on the SWTOR forums.
 
PPS: if anyone knows how to disable the POS bitraider streaming client, lemme know. I've tried follow the instructions in one of the threads but so far no joy.

Frankly I wouldn't shed a tear if they found something in the investigation that indites her or the Democratic party leadership as well. Investigate away.  Be thorough and let justice reign without partisanship bias  if justice is needed to be meted out.

Lotsa BS in that story.
 
"Oh we were upgrading hardware."  
 
"Whatever. If you are that incompetent, you're fired and blacklisted from working any IT or government position ever again. That includes bus driver, crosswalk guard or school cafeteria position. Oh and if you are not that incompetent, you need to stand trial for election tampering. Enjoy your time with "Bubba."

Lotsa BS in that story.
 
"Oh we were upgrading hardware."  
 
"Whatever. If you are that incompetent, you're fired and blacklisted from working any IT or government position ever again. That includes bus driver, crosswalk guard or school cafeteria position. Oh and if you are not that incompetent, you need to stand trial for election tampering. Enjoy your time with "Bubba."

Frickin' car thieves. Hangin's too good for 'em. Burnin's too good for 'em. They should be chopped into little, itty bitty pieces and buried alive.

I almost thought that you were my co-worker for a minute, then the diazepam took effect, and I didn't care anymore.

It's the end of the quarter, so even if I had it, I couldn't use it. Those grades aren't going to post themselves.
 
A little herbal tea, a little Day-Quil...I'll make it. I can sleep on the weekend. I hope.