mr_azrad

Re: EC balance fix

Oh' date=' I agree absolutely! I hate many of the published examples of EC and really wish the writers would think a bit more about the character conceptions before putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard, as the case may be). I guess it just boils down to how lenient a GM is as to what to allow into a single EC. Apparently the writers are [i']very[/i] lenient.

 

You're probably right that it's just done out of habit from previous editions of the rules. They still note Fixed and Flexible Multipower slots with m's and u's too (but I guess there's no help for it).

I see charcters in the Hero books all the time I would never allow. Heros that do not meet my standards (writeup with "non limiting limitations and disadvantages", horrible uses of "usable against others", and outrageous EC's).

Some of you feel that EC represtents a tight group of special effects and others think an EC represents a single power with multiple effects. I think you are both right, but I would like to add this: I think of EC's as a limitation as well.

#1 If a character is observer using some of the powers in the EC it should be reasonable for opponents to suspect or even predict other powers of the EC. An opponent witnessing a "human torch" style character that has a "fire shield" and fire based flight, would likely assume he has a fire based attack as well (and might be ready for it, even though he has never seen it).

#2 You used the EC "limitation" to save points so don't complain when the power is not as good as seperate powers that didn't save points (don't complain when someone drains the crap out of it).

Re: How do you get players to role play in genre?

Ghost Angel had some good ideas.

I would be very stingy on exp and tell them why.

Also, so players just suck; maybe you should try to find some new ones (can be difficult). Or maybe let one of your players GM a game and see how they like it.

The Mad Arab

Re: Tornado Building

Psych Lim: Hatred of trailer parks.

LOL!!!!!

Re: Warning silly question, serious players beware

I like Dust Raven's idea the best so far (as usual). I am curious about this: Who or what can "trigger" the "loading" of a "saved game". Can a single character do it, or do all the characters have to agree or is it majority decision? Do the characters have to be alive to make the decision?

You might want to settle some of these points before getting too far into the game.

Re: Dust Raven

That is a really really TALL order..

Of course' date=' if you didn't want to bother with the details, and just wanted to make yourself rich, just buy the Wealth Perk and PS: Stock Market Manipulation and be done with it. Otherwise you're looking at global level Transforms, Mental Illusions and Mind Controls..[/quote']

 

 

I agree with Dust Raven here. If you want to make permenant real changes to the stock market it is gonna take a lot of active points. Wealth is rarley created or destroyed, it is normally transfered. I would go with a global transform, destorying wealth at some locations and re-creating it in others. Then you would need a global mental transform to make people not realize you did it. Maybe even a transform to change financial records too.

 

I think some of the smaller (but not as powerful solutions) might be more realistic (although not accomplish what you originally wanted).

Re: Dealing with Invisible Heroes

Kinda of reminds me of the "somebody else's problem field" from the hitchhikers guide.

Re: Concept using multiple characters

This reminds me of the Dark Sun rules for character families or character trees.

Here's and idea:

If you want each character to have a pool of different characters to choose from you could experiment with giving regular exp to the character that played the adventure and 1/2 as much to the other 4 characters. Might reduce the tendency to continue playing the same character each game.

Or you could run more than 1 adventure during the same "time period". Where during the first gaming session everyone's first charcter goes to mexico to fight vampires. Have the 2nd gaming session take place during the trip to mexico, using everyones second character to go "investigate that old farmhouse on the edge of town".

Re: Telepathy and TK

I think TK is an awsome power, but I don't think it is unbalanced... it is expensive for a reason.

Re: OK, Math And Science Experts: Cubic Hexes

Actually' date=' they're hexagonal prisms. [/quote']

 

I think I was the first to refer to them as cylinders; but Doug is right, they are prisms.

Re: Hero Character Portfolio -- What Do *You* Want To See?

STEVE- If you want to go crazy you could include a special base and vehicle sections. Unfortunatly I have to agree with most of the other posters, that I too have become addicted to Hero Designer and might not be interested in the "Ulitimate Character Sheet" (hehehe).

Although a custom export template for Hero Designer might be nice!

Re: Killing stroke

Thanks for the info everyone!

When you opponent is down and recovering, haven't you wanted to just drop a big fat killing stoke on him sometimes? I know killing in many HERO games killing can be taboo, but I like my games a bit darker than most, and I've been toying around with creating a "killing stroke".

Solution #1

Buy a large amount of STR or KA with several limitations on it like:

extra time, only on 0 DCV targets, AVLD, Does body. I guess I don't like this solution because I don't want it to be a unique power, I want it to be more like a standard combat manouver (so everyone has access to it).

Solution #2

Haymaker (lets say with a sword 1d6+1, with 15 Str character) to the head. That would be 3 1/2 d6 (x2 for the head) so about 24.5 body on average. You have a -8 to your OCV so you would have to have an 8 OCV to have an average chance to hit your opponent (assuming you are preforming the killing stroke on a 0 DCV target). This solution should kill the average person, but the 8 OCV could be a problem for some characters.

Solution #3

Sweeping the opponent 4 times. The above character with his sword would inflict on average 7 body per hit, 4 hits would produce 28 body. But he would still have the -8 OCV problem, and since it is a sweep, even with an 8 OCV he would not likely hit all 4 times (therefore doing less damage than #2).

Solution #4

Allowing all characters access to the Martial Choke manouver against 0 DCV opponents. This would allow a normal person to kill most superheros (if he was KO'ed), although it would take a LONG time.

Anyone have any thoughts or ideas?

Re: Limitation punishment

maybe Cap should say he is an expert at keeping his shield or maybe it is strapped to his arm and he should buy it OIF. If you want access to the points all the time, don't buy the disadvantage.

Re: Too many stats in Hero

A shapeshifter who can subtly alter his body to enhance his physical skills and even subtly alter his brain to narrowly enhance mental faculties;

 

Hyper-Concentration; "I succeed at whatever I set my mind to;"

mhmfhasfsdmsaldhasdmn (<---- thats me eating my words)

Re: Help name a character

How about desert twister?

Re: Devlin1 KA Question

I found this in the FAQ. Although it does not settle the matter, it might help.

"Q: Can a character used Telekinesis through a Force Wall without buying the Indirect Advantage for that power?

A: Yes. As noted on 5E 147, bottom left, Telekinesis has some inherently Indirect aspects. As long as the Force Wall is not Opaque (i.e., the character can see through it), he can use his Telekinesis without buying Indirect for it."

Re: Devlin1 KA Question

Is TK explicitly indirect, because i can immagine tractor beam effects which arnt, if so whats the lim for direct, -3/4?

 

I have been wondering this for several years, in 3rd it was just Sfx.

 

PS dont have 5th, yet.

I'm not sure if TK's indirect nature is addressed anyway in the books, but I always assumed it was. Compare TK to energy blast (EB also being another version of ranged strength, but I'll save that for another thread). With an EB you can only push your target away from you (if you manage to do Knockdown or knock back). With TK you can push your target left, right, towards you, or away from you, or even lift them in the air. I know stretching is indirect and I always considered TK to be similiar I guess. Maybe someone should ask the big dog (Steve), or maybe it is already in the FAQ.

Re: Too many stats in Hero

You get INT/2 bonus points that can be used only for buying skills (and some talents with the GM's consent). This would reflect the fact that IRL a highly intelligent person not only thinks faster but learns more during the same period of time (a phenomena quite evident in highly intensive learning environments such as military academies and basic training...indeed any Drill Sergeant will tell you that intelligent recruits learn not only faster but MORE than their fellow recruits....and the difference can be quite noticable).

 

How's that for an idea?

 

-Polaris

 

[The fact that the bonus points are highly restricted makes INT effectively cost what you suggested IMHO.]

That is a pretty serious change to the system. I guess it would solve some of the problems with INT. Personally I never liked the idea of Overall Skill Levels though. I mean what special effect represents the ability to transfer mastery from breakfall to biology to acting to shooting a rifle?

Re: Too many stats in Hero

I'm sorry' date=' but I did not see where in FRED that was explicitly stated. There is a vague implication that they might be possible to be reassigned on page 35 under the description of Combat Skill Levels, but the statement is that CSLs after an attack "stay as they are until his next Phase begins or he Aborts to a defensive Action." The FAQ clairifies that as CSLs can be assigned to DCV or to the OCV of a block. I consider CSLs a seperate and distinct item from Skill Levels, and 10 pt Skill Levels being used as CSLs as being specific exceptions to the general rules applicable to Skill Levels.[/quote']

 

I understand what you are saying. But in the example you and Polaris were discussing, Polaris's fictional character had 6 overall skill levels. Even if he had them assigned to a science skill, if attacked he could abort and reapply them to his DCV (although he might have to start his science "project" over).

Re: Too many stats in Hero

Polaris- I think you've shown that INT is a little too expensive for what you get ... maybe in your games you should reduce the price say 3 INT for 2 character points or something....

Re: Devlin1 KA Question

TK is strength (ranged +1/2)(indirect+3/4)(no figured attributes -1/2)

Which makes buying TK the same price as strength, but strength would cost 3x times as much endurance to use.

Re: Too many stats in Hero

since you may not abort to reassigning skill levels

I don't want to get involved in this arguement and I am not taking sides (I think everyone has some good points). I just want to clear one thing up: according to FRED you can abort to reassign CSL's.

Re: Is It Worth The Points?

I've ran into this once. I had a GM who generally didn't let me make presence attacks (at least not as often as I liked) so I lobbied him to let me respend the points. I mean if you purchased 40 extra points of presence with no limitations on it, you would expect to get to use it on a fairly regular basis (espically on a 150 base character!). It wasen't a perfect solution because it damaged my character concept, but at least I no longer felt cheated

Re: Limitation punishment

Think about how useful a 2d6 KA with no limitations on it would be compared to a 2d6 KA OAF sword..... the sword can be taken away, grappled, entangled, you can't use it when your tied up, can't bring it on an airplace, maybe they won't let you bring it into the "kings chambers" or the police station, while the 2d6 KA could be used in just about all these circumstances. A nice GM might even let you use it to attack your bonds if your tied up or (and if it was an RKA you might be able to even attack people while you are tied up!).

If you can't live with the limitation, don't take it.

Of course I recommend most powers have limitations. Think how boring the game would be if everyone was walking around with generic KA's and Armor...

Re: Weapon Breaking Skin

Heck if it was that cool why not go for the people punch me and hurt their hands too power.

 

Damage Shield HKA 1d6 Penetrating. 0end Persistent Always on yada yada, only effects you if you attack me -.5, (means you can hug mom and not kill her)

+20 CSL Hand to Hand (-1 1/2 only for increasing DCs of DAmage Sheild and can only match the DCs of the incoming attack)

 

Nice Power Dude!

 

Hawksmoor

-Proud Member of the Bismol Bicuspid Cheerleaders!

Oops when I said by a lot of damage classes I ment d6's for HA or KA not Combat skill levels to increase damage classes!