Joe Walsh

Drive My Car (HBO Max): It's a Japanese film about a talented and respected stage actor and director whose wife dies unexpectedly. A couple of years afterward, he gets an offer to direct Chekhov's Uncle Vanya in Hiroshima. As is his habit, he requests a hotel room about an hour away from the theater, so he can go over the lines using a tape recorded by his wife years before. But the theater has a strict policy that all visiting artists must use a driver. So the movie is part road trip, but is mostly about him working through the loss of his wife. It's a 3-hour drama that's done just about perfectly. Every one of the main and secondary characters is done so well, and the story kept me wanting to see more, despite its long running time. Highly recommended. We watched episodes 5 and 6 of Deadwood, Station Eleven, and The Righteous Gemstones (all on HBO Max) this weekend. Deadwood continues to get better, Station Eleven continues to get worse, and The Righteous Gemstones continues to be well worth watching.

I think of this song every time I see that thread on elves. Please make it stop.

Spider-Man: No Way Home. Possibly the best Spider-Man movie so far...if you've seen them all, plus the rest of the MCU stuff, anyway. Good story, good action, and a good balance between them.

That's exactly what we've been saying (4 episodes in)!

Eh, what the heck. Here are some of the generic Archetypes (again, these would be modified to suit for a given campaign). Sorry for the silly formatting from copy/paste. Normal Archetypes Average Normal Notable Normal Base Points: -24 Base Points: 0 Max Disadvantage Points: 25 Max Disadvantage Points: 25 Characteristics Characteristics Val Char Base Cost Val Char Base Cost 8 STR 10 -2 10 STR 10 0 8 DEX 10 -6 10 DEX 10 0 8 CON 10 -4 10 CON 10 0 8 BODY 10 -4 10 BODY 10 0 8 INT 10 -2 10 INT 10 0 8 EGO 10 -4 10 EGO 10 0 8 PRE 10 -2 10 PRE 10 0 10 COM 10 0 10 COM 10 0 2 PD 2 0 2 PD 2 0 2 ED 2 0 2 ED 2 0 2 SPD 1.8 2 2 SPD 2 0 4 REC 4 0 4 REC 4 0 16 END 16 0 20 END 20 0 16 STUN 16 0 20 STUN 20 0 5 Running 6 -2 6 Running 6 0 Characteristics Cost: -24 Characteristics Cost: 0 Skilled Normal Competent Normal Base Points: 25 Base Points: 50 Max Disadvantage Points: 25 Max Disadvantage Points: 25 Characteristics Characteristics Val Char Base Cost Val Char Base Cost 13 STR 10 3 13 STR 10 3 11 DEX 10 3 14 DEX 10 12 13 CON 10 6 13 CON 10 6 10 BODY 10 0 10 BODY 10 0 13 INT 10 3 13 INT 10 3 10 EGO 10 0 11 EGO 10 2 10 PRE 10 0 13 PRE 10 3 10 COM 10 0 10 COM 10 0 4 PD 3 1 5 PD 3 2 3 ED 3 0 4 ED 3 1 3 SPD 2.1 9 3 SPD 2.4 6 6 REC 6 0 6 REC 6 0 26 END 26 0 26 END 26 0 24 STUN 24 0 24 STUN 24 0 6 Running 6 0 7 Running 6 2 Characteristics Cost: 25 Characteristics Cost: 40 Hero Archetypes Average Hero Strong Hero Base Points: 100 Base Points: 100 Max Disadvantage Points: 50 Max Disadvantage Points: 50 Characteristics Characteristics Val Char Base Cost Val Char Base Cost 18 STR 10 8 23 STR 10 16 17 DEX 10 21 14 DEX 10 12 18 CON 10 16 18 CON 10 16 12 BODY 10 4 15 BODY 10 10 18 INT 10 8 10 INT 10 0 11 EGO 10 2 13 EGO 10 6 13 PRE 10 3 10 PRE 10 0 10 COM 10 0 10 COM 10 0 8 PD 4 4 10 PD 5 7 8 ED 4 4 10 ED 4 8 4 SPD 2.7 13 3 SPD 2.4 6 8 REC 8 0 9 REC 9 0 36 END 36 0 36 END 36 0 30 STUN 30 0 36 STUN 36 0 7 Running 6 2 6 Running 6 0 Characteristics Cost: 85 Characteristics Cost: 81 Smart Hero Dextrous Hero Base Points: 100 Base Points: 100 Max Disadvantage Points: 50 Max Disadvantage Points: 50 Characteristics Characteristics Val Char Base Cost Val Char Base Cost 13 STR 10 3 13 STR 10 3 14 DEX 10 12 21 DEX 10 36 13 CON 10 6 13 CON 10 6 11 BODY 10 2 10 BODY 10 0 23 INT 10 16 13 INT 10 3 13 EGO 10 6 10 EGO 10 0 13 PRE 10 3 13 PRE 10 3 10 COM 10 0 10 COM 10 0 6 PD 3 3 8 PD 3 5 6 ED 3 3 8 ED 3 5 3 SPD 2.4 6 5 SPD 3.1 29 6 REC 6 0 6 REC 6 0 26 END 26 0 26 END 26 0 25 STUN 25 0 24 STUN 24 0 6 Running 6 0 8 Running 6 4 Characteristics Cost: 60 Characteristics Cost: 94 Superhero Archetypes Average Superhero Brick Base Points: 175 Base Points: 175 Max Disadvantage Points: 75 Max Disadvantage Points: 75 Characteristics Characteristics Val Char Base Cost Val Char Base Cost 23 STR 10 13 50 STR 10 40 20 DEX 10 30 17 DEX 10 21 23 CON 10 26 28 CON 10 36 12 BODY 10 4 13 BODY 10 6 18 INT 10 8 13 INT 10 3 11 EGO 10 2 11 EGO 10 2 18 PRE 10 8 23 PRE 10 13 10 COM 10 0 10 COM 10 0 10 PD 5 5 24 PD 10 14 10 ED 5 5 24 ED 6 18 5 SPD 3 20 4 SPD 2.7 13 10 REC 10 0 16 REC 16 0 46 END 46 0 56 END 56 0 36 STUN 36 0 52 STUN 52 0 8 Running 6 4 8 Running 6 4 Characteristics Cost: 125 Characteristics Cost: 170 Energy Projector Martial Artist Base Points: 175 Base Points: 175 Max Disadvantage Points: 75 Max Disadvantage Points: 75 Characteristics Characteristics Val Char Base Cost Val Char Base Cost 13 STR 10 3 23 STR 10 13 20 DEX 10 30 26 DEX 10 48 23 CON 10 26 23 CON 10 26 10 BODY 10 0 11 BODY 10 2 18 INT 10 8 18 INT 10 8 11 EGO 10 2 11 EGO 10 2 18 PRE 10 8 18 PRE 10 8 10 COM 10 0 10 COM 10 0 8 PD 3 5 12 PD 5 7 12 ED 5 7 8 ED 5 3 5 SPD 3 20 6 SPD 3.6 24 10 REC 8 4 10 REC 10 0 50 END 46 2 46 END 46 0 29 STUN 29 0 35 STUN 35 0 6 Running 6 0 8 Running 6 4 Characteristics Cost: 115 Characteristics Cost: 145 Templates for my Everyman skill lists: Everyman Skills Most people in a given setting will have a common set of skills. Everyman Skills are meant to reflect that. Each character begins with all of the Everyman Skills for their setting at the Familiarity level (8-), at no cost in Character Points. Example lists of Everyman Skills are given below. Medieval Fantasy Modern Skill Roll Skill Roll Acting 8- Acting 8- Climbing 8- Climbing 8- Concealment 8- Concealment 8- Conversation 8- Conversation 8- Deduction 8- Deduction 8- Paramedic (Healing) 8- Paramedic 8- Persuasion 8- Persuasion 8- Shadowing 8- Shadowing 8- Stealth 8- Stealth 8- Transport Familiarity (Ox-Drawn Cart) 8- Transport Familiarity (Automobiles) 8- 4 pts. With Local Language (no literacy) N/A 4 pts. With Local Language N/A AK (Area Knowledge): Home Region 8- AK (Area Knowledge): Home Region 8- PS (Professional Skill): Own Profession 11- PS (Professional Skill): Own Profession 11- KS (Knowledge Skill): Own Profession 11- KS (Knowledge Skill): Own Profession 11- KS (Knowledge Skill): Hobby 11- Science Fiction Post-Apocalyptic Skill Roll Skill Roll Acting 8- Acting 8- Climbing 8- Climbing 8- Concealment 8- Concealment 8- Conversation 8- Conversation 8- Deduction 8- Deduction 8- Paramedic 8- Paramedic 8- Persuasion 8- Persuasion 8- Shadowing 8- Shadowing 8- Stealth 8- Stealth 8- Transport Familiarity (Personal Hovercraft) 8- Transport Familiarity (Beast-Drawn Cart) -8 4 pts. With Local Language N/A 4 pts. With Local Language (no literacy) N/A AK (Area Knowledge): Homeworld 8- AK (Area Knowledge): Home Region 8- PS (Professional Skill): Own Profession 11- PS (Professional Skill): Own Profession 11- KS (Knowledge Skill): Own Profession 11- KS (Knowledge Skill): Own Profession 11- KS (Knowledge Skill): Hobby 11- A sampling of Careers that might be offered for various types of campaigns: Fantasy Careers I Adventuring Wizard Swashbuckler Skills Cost Skills Cost FAM w/ Single Weapon Group 1 FAM w/Common Melee Weapons 2 Magic Skill 3 High Society 3 KS: Specific Styles of Magic 12- 3 Seduction 3 KS: History of Magic 11- 4 Acrobatics 3 KS: Specific Magical Knowledge 1 +1 w/Weapon Group 3 Disadvantages KS: Swashbuckling Code 11- 2 Package Bonus -2 KS: Other famous Swashbucklers 8- 1 Reputation 8- -5 Choose two from the following list: 6 Package Cost 5 Navigation, Persuasion, Riding, Oratory, Acting, Climbing, Breakfall, Trading Disadvantages Package Bonus -3 Foolishly Showy -15 Package Cost 5 Burglar Traveling Priest Skills Cost Skills Cost FAM w/Common Melee Weapons 2 FAM w/ Common Melee Weapons 2 Climbing 3 Oratory 3 Lockpicking 3 Persuasion 3 Security Systems 3 Conversation 3 Stealth 3 Additional Language (fluent with accent) 3 KS: Valuable Items, 11- 2 KS: Religious Dogma, 11- 2 KS: City Guard, 11- 2 KS: Religious Procedures, 11- 2 Contact: Fense, 11- 2 Perk: Priest 3 Choose one from the following list: 3 Choose two from the following list: 6 Breakfall, Bugging (Eavesdropping), Acting, Riding, High Society, Streetwise, Contortionist, High Society, Lipreading, Language (3 pts.), Paramedic, Trading Shadowing, Streetwise, Trading Disadvantages Disadvantages Package Bonus -3 Package Bonus -3 Promots the faith -20 Hunted by authorities (More powerful, NCI, -15 Package Cost 4 wants to punish), 8- Package Cost 5 Modern Careers I Intelligence Agent Detective Skills Cost Skills Cost KS: College Degree Field of Study, 11- 2 FAM w/ Small Arms 2 FAM w/ Small Arms 2 FAM w/ Billyclub 1 FAM w/ Common Melee Weapons 2 KS: Criminal Law, 11- 2 Martial Arts (Choice) 10 KS: Wanted Felons, 11- 2 KS: Law and Agency Procedures, 11- 2 PS: Detective, 11- 2 KS: Other Intelligence Agencies, 11- 2 Perk: Local Police Powers 2 Criminology 3 AK: Precinct, Town, etc, 11- 2 Perk: Federal Law Enforcement Powers 3 Bureaucratics 3 Choose three from the following list: 9 Deduction 3 Acting, Breakfall, Bribery, Bugging, Choose five from the following list: 15 Bureaucratics, Climbing, Combat Driving Bugging, Combat Driving, Concealment, Computer Programming, Concealment, Conversation, Criminology, Forensics, Conversation, Cryptography, Demolitions, Persuasion, Shadowing, Streetwise Disguise, Electronics, Interrogation, Basic Self Defense Martial Art 15 Inventor, KS: Culture (Pick one) 12-, Use Art w/ Billyclubs 1 KS: City (Pick one), 12-, Language (Any) Disadvantages Linguist, Lockpicking, Mechanic, Package Bonus -3 Paramedic, Persuasion, Resistance +3, Reputation (Good cop, bad cop, or another -5 Security Systems, Shadowing, Streetwise, personality trait), 8- Survival, Tracking, Weaponsmith, +1 w/ Watched by Superiors (Mo Pow, NCI), 14- -15 three maneuvers or tight group, +1 w/ Reputation (As per Police Officer, but can be -10 Perception, FAM w/ Rocket Launchers, due to media coverage of a major arrest Grenade Launchers, Man-Guided Missiles or a widespread story about the Disadvantages detective), 11- Package Bonus -3 Package Cost 17 Watched, “Organization of Membership” -12 (More powerful, NCI), 11- Psychological Limitations (Choose) -15 Package Cost 5 Reporter Doctor Skills Cost Skills Cost PS: Reporter (INT based) 3 PS: Medical Doctor (INT based) 3 Perk: Press Pass 1 Paramedic 3 KS: Specialty (Sports, Sensational Crimes, 2 SC: Medicine (INT based) 3 Business, etc.), 11- Perk: License to Practice Medicine 1 Choose two from the following list: 6 Choose two from the following list: 6 Acting, Bribery, Bureaucratics, Computer Sciences: Biology, Biochemistry, Programming, Concealment, Conversation, Bacteriology, Pathology, Pharmacology; High Society, Oratory, Persuasion, Forensics, High Society Resistance +3, Security Systems, Disadvantages Disadvantages Package Bonus -3 Package Bonus -2 Psychological Limitations (Choose) -10 Reputation or Psych. Limit (Choose) -10 Package Cost 3 Package Cost 0 Some Species packages: Fantasy Species Mountain Dwarf Mountain Dwarf Racial Abilities Package Cultural Abilities Package Skills Cost Skills Cost Increased CHAR Maxima: Concealment, 11- 3 STR 23 3 FAM w/ Common Melee Weapons 2 CON 23 6 +2 with Axes/Maces 6 BODY 23 6 Language: Dwarven (native) 4 EGO 21 2 AK: Caves and Underground, 12- 3 PD 10 2 KS: Dwarven History, 11- 2 ED 10 2 PS: Miner, 11- 2 END 60 5 PS: Artisan, 11- 2 Bump of Direction, only underground 2 PS: Current Occupation, 11- 2 Disadvantages Disadvantages Package Bonus 0 Package Bonus -3 Decreased CHAR maxima: INT 18 -1 Dislikes Orcs and other racial enemies -10 -1" Running (base running 5") -2 Package Cost 13 Distinctive Features (Dwarf) -10 (Concealable with major effort) Package Cost 15 Wood Elf Wood Elf Racial Abilities Package Cultural Abilities Package Skills Cost Skills Cost Increased CHAR Maxima: Survival, 11- 3 DEX 21 3 Tracking, 11- 3 INT 23 3 Stealth, 11- 3 EGO 21 2 Animal Handler, 8- 1 COM 22 1 FAM w/ bows 1 +2" Running (base running 8") 4 +1 with bows 3 UV Vision 5 Language: Elven (native) 4 Lightsleep 3 AK: Forests, 12- 3 Disadvantages PS: Current Occupation, 11- 2 Package Bonus 0 Disadvantages Decreased CHAR maxima: Package Bonus -3 STR 16 -2 Dislikes Orcs and other racial enemies -10 BODY 16 -4 Package Cost 10 PD 6 -1 ED 6 -1 STUN 45 -3 Distinctive Features (Elf) -5 (Easily Concealable) Package Cost 5 Some example superheroes built using my system, for a newbie supers campaign: Example 1: Brick Base Points: 175 Max. Disadvantage Points: 75 Characteristics Disadvantages Points Val Char Base Cost Enraged by Harm to Children (Uncommon Circumstance, Go 11-, Recover 11-) 15 50 STR 10 40 17 DEX 10 21 Hunted by Ogre (As Powerful, 11-) 15 28 CON 10 36 13 BODY 10 6 Psychological Limitation: Must Protect Neighborhood (Common Situation, Strong) 15 13 INT 10 3 11 EGO 10 2 Physical Limitation: Normal Medical Instruments Cannot Penetrate Skin (Infrequently, Greatly) 10 23 PRE 10 13 18 COM 10 4 Reputation (8-) 5 24 PD 10 14 24 ED 6 18 Unluck (1d6) 5 4 SPD 2.7 13 16 REC 16 0 Vulnerable to Gamma Ray Attacks (Uncommon, 2X BODY) 10 56 END 56 0 52 STUN 52 0 8 Running 6 4 Characteristics Cost: 174 Disadvantage Total: 75 Pts. Skill/Talent/Perk/Power END/Roll -- Acting, Climbing, Concealment, Deduction, Paramedic, Shadowing, Stealth 8- -- TF:Automobiles, AK:Home Region 8- -- PS:Own Profession, KS: Own Profession, KS: Hobby 11- -- Language: Fluent & Literate in Native Language -- 3 Bribery 14- 3 Conversation 14- 3 High Society 14- 3 Interrogation 14- 3 Oratory 14- 3 Persuasion 14- 3 Seduction 14- 3 Streetwise 14- 3 Trading 14- 2 Contact at FBI 11- 12 Tough Skin: Damage Resistance: 12 rPD / 12 rED -- 5 Tough Eyes: 5 Points Flash Defense vs. Normal Sight -- 30 Superleap: +20” (30” total), 4x noncombat (120”) 4 (9) 76 Total Characteristics + Powers: 250 Base + Disadvantages: 250 Example 2: Energy Projector Base Points: 175 Max. Disadvantage Points: 75 Characteristics Disadvantages Points Val Char Base Cost Dependent NPC: Younger Sibling (Normal, 8-) 10 13 STR 10 3 20 DEX 10 30 Distinctive Features: Mutant, Shows up on Mutant Detectors (Easily Concealable, Incurs Prejudice) 10 23 CON 10 26 10 BODY 10 0 Watched by Government (More Powerful, Has Extensive Non-Combat Influence, 11-) 15 18 INT 10 8 11 EGO 10 2 Psychological Limitation: Reluctant to use Ice Storm power (Common Situation, Strong) 15 18 PRE 10 8 12 COM 10 1 Psychological Limitation: Code Against Killing (Common situation, Total Commitment) 20 8 PD 3 5 12 ED 5 7 Vulnerability: Fire Attacks (Uncommon, 1.5x BODY) 5 5 SPD 3 20 10 REC 8 4 54 END 46 4 29 STUN 29 0 6 Running 6 0 Characteristics Cost: 118 Disadvantage Total: 75 Pts. Skill/Talent/Perk/Power END/Roll -- Acting, Climbing, Conversation, Deduction, Persuasion, Shadowing, Stealth 8- -- TF:Automobiles, AK:Home Region 8- -- PS:Own Profession, KS: Own Profession, KS: Hobby 11- -- Language: Fluent & Literate in Native Language -- 3 Bugging 13- 3 Computer Programming 13- 3 Concealment 13- 3 Criminology 13- 3 Cryptography 13- 3 Paramedic 13- 3 Security Systems 13- 3 Systems Operation 13- 50 Multipower – 62 Character Point Reserve (-¼, won’t work in hot or dry conditions) 10 Slot 1 – Snow Storm: 10d6 Energy Blast (50 Points), ½ END (+¼) [62 Active Points], 2 [50 Real Points] 10 Slot 2 – Icy Second Skin: 25 rPD, 25 rED Force Field (50 Points), ½ END (+¼) 2 [62 Active Points], [50 Real Points] 10 Slot 3 – Ice Ramp: 25” Flight (50 Points), ½ END (+¼) [62 Active Points], [50 Real Points] 2 5 Slot 4u – Ice Storm: 8d6 Energy Blast (40 Points), Armor Piercing (+½) [60 Active Points], 5 [48 Real Points] 5 Slot 5u – Furious Snow Storm: 7d6 Energy Blast (35 Points), Double Knockback (+¾), 5 [61 Active Points], [49 Real Points] 10 Slot 6u – Ice Wall: 5 PD / 4 ED Force Wall, 9”, Opaque to Normal Sight (50 Points), 5 ½ END (+¼) [62 Real Points], [50 Real Points] 8 Slot 7u – Put ‘Em on Ice: 5d6, 5 PD/5 ED Entangle (50 Points), ½ End (+¼)[62 Active Points], 2 Takes 2X BODY from Heat or Fire Attacks (-¼) [41 Real Points] 132 Total Chars + Powers: 250 Base + Disadvantages: 250 Example 3: Martial Artist Base Points: 175 Max. Disadvantage Points: 75 Characteristics Disadvantages Points Val Char Base Cost Hunted by Ninja Master (More Powerful, 8-) 15 23 STR 10 13 26 DEX 10 48 Watched by a Secret Society of Martial Artists (More Powerful, 11-) 10 23 CON 10 26 11 BODY 10 2 Psychological Limitation: Code Against Killing (Common situation, Total Commitment) 20 18 INT 10 8 11 EGO 10 2 Psychological Limitation: Honorable (Common situation, Total commitment) 20 18 PRE 10 8 10 COM 10 0 Reputation: Rigid Ethics (8-) 5 12 PD 5 7 8 ED 5 3 Rivalry with Heroic Martial Artist (Professional Rival) 5 6 SPD 3.6 24 10 REC 10 0 46 END 46 0 40 STUN 35 5 10 Running 6 8 Characteristics Cost: 154 Disadvantage Total: 75 Pts. Skill/Talent/Perk/Power END/Roll -- Acting, Concealment, Conversation, Deduction, Paramedic, Persuasion, Shadowing 8- -- TF:Automobiles, AK:Home Region 8- -- PS:Own Profession, KS: Own Profession, KS: Hobby 11- -- Language: Fluent & Literate in Native Language -- 3 Acrobatics 14- 3 Breakfall 14- 3 Climbing 14- 3 Combat Driving 14- 10 Combat Skill Levels: +2 Levels in Hand-to-Hand Combat -- 3 Contortionist 14- 3 Lockpicking 14- 3 Riding 14- 3 Sleight of Hand 14- 3 Stealth 14- 7 Weapon Familiarities: Common Melee Weapons, Uncommon Melee Weapons -- Common Missile Weapons, Pistols Martial Arts (Black Belt): 8 +2 Damage Classes w/ Martial Arts -- 4 Punch: Martial Strike (+0 OCV / + 2 DCV / +2d6 Damage (9d6 Total w/ +2 DC’s)) (2) 5 Kick: Offensive Strike (-2 OCV / +1 DCV / +4d6 Damage (11d6 Total w/+2 DC’s)) (2) 4 Stun Touch: Nerve Strike (-1 OCV / +1 DCV / 2d6 NND (3d6 NND w/ +2 DC’s))* (2) 3 Throw: Martial Throw (+0 OCV / +1 DCV / 8d6+v/5) (2) 4 Block: Martial Block (+2 OCV / +2 DCV) (2) 4 Dodge: Martial Dodge (+0 OCV / +5 DCV / Dodge, All Attacks, Abort) (2) * NND Defense is wearing solid armor or having Lack of Weakness 20 Flash-Bang Grenades: 2d6 Flash vs. Normal Sight (20 Points) & Normal Hearing (+5 Points) -- [25 Base Points]; 3” Radius (+1) [50 Active Points]; 2 Charges (-1½) [20 Real Points] 96 Total Chars + Powers: 250 Base + Disadvantages: 250

I normally run a modified 4e. Long ago I put together a set of templates I use for generating a document on campaign power levels. It's all in a spreadsheet file with multiple sheets and doesn't copy/paste to here really great, but I'll give it a go. (IIRC, this all started in AppleWorks on an Apple //c.) (Sorry for the spurious extra boldface stuff in Secondary Attack, Defenses, and Movement; they're not that way in the original and I can't un-bold them here for some reason.) For brevity, I won't include all the Archetypes (packages/templates) unless someone wants them. A representative sampling of Archetypes (packages/templates) is in the post following this one. Again, all of this is just a template. It would be used as the basis for what is produced for a specific campaign. HERO System Character Building Guidelines Character Concept Think of a character you’d like to play. Jot down what they can do well, what drives them, and what causes them trouble. Characteristics Begin with an appropriate Archetype, copying it to a character sheet along with the Base Points. Modify the Characteristic values as desired, using the Character Point costs as shown on the character sheet. However, don’t exceed the values in the column to the right of your Archetype in the HERO System Campaign Limits table. Skills First, copy the free Everyman Skills to your character sheet. Then choose Career and/or Species Packages and apply the listed Skills and Disadvantages. Finally, round out the character with additional Skills that are appropriate to the character concept. Skills that are important for the character concept should be bought to around the average Skill Rating for the Archetype, as shown in the HERO System Campaign Limits table. Skill Levels can be purchased to convey broad competency. Combat Skill Levels can be bought to convey combat training and/or experience (but keep in mind the campaign limit on CV mods for the archetype). Perks Buy any Perks appropriate to the character concept. Talents (Heroes and Superheroes only) Buy any Talents appropriate to the character concept. Powers (Superheroes only) Every superhero should at least have two different attacks, a defense, and a movement ability. Primary Attack Power: Choose a primary attack and buy it to 50 Active Points. Secondary Attack Power: Buy 20 Active Points of Drain, Entangle, Flash, Martial Arts (Skill), NND, or some other secondary attack. Defenses: Boost PD and ED to around 20 total each by buying Armor, Force Field, or Force Wall. Consider Flash Defense. Movement: Buy 20 Active Points of Flight, Gliding, Running, Superleap, Swinging, or Tunneling. Disadvantages Choose Disadvantages that reflect your character concept in order to further define the character in game terms and to signal to the GM what types of stories you’d like for your character. Keep the Max Disadvantage Points for the Archetype in mind. Review and Adjust Look over your character, and make any changes desired to bring it in line with your concept. If there are a few points left over, consider spending them on small Characteristic tweaks, new Skills, or boosted Skills. Equipment (Normals and Heroes only) Buy any equipment that makes sense for the character concept. HERO System Campaign Limits Average Values for… Max Average Notable Skilled Competent Hero Superhero Starting Base Points -25 0 25 50 100 175 175 Max Disad Points 25 25 25 50 50 75 75 STRength 8 10 13 13 18 23 50 DEXterity 8 10 11 14 17 20 27 CONstitution 8 10 13 13 18 23 30 BODY 8 10 10 11 12 12 15 INTelligence 8 10 13 13 18 18 28 EGO 8 10 10 11 11 11 28 PREsence 8 10 10 13 13 18 28 COMeliness 8 10 10 10 10 10 28 Physical Defense* 2 2 4 6 8 10 12 Energy Defense* 2 2 3 6 8 10 12 SPD 2 2 3 3 4 5 6 RECovery 4 4 6 6 8 10 16 ENDurance 16 20 26 26 36 46 60 STUN 16 20 24 25 30 36 55 Running 5 6 6 7 7 8 N/A Char. Cost -25 0 25 45 85 125 253 Max CV Mods 0 0 0 1 2 3 3 Max Total CV 3 3 4 6 8 10 10 Avg. Attack Points 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 * Combat rPD/rED 2 2 4 6 8 10 12 Skill Rating: 11 11 12 12 13 13 15

Hm. Looks like they decided to make this version use a focus, instead of having inherent powers?

And that's not a bad way to go about it, if making things more logical while breaking with the past as little as necessary was the goal. Wow, that's a fantastic walk-through of the issues facing the game's Characteristic costs! Pre-6e, I wanted to add 1 to the cost per point of many of the Primary Characteristics (STR, DEX, CON, and INT, IIRC). What stopped me was not wanting to make such a big break with the published material. It seems everyone involved with the game's development over the years recognizes these cost issues to one extent or another, but chose not to address them fully. I appreciate their avoiding breaking too much with the existing material, instead always erring on the side of compatibility with prior versions. But at the same time, I sometimes have wondered what would have happened if during the big consolidation of 4e (or even with 6e) these issues had been more fully addressed. Would doing so have killed HERO as the existing base rebelled en masse? There's a good argument for that, given the reaction (including my reaction) to the changes that were introduced in 6e. Ah, well, it is what it is. I appreciate the big walk-through! I hadn't considered Deadly Blow or Weaponmaster, tbh.

Turning Red (Disney+): Very, very well done coming-of-age story. Highly recommended. Free Guy (Disney+): Ace programmers develop an amazing game, then an unethical colleague steals it from them and turns it into something else, riding the success all the way to the top. The only way to prove what happened is to go within the game world and find that original code. Sounds a lot like one of my favorite movies: Tron. This time around it's mostly told from the perspective of the in-game character the title is named after rather than the programmer's perspective as with Tron. Free Guy is a very entertaining movie with lots of laugh-out-loud moments. We also continued with Deadwood, Station Eleven, and The Righteous Gemstones. Deadwood is getting a little better, Station Eleven continues to be a mixed bag, and Righteous Gemstones continues to be the most entertaining of the bunch.

Interesting! All of that was certainly the case for us -- not many points were spent in the characteristics section below SPD. And there's no reason that couldn't have been done when they were figured characteristics. Someone must have tried backporting it. 🤔 All we ever did was try out STR costing 1.5 or 2 cp. As I recall, 2 cp/1 STR worked fine in heroic campaigns, but that was too much for what we wanted out of supers and no one liked the messiness of the 1.5 per cost, despite having COM and END with a .5 cost. I'm surprised we never considered attacking the costs from the other side, in the figured characteristics.

That was the great thing about the 4e BBB: you could run the game with just that book. Some of us did that for many many sessions. The BBB had not only the rules, but how to run a superhero RPG, a multipart adventure, a goodly number of hero and villain pregens, and a good amount of info on Viper.

That makes sense; I wasn't thinking it through from that end. Thank you!

I've done some searching but haven't been able to find the answer as to why the costs of REC and END went down in 6e. It's easy to see why former primary characteristics were decreased in cost, but I can't figure out why these former secondary characteristics would have been decreased in cost. Anyone have the inside scoop from back when 6e was in the planning/design stage?

We finished S2 of Pennyworth (excellent!), so it's time to look for new series to watch: Euphoria (HBO Max): Seems to be highly rated everywhere, but it's a series about high school kids that is rated for adults only. We tried the first half hour of the first episode, and it does seem to be well done, but it's not the type of thing we're interested in at this point. Probably appeals more to twentysomethings? How To with John Wilson (HBO Max): This is an odd one. A guy walks around New York, taking videos of goings-on that he finds interesting, sometimes having conversations with people. That sounds lame, but it's terribly awkward in a funny way. Seems worth at least one more episode. Frayed (HBO Max): Set in the late 1980s, the widow of wealthy English husband learns he died while...well...doing a lot of embarrassing things at once. Finds out she's penniless. Decides to head back home to mum....in Australia, because she's actually from there and just pretending to be English. And she's actually not from a wealthy background. Both of which come as a shock to her two teenage children. The pilot gave us enough laughs to see what happens next.

Of books assigned in school, The Great Gatsby stands out. I hated reading that thing -- and I've always been a reader! I tried going back to it as an adult and I still hated it. Moby Dick was a little better, but it goes on and on and on and on. Send in the editor, maybe they can find a good book in there somewhere. OTOH, I like some books that end up on a lot of people's hate lists: the Thomas Convenant books and Wuthering Heights, for example. Both are near the top of my list of favorites, even after all these years. I used to reread Wuthering Heights annually back when I used to read 50+ books a year, and I've re-read the original Thomas Covenant trilogy at least half a dozen times (I like the later books, too, but not as much).

Wall of Voodoo must be thrilled their hit song's second verse is relevant again after all these decades. I feel a hot wind on my shoulder And the touch of a world that is older Turn the switch and check the number Leave it on when in bed I slumber I hear the rhythms of the music I buy the product and never use it I hear the talking of the dj Can't understand just what does he say? I'm on a Mexican radio I'm on a Mexican radio I dial it in and tune the station They talk about the U.S. inflation I understand just a little No comprende--it's a riddle I'm on a Mexican radio I'm on a Mexican radio I wish I was in Tiajuana Eating barbecued iguana I'd take requests on the telephone I'm on a wavelength far from home I feel a hot wind on my shoulder I dial it in from south of the border I hear the talking of the DJ Can't understand just what does he say? Radio, radio...

Race car driver tweets out translated "FSB memos." Are they real? Who knows! It's interesting reading for sure. https://twitter.com/igorsushko/status/1500301348780199937?s=20&t=gWvbTHlNSt5tfnDSuQaOfghttps://twitter.com/igorsushko/status/1500301348780199937?s=20&t=gWvbTHlNSt5tfnDSuQaOfghttps://twitter.com/igorsushko/status/1500301348780199937?s=20&t=gWvbTHlNSt5tfnDSuQaOfg

Sounds like a job for Canadian crude.

Sadly, long gone are the days of hand-drawn chip layouts, when engineers would crawl around on a table, cutting out the photomask.

We watched the first two episodes of three series (Deadwood, Station Eleven, and The Righteous Gemstones) and while the first two series are mostly OK-ish dramas, the third seems to be a Coen Brothers movie told in 1/2-hour increments (other than the pilot episode, which was an hour long). So far, I'd give them a C, a C-, and a B, respectively.

The worst movie I ever watched all the way through was Disney's Moon Pilot. At the time, we were trying to watch every Disney movie ever made, so despite its awfulness, we didn't switch it off. And this was after making it through tons of execrable 60s/70s Disney live-action garbage. Most had at least one tiny bit that we enjoyed. Not Moon Pilot. It's just awful.

Yup. Disney's got quite the catalog. We are still finding enough enjoyable content on HBOMax to justify our less-than-one-year-old subscription to it, but to make that work we did cancel our Netflix subscription since at this point it was the one offering us the least bang for the buck. We'll check in on it in six months to a year, see if enough good content has built up by then.

All five of the original modules for Boot Hill were pretty good. The final, BH5 Range War!, has an excellent setup for a land use battle between ranchers and sheep herders. Really good stuff, useful for any western campaign.

Aha, so all the Marvel Netflix shows, plus Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, are moving to Disney+, with a new content control category for parents for the more adult-oriented content. Nice, but a bit inconsistent with putting Hit-Monkey on Hulu instead of Disney+.

We finished S1 of Pennyworth last night. We enjoyed its mix of action, drama, and humor. Not the best supers show out there, but for us it was well worth watching.