Static UK

Re: Demonic Metabolism: how to model it?

Creating a package deal for demons ...consuming junk food by the truckload without suffering a single ill effect (stuff that's bad for humans is good for demons).

Does this include things like not gaining weight, or is it just 'chemical' in nature? After all it appears to be the chemicals that are added to the food that causes the ill-health affects associated with junk-food. Either way, I believe some version of the Life Support: Immunity to manamde chemicals should do the job (as far as I am aware they don't put chemical warfare agents in our food...?) Don't have my big 5ER book with me in work, so can't tell you the cost.

Re: Sort of 'Mind control' help!

One more point to make in support of the PRE attack only method...

 

Just how heroic is Mind Control?

 

HM

That's the point, this is a false, DEMON sponsored Arthur, he isn't actually heroic at the end of the day. He will be helping to make Tyrannons impending arrival easier. So the power not being heroic won't bother them in the slightest!

The real Arthur will be along in due time...

Re: Sort of 'Mind control' help!

This has much of the scaling efforts that Derek's stuff has' date=' as well as the delayed effect ("You know, now that I think about it, he is right about [i']everything[/i]!").

 

Gives the huge scale (at 15,000km, he should be able to affect anyone on the earth, I believe).

 

Note that I stated of "English" descent, rather than British. Maybe better would be "Briton" descent, which would designate (I believe) pre-Anglo-Saxon invasion English descent. However, I couln't see the Scots, Welsh, Irish, etc., following him. I could be wrong, but you can change the definition as you see fit!

 

Healing back could happen naturally... but if he has a nightly TV show, or whatever, the effect could get refreshed. So, over time, someone could come out of the control.

 

Meeting the real King Arthur would also probably be a cure (and would probably grant immunity to this power).

 

So, what do y'all think?

 

post number 300!!! W00t! Had to make it a good one... hope I succeeded.

Yup Derek does seem to get it right most of the time.

Your idea is very similar to my initial layout of the power, but I still kinda like Derek's version!

Yes I did notice your 'English' bit, but I'm kinda casting the net a little wider. I have actually decided that the Scot's will take longer to come around (the PC's haven't noticed that the Scottish born Scotish-based heroes have not come out in support of Arthur yet). The Welsh are more enthusiastic than the Scots as the legend has a foot in Welsh myth, especially with regard to Merlin (he may be Welsh, depending on which version of the myth you like). Although Merlin is not with Arthur, his mystic companion/ advisor, Avalon, is alleged to be a descendant of Merlin.

And yes, when the real Arthur arrives certain people will recognise who is is immediately (patriots, mystics, and good-intentioned/ honest people), he will have a similar ability to the false Arthur, but it will have to overcome the 'drain/ transformation' effects of the faux-Arthur before he can win over the population.

Thanks for your ideas, too.

Re: Sort of 'Mind control' help!

While I respect Derek's understanding of the system, and his construct is certainly clever and mechanically sound, personally I would just do this as a huge boost to "King Arthur's" Presence, Only Vs. British, Only To Persuade. Alternatively you could give him a large number of Skill Levels with appropriate Interaction Skills and that "OVB" Limitation.

 

Presence isn't an END-using Power, so it's innately Invisible as far as the game definition goes (although of course the source and effects are immediately known). There's no real reason why Presence Attacks, Oratory or Persuasion shouldn't work on anyone who sees and hears Arthur, so they could be just as effective over television broadcasts. Long-term effects of Presence Attacks can last as long as the GM deems appropriate (I checked with Steve Long about this once on the Rules forum).

 

YMMV, of course.

Thanks for your idea. But, sorry, this isn't what I was really looking for. I actually need it to be power based so that ultimately someone will realise that people are being manipulated and can devise a way to counteract it. Ultimately I'm planning on one of the British based mystics to figure it out and then try to persude the PC's to help combat it. As the PC's have out of the country for a while, they won't have been so heavily affected by Arthurs 'message'.

Again thanks.

Re: Sort of 'Mind control' help!

If you want to consider something a little different than Mind Control, what about something like this...

 

That's a lot of stuff... let's look at it a bit at a time.

 

The basic idea is that he leads via PRE (Oratory, Persuasion, PRE Attacks, etc.) rather than Mind Control. Since PRE Attacks are resisted by EGO or PRE (whichever is better), his first two Powers (the linked Drains) reduce both EGO and PRE by roughly the same amount (since EGO costs twice as much as PRE). Then, having lowered their resistance, he also magnifies his importance in the eyes of his believers, via extra PRE in the amount of 5x what they've lost in EGO or PRE (whichever is more). Since this is largely an EGO and PRE Drain, mentalists and mystics are less affected because they're more likely to have Mental DEF, and more likely to have high EGO and/or PRE to start with. So even if he does affect them, they can better withstand the effect than most folks.

 

Here are notes on some of the particulars. First the Advantages:

• Penetrating means that even those with Mental DEF can be whittled down over time.
  
• The MegaScale Area of Effect is just about large enough to be global, making it potentially possible for him to affect anyone (though subject to the restrictions described below).
  
• Based On ECV makes it work vs. Mental DEF, and Invisible Power Effects makes it, well, invisible.
  
• He's immune to the effect of the Drains (Personal Immunity)
  
• It's Continuous, so he doesn't have to keep making attack rolls while speaking.
  
• It only returns 5 points per Year, so it won't wear off before his nefarious plans come to fruition.

Now the Limitations...

• It takes at least a minute or so before he can affect someone. Him saying hello to you as you pass on the street won't enthrall you, but listening to any real communication from him will. (Extra Time)
  
• The targets' PRE and EGO don't instantly drop... they're converted gradually over a day or so. (Gradual Effect)
  
• The "Only vs. British and British Wannabes" may seem like it's overvalued at -1 (considering that he's in Britain), but remember that he could technically affect anyone in the world, so this actually is cutting down his "target audience" quite a bit.
  
• It only affects people who actually see/hear him. Everyone isn't affected just by being in the Area of Effect.
  
• Incantations - He has to talk you into all this.
  
• The lowering of EGO/PRE is only in regards to "King Arthur." It doesn't lower your resistance to anyone else.

WOW! That is one well thought out power description. I can't really find any reason to disagree or dislike this idea. It is similar to the Transform idea I was having, but a little more expensive, but I like it better all the same. I particularly like the way you explained the reasoning behind the various pieces, thanks.

I know it's been a while, but it's been a real busy four or five months. I'm hoping to mine the great collective Hero-mind for a way of doing this:-

I'm introducing King Arthur to my Champions campaign (based in England), but he is actually a DEMON pawn. They want to take control of the country because they believe a great power is soon to arrive there and they want to facilitate an easy arrival (that great power will be Tyrannon's avatars).

Currently the PC's are out of the country and I've been feeding them news reports about what is going on in Merry Olde England.

What I have started happening in the campaign is that people are 'becoming believers'. Military personnel have began going AWOL and joining his group of supporters. Members of the public are also flocking to his support. Members of Parliament are beginning to offer support (generally more secretly), and now, even super beings are beginnng to voice their support. The group is peaceful, and Arthur has stated that he will not take control of the country as that would be wrong and that eventually the country will accept him as their leader naturally.

What the PC's haven't realised yet is that none of the superbeings that have come to support Arthur are psychics, mystics, or non-Earth originating beings (aliens and parallel Earth's).

I know there is no real reason to worry over the powers construct itself, but I am intersted in working out how it would look. I see it as a cumulative mind control (possibly a transformation?) that only begins to work within sight of the character, even if that is over a TV link, but it is long lasting. I'm leaning towards a verbal rather than telepathic trigger for the power. Those with psychic and mental powers take longer to succumb, non-campaign Earth originating characters also take longer. But the effects are confined to those that are British or want to be British. So foreign nationals in Britain would be immune to the effects of the power, but immigrants would be affected, even if they take longer. I also want the power to be invisible, as I wouldn't want it to be discovered too quickly.

He will eventually be caught out, possibly by the arrival of the real King Arthur, and those heroes that prove to be resillient to the power (ie some key NPC's of my choosing and at least one PC :-) )

Re: Superhero Images

As a general rule' date=' I do not care for the character drawings made with Hero Machine. I could list a whole bunch of things I don't like, but it boils down to a matter of taste. [/quote']

 

I admit HeroMachine isn't perfect, but it is useful for the artistically challenged, and you can make some decent looking costumes. I have an absolute s**t load of my own creations from when I played the original Marvel Superheroes system, 99% based on templates or traced figure outlines, some of which I am very proud of!

 

I'm off work for three weeks (moving house and holiday). When I get my computer back up and running I'll be scanning stuff for your perusal. I also plan on doing some comparisons of my own artwork to HeroMachine 'updates' of character costumes that I've done. Sorry!

 

Oh, I only found this thread a week or so back, and I have spent about three hours a day trwling through it, and I'm only upto page 95-ish!

Re: amateur champs minis

Teleios' terrorsaur

Actually I have a Spinosaur figure/ model from the Jurassic Park 3 movie that would probably do for this. It is big and it even roars and growls!

Re: amateur champs minis

I actually used a white undercoat. I sometimes find the when I use pale colours over a dark undercoat that they don't look quite right. I do occasionally use dark undercoats, but not when the figure is predominantly pale coloured. Having said this I think I have painted a grand total of ~20 figures, so I'm no expert, very much a beginner in fact.

Re: amateur champs minis

Bugger, I almost forgot! I also bought a box of a dozen warhammer figures (can't remember what it's called now!), basically guys in armoured clothing with energy rifles and a couple of big weapons (flame thrower and chain gun). I've painted this into a VIPER special weapons/ tactical team (well I've still got a few to finish).

Re: amateur champs minis

He, he, I've done Grond, it was rather easy, if a little bit of a cheat! I cut the head off one Abomination figure, then cut another abomination figure in half around the bottom of the rib-cage, then stuck this onto the shoulders of the headless figure (with a little shaping to make them fit better). He's probably small for Grond, but it gets the idea across.

I've also done the PC team. VIPER and UNTIL agents (real easy, ie Hydra and SHIELD agents )

When next I get time I'll be working on some of the other characters, mostly ones I've created for my campaign. I bought about ten Mechwarrior figures to convert into robots, power armour, and, oh, erm, well, Mechs!

Fun!

Re: Social Limitation: Legacy

It would be something that would get mentioned everytime the poor hero does something good.

 

Heroman has just saved Millennium City from Mechanon's latest scheme.

"Great work Heroman!" Says the Mayor.

"Thanks." says Heroman, beaming from ear to ear.

"It reminds me of when your brother, Herodude, saved the world!"

Heroman's smile fades at the comparison... how will he ever live up to that?!

Okay. That's a Psych Lim. He feels pressured to live up to Herodude's name. See, if it weren't a Psych Lim, it would've gone like this:

 

Heroman has just saved Millennium City from Mechanon's latest scheme.

"Great work Heroman!" Says the Mayor.

"Thanks." says Heroman, beaming from ear to ear.

"It reminds me of when your brother, Herodude, saved the world!"

"Yeah, he was great, wasn't he?"

 

I still don't see how any of this is a Social Lim. Someone please explain to me how everyone in Hero City could expect you to live up to Hero X's reputation without that causing a great deal of pressure within you, Hero X II, to live up to their expectations. [/i]

I'm sorry Devlin1 but I don't see how my example is representative of a Psych Lim! If he is constantly being compared to his brother, who just happened to have saved the world (ie people have higher expectations for him), surely he is allowed to feel a little peeved by this? Being peeved by this does not make it a Psych Lim. If anyone has any older brothers, or succesful fathers, I'm sure they'll know how this feels. Especially when it comes to school reports/ exam results!

"Humph, your father/ bother/ distinguished relative wouldn't have done it like that!"

"Yes mom, I know, but it works fine doesn't it!"

Thanks Twilight, Acroyear and the rest!

Re: Physics students needed

Don't forget that in the movie his first few attempts failed as his webbing broke, but he had still slowed the train down a bit before he actually succeded.

Re: I need a Super Hero Name for TinkerBelle....

She just lives in the closet...

 

~Amused

I hope it is a fully furnished closet, with en-suite bathroom, and a nice view! Is she too big to live in a dolls house? Just think of all the furniture options she'd have!

Re: I need a Super Hero Name for TinkerBelle....

Actually now that i think about it I prefer Sprinkle. It suits her child like persona and the fairy dust and such...Choices, choices hmm...LOL

 

~Amused~

Glad to be of service.

Re: I need a Super Hero Name for TinkerBelle....

Playing with the "Second star on the right and straight on 'til morning" theme, how about Dawnstar?

Or Scatter or Sprinkle due to the act of throwing the dust.

Where is you campaign based? You may be able to use a suitable name related to myth and legend from the area that she is based. If it was the UK or Ireland, then Avalon, Avalonia, Faerie Ring, Dolmen (these are standing stones that are sometimes considered to be gateways to the faerie realm), Seelie (the name of the Faerie Court), or Solstice (the time of the year that faerie lights would appear over faerie mounds and the time when travel to the faerie realms was most likely).

I hope there is something of use for you above.

Re: Social Limitation: Legacy

I'm with Acroyear and Ghost Who Walks.

I also think that it is a great idea. It could also be used for those heroes that have other (more famous) family members still in the 'job', or that did something heroic, like save the whole world. It would be something that would get mentioned everytime the poor hero does something good.

Heroman has just saved Millennium City from Mechanon's latest scheme.

"Great work Heroman!" Says the Mayor.

"Thanks." says Heroman, beaming from ear to ear.

"It reminds me of when your brother, Herodude, saved the world!"

Heroman's smile fades at the comparison... how will he ever live up to that?!

Re: Supervillain Images

...The more he "opens up the format' date='" the more difficult it will be for him to maintain control of it and make a profit. Lots of people are already pirating the thing and sending copies around, screwing him over. I for one can't blame him.[/quote']

 

Someone here on these very boards was asking for a pirate copy of the program!

 

 

And for what it's worth' date=' although I don't read every post on the Hero Machine boards, I do subscribe to the list and read a fair share--hundreds of messages. And I never recall him being anything but patient, humble, and unfailingly polite. I don't EVER remember seeing any head-biting.[/quote']

 

I haven't visited the boards (I think I should look them up), but when I bought the v2.0 program I had problems downloading it. It turned out, as I suspected and told him, that the problem was the network firewall at work. But he was very helpful, very polite, and very patient. I even asked him, after I'd used it a few times, if he would be open to suggestions. He politely said that at this time he wouldn't be, but may be in the future when he next has time to play with the program.

 

It is a good program for doing a wide variety of characters, but no matter how many variations are possible, there will always be someone that needs 'x' ot 'y'. I like it, and I would recomend it. I have put a bunch of images on the Superhero thread (about page 138).

 

Well here are some villains (I didn't realise there ws a villains thread). I present my HERO universes version of The Four Horsemen:

 

Death: He was a mummy that was accidentally revived by one of the players characters. He was the PC's hunted until he changed his hero identity from one powered by Egyptian gods, to one powered by Celtic gods!

 

Famine: A mystically altered mutant. BODY Drain, and mystic control over insects (the Pestilance spot on the team was already taken!).

 

Pestilence: He is an ancient intelligent virus that controls host bodies until they fall apart. He causes disease in others. It was released from its captivity in the Venezuelan rain forest by the same PC that released Death!!! The player hasn't forgiven me yet afte nearly four years!

 

War: This is an artificial construct of a similar nature to a gollum, but with a little more free will (although not much more). He was created by Death and imbued with martial prowess and mystical ranged attack.

 

Yup, I like HeroMachine!

UK-X Trainees 2:

Black Rod is another manipulator of the Shadowforce energies, and is a favoured pupil of Raven (for obvious reasons).

Stonehenge is a large (~8' 6") stone-fleshed 'brick'. I have made use of the Ultimate Brick book for some of his abilities.

There are other members of UK-X, such as Barrier (female, TK & FF), Churchill (male, military background and hi tech prototype weaponry), Bulldog (male, top secret cyber-agent), and newest member Mesmer (female, a psi who needs a name change to something more 'traditional', not that she wants to!) The other trainees include Spitfire III (female flying fire generator) and Tower (female, permanent 2 levels of Growth plus moderate STR).

UK-X Trainees:

With the increasing numbers of paranormals in the world, especially in the UK due to the influx of mystical energies from an open gateway (in Cheshire) to the Elfan homeworld, the British goverment initiated a training program for those who wished to learn how to better use their powers, and maybe even become government sponsored heroes.

Here are two:

Beefeater is a 'brick' with tough skin. That's all!

Swithin is a water generator and manipulator. It is theorised that she may have some faerie conection, as she doesn't register as a mutant!

Re: Tinkerbelle

o.k. it kind of worked...lol... I am really bad with this sort of stuff...

Sorry guys

 

~Amused~

I like her. In my HERO campaign (based in the UK as it's were I am) I have lots of faerie type folk of different species and sizes. She'd fit right in there. In fact, she may just make a guest appearance some time...

Here is Gaelic Guardian, she is friend to the faerie folk, and occasionally has a couple as companions. She has a mystic bow, and a book of nature themed magic spells.

Raven and Rose

Here are two more from UK-X.

Raven is a pseudo-mystic, she manipulates the energies of the shadowforce dimension (ie, I ripped off Marvels Darkforce dimension )

Rose is another ex-member of Plantlife. She has minor cybernetic enhancements that allow her to shot fletchettes from her fingers, and has some sight abilities. I added the rose motif to her thigh using Paint.

Re: Superhero Images

This is a before and after shot of the heroine Oak. The 'before' was from when she was a member of the 'vaguely' heroic all girl team of mercenaries Plantlife, folowed by a short solo career. The 'after' shot is her now, as a member of UK-X.

Re: Superhero Images

Here are a few of the characters from my campaigns leading British hero team, UK-X. They are a government/ military sponsored team, and have a 'friendly' rivalry with the London Knights (basically a merging of The New Knights and London Watch from the real CU).

Most of the UK-X team members have names linked to British legend or tradition to make them more poular with the public. The costumes have a 'red, white, and blue' theme (colours of the British flag) to represent patriotism

Big Ben is a mutant with growth powers.

Herald is a psi. Herald was slightly touched up in Paint (yes Paint! I've not had time to master anything more complicated yet)

Re: Superhero Images

And here are a couple more...