Half Baked

Re: Teleios: The origin story I always thought that Captain Chronos might be behind it. Retrieves the formulae from the future and delivers it to Jakob Stroessen that night. For some reason only known to Captain Chronos he needs Stroessen to have the formulae to save the future. It fits right in with Telios's origin story and Captain Chronos's motivation and modus operandi. Elementary my dear Watson!

Re: Well, I finished reading Conquerors, Killers and Crooks, and... Can I just say I liked the ending of the modern age of superheroes as outlined in Galatic Champions. The huge battle for Earth and then the massive aftershocks of the consquences of the sacrifices made. The way Dr Destroyer, Warlord and other villains met their end seemed sweetly ironic and fitting. What worse way for a bunch of megalomaniacs to meet their fate. Death, not with a glorious end, but facing complete and utter failure as all their power fails. It is all internally consistent considering the assumptions of CU: Assumption #1: All superpowers are based on ambient magic levels being high. Assumption #2: Comicbook/super science beyond the modern levels is effected by magic. It is just a special effect of ambient magic levels. This explains why some powerful devices are not mass produced and marketed. They only work for the creator or some other user. These assumptions work well because they provide a wide enough framework to fit any super powers or technology seen in the comics. Plus, they explain why super technology has little wider impact without the need for overly complicated explanations. Does the CU really need anything more than that? From those assumptions comes the after effect of all the magic being gone after the battle to repulse Tyrannon. Dr Destroyer dies because the technology that was the basis of his powers was not real technology at all, but a special effect of the magic. It looked like technology, it acted like technology, but it wasn't real technology. In effect, he was a scientific fraud. When his powers fail he hasn't the strength to find alternatives in the time left to him. Maybe his arrogance cannot take such failure and he goes into shock and mental decline When creating game worlds you need to start off with some basic assumptions from which you can develop the world in the direction you want. Some are small, some are big. However, every roleplaying gameworld, literary, comic or movie world have basic assumptions that explain why they are different from Earth and the Earth timeline. Those at Herogames made their assumptions with the Champions Universe. Make your own for your version. However, you should accept that CU has its own internal consistency when given their assumptions. Hang on, how did Mechanon survive when the technology that built him went out

Re: Minor question on Armored character Include a Side Effect (Always On) disadvantage on the armour that reduces DEX is another possibility. The level of the Side Effect would depend on the amount that DEX is reduced by and on the Active Point cost of the Armour.

Re: New Character Background - Opinions Welcome Great character background and story. I disagree with rbezold about her needing motivation. It is hinted at quite strongly in the story. Her first use of her superpowers to rescue the old lady made her feel good about herself after the ending of her Olympic dreams. Being a superhero fills a gap left by the void of not being an olympic competitor. It provides recognition, a focus, an adrenaline surge and the exhultation of victory. All things that competitive sport provides to participants. No real need to flesh that out. There are two things that I might recommend changing. Firstly, why is she so driven to win at running. Does she want recognition? Does she need to prove she is the best? Being a successful athletic requires such dedication and focus, what drives her competitive spirit. Secondly, you could move her timeline forward to the last Olympics. She has just won her gold medals, discovered her superpowers, had her medals stripped from her and become a superhero. Her appeal is ongoing and not resolved yet. It gives you and your GM the opportunity to explore the drama of the appeals process. Plenty of quite subtle plot hooks or roleplaying opportunities. For example, what would Faith do if a mysterious figure offered to help her in the appeals process if she performed a small service for him/her? It might be interesting to find out Even worse, they may just help and expect to be repaid later down the line. Another thought occurs, has Faith ever used performance enhancing drugs? If not, why not? If yes, was she aware of it or was her couch or someone else secretly administering them. Maybe Viper or Dr Destroyer was testing some new drugs on up and coming athletes. I hope these ideas help.

Re: New Campaign Start Idea - Critiques Wanted

Re: Alpha Male Contest

Re: Alpha Male Contest In Australia the alpha male is the man who takes over the BBQing from the host

Re: Alpha Male Contest

Re: Alpha Male Contest LOL I'll do you the courtesy of treating that as a joke. I'm not saying that anyone has built the social system. Nor that the Alpha Male is primative and the Omega Male is evolved. The Omega Male's mastery will never dawn because they are by definition not the Alpha Male. What define's an Alpha Male may (and has) changed. It varies by social group to social group. A room of gaming geeks sets different qualities to judge the Alpha Male than a football team. Today's Omega Man may well be tomorrow's Alpha Male, but the Omega Man will never have mastery. They just receive the baton from the old bearers as they are crushed underfoot The Bug Master will never be the Alpha Male if the society that judges him thinks that being able to punch someone's lights out is more important than summoning killer bees. If the social group is a bunch of beekeepers then Bug Master would be considered the top of the heap. Only subservient to Queen Bee who takes pleasure it wrapping the Bug Master around her finger or whatever queen bees wrap the breeding males around.

Re: Alpha Male Contest The important thing to understand about alpha male contests is that the group decides the rules of engagement. To win the contest, the alpha male needs to win by the rules that the group sets. These rules are usually different to what is acceptable to a fight with an opponent outside the group. Sociologist call these two types of contests intraspecies and extraspecies and there are many examples in the animal kingdom. Intraspecies conflicts are intended to resolve disputes without fatality and usually involve impressive displays. Snakes don't tend to bite each other with mating rituals, but engage in pushing contests. Lions don't rend each other tooth and claw, but show off their mane and engage in strength costs. The examples are numerous and the more impressive looking the natural weaponry the less useful it tends to be in extraspecies contests. This extends into the world of man. Medieval knights jousted with specific rules to establish a pecking order. It was dangerous, but not intended to be fatal. If a knight cheated by using a longer lance, they would not be considered the victor by the spectators. However, when fighting outside their group they would happily cut down scores of peasants. The french knights would cut the fingers off captured english lowbowmen. Crossbows were banned by the Church and only permitted to be used against non-Christians. In other words, there were rules, written and unwritten, that determined the nature of combat between the alpha males of the medieval day. The Iliad set down the rules of combat for the Greeks. The entire work illustrates the difference between combat between alpha males and the rest.Paris is not an alpha male because he uses a bow and engages in sneaky long range attacks. His brother, Hector, is as he fights his foes at close range. How does this apply to a contest between Alpha Males in the super world? Well, what powers that are acceptable to use is determined by the group. Within a superteam they are unlikely to permit lethal attacks to determine the leader. They may permit the full use of their powers, as long as they are not dangerous. Within a villain organisation it may have different rules. A public battle between two rival heroes to show who is the best is making the general public and media the group. Most likely, any power that can be considered sneaky or deceptive will be disapproved of. Western society has strong echoes of the Iliad even today.

Re: Conan vs. Elric Conan would win for certain and the fight would go something like this: Elric would hack his way across the battlefield with Stormbringer and be almost unbeatable until he faced Conan. The brave cimmerian would sense the foul sorcery and leg it as only Conan can when he knows he is outmatched. Then, while Elric is angsting over the thousands he killed with Stormbringer and weeping into his cups, Conan would sneak into his camp, steal Stormbringer and kill Elric with his own sword. There is no other way the fight could turn out. You know it makes sense Of course Conan never keeps the magic trinkets he finds. He would either destroy Stormbringer, gamble it away or it would be stolen by unnatural demons who leave him with nothing more than a lovebite. Now a more interesting Howard v Moorcock in my opinion would be Conan v Hawkmoon.

Re: I made the GM cry....

Re: Trivia... Bulldozer? "BULLDOZER doesn't have any namby-pamby powers. BULLDOZER's always been a real man, not some pissy wimp in a spangly suit. There is no indication to when BULLDOZER got his powers. Not even BULLDOZER has an indication. You heard that from the mouth of BULLDOZER. BULLDOZER hasn't got a clue!" Taken from a live interview with Bulldozer.

Re: Blend of Beast and Forge Thanks for your help ladies and gentlemen (plus assorted others ). The player has built his character and found your help useful. Cheers

I have a player who wants their character to be a blend of Beast and Forge when it comes to intellectual pursuits and technical expertise, particularly electronics and computers. He asked about the applicable KS, SS, and/or PS? I don't really know much about either of them. Can anyone help him out?

Re: Is this a legitimate disadvantage? Sounds like a special effect of his powers. You might take a Disadvantage that the character is affected by powers that effect genetic mutations and technology. I would not allow a Power Limitation to your character's powers. The cybernetic implants might count as IIF Focus, the same as Fiacho from CKC. That would be it in my opinion.

Re: Superhero Images How about The G-Crack.

Re: Temporary Duplication They way I meant it to work was that there was 1 charge, but you could create 4 duplicates. Just not all 4 at once. So while less than 4 have been created, the charge has not been used up and you can go on creating. Only one duplicated created at a time (-1/4) limitation was to model this. I was working under the assumption that the duplicate was left behind after teleporting and only one was left behind. How about making it Useable at Range, rather than giving the Duplicates teleport ability on creation. There would need to be an additional power advantage if you want the duplicates to be created in separate hexes. No need to buy Altered Duplicates (25%) then.

Re: Temporary Duplication Correct me if I am wrong, but devlin1 is trying to model the following power: A duplication created/triggered by using a teleport power. The character can have no more than 4 duplicates, but only 1 is created each teleport. The duplicates only last 5 minutes, before disappearing. I am not sure what happens if the character teleports and is at his maximum amount of duplicates. If this is correct I would model it the following way, assuming teleporting at max duplicates creates a new one and destroys the oldest: Duplication (4 Maximum Duplicates +10, Easy Recombination as a Zero Phase Action* +10); Ranged Recombination** (+1/2); 1 Continuing and Recoverable Charge lasting 5 Minutes (-1/4)***, Only one duplicated created at a time (-1/4)****, Linked to Teleport (-1/4 or 1/2)***** * Easy Recombination is to model a duplicate disappearing at the end of 5 minutes. The disappearing is really just recombining instantly) ** Ranged Recombination is to recombine/disappear at the end of 5 minutes. *** Slightly cheaper than the O END and Persistant base Duplication as it is only slightly less effective **** Special effect, but I'm not sure whether it should be -1/2. It is quite limiting given that all 4 duplicates would be created with the basic power. ***** Activated whenever the Teleport power is used. Also means that the Duplicates can all be identical with the Teleport power. They won't have the Duplication power that is linked to Teleport. I think that models the power pretty well as long as the oldest duplicate is recombined when the linked power is used when teleporting and 4 duplicates already exist. I envisage that the Teleport triggers the destruction/recombination (Zero Phase Action) of the oldest duplicate and creates the new one. This is one of the main reasons Ranged and Easy Recombination is needed.

Re: Any good Champions PBEMs? I have a Play by Bulletin Board at www.rpol.net. The game is under the Superheroes section and called Champions: Millennium City . Roleplay Online is a great resource. We have had a relatively quick posting rate for an online game and I am using the actual rules. The setting is Millennium City and the heroes are chasing a new supervillain team known as C.H.E.S.S. You can see how they are doing so far. I think there is at least one other player who frequents these boards. The characters are Standard Superheroes (350 Points) with up to 25 bonus points for a good character background.

Re: Tactics Skill One idea I had, but haven't tried yet is to play out a short combat against some foes on the battlefield. The character might charge into some enemy archers. After the combat roll against Tactics skill. The result determines how important the result of that small combat was to the overall battle. A success by 10 and winning the small combat easily might result in routing the enemy flank. Winning the small combat and a failure might result in falling for a trap that draws away your unit from the main battle. I think it would be a flexible, if ad-hoc, system that means you can focus on the character's action.

Re: Help: Sniper Syndrome I'd steer away from specifically building villains to defeat the sniper and his modus operandi. Players tend to feel victimised when that happens. I'd try multiple strategies with the player: 1. Have a quiet chat about what you expect from characters in your game. Also point out how the villains might use such an obvious MO against his character (see below). 2. Introduce a battle in an enviroment where the character cannot just move, hide and snipe. The interior of a building or a cave, or even an items they have to grab. the fight should be in the characters' favour and be entertaining. Use villains who the players will enjoying beating up on. Bulldozer would be a personal favourite. Run the fight as exciting as you can and let the player enjoy winning a fight close in. It might open their eyes to how much fun it can be. 3. Vilains should start taking advantage of his MO. The first attack might be a feint, while the stronger team waits to locate and beat up on the character. Being isolated from his teammates should make that easy. Allow the other characters to easily win their fight, but be too far away to help our sniper. Have supervillain teams always leave a team member or two spare to search and destroy. 4. Good idea about media coverage being unfavourable. Make sure it is not just superfical, but effects how scenes turn out. FOr example, the child he screams out to all and sunder, "There's Sniperboy. That's him, behimd that hedge." The enemy begin to train their weapons on aforementioned hedge. 5. I like the lower Experience Point rewards idea too. Make sure you explain before hand that it will start to happen and the reasons why. 6. His MO might start attracting rivals who work in the same manner. Laser or Mechanon might start hunting him to prove who is the best sniper. 7. Another strategy is just to encourage the player to take powers that can be used by a sniper, but are more useful. A blast with Double Knockback that he might use to knock an opponent down in front of the brick and provide a tactical advantage. An entangle could be used in the same way.