BcAugust

Re: Adonis and his ladies (New Mastermind and henchwomen)

Re: Adonis and his ladies (New Mastermind and henchwomen) Well, as a female myself, I'm actually fairly comfortable with this character. Even with the pheromones. At the very least, it's not open mind control, and his psych lims and play suggestions make him much more tolerable then, say, Telios. Heck, he would have been a great villian for the Street Level Nox's game.

Re: WWYCD: Only So Many Shopping Days Till Christmas Crown Princess Cyrande doesn't celebrate the holiday, but if invited to participate would make her gifts herself, including new outfits for Starguard and Microman, likely jeweled boxes for Warp and the Warmaster, and something...special, for Horus. Artemis doesn't celebrate(living thousands of years before Christ), but for Solstice she just likes to spend time with her friends, and may give Hermes and Quetz some stone carvings she's done. Nox celebrates the holiday, and for her current team, well... Daedalus would likely get some of the newest manga that she thinks he might like, and she'd ask one of her tech friends for advice on a gift for him. Striker would likely get a metal bracelet, that holds a spell for one night of fully peaceful dreams, and Exemplar would get a plant from her garden that she raised herself.

Re: Twist off the WWYCD Out of my current games... Artemis would likely pick up more armor, and likely strength and willpower, plus a couple more points in skills. Nox, if disallowed from her big purchase, would likely up her weapon damage, finally buy a companion creature, and raise her skills...or maybe reputation. Zepher would up her skills and her Superspeed. And maybe her defense.

Re: Is your character religious? Cyrande: Hardcore atheist. Then again, given she's from Malva, finding out there's a god would likely involve her trying to hurt him. Nox: Was a semi-devout Catholic, is currently trying to put her views in order after becoming what might be a goddess herself and being best friends with a member of the Japanese Pantheon. Artemis: In her culture, is considered a goddess. She doesn't really observe any religious beliefs, though. As for others, I've had a UU minister in a vampire game, one believer in the Celtic gods, and several that just didn't have it come up in games.

Re: When Do Your Characters Know When The S**T Has Well And Truly Hit The Fan? *coughs* In Ancient Aberrant, it's when Artemis gets knocked out of the fight, though that's only happened once(Main brick... and Healer for the rest). Hasn't happened in Vanguard yet, though.

Re: WWYCD: The New Recruit. . . Actually, all of my characters follow the law to some(Cyrande is a bizzare case, as she had diplomatic immunity, but followed her own planet's law) extent, or live in superhero universes where superheroes are covered under the law. In fact, my current high level character, Nox, started out as a Public ID superhero and worked for the city government of Chicago, and currently has recognition as a hero in a fair amount of the countries on Earth. Heck, the starting premise even states he was legally cleared for his shootings. But really, if you don't think mentally torturing someone "worse then death" for even thinking about killing isn't worse then shooting someone when it's a choice between them or innocent lives, I don't know what to say.

Re: WWYCD: The Nightmare on Hero Street Cyrande would be in trouble. deep trouble. Thankfully, the rest would likely wake her up before there was too much damage. Then again, her normal dreams would probably give this guy too much information. Nox.... would be tracking this guy down and trashing him. Then again, she's a mage and no longer sleeps. Artemis...Huh. I'm not sure.

Re: What if: Japan won World War 2? Only way? Ah, but it isn't. Take one little timeline change well before that, in 1421, leads to China colonizing part of the west Coast. Then, a bit after that, China goes isolationist again, the colonists, hoping for support, send the ships to Japan, who agree to help if the colonists swear loyalty to Japan. As time goes on, the various changes(For example, the Japanese gun factories in the 1500s move to the new world, presenting the Europeans with an impossible target when they get that far.) There, the Japanese control the west coast and likely Alaska and BC as well, and the Eastern US still exists, as does likely a Spanish Mexico. Then again, that might be a bit too exotic for what you want.

Re: WWYCD:The Artifact Cyrande: Hmm... that would be a complex one. If it's mystical, Horus would likely get it. If it's technological, Cyrande would likely want to work on studying it, especially since it would have to be Progenitor tech. The enemies thing is what they have to deal with anyway. Nox: Well, either her or Horus hide it away(She has her own dimension, he's got a secret hidden city) though the indestructible part would likely be in question, if they had to get rid of it. Artemis: Well, if it's her team getting it, lots of weird stuff happens as they try and deal with it, then either Xenos locks it in the closet or a time traveler manages to convince us to let it go. In the meantime, Artemis probably keeps a hold of it. (While she's easiest to trick, she's also the toughest, and can keep it inside her body, so no one can snitch it.)

Re: WWYCD: "I" in Team Hmm... Okay, I've got Cyrande(Crown Princess of Malva, Quantum manipulater), Nox (Shadow user, and not bad MA), Artemis(Shapeshifter(all animals/plants), Healer, and brick), Masquerade (Empath and shapeshifter(humanoid forms)) and Scathach (Brick, ritual mage, and good with people). (Note, this team ranges from 550-1000+ points or equalivent. Though, given the personalities, they'd be closer to Doom Patrol then the JLA) Okay, so they have a lot of coverage of the archetypes(Artemis would likely edge over into speedster). Cyrande would likely be leader( Nox has her own concerns, Artemis isn't a leader, Masquerade doesn't want to, and Scathach would happily be co-leader for Earth customs and the like) Group relations... surprisingly good. It helps that Scathach and Nox are the only natives to modern day Earth, and they've concentrated in different areas. There's only one person who's not socially adept or sensitive to the emotions of others, and she'd be happy to help, though would hope that her "family" could come find her soon. No one would kill each other, though I imagine Masq and Scathach would have a few harsh words for each other. Cyrande and Artemis would likely become friends, though that would be a weird relationship by anyone's standards.

Re: WWCYD: Lethal Force is Authorized Well, in Nox's case, it's very, very unlikely most of that has happened. (Precog for disasters, enough teleportation she can move the Earth if she wanted to, let alone evacing cities, and internment camps wouldn't last for any length of time, and is capable of moving heroes out to the ships or moving the ships away.) If it has happened, it's likely over Nox's severely injured body, and happening when she has to heal. In which case, her teammates are likely doing quite well enough on the killing the Aliens and driving them back while she is helping on Earth. When she was lower powered... again, she'd likely be helping with supply lines and rescuing people from the camps and the danger zones, which is perfectly valid wartime work.

Re: WWCYD: Lethal Force is Authorized Hmm, out of my characters... Cyrande: Given she's already tried talking to them (Crown Princess of Malva, she kind of considers Earth her playground for a bit...or at least that's what she says), she's likely been killing them once they tried attacking her. Very effectively, too. Of course, I have a hard time seeing them get this far with our team. Artemis: She's already in a war situation. Adding aliens just means it's tougher. Nox: Not only has a total CvK, but pretty much a complete mental block against killing anything with a soul. Fortunately, she's also far more use evacuating civilians and moving troops, equipment and other superheroes then a frontline fighter. Then again, there were pacifists who've served as med corps and transportation in every war, so she wouldn't feel bad about it either.

Re: Single Green Superhero seeks.... (personels for your characters) Hmm, difficult one. None of my characters would put in an ad(Artemis is happy* with her choice, Cyrande is too proud, and Nox is too busy. However, one of her teammates would put one up.) SF, 30. Likes walks in the dark, martial arts, and anything Japanese. Seeks a man who can touch the unobtainable, isn't scared of the dark, and will put up with extra dimensional adventures. ...of course, her teammate doesn't know about the insane suitors she already has. *She's basically Juliet in a Romeo and Juliet story.

Re: Character monologues Folding the paper carefully in the headland wind, looking at the old picture of her on the article, Nox smiles slightly. It figures, I wonder how long that photo's been stock in the States. Then again, I don't usually change my appearance for over there... yet. Though I could see the newsseller look at me as if he couldn't believe his eyes. Who says New Yorkers are unflappable? Scanning it, the headline the usual tabloid scaremongering. It's strange, over half my life dismissed with two sentences. Then again, I suppose that's the way I feel too, how far I am from that girl...yet knowing my strength comes from being her. At least they aren't repeating the rumors I was a villain first... or left to become one. Another smile, at the picture of her old team, then as she turns the page, she looks away, her face becoming a mask, letting the sea wind blow her hair back as she tries to compose herself. I couldn't be there. I knew there were heroes going to be there, and that there was only one facing down that cult. I had to choose, and I chose the one that stopped the dark gods from coming here. I had to fight for the greater good. Even when it cost so, so much. I remember finally smashing the alter, getting ready to go to Detroit...when the hammer blow fell. That's the only time I've cried since I changed, and I hated what I was at that moment. When the tears falling down my face changed to obsidian hitting the ground, when what I was called me to something else. But I pray those souls went to a proper rest. Shaking her head out of her introspection, then looking through again, another smile. How American. Then again, I did have a few different hero names... a few different names, period. Still, you'd think I was distinctive enough that they could say more then I disappeared until recently, when all I've been doing is fighting beyond America's shores. Though, I'll trust they'll eventually dig that up. And I think my free time is up.. Looking to the sky, then folding the paper carefully, putting it in a spare shadow pocket, then leaving, no sign she'd ever been here.

Re: WWYCD: Grrrl Power- emphasis on Grrr Hmm... Cyrande: Most wouldn't notice the difference, she still considers most humans beneath her, socially. Though Horus might end up in some...awkward... situations. Artemis: *twitchs* Okay, Bad things happen, especially as she tries to smother Hermes and Quetz under taking care of them, and goes completely into "Queen Bee" mode, after a while likely trying to track Telemachus down and trying to force him away from his path. Nox(Street level): Admittedly, part of this determines on effect. Nox is very strong willed(EGO 23), but if it still effects her. Most of the team would notice her being more aggressive generally... which means she gets knocked out and we finally go to the exorcist.(When you're possessed by an evil aggressive spirit, and your normal personality is more "Let's work together.") Then, when we finally get back... oh, that would cause a lot of trouble, and we'd have to find out what's causing the general trouble. Nox(Vanguard): This isn't effecting her. However, if it's happening in her "home" city(Tokyo), it become noticeable, fast. And a major crisis. She likely be busy looking for mystical causes, and trying to calm people down.

Re: Characters Losing Their Souls - How To Handle It? Ah, I see what you're saying. The problem is, it that this is a bad thing in the OP's world. More seriously, it's unheroic to take the situation as is. I do like the idea of gradually degrading, so that they have to go and take the soul back or something(adventure hooks are always nice), but to have no immediate effect leads to a spiraling down. Of course, if he wanted to be evil...it might be that being evil gains you energy in place of soul energy. Especially killers. So you don't degrade if you go evil. That would fit the demonic spiraling down, even for people who sold their souls for "good" reasons. And it fits with the Mephisto type of person, who'll win whatever they do, if they follow the normal script.

Re: Characters Losing Their Souls - How To Handle It?

Re: VPPs and Active Point Limits Hmm, and my very first champions character was a VPP one. It actually worked out fairly well in letting me do what I envisioned for her, and a longer time hero gamer helped me with the math while I described what I wanted. It was a pretty good introduction to the system, actually.

Re: Theory Discussion: Defense Alternative As a long time player in WW systems, which has the variable defenses listed above... eek. More seriously, even WW has left the rolled defense behind for a reason. It slows gameplay, can frustrate players on both sides of the equation, and leads to improbable results more often then fixed defenses. For instance, I once had a combat, where one player had a fourteen dice damage pool, and the npc had six soak(defense) dice. Given the above, and that the player was an elder and this was basically a step above an extra... the fight went on for 10 actions, until another player stepped in that had unsoakable damage(Basically, an NND) and put him down. It was frustrating for the player, who complains about it till this day. And this happened, to various degrees, throughout that campaign.

Re: WWYCD: Dead Enemies are no fun.

Re: WWYCD: Dead Enemies are no fun. Hmm, after thinking this over for a bit... Artemis: Elecktra's dead? Artemis wouldn't shed any tears, but she's not going to go peacefully if they try and arrest her(More likely running like hell then fighting, though.). Hopefully, her team can calm her down, and try to figure it out... though we did have someone successfully frame someone else with something close to Artemis's powers... Crown Princess Cyrande: Hmm.... tough to say. Then again, if she killed someone, it would likely be either very, very messy or untraceable. While she can't be arrested(Thank goodness for diplomatic immunity), she'd still be pissed. Though likely, whoever does it will mess up, because no one on Earth really knows her full power set. Nox: Okay, while her powerset is slightly distinctive(shadowmage), her rep as a complete respecter of life would help. On the other hand... she was known to be possessed by her old teammates, and a lot of mystics are just waiting for her to take a fall. She'd likely trust her teammates to take care of it, and allow herself to be arrested unless she got a bad feeling about it. (Honestly, she could get out of anything short of a major mystical prison or Cold Sleep, but since that shouldn't be anyone's first option for this...)

Re: Regrettable Disads

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... Got several from last night. Li, also known as a lot of other names: "It is seldom that someone manages to shame both my heritages, but between your ancestry and your affiliation, you manage." *bang* Later on, talking to the ship captain(another PC): Chief Brewer:"And PUT THAT DAMN THING AWAY. Waving a gun at somebody you're not going to shoot is amateur crap." Referring to telling a guard they'd guard the artifacts so he can go report a kidnapping. Li:*dryly* "Isn't it unprofessorial to lie?" Doctor Drake:"I didn't lie. I made a guess as to what we'll be doing. Of course, if you come with an alternate course of action then it's not my fault."

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... I quoted you guys the last couple of times, you just didn't say anything last game that stuck in my head. If you feel like posting some from our superhero game, feel free. I don't do it because you are the gamemaster for it.