BcAugust

Re: WWYCD? Quantum Leap moment Princess Cyrande- Ouch. She not only has no idea how to fight with a gun, but she doesn't have any military leadership skills. Would try and keep her people safe, but would be very, very confused, and likely quickly dead. Nox- Well, she at least knows what's going on, but given she's a complete pacifist... Would try and keep her people alive, and break down completely when she gets home.

Re: old player & fan of Champions Hmm. Well, I've seen a Champion Group post up here in Anchorage. I'm actually not part of a face to face group, yet. But there are several Champions groups up here. Oh, and WB. I'm a newbie myself, but can see why you're glad to get back.

Re: Schmucks? You know, I've gotten to the point where I have to respond. First, some background. I've been playing for only a few months, just recently having gotten a second(350) character, in a city defenders campaign. My other one (Crown Princess Cyrande of Malva) is a New Sentinels member, built on 750. Ok, just to clear up some things, let me say I personally don't care what point total what any of my characters come up to. I'd rather not even bother doing a lot of the mechanics tricks and all that to try and make my character the absolute most effective she could be. Luckly, I don't have to. As far as I'm concerned, more points just means I can build my character to fit my vision of her better, not "Improve her combat capabilities". I'm starting to wonder about some of you. Yeah, I "waste" points. But guess what, it lets my character be a character. On three fifty, Nox isn't as "effective" as you guys think you can make her. But I like her just fine. She doesn't need to be a strong, she's a starting character. She'll grow, and having skills in other areas just makes her interesting. Oh, and on the whole "I want to see effective 350 writeups" ... How is that not taking more control from the GM's hands? Honestly, the writeups are meant so that if the GM wants something more effective, they can approve or disapprove it. And it's much harder for a GM, especially an inexperienced one, to say no to official builds.

Re: Cosmic Level Gaming (e.g. Authority) Strange, I've ran and played a couple of these games myself. And I've never had anywhere close to that experience. In fact, I've usually had players try and get through combat as quick as possible to get back to the "real" game. Though obviously, it does depend on your players, as you've said. Oh, and Jeff's high point Champions game has the logs online, if you're interested. Look for the New Sentinels thread here on the board, you might pick up some ideas there, too.

Re: Cosmic Level Gaming (e.g. Authority) Hmm, I'd actually say the oppisite. Combat becomes less and less important, and how they explore the use of power becomes more so. Also, it's interesting to see how the world around them acts toward them. If they're powerful enough to change the world, what does that mean? Think of the indirect effects of people like Superman or Captain America, and how they change lives without even seeming to try. The character's principles make a lot more difference at this level. This is a good excuse to pull up those epic level disadvantages. Also, pull up personal relationships a lot more. What would the person you love say if you were capable of moving the Earth? How do you relate to "normal people"? Do you see yourself as something different, or better? Or are you just someone with gifts, and same as anyone else?

Re: How to encourage role playing Wow, a lot of good advice. I'll just add one last piece. Description is key. React to the world around you. Prompt people to describe what's going on. If you have unusual senses, describe how they work. Don't treat your abilities as plain vanilla. Even if your character isn't saying anything, react with body language. Ask questions to liven up the room, though obviously, you'll have to pick the right time for this.

Re: WWYCD: Drug enforcer Cyrande wouldn't get involved. This is so far out of what she would deal with it's not even vaugely there. Nox, on the other hand, would be enraged. She'd patrol the area her way, looking for clues and scaring the heck out of anyone who might be involved. She might call in Diomedes if she can't find out on her own, but expect any vigilante to get beaten down and given to the cops ASAP. Nox has a huge problem dealing with killers.

Re: How to encourage role playing Well, considering I'm in a "JLA" type game at the moment, rp is pretty much all we do. I haven't even seen a conflict with my character in over 12 sessions. First suggestion, if you want to rp, is make sure you have the character for it. Sit down, and really think about your character. What are his/her interests? What do they do for a hobby? How do they really feel about their teammates? Sit down and make sure you have connections to the rest of the team. Know how other people see you. What would a police officer, a man off the street, an NPC hero or villian say about your character? Second, sit down with your teammates and find connections that you have with them. There should be no one on the team you're neutral towards. Think about the Avengers. Each of them have a view on the other characters that ranges from flat out hero worship to loathing barely contained by common goals. (To be continued)

Re: What Published CU Characters Would You Love To Have Your Character(s) Fight? Heh. Out of my characters and whom I know Cyrande: Slug (The idea of an elder worm facing an uncorrupted Malvan, who while she doesn't know of the curse, loathes and hates them for the reasons the Malvans went to war with them. Besides, what she can learn from such an encounter...) Gravitor (Just because I can imagine her reaction to facing Cyrande.) Teleios(sp?) (Simply because he'll remind her of home, and she'll be forced to face a few things about it she's been avoiding thinking about.) (This space left for more to think of) Nox: Hmm, besides Grab, if they're active? (Mainly because it would be fun. I like them, and they're the sort of people who Nox doesn't have to be all angry towards.) Foxbat (He should be fun, and besides, Nox feels a bit of sympathy towards him.)

Re: WWYCD? #126: For Whom the Bell Tolls Cyrande is... unlikely to die, but I'm sure that she'd go for a simple memorial ceremony amoung her friends, and there would be a formal, tradition laden ceremony on Malva. Nox, well she's already nearly died once. "If there's anything left of my body, just bury it somewhere. Other then that, well, I hope it's heroic enough that you can put my name up." (She's referring to the memorial to Chicago's fallen heros.)

Re: Character monologues 3 pm. It still, after all this time, feels bizzare to wake up in the middle of the day. And yet, it's right. I get up, amused, walking in what would be total darkness for anyone else but me and getting dressed, fighting down the urge to be Nox again. I suppose that's why I've never fixed the lights in here, so that no one else sees how close together my identies really are. How little being "Sherry" means to me. The only pictures are after Nox came. The team, and clippings of news stories about Nox's heroics. Even the clothes are different, and it strikes me again how little there was to keep from my old life. By the sudden glare outside my room, I notice Diomedes finally got around to fixing the light in the hallway. It can't be more then 20 watts, but it feels so much brighter. The shadows I insist that he leave are inviting, but I force myself to walk in the light. The memories are strong tonight, and I know if I shadow walk, I'll hear them again. Though I never hear what I want in them. On days like this, when wanting to be Nox is just below my skin, willing to shy from the light, I wonder. What exactly did I agree to? I turn the lights in the kitchen all the way up, noting with amusement the guys have again emptied out the fridge. I throw some of the cinnimon rolls in to bake, loving the feeling of being home, as I start preparing food for the rest. Though I note we'll stretch the budget again this week. Oh, well, at least it's starting to look like a base. Mmm.... I know I shouldn't eat so much, or so much sugar, but I enjoy the baking. I put the roast in, and groan aloud at the sound of the phone, amused at myself. "Yes, yes. No, only me. Ok, I'll be there ASAP." It takes only a few seconds to change, becoming Nox and ready to leave. The calming feeling, of hearing the darkness again, letting it respond to me, I pause just a moment to salute the only thing in the base I insist on being bright lit, the first thing we put up. Then I'm off, hoping the previous heros of Chicago know we're looking after the city.

Re: WWYCD #123? (No one is acting their 'age') Well, Cyrande's current "costume" is certainly age appropriate for all games, including any Golden Age game that has a WW analouge. Of course, the varying questions would be "Ok, why are you dressed so simply?" rather then "Why are you wearing that?" Though it would probably be worse to have her costume change... Anyway, for Golden Age. Cyrande shakes her head, accepting Horus's hand to get up, wondering idly why her healing wakeup felt like golden light, then looking shocked as Starguard, glowing white with energy wings, finishes off the foe. Quietly, she reaches for mental contact with her AI and goes a bit into shock as he's not there. Looking around, she sees the rest of the team cleaning up, looking bizzare, especially Micro. And why is the EM spectrum so clean? She takes some time, confused that she's understanding English now and with no computers, takes a few weeks to try and figure out what's going on, with the GA team wondering why she's turned so cold. Finding out she's still a princess who warned Earth about a Malvan invasion that they threw back sends her into a bit of shock, as is the seeming reversal of Horus and Starguard. She ponders staying, then goes to the rest of the team and asks to be sent home. Staying here would be shirking her duties. She might also try and "jump" the tech level a bit, to compinsate.

Re: Sharing the Wealth (Nods to Enforcer84) *blinks* Nice. I'm halfway dreading/anticipating meeting this team, but I love the writeups so far. I love that the alien martial's world's true worth is their agrocultural techniques. It makes it seem more of a whole body art. And the ones against tools make me wonder at their medical care... All in all, a nice grouping, though I wonder how often they work together. It seems to me that this would be a specially designed team, rather then a normal grouping.

Re: WWYCD #122 (or so): Strange Visitor True. And don't forget, if Cyrande is asking him to stay, then she technically doesn't need to have any use for him at all. Nice thing about being princess. Malva is a very nice place if you don't have any responsiblities. Also, if need be, she could send him to Earth, which is far nicer.

Re: WWYCD #124 or so:Peace on Earth ... Well, Cyrande doesn't have many personal arch enemies. Most of her hunteds are races. However, I can imagine... "Father, why are you here?" She hugs him dutifully, falling back into her perfect Malvan Princess mode. They talk, and she tries gently to discourage him from taking an interest in in Earth, as he tries to draw her out and get her to relax a bit and have some fun, especially with Firewing. She'll try not to mention the Sentinels, and give an impression she's just been whiling away her days in ease.

Re: WWYCD #123? (No one is acting their 'age')

Re: WWYCD #123? (No one is acting their 'age') Hmm, well, likely in an Iron Age scenario, full on, Millar Authority style, Cyrande is a happily mindraped first wife of the Divine Horus, kept happy to keep her from ordering Earth destroyed and married to Horus not only for a pet, but to give him a chance to claim Malva in the future. Cyrande staggers to her feet, looking around and wondering what hit her. The world looks different, the shiny walls of Millienem City cold around her, the electrical signals off. Cyrande reaches for Aemoth (AI friend and follower), whose shocked and then delighted to have his old mistress back. In the meantime, Horus and the Warmaster have realized Cyrande has dissappeared from her rooms. Cyrande gets warned in time to put the equalivent of a psychic power disrupter sheild over the City as Warmaster locks on. It then turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse throughout the city, which probably ends with Warmaster down(maybe dying, Cyrande doesn't hold back and her powers could prove very deadly to him), Horus and Warp barely singed, and Cyrande captured. Which would be just about the time for the "real" New Sentinels to show up... Of course, if Cyrande got dropped in the real Mirror Sentinels Universe (Yes, of course we've already written out our evil counterparts), it would go more like. Cyrande awakens slowly, wondering who's holding her like that, though she doesn't mind the touch. As she wakes up, seeing Horus mutter something under his breath and kiss her, she freezes in shock as she also sees the alternate clothed version of the Sentinels around her, Starguard drifting away after healing her and the body of a villian crumpled unto the sandstone street. "Um..." It only takes a short time before the Sentinels are convinced this isn't their Cyrande, and start helping her look for a way to switch back, all the while pumping her for information on her world's Sentinels, their Horus giving her tips on how to deal with hers romatically. Of course, the gate is opened, everything is fine and switched back. At least until the invasion starts...

Re: WWYCD #122 (or so): Strange Visitor Talion would probably not go back then, huh? Even Malva sounds better then that for him.... Hmm, well, given my group, finding out the true nature of the visitors isn't that much of a problem. (Given that Cyrande is literally one of the best trained people on her home world at reading others, Starguard has Soul Sight, Horus senses truth, and Warmaster is one of the most powerful telepaths/pychics in the world.) You know, given Merengerie's world, I think that Cyrande would understand, though she'd be very uncomfortable around them anyway. While semi technically a mutant, her powers are bioengineered into her, though they weren't what was expected....

Re: Alternate Earth #25: Mind Switch Heh. Agreed. Warp would be... very different. Much less Spiderman, more Black Panther/Tony Stark. Probably a lot more focus on his contacts and gadgets, I'd probably play him more cunning, someone who hides almost everything he's feeling behind a mask of good will. And he'd be much more likely to focus on people as how they could be of use.

Re: Alternate Earth #25: Mind Switch Well, considering I have mine in alphabetical mode, just move down one. So Mark would get Cyrande, I would get Warp, Watcher would get Starguard, Chuck would get Warmaster, reaver would get Micro, and meta would get Horus. ...Ouch.

Re: WWYCD #122 (or so): Strange Visitor Well, her true age is going to be a surprise to most of the Sentinels, actually. She tends to come across as much older, though a lot of that is trying to have protective camoflauge. Heh, and Cyrande actually wouldn't even be tempted to "steal their boyfriends". Though those sort of relationships would be very foreign to her, she's very good at picking up when to stay out of something. Actually, as long as your group tries not to invade her mind, she'll be a very polite guest. Maybe wondering why she should be wary of Oden...

Re: WWYCD #122 (or so): Strange Visitor Heh, Cyrande is quite capable of disguising herself, actually. She just rarely sees a need to. And while she is/acts somewhat arrogant, she's likely to see a vacation somewhere else as a chance to let her hair down, especially if Starguard has been working on her. After all, she's just an eighteen year old girl (Admittedly, one that's killed several people, has seen enough stuff to make an angel jaded, and was raised from birth under the notion she has to rule, serve and represent a group of people that look like In Nomine demons....) Assuming that the hole takes place on Malva and the New Sentinels are there(Cyrande probably has them confined, though. In a polite way. "No, you can't kill half the people here, I'm sworn to protect them. And don't you dare give me the puppy eyes, Starguard.") Flesh Gordon- Actually, I can imagine Flesh being very popular on Malva. Cyrande would just watch to make sure he doesn't get hurt and let him go home when the time ends. Husky/Kenneth- Husky gets picked up for the arena by her father, she does her best to try and make sure Kenneth is ok and has access to what he needs, sneaking him out when he can leave. Husky probably enjoys it, and she'd try and distract Kenneth with the shiny toys. Eve- Would actually be one of the people better off. AIs have full legal rights as Malvan citizens, and Cyrande would be more then happy to introduce her to the other AIs, maybe even offering an upgrade, though she might be heard to mutter about humanitiy's wierd desire to build humaniod AIs... Menagerie Oh. Exactly the kind of person Cyrande loathes. She'd probably just step back and let her father decide, not shielding her at all. What happens after that... Let's just say it's likely to be dark.

Re: Alternate Earth #25 National Capes Cyrande would be be the star of Malva, not only their bright princess, but chooser of champions, sent to Earth to take the finest of fighters back to the arena, Malva's attention drawn by the resemblance between this world and their own gladiator fights. For some reason, the Princess and her consort, the Grand Champion, only seem to capture the worst nations champions, leaving them to the mercy of their kinder neighbors... Though I imagine the Baron might be on her list....

Re: Sharing the Wealth (Nods to Enforcer84) ... Actually, I think Cyrande would get along well with Imago. I just have this mental image of them talking fasinated to each other. Would be a much more fasinating character to meet outside of battle. Nice work. I like the personalities.

Re: Character monologues (Note, the first monologue was Cyrande at the start of the game. This one is set somewhere in the future, shortly after she's become a full fledged member of the Sentinels.) I wonder if I envy them. Starguard for her bright innocence, Micro's joy in discovering life, Horus's assurance in a higher power, Warmaster's assurance in himself, even Warp's humor, never meant to hurt. Sitting alone, watching the stars above, so different from Malva, I wonder what I feel. It seemed so clear on Malva, though poisonously so. What harm could these primitives ever do to a Princess of Malva? I never expected them to claim my heart. None of them know what a lethal wound that is, and I can not bear to tell them. How could I? A slight hint of my world turned Warp against me for too painfully long, and more would turn the rest away, surely. And the wildness of their spirits could never bloom under Malva's sun. Every one of my old protections would simply turn them against me. So I, who can order the destruction of all their enemies with a word from home, who could raise this world to a paradise if I wished, who from home could hold and order even the Sun God to my bed, do nothing but stand beside them. Cyrande looks up, seeking her home star, seeing it in her mind's eye. How my father would laugh at me, seeing this weakness of mine. How far the Ice Princess has fallen, to wish the respect of primitives. To want to be part of their circle, to be adored for my actions, to wish the ones I admire, admire me back for just being Cyrande, not the princess. And yet, they do so anyway, not even knowing what they give and how preciously rare it is. Cyrande hops down from the skin of her ship, walking back to the hanger, then looking again to the night sky over her shoulder before stepping inside. I hope they never have to learn.