Hawksmoor

Re: Infinite Crisis Neil, In this we will have to disagree. DC has often, most recently in the Batman/Superman books, shown that the city is the genre for the characters. Importantly, the Blue Devil cannot exist the way he does in Sunny California when he visits Gotham City no more than the gritty "I do what ever I must!" Batman can exist when he goes to LA. Each is altered a bit by having to conform to the surroundings. Batman becomes Batgod when he is transposed because he has to be everything he is supposed to be in Gotham but without Gotham to ground his Pluto on Earth act he comes off poorly. For me violence and the consequences of violence exploration have little attraction in what is essentially escapism. I just want to see the Kwikee Mart rebuilt I do not want to go into the personal hell the assistant manager went through as she no longer was able to support her two kids because her work was demolished. Hawksmoor

Re: Why not OCV levels? :kick: Move tumbleweed move! :kick: Stupid plant... :Goes to play CoH: Hawksmoor

Re: Damage Reduction before defenses! Likewise, I would not allow it. The concept scares me, although it is a good way to simluate Total Invulnerability. Hawksmoor

Re: Why not OCV levels? Good points LL, I just have one quible since I am such a stubborn detractor. Levels are not in an of themselves an attack. Thus the metarule does not apply in this case. I would, despite the written words (should they be found) allow a 5 point All OCV combat skill level. Hawksmoor

Re: Character for input I think the concept is sound but I, like Zed-F, think the massive VPP is a problem. I built, and run in the GGU, a electromagnetic(true Magnetic) manipulator using a VPP and EC in combination. By deciding to go with the flow of 5ER and not against it I applied a -1/2 custom limitation to both the VPP and the EC called Cascade Failure. If either the VPP or the EC is a target of a harmful adjustment power both frameworks are effected since they are both just manifestations of the same power. So VPP for attacks and big effects (Like Low Earth Orbit Magnetics) EC for Defense, Movement and minor TK (Magnetics) Hawksmoor

Re: Infinite Crisis I agree since Johns and Waid have publicly stated that they are cleaning house to get rid of all the angst the DCU is currently wallowing in. They said they want to tell different kinds of stories next year after IC is over. That said I only recently got back into comics this year and I really don't think the current "DCs slide towards the dark" is that bad. Sure I picked up three superman comics that told the same story, but the idea was to show that Superman was being manipulated.* I am going to enjoy my two or three comics per month over the year. I am not a line collector so I am not worried about missing events in comics I don't read. *and I got Ruin, Darkseid and Brainiac BONUS! Hawksmoor

Re: Metamorphosis Really? Are you certain? Where does it say that? Or is this a very good and wel reasoned assumption you have. That is fine but the power is Shape Shift and shifting to a form that is say like a fish should allow for gross physical changes that include the concept of gills. Hawksmoor

Re: Metamorphosis Which is why I think it should be a power with a substantial buy in, say 40 to 50 points, that grants a pool of 20 or so AP in abilities to represent various animalistic abilities for use when shapeshifted. The powers aren't free, you paid for them when you bought shapeshift, it is just that now form of bird includes working wings and form of fish lets you extract oxygen from water. Hawksmoor

Re: Ogre, Hand-to-Hand, Bricks Tricks & Rage IMO yes. Berserk implies lack of rational thought and reasoning. If you can't tell your friends from foes or recognize Aunty Geriatic from Lady Shiva then you can't use your most complex abilities. Smash and Blast are your tactics. Hawksmoor

Re: Ogre, Hand-to-Hand, Bricks Tricks & Rage Oh interesting... One for me the Brick Tricks levels cover everything you could do with that skill level including increasing HtH OCV. So Ogre would have a +6 OCV when using a Brick Trick (including a superpunch or great wrap up (as long as the entangle was no range)). Berserk was always played by me as the most vicous most common attack is the one that is used by the character as long as that attack was relatively simple. Thus Berserks use weapons but not VPPs set to 1 pip autofire penetrating killing attacks. They also get to use their skill levels on OCV since the mad rage makes them want to hit. Conversely they often set up for haymakers and never do anything to increase their DCV. As to making the MP less costly I"m going to think on that some more. Hawksmoor

Re: Metamorphosis Personally I have no problem with a shapeshift power being built as a mini VPP/Multiform mechanic *in the ruleset* as opposed to the current Shapeshift/images build. I normally just use the rules out of the book, but all those other game systems out there have nuggets of wisdom too. I think that the cost of the power should give you something more than just the "form of xxx". Form of a Bord lets you fly, or Form of a Great White Shark lets you swim and deliver a nasty bite [plus that altered breathing LS ]. As long as the cost of Shapeshift is a large enough buy in I can accept certain lowpower (20-30 AP) effects coming along for free to represent the new and altered state. Conversely, straight Multiform is too expensive to build a Beast Boy or Mystique, A VPP of unlimited Multiforms is too unusual for my taste and screams STOP sign at me especially if a 5 pocket folio is required to represent the current known forms the beastboy can assume. At best the character's shape is an SFX for a new set of powers. Hawksmoor

Re: Request for a write up: Deathstroke the Terminator Unless of course Lady Shiva thinks that the kids "Body Reading" ability is more akin to a superpower (which it is) and thus removing it from play is a truer test of the Batgirl's ability. I would agree though in general Lady Shiva is an honorable villian, she'll kill you but she won't assassinate you. Classic Gunfighter Mentality Disadvantage Hawksmoor

Re: Hero System: Anime VPP 100 pt Pool Control Cost limtations include limited Subset of Powers (Only those that he has "Captured" and Foci. Obviously Advantages as to pool change and time required are necessary for the build as well. Expensive character but worth it. Hawksmoor

Re: Metamorphosis I prefer the actual changing of shape... the other way is interesting but the special situations where it would be used should really just have remained the Images power. Hawksmoor

Re: Handling interpersonal skills hmm interesting. So would you make characters pay points as in the resistance Perk on a 1 for 2 points of effect for this? 5 CPs buys 10points of Intellectual which counters Bluffing? We're going to need bigger characters if the rules for Interaction are fully fleshed out. Hawksmoor

Re: Handling interpersonal skills Wear Down = Resistance Stat is EGO Interrogate = Resistance Stat is STR Bluff = Resistance Stat is INT Something like that? And use a variant of the EGO effect and PRE effect rules for adjuducation? Hawksmoor

Re: Request for a write up: Deathstroke the Terminator I agree with everything Powerhouse has said about my favorite merc. He is designed as a team beater, that said he only really seems to shine when he is faced with a team. Nightwing, the DCUs finest natural athlete, is hard pressed to keep up with him and never really wins. All stats should be squarely in the Superhuman Mini-brick/Speedster range for your campaign. Thus Sketchpad's build is fine for Skills IMHO but is sorely lacking in the Characteristics department. As an aside I am glad they depowered Batgirl a bit. Cool concept but the whole teenage girl greatest warrior ever was overdone by Joss Whedon years ago. Besides Batman is a master warrior who uses that cape as a distraction/concealment to prevent people from reading too much into his body language. Ergo the kid looses, she is also beaten by King Snake in his favored venue because she should fail to see him act. Next time BG faces Lady Shiva you just know she is going to Bloodsport the girl by slapping some ninja powder in her eyes. Hawksmoor

Re: Handling interpersonal skills Too extreme an example in some instances and in others dead on. A 33 PRE is a power! Just like a 33 INT would be. Thus it allows for some pretty extreme things to happen. Now in your scenario MT would get a Psych Lim boost to help her not act that way. Will Never Kill (Common Total) is worth 20 points, those 20 points can sometimes work as a defense for your character. OTOH if Sidious was using his PRE and Seduction to convince MT to allow him to take some beggars off her hands and bring them to a nice factory in a far province to work on the death *ahme* I mean shoes. They will make shoes. Mother Teresa not only hands over the kids but is actively recruiting them for Sidious until evidence is brought to her attention about the abyssimal conditions of the people working in the Death *ahem* shoe factory. Hawksmoor

Re: Naked Modifier Cost. How does this work, and does it make sense? The naked modifier is not actually buying the DEX. It is only buying the Advantage on DEX already purchased. No in this case the character *should* not by a naked modifier and should instead buy DEX as a power with the appropriate modifiers. Hawksmoor

Re: Handling interpersonal skills 16 year old boy??? Playing hard to get? What world is this. To quite Xander Harris boys think of sex when they see linoleum. Hawksmoor

Re: Handling interpersonal skills I always use skills against the PCs. Bluffing, Lying, Seducing what have you. I do some RPing and perhaps a roll or three and tell the Protagonist in no uncertain terms that the roll was successful or not (I have even intimated classic fumbles) and that the Player should Roleplay appropriately. If they do not then the standard roleplaying award is forfeit. After all the character was not roleplayed well if Enchantadora was rebuffed by Phil's aforementioned Stone the Unfeeling Man-type PC. Hawksmoor

Re: Draining FF too expensive? This is why I use the following mantra with adjustment powers: Everyone has Characteristics so you have to define the Characteristics you effect rigidly. Not Everyone has Powers so you have to define the Special Effects your power effects Rigidly. Thus no DRAIN Energy Blast is allowable. Only Drain Light-Based Powers FOREX. You can only effect them one at a time and can advantage to get higher applicability. The key is the SFX targetted. But Drain STR is allowable and allows you ton Drain Defender's and Ironclad's STR equally without regard to SFX because everyone has Characteristics. Hawksmoor

Re: Hyper Intelligence How about this guy? Also in the GGU, but he is unaudited and thus not on the website yet. THE HERMIT Val Char Cost Roll Notes 20 STR 10 13- Lift 400.0kg; 4d6; [2] 23 DEX 39 14- OCV 8 DCV 8 20 CON 20 13- 19 BODY 18 13- 45 INT 35 18- PER Roll 18- 26 EGO 32 14- ECV: 9 20 PRE 10 13- PRE Attack: 4d6 14 COM 2 12- 8/23 PD 4 Total: 8/23 PD (0/15 rPD) 8/25 ED 4 Total: 8/25 ED (0/17 rED) 5 SPD 17 Phases: 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 12 REC 8 50 END 5 45 STUN 6 Total Characteristic Cost: 210 Movement: Running: 9" / 18" Swimming: 5" / 10" Leaping: 4" / 8" Cost Powers END Martial Arts: Maneuver OCV DCV Notes 4 3) Choke Hold -2 +0 Grab One Limb; 4d6 NND 4 4) Counterstrike +2 +2 10d6 / 6d6 Strike, Must Follow Block 5 5) Defensive Block +1 +3 Block, Abort 5 6) Defensive Strike +1 +3 8d6 / 4d6 Strike 5 7) Disarming Throw +0 +0 Grab Weapon, 45 STR / 25 STR to take weapon away; Target Falls 5 8) Grappling Block +1 +1 Grab One Limb, Block 3 9) Grappling Throw +0 +2 10d6 / 6d6 Strike; Target Falls; Must Follow Grab 4 10) Killing Strike -2 +0 HKA 2 1/2d6 / HKA 1d6 +1 4 11) Martial Escape +0 +0 55 STR / 35 STR vs. Grabs 4 12) Nerve Strike -1 +1 4d6 NND 3 13) Takedown +1 +1 8d6 / 4d6 Strike; Target Falls I've studied you 16 1) +4 HTH Damage Class(es) 1 2) Weapon Element: Staffs 105 TAROT Equipment: Variable Power Pool (Gadget), 70 base + 35 control cost, No Skill Roll Required (+1) (140 Active Points); VPP Powers Can Be Changed Only In Given Circumstance (Only at TAROT Armory; -1/2); all slots OIF (-1/2) 0 1) TAROT Blaster: EB 10d6, 4 clips of 12 Boostable Charges (+1/4) (62 Active Points); OAF (-1) Real Cost: 31 [12 bc] 0 2) Concealed Mesh Armor: Armor (6 PD/8 ED) (21 Active Points); IIF (-1/4) Real Cost: 17 0 81 Body of Knowledge Interpersonal Effects: Multipower, 81-point reserve 5u 1) The Perfect Strike I: EB 5d6, Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/4), NND ([standard]; Combat Luck or Luck Powers; +1), Does BODY (+1) (81 Active Points); No Range (-1/2) 3 5u 2) The Perfect Strike II: HKA 1 1/2d6, Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/4), NND ([standard]; Combat Luck or Luck Powers; +1), Does BODY (+1) (81 Active Points); No STR Bonus (-1/2) 3 3u 3) Break: Dispel Hand to Hand Attack 15d6 (45 Active Points); No Range (-1/2) 4 6u 4) Nerve Blow: Entangle 4d6, 4 DEF, Cannot Be Escaped With Teleportation (+1/4), Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/4), Takes No Damage From Attacks All Attacks (+1/2) (80 Active Points); Cannot Form Barriers (-1/4) 3 2u 5) Dance of Combat: +6 with DCV (30 Active Points); Costs Endurance (Only Costs END to Activate; -1/4) 3 Organic Tactical Supercomputer 88 1) Advanced Battle Planning: +2 with All Combat, Variable Targets (+1/4), Ranged (+1/2), Uncontrolled (+1/2), Indirect (Any origin, any direction; +3/4), Increased Maximum Range (225,000"; +1), Usable Simultaneously (up to 32 people at once; +1 1/2) (88 Active Points) 24 2) Assimilation of Knowledge: Precognitive, Retrocognitive Clairsentience (Sight Group), +2 to PER Roll, Discriminatory, Increased Arc Of Perception (360 Degrees), Telescopic (+10 versus Range Modifier) (77 Active Points); Precognition/Retrocognition Only (-1), Extra Time (Extra Segment, Character May Take No Other Actions, -3/4), Requires A Skill Roll (Deduction; -1/2) 8 90 3) Acute Deduction: Telepathy 15d6, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (112 Active Points); Does Not Provide Mental Awareness (-1/4) 0 45 4) Through Careful Study Victory Is Assured : Find Weakness 14- with All Attacks 0 60 5) Doom: Change Environment 1" radius, -3 OCV, Long-Lasting 1 Week, Costs END Only To Activate (+1/4), Selective Target (+1/2), Uncontrolled (+1/2) (90 Active Points); Requires A Skill Roll (Deduction; -1/2) 8 8 Suitably Anonymous: Lack Of Weakness (-8) for Normal Defense 0 4 Suitably Anonymous: Lack Of Weakness (-4) for Resistant Defenses 0 23 LS (Eating: Character only has to eat once per week; Extended Breathing: 1 END per 5 Minutes; Immunity: All terrestrial diseases and biowarfare agents; Longevity: 800 Years; Safe in Intense Cold; Safe in Intense Heat; Sleeping: Character only has to sleep 8 hours per year) 0 25 Diciplined Mind: Mental Defense (30 points total) 0 6 Trained Athlete: Running +3" (9" total) 1 3 Trained Athlete: Swimming +3" (5" total) 1 Perks 8 TAROT Greater Arcana: Membership 9 Computer Link (Global Guardians Computer Usenet) 7 Computer Link (INTERPOL) 7 Computer Link (TAROT Nodes) 8 Computer Link (US Federal Government) 6 Computer Link (Russian Federation) 60 Followers: Hermit's Array [16 TAROT agents] 15 Money: Filthy Rich 3 Reputation: Man that knows everything (A small to medium sized group) 14-, +3/+3d6 Talents 3 Absolute Time Sense 3 Bump Of Direction 18 Combat Luck (9 PD/9 ED) 17 Combat Sense (Sense) 18- 5 Eidetic Memory 3 Lightning Calculator 3 Lightsleep 5 Rapid Healing 3 Simulate Death 6 Speed Reading (x100) Skills 9 +3 with Martial Maneuvers 24 +3 with All Combat 20 +2 Overall 3 Systems Operation 18- 3 Analyze: Agility Skills 18- 11 Analyze: Combat 22- 3 Analyze: Style 18- 3 Breakfall 14- 10 Defense Maneuver I-IV 3 Computer Programming 18- 3 Conversation 13- 5 Cramming 5 Cramming 5 Cramming 5 Cramming 3 Criminology 18- 3 Cryptography 18- 15 Deduction 24- 3 Electronics 18- 5 Forensic Medicine 19- 11 High Society 17- 3 Interrogation 13- 3 Linguist 3 1) Language: Albanian (idiomatic) (4 Active Points) 3 2) Language: Arabic (idiomatic) (4 Active Points) 1 3) Language: Basque (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points) 1 4) Language: Byelorussian (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points) 3 5) Language: Czechoslovakian (idiomatic) (4 Active Points) 3 6) Language: Danish (idiomatic) (4 Active Points) 3 7) Language: English (idiomatic) (4 Active Points) 3 8) Language: French (idiomatic) (4 Active Points) 3 9) Language: German (idiomatic) (4 Active Points) 3 10) Language: Greek (idiomatic) (4 Active Points) 1 11) Language: Hebrew (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points) 2 12) Language: Italian (completely fluent) (3 Active Points) 2 13) Language: Japanese (completely fluent) (3 Active Points) 3 14) Language: Latin (idiomatic) (4 Active Points) 3 15) Language: Russian (idiomatic) (4 Active Points) 3 16) Language: Spanish (idiomatic) (4 Active Points) 3 Navigation (Land, Marine) 18- 7 Persuasion 15- 3 Security Systems 18- 11 Tactics 22- 5 Teamwork 15- 28 Universal Scholar 18- 23 Universal Scientist 14- 16 WF: Beam Weapons, Common Martial Arts Melee Weapons, Common Melee Weapons, Early Firearms, Emplaced Weapons, Siege Engines, Small Arms, General Purpose/Heavy Machine Guns, Grenade Launchers Total Powers & Skill Cost: 1129 Total Cost: 1339 1214+ Disadvantages 10 Enraged: When his carefully constructed plans are thwarted (Uncommon), go 8-, recover 11- 20 Hunted: INTERPOL 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Harshly Punish) 25 Hunted: TAROT 14- (Mo Pow, NCI, PC has a Public ID or is otherwise very easy to find, Watching) 20 Psychological Limitation: Arrogant and Overconfident (Very Common, Strong) 20 Psychological Limitation: Amoral (Very Common, Strong) 15 Psychological Limitation: Bigmouth (always making predictions on the actions of others) (Very Common, Moderate) 15 Social Limitation: Secret Identity (Nicholas Nys) (Frequently, Major) 0 Experience Points Total Disadvantage Points: 1339 Background/History: Eight across they strode southward on the road from Antwerp. Leather boots soled with wood and hobbed with iron made a rhythmic 'crump crump crump crump' as the army marched south. Smatterings of dust flew here and there, but the dirt on the road was hard packed and rain had firmed it only a week ago. All were Hanoverian, proud men, and nearly all of military heritage. Eyes forward, efficient stepping, and no signs of chatter. While buttons shimmered in the sun, the white pack sashes had taken on a slightly less than pure white hue - the only sign that they were on an actual field expedition rather than a training exercise near a barracks.dark blue uniforms, tall hats of the same color with small plumes, and the disposition of the men made it easy for Nicolaas Nys to determine that this was the King's German Legion. A brief check on the banner carried confirmed it - the Union Jack with the crown and the circlet as well as words too small to see from this distance. He smiled smugly to himself with this confirmation. He was rarely wrong. After they passed three line battalions in column, they passed two formations of dragoons, then more line battalions, five batteries of artillery, two light infantry battalions, and the hussars.was then that the Captain Edward Bryant signalled for his company to slow from a canter to a walk. The man to the right of Nicolaas, rode nearly adjacent to him, pulling a second set of reins to force the hermit's horse to slow with the rest. But, Nicolaas was prepared for this. He had known it would happen as soon as he saw the banner flying above the next formation ahead, the personal banner of Arthur Wellesley also known as the Duke of Wellington.began to flow through the head of Nicolaas Nys. 'Old Hookey' he was known to the other Brits of his stature, or 'Our Atty' he was fondly called by his men. Had it been peacetime, they would just as soon preferred he return to India where he had learned his craft. But not a single man bearing a musket, riding a horse, or working the cannons would have wanted any other general to guide them through the war. Nicolaas smiled, they would soon find out whether 'Our Atty' was the match for the wily Corsican Emperor of France.trio of men from the Duke's headquarters brought their own horses to a trot ahead of the rest. The bannerman on the right stared at Nicolaas, but was otherwise silent. The adjutant on the left - deadly looking and with his hand on his saber - continued his conversation with the man in the middle. That one did not seem to look at the hermit, but nonetheless, Nys knew that the man studied him. The man in the middle smiled and spoke aloud to the Light Dragoon Captain, "Lucky Eddie, well, well, well. What have you caught here? A spy dressed as a pauper?" "I think 'tis something of the sort, Atty. But a spy for no one but himself." Captain Bryant replied. "He is a curiosity. As knowledgeable as a general or a statesman, but given over only to his own ability to predict the most likely outcome of an event. He claims that as we are proceeding, we will lose the upcoming battle at a place called Le Haye Sainte and the enemy will have time to re-consolidate his holdings. Then it would be three more years until a new alliance will assault Paris itself in a bloody seige to finally defeat the Little Emperor."Duke of Wellington had other matters to attend to, but none urgent and the march south was becoming a bit tiresome now. There WAS something about this bedraggled man dressed in simple wool clothing that spoke of either intelligence, knowledge, or both. The general turned to Nicolaas Nys, "And how so, pray tell?" "Napoleon has been getting the better of you and General Blucher. As I am sure you know, he has the smaller force by far, but his men have great Esprit de Corps even after his exile to Elba. They move together and strike quickly, turning first to your army then to the Prussian army looking to engage each separately at better odds. Even now, I am certain that he is engaging Blucher at Ligny to the east. The Prussians will lose. Blucher is an able general, but the Little Emperor is the best the world has seen. Yet, Blucher is able enough to disengage from the French and join up with you. The numbers then will favor the Allies, but the Prussian army will join yours in disarray and will be pursued by one of Napoleon's marshalls while Napoleon sets the rest of his army to an orderly confrontation with the British Army. The Prussians will be more a liability, then, than an asset. For their disarray will affect your own army. In disarray, your army, even the Scots Greys, the German Legion, and the Guard will be overrun by the French Imperial Guard." "All you say, makes a sense -" started Wellington, but he was interrupted by the hermit. "Makes sense! Nay! It is the truth and I predict it," shouted Nys. "I have factored in the mentality of the generals, the troop strength, the troop morale... everything. Even the weather! Why did you know that it will rain the night before the engagement - look at how the clouds blow and their shapes and altitudes, then consider that this is mid-June. It is obvious! And your troops will be confident that the French won't attack up a boggy slope. So, too, don't forget the French artillery - and the Corsican was an artilleryman before he became a general. He will win soundly then march back to Paris. Those Frenchmen whose hearts turned from him when he was sent to exile will regain there nationalistic pride. They won't be defeated easily after that, despite the numbers. It shall be because I make my prediction based on facts and logic. It is not supposition, it is prediction!" "Enough!" Shouted Captain Bryant. He turned his horse into the one carrying Nicolaas Nys, the firm bump jostling the man. "One does not shout at a general of the British Army. Especially one such as you."Duke seemed to ignore the outburst and the reprimand and simply asked, "very well then. I suppose that with your degree of intelligence and knowledge, you have already determined a way then."then, Nicolaas Nys seemed to have instantly forgotten Lucky Eddie. He smiled and said, lecturing, "sure, it is obvious, isn't it? Blucher must have time to reorganize at least a portion of his army. He must join his army with yours and at the same time have his army pursued by Marshal Grouchy away from the next engagement. Do you see? Part of Blucher's army must continue north in disarray. A small part, but a fast part and a part that can make Grouchy believe that he is pursuing the entire thing. I am sure that had Napoleon not left Marshal Davout in Paris, this would not work, but he will pick Grouchy and it will." "Interesting man, you've found, Lucky Eddie," Wellington said as he nodded slightly. "Tell me how that happened." "I was taking my company to water their horses at a stream and nearly stumbled upon him. It seemed that he was attempting to hide from us and at the same time was trying to observe us. As I dismounted, my horse went into a frenzy for no known reason and bucked. No one was hurt, but he kicked up a tremendous cloud of gravel and dust. It was then that I heard a sneeze. 'Twas pure blind luck." Captain Bryant replied.Wellesly chuckled. Pure blind luck. Well, that was why he had Captain 'Lucky Eddie' Bryant patroling. He had a knack for such things. "Ah, well, he is a valuable find, Eddie. You hold onto him until I figure out what to do with him. Be sure that he does not escape; especially prior to the upcoming engagement. And for now, I need a trio of your fastest riders. They are to take a message to Gebhard von Blucher." week later "Mr. Nicolaas Nys?" Inquired a deep voice that belonged to a rotund man dressed like a courtier. Nicolaas did not recognize him so the man must not be of large import. He did recognize, however, a small signet on a ring that marked him as being a senior person of a certain major British company. "What does Lloyd's of London want from me?" Nys replied. "Ahh, so you don't really know everything then." The man replied and continued before Nys could, "I am Hugh Jennings, a member of the Board of Lloyds, but it is not in that capacity that I come. I and my superiors do have enough influence to have sent Captain Bryant away on an errand, and we would like to determine whether you will have a place in our organization." "This would be Tarot, then?" replied Nys, as he watched the expression on change to one of astonishment bordered on fear.took a few seconds, but Jennings's composure reappeared and he stammered, "y-yes. And we would like you to not have to worry about worldly things so that you might more freely pursue your quest of knowledge..." Personality/Motivation: Nicolaas Nys is both very smart and very knowledgeable. And he knows it. Furthermore, he won't let anyone else forget about it. He is often making predictions and delights when they come true, which usually happens. When they don't happen, he will often blame someone else's dumb luck. When he is wrong in a big way, he sometimes goes into seclusion until the Emperor or one of the few other Tarot members that he respects comes seeking his services again.of his vast array of knowledge and his sound logic, his role in Tarot is to do the Hunting. He enjoys this because in doing so, he is pitting his brain against the powers of the most powerful beings in the world. His missions will always involve either a death trap or be assisted by at least one other of Tarot's Major Arcana. He has a team of Tarot Agents working full time on his missions. Quote: "Yes, I already know that." Powers/Tactics: The Hermit possesses on of the most formidible intellects on the planet. In particular the Hermit is able to create elaborate strategies based on the psychology and history of the parties involved. His high intelligence does not however lend to him the abilty to invent or construct new gadgets or technologies. it does however grant him nearly encyclopedic knowledge of everything. He peels away the subtlies in person in the merest meeting: instantly knowing more about the person than they could ever suspect. his long life, Nicloas Nys is a metahuman of unknown origin, he has applied his intellect to deciphering the human physique. He understands the limts of the human body and its potentials for durability and damage. Accordingly he can unleash devastating blows or render himself untouchable to mundane attacks. as the Hunter of Tarot the Hermit has access to vast resources. He often prepares the area of his assaults with concealed weapons, traps and other surprises. In general the Hermit should have whatever *plot device* technology he needs to complete a mission; be it troops, vehicles or weapons. As a peerless planner, the Hermit always has a back up plan should his carefully constructed plans fall through; as a result he has never been apprehended. Campaign Use: Real Name: Nicolaas Nys: Tarot: Mentalist: Belgian/Eye Color: Light Brown/Amberof Birth: Antwerp, Belgium/Mass: 1.65 meters/52.2 kilogramsof Birth: January 20, 1780 Appearance: For the most part, The Hermit doesn't worry about his appearance. Although he no longer wears overworn homespuns, Nicolaas Nys still prefers to dress simply. In this day and age, that means a T-shirt (always one that touts his intelligence or knowledge) and jeans that appear stone-washed. For cold weather, he will also include a flannel long sleeved shirt and a long coat. He will never appear clean-shaven and his hair always seems uncombed. This is his 'uniform' since he works for Tarot full time.

Re: Help me build a shrinkable lab Personally I would not build it like Dr. A suggests at all. You can build Labs all sorts of ways, either as actual skills purchased by a Base/Vehicle or as FOCI for Skill Levels. I would build the lab as Skill Levels UBO, the walls and all that are SFX. Since the lab is techically really really small though EDM is the route to go since your character and others that he invites along are not readily accessable. Thus Skill Levels UBO linked to EDM: NanoLab (Accessed by 75AP Shrinking or EDM only) Hawksmoor

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... This is a bit of a cumbersome quote and more a micro synopsis of my F2F game. Anyway the game world is essentially an amalgam of DC and the CU, where in agencies like VIPER and other villians fill the roles of my badguys liberally seasoned with existing DCU villians like the pre-deceased Parasite and Lex Luthor My wife plays Minerva, an exiled New God from Apokalips and possibly Granny Goodness's own daughter via Steppenwolf which makes her Darksied's cousin. I like complicated histories in my games. Minerva is a genius with astounding medical knowledge who operates as a surgeon in her other, now public identity. While she was doing some pro bono work for the New Hampshire prison system , she was asked to take personal charge of the care the recently incarcerated Charger of the Ultimates. For those of you that do not have the 4E edition, (Super)Charger was shot in the heart forcing Mastermind to replace his heart with an articficial one. As a result of putting Charger in suspeneded animation prior to and during the risky surgury Charger is now really cold and requires a coolant suit or he dies. Long story short Minerva cures Charger of his hypothermic condition and replaced the artificial heart Mastermind gave him with a better one more suited to his metahuman physiology. Mastermind, meanwhile, attacks the prison during the operation requiring Minerva to fend off the diversion assault of another villian. Back at the operating room Mastermind and the other Ultimates grab Charger and steal Minerva's notes and things from her lab. When Minerva returns they capture her too. Using the Starbird the Ultimates make their way across country to their New Mexico base in the painted desert. Minerva completes the surgury and is now Mastermind's captive. Strangely the slightly deranged Mastermind likes her presense since she is almost able to speak to him on his advanced level. Soon, Minerva is made aware that Mastermind was altered via mental contact with the Plasmoid Entity. Contact that Minerva is certain will kill the Mastermind unless something is done to either stop the rewiring of his brain or alter his brain so that it is strong enough to withstand the strain. Her devotion to duty mean that although the rest of Black Rain come to rescue her she stays on so she can treat Mastermind. Good Roleplaying! Mastermind goes with the plan to alter his brain on a fundamental biological level to withstand the stress. Previously, Minerva completed full scans including DNA sequencing on herself and three Apokalipian soldiers so she begins to superscience her way through a genetic therapy that will essentially make Mastermind a human/New God hybrid like the Forever People. In short Mastermind will be made of sterner stuff. Not to be outdone, Mastermind gathers the Ultimates, including the rejuvenated Charger, and strikes out at STAR labs in San Fransisco. Inside the secret lab is a sample of the alien nanotech colony known as the Collective. Those that read comics might be aware that for a little bit the Cyborg was made of this stuff. The Mastermind steals some and brings it back to his Mesa Secret Laboratory. A few days work and the Mastermind who is rapidly growing both smarter and more unstable completes the reprogramming of the nanobots so that not only will they help reorder his failing brain but will rebuild his body including his scarred face. His rebuilt body will be a bit Steve Rogers: Better Stronger Faster! Minerva is upset and asks him to not combine the two equally dangerous procedures. Megalomania and Overconfidence set in and the Mastermind presses ahead with his plans. While the Mastermind floats comatose in a bactatank, the other Ultimates approach Minerva to persuade her to sabotage the procedure and return Mastermind to his pre-Plasmoid self. Minerva can't think of anyway she can do this so she declines citing her need "to do no harm to her patient." A week later Mastermind rises from the tank; his apotheosis complete. "I am like a god!" He declares. Minerva looks over at him worried, "We should run some tests." "There is no need for testing, the procedure worked perfectly." the supremely overconfident Mastermind declared as he snapped once more into his protective armor. "You just rebuilt your body and mind from the ground up using unknown alien nanobots...your brain was melting...your armor's cybernetic systems might feedback dangerously with your new chemistry" Minerva rushed to say "There were no mistakes." interrupted Mastermind. Sputtering Minerva googled at him "Don't you want to at least check?" "No." was his reply as the familiar helmet obscured his now perfect features from sight. Hawksmoor