Kirby

Here's a Complication no player would want for a superhero: "Code Against Not Killing". To this character, the death of an enemy is the only successful resolution to a crisis. He NEVER turns criminals over to the authorities (perhaps he doesn't trust them), believing that the only suitable punishment is death for just about any crime you can think of (maybe not jaywalking or littering, but just about anything worse).

 

Not a playable complication for a hero. But for an opposing vigilante who thinks everyone secretly shares his sense of "justice"....

Here's a Complication no player would want for a superhero: "Code Against Not Killing". To this character, the death of an enemy is the only successful resolution to a crisis. He NEVER turns criminals over to the authorities (perhaps he doesn't trust them), believing that the only suitable punishment is death for just about any crime you can think of (maybe not jaywalking or littering, but just about anything worse).

 

Not a playable complication for a hero. But for an opposing vigilante who thinks everyone secretly shares his sense of "justice"....

Re: Istvatha V'han - why can't she conquer Earth?

"Chronosburg, Captain?"

"She's got everyplace else."

"Chronosburg?"

"It's just a little bitty place."

"CHRONOSBURG!?"

Re: Istvatha V'han - why can't she conquer Earth?

Let's just hope Captain Chronos isn't trying to manipulate events so that Istvatha V'han has an easier time* to conquer Earth.

Captain Chronos: "The Empress told me I would have one trillion credits and my own land if I made her victory less bloody."

PC: "What land?"

Captain Chronos: "Well, it's not like there's anyone left on it any way."

PC: "What land?!"

Captain Chronos: "It begins with an A."

*Pun not intended, but I like it!

Re: Istvatha V'han - why can't she conquer Earth?

Make no mistake, though, V'han can be as ruthless and destructive as she needs to be to achieve her goals. Many worlds that fought her the most relentlessly, which she was unable to conquer, or which she considered too great a threat, were simply annihilated.

 

For example, in some cases where particular ethnic or religious groups on a subject world refuse to cease violence against each other, the Empress has killed everyone in the affected region, then opened it to settlement from elsewhere in her empire.

But from what I gather there isn't that much to criticize. She's like Victor Von Doom except better as she really does live up to the hype not just mostly (Latervia' date=' at least last time I read about it had an excellent standard of living as far as technology and medicine went but was pretty repressive in other ways). It sounds like V'han's Empire doesn't share these failings. She really is a practically perfect leader and essentially immortal so there's not even the problem of less perfect heirs taking over at some point.[/quote']Looks good on paper. Reality shows that serfs, indentured servants and slaves didn't quite enjoy that "excellent standard of living" as much.

 

Do we have only these two examples' date=' or are there other similar Evil Conquerors Who Improve Everyone's Lot in other Hero System products or in the works of Long generally?[/quote']I'll bring up Genghis Khan again and Earth's largest empire. If you were in his empire, you were well-off. He redistributed the wealth of those he annihilated (anyone who resisted). Iraq of long ago used to be a paradise. They resisted; Khan razed the land, salted the earth and now it's a desert.

Re: Omnia

@kirby : Psy Lim such as ?

Although, if you were truly going for a comedic character (like Foxbat), she could have an 8- Accidental Change, (When takes Knockback or Body) "Wardrobe Malfunction."

Re: Omnia

I'm surprised given the subject matter that you didn't giver her a psychological limitation regarding her looks/sex appeal.

@Tom Cowan, Bulldozer was also in 5E's CKC.

In my younger days, I had contemplated making a adult film star with duplication and teleportation w/position shift.

Re: How Stirkes the Warlord?

Why?

Re: How Stirkes the Warlord?

When I initially read the Warlord's write-up, I rolled my eyes; however, before I finished, I was a bit more impressed and thought the Warlord would be perfect for any African country that's in chaos. I don't know how well he would meld with the Syrian mindset, so -if this were a scenario in my campaign- I would have him assist so that he can use Syria as a safe haven and base of operations until he gets the country(ies) in Africa he wants. I definitely would not use him as a third party, unless you plan on him steamrolling both sides (and this could require UNTIL to intervene). I would think he might be a part of the oppressive regime's side; however, Lord Liaden provides a good scenario for just the opposite.

For curiosity's sake, do you plan on the PC's intervening here, is this background news for your campaign, or are you just putting thoughts together yourself?

Re: Istvatha V'han - why can't she conquer Earth?

Istvatha V'han is a literally unique being. To date no one has discovered any alternate version of her in any universe or timeline. It's no stretch to assume that temporal phenomena that apply to others don't necessarily apply to her.

It is quite a stretch for me and feels kind of Writer's Darling like it just done to eliminate a possible weakness. Its another aspect of the character that just feel too "perfect" and handwave driven for me. But that's a matter of taste not objective opinion. I tend to be pretty low key about things like this. I don't like to get too weird unless I absolutely have to.

If a GM were interested enough, he could create a campaign with the sole purpose of battling Istvatha V'han. Her existence takes place on a parallel Earth, so perhaps the Earth in each dimension is a cornerstone of each foundation. Remove that one planet and her hold begins to weaken. The PCs could travel to Earths where V'han is attacking, to where she rules and to where rebellions are happening. Maybe the PCs even go to a planet where Destroyer has conquered Earth and they have to convince him to prepare for the external threat instead of simply internal ones. Maybe the PCs can find a way to send Mechanon into one of V'han's dimensions where she's already controlling an Earth. Then there could be the rare planet that Takofanes controls. And if the PCs land on an Earth where V'han hasn't succeeded (and hasn't even appeared), do they rest and go to the next dimension or try and convince these people of this unknown, unseen threat?

Should the PCs ever have the rare opportunity to attack her own home dimension, they know that -should she be defeated- there isn't another one of her to take her place.

Re: Istvatha V'han - why can't she conquer Earth?

At some point in Istvatha's time travels during the early decades of her conquests' date=' she erased her entire family from the timeline so that they never existed. It's one of the reasons she's cautious about meddling with the past.[/quote']Heh, that's very interesting. I take it that was accidental? (Or was it...?)

Re: Star ships to fighters

Since Hero Central still isn't up (and hoping that it does return), I was interested in joining and had started creating a couple of characters. I've started a human pilot and have a Toractan security officer in the making. Terran Empire is currently the only Star HERO book I have, but wondered if those species in there were acceptable, just Humans + Species Of The Empire, or just humans?

Re: Istvatha V'han - why can't she conquer Earth?

Hostess Fruit Pies?

I think we've found our answer.

I can't top that.

Follow them up with a volley of cupcakes and Twinkies and she wouldn't have a chance.

Re: Istvatha V'han - why can't she conquer Earth?

To destroy is easy, to conquer is not.

 

An outright invasion, even if it works, would lead to massive damage to the planet because of the fighting and the potential use of nuclear weapons (Marvel's The Avengers, anyone?). So you might control the planet, but it's going to be radioactive for a few decades.

 

Then you have the underground movement that will spring up and set off bombs, and slow down work, and spy and steal and to all those things that upset your time table.

 

Then you have to consider the surviving superheroes who if they lose the big one will be trying to undo it, and look into time travel or entering alternate dimensions that have been conquered for allies, and information about weaknesses.

 

Suddenly you've got Captain Patriot and the whole Super Hero Crew popping out at the Empress's sweet sixteen party after she's just conquered her first dimension and taking her down before she can blow out the candles.

 

It's just common sense.

To destroy is easy' date=' to conquer is not.[/quote']Obviously; however, this really has no bearing on one entity wanting to conquer another.

 

An outright invasion' date=' even if it works, would lead to massive damage to the planet because of the fighting and the potential use of nuclear weapons (Marvel's The Avengers, anyone?). So you might control the planet, but it's going to be radioactive for a few decades.[/quote']While this has some merit, it still isn't any sort of obstacle for wanting to conquer Earth, much less a reason for failing to conquer it. The only semblance of rationale for the genre would be that either our Earth is the only one that has ever had nuclear weapons or had so many. A planet being radioactive for decades is of no consequence to an immortal. Chernobyl and the Bikini Islands are full of plant and animal life today, just no humans.

 

An argument could be made that there's a psychological reason why she would prefer to conquer as opposed to obliterate and then colonize. Is there some insecurity she has where she needs to feel loved? Or is it that she has a sadistic side to her where she enjoys seeing opponents suffer until they break and she can manipulate them into obedience?

 

Then you have the underground movement that will spring up and set off bombs' date=' and slow down work, and spy and steal and to all those things that upset your time table.[/quote']That's not a reason for not invading at all, in fact, that's only something that happens after she's conquered a territory. Her text states that it takes her about one Earth year to conquer an entire dimension, so things like this are to be expected.

 

Then you have to consider the surviving superheroes who if they lose the big one will be trying to undo it' date=' and look into time travel or entering alternate dimensions that have been conquered for allies, and information about weaknesses.[/quote']That's an odd assessment, not to mention it still wouldn't happen until after she's conquered the planet/territory/dimension, and only if there are some supers that even have those powers. Aside from Captain Chronos, I'm not aware of any established characters that have such abilities.

 

Suddenly you've got Captain Patriot and the whole Super Hero Crew popping out at the Empress's sweet sixteen party after she's just conquered her first dimension and taking her down before she can blow out the candles.

That's quite a stretch. For all this to even happen, V'han has to have conquered already, so right there it doesn't explain why she cannot conquer Earth. Aside from that, you have requirements where IF supers capable of dimensional hopping and IF they have discriminatory abilities are found and IF supers capable of specific time travel are found and IF enough supers can be found to form an effective task force and IF they can work well together for the time allotment required, then "suddenly" she's going to be attacked? If we go for giggles that somehow her sweet 16 birthday is when she has finished conquering her first dimension and that the "heroes" have pinpointed her location, you're assuming she'd be unguarded or ineffectively guarded. This is someone who had to conquer her planet, then her galaxy then her home dimension, so she's aware of coups and other possibilities, including traveling back in time to warn herself. You're also risking everything on this already-a-long-shot gamble. If you do not absolutely defeat her (which would most likely have to end in her death), you've now notified her of your own dimension's presence and -not knowing how old she truly is- she may attack our dimension in the year 1,000,000 BC where she has no supers to contend with.

 

It's just common sense.

Except nearly none of these are genre-rational reasons of why V'han cannot conquer Earth. You'd have to caveat them into stating these were things happening in an alternate dimension that took invading resources away.

 

Having stated that, the reason I created this thread was for some "hard numbers/facts" that could be used as canon, since there was no source book. Now that I've returned to HERO and that there's a book for her, I was wanting to see what the official reasons were (and they seem to be some of what we had offered previously).

Re: Star ships to fighters

What were you wanting the singularity to be? A singularity is not a black hole (unless you want it to be/to be in one).

"Well, a singularity is a very unpleasant thing in physics - basically it means you have a place where things "blow up" - that is, diverge to infinity, and it usually means there is something wrong with the theory. People up till now have not been too upset about singularities in Einstein's theories because they thought they were always cloaked in black holes. Now it turns out they are not. Basically, a black hole is defined by the paths that light takes. Light cannot escape from inside a black hole. Since part of this singularity is outside a black hole, presumably light can escape from it. But, since something in the gravitational fields is diverging at this point, it would definitely be a very unpleasant place to even be near to. Probably would be fascinating to drop stuff into though - you could actually see matter being crushed and torn apart by arbitrarily large forces." - Link

I have been interested in this game since I saw the post on HeroCentral, but HC hasn't been working since late yesterday.

Re: Istvatha V'han - why can't she conquer Earth?

Book of the Empress.

Re: Whatever Happened To:

I liked the husband and wife team of Thunder and Lightning from Classic Enemies as well as many of the characters in Enemies for Hire. I would love to see modern versions of them.

Re: Rules You Didn't Know Until Champions Complete

Must Spread Rep. Someone get him for me.

Re: HKA's and STR in Champions Complete

In the context of Champions all 'Real Weapon' means is that there's some additional limitations to it. It isn't as effective at carving through walls and you can't add more that the base DCs to the total DCs. There's some other minor things, like you're suppose to have to maintain it, but I would think that could be handwaved.

 

Real Weapon doesn't actually mean the weapon has to exist in the real world. It just means it behaves in a manner more consistent with reality. You could certainly apply Real Weapon to a flaming sword. It would then be limited in its maximum damage and in its ability to cut through walls.

Re: Rules You Didn't Know Until Champions Complete

Never said it WAS a house rule. You just assumed that.

Re: Rules You Didn't Know Until Champions Complete

Maybe the reason not to use cars, buses, lampposts as weapons is more story based then rule based.

If you start pick up cars and destroying them, the owners and insurance companies will hate you and maybe even try and bill you for the damages.

The same with the city. if every time your character gets in a fight he is destroying a $100,000+ city bus just to smack around a villain rather then just punching him then the city might come after the hero.

There is "understandable" collateral damage from fight a super villain, and in a "super hero setting" citizen and city officials probably understand that, but unnecessary vehicle and city property damage would be frowned upon and should only be used as a last resort by the heroes.

Re: HKA's and STR in Champions Complete

Yes. According to the RAW he gets to add his full strength to them, but before you get too freaked out I'll point out that according to the RAW pretty much any character would also be able to pick up the same 'dagger' and have a better than even chance of cutting a man-sized hole in the outside wall of your average home (exterior home wall is rated as 4 PD and 3 Body and I'm assuming most character can probably bring at least 3 extra DC to bear for a 2d6 HKA).

 

In short, a weapon that only has the OAF limitation on it is not a normal weapon. It's an adamantium knife or one forged from a super-sekrit high tech alloy or made by the dark elves of Anaheim or something equivalent.

 

If a knife is suppose to be a regular knife and not be able to cut man-sized holes in walls or be wielded by people like Grond then you give it the additional -1/4 limitation for 'real weapon'.

Sounds like a detrimental rule that would lead to more stress than enjoyment. I used to make martial artists that had flaming swords, which allowed both energy and physical. Sounds like it might not be allowed in 6E or that somehow it would be under much scrutiny. A flaming sword is obviously not a real weapon, yet it wouldn't qualify as "admantium," either. Just another reason for me not to purchase 6E and enjoy picking up the 5E stuff I don't have.

Re: HKA's and STR in Champions Complete

We're talking Grond Can't see him buying daggers.

Re: HKA's and STR in Champions Complete

I'm not stating anything. I asked 2 questions.

Re: Rules You Didn't Know Until Champions Complete

One way to balance that is to require the use of the Power Skill to properly pick up massive things like Cars and busses. With a bad roll you rip off the bumper or the door and waste your phase (which is also genre appropriate). It balances against other archetypes, because they are required to make Power skill rolls to do unusual things with their powers.

 

in the Long run if the Brick continues to pick up objects to use as extra damage and or AOE attacks, you should require them to purchase that extra damage or Advantages as part of a "Brick Tricks" power set.

Using a Bulky Focus puts your character at a 1/2 DCV (p. 245, 5E), using an Unfamiliar Weapon is -3 OCV (p. 247, 5E, Heroic). If you're throwing an item, it's OCV will have penalties if it's not aerodynamic and/or unbalanced (p. 247, 5E). While I cannot currently find it, I'm certain there's a rule about the objects of opportunity as well.