Kirby

Okay, initial questions: Who else has this? What do you think about it overall? What about the art? Do you think Ravenswood should still have its Secret ID? Will you use this? What would you rate it? [Ratings, either 1-10, similar to school grades (1-5.9 being failing, 6-6.9 D; 7-7.9 C; 8-8.9 B; 9-10 A) or the Netflix 1-5 star rating (1: Hated it; 2: Didn't like it; 3: Liked it; 4; Really liked it; 5: Loved it!)] I have to say I was a bit frustrated with this. For clarification though, I purchased this and Champions Worldwide at the same time. While I was going to read CW first, I kept falling asleep (about four times before I finished character 2) and went with TC because I didn't fall asleep on it unless up past 1 am while reading it for hours). To begin with, I glanced through the book to look at the art. Several pictures I had seen before and didn't appreciate them being recycled. Others which were new were used more than once in this book, while still others just look like sketch trash. Toward the end were the Playpals that I just rolled my eyes at seeing eggs. For a lot of the non-sketch trash art, it seemed like half the characters in the book were Ravenswood students/NPCs because they all had the same style outfits (black with white highlights, and logos). Reading became a test in patience. Nearly every single character write-up had some (to me) glaring proofreading error; usually an extra word that didn't belong, though a few were subject-verb disagreements or an incorrect contraction, such as "they's". The next part that got me was for the NPCs not in Ravenswood, when their "Appearance" would not match their picture. Three of the members of Nova are wearing Ravenswood Academy uniforms though they've never gone, as well as some from Generation VIPER, such as Mrs. Garter who is described as wearing a standard VIPER uniform with a garter around her thigh, but her picture has her in a Ravenswood-themed S&M outfit. Dogfight has what looks like a Raven emblem (but can probably be described as his own image flying) on his Ravenswood-themed outfit. Other problems that showed up were inconsistencies, such as with Dogfight. This character is not known to the public and has a non-concealable Distinctive Feature: 8' Tall Reptilian w/16' wingspan. On the flip side, he has a Secret ID: Larry Lizard and Social Limitation: Minor! It can't be discerned that he's a minor and the only people who even know of Larry Lizard already know he's Dogfight. Then, his Personality/Motivation section talks about a plot/plan having his "image inducer" malfunction exposing his true appearance (that one that can't be concealed). Of course, he doesn't have an image inducer - not one he's paid points for (and with the 200 pt Ravenswood students having to pay 36 points for their Ravenswood Costume, Image Inducer, and School Pin, the 200 pt villain should have to pay for an Image Inducer). Next comes Ravenswood Academy. How it still has a "secret ID" aside from metagaming is hard to understand. It has a couple of teachers who have Public IDs that were once supers (even a former villain, IIRC). There are former students who are now villains; why they wouldn't expose this "secret" is intriguing. The RA land has a 1,000 year+ somewhat secret history with Atlantis, which just seems "hey, let's tie it with another product" cheesy. While some "traditional," or normal, students have discovered a teacher's super background, none of them seem capable of discovering the students that are supers (all apparently hush-hush, even those that misbehave). Why doesn't anyone question how come certain students (all those that share a homeroom, in fact) stay in dorms at the high school while other students have to go home each night. And by golly, not one of the students who stays in the dorms participates in sports either. And yet, nobody asks "What's up with that?". Within RA, there are Homerooms, but the supers are segregated off in their own, for plausible, explained reasons. However, each homeroom is apparently assigned a letter of the Greek alphabet. They are, in order, Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma. This doesn't make sense since Gamma is the third letter of the Greek alphabet and Delta is the fourth. There is no explanation of why the Greek letters are out of place with the current classes (Alpha is the class of '06; Beta, '07; Delta, '08; Gamma, '09). Nor is there an explanation saying when these came into place and if it started with the first graduating class (1991) or not. If the first Alpha class did begin (one would think the first super class was considered Alpha) with 91, then they have their lettering off: 91 A 92 B 93 G 94 D 95 A 96 B 97 G 98 D 99 A 00 B 01 G 02 D 03 A 04 B 05 G 06 D 07 A 08 B 09 G 10 D While the 'chart' flows with one set, Teen Champions shows that Beta is the class of '07, Delta, the class of '08 and Gamma the class of '09 (well, at least that one would be correct, but then the rest are wrong, of course). This history of Ravenswood Academy just makes me go "ugh". The basis is of a character named Rowan who founded the academy when a teenager died in a fight. Except, in true Marvel Comics fashion, the kid didn't die. He's still alive, though being tossed from one cosmic event to another. For the foundation, several heroes were contacted and there was this big get-together where it was discussed that a place for super-powered teens was needed to help these kids adjust. Rowan didn't ask for donations, but the subtle (?) hint was there. Of course, no hero donated; just a bunch of rich people spontaneusly donated. While this is at least genre-ish, it is a bit cheesy. (And there is no mention of any student trying to figure out just who really donated what.) There is an unspoken-to-the-public-yet-known-by-all-heroes-secret amongst superheroes that while Ravenswood fronts as a special private school, it has its duality of training super kids. Somehow, no superhero-turned-villain has ever revealed this information. The character Rowan, or at least her motivation, annoys me. While she wants the kids to adjust to living with powers, her driving force is to make them all superheroes, which she tells them. Even if someone doesn't want to be a super, she pushes them down that path. Reading bits about her on other characters write-ups, she seems damned annoying and almost holier-than-thou in her attitude of knowing what's "best" for the kids and what they "should" be able to do. As for the Playpals, the less said about them, the better. Having vented all that junk, I will say that I did like this book. I liked the "packages" it offered and suggestions on teen roleplaying as well as perks and disadvantages designed for teens. Oh, and there are also characters that can create plots for the Champions (and your PCs if in Millennium City), particularly Cantrip (for Witchcraft) and Teen Dream (for Sapphire). Even though overall I give this book a 6.5 (passing, but barely), I'm glad I have it and am inspired to run a Teen Champions game over on HeroCentral. (Currently debating running it or another type of campaign). For me, of course, that "Secret ID" of Ravenswood would be blown by the second or third plot.

Re: Opinion: Double Damage Reduction Thinking back (and thanks to the big Z for reviving this thread; I didn't want to have to actually search for it), a bigger problem with Double Damage Reduction would not be solely so much those with high end defenses (making long fights last nigh-eternity), but with lower defenses as well. If Johnny has 10/10 Def/rDef and has 75% Dmg Red Res twice, let's look at an attack that does 4d6 RKA. Say the attacker rolls a 3 and house rule says it does max damage (or by rolling, the eventual "all 6's!" shows up) and the PC has been dealt 24 Body and 120 Stun. After Defenses, this is 14 Body, 110 Stun. After the first round of DRR, this is dropped to 4 Body and 28 Stun. But wait, that's not all: After the second round of DRR, the PC only takes 1 Body and 7 Stun. Even a 10 CON wouldn't be stunned by that. Now, let's see if Dr. Destroyer's "Destroyer Beam" of 10d6 RKA, if it averaged and if it maxed out as well, what it would do. The Attack: Standard: 30 Body, 60 Stun About Average: 35 Body, 105 Stun Max: 60 Body, 300 Stun After Defenses: Standard: 20 Body, 50 Stun About Average: 25 Body, 95 Stun Max: 50 Body, 290 Stun DDR Round 1: Standard: 5 Body, 13 Stun About Average: 7 Body, 24 Stun Max: 13 Body, 73 Stun DDR Round 2: Standard: 2 Body, 4 Stun About Average: 2 Body, 6 Stun Max: 4 Body, 19 Stun So, unless the attack does above average, it's nothing a little Regeneration can't fix and chances of being CON Stunned are next to none. You've just reduced Dr. Destroyer's most threatening attack to being unimpressive. Granted, the cost of 2 DDR is high, but the benefits are enormous, when you start including costs for NNDs, AVLDs that are being reduced, along with Body & Stun Drains and the fact that Armor Piercing attacks that get by your minimal defenses are reduced, making the points the attacker spent mostly wasted against this character. Okay, now that I've rambled on, I'll probably stop fussing about this since it isn't in my game.

Re: Killing Damage and Defenses I agree with pinecone in that your qualifier statement should be speaking for yourself, not for others. Of the five HERO GMs I've been in games with, not one has given a fixed Stun multiplier, nor do I. I actually enjoy the variable Stun damage, just as I enjoy the variable Body/Stun of Energy Blasts, which is one of the reasons I don't use the "Standard Effect" offered up for Powers.

Re: Thank you What?! Why not? No interest in playing, or just don't have anyone in your area? Where is your area? (If you don't mind.) Well, okay, I always liked the Collective.

Re: GM's "Notebook" I've never written anything down, aside from an e-mail summary wrap-up that I've sent to the players when the adventure was over. However, the best GM I've ever played with used a spiral notebook where he kept his notes and stories. I may consider doing this in the future.

Re: Killing Damage and Defenses B! But hey, I'm in a Fantasy HERO game where the GM runs it the "A" way, which I haven't complained about since meaning my fighting dwarf character has never taken Body. My thief partner on the other hand has gotten the blood and guts knocked out of her each time we've gone into combat.

Re: Just Picked Up Champions Worldwide

Re: Just Picked Up Champions Worldwide Well, congratulations to you. I didn't say you had to find it munchkiny. I said I did. As in my opinion. (Why is it so hard for some to accept others' opinions? )

Re: Just Picked Up Champions Worldwide Oh, man, that is just too funny! (In a sad way, of course.) I guess hoping there would be a capoeira-using NPC is out of the question?

Re: Just Picked Up Champions Worldwide Right, but I don't see an oil slick, swinging, and sonic attack being in the same tight group, other than saying "but, GM, they both come in arrow form." Like I said, I find it munchkiny, but YMMV.

Re: Just Picked Up Champions Worldwide Sadly, I keep falling asleep while reading the book, though I think external forces may apply here (although when I wake myself up and read from Teen Champions I'm able to stay awake). I've also only read the first two entries. I was a bit worried at first with Autour since the word also means "around" and au tour means "to the round," and then I found a grammatical error. (I asked my wife on the translation since she took 4 years of French back in hs, 12 years ago.) Using onling translating, we discovered Autour meant Goshawk as well. Autour's appearance states he wears a silver battlesuit with blue bands, but his picture looks like a dark (blue?) battlesuit with white (silver?) bands and stripes. This isn't the first time I've noticed the description not matching the picture (though I wonder if it would be too out of genre for supers to have more than one style of costume?). The German archer Der Bogenshutze wasn't too bad, however I noticed he has 17 slots in his Bow and Arrow multipower. Then he has +7 levels with his MP for 21 points. This is a trend I've seen that confounds me a bit since the 3 pt level is supposed to apply to three related maneuvers or martial art style. I guess MPs are considered in the same vein as martial arts, but I feel 17 slots is quite munchkiny for "trick arrows" as well as 64 charges (that is 5 dozen+ arrows he's supposedly carrying). YMMV. Hopefully the rest will be entertaining. I am looking forward to Middle East and Asian areas.

Re: Alternate United Nations & UNTIL

Re: Alternate United Nations & UNTIL Hmm, I don't think I agree there. I would say that either it would have gone as happened (there were dozens of countries that participated, even if to lesser degrees) or that North Korea would have been allowed to dominate South Korea with the UN response of "We, the United Nations, strongly suggest that North Korea withdrawl in a timely manner." However, since this is derailing from the original intent of the post (and we wouldn't want to give any precedence for that ).

Re: Alternate United Nations & UNTIL Well, I try to make UNTIL effective and with backbone when I use them, which I see as opposite of the UN, if that seems a "dramatically divergeant direction."

Re: Just Picked Up Champions Worldwide Ah, thank you. My reading has been very slow with interruptions from computer games and television.

Re: CU question In the 1994 Golden Agen Champions on pages 113-114 is Captain Atlas who is a Captain Marvel clone/homage. His "change word" is "Lollapalooza!" though. He's built on 516 points.

Re: Just Picked Up Champions Worldwide Well, my copy arrived today, along with Teen Champions. I've only glanced through the book, looking mainly at the art (which most of it isn't as bad as I was expecting, though a couple I look at and think "I could have drawn that poorly"). The cover art seemed uninspired and lacking. I would have thought with the subject of world-spanning that a globe, world map or famous images from around the world (pyramids, Red Square, that Australian opera building, etc.) would have been on it. Having stated that, tomorrow I will read through and see how much I like the book. The amount of characters in it does look appealing. One question though, who is "the Black Death"? I don't see his name/nickname/moniker in the index or table of contents.

Re: Just Picked Up Champions Worldwide I'm glad to see some positive reviews, since I ordered the book (and Teen Champions) about an hour before I saw this thread.

Re: Retcon the CU

Re: Retcon the CU

Re: Adventure Modules Yeah buddy! That's a good thread, y'all should read it. Serious note: thanks!

Re: Just Picked Up Champions Worldwide Congrats to you! Now, how did that happen? I can presume the $20 donation, but did they ask you what type of character and location? How many preferences did you give?

Re: Sharing the Campaign ideas you can't use... yet Cryogenics is always cool.

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... Sadly, I can relate to this. Usually the characters are built for fighting or for one specific area and follow with "I hope the other PCs have useful skills." Having stated this, in the only high-speed PBeM game I'm in (I'm a player in five, only one of which posts daily) my PC has 62 points in noncombat skills (34 in combat related), most of which deal with his job. Out of 5 KS's, not one is "Supers" or even an AK.

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... Okay, a little narcissism here, though it was about two weeks ago. Over on Hero Central: Other player: "Sir, tell me what happened and where it hurts... I will help you if I can." My response: You get the distinctive feeling that the character isn't conscious; however, with your knowledge of biology, you think that if the bloody man could talk right now, he'd say something to the effect of "It hurts where the two bullet holes are."