Kealios

Re: Champions Complete Sell Sheet

Gojira, being from San Jose, I wonder if I know you? Regardless, the FLGS in question is Game Kastle in Santa Clara, and they are definitely a part of the Bits and Mortar program. Neither they nor I can see DoJ or Hero listed on BnM's site tho

Re: Champions Complete Sell Sheet

My FLGS doesnt have the PDF for this. Bits and Mortar doesnt have it listed at http://www.bits-and-mortar.com/who-are-we/ . What am I missing? I want to buy this but I'd really like the PDF as well!

Re: Looking For Input On Potential New Fantasy Product

I have to agree with a number of posts here about consolidating the product into one, useable book.

I learned Champions as my first RPG over 20 years ago via the BBB. I then moved on to Fantasy Hero, before getting into AD&D and, sadly, never looking back.

Now I am back full force with 6th Ed, owning over a dozen rulebooks, yet havent played a game yet. I am building my own campaign world, slowly, and read my sourcebooks and forums nightly in my quest for more tidbits of insight that will aid me in my development of a world I plan on introduce to my non-HERO gaming friends. I am treading my way carefully with the balances of maximum stats, OCV vs DCV, DCs vs Defenses, etc (people like Killer Shrike have been immensely helpful, but I suspect "just doing it" will give me even more valuable experience).

That being said, holy cow would it have been awesome to have a pre-made Fantasy World to step into! At least for ideas - I could have handed a book or two out to friends, built some characters using guidelines from the book, and been adventuring inside of a week. As it is, with my friends who will be joining my game that have never played, I am already pointing them in the direction of CC. If I could have done that with a Dungeon Hero-type complete book, it would have been that much better.

As such, I think a campaign setting with races, cultural templates, a ready-to-use magic system, and then references to other books I could get for more ideas (e.g. Beastiary, Grimoire, etc) would be the best.

Republishing 6E Fantasy in B&W would make a lot of sense too, but as a different book than what we're talking about here. I think its interesting that this discussion is really departing from where HERO has come from and is advocating basically reinventing itself. The BBB era had a ton of era-specific books, and 6th Ed is a result of the desire to codify everything into one tome. The more I read this, the more I want to buy more and more 6E1 and 6E2 because I have a feeling I will get more use from them than anything else (ie, once my friends learn the system, hand them the big-boy books).

I also have experience working at the FLGS and have turned new roleplayers onto certain books. Usually it is a mom or dad with their teenager in tow, and as much as I admire it, HERO was never one I steered beginners towards. I think it would be great to have that option.

Re: Fantasycraft: Cooking Magic

I love the crafting aspect of World of Warcraft, and often work on using Alchemy in my games to simulate this to poor effect

Fantasycraft is a real game, by the way: http://www.crafty-games.com/node/348

Hope you have good results!

Re: Summoned Creatures walking the earth: Capturing and Summoning them

The downside to putting the control on the monsters is that it removes the proactive player approach. I want them to have to work for these things, not just have the abilities fall into their laps. I think I have the VPP Mimic Pool dialed in now...in fact, Ive got the capture and summoning techniques dialed in as well. They wont be play tested for months to come yet, though, so Im keeping track of all these excellent suggestions, just in case

Re: Summoned Creatures walking the earth: Capturing and Summoning them

Using Transform to give yourself powers is problematic at best. I'd use a VPP' date=' probably similar to a Mimic Pool (6e1 412). It's still flexible, but the mechanics are much more straightforward than a self-Transform.[/quote']

 

Should the VPP for the Mimic Pool have the Transdimensional advantage to allow it to reach a creature being held in the extradimensional pocket?

Re: Summoned Creatures walking the earth: Capturing and Summoning them

Holy cow. The more I think about your solution, the more brilliant it becomes. Well dang, there goes all my brain effort on figuring out the subject

Re: Summoned Creatures walking the earth: Capturing and Summoning them

Thanks, guys. Shrike, I've really enjoyed your site with all the content and articles on it.

I know this is a challenging concept to get right, and I've wrestled with it for quite some time. I need to blend the excitement of hunting and capturing these creatures with the reward of using them as personal (dangerous, slavering) bodyguards that might have a chance to get away at some point in the future. The thing I appreciate about HERO is how many ways there are to do things. The hard part, at least for a rookie like me, is getting it right using all the tools available

I have been studying Mind Control as a way to control these monsters. I've been reading your campaign material and I like it, but one of your Elementalists who owns a Fire Elemental for a Follower would be walking down the street with his Fire Elemental by his side. In my setting, this would freak the local population out, to say the least To get past this, currently I have Extra-Dimensional Movement as the "Capture" mechanism, with "Summon, specific captured being" as the Summon mechanism. This actually "put the monster away" and then "brings him out again".

What this DOESN'T do is make it easier on subsequent uses of the creature to put it away, although as I touched on, above, maybe the EGO vs EGO roll that results from the Summon will have the side effect of the next capture being easier. I am also contemplating putting in a Mind Scan element before the first capture is made, sort of a "Mind Meld, Hah! I've got you now!" limitation. If the character can manage a short range Mind Scan, then use EDM on the monster, and Summon it out again later, I think thats a pretty solid set of rules for how things will work.

Honestly, its the EDM that complicates things...and Follower or Mind Control would make it sooo much easier, but doesnt capture the "appear/disappear" aspect I am hoping for.

Re: Tremorsense

6E Fantasy, p71 has the power "Sense Tremors" written up under the Earth Template:

Cost: 35

Detect Physical Vibrations (INT roll)(Touch Group), Discriminatory, Increased Arc of Perception (360 Degrees), Range, Targeting

Re: VPs, charges, triggers & multiforms

If I cast a spell with a trigger' date=' (such as the multiform triggered by combat), does that spell while not triggered count as one of the three spells active?[/quote']

 

I was just perusing APG2 p45 and came across "Delayed Effect". "If a slot in a Power Framework has the Delayed Effect Advantage, once a character prepares and "stores" that power according to the Delayed Effect rules he has to keep the Framework allocated to that power."

 

It has more, but sounds like it would count.

Re: Summoned Creatures walking the earth: Capturing and Summoning them

I cant find a "Bag of Holding" power having been built in any of my 6E books

Found it: Extradimensional Space, APG2 27.

I have another question, now that I pretty much have the Capture/Summon mechanic down.

Let's say the character wants to "borrow" a power from the creature he has in holding. This looks like a Severe Transform on himself, right? Transforms are a tricky lot that I dont totally understand. If the Transform power exceeds, what, his own BODY x2, he can grant himself a Power he doesnt already have, with some type of Limitation, "Must belong to a creature currently captured (-1)"? I can make the characters take a Talent that has multiple ranks, and the more ranks a character has in it, the more powerful of an ability he can "borrow"? Otherwise, what is another way to limit what the player can borrow?

I want there to be a benefit to the character for possessing a creature, but not always wanting to summon it out and risk losing control of it, or have it be a social no-no.

Re: Summoned Creatures walking the earth: Capturing and Summoning them

Question: the EGO vs EGO roll required by the character who is using Summon follows the "Skill vs Skill contest" on 6E1 57, right? This implies that the Summoner, if he succeeds on his roll, can impose a negative on the summoned creature's EGO roll. Just want to make sure I understand the mechanic correctly.

Re: Summoned Creatures walking the earth: Capturing and Summoning them

Yes, you're both right. The character can choose what limitations he wants on his Summoning power, since it really reflects his level of control over the crystal, but I am certainly going to "encourage" Antagonistic creatures to begin with.

Each creature captured will require its own crystal. Now that I think about it, I am more inclined to put a Limitation on the Capture element, stating that only 1 creature can ever exist in the prison at one time, and it must be released if the character intends to "trade up". This will be interesting because, like in the VGs, certain monsters have resistances and susceptibilities that may play a role in any given combat.

Re: Summoned Creatures walking the earth: Capturing and Summoning them

You know, the more I read it, the more I think "Extra-Dimensional Movement, Useable as Attack, Ranged" is the correct method for capturing the monsters. 6E1 222, under "Other Uses", says it can "simulate any situation in which a character is in a different state of being, cannot interact with the "real world", or is any place which is inaccessible to others." The "Dimension-Shifter Ray" gun in the Equipment Guide p173 gives some good examples. I cant find a "Bag of Holding" power having been built in any of my 6E books, but Im sure there is one out there (I was hoping to see if the crystal, carried around by the character, counts as "one location", since it moves with the character...).

In this case, the capturing will be MUCH cheaper than a Severe Transformation or Dispel/Suppress power. It will move the creature to "One location, in one dimension (crystal extradimensional prison)" which is an OAF held and used by the character.

The downside to not using Severe Transformation is once captured, there is no way for the creature to get out, except maybe using its own power of extradimensional travel, or maybe if the OAF is destroyed. However, "Summon (specific being), only creatures locked in extradimensional prison (-1/2)" would work nicely...

Do I have it solved? I can apply advantages and limitations as needed, but this looks like the framework upon which I will solve my dilemma!

Re: Summoned Creatures walking the earth: Capturing and Summoning them

I still say the best approach is to glaze over just how they appear' date=' since worrying about using a Summon/Transform/Pull Pocket Monster From Orifice power, and how to build it is really only necessary if you were to require the trainers to purchase it, which would probably tie up a lot of their Point allocation, and cause the same problem.[/quote']

 

Thats the thing: the characters DO need to purchase the appropriate powers to do all this, AND its important to me to detail:

 

Its a Risk vs Reward thing - the summoning is not guaranteed to be error free, and if it fails, bad things can happen. It can be a side game for the players, making sure that their summonings work. A 200 point character summoning a 300 point creature is getting a big bang for their buck, so there definitely needs to be some risk here.

 

I do see a need to detailing a mechanic for capture, although something as simple as having to reduce the pocket monster down to a few points of Body would work (again, this lends to the feel of the VG, since there is a risk of accidentally killing the creature and not being able to capture it (although technically nothing ever died in the VGs).

 

I dont totally get what you meant there (dont know what VGs are), but I do agree that I need a detailed method of capture. Severe Transform seems the way to go so far.

 

Another possible method of capture could be linking an ECV type trait to the Body or Stun of the pocket monsters, and requiring some form of mental attack built as an item (simulating trying to overcome the willpower of the creature) before it could be captured, this too lends to the VG feel of having to battle a monster, then using an item to try and capture it.

 

I dont totally understand this either, but it appears something to look into. Thanks!

Re: Summoned Creatures walking the earth: Capturing and Summoning them

Well, I did mention that the world has been severely twisted, so let me explain further:

This is a world full of ninjas and spellcasters. One large portion of the population casts spells. The other half doesnt, but instead captures monsters to use. The "trainers" will indeed be in the fight, swinging their swords alongside their pocket monster as they fight other bad guys. I did have a desire to add xp to these pocket monsters, so that a character has incentive to not just kill their pocket monster off (you know, like so many of us are wont to do in D&D with our summoned monsters!), besides the fact that it is just damn hard to capture one of these creatures from the wild.

So once a character has gone out, located a monster, used Transform or Dispel or something, he can "capture" it for use later. The Later Use will be a summon spell with enough active points to cover the cost of the creature, so a starting character might be able to afford a 200-point monster, but not a 250- or 300-point creature. Even controlling that monster in battle is going to be tricky, but Im sure I'll figure all this out.

These Trainers need as many points as the spellcasting people because their Summon and Dispel powers, plus maybe Mind Control and Telepathy, are going to be plenty expensive as it is. A Mind Control against the monster will be a lot easier than having to RE-transform or RE-dispell, convincing it to "go away" in order to be summoned later. Not sure on that either...

Re: Summoned Creatures walking the earth: Capturing and Summoning them

Steve, you get one hundred donuts for figuring out my game plan

Ive put a seriously twisted spin on the creatures in the world, but yes, it is Pokemon in disguise

I will look into Transform. Thanks!

In the setting I am building, summoned monsters populate the earth. They arrive by one method or another, but once in the world, arent leaving (ie they cannot be banished) until dead.

I am building a character class that can go "capture" these creatures and pocket them away, for later use.

To Capture, I am saying that a Dispel (6E1 193) with Cumulative advantage needs to be used on the creature. Once the creature's total points have been exceeded, it can be "captured" into a focus and help for further use. I dont think Suppress, a variant of Drain, is appropriate.

To reuse this creature at a later time, I am using Summon. I am wondering, however, if I need to buy the "Specific Being" advantage at +1, since the individual captured creature is the one that is brought back, till death do us part, or just assume that in my world, this is "how it is".

Once combat is over and the character wants the monster to "go away", another Dispel is probably needed, so the character doesnt "lose" the creature and have to start over.

Its starting to sound a little clunky to me...but the creatures that the characters are going to be capturing are stronger than they are, and, if properly controlled (still learning about this), will be powerful allies. Of course, they might run away, forcing the characters to go find another one to capture, or they may turn on the summoner instead of helping...

How does this sound to you?

Re: "Spell" limitation not in 6E any more?

I JUST found it. I swear, took me 4 tries of combing through it. Im getting old. Thanks, all!

While I was waiting to get my hands on the 6E rulebooks, I spent a lot of time reading my 5E books. In 5E Fantasy, under "Combat Modifiers and Maneuvers" on p.246, it describes what could be put into the "Spell" limitation.

I cannot find a paragraph like this ANYWHERE in my 6E Fantasy book! Am I blind, or should I just assume it isnt there and copy the 5E paragraph for my new players?

Ive seen quite a few requests asking about/discussing GM screens for 6th edition. Ive also seen a few veiled references to personal projects that people have done, but havent dug up any that Ive been able to download.

I am going to be running a Fantasy game, and was wondering, before I try to reinvent the wheel, if anyone has a copy of something they have done that I could have access to?

Thanks!

Re: VPPs used liberally to prevent character stagnation?

I just acquired Fantasy 6th ed, 6th ed Martial Arts, and 6E2. 6E1 is in the mail, as is Grimoire. Your input, all of you, has been fantastic. Thank you. I will read the Fantasy book and get more ideas.

Re: A WoWarcraft Shaman-like Totem?

OK, some good points. _I_ am the GM, so this is something I am going to offer the characters

How does Succor work with a power that requires no END? I didnt see something like "Pay X END to keep it going" - and since the power itself doesnt require END to use, Im stuck. I suppose I can buy "Uses END" as a Limitation, thus giving me a reason to pump END into it.

I also dont see a Physical Manifestation limitation in the 5E core book, but I imagine I can come up with something like this after a splash more research.

EDIT: Argh, I dont see Two Dimension anywhere either! Hmmm...

I am working on building a World of Warcraft-style totem dropped by the Shaman class: An AoE Aid that increases party member's stats.

I only own 5th Ed books right now.

So far my power is:

AID: 2d6 to Speed (20 pts)

AoE Radius, 2x distance (+1 1/4)

Selective Targets: Friends (+1/4)

Continuous (+1)

Cumulative, x4 max (48 character points max) (+1)

I havent gotten into Limitations quite yet, but Uncontrolled seems good.

My problem is Succor, the option for Aid. My idea is, this item (which will be targetable and hittable by the Bad Guys, equals some type of Focus? or Independent?), will pulse every Segment the Shaman acts, slowly increasing the party member's speed. I dont want it to bleed until it is done - but since Succor requires the caster to pay END, and Aid doesnt use END, Im a bit stuck.

How can I:

1. Make the Character Points from Aid not bleed off until the power is done, or the recipient leaves the AoE?

2. With Continuous requiring END, how can I represent this item that will sit and continue to AID the party members over the course of, say, a Minute, and then it will poof away and the AID will go away with it?

3. How do I make it so this "Totem" is a physical object that can be destroyed, and if it is killed, make the Shaman just cast another one without losing anything from the loss (except that the AID goes away)

4. How do I make this able to act on its own, so the Shaman can continue to drop more totems over the next few Segments, each giving an AID to a different stat?

Thanks!

Re: VPPs used liberally to prevent character stagnation?

Ive wanted the Grimoire as one of my required books, but tracking it down in dead tree form is proving challenging. I shall continue my quest, however - thanks for the tip!