sporeworld

Re: Summon: Am I missing Something Here...? All good points, but not exactly where I need to get. The more I think about it, it could be a really fun power. Maybe all that needs to be shifted are the values. The Ego Roll thing for control is just too cheap to defeat, and isn't necessary themed specific (I edited a two paragraph rant on how). Or a Home Rule, like "Must be easily Dispelled/Jammed", or "No Multiplier Advantage". If you want to summon 7 of them, you need to buy the power 7 times, and modify the power to go off at the same time (Elemental Control kind of thing?). All that said, I think it would be really fun to play, if constructed well. We were joking about "The Clansman" who would summon a clan of Highlanders. Or a guy who has Summon, and then a really fun bag of Usable On Others tricks, like Growth, Shrinking, Aid Str, and so on. And this power can really do a good job of emulating a Duplication power like "FlashBack" from Alpha Flight. It isn't really Duplication - it's Summoning his future selves. So many other cool concepts - Summoning fallen Heroes (Archive), wolves (PackMan), a squadron of tiny WW1 BiPlanes (Fokker Ace or Flying Circus or Jasta). If I can get the math balanced, I know the players will want to experiment with it.

If I have Summon, with the Unified Power of Darkness (cloud of smoke upon arrival), when would the Darkness become effective? The phase I use the power, or the phase the summon being appears? Or worse, the phase the summon being recovers from the summon?

Re: Summon: Am I missing Something Here...? Yeah. In year's past, as we populated our universe, nearly every villain (and often henchmen) became a player character (eventually). So when introducing a character, I want to make sure I'm setting the right precedent. Summon is so vague, that it could be used like light illusions - as in "Summon Visual Duplicate of Declared Target". Like it summons a generic doppelganger that mimics the declared target upon arrival. Maybe that needs shapeshift, or it's just a special effect (seems like the prior). But either way, it could be tactically bizarre. The character could be based on very few points, and still achieve the objective. I'll probably declare the power unusable as is. Although, a night of all summoner combat would be... interesting.

Re: Summon: Am I missing Something Here...? And, just to clarify what initially brought me to Summon: I'd like to create an NPC or Villain that let's the Heroes really exercise their powers and get lots of combat opportunities, at relatively low risk (think of this as the Thug that blocks the first room on the way to a bigger Boss). They can really cut loose offensively, and there's very little risk that they'll be a casualty (again, think Jedi vs BattleDroid - a waste of time to the story, but a good chance to see some flash). It's a good chance to illustrate the value of END, and why Charges are less of a bargain than they appear to be. OAF are at risk of being pilfered, players will need to be wary of friendly fire, ect. And players will be tasked to find an alternative way to stop the flow of drones. Summoner is using a focus? Or Gestures? Or a Radio to control them? Do they all have a common Vulnerability? That sort of thing. But as I understand it now, I wouldn't allow THEM to use it without some serious financial adjustments. Maybe limit 1 creature summoned per round? Must be interruptable? Or easy to Dispel?

Re: Revisiting TAUNT Yeah - I can see adding DCV modifiers "Only works against Enraged Person", and then engineering my Taunt "powers" or talents to incite that condition.

Re: Summon: Am I missing Something Here...? Hmmm. My point is that, even with the Stop Sign, it seems WAY to unbalanced. Even with the best intentions, it seems way too cheap - especially the multiplier effect. It's gonna be a pain in the butt for the opposition to take them all out, unless they're grouped up perfectly for Area Effect attacks. Even in relatively small numbers. All these below would be fun to play, and decent character concepts. But the power as it's written just seems off. Example: King of Hearts With this power, I could summon sentient cards (walls) that walk towards you and box you in. The battlefield would be littered with High Def living walls for way cheaper than I could afford Force Walls. And way more dynamic. Example: TinkerBoy (3 different slots, or Multiform, or Variable) I enlarge my pocket full of tiny TinkerBots and toss them around the battlefield. Unified Power: Forcewall (Bubble) projection that launches as they enlarge (think StarWars droids). Phase 12 and there are Forcebubbles everywhere (protecting me, as well). The next round of summoning creates MediBots. The round after that are BoosterBots. All the bots get AIDed up beyond their max, all get healed (repaired) and the first little army just strafe the area with whatever. Example: Sparkz Elemental summoner of sparky little imps. Each one equipped with their own personal No Range Area Effect Damage Shield. The little buggers scamper all around, climbing on opponents and shocking them relentlessly. Give Spakz a few of his own Area Effect (ranged) Lightning strikes, and the area will light up like Times Square at midnight. Or add Light Illusions and make even more fake imps - so much chaos. Example: Dojo Master Summons really hard to hit ninjas. Huge Endo drain before heroes realize that's all they are. Example: Red Tape Account Hero summons his army of bureaucrats to spray his opponents with red-ribbon firing stackable entangles (red tape). And so on. I can see the part in the book that covers summoning megamonster kind of beats, that you can't control, and then run amok. Anyone have any good BALANCED examples of Summon...?

Re: Revisiting TAUNT Brilliant! Thanks!

[h=2]So, looking at Summoning, I'm sure I must have missed something. Stop sign aside, it just seems way unbalanced.[/h] So, looking at SUMMONING, I'm sure I must have missed something. Stop Sign icon aside, it just seems unbalanced. Example: Trojan Man buys Summon: BattleDroid... A 100 point automaton with a very basic gun. They are 6 speed. Phase 12 he activates the power. Phase 2 they are active, but disoriented. But Trojan man is using his other powers like normal. Phase 4 they are firing their weapons. To buy this (amicable) 100 point Droid, he only pays 40 points. But for 140 points he can summon TEN of them!!! Am I missing something? That's a massive power with the only downside being I have to wait for it to be effective (and not very long at all if I boost it's speed up). Does he need to summon them one at a time? Does he need to take a phase to Ego roll each one of them (meantime, the others are causing mischief)? Obviously, the GM needs to approve it, but what would be the argument against it, other than the value seems inappropriate. For instance - let's say, instead of battle droids, he summoned Booster-Droids. Each one with AID guns, with Variable Advantages. These TEN (!!!) Drones could be boosting everyone on the team!! Or Damage Shield Drones - each with electrified fields (No Range, Radius) around their bodies, just causing general havok on the battlefield. In close quarters, this would be ridiculous. So, AM I missing something...?

So, looking at Summoning, I'm sure I must have missed something. Stop sign aside, it just seems way unbalanced. Example: Trojan Man buys Summon: BattleDroid... A 100 point automaton with a very basic gun. They are 6 speed. Phase 12 he activates the power. Phase 2 they are active, but disoriented. But Trojan man is using his other powers like normal. Phase 4 they are firing their weapons. To buy this (amicable) 100 point Droid, he only pays 40 points. But for 140 points he can summon TEN of them!!! Am I missing something? That's a massive power with the only downside being I have to wait for it to be effective (and not very long at all if I boost it's speed up). Does he need to summon them one at a time? Does he need to take a phase to Ego roll each one of them (meantime, the others are causing mischief)? Obviously, the GM needs to approve it, but what would be the argument against it, other than the value seems inappropriate. For instance - let's say, instead of battle droids, he summoned Booster-Droids. Each one with AID guns, with Variable Advantages. These TEN (!!!) Drones could be boosting everyone on the team!! Or Damage Shield Drones - each with electrified fields (No Range, Radius) around their bodies, just causing general havok on the battlefield. In close quarters, this would be ridiculous. So, AM I missing something...?

Re: Revisiting TAUNT Yup. That makes sense, too. We were toying with other ways to manipulate the battlefield towards H2H combat, and stretching (actual) to reach/grab/pull (think Scorpion from Mortal Combat) was one way, and Teleport Usable on Others would be another. Anyone know the exact combat procedure (it's been a really long time). STRETCHING: Grab Maneuver (Attack Action, end phase) Pull to self / relocate (Str vs their weight) 1/2 phase. Clobber (1/2) phase. TELEPORT: Teleport Usable on Others (Attack Action, end phase) Clobber (1/2) phase. In both cases, I can't hit til my 2nd phase, but in the Stretching example, I've got a hold on them, and they'll need to break free. Also, good chance they don't go anywhere if I hold and hit. Alternately, I could have the Teleport Usable on Others have a linked/unified power to disoriented them. Or create a Damage Shield (constant flailing?) so that they take damage upon appearing in my hex. A better themed version would be a City of Heroes kind of Tank that drops a Fire Patch on his own hex (Area Effect, No Range, Immunity, Continuous?) and then TP's the opponent to the hex. Again, the concept here is to act as a Controller and manipulate the battlefield in favor of my teammates. Thoughts?

Re: Revisiting TAUNT I know in City of Heroes, Taunting then jumping away would get them to chase you. Obviously, only the dimmest of Thugs would really operate that way without some story element. It's hard to see from a villian/GM's perspective, forcing the players to abandon common sense and attack the guy who can probably take it (instead of BrainDrain standing right next to you). Again, I think it's going to have to be character-driven, with maybe a PRE attack to help seal the deal. But huge modifiers for a weakly worded taunt, or obvious attempt to keep them from hurting an ally. If the character literally glowed really brightly, maybe that would help it make more sense.

Re: Characteristics as Powers - Can I REALLY do this...!?! Hahaha - Yeah - I can see it defined as Stretching that goes from your hex to Point A (the length of "Range") and then you can do your Strength via stretching, measures from point A, and not from where you're standing. Kinda weird?

Re: Revisiting TAUNT OK - Bear with me. Re-reading some text makes me think Mind Control IS the right tool. So, we're looking like: Mind Control Xd6 Alternate Combat Value (OCV vs DCV; +0), (Not sure what my OCV has to do with yelling, but, maybe Area Effect Cone or Explosion?) AVAD (EGO instead of Mental; +0*), Set Effect (Attack me with priority; -1) No reason I couldn't also use a PRE Attack before hand. The 6th Edition Combat & Adventuring text reads: Target’s PRE +10 Target is very impressed. He hesitates as above,and only performs a Half Phase Action during his next Phase. He considers very deeply what the attacker says, and may comply with requests or obey orders which seem worthwhile to him. He receives +5 PRE only for purposes of resisting contrary Presence Attacks made that Turn.' I've never really used PRE attacks in adventures before, but I'm guessing even a Macho type guy could (as described above) lose a 1/2 action as he considers if my attack is a clever ruse, or if he should really come smash my brain bucket into a serving tray. Tough choice. And at +20 he's at a 1/2 DVC, so still not small potatoes. Even if I go crazy with the dice roll and effectively "cower" him, that might be right in line with the theme. Anyone cocky enough to call me over, must have something up his sleeve. I'm outta here! The more I think and read about it, the more I think a simple Presence Attack might be the right choice. Modified by the situation, not by points. Hmmm....

Re: Champions Cheat Sheets for Rookies Update: First night went great! We used a projector (and screen) with a CorelDraw Hexgrid on it. Character Icons (color coded and names) were used, and players indicated their moves with Green pen lasers! I had photos lined up for quick-click popups to illustrate people and things. Everyone had pre-made characters, and their origins were fed via text message in pieces leading up to the adventure. Characters that wanted private conversations did so via text message. We used HERO ROLLER app on all our phones, plus mine (GM) were done on the Ipad, mirrored to a monitor via AppleTV (very cool). Cut a LOT of time out. We used laminated Character sheets, and tracked stun, end and body (none done) with Wet Erase markers (Visa vis). They had intentionally low point characters, but got to add 20 more points each round. They ended up naturally as essentially archetypes - a Brick, and Heavy Hitters and a generalist. It was great to see them organically ask for things that the game provided - haymakers, knockback, pushing, running on stun... right on track. And they DID all that - ran on stun to the point of exhaustion, had to take a knee mid-combat, realized that a 4 REC is bad, but better than nothing! And so on. Plenty of regrets, but a really good start. Thanks for the advice!

Re: Revisiting TAUNT Hmmm. That might be a good Unified power. I wonder how a GameMaster would interpret it if I declared I was using my Taunt to disrupt someone's power that had a Concentration or Incantation limitation. I hit them with my Taunt - "I'm gonna bust you up". Then I get a modifier because I just grabbed a handful of cobblestone to redecorate his face. Like INT Drain vs. Concentration...?

Re: Revisiting TAUNT I don't want to do it as a skill roll, but your example does make sense. I especially like the ability to make a roll to break out of it. Ego probably makes the most sense.

Re: Revisiting TAUNT Yeah, I think if it's going to act like an Ego attack, it would need some better special effects than I have been considering. Magneto's helmet would somehow block it out, as would some mystical Dr Strange widget. Would "Jane Ear" suffer more because of her accute hearing, while Blind Fury would take less, since he's missing out on all the gratuitous gesticulation? So, something like this: Mind Control: NND, vs Audio Perception Roll. Affect Desolid, Cummulative (layered taunts), Constant(?), Difficult to Dispell, Set Effect (taunt to action), Stops Working if Mentalist Knocked Out (kinda silly),

Re: Revisiting TAUNT hahahahahahah!!!! Brilliant!!

Re: I like Playing Bricks! Is that wrong? I really enjoyed playing a brick that had a code against striking people. It was pretty much like playing an old 1970's TV Superfriend - Heroes don't hit. I really had to think and maneuver to remain an asset to the team. I was strong enough to grab and hold, or manipulate most villains. Tossing them away from the battlefield was just as effective as entangling them, assuming they had modest movement powers. It was damage mitigation for the team, and we could gang up on the remainders. I effectively had a complication "Must go after armored folk", because I could try to rip them out of their costumes. Very alarming, I would suspect, for poor Tony Stark. Grabbing an immobilizing focuses became another hallmark. Personal favorite: STR usable against Desolid (ultra-dense). Grabbed a Vision type guy while he was desolid, and held his head head underground (no post 12 recovery). Nearly every other villain raced over to try and break my grip before the poor clicker ran out of END. Blowing up robots wasn't a problem for me - even so-called sentient ones. Call me a meat bigot, but I had everyone's attention for about 6 phases. :-) He really should have bought more endurance...

Re: Revisiting TAUNT Hmmm. Yeah, I agree, I should be able to do it IN character - that's the real point. If I don't want a little trail of green Envy Energy to zap my opponent, then it should be character based. I know as a player, if I got taunted to attack a brick (probably not smart), I'd want to hear that I just got mind controlled, or I'm gonna be miffed. Maybe the PRE roll on their part might be needed to see if they fall for it. There isn't really a "Wisdom" stat (not WISE to smoke OR rush the average tank), so either PRE, EGO or INT? Or maybe introduce time into it? Can someone "Haymaker" a taunt? Like spend their entire phase gesturing rudely and bellowing incantations of racial insensitivity, just to have it hit for greater effect the next phase? The cool part there would be (and I know this from experience), I might rush the guy just to get him to shut up (before he says something REALLY crude and lands the Haymaker/argument he's building up to). So, what is it that makes Indiana Jones respond to the threat/taunt of swords with his pistol (and an attitude) and not his whip? Besides common sense. Just Intelligence? Or is that where EGO comes into play. Doctor Doom MUST respond to my insults as a matter of pride. Could I "Place My Shot" or "Brace" my "attack"? Take an extra phase to rub my chin, then say "Oh, I get it! The Brain logo on your chest is supposed to be IRONIC! Have you considered maybe a bus, instead. Obviously a very SHORT bus... Maybe like a Mini Cooper, or..." Surely, he'd have attacked me by the 5th or 6th recovery, right? And if PRE attacks take no time, I could just continually (Autofire? No, be serious) launch them at every opponent on the battlefield. Want me to shut it? Then either launch your "Darkness vs Hearing" power, "Drain Str, Only Usable on Tongues" or "Language Skills, Korean, Usable on Others" right now. Or git off that flying carpet and hit me with that Death Ray! House Hunters is on in like 25 minutes!

Re: Characteristics as Powers - Can I REALLY do this...!?! Wow - some really great things to think about. With a 40 some odd STR, there's no WAY he could function with STR Always On, At Full Power. Think John Carter - jumping all around, etc. So, while I wouldn't TAKE that (or play that character), it would be a good excuse for the discount. But with the Linked modifier, i think it WOULD apply, as a drain of main power would automatically affect all of the others (I think). And if they were unified, for sure. And MAYBE the modifier "Lesser Power can only be used when character uses greater Power at full value" would mean that even a SINGLE point of Drain would zero out every linked power! While that's difficult to conceptualize with the SPX, I think it would still be justified. With CON, you could still take the Linked modifier (keeping in mind the example above). I'd argue it's probably not worth the points unless maybe you have a Hunted NPC who KNOWS and can exploit this weakness (ie: "The Red Crab", a Human/Hermit Crab hybrid who absorbs people's shells). :-)

Re: Characteristics as Powers - Can I REALLY do this...!?! Dunno. They kinda already are. I'm just not sure I can see any DISadvantage to something like CON being Always On, since it already is. Growth or Density Increase Always On create obvious problems. Not sure how "Increased Body" could be justified. Or even STR (since it would be bought down to 0 END).

I did a bunch of thread browsing and wanted to revive the topic of "TAUNTS". I'm building a Brick whose function would be to draw opponent's away from his teammates (Taunt) and save himself the trouble of half-move-attack (make THEM do the walking). The PRE Attack seems to be the best approach. Questions: Could the modifier "Side Effects" be in play, here? As in, every time I use the power, someone wants to belt me? I can see "Gestures" and "Incantation" playing into it nicely ("You! In the stupid hat! $5 says you can't hit me right HERE in the face!" In any case, PRE attack, maybe vs EGO seems like a good approach. The only other thing I can think of, might be a very modified PRE Drain (Ranged) or maybe INT or EGO (depending on what I'm targeting). Maybe AOE, as in targeting the hex (or Explosion or Cone). If the PRE Drain and the PRE Attack are bought as "Unified Power" it might make even MORE sense. I can see having a kind of Damage Shield (they just keep getting more ticked off), or even making it "Sticky" (although that's a bit odd). Maybe Constant or Damage Over Time to represent the continual rerunning of the taunt in the victims mind. Maybe he resists it at first, but the second taunts gets him rushing like a bull. Did I miss anything...?

I feel like I'm cheating on my taxes as I build my character with Characteristics as powers. The Hero Designer lets me add "Always On" to things like CON and STR. Can that be right? I'm building a Brick (think Concrete), and I'm defining the Hard Shell as the basis of everything. So, if I buy THAT as an expensive Resistant Def, it looks like I can then "link" (-1/4) Characteristics like STR and CON and BODY to that Larger power. Is that right? Oddly, I could then (according to Hero Designer) use the 3/4 linked modifier "Lesser Power can only be used when character uses greater Power at full value". So, an expensive "Always On" Resistant Defense gives me a -3/4 modifier to all sorts of Hard-Shell-Themed powers. That seems all kinds of abusive. Am I missing something...?

Re: What Happened to Force Fields? Thanks, guys. That all makes sense (well, enough sense) for us to muddle through. :-)