jackalope

Re: How To Run Interesting Starship Battles That's definitely one of my goals. I have four players: The Captain (Pilot), the Tactical Officer (Guns), the Science Officer (Scans), and the Engineer (Damage Control). I want to make sure each of them has something to do.

Hi Folks! I just recently started a Star HERO campaign -- this is my first ever Star HERO campaign, but probably my sixth or seventh HERO campaign. So far everything is going pretty smoothly, except the one space combat we ran, which was a total mess. After that combat, I decided to actually read the rules for starship combat and...oy vey. Most days I love the toolbox approach of HERO System, but not today. There are too many options to choose from! So I thought I'd ask the forum for feedback. Which options do you use, how do you run starship battles, etc.?

Re: Fins and Ray-Guns Isaac Asimov's Lucky Star series is very fins and ray-guns, with the added twist of being rooted in hard science.

Has anyone statted up the characters from the Heroes tv show? I haven't done anything in awhile, but I'm finally getting into this show, and if it hasn't been done, I was thinking I'd dust off the Hero books and stat them up, in the fine tradition of my Hero versions of the Firefly crew, MacGyver and many others. (I just checked those old threads, and they're unreadable now that the system doesn't allow html code.)

Re: Show me the PC It'd make more sense to create a new thread along the same lines, since many of the early posts have been rendered unreadable by the disabling on html.

Re: Disads for Dana Scully Okay, now I have my books out and can do this properly: 30 Hunted by the Syndicate (Hunter is More Powerful, Hunter has extensive Non-Combat Influence, PC is very easy to find (implanted tracking device), Hunter desires to Mildly Punish the character (control, impede, experiment, discredit), 14-) The presence of the Syndicate (or at least their representatives in America, the Cigarette Smoking Man and the Men In Black) is felt constantly, even when they aren't directly involved in the story. They clearly were not merely watching Scully: she was kidnapped multiple times, experimented on, forced to term, and made barren; she was assigned to the X-Files at their request, dismissed at their request, reassigned at their request, assigned new partners at their request; her evidence was stolen by them, her investigations were impeded by them, and she was used and manipulated by them. They were unwilling to kill her, but they were constantly "punishing" her for her loyalty to Mulder. It's easy to think of the Syndicate as "Mulder's Enemy," and in many ways they are more Mulder's enemy than Scully's. However that's not what the Hunted disad is for. If Lex Luthor comes round your house and pees in your cheerios every week, he's your Hunted even if you're not Superman. And the Syndicate messed with Scully hardcore, the entire run of the show. I mean she had a mutant alien hybrid baby with superpowers, and it was all because of the Syndicate. 10 Psychological Limitation: Skeptic (Common, Moderate) Fairly self-explanatory. I'm calling it moderate because her religious beliefs can overcome her skepticism, and because her skepticism doesn't cause her to reject reality when it conflicts with her beliefs. She's not fanatical enough about her skepticism to warrant Strong or Total. 10 Social Limitation: FBI Agent (Frequently, Minor) Being an FBI Agent comes with a lot of restrictions and regulations. These restrictions are frequently limiting to Scully's investigations, and infractions can be used against her. This is probably worth a lot more points in reality, but she only needs these 10.

Re: Disads for Dana Scully

Re: Disads for Dana Scully Any belief system that a character adheres to in a meaningful way can be taken as a disadvantage because it can create a limit on the character's behavior, and puts a handy ring through the character's nose that can be used by the GM to manipulate that character. A strongly devout Catholic can be presumed to have a code against killing, to be opposed to aggression except in self-defense, to be opposed to capital punishment, unwilling to use sex as a bargaining tool (no seducing the enemy for example), etc. A more moderate Catholic might have to make an EGO roll to do things forbidden by the religion. Or consider if a Catholic character does engage in premarital sex an either gets someone pregnant, or gets pregnant themself. Abortion isn't an option, and the GM could insist that the character gets married. Clearly, this is all well-within the normal range of things covered by the Psychological Limitation. Religion can also be a Social Disadvantage, if your character is known to be a member of a religion. In some settings (the American South during the Depression) being known to be Catholic would be a serious social limitation (my grandparents, Italian-American Catholics, had crosses burned in their yard while my granddad was working in Alabama, this was in 1956), in others (modern day) less so. But even in modern, tolerant and liberal America is can still be a social disadvantage to be known as a member of a religion, even a majority religion. You become subject to stereotypes, you may have to deal with angry people who want to use you as a proxy for other members of your religion who hurt them, people are more likely to accuse you of hypocrisy and make assumptions about your beliefs, and the morality of your actions may come under greater scrutiny. I don't really agree that Catholicism is a disadvantage for Dana Scully (aside from giving Mulder opportunities to tease her, it creates no real limitations on her character), but it certainly can be a disadvantage for other characters. For Dana I wouldn't give her more than 5 points for it, it's really more of a character quirk than a driving part of her character. Some things to consider about Dana: She is part of the Shadow Government's secret abduction and experimentation program, and was occasionally abducted throughout the series (usually to cover those times Gillian Anderson was pregnant, but it works). A Hunted by the Shadow Government would be appropriate, probably at an 11-. Even a 14- wouldn't be inappropriate, as the Shadow Government/Men in Black (lead by the Cigarette Smoking Man) were a major and constant presence in the series. Most of Scully and Mulder's Disads points should be coming from that right there. She had a tracking device implanted in her shoulder that allowed the Shadow Government to keep tabs on her. Also related to the tracking device is her cancer, which would threaten her life if the implant was removed. I'm not sure if that's a Physical Limitation or Susceptibility, but it's there. She's a member of the FBI, that's a whole slew of Socials right there. Lots of rules and regulations she has to follow. She was Hunted by that weird creepy necrophilliac/demon dude who appeared in two episodes. Later versions of the character would have DNPC (William Scully, 8-) and a Reputation as she became known for her loyalty to Mulder (which would make it difficult to convince her superiors she was acting objectively). A Rivalry with Agent Diana Fowley might be plausible, if you're really fishing for points.

Re: Healing BODY Limit

Re: DNPC: My Cat I was out camping with my dog a few months back, alongside a small, ice cold, very rapid mountain river. I decided to cross the river by leaping from one fallen tree to another. I found myself standing on a log over a section of the river. My dog was whining at me, because she wanted to follow, but she couldn't make the jumps I was making (some clinging and climbing was involved as well). She walked down to the end of a log that terminated underwater, and realized she couldn't follow me that way. She tried to turn around, but the log was very narrow and wet. So she slipped and fell in. The current was far too strong for her to swim against (she's an inexperienced swimmer to boot), and she was headed straight for some rather nasty and jagged rapids. Luckily, she was upstream from me when she fell in, and right after she fell in she shot right under the log I was standing. I didn't even think, I just turned around, dived in, and grabbed her before she hit the rocks. I had no plan, no idea what I was doing, just turned and dove. Because there wasn't anything else I could do! I'm was just incredibly lucky that the spot I dove in at was deep enough that I didn't smash my head in, and that the water wasn't cold enough to send me into shock immediately. As it was, I only lost my glasses. So I could definitely see a pet as DNPC. People get attached to their pets, and do incredibly stupid things to save them.

Re: Jet City Champions Campaign Log

Re: Jet City Champions Campaign Log Yes, Nebula was able to restore them after the battle. Nebula has an "anything to anything" Major Transform.

Re: Jet City Champions Campaign Log Episode Six And A Half: Guys Night Out (December 2nd, 2004) Due to a player absence, this week we decided to forego the continuing adventure in favor of a one-shot encounter. The events described here happened shortly after Episode Six: Even Gods Have Bad Days. Arsenal, Blink Dog and Nebula decide to work on building up a sense of commraderie on the team, which means guys night out! Heading out in their civvies, the three Champions hit a series of bars, and spend the evening getting more and more hammered. But the real hammering is yet to come! As the three stagger across Champion Park, heading to the Champions Tower, Nebula suddenly sobers and yells a warning. His mystic senses detect great danger! With only that scant warning, the three Champions suddenly find themselves under assualt from an extremely irate Anubis! The Egyptian demi-god has been waiting for the Champions, and it's only his self-defeating habit of villanous grandstanding that prevents him from getting the drop on the heroes and pulverizing them. The battle goes poorly at first, especially when Anubis removes Aresenal's eyes! But Arsenal proves he is the world's greatest archer when he manages to tag Anubis with several arrows - targeting by hearing alone!!! Blink Dog also discovers a new trick, teleporting himself above the flying Anubis and delivering a series of powerful drop kicks (and when i say drop kick, I mean that quite literally!). Despite a strong opening, the demi-god proves once again that he is no match for the heroes, and is forced to retreat once again, tail between his legs. But as he dissappears through his teleportation gate, Anubis swears that the Champions have not seen the last of him, and that revenge will be his!

Re: Jet City Champions Campaign Log Episode Nine: Welcome To Utopia! (November 18th, 2004) Having defeated the Column of Misery, Mortar is freed from Nebula's geas. He immediately turns antagonistic, and Nebula attempts to calm him down with a mental command - only to discover that the command to relax causes intense physical pain for the over-amped warrior. Nebula drops the spell, but it's too late to reason with Mortar and he fires on the group. Thinking quickly, Blink Dog grabs his companions and hauls them into Blinkspace as Mortar's rocket explodes around them. Blink holds them there in Blinkspace for a second, then two, before reconstituting them. Blink collapses, exhausted by the strain. The other Champions quickly realize that something has gone wrong. The landscape around them is similiar, but slightly different. Brighter, greener, healthier. Off in the distance, they can see the city of Koba, but it to is different. Gone is the crumbling, poverty ravaged city, and in it's stead is a gleaming metropolis! As Blink Dog recovers, the team tries to make sense of what has happened. A wearied Blink offers to teleport back to Jet City, to make sure the headquarters are still there, whiel the other three Champions make their way back to Koba. Blink arrives in Jet City, appearing in the park that surrounds Champions Tower. Or at least, what should be Champions Tower! The Tower looks much the same, but floating above it is a hundred foot tall holographic statue of a man that Blink does not recognize. He only has a moment to ponder this before something far more shocking happens: Blink Dog is attacked by Blink Dog! The Russian teleporter is shocked when an exact duplicate of himself appears, accuses him of stealing his identity, and attacks him! The two quickly discover that they are far to evenly matched, neither able to land a blow on the other, and our Blink Dog is forced to retreat! Meanwhile, the rest of the team has made some more discoveries. The war-ravaged haven of corruption that was Koba has been replaced by a city that can only be described as perfect. Everything is gleaming and new, all of the people seem happy and healthy, and there are no signs of poverty anywhere! Sure, the city seems filled with strange small flying saucers (saucers which scan our heroes as they enter the city), but otherwise Koba has become a model city. The Champions strike up a conversation with a local shopkeeper, and discover the cause of Koba's good fortune: a man they call The Utopian. Before the Champions can learn more, they are greeted by the Mayor of Koba and her staff, who hail them as "The Utopian's Champions!" Deciding to play along, the Champions convince the Mayor to provide them with lodgings in Koba's finest hotel. They also request a computer with internet access. A few hours later, the Champions have discovered what the heck is going on: Apparently, several years ago this man, the Utopian, ran for office in the United States, and was elected President. Shortly afterwards, Canada and Mexico altered their constitutions, allowing the Utopian to hold the highest office in those lands as well. The European democracies soon followed, each altering their laws to allow the election of the Utopian! Next the dictatorships and monarchies of the Middle East capitulated and declared the Utopian ruler of all. China was the last to go, but even the Red Giant fell under his sway! It seems impossible that one man could unite the world under his leadership without resorting to some sort of trickery - but Aresenal is the first to point out that whiel the Utopian may have come to power through shady means, the Champiosn will be hard pressed to show how Utopian's rule is a threat. It seems that the Utopian has achieved what all people claim to want: world peace, an end to poverty, disease, and suffering, and a world united for the common good. And yet, there are reports on the Internet of a resistance movement, led by a man all to familiar to Aresenal: Craig Vandersnoot, Arsenal's nemesis Mechassassin! The world's most ruthless mercenary, leading an underground revoltuion against the greatest leader mankind has ever known? Champion Girl watches the street below the Champions hotel room, while the team discusses their options. As she watches, a man stumbles out from a door way. He runs, stumbles, and collapses to the ground, clutching hsi head....which suddenly explodes violently! What is going on here? What sort of twisted dimension have the Champions found themselves in? And will they stick around to find out, or leave dealing with the Utopian to this world's Champions?

Re: Firefly HERO Website Up

Re: Unused Bird/Flying Creature Motifs I was trying to come up with a Mockingbird clone, and stumbled on the name Tanager. It's just a small seed-eating sparrow like bird, but I thought the name was cool and exotic.

Re: The New Avengers - Good Or Bad, Threat Or Menace? The owner of the shop I go to encourages me to sit down and read anything I want, with no pressure to buy. I never abuse the priviledge, but I do read a lot of things that look interesting or I hear good things about that I end up not picking up. It's one of the major reasons I shop there and not elsewhere.

Re: The New Avengers - Good Or Bad, Threat Or Menace?

Re: Firefly HERO Website Up Ravers aren't that bad, they just want to feed you drugs and make you dance. Oh wait, you meant Reavers. Reavers are bad. Very very bad.

Re: Best Champions Moment My best Champions moment came while playing a character I only used for a very short time. His name was Dragon Fist, and he was more or less an Iron Fist clone. His gimmick was that he had mastered every single fighting style from Earth's history. Every single one. Anyways, we got into a fight with CLOWN. Yes, CLOWN. I was pummeling on various clowns, when the dancing guy with the damn cane (Softshoe? I forget his name, I'm sure someone knows who I'm talking about) gets behind me and smacks me with that damn cane. So I start dancing, caught in a mental entangle. Having a low ego, I know I will be stuck for awhile...and then I remember Caperiera, and that my character has KS: Dance, and that many martial arts styles have dancing steps in them, and that some martial arts have stylized dance forms. I spent the rest of the fight beating that poor guy up with dance moves, and finished him off with a leaping ballet kick to the head. My special effect OWNED his special effect.

Re: Police Department/Headquarters? I just want to say that CraterMaker and Mark Taylor rock. Truly, thou both art Internet Gods.

Re: Favorite Television Characters What is the GNBoRH?

Re: Favorite Television Characters

Re: Help with Racist Slang Have him be sensible enough to not call people ethnic slurs to their face, but clueless and insensitive enough to use phrases like "I'm not trying to jew you or anything." or "Yeah, we just nigger-rigged it and it got us where we needed to go." That's a very effective way of conveying racism born of ignorance and bad habits rather than actual malice. Such a character may not even consider Italians to be white, and might casually refer to them as daegos or wops, and might describe Catholics as "papists". Even a culturally sensitive character from the 50's will offend the modern sensibilities. After all, to him African-Americans are still "negros", and the term "colored people" is acceptable.

Re: Firefly HERO Website Up