SKJAM!

Re: Wwycd #89 My first four usual characters will investigate as per their usual methods, being sure to keep an open mind. Talion will hand off the case to one of his teammates, as with his luck, Joe (or whoever now has the bio-gestalt power) would accidentally kill himself attacking Talion before his innocence or otherwise could be established.

Re: Please help me with "The Star Chamber" Reading up on the historical Star Chamber might help too. They'll need some way of getting people to their courtroom without anyone finding out where it is--a member who can do group teleport would be very helpful. (And yes, they'll have a courtroom for their pro forma trials of people they've already decided are guilty.)

Re: WWYCD #91 - A matter of Family It occurs to me that if the grandfather is this really awful supervillain type--perhaps those doctors, mystics and healers are all taking the p---? "We'll just tell him that only a transfusion of nonexistent relative blood can cure him. No skin off my nose."

Re: Campaign Help Request: Presenting "Sidekick", another Mark Burnett Production... One of the "black hat" players proves him or her-self the most conniving, backstabbing, ruthless person ever to appear on reality TV. Which is saying something. Do the other black hats vote him off, or concede that this person is *exactly* what a villain should be and make him their leader? Ooh, one of the "black hats" turns out to be an actual "name" villain competing under an assumed identity. But this is only revealed after he's kicked off the island for a truly humiliating performance in one of the challenges. Now he's sworn revenge.

Re: WWYCD #91 - A matter of Family Mask of Justice: Checks calendar. Is still the 1940s. Looks at picture of Madam Sin. No way can she be a woman of over eighty years old, especially since this picture was taken last week. "Wait. The Faceless One is supposed to be my grandfather? And he's dying of a rare blood disease? You realize I could only know that if I actually knew the Faceless One's true identity, the one thing I have never been able to discover?" The Mask would presume that this is another bizarre plot by the Faceless One to lure him into a trap. Rock Bottom: "Madam Sin was black? Cool! Uh-oh. The Blood Red King is my grandfather? The real question is not, will I save him, but why is *anyone* bothering? We all know that he comes back if he dies. There's no point." Calculus: Huh. Interesting. Highly improbable, but interesting. As for the transfusion, Calculus gets his teammate Omnipresent, a medical doctor who can keep his freakin' mouth shut, to perform it. If necessary, by teleporting the blood directly from Calculus to Grandpa. If Calculus can't figure out a way of doing it without alerting the media, he's unworthy of the title "supergenius." Kira Midori: Inappropriate. She comes from the utopian future (though a distant Japanese ancestor might have been Madam Sin) and her archnemesis is a robot. Talion: Is somehow unsurprised. His reputation can only go *up* from being related to an archvillain, so he has no problem with providing a transfusion, but will have to do the vein puncturing himself for obvious reasons.

Re: WWYCD #90: Brainwave Mask of Justice: Continues doing what he does best, only more cleverly. Rock Bottom: Now is at the top of all his classes at Johns Hopkins, and will be filling his spare time reading as much as possible to get more use of his new braininess. Calculus: Has just gone from supergenius to Supersaiyajin of INT. He'll work on making sure this boost is permanent, so he never again has to waste years of his life as a "normal" brain. Also, perhaps now he can figure out a way of protecting his family while he fights crime. Since Calculus has already twice had massive INT boosts, he'd adjust to it much more quickly than my other characters. Kira Midori: Will see if this has also boosted her psychic abilities, and begin working on a way to finally get home. Talion: Will have this new INT fade the moment he tries to use it to improve his life.

Re: GGU NPCs For Review A few thoughts on Buck: Changing his Transform from Minor to Cosmetic halves the radius, which should be reflected by editing the description of the power on the background sheet. I note that the Hero Designer setup doesn't always make it clear that a characteristic has been bought as a power. Case in point, Buck's COM. My draft sheet has Buck at 179 cm and 77 kg, I suspect that the slots weren't changed from the default, which makes this a typo. I'd bought his PS: Student as a familiarity to show he wasn't a very good student. For what it's worth, SKJAM!

Re: What would your character do #83 ? For what it's worth, I feel that it is perfectly okay for a GM to have a villain *attempt* to create a no-win situation for a player character. It is, after all, the sort of thing some villains delight in. It is not (normally) okay for the GM to have the *universe* create a no-win situation. I say "normally" because there are certain characters, especially in Iron Age settings, who are frequently stuck this way. Talion, my guy with excessive Unluck, for example.

Re: What would your character do #88 Wait a moment--I missed an important clue! The team has just been in combat with a powerful psychic. So this whole thing could simply be an elaborate Mental Illusion. Once again, Mask of Justice really shouldn't be affected by this. Rock Bottom is a relatively new hero who hasn't faced many espers--it might take quite a long time to figure out. Calculus *should* know better, but the illusion hits some of his less pleasant buttons. Kira Midori is an experienced psychic herself, and would be the most likely to "roll to disbelieve" the moment the illusion turned fishy. Talion: Well, he has basically no mental defenses, but trapping him in a Mental Illusion means that the psychic is trapped inside it as well.

Re: What would your character do #88 Mask of Justice: *I* point out to the GM that this violates my character's whole concept for not twigging on the moment he met the team leader. (The Mask sees things as they truly are, immune to mental illusions, etc. He doesn't have the rep Horus-Re does though.) The Mask himself becomes extremely concerned; if the team leader could this easily fool his powers, who else could? His effectiveness as a crimefighter is in serious doubt. Rock Bottom: Would have some serious *ew* issues, as he's been sexually attracted to Thunderfist. (Unrequited, naturally.) If the leader's Secret ID can be kept secret, Rock Bottom is good with that. Otherwise, he'll recommend the kid attend Venture Institute for a few years. Calculus: This means that huge sections of Calculus' teen years are complete lies. Worse, it completely justifies his paranoia about the suspicious way the team got back together. He is *so* out of there. Kira Midori: This means the team leader is a telepath of unprecedented power and subtlety, to have prevented Kira from having her telepathy, clairvoyance or precog spot anything wrong. She's not going to be happy with the deception, regardless of the motivation. At the very least she'd expect him to have a massive apology handy. Talion: "Well, that explains why you were such a sucky leader. Except that all the things you did to my brain must have been feeding right back into you." Four years back would be the incident that gave the team their powers, so he'd believe that the kid was empowered then and used his powers to create an adult persona.

Re: WWYCD #86 (I think) In the Mask of Justice's comic book, they are. (Of course, I'm influenced by various anime where people are corrupted/infected by seeds, jewel shards, etc....)

Re: WWYCD #86 (I think) I am presuming that the Old Woman has implanted enough information to make finding the victims within the time limit possible. Mask of Justice: Calls upon his doctor friend for assistance, making a series of rare house calls. He uses his powers to spot the "Seeds of Madness" inside each person's skull, and direct the doctor in brain surgery. The Seeds are safely removed and crushed, saving the world. "Obviously, the Old Woman hasn't kept up with advances in modern medicine." Rock Bottom: Hopes that someone on his team knows the contact number for a supermage, because this is way beyond him (and he has a CVK.) Calculus: Will use his superintelligence to figure out if the threat is real, and how to stop it without killing innocent people. If he can do it without even ever being seen by the innocents, so much the better. Kira Midori: Calls upon her own team's supermage; presumably her psychic abilities are necessary to find the potential victims. No killing, of course. Talion: Mentally contacting him must have given the Old Woman a severe headache, so it must be important. He's the only one who'd even consider for a moment killing anyone, but he's going to be damn suspicious that he's being set up. Again.

Re: Wwycd? #87 Mask of Justice: "If you know that much about me, you must also know that my identity must be kept secret for the protection of innocents. It would be best if you never contacted me again. And of course you must never mention this, lest you be tortured for the information by criminals." Rock Bottom: "So, is this your way of coming on to me? Because it's really creeping me out. Come back when you've learned some courtship skills." Calculus: (thinks) "Is there *no* privacy anymore?" He demands to know where fanboy got his information, and he's not taking no for an answer. Kira Midori: "Peter? Is that you? Because if it is, you really picked a lame body this time." (Peter is an interdimensional trickster figure, sort of a cross between Bugs Bunny and James Bond. He and Kira corresponded for a few years.) Talion: "If you know that much about me, you're also aware that people around me tend to die very messy deaths, right?"

Re: Good places to have battles...and stuff The Cursed Springs of Jyuusenkyo The Wood Between the Worlds (Narnia series) The Finger Museum of Giant Props On a network of ropes above an active lava pit (or alligators, or what have you) The Mall of America (like the one in Canada, only bigger) The Cherry-Spoon Bridge in the Walker Sculpture Garden A minature golf course (while shrunk) A minefield A boxing ring with electrified "ropes" that shrinks at the end of every Turn.

Re: Jet City Champions Campaign Log Hmm, are those "civility laws" still on the books, even if not actively being enforced right now? Because if they are, my characters are going nowhere *near* Seattle/Jet City.

Re: What would your character do #83 ? I have to admit that in some ways, the fact that the Governor/President is such a nutcase is *far* more disturbing than that an innocent man might have been wrongly convicted. After all, the entire idea behind the appeals process is that a miscarriage of judgement *might* in some rare cases happen.

Re: Jet City Champions Campaign Log Hmm. How, exactly, did the Silver Avenger keep Seattle "superhero-free?" I'm thinking he'd have to resort to some pretty Draconian methods to achieve that.... "Aww, look at little Billy, in that cape and mask, playing "superhero". Isn't he adorable? Say, isn't that a PRIMUS van? Why are all those agents getting out and pointing guns at Billy? Stop that, you horiible men! Quick, call the police, those men are kidnapping Billy!" SKJAM!

Re: Wwycd? #84 Mask of Justice: "What, these people again already?" Uses his powers to track them as far as he can, then uses his knowledge of the city to determine where the CoC would be hiding out. Rock Bottom: "Thunderfist, we have a green 1994 Volkswagen Rabbit heading east on 4th Street, am in pursuit, Cartoonist of Crime's gang, please intercept." Calculus: "Given the capabilities of their vehicle, the rate of travel, and their psychology, I should be able to take a shortcut and reach the intersection of Grand and Chicago just before they arrive." Swingline, ho! Kira Midori: The siren on her police motorcycle wails as she follows in hot pursuit, radioing in for backup. Talion: "Wussies. Guess they remembered last time." Calls the police and tells them about the robbery, then starts combing the city.

Re: What would your character do #83 ? Third variation, well....none of my characters like extortion. They'll all try to find ways of preventing disaster without having to knuckle under to this creep. Calculus would probably have the best success, working with Prototype II to find some way of artificially replicating whatever part of the convict's life is essential to saving the planet. I'm fairly sure that the governor will agree to that, "He'll be dead, of course, but his heart will be kept pumping in this special chamber indefinitely."

Re: What would Your Character Do? #58 Mask of Justice: "So, Faceless One, you have finally slipped up!" If it turns out *not* to be the Faceless One, master of disguise, the Mask will attempt to discover whatever bizarre twist created this double. Presuming "Nick" isn't the Faceless One in disguise, he's going to try to discover the Mask's secret ID. (Scoop of the Century and all that.) Rock Bottom: "Home" is the converted firehouse where the New Guard are headquartered. So it's unlikely in the extreme that non-powered Muhammed would be there. Rock would presume this clone/robot/whatever was created by the baddies who made Tao. Muhammed, homeless gay teen, wouldn't even recognize Rock Bottom as himself, despite the family resemblance. He'd be thrilled to meet a superhero though. Calculus: This duplicate is obviously some kind of trick by the people who are trying to ruin his life. Calculus would take down the impostor (non-lethally) and attempt to find out how he was created. Brian: "You mean, you're me with my powers back? You lucky bastard!" neither of them would be willing to share the wife and kid. Kira Midori: Checks to make sure she's in the 'right' universe. After all, her super identity is the same as her civilian ID, given she was born with her mental abilities. A "Kira" who wasn't born in the future with psychic powers simply wouldn't be the same person at all. "Other Kira": "Can you get me home? I'm scared." Talion: "My God, you're what I would have turned out like with super powers? I think I'll just kill myself right now." "At least you *can*, you lucky ****."

Re: What would your character do #83 ? Mask of Justice: (possible innocence) Will investigate this evidence to determine the truth of the matter. If it turns out that the convict *is* innocent, the Mask will prevent the execution by non-lethal means long enough to prove that the politician blocking any chance of a pardon is in fact the real criminal. Because in a Golden Age story, that's the only possible explanation of same. (reformed) Unfortunate, but changing your mind after the fact doesn't mean you don't get punished. Nick will pray for his soul. Rock Bottom: (possible innocence) Will turn the evidence over to someone who has investigative skills. After that, it's out of his hands. (reformed) See Mask of Justice, minus the praying, as RB is agnostic. Calculus: (possible innocence) Will investigate to determine the truth, etc. If full innocence is established, Calculus will attempt to convince one or more teammates (the stealthier ones) to help him pull off a jailbreak for the convict and hide said person away long enough to prove who actually did it beyond a shadow of a doubt so that the court system has no choice but to set the convict free. (reformed) See Mask of Justice. Kira Midori: (possible innocence) Uses her telepathy and police skills to establish the truth of the matter. If the convict is in truth innocent, and the governor/president refuses to take the appropriate action, Kira will leak the information to the press, and to John Brimstone (Scott Bennie's character, a vigilante who wouldn't be afraid to break the law to free an innocent man.) (reformed) See Mask of Justice. Talion: (either) "So it goes." He'll investigate in the former instance, but since he has little or no pull with the authorities, it's likely Talion won't be able to save the guy. Just another miserable day all around.

Re: What would your character do #59? Mask of Justice: "So, the Martians decided to protect themselves from the germs this time, eh?" The Mask will assume his civilian guise of Nick Philips, ace reporter, and allow himself to be captured. Once aboard the mother ship, he'll start a revolt of the human captives. He'll quickly resume being the Mask, locate the alien leader, and challenge said leader to single combat. Since the Mask of Justice is fighting for America, not to mention the world, he wins and extracts a promise from the aliens never to attack Earth again. Just as people are beginning to wonder where that reporter fellow went to, Nick will show up with a plausible excuse for his absence. I love the Golden Age. Rock Bottom: Helps protect Baltimore by smashing robots. The Global Guardians will be dealing with the motherships. Calculus: He and Prototype II will devise some method of disrupting the robots' communications, making them useless. Presumably the Global Guardians will be dealing with the motherships (It's a previous, less galactic version of the team.) Kira Midori: "I hate robots." Will be helping the police deal with crisis management by using her precog to spot upcoming attacks. Talion: Utterly useless against robots, and no one will call him up to deal with the aliens themselves. Probably gets captured early and stuck in a cage for the duration.

Re: What Would Your Character Do? #60 Mask of Justice: Will be able to use his powers to examine the evidence himself, then go out in his investigative reporter identity to crack the case. (He's a Golden Age character. It'll work.) Rock Bottom: Someone else will have to take point. But if you need something smashed, call him. Calculus: Will use his superintelligence to crack the case (possibly right there in the room.) Kira Midori: *Is* the authorities, and the team mentalist. She'll check for tell-tale clues as to who tampered with Captain Fantastic's mind, and lead the police investigation. (Given there's a mind-warper in the vicinity, any pressure from above to stop the investigation will only encourage her.) Talion: "Bummer, man. I'll look into a few things." Talion will blunder around hopelessly, until he accidentally stumbles across the real killer.

Re: What Would Your Character Do? #66 Mask of Justice: Pour cold water on the affected fellow. That usually does the trick. He'd be reluctant to attack the alien (being a Golden Age character with the implications about hitting women) unless his powers revealed that her attractive appearance was merely a disguise. Rock Bottom: " Hmm...I dunno, Thunderfist might just find her attractive, if you like women. Hey, Tao, you're the one with the kitchen sink powers, is this okay?" Calculus: Cold water treatment, and holding breath just in case. His superintelligence should make it plain if his teammate is acting in character or not. Kira Midori: Will do a quick mind probe of the alien to see what she's up to, and make decisions from there. Talion: "Aw, man, the hot alien babes never hit on *me.* Call me if you need me, I'm just gonna go home and eat a gallon of ice cream."

Re: What Would Your Character Do? #63 Mask of Justice: Will investigate to find out why the kid doesn't want to be turned back. If the Mask finds good reason to believe that the child would be in serious danger if reverted (abusive parents, etc), he'll convince the kid to help him set up a situation where that danger no longer exists or is mitigated. Since the Mask comes from a Golden Age setting, the parent/bully/whatever will have learned a valuable lesson and give up his/her/its wicked ways. Then the child, having learned how tough it is to be an adult without an education or job skills, will volunteer to go back. Rock Bottom: Having been kicked out of his home for being gay, Rock has parental issues. He'll try to get the kid to tell him what the deal is. If the kid seems to have gained the knowledge and maturity of a teen, Rock will support his decision, but probably be overruled by the rest of the team. He'll definitely alert the Venture Institute about this prospective student. Calculus: Will point out the disadvantages in not getting a good education, citing the fact that he himself was a dropout and as such has a drastically curtailed earnings potential (He wasn't a supergenius at that point.) "After all, you know these powers will be coming back eventually. That's something to look forward to, right? And you don't want to blow your Secret Identity before you know how to protect yourself." Kira Midori: Is a police officer, and would follow standard police procedures at this point, except for the part where she uses a mind probe to determine the child's current mentality and motivations. If indeed there is good reason to believe that the child's life would be in danger if returned, she'd use her law enforcement and government contacts to protect said child. If the kid's just being a brat, Kira would explain the negative legal consequences of being an adult with a child's mind, and regretfully turn him back. Talion: "No matter what decision I make, it'll be wrong. Oh well, welcome to the team, kid." The team's gadgeteer happens to be a time manipulation specialist, so he can incorporate Krono-Guy's devices into his own arsenal, allowing us to turn back the kid at any time it's necessary. And if he's on the team, it's much easier to find him.