Dr. Anomaly

I was in a (regrettably short-lived) game that the GM worked very much this way. It was a home-brew system so I'll not discuss "crunchiness", but the flavor was great. We all started as real-world people who'd have some reason to be in, or have some connection to, Cairo. We had an archaeologist (natch), her "publicity" agent, the native "guide" (thief) she usually worked with, and a local officer of the law (VERY honorable and by-the-book). The first session was very long and drawn out, but eventually ended up with us "crossing over" to "the other world." During the crossing we were confronted with a vast hall adorned with 12 great Seals, surrounding a mammoth 13 Seal. Each had a different picture, and the GM asked us to each pick a Seal (portal) based on the image that appealed most to our character, without knowing anything else about what the Seals would do. Either the GM's set-up of what the Seals represented was eerily accurate, or he did some fast behind-the-scenes juggling. In either case, what the selections did were perfect for the characters and their backgrounds. I can't remember what all the Seals were, just the ones that got chosen: Wolf - protection and companionship (by the cop) Book - knowledge (by the archaeologist) Snake - stealth and healing (by the guide -- the healing fit so well because a traumatic event in her past was the death of her grandmother, a local 'doctor'/'pharmacist', who'd been unable to cure herself -- and it had been the heartfelt desire of the child-who-would-be-guide to have saved her) Dragon - personal power (the 'publicity agent') This last one was a surprise to most of us...we had the impression the 13th Seal was not a choice, just sort of a decorative/symbolic center for the rest. Michael (the publicist character's name) was the last of us to choose, and he announced he was picking the Dragon. I think all of the rest of us (including the GM) were surprised, but the GM handled it smoothly. Though we never got to find out (the campaign didn't last long enough) we strongly suspect the Dragon path is one of those "you'll end up master of the world, or dead...nothing in between" sort of situations.

Y'know, it's a slight drift in topic, but I've got to comment on this. This "rule" has annoyed me ever since it first made its appearance, and it's one of those things that I STRONGLY disagree with Steve about. Say, for example, I want to buy a 3d6 EB that will, on average, do about 10 STUN to a target (this is before defenses, mind you). 15 points, you say? Nope...someone else points out that you can do the same thing with Drain vs. STUN (and maybe a smaller Drain vs. BODY linked to the Drain vs. STUN) and since this is more than 15 points, it's the more expensive way and therefore the way it MUST be done. Someone else points out you should use Transform instead, as that can be even more expensive. Yet another person points out you should use Extra-D Movement, Usable As Attack, Ranged, Related Group of Dimensions: Target Moves To Identical World Where Target Has Taken a 10 STUN, 3 BODY Attack -- this is clearly the most expensive yet, so MUST be the way to do it...etc. There's ALWAYS a way to do something a more expensive way, and that's why this "rule" makes absolutely no sense. I'm sure that Steve (or supporters of this "rule") will chime in with words like "common sense", but that doesn't wash. If it's common sense, then why not just leave it to the GM's common sense whether or not to allow a certain power construct into his game or not? Why have an unneccesary meta-rule that breaks down so easily? This is one of MY (admittedly very few) MAJOR PEEVES with Hero. YMMV.

Re: Re: Breaking Personality Stereotypes for the Archetypes [*twitch*] Wal-Mart? Still around 1700 years from now? [*twitch*] [*twitch*] AAAAAARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!

I can't belive no one has suggested "Sabertooth" yet. Make the Weaponsmaster a character who uses a pair of long, curved knives and call him Sabertooth.

For the speedster, what about Redline? "Livin' on the edge, baby!"

Steve, I *thought* that was the intent of the FAQ, but I think in that case it needs to be reworded. Look at this part again: "characters can’t purchase Invisibility to the Unusual Sense Group — to Senses like Danger Sense and Combat Sense that aren’t assigned to a particular Sense Group, in other words" The first part "characters can’t purchase Invisibility to the Unusual Sense Group" is fine, but the second part: "Senses like Danger Sense and Combat Sense that aren’t assigned to a particular Sense Group, in other words" REALLY needs rewording. The way it reads now, it seems to disallow the notion of buying Invisibility against *individual Senses* that are not part of a particular group. The second part there looks like it's talking about these Senses as *individual* Senses, rather than just as part of the "Unusual" group.

Re: Bricks If you've ever seen the animated "Tick", think of Mr. Exciting from the episode "The Tick vs. Education."

Steve, When browsing through the FAQ just now (as I do every so often; there's inevitably SOMETHING I hadn't noticed before) I found this: Q: If a character purchases Invisibility for all Sense Groups, does that mean it’s impossible for anyone to perceive him? A: No. First, of course, there’s the issue of perceiving his fringe (if he has one). Second, and more importantly, since characters can’t purchase Invisibility to the Unusual Sense Group — to Senses like Danger Sense and Combat Sense that aren’t assigned to a particular Sense Group, in other words — it’s not possible to be “absolutely†Invisible. This puzzles me a bit. I know that you can't buy Sense-Affecting powers vs. the "Unusual" group, but I thought that you must buy Sense-Affecting powers INDIVIDUALLY for things that fall into the "Unusual" group. For a number of years I've had an NPC assassin with the power "Invisibility to Danger Sense (No Fringe)". Reading your answer above, it now seems as if this should be an impossible construct. Do you really mean that if a sense falls into the "Unusual" group, you can NEVER buy a Sense-Affecting power to target it, even if bought against that specific sense instead of against a group? If so that makes such senses both too powerful for their cost (even though they cost quite a bit) and a "must have" for practically any character. I dislike things that are so effective they are "must haves" whether they fit character concept or not. YMMV.

You could also take some Regeneration, Only While In Stone Form (-1) or whatever. How much do you need? Well, it needs to be able to restore x2 the BODY stat of the character during the course of the day (while he's stone). Now, apart from funky day/night lengths in REALLY far northern or southern latitudes, figure 8 hours as the shortest day length. Considering how fast Regen works, even just one level of Regen should do it. If you're really strapped for points, you might be able to save a little by bumping the Regen frequency down (once a minute, or every 5 minutes, for example). Just make sure you don't bump it so far down it can't heal x2 BODY score in 8 hours.

That's entirely up to the GM, of course, though Steve has said that Characteristics (even BODY) can be Suppressed, but can't be Dispelled.

That's not surprising. Heinlein drew together MANY of his characters / worlds / timelines with the universe-crossing book "Number of the Beast." Lots of the characters in Beast wouldn't have meant anything to you unless you'd read his other novels/series. "Cat" is a sequal to "Beast", though that's not obvious at first, even if you're read "Beast." Taking all that into account, it's no wonder you were confused.

Don't use Drain; use Suppress. 1) It's much cheaper 2) It has range built-in 3) Sure, it goes away when you stop paying for it, but that could be fixed with 0 END (+1/2) Hit them with a Suppress THEN do the PRE Attack. Lots of bang for your buck!

Yup. It's the Skill "Power" to the rescue! Hulk - Power: Brick Tricks Spider-Man - Power: Web Finesse Superman - Power: [Darn. You got me; I'm not sure what to call this one. Supes probably has several 'Power' Skills: Brick Tricks, Speed Tricks, Vision Tricks? You get the idea.]

Y'know, I THOUGHT he had an INT around there (I knew it was more than Dr. D's) but I couldn't remember which book he was in, and since they're not easy to get at right now, I didn't take the time to dig them ALL out. BTW, which book IS he in?

Well, we've seen threads about what character in the Champions universe has the highest Strength...but what published character has the highest INT?

Or you could use one of the great Champions catch-all powers: Extra-Dimensional Movement, UAA: Transport other "Into My Belly". A bit costly, but it nicely solves a lot of problems. No need to add Darkness Linked To Grab; just define the 'dimension' as having no natural light sources. So on and so forth.

I figured something like that (the reason for OIF). I just like the idea of having to go back to the lab to look something up. I also like the idea of needing an INT roll to be able to *access* the +x to subsequent rolls. Kinda reminds of of Captain Atlas from Golden Age Champions: Has Super-INT, but needs a "normal" INT roll to remember to *use* Super-INT instead of just smashing enemies with his Super-Fists!

Gary, thanks for the idea! I do in fact have "+2 to all INT-based Skills" but I like the idea of also finding a few points for "+2 to all Knowledge Skills, OAF Bulky 'Tome of the Ancients' " that he keeps in the lab, or something like that. You KNOW the type of book I mean: pages 3 feet x 2 feet, 10 inches thick, chained to a wrought-iron pedastle...that sort of thing!

Steve, I understand why you moved the "how do I do the limits on the scroll" thing, as it is in fact a "how-to" question, but I was hoping for a more general "I can apply this in other situations" ruling. What's the official stance on the appropriate Limitation for something that's an Accessible Focus until used, and is thereafter essentially Inaccessible until it wears off / is Suppressed / whatever? How do you find a "middle ground" between OAF and OIF? It starts as one, and ends as the other. Split the difference and call it a net -3/4? If so, what would you call that? A Semi-Accessible Focus? C'mon, throw me a bone here!

The character in question has a 30-point Magic pool. He's not going to be giving ANYTHING out like candy. He is, in fact, a semi-NPC in that I will be go-GMing with another person; he's the character I'll be running when I get to play. He's mainly a scientist-type, but has a small amount of mystic abilities as well. Yes, at long last, I'm creating my ID Namesake: Dr. Anomaly!! (I can think of few things as anomalous as someone who's a scientist AND a sorcerer!) Out of my 350 points, I've sunk 84 in Characteristics and then an *ungodly* amount into Science & Knowledge Skills (24 of each kind [48 total] -- do the math yourself!) He's got a few Gadgets, but the little Magic pool is his "ace in the hole." As a science-based guy, I'm sorta hoping the Bad Guys won't be expecting magic-based effects...at least for the first few encounters, before word gets around. And yes, a "charge" like a potion or scroll is expended until he has time & materials to re-create it in his "lab."

Here's the situation: I'm creating a superhero character who has a small (30 pt.) Magic VPP. One of the main uses of this pool will be to make potions & scrolls for small, useful power boosts (say, 5/5 Armor, that sort of thing). The intent is that to activate a scroll, he has to read it out loud. So, it looks like Focus (OAF) Incant to Start, 1 Continuing Charge (scroll blanks itself after use) Here's the question: the effect (say for this it's Armor) should continue until the time runs out; if the scroll is snatched out of his hands *AFTER* he's read it, it doesn't do anything, since the effect is independent of the scroll once invoked. This makes OAF look like the wrong way to go, since once invoked, it's more like OIF (the scroll did it, but you can't "take the power away" until he's unconcious [and the time thus runs out]) So...should the scroll be OIF instead of OAF? The problem with *this* approach is that it could be taken away from him *before* he uses it, quite easily: clearly an OAF situation. Similar problems occur with potions; just substitute Gestures (drink potion) for Incant (read scroll). Help?

Okay, I admit it, these next two are from a D&D game. Hey, guys, I'm the GM 95%+ of the time, and when given a chance of play, I LEAP at it! In any case, this particular game is run by the owner of my FLGS. Said GM inists that "the dice never lie" so he made us roll our characters 3d6 in order *and* roll twice each on his patented "Good Things / Bad Things" tables (sigh). My characters stats ranged from average (9 STR) to really good (17 WIS) except for one (6 INT). He expected me to play a cleric with that wisdom, so I decided to play a druid 'just because.' I decided the reason for the druid's low INT score isn't that he's stupid, he's just very literal-minded and direct. His favorite quote: "Act first, think later. Stoping to think in the wild will get you killed." So...this druid (a halfling named 'Wren', by the way) has the usual menagerie of small animals around him at all times, even in the city. The scene: the party is trying to find the missing wife of the local brewing magnate. Following her usual routine for the day she disappeared, we've reached the shop of an artist sculptor with whom she had a weekly appointment. My animals are running around and getting into everything while the artist is busy denying he knows anything about the wife's disappearance. While this is going on, his next appointment of the afternoon walks in. She's a good-looking but snotty human woman. She seats herself on a divan, only to shriek when she sees my weasle 'Bloodspiller' perched on the arm staring at her. She leaps to her feet and swings a backhand blow at Bloodspiller while continuing to shriek. I (in character) yell "Hey! Don't touch my weasle!" ...which, as it turns out, is said just as a customer enters the store and sees/hears me yelling this at the owner... Later that same night, same game: for the 2nd time that evening, a player playing a dwarf has to bow out unexpectedly early due to family obligations coming up. The second time I look at the only other remaining player (playing an elf mage) and say "We lose more dwarves that way."

Another option: during the climactic fight after the "we're taking over" speech, a REALLY BIG explosion tears a rift in the dimensions and hurls them 10 years into the future of an alternate world where they won & took over. Show them the consequences of just "doing what the people want" without though about 'fallout' -- ie ending taxes, now what's the government going to use for roads, bridges, & military/defense spending? Press-ganged labor? Show them a totalitarian state that makes Stalinist Russia look like a Sunday school. Let them see the grim hate & quiet desperation of the people *before* they're mistaken for this Earth's copies of themselves. Let them experience attempted lynchings, assassinations, etc. at the hands of inhabitants who mistake them for the country's rulers. Heck, if things work out right, you could even set them up to have to oppose/depose *themselves* -- the "themselves" of 10 years' greater experience & power, backed by a military who serve through fear of reprisal or longing for power. 'Twon't be pretty, but it may make them re-think their own plans. The end of it may find them cast/hurled back to their own time & place; or maybe a grateful scientist helps them out. Or maybe the whole "alternate Earth" encounter is the projection of a very powerful mentalist 'Good Samaratin' who wanted to show them "a glimpse of things to come" if they went through with their plans. Running this over the 4thof July weekend could have a very nice impact, if done right. "Patriotism means thinking for yourself! Patriotism means fighting to reclaim the freedoms on which this country was founded!" -- Resistance 'graffiti' found scrawled on wall of bombed-out building in Washington D.C.

And how often have we seen Clark Kent suddenly whip his head around (because he *heard* something far away), *then* turn on Telescopic (and I assume X-Ray, as it often involves looking through walls or buildings) Vision, mentally exclaim some version of "Great Scott! [insert I-see-disaster comment here]!!" and then engineer some lame excuse to get away to change into Superman & stop the noticed disaster? The point is that his super-hearing *does* seem to be "always on" when the writers need it as a Plot Device; but at other times he seems to have to actively concentrate to overhear a conversation, etc. I can think of few times when it seemed as though any of his various super-Vision powers were always on. Hmmm...there *was* a time, though ...'Superman is returning to Eath [still several planetary diameters out] when suddenly "Great Scott! Paris is missing!"' I suppose an argument could be made in this case for his taking a 'quick look' at the visible hemisphere as he returned, 'just in case,' but there's no in-comic absolute detailing of that, either way.

Danke!