Midas

Re: Last Dance With Mary Jane...

There's a bit too much of me in all my characters for that to end well...

The traditional thing to do is to go counterclockwise around the planet...

It's a gravitas thing. Going with my example, Peter eventually got over Gwen Stacy (who?) and settled down with MJ.

In roleplaying terms, it's a chance to do a nice "All things come to an end" scene, pick up some motivation...

In powergaming terms, it's a chance to buy off/trade off the Sucky Dnpc complication.

Re: Gods with Off Switches vs. Loaded Guns. DC vs. Marvel in Character Design.

Writers were much more concerned with drama than being accurate.

:think:OK, I know a lot of internet posters are writers, (intending, successful, or failed), but virtually all of us?

Re: Gods with Off Switches vs. Loaded Guns. DC vs. Marvel in Character Design.

How buff would a non powered Clark Kent be?

 

Superman's code versus killing has always scaled with his powers. The Silver Age Superman, with his total code against killing, will always stop the villain. The power is there on his character sheet in the form of that 250 point Variable Power Pool. Area of Effect, Megascale Dispel vs bomb. Special effect: superspeed.

That is an interesting concept. Given that Supe's powers are of a fairly limited list, I'd go with Multipower or resurrect Elemental Control rather than VPP, but let's go with the VPP framework. Let us also handwave "Powers that shouldn't go in a frame" rules for this argument (buy them with Cost End, whatever).

VPP: Kryptonian Powers: 250 point pool

+2 Cosmic

Conditional: Only works in the vicinity of a yellow star (DMO on what that limitation's discount is)

Limited: Doesn't work in the presence of green kryptonite. (as above).

Limited: Defensive powers don't work against magic (-1/4 at best, unless a magical villain is a hunted).

What I'm looking at here, is with the above limitations, what would Clark Kent do when the Off Switch is triggered?

IMO, he's still a Superman, with maxed stats for a non powered character, including some criminology skills. He's not as good as Bruce at getting into the mind of the villain, but he's a pretty fair strategist, still. He's actually *out-thought* chess player villains when necessary (and to be fair, it doesn't come up that often, because he didn't need to).

Now let's add in a SUSC: Green Kryptonite - really max it out, so that when he takes stun from it, it counts as a stun in the "check vs CON" sense.

Here I think we have an interesting role play situation: "Your character has lost all his super powers, and is quite literally dying where he stands. What are you going to do?"

Re: Last Dance With Mary Jane...

As far as the name of the thread goes, my first thought was "Your #1 DNPC is dying in your arms: WWYCD?"

Re: Last Dance With Mary Jane...

Agree. My characters also don't go after jaywalkers' date=' speeders, those who cheat on their taxes, or other non-dangerous crime. My Batman clone might call the cops, but that's about it.[/quote']

 

Mystica - Who has time for these things when there are teenagers summoning demons all across town? Maybe if these teenagers smoked some of this marijuana then they wouldn't be rummaging through the attics of abandon houses and stumbling on forgotten spell books. Look, I'd love to stay and chat but I just got a call that a Morbane has broken into a locked vault of the Campaign City Public Library...

 

My Batman homage is about 50% Batman, 30% Martian Manhunter, and 20% Constantine, so he knows where Mystica is coming from.

 

That said, my character wouldn't notify the police, he'd investigate himself, and eventually add another street contact to his list.

Re: Duck Flavored Killing Attack

I was researching megafauna the other day, and came across this: Bullockornis. Seems a good time to link it.

@Lucius: Sure, it'd be great in a Swashbuckling pirate campaign.

Re: Alternate Sexualities in Champions and Supers settings

 

 

Lets be honest, she's kind of a badass Disney Princess type for plenty of people and Steve being her slightly more capable Lois Lane works pretty well for many people. But the implications of her being completly heterosexul are downright depressing. It's seriously creepy stuff when you think about it, especially considering she's on an island of immortal warrior women that worship the godess fo love (amongst others of course). Have you seen what a liftime of repressed sexual energy does to a young woman with super strength!?!?!

 

This is how I interpreted the original Wondie character. She is, by Paradise Island standards, "Queer as a three dollar bill." IOW completely straight. She had plenty of "dates" over the millenia, but nothing was ever quite satisfying. Then Steve Trevor showed up and BAM! "I don't know what ?it? is, but I like it!

"Oh, my Baby! I had so hoped you wouldn't be 'like that'!"

Re: Point Caps: Why are limitations inferior to advantages?

Blast from the past here.

OK, as I said, I'm trying to explain *why* AX/L =/= X, when A and L are equal.

The answer is that A (advantages) really is (A-a), and L is really (L-l) where the small letters are the percentage chance that the advantage or limitation will apply in a given situation. In 5e small a is usually 0, yet in 6e - when A is reconsidered as DC - small a is a fraction larger than zero. However, in both rules, small l is almost never zero. In essence, even though A and L are the same on paper, in game play, they are not equal.

Re up thread someone said they played in a narrativist style, and didn't worry too much about points: "If it works, and doesn't wreck the game, don't sweat the points." Oh how I wish I could.

Let's take an example from the last two Dresden books, carried into HERO terms.

Harry has had a "radiation accident."

He's traded in that really nasty watched (Wizard's Council: More powerful, harsh, 14- watch), and his hunted (Unseelie Fey, More Powerful, 8-, local) for two contacts (Wizard's council and Unseelie Court), and bought a base (hidden island). To "make the points come out" he also sold back some of his "Godkiller" fireball EB.

Now with a strict point structure, that is exactly what happens: "Buy off your two hunteds and buy two expensive contacts? OK, but you don't have quite enough EP. How about you lose two or three dice from your fireball?"

On the more narrativist front, the ref has to do what Butcher did: " 'Jim,' Harry's fireball is too powerful for what I'm running, I need to knock it back a couple of damage classes, 'k?" Harry, not having 'script approval' takes what he can get. But why should a player be willing to just give up the points?

Re: Time Hero

Brisco County Jr.

The whole background story was about people in the 50th century feeling sorry for the primitives, and sending "stuff" back to advance them. Essentially, they sent three sets of Character Points back in the hopes of improving the lives of people in the late 19th century - Things Did Not Go Well. Brisco eventually had to go back in time and give himself advice on how to deal with an upcoming problem.

Added to that was the villain being from the 25th century and wanting the CP boost for himself.

Re: Point Caps: Why are limitations inferior to advantages?

Still here guys. Just because I don't reply often doesn't mean I've gone away.

Actually, I've been at this a long time.

My nephew and I had been playing Carwars, and went to a convention. Sam brings me this new thing called "Autoduel Champions" to run. I say I'm not into superheroics, but he convinces me to buy this "Champions" system anyway. I remember hooking the team up to the buggy like it was yesterday...

My question isn't really a "newbie" question, or a "game" question, it's a math question: I need to explain to Mathlete (and myself) how the following formula works:

3X over 3 =/= X.

And yes, Lucius and Killer Shrike answered the question, well enough. I'm curious though about the difference between "active point caps" and "damage point caps."

(No, I'm not still playing 1e, but FReD is the last rulebook I've picked up).

This has to do with active costs. I don't understand why advantages that equal limitations are "better." Let me give an example.

If I start a new campaign (genre is irrelevant) and I set the attack point cap at 40 points, with two players, here is what happens.

Captain Simple: OK, I'll take an 8d6 lightning bolt.

The Mathlete: I'll start out with an 8d6 LB, but I want to add; penetrating, area effect (line), and a couple of other things that add up to plus two. And then I'll take no range, and a few other things that total out to -2. So my cost is 40 points, x3, for 120 active points, divided by three, for a real cost of 40.

DM (me): Sorry, I can't take your build.

Mathlete: Why not? It costs no more than Simple's, and I even have to cough up extra END.

DM: It's against the rules. Your forty point build is over the limit, while his forty point build is OK.

Logically, 40 points equals 40 points. As someone who hates the fiat: "Because I said so" argument, why is the second build unacceptable?

Re: Titanoboa

How about supress vs REC?

Re: Feeding a starship crew for a year

I want there to be some "weight" to hauling around the large supplies of food, so the crew PCs see the effects of improvements in food technologies. At low technology a year's food supply for 25 people is a fairly substantial investment of ship space, while higher technologies would feed more people using less space and for a longer period of time.

 

"Weight" in this case ties to the Active and Real point costs, and I'm having a hard time tying mechanics back to the SFX because Life Support: Need not Eat costs 3 points and lasts forever. Fuel Charges are the obvious choice, but of what length and should I use increased charges, the Usable by Others advantage or just pay for the power several times? Ignoring the Charges meta-cap and paying huge advantage values seems to add that "weight" I'm looking for.

 

Which methods and breakdowns will give me incremental rather than exponential changes? Any other thoughts or suggestions (other than replicators)?

 

Chris.

 

I think I'm gonna need a spreadsheet.

I know your main question is with weight and bulk, but I have a suggestion for the mechanic itself. Have it cost END and run on a battery. Peg the speed and recovery on tech level. ie enough food (measured in END points) for twenty five people for say six months, but the recovery would take say a year, at "early" tech, while better tech would bring it down to nine, then six months (the break even point); Then at higher tech you actually have a bit of "spare" - until you invent replicators, and the problem goes away.

This allows your characters to go on "half rations" at need; and to barter surplus, if that interests them, later.

Re: Heroes to Villains

How about going the Spiderman route? Hunted by Authorities.

Re: When I Am the Benevolent Ruler....

if after I have successfully invaded a slice of territory and sacked it's capitol city' date=' I shall not do as so many and burn the capitol's churches and institute my own religion. Instead, I shall allow the churches to stand and pay a sizable tax to be allowed to preach, as well as protection. I shall give it's highest ranked clergy a seat in my own royal court. In exchange for such things, this new church and religion would act as a second machine of state propaganda when asked should I eventually need to amass an army of religious fanatics for some crusade to retrieve the Holy Land, or a holy land.[/quote']

 

You might have a political or even theological problem here.

 

Say you are Aragorn, King of the United Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor, and you've just won the War of The Ring. What are you planning to do with all those Dark Numenorean Priest of Sauron?

Re: When I Am the Benevolent Ruler....

Just as a gangrenous limb must be amputated, sometimes it may be necessary for someone to be permanently removed from the kingdom. This si not a step to be taken lightly and all alternatives must be considered first.

 

When I am the Benevolent Ruler, once it has been determined that a person must be euthanized for the good of the country, they will NOT be publicly/painfully executed "as a warning to others." If already in prison they will be pardoned, in all cases they will be offered positions in the government, treated like family, and showered with gifts. Sooner or later they will develop a minor illness, at which point I will order my personal physician to treat them. Treat them to a fatal overdose of opiates. Their happy and painless passing should preclude any curse with their final breath, their death by apparent natural causes should forestall any heirs seeking revenge, and public displays of my grief at their elaborate funeral would prevent them becoming a martyr for the rebellion.

(Must spread rep)

Are you angling for the post of Evil Vizier, by chance? >

Re: Pirate Hero

Well, the guy with the right strength of wind in the right direction will get as much respect as the fireball expert. Magical Navigators will be really popular, too.

Re: When I Am the Benevolent Ruler....

After squashing a rebellion quickly and with economical efficiency and as little collateral damage as possible' date=' and after trying and publicly executing the rebel leaders and letting the followers return to their homes and families with flogging marks, I shall not teach the populace a lesson by forcing them, their children, or their children's children to fight one another to the death in some arena once a year. Instead, I shall consult my advisers and have a thorough investigation into the grievances that gave rise to the rebellion in the first place and then amend my policies so that said grievances cannot arise to anger the people a second time.[/quote']

 

You say "Killing off whiny annoying teenagers" like it's a bad thing.

 

(I tried to like Hunger Games, I truly did: But did you ever see a monster or slasher movie where you started rooting for the monsters? That is how I feel about "Catnip." Oh please, please! Kill her and put her out of my misery!)

 

Welcome to the board btw.

Re: A campaign wishlist

More Robin Hood than Pendragon. There wasn't much pagan/wyrd stuff left outside the Baltic states by that time, contrary to what the Margaret Mead disciples believe.

 

I'm talking really about going back to the medieval stories and using them as my basis. For instance, although there was no accepted medieval word for 'faerie' until the 14th century, there were stories about what we'd consider now to be faeries. But none of them show any vulnerability to church bells or hallowed ground - and one of them was baptised without any ill effects. The fairy aversion to Christianity dates from a later period (I postulate that it is an allergy acquired over time).

 

Another example: stories of werewolves exist. Theologians debated whether or not it was sinful to kill one. They concluded that it was permissible to kill someone turned to a wolf by God, as God changes the true essence of the thing, so you're actually killing a wolf. It is, however, sinful to kill werewolf created by magic because magic cannot change the true nature of a thing, only its semblance, so you'd really be killing a person.

 

There's also the delightfuly amusing story of a woman killed by eating lettuce, because she forgot to make the sign of the cross over it and there happened to be a demon hiding in it. Talk about devilled food.

 

 

 

Would something like this be of use? It's very much a work in progress, and it's not exactly period-specific (I need to sort out sources a little better), but it's my start on a map of Homeric Greece.

 

Yep, of much use. "My" map is a bit larger, I want a small kingdom in the Crimea, and another at Colchis, but yeah. Re Byzantium, IIRC, the big deal about the Argonauts was that the current out of the Bosporus was too strong to allow oar powered ships to travel upstream. Jason got together a crew of Olympic rowers to get to Colchis. This put the Black Sea on the map, so to speak. That's how it works in my world anyway. I want the Black Sea to be a "pacific" literally. The Trojans allow limited trade upstream, but are very leery of your standard Achaean band of freebooters just wanting to "play tourist."

Re the Fey, it would be funny to have someone wave a cross at one, and have him lecture the character on "idolatry."

Interesting idea about werewolves. In my world above, lets just say that Circe isn't the only one with "transform" and swine aren't the only results. For your ruling, it would be a case of changing the form, not the person: The spell has the variable of bringing out the most salient characteristic. The sailors that Circe changed where, well, "behaving like pigs." But somebody who was more of a raver might find himself a wolf. Not really sure if the legend of Actaeon applies here...

Demon story is cute.

Re: Well, look who just caught up...

I dunno... While I wasn't a Communications major' date=' I was a Drama major, and a speech and debate champion. I know I certainly encountered people who were effective public speakers by instinct alone, with virtually no training or experience...[/quote']

 

I think you are talking about the skill at 11- at least here, though.

 

I'd say Oratory is an everyman skill, with the caveat of amenability. The average person has a 20% chance of convincing a room full of amenable people to follow his lead. I don't think just anyone should be able to sway a neutral, much less a hostile crowd, unless the entire crowd was socially challenged.

 

Charlie Harper, talking to his best (recently deceased) friend: "What's heaven like?"

(Emilio Esteves*): "The women are all beautiful :sneaky:and they believe everything you tell them!"

 

*third best bit of stunt-casting on that show (following Martin Sheen as Rose's father: "Just call me 'Dad'"), and Denise Richards as Charlie's ex, who left him because of his drinking and womanizing - love to have been a fly on the wall during rehearsals for that!.

Re: A campaign wishlist

This is a list of FH games I want to run at some point. Most of them are historical fantasy, reflecting my love of history.

 

Name: The Anarchy (until I can think of a better one)

Status: Under research

Description: Medieval English c. 1140AD. Campaign originally inspired the the Anarchy campaign in ICE's FH/RM RObin Hood pack, followed up by 25 years of historical and archaeological research. Primary problem with this one is that it coincides with my primary period of historical interest: I never stop researching. Fantasy elements will be based on 12th-century stories of the supernatural, not post-Elizabethan ones (as is the case with Ars Magica). Ultimately, I intend to publish as a generic (no rules) sourcebook for general gaming.

So, something in between ICE Robin Hood and Pendragon? I know Pendragon is Tennysonesque, but it doesn't have to be, esp the Pagan, Heathen and Wyrd stuff.

N

ame: Greek Hero

Status: Toying with the idea

Description: Based heavily on Aaron Allston's Mythic Greece supplement for FH/RM, which I've had for more than 20 years and never used. Think Clash of the Titans. Keeping my fingers crossed for the Mythic Hero kickstarter...

 

What's everyone else working on?

I've been kicking around a campaign based on the Trojan era eastern Mediterranean, told from the Trojan POV. Conflated a bit because Phrygia was a successor state to the Hittites, while the Trojan war was fought while the Hatti were still around. In a nutshell, Crete, Troy, and Phrygia try to keep civilization alive while the pirates cities of Achaia try to loot their way around the Med.

Re: Well, look who just caught up...

Or you could go the other way around. Give them as everyman skills to all the "normals" including heroes and superheroes.

The characters with exceptions buy a social complication: "Baffled by social interaction."

Five points: Leonard, Howard, Alan Harper, Zach Young

Ten Points: Raj, Amy Farrah Fowler, Temperance Brennan

Fifteen Points: Sheldon, (maybe Bones belongs here, too).

Re: Looks more dangerous than he really is.

Is this going to be used for a PC or an NPC, as I would probably have a bit of a different approach.

 

What you really need to do is decide what effect 'looking like you are good in combat' will have. There are likely to be positives (increased PRE/Striking Appearance for when people avoid attacking you because they think you will beat them) but also complications (people either shunning you because you appear to be dangerous or seeking you out because they want to test themselves - perhaps Distinctive Features, Hunted, SOcial Complication, Unluck or Negative Reputation).

Hmnn, Striking appearance with a Distinctive Features rebate?

To expand, it is really more of a thought experiment: "How could you simulate this in HERO?" In the module, there are no "random" encounters, but the ref is given about 20 encounters that can be placed either randomly or preset. The character is part of a band of chaotic adventurers explorers might encounter at Duck Tower. So he's not really even an NPC, just an encounter in an outdoor dungeon.

@Lucius: Not just to danger sense, but a general images? With a couple of minor (-0) limitations: Not verses somebody too clueless to understand the danger, not vs somebody who is well aware of this particular Gift of Chaos?

@Christopher. Very good question. It depends, I think, on how you and your players do combat. Is it more like extreme Call of Cthulu, where savvy players spend as much time as possible rooting around for every last clue, or more like old school DnD, where just a general layout and a few perception rolls are all that happens before combat?

While I was typing this I had a thought (OK, so much for this year's allowance). How to do this in Amber. Ref: "OK, after a few probes and feints, this guy seems to be way above your skill level. Do you want to try a different tactic?" Seems kind of a cheat in Amber, though.

Re: Looks more dangerous than he really is.

I'm just not getting it. How does he "seem deadly" in combat? What is the game effect in the original and what effect are you trying to produce?

OK, to back up, in Runequest, worshipers of Chaos get a "gift." It can be incredibly useful (giant strength), just weird (extra toes), or a miserable complication ("No legs, can only move around by crawling"), determined very definitely randomly.

In this case, the gift was "Looks like he has a CV of 12*."

What I'm trying to do is figure the point cost of said gift.

It isn't a skill that he controls consciously, so it isn't acting, though it might be a talent, one that doesn't require a skill check (it just *is*).

Sean's idea of just roleplaying it out works, but "Contact: Referee is also my PR guy" is even harder to calculate.

*RQ uses a D% system, and his real to hit is 25% (about a CV 3) but he *looks* like he should have a 90% chance to hit.

Re: Looks more dangerous than he really is.

Now that is genius: they fight at a disadvantage because they think they ought to! Practical psychology. I like it a lot.

And it works as a common fiction device too. Our hero goes in, knowing he's the underdog, and (usually) gets his tail handed to him the first two times. Then he gets a Can of Spinach and finds out that the antagonist hadn't won the earlier battles, he'd lost them.