MikeyMitchell

Re: Trying to evade con-stun
I'm really surprised nobody has mentioned Damage Reduction, only vs. an attack that does > 30 STUN...

Re: How would you simulate this power?I tend to agree on the CSL as the basis for the build. The most obvious implementation I can think of would be to use Extra Time Limitations on the CSLs. Maybe with an extra Limitation, "cannot start time increment outside of combat" (to prevent starting the countdown before the battle). Probably worth no more than an extra -1/4 (beyond the Extra Time value).

Re: What's the most ridiculous PC you've ever been subjected to?I had a player once request to play Football Hero. This was a powered armor character, except the armor looked like a football uniform (complete with shoulder pads). His attack was an energy "football" formed from power conduits built into the suit, which he would throw at enemies. He was also allegedly fond of Move Through. The character was supposed to be an ex-football jock who just couldn't give it up.I said "no".

Re: Robotic ConstructsAs a (very) loose rule of thumb, I tend to think of anything with sentience (i.e. an artificial intelligence that is self-aware) as being a "normal" character, and anything below that level of sophistication as an automaton. Reason? The STUN stat represents consciousness, and, if the robot is "conscious", then he can be knocked out, stunned, etc.Is that the only way to do it? No, of course not. In fact, you could build a non-technological character who is sentient and still has some of the automaton powers, given a sufficient justification. Or, you could build a sentient AI that still can't be stunned or knocked out because his internal structure is too tough to allow it. It's all about what you're trying to simulate.

Re: Special Drain - Is this possible?

In V4 is it possible to have the "To Hit" get easier for each successful Drain?How would you do it?

Re: The Unusual SuspectsMy current campaign has one definite blended character, and one who might qualify. The definite is a character who is a (literal) cross between Wolverine and Jean Gray, and has appropriate powers - adamantium skeleton, claws, and a VPP of psionic abilities.The other is a brick / shapeshifter / stretcher. Think Odo (from DS9) crossed with high strength and toughness. Not sure that qualifies as a blend, but I think it does.

Re: Superhero Images

Lets give this a whirl:First is Neo-Saint' date=' one of the villains from my Champions game. Just finished this picture a couple of days ago.Second is Lord Rot, another villain from the same game.[/quote']Very nice images, sir. Well done.

Re: How to creat Feedback power?

I want to creat a "Feedback" power inspired by Starcraft.This power drains END from the target and cause BODY damage determined by the cost of the END drained (1 BODY per 4 END).First' date=' I thought doing it by the Drain Power, but this power as a fade rate- I don't want the END to return to the target, only via normal REC.So, how can I build this?[/quote']Hmn. Well, normally, when you Drain points from a CHAR such as END - one affected by normal REC - the Drained points come back according to their fade rate, meaning the character's normal REC doesn't help him.About the only way I can think of right off would be to use Drain with a long recovery time, then put a custom Limitation "Allows normal REC". IMO, such a Limitation would be worth, say, -3/4 or even -1 (it's pretty limiting). Move the fade rate down the time chart to, say, recovering 5 points per month, so it likely won't matter that he recovers the points (he'll already be at full END by the time that happens). Should simulate what you want pretty well.

Re: Need some feedback on this power framework

I believe what Mikey is saying (and IIRC he is correct) is that naked advantages are' date=' in fact, Powers under the rules and, as a default, cost END. You make it cost half END by applying a +1/4 advantage, not a -1/4 limitation.[/quote']Yes, naked Advantages are considered Powers, and do cost END. See 5ER 244-245. (Thanks, Hugh.)

Re: [Newbie] Is desolidification truly unbalancing ?

Hi' date='I'm starting with my first campaign of Champions and I'd like to have a character with the desolidification, nevertheless in the book is strongly advised to keep in mind the possible implication of this power.SInce I'm not expert I'm asking the "sage" of the forum if this power is so truly umbalancing and if it brings real difficulties for the Master.ThanksPS I will be interested even in discover if exist a way of limiting is "umbalancing" effect.[/quote']Jhamin makes some good basic points. Desolidification can be a bugger to manage if it's not controlled carefully. It's a Stop Sign Power for a reason. One extremely dangerous construct is the desolid character who can attack while desolid. Normally, a desolid character has to become solid to attack (or affect the real world in any way). Due to the timing of the game, after the character attacks, he's stuck solid until at least the next Segment (when he can blow a phase to turn desolid, if needed). This is something of a balancing issue - unless you're willing to sit there desolid while the villain gets away, you'll have to become solid at some point, and vulnerable.Mental Powers always affect a desolid character. So do Sense-Affecting Powers like Flash. Plus, the character has to have something that works on him when he's desolid. So, there are some ways to get to him. However, Jhamin's completely right that, unless the GM loads the scenarios with characters who have attacks that exploit these vulnerabilities, the Desolid character is basically invulnerable. It's a tremendous defense.Now, there are other ways to control it besides the defined vulnerabilities. You can get around the penetration of the villain's fortress by making the walls with the Affects Desolid Advantage. You can force the character to become solid or just stand there watching while the bad guys get away. And, it's hard to rescue innocents if you can't touch them.I have a character who can go desolid (special effect - turns into liquid), but I rarely use the power except to penetrate small areas or flow through air ducts. The character has a "Protects innocents" Psychological Limitation, so he usually has to remain solid to act in accordance with it.I think, in the balance, Desolidification depends on the GM and the player not to abuse it. If you have a mature group of players who are willing to work within the genre, it's not normally a problem. If you wind up with a problem, you (as the GM) can control it by throwing in a few villains with the appropriate attacks. Good for players who get a little too cocky in their invulnerability.

Re: Need some feedback on this power framework

Had an idea for a different kind of power framework. Its already in my campaign and I like the way it works so I'm not looking to see if its impossible to do with the system. I just want to know what others think and if it is wrong a way to build it with the hero system. Here goes:The character in question has a 240 pt Magic pool' date=' 48 Control Pool (requires spellbook -1/2, KS: Magic Roll -1/2, only change at base -1/2)Now the character has a set of abilities he wants to use to enhance his pool. So I built it as this:32 EC:Archmage Training (Can only use with spell pool -1/2) 32 A. Master of Elements END 6 Apply Variable Special Effects +1/2 on any spell in pool up to 240 active points. (Cost 1/2 End -1/4) 32 B. Master of Shaping END 6 Make any AE spell selective +1/4 and/or hole in middle +1/4 up to 240 active points (Cost 1/2 End -1/4) 32 C. Innate Spell END 6 Remove skill roll/gestures/ and incantations on spells up to 240 active points (cost 1/2 End -1/4) 32 D. Multi Spell END 6 Make any Spell Autofire 5 +1/2 up to 240 Active Points (cost 1/2 End -1/4) 48 E. Arcane Reach END 18 No range penalty +1/2 and/or Increased Maximum Range +1/4 (Cost End -1/2) 32 F. Delay Spell END 6 Make any spell variable trigger +1/2 up to 240 active points (cost 1/2 End -1/4) Each facet isn't really a power, its an advantage that will tack on any spell he is currently casting from his pool, up to the maximum of the pool (240 Active Points). Now this is the advanced high high level of the training. I have a PC with some of the abilities and its only a 11 pt EC.So is it legal? built wrong? or do you like? Your thoughts please [/quote']There's a basic rule against using naked Advantages in Power Frameworks (see 5ER pp. 244, 311), and also against applying a naked Advantage to a slot in a Framework (see 5ER 245). It's one of those "unless the GM allows it" rules, because such constructs can be very unbalancing. They're a little like cosmic VPPs; unless the player is disciplined and the GM watchful, they can easily become "dial a solution" pools that are vastly more useful than their point costs would indicate.Now, as to your specific construct: Your costs aren't correct. The Active Points required for a +1/2 Advantage on 240 Active Points would be 120 points ((240 * 1.5) - 240). So, your base EC value is 60 (half the Active). Applying a -1/2 Limitation to 60 points leaves 40, not 32. Second, I'm not sure what "Cost 1/2 END -1/4" means. Half END is an Advantage, not a Limitation, so it should be +1/4 - meaning a slot would cost ((120 * 1.25) - 60) / 1.5, or 60 points. (You can't take "costs END" as a Limitation because naked Advantages already cost END to use.)If I were the GM, I also wouldn't allow the -1/2 Limitation on the overall EC, because all the Advantages only make sense when applied to spells, which, by definition, come out of the character's pool. That's only my opinion, of course; your GM is free to allow or disallow as he sees fit.Sorry to be a party pooper, but you did ask...

Re: Superhero Images

Got tired with standard skin tones. Then attempts to make her African-American looked very bad. Then I tried green (Too She Hulk)' date=' Violet (Too Blink), Blue (Too Mystique), and eventually wound up with red.I don't have a name or purpose for her, and no real name (The file is called "sunburn" so I can find her on my harddrive).

Re: Help with "Brick Fu"......Please

I agree-The Ultimate Brick is a worthwhile purchase.The main problem I have with it is that the Power Skil that many 'Brick Tricks" require uses DEX (in most cases) and Bricks are supposed to have the lowest DEX of all the major character types!!!l

Re: House Rules?I have only two house rules. Pulling a Punch in a superheroic campaign imposes a flat -1 OCV penalty (instead of the -1 OCV / 3 DC). Basically, to encourage strong characters to act like heroes and try to avoid injuring people.The second is that the standard STUN multiplier for a KA is 1D6 - 2, rather than 1D6 - 1. An attempt to balance the effectiveness of KAs vs. normal attacks. (And please - let's not start that thread again!)

Re: How do you track END?

When playing HERO FtF I just made sure noone COULD run out of END.In a PBeM it's fairly easy' date=' since there's always notepad.I'd probably recommend going with the GM has a combat sheet on which s/he notes down everyone's END/STUN expenditures. No arguments, no losing it, and it gives him an idea of how people are doing.[/quote']Yes, I think the GM has to keep track. To avoid player 'fudging' if for no other reason. And the other reason - so he has an idea of what's going on - is pretty good too.

Re: Classes of Minds

Used an I-Mac' date=' didn't they?That brings to mind two opposing jokes: "If aliens don't use Windows they MUST be a superior race." and "They used a Mac and it took out their whole interstellar network!"[/quote']Heh heh.Not an iMac, but a PowerBook. (Apple must dump a lot of money into having their computers appear in movies.)But we're grotesquely off topic here, so we should probably halt the Mac lovefest.

Re: Two that make oneI'd tend to treat this as a Summon, as you suggested originally.

Re: IHA Help

Pure Earth Society* - Alluding to keeping the Earth's environment clean' date=' but actually the DNA. Best 'secret society' name I've ever used.*Unfortunately, I didn't make this name up (I don't think). I've used it before in both Champions 4E and in Top Secret S.I. It might be that it's been used by one of these two before, or that I've used it for both gaming systems so long ago that I forgot that I made it up (but it's [i']probably[/i] the former).

Re: How do you track END?I have a combat record database I built. It tracks expenditure of END, BODY, STUN, and other characteristics (in case of Adjustment Powers). It also tracks the SPD chart, current acting character, being Stunned, and has an integrated die roller for determining damage.(What can I say...I got bored one day.)

Re: Off beat question from one of my players about how Hero would handle something.

I remember that in the 1984 (?) edition of Champions, the villian Armadillo had the Psych Lim: Always Anounces What He's Going to Do Before He Does It.

 

Or something like that.

He still has that Limitation. 20 years later, he hasn't yet learned to keep his mouth shut...

Re: Classes of Minds

NOt according to the movie Independence Day... a simple virus can take out a mothership' date=' and its entire fleet! Even easier than a kid firing a shot at a vulnerable control dome...[/quote']Well, the virus in ID was specifically tuned to work against the alien ship. Which wasn't self-aware, and wasn't AI. Heck, Windows often refuses to run even on machines it's supposed to be compatible with... ;)However, an alien civilization that travels from planet to planet, conquering as they go, being vulnerable to a hacker from some backwater called Earth...okay, so you have to suspend disbelief.

Re: Linked or Multiple Power Attack?My position would be this: If he can use the "fire" without having to use the HA, then it's a Multiple Power Attack. If he can only use the "fire" when he hits with the HA, then it's a Linked Limitation.

Re: Character growth potential and speed questionsI think you'll find that progression in HERO is more gradual, more of a continuum than what you've seen in level-based games such as D&D. It's also far more tunable - the character can slowly grow outward as well as upward.IMO, it's much better at modeling how actual people improve. You don't work for 5 years at your job and then suddenly, WHAM! You're a lot better at everything you do. No, your skills grow gradually - and HERO's system models that way better than any other system I've ever seen.

Re: IHA Help

"Humanity's Hope"

Re: Meta-game activities

2. using 'bird's eye view': I typically don't have a problem with this. There are far too many coincidences in the comics and films concerning how characters are arranged. Though a character might not know about the agent hiding behind the corner' date=' if I've placed it on the map I've told the players they can account form him being there any way they choose, but can't target him for attacks, direct or indirect, until they have made LOS. If I don't want to allow this for some reason, I don't put the mini on the map, and let the players know one at a time when they make LOS.[/quote']Bingo. If you don't what the players or characters to know about the presence of something, don't put it on the map. It can be useful to have a small-scale map behind the screen to keep track of objects that are there, but the characters don't know about.