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DreadDomain

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  1. Like
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Sketchpad in Hero Games 2021 Update   
    Don't get me wrong,  I like the two Templates book but certainly not for the layout of the character sheets. Something I particularly dislike about 6E (and I like 6E) is the "wall of characteristics". If a sheet simply lists all the 17 primaries and secondaries in a big block with no attempt to divide them by functions, it's 2 strikes against the sheet in my book.
  2. Like
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Sketchpad in Getting into the Game   
    Hi Crayon, welcome aboard. The Basic Rulebook is a distilled down summarized version of the Character Creation and the Combat and Adventuring books and it probably contains everything you need. It does omit some skills, talents, powers etc. (each section has a sidebar stating what was not included in BR) but it's a safe bet you will not miss them.
     
    Aside from these extra elements, the "Big Blue Books" contain a lot more examples, toolkitting options and guidance. If what you read in the BR feels unclear, go read on the topic in one of the two big books.
     
    As others have said, you don't need to read it all start with the BR only. If you find character creation complex at first, don't worry too much. Character creation in HERO is it's own mini-game and the complexity is very much front loaded. Once in game it really isn't that complex.   
  3. Like
    DreadDomain reacted to Ninja-Bear in TK for Champions 3rd Ed.   
    @DreadDomain don’t worry about it. I started with Hero at 4th so I was already in the TK is basically STR at Range. Like I said I was plucking around 3rd and when I read TK I was hmmm is that what they mean? I’m sure that TK was house ruled a bunch to allow a Punch in 3rd.  So for the character I’m writing up, I wonder if it’s really being munchkin to have both a EC and an MP. 
  4. Like
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Stonewild in Building a Better Hero Block   
    I like this format better than what we have been seeing from HERO games for the last... year... decades... The worst features of the official layout are 1) the wall of characteristics (which you avoid on the sheet by grouping them thematically) and the block of text we often see with powers which you do not quite avoid here but it still feels less cluttered because you took away the costs. Personally, prefer to do away with the advantage and limitation values but add the Active Points of the power and the endurance* cost at the end; like this...  (60AP); END 6.
     
    * But to be honest we quite often totally ignored endurance (less book keeping) which made the game flowing with no  significant loss of anything really.
     
    For Skills and Talents, I prefer to have them one by line (like you have done with complications) rather than skillA 14, skillB 12, skillC 13, etc... because when a sheet as many skills it hard to scroll through  (to save space, I am using 2 columns for skills). 
     
    Again, to save space, I am write DCV and DMCV on the title line with Defensive, OCV, OMCV with Offensive and SPD and Phases with Movement (Title is left-justified, OCV centered and OMCV right-justified).
     
    None the less, I like your layout and the font chosen, it looks really clean.
     
     
  5. Like
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Sketchpad in Building a Better Hero Block   
    I like this format better than what we have been seeing from HERO games for the last... year... decades... The worst features of the official layout are 1) the wall of characteristics (which you avoid on the sheet by grouping them thematically) and the block of text we often see with powers which you do not quite avoid here but it still feels less cluttered because you took away the costs. Personally, prefer to do away with the advantage and limitation values but add the Active Points of the power and the endurance* cost at the end; like this...  (60AP); END 6.
     
    * But to be honest we quite often totally ignored endurance (less book keeping) which made the game flowing with no  significant loss of anything really.
     
    For Skills and Talents, I prefer to have them one by line (like you have done with complications) rather than skillA 14, skillB 12, skillC 13, etc... because when a sheet as many skills it hard to scroll through  (to save space, I am using 2 columns for skills). 
     
    Again, to save space, I am write DCV and DMCV on the title line with Defensive, OCV, OMCV with Offensive and SPD and Phases with Movement (Title is left-justified, OCV centered and OMCV right-justified).
     
    None the less, I like your layout and the font chosen, it looks really clean.
     
     
  6. Like
    DreadDomain reacted to Sketchpad in Building a Better Hero Block   
    Not really, @Christopher R Taylor. The sheets are a bit too basic for my use. I'm thinking we could use something a bit more robust honestly. I'm thinking we'd need the other stats since they do have a purpose in the game. I was playing around with formatting a while back and came up with the following. Still not 100% happy with it, but it's coming along.
     
     

  7. Thanks
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Khymeria in The HERO System Book of Templates OR Champions Heroes: Volume 1   
    Hi Tjack,
     
    Just to be clear Christopher is the ne who has done a great job. I just took the HD file he provided, filled what he had filed off and laid it out in Word (I really need to leard to create an Export from HD).
     
    But I had the same thought. He needs a Fastball Special!!
  8. Sad
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Jhamin in "Old School" Superhero RPG Experiences...Guardians....Villains & Vigilantes/Mighty Protectors?   
    I don't want to sound too harsh but I don't think Champions factors in anyone's strategy nowadays.
     
    Edit: Yes, I agree and empathize with the sad faces
  9. Like
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Sketchpad in Character Template Questions/Feedback requested   
    I like this format. It's nice and clean. Have you set this up as a HD export? I have posted a while ago DC characters (in the download section) 
    using a Word template that I liked but I have no clue how to make it a HD export.
     
    Aldo Regalado has developped a nice format for his Superverse supplement. It may not be the final version but here is a good look at it. Not sure if he has made it available and set it up as a HD export https://tgidragonflystudios.wordpress.com/2019/01/01/champions-character-sheet-thrice-the-charm/
  10. Thanks
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Norm in Hero Games 2021 Update   
    Absolutely agree.
     
    By the way, Extinction Event is such a product. I have not played it but it's the type of product that I would prefer to have from HERO. 
     
    https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/285180/Extinction-Event?term=extinct
     
    Above, @Steve Long describes exactly the Danger International I do not want. Another genre/sub-genre book describing stuff from cavemen to modern. Not what I want. I want Danger International to be a game with a define context and setting, with a clear purpose where readers learn what the game is all about. Is the game about Bondesque/Bournesque spies or is it grtty and down to earth? Is it set during the Pre-War, the Cold War, the War on Terror, the Near Future? What are the stakes? Now, once DI establishes a base context/setting/purpose, I could totally see expansions covering the other eras and style. 
  11. Thanks
    DreadDomain got a reaction from HeroGM in Hero Games 2021 Update   
    Absolutely agree.
     
    By the way, Extinction Event is such a product. I have not played it but it's the type of product that I would prefer to have from HERO. 
     
    https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/285180/Extinction-Event?term=extinct
     
    Above, @Steve Long describes exactly the Danger International I do not want. Another genre/sub-genre book describing stuff from cavemen to modern. Not what I want. I want Danger International to be a game with a define context and setting, with a clear purpose where readers learn what the game is all about. Is the game about Bondesque/Bournesque spies or is it grtty and down to earth? Is it set during the Pre-War, the Cold War, the War on Terror, the Near Future? What are the stakes? Now, once DI establishes a base context/setting/purpose, I could totally see expansions covering the other eras and style. 
  12. Thanks
    DreadDomain got a reaction from fdw3773 in Character Template Questions/Feedback requested   
    I like this format. It's nice and clean. Have you set this up as a HD export? I have posted a while ago DC characters (in the download section) 
    using a Word template that I liked but I have no clue how to make it a HD export.
     
    Aldo Regalado has developped a nice format for his Superverse supplement. It may not be the final version but here is a good look at it. Not sure if he has made it available and set it up as a HD export https://tgidragonflystudios.wordpress.com/2019/01/01/champions-character-sheet-thrice-the-charm/
  13. Thanks
    DreadDomain got a reaction from fdw3773 in Character Template Questions/Feedback requested   
    Personally I believe the 5th format reads much better (and looks better) than the 3rd format.
  14. Like
    DreadDomain reacted to assault in Australian Supervillains   
    No, Toowoomba, but it's all "you have to carry a mask, wear one at work, and even the pubs are weird".

    There is actually one case up here, which potentially means there could be more than one, so the side effects of the Brisbane lockdown are actually a good thing. Besides, I have a box of cheap wine and nothing better to do than design Champions characters...
  15. Like
    DreadDomain got a reaction from slikmar in DC Movies- if at first you don't succeed...   
    I think you are not wrong. JL is a movie with stakes that are much higher than Avengers 1 or 2 and the sense of "holy crap, we will need to pull all the stops to win this" is a lot more like IW. I think trying to catch up was what they were trying to do.
  16. Like
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Ranxerox in DC Movies- if at first you don't succeed...   
    Why is that a problem? Justice League 1 does not have to be the equivalent of Avengers 1 and the end result (only talking about the Snyder Cut here) is nowhere near on par. I am comparing it to IW because it is much closer in theme but to be fair, JL is not IW. It's not the same movie andf it shouldn't be.
     
    There is a lot of built up in the first part of JL. Establishing the backstory of the Mother Boxes, Lois and Martha grieving Clark, the origin story of Cyborg and his relationship with his father. All of this makes the event of the stories more powerful as they unfold. Superman ressurection becomes a gambit because the team feels they will need him to prevail but turning the mother box on to do so will make it trackable to Steppenwolf, let alone connecting with the MB gives a glimpse of the Knightmare which make the whole thing look like a bad idea. Silas rescue and sacrifice is meaningful because of the conection with Victor and because it leads the group to track Steppenwolf, and so on. 
     
    Could it have been shorter? Of course. Could it have been edited down to 2 hours without loosing a lot of the essence. I doubt it. Thankfully, the movie is broken up in parts so it's easy to stop. I might have it a bit mixed up and I would need to rewatch it to see if it is as clean cut but in short:
     
    - Introduction: Reliving the Death of Superman
    - Part 1: Introducing Aquaman
    - Part 2: The Mother Boxes backstory
    - Part 3: Cyborg Origin and introducing the Flash, first showdown against Steppenwolf
    - Part 4 and 5 (it's getting blurry in my memory): The team understands what the Mother Boxes do, Superman is ressurected, they lose the last Mother Box
    - Part 6: Final showdown in Russia (no Russian family involved) and the stare down with Darseid
    - Epilogue: Knightmare, Luthor, Deathstroke, Martian Manhunter and wrap up
     
    This is where the analogies fall apart. Steppenwolf is not Loki nor is he Ultron. He actually feels more like Thanos but is clearly not Thanos. Darkseid is also not Thanos. We see him in the movie but he is the evil looming, waiting in the background. He is actually not that interested in what's happening on Earth until it is reveal that the secret to the Anti-Life Equation is on Earth.
    JL feels a lot more like Infinity War but is also very different. It does not reast on the background developped over dozens of movies. It needs to do a lot of it in the first half. It does not have a cast of thousands like IW so the story is a lot more focused on a single story. It ends with a victory but with the sense that the worst is to come. Baring a miracle there won't be a sequel.
     
    It is now clear that what limited Whedon, was not what Snyder had done.
    I unfortunately have no insight on what plans there were at the studio level and how it would have been managed.
     
    I don't see why. Justice League is Justice League, not Avengers 1, 2, 3 or 4. We can draw parallels and compare because it's often how we analyse but in the end, JL did not have to be any of those movies. It just had to be Justice League. Josstice League really did not succeed at it.
    I was trying to limit myself to the movie made but if we want to go down a bit further into Elsewolrds territory, a Wonder Woman and an Aquaman movie in between BvS and JL would have made a lot of sense. Both establishing the characters (and others as you suggest) and the Mother Boxes in their respective areas.
  17. Like
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Lorehunter in Ready... set... Actions?   
    This is what I would do. Multiple Attacks and Combined Attacks cover a lot of situations.  To avoid or minimise the penalties of multiple attacks, I would take inspiration from Two-Weapon Fighting, Rapid Attack and Penalty Skill Levels. As an example:
     
    Automated Targeting Systems: While using ATS, ranged Multiple Attacks take a half phase and OCV/DCV penalties are reduced by 4 each (33 CP)
     
    You might want to add a condition or two like "Requires a Computer Operations skill check at -3 to activate" or "Drains Battery (Cost 3 END each phase)" both a -½ limitation which would bring the cost down to 22 CP or 17 CP if both are required.
     
    Sub elements come from:
    a. Ignores -2 OCV, allowing to make an additional attack at no penalty (based on two-Weapon Fighting) - 10 CP per level
    b. Counteracts 1 DCV penalty imposed by the Multiple Attack maneuver. It can never raise DCV above the character base value - 2 CP per level
    c. Multiple Attack only takes a half phase (based on Rapid Attack) - 5 CP for HTH or Ranged only; 10 CP for any kind of Attacks.
     
     
  18. Like
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Jhamin in Champions Begins, The writening   
    In my opinion, if the goal is to attract players to try a super-hero game, you want to stick with fairly traditional, modern, superhero art. If you verge into the anime or furries, that will send the wrong signal of what this is about or worse, it will turn people off. 
  19. Like
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Lawnmower Boy in Superman Expy in the Hero Universe?   
    That's a shame. I loved GAC.
  20. Like
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Sketchpad in Champions Begins, The writening   
    In my opinion, if the goal is to attract players to try a super-hero game, you want to stick with fairly traditional, modern, superhero art. If you verge into the anime or furries, that will send the wrong signal of what this is about or worse, it will turn people off. 
  21. Like
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Barton in Champions Begins, The writening   
    In my opinion, if the goal is to attract players to try a super-hero game, you want to stick with fairly traditional, modern, superhero art. If you verge into the anime or furries, that will send the wrong signal of what this is about or worse, it will turn people off. 
  22. Thanks
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Steve in Hero Games 2021 Update   
    Absolutely agree.
     
    By the way, Extinction Event is such a product. I have not played it but it's the type of product that I would prefer to have from HERO. 
     
    https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/285180/Extinction-Event?term=extinct
     
    Above, @Steve Long describes exactly the Danger International I do not want. Another genre/sub-genre book describing stuff from cavemen to modern. Not what I want. I want Danger International to be a game with a define context and setting, with a clear purpose where readers learn what the game is all about. Is the game about Bondesque/Bournesque spies or is it grtty and down to earth? Is it set during the Pre-War, the Cold War, the War on Terror, the Near Future? What are the stakes? Now, once DI establishes a base context/setting/purpose, I could totally see expansions covering the other eras and style. 
  23. Thanks
    DreadDomain got a reaction from Khymeria in The HERO System Book of Templates OR Champions Heroes: Volume 1   
    I just wanted to give the nod to Christopher (@ Khymeria) regarding The HERO System Book of Templates. This is an excellent book to get people started quickly with character concepts that are very well-known. At 5$, it is great value and I want more of this. The fact that the HERO Designer files are included makes it even more valuable. If I may make two comments on the product:
     
    1) It might not have been your choice but why name this supplement The HERO System Book of Templates? I believe it makes a disservice to your product and does not convey the flavor, nor the utility value it's due. I believe Champions Heroes: Volume 1 (assuming there could be more) would have been better at illustrating the goal of the suplement.
    2) This book could be very useful for newbies and using the long form utilitarian character sheet format is a bit daunting for many. Having a short form character sheet excluding cost and advantage/limitation values and diving the stat block by functions (Characteristics, Movement, Offense, Defense, etc) would make the sheet more easily readable. Because you provide the HD file, we have all the detail anyway (well, for those who have HERO Designer). That being said, I understand it is a lot less work for you to use the formay that HD spits out.
     
    Anyway, thanks again for doing this and I hope you will come up with more. Your supplement inspired me to do this right after I bought it (I am sure you will recognise the content of the characetr sheet ) 
     

     
    Thanks again!
  24. Like
    DreadDomain got a reaction from zslane in Hero Games 2021 Update   
    Absolutely agree.
     
    By the way, Extinction Event is such a product. I have not played it but it's the type of product that I would prefer to have from HERO. 
     
    https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/285180/Extinction-Event?term=extinct
     
    Above, @Steve Long describes exactly the Danger International I do not want. Another genre/sub-genre book describing stuff from cavemen to modern. Not what I want. I want Danger International to be a game with a define context and setting, with a clear purpose where readers learn what the game is all about. Is the game about Bondesque/Bournesque spies or is it grtty and down to earth? Is it set during the Pre-War, the Cold War, the War on Terror, the Near Future? What are the stakes? Now, once DI establishes a base context/setting/purpose, I could totally see expansions covering the other eras and style. 
  25. Like
    DreadDomain reacted to Hugh Neilson in Hero Games 2021 Update   
    Actually, I think a far better product than "Psionic Hero" would be an actual "Game Powered by Hero" Heroic Level psychic game.
     
    Maybe it's a "psychics among us" game - these powers exist, but are well-hidden and people work hard to keep it that way.  Maybe it's "noble psionics protecting the mindblind from psionics who would exploit them", or maybe it's various devious groups, each after their own advantage, and their own advantage alone.  Maybe it's modern world, or future-earth, or cold war earth, or scattered across a futuristic galaxy.
     
    But pick one.  One theme.  One setting.  One way psionic powers work.  Whether normal weapons are typically also used or whether they are not.  Whether psionic powers can generate a force field making targets bulletproof or whether a gun is just as fatal to the most powerful psychic as to an ordinary guy on the street.
     
    And write up that specific game that people can read through, pick some stats, gear and psionic powers and build characters they are ready to play at 2 PM next Saturday.
     
    Not a Book of Infinitie Options you could use to build that game, or a slightly different game, or a completely different game, or a thousand and one different games.  One. Game.  that can be played right from the book.
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