st barbara

To "Soloman" The "heros meeting for the first time will always fight" was always a cliche of "Marvel" comics, but it was not true (or not AS true) of other companies, particularly D C , where heros meeting for the first time would shake hands and team up rather than fight.

Interesting about limitations. When "St Barbara" was first created I took "Protective of innocents, particularly children" as a disadvantage. As the game has panned out, and because she was made leader (against her will) "St B" has sort of developed a "loyal to teammates" disadvantage as well. This may be interesting when we move to our next "dimension" and she has one of only two characters that is crossing over (The other is our current magician "Runeweaver"). Knowing the way I play her feeling of responsibility for the rest of the team will only increase!

"Lightray" your idea of "Legion Tryouts" sounds like something out of "The Mystery Men" ! Now how about a one off scenario featuring some of the characters that didn't make it at the tryouts in the movie. I can remember "The Waffler" and "P M S Woman", but who else was there ?

I have always assumed that there were likely to be people in their early teens (or even younger) reading these boards. This is why I have been known to describe "St Barbara's" former profession as "model" with inverted commas. Many people will get what I am saying, and for those who don't the comment still makes sense. I agree that "PG-13" is a reasonable rating for these boards, although the odd euphamism that may be missed by a young kid doesn't hurt.

We had a scenario in whch our referee had at least a couple of us playing "evil duplicates" of our characters. He sprung this on us with almost no notice and I did a REALLY bad job of playing an evil "St Barbara". I do NOT want to do that again ! As far as whether "St Barbara" could become evil, well it would be simple enough. Push the right buttons (especially her "protective of chidren" mental disadvantage) and watch the multi coloured explosions fly ! We also had a scenario where a person was murdered in front of the team and we were unable to do anything about it. Imagine a little blonde super heroine ("St Barbara") hissing and spitting like an enraged kitten as she is (literally) hauled off over the shoulder of the teams 8ft gargoyle like muscle man ("Blackwing") ! Very Funny !

I think the most amusing thing that we came up with for "Team Zenith 3's" base was (Drum Roll please !) The Giant Clockwork Generator". This was one of our back up power generators and could only really exist because one of our team members ("Widget") had the power to invent thingds out of whatever was handy that worked (Mainly because SHE invented them or was there to ensure that they worked). The generator was operated by a crank handle and was normally cranked up by our muscle man ("Knight", later "Balckwing") but it was geared so that ANY member of the team could wind it up. The sight of 5ft 2", 48 Kg "St Barbara" flying around the crank handle (and yelling out "Whee !") had everyone amused !

What makes a good team depends on the environment that the team is operating in to some extent but here is my take on what a team of supers needs when starting out. To begin with you will probably need a "brick" someone with muscle and an ability to soak up damage. You will also need someone to give the orders, this can be anyone in the team so it is best to leave it to the players (or the referee) to decide who does this. Back to the makeup of the team. After the muscle man the next important type is probably the team scout, this could be someone with flight or super speed, enhanced eyesight can help here but they need to be able to see the situation first and pass on their information to the rest of the team. Every team needs an energy projector and this often works well when combined with the scout ("St Barbara" handles this function for "Team Zenith 3"). Next, someone with detective skills, again this can combine with either of the other characters butit also goes well with team leader. A "gadgeteer" who has a variety of devices is very useful to any team and can handle a number of functions (energy projector, stealthy type, even muscle if he has the right gadgets) Someone with a very versatile power such as a magician with a wide variety of spells is very handy, as also is a mentalist or a stealth expert (with or without invisibility). Take a look at the old "Teen Titans" for example, they had a detective/gadgeteer ("Nightwing"), an energy projector("Starfire") a brick (Wonder Girl), a second gadgeteer/power suit wearer/brick ("Cyborg")and a member with multiform ("Changeling"). Throw in the fact that both "Starfire" and "Wonder Girl" could fly (Or did "WG" only glide ?) and you have most possibilities covered.

Unfortunately the stories in our game are so heavily plotted that we don't seem to have time for romance. I imagine that it might make an interesting idea and it is so obvious that i'm surprised at myself for not suggesting it to my Referee long ago. A litle not so secret romance for "St Barbara" might be a lot of fun, especially if it is scandelous or turns out to be with a villain/villainess.

Oops ! Just thought of another appropriate song for "St B". "Playing With Fire" by The Rolling Stones. I cannot come up with a theme song for my angel possessed illusionist "Zianor" however (Except maybe "That Old Master Painter From The Far Away Hills". Nah ! Don't like that )

Hmm Theme song. I must ask the other players in the game that I am in what they would pick. I would probably modify the title of one of Warren Zevon's songs ("Excitable Boy" to "Excitable GIRL") for "St Barbara' or maybe Barry McGuire's "The Sins Of A Family" although this relates more to her background then her character and powers.

I would be in favour of simply calling her "Scarlet"; especially if she has red hair and green eyes ! Seriuosly (well, semi seriously) try looking up "red" and "lightning" in a thesaurus and see what bizarre versions of "Red Lightning" you can produce.

True "Tim", but Elle would still be recognised, regardless of what portion of her anatomy people were looking at!

Costumes. Well "St Barbara" actually has three costumes that she wears depending on the time of year (and temperature). The one she wears most often is a royal blue gymnastic leotard with multi-coloured colour bursts (meant to represent exploding skyrockets) on it, plus ankle length black boots and a pair of ski type goggles. The outfit is the same as that worn by Olympic gymnasts. She also has her "high summer" costume which is similar except that it looks something like the two piece suits that people use to do aerobics in. In winter she throws a pair of "trackie dacks" (tracksuit pants) and a warm cotton top (still with the multi-coloured skyrocket bursts) over the top of her summer outfit. THe first two costumes have that "sprayed on" tightness that adds to her impact (and hopefully distracts people from her abilities), the third one is worn purely to keep warm.

I've always liked "St Barbara's" profession. "Model" ! It covers such a multitude of meanings ! (Snicker !") The idea of a supermodel superheroine appeals to me as well, although I guess that such a character would have to have a "public I D". The idea of say, Elle Mc Pherson in a skin tight outfit waring a mask and NOT being recognised just seems SO silly !

You say that the character has martial arts and uses gimmicks as well ? How about "An Chi" ? This is a Chinese martial art that relies on hidden weapons and is well described in *The Ultimate Martial Artist". As others have asked, does the character have a "theme" or a particular coloured costume ? Either of these could be used to conjure a name (e g :The Jester who dresses in a medieval jester outfit and uses non lethal weapons such as itching powder, laughing gas and a "joy buzzer" to incapacitate or humiliate his opponents).

To "Assault" So when the "Danger Alert" goes of in your hero's headquarters it starts singing the appropriate song from "The Music Man" does it ? ("I say you've got trouble, right here in River City")

pulp games

Another "pulp" RPG (well, not really an rpg) that you might think about is "Crimson Skies", a great resource if you want to create a dashing aviator hero. It has an interesting "alternate history" background as well with a U S A where The Great Depression was much worse than we know it and the nation "balkanized". The rail system has ceased to exist (or is at least unreliable) and the skies are used for transport, and also piracy ! The creators (forgotten the names now, darn it !) did suggest that they were going to produce an R P G version of what is designed as a game for miniatures or counters. Novels set in the world of "C S " exist a;so and might be worth finding for research.

If we are talking Doc from the film with Ron Ely then yes, he has EVERY martial arts manouvre ! In the climactic fight with the viallainous Captain Seas he uses Kung Fu, Sumo, Boxing and some other martial arts (i've forgotten exactly which ones) , then finishes the fight with a wrestling manouvre (A drop kick!)

Iron may be common "Killer Shrike", but many magical creature are vulnerable, not just to iron, but to "cold iron". That is, iron that has been "worked' (turned into a weapon or whatever) "cold" ie without being heated. THAT is going to be decidedly less common than plain old iron, especially in this day and age. This is , I believe, "St Barbara's" hundredth post by the way. Seems to have taken a long time (and the death of a computer) but I got here ! Hooray !

But of course "Crimson Arrow" ! We all know that all undead "south of the border" can be hurt by wrestling moves !

Hmm "Pinecone" The idea of a super powered "Masked Mexican Wrestler" certainly has appeal. Have you seen the cartoon "Mucha Lucha"? You can get lots of ideas from that. Or were you just thinking of a "Lucha" campaign using normals? That could be fun too, but I think that I would prefer the "super powered" version !

What was that about "Teen Titans" "Umbra" ? This is one of the few moments when I wish i was a "Seppo" (American). Just so I could have a look at that !

You realize that the Yo-Yo that we now think of as a toy was originally a weapon, don't you ? What about giving the character a series of trick yo-yo's in addition to the other powers (or instead of) ?

Like the idea "Crimson Arrow" ! Could "Rumpleteaser" be some sort of shape shifting seductress, perhaps with mental illusion powers (or even images) ?

A sexy Maryann eh "Hermit" ! I think I could deal with that ! Heh! Heh!