Iuz the Evil

Re: Super humans populations in cities I use the "random manifestation" as a part of the reason for superpowers, so there are many, many superhumans in China (and India too). The Indian supers tend to have bizarre (from a western perspective) power sets due to cultural belief structures and the subconscious impact those have on power manifestations - not always, but it cuts down on the "superheroes". The ones they do have are pretty impressive though, as are the villains. The Chinese supers also range widely in abilities, but there are so many that a large number are quite destructive, and have pretty much torn the country apart in raging conflicts between them and the government sanctioned supers. I figured that with a somewhat lower tech level in their military, the Chinese would have even less ability to handle high power supers than the U.S. (who really just can't hack it either in my campaign, if you cut right down to it). That being the case, when a thousand mid-range to high-end superhumans throw down with each other (after decimating the military) it pretty much reduces the country to the stone age. Dozens of super warlords have sprung up in the Chinese countryside, and the government in Beijing is doing their best to deny that there's any problem at all... despite widespread knowledge of these events in the West. The U.S. and it's allies have concentrated on a policy of "containment", and have granted asylum to many Chinese expatriates. Meh, it's not that hard to address the population induced factors. You just have to knock the world into the shape you're wanting to play in...

Re: Now what do I do? Dude that is hilarious... I'm so gonna use that sometime! With the Dr. Evil pinky move too (and other VIPER agents cracking up in the background). Why wouldn't the VIPER agents have seen the Austin Powers movies?

Re: PBEM Submissions: NorCal Heroes! It's four color-ish, more "bronze age" than silver. There will be some Iron Age issues that arise - in relation to lethality, collateral damage, and social themes mostly. NPCs from Dark Champions sourcebooks may be referenced, and some may be encountered, but it's not a Dark Champions campaign per se. It's "my own" Universe, but there are events from the CU incorporated (to the tune of "heavily derived from" - familiar faces from 4th Edition and lots of my own NPCs people this region). Events differ in some significant ways, but this may or may not be relevant to character development, I'm finishing up consolidating the timeline for clarification on this. It's pretty faithful through the Champions Universe (4th Edition) timeline but add five years to most of the dates to make it more 'current'... which would end in 1997. More details on this will follow in a couple days... I've focused more on compiling game resources (such as interactive city maps & pics) for the PBEM than the timeline, but would be happy to assist if there's a specific question regarding a character or event. BFHGs are acceptable, as long as you're not going "casual killer". You might consider variable ammo types for reduced lethality (SRun style gel rounds or something of that nature? Actually, there's a number of rather Dark Champions real-world ammo types that would reduce penetration at the very least as an option). I will be happy to provide additional feedback once I see the character. The group's founder/mentor, Sonnenstern, is a retiring Silver Age hero. His choices of group members will be colored by his Silver Age value set... casual killers need not apply. However, as you will be operating as deputized individuals with regional law enforcement authority (at least until a PC's actions result in this being rescinded), it would be acceptable to use potentially lethal force in some situations... very case by case, should be "heroic reluctance to kill". I'd buy Paramedic if you get the big handguns and lethal rounds, or powers with similar impact on non-resistant defenses.

Re: Favorite Superhero Lines Here's some more I love... Superman: The Animated Series Lois Lane: "I'm confused, Kent. See, I've lived in Metropolis most of my life and I can't figure out how some yokel from Smallville is suddenly getting every hot story in town." Clark Kent: "Well, Lois, the truth is I'm actually Superman in disguise, and I only pretend to be a journalist in order to hear about disasters as they happen and then squeeze you out of the byline." Lois Lane: "You're a sick man, Kent." AND Superman: "Where's your boss?" Robin: "Around..." Superman: "Let me rephrase it... where's Bruce?" The Incredibles Mr. Incredible: "No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know, for a little bit? I feel like the maid; I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for... for ten minutes!" Lucius Best: [bob and Lucius are sitting in a parked car, reminiscing] "So now I'm in deep trouble. I mean, one more jolt of this death ray and I'm an epitaph. Somehow I manage to find cover and what does Baron von Ruthless do?" Bob Parr: [laughing] "He starts monologuing." Lucius Best: "He starts monologuing! He starts like, this prepared speech about how *feeble* I am compared to him, how *inevitable* my defeat is, how *the world* *will soon* *be his*, yadda yadda yadda." Bob Parr: "Yammering." Lucius Best: "Yammering! I mean, the guy has me on a platter and he won't shut up!"

NorCal Heroes PBEM Accepting Character Submissions: The heroes of Northern California have joined forces against the endless super-criminals, eco-terrorists, mutagenic spilling corporate reps, and common scum who trouble the good people of the Central Valley and San Francisco Bay Area (and to a lesser extent the Northern Valley and North Coast). Encouraged to join one another by the retiring Silver Age hero Sonnenstern, they must carve out their destiny and that of the region… while ever more individuals manifest powers benign and terrifying as each generation passes. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, shadowy individuals work to further their evil agenda… Can you protect the masses of humanity from those who would do them harm? NorCal Heroes is going to be a (largely) fifth edition PBEM. Characters will be individuals with abilities sufficient to make an impact on the region, either positive or otherwise, who have chosen to join together at the behest of a retiring superhero (Sonnenstern – cold war era German super, who relocated to the Sacramento area after the fall of the Berlin Wall) who wishes to leave as his legacy a lasting group of protectors for the region. The world is largely as listed in the core Champions setting, with classic and new foes for the heroes to encounter (timeline will be posted on group page). The PCs were selected for their power, skill, and ability to use their gifts judiciously (though not necessarily all of these at once). All characters must set aside 3 points for the "NorCal Heroes" package (as follows). This campaign's tone is going to be fairly four color, but some iron age themes may be explored as well (not going to go all "Authority" unless the players take it there). Player autonomy in decision making is encouraged, though logical repercussions for behavior will be in effect. All characters are assumed to have a standard heroic aversion to killing (0 points) unless otherwise specified and approved by the GM. Feel free to contact me for further information/questions. Character Creation: Base Character Points: 250 Disadvantage points: 150 Maximum Disadvantages from one category: 75 Active points: 75 Dmg Classes: 15 Defense: Normal: 40/ resistant: 30 Combat value: 14 with levels NorCal Heroes Package: Fringe Benefit (Local Police Powers) KS: Known Superhuman Criminals Watched by Local and National News Agencies, 11/less Team Base Donation Team Communicator E-mail Text Character Submissions To: NorCal Submissions

I'm bored... that causes me to generate threads to alleviate my boredom. Topic: Favorite Lines Uttered by Superheroes (movies, comics, whatever) Here's some of mine... Superman: The Movie, 1978 Young Clark Kent: "All those things I can do. All those powers. And I couldn't even save him." Superman: "Easy, miss. I've got you." Lois Lane: "You've got me? Who's got you?" Jor-El: "You will carry me inside you all the days of your life." The Elementals (comic, Bill Willingham) Tommy Czuchra/Monolith: "As of right now we stop acting like we're in some stupid comic book" X-Men Wolverine: "Got any beer?" Bobby: "This is a school." Wolverine: "So that's a 'no'?" Magneto: "We're the future, Charles, not them. They no longer matter." There's more, but I don't want to hog them all.

Re: Super humans populations in cities Population density also might be a factor. Incidence rates of mental illness tend to creep up in more crowded conditions, contributing to large numbers of these individuals in cities, but mostly it's a sampling of a much larger population. I realized long ago that it would be tough to make a living in the sticks in my chosen field when compared to near a major urban area like Sacramento, San Francisco, or the like. The same could be applied to superhumans if their powers arrive through some form of random expression (whether a "mutant gene" or "strange comet dust falling from the sky"). If there is exposure to high technology sources, cities also seem a likely area (hard to be exposed to radiation if there's no research labs, Universities, or reactors around - same story for any other mutagenic source, stockpile of high tech weaponry, or whatever). Your mystics might be another story, given "distant mystic sites" tend to be... well, distant. When 1 in 1,000,000 people (to pick an arbitrary number) exhibits significant levels of superhuman might (350+ points), you'd get 38 in California, but only 3 in Oklahoma. The density of population in large urban areas should likewise skew the number of individuals exhibiting these abilities. Ramp up the ratio and you'll increase your number of powered folks, but the density should remain fairly constant unless you're source of power is Bovine Methane Emission or something like that. Sure you'll get folks manifesting cosmic might in the farmlands of Kansas, but they'll likely move to a major urban area (and possibly work for a great metropolitan newspaper) if they want to knock heads with other supers regularly. I also like McCoy's statement regarding anonymity. That would certainly push folks away from "small town" settings... I live in a town of about 65k people, but would have a really hard time keeping my super-antics concealed. EVERYONE freakin' knows me here, I went through the school system and my family lives here. Trying to keep the fact I'm mega-hyper-radioactive-wombat man under wraps would be just about impossible ("hey, you sound just like this guy from my church choir!"). Anyway, those are my thoughts on the subject. YMMV of course. EDIT: I bet big money that at least one of the three in Oklahoma (possibly even 2 of 'em, though those would be long odds) would be in OKC. The other one would likely be in Tulsa. Rural population is too diffuse, there's like 1/3 of the state population living in one city's greater urban/suburban area alone.

Re: Out Of Ideas Two words.... Tank Boy!

Re: Iyo: The Most Underrated Or Underused Character In Comics I miss the Elementals. Just thought I'd say it... that was a crazy fun read for the first twenty or so issues. Went downhill after Willingham stopped regularly participating in a major way though. Ah well, it was fun when it lasted. And I had a really fun (albeit short-lived) Champions campaign based on them.

Re: Physical or Psychological Disadvantage? Also it would depend on whether it was due to organic damage vs. psychological trauma I think... big difference between your medial temporal lobe being damaged vs. post-traumatic stress induced memory loss.

Re: Physical or Psychological Disadvantage? Anterograde or Retrograde Amnesia?

Re: What's the most ridiculous PC you've ever been subjected to? Ah, but it's his revulsion to the principles espoused by Forrest that drives him! Actually, if you don't buy that one, the disadvantages are cobbled together out of the ramblings in this thread regarding Tank Boy. I put them all in there, pretty much whether they made sense or not.

Re: Help! Would You Allow This? In what way do the limitations you describe restrict the use of the power in the example? I don't see how this can constitute a disadvantage.

Re: Marvel's Exiles: Hyperion Challenge--build a team to beat him! Hmmm... I'm gonna have to go with: 1) Silver Surfer 2) Dr. Strange (preferably sitting safely on another planet and using his powers through his mystic window) 3) Impossible Man 4) Professor Xavier (sitting next to Dr. Strange at least half a world away) 5) Adam Warlock with Soul Gem (hey, you just said no Infinity Gauntlet) 6) Phoenix 7) Exodus 8) Molecule Man 9) Thanos 10) Ultron (best variant) 11) Nefaria Supreme 12) Spider-Man (so someone can crack jokes through the whole fight) That ought to be sufficient... if nothing else, #8 on the list should be able to pretty much render evil-Hyperion down into subatomic particles with a thought.

Re: What's the most ridiculous PC you've ever been subjected to? Just for laughs I made a Tank Boy vs. the Universe poll... check it out heh.

Re: What's the most ridiculous PC you've ever been subjected to? My GM's reaction was initial annoyance, then hilarity. She told me that he was "over the point limit" and refused to discuss it further. I'm sure I'll hear about tankboy later tho.

Re: What's the most ridiculous PC you've ever been subjected to? Ok, here's my 550 point mega-tank hero... bought 200 points disadvantages too. Fear his Amazing Tank Powers!!! TANKBOY (Tom Tompkins) 10/60* Str. 0 14 Dex. 12 10 Con. 0 CHA. Cost = 53 15/25* Body 10 Power Cost = 497 13 Int. 3 Total Cost = 550 11 Ego 2 15/40* Pre. 5 OCV = 5 14 Com. 2 DCV = 5 2/0 PD -1* ECV = 4 2/0 ED -1* Phases = 3,6,9,12 4 Spd. 16 4/10* Rec. 0 20 End. 5 30/0* Stun 0 Pts. Power 5 Instant Change 5 Can't Blind My Sensors: 5 points Vision Flash Defense, Hardened (+1/4), Only in Hero ID (-1/4) 8 Tough as a Tank: -5 Lack of Weakness vs. Normal and Resistant Defense, Only in Hero ID (-1/4) 51 Impenetrable Armor: 30rPD, 30rED Armor, Hardened; Power Has Reduced Effectiveness (20rPD, 20rED vs. all sides but front, -1/2), only in Hero ID (-1/4) 20 Shielded from EMP: 25 Points Power Defense; Only in Hero ID (-1/4) 48 Tough as a Tank (II): Takes No STUN; Only in Hero ID (-1/4) 8 Sensor Suite: Infrared Vision, Ultraviolet Vision, Only in Hero ID (-1/4) 12 Radar Array: Radar Sense; Only in Hero ID (-1/4) 40 Sealed Environmental Systems: Full Life Support, Inherent, Only in Hero ID (-1/4) 9 Doesn't Tire Easily: +6 REC.; Only in Hero ID (-1/4) 29 Strong as a Tank: +50 STR; Only in Hero ID (-1/4), Does Not Affect Figured Stats (-1/2) 20 0 END Cost for STR; Only in Hero ID (-1/2) 20 +25 PRE; Only in Hero ID (-1/4) 16 +10 Body; Only in Hero ID (-1/4) 10 +4†Running; Only in Hero ID (-1/4), 0 END Cost (+1/2) 96 Multipower (Weapons Systems) 120 Active Points; All Slots Are Only In Hero ID (-1/4) 9 u. Main Gun: 8d6 RKA vs. PD; Only in Hero ID (-1/4); 12 charges 9 u. Armor Piercing Shell: 5d6+1 RKA vs. PD; Armor Piercing (+1/2); Only in Hero ID (-1/4); 12 charges 9 u. Concussive Round: 5d6+1 RKA, AE:Hex (+1/2); Only in Hero ID (-1/4); 12 charges 9 u. Explosive Round: 5d6+1 RKA vs. PD; Explosion (+1/2); Only in Hero ID (-1/4); 12 charges 10 u. Heavy Machine Gun: 3d6 RKA, Autofire (5 shots) (+1/2), Only in Hero ID (-1/4); 250 charges (+1) 20 4 levels with Tank Weapon Systems 12 5 levels to offset Range Penalties; Only in Hero ID (-1/4) 7 KS: Military Hardware, PS: Mechanic; PS: Soldier 5 WF: Small Arms, Electronics 10 Base (Soda Shack + Hidden Mechanic Bay) Disadvantages: Pts. 15 Psych Lim: Hears voices of ghosts of Michael Wittman and Nathan Bedford Forrest (common, strong) 20 Psych Lim: Unswerving Commitment to Freedom of All Men Everywhere (common) 15 Accidental Change (Turbo Teen Effect): Into Hero ID, when exposed to Tempera tures above 100 degrees or below 32 degrees, 11/less. 20 Physical Limitation: No Hands in Hero ID (common, total) 20 Physical Limitation: Cannot Swim or Jump in Hero ID (common) 15 Social Limitation (Secret Identity, Tom Tompkins) 25 DNPC: The Teen Gang (8x - it's a "gang", rignt?), Normal (?) (teenagers... sheesh), 11- 20 DNPC: Hottie Girlfriend, Normal, 11/less 20 Enraged whenever someone flirts with girlfriend (Common, cause she's a hottie), 14- (knee-jerk reaction), 14- ('so kay, I'm cool with it) 15 Hunted by T-X Experimental Russian Cyber-tank; Hunter is less powerful (everything is less powerful than Super-M1a), hunter has extensive non-combat influence (through international Russian mafya contacts), hunter appears 11- (not 14- - T-X sometimes has to go and blow people up in the Caucuses, and af ter Super-M1a blows each one up, the next takes a certain amount if time to build), harshly punish (Boom! - it never works, but that's the idea) 10 Watched by Insurance Commision (less pow, NCI), 14/less 5 Rival: Professional and Romantic (Army-Navy jealousy, shore-leave conflicts over native sweeties); Rival is Less Powerful (only 10 Defense); Seeks to Outdo, Humiliate or Embarrass Rival (fielding more sailors for Army-Navy games etc.); Rival Aware of Rivalry (or course): 5pts. Background/History: Transformed by repeated exposure over extended periods to depleted Uranium rounds, Army Tank Mechanic Tom Tompkins now spends his days battling a never ending onslaught of experimental Russian cyber-tanks while fighting for the freedom of all men everywhere under the tutelage of his ghostly advisors (Michael Wittman and Nathan Bedford Forrest). Despite the pressures of his calling as Tankboy, he does his best to relax with his friends the Teen Gang at his secret maltshop/mechanic bay between adventures, keeping a low profile lest the insurance commision finally uncover his secret identity! Quote: “No one is stronger than an Abrams Main Battle Tank!†and “Brrrrrmmmmmmmmmâ€

Re: What's the most ridiculous PC you've ever been subjected to?

Re: Could your Champions character beat... Vindicator - nope, would likely lose pretty quickly to Cap. That shield you built is sick! My poor 350+21xp flying brick/martial artist has little hope in this exchange unless he can get his hands on that shield. Major advantage, Captain America. Singularity - well, I figure his best chance is if he makes the shield too heavy for Cap to pick up (or drag it and Cap if he's holding it up into Low Earth Orbit) with his gravity powers. He's got 60 STR with the density increase, and can pick up a car or something to smack the nimble little fellow, and since it's bought through E/Cs he can use it at the same time as well. If Cap can avoid the shield loss, he'll whup the hell out of poor 350 point Singularity. Avatar - well, being based on like 250 points more than Captain America here, it'd be short, ugly and very iron age. The "no code vs. killing" would be rough for Cap, but since Cap doesn't use deadly force he might only end up in the hospital. It's not "casual killer" after all, and Cap will almost certainly survive either the RKA or the pushed punch which takes him out of the fight thanks to his Adamantium Chainmail and 20 Body. Short fight though. Oceanic - same scenario as Avatar, but he only wins if he's near or in a major body of water. Still based on 250 points more than Captain America (500 point version), but very much limited outside his aquatic environment. Near water (or better yet, in water) there is literally no way that I can see where Captain American can beat him. Tank Boy - nobody beats an M1 Abrams.... nobody.

Re: What's the most ridiculous PC you've ever been subjected to? Oh yeah, I'm using all of those. I need to remember to set aside some points for my Teen Gang hangout base too.

Re: What's the most ridiculous PC you've ever been subjected to? Hmmm.... great ideas. So lemme see if this sounds right. Was thinking of buying "Instant Change" so I can make all the Tank Powers "only in hero ID" for the -1/4 Limitation (Tanks are expensive). And yes, I'm really doing this... Psych Lim: Hears voices of ghosts of Michael Wittman and Nathan Bedford Forrest (common, strong) Psych Lim: Unswerving Commitment to Freedom of All Men Everywhere (common) Accidental Change (Turbo Teen Effect): Into Hero ID, when exposed to Temperatures above 100 degrees or below 32 degrees, 11/less. Physical Limitation: No Hands in Hero ID (common, total) Physical Limitation: Cannot Swim or Jump in Hero ID (common) Social Limitation (Secret Identity, Tom Tompkins) Hmmm... what else?

Re: What's the most outrageous plot your PCs have ever been subjected to OMG... yikes! Ok... I had one villain (Indrith Shalla, in AD&D's Forgotten Realms setting) slip the PC a Philtre of Love, which he drank figuring that he'd "make his saving throw" or some crap like that even though he suspected something was up. Got a lot of mileage out of that one. The rest of the party was rolling on the floor wiping tears from their eyes... right up until he started spilling all the details about their private lives, personal histories, etc to his "ladylove". Ok, that was kind of wrong... but no babykilling rapists there at least. Yoikes! Jinkies guy, that's kind of creepy.

Re: What's the most ridiculous PC you've ever been subjected to? I'm soooo gonna play the M1 Abrams Tank. Bank on it. Hmmm... character background, Army mechanic who was exposed to experimental tank serum and turned into a tank? Anyone? (crickets chirping) I'll find a way to do it... no doubt. Gotta make sure to avoid the CvK though, or I'll never be able to fire the main gun!

Re: Batman vs Midnighter Hmmm... It'd be like this. Batman and the Midnighter come face to face, then a strange anomaly rips the fabric of their universes apart, merging them into a strange... Amalgam! The Batnighter would then beat himself senseless... while Apolloman wonders at his strange conflicting emotions. Yeah? No? Nevermind. That's just silly. It would be ridiculous to just cobble together two comic publisher universes into some crazy amalgam just for shock and sales, they'd never do it.

Re: How do you feel about Superheroes that kill? Great thread Nexus, lots of interesting opinions here.