Lucius

Seems normal for me to find it unusable for that reason. Lucius Alexander Then again, normal for me is a palindromedary

Thanks. My information is 30 years out of date and poorly spelled. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary asks how to spell "onomastic orthography"

So a more complete answer to the question of Aiding SPD is: Yes, but it takes 10 pts of AID to increase SPD by 1 and you really really shouldn't. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary offers these words: sane oat hood rugs

My information is 30 years out of date, but.... There was no "Bigby's Hand" spell, there were a number of spells of different Levels with names like "Bigby's Interposing Hand, Bigby's Forceful Hand, Bigby's Clenched Fist" etc. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary says you gotta hand it to that Greywind, without whom we would be misspelling Bigby's name

Well the best way to think of it is not that "The Aid costs more (or less) points" but that "The effect of Aid is reduced (or increased.)" First Thing to Understand: Aid Goes by Active Points. Aiding something doesn't "Add one point" to what was aided, it increases whatever is aided by 1 Active Point. First Implication of That: Remember that Characteristics have different costs. So for example, increasing END by 5 pts costs only 1 Character point. So if you Aid someone's END by 1 pt, they would gain FIVE END pts. (NOTE: They don't really, but we'll get to why in a moment. For now, assume they do.) For another example, SPD costs 10 Character pts to increase by 1. So if you want to improve SPD by 1, you need to do at least 10 pts of Aid. Second Implication of That: Advantages Matter. So say Sgt Xanthrax has the power to shout at his SPD 2 squad and get them up to SPeeD, so to speak. Move it! On the Double, Let's Go, Go, GO!: (Total: 22 Active Cost, 15 Real Cost) +1 SPD, Persistent (+1/4), Usable Nearby (+1/2), Grantor can only grant the power to others, Sticky (+1/2) (22 Active Points); Requires A Roll (Skill roll, -1 per 20 Active Points modifier; Leadership; -1/4), Incantations ("Look alive, or I'll make you wish you were dead!" etc; -1/4) (Real Cost: 15) So if Scaramdrax the Magnificent uses his Encourage Leadership ability (Aid to all Powers with Leadership special effect) and wants Xanthrax to power up the SPD of the troops even more, he needs to do 22 pts worth of Aid! Third Implication of That: Limitations Matter, But Not How You Might Hope. SuperDuperMan has bought END that doesn't work if exposed to craptonite. UnderDoc lends him some vitamin pills bought as Aid to END. SuperDuperMan's END only costs 9 pts for 1 Character point, but the vitamins are not more effective for him than for anyone else. Even worse: A Limited Power that's been Aided is still Limited, so the vitamins are wasted if SuperDuperMan takes them in the presence of craptonite - he technically has more END but still can't use it. Second Thing to Understand: There's a Special Rule for Aid, or Any Adjustment Power, and "Defensive Powers." Adjustment Powers are at HALF EFFECT for Defensive Powers - which includes certain Characteristics such as DCV, END, STUN, BOD, etc. So you don't really gain 5 pts of END for 1 pt of Aid, you gain 3. For 2 pts of Aid you gain 5, etc. To answer in order: Yes, but it takes 5 pts of Aid effect to gain a point of OCV. Yes, but it takes 10 pts of Aid effect to gain a point of DCV. Yes, but it takes 10 pts of Aid effect to gain a point of SPD. "Completely Broken?": (Total: 40 Active Cost, 20 Real Cost) Aid OCV, DCV, SPD 3d6+1 (standard effect: 10 points), Expanded Effect (x3 Characteristics or Powers simultaneously) (+1) (40 Active Points); One Use At A Time (-1) (Real Cost: 20) Increases OCV by 2, DCV and SPD by 1. Costs 4 END per phase. "Compared to This?": (Total: 25 Active Cost, 16 Real Cost) +1 SPD (10 Active Points); Costs Endurance (-1/2) (Real Cost: 7) <b>plus</b> +2 OCV (10 Active Points); Costs Endurance (-1/2) (Real Cost: 7) <b>plus</b> +1 DCV (5 Active Points); Costs Endurance (-1/2), Increased Endurance Cost (x2 END; -1/2) (Real Cost: 2) Increases OCV by 2, DCV and SPD by 1. Costs 4 END per phase. Lucius Alexander Aid Palindromedary

Well, the question was "show me how" and that showed 'em. And in moving to 6th edition, we moved up to two hefty volumes - a briefcase full of rules all by itself. I LIKE the precision and crunch of Hero System, but even I have to wonder sometimes if it's been taken to an extreme. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary on the other hand says it's crunchy and delicious

This is a failure of your imagination. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary thinks if JohnnyAppleseed were to live forever, he'd have time to imagine a lot of things. This might not be a good thing, though.

Having studied the issue, I'm starting to think Transform was the best solution after all. I was mistaken for example in thinking it would have no visible effect until passing a BOD threshold. At least, in 6th edition it can have a visible effect from the moment it's applied. But if someone wants to use Images, here is a build for it. Paint Grenade: (Total: 26 Active Cost, 7 Real Cost) Sight Group Images, +/-1 to PER Rolls, Uncontrolled (+1/2), Sticky (+1/2) (26 Active Points); OAF (-1), Set Effect: Paint it Orange (-1), Can Be Deflected (-1/4), Range Based On Strength (-1/4), 1 Continuing Charge lasting 6 Hours (-0) (Real Cost: 7) Focus, Deflected, STR based Range, Charge, are all part of it being a grenade. Set Effect makes something orange, and Uncontrolled and Sticky keep it orange. Uncontrolled also means it can be washed off. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary takes Accidental Change back to normal, whenever subject to a power that changes its form or appearance.

Sounds like a useful rule, and not just for the Orangeinator. Of course, another issue with Transform is Power Defense. Lucius Alexander Sure the palindromedary looks orange now, but that's only skin deep

edit for clarity: I'm not saying it's something you're doing deliberately. I'd like to think it's something you'd rather avoid doing, which is why I'm pointing it out. I'm not the one you should say "sorry" to. And you don't need to apologize for "trying to discuss builds on a RPG forum." If that were all you were doing, there would be nothing to apologize for. If you read back over the thread I am hoping you will understand and acknowledge that no, that's NOT all you were doing. What you choose to do about that is up to you. As for building paint grenades with Images, I will probably attempt that later on. It may be you're right and it either doesn't work or can't work as well as Transform. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary and I spend a lot of time here not just for love of the game system, but because this is an island of friendliness and civility in an internet that is often anything but friendly and civil. We hope it stays that way.

So, basically, Instant Change, Usable as Attack. What happens when the Orangeinator faces Baredevil, the Man Without Clothes? Sure, Transform can "create out of thin air" but giving Baredevil a coat of orange body paint using that rule seems....I'm not sure. Unless I need to go read the rules again standard effect means it would always effect something up to a certain BOD score, and never effect anything with a higher BOD score. Let me imagine how it plays out.... The Orangeinator vs The Incredible Hulk: Orangeinator: They won't be calling you the Jolly Green Giant anymore, Hulk! *ZAP* Hulk: Oh No! Hulk bright orange! Hulk go away now. The Orangeinator vs The Incredible Hulk, Rematch: Orangeinator: I see the orange has worn off, so prepare to dye again, Hulk! Feel the power of the color orange! *ZAP* Hulk: Little orange man not make sense. Hulk no feel color! Orangeinator: You're entirely green, not a spot of orange on you! What happened? Hulk: Hulk spend XP and buy 1 pt of BOD! Hulk immune to orangeination! Hulk smash now! Orangeinator: *Desperate ZAP* Hulk: Oh No! Hulk forget Transform cumulative by default! Hulk go away now. Orangeinator: Am I spending too much just to turn people orange? Game Operations Director: I'm not sure, but I do know I'm not charging you enough for that Extra PRE, Only vs Orange Targets Lucius Alexander The palindromedary thinks if we use Transform, Marcus Impudite is right, it needs Partial Transform

And if someone new to the forums is earnestly trying to make an idea work, I don't see the benefit of badgering them until they shut up and go away. I haven't actually set out to build this power (I might do so, now) but I don't think, in 6th edition, it has to be complicated. Use Area of Effect: Surface. And no, that doesn't mean five guys (assuming you buy that much surface) can scatter and "get out of the area." The effect is attached to a surface, and they are part of the surface it was attached to. If I throw the paint grenade in an empty courtyard and you pry up one of the cobblestones and walk off with it, the top surface of the cobblestone stays bright orange too. Lucius Alexander Painting a palindromedary's surface

The problem with Transform is that a larger target, having a bigger BOD, is less likely to be effected. A paint grenade that turns Zombie Herve Villachaize a bright orange all over should, if it hits Fat Albert, leave a big bright obvious orange stain. If the attack turns Little Debbie orange but leaves the Hulk just as green all over as he ever was because it didn't have enough BOD to effect him, then we are still building it wrong. I think Johnny Appleseed was right, the solution is probably some form of Images. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary dyes an apple orange, then dyes an orange apple.

By which point I will have selected and raised up the successor species. Lucius Alexander Maybe several species, including palindromedaries

Depends on whether or not you're willing to let Costmetic Transform impose what amounts to a small Complication, a bonus to Perception rolls to see the character. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary says it looks Cosmetic but it's Complicated

I suggest giving each player two characters, not necessarily points-equal, who have some kind of bond. That way when someone dies, there's no awkward "stranger shows up and somehow gets integrated with the group" process - there's already a trusted person who is a logical heir to the "fragments" right there. Of course, then the former "sidekick" can pick up their own sidekick in turn in some natural way without any player being out of the game for any space of time. Lucius Alexander I'm done for my old friend....take the palindromedary and go on without me...

A flogging with a wet noodle? This is news? Lucius Alexander The palindromedary says I ought to, you know, actually read the story before commenting, but that's no fun.

Q: Why don't you see many Half-Orc Ulronai? A: Even Orcs have standards. Lucius Alexander Why are the Ulronai trying to steal a palindromedary? Do they need a reason?

In my opinion, and based on my experience, starting out with such high point totals will not tend towards the kind of game Urlord says his characters want: "•Characters MUST start out as normals, or just slight better, and grow through experience into heroes" I suggest asking the players what they think their starting out characters should be capable of, try building a couple of characters that can do the things they describe, and figuring out from there what the starting totals should be. Or take a look at the package deals for the types of folk you foresee being played, figure out how much that is, and add on something for customization. So if it costs 43 pts just to define a character as an Elf or Dwarf, and then 22 to meet what you consider minimal for a warrior or thief or ranger or whatever, that's 65 pts right there and you probably want at LEAST 10 pts free for stuff to make a character unique and personalized - so at least 75 total points. Find the most expensive "what I am" and "what I do" combination possible, and add 10 or 20 or maybe even 25 pts to it. I doubt you'll find that comes to 300 pts. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary says if it does come to 300 pts, well, start there.

Back to the beginning - Antics with various Powers aside, the best way to fill a glass is with the 3 pt Power Skill (to fill one a time maybe not even make a roll for it.) The best way to fill a swimming pool is to use that Blast Power. edit: Clarification, the Blast is the best choice because the character already has the power and it should be able to fill up a swimming pool. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary says go ahead, have a blast!

Well, I don't think the Variable Swimming Pool is a COMPLETE waste of time - creativity never is, and neither is fun, and it was both. But it is the sort of thing that can give people the wrong idea about Hero. Lucius Alexander "There's a dozen valid ways to ride a palindromedary!" could be a good thing - or could be a bad thing...especially if palindromedary riding is totally optional to begin with

Rather than tracking separate scores for a lot of different factions, wouldn't it be easier to assume that "word gets around" and that if one gang knows you did something notable, they all will soon? Maybe even balance reputation in one world against that in another - the more known and respected you are in the underworld, the more likely the police are to recognize you and suspect you of any crime in the vicinity.... Lucius Alexander anonymous palindromedary

You're absolutely right. I was wasting time with a Variable Swimming Pool when I should have been working on a character for a friend, or figuring out what my players are going to find when they get to Waymeet, or building stuff I will actually USE in either the game I'm running or the game I'm playing in. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary was trying to tell me that, actually, but do I ever listen?

And that differs from what I already have, how? Lucius Alexander The palindromedary finds it curious that someone would think mortality would spare one from grief.

They would? Why? Use two systems. They can be similar, but there should be some distinctions. One is the Lost Way the player characters have rediscovered, that most people either have forgotten or think is just an old legend, and that the Tyrant thinks has been eradicated. The other is the Way of Loss that agents of the Tyrant use to inflict suffering and pain that is so unpleasant even to the power wielder that it is used sparingly even by those licensed by the Tyrant's regime to learn and use it. Give each a slow acting gradual Transformation Side Effect. The Lost Way gradually turns the user pacifistic, picking up psychological Complications that start with things like vegetarianism and lead eventually to a refusal to fight - making over-use of it problematic for revolutionaries. The Way of Loss twists and embitters the user, changing them physically and psychically into a monster, eventually leading to death - and continuing service as a will-less undead minion unquestioningly obedient to the Tyrant and her representatives. Hit Locations. Impairing and Disabling rules. Don't allow Combat Luck to stack with armor (either flatly forbid stacking or make it a mandatory Limitation on Combat Luck.) Long Term Endurance. Check out environmental effects and make sure sometimes the characters get to be cold, hot, wet, or otherwise miserable. Find or generate some good rules for things like disease and infection. Lucius Alexander In a world where palindromedaries were long thought extinct, one man discovers otherwise - and chooses to risk everything for the hope of changing the world forever