Lucius

Of course I remember that thread.
 
It was probably inevitable that I write it up.
 
Variable Babe Pool, 50 base + 84 control cost, (92 Active Points); OAF Immobile (Swimming Pool; -2), Limited Special Effect Uncommon SFX (Babes; -1) Real Cost:60
 
Slots
 
Call Bimbo: Summon 20-point Babe, Weak-Willed -4 on EGO Rolls (+1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (8 Active Points); Extra Time (20 Minutes, Only to Activate, -1 1/4), Arrives Under Own Power (-1/2)
 
Bevy of Bimbos: Summon 8 20-point Babe, Weak-Willed -4 on EGO Rolls (+1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (38 Active Points); Extra Time (1 Hour, Only to Activate, -1 1/2), Arrives Under Own Power (-1/2)
 
Call Bitch: Summon 175-point Babe, Variable Special Effects (Limited Group of SFX; So many ways to be a bitch...; +1/4), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Expanded Class of Beings (Limited Group: Bitches; So many kinds of bitches...; +1/2) (79 Active Points); No Conscious Control (Only Effects cannot be controlled; You don't pick the bitch; the bitch picks you; -1), Antagonistic Hostile (-1/2), Arrives Under Own Power (-1/2)
 
Pack of Bitches: Summon 4 125-point Babe, Variable Special Effects (Limited Group of SFX; So many ways to be a bitch...; +1/4), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Expanded Class of Beings (Limited Group: Bitches; So many kinds of bitches...; +1/2) (79 Active Points); No Conscious Control (Only Effects cannot be controlled; You don't pick the bitch; the bitch picks you; -1), Antagonistic Hostile (-1/2), Arrives Under Own Power (-1/2)
 
Starlet, Stripper, or Strumpet: Summon 75-point Babe, Expanded Class of Beings (Very Limited Group; Also Escorts, Models, Nurses...; +1/4), Friendly (x2 as many tasks; +1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (34 Active Points); Extra Time (1 Hour, Only to Activate, -1 1/2), Arrives Under Own Power (-1/2)
 
Troupe of Starlets, Strippers, and/or Strumpets: Summon 16 75-point Babe, Expanded Class of Beings (Very Limited Group; Also Escorts, Models, Nurses...; +1/4), Friendly (x2 as many tasks; +1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (79 Active Points); Extra Time (1 Day, Only to Activate, -2), Arrives Under Own Power (-1/2)
 
Call Moll: Summon 90-point Babe, Trigger (Activating the Trigger requires a Zero Phase Action, Trigger requires a Turn or more to reset, Character does not control activation of personal Trigger, Trigger can expire (it has a time limit); This simply means that if the Moll has unused "tasks" and the character does not, or is not in a position to, give orders, the moll will execute some logical "task" unprompted. Examples of such spontaneous tasks: Arrange bail, call the lawyer, call an ambulance, shoot the hitman that's about to finish off the character, etc.; +1/4), Loyal (x4 as many tasks; +1), Time Limit (1 Week; +2 1/4) (81 Active Points); Extra Time (1 Day, Only to Activate, -2), 3 Charges which Recover every 1 Week (Loyal molls don't come along every day. Only about once a week.; -1 3/4), Arrives Under Own Power (-1/2)
 
Call Doll: Summon 80-point Babe, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Devoted (x2 as many tasks; +1), Time Limit (1 Month; +2 1/2) (80 Active Points); Extra Time (1 Hour, Only to Activate, -1 1/2), Arrives Under Own Power (-1/2)
 
Collection of Dolls: Summon 4 30-point Babe, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Devoted (x2 as many tasks; +1), Time Limit (1 Month; +2 1/2) (80 Active Points); Extra Time (1 Hour, Only to Activate, -1 1/2), Arrives Under Own Power (-1/2)
 
Attract Groupie: Summon 80-point Babe, Trigger (Activating the Trigger requires a Zero Phase Action, Trigger requires a Turn or more to reset, Character does not control activation of personal Trigger, Trigger can expire (it has a time limit); This simply means that if the Groupie has unused "tasks" and the character does not, or is not in a position to, give orders, the Groupie will execute some logical "task" unprompted. Examples of such spontaneous tasks: Arrange bail, call the lawyer, call an ambulance, shoot the hitman that's about to finish off the character, etc.; +1/4), Slavishly Devoted (x2 as many tasks; +1 1/4), Time Limit (1 Month; +2 1/2) (80 Active Points); Extra Time (1 Week, Only to Activate, -2 1/4), 2 Charges (Recovers Under Limited Circumstances (Must do something to enhance reputation or draw attention); -1 1/4), Arrives Under Own Power (-1/2)
 
Grope of Groupies: Summon 4 30-point Babe, Trigger (Activating the Trigger requires a Zero Phase Action, Trigger requires a Turn or more to reset, Character does not control activation of personal Trigger, Trigger can expire (it has a time limit); This simply means that if the Groupie has unused "tasks" and the character does not, or is not in a position to, give orders, the Groupie will execute some logical "task" unprompted. Examples of such spontaneous tasks: Arrange bail, call the lawyer, call an ambulance, shoot the hitman that's about to finish off the character, etc.; +1/4), Slavishly Devoted (x2 as many tasks; +1 1/4), Time Limit (1 Month; +2 1/2) (80 Active Points); Extra Time (1 Week, Only to Activate, -2 1/4), 2 Charges (Recovers Under Limited Circumstances (Must do something to enhance reputation or draw attention); -1 1/4), Arrives Under Own Power (-1/2)
 
Looks like the place is packed with babes: Touch Group, Normal Sight and Normal Hearing Images, +/-6 to PER Rolls, Persistent (+1/4), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Uncontrolled (Turn it off by turning them off. They'll probably scatter when the fight starts anyway) (+1/2) (70 Active Points); Extra Time (20 Minutes, Only to Activate, -1 1/4), Set Effect (-1), Difficult to Alter simple changes take a Full Phase (Plus verbal instructions. "Why don't you girls all get in the pool?"; -1/2), Physical Manifestation (Because it IS packed with babes; -1/4)
 
Nice Scenery: Change Environment (-4 Characteristic Roll and all Skill Rolls based on Characteristic, Long-Lasting 1 Day, Varying Combat Effects), Personal Immunity (+1/4), Area Of Effect (8m Radius; +1/2) (70 Active Points); 3 Charges (-1 1/4), Limited Power Only effects justifiable based on babes (-1/2), Physical Manifestation (But who would want to hurt the babes?; -1/4), Variable Limitations (requires -1/2 worth of Limitations; Usually either Extra Time, or Conditional: must have some babes around already; -1/4)
Note:Filling it with babes is a nice way to change the environment. Possible Variable Combat Effects include: up to 5 STR Telekinesis, to represent casual use of babes to fetch drinks, make sandwhiches, give footrubs, and do other tasks requiring little strength or skill, or -5 to either PRE or EGO (whichever is higher) to do anything requiring focus or concentration. Note that setting it to -4 PRE rolls and PRE skills is very useful if one is negotiating something with a guest...
 
Not so dumb after all: Retrocognitive Clairsentience (Sight Group, Normal Smell And Normal Hearing), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (75 Active Points); No Conscious Control (Only Effects cannot be controlled; -1), Only Through The Senses Of Babes (-1/2), Limited Power Sometimes babes are confused, make something up, or are vague and uncertain (-1/2), Limited Range (-1/4)
Note: Sometimes a babe will notice something and even mention it - at the time or later
 
Don't be like that, babe, just listen to me...: Mind Control 7d6+1, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Cumulative (86 points; +3/4) (83 Active Points); Limited Class Of Minds Babes (-1), Extra Time (1 Turn (Post-Segment 12), Only to Activate, -3/4), Variable Limitations (requires -1 worth of Limitations; Normally some combination of: Skin Contact Required, Eye Contact Required, Expendable Focus (cash or gifts,) Requires Skill Roll: Charm, Literal Interpretation (especially for Bimbos); -1/2), Incantations (Fast Talking; -1/4)
 
Naked Advantage: Line Of Sight (+1/2) for up to 3 Active Points (1 Active Points)
Note: Seeing them naked is one of the great advantages of a Variable Babe Pool...
 
Orgy: Swinging 1m, Uncontrolled (Completely wild and out of control!; +1/2) (1 Active Points); Extra Time (5 Minutes, Only to Activate, To get the party started; -1), Required Multiple Users ([3-4] people; Sort of by definition....; -1/2)
Note: Oh wait, not THAT kind of swinging....
 
 
 
Edit: Thought of one more possibility: Her Own Car/Her Own Place ("Let's hang out at your place for a while...") a Summon Vehicle or Base.
 
Molly the Moll
Val Char Cost Roll Notes
8 STR -2 11- Lift 75.8kg; 1 1/2d6
11 DEX 2 11- OCV: 5/DCV: 5
13 CON 3 12-
8 BODY -2
13 INT 3 12- PER Roll 12-
10 EGO 0 11- ECV: 3 - 4
15 PRE 5 12- PRE Attack: 3d6
 
 
3/17 PD 1 Total: 3/17 PD (0/6 rPD)
3/9 ED 1 Total: 3/9 ED (0/6 rED)
3 SPD 10 Phases: 4, 8, 12
4 REC 0
20 END 0
18 STUN -1 Total Characteristic Cost: 38
 
Movement:
Running: 8m/16m
Leaping: 2m/4m
Swimming: 4m/8m
 
Cost Powers END
12 I haven't been killed yet: Combat Luck (6 PD/6 ED)
6 +8 PD (8 Active Points); Linked (I haven't been killed yet; Greater Power is Constant or in use most or all of the time; -1/4)
 
Talents
1 You got nothin' on me. I wanna lawyer.: Resistance (+1 to roll)
 
Skills
3 I can tell 'em what they want to hear: Charm 12-
2 I can be the getaway driver.: Combat Driving 10-
3 Every man has a price: Bribery 12-
3 I know the score: Streetwise 12-
2 Help! He's holding me hostage!: Acting 10-
2 Not the first bullet wound I've had to patch up.: Paramedics 10-
2 I got nailed for shoplifting once or twice: Sleight Of Hand 10-
3 Yeah, I'm a gun moll. WF: Small Arms, Blades
1 Take this, it's loaded: Weaponsmith (Firearms) 12- (2 Active Points); Limited Power Only to clear jams, rapid reload, or identify - can't actually make a gun (-1)
0 It's what I do: PS: Moll (Background Skill) 11-
3 Traveler - I know this town and I know who's who and what's what!
1 1) I know a good lawyer: CuK: Lawyers, bailbondsmen, and other people good to know in a jam (2 Active Points) 11-
2 2) I know my rights!: CuK: Police Procedures (3 Active Points) 12-
2 3) I know my way around: CK: Campaign City (3 Active Points) 12-
2 4) I know where to go if you're on the lam: AK: Hideouts, safe houses, good getaway routes (3 Active Points) 12-
2 5) I know who he works for, and you don't want to cross him: CuK: Crime and Criminals (3 Active Points) 12-
 
Total Powers & Skill Cost: 52
Total Cost: 90
 
90+ Disadvantages
20 "I'm YOUR girl now" Psychological Complication: Loyalty (Very Common; Strong)
5 "Yeah, they know my name now." Social Complication: Police Record Frequently, Minor, Not Limiting In Some Cultures
5 "They talked to me, but I didn't tell 'em a thing, Boss." Hunted: The Boss's enemies. Usually including the police. Infrequently (Mo Pow; NCI; Limited Geographical Area; Watching)
10 "Boss wouldn't like that." Hunted: "The Boss" Frequently (Mo Pow; Limited Geographical Area; PC has a Public ID or is otherwise very easy to find; Watching)
5 "Rotten Luck" Unluck: 1d6
5 "Yeah, I was just over the limit and the cop pulled me over and asked about you! He didn't just want to give me a ticket, he wants me to know he knows my car." Negative Reputation: Known Associate of _________, Frequently (Known Only To A Small Group; Law Enforcement and Criminals)
40 Base Points
 
Total Disadvantage Points: 90
 
Background/History: Molly is an example of a high end "babe" from a Variable Babe Pool, specifically, one that might appear for the "Call Moll" power.
 
Personality/Motivation: After the "honeymoon" (the set of Tasks calculated, plus a week of "hanging around") unless the moll is re-Summoned or other steps taken (Bribery or Persuasion rolls perhaps) her loyalty may wane or she may move out of the campaign. While unlikely to "sell out" (and even less likely to sing to the cops) she may move on to some other tough guy who impressed her, either with more lavish parties or with an even darker and more dangerous reputation. Or she may get into trouble on her own initiative and end up in jail, taking it on the lam with no forwarding address, or even get killed. If the character gets really attached to a moll, there's always the option of buying her as a Follower.
 
Quote: Whatever you say, boss.
 
Powers/Tactics: While designed to hopefully survive a firefight, Molly is probably not a frontline enforcer. She can be a back up getaway driver, a distraction, or one more gun on your side in a fight. With 15 pts in Streetwise and Knowledge Skills, she may make a useful advisor.
 
Campaign Use: Aside from being a Summoned Babe, this character sheet could be used for a more permanent moll for crime bosses ranging from a prohibition era bootlegger to a 21st century drug lord, or even the girlfriend of certain kinds of villains in a superhero game.
 
Appearance: Molls are not necessarily chosen for looks (they have other things to contribute) but any given crime lord's moll is probably at least moderately attractive by whatever his personal standards are.
 
This is for a common bimbo
 
Some Bimbo
Val Char Cost Roll Notes
5 STR -5 10- Lift 50.0kg; 1d6
8 DEX -4 11- OCV: 2/DCV: 2
8 CON -2 11-
8 BODY -2
8 INT -2 11- PER Roll 11-
8 EGO -2 11- ECV: 3 - 2
8 PRE -2 11- PRE Attack: 1 1/2d6
 
 
2 PD 0 Total: 2 PD (0 rPD)
2 ED 0 Total: 2 ED (0 rED)
2 SPD 0 Phases: 6, 12
4 REC 0
20 END 0
18 STUN -1 Total Characteristic Cost: -32
 
Movement:
Running: 12m/24m
Leaping: 4m/8m
Swimming: 6m/12m
 
Cost Powers END
5 A little luck never hurts: Luck 1d6
1 I can hold my breath: Life Support (Extended Breathing: 1 END per Turn)
 
Talents
4 +2/+2d6 Striking Appearance (vs. [people who like bimbos])
 
Skills
5 Hi honey: Charm 12-
3 I can put my ankles behind my head. Wanna see?: Contortionist 11-
3 Aw, c'mon!: Persuasion 11-
3 I know the score: Streetwise 11-
1 I've lived on the streets: Survival (Urban) 8-
3 Keep my mouth shut, smile, and watch what everyone else is doing. That's how.: High Society 11-
3 I'm not as dumb as I act: Acting 11-
3 That's awesome! Tell me more.: Conversation 11-
0 It's what I do: PS: Bimbo (Backgrond Skill) 11-
4 I got social skills: +1 with all Interaction Skills
2 Good in bed: +1 with Charm, Contortionist, Acting (3 Active Points); Limited Power Only in a sexual context (-1/2)
3 I'm not a dummy, I know stuff. Scholar
2 1) KS: Carnal Knowledge (3 Active Points) 12-
1 2) KS: Clothes, fashion, & makeup (2 Active Points) 11-
1 3) KS: Local gossip (2 Active Points) 11-
1 4) KS: Popular Culture (2 Active Points) 11-
 
Total Powers & Skill Cost: 48
Total Cost: 16
 
20+ Disadvantages
15 Physical Complication: Weak Will, -4 to EGO rolls (Frequently; Slightly Impairing)
5 Social Complication: Bimbo Frequently, Minor, Not Limiting In Some Cultures
 
Total Disadvantage Points: 20
 
Background/History: She's from the shallow end of the Variable Babe Pool
 
Personality/Motivation: Girls just wanna have fun. Bimbos like this drift in and out all the time. Easy come, easy go.
 
Quote: Great party!
 
Powers/Tactics: Looks good in a bikini. Fun at parties. Even more fun in bed. Strong swimmer (lots of time in the pool. Builds up those leg muscles.)
 
Campaign Use: Besides being a Summoned Babe, can be anything from a streetwalker to a trophy wife. A few points left unspent to give each bimbo a little something to individualize her, if you want to bother.
 
Appearance: Invariably sexy, if you like that kind of girl
Lucius Alexander
 
Palindromedary Enterprises. Moll and bimbo are for entertainment purposes only. Palindromedary Enterprises does not condone violence, recreational use of controlled substances, loud partying, casual or high risk sexual behavior or any other aspects of a criminal lifestyle.
 

For once, I believe Mr. Trump.
 
To go charging into an active shooter situation unarmed and with no relevant training or experience is an impulsive, foolish, and probably ineffective thing to do.
It would be right in character.
 
Lucius Alexander
 
The palindromedary can see both sides of the issue.

NItpick: I think you mean, the Cannot Be Stunned Power. Takes No Stun is considerably more expensive.
 
Lucius Alexander
 
The palindromedary wants to buy Cannot be Nitpicked

Your Wildest Dream because it's more subtle
 
Gender Bending songs
 
White Town's "I could never be your woman" vs. Bonnie Tyler's "If you were a woman and i was a man"

‘Black Panther’ Is Not the Movie We Deserve
http://bostonreview.net/race/christopher-lebron-black-panther
 
Skimmed it. Interesting thoughts about Killmonger & race relations. Recommended for those who think Killmonger is a sympathic character. 

Weird thread title, huh?  I tried posting on this subject a few years ago, but the thread didn't get many responses, in part because I didn't even understand what I was asking for.  I had a hard time putting the idea into words.  Therefore, I got very few responses.  Hopefully I'll have better luck this time.  The thread on Galactic Champions, where discussion turned towards Emperor Superman taking over and making the world a better place (why shouldn't he do it?), reminded me of this and so I wanted to raise the topic again.
 
So the basic idea is to look at Silver and Bronze age comics and come up with workable modern explanations for why things happen the way they do in those old stories.  Come up with Iron Age-worthy explanations for why older, brighter stories could take place.  Justify the happy world of the comics I grew up with to a modern, cynical audience.
 
For instance:
 
--With the presence of Superman and other heroic characters always saving the day, there was no pressing need to force updated fire codes, or improve airline safety.  There's always some burning tenement building in Gotham or New York or wherever, because the local superhero always saves everyone.  You haven't had those disasters where 200 people burn to death.  A headline that says "Building Burns in Hell's Kitchen, Zero Dead Thanks to Daredevil.  Molly the cat missing." doesn't generate near the calls for political action that you saw in the real world in the mid-20th century.  So there's always some kind of emergency for the heroes to react to.
 
--In the real world, huge increases in violent crime in the late 70s through the early 90s led to a "tough on crime" approach that saw incarceration skyrocket and police use more aggressive tactics.  In the 60s and early 70s it was not uncommon for murderers and other criminals to receive shorter sentences, or often be placed in mental hospitals (compared to today).  Many courts were also more likely to use the exclusionary rule to keep out improperly obtained evidence, the whole "bad guy goes free on a technicality" thing that you've heard about.  When Bloods and Crips started massacring each other in the 80s (and then all the crazy meth-related crimes of the 90s), courts became much more conservative and far less likely to do that.  If superheroes are present, that spike in crime may never occur, leading to the "revolving door" that lets supercriminals back out of jail.
 
--Investment into super-technology has led tech development in a different direction than in the real world.  iPhones and internet are less important when people can build flying robots and things of that nature.  Tech trends towards big and bold industrial scale instead of small consumer oriented devices.  The Batman Animated Series villain HARDAC is a great example.   It's a super-computer 80 feet tall that is self aware and can shoot zap bolts.  That's cooler than Angry Birds.  The justification is that when people have super-powers, the investment is going to go in the direction of countering and/or duplicating those abilities.  This also means less money for things like ever-present security cameras, or facial recognition software.
 
--More tolerance for vigilantes and known "good guys" because of the prevalence of super-crime.  Mind control rays and extradimensional evil twins are a proven thing.  People know they exist for a fact.  So when Batman, who has defended his city for 10+ years, suddenly goes on a week-long crime spree robbing banks, once he "gets over it" and starts being a hero again, no criminal charges get filed.  Batman tells the cops that the Joker used a hypnosis ray, and everybody says okay and just believes him.  After all, everyone remembers last year when half the city got hit by a hypnosis ray and spent the afternoon thinking they were chickens.  Known superheroes are going to get the benefit of the doubt in almost all situations, because everyone knows they're the only ones who can really stop some of these villains.
 
 
 

I hope it's okay to throw this quote out here
 
From Washington Post, 14FEB2018 Story - "White House reels as FBI director contradicts official claims about alleged abuser"     ..... When asked if Kelly could have been more transparent or truthful, that official wrote: "In this White House, it's simply not in our DNA. Truthful and transparent is great, but we don't even have a coherent strategy to obfuscate."....         Lucius Alexander   The palindromedary says they must be trying to obfuscate an incoherent strategy    

From last night's historical fantasy game. As part of their efforts to build an alliance against the evil Prince Kor, Our Heroes have been trying to facilitate a marriage between the Holy Roman Emperor Otto III, and Princess Zoe Porphyrogenita, daughter of the Byzantine Emperor. Things are going well, until Robert, King of the Franks shows up...
 
GM: The French King looks around the room, spots the beautiful Princess Zoe, and makes a beeline over to start chatting her up.
Geralt: (Irish Holy Warrior) Oh hell no! I step between them and politely suggest to King Robert that this isn't the Princess he's looking for.
GM: Great, make me a High Society Roll to see how badly you step in it.
[Geralt rolls a natural 18]
[headdesk]
Geralt: (angrily) "What do you think you're doing trying to make time with the Emperor's betrothed!?!?"
...followed by an exchange of Who Do You Think You Are's and Don't You Know Who I Am's, ending in...
Geralt: ...And I deck him!
 
And that, children, is how in 1001 France declared war on Ireland and sat out the war against the Antichrist.

Ok... you asked for it...
 
(Seriously... only bother reading if you have any interest in an overblown perspective on science fiction and superhero gaming.)
 
So, let me show a scenario that actually began to be explored in our game. Hopefully it demonstrates the kind of "science fiction" I think supers, or people with powers, can explore:
 
There was a long running PC named Thermal. (Super scientist type with flame-on type powers)... years of playing the character, he went from an awkward guy running a soup kitchen and trying to figure out what to do with his powers and knowledge, to the leader of a nation of metahumans who had a seat on the UN, forged alliances with other nations to balance the belligerence of the US and Russian "super power" aggression... lead an army of supers into China to end WW3, etc.

Along the way, Thermal's player was really into the idea that Thermal was contributing to the development of new and radical scientific theories and practices. He actually, over time, developed a comprehensive theory on the basis of meta-biology, and was awarded a PhD for his contributions. The Thermal Bio-Dynamics theorem eventually lead to the beginnings of bio-engineering and uplift technology. As the game advanced, and the world went through a massive alien invasion that lasted 10 years and wiped out half or more of the world population, Thermal brought up the debate that the only way to really save as many people as they could, and to enable people to survive and thrive and help fight off the invasion, was to begin offering bio-engineering for anyone who wanted it... and he'd actively push for it.
 
He wouldn't force anyone to be uplifted, but he couldn't understand why anyone would want to remain "baseline." Also, by making the choice not to uplift, a person opted out of the society he was building. Baseline human had no inherent value. Not being uplifted was like choosing to not be vaccinated. You can do so, choose not to play by society's new rules, means you choose not to receive society's protections and support as well. It was a powerful philosophical exploration that grew out of the nature of "people with power" and what would happen if they really existed. (we never got to take it very far, because the campaign ended up with those characters on a galactic journey that, due to relativity, would essentially result in their never returning to Earth in the timespan of the game).
 
This is the kind of sci-fi that I can get behind. These are the kind of questions that bubble up as a world grows around "people with power." This campaign had hundreds of PCs over years of various different teams, groups, time periods, etc. Characters grew up, aged, died, retired, or became something more than human which caused them to question assumptions of what "good" is, and what a moral, ethical use of power looks like.  We had PCs who became major political players, lead a colonization of Mars (the presence of supers who could fly payloads into orbit for almost free vastly accelerated space programs, super science drove advancements in technology, etc. These developments also caused massive political unrest as the question of nations and benefits, and who gets access rose up.) We had a long running exploration of god-hood, with one PC actually 'crossing the threshold' and becoming divine (essentially evolving the PC out of playability, but it was complicated) and the realization of the true nature of the "gods" of myth. It was a long running campaign that hit its 30th anniversary last year, probably ending with "And a new Era had begun..." A literal next-generation of heroes (one PC was the daughter of another PC who grew to adult hood in real time in the game) trying to rebuild Earth after the devastation of the invasion... previous heroes dead or missing... the major PCs (Thermal, Vector, Locke) off on a galactic voyage of discovery, searching for the Progenitors.
 
Essentially, I tell you all this because it meant that I wrestled with these "science fiction" questions for years, as primary GM of this world (the RDU, Red Dragon Universe, hence my login name). We had discussions as a playgroup (several playgroups over the years) about the scope of super-powers vs. technology... expectations of the players compared to source material and in the context of consistent world building. It was not always easy, and mistakes were made, and lots of meta-game discussions were had. What was the nature of interstellar transport? What was the nature of teleportation and what kind of technology could cause it? What were the economics of super-powers and super-technology? Where did VIPER get its money for hidden underground bases? How did cities handle the economics of rebuilding after a super-battle? What were the different levels of technology available, and why didn't the cops have blasters just like VIPER agents? What happens when the public realizes aliens are real, and how does that undermine traditional human social structures? Same with metahumans? What about magic and gods?
 
One of the main things I wrestled with was "What is alien civilization like? What is the "known universe" when you realize just how (nearly) infinitely large the universe really is? I had to work out at least the basics of different alien life, societies, types of technology and species motivations that would be different from humans. How high level was the alien tech? How far did galactic federations and empires actually reach.  (Like, for all its massive reach... the three main alien bodies... the Confederation, the Azure Empire and the Tresselaine Facet spanned enormous territory... but it all was contained within the Orion Arm of the Milky Way.)  There were decisions to maintain the massive wonderful size of the Universe, and not just have people jetting between galactic clusters like they were taking a cab across town. The immenseness of space, the hostile environment that is space... the uniqueness of life bearing worlds... the scope of time that is way beyond human comprehension... we wanted to keep all that. It challenged what it meant to be super, because super is relative.
 
In one meta-game play discussion, we talked about what would happen to those PCs who might be immortal. The concensus that Thermal would one day be a sentient star, a power and intelligence beyond our understanding who could affect change at the atomic level, and spend eternity learning what there was to learn, was really profound in understanding how the player viewed the game world and his charcter. I always wondered... would Thermal remember being human? Perhaps he created a a fold-space pocket dimension where he kept his encoded memories of an Earth long since quantum dust. Maybe in this "new universe" that Earth took on a life of its own...
 
All this to me is what comes to mind when someone says "galactic champions" and all that entails. My source material is as much episodes of Cosmos as it is comics. That is why I'd say I'd be fascinated to hear how others play out this kind of game... what questions do you wrestle with? What do your games end up looking like?

Dirty inboxing?
 
Sending obscene emails?
 
Lucius Alexander
 
The palindromedary suggests mud wrestling
 
 
 

"I am Barbie of Borg. You will be accessorized AND assimilated. It'll be fun!"
 
Lucius Alexander
 
I am Palindromedary of Borg. You will be assimilated coming and going.

"I am Barbie of Borg. You will be accessorized AND assimilated. It'll be fun!"
 
Lucius Alexander
 
I am Palindromedary of Borg. You will be assimilated coming and going.

"I am Barbie of Borg. You will be accessorized AND assimilated. It'll be fun!"
 
Lucius Alexander
 
I am Palindromedary of Borg. You will be assimilated coming and going.

Remember the Pueblo

Are you a butterfly dreaming of reading  a cookie fortune?
 
Lucius Alexander
 
Dreaming that I am a palindromedary

My Dinner With Serpentor

or your life is very long

You know your life is going bad when Ragnarok comes twice.

Dry ice fields of Mars, actually.

Sure you can, as long as each Fortress stands alone and you're alone while at them.
 
What you can't do is invite a bunch of friends over to your Fortress of Solitude.
 
Or you could, but while they're there it's not really a Fortress of Solitude anymore. It would be a Fortress of Companionship maybe.
 
Lucius Alexander
 
And a Fortress of Palindromedaries

https://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/html/im1061.html
 
 

And Sojourner on Mars, that went with Pathfinder... hey, found a graphic:
 

I'm sorry but I had to......
 
Clad in a tartan suit including a tartan fedora and carrying a tartan Thompson sub-machine gun comes The Loch Ness Mobster. Originally from Inverness Antonio McDonald is Scots-Italian. He serves as Angus's muscle and gunman and is perhaps the most'normal' member of the group. He has a deep love for gangster film noir but try imagining saying the tough phrases in a broad Scots accent.