Pentoth

Re: Super Powers in Hudson City

In my games it's the different style and psychology of crime in Hudson and supers generally can't handle. For example when a rampaging alien is going on in the streets of Metropolis this is a job for Superman. When a prostitute is being beaten by her lover/pimp and she refuses to leave him sadly Superman isn't really the best guy for the job.

Re: Real Locations that should be fantasy

That is really cool I heard of the Osuary before but all the other places are new to me. Thank You. I will have to put them to use.

Re: I had a descussion with Steve about buying some Hero's books...

I think waiting 18 months is a bit of an overreaction' date=' personally. If you want to get the game, get the game. It's not like 5th Ed. will turn into a pumpkin at midnight on 6th Ed.'s release date. By Pentoth's argument, you shouldn't (for example) buy Madden NFL Football 2008 (or whatever) even when it's brand new, because there'll be a new one out in less than 18 months. [/quote']

 

Normally I agree with your statement. In the past when I wanted a wrestling game I waited for the new one and bought the old version cheap. When I had the money to burn I would buy the new one. He did say that money was an issue and that is why I answered the way I did. As he pointed out he is living on 750.00 a month. If I encouraged him otherwise I would feel it would be irresponsible for me to answer any other way. I have lived off that kind of money. It is really tough. My scenario give the OP much time to save for a new book if he wants to go with 6 ed or be in a position to get 5th ed at a bargain.

Re: I had a descussion with Steve about buying some Hero's books...

Since money is an issue I would recommend waiting until HERO 6th ed comes out. Then you have the option of buying a set of rules that won't be obsolete if you want to or you can buy HERO 5th ed cheap in the aftermaket as the core won't be worth much since it will be obsolete. Either way I would wait.

Re: What happens whena ctuloid monster swallows an elder star?

In my game it is followed by the foolish character who tried to ward the creature off with it. To have a greater influence "protect" the characters from the mythos to me defeats the theme of being alone. I have used them as a means to make the players feel safe. Then when they tried using it they were in for a really rude awakening. To say the characters were angry would be an understatement. The players laughed... Eventually.

Re: Why hasn't magic changed the world?

In my world magic is very rare and when it does show it does make a huge impact. The mages guild litterally are responsible for creating and shaping the nation capital. In fact when war erupted it was magic that thwarted an invasion attempt. The invaders would burn down the sacred forrest in an attempt to demoralize their opponents. To their surprise the sacred trees wouldn't burn and what little damage was done to surrounding area grew back almost immediately. They were never able to march their army in. The troops refused to advance.

Another huge impact magic has is in population. I have a large populated mass of people where priests reside. Spells that protect mother and child during childbirth etc... are huge.

Re: [Warming Rant] GM feeling uninspired

QM I think all GM's run into the same scenario that you are in now. When I burnt out and was tired of the tangents and bad jokes I just let my players know. They all took turns running a game and they realized how annoying the jokes etc were... Even though the group really wanted me to start running games for awhile I wouldn't. When I finally did again everyone was on the same page.

Re: Cthulhu-esque suggestions?

Ever read the rpg Kult? The book gave me nightmares. Tons of nastiness in there.

Ahh Kult. You can never go wrong with it. In my 15+ years of gaming I can never think of a game that garnered such strong reactions from a table of players. They still refuse to play it or anything inspired by it. Do I ever miss it. I really do think that you can't go wrong if you make up your own creation. Deep Ones are cool but if your players are familiar with C'thulhu they will see it comming a mile away.

Re: Horror Hero: What would you have liked to have seen?

bcholmes put up exactly what I was thinking when I saw the topic title.

Re: Reviews: Monsters, Minions, & Marauders / The Ultimate Mentalist

It sounds good. I will have to pick it up when I have the cash.

Re: Starting as Normals?

It works great to start the PC's out as norms however it does initially require more XP rewards so that the players get the feel of becomming heroes. After that slow the XP down to a normal pace. I had a campaign that lasted for about 4 years. The PC's started as norms and when it was over they ascended to godhood status. They began with 25 + 25 pts. The players were initially resistant to the idea but by the end they loved it. The game required a incredible level of planning and effort on my part however it was worth it.

Re: "Beware the generosity of Kings" - A warning

Bertrand du Guesclin' date=' who was marshall of France in the late 14th century once received as a reward during a Spanish campaign, a substantial grant of land. The catch? Said land had been under Moorish occupation for the past three hundred years. He was welcome to mount a campaign to assert his property rights, but he'd have to foot the bill himself.[/quote']

 

That's awesome. I am going to have to remember that for a future game.

Re: "Beware the generosity of Kings" - A warning

As a general rule of thumb, you should never, ever, ever place hidden compulsions on player characters en masse unless the players themselves are in on it and ok with it.

 

Few things will alienate and / or kill people's interest in a game or character faster than the idea that they are being puppeteered

I worked with a group that would have no problem with that for the short term so I speak from myself as a GM only. If you don't want the puppeteering to dominate them the ideas still work. Have the party and the court find out before it happens. Then the pupetteering is going on all around them leaving the party to figure out how to deal with it.

Re: "Beware the generosity of Kings" - A warning

Why is the king threatened by them? Is their a story behind this? This will help determine what he should do. With the little information you have given I would recommend rather than "Out of sight, out of mind." I am reminded of the great Nicollo Machiavelli. "Keep your friends close. Keep your enemies closer." What he should do (i am assuming he is evil and not petty) is he must keep his secrets away from their do gooder eyes.) Enchant them into working with him. This doesn't have to be magical. He could get noblewomen of his court to seduce them and getting them entrenched in a life of adventure that benefits their family.

If he is just shortsighted and petty send them off. I say if shortsighted because the kingdom obviously needs heroes of their caliber present since the menaces they defeated were there and something like that may return.

If he is petty but not an idiot have him create a title such as "Heroes of the Kingdom" this title involves a ceremony which the party pledges it's allegiance to the throne and places a mind control spell on them forcing them into obedience. The king may never do anything but he will feel better knowing they are enchanted.

Either way it becomes a plot point. An interesting political game will ensue especially if he isn't evil. How will the court respond to the "evil" act of enchanting heroes. Some will understand and some won't. If you are war oriented it could rip the kingdom apart and create civil war. You could make it more interesting by having the characters side with the king because it is a group of self serving (Evil?) wannabe tyrants vs. a small man of a king. Heck the PC's might try to take the kingdom for themselves. Even if it is with good intentions they prove the kings fears right.

Re: Worst comic book superfight ever

How about when Krypto' date=' yes that's right KRYPTO, beat Mongul by nearly ripping out Mongul's throat in Superman #170?[/quote']

 

Don't mess with a foul tempered Kryptonian dog. This one makes a little sense to me. Dog's take people down all the time. Just look at the damage when you hear about rotweiler or pitbull attacks. Kryptois porportianally kryptonian strong which would be nasty. He might even tear a whole into Supes when you think about it. Yeah it's silly but I can see it from a comparing it to the real world POV. Unless of course Mongul is tougher than Superman which he may be I don't know much about him other than what I saw on JLU.

Re: CHAMPIONS UNIVERSE II - What Do You Want To See?

What I would like to see is better artwork. You guys have the information and setting info down it's the art that needs improvment. Art will neither make or break a book but good art will strengthen it and of course bad art will weaken it. With the market being what it is today a book can't be weakened for any reason.

Re: [Review] The Ultimate Skill

It's a great book. I was really impressed by it. One of the best books produced in a long time. Me playing the "skilled" characters all the time and all.

Re: Predators: who else found the 'Easter Egg'?

I hadn't noticed them. Now I am going to have to look for them.

Re: WWYCD: Snakes on the Plane!

My character would say something that would be a violation of the posting rules in here. Then kill all the snakes by depressurizing the cabin. Then he would demand a new adventure.

Re: What to do with your stuff...

My adventurers leave their stuff locked in their rooms. It's not an odd occurance for them to have the wizard cast an invisibility spell on their stuff if they are particularily worried for one reason or another. I personally was in a position where I had to leave my stuff in a place I didn't want to so I publicly cast a little dancing light type spell on my gear along with a successful persuasion check. Since I was in an area with people who knew nothing about magic I convinced them that death would take them if they touched the gear. My gear was the only pile left untouched.

Re: Rarity of Magic?

In my games only the Fae may cast arcane types of magic. I do allow priests, druids, shamans etc... whose powers are divine in nature. This way the presence of the Gods is shown. Magic items are very rare and very powerfull. My players were at first resistant to the idea however once they got used to it most of them loved it that way.

Re: Good Zombie flicks

Personally I think the best is the original Night of the Living Dead. I haven't seen one as good yet.

Re: Elves

Read Poul Anderson's The Broken Sword if you can find a copy. It's a brilliant non-Tolkien take on Elves including the weakness to iron and the idea that they have immortality of the body precisely because they lack immortality of the soul.

 

Very good book-- and one I would think Pentoth has read.

I have never read it. I will check it out if I can find it. The idea of elves being immortal and no soul just made sense as a tradeoff for the setting.

Re: Elves

The idea of my elves weaping openly for fear of oblivion isn't meant as a humourous jab at them. To me I use this elevates them. In a game when elves joined the battle the PC's (No elves) laughed at them. The commander in turn beat the snot out of one of them. A comment along the lines of "We are risking eternity to fight for what's right. We have no promise of a glorious afterlife awaiting us should we fall like your gods have promised you. We do this because it is right." The next campaign I ran most of the players wanted to play elves. They have never looked at them the same.

Re: Elves

In my setting they are immortal in that they won't die of old age disease etc. Also because of their immortality their are no afterlife myths to cover those who die of in battle etc. (The Gods are very hands on in my setting and when they are asked about elvish afterlife they never answer) Therefore when it comes to battle my elves are somewhat cowardly and really must have their backs against the walls before they are willing to risk their lives. When pressed to war it isn't an unusual sight for the elves to stand in line weaping openly for fear of oblivion.