SteveBerman

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

When I wrote for roleplaying game companies (TSR/Wizards and White Wolf) they always contracted to retain all rights to the work I created. I had no room to negotiate otherwise. It's nice to see that is different for writers.

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

Publishers try and get all rights to the artwork. It makes their bookkeeping easier when the reprint or want to use the artwork elsewhere.

 

Artists try and keep their work.

 

Good publishers will negotiate better deals than work for hire.

 

I'm at the point where from the gaming public at least, I can keep my rights to my work. As I have plenty of commissions and patrons (thank y'all kindly, btw). And it is the right to MY work, not the CHARACTER. Black Swan is your creation. YOu can go and do other artwork of Black Swan and publish it or put into a video game, that is not my business... But MY visual, my work of Black Swan IS my business.

 

And you are not paying publisher's rates. My rates for full color is $240.00 per page. A head to toe pose like most commissions, is a 1/2 pager. A head shot is a quarter pager.

 

You pay me $120.00 for a commission. You can have full rights.

 

But I don't think that something that is digitally colored, is really worth $120.00 to an INDIVIDUAL. Publisher? Yes, they make money off of art indirectly. But collectors? not really.

 

If you want a painting, something physical... I will be happy to do it. But it costs. Digital is a lot faster than traditional paint.

 

And if you come to me in a year and say "I would like to publish Black Swan in a Hero or M&M license product, can I use the pic please"... I will charge you a small fee and say "sure!".... I just made some money again off the pic and my approval was needed... I'm happy.

 

If you want a 8 foot tall painting, own all the rights, of Blue Ray... I'm gonna charge $2000.00 (because that is 2-3 weeks of work and I lose all future income on the pic)... if you meet that price... I would be thrilled to do it.

 

My website has my philosophy on all of this. I spell it out, I think pretty clearly.

Please do not think me the least bit disgruntled or sorry that I hired you. I love your work.

This was all inquiry based on ignorance. I want to continue hiring you for future illustrations. I shall just tell my players not to peek at this thread.

Again, I hope I have not offended.

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

If you don't want me to post, you have to tell me. Pretty much everyone has me post stuff. Out of all the commissions I've done, maybe 5 asked me to hold back til their players have seen it.

 

Its a totally reasonable request... but I need to know it up front.

 

As for the ethics of sharing...I'm not quite sure what you are trying to say.... But I think that is my call, I own the rights to the artwork. I share artwork from my patrons so everyone can enjoy. My patrons should know this going in.

 

It is admittedly advertising for me, advertising for my patron's games, and sure, it gets swiped... but no one is making money from these artworks but me (or there will be problems!). But for me, it is how I support the general roleplaying community. By putting up artwork that might inspire a character, or fit a pre-existing character. It is how I give back.

Yeah, with future drawings I may have to limit their exposure for the campaign sake.

Interesting that you own the rights. I'm not disputing this or trying to be argumentative. I just know that for some artists, they are hired to draw and then the rights remain with whatever institution paid them.

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

Don't know which version I like better, but this one looks more like a villian.

 

I'll probably stea...use both pics at some point in the future. sigh assuming I ever manage to get a champions game going around here.

Hmmm, well, I could always send you the stats for Black Swan. Storn will also be drawing her Packmate Nemean.

I may have to ask Storn not to post some pictures in the group because my players may seem them earlier than expected. Not to mention there's the whole ethics of 'sharing.'

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

Here are the changes on Black Swan, went a different direction with pose (torso shot as opposed to head to toe):

 

Yeah, this is really awesome. It's far sexier and more dynamic. She's a potential love interest for The Blue Ray, but she's on the wrong side of the law.

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

It's interesting to see what Storn comes up with. I just sent him a few sentences on each of the characters I wanted illustrated and forgot to include the character sheets.

My player really loved the work he did on the Blue Ray (though right now the suit has been stolen by a VIPER weapons technician who will be threatening to disrupt the Gulf Stream using an alien coolant recovered in an earlier adventure).

The illustration of the Black Swan, a member of the Pack, is way different from what I expected. Not a bad thing, but I did kindly ask Storn to make some changes.

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

Wow. Awesome as usual' date=' Storn. I presume the man behind the powersuit is the character's secret ID? Cool concept, drawing them together like that.[/quote']

 

Yeah, that's Alton Raye who is the man behind the Blue Ray. I had this done as a present to the player.

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

Here are a couple more...

 

 

Hmmm, these look familiar.

Re: Ravenswood Academy Yearbook

Incredible work, there, Doc. Great job!

 

As far as the "all supers look good" topic, one thing to consider for people promoting "average looking" supers is that the very lifestyle of a superhero is going to promote physical fitness,a nd physically fit people are more attractive. The only "overweight supers" in comics are those whose powers directly link to their shape. Matter Eater lad, Big Bertha (and her size is variable), and people like that. Characters like the Thing arent overweight, just differently structured.

 

Just something to keep in mind.

Sorry, but that argument doesn't hold water for me. My mentalist need not be the least bit physically fit to accomplish his goals. And suppose my EP character can teleport? He might grow a spare tire from inactivity. And I don't recall too many people saying how Lou Ferigno (sorry, I don't know his name's exact spelling) from the old Hulk tv show was handsome and he was very fit.

The reason why comic book characters, heroes really, are presented as goodlooking is the same reasoning why Barbie is built the way she is too.

Steve

Re: Ravenswood Academy Yearbook

I certainly agree with this in many cases; and after all, Bouncing Boy of the Legion of Super-Heroes is one of my all-time favorites, but then again, being more than a bit fat myself, I tend to sympathize more along those lines than others.

 

One thing I do like to include in my games is a bit more realism, at least in terms of lasting consequences and so on, but let's face it -- a game with people flying through pure will and firing beams of energy from their eyes isn't exactly the height of realism.

 

What it comes down to is that I like to strike a happy medium for my games. For example, I've always felt Marvel was closer to cyberpunk -- too dark, grim, and unrelentling hopeless for my taste. On the other hand, I've thought DC was too much the other way...not enough examination of the impact of superhumans on society, not enough acknowledgement of past events, and so on. (That was true up until the point I stopped reading mainstream comics, anyway, about 15 years ago. The things I've read about DC's Marvelization the past 6 or 7 years hasn't thrilled me, either.)

 

So my idea style of game is sort of a half-way between the Marvel & DC approaches. I suppose you could call it "Silver with a strong streak of Bronze."

 

On the other hand, one of the conventions of the genre I do like is the fact most of the main characters are good-looking; while I don't object to a hero or other main character being ugly, there should be a reason for it.

Heh, I do love discussing genre assumptions and deciding how they affect readership; we do it all the time in my writing workshop. I'll volunteer to play an average schlub in any game. I regret the main character being 'pretty' in my first novel now. It breeds unreasonable expectations on romance.

And btw, nice job with the structure of the yearbook. Very clever.

Re: Ravenswood Academy Yearbook

Hear, Hear! People like attractive characters in thier TV shows, movies, and comic books, so why not in games? I can be ugly in real life. In my games I want to be larger than life.

 

My game group has been "bodycasting" as we call it, for years. It adds a visual depth to the game that even custom artwork can't match. Describing characters as real people allows you to take advantage of the players prejudices and preconceptions too; if you describe and NPC as beautiful, the players have to take your word for it, but if you cast that NPC as a real actor then the players can make up thier own minds how thier characters would react.

 

I find it promotes good roleplaying.

When I submit a story to a serious marketplace,, they would most likely refuse it if I had eveyrone beautiful. So I refuse to do so in my campaigns.

Re: Difficulty reaching Super-Hero status

Mount a .50 cal Machinegun on that sucker and watch the points fly away.

 

3D6 RKA AP (+1/2) AUto: 5 (+1/2) 100 charges (+1/2 or 3/4, I'm at work without my book) OAF (-1) Real Weapon (-1/4)

 

Active cost: 122

Real Cost: 50

This is so wrong on so many levels.

First too many active points for the campaign, then it's a killing attack and I mentioned ealier in the post that she refuses to add any to the armor.

Re: Ravenswood Academy Yearbook

Of course not. It's not part of the genre.

 

Well, actually that's not true. Some students could have visible mutations that could make them look strange. A few could be geeks, although if they are female they would scrub up OK.

 

But basically, there are very few average looking people in the source material, and it would make no sense whatsoever to take a different approach in this project.

 

This ain't the Real World.

I suppose, but then in my games I prefer to transcend the genre a bit. Not every woman has to have D-cups, not every man a dazzling smile. There are overweight heros. Individuals with high Comeliness often have problems because they are so attractive.

It enriches the roleplaying in my opinion.

Re: Ravenswood Academy Yearbook

Wow, there are no average or ugly metahumans in that book.

Re: Difficulty reaching Super-Hero status

I want to thank everyone who replied to this thread.

I finally finished the nuts and bolts of the character. Is she the most effective Powered Armor hero? Probably not. I like spunky underdogs. But her abilities have a certain personality. Hopefully she would survive and do well in a fight.

This will be a busy weekend (I have a book signing in NYC at Books of Wonder), but hopefully in early April I will have the chance to flesh out her character sheet with Background details. I'll post the finalized Diesel then.

Steve

Re: Difficulty reaching Super-Hero status

What about a smoke screen system (Darkness' date=' likely with only a few charges and possibly no range)? You could consider replacing the smoke with tear gas or something similar, if desired.[/quote']

 

I already having something like this. But it does occur to me that I would be better off with a Change Environment that affects combat (coughing) than Darkness plus EB NND.

Re: Laughing Gas?

I would recommend defining it as an Entangle.

Re: Difficulty reaching Super-Hero status

I just glanced over it, but here are a few things I spotted:

 

Characteristics:

Intelligence feels too low. While (according to HERO) a genius could have a 5 INT or a 30 INT, to operate a battlesuit, I'd think a higher INT would be justified (better perception/reaction times).

 

As I mentioned in response to another recommendation to raise her INT, I just don't feel as if she's booksmart or savvy.

Nothing wrong with adding some looks (Com) to Diesel.

Oh she's way too butch. I envision her physically as squat but still in good shape. Guys wouldn't really be into her, but that doesn't bother her at all if you get my drift.

 

Perks:

I'd increase the Pentagon contact to "Organization." It's only 6 more points, and could prove more useful.

 

Talents:

Perhaps Absolute Range and/or Time sense as part of the battlesuit, maybe Bump of Direction, too. Maybe Eidetic Memory (camera) could be a part of the suit.

The perk is possible. But the suit is too low-tech I think for any system talents.

Martial Arts:

Not bad, but I'd clarify if the suit can use the MA or not. If not, maybe put a Phys Lim in Disad section.

Oh, I wanted her to do the MA in the suit.

Powers:

I'm just glazing over these, but STR, DEX, and CON really should have the "No Figured Characteristics" as a part of them.

 

Can I ask why this is usually done?

Since this seems very WW2 theme, A flamethrower would be appropriate (AoE,line, reduced range), as would a machine gun (maybe two: one RKA, one EB "Rubber bullets, honest"). A bazooka as well.

Hmm, this is all too lethal seeming for me. Grandpa's suit probably had the flamethrower but his son would have removed it for the 70s.

Well, that's all for now. Looks good, though. Would you tell us more about the campaign and what the GM is looking for? That might help us flesh out this beast.

Thanks

Oh, right now there is no real theme to the campaign. The potential GM wants to give me a break from running my PAtrol (Pennsylvannia supers) campaign. I'm not sure what he intends.

Steve

Re: Difficulty reaching Super-Hero status

Grandpa could have tought her some of her mechanical expertice. If the suit is so easy to repair it should be easy to modify too. Buy a small Varable power pool to sumilate some modifications she can make to the armor to adapt to the current misson specs.

 

An underwater mission? she installs a rebreather mechinism and some thrust perpellers.

 

Fighting evil robots? A Tesla ray to distrupt their computers (won't affect her suit )

 

She gets sick of shouting 'wait up for me' to her teamates, she could put some wheels in the heals of the boots. Or some Rockiteer style jet thrusters.

 

All sorts of cool things she could do with this Varrable power pool.

Tempting, but I have always been intimidated by VPPs.

Re: Difficulty reaching Super-Hero status

Honestly' date=' I like the way you've started with the character. [/quote']

 

Thanks

 

First off I assume that this is a character for a game you want to play in. If so' date=' talk with the GM and find out what his rough benchmarks are for CVs, Speed, Damage Classes and so on. Combat isn't the only thing, not by a long shot, but you might want to know where you'll be weighing in. [/quote']

 

I'm hoping to play her, but it's all rather nebulous. The GM is not very serious about running sometimes.

 

Her limited air supply seems to be very short lived (1 turn is 12 seconds)' date=' maybe you would want to increase that?[/quote']

 

Gack, that is a bad error. I meant that she probably has a few minutes of air supply in the event of an emergency. I have to fix this.

 

Given that she is an ex-soldier' date=' I'd expect her to have some combat skill levels of some sort (and I'd expect slightly higher base physical stats). Other things to look into, maybe a few more contacts (other soliders she served with who are now in the private sector and so on, the previous wearer of the suit, etc.), maybe a base (the garage where she works on the suit) [/quote']

 

All good suggestions.

Re: Difficulty reaching Super-Hero status

One of the joys of playing in higher point games is having the luxury of spending points on something other than powers. You've given yourself a conceptual cap on the effectiveness of the suit powers so I'd say that fleshing out your background is the way to go.

 

I have three words for you: skills, skills and yet more skills!

 

What did she do in the army? You have some soldier related skills, but depending on her specialty she could have things like climbing, breakfall, oratory, systems op, paramedics, etc. Don't forget hobbies or (literal) professional skills she picked up before or after the military, if nothing else, you can get some good comic relief from PS: Fast Food Worker. If grandpa was a superhero you could have a KS of his career and/or superheroes in general. How long has she had the suit? She could have skill levels with it's weapons and a KS of it's systems.

 

You could also have perks or disads related to the suit and the fact that she's a legacy hero. If any of her grandfather's allies or enemies are still around you could take them as contacts or hunteds. How about a reputation for the suit?

So true. Thanks!

Re: Difficulty reaching Super-Hero status

More speed. 4 speed in hero ID is just sad when you aren't a Brick.

And as you have a bunch of INT based skills bought up individually, you should probably buy INT up too. a 12 INT is no kind of genious, not even a mechanical one.

Built in parachute as Gliding. Could even buy it persistant and triggered. Just in case. :-D

Climbing claws, as clinging.

And I second the notion of adding weaponry, either built in, or just carried.

And skill levels. As a genious, some overalls would fit.

Well, I always envisioned the character as a mechanical natural but not very bright in other areas. Almost like she had a knack for the skill.

I like the parachute idea.

Re: Difficulty reaching Super-Hero status

If the suit's OIF, consider dropping it to an OIHID to represent a suit she's not going to have taken away and that can be easily fixed.

Wow, what an intriguing notion. I've honestly never seen powered armor bought like this -- granted, I am not familiar with the rule system as most posters. Makes me envision her garage filled with parts so she could build the Diesel suit again rather easily if something happened to it.

-- Steve

Re: Difficulty reaching Super-Hero status

BTW' date=' Mr. Berman, if you are the same "Steve Berman" with many published RPG books and articles to his credit, Welcome. It's always nice to have the pros drop by our humble digs. [/quote']

 

 

Guilty as charged. Damn, it's been a while since I wrote anything for RPGs. I'm always surprised people remember that stuff.

I have often found myself having a devil of a time developing superhero characters at the 350 level. I have no trouble reaching 250 points, even 300, but 350 seems really rough with some character concepts.

For example, here's Diesel. She is an ex-soldier and a mechanical genius. She inherited a Golden Age powered armor suit belonging to her grandfather, who used it in WWII. It basically looks like a mechanical man with a unique internal combustion engine.

I don't want her to be hi-tech. Part of the charm of the suit is its low-tech, easy to fix, nature. So any on-board weaponry has to be closer to something from the 1940s than lasers and plasma beams. No flight either. Right now I have oil slick and noxious fumes besides a powered punch.

I haven't done much work on her Disads or fleshing out the background further, as I decided to wait and see if I could reach 350.

Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, does anyone else have this problem? Yes, I would prefer to play in lower-powered campaigns, but that is not always a possibility.