Onyxclaw

Re: Electromagnetic Pulse

You bring up a very good point' date=' that i will admit I do not have a good answer for, I still feel that dispell is ill-fit.[/quote']

 

I wont say I like dispel for this, but that is also what I use to simulate EMPs.

 

Damage isn't really the answer, I'll agree with NSG on that one. Usually I jaust have it on Dispel electronics with the SFX that the pices that are damaged need to be replaced instead of vanashing. For all intents and purposes though, it's as if those pieces effectivley do vanish, because the object doesn't work. Same as if they did.

 

Energy Blast feels like the right power in name only, as EMPs are like a surge of energy. But mechanically are lacking. And Transform is just...well cheese for this IMO. You could use a cumulative partial transform "Working piece of electronics to fried piece of electronics" and call that an EMP. But that feels somewhat wrong aswell. Not to mention awful expensive when bought as AoE.

 

I wish there was something cleaner and more fitting. But until someone finds something better I'll use dispel =P

 

Edit: I also find that this power goes great with an Absorb End ability. Like the ability to recharge of electronics. In a lot of ways this power is more useful. My electric Dragon did a lot better taking down the KillaCan with her absorb, than her EMP. And she could slash at it, get tired, drain it, and go back to slashing.

Re: Herophile Fantasy art

And since I was discussing my new FH game, here's a picture I whipped up last night showing some Samadrian knights, to give the players a general feel for what they look like. In this game the "knights" actually fight on foot as heavy infantry (hence the pikes 'n stuff) since the various kingdoms are mostly islands (so ship to ship combat's important) and the only mounts available are too light to act as chargers for heavily-armoured men.

 

cheers, Mark

Awsome

Re: Hero Book

my rev. 5th ed has the pages you seem to be missing...bad luck man

Re: Longest Running Thread EVER

Well, behaving better takes all the fun out of disciplining you!

 

(I'm sure you're not the issue, of course, and in fact it's not that out of the relative newbies there are any more contentious sorts, but just being the same percentage adds the noise level exponentially, i.e., 2 jerks make 4x the noise of 1, and so on)

ah, well I can understand that.

I try to give helpful information and contribute the best I can, though I haven't been playing HERO for very long.

I also try to be amusing every now and again. If it's ever out of line let me know, I'm not fond of stepping on toes or causing trouble.

Re: The cranky thread

But not everyone is The Lizard!

 

Buncha lesser beings...

I'm the Shadow Dragon, I don't know what you're talking about

Re: Longest Running Thread EVER

You'd better' date=' or you'll have to sit in the tickle box. [/quote']

 

yes sir

 

I'll behave

Re: Longest Running Thread EVER

We have more posters, which is part of it, sheer numbers.

 

This is a big reason for the crackdown from mods.

sorry about the recent increases... we'll try to behave better

Re: Longest Running Thread EVER

Batman's attempt to live down the "Robin" rumors proved to be even more damaging to his public image.

 

:rofl:

Re: Uncontrollable and Casual Strenght

here's an idea from the master list of limitations...you could do a more encompasing version of this.

Crushing Grip

Infrequently, Greatly: 10 Points

Type: Physical Limitation

Description: This Disadvantage is only appropriate for characters with a Strength which is greater than that of human possibility. Under stressful situations the character unconsciously applies his casual strength to whatever he is doing. Shaking hands with the President for a shy character might result in crushed bones. Opening a door when he's about to meet the girlfriend he stood up earlier might result in ripping it off its hinges. Trying to avoid a small girl in the road while driving might result in wrenching the wheel off. Gripping the arm of his seat at a very scary movie might result in crushing plastic and steel into a paste. This does not apply to situations where the character is trying to apply force greater or equal to his casual strength, of course. What is considered stressful to a character is up to that specific player and the GM.

you can increase the frequency to represent all the time.

Re: The cranky thread

Enforcer...Klytus...

Thank you for being so kind...to people who seem not to always deserve it.

I'm not so great at balencing my check book...but then I never spend anything unless it's cash. And my ATM tells me how much I have left. I always figured keeping at least $1,000 in the bank would keep me safe for as little spending as I do. And so far, I've been right.

This will change of course when I have bills. But I do read all of my statements and keep track of all of my CDs. Of that I am not guilty!

Right, so gripe time.

Why must the air headed receptionist never ever ever shut up?

I’m sitting in the office today, I suppose you could say that it’s one of my breaks. One of my self imposed breaks if you know what I mean. I’ve steadily realized that being efficient when you are a temp is not necessarily a good idea. My day is interrupted for a very brief moment as I try to watch the first 30min of DS-9 at break, dreading the flood of soap opera watchers that will flock in at any minute. And of course like every other day, trying very hard to ignore our prattling receptionist who is in the process of telling me about her son, her ex, her divorce, her fiancé, how much she paid for shoes, what color they are painting their house, her salary, or a million other things that I would probably not ask nor receive from someone that I was not at least a very good acquaintance of. Of course it’s ok for her to talk through whatever I am doing, be it work, a show, or even reading. But heaven forbid I even microwave my lunch during her most wondrous day of our lives.

Always! Always always! Grrrrrr. I don't want to know for the 365th time how much money her fiance makes, or about her sons little stuffed animal, or how much sha payed for anything. I don't care. I just want to do my job.

ok, done now...I feel a little better.

Re: Walking On The Sun

This is a very passionate defense of Desolid as Invulnerability, an official option for some concepts which get a lot of forum time, which each GM can then choose to use or ignore as he would any other official optional rule. Dude, I thought you hated that?

 

Like most things. I will support your right to your opinion, your point of view, and your right to choose the way you run your games.

Doesn't mean I have to like it

While I wont allow people to use desolid in my games as a form of invulnerability unless thier sfx calls for it, and I will make them take effects real world on the powers they wish to use while desolid. It doesn't mean that others can't.

Playing in a game where another gm allows it, I may even use desolid. Becuase it's cheap. But then I might hate myself in the morning

Re: The Last Word

did not!

Re: Answers & Questions

Q) so, a search engine found your missing kitten?

 

 

A) Plain as my fist in your face.

Q: So you're saying that everyone including me should know that she's off limits?

A: Nonnuclidian Geometry...of course.

Re: Damage Reduction

Agreed. We can add your rant to my rants on the subject as well. Listen up kludgemonkeys; DESOLID is not Immunity' date=' and EDM is not Alter Reality![/quote']

 

ugh, agreed.

 

I much prefer DR to Desolid for immunity anyday =P Unless you SFX make it make sense (like flash's desolid)

Re: Damage Reduction

I like damage reduction. It helps make my PCs feel like they are making a dent in thier enemy without having him go down to easily or not at all.

Personally, I like it better than high armour. It makes more sense to me.

Re: Walking On The Sun

whats a class 4 cold?

Just for you roy:

These classes depict the environment that said character can survive and be comfortable in without any clothing or protective gear. This does not apply to attacks unless they are NND and specify a level of life support. Inidividuals may stay in these environments for a long period of time.

Heat Classes

1 - stove/campfire

2 - raging fire/burning building (standard price of life support)

3 - lava/magma/molten metal (5 points)

4 - Sun, Hellfire (10 points)

Cold Classes

1 - refidgerator

2 - Meatlocker, industrial packing facility

3 - Antartica/frozen water (i.e. falling in under the ice)

4 - Pluto, cold gaseous planets, Liquid Nitrogen

not perfect...but close enough. Most Fire/Ice Attacks fall under catagory 2, for example, Fire Ketera attacks are all Fire level 2, except 1. Lava's use Fire level 3. Ancients can have level 4 attacks.

For defenses against these attacks the standard is

120 AP 100% immunity, fire only -2 = 40 points at level 2 (the same cost as desolid)

120 AP 100% immunity, fire only -1 = 60 points at level 3

120 AP 100% immunity, fire only -1/2 = 80 points at level 4

Re: Walking On The Sun

wait...but if you buy your desolid as persistant inherent...do you still have to buy effects real world on your powers?

See that's main problem with using desolid. Unless you have it triggered (wich it really isn't immunities are persistant and usually inherent) then you can't even effect whatever you are immune to based on the way I think it reads that desolid works...I can't swear to it as I am at work and do not have my book. Like...if I have desolid to ice inherent persistant, can I still touch the ice?

I do know that we had a ghost character with desolid, always on, inherent, and he had to buy "effects real world" on all of his abilities, includin his strength. That's the extra cost of being desolid, because if you can't be hurt but you can smack everything around it should cost more than 40 points...so it does.

Also, if I use desolid to avoid fire/ice/etc damage, and then someone uses an "effects desolid" fire attack on me. Then I still get hurt. And that makes no sense whatsoever for an immunity.

I just feel that Desolid isn't the way that feels right to me. Now, for some things, it makes sense. My Shadow Ketera, Shadiya Lances, has Desolid to all attacks cannot pass through walls as an ability. Where he literally becomes a shadow. But for my Fire dragon it just didn't seam right, I mean of course he can interact with fire, it doesn't pass through him...he just doesn't care that it's there. So I used the house ruled Damage reduction at 100% for fire.

It just feels better. Though I don't begrudge people making it either way.

Re: Walking On The Sun

That's easy. You create a custom power, called "Invulnerability to X". You price it at 40 points, and by default it only works against one narrow special effect (Fire, Bullets, Cheese, Button Mushrooms).

 

The fact that the point cost is the same as the Desolidification approach is just a coincidence.

Rofl, ha ha good one.

Well, that's about how much the build I use costs.

120 AP 100% Damage Reduction + mandatory narrow focus

120 AP !00% Damage Reduction only verses fire SFX (heat level 2) -3 = 40 RC

Re: Walking On The Sun

Actually that was just for pd. If you wanted ed invulnerability too you need to spend another 350 points.

 

I think what Hawksmoor is saying, in part, is that there need to be a cheaper way to buy invulnerability for various things. A 2d6 bullet can have damage ranging from 2 to 60 stun. If you want a character who is invulnerable to bullets you shouldn't need to buy +60 armor, hardened, bullet's only just to achieve one simple effect that every other game system can do [and what if someone wants to buy a 3d6 bullet? Now your invulnerability doesn't work!].

 

The game does need some way of introducing simple invulnerability without needing abstracts such as desolid and affects real world [and without needing to cost the character most of his points]. A 350 point starting character should be considered tough and inspiring. He should not need to be 650 in order to be immune to certain things within concept.

ah well all the better I know what he's looking for but I don't have to like it much.

Though, IMO you can effectively double your body, stun, and reduce your chance of beign stunned by buying 50% DR. Better yet, you can get 75% DR and tie it to a con roll. you'll take a little bit of stun after your defenses, so you'll know that "oh something hit me" but it wont be all that bad.

High defenses and Damage reduction come very close to simulating invulnerability. And they are cost effective when you give them appropriate limitations (like requires a con roll on the DR, or Dex roll if you're more speed based)

I'm still not sure though, exactly what is the best course of action for inexpensive Invulnerability other than that. I'm not a big fan of using desolid only to avoid X, unless the SFX calls for it (like becoming a shadow so it passes through or what not)

Re: Walking On The Sun

All of which is why you should just buy 16 points of LifeSupport' date=' Desolidification and Flight, and be done with it. THis is so far into the cinematic that you're much better off with a power that says "Can Ignore Physics".[/quote']

 

Very true very true.

 

Speaking of Ignoring physics...

Anyone for Nonnuclidian Geometry man?!

Re: Walking On The Sun

So yeah it's the weather, but at least it's a dry heat.

 

Hawksmoor

heh...so can I wear long sleves and still be comfy?

Re: Walking On The Sun

How many times will a character run into a burning building' date=' yet he has immune to high heat? You can't just look at the extreme [sun'] example. Characters will run into burning buildings, nuclear reactors to fix the rods, artic freezers, etc. The game needs something to make you understand why he can do that but not survive an attack from Freon.

unfortunately it's one of the many thigns we have resorted to house rules for...

Re: Walking On The Sun

Probably because Solarman's 1d6 rka solar blast will kill the character with no resistant defense who can live in the sun with his 16 points of life support.

well, that depends on SFX. If my character can walk on the sun then somewhere along the lines he should have gotten a power that relates to the reason.

If not, well...then I guess he wasn't thought through very well.

I have issues with the life support in Hero...but for a supers game I'd allow it.

Especially if the player wants that idocincracy.

For a fantasy/sci-fi game..maybe not.

It also depends on how the GM wants to handle it.

I gave my fire dragons 100% DR fire as a racial ability. I don't care what fire you throw at them, they will not take damage. And even then, as they are my dragons, they can not live in the sun. Because they have 100% DR fire class 2, and the sun is class 4 (I have a 4 tier temperature setting for both fire and cold) If you threw a fire attack at level 3 at them, they would effectively drop thier DR to 75%, and in the sun they would take half damage.

But house rules only go so far =P

I'm not sure what the best way to deal with invulnerability is..but it's a very shaky topic for me.

Re: Walking On The Sun

So if we are going to rubbersheet the physics enough to create a stellar surface that can be walked on, why should 16 points of life support enabling you to survive the expierence be a deal breaker for so many people?

that's a very good point. As far as I'm concerned it will never really coe up much anyway, it's not a useful power to walk on the sun. Walking on the sun does not automatically mean you have high endurance or defenses either.

Unless your special effect is that you just have so much defense and resistance to be able to actually walk on the sun you shouldn't need to buy any of that either.

Points for utility...16 IMO is ok for an ability that will most likely only be used once.

Re: Walking On The Sun

It really isn't about all the Body of an attack it is about the STUN. Chris Goodwin wrote a post about an invulnerability variant using the TAKES NO STUN rules that really made sense (IMO). Damage Reduction is a great tool, but it only reduces the amount of damage you take by so much.

 

In many genres (Dungeons and Dragons FOREX) some characters are like you say immune to one or at most two types of attacks (Blue Dragons are immune to electricity, Oozes are immune to polymorph spells). HERO needs to embrace the idea of absolutes. More importantly the system needs a absolute that will not break the character bank, because what ever games you run (500+ points), Fox1 runs (pointless), or I run (410 points) most Players are in the 350 points or less bracket. And the ability has to be affordable in those arenas.

 

Hawksmoor

While I can understand what you want here, I'dd unfortunately have to say I'd never allow an absolute invulnerability for as cheap as 100 points.

Infact, I don't think I'd ever allow a character that was invulnerable to everything in one fo my games, not even as an NPC. Not because it shouldn't, isn't, or can't be done, but because having a character that never has to worry about damage or stun from just about everything takes away from the GM's ability to influence Player actions. A lot of players will not think things through if they can't get hurt. They'll just jump off buildinggs or run head first at an opponent. Which is ok for a brick everyonece and awhile...but for most characters is rediculous.

I'm worried that if such an absolute and useful ability becomes too cost effective, I'll have to spend a lot more time policing my Player's characters builds. Is it ok for the Invulnerable unstunnable mentalist to hae a disadvantage that if you can stun him it turns off his mental powers? Not really...but maybe.

Personally, I'm fine with 350 for invulnerability. At 400 points that should be most of your stick. The points system is based on utility right? That's one of the most useful and broad based powers. And it helps negate all attacks and even environmental or situational damage. 100 points IMO is too cheap.