DrSavant

SURPRISE!!! Sucker Punch; You are about to attack someone who doesn't think you are going/able to. ( The special effects of this vary.) If the target is not expecting an attack from you, use SURPRISE [in or out of combat]. Here are some guidelines; Does the target have danger sense? Do they think they are being stealthy, but aren't? (Failed roll) Do they think you are distracted (by combat per se)? Are you faking that you don't notice them? (360 degree vision)

No Range Attacks RKA with no range; Poison? The poison does damage that is not affected by STR (Perhaps a poison bite or weapon?) Life Draining? You touch it, it ides! Not affected by STR Cause Disease? Requires touch, but not affected by STR Just to name a few possible special effects.

Biggest challenge for new players/GM's POWERS!! The Hero System allows for GREAT creativity in this aspect. Skills, perks, characteristics etc are almost neatly laid out, but powers are open-ended. In some systems powers are cut and dry, by name and effect. Sonic Blast, Fire Generation, etc just to name a few. But in hero system YOU choose the name and effect. This can go into as much depth as you want, as even similiar power effects can have different causes and/or effects. Example; Energy Blast- Electricity # 1- Creating a Bolt of Lightning by Weather Control # 2- Gather static electricity, magnify and release # 3- Projecting the body's own electrical energy # 4 - Manipulating surrounding electricity ( wires etc) The list is nearly endless.

It Figures- Raping the system First of all, I am glad that you noticed this problem. BUT, it is not so much a flaw in the system as it a flaw in the players/GM. MUNCHKINISIM. If you can learn to recognize this in your players and yourself, then hopefully it can be overcome. Some signs of MUNCHKINISM: STR/CON ending in an odd number for +1 to stun EGO 11 for +1 ECV, for a non mentalist INT ending in 3/8 for +1 Perception roll The main "cure" for MUNCHKINISM is; Maturity and Creativity. Maturity- For not trying to get "over on the system" ***For realizing that heroes are MUCH MORE then numbers (This is IMPORTANT) Creativity- For focusing on what characters are really about !!

I was hoping to start a thread on how to handle "Mystery powers". So here are some things I've done as a GM; Hold back on EXP to players, for the eventual "Radiation Accident", that grants a new power. Ideally the new power should have the following limitations to represent the "mystery" of the new power; NO CONSCIOUS CONTROL [power is literally unknown] 2 x END cost [ Extra effort, since how it works is a mystery] Activation Roll [ Character has had no chance to practice] Side Effect [ "Blacks out" when power is used-classic] Anyone else have any other suggestions or ideas???

Variable Power Pools I have seen how VVP's can be EASILY abused, and unbalance things (with little to no creativity on the Players Part) Here are some things I have used to try to control that. Lets start with a 50 pt VVP control cost 25= 75 pts total # 1- A maximum limit is used, and heavily enforced, of how many powers can be in a VVP at once ( I use 6) # 2- Each power must be created ahead of time, otherwise it becomes too useful and abusive. # 3- A general Limitation is used to define the pool's effects. Only Animal Powers, Only Ice Powers, etc NO CREDIT is to be given to the PC for this limitation, (it's a trade-off for the diversity). All powers MUST clearly belong to that effect. Beyond that any limitation or advantage can be added.

The Law says; I have seen and GM'd many games, so I have seen many systems. Here are some; #1 Anyone with 3d6 K + is considered to be carrying a lethal weapon. # 2 The 3 telepath rule- Telepathy is only allowed IF 3 different telepaths gather the EXACT same information. # 3 Androids, aliens, etc have NO legal rights # 4 The use of Clairvoyance, X-Ray vision etc is NOT admissable in court as it amounts to illegal search. # 5 The use of Mind Control to make a suspect confess is a Civil Rights violation. # 6 If your duplicate (duplication) commits a crime YOU are responsible. # 7 Berserk, in some cases, might be grounds for a plea of "not guilty by temporary insanity". Above all be CREATIVE, and have fun!!!

Leave your body behind Actually in Champions 4 ,P 62-63 under DESOLID they list Leaves Body Behind (-1 Limitation). It can also be done as a physical limitation [Leaves Body Behind] Extra-D movement probably uses the same limitations

Power Modifiers Actually I've seen players want both an EC and a MULTIPOWER, (and a few who also wanted VPP too) How I do it is this; I put a slot limit on EC and MULTIPOWER to avoid abuse of the system (the limit is 6 powers) I also require that the powers be related in some well defined way. Fire, Ice,etc seem fine but something like "Known Spells" seems like a munchkinization.

Each of us has a favorite story of how the BIG M met his demise. I wondered if anyone wanted to share theirs? Mine?: Mechanon was approached by GALACTUS, who offered Mechanon the chance to be his herald, IF he would help Galactus to 'eat' the Earth. Since Mechanon hates organic life he agreed. He began with the idea of covering the entire Earth with a highly potent poisonous gas that would put everyone in the world to sleep. But there was 1 flaw, the formula would be easily countered by a rare element- moon rocks (just follow for a moment) Mechanon went around detroying ALL the moon rocks in the world then he contacted Galactus and prepared the poison. The PC's searched for moon rocks and found NONE left. Except 1 source, that Mechanon didn't know of. A young (newbie & reformed) hero had elements of moon rocks in him [his name was Eclipse]. He jumped into the liquid and neutralized the poison. For his failure Mechanon was completely destroyed by Galactus.

Speak with Dead Try this; CLAIRSENTIENCE [Retrocognition] with the following Limitations; Only through the senses of others (-1/2) Vague and unclear (-1/2) Time Modifiers (-1/2) This assumes you only want to know something that the dead being knew about during his life [GM's ruling] If you are, however, talking about information that doesn't depend on who the spirit was etc; Use SKILL as "power"-> [ CRAMMING ]. This works for nearly anything you want to know.

Are you crazy? First of all INSANITY takes many forms, yet implying that it is a Psychological Limitation means you can exert willpower over it which is not always true. Personally I'd say it was a social limitation (VERY FREQUENT, SEVERE) As for mind recoiling in horror after enough exposure; How about ABALTIVE EGO DEFENCE? Building the horror as a mental power/damage shield (Ego Attack ?)

Such a creature.... This seems the simplest way to achieve this effect; Low dexterity, plus extra DCV levels with the Limitation[does not work versus those who have high EGO and low OCV] Effect; A clumsy oaf will be fighting against your full DCV (Dexterity+DCV levels) and most likely miss, unless he has high Ego in which case he attacks at your base DCV (most likely hit) A highly trained fighter goes against your basic DCV (Dexterity + DCV levels) and will most likely hit.

Home sweet home Every once in awhile a GM will set up a game in his own home city, or at least a nearby one. I had a hero group stationed in New Jersey, and one in Philadelphia. I then tried other states and cities, the last one I had was in Jacksonville ILLINOIS.

Which came first.....? The problem is one of; if one of those who are in combat takes an action that would affect the others choices, which goes first??? Example: What if you have DESOLID and an RKA, and your opponent decides to go desolid? 1) If the RKA goes off first it hits before the target can go desolid. Thus he is affected. 2) If the target goes Desolid and the RKA hits, it passes right through him as he laughs his head off. He could then turn it off and attack to his hearts content. 3) If he goes desolid first, then you can follow with your desolid and can attack and affect him. This is just one small example but it does illustrate the fact that when 2 people react at the same exact time you can have an almost unresolvable paradox.

Repeat after me... HERO 5, Page 131-132. MIND CONTROL. Lets start with-> What do you want them to say. # 1 If this is a psychic courier ( ala Johnny Mnemonic) then you would only need EGO-10. # 2 Ordering someone to divulge secret infromation would be EGO+30 # 3 Any suggestion to the victim about saying something embarrasing, on t.v. etc, becomes EGO + 60 Is this what you were looking for???

Mr Long, I have really enjoyed this gaming site, and will continue to post things in the future. But, has anyone ever asked what advice you can give a starting GM? Is there any discussion board anywhere where people who want to become better GM's can look find some help? I have been a Champions player/GM for many years, though I see players who want to try GMing and have no clue as to what that takes. I'd volunteer myself to give advice and answer general questions, but isn't that your job???

According to the HERO SYSTEM Comeliness affects skills like Seduction. If 0 or lower it adds to PRESENCE attacks. Of course a 16+ Comeliness gets you dates. But I wonder if anyone out there has ever wondered what good COMELINESS does for a PC. Most refuse to pay the points for it as it will not help you get out of a death trap etc. So if at all possible post some suggestions for 'wasting' 1 or 2 points on COMELINESS. Personally I think that COMELINESS is cute [LOL] (BOO bad pun)

Dumb or Stupid, you decide This event sticks out in my mind as "Just Plain Stupid" 4 players were involved; Sapphire(Brick), Kid-Magic(prodigy), WildClaw(Wolverine without the attitude), Freelance ( gadgeteer who liked to go on Bounty Hunts) There was a cop gone bad (Longarm= Stretching etc) and some maniac who liked to behead people with his mystic-ultra sharp battleaxe (Scalper). Well it turns out that Sapphires DNPC was the only eye-witness to Scalpers most recent attack. [How do these things always happen to PC's DNPC's ??? LOL] The DNPC was under protective custody in a safe house. Well the police chief calls in the heroes for an update on finding Scalper, the press was fuming. Well Freelance and Sapphire were not there to play their characters so I NPC'd them. Freelance and WildClaw met with the police chief, leaving Kid-Magic to protect the witness. When those 2 arrived to meet the chief, Kid-Magic's character asked if anyone else was there(Out of character) As GM I said "You can be there if you wanted", he said "YES". Of course it took 2 seconds after that happened to realize that they left the DNPC unprotected (from Longarm who had superpowers ,against trained agents[police]. Needless to say the DNPC got kidnapped, Sapphire had to pay $1,000,000 ransom. IDIOTS!!!

My 2 cents # 1= Voodoo Doll? I had an NPC named VOODOO MASTER . I did it as MENTAL ILLUSIONS, whatever you did to the doll happened to the victim. # 2= Message on t.v.? How about a TRIGGER on a MIND LINK, or even TELEPATHY (send messages only) also TRIGGERED. # 3= Knocking aside HTH attacks? From what you described it sounds like knocking a weapon out of an opponents hand and sending it flying towards someone else in range. Try; TELEKINESIS [hth weapons only] grab the item and toss it where you want.

I have often wondered what the average HERO system player considers as their favorite background / setting.

For some time now we have heard the term "politiclaly correct" (though I prefer the term "socially correct") I have created NPC's that are from many different ethnic, racial etc backgrouds. Here are a few, please add ones you have created or played. Lambda; Female, Afro-American, Lesbian ( a kind of Batgirl ripoff) Maccabe; Male, Orthodox Jew (Direct desendent of Judah Maccabe-> Channukah) (Think Espirita from West Coast Avengers) BlackJack; Male, Afro-American (Ex-Army Sergeant, highly skilled) Gold Dragon; Male, Asian-American (Green Dragon had 2 brothers in a game I GM'd) White Witch: Female (caucasian). ("Real" Magic and the Creeds that go with it) Robert J. Sullivan: Male, Caucasian, Lawyer ( got caught up in a Satanic Cult)

Worthless Disadvantages Remember what it says in ANY Champions book; "A disadvantage which isn't a disadvantage isn't worth any points. HERO 5 p 211. Disadavantages are MEANT to hurt and be taken advantage of. EXAMPLES: A player once asked me why DNPC's (having friends) is a disadvanatge. The answer is that you take irrational actions to protect/save them. Just like "Protective of Innocents." Reputation: Dangerous Supervillian? Consider the following; When the heroes arrive on the sceen they will know to be careful about the villians ability. Where is the villians element of surprise??? He CAN"T be trusted, so who would work for a maniac? A PC I knew took "Loves Wife" as a disadvantage under Champions 4, while having her as a DNPC. Now that kind of loophole seems grossly unfair. But if she says; "If you love me you'll give up being a super, it's too dangerous" (Like being a police officer) What does the guy do??? Here's one I have used before- Ask the player in question (or even yourself with some common sense) "What is the disadvantage of [such-n-such] disadvanatge??" If you go unaswered then don't allow it. Overconfidence and Code vs Killing seem the most often abused psychological disadvantages. Until you realize what they do. An Overconfident person doesn't think he needs extra help to win (why take buddies into combat?) he stops taking simple precautions [ no one can beat me!] etc. Code vs Killing allows your opponent to use ANYTHING he wants against you (even his 10dRKA) knowing you cannot respond in kind. How about a villian with NO RESISTANT DEFENSES. You can't use your RKA on them in ANY situation.

Don't see Oculon He was first listed in Enemies 2, page 19. Although that is a write-up for the pre 4th and 5th edition you might be able to translate him.

SPEED Freaks I've been in situations like this before and I feel that this MUST be said. If the GM sets a house rule about SPD or any other game aspect,then whom but the most SELFISH, EGOMANIAC of PC's would want to go beyond that???? Now I hear all those "FLASH" wannabees yelling out there. What is the reason for the HIGH SPD? Limit it to non-combat if they are attempting to do the FLASH. (You also have MEGASCALE etc to simulate this effect.) What is the power level of the game? [ see HERO page # 15] PLEASE do not turn Champions into an "Arms race" where; everyone is striving to outdo each other, or the low man on the totem pole has to "beg" the players and/or the GM for just a few extra points (or he'd be a whimp)