Tempuswolf

Re: Inner-Earth Geography

A rubber science explanation works for me, Steve, thanks.

I'll try to keep 'em running, Thia.

Inner-Earth GM preparing for a campaign, here.

The distances between the entrances seem very close together. Hawaii and northern South America are about 5,000 miles apart and their entrances are about 1/10 that.

Are the underground passages (rivers, Arctic chimney) that long, or is Inner-Earth's depth so deep (9/10th to the center) to make Inner Earth geography and Outer Earth geography match up?

Did I miss something?

Re: Change Environment's Telekinesis

Thanks for responding, Dust Raven.

Seems to me what you are describing is straying into an extra Selective Advantage for the CE. A Windstorm CE should be exerting force equally on everything in the area of effect. I think the rule that "TK applied to an AE doesn't lift anymore than the TK can lift w/o the AE" logically breaks down, even though there might be balance issues (when you are dealing with full TK and not so much so with CE TK). Assigning the CE a TK STR that lifts equally on everything in the AE certainly makes the power easier to apply- just compare the STR needed to lift the weight of the object to the TK STR and it moves 4/5 the difference in inches. This seems more playable than inventorying the objects in the AE and parsing them out in some order until the TK STR lifting capacity is reached. However, in application there is just an object or a certain class of objects in the CE that you keep track of, any other effects not reaching above Special Effects or a baseline CE effect, so a Selective approach like you suggest would work well.

To preface, some Q&A from the Rules Questions Boards:

Change Environment's Telekinesis

 

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Does the telekinetic effect of Change Environment function like Telekinesis advantaged with Area Effect? Do you have to divide up the lifting weight per hex to find out what size objects are affected? Or do you compare the STR to the weight of each object in the CE?

 

For example, HS5R pg. 136, if Lodestone's 0 STR low level magnetic field had a radius of 4" would it lift:

 

25 kilos/ 37 hexes= 2/3 a kilo in a hex

-or-

Anything ferrous 25 kilos or less?

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Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. - Mark Twain

 

 

Re: Change Environment's Telekinesis

 

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Does the telekinetic effect of Change Environment function like Telekinesis advantaged [sic] with Area Effect?[sic]

 

Yes, that’s how it works, unless the GM rules otherwise for some reason.

__________________

Steve Long

HERO System Line Developer

Change Environment's Telekinesis Follow-Up

 

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A telekinetic combat effect Change Environment hits an area with a large number of objects.

 

How do you determine which objects the telekinesis manipulates and the intensity of the effect?

 

As I am getting stuck applying this power at the game table, any practical example would be greatly appreciated.

__________________

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. - Mark Twain

 

 

 

 

 

Re: Change Environment's Telekinesis Follow-Up

 

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There are no guidelines in the rules beyond what's discussed on 5ER 231; it's left to the GM as an exercise of dramatic sense, common sense, and general discretion. It might be worth starting a discussion about on the "Discussion" board if you'd like to explore the topic further.

__________________

Steve Long

HERO System Line Developer

So how does TK combat effect CE work at your game table?

If there are a large number of objects, how do you determine which objects the telekinesis manipulates and the intensity of the effect?

A telekinetic combat effect Change Environment hits an area with a large number of objects.

How do you determine which objects the telekinesis manipulates and the intensity of the effect?

As I am getting stuck applying this power at the game table, any practical example would be greatly appreciated.

Does the telekinetic effect of Change Environment function like Telekinesis advantaged with Area Effect? Do you have to divide up the lifting weight per hex to find out what size objects are affected? Or do you compare the STR to the weight of each object in the CE?

For example, HS5R pg. 136, if Lodestone's 0 STR low level magnetic field had a radius of 4" would it lift:

25 kilos/ 37 hexes= 2/3 a kilo in a hex

-or-

Anything ferrous 25 kilos or less?

Re: Character name help needed

Faith Daystar

Faith Equinox

Faith Chimera

Empyrean X

Lady Antipodes

Re: WWYCD: Ignorance is Bliss

Tensor would freak.

Especially the gay stuff.

Especially the gay stuff using his superstretching powers.

Especially the gay stuff using his superstretching powers with /Nighthunter when he was his sidekick, Elastic Lad.

Most especially the true stuff using his superstretching powers on Nighthunter. (Come on, Dan didn't have his body armor. WWYCD)

Lorecraft would be amused and gratified for a moment or two by the display of devotion; but, then the presumptuousness of the enterprise would hit him. Being the sybaritic exiled god-king that he is, wanton displays of flesh, pairings with his beautiful female companions, even an outside-the-realm-of-possibility tryst with cyborg Major Mason wouldn't phase him in the least. However, the evident lack of respect of doing this without his permission would set his jaw. Then, if he finds some demeaning depictions (dogcollars, spanking, etc.), the webmasters get a new Hunted. Corland would throw lots of money at the problem of finding each and everyone of them. Depending on how properly obsequious they are when he personally demands they stop what they are doing, he might let them go with only a warning. Truly, if they really make an effort, he might throw them some patronage (with certain guidelines of course). If they refuse or proclaim some sort of right to keep on doing this, he wouldn't hesitate before unleashing all sorts of twisted psychic surgery (ie, when a reporter on the payroll of a criminal organization started a smear campaign against him and his companions, he rewired her speech centers to switch a worthy Anglo-saxon four-letter with the reporter's last name.)

Re: Cell phones don't work underwater...

If you want to go magic, another general solution might be some Gate magic

This would allow communication even if neither party decides to go through. You might tack on some LS High Pressure if you don't feel right about the pressure differential not shooting water through the pipe, personally Id just go with Magic Gate Physics (+0). The Trigger would allow the Gate to be opened by the landlubbers (although I wouldn't allow them to Gate between themselves just out to Dragonguy).

Re: How Do the Friction Manipulation Entangles Work?

Thanks!

Re: Cell phones don't work underwater...

How about a transceiver buoy? It picks up cell phone transmissions and rebroadcasts coded ultrasounds to a receiving set (wrist phone, earpiece, whatever) that Fishboy wears.

If everyone else is using unpointed up, free cell phones, just have him buy Radio(Sonar) Transmission/Reception with the Hearing group or Affected By Both Radio and Hearing. If the rest of the team buys their comm gear, have him buy his twice or with an added Sonar sense.

In CKC (Slick of the Ultimates) and the USPD, there are Friction Manipulation Entangles with the modifiers:

1. Takes No Damage From All Attacks
   
2. Can't Form Barriers
   
3. Vulnerable To Any Attack That Creates A Physical Effect Which Gives the Victim Something To Grab Hold Of.
   

I understand the game mechanics, but I don't understand what is being simulated. What's the rubber science explanation for this effect? What's an example of the entangle's vulnerability being exploited?

Re: Horror Hero:Killer Cars, opinions wanted

I would build it as a character, since it plays the role of a character in the story. An AI with programs seems a poor fit. Take the physical stats from HSVS and the mental ones from a Bestiary's demon, throw in some Regeneration, voila a Plymouth Fury from Hell.

These may be too far astray from superdom, but:

Sancho Panza, 'kicks for Don Quixote.

Kif, 'kicks for Zack Brannigan.

I've always been able to empathize with the downtrodden sidekick who has to deal with the delusional frontman.

With movies like these and the Carnivale series on HBO, any chance of bumping up the release date on Pulp Hero? I know Dark Champions is a sentimental favorite of yours, but doesn't it have less mass appeal and isn't it a sub-genre of Pulp Hero?

Drew wants some mistletoed goodbyes from Connie, Cindi, and Cree (hoping her dad isn't watching from Tuat) before heading home for Christmas break.

So three votes for B, and one vote for C.

I think I'll go with B too then. Thanks for the feedback.

A hypothetical question: you are using a humanoid race from Monsters, Minions, and Marauders "off the shelf" not customizing it for your campaign. Let's say it's the orc.

The stats listed for the orc (Str 12, etc.) compare to which human stat set from Hero 5th? The orc is described as being a typical, competent individual the player might encounter.

Do you compare the orc listed in MMM to:

A) The Average Person (Str 8)

The Noteworthy Normal (Str 10)

C) The Skilled or Competent Normal (Str 13)

When comparing the new humanoids from Monsters, Minions, and Marauders to the humanoids we all have some familiarity with, namely humanity, which set of stats do you use for us humans? Most of the write-ups for the new creatures are described as "typical" and "competent". Does that mean they compare to the "Competent Normal" on pg 224 of Hero 5th? Comparing orc STR to human STR, do we compare a 12 to a 13, orcs being slightly weaker than humans? Or do we compare the "competent" stat blocks from Monsters, Minions, and Marauders to the "Noteworthy Normal" stat block of 10 for all the primary characteristics (making orcs slightly stronger than humans)?

Thanks for the insights, mi compadres.

The clarification from the Nov. 3 FAQ:

NEW*Q: The rules say that squeezing or throwing a Grabbed character in a Phase after the Phase in which he’s Grabbed “is an Attack Action.†Does this mean it requires an Attack Roll, or that it occurs automatically but the character has to allot time for it as if it were an Attack Action.

A: It means that the character has to make an Attack Roll; in later Phases the squeezing/throwing damage doesn’t automatically succeed.

Anyone else making new attack rolls in phases after grab? I had always played grab as a sort of continuing STR effect requiring a half phase action, yes, but not a new attack roll. Hmmm.

What about wish magic. I guess it could also be called fate or luck magic. It's more of an innate ability than a formulaic spell casting. The kind that isn't flashy, it works in the corners out of your line of sight. For weal or for woe, it bends the "random" to your will. Instead of shooting flaming balls of pitch out of your fingertips, Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicks at a gadfly and hits the lantern. Instead of a flying carpet, a bitter gale comes from the north and freezes the swampy road allowing for excellent time astride your horse. Instead of turning the guard into a "Yes, Master, No, Master" mindless automata, the guard who just buried his drowned son sees many of the qualities that endeared his son in his heart in you, this stranger at the gate.

The sun's damage thread comes to mind. I think abandoning the exponential scale for extreme high end damage abandons one of the system's greatest strength. I hope Galactic Champions revisits this issue whether through revision or optional rules.

MTI Keys- Mobile Tesselation Interface: a swarm of fingernail-sized rhomboid robots that fly around on gravity currents and assemble into panels for door locks, view screens, keyboard controls. They also project holographic images with integrated microgravity fields that give the sensation of touch so you could for example program the panel that opens a wall safe to resemble the standard dial tumbler. Each person authorized to be in the base would get a swarm keyed for their personal use. The base would be a very unfriendly place for someone without their MTI key since the elevator has no buttons, the doors have no doorknobs, etc.

STS- Security Tesselation Swarm: a not so nice version of the above that could assemble into a form fitting restraint like a rigid mail on the less lethal setting, or the stop-the-aggression mode, a flying cuisinart cloud of death.

There's the Sector Generator in the Free Stuff-Other Software right here at Hero Web Site. I don't think it does all that you requested in your post but it is a start.