JohnOSpencer

Re: A Thread for Random Videos

Because I'm feeling particularly evil right now, I present one of the most infamous shorts shown on MST3K.

 

"Push the button Frank."

 

 

Man, I remember this. I have it on VHS.

Re: (6e) Classified: Characters Wanted!

So 'normal' Champions. 12DCs, appropriate Defenses and 8-10 CV, got it. I'll see what I can do.

My game is 325 +75 and lower maximums. Think of it like Street-level Champions with more points.

Re: WOW! Stun drain in 6e

Okay. And what about End?

 

I seriously think the only reason for including those things as "defensive powers" in 6E is that they were reduced in price for 6E. That's a horrible reason to decrease the effect on them IMO. If they're worth less, they're worth less. It should be easier to raise them (it is) and easier to reduce them. That's the whole point of their cost. The only reason I was ever okay with the effect on Defensive Powers and Characteristics being halved is that reducing a true defense increases the effect of Adjustments and attacks on other powers and Characteristics. For example, reducing someone's PD can make it very easy for an attack to reduce their Stun; reducing their Power Defense makes further negative Adjustments much more effective. (And similarly for boosting them.)

So you'd rather it be broken? Sometimes game mechanics have to be 'stretched' for balance. Happens in any game. Otherwise you might was well forget your End and make sure you have a 0 end power and fight with that until your End comes back. I like this. Otherwise Drain would have to cost different points based off abilities. Why do Killing Damage when you can Drain Body for 2/3 the cost and hit a much more exotic defense.

Making END, Body and Stun 'defensive' may seem kinda arbitrary and 'wrong', but I agree with it over the alternatives.

Re: (6e) Classified: Characters Wanted!

Any other restrictions and such? I love making characters, but the ones for my current campaign might be underpowered.

Re: Omcv 1?

You know this whole issue would be eliminated in some part if:

 

We made mental equivalents of Dodge and Block (Espesialy)

 

So Mental Fortress is a chance to use your MOCV to prevent Mental damage...

Something like Batman humming to himself in the Justice League episode with Doctor Destiny? I like that. This will require some pondering...

Would you allow someone to abort to block if they were being attacked at range and had nothing to block with?

Reason this might come up: I've been translating some characters to 6E and many of them have (or now have) several levels with Martial Arts and Martial Block, but do not have Martial Dodge. So, as long as you have one CSL with Martial Arts, the Martial Block would provide as much DCV as a normal dodge.

I'm on the fence. It seems kinda weird to me. Maybe a little too 'meta-gamey'.

Re: What Are You Listening To Right Now?

Tonight is what it means to be young. From the Streets of Fire soundtrack.

Now I'm listening to "Our live album is better than your live album" by Reel Big Fish.

Re: [After-Action Report] Villainy Amok

That is actually the last book I purchased (before 6E last week) for my Champions game.

I really enjoyed the book, lots and lots of good ideas.

Now, to try to answer your questions:

1) Yes, I stole parts of the alien invasion (just recently) and the Metatron scenarios. I've been trying to fit the Mad Scientist stuff in there, but have not had a chance. BTW: I'm sure my players thank you for the alien invasion ideas. They ended up joining forces with Foxbat to go into space and 'bring the fight to them'. Now they're stuck on the Foxbat shuttle for a month on their way back to Earth.

2) Not yet, but I check them everytime I plan an adventure.

3) No. My players are random enough without them.

4) No.

5) Does the Tripod War Machine count?

6) I refer you to the Foxbat incident above.

7) haven't used them yet.

Re: Ben 10: Alien Force

Now that season 3 is only 2 weeks away I have to make a choice...convert to 6E or stay with 5ER?

 

Decisions, decisions...

Do what you're comfortable with. If others want to 'borrow' your ideas, it's easy enough to convert back and forth.

I'd probably go 5th, just because i'm much more familiar with it.

Re: What Are You Listening To Right Now?

My computer is playing my mix of instrumental and scores.

Currently...the end theme from Buckaroo Banzai.

Re: Who is your favourite Champions Character Background/History?

I agree with Black Paladin and Lady Blue, not sure about the rest.

My favorite(and this probably won't be a surprise) is Foxbat. But, not the current version, the older Enemies Assemble version with his whole crew.

Re: Champions 6th version

Those characters were just taken from the old guide and updated. I doubt they put much thought into them.

to nitpick the nitpicker, can't you add 1/2d6 to your attack, that is 1/2 a DC?

I'd much prefer a flexible skill system, where I can assign each CSL to separate bonuses.

Perhaps in the rules it states '2 CSL equals 1 DC'; is this just an inflexibilty in the rules?

Interesting point. While I might allow something like that as GM, the rules don't let you purchase 1/2 DC. Some powers may but, in general, 1 DC is the smallest increment of damage.

The math is elegant and undeniable, making excellent use of limitations of -1/4, -1/2 and -1 to find whole number solutions for the 'true cost' of skills, and actually shows a more varied, 'real benefit cost' skill system!

It's also easy to see how 8 and 10 pt. levels are '+2 over-priced', 2 and 5 pt. levels remain the same, and 3 pt. levels are a '-1 bargain' for their utility! Bravo!

I agree, the more I think about it, the more I want to try this. Now if I can just get my PCs to remember they can use skill levels for damage...

Re: Cost of Levels

As I said, I understand where your coming from (in both cases), I just think you (as a veteran HERO board member) could phrase things a lot less antagonistic for the rest of us. Don't want to scare off someone who doesn't have thick skin.

Back to levels(sorry ajackson, for the rant). It seems like the 10 point levels get more worth it the more you have and the more attacks you have.

Your proposed levels might be too cheap if someone has a bunch of different attacks. But we won't know unless we test. My PCs might be converting their characters to 6E after this Sat (depends on their vote). If so, I'll see if we can give it some testing. Maybe if I explain that levels can be used for damage, they may try it out.

Re: Cost of Levels

I love statements like "no one will ever" - I play in several groups where The option to cause damagecwith CSLs is used a lot and an important factor in how CVs and DCs are bought.

 

But hey thanks for letting me know how I plan on spending my points - saves me some time.

Here's a news flash...everyone posts from their point of view. It would waste a great deal of time to post that before everything. By now, I think everyone gets your point as you post the same thing every-where. You can at least try not to sound like dick every time you do. All you do is piss off people who are actually trying to comment on the topic at hand. I have absolutely nothing against you, your group, how you play or anything. If you don't mean to come off sounding like a dick, add a smiley or something:)

Back to the topic at hand. I totally discounted the possibility of using levels for damage as no one in my group (even the GM, me) has ever done it. I wasn't a fan of the 5E way of handling it. I still think that the lower point cost levels are way better, I can see some use in the 10 point levels. I'm still not sure I'd buy them in a superhero game, they may not be as bad of deals as I thought.

Re: What's the craziest thing your Supers have ever done?

I had one player convince Foxbat to give up his current plan (forget what it was) to go steal all the French Fries in the city.

Re: Champions 6th version

I agree there is nothing stopping anyone from buying up those stats. There was nothing stopping anyone from buying them in the first 5 editions of Hero either. IMO losing the figured characteristics loses alot of the effect of the primaries.

I don't think you're quite 'getting' what they are saying. As clearly as I can say it: 'Decoupling' the old figured characteristics does not stop you in any way shape or form from making the character you want. It does make it easier to make characters who didn't need all those figured stats.

The first thing my players would always do is hand me their characters and have me 'tweak' their stats so they were 'cost effective'. Now that is no longer necessary, they can just buy what they need.

And finally, it removes the old (BS) argument from non-HERO gamers that you require calculus(or other high math) skills to play the game. You'd be surprised how many people that statement would scare away.

Of course, you can still play 5E, there is nothing wrong with it. But try to keep an open mind, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Re: Cost of Levels

I'll nitpick a little to start. Technically, the Damage class 'slot' would not be variable (multi), you can't use it with any of the other slots, so the cost is 7.5, which we can round to 8.

Now that's out of my system.

I have to agree that I'm not a big fan of the new CSL cost breakdown...but only in superheroic games. In any game that uses NCM, it's no big deal. But no one will use 10 point levels until their OCV/DCV levels are maxed.

Your system definitely looks promising, but it would take a lot of testing of both your system and the base system to know for sure.

Re: A Thread for Random Videos

Does the iTunes version give you the extras you get when you buy the DVD? I bought that' date=' it's got a commentary a singing commentary and various video applications for the League.[/quote']

 

No, it came out right after the free showing was over. Have to get the DVD for all the extras.

Re: A Thread for Random Videos

I haven't heard of The Guild until now' date=' but that's a catchy tune. And Felicia Day is hot! [/quote']

Check her out in Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog. Its great. I think it's on Hulu. I don't know for sure. I caught it for free and then bought it on I Tunes.

Re: What Are You Listening To Right Now?

the Macross Frontier Soundtrack. I can't tell you the name of the song...I don't have the Japanese language set up on my computer, so it's just a bunch of squares. The last song was Ai Obete imasuka, which is a cover from Macross Do you Remember love?

Re: What Are You Listening To Right Now?

Falling to Pieces by Faith No More on my headphones. I can barely hear the radio the wife is listening to Fall Out Boy.

Re: The unofficial: I Have 6th edition thread

I got the book and PDF megabundle on Wed. I even took the day off work to read them. I can't wait for the physical books.

Re: Reactions to 6e

P.S. my advice for reading .pdf get a pivoting flatscreen monitor' date=' I got one about 5 years ago and they've got to be a heckofalot cheaper now but you can see pages at a size that is even bigger than the paper hard copy so reading on screen is not a strain.[/size']

Now you tell me. My eyes are still bleeding from reading most of both books yesterday.

I was skeptical, but I like all the changes I've seen. Not sure if I'm gonna change my game, i'll decide when I have books in my hands.

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group...

The only notable quotes from my Star Wars character.

The Falleen is going to start making connections, so he starts up his pheremones.

Dal'Shek, Togruta Jedi "Turn on your love stink!"

The players are trying to figure out exactly why the Empire is capturing Jedi.

Character A "Well, they gotta catch 'em all"

Jason(OOC) "I want a new character! I am not a F*****g Pokemon"

John