Amorkca

Work on tablet support is nearing completion.  I added icons and splash screens for iPad's tonight and fixed some issues with the header on various sized devices.
 
I have a very annoying issue that I've been fighting on the iOS side.  I don't own an iPad or iPhone so I usually use the Simulator tool that Apple provides to developers to do my testing.  Unfortunately, my Simulator tool is refusing to load iCloud files for me at the moment, it throws an error message when I click on a file regardless of the device I'm simulating.  I'm going to try to bypass iCloud entirely but it's a bit of pain to do.  
 
That's a long way of saying that I haven't seen the character screens because I can't load a character  
 
Anyways, barring any further issues with the Simulator tool I may end up pushing a build as early as tomorrow morning.

I must’ve rolled three ones! 😁

Here you go @Doc Democracy... took about 30 minutes to setup
 
Need to pick out sounds for SFX now...  that'll take longer than the coding lol.
 
 
 

Recoverable Charges. 

I have one I posted before but is perfect.
 
Meet Glacia.  In 1940 Nova Scotia, she was the daughter of a local fisheman who found a body washed up on shore.  It looked human, but was very pale and in some places looked almost blue. When she grabbed him to pull him up the beach, she almost fell unconscious from the fierce cold that ran through he body.  The RCMP came to investigate and the matter was closed quietly.  Fast forward a couple of months and she discovered her first super power - Growth- when she helped rescue people from a winter fire.  Cue the return of the RCMP and a member of a NA super team that were fighting criminals and spies on the home front.  She was asked to join, and being a patriotic Canadian, she did so. 
 
In the course of her adventures she found out she also has control over ice (like Iceman) and so got her Code Name.  After the war she started to suspect there was a third ability, reduced aging.  By 1949 she still looked like a teenager even though she was 28 by her birth certificate.  People started to talk, so she disappeared. (it helped that members of her team were good with getting new secret IDs) and went to school.  She studied photograghy and soon had a little studio in Vancouver.  But she came out of retirement in the 1060's to help stem the tide of rising super crime on the west coast. then she disappeared again (she needed a break she said).   Now she moved to Toronto and again set up a new studio.  By now she looked like she was in her mid 20's even though she was pushing 60.  She did come out of retirement again, but only to aid a new team setting up in the city and give them advice (she was technically a reserve member and is to this day). 
 
Now close to 100 but barely looking 30, Glacia has come out of retirement again.  She's made her money, invsted it wisely and most of her famitl has passed away.  She needs to get active again, and the current state of the world makes her believe it needs superHEROS again. 
 
Glacia was a V&V NPC rolled up who when I rolled for level was lvl 19.  Thus the long backstory to justify such an ungodly level!

I worked a bit more on the combat screen today for Hero Designer characters... here's a screenshot (apologies for the quality)
 

 
As you can see, the Dexterity and Speed of the loaded character are now displayed below the phase bubbles.
 
The phase bubbles themselves are now interactable:
Touching a bubble will highlight it in gold to indicate the phase has been spent Long touching the bubble will highlight it in red to indicate the phase has been lost due to aborting or being stunned  

Who wants to hear a long rant on why the whole "martial arts" as a special category is just plain stupid?!  
 
Really?  Nobody?
 
 
_FINE_........
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Jack Straw
 
Gale Guthrie was a Deadhead hippie who was happy living on his small farm and growing his crops, including a particularly potent strain of weed. However word got out and one night he was visited by the Stark brothers. Guthrie didn't resist and gave up his crop willingly, but the vicious thieves gunned him down anyway. Guthrie's spirit didn't rest however and animated Gunthrie's hemp scarecrow. As Jack Straw he put an end to the Stark brothers sending them to prison and then remained in this plane to help balance the scales of karma and just keep on keepin' on. As a scarecrow he can absorb damage and is able to recover wounds and even pull pieces of his body back together if torn apart. However fire is his ultimate weakness. His touch can induce a mellowing trance like state much akin to a very potent high. He has a strict code against killing and he avoids combat whenever possible. 

Night at the Gallery
 
Standing on the landing of the gallery's staircase, Emily Deveraux looked over the assembled guests and smiled. Tonight was a private gathering. The public opening of Jason's showing would be a few days hence, allowing for the removal of pieces Jason did not want in the public eye, and their replacement with others of his collection.
 
Picking up the striker, Emily tapped the silver bell that had been placed for her use. “If I may have everyone's attention.” Conversations muted and eyes turned to Emily. “I would like to thank you all for coming. After many years of trying I was finally able to get Jason to agree to a public showing of his works. The main floor is fully open. Each gallery has a theme.”
 
“So we get to see Scott's landscape paintings?” Brad Michaels snarked. Emily watched Ashleigh Parks lean to him and whisper something. Brad glanced at her. “My apologies.”
 
Emily nodded. “The galleries on the upper levels are not yet open. They will be before the night is over. Jason has asked that those galleries remain closed until he is able to escort the subject or subjects of those galleries on a personal tour of it.”
 
“Where is Jason?” Jordan Kendall asked.
 
“Temporarily delayed,” Emily answered. “Beth contacted me earlier and explained that something unexpected came up that Jason had to deal with.”
 
“It happens often enough to me,” Jordan said, eliciting a laugh from many.
 
“Please, everyone, make yourselves welcome. There is a bar and an appetizer table. The gallery asks that, please, do not leave your glasses and plates scattered around the displays. Thank you all for coming.” Emily made her way down the stairs.
 
* * * * *
“So, where should we start?” Warren asked.
 
“I'm thinking my husband should start with snacks. My tummy is a'rumblin' and I think I shall faint from hunger long before dinner,” Kate told him.
 
“As you wish,” Warren replied with a shallow bow to his wife.
 
“'Shall faint',” Leah teased. “Been reading them tawdry romance novels again?”
 
Kate grinned. “Remind me again, oh favorite roommate, who got me started on them.”
 
“That would have been your grandmother.”
 
Kate thought for a moment. “Fair point,” she agreed. “But I remember a lot of them coming out of your room when we lived together.”
 
Shrugging, Leah said, “A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do when there's no romance in her life.”
 
“Warren is right, though,” Ash said. “Aside from Kate wasting away, where should we start.”
 
Stepping up, Emily said, “I couldn't help but overhear. Perhaps you might try the east wing. All the paintings in there Jason is donating to one of the museums. A display of extraordinary people, from what I understand. The woman that curates the exhibit is here somewhere.”
 
Warren held a small plate for Kate. “So, what was decided?”
 
“Emily is suggesting the east wing,” Kris said.
 
Flashes from the front door caught Warren's attention. “Might want to hold off for a few minutes. That might be him now.”
 
Their attention turned to where Warren indicated. The flashes came from cameras pointed at a limousine that had pulled up. A valet opened the door and Frank Gilbert stepped out. Smiling, he turned and waved at all the photographers. He put his hand down and helped Beth out of the car. With Beth on his arm they walked into the gallery.
 
Behind Beth, Jason exited the car. Jason headed towards the door, stopped and looked off to the side. He pointed at something and Warren cocked his head, questioning. Jason was joined by a young woman that he towered over. They spoke, the girl jotted something down in notepad. Jason held both hands up to her with his fingers splayed. He pointed at the notepad. The woman got a defiant look on her face. Jason said something further and the woman smiled. She slipped the notepad into her bag. Jason held his arm out to her, which she took.
 
Warren continued to watch as they entered together. “I wonder who that is,” he said, nodding toward the woman on Jason's arm. Beth brought her father to them.
 
“I have no clue,” Kris said. “Although she does look vaguely familiar for some reason.”
 
“Mr. Gilbert,” Warren said in greeting, holding out his hand to the older man. Taking in Frank's tuxedo, he said, “I didn't realize this was a black tie event.”
 
Frank smiled and clasped Warren's hand. “When I get to escort a lovely young woman to any event at my age, it is a black tie event.”
 
“And she is quite lovely,” Leah said smiling. Warren thought he saw Beth blushing.
 
“Thanks,” she said in response to Leah. “Sorry we're running late.”
 
“Couldn't decide what to wear?” Warren teased.
 
“Hardly. My dress was picked out a few months ago. It's a gift from Jason.” Beth's dress was royal blue silk. It fell to her knees. The upper bodice and sleeves were sheer. Her shoes matched perfectly.
 
Kris smiled. “I thought I noticed a George.” Beth smiled back.
 
“Hey, Beth.”
 
“Yeah?”
 
“Nice legs.” Warren grinned. Beth gave Warren an annoyed look and then smiled.
 
* * * * *
Jason pointed out Emily to Valora Langford. “Don't think this gets you out.”
 
“Please, Miss Langford, I'm here most of the night. You've got yourself an exclusive. All I ask is no photographs. You don't have a photographer with you. That means any pictures you might take would be from your phone. If you would like, you and I can arrange a photo of the two of us. If you feel any of my work needs to be added to your story, then prints will be made available to you. Fair enough?”
 
“I suppose.”
 
“Now if you'll excuse me, I'm already running late. Emily, this is Valora Langford. She's a reporter.” Emily raised an eyebrow at Jason and then smiled at Val. “I figure a little press coverage can't hurt.”
 
“As you wish, Jason. Come Miss Langford. I will show you around the open galleries.”
 
As Jason turned and walked away, he overheard Val. “I heard you were shot at that party last year. Remarkable recovery.”
 
“Yes, it was,” Emily commented. Jason shook his head.
 
Approaching his friends, Jason's gaze fell on Kate. Feeling his gaze upon her, Kate looked back and then blushed. “I told you that would be a lovely dress on you.”
 
Kate gave a shallow curtsy. “I figured with everyone who would be here it would be safe to dress up.”
 
Jason smiled. “The effort is much appreciated.”
 
“And Aaron willing, it will be much appreciated after, as well,” Warren said. Kate blushed deeper. Leah elbowed her in the ribs.
 
“Emily suggested the east wing,” Ash said. “Something about 'extraordinary people'?”
 
“Just a series of paintings I've been working on when I should be sleeping,” Jason said. “Different heroes and villains. Some the curator requested. Others were ones that I had access to good references for.”
 
“No nudes?” Brad Michaels asked when he walked up.
 
“Tasteful ones,” Jason answered. “Getting caught doing things you shouldn't be, Michaels, will get you tossed out. Excuse me.” Jason headed towards the stairs.

Oh my god!  This again. I worked on that damned game. The crew was Steve Peterson, Ken Zarifies, Nicky Robinson, her (soon to be ex) husband, Ray Greer, Bryce Nakagawa, and myself. It was  for 386, and 486 machine gun it’s SVGA capability, and it was my first computer animation gig, out of college, and Lordy was that a labor intensive game. Bryce and I replaced another artist, who’s well drawn porn comic took off. We scrapped his character art, and Bryce took over interface and some backgrounds and I did character sprites and effects. It was a slog as the scale of the characters changed (smaller) and the animation catalogue increased. The test and convention builds worked well, but he bottleneck was the scripting system; and Steve could not get a handle on it, especially with the 3in. Disk based limits. Hardware was tiny back then. Only the character generator from that game made it out of that project. That became Heromakr.exe which shipped with the BigBlueBook. 

Did something similar to this once: Always has a cigar handy to smoke.
 
I suppose you could call it, "Love it When a Plan Comes Together"

Cygnia, here you go.

Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed....
 
 
 
 
 
 
At first I was not to enamoured of this build.  But after fixing her up a bit, I think I have made a very capable Hardware person.  The original went heavy into the super vehicle track, arguing that it is not seen a lot.  I agree, but mostly because 1) when you are not in your vehicle you are a glorified normal and 2) in HU if you game the system right you can make a PC that has a flying Abrhams tank.
 
So the conversion for the car was actually not all that difficult, but it was giving her something when she got out / was forced out of the car that was a bit tougher.  I wanted her capable but not too capable.  
 
OOC she along with her sister have ties to a possible villain or hero organization.  Also she's a tech junkie, so if the group needs someone to design a team vehicle for them, she's a hook!
 
For growth there are a few options.  Make her more competent out of the vehicle with more gadgets and some MA training.  OR.  Give her a big VPP with the various vehicles she has stored for certain emergencies.  Possibilities include a combat van, a super copter (Blue Thunder), and maybe even a speedboat/submersible.  Either way she should be like Shuri from Black Panther!

I'm a couple sessions into a Starfinder campaign.
 
I play a rat-man with a combat computer in his brain.
 
I was captured and handcuffed (they even had a three-prong cuff to trap my prehensile tail), along with our human psychic. We were trapped in an elevator at gunpoint. Our psychic can fire off two brain blasts a day, and hits one of our captors hard.I scream about a headache, too, to possibly confuse the other guy, but it didn't work. He's about to shoot our psychic, so I bite down on his gunhand. Chaos ensues, with the two of us doing surprisingly well for being cuffed and weaponless.
 
Earlier, our lizard-man Solarian (Jedi with the serial numbers filed off) has been knocked out by some heavy weaponry. Four had carried/dragged him (he's large) to the elevator doors, when the doors opened with ratman and psychic chewing through their other two guys. Unbeknownst to them, our lizard-man had been slowly recovering, and was powering up his nova blast that takes his three prep rounds before he can turn into a living fireball for one round (and would also drop him unconscious again). 
 
Since the guards were all facing the elevator commotion, they didn't see him stand up and explode. He came close to knocking them all out, and left them all singed.
 
So I'm pinned under the guard I was biting; lizard-man took himself out; psychic boy was all out of mental mojo. We're still facing five armed injured thugs.
 
So I use my brain computer to hijack lizard-man's comm unit, and start a countdown.
"Secondary detonation in 10... 9... 8..."
 
I can't believe it, but it actually worked!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Brood is a dark, dystopic figure with a black-caped costume, a grimacing cowl, and an affinity for nighttime and rooftops. He is known for his edgy patter, his barely-restrained mental health issues, and his fighting skills, gadgets and theatricality. Also, his penchant for teen or child sidekicks dressed in flashy colorful costumes. Though the rumors of the underworld would make him out as a demon or powerhouse, among the super-powered set he is known to be basically unpowered, though certainly a very exceptional unpowered human.
 
He likes them to think that.
 
Under Stately Dayne Manor is a cave, a Brood-cave, where the hero does his work. All of it. All of him. Hundreds of Broods that design new costumes, assemble new smoke grenades, tune up the grappling swingline, work on the Broodmobile, and wait their turn to fight and die for justice. An exceptional athlete, a gifted inventor, and a superb detective, he is also a duplicator of the highest order, unbeknownst even to his own teammates. Whenever he fights for the USAT, and is struck by a lightning bolt or hovertank or carbide chainsaw, his teammates see him fly backwards and disappear in a cloud of smoke, only to reappear later from the shadows and attack the unwitting enemy. His fellows believe he is just that damn tricky, stealthy, and skilled. Rather, the Brood just lost another brother, and another reason to mourn and another reason to enact revenge on criminals everywhere.
 
His very most well-kept secret is the teen sidekicks: they are the results of his failed attempts to clone himself younger and sustain his career further. There have been rather a lot of them.

Wow, the book trailer is still online.
Blast from the past.
 
 

“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have.”---Abraham Lincoln

Extinction Event is also pretty cool.

“It isn't like you to shy away from a challenge.” Jason turned back. “I have to wonder what Sandy would think of that.”
 
* * * * *
Charles poured whiskey into a glass. “I would suggest, Director, that with any future dealings you might have with my son, that you not attempt to motivate him with mention of Miss Wilson.” He held out the glass of whiskey.
 
Daniel Thomas took the offered glass, lowered the bag of ice from his swollen jaw. Taking a drink, the alcohol burned around loose teeth. “Damn”, he muttered. “Lucky he didn't break it.”
 
“Quite honestly, you're lucky he didn't take your head off.”

Of course,  within the genre conventions, killing is somewhat allowed in war even for supers.
Especially with alien invasions or invaders from another dimension  or as a situational necessity in a classic prehistoric lost world adventure. 
 
Game Masters who have players who want to hack and slash with their human tanks upon occasion should encourage their players to buy him the appropriate sourcebooks to run such crossover adventures.  I meant to say Game Masters should encourage their players to be paragons of virtue, they're supposed to be heroes. 

Started working with a new artist named Cường Nguyễn from Vietnam. I found him through a group on FB that discusses public domain characters. He's been doing some characters for a group of Neo-Nazi villains known as the Neo-Teutonic Order. First up is White Lighting, a speedster who can generate an electrical field as he runs. After that is Aryan Eagle, who has wings and clawed hands. Lastly is Panzerfaust, who can generate explosive energy blasts from her hands

Jen looked over the list of names. The list wasn't alphabetical, but numerical. The number coincided with the books shelved behind her. Supposedly, the lower the number the more the volume would be worth to a collector. At least that was how Emily explained book collecting to her. What that had to do with these collected volumes of Jason's paintings, Jen had no idea.
 
All of the red volumes were sealed. A lot of Jason's free time over the summer had been spent making the list she had, and more spent doing sketches that were sealed in the books. That was the main reason for the tamper-proof seals.
 
“Can I help you?” Stacy asked. Jen looked up to see a tall black man with graying hair.
 
The man handed a card over to Stacy and seemed to stare at Jen for the longest time. “Is there something wrong?” Jen asked.
 
“Forgive me for staring. You remind me of someone and I'm trying to place who it is,” he explained with a smile. “I'm Frank Stone.”
 
“Oh! I've heard stories,” Jen said.
 
“Good ones, I hope.”
 
“Nothing but, Captain,” Jen said grinning. “Jen Asher, sir.”
 
“Ah, Warren's little sister. That explains it.” He held out his hand. “Very pleased to meet you, Jen Asher.” Jen took his hand. It was dry and he was gentle, but Jen felt strength there.
 
Stacy slid a red-bound volume on the counter. “I am going to get something to drink and maybe a bite. Want anything?”
 
“Hmm. Something strong that will keep me going until dinner,” said Jen.
 
Stacy cast a glance at Stone. “Large coke on ice. Got it. I'll let you go hit the snack bar when I get back.”
 
Jen checked the volume on her list, saw Stone's name there and drew a line through it with a highlighter. “There you go, Captain.” Jen handed him the book.
 
“It makes me wonder where Jason finds time to paint.”
 
“Honestly, he spends time not sleeping. So he paints,” Jen explained.
 
Stone smiled. “Well, I need to get back to my wife and see what is hanging up on the walls in here. Very nice to meet you, young lady.”
 
“Thank you, Captain. Very nice to meet you, as well.”

Sitting on the corner of his father's desk, Jason watched Marlene escort Daniel Thomas and Sharon Anderson into the office. Two of Thomas' foot soldiers stopped outside the door and bracketed it.
 
“Can I get you anything?” Marlene asked.
 
“No, thank you,” Director Thomas said.
 
“Ice tea,” Sharon said.
 
“Yes, ma'am.” Marlene left to fetch Sharon's drink.
 
“Charles,” Thomas said with a nod. “Jason, I've been looking for you.”
 
“And here you've found me. How hard was that?”
 
“Damn it, son! Where are those assets?” he demanded.
 
Jason smiled a closed-mouth smile that quirked up one corner of his mouth. “Kris and Ash? The ladies are out enjoying the pool.”
 
Daniel Thomas turned to the two by the door. “Go detain them.”
 
“No,” Jason said, standing up.
 
“Excuse me? You absconded...”
 
“Director Thomas, you are not exactly law enforcement. Neither of those women did a damned thing except be taken prisoner and experimented on. They are both American citizens, which means that the law is on their side. Following that, Director, they are my guests. Any efforts taken by you or your stooges will result in you and I throwing down, right here and right now, and invariably end up with you being taken out in either a body bag or a garbage pail. Neither option would really disappoint me at the moment.”
 
“Damn it, son!”
 
“For the record, I am not your son. If I absconded with anyone it was because you were treating them like prisoners.”
 
“They needed to have check ups,” Thomas said.
 
Jason nodded. “I agree with you there. Irish is coming in tomorrow to do tests on both and get benchmarks, if nothing else.”
 
“Jason, why don't you go see to your guests while Director Thomas and I talk,” Charles said.
 
“Yes, sir.” Jason stepped past Thomas and stopped beside Sharon. “You look lovely,” he said quietly and kissed her on the cheek.

Of course. It makes sense to use them if you can afford to. I can't, so I looked elsewhere. I have 3 - 4 artists I used on a regular basis, and they've produced great work for me. 
 
 
While I didn't find them all via DA, all of the artists I work with have pages on DA. There is a lot of untapped talent willing to do the work if given a chance. I try and give them that chance, and I promote them while sharing the art they've done for me. I know a few have gotten some work from my promoting them, and it helps build my relationships with them. It's a win - win for both of us.

Absolutely. I am not advocating for yet another setting, sourcebook or compilation of the rules. Without a plan, however, then any "Starter" set is just another product created in a vacuum. Without additional support material already built and/or scheduled to be published, then it is doomed to fail. That's what I'm getting at. Suppose Hero publishes the Fantasy Hero Starter Kit with some basic rules, a couple of pre-made characters, a high quality poster map for the introductory adventure "Lost Mines of Herodelver." Now what? There has to be more. Not some vague idea or notion. There has to be something tangible to keep people coming back.