Richard Logue

One of the things I like about creating my own meta-millieu is fleshing out the world's history where supers are concerned. It helps me feel achievient when I can rattle off some bit of historical nonsense to the players that usually doesn't affect the current story/scenario. Then, in a later session, I can "pop quiz" them with some extra hero dice as a reward. Anyway, so I'm wracking my brain over a World War 2 American super-soldier program idea and I need some help developing it. The problem stems from not being able to decide on its end product. I don't want just another Captain America clone. But when you're dealing with "super-soldiers" how far can you really stray from the Kirbian? First off, I've decided to name the program the Baltimore Project. I think it has a nice ring to it and matches other names like the Manhattan Project and the Philadelphia Project (I know its "Experiment," just not in my world). Of course, it was a secret endeavor. How can there be no conspiratorealities without secret government projects? I'm thinking the program involved genetic manipulation, which probably would have been extremely hairy-scary in the 1940's. One idea I have, which is good because it incorporates a Silver Age hero I have who has no origin as yet, is that the program was a mixed failure. It produced monsters (of the insane brute kind, not of the 40-story tall quasi-reptillian kind). Its only success came from manipulating an unborn child, or perhaps a very young infant, who, ~25 years later, becomes the hero Pioneer. Its workable as is, but I'd love to hear some feedback on it, and also hear your ideas of a WW2 super-soldier program that does NOT produce "Captain America," or "Nick Fury." Thanks

I'd probably just call it a +1/4 Advantage and move on.

I don't know if this helps or not, but I have a three-sibling villain team in my world. They call themselves The Sins, as in the sins of the father. One's a telepath, one's a telekinetic, and the last one's a pyrokinetic. They're fairly underpowered individually, but they can "combine" to make additional powers for themselves. I can let you know more if its of interest.

As I've mentioned in other threads, my first Champions character was Black Cheetah, a staff-wielding speedster. In my current campaign world (not the canon Champions Universe), I've created several aminal motifilations. Bulldog. The third person to use this name. All three have been scrappers/martial artists. The first one was a WW2 hero, the second one in the Silver Age, and the third one is current. Crimson Spider. Martially artistic former government spy/agent. Has some limited gadgets in addition to his fighting prowess. Bast. Named after the Egyptian goddess. Uses several cat motif powers. Scorpio. Member of my Western Zodiac villain team. The scorpion motif is somewhat of a stretch but it works for me. Along with Scorpio, there are several other members that demonstrate animal motifs to certain extents. All 12 members of my villainous Eastern Zodiac team. Pirhana. a man from Atlantis. Jaguar Knight. Aztec warrior/hero. Kodiak. Haven't done much with stats yet. Just thought it would be a cool name for a bricky hero. Red Bear. Historic, Golden Age Soviet brick. Mako. One of my player's alternate characters. He's a scientist bitten by a radioactive shark. Betcha can't guess who his favorite comic book character is. Lion Rampant. Okay, this one doesn't really count. He's a (deceased) Brit with power armor. The lion rampant symbol adorned his breastplate. Insecta. An unfortunate victim of the malevolent mad scientist Doctor Hephaestus. She'll never be a super model again. Black Widow. She's a martial artist/ninja with a couple gadgets to help her along the way. Spider Monkey and Mosquito of Los Asesinos. I've rewritten and updated the group and characters for use in my world. Iron Dragon. I'm not sure this one counts. A martial artist. Phoenix. Another mythological critter motif. Flame on. Interesting. I've got more animal motif characters than I realized when I started writing this post. In fact, looking through my database of characters, the animals are a sizable portion. And I didn't even include The Swarm, a gang of insect-motif villains that play around only in the back of my mind.

I think we may have a winner. Vanderbilt suggested it first, but Phil convinced me with his logic. I'll use a specialized Drain. Transform would probably also do the trick and get the same result, but the way Transform works (having to defeat the target's BODY) doesn't really fit the description of the power. In essence, the target becomes more vulnerable to attacks of a specified sfx. That does sound more like a Drain vs Defenses than a Transform. Plus I like the way Drain works in that it "heals" back normally given a little time. Vulnerability: Drain Defenses 2d6, Delayed Return Rate (points return at the rate of 5 per Minute; +1/4), Ranged (+1/2), BOECV (Power Defense applies; +1), all defensive powers simultaneously (+2) (95 Active Points); Limited Power Power loses about half of its effectiveness (Defenses Drained only vs. a single, specified SFX; -1). 9 END; 47 points real cost. Works for me. Thanks to everyone who made suggestions here. Am I missing anything? Now suggest me a name for this character! Hex? Witchfire? She's quasi-mystical in nature and has a few abilities (such as the Vulnerability power I just outlined) to adversely effect others. She has no directly offensive capabilities.

To answer the questions... First off, I'm the GM of the game, and this character is an NPC hero I'm creating. Its not a player's character so I'm not really worried about AP caps. Secondly, the purpose isn't simply to cause more damage. For that, there are any number of obvious answers: Penetrating, AP, more DC's, etc. The purpose is to build a power that fits the concept. She's a mystically-based super whose "spells" affect others in various adverse ways without causing direct harm. She herself has no directly offensive powers. She can, however, affect an opponent so that her teammates can be more effective against them. The discussed power to bestow Vulnerabilities upon her foes is one of the ways she can accomplish this. She makes adverse effects upon others. I was thinking about calling her Hex, but I think its too short of a name. Witchfire was another choice, but I'm not real happy with it. It has the ring of being overused. Anyway... Vanderbilt's suggested a decent alternative and I'm mulling it over versus the way I have it built with the Transform. But I'm also wondering if it can be built (fitting the concept) in any other way. And, I'm interested in discussing what would be reasonable limits and Limitations placed on the power. As a side question, but hoping not to derail my own topic, help me come up with a better name for her?

Transform (Major; Improved Target Group: Almost Anything) is the first answer that jumps out at me, but you all might think of something else.... I'm coming up with a character design. One of her powers is forcing Disadvantages, specifically Vulnerabilities, upon the target. For example, she can thrust a 1 1/2 x STUN Vulnerability to Fire-based attacks Disadvantage onto her opponent. Now the opponent takes more damage from fire. Is there a way to do this without a Transform? If it requires a Transform, what do you feel should be some limits (and Limitations) placed on the power to keep it from becoming out of control?

Good ideas, and thanks for what's come so far. Further comments and questions... 1. I like the name Shield for a force field slinger (whose fields, coincidently, are bluish in color). His job is to protect and defend while the others do their work. 2. Fracture may be a neat name for the brick, although it might have too much of a negative connotation to it. His job is heavy lifting and other strength-related tasks. Any other suggestions for a name? 3. A long time ago, someone on these boards (speak up if'n it was you) was discussing a power-suited hero whose powers and abilities were all medical and first aid based. I really like that idea. His suit is sort of a mini trauma center worn by a paramedic. This guy is definately on the team, he's their chief med tech. What shall we name him? 4. I definately prefer a teleporter to transport the team around rather than some sort of vehicle. Its cleaner, faster, and lends more to the fact that the group members are supers rather than well-equipped normals. What's her name? 5. Should there be an offensively-minded member on the team? The group is never to engage in combat unless it is absolutely neccesary to rescue the customer. That would tend to result in defensive tactics and strategies. But sometimes having a solid offensive capability may dissuade attacks. On the other hand, having a solid offensive capability might fuel detractors and take away from the defensive/rescue nature of the company. This is a good topic for debate I think. 6. I also like the name Avalon Group, LLC for the company. But I'm also considering Meta-Vac, Ltd. Which do you guys think is better? The group's name could be a derivative of the company name: something like AG-1 or MV Alpha might work. As a note, I'd like to shy away from Greek terms and names on this one. Too much of that and the gimmick goes stale.

1987, while serving in the Navy My first character was Black Cheetah. He was an african-american man who made a faustian deal to save his children. He was given superspeed, but made a "hellish" enemy when he decided in defiance not to go the villain route. His first scenario was that Wings of the Valkyrie(?) adventure; the one that was taken off the shelves and is now quite rare to find. Fun stuff. I recall Hitler not being too thrilled with being saved by a black man. I miss that character. I need to remake him for 5th ed.

I'd kinda like to explore a direct, cross-dimensional connection between Mechanon, Ultron, and Brainiac. Any ideas?

I'm putting together a hero team for my campaign. I have the basic ideas down, but I'm needing a hand with the specifics. You people here are always helpful with this sort of thing and brainstorming is always fun. The idea is "stolen" from Cyberpunk and Shadowrun. In those games, there are emergency medical response teams that cater to the wealthy (because only they can really afford the services). In CP you've got Trauma Team Inc, and REO Meatwagon. In SR, there's DocWagon. Their job is to respond to their customers' medical emergencies in an extremely swift and decisive fashion. They'll even enter a combat zone and defend their charge if its neccesary, but they aren't there to fight. I want a similar team in my campaign world. They are supers hired by an enterprising medical corporation. The first thing I'm needing is a name for the team. What I also need are character ideas to fill out the team. I'm thinking a brick, a force field guy, a medical/healing specialist, and such, but I don't have any concrete ideas down yet (I just came up with the idea yesterday at work). I'm not sure if I want the team to have a vehicle or maybe a hero that can teleport the whole team, or what. I'd love to hear your collective ideas on this. Thanks!

There is some precedent already set for super-powered maids, butlers, housekeepers, and such. I'm not entirely sure because its been awhile since 1985, but didn't Jarvis help defeat the Masters of Evil when they hit Avengers Mansion? Not sure on that... But, from issue #1 of West Coast Avegers up to the mid-20's or so, super-powered Henry Pym volunteered to keep and run the West Coast Avengers' estate. He didn't want anything to do with the whacky fun of going out and being an Avenger. Instead he was very content to stay at the compound to work on new gadgets, make sure Eric Josten (Goliath III) fared well, and watch the fight in the front yard between Ultron-12 and Mark (Ultron-13). So even with powers, Wendy could be satisfied with cleaning the Champions' toilets and making their beds. This could be the case especially after going out with them a couple times and realising how much hard work being a superhero really is.

And don't forget, buying Champions first is neat, but you'll still need the big, black, HERO 5th Edition rules book to play at all. The Champions book is a source guide detailing special things and rules to consider when running a superhero campaign. It is not the main rulebook. Once you've got the rulebook (affectionately known as FRED around here) and Champions, I'd consider either the UNTIL Superpowers Database book as Steve suggested or the Champions Universe book. Either one is handy. The USPD is fanatastic for helping you put together sets of powers. It can be a great aid in building character. The Champions Universe book is a must if you're going to run a campaign set in, go figure, the Champions universe. If you plan to create your own millieu, its still a good sourcebook for ideas, but will likely fall back several places on your "what book to buy next" list. Hope that helps you out... and welcome to Champions! Richard

Woot! Ding, ding, ding! A six-pack of beer. Good job. Next?

This could be fun. Or, it could fizzle out after 5 posts and never be heard from again... Pick an everyday, normal item and put stats to it. Post it, and let everyone try to figure out what it is that you've created. Its the Hero System Game Show. I'll start. This is one item (one Power with two other Linked Powers). Drain INT 1d6, Delayed Return Rate (points return at the rate of 5 per Hour; +1) (20 Active Points); 6 Charges which Never Recover (-2 3/4); 5 points Drain DEX 0 1/2d6, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Delayed Return Rate (points return at the rate of 5 per Hour; +1) (12 Active Points); Linked (INT Drain; -1/2); 8 points Aid COM 0 1/2d6, Can Add Maximum Of 12 Points, Delayed Return Rate (points return at the rate of 5 per Hour; +1) (19 Active Points); Others Only (-1/2), Linked (INT Drain; -1/4), Limited Power Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (Only effects persons of opposite sex; -1/4); 8 points

Its a work still in progress for me as I haven't used the character yet. And I haven't used him yet because I have not been truly satisfied with the results. Essentially, he's an angel, fallen from grace and on a personal mission for (as yet undefined) mystical power. His power concept seems relatively simple, but its been a nightmare for me to stat it out. He steals your "soul," and can then use your powers. Laid out, his touch renders a super powerless and in a comatose state, and he can now use that super's powers and abilities. (Point of interest here... he's meant to be a very powerful villain in my campaign world.) Hand of Death: Drain BODY 4d6, Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/4), BOECV (Mental Defense applies; +1) (90 Active Points) (uses Personal END); 90 points, 4 END Soul Stealing: Major Transform 3d6 (people into powerless, comatose people, Dispel), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), BOECV (Standard Defenses apply; +1) (112 Active Points); Linked (Hand of Death; -1/4); 90 points, 0 END Aid Power Defense 3d6, Delayed Return Rate (points return at the rate of 5 per Year; +2 1/2) (105 Active Points); Linked (Soul Stealing; -1/2); 70 points Transfer 2d6 (END to END Reserve), Can Transfer Maximum Of 32 Points, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), BOECV (Mental Defense applies; +1) (100 Active Points); Linked (Soul Stealing; -1/2); 67 points Endurance Reserve (50 END, 50 REC) (55 Active Points); 55 points Power Mimicry: VPP, 120 base + 65 control cost, Powers Can Be Changed As A Zero-Phase Action (+1), No Skill Roll Required (+1) (300 Active Points); Limited Power - VPP Powers can only Transform victim's powers at the victim's levels or max available Power loses about half of its effectiveness (-1); all slots Limited Power - Cannot Mimic powers based on Foci. Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic powers based on Magic or Sorcery. Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (-1/4); 185 points Characteristics Mimicry: MP, 90-point reserve, (90 Active Points); Limited Power - Can only mimic Transform victim's Characteristics at the victim's levels or max available Power loses about half of its effectiveness (-1); all slots Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on Foci. Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on magic/sorcery. Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (-1/4); 33 points 5m 1) +60 STR (60 Active Points); No Figured Characteristics (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on Foci. Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on magic/sorcery. Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (-1/4) (uses END Reserve); 6 END 5m 2) +20 DEX (60 Active Points); No Figured Characteristics (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on Foci. Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on magic/sorcery. Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (-1/4) 5m 3) +30 CON (60 Active Points); No Figured Characteristics (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on Foci. Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on magic/sorcery. Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (-1/4) 6m 4) +5 SPD (50 Active Points); Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on Foci. Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-1/2), Limited Power - Cannot Mimic characteristics based on magic/sorcery. Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (-1/4) I dunno....

The text under Shrinking does not specifically state in either direction, but I'm assuming that if you have, say, 5 levels of Shrinking, you can Shrink to only 3 levels if you like. Its not all or nothing. Is that correct? If so, what might an "All Or Nothing" Limitation be worth? -1/4? -1/2? Thanks

Bucky is the true sidekick. Moreso than Robin. Robin, all of them, have issues with their mentor and are always looking for ways to break away; Dick Grayson has been the most successful. Bucky, on the other hand, always stayed true to the Unwritten Rules of Sidekicking. Even when Jack Monroe (the second Bucky, I believe) became Nomad, he'd still be Cap's sidekick when Cap was around. The other sidekick I'd nominate would be Cato (Burt Kwouk) from the Peter Sellers' Pink Panther movies. Fun

Zip-Lock. he's a villainous speedster who has a myriad of no-range Entangles to use. Freezer-Burn. a half fire, half ice double-threat villain. and he's Zip-Lock's mortal enemy!

Miracle Whip. a fire n' brimstone preacher who uses a whip to get his points across. Piñata. lots of defenses and absorption (vs hand to hand attacks only) that fuels a randomly timed, no range explosion. Haul-Lass. she's a speedster who's large and in charge. Jumbo Shrimp. 4 levels of always on (inherent) shrinking and 4 levels of growth. Charade. a mime with mind control that makes you "see" and believe in whatever it is he's pantomiming. Pop Rocks. she's a pop diva with an AOE (cone) EB (vs PD) hail attack. Dime O'Dozen. ten multiforms, each with 12 duplicates. Soul Train. a smooth, 70's speedster with levels in move through. Richard Logue. an evil, bald genius with delusions of cleverness.

the Titan Guard. I want to thank everyone who participated here, and so I will. Thanks. From a couple different ideas posted, I think I've decided on calling them the Titan Guard. Specifically, they'd be referred to as Titan Guard: Alcatraz, and Titan Guard: Gibraltar. Not quite accurately, they may be simply referred to as "the Titans" by other heroes and villains or the media. I also like the Furies and I will probably refer to the agent-level guards by that name. They might be equipped with "Fury" armor or something. The bird ideas and references are good for many reasons and I'll probably try to work them in in some way. Perhaps they can be used as slang names, or maybe code, or some such. Opinions? Now to come up with a logo for Prometheus Corporation, uniform designs, and (at least) the character concepts for both teams' personnel....

The character, an ice throwing super has multiple defenses at his disposal. -- Force Field PD/ED is 15/20, Ablative (BODY). -- Armor PD/ED is 15/15, Ablative (STUN and BODY). -- PD/ED is 5/5. -- Total PD/ED, obviously, is 35/40, with different Ablatives. In a fight he's hit with 36 STUN and 11 BODY from a single EB (affects ED). How much of the Ablative defenses are "shot off" by the attack? In order, I'd think the FF would absorb hit before the Armor, followed by his inherent PD by an attack. Or does that not matter, and you work with the total rather than the parts? My guess is that after the hit, the FF remains uneffected as the BODY damage did not exceed the defense (BODY-wise). However, the Armor is affected because, even though the FF reduced the STUN by 20 points, 16 points hit the Armor, exceeding its defense. And now the Armor has an Activation number. Is that right?

I don't run the standard Champions Universe. I've made my own and I use the published one as a back up/alternate universe type thing. Anyway, that's not really important here. In my setting, I have a corporation, watched over by the UN Security Council, whose job it is to house criminal supers. The corporation is called Prometheus and they currently have two facilities: the Alcatraz Metahuman Containment Facility ("the Rock"), and the Gibralter MCF ("the Tower"). As can be guessed at, the prison at Alcatraz mostly boards super-criminals from the Americas, while the Gibralter facility covers the rest of the world. (The Russians and the Chinese, by the way, have their own methods of incarceration and don't make much use of the Prometheus units.) Each facility has a staff of agent-level guards with special equipment. But each prison also has a response team of supers that deploy to where a meta-criminal has been captured or detained to retrieve him. And that's where I am needing a little bit of help. I need names for the two super teams employed by Prometheus. Something corporate sounding, perhaps something pulled out of Greek mythology. Names like Sentinels and Guards and Watchmen flash through my mind, but they don't invoke feelings of groovy in me. So, if any of you out there have a suggestion or two, I'd appreciate you throwing them at me. Thanks in advance

Is this one of those paradigms?

Its been awhile since I've read any Marvel books, but I need a little info from those in the know. I need a character in my world similar to, but not eggsactly like Scarlett Witch. Unfortunately, its been so long that I have forgotten what her powers really are. So, in general descriptions, what does she do? I don't need hard stats as I'll make those for my world's "Scarlett Witch" based on this info and other factors. Also, as a tertiary question, I'd like each person who replies to mention who their favorite Avenger is. Thanks a bunch!