SaintHax

Re: Escapist reviews CO.

Re: Escapist reviews CO.

Not flattering. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/experienced-points/6599-Your-MMO-is-a-Joke Best quote: "Subverting a farce setting is like trying to humiliate a clown." I personally have not been enticed by CO to play, even though I've played Champions since 1992, and have ran adventures at Cons for several years now. First, from a MMO stand point they give too much character customization at creation point-- from the Con preview and reviews I've read. Second, the power set up lacks a lot of customization-- I know they didn't want to recreate the Hero System, but it's a system based on flexibility, so more effort should have been made. Oh-- and leave out crafting Lastly, I love Fox Bat, however our campaign has never seen him more than once a year-- twice one time. B/c he is a joke, and while it's fun to break up an on going campaign with him, he has to be used sparingly unless it's a slapstick group. And why did Cryptic downgrade Defender's (and Mindslayer's) look to vanilla?

Can you spread an autofire attack? I have a ninja character in a dark champions campaign that can autofire 5x shurikens. What I'd like to do is represent filling the hex, or getting a +3 to OCV and only a max of 2 hits. I've never liked the idea that if I pop off a burst fire, my chances of hitting once is no better than a single shot. Is there a rule I'm over looking?

If you buy a naked power advantage, like autofire, for up to a 60 point power. Can you then apply it to both 60 point guns you are dual weilding?

I've searched the FAQ and this forum and can't find the answer to my questions. 1) Can images be projected through a glass window, or does it need the indirect advantage? 2) If you are projecting an image of a warrior, what DCV is it? 3) If the image get's shot, can the projector have it mimic the appropriate actions, such as taking damage? Thanks, Nathan

Re: "I teleport the criminal's gun out of his hand"... No Str check... that goes against the whole concept. There should be a defense, and it seems like the body of the foci would be more of a factor than how tight someone could hold a gun you are going to teleport. I don't have my book w/ me to go over UAA, but I'd look at the Transformation power to estimate cost and defense. Mechanically, transformation (limited option) works great, the sfx doesn't seem to fit though.

Hey, I wanted to get a hold of Chris Stevens (cover of "Sharper than a Serpents Tooth", "Champions Battlegrounds", and others) and his website is no longer (http://www.clstevensportfolio.com/). Does anyone have an email address or a way of getting in touch w/ him? Thanks!

In the Vampiric regeneration, it's based on a 3d6 heal. Does that mean that if you get the vampire to -19 body he'll never resurrect b/c he can only heal 18 body total?

Re: Power Design I see a couple of ways to do it. The easiest way to get approved it so use the limitation side effect on the duplication power. I think that get's messy though. What I'd do is make a few duplication powers and put them in a multi-pool. I know duplication is a special power and not normally allowed in a multi-pool, but if the only power you have in the multi-pool is various duplication builds, I doubt you'll have problems getting it approved. Now, I may not be understanding you correctly. The way I read (and I think you could have been clearer, as we all seem to be guessing) it is that the character is assummed to have a man size amount of matter, and he can either use all of it for a strong duplication, or use all of it to create many weaker duplications. If so, then the multipower is the way to go.

Steve, I know a year ago or more I read a published 5 ed. multipower that "-1/2 various limitations (-1/4)" on the pool cost, and took specific -1/2 limitations or 2x -1/4 limitations (or more) on each indiviual slot in said multipower. So, my question is where was this written (so I can show my gm-- I know it's in a book I own), or affirmation that this is a legal write up. Thanks, Nathan

I have Terrian Empire (which I love), but was dismayed by a couple of things-- and I'm hoping I just overlooked them. First, for the prices of items not specifically listed in TE, I had a buy the Star Hero book for 1 chart: the one that says, it's the real points times X for this type, etc. That's $$ for one chart that I wish I had pirated. Second, I have yet to find a suggestion for starting credits to buy equipment. Dark Champions had the nice X amount of kit, and X * 1.5 for starting armory. Is it in there? If not, what amount works? Third, the mechanics for psions in T.E. doesn't seem to be in the Terran Empire book. I think I found it in the Star Hero book as an example-- I find that disconcerting and odd. Help or Opinions?

Re: Value of, "Only to Protect Against NNDs," Limitation There's no way in the world I'd allow any limitation on the "Immunity to Poisons", as the only thing it does game wise is protect you from NND's. I wouldn't all the others either b/c of the following (but more flexible) reasons: The Mental Defense is so small the player will be paying 2 points anyway. The limitations can decrease it past 1, so why bother. The age, b/c really, it does nothing in the game outside of NND attacks. It's sorta like the money perk that has a few limited role playing devices only. Really, who cares game balance wise if you age or not. The others players won't be aging significantly b/c the campaign will end before it happens 99.99% of the time. +

Re: why u all sux I think this topic should be locked. WAY too many replies for a cheap troll. Not to mention, we are just feeding him, b/c now he thinks his post was worthy of a response :-(

Re: Would you allow this or is this too cheesy? I think drain +1/4 advantage would work (trusting the other poster, I thought it was a +1/2 from memory). As for your question on how much of a limitation it would be for your attack only, I'd go w/ -1/2 based on the "self only" limitation for Aid and such. Transformation would be minor, IMO, b/c a major transformation basically takes a person out of combat completely (turning into a frog, etc.).

Re: Resource Points: when do you require 'em? I believe you are being confused by the resource points rule-- they weren't exactly clear in the book. If you are talking about just at character creation, which is the only time there is a rule limit to how much equipment you can own, then I'd only charge for something they'd use in their hero id. This really doesn't concern cell phones though, b/c they could get one during the first adventure... read on. After CC, you never pay points for equipment. Resource points are used to increase the size of your kit, which is how much you can carry at once. Your armory (for equipment, contacts, vehicles, etc) is gained through role playing, and there's no points involved-- but all are inheriently "Independent" and can be lost, destroyed, or killed. So, if they want their secret ID to have a TV, cell phone, etc. They just say they are going down to the store to buy one. As long as it's something a person making what their characters pull in a year, they can get it and add it to their armory. So, if they are going to actively use a cell phone (more than just calling in a fake call once every 10 adventures), I'd make it take up points in the kit. The kit / armory / resource points wasn't as clear as it could be.

Re: Irene, <- Cloths Make the Woman The idea sounds good, the write up I dont' like. I don't even want to know how you turn a pair of thong underwear into a killing attack-- while you are wearing them! w/o splitting yourself in half. I'll start by saying you need GM permission to do a lot of what you want-- which is fine, but I wanted to preface why I'd require the following to be done. First, you probably should have used a VPP to be fair b/c of the illegal use of a limitation (-1, where to change clothes) on the pool but not on each slot; and the large amount of powers. However, if you wanted to use a multipower, I'd approve it based on the "let's see how it plays" clause. You would have to change the -1 limitation to a -1/2 to represent the cost of the same limitation for a VPP. Also, I'd make you change back at a HQ, w/ occasional exception not worth noting on the character sheet. These are obivously "super clothes", and not going to be available at Macy's. Second, major stop signs are raised when you start buying Characteristics in power frameworks. I'd never allow someone to sell back characteristics (8 COM and STR) and then buy a cheaper way to get them in a multipower. Also, I'd make you buy all your characteristics divisible by 5 to avoid some number twinking. Bra's - Change the shapeshift to an instant change like transformation. Panty's - The NND can't just be "hardened, resistant PD", it's too rare. If you look at the examples, you'll see a power or two w/ that plus something else that stops it. Also, HKA requires an additional +1 advantage to do body while NND. I can't read anymore. Really, I'd never allow a character w/ that many multipowers. It's a GM nightmare to try to figure out campaign balance, plus I don't even understand how some of these powers are suppose to work? The Halter Top is an Entangle? How, does it allow you to shoot an entangle? Do you throw it? If so, it's a recoverable charge. This seems like a confusing way to get around multiform.

Re: Would you allow this or is this too cheesy? Not at all a problem if the combo power's active points are equal to your campaign limits. Just look at how it would compare to a straight attack. Let's assume you have a 60 active point attack power standard in your campaign. The 2d6 drain is taking 20 points of that, leaving 40 for the EB, or a 5d6 EB w/ AP vs. a 12d6 EB. Againt sample villian (I'll go for the 350 pointers in CKC)... Against Black Diamond, she has 25 ED hardened: Power w/ Drain averages 17.5 points of damage does no damage on the first shot, then drains an average of 7 active points, where the ED drains 1 pt. for every 3 active points (it may be less, I'm unsure b/c of the resistant defenses, ED, being bought seperately). The hero won't be a threat for a while, but will be increasing the energy damage of the rest of the team by 2 points every phase. The straight power will average 42 points of damage, doing an average of 17 stun per hit. This situation favors the straight attack though b/c of the hardened defense. Against Bluejay, she has ED 5 + Armor 14r: The combo power hit for it's 17.5, halves the 19 and does about 10 points of damage. It then attacks the focus armor w/ drain and reduces it by 2 pt (average 7 active point drain, divided by 2 for drain vs. defense power, and armor cost 3 / 2 pts.) The straight power will average 23 points of damage, and probably CON stun Bluejay. Yeah, I wouldn't have a problem w/ it.

Chris Stevens is my favorite Hero artist, and I can no longer find his web page!? I went to http://www.clstevensportfolio.com and it's no longer there :-( Does anyone know if he has a new web page, or if he does comissioned art like Storn does? Thanks

Re: Non-flying Flight questions Weight issue: This is a matter of campaign setting and GM preference. If I was running a Wuxia campaign, I'd allow the pencil not to break, but you wouldn't be completely weightless. The person holding it would feel part of your weight. If you had it in my Dark Champions campaign, the pencil would snap. Lifting yourself w/ one arm wouldn't be legal w/o the advantage that you need to take w/ flight to allow you to right yourself as a free action. I believe it's in the section about Movement powers, before the power list. Now if you wanted to lift yourself as a normal 1/2 phase, and only use one hand... that's just special effects, and is up to your GM again. I'd say no, b/c it seems like a zero phase action. Strictly by the rules, you can't use 2 movement powers in the same 1/2 phase, iirc. Regardless, I'd let you hop on peoples heads (in the wuxia campaign) if you made an acrobatics roll for the initial landing of the super leap. Remember that you need to roll a to-hit w/ superleap unless you have the "accurate" advantage. You only can use one movement power at a time, if you want to be weightless, but the flight equal to your inches in running. BTW: Flight has a turn mode that running doesn't. Read the Movement Powers section for more info.

Re: need help with starship trooper aliens Asssuming this is the most common bugs seen in the movie: I'd increase their Growth to 15 active points, as they were much taller than the soldiers. There's no way one of those things doesn't have the -2 to perception while being "stealthy". Also, you have to add some advantages on to it before you can use the "always on" limitation in FrEd. Dex of 5? I don't remember those bugs missing very often. I'd say this is a 12 or 15. I like the SPD of two, b/c they seemed to pause a lot in between attacks. I'd also sell back their swimming... those spindley legs can't let them swim very good.

Re: Danger Rooms I hated the way it was done in the book. It was incredible expensive and offered nothing tangible to help your characters. You buy weapons that can only be used on you? It doesn't give you any real knowledge, it's just a sfx to rationalize training and growth. So, I went over this and got my GM to let me buy it as a "Lab: Teamwork" for 3 points. We've never used it yet, but it's nice to think our characters are using it in their down time. +-<:-) SaintHax

In the rule book it says you can buy Enhanced Perception for a single sense for only 1 point. I could have sworn that I read on here at one time that the 1 point for a single sense was for a non-targeting sense or an unusual sense. Maybe I'm thinking of the paragraph on Invisibility where you are forced to take invisibility to the whole sight group, b/c everyone was taking it to just normal vision (pre-FrEd). So, I was wondering if there was an erratum I can't seem to find, or I do not understand the 1 point for enhanced normal vision perception. It makes no sense to pay 2 points for +1 to stealth, and have it beat by a more versatile 1 point for +1 normal vision perception in a heroic campaign where no one will have any other vision type. Thanks, Nathan

FrEd adios'd skill packages, that were weak to begin w/. I find that making a skilled character to be far less effective than a superpowered character. This mainly concerns Champions, but other genre's are still affected, albeit less so. EC's and multipower give bonuses... and MP gives a big one! to buying powers on the same vein, or usable one at a time. There is very few things in the rules like this that applies to skills. Currently, we have Traveller, Scholar, and Scientist that I can think of w/o cracking the book. However, there is no incentive for a character to spend 3 points on a KS of ninja's, instead of adding a 6d6 Flash ultra slot to his multipower (role playing aside). Why is there no EC like package rules detailed in FrEd? For example, the Ninja would learn stealth, acrobatics, AK's, and medicine-- shouldn't there be a 6 point cost "Ninja Package" that then makes any of those skills cost one point less or something? How do any of you address this problem? Related, a lot of blaster NPC's have martial arts training in CKC; but, since this costs 10 character points, I've never seen a blaster PC waste (and I do mean "waste" at 10 pts!) points on martial arts that will do 4 DC's less than his normal ranged attack. I'm how this could be addressed other than giving characters Xp that can only be used for skills and powers outside their current multipowers.

Figures... I have Enemies II and III, and Assembled, Villany Unbound, etc... blah, blah, but neither of the above Big suck, and a pain for an out of print, out dated piece of work