Echo3Niner

I can see how this would REALLY backfire.  This is just one step off from Girl in a Fridge type scenario

Killed a beloved NPC to demonstrate a villains trap. Players objected, then quit. End of campaign. 

In our 11th exciting episode -->
 
As the cheers of the crowd died, our heroes were taken to the Gladiatorial Lounge, where their wounds were attended to, and they reveled in the accolades of the other gladiators and hanger-ons...  They did interviews and had some time to relax.
 
Lady Terala Shain found the team, and after congratulating them on their victory, she asked Capt. Force if he intended to keep the agreement they had; which he said he would.  She then said, "I have fought in the arena as you did, but now fight in a different one.  The arena you left was dangerous, the one you're entering is deadly…"
 
Eventually, Goreum arrived, and informed the team he was there to accompany them as their sponsor, to the Palace, for their meeting with the Phazor.
 
They traveled to the Palace and were impressed by the majesty of it.  As they traveled, Capt. Force asked about the proper etiquette to use - to which Goreum explained, "The Malvans are used to peoples from across the galaxy, and all their cultures, so they are not easily offended, nor do they put too much importance on etiquette rules for new-comers - the Phazor is both title and name, use it as such - the guests and people who are there are guests of the Phazor, at his behest, so treat them as such, and you should be fine."
 
The hall was full of around 2000 guests, but the Malvans use of dimension-warping technology allowed everyone to have a discussions as if only the two were speaking and there was no other noise regardless of how far apart they were, so it was oddly hush for such a huge number of people.
 
The team was lead to the bottom steps of the dais, on which the Phazor and about 50 of his most honored guests milled about.  Upon the teams introduction, there was a pleasant chime which sounded, and everyone took their places - tables and chairs appeared out of nowhere, covered with food and drink, and everyone sat.  As the crowd parted that the Phazor was speaking with, and he walked to his throne, the team was shocked to see the Empress among the people he was speaking with.  She took a chair with the rest of the honored guests, in a row flanking either side of the throne (a discreet distance apart, as it should be, of course).
 
As the Phazor spoke, his speech overrode the other conversations, so that only the Phazor was heard.  "I welcome the Band Wielders, Champions of the Arena, to our humble gathering in your honor."  And the crowd cheered, for a moment.  "What would the Champions of the Arena ask of the Phazor?"
 
Capt. Force spoke for the team; "Great Phazor, thank you for hosting us.  What we would ask for, is honor.  As you may know, the Empress has designs on the Sol Sector (to which the Empress feigned surprise); and we have no intentions of joining her empire.  So, one way honor can be shown, would be to provide for our sector, planetary defenses, so that we may focus our attention on the Empress.  Another way honor can be shown, is to ensure that the games are honorable, so that everyone in the galaxy will know that the Champion has become so honorably."
 
"And what..." said the Phazor, "would we get in return?"
 
"I'm glad you asked..." said Capt. Force, "we would like to offer entertainment.  We would like to provide the opportunity to broadcast our war against the Empress, as a reality show, to entertain Malva!  Perhaps you've heard of some of our shows?  What great spectacle this would be!"
 
"I have heard of some of these reality shows..." the Phazor said.
 
The Empress stood, "Surely you are not considering this Grand Phazor?  These back-water beings do not deserve your intervention!  The Malvans do not concern themselves with the trivial machinations of minor galactic empires."
 
Capt. Force interrupted her, "I'm not asking them to; I'm simply asking that they provide protection to our sector so that we can provide them more entertainment!"
 
"But what of the games?"  The Phazor asked Capt. Force?
 
"We would be willing to return, once a new contender has proven themselves worthy for us to defend our championship of course."  Capt. Force noted.
 
Lady Terala Shain seized the opportunity, "I would be happy, Grand Phazor, to organize tournaments to culminate in arriving at a contender to provide great entertainment challenging these new Champions!"  The Phazor slightly raised an eyebrow to this, but, with everyone watching, he allowed it.
 
Before any further discussion could continue, War Monger (in his smaller guise), spoke up, "As the Band Wielders have proven to me that they do indeed have the hearts of a Champion, what would you ask of me for reward?"  All could read the surprise on the faces of everyone present...
 
Capt. Force leaned over to Goreum, "What type of request is typical?"  Goreum said with incredulity, "He has never offered this before..."
 
Capt. Force spoke to the rest of the team telepathically real quick; and they arrived at a thought...  "We would be honored to have you as our coach, as we waged war against the Empress."
 
The Empress spat, "I object, this is ridiculous!"
 
Capt. Force says, "I think the Empress should speak plainly; do you plan to conquer our sector?"
 
"You mean bring you peace, prosperity and into the greater galactic community?  Yes." she retorted.
 
"This is boring me already..." the Phazor said, "Let us eat and celebrate."
 
During the dinner, Capt. Force took the opportunity using the discussion link to speak to the Empress, "Why do you want our sector?" he asked.  "To help the people of the galaxy.  Your people are a lawless, warlike bunch, who do nothing but fight each other.  You have rudimentary technology, hunger and poverty.  You would have none of this in my empire.  You shouldn't be fighting me, you should be thanking me!" she replied.  "But we do not want to be ruled." Capt. Force shot back.  "Perhaps not now, but once you've lived in peace and prosperity, that would change." she noted.  "OK, enough, I see there is no reasoning with you; you are crazy." and with that Capt. Force cut the link.
 
After dinner Lady Terala Shain thanked Capt. Force for keeping up his end of the bargain, and ensured them that they wouldn't have to worry about being called back too often.
 
One of the Phazor's assistants told the team that they could simply notify them when they were ready, and they would send Melvan drone cameras to shoot the show.  Then War Monger told them if they simply spoke his name out loud and told him they were ready, he would join them.
 
The team then went back to Earth and told everyone what all had happened.  By the time they arrived, the Malvan planetary defenses had already shown up in the sector.  They were also happy to hear that Col. Rage had successfully linked UNTIL, the rebels on Narrai and the smugglers of Lyrissi together to begin forming the "Men in Black" organization.
 
They then grabbed Silvercloud and took him to Somewhere, so he could start copying all the advanced technology, and they took a couple week's vacation (downtime); where Solar went on a date with the human Marshal, and they both spent some points.
 
And that is where our exciting episode ended!
 
Next game, THE WAR BEGINS!
 

In our 10th exciting, Giant-sized, Annual episode -->
 
The heroes lounged around the gladiator lounge and did several press junkets - with Capt. Force working as a wrestling (Randy Savage) cheerleader, hyping up Solar as the new champ.  They were careful in explaining their histories and purpose for being there; not lying, but omitting where they thought it would cause issues.
 
When they were back at the gladiator lounge, enjoying a meal; a small (4-5' tall) alien approached them.  He was odd looking; like a tall, red Yoda.  In a dark black hooded robe, with a driftwood cane, red skin, a pug nose, wispy black hair, and yellow eyes.  He introduced himself as "Warmagandr", and asked the team about their desire to fight.  As they discussed it, he spoke about how Firewing had the heart of a champion; because he was willing to do anything to win.  Capt. Force disagreed, saying that because he was willing to compromise his integrity, that he was no true champion.  Warmagandr noted that without the heart of a champion, when faced with adversity, they would fold...
 
Warmagandr's words had an affect on the team; so the team decided they should do some research; so they watched several of Firewing's matches from before he became Firewing, then also watched coverage of his fights on Earth as Firewing; to get an idea of his tactics (they watched tape on their opponent).
 
Eventually, they decided to take a trip to the temple, to see if they could learn more about what happened in his transformation.  There Solar used some of her earned XP to buy damage reduction - she also built an absorb template to use with her VPP.
 
After returning to the gladiatorial lounge, the team finally heard what they wanted to hear - Firewing was lured to return!
 
The team discussed strategy; determining what was the right mix of powers from Solar's VPP she should have active at the beginning of the fight.  Then, Solar entered the arena...
 
It was configured as a 300 yard across circle, and the gladiators began hovering 30 yards in the air...  Finally the bell rang.
 
Both gladiators have the same speed and dex, so it came down to dice rolls each phase.  Firewing won the first roll.  He started by moving a half move to his left, and throwing a no-end blast at Solar, to feel her out, and see what she could take...  Solar blew it off completely.
 
Solar started by doing a half move directly at Firewing, and throwing a no-end blast of her own at Firewing, to feel him out - he also blew it off completely.
 
The next phase, Firewing again won the roll.  He moved a half move back to the outer center of the arena, and decided it was time to test Solar's chin - he threw his Armor Piercing blast, and Solar did take a little stun, but not much.
 
Solar moved her half move again directly at Firewing, and threw her more powerful blast; this time Firewing took a little more stun than Solar had.
 
The next phase Firewing won again!  This time moving to his right a half move, he then threw his Penetrating blast; and while Solar did take some stun, it was  less than the Armor Piercing, and cost Firewing more END.
 
Unbeknownst to Firewing, Solar had her absorption working, so every time he hit her, she was getting more dice to her blast...  She moved another half move, and hit him again with her more powerful blast (with the extra dice) - and Firewing felt that one!  Taking more stun.
 
This went on for a couple more phases...
 
The last phase of the round, and Firewing won again!  He continued to move to his right and hit Solar with another AP blast - doing a bit more damage this round.
 
The team decided it was time to press the action, instead of continuing to let Firewing dance around the edge of the area and "nickel and dime" her to death.  Changing some allocation of her VPP, Solar dumped a bunch of points into flight, and burned the whole phase on a full move, closing the distance dramatically.
 
The full turn ended, and both fighters were a bit winded.  They both had sustained a decent amount of stun and had both burned a good amount of END; they both welcomed the recovery at the end of the turn.
 
As the new turn began, Firewing got off another blast, doing some more stun to Solar; but now she was close.  Solar closed the final distance, and reconfiguring her VPP, did a massively powerful 60D6 punch, sending Firewing back into the arena barrier; and that was it, Firewing was knocked unconscious and was even injured (BOD).
 
THE CROWD WENT CRAZY!!!  About half were cheers (from all the other aliens) and half were boos from the Malvans...
 
The announcer was making a point of the great victory, when he was cut short.  A booming voice announced that heroes had defeated Firewing, but hadn't proved they had the heart of a champion!!!
 
The team was teleported from their box to the floor of the arena below Solar...  The doors to the arena opened, and Warmagandr slowly walked in; but as he did, he transformed into a 4 meter tall monster and his tiny walking stick into a giant axe.  Standing before everyone was War Monger!  He demanded that the heroes prove they had the heart of a champion, by facing the TRUE CHAMP!
 
The proceedings had provided Solar enough time to fully recover, so the team prepared to fight (having Solar use some of her VPP to allow them all to speak telepathically, to coordinate); when War Monger teleported into the air in front of Solar, hitting her with his mighty axe Star Splitter (aptly named for striking a hero powered by the stars!).  The strike was damaging, and Solar was heavily wounded.
 
War Monger and the team had some back in forth, with War Monger using his VPP to heal himself a couple times, to keep from suffering too much STUN...
 
Solar returned fire, but War Monger mostly blew it off...  But then it was Capt. Force's turn...  Capt. Force happens to have a mental power that can force opponents to attack him via melee; and he setup to block and successfully used it on War Monger.
 
War Monger teleported in front of Capt. Force who successfully blocked his attack.  Then The Aqua Man used his band to ice the insides of War Monger's hands and the bottom of his feet, while Wuxing put up a shield on Capt. Force.  The team had a plan...
 
Finally, War Monger swung his mighty axe at Capt. Force again, only Capt. Force grabbed it and they locked into a battle of strength!  With his iced hands and feet, it was difficult for War Monger to retain his grasp, and Capt. Force was able to wrest away the mighty axe Star Splitter from his grasp; just as Solar dropped on top of War Monger with all her VPP put into her punch - a full 75D6!  (Plus knockback into the ground.)
 
It was more than even the great War Monger could take - he was knocked out cold!
 
AND THAT IS WHERE OUR SUPER SIZED, GIANT ANNUAL EPISODE ENDED!
 
Next game we'll pick up with the roleplaying of defeating War Monger and speaking to the Phazor...
 

Because I challenged myself - I had to take a crack at it...  If you really wanted to make a chart / algorithm that replicates reality / physics / math (based on the numbers I gave above), it would look something like this (it's close, but it's not right):
 

Ahhh, I read the original question differently; appreciate the clarification:
 
  
So I would expound on something you actually said earlier:
 
 
In comics, movies, series, etc., the heroes fight a tough fight and some, many or even all of them get injured; but, then the fight is over, you may have a scene in recovery for dramatic purpose; but, by the time the story continues, and they have their next mission, everyone is miraculously healed.
 
In a RPG, just like we take Navy Corpsmen into battle, and the Army Field Medics; having healers on the team can make the team FAR more effective, and make the game more fun.
 
That is why in old school D&D you always had a Cleric on the team.  That is why almost every party or squad based MMO has a healer archetype.
 
In the superhero genre, it is a little less needed, because many characters heal faster than normal - but not all of them, and this just isn't addressed in the comic, movie, series, etc.  Spiderman doesn't have regen, and his skin isn't tough - he survives by using his Spider-sense and super-reflexes to never get hit.  But, in a comic, movie, series, etc., even after a brutal fight, with his costume thrashed, bleeding everywhere, they skip ahead, and by the time he goes out again, he's all good (and his costume is all repaired too)...
 
So in a game, you either gloss over healing-based downtime and skip ahead a bunch, or every character is a mini-Wolverine and all have some level of regen, or, you have a healer on the team...
 
So, combining all these thoughts;
A character in a super group who can heal, is there because many supers can't be treated by "normal" medicine, and the healer can help them. Unlike a comic, movie, series, etc.; the group doesn't want to have to heal-skip time constantly, nor do they all want to have to have regen. Having a healer on the team, makes the entire team more effective. The characters can still spend their downtime doing all manner of altruistic activities; but, will play the "fun stuff" in the characters life in the game. How's that?
 

How many evil extremists did it take to attack the USA on 9/11?  And then how much "Muslim hate" was there afterwards?
 
How about a virus, believed to be from China, may or may not have been created in a lab; and then how much hatred has been perpetrated by cowards against Asian people as a result?
 
Does anyone really think it would take large numbers?  Or that the hate would be targeted to specific people?  Or make any actual sense at all?
 
How were Muslim countries and people who had been in the USA for generations treated after 9/11, by the USA government?  No fly lists?  Aggressive (and possibly illegal) searches of people, homes, even places of worship?  The Patriot Act, which allows the government to, ironically, eves drop on verbal and monitor electronic communication of their own population?
 
Recent history has shown us, that if Mutants were blamed for an event (even if they had nothing to do with it); both institutional and populous-derived hate would be the result.
 
Let's not even talk about Japanese-Americans and WWII internment camps in the USA...
 

I ponder how to simulate Father Puchi with the Stand [C-Moon]. One of the odd things about the stand (which is his original stand Whitesnake combining with the Green Baby who had it's own stand Green Green Grass of Home). Basically, how it relates to this topic is this... anything in front of C-Moon falls with the gravity being 'down', depending on where Puchi and C-Moon physically stands (and with the stand, Puchi can stand on any surface and that is down). Anything behind him is 'up' and will fall that way.
 
Another thing is anything hit by C-Moon will be turned inside out unless they can make themselves a moebius strip...
 
Yes, it's Jojo. If it makes sense, they are doing it wrong.

Yup, I think you're missing much of what I was trying to say...
 
Q. Are you saying Storm is a good example because like the weather, wherever a healer goes, there are people who need immediate medical attention or they will die?  A healer stereotypically needs to be near a person to heal them and not like a 50 miles away.
 
A. I wasn't really making the point about frequency of the events or needs.  I was making the point that if Storm wanted to, she could spend a majority of her time "fighting weather", and wouldn't have much time for being a "super-hero" (meaning adventuring and fighting super-villains, etc.).
 
Q. Or are you saying Storm is a good example, because she wants to be a hero and save everyone because she is clearly defined by that motivation (like a Silver Age Superman)?  I've always seen the X-Men as morally gray. 
 
A. I wasn't speaking to Storm's motivations at all.
 
Q. Or are you saying even though she has these weather abilities, she doesn't go to the deep freezes or hailstorms or tornado alley to stop these effects but she is still a hero?
 
A. I also wasn't speaking to whether Storm is a "hero" by any specific definition, one way or the other.
 
Q. If you're saying that it doesn't make a good story in a comic or a game to have a player be Joe the Healer at County Medical, I agree with you.
 
A. Yes, I am saying this.
 
I'll try again; I'm using Storm as an analogy, to try to explain the answer to your original question, because I can't think of a good example of a healer super-hero in comics, animation, movies, novels, etc.
  
 
So, I'm agreeing with your friend's statement from a long time ago; I think Storm could have a larger impact saving lives and reducing damage if she went around and tempered the weather vs. going around fighting super-villains.  Just like a healer character would likely have a better impact on the "greater good" by going around and using their healing powers on those in need vs. going around fighting super-villains.  (Though I don't think they could do it in a hospital for a myriad of reasons; they could do it in any number of other ways.)
 
Like your last question however; the point I was making as to why they don't, is because it would be a boring comic, movie, series, or RPG for that matter.
 
Finally, what I was trying to say; is that a player could compromise and say, "whenever there is downtime in the game, my character is going around using their powers to help in different ways" and that this wouldn't be limited to healers or weather controllers, but almost all supers could do this in one way or another.  Thus addressing the altruistic use of their powers when in downtime, but still having fun fighting super-villains in the game (or in the comic, movie, series, etc.)
 
And, that if they did that, they would be more heroic, and it would provide better PR for the heroes.  Frankly I'm surprised this hasn't been done more in comics, movies, series, etc.
 
Hope this helps.
 

As I posted in another thread:  You mean, "What if this wasn't a comic book?"  If this was real life, and some people had powers, can you imagine how bad that would go?  Comic books are  what they are, for a reason...  They cater to all our inner desires to imagine ourselves heroes, in all the myriad forms that can take.  But, that is not reality...  That's why they're called "escapism"...
 
The movies Chronicle, Brightburn and series The Boys anyone?  And frankly, those are light weight as to what I think it would really be like...  Caligula, with unstoppable personal power vs. political?
 
How are "faith-healers" treated, until their "healing" is proven untrue?  Now, what if they could really do it?  None of these people are working in a hospital; that's far too small scale, and not controlled by anyone "important"...
 
It would depend on how much healing, and how common it was with other supers...  If you could basically make someone immortal, and you were the only one?  EVERY. SINGLE. super-villain, just "plain-ole" villain, rich person, powerful person, dictator, father who's child is dying, etc., etc., etc. would be trying to force the "hero" to save them/theirs.
 
It would be post-apocalyptic on a scale hard to imagine.
 
 

Oh, _that_ explains it!
 
I kept getting quote notifications and I would check in here and decide that my phone and I had gone crazy....
 
 

Track Suit Mafia?  🤣
 
Seriously though, I like something that fits a theme, so I would like to know a little something about their origins, culture, traditions, etc.
 
Examples of more stolen ideas:
 
Crimson Dawn
Black Sun
 
The Hyenas
The Cleaners
The Rikers
Black Tusk
 

My first instinct was to go with a favorite pejorative of the supers genre as a whole: "Spandex Commandos."
 
However, even before I finished thinking it, it occurred to me that an intelligent group of criminals-- mafia or not-- would realize that advertising the idea that this group is organized by super-powered individuals increases the risk of drawing super-powered scrutiny.  The much more clever thing to do would to be name themselves after an archaic organization or a name that sounded "kinda like all the others" while quietly encouraging the _rumor_ that this organization is run by "way more powerful men than most other families can boast of" and kind of let it ride.
 
 

"The Community"
Never intended to become a name, just like the classic name for the Mafia: "La Cosa Nostra" is literally just the phrase "our thing", used to refer obscurely to the crime organisation you're running. In the case of "The Community", it was a case of people involved always providing themselves with plausible deniability and even a veneer of respectability, as they do things on behalf of "The Community".
 
They don't expect you to pay for protection or anything. They simply prefer you to be a generous donor, providing the community with "necessary funding". They don't try to recruit impressionable young mutants or metahumans, to serve as lieutenants of a street gang. No, they simply welcome them to the super-powered community. And if it ends up with them implicated for, or even involved in, some initial crimes, that's just more evidence that the rest of the world is out to get people like us, and only people in The Community really have your back. The super-"heroes"? They're all just sell-outs.

Well there is an ethical difference between "I have a skill" and "I can save lives"

If you are the GM or the GM allows, Trigger on T-port should work.

I find it interesting; this whole "because they've got X powers, wouldn't they have to do Y?"  "Have to do"?
 
I have Designated Marksman training.  I went to Sniper School.  I have used those skill in war zones.  No one came a long and said; "Hey, since you have these skills and training, you have to go join a police force now and be a sniper."
 
I also don't hunt; because frankly it isn't a challenge; no one has made me.  I'm actually an IT guy...
 
Does the Human Torch have to go around starting BBQs and camp fires?
 
Does Hydro have to go around fighting fires?
 
If you follow this logic - why doesn't Reed Richards have to put his brilliance to work solving global climate change, the trash problem, or curing cancer?
 
Why doesn't Storm have to go around stopping every tornado, hurricane, etc. from causing any damage or loss of life?
 
Why doesn't Tony Stark and Forge have to build clean energy and then share it with the world?
 
I could go on and on, there are a gazillion examples.  I have a very simple answer; based on my initial point about my personal skills; because it's not realistic, it doesn't happen - and second, because it would be a boring comic book, if that's all the heroes ever do...

The funny thing, it reminds me of a time I played a martial artist and an explosion targeting a nearby hex was happening.  So I aborted my phase to be 4" farther away figuring losing the top 6 dice would let it bounce off me.  The GM rolls to hit and bungles it badly.  He randomly rolls direction and guess what, it lands on top of me.  Top 4 dice were all 6s, though damage was average.  If I had just stayed still I would have been unharmed.

"Holy resurrection Bat Man!"
 
Yes, after 7+ years, we're about to resurrect this campaign world!
 
Making new characters tomorrow!

From the journal of Master Gunz – American Hero
 
The year is 2030 and Earth has changed, everything has changed.
 
On December 21st, 2012 – when the Mesoamerican’s long count calendar ended, the solar system that Earth is in, passed through an area of the Milkyway galaxy which the Mesoamericans called “The Void”; an area of the Milkyway galaxy which looks like a rift, as it is devoid of many stars.  A place very important in their mythology and a place located in the plane of the galaxy.  The Mesoamerican’s put much mythological/religious significance to this event.  We now know, that there was real, scientific significance as well.
 
It had personal significance for me too, cause that’s the day I joined the US Marine Corps; I had just graduated from Boot Camp.
 
There was a bunch of crazies back just prior to 2012 that made a bunch of money talking about how the world was going to end, cause the Long Count calendar ended on that day.  Bunch of idiots.  It didn’t of course; the calendar is based on a 25,695 year processional cycle of the equinoxes through the galaxy.  This procession is broken into segments of the processional cycle, lasting just over 5100 years.  We are now in the 1st segment after a full cycle of the 25,695 years.  This is why the long count ended, because we started over on 12/22/2012.
 
But, at the end of the day, none of that really matters; what matters is what it was tracking, which is where we sit in the Milkyway.  Why?  Well, because it turns out, our little corner (solar system) of the galaxy oscillates across the galactic plane.  So, why’s that so important, I hear you asking.  Well I’m here to tell ‘ya, it’s about the most important thing we’ve ever discovered.
 
So, turns out there is a radiation that exists on one side of the galactic plane, that isn’t present on the other side.  A simple fluke of galactic geography and some event which took place in our galactic past?  Could be.  It’s been around 17 years since we crossed over and were exposed, so our scientist are still trying to figure it all out; in between figuring out what the Hell happened to those of us susceptible to this radiation, and dealing with the arrival of the aliens…  So cut ‘em a little slack, I suppose.
 
So, this radiation has many uses.  Most people are not affected by it directly.  Only like .0001% of the earth’s population is susceptible to the effects of this radiation on their genes.  So, in 2012, when we crossed the galactic plane, that was about 700,000 people on the planet earth.
 
Today we call it Sudden Unexplained Radioactive Genetic Expression, or SURGE.  .0001% of the human population of Earth have a gene, which when exposed to this radiation, expresses some sort of random mutation.  Many people have small effects, some don’t ever even notice; lucky bastards.
 
Some of us, well, some of our “random mutations” can cause Hell on Earth.
 
So think about that.  700,000 random people; in every clime and place, every culture, every socio-economic level, suddenly had powers that our ancestors called Gods.
 
Oh, did I forget to mention that?  Yeah, this happened before.  As I said, we oscillate across this plane, so using our current calendar, between 8239 and 3114 BCE we were on this side of the plane, and they had .0001% (of a much lower) population express these SURGE powers.  Turns out that’s where much of our mythology, folklore, stories and many of our religious beliefs came from…  But today, we don’t have those same quaint ideas; instead, we have Superheroes.  Of course, if you have Superheroes, it stands to reason that you also have Supervillains…
 
So, think about it again, back in 2012; .0001% of the two-bit punks, street thugs, gangbangers, organized criminals, serial killers, white-collar criminals, corporate criminals, and international criminals got juiced.  But that wasn’t the worst of it.  That was reserved for the crazy extremist of all stripes.  From Jihadist Terrorists to White-power Aryan Nation wackos, to the anti-governmental nutbirds.
 
What about that Head Hunter from Papua New Guinea, or that newly found Amazonian tribe?  Doesn't matter to you much when they stayed where they were; but, what if the Head Hunter can fly over here to hunt now?  What if the Amazonian tribesmen wasn't very well liked, and mistreated by his people, and now can run 4000 mph?
 
But, there were some of us on the other side of those tracks; local cops, Feds, and us in the military; well, .0001% of us changed too.
 
There have been a bunch who just decided not to get involved, I’d say the majority.  Might have been a good idea, if you could do it.  Cause some nations hunt us SURGE’ers down and burn us at the stake.  Other’s, they want to use us, however they can.  And many of them, want us in a lab.
 
So, from early 2013 through 2015, the human race had to recalibrate.  It wasn’t easy.  There were about 20 SURGE’ers in the US Marine Corps with me, we’ve lost almost half.  But midway through 2015, everything changed again.  Cause that’s when the alien residents of HAT-P-11B decided to open a Lorentzian Stable Transversable (LST) or Morris-Thorne Wormhole (MTW) using powerful engines that use this new (to us) radiation as the Exotic Matter to hold the wormhole open and stable.
 
Suddenly, right in the middle of all our chaos about SURGE, we found out we weren’t alone in the galaxy.  And the neighbors had stopped by for coffee and cake.  Since then, we’ve had another neighbor stop by too.  Lucky for us, both neighbors have been fairly friendly.  Cause at that time, we’d have had some major issues dealing with them if they weren’t.
 
So, after 15 years of getting used to the new neighborhood, things were going much better.  We’d all settled down about SURGE, and our visitors.  Our science and technology sectors have been going nuts figuring out what it all means; from the new radiation (known as “Z-rad” by the media), to the MTW’s the aliens use to move about our galaxy, and what the extent of us SURGE’ers abilities might be.
 
Now it’s 2030, and you had to know it; at some point the bad neighbors would show up, and the neighborhood would go to Hell.  This year, we finally noticed that some of the changes we’ve been experiencing for the last several years, on Earth and our friendly neighborhood alien’s planets too, aren’t due to Z-rad or anything random, they were early deployment of resources to help soften us up, cause this year, the Empress showed up…  And all bets are off now.

In our 9th exciting episode (actually in person thanks to the Thanksgiving break!) -->
 
The heroes returned to Earth and told Project Citadel (UNTIL) and the Narrai and Lyrissi about the intelligence they had gathered; specifically about the terrible plans the Empress had for combating the Narrai and Lyrissi.  Both those governments retreated to determine how this news would impact their strategies.  Capt. Force and Solar continued to work with Col. Rage on the strategy of creating the "Men in Black" type of organization, to protect the sector's three systems from galactic threats.  Capt. Force connected Col. Rage with the resistance forces on Narrai, who might be open to align with the MIB concepts.
 
Capt. Force also worked with the resistance to increase the power of his teleport belt (spent CP), so he can now teleport his considerable mass plus himself (2x mass), allowing him to teleport the entire rest of the Band Bearers (and then-some).
 
The Band Bearers then started discussing their strategy with the Malvans:  They teleported to Somewhere and used the IGN (Inter-Galactic Network) to read up on the Malvans.  The first thing they learned was that all the Malvans cared about were the gladiatorial games.  The second thing they learned was that both Wuxing and The Aqua Man had fought on the Moon, even though they didn't remember it!  (Learning about how they kidnap heroes and make them fight, then return them with no memory of it.)
 
They also learned that there was really no other way for them to quickly ingratiate themselves into the Malvan society.  They learned about the Forum Malvanum on the Earth Moon, and leaned that the only way they would be able to gain the respect they needed, was to go through the gladiatorial system, and become champions - because the Champion was allowed to ask the Phazor for a reward.
 
After much discussion among the team; they decided on three strategies to ask the Phazor once they won (yes, they are that confident):
They wanted Malvan planetary defenses for their sector; with such, the Empress would not be able to attack. Second, they wanted an advanced ship, to use as their base to wage war against the Empress. Third, they wanted Malvan tech.  (They eventually learned that they would not get access to Malvan tech; but, upon further discussion, realized if they simply took Silvercloud on a tour of the galaxy; they could start in Somewhere, he would be able to copy everything they needed to match the Empress' tech - in fact, they realized that with their ship/base, they could provide him access directly to the Empress' tech, which he could simply copy.) So, off to the moon they went - arriving outside the Forum Malvanum, they spoke to the robot sentries, who called Kovarl.  After Kovarl received the scan data from the robots, and asked the Band Bearers why they were there.  After a quick conversation, where they explained they were volunteer gladiators, he noted that Capt. Force and Solar were type 36 gladiators, while Wuxing and The Aqua Man were now type 18...  He started by pitted them against battle-bots in one of the side arenas to test them.  Once the heroes quickly dispensed with the battle-bots, they moved up to challenge some of the more famous gladiators.
 
(So, I actually confused the gladiators from Malva vs. the Forum Malvanum on the moon; so, even though they were on the moon, they initially fought the gladiators from Malva, then fought the gladiators from the moon, while on Malva...)
 
Solar was put up against Dawn Bird - who she very quickly defeated in a flying, energy projection only fight.
 
Capt. Force was pitted against Scarmaker and Halberdier.  Capt. Force did a quick multi-attack and struck both major damage initially.  They both tried to hit him and failed - Capt. Force's second multi-attack knocked them both out.
 
Finally, Solar was put up against Plasmarax.  She was able to knock him out with a couple energy blasts; he never laid a finger on her...
 
So, after defeating their best gladiators quickly, they were taken to meet with Tatekyls; who asked them what they wanted (he simply wanted them gone, as their battles were too short and not entertaining enough, but they were too powerful to trifle with).  Once they explained they wanted to go to the Phazorum on Malva, to fight the champion, he simply had them teleported directly there (relaying the information he had on them to Malva).
 
There they met Goreum, one of the fight arrangers, who explained that they would have to all face challenges to face the champion.  He also explained, they needed to make the fights more entertaining, if they were to gain any chance of really ascending the ladder.
 
As Capt. Force awaited his first match, Lady Terala Shain came to him; she spoke to him about honor, and wanting to "clean up the games", eliminating the corruption.  He explained what they wanted, and she asked if she could help them get it, would they demand from the Phazor (assuming they won), that he clean up the games?  Capt. Force agreed, as long as his goals were met.  She said she would be there when they met with the Phazor, if they won.
 
First, Capt. Force went up against both Malachite and Talon in a ground battle with melee only - the battle was entertaining, in that Capt. Force never threw a punch (remember, his fighting style is based on Steven Seagal) - blocking a punch from Malachite, he then grabbed and threw him at Talon; though he missed Talon, Malachite was stunned from the throw (80 meters away!).  Talon then tried to claw Capt. Force, but missed.  Capt. Force then grabbed Talon and threw him at Malachite (who had just recovered from his stun) - this time he hit, and knocked them both out!
 
The Aqua Man and Wuxing having won both their matches as well; it was now up to Solar to face Zpartykys in a ground battle, with only HTH and energy blasts allowed.  The battle started with Solar using a large fireball of a blast, which injured Zpartykys some.  He then charged to hit Solar, but with a held action, she simply used the wind from her Band to knock him down.  She then hit him with another fireball, which knocked him out.  Just as she thought the fight was over, she was attacked from behind by an energy blast (she had her full DCV, due to Combat Sense) - the energy blast did nothing to her however.  She turned to see Frostbite!  In what will surely cause Frostbite more mental injury, he was up against another fire user (though Solar's is literally the energy of a star!).
 
Frostbite had attempted to hit her with Deepfreeze II, but her defenses protected her completely, so she started with simply walking over and cooking him with Solar heat - this took about half his stun after his defenses.  She then let him recover, and waited for him to strike, to entertain the crowd...  He hit her with Freeze your Flesh, but again her defenses were too high (though it would have been close, if she hadn't had her force field up also).  Solar then ended the fight by cooking him one more time, this time knocking him out.
 
With the battles over, the crowd began chanting "Firewing, Firewing, Firewing...", as they wanted to see the true Malvan Champion against these new interlopers.
 
Goreum took the Band Bearers to relax with the gladiators, while they arranged to send word to Earth, and try to lure Firewing back, with a test that could finally offer him a challenge!  (They of course would also like to get him back in their clutches...)
 
And THAT is where our exciting episode ended!
 
The plan next game will be to bring in Firewing, who I'm going to boost with a few hundred more points, to put him on equal with Solar (who the Band Bearers feel is their champion).  Hopefully, after a good fight, if the heroes are successful, I'm going to have Warmonger appear and tell them they haven't really bested the TRUE Champion, until they've defeated him!  That should give the whole team a challenge, and really raise their awareness to the Malvans...
 
Then, we'll see how the politicking (role-playing) with the Phazor and Lady Terala Shain plays out...  Can't wait!
 

I think thou doth missed the broader point I was making about levels scaling up / staying relatively equal / keeping the ability to have heart-touching, humanitarian stories...
 
As has been mentioned a gazillion times, in the comics, everything is relative to the story - so if the writers wanted to have a Punisher / Iron Man crossover, they'd make it happen - whether it made sense or not.
 
And yes, if the Punisher knew Tony Stark was Iron Man, and was seriously going after him; Stark should worry, in the broader sense.
 
But, if like in most comics, Iron Man ran across the Punisher in the midst of a story; and the Punisher had no time to prepare - Tony would have nothing to worry about...
 
All of that wasn't the point however...

True, but back then, Iron Man was a lot less of a threat.  All of his attacks were on Charges and he kept having to plug himself into an electrical socket in the middle of a fight to keep his heart going.

While I agree with this in a literal sense (understanding you mean the "normal", human/earthly, cops/robbers/gov.) - I think you can still have the same emotional impact and kind of stories, by simply using stand-ins (with higher combat values, that are higher than "normals", much like you mentioned the other stats going up as the game goes along).
 
An example would be a murder mystery with intergalactic cops, or an alien pirate (or other "robbers"), and of course the governments can be intergalactic also, or you can simply have the earthly government enlist/create/grow/build/etc. some super-agents.
 
Much like the scale of "normal" cops, robbers or government agents; they may not be on scale with the heroes, but can be the same steps away as "normal" cops, robbers or gov. agents are from "normal" heroes - thus providing the same "bother" and possibility for the "human interest story".
 
Just takes a little more creativity and pre-work by the GM.

I find all these "how come other supers aren't painted with the same brush" questions interesting.
 
Let me pose a point about racism/hate that may help here:
 
So, because Marvel / Stan brought in the concept of mutants in 1963 and mutant hate sometime later (becoming a main focus of the titles in the '80s), and used Prof. X and Magneto as allegory for MLK and Malcom X; everyone has said "this doesn't make sense as an allegory for racism, because people can't tell the difference between Cyclops and Spiderman, just by looking at them."
 
So, the problem with this viewpoint, is that most people posting are from the era of the mutants as presented in the comics, and thus are thinking about racism in the context of modern times, where it is primarily ethnicity based, and thus is as simple for idiot racist as looking at the target of their hate; because it's as obvious as the target's skin color, hair, etc.  (Which is why they often can make mistakes, calling a Native American a slur for a Mexican, for instance.)
 
However, think about it in the context of the Civil War in the USA.  A political belief motivated war, having nothing to do with race, religion, or any outside, easily identifiable aspect.  It sometimes led to families hating and killing each other.
 
Between WWI and WWII period of Europe, and the Nazi hate for the Jewish.  It is often impossible to discern the difference between a Jewish person and non-Jew Caucasian of the same nation; especially when you start talking about Russian Jews (among others).  A point Magneto himself has made in both the comics and movies; yet ignored by this whole line of thought.
 
How about Northern Ireland?  Same people in every way, hating and killing each other simple because one was a Catholic and one was Protestant (among other reasons)?  
 
Want a more modern example?  How about the Genocide in Bosnia during the Bosnian War (92-95) - three different sub-cultures from the same area, same ethnicity, in some cases same families.
 
My point here is simple; just because it is not "obvious" that Spiderman is NOT a Mutant, and it is NOT obvious that Wolverine is NOT an altered human, but an altered Mutant, simply by looking at them, doesn't mean people still can't hate one, and not the other.
 
Hate and racism have never been isolated to "white vs. black (or brown)", until recent times.  Many times in history there has been hate against a sub-group with no possible way to simply "seeing" the difference; yet the human capacity to hate, and be aggressive toward any sub-group they wanted, has never been hampered by such simple things as having to be able to tell the difference in an obvious way.
 
So, I would challenge that looking at the "Mutant Problem" through glasses colored by today's ethnicity (color) based hate and not understanding the capacity of human nature to hate and somehow figure out who to hate, without it being obvious, is the true "cop-out".