Arkham

Re: "Hull? I can't be in Hull!"

Dr. Damascus would have an easy time of it. No pun intended. He became active in the Heroing business in the 50's and his manner of dress he patterned after that of the gentlemen early in the century. So he may look slightly 'dated' as opposed to bizarre and futuristic. From there, a little scrounging for lead and some basic lead->gold transmutation will grant him all the fiscal resources he needs.

Re: Idea/Suggestion: Offline Character Generator

This needs to be posted on their forums' date=' however - not here.[/quote']

 

They've got a slew of calls for an offline character creator on their forums.

 

They've already given a very firm 'maybe' about producing one.

Re: Utility Belts

It also depends on what item you plan to bring on the adventure. Carrying nearly 15 objects regardless on how small is a bit much.

Really?

A standard issue police belt carries 7 or 8 items, several of which are very bulky like pistols, batons and handset radios.

Adding some basic ALICE gear and 20-30 items is easily doable, even with rl technology and normal guy skills.

http://www.champions-online.com/rate_my_champion?champ=2816

Re: Utility Belts

I generally use either a 30 or 60 AP multipower. Primarily the 60 pointer is so that more than one slot can be used at once, such as the Swingline + Billy Club, or Climbing Gloves + Cutting Torch. Only 3 of the 28 slots go over 30 points.

http://arkham.genesismuds.com/hero/Champions/Satire.HTML Check this guy for my version of a Utility Belt.

Re: Like a Multiform... but not?

 

 

 

This build is good, but I'm still drawn to the Multiform construct since it allows for different Skills/Perks/Talents to be added to the power list without breaking the rules.

It wouldn't break the rules, since the rules dictate it only cannot be done without GM Permission. With GM Permission, its just fine.

Re: Like a Multiform... but not?

Multiform doesn't _have_ to change your appearance, skills or personality. So that is indeed still an option.

Alternately a VPP for Animal Powers is easily doable.

Or even just a Multipower with a slot, or variable slots depending on the animal.

What kind of powers does he want to use?

A multipower with Armor, Str, HTH, Flight, Dex, Running, Life support, and maybe an NND for a poison attack pretty much covers the basics of animal powers without requiring changes in form. If the pool is big enough and you use Multi slots instead of Ultra slots, then pretty much everything is covered.

Re: Little Powers

There's a few I used as the failures in a Superhero reality show, West Coast Supers.

I don't know if you want those with just limited utility, or limited flash, as one can have dubiously useful powers that are otherwise really extraordinary, like a guy who can turn into a car. ( but, like a car, needs someone else to drive... )

The characters I used were; a guy who glows very, very brightly all the time. He had to cover himself, every inch, in thick clothes, a hood, gloves, and welders goggles, leaving not an inch uncovered. Otherwise he would blind everyone around him. There was a guy who, upon drinking milk, could will his hair and nails to instantly grow. There was another character who could will himself to sweat on command, and then re-absorb the moisture again. And Dr. Time, who could, by explaining his theories on time travel, make 5 minutes feel like an hour.

Re: WWYCD: "Dear Superhero" (Warning: Ugly situation)

That's my point (he has bitten quite a few' date=' after all). [img']http://www.herogames.com/forums/images/icons/sick.gif[/img] There are sooooo many animals tastier than... pig.

 

Sorry, that statement doesn't make any sense...

http://warehouse.carlh.com/article_157/bacon_pig_00.jpg

Re: WWYCD: "Dear Superhero" (Warning: Ugly situation)

Dr. Damascus would teleport to the village incognito and research to insure that all is as described. If the boy is truely a good soul, he would tutor the young boy in the ways of magic, teach him to wield the Powers Arcane so that he can defend his people. Its an origin story! In the meantime, he calls on the very stones, trees and mud to defend the village until the boy is ready to handle the threats to his homeland on his own, with only occasional dramatic intervention by his mentor. International law? Pah! When you are responsible for protecting the entire dimension from threats that Man was not Meant to Know, such things lose their meaning. In true silver-age style, this kind of thing is quickly taken care of and the subject of international treaty never arises, and the boy grows up to be the superheroic protector of his land ( with frequent trips to New York City ).

-- Actually, this sounds like a great idea. Since the game I run is in Dr. Damascus's future, I'll add this as part of his backstory for when he serves as an NPC. Now I just need a 'craft' name for the boy.

Re: Which is your least favorite archetype to play?

True' date=' but with Supes standing behind me, there's no need for me to shoot [i']at all, [/i]is there?

And this is how the rest of the Justice League feels.... Every Day.

Re: Which is your least favorite archetype to play?

I don't think Supes would have had a problem with my coastie' date=' any more than he ever had a problem with any 'normal' law enforcement officer. Because that's what my character was: a normal law enforcement officer (albiet highly trained and exqusitely well-equipped).[/quote']

 

No, but if you are teamed with him and he is standing (hovering) just a few meters away, I don't think he would let you shoot to kill. And I doubt most similar characters would risk being the one to 'make big blue snap' by shooting someone in the face right in front of him. I put that in quotes because you and I know that via writer fiat, Superman would intervene, stop anyone from getting shot, and might even give a disapproving glare or reprimand the shooter, but he would never snap and tear someone's head off... But the character present don't know that.

Re: Which is your least favorite archetype to play?

re: PC's with Killing Attacks of any kind

 

Why is the gunslinger being singled out more than say a bow & arrow type (like Green Arrow or Hawkeye)? Why no mention of Superman and his 'Heat Vision' (a classic RKA if there ever was one)?

 

The original Vigilante was featured on a few episodes of the Justice League Unlimited animated series and like most if not all of the other heroes he appeared to have some form of Code Vs. Killing. The fact that his primary 'power' was his skill with his guns and motorcycle didn't automatically turn him into a killing machine.

It is amazing how quickly people develop Codes vs. Killing when Superman, etc is standing right over there.

Re: Which is your least favorite archetype to play?

You are correct; one certainly could 'shoot to wound' with a regular firearm in a Champions game, but I've never seen it. Invariably, anybody who has a regular gun only has a Killing Attack with it, and attempts to use it to kill people. If they turn out to be bulletproof, they wait until he goes down and tries to shove it in their ear or mouth and kill him that way.

 

In short, I've never seen a character wielding a conventional firearm who wasn't a 90's anti-hero murdering lowlife.

Then you have been playing with the wrong people.

Re: Cue theme music

Good use of theme music, as I've found in my games, needs to be either faint and background, or brief. A character's theme song should establish the mood within the first 10 to 20 seconds. Too long, and people are paying attention to the music, waiting for it to make sense, instead of getting the feeling, and moving on with the game. It is like wrestler's entrance music. You need to be able to hear the first few bars and know instantly who is going to appear.

Oh, and Certified has good taste in music. :-D

Re: Cue theme music

Overused all over the place, but this version would be my choice for Dr. Destroyer, or other campaign equivalent Big Bad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8zNTL2ZS8A

For Mechanon, I'd use Smart Bomb, by Vex'd. Or most any Dubstep, with a good start. Too much of an intro dooms a piece as in-game theme music. This one would be good too...

This one would be good, IMO, for Istvatha V'han.

Re: Super Psychos

A clown prison is an idea which is rife with potential.

Ooooh, this is something I need to use for Bingo's backstory...

Hehheheheh... clowns.

Re: Changing Into The Powersuit

Well, I think I should chime in as the GM. This will be brief, as I'm posting via my G1 phone, but I'll post in more detail tonight.

 

Suit as vehicle - Makes sense, but I really don't want to deal with the vehicle rules in this game.

 

AI to control suit without pilot - Very interesting idea. However, what do you use for STUN and BODY when the pilot isn't in the suit?

 

I really like Grimble's take on the van. Anyway, I'll have more to add later.

The vehicle rules can be a little headachey, I can understand not wanting to deal with them.

With the AI control, the suit would have no STUN, just the same BODY as it would have as a focus based on active points. But it shouldn't really involve itself in the fight, it should be a pure 'get to the pilot', and 'get unconscious pilot a safe distance away' procedure. Perhaps add on a smoke cloud to mask the character getting into the suit. But I wouldn't recommend having the AI have access to the weapon systems.

Re: Which is your least favorite archetype to play?

Going to have to pile on to the Mentalists.

The only time I find them particularly interesting is when they are something else + a mental power or two.

Even worse are when my players choose to play mentalists, they almost always want a totally vanilla build. All the mental powers at as high as they go, and not much else. Add to that the effect they have on usable plots, and they start to sap the fun for me from running the game.

As to conventional firearms... I had a player who in one game made a 'zen sniper' who could use a sniper rifle in various non-lethal ways. The character looked and sounded like Virgil Earp from the movie Tombstone and 'aimed to stun' with his sniper rifle.

Re: How Would You Build: Sequenced Effects

re: Extra Time

 

The original request was - - essentially making the entire construct a fire-and-forget attack.

 

Extra Time actually increases the time taken by the mage for the entire casting process.

I seem to recall Extra Time having an additional -1/4 if the character can perform no other actions, but that isn't the default that I am aware of.

Re: How Would You Build: Sequenced Effects

I would just use Extra Time and have both additional powers linked to the first.

Thorny roots: 20 STR TK, plus 2d6 RKA Extra time: 1 phase linked to TK, plus 3d6 Entangle Extra time: 2 phases, linked to TK.

This way it all requires one roll, and if the TK is doesn't hold them or is broken, then the other effects fail as well.

I don't recall offhand if there is a level of Extra Time for 2 phases. If not, just cost it the same as 1 phrase.

( Personally, I would just use Entangle + RKA with the Entangle having Does not protect against some types of attacks +1/4. The sinking into the ground is just a special effect of remaining entangled. )

The 2nd example is trickier as you technically cannot use linked or MPA attacks affect lowered stats from other attacks in the same MPA. The Telepathy should then be a Trigger that activates one phase after the 'Raking' Ego drain.

Re: Adventures Into Darkness Arrives Jan. 12!

What's that, you say? Well, Ken Hite and Hal Mangold say it best...

 

http://atomicovermind.com/blog/?page_id=350

 

That's right- a complete Hero Golden Age/Lovecraftian Horror setting book, created by Ken Hite and adapted to Hero by Darren Watts. Available as a PDF in our very own store starting next Monday. Unsubstantiated rumors persist we may have some print-on-demand hardcopies in time for Dundracon as well.

 

Trust me, gang, this book is a hoot and a half. If you're at all a fan of either Golden Age comics or H.P. Lovecraft, do not miss it. dw

OMGOMGOMG WANTWANTWANT!!!

Could you, perhaps, maintain posession of at least one hard copy should I not arrive at DunDraCon terribly early Friday night?

Much appreciated!

Re: Lucha Libre HERO

LLH won't be available for sale at DunDraCon. Recent events have delayed Darren's completion of the book' date=' which means I'm not going to start editing it until I finish writing [i']The Book Of The Machine[/i] in late January. Howver it is still on the schedule and heading your way, slowly but surely.

Curses! Foiled again!

I will have to send my army of panther women and vampire midget luchadores over to 'persuade' Darren and yourself to expediate the process... Now, which one of you wants the panther women, and which wants the vampire midget luchadores?

Re: Hero is TK projection of kid in coma

The Physical Limitation means he dies automatically if the kid is killed. The Resurrection stop condition alone just means' date=' if the kid dies, he (the hero) can't Regeneration if he is kill thereafter. As I said, the Physical Limitation is valid.[/quote']

 

Quite right, it does different things.

 

However, this gets into the intentions of the player and GM. As a GM, I would never have NPCs take an action that I know would immediately take a PC out of the game for good without the PC having a chance to act upon it. And a physical limitation that never actually occurs is not really limiting. An arbitrary removal of a character from the story isn't fun for anyone involved. So the way it would end up being played out in game is as a DNPC.

Re: Hero is TK projection of kid in coma

Build the character as normal.

DNPC: Kid in coma.

Healing: Regeneration, Resurrection. The way to stop the resurrection is to kill the kid in the coma.

And that's all you need.

I wouldn't allow the physical limitation, as it is already required as part of the self-resurrection power.

Re: NND and Entangle

So can you put a pair of handcuffs on a time stopped victim of this power while they are frozen in time? Do you need extradimensional handcuffs? Do their wrists become infinitely wide for the duration?

 

I really hate resorting to EDM every time you present the HERO system with something difficult.

Well, if the special effect is as described, that the target is in a frozen time bubble, then no, you can't put handcuffs on them. You could wrap the entire bubble in a force wall if you wanted to, but you couldn't get to the person inside.

Perhaps the attack could be made sticky, so that if you do happen to force your way inside to put the handcuffs on, you yourself are shunted into the same time bubble with the original target.