Talon65

Re: Hero Goes to the Movies (or TV Shows)! Your welcome My understanding of the rules was that if you want to KNOW about something, you buy a KS. If you want to DO something, you buy a PS. If my characters do it as a profession and are knowledgeable about their profession, I usually buy both. It's like buying KS: Stage magic. I know how all the tricks work and who's famous etc. but I sure has hell can't get on stage and perform them or be successful at it without PS: Stage Magic. I figure Dean's been hunting monsters all his life (unlike Sam) so I figured he was more a doer but it works either way I guess. The CIA guy has been more of a skilled DNPC so far but yeah, that could change. She could have him as both too. A contact that's also a disad that she has to keep bailing out of trouble. And since I forgot mention it before, nice job on everybody's "entries"! A lot of good work there.

Re: Hero Goes to the Movies (or TV Shows)! Can I suggest that Dean Winchester needs a KS:Muscle Cars and PS: Monster Hunter? Also, both Winchester boys should at least have contacts with Bobby and Ellen. Maybe a generic "other monster hunters". Also, Jamie Summers should have a PS: Bartender since that was her day job when the series started and maybe a love interest disad with her CIA boyfriend.

Re: Tell us about your Pulp game! I like the idea of the Library Spec. Op. I LOVED Read or Die and just wish I'd thought of it...

Re: Tell us about your Pulp game! That's ok, kharma just bit me in the butt. The GM for the adventure pulp, that hasn't been able to run for almost 3 months now, has now decided to run this up coming Saturday. One of the only two Saturdays in the entire fricken year that I'm not available. Grrrr!

Re: Tell us about you Pulp game!

Re: Name for a Pulp Hero group? Hmmm, thanks for the reply and I see your point but I don't think it's entirely true. They guys running both our pulp games are big pulp fans. The one running our crime fighters pulp game is old enough to remember the pulps, radio shows and serials. Both of them recall the Shadow, Phantom Detective, The Mandrake, The Spider and Flash Gordon of all things coming together and they had some sorta group name. Can't remember what the name was and it was seldom all of them at the same time but it was like the Justice League. Also, as you can see from the OP, everyone does have some sort of power so it is very Champions lite. I was referring to the game as "Pulp Champions" for a while until the GM suggested that it was crime fighting pulp. Your description sounds much more to me like a Sam Spade/Mike Hammer type pulp detective game. While we do a bit of "detecting" and a couple of us are in a detective agency it's not the focus of the game per se. It's much more "The Shadow" or the "The Phantom" type crime busting pulp. Taking on weird threats, cults and conspiracies. And lastly, I'm not even sure we're looking for a name to call the group of characters in game but more something to call the game itself, instead of "Bill's pulp game", etc. As I mentioned, the group has a cover office so to speak, "Universal Imports & Exports Ltd.".

After some discussion in a another thread, I wanna hear what other people are doing in their pulp games. What characters are in it? What have you recently done? Other interesting tidbits? Stories? Here's mine. I'm lucky enough to be in two different pulp games running concurrently. First is our "Crime Fighting Pulp Game". "The Phantom League". A group of crime fighters in their own right, brought together by The Phantom Detective under the cover of "Universal Imports & Exports Ltd.". We have: The Shadow, yeah, that Shadow, pretty much as he appears in the movie. The Wraith, a rip...eeer homage to Adam Hughes' "Ghost". Returned from the dead with no memory of her past, to seek vengeance for those innocence that have died a violent death. The Red Falcon, two-fisted vigilante that can change into a Peregrine Falcon with the power from an Egyptian amulet. Dresses like "The Spirit" but in a dark red or maroon suit. The Ace, gambler and disguise artist extraordinaire. Can make himself look like anyone and always leaves an ace as his calling card. Madam Majestic, famous stage magician that uses her "magic" to fight crime. Physical appearance is the same as DC's "Zantana". Tom Raven, Hard boiled detective born in the 1700's and immortal. An American-Indian Sam Spade. (retired) We actually seem to spend more time in our secret I.D.'s investigating as we do our crime fighting personas. We recently foiled an alien invasion and have uncovered clues to a plot by the Japanese to destabilize America. One of my favorite scenes was when my character (The Wraith) went to the scene of a mysterious train derailment with the detective, Tom Raven. You see the Phantom Detective set the Wraith up with a secret id (she has amnesia) and a job as Tom Raven's secretary. Well, it turns out the Raven is a "beat them 'till they give me clue" detective instead of a "look for a clue" detective and I spend half the game, surreptitiously give him the clues (I have detective skill) while try to appear as just a "piece of fluff". And our second is an "Adventure Pulp" game. We have: Betty Lou, the root'nest, toot'nest, pistol shoot'nest cowgirl ever. Welds a mean whip and lasso and you don't wanna know what she did to the Thugee that stole her shootin' iron... Veronica Dare, debutante, big game hunter and gun bunny who's father is a famous adventurer. She grew up with John Dare and his Daredevils and is striking out on here own. With a little help from daddy's bank account, her trust fund and her trunk full o'guns of course. Dr. Marion Alexander Grey, a proper, old English MD that can heal any malady and fight any evil with his "Umbrella of Marvels!". A medic during the Great War, the "Doc" (as those Americans call him) has a healthy distrust of those "Boche" and an umbrella that not only shoots bullets out of the handle which is also a sword but also shoots a harpoon! He's working on making it bullet proof I believe... Dexter Thorn Smith or "DT", an intrepid National Geographic photographer that can go invisible in shadows and fights with dual Colt 1911s. Hmmm, sounds familiar... and also has a huge Mongolian sidekick named "Giggles". We also have another, as yet un-named character joining us. A tough, two-fisted pilot and his crewman, Otto. (retired) Dr. Rene Belloq, an archaeologist of questionable morals. Direct "homage" to Indiana's rival. Brought together by the "Hellfire Foundation" to find missing archaeologist, Dr. Kenneth Gear. Turns out Dr. Gear had delusions of grandeur and decided to use his most recent find (the design of ancient automatons)to take over a province in India (right under the British Govt's nose) in which to start his conquest of the world!. We successfully defeated Dr. Gear and returned the lands to their rightful heir. Our next adventure should take us to the exotic orient. I've been playing RPG's (D&D, Champions, Fantasy Hero, Star Wars, Star Frontiers, BtVS, etc.) for over 20 years and all of my other games I've played have always been very combat orientated. Get to the fight, defeat the bad guys and divide up the rewards. I've been wanting to play something more character driven ever since our BtVS game crashed and these two games have been. I am loving it. Getting to talk our way out of and into trouble, not every situation being "do or die" and doing outrageous feats way over our heads has been a blast and have been the best games I think I've ever played in. So tell me, what is your pulp game like?

Re: Name for a Pulp Hero group?

Re: Name for a Pulp Hero group? Hmmm...well, Tom Raven is absent more often then not and The Ace and Madam Majestic just started playing. The player that plays the Shadow is absent more often than I (I'm playing the Wraith), but when we are both there we don't seem to have that problem. Also, The Wraith and The Shadow are the only two "scary" types in the group. We do seem to play out of Hero ID quite a bit so that helps and our two gun toting abilities are built different. He has a three shot auto fire were as I have the Two Weapon fighting and Rapid Fire skills, so we do things a little different in combat I guess. We have had the same thing happen to both of us tho'. I've scared the crap out of people and his scary laugh did nothing and vis-a-verse. Bad rolls happen to everyone. I guess it also depends on the players. I haven't asked him if he feels over shadowed (pardon the pun) by my character but I think I will ask him how he feels. We seem to be pretty good about just stepping back and letting the other player have their moment. I know on several occasions I've gone though an entire combat without firing a shot and just let the others go to town and they've done the same for me when Wraith needs to get her vengence on. A good example was our last game. It was a filler episode put together at the last minute so don't be to harsh. Three of the heroes in secret ID (The Wraith, The Shadow and Red Falcon) and two gov't pilots crash land their plane into the middle of "The Most Dangerous Game". The hunter sets off after the two pilots thinking we are tucked away in our rooms. We figure out what's going on (I find the "trophy room" full of human heads ) and go after the hunting party. The Shadow takes out the three mooks and the Red Falcon takes out two of the hunters in the first round or so and I just floated around being scary. We then let the hunter run for it and they let me hunt him down and finish him off (I did mention that she's the spirit of vengence didn't I? ) which he had done to so many others. Does that help at all or am I just rambling...

Re: Name for a Pulp Hero group? Thanks, I think one of these will do it and a homerun on the first pitch. I especially like The Phantom League! I think the GM will like it too since he's using the Phantom Detective as the NPC "sponsor" for the group. Though nothing is decided so feel free to continue with the suggestions.

Just got back from one of my Pulp Hero games and we started talking about coming up with a group name but no one really had any suggestions so I turn to you, gentle readers.... We have 6 heroes in the group brought together by the "Phantom Detective" to fight crime. We actually seem to spend more time in our secret I.D.'s investigating as we do our crime fighting personas. We have: The Shadow, yeah, that Shadow, pretty much as he appears in the movie. The Wraith, a rip...eeer homage to Adam Hughes' "Ghost". Returned from the dead with no memory of her past, to seek vengeance for those innocence that have died a violent death. The Red Falcon, two-fisted vigilante that can change into a Peregrine Falcon with the power from an Egyptian amulet. Dresses like "The Spirit" but in a dark red or maroon suit. The Ace, gambler and disguise artist extraordinaire. Can make himself look like anyone and always leaves an ace as his calling card. Madam Majestic, famous stage magician that uses her "magic" to fight crime. Appearance is the same as DC's "Zantana". Tom Raven, Hard boiled detective born in the 1700's and immortal. An American-Indian Sam Spade. So, any suggestions other then "The League of Extraordinary Misfits"?

Re: Cool Guns for your Games

Re: Cool Guns for your Games Check out a company called Cimarron at: http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/ Check under revolvers-conversion. These are copies of Colt Navy's that are converted from cap and ball to brass cartridge. They are not "modern" loads but at least they fire black powder cartridges usually in .45 LC.

Re: Coming To A Western Front Near You The Red Baron looks really cool. Can't wait for that one. From what I understand "Crossing the Line" is just a short made by Peter Jackson to show off the new whiz-bang camera that's mentioned at the end. Tho' there's a lot of hopeful wishes after seeing Crossing the Line, I haven't heard of any plans for a WWI movie by Jackson.

Re: Has anyone tried Deadlands Hero? Well, I was more concerned with the background concept as in Western Hero with Horror and some magic. I'm only passing familiar with Deadlands so all I know about Hucksters is that they use a deck of cards somehow to do magic. I would probably just make a "Card Magic College" ala Fantasy Hero with cards as the foci and Gambling Skill as the magic skill using the possible affects of Huckster or maybe some kind of random Power Pool that's based on the hand that's drawn if I want to include cards in the game.

Re: Who are your favourite Superhero Artists? Hmm, several on my list with no previous mentions... Alan Davis Arthur Adams Chris Bachalo J. Scott Campbell Frank Cho Adam Hughs Joe Madureira Humberto Ramos Dave Stevens Adam Warren

I've been thinking of about this for awhile and seems like a genre that would work well with Hero system. Take Western Hero, mix it with Horror Hero and sprinkle in some Fantasy Hero. Has anyone done so? How did it go? What problems popped up?

Re: Hero Action Points and bribes It's not a horrible idea at all. I would say yes, giving out HAPs for stuff related to the game is perfectly acceptable. No, I wouldn't give them for brushing your cat or doing your dishes but writing a summary of the adventure for the group, blue booking, constructive feed back, pictures of characters, intentionally failing a skill roll, making someone at the table laugh, good in game qoutes, screwing your self to move the plot or because it's in character or letting that villian get away because the GM wants him to, anything that makes the GM's life easier regarding the game, etc. are all valid reason. A pulp game I played in well before 5th ed. came out and suggested HAPs, did this exact thing. Take a look at Buffy/Angel by Eden games. Drama points can be given for all those things and is encouraged and groups function quite fine with that. It creates a fun dynamic, As a matter of fact, while our Buffy game imploded, all of our Hero games now have some kind HAP due to Unisystem's Drama point rules. It's just a matter of making sure all players understand the rules for getting them from the get go and making sure everyone has an opportunity to earn them.

Re: Cool Guns for your Games

Re: Cool Guns for your Games As promised, some more cool guns off my harddrive.

Re: Cool Guns for your Games

Re: Ideas for a Pulp character? Thanks for all the replies guys. Some good ideas in there. I was primarily looking for ideas for non killing attacks 'cause she seems to have no problem wackin' the criminals. I already thought of the change environment "creepiness" and fear based presence but I didn't have the points at inception and the GM doesn't want the character becoming power heavy. Had a hard enough time convincing him to let me have disolid. The GM has also already given her a talk to ghosts power last adventure that I now have to save up for also. Clairsentience, retro cog only, extra end and no conscious control. I had originally tried to do her with "phantom" guns as well but it was cost prohibitive. I may have to reconsider that or go with the NND and just save points. *sigh* I guess the wicked won't be getting off easy in this campaign for awhile.

Re: Military medals Yeah, circumstances vary a lot and being an officer seems to make it a lot more likely to be awarded. I recall hearing stories about Vietnam in which Navy officers would finagle their way onto river boat patrols just to get combat badges if there was gun fire in the general area.

Re: Cool Guns for your Games I love this thread! Here are the firearms my current Pulp heroine, Veronica Dare, uses the most. She's a total gun bunny. A highly modified version of the Webley MK 3 and the SMLE My current favorite modern arm, the SCAR in 308. and some of my favorite "fantasy" arms. Mostly "Shirow" inspired weapons. Edit: I almost forgot my all time favorite.

Lucky me, I'm actually playing in TWO Pulp Hero games at the moment. One of them is a kinda Indiana Jones type game with competent normals and the other is a little more Pulp/Dark Champions with mystic powers and such ala The Shadow. Anyway, I'm trying to come up with some ideas on how to spend some ep for the character in the second game and thought I might solicit some ideas from you, the viewers. The original character idea is pretty much a rip...eeerr, homage to Adam Hughes' "Ghost". The character has disolid, flight linked to disolid, spirits speak to her and has some life support (she's dead) for powers. She's been chosen to be an avenging spirit/protector for the dead though she knows nothing of her former life or why she was chosen. She currently uses twin .45s (who doesn't?) but I am trying to come up with some kinda non-lethal attack for her to spend her ep on. The GM has suggested a no range NND with the special affect being it's a disolid attack but I'm kinda "meh" on that but can't think of anything better at the moment. Any other suggestion? Thanks in advance.