Yansuf

Re: Taranis-The British plane that deserves to be in a comic book

In what way?

 

cheers, Mark

Unless a force is idiotic (which the USAF has been known to act as) there is serious difficulty in successfully attacking support facilities.

I am not familiar with the Rand study you cite, but I expect the USAF paid no attention to security for the tankers (after all, no one has really disputed air control with the US since WWII.) With competent planning, the Sukhoi would have had to do a one way suicide mission just to reach the tankers AO.

Defending your support facilities is a routine mission for any force that is not either incompetent or suffering from extreme over confidence.

But preventing jamming of a link to your mobile unit that is over an enemy controlled area is VERY hard to defend against.

Vast difference in the difficulty between the two.

Re: Taranis-The British plane that deserves to be in a comic book

Yup - or hacking it. But with modern fighters, you have the same sort of problem with attacks against support facilities - look at the controversial RAND corporation simulation where Chinese Sukhoi fighters defeated a force of F22s: not by beating the F22s, but by swarming their tankers, rendering the F22s unable to return to base. Like everything in war, you need to look at trade-offs.

 

cheers, Mark

There is an order of magnitude difference between those two.

Re: Taranis-The British plane that deserves to be in a comic book

Yes' date=' but the human being doesn't have to be in the plane. I think that was their point:a pilotless plane can in theory easily outperform a piloted one, because it doesn't have to cosset a squishy meatbag. That doesn't mean fully automated, as indicated by the statement "[i']Should such systems enter into service, they will at all times be under the control of highly trained military crews on the ground[/i]" The goal seems to be to build UAVs that can operate in hostile airspace or against defended targets, which current models like the predator cannot. The thinking is that an air combat UAV could allow you to build a next generation fighter that was smaller, faster, cheaper and stealthier than the current fighters - with the added benefit that you don't lose an expensive pilot if it gets shot down.

 

cheers, Mark

All that is very true. The US is working on similar craft, and I expect other nations are as well.

However, if used against a high-tech enemy you have the problem of the enemy attacking the command link.

Re: CU question: Ironclad and Herculan's starships?

If US government scientists have had their hands on Malvan technology for several years' date=' it would probably be worth noting whether or not they've made any progress in figuring out how it works. Which of course is no precedent for what the likes of Dr. Destroyer might learn from it...[/quote']

 

Well, of course it is being studied by "top men!"

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

Naturally Scry is a card carrying member of DEMON. He tries to use the team to further his organization's ends. CES

I expect that he leaves the card at home.

Dr. Dark is a skilled martial artist with a helmet that lets him "see" in total darkness; he has night-vision, IR vision, active sonar and radar. He carries "dark bombs" which provide darkness to normal sight and sound, so he can operate in the dark. He also has a few "super dark bombs" that blot out all vision and hearing.

Dark has an armored costume and a few gadgets to help him.

In truth, he is an agent of "Project Sunburst", lead by the Supervillian of that name.

Re: An Orc in New York

I think the NYPD's ESU would be on the scene in seconds. I mean' date=' big ugly guys the size of linebackers in armour and wielding swords and axes suddenly appearing in Times Square? Why wouldn't people over react? [/quote']

 

True, but why do they have to appear in Times Square?

If they appear in a dark alley at night, or in the sewers, things would be different.

Re: Conan: The Current Movie in Progress.....

I agree completely with you about the way they made Yag-Kosha look. He's my favorite Conan character and I still haven't seen a picture of him that I thought did him justice. Speaking of Yag-Kosha' date=' I've been meaning to mention ask who everybody thinks should play him in a movie. Considering how good he was as Darkness in [i']Legend[/i], I could honestly see Tim Curry playing the part. But if I was going to pick someone based on their voice, I'd probably go with Peter David or Richard Basehart.

You do realize that Richard Basehart died in 1984, don't you?

Re: Pulp inventions from the real world

I like the One Wheel Motorcycle, Revolver Camera and All Terrain Vehicle; I could actually see these being used by a Pulp Hero.

 

Am I the only one who saw the Snowstorm Face Protectors and thought: "Wow! Battle of the Planets! In 1939!"

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You may not be the ONLY one, but you got me stumped.

Please explain.

Re: "Normals" gaining superpowers: how would they change in terms of mentality?

Originally Posted by Ragitsu:

1. The ability to shoot lasers from one's eyes.

2. The ability to see through objects (X-Ray vision).

3. The ability to become invisible.

4. The ability to fly under one's own power.

5. The ability to alter luck to their benefit.

6. The ability to read minds.

7. The ability to conjure permanent items that weight up to ten pounds.

8. The ability to regenerate from even mortal wounds and ignore illness.

9. The ability to teleport (closely related to flight, but it differs significantly).

10. The ability to selectively enhance your senses at will: see vast distances, hear ordinarily inaudible sounds, function in the dark as if it were day, track by scent, and so forth.

OK, here goes.

1) Not worry about renewing my carry license.

2) Would be useful at work sometimes, but not often. I don't see myself using it much. Yes it can be abused, but why bother?

3) This comes with temptations; easy to abuse and tempting to do so. However I am confident enough in my honor that I wouldn't use it to steal, etc.

Could be useful for LARP. Potentially very useful if I found myself in a dangerous situation involving hostiles, but that hasn't happened to me this millenium, and I don't really expect it to.

4) If some other people had it, it would be very useful; but if I was the only (or first) person with it, I would hide the fact that I could.

5) Well, gambling just got profitable. I would take care to only win moderate amounts though, to prevent undue attention.

6) If controllable, useful in many situations.

7) Depends on what type of items.

8) If this would return me to perfect health, GR8! Would return to SCA fighting and Martial Arts.

9) Same as flight.

10) Neat, would get some use out of it; but probably not much.

Re: Wanted: Normal-Level Paragons of Virtue

Chasity: The only thing I can think of would be a Nun or a Priest...

Charity: A philanthropist, someone who donates massive amounts of time/money for a cause. Possibly someone who works for a non-profit organization...

People who work for "non-profit" organizations are not always (or even normally) charitable, they are paid, often VERY well.

Go with the philanthropist or someone who volunteers their time.

Unfortunately, you will have to be very careful which Nun or Priest that you choose.

Re: Oil spill

Captain Justice: To solve this crisis' date=' I will need assistants: a dog, a monkey, a robot, and a small boy.[/quote']

 

OK, I gotta ask: Why?

Re: The Adventures of Ultragirl

"What are you wearing?" Ultragirl asked.

 

"It's a mini-jet back and glider cape," Ultragirl said, lifting her cape and showing her friend, "Nighthawk's been working on it for awhile. What about you? You changed your costume, althought it does look familiar."

 

"My last one was covered in glue and soaked in chloroform," Ultragirl explained, "I tried to dry clean it with my thermal vision but it burst into flames. This is my the first costume I wore. What do you think?"

At least one of the above is from Nightingale, not Ultragirl.

Re: Letters from a Stranger

You do realize that until the late 1960's next of kin of US servicemen killed were notified by telegram, don't you?

And in WWII, US wardead were not shipped home, but were buried overseas?

Re: Guess the inspiration behind this superteam!

Thread necromancy powers activate!

 

If my group ever meets again, this will be a villain team that they may face.

 

 

Guess the theme!

 

I have hints if anyone is actually interested but can't guess it.

Hint please.

Re: STAR HERO Reading List

You need to read a collection of Keith Laumer's Bolo stories (most of them shorts), which is nearly definitive in establishing the "War Machine" subgenre.

 

James H Schmitz's The Demon Breed (a horrible title; it was originally published as The Tuvela) is a very strong idea source for human-inhabited water worlds. It fits in the same universe as his Telzey stories but the book stands alone and apart from the rest.

I agree about Bolo.

I have always thought that The Tuvela was one of Schmitz's better novels, it is important also because we finnaly find out a key point about the Federation of the Hub. (Of course, it is a sequel to an earlier short story; both are in the Baen Reprint Anthology.)

Hal Clement's Needle is an essential classic.

Clarke's "Islands in the Sky is probably the first tale of life on a space station. And the Commander tells the story of the first mission to Mercury.

Venus Equilateral by George O. Smith is classic; even if later discoveries made it obsolete.

Re: How to pull it off

Keep in mind that this approach does carry the risk that the heroes (players) may be much more suspicious of anyone coming to them for help in the future' date=' of course. The more they get tricked by devious NPC's, the more likely they are to suspect every NPC of having devious motives.[/quote']

 

True, but only if the HEROs figure out that they were had!

Re: 10 US Military Aircraft That Never Quite Made It

McDonnell XV-1 Convertiplane

 

 

One of these made it into an early issue of X-Men.

Really? Which one?

Re: Super-Skills Megathread

Made this formynew Dark Champions character

 

Has a Very Distinct Sound: Detect Firearm Type (Large Class of Things) (Hearing Group) Discriminatory, Requires a Weapon-smith or KS: Firearms Roll

 

For the hero who can identify any gun just by the sound of it being fired. Can easily be changed to Sight Group if he relies on visual analysis instead.

Good.

There actually are some common weapons for which that is true.

Re: "Crowning Moment of Cool?"

Multiple Crowning moments of Cool:

 

Miles Vorkosigan (in Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga books)

 

One of my favorite is when he dons all his various medals (god knows how many he has, he keep them in a big jar...), including the highest ranking decoration of a *RIVAL* stellar power (don't ask! - Read "Cetaganda"), all this to be *SURE* to have the attention of the new Imperial Security chief. (who didn't take him seriously)

Yeah, the As*!@le really should have checked Miles' classified record BEFORE he decided to set Miles up!

But my favorite from that universe took place before Miles was born.

In "Barrayar", when Lady Cordelia Vorkossigan speaks to Count Vordarian at the Emperor's birthday party.

"I wish you would stop trying to annoy, count. I'm afraid that you might succeed.

You should fear that too."

BTW, my second favorite is from later in the same novel, after Count Vordarian has revolted; when Cordelia comes back from her "shopping" trip, and walks into the meeting between her husband, the regent Aral Vorkossigan, and his associates, and the senior officers of the pretender "Emperor Vordarian", who are trying to get a deal to save their skins by turning their coats.

Now that was a crowning moment!

Re: STAR HERO Reading List

I strongly recommend that you familurize yourself with some of the classic "short stories." If your public library is any good, they probably have a bunch of anthologies "the best of Astounding" for most of the 1950's, and "the best of Analog" for the 1960's. Try some other anthologies as well.

Read more Heinlein! His "juveniles" (Rocketship Galileo, Space Cadet, Red Planet, Farmer in the Sky, Between Planets) defined SF for boys in the immediate post WWII period. The Past Through Tomorrow gives an excellent overview of his universe. Revolt in 2100 is a collection of related novelettes of a possible dystopia future America. The Puppet Masters is THE classic "early cold war paranoia" story, much better than the movies that proliferated after it. (Curiously, the recent movie version of it isn't bad, but is not up to the original.) Double Star (Hugo), Citizen of the Galaxy, Podkayne of Mars and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress are classics. (The ones of his that you already have on your list are important too.)

Alice Mary Norton, who wrote as "Andre Norton" and "Andrew North", is essential to get the feel of classic post WWII SF. Almost all (if not all) of the generation of SF writers who grew up in the 50's and 60's list her (along with Heinlein) as their inspiration! Her Starman's Son started the genre of coming of age via a journey over the post atomic war world. Quest Crosstime is the first novel about crosstime travel, although it's true Jenkins started the idea with the short story Sideways in Time, and Piper had already done short stories in his Paratime series. The Stars are Ours, Sargasso of Space, and Eye of the Monster are all classics, as is Beast Master, which is SF, not fantasy, no matter what treatment hollywood gave it.

I also recommend James Schmitz for so much more than Telzey! Try reading the 4 book collection of his "Hub Universe" that Baen releases a few years ago.

Niven and Pournelle did The Mote in God's Eye, which is an essential classic. Also their "Footfall" is one of the best "Alien Invasion" novels in SF.

Individually Pournells's "Co-dominion" stories are classics; and Niven's "Known Universe" (where the Kzinti come from, indeed the first Kzinti story is classic) helped create several of the SF tropes we take for granted.

And don't forget H. Beam Piper and Christopher Anvil!

Re: Unkindness Available in Hero Store

Then good news for you, Escafarc, and bad news for BlackWyrm.

 

BlackWyrm (by which, I mean me) screwed up the ICONS license deal, and violated the terms of our agreement. It was not malicious or opportunistic, just a case of the stupids. But as a result, we have lost the ICONS license. Sadly, this also means that we will not be able to sell the already-printed-and-shipped book at Origins, or anywhere. We'll need to reprint a HERO-only INCONSless new book. So the adnveure will not be available now for a few more weeks.

 

I apologize to the author, the artist, and all the fans for the delay, and most especially to Adament Entertainment for such a monumental blunder that put them in a very bad position.

Do the e-books need to be revised?

Re: A Stranger in Space

Since this was in many ways a sequel to the "pulp" adventure set in early WWII, and is itself set in the late 40's or very early 50's, will we be seeing any more of the pulp characters?

Your "Letters" story is set in the interim. What are Pattern Ghost, Doc, etc. up to?

Re: The Adventures of Ultragirl

Capt. Matt Stevens, U.S.A.A.F. is her DNPC?

What time period is she in?

The USAAF became the USAF in 1947.

Re: Supers vs. Military

Forgive me if this was addressed earlier in the thread, but I'm wondering why governments would bother with tanks and airplanes and all that at all. It seems much simpler to have a military composed of superhuman special forces who handle invasions and hot spots to be followed (if so desired) by lots and lots of normals trained to handle peacekeeping and reconstruction.

 

Why invest all that time and money into building aircraft carriers if Superman (or similar) can sink it at will?

That was the main question in the original "Armor Wars" thread.

Re: Everyone's Favorite Incompetent Criminal...

From the popular WWYCD series:

 

Morty The Mugger

Isn't Morty the mugger really a take-off on Muerte from the movie Undercover Blues?

Jeff Blue always called him Morty.