SCUBA Hero

Keep all the ideas coming! 👍

 

My plan is this - while I have some RL stuff that I need to attend to in the next week or so, and I do work full-time, I will take what's been posted so far plus my ideas and start to format parts of the book using Millenium City as a model, submitting them to the Patreon as they are completed.

 

That being said, I will repeat - I am not a writer!  If anyone wants to take on writing the book (or a part of the book), please message me.

Duke, before you start scanning I'd like to show you a page or two from the hi-res scan of the BBB that I have.  Unfortunately, the complete pdf is ~50mB and I don't know how to scrape off a page or two to send to you...

I dunno.  What's the first thing you do when leveling up in D&D?

 

Roll (or take the adjusted median) for Hit Points.  Hero doesn't really simulate that.  Even supers don't have significantly more Body than normal heroes, they're just harder to damage.  The concept of whittling someone down from 85 hp just isn't there, in practice.

 

What else?

• Skill points.  This can be simulated.
• At some point, pick a sub-class.  This can be simulated.
• Maybe get some new class-based abilities and/or spells.  This can be simulated.
• At certain levels, increased BAB, proficiency bonus, attribute increase.  These can be simulated.

So most of it can be simulated.  But I just keep running into Hit Points.

 

[Side note #1:  I once tried to make a Hero System conversion of Star Fleet Battles.  For shields, I used lots of extra Body in each 60 degree arc in addition to the 'main' (spaceframe) Body.  Eventually I dropped the conversion idea, and decided if I wanted to play SFB, then just play SFB.  Hero System just isn't cut out for it.]

 

[Side note #2:  I don't think Hero does vehicles well.  You have, for example, a wooden ship with cannons, circa 18th-19th century.  A volley is going to damage and degrade a comparable enemy ship over time; DEF and cannon damage just don't capture that.]

Well... +5 points for each doubling of vehicles.

 

I don't have access to Ultimate Vehicle atm, so I don't remember if the first Lifeboat is bought at cost/5 or as the first +5 doubling.  IIRC, RAW allows the second method.

I made several Patreon posts regarding edits for Imperial Throne.  They are no longer there - did I post wrong, or do they get deleted as they're entered into the spreadsheet??

I'm not sure they exist as a product.

Looks nice!

 

The Notes show 18/18 rPD/rED, but the writeup shows 9/9.

 

I may be in the minority here, but I'd like to see two versions, a "playing" version without CP costs and without Power CPs/Advantage/Limitations.

 

How difficult would it be to strip out those?

A complete or nearly complete manuscript is not necessary to start getting pages posted on the Patreon.  So anyone who's interested, PM me with any parts you are interested in writing.

 

I can start on the Introduction, and possibly compile some of Mark Rand's work on history/people/infrastructure.

 

Reposting from original post:

 

Format:

• Introduction - Explain where all of the toolkit toggles are set (Silver Age, Standard Superheroic characters, power levels, and so on)
• History
• Geography and Government
• Transportation, Media/Arts/Entertainment, Subcultures
• Police, Emergency Services, Underworld, Superheroes, Supervillany
• Places of Interest
• GMs Vault
• Villains (include an organization and master villain)
• Adventures
• Continuing the Campaign

 

Note that bullet points 2-7 follow the structure of Millenium City and Vibora Bay.  MC clocks in at 135 pages, VB at 157.  Much of the difference in page count is VB's extended GM chapter and adventure seed ideas.  P:CoC would be longer, based on the Introduction and extended Adventures/Campaign sections.  Make the adventure/campaign arc related to why the previous super-team is no longer around and the new PC team has to pick up the mantle.

Scott,

 

From what I understand, the Patreon is for the manuscript rather than art.  I suggest you contact Jason re: art.

Sounds like a BtVS episode! 👍

Also, as noted above, an Adder doesn't have to be used at all times while an Advantage does (unless bought as a Naked Advantage).

:Tucks BBB back into the safe and closes the door:

 

Yeah, not doing that.

 

On 4/14/2022 at 7:55 PM, Tjack said:

 I once saw the BBB on the Trove.  Full resolution, color, the whole 9 yds.  That site is dead now but that file must be kicking around somewhere.  If we got a copy of that for free wouldn’t that just be returning stolen property?  And a lot cheaper?

 

I used the Wayback Machine and found a high-quality pdf of the BBB, which I downloaded under the theory of Fair Use, as I own a paper copy and am not distributing it.  If this turns out to be not the case, I'll delete it.  So that may be usable (I can't tell by looking what DPI it is)...

Understood, Scott.

It seems likely that firearms and ammunition would be used as de facto currency.

 

According to one article found in a quick search, the top 5 US sales are:

 

1.  9mm

2.  5.56mm NATO

3.  .45 ACP

4.  12 Gauge

5.  .22 LR

 

At some point you'd also start getting black power muzzle-loading long arms (either rifled or smoothbore).  According to Wikipedia, "The spirally grooved gun barrel is considered German in origin, invented by Augustus Kotter of Nuremberg circa 1520."

 

Another possibility is electrical power.  Water-, wind-, or human-powered, and/or small wood- or alcohol- burning steam engines driving generators.

 

22nd Century Power Station: a Boat Mill – Morrow Project Ideas (wordpress.com)

 

I don't remember the source, but I read somewhere while researching human power that an 'average human' can generate and sustain 75 watts per hour over an 8 hour period.  For fun, assume 83% efficiency and then you get 1/2 a kilowatt-hour per person per shift.

Whatever happened to the "USA 50" thing?

1 hour ago, archer said:

 

I'm not sure how you are picturing this project working.

 

Are we going to quit discussing it here in the forums and move all discussion elsewhere into a pay-to-contribute-to-the-discussion model?

 

I'm perfectly willing to contribute to the discussion once we get out of "the layout of Pittsburg" stage (which I know nothing about) and move on to NPC's, storyline, editing, etc.

 

But honestly, a $5/month Patreon fee is a major financial barrier-of-entry for me.

 

====

 

Also, are we entertaining NPC ideas and storyline yet?

 

I've been mulling over directions to take "The Dark Albuquerque Saga".

 

I'm still working on how it will work...

 

But, definitely NOT requiring a Patreon subscription to contribute.  We'll likely take discussion of off the boards at some point, though.

 

I am interested in any and all NPC and storyline ideas, as well as any other ideas that help push P: CoC along.  As I've said before, I'm not an experienced writer, and I doubt that I could write a publishable manuscript for this project.

1 hour ago, unclevlad said:

Nope.  The concept is full invisibility with the ability to selectively make part(s) visible at will.  Nothing like an EGO or even Skill roll.  The power is VERY basic...except potentially for selectively making a part or parts visible.  

 

 

+5 Adder (IMHO)

Um... I wasn't considering sacrificing it, just lending it for hi-res scans.  Or is that a destructive process?

I have a paper copy of the BBB.  Could either scan that or send it to a layout person...

My goal is to get P: CoC published under the Patreon model, mentioned in the 2Q22 thread.

 

 

Anyone who is interested in participating, please PM me.

7 hours ago, Christopher R Taylor said:

I mean, its a comic book, so you could have him do it but in real life its a lot more complicated to turn a jet that size than yanking on a flap.  Could he do it with a smaller jet like in the movie clip above?  Maybe, but jumbo jets have lot more going on and need a lot more control.

 

Exactly!  Spider-Man can do this the same way that Superman can lift a battleship by one point and it doesn't crumple.

Steel O'Neal??

4 hours ago, Ockham's Spoon said:

2. Build your character so they can go at least 3 turns in normal combat without running out of END.  You don't need to track END, and if something unusual happens in combat (an END Drain, or they had to push END or something), we just assume average END use up to that point to determine how much END you have left.

 

So if a character gets KO'd and Recovers, do you start tracking END from that point?

Kickstarter?

On 1/20/2022 at 1:04 AM, Lord Liaden said:

Seeker really matured as a character in Watchers of the Dragon. A lot of his silliness was subsumed into a mix that somehow worked. Since Steve Long wrote that, it must have broken Don Morgan's heart that Steve didn't carry him over into the new Champions Universe.

 

So I feel the need to re-post this... 😁

 

 

(To the tune of JoDee Messina’s ‘Bye-Bye’)

 

Bye-Bye Seeker

 

Boy it sure looked rough

KO’d on all the covers

Sinkin’ in the muck

 

You could have used a little

Fifth Edition

Combat Luck

 

All you needed was a little time

Just a little more time

For a new write-up, but Steve’s mind’s made up

 

Bye-bye, Seeker, don’t you curse

There’s a reboot on the Champions Universe

And a bunch of heroes torn out

And they ain’t never comin’ back

And that’s a fact

 

I tried all I can imagine

I argued and pleaded in true fanboy fashion

Steve said ‘No dice, the ninja’s gotta take a hike’

Bye-bye, bye-bye Seeker bye-bye

 

Don’t think that silly grin is gonna keep you in

Like it done before

You better sell that sword

Swing from the chandelier

And land out the door

 

I don’t know what you’re expected to do

Keep on searchin’ for the truth

Maybe find the final answer

Then become a dancer

 

Bye-bye, Seeker, don’t you curse

There’s a reboot on the Champions Universe

And a bunch of heroes torn out

And they are really truly gone

Just like you, Don

 

There are others like Professor Muerte

He sank down in the ocean sayin’

‘Que mala suerte’ **

Steve said ‘No dice, junior D has gotta take a hike’

Bye-bye, bye-bye Seeker bye-bye

 

Out of the game I guess

Couldn’t pass the test

And I think it’s sad

But it’s Ironclad

 

Bye-bye, Seeker, don’t you curse

There’s a reboot on the Champions Universe

And a bunch of heroes torn out

And they ain’t never comin’ back

And you can count on that

 

I tried, oh, I tried Mr. Morgan

Said I’d write a source book

Or donate an organ

Steve said ‘No dice, the ninja’s gotta take a hike’

Bye-bye, bye-bye, my Seeker bye-bye

 

Bye-bye, Seeker, don’t you curse

There’s a reboot on the Champions Universe

And a bunch of heroes torn out

And they ain’t never comin’ back

And that’s a fact

 

I tried all I can imagine

I said ‘Don’t turn your back on Watchers of the Dragon’

Steve said ‘No dice, the ninja’s gotta take a hike’

Bye-bye, bye-bye Seeker bye -bye

 

Bye-bye, bye-bye my Seeker bye-bye.

 

 

** (Que mala suerte = What bad luck)