Scott Anderson

A character has Darkness defined as smoke bombs. She wears specially-tuned goggles that give her Personal Immunity to Darkness, OIF. Can her teammate also buy identical goggles?

The way I have decided to tackle it is, give the character a SPD 5, but a dangerously low amount of END. Coupled with a 10-point Physical Limitation, he's going to have to stop to rest more often than other, younger heroes. As a martial artist, I judge 30 END to be pretty low. He could conceivably use 20 END in a normal SPD-5 Turn of combat.

He could also have active sonar I suppose, like the whale or the bat.

For those of you whose interest has been piqued, here is a snippet of his character sheet detailing his powers. 117 Powers 6 Dr. Doolittle Elemental Control, 13-Point Powers. 17eTalk to the Mammals: Telepathy 5d6, Animal class of minds. Area of Effect (4” Radius, +1 ¼), No Range (-1/2), Communication only (-1/4), Incantations throughout (-1/2), Visible (-1/4), Limited class of minds (mammals, -1/2). 56/19 4eWalk with the Mammals: Animal Handler, Mammals only, +5 to PRE roll, Costs END (-1/2), Incantations to start (-1/4) 13/8 16 Look Like the Mammals: Shape Shift for Sight and Touch Groups. Any mammalian-humanoid hybrid form. Costs END only to activate (+1/4). 22/22 58 All the Powers of a Mammal Multipower, 36-point pool. 10 recoverable charges, each continuing 1 minute (+1; charges recover after 1 hour), Incantations to start (-1/4) 72/58 1ua: Senses of the Mammals: +2 PER rolls, Incantations to start (-1/4) PLUS ultrasonic perception (hearing group), Linked (-1/4) PLUS nightvision, Linked (-1/4) PLUS analyze for normal smell, Linked (-1/4) PLUS tracking for normal smell, Linked (-1/4). 24/19 1ub: Claws/Talons/Teeth of (a mammal): HKA 1d6 variable SFX (+1/4; claws talons or teeth only), Incantations to start (-1/4) 18/14 1uc: Horn of the Rhino: HA +4d6, only for move-throughs -1), STD (-1/2), Incantations to start (-1/4). 20/7 1ud: Quills of the Porcupine: HKA 1/2d6, Continuous (+1), Damage Shield (+1/2), Persistent (+1/2), Always On (-1/2) no STR bonus (-1/2), Incantations to start (-1/4), Activation (11-, -1) 35/11 1ue: Tail and/or Feet of the Lemur: Extra Limbs, Variable SFX (+1/4), Incantations to start (-1/4) 6/5 1uf: Leathery Skin of the Pachyderm: 12 PD 12 ED Damage Resistance. Incantations to start (-1/4) 12/10 1ug: Scales of the Armadillo: 8 PD 8 ED Armor, Visible (-1/4), Incantations to start (-1/4). 24/16 1uh: Physiology of the Whale: Life Support: self-contained breathing, 1 continuing charge lasting 1 hour (-1/4), Incantations to start (-1/4) 10/7 PLUS LS: safe environments: high pressure and intense cold, Linked (-1/4) 3/2. PLUS Environmental movement: no penalties underwater, Linked (-1/4) 3/2 1ui: Fur of the Polar Bear: Stealth, +5 to roll, only in the Arctic or other bright white landscapes (-1 1/2), Incantations to start (-1/4), 13/5 PLUS LS: intense cold, linked (-1/4) 3/2 PLUS Environmental movement: no penalties on ice/snow, Linked(-1/4) 1/1 1uj: Claws of the Sloth: Clinging at normal STR, Incantations to start (-1/4) 10/8 1uk: Wings of the Bat: Flight 12" x2 NCM, Costs END (-1/2), Gestures (both hands throughout, -3/4), Incantations to start (-1/4). 24/10 1ul: Legs of the Cheetah: +9" Running (15" total), Incantations to start (-1/4) 18/14 PLUS +5" Running, Gestures throughout (-3/4), increased endurance cost (x10 END, -4), linked (-1/4) 10/2 1um: Natation of the Dolphin: +18" Swimming (20" total), Incantations to start (-1/4). 18/15 1un: Abstergation of the Vole: Tunneling 6" through DEF 6 material, only through earth, stone and mud (-1/2), Incantations to start (-1/4). 30/17 1uo: Muscles of the Gorilla: +10 STR, Incantations to start (-1/4) 10/8 1up: Roar of the Lion: +10 PRE, only for fear-based PRE attacks (-1), Incantations to start (-1/4). 10/4 1uq: Milk of the Mammal Mother: LS: no need to eat, useable by one other (+1/4) one continuing fuel charge lasting 8 hours (+1/4) Extra Time: one minute (-1/2), Incantations to start (-1/4) 4/2

Well yes, he does make milk

Actually, it's not Mammal Man yet. I still need a secret origin for him. He has all the powers of a mammal. They are inborn powers, not from gadgets. He's not an alien, but a man of woman born. And ladies, he's all mam-male. Is he a mutant? Did he have a strange biological radiation accident? Did he accidentally touch an ancient enchanted mammal skeleton? How did Mammal Man get his wondrous mammalian powers?

Supervillains usually wear goggles or have unusually heavy and elaborate helmets. Peripheral vision is not their friend. If you have to be a DNPC, make sure you zig-zag to maximize the head swiveling these impaired abominations have to do to see you.

I built it a different way, but I'm interested to know whether it can be an EC. A character has a quantum computer in his costume that helps him in many ways, like Iron Man's Jarvis and Friday computers help him. Even though the specific powers are not themed, each one is linked together in the same way an EC is; draining one means draining them all. Could this computer and its abilities be considered a candidate an Elemental Control or not, and why?

So, NCM is not really well liked? That actually makes sense.

Okay, here's what I ended up suggesting: The character buys his 5th SPD point for the normal 20 Character Points with NCM. He balances that with the following Disadvantage: Physical Limitation: Drain 2D6 SPD each Post Segment 12 Recovery. (Frequently, Slightly Impairing, x2 Severity), awarding 20 points. Does this seem right, from a Character Point standpoint? Obviously the 5th point of SPD is right, but is the Physical Limitation about right too?

VPP itself is potentially abusive and unbalancing. Go ahead and make the character; present it to your GM; explain why you think that's the best way to build the effect; if he agrees, you're good. But he may not. As with anything else in the HERO system, it's probably an interesting experiment to build it out and see what happens. I would suggest several prepared character sheets for alternate forms if you intend to play him in a game. Another way to simulate the same thing is to put such things as Growth, Shrinking, Stretching, Desolidification, and Density Increase into a Multipower or an Elemental Control. Then create a VPP for ancillary powers like Flight or Invisibility.

You are soliciting characters for a 200 points + maximum of 150 points in Disadvantages superhero campaign. A player has made up a superhero who takes NCM (and if it matters, one level of Age) to represent a very spry old crime fighter. Would you allow him to take +1 SPD, only 3/4 of the time to represent a martial artist who has lost a few steps? The rationale is he needs to stop and take it a little slower on the second full Turn out of every four. Or does this construction invalidate the NCM Disadvantage? Flavor-wise, both the limited SPD and the NCM + Age make sense, but they seem to run counter to each other. If you do allow it, is this a (-1/4) or a (-1/2)? I am leaning toward a (-1/4), and I may even make it the first full Turn that the character is SPD 4. What do you think?

If I do it your way, it's a Multiform. I agree, by the way. Since the Perks and Powers are completely different and the two characters would never cross into the other's social circles, Multiform seems right.

If one character throws another into an immobile object such as a wall, how do you adjudicate how much damage is done?

5e rules question. In FREd, it says that characters carrying a Bulky Focus are at 1/2 DCV. Does this mean that they are at half DCV when they are using the focus; when they are not using the focus; or as long as they have the focus with them? The specific example: a character has bought Swimming as a jet ski. It's not written as a vehicle; it's too simple to bother. All it does is swim along the surface, and it only carries him. He wouldn't carry it with him at all (in most cases), but rather leave it on the shore when he stops Swimming. 1) Is this an OIF Bulky or some other kind of Focus?

"Holy typography, Batman! The answer is the letter E!" "And who do we know whose name prominently features tthe letter E, my little red avian chum?" "E, as in Edward! Edward Nigma!" "Better known as The Riddler, Robin. Quickly, to the Bat-Copter! We'll descend on that question-marked quizmaster from above!"

I did it as a Multiform, Only Changes in Lair (-1/2). Each version of the DNPC sidekick is seperated as well, so only the "correct" one will show up. Alternately, if the sidekick were more competent, it could be a different Follower per 'form. Specifically, the Characteristics, Skills, Enrageds, and Psychological and Physical Lims are the same between forms. Inborn Talents and Powers would be the same, but he has none. Vulnerabilities, Susceptabilities, and Dependencies would probably be the same as well. Perks and any equipment-based abilities and Characteristics are unique to each form. Social Limitations, Hunteds and Watcheds, DNPCs, Rivalries, and Reputations would be different. If there was an Accidental Change, it could go either way.

Ooh, good one. Now, what if it's been several Commissioners since Batman has used it, and nobody now in the Commissioner's office knows it's there?

Here's a build question for you. Suppose there's a superhero named Sunbeam, and all his Powers are built with gadgets. He has all sorts of sun-based powers, rides around in the Sunbeam-Mobile, and has friends in wholesome places. He is only ever seen during the day. His sidekick DNPC, the Popcorn Kid, naturally only comes out during the day as well. Then there's Spooky Man, a Halloween themed vigilante, who only comes out at night. He is also a gadgeteer. All his gadgets are themed like traditional Halloween items. His sidekick DNPC, Killer Clown Kid, likewise only appears at night. But each of the two heroes is, beneath the mask, the same person! And each sidekick is likewise the same fellow as the other! Now, it would never do to see Sunbeam using Spooky Man's gadgets, and vice-versa. Spooky Man would not be well-received by Sunbeam's Contacts, and Sunbeam would never slum it with Spooky Man's. Finally, Sunbeam wouldn't bother rescuing Killer Clown Kid, and the reverse is equally true. So never the twain shall meet, and they would never avail themselves of the wrong set of Powers, most Perks, and themed gear. They're two separate duos, as far as the world at large knows. How do you build it?

Limited Power: Limited Class of Targets (-X, where X is dependent upon how prevalent that class of target is). Like, Only vs. Women would be X = 1 and Only vs. Dwarves would be an X = 1/2.

How would you build it? My first thought is as a Mind Link, Limited class of Minds (Those who know the secret red telephone, +5A), OIF Immobile (-1 1/2) Active: 10 Real: 4

How do you decide between Abort to Dodge and Abort to Dive for Cover against an attack? Can you decide which to do after you see what kind of attack you're facing, or do you need to decide which Maneuver to use at the time you declare your Abort?

I own 4e and 5e. I prefer 5e. It's easier for me to use. But the superhero sourcebook stuff from 4e, I still use that. I also lean heavily on the 5e USPD and Gadgets & Gear.

Hi How did I come up with my 'handle.' My mom gave it to me What was the first RPG you played? Mentzer D. What was the first RPG you GM'd. See answer 2. What are you currently playing? Nothing, but my son and I are having fun making up guys and then writing them up in 5E.

Thanks for this thread.