Hermit

must keep topic alive!

Maybe we should ask our friends and neighbors to the North what they think would have happened if young Kal-El had crash landed in Canada?

Re: Magic in a Champions game?

Originally posted by EvilGM

A couple of questions for you:

 

1) How often does magic appear in your Champions game?

 

2) Is there a structure to it, or is it just like any other sfx?

1. Quite often, not as much as High Tech, but still quite often. It can be quite popular as a source of powers.

2. The answer to both is yes. There is a structure to it depending ON the SFX of the magic. Different forms of magic may have different rules. Voo Doo (Houdon? I can't spell the proper term) will have a different feel from a modern Wicca's mystic super's spells... and might have different restrictions, for example.

Re: Re: "To Acroyear's rescue!" or "What haven't you tried?"

Originally posted by Acroyear

 

Here's a goofy question. Does the "does not cross interening space" advantage count like an indirect in terms of ignoring "stuff in the way." Could a stretcher with this adv use it from behind the safety of a Force Wall, for example?

hMm.. I would say so. After all, Stretching (if I recall FREd's words on the subject) normally has indirect to a degree as part of it anyways. The addition of 'does not cross...' might make it fully indirect and I'd have no problem with that. Though SFX might be a big factor.

Often, I think I'm too effective, myself. With Omega Man (kind of like Captain Marvel) it seemed too easy. I ended up purposely finding ways to distract him while the others brawled... then maybe I'd swoop back into the fight if they were getting trashed (meanwhile, I'm clearing innocents out of the way and trying to do damage control). In our low poered game, Bolt was just so much faster than everyone I was intentionally distracting him, too, so it didn't seem like I was doing so much more than everyone else.

 

Now with Starman, a GL type guy... hell, he can do so many different things I'm actually getting kind of bored with him. The problem is, I've played for so long, I can't think of anything new and fun to try that I haven't tried yet, really.

My fellow Champion players, I have called this meeting to order. We have a crisis. Acroyear, known previously by other names (Ever since I suffered from Rival Induced Trauma, I just can't say the 'B' word), seems to be facing character block!

He's been there, done that, and seeks something "new and fun" ah, but here is the kicker, that he "has not tried yet".

Eventually all Champion players must face this dark day. Stay in the game long enough, and woe betide you, your own experience works against you.

Thus, I suggest we start this thread and use it for Acroyear and others in the same peril. I suggest we lob suggestions at him and those like him until we come up with something new and innovative he can find inspiration in.

(Likely, he'll shoot them down like clay pigeons, but that's the price you pay for caring...)

What say you??

Originally posted by Acroyear

Let's go back to making Hermit feel inadequate....

 

Well, I guess you have to have your hobbies

Regarding Sapphire

Any woman who fights in high heels, then admits to herself that she really misses flight for just that reason, can't be all bad

The Champions, My thoughts

Actually, I took the plunge and started to use them as NPCs. I've grown to like them. Once you flesh them out, it works well...

The major problems with the current champions are :

1) It is hard not to compare them, or even confuse them with the 4th Edition Champions. Don't. Judge Ironclad on his own merits, and he's actually kind of cool for example.

2) With the exception of perhaps Defender, the backgrounds seem rushed. Well, there was only so much room in the book. Also take a peek at Talisman when you're looking over Witchcraft. My suggestion here is to see those only briefly mentioned moments as things to be developed and expanded.

3) With Millenium City not out yet, it does seem there is no logical reason for the Champions to be around your PCs (Who are the stars). This is a shame, as you need to Role Play them to expand them. Find a reason for them to visit the PCs. For that matter, have the PCs help the Champions and let them decide who they do or don't like.

Some suggested plot seeds for your PC team, related to the Champions:

Defender: James Harmon IV is holding a charity ball (Or some other social function, it works best if you have a PC in Charity work or high society as well). That is when ARGENT agents attack, having infiltrated as the serving staff. They know Defender has a knack for showing up when Harmon Industries is in trouble. This 'hold up' is a ruse, to try to get a scan of the Defender armor. ARGENT would then have Defender's tech in their hands. The PCs present just became the wildcards that might prevent this ambush and theft from working.

Ironclad: We tend to forget the Dorlavian is AWOL from his people's military forces. Perhaps this part of the story is something he's not shared, even with his teammates. A crack team of Dorlavian commandos arrives, and attempts to 'repo' Ironclad for official court maritial and punishment. Perhaps his fellow Champions are out of town when this occurs. Will any of the PCs help someone who is labelled 'deserter' ? And why now? Maybe this is a ruse to save some higher officer's carreer.

Nighthawk: Your team of PCs returns to their own base. They might, or might not notice (depending on senses and perception rolls) that some security measures have been bypassed. There is a scent of blood. They find the wounded (And possibly dying if he doesn't get help) Nighthawk. The Champions have been captured, Homestead is compromised... and he's the only one to have escaped.

Sapphire: Corrie is holding another concert, something she doesn't get to do as often now that she's a hero. It's political in nature, kind of a "Para-normals are people too" message to it. Encouraging tolerance and understanding. Naturally, not everyone is so fond of this stuff. One Wyoming Senator is there, scowling. He gets up on stage to protest her open display of mutant powers...things get heated, and a there is a sudden dimming of the lights and a blue flash! And the Sentator lays dead, the glowing Sapphire looking around and swearing "I didn't do it"!

The IHA , working behind the scenes, is quick to pull strings. A Judge in their pocket puts a restraining order on Corrie's team mates NOT to interfere OR participate in the crimework (Clearly, the Champions would be biased). That's where the PCs come in. Hello Mystery.

Witchcraft: The normally quiet occultist is acting weird lately. She's acting more confident, and that's good. She's wearing more revealing costumes.. and that's... beweldering, though no guys are complaining. She may even be commiting crimes. The Champions might try to defend their friend from the PCs until they can figure out what's wrong. The PCs maybe trying to capture her (or heck, one might be dating her, how many women does Defender NEED besmitten anyways?). What is going on? Is Witchcraft being corrupted by her sister or parents? or is it Witchcraft at all? Perhaps Talisman has been watching old Bewitched reruns where sisters swap.

For some reason, I keep visualizing this guy as "Mad Stan" from Batman Beyond

Using the same guys as before:

Lone Star- X Ray vision, Flight and such can be a wonderful combo. He'd find the bomb with the X ray vision, then try to grab it and get it the heck away. That would still leave those poor folks with that nutbar and his gadgets, but he'd be calling his team for back up long before this.

Slammer- Slammer would be in trouble with this one, and I don't deny it. He doesn't fly, but he does have good leaping. I think he might try to seperate the baddie and his bomb into a seperate car of the train, then let the rest of the train go on it's way. He might fail, but at least he'd save those people and DC.

Surge- Lock in on the energy signals of the bomb. Flash the bad guy, take him and his bomb out. Surge is pretty powerful, so knocking the guy out would not be hard. Then, if he could think of nothing else to stop the bomb from going off in 10 minutes, but knew he had that time... he'd get out of his power armor, rig it to fly off without him, and send it and the bomb out over the Atlantic.

Given his current situation, that might take him out of the hero game.

Wildcard- Wildcard would go in his secret Id. Swap backpacks after distracting the guy "Hey... is that Elvis?" then leave. He's always wanted a nuke, but they're a bit big to fit on a card.

Merc with manners..

Originally posted by guardiansorder

Oops. Cut-and-paste error. All better now.

 

Thanks for pointing it out.

You're most welcome. Any gratuities for my service are most welcome as well

Uhm...

Is this supposed to be on Sapphire's story?

"Witchcraft flew down and caught the frog. Time to find the others and see what they'd learned!"

Re: Re: An Alternate Superman

Originally posted by ProfessorM@ss

I've always thought that it'd be interesting if Supes had arrived black, in Alabama, in the 50s.

 

 

--->M@ss

Whoo... I think that would depend on wether he leaned towards Martin Luther King jr's methods, or Malcom X's

Hmmm

Originally posted by TheEmerged

 

If he had landed in SW Ohio? Hard to say, we don't have some of the obvious stereotypes here other areas do (even though we sometimes seem to get an unfair share of scandals related to hypocrisy of public figures)... None that I'm aware of, anyway.

The Bengals would have a running back that would FINALLY get them to the Superbowl and victory?

Just a guess

Originally posted by Agent Escafarc

[b

 

And just imagine where the story would go when his cousin Kara shows up;) [/b]

That's it Gator Boy, you're officially banned from the "Double Wide Trailer of Solitude"

The Outsiders? Whoa.. nostalgia

Originally posted by Peregrine

On the other hand, there is a new series starting this spring/summer called THE OUTSIDERS, with Nightwing as team leader, that I plan to give a 12-issue trial.

Whoa, now there is a hero team name I haven't heard in awhile.

I was never a DC fan, but ...

I'm wondering if we'll be seeing the return of Black Lightning, Katana, or Halo in one incarnation or another as well...

Just a guess

I'm trying to think what Superman would be like if raised in Eastern Tennesee.

These are just guesses

1) His costume would be orange.

2) He'd probably go by the name "Volunteer"

3) Any yankee throwing trash out of their car in the smokeys would have their SUV drop kicked so far it would land on the carolina coast.

4) His "Code Vs Killing" would not apply to any making fun of his accent

I'm afraid even as a kid, most kid or even teen sidekicks annoyed the tick out of me. Perhaps I felt they were a distraction from the hero I was rooting for, or maybe I was jealous.. hmm.. *breaks out his Freud in a box to consult with later*

That said, has anyone made a character for Champions who's concept is 'Ex Side-kick"?

Re: An Alternate Superman

Originally posted by Champsguy

Texas?

 

For starters, he'd call himself something like "SuperTexan" (Texans can't resist telling everyone that they're from Texas), or "The Lawman". He'd fly around, barbequeing criminals with his "Fryin' Vision" (Texas has more executions than pretty much anywhere else--I think Iran has a few more). "Y'er guilty!" ZAP! Instead of the stylized "S" that we all recognize, he'd bear the lone star of Texas on his chest. "Up, Up, and Away" would be replaced by "Remember the Alamo".

 

Anyone think of any other interesting places Supes could have landed?

Now now, let's be nice. Texans really aren't that bad...

especially if you add a little sauce... but I digress.

California near Berkley maybe? Superman... pardon, Super Person?

Or Hollywood? Movie deals for "Clark Super-Man of Tommorrow"

Hmm.. Super Man as a New York City native...

"Hey, I'm flying here!" as he cusses tourist pigeons out.

Originally posted by Acroyear

Now with Starman, a GL type guy... hell, he can do so many different things I'm actually getting kind of bored with him. The problem is, I've played for so long, I can't think of anything new and fun to try that I haven't tried yet, really.

 

*shrug*

Once, I had this evil rival named Bolt (He was clearly Evil as he kept coming out ahead, had we tied more it would be different *S*) but he wrote up and submitted some characters to a contest. I believe you have access to those characters now. Perhaps you could use one of your.. uhm, his creations, as inspiration?

(Seriously, Character block is no fun. My sympathies)

With the "Power" skill now availible, perhaps a few lines for "Favorite Strength Tricks"?

Originally posted by Acroyear

My insidious plot is working! Moowahahahaha.

 

I mean "heroic." My heroic plot is working.

 

Now to attack your funds...

 

I was a fanboy buying anything with him on it and I felt it was pretty damn well done (keep in mind, I know when my faves are crap, but since I was completionist... I kept buying and praying. I mean, remember when Eric Larsen got Aquaman? Oh my god... terrible, terrible...)

Thanks for the reccomendation... uhm *notes maniacal laughter* I think.

Yeah, Dick is an interesting character, though I found some portrayals of him very young as annoying. I think I first started liking him in an old Teen Titans book I only half way remember. Details are foggy, but essentially Batman teamed up with the Teen Titans. Batman started treating them all like sidekicks, giving orders, and expecting to be obeyed.

Dick pulls Bruce aside, and informs him that while he loves him like a father never do that again. He straightened Batman out on who was better at "playing with others" , and how Dick was their leader, not him. If Bruce didn't like their way of doing things, well, there's the door.

Talk about tense moments It was the first I could recall Dick stepping out of Batman's shadow in something beyond mere rebellion, but acting as his own MAN.

Heh

Originally posted by Supreme

Heck, don't stop there. Most period costume dramas are as unreal to us in modern times (and presented with many historical inaccuracies) as anything from a comic book. Whenever I hear someone denouncing sci-fi, I always say, "Yeah, it's all worthless, like that crap-novel '1984.'"

"Oh, well, I don't think of '1984' as a sci-fi novel."

Usually if it has "resonance" or meaning for them, they call it "literature".

Agreed, it's almost as if they are embarrassed to have gotten caught. In the realms of fantasy novels, Lord of the Rings gets similar deference.

"How can you read that make believe #$#$?"

"I thought you enjoyed Lord of the Rings, the movies so far, and the trilogy?"

"Uhm.. that's social commentary..."

Originally posted by Blue

If the core characters of hero games were on an island, who would get voted off first? Foxbat?

I think this maybe how we lost Seeker...

Side Note:

I've been hearing particularly good things about the Nightwing comic book series. I don't collect (not any more) but is it worth snatching from the shelves from time to time? Or have I just run into some die hard fans who'd buy anything with him on it?

Yeah, I lost a lot of respect for my fellow man when the 'mainstream' sneered at my comic books for being unrealistic, then ran off to watch Soap Operas (then later Jerry Springer, and now "reality TV").

I mean really, how many freaking evil twin brothers do some of those Soap characters have?

Originally posted by Nucleon

Now who wins?

 

JLA are the most powerful by far, their character ending up as the quintessence of their respective fields. However the Avengers are better-led and more polyvalent. The X-men are too, but does not seem enough disciplined to hold their own in this. The Avenger should win, with a little twist of plot. But if these teams were cut down to 4 members, they should all wield before the very synergic Fan-4. How can you lose with Reed Richards on your side?

I have to agree with the 'JLA more powerful' 'Avengers better-led' statements. Somedays I SWEAR Captain America has combat skill levels usable by others...

And yeah, the FF is often under rated, but the Foursome I remember was down right formidible. Reed would look at the JLA, run calculations through his head , and deduce the nature and weaknesses of his opponents faster than you could say "Holy Deux Ex Machina!"

"Johny, attune your flames to the red scale, they should help negate that faux human fellow's invulnerability."

And if Marvel was writing this, that would work...