Scott Ruggels

I think what makes Conan tolerable is he is essentially a Robin Hood type character: he mostly preys on corrupt sorcerers, nobles, and other neer-do-wells. But he is honorable towards women; in Beyond the Black River he is protective of the settlers; when there are two sides he almost always ends up on the right one. I don't recall him ever preying on ordinary people. On the other hand he doesn't give his unjust gains to the poor either; he just takes them from other people who don't deserve them either. He's also a mercenary and a lot of what he does is either fulfilling a contract, or climbing the ambition ladder. Again not the most honorable profession, but he pursues it in a generally honorable fashion. When serving a good Lord or Lady he's loyal, and twin serving a wolf he follows the wolf's code. Basically he double crosses those who double cross him, he baits them into it often enough but their own corruption is always their downfall. You root for him because you know he's not going to cause much collateral damage among innocent people, but he's going to ruthlessly clear out everyone else who is similar to himself. And really as Lords go he wouldn't be such a bad one because he's relatively benevolent and disinterested, he just wants to be top dog but has little interest in throwing his weight around, or indulging in foul degeneracies.

Feels like that holds true for many of the DC writers

One of the points of interest, and just off the edge of the map, would be the Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC). This is a device to colliding and measuring High energy particles, and sometimes using those high energy particles for medical experiments. My Late Room mate, Marc, worked there, in the fabrication department as he was a machinist, and he tols stories of the place. There is a Photo on line of the Backstop that is to keep Portola Valley from becoming a target, and these high energy particles have left a sizeable crater in the metal Backstop )Lead, I thin, about a foot thick_ The Accelerator runs under 280 in a supernaturally straight line, as it's a mile long and propped up at each end to account for the curvature of the earth.  It's a perfect place for a Superhero origin to take place.

https://www6.slac.stanford.edu/
 

Chuck Dixon says that in his experience and observation, these are not people who get into comics because they love the medium and storytelling, but because they see it as a stepping stone to something bigger and (to them) better like script writing and directing movies.
 
Also there is a financial element here.  DC and Marvel comics divisions are hemorrhaging money, they are net losers. Any profits they might see are from merchandizing (spider man tee shirts, batman sheets, 'action figures' etc).  They are looking at ways to cut costs, so they don't go with established, professional, and proven talent, they go with cheaper, newer, younger talent they grab from stuff like webcomics creators who have neither the clue about nor inclination to learn about storytelling and layouts etc in comic books as opposed to a 4 panel webcomic.
 
And of course, there's the youth factor.  Most creative companies are not at all inclined to hire older people, you die at around age 40 in Hollywood, even for writers.  They want younger writers, artists, directors etc because they "understand the youth market".  So they're less likely to hire older and experienced talent even if they could afford it.

What strikes me most about DC and Marvel comics today, is that they seem to be produced by people who don't like comics. Heroes keep being torn down, shown to be stupid or weak or villainous at heart. Stories are devoid of hope or idealism, and include shocking elements which seem to serve no purpose except to shock. Illustrations are loud, flashy, and crudely made, and are just splash panels with no effort made to link them into a visual story. And when fans complain and don't buy them, the comics creators blame them for not appreciating their depth and innovation.

Hey, I think I saw that anime!

When Conan agrees to work with or for someone, if he's treated fairly he sticks to the agreement, not only literally but in its spirit. But on several occasions I can recall from Howard's fiction, if he falls in with someone who tries to rule his subordinates through violence and fear, said leader soon finds his own men turning against him, because Conan is tougher, smarter, more charismatic, and treats his men better.

I think the Knowledge Skill is sufficient in itself.  I think this effect is only worth a Complication if it means that people would know these things without a Skill.  In other words, it would be kind of similar to a low-grade version of Social Complication: Public Identity.  It's not that everyone knows your biographical details or other personal information, but everyone knows these traits about you.
 
Imagine it with vampires.  If I have KS: Vampires, then I know what vampires can do and what their weaknesses are, whether they have a Complication to that effect or not.  However, if a vampire has something like Social Complication: Stereotypical Vampire, because its abilities and weaknesses match the classic cinematic traits, then even people who don't have KS: Vampires know what this vampire can do and what its weaknesses are.

The Ukrainian Snipex Alligator, 5 rounds of 14.5mm x 114mm armor piercing, 7km maximum range, weighs merely 25kg.
 

25 Kg of mass, with a bipod, rear monopod and shoulder pad? Guessing pretty OK.

I have used a corner of the battle mat and a Pente stone as a move able marker.  Just list the participants in order of dex. And put their phases after their names. Move the stone from top to bottom. Calling out who moves. You can use a non cubic die, or a different colored stone to indicate a held action, or an abort. 

I wish I could run a game at the local store, I think that would help generate interest and sales.  Definitely I would encourage others to do so if possible.  Run games at cons, at game shops, etc.  The hobby needs life injected into it, and not just stunt celebrities playing on youtube.

Anyone remember the old 1e characteristics maxima in D&D?  Same across the board except that female characters always had a lower STR maximum.
 
Ultimately, the customer base will decide, and I would hope they would decide strongly against NUTS R.

So there is no characteristic where a lower maximum for men than for women would be appropriate?  And it is true across the board, for all races, that men are stronger (the Drow were a notable 1e exception, but even there the warriors were typically male, not female)?  I think the lower STR of smaller races is reasonable, although Humans always had the highest STR limit, as I recall.
 
Unfortunately, in today's society, I believe there is a fairly large contingent which does consider noting some realities  to be sexist or racist, and therefore evil.

"If 'ignorance is bliss', does that make you a walking orgasm?"

Just finished Binging  Cyberpunk: Edgerunners on Netflix. It's not often you watch an Anime made from a property you have worked on. Well it was more based on Cyberpunk 2077, as it was produced by CD Projekt Red, and the story was written by a Pole, but my former Boss' name was on the first title card "Based on the world created by Mike Pondsmith.  The story was a very straight Cyberpunk story, with a team consisting of three Solos, two Net runners, a Tech and a Nomad. One of those Solos, David Martinez is a prep school drop out who recently lost his mother to random gang violence and needs to find a job quick. He meets up with an attractive petty thief, who leads him into the world of the Edge runners, and the attendant money. The animation was by Studio Trigger, of Japan, and was quite well done, with backgrounds that were based on locations in Night City from the game.  If you like Cyberpunk stories, this works well and has that echo of film noir plots that A lot of cyberpunk stories have. Recommended.
 
[EDIT] and if you are worried about a typical Netflix Cliff Hanger for next season, don't be. This comes to a decisive End, as a one and done.

Just finished Binging  Cyberpunk: Edgerunners on Netflix. It's not often you watch an Anime made from a property you have worked on. Well it was more based on Cyberpunk 2077, as it was produced by CD Projekt Red, and the story was written by a Pole, but my former Boss' name was on the first title card "Based on the world created by Mike Pondsmith.  The story was a very straight Cyberpunk story, with a team consisting of three Solos, two Net runners, a Tech and a Nomad. One of those Solos, David Martinez is a prep school drop out who recently lost his mother to random gang violence and needs to find a job quick. He meets up with an attractive petty thief, who leads him into the world of the Edge runners, and the attendant money. The animation was by Studio Trigger, of Japan, and was quite well done, with backgrounds that were based on locations in Night City from the game.  If you like Cyberpunk stories, this works well and has that echo of film noir plots that A lot of cyberpunk stories have. Recommended.
 
[EDIT] and if you are worried about a typical Netflix Cliff Hanger for next season, don't be. This comes to a decisive End, as a one and done.

I originally planned to use the Alcubierre Drive for my campaign, but I never got around to the write-up. I also looked at the Stutterwarp from the 2300 AD game. Either way, I probably would have used whatever mechanic is in Star HERO.
 
I abandoned the idea after deciding my campaign would be limited to our solar system.

Stick with the Iroquois confederacy, as it was a mostly stable society, and you already know it. Most historical Matriarchies were more Matrilineal than matrifocal.  Land inheritance in The Himalayas was through the women, who would then take on husbands to work the land. 

Here's a quick reference you can use as springboard to further research whichever interests you: Women Lead Here: 8 Matriarchal Societies Around The World.

Stick with the Iroquois confederacy, as it was a mostly stable society, and you already know it. Most historical Matriarchies were more Matrilineal than matrifocal.  Land inheritance in The Himalayas was through the women, who would then take on husbands to work the land. 

My old stomping grounds. Living and working there.... Well having a tunnel to the Port of Oakland will reduce traffic on the 880, and 680.  The higher tech areas will make my old home town even more insufferable.

Not sports or entertainment, but definitely futuristic. Still, gotta wonder if he actually did more work designing this instead of just mowing the lawn.
 
 

Yes, 80% of what I play is Hero, even Fantasy. The other is games made specifically for something like Buffy, Star Trek, etc.

Life it too short for a bad game. Admit to being anti-social or better, admit to being an introvert. Tell your husband that the GM creeps you out, and that it's fine if he wants to play, but you don't like 5e, and you definitely don't like being railroaded. This game feels  bad, and remind him of the Wednesday game.

Failing that, have the character become reckless, and try the impossible. If the character dies, Immediately pick up your things, tell your husband that you will pick him up at the end of the game and leave quickly.

If the GM Bends the rules to keep you alive, then you have evidence of railroading, and you have a reason to leave, as well. 
 
In any case you are going to have to be firm. Loving, but firm.