Scott Ruggels

more info on the accidental Warp bubble creation in the lab. 
 
https://thedebrief.org/darpa-funded-researchers-accidentally-create-the-worlds-first-warp-bubble/

shotguns with the right loads won't either, but with the right loads it can. Hence the versatile "Boarding carbines" of my SF backgrounds. (Bullpup Shotguns with laser sights, and switchable magazine tubes for different types of ammo.).
 

Re-order it.
Introduction to superhero role playing Maps and character illustrations included Full adventure Premade characters Teaches how to play and run Champions Four books for free The goal is to attract new players. Few people under 20 know that Champions even exists.  I am not that much of a writer, but how many words per bullet point would you be imagining? (roughly)

Bigotry has _never_ been rational.  It does, however, follow a set of patterns that have been well-demonstrated throughout history. 
 
 

That has been the popular defense (and dont get me wrong; I like the sword thing, too, but I also acceot that it is entirely,because I think the anachronism is very cool.  Then there are the "rule of cool is uncool" guys, and I accept that, too),  but having been forced to watch most of the movies, I am exceedingly certain that a light saber would puncture a hull, etc, wtc, decompression.
 
 

killer Shrike covered most of it, but it cones down to the bell curve.  When rolling for a Skill check, there is a typical range generated by the results of 3d6.  Your players can expect to roll in this range, and still be concerned about that possible flub and still hold hope of that gkorious perfect success.  
 
If you are inclined to use fumble and critical successes, they still happen on 3d6, but instead of fumbling 5 perxent of the rime (d20), they will only fumble about one-half a percent of the time.  This alows the characters (and by extension, the players) to really be the competent group of highly-skilled adventurers they want to be.  A critical success becones equally as rare, making it something even more special, and therefore more exciting.
 
Skill progression becones more interesting as well, and again, this is because of the bell curve.  Once characters fight there way to 11- or so, each step after that- even a single level, demonstrates a radical leap in ability (owing to the percentage breakdowns of any given result within the curve.  Once the come out of that midrange, they are -demonstrably world-class masters of their skill: a 16 or less means less than a ten percent chance of failure (assuming no penalties are assessed).
 
In regards to damage, the curve works the same way.  It is extremely important when considering this to remember that armor and other defenses are radically different between HERO and the polyhedral game.  In the polyhedral game, better defenses mean the attack misses.
 
In HERO, there no such correlation.  The armor has no bearing on the success of the attack, but does affect how damage is determined.  If a character has an atttack that does 2d6 damage, he can expect to roll somewhere around 7 the bulk of the time.
 
This is not the case with a d12.  Not only can he expect to roll less than 7 about half the he rolls, he can expect to roll a 1 every 12 rolls, which is something he absolutely cannot do on 2d anything.
 
This is important when the GM is trying to balance his games, and it is important when the player is spending his resources.  Both know that defenses at about 10 will mean that a lot of strikes will result in no damage to the character, but it still preserves the fear of mortality by resulting in some,damge from a lot of possible strikes.
 
With a d12, defenses of 10 would make the character nearly invulnerable, meaning he would only take damage one time in six.  If that damage was 1d20, he would take damage haof the time, and a fourth of it would be heavy damage indeed.
 
The d6 bell curve works quite well with the system HERO uses for damage and for skill resolution.  That makes sense, given that the system was designed specifically to take advantage of that curve.  The end result is enough consistency to allow players and gms to determine lumits and levels that make play as light or as deadly as they want it to be and still have a realsitic threat of spectacular success and failure.
 
If you really do want to tinker with the dice, though, I woukd toss out the suggest to try swappibg d6 for d4.  The curve is spectacularly loaded for consistent center-of-the-road results, with the extreme ends being almost eliminated.   It is very remiscent of games that say things like "does 25 damage."
 

 
 
 

This is one of the main flaws of d20/D&D type games: I hate the single die resolution

On the other hand, the Beta of the Hero mod for Tabletop Simulator works really well, specifically for Hero.  It uses Hero Designer files to input characters into the game. There are several sets of miniatures and props and location useable for a Cham[ions game (Far more for generic Western European Fantasy, though), and there are a couple of games going on as testing continues.  The downside is that you need a good internet connection, and a good game rig P.C. to run it, otherwise it will freeze the P.C. and crash to desktop.  I've liked the combats I have played on that system, as it automatically does the Pythagorean calculations between characters at different altitudes, and also automatically calculated range mods and adjusted die rolls.  It's a very good mod, specifically for Hero, but it's not yet ready for the public use apparently. Questions about it should be directed to the Hero Discord.
 

What Scott said.  While SPD does mean "how many times you can act in 12 seconds," that serves as a fine indicator of your reaction speed.  Anything else you can tweak with Fast Draw or some custom talent build.
 
 

Went to a funeral today (that "fun" part is really misleading, by the way, though it _was_ a genuine circus   ).  Did some reminiscing with friends and was reminded of this gem:
 
In this world, Monstrous are wild cards (fantasy world).  People who have dabbled "too deeply" in magic and have become twisted, deformed soulless-- and often mindless- beasts.  They are physically dangerous, spiritually dangerous, and often times magically dangerous.
 
The PCs have stumbled upon a keep inhabited by a very old dabbler in magic (which is very unusual in this world; most blow it and become Monstrous).  As they are interacting with him in his study, one of the Monstrous shambles into the room, carrying a tray with a flask of wine and several goblets.  The PCs immediately ready their weapons and position themselves for combat.  The Monstrous does not move.  It simply holds the tray out, its mouth partly agape and its unfocused eyes staring blindly ahead.  The PCs wait and wait.  Finally the start to relax.  The old spell caster is amused, chuckling softly to himself.
 
"is....  Is this thing _safe_?"
 
"From what?"
 
"I mean is it safe to have around?"
 
"To have around you?  Most definitely.  It's far stronger than you will ever be."
 
 

OK, I cracked.
 
It has been so long since I saw a movie worthy of the name that I needed to see one.
 
So I watched the first and only movie adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune.
 
First they actually read the book and made a good attempt to bring it to the screen.
They did change up some events in the timeline, with a few items happening earlier in the movie than they did in the book, at least from what I remember.  But nothing really changed the overall story in the end.  
The movie ends at a point that could be either the midpoint if they go with a two part, or the first of three parts depending on how they pace things.  
 
The movie was slower than the current trend in action movies and if you are not familiar with the source material some scenes may not have the same impact.  For instance there is a scene with Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa) fighting Sardaukar.  But the movie does not spoon feed you that they are Sardaukar or what Sardaukar are.  You are given the information that they are Sardaukar earlier and the movie does not hold your hand later. 
 
All in all, the movie was Dune and I really look forward to the next film.
 
 

Are the procisions anywhere for reverse-secession?  We can, as a nation, just vote out a couple of states?  I'd even be willing to out up one of those walls they are so fascinated with.
 
 

America made it to the moon first.
 
That's either a Starbucks or a Home Depot.

Accidental Wap bubble creation in the lab. 
 
https://stealthoptional.com/news/warp-bubble-darpa/

Now none of this should be taken as a criticism of the work done on the Table Top Hero mod.
I definitely lack the skills to do it myself. 
This is just me commenting on a few points as I see them applying to me and my gaming style.
 
 
The machine and internet connection is not an issue right now.  But I still hold that "entering characters" is a complete waste and unless there is a "completely turn this off" option I'll probably pass.  I have yet to run peoples characters for them and beyond needing it during adventure building (for balance and making sure the to weave individual character information into the campaign) I don't need to see it.   I will help new players at first but beyond that, no.  And if a player is "cheating" I just don't play with them again. 
 
 
Now this is something that is actually useful, a point to point calculator.  Does it do Line of Sight too?
 
 
Discord?  Discord?  What is this Discord you speak of?    
 
Kidding
 
But I just recently joined(?) my first discord (forum??) for Dragonflight in Oct.  It seems kind of disjointed and all water fall instead of a usable and searchable forum. 

On the other hand, the Beta of the Hero mod for Tabletop Simulator works really well, specifically for Hero.  It uses Hero Designer files to input characters into the game. There are several sets of miniatures and props and location useable for a Cham[ions game (Far more for generic Western European Fantasy, though), and there are a couple of games going on as testing continues.  The downside is that you need a good internet connection, and a good game rig P.C. to run it, otherwise it will freeze the P.C. and crash to desktop.  I've liked the combats I have played on that system, as it automatically does the Pythagorean calculations between characters at different altitudes, and also automatically calculated range mods and adjusted die rolls.  It's a very good mod, specifically for Hero, but it's not yet ready for the public use apparently. Questions about it should be directed to the Hero Discord.
 

Well, the closest I think the system comes to that is the familiarity system.  I'm tweaking that slightly as well: a slightly lower OCV penalty, but adding in that without familiarity, you can only use strike and haymaker maneuvers with that weapon.  It takes training to use weapons with special maneuvers.

I get your viewpoint and actually believe that when B&P green lighted a new show and focused on the new hotness the old, now ignored, series had their best episodes. 
 
But do disagree on the overall take. 
Having the Fed join the Dom wouldn't have been daring at all.  It would have been lazy and boring, not to forget a major departure of the basic theme of the franchise.  It would have been like the US joining Japan after Pearl Harbor.  
 
For me the best stories are the ones that took the hard road.  It is why RPG campaigns based on Hero's doing good tend to last far longer than ones based around self centered murder hobo's. 
Morality and ethics force "good" characters to take risks which lead to awesome climactic adventures.
Evil on the other hand can just quit when it looks like it may get dangerous.
 
One of the reasons shows are cratering in the last few years and we find ourselves turning back to the 80's and 90's for something to watch is the utter lack of creativity. 
Grim Dark - check
Conspiracy - check
Inner Circle Betrayer - check
rinse, repeat
 
La Brea initially looked good, but I quickly lost interest when it started slathering on the "dark secrets" Lost vibe.  I am really dancing around watching Amazon's Wheel of Time.  I'd love another great series, but I fear that it will be another book destroyed by hollywood hacks "fixing" it.  I'll admit I am not the greatest fan of the books, but I hope this time they actually read them first. 
 

I believe B5 is better.  DS9 attempted to do the same thing but had the restrictions of the ultra good Federation that restricted most of the things that they really should have done.  B5 however,  only had the restrictions of Starzenki (sp) and the budget.  As a result,  they were more free to do what was needed to get the job done. In DS9, everyone knows who is on what side, where the enemy is, and what they are up to.  In B5, while one can attempt to make this comment,  the enemy frequently appears from nowhere,  attacks suddenly,  disappeared before your readied fighters respond,  and can be the being right next to you. 

Yeah, I remember a standout DS9 episode (end of season 1, I think?) that turned out to be a total fake-out and completely discarded what I thought was a fantastic premise (the Federation turning heel and allying with the Dominion). That proved to me that Berman and Piller had no intention whatsoever of being innovative and ground-breaking with the franchise, and instead preferred to play it safe (and boring) as usual. Babylon 5, on the other hand, followed a far more ambitious creative vision and was superior for it, even if it stumbled here and there in the execution. If B5 had been a high-budget streaming series, I think it would have become more iconic and less of a niche cult classic. Interestingly, that is exactly what it sounds like is happening with it now.

I am rather not, and in fact the older I get the less vert I become. Its not really by nature, its just exhausting being around other people, especially ones I do not know.  But I still miss sitting around with my buds and rolling dice and having fun at the table.  Online is just not the same.

My "other" should be read as "most of the above, and a whole lot more."
 
For simplicity' s sake, let's sum it up with this:
 
I have been told that it is glaringly obvious, but just in case I've been being put on, I will state it clearly:
 
I am an extrovert.  I'm am an extra-extra extrovert.  When I get together, I like to be amongst my friends.  All of those things that lead so many introverts to online socializing-  all those little layers of "between us" that give them the comfort they need to engage others (no judgement; I am genuinely happy that this has helped a large section of the population find and carry on meaningful friendships that might not have been possible for them ore-internet)-  those same layers are, to me, barriers to experiencing the company of someone else.  Frankly, the best thing to come out of "socializing" on this very board is the possibility that I may be able this month to meet- for real, in person- one of the people I thoroughly enjoy "socializing" with here and in e-mail.  I am,doing everything I can to make sure my schedule is wide open and the Leviathan stays fully-feuled at all times.
 
There are thousands of hours devoted to understanding- or at least learning how to interact with on their own comfort level- introverted people, but not really so much about what is needed and why for extroverts, save that "well, most of know what we're getting at."
 
The bottom line is that physical presence provides a shared intimate energy that absolutely nothing else does.  "Getting together with friends online" just isn't even close to getting together with friends in person.
 
 
On a much lesser note, when most of your friends are extroverts, you tend to end up not finding them online a lot, either, meaning that you end up accepting a lot of invites from relative strangers, only to find yourself committed to playing in a group that you later discover is either not compatible with your play style, or composed of some very unesttlling personalities....
 
 

It would have to be a calculation of per weapon and per man, you wanted small differences.  This is how you get them. I would limit this rule to heroic, like hit locations. Superheroes are complex enough on their own. 

Ooh: have STR Min greater than x2 to avoid penalty.
Have STR Min x 1 to x2: penalty.
 
 
Just thinking.