LordSkatterhawk

Re: Expirments in Character Construction Wow! I had no idea that my very primitive, unfinished character could inspire such discussion. I knew there was a reason I joined these boards. I am glad to be learning a few things: pay attention to detail in the rules, the Limitations have limitations, and carefully evaluate how the cybernetics in cyber-spy function. In other words, I need to more carefully evaluate how I see the technology accomplishing its goal. Originally I had planned for the cybernetics to be system-wide changes. Now I think Lord Mhoram has a point. The perfect spy would want to be able to hide, reconfigure, and adapt to the situation. System-wide changes are pretty invasive, but a removable chip is easily concealed or swapped out. Of course, I am not sure whether the technology of my setting allows for adrenal chips. I'll ponder everything you guys have shared and look at the Limitations chapter. Then I'll be back with some more refined ideas. Truly,

Re: Once more in English, please? The shields-- or blazons if I am using my context clues to absorb some heraldry terms-- depicted on this thread are wonderful. I appreciate the hard work and sharing of knowledge that they represent. I've never been a student of heraldry so the terminology is slightly confusing due to its technical nature. Nevertheless, I have gathered substantial benefits to my fantasy (and Middle Ages) knowledge. Society sure wasn't simpler in those days. I just wanted to put in a note of thanks for those out there who expand my knowledge and descriptive power. If I were to use a recently devised slang phrase, I would say "You guys rock on toast!" On that note, does anyone know of a good introduction to heraldry on the net or in published form? Thanks Guys and Gals,

Re: Expirments in Character Construction So, then I could have STR 10 (+5 STR w/ IIF [-1/4]) and CON 10 (+10 CON w/ IIF [-1/4])? This would reduce the price by what, .25%? I haven't really got to the Limitations sections yet. I think I'll go check for that section next. Thanks for the note.

Re: Reading FRED for the First Time "Thread, I saw unto thee, arise!" I started a thread over here for my initial character experiments: http://herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1303582#post1303582 It's woefully incomplete and it deals with a cyber-spy, but I thought some of you might have constructive comments. Also, I wanted to let everyone know that I appreciated their advice while I was slogging through 5ER. I'll probably attempt a fantasy character after I work out more of the system. I haven't given up. "I now return this thread to its regularly scheduled life cycle."

Hey HEROic Types, I have been trying to wrap my mind around the character creation rules in 5ER since mid-December. I recently reread several threads on character design. I feel like I should post some of my initial stuff so that the rest of you can comment, guide, or otherwise lend me a hand. I hope no one minds. Okay, here's my write-up of the concept, Characteristics, and comments for my initial Character Experiment. Its woefully incomplete, but I figured help could ease the learning curve. Concept: A heroic cyber-spy (2057 CE, Earthlike World) Character Points: 75+75 (25 Points form one Disadvantage) Guidelines: Characteristics 10-20; SPD 2-4; CV 3-7; DC 3-8; Active Points 15-50; Skill Points 30-75; Skill Roll 8-13-; Def 10; rDef 5 Val Char Base Cost Pts Roll 15 Str 10 x1 5 12 18 Dex 10 x3 24 13 20 Con 10 x2 20 13 15 Body 10 x2 10 12 13 Int 10 x1 3 12 20 Ego 10 x2 10 13 13 Pre 10 x1 3 12 10 Com 10 x½ 0 11 PD 3 0 ED 4 0 Spd 2 0 Rec 7 0 End 40 0 Stun 33 0 Leap 3” 0 (1” from Str) Run 6“ 0 Swim 2” 0 Total Cost: 75 Here’s my thought process: a cyber-spy doesn’t have big, obvious enhancements. In fact, in addition to the cybernetic enhancements, this character has received chemical fine-tuning (through the body’s natural systems) in order to approach human peak levels without revealing it to cursory inspection. The key here is maximizing performance without taking twenty-five years of training. His bodily strength was enhanced to about that of two men (see Strength Chart pg. 34 Example column) using artificial muscles and servo-motors. His reaction time (Dex) was enhanced by the fact that his reflexes operate at the behest of a computer, while his Con represents the idea that engines take stress better than flesh. The Ego score is particularly high because it represents mental fortitude and determination. I figured that a secret government project dedicated to surgically augmenting a spy would look for someone not easily controlled, “turned”, or broken by torture. Questions: 1)The Strength Table lists Leaping at STR 15 as 3”. Do I need to pay for this leaping as per the Movement section? In other words, is this number a new base for Leaping or not? 2)Where do I put the special effects for the Characteristics? Is this important for more than my concept? 3)Does anyone have any advice about what I should do next given my concept? 4)I noticed that I spent all of my base points on Characteristics. Where should I trim the character? 5)If you have any other advice, please share it. Also, anyone have a template that would make my post of columns translate into the boards in a more readable fashion? I could definitely use one. Since my cut-and-paste didn't work so well, I attached the Word .doc. I hope that helps.

Re: Unofficial Welcome Mat (For New Members) Ooh! An unofficial welcome mat! *Wipes feet* I am a newbie to this game*, so I thought I'd pop in and make use of this nice unofficial welcoming area. Thanks for being so kind everyone. You're all HEROes in my book. (Okay, so maybe some of you are villains. If so, then you can be listed in the Misguided and Misunderstood chapter at your discretion.) Also, I'd like to take this moment to remind the new people, and the vets, that lurkers are people too. *Unless chronological time owning 5ER establishes non-newbie status, or my number of posts exceeds the heretofore unknown newbie threshold. In that case, I guess I am a lurker since I have never played a game of HERO.

Re: Character Creation Example? Hello HERO Gurus: The ideas and explanations in this thread are all very informative, so I'd like to thank everyone for contributing. I could definitely use the advice and examples everyone shared. If you have any more step-by-step advice I'd love to read it. The whole "design on an unlimited budget and cut back" seems counterintuitive to me. I came to HERO from a class-and-level background, though, so I am used to saying "I can only choose one." Maybe loading up on options and then trimming back ruthlessly will be enough of a gaming system shock to help me build effective characters. I am glad you shared this idea gojira. I may just hunt down your spreadsheet. Thanks for being so intelligent residents of HEROdom. This is why I have chosen HERO as my system in spite of the massive rulebook. (Or maybe I should say in addition to the massive rule book? I'm not sure which applies.)

Re: Fantasy Zero Wow! That sounds like an excellent game. I bet it would be hard to pull off without teamwork and foresight as characters were built. Did the other players understand HERO system at the time? How long did the game run? And finally: did you ever obtain the riches part of the equation? I've heard people say that HERO has scalability issues at low point thresholds, but maybe I've been misinformed. In any event, I think this coming of age, poor-to-riches story is mythic. Now I want to play in that game. Also, on my own side note: how do you guys format your characters when you post them? Should I just copy-paste the character above and edit as needed or is there a template?

Re: New Campaign Idea Assuming that the players trust you and respect your decision to rip them out of the "intended" setting, I have a logistics question for you: 1) How do you keep the players' characters intact? I mean the motivations, social lims, and psych lims of these characters might be worth nothing or they might be worth lots of points. For example, let's say I make a SWAT Sniper who is mildly afraid of spiders and has a girlfriend DNPC. Transport him to your swords-and-sorcery world and his DNPC is gone. Also, giant spiders tend to be present in fantasy worlds (every since Tolkien's spiders in the forest), so that mild fear could become very prominent. This doesn't even account for the fact that Shooter doesn't have expertise with bows. The GM chooses which technological thing the character takes, so Shooter leaves behind his body armor, gun, radio, or bullets. Which would you choose? Okay, the above questions might be a little harsh in their phrasing, but I think these are the kinds of problems ManicTypist and Xander75 alluded to. I personally love to play Fantasy and I like the idea of playing a stranger-in-a-strange land. I do, however, beleive that genre emulation and character ownership are two areas of concern here. I don't think overcoming them is impossible, but it pays to think things out very carefully. Hopefully my comments are constructive. If not, then simply through eTomatoes (or is it iTomatoes?).

Re: Don Maitz Pirate Art

Re: Reading FRED for the First Time Hey Everybody, I have one more final at the University before I have time to devote to finishing up some of my character ideas. The learning curve of Hero won't stop me from learning the system. Now I just need a group! (Yes, it is that age-old struggle fellow gamers.) I just thought I should make a quick appearance to convey my thanks to The Question Man and Pattern Ghost for providing me with what I really needed: benchmarks. I'm so used to the 3-18 spread with point breaks at the even digits that the 10 base of Hero took a little getting used to. I think I have a handle on things now and I am unsure why it took me so long. After all, the average score in a 3-18 spread is 9-10. Thanks for being so willing to provide examples and extended discussion to help a new guy! I'll post my sample character here when I am done and then it is on to fisticuffs for them. Why? I chose fistfights because I don't need equipment to test combat that way. Truly,

Re: Reading FRED for the First Time Thanks Pattern Ghost for that link. I've been pouring over the skills chapter trying to follow your lead. Additionally, for these first few characters, I have decided to design on a 50+50 budget because that limits some of my options. Unfortunately, I've been having a tough time getting these test characters finished. I have a rough concept and I get going. However, I can never seem to get all the pieces together. I either spend too much on skills or too much on Characteristics. I think I am suffering from "option-shock." I've never had so much freedom and so many widgets (re: skills and Characteristics) to move around. Should I just up the point total? Should I steal some of Killer Shrike's excellent Fantasy Hero packages and try to run some Skill v. Skill challenges? Should I leave the Characteristics alone except for the ones essential to my concept? I know that I have presented lots of questions, but I feel like my time reading the rules has opened up a new vista and I don't know how to reach what I see on the horizon.

Re: Vast Underground This article on megadungeons is phenomenal. I don't know where to start with my comments so I'll share some reader's reaction. I read this article as part game theory (dealing with dungeons as more than PCs v. Monsters), verisimilitude for a specific setting (the armies and factions realize how dangerous these places are, megadungeons are taken for granted as structures), and design philosophy (especially the planned encounters and security levels). Sometimes authors try to accomplish too much in essays of this nature, but I think this piece is balanced. I can use it as a player or as a DM. Even if I am not fond of dungeon play, some of this piece could be of use designing battlefields. Thanks for an entertaining introduction to some useful terminology, theory, and gaming design. I like the idea of naming areas and having multi-layered combat. I have designed several dungeons in my days as a GM, but it was nice to see these ideas succinctly expressed. I look forward to further articles in what I hope is a series.

Re: Reading FRED for the First Time Thanks Thia for that advice. I now have a signature for every message. I've decided to build my initial test character. I'm looking to keep it simple, since this is my first character in a new system. I'll probably use a package or two as a jumping-off points for my 75+75 Heroic character and treat 5ER as reference. It will probably take some time, but I think the best way for me to understand the system is to do something with it. Does anyone else have any advice for me as I embark on this endeavor? Oh yeah, I almost forgot to include my concept at this point: a young conscript into the army of an established kingdom. He's going to be from a society that values personal valor and physical appearance in its leaders. Since his clan was conquered, he must serve 5 years with the military. His young age and small frame make him suitable to work as a rider with the Royal Post (think Fantasy Pony Express: when the king or a noble needs a messenger, they go for these guys). Thanks for all your support everyone!

Re: Reading FRED for the First Time I don't want to run into the dreaded double-post, and this post will put me close. I just wanted to point out one thing. Before I do that though, let me say, "Thanks ghost-angel! I'm glad I could get into your signature. You even fixed my grammar." Here's the problem: you spelled my callsign as LordShatterhawk. Close, but that would be someone else. I'm LordSkatterhawk. Maybe I should be Shatterhawk, but I'm leaving that one open for the next Lord to walk in. Anyway, just fix it in your signature before you embarrass me. Lord Skatterhawk Hero has taught me: - Fractions and the multiplication thereof - Freedom in gaming has a price... but it's not too high. The Boards have taught me: - Be a faster typist.

Re: Reading FRED for the First Time Thia, That might be related to my question, but I haven't read that far. Here's the quote that's given me trouble for clarification. 5er (pg. 7 under the heading Rounding Fractions) Says: "Sometimes the rules require the character to halve the value of an Advantage or Limitation, which is expressed as a fraction. In that case, the rounding is in favor of the character, as usual. For example, +3/4 rounds to +1/4 (since it’s best for the character), while -3/4 rounds to -1/2; +1¼ rounds to +1 1/2, -1 1/4 rounds to -3/4." Somewhere this means that half-an-Advantage rule will crop up. Lets say its a +1 Advantage for ease of use. Cutting that in half is easy: +1/2. If 3/4 is cut in half (summoning weak math skills... please wait....) then the equation for rounding is (3/4 x 1/2)= 3/8 or .375. Oh! .375 is not an easy fraction or decimal so it rounds to the closest one ala 1/4 (or .25). I think Hero is going to help my math skills. I guess you can consider me a bonehead after all. Consider my confusion withdrawn. That will teach me to ask a question at the drop of a number. Okay, back to reading. I'll return with a better question. Thanks for your example though Thia, I'll come back to it later. Skatterhawk Hero has taught me: - Fractions and the multiplication thereof - Freedom in gaming has a price... but its not too high. The Boards have taught me: - Be a faster typist.

Re: Reading FRED for the First Time Hello again everybody. I'm glad to see that the conversation has not died without me. I ran into a problem with the rounding. Let me see if I understand it correctly. There are three rounding situations: 1) When multiplication or division is involved. The rule is to round off in favor of the player but alway charge at least 1 CP. I think I understand this one. 2) When a rule specifically instructs you to round a specific way, such as SPD (which always rounds down). 3) When an Advantage or Limitation gives you a fraction. Here's where I am stuck. How does 3/4 round to 1/4? .75 should round up because it is over .5. I might figure this one out, but the logic escapes me. I know what you're saying: "Oh man! This guy cannot even make it through the introduction before he asks a boneheaded question." Well, what can I say? At first I read past it, but then I remembered you guys wanted to help with any and all questions. Anyway, I'm going to plunge ahead with the text. Skatterhawk

Re: Reading FRED for the First Time I am glad to hear that you have super glue. My head will probably need some at one point or another. Although I did delete most of your excellent post in my quotation, I think I've got a handle on where to begin. I was amazed at how many responses I found when I returned to the forums this morning. Thanks everyone! I will not hesitate to post questions when I run into them. The 12 Answers to One Question phenomenon does not scare me. I think that is part of the reason I wanted the system. I hate being told that only one method will work. Here's a summary of what I've learned from your helpful replies: 1) Concentrate on FRED, especially building characters. Build a few different types and then run a simple combat or five. 2) Read FRED like an encyclopedia. Look at headings and concepts before specific lists and go back for details as characters are being built. 3) Ask questions at the forums even though the answers will vary. 4) Don't be discouraged. I know that my first post here was a simple question you have probably seen hundreds of times. Thanks for patiently and quickly answering my question. I'll try to return the favor as I mature in my knowledge of the game. That's the only way I could think of to repay everyone. One more thing: do I need to post my initial questions somewhere else? I was hoping to post them here, but I realize this is the Fantasy Hero section. Some people might object to general questions being asked here. I want to anticipate those concerns and avoid potential problems. If I need to take questions to a new forum, which one should I pick? Skatterhawk (see I dropped the title) - The Man without a Signature

Greetings HEROphiles! I've been an on-and-off visitor to these forums for some time now. I finally convinced my self to resist the ponderous nature and substantial size of FRED and registered. I received the aforementioned FRED as a early birthday gift along with Fantasy Hero, the Combat Guide Book, and the Equipment Guide Book. This great gift made me think that I needed some guidance. There's so much here, I don't know where to start. That, my newfound friends, is why I have come to you. I have no illusions that I am the first one seeking a "reading guide" to the Fifth Edition. Perhaps my request will make such a reading guide known. Here's a little background that may prove helpful: I have been playing RPGs for almost thirteen years. I have played Rifts, D&D (2nd, 3.0 and 3.5 editions), and several lighter systems such as Wu-Shu and FATE. None of these systems is bad, but I wanted something I could tinker with. HERO is a departure from my previous experience, but I think I can make the transition. I have GMed all of these systems for most of my time as a gamer. I currently have no group of players. I prefer Fantasy games, but I have played in other genres. I dislike math but I can use mathematic concepts and a calculator to figure things out. Please point me toward a reading order or some way to turn this intimidating set of books into my new system of choice. HEROphiles, you're my only hope. Lord Skatterhawk