rjcurrie

Re: Has anyone played in a game like this...

Hiya,

 

A friend of mine had an idea a short time ago about us making ourselves in Hero, and then going on an adventure. It would either be a 'horror' story, or possibly the country is invaded (like the movie "Red Dawn"). The game never got going. Has anyone tried to play themself in a game, and if so, how did it work out?

 

Polaris

I did play in a campaign where we had the option of playing ourselves or playing a fictional character. Out of the 8 players, 6 chose to play themselves and 2 chose to play fictional characters. The premise was that people in our city, for a reason we didn't find out, started to develop superpowers. We wrote up rough Hero versions of what we wanted our superpowered self to be; however, the GM created the actual write-ups of the characters himself and we never actually saw them. This allowed to play out the discovery of our new powers and to have a realistic sense of doubt about whether or not we be able to do something. The campaign was probably more similar to Wild Cards rather than comic books in that there were supers of various levels of ability and one of the main threads of the campaign was the effect that superpowered people were having on society. The campaign ran for several months until the GM had to move and went very well. There was much more non-combat roleplaying than combat and a large emphasis on what characters were doing individually.

Rod

Re: New to Hero, so how would I...

As an addendum to my previous post, let me echo the comments of others, that there is rarely one correct way of building a Power in hero. But then again if you look at such things in the appropriate literature (such as comic books or fantasy novels), two abilities that seem similar often have subtle differences.

Re: New to Hero, so how would I...

How would I...

 

Create a superpower: be able to superhumanly speed-read and rapidly recall databases of information?

Are you talking about mentally reading a computer database? If so, then you would use Telepathy against a machine class of minds. Generally, you would consider running programs and open files to be "surface thoughts" and other programs and files to be "deeper memories" possibly basing the exact levels on how it has been since the program or file has been accessed. You might even use the "subconscious" level to represent as being able to represent deleted files.

Telepathy generally obtains one fact per phase. Personally, I would allow someone with the Speed Reading Talent to apply their Speed Reading multiple to this task, but other GMs may differ. For rapid recall of this information, you would use the Eidetic Memory talent.

Create a "Dramatic Editing"-like or "Drama Point" metagame mechanic as a superpower.

The Luck Power describes some optional ways of using it to represent some Drama Point-like uses. There is also the Combat Luck Talent which is designed as resistant defenses which only apply in certain circumstances. It is intended to simulate those characters who seemingly can survive running through something like a hail of bullets without being hit or just being grazed.

As for Dramatic Editing, I would almost suggest just porting a system from another game. After all, Dramatic Editing is designed to allow the player to change the situation -- it is not a Power of the character and Hero concentrates on designing the character.

I will admit, however, that I am not a fan of Dramatic Editing and perhaps someone who is more familiar with the concept might have other ideas.

Create a weapon: Someone who uses a yo-yo to fight in a fantasy campaign. The Yo-yo would be used as a blunt-object but could also be used to tangle people up, or swing from rooftops. In a deadlier confrontation, the yo-yo could have a sawblade mounted on it. It can also do yo-yo tricks like "walk the dog."

Build it as a multipower. It would probably have a limited range Energy Blast (to represent "firing" it out to hit someone), an Entangle (tangling someone up with it), and a limited range RKA (the sawblade). As for the yo-yo tricks, that wouldn't so much be the yo-yo as the yo-yo's user who would have Professional Skill: YoYoing.

Create a fighting style: Someone who uses a parasol to fight in a martial-arts campaign.

The Ultimate Martial Artis gives detail on creating fighting styles.

Create a character with the ability to barter -anything- like years of your life or your empathy, a la Twilight Zone.

Well, he'd probably have a Trading Skill Roll to reflect his ability to make the deal. You'd need to detail the exact effects of his bartering to get the precise construct for the Power but it sounds like it might be a Variable Power Pool where for each trade you would design the Power(s) needed to change the target and to change you. Depending on the effects, the changes to the target might be a long-term Drain, a Transform, or a long-term Transfer; or if helping, it might be an Aid. If you're trading things to or from yourself, for negative changes to yourself, you would probably use the Side Effect Limitation, while for positive changes, this might simply be part of the Transfer or it might be a linked Aid or other appropriate Power. It sounds like it might be an expensive construct but then again, it sounds like a very powerful Power.

Create a magic-8 ball that accurately tells the future.

Clairsentience has options for looking into the past and the future.

Re: Converting V&V to Champions

I've always found the best method for converting characters is to not try to mathematically convert the character or even to try and duplicate the specific mechanics but rather to build the concept in Hero as you would any other concept.

Just my 2 cents.

Rod

Re: Secret Identity

It's under Transform now.

 

Mags

Just remember that instant change ad done by Transform is for simply changing clothes. It is not used (as some people did pre-Fifth Edition) for changing forms. If your powered form is somewhat physically different than your non-powered form, that is now just considered a special effect of turning on a power.

Re: Secret Identity

Hi!

 

I was talking to afriend of mine, trying to explain how FREd is diferent from 4th and we came to the point of Secret Identity, Instant Change and the whole notion that on 8- ppl could "find out" his secret identity.. he said that this wasnt like that in 4th, since i dont know Champions 4th i am asking you guys to pleas clarify for me the situation.

The 8- is not a roll to find out his secret identity. It's an indicator of how frequently the secret ID is a disadvantage. For example, his boss insists he works late when he's supposed to be patrolling the city.

Re: Should this be called Dark Champions?

Probably just me, but this is a total turn-off, for me. It sounds campy and silly, and is not at all what I would consider buying... though it sounds like it is supposed to be addressing the Nightwing/Daredevil type genre... I'd never pick it up.

 

The Animated Series makes it sound like this Teen Titans GO! crap which I can't stand. (Or the Power Puff Girls, which I really like, but would never try to play as an RPG.)

 

To each their own, but I'd have a tough time buying anything with that subtitle.

Whereas the first thing it brings to mind for me is Batman: The Animated Series.

Re: Hero Needs Reviewers!!

(I was going to ask this via private message, but then realized that other freelancers might be interested in the answer too...)

 

How do you feel about folks who've done freelance work for Hero Games participating in this? Would that be okay with you, or would you be concerned that some might view it negatively, as though we were Hero Games "insiders" trying to talk up the line? (Not realizing that we're no more "insiders" than anyone else on books we don't personally work on. ) Obviously, for objectivity reasons, I would not submit a review of Champions Battlegrounds, Vibora Bay, or anything else I had a hand in.

I've got to admit that crossed my mind as well. Personally, I devalue the opinion of anyone that I view as being associated with a company -- even if they're only a regular poster on the company's web site. However, in this case, I suspect that Darren is not so much looking for the constructive criticism that a review can bring, but rather the additional publicity (and hopefully additional sales) that the review can give Hero. So, I guess the question boils down to whether the good publicity generated by an "insider's" review outweighs the bad publicity generated by it being written by an "insider".

Rod

Re: Clerks... Uh... I mean HEROES!

Sheer brilliance.

Re: New Justice League anime tomorrow?

Does any one know if tomorrows JLU premier is the first half of the recently released Starcrossed movie?

No. Starcrossed was the 3-part (3 half-hour episodes) finale to season 2 of "Justice League". "Justice League Unlimited" is new.

Rod

Re: Need some name suggestions please

How about the Tiger-Cats? White Sox?

 

Er... sorry, nothing useful here. Move along.

QUOTE]

 

If you're going to be obtuse, then you're going to have to stick with the classics like The RoughRiders...or is that the Rough Riders? I can never tell them apart.

 

 

me, I've always like Murder, Inc.

Roughriders was the Ottawa CFL team that folded in 1996. A new franchise named the Renegades popped up in Ottawa in 2002. The CFL's Saskatchewan Rough Riders are, however, still around.

Re: Should all skills be everyman to some degree?

I think that Hero definitely lacks a mechanic for resolving this kind of situation. Lying without Persuasion' date=' bribing without Bribery, etc... there should be a rule for this, since it is a common occurrence. Definitely something I will be mentioning on that far off, distant day when 6th Edition is announced.[/quote']

It's also a good topic for Steve to keep in mind for The Ultimate Skill.

 

Rod

Re: Should all skills be everyman to some degree?

Looks like somebody on page one of the thread mentioned an option in the FAQ. I need to find out where this FAQ is...

Assuming you're not being facetious, click on the "FAQs" link at the very top of this web page and then click on "Rules Questions" link.

Re: Images or Shapeshift?

What is the diffeence between Shapeshift vs sight and Images Self only?

Well the main difference I can think of is that the Shapeshift would be more reliable because it doesn't require PER checks to see if the viewer believes the disguise as would be required by Images.

Re: what non-fiction books have you read? please rate it ...

Non-fiction that I have read in the last two months:

• Fools Rush In -- the story of the AOL-Time-Warner merger.
  
• The Game Makers -- the story of Parker Brothers
  
• Inside the Olympics -- a look at several of the issues surrounding the Olympics in recent years by Canadian IOC member Richard Pound (a former IOC vice-president, head of IOC's investigation into the Salt Lake City bribery scandal, and current head of the World Anti-Doping Agency).
  

Currently reading:

• The Joy of Writing -- by Canadian author and broadcaster Pierre Burton. Burton sets down a number of rules that writers should keep in mind and, through stories of his experiences as a writer, shows how he learned them.
  

Re: Spiderman Vs. Firelord

Your analysis of Cap sounds about right, Hermit. I'm a Cap fan too and I would put him and Bats on about the same level. Let's face it, they both have PRE out the yahoo, they just use it in different ways.

Re: What do you call "Four Color"?

I think Derek pretty much hit upon my definition of "four color". Personally, I often run what I call "Five Color" Champions -- four color with a touch of gray.

Re: creating "wild" powers

I'd say it's done with the "Side Effect" Limitation. Heck, the side effect could be "Roll on the Random Fire Side Effect Tabel" -- you'd just need to create the table for that character.

Re: Real and Active Point Limit Campaigns

Actually, I have heard of similar approaches but that is not surprising since I have learned that SoulCatcher is an old acquaintance of mine and I have played with the GM who used the approach mentioned. I honestly cannot recall whether or not he used this approach for any of the campaigns I played in or not, although I ceratianly remember him putting limits on the Active Points in an character as opposed to the Real Points.

This approach grew out of problems that this GM had with some players who loaded up grossly powerful characters with loads of Limitations. This GM was also extremely reluctant to reject any character that didn't violate the game's rules or any house rule (including point caps) that he had put in place.

Personally, I have never been terribly fond of this approach or Active Point limits of any type. This is largely due to the fact that it discriminates against Limitations that remove part of a Power as opposed to those LImitations that simply limit when it can be used.

Rod

Re: Lack of Power coverage

Just some noodling:

 

Any power with more than three advantages or more than 3 disadvantages deserves consideration as a separate power unto itself.

I disagree with most of these needing to be their own Powers.

Power Mimicry and Theft - Somehow, a power mimicry VPP doesn't seem counterintuitive, but the power theft builds always seem complex. I'd have voted for building a separate power for this.

This is a rare enough abillity that I don't think it should be a separate power. I'd like the Multiform-Transform combo that Steve used in USPD best of any approach I've seen.

Possession and Mind Swapping - Again, people know how to build these from existing components (ref. the Spirit Rules), but they really deserve to be built as special powers. Bodyjacker is a cool concept who shouldn't cost that many points.

Again, these are fairly rare abilities. But they are complex enough that I think they need something better. Perhaps Possession could be done as an Advantage on Mind Control. Although personally, I have no problems with this ability being very expensive.

As for Mind Swapping, I have to admit I'm not sure right now. Perhaps it is simply Posession (however it is built) with a Side Effect of the other person prossessing your body.

Absorption of multiple types without buying the power multiple times - Great idea.

Absorption as a defence - we probably want an absorption which defends based on amount absorbed, not on amount rolled

I don't see the problem with simply buying the Power multiple times. Maybe I'm missing something.

When you say based on the amount absorbed, do you mean the total absorbed thus far? In any case, wouldn't this just be a matter of taking an appropriate limitation of some kind of PD/ED?

Multiform - I'd like to see an adder or advantage for "Any form up to max points" (floating multiform).

I could see this.

Contagious - I'd like to see Sticky (+1) for attacks that are Sticky not just from the original target, but from all secondary and tertiary targets.

Okay. That might work.

Flowing like a liquid - Desolidification is the single power for avoiding barriers and avoiding damage 100%. It probably should be two powers. There's concepts that call for avoiding barriers or avoiding damage but not the other. And this is frequently a reductionist system.

Not quite sure what you mean by a reductionist system. What's wrong with simply buying a limitation on Desolid to get just what you want from the Power?

Deemphasize the physical - The attributes in the game favour the physical. Historically, it's easy to see why; the game grew from a genre which was focused, at the time, on physical combat. It has some stumbling points as a consequence; the concept of astral forms and spirits can be hard to work with, and mages have to work doubly hard because of the combined physical/mental effects of their powers. They deserve a stat they can use to create a CV with which to attack others (possibly against ECV or DCV).

Okay. I have no problem with the current system, but I may not be seeing what you're getting at.

Paralysis - I know there's mental entangles, but a way to force someone to freeze perhaps should be more straightforward.

Well, there's always SPD Drain or Transform.

Object Creation - There was a beautiful article on this in Digital Hero where the object's BODY and DEF were built up Entangle style, with object creation skills and the like. On the other hand, I think the Incomplete Characters concept needs a bit of work before it's becomes the official "Masterclass" "Stuffed in the Appendix" way to make a focus with the DEF, BODY and powers you want.

No comment on this one.

Mental powers all or nothing - I might like to see some mental powers which are cumulative and "mental REC" which can lower the effect of ongoing mental assaults (rather than an EGO roll). Then a mind control does indeed slowly build and overcome defences. An attempt to snap someone free from mental attack becomes a way to reduce the overall effect. Throw ina smattering of effects from the PRE attack table to make someone delay or pause, and you've got something very interesting.

Perhaps.

Absolute Defences - yep, should be in there

Nope. I fall into the "there are no absolutes" camp on this one.

Oil Slicks - yep, deserves aa power (even if it's just a narrow Change Environment)

Nah. The combat effects of Change Environment handle this just fine.

Shockwaves and Forceblasts (that just knock people down without damage)

Energy Blasts that only do Knockback.

Regeneration and Healing as separate powers (heck, I'm not even sure why Regeneration doesn't require Continuous or the like).

Well, I'm sure that Steve thought it was a good idea at the time. But I'd prefer them separate or a better build for Regen -- perhaps simply an Advantage on Healing to make it Regen.

Sizes - I know it's the genre, but if Growth and Shrinking are the powers for changing your size, why are they useless as attacks ? Ditto Density Increase, really.

I have no idea what you're talking about here.

Suffocation - I like it. Much better than an instantaneous NND.

Dispel - why isn't this SFX driven ? It could easily be rewritten with the starting level as "Dispel any fire power, one at a a time" as the base, rather than "Dispel EB".

I can see both sides on this.

Duplication - how about an adder to freely replace dead duplicates ? or even make the current hard limit on duplicates a limitation ?

Buy a Limitation on one or more extra doublings of Duplication -- only to replace dead duplicates.

Missile deflection vs. hand to hand blows - yep, I know it's called a block. Except it doesn't have such easy options for acting at range.

Maybe.

Animating objects - this could use some work

I don't see the problem with the Summon approach.

Damage Shield - I'd like to see No Range be a valid limitation for ranged powers used in a damage shield, the way Strength Doesn't Add is for HA and HKA damage shields.

I could agree with this.

Beating someone to death - It's not a pleasant topic, but there should be some way that unconscious figures can be killed. It simply isn't possible (IIRC) for a 50 STR brick to do BODY to a 30 PD brick even after he's beaten unconscious (unless the coup de grace rules are far more generous than I recall).

I'd have to reflect on this one. But it should be harder to do a coup de grace on a tough being.

Re: Lack of Power coverage

Density Decrease - No, not Desolidification, Density Decrease. Same size, incrementally less mass, still solid. Flesh is about as dense as water. Ice and wood are less dense.

 

Tom mentioned Liquification/Fluidification - You're still physically there and you can still physically effect the world. This has been discussed before. I like the idea of gradually increasing fluidity/decreasing viscosity based on the points spent: Say 10 points to become jelly-like, 20 pts to become syrup-like, 30 to become water-like (HydroMan). Or something like that. Say 20 to become sand-like (Sandman), 30 to become powder-like.

 

Related is the idea of Malleability/Squeezability, like Cobra (Marvel villain) who could squeeze himselfe through narrow openings. I like to include this with Stretching, and allow a "Narrowing only -1/2" to remove the ranged reach aspect.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but what exactly is the game effect of having less mass that you would be paying for here? Becoming jelly-like, for example, just seems like part of the special effect of turning on a power like Damage Reduction.

As for the Mallebility/Squeeability power, I use a limited Desolid. The limited form of Stretching doesn't work for me because Stretching does not include that ability.

Re: Lack of Power coverage

Corrollary: Any ability which gets three or more completely different w/u's when discussed on the boards needs its own power (or at least a formal "way to do this in Hero").

I disagree completely because certainly in comics, not every similar ability works exactly the same way. Building things differently yields the slight but important differences between different characters' powers. As long as you and your GM agree that the build works, I don't see the problem.

Re: Need help with names!

Purely off the top of my head:

Gunport

Strafe

????

Hey Steve:

If you have Clairsentience through the senses of others defined as a telepathic link and you buy it for senses (or sense groups) that you do not have, can you receive the results of the target using the senses because those results would be in the target's mind. If not, do you have a suggested Advantage or Adder that would let you do that? Perhap a +1/4 similar to the Mind Control Advantage that lets you telepathically command the target even if you do not have Telepathy.

I hope this makes sense.

Thanks,

Rod

Re: Should this be called Dark Champions?

Not to sound rude, but personally I think if you buy a book just based on a title without reading any kind of description then you really don't have any right to complain that its contents don't meet your expectations.

Rod