Silbeg

Re: Which one? They're both confusing.

The anything part makes me think Force Wall instead of Force Field; would you allow someone to stick a forcefield on a wall?

 

He might need to buy this spell as an MP.

I would have to agree that a Force Wall is probably the better way of handling this.

So, what we really need to know, what is the effect that is trying to be simulated? That may tell us more.

On another note... Both Force Wall, and FF (UAA) will put the END burden on the caster, while FF (UBO) will put the END burden on the recipient. Just this fact will tend to make the UBO version less useful than either the UAA or FW types.

Re: More Abusive characters

performing a a double Haymaker on a Stunned foe

I am not sure that this one is actually legal. Mind you, I could easily be wrong, but something screams that you cannot Sweep a Haymaker.

Whether or not this matters, but in the Hero System Combat Handbook, pg79, that you usually cannot use an attack with the Extra Time limitation and Sweep. I would think that the "next segment" aspect of the Haymaker maneuver would implicitly be "Extra Time".

So, I would probably disallow that combination.

Re: where do the villains get the MONEY?

For the super-intelligent villains... especially ones with some beef on the dole (read bricks)...

1) Go to Vegas/Reno/Gambling Mecca of your choice...

2) Play Blackjack, with the extraordinary perception skills (and eidetic memory) to count cards.

3) Rake in the winnings.

If the casinos try to muscle you, out muscle them.

Re: System Gurus...help?

Gotta agree with Comic.

Assuming that the Aggressor is burning through END, eventually he won't be able to keep attacking. The same would be true if the Aggressor uses charges... he'll run out eventually... and the Target will then be free to kick booty.

Assuming that both the Target and the Aggressor realize this, they'll probably want to shift tactics. The Target is playing a waiting game... waiting for the Aggressor to screw up. He actually holds the cards in this fight.

As already mentioned, the Target can wait out the Aggressor's END, or DFC towards the Aggressor (until he eventually is in the same hex as the Aggressor). He could also DFC away towards cover, perhaps escaping (if that is his goal). Finally, he could also use a hurry maneuver, and perhaps get the drop on the Aggressor (most likely this would happen if he has moved himself close to the Aggressor, and is ready to lay the thwack! down).

So, if I were the Target, I wouldn't be worried... unless I miss a DEX roll, that is.

Re: Poor Taste?

When he is "corpse-jacking" (you may have just named the power ), he bodily possesses the corpse, leaving no physical body behind.

Glad I could be of service?

Would this concept be less villain-like if he had no body of his own and was just an incorporeal spirit using the bodies to interact (as a hero) with the physical world?

I am not sure that it is possible to do this character as a truly heroic figure. He can act heroically, and would need to act as the dead hero he is animating, but I think there would still be some issues that the populace would have... necromancy will probably always be seen as evil (or at least creepy).

Another question (perhaps you already answered this one)... when he "corpse-jacks", does he at least temporarily repair the decay that has occurred, or do the "heroes" look like zombies?

Re: Poor Taste?

Here's another morality question...

What does he do with the corpses when he is done with them? Also, what happens do his body when he is "corpse-jacking" (assuming he has one)?

Re: Poor Taste?

I have to say that I don't really like the idea of this character. It really feels like it infringes on the memories of the "honored dead".

I am pretty sure that I wouldn't allow this in my campaign. If a player were to approach me with such an idea, I think I would have to limit him to the characters that he actually played...

I also see a play-balance issue. If the character is mimicking the powers of the dead hero, he will have to have enough points in his VPP (or whatever) to make it feasible. Copying the abilities badly would be a pretty bad thing to do, IMHO.

On the other hand, I could see a character whose the concept is a "fallen hero raised from the dead". So, for example, if HeroMan was a character that you had played in years past, and you wanted to play him again, you could use this as a reason that he has returned to life. Perhaps he is looking for revenge against his killer, or some other sort of thing.

Re: Do you have any "deal brekers" when it comes 6th edition?

The closest thing I can think of to a single change that would do that would be to remove the formulas for Figured Characteristics' date=' and making them just Secondaries (or whatever) with flat base amounts. That would either throw things so off kilter as to skew balance, or require so many changes to steady the balance that it's hardly recognizable. (That debate's over in the 6th Edition forum, though.) I wouldn't necessarily dump 6th Edition on that basis alone, but it's the best candidate.[/quote']

 

 

That is pretty much where I am as well, Bob. From what Steve was saying he was thinking of removing the "figured" part of figured characteristics, without rebalancing the point costs of the primary characteristics.

 

Ok, I can see where DEX is probably still pretty much ok at 3 points per... mostly. However, CON at 2 points, when it pretty much only gives resistance to Stunning? That is a big beef of mine.

 

However, generally speaking, my gaming group has been slow to adopt new versions, even though we may purchase them early.

 

But, given the 3' of HERO 5E books I currently own, I really don't want to have to reinvest all of that. So, if the mechanics of the game change so much that you cannot use characters without major retrofits, and if the game no longer feels like HERO, but a pen and paper version of a MMO, then...

Re: Tactical Skill Sharing

I think KS is probably right that it would require UAA, rather than Usable Simultaneously.

I would probably build it something like:

32: +2 with All Combat, Usable As Attack (+1), Area Of Effect (3" Radius; +1) (48 Active Points); Incantations (-1/4), Requires A Tactics Roll (Active Point penalty to Skill Roll is -1 per 20 Active Points; -1/4)

(probably need increased radius, though, and Selective... this gets really expensive very fast, but probably for good reason.

However, I would also argue that it is probably unnecessary. You could easily achieve similar results using tactics/teamwork. Teamwork used to coordinate attacks would reduce the target's DCV, which is probably good enough.

Re: What would be your take on She-Grond?

If you wanted to give her a reason to hate Interface, use Argent as her origin. They're responsible for Ogre iirc, why not an attempt to use genetic material from Grond to create superstrong metas (or even an attempt to recreate Grond's origin under more controlled circumstances)?

You know, it had never sunk in that Ogre was created by ARGENT in 5E, rather than by Mechanon (as I believe he was previously).

Funny the things you miss when reading new editions.

Re: X-plain the Rule of X?

The best thing about Rule of X is that it is more flexible than fixed AP caps and yet still provides some way of limiting the power level of the characters relative to each other.

 

The problem with rule of X is what to include. Too many things and it gets really complicated, too few and you have to impose other forms of capping as well.

 

If you have a stable group then a Rule of X normally comes to the fore naturally that doesn't have to be written down explicitly.

 

 

Doc

I have to agree with you on all of that, DD!

My group has played around with different formula, and never were really that happy with what we came up with.

I try to stay away from AP limits, because they can easily ban certain character builds. Generally, we try to follow the "if I can do more damage, I shouldn't hit as often" and the "if I am going to get hit a lot, I should have higher defenses".

We have basically decided not to decide on a specific formula. So, the burden falls on me.

Re: Your favorite Hero Codes of Honor

While this doesn't sound heroic, it does seem to be how the North Force thinks...

"Kick him in the Jimmy"

closely followed by...

"Never hit a man when he's down. Kick him, its easier."

Re: Characteristic inflation

Yeah' date=' Its the same issue as VIPER agents being as tough as Cyberline enhanced Primus agents..."WTF? That is some workout program they have in prison!"[/quote']

 

Well, remember, while the agents that don't qualify for Cyberline enhancements just go back to their original Service, the VIPER agents that don't succeed in VIPER's training/enhancement program get sent to the trash heap... or river... or...

Re: More Abusive characters

oh... the autofire AE NND, ALVD or Penetrating...

Can you say "advantage stacker"?

Re: Martial Arts Whatever happened to...

Some of the options from 4th Edition UMA and Ninja Hero like the additional Exerts and the pricing structure for applying Advantages to MA maneuvers? Have they been mentioned anywhere in 5th or discarded?

There are rules in UMA for applying advantages to MA.. I do not have the book in front of me for a page citation, but it is probably in the index.

Re: Silence is Golden

What if he has an attack Multipower? Can you link to a Multipower?

Technically, no ( see http://herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1995&highlight=linked+multipower)

Well, I would probably say that his iconic power of his would not be in a multipower at all. It is always available.

But, to answer your question directly, I believe you can. You could even link both ways...

So, outside of the MP, you would have the Voice power, with the linked to the MP (so he couldn't use the his voice without a slot being active). This would cost -7 RP (Voice, being a 20pt power, which the character has by default. Buying the limitation would make it cost 13 points, netting -7 points for this buy). I might reduce this to a -1/4, depending on the nature of the slots ...

As a GM, I would be hesitant to link the whole MP, but would be fine with linking a single slot. That way, you know what power he is using when he is really talking.

Re: Silence is Golden

I built it with trigger because if he works the same way Blackbolt does, if he makes any sound with his vocal cords and his mouth is open, he uses his power automatically.

I think that this make Voice linked to the Sonic Attack, rather than the triggered power.

Since he can lower his voice (probably takes a Power skill check), he can reduce the amount of damage proportionally to the volume of his voice.

This would be, to me, the best way of handling this power. The primary power here would be the voice attack.

Now, an argument could be made to have these powers doubly-linked... as the voice attack requires that he speaks, right?

Re: Simulate Claustrophobia/Cabin Fever

On a more serious note, Aroooo,

I think you have an interesting start.

(FYI - that would be "Born and Bred" - foodstuffs probably don't have that much of an effect )

Situationally, I would decrease the speed of "degradation" in large, uncrowded ships,and increase it in smaller or overcrowded ships.

You could probably create a factor based on the percentage of overcrowding.

So, if a Scout/Courier (with 4 total cabins) has 8 people in it, then there would be a X2 factor on the "cabin fever". However, in a 400 ton Subsidized Merchant (5 crew cabins, 13 passenger) is carrying only 11 people as opposed to its normal 22 (full complement of non-low berth passengers and crew), the degradation of morale would be at a X1/2?

Or something like that. Being in a massive ship that is under crewed would have other stresses.

Thinking about it all, I would do it as a morale modifier of sorts... A lot of thought should go into it, but...

Re: Simulate Claustrophobia/Cabin Fever

Sometimes wiki is on the mark' date=' sometimes not. In this case, not.[/quote']

 

What?

The Internet is WRONG?

 

How can that be?

 

Re: Tracer Bullet

That would give OTHER people the ability to see the Images Power.

Not sure if that is a problem myself, g-a.

Now, I don't recall the exact rules from DC - but if it just grants images to radio, wouldn't any one be able to pick it up anyways. Sure, they may need to find the correct frequency... but... well unless it was bought in such a way that only you could pick it up (no, I don't like that, either).

On the other hand, I'd probably go simpler.

Since Images is a ranged power, this should work fine.

Now, you'll probably have other issues... since there would likely be a noise when the bug hits the car, etc...

Re: What rule don't people know?

Oh I know that some people don't use +1 StunX as written because they don't agree with it. But a lot of people don't use it because they don't realize how it is supposed to work. And the Silbeg was asking for substantiation, so I provided it.

And I thank you for it!

Yet another rule to go up on my "discovered rules" page..

see: http://www.silbeg.com/FPCA/rulings.html for details (honestly, this one will get on tomorrow.

Re: Identifying Stars

If it's just flavor' date=' I'd go with either SS:Astrophysics, AK:The Galaxy, and Detect: Star Spectroscopy/Cosmic Rays/Whatever; OR Navigation: Space at high enough levels where he or she can pull off "impossible" stunts, at least 20- or so. Navigation at 30- should cover it nicely, but I think that will run you a fair number of points.[/quote']

 

This definitely sounds like an AK issue.

So, AK: Milky Way Galaxy and Navigation would be good.

 

Now, if you need to have the ability to analyze a star's spectrum...

Perhaps then:

5 Detect Solar Spectrum, Analyze (based on Sight).

 

I would say that the distance wouldn't be a factor for this, since you can see the stars for a long distance.

 

 

(Go go Gojira to 2000+ rep!)

Re: Silence is Golden

Well' date=' this isn't perfect but it is how I would do it. I would take a 5 pt. Physical Limitation Disadvantage "Voice is Linked to [Destructive Power']".

I would even go for more than a 5 pt disad. Mute is a 15 pt disad itself (All the Time, Slightly Impairing).

I would think, then, that this would be more like "Frequently, Greatly Impairing", or worse.

Hmm... for voice being a 20pt power (Sense), that may require some changes to my Soundwave character. He is mute, but as a side-effect of his powers. (He absorbs sound, and projects them out again).

Re: Cheap and Effective

Flying Dodge. Seems like some of the best 4 points you can spend, given the rulings on how it works. It makes you mostly immune* to melee and AoEs any time you're willing and able to spend a phase. Basically Dive For Cover that you can't fail, that moves you your full movement, AND leaves you at +4 DCV instead of prone at 1/2 DCV.

 

 

*Mostly Immune = Melee by people with more stretching than you have movement is still dangerous, as are AoEs with a larger radius than you have movement. Also ineffective if you dont have anywhere to move to (fights in a small locked room) But hey, it is only 4 points.

That's why we've house ruled it that the attack falls before the movement, for balance purposes. If you want to dive for cover, you need to use the correct maneuver.

Re: What rule don't people know?

Despite buying Increased STUN Multiplier' date=' the -1 on the Multiplier is still there, is applied first, and that result is adjusted to 1 if below 1. THEN the [i']Increased STUN Multiplier[/i] is applied.

 

For ex: a 1d6 RKA, Increased STUN Multiplier(+¼) rolls a 4 for BODY, and a 1 for STUN Multiplier. This produces 8 STUN, not 4.

Do you have a page refrernce on that?

So, you are saying that the possible results for the multiplier (w +1 increased stun) are:

2,2,3,4,5,6

not 1,2,3,4,5,6 ???

That's definitely news to me... and news that is important to know