SleepyDrug

Re: A Modest Proposal: an approach to character balancing

Curious about why every character needs to be combat effective against every character 1-1. A martial artist vs. a brick could result in the MA being unable to do direct damage.

Captain America beat Mister Hyde by martial throwing him off a cliff

Batman beat the General by tricking him onto a teleport platform and stranding him on an asteroid.

teamwork is the best way to create high damage. And well timed pushes.

Re: WILL based END pools

I'm not entirely sure what your asking about? Do you mean a second END stat in the figured characteristics? That has been suggested before for Fantasy wizards

Magic END = INT + EGO or EGO*2 or INT*2

But for a super-heroic setting what I think fits best is

Will-Power: 200 END / 0 REC End Reserve

More fitting with the rules

Re: Balancing of the Green Lantern

Green Lantern is just a powerful, versatile energy projector. No problem with the character concept. Look at Meteor Man III in Champions Universe; not too powerful.

The problem is you are looking at a DC Mega-God. DC Comics main heroes are virtually unmatchable. Why is Green Lantern any worse than Superman, Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, Flash, or others.

It's power level thats the question, not power set

Re: New Power: Adjustment Reserve

Or as another question, why isn't this built using Aid?

Re: Mental Elemental Control

I tend to judge EC fitness based on comics.

Mental Powers EC -- telepathy, mind control, mind link, mind scan, mental illusions, ego attack

this is your standard telepath. a common power set in comics. personally, i'd use a multi-power for this since most are instant powers. But no major issues.

Shape Shift, Flight, Dispel -- you used this example, but this is not a recognizable SFX nor is it a power set commonly seen in comics. Hence, not allowed.

I've allowed Classic Power Armor or Classic Brick. Since i usually ignore the ban against Zero End powers. I do keep a close eye on special powers though.

Re: Meta-game activities

How do you guys handle these meta-game thinking/acting problems?

 

1. Speaking 'in character' and then claiming that the insult or joke or challenge just uttered was 'out of character' when there is some foreshadowing that it was not well received;

In one group we had a clause for "statements of intent"...if you said it and it sounded like you meant it....you did it. Applied to actions and words.

2. When using minis to map out complex combat, using 'bird's eye view' to decide what actions to take, rather than relying on actual character perception. WHile this is allowable in a war game, in an RPG or 'real life' no one can take in a whole mass melee as if one were a casual observer...

not a big deal

3. Interspering joking around (always welcome at my table) with formulating a plan for minutes and minutes (not welcome in a surprise situation).

I egg them along....there is a time limit for this stuff

4. Using personal knowledge not defined as knowledge in possession of the character (either from personal background or information that is generally known to PLAYERS ina campaign or scenario, but not their CHARACTERS). (For example: GM: You get a cell phone call from your brother to come over to his house right away. Player: Ok, Im going to get a suitcase and put all of the knifes in the kitchen drawer in there, and Im going to go out to the garage and bring the chainsaw, as well. And my handgun...").

 

I am interested in how others deal with this stuff. I usually just disallow it by explaining metagame activities...

Expressly not allowed...the character must justify his out of character actions or be denied them

Re: Multiple Grabs

The problem is that Grab requires 2 arm' date=' to start with. You can hold with 1 arm, at -5 STR. This makes me believe that you can grab at most 2 targets normally.[/quote']

 

Correct. I think the method should depend on SFX.

 

Captain Forearm -- extra limbs (+2 arms)

 

Captain Stretchy - stretching

 

Captain Gigantic - AoE for Strength

Re: Wider, Shallower Variable Power Pools

Limited Power modifier depending on the size of the cap.

Re: Contact and favor pools

I tend to favor the broad organizational contacts myself.

11- Contact, organization, very useful (Pentagon)

representing various Pentagon contacts

Re: 2006 Schedule Blurbs

Nobles, Knights, And Necromancers:

Probably not unless it is mind-boggling great. I'm more into Champions than FH.

The Ultimate Mentalist:

I love the ultimate series and am sure to grab this one

Stronghold:

Yes!! I'll get this...esp if it also has the Guardhouse

Golden Age Champions: most likely ... but it depends on the final product. I'd like to see more write-ups of weapons and vehicles of the era, as well as characters.

Psychic Wars: maybe

The Celtic Bestiary: probably not

Thrilling Places: maybe, depends if i get into Pulp Hero

Tuala Morn: probably not

Pulp Resource Guide: probably, this sounds like it is easily mined for other genres

The Ultimate Skill: most likely

Villains, Vandals, And Vermin: Probably....

Horror Hero: no

Danger Zones: not likely

Champions Universe Update: maybe

The Underworld Sourcebook: probably

Re: 5th Edition Villain Updates

I'm redesigning Thunder. I had Lightning killed in a fight with a hero. Thunder is now working for the main crime lord who is slowly corrupting her bit by bit. She is beginning to display more electrical powers. She blames the hero for Lightning's death (but he was really murdered by Lazer at the bequest of the aforementioned crime lord)

Re: 5th Edition Villain Updates

I'm just starting. But then, I also only have Atlantis and Classic Enemies. But I have plans for Rainbow Archer, Power Crusher, Gremlin (who I gave bad luck powers), Wyvern, Griffon, Timemaster, Ladybug, Lethal Eel, Mako, Starfish

Re: Crew Served and Speed...

ok,...

so the tunnel machine has a crew 0f 17 to 32. The next question is what do all of those 30 crew do? Not all have roles that affect the TM's actions. For instance, TM Doctor? Security Chief?

Re: Super Day Jobs

Not sure I follow you....

the hero has a Public Identity. part of that is knowing who he is and WHERE to find him. If he has a job, it would also be public.

Ideas:

Police -- he'd be a great SWAT officer

Stunt Man/Actor -- already a celebrity

Military

Corporate Test Subject/Guard

Re: At what point can HERO sue?

White Wolf's WOD Combat book was essentially the UMA. They even included the UMA as a reference in the bibliography.

Anyone keep track of the many and varied huge and small hidden bases in thier world. Between Destroyer, Viper, the Warlord, IHA, PSI, Malachi (or Teleious if you prefer), Ultimates, Euro-Star, and various other groups that appear out of nowhere.

Re: Info from the Superhuman Survey

Probable Hideouts

Previous Arrest Record or Charges

Known Associates

Re: Why Are You Hitting Yourself?

It's No Conscious Control Missile Deflection and a HA Damage Shield. Most melee attacks will be physical.

Re: Mind Link = Detect Shape Shift?

I don't know if this is a huge problem. It's kind of like changing shape in front of someone and expecting to fool them. Just the limit of the power.

Re: UMA -- Ultimate Wrestler

First impression:

 

*whistle* You've done a nice job converting Professional Wrestling maneuvers into HERO terms.

 

I've only taken an initial look, but I've got a brief suggestion for your Submissions section: several of these moves (such as the Crippler Crossface and Liontamer/Sharpshooter) probably need to have limb-binding elements and/or STR for maintaining the hold elements (much as you do under Pins).

 

This wouldn't extend to more general moves like "Chokes", but many of the more elaborate Submissions certainly seem to involve tying down limbs.

I'll look into the point cost of adding strength to the lock=submissions

I've put this together and am looking for critiques. I did use The Ultimate Professional Wrestler by David West, with help from Cliff Christiansen as a reference.

as a note to those who haven't seen the UPW. Standing on a rope is worth +1d6 damage per level. Up to +3d6 for the top rope.

The first column is the name i use for the maneuver

The second is the martial maneuver or construct

The third is other wrestling moves that are considered the "same move" for game purposes. Most finishing moves are here.

Re: Speaking of Shapeshift

Let's take a simple example to solve this problem.

If I use shapeshift to make my wrists massively thicker in an attempt to avoid being cuffed or manacled by the local police.

We have two possibilities: either

A) My change is just a sense-affecting deception and i'll get cuffed because my wrists are not too big to fit inside the cuffs.

or...

My change is real and my body actually altered shape; hence, I will not be cuffed because the cuffs cannot fit around my wrists.

No other power is good for creating this effect. Either Shapeshift is a sense-affecting power and does not really occur a la Images or Invisibility. Or Shapeshift is a body-altering power a la Growth, or Extra Limbs and does really occur.

Which explanation fits the above

Re: The Knights of Justice

Actually, in our last session (i'm in the game), Justin WAS caught in his civies and needed the Retribution armor. One turn of standing still and hoping he didn't get shot while the rest of us fought the bad guy.

However, knowing him a bit better....i gotta say -- "he's naive?!?"

Since when?

Re: Speaking of Shapeshift

Question -- in Norse mythology Loki changed shape into a woman and gave birth. How would you build this in HERO? Shape-Shift.

If I want to change my hand to operate a control designed for an alien, how would I do that? Shape-Shift.

My hand really alters shape so I can manipulate the control. I don't *deceive* the control into letting me alter it. And Loki doesn't deceive anyone into letting him be pregnent.

Re: Speaking of Shapeshift

I'd go with the -1/2.....of course, i think the orthodox rules that Shape Shift requires buying senses is silly.