RDU Neil

DC Comics showed they could do a successful reboot -- once. Their successive reboots were highly questionable. Warner has not had even one such success to inspire confidence. Moreover, Crisis on Infinite Earths was conceived of from the beginning as a universe-resetting event, not tacked on to something else as an afterthought. And it was spaced out over twelve issues in an entire year, not crammed into one movie.

Of course!
 
Wait 'til you see what's happened to the old guard, as well. Remember Twister? Corona? Azteca? And how about those normals? Benjamin Morgan, Thaddeus Long, and Harvey Waltrip... darn near everyone is getting an update. Who's Harvey Waltrip? He's the 44-year-old homeless man who was quoted in the book. Wait until you see what he's doing now. "Where Are They Now?" will be its own chapter. Heck, maybe even it's own supplement!
 
We'll have plenty of new blood, as well. The Justice Foundation is going to have a different (yet familiar) feel to it.

Ilan played in our local Champions game ages ago. He's a great guy.

He is indeed! And like his movie role, he is a total nerd who loves games and minis and all that!

This brings back memories. In my campaign, I figured out, based on the old map, exactly where in California fit the local geography of San Angelo, and placed it there... somewhat mid-way between LA and San Fran. It was considered a sleepy little burg compared to the other big cities, but had a growing metahuman population... then the cataclysm hit. LA was wiped off the map, and millions of refugees ended up in San Angelo and its supers became famous for trying to build new infrastructure, treading the line between a city falling into chaos of tent cities and factionalism, or becoming a city of the future using advanced technology and superpowers to create something new.
 
A decade later, the final Grand Tekken was being held in San Angelo, as the worlds greatest martial masters gathered to fight for the power of the Black Dragon. We never learned the results, because the alien invasion that lasted another decade and wiped out three quarters of the world population took place... and we've never returned to San Angelo in the campaign. 
 
Now you've got me wondering... what DID become of that city? There was at least one future timeline explored in the decades of game play where the entire planet was a wilderness, except for one, shining city... The City... where the "Raised" lived... a civilization, the last civilization, of metahumans... maybe... maybe...

You are hitting on one of my major peeves about 6th Edition. This "everyone can missile deflect" rule is a classic example of "logical internal extrapolation at the expense of actual good game play."
 
For most of the life of HERO in all its forms, Missile Deflection as a Skill, Power or whatever never raised an eyebrow. Everyone had a base chance to Block a HtH attack, but not everyone had a base chance to block a ranged attack. Somewhat illogical when you state it like that... but NOBODY thought it was a problem.

Why? Because any MEANINGFUL use of missile deflection by a character was truly a skill/ability/power beyond that of a "normal person."  It made sense that it was "special and needed a special ability on the sheet."
 
Example: I played a lot of tennis in my life. For all intents and purposes, most racket sports are "missile deflection sports" to a great extent. A projectile comes at you and you have to maneuver to knock it away... in fact, you have to learn "Missile REFLECTION" to do well, because you aren't just knocking the ball away, you are sending it back at a specific target on the other side of the net. Especially when you are "at the net" and you aren't stroking the ball, but punching it with short, deflective strikes.
 
So... you could argue that "well, anyone can play tennis, so anyone SHOULD be able to missile deflect... right?"   To this I say... no, not at all. For multiple reasons.
 
1. Anyone CAN try to throw up their hand and knock a tennis ball away as it heads for their face at speed. BUT... only someone who practices a LOT and develops techniques, would be able to actually do it at all reliably, and it would be highly difficult. i.e. They'd have points spent on a skill or ability.
 
2. Anyone CAN take a tennis racket at try to knock a tennis ball away as it heads for their face at speed. BUT... only someone who practices a LOT and develops techniques, would be able to actually do it at all reliably, even though the racket might make it easier. i.e. They'd have points spent on a skill or ability.
 
3. And this shows a lack of focus on the axioms of HERO. Rules and mechanics are sometimes based on "This is mechanically, internally consistent" and other times seem to be based on, "This is trying to reflect a part of reality we assume is baseline in the game."  In the case of Missile Deflection (or the lack thereof) they seem to be picking "internally consistent with Block on a mechanical front" vs. "does this reflect reality"... but at the same time, neither of these is what should be the deciding factor. Axiomatic of HERO is simulating/building action adventure characters and game play scenarios... and the only MEANINGFUL missile deflection in that milieu is a special ability. Nobody cares if you can play tennis in action adventure scenarios, what matters is whether you can effectively deflect or reflect an otherwise dangerous projectile/beam attack that demonstrates why you are special and a HERO.
 
4. Hell, sticking with the tennis example... even if I was a top level tennis pro... if I was "at the net" and instead of a tennis ball, my opponent was drilling a golf ball at me... well *&^%!! that! I'd be lucky if I could get my racket in place in time, and if I was at all aware, I'd be hitting the deck (Dodge) and not even trying to deflect. One... it is a lot harder to hit a smaller (just a bit smaller) faster (just a bit faster) projectile. My "Tennis Ball blocking skill!" I paid points for is not at all appropriate for this new, only slightly different scenario. Now... with time, and potentially a lot of brain damage, I might be able to learn a skill of "Deflect Golf Ball with Tennis Racket!" but no human would be very good at that except in extremis, and Missile Reflection, like actually placing the return shot... highly unlikely. We haven't even gotten to thrown rocks or hard hit balls in dangerous, random combat scenarios... let alone arrows or bullets, yet... and we are at the very edge of human ability. And even in those scenarios where a human somehow learned this, it would still be an extreme skill that should be reflected as a significant point expenditure and defined the rules.
 
5. Ultimately, the only MEANINGFUL missile deflections in the game are as above... deflecting ATTACKS (without being damaged) that are too small and fast and coming from range that most people can't see them, or react in time... thus someone who CAN do this is beyond normal... they have a ability/power/talent that should be called out... so put the damn power back in the book.

Ronin, the first Bourne, Heat... anything by Michael Mann really, even his bad stuff... pretty much my milieu. The fact that Netflix will produce a high quality bit of action/drama like Triple Frontier makes me very happy. 

Was this a deliberate mis-spelling or have the Kree adopted a new logo?
 

He is indeed! And like his movie role, he is a total nerd who loves games and minis and all that!

Before we get started...does anyone want to get out? - Steve Rogers, always a gentleman.

No, the best thing about this thread is that no one's unhappy with the costume. 

Humm...what is there Telemundo/Univision affiliate? Also, what digital non-news channels are in the city? Movies? Comet? Action? MeTV? Perhaps some new channels like Super (all superhero media most of the time), and Toonview (non-E.I. cartoons which you can't see on Cartoon Network).

In case folks hadn't heard, here's the recent posting on our Facebook page:

We’re working on an update to our original San Angelo: City of Heroes product line, bringing the Origins Award-nominated sourcebook and setting into the 21st century! No definitive release date yet but we are shooting for Summer 2020. We’ll post updates here so be sure to follow us to get the latest info!
 
I'll be posting material and sneak peaks, as well as answering questions, in this thread.
 
See you at Liberty Square!

SACoH Facebook Page | Twitter: @SACoHNews | IG: @SACoHNews |  Website: SACoH.com
 

Yeah so much was great in Infinity War that I'm willing to give them a pass on that one quick fight.  I figure they were rampaging around in an Asgardian ship -- maybe it has really high Def and Body internally.
 
Absolute best fight choreography of any superhero movie is still Winter Soldier though.

Right. Just like the other five in the Winter Soldier program who were put into stasis because they were incredibly dangerous and impossible to control.

My understanding was he's been super-soldiered as well via Arnim Zola's experimentation.

2014 Godzilla was excellent.  Personally, some of the kaiju genre gets a little goofy, I'd rather they stick to what they've been doing.

This is the classic example of HERO in headache mode. Something that is simple in concept and basically more flavor than functional is going to require complex over-engineering to make possible.
 
Old school... go with STR, Indirect, call it good... which would handle 99% of all actual game play uses.
 
currently... some kind of frankenstein MP for an astronomical cost and wast of time over-engineering it.
 
Or... go new school with old school... it is STR with a Custom Advantage: Ghost Limb... and come up with what you think your description... "Extremity is sometimes a bit out of phase with the real world. Like if he's gesturing broadly, his fingertips might pass through a desk or a wall but so quickly that the people he's talking to aren't quite sure if they actually saw what they saw. In game terms, the extremity can reach an arm (or another limb) through something and manipulate things on the other side with X STR.  Character can do stuff like open a locked door or window, flip on the lights, adjust the display inside a jewelry case, feel what's in someone's pockets, feel what's inside a lock-box, drop candy from a vending machine without paying for it, pick up a piece of paper on a desk and bring it close to the window to read, etc. Anything you could do with your arm or leg, he can do with whatever length of limb the character has stuck through to the other side. He can't see through the barrier unless the barrier is normally transparent.
 
If someone grabs his arm while it's pushed through something, he can only exert X STR when trying to pull his arm back through.
 
The arm physically exists in the intervening space so if, for example, he accidentally pushes his arm into the power cable going to a light switch, he could electrocute himself. And he can feel the difference between various substances so he can feel the difference between empty space, studs, nails, Sheetrock, etc. when sticking his hands through a wall."... is worth.
 
So... how much is that worth? It really comes down to "Can't bypass defenses, but could bypass barriers with attacks. Can bypass barriers to manipulate objects on the other side."
 
I guess my only question comes down to the consistency of your description. 1. I'm not sure why it would hurt the guy if he pushed his hand through a power cable, but doesn't hurt going through a wall of razor glass? Just seems odd, unless you are say, "Ghost limb can't pass though energy or energy barriers" which is cool. Just include that.   2. If someone grabs it, why can't he just ghost away and pull back? Clearly no one could grab his hand while ghosting through the wall, and he has to "unghost" the hand to manipulate things, but pulling it back he'd have to ghost it again... so why can't he just "reghost" his hand if someone grabs it?
 
Work those two kinks out and Me... I'd rule +3/4... it is more than just indirect, but less than double the STR cost. Seems fair... good to go.
 
I honestly think HERO works WAY better in cases where, instead of over-engineering a bunch of effects into a gross kludge, you just come up with a ruling and base the cost on comparison of value to what is already defined. 

This is the classic example of HERO in headache mode. Something that is simple in concept and basically more flavor than functional is going to require complex over-engineering to make possible.
 
Old school... go with STR, Indirect, call it good... which would handle 99% of all actual game play uses.
 
currently... some kind of frankenstein MP for an astronomical cost and wast of time over-engineering it.
 
Or... go new school with old school... it is STR with a Custom Advantage: Ghost Limb... and come up with what you think your description... "Extremity is sometimes a bit out of phase with the real world. Like if he's gesturing broadly, his fingertips might pass through a desk or a wall but so quickly that the people he's talking to aren't quite sure if they actually saw what they saw. In game terms, the extremity can reach an arm (or another limb) through something and manipulate things on the other side with X STR.  Character can do stuff like open a locked door or window, flip on the lights, adjust the display inside a jewelry case, feel what's in someone's pockets, feel what's inside a lock-box, drop candy from a vending machine without paying for it, pick up a piece of paper on a desk and bring it close to the window to read, etc. Anything you could do with your arm or leg, he can do with whatever length of limb the character has stuck through to the other side. He can't see through the barrier unless the barrier is normally transparent.
 
If someone grabs his arm while it's pushed through something, he can only exert X STR when trying to pull his arm back through.
 
The arm physically exists in the intervening space so if, for example, he accidentally pushes his arm into the power cable going to a light switch, he could electrocute himself. And he can feel the difference between various substances so he can feel the difference between empty space, studs, nails, Sheetrock, etc. when sticking his hands through a wall."... is worth.
 
So... how much is that worth? It really comes down to "Can't bypass defenses, but could bypass barriers with attacks. Can bypass barriers to manipulate objects on the other side."
 
I guess my only question comes down to the consistency of your description. 1. I'm not sure why it would hurt the guy if he pushed his hand through a power cable, but doesn't hurt going through a wall of razor glass? Just seems odd, unless you are say, "Ghost limb can't pass though energy or energy barriers" which is cool. Just include that.   2. If someone grabs it, why can't he just ghost away and pull back? Clearly no one could grab his hand while ghosting through the wall, and he has to "unghost" the hand to manipulate things, but pulling it back he'd have to ghost it again... so why can't he just "reghost" his hand if someone grabs it?
 
Work those two kinks out and Me... I'd rule +3/4... it is more than just indirect, but less than double the STR cost. Seems fair... good to go.
 
I honestly think HERO works WAY better in cases where, instead of over-engineering a bunch of effects into a gross kludge, you just come up with a ruling and base the cost on comparison of value to what is already defined. 

This is the classic example of HERO in headache mode. Something that is simple in concept and basically more flavor than functional is going to require complex over-engineering to make possible.
 
Old school... go with STR, Indirect, call it good... which would handle 99% of all actual game play uses.
 
currently... some kind of frankenstein MP for an astronomical cost and wast of time over-engineering it.
 
Or... go new school with old school... it is STR with a Custom Advantage: Ghost Limb... and come up with what you think your description... "Extremity is sometimes a bit out of phase with the real world. Like if he's gesturing broadly, his fingertips might pass through a desk or a wall but so quickly that the people he's talking to aren't quite sure if they actually saw what they saw. In game terms, the extremity can reach an arm (or another limb) through something and manipulate things on the other side with X STR.  Character can do stuff like open a locked door or window, flip on the lights, adjust the display inside a jewelry case, feel what's in someone's pockets, feel what's inside a lock-box, drop candy from a vending machine without paying for it, pick up a piece of paper on a desk and bring it close to the window to read, etc. Anything you could do with your arm or leg, he can do with whatever length of limb the character has stuck through to the other side. He can't see through the barrier unless the barrier is normally transparent.
 
If someone grabs his arm while it's pushed through something, he can only exert X STR when trying to pull his arm back through.
 
The arm physically exists in the intervening space so if, for example, he accidentally pushes his arm into the power cable going to a light switch, he could electrocute himself. And he can feel the difference between various substances so he can feel the difference between empty space, studs, nails, Sheetrock, etc. when sticking his hands through a wall."... is worth.
 
So... how much is that worth? It really comes down to "Can't bypass defenses, but could bypass barriers with attacks. Can bypass barriers to manipulate objects on the other side."
 
I guess my only question comes down to the consistency of your description. 1. I'm not sure why it would hurt the guy if he pushed his hand through a power cable, but doesn't hurt going through a wall of razor glass? Just seems odd, unless you are say, "Ghost limb can't pass though energy or energy barriers" which is cool. Just include that.   2. If someone grabs it, why can't he just ghost away and pull back? Clearly no one could grab his hand while ghosting through the wall, and he has to "unghost" the hand to manipulate things, but pulling it back he'd have to ghost it again... so why can't he just "reghost" his hand if someone grabs it?
 
Work those two kinks out and Me... I'd rule +3/4... it is more than just indirect, but less than double the STR cost. Seems fair... good to go.
 
I honestly think HERO works WAY better in cases where, instead of over-engineering a bunch of effects into a gross kludge, you just come up with a ruling and base the cost on comparison of value to what is already defined. 

Hulk vs Thanos was the worst fight sequence in any Marvel movie to date.  It was so blatantly two CGI figures with no real sense of power or the incredible strength being displayed.  It just looks like they tussle a little (causing little actual damage to their environment) and then Hulk goes to sleep

I much prefer playing and GM-ing with 4e Missile Deflection rules. I know what I'm getting and not getting in every situation, simply and easily.
 
As far as IRL goes when I was much younger, my friend and I saw someone on That's Incredible! snatch an arrow out of the air with his bare hands. The guy was a trained martial artist of some sort, had years of experience, and was standing to the side as the arrow was going by.
 
We thought, "We could do that too" but (not being totally stupid) we decided to start out by catching darts out of the air. (Darts at the time were the only ranged weapon magic-users could use in D&D so we thought, why not?)
 
My friend learned to catch darts out of the air, which I was throwing deliberately slowly and predictably, in about five minutes. After a few hours, I could catch about a third of the ones he threw, deflect or got poked a third  of the time and miss entirely the rest of the time. I found out later than I had some rather severe uncorrected depth perception problems compared to everyone else in the world so looking back on it, I don;t feel as bad about my lack of success as I did at the time.
 
But that was with each of us throwing deliberately slowly and the other knowing in advance when the dart was coming. When the speeds went up even moderately, neither of us were successful (and neither of us were stupid enough to try standing directly in front of the dart and let the other attempt to throw it hard).
 
As a game mechanic, I just can't believe Missile Deflection as an everyman skill.

THIS! I mean... MCU movies have been this smart in the past. They've had writers who understood that even a small measure of subtlety and misdirection can turn something simplistic into something resonant. You can take a scene and layer it... the surface layer of what is happening, the 4th wall layer of what the audience sees that the characters don't, the subtext layer of what it thematically represents... hell the inuendo or double meaning layer, where a joke for the kids means something else for the adults... whatever... there are so many ways good writers can create depth in a film...
 
... and Capt. Marvel hand none of them. It existed entirely in the literal surface layer. This is what I meant by "dumbed down". 

Wait, NOW we're not allowed to be tedious!?!
 
There goes my other 10%.
 
 
So much for me.  Peace out, y'all. 

We can't waste people's time?
 
Great, there goes about 75% of my posts.
 
 
 
Ok, ok...90%.