RDU Neil

I'm always bummed that the scientists get the blame for all the bad stuff. Scientists are just trying to prove or disprove a theory. It is the engineers who actually put the science into practice and make bad stuff.
 

 
 

I'm always bummed that the scientists get the blame for all the bad stuff. Scientists are just trying to prove or disprove a theory. It is the engineers who actually put the science into practice and make bad stuff.
 

 
 

I'm always bummed that the scientists get the blame for all the bad stuff. Scientists are just trying to prove or disprove a theory. It is the engineers who actually put the science into practice and make bad stuff.
 

 
 

Ehh, if you share a house with a cat, you get used to the monarchy system of government.

Perhaps the Canadian populace does not live in mortal fear of the police?

Manifest Destiny, the Second Amendment, more lead in the water...take your pick.

Why Canadian police are so good at not shooting people

A court has stopped the Taint Team from Scrubbing the Taint in the Cohen case.  Now it will be done by a Special Master, which just makes it sound dirtier.  The Special Master will Scrub the Taint while everyone watches. *immature giggles*

I don't understand everyone's issue with the Red Skull. I thought he was exactly like the Skull from the comics, and fit the pulp villain mold quite well.

Thanos was interesting, but his base motivation is so nonsensical that it undermines the excellent portrayal. I'd personally put Alexander Pierce much higher, and Zemo in the top five.  

In wrestling with the "what is normal?" issue, and how does that translate to "essentially human characters who have superhuman levels of success and survivability" in my campaign, I came up with the concept of the Adept. Within the world, there were classifications for the kinds of metahumans that were known and studied/cataloged (the Kirby-Ellis Scale I called it... heh) and it took notice of people who, in any scientific examination, would be nothing more than an incredibly fit and healthy human being, but seemed capable of doing incredible things.
 
I took the concept from the idea that even in the real world humans can demonstrate some really amazing feats, or train to be really really incredible at one or two tightly controlled and defined activities... but most of these feats are one-offs or only in a very controlled environment. What if there were humans who could perform at that level consistently and in chaotic, ad hoc environments (like combat)?  These were called Adepts. They were hard to identify except in what they demonstrated over time. Nothing that was "impossible" just usually improbable, except these Adepts do it all the time. (It was usually some kind of special origina... ninja training or traumatic event, whatever... that enabled someone to break through normal human levels and become an adept.)
 
From a stat point of view, Adepts had no limitations except what we as a play group made sense... so 27-30 Dex and 6-7 SPDs were possible. 25 STR, etc. The idea that the amazing aspects of humanity that show up in rare and single instances across the population, well these Adepts had many of those aspects in one person.

It was a nice conceit, and was a recognized form of "otherness" within the game world, even though they couldn't technically be called metahuman, they were a recognized class of such.  So, in a game where there were plenty of characters that had stats that fell within NCM, there were the truly elite who could be more than that.

The point was, even these Adepts were outclassed by true metahumans. Once the games started to move into the Avengers/Authority level of power, as some of our sub-campaigns did, the Batman/Daredevil types often couldn't keep up. This was felt as appropriate for the way our games played out... addressing Massey's issue of not trying to force certain character concepts into every campaign. If an Adept ALSO had access to high-tech, or magic or whatever, then maybe they'd gain the raw power and defenses to stand with the Vanguard... but no, none of us ever felt that a pure Batman type belonged at that level.
 
To me, this was always an important aspect of defining the world you are gaming in. So many comic book tropes simply don't translate well if you try to put ALL of them in the same campaign and hope for consistency and verisimilitude. Comics aren't consistent, and contradict themselves all the time. So a Champions campaign needs to create internally consistent standards for itself, and then that helps define which of the tropes will be acceptable, and which will not.

A good test of that, IMO, is a Batman type character... how they are statted and defined, and what precedent does that set for the campaign. If Doc Shadow's version above is acceptable (and for the most part, he'd have fit right into my campaign as a very experienced Adept character) then that sets a precedent for what is acceptable in the game. If you also have well trained spec-ops agent types, whose stats are all in the NCM range, but are still considered really good/well trained humans, then, IMO, you have to explain why they are so much less than the "also human" Batman-esque guy.  For me, this explanation was the Adept class. The one in ten thousand highly trained spec-ops dudes, who transcends and becomes legendary.
 
To me, it is about having an internally consistent universe, more than obeying certain source material tropes (that often make little sense in the first place).

This... a hundred times this! Aligning expectations, and realizing that not every build or character concept fits every game is really at the core. We used to joke about someone building a Batman-esque character... "Which one? The pulp crime fighter? The dark knight detective? The master martial artist? Or the one who defeats an army of white martians with a book of matches?"

It required the group really talking about expectations and standards for the campaign at hand, and building characters accordingly. One of the worst things that can happen is a player building their character in a vacuum and expecting the game play to just accommodate him. The beauty and bane of Hero is that things can be built in so many different ways, that there is no portability between campaigns. The "right build" is campaign specific.

Moved a lot of quotes from the NGD
 
 
I think this aligns well with RDUNeil's comments above - it's largely about defining campaign expectations.  If you're expecting to play Justice League Batman, and you get Watchmen Rorschach instead, while Captain Atom/Dr. Manhattan gets to keep the same power scale in either game, that's not a good result.  The player expectations and campaign expectations don't align.
 
 
I think "cinematic reality" is defined by the source material.  If I'm playing Dark Champions, I expect McClane to fall within the range of that genre.  But if I'm playing Four Colour Champions, then I expect my character to fall within that genre's expectations.  BTW, why is a mutant not a "normal human" outside his mutations?  More to the point, isn't a Sorceror just a different type of highly trained normal?  Bruce Wayne learned science and martial arts.  Stephen Strange learned spellcasting and the mystic arts.  At least Bats' training was physical, so doesn't he have a better claim to high physical stats?
 
Again, it comes down to campaign expectations, but if I am expecting an MCU game, then Black Widow, Black Panther and Black Arrow Hawkeye should be playable, useful characters alongside Cap (who in many writes, is simply a man enhanced to peak human physical abilities, driven and trained to maximize his potential - not MCU, where the serum has moved his STR, at least, beyond human, but most of his comic book career), Iron Man (who is a normal guy, albeit an incredibly smart one, inside that shell) and Thor.
 
 
The problem is a lot of different cinema genres, as you point out above.  Aligning everyone's expectations is important if everyone is going to enjoy the game.  I've certainly played in some great games where a character concept or two had to be put on the shelf for another time as that character would just not fit with this game.
 
 
OK.  I don't recall the Toon mechanics that well, so I'll leave that to someone else.
 
Cut & paste I can do!
 
One further comment - adjusting the STR chart.  Perhaps the easiest adjustment would be to add "Can barely lift and stagger forward" at the top of the column for maximum lift, and add columns like "Casual lift", "Encumbered" and "Heavy Load".  That would practically halve the lift for those of us who have always used "10 STR can lift 100 kg" to mean "Spend 1 END and fly around carrying your buddy or a washing machine - both if you have STR 15"
 
 

In wrestling with the "what is normal?" issue, and how does that translate to "essentially human characters who have superhuman levels of success and survivability" in my campaign, I came up with the concept of the Adept. Within the world, there were classifications for the kinds of metahumans that were known and studied/cataloged (the Kirby-Ellis Scale I called it... heh) and it took notice of people who, in any scientific examination, would be nothing more than an incredibly fit and healthy human being, but seemed capable of doing incredible things.
 
I took the concept from the idea that even in the real world humans can demonstrate some really amazing feats, or train to be really really incredible at one or two tightly controlled and defined activities... but most of these feats are one-offs or only in a very controlled environment. What if there were humans who could perform at that level consistently and in chaotic, ad hoc environments (like combat)?  These were called Adepts. They were hard to identify except in what they demonstrated over time. Nothing that was "impossible" just usually improbable, except these Adepts do it all the time. (It was usually some kind of special origina... ninja training or traumatic event, whatever... that enabled someone to break through normal human levels and become an adept.)
 
From a stat point of view, Adepts had no limitations except what we as a play group made sense... so 27-30 Dex and 6-7 SPDs were possible. 25 STR, etc. The idea that the amazing aspects of humanity that show up in rare and single instances across the population, well these Adepts had many of those aspects in one person.

It was a nice conceit, and was a recognized form of "otherness" within the game world, even though they couldn't technically be called metahuman, they were a recognized class of such.  So, in a game where there were plenty of characters that had stats that fell within NCM, there were the truly elite who could be more than that.

The point was, even these Adepts were outclassed by true metahumans. Once the games started to move into the Avengers/Authority level of power, as some of our sub-campaigns did, the Batman/Daredevil types often couldn't keep up. This was felt as appropriate for the way our games played out... addressing Massey's issue of not trying to force certain character concepts into every campaign. If an Adept ALSO had access to high-tech, or magic or whatever, then maybe they'd gain the raw power and defenses to stand with the Vanguard... but no, none of us ever felt that a pure Batman type belonged at that level.
 
To me, this was always an important aspect of defining the world you are gaming in. So many comic book tropes simply don't translate well if you try to put ALL of them in the same campaign and hope for consistency and verisimilitude. Comics aren't consistent, and contradict themselves all the time. So a Champions campaign needs to create internally consistent standards for itself, and then that helps define which of the tropes will be acceptable, and which will not.

A good test of that, IMO, is a Batman type character... how they are statted and defined, and what precedent does that set for the campaign. If Doc Shadow's version above is acceptable (and for the most part, he'd have fit right into my campaign as a very experienced Adept character) then that sets a precedent for what is acceptable in the game. If you also have well trained spec-ops agent types, whose stats are all in the NCM range, but are still considered really good/well trained humans, then, IMO, you have to explain why they are so much less than the "also human" Batman-esque guy.  For me, this explanation was the Adept class. The one in ten thousand highly trained spec-ops dudes, who transcends and becomes legendary.
 
To me, it is about having an internally consistent universe, more than obeying certain source material tropes (that often make little sense in the first place).

I played this Batman rip off homage for several years. He never had NCM. It just didn't seem right.
 
Nighthawk
 
Val    Char   Cost   Roll Notes
   25      STR        15      14-    Lift 800.0kg; 5d6 [2]
   27      DEX       51      14-    OCV:  9/DCV:  9
   25      CON       30      14-
   18      BODY    16      13-
   18      INT          8       13-    PER Roll 13-
   20      EGO        20      13-    ECV:  7
   40      PRE        30      17-    PRE Attack:  8d6
   14      COM       2       12-
 
10+8    PD           5                 Total:  10/18 PD (0/8 rPD)
10+8    ED           5                 Total:  10/18 ED (0/8 rED)
    8       SPD        43                Phases:  2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12
   15      REC        10
   65      END        8
   65      STUN     21      Total Characteristic Cost:  270
 
Movement:                    Running:                9"/18"
                                        Leaping:                 20"/20"
                                        Swimming:             2"/4"
                                        Swinging:              40"/60"
 
Cost  Powers                                                              END
16        Insulated resistweave :  Armor (8 PD/8 ED) (24 Active Points); IIF (-¼), Real Armor (-¼)
31        Energized Cape:  Force Field (50 PD/50 ED) (Protect Carried Items); 1 Continuing Charge lasting 1 Extra Phase (-1 ½), Lockout - Nighthawk may take no actions while cape is energized (-½), OIF (Focus - Capeand Utility Belt; -½)     [1 cc]
11        Energized Cape II:  Knockback Resistance -20"; 1 Continuing Charge lasting 1 Extra Phase (-1 ½), Linked (Energized Cape; -½), OIF (Focus - Cape and Utility Belt; -½)                             [1 cc]
 
40        Utility Belt:  Multipower, 60-point reserve,  (60 Active Points); all slots OIF (-½)
1u        1)  Grapple and Swingline:  Swinging 20" (20 Active Points); OAF (-1), no Noncombat movement (-¼)              2
2u        2)  Stun Disk:  Energy Blast 5d6, 16 Recoverable Charges (+½) (37 Active Points); OAF (-1), Range Based On Strength (-¼)    [16 rc]
2u        3)  Plastique:  Energy Blast 6d6, Explosion (+½) (45 Active Points); 6 Charges (-¾), OIF (-½), Range Based On Strength (-¼)    [6]
1u        4)  Flash Pellets:  Sight Group Flash 2d6, Area Of Effect (One Hex; +½) (15 Active Points); 8 Charges (-½), OIF (-½), Range Based On Strength (-¼)                                                          [8]
1u        5)  Gas Pellets:  Energy Blast 3d6, 8 Continuing Charges lasting 1 Turn each (+0), No Normal Defense ([Standard for Gas Attacks]; +1), Area Of Effect (5" Radius; +1), Continuous (+1) (60 Active Points); Independent (-2), OAF (-1), Range Based On Strength (-¼)                                                                          [8 cc]
1u        6)  Smoke Pellets:  Darkness to Sight Group 2" radius, 6 Continuing Charges lasting 1 Minute each (+0) (20 Active Points); OIF (-½), Range Based On Strength (-¼)                                  [6 cc]
1u        7)  Shurikens:  Killing Attack - Ranged ½d6, Armor Piercing (+½), Autofire (5 shots; +½), 16 Recoverable Charges (+½) (25 Active Points); OIF (-½), Range Based On Strength (-¼) [16 rc]
1u        8 )  Knife:  Killing Attack - Hand-To-Hand ½d6 (1d6+1 w/STR) (10 Active Points); OIF (-½)    1
1u        9)  Nightvision Visor:  Nightvision, Telescopic (+1 versus Range Modifier):  +1 (6 Active Points); OIF (-½)
1u        10) Rebreather:  Life Support  (Self-Contained Breathing), 4 Continuing Charges lasting 1 Hour each (+0) (10 Active Points); OIF (-½)                                                                                          [4 cc]
1u        11) Mini Radio/Television Transceiver & Radar Detector:  High Range Radio Perception (Radio Group) (12 Active Points); OAF (-1)
3u        12) Tracer Bugs:  Radio Group Images Increased Size (32" radius; +1 ¼), +/-2 to PER Rolls, Sticky (+½), 6 Recoverable Continuing Charges lasting 1 Week each (+2) (52 Active Points); OIF (-½), Range Based On Strength (-¼)         [6 rc]
1u        13) Mini Camcorder:  Eidetic Memory, Limited Power Sound and Images only (+0) (5 Active Points); OIF (-½)
1u        14) Crime-scene Kit:  +3 with Criminolgy, Criminal Science and Deduction rolls (9 Active Points); OAF (-1), 8 Charges (-½)
1u        15) Universal Antidote:  Life Support  (Immunity All terrestrial diseases and biowarfare agents; Immunity: All terrestrial poisons and chemical warfare agents), 6 Continuing Charges lasting 1 Hour each (+0) (20 Active Points); OIF (-½)          [6 cc]
1u        16) Lockpicks:  +3 with Lockpicking (6 Active Points); OAF (-1)
1u        17) Plastic Handcuffs:  Entangle 2 ½d6, 3 DEF, Takes No Damage From Attacks Limited Group (+¼) (37 Active Points); Set Effect (Hands Only/Feet Only) (-1), Entangle Has 1 BODY (-½), No Range (-½), OIF (-½), Cannot Form Barriers (-¼), Nonresistant DEF (-¼), 8 Boostable Charges (-¼)          [8 bc]
2u        18) Bolos:  Entangle 4d6, 4 DEF, Entangle And Character Both Take Damage (+¼) (50 Active Points); 3 Recoverable Charges (-¾), OIF (-½), Range Based On Strength (-¼)                    [3 rc]
1u        19) Laser Torch:  Killing Attack - Ranged ½d6, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½), Penetrating (x3; +1 ½) (30 Active Points); No Range (-½), OIF (-½)
 
18        Line Gun:  Multipower, 40-point reserve,  (40 Active Points); all slots OAF (-1), Only In Heroic Identity (-¼)
1u        1)  Swingline I:  Swinging 20" (20 Active Points); OAF (-1), Only In Heroic Identity (-¼)         2
1u        2)  Swingline II:  Leaping +15" (5" forward, 10" upward) (15 Active Points); Upward Movement Only (-1), OAF (-1), no Noncombat movement (-¼), Only In Heroic Identity (-¼) 1
1u        3)  Swingline III:  + 5 with climbing (10 Active Points); OAF (-1), Only In Heroic Identity (-¼)
1u        4)  Grab-line:  Telekinesis (10 STR) (15 Active Points); OAF (-1), Only to pull objects towards user Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-½), Affects Whole Object (-¼), Limited Range (-¼), Only In Heroic Identity (-¼)      1
 
            Jade Dragon style Martial Arts
            Maneuver             OCV    DCV    Notes
5          Defensive Strike     +1        +3      8d6 Strike
4          Martial Strike          +0        +2      10d6 Strike
4          Fast Strike               +2        +0      10d6 Strike
4          Martial Dodge         --         +5      Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort
4          Martial Block          +2        +2      Block, Abort
3          Martial Throw         +0        +1      8d6 +v/5, Target Falls
5          Offensive Strike      -2        +1      12d6 Strike
5          Takeaway                +0        +0      Grab Weapon, 50 STR to take weapon away
3          Flying Tackle          +0        -1      8d6 +v/5 Strike; You Fall, Target Falls; FMove
5          Joint Break               -1         -2      Grab One Limb; HKA 2d6 +1 , Disable
12        +3 HTH Damage Class(es)
 
       Perks
54        Batcave: 
61        Nightcruiser: 
46        Nightcycle: 
58        Nightwing: 
56        Nightcutter: 
15        Money:  Filthy Rich
4          Fringe Benefit:  Corporate Employee, International Driver's License, Local Police Powers, Passport
6          Reputation:  Relentless (A large group) 11-, +4/+4d6 (8 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-¼)
7          Reputation:  Feared Crimefighter (A large group) 14-, +3/+3d6 (9 Active Points); Only In Heroic Identity (-¼)
10        Secret Passage: WGE to Batcave, Sewer System to HCPD Evidence Depository, Utilities Tunnel to Federal Building, Utilities Tunnel to Toddenberry Asylum, Batcave to Nightcutter wharf and Nightwing hanger:  Custom Perk
 
3          Well-Connected
8          1)  Contact:  Alexander Ringwald - Hudson City Police Commissioner (Contact has access to major institutions, Contact has very useful Skills or resources, Contact limited by identity, Very Good relationship with Contact) (9 Active Points) 14-
8          2)  Contact:  Cindy Gutierrez-Sosa - Reporter (Contact has access to major institutions, Contact has significant Contacts of his own, Contact has useful Skills or resources, Good relationship with Contact) (9 Active Points) 14-
6          3)  Contact:  Jimmy the Geek - Information Broker (Contact has significant Contacts of his own, Contact limited by identity, Very Good relationship with Contact) (7 Active Points) 14-
5          4)  Contact:  Jocko Muldoon - Longshoreman (Contact has useful Skills or resources, Contact limited by identity, Good relationship with Contact) (6 Active Points) 14-
14        5)  Contact:  Lefty Strong - Mid-ranked hood (Contact has significant Contacts of his own, Contact limited by identity), Organization Contact (x3) (15 Active Points) 14-
5          6)  Contact:  Raven Simone - Prostitute (Contact has access to major institutions, Contact limited by identity, Good relationship with Contact) (6 Active Points) 14-
 
       Talents
17        Combat Sense (Sense) 13-
16        Crippling Blow
5          Resistance (5 points)
 
       Skills
3          Acrobatics 14-
3          Acting 17-
9          Analyze:  Combat 16-
3          Breakfall 14-
3          Climbing 14-
3          Combat Driving 14-
3          Combat Piloting 14-
10        +5 with Stun Disks
15        +5 with Martial Arts
5          +1 with DCV
10        +3 with DCV (15 Active Points); Requires A Reputation roll - Feared Crimefighter Roll  (-½)
3          Computer Programming 13-
3          Concealment 13-
3          Contortionist 14-
3          Conversation 17-
5          Criminology 14-
3          Deduction 13-
5          Defense Maneuver I-II
3          Forensic Medicine 13-
3          Interrogation 17-
1          Inventor 8-
3          Lockpicking 14-
4          Navigation (Air, Land, Marine) 13-
0          Paramedics 8-
3          Persuasion 17-
1          PS: Multi-billionaire (Everyman Skill) 13-
3          PS: Businessman 13-
3          Security Systems 13-
3          Shadowing 13-
40        +4 Overall
3          Stealth 14-
3          Streetwise 17-
3          Systems Operation 13-
4          TF:  Common Motorized Ground Vehicles, Small Motorized Ground Vehicles, Free with Combat Driving, Helicopters, Small Motorized Boats, Small Planes, Submarines, Two-Wheeled Motorized Ground Vehicles
 
3          Linguist
1          1)  Language:  Arabic (basic conversation)
2          2)  Language:  Cantonese (completely fluent) (3 Active Points)
0          3)  Language:  English (idiomatic; literate) (5 Active Points)
2          4)  Language:  French (completely fluent) (3 Active Points)
2          5)  Language:  German (completely fluent) (3 Active Points)
2          6)  Language:  Italian (completely fluent) (3 Active Points)
1          7)  Language:  Japanese (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)
1          8 )  Language:  Mandarin (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)
2          9)  Language:  Portugese (completely fluent) (3 Active Points)
2          10)  Language:  Russian (completely fluent) (3 Active Points)
2          11)  Language:  Spanish (completely fluent) (3 Active Points)
 
3          Scholar
3          1)  KS: Hudson City Organized Crime (4 Active Points) 13-
1          2)  KS: Hudson City Power-brokers (2 Active Points) 11-
2          3)  KS: Hudson City Street Gangs (3 Active Points) 12-
4          4)  KS: Incredible Trivia (5 Active Points) 14-
1          5)  KS: Rogues Gallery (2 Active Points) 11-
3          6)  AK: Northern Atlantic Seaboard 13-
5          7)  CK: Hudson City 14-
 
3          Scientist
2          1)  SS:  Criminal Science 13- (3 Active Points)
2          2)  SS:  Psychology 13- (3 Active Points)
2          3)  SS:  Sociology 13- (3 Active Points)
 
Total Powers & Skill Cost:  826
Total Cost:  1095
 
200+  Disadvantages
10        Dependent NPC:  Police Commissioner Alexander Ringwald 14- (Slightly Less Powerful than the PC; Useful Noncombat Position or Skills)
5          Dependent NPC:  Dr. Thomas Leslie, MD 8- (Normal; Useful Noncombat Position or Skills)
5          Dependent NPC:  Cindy Gutierrez-Sosa 8- (Normal; Useful Noncombat Position or Skills)
10        Dependent NPC:  Jimmy the Geek 11- (Normal; Useful Noncombat Position or Skills)
15        Mystery DNPCs
10        Distinctive Features:  tall, grim and silent (Concealable; Noticed and causes unease; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)
50        Hunted: Rogues Gallery of Villians - incluing Harlequin, Crimelord, the Doberman, Presto the Magician, and the Black Cat
20        Psychological Limitation:  Devoted to Justice (Common, Total)
15        Psychological Limitation:  In love with the Black Cat (Common, Strong)
15        Psychological Limitation:  Driven to protect innocents (Common, Strong)
0          Psychological Limitation:  Reluctance to Kill (Uncommon, Moderate, Custom Adder)
15        Reputation:  Scary pointy-eared guy who inspires bed-wetting, 11- (Extreme)
15        Secret Identity:  Brett Walker (Frequently, Major)
10        Vulnerability:  2 x STUN Sonics (Uncommon)
700      Experience Points
 
Total Disadvantage Points:  1095
 
Background/History:  Hudson City. Twenty-two years ago. It was a warm summer's evening as Superior Court Judge George Walker, his wife Anne and their young son Brett strolled through LeMastre Park. Suddenly out of the shadows a lone gunman confronted them. He demanded their money and Mrs. Walker's jewelry; when the Judge resisted the gunman shot him. Anne Walker screamed and the killer's rage found a second target. Splattered with the blood of his parents young Brett locked his eyes on the killer, burning the man's face into his memory. Police sirens began to wail and the murderer fled into the night.
 
For over a year Brett floundered as he sunk deeply into depression, then all that changed when a schoolmate gave him a copy of "Batman". Immediately Brett saw the parallels, why they both even had the same initials. Brett swore on his parent's graves to devote his life to bringing criminals to justice, to protect the innocent and to someday avenge their murders.
 
Hudson City. Today. A dark avenger stalks the city. A grim, shadowy figure seen only at night. He is a human time bomb that explodes in the faces of criminals, whether they be street thugs, crime bosses or super-villians none are beyond his reach. He is resourceful and fearless, terrifying and relentless. He is justice. He is...NIGHTHAWK!
 
Personality/Motivation:  In public Brett Walker doesn't seem to have a care in the world and is just a friendly, happy guy and a bit of a doofus at times, who happens to be richer than God. But once away from prying eyes he becomes the dark avenger who wrings fear from the criminal scum who thought themselves immune to it.
 
Finances: As the sole stockholder of Walker Global Enterprises Brett is worth an estimated 48 billion dollars.
 
Home: The Walker House, a huge 169 room, 200 year old mansion set on 260 acres of wooded land on Walker Point overlooking the Stewart River that bisects Hudson City and not far from LeMastre Park.
 
Job: Avenging Crime Fighter
Chairman of the Board - Walker Global Enterprises
 
Education: Brett has never stayed anyplace long enough to actually earn a degree.
 
Ambitions: To take Hudson City back from the criminals and return it to decent people.
 
Quote:  The Scum thought they ruled the night ... they were wrong.
 
Appearance:  A young and very physically fit Alec Baldwin. As he looked at about the time he made The Hunt for Red October.
 
 

Well, the UK is going through a painful divorce right now, and such are often vulnerable to rebound relationships. I hear America's current head has shown a fondness for a particular type of foreigner...

On this and the "max deadlift" issue, I think everyone always forgot "pushing" as a thing. I guarantee that whatever the max deadlift is in real life, it isn't base STR... but a very strong person "pushing" to lift way beyond the normal for a very brief period of time, exhausting themselves in the process. Back when I did the gym rat thing, and would bench press... I could essentially do 150 lbs. multiple times very regularly... but at my best, hit 225 for only a rep or two, with a spotter, fully exhausting myself... so I was "pushing" to hit that level and couldn't maintain it much at all. Those guys throwing up 400 lbs, etc., even as huge as they are... are still pushing to get there.

I just wanted to see if someone would bite. ?

On this and the "max deadlift" issue, I think everyone always forgot "pushing" as a thing. I guarantee that whatever the max deadlift is in real life, it isn't base STR... but a very strong person "pushing" to lift way beyond the normal for a very brief period of time, exhausting themselves in the process. Back when I did the gym rat thing, and would bench press... I could essentially do 150 lbs. multiple times very regularly... but at my best, hit 225 for only a rep or two, with a spotter, fully exhausting myself... so I was "pushing" to hit that level and couldn't maintain it much at all. Those guys throwing up 400 lbs, etc., even as huge as they are... are still pushing to get there.

That's nice.  
 
Now - let's discuss Joker's stats and builds.  Superhuman/non-superhuman?  

On this and the "max deadlift" issue, I think everyone always forgot "pushing" as a thing. I guarantee that whatever the max deadlift is in real life, it isn't base STR... but a very strong person "pushing" to lift way beyond the normal for a very brief period of time, exhausting themselves in the process. Back when I did the gym rat thing, and would bench press... I could essentially do 150 lbs. multiple times very regularly... but at my best, hit 225 for only a rep or two, with a spotter, fully exhausting myself... so I was "pushing" to hit that level and couldn't maintain it much at all. Those guys throwing up 400 lbs, etc., even as huge as they are... are still pushing to get there.

That lack of any real interpersonal connection is the point of Quantum of Solace. Completely different then the short story, obviously, the title came from the story teller's description of the smallest part of affection and the lack of any real caring.

Highly recommended. Best straight up superhero show that manages to tread the gritty street crime feel and the truly superheroic wonderfully well. On top of that it actually has great writing and acting.

Highly recommended. Best straight up superhero show that manages to tread the gritty street crime feel and the truly superheroic wonderfully well. On top of that it actually has great writing and acting.

Binge watched the final season of Bosch on HBO. If you enjoy top quality acting, drama, excellent plotting, and great character development, I recommend it. A very excellent police procedural.
 
I'm also more than half way through Swiss Family Robinson, as something going on in the background while I clean the house and do laundry, etc. It is basically the kind of show that would have been must see family TV in some earlier era, so while more diverse and better special effects, the writing feels like something from the late '70s.
 
Isle of Dogs was both genius, and tone deaf in some ways. Really enjoyed it, absolutely beautiful craftsmanship, but in this day and age, you got to wonder about the cultural representation bit.
 
And Quantum of Solace is my second favorite Bond, after Casino Royale, in that it is basically the second half of that movie. It has the most brutal killing by Bond ever portrayed on film, and manages the exotic, remote set-piece final battle in a way that felt almost believable. What it lacked was any real interpersonal connections whatsoever, being a highly internal revenge flick that only makes sense, emotionally, if you have just watched Casino Royale. The villain basically being a faceless organization of the super-rich, also kept them from being emotionally engaging... with the cathartic moment at the end being again tied to events in Casino. Watch them back to back, and it is an excellent, bleak, violent revenge chapter.