BoloOfEarth

Re: Answers & Questions Q: How is your termite-ridden boat? A: Sis-Boom-Baa

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat Tonight, we dine in our birthday suits! That'll show that snooty waiter! NT: How can you tell the lastest internet fad isn't going to last long?

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat SIR! (They're villains, not stupid!)

Re: The Mind Controlling Hero

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat "Hey, somebody call the Water-Boy!" NT: Nicknames the rest of the Justice League calls Batman behind his back.

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat "Look at this HUGE cork I found! Yeah, it was sticking up right in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean floor! Lucky I got out before that big whirlpool formed!

Re: Prison facilities for super-human criminals in your Campaigns? In my game, I use the Gramercry Island info but located it at Riker's Island (after a supervillain attack practically leveled the original prison). That's Stronghold East. The CU Stronghold is located in New Mexico, but as the heroes tend to deal with stuff on the eastern half of the US, they haven't gone to Stronghold West yet. The thing I like about the Gramercy Island prison is that it has sections for supervillains as well as normals, so I don't have to worry so much about where "normals with skills/gadgets" or powered-armor types get sent. Those that are seemingly less of a threat get housed in the non-supers section of the prison. Those that are basically normal but still a threat (for instance, you don't want Utility having access to a normal prison's machine shop) still get housed in the supers section, though.

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat Cockroach Cluster

Re: Villain: makes hero's powers go out-of-control Edit: With the VPP idea, you either have to be able to think on your feet, or (preferrably) prepare a bunch of power setups beforehand based on the heroes.

Re: Villain: makes hero's powers go out-of-control The only time I did this (Utility figured out how to remotely-override a powered-armor PC hero's neural controls), I didn't actually draw it up. I just did it as a plot device. How much control does the villain have over the power(s) that are over-amped and when/how they are activated? And is this the villain's normal schtick, or a plot device for a villain with other normal powers? Assuming little control of the exact powers, and this being the villain's main schtick: You could always use a good-size VPP (90 points minimum; I'd suggest more), changes in 0 phase (probably no skill roll too) and No Conscious Control (only at -1, since he specifies the target but not the exact effect), only to simulate others' power types (-1/4). The sfx of the power is a target's power going out of control. Note I said "simulate others' power types" not "simulate others' powers", since the actual effects will differ from the hero's specific powers. So he hits Captain Brick with it, and it does 12d6 Energy Blast (Physical), AOE (hex), Only vs. targets on or near the ground, as CB's strength and density go out of control and crush things/damages the floor. Or Explosion, as his footsteps cause localized earthquakes. Or he hits Rad Boy with the power, and random energy shoots out of his fingertips, toes, eyes, and mouth -- 10d6 EB (Radiation), AOE (Radius). Flyboy's jetpack goes out of control: 20" Flight, Usable against Other as Attack, Ranged. Medico's Healing is overamped: 6d6 Minor Transform (to class of targets), Sticky, Trigger (Healing power used) to cause mutations on the targets of Medico's healing touch. Mentallus' telepathic powers begin reading every mind in sight to the point that Mentallus can't concentrate: your typical mental entangle (3d6 Entangle 4 DEF, BOECV, Not affected by physical, yadda yadda)

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat Stupor-man and Wander Woman.

Re: Brainstorming a superhero team's staff, liaisons, and guests Personally, if the PCs aren't hiring the staff, I'd include somebody the players only see at a distance, whose actual job is never stated, nor is his name definitively stated, but none of the other staff is in the least bit concerned. "Oh, him? He's just one of the staff. I think his name is Jack. What does he do? Hmmm... I think he's a handyman." Maybe each member of the staff knows him by a different name and occupation. "Who, Joe? He does the gardening." "Good ol' Jim? He helps Helen in the kitchen." Any time the players try to catch up with him, he rounds a corner... and disappears. If they directly confront the staff, nobody recalls being introduced to him, so they admit they might have the wrong name, but really, he's been working there for years, he's no danger.

Re: Help me fill in the plot holes I agree with Red Eagle about outright KO'ing and capturing the PCs, and really, you don't need to go that far. This can work equally well if the heroes are lured to the cult HQ (by clues left by Blackstaff), and they sneak past security far too easily. Eventually, they enter a room where an armored wall drops over the door they came through, the opposite door is fake, and then a side wall raises to reveal a (nearly unbreakable) transparent wall, behind which is the cult leader. Cue the big reveal, after which the room becomes a classic death trap (begins filling with water, or gas, or the ceiling begins to drop, or combinations thereof). Now, as to getting there... In addition to using the same PC heroes, are you also playing with the same group of players from college? If not, I'd include info on Blackstaff being a laughingstock. (Cops might say, "You're working with Barf-staff?!") Nothing too blatant, but lay the groundwork. Blackie is ultimately upset at his teammates, but don't forget Skunk's contribution. If he's not going to be a part of the campaign, maybe he went straight in prison and wrote a "tell-all" book (proceeds to charity, naturally, and the book also helped make Blackstaff a laughingstock), and Skunk came out smelling like roses (pun intended). But Skunk is then found dead, also apparently killed by the cultists, with info implicating him in the theft of materials for the bomb, and info in his apartment pointing to the cult HQ location. It's cliche, but Blackstaff could also fake his own death, also at the hands of the cultists. Make it Levin, then Skunk, then Blackstaff, then maybe a reporter looking into the cult (who, incidentally, added to Blackstaff's looking foolish years ago). All tie in overtly to the cult, but they're also related to Blackstaff being a super-joke. Each death leaves a clue that eventually gets the heroes to the cult HQ. Hidden in Levin's bionic arm is a strip of film (why not digital photos - because Blackstaff is a screw-up) showing cult activity at various warehouses across town, each a different company. Skunk's apartment has (planted) blueprints and guard shift info where the nuclear materials were stolen -- and the guards were gassed during the breakin. Blackstaff's journal details his "investigations" with Levin, including an observation that he saw Levin meet with Skunk, dated prior to the nuke theft -- but Blackie is "too good of a friend to seriously think his teammate is dirty." And the reporter has notes showing the different companies are all secretly owned by one mystery company (HQ where Blackstaff wants the heroes to go).

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat Foxbat's serenade to Witchcraft: "It Must Be Magic ('Cuz Sapphire's Hotter)"

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... From last night's Champions game: A DEMON Morbane, using a magical staff, turned two of the five heroes of S-Squad into stone (along with Rubicon, a solo NPC hero the PCs have gotten help from with magical stuff). The heroes got the staff, but the Morbane teleported away -- after saying that the petrification becomes permanent in three days. The remaining three heroes -- none of whom have any magical powers, skills, or knowledge -- were trying to figure out how to return their teammates to normal. Squeeze: Normally, we'd go to Rubicon for help on this... GM: He's a statue right now. Squeeze: ...so he won't be much help. Squeeze (OOC): This globe on the end of the staff…is there anything in there? GM: The globe is filled with a smoky-white liquid. Moving the staff around, you can see that there *is* something in there. Sentinel: Like a basilisk’s eye? GM: (to Sentinel) Maaaaybe. (to Squeeze) So, are you checking it out? Squeeze: Um… no. The heroes were contacted by and met with a lawyer (Irving Probalino, Esquire) of a magic-using supervillain (Codex) that S-Squad put into Stronghold a few months ago. The meeting took place at a restaurant, and PRIMUS (suspecting one of Codex’s teammates in the Alexandrian Order might be there) sent a bunch of agents there undercover. Probalino recognized one of the PRIMUS agents. Probalino: I find it worrisome that PRIMUS seems to be here in force. Squeeze: They were at our base when you called. We couldn’t do anything about it. Probalino: (Opens his menu) Ah, well, we might as well order dinner… Serendipity: (Opens her menu, sees a note inside reading “Go to the bathroom”) Well, *apparently* I have to go to the bathroom.” In the bathrooms, the heroes discovered that the mirrors were (temporary) magical portals to the Alexandrian Order’s base. There, they met with Codex, who offers to help cure their teammates in exchange for the “Staff of the Basilisk”. Sentinel: Aren’t you supposed to still be in Stronghold? Codex: (smiles) Squeeze: Astral projections are wonderful things, aren’t they? GM: He looks solid enough. (Serendipity reaches over and touches Codex’s arm) Codex (looks down at her fingers on his sleeve) It’s silk. Doesn’t it feel nice? I bought this suit in Italy the last time I was there. Sentinel: So, after you cure Synergy and Styx, you’ll go back to Stronghold? Codex: As far as PRIMUS is concerned, I’ve never left. Sentinel: How’d you pull that trick off? Codex: (smiles smugly) Trade secret. Squeeze: So, how long will it take to turn them back to normal? Serendipity: …because the Morbane said we only have three days. Squeeze: Thanks a lot. I was trying to trick Codex into verifying if there really is a deadline. (Looks at Codex while shaking his head, like ‘see what I have to work with?’) Codex: (aside to Squeeze) I have Torg on my team. His *sword* is smarter than he is. Consider yourself lucky. The heroes refused Codex’s offer of help. Sentinel did some research on basilisks, and the team called Witchcraft (from the Champions). Sentinel: Can you tell us how to use the staff to cure our friends? Witchcraft: It’s not something I can teach you over the phone. It’s not like you can just “swish and flick” (said disdainfully). If you can find the incantations, I might be able to assist you. I can’t make any guarantees, as I also have time-sensitive issues to deal with. Squeeze: (OOC) Of course. Can’t be simple, can it? (to Witchcraft) Can the staff be destroyed? Witchcraft: Method of destruction varies with the magical artifact. Some must be destroyed in a specific way, such as being tossed into an active volcano during a full moon. Others can be destroyed by brute force, although their magic often makes them much tougher than normal. (Squeeze is contemplating his 2x Penetrating HKA Squeeze attack) Witchcraft: Of course, the release of magical energy can have sometimes catastrophic effects upon the environment… Squeeze: The heroes discovered that a scroll was stolen from an Athens museum, and surmised the scroll has info on the Staff of the Basilisk. They also eventually found out the location of the Morbane, reconnoitered, and then called in PRIMUS to help. Sentinel (to PRIMUS): Oh, and they have a basilisk in the shed southeast of the main building, so bring mirrors. The heroes rushed into the main building and fought the Morbane and DEMON Initiates, while PRIMUS took on the DEMON guards outside. Sentinel (using her x-ray vision): Four people just popped into the room on the southwest corner. I think they’re from the Alexandrian Order. (to GM) Is the basilisk still in the shed? GM: You don’t know, you’re not looking in that direction right now. (evil grin) Do you want to? Sentinel: Would a basilisk gaze still affect me through x-ray vision? GM: Dunno. Nobody’s ever tested that. Want to give it a try? Sentinel: Ahhhhhh… no. Squeeze: The Order’s after the scroll. (to PRIMUS): We need you to lob some flash-bangs into the southwest corner room. PRIMUS Agent: We’re a little busy out here, fighting a damn basilisk! (Sound of gunfire) It got Johnson! Oh, crap! Sentinel: You *did* bring mirrors, didn’t you? PRIMUS Agent: Do you have any idea how hard it is to target with a mirror? Whatta ya think we are, trick shots? Squeeze: Use grenades. Lots and lots of grenades. GM: You hear a loud animal hiss. Sentinel (to PRIMUS): Oh, their hiss is supposed to be deadly, too. You did bring earplugs, didn’t you? (to GM) I did warn them about that, didn’t I? (GM shakes head no) Sentinel (to PRIMUS): Sorry. My bad. The Morbane, Greekfire, hit Torg with a flame attack (Continuous, Uncontrolled). Torg: Ow! Toga man hit Torg with fire! Torg not like fire! Squeeze: Ooo, in that full plate mail… he’s gotta be like a baked potato in tin foil. Torg (swings his sword at Greekfire and misses): Cutter missed toga man! Torg’s sword: My name is Cuthbain! Torg: Cutter! Torg’s sword: Cuthbain! Torg: Cutter! Torg’s sword: (mutters) Moron… Torg: Codex told Torg to get mister string man. Squeeze: But that guy in the toga, he set you on fire and then ran upstairs. The bad toga man! Don’t you want to help us get him instead? Torg (mentally derailed): Toga man bad. Torg not like fire. Maybe Torg *should* stop toga man… Serendipity: I’m sure that’s what Codex would tell you to do. Torg (back on track): Oh! Codex say Torg need to get silly string man! (swings his sword and war hammer at Squeeze) Squeeze: Greekfire was eventually cornered upstairs by Sentinel and Squeeze, while PRIMUS was moving in on the main building. Greekfire: I’ll make you a deal. I cure your friends, for my freedom. Squeeze (thinking about how little time remains): Crap. Okay, fine. You’re going with me. (Swings away with Greekfire) Greekfire: I’ll need the staff to cure them. Squeeze: (gives him the ‘I wasn’t born yesterday’ look) We’ll *both* hold the staff. The heroes were cured (and the Morbane teleported away). Squeeze: Now we just need to destroy this staff. GM: Are you going to Squeeze it? Squeeze: Nah. I’ll give it to Synergy; he can throw into Mount Pinatubo during the next lunar eclipse.

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat Spider-Pig, Spider-Pig, Barfs all over your favorite wig. Spins a web, made of twine, He's our favorite super-swine. Look out! It's the Spider-Pig!

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat They forgot to remove the price tag and the "Inspected by" sticker.

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat Yes Sir! That's My Tribble! No Sir! I Just Won't Quibble! "Tonight, on Entertainment Tonight, Paris Hilton says something intelligent!"

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat "Hey, Superman, can you give me a lift across town?" (sigh) "Sure think, Kryptonite Kid."

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat Watch a world with normal weather, in... The Day Before Tomorrow

Re: Your Local Generation VIPER I had a VIPER-run school in my Champions game. Let's see what I recall... Staff-wise, the Phys Ed teacher was a former long-time agent (he'd seen it *all*, had +20 PRE only for Defense and great rolls for Tactics and Teamwork) who had been volunteered for a super-agent program. He was a low-level brick (named Pugilist) for a time, was injured in the line of duty and walked with a limp, semi-retired to teach at the school. The art teacher (Prism) had light powers; her Images were something to see. Impulse, the Chem and Physics teacher, had control of kinetic energy. And Silver Spectre, a compulsively flirtations telekinetic, taught Biology (as well as all Sex Ed classes). As to the students, I had them all pretty much normals with attitudes (excessive ones even for teens ). If I was making some super teens, I'd mostly go against stereotypes. For instance: Telepathic/MC jock (quarterback, BMOC, etc.), reading the other team's minds during the game, or to steal the girl away from the PC teen hero, or find out dirty secrets and reveal them. Shapechanging cheerleader, disguising herself as a PC's friend at Horizon Academy and spreading rumors that make the PC miserable, or doing something illegal and getting a PC blamed for it. Someone with a grudge (a male PC wouldn't go out with her, or a female PC stole her guy, or any PC made her look bad) would work best IMO. Drama student with sonic powers (Hearing Images, NND EB, maybe even subliminal mind control), suggesting a "drama-club team-up musical for charity" then making the Horizon Academy students look bad on stage. Slacker type who is actually a perpetual teen. Former student to a medieval alchemist and caught in a lab accident, he's now immortal and incredibly regenerative. Unfortunately, he's also incredibly immature. He has centuries of knowledge and experience, plus more money than he knows what to do with (thanks to the magic of compounding interest, plus some chemistry breakthroughs under a variety of pseudonyms). Imagine the players' faces when they find out the main stockholder of Megacorp is actually a 14 year old punk. Just a few ideas, hope they help.

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... Oops, forgot one more from the D&D game: The heroes had some Strength drained away during the battle. In the process of re-calculating weapon damage, Aren's player pointed out that Yllek's player wasn't calculating his damage correctly, and in fact had the normal weapon damage incorrect on the character sheet. Yllek (OOC, pissed at himself): But that means I should have been doing one more point of damage for every hit! For *months* I've been doing less damage than I could have! Months!!" Ryan (OOC to DM): All those orcs that Yllek plugged full of arrows -- they're all a little bit deader now."

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... From our D&D game: Our stalwart heroes are being sent off on what might be a suicide mission... Il'Marcum: How about a nice Blessing before we go? Dwarven cleric: (chanting) Oh, you poor bastiches, you're going to diiiiieeee... Y'llek: I need to get enough gold together to commission some Arrows of Spell Storing. Leila: What would they do? Y'llek: Well, if Il'Marcum is far away and hurt, I could fire an arrow at him with a Cure Serious Wounds spell on it. Leila: Let me get this straight. To cure him, you're going to *shoot* him?! Devlyn tries to use a lightning want to attack some hobgoblins, but fails her Use Magic Device roll. Aren: No, it's (waving an imaginary wand and imitating Hermione Granger) "Wingardium Levi-OOO-sa!" Y'llek and Devlyn become surrounded by about a dozen hobgoblins. This is seen by sorcerer Il'Marcum, flying overhead. Il'Marcum: (smiles apologetically to Y'llek and Devlyn, then turns to DM) I cast a fireball, centered on Y'llek and Devlyn. Later in the fight, the big bad boss appears and attacks Il'Marcum. Devlyn: What should I do? Y'llek: (waving an imaginary wand) Swish and flick!

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat A fishtank with potatoes swimming in it.