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Neverway

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  3. More space news!

    in Star Hero

    Posted

    Re: More space news!

     

    Over in the Champions forum Steve has a thread asking about the consequences of Super Tech on the world. See: http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php/86694-Repercussions-of-mass-producing-comic-book-technology

     

    One of the speculated technical "jumps" is efficient, small fuel cells. With that on my mind, an article in New Scientist about new battery technology caught my eye. I'm a cheap loser who only leeches news items and that article is pay-pe- view so I went off to Google to see what was up. I found this article from late 2007 talking about research that extends the life of a Lithium Ion battery tenfold: http://news.stanford.edu/news/2008/january9/nanowire-010908.html

     

    Note that Mr. Cui is thinking about forming a company to make money off this dicovery. Another article (amongst several on the subject) has the charge life estimates down to +40% though: http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/23893/page1/

     

    Note that Mr. Cui has now formed his company, I take this to be a good sign that the article isn’t about something that costs $10Bil and has only been seen under clean room lab conditions. More recently we see this from August 2, 2011: http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/38205/

     

    Hopefully this means battery technology is about to step up a substantial amount to the point where small consumer electronics (phones, iPods, etc) will be able to operate for weeks between charges. Converge your tablet computer, your music player, and your phone into a single device, power it off of one of these batteries, and you'll have one of those Sci-Fi handhelds that do everything and never run out of power. Or at least a close approximation.

  5. Sentients native to low-gravity worlds operating on "normal" gravity worlds?

    in Star Hero

    Posted

    Re: Sentients native to low-gravity worlds operating on "normal" gravity worlds?

     

    Six times your normal gravity might be a bit much, but how about two to three times normal gravity?

     

    http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,897495,00.html

     

    http://books.google.com/books?id=sVIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA77&lpg=PA77&dq=raised+mice+in+a+centrifuge&source=bl&ots=ofUMfeO-GI&sig=jcQauHl3bxxvyFZ-SMAWpu4yGK0&hl=en&ei=v7g5Tr23D-fkiAKH4f3HDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDcQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=raised%20mice%20in%20a%20centrifuge&f=false

     

    Not exactly scientific papers, but at least it's information.

  6. HERO System Equipment Guide

    in HERO Games Product Line

    Posted

    Re: HERO System Equipment Guide

     

    Just to point out a potential problem with your printer...

     

    When my copy of HSEG arrived it had the main cover graphic in a slightly smuged white instead of yellow. Everything else about the book appears to be fine though (presuming that the two blank pages after the index were intentional).

     

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]39553[/ATTACH]

  7. Future Sub Dimensions

    in Star Hero

    Posted

    Re: Future Sub Dimensions

     

    Fiddling around with a tape measure, the bottom pic measures 11cm long x 2 cm wide x 3 cm deep. Ish. That 11 cm long is a lucky break as it makes it easy to scale, just multiply everything by 4 and drop the 'c' from cm (44 m, yes?).

     

     

    44 m x 8 m x 12 m = 4224 cu.m. I think I'd multiply that by about 85% (just eyeballing the shape, I am not an Engineer or a Naval Architect) for a "real" volume of 3,590.4 cu.m. Given how little of a submarine is above water when it’s on the surface and that this model doesn’t have a sail/conning tower I’d just put draft = 12 M, possibly dropping one to one and a half meters if you’re trying to make the numbers look more realistic.

     

     

    According to our friend Wikipedia* “A ship's displacement is its mass at any given time, generally expressed in metric tons or long tons.” Since submarines can adjust their mass by flooding or blowing ballast tanks, just figure the tonnage of a similar volume of water and assume that the ship can vary that +/- 10% (or whatever feels right, again, Not An Engineer) to dive or surface.

     

    Multiplying the assumed volume by the density of seawater (1.025 g/ml) and fiddling around getting all the measurements in the same scale, I end up with 368 Metric Tons.

     

     

    http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/nr-1-specs.htm gives the displacement of the 44 meter long research submarine NR 1 as 366 long tons, so “close enough.”.

     

     

    I hope you find this helpful.

     

    * Please don’t hurt me!

  9. THE BOOK OF THE EMPRESS -- What Do *You* Want To See?

    in Champions

    Posted

    Re: THE BOOK OF THE EMPRESS -- What Do *You* Want To See?

     

    p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Well, I'm not interested in the CU, so a majority of the book is of little use to me. However, if I remember correctly this is as close to Hero System Dimensions as we're likely to get so I'm really interested in a “how to build your own dimensions” section.

     

     

    I'd like to see advice on building dimensions, building multiverses, and gaming both. How and why to put specific dimensions in place and different ways to connect them up and the consequences of each.

     

     

    If nothing else, advice on how to divorce the dimensions in the book from the CU without messing them up.

  16. AE Accurate War! Ugh ... what is it good for? (Absolutely nothing?)

    in HERO System Discussion

    Posted

    Re: AE Accurate War! Ugh ... what is it good for? (Absolutely nothing?)

     

    Except AoE Radius is a sphere' date=' so you really only need to have an AoE radius that is the diameter of the Earth (about 13,000km) to cover the whole planet.[/quote']

     

    Indeed, you can go through the Earth instead of following the surface. The most embarrassing part is that I've made the very same point with regards to a Megascale Teleport. :P

  17. AE Accurate War! Ugh ... what is it good for? (Absolutely nothing?)

    in HERO System Discussion

    Posted

    Re: AE Accurate War! Ugh ... what is it good for? (Absolutely nothing?)

     

    I find Accurate is often more useful when combined with a large AoE. For instance' date=' a 32m Radius Accurate attack is unavoidable for many characters - albeit expensive.[/quote']

     

    I was going to point out the utility of a large radius AoE + Accurate, but you got their first. Mind Scan to locate a target anywhere on Earth and an AoE 2m Radius Megascale (1m = 10,000 km) attack will let you hit anyone on Earth. Well, almost. There's a small circle on the opposite side of the Earth you won't reach (circumference of the Earth = 40,075.16 km, leaving a 75 km circle in the Indian Ocean (from here) uncovered). This works great for some types of magic (e.g., simulating the Law of Contagion).

     

     

    And AoE Line + Accurate is an interesting method for making an attack semi-Ranged.

    In 6e, you can only apply Accurate to a radius.

  18. Kawa City Planet Kuriousei

    in Star Hero

    Posted

    Re: Kawa City Planet Kuriousei

     

    I am getting ready to run an none Earth animepunk campaign set in a back ground of my own making but otherwise using Kazei 5 for equipment. I have Kawa City mapped out (see below) but I am looking for names. While I have some names (Golden Circle' date=' Shirow Ward, Sea Wall and Bay Rock for example) I am looking for more. My biggest fear is getting trapped following in a naming pattern which I want to avoid. So I am asking for some help. First let me say, anybody who helps will get hit with rep if I can.[/quote']

     

     

    If there isn't a second hand store called Surbrook's Stuff where the PCs can pick up equipment on the cheap, I (for one) will be severely disappointed.

  19. Question on Aid

    in HERO System Discussion

    Posted

    Re: Question on Aid

     

    I can't believe no-one's answered this yet. Hopefully one of the regulars will jump in here when this rises to the top of the board, but I'll give it my best shot.

     

    First off, I'm not that amazingly knowledgeable on the system, just enough to get by and play with friends. In my efforts to better understand, I have a power with one of my characters that I am building and was wondering if it is possible to stack.

     

    Power is as follows:

     

    Power-Up: Aid 2d6, Delayed Return Rate (5 per minute; +1), Expanded Effect (x4 Characteristics; affects OCV, DCV, PD, and ED; +1 1/2) (42 Active Points); Only to Aid Self (-1), Extra Time (Full Phase, -1/2), Gestures (requires both hands, -1/2). Total Cost 14 Points.

     

    At a speed 6 I go at phases 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12. From what I understand of the power, I cannot go above 12 points being added total to the individual stats since that is the maximum per achievable on the die. But, is is possible to do this:

     

    Phase 2. Use Power Up, roll = 6 thus increasing OCV, DCV, PD, and ED all by 6 each; expend the 4 END to use the power.

    Phase 4. User Power Up, roll = 3 thus increasing my OCV, DCV, PD, and ED all by 3 each; total to each characteristic is +9 now; expend 4 END to use the power.

    Phase 6. Use Power Up, roll = 3 thus increasing my OCV, DCV, PD, and ED all by 3 each; total to each characteristic is +12 now;expend 4 END to use the power.

     

     

    Now in Phase 8 I can take my actions with a full +12 to each of those stats. Is this how the power works?

     

    Thanks in advance!

     

     

    Everything looks pretty good, except the way you've phrased the "12 points" part. It make it look like you think your final OCV (for example) will be your initial OCV + 12.

     

     

     

    The effects of Adjustment Powers are applied to the Active Points of a Characteristic or Power. To determine the effect of an Adjustment Power on a Characteristic, divide the points Adjusted by the Characteristic’s cost per point.

     

    AND

     

    Adjustment Powers applied against Defense Powers and some related defensive abilities (including the Characteristics CON, DCV, DMCV, PD, ED, REC, END, BODY, and STUN) have only half effect. See 6E1 141 for more information.

     

    So OCV is five points per +1, DCV is 10 points per +1, and PD and ED are two points per +1; your final tally would look like this:

     

    Phase 2. Use Power Up, roll = 6 thus increasing OCV, DCV, PD, and ED all by 6 Active Points each (+1 OCV, +0 DCV, +3 PD, and +3 ED); expend the 4 END to use the power.

    Phase 4. User Power Up, roll = 3 thus increasing my OCV, DCV, PD, and ED all by 3 Active Points each (+0 OCV, +0 DCV, +2 PD, and +2 ED); total to each characteristic is +9 Active Points now (+1 OCV, +0 DCV, +5 PD, and +5 ED); expend 4 END to use the power.

    Phase 6. Use Power Up, roll = 3 thus increasing my OCV, DCV, PD, and ED all by 3 Active Points each (+1 OCV, +1 DCV, +1 PD, and +1 ED); total to each characteristic is +12 Active Points now (+2 OCV, +1 DCV, +6 PD, and +6 ED);expend 4 END to use the power.

     

    Note that in the first roll, there's an "extra" Character Point just hanging there for the OCV and the five for DCV are not enough to make up a full ten points required for a +1.

     

    When you made the second roll, those points added to the three rolled making four Character Points for OCV and nine for DCV, which isn't enough buy a point of either, so it's just hanging out still. Also note how rounding works for you with PD and ED this roll.

     

    On the third roll, you have seven total character points now available for OCV and twelve for DCV, enough to get +1 for each with two Character Points left hanging for each. Since you've maxed out your Aid, those points will just stay there until the first fade comes around when they'll act as a buffer being first lost. The rounding you got a break on in the second roll fails to help you on your third since the total for PD and ED is 12 Character Points/2= +6 each.

     

    I hope this helps (I also hope I didn't make any mistakes :P )

  20. Can "new members" reply to PMs?

    in HERO System Discussion

    Posted

    Re: Can "new members" reply to PMs?

     

    Thanks for responding. From what I can tell' date=' I'm restricted from accessing my settings for some reason, but if it's not set to save sent messages by default then it's probably still set that way. That would at least explain why I have no sent messages in that folder.[/quote']

     

    FYI, the reason you're restricted from changing your settings has to do with filtering out spammers. Once your post count is >10 outside NGD you'll get full access. See http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php/78906-I-Cannot-Modify-My-Forum-Settings?daysprune=365 and scroll down to Simon's reply.

  21. Ancient Ninja: Separating the Men from the Myth

    in Other Genres

    Posted

    Re: Ancient Ninja: Separating the Men from the Myth

     

    Everyone knows you don't use black magic to give yourself super powers' date=' you use it to give yourself magic powers, somantics are important.[/quote']

     

    I am generally loathe to point out spelling errors on the internet, given how spectacularly it tends to blow up in my face. However…

    Semantics are the study of meaning and are important in debates and conversation.

    Somatics are relating to the body and important in spell casting, generally having to do with motion (gestures limitation).

    Somantics, therefore, are about showing meaning with your body (primarily motion) and are important in debating with your fists..?

  22. New book purchases...and mini reviews...

    in Champions

    Posted

    Re: New book purchases...and mini reviews...

     

    Since there doesn't seem to be a whole lot in the way of reviews on these boards anymore(particularly in regards to 6th ed stuff), I figured I'd do my own. First book...

     

    ...snipped Algernon Files...

     

    Second book: Hero System Martial Arts...6th ed...

     

    The Good: Exhaustive list of martial arts with some extras like energy projector's ranged martial arts and an art for shapeshifters. Great list of martial arts abilities that gets an entire section all to itself....enhanced by some great quotes from various martial arts films.

     

    The Bad: The genre stuff is more or less lifted from 5th ed Ninja Hero...as is most of the martial arts weapons stuff(though updated for 5th). You could probably get away with just using the 5th ed versions(though the powers list alone makes getting this version worthwhile).

     

    The Ugly: Nothing really. This is a good book. I hate the generic covers, but whatever.

     

    Overall....good book...a fun read....I have the 5th ed versions, but this does an excellent job of merging Ninja Hero and Ultimate Martial artist with little loss of information. I'd say worth the purchase.

     

    I pretty much agree with everything you said, I just miss a couple of the things that didn't get ported over. For some reason I've always wanted to play a Chinese ghost (from NH) who knows Seven Ghost Sister style, Ghost Hand style, and Ghost Eye style [1] (from the fictional martial arts section of UMA). Mostly because I'm silly and wanted to be able to call the character Ghost Ghost Ghost Ghost. Just a reason to keep the 5e books around, I guess.

     

     

    [1] Names from memory, I'm not near my books right now.

  24. Questioning the Multi-power Framework

    in HERO System Discussion

    Posted

    Re: Questioning the Multi-power Framework

     

    The insomnia itself would be a Physical Complication' date=' but the effects of it would be dealt with however you deal with sleep deprivation in general in your campaign, probably acting more like a Psychological Complication that an EGO roll could help mitigate the effects of.[/quote']

     

    Or as an Addiction with Incompetence. Now I'll have to go home and pull out the book to see if "Addiction: Eight hours of sleep a day" can be made to be worth any points (presuming an agreeable or at least amused GM).

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