Acroyear

Re: Design Challenge: Robot PC Here's a question. How do you guys do the disposable limbs kind of thing. Like how Cyborg or Robotman are always getting their arms and legs trashed without actually "risking their life" in Body damage terms. I usually tried to simulate it as a sort of side effect to extra defenses or something (feedback to the "focus"). Usually with a lim like "must perform block maneuver" to use (an old time favorite for shields and wings based powers). So, hey, I'm still standing... but you just blew my arm off... :/ Anyway, just curious how you folks might stat that out.

Re: Eliminating Killing Attacks We've used hit locations and called shots for well over a decade in Champions and never had the problem BN seems to have with it. Sure, things like head shots, and grabbing someone so someone else could get a better head shot happened. Never was a problem, though, it's just good old fashioned fightin' tactics. Granted, PSLs were not in the equation (as they exist now, but we bought similar things), but they still counted towards OCV caps, anyway. Some slower people did purchase additional defenses against called shots (actually, I think the favored mechanic was "only vs stn multipliers over 1.5n or 3k" or something similar). I believe some others purchased one of the automaton powers to protect against hit locations. I have no clue how 5th handles that, though.

Re: Ultimate Wendy, Marvin and Wonderdog

Re: Ultimate Wendy, Marvin and Wonderdog Woohoo, my google-fu rocks! by E. Nelson Bridwell Obviously, these kids are being trained for careers in law enforcement by the Super Friends. The Hall of Justice is their training academy. But since it would hardly have been built for only two young people, it stands to reason that the super-doers plan to train others some time in the future. Wendy and Marvin are a kind of pilot program. But why these two kids particularly? That is a good question, and I have done quite a bit of thinking on the subject. The first scripts sent to us made Wendy Bruce Wayne's niece -- and, absurdly, had her openly referring to the Caped Crime-fighter as "Uncle Bruce," while he introduced her to people who were not supposed to know The Batman's identity as "my niece." At the time, Bruce was believed to have been an only child, though later it was revealed that he had a brother. However, due to brain damage, this sibling had been institutionalized since infancy and so could not be Wendy's father. He is now dead. As far as the TV scripts go, Wendy has no last name (nor does Marvin). The kids are not related, but are only referred to as friends. I therefore set out to figure out their full names and origins. Wendy Harris, I decided, was the young lady's full name. She is a niece, not of the Batman, but of a detective named Harvey Harris. This man gave young Bruce Wayne his first crack at real detecting when Bruce was in his teens. As you probably know, Bruce's parents were killed by a criminal when he was a small boy. He swore to devote his life to tracking down their killer and other hoodlums. Eventually, he was to avenge their deaths. By the time he reached his teen years, he was itching to get a crack at some genuine detective work. He made a fancy costume, similar to that which he later created for Robin, so Harris would not know his identity. Years later, when Harris dies, he left a sealed letter to be delivered to Bruce, revealing that he had indeed known who he was -- for Harris was certainly one of the all-time greats in the field. Readers of DC mags may recall another Wendy Harris on the parallel world of Earth-Two, where the Justice Society members live. She is not married to Rex Tyler (The Hourman). Since many people on Earth-Two are older than their Earth-One doubles (Superman, Batman etc.), perhaps this is the Earth-Two version of our Wendy. Marvin, I decided, is Marvin White--no relation to Perry White. His father is Daniel White, inventor, and his mother is the former Diana Prince. Hold it, you say--isn't Diana Prince Wonder Woman? Well, not quite. When Wonder Woman first came to America, she had no secret identity. Then she met a young nurse who was her exact double. This was the real Diana Prince--a remarkable coincidence, since Wonder Woman is Princess Diana of Paradise Island. Miss Prince was sad because her fiancee, Dan, was going to South America, but hadn't enough money for her to go along. The Amazing Amazon had recently made some money doing her "bullets-and-bracelets" bit on stage, so she bought the other Diana's credentials. Since she was herself a trained nurse, with even more skill than her double, no harm was done by this imposture. Ever since then, Diana White has known Wonder Woman's secret, though she has told no one. There can be no doubt Marvin was brought up to consider Wonder Woman the world's number one heroine. He even named his dog Wonder, in her honor. And thus, she would have a special interest in Marvin because of his mother. Just as the Batman would feel he was paying back Harvey Harris by helping his niece. --Super Friends #1 (Nov. 1976)

Re: Ultimate Wendy, Marvin and Wonderdog

Re: Ultimate Wendy, Marvin and Wonderdog Oops, mis-remembered. Wendy was the niece of Harvey Harris the man who taught Bruce Wayne how to be Batman. Marvin was the son of Diana Prince, the woman who sold her identity to Wonder Woman so the Amazon could have a secret identity.

Re: Ultimate Wendy, Marvin and Wonderdog I would use their original backgrounds never explored in the show. Marvin is Bruce Wayne's nephew (I have no idea how) and Wendy was Wonder Woman's neice... so she's a friggin' amazon.

Re: random idea for an alternative champions campaign Well, if I were doing it... it would certainly be low powered. While some people might be exploited (and bred) for a superior trait - "this boy never gets tired, you can work him all day long and never lose any efficiency" and such, there would be a better and more means for escape... even if it's just the ability to see very clearly in the dark, it would be quite an advantage in that era of technology. This would mean the underground railroad (or whatever similar thing you might use) would lead people to a sort of Prof X guy somewhere who helps relocate them to safe, free places, or helps organize the more militant sorts who would, in turn, be a sort of special missions force for the north in the Civil War, making it a lot less bloody, perhaps, but much more eye opening. Civil rights would be accelerated, but you'd have that sort of "anti-superhuman" thing going on, too, with secret societies and such (The Nat Turner thing might have a Magneto-esque brotherhood feel, even). If the event is truly localized those who would be backing law would, actually, be the villains by modern sensibilities.

Re: random idea for an alternative champions campaign psuedo realistic: Those abominations against god are killed. Those that can't be killed outright with shooting or whatever have their families held hostage until they surrender for drowning or whatever. If the slaves manage to survive or even stage a successful rebellion, the civil war that comes around, unfortunately, has an entirely new angle... as the powers that be in the north seek to suppress this terrifying new threat. If the powered individuals are predominantly black, the white folk with powers might not necessarily be viewed as a "great white hope" but, perhaps, to be "tainted." A few powered indivudals may struggle, greatly, with being the voice of reason but most likely won't achieve much as the powered people try to carve out their own land & power. Depending on the powers, they could be quite successful, leading to who knows what in the future... most likely worse race relations and possibly international support in wiping out the threat... because who knows where they will go next. Historic people are often quite depressing to me, because it always boils down to nasty crusades, doesn't it?

Re: Design Challenge: Robot PC Oops. I neglected to bump the rec back down after boosting the strength some. So there's a couple more points available in there. Note that there is no nanite healing or auto repair systems. It can manually repair itself (but has to occasionally get more parts). I felt that very robot-y.

Re: Design Challenge: Robot PC Here's my first pass. A sort of "slower" moving 'bot that can be taken down with firearms on the heavier side, for the most part, but can shield itself to take real heavy hits. It's downside is that it can't operate at peak for extended periods and has to pace itself a little more. I'm admittedly rusty with automatons and computers and ignorant of any changes made in 5th. For example, I'm not sure if physical skills can work from the computer to the body (like climbing). There's more I wanted to do with it, overall, but shaved it down to the required 350. Prolly sucks... Player: Val Char Cost 35 STR 25 21 DEX 33 0 CON -20 20 BODY 20 0 INT -10 0 EGO 0 20 PRE 10 10 COM 0 2/18 PD 0 0/16 ED 0 5 SPD 19 1 REC -12 0 END 0 6" RUN02" SWIM07" LEAP0Characteristics Cost: 65 Cost Power END 60 Robot Body: Automaton (Takes No STUN) 72 Robot Body: Armor (8 PD/8 ED) 40 Robot Body: Life Support (Immunity: All terrestrial diseases and biowarfare agents; Immunity: All terrestrial poisons and chemical warfare agents; Longevity: 200 Years; Safe in High Pressure; Safe in High Radiation; Safe in Intense Cold; Safe in Intense Heat; Safe in Low Pressure/Vacuum; Self-Contained Breathing) 5 Thermo Imaging: Infrared Perception (Sight Group) 40 Hardpoints: Multipower, 60-point reserve, (60 Active Points); all slots OIF (-1/2) 4u 1) Beam Cannon: Energy Blast 12d6 (60 Active Points) 6 4u 2) Scatter Beam: Energy Blast 8d6, Explosion (+1/2) (60 Active Points) 6 4u 3) Chem Bonder: Entangle 6d6, 6 DEF (60 Active Points) 6 4u 4) Shield Generator: Force Field (8 PD/8 ED), Hardened (+1/4) (60 Active Points) 2 1u 5) Cutting Tool: Killing Attack - Hand-To-Hand 1d6+1 (2 1/2d6 w/STR) (20 Active Points) 2 20 Power Packs: Endurance Reserve (100 END, 10 REC) (20 Active Points) 7 Repair Packs: Healing BODY 1d6, Can Heal Limbs, 8 Recoverable Charges (+0) (15 Active Points); OIF (-1/2), Self Only (-1/2) Powers Cost: 261 Cost Perk 24 Follower Perks Cost: 24 Total Character Cost: 350 Base Points: 200 Experience Required: 150 Total Experience Available: 0 Experience Unspent: 0 Player: Val Char Cost 21 DEX 33 18 INT 8 10 EGO 0 5 SPD 19 Characteristics Cost: 60 Cost Power END Powers Cost: 0 Cost Skill 3 Climbing 13- 3 Combat Driving 13- 3 Computer Programming 13- 3 Concealment 13- 3 Cryptography 13- 3 Electronics 13- 3 Mechanics 13- 3 Systems Operation 13- 2 WF: Small Arms 2 SS: Robotics 11- 2 SS: Mechanical Engineering 11- 2 SS: Electrical Engineering 11- 2 AK 11- 2 AK 11- Skills Cost: 36 Cost Talent 3 Absolute Range Sense 3 Absolute Time Sense 3 Bump Of Direction 5 Eidetic Memory 3 Lightning Calculator 3 Lightsleep 4 Speed Reading (x10) Talents Cost: 24 Total Character Cost: 120 Base Points: 200 Experience Required: 0 Total Experience Available: 0 Experience Unspent: 0

Re: WWYCD? #80: Future Hope or Hellspawn? "Bring out the bore worms!"

Re: Design Challenge: Robot PC Perhaps you can share with us what aspects you've had trouble creating so we know what your actual criteria is. Do you require the automaton style? Or can impacts rattle the software or whatever (simulated "stun")? You know, stuff like that.

Re: Sandugo: Pinoy Heroes and Characters

Re: Sandugo: Pinoy Heroes and Characters Well, here's the question. Does the bolo just have to be in his possession (like, can it be in a sheath on his belt) or does it have to be in his hand for the powers to work?

Re: Champs Universe Question ..and I loves me the idea of an all "avenger program recipient" black ops/super spy team on the books as "janitorial services." You don't really think they spend $4,000 on a toliet seat, do you?

Re: Supremo I consider that a lot of stuff tied up in the same OAF, myself. While a lot more expensive, I think it would be cool if all the powers weren't OAF, but instead the bolo just was the REC on an End reserve or something. Then he still can have a few phases of power to try to recover it, if taken, or escape if restrained. Or perhaps even a limitation like he can only use the powers if within a certain range of the sword. That's just a wonky idea I had in the face of so much being OAF. Effectively, he still needs it to operate... you get the idea. But, admittedly, I am unfamilar with the intended direction or extent of the weakness. Overall, his abilities look pretty balanced. I like that he has a lot of PRE skills to help reflect his "hero of the people" kind of feel. I might even want to try to pump his PRE up some more and maybe give him the Rep perq or other means of reflecting "status" that the general populace might give him. Overall, though, it looks pretty solid (to me, anyway). I'd probably combine the combat skill levels if building the character, but it doesn't look like you're hurting for points (and it wouldn't get much back). I'd also look at giving him a couple inches of running normally, just for being fit, that he doesn't have to tap into his MP for. Hey, I just turned a 450 point guy into like 1k points. Wheee. pet peeve: costs on the right, stats out of order. Rob used to drive me nuts!

Re: Disadvantage "Forcing" I find both situations just fine and dandy. The disads of a character are every bit as important as his or her skills, stats, powers, etc. Usually players try to avoid situations where their disads might hurt them, so there's something good to be said for characters who don't run and hide, especially if the character is in denial about having it to begin with. "Whaddaya mean I am always screwed over by chicks? Nah. Lucy here is different. You just need to give her a chance." I would encourage players to play their disads just as I would the other aspects of their characters, even "disads" they didn't get points for, but fit the character. Unluck... just having it means you are generally unlucky. The dice of unluck, however, are reserved for more important situations, like combat. So you can roleplay losing your job and getting splattered with mud on the curb all you like, but that unluck is perpetually there. Meaning that d6 can be rolled at any time (even every time, if you want to be mean) things seem to be going easy or the character runs into a situation where "what are the odds?" might come up. Being unlucky means you probably lose coin tosses more than you win them, for example, no matter what the actual odds are. Similarly, the sucker for the ladies. Just because you roleplay falling for this and that on your own initiative, you don't become immune to it when the GM decides to use it

Re: Acro is bored In intended this (see along the cheeks and neck), but I can see how the mask lines just look like part of the facial structure.

Re: Acro is bored I'm really just doing this for fun and chronocide. I certainly can't stop anyone from sending me money or Hero books, though (did I mention I was unemployed at the moment? ). lol. j/k Yes. I printed it out on photo paper and framed it (cheap little $4 8x10 frame). Put it up on her wall (where she had a lot of photos) while she was in SoCal as a surprise. Just left it there so she'd notice it or something. She's left it there (lol). The printed version actually looks much, much better than the electronic version. Good paper will do that. Doing that "psycho swirl" pattern was a pain, I ended up just playing with filters to get something kind of like it.

Re: What's the difference... No, it says it takes your full phase, minimum. Which is 1 second. It can take longer if you want it to, but it doesn't have to (anyone can change clothes in 1 phase, anyway). The call for prevention is "new" with 5e and something I wouldn't bother with. It works better as a disad or a limit on instant change. Anyway, read further and I'll mention methods for getting around it for those who insist on including it... Colossus is a bad choice for Multiform in that you'd be buying everything from the meat form in the metal form, also. It's redundant. He's a classic HFO example, to me. All of his powers simply add onto his original form. He might not even be HFO. He might have lots of armor that requires activation and a bunch of stuff linked to the armor. Wallah. No need for the "hinderable" change of forms and it's still -.25 Or, he might have just purchased the "instant change" option from Transform to get around it.

Re: What would your character do...#78: It's Good To Be King? "I wonder what a small, prosperous nation can pull in on eBay."

Re: What's the difference... Multiform is when you change into an entirely new set of stats, skills, and abilities. The new form may share many of the original ones. For example, Fishman turns into a carp. The carp may have Fishman's intellect and skills - though perhaps not all of them (like skill levels with running), but the stats are generally those of a carp (or a super carp, it may be super fast, super strong and shoot plastic silverware out of its eyes...) OIHID (or HFO - Hero Form Only) means you add onto the original foundation. For example, Colossus getting metal skin and extra strength. Or Iron Man donning a suit of armor. Typically, there is little to no loss of the qaulities of the original (although things like losing COM is common, but there may be some other disadvantages to the hero form like having fat fingers or something).

Re: Acro is bored And here is because is I said I might do the next in line, too

Re: Ultimate Wonder Twins Start copywriting in case we have spies! http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,10072,00.html