Cassandra

Something in the title of this thread spoke to me.
    My history with Champions is so bound up with my real life that one couldn’t exist without the other.  Around 35 years or so ago  I was a guy in my 20’s and a girl I liked said “you like comics, I play a game that’s kind of a D&D for comic books.”  “Come see if you like it.”  So I went.  If she said  “Hey, every Saturday night we cut off our own heads, wanna come along?”  I would have gone.  I knew a couple of the people vaguely and I did have fun. The next two decades or so just kind of flew by.
  Some of that group and others that I met along the way became the best friends I’ve ever known. Others became enemies.  A very few are closer to me than my own brothers. I became Godfather to the children of the “kid” I first got to know when driving him in to Boston to play after inviting him to join our group. He’s a man now of course and a Captain of Firefighters. (a REAL Hero)  He met the lovely woman who would become his wife over a Champions game.
   The games came and went. GM’s and players did the same. Some friends have passed away, and when we remember them we always end up saying that they’ve just gone ahead to save us the “good table” in a room with a blackboard to put up a Dex Chart.
   Time and circumstance has spread us across the map although we stay in pretty constant touch. And I myself haven’t picked up a set of dice in a decade or more, but I think about those days often. Times both spent at the Game table and away, love and laughs and inside jokes we now have to clean up so we can explain them to the kids.
   Thinking about the title of this thread made me want to say to those who created this sometimes silly game and may have thought this a small accomplishment in a big world....Thank You for what it’s meant to the life of just this one player. 

My reading says that the Version of the Character who paid for the Multiform gets the experience even when earned in one of their other forms.  Which is a very good thing.

Yes. An animated Kirk Alyn.

5th Edition Forever!

Remember to buy Breakfall for all the time you'll be thrown out of your chairs in battle.

Current rules say that you don't buy Growth as always on, you buy the stats and take the appropriate complication for the size.
 
In any case, if a power is always on, the linked power isn't limited thus not a limitation.

Oh, and that Cats commercial would give Stephen King nightmares.

Warning: it's quiet day and I'm bored. So a long answer follows.
 
I'm assuming that it's Thanos and the Obsidian Order. If he has the Gauntlet then the only thing taking him down is the writer's deus ex machina; with infinite power comes zero dramatic tension.
 
Marvel
 
Spiderman. He's well out of his league. But I like Spidey. So he's in.
Namor. Because you don't need to just fight Thanos on a physical level, you also need to meet him arrogant jerk ass to arrogant jerk ass. Think of it as a meet-cute.
Cyclops. In these sort of stories some one has to die. To add poignancy. To give the reader the feeling of "oh shit, this for real!" I volunteer Cyclops for this job.
Sue Storm. Because her force fields are super powerful. Invisibility helps too. Also for the URST with Namor.
Phoenix (Rachel Summers, as written in Excalibur all the way back when.) Power. Guts. Tragic back story. Ginger. She's got it all. Also, someone should give a damn when Cyclops bites it.
Sersei. One of the real Eternals, not those cheap Titan knock-offs.
 
DC (This is much harder, don't really follow DC.)
 
Wonder Woman. Tough enough to take Thanos one on one.
Hal Jordan. He's a space cop. Thanos is a space villain. They should meet.
Zatana. Because a thorough beating requires... evening dress.
Jenny Sparks. Because so far there's been a distinct lack of hard drinking and hard swearing.
Batman. Same reason as Cyclops.
Shazam. Hell, why not? He's got the power and his cheerful optimism makes a nice counterpoint to Thanos' grim dark "blah blah blah".
 
Marvel/DC Crossover
 
Doom. Because every sentence ends in an exclamation point! (Doom bows before no-one! So come, titan, match your power against the unparalleled intellect of Doom!  You will be found wanting!)
Lex Luthor. As a counter point to Doom's bombast, Luthor can play it pretty cool when he wants to.
Loki. Who's side will he even be on? I don't know.
Hela. Well there's that whole "in love with Death" thing and they've been dating or something. I know it was covered in some way in recent comics. So she's here because of that.
Emma Frost. Has anyone even tried ego blasts on Thanos? Can Frost even do ego blasts?
Darkseid. So both he and Thanos can curl up into little balls of existential dread.
 
Hard Drinking and Swearing Crossover
 
Jenny Sparks. She gets to be in two lists.
Elsa Bloodstone. She's got a shot gun.
Jessica Jones. Because detective skills and representing working mums.
Valkyrie (MCU version.) Look, I don't know if it's even possible for fictional movie characters to exist in the same fictional universe as fictional comic book characters. But Tessa Thompson is awesome.
John Constantine. Trench coat? Check. Fag? Check. Can out-scheme demons? Check.
Wolverine. <sigh> I hate myself for even including him. But look, if anyone can permanently kill him it's Thanos right?

The original mini-series was designed to bring all of DC's characters onto a single Earth.  This required the elimination of a number of characters (Supergirl, Flash, Huntress, Aquagirl, etc.) and revising the entire history of the DC Universe.  They were going for a single continuity along the lines of what Marvel was known for back then.
 
Of course, it failed. 
 
The new versions of classic characters like Green Arrow, Wildcat, Dr. Mid-Nite, and Johnny Thunder were not embraced by the readers, and some of the changes seemed unnecessary like Black Canary's track suit instead of her fishnets and leather jacket.  In the 34 years since the Crisis DC has had to reboot it's universe more times then General Hospital has had actresses who played Carly, and the point was as hard to find as Heather Langekamp is Star Trek Into Darkness.*  (Stop me before I sub-reference again).
 
*I will continue to use this joke until I get a laugh.le
 
The best case scenario here is that Supergirl ends up on the same Earth as The Flash.  That's pretty much it.  So far this Crisis has cost the Arrowverse Harrison Wells and Jesse Quick from Earth 2, oh and Earth 2 as well.  And lets face it, a cosmic being who needs anyone to help him collect items and people and who plays coy with what's really going in is just a plot device.  It has inspire me to create a villain who has high defenses and teleport but with no offensive powers, just a Persuasion roll of 18-.
 
This is Cassandra saying Good Night, and I told you so.

Bionic Woman
 
 

 
(Photograph by Lindsay Wagner)
 
Val Char Cost
15 STR 5
20 DEX 30
18 CON 16
11 BODY 2
18 INT 8
14 EGO 8
20 PRE 10
18 COM 4
7 PD 4
7 ED 3
4 SPD 10
7 REC 0
36 END 0
28 STUN 0
Total Characteristics Cost: 100 Points
 
Cost Skills
3 Acrobatics 13-
3 Acting 13-
3 Breakfall 13-
3 Concealment 13-
3 Conversation 13-
5 Cramming
3 Deduction 13-
5 Defensive Strike
3 FB: Federal Police Powers
4 Martial Block 
4 Martial Dodge
2 Navigation [Ground] 12-
3 Persuasion 13-
3 Shadowing 13-
3 Stealth 13-
Total Skills Cost: 50 Points
 
Cost Powers
16 Armor +8 rPD +8 rED
50 Multipower (50 Points)
2 u) HA +6d6, HTH Attack (-1/2), STUN Only (-0)
2 u) Leaping +10", 8x NCM
3 u) Missile Deflection [All Ranged Attacks] +5
2 u) Running +5", 8x NCM
3 u) STR +30
22 ES: Nightvision, PER +1, Radio Perception & Transmit, Telescopic Hearing +2, Ultrasonic Hearing
Total Powers Cost: 100 Points
 
Total Cost: 250 Points
 
150+ Disadvantages
5 DNPC: Peggy Callahan (Useful Normal) 8-
15 Hunted: Fembots (As Powerful/NCI) 8-
20 Normal Characteristics Cost
15 PsyL: Fear Of Snakes (Common/Strong)
20 PsyL: Protective Of Innocents (Very Common/Strong)
15 PsyL: In Love With Steve Austin (Common/Strong)
10 SocL: Secret Identity [Jaime Sommers] (Occasionally/Major)
Total Disadvantages Cost: 250 Points
 
Origin:  Jaime Sommers was a professional Tennis Player who was sky diving with her friend Steve Austin when her parachute failed to open.  Badly injured Steve used his connects with the Office of Scientific Intelligence to save Jaime's life and to replace her damaged right arm, legs, and right ear bionics.  Jaime came to accept her bionics and became an agent of the OSI battling the forces of evil as The Bionic Woman.
 
Appearance:  Jaime Sommers is a beautiful slender woman with light brown hair and brown eyes, and is 5'9 1/2"tall and 125 lbs.  She dresses in a variety of different outfits, and always looks good in them.
 
Powers:  The Bionic Woman has superhuman strength, heightened senses, and the ability to leap great distances and run very fast.  Jaime is a very intelligent young woman and has the ability to learn was she needs to maintain her cover on various missions.  Not wanting to harm anyone she usually gives her human enemies a push that will knock them out without doing any permanent damage.
 
 

I have had a lot of trouble building Spider-Man, especially without using any Focus. 
 
His Bugging is the Spider Trackers.
 
His Eidetic Memory is his Camera.
 
His Stretching is Spider-Man using his web slingers to grab and object.

Spider-Man
 
Val Char Cost
20 STR 10
18 DEX 24
20 CON 20
12 BODY 4
18 INT 8
11 EGO 2
20 PRE 10
18 COM 4
8 PD 4
6 ED 2
4 SPD 12
8 REC 0
40 END 0
32 STUN 0
Total Characteristics Cost: 100 Points
 
Cost Skills
3 Acrobatics 13-
3 Breakfall 13-
3 Bugging 13-
25 Danger Sense [Out of Combat] [Immediate Vicinity] 13-
5 Eidetic Memory
2 Navigation [Ground] 13-
3 Shadowing 13-
3 Stealth 13-
3 Streetwise 13-
Total Skills Cost: 50 Points
 
Cost Powers
24 Armor +8 rPD +8 rED
10 Clinging 50 STR
50 Multipower (50 Points)
5 u) Entangle 4d6 DEF 4, [32c] (+1/4)
2 u) Leaping +10", 8x NCM
3 u) Missile Deflection [All Ranged Attacks] +5
3 u) STR +30
1 u) Stretching 4", Always Direct (-1/4), No Noncombat (-1/4)
2 u) Swinging 10", 8x NCM
Total Powers Cost: 100 Points
 
Total Cost: 250 Points
 
150+ Disadvanatages
10 DNPC: Mary Jane Watson (Normal) 8-
15 DNPC: May Parker (Incompetent) 8-
10 Hunted: Green Goblin (As Powerful) 8-
20 Normal Characteristics Maxima
20 PsyL: Code Of The Hero (Very Common/Strong)
15 PsyL: In Love With Mary Jane Watson (Common/Strong)
10 SocL: Secret Identity [Peter Parker] (Occasionally/Major)
Total Disadvantages Cost: 250 Points
 
 

A few Golden Age characteristics.
 
1.  The Heroes will be fighting non-costumed individuals more often then villains.  They will be either criminals or Axis spies.  Many will be working for a Mastermind who conceals their identity because they are part of the establishment.   Of course most of the heroes will be too so have some Money and High Society.
 
2.  The Heroes are expected to bring their opponents alive.  That's why no matter what powers the heroes have they will engage in hand to hand combat so they can pull their punches and knock out the criminals and spies out.  You'll have a chance to question them, but the Mastermind will always be nearby to shut them up before they can reveal too much, usually with a secret device that the minion had no idea they were wearing.  Most heroes, especially Bricks, should have Interrogation ("Talk or I'll . . . ")
 
3.  The Heroes will from time to time get captured because the Mastermind will send them into an ambush.  But this will give the Heroes a chance to gain valuable information that will allow them to stop the Mastermind's current evil scheme once they escape.  All characters should have Contortionist.
 
4.  When one of the Mastermind's minions is eliminated for getting captured, this will allow one of the Heroes to infiltrate the gang, and discover a lead to the Mastermind's secret identity.  At least one of the Heroes should have Disguise and Streetwise.
 
5.  The Mastermind is often building an Ultimate Weapon, but needs components and equipment to activate it.  This will lead to thefts and kidnappings of scientists.  At least one of the Heroes should have a Science Skill, and technical skills like electronics, inventor, mechanics, and Systems Operations.
 
6.  In the 1940s is was inconceivable that the Heroes would be vigilantes.  Even Batman in the 1943 Serial was working for the U.S. Government.  So FB: Federal Police Powers and Reputation: Superhero or Crime Fighter is a must. 

That might be why it didn't work on the zombie guy (the villains are Flash are so dull I can't even remember their names anymore).

Champions Universe has a few cities of fiction which to hang your hero hats in.
 
Millennium City (Detroit): Hi tech big city of the midwest/upper north.
 
Vibora Bay: Mystical southern east city of mid size.
 
Hudson City: Semi-corrupted city of Mafia and darkness, where costumed vigilanties and costumed mercenaries outnumber out right superpowered heroes three to one (and only vaugly exists within the Champions Universe).
 
And now:
 
Lonestar City: A southern city proud of its western heritage, Lonestar City is unique because it is layed out in a city grid which looks like a huge five pointed star. It is a big place. It is a place where heroes are just as likely to wear cowboy boots and a ten gallon hat along with there masks. There are more country-western bars here than rock n roll bars. It is a center of hi tech, but not THE center of hi tech. For magic, you are more likely to find ghost bison and Native American Shamanic Magic than anything else.

I have had a lot of trouble building Spider-Man, especially without using any Focus. 
 
His Bugging is the Spider Trackers.
 
His Eidetic Memory is his Camera.
 
His Stretching is Spider-Man using his web slingers to grab and object.

Lone Star City might work better.

In the critically acclaimed DS 9 Episode "Far Beyond the Stars", Nana Visitor (who normally plays Nerys) has the role of K.C. Hunter, a woman in 1950s America who must use her initials to hide her sex from the average reader who might never accept a "Woman Writing Science Fiction" it was a homage to the now late, always great D.C. Fontana
 

I say go to the comic books themselves for inspiration. They often have an overarching plot extending over multiple issues, sometimes a couple of years' worth; but in the meantime they break that up with shorter stories involving different threats and villains, character-building and comic-relief issues, crossovers and guest-stars, etc. The nature and magnitude of the underlying threat often isn't revealed until near the climax of the story.

Yeah, but in the comics, the same villain isn't the antagonist of every issue of a year-long overarching plot. I think comics editors understand how that would lead to narrative fatigue. But it would seem that Berlanti and Dries are clueless on this front.

Exactly my point.

Richard III (1995)
 
William Shakespeare's play about Richard III is brought into the late 1930s with Ian McKellen, Annette Benning, Robert Downey Jr., and Kristin Scott Thomas.

You know, I'm not entirely convinced that Batwoman needs to follow the serialized Big Bad For the Season structure established by Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It could benefit from a Villain of the Week structure instead, allowing them to use their creativity to establish a whole new rogue's gallery for Batwoman rather than focusing so much on a single antagonist for the whole season (or even for a big chunk of it). Because right now, the show is really straining under the weight of how tiresome Alice is as the featured antagonist.

That's because we are dealing with the Superheroes in the crossovers, and not the "Characters" behind the mask.

That's because we are dealing with the Superheroes in the crossovers, and not the "Characters" behind the mask.