bubba smith

That's a disturbingly common trend, I've found - the blatantly fantastical gets a free pass, while thing that are plausible, but unlikely get heavy scrutiny.  Some of it may be that the power fantasy is the central tenant of the work and can't be compromised, while the Secret ID is ancillary and thus open to interpretation.  But I suspect that it's more about 'realism', and I mean that in that the most condescending, snooty way possible.  People who want to prove how clever and deep they are, and focus on the things that seem adjacent to their reality.  Possibly the same people who like to talk about 'underwear on the outside of tights' as such a stupid and juvenile costume trope.  (which is a different topic, and start a new thread if you really need to talk about it)
 
Having said that, there are legitimate conversations to have about secret identity, and how useful/effective it actually is.  But someone arguing how unrealistic and dumb they are seems unlikely to be reaching for that level.

It just seems to me that the argument that secret identities are unrealistic or stupid in a world where a guy turns into a huge green monster that can juggle tanks is simply absurd.  You're willing to suspend disbelief for the far more outrageous and fantastic thing than the other??? 

I think the modern need to abandon secret identities is sprung from cynicism and a postmodernist desire to deconstruct and hence destroy everything.  Its part of the genre, like capes and costumes.  Taking it away makes it feel less like superheroes and more like action heroes with fancy leather outfits.

you did good Edith your heart was In the right place but your brain was out to lunch

the super bowl I've had SNACKS that were more super

the super bowl I've had SNACKS that were more super

Although it's not explicitly stated anywhere, I'm guessing that the Champions were required to disclose their secret identities when they joined the team.  This means that Witchcraft, Nighthawk, Kinetik, and Defender all know who each other are (everyone, of course, knows who Sapphire and Ironclad are).  But I have some questions about Defender, and who else knows his identity.  This is caused by the complications of being a Powered Armor hero. 
 
The Champions housekeeper, Wendy Brooks, and their liaison are both mentioned in 5E and 6E writeups as reacting to Defender's handsome appearance (Wendy has a crush on him and Denise doesn't see what the big deal is).  Presumably, to find Defender handsome they must be seeing him outside his powered armor.  That makes sense because it is unlikely he would walk around HQ in his armor all the time.  But it also means that both of them must know his secret identity because James Harmon is a very widely known individual.
 
But the mystery goes a little deeper (primarily because Champions can't resist remarking on how attractive people find Defender).  Gravitar stops attacking Seattle in exchange for a date with Defender.  Is she just assuming he's good looking under his armor?  Or did she know what he looked like (meaning she, too, must know he's James Harmon).  If she was just guessing he was attractive, then I'm assuming she must have found out when they went out to dinner (and dancing!?).  He didn't wear his armor then, right?  Gravitar probably did wear her usual mask (which in superhero terms, absolutely hides her identity, something I have no issue with as it is a trope I like).
 
Maybe Defender wears an improvised superhero mask when he's outside his armor around support staff and others that he meets with?  That makes some sense.  I can't imagine he shows up at meetings with the mayor or government officials in his armor (or maybe he does; it isn't as bulky looking as Warlord's or Devastator's after all).  If he does do this, though, it's never really mentioned or even alluded to anywhere.
 
What do people think?

that soumds like a nightmare all right

superman spoke of it while discussing krypton and their legal system

some 1960s iron man
 

This is the Special Snowflake effect.  And I hate it.  Gaming is a GROUP activity and the PC should be made as a group so nobody treads on another's toes. 's
 
It reminds me of the story about a GM trying to get the party together and two PCs put out a call for employment and interviews.  So all the PCs gather together and they role play the interviews, and one PC says he's not really interested but thanks for the interest.  So the rest of the PCs gather together and leave town.  
 
The PC left behind sputters and complains and the other members say "You refused to come along.  You don't have a glowing neon sign above your head that says PC!"  Now all of a sudden he wants in on the action.  
 
I view Killer PCs in the same light.  If we are playing a four colour game, then GET WITH THE PROGRAM!  Some might say it will make for nail biting story telling, but in my experience it is players argueing and leaving the game.  

motion seconded

The unskippable ad that plays in front of a youtube video.

have you ever thought of a post for the'genre crossover nighmares ' thread or the " aphorisms' thread and by the time you got there you forgot what it was? THAT is annoying

a presence attack ??

if I am right WW bought  the identity from the real Diana Prince

if I am right WW bought  the identity from the real Diana Prince

Everyone is a hero in their own story.

This is a campaign idea I've been thinking about recently to use with my current gaming group someday.
 
Second Chances is a boarding house set up to assist supervillains in their efforts at reintegrating back into society after they've served out their sentences in Stronghold, maybe for those who've gotten released early for good behavior or after serving on the Champions Universe's version of the Suicide Squad. It's a government-sponsored halfway house dealing in supervillains. It might even make for a decent convention game background.
 
My thought was to use it as the basis for a PC team, putting together former supervillains into a ragtag group of anti-heroes that actually can do some good together. Think Guardians of the Galaxy, only made up of parolees. It could also work for a Dark Champions: The Animated Series sort of setting.
 
One of the things that the government would do is provide new secret IDs for each parolee in their efforts at rehabilitation, so they would all have the Social Complications: Criminal Record and Secret ID, maybe at a reduced level for the Secret ID, since it is one known to the government. Watched by PRIMUS (or another group that deal with supercriminals) would also seem to make sense.
 
What sort of supervillains might work from the current CU as parolees? Shrinker and Foxbat might make for a couple of interesting fellow parolees, but who else?

have you ever thought of a post for the'genre crossover nighmares ' thread or the " aphorisms' thread and by the time you got there you forgot what it was? THAT is annoying

Yeah its one thing to have Joe Average come back with PTSD or hardened conscience from war, but when you can tear a tank in half?

Herculan has already made an effort to turn his life around -- he might make a good mentor/supervisor for others in the halfway house. Firedrake (Sharper Than A Serpent's Tooth) never wanted to be a villain, and turned himself in to authorities as soon as he could get away from King Cobra's influence. Any villain whose description indicates he/she is basically a decent person, and could be reformed under the right influence, would work here, including Alchemica, Exo, Grotesk, Riptide, and Vixen.
 
I'm not sure I'd agree with Amorkca's suggestion of Lady Blue, though. She already thinks she's doing good for society in her own way, and hasn't felt any inclination to stop. IMHO she probably works better in a campaign in that grey area that challenges PCs' ethics.

quite nice Lucius

a symbiote in a Christmas story

cyber-5 most likely filled the bill