Zac

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

The selections for Catalyst: Thebes were made last Friday and I appologise for just getting the word out on the boards today.

Thanks to everyone who submitted a character, put their two cents in about concepts, builds, etc. To be sure, to game is an endevor in fellowship (both real world and the fiction we so enjoy) and to game online its take a community.

Chalice (5 Spd Energy Projector) - Accepted

Engram (5 Spd Mentalist) - Accepted

Inertia (5 Spd Energy Projector) - Accepted

Inversion (4 Spd Brick) - Accepted

Kuan-Ti (6 Spd Martial Artist) - Accepted

Sentry (6 Spd Martial Artist) - Accepted

All players who made submissions by Friday should have received a PM one way or another.

Jim - I did not see your submission until a few minutes ago. I am sorry, but you did not make the submission deadline.

Again, to everyone who participated - thanks!!!

Zac

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

Glad to help. I tried to design it in such a way so you could upgrade things fairly quickly, without spending a lot of experience points.

 

 

I'll let you and Zac talk it over, but my take would be that if you drop the Perk, you should drop the Disadvantage as well.

 

EDIT: Version 3

 

Chalice

Val Char Cost Roll Notes

13 STR 3 12- Lift 151.6kg; 2 1/2d6 [1]

23 DEX 39 14- OCV: 8/DCV: 8

29 CON 38 15-

15 BODY 10 12-

13 INT 3 12- PER Roll 12-

14 EGO 8 12- ECV: 5

18 PRE 8 13- PRE Attack: 3 1/2d6

16 COM 3 12-

 

14/26 PD 11 Total: 14/26 PD (0/12 rPD)

14/25 ED 8 Total: 14/25 ED (0/11 rED)

5 SPD 17 Phases: 3, 5, 8, 10, 12

11 REC 4

54 END -2

42 STUN 5 Total Characteristic Cost: 155

 

Movement: Running: 6"/12"

Leaping: 2"/4"

Swimming: 14"/112"

Tunneling: 8"/32"

 

Cost Powers END

55 Endless Water: Multipower, 55-point reserve

5u 1) Wellspring: Energy Blast 11d6 (vs. ED) (55 Active Points) 5

5u 2) Just Like Suffocating: Energy Blast 3 1/2d6 (vs. PD), Continuous (+1), No Normal Defense (LS: Self-contained breathing, can breathe water, or rigid face covering; +1) (54 Active Points) 5

4u 3) Water Rights: Telekinesis (30 STR), Affects Porous (55 Active Points); Only on water, or objects in water (-1/2) 5

4u 4) Erosion: Tunneling 8" through 8 DEF material, x4 Noncombat (45 Active Points) 4

4u 5) Wash It Away: Dispel 12d6, Any one fire power (+1/4) (45 Active Points) 4

2u 6) Darkness Was Upon the Deep: Darkness to Sight Group 2" radius, Personal Immunity (+1/4), Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/4) (30 Active Points); Extra Time (Extra Segment, Only to Activate, -1/4) 1

2u 7) Writing on the Waves: Telekinesis (10 STR), Affects Porous, Fine Manipulation (35 Active Points); Only on water, or objects in water (-1/2) 3

 

17 Waterform: Elemental Control, 34-point powers

17 1) Body of Water: Force Field (12 PD/11 ED), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (34 Active Points)

17 2) One With the Water: Swimming +12" (14" total) (x8 Noncombat), rapid Noncombat movement (+1/4), Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/4) (34 Active Points) 1

14 3) Forecast Calls for Rain/Slippery When Wet: Change Environment 2" radius, -2 to Sight Group PER Rolls, -1 DCV, -1 OCV, -1 to DEX Checks, Personal Immunity (+1/4) (34 Active Points); Extra Time (Extra Segment, Only to Activate, -1/4) 3

 

8 Child of the Waves: Life Support (Expanded Breathing; Safe in High Pressure; Safe in Intense Cold)

2 Fountain of Life: Life Support (Drinking: Character does not need to drink), Usable By Other (+1/4) (4 Active Points); Water only (still needs food) (-1)

 

Talents

3 Environmental Movement (no penalties on wet/slippery surfaces, or in water)

 

Skills

4 Penalty Skill Levels: +2 vs. Range Modifier with Endless Water multipower

3 Conversation 13-

3 Deduction 12-

3 KS: Appalachian Folklore (INT-based) 12-

3 KS: Music (INT-based) 12-

3 Paramedics 12-

3 Persuasion 13-

3 Power: Water Control (CON-based) 15-

4 PS: Singer (PRE-based) 14-

4 PS: Songwriter (INT-based) 13-

3 Streetwise 13-

3 Survival 12-

2 WF: Small Arms

 

Total Powers & Skill Cost: 200

Total Cost: 355

 

200+ Disadvantages

15 Social Limitation: Secret Identity Frequently (11-), Major

5 Social Limitation: Checkered Past (Occasionally, Minor)

5 Distinctive Features: Third Eyelid/Tattoos (Easily Concealed; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)

10 Enraged: when someone more powerful metes out blatantly unfair punishment to someone less powerful (Common), go 8-, recover 14-

20 Hunted: Reverend Laurence Mattheson (aka Obeah Fortunatis, the Conjure Man) 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Harshly Punish)

15 Hunted: Elemental Force 8- (Mo Pow, Harshly Punish)

10 Hunted: Mystery Hunted 8- (As Pow, Harshly Punish)

10 Susceptibility: Very Hot and Dry Environment (when Body of Water active) 1d6 damage per Turn (Uncommon)

10 Vulnerability: 1 1/2 x STUN Fire Attacks (Common)

15 Psychological Limitation: A Second Chance - Code Versus Killing (Common, Strong)

15 Psychological Limitation: Settling Scores - driven to use her abilities to physically punish those who abuse others weaker than them or in their power (Common, Strong)

10 Psychological Limitation: Don’t Slip - tries to be scrupulously fair in all her dealings (Common, Moderate)

10 Psychological Limitation: Don't Let Them See You Cry - needs to prove by word or deed that she's "tougher than the situation" (Common, Moderate)

5 Experience Points

 

Total Disadvantage Points: 355

I am not fond of the Only in Waterform Susceptability. Under the disad it says if you have a form that could take the pounding, the up the time limit. I consider a very hot and dry environment to be uncommon as is. I can see under stage lights, deserts, etc to be hot and dry. But, just add a sprinkler fan to a stage and hot & dry just becomes hot.

10 Enraged: when someone more powerful metes out blatantly unfair punishment to someone less powerful (Common), go 8-, recover 14-

I need some further defining of enraged. This is not a new question, I just want to be sure when you are going to flip a switch:

Scenario 1

1. Bully taunts kid at bus stop

2. Bully punches kid in the gut at bus stop (kid takes stun)

3. Bully punches kid and kid gets a bloody lip (kid still takes stun)

4. Kid falls and bully spits on kid

5. Bully football kicks kid (kid takes body)

You come around a corner and see a man wearing the tar out of a 8 year old. The kid is trying to escape the and the man is holding on, telling him to be still, and wears his butt out some more. - Enraged?

You come around a corner and see a middle aged woman slap the fire out of a teenager. - Enraged?

You are in BestBuy and the office manager will not take the little old ladies return. You can clearly see from here the package is unopened, and the manager is being "all he can be." - Enraged?

You stumble onto a fight in an alley. The man in black has a pistol and is wrestling with the man in white. The man in white has taken some good licks but is still givig it all he has. You see the man in black stand up and point the gun at the man in white. - Enraged?

Do you see where I am going with this. A 9 year old bully, picking on a 6 year old at a bus stop meet the conditions for enraged once he punches the kid in the gut. You gonna go mideval on a 9 year old?

The man wear the kids butt out looks to be something bad. Older man beating a child. You go enraged and put the guy in the hospital. Turns out the man was punishing his child for attempting to steal something from inside the store. He was using his hand and the child WAS taking Stun (I recall taking a LOT of stun ).

Man in Black vs. Man in White turns out to be an undercover cop and a criminal. The criminal pulled the gun, the cop disarmed him and they are wrestling for their lives. The cop gets the drop on the crook and stands up. If you jump in before the cop can act further, you miss his intent to say "Alright, get your hands up."

It goes on. Enraged when meeting out Blatant punishment is subjective. You come around a corner and see it, looks bad you act. But you dont have all the knowledge. As a hero, I recommend it is a Psych limitation at most. You go firing off half cocked your reputation is going to go from hero to zero real fast. In your Bio you acted only when you had more information, only one time to you go 1/2 cocked... and he is dead.

Change the name of the power Just Like Suffocating to Waterboarding lol.

Music Teacher, Rock star, Club Singer. Just let me know what you want to do. If you USE to be in a band and now just teach, I would probably drop it. If you still play now and again, I would keep it.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

That's the new, updated build. I have a few questions for Fedifensor that I need to take up with him, but nothing major, mostly "why this" or "why not that." I do think the STUN is too low.

 

 

 

You did read the bio? All of the bio? Ooooo...you're a dedicated GM (or a flaming masochist, but that works too).

 

No, you didn't miss anything. My thought was that even though Ali moved away from Cumberland Gap, the cloud of rumour and suspicion still surrounds her in the death of her father, and all it would take is one phone call to find out about it.

 

So Ali can't afford to get into a situation where someone might check her background, or they'll find out about the odd, water-related death of Joseph Mattheson. In her Secret ID, she has to keep her nose clean, avoid being questioned or investigated.

OK. I am going to drop your Elemental Force hunted and move some stuff around. I will let you know the end results tomorrow morning.

Surprisingly tough question.

 

The Conjure Man can always attract more followers if he loses the current coven. So it's the MAN who's essential to the Hunted...without his influence, the Mountain Occult would dry up and blow away.

 

That said, though, Obeah's coven and connections are what make up the NCI part of the Hunted. I suppose the coven is a convenience for Obeah the Man; they're not necessary to him, but his NCI would suffer if he lost them -- so even though MOST of the power is in "Obeah Fortunatis, the Conjure Man," he is MORE powerful with his coven than without them.

 

Him + his coven = more powerful (but him - his coven = still bad news for Ali)

 

Ok, I like the idea and the group. I am going to make HIM an as powerful + group = more powerful. So, he would have agent level followers. So if they all show up to the party = bad news, just agents = meh, just him = errr.

I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I don't know. I originally had two Multipowers; turning one of them into an EC (Only In Hero ID) was Fedifensor's inspiration. I'm not very familiar with EC as a build because I usually don't use it (yeah, I'm a Multipower kinda girl).

Ok. Keep the Hero ID for EC is fine, I just think the disad should apply to you as a whole... not just when manifesting water powers in the EC. So, you really DONT like standing under a lot of hots lights on the stage

Perhaps I could speak to Fed about dropping the OIHID? Originally, the Susceptibility/Vulnerability Limitations just applied to Chalice when she was in her Waterform, but I didn't take the OIHID because A] Chalice's waterform isn't her hero ID, just the special effect of one of her powers, and B] since she can turn it on and off as a zero phase action, it doesn't seem like much of a change.

I will take to Fed about his thoughts on the build.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

Stochastic, Vox and Kickback... thanks for the additional information.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

Hello' date=' Fedifensor. Thanks for getting back to me so fast. (And yes, this [i']is[/i] the trimmed version. I'm sorry...there just seemed to be an awful lot to explain.)

 

About the character build problems:

 

1] EB

I can certainly trim down the EB. I misunderstood what you and Zac meant by the listed stats being for the "average hero". I thought that meant PCs could go a bit over/under the "average" values.

 

2] Skill rolls.

Back on Page 6 of the thread, Zac said, "Maximum roll on most skills should be 15- (with levels), exceptions for a 16- will be given for honed character concepts. That said, I will deny “Requires a Skill Roll” -1/4 limitation with a high skill level (the max roll for this limitation is 14-)."

 

I didn't read that as "Don't take RSR as a Disad", I read it as "Don't put a really high skill roll on your RSR Disad and expect it to count at full value". As a player, I'm not wild about RSR as a Disad, either, but I needed to trim the point costs for Chalice's powers, and that was one of the least offensive Disads available.

 

Any recommendations as to different ways of doing that would be gratefully accepted!

 

3] Side effects.

Admittedly, I needed the points, but I also really liked the idea of Chalice not being entirely in control of her powers -- it is the elemental force of water, after all -- and running the risk of causing damage when the power surges through her.

 

Dr. Anomaly (the friend who helped me with the build -- I couldn't build a Champions PC by myself to save my life) thought that "Minor" would be a low enough number of points of effect to make the Disad. not too onerous. I don't mind it coming up a lot in game, unless it's going to be a problem for the GM or for the game to have it happening.

 

4] The two Multipowers.

Basically, the idea was Chalice could use things like Darkness Was Upon the Deep or Slippery When Wet and still have her energy blasts available for use...hence, two Multipowers.

 

Why not do the Multipower and EC route? Umm...it didn't occur to me. :-o I don't use ECs very often because they're more expensive than Multipowers, and I'm not as familiar with 'em. However, that arrangement does sound like a good idea -- if I can afford it. (Hmm, it's not like Chalice's powers aren't closely related enough thematically to fit in an EC.) ;-)

 

5] Combat Luck.

Why CL instead of Armour? Just habit. I can certainly change that.

 

6] Lots of starting powers.

Well, most of them are more role-playing powers -- ways to ward off opponents or make them less effective -- than earth-cracking combat powers. And Ali did have a couple of years of experience using her powers to "settle scores" when she was younger.

 

I can "suspend" some of her powers and buy 'em back later, but I'd like to talk to you or Zac more about which powers and why before actually doing it.

 

7] Distinctive Features.

I'm not sure I understand the criticism; I took two DFs, but I took them both at Easily Concealed. By "don't stack", do you mean I can't have two DF Disads at the same level? Does one of them not count if I do that?

 

The DFs were minor character background details, but I thought the tattoos and third eyelids were different enough to require two different Disads...even though they're both individually easy to conceal (long sleeves in one case, sunglasses in the other).

 

Once again, thanks for getting back to me so quickly -- and thank-you very much for your comments and suggestions. I appreciate them a lot.

Ok, Fed sent me your character as an hdc yesterday evening. I am going to "assume" this is the up to date build. I will post the build I have and ask questions from there.

1. Social Limitation: Responsible for her father's death (Occasionally, Major)

I may have missed this, so bear with me. How do you think this will impact you? I read the "short" bio (lol, nice btw) and did not really see how this becomes a social limitation in the game. Please explain.

2. Hunted: Reverend Laurence Mattheson (aka Obeah Fortunatis, the Conjure Man) 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Harshly Punish)

I notice he has a "coven" under him. Do you consider the MAN to be more powerful or him + his coven = more powerful? I play organization vs individuals as hunted a bit differently, so I want to be sure how you see this.

3. Hunted: Elemental Force 8- (Mo Pow, Harshly Punish)

Elemental Force would be appropriate, but Fed and I are only trying to share agent level organizations. We are trying to keep the power house groups seperate. Do you mind if I change this or are you set on an elemental based enemy group?

4. Susceptibility: Very Hot and Dry Environment (only in waterform) 1d6 damage per Turn (Uncommon)

I see your Elemental Control is only in hero id and your multipower is not, which is fine. What action do you need to change into your hero id? I do not see instant change or anything else related, so I just want to be sure I understand how you see your transformation. Disad looks fine, just need a bit of clarification.

Powers, skills and stats look peachy.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

Sweet, thanks. The picture with the mask is not very big to begin with, but maybe I did something wrong when I uploaded it. Trying again...

 

 

 

And here's a vignette introducing Kamal and his DNPC Carmen. She'll be his best bud and possible love interest.

 

 

 

Kamal felt a bit nervous stepping into the lecture hall. Going back to school after several years off, and in a new country to boot, made him self-conscious. The room was already mostly full. To his relief, all the students were absorbed in books or conversations, and no one looked in his direction.

 

There were only a few desi faces in the auditorium, and only one was that of a pretty girl. Without quite deciding it, he slid into the aisle seat next to her. She glanced up from doodling in her notebook and gave him a perfunctory smile.

 

"Hi," he said, and flashed her smile number seven: I'm Sexy But I Don't Know It. Sure enough, she gave him a second look before returning her attention to her notebook. In her jeans and t-shirt she was cute in a girl next door way, with a round face, pert nose, and long black hair tied back in a ponytail. With the right makeup and outfit she'd be a looker.

 

"Are you slumming it?" he asked. She looked up with a look of pixieish confusion. He gestured to the logo on her T-shirt. "Shouldn't you be at MIT?"

 

"Oh, I forgot..." she looked down at her clothes and seemed a bit embarrassed. "I was going to go to MIT but my dad's been having health problems so I wanted to stay close to home." She shook her head a bit and smiled. "Sorry, I don't know why I'm telling you this."

 

Because I have that effect on people, Kamal thought. "I just hope you won't be too bored by this class," he replied.

 

"Yeah, right," she sighed. "Did you look at the syllabus? It's like Computer Clocks for Jocks."

 

"Great," Kamal groaned. "I shouldn't even be taking this class. I should be a junior, but my credits don't transfer from U. Mumbai."

 

"I thought you looked older," she mused.

 

"Do I look old?" he asked, forcing his real alarm into an expression of mock panic. He ran a hand through his hair and thought about his father's bald spot.

 

"You look acceptable for polite company," she chuckled. She added a squiggle to her notebook. "Uh, I'm Carmen, by the way."

 

"I'm Kamal," he returned. "Nice to meet you, Carmen." He gave her a quick reassessment. "It's funny," he continued, "but I thought you were Indian."

 

"Nope. I'm rice and beans, not rice and curry." She cocked an eyebrow. "That a problem?"

 

Kamal chuckled. "No, it's a relief. If you were Indian," he explained, "on top of being funny, smart and pretty, you'd just be perfect. I'd be scared of you."

 

She rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitched and her cheeks bloomed. "Are you always this cheesy?" she asked.

 

"No, I'm just warming up," he grinned.

 

A bustle at the front of the room drew their eyes to the arrival of their professor, deep in conversation with a TA. He set down a leather satchel and began rooting through it.

 

"Naptime," Kamal said softly.

 

"Hmmm," Carmen said slowly. She looked at Kamal a moment, then tore a page from her notebook and handed it to him. What he had assumed was idle doodling turned out to be a precise rendering of a circuitboard.

 

"You do this for fun?" he asked, impressed. "I'm more of a software guy." He studied the diagram intently.

 

"Finish it."

 

Startled, Kamal looked up to see a challenging grin on Carmen's face. He returned the smile. This class wasn't going to be a wash after all.

 

Very nice. Thx for resending the pic.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

I have been asking all new players a few questions before I can really start them up the game. With that in mind, I will just post them here

1. If you have any DNPCs, I need their name, relationship, age and where they live.

2. Where does you character live? If you took a disad such as poor, then you would probably live in the Rookery or some similar low income area. If you took poor and are a college student, professor, etc. then you probably live around the college in an apartment (garden loft, etc). You can actually have an home in some of the less "affluent" location if you would like (ie Switchback) and have a warehouse type loft (maybe you are a squatter, maybe not). If you character has a lot of family in the area, then put that down. For instance Engram's DNPC mother lives in Sugar Hills, his sister lives in Waxhaw, his girl friend lives in Center City, his has an apartment in Eastvale (close to TSU in Waxhaw).

3. Where do you work?

Again, pointing to Engram, he works in Waxhaw but TSU has a campus in Center City as well.

You character needs a reason to go to Center City occassionally, or at least go thru Center City to get somewhere else. Half of the cities population lives and works in Center City. You don't have to live and work there, but it would be nice to have a reason you pass through now and again. If your character lives at the far edge of the Market District and has little reason to exit the area, it is going to a lot more difficult to get you "into the city". I don't want anyone to suspend belief as to why where they live, work, etc... but having your book of the month getting routed into the city everytime Dr ABC attacks is going to get old really fast

Thanks.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

I have two questions for you re: the Catalyst (Thebes) online game.

 

First, does the Thebes School of Dance and Art in Waxhaw, Thebes, offer a music program? If not, what about the local universities/colleges? (I'm hoping to put my character's music background to work.)

Yes. It is a Arts centered College, focusing on Music, Dance and more "classical" arts programs. So, if you wanted to work in a medium such as canvas or clay this school would apply. If you wanted to get into photography, video work, etc then this school would not be it. Think of "Fame" with a bigger budget

And second, should I post Chalice on this thread, or can I email her to you? Can you read WP 10? (I like the way WP handles formatting, since I'm the one who doesn't have .hdc)

Just put her up on the board. I will get her into an .hdc format.

Re: A DC Animated-style HeroMachine

Something like this?

 

This one looks really good. Congrats. Have some rep.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

Current state of character selection: Cut off date March 13, 2009 (T-7 days)

1. Inertia (5 Spd Energy Projector) - Accepted

2. Engram (5 Spd Mentalist) - Accepted

3. Kuan-Ti (6 Spd Martial Artist) - Character complete

4. Sentry (6 Spd Martial Artist) - Character complete

5. Inversion (4 Spd Brick) - Character complete

6. Talwar (5 Spd Brick/Magnetic EP) - Character complete

7. Chalice (Water Based Energy Projector) - awaiting resubmission

1. The Ward - dropped

2. Tasha - dropped

I will be accepting another character today, with the final three chosen next Friday.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

Okay here's v4. I took out his choke hold and added an NND Chloroform spray to his utility belt. Added Clinging to utility belt too. I changed his name to Sentry' date=' added 2pts PD/ED to his Armor, and added +1DC to his martial arts. Wrote his backstory on the HD file, I've left out the Ghost in the Machine part out of the story as I'm not sure how public we're making that.[/quote']

 

Character is complete.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

Hey Zac' date=' all of that sounds great. I have a technical problem though; I just got a new computer and I can't get Hero Designer to work on it, and I really shouldn't spend any more time troubleshooting the darn thing 'til the weekend. Do you just want to enter the changes in your copy of the file? If that's cool, we can hold off on the few unspent points for now, or maybe put it into his Dex? I'll have a write-up on the DNPC for you tomorrow.[/quote']

 

Completed the changes. You have 6 points to spend but you character is done.

 

BTW, can you resubit the character pic? It is pretty small, and when I "blow it up" it gets grainy fast. Thanks.

Re: Your Gaming Group's Jargon

Isn't that a Deagle?

Yeah, except:

1. A bogie is after and Eagle (in golf)

2. You shoot bogies (with an Eagle in this case).

Re: Your Gaming Group's Jargon

Duck Twacy!

Here's your No-Prize!

I actually played a Pulp Noir HERO game at a con where all of the bad guys were modeled after that particular cartoon. The enemies were a little more macabra and less funny, but it was still a great 8 hour game slot.

Re: A DC Animated-style HeroMachine

I'm still tinkering with the background' date=' but here's a redux of the lunar troopers I made a while back.[/quote']

 

I like the trooper, but how does his gas operated M-16/AR-4 operate in a vacuum? He could try that "I will use someone's spacesuit for for an atmosphere" but it gets old, and expensive real fast.

Re: One HELL of a poker game...

I would assume the Fool... because the World is not enough.

Rep'ed

Re: Help: Hey Diddle Dillinger

Have you thought about alternate Idea's for Hey Diddle Diddle. Old rhymes are not always the silly nonsense so quickly displayed by Disney. Sometimes they had a deeper meaning. Which could have been hidden because the actual political actions could not be written about (Canterbury Tales anyone). Or is was something more sinister lost in translation (Ring Around the Rosey).

The following is from Wiki

(U.K., American, and Canadian version)

Hey diddle diddle,

The cat and the fiddle,

The cow jumped over the moon.

The little dog laughed to see such fun,

And the dish ran away with the spoon.

 

(Alternate American version)

Hey diddle diddle,

The cat played the fiddle,

The cow jumped over the moon.

The little dog laughed to see such sport,

And the dish ran away with the spoon.

 

Theories on the origin of "Hey Diddle Diddle" claim that this nursery rhyme is more than just a sequence of rhyming, not particularly meaningful, words

 

Elizabethan scandal

One theory is that this poem is a satire of a scandal during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. The cat is Elizabeth I and the dog is Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, whom she once referred to as her 'lap dog'. It is also speculated that the 'dish' is a server at the royal court, whereas the 'spoon' refers to a taste-tester. When these last two secretly eloped, Elizabeth had them captured and confined to the Tower of London.

 

 

Richard III's path to the throne of England

Another theory is that the poem depicts elements in the story of Richard III's path to the throne of England.

 

'Diddle diddle' was the way he got rid of Edward V. 'The cat and the fiddle' represent William Catesby and the pre-contract. A cow was the Neville emblem. The Nevilles eclipsed the Percys, whose emblem was a moon. Viscount Lovell was Richard's best friend, and his emblem was a dog. The dish was Richard himself, and the spoon was the anointing spoon at his coronation.

The Rhyme is actually a plan of some sort (to suplant your NPC as a new Godfather, to take some goods, etc). Take liberties with the thugs names (Dish is actually the code name for a female freelance theif), symbols to represent locations (Moons End Pub), and so forth. To make things more complicated, your NPC (Hey Diddle) is not involved with it at all. She just becomes the easy fall guy when all this goes down (esp since her hirelings have names such a Lydia "Cat" Rossini, Tony "the Pit Bull" Sardouchi, and Rico "Silver Spoon" Tatillia). Unknown 3rd party gets his [whatever] and Hey Diddle takes the fall. The players get their mits on a copy of the poem early on and have to make due with the knowledge they have/how things transpire.

Re: Vehicle - Stilt Suit

I've been following with great interest. This suit construct' date=' it still seems more like an OIF than a vehicle. But however you build it, it is an excellent and well-realized idea. Good job working through the kinks.[/quote']

 

I think it could be bought either way. However, I wanted something big and clunky that anyone could get in. I also want to give players a lot of options when tackling these and a partially open canopy does that. Players getting onto the front of the construct and grabbing the hippy taking a joyride is just the start. I could see some of the physically weaker characters throwing a bad guy "out of the car" and then using the vehicle. Teleporting the driver out. The list just goes on.

 

Heroes seem to have a knack for being at construction sites, warehouses, at building fires, etc and I really wanted some tools about that the heros/villians could comendere. Seeing a few of these at a construction site, a large fire or having one in Lowes/Home Depot is common. The players may not be able to use the extra equipment (rivit guns, blow torches, etc) but they could still drive around this mini tank (as in strong not tough) to solve some problems.

 

I have also tinkered around with the idea of having a few first generation offshoot constructions models about. They would be MUCH bigger and have an enclosed canopy, more like a construction crane realized in a large humanoid form. However, they were to complicated for general use (and general construction equipment does the job just as well). So, the business model collapsed. Having to fight one of these in a junk yard would be a great fun (for the GM anyway ).

 

BTW, I appreciate everyone throwing in their 2 bits (or more). I am sure the characters in the game will truely appreciate it when one of these jokers has someone pinned underfoot, the [insert tool here] comes down with a laugh in the background and someone shouts [insert terrible construction pun here].

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

Thanks for all the feedback on Raider/Sentry (I think I like Sentry better too). To answer some of the concerns:

As has been pointed out he actually has 20 DEF with his Combat Luck. One of the things I consider when GM'ing is the Combat vs. Non-Combat Usefulness. I never want a character to be top dog in both. If he has a ton of non-combat skills, I don't want them to be a combat monster too, and vice versa. Since my character has so many non-combat skills, I left his combat a bit lacking.

 

Zac for the extra damage class, what if I added a baton to the Utility Belt (1d6 HA)? I don't want to go with STR as I think that makes him too far above a trained normal.

(Posted from my G1 phone)

 

The cheapest solution to give Sentry +1d6 is using a MP slot for a Baton (+1d6 HA, 0 END, OAF) for 1 pt, or you could buy it outside the MP for 3 pts. Another option is just pay 4 pts for +1 DC with Martial Arts. It really depends on the flavor of the character.

 

The other option is to leave it as is, and just make the character efficient enough in END use to push when necessary.

I think the best route to go would be just +1 DC in martial arts. It I was going to go for extra damage classes as an item +1 HA, OIF (Lead Padded Gloves or Hard Points) and add it to your suit.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

Hey Zac' date=' all of that sounds great. I have a technical problem though; I just got a new computer and I can't get Hero Designer to work on it, and I really shouldn't spend any more time troubleshooting the darn thing 'til the weekend. Do you just want to enter the changes in your copy of the file? If that's cool, we can hold off on the few unspent points for now, or maybe put it into his Dex? I'll have a write-up on the DNPC for you tomorrow.[/quote']

 

OK. I will make the changes and repost as a spoiler. I will be picking the next applicant sometime in the next 24 hours. Since you are in the complete file, you are in the running.

Re: Not "Secret", not "Public", just "Identity"

So what should happen to the PC who helps break up a major attempt by VIPER to take over Campaign City? Shouldn't he get 'Hunted by Viper' as a 0-point, 'earned in play' disad?

 

And what makes 'Secret ID' or 'Public ID' immune to that?

I only throw "Earned in Play" penalities at players for throwing their own rope over a branch, making the noose and hanging themselves with it. Simply getting a disad for being hero equates to getting the short end of the stick in my book. Now if it was a Dark game, thats a different story. Public/Secret ID has nothing to do with it. Some foes come back to haunt you (normally the ones you paid points for) while the other sulk off to lick their wounds.

Sometimes, I will give a disad through the course of play and turn around to spend it on something particular (prime example would be a base), but that would be it.

Re: Your Gaming Group's Jargon

Dead Stick - threating a someon with a weapon, that later turns out to be unloaded. Props go when the player acutally loads the weapon in front of the NPC he just intimitated.

Eagle - Disgustingly large hand gun (ie Desert Eagle)

Bogie - Shooting someone with an Eagle

Toaster - Used to describe a female with so much cybernetics, well

Phillip - See toaster, but a male

Packing for Phillip - carrying enough ammo to take down a Phillip (which is usually a lot)

"Does not even have bread", "No Bread?" - refers to a character who has ill fortune with women

Tithing - everyone in the group ponying up to get a player resurrected

Pennance - looting a character not receiving the benefit of a Tithe

Neon Noodle - Referenced an electric/light based super hero. First hero who had it was about as bright as a 5 watt bulb. It simply stuck afterwards. (You get a no-prize if you know where the Neon Noodle originally appeared)

Weeding, Weeding the Yard - using supressive fire with a weapon that has a large ammo capacity and a disgusting rate of fire to blow the huge amount of ammo in very short order. Usually refers to a mini-gun of some kind.

Lightsaber - using a mix of rounds that has a high concentration of incenderies, "You got a lightsaber there?"

Re: Not "Secret", not "Public", just "Identity"

Yeah' date=' Logan was a perfect example to use for me. That I can wrap my brain around.[/quote']

 

Not getting the Disad for Secret or Public ID means (for me) that at the start of the game you are a blank slate. There are no activities linked to the hero or to the civilian. Now, if during an adventure you take center stage and profess to the media it was you who defeated Dr. ABC... you may just get to swing some points around. However, if you keep standard precautions (bikini mask = who is that mysterious stranger) no one will know who you are. If you have hunteds they will come after you as a hero and are not particular about anyone else. With a Public ID they pretty much know where to look or with a Secret ID, people are snooping around.

 

I normally ask players to pick a Secret or Public ID, but since you are mentalist.... (as Fed said) only the target knows it was you. Now if the popular press develops a new filter that allows them to see mental attacks and intentions you might be in trouble

 

I think is was said earlier, "You did not pay for the disad, the disad does not impact you." Will it stay that way though the course of an adventure or the campaign? Who knows.

Re: Vehicle - Stilt Suit

Aw. Hehe. Thanks, I think?

 

As to Disadvantages I would do that as a Distinctive Feature - Not Concealable, Recognizeable and Always Causes a Reaction. It would make sneakin' difficult. If they are commonly known as being associated with a particular bad group, we can add reputations. Susceptibilities and vulnerabilities are also good.

 

Size 2 is listed as "Chariot" (real helpful, huh?) size 3 is sportscar and 800kg.

 

Here's our moverbot/warehouse model.

 

I added the distinctive feature.

 

[ATTACH]30930[/ATTACH]

Re: Bad guys group - no. These are just really expensive tools. They were by Dynamic Industries after 9/11. They were originally invented as rescue type tools, and branched out into other areas: warehouse and construction are the most prevelant. The military scoff's at these jokers but law enforcement agencies with deep pockets have been known to tinker with them. Getting Fire/Rescue models with large shields and amping up the water cannon for crowd control have appeared on TV (though Dynamic frowns on its suit being used for such activities). The military does not touch them... they have much nicer toys.

Right now, Engram and Inertia are defending a tram from about a dozen thugs with bad attitudes. One of these thugs is using a stilt suit outside of the tram, to yank the doors off like pull tabs on old soda cans. The stilt suit is to big to get inside the tram, but it can still reach in.

Re: Vehicle - Stilt Suit

I'm okay with Stochastic doing his thing' date=' but if he figures out a way to include Mental Defense, I'm going to have to register a protest... [/quote']

 

Just, Damn:p