BlackSword

Originally posted by Netzilla

Another variation on this idea that I've been knocking around is as follows:

 

Start of Combat

The start of combat remains unchanged. All combats will begin with a Segment 12 in which all characters (except those with Speed 1) may act.

 

Random Determination of Segments

During each Post Segment 12, each player will roll a number of d12 (referred to as Segment Dice hereafter) equal to their character's Speed score. The numbers on the dice will determine in which segments their character will be able to act.

It also means you can get some use out of those d12s in your dice bag .

I like both suggestions from netzilla, either picking numbers out of a hate, or rolling a dice for each point of SPD. Though I doubt our group will go to random turns, its a neat idea to keep in mind. I like the radomization of order, but I don't like radomizing the number of actions one might get in a turn.

Anyone planning on posting a review on rpg.net? Although most people tend to post views here anyways, its nice to see it there and get a wider audience. Our local gaming store has it in stock. Actually, more amazing then having it in stock, they had it on the shelf (as opposed to the Viper sourcebook, "Oh yeah, we have it in the back, we just didn't put it on the shelves.") Since I am waiting on another book I didn't pick it up quite yet. I flipped through it and it looked pretty nice, though I didn't read it in much detail. Maybe a purchase for the new year.

What happened to the Christmas shopping season. From Thanksgiving, now I suddenly have less then a week and a half to get gifts for my nephews and ship it halfway across the continent. What happened to the joy of Christmas, now its rushing to finish projects by year end, shopping for family, getting travel arangments, and juggling bills and holiday cheer. I liked it better when I just had to write a list for Santa and it majikcally appeared.

Originally posted by melessqr

Hero doesn't do this so good... Throwing something happens instantaniously... if I thow it now, it gets there now...

Having seen the episode, this is pretty much a perfect explanation. I think the time from it leaving Eternia to going poof in the sun is in the order of seconds, meaning he managed to throw it faster than light speed (assuming Eternia's orbit is similar to Earth's and is several light minutes from the sun).

Thanks for the list WM, I used it recently to help complete a character. Even without the descriptions the entries were enough to get the creative juices flowing and get some new ideas

Again, thanks for your work on the list.

Re: Hawkgirl's wings

Originally posted by Captain Liberty

I don't know whether the cartoon has explicitly said so, but the comic book based on the cartoon seems to indicate that the wings are part of her. She has had the wings on while in civilian dress.

This was also implied during the Despero episode. He pulls one of her wings out a bit to admire it (like a vet checking a bird's wings) and comments about how exotic the wings were.

If she can still hover while her wings are bound, then she is probably telekinetic (which might explain some of the oompf of the mace) and just uses the wings for direction and maneuvering.

 

Then again, perhaps the real source of her power is the mace, made of Nth Metal. Probably not, since she still flies when he has thrown/dropped it, but something to think about.

I am not sure if she has any telekinesis, but I would agree that the wings seem more for manuvuering. In the Terror Beyond episode Hawkgirl is in the water and then just flies straight up out of it with her wings half submerged. It could be her belt is Nth metal in which case that is what gives her the power to fly and her wings are simply for manuvuering.

I am not positive, but I believe that Batman has faced vampires. At the very least this is a person who has Jason Blood and Dr. Fate in his rolodex. His first reaction would be to contact the mystics he knows and get their read on the situation. After gathering information he would take a while to consider it from every angle. At this point it would also depend on how the vampires are built. If they are like the Buffyverse vamps, slightly above human, then he might tell them to deal with it and not try any stupid heroic stuff if they see a big baddie (either one of his rogues gallery). He would probably keep an eye on them. If any of them died then he would probably disband the team (no more kids dying on his watch) then call one of his mystic friends (magic is the one place Batman will let himself rely on another) and go ruin a major vamps day.

Originally posted by Lightray

I had a gaming geek moment after the third or so time that Hawkgirl showed up Superman -- "How much Luck did she buy?"

 

She knocked a hole in Fate's tower, she blasted through Inza's shield, and she deflected Fate's mystic bolt. All with that dang mace.

 

But she definately needs lots of d6 of Luck.

I don't know if its luck so much as a difference in limits. Superman has always said that he vulnerable to magic, so it makes since that he might not be able to punch through a magical barrier. Perhaps Hawkgirl's mace has special properties which make it more effective against magic.

Originally posted by Mark Rand

How does he react to PRIMUS creating a team in Gotham?

Since I only watched the Batman&Robin movie once I can't respond with how that character would act, but the comic book Batman would not accept another Hero team in Gotham. He recently severely smacked down Checkmate when they tried to move into Gotham (granted they attack him first). Considerig how poorly he reacts to other superheroes in his city, I think Batman would chafe at the idea of having an official team in Gotham.

Is he willing to lead it?

Doubtful. Batman would not put himself in the situation where he had to answer to PRIMUS.

Add to JmOz's list the Huntress, another of the Bat-family who is making a reappearnce.

There is another review of Fantasy Hero up at rpg.net today.

Fairly positive review.

You can take JmOz's Superman from the "building the animated justice league" thread, change the disads and play him as a darker version. (If you are an animated JL watcher, then last week's "A Better World" provides an excellent example of a darker Superman).

http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4075&perpage=15&highlight=animated&pagenumber=3

At the very least its a good starting point. Start adding the other powers you mentioned.

Originally posted by Supreme Serpent

From a comic-based standpoint and GM-ing standpoint, I like everyone to have at least one relatively easy off-switch. Exceptions being master villains and folks whose main schtick is being invulnerable. As a GM, I like having that option, and thinks it opens more dramatic possibilities. As a player who has GM'd, I like giving my GM's that option.

This reminded me of a theme that I became more familar with on these boards, GM-Player trust. As players have disadvantages the GM can use, DNPC little Timmy won't be the Boy Hostage every game. As a player, you have to trust that your GM won't take every opportunity to screw your weaknesses. If your character doesn't have good flash defense, the GM won't use flash against that PC every fight, but from time to time the weakness will come up.

In our current game I don't think a single PC has mental defenses, we've only come upon one NPC with mental attacks so it works out. When/if we face him in a fight it will be a challenge as to how we deal with him, and that challenge should make the combat more enjoyable.

If the calender has either color artwork from the Hero books or Hero covers then I would definitaly pick it up.

I would also be interested in getting coffee mugs, probably a few regular ceramic mugs and a travel mug. Ceramic mugs would be first choice.

I don't wear a lot of t-shirts, so probably wouldn't buy those. Maybe a shirt with interior art on the back and a Hero (or Viper, UNTIL, etc) logo on the chest.

For prices, probably in the below $20 range, maybe $25 for the calender if it contained good art. Really it depends on the quality how much I would be willing to shell out for the swag.

Please form your response as a poll

What you need to do is make a poll to determine the best way to exact your vengeance on those who write polls.

Re: Hawkgirl's wings

Originally posted by Captain Liberty

I don't see the cartoon as often as I'd like, but read the comic book. In that, it would seem that Hawkgirl's wings are part of her, making her different from either version that has been in comic books before. Has there been anything in the cartoons to imply that the wings are not always there?

The comic at one point had the wings scrunched up into a backpack, but she has never been seen without them. And later in the same adventure, the JLA went on an "everyone in civies" camping trip and she was still winged, though otherwise in civies.

Also, I believe the cartoon had Flash asking at one point "Is there a Hawkboy (man?)?" She didn't answer.

In "Hearts and Minds" Despero paws at Hawkgirl's wings and says something effect, "The wings are quite exoctic, I'll use her as a personal attendant." So it seems that her wings are part of her. Also reading through the official WB site for JL they indicate that one of Hawkgirl's powers is the ability to communicate with birds (though it hasn't been used in any of the episodes unless she got the penguins to attack Orm in "The Enemy Below." In "A Better World" it looks like Hawkgirl's mace can direct electricity somewhat.

Originally posted by Mark Rand

The team would, of course, use Bruce's Batcave. Besides Alfred, how many people would be on the support staff and what would their jobs be?

Depending on the team, I think they would more likely start in second batcave, no reason to show all their cards too soon.

The supporting staff would likely depend on the abilities of the PCs. Required areas filled by NPC or PC would (partial list) include:

Mechanic - to keep all of the vehicles in working order

Science Guy(Gal) - Someone to test materials, do the typical CSI stuff that Batman does, also same person or second person who is able to do the chemistry stuff to make antidotes, knockout gas, other serums that bats seems to use often

Technician/Engineer - Someone who puts together and improves the bat-gadgets

Alfred typically does the cooking, cleaning and emergency medicine work, so if he is present then those areas are covered. Oracle obviously does the cybersnooping stuff so that is covered. Of course either of these areas might be covered by PCs as Alfred and Oracle might be busy with other work at any given time. (Alfred is probably doing his best to cover for the abscence of Mr. Wayne while Oracle has other duties along with her being Batman's help desk)

Martial Artists in the DCU

I think when first introduced, Cassandra was heads and shoulders above everyone else in the MAs areana. Part of the reason for this was she couldn't communicate and was only able to read people by body language, and very subtle body language at that. It was in this time that Batman tested her and said hit me. Nothing happened and then Bats coughed up some blood, and smiled. She was fast. One of her story lines in the Batgirl comic a metahuman touched her mind and gave her the ability to commincate normally, this effected her fighting ability and depowered her somewhat.

I missed some of the comics in the Lady Shiva storyline, but I think her first loss to Shiva was partially psychological.

In the current Batman/Superman series pretty much every supervillain comes after Superman to collect a bounty (issue 3?). Bats is helping him and comes up against Lady Shiva. Batman notes in a little blue box that Lady Shiva and him have had a bit of a competition over who was the better fighter. Batman's next comment is something along the line of, "I remember what she did to Catwoman" "I try not to enjoy this."

Part of who is the best MA in the DC universe is storyline, but I think the current continuity supports the top four being (in no particular order) Batman, Lady Shiva, Conner, Cassandra Cain. I think they are pretty much at the same level (well above everyone else). In game terms their fights would come down to luck of the dice.

Also, in the recent Straight Shooter series Conner was getting beat up pretty good by the bad guy. I was expecting Conner to hold up much better considering he is supposed to be one of the best martial artists in the DCU.

Originally posted by J4y

She really seems like she's usually human level (top human mind you) in just about everything, all though occasionally she seems superhuman. The only exceptional thing is the mace which has probably been the biggest damage the team has as I don't think even Superman has been shown to pack as much of a punch as it yet.

True, in the War World episode she knocked an energy blast back into the cannon, I also seem to remember her dealing out lots of damage in the first GL centered episode.

With 3 flying bricks on the team who also have a variety of other powers, she comes in a very distant 4rth being relativly weak, slow and with almost no powers. Even as a detective she couldn't hold a candle to MM and BM so... she really just seems to be eye candy.

Maybe she should be modeled more as a flying martial artist. Balancing her out with the rest of the team is difficult for the reason mentioned, everyone else is very multifaceted, she flies, has a mace and a few skills.

I think there are a few feline type or canine-type racial packages in Fantasy Hero (or maybe it was Star Hero). From another game system, Jadeclaw and Ironclaw are both anthropomorphic fantasy games, I am currently in a Jadeclaw campaign. Jadeclaw is a point base system and would be fairly easy to translate to Hero. In order to balance the races, each race gets four prefered skills and a prefered sense. All other bonuses and powers are point based. The way Jadeclaw deals with different races is that each race has different package deals, example for lynx(my character's race)

Lynx:

Racial Sense: Listen

Racial Skills: Stealth, Jumping, Acrobatics, Climbing

Racial "Powers": Claws, Teeth, Nightvision

(this is from memory so it might not be correct)

For this system all felines have the exact same package, the difference is how you buy your stats. For Hero I would change the package to increase dex for lynxes and strength for lions of tigers.

For Fantasy Hero I would just look at each race and build packages similar to this. Determine what physical weapons each race has (teeth, horns, hooves, claws, etc), what their major senses are and give a PER bonus for that sense group(vision, hearing), any special powers or disadvantages (nightvision, poor sight) and what skills make sense. Dogs are pack animals so may have better tactics and teamwork abilities. Also determine base attributes for the animals, high strength for oxen, high dex, running and jumping for some cats.

The game would determine whether or not Distinguished Feature would be a disadvantage. If the entire world is anthromorphic I may not use it, if its TMNT where the PCs are mutants in an otherwise normal world it would definitaly count.

Sanguine's website has a summary of racial packages on its website under downloads.

http://www.sanguine.com/Downloads/

Originally posted by Hermit

i wouldn't say "low" ego myself, the others sleeping were pretty firmly trapped as well until MM helped out.

I suppose 'low' was the wrong word, I meant nothing exceptional as opposed to Batman or MM who would both have a fairly high ego.

In Tabula Rasa she should very good combat manueverability in air (so combat skills or extra dex while in flight). I believe that she has to wear a space suit while in a vacuum, but I think that she can fly (she was on the moon in the episode Green Lantern was captured). I haven't seen her do any crime fighting skills, but since Batman is the skill based character his skills tend to dominate. Low Ego as she seemed to be one of the ones most effected by Dr. Destiny.

Re: hhhmmm..

Originally posted by Insaniac99

new character idea, well not new really, but its new for me, horde of unkillable duplicates, well, you can kill them, but they just keep coming back... so full LS, some major Regen, and give them a pistol, they're a normal human except that they won't die, and can duplicate over and over, and have some pistols, after a while, even the weakest blaster will start to be annoying, sure the 6d6, 8d6, or 12d6 or other agent level blaster won't do much, but when 20 people in a single phase can fire all at one target.....

 

thnaks got another thing to try against my players!

Add PS:Lawyer and it sounds like something for Horror Hero.

Originally posted by death tribble

S

Saw a documentary about the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79.

And that sent Pyroclastic flows which destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum.

So aside from Mount St Helens, are there any volcanoes near American cities and which cities ?

Seattle has a great view of Mt. Rainier.

I think if Pittsburgh was destroyed and rebuilt it would probably shift away from the steel industry and probably encourage the get rich quick science of the hour. There would still be some heavy industry and steel industry simply because it is logistically well placed to receive iron and coal from the Appalachians.

Originally posted by Hermit

Flight would be very liberating, and yet frustrating... like the speedster, imagine being stuck behind line. You normally can fly over any obstacle, and here you are... waiting.

Flyers might also be more susceptible to clausterphobia. Imagine having the entire sky as your playground and then being stuck in a damp dark basement. Dependning on how it manifests, someone with wings might feel more cramped in crowds and avoid crowds altogether, someone who just flies (ala superman, GL, etc) might just be more impatient with crowds and obstacles.

Originally posted by Hermit

And it's why we luv the Bat...

 

One of my favorite Batman:tAS episodes is where Bruce has been doped up on the Scarecrow's fear gas, and decides to fight hallucination with his own personal borderline psychosis.

 

"I am not a failure. I am vengeance. I am the Night. I am BATMAN!"

 

And the amazing thing is, Conroy really pulled it off well!

 

 

As for the Robin thing, I agree. "The Shadow of the Bat" is more than merely reputation, Batman is such a powerful personality that those under his tuteleague can't help but be altered by it... for better or worse, usually, I think better.

In this Saturday's Justice League against Dr. Destiny (paraphrased)

Destiny: The closer someone is to me the easier it is for me to get into their mind

Bats: My mind is not a nice place

Even Batman realizes he is not entirely sane. Another note about Justice League it was interesting about how they incorporated Hawkgirl's phobias, clausterphobia and the fear of falling, both make perfect sense for a flying person.