Sidetrack

This is an NPC and will stretch the rules but I want it justifiable as possible

One of the character's powers is to summon advanced alien engineers that have, related to slightly varying skillsets, Transform: devices or components into advanced alien devices or materials; (permanent, but cannot be repaired once broken, except by the alien.)

The character has paid for: 8x small VPPs of advanced devices for his own use, points of advanced tech installed in his base and vehicle, and a Wealth perk to represent financial gain, BUT he can still hand out these devices to others, and he has the potential to accumulate over time more wonderful tech powers than he has paid for.

What is your feel for the balance of Permanent devices that is irreparable once damaged. The devices themselves are very durable.

Re: AoE Damage Sink defensive power

- The most common way is simply barrier/forcefield. Even if the attack goes through' date=' everything behind get's the barriers defenses.[/quote']

 

Ahh, now that is probably a more sensible way for me to go as this guy already has a vpp that focuses mostly on barrier. Thank you.

 

- Area of Effect defense. No reason it can't protect ming vases and mimes as well' date=' as long as it protects everything (inlcuding foes) to the same degree.[/quote']

 

Is Usable Nearby functionally Area Effect or would I have to add that advantage as well, never mind that's something I should read up on anyway...

 

 

The problem is that your power-sfx tries to avoid a rule/physical interaction that simply doesn't exists in this gameworld. That there is no ground to reflect has no meaning' date=' as the world doesn't require there to be ground "to reflect" to do full damage. So if there is ground or not, the limited physics simulation of the Hero Rules simply does not care.[/quote']

 

My point of view on that is that it is 'just' an effect, and that real world explosions do actually work like that (close to anyway). My effect could just as well be englobing gumdrops or flocks of iron butterflies descending from the sky to protect everyone and that would be valid. The power is Granted DEF, just like Fireball is really just AoE Blast, or AoE RKA, or AoE Change Environment... but I suppose all the worms and gophers would still have to die so that'd be cruel AND an illusionary wall/ground certainly wouldn't cause the same effect.

 

 

If it is a last ditch effort' date=' it usually means "Power Skill Roll to make the power up on the fly".[/quote']

 

I said last ditch, but meant more Abort and defend

Re: AoE Damage Sink defensive power

With the power you want to build' date=' what is the effect? Taking less damage yourself? Protecting yourself and your allies?[/quote']

 

My intent is to reduce damage done... to the character, his allies, enemies, priceless ming vases, small furry squirrels, and even mimes.

 

Your aim seem to be to rewrite the entire power to one with the same Active Points but a more expensive Area of Effect Advantage, thus reducing the damage.

While there might be some ways this is possible, all require GM-approval.

 

A fair assessment and I shouldn't have too much trouble getting my own approval, but I'm looking for something workable in a broader sense. I'm looking for a character that can do amazing things with earth and stone but not much to people (say turning them into lightning rods) and looking for input on a questionable topic. The AoEs could certainly be drained beforehand with the fx of passing the additional damage harmlessly into the earth (of course the bomber would know about it then), but I'm looking for something that fits character concept and is more of an 'oh crud!' last ditch effort, hence "How to Build?". "Impossible, it doesn't work like that in the Hero world, avoid that like the plague" is something I'm fine with, but not yet convinced.

Re: AoE Damage Sink defensive power

Not by the Core Rules.

What is the game effect of "Unshaping a shaped Charge"?

Or better: What is the game effect of a Shaped Charge?

Well, a shaped charge on the side of a bridge beam would normally direct the force into tearing it apart, if I unshaped it it would make a big boom exploding out into the air and cause much less damage to the beam. A shaped charge in a claymore mine throws all kinds of nasty stuff through the "this side front", take out the confining structure and it explodes up down sideways and backwards doing less damage overall. Put a bullet in a gun and the barrel and expanding gas force the bullet out at high velocity, throw the bullet in the fire and the heavy bullet stays put and the deformed cartridge might hit somebody hard enough to leave a bruise.

The in game effect of unshaping a charge would be, I hope, to reduce the amount of damage the AoE burst does to the area it would usually affect.

Re: AoE Damage Sink defensive power

OK then guys, I want the earth to eat up damage from an area effect, a bomb, a fireball, a grenade, a huge fist slammed into the ground... how would you do it?

Re: AoE Damage Sink defensive power

The problem is: The fireball is entiteled do go in every direction and still do it's full damage. A being in the air does not takes less than a being on the ground.

 

I am not certain if there are rules for reflection (the explosion in enclosed room problem), but they never apply to the Fireball in the first place.

Well, I suppose there's more than one way to skin a fireball, that sounds like the quintessential magical type and maybe that effect just doesn't match. I'm thinking more along the lines of unshaping a shaped charge,

Re: AoE Damage Sink defensive power

HERO works better when you begin with the Special Effect that you want first and then choose the HERO mechanics (Powers) that best model that effect second. Just modeling a mechanic with another mechanic without the context of a starting Special Effect is pointless.

OK, I have a hero with earth/stone and related desolidification powers and I have this idea for an effect that he can dissipate AoE damage directed at the ground... or is that a mechanic? I have an idea that might get me there but I suppose I'm wildly missing your point?

Re: AoE Damage Sink defensive power

How is making the earth desolid going to affect a fireball? Or what would be a "mathcing SFX"?

Instead of of having fire reflecting off of and rolling along the ground, some of it is dissipated downward, so you end up with a less intense fireball. Less of a hemisphere and more of a sphere, or less of a circular effect and more of a hemisphere

The effect I'm looking for is this: the hero aborts to a power that desolidifies the earth under an AoE to the attack damage, doubling the volume/area affected and halving the damage, assuming the FX of the AoE match up.

The nearest I've been able to come is this:

36 Physical+Energy Damage Reduction, Resistant, 50%,

or

16 Resistant Protection (10 PD/10 ED)

Is that going to function the way I'm expecting?

I intend to build a power that can TP large objects that are far away to the character.

He has an appropriate targeting sense but the schtick is that he may get more than he bargained for and have to spend extra time and END on the transport. For example: he needs a bicycle so he pictures it in his mind, fires off his TP and linked Detect. Unknown to him, the bicycle that he detected is attached to a car rack, so he ends up TPing the bicycle AND the car AND the passengers which should nearly zap his endurance, tie him up for a Turn, and leave him in a pickle with the car owners.

I'm sure I've missed it, but hunting through the manual and threads I haven't found the answer to: How do I purchase the increased Mass? I had assumed that I'd just buy up the TP adder to the appropriate maximum level, but Hero Designer shows a +1/4 advantage on the UAA advantage to Increase Max Weight x2.

Re: Analyze Structure vs KS Architecture

KS Architecture is fairly broad, I'd allow that it lets you know a little about a lot of aspects of the building including aesthetics and history.

KS Structural Engineering or KS Building Construction/Demolition would be more apt to zero the character in on what's holding it up or how to bring it down. The character with KS Architecture might be less likely to be fooled by a facade though.

Analyze would be another step up the ladder.

Re: MYTHIC HERO: What Do *You* Want To See?

Hawaiian and Polynesian

With regard to that, I'm sure the Hawaiian mythos is much more accessible and identifiable in the states than many of the other aspects, but poly (many) is the active term. There is a lot of parallel evolution of similar deities across the Pacific islands, Hawaiian being only one facet of it.

Tangaroa is very important in the Cooks, Tonga had many incarnations of Maui and his brothers and New Zealanders might click much more readily with the Maori take on things.

Re: Hero System Vehicles: Sailing Ships

Does HSVS have any write ups on the multi-hulled Polynesian Sailing vessels that were able to run circles around the visiting European ships?

Re: Subsume

Looking at 6th edition

Usable Simultaneous base +1/2

-Grantor can take back and any time +1/4

-Grantor pays END -1/4

-Recipeint must remain close -1/2

all that adds up to a +0... can you even have a +0 naked advantage? If so it doesn't matter how many points you apply it to, 30 pts or 300, it'd still be (300(1+0)-300). As it sits I could build a Usable by others as a -1/4 limitation by eliminating the 'take back'. Would that give extra utility and points back? Doesn't seem quite right.

Basically I've got a stretchy guy (pliable body) that I'd like to have the ability to wrap himself around another character and function as powered armor. He'd grant and put the lion's share of his powers under the control of the other.

Quickly plugged it into Hero Designer and I come up with a +0 naked advantage, i.e. no cost.

Subsume:  Naked Advantage: Usable Simultaneously (up to 2 people at once; +0),
Recipient must remain close to Grantor, Grantor can take back power at any time,
Grantor pays the END whenever the power is used for up to X Active Points

I guess that makes some sense as one character becomes significantly more powerful but the other loses independent action and both can still take damage. Can't help but think I'm missing something, and there's got to be some complications I'm not seeing.

Re: Changing your Multipower

IIRC the cost savings provided by a multipower is largely justified by having to be more strategic with the use and distribution of your various powers. Allowing more frequent switching sounds like an advantage that would have to be paid for, most obviously by purchasing said powers normally, not in a multipower.

Re: How to Build a Grappling Hook

Upon further reading, Swinging pretty much includes rope and grapple style wall scaling.

Re: A specific spell system...

Hmm, thanks! That helps a little bit. That covers the Change Environment penalty, methinks.

 

However, what about the extra time? I'm still not entirely sure how to handle that with regards to REC. How do I simulate it actually taking someone actively recovering their endurance instead of passively regenerating it? The standard limitations don't quite seem to cover that. I'm not sure which way to go with it. Require an actual action during the turn to be spent (half phase or full phase?) or some sort of defensive penalty to represent concentrating on the drawing of energy?

How about 0 REC and some type of an Aid to fill the END Reserve?

Aid END Reserve 1d6, Side Effects, Side Effect occurs automatically whenever Power is used (Side Effect only affects the environment near the character; +0) (6 Active Points); Conditional Power Power does not work in Uncommon Circumstances (Requires nearby vegetation; -1/4)

Re: How to Build a Grappling Hook

My take would be: Stretching, OAF (grappling hook and line), charges (1, recoverable), etc... which would let you make an attack roll to grab/hook a target at range. SFX of the hook and rope are pretty straightforward but allow for creative uses. I'd probably just let you to swing with an appropriate skill roll unless it was going to be used more than occasionally, which would require something like: Swinging, up to 8m, skill/dex roll, charges (1, recoverable), OAF, etc ... . An appropriate successful attack would give you a climbing bonus, but no reason extra climbing couldn't be bought with the hook.

That's the mechanic that fits the concept in my head.

Re: The Darkness

Which would mean that they keep getting longer south of the Equator... or do they get shorter there too?

They are getting longer here in the southern hemisphere, it's summer time.

Re: Help Poplulate: Pirate Ship edition

The Spaniard carpenter.

One of the only non-fighting men aboard, his youthful looks belie the knowledge and skill with which he keeps the ship patched together and working. That skill is what holds him as a prized crew member even though he refuses to take the life of another. This fact isn't well known and isn't talked about, not in his presence anyway. Though he does show an unnatural aversion to blood, he has been known to set a confrontation to rights with a blow from a mallet.

During a raid or once ashore he'll disappear into the wilds unless there's some duty to be attended to on the ship. They say that past captains have sent out men to try and follow him, but none has ever returned. Somehow he's always back aboard before the ship sets sail.

Aboard, he keeps to his workshop and considers it his private cabin, a luxury enjoyed by none other than the captain. Scuttlebutt has it that he performs rituals in there and has the finger of a saint in a jar. The shop does contain some religious icons, some of the crew like to claim that he once served as a priest with Ponce de Leon on an expedition, this is ridiculous because anyone that had would dead of old age twice over by now. The Spaniard doesn't confirm or deny any rumors, in fact he barely speaks. He communicates what he needs to with grunts. He's often heard muttering under his breath in Spanish, it sounds like prayers and scriptures.

Re: Funny locations for a Dark Champions game?

Stephen King is probably the master of the creepy small town Americana scenario, though it tends towards the supernatural.

I'm having fun with south seas island settings. All kinds of things happen out where people don't think they'll draw a lot of attention.

Re: Regarding Snipers and Spotters

Another benefit is that the spotter can get closer to the target without giving away his position because he's not: a) carrying a big friggin' rifle' date=' and potentially giving away his position with rifle fire.[/quote']

 

I think it will allow snipers to use maneuvers which require concentration on a given target' date=' while the spotter is freer to look for other targets[/quote']

 

Yeah, I thought this was their function (beyond tracking shots). Reduced time acquiring subsequent targets, and a better ability to prioritize? Probably want to have tactics/teamwork skill.

Re: Susano's Song-Based DC NPCs

The drummer boy from Dire Straits' The Man's too Strong would make a good villain.

Picture an ex military leader, charismatic and persuasive to the point of mind control. Flush with misappropriated cash, a fanatical army at his command and his own compound

I'm just an aging drummer boy         PS Musician
And in the wars I used to play        Combat Skill Levels; Tactics
And I've called the tune              Military Rank
To many a torture session             Interrogation
Now they say I am a war criminal      Distinctive Features
And I'm fading away                   Age Reduced CHR
Father please hear my confession      Social Lim: Publicly Religious

I have legalised robbery              Bureaucratics; Perks: Govt official, Low Justice
Called it belief                      +PRE; Charm
I have run with the money             Security Systems (evading)
I have hid like a thief               Stealth and Concealment
I have re-written history             KS: History; Oratory
With my armies of my crooks           Followers
Invented memories                     Persuasion; Mind Control
I did burn all the books              Suppress KS
And I can still hear his laughter     perk: connected
And I can still hear his song         Psych Lim Haunted
The man's too big
The man's too strong                  Hunted by The Man

Well I have tried to be meek
And I have tried to be mild           Psych Lim: Agressive
But I spat like a woman
And I sulked like a child
I have lived behind walls             Base
That have made me alone
Striven for peace
Which I never have known              Soc Limitation: Warrior
And I can still hear his laughter
And I can still hear his song
The man's too big
The man's too strong

Well the sun rose on the courtyard
And they all did hear him say
You always was a Judas                 Negative Reputation
But I got you anyway
You may have got your silver           Perk: Wealthy
But I swear upon my life
Your sister gave me diamonds
And I gave them to your wife           Rivalry: Romantic '
Oh Father please help me
For I have done wrong
The man's too big
The man's too strong

Re: Help Me Populate A Creepy Island

Now we need a creepy airline. With creepy airplanes.

 

And a creepy cruise ship. Oh, yes, we need a creepy cruise ship.

Oddly enough the creepy islands that I used as a basis has an airline that just put their WWII era DC-3 back into service just before I left.

Cruise ships aren't that creepy, but the zombies that wander off of them and into port send a chill up my spine.