zornwil

Re: Musings on Random Musings
 

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group...
 
I don't want to hijack this thread any further, but please see a thread I created at http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=835117 re your conversation on these games.

Re: A Thread for Random Musings
 
I got my first editorial cartoon published this week. Oh yeah, I kick much ***.

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat
 
Hard Name to Spell
"It's a real hard name...
to spell.
Swhartzywhat? Oh hell!
No one cares for ya,
when you're from Austr-ia!
 
..."
 
From the musical "Arnie"

Re: Supers With Pictures: Fun For All
 
Shoo-shoo
Damm what are all these crickets doing here?
Well anyway I just made up another character sheet for one of my characters in the pics that could be a superteam thread.
-----------
HORRORSONG
Val Char Cost Roll Notes
8 STR -2 11- Lift 75.8kg; 1 1/2d6 [1]
11 DEX 3 11- OCV: 4/DCV: 4
8 CON -4 11-
8 BODY -4 11-
10 INT 0 11- PER Roll 11-
12 EGO 4 11- ECV: 4
10 PRE 0 11- PRE Attack: 2d6
6 COM -2 10-
 
4 PD 2 Total: 4 PD (0 rPD)
4 ED 2 Total: 4 ED (0 rED)
3 SPD 9 Phases: 4, 8, 12
4 REC 0
16 END 0
20 STUN 4 Total Characteristic Cost: 10
 
Movement: Running: 5"/10"
Leaping: 1"/2"
Swimming: 2"/4"
 
Cost Powers END
71 Horror generator: Drain PRE 8d6, Affects Desolidified Any form of Desolidification (+1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Cumulative (96 points; +3/4), Area Of Effect Nonselective (16" radius; +1 1/4) (320 Active Points); Fuel Dependent (fuel is Very Common; must refuel Once per 20 Minutes; -1 1/4), IAF Bulky (Huge horror machine; -1), Arrangement (-1/4), Gradual Effect (5 Minutes; -3/4), Real Weapon (-1/4)
11 Colt python: Killing Attack - Ranged 2d6-1, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (37 Active Points); OAF (Gun; -1), 6 Charges (-3/4), Beam (-1/4), No Knockback (-1/4) [6]
 
Skills
3 Bureaucratics 11-
7 Concealment 13-
3 Conversation 11-
3 Deduction 11-
1 WF: Handguns
2 TF: Common Motorized Ground Vehicles
3 Electronics 11-
2 Sound engineering: SS 11-
4 Computer Programming (Personal Computers, Military Computers) 11-
 
Total Powers & Skill Cost: 110
Total Cost: 120
 
150+ Disadvantages
15 Psychological Limitation: Sadist (Very Common, Moderate)
10 Psychological Limitation: Dislike causing pain (Common, Moderate)
5 Hunted: Police 8- (Less Pow, Harshly Punish)
10 Rivalry: Professional (With other fear based villian; Rival is More Powerful; Seek to Outdo, Embarrass, or Humiliate Rival; Rival Aware of Rivalry)
5 Distinctive Features: Shabby (Easily Concealed; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)
 
Total Disadvantage Points: 45
 
Background/History:
Horrorsong has been a sadist since he learned to interact with other people. His strict and unforgiving parents “taught” him to dislike physical pain however and he got interested in psychological torture in stead. When he was young he imagined presence as a “force” some people had and some people lacked. Clearly the ones who wielded this force should rule the others. After an un-eventful childhood Horrorsong got a job as a scientist working to find a way to psychologically influence soldiers to give up. He rejected the fear gas the other inventors came up with and designed his own fear generator which used sub vocal sound waves to influence the brain pattern of the subjects.
He failed to make the horror generating machine portable however and the machine produced waves in all directions making all people sick with fear not just the enemy, he tried to generate a projector device but he just did not have the skills necessary.
The machine was rejected and Derrick was to start another project when he got the not so bright idea to use the machine to play a joke on one of his subordinate researchers. He tricked her into coming over to his lab and then he switched on the machine to see who could “stand” the fear effect for the longest. To his surprise she went into a hysteric fit right away and when he turned it off she promptly quit her job. Then she sued the company for millions of dollars. Derrick got fired for his stupid stunt and his over-specialization and arrogant personality made it difficult for him to find a job that he did not feel was beneath him.
Unemployed and alone Horrorsong started to slowly sunk more and more down into self-pity and his anti-social ideas from his childhood started to return in full force.
Only he understood the “force” that made some people better than others.
People rejected him because they were envious of the potential they saw in him.
He desired vengeance and over the years he almost sub-concisely collected all the parts he needed for creating another machine.
He loaded onto a truck and drove into town, parked it turned on the machine and left the truck. As a diversion he had donned a gasmask and used several fear inducing gas grenades. Then he proceeded to rob a jewelry store. A superhero showed up and using his powers over air quickly got rid of the gas but it did not help him with the sound waves.
Horrorsong could leave in peace while security, customers, the superhero and the police lying on the ground shaking with fear.
He had never felt so powerful! Now Horrorsong truly went over the bend and became more and more delusional, he started to see himself as an artist a master of the horror force, fit to be king over man!
 
Personality/Motivation: Horrorsong see himself as an artist in horror. He through his power over horror is better than others and have the (natural) right to do as he please.
He dislike pain both causing it and feeling it himself.
 
Quote: And gigants walk among us tall, but on clay feet..
 
Powers/Tactics: Hide the machine/truck on a corner and walk into a store and fill his bags with loot.
If faced with serious resistance he tries to shoot them with his gun. Horrorsong is arrogant and not prone to change his plans just because he should.
 
Campaign Use: As a one trick pony Horrorsong could be used in an adventure or two. His equimpment might fall into a more competent vilians hands.
Since Horrorsong has faced some hard times and does not try to kill or injure people some heroes might try to cure Derrick of his delusions and help him into a normal life. That will probably fail since Horrorsong is a sociopath just with a taste for causing fear rather than pain. It would take long time in a very good mental asylum to help him live a normal life.
 
Appearance: Average size and weight. Allthough Horrorsong like to wear expensive suits he does not clean them as often as he should so he comes off as a little dirty and scruffy looking. He has black greasy hair and brown eyes. He often goes a day or two witouth taking baths.

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group...
 
Mercury, nanotech "T-1000": "So what is it that makes you unusual?"
 
Vlad, Telekinetic: "One could ask the same about you?"
 
Mercury: "Oh, I'm perfectly normal."
 
Vlad (thinks about Mercury's displays of superstrength, and shapeshifting)
 
Mercury: "For a nanotech robot."
 
 
GM: "And when Vlad arrives, Claire is in her costume, and is [rolls] recognizable as the costumed adventurer who retired in the 40's"
 
Player: "Oh, that's dodgy... son comes home and mother is in a superhero costume..."
 
GM: "Uhm... she _has_ a Secret Identity"
 
Player: "Oh. That makes sense."
 
 
Claire to Vlad: "My boy [Mercury] needs someone to look out for him when goes out to stalk the nights. I was wondering if you could do that?"
 
Vlad: "Is he dangerous? Is he likely to go psychotic?"
 
Claire: "Oh, heavens no. Totally harmless."....
 
.... "I found him eating my begonias a few months back. Took him in, looked after him ever since."
 
Vlad to Mercury: "I think she's organized a play date* for us".
 
Mercury: "Yeah..."
 
 
Myra: "I have a secretary?"
 
Myra: "I employ other detectives?"
 
GM: "When you said you had a detective agency, I kinda assumed that meant you _had a detective agency_".
 
 
 
Charles "Vector" Wilks: "I'd like to retain you to see if you can find any active superheroes in this city."
 
Myra, writing on notepad: 'Find superheroes... Fanboy? Unlikely, not specific about which one. Sex?' (underlines "sex")
 
 
Mercury: 'What a strange coffee mug. No coffee residue... and a cat saying "I hate Mondays on it? Why would a cat hate Mondays?'.
 
 
GM: 'Steve finishes tuning the radio to the contact frequency, shows Myra how to operate it, and leaves.'
 
Myra's players: 'I listen to it.'
 
GM: 'Uh... for how long?'
 
MP: 'An hour'
 
GM: 'Okay... an hour passes, and you don't hear anything.'
 
MP: 'I guess it's not working.'
 
GM: 'You know, the police detective told you to contact _him_ on this frequency.'
 
 
 
Mercury:"Why do you have no innate body temperature?"
 
Myra, ghost: "Because I'm dead."
 
Mercury: "Don't be silly. You are moving around and can talk. Therefore you are not dead. What is the real reason?"
 
 
Mercury (explains how he grew from a tiny blob of nanites to a mansized shapesifter)
 
Vector: "Can you separate bits of yourself and have _them_ grow?"
 
Mercury: "You know, I'd never thought of that..."
 
Vector's Player to GM: "Did I just bring about the end of humanity?"
 
 
 
(after game, Mercury's player contemplates buying himselves as followers)
Vector's player winces.
 
 
Vlad, Telekinetic: "So what are your superpowers?"
 
Vector: "Well, I can make plants grow with incredible speed-"
 
Vlad: "Can you do anything _useful_?"
 
Vector: "Uh, maybe that wasn't the best way to start."
 
 
 
Myra: "Yeah, like I'm going to trust what a bush has to say about this."
 
 
*Amazingly, no one seemed to pick up the other possible meaning...

Re: A Thread for Random Musings
 
I just finished a new trailer for my book (which will be uploaded to my website tomorrow), and it's gotta be one of my best efforts yet. All new video clips (nothing repeated from previous trailers), new taglines, new music (and a phenomenal music editing job, if I do say so myself)... I am so proud of myself.
 
Michelle
aka
Samuraiko

Re: A Thread for Random Musings
 
Find and read the "Heroes in Hell" series
 

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat
 

 
"Play dead."
 
 
NT: The secret ingredient is...

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat
 

(To the Tune of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear")
It hangs down from our chandelier;
We have no idea what it does.
Its shape is weird and It drips with goo,
And lets off a high-sounding buzz.
 
It grows a couple of feet each day,
And wiggles with kind of a twitch.
We keep it 'cause it's a present from
A visiting uncle who's rich!
 
(Author Unknown, I think first published in MAD magazine)

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat
 

Re: Longest Running Thread EVER
 

I think Dr. Anomaly is a farm boy by upbringing as well - Dr. A, is that correct?

Re: Longest Running Thread EVER
 

I don't need the rep but...can't resist...
 
Eurythmics.
 
PS - yes, I remembered their appearance in the video

Re: Supers With Pictures: Fun For All
 
The Mobile Fortress is now up on my website: http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptionsvehicles/mobilefortress.html

Re: A Thread for Random Musings
 
This country was founded on the principle we should be free to screw each other individually. And that big guys can screw little guys, but not too much.
 
Now people are eager to do away with that, eager to hand over power to the government, either to prevent literal screwing or corporate screwing or what-not...out of a dangerously misguided belief that the government is there to help us "be happy", to "live better", to use "our" resources to help "each other". Regardless of conservative or liberal, the point is the same, that power corrupts and the more power we delegate to a central authority, the more it will selfishly and zealously guard that power, almost always regardless of the men or women who take on that power and their going-in intent. It astounds me how idealogues of either established end of the mainstream American political spectrum, with their mistrust of either big business or foreign enemies or moral ills, believe that the solution is to delegate yet more power to the central national authority. It further astounds me that most people see some stark contrast between the mainstream left and right when both have become nothing more than figureheads to demogagouery.
 
This is not a direct response to Mr. Gillen's post above but was inspired by the Reagan quote "I’m from the government and I’m here to help." and how so many of my liberal friends are so eager to naysay that and somehow believe that national government is the solution (yet they so quaintly and ineffectually take to the streets, seeing no irony...), and how many conservative friends are blind to the betrayal of a massive part of their core ideology in the hands of the fraud that is the primary power brokers among the conservative republicans.
 
This nation will surely rot in the hell it is building for itself.

Re: Longest Running Thread EVER
 
you don't get it.
 
Zornwil is ALIEN.
his brain doesnt even work in ways you can imagine.
 
you're not gonna know what he means or what he's after,
till ya buy some skill levels in Zornwil.

Re: Longest Running Thread EVER
 
Try it here, you may have to make a quick account, it's a 12.5 mb downloadhttp://www.drivethrurpg.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=47_68&products_id=747

Re: A Thread for Random Musings
 
First Thread ever: Welcome to the new boards though the first NGD thread was: I did it

Re: Longest Running Thread EVER
 
And on a lighter note:
 
 
Kalin Olson

 
Lisa Marie Scott


 
Wendy Culp

 
Marie Colleen

Re: The cranky thread
 

I thought this was already decided? I'm sorry, regardless, I just thought that this was already the way things were going to be.
 
Best of luck in any case.
 
And of course to tkdguy and Alice for their situations.
 
And OM, hope you can inflict some destruction without getting caught!

Re: Longest Running Thread EVER
 
"There's Sex In My Violence!"
 
And editorial about the GTA decision. Very sarcastic. Absolutely beautiful.

I came up with a way of doing invulnerability (to everything) and immunity (to a specific special effect) that doesn't cost huge amounts of points and doesn't use any (okay, no more than one) questionable constructs.
 
First, buy the Automaton Power Takes No Stun. If you're buying immunity buy it "Only Vs. X". In the latter case, a kind GM (incluidng me) wouldn't require you to buy all of your defenses at 3x cost with this (though I would for full invulnerability). This is actually the trickiest part of the whole thing.
 
Next, buy resistant defenses equal to twice the campaign maximum Damage Class. That's enough defenses to totally bounce the BODY from an incoming attack. For immunity buy "Only Vs. X".
 
For immunity, buy Life Support against the appropriate condition. For invulnerability, buy Life Support vs. everything.
 
Buy Regeneration with the Resurrection Adder (and possibly the Heals Limbs one). For immunity, buy it Only Vs. X. Buy as much or as little as you want; note that 1 BODY per Turn regenerates 300 BODY per hour.
 
You're finished.
 
Note that this is comic book style invulnerability or immunity. In the comics, invulnerability never means fully invulnerable; for instance, Johnny Storm has been taken down a number of times by "cosmic flames" or some such.
 
Here's the cool thing. If you're killed by your immunity condition (or anything but your invulnerability condition) you'll come back from the dead pretty quickly. So the special effect of being dead from that condition is that you're unconscious. It was too much for you, it overloaded your system or whatever, and you "passed out". (In Marvel, at least, most "invulnerable" characters can still be killed by scattering their atoms -- they wouldn't survive walking on the surface of the sun or being at ground zero of a nuke.)

Re: NGD Scenes from a Hat
 

Rachel: I am dating an older man!!
Monica: Me too!
Phoebe: Me too!
 
 
*Enter Kirk, seeing the three girls together, he panicks*

Re: A Thread for Random Musings
 
This is my job, in gaming terms.
 
Michelle
aka
Samuraiko
 
chonjurer's D&D Help Desk
 
The New Guy sits down at the cubicle, this being his first day on the job. He is excited to be helping thousands of D&D players across the globe. It feels so magical being here. A figure approaches, the mentor who will train him.
 
chonjurer: Ahhh, you must be the new guy. So are ya excited?
New Guy: This is great. I can’t wait to get started.
chonjurer: Yeah, Yeah. They all say that. Wait until you talk to about 1000 of these people and we will see. Alrighty then, lets get started.
 
*Phone Rings*
 
chonjurer: Thank you for calling D&D Help Desk. Your call is very important to us. Please hold until one of our qualified specialists can help you.
 
*chonjurer flips open Dragon magazine and begins reading*
 
New Guy: What are you doing?
chonjurer: Always put them on hold at the beginning of the call. Lets them know who is in charge. You can’t show weakness to the average gamer. Once they smell fear, they have you! Ok, now we are ready. (Hits Talk Button) Thank you for holding. Please Hold. (Hits Hold button).
 
*chonjurer flips open Dragon magazine and continues reading. 10 minutes later hits talk button.*
 
chonjurer: Ok, thanks for holding. How can I help you?
Customer #1: Ok, I am having a problem with my group. They seem to be killing all my monsters. They are just pushing me around. My latest effort was to send 4 Tarrasques at them. They keep critical hitting them once they are swallowed and…
chonjurer: Ok, Ok. Hold on a moment sir. Do you have a Monster Manual or Dungeon Masters Guide?
Customer #1: Ummm, yes.
chonjurer: Ok Sir, I think I have found your problem. It sounds like the issue is you haven’t read them. Knowing the rules gives you a framework to actually running the game. It sounds like your players are doing that for you. I can’t really help you though with your lack of backbone. I suggest some Self-Help courses. See how that goes, and give us a call back. *Click*
New Guy: Umm… the way you… so does that…
chonjurer: Happen a lot. Yeah. We call them Leapers then Panickers. They never read the rules and their friends eat them alive.
 
*In the distance there is an anguished scream*
 
chonjurer: Poor Arturick. By the gods.
New Guy: What is wrong with him?
chonjurer: He got ‘promoted’ to Forgotten Realms support. It’s rough because you also have to answer questions on using the novels in your game. Buddy, after you deal with 100 callers asking about how to make their characters like Elminster or Drizz’t, you are ready to take anyone’s head off with a shovel.
New Guy: Who is that guy way over there in the corner. Why are there cobwebs all over him?
chonjurer: That is Roele. He does Legacy Birthright Support. Hasn’t had a call in years. They keep him there just in case. We have an office pool that costs $5 to enter. The bet is when the spiders will eat him. Well then, next caller.
 
*Phone Rings*
 
chonjurer: Thank you for calling D&D Help Desk. Your call is very important to us. Please hold until one of our qualified specialists can help you.
 
*chonjurer flips open Dragon magazine and begins reading*
 
chonjurer: Ok, thanks for holding. How can I help you?
Customer #2: I WANT A PROBLEM FIXED!!! I rolled up a Ranger and played him up to 20th level. I have +25/+20/+15/+10 to attack. My sister rolls up a Cleric and she has comparable combat ability with a +19/+14/+8 and can cast spells. THERE IS NO CLASS BALANCE!!! RANGERS SUCK!!! I sat down and calculated the feats, skills, and bonuses. They don’t stack up to other classes. I rolled up a far better…
 
*chonjurer hits the mute button *
 
chonjurer: Ugghhh. These are the worst kind. No matter what it is… it sucks. This guy could be given a Vorpal Sword by his DM, and he will still say it sucks. (Hits Talk Button). Ok Sir, if you read your DMG, then you realize that the DM can customize the core rules. In D&D terminology we call them "House Rules". You will need to talk to your DM…
Customer #2: THIS SUCKS!!! THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN…
chonjurer: Please hold while I concur with my supervisor.
 
*chonjurer flips open Dragon magazine and begins reading*
 
New Guy: What if he has a valid point?
chonjurer (dripping in sarcasm): Oh they all have ‘valid’ points and can design the game better. Believe me, the average gamer is never right in matters of fact. Only opinion. Newbie, we just can’t let the floodgates open. The hyperinflation of abilities and bonuses will end D20 as we know it. We'll end up with D100, or worse… turn into FASA.
New Guy: I see your point.
chonjurer: Hey, look lively. The Supervisor is coming.
Jenny: Good Morning!!! What a wonderful day!!! How are things going chonjurer? Difficult caller?
chonjurer: Your standard rules whiner. You know, the everything sucks type. I can’t seem to talk him down. Listen to this…
Jenny: Boy he is a one sad kitten. Well he isn’t going to ruin my day. Let me talk to him. (Gets on phone). Sir, I really understand your point of view but won’t changing the rules make your sister feel bad. What about other people who play Clerics. A cleric is hard enough as it is to role-play…
Customer #2: SHE IS A PACIFISTIC CLERIC OF SUNE AND STILL MORE POWERFUL THAN ME!!!!!!
Jenny: Well Sir, I would really like to be helpful to your problem, really, but this a Forgotten Realms issue, let me transfer you too one of our highly trained…
Customer #2: NO… PLEASE!!! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!! NO TRANSFERS!!!
Jenny: (Smiles Evilly) You have yourself a wonderful, special day now… (click).
 
*In the distance a phone rings and there is an anguished scream*
 
chonjurer: SORRY!!! Hey thanks for the assist Jenny. This is the New Guy.
Jenny: Nice to meet you. Remember Mr. Newbie, Be friendly, nice, and all will be fine. I have to check on the others. Bye Now.
New Guy: She scares me.
chonjurer: Don’t worry about it. Jenny’s cool. Only be scared when you get your Pink Slip with smiley faces on it. Onto the next call.
 
*Phone Rings*
 
chonjurer: Thank you for calling D&D Help Desk. Your call is very important to us. Please hold until one of our qualified specialists can help you.
 
*chonjurer flips open Dragon magazine and begins reading*
 
chonjurer: Look at this article. Nice supplements on Dwarves. Boy I can see the calls on this template already… people need to stop taking this stuff as if it is "mandatory canon". You would swear that the word optional isn’t in the English language.
New Guy: It seems you get nothing but complainers and people that don’t use common sense?
chonjurer: Boy you catch on quick. (Hits Talk Button) Ok, thanks for holding. How can I help you?
Customer #3 (Hysterical): I‘m having major problems!!! I am in the middle of my gaming session and I am trying to calculate XP. I was on the phone with someone named Josh and he explained CR to me. I just can’t figure this out!!!
chonjurer: Okay Sir, let me ask you something. Do all the appliances in your house flash 12:00am?
Customer #3 (Sobbing): Yes.
chonjurer: Okay Sir. Please Hold. (Presses Hold and tosses headset down). Oh boy. We have a 12 o’clock Flasher. He can’t set any of his appliances and can’t figure out directions. There is no possible way for a 12 o’clock Flasher to calculate XP for a gaming group. If he has already talked to Josh, gone though the "baby-steps" of CR, then we are in big trouble. I have seen people eat their headsets trying to get these guys to calculate XP.
New Guy: What are you going to do?
chonjurer: The only thing I can. (Puts headset on and Presses Talk Button). Okay Sir, do you happen to have a small child nearby… you do!!! Great!!!! Put them on!!!
Hi, what is your name? Jessica? Hey that is a wonderful name. Jessica, your Daddy is trying to calculate XP for your gaming group. Could you look at his encounter sheet… yeah… that is right… yep… adjust for the levels and divide by the number of players. Very Good.!!
Ok this is what I want you to do. I want you to tell your Daddy to give you the Books. Yes. I want you to take over running his gaming group. Tell your daddy he should go out an buy "Pokemon Cards". Yes. That is Gaming for Mommies and Daddies. No I don’t need to talk to him. Have a nice day now… *click*
chonjurer: Phew. That was a close call. Whoa. Hey I need a break. Why don’t you take over for a few…..be right back.
 
*Phone Rings*
 
New Guy: Thank you for calling D&D Help Desk. Your call is very important to us. Please hold until one of our qualified specialists can help you.

Re: The cranky thread
 
Well, I just finished some work...that took a bit longer than expected. And I don't think it was the best stuff I've done, but for having received little instruction, little guidance, having managers with competing goals, and then having some deadlines pushed way up...well, none of that should be an excuse and it isn't, but on the other hand I just can't feel all that bad about it.