Mark Rand

Impressive.

Most, if not all, of Pittsburgh's public schools were built before 1974, have no central air conditioning, and do not have wiring capable to support such a system.  As a result, in hot weather, students stay home and, since all have laptop computers, attend classes remotely.

On 4/24/2022 at 2:27 PM, Mark Rand said:

As far as the occult world goes, Thomas Avery is an occult expert and retired mystic whose power has waned and has health issues.  He can provide background info and serves as a contact with the Trismegistus Council.  He shares his house with Marie Wells, his housekeeper, who might be a witch, Christina Valentine, a computer genius, Phoebe, his familiar, an orange tabby cat, and Muffin, Marie’s pet calico cat (her familiar if she’s a witch).  (It’s the GM’s call as to whether or not Marie’s a witch.)  There are also astrologers and occult bookstores in the city.

 

 

 

Thomas Avery has been replaced by Samantha Avery.  Her house, which is based on Halliwell Manor, is on Beechwood Boulevard near Nicholson Street and across Beechwood from Frick Park's Blue Slide Playground, and the park's English Lane entrance.

I like your take on Black Scorpion.  Of course, I might modify her for Coastal City, Connecticut.

Okay.  Then, his name's Red Rapier.

8 hours ago, DentArthurDent said:

Surely, Susan’s middle name is Margaret or Millie or Mindy.

Nope.  Susan was originally going to be called Eve.  Marie was named for the maid in the comic strip Judge Parker.  I had planned to give Melissa a tech-savvy assistant named Bonnie Knight, whose looks were based on Bonnie Barstow from the original Knight Rider.  

Marie has shoulder-length dark-red hair, possibly in a bob cut, freckles, and glasses.  Susan has dark-brown hair in a bob cut and wears red scrubs and gets paid through Bayada.  (The company name is above her left breast pocket.)

Growing up around horses, Marie is a fair rider who has a collection of western films on DVD.

40 minutes ago, Stanley Teriaca said:

Rob, aka Lady Heart, is there quasi-mystic guy turned to a magical girl person the Council wants to keep an eye on. So sometimes he has to see Melissa. Another group from the Council who has to be 'babysat' are the so called Charmed Ones.

Makes some sense, the house I posted is a version of Halliwell Manor.  Of course, it probably has either an elevator or stair lifts for Melissa.  Of course, they'll be in the campaign city instead of San Francisco.

47 minutes ago, dmjalund said:

he's just the janitor

Melissa Anders, an elderly woman, is a mage and a member of the Trismegistus Council.  She owns the house.  Her familiar, Muffin, is a seal-point Siamese cat.  Susan Hill, BSN, RN, is her live-in nurse.  Marie Nelson, a young good witch, is her housekeeper.  Her familiar, Misty, is a calico cat.

This is the Halliwell Manor floor plan from Deviantart.

I also considered using the house from the TV series that had this as one of its taglines, Once lucky, Twice smart, Three times Charmed".

I think the Mystic Mansion from the 6E book The Ultimate Base, which was published in 2009, needs more rooms for staff and guests as well as gates, extra-dimensional rooms, and, maybe, some friendly ghosts.  What do my fellow board members think?

On 5/7/2024 at 8:46 AM, Mark Rand said:

Coastal City had its origins in the 3E module Atlas Unleashed.  It was a generic coastal city with a bay, a swank hotel, a museum of fine arts, a power company, a harbor, and an overcrowded freeway system and was near a USAF base and a NASA telemetry station.

I may just say, "It's a large, generic coastal city", and be done with it.

The University of Coastal City has two campuses, both in Coastal City.  The marine campus, on Coastal City Bay, is based on the University of Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay campus, while the main one, in the heart of the city,is based on a flattened University of Pittsburgh campus.  It's adjacent academic medical center, however, isn't based on UPMC's Oakland campus, which is on several hills, but on UPMC Shadyside Hospital, which is on level ground.

Still working on ideas for an update of the original Mobius, too.  Even in it, Melody will share her room with Marie and Misty, Marie's calico cat familiar.  Of course, Marie, being a witch, does have keys to the magic lab and magic library.

It's easy to move Coastal City from Washington County, Rhode Island to Kent County.  Kent County, like other counties in Rhode Island, no longer has governmental functions (other than as court administrative and sheriff corrections boundaries).

The Champions: New Millennium version is my favorite.  He's the original Foxbat's nephew and accidentally had his dead uncle's conscious downloaded into his brain.  He also has a different crew and vehicles.

The flight attendant ghosts look like the ones in the 1987 motion picture Millennium, which starred Kris Kristofferson and Cheryl Ladd and act like they're talking while walking down an airport concourse.  Ghosts of a cowboy and cowgirl are also sometimes seen in the hall.  Both are armed.

Stairs from the third floor go up to the fourth.  Instead of stairs, it leads to a short hall.  Going one way, you end up in the mundane side of the basement.  Going the other way, you end up where you can go trail riding on a horse.

Coastal City had its origins in the 3E module Atlas Unleashed.  It was a generic coastal city with a bay, a swank hotel, a museum of fine arts, a power company, a harbor, and an overcrowded freeway system and was near a USAF base and a NASA telemetry station.

From Wikipedia, “Narragansett is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States.  The population was 14,532 at the 2020 census.  However, during the summer months the town's population more than doubles to near 34,000.  The town of Narragansett occupies a narrow strip of land running along the eastern bank of the Pettaquamscutt River (aka Narrow River) to the shore of Narragansett Bay.  It was separated from South Kingstown in 1888 and incorporated as a town in 1901.

“The following villages and neighborhoods are wholly or partially located in Narragansett: Saunderstown (shared with North Kingstown), South Ferry, Bonnet Shores, Narragansett Pier, Point Judith, Galilee, Great Island, Salt Pond, Mettatuxet, and Jerusalem (shared with South Kingstown).

“Narragansett operates its own Pre-K through 12 educational system with three schools: Narragansett Elementary School, Narragansett Pier Middle School, and Narragansett High School.  The Narragansett High School principal, Mr. Daniel F. Warner, was voted the 2008 Principal of the Year.  The South County Museum is located within the town.  The Narragansett Bay Campus of the University of Rhode Island is located in Narragansett.

“Narragansett High School’s colors are red and white.  Its mascot is a Mariner.  The mascot’s name is Murdock the Mariner.   Christopher Fiore is the principal. 

“The South County Museum contains artifacts dating from the 17th century to modern times.”

 The Narragansett Bay Campus of the University of Rhode Island is home to its Graduate School of Oceanography.

The state of Rhode Island has a Western horseman's association that participates in a number of events. 

In addition to being the housekeeper, Marie is a good witch, and Misty, her calico cat companion, is her familiar. 

Marie likes the current version of The Mickey Mouse Club,and, especially, Talent Roundup Day and the season-long The Adventures of Spin and Marty serial.  She also has a collection of Western TV shows and movies on DVD, a number of cowgirl outfits, and learned how to ride a horse on her uncle's farm.

Edit: One of her cowgirl outfits is a copy of the Talent Roundup Day cowgirl costume from seasons two and three of the original series with her name on it.  She likes to wear it while watching her Western DVDs.

I still remember when you suggested that I bring Foxbat into the San Angelo campaign.  It was fun running him.

The second floor is as designed.  However, the stairs continue up to the third floor, which has bedrooms laid out like hotel rooms.  Looking out the windows, one sees a flat plain dotted with monuments: the Eiffel Tower, the Gateway Arch, Mount Rushmore, the Space Needle, the Statue of Liberty, and the Washington Monument.  Ghosts of 1960s flight attendants can sometimes be seen in the hall.

Another mystical house is the Mystic Mansion from the 6E book The Ultimate Base. 

When not in use at night, the Great Room is turned into a ballroom, complete with a big band, by the mansion's ghosts.  Anyone entering will be approached by an elegantly-garbed ghost of the opposite sex with an offer to join in the dancing.  The ghosts are all good dancers.

The back door of the walk-out pantry has a button on either side of it.  After pressing the one on the left, you end up it the entrance to the detached garage.  Stepping through it from the garage returns you to the pantry.  After pressing the one on the right side, you end up at the entrance to the kitchen garden.  Stepping through it from the garden returns you to the pantry.

The New Urbana Galleria, also from the 5E book Champions Battlegrounds, is with all of its drama, just outside the city.  Of course, several of the mall’s merchants are just waiting for an opportunity to get even with each other over various petty slights.  They may attempt to use the chaos ensuing from any combat to settle little scores with one another, inadvertently distracting the heroes from far more important work.

There is an urban legend about a shipwreck just off the coast that was supposed to be a treasure ship.  (Thanks to Death Tribble for suggesting it.)  Most people think it’s either in Block Island Sound or Rhode Island Sound. 

From Wikipedia, “Block Island Sound is a marine sound in the open Atlantic Ocean, approximately 10 miles wide, separating Block Island from the coast of mainland Rhode Island.  On the west, it extends to Montauk Point on the eastern tip of Long Island, as well as Plum Island, Gardiners Island, and Fishers Island, all in the state of New York.

Geographically, Block Island Sound extends west to Long Island Sound and east to Rhode Island Sound.  Rhode Island Sound is a marine sound off the coast of Rhode Island at the mouth of Narragansett Bay.  It forms the eastern extension of Block Island Sound and opens out the Atlantic Ocean between Block Island and Martha’s Vineyard.”  

There are also urban legends about merfolk in the bays, sounds, and nearby ocean.  Some believe that Joyce Baxter, who often swims as a mermaid and is the Washington County Regatta’s official mermaid, is a real mermaid who can control her form and has chosen to live as a regular human.

Erica Thomas is the owner and operator of the Erica Thomas Funeral Home and Crematorium, which has a contract with the city. 

Claire McCauley, D.V.M., is the Washington County Zoo’s Director of Animal Health.  Debbie Hahn, D.V.M., and Alicia Myers, D.V.M., are two of her associate veterinarians.  Ginger Galvaneck is the chief veterinary technician.  There is always at least one veterinarian and one veterinary technician on duty.  Claire has a way with animals, and they instinctively trust her.