Mark Rand

2 hours ago, Steve said:

The Boom Boys (along with nearly as many Boom Girls) are members of a growing network of teenaged street gangs that have somehow acquired a mutagenic serum called “Boom Juice” that awakens superpowers in a very few of those who receive it (in the 200-300 point range for less than 1% of recipients).
 

Nothing much seems to happen to most recipients (90% have a mild improvement no better than a typical VIPER agent), and some die in various horrible ways after taking it (9%). For some reason, it has no effect on anyone too old (over 19) or too young (under 13), so seems to be affected by hormone levels found during puberty.

 

Boomers are a new addition to the street scene and it is unknown if any of them will keep their powers into adulthood or they will fade away as their hormone levels change. It is unknown who is supplying the Boom Juice. Most of them do smash and grab robberies or muggings to get cash.

 

The vast majority of Boomers are physically enhanced types, so tend to be Bricks and Martial Artists along with a few low-level Speedsters. Animal-like powers have also been observed. Some possess energy-based powers with special effects like electricity, fire or cold. None seem to have any mental abilities other than varying degrees of Mental Defense.

 

The gang members are intended to be a low-level villain group for teenaged superheroes to fight. As the superpowered members of the gang gain experience with their abilities, this opposition could continue into adulthood, with some of the gang members becoming full-fledged supervillains.

Nice.

From the alien bar's windows, the Ohio River, CSX railroad tracks, and electrical transmission lines are clearly visible.  The West End Bridge is in the distance upstream and the Ohio Connecting Railroad Bridge, which carries Norfolk Southern's Fort Wayne Line, is close by downstream.

On 7/13/2022 at 3:30 PM, Spark said:

All that being said, I can see a fictional company sponsoring the stadium. Given the city's high tech focus (medical, AI, robotics, etc) it is conceivable that one of the local, very successful tech companies sponsors the stadium. For exmaple, the following may be a good company to use (yes, I just made it up) since it would ALSO provide a reason for super-villians to be in town ("Gotta steal...I mean, PICK-UP the new ultra-gamma-ray-blaster"). How's this for a marketing slick?

 

REACT (Research, Engineering, Advanced Concepts, and Technology) is a weapon's manufacturer and think tank, specializing in theoretical research, high tech gadgets, gizmos, weapons, armor, and even vehicles. REACT is the most trusted gadget supplier of the super powered community. Do you want to...

• tweak your armor for better comfort?
• increase the power of your Transduction Ray?
• trick out your super-mobile?
• need an X-Ray unmogrifier?

Well, REACT is your one stop shopping. Our engineers can help you resolve your own design issues, manufacture your designs, and can even create new gadgets for which you have only the vaguest of concepts.

 

Instead of the catsup bottle pouring after each score (touchdown or field goal) at "Heinz Field" (where both the Steelers and Univerisy of Pittsburgh play), for the NEW sponsor, it would be changed to a "ladle" (the actual name of the bucket) pouring molten iron. Sound effects (sizzling) could even be added). This imagery would not only be good for our fictional REACT (if that is the direction we go), but it would be PERFECT for the real world and whatever it is that the new stadium sponsors call themselves, but in that case it would be a peace offering to the people of Pittsburgh.

 

And as a bonus, here is a Pittsburgh overview for your viewing pleasure: 

 

REACT might be something like one of Tony Stark's companies.  I could see it headquartered in an area industrial park instead of right in the city.

24 minutes ago, Spark said:

 

I don't know aobut the box or anything else, but I can't get images of Bloom County out of my head.

Opus the Penguin

Based on the above the penguin from either outer space or another world might be an intelligent male who can stand warm temperatures and wears a box on his chest that converts his noises to human speech.  The lady who drives him is a member of the Penguins Ice Crew.  She uses a team-owned SUV to drive him to official events. 

52 minutes ago, Steve said:

Even without powers, there could be “weird events” he/she participates in.

 

Personally, I just find the idea of an anthropomorphic penguin slouched at a bar somewhere in Pittsburgh and grousing about life in between performing at sports games or Scooby-like weird event adventures to be funny.

Perhaps he/she goes to the alien bar on West Carson Street in McKees Rocks. 

There are a few questions that should be answered.  Does he/she drive himself/herself or get rides from someone, maybe someone the team pays to serve as an escort/bodyguard/driver/PR person?  Where does he/she come from, another planet or another universe?  How did he/she get here?

15 minutes ago, Steve said:

In a superhero universe, perhaps the mascot of the Pittsburgh Penguins is a human-sized anthropomorphic penguin, either from another world or another universe.

 

Think Howard the Duck, only a penguin.

Okay.  He might even be comfortable in a larger range of temperatures than an Earthly penguin.

Great ideas, Spark.  Heinz may still be involved as an associate sponsor, so the catsup bottles might stay.  I loved the video and saved it to my computer.

One other idea is that the Pittsburgh Penguins new majority owner is, instead of Fenway Sports Group, a local woman who is also a member Penguins Ice Crew who likes to sit on the bench with her team when she can.

It has been announced that Heinz Field is going to be renamed Acrisure Stadium.  Fans already hate the new name.

The first role-playing game of any kind I was in was D&D.  It was also the first RPG I GMed.  The first superhero game I was in was V&V.  I was also the GM.

1 minute ago, steriaca said:

FIST is the local costumed criminal organization. FIST organization is more of a "crime union" than most mal-legal groups. The leader is known only as One. It is One who provides insurance and medical for the agents (the Many). Many is the backbone of the group. There is also Doctor , Professor among others.

Very nice.

1 hour ago, steriaca said:

That reminds me, who is the "kingpin" of Pittsburgh?

I think I'll let whoever writes that chapter decide that. 

6 hours ago, steriaca said:

Did anyone say "Terrorist"? I didn't say terrorist.

Should've said "International paramilitary group".

2 hours ago, steriaca said:

Ok...I did a local DEMON Morbain. Who wants to do the local VIPER Dragon Branch guy?

I always liked the idea of VIPER as an international criminal cartel instead of an international terrorist group.

11 hours ago, Steve said:

Browns Island looks like it would make a terrific place for a hidden base from which to stage assaults on the city. VIPER could set up shop there, perhaps starting out with a submerged base underneath the river and then tunneling into the island to create a major complex.

 

Alternatively, there could be one or more bases left over from the Golden or Silver Ages out there. Such a base could be accidentally discovered by a hero or villain and appropriated for their own use. Perhaps it still exists because it has an automated repair system that is maintaining and maybe has even been continuing to expand the facility on its own over the past several decades.

 

An entire secret history could be built up around such a base. Recent readings of “earthquakes” in the area could lead to its discovery. If it’s VIPER doing it, they could stage cover stories to keep people away, something like a superhuman version of a Scooby Doo or Johnny Quest mystery.

The 4E Champions base might be somewhere, perhaps with a full basement, or basements, along with nearby quarters for staffers and hangars for aircraft for when their jet isn't needed.

There's no Browns Island, but the Allegheny River has Herr's Island, Six-Mile Island, Sycamore Island, Nine-Mile Island, Twelve-Mile Island, Fourteen-Mile Island, and Jacks Island.  Sycamore Island and Nine-Mile Island are across the river from each other and Fourteen-Mile Island has homes on its downstream side and its upstream side is part of Allegheny Islands State Park.  An interesting note is that the C.W. Bill Young Locks and Dam runs between two of the islands.

The Ohio River has Brunot's Island, which is owned by Duquesne Light, Davis Island, and Neville Island, which is also Neville Township.

The Bathtub

WHAT IS IT? A depressed section of Interstate 376 where the highway passes very close to the Monongahela River and sometimes through it during periods of high water.

FUN FACT: About 40,000 vehicles pass through the area daily, per Steve Cowan, a PennDOT spokesperson.

BATH TIME: This section of I-376 was built as part of the Penn-Lincoln Parkway project in the 1950s, according to Cowan.

The problem with flooding dates back that far as well, per the Post-Gazette, though it’s unclear exactly when the nickname was first coined.

While “The Bathtub” used to flood when the river reached 18 feet — a fairly common occurrence — engineers installed a wall in the ’80s that raised the threshold to 24 feet — less common but not unheard of. Still, flooding remains a concern there and while PennDOT is aware of those concerns, it says further improvements have been impeded by logistical and financial challenges.

THE FIX IS IN? Cowan says it isn’t a plumbing or drainage issue that causes the area to flood, but rather it’s simply the positioning of the roadway there.

“Basically, the elevation of the road is lower than the elevation of the river during high river flows,” Cowan explained, adding that PennDOT is in the process of preparing a study for alternative solutions to the problem.

SEE IT FOR YOURSELF: You’ll pass through the bathtub on I-376. On certain days, though, you may need a kayak.  

Got a Pittsburgh term you’re curious about? Ask away.

Cool.  There are 5 Masonic buildings in the Pittsburgh area, plus the one that was sold to Pitt and now is home to a number of university departments.  Theere are also a number of other such buildings in the area that would serve the same purpose.

While college-age heroes are the default setting for this book, junior and senior high school students are possible.  A GM deciding to do so will have to create the school from the information on the Pittsburgh Public Schools website.

Three more NPCs.

Sharon Ten Bears and Donna Gray, who were on the Stage Crew while Rob and Tabitha were in high school, are Pitt students.

Sharon, who has been to Space Camp, is, like her parents, a member of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh (AAAP), is studying Astronomy, and is on the Theater Department Stage Crew.  She often wears her Space Camp flight suit to star parties at the Wagman Observatory in Deer Lakes Park and the Mingo Creek Park Observatory in Mingo Creek Park. 

Donna is a Technical Theater student and on the Theater Department Stage Crew.

Barbara Gray is a classroom engineer with the Engineering Department of Pitt’s Center for Teaching and Learning. Her red hair, the navy blue flight suit she always wears, and the three gear bags she has make her easy to recognize as she does classroom technical inspections.

On 5/15/2022 at 5:43 PM, Mark Rand said:

Right now, Lady Heart and Sunspell are students at Pittsburgh's Point Park University.

Instead of Point Park University, they're going to be at the University of Pittsburgh, where I worked for 28-years before retiring at the end of June in 2016 at age 66.

On 5/12/2022 at 11:42 PM, steriaca said:

.Talking about the stage...

The drama club has one big event, the annual melodrama for charity.

 

It should be noted that it is traditional for the villain and hero role to be played by women, while the damsel role is played by a man. Yes, in drag, not gender swapped. The three roles are voted on via secret ballots at the beginning of the school year. Rob was selected as the damsel this year.

 

Of course, the actor has a window of opportunity to bow out of the role. And last year the roles went through many hands before the half year cutoff was reached.

 

The makeup and costume designers try to make sure each drag actor actually looks flattering in costume. It might be a comedy melodrama, but heaven forbid that the actors should be laughed at as opposed to the jokes.

 

(It should be noted that in the actual book, who plays what role should be determined by the GM, not the book.)

This could be done at Point Park University's Pittsburgh Playhouse.  The complex features three public performance spaces; the 560 seat PNC Theatre, the 200 seat Highmark Studio Theatre, and the 99 seat Rauh Theatre.

Other possible theatres are in the city's Cultural District along Penn and Liberty avenues on the Allegheny River which includes numerous theaters, galleries, and concert halls including Heinz Hall, Byham Theater, O’Reilly Theater, Benedum Center, and Wood Street Galleries as well as restaurants and housing.  

1 minute ago, Scott Ruggels said:

Take your pic. Generally referred to since World War II, but it could also be since The whole Detroit situation, wiping out a large percentage of the more mobile and powerful Heroes. Tying things in with the Champions Universe continuity?

That's the plan.  Right now, Lady Heart and Sunspell are students at Pittsburgh's Point Park University.

2 hours ago, Scott Ruggels said:

What about Non=Teen Heroes?  What about Hero History since The War ect?   THe focus on Teen heroes is limiting the city's usefulness for a general CHampions GM>

Good points, Scott.  Which war were you referring to?

In the Pittsburgh campaign under discussion,there is at least one adult hero, a mystic whose power has waned and has health issues.  There are also street-level, non-superpowered bad guys and former bad guys.

Cordelia and Donna have been friends since childhood and are both in the local National League of Junior Cotillions^® chapter.  (In real life, they don't have any chapters in Pennsylvania.)  Her dislike of her comes from two things.  The first is that she's a member of the "wrong" clique.  The second is that she usually doesn't dress to impress.