kickback

Re: TV to rpg

I wanna be Piggy!

Heh, and here I was thinking that the problem was that everyone wants to be Monkey.

Ghost in the Shell been mentioned yet?

Re: TV to rpg

I really dig the idea of a Tomorrow People campaign. Maybe with a Dark Champions bent, and conspiracies within conspiracies. Along with the cheesy scifi, natch.

Jaunt!

Re: TV to rpg

Friday the Thirteenth: The Series had a simple but effective premise of hunting for cursed objects.

Ultraviolet had forensics, conspiracies, angst and vampires!

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

Thank you, Zac. Have fun everybody!

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

1. If you have any DNPCs, I need their name, relationship, age and where they live.

2. Where does you character live? If you took a disad such as poor, then you would probably live in the Rookery or some similar low income area. If you took poor and are a college student, professor, etc. then you probably live around the college in an apartment (garden loft, etc). You can actually have an home in some of the less "affluent" location if you would like (ie Switchback) and have a warehouse type loft (maybe you are a squatter, maybe not). If you character has a lot of family in the area, then put that down. For instance Engram's DNPC mother lives in Sugar Hills, his sister lives in Waxhaw, his girl friend lives in Center City, his has an apartment in Eastvale (close to TSU in Waxhaw).

3. Where do you work?

Talwar lives with relatives at their home in one of the nice parts of Eastvale. His cousin Aftab Merchant (32) moved to Thebes from New Jersey about 6 years ago during the construction boom; he now owns his own company, Merchant Construction. The Merchant family includes Aftab's wife Aaliyah (31), who does the company's books and cares for their young son, Adam Ali (4.)

Carmen Sanchez (19) is a Thebes native. She lives with her parents (Lourdes, a nurse and Carl, a bus driver) in Center City.

Carmen and Talwar attend Thebes University in Waxhaw. Talwar works part time for his cousin at a construction site in Center City. (He's not very skilled but he's great at demolition.)

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

Completed the changes. You have 6 points to spend but you character is done.

 

BTW, can you resubit the character pic? It is pretty small, and when I "blow it up" it gets grainy fast. Thanks.

Sweet, thanks. The picture with the mask is not very big to begin with, but maybe I did something wrong when I uploaded it. Trying again...

And here's a vignette introducing Kamal and his DNPC Carmen. She'll be his best bud and possible love interest.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

OK in your disads you have Secret ID: Public ID (Frequently' date=' Major),[/i'] so I assume it is suppor to be Social Limitation: Secret ID (Frequently, Major). Correct assumption?

 

You are shy 5 points of disads. Suggestion. Take a 10 point hunted (as powerful, 8-) and drop either the unluck or poor (I would drop unluck).

 

Change you Metal Transformation to:

Metal Shaper: Major Transform 2d6, Improved Target Group (any metal; +1/2) (45 Active Points); Limited Power (Metal Composition Remains Unchanged; -1), All Or Nothing (-1/2), Concentration (1/2 DCV; -1/4)

 

This gives you back a point (3u to 2u), you can make any change in the metal but you cant change it from metal to something else or an lead miniture to a gold miniture. If you just want to say ".22 pistol to broken .22 pistol" that should be easy. If you want to change a 2 lbs lead ingot into a little statue... that is something else, though still do-able in the range of the power. If I recall correctly, that is what you were shooting for originally, was it not?

 

If you pick up 5 points in disads you will have 6 points left.

Hey Zac, all of that sounds great. I have a technical problem though; I just got a new computer and I can't get Hero Designer to work on it, and I really shouldn't spend any more time troubleshooting the darn thing 'til the weekend. Do you just want to enter the changes in your copy of the file? If that's cool, we can hold off on the few unspent points for now, or maybe put it into his Dex? I'll have a write-up on the DNPC for you tomorrow.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

Latest greatest of Talwar.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

I am not concerned about your general RP opportunities. I am concerned about RP opportunities when it comes to investigation. Generally, super games at 1/3 comabt, 1/3 personal, 1/3 investigation. I don't expect everyone to be Batman and not everyone is going to be able to investigate everything. Hell, you may not have the skill at all but you would like to poke your nose into, that is fine. Dont have KS: Rookery Gangs or AK: Rookery, but you want to hit the streets looking to Tommy Two Toes anyway, dandy. Now if you don't have the streetwise skill to boot, you may have a hard time of it.

 

(Not being sarcastic with this statement at all -->) Does that make sense?

That's exactly what I wanted to know, thank you. And no, I didn't read any sarcasm and I hope you didn't read me as argumentative. Just trying to get an idea of what the experience will be like. Having some mad hacker skillz is fine with me. Maybe Security Systems too? Or he could move in that direction if/when he gets XP.

You have 35 points of watched/hunteds. To make this mesh' date=' do you mind if I filled with the 35 points and tell you how it comes out? I think a single 25 point is pretty harsh:eek: I would like for the characters to have a few common hunteds (but not all) to give common enemies. Nothing bring people together more than a common foe.[/quote']

 

Fiddle as much as you like, please. Please! All this accounting is not my strong suit.

 

I have a DNPC idea. I will add that and do some tweaking and get him back to you tomorrow.

 

Thanks!

 

 

Powers - The Transform...maybe I'm misreading this...but without a limitation' date=' you can transform anything into any metal, instead of one metal into another. [/quote']

 

I just re-read the description of Transformation a couple times, and I'm still not sure I get it. The effect I want is more topological than transmutation. Turn swords into ploughshares, weld bulkheads, make guns inoperable, maybe make simple repairs to machinery, that kind of thing.

 

Does Minor Transform, Limited Target (any metal), Improved Target Group (any new shape) make sense?

 

 

Also...do you really need the Damage Resistance versus PD? 24 rPD is better than tank armor.

Beyond a vague idea that a brick should be able to soak up a lot of damage, I don't know what is appropriate. Whatever Zac says is fine with me.

 

you bought up AK: India beyond the base INT roll?

Can that sort of thing be handwaved?

 

Disadvantages - You have glory hound' date=' melodramatic, and vain...these all seem to cover similar territory. Maybe they should be combined into a single, more encompassing Psych Lim? [/quote']

 

Great idea.

 

As far as the "poor" disadvantage...I find it hard to believe a guy who can lift a tractor-trailer can't find a job that pays rent...especially when you also have acting skills.

 

Does poor mean unemployed? Hero Designer suggests "barely enough to survive on" but I can't find a reference in my rulebook. This guy is a recent immigrant with no degree and not a lot of marketable skills (Mississippi doesn't have a big film or fashion industry) so it seemed reasonable. I'm going to have him be going to school part time too.

 

Background - Seems okay' date=' but your ties to India seem to be stronger than your ties to Thebes, which could be a problem.[/quote']

 

I figure he's new in town, so part of his story is going to be how he makes ties. Of course he'll go back home some day, but "some day" can remain in the future for as long as desired.

 

Thanks for the feedback.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

We have a lot of roleplaying opportunities. I don't want any player to be left out because they put all their points in PS: Painter (Gaming Minatures)' date=' KS: RPG and KS: Fantasy Novels. I mean, these are all great skills (chuckes at self) but PS: Forensic Technician, KS: Viral Code, KS: Hacker would be better.[/quote']

 

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I really want to be sure I have the right expectations here. You seem to be concerned there won't be many roleplaying opportunities for a naive guy dealing with a double crisis of faith, who's a fish out of water because he's been shamed out of his homeland, who happens to have new superpowers and an apparent mission from God. I thought that was a ton of roleplaying fodder. In this campaign will roleplaying opportunities mostly come around skill rolls? Is the focus basically going to be on combat?

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

calling your multipower Master of Magnetism doesn't seem quite right...

I don't really care what it's called, so if you have another suggestion I'll take it.

Besides, he's a Lodestone clone.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

Thanks for the feedback, Zac. New version attached. Some thoughts/questions...

I am going to start with the disads and work my way around:

2. Watched: Mumbai underworld 8- (As Pow, PC has a Public ID or is otherwise very easy to find, Watching). This is a zero point limitation as they have a limited geographic area (they are half a world away). Now, if you are telling me they would trade a favor for another underworld organization locally to get your goat... then it stays a 5 point.

What if the Rajans are just the local arm of some kind of international crime syndicate? Would that work in this campaign world? Could offer some plot hooks, and more motivation for Talwar (he thought he was out, but...)

You have a Public ID' date=' DNPCs and a Hunted. You know it is going to come up. I mean.. 15 points of DPNC, 10 point Public ID and 25 points of hunted. 1/3 of you total disad points. You have an DNPC 8- x2 and an 11- hunted in points. Just a warning: this will be a constant in your life (8- is one out of 4 adventures and 11- is one out of two)... PLUS public ID.[/quote']

 

Changed to Secret ID, dropped the DNPCs. Would love to reduce the Hunteds, but those last few points of Disadvantages are tough to come up with and I hate Unluck. He feels like he has a lot to prove...what about a Rivalry with another hero? Social Lim: needs a green card? Uh...diabetes?

 

 

You have a large skill set' date=' but almost nothing for everyday use. Acting, Conversation and Seduction... I recommend you get some investigatory stills.[/quote']

 

How about this: he was a computer science major before he dropped out, and he's getting ready to go back to school. I'll give him Computer Programming and Electronics, and he can use his powers for Lockpicking.

Re: Catalyst: A Champions campaign on Hero Central

Here's some more international flavor for ya: an Indian brick with some magnetic tricks. Lucky you, I suck at character building - thanks in advance for your patience.

Talwar

-next up on Star Plus, Ganga learns a terrible secret-

- I only give my family Tilda Basmati -

-and in today's Where Are They Now File: Kamal Tariq. The once-promising actor had a career that was remarkable - if only for its brevity. Just two years ago, no one had heard of him. But after a series of racy commercials for Desi Denim, everyone took notice. Soon "that jeans guy" was everywhere, including the arms of starlet Rani Rao. With Tariq's brooding good looks, it's no wonder Bollywood was interested. The smoldering stud made his film debut with a special song appearance in Tanhayee and went on to appear in a half dozen more movies, including the surprise hit Crash Landing.

Some said Tariq was the next big thing. But after going from zero to hero, things started going wrong when he went from hero to superhero. When Tariq revealed that he has superpowers, his career became shaky. Some sources say that producers didn't want to hire him because superpowers mean super-trouble on the set. Others say Tariq was targeted by organized crime. And some say Kamal Tariq just got too big for his jeans and no one could tame his ego. The troubled star began fighting with the press and feuding with established stars. The biggest scandal came when Tariq, who is Muslim, claimed his special abilities were a gift from a Hindu goddess, angering both Hindu and Muslim fundamentalists.

Since then, Tariq has kept a low profile. His agent told us that the king of controversy is currently reviewing offers. But insiders tell us the sexy stud has left Mumbai for good. In fact, he has made no public appearances since walking the runway at New York's fashion week, three months ago. Which makes this segment's title quite literal. Kamal Tariq: where is he now? For ZeeTV, I'm Amrita Singh. Tune in tomorrow -

background/history

You know how everything seems to come easy for some people? Kamal Tariq used to be one of those people. His childhood in Patna was remarkable only for its happiness; the worst thing that happened to him was that as the youngest of three, he was a little spoiled. But his parents, a doctor and a professor, taught him the importance of hard work and a love of learning. He excelled in school and also did well at sports and other extracurricular activities.

Wanting to see more of the world he picked the University of Mumbai for college, and that's when his luck really kicked in. He was spotted by a professional photographer who recruited him for a modeling agency. Kamal was the right face at the right time, and within a year he was getting so much work that he dropped out of college. He used his success to get a foot in the door in the film industry.

What a ride! He was on billboards, on TV commercials, and now he was a movie star! OK, he only got a few supporting roles in some really bad B movies. But it was fun, it was lucrative, and Kamal just knew that if the right opportunity came along he could make it to the A list.

When the big break finally came, it was not as expected. Late one night while on a location shoot in Rajasthan, something woke Tariq up and drew him into the desert. There he met a mysterious figure whose identity seemed to change from moment to moment. Images of historical figures like the warrior king Chandragupta, wise Akbar the Great, even the earth goddess Prithvi all raced through Kamal's head. The being addressed him as "son of the soil" and warned him that in the future India would face a terrible calamity. "The swords of the righteous must defend Hindustan," the messenger intoned as it placed a palm on Kamal's forehead.

Kamal woke up in his hotel room with sand in his clothes and a phenomenal new strength that seemed to come from the land itself. He was too frightened by the mysterious message to dwell on it. Why worry about tomorrow when today you can become the first Bollywood hero who's also a superhero?

He went public with his new powers, and for a few weeks he was the hottest thing in town. Every talk show wanted him, every power player wanted to meet him, and every producer wanted to feature him in an action movie. But the glory was short lived.

Kamal was summoned to a meeting with Chandu Rajan, the Mumbai head of the Rajan gang. The don explained that the Rajans had extensive investments in the film industry, and that no matter who signed Kamal's checks, the actor should consider himself to be working for Rajan. Kamal was to work with Rajan's production companies only. And perhaps use his powers to do the occasional "favor" for the criminal organization.

Tariq stormed out in a rage and went straight to the media. The Rajans struck back with a public smear campaign and some private stringpulling. Suddenly Kamal was persona non grata in Mumbai. Chandu Rajan then called Tariq to make another offer, and hinted that Kamal's family would pay the price for further disobedience. Kamal impetuously promised to kill every last member of the gang if any harm came to his family. It was a bluff, but Rajan decided not to risk it. They agreed on a compromise: the Tariqs would be safe as long as Kamal stayed out of Mumbai.

Disgusted with the corruption he had discovered, and embarrassed to find himself a public laughingstock, Kamal left India altogether. He tried to make a go of it in New York City, but couldn't get steady work as a model or any work as an actor and his money started running out. The demoralized young man finally retreated to Thebes, where he currently lives with relatives. He still gets a few gigs here and there, but he earns most of his money at his cousin's construction firm. When not working or getting to know his new city, he takes self-defense classes and hones his powers.

personality/motivation

Although his recent setbacks left him dispirited and at loose ends, Kamal is basically optimistic, energetic and outgoing. He won't admit that he misses being a celebrity, but he likes to be the center of attention. In general he's a very open and straightforward person, often to the point of naivete. Underneath the goofy boyish charm there are two things he's very serious about: his home and religion. He very much wants to go back to India, but he knows he's not ready yet to take down the Rajans. Meanwhile he's trying to sort out his feelings about god; before receiving his powers seemingly by divine favor, he was an atheist. In his spare time he reads anything and everything on spirituality.

powers/tactics

Talwar is bonded to the planet's magnetic field, allowing him to draw strength and endurance from the earth itself. He can also manipulate the local electromagnetic field to move and reshape metal, and generate bursts of electromagnetic energy.

appearance

Kamal is a tall, striking-looking man in his early 20s with a swimmer's build, angular face and long curly hair. As Talwar he wears tight black pants, a black Tshirt with green trim and talwar emblem, and a black nehru jacket or sherwani.

And attached, first draft of sheet and portrait.

Re: Villan Group

Cuchulainn, St. Patrick and the swashbuckling Grace O'Malley come to mind. Legends of the Tuatha De Danann might prove inspirational, especially The Morrigan. For something a little more generic, maybe some kind of green man, wild huntsman, earth goddess, ghost or fairy. (Banshees and leprechauns are overdone though.)

For something more lighthearted, how a rock star type inspired by Geldoff or Bono? A football hooligan? A James Joyce type, with the power to bore and confuse?

If they're all mythological types, maybe they want to extend the power of the Sidhe, or destroy cities and usher in a new pastoral age.

Re: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen for 2008

This is a fun question, and even though you've already got more than enough ideas (I especially like the idea of an ex Companion and/or Torchwood staffer) I'm going to play along.

Jane Tennison of Prime Suspect should totally be the boss.

Elsa Bloodstone would fit in brilliantly, as would one of the vampire hunters from Ultraviolet. The tormented medium from Afterlife is more of a stretch, but would add some pathos.

Isn't action star Jason Statham British? There's gotta be some potential there...