GhostDancer

Yeah, Christopher Taylor, one of my players was trying to decide whether to play John Henry or John Bunyan. Fortunately for me, the GM, he chose a Rhett Butler homage, Colonel Beauregard.

Ah, forgot to mention in print that after Farseer and Roland caught up, our heroes visited the town of Patagonia. At a tavern, Colonel Beauregard charmed his way into the warm arms of the owner, Colleen O'Shaunessy. Roland, with the help of local boy Ted, staged a marksmanship show. Roland performed flawlessly. Ted collected three hats full of contributions! Roland tipped him handsomely. On the trail, Roland shot a jackalope. "I'm gonna trademark Jack-A-Jerk trail food." "There's no such thing as jackalopes," murmured Crazy Doc. "You're more buggers than I am." At the Navajo village, the young girl who tipped off the Colonel was Sweet Night Woman.

Arkham Adventures Return of the Old Ones Strange Aeons The Centre Cannot Hold

Saint Crown? Also an interesting character name.

Nonetheless, Zeropoint is correct. Originally, Metropolis and Gotham City were both versions of NYC. Further, there was some demarcation- NoHo and SoHo?

Another advantage for using a fictional city is for those GMs who have moved residences a lot. In some of those cases, the players know much more about the local town the the GM does. Of course, such does not preclude said GM from using a real town that is not local. Ex: When I first moved to Detroit in 1986, I set our WestGuard Champions game in Honolulu, where I served two years with the Coast Guard. Later, as I learned more about Detroit, I used Motown as a setting.

Oops, please disregard.

"Mercury is poisonous."

Good point. Christopher Taylor's idea in post #10 is interesting, too. Champions of Legend.

"Undreamed Ages" is good, though I prefer "Undreamt Ages." I proposed a campaign called "Dark Age Champions." Mythic Champions. Legendary Champions. Ancient Champions. Epic Champions. Champions of Yore. Champions of the Magi.

Also, individual player characters may or may not conform to the general campaign feel. Real examples of my PCs- The Kraken is a [Dark Champions] Detroit street fighter, a martial artist who uses smoke and flash bombs, and tries not to kill anyone. White Wolf is a four color alpha werewolf in Millennium City. In spite of her fangs and claws, she has yet to kill or transform anyone. She's a combat monster, though- she took down Grond, among the most powerful super humans on the planet http://championsonline.wikia.com/wiki/Grond

Re: above post-

Re: post #82- oops, forgot to buy Weapons Familiarities

Thanks, bubba smith. Just added Chinese characters in the Background section, Wu Tang Skills area.

ILLUMINATED LU Val Char Cost Roll Notes 15 STR 5 12­ Lift 200.0kg; 3d6 [1] 20 DEX 30 13­ OCV: 7/DCV: 7 18 CON 16 13­ 15 BODY 10 12­ 13 INT 3 12­ PER Roll 12­ 11 EGO 2 11­ ECV: 4 15 PRE 5 12­ PRE Attack: 3d6 16 COM 3 12­ 5 PD 2 Total: 5 PD (0 rPD) 5 ED 1 Total: 5 ED (0 rED) 4 SPD 10 Phases: 3, 6, 9, 12 7 REC 0 36 END 0 32 STUN 0 Total Characteristic Cost: 89 Movement: Running: 7"/14" Leaping: 13"/26" Swimming: 2"/4" Cost Powers END 2 Snake*, Hawk or Crane Stance: +1 with Block (or *Dodge), Requires a DEX Roll, Costs END Heart ­Focused Breathing, all slots Extra Time (1 Turn (Post­ Segment 12), Only to Activate, ­3/4), Not Persistent (­1/4) 1 1) Enhanced Reaction Time: Lightning Reflexes: +2 DEX to act first with All Actions; Extra Time (1 Turn (Post ­Segment 12), Only to Activate, ­3/4), Not Persistent (­1/4) 2 2) Self ­Regulation: Rapid Healing; Extra Time (1 Turn (Post­ Segment 12), Only to Activate, ­3/4), Not Persistent (­1/4) 1 3) Strategic Thinking: +1 with Tactics; Extra Time (1 Turn (Post­ Segment 12), Only to Activate, ­3/4), Not Persistent (­1/4) 1 Blink: Sight Group Flash Defense (3 points); Awareness Based (­1/2), Activation = DEX Roll 14­ (­1/2), Nonpersistent (­1/4) 5 Ch'i Healing: Simplified Healing BODY + STUN 1d6; Requires A Chinese Healing Roll (­1/2), 8 Charges (­1/2) [8] Wu Tang Abilities 7 Cloud­Ascending Ladder: Leaping +10" (13" forward, 6 1/2" upward); Requires An Acrobatics Roll (­1/2) 1 5 Dianxue Hand : Killing Attack ­ Hand­To­Hand 1 point (1/2d6 w/STR), Uncontrolled (+1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Continuous (+1); Gradual Effect (1 Day; ­1 3/4), Requires A Chinese Healing Roll (­1/2) Notes: Shut off by Chinese Healing. 4 Martial Block +2 +2 Block, Abort 4 Martial Disarm ­1 +1 Disarm; 25 STR to Disarm 4 Martial Dodge ­­ +5 Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort 3 Martial Grab ­1 ­1 Grab Two Limbs, 25 STR for holding on 3 Martial Throw +0 +1 3d6 +v/5, Target Falls 5 Palm Slap / Kick ­2 +1 7d6 Strike 4 Counterstrike +2 +2 5d6 Strike, Must Follow Block 5 Heaven and Earth as One: Passing Strike +1 +0 3d6 +v/5; FMove 5 Defensive Throw +2 +2 Abort, Block, Target Falls 4 Taiji Swordplay or Lightning Fist or Rocket Fist; Fast Strike +2 +0 5d6 Strike 4 Soft Snow Swordplay or Turning Finger Soft Swordplay or Sword Finger: Killing Strike ­2 +0 HKA 1d6 +1; S ­ Damage, STUN Only (­0) 2 Weapon Element: Blades, Staffs Talents 3 Environmental Movement (Supreme Balance) Skills 3 Acrobatics 13­ 3 Stained Clothes Eighteen Falls : Breakfall 13­ 3 Climbing 13­ 3 +1 with Martial Maneuvers 3 Deduction 12­ 3 Fast Draw Blades 13­ 3 Feint 13­ 3 Zhenwu Seven Sections Formation : Tactics 12­ 3 Zhenwu Sword Formation : Teamwork 13­ 3 PS: Sifu (Instructor) 12­ 3 Stealth 13­ 0 Everyman Skills: AK: Hubei Province, Climbing, Concealment, Language Skill: Mandarin, PS: Taoist Priest 11­, TF: Riding Animals (Custom Adder) 3 Scholar 4 1) KS: Chinese Healing 14­ 2 2) KS: Christianity 12­ 4 3) KS: Tai Ch'i Ch'aun 14­ 4 4) KS: Taoism 14­ 2 5) KS: The Martial World 12­ 4 6) KS: Wu Tang Martial Arts 14­ Total Powers & Skill Cost: 130 Total Cost: 219 115+ Disadvantages 5 Distinctive Features: Large Dragon Tattoo On Left Upper Arm (Easily Concealed; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly­ Used Senses) 10 Distinctive Features: Tai Ch'i Ch'uan Style: (Not Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Large Group) 10 Distinctive Features: Wu Tang Style: (Not Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Large Group) 5 Hunted Guer (Orphan): 8­ (Less Pow; Harshly Punish) 20 Normal Characteristic Maxima 15 Psychological Limitation: Loves Best Friend: Dulzuk Blossom (Common; Strong) 10 Psychological Limitation: Chinese Patriot (Common; Moderate) 10 Psychological Limitation: Christian (Common; Moderate) 10 Psychological Limitation: Loves Father and Mother; Siun Kang and Pheonix (Uncommon; Strong) 5 Psychological Limitation: Warrior Mentality­ ready to kill to prevent a larger crime. (Uncommon; Moderate) 5 Reputation: Defrocked Taoist Priest, Wu Tang Clan Exile, 8­ (5 points unspent) Total Disadvantage Points: 105 Background/History: Most Wu Tang Clan members are Taoist priests, as was Young Master Lu. Here are his sayings of last year, 1646 AD. Two Kinds of Wisdom There are two kinds of wisdom: the practical and the static one. The practical is the wisdom which helps one doing things. It is a rather short living wisdom because it ceases when time comes. The static one doesn't help one in doing things and looks like a store of unsold goods. People cherish the static wisdom and leave or ignore the practical one. Tao Is the Same A new start is always a vivid source of intense feelings. Still one should consider what is really knew or if there's something that he/she could call new. Taoist thinks that there's nothing new under the sun. Only the ever lasting mixture of yin and yang. In Tao­te ching we are told that at the very beginning there was a kind of shape without shape. Lao­tzu called this "shape" the Tao. It is just what I wished to say above. Tao is everywhere the same. If you wish to penetrate its "movements" just close your eyes and contemplate its essence. Lost in Tao Me (Wu from the Northern Sea): Someone told me that he felt like lost in Tao. It was about the starting point, he said: When you start your Tao experience and how you know that you actually have a Tao experience? What you think about this? Mater Lu: There's no way to feel like you are lost in the Tao. Tao is not a country or land or something alike to feel like you're lost. Tao is like a Father who shows you the way. How could one feel lost in this? I really don't imagine. Tao Is not God Question: I remember I had a problem with my wife and been very affected. I am practicing the Tao but it didn't help me. Answer: Tao is not God. One can't ask Tao to behave like God and do things to help one and so forth. Stop thinking of Tao in terms of a mighty God who can change things and do anything. If you have problems with your mate or family just keep that state of nondoing and see what is. This is the way. Question: Well, I was keeping that state and still there was so much suffering. Answer: This is because Tao is not God. It doesn't help you with your suffering. Actually it brings the suffering! No Tao at All Mater Lu said: Sometime we know the Tao as the Tao ­ sometimes it seems it vanishes so one can say: "There's no Tao at all". This is the way of the beginner: knowing that the Tao exists but not having the perpetual perception of his presence. Tao Machine... I once asked Master Lu if going with the Tao doesn't make one feel like he/she is a machine... No personal will, no desire... He answered: We are all machines, indeed ­ as we perform various tasks machinelike. Very few are wise enough to retain what is worth and escape the passing­by. The Worst ­ What is the worst thing one can do in following the Path? ­ Not being with Tao but only thinking of it. This is the worst: talking of Tao but not living it. Tao, Good and Bad ­ What is the Tao good for? asked Wu from the Northern Sea. Is it good for food, for ride or perhaps for fighting enemies? ­ No, replied the Master of No Concern, it is not good for any food, ride or fighting your enemies. It is just the Lord of everything, so you shouldn't ask about good and bad. Beginners and the True Understanding ­ Is this all that can be said about the Tao? asked someone after reading Tao­te ching. ­ Yes, replied Master Lu. This is all. ­ Still I don't understand much and wonder if this is because I am a beginner. ­ If you think you are a beginner, yes, this is the reason. But if you don't think at all, you may touch the True Understanding, replied Master Lu. If Nothing Matters... ­ If nothing matters in this world, if everything is just passing by, why don't you grab as much as you can, why don't you travel better and better, and enjoy all this world has to offer? In fact, we can do anything... ­ Not exactly, said Master Lu. Just think about the payback ­ you may lose your freedom. And even if this wouldn't be your case, when you cling to worldly things, you feel astray from your inner essence and lose gold for the sake of iron. Master Lu said: For common people Taoists are not Taoists. If they are, then the Taoists are not Taoists. Explanation: When the Taoist adept is working in the public sphere he/she is not different from others, persons that don't follow the Tao. For the common eye the adept doesn't act differently. Master Lu said: Eyes can't tell the truth. Explanation: The same as above; you don't have to believe your eyes. Questions about Tao and Nature ­ Is Tao nature, or Mother Nature? ­ Tao is everything natural. But it is not nature itself. Nature is subject of it. Every living thing in this universe is subject to the Tao. ­ I mean when one follows Tao is he/she following the simplicity and purity of nature? ­ Not necessary. Today people living in huge cities are not following nature. But this is also subject to the Tao. Everything in this universe is subject to the Tao. ­ Old Taoists used to talk about Tao in connection with water. That is, they said Tao is like water or one who follows Tao should be like water. What is the meaning of this statement? ­ Water and Tao have one common feature: they are ever changing phenomena. Being like water means one have to be changeable like water and thus emulating the Tao. The Greatest Enemies The good and bad are the two poles of the human ethics, I know ­ you may call them the core of humanity. Still there's no greatest enemy for the one who follows the Tao than these two. If you start your search for the Greatest Lord you may stop also your aim at judging things in relation to these two principles. But, you may ask me: "What if I loose the guidance of good­bad pair? Who'll guide me then?" The answer is your final finding: The Tao. He is your guidance. Go straight to him and ask: "What if I..."? ***************************************** The name of Lu's home province, Hubei, means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting. Lu's parents, Sien Kang and Sien Pheonix, reside by Lake, making a living by fishing. Hubei is often called the "Land of Fish and Rice". It is in easternmost central China. Important agricultural products in Hubei include cotton, rice, wheat, and tea, while industries include metallurgy and textiles. Hubei produces a modest amount of coal. It is well known for it mines of fine turquiose and green faustite. The Shennongjia area is the alleged home of the Yeren, a wild undiscovered red or white giant hairy hominid that lives in the forested hills. The people of Hubei are given the uncomplimentary nickname "Nine Headed Birds" by other Chinese, from a mythological creature said to be very aggressive and hard to kill. "In the sky live nine­headed birds. On the earth live Hubei people." Yu's best friend, Dulzuk Blossom is not originally from Hubei. She is from the venerated Mount Paek­Tu, and is named for the fruit which is reaped mainly from Paek Tu Mountain region. The scientific name is VACCINIUM ULIGINOSUM LINNAEUS and this breed grows spontaneously in the hilly areas 800 meters above sea level.People in the area surrounding Mt. Paek Tu produce the multiple foodstuffs with the blue berry dulzuck. It is consumed three times daily for health, preferably before meals. Dulzuk Blossom practices Paek­tu martial arts in addition to Wu Tang style. She is a senior student of Wu Tang, and several years older than Lu. She is a sweetheart, especially to Lu, though she is sometimes almost brutally honest with him. They are sometimes overprotective of each other. Young Master Lao would still be a Taoist preist, if he was discreet about his new Christian faith, introduced to him by martial artist Jang Dong Gun. The Good News traveled via long­ established, well­ mapped routes of trade between China and the Arabian peninsula, employed since at least the Han Dynasty. The Bible story had to be related to him eight times before he believed. Since then, he became the youngest master healer ever known, and the youngest to learn the Dianxue Hand. The only documented occasion of Lu using Dianxue Hand was against a rabid bear that he lead away from a village. Since Lu refused to hide his light of Christian faith under a bushel, he was defrocked and exiled from Mount Wu Tang. Now he must seek practice and improvement elsewhere, and has renamed himself Illuminated Lu. Guer (Orphan), a Wu Tang advanced student, seeks Lu to put an end to his betrayal, as he sees it, of the Wu Tang Clan. Guer was left at the temple door, a baby in a basket, with no note. The Wu Tang Clan is his only family. As such, he takes Lu's dismissal of Taoism personally. He mistakenly believes he is a better fighter than Lu, because he is older and never abandoned the Tao faith. Personality/Motivation: Lu endeavors to follow his understanding of the Ten Commandments, including refraining from murder and marital infidelity, and especially following the Golden Rule; Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself. As such, he won't hesitate to lie or kill to prevent a larger crime. He wants to better himself, so as to better serve others, especially his loved ones. Lu has no problem with most Taoist philosophies, but he recanted Taoist deities. Wu Tang Taoist temples and monasteries have a special association with Xuan Wu (lit. "Dark" or "Mysterious Warrior"), one of the higher ­ranking Taoist deities and one of the more revered deities in China. He is revered as a powerful god, able to control the elements and capable of great magic. He is particularly revered by martial artists and is the patron saint of Hebei, Manchuria, and Mongolia. Illuminated Lu has a special respect for Shaolin martial arts, the forbearer of Wu Tang Style. Quote: "Do you have any kind of spiritual beliefs?" Powers/Tactics: Illuminated Lu is as agile as a mountain goat, able to leap from rock to rock, ledge to ledge, with no apparent effort. Lu is adept at heart­ focused breathing. The heart functions somewhat like a second brain. It signals the brain more than the brain signals it. The heart effects strategic thinking, reaction times, and self ­regulation. This is improved with heart ­focused breathing; concentrate on breathing with your heart (previously said to be breathing from your diaphragm), inhale 5 seconds, exhale 5 seconds. ­Jim Marshall III, MD Although the following skills are entirely fictional, from wuxia stories, some are based on actual martial arts. Among other things, Lu has been introduced to the following: Foundation skills: Shiduanjin (十段錦) Thirty­ two Styles of Long Fist (三十二勢長拳) Wudang Long Fist (武當長拳) Wudang Heart Sutra (武當長拳) Eight Trigrams Soaring Dragon Palm (八卦遊龍掌) Armed combat styles: Divine Gate Thirteen Swords (神門十三劍) sfx; every BODY roll = separate strike. Ex: Lu rolls 13 BODY vs. Grandmaster Owl, hitting Owl 13 times. Owl has one level of Combat Luck, so three of said hits just graze him, no damage. Ten strikes get through, doing one BODY each. Heaven Relying Dragon Slaying Skill (神門十三劍) Mystical Saber Style (玄虛刀法) Heaven and Earth as One (天地同壽) Soft Snow Swordplay (柔雲劍法) Turning Finger Soft Swordplay (繞指柔劍) Taiji Swordplay (太極劍) Unarmed combat styles: Wuji Mystical Skill Fist (無極玄功拳) Dianxue Hand (點穴手) Heaven Shaking Iron Palm (震天鐵掌) Taiji Fist (太極拳) Returning Wind Palm (迴風掌) Great Tablet Smashing Hand (大摔碑手) Silky Palm (綿掌) Tiger Claw Ending Hand (虎爪絕戶手) Tiger Claw Hand (虎爪手) Stained Clothes Eighteen Falls (沾衣十八跌) Qinggong: Cloud ­Ascending Ladder (梯雲縱) Battle formations: Zhenwu Seven Sections Formation (真武七截陣) Zhenwu Sword Formation (真武劍陣) Inner energy skills: Wudang Nine Yang Skill (武當九陽功) Pure Yang Wuji Skill (純陽無極功) ****************************** As typical for a Tai Ch'i Chuan practioner, Lu likes to start with a Block, or, better yet, Defensive Throw, followed by a Multiple Powers Attack. Gear: 1d6K Jien; +1 OCV, STR 7, 5d6 Kuen; +1 OCV; STR 10, +1", soft leather rerebraces and vambraces 1 DEF; Protects Locations 7­8, banded mail cuirass; Protects Locations 9­13 or Act. 11­, dried dulzuk berries, pine nuts, smoked wuchang fish, yam chips, medic kit, acupuncture needles, alcohol, herb ­impregnated rice paper bandages, willow bark extract, smelling salts, silk thread, suture needles, marbles, water flask, scriptures, stationary set, scroll case, 88 cash. Campaign Use: Illuminated Lu is a master healer, so skilled that he can cure Dim Mak. He seeks to be a new Shaolin student. Appearance: Well­ armed pretty boy. Because he's clearly a teenager, and doesn't brag, he has yet to be acknowledged for his grand master achievement.

http://www.gocomics.com/sunny-street/2014/05/23/#.U4Jb63JdVOg

We proceeded north along the mountain trail. Meanwhile, back in Promise City, Attorney Sandoval 'Papi' Perez handed mail to Farseer and Roland. "Please deliver these." Mind you, a couple letters were addressed to them, so they opened them, a Carte Blanche apiece (see website below) and... [image: Presidential Seal] Dear League of Extraordinary Americans, January 25, 1869 Thank you for your service. Another opportunity for you to serve is available in Detroit, Michigan, protecting the interests of school children and their defenders. H. M. Cheeve and D. E. & H. M. Duffield are arguing before the 36th District Court of Michigan that Joseph Workman's son, and all other colored children in Detroit, can not legally be segregated from whites in the public schools. Our allies include the following: Fannie Richards was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, about 1840 and moved to Detroit as a young girl with her family during the 1850s. She received her early education in the public schools of Detroit, then went to Toronto, where she studied English, history, drawing and needlework. She later returned to Detroit to attend the Teachers Training School. In 1863 she opened a private school for colored children. Her appointment to segregated Colored School No. 2, administered by the Detroit Board of Education, came two years later. John Bagley, born in 1832, is a wealthy tobacco manufacturer. He is involved in mining, banking and insurance corporations in the city. He serves as a member of the Detroit Board of Education. This year the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified. Richards and Bagley are two of several liberal-minded citizens who are helping finance a lawsuit against Detroit's racially segregated school system. Workman's attorneys base their case on Act No. 34, Laws of Michigan (1867): "All residents of any district shall have an equal right to attend any school therein: Provided that this shall not prevent the grading of schools according to the intellectual progress of the pupils, to be taught in separate places when deemed expedient." The school board argues that the 1867 law did not pertain to the city of Detroit since there was but one district in the city. The board further argued that the city schools were governed by a separate charter, which exempted them from Act 34 and allowed them to establish separate schools for coloreds. Counsel for the board states: "There exists among a large majority of the white population of Detroit a strong prejudice or animosity against colored people, which is largely transmitted to the children in the schools, and that this feeling would engender quarrels and contention if colored children were admitted to the white schools." A major force supporting Workman is the Second Baptist Church, located on Monroe Street, where Fannie Richards teaches Sunday School. Since its organization in 1836, Second Baptist had been an influential force in the social, political and educational development of Detroit's colored community. The church assisted escaping slaves along the Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War and helped form the Amherstburg Baptist Association through which Baptist churches in Detroit and Canada aided fugitive slaves. Your mission, gentlemen, should you decide to accept it, is to defend and protect the principals of this case until it concludes. Should any of our LXA be caught or killed, I will disavow any knowledge of your actions. Destroy the top and bottom of this letter. Good luck, gentlemen. [image: Mr. Grant's signature] U.S. Grant. *********************************************** Counsellor Perez mentioned that the LXA was founded after the assassination of President Lincoln. Roland passed this along to our heroes when they caught up with each other. By 3:10 PM, we reached a Yuma Indian party, and shared lunch with them, including super-adulterated cactus juice and pecan brandy. They taught us the hide the button game, and we won two for three, securing two flasks of Snake Woman of the Mountain's sparkling mineral water, healing elixir, for our prizes. Our Colonel graciously gave the Yumi more pecan brandy. The following morning, some of us were worse for the wear, too much drinking. The Colonel mounted his horse backwards. Crazy Doc mixed up an elixir including two grains of deadly nightshade, with reduced the hangover symptoms greatly. In a few hours, we were all alert. Later, we were ambushed by Zuni Indians, including their shaman, Magic Bullet, who was far away on the reverse slope of a grassy knoll to the east. He escaped, wounded, though the rest of his party died at our hands, including* a captive we released. Roland wanted to kill the captive, so he would not betray our presence. Hombre would not countenance this slaying in cold blood. Col. Beauregard had a quiet, intense discussion with Roland. Lieutenant Newburgh and Private Marston were badly wounded. It defied reason that yet again, the severely injured Bad Lieutenant did not fall off his horse, and it quietly carried him around a canyon bend, out of Magic Bullet's field of fire. Roland covertly asked Crazy Doc to poison the released Zuni. We rode up the Long Canyon trail, which turned out to be a dead end. We pitched camp near here. The following day was rough riding, and then the terrain became even more rugged. We had to lead our horses. Then we found a better trail, and a Navajo village. The odor of roasting pork and chipotle filled the air, but our Colonel blanched. It reminded him of the fires of Sherman's March, and the scent of burning human flesh. The Navajo invited us to lunch. No, not like that. Their best archer was huge, 6'8, long glossy hair like a raven's wing, wide shoulders, tapered waist, and very handsome. We introduced ourselves. His name was Grand Performance. "That's what she said." Farseer wanted an archery contest. A young Navajo girl lured Colonel Beauregard into an alley. "Don't compete with Grand Performance. The shaman said he has short muscle attachments, like a bear. He's even stronger than he looks." "Why would you tell me this?" "I'm sure you can make it up to me," she replied, batting her eyes. "Let's go for accuracy," said Farseer. "That's a better test than range," he said, looking at Grand Performance's unusual recurved bow. Stakes were agreed upon. Grand Performance won two for three. He graciously let Farseer keep the prize. Colonel Beauregard hired Grand Performance to accompany them to the Arizona Territory border, for the price of a healing elixir. We bedded down for the night, with the usual pairs of watch standers trading off. The Colonel had nightmares. The following day, we continued north. A goat on the mountainside tempted the Colonel. "Shoot his leg, Farseer, in such a way that he falls down towards us." Farseer missed. Grand Performance did not. The goat came tumbling down, getting tenderized enroute. Grand Performance made an effort not to look at Farseer. "Broke Goat Mountain," quipped Sam Wright.

"...players could choose from options: Race, Background, Profession, Characteristic Blocks (Hardy, Quick, Intelligent, etc)." - BhelliomRahlSuper! Please post this system, or at least PM it to me. Such could win some converts, and I have several new players.

I had a good experience with credit from Steve Long. I went so far as to tell him that is was more than I deserved, given that I was simply restating what I read in a professional law enforcement publication, and he went forward with special thanks to me, anyway. -Will "Suffice" Geiger

Mind you, there's nothing in the build I described above, post #2, mechanically, that restricts it to everyday things. In combat, the victim could trip over a boot lace, cape or long hair could get caught in a closing door, gun trigger stays depressed and discharges all rounds in one second, etc.

I tend to build this as Telekinesis, (Fully) Invisible, No Conscious Control, O END, with bonus Limited SPD for this Power only. Shoe comes untied, beverage gets spilled in keyboard, too many elevator buttons get pushed, mustard squeeze bottle reacts too enthusiastically, valise flies open outside and papers are carried away by gust of wind, etc. Some such thing was published in The Adventurer's Club as part of a character build, yes?

[Japanese Armour] The earliest of these armours [3rd century A.D.], probably a development in iron from primitive helmets and cuirasses of bamboo and hide, were more advanced than any armour being made elsewhere in the contemporary world. [bulletproof] The best armour was made from plates of soft iron faced with hard steel, the two welded together to make a sound defence against most known weapons. It could be made of any thickness required by the armourer's patron and stood up well to tests made with bullets fired at close range. Test-marks (tameshi) are not uncommon on pieces made in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. -H. Russell Robinson, Oriental Armour

Paper Armour In the T'ang period, a certain Shang Sui-ting was credited with the invention of paper armour. It was then used as a protection by ordinary people, but under the Sung Dynasty it was recognized as a cheap but practical defence. In the year 1040 the the troops were ordered to make thirty thousand suits of paper armour for distribution among the garrisons of Shen-si Province. The localities were known for their paper production. Paper armour was particularly favoured in southern China in Ming times by the garrisons defending the coast against Japanese raiders. The best papers were those from Korea- much prized in China and Japan for their toughness and durability. Ten to fifteen thicknesses sewn together were considered best for military use. It was said to have been proof against musket balls [and] strong arrows could not pierce it. -H. Russell Robinson, Oriental Armour

JI has an amazing wrap-around cover with scores of period luminaries depicted, and an interesting build for Detect Aura, with definitions for each hue viewed.