torchwolf

Re: Custom Martial Art Skills

Re: Champions Villains Volume Three: Solo Villains when will it be on the shelf? Posted a poll to get an idea of CV 3 interest, if many people are waiting for all of the books at once (etc). http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php/88120-Would-you-buy-Champions-Villains-Volume-3-%96-Solo-Villains

Re: Bronze Age Champions While I'm sorry to hear this about "All-Winners Squad" I'd leap headlong into a bronze age campaign - the closest I've been to actually playing one is a MSH campaign which I ended up GMing in the Hero System instead.

Re: What Can We Do To Serve HERO? There are already some fairly extensive sites, some maintained by long-standing Hero Games Forums board members: Susano's site Surbrook's Stuff (5th and 6th Edition): http://surbrook.devermore.net/index/ KillerShrike's site (mainly 5th Edition): http://www.killershrike.com/ Cellular Smoke Signals (5th Edition): http://god-eater.org/rpgs/herosystem.php (and many others I cannot remember at this moment - for which I do apologize - but I hope they'll list URLs if they read this) There is also at least one Hero System wiki, but I'm uncertain of the extent of these resources. A wiki with a number of pre-built abilities/Talents/Powers might make the system more accessible - like others have noted, my experience is that newcomers to Hero can and do get perplexed by the lack of pre-builds. I'd be happy to contribute, though it seems a good idea to me to avoid working in parallell on the exact same projects, so I'd suggest some coordination, perhaps discussing organizational details with site administrators. Certainly there's lots of stuff in the genre books, and reproducing exactly those builds publicly wouldn't be cool, but there's plenty room for additional material that can be very time- and effort-saving for new Hero players and GMs. Material should probably be organized by 4th Edition, 5th Edition, 6th Edition Basic/Standard/Advanced (or along some similar lines). How to get the word out? I guess the best way to reach other roleplayers is to simply attend other forums and tell them about available game resources.

Re: Bronze Age Champions Hoo boy, the disco darling who initiated the mutant paranoia with her movie, challenged the Enchantress in a singing contest, fought Doctor Doom single-handedly, and briefly was a Galactus Herald temp. But Juggernaut was her biggest fan. IIRC, it was the Tinkerer who built the Rocket Racer's skateboard, Big Wheel's... um, wheel, and some other interesting contraptions, in the 1970s. If anyone's interested, here's a comprehensive site with some free downloads for the old TSR Marvel Super Heroes game from the Eighties: http://www.classicmarvelforever.com/cms/

Re: BOOK OF THE EMPRESS Kickstarter OK, I'm in.

Re: Why is Speed so unpopular? I don't think it's a common perception, I just mention it as an argument that I've seen come up during discussions but very seldom in the middle of a game session. I based my comment on some specific arguments taken out of context from extensive discussions about pros and cons of various game systems. Off-hand, I can only think of Shadowrun and Chill having Turn-based systems which does not incorporate movement as Actions (instead treating it as negative modifiers to Actions if moving at full velocity). Then again, one argument in favor of Hero vs Shadowrun was actually how much better the SPD chart worked in comparison to "1 Combat Phase each 10 rolled Initiative" (Shadowrun through 3rd edition).

Re: Why is Speed so unpopular? Segmented Movement has been mentioned, but maybe decoupling Movement completely from SPD (as suggested in APG 1 on p61) might solve several of these issues; all characters have a set "per-Segment" Movement that is used for everything, everyone gets to move each Segment so "face time" differences don't get so obvious, it negates occasional disconnects for new players with why SPD increases movement rate, and it reduces the "I'm standing around until my next Phase" perception that seems hard to break even when the GM describes events in a fluid manner. I'm considering using decoupled movement during my next run as GM - using MapTools it should work fairly well (though affecting character builds slightly). During 4th Edition, I tried out Segmented Movement, but moving miniatures tiny increments of distance each Segment can get a bit silly.

Re: Guide to Street Supers Interesting. I've done some work on exactly this kind of setting, would be cool to discuss this in more detail.

Re: Time-Based Experience (Seeking notions) As for time requirements for learning Skills, The Ultimate Skill (5th edition)/Hero System Skills (6th edition) discusses learning rate, Instruction Skill, and Skills categorized by complexity/difficulty. Event Driven Hero by KillerShrike goes into some depth on using EXP directly related to events.

Re: I've got you Well isn't going with (3) too easy? On the subject of application of Limitation design theory concerning a power's point-of-origin, vs Focus, Gestures, Physical Manifestation, Restrainable, and possibly a few others, all partly overlapping: Sample unusual Flight points of origin (throwing common sense and science out the window): a) Atlantean royalty with itsy-bitsy ankle wings that can be used in confined spaces, but can also be Grabbed (which causes a fall) large ethereal wings only affected by Affects Desolid, but still requiring room for wingspan c) wings temporarily formed by shapeshifters ...on that note, cases where flight direction could be affected by being Grabbed (if purchased/defined that way, granted): d) energy blasts projected from hands, pointed downwards to fly e) boot jets f) rotor blade stabilizers

Re: Sherpas or other high-altitude normals? Depending on the campaign, most useful at high altitude would likely be Life Support [Extended Breathing, 1 END per Turn] (possibly 1 END per Minute or better for more of "Pulp Era Tibet") and perhaps a high REC as well as extra ED to resist cold exposure. Pressure doesn't get low enough to actually need it, but no reason not to add the Low Pressure/Vacuum with a Low Pressure Only (-1) if you want it a bit cinematic. You'll still need to breathe the thin air somehow though. Of course, Climbing, Navigation, Survival (Arctic and Mountains) and Riding (yaks, llamas, or as locally appropriate) would be really useful too, but I realize that's slightly beside your question. EDIT: Christopher beat me to it.

Re: Interesting discussio on the future of Hero System on rpg.net Exactly! Is "some day" coming up soon...?

Re: Interesting discussio on the future of Hero System on rpg.net Personally I like Lucius' meta-character building intros (no time to link one right now though). Grabbing a piece of fiction and describing how it would have played out using Hero might show how the system can be used. "How to play Hero" might be a good idea, though I'm not sure of the target audience - non-Hero gamers? Gamers new to Hero? Gamers new to rpgs in general? (probably not the last category)

Re: Susano Considers His Next Possible Projects (What Do You Want To See?) Mythic America Fearsome Critters These are particularly interesting to me from the viewpoint of expanding my cultural references, and since I have the Asian Bestiaries, my expectations for the Mythic America books are high. Mythic America II I think there is a certain ”Hero Void of the Normals” for most current genres. Good idea, I know I spend quite some time trying to populate my campaigns. Things That Go Bump In The Night What can I say, I'll definitely buy this. Again, I have the Hero Be Dragons book to give me an idea of what to expect. Mike's Martial Artists Bring it on. Quite often, character writeups that were actually intended for entirely different genres, find their way into my games when appropriately tweaked. Oh, and the other book, Mike's Marital Artists, is something I'm also curious about. The Well of the Worlds Love the idea, want this. The Tarot Council I've done this myself in several versions for different campaigns but would certainly be interested in seeing your take on it. Kazei 5: System Upgrade I keep trying to sell my friends on Kazei 5 so more official material is always welcome. I'll probably have more input on this and other books once I've fully digested the implications of the changes at Hero.

Re: Legendsmiths Considers: Genre Quick Starts you'd like to see Steampunk Hero would be interesting to see. Other than that, I would likely purchase something like this more for support of the system rather than actual use, but I know from posters here that there is a demand. I think especially Fantasy Hero, Star Hero, and Pulp Hero, in that order, would generate interest, all having Genre Books but little material (currently produced) available. On a related note: last year there was a project here called "Monthly Adventures" (on which I sadly dropped the ball due to IRL stuff). Maybe that could be rebooted with the specific purpose of creating quick-starts, the winner of a challenge getting a full pdf produced? I can see the usefulness of these products, especially right now, whether commercially produced or not... or maybe something in between.

Re: Possible HERO System Supplement Kickstarters From Steve -- What Interests You? STORMlords: I'd sign up right away with $50-$100. The description almost completely nails my preferred mix of cross-genre material and I seriously would love to see your take on it. Mythic Hero: Same here, $50-100. A favorite subject of mine so a good treatment of it in rpg terms is hugely interesting to me. Dark Champions 6E: Depending on how much would be new material, since it is already a very extensive and very good book. DC 6E containing at least 20% new or expanded material other than game mechanics: $50-$100 DC 6E mostly revising game mechanics from DC 5E with little new material added: $25-$50 Cyber Hero (6E): I think I would be willing to put down $25-$50 but maybe more depending on its intended approximate contents. About updates: did the Mutant Powers 6E pdf for PAH do anything for sales of PAH itself? (I realize this question might be better put to Jason Walters right now) Aside from this, I'm quite willing to support other interesting projects as well.

Re: World's Finest As for openings, the GM said upthread that it would be "first come, first served" so I was unsure myself if I'd be able to finish up a preliminary writeup myself. Luckily, I made it. There are now 7 heroes in the group, and that's slightly more than the GM said he would take in. I'm sorry to hear you were expecting help that you don't feel you have gotten, but as Christopher says, it's not easy to help someone out if communication fails somewhere along the way. Here's a link to a character sheet in the Free Stuff section at the HeroGames site: https://www.herogames.com/get/H5c_sht.pdf It has all Characteristics costs and the calculations for Figured Characteristics listed. There are also excel spreadsheets to create 5th edition characters in the same section, assuming you can use them (OpenOffice is free if you don't have Office). Now, what rules _do_ you have? If you don't have any of the rules, and money is an issue, there's always the Sidekick book still available in pdf format at the Steve Jackson Games online site for $3.50: http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=DOJHERO106 That's a "basic rules" book, but it might be sufficient to build character basics and then get some assistance either here or from someone in the World's Finest group. Christopher has already said he can help out, but that time might be limited. I volunteer to help out as well, provided I have the time - just post here, in a separate character thread, or shoot me a PM. Optionally, the Character Creation Handbook (the one Christopher's using right now I think) in pdf at the online store, for $12: https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=223559 I certainly don't want you to feel excluded because of finances, and I think everyone else agrees with that. Still, this doesn't guarantee there's an opening, since any GM can only manage so many players at a time, but there might be eventually - plus I think itsalwayssunny is still accepting applications to the Golden Age campaign set in the same world, if that is interesting to you.

Re: Superheroes to Keep, Superheroes to Lose I'd gladly be in it, if you do online games. Used to run one such game, years ago.

Re: Brick Oh Iä.

Re: World's Finest Just wanted to share some definitely classic Silver Age hero writeups for 5th edition, courtesy of Susano at Surbrook's Stuff (http://surbrook.devermore.net/index/): http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptationsvideogame/freedom/ffabout.html

Re: World's Finest Love the campaign premise - I submit the concept of "Clockwork Girl" for your approval: "Clockwork Girl has dedicated herself to fight crime and injustice with her amazing strength, keen perception, and sharp deductive intelligence – longing to be human though she is a magical-mechanical clockwork girl built ages ago, she is a stranger in a strange time." (I have a background written up as well - if you like the concept and there is an opening, I'll build this character fully in game terms, since I tend to do it in that order. I figure that part will take me a day or so.) I posted a concept in the All-Winners Squad as well as I like that campaign idea too.

Re: All-Winners Squad I think this campaign sounds intriguing and would like to offer my concept "Justice Rider" (admittedly "inspired" by the _original_ DC character Vigilante): "As Justice Rider, Scott Sanderson has decided to take up arms against crime, using his custom-built stunt motorcycle, his steel-reinforced lasso, trick six-shooters armed with special ammunition, and all the skills he has learned as a circus performer, to avenge his brother and bring those criminals to justice that ordinary lawmen can not." (If the concept sounds good to you, I have a brief background written up as well but wanted to know if there is still an opening before getting down to building the character in game terms - I like creating characters in that order.) I also like the "World's Finest" campaign concept and am submitting a concept there as well. EDIT: Whoops. I just realized itsalwayssunny already mentioned a "Phantom Rider" is in the campaign. Well, back to the drawing board I guess.

Re: World's Finest Personally I'd recommend you get 5ER (5th Edition Revised). The following impressions are based on myself playing in a 5ER (5th Edition, Revised) superheroic game, attempting to use the Character Creation Handbook together with the HERO System Combat Handbook, before I located a printed copy of 5ER: The Character Creation Handbook and the HERO System Combat Handbook put together, at first glance, seem to cover the same 5th edition functionality as 6E1 and 6E2 do currently. However, they do not. I discovered that while the Character Creation Handbook and HERO System Combat Handbook both include some options from different specific genres (such as Fantasy Hero and Star Hero), they do not cover the exact same genres, do not clearly state where rules, Talents, Maneuvers, etc. are in fact taken from 5ER, or from a genre book for 5th edition. This means that with extensive use, you'll eventually end up referencing several rules in 5ER anyway. Most of the major rules are in the Character Creation Handbook and HERO System Combat Handbook, but both the minor additions and omissions are annoying (to me, incredibly so) unless you also possess 5ER for reference, which IMHO reduces their usefulness drastically.

Re: Creating "End Of Level Boss" villains The spreadsheet attached to the post below makes it fairly easy to plug in those values and quickly compare your heroes to the villain. http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php/82091-My-character-building-technique-%28How-to-build-Hero-System-Characters%29?p=2125533#post2125533 That spreadsheet won't help you with unusual powers and tricky combinations, but should give you an idea of how long your villain will likely keep standing against a bunch of heroes. The villain should probably be powerful enough to be able to take out a weaker hero with one or two attacks, but of course it all depends on how long you want the fight to last. Hope that's of any help.