Digest Archives Vol 1 Issue 153

From: owner-champ-l-digest@sysabend.org 
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 1999 12:05 PM 
To: champ-l-digest@sysabend.org 
Subject: champ-l-digest V1 #153 
 
 
champ-l-digest       Thursday, January 21 1999       Volume 01 : Number 153 
 
 
 
In this issue: 
 
    Re: slippery floors? 
    RE: Character: Celeborn 
    RE: Character: Boromir 
    RE: Character: Celeborn 
    RE: Character: Denethor 
    Re: SAN check! (was slippery floors?) 
    Re: slippery floors? 
    Re: slippery floors? 
    Re: Loser Heroes 
    Re: SAN check! (was slippery floors?) 
    RE: Character: Denethor 
    Re: slippery floors? 
    Re: slippery floors? 
    Elven Rings 
    Middle Earth Characters - Question  
    Re: Batman's CAK (and long DC continuity rant) 
    Re: Batman's CAK (and long DC continuity rant) 
    Re: Batman's CAK (and long DC continuity rant) 
    Re: Character: Denethor 
    Re: Batman's CAK (and long DC continuity rant) 
    Re: Batman's CAK (and long DC continuity rant) 
    Re: Middle Earth Characters - Question  
    Loser Heroes.....again(long) 
    Re: slippery floors? 
    Re: DC: Loser Heroes.....again(long) 
    Re: Speedster Flavor 
    Re: slippery floors? 
    Re: Character: Celeborn 
    Re: Hastur 
    Re: superleap attacks (Dragon's "Bouncing" article) 
    Re: Killing and Expectations 
    Re: Hastur 
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 22:30:12 -0500 
From: Mike Christodoulou <Cypriot@concentric.net> 
Subject: Re: slippery floors? 
 
At 03:06 PM 1/20/99 -0500, Stainless Steel Rat wrote: 
>Aside from the fact that you cannot apply advantages to martial arts 
>manuevers? 
 
 
? 
 
I must have missed that part in the book.  
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 22:43:28 -0500 
From: "Scott A. Colcord" <sacolcor@ic.net> 
Subject: RE: Character: Celeborn 
 
> CELEBORN THE WISE 
 
> 90	5,000 150-point Followers	 
 
He could probably split the cost of these with Galadriel. 
 
> 749	"Wise?  Coulda Fooled Me!" Bonus 
 
<g> I see I'm not the only one who got that impression. 
 
> 4) Despite this being a Fantasy character, Celeborn did not have 
> to pay double for going over Normal Characteristic Maxima.  He's 
> an ancient elf-lord and that's a good enough reason for me. 
 
<nod>  ...and for me, too.  I'd figure that anyone who dates back to 
the First Age gets a bye on the NCM.  :-) 
 
	----Scott 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 22:32:38 -0500 
From: "Scott A. Colcord" <sacolcor@ic.net> 
Subject: RE: Character: Boromir 
 
>>> 12   6/6 Armor,"Dunedain Chainmail",OIF       
>>>               
>>> 18   Package,"Dunedain Broadsword",STR Min 13,OAF 
>>> (14) 2D6+1 Killing Attack  HTH 
>>> (4)  2 Levels,related group 
>> 
>>2d6+1 seems a rather high for a broadsword, even one of 
>>high quality.  (FH lists a broadsword as 1d6+1).  He 
>>also might not need to be charged for the armor, since 
>>his wealth would justify it in most fantasy settings. 
>  
> The Armor is better than regular chainmail.  I think the  
> sword is okay, considering who has it.  It's a very good 
> magical broadsword. 
 
I don't think Boromir's sword was anything special...in 
fact, IIRC, he notched the blade swinging at a troll's 
foot in Moria.  The reason I mentioned the armor is that 
6 DEF is standard chainmail per FH. 
 
	----Scott 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 22:50:21 -0500 
From: "Scott A. Colcord" <sacolcor@ic.net> 
Subject: RE: Character: Celeborn 
 
<Re: Gandalf using the ring> 
  
>> And, I got the impression that he was loathe to use the ring anyway, 
>> because it would attract the attention of Sauron.  Wasn't he  
>> worried about that in the Hobbit? 
>  
> I expect he was, but the circumstances were desperate, after  
> all. In any event, it still didn't figure prominently in the 
> stories whether it was his power or the power of the ring. 
 
I feel compelled to put in my 0.02 here...the three elven rings 
were safe to use, since Sauron had never touched them.  Elrond 
and Galadriel both used theirs to help protect their strongholds. 
Only if Sauron retrieved the One Ring would he be able to exert 
his influence over the Three. 
 
	----Scott 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 23:18:57 -0500 
From: "Scott A. Colcord" <sacolcor@ic.net> 
Subject: RE: Character: Denethor 
 
> 8	STR	-2 
> 10	DEX	0 
> 12	CON	8 
> 10	BODY	0 
> 15	INT	5 
> 18	EGO	16 
> 18	PRE	8 
> 12	COM	1 
> 2	PD	0 
> 2	ED	0 
> 2	SPD	0 
> 4	REC	0 
> 24	END	0 
> 20	STUN	0 
 
I always saw him as a bit stronger than this; 
he was well past his prime, but not yet feeble. 
In the end it was his will to go on that broke. 
(I'd give him STR 10 DEX 13, SPD 3).  I'd also 
raise his PRE to 23; he was effectively a king 
of the old blood for many years, and definitely 
had that air about him that commands obedience 
(and with his age, it's still well below the max). 
  
> 1	WF,Swords	 
 
I'd probably give him at least a few combat 
levels; he was a warrior in his youth, and 
even though age may have weakened him, I 
think he'd still swing a sword better than 
the OCV his base DEX gives him.  A moderate 
level of Tactics would also be appropriate. 
 
> 2	11- Contact: Theoden	 
> 6	15- Contact: Boromir	 
> 6	15- Contact: Faramir	 
 
He could also have Imrahil as a contact. 
 
> 5	5-point Favor: Rohan	 
 
Call the favor the 'Red Arrow'?   
 		 
I seem to recall that he also took to wearing 
a mithril chain shirt. 
 
	----Scott 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: 20 Jan 1999 23:34:23 -0500 
From: Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net> 
Subject: Re: SAN check! (was slippery floors?) 
 
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"CT" == Christopher Taylor <ctaylor@viser.net> writes: 
 
CT> Same thing with Ash in Evil Dead 2... why is he so bold in the Army of 
CT> Darkness?  HE HAS NO SAN LEFT TO LOSE 
 
No, the state Ash is in by the end of that movie is formally known as 
"beyond sane".  That is, he has gone all the way through insanity and come 
out the other side. 
 
Beyond sane. 
 
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- --  
Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net>    \ Do not use Happy Fun Ball on concrete. 
Minion of Nathan - Nathan says Hi! \  
PGP Key: at a key server near you!  \  
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: 20 Jan 1999 23:38:44 -0500 
From: Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net> 
Subject: Re: slippery floors? 
 
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"g" == gilberg  <gilberg@ou.edu> writes: 
 
>> Aside from the fact that you cannot apply advantages to martial arts 
>> manuevers? 
 
g>         As much as I might like this particular ruling, do you have a 
g> citation to back this up? 
 
Ninja Hero, page 47; probably also in TUMA: 
 
  A charactger may wish to have armor-piercing martial arts.  It is not 
  allowable to put a Power Advantage (Armor Piercing) on a Skill (Martial 
  Arts), so this must be simulated another way. 
 
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- --  
Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net>    \ Warning: pregnant women, the elderly, and 
Minion of Nathan - Nathan says Hi! \ children under 10 should avoid prolonged 
PGP Key: at a key server near you!  \ exposure to Happy Fun Ball. 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 23:21:18 -0600 (Central Standard Time) 
From: Tim Gilberg <gilberg@ou.edu> 
Subject: Re: slippery floors? 
 
> >    Just remember: 
> >    Whatever you do, don't say, "Hastur."  ;-] 
>  
> "Hastur?" 
 
	Hastur? 
 
	8 ] 
 
 
					-Tim Gilberg 
			-"English Majors of the World!  Untie!" 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 23:28:45 -0600 (Central Standard Time) 
From: Tim Gilberg <gilberg@ou.edu> 
Subject: Re: Loser Heroes 
 
> The dinosaur was Stegmut [sic, but that's how it's pronounced], one of the 
> Justice Ducks (Neptunia: "But we're not ducks!" Stegmut: "I used to be."). 
 
	A reference from one episode with Stegmut was prevalent in my 
Champs campaign.  He was once tricked into thinking Darkwing was on fire, 
and proceeded to "put out the Darkwing."  He'd yell such while swinging 
Darkwing into the ground, over and over.  Our brick would often declare 
that he was gonna grab an opponent and put out the Darkwing. 
 
 
				-Tim Gilberg 
			-"English Majors of the World!  Untie!" 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 23:38:57 -0600 (Central Standard Time) 
From: Tim Gilberg <gilberg@ou.edu> 
Subject: Re: SAN check! (was slippery floors?) 
 
> No, the state Ash is in by the end of that movie is formally known as 
> "beyond sane".  That is, he has gone all the way through insanity and come 
> out the other side. 
>  
> Beyond sane. 
 
	Shop smart.  Shop S-Mart. 
 
					-Tim Gilberg 
			-"English Majors of the World!  Untie!" 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 00:39:55 -0500 
From: Scott Nolan <nolan@erols.com> 
Subject: RE: Character: Denethor 
 
At 11:18 PM 1/20/99 -0500, you wrote: 
>> 8    STR     -2 
>> 10   DEX     0 
>> 12   CON     8 
>> 10   BODY    0 
>> 15   INT     5 
>> 18   EGO     16 
>> 18   PRE     8 
>> 12   COM     1 
>> 2    PD      0 
>> 2    ED      0 
>> 2    SPD     0 
>> 4    REC     0 
>> 24   END     0 
>> 20   STUN    0 
> 
>I always saw him as a bit stronger than this; 
>he was well past his prime, but not yet feeble. 
>In the end it was his will to go on that broke. 
>(I'd give him STR 10 DEX 13, SPD 3).  I'd also 
>raise his PRE to 23; he was effectively a king 
>of the old blood for many years, and definitely 
>had that air about him that commands obedience 
>(and with his age, it's still well below the max). 
 
He was enfeebled and prematurely aged by his 
contact with Sauron via the palantir.  I might give 
him the 10 STR, but the increased DEX and SPD 
I just don't see. 
 
 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
"But where is the ambiguity? Over there, in a box." 
        John Cleese, Monty Python's Flying Circus 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Scott C. Nolan 
nolan@erols.com   
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 23:47:08 -0600 
From: "Michael (Damon) & Peni Griffin" <griffin@txdirect.net> 
Subject: Re: slippery floors? 
 
At 11:38 PM 1/20/1999 -0500, Stainless Steel Rat wrote: 
>>> Aside from the fact that you cannot apply advantages to martial arts 
>>> manuevers? 
> 
>g>         As much as I might like this particular ruling, do you have a 
>g> citation to back this up? 
> 
>Ninja Hero, page 47; probably also in TUMA: 
> 
>  A charactger may wish to have armor-piercing martial arts.  It is not 
>  allowable to put a Power Advantage (Armor Piercing) on a Skill (Martial 
>  Arts), so this must be simulated another way. 
 
Actually, TUMA allows it (page 159): 
 
   The effect of placing most Power Advantages on martial arts maneuvers 
   and related powers is a relatively straightforward matter requiring  
   no explanation.  This section will cover a few that are not so easily 
   dealt with. 
 
It then goes on to describe the specific effects of Armor Piercing, AoE: 
One Hex, Autofire, Damage Shield, Indirect, Trigger, Variable Advantage and 
others.  The section clearly speaks of adding Advantages to martial arts 
maneuvers, not just HtH Attacks or HKA's. 
 
TUMA is of course a martial arts campaign sourcebook, not intended for use 
in a typical four color game.  YMAMV (Your Martial Arts...) 
 
Damon 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 15:25:53 +1000 
From: "Lockie" <jonesl@cqnet.com.au> 
Subject: Re: slippery floors? 
 
well, maybe not in the rattyverse, but out here they're skills like any 
others, imhho, 
and if you can come up with a good reason for it, then it should be allowed. 
See, in the happyverse, the house rules are the official rules. . . . . 
 
- -----Original Message----- 
From: Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net> 
To: Champions <champ-l@sysabend.org> 
Date: Thursday, January 21, 1999 7:40 AM 
Subject: Re: slippery floors? 
 
 
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>"L" == Lockie  <jonesl@cqnet.com.au> writes: 
> 
>L> idea for slippery floors, stop me if you've heard this one, suggested by 
>L> one of my players. Martial throw, ae, continuous, uncontrolled. neh?? 
> 
>Aside from the fact that you cannot apply advantages to martial arts 
>manuevers? 
> 
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>-- 
>Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net>    \ Caution: Happy Fun Ball may suddenly 
>Minion of Nathan - Nathan says Hi! \ accelerate to dangerous speeds. 
>PGP Key: at a key server near you!  \ 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 00:37:03 -0500 
From: Scott Nolan <nolan@erols.com> 
Subject: Elven Rings 
 
At 10:50 PM 1/20/99 -0500, you wrote: 
><Re: Gandalf using the ring> 
>  
>>> And, I got the impression that he was loathe to use the ring anyway, 
>>> because it would attract the attention of Sauron.  Wasn't he  
>>> worried about that in the Hobbit? 
>>  
>> I expect he was, but the circumstances were desperate, after  
>> all. In any event, it still didn't figure prominently in the 
>> stories whether it was his power or the power of the ring. 
> 
>I feel compelled to put in my 0.02 here...the three elven rings 
>were safe to use, since Sauron had never touched them.  Elrond 
>and Galadriel both used theirs to help protect their strongholds. 
>Only if Sauron retrieved the One Ring would he be able to exert 
>his influence over the Three. 
 
The Elven Rings -were- clean of Sauron's influence, but there 
are several references to how Galadriel and Elrond were loathe 
to use them, because somehow it was Sauron's knowledge, 
given to Celebrimbor that was used in the making of the rings. 
Moreover, when the One Ring was destroyed, the Three Rings 
became powerless. 
 
This whole thing seems to have been a victim of Tolkien's  
many re-writes.  I tend to think that a good hand-waving answer 
is that there are passive and active powers, and that the passive 
powers are used, but not the active ones, for fear of drawing 
Sauron's attention.  
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
"But where is the ambiguity? Over there, in a box." 
        John Cleese, Monty Python's Flying Circus 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Scott C. Nolan 
nolan@erols.com   
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 01:55:20 -0500 
From: Patrick Bierlein <prbierlein@ntwrks.com> 
Subject: Middle Earth Characters - Question  
 
Ok, first I want to say I'm massively enjoying these write ups for the 
characters, and I appreciate the effort going into them. As was stated by 
someone else, since these write ups started I think I'm going to have to go back 
and read the books again along with the Simarillion (since I never had a chance 
to read it the first time). 
 
However, I was curious if the write ups for Bard and Eowyn will be showing up 
soon. They both are my favorite characters; Bard from the Hobbit and Eowyn from 
LotR, so I was just curious to see how they would be perceived in the Hero 
world. ^_^ 
 
Thanks 
Patrick 
 
- --  
 
*  Hoshino Ruri: MS Nadesico * Kanzaki Hitomi: Escaflowne  * 
  * Patrick Bierlein - prbierlein@ntwrks.com  
  * Trade List: 
	http://www.ntwrks.com/~prbierlein/al/animelst.html 
  * Member/Staff: Triangle Area Anime Society (TAAS) 
   * NC State University - Raleigh, NC * 
  * Fan Subtitler: Oukami Studios (TAAS) 
   * Homepage: 
      http://www.ntwrks.com/~prbierlein/os/oukami.html 
* Ryuzaki Umi: MK Rayearth * Tachibana Maria: Sakura Taisen * 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 00:48:50 -0600 
From: Lance Dyas <lancelot@binary.net> 
Subject: Re: Batman's CAK (and long DC continuity rant) 
 
I generally agree with your estimate of the manifestation of his psychosis ;) 
 
 
James Jandebeur wrote: 
 
> >     Did you read the comic in question or are you basing this on my 
> >comments?  If the latter, I was trying to summarize briefly, but in 
> >point of fact Ras' shuttle took through the field of fire, whereupon 
> >Batman pressed the button that activated the weapon, in the process 
> >mightily pissing off some of the other heroes. 
> 
> Well, that's likely partly because the writers decided to do something with 
> the character that is not supported by past or future behavior. Batman does 
> not kill: he doesn't believe he has that right, and he believes in saving 
> lives, not in taking them. While this has not always been true, it is the 
> character as I prefer to see him, the one light in his otherwise dark 
> manner. 
 
> 
> I am so disappointed that the only movie to date that has maintained this is 
> the one where George Clooney played him... 
 
Are you saying you like the saturday morning funnies/campy tv series version 
of the bat, boy i don't know about that... 
 
> 
> Now, I didn't read the story in question: was that the only way to stop Ras? 
> Was Ras going to be able to immediately cause death and mayhem if not 
> stopped? If so, Batman may very well have been able to overcome his Code vs. 
> Killing in favor of his Protective of Innocents. Say, his Code is 10 points: 
> Common, Moderate, and his Protective is 20: Common, Total. 
> 
> JAJ, GP 
 
People can ocassionally act somewhat contrary to there normal behavior 
but the common total  predelliction sort of precludes him being normal, doesnt 
it. 
 
if he occasionally recklessly endangers bad guys...(rubber bullets honest)  that 
only 
messes with his CAK which shouldnt be absolute.... if he recklessly endangers 
innocents that 
is a separate question 
 
Lancelot 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 18:22:55 -0800 
From: Rick Holding <rholding@ActOnline.com.au> 
Subject: Re: Batman's CAK (and long DC continuity rant) 
 
Mitchel Santorineos wrote: 
>  
> >  In fact, dredging my memories this was the spark that resulted in Batman 
> leaving the JLAand starting the Outsiders. 
>  
> This just answered your own comment.  The writer need Batman out of the JLA 
> so they could write the Batman and the Outsiders comic.  Don't confuse 
> corporate profit decisions with character concept. 
>  
> 16 years ago I asked George McDonald about a power that Ironman had used. 
> His reply was if you don't see it done 3 or more times consider it to be a 
> writers story crutch and not a true addition to the character. 
>  
> One Batman story does not change 4 decades of history where Batman has 
> refused to kill someone. 
 
	Actualy twice that I know of.  He killed the Russian assasin called the 
Beast.  (well, left him to die in a locked room.  Same thing) 
 
- --  
Rick Holding 
 
If only "common sense" was just a bit more common... 
   or if you prefer...  You call this logic ? 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 18:21:05 -0800 
From: Rick Holding <rholding@ActOnline.com.au> 
Subject: Re: Batman's CAK (and long DC continuity rant) 
 
Steven J. Owens wrote: 
>  
> Mitchel Santorineos writes: 
>  
> > This is a point I will have to disagree on.  Batman does not mind if a 
> > villain kills dies in his own plan, but he would never kill someone and 
> > would do what he could to avoid the death. 
> > 
> > In the Ras Al Ghul story, Ras' escape takes him through the field of fire. 
> > If he hadn't taken that route there would have been no problem. 
>  
>      Did you read the comic in question or are you basing this on my 
> comments?  If the latter, I was trying to summarize briefly, but in 
> point of fact Ras' shuttle took through the field of fire, whereupon 
> Batman pressed the button that activated the weapon, in the process 
> mightily pissing off some of the other heroes.  In fact, dredging my 
> memories this was the spark that resulted in Batman leaving the JLA 
> and starting the Outsiders. 
 
	Its been a while since I read it but IIRC, he reprogrammed the escape 
craft to fly in the opposite direction to what was directed.  Ras had 
turned on the death ray so that both he and Batman could duke it out in 
the beam chamber for added thrills. 
 
	The button that Batman pushed was to open the airlock of the shuttle to 
allow Ras' remains to disperse into space. 
 
- --  
Rick Holding 
 
If only "common sense" was just a bit more common... 
   or if you prefer...  You call this logic ? 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 23:17:25 -0800 
From: Scott Bennie <sbennie@dowco.com> 
Subject: Re: Character: Denethor 
 
He may have been aged before his time, but he was also someone in whom 
the "pure strain of Westernesse" ran true, and he also kept himself 
armored and girded for battle to prevent the body from getting weak (if 
I remember the Siege of Gondor chapter correctly). I'd recommend raising 
the stats. 
 
Scott Bennie 
who worked on Lord of the Rings games for eight years. That were 
squeezed into three. :-) 
 
Scott Nolan wrote: 
 
> At 11:18 PM 1/20/99 -0500, you wrote: 
> >> 8    STR     -2 
> >> 10   DEX     0 
> >> 12   CON     8 
> >> 10   BODY    0 
> >> 15   INT     5 
> >> 18   EGO     16 
> >> 18   PRE     8 
> >> 12   COM     1 
> >> 2    PD      0 
> >> 2    ED      0 
> >> 2    SPD     0 
> >> 4    REC     0 
> >> 24   END     0 
> >> 20   STUN    0 
> > 
> >I always saw him as a bit stronger than this; 
> >he was well past his prime, but not yet feeble. 
> >In the end it was his will to go on that broke. 
> >(I'd give him STR 10 DEX 13, SPD 3).  I'd also 
> >raise his PRE to 23; he was effectively a king 
> >of the old blood for many years, and definitely 
> >had that air about him that commands obedience 
> >(and with his age, it's still well below the max). 
> 
> He was enfeebled and prematurely aged by his 
> contact with Sauron via the palantir.  I might give 
> him the 10 STR, but the increased DEX and SPD 
> I just don't see. 
> 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
> "But where is the ambiguity? Over there, in a box." 
>         John Cleese, Monty Python's Flying Circus 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
> Scott C. Nolan 
> nolan@erols.com 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 01:04:07 -0500 
From: geoff heald <gheald@worldnet.att.net> 
Subject: Re: Batman's CAK (and long DC continuity rant) 
 
At 11:45 AM 1/20/99 -0600, you wrote: 
> 
>Even in the Batman Beyond toon, Batman could not bring himself to shoot the 
>tug that was killing him. 
> 
> 
Thats because Batman is _VERY_ anti-gun.  His parent's were killed by a 
mugger, largely because that mugger had a gun.  His Father's company made 
guns and his family fortune was made on the war (WWI originally).  Batman 
considers using a gun in a crime to be a personal insult. 
Even if he wanted somebody dead, he wouldn't use a gun to do it.  That 
would be wrong. 
(Can you say 'strong aversion related to childhood trauma'?  I knew you 
could.) 
 
============================ 
Geoff Heald 
============================ 
And it's a little-known fact that the Y1K problem caused the Dark Ages. 
Roving bands of well-paid craftsmen fitted two extra beads to abacuses and 
sorted it out. 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 01:19:39 -0500 
From: geoff heald <gheald@worldnet.att.net> 
Subject: Re: Batman's CAK (and long DC continuity rant) 
 
At 05:48 PM 1/20/99 -0600, you wrote: 
>>  In fact, dredging my memories this was the spark that resulted in Batman 
>leaving the JLAand starting the Outsiders. 
> 
> 
>This just answered your own comment.  The writer need Batman out of the JLA 
>so they could write the Batman and the Outsiders comic.  Don't confuse 
>corporate profit decisions with character concept. 
> 
>16 years ago I asked George McDonald about a power that Ironman had used. 
>His reply was if you don't see it done 3 or more times consider it to be a 
>writers story crutch and not a true addition to the character. 
> 
>One Batman story does not change 4 decades of history where Batman has 
>refused to kill someone. 
> 
> 
I dipute your claim that he has refused to kill since 1959.  I have no 
first-hand evidence to cite. 
 
I heard about Batman leaving the JLA.  I heard he "had a big blow up with 
Superman, and left".  My reply was "Good.  Makes sense.  Those two should 
NEVER have gotten along."  All present agreed that Batman was darker, more 
violent, and prone to break the rules.  Killing a dangerous villian who was 
about to escape, especially if said villian was Evil instead of insane, 
sounds like Batman to me. 
 
I read an interview with the guy who does Superman's voice on the 
Batman/Superman thing.  He was, at the time, feeling jealous (Bruce Wayne 
had been hitting on Lois Lane).  He said, "Batman's such a bad boy, and 
Superman's such a Boy Scout."  What struck me was that this is kinda how I 
think they see each other.  Supe' sees Bats as a spoiled kid who wants 
things his way, ethicly stunted into "I'll do it if I won't get caught/be 
punished".  Batman thinks Supe' needs to grow up and smell the coffee, and 
he probably couldn't survive in the real world if he wasn't bulletproof. 
 
============================ 
Geoff Heald 
============================ 
And it's a little-known fact that the Y1K problem caused the Dark Ages. 
Roving bands of well-paid craftsmen fitted two extra beads to abacuses and 
sorted it out. 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 03:07:34 -0500 
From: Scott Nolan <nolan@erols.com> 
Subject: Re: Middle Earth Characters - Question  
 
At 01:55 AM 1/21/99 -0500, you wrote: 
>Ok, first I want to say I'm massively enjoying these write ups for the 
>characters, and I appreciate the effort going into them. As was stated by 
>someone else, since these write ups started I think I'm going to have to go 
back 
>and read the books again along with the Simarillion (since I never had a 
chance 
>to read it the first time). 
 
I'm glad you're enjoying them. 
 
>However, I was curious if the write ups for Bard and Eowyn will be showing up 
>soon. They both are my favorite characters; Bard from the Hobbit and Eowyn 
from 
>LotR, so I was just curious to see how they would be perceived in the Hero 
>world. ^_^ 
 
Why soon?  Are you going somewhere? 
 
I'll be doing Eowyn soon.  I'm doing them alphabetically, and next up are 
Elrond, Eomer and Eowyn.  I have no plans to do Bard.  I'm only doing 
The Lord of the Rings now.  When I'm done, if I don't hate it, I'll think  
about doing The Hobbit. 
 
When I lose my mind and job completely, I'll think about doing the 
Silmarillion, if the asylum has e-mail.  
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
"But where is the ambiguity? Over there, in a box." 
        John Cleese, Monty Python's Flying Circus 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Scott C. Nolan 
nolan@erols.com   
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 01:26:36 -0800 
From: Chad Riley <chadriley01@sprynet.com> 
Subject: Loser Heroes.....again(long) 
 
    First off, thanks to everyone who made suggestions. It helped alot. 
As I had stated in the first message, I really had most of the 
characters I had intended to use (the Lightning Rods (formerly the Great 
Lakes Avengers), The Fabulous Frogman, Captain Ultra, and the Osprey. I 
was looking for some Marvel characters mostly but I was willing to port 
in anyone. 
 
The premise here was that I'd use the scrubs as annoying wannabe heroes. 
They'd bug the "real" heroes for a while. Then they'd stop and after a 
while the heroes figure something is up (Frogman's Dad tells Spiderman 
that he is missing, the T-Bolts or Avengers can't remember the last time 
they saw Mr Immortal, etc.). They will look but find nothing. Eventually 
a group known as the Hounds appear. The Hounds are almost metahuman 
level agents. Backed with lots of powerful weaponry the Hounds cause 
some trouble in the name of their leader the as yet unseen (and 
therefore mysterious) "Biomancer". It seems the Biomancer has 
genetically altered a group of trained mercenaries and he's attacking 
various technological and strategic military sights. After the heroes 
start regularly beating the Hounds, they meet Destrucor! Only he seems 
very familiar to a couple of heroes (Captain America or the Thing or 
Falcon can immediately identify Destructor as D-Man, former pro-wrestler 
turned hero). However Destructor doesn't recognize his old friends and 
is backed by new and enhanced powers. Later, a group of SHIELD agents 
are attacked by two superbeings bearing a tremendous resemblance to Mr 
Immortal, and Spiderman! Then a woman who looks like a She-Hulk version 
of  missing supermodel Ashley Crawford (aka Big Bertha) and ninja-like 
martial artist who at one point uses himself as a door way for the 
woman, who is called Athena, attack the Wasp and Giant-Man the fight is 
inconclusive. Eventually, (or quickly) it is deduced that these powerful 
new villians are the missing heroes! A manhunt insues that leads to an 
abandoned base in the himalyas once used by the High Evolutionary. There 
the heroes face off against their former allies, each of whom has been 
enhanced by the Biomancer. 
 
Roll Call! 
 
Amphibius: 
   Once the Fabulous Frogman, Eugene has been given the superpowers he's 
always dreamed of. Superhuman Agility, Low level Super Strength, 
clinging , swimming and tremendous leaping ability are now his. Even 
brainwashed he creates a costume in the style of his hero, Spiderman. 
Eugene now fights in a style emulating Spiderman, using forearm weapons 
that contain sticky entangles and projectile blasts. A side effect of 
the treatment turns his eyes and hair green. Amphibius seves as a "water 
ninja" to the Biomancer, his abilities tailored towards stealth and 
theivery. 
Athena: 
   Apparently Biomancer had something against Big Bertha. Using the 
skills at his command he replaced Ashley Crawford's body expanding 
ability with straight forward Superhuman Strength, Agility, and 
Resistances. He then added some supersenses and had her (like most of 
the others) trained intensly in hand to hand and weapon combat. 
Depending on the time frame these skills can be "Programmed" into the 
StormLords. Athena is used primarily as a combination body 
guard/concubine and occasionally as aleader/enforcer of his Hounds. 
Captain Ultra (Ultimos): His powers were akin to a wimpy version of 
Superman before, now they are more respectable. Strong, fast, nigh 
invulnerable, capable of firing beams of energy from his eyes, flight, 
and possessing of several impressive super human senses, Ultimos is used 
as a champion or leader. He causes the most trouble for heroes at first 
because he is very powerful and awfully resourcefull. 
Destructor: 
D-Man is back with a vengance, aside from his even further enhanced 
physical capabilities he is also possesing of some very destructive 
offensive weapons. Firstly, he can now control the Earth itself. Though 
not nearly as powerful in this area as say, Terrax, he can certaily 
wrack up the property damage. Secondly, he can discharge a powerful 
explosion of concussive bioenegy in a radius around his body. Biomancer 
uses him primarily as a heavy weapon and intimidator, his ability to 
cause damage to the environment around him makes him much more 
frightnening that even his considerable physical gifts and fighting 
skill. 
Dr. Dopplganger: 
Scarier still is the change that awaited the mindnumbingly insepid 
Flatman, I turned him into a master shapeshifter. He can assume the form 
of humanoids, animals, and inorganic objects, he still stretches withthe 
best of them and can turn his hands into a variety of weapons including 
ranged weapons (however he fires organic material wich is very painful 
and even dangerous depending on the circumstances) He also posseses 
minor superhuman strength which he can increase by shapeshifting(but not 
into the class of say Colossus or even Warpath) 
Dragonelle: 
I really couldn't do anything with Dinah Soar, so I turned her into a 
fire breathing dragon woman, still unable to speak she now has 
telepathy, she also has had her sonic abilities enhanced so that she can 
create a sonic attack. He appearance is sturdier, with several shades of 
green scales covering her body. Biomancer treats her like a trained 
falcon, she has been given several senses and is often sent to locate 
targets for the others. I don't like the name tho'. 
Immortal Man: 
Mr Immortal has changed alot. His essential power of coming back from 
the dead is still intact but now it is much harder to kill him. He was 
also given the ability to detect life in general. His martial arts and 
acrobatics skills are now enhanced with some stealth, military, 
leadership, weapon and vehicle skills. He is less impulsive and much 
more subdued. He is a field general and seems to have attemtped in many 
ways to emulate Captain America. 
Shadowgate: 
 The former Doorman has become a much scarier individual. Tapping into 
Darkforce Dimension with much greater efficiency and effect. He can now 
summon weapons made of  Darkforce energy, create areas of darkness, walk 
through walls (only if shadows on at least one side, teleport, he has 
fabulously enhanced senses and has recieved "comic-book ninja" abilities 
and skills. He is an infiltrator and is intended as an assassin but has 
resisted taking a life. 
Raxorwing: 
The former Osprey has been altered into a man with true wings that seem 
to have been modeled after Apocalypse's Angel of Death. With biometallic 
blades for his wings Razorwing can fling them individualy or use them in 
nasy buffeting attacks he also has hade general physical and sensory 
enhancements. 
 
These are all I have made for now. More to come if I can think of 
sufficiently  low powered heroes and heroines for the Biomancer to 
capture. 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 20:13:29 +1000 
From: "Lockie" <jonesl@cqnet.com.au> 
Subject: Re: slippery floors? 
 
false- many skilsa re used in this fasion. a kill ubo for a telepath, or an 
ae 
universal translator for talents, as lmited examples. That's a ruling that 
killing a lot of cool 
concepts. . you'll fergive me if i ginore it. *sticks fingers in ears* 
 
 
- -----Original Message----- 
From: Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net> 
To: Champions <champ-l@sysabend.org> 
Date: Thursday, January 21, 1999 3:33 PM 
Subject: Re: slippery floors? 
 
 
>-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- 
>Hash: SHA1 
> 
>"g" == gilberg  <gilberg@ou.edu> writes: 
> 
>>> Aside from the fact that you cannot apply advantages to martial arts 
>>> manuevers? 
> 
>g>         As much as I might like this particular ruling, do you have a 
>g> citation to back this up? 
> 
>Ninja Hero, page 47; probably also in TUMA: 
> 
>  A charactger may wish to have armor-piercing martial arts.  It is not 
>  allowable to put a Power Advantage (Armor Piercing) on a Skill (Martial 
>  Arts), so this must be simulated another way. 
> 
>-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- 
>Version: GnuPG v0.9.1 (GNU/Linux) 
>Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org 
> 
>iD8DBQE2pq9Ugl+vIlSVSNkRAqbQAJ41Zl9TFNJG3Q5/JiqPMxrpxA+cYQCfQjXY 
>N8Fi/+hz8zVFE+Opb3kVhmo= 
>=aBZt 
>-----END PGP SIGNATURE----- 
> 
>-- 
>Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net>    \ Warning: pregnant women, the elderly, 
and 
>Minion of Nathan - Nathan says Hi! \ children under 10 should avoid 
prolonged 
>PGP Key: at a key server near you!  \ exposure to Happy Fun Ball. 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 12:32:14 +0100 
From: Sebastien Andrivet <andrivet@grolier.fr> 
Subject: Re: DC: Loser Heroes.....again(long) 
 
>Amphibius: 
 
Amphibius II. The first one is a Savage Land Mutate. 
 
 
____________________________________________________________ 
Sebastien Andrivet - Responsable support technique 
Club-Internet - GROLIER INTERACTIVE Europe / Online Groupe 
11 rue de Cambrai - 75927 Paris Cedex 19 - France 
Tel : + 33 1 55 45 46 85 - Fax : + 33 1 55 45 46 95 
 
"A highland fighter normally carried broadsword, shield, dirk (large 
knife), skean dubh (small knife), two pistols and a musket. Part of his 
tactical problem was deciding what to use first." 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 06:47:21 -0800 (PST) 
From: Ell Egyptoid <egyptoid@yahoo.com> 
Subject: Re: Speedster Flavor 
 
> I suppose a GM could simply require these LS powers for any  
> super fast character.  Isn't that unfair though?  Maybe.   
> "LS: Protection From Using Your Own Energy Blast" comes to mind.  
 
This is what I call a "Physics Surcharge" or "Reality Tax" on 
powers which some GMs who can't suspend disbelief get into. 
Some GMs try to run hard-Sci-Fi campaigns, and when the 
rules are desgined for 4-Color comics or Fantasy.... 
== 
Elliott  aka  The Egyptoid 
_________________________________________________________ 
DO YOU YAHOO!? 
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 07:05:00 -0800 (PST) 
From: Ell Egyptoid <egyptoid@yahoo.com> 
Subject: Re: slippery floors? 
 
>>Aside from the fact that you cannot apply advantages to  
>>martial arts manuevers? 
 
But you could apply advantages to the STR, 
which is a delivery method for the MA. JMHO. 
== 
Elliott  aka  The Egyptoid 
_________________________________________________________ 
DO YOU YAHOO!? 
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 07:19:17 -0800 (PST) 
From: Ell Egyptoid <egyptoid@yahoo.com> 
Subject: Re: Character: Celeborn 
 
No offense intended: 
 
But aren't all these characters defined in Role-Master 
terms on the "Lords of Middle-Earth" Series 1 2 & 3 ? 
 
Or are we seeking a new, low-power iinterpretation of 
all Tolkien's personas? 
== 
Elliott  aka  The Egyptoid 
_________________________________________________________ 
DO YOU YAHOO!? 
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 06:09:02 -0800 
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com> 
Subject: Re: Hastur 
 
At 05:33 AM 1/21/99 GMT, <owner-champ-l@sysabend.org> wrote: 
>From: Tim Gilberg <gilberg@ou.edu> 
>cc: champs-l@sysabend.org 
>Subject: Re: slippery floors? 
> 
>> >    Just remember: 
>> >    Whatever you do, don't say, "Hastur."  ;-] 
>>  
>> "Hastur?" 
> 
> Hastur? 
 
   Well, I guess if you hastur say it, you just hastur.  ;-] 
- --- 
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page!  [Circle of HEROS member] 
   http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm 
Merry-Go-Round Webring -- wanna join? 
   http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 06:52:13 -0800 
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com> 
Subject: Re: superleap attacks (Dragon's "Bouncing" article) 
 
At 08:32 PM 1/20/99 -0500, Ronald A. Miller wrote: 
>>On which note: I never did locate "Sunshine Superman", "Mellow Yellow" and 
>>the others, but it's not keeping me up nights...any more.  :) 
> 
>That would be Donovan, you hipster you. 
 
   I think he meant the characters, not the songs.  :-] 
- --- 
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page!  [Circle of HEROS member] 
   http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm 
Merry-Go-Round Webring -- wanna join? 
   http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 11:10:34 EST 
From: Leah L Watts <llwatts@juno.com> 
Subject: Re: Killing and Expectations 
 
>>That's the one thing I didn't like about the Gilt Complex, from an 
early 
>>AC.  They were set up so a character who was trying not to kill them 
>>still could (with that Takes BODY from Ego Attacks lim).  
> 
>The Gilt Complex struck me as way too much a case of a structure to 
allow 
>the GM to show how much more clever than you he was, when all it really 
>demonstrated is that you can make anyone look like a fool when you hold 
all 
>the cards.  Even characters taking reasonable care would have killed all 
>these guys...hell, a collection of cops would have killed all these 
guys. 
 
<digging out that issue>  With base CVs of 10 each, the cops might have 
had trouble hitting them, but if they did ... Goldrush is the only one 
who could have taken a 1d6 KA pistol shot, assuming he had his force 
field up.  The other two would have been bleeding with one average shot, 
dying with two. 
 
The base idea was OK, the execution was off.  I don't mind showing 
characters just what their megablast/megapunch can do, but the Gilt 
Complex went too far. 
  
Leah 
 
___________________________________________________________________ 
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. 
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html 
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 11:46:49 -0500 
From: David W Cheung <dwcheung@mindspring.com> 
Subject: Re: Hastur 
 
At 06:09 AM 1/21/99 -0800, Bob Greenwade wrote: 
>At 05:33 AM 1/21/99 GMT, <owner-champ-l@sysabend.org> wrote: 
>>From: Tim Gilberg <gilberg@ou.edu> 
>>cc: champs-l@sysabend.org 
>>Subject: Re: slippery floors? 
>> 
>>> >    Just remember: 
>>> >    Whatever you do, don't say, "Hastur."  ;-] 
>>>  
>>> "Hastur?" 
>> 
>> Hastur? 
> 
>   Well, I guess if you hastur say it, you just hastur.  ;-] 
 
 
That pun is equivalent to a 3d6 INT Drain, AE List... 
Ow... the pain... :P 
 
------------------------------ 
 
End of champ-l-digest V1 #153 
***************************** 


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