Digest Archives Vol 1 Issue 155

From: owner-champ-l-digest@sysabend.org 
Sent: Friday, January 22, 1999 1:05 PM 
To: champ-l-digest@sysabend.org 
Subject: champ-l-digest V1 #155 
 
 
champ-l-digest        Friday, January 22 1999        Volume 01 : Number 155 
 
 
 
In this issue: 
 
    Re: Bad Habits of Poor Gamers 
    Contacts 
    Re: Character: Elrond 
    Hero Games website 
    Re: Hero Games website 
    Re: Hero Games website 
    Re: Hero Games website 
    Re: Hero Games website 
    Re: Hero Games website 
    Re: Hero Games website 
    Re: Character: Celeborn 
    Re: Hero Games website 
    Re: Hero Games website 
    Re: More Triggered Questions 
    RE: Character: Elrond 
    Re: More Triggered Questions 
    Re: superleap attacks 
    Re: More Triggered Questions 
    Re: More Triggered Questions 
    RE: Character: Elrond 
    Entangles and Damage Sheild 
    Re: Batman's CAK (and long DC continuity rant) 
    Re: Entangles and Damage Sheild 
    List Help 
    Re: Batman's CAK (and long DC continuity rant) 
    Character: Elrond, Second Draft 
    Re: Character: Celeborn 
    Re: Hero Games website 
    Re: Entangles and Damage Sheild 
    Re: More Triggered Questions 
    Re: Contacts 
    Re: Entangles and Damage Sheild 
    Re: Hero Games website 
    Re: Contacts 
    Re: More Triggered Questions 
    Re: More Triggered Questions 
    Re: Character: Elrond 
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 08:30:07 -0800 (PST) 
From: shaw@caprica.com (Wayne Shaw) 
Subject: Re: Bad Habits of Poor Gamers 
 
>From: Wayne Shaw <shaw@caprica.com> 
 
>It has been stated that Spiderman regularly pulls his punches with anyone 
>who he is not certain can take his full strength. In the past this has 
>included the Kingpin, who is about as tough as a normal human can get. This 
>is presented as a partial explanation as to why the Kingpin can be dangerous 
>fighting barehanded someone ten times as strong and fast as he is, and 
>tougher, to boot. 
 
Spider-Man is singularly paranoid about such things because of past 
experiences...and frankly, they haven't been particularly consistent about 
that, either.  Fact is, there's little sign most people in the comics (short 
of the Kryptonians, to whom at one time everything in the world had much the 
consistency of cigerette ash) particularly pull their punches when fighting 
other supers who are not avowedly invulnerable or highly damage resistant, 
or even many thugs.  In the case of obviously less than durable opponents, 
some of the extreme cases will clearly not use full power, but that's about 
it.  Once in a while you get lip service to it, but it's apparently just 
that...analogous to the occasional lip service to real world physics you get 
on occasion.   
 
Fact is, if you mess with this too enormously, you cripple the ability of a 
character who is concerned about it to operate far out of preportion to his 
points; playing constant guessing games with super opponents isn't 
particularly representative of the way the code versus killing types in the 
comics operate.  And against normals, it should be pretty obvious that if 
you open up with a 12D6 EB, the target is going to get pretty badly hurt. 
If it isn't, communication is the problem, or the player's perceptions, not 
the system. 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 17:02:22 -0800 
From: "Filksinger" <filkhero@usa.net> 
Subject: Contacts 
 
While it has yet to come up in a game, I have long thought that Contacts 
should be purchasable as a group, as well as single characters, perhaps at 
an additional cost. A character who was a former police officer who retired 
should be able to have Contacts throughout the police department. However, 
due to overlap, he shouldn't have to pay for ten different contacts just 
because he has ten old friends. 
 
This would make it much easier to buy such characters as "the stoolie who 
knows what's going down, every time", or the priest who knows his 
neighborhood so well that nothing happens that he doesn't hear about. 
 
Filksinger 
- --Lysdexia is a terrisease dibble. 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 16:56:50 -0800 
From: "Filksinger" <filkhero@usa.net> 
Subject: Re: Character: Elrond 
 
From: John P Weatherman <asahoshi@nr.infi.net> 
 
 
>Scott Nolan nolan@erols.com 1/21/99 5:14 PM 
> 
>>ELROND HALF-ELVEN 
<snip> 
> 
>I'd add: 
>2 8- Contact: Tom Bombadil 
> 
>While we don't see this in TLoR, Elrond certainly knew him, 
>as did all the wise, and if a problem involved the Old Forest, 
>Tom could certainly play a part. 
 
 
Well, I don't think it should be a contact. He knew him, but there is no 
reason to believe that he had any influence with him. Yes, Bombadil could 
play a part if a problem involved the Old Forest, but that's simply because 
it is his turf. If I were running a game where Microsoft were involved (for 
example), I might have Bill Gates to play a part, but that doesn't make him 
the player's Contact. 
 
Filksinger 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 17:05:55 -0800 
From: "Filksinger" <filkhero@usa.net> 
Subject: Hero Games website 
 
When I try to get onto the Hero Games website, I am asked for a user name 
and password. Anyone else have this problem? 
 
Filksinger 
- --Lysdexia is a terrisease dibble. 
 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 20:08:05 -0600 
From: "Michael (Damon) & Peni Griffin" <griffin@txdirect.net> 
Subject: Re: Hero Games website 
 
At 05:05 PM 1/21/1999 -0800, Filksinger wrote: 
>When I try to get onto the Hero Games website, I am asked for a user name 
>and password. Anyone else have this problem? 
 
Yes, now that you mention it.  But for some reason, *only since* you 
mentioned it. 
 
Damon 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 21:15:38 -0500 
From: Jorge Cadavid <cadavid@gate.net> 
Subject: Re: Hero Games website 
 
yeah I get the same thing. 
Trying to find someplace where I can buy HeroMaker. 
someone told me that you could buy it online at their website. 
too bad its down 
 
Filksinger wrote: 
 
> When I try to get onto the Hero Games website, I am asked for a user name 
> and password. Anyone else have this problem? 
> 
> Filksinger 
> --Lysdexia is a terrisease dibble. 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 21:17:10 -0500 
From: geoff heald <gheald@worldnet.att.net> 
Subject: Re: Hero Games website 
 
At 05:05 PM 1/21/99 -0800, you wrote: 
>When I try to get onto the Hero Games website, I am asked for a user name 
>and password. Anyone else have this problem? 
> 
>Filksinger 
>--Lysdexia is a terrisease dibble. 
> 
> 
Fuzion List reports same problem, so you're not alone. 
 
============================ 
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 21:38:11 EST 
From: HeroGames@aol.com 
Subject: Re: Hero Games website 
 
In a message dated 1/21/99 5:36:53 PM, filkhero@usa.net writes: 
 
>When I try to get onto the Hero Games website, I am asked for a user name 
> 
>and password. Anyone else have this problem? 
> 
> 
 
Our ISP is in the midst of changing to new server hardware, and our site got 
messed up. Hopefully it should be back to normal by tomorrow (with new 
material!). 
 
— Steve Peterson, Hero Games  
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 18:15:06 -0000 
From: "David Cooper" <raven@neteze.com> 
Subject: Re: Hero Games website 
 
I'm having the same problem. Any ideas? 
- -----Original Message----- 
From: Filksinger <filkhero@usa.net> 
To: Hero List <champ-l@sysabend.org> 
Date: Friday, January 22, 1999 1:46 AM 
Subject: Hero Games website 
 
 
>When I try to get onto the Hero Games website, I am asked for a user name 
>and password. Anyone else have this problem? 
> 
>Filksinger 
>--Lysdexia is a terrisease dibble. 
> 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 18:41:05 PST 
From: "Jesse Thomas" <haerandir@hotmail.com> 
Subject: Re: Hero Games website 
 
On Thu, 21 Jan 1999 "Filksinger" <filkhero@usa.net> wrote: 
> 
>When I try to get onto the Hero Games website, I am asked for a user  
name 
>and password. Anyone else have this problem? 
> 
>Filksinger 
>--Lysdexia is a terrisease dibble. 
> 
 
I, too, have had this problem.  Just noticed it today.  Odd. 
 
No doubt we will be enlightened at the appropriate time. 
 
Jesse Thomas 
 
haerandir@hotmail.com 
 
 
______________________________________________________ 
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 18:13:08 -0800 (PST) 
From: Michael Hayden <mhayden@tsoft.com> 
Subject: Re: Character: Celeborn 
 
On Thu, 21 Jan 1999, John P Weatherman wrote: 
 
> Ultimately, I don't.  However if the Ring was what created the fire, it 
> should have been revealed.  Gandolf's statement seems to imply that he 
> personally, whom no one but Cirdan knew possed Narya, had been revealed. 
> Also, only a few weeks later Frodo immediately recognized the Ring of  
> Water when its power is used in the Mirror of Galadriel. 
 
Umm, in the Mirror scene, doesn't Galadriel also tell Frodo that the 
second ring is with Elrond and that the third is "hidden"? It would 
suggest that she knows Gandalf has it... 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
   Michael D. Hayden -- mhayden@silverhammer.org -- http://silverhammer.org/ 
          Hey, I use Procmail with Spam Bouncer, so spam away!  (^_^) 
 "What you are about to see is real. These are not actors; they're directors." 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 22:24:53 -0500 
From: Scott Nolan <nolan@erols.com> 
Subject: Re: Hero Games website 
 
At 06:15 PM 1/21/99 +0000, you wrote: 
>I'm having the same problem. Any ideas? 
 
Because of its incredible popularity with the kids, they're going to  
charge an admittance fee?  
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
"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 18:43:26 -0800 
From: Lizard <lizard@mrlizard.com> 
Subject: Re: Hero Games website 
 
At 08:08 PM 1/21/99 -0600, Michael (Damon) & Peni Griffin wrote: 
>At 05:05 PM 1/21/1999 -0800, Filksinger wrote: 
>>When I try to get onto the Hero Games website, I am asked for a user name 
>>and password. Anyone else have this problem? 
> 
>Yes, now that you mention it.  But for some reason, *only since* you 
>mentioned it. 
> 
Happened to me a few hours ago, too.  
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 18:42:12 -0800 (PST) 
From: "Steven J. Owens" <puff@netcom.com> 
Subject: Re: More Triggered Questions 
 
     Here's a related trigger question, specifically the trigger known as 
"damage shield". 
 
     I don't have the book with me, but I seem to recall, at least in 
the early editions of the rules, that Damage Shield was described as a 
special form of Trigger.  In a recent game a GM told me that it would 
cost the character END to keep the damage shield power turned on. 
 
     I let it slide by at the time, but I'd like to know how others 
deal with this. 
 
Steven J. Owens 
puff@netcom.com 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 21:42:35 -0500 
From: "Scott A. Colcord" <sacolcor@ic.net> 
Subject: RE: Character: Elrond 
 
> ELROND HALF-ELVEN 
> 
> 20	INT	10 
> 20	EGO	20 
I'd go a few points higher on these...Elrond is one of "The Wise", after 
all. 
 
Also, just as an efficiency note, you could have him buy some 5 point INT 
levels, rather than raising each skill separately; he has a /lot/ of INT 
based 
skills.  True, he'd lose the ability to use the levels on a complementary 
roll, but it would probably be worth it.  (If efficiency is even a factor in 
these write-ups....if not, then disregard this suggestion). 
 
> 250	Variable Power Pool (200-point pool), OIF (the ring Vilya) , 
> 	restricted type of powers ("Air Magic"), 
> 	no skill roll required,Extra Time,time: 1 turn, 
> 	Use of 'Active' Powers may draw the attention of Sauron 
 
I think I like the idea someone suggested about making this an aid, rather 
than a VPP.  The great rings seemed to give in proportion to what the 
wielder 
was already capable of; I suspect that even Vilya wouldn't do all that much 
for your average hobbit, for example.  He's got enough Maiar blood that a 
small VPP for himself would be appropriate. 
 
Glorfindel might be good to have on here somehow, either as a contact or a 
follower, depending on how you see them. 
 
Arwen could be considered a DNPC, if you wanted.  Her capture would 
certainly 
put Elrond at a considerable disadvantage. 
 
	----Scott 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 12:29:01 -0800 (PST) 
From: shaw@caprica.com (Wayne Shaw) 
Subject: Re: More Triggered Questions 
 
> 
>     Here's a related trigger question, specifically the trigger known as 
>"damage shield". 
> 
>     I don't have the book with me, but I seem to recall, at least in 
>the early editions of the rules, that Damage Shield was described as a 
>special form of Trigger.  In a recent game a GM told me that it would 
>cost the character END to keep the damage shield power turned on. 
> 
>     I let it slide by at the time, but I'd like to know how others 
>deal with this. 
 
You may be crossing it up with similar power advantages in other games; I 
know that, for example, Superworld treated it rather like Triggered.  In 
Champs, on the other hand, it can effect any number of attackers any number 
of times within a phase.  Your GM is correct. 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 23:26:11 EST 
From: Leah L Watts <llwatts@juno.com> 
Subject: Re: superleap attacks 
 
>>>PS I also remember an old Dragon article that had some poorly thought 
out 
>>>Champions powers and skills including the skill: "Bouncing". 
>> 
>>Steve Maurer's article, after it was rejected by Adventurer's Club? 
>>"Champions Minus", I believe it was called... 
> 
>I don't remember the author's name, but I remember the article.  Give  
>me a little time, I'll dig through my old Dragons and see if I can  
>find the issue. 
> 
>Leah 
 
It took a little longer than I thought (got to get those organized!), but 
the article is in Dragon 100, in the Ares section, and is called 
Champions Plus. 
 
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: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 15:23:19 -0800 
From: Rick Holding <rholding@ActOnline.com.au> 
Subject: Re: More Triggered Questions 
 
Steven J. Owens wrote: 
>  
>      Here's a related trigger question, specifically the trigger known as 
> "damage shield". 
>  
>      I don't have the book with me, but I seem to recall, at least in 
> the early editions of the rules, that Damage Shield was described as a 
> special form of Trigger.  In a recent game a GM told me that it would 
> cost the character END to keep the damage shield power turned on. 
>  
>      I let it slide by at the time, but I'd like to know how others 
> deal with this. 
 
	The reason why you remember trigger and damage shield being linked in 
this fashion is that under the description of trigger you cannot have a 
power triggered by being touched.  You have to use damage shield.  Other 
than that, they in no way simulate each other. 
 
	Trigger is a one shot predone power.  Damage shield (for the most part) 
is a continueing power that, unless modified, you must pay endurance for 
and will shut down when you go to sleep by what ever method used against 
you. 
- --  
Rick Holding 
 
If only "common sense" was just a bit more common... 
   or if you prefer...  You call this logic ? 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: 21 Jan 1999 23:52:01 -0500 
From: Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net> 
Subject: Re: More Triggered Questions 
 
- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- 
Hash: SHA1 
 
"SJO" == Steven J Owens <puff@netcom.com> writes: 
 
SJO>      Here's a related trigger question, specifically the trigger known as 
SJO> "damage shield". 
 
Damage Shield is not Trigger.  It is more akin to Continuous than anything 
else. 
 
Your GM is correct. 
- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- 
Version: GnuPG v0.9.2 (GNU/Linux) 
Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org 
 
iD8DBQE2qAPxgl+vIlSVSNkRArA7AKCZNIbFRAhXfPUO0xZu0u/NM6KqkACfe4TY 
vQHgQqb15gcyeIblURTzbns= 
=gdV7 
- -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- 
 
- --  
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: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 00:30:38 -0500 
From: Scott Nolan <nolan@erols.com> 
Subject: RE: Character: Elrond 
 
>Glorfindel might be good to have on here somehow, either as a contact or a 
>follower, depending on how you see them. 
 
I was going to write him up separately.  
 
>Arwen could be considered a DNPC, if you wanted.  Her capture would 
>certainly 
>put Elrond at a considerable disadvantage. 
 
I thought about this.  Celebrian, too (she -was- captured by orcs). I decided 
that since they rarely left Rivendell that it wasn't worth it.  Even Celebrian 
was menaced only once in 3,000 years.  
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
"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 21:43:32 -0800 
From: "Ron Abitz" <abitz@richpoor.com> 
Subject: Entangles and Damage Sheild 
 
I just thought of this a was wondering if it would work like I think it 
would. 
 
Rubberboy hits Flameman with his Entangle (SFX Ribberball). Flameman's 
Damage Sheild damages Entangle (on which segments? The one the Entangle 
hits on and Flameman's phases?) Entangle has backlash so Flameman takes 
damage from it if the Entangle does not get destroyed. 
 
Is this Right? 
 
 
 
 
   Death is but a Radiation Accedent 
     
                   Ron Abitz 
            abitz@richpoor.com 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 22:15:24 -0800 
From: Christopher Taylor <ctaylor@viser.net> 
Subject: Re: Batman's CAK (and long DC continuity rant) 
 
>>     My favorite "written" superhero work is David Brin's _Thor Meets 
>>Captain America_, from his _River of Time_ anthology.  No, the 
>>characters are not based on Marvel's, nor are they set in a Marvel 
>>universe, but I think the story gets at the underlying resonance 
>>between comic books and readers.  Give it a read. I'd love to see a 
>>similar approach to Batman. 
> 
>A man of good taste, I see.:) 
> 
>My favorite part of that story is that, since the Norse gods back Nazi 
>Germany, Loki must aid the Allies.:) 
 
Excellent story, I read it in a collection of superhero stories that I 
cannot remember the name of.  Was very well done, I created a world and 
scenarios based on it but never ran them. 
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Sola Gracia		Sola Scriptura		Sola Fide 
Soli Gloria Deo    	Solus Christus		Corum Deo 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 22:42:03 -0800 
From: Christopher Taylor <ctaylor@viser.net> 
Subject: Re: Entangles and Damage Sheild 
 
>I just thought of this a was wondering if it would work like I think it 
>would. 
> 
>Rubberboy hits Flameman with his Entangle (SFX Ribberball). Flameman's 
>Damage Sheild damages Entangle (on which segments? The one the Entangle 
>hits on and Flameman's phases?) Entangle has backlash so Flameman takes 
>damage from it if the Entangle does not get destroyed. 
> 
>Is this Right? 
 
Thats how I see it.  I have bought some armored guys with a KA damage 
shield to blow entangles and make grab attacks unpleasent to attempt, but 
it hasnt come up yet in any fights (different tactics I guess) so I dont 
know how effective they might be. 
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Sola Gracia		Sola Scriptura		Sola Fide 
Soli Gloria Deo    	Solus Christus		Corum Deo 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 02:05:42 -0500 
From: Scott Nolan <nolan@erols.com> 
Subject: List Help 
 
I want to thank the list for all the support and comments 
I've received in writing up Tolkien's characters.  I read and 
consider every post, and will be making many of the suggested 
improvements in the final drafts, which I plan to post on my 
website when I am all through. 
 
Please keep the good ideas coming.  And curse you for 
making me think! 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
"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 23:05:35 -0800 (PST) 
From: "Steven J. Owens" <puff@netcom.com> 
Subject: Re: Batman's CAK (and long DC continuity rant) 
 
I wrote: 
> >     My favorite "written" superhero work is David Brin's _Thor Meets 
> >Captain America_, from his _River of Time_ anthology.  No, the 
> >characters are not based on Marvel's, nor are they set in a Marvel 
> >universe, but I think the story gets at the underlying resonance 
> >between comic books and readers.  Give it a read. I'd love to see a 
> >similar approach to Batman. 
 
Christopher Taylor writes: 
> Excellent story, I read it in a collection of superhero stories that I 
> cannot remember the name of.  Was very well done, I created a world and 
> scenarios based on it but never ran them. 
 
     During those rare times when I GM, I try to create the same sort 
of flavor for my campaigns.  It ends up being fairly odd, but I like 
it. I'm not sure if I can capture the nature of it in a quick 
paragraph, but a large part of it has to do with an odd mixture of 
"psychological realism" and fantasy.   
 
     The realism isn't an attempt to force physics into comics, but 
rather keeping the social and psychological aspects of the situation 
realistic, sometimes by house rules (usually limiting power levels) 
and sometimes by roleplaying.  For example, I like games where the 
power norms are kept within a sufficient range that normals with can 
be a significant threat.  A heavy pistol (2d6+1 RKA) may not *kill* 
the hero but neither should it be negligible, particularly in the 
hands of an exceptional person (who might have Find Weakness). 
 
     For this same reason I tend to not like games with a long history 
of superhumans.  A tradition of costumed crimefighters, maybe.  What 
happens when you need to imprison a man who can knock down prison 
walls and walk through a hail of gunfire?  How do you balance civil 
rights with the unique demands of the situation? 
 
     Some of the truly odd factors in the situation are elements of 
personal power.  In the real world, truly large amounts of personal 
power always boil down to wealth and followers, and to a limited 
degree gadgets (guns, mostly :-).  All things that can be taken away 
or than tend towards certain patterns of use (bribery, blackmail, 
etc).  Only in a superhero world do you get people who are innately 
powerful in a range far outside the average person's scale. 
 
     I think this is why I like playing superhero RPGs, plus perhaps 
the mythic aspects.  Brin has said in forewords, etc, that most of his 
short work tends to be quite "mythic" in flavor (which is why The 
Postman, which started life as three novellas, had that aspect to it - 
the book was *much* better than the movie, I recommend it highly). 
 
     I recall Brin said he originally wrote the story for a project 
(which never went to press) to do a WWII anthology.  I'd go further 
into detail, but it'd be a spoiler... 
 
     Were any of the other stories in the collection as good as 
Brin's? 
 
Steven J. Owens 
puff@netcom.com 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 03:03:12 -0500 
From: Scott Nolan <nolan@erols.com> 
Subject: Character: Elrond, Second Draft 
 
ELROND HALF-ELVEN 
 
15      STR     5 
18      DEX     24 
13      CON     6 
13      BODY    6 
23/33   INT     13 
23/33   EGO     26 
28      PRE     18 
18      COM     4 
4       PD      1 
5       ED      2 
5       SPD     22 
11      REC     10 
40      END     7 
50      STUN    22 
Characteristics Cost: 166 
 
6       Life Support,immune to disease,immune to aging   
6       +2 Enhanced Perception,with all senses   
5       Ultraviolet Vision       
3       Ultrasonic Hearing       
10      Eidetic Memory   
4       +2" Running 
                 
4       WF,Common Melee,Common Missile   
16      2 Levels,all combat      
9       3 Levels: Swords,tight group     
20      2 Levels,all skills      
                 
3       Conversation 15-         
9       High Society 18 - 
7       Navigation 13-   
9       Oratory 18-      
7       Paramedic 18- 
3       Persuasion 15-   
3       Riding 13-       
9       Survival 14-     
11      Tactics 20-      
3       Tracking 16-     
1       TF,Boats         
                 
3       Linguist         
1       Lang: Quenya,native,literacy     
4       Lang: Sindarin,imitate dialects,literacy         
2       Lang: Adunaic,fluent w/accent,literacy   
2       Lang: Westron,fluent w/accent,literacy   
                 
3       Scholar  
6       KS: Eldar History 20-    
4       KS: Dunadan History 18-  
4       KS: History of MiddleEarth 18- 
10      KS: Councils of the Wise 24-     
7       KS: Minions and Powers of Sauron 21-     
                 
3       Traveler         
7       AK: Imladris 21- 
4       AK: Eriador 18-  
2       AK: Lindon 16- 
2       AK: Eregion 16- 
                 
3       Well-Connected   
6       16 Contact: Gandalf      
4       14 Contact: Galadriel and Celeborn       
4       14 Contact: Aragorn      
4       14 Contact: Elladan      
4       14 Contact: Elrohir      
3       13 Contact: Cirdan       
2       12 Contact: Thranduil    
2       12 Contact: Radagast     
1       11 Contact: Gwaihir      
                 
80      1,000 150-point Followers        
95      32 350-point Followers   
                 
15      Money,filthy rich        
                 
105     Variable Power Pool (75-point pool), no skill roll required,  
        Extra Time, time: 1 turn, Non-Flashy Spells Only (-1/2)  
                 
40      Package,"Elven Mail",OIF         
(18)    9/9 Armor        
(2)     Life Support,safe in heat/cold   
(10)    25% Damage Reduction (PD),resistant      
(10)    25% Damage Reduction (ED),resistant      
                 
26      Package," Angolas (Sword)",OAF 
(14)    2D6+1 Killing Attack  HTH,STR Min 13 
(7)     3 Levels, related group  
(5)     +10 Presence     
                 
170     Package,"Vilya, The Ring of Air", OIF    
(7)     +10 Intelligence         
(13)    +10 Ego  
(150)   30D6 Aid,"To VPP", Continuous, Uncontrolled,0 END Persistent 
        Use Risks Drawing Sauron's Attention (-1/2), 
        Extra Time (1 turn), Non-Flashy Spells Only (-1/2) 
 
Powers Cost: 776 
Total Cost: 942 
 
Base Points: 75 
15      Distinctive Features,"Elda Lord",concealable,major 
10      Watched,"Sauron",more powerful,noncombat influence,harsh, 
         appear 8- 
5       Watched,"The Wise",as powerful,noncombat influence,mild, 
         appear 8- 
15      Psychological Limitation,"Committed to Opposing Sauron", 
         common,strong 
15      Psychological Limitation,"Protective of Elves and Rangers", 
         common,strong 
10      Psychological Limitation,"Longs for Valinor and the sea", 
         uncommon,strong 
10      Reputation,"Mighty Elda Lord",occur 8-,extreme reputation 
15      Secret ID, "Bearer of the Ring Vilya" 
772     Homely House Bonus 
 
Disadvantages Total: 867 
Experience Spent: 0 
Total Points: 942 
 
The son of Earendil and Elwing, Elrond was born in Avernien fifty-eight  
years before the end of the First Age.  Like Aragorn, he combines the  
bloodlines of all three Houses of the Eldar, the three houses of the  
Edain and the maiar themselves. 
 
He was taken prisoner by the sons of Feanor when they sacked Avernien,  
but then befriended Maglor and was his standard-bearer in the Great Battle. 
At the end of the First Age, the Valar allowed Elrond and his twin brother 
Elros to choose their races, whether to be of the deathless eldar or to accept 
the Gift of Death and become human.  Elrond chose to become eldar and  
was gifted with great wisdom and grace.  Elros went on to lead the surviving 
Edain to Numenor and become the first king of the Dunedain. 
 
During the Second Age, Elrond lived in Lindon with Gil-Galad until Second 
Age 1695, when he was sent to Eregion to help defend that realm against 
Sauron.  It was at this time that Celebrimbor, king of Eregion, gave him  
Vilya, the greatest of the Three Elven Rings for safekeeping. When Eregion  
was overrun in 1697, Elrond fled with the few surviving Noldor and founded  
Imladris (Rivendell).  During the War of the Last Alliance of Men and Elves,  
Elrond was Gil-Galad's standard bearer. 
 
In Third Age 100, he married Celebrian, daughter of Galadriel and Celeborn. 
They had three children: Elladan, Elrohir and Arwen.  Throughout the rest 
of the Third Age, Elrond gave refuge and counsel to the line of Isildur and 
the rangers.  At the end of the Third Age, he sailed over the sea with the  
Last Riding of the Keepers of the Ring. 
 
Elrond is among the wisest and most open of all the elven-lords, and is  
central in the tale of The Lord of the Rings for his direction, with Gandalf, 
of the resistance to Sauron.  
 
 
 
NOTES: 
 
1) Constructive criticism led me to redefine Elrond and his ring.  I like 
this version better, and would like to thank John Weatherman for his  
comments. 
 
2) The sword Angolas (Iron-leaf) I made up.  It's there for completeness, 
Ditto for his magical chainmail.   
 
3) The limitation "Non-Flashy spells only" on both Elrond's VPP and on the 
ring Vilya mean that the magic of the Elves takes its shape from nature, like 
the hiding of Rivendell, or the raising of the waters of the Bruinen to stop 
the 
nazgul.  Elrond does not fly or cast fireballs. 
 
4) The Ring of Air is so called because it lends the symbolic power of the  
air to it's wearer.  It lends him wisdom and foresight.  In Elrond's case,  
it adds to his already great wisdom.  
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
"But where is the ambiguity? Over there, in a box." 
        John Cleese, Monty Python's Flying Circus 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Scott C. Nolan 
nolan@erols.com   
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 99 06:49:13 -0400 
From: John P Weatherman <asahoshi@nr.infi.net> 
Subject: Re: Character: Celeborn 
 
Michael Hayden mhayden@tsoft.com 1/21/99 10:13 PM 
 
> 
>On Thu, 21 Jan 1999, John P Weatherman wrote: 
> 
>> Ultimately, I don't.  However if the Ring was what created the fire, it 
>> should have been revealed.  Gandolf's statement seems to imply that he 
>> personally, whom no one but Cirdan knew possed Narya, had been revealed. 
>> Also, only a few weeks later Frodo immediately recognized the Ring of  
>> Water when its power is used in the Mirror of Galadriel. 
> 
>Umm, in the Mirror scene, doesn't Galadriel also tell Frodo that the 
>second ring is with Elrond and that the third is "hidden"? It would 
>suggest that she knows Gandalf has it... 
 
Actually, sence she says outright who has Vilya her not saying Gandalf 
had (as he was "dead" at that point, anyway) Narya implies to me she 
didn't know... 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 08:29:39 -0500 
From: "Lisa Hartjes" <beren@unforgettable.com> 
Subject: Re: Hero Games website 
 
<<When I try to get onto the Hero Games website, I am asked for a user name 
and password. Anyone else have this problem?>> 
 
Yupper.  Looks like someone changed the permissions on the site (or so my 
computer-savvy fiancé told me :) 
 
 
Lisa Hartjes 
 
beren@unforgettable.com 
http://roswell.fortunecity.com/daniken/79 
ICQ:  Berengiere (9062561) 
 
If the GM smiles, run.  If she laughs, it's too late... 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 08:32:42 -0500 
From: "Lisa Hartjes" <beren@unforgettable.com> 
Subject: Re: Entangles and Damage Sheild 
 
>I just thought of this a was wondering if it would work like I think it 
>would. 
> 
>Rubberboy hits Flameman with his Entangle (SFX Ribberball). Flameman's 
>Damage Sheild damages Entangle (on which segments? The one the Entangle 
>hits on and Flameman's phases?) Entangle has backlash so Flameman takes 
>damage from it if the Entangle does not get destroyed. 
> 
>Is this Right? 
 
<<Thats how I see it.  I have bought some armored guys with a KA damage 
shield to blow entangles and make grab attacks unpleasent to attempt, but 
it hasnt come up yet in any fights (different tactics I guess) so I dont 
know how effective they might be.>> 
 
And the Entangle would take damage on Flameman's phases. 
 
 
Lisa Hartjes 
 
beren@unforgettable.com 
http://roswell.fortunecity.com/daniken/79 
ICQ:  Berengiere (9062561) 
 
If the GM smiles, run.  If she laughs, it's too late... 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 99 14:16:13  
From: "qts" <qts@nildram.co.uk> 
Subject: Re: More Triggered Questions 
 
On Thu, 21 Jan 1999 18:42:12 -0800 (PST), Steven J. Owens wrote: 
 
> 
>     Here's a related trigger question, specifically the trigger known as 
>"damage shield". 
> 
> I don't have the book with me, but I seem to recall, at least in 
>the early editions of the rules, that Damage Shield was described as a 
>special form of Trigger. 
 
Vaguely. The character turns on the Damage Shield at *his* will, and 
then the DS affects anyone who comes into appropriate contact with the 
character. 
 
>  In a recent game a GM told me that it would 
>cost the character END to keep the damage shield power turned on. 
 
Yes. 
 
A Damage Shield can also be Triggered! 
qts 
 
Home: qts@nildram.co.uk. 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 08:28:01 -0500 
From: "Lisa Hartjes" <beren@unforgettable.com> 
Subject: Re: Contacts 
 
<<While it has yet to come up in a game, I have long thought that Contacts 
should be purchasable as a group, as well as single characters, perhaps at 
an additional cost. A character who was a former police officer who retired 
should be able to have Contacts throughout the police department. However, 
due to overlap, he shouldn't have to pay for ten different contacts just 
because he has ten old friends.>> 
 
I have done this with characters in my game for quite a while, and I have 
had players try to abuse it (like someone with a standard 2 pt. Contact with 
the Police Dept. trying to get help from the Police Commissioner).  Now, 
that's not saying that the person couldn't use his contacts to *get* to the 
PC - you know, talking to a sergeant who knows a captain who might be able 
to talk to the Commish.... You know the drill.  :) 
 
 
Lisa Hartjes 
 
beren@unforgettable.com 
http://roswell.fortunecity.com/daniken/79 
ICQ:  Berengiere (9062561) 
 
If the GM smiles, run.  If she laughs, it's too late... 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 06:58:29 -0800 
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com> 
Subject: Re: Entangles and Damage Sheild 
 
At 09:43 PM 1/21/99 -0800, Ron Abitz wrote: 
> 
>I just thought of this a was wondering if it would work like I think it 
>would. 
> 
>Rubberboy hits Flameman with his Entangle (SFX Ribberball). Flameman's 
>Damage Sheild damages Entangle (on which segments? The one the Entangle 
>hits on and Flameman's phases?) Entangle has backlash so Flameman takes 
>damage from it if the Entangle does not get destroyed. 
> 
>Is this Right? 
 
   That's how I'd play it (including the interpretation of Phases). 
- --- 
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: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 07:05:33 -0800 
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com> 
Subject: Re: Hero Games website 
 
At 09:38 PM 1/21/99 EST, HeroGames@aol.com wrote: 
> 
>In a message dated 1/21/99 5:36:53 PM, filkhero@usa.net writes: 
> 
>>When I try to get onto the Hero Games website, I am asked for a user name 
>> 
>>and password. Anyone else have this problem? 
>> 
>> 
> 
>Our ISP is in the midst of changing to new server hardware, and our site got 
>messed up. Hopefully it should be back to normal by tomorrow (with new 
>material!). 
 
   I suggest announcing both here and on the Fuzion list (where this is 
also under discussion) when it's back in working order.  :-] 
- --- 
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: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 06:57:09 -0800 
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com> 
Subject: Re: Contacts 
 
At 05:02 PM 1/21/99 -0800, Filksinger wrote: 
>While it has yet to come up in a game, I have long thought that Contacts 
>should be purchasable as a group, as well as single characters, perhaps at 
>an additional cost. A character who was a former police officer who retired 
>should be able to have Contacts throughout the police department. However, 
>due to overlap, he shouldn't have to pay for ten different contacts just 
>because he has ten old friends. 
> 
>This would make it much easier to buy such characters as "the stoolie who 
>knows what's going down, every time", or the priest who knows his 
>neighborhood so well that nothing happens that he doesn't hear about. 
 
   For this, I'd say just buy "Police Department" as the Contact, with a 
few extra points in the base cost for this being a group (this can be just 
a flat +1 or +2, or if you want to be really concrete make it +1 point per 
2x individuals). 
   One can hope that HSR5 will have this aspect of things covered.  :-] 
- --- 
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: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 07:08:38 -0800 
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com> 
Subject: Re: More Triggered Questions 
 
At 06:42 PM 1/21/99 -0800, Steven J. Owens wrote: 
> 
>     Here's a related trigger question, specifically the trigger known as 
>"damage shield". 
> 
>     I don't have the book with me, but I seem to recall, at least in 
>the early editions of the rules, that Damage Shield was described as a 
>special form of Trigger.  In a recent game a GM told me that it would 
>cost the character END to keep the damage shield power turned on. 
> 
>     I let it slide by at the time, but I'd like to know how others 
>deal with this. 
 
   That GM is correct.  In fact, I'm not sure where your confusion arises. 
- --- 
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: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 12:12:11 -0500 
From: "Lisa Hartjes" <beren@unforgettable.com> 
Subject: Re: More Triggered Questions 
 
>     Here's a related trigger question, specifically the trigger known as 
>"damage shield". 
> 
>     I don't have the book with me, but I seem to recall, at least in 
>the early editions of the rules, that Damage Shield was described as a 
>special form of Trigger.  In a recent game a GM told me that it would 
>cost the character END to keep the damage shield power turned on. 
> 
>     I let it slide by at the time, but I'd like to know how others 
>deal with this. 
 
<<   That GM is correct.  In fact, I'm not sure where your confusion 
arises.>> 
 
I think the confusion may be about when the END had to be paid, given two 
different rulings.  When the power is triggered (by someone hitting the 
character, for example), or every phase you want the power to be on (so that 
it can be triggered).  Now, I haven't used a power with a trigger before, so 
I can't say if you turn the power on, or if it sits there waiting, END free, 
until the condition required causes the trigger.  Hmm....  Did what I just 
say make any sense to anyone but me?  :) 
 
 
Lisa 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 10:02:12 -0800 
From: "Filksinger" <filkhero@usa.net> 
Subject: Re: Character: Elrond 
 
From: Scott A. Colcord <sacolcor@ic.net> 
<snip> 
> 
>I think I like the idea someone suggested about making this an aid, rather 
>than a VPP.  The great rings seemed to give in proportion to what the 
>wielder 
>was already capable of; I suspect that even Vilya wouldn't do all that much 
>for your average hobbit, for example.  He's got enough Maiar blood that a 
>small VPP for himself would be appropriate. 
 
 
This may be partially true for the other rings, but the One Ring appeared to 
be offering power outright to Frodo at the end, rather than merely offering 
to enhance what he already had. 
 
Of course, the One Ring is a special case. It appeared that the One Ring 
corrupted by offering more and more power, the more you resisted its 
influence. In the end Frodo faltered, not because the One Ring merely 
overpowered his will, but because it was offering to make _him_ the "Evil 
Dark Lord" outright. (Of course, the ring's offer appeared to be an offer to 
be the "Good Light Lord", but we all know better.) 
 
Filksinger 
 
------------------------------ 
 
End of champ-l-digest V1 #155 
***************************** 


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