Digest Archives Vol 1 Issue 28
Desmarais, John
From: owner-champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 1998 2:56 AM
To: champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Subject: champ-l-digest V1 #28
champ-l-digest Thursday, November 5 1998 Volume 01 : Number 028
In this issue:
Re: Did you have to do that?!? (A Question rears it's ugly head)
Re: Breadth vs. Depth
Re: Breadth vs. Depth (fwd)
Re: Brachiteering
Re: Power Pool Deja Vu
Re: Need help with plot [long]
Re: Did you have to do that?!? (A Question rears it's ugly head)
Re: Hurting and Maiming (was Requests for the list)
Re: Online Magazine
Re: Online Magazine
Re: Shameless Plug
Re: Non-Lethal Weapons
Re: Poll Homegrown Universes (was Re: Breadth vs. Depth)
Re: Amalga In Champions
Re: CHAR: Triffid
RE: Anglo-HERO (Re: San Angelo Opinions)
Re: Luck House Rule
Re: Comics Characters (Long [and for no bloody good reason])
Re: RSR and VPP
Re: TK in the USA
Re: Amalga In Champions
Re: Breadth vs. Depth
RE: Always ON
Re: Physical vs. Energy Flash
Re: Shameless Plug
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 10:41:52 -0500
From: Ross Rannells <rossrannells@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Did you have to do that?!? (A Question rears it's ugly head)
qts wrote:
> On Fri, 14 Aug 1998 21:24:11 -0700, Bob Greenwade wrote:
>
> >At 10:50 PM 8/13/1998, qts wrote:
> >>On Thu, 13 Aug 1998 13:20:34 -0500 (EST), JASON SULLIVAN wrote:
> >>
> >>>...I must tempt the fates.
> >>>
> >>> Followers in a Multipower.
> >>>
> >>> (Hides from the torch and pitchfork weilding pesants.)
> >>
> >>NO Way - if you want a 'follower du jour' (qv generic romantic DNPC)
> >>then use a VPP - we hashed this out a few months ago.
> >
> > But if you want a fixed selection of Followers, you use Multipower.
> > (And I don't remember the "Follower du jour" discussion *at all*.)
>
> If you want a fixed selection of Followers, you use the +5 per
> doubling, and only take one with you. The Followers don't disappear in
> this case, though they should.
> qts
>
> Home: qts@nildram.co.uk.
The +5 for doulbling would allow you to take all the followers with you, so
why take only one of them with you? Are you going to allow a limitation to
the multiplier cost to say that "can only have X followers at one time".?
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 09:01:33 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: Breadth vs. Depth
On Tue, 1 Sep 1998 HeroGames@aol.com wrote:
> So what do *you* like? Putting more characters into a book, or fewer
> characters with more detail? More depth or more breadth?
I like a mix. Having a well-written and well-thought out background for a
cahracter helps me better understand what the character is like and can
do, enabling me to better fit the character into my universe. This is
very true when it comes to powers and personality. The background can be
sketchy, but the powers need to be described and the character's
personality and motivations should be pretty complete.
I think spending one whole book one a team (like Eurostar) may be a bit
overkill, but an indepth presentation (like in Enemies Assemble) isn't
bad.
***************************************************************************
* "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion *
* Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net *
* Visit "Surbrook's Stuff' the Hero Games resource site at: *
* http://www.access.digex.net/~susano/index.html *
* Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT *
* Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark *
***************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 14:22:01 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: Breadth vs. Depth (fwd)
On Fri, 4 Sep 1998 HeroGames@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 9/4/98 5:32:39 AM, susano@access.digex.net writes:
>
> > I'd have to say that City/Region sourcebooks are my top wish for
> >Hero/Champions. Followed by campaign worlds for Fantasy, Space,
> >Cyberpunk, and maybe a few others. I'd love to see a developed Fantasy
> >World.
Pardon... I'd like to point out I (susano@access.digex.net) never wrote
that statement.
> Your wish is granted! Broken Kingdoms is a 392 page campaign setting for
> Fantasy Hero; it'll be available through our online store as soon as we get
> the new online store software running, which hopefully will be around the end
> of next week.
>
> We also have a "cyber" campaign setting in the works, as well as a Star Hero
^^^^^^^^^
I think *that* is my Kazei 5 book, BTW.
> campaign setting, and several area sourcebooks for Champions.
***************************************************************************
* "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion *
* Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net *
* Visit "Surbrook's Stuff' the Hero Games resource site at: *
* http://www.access.digex.net/~susano/index.html *
* Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT *
* Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark *
***************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 23:39:31 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: Brachiteering
On Thu, 20 Aug 1998, Michael (Damon) or Peni R. Griffin wrote:
> >> How would you develop Brachiteering (sp?) [moving from branch to
> >>branch, or surface to surface using your arms, like an ape] as a power set
> >>in HERO terms? Swinging, No Range? Limited Flight or Superleap?
> >
> >Do you mean Brachiating as various primates do? How about Running, Only
> >in Dense Trees?
>
> Apparently I'm in the minority [again] but I like this suggestion best.
> Also, Bob G had suggested using the number of hexes in Swinging to
> represent movement rate rather than distance swung. Running already does that.
I was considering a limited form of Flight myself...
***************************************************************************
* "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion *
* Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net *
* Visit "Surbrook's Stuff' the Hero Games resource site at: *
* http://www.access.digex.net/~susano/index.html *
* Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT *
* Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark *
***************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 13:06:21 EDT
From: <Firelynx16@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Power Pool Deja Vu
In a message dated 9/15/98 7:41:20 AM Central Daylight Time, tsang@sedl.org
writes:
> >>>>>>> 60 Multipower Pool (120), OAF Mystic Staff
> >>>>>>> 6 m 12d6 EB
> >>>>>>> 6 m 30" Flight
> >>>>>>> 6 m 30 PD, 30 ED Force Field
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> If it isn't legal, please tell me where it breaks down. If it is
> >>>>>>> legal, please tell me how you would design it, if you would
> >>>>>>> design it differently.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> These should be 12 each and not 6.
> >>>>>> 60/5=12.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Except each slot also gets the -1 OAF limitation as well, so they
> >>>>> *would* cost 6 points each.
> >>>>
> >>>>60/10 = 6 is right IF the slots are fixed and not variable, otherwise
> >>>>it's 60/5 = 12
> >>>
> >>>Both Brians are correct that a variable slot in a 60 point pool would
> >>>cost 60/5=12 points; but *then* you apply the -1 Limitation for OAF on
> the
> >>>above power construct to get a final slot cost of 6 points.
> >>
> >>That's not right, if I'm reading it correctly. The Multipower is a 120
> >>point MP, not a 60, right? So the variable slots would cost 24 points
> >>each, before the Limitation is applied... which would then result in
> >>the correct answer of 12 points each. Am I missing something?
> >
> >No, you're right. I was looking at the 60 instead of the 120 part of the
> >Multipower.
>
> Urgh. Do people not understand that one can buy Multi slots smaller
> than the pool size? Each of the powers in the Multipower has a maximum
> of 60 active points (12d6 EB, 30" flight, 30/30 FF). The cost of each
> slot is thus:
>
Oops, you're right. I was missing something. :/
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 18:59:54 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: Need help with plot [long]
On Mon, 10 Aug 1998, Curt Hicks wrote:
> My only real thoughts at this point are:
>
> 1) Hwu Dye is working for Sunita in exchange for an artifact. The artifact,
> in addition to whatever else it does, will also allow Red Death to manifest
> without requiring a physical proxy. This may or may not be known to
> the three parties (RD, HD, Sunita)
Yuck... ugly that.
> 2) What, if any, significance does it have that Takahashi opened the canopy
> before being blasted ? Is this meant to be a red herring ?
Actually, it means that he was alive after the vehicle got hit. And, his
wounds are electrical, so some people may clue onto the fact that there
might be *teo* assailants.
***************************************************************************
* "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion *
* Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net *
* Visit "Surbrook's Stuff' the Hero Games resource site at: *
* http://www.access.digex.net/~susano/index.html *
* Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT *
* Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark *
***************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 98 18:01:13
From: qts <qts@nildram.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Did you have to do that?!? (A Question rears it's ugly head)
On Sun, 16 Aug 1998 10:41:52 -0500, Ross Rannells wrote:
>
>
>qts wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 14 Aug 1998 21:24:11 -0700, Bob Greenwade wrote:
>>
>> >At 10:50 PM 8/13/1998, qts wrote:
>> >>On Thu, 13 Aug 1998 13:20:34 -0500 (EST), JASON SULLIVAN wrote:
>> >>
>> >>>...I must tempt the fates.
>> >>>
>> >>> Followers in a Multipower.
>> >>>
>> >>> (Hides from the torch and pitchfork weilding pesants.)
>> >>
>> >>NO Way - if you want a 'follower du jour' (qv generic romantic DNPC)
>> >>then use a VPP - we hashed this out a few months ago.
>> >
>> > But if you want a fixed selection of Followers, you use Multipower.
>> > (And I don't remember the "Follower du jour" discussion *at all*.)
>>
>> If you want a fixed selection of Followers, you use the +5 per
>> doubling, and only take one with you. The Followers don't disappear in
>> this case, though they should.
>> qts
>>
>> Home: qts@nildram.co.uk.
>
>The +5 for doulbling would allow you to take all the followers with you, so
>why take only one of them with you? Are you going to allow a limitation to
>the multiplier cost to say that "can only have X followers at one time".?
Why not? Though what I had in mind was rather simpler than that.
qts
Home: qts@nildram.co.uk.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1998 13:54:39 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: Hurting and Maiming (was Requests for the list)
On Wed, 19 Aug 1998, Bob Greenwade wrote:
> In the case of Kiddy Phenil, she'd have a Physical Limitation "Fated as
> Target for Bodily Harm." If there's a nasty baddie who could easily tear
> any character limb from limb, Kiddy *will* be the demonstrator model of
> choice (unless there's a specific plot reason for it to be someone else).
> She doesn't do anything to deserve it, and can't do anything to stop it;
> it's just how it works out.
I like this. It help because Kiddy will get smacked into a chunk of rock
and end up with a broken arm, while otherwise being okay. And sufficent
BODY damage to do that (in Hero) will usually put the character down and
out!
***************************************************************************
* "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion *
* Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net *
* Visit "Surbrook's Stuff' the Hero Games resource site at: *
* http://www.access.digex.net/~susano/index.html *
* Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT *
* Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark *
***************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 13:07:55 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: Online Magazine
On Fri, 23 Oct 1998, Egyptoid wrote:
> > An online magazine is a nice idea though.
>
> This is just a question not a flame:
> Why don't you cooperate/consolidate
> with the Haymaker/Power-point people?
"Cooperate/consolidate" what? My material? A webpage? That is up to a
lot of people, I'm just 1/16 or 1/20 or the people involved.
> > I dunno if I'd pay for it.
>
> C'mon, let's use a concrete example, Dragon Magazine.
> If you like AD&D, for about $5 you get about 40 pages
> of AD&D content each month. It's a 100 page magazine,
> but there's ads, book reviews, computer column, editorial,
> forum, game news, and articles for/by other games.
> So when you weed down to the core AD&D content,
> it's about 40 pages, in a "good" issue.
Except there is no way to know if that 40 pages is going to be anything I
can use. And I don't want to spend the money for a magazine.
***************************************************************************
* "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion *
* Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net *
* Visit "Surbrook's Stuff' the Hero Games resource site at: *
* http://www.access.digex.net/~susano/index.html *
* Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT *
* Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark *
***************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 12:50:08 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: Online Magazine
On Fri, 23 Oct 1998, Shelley Chrystal Mactyre wrote:
> At 10:11 AM -0400 10/23/98, Michael Surbrook wrote:
> >I'd like to point out that Herozine is (an intermittant) superhero gaming
> >magazine and Haymaker is a quarterly APA devoted to the Hero System.
> >Of course, Herozine is not on a regular basison a regular basis, and
> >Haymaker isn't readily avaliable to the public. An online magazine is a
> >nice idea though. I dunno if I'd pay for it.
>
> There's also Rogues' Gallery, which is also not readily available to the
> public. I keep threatening to put the articles I write for it online, and
> I know that some of the other authors have mentioned it as well.
Anything I write for either Herozine or haymaker willeventaully make its
way to my website.
For example, my Tarot article for Herozine and my Kazei 5 & Killer Frost
submissions to the last Haymaker are all up right now.
***************************************************************************
* "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion *
* Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net *
* Visit "Surbrook's Stuff' the Hero Games resource site at: *
* http://www.access.digex.net/~susano/index.html *
* Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT *
* Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark *
***************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 20:45:50 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: Shameless Plug
On Mon, 5 Oct 1998, Jim Dickinson wrote:
> >Just did gee Im like 4th, must not be by quality hehehe but they did say I
> >had "beautiful sketches"
> >
> >wonder who does the copy???
>
> Surbrook is at the top because he got some kind of "NewHoo" rating (like
> Yahoo's "Cool") rating.
Yeah, I was given a 'best of catagory' award. I'm not complaining.
> And the rest are in Alphabetical order. I guess I
> could rename my page as the "AAA Circle of HEROs..." ;-) I'd get #2 slot,
> then. hehehe.
Now you know where Acme comes from. The same idea applied to phone books.
BTW: scope out the latest issue of Blade of the Immortal, Hero System
stats for the main characters written by yours truly.
***************************************************************************
* "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion *
* Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net *
* Visit "Surbrook's Stuff' the Hero Games resource site at: *
* http://www.access.digex.net/~susano/index.html *
* Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT *
* Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark *
***************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 23:22:07 -0500
From: Ross Rannells <rossrannells@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Non-Lethal Weapons
opal@technologist.com wrote:
> Bob Greenwade wrote:
> <snip>
> >
> > >Tazer -- (MP) 5d6 NND, Range 4", 1 charge, Defense: Resistant PD
> > > 5d6 NND, No Range, 15 charges, Defense: insulated armor
> >
> > From what I've seen of the device, this is about right.
>
> One think I don't get is why it's always NND for Tasers.
> I mean, they're designed for use against normals, most
> normals will have a 2 ED, really healthy ones 3 or 4.
> I guess Bruce Lee, electroshock patients and folks
> been Tasered and Stun-gunned a few times two many might
> actually have thier's baught up, but even with an 8,
> you'll take someone down a lot faster with a 10d EB,
> STN only, than a 5d NND!
>
> <snip>
>
As some one who has been tasered a few too many times (I was used a the crook in
several of my karate clubs demos a long time ago). I've alway felt the a taser
was best represented by an entangle linked to a low power EB. A taser shourt
circuits the motor control of your muscles which is why it doesn't matter how
strong of a person you are you still get imobilized. The linked EB is due to the
fact that a Taser can leave minor electrical burns when it touches bare flesh.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 16:33:02 -0400
From: David Stallard <DBStallard@compuserve.com>
Subject: Re: Poll Homegrown Universes (was Re: Breadth vs. Depth)
Message text written by Brian Wong
> A player who brings in a character without a good well developed
background subtracts from the enjoyment of the entire group. I want to be
able
to get into the story and live out the lives of these fictional people. If
someone's just there for the ride and the action they're a definate
detraction.
So yeah; Id' toss the roll-player. Especially since there are so
many
people on the net who want to role-play and are trying to find games to
play
in.
I would want to tell my stories with other people who have the same
level of interest as I do.<
This last sentence is the key...there exist groups where every member is
just along for the ride and the action. These "roll-playing" groups are no
less valid or fun than a deep role-playing groups, it's just a different
kind of fun. I've seen comments from some gamers denouncing "role-player"
groups as essentially amateur acting guilds--some people don't want to
"act" out another character's personality, they just want to have fun
adventuring in fantastical settings. I think I've said this before on this
list, but TSR/WotC seems to be recognizing this segment of the gaming
populace with their reborn Greyhawk line, where their ads say things like
"I don't what it looks like, I kill it" and they openly celebrate the
dungeon crawl which so many "role-players" despise.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 12:20:22 -0700 (PDT)
From: Brian Wong <rook@shell.infinex.com>
Subject: Re: Amalga In Champions
> Ahhh... yes. I have used (or altered) some Hero Universe characters, put
> I virtually ignored the entire timeline and set up for my game(s). Which
> is why I don't understand it when people get bent out of shape of such
> things as "The Champions are used too much". Who cares? It's your world,
> do what you want.
True. Generally most people who've been doing Hero since before the
BBB have done it under their own settings. And most after have incorporated
the 'Champions Universe' to varying degrees. That seems to be the general
trend at least.
For those that do use the 'Champions Universe' however I imagine it
can be frustrating that the Champions team is so wired into everything. I
remember skimming Champions Universe and seeing nearly every module published
before it came out listed in the timeline with the Champions having been there.
That meant that if I desired to use that universe I'd either not be able to
run those modules; or have to rewrite the timeline and other info to allow for
those items to have not yet happened. SOme of them were major events also;
which would have required lots of changes.
Myself I just tossed the universe they had and kept with I was always
running.
I like San Angelo's premise that the major heroes in the published
works will be the PC's. It means I'll hopefully never have to do such rewrites.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 18:13:21 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: CHAR: Triffid
On 23 Sep 1998, Stainless Steel Rat wrote:
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>
> "MS" == Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net> writes:
>
> MS> If you have negative STR, does that mean you end up with negative PD,
> MS> REC and STUN?
>
> Here you have a very good circumstantial argument against negative
> characteristics.
Yes, but that doesn't answer the question. Besides, the STR chart does go
to negative values, so this is a valid question. I checked the Hero
Bestiary. In that book, animals with negative STR figure such things as
PD, REC & STUN as if the STR = 0. Which means, for the most part, I did
OK on the Triffid.
> MS> If your SPD is lower than your figured SPD, do you get points back for
> MS> that?
>
> Yes; selling back of characteristics is allowed, including Speed.
Yeah, the Bestiary has examples of that too. I sort of figured you just
rouded off back to the nearest whole number in that case.
***************************************************************************
* "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion *
* Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net *
* Visit "Surbrook's Stuff' the Hero Games resource site at: *
* http://www.access.digex.net/~susano/index.html *
* Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT *
* Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark *
***************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 07 Sep 1998 14:07:07 -0400
From: TokyoMark <bastet@iquest.net>
Subject: RE: Anglo-HERO (Re: San Angelo Opinions)
At 09:42 AM 9/7/98 -0400, Michael Surbrook wrote:
>I have to jump in and correct *another* blaring error.
>
>Comics *are* an American creation. They started in the early 30's really,
>and collected books of colored Sunday strips were avalaible before then.
>The first comic books came out in the 20's. In Japan, comics got their
>start in the 50's, *after* WWII when American sevicemen brought their
>comics over. The creation of the popular anime style can also be traced
>to Disney films being shown in post-WWII Japan.
Allow me to retort.
It's certainly true that postwar comics drew inspiration American sources,
Osamu Tezuka's work being an example. However, modern manga also has alot
in common with the toba-e and kiboyoshi comicbooks of the 18th and 19th
centuries. These books were mass produced using woodblock printing and
were often issued in series, like modern comic books. The modern manga
practice of having a large number of different stories in a magazine, with
individual stories later being collected into books, dates back to the
1930's and in terms of format was partially influenced by american
newspaper strips imported since the 1900's.
There is no question style was influenced heavily by american sources in
the post war period. Tezuka was the top creative person during this time
and he was quite open by his admiration for Disney.
Mark
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 11:18:39 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: Luck House Rule
On Thu, 15 Oct 1998, Chris Hartjes wrote:
> > In our games we have adopted the following system for Luck:
> >
> > At the beginning of a session (or a fight if a long time elapses between
> > fights in game), the PC rolls his luck dice. He then counts the BODY of
> > these dice. This is how many 'luck points' he has. The points can be
> > used to alter die rolls in the PC's favor. A miss can become a hit and a
> > hit on the PC can be come a miss. Basically, it is 'x' number of
> > automatic successes for the PC for that night. This can be 'to hit'
> > rolls, skill rolls, CHAR rolls, what have you. Unluck work in reverse, it
> > being the number of time the GM can alter your die rolls in bad way.
> > Having more than 4 dice allows one to affect fellow PCS, in both good and
> > bad ways.
>
> I like the looks of that house rule. It makes sense and gives the Evil
> GM a reason to give his NPC's Luck and Unluck...
It has worked very well for us so far and people like it.
***************************************************************************
* "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion *
* Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net *
* Visit "Surbrook's Stuff' the Hero Games resource site at: *
* http://www.access.digex.net/~susano/index.html *
* Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT *
* Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark *
***************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1998 14:25:23 +1000
From: Lockie <jonesl@cqnet.com.au>
Subject: Re: Comics Characters (Long [and for no bloody good reason])
- ----------
> From: thomas deja <tdj723@webtv.net>
> To: Lockie <jonesl@cqnet.com.au>
> Cc: Hero List <champ-l@sysabend.org>
> Subject: Re: Comics Characters (Long [and for no bloody good reason])
> Date: Tuesday, September 29, 1998 12:23 PM
>
> Event programming...The Death of Superman. The Trial of Superman. The
> Saga of Superman Blue. Knightfall. Knightquest. Contagion.
> Cataclysm. No Man's Land. Emerald Dawn. Emerald Twilight. Identity
> Crisis. The Clone Saga. Heroes Reborn. Heroes Return.
>
heh. i'd exclude the clone saga, that was originally an attempt to alter
continuity. .
however the rest is spot on. .
> The emphasis these days is more often than not on good storytelling but
> on big stories that create short spikes in sales but nothing else.
> Instead of following the leads of series like STARMAN and RESSURECTION
> MAN and CHASE, which do good, character-driven work, they do this
> constant 'Big Event' plotting that subverts the characters to the comics
> equuivelent of Mel Gibson/Bruce Willis action movies....
>
well, take a look at the flash comics for some good event-storylining, for
insatnce.
> "'N I fell for all that'die-like-a-warrior' crap. I've seen clowns fall
> off their bikes with more honor"
> --Xander Haris, BUFFY TVS #1
> ____________________________________
> THE ULTIMATE HULK, containing the new story, "A Quiet, Normal Life," is
> available now from Byron Preiss and Berkley
> _______________________________
> MAKE UP YOUR OWN DAMN TITLE, Tom Deja's webpage
> www.freeyellow.com/members/tdj
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 98 17:05:13
From: qts <qts@nildram.co.uk>
Subject: Re: RSR and VPP
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 07:28:44 -0400 (EDT), Michael Surbrook wrote:
>On Mon, 24 Aug 1998, qts wrote:
>
>> I've always played that you need a skill roll to change a VPP, whether
>> you're in combat on out. However, it has recently been pointed out
>> that, per the HSR you don't need a skill roll out of combat.
>>
>> So what should be the additional Limitation if you do? First off, it is
>> a Limitation because the PC has to spend time changing the pool, time
>> that he could be sleeping (eg resting overnight at a camp-fire) or
>> otherwise socialising. And, of course, I want it difficult to change
>> the pool.
>> qts
>
>Yes, but the PC should get large bonuses for spending extra time to change
>the bool as well.
That they don't always have the luxury is part of the Limitation (eg
you know the castle is going to be attacked in 6 hrs time, so you've
only got that long to memorise your spells)
>And if it is goingto take that long to changethe pool,
>just take 'can only change in bag/between adventures/ and be done with it.
>This is why Iput a flat activation roll on the pool I made, the character
>spends 5+ minutes changing the pool, but it still might fail when he's
>done.
Well, they typically get 'Change only with spellbook' But you have a
point - it shouldn't be more than 'Only between Adventures'
Got to think more on this one.
qts
Home: qts@nildram.co.uk.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 12:54:33 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: TK in the USA
On Wed, 5 Aug 1998, Curt Hicks wrote:
> > In fact, I would even argue for an *advantage*, if the TK really lets you
> > move objects in ways that they could not be moved with two hands --
> > producing truly animated objects.
>
> I'm not sure I'd agree. I'm sitting on my (wheeled) desk chair at the moment.
> With 'ordinary' TK, I'd expect to be able to pick it up completely off the
> floor, float it around the room and up to the ceiling, throw it through the
> window, bash people over the head with it, etc. etc. With 'animating'
> TK, I could roll it around the *floor* and bump into things, if it had
> legs instead, it could 'walk'.
Right, This is what the power did. You could only move an object within
the constraints of the orginal objects mobility.
***************************************************************************
* "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion *
* Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net *
* Visit "Surbrook's Stuff' the Hero Games resource site at: *
* http://www.access.digex.net/~susano/index.html *
* Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT *
* Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark *
***************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 13:15:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: Amalga In Champions
On Thu, 20 Aug 1998, Bob Greenwade wrote:
> >> Well, at least in your case, and in Michael Surbrook's, I wasn't
> >> surprised or disappointed in any way, and for this exact reason. There
> >> were others, though....
> >
> >Err... what did *I* do? (or say...)
>
> Certainly nothing wrong; you're one of those folks who I know don't have
> any strong familiarity with or affinity for the Champions Universe, much
> less the namesake hero group.
Ahhh... yes. I have used (or altered) some Hero Universe characters, put
I virtually ignored the entire timeline and set up for my game(s). Which
is why I don't understand it when people get bent out of shape of such
things as "The Champions are used too much". Who cares? It's your world,
do what you want.
***************************************************************************
* "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion *
* Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net *
* Visit "Surbrook's Stuff' the Hero Games resource site at: *
* http://www.access.digex.net/~susano/index.html *
* Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT *
* Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark *
***************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 15:35:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: Brian Wong <rook@shell.infinex.com>
Subject: Re: Breadth vs. Depth
> > I think the bulk of us use our own worlds, and take things piecemeal
> >from the books. In the old days we had to. Now we have two new 100%
> consistant
> >universes, and one dog that looks like more of a mutt than Crisis-DC. I say
> >let it die off. But that's me.
>
> Now I'm confused. I thought that one of those consistent universes, that of
> the New Millenium, was part of the new Champions Universe timeline. Where is
> the mutt in all this?
>
The New CNM published under Fuzion rules and converted to Hero via
their website has no relation to the old Hero system Champions Universe. They
are totally seperate worlds with their own unique histories. The confusion
comes from a borrowing of some names and concepts (though even when a concept
was borrowed, the actual character's details where changed).
The 'mutt' is the old champions Universe. Which was put together after
the fact in an attempt to bring together some 12+ years worth of unrelated
previous material. It was very similar to DC's Crisis on infinate earths from
a publisher standpoint. And like that attempt, it was doomed by it's very
nature to difficulties. One of it's main problems stems from the fact that much
of it's material legally belongs to several different parties. This can cause
issues if one of those parties decides to use their material elsewhere or
simply wishes to no longer be a party to CU.
Both CNM and San Angelo have at their core a policy of central control
to keep them consistant and to prevent later 'revisionist history'. Which means
they will likely have much better futures than CU ever did.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 07:03:09 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Dr. Nuncheon" <jeffj@io.com>
Subject: RE: Always ON
On Sun, 20 Sep 1998, Filksinger wrote:
> >ALWAYS ON ARMOR= Metalic skin. Always noticed. (FULL TIME
> DISTINCTIVE APPEARANCE)
>
> If he had metallic skin without the armor, he would have a
> Distinctive Feature. Adding the Armor does not increase the
> penalty to him in any way. No bonus.
OTOH, if he didn't take the DF, he could take this instead. (i.e. get 0
pts for the DF, since it isn't any more limiting.)
> >ALWAYS ON DR = Metalic Body. OK so this can be a - 1/4.
> Can only to injestable medication. No
> >injections or blood donations.
>
> Maybe. I might point out that Damage Reduction does this for
> virtually ever character I have ever played or had in my
> campaign who had it, and not one of them got a Limitation
> for it. Unless invulnerable people in your campaign
> frequently require injections or give blood, I wouldn't give
> it.
The GM could, of course, manufacture situations where this would be a
disadvantage, and if a character /really really/ wanted to have Always On
on his Armor, I'm sure I could /make/ it limiting. (Hmm, you've got an
Enemy there...looks like he's developed a special Penetrating attack.
Hope he doesn't cut you badly enough so that you need stitches...)
Essentially, I would think that healing from any significant BODY damage
would be greatly slowed. For a metal body, also, I'd make more problems
based on SFX, like 'sets off metal detectors and anti-shoplifting devices
at the mall' - little social problems like that. Nothing big - it's only
a -1/4 limit - but lots of small, annoying stuff.
J
Hostes aliengeni me abduxerent. Jeff Johnston - jeffj@io.com
Qui annus est? http://www.io.com/~jeffj
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 09:58:00 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Dr. Nuncheon" <jeffj@io.com>
Subject: Re: Physical vs. Energy Flash
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998, Melinda and Steven Mitchell wrote:
> When I threw out the Physical/Energy distinction for my campaign, I thought
> I was just simplifying things for the players--but I've about decided that
> Hero would be better off not making that particular distinction. After
> all, it's a pseudo SFX, that _generally_ applies. When it doesn't work
> out, it cause trouble.
> Why can't a flaming sword just have the SFX of flaming sword and be done
> with it? Why not just by "Defense" at the same cost for physical and
> energy, then let the character limit the appropriate extra amount depending
> on what it defends against? Does that make any sense?
Note that the base version of Fuzion does this - ED is an optional stat.
Honestly, the idea makes quite a bit of sense. You'd just have to re-train
all the current HERO Worshipers.
If you're going to go this route:
'Defense' as a secondary stat should be Str/10 + Con/10.
Defense should cost 2 points to raise.
Armor should cost 3 points for 1 pt of resistant defense.
Damage Reduction would be a sticky issue. I'd double the costs and
strongly suggest that limitations be taken on it.
Remember that limitations given for 'only vs. X' SFX should be larger than
they would be in a 'normal' champions game. Defense, only vs. Fire is
more limited than ED, only vs. Fire.
J
Hostes aliengeni me abduxerent. Jeff Johnston - jeffj@io.com
Qui annus est? http://www.io.com/~jeffj
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 09:31:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: Shameless Plug
On Sat, 3 Oct 1998, Bob Greenwade wrote:
> >I was sent this URL today, by the editor of a Yahoo competitor:
> >
> >http://www.newhoo.com/Games/Roleplaying/Hero_Games/
> >
> >My website got top billing! (cool!)
> >
> >But, hey, there are a mess of other sites there as well, including Bob
> >Greewade's, Theala Sildorian's and Shelley Chrystal Mactyre's!
> >
> >Check it out!
>
> I just did, Michael. Your page didn't just get top billing; yours got
> the only special billing, while the rest are just in alphabetical order.
Uh... err... ummm... oh yeah.
> (I gotta try to get mine in better position -- which, of course, would
> mean working on the site a little more often....) :-]
Go for it!
> PS: Has anyone ever heard of a *shameful* plug? ;-]
Actually... no.
***************************************************************************
* "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion *
* Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net *
* Visit "Surbrook's Stuff' the Hero Games resource site at: *
* http://www.access.digex.net/~susano/index.html *
* Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT *
* Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark *
***************************************************************************
------------------------------
End of champ-l-digest V1 #28
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Date: Tuesday, December 29, 1998 09:13 AM