Digest Archive vol 1 Issue 305

Digest Archive vol 1 Issue 305
From: owner-champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Sent: Friday, April 30, 1999 11:22 AM
To: champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Subject: champ-l-digest V1 #305

champ-l-digest Friday, April 30 1999 Volume 01 : Number 305

In this issue:

Re: Spock's Brain
Re: DBZ adaptions finished
Re: say INT ain't so
Re: Spock's Brain
DBZ Hair (Off Topic)
Re: the cost of anything [was:Re: The Acceptance of Powergaming]
Archetypes
Re: <FHList> eating and sleeping
Re: Spock's Brain
Re: DBZ Hair (Off Topic)
Darth Vader
Re: Darth Vader
RE: Follower question:
Re: Mana as a secondary characteristic
Re: Darth Vader
Re: Darth Vader
Re: Darth Vader
Fwd: Darth Vader
Fwd: DBZ adaptions finished
Fwd: DBZ Hair (Off Topic)
Fwd: DBZ adaptions finished
Re: Mana as a secondary characteristic
Re: DBZ adaptions finished
Re: Spock's Brain
Re: Darth Vader
Re: Darth Vader
Re: Spock's Brain
Re: Discriminatory IR
Re: Mr. Schultz and the Alien Blade
Re: Spock's Brain

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 23:13:13 -0500
From: Lance Dyas <lancelot@radiks.net>
Subject: Re: Spock's Brain

good solution and kirk has a higher EGO stat and Spock has MD ;)

John Desmarais wrote:

> On Thu, 29 Apr 1999 23:32:12 -0400, BILL SVITAVSKY wrote:
>
> >
> >I'm curious, then, what INT people would give to Spock. Any takers?
>
> Very high (mid to upper 30s) with a Psych Lim: "Over Analyzes"
>
> -=>John Desmarais
> http://www.sysabend.org/champions

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 23:29:30 -0400
From: geoff heald <gheald@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: DBZ adaptions finished

At 03:00 PM 4/29/99 -0700, you wrote:
>>Michael I can barely stand to be in the room as my son watches this stuff...
>>thinking about them in the detail it would take to design the characters
>>would be a horrible experience.
>
>All I want to know is how I can get my hair to stand up in pointy bits like
>that, he looks so cool....
>
>At least its better than Pokemon *shudder*, do you suppose gamers in Japan
>are working on writing up Scooby Doo and the Smurfs?
>
>
Well, someone recently posted Pikachu to the Mekton list.

Not the same, I grant.
============================
Geoff Heald
============================
So this is Earth. Not what I expected. Oh, well, I'll have to make do.
"Behold Earthians! Your new lord has arrived!"

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 23:46:25 -0400
From: geoff heald <gheald@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: say INT ain't so

At 08:59 PM 4/29/99 -0500, you wrote:
>At 08:19 PM 4/29/99 -0400, Stainless Steel Rat wrote:
>>-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>>Hash: SHA1
>>
>>* Bill Svitavsky <nbymail11@mln.lib.ma.us> on Thu, 29 Apr 1999
>>| I was using them for the sake of example, Rat. The point is that with a
>>| strict interpretation of INT (as speed of thought), the Hero System models
>>| a slow-thinking genius badly. But with a loose interpretation (reflect IQ
>>| in INT), it models a slow-thinking genius fairly well - so why not just
>>| make a loose interpretation?
>>
>>Because your example happenes to be the perfect example of the difference
>>between building a normal and a superhero. Albert Einstein is a normal
>>human, built as a normal human. Mr. Fantastic is a superhero, built as a
>>superhero. One set of rules applies to Einstein, a significantly different
>>set applies to Mr. Fantastic.
>>
>>Most of the list, myself included, happen to think that the Hero system
>>models the slow-thinking genius perfectly well the way it is written. Give
>>Einstein an INT of 7, spend those 3 points on 'Scientist', and any points
>>he gets from disadvantages on Science skills. Voila! Albert Einstein for 0
>>points.
>
>That works fine for absent-minded normals. But how about slower thinking
>absent-minded heroes? Arguably the Doctor (Doctor Who) might fall in this
>category - he certainly misses his share of PER rolls, and rarely does his
>science on the fly. Built with a 10 INT, he'd have to pay considerably more
>for his many many sciences, even with Scientist, than a similarly skilled
>but less preoccupied character (who would presumably also buy Scientist
>anyway). Other heroes with this problem might include Ted Knight (Starman),
>pulp scientists like Dr. Zarkov, and Star Trek's Mr. Spock.
>
>Some concepts are just expensive, of course. But it just seems to me that
>slow-thinking geniuses are needlessly expensive.
>
I see your point, though it occurs to me that a person with attention span
problems like Doctor Who might have to spend longer in school to learn the
sciences he knows.

Spock doesn't stike me as fitting the absent monded mode. He tends to
think on the fly pretty well.

============================
Geoff Heald
============================
So this is Earth. Not what I expected. Oh, well, I'll have to make do.
"Behold Earthians! Your new lord has arrived!"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 00:46:50 -0400
From: geoff heald <gheald@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Spock's Brain

At 11:52 PM 4/29/99 -0400, you wrote:
>
>
>BILL SVITAVSKY wrote:
>
>> Perhaps this aspect of the "speed of thought" problem merits
>> some further clarification of exactly what kind of thought is
>> taking place speedily. After all, Einstein was surely thinking
>> about *something* when he was having trouble picking his socks
>> for the day. It wouldn't surprise me if he was speedily working
>> through physics problems that others couldn't have solved in years;
>> he just couldn't follow a direct path to a conclusion of the task
>> at hand. Spock could answer the rapidfire questions provided by
>> the Vulcan training computer in ST IV, but in action Kirk can
>> make a quicker decision every time.
>>
>> I'm curious, then, what INT people would give to Spock. Any takers?
>
>My short and sweet guess would be that Spock has high INT -- to the tune
>of maybe 23 -- but average to slow SPD -- hence, he is not nearly as
>good in combat situation. But when he does get to acting, he usually
>does so wisely. Kirk, by contrast, probably has fair INT (15-18) and
>higher SPD (3, or perhaps 4, since he was in Security).
>
>Mathieu
>
Kirk has something like Precognition: An amazing tendancy to make the right
choice. Spock has worked with him long enough to realize that sometimes
instinct and emotion provides better answers than logic. IMO, that's why
he tried to turn down command of the Enterprise, why he only accepted if it
would be a training vessel, and why he turns command over to Kirk in
ST2:TWOK as soon as the crisis manifests. Spock is coldly rational and
logical, and those are not the qualities of a great Starship Captain, and
he knows it.

============================
Geoff Heald
============================
So this is Earth. Not what I expected. Oh, well, I'll have to make do.
"Behold Earthians! Your new lord has arrived!"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 01:29:52 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jason Sullivan <ravanos@NJCU.edu>
Subject: DBZ Hair (Off Topic)

On Thu, 29 Apr 1999, Christopher Taylor wrote:
> All I want to know is how I can get my hair to stand up in pointy bits like
> that, he looks so cool....

You can use a shaped mould and lots of Aquanet hairspray, or
unflavoured gelatin. If you're really nuts, you can use Crazy Glue, which
is permanent.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 00:51:47 -0500
From: Bryant Berggren <voxel@theramp.net>
Subject: Re: the cost of anything [was:Re: The Acceptance of Powergaming]

At 10:02 AM 4/29/99 EDT, AndMat3@aol.com wrote:
> ok. you charge 2 points for INT; you charge 2 points for EGO -- what do
> you charge STR? how is INT (or EGO, or BOD) twice as much as STR? Now,
> I've had this discussion before; and my point remains the same ... STR
> is free. For 10 points of STR you get 11 points of other (cool) stuff.

Yes, it is. I agree 100%. I would change the cost of STR to 2 points, too,
except that all the players I've encountered personally seem to be on the
other side ("STR is perfect as it is!") of the fence.

> I really don't have ANY problem with changing the costs of stats; but I
> think that before anything gets more expensive - STR needs to be adjusted.

I "adjust" STR, at least a little, by enforcing Heroic END costs even in
Superheroic campaigns.

- --

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 23:36:34 -0700
From: Chad Riley <chadriley01@sprynet.com>
Subject: Archetypes

Okay, I am writing up templates for all my favorite archetypes. However,
I just got done with the Superbrick - and he's quite a few points.
So...my question is for any of you who have tried to do
archetypes/template heroes, for what ever reason. What power level do
you design them at? Do you design low (ie give your "Superman" Archtype
a STR of 30 or do you go long "Supermen" have Str 75-100).
I feel that since I use the hero types so often (routinely frightening
myself with my lack of creativity) that I should have some stored for
cranking out the latest cape wearing superdetective I design....
Any body else do this or am I the only one who is this lazy and
uncreative?

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 00:08:36 -0700
From: Christopher Taylor <ctaylor@viser.net>
Subject: Re: <FHList> eating and sleeping

>> As I understand it an average person that is not doing moderate exercise
>> will die from lack of water in around a week (this may hold true for total
>> rest as well) and from lack of food in around two weeks. As demonstrated
>> by zealous terrorists/cum martyr saints via hollywood, one can live for
>> about a month before coma sets in without food, assuming total rest.
>
>I think your 2 weeks is an underestimate or implies less than total rest..
>many/most people would last a month not two weeks (assuming they also had
plenty
>of water) without food and Americans 5 weeks... we average 20lbs
overweight ;)
>yes that is sarcasm and I know excess weight is typically ineffeciently
stored
>so bleah.

I didnt state it clearly. You can live about a month without food if you
are at total rest, and about 2 weeks assuming moderate exercise. Water,
however, is very critical, as I understand it a week is tops, even with rest.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sola Gracia Sola Scriptura Sola Fide
Soli Gloria Deo Solus Christus Corum Deo
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 00:12:59 -0700
From: Christopher Taylor <ctaylor@viser.net>
Subject: Re: Spock's Brain

>I was trying to think of some slow-thinking heroes to use as
>examples in one of my INT debate posts, and Mr. Spock came to
>mind. On later reflection, though, it occurred to me that
>Spock's thinking could be characterized as either fast or slow,
>depending on the context. It seems to me that this is yet
>another wrinkle in the definition of INT as speed of thought.
>
>Spock is certainly a Lightning Calculator, and capable of
>extraordinary analysis even in high pressure situations. When
>there's an engineering crisis, it's Spock who goes into the
>Jeffries tube, not Scotty. So maybe he's got a high INT. And

That is primarily due to the fact that Scotty was grossly underused. The
man was clearly some sort of genius with engineering, he could do almost
anything (as could Bones, the main cast were heroes all, 150+ pt
characters). But from what I heard Mr Shatner had a personal problem with
James Doohan and didnt like Scotty getting much screen time. Spock was way
too popular with the writers and the viewers to be cut back, and apparently
they got along ok. I would have to say that Spock was a genius but not the
same kind as Scotty.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sola Gracia Sola Scriptura Sola Fide
Soli Gloria Deo Solus Christus Corum Deo
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 00:15:30 -0700
From: Christopher Taylor <ctaylor@viser.net>
Subject: Re: DBZ Hair (Off Topic)

>> All I want to know is how I can get my hair to stand up in pointy bits like
>> that, he looks so cool....
>
> You can use a shaped mould and lots of Aquanet hairspray, or
>unflavoured gelatin. If you're really nuts, you can use Crazy Glue, which
>is permanent.

You all DO realize, that was sarcarsm.... right???

By the way Super Glue was created for use as a quick bandage by the
military, it clings to human skin better than almost anything on earth....
and its sanitary, hospitals use it. Cool stuff in game terms.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sola Gracia Sola Scriptura Sola Fide
Soli Gloria Deo Solus Christus Corum Deo
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 17:54:27 +1000
From: Phil Chappell <pchap@macquarie.matra.com.au>
Subject: Darth Vader

The real point about Star Wars combat, though, is - why do Stormtroopers
wear armour? It doesn't doing anything (as far as I can remember no-one
evers deflects a blaster shot) except slow them down and limit their field
of vision.

And why are the crew on the Deathstar weapon wearing armour? Are they
expecting to be attacked at any moment by rebel infiltrators?

Suspension of disbelief is a wonderful thing!

Phil

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 01:01:51 -0700
From: Tracy L Birdine <hawk291@juno.com>
Subject: Re: Darth Vader

On Fri, 30 Apr 1999 17:54:27 +1000 Phil Chappell
<pchap@macquarie.matra.com.au> writes:
> The real point about Star Wars combat, though, is - why do
> Stormtroopers
> wear armour? It doesn't doing anything (as far as I can remember
> no-one
> evers deflects a blaster shot) except slow them down and limit their
> field
> of vision.
>
> And why are the crew on the Deathstar weapon wearing armour? Are
> they
> expecting to be attacked at any moment by rebel infiltrators?
>
> Suspension of disbelief is a wonderful thing!
>
> Phil
>

And while we're at it, how TIE fighters, Bombers, and Interceptors are
unshielded? Does the Empire have cookie-cutter molds to produce these
things cheaply?
>

|- /\ \\/ |< [ ICQ: 32038562 ] ghostwalker@ifr-inc.org
CO/4th Batt., The Horsemen, Black Horse Regiment
*---===( )===---*
Black Horse Webpage: http://www.ifr-inc.org/staffpages/tb.html

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 11:57:51 +0200
From: Henrik Giese <henrik.giese@lgp.se>
Subject: RE: Follower question:

This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand
this format, some or all of this message may not be legible.

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When it comes to followers I ran into a rather dangerous situation a short
time ago. I was designing a character, "MechBoy", and ended up with the
following:

MechBoy (standard 100+150 pts character): 100 pts
MechBoys Mecha (vehicle 200+50 pts): 40 pts
MechBoys Bots (followers 150+100 pts): 30 pts
Total: 170 pts

This leaves 80 pts to buy more Bots. Thats 32,000 Bots, each as tough as a
standard PC hero!

How long before he takes over the world?

Any suggestions (other than "don't do it", that is)?

/Henrik

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<TITLE>RE: Follower question:</TITLE>
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When it comes to followers I ran into a rather =
dangerous situation a short time ago. I was designing a character, =
"MechBoy", and ended up with the following:

MechBoy (standard 100+150 pts character): 100 =
pts
 MechBoys Mecha (vehicle 200+50 pts): 40 pts
 MechBoys Bots (followers 150+100 pts): 30 pts
 Total: 170 pts


This leaves 80 pts to buy more Bots. Thats 32,000 =
Bots, each as tough as a standard PC hero!


How long before he takes over the world?


Any suggestions (other than "don't do it", =
that is)?


/Henrik


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</HTML>
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Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 04:03:31 -0700
From: Max Callahan <mcallahan@home.com>
Subject: Re: Mana as a secondary characteristic

>While the group is on the subject of discussing secondary characteristics,
>I've got a question. The Fantasy Hero Companion II introduced the idea of
>Mana (EGO*2) and Mana Recovery or MRC (EGO/5 + INT/5) for the powering of
>magic spells rather than burning END. Has anyone ever experimented with
>using MANA and MRC in a superhero campaign for the powering of magic or
>psionic powers?
>
>Len Carpenter
>redlion@early.com

I'm running a game that uses MANA to power magic (but not psionics) in
general it doesn't make that much of a difference, only one of the pcs has
MANA (under my implementation only thoes beings that are inherently magical
get MANA and MRC), he's a weretiger (basicly a brick) and didn't raise his
MANA and MRC over their starting values (and his INT and EGO aren't hot) so
magical powers are far more limited in the amount he can use them than if
they were END baised. My first draft for this game called for all
characters it have a MANA and MRC and while building characters I noticed
that characters either had no MANA based powers and thus spent no points on
MANA and MRC, or had MANA based powers and spent no points on END and REC.
MANA baised characters gained a slight advantage in being able to push
their STR and running without worrying about running out of energy for
their powers, and a slight disadvantage in having to spent points on MRC to
get back energy for their powers and REC to get back stun instead of just
Buying REC and having it do both. Using the mana rules also serves to
differentiate magical energy from personal energy for the purposes of aids
drains and transfers

Max Callahan

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 07:21:12 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: Re: Darth Vader

On Fri, 30 Apr 1999, Phil Chappell wrote:

> The real point about Star Wars combat, though, is - why do Stormtroopers
> wear armour? It doesn't doing anything (as far as I can remember no-one
> evers deflects a blaster shot) except slow them down and limit their field
> of vision.

Why do people wear armor in fantasy films? It never helps there either.
The reason is simple, it looks cool. Also notice that the stormtroopers
wipe up on anyone *but* our 3-4 main heroes.

> And why are the crew on the Deathstar weapon wearing armour? Are they
> expecting to be attacked at any moment by rebel infiltrators?

It's a standard uniform, so...

- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html

If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an
infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even
considering if there is a man on base. - Dave Barry

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 07:22:38 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: Re: Darth Vader

On Fri, 30 Apr 1999, Tracy L Birdine wrote:

> And while we're at it, how TIE fighters, Bombers, and Interceptors are
> unshielded? Does the Empire have cookie-cutter molds to produce these
> things cheaply?

Probably. Consider the size of the Empire. They probably do produce them
en-mass with no problem.

- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html

If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an
infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even
considering if there is a man on base. - Dave Barry

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 07:33:34 EDT
From: Akirazeta@aol.com
Subject: Re: Darth Vader

In a message dated 4/30/99 7:22:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
susano@dedaana.otd.com writes:

<< > And while we're at it, how TIE fighters, Bombers, and Interceptors are
> unshielded? Does the Empire have cookie-cutter molds to produce these
> things cheaply?

Probably. Consider the size of the Empire. They probably do produce them
en-mass with no problem. >>

Yes they are produced en mass. In the Nintendo 64 game Rogue Squadron, there
are a number of missions that require you to launch attackes on the huge
plants that mass produce these. AT-AT and AT-ST's are also made this way.

The reason that they have no shields is that at the point in time that the
"trilogy" takes place, the shield technology hasnt been miniturized enough to
practically be included in the TIE models.

Id also like to note that the game Rogue Squadron was (one of) the first
pieces of Star Wars media that George Lucas actuially sanctioned as Cannon
Material. :)

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 07:34:04 EDT
From: Akirazeta@aol.com
Subject: Fwd: Darth Vader

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In a message dated 4/30/99 6:53:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Akira zeta
writes:

<< In a message dated 4/30/99 3:55:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
pchap@macquarie.matra.com.au writes:

<< The real point about Star Wars combat, though, is - why do Stormtroopers
wear armour? It doesn't doing anything (as far as I can remember no-one
evers deflects a blaster shot) except slow them down and limit their field
of vision.>>>

Maybe the armor changes the killing attack of a blaster into a strictly stun
attack. I believe one storm trooper gets up, but I couldnt recall off hand if
it was one in the movies or one of the novels.

<< And why are the crew on the Deathstar weapon wearing armour? Are they
expecting to be attacked at any moment by rebel infiltrators?>>

The storm troopers are an elite (lol) fighting force. The white armor is
theyre uniform. Soldiers wear theyre uniform ALL of the time theyre on duty.
Pretty simple.

<<Suspension of disbelief is a wonderful thing!>>
So if logic :)
>>

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Return-path: Akirazeta@aol.com
From: Akirazeta@aol.com
Full-name: Akira zeta
Message-ID: <1b785c11.245ae5a2@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 06:53:22 EDT
Subject: Re: Darth Vader
To: pchap@macquarie.matra.com.au
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
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X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 4

In a message dated 4/30/99 3:55:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
pchap@macquarie.matra.com.au writes:

<< The real point about Star Wars combat, though, is - why do Stormtroopers
wear armour? It doesn't doing anything (as far as I can remember no-one
evers deflects a blaster shot) except slow them down and limit their field
of vision.>>>

Maybe the armor changes the killing attack of a blaster into a strictly stun
attack. I believe one storm trooper gets up, but I couldnt recall off hand if
it was one in the movies or one of the novels.

<< And why are the crew on the Deathstar weapon wearing armour? Are they
expecting to be attacked at any moment by rebel infiltrators?>>

The storm troopers are an elite (lol) fighting force. The white armor is
theyre uniform. Soldiers wear theyre uniform ALL of the time theyre on duty.
Pretty simple.

<<Suspension of disbelief is a wonderful thing!>>
So if logic :)

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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 07:35:14 EDT
From: Akirazeta@aol.com
Subject: Fwd: DBZ adaptions finished

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In a message dated 4/30/99 6:39:11 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Akira zeta
writes:

<< In a message dated 4/29/99 2:16:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
lancelot@radiks.net writes:

<< Michael I can barely stand to be in the room as my son watches this
stuff...
thinking about them in the detail it would take to design the characters
would be
a horrible experience. I can't even distinguish the characters which are
supposed
to be adult versus those that aren't.... the title sounds like a gross game
of find
the giant lizard testicle, Im experiencing severe culture shock I think.

I love Vampire Hunter D. so I think it isnt a total genre problem. >>

Dont worry, its an aquired taste. :) Fortunatly, most people find it pretty
easy to aquire. >>

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Return-path: Akirazeta@aol.com
From: Akirazeta@aol.com
Full-name: Akira zeta
Message-ID: <37cf1a93.245ae24f@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 06:39:11 EDT
Subject: Re: DBZ adaptions finished
To: lancelot@radiks.net
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
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X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 4

In a message dated 4/29/99 2:16:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
lancelot@radiks.net writes:

<< Michael I can barely stand to be in the room as my son watches this
stuff...
thinking about them in the detail it would take to design the characters
would be
a horrible experience. I can't even distinguish the characters which are
supposed
to be adult versus those that aren't.... the title sounds like a gross game
of find
the giant lizard testicle, Im experiencing severe culture shock I think.

I love Vampire Hunter D. so I think it isnt a total genre problem. >>

Dont worry, its an aquired taste. :) Fortunatly, most people find it pretty
easy to aquire.

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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 07:34:33 EDT
From: Akirazeta@aol.com
Subject: Fwd: DBZ Hair (Off Topic)

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In a message dated 4/30/99 6:47:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Akira zeta
writes:

<< n a message dated 4/30/99 1:30:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
ravanos@NJCU.edu writes:

<< > All I want to know is how I can get my hair to stand up in pointy bits
like
> that, he looks so cool....

You can use a shaped mould and lots of Aquanet hairspray, or
unflavoured gelatin. If you're really nuts, you can use Crazy Glue, which
is permanent. >>

You can buy big plastic mold wigs which gove the anime hair look, although
im noot sure where accept in major cities. >>

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Return-path: Akirazeta@aol.com
From: Akirazeta@aol.com
Full-name: Akira zeta
Message-ID: <64e5cf97.245ae45f@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 06:47:59 EDT
Subject: Re: DBZ Hair (Off Topic)
To: ravanos@NJCU.edu
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In a message dated 4/30/99 1:30:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time, ravanos@NJCU.edu
writes:

<< > All I want to know is how I can get my hair to stand up in pointy bits
like
> that, he looks so cool....

You can use a shaped mould and lots of Aquanet hairspray, or
unflavoured gelatin. If you're really nuts, you can use Crazy Glue, which
is permanent. >>

You can buy big plastic mold wigs which gove the anime hair look, although
im noot sure where accept in major cities.

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Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 07:34:57 EDT
From: Akirazeta@aol.com
Subject: Fwd: DBZ adaptions finished

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In a message dated 4/30/99 6:44:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Akira zeta
writes:

<< In a message dated 4/29/99 6:01:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
ctaylor@viser.net writes:

<< At least its better than Pokemon *shudder*, do you suppose gamers in Japan
are working on writing up Scooby Doo and the Smurfs? >>

The japanese would never create cartoons soo whole heartedly generic. :) >>

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From: Akirazeta@aol.com
Full-name: Akira zeta
Message-ID: <18405eb3.245ae377@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 06:44:07 EDT
Subject: Re: DBZ adaptions finished
To: ctaylor@viser.net
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In a message dated 4/29/99 6:01:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
ctaylor@viser.net writes:

<< At least its better than Pokemon *shudder*, do you suppose gamers in Japan
are working on writing up Scooby Doo and the Smurfs? >>

The japanese would never create cartoons soo whole heartedly generic. :)

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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 20:22:04 +0800
From: "Colin aka Arkham aka the God King" <astroboy@iinet.net.au>
Subject: Re: Mana as a secondary characteristic

For an alternative look at magic in HERO check out the link of my homepage
(address in the .sig)
********************************************************
Colin Clark
World Emperor in Waiting
http://www.iinet.net.au/~astroboy
********************************************************
- ----- Original Message -----
From: Len Carpenter <redlion@early.com>
To: <champ-l@sysabend.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 1999 11:53 AM
Subject: Mana as a secondary characteristic

> While the group is on the subject of discussing secondary characteristics,
> I've got a question. The Fantasy Hero Companion II introduced the idea of
> Mana (EGO*2) and Mana Recovery or MRC (EGO/5 + INT/5) for the powering of
> magic spells rather than burning END. Has anyone ever experimented with
> using MANA and MRC in a superhero campaign for the powering of magic or
> psionic powers?
>
> Len Carpenter
> redlion@early.com
>
>
>

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 05:59:11 -0700
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: DBZ adaptions finished

At 11:35 PM 4/29/1999 EDT, Leah L Watts wrote:
>>> All I want to know is how I can get my hair to stand up in pointy bits
>like
>>> that, he looks so cool....
>>
>>Use a lot of VO5 I think. Or Crisco.
>
>This actually pops up every so often on the fantasy costuming mailing
>list. According to some posters with punker friends, Knox unflavored
>gelatine makes great Mohawks.

Well, now I know how to make myself look like Bart Simpson on Halloween
(if I didn't already have the perfect hair to look like his father). ;-]
- ---
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, 30 Apr 1999 06:21:25 -0700
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: Spock's Brain

At 11:32 PM 4/29/1999 -0400, BILL SVITAVSKY wrote:
[snip]
>Spock is certainly a Lightning Calculator, and capable of
>extraordinary analysis even in high pressure situations. When
>there's an engineering crisis, it's Spock who goes into the
>Jeffries tube, not Scotty. So maybe he's got a high INT. And
>yet, in combat or any other situation where quick decision is
>called for, Spock's not exactly the man for the job - he'll
>weight all possibilities to the last decimal place before he
>takes action. So maybe he's got a low INT. Fascinating.
[snip]
>I'm curious, then, what INT people would give to Spock. Any takers?

Based on the above observation, I'd give him an 18, with a Psychological
Limitation "Must Apply Careful Logic to All Situations" (Common, Strong).
- ---
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, 30 Apr 1999 09:32:04 -0400
From: Bill Svitavsky <nbymail11@mln.lib.ma.us>
Subject: Re: Darth Vader

At 05:54 PM 4/30/99 +1000, Phil Chappell wrote:
>The real point about Star Wars combat, though, is - why do Stormtroopers
>wear armour? It doesn't doing anything (as far as I can remember no-one
>evers deflects a blaster shot) except slow them down and limit their field
>of vision.
>

The Star Wars RPG had a nice rationalization for this. As I recall, in that
game Stormtrooper armor reduces the damage of an attack that hits by a
narrow margin, but does nothing (or virtually nothing) vs. an attack that
hits by a wide margin. Since heroes tend to be exceptionally skilled, they
make most of their attacks on Stormtroopers by a wide margin, and hence the
armor is irrrelevent; in a battle vs. standard rebel troops, the armor
would actually be pretty useful. I don't remember all the mechanics for
this, just the concept, which I thought was pretty neat.

This would be a little tricky to pull off in the Hero System. Missile
Deflection's OCV vs. OCV would make sense, but it seems like the effect of
the armor shouldn't be all or nothing. Perhaps Damage Reduction (25% or
50%) Based on a "Skill Roll" (actually OCV vs. OCV) would be the way to do it.

>And why are the crew on the Deathstar weapon wearing armour? Are they
>expecting to be attacked at any moment by rebel infiltrators?
>

Regulations.

- - Bill Svitavsky

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 09:51:49 -0400
From: Geoff Speare <geoff@igcn.com>
Subject: Re: Darth Vader

>This would be a little tricky to pull off in the Hero System. Missile
>Deflection's OCV vs. OCV would make sense, but it seems like the effect of
>the armor shouldn't be all or nothing. Perhaps Damage Reduction (25% or
>50%) Based on a "Skill Roll" (actually OCV vs. OCV) would be the way to do it.

Just buy it as lots of Armor with the Limitation "Only when attack roll is
made by 2 or less" (-1, perhaps).

I had a character (a robot with pain sensitivity only in part of its body)
which had +2 DCV, Does not Affect BODY damage: not all hits did STUN.

Geoff Speare

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 09:59:27 -0400
From: Bill Svitavsky <nbymail11@mln.lib.ma.us>
Subject: Re: Spock's Brain

At 11:08 PM 4/29/99 -0500, Michael (Damon) & Peni Griffin wrote:
>
>Kirk isn't capable of the kind of rapid analysis Spock can perform in
>non-crisis situations. Kirk comes to decisions more quickly in crisis
>situations because he reacts by instinct and intuition. He isn't using his
>brain so much as his "gut". This seems more an EGO thing than an INT
>thing. (Anyone here who doesn't think Jim Kirk has a big EGO?) You
>*could* just say that intuitive thinking is more rapid than rational
>thinking and simulate that with a higher INT score, but it's really just a
>left-brain vs. right-brain distinction.
>

It seems to me intuition is really an important ability of a number of
popular heroes: Luke Skywalker, Fox Mulder, Special Agent Dale Cooper, etc.
I wish the Hero System had a better representation if it, which is exactly
why I created the Intuition Talent:

INTUITION

This EGO-based talent is the ability to leap to a correct conclusion
without all the facts necessary to make a logical conclusion. It is similar
to the Skill Deduction, and should likewise be used sparingly. However,
this talent differs from deduction in both applicability and results. A
character may attempt an Intuition Roll to reach some understanding in the
absence of complete information. The conclusion he or she reaches, though,
may not answer the question the player had in mind. The conclusion will
also be less definite than the product of logical reasoning - a "hunch" -
and the Skill Roll should therefore generally be made by the GM. A failed
Intuition Roll usually means that the character has no strong feeling about
the situation, or it can mean an incorrect hunch.

Cost: 3 points for a 9+(EGO/5) base roll, +2 points per +1 to the roll.

>Spock has stated repeatedly that he has never sought command. This shows
>great good sense on his part, since he has no real facility for it.
>Command requires the ability to reach decisions quickly, often on the basis
>of less information than is desirable. Spock's tendency to analyze a
>situation to death is perhaps best handled as a Psych Lim rather than a
>reduced INT score.
>

I agree. But is there really such a vast difference between this and
building Einstein with a high INT, Psych Lim: Absent-Minded (-5 to PER),
and Phys.Lim: Has difficulty with Basic Math?

- - Bill Svitavsky

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1999 17:45:22 -0400
From: "Robert A. West" <robtwest@erols.com>
Subject: Re: Discriminatory IR

geoff heald wrote:

> Unkabill says:
> In Hero, if your IR vision is Discriminatory, you should be able to tell
> the color of their clothes (as well as identify individuals).
> It doesn't seem to make sense, but that's what Discriminatory means.

Err...no.

Discriminatory Hearing does not tell me the color of someone's clothes,
although it may tell me about the material by the rustle.
Discriminatory Smell does not tell me the color of clothes, but it will
tell me who wore them last. Discriminatory senses give you the
information that can be gathered through that sense, enough to
discriminate among individuals or objects that are not identical.

Thus, Discriminatory Normal Sight (the default) does not allow one to
discriminate between identical twins, unless one has acquired a scar or
they dress differently. Discriminatory Smell might well allow one to
discriminate between them -- I don't know for sure.

In fact, depending on the Special Effect of the IR vision, the list of
classes among which one can discriminate may vary. I would say,
however, that IR vision that is sufficiently precise to detect disease
or lies reliably has become a special effect for an additional power
(Telepathy BOC?).

Robert A. West

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1999 12:13:12 -0400
From: "Robert A. West" <robtwest@erols.com>
Subject: Re: Mr. Schultz and the Alien Blade

Jason Sullivan wrote:
>
> I've run into a small obstacle in writing up my blade character.
>
> When his blade is taken from him in combat, he goes though an
> Accidential Change.
>
> ...but
> He dosen't change into one form. He changes into two... the
> sentient mystical alien blade and the mild mannered Mr. Schultz.
>
> When united, they have one conciousness, one personality.
>
- -=-

Assuming that Mr. Schultz's abilities are a proper subset of the
Barbarian's, the simplest construct seems to be use Duplication and
Focus.

Barbarian (Base Form)

Powers
Mr. Schultz's powers and skills -- unlimited
Instant Change (draw/drop blade) -- unlimited
Barbarian-Only powers and skills -- OAF/Blade(-1)
Shapeshift (one form: Barbarian) -- Persist(+1) OAF(-1) Always On(-1/2)
Duplication (Sentient Blade) -- Persist(+1) NOAF(-1) Always On(-1/2)

Disadvantages
Accidental Change (drop/forced to pick up blade)
Barbarian-Only Disadvantages Limited by ID (See Dark Champions)
Schultz-Only Disadvantages Limited by ID (See Dark Champions)

NOAF = Not with Obvious Accessible Focus. I believe that it is a good
rule of thumb for complementary Limitations to sum to -2. Under this
reasoning, if you make the sword an OIF(-1/2), then NOIF(-1 1/2) would
apply. Etc.

Robert A. West

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 11:21:11 EDT
From: Leah L Watts <llwatts@juno.com>
Subject: Re: Spock's Brain

>>.... Spock's tendency to analyze a
>>situation to death is perhaps best handled as a Psych Lim rather than a
>>reduced INT score.
>
>I agree. But is there really such a vast difference between this and
>building Einstein with a high INT, Psych Lim: Absent-Minded (-5 to PER),
>and Phys.Lim: Has difficulty with Basic Math?

I don't see any difference at all, and the Psych Lim route is what I
would use if I was designing a character along these lines. IMHO, both
Spock and Einstein should be close to the max INT value for their
respective races, but can't take full advantage of their intelligence in
some situations.

Leah

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