Digest Archive vol 1 Issue 323
From: owner-champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Sent: Friday, May 07, 1999 4:50 PM
To: champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Subject: champ-l-digest V1 #323
champ-l-digest Friday, May 7 1999 Volume 01 : Number 323
In this issue:
Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
Re: Storms
Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
RE: Storms
Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
CHAR: Flying Polyp
Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
How hot is hot?
Re: CHAR: Flying Polyp
Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
Re: How hot is hot?
Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is Dead?
Re: CHAR: Flying Polyp
Re: Duplication
Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
Re: Lady Archer Power Construct
Elementals & Archetypes
Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
Captain HERO
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 12:46:58 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
On Fri, 7 May 1999, Curt Hicks wrote:
> > From: Akirazeta@aol.com
> > << However, I'm not responsible if someone misinterprets what I say, or
> > misremembers something I said. Which does happen. >>
> >
> > Ahh, the "politician" line. heh. i love it when people say they dont lie,
> > than pull this line.
>
> You *are* or *are not* a fan of the Hero system ? I'm sure comments like
> these are great motivation for Steve Peterson and the other Hero
> rep's to be straight forward with us.
I don't think he is, considering how hard he's been hammering on about how
flawed the characteristcs are recently.
- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
The Phoenicians were not great philosophers... they pondered the simpler
questions, like "If I stick this spear in you, can I take your stuff?",
"Do you have relatives that would be mad if I took your stuff?", and
"Can my relatives beat up your relatives?"
(c) Doug Robarchek
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 12:48:03 EDT
From: HeroGames@aol.com
Subject: Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
In a message dated 5/7/99 9:35:04 AM, Akirazeta@aol.com writes:
<< However, I'm not responsible if someone misinterprets what I say, or=20
misremembers something I said. Which does happen. >>
>Ahh, the "politician" line. heh. i love it when people say they dont lie,
>
>than pull this line.
Please explain to me how I can prevent someone from misintepreting what I sa=
y=20
or write... just as you misintepreted my last post.
=97 Steve Peterson, Hero Games=20
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 12:49:23 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
On Fri, 7 May 1999 HeroGames@aol.com wrote:
> >>> I expect that Hero has lied to us at least once because they needed
> >to
> >>> create a particular media image and I don't really mind that.
> >>
> >>Well, that's not lying, that's marketing (-;
> >
> >Same thing, the latter being lying to make money.
>
> I realize that's supposed to be a joke, but marketing should not be lying...
> not good marketing. If you're lying about something, eventually you'll get
> tripped up and be worse off than if you didn't lie. Good marketing means not
> lying to others or lying to yourself about the selling points of your product.
Dunno, Steve, Bill Gates has been getting away with this stunt for years.
- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
The Phoenicians were not great philosophers... they pondered the simpler
questions, like "If I stick this spear in you, can I take your stuff?",
"Do you have relatives that would be mad if I took your stuff?", and
"Can my relatives beat up your relatives?"
(c) Doug Robarchek
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 12:54:40 EDT
From: Akirazeta@aol.com
Subject: Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
In a message dated 5/7/99 12:47:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time,=20
susano@dedaana.otd.com writes:
<< > > << However, I'm not responsible if someone misinterprets what I say,=20
or=20
> > misremembers something I said. Which does happen. >>
> >=20
> > Ahh, the "politician" line. heh. i love it when people say they dont=20
lie,=20
> > than pull this line.
>=20
> You *are* or *are not* a fan of the Hero system ? I'm sure comments like
> these are great motivation for Steve Peterson and the other Hero
> rep's to be straight forward with us.
=20
I don't think he is, considering how hard he's been hammering on about how
flawed the characteristcs are recently.
>>
Im something of an undecided at this point, though i feel that the base game=20
mechanics are flawed. I like the concept, and it IS the only supers game=20
engine in town. Im not going to give credit to ANY system where it isnt due,=20
and if there is a problem, i wont ignore it. :)
As for being a long time, or hardcore HERO fan, i believe in the statement=20
that STARTED this entire thread, I stated that my interest was little more=20
than curiosity of systems i havent yet played, and an intereest in playing a=20
super game.
>Please explain to me how I can prevent someone from misintepreting what I=20
say or< >write... just as you misintepreted my last post.<
><
>=97 Steve Peterson, Hero Games <
Dont worry Steve, im sure my oppinion is not the same as the majority of HER=
O=20
fans. There is a certian amount of sarcasm that cant be properly conveyed=20
through e-mail. :)=20
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 13:01:06 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: Re: Storms
Okay, this is try number 3:
13 Windstorm: TK: 5 STR, AoE: Radius x16 (+2), 1/2 END (+1/4),
Affects all parts of target (-1/4), Only outdoors (-1/2), END 2
117 Windstorm: Aid: 4d6 to Windstorm TK, Max: 140 points,
Fades per minute (+1/4), 1/2 END (+1/4), END 6
Now, the creature can power either itself, or another, meaning a that a
small group can produce a major windstorm in a very short period of time.
Does this look good to everyone else?
- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
The Phoenicians were not great philosophers... they pondered the simpler
questions, like "If I stick this spear in you, can I take your stuff?",
"Do you have relatives that would be mad if I took your stuff?", and
"Can my relatives beat up your relatives?"
(c) Doug Robarchek
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 13:04:32 -0400
From: Geoff Speare <geoff@igcn.com>
Subject: Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
>Im something of an undecided at this point, though i feel that the base game
>mechanics are flawed.
Some of them are, we've been advocating house rules to fix them for years.
:) But the innermost concept (buy game effects, define special effects as
needed) is NOT broken, and makes all the other mistakes worth dealing with.
Geoff Speare
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 12:10:21 -0500
From: "Guy Hoyle" <ghoyle1@airmail.net>
Subject: Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
This was uncalled for.
Guy
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
On 5/7/99 at 12:33 PM Akirazeta@aol.com wrote:
|In a message dated 5/7/99 12:29:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
|HeroGames@aol.com writes:
|
|<< However, I'm not responsible if someone misinterprets what I say, or
| misremembers something I said. Which does happen. >>
|
|Ahh, the "politician" line. heh. i love it when people say they dont lie,
|than pull this line.
- --_
Guy Hoyle (ghoyle1@airmail.net)
At first I thought, "Mind control satellites? No way!"
But now I can't remember how we lived without them.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 13:10:50 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
On Fri, 7 May 1999 Akirazeta@aol.com wrote:
> I don't think he is, considering how hard he's been hammering on about how
> flawed the characteristcs are recently.
>
> Im something of an undecided at this point, though i feel that the base game
> mechanics are flawed. I like the concept, and it IS the only supers game
> engine in town. Im not going to give credit to ANY system where it isnt due,
> and if there is a problem, i wont ignore it. :)
If you feel the base game mechanics of Hero are flawed *and* you are
looking for a superhero game engine then I don't quite know what to say.
Hero has been voted the best RPG of all time in one poll and is considered
the best supers RPG going. And if you think Hero is flawed, I'd hate to
see what you'd have to say about Marvel's old RPG or DC Heroes (or GURPS).
I will admit that GURPS is probably better for low-end gaming (such as
wild west type adventures, pulp action and/or horror, TV detectives) but
(IMO) Hero handles the cinematic style of gaming prefectly. Yes, it's not
perfect, but it is far better than just about anything else. About the
only thing that does the wild-action style of gaming better is Feng Shui.
> As for being a long time, or hardcore HERO fan, i believe in the statement
> that STARTED this entire thread, I stated that my interest was little more
> than curiosity of systems i havent yet played, and an intereest in playing a
> super game.
So that gives you the excuse to be somewhat insulting to the list as a
whole?
- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
The Phoenicians were not great philosophers... they pondered the simpler
questions, like "If I stick this spear in you, can I take your stuff?",
"Do you have relatives that would be mad if I took your stuff?", and
"Can my relatives beat up your relatives?"
(c) Doug Robarchek
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 13:32:43 -0700
From: "David W. Salmon" <dwsalmon@earthlink.net>
Subject: RE: Storms
I found something similar to what you're trying to do in the Mystic Masters
book. It is a focus called the Thanatic Rod. It has a transfer used to
increase it's own power. This doesn't fit exactly what your trying to do but
maybe it will give you some more ideas ...
The Thanatic Rod
Cost Spell/Effect
264 10d6 Transfer* (150 pts) vs. EGO and all magic powers(+2), 0 END(+1),
430,080" (534.5 miles) Radius(+4), Affects Desolid(+1/2), Armor
Piercing(+1/2), Continous(+1), Uncontrolled(+1/2), 2xDifficult to
Dispel(+1/2), one minute extra time(-1), Unbreakable Universal
OAF(expendable, can't recover)(-2), Independent(-2), won't work in
neutralizing holder or under neutralizer spell(-1/4), 150pts base power cost
x(1+10)=1650 active pts/(1+5 1/4) = 264 pts Real Cost
* The continuos transfer attacks at SPD 10, the speed of it's creator,
Tyrannon the Conqueror. Half the transferred points increase the base
transfer (105 pts adds 1d6), and the other half increase the area effect
radius (262 points doubles the range).
This is taken directly from the book. I was thinking that maybe you could
have like a 5d6 AE radius AID where you get 1d6 per other creature in the
vicinity. The AID points go to increasing the AID dice and increasing the
other power which would be your storm power. Then when more creatures show
up the AID would increase which would increase the storm, etc. Just an idea
...
Dave
- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-champ-l@sysabend.org [mailto:owner-champ-l@sysabend.org]On
Behalf Of Michael Surbrook
Sent: Friday, May 07, 1999 10:01 AM
To: Champions Mailing List
Subject: Re: Storms
Okay, this is try number 3:
13 Windstorm: TK: 5 STR, AoE: Radius x16 (+2), 1/2 END (+1/4),
Affects all parts of target (-1/4), Only outdoors (-1/2), END 2
117 Windstorm: Aid: 4d6 to Windstorm TK, Max: 140 points,
Fades per minute (+1/4), 1/2 END (+1/4), END 6
Now, the creature can power either itself, or another, meaning a that a
small group can produce a major windstorm in a very short period of time.
Does this look good to everyone else?
- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
The Phoenicians were not great philosophers... they pondered the simpler
questions, like "If I stick this spear in you, can I take your stuff?",
"Do you have relatives that would be mad if I took your stuff?", and
"Can my relatives beat up your relatives?"
(c) Doug Robarchek
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 11:13:47 -0700
From: Christopher Taylor <ctaylor@viser.net>
Subject: Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
At 12:46 PM 5/7/99 -0400, Michael Surbrook wrote:
>On Fri, 7 May 1999, Curt Hicks wrote:
>
>> > From: Akirazeta@aol.com
>> > << However, I'm not responsible if someone misinterprets what I say, or
>> > misremembers something I said. Which does happen. >>
>> >
>> > Ahh, the "politician" line. heh. i love it when people say they dont
lie,
>> > than pull this line.
>>
>> You *are* or *are not* a fan of the Hero system ? I'm sure comments like
>> these are great motivation for Steve Peterson and the other Hero
>> rep's to be straight forward with us.
>
>I don't think he is, considering how hard he's been hammering on about how
>flawed the characteristcs are recently.
He started out with a comment on how broken the system was, so I suspect
not. GURPS probably, it seems to be a common thread in GURPS players to
slam on Hero, and not really talk about how good Gurps is at all.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sola Gracia Sola Scriptura Sola Fide
Soli Gloria Deo Solus Christus Corum Deo
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 14:19:57 EDT
From: Akirazeta@aol.com
Subject: Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
In a message dated 5/7/99 2:14:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time, ctaylor@viser.net
writes:
<< >> You *are* or *are not* a fan of the Hero system ? I'm sure comments
like
>> these are great motivation for Steve Peterson and the other Hero
>> rep's to be straight forward with us.
>
>I don't think he is, considering how hard he's been hammering on about how
>flawed the characteristcs are recently.
He started out with a comment on how broken the system was, so I suspect
not. GURPS probably, it seems to be a common thread in GURPS players to
slam on Hero, and not really talk about how good Gurps is at all. >>
Wrong, though i agree with the statement. I detest GURPS with a passion
seldom dedicated to a gaming system. It may be because of bad experiences, or
it may be bacause GURPS is just an abomonation. Either way, i wont go near it
with a 2 mile stick.
See, i have no problem with HERO, so much as i have a problem with a few of
its stats, and the use of them in game.
And you know what they say about when you assume things. :)
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 14:21:51 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: CHAR: Flying Polyp
FLYING POLYP
Val CHA Cost Roll Notes
50 STR 20 19- 25 tons; 10d6
13 DEX 9 12- OCV: 4 / DCV: 4
25 CON 30 14-
25 BODY 18 14-
14 INT 4 12- PER Roll 12-
18 EGO 8 13- ECV: 6
30 PRE 20 15- PRE Attack: 6d6
0 COM -5 9-
20 PD 14 Total: 28 PD / 8 PDr
10 ED 5 Total: 18 ED / 8 EDr
3 SPD 7 Phases: 4, 8, 12
11 REC 0
50 END 0
55 STUN 2
Total Characteristics Cost: 132
Movement: Flight: 12" / 24"
Running: 8" / 16"
Swimming: 0"
Cost Powers & Skills
Combat Training:
9 Combat Skill Levels: +3 with Wind Powers
6 Combat Skill Levels: +3 with Tentacle Attacks
Flying Polyp Powers:
27 Great Size: Growth: 4 Levels, 0 END (+1/2), Persistant (+1/2),
Always on (-1/2)
+20 STR, +4 BODY & STUN, +1" Reach, -4" KB, -3 DCV, +3 to others
PER
20 Bite: HKA: 1d6+1 (2 1/2d6 with STR), END 2
96 Wind Blast: RKA: 2 1/d6, AoE: Radius (+1), Double KB (+3/4),
1/2 END (+1/4), Reduced by Range (-1/4), END 5
102 Fixing Attack: TK: 25 STR, AoE: Radius (+1), Indirect (+1/2), 1/2
END (+1/4), END 5
13 Windstorm: TK: 5 STR, AoE: Radius x16 (+2), 1/2 END (+1/4),
Affects all parts of target (-1/4), Only outdoors (-1/2), END 2
117 Windstorm: Aid: 4d6 to Windstorm TK, Max: 140 points,
Fades per minute (+1/4), 1/2 END (+1/4), END 6
12 Tentacle: Indirect: STR ignores physical (ie focused) armor (+1/4)
24 Extraterrene Form: Armor: 8 DEF
48 Extraterrene Form: Damage Reduction: 3/4, Physical, Resistant, Not
vs magic or enchanted weapons (-1/4)
24 Flight: 12", END 2
4 Great Size: Running: +2" (8" Total), END 2
- -2 Swimming: -2" (0" total)
10 Multiple Eyes: Normal Sight: 360 degrees
5 Multiple Tentacles: Extra Limbs (varies)
20 Invisibility: to normal sight, END 2
Background Skills:
3 Survival 11-
1 Tactics 8-
3 Tracking 12-
542 Total Powers & Skills Cost
674 Total Character Cost
75+ Disadvantages
Distinctive Features:
15 Accompanied by a constant piping sound
25 Huge hideous flying 'thing'
10 Hunted: The Great Race (As Pow) 8-
10 Physical Limitation: Cannot leap
15 Psychological Limitation: Aggressive and ferocious (C, S)
524 Experience
674 Total Disadvantage Points
Appearance:
A flying polyp is an enormous flying creature rife with dangling
tentacles, multiple eyes and several gaping mouths. Their forms are
pliable and tend to change slightly at all times. They are horrid to look
at and highly dangerous to approach.
Ecology:
Flying polyps are an alien species that came to Earth over 750 million
years ago. They settled on this planet (as well as several others) and
raised great cities made from black basalt. They preyed on anything they
could catch, and eventually came into conflict with the Great Race. This
war drove the polyps underground, into great caverns, where the remain
today. Entrances to the homes of the polyps can be found in ancient ruins
and uninhabited wastes. They are usually marked by deep wells that have
been sealed over with stone.
Motivations:
The polyps seem content to remain in their subterranean homes. They will
quickly dispose of any intruder and do not are to be disturbed. If
angered, they will mass for the hunt, creating great howling winds with
which to harass and destroy their enemies.
Combat Techniques:
A polyp will usually dispatch its targets with concentrated blasts of
wind, that leave the victim burned and desiccated. If interested in a
particular victim, the polyp will use its fixing attack to slow the target
until it can be picked up with a tentacle. If faced by a great number of
enemies, or if they wish to ravage a wide area, the polyps will summon a
massive windstorm, which they will use to scour the area clean.
As the flying polyps are composed of nonterrestrial matter, they are very
hard to injure. Most physical attacks do them little or no harm, while
such things as fire and electricity affect them normally. This
nonterrestrial state also allows their tentacles to by pass physical body
armors, although innate types of armor are not affected. A flying polyp
can also vanish from sight at will, and they tend to appear and disappear
almost at random. This invisibility is offset, however, by their constant
whistling and piping, which usually heralds their approach.
Other Names: Unknown
Rumors:
See below.
Designer's Notes:
The flying polyp is based on the creature of the same name from the game
Call of Cthulthu, which loosely based their polyp on creature from a story
by Lovecraft (did you get that?). Thus, I can't say how close this is to
Lovecraft's original idea.
Now, as a Lovecraftian nightmare, the creature is open to a lot of Game
Master interpretation. I didn't try to simulate CoC's sanity loss here,
since each GM will probably have their own system for that effect. I did
try and include all of the powers CoC listed, powers which could go into a
Power Framework if the GM is so inclined (technically, only superheroic
characters get those). The creature is missing a few possible powers,
such as Life Support (do they age?), Enhanced Senses (Spatial Awareness
defined as feeling air currents), Stretching (for long tentacles) and
different types of wind blasts. Skills could be added as well, along with
possible technological devices (how did they build their cities and travel
through space?). No matter how one decides to treat this creature, rest
asured it should give *any* party of characters a workout!
- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
The Phoenicians were not great philosophers... they pondered the simpler
questions, like "If I stick this spear in you, can I take your stuff?",
"Do you have relatives that would be mad if I took your stuff?", and
"Can my relatives beat up your relatives?"
(c) Doug Robarchek
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 11:31:15 -0700
From: Shelley Chrystal Mactyre <scm@mactyre.net>
Subject: Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
At 11:13 AM 5/7/99 -0700, Christopher Taylor wrote:
>He started out with a comment on how broken the system was, so I suspect
>not. GURPS probably, it seems to be a common thread in GURPS players to
>slam on Hero, and not really talk about how good Gurps is at all.
Funny...I use GURPS for all my non-supers and non-super-agent games, and I
don't seem to have a problem with Hero. Or maybe that's because they
published something I wrote, I dunno....
But seriously, do we really have to get into this particular pissing
contest? Can't we go back to arguing about linked or something equally
amicable? =)
Shelley Chrystal Mactyre
http://www.mactyre.net/shelley
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 15:01:55 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: How hot is hot?
So, what sort of an RKA would 4000 degrees C (or 7200 degrees F) produce?
- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
"Kids -- they're not easy, but there has to be some penalty for sex."
Bill Maher
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 15:04:23 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jason Sullivan <ravanos@NJCU.edu>
Subject: Re: CHAR: Flying Polyp
I think I'm in love!
<drools deludedly>
(Lovecraft is a personal favourite of mine.)
- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
In the end, it's too late...
- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 15:07:41 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jason Sullivan <ravanos@NJCU.edu>
Subject: Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
To answer the question... "Is Champions dead?"
My answer is "Yes, 4th edition Champions is dead."
...but it will be back with Post Mortem Regeneration as a +1/4
Advantage in 5th edition. :)
- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
In the end, it's too late...
- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 15:09:12 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jason Sullivan <ravanos@NJCU.edu>
Subject: Re: How hot is hot?
On Fri, 7 May 1999, Michael Surbrook wrote:
> So, what sort of an RKA would 4000 degrees C (or 7200 degrees F) produce?
>
Someone on this list posted rules for converting real world heat
units (joules) to Champion's dice of damage.
I'm actually _actively searching_ for these rules, as they were
really neat and will probally want a nice happy home in my house rule
section.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 15:12:26 -0400
From: Geoff Speare <geoff@igcn.com>
Subject: Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
At 03:07 PM 5/7/99 -0400, you wrote:
>To answer the question... "Is Champions dead?"
>
> My answer is "Yes, 4th edition Champions is dead."
It's not dead, it's just burning STUN as END. :)
Geoff Speare
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 19:18:09 GMT
From: mhoram@relia.net (Curtis A Gibson)
Subject: Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is Dead?
On Fri, 7 May 1999 10:15:43 -0400 (EDT), you wrote:
>On Fri, 7 May 1999, David Stallard wrote:
>
>> I wish I had kept early announcements about New Millennium to back me =
up,
>> but I clearly got the impression that New Millennium/Fuzion was to =
become
>> their main superhero game, and Hero System would be considered a small
>> niche market of fans that would refuse to die, so Hero would throw =
them a
>> bone every now and then in the form of a Hero Plus book. Then, when =
New
>> Millennium wasn't as overwhelmingly accepted as they had hoped, the =
tone
>> changed a bit and they begain talking about how Fuzion and Hero System
>> would be equally supported. Maybe my interpretation was faulty, but =
I'm
>> fairly confident that early messages presented Fuzion as a replacement=
for
>> Hero System (it was never stated flat out, because it could have =
angered
>> long-time Hero System fans, but if you read between the lines...). =
Hero
>> has already told me that I'm wrong about this, but I'm still not =
convinced.
>
>I will admit that this was my impression as well. Hero made it sound =
like
>that Fuzion was the greatest thing ever, and we would be so impressed =
that
>we would switch over instantly. =20
I see it somewhat differently. Think about building a new character,
one you are really enthusiastic about. You spent hours getting the
character the best you could. You are going to rave about it, and
usually somewhat neglect the character you are playing- even if you
don't play the new one as much. Then after a couple sessions, you find
perhaps in use the character is not as good as the one you had been
playing, or that the rest of the group just finds it distasteful.
Imagind how much more you would rave if it were a system, and you
spent months rather than weeks building it.
Personally I always saw what Hero was doing was enthusiastic raving
about the new system, which they just created and really liked; both
marketing and the enthusiam for the new.
- -Mhoram
"We've heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could=20
produce the Complete Works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the=20
Internet, we know this is not true." =20
--Robert Wilensky
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 15:19:47 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: Re: CHAR: Flying Polyp
On Fri, 7 May 1999, Jason Sullivan wrote:
> I think I'm in love!
>
> <drools deludedly>
>
> (Lovecraft is a personal favourite of mine.)
Expect a few more eventually.
- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
"Kids -- they're not easy, but there has to be some penalty for sex."
Bill Maher
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 15:52:08 -0400
From: "Dave Mattingly" <dave@haymaker.win.net>
Subject: Re: Duplication
>As you can guess, while Miss Dozen was already low-powered under 3rd
>Edition, she's completely impractical under 4th -- I don't recall which
>(since I gave up on it in '91), but I either couldn't even buy 11
>Duplicates at 250 points each at all, or if I could they were each less
>effective than a Normal.
As someone else mentioned, you can apply numerous limitations to the
Duplication power. I developed a fairly powerful 10-duplicate 100-point
character named the Clone Ranger. He has the powers of two VIPER five-teams.
I've got an extensive discussion of Duplication at
http://www.haymaker.org/haym08.html
Dave Mattingly
http://haymaker.org
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 15:49:42 EDT
From: Akirazeta@aol.com
Subject: Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
In a message dated 5/7/99 3:08:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time, ravanos@NJCU.edu
writes:
<< To answer the question... "Is Champions dead?"
My answer is "Yes, 4th edition Champions is dead."
...but it will be back with Post Mortem Regeneration as a +1/4
Advantage in 5th edition. :) >>
If it simplifies things any at all, ill be willing to give it a +1/2
advantage just for coming out! And of course, +1/4 extra for for being the
best super rpg in town
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 16:16:16 -0400
From: "Dave Mattingly" <dave@haymaker.win.net>
Subject: Re: Lady Archer Power Construct
I've got a few extra tricks on my character, Night Archer, at
http://www.haymaker.org/haym20f.html
He uses normal arrows, but can dip them in various poisons for extra effect.
Dave Mattingly
http://haymaker.org
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 16:37:29 -0400
From: "Dave Mattingly" <dave@haymaker.win.net>
Subject: Elementals & Archetypes
For the new age elementals, I 'd recommend: Time, Space, Order, Chaos.
This gives two pairs of 'related opposites,' just as fire/water and
earth/air are.
And anything should be able to be built using a combination of these four.
Just to show the versatility, I'll create the four classical elements from
these four.
Fire: Space + Chaos (destroys a particular place almost instantly -- i.e.
almost no time so time is not involved, only the space that gets destroyed)
Water: Time + Order (given enough time it will create order by carving a
riverbed or flattening out to its own "sea level")
Earth: Space + Order (rather obviously it occupies a rigidly defined area of
space)
Air: Time + Chaos (always moving in random-ish directions)
Notice also that the classical opposites are comprised of modern oposites.
As for powers, I'd go with variations on the four types of abilities in
Champions.
Time: Movement
Space: Sense
Order: Defense
Chaos: Offense
The other four-split I'd recommend is a straight derivative of the classic
superhero archetypes:
Strength: Brick
Mind: Mentalist
Skill: Martial Artist
Power: Blaster
Dave Mattingly
http://haymaker.org
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 13:40:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: Joe Mucchiello <jmucchiello@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Inquest Gamer: Champions is dead?
- --- Akirazeta@aol.com wrote:
> If it simplifies things any at all, ill be willing to give it a +1/2
> advantage just for coming out! And of course, +1/4 extra for for
> being the
> best super rpg in town
But you just increased the cost by 75%!!
Joe
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 16:48:56 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jason Sullivan <ravanos@NJCU.edu>
Subject: Captain HERO
Captain HERO
Val CHA Cost Roll Notes
22 STR 12 13- 500kg; 4d6+1
19 DEX 18 13- OCV: 6 / DCV: 6
16 CON 12 12-
16 BODY 12 12-
22 INT 12 13- PER Roll 13-
16 EGO 12 12-
22 PRE 12 13- PRE Attack: 4d6+1
20 COM 5 13-
5 PD 1 Total: PD 5
5 ED 2 Total: ED 5
5 SPD 21 Phases: 3, 5, 8, 10, 12
9 REC 4
32 END 0
36 STUN 1
Total Characteristics Cost: 125
Movement: Running: 6" / 12"
Swimming: 2" / 4"
Cost Powers & Skills
5 Mental Defense "Iron Will"
5 +5 CON, "Iron Will" Only to prevent being stunned,
requires EGO roll
5 Armor: +4/+4 (OIF--Suit (-1/2), Activation (-1/4),
Limitation: Real kevlar armor does not apply versus falls
or knives (-1/2)
3 -5 Lack of Weakness (OIF--Suit (-1/2)
4 Superleap, "Special Training" Invisible to Sound (+1/2),
No Noncombat Multiple (-1/4), RSR: DEX (-1/2), Decent Only (-1)
10 Swing Line Multipower: (20 pt. pool) OAF: Swing Line (-1)
1u 4" Stretching
Requires DEX Roll (-1/2), No Fine Manipulation/Limited Application
(can only be used for attacking with Grab and Disarm and for
pulling objects) (-1/4), No Non Combat Multiple (-1/4)
1u Swinging 20"
Requires OCV roll (-1/2),
Not for sequential swings (-1)
No Non Combat Multiple (-1/4)
Cost Skills
3 Acrobatics
3 Breakfall
3 Criminology
3 Deduction
3 Oratory
3 Paramedic
Combat Training: Hiro-Do
Cost Description Maneuver OCV DCV Damage
5 Hiro Chop Offensive Strike
3 Slam Martial Throw
4 Disarm Martial Disarm
4 Escape Martial Escape
3 +1 Hero-Do
10 +2 All Hand to Hand Combat
10 +1 Overall Levels
Total for Skills, Training, and Levels: 57
Perks:
4 Licenced Police Operative
2 Contact: Campagin City's Commissioner
Total Powers & Skills Cost
Total Character Cost
100+ Disadvantages
25 Devoted to Justice (VC, Total)
15 Code Against Killing
20 Heroic Code (VC, Total) (Puts innocents above self,
helps the helpless, protects the innocent, enforces the
law and refuses to break it, truthful when necessary)
10 Fights Hand to Hand: Likes to "duke it out." Will accept any
offer to "fight like a man." Despises firearms and other
"unheroic" weapons.
10 Enraged: If Secret ID is threatened (un, 14, 11)
15 DNPC: Wife (Reporter) (Normal, 14)
15 Reputation: Squeaky Clean Do-Gooder
8 Watched by Justice Department
10 Hunted by District Attorney Smithe (As Powerful, NCI, 11-,
Revoke License & Defame Image)
10 Hunted by local street Gangs (Less Pow,
Limited Geographic Area, -14)
15 Secret ID: Manfred Manning
(Captain Hero created by, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook
Special thanks goes out to all the people on the HERO mailing list who
helped me with the concept. This character is dedicated to the creators
of the HERO system.)
Manfred Manning has always wanted to be a hero.
You could say. His grandfather was a pro-hero police officer
during the Crimebuster trials (see Notes). His father was a graphic
artist, part of the illegal Comic Book Underground. His mother, a social
worker, always stressed that Manfred should be kind to those less
fortunate, and acted accordingly by donating her free time to charity.
Both his father and grandfather payed homage to the hero's of myth
and legend by telling young Manfred Starchild Manning stories. There was
even an impromptu superhero museum set up in his family's antique objects
and book store. His eyes were filled with images of musclemen and masked
avengers-- Doc Savage, The Shadow, The Spider, and The Phantom. This
storage room became the center of his youthful obsession with the heroes,
stack upon stack of preserved newspaper strips and clippings, comic
magazines, fiction, old news reels, and serial flicks. He was captivated
by these images, and identified with them. While he came from a very
moral (but not zealously rightous) family, his parents were very liberal
and accepting. In fact, they encouraged Manfred to explore the roots of
ancient heroes. He knew he would one day inherit his forefather's legacy,
and his obsession with the archetype.
Manfred was an active, healthy, well adjusted child who acceled in
school and athletics (especially gymnastics), and lived a quiet and fairly
non troubled life as a child in the suburbs of upstate New York. It was
just before his teen years he had a run in with a bully, who beat and
humiliated him for no reason.
With the aid of his parents, he saught out the help of Tai Hiro, a
martial artist who had composed a style known as "Hiro-Do." Manfred saw
Hiro as a positive role model, and with his mentorship, managed to larn
patience and discipline. Manfred placed highly in many Martial Arts
tournaments, and continued on with his gymnastics as an Olympic hopeful.
Manfred went through college on an athletic scholarship and earned
a degree in Physical Therapy. He also met his wife Constance Clark. They
were engaged soon after. Constance Clark became a reporter at a New York
television station, and Manfred worked as a personal trainer at Equinox.
It was during the week of their wedding that things took a turn
for the worse. Constance's brother, who had flown in from Chicago, was
brutally murdered (see Thrill Kill) the day of their wedding. Both
Manfred and Constance were crushed.
In world events, the Nationalist, a foreigner who was on trial for
breaking a number of "anti hero" laws, won his case. This, in turn, set
aoff a series of events for the "anti hero" laws to be broken down. Out
of the Nationalist's control, private groups, pro bono lawyers, public
opinion, and a number of other backers, not only allowed "costumed heroes"
there would also be various state sanctions.
A few months later, Manfred went to the antique store. As he
walked into the old museum, filed through the various papers, articles,
and sketches, he remembered... It was then he decided what his fate would
be; he wanted to be a hero.
Manfred felt really stupid in blue spandex. He had trained for a
few months moving about the city on various "test runs." The courts had
cleared his papers. All he needed to do now was find crime and stop it.
He heard a scream from the alleyway. Manfred sprung into action,
running down a few flights of the fire escape, and flipping over the edge
of the last one. He landed with perfect footing, in a crouch, totally
silent. He impressed himself, even as his rep cape draped around his
red boots.
In the alleyway, he saw a man with a switchblade harassing a
woman. Manfred sprung into action, and launched a snap kick to the
assilant's gut. He caught him off guard. The man reeled back and fell
down.
The woman looked up at him. She looked famaliar...
It was Constance! A stupid smile almost crept up on his face...
but he caught himself. There was a camera on him in no time. He rose up.
She couldn't know...
No one could know.
He fled out into the night. The media had seen him. There was no
turning back now. Captain Hero, sanctioned aganet of the state, was born
that night.
Design Notes:
Captain HERO is pretty basic. Decent statistics, a few side
abilites from equipment and training, and a decent array of Martial Arts.
His "Iron Will" comes from his diciplined life, tenacity, and his
morality.
Character Notes:
Captain Hero is a healthy adult in his mid twenties.
He is unexperienced as a hero, but has extensive martial training
with Tai Hiro, creator of Hiro-Do. It should be noted that the basics of
his detective skills were taught to him by his grandfather and honed after
adulthood. Aside from his job as a personal trainer, he splits his
free time to his family's antique and old book store and tending to his
domestic duties.
His father is still a graphic artist. His mother is still a
social worker. His father was part of the Comic Book Black Market. After
a particular dark blemish in the Campagin world's history (it's greatest
her, Crimebuster, was executed by the state) Comic Books about Masked Men
of Mystery were banned/censored by various government groups (similar to
the House of Unamerican Activities).
His grandfather had been a "pro-hero" police officer during the
trials (Crimebuster had been a fellow officer). Every night, his father
would tell him stories that his father told him from newspaper clippings
about the _real_ heroes: the Swashbuckler, the Aviator, and Crimebuster.
He was always captivated by these stories, and held a special
place in his heart for the hero.
He strives to be a positive role model, and feels a desire for
Justice. He is not "above the law," and he feels it isn't his place to
judge others. He will always work with or defer to the police. He fights
for his own personal ideals. By example, and by action, he wants to
infulence others. His antiquated style lacks practicality that others in
the universe have, but he represents what is classic, primal, and
archtypical in regards to heroics.
Manfred is not fully aware of his mortality, but his
brother-in-law's death brought him closer to that point than anything
else. He has yet to be severely injured in a conflict.
Manfred has no deep regrets, other than keeping his Secret ID from
his wife. They have established a level of trust between themselves that
runs very deep.
Manfred is not a team player, because close personal bonds would
compramise his Secret ID, and has no affiliation to any organization,
other than the police force.
His first costume was Spandex with an iron on star. It wasn'tot
very durable. It was inspired by old comic books heroes (namely Captain
America, Batman, and Superman). His second Armored costume was dontated
anonymously to the police force- and was greatly updated in style and
material. It was fabricated by the Lurker because he felt sorry for
anyone who had to run around in tights.
So far, Manfred has only "scratched the surface" of the world. He
has yet to meet the enigmatic Lurker in person, or butt heads with the
self styled vigilante End Game. He has attracted the attention Kamin
Black, a crime boss, who despises Manfred's enthusiasim.
Captain HERO is hated by a District Attorney who feels that
costumed heroes are stupid, and undermine the American legal system.
------------------------------
End of champ-l-digest V1 #323
*****************************
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Date: Tuesday, June 29, 1999 03:55 PM