Digest Archive vol 1 Issue 336
From: owner-champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 1999 8:30 PM
To: champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Subject: champ-l-digest V1 #336
champ-l-digest Tuesday, May 11 1999 Volume 01 : Number 336
In this issue:
Re: File Sought
Re: Amberite Question
Re: Amberite Question
Re: Amberite Question
Re: Amberite Question
Re: VIPER: What is it?
Re: Amberite Question
Re: Amberite Question
Re: Amberite Question
Re: VIPER: What is it?
Re: Amberite Question
Re: VIPER: What is it?
Re: VIPER: What is it?
Re: CHAR: Amberites, Part I
Re: CHAR: Amberites, Part I
Re: CHAR: Amberites, Part I
Re: CHAR: Amberites, Part I
Re: VIPER: What is it?
Re: VIPER: What is it?
CHAR: Benedict, Weapons Master of Amber - Rough Draft
CHAR: Benedict, Weapons Master of Amber - Rough Draft
Re: CHAR: Amberites, Part I
Re: Amberite Question
Re: Amberite Question
Re: Amberite Question
Lists
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 13:14:25 -0700
From: "James Jandebeur" <james@javaman.to>
Subject: Re: File Sought
Well, here's Opal's Regeneration rules, anyway:
Regeneration:
This special power allows a character to recover BOD more
rapidly. Normally, BOD heals at a rate of 1 per point of
Recovery each month. Each 5 pts of Regeneration moves that
recovery rate one step up on the time chart - up to 35 pts which
allows the character to heal his REC in BOD each turn (on post-
segment-12). For 45 pts, the character can heal BOD every time
he takes a recovery (including post-segment-12). Characters
wishing to recover from wounds even faster should consider taking
Damage Reduction with the special effect of instantly healing.
Regeneration can go beyond merely speeding healing. For +10
pts the character's rate of Regeneration is unaffected by
environmental factors or levels of exertion. For +15 pts, he
does not bleed (doesn't lose BOD after being reduced to 0 BOD or
suffer from the effects of the optional bleeding rules). The
character can also regrow lost limbs and recover completely from
the effects of Disabling wounds for +10 pts.
Regeneration cost: 5pts per step on the time chart. Heal
BOD on each Recovery for 45pts. Ignore environment/exertion
for +10 pts. Does not bleed +15pts. Regrow limbs +10.
Minimum cost 10pts.
If anyone wants the rest of his variants, I'll be putting them up on my web
page, hopefully tonight. I'll send them out in text format on request and
with his permission.
JAJ, GP
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 16:19:29 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: Re: Amberite Question
On Tue, 11 May 1999, Dr. Nuncheon wrote:
> > It's been a while since I read Amber, but doesn't Corwyn summon some money
> > *to* him at one point? The effect being described that he reaches into
> > shadow to find what he wants?
>
> Random changes the car, clothing, and Corwin's money as they drive through
> Shadow in NPiA. That might be what you're thinking of...
Maybe... isn't there a scene where Corwin is in a tavern and needs
money... (or.. uhm...) doesn't Merlin get himself a knife and/or sword in
the second series when he realizes he might get attacked on the way out of
a tavern? (this is the same scene that cameos John Gaunt, aka Grimjack).
- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
"Does this planet have a never-ending supply of weird stuff!"
Susano Orbatos, _Orion_
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 15:19:26 -0500 (CDT)
From: Curt Hicks <exucurt@exu.ericsson.se>
Subject: Re: Amberite Question
> From owner-champ-l@sysabend.org Tue May 11 15:13 CDT 1999
>
> Actually, he knew that the sword was back in Amber, but he made it appear,
> hidden in the tree. You don't see this much later on, although Logrus
> initiates can reach through Shadow to 'grab' things (as Merlin
> demonstrates). It could be that most Amberites can only do that to things
> they have some connection with - after all, Corwin has to physically go
> through Shadow to get his guns, etc. Possibly the only reason he was able
> to 'conjure' Greyswandir was that he was connected to it in a metaphysical
> sense.
>
There's a section in the Merlin series where Merlin asks a friend if he
wants a beer and reaches through Shadow to fetch two beers. Merlin comments
that he "specified beer" so he knows that it's not poisonous....
Have we had this discussion before ?
Curt
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 13:17:36 -0700
From: "James Jandebeur" <james@javaman.to>
Subject: Re: Amberite Question
> Puh. After that grandiose introduction, I find myself at a loss for two
> of the Amberite's powers. The easier of the two is the tendancy of
> shadows (dimensions) to become more 'real' with exposure to an
> Amberite over time, such that they take on a reality of their own.
That really sounds more like a special effect than anything, or something
for the Amberite to spend experience on (putting points to a base). But I
could be wrong, having only limited exposure to Amber.
> The more difficult question (for me) is how to model the Amberite's
> ability to seek things out in shadow. For instance, without knowing
> the location in infinite shadow of his sword, Greyswandir, Corwin is
> able to simply move to its location. Is this a form of summoning?
Memorized Location, Sword? Can they find things they aren't already familiar
with?
JAJ, GP
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 15:23:28 -0500 (CDT)
From: Curt Hicks <exucurt@exu.ericsson.se>
Subject: Re: Amberite Question
As far as summoning things through Shadow, it might be wise to distinguish
between Corwin's abilities (which presumably any Amberite could do)
and Merlin's, a trained magician and initiate of both the Logrus and the
pattern.
Curt
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 13:07:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: shaw@caprica.com (Wayne Shaw)
Subject: Re: VIPER: What is it?
>Personally, I think that experience is better used to broaden a character
>rather than increasing existing powers. A great example is the
>spider-tracers - it's taking something based on the powers/SFX of the
>character ('spider sense') and making a new power out of it.
One of the advantages of using a Rule of X style cap is that you can direct
most experience off it broadening a character and such while still
permitting occasional modest increases in power. Of course in a campaign
run over enough sessions even this might be problematic. I have trouble
picturing running the same campaign for more tha two or three years max, so
it's been a non-issue.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 13:05:42 -0400
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Re: Amberite Question
At 03:14 PM 5/11/99 -0500, you wrote:
>On Tue, 11 May 1999, Scott C. Nolan wrote:
>>
>> I don't think an Amberite can summon anything. He has to move
>> to it, not the other way around.
>
>Corwin summons a pair of birds to carry messages for him at the end of
>NPiA. (Oberon also creates the bird out of Corwin's blood, which could be
>counted as a form of Summon, but I don't think that was Shadow-walking
>related.)
Oberon, yes. Corwin, maybe. Corwin could be said to have found the birds
in shadow, or he could be said to have summoned them. I prefer the more
lyricaly attitude of the first approach.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 13:07:39 -0400
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Re: Amberite Question
At 03:15 PM 5/11/99 -0500, you wrote:
>On Tue, 11 May 1999, Michael Surbrook wrote:
>
>> It's been a while since I read Amber, but doesn't Corwyn summon some money
>> *to* him at one point? The effect being described that he reaches into
>> shadow to find what he wants?
>
>Random changes the car, clothing, and Corwin's money as they drive through
>Shadow in NPiA. That might be what you're thinking of...
Yes. The power Michael mentions is a standard ADRPG power, but not one
I think is well supported by the novels. Corwin has to travel to a shadow
where there are diamonds lying about in order to fund his gun purchase for
Avalon.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 13:08:35 -0400
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Re: Amberite Question
At 03:19 PM 5/11/99 -0500, Curt Hicks wrote:
>
>> From owner-champ-l@sysabend.org Tue May 11 15:13 CDT 1999
>>
>> Actually, he knew that the sword was back in Amber, but he made it appear,
>> hidden in the tree. You don't see this much later on, although Logrus
>> initiates can reach through Shadow to 'grab' things (as Merlin
>> demonstrates). It could be that most Amberites can only do that to things
>> they have some connection with - after all, Corwin has to physically go
>> through Shadow to get his guns, etc. Possibly the only reason he was able
>> to 'conjure' Greyswandir was that he was connected to it in a metaphysical
>> sense.
>>
>There's a section in the Merlin series where Merlin asks a friend if he
>wants a beer and reaches through Shadow to fetch two beers. Merlin comments
>that he "specified beer" so he knows that it's not poisonous....
That was Merlin using the Logrus. A totally different power.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 13:12:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: shaw@caprica.com (Wayne Shaw)
Subject: Re: VIPER: What is it?
>You know as well as I do that these are all exceptions and hardly the rule,
>comic book characters, characters in books, movies etc by the great
>majority do NOT grow in power over the years (the notable exception being
>characters that are children or the story is specifically about their
>training), especially compared to how it works in role playing games. The
>fact is, RPG's do not accurately represent the source material in this.
Actually, I don't think it's particularly true. I think many comic
characters show ability evolution over their histories, and that many book
characters who are not children do to. Movie characters usually don't, but
that has more to do with the time scope of the movie than anything else;
action-adventure movies rarely span a long enough period for it to be
visible to an outside observer. It certainly is in action oriented TV shows
that are not stuck with the 'nothing ever changes' paradigm. It's simply
the case that such improvements are mostly going to be visible with the
least capable characters initially.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 13:09:36 -0400
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Re: Amberite Question
>> The more difficult question (for me) is how to model the Amberite's
>> ability to seek things out in shadow. For instance, without knowing
>> the location in infinite shadow of his sword, Greyswandir, Corwin is
>> able to simply move to its location. Is this a form of summoning?
>
>Memorized Location, Sword? Can they find things they aren't already familiar
>with?
An Amberite can find anything that exists, given time and a lack of
opposition.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 16:28:20 -0400
From: Bill Svitavsky <nbymail11@mln.lib.ma.us>
Subject: Re: VIPER: What is it?
At 01:07 PM 5/11/99 -0700, Wayne Shaw wrote:
>>Personally, I think that experience is better used to broaden a character
>>rather than increasing existing powers. A great example is the
>>spider-tracers - it's taking something based on the powers/SFX of the
>>character ('spider sense') and making a new power out of it.
>
>One of the advantages of using a Rule of X style cap is that you can direct
>most experience off it broadening a character and such while still
>permitting occasional modest increases in power. Of course in a campaign
>run over enough sessions even this might be problematic. I have trouble
>picturing running the same campaign for more tha two or three years max, so
>it's been a non-issue.
>
In the campaign I ran for about 10 years, the biggest attacks grew from
about 12d6 to about 15d6. Meanwhile, the heroes bought a lot of cool minor
powers & equipment, bought off Psych Lims & other disadvantages, bought a
lot of skills, and so forth.
The biggest problem I've had with experience over the long haul is that the
Hero System has no provision for abilities in decline.
Bill Svitavsky
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 15:08:11 -0500
From: "Guy Hoyle" <ghoyle1@airmail.net>
Subject: Re: VIPER: What is it?
On 5/11/99 at 2:56 PM Mitchel Santorineos wrote:
|I'm afraid Dr. Destroyer is no longer with us. When he attempted to take
|over the teams Spacestation, the resulting battle killed the arch-villain
|and destroyed the station.
This is extremely easy to get around, of course. Surely the good Doctor
prepared a clone and transferred his mind at the last moment? Or maybe it
was the clone that was killed. Or maybe the Dr. Destroyer of a parallell
universe is trying to take over ours? Or maybe it wasa good parrallel
version of theDoctor that cameacross the dimensions, pursued by...? Or
maybe Dr. D was experimenting in time travel at some point, and visited the
present day. If he learned of his eventual fate, could he circumvent it
somehow?
The list goes on...
- --_
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: Tue, 11 May 1999 13:18:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: shaw@caprica.com (Wayne Shaw)
Subject: Re: CHAR: Amberites, Part I
>Fourth, I want to define the limits of what an Amberite can do. They are
>not gods or superheroes. Tricky chains of logic to the contrary, Gerard
>cannot outwrestle The Hulk. The Amberites are not so much superhuman
>as they are the extreme outer edge of human capability, physically. As
>one friend puts it, you never see Corwin do anything that you'd blink at
>twice if you saw Arnold Schwarzennegar do it in a movie.
I think I have to disagree with this. I don't think the Amberites are
grossly superhuman, but I'd examine the very first battle sequence in Nine
Princes in Amber where _Flora_ is tossing a rather large chair like it was a
piece of crockery, and Corwin and Random and do similar things. This is not
the behavior of humans in the normal range, let along people who are
respectively an athletic but fairly average sized woman, a large but not
overmuscled man, and a rather slightly built man. They also exhibit clearly
superhuman levels of durability and endurance at various points. I doubt in
Hero terms they'd be more than 25-30, but I'm quite dubious of at least
their gross physical attributes being less than that.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 13:19:44 -0400
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Re: CHAR: Amberites, Part I
At 01:18 PM 5/11/99 -0700, you wrote:
>
>>Fourth, I want to define the limits of what an Amberite can do. They are
>>not gods or superheroes. Tricky chains of logic to the contrary, Gerard
>>cannot outwrestle The Hulk. The Amberites are not so much superhuman
>>as they are the extreme outer edge of human capability, physically. As
>>one friend puts it, you never see Corwin do anything that you'd blink at
>>twice if you saw Arnold Schwarzennegar do it in a movie.
>
>I think I have to disagree with this. I don't think the Amberites are
>grossly superhuman, but I'd examine the very first battle sequence in Nine
>Princes in Amber where _Flora_ is tossing a rather large chair like it was a
>piece of crockery, and Corwin and Random and do similar things. This is not
>the behavior of humans in the normal range, let along people who are
>respectively an athletic but fairly average sized woman, a large but not
>overmuscled man, and a rather slightly built man. They also exhibit clearly
>superhuman levels of durability and endurance at various points. I doubt in
>Hero terms they'd be more than 25-30, but I'm quite dubious of at least
>their gross physical attributes being less than that.
Which is precisely what I said. Arnie himself may only have a STR of
15-16, but his characters can occasionally have a STR of 25 or 30.
Ever see the riduculously bad "Commando"?
BTW, Flora doesn't toss the chair. Corwin does. Flora has souped-up
wolfhounds to protect her, and a grenade in her purse.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 13:28:34 -0700 (PDT)
From: shaw@caprica.com (Wayne Shaw)
Subject: Re: CHAR: Amberites, Part I
>At 03:06 PM 5/11/99 -0500, Dr. Nuncheon wrote:
>>> Fourth, I want to define the limits of what an Amberite can do. They are
>>> not gods or superheroes. Tricky chains of logic to the contrary, Gerard
>>> cannot outwrestle The Hulk. The Amberites are not so much superhuman
>>> as they are the extreme outer edge of human capability, physically. As
>>> one friend puts it, you never see Corwin do anything that you'd blink at
>>> twice if you saw Arnold Schwarzennegar do it in a movie.
>>
>>I think your friend didn't read very closely, IMHO. Some of the things
>>that I remember:
>>
>>Corwin picks up a huge overstuffed chair with one hand and throws it
>>across the room hard enough to break someone's back.
>>
>>Corwin and Random lift a Mercedes. That's probably at least 2 tons of car
>>- there's a '99 M-B 4-door sedan that weighs almost that much, and that's
>>with modern technology.
>>
>
>I've seen Arnold do both of these things.
>
I've seen him tip up the end of one. But then, he's also not built like
Corwin, let alone like Random.
>I don't think I am. That's my point. Amberites have 'movie hero' strength,
>but not 'movie superhero' strength. I'd list Benedict at 25 STR and Gerard
>at...you'll see.
I don't even think movie heroes exhibit strength in the range you're
describing on any regular basis. Most movie heroes exhibit strength in the
15-20 range; Amberites should be in the 25-30.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 13:42:38 -0700 (PDT)
From: shaw@caprica.com (Wayne Shaw)
Subject: Re: CHAR: Amberites, Part I
>Which is precisely what I said. Arnie himself may only have a STR of
>15-16, but his characters can occasionally have a STR of 25 or 30.
>Ever see the riduculously bad "Commando"?
The difference is that at least he was built in such a fashion that mildly
superhuman strength seems credible. Amberites are clearly strong well out
of what their builds would permit. This suggests that a really powerfully
built Amberite would be beyond anything we'd accept as normal human...even
heroic human...strength.
>
>BTW, Flora doesn't toss the chair. Corwin does. Flora has souped-up
>wolfhounds to protect her, and a grenade in her purse.
I thought Flora did something similarly unpreportionate in her strength in
that scene, but I'll admit to it having been some time since I've read the
novel.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 14:44:08 -0700
From: Christopher Taylor <ctaylor@viser.net>
Subject: Re: VIPER: What is it?
>> >> I agree, and thats my basic problem with experience. Its fun to
expand and
>> >> grow your character, but in all honesty, read the comics, in the 70
or so
>> >> year history of comic books, how much have the characters really
grown in
>> >> power?
>> >Superman grew in power so much from his original appearance that they took
>> >advantage of resetting the universe to tone him down.
>> You know as well as I do that these are all exceptions and hardly the rule,
>
>On the other hand, the exceptions are some of the most popular and
>well-known characters in the comics. Let's go over some more:
I cannot deny that they a have grown and changed slightly over time, but
again, compare that to (in Batman's case) fifty YEARS of experience. On
average, in my games, the characters get 20 experience or so a year, and I
tend to be on the low end. I have a hard time seeing that immense a growth
in any character written in existence, and so do you, I warrent. The point
still remains unchallenged, experience does not accurately model nor
simulate the source material.
>> Dozens, perhaps hundreds of times, but you see the same villains and the
>> same level of difficulty for him, dont you? He changes design but really
>> doesn't get any more powerful.
>
>That being my point: XP ought to be used to /broaden/ the characters
>abilities rather than for more raw power. Instead of spending those 5 xp
>to get a more powerful Repulsor Ray, Iron Man decides to stash them away
>to help pay for a new set of 'Space Armor'. (Of course, IM's repulsor
>rays are a lot more powerful now than they were when he first appeared...)
He uses the space armor once in a blue moon and even in Hero terms that
costs like... 10 points. If he was getting the xps for his adventures
(even just 1 or 2 an issue he appears in) he would be somewhere like 500
points bigger now, and I just dont see that in the character, do you?
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sola Gracia Sola Scriptura Sola Fide
Soli Gloria Deo Solus Christus Corum Deo
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 14:49:25 -0700
From: Christopher Taylor <ctaylor@viser.net>
Subject: Re: VIPER: What is it?
>In the campaign I ran for about 10 years, the biggest attacks grew from
>about 12d6 to about 15d6. Meanwhile, the heroes bought a lot of cool minor
>powers & equipment, bought off Psych Lims & other disadvantages, bought a
>lot of skills, and so forth.
>
>The biggest problem I've had with experience over the long haul is that the
>Hero System has no provision for abilities in decline.
I have toyed with some rules for that, but they all require a ton of book
keeping and run the danger of making the world Ultima Online (did you spend
three hours today making shoes??? then your PS: Shoemaker goes down!) and
thus tedium if the GM isn't willing to assume certain things "off screen"
as it were.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sola Gracia Sola Scriptura Sola Fide
Soli Gloria Deo Solus Christus Corum Deo
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 15:38:38 -0400
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: CHAR: Benedict, Weapons Master of Amber - Rough Draft
This first rough draft is an attempt to elicit responses, so as to
improve the characters that follow, so hack away!
BENEDICT, PERFECT WARRIOR
25 STR 15
16 DEX 18
20 CON 20
18 BODY 16
15 INT 5
17 EGO 14
20 PRE 10
14 COM 2
10 PD 5
8 ED 4
5 SPD 24
13 REC 8
60 END 10
50 STUN 9
Characteristics Cost: 160
48 6 Levels: all combat
30 3 Levels, all skills
15 3D6 Luck
8 WF, Common Melee, Common Missile, Small Arms, Heavy Weapons
5 Def Block
5 Def Strike
4 Killing Strike
4 Martial Block
4 Martial Dodge
4 Martial Escape
3 Martial Grab
4 M Strike
3 Martial Throw
4 Nerve Strike
5 Off Strike
5 Takeaway
4 Weapon Bind
8 Damage Class +2DC
5 Combat Driving 13-
3 Combat Piloting 12-
3 Demolitions 11-
3 Navigation 11-
3 Paramedic 12-
3 Riding 12-
3 Systems Operation 12-
15 Tactics 18-
3 Linguist
3 Traveler
45 20 100-point Agents
80 Army of the moment 16, 000 50-point Followers
4 PKG, "Biomechanical Arm", OIF
(4) 15 Power Defense, Only for Arm
3 Life Support, immune to aging
3 1 BODY Regen, recovery rate: per decade
75 MP (75), "Pattern Powers"
2m Shadow Travel -
XD Move, any dimension, Does not function in Amber, Requires
sight and physical movement, Extra Time (based on 'distance'
and Endurance spent), Others May Follow (+0)
1m Find Object of Desire -
Detect Object of Desire, Does not function in Amber, Transdimensional
1m Alter Probability -
2" Change Environment, Subtle Changes only, Does not function
in Amber
5m Pattern Defense -
10 1/2D6 Dispel, "Chaos Powers", vs SFX (one power),
Concentrate, constant concentration
3u Blood Curse -
5d6 Unluck, Only useable at or near death, Usable Against Others,
Transdimensional, any dimension
22 MP (45), "Trump Powers", OAF
2m Mind Link, related group, any distance, any dimension, Opens
psychic Link (+0)
4m XD Move, group of dimensions, Only to person/place pictured
on Trump, Usable By Others, doesn't lose power
20 Benedict's Tan Horse 100 -point Follower
24 PKG, "Benedict's Belt of Armor", IIF
(24) 10/10 Armor
24 PKG, "Benedict's lance"
(11) 2D6 HKA, STR Min 15, OAF
(13) Shape Shift, "to various weapons", limited group of shapes,
Only to shapeshift lance
Powers Cost: 525
Total Cost: 685
Base Points: 100
5 Distinctive, "Missing right lower arm", easily concealable,
minor
10 Physical Lim, "Missing Right Lower Arm", frequently, slightly
10 Watched, "Oberon", more powerful, noncombat influence, harsh,
appear 8-
10 Psych Lim, "Detests Talk of the Succession", common, moderate
10 Psych Lim, "Does not want throne", uncommon, strong
10 Psych Lim, "Driven to the be the best warrior in existence",
uncommon, strong
15 Psych Lim, "Protective of Servants and Friends", common, strong
10 Rep, "Greatest Warrior in Existence", occur 8-, extreme
reputation
505 Sleepy Hollow Bonus
Disadvantages Total: 585
Experience Spent: 0
Total Points: 685
Benedict of Amber is the oldest surviving descendant of King Oberon,
and has dedicated millennia of his immortal life to becoming the perfect
warrior. A lean, wiry man, Benedict is feared and respected by all his
siblings, and none cross him lightly.
Benedict is an exact man. He uses words like he uses weapons -
precisely, with no waste and with little revealed emotion. He holds
close to the few friends he has, and is slow to make others. He
holds himself above and apart from the internecine squabbling of
his relatives. Only a threat to Amber herself will cause him to get
involved, and then with swift and deadly results.
This is a man who watches a battle unfold in one shadow, then
moves to a nearby shadow to watch the whole battle unfold again,
with only one tiny detail altered. And then repeats the process
hundreds of times, learning to anticipate every possible strategem,
every possible nuance of battle.
And his skill is not only that of a general. He can beat any foe
with any weapon, in any situation. Only with the cleverest strategem,
and the most unforseen circumstance, can an opponent hope to
beat him. And then they run like hell, if they've got any brains at all.
Benedict is a force of nature to most people, unknowable and
unstoppable. To his few friends, his friendship is something
to be cherished and savored. Likewise, he has a sense of
humor. Most people simply miss it, for it is dry in the extreme.
In the Chronicles, Benedict stays away from Amber, but is at
last drawn into the fray when Oberon, disguised as Corwin's
friend Ganelon, murders his servants as a way to get Benedict
moving. Thinking Corwin was responsible, Benedict tracks
Corwin relentlessly across shadow. Corwin only barely
escapes by leading Benedict into a patch of Black Road
grass, something new that the perfect warrior had never encountered.
Later, Benedict arrived at Amber in the nick of time to rescue Amber
from the armies of Chaos, and then lead Amber's army to attack
Chaos at the battle of Patternfall.
At one point, Corwin gave Benedict a silver mechanical arm he'd
cut off a dream-like copy of Benedict in Tir-na Nog'th. Later, the arm
saved the day when everyone, including Benedict, was frozen by a
spell. Still later, a dream-like copy of Corwin arrives to cut the arm
away from the real Benedict.
NOTES:
1. Benedict should be adjusted to fit the campaign in
which he appears. Like all Amberites, he could appear in virtually
any campaign, as he moves through shadow at will. In a martial arts
campaign, give him more martial arts. In a superhero campaign,
he would have more powerful weaponry and defenses at his
command.
2. The Luck is representative of Benedict's ability to outthink
you at every turn. But it isn't luck - it's planning.
3. The Belt and shapeshifting lance are mere conjectures. Benedict
can draw on weapons and armor from anywhere in shadow, and these
are only examples of the sort of things he might have at his disposal.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 15:46:19 -0400
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: CHAR: Benedict, Weapons Master of Amber - Rough Draft
Forgot a few notes...
BENEDICT, PERFECT WARRIOR
25 STR 15
16 DEX 18
20 CON 20
18 BODY 16
15 INT 5
17 EGO 14
20 PRE 10
14 COM 2
10 PD 5
8 ED 4
5 SPD 24
13 REC 8
60 END 10
50 STUN 9
Characteristics Cost: 160
48 6 Levels: all combat
30 3 Levels, all skills
15 3D6 Luck
8 WF, Common Melee, Common Missile, Small Arms, Heavy Weapons
5 Def Block
5 Def Strike
4 Killing Strike
4 Martial Block
4 Martial Dodge
4 Martial Escape
3 Martial Grab
4 M Strike
3 Martial Throw
4 Nerve Strike
5 Off Strike
5 Takeaway
4 Weapon Bind
8 Damage Class +2DC
5 Combat Driving 13-
3 Combat Piloting 12-
3 Demolitions 11-
3 Navigation 11-
3 Paramedic 12-
3 Riding 12-
3 Systems Operation 12-
15 Tactics 18-
3 Linguist
3 Traveler
45 20 100-point Agents
80 Army of the moment 16, 000 50-point Followers
4 PKG, "Biomechanical Arm", OIF
(4) 15 Power Defense, Only for Arm
3 Life Support, immune to aging
3 1 BODY Regen, recovery rate: per decade
75 MP (75), "Pattern Powers"
2m Shadow Travel -
XD Move, any dimension, Does not function in Amber, Requires
sight and physical movement, Extra Time (based on 'distance'
and Endurance spent), Others May Follow (+0)
1m Find Object of Desire -
Detect Object of Desire, Does not function in Amber,
Transdimensional
1m Alter Probability -
2" Change Environment, Subtle Changes only, Does not function
in Amber
5m Pattern Defense -
10 1/2D6 Dispel, "Chaos Powers", vs SFX (one power),
Concentrate, constant concentration
3u Blood Curse -
5d6 Unluck, Only useable at or near death, Usable Against Others,
Transdimensional, any dimension
22 MP (45), "Trump Powers", OAF
2m Mind Link, related group, any distance, any dimension, Opens
psychic Link (+0)
4m XD Move, group of dimensions, Only to person/place pictured
on Trump, Usable By Others, doesn't lose power
20 Benedict's Tan Horse 100 -point Follower
24 PKG, "Benedict's Belt of Armor", IIF
(24) 10/10 Armor
24 PKG, "Benedict's lance"
(11) 2D6 HKA, STR Min 15, OAF
(13) Shape Shift, "to various weapons", limited group of shapes,
Only to shapeshift lance
Powers Cost: 525
Total Cost: 685
Base Points: 100
5 Distinctive, "Missing right lower arm", easily concealable,
minor
10 Physical Lim, "Missing Right Lower Arm", frequently, slightly
10 Watched, "Oberon", more powerful, noncombat influence, harsh,
appear 8-
10 Psych Lim, "Detests Talk of the Succession", common, moderate
10 Psych Lim, "Does not want throne", uncommon, strong
10 Psych Lim, "Driven to the be the best warrior in existence",
uncommon, strong
15 Psych Lim, "Protective of Servants and Friends", common, strong
10 Rep, "Greatest Warrior in Existence", occur 8-, extreme
reputation
505 Sleepy Hollow Bonus
Disadvantages Total: 585
Experience Spent: 0
Total Points: 685
Benedict of Amber is the oldest surviving descendant of King Oberon,
and has dedicated millennia of his immortal life to becoming the perfect
warrior. A lean, wiry man, Benedict is feared and respected by all his
siblings, and none cross him lightly.
Benedict is an exact man. He uses words like he uses weapons -
precisely, with no waste and with little revealed emotion. He holds
close to the few friends he has, and is slow to make others. He
holds himself above and apart from the internecine squabbling of
his relatives. Only a threat to Amber herself will cause him to get
involved, and then with swift and deadly results.
This is a man who watches a battle unfold in one shadow, then
moves to a nearby shadow to watch the whole battle unfold again,
with only one tiny detail altered. And then repeats the process
hundreds of times, learning to anticipate every possible strategem,
every possible nuance of battle.
And his skill is not only that of a general. He can beat any foe
with any weapon, in any situation. Only with the cleverest strategem,
and the most unforseen circumstance, can an opponent hope to
beat him. And then they run like hell, if they've got any brains at all.
Benedict is a force of nature to most people, unknowable and
unstoppable. To his few friends, his friendship is something
to be cherished and savored. Likewise, he has a sense of
humor. Most people simply miss it, for it is dry in the extreme.
In the Chronicles, Benedict stays away from Amber, but is at
last drawn into the fray when Oberon, disguised as Corwin's
friend Ganelon, murders his servants as a way to get Benedict
moving. Thinking Corwin was responsible, Benedict tracks
Corwin relentlessly across shadow. Corwin only barely
escapes by leading Benedict into a patch of Black Road
grass, something new that the perfect warrior had never encountered.
Later, Benedict arrived at Amber in the nick of time to rescue Amber
from the armies of Chaos, and then lead Amber's army to attack
Chaos at the battle of Patternfall.
At one point, Corwin gave Benedict a silver mechanical arm he'd
cut off a dream-like copy of Benedict in Tir-na Nog'th. Later, the arm
saved the day when everyone, including Benedict, was frozen by a
spell. Still later, a dream-like copy of Corwin arrives to cut the arm
away from the real Benedict.
NOTES:
1. Benedict should be adjusted to fit the campaign in
which he appears. Like all Amberites, he could appear in virtually
any campaign, as he moves through shadow at will. In a martial arts
campaign, give him more martial arts. In a superhero campaign,
he would have more powerful weaponry and defenses at his
command.
2. The Luck is representative of Benedict's ability to outthink
you at every turn. But it isn't luck - it's planning.
3. The Belt and shapeshifting lance are mere conjectures. Benedict
can draw on weapons and armor from anywhere in shadow, and these
are only examples of the sort of things he might have at his disposal.
4. The Extra-Dimensional Movement powers of his Pattern Powers
multipower allows others to follow him. This could be armies or
assassins, so I have given it a +0 cost, figuring that it balances out.
5. The "Alter Probability" power allows small changes, like finding
a quarter when he needs one. This does not allow large changes
like summoning the quarter into his hand.
6. The Trump powers require a pack of cards known as trumps. The
Trumps show all the members of the family and allow mental contact
when concentrated on. The family member can attempt to refuse
the contact, which requires a psychic conflict (an EGO v. EGO roll).
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 16:48:20 -0700 (PDT)
From: Draco Paladin <paladin@uvic.ca>
Subject: Re: CHAR: Amberites, Part I
On Tue, 11 May 1999, Scott C. Nolan wrote:
> Fourth, I want to define the limits of what an Amberite can do. They are
> not gods or superheroes. Tricky chains of logic to the contrary, Gerard
> cannot outwrestle The Hulk. The Amberites are not so much superhuman
> as they are the extreme outer edge of human capability, physically. As
> one friend puts it, you never see Corwin do anything that you'd blink at
> twice if you saw Arnold Schwarzennegar do it in a movie.
I'd like to dispute this fact. Corwin re-grew his eyes in just over 3
years after they were burnt from his head with a branding iron. There is
no way a human (even the most exeptional one) could do this. It is also
stated that Corwin and Random dueled for 26 hours straight with out
tiring. This was at a level of intensity that would have a human tired
out after at most 1/2 hour.
There might be other examples that I can't remember at the moment, but
just these two prove that physically an Amberite is much superior to even
the most exeptional of humans. And mentaly they are even more so (eg.
Brand and Fiona).
- --
Mother is the name for GOD on the lips and
hearts of all children. - Eric Draven
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 16:52:07 -0700 (PDT)
From: Draco Paladin <paladin@uvic.ca>
Subject: Re: Amberite Question
On Tue, 11 May 1999, Scott C. Nolan wrote:
> I'm torn between not modelling this at all, any more than I'd model
> another character's ability to leave footprints or write his name on
> a blackboard, and calling it an Aid (but to what?)
I'd call it a SFX of being "real". There is no real advantage to a place
being more "real" so I wouldn't bother trying to model it with a power.
> The more difficult question (for me) is how to model the Amberite's
> ability to seek things out in shadow. For instance, without knowing
> the location in infinite shadow of his sword, Greyswandir, Corwin is
> able to simply move to its location. Is this a form of summoning?
Summon sounds like a good idea. Corwin didn't move to Greyswandir's
location, he called it to himself. Although (at least according to ADRPG,
although the books seem to imply this) it only works for personal items
(ones that character points have been paid for).
- --
Mother is the name for GOD on the lips and
hearts of all children. - Eric Draven
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 16:55:38 -0700 (PDT)
From: Draco Paladin <paladin@uvic.ca>
Subject: Re: Amberite Question
On Tue, 11 May 1999, Michael Surbrook wrote:
> On Tue, 11 May 1999, Dr. Nuncheon wrote:
> Maybe... isn't there a scene where Corwin is in a tavern and needs
> money... (or.. uhm...) doesn't Merlin get himself a knife and/or sword in
> the second series when he realizes he might get attacked on the way out of
> a tavern? (this is the same scene that cameos John Gaunt, aka Grimjack).
I don't recall Corwin doing that, but Merlin was using a different power
(Logrus) to summon the sword.
- --
Mother is the name for GOD on the lips and
hearts of all children. - Eric Draven
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 19:57:50 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: Re: Amberite Question
On Tue, 11 May 1999, Draco Paladin wrote:
> > Maybe... isn't there a scene where Corwin is in a tavern and needs
> > money... (or.. uhm...) doesn't Merlin get himself a knife and/or sword in
> > the second series when he realizes he might get attacked on the way out of
> > a tavern? (this is the same scene that cameos John Gaunt, aka Grimjack).
>
> I don't recall Corwin doing that, but Merlin was using a different power
> (Logrus) to summon the sword.
Tells you how long its been since *I* read those books...
- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
"Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge
even where there is no river."
Nikita Khruschev
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 19:27:11 -0500
From: Mitchel Santorineos <mitchels@megsinet.net>
Subject: Lists
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