Digest Archives Vol 1 Issue 5
Desmarais, John
From: owner-champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Sent: Saturday, October 31, 1998 3:39 AM
To: champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Subject: champ-l-digest V1 #5
champ-l-digest Saturday, October 31 1998 Volume 01 : Number 005
In this issue:
Re: Odd Character:Help needed
Re: Indexes in Game Books
Re: Stupid Precog Tricks
Re: Indexes in Game Books
Re: Odd Character:Help needed
Re: something odder
Re: Test
Re: 5th edition
Re: 5th edition
Re: Stupid Precog Tricks
Re: Strange Character Idea..
Re: something odder
RE: something still odder
Re: something odder
Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
Re: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
Re: Stupid Precog Tricks
Re: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
Re: Strange Character Idea..
Re: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
Re: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
Re: Online Magazine
Re: Stupid Precog Tricks
Re: something odder
Re: something odder
Re: Stupid Precog Tricks
CW questions
Re: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
Re: CW questions
Re: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
Re: something odder
Re: Stupid Precog Tricks
Re: Cyber-Hero
Re: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 09:14:16 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: Odd Character:Help needed
At 02:17 PM 10/29/1998 -0800, Egyptoid wrote:
>And What Is This Child's Name After All?
> we can't just call it baby forever...
Maybe we can. With this kid's powers, Baby Forever sounds alike a
pretty cool name. :-]
My question is, is this baby a boy or a girl?
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROs member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Homepage of the Merry-Go-Round Webring! (Wanna join?)
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 11:52:40 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: Indexes in Game Books
At 02:59 PM 10/29/1998 -0500, Lisa Hartjes wrote:
>Would you like to see an index in a sourcebook? If so, what kinds of things
>would you want to be able to find quickly?
First, yes. As an author, I find them incredibly difficult to do (at
least, in a way that I'd find personally satisfactory), but as a reader I
find them very helpful.
As for what kinds of things should be listed, this depends largely on
the type of sourcebook. If there are characters, then certainly each
character should be listed alphabetically; in particular, those who do
*not* have character sheets should have page references (since those that
do have them are usually easy to find). If there are rules, then they
should be indexed according to Skill, Power, maneuver type, etc., and any
new ones should have cross-references from synonyms if possible. Martial
Arts should be listed by name. Organizations, institutions, and businesses
should be indexed in any Enemies book or geographic sourcebook.
That's what I can think of offhand; the only think I found to add that
someone else mentioned (on perusing the thread as far as I've downloaded it
at this point) is any table or chart, regardless of its context.
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROs member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Homepage of the Merry-Go-Round Webring! (Wanna join?)
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 09:29:41 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: Stupid Precog Tricks
At 10:38 AM 10/30/1998 EST, Leah L Watts wrote:
>I'm playing around with a character design -- the character has an
>erratic precognitive sense (a low activation roll or no conscious
>control, I haven't decided).
>
>The character's precognitive visions are reasonably accurate. I'm
>thinking of giving her bonus PRE, defensive only, only for events she's
>foreseen -- since she knows what's coming up, she can mentally brace for
>it. My question is what sort of value would the second limitation have?
>I'm leaning toward giving it the same value as linked, but I can also
>make a case for basing the value off the limitation on the precognition.
>If she can hardly ever use the precog (say, 8- Activation or NCC), then
>she'll hardly ever be able to use the extra PRE and should get a bigger
>point cut. Opinions, anyone?
I'd give it that -1/2 to model it after Linked, but also give it any
such Limitations that would affect it as well as the precog itself (like
that Activation or NCC).
>I'm also thinking of giving her a few DCV-only combat levels, SFX she
>unconsciously senses her opponent's move and tries to dodge. Can anyone
>think of other minor precog-type powers she might have? (Danger Sense
>sounds redundant for her, but I'll listen to dissenting opinions.)
Danger Sense wouldn't be a redundancy so much as an additional function.
It can alert her to something about to happen that she hasn't yet foreseen.
I suppose KS: What You're About To Say could be in order. ("About a
half hour ago." "Has the mail come y-- stop doing that!")
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROs member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Homepage of the Merry-Go-Round Webring! (Wanna join?)
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 09:04:50 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: Indexes in Game Books
At 02:46 PM 10/29/1998 -0800, Steven J. Owens wrote:
>Lisa Hartjes writes:
>> Would you like to see an index in a sourcebook? If so, what kinds of
things
>> would you want to be able to find quickly?
>
> Definitely. All of the books should be indexed; I find the lack
>of an index a major flaw in them. Indexes are a pain in the ass to
>do, but they're essential. Modern indexing software (like the kind
>used in FrameMaker) make it somewhat less difficult - you tag words or
>phrases and generate an index from the tags.
This is part of the problem I found that made me abandon putting an
index into TUV. WordPerfect does indexing very nicely, but all formatting
codes (other than simple things like Italic and Boldface) had to be
stripped when the manuscript was submitted, and trying to make an actual
page-by-page index would have been futile. I could have made a list of
what I wanted indicated, but then Bruce would have no way of knowing for
sure what page I wanted referenced in some cases.
I think that some standard way of making Index markings in authors'
manuscripts would be in order.
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROs member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Homepage of the Merry-Go-Round Webring! (Wanna join?)
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 09:09:01 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: Odd Character:Help needed
At 02:22 PM 10/29/1998 -0500, BILL SVITAVSKY wrote:
>Another possible approach is to build the baby as an AI. Since it
>doesn't have its own body, but does have some characteristics,
>powers, skills, and the ability to act on its own, the computer
>rules cover the egoist fetus quite well.
I've only been skimming this thread, but this approach seems the most
sensible, at least to me.
When the baby is born, it can have a "radiation accident" into a regular
character with the appropriate Disadvantages and all.
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROs member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Homepage of the Merry-Go-Round Webring! (Wanna join?)
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 09:21:56 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: something odder
At 05:31 PM 10/29/1998 -0600, Dr. Nuncheon wrote:
>Although, actually, I might allow a PC to take it, as long as it was
>properly limited. For instance, if there was a wizard who wanted to
>perform magical experiments on people or animals, Transform might be the
>best (and only) way to really do it. I just wouldn't ever allow
>'Transform bystander into kilopoint monstrosity loyal only to me' as a
>player power...
I might allow such a Power, if it were properly Limited -- for example,
with Extra Time (Full Minute), Concentrate (0 DCV), Side Effects (at
near-lethal levels), and such.
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROs member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Homepage of the Merry-Go-Round Webring! (Wanna join?)
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 13:00:39 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: Test
At 05:55 AM 10/30/1998 -0800, Bob Greenwade wrote:
> Well, I'm the one this time; just as some discussions were picking up on
>three of the mailing lists I'm on as well as two or three in direct email,
>I've suddenly stopped getting any internet email whatsoever. This is a
>test to see if it comes back from this list, so hopefully something can be
>diagnosed.
Never mind; it's working OK now. :-]
(Well, mostly; the system's still being kinda persnickity.)
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROs member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Homepage of the Merry-Go-Round Webring! (Wanna join?)
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 12:48:18 -0800
From: "James Jandebeur" <james@javaman.to>
Subject: Re: 5th edition
>ORION (Oh yeah I'm new here. Hi everyone)
Oh, no, not here, too... (-;
Hi, Orion.
JAJ, GP
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 13:10:04 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: 5th edition
At 08:30 AM 10/30/1998 -0600, bobby farris wrote:
>Does anyone know what the scheduled release date of 5th edition is?
Well, the original projected date was somewhere last week, but then
again the final draft of the manuscript hasn't even been turned in yet.
Realistically, I think you can look forward to actually seeing it early
next year.
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROs member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Homepage of the Merry-Go-Round Webring! (Wanna join?)
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 13:26:44 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: Stupid Precog Tricks
At 01:03 PM 10/29/1998 +0000, J. W. Eiler wrote:
>If you decide to use the defensive PRE, I'd use something like "Only for
>events perceived by Precog" -- with maybe a -1 limitation. However, I will
>say this -- if you look at how such a power would work in a "real world"
>situation, KNOWING something is going to happen is radically different
>than dealing with the situation when it DOES happen -- it's still going to
>have a massive emotional impact if, say, Cthulu comes up and eats
>your cat, even if you had "foreseen" the event.
Well, now we know where Cthulhu really comes from: Melmac. ;-]
Seriously, though, while you do have a point, knowing something's about
to happen can reduce the emotional impact. You're correct that the
knowledge won't eliminate the impact altogether, but it will reduce it.
On a slightly different note, it's occurred to me that some Lightning
Reflexes (probably with some Limitations as to its application) might be
fitting for this character.
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROs member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Homepage of the Merry-Go-Round Webring! (Wanna join?)
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 13:18:22 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: Strange Character Idea..
At 09:08 AM 10/30/1998 PST, Silky the Wonder Pimp wrote:
>Greetings!!
>
>I am setting up a tick-like champions game (since my players would make
>it as such) and I was curious as too how you would build the following
>character ability.
>
>One of the players wants to be "Scotchguard" a scotish superhero whos
>main ability is the power to have nothing stick to him, not even dirt or
>dust. How would you represnt this?
>
>Would it be a force field? Somje sort of change environment usuable on
>on yourself?
Some of it can be done as just SFX; if you don't mind porting in the
"Schtick" Talent from Fuzion, you could use that.
The refusal to get dirty could be done cheaply as Power Defense, only vs
sticky stuff (-2), only vs COM (-2). For 2 points you can get 12 PowD worth.
Avoiding Entangles and such would probably involve variants on Double
Jointed and lots of DCV Skill Levels.
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROs member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Homepage of the Merry-Go-Round Webring! (Wanna join?)
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 13:28:38 PST
From: "Jesse Thomas" <haerandir@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: something odder
>Hmm. Well, I know not everyone likes Aaron Allston's work on Ninja
Hero,
>but I believe he did just this - there was a sorceror who could turn
>normal people into super-powered martial artists, and if I remember
right
>he did it using Transform. So it would seem that the 'no point
increase'
>has been removed from the official rules and relegated to the arena of
>GM's discretion.
Ahh, yes. The Super-Boxers. I remember that guy. I think he may well
have been the inspiration for the Guiding Hand, from Daedalus' Feng Shui
RPG. I read the description and said, "Wow. That's kinda neat. I
might use him in a campaign once. Or even twice if the campaign went on
for several years." There's a villain in Fantasy Hero who does a
similar thing, turning villagers into demons. It's in one of the sample
adventures. Again, a fun one-shot menace.
Still, I wouldn't want to do it too often, as it would inevitably lead
to arguments with your players. "We're tired of getting beaten up by a
50-point villain!", "We're sick of fighting innocent bystanders who've
been turned into brainwashed villain-zombies!", "We want to do it, too!"
I guess I'm of the school that I prefer not to have my villains do
things I won't let my players do. It's one thing to have Galactus
running around creating heralds, 'cause everyone knows that Galactus is
a badass. But, like the Thanatic Rod from Mystic Masters, the Galactus
effect really should be a plot device, and not something the players can
dream of creating/using. Unless you're into that sort of thing, of
course. Personally, I get really sick of Marvel's penchant for "immense
cosmic threats" that wind up getting resolved, MacGyver-like, with a
rubber band, some tin foil, and a rousing speech from Captain America.
Don't even get me started on Phoenix...
Jesse Thomas
haerandir@hotmail.com
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 15:36:21 -0600 (CST)
From: "Dr. Nuncheon" <jeffj@io.com>
Subject: RE: something still odder
On Fri, 30 Oct 1998, Brian Wawrow wrote:
> > by the time we buy Galactus's ability to transform people into
> > heralds, were paying 45+ points per dice, because it's ranged,
> > plus other limits or advants. If we pair that cost with an active
> > point limit, suddenly this puts a new perspective on abuse, I feel.
> >
> Sure. Buying a Major Transform to crank up someone's ability is
> expensive. That's beside the point on the question of abuse. To me, this
> is openning up a huge can of worms. So you take MT human being into any
> high powered freak. You buy 1 die cummulative. It takes extra time,
> concentration an immobile focus, eat the baby, yatta yatta yatta, next
> thing you know, you've spent 4 points and it takes you all day to turn
> your buddy into a high powered mutant freak. If there's no mechanism in
> place to regulate how tough the freak is, you've lost all sense of scale
> and balance in your campaign.
True. Maybe you need to reach a certain level of effect (over and above
the Transform level) to add a certain number of points.
Alternately, talk your GM into allowing it as an Aid to powers the target
doesn't have. Aid (Cosmic Power Pool), fade rate of a century or so, at
the proper levels (+umpteend6) might do it.
> I'd accept this MT with higher points concept if the power cost,
> say 1pt. extra for every 5pts. you were going to add to your target.
I seem to recall that one of the HEROguys said that Transform was going to
change in 5th Ed, and you were going to have to pay more points if you
were transforming something into something more useful - maybe that will
address this problem?
J
Hostes aliengeni me abduxerent. Jeff Johnston - jeffj@io.com
Qui annus est? http://www.io.com/~jeffj
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 15:39:49 -0600
From: "Guy Hoyle" <ghoyle1@airmail.net>
Subject: Re: something odder
> Ahh, yes. The Super-Boxers. I remember that guy. I think he may well
> have been the inspiration for the Guiding Hand, from Daedalus' Feng Shui
> RPG. I read the description and said, "Wow. That's kinda neat. I
> might use him in a campaign once. Or even twice if the campaign went on
> for several years." There's a villain in Fantasy Hero who does a
> similar thing, turning villagers into demons. It's in one of the sample
> adventures. Again, a fun one-shot menace.
>
Ba Kien. I downsized him quite a bit, made the "Transformation" power a
type of alchemical powder, and have made him a "Son of Fu Manchu" type in
my Pulp (Odysseus League) campaign.
Guy
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 17:02:29 EST
From: Napalm5225@aol.com
Subject: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
Hi guys, I am new to the list and would like to say hi to everybody. and I
was wondering what kind of disadvantages you all would put on an angelic
player character since i dont see any perusing my biblical texts and other
relevant volumes. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Patrick "Napalm5225" Laflin
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 17:18:58 -0500
From: Mike Christodoulou <Cypriot@concentric.net>
Subject: Re: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
At 05:02 PM 10/30/98 -0500, Napalm5225@aol.com wrote:
>Hi guys, I am new to the list and would like to say hi to everybody. and I
>was wondering what kind of disadvantages you all would put on an angelic
>player character since i dont see any perusing my biblical texts and other
>relevant volumes. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Start with the obvious: Cannot lie, honorable, loyal to a god, Distinctive
Features, blah, blah, blah
Make some stuff up: "It's not actually mentioned in the Bible, but we
angels are alergic to cinnamon."
Depending on the campaign, you might have a society that does not believe
that you're an angel, or brands you crazy.
For other ideas, try renting "The Prophecy" and "The Prophecy II".
====================== =================================================
Mike Christodoulou "Never doubt that a small group of committed
Cypriot@Concentric.Net citizens can change the world. In fact, it is
(770) 662-5605 the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead
====================== =================================================
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 14:44:22 PST
From: "Jesse Thomas" <haerandir@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Stupid Precog Tricks
You might want to check out Spider Robinson's short story "Fivesight". I
believe it's in the "Time Travellers Strictly Cash" collection. While
not some of Mr. Robinson's best work, the story deals with a
precognitive.
In the story, the precognitive character can only forsee disasters, and
is unable to prevent them (the universe resists his attempts to prevent
the damage, and things wind up getting worse). However, he is able to
prepare to deal with the aftermath. For instance, if he foresees a car
crash, he can do nothing to stop it, but he can be there with his cell
phone to call 911, have a first aid kit with him, just happen to be
carrying the tools to improvise a stretcher or a back brace, etc.
If you wanted to simulate this type of effect for a precognitive PC, you
could take a smallish Gadget Pool with the limitations: "Only to
simulate items you could normally have/carry." (-1), and an activation
roll to see whether or not you foresaw a particular event. Couple this
with a PcychLim: "Unwilling to discuss visions" (Common, Total), and
you can simply have the player decide what they want to have when the
situation crops up, then roll the activation roll to see if they came
prepared.
Example: The party traces the criminals to a warehouse down by the
docks, but all the doors are locked and they can't find a way in.
Suddenly, the precog player rolls some dice, gets an "8", and says, "Oh,
by the way, I knew we'd have this problem, so I brought along a set of
lockpicks."
Example: The party needs to get up to the cave mouth, halfway up the
cliff. Sadly, the Bionic Eagle is still laid up in the hospital, and no
other member of the party can fly. Fortunately, the precog brought
along a mini-grapnel gun and 100' of nylon climbing rope! How thougthy!
Example: The party finally confronts the Rock Lobster. Unfortunately,
no one has an attack that can penetrate his 30/30 resistant
double-hardened defenses. But wait! The precog reaches deep into an
interior pocket and pulls out a tear gas grenade! Hooray!
A similar pool could be used to simulate other special FX, such as the
super-spy who seems to have a gadget for every circumstance.
Jesse Thomas
haerandir@hotmail.com
>I'm playing around with a character design -- the character has an
>erratic precognitive sense (a low activation roll or no conscious
>control, I haven't decided).
>
>The character's precognitive visions are reasonably accurate. I'm
>thinking of giving her bonus PRE, defensive only, only for events she's
>foreseen -- since she knows what's coming up, she can mentally brace
for
>it. My question is what sort of value would the second limitation
have?
>I'm leaning toward giving it the same value as linked, but I can also
>make a case for basing the value off the limitation on the
precognition.
>If she can hardly ever use the precog (say, 8- Activation or NCC), then
>she'll hardly ever be able to use the extra PRE and should get a bigger
>point cut. Opinions, anyone?
>
>I'm also thinking of giving her a few DCV-only combat levels, SFX she
>unconsciously senses her opponent's move and tries to dodge. Can
anyone
>think of other minor precog-type powers she might have? (Danger Sense
>sounds redundant for her, but I'll listen to dissenting opinions.)
>
>Leah
>
>___________________________________________________________________
>You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
>Get completely free e-mail from Juno at
http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
>or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
>
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 1998 18:54:31 +0000
From: "J. W. Eiler" <jw_eiler@bellsouth.net>
Subject: Re: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
From: Napalm5225@aol.com
Date sent: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 17:02:29 EST
To: champ-l@sysabend.org
Subject: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
> Hi guys, I am new to the list and would like to say hi to everybody. and I
> was wondering what kind of disadvantages you all would put on an angelic
> player character since i dont see any perusing my biblical texts and other
> relevant volumes. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Angels, and other "servant spirits," would have some really strong
PSYCH lims -- very common situations, total commitments. The actual
limits would be on the order of "Loyal to the commands of the angel's
God(s)," or something along that order.
Depending on how much free will you give them, they may also have a
PHYS Lim -- "No personal initiative." In some Christian beliefs, angels
are not free willed -- they can ONLY obey the commands of God, etc.
That would kind of kill the idea of "Angel as PC," so of course, I don't
recomend it.
What kind of background are you working with?
J. W. Eiler
Thought for the day:
Concerto (n): a fight between a piano and a pianist.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 14:30:53 -0800
From: "Filksinger" <filksinger@usa.net>
Subject: Re: Strange Character Idea..
From: Silky the Wonder Pimp <solar_ranger@hotmail.com>
>Greetings!!
>
>I am setting up a tick-like champions game (since my players would make
>it as such) and I was curious as too how you would build the following
>character ability.
>
>One of the players wants to be "Scotchguard" a scotish superhero whos
>main ability is the power to have nothing stick to him, not even dirt or
>dust. How would you represnt this?
>
>Would it be a force field? Somje sort of change environment usuable on
>on yourself?
Extra STR, only vs Entangles and grabs
Change Environment
Filksinger
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 15:16:55 -0800
From: Mark Lemming <icepirat@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
From: Napalm5225@aol.com
> Hi guys, I am new to the list and would like to say hi to everybody. and I
> was wondering what kind of disadvantages you all would put on an angelic
> player character since i dont see any perusing my biblical texts and other
> relevant volumes. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Hunted by militant christians that think you're just another heretic might
work as well.
Extra damage from good attacks. Assuming that angels are meant to fight evil,
so it would be silly to have them vulnerable to evil.
- -Mark Lemming
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 15:46:01 -0800 (PST)
From: Anthony Jackson <ajackson@iii.com>
Subject: Re: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
Napalm5225@aol.com writes:
> Hi guys, I am new to the list and would like to say hi to everybody. and I
> was wondering what kind of disadvantages you all would put on an angelic
> player character since i dont see any perusing my biblical texts and other
> relevant volumes. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Depends on the style of angel. A recent angel NPC I had had (point totals not
bothered with):
Cannot compromise with or ignore evil, nor perform 'evil' actions even if for a
greater good (total)
Protective of innocents (irrational)
Compulsion to heal (irrational)
Believes in own infallibility (irrational) (may not apply to a 'real' angel).
Distinctive Features (mild -- supernatural aura of purity).
Hunted by a demon (sort of -- the demon was more or less it's other half).
Cannot comprehend evil (physical, uncommon)
Typically supernatural entities have some sort of 'nature', which they are
_incapable_ of violating -- the distinctive feature of a mortal is frequently
said to be free will, since an angel cannot _choose_ to do good -- it _must_.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 1998 11:44:42 -0000
From: "Chris Lynch" <chris@lynch1.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Online Magazine
- -----Original Message-----
From: Dr. Nuncheon <jeffj@io.com>
To: Dave Mattingly <dmattingly@platsoft.com>
Cc: Champions Mailing List <Champ-l@sysabend.org>
Date: 26 October 1998 09:31 PM
Subject: RE: Online Magazine
>On Mon, 26 Oct 1998, Dave Mattingly wrote:
>
>> Something I'd like to do, though, is to make a 'Best of' supplement
>> combining some of the best work of Haymaker, HeroZine, Rogues' Gallery,
and
>> Clobberin' Times into one nicely printed and bound issue.
>>
>> Does this sound like something that people would like?
>
>YES yes yes yes yes!
>
>J
>
>Hostes aliengeni me abduxerent. Jeff Johnston - jeffj@io.com
>Qui annus est? http://www.io.com/~jeffj
>
Put me down for a copy as well !
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 16:48:51 -0800
From: Mark Lemming <icepirat@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Stupid Precog Tricks
Jesse Thomas wrote:
> Example: The party finally confronts the Rock Lobster. Unfortunately,
> no one has an attack that can penetrate his 30/30 resistant
> double-hardened defenses. But wait! The precog reaches deep into an
> interior pocket and pulls out a tear gas grenade! Hooray!
I would think a wedge of lemon and some melted butter would be more effective.
- -Mark Lemming
------------------------------
Date: 30 Oct 1998 20:00:29 -500
From: Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net>
Subject: Re: something odder
- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
"g" == gilberg <gilberg@ou.edu> writes:
g> Hmmmm. But is Transforming your duplicate allowable?
The only thing specifically prohibited is using Transformation on yourself.
A duplicate might be a copy of yourself, with all of your abilities and
such, but it is not yourself.
g> Even if so, would any sane GM allow this?
It was just the most abusive example of using Transformation to add points
to a character that I could come up with.
- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: PGPfreeware 5.0i for non-commercial use
Charset: noconv
iQA/AwUBNjphK4JfryJUlUjZEQKTigCfSsqYq79D/H24ds+EFBWq8BuUkiYAoILd
W8vsT5maEO/Den/n58ZSf/Li
=Halx
- -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
- --
Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net> \ Do not use Happy Fun Ball on concrete.
PGP Key: at a key server near you! \
\
------------------------------
Date: 30 Oct 1998 20:01:45 -500
From: Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net>
Subject: Re: something odder
- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
"CS" == Capt Spith <cptspith@teleport.com> writes:
CS> Now, this is from third edition rules, but since it is not
CS> specifically addressed after that, I assume it still holds.
As I have been frequently told, this assumption does not hold. Third
edition might be useful as a reference, but it is *not* canonical anymore.
- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: PGPfreeware 5.0i for non-commercial use
Charset: noconv
iQA/AwUBNjphd4JfryJUlUjZEQIS8gCgtG6jvmoLELa8Ek+uk3STxiJU7aMAniL5
uFO1f1kE1YfE68ZT2f+J9Sfp
=TIT4
- -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
- --
Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net> \ Do not use Happy Fun Ball on concrete.
PGP Key: at a key server near you! \
\
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 17:01:51 -0800
From: "Filksinger" <filksinger@usa.net>
Subject: Re: Stupid Precog Tricks
From: Leah L Watts <llwatts@juno.com>
>I'm playing around with a character design -- the character has an
>erratic precognitive sense (a low activation roll or no conscious
>control, I haven't decided).
>
>The character's precognitive visions are reasonably accurate. I'm
>thinking of giving her bonus PRE, defensive only, only for events she's
>foreseen -- since she knows what's coming up, she can mentally brace for
>it. My question is what sort of value would the second limitation have?
>I'm leaning toward giving it the same value as linked, but I can also
>make a case for basing the value off the limitation on the precognition.
>If she can hardly ever use the precog (say, 8- Activation or NCC), then
>she'll hardly ever be able to use the extra PRE and should get a bigger
>point cut. Opinions, anyone?
I agree she deserves a bigger point cut. Give it to her.
>I'm also thinking of giving her a few DCV-only combat levels, SFX she
>unconsciously senses her opponent's move and tries to dodge. Can anyone
>think of other minor precog-type powers she might have? (Danger Sense
>sounds redundant for her, but I'll listen to dissenting opinions.)
Danger Sense is definitely _not_ redundant. Precognition can be a SFX for
Danger Sense, but isn't a replacement for it.
There was a character in "The Blood and Dr. McQuark" organizations book
named "Marie Debray", a member of the paranormal ruling family of Ean, the
Blood. She had Precognition on almost constantly. She didn't see what _was_
going to happen so much as _might_. She was almost impossible to hit with
any attack due to DCV levels.
She was considered very strange by most people. She would answer questions
that weren't asked, even questions a person decided not to ask at the last
moment. She also forgot to answer questions, because she remembered
answering them in the future. In public she was very twitchy, or anywhere
crowded, because the more complex the situation, the more things might
happen, and the more conflicting visions she saw. (I assumed that normal
cocktail parties weren't bad, actually, because there was so little actually
happening, and it is almost predetermined from the beginning, for the most
part.:)
She made an appearance in my last campaign, as a cousin of my wife's
character, who was also Blood. She became very interesting at times.
Filksinger
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 20:02:58 -0500
From: Robert Harrison <rharriso@iastate.edu>
Subject: CW questions
I have a couple of questions about Creation Workshop:
(1) The Hero Plus catalog lists "HERO Creator" (cat. # HM003) and "HERO
System Template for Creation Workshop" (cat. # HM004). What's the
difference between these two items? If I purchase Creation Workshop, which
one do I need to make HERO system characters?
(2) Have any of the Mac users on the list attempted to use Creation
Workshop on a Power Mac running Virtual PC?
Thanks,
Bob
P.S. With regard to the "where are we all" thread, I'm in Ames, Iowa and am
in desparate need of a Major Transform: Corn Stalks to HERO Gamers. :)
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 15:30:39 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
At 05:02 PM 10/30/1998 EST, Napalm5225@aol.com wrote:
>Hi guys, I am new to the list and would like to say hi to everybody. and I
>was wondering what kind of disadvantages you all would put on an angelic
>player character since i dont see any perusing my biblical texts and other
>relevant volumes. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Is it just my imagination, or is this the most common non-mechanics
question seen on this list? :-]
While I do have/know of a couple of texts about angels, I don't have any
handy. On the whole, I'd go with J.W.'s assessment over Mike's, except
that I'd make the loyalty to God a Physical Limitation (the Fall of Lucifer
would be the only time there was any choice involved; since then, they've
been incapable of disobeying or betraying God).
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROs member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Homepage of the Merry-Go-Round Webring! (Wanna join?)
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 17:54:49 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: CW questions
At 08:02 PM 10/30/1998 -0500, Robert Harrison wrote:
>I have a couple of questions about Creation Workshop:
>(1) The Hero Plus catalog lists "HERO Creator" (cat. # HM003) and "HERO
>System Template for Creation Workshop" (cat. # HM004). What's the
>difference between these two items? If I purchase Creation Workshop, which
>one do I need to make HERO system characters?
You'd need the HERO System Template; HERO Creator will provide you with
the template, as well as a stand-alone program that is less expensive than
CW but lacks a lot of features (such as conversions).
>(2) Have any of the Mac users on the list attempted to use Creation
>Workshop on a Power Mac running Virtual PC?
I can't help you with that one, being a PC user. Sorry. :-]
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROs member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Homepage of the Merry-Go-Round Webring! (Wanna join?)
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 22:17:14 -0600
From: Tim Gilberg <gilberg@ou.edu>
Subject: Re: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
> While I do have/know of a couple of texts about angels, I don't have any
> handy. On the whole, I'd go with J.W.'s assessment over Mike's, except
> that I'd make the loyalty to God a Physical Limitation (the Fall of Lucifer
> would be the only time there was any choice involved; since then, they've
> been incapable of disobeying or betraying God).
Hmmm. Have you seen the movie Prophecy?
I'm not sure if I'd go with this, IMC.
- --
-Tim Gilberg
-"English Majors of the World! Untie!"
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 22:20:21 -0600
From: Tim Gilberg <gilberg@ou.edu>
Subject: Re: something odder
> g> Hmmmm. But is Transforming your duplicate allowable?
>
> The only thing specifically prohibited is using Transformation on yourself.
> A duplicate might be a copy of yourself, with all of your abilities and
> such, but it is not yourself.
Again, I'm not sure of this one. A duplicate is not exactly the self,
not exactly an other. Of course, with all of the Postmodern theory I've
been reading, who am I to try to define the self?
> g> Even if so, would any sane GM allow this?
>
> It was just the most abusive example of using Transformation to add points
> to a character that I could come up with.
Fair enough. It can, like many other things, be abusive. That said, I
think the best way to deal with it would be to give some specific
warnings of these potential problems for new GMs.
- --
-Tim Gilberg
-"English Majors of the World! Untie!"
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 10:29:50 -0800
From: jayphailey@juno.com (Jay P Hailey)
Subject: Re: Stupid Precog Tricks
> it's still
>going to have a massive emotional impact if, say, Cthulu comes up and
eats
>your cat, even if you had "foreseen" the event.
I'm sure it will impact the cat worse.
Jay P. Hailey <Meow!>
___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 22:09:13 -0800
From: jayphailey@juno.com (Jay P Hailey)
Subject: Re: Cyber-Hero
>My suggestion if you want run a cyber punk
>game is adapt the rules from Cyberpunk 2020 for cyberspace and do 12
>cool weapons and do the name variations
>
>>Jay P. Hailey <Meow!>
>
><bark bark bark!!!!>
Thank you for your suggestions. having a copy of Cyberpunk 2020 here
abouts, I may just go ahead and do that.
Jay P. Hailey <Meow!>
___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 00:41:11 -0800
From: "Capt. Spith" <cptspith@teleport.com>
Subject: Re: Disadvantages for an angelic player character.
Mike Christodoulou wrote:
>
> At 05:02 PM 10/30/98 -0500, Napalm5225@aol.com wrote:
> >Hi guys, I am new to the list and would like to say hi to everybody. and I
> >was wondering what kind of disadvantages you all would put on an angelic
> >player character since i dont see any perusing my biblical texts and other
> >relevant volumes. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Start with the obvious: Cannot lie, honorable, loyal to a god, Distinctive
> Features, blah, blah, blah
>
> Make some stuff up: "It's not actually mentioned in the Bible, but we
> angels are alergic to cinnamon."
>
> Depending on the campaign, you might have a society that does not believe
> that you're an angel, or brands you crazy.
>
> For other ideas, try renting "The Prophecy" and "The Prophecy II".
Also, some of the recent angel movies have some interesting takes;
"Micheal" (starring John Travolta) had some ineresting 'angel' effcts,
such as emitting an aroma to women which was different for each one, but
somewhat enticing to all, or his love of sugar/sweet foods/sensual
pleasures(which does NOT have to mean sexual stuff).
In "City of Angels" (Nicholas Cage), angels had no physical
sensation, couldn't read (they read the thoughts of people in the
library who were reading), and couldn't be seen unless they wanted to be
(of course, that's more of a power than a disad).
Try to find these or other recent movies dealing with agels, since it
seems that lately, there have been some pretty inventive ideas being
explored on the subject.
- --
-Reverend Spith
"I used to be a heathen, but then I saw the Light. Now I'm a pagan"
- -Anonymous
------------------------------
End of champ-l-digest V1 #5
***************************
Web Page created by Text2Web v1.3.6 by Dev Virdi
http://www.virdi.demon.co.uk/
Date: Tuesday, December 22, 1998 03:29 PM