[icons] Unconventional Heroes. [OOC]

WARNING: This game is not for the easily offended. It will contain bizarre situations, crude attempts at humor/satire/parody, super-hero/comic-book tropes, internet memes, and will be BadWrongFun.


ISSUE I: All New, All Different.

USHA Press Release said:

ATTENTION CRIME FIGHTERS!​

The United Super Hero Alliance is currently looking for a group of heroes (4 or 5 max) to form the backbone of their newly announced West Coast Expansion team. If you interested in joining America's premiere crime fighting organization, send your audition tape to [REDACTED].

The top contenders will be given tickets to attend this years 10th Annual Powers-Xpo, at the LA Staple Center, where the finalized team will be announced during the USHA diner and reception.

Click to expand...

After sending it audition videos to the USHA website, a group of would be super heroes found themselves invited to a the 10th Annual Powers-Xpo's reception and dinner. Unknown to our heroes, a group of eco-terrorists led by the Cluster Duck and his partner, the "Zoo-Keeper" raided the convention and turned the assembled heroes into ducks using Duck-ification Carbines...

After a lengthy investigation, and several battles, our heroes defeated the Zoo Keeper and the Cluster Duck's minions at the Los Angeles Coliseum where they planned to assassinate the Mayor of Los Angeles.

With the assassination plat thwarted, our Heroes then headed towards Watts Towers and prevented the Cluster Duck from enacting his scheme to turn the populace of South-East into poultry....


Here is some basic info about the game:

The game takes place in an alternate universe where the supernatural/paranormal is known to exist.

There are several well known subspecies of humans that exist on earth including Therians (humanoid felines, canines, etc who are the decedents of lycanthropes), Atlantians, and Morlocks . Traditional fantasy races routinely access earth through magical means.

The setting uses a standard comic-book styled cosmology. This of course means that all pantheons exist, there are multiple dimensions and planes of existence, angels exist, and demons exist, and old ones, "oh my!"



[sblock=House Rules and information for Volume Two (MM3e)]
House Rules
Character Creation
--- Power Level 8, 120 pp with the lowest Modified effect cost being 1pp:2 ranks.
--- Ability Scores: All ability scores above 7 must be enhanced.
--- Powers: Max Regeneration 5. Max Immortality 10.
--- Characters can not be "villains" although "anti-heroes" are ok.


[sblock=Sample Character]
CRÈME LATTE
“Now serving one steaming hot cup of justice!”

NAME: Christina Morrison aka Crème Latte OCCUPATION: Barista, Crime fighter
AFFILIATION: Imperial Valley Vanguard BASE: Salton City, California

[sblock=Description] Christina Morrison is a young, petite, Caucasian woman with long blond hair, emerald green eyes, and a light tan. Christina is confident, energetic woman who is known for her upbeat, overtly optimistic personality, and her love of finely brewed coffee. As Crème Latte, Christina fights crime in a pink and light brown leather outfit styled after French culinary uniform.[/sblock]
[sblock=Background] Christina Morrison was an average 19 year old Southern Californian girl who constantly dreams of earning enough money to leave the Imperial Valley and relocate to a more prosperous, coastal region, of the Golden State. Christina works as a full time Barista for Café-A-Latte, an upscale coffee house located in Salton City California. Christina’s life would have been completely bland and uneventful if it wasn’t for her deciding to visit he coworkers one eventful day.

While Christina was visiting her coworkers, Café-A-Latte was robbed by members of the local mafia. Finding themselves trapped due to the arrival of a Salton City Police officer who was on break, the mafia members decided to take hostages. Among the hostages taken was Christina Morrison, who was kidnapped by the mafia as they fed, and was to be released to police authority only if the police allowed her kidnappers. However fearing that Christina would id them when released, her kidnappers decided to pour a deadly dose of radioactive chemicals into her latte-café-mocha-explosion as they approached the boarder. Unexpectedly, instead of quickly killing Christina, the chemicals fused with coffee’s caffeine molecules, giving Christina minor super powers.

As a result of her ordeal, Christina decided that she had enough of the Russian Mob’s control over Salton City and that someone had to help protect the City’s cafés, coffee houses, and eating establishments from the mob’s rule. [/sblock]
[sblock=character Sheet]CRÈME LATTE PL 6
ABILITIES: [28pp]
STR: 0, STA: 1, AGL: 4, DEX: 2, FGT: 1, INT: 0, AWE: 2, PRE: 4

OFFENSE:
Initiative + 8
Espresso-matic Cannon +6 (Ranged [Diminished] Damage [Coffee] 6, other effects), Unarmed 3 (Close damage 0)

DEFENSE: [16pp]
Dodge 6, Parry 6, Fort 5, Tough 6 / 2 (Flatfooted, 1 without armor), Will 5

SKILLS: [10pp]
Acrobatics 1(+5), Close Combat: Melee 2 (+3), Expertise: Barista 5 (+5), Expertise: Popular Culture 2 (+2), Insight 2 (+4), Perception 3 (+5), Persuasion 1 (+5/10), Ranged Combat: Espresso-matic Cannon 2 (+6), Sleight of Hand 1 (+3), Vehicles 1 (+3)

ADVANTAGES: [18pp]
Agile Bluff, Attractive 2, Benefit: Wealth 1, Daze (Bluff), Defensive Roll 4, Equipment 3, Fascinate (Persuasion), Inspire 2, Move-by-Action, Quick Draw, Skill Mastery (Expertise: Barista)

POWERS [18pp]
Caffeinated Blood: Enhanced Trait 1 (Improved Initiative 1), Immunity 6 (Fatigue Effects, Need for Sleep), Quickness 5, Speed 1 [13pp]
Espresso-matic Cannon: Array (4 points), Removable (-1 points)
• Instant Brew: Create 4 (Coffee, Water; Extras: Innate, Permanent, Precise; Flaws: Proportional) [4pp]
• Caffeinated Blast: Ranged Blast 6 (Coffee; Flaws: Diminished Range 2, Fades) [1pp]
• Coffee Slick: Ranged Affliction 2 (Coffee; Resisted by Reflexes; Hindered, Prone, Incapacitated; Flaws: Instant Recovery) [1pp]

EQUIPMENT 15 / 15 points
Camera, Smart Phone, Restraints, Leather Coat
VEHICLE: VESPA SCOOTER 10 points
SIZE: Medium; STR 1, SPD 6 (50 mph); DEF 0, TOUGH 6
Features: Alarm, Navigation System

COMPLICATIONS
Addiction: Crème Latte is addicted to coffee.
Enemies: Salton City’s Russian Mafia.
Motivation: Crème Latte is motivated by the desire for recognition and fame.
Power Loss: Crème Latte must drink at least one 10oz caffeinated drink every 8 hours to gain access to her Caffeinated Blood Powers.
TOTALS: Abilities 28 + Advantages 18 + Skills 10 + Powers 18 + Defenses 16 = 90pp[/sblock]
[/sblock][/sblock]

[sblock=House Rules for Volume One (ICONS)]
House Rules
-Bonus effects/powers as "alternate power uses."
---example: Blast (Exploding)[Shooting] 5 can be used to create an exploding blast and a non explosive blast.
-Hero Advancement.
---Levels: 1 pt. Starting Determination to increase Ability/Powers Levels.
---New Powers: 1pt. to gain a new level 1 power.
---Specialties: 1pt. Starting Determination to gain a new specialty or increase a specialty level.
---Stunts: 1 pt. Starting Determination to gain a stunt that was successfully attempted 10 times.
-Possession merges by default (RAW as challenge)

Character Creation Rules
-Method 1: 45 pts. budget
---Additional power effects cost 1 pt. but still count as a power (for calculating determination)
---Character must start with at least 2 Qualities, 1 Challenge
-Method II: Random Generation
---You may reroll the level on bonus powers ONLY if the level REALLY sucks
-All characters must have at least 2 Qualities, 1 Challenge

Rules Related Links:
-ICONS random character generation. (Within this thread).
-Determination (in this thread)

Other Links:
-The write up of eveyrone's powers (Within this thread)
-ICONS Combat Crib sheet

[/sblock]


Game Related Threads.
- Unconventional Heroes: Volume 1
--- Guide to Earth.NRK.Zeta: Unconventional Heroes Vol.1 (Rogues Gallery 1)
--- Unconventional Heroes. Issue 1: All-New, All-Different.
--- Guide to Earth.NRK.Zeta: Unconventional Heroes Volume 2 (Rogues Gallery 2)
--- Unconventional Heroes. Issue 2: ????
--- Unconventional Heroes. Volume 2

OOC:

Yes count me in I like bad wrong fun...

Either playing a fey desire reflection shape shifter (using peoples fears to enhance her effectiveness) or a male forcefield user (think early Captain Britain).

However I don't have a copy of the rules... So some assistance with build or a pointer to a legal and cheap way to get them would be great

Yes. I've been wanting to see this system and been dying for a Supers game that didn't need 10 hours of my day to make a character. I've always wanted to play a character with powers over light and gravity, making him space themed, or one of those multiple elemental body types like Captain Planet.

Also, a power-armor themed character would be great; I'd want a Saber cyclone armor (from Robotech)... or an actual intelligent transforming Robot.

Hmm! Sounds interesting. Need more details on the system of course, but it looks rather cool!

As for ideas...well, Hero beat me to the power armor, but failing that perhaps some kind of Venome-esque symbiote type deal, or...um...I'll think on it. I'm sure I can come up with something original.

Power armor's my third choice, Shayuri. Feel free to go that way. The only thing I can tell you re: system is to check out the sample character and extrapolate. At first glance it looks similar to the old OLD Marvel system.

For everyone without a copy, I'm looking around for an SRD (Steve Kenison was gracious enough to make the game OGL). However, you can obtain a PDF version for 15 bux at the enworld store. But until then, I'll also compile a list of the powers and specialties and post it tonight. But LUCKILY for all, here is some basic INFO:

ICONS is M&M's, MARVEL Super Heroes and FATES bastard orgy lovechild.

PROwess = Melee Attack bonus
CooRDination = Dexterity and is the ranged attack bonus
STRength = Psyical stength and your body's endurance.
INTellect = How smart you are.
AWarEness = Your preception
WiLL power = Your strength of personality. Think of this as charisma and wisdom.
STAmina = STR + WLL. This is basically your HP
DETermination = Basically does a lot of things Hero points did in M&M. This is equal to 6 - ("number of powers" + number of ability scores 7 or over). Minimum 1.

All Ability scores and powers are valued between 1 - 10. With ability scores 3 is average human, 7 is super human (considered a super power). Each ability score costs 1 point per level.

ICONS uses an effect based system, so descriptors are a necessity. Powers can be either devices or innate. Each power costs 1 point per level.. BUT some powers are considered to be worth 2 powers when calculating determination. Characters can only have 5 powers max.

Specialties cost 1 point. [Expert] specialties are 2 points. [Master] specialties are 3 points.

ASPECTS: These are divided into QUALITIES your character has and CHALLENGES your character can face. Think of these like being complications (M&M) or advantages/disadvantages (TRUE20). Characters can have up to 5 qualities and 5 challenges. ASPECTS are also used to gain determination or to effect the outcome of a scene through the use of strategic RETCONs("I can't do any damage! Maybe there is a chink in it's armor I can exploit!" [Using 1 det to make INT to do damage instead of STR.] or "Crap! There's a chink in my armor!" [Gaining 1 Determination for a penalty to Blocking]). This is called tagging (qualities) / compelling (challenges). If you don't want to accept a compelled challenge you can spend a point of determination to avoid it.


The rolling mechanic is non-standard: 1d6 - 1d6 + [Ability Score/Power's Level] +/- Modifiers.

Time is measured using a comic book metaphor. Panels contain (one action). 1 page contain's everyone's actions. And 10 pages in combat is about a minute. Multiple pages form 1 chapter (basically anything that happens at one location or scene is considered a chapter). Multiple chapters become 1 issue (everything that happens in a game session or pbp thread).

Place holder for specialties and powers over view. Please note: I'm only writing brief descriptions of the powers that seem likely for your characters to use, or you are interested in hearing about. Powers which state (x2) count as two powers.

[sblock="Alteration Powers"]
Ability Boost: You can raise one ability score by +2 for a number of pages equal to your powers level.. You then receive a -1 penalty to that ability score for the same amount of time.

Alter Ego: You can turn into a "second character". The second character may only have 4 powers max. You can stay in your second form for an unlimited amount of time, HOWEVER afterward you have to remain "normal" for an equal amount of time.

Serial Alter Ego (x2): As alter ego, however you have up to 5 alter egos. HOWEVER your base form may not have any other powers.

Alternate form: You can change into another material and obtain it's properties. Depending on form, the level of this power can be used for determining damage. Energy, gaseous, liquid, solid.

Aquatic

Chameleon: You could make yourself or anything you wear/carry blend into your surroundings. This is easier to detect then Invisibility.

Density:

Duplication (x2)

Extra body parts. You have additional body parts, and gain extra abilities as a result: Choose one per power instance: Carapace (invulneraility), claws (strike), extra arms(fast attack), extra legs(speed), tail (fast attack), tentacles (STR), wings (flight).

Growth

Invisibility You can make yourself invisible at will, however rain sound and scent can give you way. You can also attempt to turn others invisible by touching them with an Invisibility Test. Objects or people turned invisible remain so until you sop touching it. The maximum mass of an object you can effect is equal to your level (as if trying to lift it).

Phasing

Material Duplication (x2) You gain the properties of a substance by touching it (as alternate form). If you do nothing during a panel except absorb an oncoming attack you gain immunity to it.

Power Duplication (x2) You gain all of another character's powers by touching them. The powerlevel of the abilities you gain are equal to the lesser of your Duplication Power Level or the Level of the Target's power. You keep the powers until you change the power set or are knocked out.

As an additional effect you can duplicate the powers of 1 additional person per point invested. The highest level of any given power applies.

Power Theft (x2) You can STEAL another person's powers by touching them. Subtract your power level from all the power levels of your target. You gain powers at that level (the lesser of your power's level or the target's power level). The target retains any remaining levels. If the target has no remaining levels, they loose the power completely. You can also use the power on the same subject multiple times.

You keep the powers for 10x Power Level in pages. After that your powers loose 1 level per page, and the target regains their powers at 1 level per page.

As an added effect, you can steal power at range.

Shrinking

Stretching

Transformation (x2): You can change into other things but you retain your original mass. You gain the physical properties of the other form up to your power level, however you can't obtain another person's powers when changing into their form.
You must have a limitation or some sort.
[/sblock]

[sblock="Control Powers"]
Alteration Ray You can use alteration powers on another. Choose a power: Density, Growth, Invisibility, Phasing, Shrinking or Transformation

Animation

Elemental Control Choose one of the following elements: Air, Darkness, Earth, Electricity, Fire, Gravity, Light, Magniticism, Sound, Water, Weather. Choose two of the following effects: Attack, Creation, Defense, Detection, Moving, or Shaping (additional effects cost 1 pt.) Each instance of this power is considered a separate power (ie. Light control, Earth control).

Healing You can heal others Strength and Stamina by touch. You may heal up to your power level each time use this ability. You can heal someone twice each day (extra healing cost a point of determination). When you heal strength as a Healing (3) test, however if you succeed you loose one Strength which must be recovered normally (Healing 8+ automatically succeeds this test).

It costs an additional 1pt. to be able to eliminate diseases and toxics as a healing test. The difficulty is dependent on the potentiality of the disease/toxin.

Nemesis (x2) Touch a character and you gain the power you need to defeat them (GM selects them based on making you effective against them ). The power you gained is equal to your level. You can spend 1 determination to choose the powers (GM can veto and give you back the spent determination). You keep any power gained until you defeat your opponent or switch targets. The ability to gain powers to counter a perceivable opponent at ranged costs and additional point.

Plant Control

Power Nullification

Probability Control (x2)
[
B]Telekinesis[/B] You can move objects at visual range without touchingthem. Each level of this power is treated as its Strength for lifting targets. This power uses WILL as Coordination.

Time Control (x2)
Transmutation (x2)

Wizardry. (x2) Choose a style: Cosmic (AWE based), Magic (WILL ), Gadgets (INT based) then select ANY TWO power effects (additional effects cost 1 pt) you want to be able to duplicate. You can also DUPLICATE ANY POWER as a power stunt. You can use only one Wizardry power per page, however you can maintain a number of effects equal to your power level.
NOTE: Your wizardry level can not exceed your Ability score.
[/sblock]

[sblock="Defense Powers"]
Absorption

Force Field As Invulnerability. HOWEVER if you are stunned, your power turns off. You can prevent this by making a WILL POWER test, however the power is reduced to the test's effort.

Immortality (x2) It is almost impossible to truly kill you. When your strength is reduced to 0, you are not killed; instead your just "mostly dead" and will eventually regenerate. You recover from death, you loose any determination you had and are forced to rebuild from 0.

Immunity (x2) You are completely immune to any effect or attack. Select these from the resistance list or just make one up. Every additional resistance you acquire may be changed into an immunity with no additional cost.

Invulnerability Reduce the damage your receive by an attack by your power level. Attacks that do 0 damage can not harm you, but they can still stun.

Life Support For each level you have in this power you can ignore one of theses needs/conditions: Cold, Breathing, Eating, Heat, Pathogens, Pressure, Radiation, Sleeping, Toxins, Vacuum. At level 10 you ignore all.

Reflection (x2) You can reflect the effects of an attack back at the user as a reaction test.

Regeneration You gain stamina equal to your power level every ten pages. You also regain your power level in lost strength each week.

Resistance You are resistant to a particular effect. Choose one: Afflictions, Binding, blinding, Cold, Corrosives, Electricity, Heat, Magical Attacks, Mental Attacks, Radiation. Subtract your resistance from the level of the effect. With GM permission you can be resistant to other effects.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Mental Powers]
animal Control
Astral Projection (x2)

emotion Control You can influence another person within visual range through manipulating their emotions. You may only instill one emotion per target at a time, until you release them from your control or they ar led to act against one of their aspects (You must make a new Emotion Control test to maintain the effect). If you fail an Emotion Control Test, you must make a determined effort to try to attempt to control the target again within the same scene.

If you are limited to only one emotion, your power is considered to be +2 levels higher then it actually is. Emotions: doubt, fear, hate, love, pleasure, respect, sadness.

Illusion

Mental Blast You can attack others in visual range with mental force.

Mind Control (x2)

Mind Shield Reduce the level of any mental power used against you by your Power Level. Targets using Will Power. Inflicts damage as blast equal to power level but can stun not slam targets.

Possession (x2)

Telepathy You can read the minds of others and transmit your thoughts to them. By making a Telepathy Test, you can read the minds of anyone with a will power less then the lesser of your Will Power or Telepathy Level. Individuals wih stronger minds may only be read if you tag one of their aspects first.

You automatically know if someone is attempting to read your mind, and can block their attempt.
[/sblock]


[sblock=Movement Powers]
Burrowing
Dimension Travel

Flight Flight 5 is enough to cross visual rand in one panel. Flight 7 is mach 1. Fight 10 is enough to fly around the world in one panel.

Leaping

Super Speed Same as flight, but on ground..

Swinging

Teleportation (x2) You can Disappear and reappear somewhere else. Level 5 is enough to cross visual range. Beyond that distances are measured in 10s, 100s, 1000s, 10,000s of miles. Level 10 you can teliport to virtually anywhere.

Teleportation requires a power level test. If you fail, you arrive and must spend the next panel stunned. At teliport 7 you automatically succeed.
Wall Crawling
[/sblock]


[sblock=Offensive Powers]
Affliction
Aura
Binding

Blast A ranged attack. Choose it's descriptors and if it is a [Blast] (blunt/force based) or [shooting] (ammo based) attack. Damage equal to power level. It costs 1 additional point to have Exploding blasts.

Blinding

Fast Attack You can attack more then once a round. 1-5: 2 attacks, 6-7: 3 attacks, 8+: 4 attacks.

Life Drain
Paralysis

Strike A [Slashing] or [Bashing] melee attack. Slashing attacks do damage equal to its level. Bashing does damage to the greater of the power's level or your Strength +1
[/sblock]

[sblock=Sensory Powers]
Danger Sense You sense danger before it happens. Substitute your danger sense level for your Awareness for surprise attacks, Prowess for evading, and Coordination for dodging..

Detection You can detect specific forms of energy, power, or presence with an Awareness level equal to your detection level. Choose one: Cosmic, Emotion, Energy, Magic, Magnetic, Power, Radiation, Spirit, etc.

ESP
Interface You can access info from and interface with computers at a visual range. Use the higher of your Interface Level or Intellect levels when operating computers. This acts like Telepathy against computers and robots.

Postcognition
Precognition

Supersenses You have enhanced or extraordinary sensory abilities. Each level choose one ability from the following types:
Additional senses. Enhanced (each level adds +1 to awareness tests using a specific sense). Extended (reduced the effective range of something by one.)
[/sblock]

[sblock=Specialties]
Acrobatics
Aerial Combat
Art Choose: graphic arts, sculpture, photography, film, etc.
Buisness
Computers
Criminology
Drive
Electronics
Investigation
Languages Increases the int level for determining number of languages known.
Law
Leadership Teams only can have one leader at a time. Super hero teams with a leader gain 1 additional Team Determination
Martial Arts
Medicine
Mechanics
Mental Resistance
Military
Occult
Perform: Acting, comedy, dancing, music, singing, etc.
Pilot
Power: Grants a bonus to using a power
Psychiatry
Science: Choose: Anthropology, archeology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, ecology, genetics, meallurgy, meteorology, oceanography, physics, radiology, and sociology.
Sight of Hand
Stealth
Underwater combat
Weapons: Choose: Blades, Bludgeons, Bows (includes crossbows), Polearms, Throwing, etc. Master of all weapon tend to have high prowess rather then many specialties.
Wrestling
[/sblock]

OH yeah, Shayuri. You WILL recognize some of the NPCs that may appear..

Yey similar dice mechanic to Feng Shui.

Are there any other powers you guys want me to type a brief write up of?