What?!? You mean I didn't invent them! Damn, there's another patent application that's sure to be rejected.
Edited: Serious response inserted before useless tripe.
Also check out some of the recent Polyhedron issues...specifically the ones with d20 systems that are based on parts of d20 Modern. Or get d20 Modern. That has a system called "Action Points" which is similar. I'm sticking to my Hero Point system, but I'm going to have to try to find Dungeon #75 to compare that to what mine.
Edited: What follows is a mock utility description for Hero Points in the style of patent application as spewed forth from my diseased mind.
---
The utility described is a system, or set of rules and constraints, whereby individuals engaging in a social gaming activity and/or other involved individuals, or Consumers, may enhance or otherwise affect the experience of gameplay through implementation of a quantitative unit, henceforth to be called 'Hero Points.'
Said Hero Points will be distrubuted to the Consumers by means of a conveyance, either intangible, such as verbally- or otherwise-delivered communication, or tangible, including but not limited to any item, system of notation, or device capable of representing one or more Hero Points.
Once obtained, a Hero Point may then be utilized or activated by a Consumer through application to one or more specified uses as deliniated by the Dungeon Master or some other individual or group of individuals so authorized, henceforth the Authorized Party. This use or activition may take place in a similar manner to that by which it was conveyed to the Consumer, or by some other means previously agreed upon by the Authorized Party and the Consumers.
These uses may include certain perviously-specified applications, reffered to as the List, as found in Figure 1. The List must not be construed to be the only ends to which the Hero Point may be applied as any use may be contrived by the Authorized Party and thereby made available to Consumer through ammendment to the List. A use may also be contrived by a Consumer, but may not be utilized until and unless approved by the Authorized Party. Furthermore, the Authorized Party may, at his discretion, remove items from the list of appropriate uses, thus constraining the Consumer to fewer possibilities. The number if items on the List may be as many or as few as may be agreed upon by the Authorized Party and the Consumer, or as dictated by the Authorized Party."
---
Oh God! Never mix sickness, exhaustion, overwork, and the still unhealed wounds from not being an attorney and having to proof and edit/ammend eighty pages of a patent application where the attorney was having a hard time grasping the technology to be patented!
