Living Superheroes World (Come join the fun and the debate)
- Thread starter Brother Shatterstone
- Start date
Kylara
First Post
Brother Shatterstone said:
Can you clarify this statement please? PL = Power Level, Power Level provides a cap to character Stats. Power Level is the basis of the Mutants and Masterminds system. For example a PL 10 character, the default starting level of characters in MnM:
BAB: 10
Defense: 10
Toughness Saves (your own): 10
Toughness Saves (you inflict): 10
Max Ability Bonus: 15
Max Skill Rank: 15
You can trade off maximums in certain sets. BAB for Inflicted Toughness Saves, and Defense for Toughness Saves(your Own), droping one to +8 and the other to +12, etc. up to a +/-5.
Ankh-Morpork Guard
First Post
An idea for 'origin'...errr, more like 'why all these young heroes are suddenly appearing'. Perhaps the world is just coming out of a time when supers(of any kind) are being repressed. The whole "powers are evil/outlawed" type thing, but comes to and end thanks to some...uh...thing. Big cosmic evil. Really big bad guy. Lots of the above. Things that aren't actually achievable to be defeated right now but could have minions, etc to spread out through the world.
So the world recognizes the need for heroes, the 'old' ones that were in hiding get together and put some kind of worldwide organization together(JL is the best comparison I can think of here, but I'm not a huge DC guy, so bear with me if that's off) to train/organize the efforts of the new heroes. Older heroes wouldn't actually be fighting due to being...well...old? Dunno. Don't like the idea of powerful NPC heroes, but it'd be nice to have mentor types that are organizing everything and, essentially, give the GMs an IC presence to direct things if necessary.
So the world recognizes the need for heroes, the 'old' ones that were in hiding get together and put some kind of worldwide organization together(JL is the best comparison I can think of here, but I'm not a huge DC guy, so bear with me if that's off) to train/organize the efforts of the new heroes. Older heroes wouldn't actually be fighting due to being...well...old? Dunno. Don't like the idea of powerful NPC heroes, but it'd be nice to have mentor types that are organizing everything and, essentially, give the GMs an IC presence to direct things if necessary.
Brother Shatterstone
Dark Moderator of PbP
Kylara said:
I had no idea how it worked in 2nd edition. I have an idea now. Thanks!
I still think more players than not would like to feel like their characters aren’t play second fiddle to anyone… In your ideas, if they fail the world doesn’t end. The real, more powerful, heroes just show up and take care of business…
(Now you can suppress the real heroes for an adventure or two but eventually they’ll have to be allowed to save the day and when that happens your going to have a lot of players think, “well my character’s actions don’t truly matter…” and most will probably stay but your going to lose alot of players…)
It’s the same principle as in D&D when the DM has the über NPC that can do no wrong and everything right (Why looking so cool!) and no one particularly likes that...
Bront
The man with the probe
Well, perhaps the mentor superheroes can be retired heroes. Ones too old, battered, or otherwise unable to be heroes anymore. Think like an Old Bruce Wayne from Batman Beyond, things along those lines. Mentors who can give some solid advice, but can't do much beyond that.
One step further, perhaps the old league (whatever you want to name it) members were killed/disabled/retired, and there is now a void of new heroes (Perhaps they took the old supervillians with them, so they're new ones of those as well).
I think a new begining of heroes is a better solution than a reestablishment or even a current continuum of heroes. The world could be just begining to find it's heroes.
One step further, perhaps the old league (whatever you want to name it) members were killed/disabled/retired, and there is now a void of new heroes (Perhaps they took the old supervillians with them, so they're new ones of those as well).
I think a new begining of heroes is a better solution than a reestablishment or even a current continuum of heroes. The world could be just begining to find it's heroes.
Velmont
First Post
Personnally, I prefer the idea of starting from the first appearance of the heroes. Let's say everyone start at PL5 (I know, looks weak, but I like that idea, and it is just for the example). As everyone is PL5, you won't expect villain to be more than, says, PL8. With time, the world evolve, and after two years, you have PL8 heroes, and now, a few PL10 villain are wandering too.
Now, if the heroes are wandering around the world since the start of times. That means there will be villain wandering in the world, villain of PL10 or even PL15. What a group of PL5 can do against a PL15? And if they doesn't appear, what are they doing, waiting calmly in there headquaters to see some PC hereos strong enough to have maybe a chance to stop them?
Now, if the heroes are wandering around the world since the start of times. That means there will be villain wandering in the world, villain of PL10 or even PL15. What a group of PL5 can do against a PL15? And if they doesn't appear, what are they doing, waiting calmly in there headquaters to see some PC hereos strong enough to have maybe a chance to stop them?
Kylara
First Post
The same way it worked in 1E, it provides the limits, and tells people how many PP they have to spend.
Why would they have to start at such a low power level? PL 5 is incredibly weak ompared to what most people think of as heros, you cannot afford much in the way of powers or stats, I like my heros to be of suitibly heroic stature. Nothing requires that people just getting their powers be so weak. a PL 5 game would be fine, for a camapign, but not for a persistant game world. It would be like setting the campaign with level 2 commoners, not everyone is interested in such a thing.
I dont follow your arguement, if we started with the first appearance of heros, then it would also be the first appearance of villians as well, so it wouldn't be an issue of having Villians that are 10 PL higher. It also totally disregards the fact that a villian of the same PL will be hard pressed to give any kind of challenge to a group of players in a fight, you'll simply have to stack rows of equal PL enemies up.
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Keia
I aim to misbehave
Good discussion everyone. There are a lot of good ideas floating around in there.
I think, if we go with the comet waves (and up them to every 35-40 years), we can have new PC's who were affected by the most recent wave and other heroes that were either older and affect by the last wave, or sons and daughters of older heroes who have powers, or just got their powers and abilities through other means.
The origin idea for the comet isn't meant to be a restriction, nor is the JLU idea. It is simply a means to generate ideas, to have a gathering of sorts (much like RDI).
Instead of a comet we could go with the point that Mars is nearest to the Earth, or anything. And the number of people affected by each comet would variable and I would think limited.
If I remember right wasn't that a similar event for the Wild Cards books too? Some of those stories were great.
Keia
I think, if we go with the comet waves (and up them to every 35-40 years), we can have new PC's who were affected by the most recent wave and other heroes that were either older and affect by the last wave, or sons and daughters of older heroes who have powers, or just got their powers and abilities through other means.
The origin idea for the comet isn't meant to be a restriction, nor is the JLU idea. It is simply a means to generate ideas, to have a gathering of sorts (much like RDI).
Instead of a comet we could go with the point that Mars is nearest to the Earth, or anything. And the number of people affected by each comet would variable and I would think limited.
If I remember right wasn't that a similar event for the Wild Cards books too? Some of those stories were great.
Keia
Velmont
First Post
I choosed PL5 just as an example... you can raise all the PL I sate by 5 and you'll have the same problem, PL10 heroes group of players with PL20 villain waiting for those heroes to progres before he show up...
And what I like with PL5, it is that you can make adventure where even a normal human can be of some danger. The local poloceman with his light pistol isn't that much a danger, but if teh SWAT team get out, that's start to be a serious threat, even if you have maxed your Protection power. I've always liked the challenge of low PL, but that's my personnal taste and I know that the starting PL will be higher than that.
But at the same time, I would suggest to start thinking about two things:
- At which level do you think we should start?
- At which speed do you think a player should progress?
And what I like with PL5, it is that you can make adventure where even a normal human can be of some danger. The local poloceman with his light pistol isn't that much a danger, but if teh SWAT team get out, that's start to be a serious threat, even if you have maxed your Protection power. I've always liked the challenge of low PL, but that's my personnal taste and I know that the starting PL will be higher than that.
But at the same time, I would suggest to start thinking about two things:
- At which level do you think we should start?
- At which speed do you think a player should progress?
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