MSH in the 80s

[Quasqueton]

I am soon going to be running a Marvel Super Heroes game. The campaign will be set in the mid 1980s, a year after many super heroes have disappeared. [The Heroes lost the Secret War.]

The PC heroes are going to be gathered by a wealthy man by the name of Michael Mage. His manor will be the base of operations. His manor staff consists of: a butler, a housekeeper, a groundskeeper/house mechanic, a driver/auto mechanic, and a majordomo. The manor itself has an intelligence.

I’ve come up with original names for the staff members, but I’m toying with the idea of using some 70s names:
Butler – Giles French
Housekeeper – Edna Garrett
Groundskeeper/house mechanic – Dwayne Schnieder
Driver/auto mechanic – limo, sedan, jeep – Tony Banta
The mansion itself – HAL, House Aware L. . . <something>?

My questions to you creative people:

1- Would using such names be good or bad for the game? If any Player recognized the name, the story would be that the NPC had moved on from that previous employment. (All Players in my game are 30-40+ years old.)

2- What name to give the majordomo? I can’t think of such a character from the time and source.

3- What can the L in HAL stand for?

Quasqueton

 

[Thunderfoot]

The majordomo or steward could be Jonathan Quayle Higgins III (Magnum P.I.)

H.A.L. - Housing Awareness Link
or Humanity Aware Lodging


Hope this helps - TF

 

[T. Foster]

I recommend Benson DuBois as the majordomo.

 

[kenobi65]

I recommend Benson DuBois as the majordomo.

Perfect!

 

[Henry]

I vote for "Humanity Aware Lodging" myself. Perfect.

As for using the "silly" house staff, I'd only use it if you're going for the "fun & campy" play style, but that's kind of self-evident.

 

[Quasqueton]

When Thunderfoot suggested Higgins, I thought "Perfect! I can't believe I didn't remember him."

Then T. Foster said Benson, I thought, "Yes, another Perfect!"

Of the two, I think I should go with Benson, as the gentleman character is filled by Mr. French. Benson would let me, as GM/Judge, get in some snide remarks when the PCs say/do something foolish.

And thanks Thunderfoot, too, for the HAL ideas. Humanity Aware Lodging. . . nice. The intelligence of the mansion is magic-based. MM is a sorcerer, if the name didn't make that obvious.

Quasqueton

 

[Cthulhudrew]

I was going to recommend Benson myself. Mr. Belvedere was another option.

 

[sjmiller]

3- What can the L in HAL stand for?

Heuristic Automated Livingspace

 

[szilard]

I recommend Benson DuBois as the majordomo.

Kind of a demotion from Lieutenant Governor...


Need inspiration?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_famous_fictional_butlers


-Stuart

 

[T. Foster]

I was going to recommend Benson myself. Mr. Belvedere was another option.

Or, as those of us in the know call him, Brocktoon...