Mutants & Masterminds: The Incredibles?

[Wulf Ratbane]

So what? You are assuming that those with super powers won't use them out of the goodness of their heart.

A "standard" comic world assumes that the heroes fight the villains because the police, miltiary, and government can't.

"Can't" is a wide umbrella, even in the comic world-- unless Batman somehow isn't considered a "standard" comic. Or the Punisher, or even Spiderman on most of his good days.

It seems many "standard" heroes start (or maintain) their careers tackling non-super criminals, not because the police can't handle the small fries, but simply because to not help when the heroes are otherwise capable would be wrong.

One of several subtexts within The Incredibles.

But that's not really the question you raised, I admit: The question is what to do with super-powered villains, not villains in general.

Did we have to go here? :\

Sure, it's allegorically relevant, especially if you want to lend understanding and verisimilitude to the suggested campaign premise-- which I hope we can do without derailing the thread.

The answer to your question-- what to do with super-powered villains-- is the same answer as what to do with criminals who flaunt gun laws. In this situation, the government becomes the "super"-- that is, the privileged few who retain their firearms and can tackle the criminals.

If the government is truly serious about banning super powers, the only rational response to super-villains is for the government to license superheroes to "carry" as one of the privileged few.

Otherwise, the campaign premise is analogous to banning firearms use among the civilian population AND all government officers, police and military, while leaving the criminals in possession of their weapons.

This has actually worked with startling success in England.... oops, sorry.

Wulf

 

[Ghostwind]

Let's assume that the world's police and military forces have come up with the technology to take on any 'super' who decides that they want to commit a crime. Now add in the principle of The Incredibles where the courts allow for civil action/lawsuits against anyone who uses their powers and causes injury during the course of that action. This means that any 'super' who does try to do something for the common good and use his powers must do so with great discretion. It also opens the door for the presence of 'supers' who don't have powers per se, such as Batman. It would definitely be a brains over brawn campaign.

Oh, let's try to keep the politics concerning gun control out of this discussion, shall we? I have a strong belief regarding it and its effectiveness, but I also keep it out of my opinions here.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Let's assume that the world's police and military forces have come up with the technology to take on any 'super' who decides that they want to commit a crime. Now add in the principle of The Incredibles where the courts allow for civil action/lawsuits against anyone who uses their powers and causes injury during the course of that action. This means that any 'super' who does try to do something for the common good and use his powers must do so with great discretion.

I think under those circumstances, there would be no reason for anyone to be a superhero.

What's the incentive?

 

[Ghostwind]

Why to be sneaky and circumvent the powers to be, of course. Where's your sense of adventure and rebellion? You use your powers because you can and hopefully not get caught.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

You use your powers because you can and hopefully not get caught.

Yes, so we have the villains' motivation out of the way, but what about the heroes?

 

[BryonD]

Yes, so we have the villains' motivation out of the way, but what about the heroes?

I think in this setting they would, by necessity, be freedom fighters, struggling against the oppressive all-powerful State.

 

[GlassJaw]

I think in this setting they would, by necessity, be freedom fighters, struggling against the oppressive all-powerful State.

Right, which comes back to my original point. There would be no "heroes" per se. You would have the villains continue to be just that but there would be no heroes in the classic sense. "Freedom fighters" would still be viewed as criminals by the government and perhaps even the general populace, depending on the circumstances preceeding the laws.

As time went by, I still think the "supers" would prevail as they would eventually band together. Unless of course the gov't or military develops increasingly capable weapons.

Oh, let's try to keep the politics concerning gun control out of this discussion, shall we? I have a strong belief regarding it and its effectiveness, but I also keep it out of my opinions here.

Well said.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

As time went by, I still think the "supers" would prevail as they would eventually band together. Unless of course the gov't or military develops increasingly capable weapons.

Unless of course the evil supers banded together to take over the world!

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Instead of the government having some super technology or something similar to deal with superheroes...take another idea from the Incredibles(and other superhero comics).

The people just don't WANT superheroes anymore. You can be as powerful and strong as you want, but with enough people against you, you'll just stop because no one cares anymore. Doesn't matter how noble you may be...in the end, everyone's got a point where they just say 'screw it, no one cares'.

As for dealing with supervillians. Why? In this situation, the 'villians' would likely be superheroes who are just frustrated. Put superhero against superhero. They probably wouldn't pop up too much because no matter how powerful you are, there's still strength in numbers in the end.

 

[GlassJaw]

Unless of course the evil supers banded together to take over the world!

Well the term "supers" doesn't conotate hero or villain so yes, you could have bands of villains or bands of heroes, who could be thought of as freedom fighters.

The people just don't WANT superheroes anymore. You can be as powerful and strong as you want, but with enough people against you, you'll just stop because no one cares anymore. Doesn't matter how noble you may be...in the end, everyone's got a point where they just say 'screw it, no one cares'.

But they'll start caring once the super-powered bad guy comes to their town. Then they'll be begging the heroes to come out of retirement.

I think an idea like this overall could work but it really depends on what type of setting you want to run. If it's a standard Justice League type campaign, I don't think it would work because historically, the supers always out-super the police and military.

If it was a low-powered campaign, then I can definitely see it working. I think it would be really cool if the only supers were mutants, most of which are on the low-powered scale. Then you could really have a strong basis for some kind of power-ban.