Superhero Chat

[d4]

How do people feel about Atlanteans? Do people use them in their superhero game? If so sound off and tell us about them.

the most recent supers games i've run have been Mutants & Masterminds, using their Freedom City setting. Freedom City has Atlanteans. they're water-breathing humans with a sort of Roman Empire-style culture, living among the ruins of their former empire.

the only Atlantean character in the book is Nereid, a member of the superhero team Next-Gen (think New Mutants). she looks exactly like a surface-dwelling human, but i don't know if that's typical of all Atlanteans (her grandmother was the WWII superheroine Siren, so she does have surface-dweller blood).

not too long ago, the Atlantean royal family fell under the sway of the Deep Ones (evil, degenerate ichthyoid Atlanteans) using an ancient artifact and they were mind-controlled into attacking the United States. while the Freedom League and other heroes battled the Atlantean army, the Next Gen went down to Atlantis itself and helped Nereid break the Deep Ones' hold on her family.

after the crisis was successfully diverted, Atlantis sent a representative to the UN. contact with the surface world is still understandably minimal, but there are plans for the US to send an ambassador down to Atlantis sometime in the next year or so.

 

[Kenson]

Which pretty nicely summarizes the use of Atlanteans in my superhero campaign, too.

FWIW, there's some information on Nereid's father, Sea-King, a former Freedom Leaguer, in the upcoming M&M Annual and, yes, Freedom City Atlanteans look like normal humans (in terms of skin-tone and such, Atlanteans tend toward sleek muscle-tone and very little body-hair, and some have sea-colored eyes or hair, but otherwise they look the same as surface dwellers).

Must write more about Atlantis in the Freedom Universe some day.

 

[PosterBoy]

Also, while neither M&M or FCTF promise life-time updates, do you really think that being updated all the time is a ringing endorsement for a game?

I don't know a single book that couldn't use an update, especially PDF products that are often from companies with not a huge playtesting pool. No book is perfect. Anyone who publishes in PDF and doesn’t update their books isn’t using the greatest strength of the medium.

We update our books based on customer feedback and suggestions. I would think customers would enjoy knowing that their feedback matters.

It says NOTHING about the quality of the product, but rather, it shows a dedication to making the product as good as possible.

-Chris

 

[d4]

Must write more about Atlantis in the Freedom Universe some day.

yes, you do that.

and while you're taking requests, more on Farside City, too!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The only time I used Atlanteans in a supers campaign was in my Champions 1900 campaign based on the works of Jules Verne, H.G. Wells and others. They were not amphibious, but were instead Mediterranean appearing residents of a domed, undersea city that was at war with the Lemurians (who were aquatic). The Lemurians were attacking surface ships near Atlantis, hoping to get the landlubbers to attack Atlantis by mistake.

The only Atlantean PC in the group was based on an anime character with whom I'm unfamiliar; Nadia was a foundling teenaged girl proficient with martial arts and a whip, and who was unaware of her Atlantean heritage.

 

[C. Baize]

...and who was unaware of her Atlantean heritage.

As are all good Atlantean characters.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Something of interest to those of us who love superheroes.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040624/ap_on_he_me/mighty_muscle_gene_5

 

[C. Baize]

Whoa...
The world's first documented mutant...
And he's a Brick...

RIGHT ON!

 

[mercucio]

I also have been looking for something out there about character backgrounds. Like a "20 questions you should ask yourself about your PC" thingee. I've seen similar things for AD&D 2E and other games but nothing for superhero games.

Aries Omega

Here's a version used in the Amber game I playing. It should give you some helpful ideas:

1. What do you think of the common man/citizen? How do you treat them?

2. Are you close to your parent/and or siblings?

3.Do you enjoy wealth? Do you hoard it or flaunt it?

4.What do you think of the King/President/Mayor/Prime Minister, ect?

5. Do you have your own home/apartment/doghouse (for sidekicks =)?

6. Do you admire the actions of your ancestors? Curse them?

7. Are you religious? Explain the extent of your devotion or aversion to faith.

8. Do you have grand plans for power or are you content with your current place in the order of things?

9. You employ a renowned artist to paint your portrait, and the end result is not pleasing to you. How do you handle it?

10. What is more important to you, the survival of your homeland or your own personal safety?

11. In battle, which suits you best: A quick sword, a crude axe, or a knife in the back?

12. Are you a leader of men? If so, do you lead them to glory or downfall?

13. Fish, chicken, beef, or vegetable? (Look, I owe a favor to the chef ok?)

14. In politics, which suits you best: A quick sword, a crude axe, or a knife in the back? (Please feel free to take this as literally or figuratively as you like)

15. What is more important to you, the respect of your peers, victory over your rivals, or your personal safety?

16. Could you envision a situation where you would kill one innocent to save millions? How about killing millions to save one who was guilty? Explain what might drive you towards this.

17. Choose one: kill your horse or kill your retainer.

18. Which would you enjoy best, traveling by horse, boat, or on foot.

19. Which is more effective for you, your smile, sneer, or glare. Which do you prefer?

20. You are bested by your nemesis before a congregation of your peers. How do you handle it?

21. Do you dictate, follow, or rebel against the current fashion? Instinctively or purposefully?

22. If you could do one thing without fearing retribution, what would it be?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Originally Posted by Aries_Omega

I also have been looking for something out there about character backgrounds. Like a "20 questions you should ask yourself about your PC" thingee. I've seen similar things for AD&D 2E and other games but nothing for superhero games.

You've probably heard this one, but scour your FLGS, the internet and used book stores for Task Force Games' Central Casting books. Definitely handy for generating interesting backgrounds.