VILLAINS - Marvel Minions

[Brother Shatterstone]

The idea behind this game is NOT to play a board game to win, but to play the fun Genre Conventions of a MIGHTY MARVEL MINION a villain of a lower Tier than the big boys...

You know I've read this passage more than a few times, and each time I find myself OFFENDED. No other way around it, all I asked was rather or not we had a legitimate chance of success or if we where going to be railroaded to what ever ultimate destination you have in mind.

I never once said the word winning, I never once said the word board game, I feel like I've earned my strips and that explain that it isn't a board game to the moderator of the PbP forum is a tad unneeded.

Also, since I'm laying out my concerns, I'd also like to say I'm a bit concerned about GM favoritism. It seems fairly evident you dislike my initial choice of character, that you dislike it as much as you like the other PC's choices. I've got no real issue with that, it's human nature to a degree to 'play favorites,' but at the same time, when EN*World went down I went out of my way to find one of the cross reference threads you recruited in. Later you told me that you appreciated that I did it but it appears, at least to me, that whole weekend that you never once seemed be appreciative enough to reply to it, even a simple “I’M going to wait till ENworld comes back online.” would have been appreciated on my end.

Now in this thread it seems like most of my question get dropped, I’m still waiting for you to tell me rather or not the version of Spider-Woman I posted is acceptable or if it need changes and that’s frustrating also.

Anyhow enough of that, I’ll reply to the rest of your post:

In or out - that's your choice.

If that's still the case consider me in then. (I do reserve the right to change my mind based upon your reply.)

I didn't mean to say that this game will play like a CoC game, it's a super (hero) style game but rather that you can't win all the time is the thought.

I' not looking to win, and surely not looking to win every time, but in CoC you never gain anything but insanity... The first time you play its cool, but after that it just get repetitive, or at least it does to me.

Hence, I want you to be ready to continue play until you hatch a plan (or the team does) to break your original character out. Then you have the option of continuing with one or the other - your choice.

Cool, I'm not sure if I like my back up characters... I might expand my search to something besides a chick... (We got one in the group now) I probaly look through more of spider-man's rogue gallery. (Just an FYI)

Think of it sorta like your team will be possibly an everchanging group like the Masters of Evil. When they're twarted they eventually come back with a slightly different line-up, then maybe later rejoin the originals, etc...

Never heard of them but I see what your saying.

it's NOT too Grim and Gritty, you're playing Villains and most villains are out for themselves. Not all villains are bloodthirsty, some may be against killing - but most would gladly sacrifice or put someone in danger to help them escape.

Quite right, "No honor among thieves."

That's one of the reasons I suggested against this Spiderwoman IV villain... I don't know of her. IF she's that type of villain - I'm totally fine with you playing her that way.

Well to be honest, I only vaguely know of a few of the characters we have listed... Though I realize it's better for the player to not have a clue over the DM.

It can/would be VERY fun to have a killer on the team too...

Well cool, cause it looks like after Doc Ock messed with her mind and mutated her body, that's pretty much all that is left.

- would she join a team like we have set up (the individuals?)

Everyone needs lackeys... (Honestly protection in numbers...)

- why would she join?

Simple reasons, revenge a chance to spill Spiderman’s blood. Maybe the thieves, Porcupine and Blacklash, need some muscle for a plan set up by the mastermind Batroc, and she the muscle... The object in questions is a possible tool for her revenge against spider-man/woman. etc...

Of course nothing could explain her teaming up with Madcap.

- what happens when the other villains plot a deathtrap, will she bust it?

Honestly it depends upon the situation and its much to broad to be answer in that form… Though if its one of her hated Spider-People its going to cause issues.

- what happens when another villain freaks at her killing Captain America?

You would need to define freak... If he attacks her, he's next. If he ranting and raving she'll ignore it for as long as she can... If it's something else give me a chance to respond

If you were to KILL an Avenger your entire team would be hunted by some of the top Heroes in the biz to be brought to justice.

Expected, but I'm not sure if SW would plan that far ahead of her... She's not really of sound mind... (but not in the Madcap way.)

That could be a fun thing to have happen... But you have to know that there ARE consequences.

Indeed and of course...

I'm not forcing something on you - just looking to fully explain the idea prior to you being unhappy...

I appreciate that, I don't do the whole railroading thing... At least without knowing about it in advance and it still need to be a shot term plot device to advance the story.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

you'd all know either by name or having worked with OR fought with the following, you can choose how you feel about them personally and professionally:

Wow, this is nearly an impossible task.. I think I, myself, know only Taskmaster...

- Trapster

, Ahh he's not on the marvel directory...

- Stiltman

, ditto...

- Taskmaster

, wow! He's not listed too, I'm sure she knows him at the professional level. He's been on TV a few times, I doubt they've ever meet though.

- the Wizard

, not listed...

- all of the villains from the Thunderbolts

Not sure who all of them, I'm sure one at least professional, and the rest through assocation...

- most of Spiderman's rogue's gallery

Professional in detail, Doc Ock, Personally... Mentor/tutor, Creator/Child, Doc Ock did take her, unconscious, with him when he escaped spider-man. Anyone who has been affected by Spiderman is someone she would like to meet… Similar goals.

- Mister Hyde

, not sure... I think he's fought Spiderman so much as the rest of Spiderman's RG.

- Whirlwind

, Wow! He's from my hometown of Kansas City. Not to sure how they would have met, but he might be an interesting back up character.

Villain Archetypes (choose the best fit, or 2 if needed)

o Brute, has a tendency to resort to this...
o Crazed, is very crazed with her desire for revenge.
o Insecure, I can see her trying to prove her ability to carry out her plans of revenge to impress Doc Ock. (Her creator)
o Savage, it's a natural extension of her brutish tendencies.
o Rampager, an natural extension of her brutish and savage tendencies. (Though not uncontrolled, it would be planned to draw out her targets.)
o Selfish, she would very much put her teammates at risk to get her revenge.
o Fanatic, in her desire to destroy Spiderman like only Eddie Brock and her can be...

Villain Motivations (choose the best fit, or 2 if needed)

o Revenge, an obvious.
ß Mind Controled, Her mind has been altered without her permission or desire...

Please detail your Personality

o Attitude toward others, they are tools to be used to their best advantage...
o Behavior toward others, it depends upon how useful they are, a rather nice tool would be treated with respect, maybe even an equal, someone with no value is only a good shield/hostage or as food.

Objectives (choose 1 to 3 if needed)

Top being the most important and the bottom being less so.
o Revenge

Everything else is just tools for the above... If she did kill spider-man and the various spider-women I think her desire for revenge would go down a list of people who have offended her, any other superheroes that get in her way... (Once the heroes are all gone Doc Ock would probably be next.)

Power Archetypes

o Powerhouse / Brick

I think that one best describes SW, but she also has range attacks.

 

[Kevin Perrine]

You know I've read this passage more than a few times, and each time I find myself OFFENDED. No other way around it, all I asked was rather or not we had a legitimate chance of success or if we where going to be railroaded to what ever ultimate destination you have in mind.

sorry man...
don't be offended - it might have read that way too you, but I am NOT intending to do so.
Me... I'm just looking to have a fun game.

I might have slipped into my over simplified description and generalism from habit... I totally didn't mean to offend.

sometimes I over-explain.

Q: Do you have a chance of success...?
A: Yes. Absolutely, just like any other game.

the only addition to that is it's likely to get tougher as you go... perhaps being easier up front. The MORE you succeed the harder it will be because you'll be attracting stronger Heroes to stop your crimewave.

I don't plan to continually hand out "missions" in full detail. My idea/plan is to present some things for you guys and eventually you'll completely be planning "jobs" on your own - then I (as GM) mount the reactive defenses from the event, any natural alarms, police and the heroes that come to stop you.

Your autonomy will grow as the game goes.

Hopefully everyone will be excited to be VERY proactive. That's another "genre convention" I should mention...
Villains tend to be proactive, they make the plans that heroes have to deal with.
Heroes (in games and comics, and most other RPGs) tend to be REactive in nature waiting for the villains or the GM to hand out the plot.

eventually you guys could be making the plot!!

I might say (as an NPC) "we need an advanced alloy for xxx... MAKE this happen!" and you guys may decide that the best place to get an alloy of such need would be to learn IronMan's secret identity to steal his armor!


as far as Spiderwoman goes.
it's true I have a soft spot for most of the other more "classic" villains but that does not mean that I'll treat you any differently.

I meant what I said...
I LIKE the fact you've chosen a character that is:
- the girl
- the homicidal maniac
- the new guy

and the new factor works really well with the fact that your not too familiar with the characters yourself. It totally fits for your character to not be too familiar.

use it.

-kev-

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

sorry man...

Don't worry about it we're cool.

eventually you guys could be making the plot!!

I very much like the idea. I'm use to it sort of but I worry about over stepping my bounds and tip toeing on the DM's shoes.

and the new factor works really well with the fact that your not too familiar with the characters yourself. It totally fits for your character to not be too familiar.

Yeah I know, I figured I would be hell I'm 27, and have more comics then days I've been alive... (Well maybe not quite true, but I have a run of Uncanny X-men from 180-current day with only like two issues missing.)

I still think it’s a good call.

use it.

Cool, I shall do that. Oh just so you know, I have a soft spot for villains you can sympathize with. (Reason why I think Batman has the best rogues gallery ever, so I might try to capture some of that...)

Of course it hardly matters if she is mad, "Hell has no Wrath like a Woman Scorned"

 

[quill]

Gray Pumpkin, If you bring back Viper, I might just do Eel I instead of the second one, then throw in Cobra and its the Serpent Squad back in action baby! Maybe Eel, Viper and Porcupine were all in the same room in a coma

Kev, the power stunts are two pints each and there is a flaw: Device for six points (as they are part of the battlesuit) Sorry about that.

Archetype: Insecure (he met Eel I at a self help group and got mixed up with Nebulon as a result, and he was having self doubts before he died...um nearly died I mean ) and Loyal henchman (look at all the groups he's been with..I'm amazed he was never a Master of Evil! ) He does have some leadership having planned a job or two but I think he'd rather be Crossbones than the Red Skull.

Motivation: Greed (he didn't get into this business for kicks you know. If only the Army would have paid for his suit...)

Pride He's pretty darn proud of that suit and the fact he's 'one of the first costumed criminals of his generation' He's a veteran of this business and expects to be treated like one.

How he views others: he's worked with all kinds and learned to be a pro through it all. He knows what he needs to get the job done and what people to watch out for.

How he treats others: Professionally. This is a profession you know and a little respect goes a long way. Granted if he doesn't get respect in return, that's a different story. He's not a cold blooded killer, but if someone ticks him off they might end up in jail while everyone else gets away...

Objectives: Wealth and respect

Power Archetypes: Battlesuit Blaster

As for all those other villians...he's probably heard of 95 % of them and met them in various 'Bars with no name' He has worked with Rhino and Atlas (back in the Power Man days). Maybe Beetle too when he worked for Justin Hammer. He and Whirlwind were Batroc's brigade at one time

 

[GrayPumpkin]

I’ve been thinking some more about Batroc, since he’s a mercenary he should have some way of landing jobs. I thought about the contacts feat but reading the feat it doesn’t seem to fit as it deals more with favors and I’m thinking more of a way to know who wants what done to whom. Would this be gather information? Knowledge (underworld)? Profession?

 

[GrayPumpkin]

Gray Pumpkin, If you bring back Viper, I might just do Eel I instead of the second one, then throw in Cobra and its the Serpent Squad back in action baby! Maybe Eel, Viper and Porcupine were all in the same room in a coma

The return of the Serpent Squad would be cool indeed! Viper is definitely my first choice for my back up character.
It’ll be intresting to see how long Batroc makes it. One thing about the Batroc in the comics, despite all his going on about being the greatest fighter, he was never shy about hoofing it when things went south, I plan to do the same if I can.

 

[hero4hire]

If there is still room I'd love to play.

I'd be interested in playing Bullet (he seemed to have a lot of depth)
Flying Tiger (I always just thought he was cool) and Kangaroo (who I renamed Outback when I GM'd) I consider myself a master of obscure Marvel villains, so I'd love to play even more obscure villians such as Marvel's Death-Stroke (and his goon henchmen the Terminators), Daddy Longlegs, Lunatik, ooo how about Meteor Man aka the Looter?

 

[GrayPumpkin]

- Trapster: Relies too much on his gun.
- Stiltman: Please.
- Taskmaster: Doesn’t like him. He’s bothered that he can copy his skills so easily. He says that the Taskmaster is nothing more than a soulless mime.
- all of the villains from the Thunderbolts: He’s worked for Zemo before, capable leader.
- Mister Hyde: Probably a little frightened of his power, though he wouldn’t admit it. (I see online that they worked together before but it’s not a story I am familiar with)
- Whirlwind: He’s OK. Blames him and the Porcupine for the failure of that incarnation of the Brigade. But he would work with him again.

o Archetype: Flamboyant- Batroc is all about his zany Frenchman style.

o Motivation: Greed- He's a mercenary after all./Thrills-Batroc thrives on the thrill of battle.

o Attitude toward others: Batroc tends to think of others as his lessers, but he doesn’t hold it against them, after all not everyone can be as great as Batroc.

o Behavior toward others: While full of himself Batroc is generally amiable towards others, unless of course they challenge him or insult him in some way in which case they must be put in their place. He will however put up with more from an employer, especially very powerful ones.

o Objective: Self Aggrandizement-Everyone should know of Batroc’s greatness/Revenge-Not so much revenge as a desire to best Captain America his greatest foe

o Power Archetype: Martial Artist/Fighter

 

[Hand of Vecna]

I might say (as an NPC) "we need an advanced alloy for xxx... MAKE this happen!" and you guys may decide that the best place to get an alloy of such need would be to learn IronMan's secret identity to steal his armor!

In the manstream Marvel Comics, the world knows Tony Stark is Iron Man He revealed himself a year or two ago. He's also Secretary of Defense for the United States now.

*wonder what sort of plots Madcap could cook up...... *