Digest Archives Vol 1 Issue 125
From: owner-champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Sent: Friday, January 08, 1999 7:06 PM
To: champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Subject: champ-l-digest V1 #125
champ-l-digest Friday, January 8 1999 Volume 01 : Number 125
In this issue:
wild cards
Re: wild cards
Re: Vehicle Damage and Pilot STUN
Re: Two Questions For the Brits - Reply
Re: Teen Superhero Concepts (Manson=Gothic)
Re: Teen Superhero Concepts
Invisible focus
Re: Invisible focus
Re: Invisible focus
Re: Invisible focus
Re: Invisible focus
Re: Two Questions For the Brits - Reply
Re: Teen Superhero Concepts
Re: Invisible focus
Re: Teen Superhero Concepts
Re: Teen Superhero Concepts
Re: Teen Superhero Concepts
Re: Invisible focus
Re: Two Questions For the Brits - Reply
Re: Two Questions For the Brits - Reply - Reply
Los Angeles Kings?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 13:10:39 -0600 (CST)
From: Rick Jones <rick@blkbox.com>
Subject: wild cards
Leuszler@aol.com wrote:
> Okay, I pulled out my Gurps Supers Wild Cards Book. It lists his wild card
> ability is the ability to transform himself into one of five different
> "friends" with super identities named after late 60's/ early 70's pop songs.
> It lists Captain Trips' other identities as Jumping Jack Flash, Moonchild,
> Cosmic Traveller, Starshine, and Aquarius.
His original Multiform was a hippie called "The Radical" (superhuman
strength, agility and a big gold peace symbol on a chain he used to
wrap around people or block attacks). He later developed a new
"friend", the Monster, who was a giant berserk nasty guy, and finally
resolved all of his multiforms into a new version of "the Radical", with
*all* of the powers of *all* of his multiforms. Talk about yer radiation
accidents....
- --
Rick Jones "Excuse me, is this going to be a Dickens-esque, 'nightmare-
rick@blkbox.com -with-a-message' or rather a Twilight Zone-ish, 'end-up-in-
-hell' sort of thing?"
"Ain't Tellin'."
http://www-ece.rice.edu/~rickj/ --Oliver's Dream, Bloom County
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 15:14:36 -0500 (EST)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: Re: wild cards
On Thu, 7 Jan 1999, Rick Jones wrote:
> Leuszler@aol.com wrote:
> > Okay, I pulled out my Gurps Supers Wild Cards Book. It lists his wild card
> > ability is the ability to transform himself into one of five different
> > "friends" with super identities named after late 60's/ early 70's pop songs.
> > It lists Captain Trips' other identities as Jumping Jack Flash, Moonchild,
> > Cosmic Traveller, Starshine, and Aquarius.
>
> His original Multiform was a hippie called "The Radical" (superhuman
> strength, agility and a big gold peace symbol on a chain he used to
> wrap around people or block attacks). He later developed a new
> "friend", the Monster, who was a giant berserk nasty guy, and finally
> resolved all of his multiforms into a new version of "the Radical", with
> *all* of the powers of *all* of his multiforms. Talk about yer radiation
> accidents....
Monster is something like 70" tall BTW and can toss around T-72 tanks with
no real troubles. He could also take cannon shells pretty easly as well.
The final ultimate Radical is a bit of a prick, BTW.
I have writeups for Captain Trips and his friends (excepting Radical,
Monster and New Radical) on my site.
Michael Surbrook / susano@otd.com
http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
"'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 05:27:53 -0800 (PST)
From: shaw@caprica.com (Wayne Shaw)
Subject: Re: Vehicle Damage and Pilot STUN
>Makes sense, however, as a GM I've always understood "inaccessible" to
>mean
>you have to knock unconcious, or bring the vehicle offline. Even then some
>disassembly would be required. Much like a traditional car radio (before
>those "easily removable" ones came about).
>
>Since you'd have to obtain complete control of the tank and I'd assume
>it'd
>take some tools and time to remove the gun, I'd rule it was inaccessible.
>
>I'd say the DEF issue is not relevant (or at least inferior) to the game
>effect (in)accessible was meant to discribe.
With serious vehicles it's probably _the_ issue. Of course I think the foci
rules are generally way too generous on vehicles; an IIF is almost
meaningless, yet it gets a -3/4 Limitation in addition to the savings you
already get when buying a vehicle.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 99 21:50:51
From: "qts" <qts@nildram.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Two Questions For the Brits - Reply
On Thu, 07 Jan 1999 11:29:15 +0000, Stephen McGinness wrote:
>Churches are no less hygeinic than the back of a car,
Churches around there weren't last time I looked.
> and once a baby is under
>way it is more dangerous to move the mother than to risk the local hygiene.
Only if the child is actually exiting - if it's just the mother in
labour, then it's off to hospital she'll go.
>I'd say a church birth should be possible, especially if it had been a hidden
>pregnancy and the mother refused to believe it possible until the baby really
>was on its way.
*Possible*, but unlikely in the extreme.
>It may have been frowned upon, imagine if a child was born out
>of wedlock actually within the confines of a church in the 1950's!!
Good idea!
qts
Home: qts@nildram.co.uk.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 15:17:45 -0800 (PST)
From: Ell Egyptoid <egyptoid@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Teen Superhero Concepts (Manson=Gothic)
> Each movement has its own goals,
Movement? Many would call it a fad.
> and has its own main core that started it.
The only reason most of us even know who Marilyn Manson
is because some Record Co. Exec thought it would be
a hoot to risk money on the guy, and as long as he
makes money, Marilyn will have an outlet for his
"creative" energies. MM is out to make a buck, and
seeks the disaffected and rebellious to get it, IMHO.
this is my last post on this particular off-topic.
==
Elliott aka The Egyptoid
_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 17:34:49 -0600
From: "Michael (Damon) & Peni Griffin" <griffin@txdirect.net>
Subject: Re: Teen Superhero Concepts
At 01:31 PM 1/7/1999 EST, Leuszler@aol.com wrote:
>Okay, I pulled out my Gurps Supers Wild Cards Book. It lists his wild card
>ability is the ability to transform himself into one of five different
>"friends" with super identities named after late 60's/ early 70's pop songs.
>It lists Captain Trips' other identities as Jumping Jack Flash, Moonchild,
>Cosmic Traveller, Starshine, and Aquarius.
As close as this sounds, this is not the one I'm looking for...(a) I'm 99%
certain I've never even glanced at the GURPS Supers Wild Cards book. I'd
have little incentive to do so, because (b) I've never read any of the
books in either of the Wild Cards series. I can't be *remembering* the
character writeups you describe because I've never *seen* the character
writeups -- or the characters those writeups would have been based on. And
(c) the alternate identities than you listed do not include Sunshine
Superman or Mellow Yellow, the only names I *have* been able to recall.
My thanks to everyone who tried to help me with this, but I think I'm going
to give up for now. The answer doesn't seem to be here, and I'm just going
to drive everyone nuts with the search and/or convince them my memory is
even faultier than I think it is.
We now return you to our regularly scheduled...whatever it is we usually
have here.
Damon
======================
If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit;
there's no use being a damn fool about it. -- Mark Twain
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 19:13:09 -0600
From: Tim Statler <tstatler@igateway.net>
Subject: Invisible focus
I have a problem, a character has 'instant change' bought thru a focus
but wants the focus to be invisible to normal sight only when in the
character is in her secret id. In the heroic ID it is visible and part
of her costume.
It is a circlet so I'm giving it an IIF for the focus. It still has the
reqresit 3 senses when activated (sight,sound,touch) and can still be
seen by a 'detect magical/mystical energies' when she is in her secret
id.
How do I model this? I don't want to call it just a special effect,
because her other powers are OIHID and can only be called by using the
focus.
Your opinions requested.
Tim Statler
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 17:51:19 -0800
From: Mark Lemming <icepirat@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Invisible focus
Tim Statler wrote:
>
> I have a problem, a character has 'instant change' bought thru a focus
> but wants the focus to be invisible to normal sight only when in the
> character is in her secret id. In the heroic ID it is visible and part
> of her costume.
>
> It is a circlet so I'm giving it an IIF for the focus. It still has the
> reqresit 3 senses when activated (sight,sound,touch) and can still be
> seen by a 'detect magical/mystical energies' when she is in her secret
> id.
>
> How do I model this? I don't want to call it just a special effect,
> because her other powers are OIHID and can only be called by using the
> focus.
I think having it as IIF would be fine. Just say the ring is invisible to
normal
sight would be fine, but I would give bonuses for people who have other senses
to notice. IR might show the ring at different temperature, but there's
nothing there. Someone may feel the ring, but then note the absence of
anything
there. Sort of a fair trade off.
- -Mark Lemming
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 20:42:35 -0500
From: Scott Nolan <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Re: Invisible focus
At 07:13 PM 1/7/99 -0600, Tim Statler wrote:
>I have a problem, a character has 'instant change' bought thru a focus
>but wants the focus to be invisible to normal sight only when in the
>character is in her secret id. In the heroic ID it is visible and part
>of her costume.
>
>It is a circlet so I'm giving it an IIF for the focus. It still has the
>reqresit 3 senses when activated (sight,sound,touch) and can still be
>seen by a 'detect magical/mystical energies' when she is in her secret
>id.
>
>How do I model this? I don't want to call it just a special effect,
>because her other powers are OIHID and can only be called by using the
>focus.
The focus is IIF. Inobvious. I'd say being invisible to normal sight is a
good
rationale for Inobvious. Her enemies will know about the circlet after awhile
and will find a way to detect it even though it is invisible. At some point,
some
invisible foe is going to sidle up to our heroine in a crowded street and
snatch it
while she is in her normal ID!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Freedom is not an endlessly expanding list of rights --
the "right" to education, the "right" to health care, the
"right" to food and housing. That's not freedom, that's
dependency. Those aren't rights, those are the rations
of slavery -- hay and a barn for human cattle.
P.J. O'Rourke
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Scott C. Nolan
nolan@erols.com
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 10:26:40 -0800 (PST)
From: shaw@caprica.com (Wayne Shaw)
Subject: Re: Invisible focus
>I have a problem, a character has 'instant change' bought thru a focus
>but wants the focus to be invisible to normal sight only when in the
>character is in her secret id. In the heroic ID it is visible and part
>of her costume.
>
>It is a circlet so I'm giving it an IIF for the focus. It still has the
>reqresit 3 senses when activated (sight,sound,touch) and can still be
>seen by a 'detect magical/mystical energies' when she is in her secret
>id.
>
>How do I model this? I don't want to call it just a special effect,
>because her other powers are OIHID and can only be called by using the
>focus.
I don't see the problem. It sounds like an IIF to me. Perhaps you can
explain why you don't consider it such?
------------------------------
Date: 07 Jan 1999 21:52:17 -0500
From: Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net>
Subject: Re: Invisible focus
- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
"TS" == Tim Statler <tstatler@igateway.net> writes:
TS> I have a problem, a character has 'instant change' bought thru a focus
TS> but wants the focus to be invisible to normal sight only when in the
TS> character is in her secret id. In the heroic ID it is visible and part
TS> of her costume.
A Focus is the obvious source of a power when that power is in use. There
is no requirement that an inactive Focus obviously be a Focus.
In other words, it really is just a special effect.
Of course, if she misplaces it, she is going to have a hard time finding it
herself. :)
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- --
Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net> \ If Happy Fun Ball begins to smoke, get
PGP Key: at a key server near you! \ away immediately. Seek shelter and cover
GPG Key: same as my PGP 5 (DH) key \ head.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 23:32:08 EST
From: llwatts@juno.com (Leah L Watts)
Subject: Re: Two Questions For the Brits - Reply
> I'd originally planned on making this a planned birth to a married
>couple which happened to come much more suddenly than expected. Since
you
>mention the possibility of a hidden birth to an unwed mother, though,
I'm
>giving that some thought; the only thing that really gives me pause is
that
>it'd almost certainly draw the attention of the international
>sensationalist press, and I'm not sure what sort of long-term
ramifications
>that'd have on the character's development (as an eventual
supervillain).
If the child is apparently normal, I'd guess you'd be looking at a flurry
of articles with varying relationships to the facts right after the
birth, then interest would die down. Now, if the kid has Distinctive
Features at birth, you're going to have much more interest. "Alien's
Love Child Born In Church!", or worse.
I don't know how hard it is to legally change one's name in England, but
if the mother can change her name and move, there would be less residual
impact from the coverage. ("Aren't you the woman I read about in the
Moronic Tabloid?" "I know the story you're talking about, but my name is
____, not ____.")
Leah
___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 03:47:36 EST
From: Leuszler@aol.com
Subject: Re: Teen Superhero Concepts
In a message dated 1/7/99 8:52:57 PM Eastern Standard Time,
rossrannells@worldnet.att.net writes:
> When was that published? Captain Trips' had at least two other identities.
The first (and only???) Gurps Supers Wild Cards book was based on material in
Wildcards One through Five. If anyone has seen a sequel to this sourcebook,
let me know. I'd like to get my hands on it.
BTW, the book is copyright 1989.
Mike Leuszler
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 08 Jan 99 10:44:49
From: "qts" <qts@nildram.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Invisible focus
On Thu, 07 Jan 1999 19:13:09 -0600, Tim Statler wrote:
>I have a problem, a character has 'instant change' bought thru a focus
>but wants the focus to be invisible to normal sight only when in the
>character is in her secret id. In the heroic ID it is visible and part
>of her costume.
>
>It is a circlet so I'm giving it an IIF for the focus. It still has the
>reqresit 3 senses when activated (sight,sound,touch) and can still be
>seen by a 'detect magical/mystical energies' when she is in her secret
>id.
>
>How do I model this? I don't want to call it just a special effect,
>because her other powers are OIHID and can only be called by using the
>focus.
This sounds awfully similar to the example given as a no-no in the HSR.
Anyway, if the circlet gets stolen, she can't change into hero form and
be a hero. And only for the saving of 2-3 points. Does she have any
useful non-hero skills? Is the focus going to get stolen, or is it like
Thor's walking-stick/hammer?
I'm not a Champs GM, but I'd disallow it, especially as you state that
her other powers are OIHID, and thus not related to the focus.
qts
Home: qts@nildram.co.uk.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 06:59:46 -0500 (EST)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: Re: Teen Superhero Concepts
On Fri, 8 Jan 1999 Leuszler@aol.com wrote:
> The first (and only???) Gurps Supers Wild Cards book was based on material in
> Wildcards One through Five. If anyone has seen a sequel to this sourcebook,
> let me know. I'd like to get my hands on it.
The sequel is called (I think) "Aces Aboard". The character designs are
of variable quality and some are downright poor.
Michael Surbrook / susano@otd.com
http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
"'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 06:48:43 -0500 (EST)
From: tdj723@webtv.net (thomas deja)
Subject: Re: Teen Superhero Concepts
>From: Leuszler@aol.com
>>The first (and only???) Gurps Supers Wild
>> Cards book was based on material in
>> Wildcards One through Five. If anyone has
>> seen a sequel to this sourcebook, let me
>> know. I'd like to get my hands on it.
There was one supplement, entitled WILD CARDS ABROAD.....
"It's almost Dante's Inferno, except the beer was cheaper in Hell, and
the damned were smarter than this crowd."
--Evan Dorkin, DORK #2
____________________________________
THE ULTIMATE HULK, containing the new story, "A Quiet, Normal Life," is
available now from Byron Preiss and Berkley
_______________________________
An except from the new story "Too Needy" can now be found at MAKE UP
YOUR OWN DAMN TITLE
www.freeyellow.com/members/tdj
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 20:41:35 +0800
From: "Colin aka Arkham aka the God King" <astroboy@iinet.net.au>
Subject: Re: Teen Superhero Concepts
Aces Abroad is an adventure for GURPS Wild Cards. I thought it wasn't too
bad (although I haven't looked at it since I sold it many years ago)
Oh BTW, hi to everyone. I'm sorta new to the list having been on the Hero
mailing list ages ago but just rejoined. :)
********************************************************
Colin Clark
Conspirator, Carnivore and
Creator of the World's Most Vanilla Homepage:
http://www.iinet.net.au/~astroboy
********************************************************
- -----Original Message-----
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Cc: Champions Mailing List <champ-l@sysabend.org>
Date: Friday, January 08, 1999 8:24 PM
Subject: Re: Teen Superhero Concepts
>On Fri, 8 Jan 1999 Leuszler@aol.com wrote:
>
>> The first (and only???) Gurps Supers Wild Cards book was based on
material in
>> Wildcards One through Five. If anyone has seen a sequel to this
sourcebook,
>> let me know. I'd like to get my hands on it.
>
>The sequel is called (I think) "Aces Aboard". The character designs are
>of variable quality and some are downright poor.
>
>Michael Surbrook / susano@otd.com
>http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
>"'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion
>
>
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 08 Jan 1999 05:49:05 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: Invisible focus
At 07:13 PM 1/7/99 -0600, Tim Statler wrote:
>I have a problem, a character has 'instant change' bought thru a focus
>but wants the focus to be invisible to normal sight only when in the
>character is in her secret id. In the heroic ID it is visible and part
>of her costume.
>
>It is a circlet so I'm giving it an IIF for the focus. It still has the
>reqresit 3 senses when activated (sight,sound,touch) and can still be
>seen by a 'detect magical/mystical energies' when she is in her secret
>id.
>
>How do I model this? I don't want to call it just a special effect,
>because her other powers are OIHID and can only be called by using the
>focus.
Actually I'd just call it Special Effects even with this caveat, though
if you really want to do something special with it you cold give it
Invisible Power Effects with an "Only in Non-Super ID" Limitation [on the
Advantage only].
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROS member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Merry-Go-Round Webring -- wanna join?
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 08 Jan 1999 05:58:21 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: Two Questions For the Brits - Reply
At 11:32 PM 1/7/99 EST, Leah L Watts wrote:
>> I'd originally planned on making this a planned birth to a married
>>couple which happened to come much more suddenly than expected. Since you
>>mention the possibility of a hidden birth to an unwed mother, though, I'm
>>giving that some thought; the only thing that really gives me pause is that
>>it'd almost certainly draw the attention of the international
>>sensationalist press, and I'm not sure what sort of long-term ramifications
>>that'd have on the character's development (as an eventual
>supervillain).
>
>If the child is apparently normal, I'd guess you'd be looking at a flurry
>of articles with varying relationships to the facts right after the
>birth, then interest would die down. Now, if the kid has Distinctive
>Features at birth, you're going to have much more interest. "Alien's
>Love Child Born In Church!", or worse.
No, no particular Distinctive Features on this bloke... and this is
quite a good point. It'd probably be reported on, but not with a stampede
of reporters doing five-year follow-ups and all that, such as are happening
with the big multiple births of the past couple of years.
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROS member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Merry-Go-Round Webring -- wanna join?
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 08 Jan 1999 16:16:36 +0000
From: Stephen McGinness <MCGINNESSS@parliament.uk>
Subject: Re: Two Questions For the Brits - Reply - Reply
I think the story might be reported if the birth happened to be during a Christmas
or Easter service - it would make a good human interest story - specially the
Christmas one.
Stephen
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 15:55:36 -0800 (PST)
From: Ell Egyptoid <egyptoid@yahoo.com>
Subject: Los Angeles Kings?
NO! THE King.
Happy Birthday Elvis!
Somewhere, he's 64 years old today.
==
Elliott aka The Egyptoid
_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
------------------------------
End of champ-l-digest V1 #125
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