Digest Archives Vol 1 Issue 45

Desmarais, John
From: owner-champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 1998 7:48 PM
To: champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Subject: champ-l-digest V1 #45

champ-l-digest Thursday, November 19 1998 Volume 01 : Number 045



In this issue:

Re: Computers
Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)
re: Fantasy Hero
Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)
Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)
Ultimate Police Officer
Re: Limited Offer: The first 50 players who contact us will receive a FREE REGISTRATION of the Paradox Roleplaying System.
Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)
Ultimate Normal
Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)
Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)
CHAR: Bolter
Disadvantage question
Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)
Re: Cheep Speed
Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)
Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)
It's Finally Here
Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)
Re: Cheep Speed
Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)
Re: It's Finally Here
Re: Disadvantage question
Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)
Northern Cali players
Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)
Re: Cheep Speed
Re: CHAR: Bolter
Re: Cheep Speed
Re: Cheep Speed

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 22:08:44 -0500
From: "Dave Mattingly" <dave@haymaker.win.net>
Subject: Re: Computers

>Ultimate Gadgeteer... I gather that that's still in the works?

Yup. Bob's plate is mostly cleared for it (I think), but I still have to get
another manuscript done before I get into TUG.



Dave Mattingly
http://haymaker.org

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 19:02:51 -0800 (PST)
From: "Steven J. Owens" <puff@netcom.com>
Subject: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)

Jesse Thomas writes:
> On Wed, 18 Nov 1998 15:53:25 -0800 Bob Greenwade wrote:
> > PS: Does anyone else think that an Ultimate book devoted to
> > computers, robots, androids, and cyborgs would be a good thing?
>
> Well, I'd like to see what you & Dave Mattingly do with the Ultimate
> Gadgeteer, as that may make a separate sourcebook unneccesary. I gather
> that that's still in the works? It's still on Dave's website, anyway.

I'd really love to see an Ultimate Everyman book. I talked over
doing one of these with a list member three or four years back (god,
has it been that long?), though we didn't call it that (this predates
the Ultimate books).

The basic idea was to build all the normal, everyday things and
characters you might encounter in a modern hero game, complete with
point costs. This would give the GM an invaluable resource, and the
players who want to run "normal"-based characters a guideline for
things they could acquire.

I also wanted an Almanac-style book (I mean like a real Almanac)
about all sorts of useful knowledge for a Champions game. For
example, law enforcement:

How are police forces usually organized (politically)?
What are basic Standard Operating Procedures for police?
How are police units organized, tactically?
How are police stations laid out?
How are police stations placed in the city?
What other installations should be accounted for, and how are they
laid out and run?
What kind of equipment do special teams usually have, and what are
their stats? (Helicopters?
What are response times typically like?

What other agencies are PCs likely to run into? (the FBI is easy,
but what about the CIA, NSA, DSA, DIA, OSI, DEA, US Marshals,
military police, border patrol, Interpol, Secret Service,
various national police forces, etc).

How do law enforcement agencies cooperate?


Related topics include basic locations, layouts, and operating
procedures of just about every type of facility the PCs are likely to
find themselves in - banks, armories, reserach labs, high-security
research labs, bomb disposal facilities, biolabs, nuclear power
plants, regular power plants, private airports, international airports,
military bases, border stations, etc,.

Similar information about more generic locations: rooftops,
sewers, mines, elevator shafts, city streets, landfills and garbage
dumps, quarries, construction sites, etc.

This might be a good candidate for a "net" book, since it
requires a very broad knowledge base. Different people could
contribute information on topics they know about. Besides
subject-matter experts we'd need:

somebody to host the site and maintain it (a web database format
might be best, with scripts & forms for submissions,
feedback, searching, etc),

some kind of editorial staff
editor in chief (person or persons in charge of overall organization)
copy-editors
readers
indexer

Would anybody be interested in starting a project like this?

Steven J. Owens
puff@netcom.com

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 20:15:33 -0800 (PST)
From: Ell Egyptoid <egyptoid@yahoo.com>
Subject: re: Fantasy Hero

hey, have all you people chatting up Fantasy Hero
looked at these pages:

http://www.planetx.org/~joe/gaming/dh.html

it's a warped way to approach fantasy, but I like it.
even if you don't like Joe's character development stuff,
you gotta admire his bestiary.
==
Laissez le bon pim roulez! Elliott aka Egyptoid
_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 20:33:27 -0800
From: "Hilary" <kabuki@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)

> I also wanted an Almanac-style book (I mean like a real Almanac)
> about all sorts of useful knowledge for a Champions game. For
> example, law enforcement:
>
> How are police forces usually organized (politically)?
> What are basic Standard Operating Procedures for police?
> How are police units organized, tactically?
> How are police stations laid out?
> How are police stations placed in the city?
> What other installations should be accounted for, and how are they
> laid out and run?
> What kind of equipment do special teams usually have, and what are
> their stats? (Helicopters?
> What are response times typically like?

If anyone is curious about this stuff and wants to do the reading, there
areseveral books out there geered towards writers that give all the
ins-and-outs of police work. I've never com across a question that wasn't
answered in "Police Procedural" by Russell Bintliff. A sourcebork like you
are suggestion would be great to have, but until one is written this is a
very adequate substitute. Check out the writer refrence section in your
local bookstore. You can find easy to understand(and usually well indexed)
books on many cool subjects. That said, I think Champions needs more
sourcebooks to make life easier on GM's and to open up more avenues of
roleplay. 'Nuff said.

Hil

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 22:02:54 -0800 (PST)
From: "Steven J. Owens" <puff@netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)

Hilary writes:

> > I also wanted an Almanac-style book (I mean like a real Almanac)
> > about all sorts of useful knowledge for a Champions game. For
> > example, law enforcement:
>
> If anyone is curious about this stuff and wants to do the reading, there
> areseveral books out there geered towards writers that give all the
> ins-and-outs of police work. I've never com across a question that wasn't

Indeed, and thanks for the recommendation; but frankly most of
those books go into far too deep detail. Most GMs need to be able to
look things up on the spur of the moment, or skim a cursory overview.

Steven J. Owens
puff@netcom.com

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 06:06:07 -0600
From: "Michael Nunn" <mlnunn@scrtc.blue.net>
Subject: Ultimate Police Officer

> I also wanted an Almanac-style book (I mean like a real Almanac)
>> about all sorts of useful knowledge for a Champions game. For
>> example, law enforcement:
>>
>> How are police forces usually organized (politically)?
>> What are basic Standard Operating Procedures for police?
>> How are police units organized, tactically?
>> How are police stations laid out?
>> How are police stations placed in the city?
>> What other installations should be accounted for, and how are they
>> laid out and run?
>> What kind of equipment do special teams usually have, and what are
>> their stats? (Helicopters?
>> What are response times typically like?


This sounds like the kind of stuff you could find in a book called Law and
Order which I believe is on the records as a potential 1999 release from
Gold Rush Games. It is being written by a California police officer.
On a similar note, a yet untitled book about the Military is also in the
works from GRG. It is being written by a former AirBorne Ranger who served
with the 101st AirBorne in Desert Storm.

Michael

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 08:26:39 -0500
From: Tal Meta <talmeta@bellatlantic.net>
Subject: Re: Limited Offer: The first 50 players who contact us will receive a FREE REGISTRATION of the Paradox Roleplaying System.

Greetings.

I'm the RPG coordinator for MonCon '99, which will be held on March
19-21st 1999 at the Holiday Inn in Tinton Falls NJ. In that capacity,
I'm looking for GMs (and players, too) for RPG events at the convention.

Our pre-registration book will be going to the printers soon, and many
of our tables are already filled, so if you are interested in GMing an
event, the time to sign up is now!

If you're in the NJ/NY/PA/MD area, and think you'd be interested in
running such an event, please contact me -OFF-LIST- and I'll give you
more specifics.

Thanx for your time...

- --
talmeta@bellatlantic.net - Heretic & Dilettante
ICQ - 12594453
AIM - talmeta1
Homepage - <http://members.xoom.com/talmeta>

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 07:09:34 -0800 (PST)
From: Bryant Durrell <durrell@innocence.com>
Subject: Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)

Steven J. Owens writes:
> I also wanted an Almanac-style book (I mean like a real Almanac)
> about all sorts of useful knowledge for a Champions game. For
> example, law enforcement:

A lot of this kind of thing can be found in various Millenium's End
supplements. I don't play Millenium's End, but I've bought most of their
sourcebooks for precisely this purpose.

- --
Bryant Durrell [] durrell@innocence.com [] http://www.innocence.com/~durrell
[----------------------------------------------------------------------------]
"Egotism is the anesthetic given by a kindly nature to relieve the pain
of being a damned fool." -- Bellamy Brooks

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 10:25:52 -0500
From: "Dave Mattingly" <dave@haymaker.win.net>
Subject: Ultimate Normal

> I'd really love to see an Ultimate Everyman book. I talked over
>doing one of these with a list member three or four years back (god,
>has it been that long?), though we didn't call it that (this predates
>the Ultimate books).


Steve Long has a book in the works called (I believe) The Ultimate Skill.
Several months ago, I looked into proposing a book called The Ultimate
Normal (or The Ultimate Trained Normal), and it sounded like Steve's Skill
book will be covering just about everything that I'd want to. Combine that
with the Ultimate Gadgeteer, and you get very close to what you're after.

The other part of your idea is something that I'd like to see myself:
generic places. Such as a police station. What is the layout (hexmap) of a
typical one? What is the DEF and BODY of the walls? The cell bars? How many
people are usually there? How skilled are they? What objects will be around?
etc.

There was a company many years ago who did maps for everyday places (police
stations, hospitals, parking garages, parks, etc.) but it was in square grid
format, not hex format. Apart from that, it was great. It had furniture,
cars, people, etc. all seen from overhead, and all drawn to the same scale.
It didn't have any accompanying text, but it was still quite useful.


Dave Mattingly
http://haymaker.org

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 10:01:36 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)

At 05:37 PM 11/18/98 PST, Jesse Thomas wrote:
>
>On Wed, 18 Nov 1998 15:53:25 -0800 Bob Greenwade wrote:
>> PS: Does anyone else think that an Ultimate book devoted to
>computers,
>>robots, androids, and cyborgs would be a good thing?
>>---
>
>
>Well, I'd like to see what you & Dave Mattingly do with the Ultimate
>Gadgeteer, as that may make a separate sourcebook unneccesary. I gather
>that that's still in the works? It's still on Dave's website, anyway.
>However, as long as I don't have to write it, I absolutely am in favor
>of any and all proposed Ultimate books, especially one on a topic with
>as much potential as cybernetics.

Actually, now that TUG has been brought up, that might be the best place
to address special rules for computers, though I may still do The Ultimate
Cyborg (which would also encompass androids and robots) in 2000 if someone
doesn't beat me to it.
And yes, Dave and I are still going to do TUG. We each have a book in
the queue ahead of it (mine's VOICE 2000), and I want to wait until Hero5
and TUV are on the shelves before I do any really serious work on it, but
it will be done and hopefully ready within a year.
- ---
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: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 10:02:36 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)

At 07:02 PM 11/18/98 -0800, Steven J. Owens wrote:
> I'd really love to see an Ultimate Everyman book. I talked over
>doing one of these with a list member three or four years back (god,
>has it been that long?), though we didn't call it that (this predates
>the Ultimate books).
>
> The basic idea was to build all the normal, everyday things and
>characters you might encounter in a modern hero game, complete with
>point costs. This would give the GM an invaluable resource, and the
>players who want to run "normal"-based characters a guideline for
>things they could acquire.

Actually, while I don't think it'd necessarily fit into the Ultimate
line, I think that this would be a worthwhile project.

> I also wanted an Almanac-style book (I mean like a real Almanac)
>about all sorts of useful knowledge for a Champions game. For
>example, law enforcement:
[snip well thought-out list of questions]

Mark Arsenault is working on this for GRG, with the working title of Law
and Order (though this may need to be changed to avoid confusion with the
NBC-TV police/legal drama series).
I understand that there's a book in the works covering a similar range
of materials for the military.
Personally, I have a similar list of thoughts regarding the legal
profession, though a Certain Former Attorney of our acquaintance has
declined my suggestion to write such a book.
A book on the medical profession would be nice too.

> Related topics include basic locations, layouts, and operating
>procedures of just about every type of facility the PCs are likely to
>find themselves in - banks, armories, reserach labs, high-security
>research labs, bomb disposal facilities, biolabs, nuclear power
>plants, regular power plants, private airports, international airports,
>military bases, border stations, etc,.
>
> Similar information about more generic locations: rooftops,
>sewers, mines, elevator shafts, city streets, landfills and garbage
>dumps, quarries, construction sites, etc.

This would be a good book on its own, or even a series of books. It
could be done in such a generic manner, in fact, that just about any game
company could put it out (though I'd nominate GRG, with its broad
multi-system publishing base, for this one).
- ---
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: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 10:09:53 -0800 (PST)
From: Ell Egyptoid <egyptoid@yahoo.com>
Subject: CHAR: Bolter

BOLTER

20 STR 10
19 DEX 27
24 CON 28
13 BODY 6
11 INT 1
11 EGO 2
10 PRE 0
10 COM 0
7 PD 3
7 ED 2
2/7 SPD 0
11 REC 4
48 END 0
48 STUN 13
Characteristics Cost: 96

20 EC (Cosmic Power) (20) (slight time delay)
20 a) 6D6 Absorb (Cosmic Power),"into STR"
21 b) +4.1 SPD (Cosmic Power)
20 c) 75% Damage Red (PD) (Cosmic Power)
25 d) 13" Flight (Cosmic Power),UBO,doesn't lose power,
x2 # Targets 5
20 e) 16/16 Force Field (Cosmic Power),x1 Hard 4
20 f) 6D6 EB,Dmg Shield 4
16 g) 3D6 Aid (Cosmic Power),"Cosmic Rays into END", 30 plus
to Max Increase,Always On,not underground, deep water,
or where cosmic rays blocked,0 END Persistent,
x1 Difficult to Dispel, Inviso: sight& unusual Senses

67 MP (Cosmic Power) (67)
6u 3D6 Drain,"any one Cosmic power",fade rate: per minute,
vs cosmic SFX (one power at a time),Rng 6
7u 3D6 Ego Attack,x1 AP,AE,selective target 7
6u 2D6 RKA (Cosmic Power),NND 6
7u 13 STR TK (Cosmic Power),fine manipulation,
Aff Desolid,x5 Inc Rng,No Range Mod 7

8 LifeSupp (Cosmic Power),doesn't breathe,safe in
vacuum/pressure, safe in radiation,safe in heat/cold,
only in Hero ID ,Linked, "to elem.control",Visible
6 5/5 Damage Res (Cosmic Power),x1 Hard
8 12 Power Defense (Cosmic Power),Linked,"to elem.control"
2 5 Mental Defense (Cosmic Power),Linked,"to elem.control"

6 2 Combat Levels: multi-power,tight group
3 Comp Programming 11-
3 Electronics 11-
1 Security Systems 8-

Powers Cost: 292
Total Cost: 388

Base Points: 150
20 Psych Lim,"kills only in self-defense",common,total
15 Psych Lim,"patriotic",common,strong
15 Psych Lim,"fear of medium or larger
reptiles",common,strong
18 Enraged,"normals injured",very common,
occur 14-,recover 8-
20 Acc Chg,"intersect with or get covered with another's
force field will turn whole EC off" common, occur 14-
10 Vuln,"ice attacks",common,x1 1/2 body
10 Vuln,"ice-attacks",common,x1 1/2 stun
20 Vuln,"telepathy",common,x2 effect
20 Susc,"ionized or salt water, radon gas",
common,per turn,2D6
10 Dist Feature,"glistening with energy",easily
concealable, major
15 Secret ID,"Gregory Hoskins, comp.tech"
15 Hunted,"Villain group",more powerful,limited area,
harsh, appear 11-
25 Hunted,"(Cosmic Lord) such as Galactus", more powerful,
non-combat influence,limited area,harsh,appear 14-

Disadvantages Total: 213
Experience Spent: 25
Total Points: 388

ORIGIN: escaped "herald" of some cosmic wonk

TACTICS: high flight, pick off stragglers. occasionally do
move-throughs or fast-ball specials.

COSTUME: blue boots, gloves, mask, belt.
black body-suit w/stars.

PERSONALITY: fun loving, bright, do-gooder. the reptile thing
goes back to a hi-school prank involving a chinese dragon.

BACKGROUND NOTES: some of his powers are linked to his EC, and
if all the powers in the EC are off, so are they. All of his
EC powers must be consciously started, and this takes a
full phase to turn ALL of them on, if they somehow shut off,
or when he changes into hero id. Greg was an onlooker to a
big paranormal fight at an air-force base. like an idiot he
barged in to help out some non-combatants, and he got grabbed
and used as a pawn by the big bad guy. but he broke out of
that, and hasn't lost the super-powers yet, so he uses them
when he can to fight crime.
==
Laissez le bon pim roulez! Elliott aka Egyptoid
_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 11:03:12 -0800 (PST)
From: Anthony Jackson <ajackson@iii.com>
Subject: Disadvantage question

Hm...idea I was playing around with for handling magic in a fantasy setting
(allow VPPs, but at the same time keep them under control):

Rather than 'requires a skill roll', take a new disadvantage 'requires a unique
knowledge skill'. You can still be flexible -- but each distinct spell
requires you to spend a point, and you will need to spend additional points on
levels (probably group levels). Aside from being a knowledge skill (rather
than a 3/2 int-based skill) and being separate for every effect, it would be
the same as 'requires a skill roll'.

How big a disadvantage is this on a power? I'm guessing 1/4 or 1/2.
How big a disadvantage on the control cost for a VPP? This one is fairly
severe, as it drastically reduces the flexibility of the VPP.

While levels with 3 skills are normally 3 point levels, given that knowledge
skill levels are 1 pt each that's hardly worth anything. Should group levels
with (knowledge/science/area/etc) be half cost?

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 14:06:57 -0500 (EST)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)

On Thu, 19 Nov 1998, Bob Greenwade wrote:

> > Similar information about more generic locations: rooftops,
> >sewers, mines, elevator shafts, city streets, landfills and garbage
> >dumps, quarries, construction sites, etc.
>
> This would be a good book on its own, or even a series of books. It
> could be done in such a generic manner, in fact, that just about any game
> company could put it out (though I'd nominate GRG, with its broad
> multi-system publishing base, for this one).

One thing that blew me away about GDWs Twlight 2000 was the collection of
floorplans. Houses, offices, shopping areas... all sorts of locations
laid out on a nice grid. I'm trying to get a friend of mine ot zap me off
some copies so I can use them for Hero settings.

***************************************************************************
* "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion *
* Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net *
* Visit "Surbrook's Stuff' the Hero Games resource site at: *
* http://www.access.digex.net/~susano/index.html *
* Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT *
* Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark *
***************************************************************************

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 20:47:34 +0000
From: Chris Brecken <Christopher.Brecken@sunderland.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Cheep Speed

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Chris Brecken wrote:

> I have a question, I want to buy an extra point of speed and represent it as the
> ability to push myself in an emergency.
> I thought of 1 point of speed (10p), costs end (-1/2) and x2 end (-1/2)
> total cost 5p
>
> Now as far as i can figure this, it means that each turn i will pay 2 end, and for
> this i can use an extra point of speed, and it ONLY cost me 5p. This seams far too
> cheep...
>
> My GM has ok'd this, but i would like to here other peoples opinions on this....
>
> Chris (in thanks)
> --
> --------------------------------------------
> Ride against the wind born to lose the fight
>
> Magnum - How Far Jerusalem
> --------------------------------------------
>
> Christopher.Brecken@Sunderland.ac.uk



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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 16:25:52 -0500
From: Chuck Badger <wbandsis@westco.net>
Subject: Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)

Michael Surbrook wrote:
>
> On Thu, 19 Nov 1998, Bob Greenwade wrote:
> One thing that blew me away about GDWs Twlight 2000 was the collection of
> floorplans. Houses, offices, shopping areas... all sorts of locations
> laid out on a nice grid. I'm trying to get a friend of mine ot zap me off
> some copies so I can use them for Hero settings.

So which book were those in?

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 16:47:26 EST
From: SteveL1979@aol.com
Subject: Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)

In a message dated 98-11-19 14:05:42 EST, bob.greenwade@klock.com writes:

<< Personally, I have a similar list of thoughts regarding the legal
profession, though a Certain Former Attorney of our acquaintance has
declined my suggestion to write such a book.
A book on the medical profession would be nice too. >>

I wouldn't object to seeing, or writing, a book covering a wide variety of
relevant professions -- attorneys, medical, firemen, etc. -- for gaming.
However, I positively guarantee you that a book just about lawyers would be
not only relatively short, but also reasonably boring. :)

Steve Long

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 15:52:45 -0600 (Central Standard Time)
From: Tim Gilberg <gilberg@ou.edu>
Subject: It's Finally Here

After a long and arduous journey, I finally got my San angelo (and
other Hero books) order. It looks so sweet. I don't know whether to dig
into SA, or to read one of my other new Champs books. (CD, Watchers of
the Dragon, Hudson City Blues, Atlantis, Pyramid in the Sky, Hero
Beastiary.) Fun. As if I don't already have too many things to do.
(Including an interesting paper on MU*'s and teaching college
composition.)

Anyway. Lesson to be learned. Make sure you give the correct
mailing address when ordering something and, if it does go, say, to your
parents' place in Illinois, keep on them to actually ship it back to you.



-Tim Gilberg
-"English Majors of the World! Untie!"

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 17:04:55 -0500 (EST)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)

On Thu, 19 Nov 1998, Chuck Badger wrote:

> Michael Surbrook wrote:
> >
> > On Thu, 19 Nov 1998, Bob Greenwade wrote:
> > One thing that blew me away about GDWs Twlight 2000 was the collection of
> > floorplans. Houses, offices, shopping areas... all sorts of locations
> > laid out on a nice grid. I'm trying to get a friend of mine ot zap me off
> > some copies so I can use them for Hero settings.
>
> So which book were those in?

Uhm... one of them? I dunno really, one of the books in the Twlight 200
boxed set had the plans.

***************************************************************************
* "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion *
* Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net *
* Visit "Surbrook's Stuff' the Hero Games resource site at: *
* http://www.access.digex.net/~susano/index.html *
* Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT *
* Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark *
***************************************************************************

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 16:32:58 -0500
From: Mike Christodoulou <Cypriot@concentric.net>
Subject: Re: Cheep Speed

At 08:47 PM 11/19/98 +0000, Chris Brecken wrote:
>> I have a question, I want to buy an extra point of speed and represent
it as the
>> ability to push myself in an emergency.
>> I thought of 1 point of speed (10p), costs end (-1/2) and x2 end (-1/2)
>> total cost 5p
>>
>> Now as far as i can figure this, it means that each turn i will pay 2
end, and for
>> this i can use an extra point of speed, and it ONLY cost me 5p. This
seams far too
>> cheep...


Endurance is generally charged as Active Points / 10 per phase, not
per turn.


====================== =================================================
Mike Christodoulou "Never doubt that a small group of committed
Cypriot@Concentric.Net citizens can change the world. In fact, it is
(770) 662-5605 the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead
====================== =================================================

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 14:01:22 PST
From: "Jesse Thomas" <haerandir@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)

On Thu, 19 Nov 1998 10:02:36 Bob Greenwade

> Personally, I have a similar list of thoughts regarding the legal
>profession, though a Certain Former Attorney of our acquaintance has
>declined my suggestion to write such a book.
> A book on the medical profession would be nice too.

I don't know that you'd be able to generate a whole book's worth of
material about either the legal or medical professions without going
into a psychotic level of unneccesary detail. I'd think it would make
more sense to combine the two, and perhaps a few other professions
(banking, CPA's, scientists, stockbrokers, journalists, you know, "white
collar professionals") into a sort of Ultimate Professionals book. This
would allow you to provide generic floorplans for hospitals, banks,
office buildings, laboratories, etc., as well as detailing a lot of
people your PC's might encounter in both their adventuring and secret
ID's. Throw in a list of generic NPC's to use as Contacts, DNPC's,
Rivals & Hunteds, and you're good to go...
Of course, this leads us to such books as "The Ultimate Laborer" and
"The Ultimate Homeless Person", so maybe we should just forget it.

Jesse Thomas

haerandir@hotmail.com

______________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 10:04:02 +1100
From: Mad Hamish <h_laws@postoffice.utas.edu.au>
Subject: Re: It's Finally Here

At 03:52 PM 11/19/98 -0600, Tim Gilberg wrote:
>
> Anyway. Lesson to be learned. Make sure you give the correct
>mailing address when ordering something and, if it does go, say, to your
>parents' place in Illinois,

Are you sure my parents have a place in Illinois? I'll have to ask them
about it.

Maybe they have sectret IDs as well...

>keep on them to actually ship it back to you.

****************************************************************************
The Politician's Slogan
'You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all
of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.
Fortunately only a simple majority is required.'
****************************************************************************

Mad Hamish

Hamish Laws
h_laws@postoffice.utas.edu.au
h_laws@tassie.net.au

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 13:53:40 -0800 (PST)
From: John Desmarais <johndesmarais@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Disadvantage question

- ---Anthony Jackson <ajackson@iii.com> wrote:
>
> Hm...idea I was playing around with for handling magic in a fantasy
setting
> (allow VPPs, but at the same time keep them under control):
>
> Rather than 'requires a skill roll', take a new disadvantage
'requires a unique
> knowledge skill'. You can still be flexible -- but each distinct
spell
> requires you to spend a point, and you will need to spend additional
points on
> levels (probably group levels). Aside from being a knowledge skill
(rather
> than a 3/2 int-based skill) and being separate for every effect, it
would be
> the same as 'requires a skill roll'.
>
> How big a disadvantage is this on a power? I'm guessing 1/4 or 1/2.
> How big a disadvantage on the control cost for a VPP? This one is
fairly
> severe, as it drastically reduces the flexibility of the VPP.

Well, I did something similar, but didn't allow any limitation value
at all - it was simply a requirement of the magic system. I used
Weapon Familiarity as my model for the cost instead of Knowledge Skill:

Cost is 1 point for a familiarity with a spell
(ie. fireball), 2 points for a familiarity with a
school of spells (ie. fire spells), and 3 points for
a broad group of schools (ie. elemental school - fire,
water, earth, and air spells). Without the familiarity
the character may still cast the spell but with a
penalty of -3 to the magic skill roll (as well as -3 to
OCV for an attack spell).

You can read the whole system at
http://www.sysabend.org/champions/rules/Art_of_Magic.html. It was a
little odd, but it was fun.


==
=======================================
John Desmarais <champ-l-owner@sysabend.org>
Keeper of the Champions / Hero System mailing
list. http://www.sysabend.org/champions
=======================================
_________________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 09:41:54 +1100
From: Mad Hamish <h_laws@postoffice.utas.edu.au>
Subject: Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)

At 04:47 PM 11/19/98 EST, SteveL1979@aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 98-11-19 14:05:42 EST, bob.greenwade@klock.com writes:
>
><< Personally, I have a similar list of thoughts regarding the legal
> profession, though a Certain Former Attorney of our acquaintance has
> declined my suggestion to write such a book.
> A book on the medical profession would be nice too. >>
>
> I wouldn't object to seeing, or writing, a book covering a wide variety of
>relevant professions -- attorneys, medical, firemen, etc. -- for gaming.
>However, I positively guarantee you that a book just about lawyers would be
>not only relatively short, but also reasonably boring. :)
>
But what psych lims would Ally McBeal have? <g>

****************************************************************************
The Politician's Slogan
'You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all
of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.
Fortunately only a simple majority is required.'
****************************************************************************

Mad Hamish

Hamish Laws
h_laws@postoffice.utas.edu.au
h_laws@tassie.net.au

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 15:27:50 -0800
From: "Hilary" <kabuki@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Northern Cali players

I've just moved to the Palo Alto/San Jose area and was wondering if there
were any Champions palyers out there from the area seeking a group. Have
several people already but looking for one or two more players to fatten
the rosters.

Hil

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 14:50:23 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: Ultimate Books (was Re: Computers)

At 04:47 PM 11/19/98 EST, SteveL1979@aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 98-11-19 14:05:42 EST, bob.greenwade@klock.com writes:
>
><< Personally, I have a similar list of thoughts regarding the legal
> profession, though a Certain Former Attorney of our acquaintance has
> declined my suggestion to write such a book.
> A book on the medical profession would be nice too. >>
>
> I wouldn't object to seeing, or writing, a book covering a wide variety of
>relevant professions -- attorneys, medical, firemen, etc. -- for gaming.
>However, I positively guarantee you that a book just about lawyers would be
>not only relatively short, but also reasonably boring. :)

I dunno about that. You'd think the same thing about corporate
officers, but Mark Arsenault & Co. did a pretty darn good job with what
amounts to a sourcebook for that profession.
- ---
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: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 15:23:11 -0800
From: "Hilary" <kabuki@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Cheep Speed

> Chris Brecken wrote:
>
> > I have a question, I want to buy an extra point of speed and represent
it as the
> > ability to push myself in an emergency.
> > I thought of 1 point of speed (10p), costs end (-1/2) and x2 end (-1/2)
> > total cost 5p
> >
> > Now as far as i can figure this, it means that each turn i will pay 2
end, and for
> > this i can use an extra point of speed, and it ONLY cost me 5p. This
seams far too
> > cheep...
> >

Well, it would only cost you 10 points to have an extra point of speed
without any limitations, so the 5 points really isn't that cheap in
comparison considering the limitations. One thing you could consider is
that all actions while using your extra speed would also cost double end.
This would reflect that you are exerting more effort. Of course that's
much more limiting but makes more sense to go that way(IMO) then to make
the extra speed cost end at all. Also you could toss in a required will
roll to push your speed as such if you wanted to.

Hil

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 15:54:39 -0800 (PST)
From: Ell Egyptoid <egyptoid@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: CHAR: Bolter

> Acid Rainbow <samael@clark.net> wrote:
> >20 Psych Lim,"kills only in self-defense",common,total
> I just can't see this one for a heroic type. I mean
> what kind of hero kills in cold blood, anyway?

That psych.lim description is short-hand for

"Doesn't believe in Murder. Only sees killing
as permissible if done in self-defense"

(self-defense not equal cold-blood by definition, anyways.)
==
Laissez le bon pim roulez! Elliott aka Egyptoid
_________________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 15:48:52 -0800 (PST)
From: Ell Egyptoid <egyptoid@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Cheep Speed

you could do your GM a favor and not do this at all. :)

in Emergencies, what is you want more of?
movement, firepower, or something else?

whip out your auto-fire AE gun,
or strap on your flite-pack,
but don't change your speed or your dex.
JMHO.


Chris Brecken <Christopher.Brecken@sunderland.ac.uk> wrote:
> > ability to push myself in an emergency.
> > I thought of 1 point of speed (10p), costs end (-1/2) and x2 end
(-1/2)
> > total cost 5p

==
Laissez le bon pim roulez! Elliott aka Egyptoid
_________________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 15:24:52 -0800
From: "Hilary" <kabuki@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Cheep Speed

> Chris Brecken wrote:
>
> > I have a question, I want to buy an extra point of speed and represent
it as the
> > ability to push myself in an emergency.
> > I thought of 1 point of speed (10p), costs end (-1/2) and x2 end (-1/2)
> > total cost 5p
> >
> > Now as far as i can figure this, it means that each turn i will pay 2
end, and for
> > this i can use an extra point of speed, and it ONLY cost me 5p. This
seams far too
> > cheep...
> >

Well, it would only cost you 10 points to have an extra point of speed
without any limitations, so the 5 points really isn't that cheap in
comparison considering the limitations. As a GM, I would be inclined to
charge you END per phase and not per turn, as accelerating your speed
affects the entire turn. One thing you could consider is that all actions
while using your extra speed would also cost double end, rather then having
the speed cost any end. This would reflect that you are exerting more
effort. Of course that's much more limiting but makes more sense to go
that way(IMO) then to make the extra speed cost end at all. Also you could
toss in a required will roll to push your speed as such if you wanted to.

Hil

------------------------------

End of champ-l-digest V1 #45
****************************


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