The working title for the game is Crucible. It is set in the same world as our website titles: Avengers, X-Factor, Young Champions, etc. If you're familiar with those, then you know quite a bit about what to expect in the game world.
Characters from our files will turn up in the game. However, some of the better-known characters may not. This is primarily to prevent contradictions with later files. The idea of the game is to concentrate on what is going on with the PCs on their turf, not who the Avengers are fighting that day in New York City or who the newest member of X-Factor is.
The game tasks place in San Diego, California and that should be your current place of residence. Players may either design their own characters or choose to have mystery power characters following the rules below. The choice is yours!
The game is set in early July of 1986, which puts it about a month and half ahead of the titles on our site. (There is a reason for this that will become clearer in time.) The opening scenario will serve to create and bring together lesser-known supers against a common menace with the idea of them forming a new hero team. Depending on how many players there are, I may allow soloists. Have to see how things go on that front.
There is currently a super hero team based in San Diego. It is known as the Steel Squadron and they burst on to the scene just a few months ago. They are the current media darlings. The group is composed of five members and they all wear different colored armor. The members are 'imaginatively enough' named: Red Steel, Blue Steel, Green Steel, Gray Steel, and Black Steel. Black Steel is the team leader and Blue Steel the only female on the team.
There are two other heroes of note and both are PRIMUS related. With the large Navy presence and defense-related industries in San Diego, villain attacks against government targets are quite frequent. So much so, that a PRIMUS base has been established in San Diego. The PRIMUS forces are led by the nuclear hero Major Star. Major Star was a former member of the Minutemen and the Avengers before going to work for PRIMUS. Silver Avenger Gregory Rackham is the second in command.
There will be another file forthcoming containing more details about the San Diego area.
CHARACTER DESIGN GUIDELINES:
Here are the general guidelines for creating Champions Characters for my games. The following is by no means absolute, and I may make exceptions based on the character! If something that I normally don't allow fits a particular character concept then I will normally allow the character to "bend my rules" a bit. I will give more latitude to a character with a very good and interesting concept.
This file will be useless to you unless you possess a working knowledge of the Hero System rules and/or the Champions rule book. The Fourth Edition rules are used.
CHARACTER CONCEPTION:
Characters in my games are encouraged to be as creative as they wish when it comes to making their characters. I do not allow the use of any existing comic book characters! You may run a variation of existing comic book characters.
For example, you may want you character to be a wisecracking hero who climbs walls and spins webs. Fine, you just can't call him Spider-Man nor can his background be the same as Peter Parker. So let's say that this character is a woman, she changes her name to Spinnerette, and she is a scientist dealing with biology! There you go, a character that would be acceptable!
Characters are encouraged to create new and original names for their PCs. The names of the major comic book characters are not allowed. Thus, you will not find Superman or Captain America in my games. The names of the more minor characters can be used, provided they are suitably different from their comic counterparts. Also, you may inadvertently create a name of an existing hero or villain in the game. This is fine with me, but DO expect a visit eventually from the original!
Characters based on movies and television should also be avoided. I've noticed that after the popularity of the movie fades, so does the player's interest in the character.
The bottom line in Character Creation is to make a character that YOU are happy with! You'll be happier in the long run with a character you like, rather than one designed to fill in any holes in the current groups.
There are a few concepts that should be avoided, however. Starting characters may not be alien arrivals on Earth. You may have alien ancestors, knowingly or unknowingly, but may not be pure aliens yourself. Avoid creating new villains as part of our origins. There are a great many Champions villains already in existence. Someone is bound to fit your origin needs.
One final note: All new characters to my games are brand spanking new! Thus, you do not have much in the way of known history! None of the other players will have heard of your character, nor will have many others. You are a rookie in the super-being business. You may have had a few adventures under your belt, but are a virtual unknown to the public at large.
Below are the rule guidelines for designing your own characters. Guidelines for mystery power characters are after that.
CHARACTER POINTS:
New characters are built on up to 250 pts. 100 base plus up to 150 pts in Disadvantages. A maximum of 50 pts many be taken from any one Disadvantage Category.
Additional Note: Unknown to the starting PC's who designed their own characters, they also were given a few Mystery Powers. The actual starting point totals for all new players are 275 pts with 175 pts in Disads.
CHARACTERISTICS:
New characters have stat maximums in my games. Spending earned experience may later pass these limits.
Strength - 60
Dexterity - 27
Constitution - 30
Body - 30
Intelligence - 30
Ego - 30
Presence - 30
Comeliness - 30
Physical Defense - 30
Energy Defense - 30
Speed - 8
Recovery - No Limit
Endurance - No Limit
Stun - No Limit
SKILLS:
You may not purchase any more than 4 skill levels for any one particular task.
PERKS:
Followers are not allowed. The optional money system is used. Fringe Benefits need my okay. Bases are not allowed, but vehicles are.
TALENTS:
No Universal Translators.
POWERS:
New characters are limited to a maximum of 50 Active points in any power to start. (Active cost is the cost of the power with Advantages, but before any limitations are applied.) This maximum may be crossed with earned experience.
Absorption & Transfers can only increase a power or stat up to 1.5 times its original value. Absorption towards Strength can only push a 50 STR individual up to a maximum of 75 STR, for example.
The following powers are not allowed: Aid, Clairsentience, Extra-Dimensional Movement, FTL Travel, Summon, and Transformation. As noted above, a good concept may open up these powers, but don't count on it.
POWER ADVANTAGES:
All Power Advantages can only be doubled once. The Uncontrolled Advantage is not available.
POWER LIMITATIONS:
No adjustments on Limitations.
POWER FRAMEWORKS:
The cost of EC's & Multipowers can exceed 50 active points, but none of the powers in them can be more than 50 active points at the start of the game.
When setting up a Variable Power Pool, I'll also require a list of what you consider the normal powers to be used in the pool. Furthermore, all these powers must fit the conception of the pool.
DISADVANTAGES:
As stated above, up a maximum of 150 pts (175 pts) in Disads may be purchased. No more then 50 pts (60 pts) may be purchased from any one category.
Hunted and Watched: The maximum die roll is 11 or less. Eight or less is the preferred number. The reason behind this is that the character is fairly new and would not have yet gained great enmity from any one foe. Also, in a large group and with this type of gaming it simply is not feasible for Hunteds to show up that frequently. Furthermore, I do NOT have hunteds turn up at random. They are planned events. The die rolls of the Hunter simply mean just how frequently this hunter appears.
Reputation: As a new super, PC's cannot have a Rep. This limitation does not apply to the supers alter ego! It is very possible for the secret identity to be more famous!
If you are having trouble with your Disadvantages, you may select to go with Mystery Disadvantages. This means that I will assign the rest of your Disadvantages; you won't know what they are! At least at first!
Mystery powers are also possible! Just let me know how many points you wish to apply to mystery powers.
I am somewhat fluid with Disadvantages. If you feel that a particular disadvantage no longer applies, then you may restructure that particular disad into something more suitable. I'm more concerned about having the 150 pts filled than what they actually are. Disads do change over time as your character's situations changes.
OTHER RULES:
Skills, Talents, Perks, Powers, Advantages, and Limitation from other 4th Edition Champions books may be available; provided I have the book they are from. (I think I have them all, so that should not be a problem.) Check with me first to make sure the ability in question is allowed. Mentalists can make use of the Ultimate Mentalist, for instance, Martial Artists, the Ultimate Martial Artist.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
In addition to your character write up, I would like some background info on your character. Who is he? Where he's going? Where does he work? What's his family like? Etc. The more info you can provide, the better. (Basically make up any part of your character that you DON'T want me to decide for you.)
Include a description of your character, his origin, and his costume. Age, race, and gender are completely up to you, but you should at least be sixteen years old. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
DESIGN PROGRAMS:
You are welcome to make your character and send it to me using Hero Maker or Creation Workshop. Regardless of how I receive your character, they will be transferred/created using Creation Workshop. The program will be the final arbitrator for math calculations.
MYSTERY POWER CHARACTERS:
A character with mystery powers is one that is unaware of the type and nature of the powers they possess. They can be figured out over time, but for the most part they are unknown. This method mirrors the classic comic book style origins where a new hero is unaware of his or her abilities at first.
You, the player, get to design the character before he or she gains super powers. You have 50 pts to spend on stats, skills, perks, and talents. You may not purchase any powers. You need to purchase Disads to balance out the points you spend, up to 50 pts maximum.
Use the guidelines for designing regular characters to make your mystery character with the following changes:
STATS:
20 is the maximum for the 8 Primary Stats. (STR, DEX, CON, BODY, INT, EGO, PRE, COM.) PD & ED is 8, SPEED is 4, REC is 10, and END & STUN are 50.
Maximum Running is 10", Swimming 5".
SKILLS:
You may not purchase more than 2 skill levels for any particular task.
POWERS:
You are not permitted to purchase any Powers.
DISADVANTAGES:
You may NOT purchase Disads from the following categories: Berserk, Hunted (Watched is okay), Public Identity, Secret Identity, Susceptibility, and Vulnerability.
NOTES:
During the opening scenario your character will be changed and they will gain superpowers. To help me design your character, please answer the following questions from the perspective of your character. They will help give me some guidelines to the type of character you wish to run. They will also make sure that I don't give you something you completely hate! Feel free to add additional comments to these questions should you so desire.
1 - List in order of most wanted to least wanted: what type of powers your character would like to have. (Use the generic Champions designations of Martial Artist, Brick, Mentalist, and Energy Projector. Add new designations if I don't cover what you're looking for.)
2 - What is your character's favorite season?
3 - What one word best describes your character? (Words such as Jock, Egghead, Serious, Happy-go-lucky, etc.)
4 - What is your character's favorite hobby?
5 - Would you mind having your character physically changed into something else? (Rate on a scale from 1 to 10. A 1 meaning "No, I don't want my character changed at all" to 10 meaning "Surprise me! Go hog wild!" A 3 would refer to a not minding a minor physical change, while anyone with an 8 or greater would automatically stand out in a crowd.
6 - What is your character's favorite color?
7 - If your character could have any superpower of his choice, what would it be?
That should be enough to get the ball rolling! As always, if you have any questions or are unsure of something just send me an E-mail!