[Other] Something Wicked This Way Comes [Mutants+Masterminds 3e]

[Cardassian]

Character Sheet HERO'S NAME Shibing Shiyan ba-san-er-er (Soldier Experiment 8322) Hero's Identity: Dragon's Fury Origin: Induced Mutant Identity: Secret Nationality: Chinese Power Suite: Physical Combat Suite Description While Shibing is melancholy personality, he genuinely attempts to adapt and assimilate into his new world. Being raised from six to twenty in a military facility led to a more direct speaker as he goes directly to the point of a conversation without idle chit-chat. He does however have a level of tact due to describing issues within the Chinese Communist Party system and its 'saving face' Mianzi culture. He also has a dry sense of humor (developed among government officials and soldiers). He views himself to be a hero, so he will act to protect and serve the people, however there are still racist tendencies left over from the Chinese upbringing, he will protect Asians first though he will attempt to rescue everyone. ((This is an attempt to play the transition from an oppressive government into assimilation to an open and free society)) Civillian Hero Disposition Background Shibing Shiyan Ba-San-Er-Er (Soldier Experiment 8522), doesn't exist prior to his conscription into the People's Liberation Army. Prior to his life beginning, he lived in a tiny province of farmers in the flood planes of Qua-Hong, after several trips to visit Hangchou. The PLA research development program selected 3000 Chinese children to undergo a highly classified program to create super soldiers intent on overthrowing the western powers in Asia. Shibing Shiyan translated in English means 'Soldier Experiment', the project exposed the soldiers to experimental chemicals and inhumane scientific studies on the resilience of the human body. They injected hormonal and steroid cocktails to discover if certain mixtures produced more efficient soldiers. The Chinese government erased the identities and any records of life prior to the project, the reeducation required five years to completely alter their memories and allowed the government to deny military experiments taking place on children. The soldier development stage of the project began when the subjects were between the ages of 17 and 19, expecting the project to produce results before the ten-year mark. Over time parents who lost their children to the program, escaped and sought asylum in western governments. The refugees reported a dark Communist program which placed children in danger while also indoctrinating them with extreme beliefs. Six years ago, the United States and Britain attempted to infiltrate the Chinese research structures, hoping to determine the scope of the programs, but lost three elite special operations teams. Eventually the two governments petitioned supers to perform the mission. The overall operation required 100 supers to enter the compound, only 30 returned. The survivors were successful in capturing the documents to the program, destroy the remaining 249 subjects, and according to the United States government 'Rescue a political prisoner'. The United States government began deconstructing the effects of the Communist agenda, doctors determined that 'Soldier Experiment' was too dangerous to return to society, but after exposing the subject to painting and singing as alternatives to violence. They spent two years teaching him English while also testing blood and DNA to study. The federal government has released 'Soldier Experiment' to ((PCs sponsor)) and closed the investigation. Upon his retrieval and extraction by the special operations team Olympus, the U.S. Chief of Staff assigned Shibing Shiyan with the Department of Defense because of the danger Shibing presented, however the mutant was taken away from the military after Congress discovered that the military was attempting to mimic the program. Shibing now is under the control of FODP (Federal Oddity Detention Program). until a more permanent arrangement can be made. FODP discovered that the Chinese government perpetuated stress and anger by denying the subjects release valves to relieve them of pent-up emotions. They introduced painting and singing to Shibing as a training method that reroutes the energy into a more effective maneuver. Shibing has spent months painting portraits, writing journals, and singing in the echo room. Military special operations instructors were assigned to conduct an intense reeducation program and training regimen to develop the overall individual. Counselors spent endless hours engaging in conversations to develop an individual's opinions and social interactions with limited success. The program continued to expose him to the arts that didn't include explosives and encouraged his expressive skills in painting and cooking. Shibang was near completing his training with DOD when the FODP command stopped funding and supporting his transition into the American lifestyle. The depth of mind control the Chinese government had on this person was too strong to ever break from it and become a functioning member of society. However, when the military arrived to detain Shibang the soldier had disappeared. Now the local group in ((Game Location)) has received a new member "Dragon’s Fury" is a martial arts warrior that uses a war fan. Primary Abilities (126)[LIST] Primary Abilities (80) + Res 8= 88 Fighting: Ex 17 Agility: Ex 16 Strength: Ex 17 Endurance: Ex 17 Reason: TY (5) Intuition: TY (5) Psyche: TY (5) Secondary Abilities (8) Health: 66 (F+A+S+E) Karma: 15 (R+I+P) Resources: Gd (8) Popularity: 0 Powers (Total Cost 142 +Talents 60 + Contacts 10= 212) Elemental Conversion: 8 (GD). Ultimate Powers Pg 61 (20 Gain + 16 Rank=36) Weather Control: 10 Gain power. 26 (RM), [36] Ultimate Powers Pg 57. (10 Gain + 16 Rank=36) Elemental Creation: 10 Gain Power. 16 (EX) [26] Ultimate Powers Pg 64 (10 Gain + 16 Rank=26) Martial Supremacy F2 Ultimate Powers pg 29 10 Gain Power. 16 (EX) [26] The hero gains +1CS Fighting when engaged in unarmed combat. (10 Gain + 16 Rank=26) Hyper-Speed P5: 10 Gain Power 8 (Gd) [18] Ultimate Powers Pg 81 (10 Gain + 8 Rank=18) Limitation (if/as applicable) Pts (60) Talents Artist (Painting) Artist (Cooking) (5) Linguistics (Korean) (5) Linguistics (English) (5) Martial Arts B (Street Fighting) (10) Oriental Weapons (Bo Staff) (10) Military (5) Includes Camouflage, Cartography, Demolition, Electronic Countermeasures, guns, and Heavy Weapons and grants a +1cs to all military matters including army weapons. Gain one contact in the military. Pilot military vehicles Contacts (10 pts) [*] DOD Colonel/Counselor Beth Stram (Chinese Linguist, Psychiatrist, Super (Red Velvet)) [*] Investigative Journalist Shou Xia-Lian (Journalist for the national magazine 'Hero Watch') Equipment Body Armor Bo Staff

Abilities + Resources (88 pts) + Powers, Talents, Contacts (212)= 300 pts

[Cardassian]

Originally Posted by Renjikuchiki1

The complexity of trying to figure out these rules is quickly erasing my enthusiasm.

Before you make anything, you need an idea of what you want.

Do you want to be a Shaman that can change into animals and control Animals?

Do you want a person that can travel through power lines and shock villains like a tazer?

Do you want to have the ability to convert a certain form of energy into different things?

Would you prefer being that uppity business person with several contacts and wealth?

[RedMoney]

Originally Posted by Renjikuchiki1

The complexity of trying to figure out these rules is quickly erasing my enthusiasm.

It's actually not complex in practice, they just suck at explaining it well. I linked a video series in a prior post that goes in depth with it, but here's some stuff that caused me hangups:

Ability scores - the number largely just determines the tier of the ability, which is the more important part. You never roll for damage, it's a set value based on the number score of str or the power you are using.

So, if I have 5 Strength, which is "typical" rating, if I punch someone I do 5 damage. I would roll a d100 and then consult the chart on page 100 of the book to determine hit/miss and the intensity. The chart in the back of the book is what everything is based around and kind of needs to be the first thing you see, but they stuck it way in the back and didn't explain it.

After that it's all about Column Shifts aka CS. Column Shifts are any situational modifier that boosts or hinders the result on the chart. So if I have a +1 CS, it means I am treating my "Typical" strength as "Good" on the chart.

A lot of the modifiers and what you can/cannot do with your powers is also a discussion between the players and GM. Usually it involves saying "I want to use my power to do X non typical thing" and the judge saying "alright but you've never done this stunt with your powers, it's going to be a -2 CS until you train with it." This is how the game handles things like Magneto having only magnetic powers but being able to use them for things like flight.

Further more, you can skin your powers however you want to. If you take the power for fire control, for example, you can write up how it works how ever you want. Maybe it's a Mutant with fire powers naturally, maybe it's a Hi Tech hero with a special flamethrower in his suit. A lot of that part is taking creative liberties with the game and tweaking things to fit your.own narrative.

To be honest, I generated my.character by rolling on all the charts in chapter 1, nerfing a few things to fit within the 300 point buy. That was a lot easier to me than trying to figure out how to build an effective or efficient character.

Hope some of that helps.

[Malkavianmilkball]

I think those are the two effective ways to do character generation without getting bogged down. You either come up with a concept:

"I want a hero that can control electricity and uses that to shoot metal like a rail gun" Then you look at the powers, ability, and talents to build backwards from that. So you figure out what powers would allow you to control electricity. Then you figure out how ranged combat works so you can pick talents and abilities that let you effectively shoot things.

The other way is to just roll it using the system like RedMoney did and just lower things to fit the point buy.

I wanted to play a healer character, so I worked backwards from there. I looked at the powers and picked what looked like they would let me heal, then I picked my stats to let me effectively use those powers. Then I filled in the talents and the rest to fit the concept of the character. Once you have an idea of who the character is, it becomes easier to look through and say "That makes sense for who my character is.".

The real trick is keeping the costs in check because there are so many cool things to buy, and only so many starting points.

[Classic Gamer]

Open heart surgery went well, but it may take me a minute to produce a character.

Character Sheet HERO'S NAME: Pressure Hero's Identity: Ian Black Origin: Altered Human Identity: Secret Nationality: American Description Civillian Ian is of Asian descent. He has dark hair and brown eyes. As often as possible, he wears casual clothes. More often than he would like, Ian wears business suits tailored in the style of most young executives. Hero Pressure wears a smooth, sleek black tactical outfit (minus the guns). In addition to looking like it provides extra protection, it also gives off a slightly intimidating vibe that can be helpful. Disposition Ian is very easy going with his friends and people in general. In the business world he can tend to be a bit driven to get the results he wants. As Pressure, he is tenacious. Background Revenge. Revenge against evil corporations.That is what drives Ian Black aka Pressure. Ian was living the high life as the second in command of his dad’s investment firm until he was kidnapped. Global Oil, Eventcorp, it had to be one of those types trying to get the secret to his father’s fractal algorithm. When it was apparent that he could not give them what they wanted they tried to experiment on Ian. This lasted hours, days, weeks. Ian didn’t know as it all fell together. Eventually his father’s security team managed to rescue him. Since then Ian has promised to strike back against such criminals from the business offices to the streets. Primary Abilities Fighting: EX (24) Agility: EX (24) Strength: EX (24) Endurance: EX (24) Reason: RM (30) Intuition: EX (24) Psyche: EX (24) Secondary Abilities Health: 96 (F+A+S+E) Karma: 78 (R+I+P) Resources: EX [40] Popularity: 0 Powers (Name, Rank, Score, Cost) Air Control AM (46) [56 pts] {Advanced Players Book page 74} Limitation (if/as applicable) Talents Wrestling [10] Martial Arts B [10] Business/Finance [10] Contacts Banking Industry [0] Equipment

Game Strategy - Global Oil, Eventcorp, Bane Industries, Megamax. They have all paid to put high powered criminals out there for their own agendas. Ian wants to use the boardroom to take down the bad guys as much as his powers. While his teammates are likely busy growing more powerful, Ian is likely trying to get richer. Bruce Wayne’s foes always seem to come back, Can Ian Black take the bad guys off the board for good?

[Malkavianmilkball]

Congrats, good luck with recovery.

[Classic Gamer]

Thank you very much.

[Cardassian]

Originally Posted by Classic Gamer

Open heart surgery went well, but it may take me a minute to produce a character.

I'm so glad to hear that your surgery went well my friend.

[btccg]

Originally Posted by Malkavianmilkball

I think those are the two effective ways to do character generation without getting bogged down. You either come up with a concept:

"I want a hero that can control electricity and uses that to shoot metal like a rail gun" Then you look at the powers, ability, and talents to build backwards from that. So you figure out what powers would allow you to control electricity. Then you figure out how ranged combat works so you can pick talents and abilities that let you effectively shoot things.

The other way is to just roll it using the system like RedMoney did and just lower things to fit the point buy.

I wanted to play a healer character, so I worked backwards from there. I looked at the powers and picked what looked like they would let me heal, then I picked my stats to let me effectively use those powers. Then I filled in the talents and the rest to fit the concept of the character. Once you have an idea of who the character is, it becomes easier to look through and say "That makes sense for who my character is.".

The real trick is keeping the costs in check because there are so many cool things to buy, and only so many starting points.

Coming up with a character concept first, then try to find powers that fit the concept and figure out where the Abilities make the most sense. I sometimes find that rolling up the abilities and powere randomly can make it hard to put things together into a coherent concept.

I love me some Marvel RPG, but unfortunately I cannot commit commit to daily posting the way my job/family commitments are currenty. If you ever put a regular slower paced game together gimme a buzz, GM!

[Cardassian]

Bringing it up once more

[Mitsubachi]

Really digging the graphics design of your "Krystal" banner. Great background, loads for me to work with. You're a very strong writer Misubachi, application looks great.

Not sure if it would be too recent for what you are envisioning, with us starting in later April, 1984, but you are more than welcome to have competed just last month in the February Winter Olympics held in Sarajevo.

Thanks for the kind words Anarchy!

I also like the attention to real life details.

Sarajevo gives me two problems, narratively; firstly I want the plane to go north for the Northern Lights effect AND to crash in an icy place for the powers theme. Secondly, I need it to fly west (and over USA ideally) for the chance at defection. This is before 1989, when the Iron Curtain came down. I’ve done flights between UK-Japan so many times now I get familiar with the routes, and that won’t happen from Sarajevo.

However, Lake Placid USA hosted the Winter Olympics in 1980. So let’s say she won gold there at 15 (seems likely when I look up other winners), then she crashes in Alaska. She turns 16 while at the ranch, then defects in 1981. This gives her two years at high school in Chicago until she is 18 (1983). This gives her time to learn English and get used to US culture. Then she goes to university in your host city at 19-turning-20 in 1984.

Fits like a jigsaw!

[Cardassian]

Originally Posted by Mitsubachi

Thanks for the kind words Anarchy!

I also like the attention to real life details.

Sarajevo gives me two problems, narratively; firstly I want the plane to go north for the Northern Lights effect AND to crash in an icy place for the powers theme. Secondly, I need it to fly west (and over USA ideally) for the chance at defection. This is before 1989, when the Iron Curtain came down. I’ve done flights between UK-Japan so many times now I get familiar with the routes, and that won’t happen from Sarajevo.

However, Lake Placid USA hosted the Winter Olympics in 1980. So let’s say she won gold there at 15 (seems likely when I look up other winners), then she crashes in Alaska. She turns 16 while at the ranch, then defects in 1981. This gives her two years at high school in Chicago until she is 18 (1983). This gives her time to learn English and get used to US culture. Then she goes to university in your host city at 19-turning-20 in 1984.

Fits like a jigsaw!

It doesn't have to be the Olympics. Most athletes that participate in the Olympic games also compete in international competitions and World Championships. Example is the U.S. Women's Soccer team, when not competing in the Olympics, they are competing for the National Championship and the World Cup. So, Krystal could have history with the 1980 Olympic games and then later head to Alaska for World Championships, 1984 qualifications, Nationals, etc.

[The Rat Queen]

Character Sheet HERO'S NAME: Alysa Raine Hero's Identity: Anima Origin: Altered Human Identity: Secret Nationality: English Description Civilian Attractive blonde with blue eyes, tall (1.8m) woman in her mid-twenties. She prefers to dress in an 'urban contemporary' style with a black leather jacket thrown on. Hero Alysa's physical appearance doesn't change when she becomes Anima. Her costume is a white robe fit with a silver bodice, with a silver cloak worn over the outfit. Disposition: Alysa is friendly and positive, though she does possess a certain degree of arrogance, having been born into a comfortably wealthy family, good-looking and intelligent. Add to that attending a prestigious university and now learning magic...there are times where Alysa can be a bit stubborn and entitled. Background While Alysa was attending Cambridge University to study molecular biology, she earned the interest of a specialized "study group" and began an intensive, but definitively unendorsed, study and experimentation of molecular modification. Ostensibly, the goal was to study the effects of curing diseases and regenerating lost limbs at a molecular level. However, the secret agenda was to find and unlock the particular genetic sequence allowing a human to access and control surroundings via molecular connection - what many people refer to as "magic". Obtaining and utilizing an ancient text containing secrets of biochemical genetics and molecular microbiology, Alysa was working on translating and absorbing the information when she forgot the first rule of ancient texts: never read them out loud! In doing so, she succeeded in finding the secret to unlock the magic gene within her, inadvertently 'skipping' the line of her study group and incurring no small degree of annoyance from the higher-ups within that organization. Primary Abilities [150 pts.] Fighting: Ex (16) Agility: Ex (16) Strength: Ty (5) Endurance: Ty (5) Reason: In (36) Intuition: Re (26) Psyche: Am (46) Secondary Abilities [16 pts.] Health: 42 (F+A+S+E) Karma: 108 (R+I+P) Resources: Gd (8) Popularity: Powers [84 pts.] Personal Spells: Mental Probe (8 - Gd), Telepathy (8 - Gd), Flight (8 - Gd) Universal Spells: Force Field Generation (26 - Am), Energy Generation (26 - Am) Dimensional Spells: Probability Manipulation* (8 - Gd) Limitation (if/as applicable) Talents [40 pts.] Mystical Origin Biology Chemistry Genetics Physics Occult Lore Languages - Latin, French, Italian Contacts [10 pts.] Chemistry Biology Equipment

[Renjikuchiki1]

Work in progress; basically a combination of ideas from Steven Universe and She-Ra

Character Sheet NAME - Rebecca Smith Origin: Human Nationality: Description Civillian Insert here Disposition Background Backgrounds are to be kept skirt-length; short enough to be eye-catching but long enough to cover the important stuff. It is important to get an idea of who you are outside of the hero you imagine to become, and please, for the love of muffins, make it so that the most interesting part of you is not your super abilities. Primary Abilities Fighting: Agility: Strength: Endurance: Reason: Intuition: Psyche: Secondary Abilities Health: Karma: Resources: Ty (5) Popularity: 0 Talents Contacts Equipment

Starlight’s Character Sheet HERO'S NAME - Starlight Hero's Identity: Rebecca Smith and Princess Roh’is Origin: Human [Rebecca] / Alien [Roh’is] Identity: Secret Nationality: Description Hero Insert here, and please include a description of your costume. Disposition Background Backgrounds are to be kept skirt-length; short enough to be eye-catching but long enough to cover the important stuff. It is important to get an idea of who you are outside of the hero you imagine to become, and please, for the love of muffins, make it so that the most interesting part of you is not your super abilities. Primary Abilities: Starlight Fighting: 26 Agility: 26 Strength: 36 Endurance: 21 Reason: 8 Intuition: 8 Psyche: 16 Secondary Abilities Health: 109 Karma: 32 Resources: Ty (5) Popularity: 0 Powers - Physical Gestalt - True Flight - True Invulnerability - Weapons Creation • Specialization: Edged and Blunt Weapons Limitation (if/as applicable) Talents Contacts Equipment

[Cardassian]

Ok, now your Health is 102 (Add Fighting, Agility, Strength, and Endurance)

Your Karma is 38