Working a new Champions character.

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Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

I'm trying to make a low-level speedster in HERO 5thEd.

My basic concept starts with SPD 9, High DEX and CON, and +5" Running
(x4 Noncombat).

This would give him an effective combat speed of about 37 miles an
hour, which is right for what I like. Noncombat, he gets up to about
150. Superhuman, but not ridiculous.

For offensive power, I was thinking a Hand-to-Hand Attack, maybe with
Autofire (5 shots) and Armor piercing bought for the STR+HA in a
multipower. I know that's not technically allowed, but it's the only
way I can think to model either a flurry of superfast blows or
concetrated attacks on a single spot.

Defense is mainly going to be avoiding getting hit. High DEX equals
high DCV, of course, and I can add martial dodges and the like.
Missile Defelection is an option.

Any ideas or commentary? My goal is to keep the budget at 150+100
points.
--

Douglas E. Berry Do the OBVIOUS thing to send e-mail
Atheist #2147, Atheist Vet #5

"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as
when they do it from religious conviction."
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), Pense'es, #894.

 

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Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

"Douglas Berry" <penguin_boy@mindOBVIOUSspring.com> wrote in message
news:fki791hr4j43coegofgtcq0a5evqut9tht@4ax.com...
> I'm trying to make a low-level speedster in HERO 5thEd.
>
> My basic concept starts with SPD 9, High DEX and CON, and +5" Running
> (x4 Noncombat).
>
> This would give him an effective combat speed of about 37 miles an
> hour, which is right for what I like. Noncombat, he gets up to about
> 150. Superhuman, but not ridiculous.
>
> For offensive power, I was thinking a Hand-to-Hand Attack, maybe with
> Autofire (5 shots) and Armor piercing bought for the STR+HA in a
> multipower. I know that's not technically allowed, but it's the only
> way I can think to model either a flurry of superfast blows or
> concetrated attacks on a single spot.
>
> Defense is mainly going to be avoiding getting hit. High DEX equals
> high DCV, of course, and I can add martial dodges and the like.
> Missile Defelection is an option.
>
> Any ideas or commentary? My goal is to keep the budget at 150+100
> points.
> --
If you can put your speed, attack, running, and dex into a super
speed/Reflex Elemental control you will rock.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Douglas Berry wrote:
> I'm trying to make a low-level speedster in HERO 5thEd.
>
>
> Defense is mainly going to be avoiding getting hit. High DEX equals
> high DCV, of course, and I can add martial dodges and the like.
> Missile Defelection is an option.
>
> Any ideas or commentary? My goal is to keep the budget at 150+100
> points.

You may also want to consider some Combat Luck to represent dodging attacks.

--
Michael Sears armitage@mhcable.com
"No turning back where the end is in sight.
There's a job to be done, a fight to be won."

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Wed, 25 May 2005 01:04:45 GMT, Douglas Berry
<penguin_boy@mindOBVIOUSspring.com> wrote:

>I'm trying to make a low-level speedster in HERO 5thEd.
>
>My basic concept starts with SPD 9, High DEX and CON, and +5" Running
>(x4 Noncombat).
>
>This would give him an effective combat speed of about 37 miles an
>hour, which is right for what I like. Noncombat, he gets up to about
>150. Superhuman, but not ridiculous.
>
>For offensive power, I was thinking a Hand-to-Hand Attack, maybe with
>Autofire (5 shots) and Armor piercing bought for the STR+HA in a
>multipower. I know that's not technically allowed, but it's the only
>way I can think to model either a flurry of superfast blows or
>concetrated attacks on a single spot.

I don't see why concentrated attacks on a single spot would be armour
piercing instead of just being a bigger HA. But if you wanted to do
it that way, why not get Variable Advantage?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Douglas Berry <penguin_boy@mindobviousspring.com> wrote:
>I'm trying to make a low-level speedster in HERO 5thEd.

>My basic concept starts with SPD 9, High DEX and CON, and +5" Running
>(x4 Noncombat).

That's a really high SPD for any game I've played in, but
it's quite possible our group was atypical. We generally
kept Speeds in the 4 to 6 range, even for fast characters,
so normal human goons were a threat. 9 isn't out of bounds
for a speedster, but have you run it by the GM, just to be
sure?

>This would give him an effective combat speed of about 37 miles an
>hour, which is right for what I like. Noncombat, he gets up to about
>150. Superhuman, but not ridiculous.

Works for me.

>For offensive power, I was thinking a Hand-to-Hand Attack, maybe with
>Autofire (5 shots) and Armor piercing bought for the STR+HA in a
>multipower. I know that's not technically allowed, but it's the only
>way I can think to model either a flurry of superfast blows or
>concetrated attacks on a single spot.

Well, you could always just buy the powers separately, but I
can't blame you for wanting to save points. Someone else suggested
Variable Advantage, and that might work. You could also use it
to do stuff like area effect ("I run around and hit everyone
once instead of hitting one guy a dozen times"), though you
might want to throw selective on there, too ("Oops! Sorry,
Batman!")

I agree with whoever said a concentrated attack might be best
simulated with just more dice of damage instead of armor piercing,
but armor piercing could simulate hitting often enough or at
the right frequency to make armor less effective, so what the
heck. Penetrating could work for that, too, but I've never liked
that one.

>Defense is mainly going to be avoiding getting hit. High DEX equals
>high DCV, of course, and I can add martial dodges and the like.
>Missile Defelection is an option.

Damage reduction can be nice for a speedster - you react fast
enough that no attack hits you solidly. You could have it
activated by a DEX roll or something similar to save some
points and simulate the fact that you're not actually that
physically tough and a surprise attack is going to hurt.

Pete

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Peter Meilinger wrote:
> Douglas Berry <penguin_boy@mindobviousspring.com> wrote:
>>I'm trying to make a low-level speedster in HERO 5thEd.
>
>>My basic concept starts with SPD 9, High DEX and CON, and +5" Running
>>(x4 Noncombat).
>
> That's a really high SPD for any game I've played in, but
> it's quite possible our group was atypical. We generally
> kept Speeds in the 4 to 6 range, even for fast characters,
> so normal human goons were a threat. 9 isn't out of bounds
> for a speedster, but have you run it by the GM, just to be
> sure?

Presumably, Douglas' GM pointed at the Hero System 5th
Edition rules book and said "this is the rules system we use".

--
Peter Knutsen
sagatafl.org

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Thu, 26 May 2005 05:58:24 +0200, "Peter Knutsen (usenet)"
<peter@sagatafl.invalid> drained his beer, leaned back in the
rec.games.frp.super-heroes beanbag and drunkenly proclaimed the
following
>
>Peter Meilinger wrote:
>> Douglas Berry <penguin_boy@mindobviousspring.com> wrote:
>>>I'm trying to make a low-level speedster in HERO 5thEd.
>>
>>>My basic concept starts with SPD 9, High DEX and CON, and +5" Running
>>>(x4 Noncombat).
>>
>> That's a really high SPD for any game I've played in, but
>> it's quite possible our group was atypical. We generally
>> kept Speeds in the 4 to 6 range, even for fast characters,
>> so normal human goons were a threat. 9 isn't out of bounds
>> for a speedster, but have you run it by the GM, just to be
>> sure?
>
>Presumably, Douglas' GM pointed at the Hero System 5th
>Edition rules book and said "this is the rules system we use".

Well, the GM reserve3s the right to point and laugh at any characters
we bring in.

I'm trying for a speedster who doesn't just move quickly, but moves a
lot.

What I've done with the HA is put together a Multipower with three
slots, HA autofire, HA armor-piercing, and a bigger HA. Bought all
three slots Reduced END on the total attack (STR+HA) I may go back and
add some other slots and make it the "speedster attack forms
Multipower."
--

Douglas E. Berry Do the OBVIOUS thing to send e-mail
Atheist #2147, Atheist Vet #5

"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as
when they do it from religious conviction."
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), Pense'es, #894.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Douglas Berry <penguin_boy@mindobviousspring.com> wrote:
>On Thu, 26 May 2005 05:58:24 +0200, "Peter Knutsen (usenet)"
><peter@sagatafl.invalid> drained his beer, leaned back in the
>rec.games.frp.super-heroes beanbag and drunkenly proclaimed the
>following

>>Presumably, Douglas' GM pointed at the Hero System 5th
>>Edition rules book and said "this is the rules system we use".

>Well, the GM reserve3s the right to point and laugh at any characters
>we bring in.

Works for me, but probably not for Peter.

>I'm trying for a speedster who doesn't just move quickly, but moves a
>lot.

Makes sense. If you move significantly more than the other
characters and do the same damage, though, you might well
end up overshadowing them in combat. That's not necessarily
a reason to change your character concept, just something to
be careful about.

>What I've done with the HA is put together a Multipower with three
>slots, HA autofire, HA armor-piercing, and a bigger HA. Bought all
>three slots Reduced END on the total attack (STR+HA) I may go back and
>add some other slots and make it the "speedster attack forms
>Multipower."

The first thing that comes to mind is a heat attack, based on
friction. But there you run into the problem of having to
say "I run up to Dr. Destroyer and rub him all over!"

Pete

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On 26 May 2005 16:43:54 GMT, Peter Meilinger <mellnger@bu.edu> drained
his beer, leaned back in the rec.games.frp.super-heroes beanbag and
drunkenly proclaimed the following

>Douglas Berry <penguin_boy@mindobviousspring.com> wrote:

>>Well, the GM reserves the right to point and laugh at any characters
>>we bring in.
>
>Works for me, but probably not for Peter.

Yeah, I've dealt with him before.

>>I'm trying for a speedster who doesn't just move quickly, but moves a
>>lot.
>
>Makes sense. If you move significantly more than the other
>characters and do the same damage, though, you might well
>end up overshadowing them in combat. That's not necessarily
>a reason to change your character concept, just something to
>be careful about.

Which is why I'm keeping the attacks fairly small. STR 15, and I'm
aiming for the autofire and AP attacks to be about 5-6d6, the "big"
attack to be 7-8d6. Big enough to hurt most villians, but not
overwhelming.

>>What I've done with the HA is put together a Multipower with three
>>slots, HA autofire, HA armor-piercing, and a bigger HA. Bought all
>>three slots Reduced END on the total attack (STR+HA) I may go back and
>>add some other slots and make it the "speedster attack forms
>>Multipower."
>
>The first thing that comes to mind is a heat attack, based on
>friction. But there you run into the problem of having to
>say "I run up to Dr. Destroyer and rub him all over!"

"Noogies on Grond!"

Now, running up and rubbing someone like Lady Blue is a different
story altogether!

--

Douglas E. Berry Do the OBVIOUS thing to send e-mail
Atheist #2147, Atheist Vet #5

"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as
when they do it from religious conviction."
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), Pense'es, #894.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Douglas Berry wrote:
> I'm trying to make a low-level speedster in HERO 5thEd.
>
> My basic concept starts with SPD 9, High DEX and CON, and +5" Running
> (x4 Noncombat).

I agree with Peter that this is a _very_ high SPD. In the group I played
in, we usually made 450+ point characters, and the highest SPD I saw was
8; and this was the only character faster than SPD 6. I would go with
SPD 6 and use the 30 points saved for powers that can simulate multiple
actions.

> For offensive power, I was thinking a Hand-to-Hand Attack, maybe with
> Autofire (5 shots) and Armor piercing bought for the STR+HA in a
> multipower. I know that's not technically allowed, but it's the only
> way I can think to model either a flurry of superfast blows or
> concetrated attacks on a single spot.

For multiple blows against a single target, use the limitation Reduced
Penetration for HKA+STR. This reduces the BODY, but not the STUN, of the
attack, and is according to the description used to simulate shotguns -
not too unlike a flurry of attacks. For attacking multiple targets, use
Move By and Sweep, with combat levels that offset the penalties for
multiple attacks with these maneuvers.

You could also buy a Damage Shield attack with the special effect that
your character hits back at anybody that hits him. You could even buy an
Area Effect attack, selective target, no range, to simulate rapidly
attacking many nearby targets.

> Defense is mainly going to be avoiding getting hit. High DEX equals
> high DCV, of course, and I can add martial dodges and the like.
> Missile Defelection is an option.

As Peter said, Damage Reduction may be suitable. Armor or a Force Field
with the special effect that your character turns aside from the attacks
so they only glance him - perhaps with a skill roll limitation.

A good Speedster power is Change Environment, no range: rearrange light
objects (can be lifted with Casual STR). This can go into a Multipower
with the Area Effect attack suggested above.

Comments are based on Hero 4; I haven't bought 5.

- Klaus

 

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Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Douglas Berry wrote:
[...]
> What I've done with the HA is put together a Multipower with three
> slots, HA autofire, HA armor-piercing, and a bigger HA. Bought all
> three slots Reduced END on the total attack (STR+HA) I may go back and
> add some other slots and make it the "speedster attack forms
> Multipower."

Why not try going with Variable Advantage instead? I'm sure
that's much more likely to get past the average Hero System
GM than any Multipower.

--
Peter Knutsen
sagatafl.org

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Klaus Æ. Mogensen wrote:
> Douglas Berry wrote:
>>I'm trying to make a low-level speedster in HERO 5thEd.
>>
>>My basic concept starts with SPD 9, High DEX and CON, and +5" Running
>>(x4 Noncombat).
>
> I agree with Peter that this is a _very_ high SPD. In the group I played

The *other* Peter, that is...

> in, we usually made 450+ point characters, and the highest SPD I saw was
> 8; and this was the only character faster than SPD 6. I would go with

Why was that? Self-censorship? Or because higher SPD is just
not worth the cost?

> SPD 6 and use the 30 points saved for powers that can simulate multiple
> actions.
[...]
> Comments are based on Hero 4; I haven't bought 5.

I've got the unrevised 5th Edition. Do you want to borrow
it? It's not as if I'm using it, I only bought it out of
curiosity...

--
Peter Knutsen
sagatafl.org

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Fri, 27 May 2005 22:25:24 +0200, "Peter Knutsen (usenet)"
<peter@sagatafl.invalid> wrote:

>
>Douglas Berry wrote:
>[...]
>> What I've done with the HA is put together a Multipower with three
>> slots, HA autofire, HA armor-piercing, and a bigger HA. Bought all
>> three slots Reduced END on the total attack (STR+HA) I may go back and
>> add some other slots and make it the "speedster attack forms
>> Multipower."
>
>Why not try going with Variable Advantage instead? I'm sure
>that's much more likely to get past the average Hero System
>GM than any Multipower.

Characters with multipowers are nigh unto ubiquitous. The average GM
has no problem with them.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

David Johnston wrote:
> <peter@sagatafl.invalid> wrote:
>>Why not try going with Variable Advantage instead? I'm sure
>>that's much more likely to get past the average Hero System
>>GM than any Multipower.
>
> Characters with multipowers are nigh unto ubiquitous. The average GM
> has no problem with them.

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

--
Peter Knutsen
sagatafl.org

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Peter Knutsen (usenet) wrote:
>
> Klaus Æ. Mogensen wrote:

>> we usually made 450+ point characters, and the highest SPD I saw
>> was 8; and this was the only character faster than SPD 6.
>
> Why was that? Self-censorship? Or because higher SPD is just not
> worth the cost?

The latter. High SPD has its uses, but if you have very high SPD, you
will have to either buy all your main powers to 0 END or have very high
REC and END stats. Or else use several phases per turn for Recovery
actions, which sort of defeats the idea of having high SPD.

You also get diminishing returns when buying higher SPD. Going from SD 3
to SPD 4, you get 33% extra actions, but going from SPD 6 to SPD 7, you
only get 17% extra actions. While similar things may be said for other
powers, in practice it seems to be more true for SPD.

Also, the way DEF works (linear subtraction), you are probably better
off hitting an opponent once with a big attack rather than several times
with a smaller attack. So it is usually better to put points into
attacks rather than SPD (if your GM will allow that).

- Klaus