V&V meets Paranoia?

That is the second time someone said something about that particular thing in my game. I guess perceptions vary because at times I thought that particular scenario was kind of a clusterfrak but at least part of it was the dice roller being particularly mean to the PCs. I do thank you for the kind words however...

Working on background for a game I might try to start up after Easter.

28 years ago
The Sentinels stood on the platform as arcs of energy crackled and buzzed around them. Somewhere deep in the bowels of the complex two full-scale fusion reactors burned hot as the sun providing juice to the equipment around them.

As the heroes braced for what was to come, General Craft and Professor Zander shared a few final words.

"Remember," the general said as he chewed mercilessly on the end of his cigar. "Those Hyusnak will not take any prisoners or show any mercy. Hit them hard. Remember Iron Eagle. Don't let his death be in vain."

The general fixed the heroes with his steely gaze for a moment before the professor spoke up.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, try not to move too much. We want all of your parts to show up on the other end at the same time."

He smiled in that way that always left the Sentinels wondering whether he was expressing real concern or sharing his dry humor. The energy crackled again as a rising whine began to fill the chamber. A arc of energy suddenly leapt out from one of the spider-like arms of the device and caused the professor to take a startled step backwards.

The professor lowered his goggles over his eyes. He had to shout to be heard over the thundering noise as it split the air and eardrums.

"This may sting a bit!"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:42, Sun 24 Mar 2013.

I know a lot of you on this forum run (or have run) games of VnV.

When you create Villians, do you roll them up, like PCs have to be?  Maybe choosing the first Power or two to facilitate the role you wish them to play, but otherwise leave them to the vagaries of randomness that the players are subjected to?
Or do you mix and match their powers?  Choosing the best, most complimentary power sets like one might in Point Buy systems?

There are some I have rolled up completely randomly, some a combination of random and selection, some I have taken from other sources, and even ones that were my or other people's PCs in game that I converted to a villain. So many choices, so little time...heh heh ;)

Well, in the one game I'm running currently, I've adapted villains from other games/sources to V&V, or from V&V books.

Back in the old days, when I used to run tabletop, I'd often just roll them up randomly via the book. If they weren't powerful enough to be a challenge, they'd go on a villain team.  If they were so powerful they could take on a team by themselves, they'd be a solo villain. ;)

I'm in the all of the above camp.

I like to roll up random villains just because I like rolling up characters, but at times I've built villains for particular purposes and/or adapted them from other sources.

Most, though, are random.

Truthfully, I used to spend time when I should have been doing other things rolling and recording hundreds of rolls with the various dice. Then when I was able to, taking my lists of rolls and making up villains (marking off the rolls as I did so).
Now, I have a series of spreadsheets that I use to do basically the same thing.
Villains that I don't pull from published game material are random, every time. Which could explain why the heroes in my games seem to find it so easy to trounce the bad guys.

Thanks, all.   I was just curious.

I was just "MoSqUiTo" for a little while, too.
:D

Slowing slowing slowing...

*ALL* my rpol V&V games have stopped?

NooOooOoooOooOooo!!!

Hown is this possible?  Some archfiend out there stopping gamers from experiencing joy?!?!?

It's the expected result, the media have hyped everything so much that nothing lives up to its representation. Joy has fled.

Had the last kidlet start school this week. My life should be getting easier now, in theory.  Summer Vay-Cay with both kids + wife home all day = less time to screw around. ;)

I've been trying to think about the rules that would need to be used to make a "street-level" VnV game.

What are your thoughts?

Well, I don't know that "street level" means "weak".  One way would be to restrict people to rolling under SKILLS, DEVICES (and if you want a mystic element, ITEMS and MAGIC/PSIONICS)...

In reply to Shimakaze (msg # 162):

To me a street-level game is Daredevil. Heroes fighting organized crime or gangs. The majority of the enemy are normals with training and weapons rather than trans-dimensional wizards or world-eating meglomaniacs.

Depending on your sources, Daredevil is pretty badass.  I'm a fan of him going back to the 80's (Frank Miller days).

I'm a big fan of the show "Arrow", which is pretty street level - Oliver Queen is a man with martial arts/ninja training and a bow (with some trick arrows, but mostly just pointy ends).

Just not the Ben Afleck version.  Fearful of the Afleck Batman too.

I played a fun street level game.  Just make sure no one gets more than 1 superpower, or just say only devices/items & skills & training.
You could also cap some powers like Flight, Height Speed, cap max action phases per round, etc.

But you have to state your caps *before players roll their chars*, so they have reasonable expectations.

I guess it would depend on what you're thinking when you say 'street level'. If you're thinking mostly dealing with normal criminals, then you would need to reduce the heroes power to keep a proper balance of conflict. In that case a 'street-level' VnV game would require a slight focus change in character creation. I would probably go with a definite number of rolls (I'm thinking four) to be used on the skills, devices, and magic items tables. Then have them roll one random weakness that can be dropped iff one of the powers is also dropped.
Another possibility would be to develop the heroes normally, and run all the scenarios as 'street level' in the power level of the villains and the overall affect of the villainy is lowered. This would mean the challenge to the PC's would come in the form of riddles to solve, moral dilemmas to face, and likable NPC's in pain.
Both of these are 'street level', they just get there in a different fashion.

The son of the player of Earthling 37 requested to join this morning. His father has passed away recently so I have added him under his father's moniker.

Despite the fact that few of us have ever met face to face, we do get to know one another and I just wanted to express my condolences and also welcome Earthling 37 to the board.

o_O

I'm shocked and saddened.  E37 was a great player and I had a lot of fun with him in my game.  My condolences to E37.2.  :(

Pop had what spock had, and it got him thankfully quick. he had been having a lot of trouble. not sure what else to say, but we are all really bummed.

Pop REALLY loved vnv, and i grew up playing. i think id like to carry on with it, if you have any room.

thanks so much for the kind words, i loved hearing pop talk about what games he was in. he new how to breathe life into it.

For whatever it's worth, Earthling-37's character sheet from my game "Days of Infamy"...

Identity:  Earthling 37					Side:	Good		
Name:	Alan Clarke					Gender:	Male		
Experience:	7938					Level:	3	Age:	26
Powers:						Training:	Agility		
Heightened Expertise: +4 to hit with "Arena weapons".	
Flight Device: 100 mph flying pack.									
Heightened Agility A: +14 Agility.									
Heightened Endurance A: +15 Endurance									
Natural Weaponry skill: +2 to hit, +4 damage. Grapple can Inflict HTH dmg until removed on special attack.

Alien gear and weaponry:
ADR 50 Bodysuit	(36/50)								
Sword (HTH+3 D=HTH+1d8, Double damage on Natural 1)	
Ray Pistol (R=Ax10 d=1d12 c=30/clip)									
Shield (ADR=100, One facing Force Sheild, 24 hr. recharge
Mace (HtH+2 D=HTH+1d10, 2d8 Vibratory Carrier Attack on 1 thru 5)
Life Support Unit (Bubble Helmet Field)									

Weight:	225	Basic Hits:		5		Agility Mod:	0
Strength:	15			Endurance:		30	
Agility:	30			Intelligence:		13	
Charisma:	14			React. Mod.:		1	
Hit Mod.	1.4	3.8	1.1	3.1	18.1412	Hit Points:	91
Dmg. Mod.:	4			Healing Rate:		4.5	
Accuracy:	5				Power:	88	
Carrying Capacity:		717		Base HTH Damage: 1d8
Movement Rates:		75	" Running (Base)				
440" Flying							
Det. Hidden:	10		%	Det. Danger:		14	%
Inventing Points:		3.9		Cash: 		 $-   	
Inventing:	39	%					

Origin and Background:			(British) Gladiatorial	
Description:	Costume and personal traits
ditto							
ditto							
Legal Status:		Deputized by local law enforcement
(Sec. Clearance =		0	)				

Other Information:

This message was last edited by the player at 00:54, Wed 08 Apr 2015.

The kickstarter for the 3.0 edition of V&V is now live:

https://www.kickstarter.com/pr...he-mighty-protectors

Anyone who backed the kickstarter should check their inbox for the pre-release PDF of the new rulebook.