...and thus it continues.

And I make my KO roll!  Yay me. :)

No worries man, heroes lose fights, I don't mind at all.  Just wish Vos looked cooler doing it. :D

My apologies to the group for my little pity party in the last OOC thread. I just hate when it doesn't look like people are having fun and things are going lousy. I guess sometimes you have to learn how nasty a power can be by seeing it in action.

Hopefully the dice roller will be a touch more cooperative...with the team that is. I am sure you all wish curses on it for the villains! ;)

Good news!
Oscillator rolled 20 using 1d100 -- Oscillator KO roll 6%.

Not ko'd.

Now let's see if he hits anyone?  :)

Are you kidding! I got to

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
manifest a monkey-headed spectral woman warrior

---

!
How can that not be fun?

OK I will be getting to the actions my three villains then will do an update thread ASAP. At work so be patient please. (Usurper is going to evade/parry but the other 2 will be doing something)

So I want to put several questions out there, in light of some of the last comments about my pity party post in the last OOC thread.

1) How many of those here who have GMed V&V on rpol.net have "fudged" rolls when things are looking dire for the PCs?

2) Regardless of whether one has or has not "fudged" a roll in favor of the players how do people feel about "fudging" rolls?

3) Would people prefer that I play things 100% straight even if the PCs get thoroughly trounced or "fudge" occasionally when things are really grim?

(I am not saying it is there at this point, I am just doing some research around this because people have pretty strong feelings about "fudging" either pro or con...)

In reply to Sword of Damocles (msg # 7):

I have fudged rolls, but never do so against the players and always do it for a story reason.

That said, I do not have any problem with the bad guys putting a beat down on the party. I don't fudge just because the party is losing. Sometimes the good guys lose. Sometimes they deserve to lose.

Most of the times I have fudged -- that I can recall -- have been to reward a player. Nothing worse that a player devising some great strategy or describing some awesome cinematic action only to have it fail because of a die roll that misses by 1 or 2 points. You could say that is not fudging so much as giving players a situational bonus for good role playing, I suppose.

Actually, I will fudge rolls on both sides (players and NPCs), but for different reasons. Usually, I get an idea that some scene, or maneuver, or happenstance, would be really cool, so I fudge a 20 or a 1 to have an excuse to throw my idea in.
Truthfully, the heroes in my game are usually up against half-baked NPC villains, so hardly ever have trouble with winning or losing a fight.
Being as I have created the half-baked NPC's, I can only blame myself.

Still waiting for input from some of the other players on this issue...

Enh, I'd rather lose than have you fudge rolls for us.  Up to you how you wanna handle it, I try to "let the dice fall where they may".

The Inhuman should always hit and all villains should roll 1s against him for to hit and damage.

Otherwise let the dice fall where they may.

Ummm......yeahhhhhhh....nice try. ;)

1) yes, 2) fine, if it makes the game/story better.

3) there are specific rolls I might consider fudging more than others -- a 'last minute save from death', a player throws in an IP and devotes a lot of juice to a 'team saving' action, the one remaining hero tries to get away, etc.

BUT
You can probably do a lot of those choices just by making specific move decisions for NPC's, like not firing a shot on a KO'd hero, not mind controlling the team tank, etc.

BUT
maybe it's best just to be consistent -- if you haven't been fudging, just stick to your guns.  If you have been, that's fine too.

I think you might consider fudging & giving Vosper at least 1 hit before we all die.    :D

I am guessing the delay for the other 3 people who are up in the order is because of the holidays (Easter, Passover, whichever).

And the dice roller love continues. Sorry about the 20 Inhuman.

In reply to Onyx (msg # 16):

No worries I get another attack next turn.

So whilst I am waiting for Vosper's post I am going to put something to the group. Anyone who has read my Rules, House Rules, and Misc. thread noticed that I boosted the base HTH to hit number from 5 to 6. I have occasionally toyed with the idea of bumping it up a bit more to 7. As this impacts both player AND NPC attack rolls I am curious if people are content with it at 6 or if they want to try having 7 as the base HTH number.

re: HTH attack
--> 7 for heroes, 5 for villains?


Most V&V games you can only attack 1 target with 1 attack, but you can use multiple attacks & do 1 vs each target & first miss = *ALL* miss.  (Also costs extra PR.)  Or carrier attacks & special targetting requires 2 attack rolls.

Maybe you have something special worked out w/2 guns?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:15, Mon 21 Apr 2014.

My character will not be using HTH attacks at any point, so I don't feel I have a vote here.

I'm not in favor of melee and weapons villains having an easier time hitting Onyx, but will live with whatever the GM determines.

Might I ask why the felt need to change it?

He doesn't he just wasn't sure if he could do it. Technically by the rules he cannot and allowing someone to double attack a person sets a dangerous precedent. It isn't much of an issue with things like firearms, most of which do about 1d8 damage, but when you have people with HIGH HTH accuracy and HIGH HTH damage it can get out of control damn quick. I think that is why they only wrote about multiple attacks spread over different targets with a "one miss, they all miss" caveat.

I have been talking about it some with Nightmare in PM.

Actually if you have a controlled metal object and you want to hit someone with it you roll as HTH not Magnetic Control, so it does impact you a bit potentially.

Like I said though, I had bumped it to 6 at the start of this game with the possibility to bump it to 7 down the line. I am fine with keeping it where it is, but seeing a lot of the missing going on with HTH I figured to just put the thought out there.

(Also, with both Magnetic and Light defenses, the HTH base drops down to 0 and 2 to hit respectively vs. Onyx)

Yeah, it is just the principle of the thing. Gotta be opposed to anything that might get the foster character hurt.

I think the 'spirit' of V&V is something like...
It's lighthearted, not nec a 1-hit kill game.
Villains get 'death touch', not heroes, for a specific reason.
Combat should last at leats a few rounds
-- unless you're fighting SuperduperscooperflooperMan with a carry cap of 10 bazillion lbs.
:)

To be honest, I wasn't concerned with whether or not Nightmare hit his target.
I just thought it was cool to have him shoot from both hands. Technically, once he gets close enough to someone for an action, he could shoot them twice, in the head, with little chance of missing, unless we have a good mechanic to restrict such things. Not to mention the infamous Heightened Attack that makes leveling up even more dangerous.

@ Nightmare - Might I suggest as a 'power stunt' as you level up, the ability to shoot both guns at one target?  Since it's only 1d8 each, seems reasonable (and pretty cool).

Sorry guys, just got back in from a long weekend away.

Personally, I am fine with a '5' for HTH attacks.  Vosper's inaccuracy isn't her target number, it's the dice roller.  ;)

But as our GM knows, I tend to be a "Rules As Written" kinda GM. ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 04:30, Tue 22 Apr 2014.

I compliment your consistency!  ANOTHER 20?!?!
:D

Actually, I think Nightmare's gonna get a sniper rifle. First, he'll make everybody feel like they don't care. Then while they're sitting around being good targets, the invisable stalker will shoot them in the head.
Can you imagine how much damage an invisible sniper could do? As soon as I get that minimal teleport spell going I'll be a terror.

Oh hush you. :p

Actually though, I have thought a lot about Heightened Attack. Of all the "Heightened" things around combat it is the only one that breaks consistency. Heightened Defense gives -4 to be hit by all attacks, Heightened Expertise gives +4 to hit with a specified amount of weapons/attacks, but Heightened Attack gives +1 to damage per level. For consistency's sake what it *should* do is give a +4 to all damage, putting it in parity with the other 2 Heightened combat powers. I am not saying I am going to change it, but it does make sense to alter it. Since no one is higher than level 4 (ha-ha...) changing it wouldn't impact anyone right now. There is only one player with it (Nightmare) so if there were any changes to it I would negotiate it with him.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:39, Wed 23 Apr 2014.

As a power stunt it *might* be a possibility. It could be done similarly to auto-fire in that you only get the damage bonus on the first bullet but not the second, modeling that you can't aim two weapons equally well with two eyes. You'd still need the two rolls to hit since it is two separate weapons and in this case it would be if one misses both miss like Multiple Attacks in the rules.


Yeah the dice roller has been really hateful to a lot of the party. I think there have been 4 or 5 rolls of a 20 in the two turns of combat and then Vosper with a couple 18's as well. It is almost against the laws of probability but it *is* a program as opposed to actual dice.

Going by the feedback above I will just keep the base HTH to hit roll at 6 instead of bumping it to 7. Just figured I'd throw it out there though, thanks for the input.

Just to let people know, I am back in the work week so I will get the action for Mindwrack done and write a summary post as soon as I can. So please to be patient, then Poco and Amaranth will be up (granted she is just encased in ice freezing...).

Latest update is up, Poco goes then Singularity, then Oscillator, and finally a trio of Soviets to finish off the turn.

If it's a 'power stunt', you could theoretically let either attack miss and the other still have a chance of hitting.  No reason NOT to, except that other 'multiple attacks' don't work that way.


People, before you roll your ACTUAL ROLL, type "faking dice roller" on the roll and roll once just to get rid of those cursed 20's!!!  :D

No idea if that'll work -- shouldn't, really -- but at least Vosper should be trying it!  HA

Man.....it has been a SLOW day today and precious little has been going on in any of the V&V games. I have to say the lack of discussion was driving me a bit batty today.

Actually, I was thinking of training the ability to 'grab' things with the whip. But several other ideas popped into my head so I'm still thinking about it.

I *think* you would already be able to try and grab things with the whip. Just like trying to get a hold on a target with your hands it would require a special attack (2 successful rolls to hit) to achieve.

I am not sure where Poco has been and I would prefer not to NPC him in this instance. He has been wanting to hit Usurper but is aware of Backlash's willingness to take a hit for her. Likewise he knows if he tries to hit Backlash it would have the same effect. He could I suppose try and hit Mindwrack who tried to hurt him last turn or I could hold his action to at least let Singularity and Oscillator go. I hope everything is OK with Poco's player, he usually isn't away for this long.

Does Backlash have a held action?

The whole reason Onyx attacked him was because he had used his action to attack, which meant he could not absorb a hit.

If Poco is aware of this, then that means an attack on either Usurper or Backlash would not be absorbed.

Backlash still has his held action plus his last action of the turn coming up. So he is still able to use that held action to absorb an attack and will still be able to act as well. Yes he took the chance taking the damage from your hit, but he knows what Poco can do and that Poco has been targeting Usurper so he has his focus.

Did not notice the held action at the top of the order.

Also forgot that you don't have to expend a held action before taking your next phase. I think in my mind you have to use a held action before your next phase -- even though the rules do not have that requirement.

When Backlash made the attack, I figured that meant he had no held action.

So, at one point does he have to use that held action. Onyx attacked him. If he had rolled more damage, could Backlash have decided to absorb it instead of take the hit?

Or did he have to decide to absorb before the damage was rolled?

I don't believe there is any sequence in which you need to use your held actions (will have to look when I get a chance) other than needing to use it by the end of the turn or it goes *poof*.

For your other question it is much easier to look at in a tabletop situation because you have to make a decision in the moment where in PbP unless the person states "I am attacking so and so" you don't know what is being done and therefore the absorption can appear retroactive. Technically he would need to choose to absorb your attack before the damage is rolled but as people tend to do attacks and damage in the same post that is hard to do.

Now, the Soviet team *does* have intel on your team (as you have intel on *some* of them) and from their observations of Poco's ferocity and general accuracy he is the larger threat over Onyx (Poco averages 21 damage vs. Onyx's 13 damage per hit). Therefore Backlash took the chance on letting your attack hit him (even if you had rolled higher damage).

In a nutshell, people need to trust that I am not playing fast and loose with them and the rules. I hope that people *do* trust me as the GM because if not what would be the point of playing. :p

On a related note, I edited the most recent initiative order so it is clear Backlash still has a held action.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:55, Thu 24 Apr 2014.

I have never had any issues with your GMing.  Your incessant rules tinkering makes my head spin sometimes, but that's not a complaint, just a smartass comment. :)

Consider Vosper to have hemmorhoids with the Heightened Speed modifier. ;)

Did not mean to imply lack of trust.

Just trying to understand.

Sorry if I came across otherwise.

You are correct on not needing to use held actions in order. That was my bad memory.

In reply to Onyx (msg # 46):

No need to apologize, I know it is tricky in a PbP because it would be easy to cheat things in favor of the NPCs (or PCs) whereas in a tabletop game everything moves a lot quicker with live interaction. The whole held action-absorb damage thing can be easy to abuse so I understand a little curiousity around the process.

In reply to Sword of Damocles (msg # 45):

That must be why she always misses.  :D

If Poco doesn't appear and post by tomorrow AM, I will mark him as holding so that at least Singularity and Oscillator can go. (Of course Oscillator has not been on since Tuesday himself...heh)
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:00, Fri 25 Apr 2014.

I am here, friends.   Don't go without me.

Will post momentary, once I read the IC thread of events.

Hmmmm....we could end up with the hold action-a-thon, potentially with two people losing their actions as the turn ends.

Don't mind me ...just standing there
 lol

In reply to The Inhuman (msg # 52):

Don't worry, I have something for Inhuman, standing out there all by his lonesome. ;)

He will be just be standing there. Need to get that agility up to 15 lol

In reply to Master Sgt Patrick Muldoon (msg # 54):

Hell even a 14 would help, then he would get 2 actions on any roll but a one.

Well shit, we managed to locate Poco but now Oscillator is lost in the wilderness...

If Oscillator doesn't post by tonite I will post for him so we can move on.

Sorry, but I've returned from the wilderness!
But I've only got a loincloth on...

---

Hold the train a sec, there...

Aren't I supposed to wait for AFTER Singularity takes an action?
AHA!!!
This message was last edited by the player at 01:50, Sun 27 Apr 2014.

Actually he is holding, which I forgot to post.....d'oh!

@Sword of Damocles -- have discovered your Achilles Heel w/this tactic ...  Everyine holding actions really screws up rpol flow.
Particularly now that we know absorbers can steal hits.

In other words, Osc holds his action. I dont think the earlier evade will matter, additionally being able to 'fly thru' material (incl organic) still could allow him to block an attack... Just like the bad guy!!!

In reply to Oscillator (msg # 60):

The early evade doesn't matter if you are choosing to take a hit, but you *do* have to drop your Vibratory Defense or the attack may well just pass through. You can drop a power that doesn't take movement or an action to drop at any time, even out of phase, but you have to use the appropriate move or action to re-activate it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:44, Sun 27 Apr 2014.

Onyx has a bullet proof vest? I don't see that on his sheet. How exactly does it work?

Yes he does, I looked WAY back to the beginning of the game. His player must have forgotten to write it down. The sheet has been updated to reflect the vest.

Bulletproof Vest: Allows you to roll with 2x the damage to power from bullets and 1.5x the damage from other kinetic attacks (punches, knives, etc.). It also allows you to roll with 1 additional point of non-kinetic damage.

Just wanted to say, if people know they are going to be away and unable to post for several days please let me know. I will NPC characters briefly if needed to keep the flow of combat moving. I know, I have been a big delay on the game as well but have been trying to keep this combat flowing quickly for a change.

Glad to have that re-post.  That didn't make it onto Osc's sheet either (until 1 min ago).  Also updated Vib Powers (from PM discussion).

And wrote in what he's training for if/when we get EXP.  (I'm an optimist!!!)

I was just considering that I should have Osc tell someone to hit him or shoot him on the team each combat...  Just didn't wanna get bad karma from draining from a hero.

If it had been discussed ahead of time, I could have Nightmare shoot Usurper with one pistol and Oscillator with the other. But at this point in the game it wouldn't make sense for him to do that.
I believe I'm aware as to the identity of 'Manifestation' but it wouldn't be right to give it away OOC.

Yeah, don't worry about Manifestation, it is on your side but nothing anyone else can see.

So I am updating the original turn posting for actions since it has been team/enemy/team/enemy so far. Once I have a couple team actions in a row I will do a new post with a summary.

Yeah, I finally hit something, I want a description of how little I actually hurt the villain! :)

A really graphic and bloodthirsty description of how little she hurt him, please.

I will do an update post after Nightmare and Singularity go as there are finally two team members going back-to-back.

Poco looks like he's getting close to down. A few others of us are down in the range were a single one of those +18 hits from Backlash would take us out.

Who on their side looks hurt -- other than Usurper?

Well, Mindwrack is looking pretty battered and Backlash is looking about as good as Poco is (ie. battered and bleeding). Singularity and Firefrost appear to be untouched while Usurper was knocked out and vanished.

Should we be helping Amaranth to break out? If so, do I have to roll to hit the ice with a power blast?

Yes, but you would only miss on a 20. Amaranth does regenerate automatically between turns and can force a regeneration as well so she isn't doing as bad as any of you would be. I just wanted to remind people that she *is* still encased in ice.

At this point the most efficient thing to do is attack the members of the Soviet team, especially with everyone's power scores starting to dip lower.

Since I am new, I do not know her powers. I did not know if she might bring enough beef to the fight to help us out.

Is she close enough to anyone of the enemies that Onyx could do a double attack on her ice and one of the bad guys?

In reply to Onyx (msg # 77):

Don't worry about it, Vosper's dart attack did enough damage past ice's structural rating to fracture the ice and have it all fall off of her. :)

And yes, Amaranth has one particular power that could be very useful against Firefrost if she rolls well enough to hit him.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:48, Tue 29 Apr 2014.

I figured I might as well do something useful with my action, instead of throwing darts into thin air. ;)

Does Firefrost have ice armor?

Hey.....you DID hit Backlash last time, just didn't roll great damage. :)

To Onyx: Yes, he is completely encased in ice armor with a flame aura outside.

Maybe Inhuman should free her, that way he can claim he did something useful during this fight.

In reply to The Inhuman (msg # 82):

Vosper was able to free Amaranth so she is set. Waiting on Onyx to go.

I am wrestling with what to do with Mindwrack's action. She is decent with melee but not nearly as capable as her psistorm. She is damn close to being out of the fight but she is up. Logically she would go after the person who has done the most damage to the Soviet team (Poco) but he has taken a lot of damage already and Backlash is still going too.

So Oscillator is holding his action. I kind of need to know *what* he is holding his action for so I don't roll an attack and damage then a full post and have to pull it. Mindwrack *is* up and she has proven dangerous with her psistorm. I know people are concerned about Backlash's held action and I won't say without good reason. That said the Soviets have definitely seen that Oscillator can absorb kinetic damage and there are two of the villains who can throw out damage that *isn't* kinetic.

So again just trying to get an idea of what Oscillator is planning.

Will post.  Holding actions does not make the game faster.

I do have an idea, namely -- if we (or the baddies) hold our actions, we type in PM what we are thinking, and then the post what we wrote -- just so things don't slow down?

In reply to Oscillator (msg # 86):

That makes sense, however I think people know why Backlash is holding his action. :)

So the threat of Absorb is a new form of Invulnerabilty?  HA

Well, in its own way it sort of is. Again though, every action you hold to absorb is one less action to do anything else in the turn so it is a balancing act.

On another note I see the dice roller is up to its tricks again...

Every Absorber has only certain types of damage they can absorb, usually.  So Onyx might be effective... or Osc...?

Backlash is an PC from one of GM Bones's games that I brought in here and made into a villain. He only had 3 powers after dropping the weakness and only 2 of those powers could be bumped up to compensate, thus the nasty absorption.

In reply to Sword of Damocles (msg # 91)

Can the inhuman using stretching to either reach down to the ground and thus decrease the height of his fall or form a parachute type shape or can he form a ball and bounce?

You could try to do a one-shot stunt since you have never done this before. Make your inventing roll and if you succeed it costs 1 invention point. This would be a one-time thing although you could later research it as a ongoing stunt.

One thing I will let you know, the fall really isn't going to damage you much at all because the final damage is divided by your limited Invulnerability. Without it at your weight it would be about 120 points of damage, with it you are looking at about 30 points of damage; 8 of those you can roll into power taking 22 off your hit points, not even 1/10th. You'd barely be scratched compared to pretty much everyone else in the group taking that fall.

What about the unconsciousness roll, though?

Just a point of order. Backlash cannot absorb any attacks right now. If people can hit him, his other defenses are the only thing that will help him.

The inhuman will take my lumps

Just to continue griping, if Osc holds his action & Backlash do also, why should Osc make a move first?  I could've rolled my 20 and missed while shooting at an expended absorbing Backlash!!!

Oh... well, I guess that wouldn't have mattered then, would it?  Meh.

I get to act before the end of the round. maybe I can hit someone :)

If I don't get KOed. :O

This is 100% correct plus the damage he absorbed from Mindwrack's hit was on the pitiful side.

Another nice hit from Poco, with the teamwork of putting damage on her Mindwrack is out. Two down, three to go.

How far up are the flying characters?

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 101):

About 20 inches or so off the ground (figure between 15" and 20") so well within range of a firearm attack with no penalties.

The damn guy is made of rubber.  What are we worried about?
That he's going to going bouncing around the valley for the next 10min knocking is all over like skittles?

How much does Inhuman weigh?

Could Onyx catch him in the air?

Does a 14 hit for Backlash for Inhuman?

Yeah kinda this, without the bouncing around so much part.

That said Inhuman weighs 950 lbs, a couple pounds over Onyx's CC. The problem is with 3 phases of fall left Onyx wouldn't have enough time to get to him, get under him, and counterthrust without risking getting squished under him. Because there were 43 initiative phases in the turn, each one is worth 1/3 of a second so Onyx would only have effectively 1 second to do all that. Inhuman is only going to take about 30 points of damage because of his limited invulnerability. Onyx on the other hand would have a 950 lb object falling at 23 mph landing on top of him. It doesn't sound like much, but a car moving at 10 mph can do a LOT of damage to a person. (I also just checked the rules and the catcher's CC must *exceed* the weight of the falling object so it is kind of moot anyhow)

And for Inhuman, no a 14 does not hit Backlash. He is difficult to hit with his Willpower defense, what people need to remember to do is coordinate actions so that targets have to choose who to let flank them or get behind them. Inhuman's damage is a major threat so it is likely none of them will take his attack from behind, but he could still set up someone else which is equally valuable (even if it doesn't feel like it).

Maybe I will land on a villain.

In reply to Sword of Damocles (msg # 106):

Does sound moot, although I'm not sure catching is the same as basically grabbing him in the air and flying with him. The plan was not to get under him.

As for movement, Onyx has something like 225" of movement a turn and can use up to all of it in a single phase, so I'm not sure why it should matter how may phases are left in the turn.

But, like you say, moot point. He is heavier than Onyx can carry.

Thanks Poco -- I love the idea of Inhuman 'boing boing'-ing his way around the battle field.  Sounds like a definite power stunt!!!

@GM -- I'm waiting on Singularity, I think.

What baddies are left?

Can Osc vibra-shatter that ice?  Seems like it should be very straightforward?

Uh, anyone need a healing potion, btw?  Anyone know Osc had invented those (based on Voser's blood)?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:26, Fri 02 May 2014.

In reply to Oscillator (msg # 109):

Yes you are, I am trying to figure out what he is going to do. :|

Well, Vosper took major damage from that mind whammy and can't regenerate mental/psionic damage.  But since your potion is based on her blood, I doubt it would help?

In reply to Vosper (msg # 111):

Actually it would since it is *derived* from your blood, especially since it does cost 2 PR per turn of Regeneration because you are forcing Regeneration in someone who doesn't usually do so (or in Vosper's case regenerating damage she normally *can't* regenerate).

20:31, Today: The Inhuman rolled 42 using 1d100 with rolls of 42. KO. vs lasar


20:31, Today: The Inhuman rolled 44 using 1d100 with rolls of 44. KO. vs fall

If I had Inhuman's hit points, I am not sure I would always roll with the punch. Power is his more precious resource. The only thing that mitigates that is the ko roll.

Yeah. But with his slow speed and HtH attacks he does not burn much power. But if I get too low on power I'll have to start eating more hit points.

Since I cant hit anyone at least I can eat some attacks.

What you need is a lamp post lying around so you can whack people with that.

In reply to Onyx (msg # 116):

That was my thought when I created him, but all our fights have been set pieces with nothing around to throw or swing.

Inhuman, one of the reasons I suggested you take +1 to hit with HTH at level 2 is because of your lower chance to hit. The extra d10 of damage is well and good but an extra 5% chance to hit IMO is better (the extra d10 is on average 5.5 damage). Even hitting something with an object you have to find an almost 4000 lb. object to get a better bonus to hit than your "natural weaponry" stunt.

Oscillator, you can distribute CRIT potions to 2 people (movement) and still be able to use an action to either take one yourself (recommended) or do something else. I would suggest Nightmare and Vosper 1st since aside from you they are the most injured. I was thinking too that the CRIT potions instead of using the person's healing rate could do a flat 2 HP per turn regeneration at a cost of 1 PR per turn since it is only a temporary regeneration.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:03, Sat 03 May 2014.

I'd suggest giving them to Poco.  He's our "main man" in this fight.  Vosper hasn't done anything of note and the villains are mostly ignoring her because she's no threat.

In reply to Vosper (msg # 119):

All it would take is for her to start hitting and Poco is still doing OK comparatively. If Oscillator wants to give one to Poco he should hold until after Backlash acts. Also, you can only use 1 potion per 10 turn period and even using a 2nd one after that could have potential risks.

Interesting. Would it require an action to be spent 'injecting' the serum by those that receive it? Should we make the intelligence save (as for assisting another to wake up) when using the serum?

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 121):

It does take an action, either to inject into yourself or someone else. You don't have to make any kind of attribute check to use the serum when you or the target is conscious.

Since Poco was likely to be hurting, I used Oscillator's action to inject him at the end of his move after dropping off CRIT potions to 2 other team members.

Also, I will be getting a new initiative order up for the new turn soon.

I'd say he'd give to Poco & Vosper & then anyone/everyone -- himself last.
He IS a superhero, after all.  Ha

Are those katars made of metal?

Is it a special attack to grab one magnetically?

The katars are absolutely made of metal. I had only had Onyx try that once before on a rifle and I did not have him roll a special attack. I am not sure if it requires one because you are going for a piece of metal but I guess for now I will say it doesn't. He DOES have 2 of them so you would need to make 2 successful attacks and he gets an adjusted STR save to try and hold onto them if you succeed. If either attack misses they both do and it would cost you 6 PR to try it; 2 PR per grab plus 2 PR for the additional attack as per the Multiple Attack rules.

Before I waste my time, what is the strength save look like?

Onyx can lift 3,500 pounds, so if he holds on to the things I'm more than happy to lift him off the ground

Since your magnetic capacity is quite a bit higher than his carrying capacity it would be a d20 save vs. STR using my adapted save rules. He would have a -8 penalty to the base roll because it is similar to the old d100 vs. Attribute save.

Saving power by one attack, but nat 20'ed. On phone, do will post something ic later.

So what does the healing potion do again, exactly?

Props on that move.  Love it.  You might also look for metal belt buckles, metal plated armor, devices, etc.  :D


What, no trust?!?!?   :D

"causes a limited REGENERATION power: Regeneration for 10 turns per dose, costs 1 PR per turn."  GM just ruled (or is considering?!?!) regen gives back 2HP per turn...?

Not sure if it'll make HUGE dif in this combat, but if it saves ONE of us.

It was actually my attempt to bypass us having to wait 1-2 months in between combats for someone to heal.  I mean, I'm fine with field use, but it doesn't give back much HP really -- uh, but for Osc & 'more normal' HP folks, it could be quite a lot.

Normally Vos would just rely on her own Regen, but Mindwrack's nastiness is something she can't heal from on her own.

Did that have ANY in-game effect?  Seems like it'd be a good technique in the desert...?

So ... saving my action was irrelevant? And he's still got the upper hand?

In the interest of just getting this all over with Backlash is going to use his regular action to try and attack Poco. If you want to counter using your held action go ahead, I won't allow him to use *his* held action. Regardless of whether you hit or not he will still have his regular action and his held action to use (ie. you can't make someone waste an action by interrupting them since the action doesn't happen until after the interrupting action).

Also, I adjusted Poco's HP and power. The CRIT regeneration happens between turns and I had already given him his 2 hp and subtracted 1 power between the last turn and this one.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:46, Tue 06 May 2014.

Ok.

did i miss?

Yep.....the HTH base is 6, +1 for your accuracy, +3 for natural weapon stunt makes your base to hit a 10 or less. That is before level adjustment and any other defenses.

I think Inhuman could get +1 to hit for using Vosper as a club... it's one way she could do damage to the enemy. ;)

Except his natural weapon stunt gives him a +3 to hit, with her it would only be +1. :)

So Vosper really IS useless, then. :(

Oh well.

In reply to Vosper (msg # 141):

Me too. Lol

This *HAS* to be flawed.

If someone (A) has a saved action AND it's their action,
and someone else (B) expends their saved action to interrupt,
AND there is a rule that you can only use 1 action in a turn, guess what?
Aborting your action *IS* using your action.
Therefore you have to wait until at least the next phase to act.

Confusing 'hold action' logic --> solved.

I'd say that earns me a bonus 100 exp!  What do you think?   :)

Once he declares an attack isn't that an action?

Otherwise you are going to encourage high agility characters to just stockpile actions and then use them all on the last couple phases of the turn.

Character A: I attack C.

Character B: I interrupt your attack with my delayed action.

Character A: Well, I abort my attack on C and use my delayed action to zap Character B before he can attack me.

Character B: Then I abort my first attack and use my second delayed action to abort his attack on me.

and so on.

@ Onyx -- hey, don't try to steal my 100 exp!  heh heh

I think this would *suck* in a F2F game, but at least it wouldn't take up weeks/months of game time.  But in play-by-post games, this could take forever!

I really liked in another game where a character held an action AND in the post said, 'When so and so does this, I will shoot'.  That lets the GM post when the action happens, if it happens...

Yes that makes sense Oscillator, to declare *what* the action is you are choosing to interrupt.

The above mentioned concern is moot since I am just letting Poco do his interrupt just to keep the game moving, Backlash can always have a team mate power him up. :p

Ultimately though you can't cause someone to *lose* an action if you interrupt it, only delay it until right after yours. So in this case if Poco attacks then Backlash can retaliate if he wants and will still have another action to use in the next phase (or hold or whatever).

I think Poco is trying to figure out just *what* he is going to do however. I am not doing anything with Backlash until I know what Poco is doing because I don't want to roll an action then have to retcon it. I have let Poco know that Backlash *does* intend to attack him so he can decide if he wants to interrupt in the hopes of knocking Backlash out with damage.

BTW, Oscillator I will be deleting your post in the IC thread because it really isn't IC appropriate.

I think the character with the action saved from higher initiative should go first

So if a character is holding an action from 35 and one from 20 and another character is holding a 31, the character can take his 35 before the 31, then the 311 acts if not the character holding the action from 20 can go.

In reply to Master Sgt Patrick Muldoon (msg # 147):

That was actually my thought process, but where it breaks down is when the higher initiative hold character wants to use the held action to absorb an attack and the next person in hold just keeps holding until the first one attacks. At that point the second person can use their held action to interrupt the first person but if the first person still has the held attack then what?

Yeah, too much mental mathematics so I just said fuck it and decided to just have him go so Poco can interrupt his attack if he wants. Otherwise it is just blah, blah, blah and potentially a flurry of held attacks before the end of the turn.

Not sure it 'breaks down', it's clear to me.
THEN ... they can act AFTER the interrupt with their standard action,
AND they can act with their held action on the following phase (or whenever).

I think it's weirder when it's characters A, B, C, and D.
In this scenario, held actions get really confusing!

You might consider an 'RPOL specific rules-tweak' like, "you may only keep one held action"...?

Sorry, didn't mean to post to wrong thread.
Was it my link to youtube?!?!  I'd meant to put that in OOC.  Woops!
REPOSTING

---

For any Game of Thrones fans, this version of the theme song has wife & me cracking up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHlzIgSvnYc

There's a ringtone link at the top --
I'm using it for alerts for when to go to work, makes me laugh every time.

Not like that can actually happen.  He had a saved; so he'll just absorb any damage I do, and use it in retaliation.

So: let's just go do that, eh.

I do feel bad here, the dice roller has been absolute shit to the party when they need it most. Honestly a few points difference in a roll here or there would have made a HUGE difference. But, people would prefer I not fudge and let the dice fall where they may.....and unfortunately they have.

In reply to Sword of Damocles (msg # 151):

No worries

Nice shooting from both Onyx and Vosper, then the dice-roller turns on the villains for the moment. The group is in the fray still, battered but willing!

Our luck had to change sometime! ;)

Glad I get to get some of that good luck!!!  Wonder if Osc's shot bypasses Firefrost's armor?
:)

Unfortunately, no.

Today: Sword of Damocles rolled 44 using 1d100 with rolls of 44. Firefrost armor roll (vs. 90%).

If we every hope to take Firefrost down, we're going to need to focus fire to get through that armor before he can grow it back.

Yup, and unless Inhuman hits him (which is difficult as hell because of both Ice and Flame Defense as well as the level bonus) he easily has enough pro-rated movement left to regrow what has been chipped off right now.

If we hope to take Firefrost down, we need to coordinate and all hit him in rapid succession so his armor goes down before he can regrow it...

...and the dice roller swings back in favor of the Russians, sorry folks. Those who were KO'ed all have PMs with some information.

Did you post the outcome of the hits on Singularity. Do we have any sense about whether we hurt him? Or hit him?

My apologies, edited his post. There were 2 KO rolls for him in the dice roller but I posted a bit about the damage now. You two definitely hurt him.

@Sword of Damocles:
As I pm'd:
Dice are one thing, but landing the KO blow by melee-hitting a flyer from a non-flying land-based tank is totally different.

Feeling *VERY* frustrated w/this call.

Would Osc fly at ground level?!?!?  Would he intentionally expose himself to both attackers?!?!?

I'm stupefied by this round!!!
(And KO'd)

And this right here is EXACTLY why it is important for people to state HOW MUCH movement they are using. This is doubly important for a FLYER so that the GM who is NOT capable of reading minds knows the exact positioning of people. It really helps me with my ability to determine who is attacking who and just how they do it.

I think people can agree that this statement of intent: "Oscillator flies up thru the ground, takes in the scene, and blasts Firefrost (in the back, ideally, possibly as a surprise attack?)." really doesn't give me much to work with.

So I need to know just how high off the ground Onyx and Oscillator are, remembering that being KO'ed high enough off the ground can flat-out kill you with the falling damage. Both Firefrost and Singularity are probably around 10-15" up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:42, Fri 09 May 2014.

They'd have to be at least 13' up, as Eddy can jump 12' up, with a run up.
And you did tell me, when I asked, that Eddy couldn't reach them.

They are 10 to 15 inches up, not feet, so they are from 50 to 75 feet in the air (probably closer to the 50 feet at this point).

Ahhh.   These VnV measurements always confuse me.
Not to mention the lack of 'Imperial' understanding.

Onyx is 30 to 40 feet off the ground (6-8"). Has been the whole fight.

Sorry to make a stink.
I thought it was clear that Osc would fly into earth & then upwards into sky.  Hovering during combat with land-based tanks would have been off my list of moves -- better to stay vibrating thru the ground than to be a target at land level.

I think I would have reacted better if you just calmly asked "Hey man, how could he have attacked me I was high in the air".

Also, I do still need to know how high in the air you are. As Onyx said he is about 6-8" off the ground, a good height to avoid instadeath if you fall to the ground unconscious.

Have no idea how high firefrost was or dist for range or remaining move, but I'll say --

Within range to shoot FF
Out of range of BL

Firefrost as I said is about 10" off the ground and hovering roughly around the main melee battle zone where Backlash and Poco had been squaring off. So once more please, how far off the ground and from Firefrost are you?

Sorry I wasnt calm enough after getting KO'd.  Will try to be calmer in future.

U said 'Onyx is about 6-8" off the ground, a good height to avoid instadeath if you fall to the ground unconscious.'
Whatever the shooting range to Firefrost is, and high above melee reach.
Sorry I can't throw out a number.

I am just waiting to hear back from Oscillator in PM before I post the initiative order for Turn 5.

Grimly, Nightmare says, "What's the point, anyway? None of us are going to gain by this."
Then he unleashes the angst within him.

OOC: Unleashes Emotion Control, spent 8 PR, made a to hit roll (necessity unknown)

PM complete

Yes, it was received. It is still Oscillator's action in the game though. :)

@ Sword of Damocles -- uncertain where Osc is?  Was the post changed?  Did we go back from Osc popping up out of the ground, or is this after the attack from Backlash?

Sorry I got lost...

Backlash hit you with the power blast, knocking you out. You were teleported back to the operatives and guides and Poco fed you a CRIT potion. You were given the option to return and you did, being teleported up in the air as you restarted your flight before returning. (This was all at the top of this new turn)

Just look a few posts up, I posted the new initiative order for Turn 5.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:39, Mon 12 May 2014.

Ah.
Ok.
I nissed.  Next?

Inhuman does not have the stretch to reach Singularity as he accelerated straight up many phases back. (9 phases back)
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:56, Mon 12 May 2014.

*missed, that is.  HA HA

(No idea what nissed means.)

Nissed - disrespect someone by calling them a 'Nancy-boy'

Shooting Backlash & missing might be a good strategy!  HA HA

Where's Vosper?
;)
(She'll probably get 20x hits on Backlash!)

I played a Champions character named Bow Bro once when I was a kid. It was a 70's themed game. Pretty fun.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:53, Tue 13 May 2014.

You guys really have been hosed by the dice roller in this combat.

Here are the dice rolls that missed and were well above 10: 19, 13, 15, 15, 14, 19, 18, 14, 20, 15, 14, 16, 17, 15, 20, 13, 18, 15 (18 rolls)

Successful rolls since 4/28: 5, 6, 9, 5, 6, 1, 7, 7, 7, 7, 12, 2, 10, 5 (13 rolls)

Statistically there is a 50% chance of rolling 10 or less on 1d20, and the group is at about 42% (I may have missed counting a few misses that were around 10 or 11 so it may be lower still).

Hate, hate, hate the dice roller.

In reply to Sword of Damocles (msg # 186): did I hit last attack

In reply to The Inhuman (msg # 188):

Please see post #369 in the IC thread where I provided that information. :)

So my 39 point attack did not get through his armor. :( Hopefully someone else can hit him this round

Oh yeah, I did say we should all focus on him. What am I doing holding fire for Singularity then?

I don't know, would you like to change your attack since Singularity is actually nowhere near you yet? :)

Firefrost has taken 50 points or so, yes?

On his phase, he'll get to regrow armor if he has movement, so if we don't hit him now, we might not get the chance. Of course, we could just waste our shots by bouncing off.

What do you think, Osc?

He has not moved of any significance this turn, basically just hovering in the air trying to keep his eyes on all comers. He blew off Inhuman because he hadn't hit anything so I gave Inhuman the rear attack (otherwise he wouldn't have hit) and now he has Firefrost's attention.

Onyx is going to wait to trade fire with Singularity. It will be very cinematic to have them both unleash at once.

I posted a move, not sure if it'll work bc of distance factor.
But Osc has a lot of move...?
Just checking -- although I think I missed anyway.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:04, Wed 14 May 2014.

The distance isn't an issue because Oscillator is not *that* far from Firefrost. Unfortunately the attack with the HART missed, even if you attacked from behind with his level adjustment a 16 misses. The curse of the dice roller continues.

Not sure I'd want to stick my HAART in his behind.
:)

By the way, I never offered this as an option and it just dawned on me: Onyx could certainly be re-imagined as far as a background goes. So Bones, if you *wanted* to keep Onyx and to rewrite him to your specifics that would be fine. He could also be open to someone else to pick up if they want to swap out their character.

Thank you. I might think about that option.

The Onyx comic book maybe just got a new writer. :)

Thud :(

That dice roller just hates us.

Never even got to do a hit point of damage. My only hit was either going to be against the guy with ice armor or absorption.

It really really does. I know this has seemed like an fight you couldn't win but honestly even 3 or 4 more successful hits and the group is only facing Firefrost. He is really only tough because of his armor, ice and fire attacks don't do a ton of damage and are power-intensive compared to Power Blast and Light Control.

Muldoon/Inhuman does get a wake-up roll on his first action phase next turn (yes, I roll initiative for an unconscious character) and people can spend their actions to give him an extra chance to wake-up for each person that spends an action.

How many actions does Vosper have?

Operation, wake up Sgt. Muldoon.

Heh.....Vosper always has at least 3 actions and sometimes 4. :)

BTW, I don't know if you are even interested Inhuman/Muldoon, but if you want you can roll up a new character after this mission. Inhuman is a bag of hit points and can do a boat-ton of damage but he has to *hit*. I bet you would trade a couple d10s of damage for another +4 or so to hit. He does also have that change into other human forms ability, but that is generally not helpful in a combat situation.

Anyhow, I am just putting that out there.

So Vosper starts out with *two* actions. What is she going to do? She could attack Backlash twice and see if she can take him out before he can save an action. She could even attack twice and take off with her movement so Backlash can't possibly reach her to counterattack (although depending on how far she goes Firefrost could but he doesn't go for a while).

Just saying. :)
This message was last updated by the GM at 22:46, Wed 14 May 2014.

Vosper throws her dart twice and misses!

Or, you know, I could wake up Muldoon. ;)  Does he have a decent wakey-wakey roll?

Inhuman needs a 4 or less on 1d20 but if you make an Int save at -2 from my table you would give him a +2 to that save.

You could always try throwing one dart and see what happens from there.

In reply to Sword of Damocles (msg # 210):
does he teleport away?

He doesn't because unlike everyone else so far he is just KO'ed due to shock/pain not due to hitting zero hit points. He can be revived much quicker than those people. People who are in danger of possibly dying have been teleported away.

In reply to Sword of Damocles (msg # 212):

Cool

Vosper dashed, doing her distorting spin, and tried to wake up Inhuman.  She tried to make an Int save, but was too stupid.

16:50, Today: Vosper rolled 14 using 1d20 with rolls of 14. Int Save. Duhr...

"Get up, mate, I can't hit shite and these blokes are walkin' all over us!" she urged.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:52, Wed 14 May 2014.

He still gets a wake-up roll, just without the +2.

Well I'll see if he makes the roll before I try again.

Think of it THIS way, Vosp -- if b you DID wake him, u might get attached to your character being effective at something.
Ha Ha

May be stuck in a meeting, here are a couple rolls so no one has to wait on me

17:36, Today: The Inhuman rolled 1 using 1d20 with rolls of 1.

17:36, Today: The Inhuman rolled 9 using 1d20 with rolls of 9.

"Thank bloody Cor," Vos exclaimed as Inhuman roused on her first attempt.

(OOC: Hold action for 2nd action.)

Since they act in the same phase Nightmare and Oscillator can force Backlash into flanking. Unfortunately even if Onyx does hold to coordinate Backlash would be able to put someone at his front but at least 2 people can get flanking.

Nightmare had a plan, mostly waiting for the number of minds to affect to thin out. Sorry about the co-ordinating thing.

On phone, so can't do ic post. Rolled five dice for attack on Backlash. Will be back online Sunday.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:03, Sun 18 May 2014.

GM who is KOed?

I'm KO'd again.  :)

From 'rules discussion' in VnV Heroes Unite : Villains & Vigilantes Community game:

Was talking about Fastball Special move:

In the game I'm in, we have a cat-hero would is superstrong and a rubber hero who is superstrong, and both have special abilities related to falling.  So maybe they could throw eachother, or better yet throw a flyer or similar...?

*Actually, Oscillator can absorb kinetic damage, so theoretically Osc could hold an action and be thrown into a bunch of villains, dishing out damage AND absorbing the damage he takes!!*

Hey, this sounds like a cool strategic move for future...!

Turn number 7.....I am thinking one way or another this battle is just about done.

Just so people are aware, everyone *is* conscious although some are hanging onto consciousness by a thread. So people can feel free to dialogue a bit. Something *is* about to happen but I just want everyone to get a chance to touch base about the battle.

I will give people until Friday to talk back-and-forth or even comment at all then I will just move things forward to the climax of the mission.

So when I said that Oscillator was healed with no scars I meant no scars from the wounds he took in the battle, not a healing of all old scars and conditions like needing eyeglasses and such. I just wanted to mention that. :)

In reply to Sword of Damocles (msg # 229): thanks for the clarification.

@ Sword of Damocles
-- Awww, c'mon, it was just a 'player inspired' expansion on the idea.  And why not?  Cellular regeneration would likely heal a person back to an 'ideal genetic state', not to what they were like just before a battle.

Regardless, Osc has now ditched his glasses & will not be wearing them again.

(I thought it was a fun angle on the sarcophagus maneuver.)

I know Onyx is away until next week and I run Amaranth, but I was wondering if people wanted me to wrap up this mission somewhat concisely so we can move on? I was opening it up for some RPing and such but if people would prefer to just quick-time it I can certainly do that. I don't want to stretch things out if people aren't interested in doing so. (I was just noticing the combat ended about 1.5 weeks ago and not a lot has happened since then so I figured I'd ask if people were bored and wanted to go to the next phase)
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:28, Wed 28 May 2014.

Really not in any hurry, was just looking for something to respond to, besides people taking a dip in the transmogrifier. ;)

I don't know what you have planned for our 'gift' from Ramses-dude.

But here is an idea:       {PM to GM; feel free to un-PM it if you are happy for the other PCs to see my suggestion}

I am curious to hear about the reward and what else our host has to say.

So in having a discussion in PM with one of the players I took a look at everyone's character. I noticed that everyone has 1 stat that is within 2 points of the next bonus level. I am thinking about possibly allowing a one-time augment via Ramesses's technology to grant each character that 2 point stat boost. For each character that would at the least boost their hit points/power/movement and possibly initiative as well. The analysis shows that stats would be boosted as follows: Nightmare (+2 Str), Onyx (+2 End), Oscillator (+2 End), Poco (+2 Str), The Inhuman (+2 Agi), and Vosper (+2 End). What do people think about this?

(I am planning on retiring Amaranth at the end of the mission)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:05, Sun 01 June 2014.

Sounds awesome

+2 agility

Never an objection to a leg up! ;)

That would be very nice. I've always felt Endurance was one of the most effective stats.

Since it seems that everyone is fine with the boosts I will go ahead and make the changes to your character sheets. You will see the results shortly. :)

Edit: All updates done to character sheets!
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:50, Sun 01 June 2014.

Sorry, I posted in main thread before reading this:
Oscillator (+2 End)

I'd prefer +2 to INT, or +2 to STR.

+2 to End doesn't do much -- UNLESS you already raised Osc's END to 15 and recomputed stats (but I think Osc's END was already 15).

In reply to Oscillator (msg # 241):

The Endurance was 13, just check the original chargen thread. Jumping to 15 increased his hit points by 6, his power by 2, his ground movement by 2, and his flight by a bunch.

Aha -- well, you ARE fast!
:)

OK, I'll take it.  Osc has gotta be tougher now anyway.
:D

Power Blast +1" range.  Flight should be x2, no?  Sweet!
This message was last edited by the player at 22:52, Sun 01 June 2014.

Well, Flight didn't double but I did adjust it from 800" to the new amount.


Also, just wondering if everyone is particularly busy or are people waiting for me to respond to something? (I am pretty sure there is some room for dialogue at this point)

In reply to Sword of Damocles (msg # 244):

In reply to The Inhuman (msg # 245):

I was waiting on you

Stomach flu.  No fun.  Trying to catch up.

Osc said his piece.

Ah.....since Oscillator had asked the leading question I thought he may have a response for Ramesses answer. If he is content with the answer and has no desire to comment that is fine. It *does* seem a little unusual for Oscillator to not get into a back-and-forth scientific discussion though (you certainly don't have to). ;)

I will get up some stuff soon, am in mid-work week and things have been a little rough on the personal front. I definitely want to play this through and move forward though.

@ Sword of Damocles

You got one more pleading from Osc.

Dangle 'Star Wars Jedi tech' in front of my retro scientist hero and *of course* he will beg for more.

---

Osc: "Would you consider helping me upgrade my HAART device?"

Ramsses: "Of course I would, but the GM has prohibited your special weapon from any more powers."

Osc: "NoooOooooOoooo!"

---

Ha Ha Ha
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 04:14, Fri 06 June 2014.

Aren't you quoting the movie "Mystery Men"?  Isn't that a time difference?
Or was there REALLY a Blue Raja??

Poco is a youngish, felinish, goddish thing. The subtle boundaries twixt past, present, and future tend to be blurred by any one of these aspects, with three you get eggroll.

@Poco
Gotcha Fuzzy!!!

So it sounds like people are more or less ready to get back to the US. If so I will move things forward within the next day. (Don't worry Oscillator, you may yet get the chance to meet with him it is just that the team *is* expected back to report)

No worries.

Osc simply loves dealing with USA's brass.
(Maybe Osc can hide in his lab while Muldoon & Vosper do all the military stuff..?)

"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but *actually* from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint - it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly... time-y wimey... stuff"
         - The Doctor


Let's just say, this player is happy just relaxing and having fun with the game, rather than being all time accurate and scientifically correct.

@Poco
Let's just say there's one really HAIRY hero who won't admit to getting caught with his pants down --

Um, if he wears pants?

:D

Thanks for the Doctor quote.  ENJOYED

Besides, like I said, eggroll.

Eggroll

OK so I have wrapped up the mission thread and everyone is back at SMITE HQ. Apologies for the delays and also from wrapping things up so abruptly but I figured people were ready for some down-time before the next mission.

No worries!

All good, mon capitano

Don't everybody speak up at once. :p

Certainly.

Um, a bit.

Technically, I like the practice of "OOG" (out of game) time, so we can flip thru things we would be doing that are not 'heroic adventure' rather quickly, rather than us having long periods of roleplaying our time at the base in real-time.

ie We all post a paragraph or two about what we do at the base before our next assignments, and then the standard chit chat in the rec room, etc etc.

But whatever everyone wants is fine w/me.

I'm also OK with Barnes getting zipped off to Egypt and us calling the shots for the next mission.   ;)

For instance -- 'With Barnes at Ramesses lair for the time being, Muldoon temporarily leads the team.  Collaboratively, the team decides it is time to take a strike at the Russian facility, just as they took a strike at the USA facility.  This time the team would have the advantage of preparedness (ie spending a bunch of Invention Points on one-shot customizations to take out specific baddies) and surprise.
The hardest part might be getting in and out easily.  They consult the computer database to see if there's any asset that can teleport a team to and from a location.'

etc.

Just throwin' out an idea...

Do recall that before the end of the thread Ramesses had mentioned a Soviet research facility hidden deep under the ice in Antarctica. The team can pass on that information then Ramesses can elaborate upon it.

As far as inventions, and especially one-shot inventions it is important to remember that they are equal to 1/4 to 1/3 of a regular power. Even at that power level the risk is that going into a battle with a dozen (for example) one-shot items could radically shift the balance. I am honestly NOT looking to pound on the characters but at the same time a battle with other supers should likewise not be a cakewalk but a challenge. Too many even one-shot items could move a challenge to a cakewalk. Fighting a bunch of regular soldiers should be a cakewalk, a bunch of supers should not. I am admittedly still trying to figure out the fine art of encounter balance and it doesn't help when the dice roller can be so swingy.

Another problem with too much gadgets and gear is that people start to rely on things other than their powers. As an example let's use Poco. While he is certainly capable of carrying around hand grenades, automatic weapons, explosives, and other such things it really takes him away from what he is as a character. It even talks about that in the rulebook. It is one thing for a character statted up as a soldier to carry around a bunch of weapons and gear and another for people with powers that more than compensate for not carrying around such things. I am not saying no overall just that each thing will have to be looked at to see if it fits for a particular character. Another example is Inhuman, while he IS formerly a soldier he has abilities that far outstrip the average and even better gear a soldier has. He can disguise himself, stretch his body parts out to strike things for damage equal to a bomb, etc. He shouldn't be primarily relying on gear to augment his character but using his talents.

In reply to Sword of Damocles (msg # 265):

except for big things to hit people with, those are always appropriate for bricks. ;)

True but one doesn't need specialized equipment for that. Just pick up a car, truck, fallen tree, etc. :)

The only upside here is that if Inhuman tries to beat Osc into mush,
Osc should be able to vibrate down or fly up & away before he gets too pounded...?

Have we had any battles in the briefing room yet?
:)

No.  And it seems unlikely, and even unfair, to suggest that Inhuman would do so.


It's much more likely that Eddy would start such a brawl ... but mostly just to relieve his boredom.

As far as inventions go I think 1 permanent invention per 1-2 month period of downtime is reasonable, so Oscillator would really only be able to invent 1 permanent item. Maybe I would be agreeable to allowing him to assist in someone else's invention process for a bit of a bonus to their roll but not to be able to himself invent 2 items. One-shot items are an exception to this of course, it is specifically stated those can be invented relatively rapidly in comparison to permanent inventions so a number of one-shot items could be invented during the downtime.

Again though, if anyone wants to work on anything (invention/stunt/spell) they should speak with me so we can begin the process. Even though she doesn't have a high Int, Vosper *could* choose to work on an invention for herself. The same is for any of our more average Int people.

That's cool.  Actually, what I was hoping for was a reasonable explanation for everyone to take a shot at making some really cool invention for their character (using their Inv Pt & roll) and a bonus b/c Osc is helping them is awesome!

Ideas for Vosp / Nightmare / Inhuman:

Darts: Agent Orange / Freeze / Glow in the Dark area effect (ie mark a target) / Electricity Surge (vs machinery) / Sticky Darts / homing darts (ie +5 bonus to hit, need a heat source) / MIRV darts (1 dart thrown & three flechette darts fly out)

Bullets: (as above) and also armor penetrating, tracer rounds, screamers, knockouts, darkness, etc

Think Hawkeye or Green Arrow, etc
List of Green Arrow's Trick Arrows (for reference)
http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Trick_Arrows

Inhuman: Bandolier strap with 'green beret' combat goodies: caltrops, amazing commando knife, compass, flares, heavy duty rope, 3x grenades, etc
(Just stuff that'd make him more 'commando-like', whether transformed or not.)

etc

While that is all neat and such, I must point out the importance that inventions be no more than 1/4 to 1/3 of a power. So for example the homing dart is too powerful at +5 to hit since Heightened Expertise gives a +4 bonus to hit with anywhere from one weapon to all weapons. So something like a 1/3 power might be a +2 to hit while requiring a heat source. Even then as a hurled weapon there is only so much movement one can get, so throwing it in the direction of a heat source wouldn't allow it to turn 45 degrees or more in flight. The same would go to bullets because once they leave the "launcher" they start to lose forward momentum, only things like rockets can really radically change their trajectory. (The MOAB even though it is a gravity bomb *can* be guided pretty redically but it is also falling from thousands of feet up giving plenty of time for even small course deviation to make a radical final impact point.)

Things like fire bullets with a flame attack carrier would probably be on the lines of 1d4 damage (1/3 at best of 1d12) to keep things from going out of control. Armor-piercing rounds already exist, they are statted up in one of the They Might Be Characters books that someone created.

Gotcha.  But then again, what wouldn't any of us (IRL) give for 1/4 of a superpower?  HA

I wonder whether Vosper (or the Flash for that matter) couldn't hurl a dart much faster / farther than a normal person, but what about a scientifically sculpted aerodynamic dart weighted with a payload in the tip?

As far as the damage bonus being minimal, I understand that -- but throwing a dart & starting a fire, or shooting a bullet and shorting out a nefarious device --> that's pretty sweet.

Anyway, so far no takers so I'm not gonna fret.  But I will be PM'ing Osc's next invention ideas.  :)

Sorry gang been a bit swamped.

To reply, Vos would welcome any kind of improvement to her darts but, her main concern is accuracy.  So any bonus to hit would be welcome.

Truthfully I initially wanted to play Vos as a "Flash-like" character, but she doesn't work that way within the rules (both official and house), so she's kind of morphed into a speedy super-spy.

I've not been playing Onyx long enough to envision an invention that makes sense for him. I know the previous play and Osc had some ideas, but I've only used him in the last half of one battle.

Despite what is going on with my mom, I am endeavoring to continue a better pace with the game. Of course, it appears that right now everywhere is in the summer doldrums so things are going to be slow (unfortunate when one is looking for a distraction).

What is that behind you?



Doing my best to provide a distraction.

Is that your behind?

Just remember that Inhuman can look at his behind without moving his head. ;)

I will try *NOT* to remember that!!!   Yeesh

With stretching he can look at his own butt from around the block.

@The Inhuman -- I'd say no one looks at his butt, period.

Inhuman CAN look at his butt from many *unflattering* angles.
While Captain America had a heroic butt, but The Inhuman was not so lucky...

No but Muldoon on the other hand is a hunk.

Trying to catch up after a long weekend.

OK......suddenly night falls, everybody is crushed. Roll up new characters! ;)

Already done that! Enter Cyclone Man!

Woo, got my new character ready to go!

So I'll be playing a psychic who can turn invisible and {negotiate an interesting Mental Power with GM}.
He wears Psychic Armour, also; but won't likely get into physical combat unless he can't help it.


- rolled 16 using 4d6 with rolls of 1,6,5,5. Stat. Int
- rolled 15 using 4d6 with rolls of 5,2,5,5. Stat. End
- rolled 14 using 4d6 with rolls of 6,4,1,4. Stat. Agil
- rolled 9 using 4d6 with rolls of 3,3,1,3. Stat. Str
- rolled 8 using 4d6 with rolls of 2,3,1,3. Stat. Char
- rolled 15 using 5d6 with rolls of 1,6,1,1,6. Weight. = 150lb 68kg) = 3 basic Hits
- rolled 4 using 1d6+2 with rolls of 2. # of Powers.
- rolled 172 using 4d100+2 with rolls of 66,5,48,51.
- rolled 66 using 1d100+30 with rolls of 36. Armour A.
Powers = Psionics, Armour A (66), Ice Powers, Invisibility
- rolled 24 using 1d100 with rolls of 24. Weakness. = Low Self Control


STR: 9
END: 15
AGI: 14
INT: 16
CHA: 8

Weight: 150lb
Basic Hits: 3
Hit Point Modifier: (Str: 0.8)x(End: 1.8)x(Ag: 1.3)x(Int: 1.2)= 2.25
Hit Points: 7
Power: 62
Healing Rate: .4

Detect Hidden: 12%
Detect Danger: 16%

Physical Accuracy: +1
Mental Accuracy: +2
Damage Modifier: +2

Reaction Modifiers: +/- 2

Inventing Points: 1.6
Inventing Percentage: 48%

Carrying Capacity: 167lb
Basic HTH Damage: 1d4
Movement Rates: 38"

Powers:
- Psionics
- Armour A (66)
- Invisibility

Weakness:
- Low Self Control
This message was last edited by the player at 13:16, Thu 31 July 2014.

Sooooo......I am pretty sure people got that I was being sarcastic about everyone dying. Assuming that is the case, this is a real one-up on my post (coming up with a sarcastic replacement character).

Obviously no one is really dead BUT, that being said, if anyone *is* unhappy about their current character and wants to roll up a new one that is fine. (I can't imagine someone being unsatisfied with a character like Poco, of course)

Yeah, I know you were being sarcastic.

It could be that I was playfully one-upping you.
Or, I might just be bored.
Or I love making up characters.
Or a little from every category.

Heh....I kinda figured.

Of course I noticed you made an error in the hit point modifier. A 9 in Str gives a 1.0 not a 0.8 (9-11 is considered dead average) so the character would actually have 9 hit points not 7. :)

I like rolling up characters myself. I recently rolled one up for a V&V game the GM may never run. Initially I thought he might be a scrapper because he rolled 3 powers but I proposed some tweaks to the 2 powers he kept (Sonic Powers and Heightened Senses) and VERY minor attribute tweaks. The GM was agreeable and although not tough by any stretch he is an interesting and quite viable character. It is interesting, I don't think I have yet rolled up a V&V character on rpol.net that could be considered a HTH powerhouse (Bonespike was the closest at around 50 hit points).

Worst comes to worst this rolled character could become another villain for my game (with a couple more villain tweaks....muahahahaha!). ;)

That would be a really cool character, but you'ld have to talk the GM into a new psychic power... lactokinesis - mental control of dairy products.
Then he could put on his armor and call himself the Milk Truck.

Soooo.....I am going to be leaving for the White Mountains on Friday 8/8 for a week. I should be able to post but I may not be able to check in as often. I was looking to try and move this along some but am waiting to hear from a couple of people. Inhuman, Oscillator, and Vosper have all worked out stunts/inventions with me and Poco unfortunately did not make his roll. That leaves Nightmare and Onyx who I need to hear from about what (if anything) they are doing with their month of downtime (spell/invention/stunt?). Probably the easiest thing is to each make a roll to see if they are successful before getting into any negotiations and such. Remember that you *can* get some input/assistance from Oscillator on inventions/stunts (not really on spells) which would give a bonus to the inventing roll equal to your Int or half Oscillator's Int, whichever is higher.

Failed roll. Month at the pool for Onyx.

OK one roll down, one to go. Remember that you *can* use a level training for a stunt without having to make an inventing roll or spending inventing points.

Nightmare decided to figure out something about avoiding the cold rather than play with his whip. So I worked on a spell.

OK so it looks like people are done with their stunts/inventions/spells so I will be looking to push things along within the next few days on my vacation. For those who did not make their inventing rolls it is perfectly fine to still work out a stunt/invention with me in the interim so that it will already be ready for the next successful invention roll (or if someone wants to do a stunt for their level-up). If I can have an idea on how available people will be to post that will let me know how active I should be myself. I know the summer is huge for slowdowns (as is the whole November/December holiday time) so I am just checking in. (Also, still trying to keep my mind active so any conversations are welcome....here in OOC, in PM, in other games, or in the V&V Community thread)

My posting will be its usual contrary self; without being affected by any holiday or seasonal issues.

The Inhuman is ready to rumble.

Nightmare is here every night... that wasn't nearly as ironic before I typed it.

The irony is spectacular

I'd like to play two simultaneous characters.

I'm fine ... ready whenever the game moves or happy to cool my jets

I have this recurring dream where I wake up and discover the parts of my life which I value most have all been the illusive content of a game played on a computer.
I'm still trying to decide whether or not it's a nightmare.

I keep wondering if any of you are really humans,
or if this is all just an AI messin' wit my head?

Aha! Only an AI would accuse another poster of being an AI! Now the humans will have both of us figured out!

Reposted from other game:
Sidebar 1:  I've been hooked into INJUSTICE (the DC heroes fighter) on Android (also on IOS).

a) it's super-addictive
b) I'm committed to *not pay a dime EVER*
c) it's kinda fun
d) it's kinda bad AND really large (bigger than 1 gig?!?!?!)
e) I love WonderWoman (awesome) and am saddened by Flash (weak sauce)

I also play Marvel Puzzle Quest.
         a, b, *I find it absurdly fun*, and it's pretty small.
         e) Fav heroes are Iron Man & Black Widow b/c of how they combo -- and they are starters.
Anyone else play either of these?

---

Sidebar 2:  Any non-spoiler commentary on following movies:

a) Guardians of Galaxy
b) Hercules
c) Ant-Man
d) Avengers 2
e) Iron Man 'Extremis Armor' (oooh, hard not to spoil when discussing this)
f) Falcon from Captain America 2
etc etc

Or don't comment.  I won't take it personally.

(Sob)

I commented on the VnV forum.


Sorry to anyone who thought people were posting IC only to find this reply.

Just like an AI to fake a sob in an effort to convince the humans he's one of them.

Maybe I should swap out Osc and become AI, the living computer?
:D

My apologies for the long delay but I was enjoying my time up in the mountains and then the weekend to unwind from that. Am back at work but will be looking to move things along this weekend.

Roger that, Gold Leader.

@ Sword of Damocles <-- which mountains?  Hiking & such?

We live near eachother, I believe.  Took my 22 mo old kid to "Little Farm" in Berkeley today.

*FUN*

Wow he is almost two already.

Nope, you live close to Vosper's and Inhuman's players. I am totally Mr. East Coast, living in New Hampshire. Vosper's player has mentioned your and Inhuman's proximity to him on the phone many times. :)

What is it with this 'coastal' thing? If men were meant to live by the water, we would've invented the bikini in the middle ages!

Born here, grew up here.  Traveled of course but ended up back here.  I never feel quite at home anyplace too "land locked".  The sea's in my veins I guess. :)

Ditto what Vosper said, but I've moved all around coasts.

What? Oh, born there... sorry...
I was distracted trying to erase from my mind the image of the chain mail bikini.

Slowing slowing slowing...

Stopped?

NooOooOoooOooOooo!!!

Let's hope not.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:14, Sun 31 Aug 2014.

The GM requests that any foreign languages used for IC posts please be translated in a message to the GM below. The GM is too lazy to copy and paste stuff into Google translate. :p

@ Sword of Damocles


Urggghh -- was there actually qny info for us?  How could I have missed it?!!?

Message #268 in the Base and HQ thread...

Sorry, may not be posting for awhile -- house got robbed.
Luckily no one was hurt -- but missing most computing power for a bit.

Sorry to hear that. Glad everyone is ok

I am also sorry to hear that. Posting is still slow overall in all the games I am involved in so don't worry about that. Take care of things and be back when you are able.

That sucks dude.  Sorry to hear it!

Best home security device available... an Australian Cattle Dog. ;)

Last week was a disaster for me but I'm trying to catch back up.

I am still around but haven't posted in any of the games I am in lately. My mom was hospitalized last Wednesday for complications around chemo treatment and is currently in hospice so my brain is a bit distracted. I do intend to come back as soon as I can so please bear with me.

Be well, friend.
And may the fortunes smile upon you and yours.

@Sword -- very sorry to hear. Hard stuff.

Hang in there mate.  I know the drill, sorta.  Best wishes!

Boy, this has been a rough Oct 2014!

Rough 2014 period.

Hang in there lads.

It's not my fault. The fur came in really heavy this year, and it's made it difficult to type properly.
Besides, do you know how much filing you have to do to keep the claws from scratching the letters off the keyboard? Last year I thought the wife was going to turn me into a newt when she couldn't find the tilde! Don't want to face that, again.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 336):

Finally got new Inhuman pic.