Pulp Hero

[quozax]

Welcome to the world of Air Adventure, Crime Busting, Globe Trotting, and Weird Menaces.  A place where you may dive into an ancient tomb, scale an impossible mountain, or stop that Nazi group from getting a hold of that mystical item that would sure to win the next war.

The scene would be set in the exciting mid 1930s, (I'm leaning towards 1934 to be exact),  This would be a few years after the Great War (WWI) and stock market crash and a few years before WWII.  (Plenty of time for those dreaded Nazi party to find that mystical object.)

Now, this will be loosely based on the Pulp Hero book by Hero Games.  But don't fret if you do not know the system.  I will lay out some questions (if this takes off) that will help make viable characters for the game.

So, this is just an interest check.  I am looking for a rather small group.  This game will a heavy plot game, and little smut.  So grab your fedora and let me know if you are interested in playing. 

Characters:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=258866.0

OOC:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=258865.0

Game:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=259213.0

[quozax]

Now we can talk about making a character, and with inspirations like Zorro, Tarzan, Fu Manchu, Doc Savage, Sam Spade, Conan, The Shadow, and even Indiana Jones; there is a lot to consider.  I will prefer to have full a Hero Game sheet up, either 5th or 6th edition and I will convert it into 6th.  If you don't know the system, I can help you build your character.

First, Let's talk about Characteristics.  This helps define the Character. 

(STR) Strength – Lifting capacity and Hand to hand damage
Base 10, +1 per 1 point
(DEX,) Dexterity – Determines who goes first,
Base 10, +1 per 2 points
(CON) Constitution – Determines if a character is stunned in combat
Base 10, +1 per 1 point
(INT) Intelligence – How fast you think and perceptive you are
Base 10, +1 per 1 point
(EGO) Ego – Willpower
Base 10, +1 per 1 point
(PRE) Presence – How intimidating your character is.
Base 10, +1 per 1 point
(OCV) Offset Combat Value – How accurate a character is
Base 3, +1 per 5 points
(DCV) Defensive Combat Value – How hard it is to hit the character
Base 3, +1 per 5 points
(OMCV and DMCV) – for mental combat, so not usually used in pulp
(SPD) Speed – How many times a character can react.  It will be set at 3 for Pulp characters.; cost 10 points
(PD, ) Physical  Defenses – protects against physical attacks
Base 2, +1 per 1 point
(ED) Energy Defense – protects against energy attacks
Base 2, +1 per 1 point
(REC) Recovery – how quickly you recover from being knocked out or injured.
Base 4, +1 per 1 point
(END) Endurance – How much personal energy you have
Base 20, +5 per 1 point
(BODY) Body – How hard it is to kill your character.
Base 10, +1 per 1 point
(STUN)Stun  – How hard it is to knock out the character.
Base 20, +2 per 1 point
(COM) Comeliness / Striking Appearance – How attractive your character is.
Base 0, Cost 3 points. +1/1d6 per 2 points.

Second, Let's talk about Skills and Perks.  Every character needs skills to fall back on.  Pick the minimum of 10 from the following.  Most skills cost 3 points each

SKILLS:
Acrobatics
Acting
Analyze
Animal Handler
Autofire Skills
Breakfall
Bribery
Bugging
Bureaucratics
Charm / Seduction
Climbing
Combat Driving
Combat Piloting
Combat Skill Levels
Computer Programming (not likely in Pulp genre)
Concealment
Contortionist
Conversation
Cramming
Criminology
Deduction
Defense Manuevers
Demolitions
Disguise
Electronics
Fast Draw
Forensic Medicine
Forgery
Gambling
High Society
Interrogation
Inventor
Knowledge (Pick any 3 specific examples, can be taken more than once)
   Area Knowledge – Examples:  Egypt, the mountains, England, Germany
   City Knowledge – Examples:  Cario, London, New York City
   Cultural Knowledge
   General Knowledge – Examples:  Dancing, Hieroglyphics, almost anything else
Language (Pick 3, can be taken more than once)
Lipreading
Lockpicking
Martial Arts
Mechanics
Mimicry
Navigation
Oratory
Paramedics
Penalty Skill levels
Persuasion
Power Skills
Professional Skills:  Examples:  Doctor, Lawyer, Head of State
Rapid Attack
Riding
Science Skills
Security Systems
Skill Levels
Shadowing
Sleight of Hand
Stealth
Streetwise
Survival
System Operations
Tactics
Teamwork
Tracking
Trading
Transport Familiarity
Two-weapon Fighting
Ventriloquism
Weapon Familiarity
Weaponsmith

SKILL Enhancers:
Jack of all Trades
Linguist
Scholar
Scientist
Traveler
Well-Connected.

PERKS:
Access
Anonymity
Computer Link
Contact – Character knows someone who can help them. 
Deep Cover
Favor
Follower
Fringe Benefit:  (Like having a passport)
Money
Positive Reputation
Vehicles or Bases

TALENTS:
Absolute Range Sense
Absolute Time Sense
Ambidexterity
Animal Friendship
Bump of Direction
Combat Luck
Combat Sense
Danger Sense
Deadly Blow
Double Jointed
Eidetic Memory
Environmental Movement
Lightning Calculator
Lightning Reflexes
Lightsleep
Off-Hand Defense
Perfect Pitch
Resistance
Simulated Death
Speed Reading
Striking Appearance
Universal Translator
Weaponmaster.



That's the basics.  Now this is what a character should look like
Character's name:
Player's name:
Sexual preference:  (Bi, straight, or gay)
Description or picture or both:
Weapon of choice: (can be your fists, handguns, whip, throwing knives, charm, etc)
Primary Characteristic:
Secondary Characteristics:
10 Skills:
History:
Personality:
List 3 flaws:  Can choose multiple flaws from the same category
Examples:  Addiction (coffee and smoking are popular), Distinctive Features, Enraged, Hunted, Negative Reputation, Physical flaw, Psychological flaw (even Indiana Jones was afraid of snakes), Social Flaw, Unlucky.
Ons and Offs:

Code (Character Sheet) Select Expand


Character's name:
Player's name:
Sexual preference:  (Bi, straight, or gay)
Description or picture or both:
[img] insert image [/img]
[u]Full sheet as below OR
Weapon of choice:
Primary Characteristic:
Secondary Characteristics:
10 Skills:[/u]
History:
Personality:
Flaws:
Ons and Offs:





Example:
Character's name:  Mason Forester
Player's name:  quozax
Sexual preference:  Bi
Description or picture or both:

Mason Forester

CHARACTERISTICS
Val    Char    Points    Roll
10   STR   0   11-
15   DEX   10   12-
14   CON   4   12-
18   INT   8   13-
13   EGO   3   12-
13   PRE   3   12-
5   OCV   10
5   DCV   10
3   OMCV   0
3   DMCV   0
3   SPD   10
7   PD   5
7   ED   5
5   REC   1
28   END   2
13   BODY    3
35   STUN   8
Total Cost:  82

MOVEMENT
Type       Combat    Noncombat
Run       12m      24m
Swim       4m      8m
H. Leap    4m      8m
V. Leap    2m      4m

SKILLS, PERKS, & TALENTS
Cost    Name       Roll
8    Good with Small Arms: +1 with Ranged Combat
3    Occult or Egyptian items: Forgery    13-
3    AK: Egypt    13-
3    CK: Cairo    13-
3    Conversation    12-
3    Deduction    13-
3    KS: Hieroglyphics    13-
3    KS: Occult    13-
3    PS: Archaologist    13-
3    Paramedics    13-
3    Persuasion    12-
3    Riding    12-
3    Tactics    13-
3    Teamwork    12-
2    WF: Small Arms
16    Universal Translator 13- (20 Active Points); Learned Earth Languages only (-¼)    13-
3    Handsome: +1/+1d6 Striking Appearance (vs. all characters)
Total Skills, Perks, & Talents Cost:  68

POWERS AND EQUIPMENT
Cost    Name    Power/Equipment END
0   S & W M1917    Killing Attack - Ranged 2d6-1 (25 APs); OAF (-1), STR Minimum 4-8 (STR Min. Cannot Add/Subtract Damage; -1), 12 Charges ((6 shots at a time); -¼) [12]
Total Powers/Equipment Cost:  0

MATCHING COMPLICATIONS
Cost    Complication
15    Psychological Limitation: Obsessed with Occult (Common; Strong)
20    Hunted: Nazi party 11- (Mo Pow; Harshly Punish) 11-
5    Unluck: 1d6
10    Social Limitation: Public ID, easy to find (Frequently; Minor)
Total Complications Points:  50


History:  Mason has always been fascinated with the tombs of Egypt, and the occult.  He is one of the most renowned experts on the subject.  He is very bright and tries to think his way out of any situation. 
Personality:  A bit shy at first and he knows he's not the best in a hand to hand fight.  But he's knows how to use a handgun if needed.  He tires his best not to sound too smart.
Flaws:  Hunted (Nazi party), Psychological (Obsessed with Occult), Unlucky
Ons and Offs:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=248480.0

[LSWSjr]

As long as you have room for an Aussie adventurer, count me in :)

Cheers
Rowan/LSWSjr

[Sally Aces]

Ooo, very nice. Count me in, I'd love to play a sexy and seductive femme fatale. I'm thinking of an exotic beauty with vague ties to the aristocracy.

[quozax]

Both sound awesome.   I already may have a 3rd player for the game.

So that means I can take 2 or 3 more interested individuals.

[Blinkin]

What about a tommy gun toating daredevil pilot with a strong right cross?

I have experience with Hero System and the Pulp supplement, but it's been a long, long, long time since I've played it.

[quozax]

What about a tommy gun toating daredevil pilot with a strong right cross?

I have experience with Hero System and the Pulp supplement, but it's been a long, long, long time since I've played it.

Lol.  I'm sure they will fit in just fine.

Also, I have played Champions and Teen Champions for years, but this is my first attempt at Pulp.

[TFcommando]

Decisions, decisions!  What sort of power level and point totals were you thinking?  More Indiana Jones-like, or further out with esoteric abilities like the Spider, Avenger or Doc Savage?  An inventor with lots of gadgets and custom gear?  Masked vigilantes are always fun, but hard to include in a party where no one else is a masked vigilante, to be sure.

One out of the ordinary notion is a Japanese or Chinese young woman, a martial artist working a humble job in the US until an old relative (or ghost of same) warns her of an ancient artifact's resting place being violated and wants her to do something about it.  Possibly a "dragon lady" type, an exotic beauty whose appearance belies her deadly hands and feet, punching and kicking in a cheongsam, though that might overlap a bit with the femme fatale. Or a more tomboyish character, ala SFII's Sakura.

[quozax]

The game will lean towards Indiana Jones style.  (The first 3 movies )  so mystical ties, Nazis, and hidden places.

[TFcommando]

A few approaches come to mind:

She's an American and Americanized, working at a prosaic job like a mechanic or even race car driver, just keeping up on the martial arts for family tradition, until they come in handy with her calling to adventure.

She's the curator/owner of a small Asian museum in LA or San Francisco, not the biggest or best as far as the establishment is concerned, but with an insider perspective most of them lack.

She's the assistant for a professor/curator at a larger museum or university, handling the rough stuff on the expeditions and knowing more about the language and culture than he does, but he has the respectability and credentials she can't have.  Could be a fellow PC if anyone's game, or he's just an Ally or DNPC.  That could also work for an espionage or state department agent, now that I think of it.

[Blinkin]

I suppose that I should ask the GM if the setting will be played true, or if it'll be a revised world in regards to race relations? I know that it makes some people really uncomfortable, but I remember my most favorite GM's also made us play the 50 points of flaws that we took.

I ask because I need to know how characters should react to NPC's in opum dens and dry cleaners. lol There's also the Red Menace... communist and so on.

[Major Major]

I'm intrigued by this idea, and wish to learn more.

[quozax]

I suppose that I should ask the GM if the setting will be played true, or if it'll be a revised world in regards to race relations? I know that it makes some people really uncomfortable, but I remember my most favorite GM's also made us play the 50 points of flaws that we took.

I ask because I need to know how characters should react to NPC's in opum dens and dry cleaners. lol There's also the Red Menace... communist and so on.

See the new updated section above.

I don't plan on making a big deal out of racism.  Yes, Nazis were racist.  But that was not played out in the Indiana Jones movies.  So, unless it is taken as one of the flaws' I won't play it too often. 

You should react as your character would react.  If your character runs into an opium den; what would they do?  If they run into a Japanese business man, what would they do?  I try never to paint everything pure black and white, even though the genre is full of right and wrong thinking.

The only group everyone should hate are Nazis.  But trust me, I'll give you reasons to hate them.

[quozax]

Which section should it go in?  Light Human?

[TFcommando]

I wanted to make a full character... be glad to help anyone else with it, though it is a handful, with a fair amount of points to spend.

[Muse]

*pounces* 

Am I too late? 

[LSWSjr]

Are we just using the Pulp Hero corebook or are their specific supplements we should have as well?

*browses the dozens of titles on DriveThruRPG*

Cheers
Rowan/LSWSjr

[LSWSjr]

Some of this is based on 5th Edition (which I already owned) plus Pulp Hero, hope that's okay? :)

Character's name: Miss Kassey 'Red Tail' LeHane
Player's name: Rowan/LSWSjr
Sexual preference: Bisexual
Description or picture or both:

Weapon of choice: Holland & Holland Royal sporting rifle
Primary Characteristic: Dexterity
Secondary Characteristics: Ego, Intelligence, Presence
10 Skills: Animal Handler (Equine), Fast Draw, Mimicry, Navigation (Land), Paramedics, Riding, Seduction, Surviving, Tracking, Weapon Familiarity (Small Arms)
History: O:) WIP >:)
Personality: O:) WIP >:)
Flaws: Dependence (Alcohol), Psychological Limitation (Overconfidence), Social Limitation (Woman)
Ons and Offs: https://elliquiy.com/forums/onsoffs.php?u=54352

[quozax]

*pounces* 

Am I too late?

Nope just in time.

[quozax]

Are we just using the Pulp Hero corebook or are their specific supplements we should have as well?

*browses the dozens of titles on DriveThruRPG*

Cheers
Rowan/LSWSjr

Most of my characters are in 5th edition and I'm too lazy to convert them.  But I will take on 6th edition terminology if you want.  I will be using almost any 5th or 6th Edition rules you want, but don't want to scare away players.  I will be using Pulp Hero (and Thrilling Places, Thrilling Hero Adventures, and Masterminds and Madmen and maybe even Captain Battle)  I will not be using any rules from the advanced rules books.

TFCommando , I would love full character sheets!!  As long as the players are up to it.  If they are not that familiar with the system, they might be scared away.  That's why the abbreviated version.

So, if any of you read those supplements I listed above - forget you ever saw them.  I usually put my own spin on them anyways.

[quozax]

OOC Thread:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=258865.0

Character Thread:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=258866.0

[Muse]

  Good morning. 

  I was hoping to build my own character.  Do I need to get a specific setting book, or can I just use the base book? 

  I've only used this system in the past for superhoers.  Is this the version where your characters equipmetn is a facet of his resources rather than his character poitns? 

  Do we use the modern everyman skills list? 

  Setting wise, how much mystical ability is too much? 

  The first thing that jumps into my head is a character who was a rum runner during prohibition.  (Specifcly a driver.) 

[quozax]

Those familiar with the system, I use 150 point characters with 50 points in disadvantages

Yes, we do the modern everyman's skill list, but sex in the 1930s.  (No computer programming!)  The base book is great.  You can use either 5th or 6th edition.

I use equipment rules for guns and such, so you don't have to pay points for your gun.

[quozax]

Posted this in the wrong section:

I forgot to answer the question about mystical abilities. 

I know The Shadow could warp the minds of men and that some of the bad guys will be able to... SPOILERS!...  but I was hoping a little more grounded individuals.  But if the power is somewhat weak and very Pulp-like, I will allow it.  But it will have to be paid with part of your 150 points and will have to be approved by me.

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

Yes some of the bad guys may have Pulp-like super powers.  But they will be the main villain of that story arc.  Much like the main villain in the second Indiana Jones movie.

[Blinkin]

I was actually looking at a very mundane guy who happened to fly planes, be really good with a tommy gun and a decent right hook... Nothing mystical at all.

As usual, I seem to be out of step with the rest of the role playing world.