Wild, superhero fun (MnM 2e)

[Sally Aces]

Hello everyone.

I'm opening this up for us to discuss the particulars of the campaign officially. Know that I'm a flexible, creative GM who likes taking a lot of input on y games. The rules are there to enable great storytelling, not constrain it. I welcome experienced MnM gamers, lovers of the G R.R. Martin Wild Card Series, and anyone who loves superheroes grounded in the realities and complexities of life.  I put this game in Exotic, because I welcome wild and wonderful Jokers as well as Joker-Aces, Aces, Normals and Duces.

Let's make wonderful stories together.


Initial RP Setting ideas:

• Wild Cards 'world' information can be found here
• Time Period: Modern Day
• Starting Location: Ne Orleans, LA
• Power Level: 6
• Power Points: 110
• Trade-Offs: +3/-3
• Joker Package: TBD will end up giving 10 pp
• Pertinent detail: 5 years ago, then again last year, there were new recurrences of Wild Card Virus exposure.

No one knows why or how this happened. (It's so not everyone had to have grown up with their powers/afflictions, but could become a plot point if players decide to investigate this)

Why isn't this PL 10, glad you asked. Referencing the Wild Card scream sheets I came across this:

Ace-in-the-hoLe                            Power LeveL 6
This power level is sufficient to create full-fledged aces with fairly powerful abilities who are otherwise ordinary people. If the GM wants a “wild cards are just people with powers” type of game, this is a good place to start. A power level 6 ace can have damage capabilities to equal decent military hardware (more with some trade-offs), and be tough enough to withstand similar amounts of punishment. It’s also a good power level for joker-aces with a few tricks up their sleeves, like enhanced strength or the like.

Note that trade-offs become fairly common by this power level, as wild carders tend to have more in terms of damage and toughness than they do combat skill, unless they have particular training or talent in those areas.
Wild carders at this power level tend to focus on a particular power or ability, although it might have several different facets or effects in game terms. You can expect to spend 20 to 40 or so of your starting 90 power points on powers, which is a fair amount, particularly for effects not limited by power level, such as movement or sensory effects; a PL 6 ace can still have the power to teleport (or see) across the world or transform into a beam of light and fly through space, for example.

I've upped the Power Points to allow more flexibility and YES I am thinking of rewarding people for taking on being a Joker, both to keep an important element of the game in play and to give some structure to the social stigma and the hatred they face in society.


Proposed Characters

|	PROPOSED CHARACTERS	|
|	Player	|	Faction	|	Description	|
|	LordRod	|	Joker	|	Telepathic Joker who transforms into an Ace via formula	|
|	Valerian	|	Joker	|	Living Mannequin with issues	|
|	Open	|	Joker/Ace/Deuce/Nat	|	Note	|
|	Open	|	Joker/Ace/Deuce/Nat	|	Note	|
|	Open	|	Joker/Ace/Deuce/Nat	|	Note	|
|	Open	|	Joker/Ace/Deuce/Nat	|	Note	|

[/list]

[Sally Aces]

Hi hi everyone,

This game was born out of a GM reqeust, and I have 2 players already working on characters. We'd like to open this up to more people who are interested in playing and exploring people with superpowers, superafflictions, normal people trying to live life and everything in between. No prior Wild Card knowledge or MnM 2e experience required. Just a willingness to write wonderful stories and share in taking on the troubles in our times.

[LordRod]

Hi. :)

[AribethAmkiir]

Interested, but trying to follow that link from my phone is a little difficult.  It just sends me to a Rogue's gallery.  When I get home, and to a computer, I will use my Google-fu to learn more, cuz right now I don't even know the difference between an Ace and a Joker.

[Sally Aces]

Yah, there's an OOC thread up but now thing else. The link is to the rogues gallery of existing Wild Card characters, not the other game thread. I figured recruit here, talk character details there with folks wanting to partner on making the game great.

[Valerian]

*waves*  Luckily there's quite a lot of good info online, though I also highly recommend reading the stories if you get a chance.  :)

[LordRod]

The first series of books are the best but they're all good.

[Pumpkin Seeds]

:: peeks::

[Caradoc]

I'm a huge fan of Wild Cards. I think I have all but the most recent two books. I might be interested in this, although fair warning that

1) Every group game I join dies a horrible early death

and

2) I don't seem to do as well with character sheets like this for some reason. But, if those are acceptable flaws, I'll ponder on a character idea or two.

[Sally Aces]

Hi Pumpkin Seeds, hey Caradoc,

Thanks for popping in, hope you stay a while. Have any question, P.S.?

I'm a huge fan of Wild Cards. I think I have all but the most recent two books. I might be interested in this, although fair warning that

1) Every group game I join dies a horrible early death

and

2) I don't seem to do as well with character sheets like this for some reason. But, if those are acceptable flaws, I'll ponder on a character idea or two.

I'm willing to break the curse you spoke of in point 1. As for point 2, are you asking if if you cam play without submitting a sheet, or that you'll need help with one?

[Caradoc]

Oh, asking for help. I wouldn't expect a special exception for me.

[Sally Aces]

Just checking, and of course I am happy to help where I can. Please start with a concept that'll make you happy to play.

[eternaldarkness]

MnM 2E AND Wildcards? I'm in! (If you'll have me) I don't have a concept yet, but i'll brainstorm and shoot some tentative ideas to the GM.

[Sally Aces]

Yay! Feel free to discuss things here or In a PM to me, eternal darkness. We have 2 jokers so far, a living mannequin and a Janus like metamorph (A scientist Joker who created a formula that transforms him into a bigoted Ace).

Everything else is open.

[Caradoc]

Ok, working an idea with our illustrious Game Mistress. I hope to have something posted soonish.

[Sally Aces]

Yes we've had a couple of yummy new Ace concepts I'm happy to see how things are shaping up.

Still, tell your friends, enemies, cuddlebunnies and paramours to come check this out and play with us.

[TFcommando]

Big Wild Cards fan here, and experienced with MnM.

The tricky part is coming up with a character concept, since the setting is so wide open.  Will there be something to draw the PCs together?  I wouldn't want to be the Ace Guardian of New Orleans and have everyone else  in roles where they'd never want to fight crime or meet a crimefighter, for instance.

A few notions though:

A tantric sorceress, someone whose power was inspired by the same source material as Fortunato.  Possibly one whose card turned in the 60s and who came forward in time through some mishap with her powers/fighting some other-dimensional evil/ace, ala Captain America.  Living in New Orleans because it's the most relaxed and least hung up about sex, like the 60s were, and maybe because someone/something's preying on the residents of the city with a mystical Ace bent.  A strictly modern-day one might be a Joker-Ace who also became a satyr/nymph or naga, with the deep symbolism of "I like those looks." :)

Speculation: Jetboy wasn't the only colorful hero of the war or pre-war era, just the most prominent.  The character is an urban archeologist or history student/teacher with an interest in pre-ace heroes, found one's hidden lair/old journals/what-have you and that's what turned her card, giving her something thematically related to (that hero)... one idea might be shadow control/darkness creation/shadow teleportation, something darkness themed.   Also sets out to fight crime in the way her inspirational figure did, out of the public eye, a shadowy urban legend vigilante, at least at first... that can be a hard act to keep up.  Or someone with subtle, funky precognition... only able to see a couple seconds in the future, for incredible reflexes and danger sense.  But she's asleep, she can sometimes get glimpses of further ahead, seeing crimes she'll try to stop.

In the "neat power" idea, a mechamorph, someone who can turn cars and motorcycles into robots/power armor and back.  A car-loving person with a sense of duty to use her powers for good/against the awful crime in NOLA... and to keep a secret ID, as she'd be quite vulnerable outside a vehicle and have pissed off a lot of people with guns.  It could be just the special car she worked on or any vehicle she's driving, or a mix... a car customized to be a better robot in robot form, but any will do for the basics of armor and strength. 

[keyotess]

Hello Sally Aces, is there still room open here for another player? :)

[Sally Aces]

DEFINITELY!!! Hi hi sweetie.

This story is getting support, the thread is quiet but my PMs are blowing up. Feel free to discuss character concepts here or in PM, sweetie.

I'll put something more cohesive in this thread later this week, so everyone knows whose who :)

[keyotess]

Okay, Great! :)  I will dust off my MnM 2e books and start thinking about a character concept! :)

[Sally Aces]

TF, any of your notions could be good... but in some ways your Mechamorph sounds like lots of fun. She's a neat riff on The Great and Powerful Turtle and Modular Man. I feel she can be a good update to the setting.

Weird thought... maybe the Wild Card virus was dormant in her until the day she was almost run over by street racers but she managed to Morph the oncoming car into a Mech she was piloting, ejecting the driver from it comically.

"hey! That bitch stole my... car?"

That racer could have Been Somebody Big and Bad_(TM) thus starting their enmity

Nothing you have to go with, just something I'm spitballing

[TFcommando]

I am a big fan of the Turtle and Modular Man! :)  The tricky part is having a total secret ID when not everyone else does... if your normal ID hangs around with the same normal people that the costumed one does, it won't be a secret for long.  There are solid reasons for keeping a secret ID if you're a shadowy vigilante crimefighter or even a public one.  All the assassinations on Wild Cards Day in 1986, for starters, and the Jumpers after that.  But then you're not hanging around with the rest of the party and playing an antisocial loner, which isn't conductive to good gaming.

Also, there's a bit too much of a swingy thing going on with a car-using hero... great if she's got a car, terrible if not... and it's hard to drive a car inside a building (at least for very long).  Something to mull over.

Is there anything you have planned for the crime or "superhero" scene in New Orleans?  The city was nearly destroyed by the Radical's actions and very publicly saved by the Amazing Bubbles, who had a shrine built around her as she recovered.  That might have swung public opinion one way or the other with regard to Aces fighting crime and evil aces.

While we don't see "typical" hero versus villain fights much in the books, they do happen, as witnessed by the prison full of very dangerous Ace criminals, who committed crimes and were arrested by Ace heroes.

More ideas... a hero using the motif of famous local pirate Jean Lafitte in some way, maybe even the Ghost of Jean Lafitte.  Some sort of energy blast, fired through model flintlock pistols for style, or a ghostly blade power, or intangibility. 

An electrically-powered super speedster. 

[Angie]

I do like superheroes...I'm not super familiar with the setting, but I can probably give one of the books a read and get an idea. I have an idea in mind already, actually, though I'll have to give the setting a once over to see if "Arcane Heroes" are a thing.

[Sally Aces]

All powers are possible, so yes, Arcane Heroes are a thing. One caveat, although you'll be using magic, all powers have the same source, the Wild Card Virus. In a nutshell, aliens much like us genetically, decided to test a new weapon on us humans to see if they could safely induce superpowers into people. So they dropped a bomb that released the virus which is an airborne pathogen, so folks all over the world started to 'draw their Card'.

Draw an Ace - welcome to the Superhero club
Draw a Deuce - minor powers are yours to command
Draw the Joker - you're twisted into something horrible to behold
    There are Joker-Aces, monstrous individuals whose deformities afford them useful powers.

[Angie]

All powers are possible, so yes, Arcane Heroes are a thing. One caveat, although you'll be using magic, all powers have the same source, the Wild Card Virus. In a nutshell, aliens much like us genetically, decided to test a new weapon on us humans to see if they could safely induce superpowers into people. So they dropped a bomb that released the virus which is an airborne pathogen, so folks all over the world started to 'draw their Card'.

Draw an Ace - welcome to the Superhero club
Draw a Deuce - minor powers are yours to command
Draw the Joker - you're twisted into something horrible to behold
    There are Joker-Aces, monstrous individuals whose deformities afford them useful powers.

Sounds like the craziest game of Deadlands ever played (anyone ever played that besides me?)

I can either go with "arcane" (energy blasting) or a more draconic bent. Both work for this particular character. Is it possible to do an Ace whose body has been altered by the virus, but not enough for full Joker status?

[Sally Aces]

People are fickle... if you look like a Joker... So it all depends on how monstrous you look... mostly human but with dragon wings = demon in most people's eyes... bird wings=Angel, so not Joker, so not fair, right?

So, the changes should be A) minor and B) culturally appealing, if you want to be accepted as an Ace, make sense?

Bigotry and prejudice are huge themes in the Wild Card books. I won't go over the top with it, but it's not a world where monster-boys/girls are accepted as 'good' easily.

[Angie]

People are fickle... if you look like a Joker... So it all depends on how monstrous you look... mostly human but with dragon wings = demon in most people's eyes... bird wings=Angel, so not Joker, so not fair, right?

So, the changes should be A) minor and B) culturally appealing, if you want to be accepted as an Ace, make sense?

Bigotry and prejudice are huge themes in the Wild Card books. I won't go over the top with it, but it's not a world where monster-boys/girls are accepted as 'good' easily.

It's fair enough, and to be expected from a GRRM brainchild. I'll read over the M&M book and see what jumps out at me.

EDIT: The original idea was scrapped. We're going with a Light Elemental theme instead, and definitely more Ace then anything.

[Angie]

I apologize for double posting, but at the numbers add up, the character takes shape.

Initial Idea/Draft/Whatever: An EMT who grew up with a very optimistic outlook on life, and while she is wise enough to not expect everyone to act like she does, she will hold on to the few principles she keeps with an iron will ("We must do what we can to help others", "Just because others take advantage or act like criminals does not mean I must do the same", "Heal first, fight later"). Her powers only emerged a year ago, and she struggles to learn how to control her impressive mastery of light while also balancing it with her professional civilian life. Her fellow EMTs know of her powers, as some time during their emergence, she healed a man who was on the brink of death with an impressive outpouring of pure light from her hands. She doesn't want to get involved in things on the "superpowered" stage and wants to be left alone-of course, she's in a Mutants and Masterminds game, so that's not going to happen, but at least she's trying to stay out of the spotlight...

[TFcommando]

The Ace/Joker thing is inconsistent and arbitrary at best and, as mentioned, pretty much based on appearance. 

There's a beautiful woman with wings and a guy with a fox tail and kitsune powers, both of whom had TV jobs and were regarded as Aces, though technically they were jokers, with non-human physical mutations.  There's a guy who's 9 feet tall and super strong, but with warty green skin (and naturally called Troll) who's regarded as a Joker-Ace, a term used for Jokers with notable powers.   Egypt has a lot of people manifesting the power or appearance of Egyptian gods, including animal-headed types (who have no powers).  They're revered locally because of their cultural symbolism even though they're jokers.

One character that might have a concept of interest to you was someone born a hermaphrodite, the natural kind, and raised as/identifying as male.  When his card turned, he had a unique ability.  During the day, he could turn into a very attractive man and teleport anywhere on Earth where the sun was up.  At night, he turned into a very attractive woman who could teleport anywhere the sun was down.  During twilight (And maybe dawn), he reverted to his natural form.  A British secret service agent, he used both other forms as cover IDs to infiltrate different groups.

When the virus activates and empowers someone, it often works off of their desires, conscious or not, and creates rules and limitations the same way.  Someone was being introduced to tantric ritual sex when his card turned and it make sex magic work for him.  He needed to study the books and charge up via sex to fuel his magic, though said magic didn't work for anyone else, even though it was real for him. 

[Angie]

The Ace/Joker thing is inconsistent and arbitrary at best and, as mentioned, pretty much based on appearance. 

There's a beautiful woman with wings and a guy with a fox tail and kitsune powers, both of whom had TV jobs and were regarded as Aces, though technically they were jokers, with non-human physical mutations.  There's a guy who's 9 feet tall and super strong, but with warty green skin (and naturally called Troll) who's regarded as a Joker-Ace, a term used for Jokers with notable powers.   Egypt has a lot of people manifesting the power or appearance of Egyptian gods, including animal-headed types (who have no powers).  They're revered locally because of their cultural symbolism even though they're jokers.

One character that might have a concept of interest to you was someone born a hermaphrodite, the natural kind, and raised as/identifying as male.  When his card turned, he had a unique ability.  During the day, he could turn into a very attractive man and teleport anywhere on Earth where the sun was up.  At night, he turned into a very attractive woman who could teleport anywhere the sun was down.  During twilight (And maybe dawn), he reverted to his natural form.  A British secret service agent, he used both other forms as cover IDs to infiltrate different groups.

When the virus activates and empowers someone, it often works off of their desires, conscious or not, and creates rules and limitations the same way.  Someone was being introduced to tantric ritual sex when his card turned and it make sex magic work for him.  He needed to study the books and charge up via sex to fuel his magic, though said magic didn't work for anyone else, even though it was real for him.

Darling, I know we've had lots of fun on other sites with similar characters, but this is not that. I've approached this setting (what little I comprehend) and this ruleset with a different frame of mind.

That said, the whole 'works off their desires' fits Tina like a glove for this. What does she have? Healing powers (because she wants to help others), Super Strength (to help people who are covered in rubble and they can't otherwise get to), Teleportation and flight (to get to places where she's needed) and a host of other light based powers (because light is inspiring). I might throw in a few things where her powers fail to work if she doesn't uphold her principles...

[Sally Aces]

I apologize for double posting, but at the numbers add up, the character takes shape.

Initial Idea/Draft/Whatever: An EMT who grew up with a very optimistic outlook on life, and while she is wise enough to not expect everyone to act like she does, she will hold on to the few principles she keeps with an iron will ("We must do what we can to help others", "Just because others take advantage or act like criminals does not mean I must do the same", "Heal first, fight later"). Her powers only emerged a year ago, and she struggles to learn how to control her impressive mastery of light while also balancing it with her professional civilian life. Her fellow EMTs know of her powers, as some time during their emergence, she healed a man who was on the brink of death with an impressive outpouring of pure light from her hands. She doesn't want to get involved in things on the "superpowered" stage and wants to be left alone-of course, she's in a Mutants and Masterminds game, so that's not going to happen, but at least she's trying to stay out of the spotlight...

I like her, I feel she could be fun to have in the game. She mirrors to other characters, one who has to live by a code of honor and other with a medical background, but that's fine.

I will ask you to ditch the healing power though as it's the schtick of another Ace. If you want it in her backstory it could be something she's never been able to do again (Mechanicswise, it was something you spent a Hero Point to do) She could have used her light powers to save her peers from an attack, falling buildings etc.

Does that still work for you?

[Angie]

I like her, I feel she could be fun to have in the game. She mirrors to other characters, one who has to live by a code of honor and other with a medical background, but that's fine.

I will ask you to ditch the healing power though as it's the schtick of another Ace. If you want it in her backstory it could be something she's never been able to do again (Mechanicswise, it was something you spent a Hero Point to do) She could have used her light powers to save her peers from an attack, falling buildings etc.

Does that still work for you?

That can be done. The healing was part of an array, so replacing it is really easy (Light Control Array). Really, as long as the backstory is fine with the GM, the numbers can be anything.

[eternaldarkness]

Ooh, another light-themed character. This should be interesting. As a matter of fact, if anyone wants to come up with possible shared background/connection, I give you

Kevin Carter - the Amazing Photon Man

Name: Kevin Carter
Code Name: Photon Man
Aliases: Carter, slick, wormy
Identity: Public (Known Ace)

PL: 6 PP:  spent 114 of 114

Ability Scores: 10 pp
Str: 10/16*  (+0/+3)
Dex: 12/18*  (+1/+4)
Con: 10/16*  (+0/+3)
Int: 12         (+1)
Wis: 10/16*  (+0/+3)
Cha: 16        (+3)

Trade-Offs: Defense -3/Toughness +3. Attack -3/Save DC +3.

Saves: 0 pp
TOUGHNESS                                 FORTITUDE            REFLEX                  WILL
0 Ranks (+0/+9 Impervious*)       0 Ranks (+0/+6*)   0 Ranks (+0/+6*)  0 Ranks (+0/+6*)

"Wanna know what Carter's real superpower is? He can talk his way out of anything."
-Renee St. Raphael

Skills: 7 pp (24 Ranks)
Bluff 8 ranks (+11)
Gather Information 4 ranks (+7)
Knowledge (Streetwise) 4 ranks (+5)
Notice 2 ranks (+2/+5*)
Sense Motive 4 ranks (+4/+7*)
Sleight of Hand 4 ranks (+5/+8*)
Stealth 2 ranks (+3/+6*)

*Bonus at full power

Feats: 5 pp
Attractive. Connected. Contacts. Fascinate 1 (Bluff). Interpose.

Powers: 82 pp
Photon Manipulation
Light Control 6 Ranks
Cost: 8 pp/rank (48) + 4 AP + 24 other powers + 4 Power feats = 80 pp Total)
Alternate Powers: Blast. Create Object (hard light constructs). Dazzle (visual). Obscure (visual, blinding light).
Extras: Enhanced Strength. Enhanced Dexterity. Enhanced Constitution. Enhanced Wisdom. Flight. Super-Senses (Ultra-Hearing 1 rank, Ultravision 1 rank, X-Ray Vision 4 ranks). Super-Strength. Total Fade.
Partial Extras: Impervious Toughness 9. Immunity 9 (Life Support). Toughness 3. Strike 3.
Flaws: Fades.
Limited - Only while acting heroically (Powers deactivate immediately when he is performing self-serving acts or being generally unheroic).
Power Feats: Power Attack. Quick Change (Instantly transform into costumed identity). Takedown Attack 2.

Combat: 12 pp
Attack +3, Damage +0/+9 (While powers are active) Unarmed, Defense +3, Initiative +0

Complications
Criminal Past - Carter is a lifelong criminal, having committed various acts of theft from burglary to arms dealing to shoplifting. Notably, he has avoided crimes like human trafficking and drug dealing. But his criminal associates often call on him to do just one more job, despite his attempts to go straight.

Renee - Renee St. Raphael is the only person Carter loves more than himself, and he will go to any lengths to protect her and take care of her, but this causes him no end of problems, since she could be used to manipulate him by kidnapping her or otherwise putting her in danger.

"One time, a ...client... decided to get a little rough with me. He beat me up pretty bad, broke my jaw. Well, Carter found out, hunted him down, and broke his....everything. Poor bastard was in a full body cast for months, and last i heard he's still eatin' all his food through a straw."
-Renee

Drawbacks
Borrowed Time (Very Common, Moderate +4 PP) Carter's powers are slowly killing him, and the moment he stops using them, either because his time ran out or because they were nullified or lost due to unheroic actions he must make a d20 roll against DC 10 or be immediately Fatigued.

"Damnit, Carter, don't be stupid! Every time you use your powers you come here coughin' up blood and lookin' like death himself! You can't keep doin' this shit!"
-Renee

Equipment: None.

Important Statistics and Facts
-Flight Speed: 500 MPH normal, 1,000 MPH accelerated (approx.33% faster than the speed of sound), 2,000 MPH all-out (nearly triple the speed of sound)

-Lift/Carry (Approximate) at full effective lifting strength of 46: Light - 2 tons. Medium - 4 tons. Heavy - 6 tons. Max Load - 12 tons. Push/Drag - 30 tons. Examples: Lear jet, subway car

-Power Fade Time: Eight minutes and twelve seconds (or 82 combat rounds) until total power loss, requiring at least an hour absorbing photonic energy before being usable again.

-Senses: Can see ultraviolet light, allowing him to see normally at night by the light of the stars or other UV light sources, see through solid objects as if they weren’t there and hear very high and low frequency sounds, like dog whistles or ultrasonic signals.

Actions that count as 'not heroic'
-Stealing for reasons other than heroic (taking a doomsday device or death ray from a villain doesn't count).
-Killing for any reason whatsoever.
-Using his powers for personal profit (No endorsement deals).
-Anything else that makes sense or violates the spirit of four-color comic morality.

Power Point Expenditures: Abilities 6 + Skills 7 (28 ranks) + Feats 5 + Powers 80  + Combat 12 + Saves 0 - 4 Drawbacks = 114 pp

Bio
"The rest of the world knows him as the Amazing Photon Man, but i've known him as long as i can remember, and lemme tell you he's not how everyone sees him. There's two things you need to know about Kevin Carter: First is that he's a born crook. He can't help it; looking for a score or an angle is just in his nature, and that'll never change. The second thing is that he's got a heart of gold.

Sure, he's a thief. But he's never hurt anyone that wasn't hurting him or somebody else, and he doesn't take from anybody that can't afford it. He's a good person with bad habits who keeps bad company, and I love him to death. He can do good and be a real hero, i know he can. Too bad he doesn't know it."

-Renee St. Raphael, high-class prostitute and on-again, off-again girlfriend of Kevin Carter

Power Description
Kevin Carter was once one of the most powerful Aces to ever exist, able to perform a staggering variety of incredible feats seemingly without limit, but since his powers failed over a decade ago he has been significantly weakened.
Carter is able to psionically manipulate Photons and related energies in the electromagnetic spectrum, giving him vast power over energy and force and allowing him to perform feats that are the stuff of legend. At his full power he
was fast enough to circle the earth in less than a minute and strong and durable enough to hold up a collapsing, burning skyscraper long enough for all within to be rescued by firefighters (one of the few truly heroic feats he has ever performed).

Carter could also emit beams of focused light from his eyes and had senses enhanced far beyond those of an ordinary person, with sight keen enough to see the vibrations in the air created by movement and hearing sensitive enough to listen to a whispered conversation from several miles away, among other awe-inspiring feats.

Now, his power is greatly reduced, as his powers are directly tied to his sense of self, and he currently believes himself to be unworthy of the power he once wielded (And even that which he currently has). His powers last only as long as he is using them to perform heroic acts, and even then only for a few minutes at a time. In addition, each time he uses his powers it seems to take a bit of his life force, killing him a little at a time.

[Sally Aces]

I immediately thought that perhaps Kevin might, at some point decide that the Photon 'Man' legacy had chosen a new person to hold that Card... maybe he's too far gone to be redeemed with a new, young, good Bright light in the sky...

Or... they could have a family tie of some sort...

Oh the possibilities

[Angie]

Hmmm, well, since there are other characters who are so similar, I wonder if I should go with the backup idea and do a Deuce character whose powers are limited to heavy regeneration and toughness, and gets by with lots of guns. Do people mind having similar setups/powers?

[eternaldarkness]

I immediately thought that perhaps Kevin might, at some point decide that the Photon 'Man' legacy had chosen a new person to hold that Card... maybe he's too far gone to be redeemed with a new, young, good Bright light in the sky...

Or... they could have a family tie of some sort...

Oh the possibilities

I dig this like crazy, if Angie is up for it. It'd be a great way to give this experienced Ace with shady leanings a reason to hang around, and it fits perfectly. Maybe he's looking for an excuse to really retire, and with someone appearing who seems like a near-perfect replacement, it's like a message from on high to hang it up. Eventually. After he's made sure the new kid is up to it.

[Angie]

I dig this like crazy, if Angie is up for it. It'd be a great way to give this experienced Ace with shady leanings a reason to hang around, and it fits perfectly. Maybe he's looking for an excuse to really retire, and with someone appearing who seems like a near-perfect replacement, it's like a message from on high to hang it up. Eventually. After he's made sure the new kid is up to it.

Well, that answers my question. Without the Healing, I'm edging her code of conduct to be "protect the people actually doing the healing/rescuing" instead, so Carter will at least be happy to know she ACTS heroic...whether or not she has the powers and ability to actually pull it off is a different story, especially considering she wants no part of the superhero world.

So, a guy who wants to leave and a girl that doesn't want to enter. That should be interesting.

[Sally Aces]

So much lovely drama already, me likee... and your 'protect those who heal the broken' could fit nicely with the other EMT...

[Angie]

Whoever this other EMT is, feel free to message me, since her powers first manifested while on the job and gossip spread like wildfire. We can do some connections if you feel like it!

[keyotess]

I am working on getting approval for a character, she is bending the rules a little bit, but hopefully not in a broken manner! :)  Just waiting to hear back from Sally Aces before I say what she is.

[Angie]

So, here's the current sheet (and GM, feel free to smack me down for this). I haven't played much with M&M, but this is what I feel fits the character. The numbers in parenthesis are how many power points were spent on it.

Sheety goodness!

Abilities:

STR 10
12 DEX (2) +1
20 CON (10) +5
12 INT (2) +1
16 WIS (6) +3
18 CHA (8) +4

Attack Bonus: +5 (10)
Defense Bonus: +4 (8)

Nothing added to saves (0)

Skills: 40 (10)
Concentration +4
Diplomacy +8
Knowledge (Civics) +2
Knowledge (Life Sciences) +2
Medicine +11
Profession (EMT) +5
Sense Motive +8

Feats:
Inspire 3 (+3 bonus,  4 allies can be affected) (3)
Skill Master (Medicine, Diplomacy, Sense Motive, Profession (EMT)) (1)

Powers:
Alternate Form 6 (Energy, Light) (30)
   Flight 3 (50 MPH) (6)
   Immunity 3 (Immune to suffocation(2), Light energy attacks(1)) (3)
   Insubstantial 3 (pass through solid objects, no STR, immune to physical damage, energy still hurts, energy barriers block) (15)
   Teleport 3 (Medium required: Artificial Light) (Accurate)  (6)
   Teleport is 300 feet as a move, 1000 feet as an extended
Light Control 6 (12) (+2 for Power Feats)
   Array: Blast 6 (Light Energy) (12)
   Array: Dazzle 6 (Visual only) (12)
Super Strength +3 (6)

This is just a first draft, to be sure, but, what do you all think? Here teleportation power has to have a Medium with which to work by the limits of Alternate Form, and I thought Light was too powerful, so I made it "Artificial Light" because, well, being able to teleport around in ALL light (or even just sunlight) felt too much.

[Caradoc]

I have, as I understand it, my concept approved. I don't have the sheet done because my computer doesn't like these sheets, but I'll do battle with that another time. Sounds like this is shaping up to be a lot of fun.

[Angie]

I have, as I understand it, my concept approved. I don't have the sheet done because my computer doesn't like these sheets, but I'll do battle with that another time. Sounds like this is shaping up to be a lot of fun.

I wrote it all down in Notepad (well, OneNote) before just copy pasting. Just something to consider, as long as it's written down, we can make it look pretty another time.

[keyotess]

Thanks for posting your character Angiejuusan, this helps to make sure we don't step on each others specialities. :)  And she will be able to get to people who need help quickly! :)

[Angie]

Thanks for posting your character Angiejuusan, this helps to make sure we don't step on each others specialities. :)  And she will be able to get to people who need help quickly! :)

I kinda already am stepping on both Caradoc's and eternaldarkness's specialties, but we've chatted and they cool. Seeing as how she has Insubstantial, in Alt Form, I'm thinking of dropping the "immune to suffocation" power and making Flight 4 ranks, so that she can max out at 100 MPH and get to places faster than the ambulance does it (and she also doesn't have to worry about traffic...).

Anyway, I'm finishing some stuff up and asking for GM approval on some things, I'll get back when it's REALLY done.

[Muse]

  Hello all!  is there still room for me? 

  Hi Angie, great to see you again. 

  I have some idea of what powers people are rolling.  Can someone give me an idea of what the gender ballance is?  (And orientation.) 

[keyotess]

My heroine is female, lesbian and still under review but looks good for duplication.

[Sally Aces]

So, here's the link to the OOC thread

Please post there and introduce yourself by sharing:

Card Drawn: (Ace, Joker, Deuce, Nat, Joker-Ace)
Gender: (Ace, Joker, Deuce, Nat, Joker-Ace)
Orientation: (You know the drill)
Brief Character Concept: (3 sentences about the character you want to play)
Something they love: (can be sublime, silly or serious)
Something they put off doing: (can be sublime, silly or serious)

[Angie]

Alright, so, revised sheet!

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

15 STR (5) +2                       
12 DEX (2) +1
20 CON (10) +5
12 INT (2) +1
16 WIS (6) +3
18 CHA (8) +4

Attack Bonus: +5 (10)
Defense Bonus: +4 (8)

Saves: Fort +4 (Total +9) (4)
Reflex +4 (Total +5) (4)
Will +4 (Total +7) (4)

Skill points: 40 (10)
Concentration +4
Diplomacy +8
Knowledge (Civics) +2
Knowledge (Life Sciences) +2
Medicine +11
Profession (EMT) +5
Sense Motive +8

Feats:
Inspire 3 (+3 bonus,  4 allies can be affected)
Skill Master (Medicine, Diplomacy, Sense Motive, Profession (EMT))

Alternate Form 6 (Energy, Light) (12) (-3 per rank for costing a Full Action) (30 points for powers in her Alt Form)
   Flight 12 (50,000 MPH) (24)
   Immunity 6 (Immune to: Suffocation (2), Poison (1), Light Energy Attacks (2), Radiation (1)) (6)
Light Control 6 (12) (+2 for Power Feats)
   Array: Blast 6 (Light Energy) (12)
   Dazzle 6 (Visual only) (12)
Super Strength 5 (10)


Allegiances
   Tulane Medical Center
   Belief: Human life must be protected (i.e. no killing)
   Moral: Always aid the wounded when you can.
   
Motivation: Protect the weak and the innocent.

Complications:
   Honor (must always aid the wounded, even if the villain is rampaging through Downtown)

Drawbacks:
   Vulnerable (Shadow Energy, any attack with a Shadow/Darkness descriptor hurts twice as much) (Major) (-3)

Suggestions for extra Complications are welcome, by the by.

[TFcommando]

One thing you might want to look at for her is the Precise extra on the Blast.  That'd let her use it as a tool for medical work.  Though it could also be temporarily gained with a hero point when the situation called for it, if it's not a trick she can do all the time.

Narrowing things down for the background, motivation and nature of a sorceress character on my end.  Not a public hero who appears on TV and has endorsements, but known to people who might need to contact her.  Still torn between normal human appearance, a satyr or naga joker type or normal human with a complication where horns and such grow in for a while when she pushes her powers. 

[Sally Aces]

Narrowing things down for the background, motivation and nature of a sorceress character on my end.  Not a public hero who appears on TV and has endorsements, but known to people who might need to contact her.  Still torn between normal human appearance, a satyr or naga joker type or normal human with a complication where horns and such grow in for a while when she pushes her powers.

Sounds good to me. I really like the idea of a sorceress who becomes less human looking the more she pushes her powers. Maybe buy some ranks of magic with no modifications, then by some with Side-Effect: Uncontrollable Morph giving me leeway to play with how she looks to reflect the power she's drawing on that is beyond her control. We can discuss this via PM if you'd like TF

[Angie]

One thing you might want to look at for her is the Precise extra on the Blast.  That'd let her use it as a tool for medical work.  Though it could also be temporarily gained with a hero point when the situation called for it, if it's not a trick she can do all the time.

While possible, I'm not sure how useful it would be. It's Light-it's damaging light, but it's light. It can't cauterize wounds, it can't heal without the healing power, it can't sew wounds shut (that would probably be create object), it's a blast of light to the face that hurts. Basically I'd be taking it for the benefits of precise shot and nothing more. Unless the GM sees what you're seeing and I'm not seeing it.

[TFcommando]

While possible, I'm not sure how useful it would be. It's Light-it's damaging light, but it's light. It can't cauterize wounds, it can't heal without the healing power, it can't sew wounds shut (that would probably be create object), it's a blast of light to the face that hurts. Basically I'd be taking it for the benefits of precise shot and nothing more. Unless the GM sees what you're seeing and I'm not seeing it.

It's not like a laser then?  That was the impression I had. 

In any case, Precise and Precise Shot are two different things, Precise is on page 109.  For Precise Damage, it could work as improvised tools for certain medical applications, slicing through things that people are stuck on or vaporizing a bullet inside a wound instead of yanking it out

[Angie]

It's not like a laser then?  That was the impression I had. 

In any case, Precise and Precise Shot are two different things, Precise is on page 109.  For Precise Damage, it could work as improvised tools for certain medical applications, slicing through things that people are stuck on or vaporizing a bullet inside a wound instead of yanking it out

It might work as a laser. I'm not sure, but I was picturing the Blast being balls of light-insert your own balls joke here.

Also the Precise power feat flat out says "An attack effect with the Precise modifier gains the benefit of Precise Shot". Which may be useful because I'm sure a few of you are going to mix it up in melee a lot.

[Angie]

Has anyone heard from Sally Aces recently? She's been MIA for a while.

[keyotess]

The last I heard from her, she was travelling lots, so doesn't have reliable internet access.   Hopefully she gets home soon.

[Sally Aces]

Sorry for the poofing. I got home, then got slammed by all the pesky things one neglects when traveling. I'm around and will reply to PMs and such over the weekend.

[Caradoc]

Back from Con and still very interested if this gets going.

[LordRod]

You are fine, since I was sick a lot longer than I anticipated

[LordRod]

Alright I will start to work on this again tomorrow.  The duality is not as easy in 2ee as I had hoped.

[keyotess]

Welcome back from Con, Caradoc and glad you are feeling better LordRod.

[Muse]

Ditto.  :) 

[Caradoc]

So... where are we on this? Still happening?

[Angie]

So... where are we on this? Still happening?

We have an OOC thread down in NC: Exotic...have you seen it yet? I'm not sure if you posted in there. I think we're just waiting for Sally to start up the IC.

[keyotess]

Yup and she is probably buried in character sheets!

[Caradoc]

We have an OOC thread down in NC: Exotic...have you seen it yet? I'm not sure if you posted in there. I think we're just waiting for Sally to start up the IC.

oops. No. Missed that. Going to go look for it.

[Caradoc]

Any news?

[keyotess]

Unfortunately not :(

[Caradoc]

Hmmm.... she hasn't been on since May 20th according to her profile. This bodes ill.

[keyotess]

Yeah. :(

[Muse]

  Not as ill as it would bode if she was on daily and ignoring this game. 

  We all hope you're okay, Sally! 

[Kyra tg]

Anyone still interested in this? Wouldn’t mind GMing and trying to kick start a group game based on this universe. Could be Nats, Latents, Jokers, Aces, Dueces etc. was thinking that there might be a fresh outbreak in a new city. Not really interested in rules / game mechanics.

@Wenterburn