https://plus.google.com/+TomTysonbluetyson/posts/28K5BV2qUik?_utm_source=1-2-2
Converting Mighty Protectors to FASERIP
FASERIP Dice Roller
Perl program to produce FASERIP rolls of all the different types and ranks.
Marvel Superheroes – Cthulhu Rising
FATE: Marvel Superheroes - Cthulhu Rising
The End of the World As We Know It. Unless a desperate superhero strike force with one last chance can finish a ritual to banish the big Old Octopus God. Only problem is to do that they need to get to R'lyeh.
Draft 1.0 April 17, 2013 - Blue Tyson
SETTING
The near Marvel future. The crazed cultists have won. A successful ritual summoning has brought back an Old One, wreaking havoc. Heroes struggle to shepherd survivors if they are still alive. Nick Fury is on the run, attempting to coordinate a global resistance. Reed Richards and Tony Stark are holed up in the negative zone, at a loss as to what to do. An exhausted Doctor Strange survives on stimulants and the life energy of a few acolytes trying to buy enough time before dimensional barriers are completely breached. Storm and Emma Frost lead mobile mutant strike and rescue teams, fighting Shoggoths and other horrors. Namor leads his people in holding off a Deep One invasion.
Forge is the man with the plan. A small, versatile team on a lightning raid to R'lyeh. Then help him finish a ritual to banish the badness. The one problem: it requires a blood sacrifice. One of the heroes must die.
ISSUES
Send the Elder God back
Not Everyone Gets Out Alive
Getting Out Dead Could Be Even Worse
THE PLAYERS
The Hulk
Doctor Banner, melted by Gamma Rays
You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry
It's Not Easy Being Green
Hulk Smash
F: Remarkable +3
A: Good +1
S: Unearthly +7 [Super Strength +5]
E: Monstrous +6 [Super Endurance +3]
R: Feeble -2
I: Typical +0
P: Remarkable +3
Resources Feeble (-2)
Popularity -Good (-1)
Other Skills
Class 1000 (+11) Invulnerability: Cold, Heat, Fire, Disease
Unearthly (+7) Super Movement: Leaping only up to 50 zones a turn
Monstrous (+6) Body Armor: Physical, Astral Detection
Amazing (+5) Body Armor: Energy
Stunts
Anger Surge: Hulk gets mad when fighting the same people for multiple turns. Each turn his Fighting and Strength go up +1 to a maximum of +10. When that fight is over he returns to the normal Hulk state.
Alter Ego Bruce Banner
F: Poor -1
A: Typical +0
S: Typical +0
E: Typical +0
R: Remarkable +3
I: Good +1
P: Typical +0
Other Skills
Incredible (+4) Physics
Invisible Woman
Mother of a Mutant
A Thing For Namor
F: Good +1
A: Good +1
S: Typical +0
E: Remarkable +3
R: Good +1
I: Excellent +2
P: Good +1
Resources Remarkable (+3)
Popularity Amazing (+5)
Other Skills
Monstrous (+6) Force Field: one zone
Excellent (+2) Invisibility, Martial Arts
Good (+1) Academics, Science
Typical (+0) Flight
Wolverine
Canadian curmudgeon
Having a skeleton implant at a secret science base was rather traumatic
Berserk killer
Loves a beer and a smoke
F: Incredible +4
A: Remarkable +3
S: Good +1
E: Remarkable +3
R: Typical +0
I: Monstrous +6 [Super Intuition +3]
P: Incredible +4
Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity Typical (+0)
Other Skills
Class 1000 (+11) Claws vs non-living will cut through anything up to Class 1000
Unearthly (+7) Resistance: Poison, Disease
Monstrous (+6) Tracking
Amazing (+5) Martial Arts, Sword
Remarkable (+3) Regeneration (requires rest). Between scenes anything up to Severe Consequences may be healed on a roll. Severe consequence requires a day's rest to remove.
Excellent (+2) Claws vs living, Contacts, Espionage
Good (+1) Adamantium Skeleton bonus damage when using body parts as weapons
Black Widow
I was a teenage Soviet Super Soldier. It sucked.
The old ballerina as spy cover story.
F: Incredible +4
A: Remarkable +3
S: Good +1
E: Excellent +2
R: Good +1
I: Incredible +4 [Super Intuition +1]
P: Excellent +2
Resources Good (+1)
Popularity Remarkble (+3)
Other Skills
Remarkable (+3) Wallcrawling: via costume, Explosives: via belt
Amazing (+5) Martial Arts, Widow's Bite - Damge: Energy (+2); Gas (+2); 3 zone grappling hook; radio
Excellent (+2) Contacts, Detective, Espionage, Military
Namorita
Atlantean Earth Slummer
F: Remarkable +3
A: Remarkable +3
S: Amazing +5 [Super Strength +3]
E: Remarkable +3
R: Typical +0
I: Excellent +2
P: Excellent +2
Resources Good (+1)
Popularity Good (+1)
Other Skills
Excellent (+2) Ocean Sciences
Good (+1) Body Armour: Physical, Science
Poor (-1) Flight
Stunts
Atlanteans can breathe underwater and are cold resistant and swim like fish.
Forge
Former Soldier
Short A Leg
Blood and Souls
F: Good +1
A: Good +1
S: Good +1
E: Excellent +2
R: Incredible +4 [Super Reason +1]
I: Good +1
P: Amazing +5 [Super Psyche +1]
Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity Good (+1)
Other Skills
Unearthly (+7) Optics
Monstrous (+6) Magic: Dimensional opening and sealing ritual only
Amazing (+5) Inventing: Jury Rig pretty much anything he thinks of, Cybernetics, Electronics
Incredible (+4) Spirit Sight
Stunts
Headquarters
Scarlet Witch
I should be so lucky
My father is a bad, bad man
Recovering Insane Genocidal Maniac
No, you really can't breed with a robot
F: Good +1
A: Good +1
S: Typical +0
E: Excellent +2
R: Good +1
I: Excellent +2
P: Remarkable +3
Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity Good (+1)
Other Skills
Amazing (+5) Probability Alteration: Can cause unlikely things to happen on a roll
Excellent (+2) Mysteries, Occult, Magic: General sorcery and Eldritch bolts, Shields are Incredible (+4)
Good (+1) Telekinesis
Cthulhu Cultist
Fan of gibbering horror
F: Typical +0
A: Typical +0
S: Typical +0
E: Typical +0
R: Poor -1
I: Poor -1
P: Good +1
Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity Typical (+0)
Other Skills
Occult (+1)
Or treat as Typical (+0) mooks.
Deep One
Amphibious Old One Servants
F: Typical +0
A: Typical +0
S: Good +1
E: Typical +0
R: Good +1
I: Typical +0
P: Typical +0
Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity Typical (+0)
Other Skills
Good (+1) Body Amour, Claws, Spear, Magic (possibly)
Stunts
Water breathing
Or treat as Good (+1) mooks.
Shoggoth
5 metre around nasty blob horror
Steadfast guardian
F: Typical +0
A: Abysmal -3
S: Incredible +4
E: Remarkable +3
R: Poor -1
I: Poor -1
P: Typical +0
Other Skills
Excellent (+2): Body Armour: Energy, Radiation
Good (+1) Body Armour: Physical (smooshy and snotty)
Stunts
A Shoggoth can attack multiple targets in its area with no penalty. Tentacles. Many slimy tentacles.
Big Shoggoth
7 metre around nasty blob horror
Steadfast guardian
F: Typical +1
A: Abysmal -3
S: Amazing +5
E: Incredible +4
R: Poor -1
I: Poor -1
P: Typical +0
Other Skills
Remarkable (+3): Body Armour: Energy, Radiation
Excellent (+2) Body Armour: Physical (smooshy and snotty)
Stunts
A Shoggoth can attack multiple targets in its area with no penalty. Even bigger slimy tentacles.
ADVENTURING
Really designed as a one shot adventure, if they really liked the setting it could be Shoggoth and deep one and crazed cultist fighting time afterwards. Or engineering work, too. Or creepy Call of Cthulhu what did we miss style subplots for afterwards. Then the character that died comes back as an evil horror leader and really, really wants the rest of the heroes to join them.
If the players want to use their own characters and there are several, then suggestions:
A Brick [use a Forge kit bashed tech boost if the PC is not strong/hardy enough for the scenario] - Shoggoths are tough
Lethal Killers - for occupying servitors
Sneaky Types - for getting by and/or hiding others
Magic Users - for the ritual and support
Super Genius - for building guy and ancient languages
Protectors - that can use shields, forcefields, barrier creation
If only one PC is playing, just add them to the team if they want to use their own character.
Forge has kit bashed some gear to let the players survive underwater and Namorita is along for support, given her natural abilities. The gear could get damaged, particularly in a succeed with cost or taken out and other such combat scenarios. She could get someone that can’t breathe out at least alive. Allow them more standard type weapons that will work underwater if they want to take them. Spear guns, knives, swords, etc. Assume the gear warm will have an underwater knife in a calf sheath.
SCENARIO SEQUENCE
1. The Underwater City has been located, the players assemble off New England. Have a cultist patrol attack if you fancy a warmup.
2. The heroes must traverse an ever blackening sea, harassed by Deep Ones. Using lighting is a beacon to draw attacks with higher probability. Which they should quickly discover.
3. Finding the city might cause psyche checks to stay the course. Or Fate Points if they fail, to preserve their sanity.
4. Definitely a whole bunch of attackers to get through, or to delay while part of the group searches for the ritual site. Just some perhaps slightly tougher Deep Ones, even led by a Mage if more than one sorcery capable hero. Not enough to need a Brick though.
5. Traps. Give them at least one Indiana Jones or D&D classic to survive on entering the ritual chamber. Plus a spears from the wall trap. Deep Ones love their spears. Then one from the floor. And one from the ceiling. If you can't think of one, the classic stone in floor opens so you fall into a pit of slavering eldritch horrors works wonders.
6. The tough hero came for a reason. Shoggoths. If it is The Hulk, plenty of them and the chamber is big enough. Otherwise, enough to challenge our super strong friend. Shoggoths have tentacles, so even sneaking past gives them at least one chance to attack.
7. The idea is to get the ritual done, not beat all the Shoggoths. If the Hulk smashes them too quickly, throw some more at him, pile on with tougher ones even.
8. If two magic capable characters make it, the ritual can be performed more quickly with an easier difficulty. Having the main person doing the ritual sacrifice themselves during it will definitely go badly wrong if they are dumb enough. The assistant could, but will make a really nasty bad guy later when they return from the dead and the depths.
If only one original PC playing, the Black Widow will volunteer to take the ritual knife in the heart. Wolverine will overrule her, reasoning that there's a chance he will survive. Or anybody, if no-one is pretty much dead already. Whether having a pseudo immortal in the ritual messes it up slightly is a GM call. If he makes it back, maybe he has a hybrid infection. Hate Brood and Mythos then.
If the characters don't work out that using Fate Points etc. on the ritual roll is a good one, then becoming smooshed Shoggoth stains is pretty well deserved. If you are feeling nice, have a massive aquatic monster smash the walls in to give them a clue this is an even more desperate situation.
9. After a magical ritual in a trapped underwater city, of course it will fall down around their ears. So they have to survive rubble, any opponents in the city, a few on the way back and if feeling mean, an armed cultist welcoming party. Which a rather grumpy hero group is likely to treat very meanly. If they have done a good job and are almost dead, have someone else take them out. Otherwise, let Hulk smash puny humans.
THE LADDER
Being a big Marvel Super Heroes fan from way back, this is how I like to think:
Value Adjective
+13 Cosmic 5 (Class 5000)
+12 Cosmic 3 (Class 3000)
+11 Cosmic 1 (Class 1000)
+10 Legendary Z (Shift Z)
+9 Legendary Y (Shift Y)
+8 Legendary X (Shift X)
+7 Unearthly (Epic)
+6 Monstrous (Fantastic)
+5 Amazing (Superb)
+4 Incredible (Great)
+3 Remarkable (Good)
+2 Excellent (Fair)
+1 Good (Average)
+0 Typical (Mediocre)
-1 Poor
-2 Feeble (Terrible)
-3 Awful 0 (Shift 0)
-4 Abysmal
FASERIP - basic human attributes
Physique is split compared to Core, into a Strength component and an Endurance component, the latter of which should be used for the Stress track. Reason is native intelligence.
Fighting (Fight)
Agility (Athletics)
Strength
Endurance
Reason
Intuition (Notice)
Psyche (Will)
secondary
Popularity is a measure of charisma, reputation and public influence. If you like, bad people can have a negative popularity ladder equivalent. Supervillains, mass murderers, ruthless thugs in The Ball, etc.
Popularity
Resources
SCALE AND SUPERPOWERS
For any skill, the scale number is the automatic successes done when rolling. So Spider-Man is 4dF+2 when attempting a roll involving his Strength.
For superhuman abilities some simple tables.
FIGHTING
Above Amazing is superhuman, so Thor and Hercules roll 4dF+2 involving Fighting.
+08 C5
+07 C3
+06 C1
+05 SZ
+04 SY
+03 SX
+02 Un Thor, Hercules
+01 Mn Mephisto
AGILITY
Above Incredible is superhuman so the Silver Surfer rolls 4dF+1 for Agility.
+09 C5
+08 C3
+07 C1
+06 SZ
+05 SY
+04 SX
+03 Un Odin
+02 Mn Silver Surfer
+01 Am Spider-Man, Nightcrawler
STRENGTH
Above Excellent is superhuman so Spider-Man rolls 4dF+2 for Strength.
+11 C5 20^15 tonnes
+10 C3 20^13 tonnes Pre-Crisis Superman
+09 C1 20^10 tonnes
+08 SZ 200000 tonnes Post-Crisis Superman+, Shi'Ar Gladiator
+07 SY 20000 tonnes
+06 SX 2000 tonnes
+05 Un 200 tonnes Hulk, Thor, Hyperion
+04 Mn 100 tonnes Thing, She-Hulk, Submariner
+03 Am 50 tonnes Rogue
+02 In 10 tonnes Spider-Man, Iron Man
+01 Rm 1 tonne Power-Man, Beast
ENDURANCE
Above Remarkable is superhuman so She-Hulk rolls 4dF+2 for Endurance.
+10 C5
+09 C3
+08 C1
+07 SZ
+06 SY
+05 SX
+04 Un Silver Surfer, Thor
+03 Mn Hulk, Thing
+02 Am She-Hulk, Loki
+01 In Spider-Man
REASON
Above Remarkable is superhuman, so Mister Fantastic rolls 4dF+2 for Reason.
+10 C5
+09 C3
+08 C1
+07 SZ
+06 SY
+05 SX
+04 Un Watcher
+03 Mn Mephisto
+02 Am Mister Fantastic, Doctor Doom
+01 In Iron Man, Professor Xavier
INTUITION
Above Remarkable is superhuman, so Wolverine rolls 4dF+3 for Intuition.
+10 C5
+09 C3
+08 C1
+07 SZ
+06 SY
+05 SX
+04 Un Watcher
+03 Mn Daredevil, Wolverine
+02 Am Professor Xavier
+01 In Captain America
PSYCHE
Above Incredible is superhuman so Doctor Strange rolls 4dF+3 for Psyche.
+09 C5
+08 C3
+07 C1
+06 SZ
+05 SY
+04 SX
+03 Un Doctor Strange
+02 Mn Professor Xavier
+01 Am Marvel Girl
MOVEMENT
Super movement Zones per turn capability
Warp Speed +13 Cosmic 5 (Class 5000)
Lightspeed +12 Cosmic 3 (Class 3000)
Solar System +11 Cosmic 1 (Class 1000)
10000 +10 Legendary Z (Shift Z)
1000 +9 Legendary Y (Shift Y)
100 +8 Legendary X (Shift X)
50 +7 Unearthly (Epic)
30 +6 Monstrous (Fantastic)
25 +5 Amazing (Superb)
20 +4 Incredible (Great)
15 +3 Remarkable (Good)
10 +2 Excellent (Fair)
08 +1 Good (Average)
06 +0 Typical (Mediocre)
04 -1 Poor
02 -2 Feeble (Terrible)
01 -3 Awful 0 (Shift 0)
00 -4 Abysmal
REFERENCES
Cthulhu: Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cthulhu
Children of the Atom
The Marvel Super Heroes Advanced Set version of Project Wideawake, Children of the Atom called itself the official guidebook to mutants. That means the good and the bad. And there is a lot of bad in this one.
Angel, Avalanche, El Aguila, Aurora, — Ariel, Annalee, Ape, Apocalypse, Arcade, Amphibus, Acanti, Astra,
Banshee, Beast, Binary, — Black Bishop, Black King, Black Queen [Selene], Black Rook, Blob, Beautiful Dreamer, Burner, Black Tom, Barbarus, Brainchild, Brood,
Changeling, Colossus, Cyclops, Rusty Collins, Cannonball, Cypher, Lila Cheney, Dr Valerie Cooper, Peter Corbeau, Corsair, Ch’Od — Catseye, Chance, Callisto, Caliban, Joseph “Licorice” Calhoun, Mr Chambers,
Dazzler, — Destiny, Devil Dinosaur, Darkstar, Diamond Lil, Deathbird,
— Empath, Erg, Willie Evans Jr, Equilibrius, Earthquake, Electron,
Firestar, Forge, Sharon Friedlander, — Alexander Flynn, Frenzy, Flashback, Fenris [Andrea/Andreas Strucker], Fang,
Peter Henry Gyrich, — Gremlin, Gypsy Moth, Gaza, Gladiators, Gladiator,
Havok, Stevie Hunter, Hepzibah, — Healer, Cameron Hodge, Hobgoblin, Hussar,
Iceman, — Imperial Guard, Impulse,
Karma,
— Jetstream, Juggernaut,
Lockheed, Lilandra, — Lorelei, Leech, Link, Lifter, Legion, Miss Locke, Lady Deathstrike, Living Monolith, Lupo,
Magneto, Mimic, Marvel Girl, Arthur Maddicks, Magik, Magma, Mirage, Moira MacTaggert, — Mastermind, Mystique, Madrox, Moon Boy, Masque, Mandrill, Mesmero, Magus, Morlocks, Magic, Manta, Mentor, Midget,
Nightcrawler, Northstar, — Michael Nowlan, Nekra, Nuklo, Nightshade, Nimrod
Phoenix [original], Phoenix [current], Polaris, Professor X, — Pyro, Piper [Morlock, Plague, Poltergeist, Peeper, Proteus, Piper [Savage Land],
Quicksilver,
Oracle,
Quasar,
Rogue, Judith Rassendyll, Raza, — Roulette,
Shadowcat, Storm, Sunfire, Skids, Sunspot, Scarlet Witch, Amanda Sefton, Sikorsky, — Spider-Woman, Spiral, Siryn, Sunder, Slither, Shocker, Sabertooth, Silver Samurai, Sauron, Smasher, Starbolt, Sidri, Sentinels [Mark I-VI, X, Alpha, Omega,],
Thunderbird (original), Tattletale, — Tessa, Tarot, Thunderbird [current], Toad, Time Bomb, Tar Baby, Timeshadow, Taskmaster, Larry Trask, Tempest, Titan,
— Unus, Ursa Major,
— Vanisher, Vanguard, Viper [and agents,],
Mariko Yashida,
Wolverine, Warlock, Wolfsbane, Waldo — White Bishop, White King, White Queen, Whirlwind, Warstar,
Compare 100 pages of this to 200+ of Champions Worldwide. Great value character density thanks to the triple column format and simple but descriptive game stats of MSH. Best value monster manual style supplement I ever came across that wasn’t a GHOTMU.
It wasn’t just my imagination over the years how good a deal this one was :-
1.84 Character Density [Otherwise know as The Leader]
Enchantress of Venus
FATE: Enchantress of Venus
Or, a little more Planetary Romance for your life thanks to Leigh Brackett
Draft 1.0 April 11, 2013 - Blue Tyson
SETTING
Old Venus. Lush, dangerous jungles where the air can be too thick and heavy and mysterious, misty seas beyond which lie dangerous outposts of the primitive and ancient. Like on Mars, immigration from Earth is driving back the older native populations, sometimes violently.
ISSUES
Stark's friend the barbarian prince Helvi is missing!
What the hell is going on in Shuruun, the pirate city?
THE PLAYERS
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, Man-Without-a-Tribe
Outlaw of Mars and Earth
Wild Man of Mercury
Very Bad Girl Magnet
Fights For the Oppressed
F: Incredible +4
A: Remarkable +3
S: Excellent +2
E: Remarkable +3
R: Good +1
I: Incredible +4
P: Incredible +4
Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity -Excellent (-2)
Other Skills
Amazing (+5) Alertness, Sword, Spear
Incredible (+4) Intimidation, Survival
Excellent (+2) Contacts, Investigation, Ride, Swim
Good (+1) Guns, Stealth
Helvi
Barbarian prince of Yarell
Friend of Stark
Lost His Brother Tobal to Lhari Slavery
F: Excellent +2
A: Good +1
S: Good +1
E: Good +1
R: Typical +0
I: Typical +0
P: Good +1
Resources Excellent (+2)
Popularity Good (+1)
Other Skills
Amazing (+5) Alertness, Sword, Spear
Incredible (+4) Intimidation, Survival
Excellent (+2) Contacts, Investigation, Ride, Swim
Good (+1) Guns, Stealth
Malthor
Ship Captain
Secret Slaver For the Lhari
Would Even Sell His Daughter Into Slavery
F: Good +1
A: Good +1
S: Good +1
E: Good +1
R: Good +1
I: Good +1
P: Good +1
Resources Excellent (+2)
Popularity Excellent (+2)
Other Skills
Remarkable (+3) Sail
Excellent (+2) Deceit, Intimidate
Good (+1) Leadership
Mike Larrabee
Lame Earthman stuck in Shuruun
Known for the Royal Venus Bank Job
F: Typical +0
A: Poor -1
S: Typical +0
E: Good +1
R: Typical +0
I: Good +1
P: Typical +0
Resources Poor (-1)
Popularity Typical (0)
Other Skills
Remarkable (+3) Burglary
Good (+1) Leadership, Sail
Zareth
Young Daughter of Malthor
Too Brave For Her Own Good
More Honest than Dad Would Like
F: Poor -1
A: Good +1
S: Typical +0
E: Typical +0
R: Typical +0
I: Typical +0
P: Good +1
Resources Feeble (-2)
Popularity Typical (+0)
Other Skills
Excellent (+2) Rapport, Stealth
Grandmother
Lhari Matriarch
Hugely Massive and Fat
F: Awful -3
A: Awful -3
S: Typical +0
E: Poor -1
R: Excellent +2
I: Excellent +2
P: Remarkable +3
Resources Remarkable (+3)
Popularity -Remarkable (-3)
Other Skills
Remarkable (+3) Intimidate, Leadership
Varra
Lhari Falconer
Not Keen on Marrying Egil
Would Rather Like Most of Her Relatives Disposed Of
F: Good +1
A: Good +1
S: Good +1
E: Good +1
R: Excellent +2
I: Excellent +2
P: Excellent +2
Resources Excellent (+2)
Popularity -Excellent (-2)
Other Skills
Remarkable (+3) Falconry
Egil
Lhari Cruel Wannabe
Really Wants To Marry Varra
F: Good +1
A: Good +1
S: Good +1
E: Good +1
R: Typical +0
I: Typical +0
P: Typical +0
Resources Excellent (+2)
Popularity -Remarkable (-2)
Other Skills
Good (+1) Guns, Leadership
Cond
Lhari Cruel Double Wannabe
Egil's brother
F: Good +1
A: Typical
S: Good +1
E: Good +1
R: Poor -1
I: Poor -1
P: Poor -1
Resources Excellent (+2)
Popularity -Remarkable (-2)
Other Skills
Good (+1) Guns, Leadership
Arel
Lhari Useless One and Not Sad About It
Happy To Be Out of the Spotlight, She Is
F: Typical +0
A: Typical +0
S: Typical +0
E: Typical +0
R: Good +1
I: Good +1
P: Good +1
Resources Excellent (+2)
Popularity -Remarkable (-2)
Other Skills
Remarkable (+3) Falconry
Bor
Young Lhari
F: Typical (+0)
A: Good +1
S: Typical +0
E: Good +1
R: Typical +0
I: Typical +0
P: Typical +0
Resources Good (+1)
Popularity -Good (-1)
Other Skills
Excellent (+2) Reptile Handling
Treon
Deformed Llari
Deferential But Different
F: Poor (-1)
A: Poor (-1)
S: Typical +0
E: Typical +0
R: Excellent +2
I: Good +1
P: Typical +0
Resources Good (+1)
Popularity -Good (-1)
Other Skills
Excellent (+2) Lore, Mysteries
Lhari
Displaced ancient race of overoptimistic crazed slave rulers with a Frankenstein complex. Only a few remain thanks to past follies.
Nerve Gun (+3)
The Lhari weapon can be set to cause paralysis or death.
Lhari guards
Treat these as Good (+1) minions if doing important duties, Typical (+0) if not, armed with Nerve Guns and swords.
Lost Ones
Poor (-1) Overworked undersea slaves. In normal health, or those not worked too hard yet will be Typical +0 Venusians in general. Lhari tech lets them work, but not for too long. Housed in a camp and barracks and kept under control by collars and guards with Nerve Guns.
Slave Collar
Nerve Charge (+3)
This attacks a slave who tries to cross an invisible energy barrier, or electric eye in effect. It will continue to do so if they persist.
PLAYERS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE STORY SHOULD NOT READ THIS PART
This could be run for one player, using Stark or their own equally highly capable character with Warrior skills. The story sequence then will likely be as the short novel in general.
ONE PC VERSION
1. Stark takes sail across the Red Sea to try and find his friend Helvi. Malthor the ship captain gives him far from the full story.
2. Thrown overboard, Stark is on his own to attempt to swim back to land and make his way through jungle and town to Shuruun.
3. Stark manages this without much effort and Malthor's daughter seeks him out. He learns of the Lhari, the Lords of Shuruun and decides to boldly pay them a visit, front door style.
4. He meets the family of rulers and Very Bad Girl Magnet attracts Varra, which displeases Egil enough to shoot him with his nerve paralysis gun after he has had some discussion with the matriarch.
5. Stark is put into slavery with the rest of the Lost Ones and is reunited with Helvi and Zareth. He begins to plan. Varra and her infatuation will be useful if he can make a deal with her. A deal is definitely what she wants. Stark killing the relatives she despises in return for an end to slavery.
6. Malthor sets a slave up with a weapon to ambush Stark. Despite losing against Stark himself it is just a knife. Malthor is unarmed. Malthor is not remotely a match for Stark. All part of Egil's machinations. Zareth has followed and attacks Egil who is forced to shoot at her, not Stark. She is mortally wounded. Egil becomes another no contest that Stark will have no mercy about in a Taken Out scenario.
7. Stark investigates with Treon's input, deciding to look into the super science that the Lhari are interested in. They find a thought-recording of the ancients detailing their Frankenstein quest and downfall. Treon is able to find a machine that restores him to normal Lhari stature. Effectively raising all his physical attributes one rank, removing the monster taint.
8. Stark and Treon come across guards on the slaves and fight them, the guards possessing superior weaponry and Treon lacking skill.
9. They free the slaves. There are over an hundred and twenty guards. Less of each after the unavoidable confrontation. No guards left, only high double figures of slaves if you don't want to waste time rolling. These twenty guards were of the Typical (+0) variety and only had swords.
10. Treon shows Stark a secret tunnel and way back to the Lhari courtroom.
11. It is Llari, Stark, Helvi and 90 odd slaves vs Llari and around 50 guards. Then Mike Larrabee and the ordinary townspeople (Typical (+0 Mob) arrive. Once Larrabee's leadership gets them involved in the fight it is quickly over. End of Lhari, guards and half the slaves.
12. Of course they didn't kill Bors pet dragon. Eveyone loves a smart pet lizard. Stark or the locals can free it or give it a new home as preferred.
MULTIPLE PC VERSION WITH STARK
If a group of two or three wanted to play Stark and friends then Helvi and Zareth could be used as PCs. If any PCs had met Stark previously and worked with them he would be happy to accept their help in travelling to Shuruun on an adventure. He'd be happy to trade such service in return, never being much in the way of cashed up. The inserting of extra competent opponents means using enough guards or of Malthor's underlings to dump them into the sea. Several for each, as a suggestion. With surprise, likely to be accomplished. If any possess Alertness like Stark's they may get the chance to fight back. Either way, two choices, swim or ship to get to sthore.
MULTIPLE PC VERSION WITHOUT STARK INITIALLY
Stark has gone off to look for Helvi and has left the PCs a message about his intentions and the possibility that the pirate city of Shuruun will be rough. Another of Malthor's captains can provide transport and similar impromptu swimming if they learn of the character association with Stark. Then the PCs must follow in Stark's footsteps. Do they confront the Lhari, try raiding the slave camp? If they end up enslaved, things happen as per the story sequence in general. If they manage to free Stark, Helvi and Zareth then the final confrontation gets moved up most likely and the super science investigation after the corpses are cleared.
THE LADDER
Being a big Marvel Super Heroes fan from way back, this is how I like to think:
Value Adjective
+13 Cosmic 5 (Class 5000)
+12 Cosmic 3 (Class 3000)
+11 Cosmic 1 (Class 1000)
+10 Legendary Z (Shift Z)
+9 Legendary Y (Shift Y)
+8 Legendary X (Shift X)
+7 Unearthly (Epic)
+6 Monstrous (Fantastic)
+5 Amazing (Superb)
+4 Incredible (Great)
+3 Remarkable (Good)
+2 Excellent (Fair)
+1 Good (Average)
+0 Typical (Mediocre)
-1 Poor
-2 Feeble (Terrible)
-3 Awful 0 (Shift 0)
-4 Abysmal
FASERIP - basic human attributes
Physique is split compared to Core, into a Strength component and an Endurance component, the latter of which should be used for the Stress track. Reason is native intelligence.
Fighting (Fight)
Agility (Athletics)
Strength
Endurance
Reason
Intuition (Notice)
Psyche (Will)
secondary
Popularity is a measure of charisma, reputation and public influence. If you like, bad people can have a negative popularity ladder equivalent. Supervillains, mass murderers, ruthless thugs in The Ball, etc.
Popularity
Resources
REFERENCES
Short Novel
Enchantress of Venus http://archive.org/details/EnchantressOfVenus
Author
Leigh Brackett (ology) http://leighbrackett.blogspot.com/
Karma Spending Generosity
Considering allowing post-roll Karma use, rather than pre-roll and spend 10
Right, so mechanically
Need to get a 50, spend Karma
Old way – Expected Value of Karma Spend = 17.8
New way – Expected Value of Karma Spend = 12.25
So an average of 5.55 Karma better off in that situation.
Sounds pretty reasonable, to me.
Or use Karma half a dozen times a session in that case, 30 better off in the long run, give or take.
This was based on considering DC Heroes genre rules..which varied what you could do with Hero Points and how many you could spend.
The above would be for your classic four colour situation.
Black Amazon of Mars
FATE: Black Amazon of Mars
Draft 1.0 April 09, 2013 - Blue Tyson
SETTING
Old Mars. Where you can breathe the air and water is hard to find. Colonisation from Earth and the population growth of the native humans has driven the old races out in most cases. The same is happening to the primitive tribes and wilderness areas. The cold desert Norlands is one such area that still survives, near the ancient city of Kushat, beyond which lies the Gates of Death.
From the story introduction, first publication:
"Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city—with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel—ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures—at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!"
ISSUES
The Talisman of Ban Cruach has been stolen!
The Riders of Mekh are expanding their territory
THE PLAYERS
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, Man-Without-a-Tribe
Outlaw of Mars
Very Bad Girl Magnet
F: Incredible +4
A: Remarkable +3
S: Excellent +2
E: Remarkable +3
R: Good +1
I: Incredible +4
P: Incredible +4
Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity -Excellent (-2)
Other Skills
Amazing (+5) Alertness, Sword, Spear
Incredible (+4) Intimidation, Survival
Excellent (+2) Contacts, Investigation, Ride
Good (+1) Guns, Stealth
Ciaran the Warlord of Mekh
Lust For Conquest
With This Axe I Rule!
No, I Won't Take Off My Helmet
F: Remarkable +3
A: Excellent +2
S: Excellent +2
E: Remarkable +3
R: Good +1
I: Remarkable +3
P: Remarkable +3
Resources Remarkable (+3)
Popularity Incredible (+4) [Riders of Mekh only, initially]
Other Skills
Amazing (+5) Axe
Incredible (+4) Intimidation, Leadership
Remarkable (+3) Ride, Survival, Disguise
Excellent (+2) Deceit
Camar the Martin
Overoptimistic Thief and Warrior
F: Excellent +2
A: Good +1
S: Good +1
E: Excellent +2
R: Typical +0
I: Good +1
P: Good +1
Resources Poor (-1)
Popularity Typical (0)
Other Skills
Excellent (+2) Burglary, Lore
Good (+1) Ride, Survival
Thord
Mekh War Party Leader
Ciaran's Second In Command
Insecure of Prowess
F: Excellent +2
A: Good +1
S: Good +1
E: Excellent +2
R: Typical +0
I: Good +1
P: Typical +0
Resources Good (+1)
Popularity Good (+1) with the Riders of Mekh only
Other Skills
Remarkable (+3) Whip, Sword
Excellent (+2) Ride, Survival
Riders of Mekh
Barbarian Cavalry With Spears
Good (+1) quality army
Otar
Old Madman
Adviser to Ciaran
F: Feeble -2
A: Poor -1
S: Feeble -2
E: Typical +0
R: Good +1
I: Remarkable +3
P: Good +1
Resources Poor (-2)
Popularity Poor (-2)
Other Skills
Good (+1) Lore, Mysteries
Thanis
Kind-hearted but Dodgy By Necessity
Sister of Balin
F: Typical (+0)
A: Good +1
S: Typical +0
E: Good +1
R: Typical +0
I: Good +1
P: Typical +0
Resources Typical +0
Popularity Typical +0
Other Skills
Good (+1) Burglary
Balin
Pretty Good Thief
Looks Out For Thanis
F: Typical (+0)
A: Excellent +2
S: Typical (+0)
E: Good +1
R: Typical +0
I: Good +1
P: Typical +0
Resources Typical +0
Popularity -Good -1
Other Skills
Excellent (+2) Burglary, Contacting, Sleight of Hand
The Old Race
Good (+1) telepaths
Typical (+0) fighters
Vulnerability to heat
Ban Cruach
Ancient Martian King.
Has a statue and a sword at the Gates of Death. You can interact with his personality with the Talisman of Mekh. A highly competent and efficient ruler and general in his time, he broke the hold of the Old Race on the Norlands.
Talisman of Ban Cruach
An artifact of importance to Kushat and when used you can commune with the personality of the dead ancient king and discover some of what life is like and of beyond the Gates of Death.
Sword of Ban Cruach
Icebreaker
Old Race Bane
Force Sword with Beam Multi-Attack Old Race (+5)
PLAYERS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE STORY SHOULD NOT READ THIS
This could be run for one player, using Stark or their own equally highly capable character with Warrior skills. The story sequence then will likely be as the short novel.
ONE PC VERSION
1. Stark's friend Camar has been Taken Out to the death. He stole the Talisman of Ban Cruach from Kushat and now entrusts it to you.
2. Stark travels with the Talisman, running afould of the Riders of Mekh and their leader Lord Ciaran. He experiences contact with Ban Cruach's personality.
3. Stark escapes and goes to Kushat where a brother and sister discover what he has been up to and Stark tries to warn the city and its nobility to expect an attack.
4. The Riders attack Kushat. Stark fights for the defense, seeking out Ciaran personally.
5. Stark just manages to defeat Ciaran, forcing helmet removal. The secret is revealed, Ciaran is really Ciara. Force of personality and ability and past successes enable her to retain her leadership position. Now she can reveal she had more than warriors-as-equals interest in keeping Stark around given her secret is out. Something his Aspect will compel him to be interested in.
6. Stark and Ciara travel with Balin beyond the Gates of Death to put things right. They discover the Old Race of telepathic cold dwellers and are taken captive.
7. Stark manages to get free and thanks to his familiarity with the ancient king is able to operate his sword - a super science force weapon designed to combat the Old Race and make things very hot for them.
8. Stark defeats them and frees his friends, returning to Kushat.
MULTIPLE PC VERSION WITH STARK
If a group of two or three wanted to play Stark and friends then if one PC has modern medical skills or advanced superscience gear Camar could be saved and become a PC or saved or not with Stark and the healer. The Riders of Mekh and Old Race opposition would need to be beefed up minion style to provide a challenge capable of capturing them. Otherwise, play would continue with the above sequence as the adventure skeleton.
MULTIPLE PC VERSION WITHOUT STARK
Stark has gone off with the Talisman, leaving his dying friend as requested. The PCs discover Camar before he expires, or stop him doing so if within their skills and he asks them to help Stark.
If the PCs can find and rescue Stark then the sequence can continue as above. They will likely have an easier time convincing the Kushat people of danger depending on how motley and dodgy they actually are. Add a couple of junior officers using Thord as a guide that the PCs can oppose in the battle for Kushat. There will be plenty of garden variety Riders of Mekh for them to handle if they feel like it, but leaders are key as usual.
THE LADDER
Being a big Marvel Super Heroes fan from way back, this is how I like to think:
Value Adjective
+13 Cosmic 5 (Class 5000)
+12 Cosmic 3 (Class 3000)
+11 Cosmic 1 (Class 1000)
+10 Legendary Z (Shift Z)
+9 Legendary Y (Shift Y)
+8 Legendary X (Shift X)
+7 Unearthly (Epic)
+6 Monstrous (Fantastic)
+5 Amazing (Superb)
+4 Incredible (Great)
+3 Remarkable (Good)
+2 Excellent (Fair)
+1 Good (Average)
+0 Typical (Mediocre)
-1 Poor
-2 Feeble (Terrible)
-3 Awful 0 (Shift 0)
-4 Abysmal
FASERIP - basic human attributes
Physique is split compared to Core, into a Strength component and an Endurance component, the latter of which should be used for the Stress track. Reason is native intelligence.
Fighting (Fight)
Agility (Athletics)
Strength
Endurance
Reason
Intuition (Notice)
Psyche (Will)
secondary
Popularity is a measure of charisma, reputation and public influence. If you like, bad people can have a negative popularity ladder equivalent. Supervillains, mass murderers, ruthless thugs in The Ball, etc.
Popularity
Resources
REFERENCES
Short Novel
Black Amazon of Mars - http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32664
Author
Leigh Brackett (ology) - http://leighbrackett.blogspot.com/
Guardians of the Galaxy: The Super Moby Dicks of Space
Milky Way Galaxy 2014/Milky Way Galaxy 3014
Teenagers From The Future. Three of them. Bringing a desperate warning.
There is only one furry mammal tactician and one tree lord that can possibly stop these future monsters laying waste to the present. Along with a few friends, of course. They might just save a future Legion in the process.
The World Metahuman Factbook – Australia
4CS
$2,25 – http://pegasus.rpgnow.com/product/63567/World-Metahuman-Factbook-Australia?filters=600_0_31808_0_0
From the USHER dossiers it seems.
A few assorted superhumans and also some bonus powers and rules for Hate, Fear and Darkness. Also a new origin in Undead – which basically gives +2 CS to Endurance and Psyche but Resources and Popularity are both zero.
Black Swan,
— Eureka,
— Mr Big,
— Nullius,
— Terror Australis,
Tiger,
Australia: amazing! 🙂
Black Swan,
— Eureka,
— Mr Big,
— Nullius,
— Terror Australis,
Tiger,