Perhaps it is time to move on?

Borusa: You have access to the greatest source of knowledge in the universe.

The Doctor (Tom Baker): Well, I do talk to myself sometimes.

Source

I saw a LOT of Fourth Doctor episodes as a kid. I suspect it affected my thinking for the better.

Sometimes I listen to myself. If I am the chaos element that appears only in time of need, perhaps - like G+ - my time has run its course. That is, this manifestation was what *I* needed, as well as you. Perhaps it is time for me to change, to let this account close, and find new ways to express myself. Perhaps it is time I channeled my voice more directly into the meat world. That my time here has helped me hone my methodology of expression and refine my own values. If all goes well, you will see me, but recognize me only in your heart :)

REMEMBER:

You have value.

Use your damn brain.

Find your voice

I will always be part of you.

I love you.

(model unknown)

L L A G L

So, one day I write "ttyl" to this guy I've known for a while now, and he replies "llagl".  So I'm googling it, and apparently it's Welsh for "slack."

So, I ask him "LLAGL?"

He says "Live Long And 'Prosper' *cough* *cough* "

Uh-huh.

So, I think, he's got a weird sense of humor, and...  ah. I think I got it, but I ask him, to be sure.  Yep, I got it.

So, if you see "LLAGL," it could mean

Live Long And Get Laid

So, now you know, and now it's on a blog post, and maybe - just maybe - the crawlers will pick it up, and if you see "llagl" somewhere, you'll get the joke, too.

Not reaching my audience anymore and it sucks

...and to the surprise of no one, my blog Stats have tanked since the demise of G+.  Sigh.  The entire fucking point of linking this blog to G+ was to have a nice, easy way to reach people and let them know the blog existed, posts were going live, and content was flowing.

Thanks a lot Google management team. You suck.

Comic books aren't real, of course

You know what's missing from the "reality" of comic books and movies?

Tit punches. 

You just know Deadpool would so be there, and Joker (sadist) and Kingpin (ruthless) and fucking Ozymandias (if no one was looking).

I mean, seriously, targets that big and asshat prigs not going to take that shot every third panel? 

Yeah, no.

model Jenna Lynn Meowri

Fiction Friday - Melody Mac - Epic Brawler

Background & Origin: She was working as a lock keeper, before she gained superpowers.

She was born at a University hospital. She was raised by close family members: grandparents, an aunt/uncle, or similar. They were royalty by blood. They are alive and well.

She has the following siblings:

• A younger brother that still lives with her childhood caretakers;
• An older sister that she dislikes because of some past transgression;
• An older sister that still lives with her childhood caretakers;
• A younger half-sister that hates her for some past transgression.

She has experienced the following important events:

• Blind luck provided her with a financial windfall, found cash, an inheritance, or something similar;
• Word of her deeds spreads, and she gained fame or notoriety;
• She became involved in a serious relationship that lasted at least a year;
• She made a friend, someone younger than her that she feels protective about. They are an important figure both locally and beyond the immediate area;
• She made an enemy, an angelic being or other extra-planar entity. Constant verbal warfare is the norm. They have military connections. Racial, religious or political bias caused the rift.

Combat Tactics: She focuses on enemy brawlers, martial artists and fools with guns, since she is basically immune to their attacks, and gains strength and power when they do hit her.

Personality Traits: considerate, lonely, rude. She thinks of herself like a mountain: enduring, implacable, and destructive force of nature when she cuts loose.

Quotes:  "Today seems like a good day to conquer the world. You in?"

Appearance: 6’1”, 200 lbs.

She favors clothing that contrasts with the local styles, changing at need. She wears her hair long and flowing.  Every tattoo reflects an important decision in her life.

Powers: She automatically absorbs kinetic energy, such as punches and anti-tank rockets. The energy enhances her strength and stamina, to the point she can lift/press well over 100 tons under optimal conditions (the exact value has been impossible to measure). Normally, she can lift/press approximately 12 tons under optimal conditions. She is resistant to other forms of harm, and immune to sonic and sound attacks.

Notes: Model LouLou D'Vil. Character by I.A. Riley, September, 2018.

This is a classic variation - soak punches to make bigger punches. A big part of the concept is “immovable like a mountain.” I just liked the idea. She is still vulnerable to energy attacks, and does not have a ranged attack, both of which kind of suck, but within her scope as a hardass melee tank, she is pretty cool.

On average, even without Density Increase or Rolling with the Blow, a Kinetic attack would have to cause more than 16 points damage to cause any knockback. If she rolls with the blow, or has her Density Increase active, pretty much only Superman or the Hulk could cause knockback just by punching her.

Melody Mitrodora "The Mountain" MacClellan - Mighty Protectors

Strength 32 (Carrying Capacity 12,288 lbs., Basic HTH 2d8)
Endurance 32 (Save 14, Heal 5.1)
Agility 16 (Save 11)
Intelligence 12 (Save 11)
Cool 18 (Save 12, Initiative d8+1)

Hit Points 39
Power 92
Physical Defense 2
Mental Defense 2
Move 27, leaping 128
Inventing Points 6
Wealth d4
Luck 10-
Weight 190 lbs. (570 lbs.)
Total Cost BCs (110) + Powers (110) + Gear (0) - Weaknesses (20) = Total (200)

Abilities
Absorption: Kinetic (linked to Invulnerability) (0), Effect 25 points (10), Modifiers: Split Points (the first 13 absorbed points go to ST, until it maxes out at 50, then the rest replenish Energy/Power) (+0), Replenishment (+0) (10 CP)

Adaptation: Disease, Poison, Sonic, Toxin (15 CP)

Armor: Kinetic 2, Energy 2, Biochemical 2, Entropy 2 (12.5 CP)

Density Increase: Weight ×3, ST +5, Protection Kinetic 2, Energy 2, Biochemical 2, Entropy 2, SR3/Quartz, PR=0 (7.5), Modifiers: Reduced PR (+5) (12.5 CP)

• ST 37 (density, no absorption), Carrying Capacity 39,936 lbs. (about 40 tons, Pushed), Basic HTH 2d10, Hit Points 22, Power 67, Move 20, Leaping 140
• ST 45 (maxed Absorption, no density), Carrying Capacity 245,760 lbs. (about 250 tons, Pushed), Basic HTH 3d8, Move 21, Leaping 2587 (12,935 feet, or about 2.4 miles)
• ST 50 (maxed Absorption, plus density), Carrying Capacity 786,432 lbs. (about 800 tons, Pushed), Basic HTH 2d8+d10, Hit Points 22, Power 67, Move 23, Leaping 2759 (13,795 feet, or about 2.6 miles)

Experience Levels: Attack +0, Defense +1, Skills +1 (5 CP)

Heightened Endurance: EN +12, AG +6 (included above)

Heightened Strength: ST +6, EN +4 (included above)

Invulnerability: Kinetic (20 CP)

Knowledge: TBD (2.5 CP)

Natural Weaponry: Attack +4, Damage +4 Blunt Kinetic (20 CP)

Physical Ability: Inertia +2, Super Leap ×2 (7.5 CP)

Super Speed: Add one turn per round, PR=4 per round (10), Modifiers: Increased PR (-5) (5 CP)


Gear
None

Weakness
Public Identity (-10 CP)
TBD (-10 CP)

Combat Summary:
Initiative: d8+1 (avg 5)
Unarmed: Attack 18-, Damage d10+3 (avg 8) or 2d6+3 (avg 10) or 2d12+1 (avg 14)
Combined Protection: Kinetic 4 (¼ damage, +8 save) (Sonic ⅛ damage, +13 save), Energy 4, Biochemical 4, Entropy 4
Knockback Resistance: d4+2 or d6+3

Boilerplate

Document Copyright (C) 2018 by I.A.Riley. All rights reserved. Portions Copyright others; no attempt is made to infringe upon their rights.

Mighty Protectors and the Monkey House Games logo are trademarks owned by Monkey House Games, ©2017 Monkey House Games. All rights reserved. Made in the U.S.A.

Random name generator - http://www.behindthename.com/random/  .

Random backstory generator - http://www.pbegames.com/lifepath/ .

Random job generator - http://writingexercises.co.uk/random-job-generator.php .

Random personality trait generator - http://writingexercises.co.uk/random-character-traits-generator.php .

Random height/weight generator - http://tower.newcenturycomputers.net/hwcalc.html .
(see also http://www.healthchecksystems.com/heightweightchart.htm )

Conquest Today

Today seems like a good day to conquer the world.

You in?

(model LouLou D'Vil)

Fiction Friday - Electric Sonika

Background and Origin:  Her place of birth was a rural village or hamlet, a tiny collection of huts and farms. She was kidnapped at an early age and raised a virtual slave, brainwashed to obedience to the cult leader, with the intention of taking over the world.

The cult leader had a way to detect latent mutsnt children.  He kidnapped her and hoped to use her as breeding stock, since her powers were very weak. The hormonal changes of pregnancy cranked her powers way up, but also altered her brain chemisty. She lost the baby, and the combined trauma shattered the conditioning and she successfully escaped the cult.

She has a  younger brother that she has lost touch with.

She has experienced the following important events:

• She made a friend, a teacher, religious advisor or mentor. They are not particularly important in the grand scheme of things, but had devastating impact on her life;
• She performed a vital task for a religious figure and they are in your debt. The third in command of the cult that raised her;
• Dhe became indebted to a group and must repay them in some way, financial or otherwise;
• She suffered a major financial loss, losing almost everything;
• Oops, pregnancy! She left your partner behind.  The 

Combat Tactics: She has an aggressive offense, reveling in the adrenaline rush of her own powers. She usually doesn't run for cover until she's been hit once or twice, then survival instincts might override adrenaline.

She loves to screw with her enemies’ heads, so grabs control of any electrical Gear as soon as she identifies it. The fact her control power isn't obvious adds to the confusion.

Personality Traits: She is impulsive and temperamental, so rarely stays employed long, despite her power. She spends money as fast as she gets it.

Appearance: 5’7”, 135 lbs, completely hairless.

Powers: She can generate and manipulate electricity.

Notes: Model Nadya Sonika. Character by I. A. Riley, January, 2018

This should be pretty obvious. The artwork inspired the character, then I maxed out Lightning Control, using the leftover CP to even more max out Lightning Control.

Electric Sonika - Mighty Protectors

Strength 14 (Carrying Capacity 192 lbs., Basic HTH d6)
Endurance 18 (Save 11, Heal 2.8)
Agility 12 (Save 11)
Intelligence 10 (Save 10)
Cool 16 (Save 11, Initiative d6+1)

Hit Points 15
Power 74
Physical Defense 1
Mental Defense 0
Move 15
Inventing Points 5
Wealth d4
Luck 10-
Weight x lbs.
Total Cost 70 + 100 - 20 = Total

Powers
Heightened Attack: Damage +1 all attacks (2.5 CP)
Heightened Expertise: Attack +2 all attacks (7.5 CP)
Lightning Control:
* Electrical Bolt: Damage 3d8, Range 36”, PR=4 (22.5), Modifiers: Armor Piercing 5 (+7.5) (30 CP);
* Electrical Field: Damage d6+d8, PR=1 per use (30 CP);
* Gear Control: Target Save @ -9, Range 36”, PR=4 (20), Modifiers: Silent Gear Control (+5), Unobvious (+5) (30 CP)

Gear

Booster Pack - Energy: Power +20 (10), Modifiers: Gear (-5) (5 iCP)

Weaknesses
Compulsion: The rush of adrenaline causes her to feel a powerful and irrational need to blow something up any time she expends more than 20 Power in less than a minute (Uncommon, Cool Save to resist) (-10 CP)
Nemesis: She is hunted by law enforcement, members of her old cult, amd various enemies of that same cult, who don't care that she has left (-10 CP)

Combat Summary
Initiative: d6+1
Unarmed: Attack 16-, Damage d6+2 (avg 5.5)
Electrical Bolt: Attack 16-, Damage 3d8+1 (avg 14.5)
Gear Control: Attack 15-, Effect Save @ -10

Boilerplate

Document Copyright (C) 2018 by I. A. Riley. All rights reserved. Portions Copyright others; no attempt is made to infringe upon their rights.

Mighty Protectors and the Monkey House Games logo are trademarks owned by Monkey House Games, ©2017 Monkey House Games. All rights reserved. Made in the U.S.A.

Sourcebooks Marvel Superheroes Advanced Set (TSR, 1986), Realms of Magic (Kim Eastland, TSR, 1986), The Ultimate Powers Book (David E. Martin, TSR, 1987), 4C System (Michael Hammes, Philip Reed, 2007).

Random backstory generator - http://www.pbegames.com/lifepath/ .

Random name generator - http://www.behindthename.com/random/ .

Random job generator - http://writingexercises.co.uk/random-job-generator.php .

Random personality trait generator - http://writingexercises.co.uk/random-character-traits-generator.php .

Random height/weight generator - http://tower.newcenturycomputers.net/hwcalc.html .
(see also http://www.healthchecksystems.com/heightweightchart.htm )

Fiction Friday - genderqueer dinosaurs

The Mighty Protectors RPG has tables that allow for random genderness determination. 

They also have some cool alien races, and you can play mutated dinosaurs, because it's a Superhero RPG, so you can be, you know, whatever.

I was a pansexual transgender genderqueer teenage pteranodon.  

“Mom, Dad? I'm going to live with the humans. At least then whatever bathroom I use, they'll just scream ‘Help! It's a dinosaur!’.”

(page 9)

On a serious note, it is actually pretty cool to see some game authors taking a level-headed approach to this, and just being like "Well, it's reality, so let's put it in there, and acknowledge that non-cisgender people exist, and the players will sort it out, or skip it, or whatever."

It does make me really, really, appreciate how boring my genetics are.

Having said all that, I just can't ever see an episode of "Dinosaur Train" again.

Fiction Friday - I want to be a blue-haired mutant

I want blue hair. I mean, as like a natural mutation. Plus, I want superpowers. Flight would be totally awesome, especially if I could achieve orbit, and float around in space without a spacesuit. I'd totally buzz the space station. That would be so fucking awesome.

Space flight and blue hair. That's what I want for Christmas.

(Model Riae)

(and yes, I've wished for Riae's blue hair before)

And me, being me, where spontaneous off-the-cuff ideas, that start life as simple fun-and-cheeky G+ posts, take on a life of their own...

Alcippe Filipina Kopecky

Background and Origin: When other little girls played with dolls and dreamed of being married someday, “Aly” dreamed of going into space. Her toys were rocket ships and flying drones. Her wall posters were astronauts and space shuttle schematics.

She studied science, and got her PhD at age 26. She was accepted to the national space agency, and in line to fly into space as a science specialist. Someone dug up one of her high school blog posts, where she expressed Views. The controversy wasn’t going to get her kicked out of the program, but she was going to miss this mission flight. This mission had her experiments on board.

Despondent, angry and very drunk, she locked herself in the lab. No one knows what happened in there, because she doesn't remember, and someone destroyed the security camera recordings. The next morning, a half million dollars of experiments were ruined, and the world had a new nova.

A year later, she still works for the space agency. Technically, her new contract is five years of indentured servitude. She doesn't care. She'll do any repair, or any experiment, or even just clean the toilets - just as long as they keep letting her live in the space station.

Combat Tactics: She is not a fighter; she flies away from violent people. In a pinch, she is not averse to hitting someone with a wrench or puncturing a spacesuit with a screwdriver.

Personality Traits: She loves space and astronomy and will talk for hours about it. She has a good heart, but can be immature and sometimes chooses her words poorly.

She can be a bit OCD about completing tasks she feels responsibility for, and has gotten in trouble more than once for not letting go of something reassigned to someone else.

She loves nothing more than being in space, and can get bit weird whenever there is any discussion of her returning to Earth for any reason (she can't reach orbit under her own power, and worries no one would fly her back into space).

Appearance: 5’8”, blue hair, pale skin, lots of tattoos.

Powers: She can survive indefinitely in outer space, and fly. She is a science genius and a talented aerospace engineer.

Notes: Model Riae. Character by I. A. Riley, March, 2018.

Document Copyright (C) 2018 by Icarus Anne Riley. All rights reserved. Portions Copyright others; no attempt is made to infringe upon their rights.

Alcippe Filipina Kopecky - Aberrant

Strength  [2] (Might ••• [5])
Dexterity •• [3] (Athletics ••• [5], Pilot • [3], Stealth • [3])
Stamina ••/• [2] (+1) (Endurance ••• [7], Resistance ••• [7])
Perception •••••/••• [5] (+3) (Awareness ••• [8], Investigation • [6], Navigation ••• [8])
Intelligence •••••/• [5] (+1)  (Academics ••• [8], Computer •• [7], Engineering •• [7], Linguistics •• [7], Science •••• [9])
Wits •••• [4] (Arts • [5])
Appearance •••• [4] (Style • [5])
Manipulation ••• [3] (Diplomacy • [4], Subterfuge • [4])
Charisma ••• [3] (Command •• [5], Instruction • [4])

Quantum ••
Quantum Pool 24
Willpower ••••• ••
Taint ••
Combined Soak - Bashing 3, Lethal 2
Health levels - Bruised, Hurt, Injured, Wounded (cannot sprint), Maimed (movement halved), Crippled (can only move one meter per turn), Incapacitated, Dead

Backgrounds
Backing •••
Contacts •••
Influence •••
Mentor ••
Resources •••

Abilities
Flight •
Hyper-Flight •
Mega-Stamina • (Adaptability)
Mega-Intelligence • (Eidetic Memory, Science Prodigy)
Mega-Perception ••• (Electromagnetic Vision, Quantum Attunement)

Boilerplate

Sourcebooks Aberrant RPG (White Wolf Publishing, 1999), Aberrant Player's Guide (White Wolf Publishing, 2000).
Random backstory generator - http://www.pbegames.com/lifepath/ .
Random name generator - http://www.behindthename.com/random/ .
Random job generator - http://writingexercises.co.uk/random-job-generator.php .
Random personality trait generator - http://writingexercises.co.uk/random-character-traits-generator.php .
Random height/weight generator - http://tower.newcenturycomputers.net/hwcalc.html .

Values in red indicate the number of Mega dice to roll. These are separated out, because a single Mega for that comes up 7, 8, or 9 counts as two successes, and a roll of 10 (“0”) counts as three successes. So the dice need to be rolled separately, therefore they are noted separately.
She is built on 30 nova points.
+6 Attributes
+12 Abilities
+5 Backgrounds

Fiction Friday - Cinder Ash, aka Ashleigh “Ash” Riley

Okay, so you figured out by now that my "Easter Bunny Costume" was really an April Fool's prank.  If you've followed my blog for a while, you know my usual April Fool prank is a "big reveal" of my secret identity.   At least it was better than that whole "Justin Bieber love slave" thing.  I can't believe I did that.  

Anyway, I got a little carried away with the "Easter Bunny Costume" story, and well, here's the character that came about after I had written the prank off the cuff.  Sometimes ideas take on a life of their own... :-)

-----

Cinder Ash, aka Ashleigh “Ash” Riley

Background and Origin: Ashleigh Riley does not consider herself a nova. In a world where nova are well-understood, and are the only beings with superhuman abilities, this qualifies as a mental disorder.

Instead, she views herself as the host for the flesh of a dead nova-with-no-name.

Ashleigh had a mostly normal life as a coffee barista, trying to make ends meet, and avoid getting raped, while living in New York City.

She doesn't know why she let anyone talk her into attending that particular party, or what the Hell must have been slipped into her drink, but the fragments of memories of being incredibly sick in the tub, and again out back, and finally trying to find her way home are vivid. She vaguely remembers the guys attacking her, and the tall blond nova who saved her before the assholes shot the nova a million times and then ran away. Ashleigh vomited for the hundredth time as the dying nova enveloped Ashleigh, and they both passed out.

A week later, some people in a nova hospital were trying to convince Ashleigh she was a nova, and she had her eruption when she was attacked. It was weeks after they had given up, without finding any sign of nova ability, that she finally stopped laughing at them...

...Ash and Jimmy were working the closing shift at the coffee shop. It was dead and they were preparing to close early when the three guys slipped in. Jimmy let them know it was closing soon, and two guys said no problem, while one did the loo.

Ash took the orders of the two guys. They were scruffy and shady, and seemed familiar, but she didn't know why. Ash gave Jimmy the signal to stay close to the panic button.

While she was delivering the drinks, Loo-Man came out. He and Ash made eye contact, and she threw the tray at him, spewing coffee. Jimmy looked confused, and Loo-Man shot him.

Fugly Scruff grabbed Ash, while Bad Teeth Scruff shouted “What the fuck?!” at Loo-Man.

Loo-Man rubbed his still-smoking manhancer against Ash’s face, and scowled. “So, she didn't die last month. She could identify us. We're taking her with us and finishing it right this time.”

Three squelchy heartbeats later, feeling like her skin turned inside out, Ash was  30cm taller and twice as heavy. She shoved a meter-long bone blade thru Loo-Man’s diseased heart, and he dropped like the sack of wet crap he was.

Fugly and Bad Teeth made a break for the door. In flashy blurry lines, Giant Ash got there first, spiked their knees to cripple them, and pinned them to the floor by driving the cheap metal legs of two shop chairs into the fake wooden floor.

She slapped the store panic button, and applied compress to Jimmy’s bleeding gut. Jimmy’s glazed eyes stared at her, as warmth flowed from her fingers to him.

“Are you an angel?” he asked, with no appreciation of the cliche irony.

“I'm Cinder Ash,” was all the half-naked Amazon said.

Tiny little half-naked Ash was still compressing Jimmy’s gut when the emergency medical team arrived. Jimmy was in shock, but eventually pulled thru, despite the bullet to his liver. The cops hauled Fugly and Bad Teeth away.

Ash returned to the Nova training facility, and told them the whole story. They stopped trying to convince her she was a bit delusional about certain details after she demonstrated the “chest cannons,” and blew out the side of a mountain.

Ashleigh Riley maintains her low-profile job as a barista, and enjoys it. She has accepted a role as “contract hunter” for Team Tomorrow. When they have a “public health risk” nova that needs brought to heel, they sometimes send contractors like the Amazonian Cinder Ash, who rather likes leg breaking.

Combat Tactics: She is a melee brawler. She lacks experience, and lacks finesse, relying on raw power to see her thru.

Personality Traits: Incongruously, she spends most of her time “dormed down,” as she considers it her “natural” form. She views her nova body (where she calls herself “Cinder Ash”) as an aberration, where she is wearing the living flesh of a dead nova.

Ash prides herself on being able to “read” people, and be charming, friendly and make people feel good. She finds her senses “muted,” and her personality “stunted and broody” in her nova form (q.v. Taint).

Where Ashleigh is warm and bubbly, Cinder Ash is dark and moody. Ashleigh doesn't mind video game violence, but you couldn't pay her to watch a horror or slasher film. Cinder Ash would take the money to watch the film, and fall asleep bored. It's not that Cinder Ash likes hurting people, so much as she finds it therapeutic to vent her anger about the shitty world on shitty people. Both of them are opposed to killing, without very good reasons. (Cinder Ash being a bit flexible on “very good” when she has been badly injured, and tends to panic a bit).

Appearance: Ash is 5’3”, and about 105 lbs soaking wet (she weighed herself). She has black hair and brown eyes.

Cinder Ash is 6’4”, and about 220 lbs of hard muscle. She has blond hair and blue eyes.

Powers: She is a fairly standard mid-weight brawler with retractable and morphable blades, and a really nasty “Hail Mary” when in a pinch.

She can lift/press approximately 10 tons under optimal conditions. She is resistant to convention weapons, and even many nova powers. She regenerates, and can extrude "bone" blades and armor plating.

Notes: Cosplay model Jannet in Cosplay. Other model unknown. Character by I.A. Riley, April, 2018.

Document Copyright (C) 2018 by Icarus Anne Riley. All rights reserved. Portions Copyright others; no attempt is made to infringe upon their rights.

Values in red indicate the number of Mega dice to roll. These are separated out, because a single Mega for that comes up 7, 8, or 9 counts as two successes, and a roll of 10 (“0”) counts as three successes. So the dice need to be rolled separately, therefore they are noted separately.

She is built on waaaay more than 30 nova points. I have absolutely no clue what her equivalent cost/value would be.

Cinder Ash - Aberrant

Strength ⬤⬤⬤/⬤⬤⬤ [3] (+3)
     (Brawl ⬤⬤⬤⬤ [7], Might ⬤⬤⬤⬤ [7])
Dexterity ⬤⬤⬤/⬤ [3] (+1)
     (Athletics ⬤⬤⬤ [6], Stealth ⬤⬤ [5])
Stamina ⬤⬤⬤/⬤⬤ [3] (+2)
     (Endurance ⬤⬤⬤ [6], Resistance ⬤⬤⬤ [6])
Perception ⬤⬤/⬤ [2] (+1)
     (Awareness ⬤⬤ [4])
Intelligence ⬤⬤ [2]
     (Linguistics ⬤⬤ [4], Science ⬤ [3])
Wits ⬤⬤⬤ [3]
     (Arts ⬤ [4], Biz ⬤ [4], Rapport ⬤⬤⬤⬤ [7], Weave ⬤ [4])
Appearance ⬤⬤⬤/⬤ [3] (+1)
     (Disguise ⬤ [4], Style ⬤⬤ [6])

Manipulation ⬤⬤⬤ [3]
     (Streetwise ⬤⬤⬤ [6], Subterfuge ⬤⬤⬤ [6])
Charisma ⬤⬤⬤ [3]
     (Carousing ⬤⬤⬤⬤ [7], Etiquette ⬤ [4], Perform ⬤ [4])

Quantum ⬤⬤⬤⬤⬤
Quantum Pool 50
Willpower ⬤⬤⬤⬤⬤ ⬤⬤⬤⬤
Taint ⬤⬤⬤⬤
Combined Soak - Bashing 13, Lethal 10
Health levels - Bruised, Hurt, Injured, Wounded (cannot sprint), Maimed (movement halved), Maimed (movement halved), Maimed (movement halved), Maimed (movement halved), Maimed (movement halved), Maimed (movement halved), Maimed (movement halved), Crippled (can only move one meter per turn), Incapacitated, Dead

Backgrounds
Attunement ⬤⬤⬤
Backing ⬤⬤
Dormancy ⬤⬤⬤⬤⬤
Eufiber ⬤⬤
Node ⬤⬤⬤
Resources ⬤

In her “dormed down” state, she has no Physical Abilities, no Mega-Attributes, and no Quantum Powers, but otherwise is the same.
Powers
Armor ⬤⬤ (Extras: Super-Heavy)
Body Modification (Gills, Extra Health Levels +6 “Maimed”)
Claws ⬤⬤⬤⬤⬤
Danger Sense ⬤⬤⬤
Healing ⬤ (She doesn't consciously know she has this ability)
Invulnerability ⬤ (she gains 6 automatic successes against heat and fire)
Mega-Appearance ⬤⬤ (?)
Mega-Dexterity ⬤ (Accuracy, Fast Movement)
Mega-Perception ⬤ (Ultrasonic Hearing, Telescopic Hearing)
Mega-Stamina ⬤⬤ (Hardbody, Regeneration)
Mega-Strength ⬤⬤⬤ (Shockwave)
Quantum Bolt ⬤⬤⬤⬤⬤ (Extras: Jet/Stream)
Quantum Bolt ⬤⬤⬤⬤⬤ (Extras: MIRV)

“The Reflex Cannon”Her Reflex Cannon power (aka “Chest Cannon,” or “Boob Blasters”) is a standard multi-action, that burns a lot of Quantum Pool, can only be performed as written here, she can't hold back to reduce the damage, and since she finds it emotionally repulsive, she has to make a Difficulty 4 Willpower test to use the ability, unless her current Wound level is Wounded or worse (in which case panic about being hurt more means she can invoke this ability without needing a Willpower test.)

• Activate Mega-Dexterity Accuracy Enhancement. (1 Quantum Pool, running total cost 1);
• Activate Quantum Bolt with Jet/Stream Enhancement in the direction of the target she is most angry at, or afraid of - note that the target can be out of range. Resolve the attack. (3 Quantum Pool, running total cost 4);
• Activate Quantum Bolt with MIRV - if the original target is still standing, then it pretty much becomes target of the entire barrage. If the original target is nearly down, or totally down, then the MIRV skews to nearby targets that she is angry at, or afraid of, or even just sometimes random objects as impressive collateral damage. (3 Quantum Pool, running total cost 7)

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Sourcebooks Aberrant RPG (White Wolf Publishing, 1999), Aberrant Player's Guide (White Wolf Publishing, 2000)

Random backstory generator - http://www.pbegames.com/lifepath/ .

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Fiction Friday - Maggie-Ann Blackgoo Bristleweed

Background and Origin: “Mab,” as she prefers to be called, arrived in Earth from Geos a few years ago. She came by conventional FTL spacecraft, rather than the more obvious portal-gate from a medieval fantasy world, but that's probably one of the less enigmatic things about her.

Her place of birth was Wraicrolis, a small city, a fairly civilized place. By sheer chance, the city happens to be located on a large plain, near several mineral mines, and just a bit upstream from a natural ocean gulf. A century ago, give or take, a great battle between the gods leveled the area, turning the ground into a kind of natural concrete - infertile for crops, but just right for growing a spaceport for the galactic community that wanted to welcome Geos into the fold.

Mab and her sister were raised by neighbors, after her parents were called to service by their guild, and never returned.

She has the following siblings:

• An older sister that still lives with her childhood caretakers. After an industrial accident, Se’len is a bit of an idiot savant. There is no one better in all of Wraicrolis at starship engine repair, and her employer commands high prices for her time. When she’s modding an engine, Se’len comes alive, and can even speak in full sentences, vocalizing a deep education and grasp of the most minute trivia of the smallest part of an engine, even what planet and the corporate politics that lead to production of one design over another. Without an engine around, though, she is like a dull-witted child, barely aware of her environment, who likes to scribble in her picture books.

Mab has experienced the following important events:

• She found that she had an adopted older sister that she never knew she had;
• Her long-term relationship ended when her partner broke up with her without reason;
• Long and grueling travel gave her greater stamina, and a Dragon Pact, granting her magical power. The Dragon knows where Mab is, but she hopes 17.3 light years is too far away for the Dragon to call in the debt;
• A crash disaster swept at the spaceport forced her to find a home elsewhere;
• She made an enemy, a supernatural creature of some kind. She completely ignores the other. They have ties to the criminal world or the black market. The rivalry grew into something stronger;
• She made an enemy, someone that worked for her. Thunderdome! They are a somewhat important local figure. Racial, religious or political bias caused the rift;
• She obtained a pet, a supernatural creature of some kind, but had to leave it behind;
• She made a friend, someone she worked with regularly. They have military connections.
• A personal grudge held by a local military figure forced her to flee to a new region.

Combat Tactics: She activates her eldritch shield, then hurls lightning. Her lightning stroke allows her to aim at the space her target is standing in, thus increasing her effective accuracy. Targets that get too close get the enervation pulse. It isn't necessarily powerful, but it can affect many targets, and even one or two pulses can really disrupt the damage curve of bricks and martial artists.

She enjoys channeling the power of the Dragon for flashy bursts, and thinks of combat largely as “powerful offense wins.” She views Dragon Stamina and Elemental Resistance as utility magic, but their persistent nature disturbs her, as she feels the constant energy presence, and feels like the Dragon is watching her. She rarely has these two latter abilities prepared, unless specifically expecting to need them.

Personality Traits: Helpful, courageous, aggressive. Mab likes to make a difference, and has no qualms being assertive about it.

Quote: “To deny the evil in one's heart is to constrain it, and let fester like kimchee, until it explodes. Better, by far, to acknowledge it, own it, tame it and control how and when it trespasses on the world.”

Appearance: 5’3”, 112 lbs., waist length black hair, brown eyes. She favors rags and doesn't care about clothing at all. She has wild, unkempt hair. She has distinctive scars and tattoos. She has one of her old toys that she keeps with her at all times as a keepsake.

Powers: She has an academic study of magic, but lacks the necessary “spark” to channel it herself. It's not obvious, and she doesn't advertise it, but she has a magic tattoo that lets her channel magical power. The tattoo represents a pact she negotiated with an ancient dragon, allowing her to tap the dragon's power, which her skill allows her to shape and channel.

Geos is a mixed culture of magic and technology. She is familiar with both, and able to figure out new technological devices and magical artifacts quickly.

Notes: Model unknown. Character by I. A. Riley, March, 2018.

Her Mind Control is enough to make most targets forget what they were doing for just a minute or two. It lasts just long enough to leave most humans confused about the last few minutes, even once their memory returns, because by that point new stimulus and assumptions have filled in the gaps, and now they have contradictory assumptions and beliefs about what happened in those few minutes.

The memory fog used Inventing Points instead of Arsenal, mostly due to the sheer cost in CP. I really wanted an effect like this, since she is precisely the type who prefers her privacy and would be happy if people forgot she was ever there.

I wanted her to have a mix of offensive, defensive, movement, and utility powers. I had fun visualizing the powers I wanted, and then mucking about with the different mechanics to see what I could work out.

Inspired by a G+ post.
Need to tell Fern Kali it is ready :)
https://plus.google.com/+IcarusAnneRiley/posts/3rgoDyJoR4U

See also

Maggie-Ann Blackgoo Bristleweed - Mighty Protectors

Strength 10 (Carrying Capacity 78 lbs., Basic HTH d4)
Endurance 18 (Save 12, Heal 2.8)
Agility 14 (Save 11)
Intelligence 24 (Save 13)
Cool 24 (Save 13, Initiative 2d6)

Hit Points 20
Power 96
Physical Defense 2 (8)
Mental Defense 4
Move 14
Inventing Points 27
Wealth d4
Luck 12-
Weight x lbs.
Total Cost 90 + 80 - 20 = 150

Abilities
Arsenal: Magical Abilities, 4×25 CP slots, 6 options (30 CP)
Durability: Hit Points +5 (5 CP)
Energy: Power +30 (15 CP)
Experience Levels: Attack +0, Defense +1, Skills +1 (5 CP)
Heightened Attack: Damage +1 all attacks (2.5 CP)
Heightened Cool: Bright, CL +12, IN +8 (included above)
Heightened Expertise: Attack +1 all attacks (2.5 CP)
Arcane Skills - Inventing: Add +15 Inventing Points (15 CP)
Luck: Luck +2 (5 CP)

Arsenal Options (Choose 4)

1. Lightning Stroke - Electrical Bolt: Damage d8+d10, Range 36”, PR=4 (12.5), Modifiers: Area Effect (1” dia.) (+2.5), Arsenal (-2.5), Reduced PR (+12.5) (25 aCP)
2. Summon Magic Carpet - Flight: Acceleration 16, Top Speed 64, PR=4/hour (10), Area Effect (1” dia., Moves With Self) (+7.5), Arsenal (-10), Fast Acceleration 2 (+5), PR instead of Charges (+0), Reduced PR (+12.5) (25 aCP)
3. Eldritch Shield - Shield: Physical Defense +6, Breakpoint +6, PR=1/use (10), Modifiers: Arsenal (-12.5), Innate (+2.5), PR instead of Charges (+0), Reduced PR (+20), Parry Bonus +2 (+5) (25 aCP)
4. Enervation Pulse - Siphon: Damage 2d6 Entropy Strength loss, PR=1 (15), Modifiers: Area Effect (5” dia., Offset) (+10), Armor Piercing (2 points) (+2.5), Arsenal (-12.5), PR instead of Charges (+0), Reduced PR (+20), Suppress (-10) (25 aCP)
5. Dragon Stamina - Regeneration: Heal 1 hit point per round of rest (17.5), cannot regenerate magic damage (-2.5), Modifiers: Arsenal (-12.5), Increased Charges (unlimited) (+22.5) (25 aCP)
6. Elemental Resistance - Adaptation: Electromagnetics, High Temperatures, Low Temperatures, Poison, Venom, PR=2 per hour (20), Modifiers: Arsenal (-12.5), PR instead of Charges (+0), Reduced PR (+17.5) (25 aCP)

Gear Pool/Inventions/Power Stunts
Memory Fog - Mind Control: Save @ -4, Range 24”, PR=8 (15), Modifiers: Area Effect (5” dia., Vaporous) (+7.5), Duration (2 rounds between recovery saves) (+2.5), Immunity (+2.5), Reduced Range (-2.5), ‘Silent' Mind Control (+5), Single Command (“Forget Recent Memories”) (-5) (25 iCP)


Weaknesses
TBD (-10 CP)
Diminished Senses (Imperceptive): She can be a bit hyper-focused, and fail to notice things, suffering -3 on all Perception checks (-10)


Combat Summary
Initiative: 2d6 (avg 7)
Unarmed: Attack 14-, Damage d4+1 (avg 3.5)
Lightning Stroke: Attack 15- (AE), Damage 2d10 (avg 11)
Memory Fog: Attack 17- (AE), Effect Save @ -5
Enervation Pulse: Attack 15- (AE), Damage 2d6+1 (AP2)

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Document Copyright (C) 2018 by Icarus Anne Riley. All rights reserved. Portions Copyright others; no attempt is made to infringe upon their rights.

Mighty Protectors and the Monkey House Games logo are trademarks owned by Monkey House Games, ©2017 Monkey House Games. All rights reserved. Made in the U.S.A.

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In this case, I set the options to “Hillbilly” and “Witch,” and decided I liked the weird name that resulted. It sounded very “medieval fantasy world,” to me.

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Marvel Comics Toxic "Venom"

"Venom" - most fucking annoying character spawn-off EVAR.

The original "Venom" was kind of cool, in a sick and pathetic kind of way. I mean, it was actually possible to feel sorry for Brock and the symbiont, to a point.

But, then, and then, and then, and murderous drivel spawn-off, color change, on-and-on then, and now "Gwenom" - seriously? Fucking _seriously_??

Fucking. Annoying. Know what I mean, Vern?

(Models unknown)

Use more words: own your part of clear communication

Life would be so much easier if people just took more responsibility for making their message clear.

In any conversation, there are two people.  One person is trying to convey information, and the other is supposed to be trying to receive it.  

A lot of people use a few words, and then get pissy when the other person doesn't understand.  That's a simple case of "use more words" - the speaker has a responsibility to say enough to make information transfer happen. The speaker has a responsibility to not get pissy when the recipient can't read his, or her, or FYU, mind.

The more common point of communication conflict is that the recipient isn't actually listening. This is a common joke, which isn't actually funny, that "People just stand around waiting for their turn to talk."  When someone isn't actually paying attention to what is being said, there is no communication.  People pick fights with the noise in their heads, and take it out on the people around them.

This is another common point of communication conflict.  If someone asks a question, usually that person is looking for information.  However, I know people who "ask questions" as a way of expressing their anger and frustration. They're not really looking for information, they're just pushing the blame onto their target.  For example, "Didn't it ever occur to you that was so stupid!" isn't really looking for information, it's saying "I think that was really stupid," without bothering to own the emotion itself.

To clarify, if I think you did something stupid, then that's just it - *I* own the thought that you did something stupid. The appropriate way for me to express that is to say "I think you did something stupid."  The "passive aggressive" way for me to express it is to say "Didn't it ever occur to you that was so stupid!" - I'm pushing the blame for the thought in my head onto you.  Which, when you think about it, is kind of a shitty thing to do.

So, to recap, 

• As speaker, you have to use enough words to pass along enough information that your recipient can understand what you are trying to say;
• As information recipient, you have to actually be paying attention and putting effort into understanding what the speaker is trying to convey. You can't just sit around waiting for your turn to talk;
• If you ask a question, put some thought into it, to make sure you 1) get the information you are looking for, 2) aren't just being a "passive aggressive" jerk.

(Finally, go ahead, be a smartass and pretend you don't understand anything I've written.  Oh, ha ha.  I'm going to ignore obvious taunts and trolls - I just don't have the energy for games right now. If you really want clarification, just say so. Thanks.)

Fiction Friday - Death Ray Eyes - Ketut Ece Van Middlesworth

Background & Origin: She had a hard youth, being yanked from her home by social services, then running away to the Big City in her early teens, after getting fed up being bounced around foster homes.  Her superstrength emerged shortly before she ran away - feeling that sense of power gave her the idea she could survive. She managed to survive, falling in with organized crime as an enforcer and aid women in positions of control.

She has the following siblings:

• A younger half-sister that she still keeps in touch with, but they're not particularly close. Her sister  doesn't know she is now a supervillain;
• A younger sister that she has lost touch with.  Every once in a while, she makes noises about finding this sister, but hasn't put any real effort into it.

She has experienced the following important events:

• She found that she has an older sister that you never knew she had;
• She fell in love and thought about marriage;
• She made a friend, a surrogate parent who offers advice, perhaps too much advice. They are an important figure both locally and beyond the immediate area;
• Her relationship choices were sub-par, and she found yourself two-timing a steady partner. They found out and broke up;
• An incapacitating accident left her laid up for several months;
• She was involved in several casual relationships, each lasting a month or more, but none become serious

Combat Tactics:  Generally, she just punches people, because it is effective.  She has no problem using her “death ray vision” on especially dangerous foes, or even just to make a point about how powerful and badass she is.

Personality Traits: inspirational, courageous, adventurous,

Appearance:  She favors steampunk fashion, dark and comfortable. She wears her hair long and flowing.

Powers:  She has superhuman strength and endurance. She can generate an unrevealed energy as beams from her eyes that is lethal to all life forms and damaging even to non-organic material.

She carries a steel shield that she calls her “Steam Shield.”

Notes:  Model unknown.  Character by I.A. Riley, August, 2017.

The powers were all random, but I decided I wanted her to have a ranged attack, and then I just went a bit mods happy with the Death Touch.

(model unknown)

Ketut Ece Van Middlesworth - Mighty Protectors

Strength 29 (Carrying Capacity 3840 lbs., Basic HTH d6+d8)

Endurance 19 (Save 12, Heal 2.8)

Agility 16 (Save 11)

Intelligence 18 (Save 12)

Cool 18 (Save 12, Initiative d8+1)

Hit Points 26

Power 82

Physical Defense 1

Mental Defense  2

Move 21

Inventing Points 9

Wealth d6

Luck 10-

Weight x lbs.

Total Cost 100 + 65 - 15 = 150

Powers

Death Vision: Death Touch: Damage d6 Entropy, Range 7”, PR=5, Modifiers:  Range (ST/4”), Armor Piercing 3, Reduced PR (30 CP)

Heightened Attack:  Damage +4 with Death Touch (10 CP)

Heightened Endurance: EN +9, IN +6 (included above)

Heightened Strength: ST +15 (included above)

Wealth: d6 Wealth roll (2.5 CP)

Gear

Armored Costume: Adaptation: High Temperatures, Low Temperatures, Armor: Kinetic 1, Energy 2, Biochemical 1, Entropy 2, Modifiers:  Multifunction Gear (15 CP)

Steam Shield: Shield:  Physical Defense +4, Breakpoint x (7.5 CP)

Weaknesses

TBD (-15 CP)

Combat Summary:

Initiative: d8+1 (avg 5.5)

Unarmed: Attack 14-, Damage d6+d8 OR 2d6+1 (both avg 8)

Death Vision: Attack 14-, Damage d6+4 OR d12+1 (both avg 7.5)

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Document Copyright (C) 2017 by I.A. Riley. All rights reserved.  Portions Copyright others; no attempt is made to infringe upon their rights.

Mighty Protectors and the Monkey House Games logo are trademarks owned by Monkey House Games, ©2017 Monkey House Games. All rights reserved. Made in the U.S.A.

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Fiction Friday - TitanLil - the broken remnants of Titanium Lilly

TitanLil (formerly Titanium Lilly)

Terrible things can happen to even the most stalwart mind after being held prisoner for a year by a psychotic torturer who revels in forcing his victims to consume their own flesh in order to avoid worse torments.

It would be unkind and wrong to describe Lilly's mind as merely "damaged." What's left today is definitely cunning, and cruel, but more alien than human.

(see also this post for my speculation on this freaky-ass image)

TitanLil - Villains & Vigilantes

Strength 24, Endurance 33, Intelligence 15, Agility 13, Charisma 11, 120 lbs., level 6

Basic Hits 3; Hit Mod. (2.0) (4.2) (1.2) (1.3) = 13.104; Hit Points 39; Power 85; Move 70" ground; Accuracy +1; Damage Mod. +1; Heal 3.0; Detect Hidden 8%; Detect Danger 12%; Carrying Capacity 1027 lbs.; Basic HTH 1d10

Metal Summoning (Ice Powers) (x2): Identical to Ice Powers, but material does not "melt"; instead it persists automatically for E turns (PR=5, no action, to buy another E turns). The metal encasing a target does damage per turn by weight, crushing pressure (being too tight and constrictive) and spikes/rough edges on the interior.
She has trained and reduced the PR cost of this power to PR=3 per use (and PR=3 for maintenance).

Heightened Endurance B: +20

Heightened Senses: Just as she can see light, she can automatically detect all ferrous metals, quantity and type, within C/3 inches (round up). She only has to pay attention and she knows.

Heightened Strength A: +10

Magnetic Powers: She has trained and reduced the PR cost of this power to PR=3 per use (and PR=3 for maintenance).

Sidekick: An apparently normal 14 year-old boy named Yun.  How he got connected to TitanLil has not been revealed. Their relationship is weird, and dynamic, but he appears to worship her, even as he is terrified of her.  He is definitely her servant, and he usually correctly interprets her wishes. He helps her dress, bathe, and acts as her mouthpiece, speaking because she doesn't.  He sometimes appears to be listening to something no one else can hear, as if she is talking to him.  He appears afraid of her, even though she has never been observed to hurt him. In fact, she once destroyed an Intercrime base after TitanLil found out that an agent punched Yun in the head during a training exercise.

Diminished Senses: She only has one eye. -4 "to hit" with all ranged attacks, and -4% Detection rolls.

Lowered Intelligence: -6.  Her mind is shattered, and her behavior often appears alien.  The only telepath known to have tried reading her shattered mind said "What's left is definitely human, and that makes it worse!" before he stunned the interviewers and fled, getting lost somewhere in undeveloped China.

Willpower:  The insanity that drives her makes her physically and mentally more resilient.  She can use this for variable benefits, and also defense. PR=1 per use as defense.

Mute:  She never talks. It is unrevealed if this is a physical, or mental, deformity.

Fiction Friday - Titanium Lilly

Titanium Lilly - Villains & Vigilantes

Strength 24, Endurance 33, Intelligence 15, Agility 13, Charisma 11, 120 lbs., level 6

Basic Hits 3; Hit Mod. (2.0) (4.2) (1.2) (1.3) = 13.104; Hit Points 39; Power 85; Move 70" ground; Accuracy +1; Damage Mod. +1; Heal 3.0; Detect Hidden 8%; Detect Danger 12%; Carrying Capacity 1027 lbs.; Basic HTH 1d10

Metal Summoning (Ice Powers) (x2): Identical to Ice Powers, but material does not "melt"; instead it persists automatically for E turns (PR=5, no action, to buy another E turns). The metal encasing a target does damage per turn by weight, crushing pressure (being too tight and constrictive) and spikes/rough edges on the interior.
She has trained and reduced the PR cost of this power to PR=3 per use (and PR=3 for maintenance).

Heightened Endurance B: +20

Heightened Senses: Just as she can see light, she can automatically detect all ferrous metals, quantity and type, within C/3 inches (round up). She only has to pay attention and she knows.

Heightened Strength A: +10

Magnetic Powers:  She has trained and reduced the PR cost of this power to PR=3 per use (and PR=3 for maintenance).

Pet: A liquid-metal wolf-like creature. Weight is 450 lbs., Natural Weaponry +3/+6

Diminished Senses: She only has one eye. -4 "to hit" with all ranged attacks, and -4% Detection rolls.

Fiction Friday - Cuesta Sword Saint

Yaffa Gamila Cuesta

Background & Origin: She is a mutant who has also had special combat training (her swordplay is practically Zen). She is a licensed chiropractor. She was born in Vine, a parallel Earth that developed a medieval fantasy setting. She has been on Earth about ten years and shows no signs of aging. She turned her therapy skills into a daytime profession.

She was born a beyond the edge of civilization. She was raised by her birth parents, who were serfs or servants of some noble. They are alive and well.

She has the following siblings:

• An older brother that still lives with her childhood caretakers;
• A younger brother that suffered grave misfortune, unjustly imprisoned for some crime;
• A younger sister that is dead, dying under mysterious circumstances;
• An older brother that bears her a grudge for some past transgression;
• An older sister that she still keeps in touch with, but they're not particularly close;
• An adopted younger sister that is dead, killed in an accident;
• A younger brother that she still keeps in touch with, but they're not particularly close. 

She has experienced the following important events:

• She made an enemy, a childhood foe who resurfaced. They're annoyed by her presence. They have ties to the criminal world or the black market. The hate springs from a criminal charge, justified or false;
• She obtained a pet, a supernatural creature of some kind; 
• An incapacitating accident left her laid up for several months; 
• She made an enemy, someone that worked for her. There's lots of yelling when they're around each other. They have some close family ties that give them minor clout. The hate springs from a criminal charge, justified or false; 
• Oops, pregnancy! Her partner left her behind; 
• She obtained a pet, a bizarre creature of some kind; 
• Working with performers developed her oratory skills and presence; 
• She became involved in a serious relationship that lasted at least a year. 

Combat Tactics: Her first action is Evasion, then it's all about the sword.

Personality Traits: sly, inspirational, arrogant.

She had been on Earth for ten years, and long enough to get clinical training and licensing. Despite that, she - like a lot of people it turns out - still hasn't really assimilated and retains a chronic “fish out of water” problem.

This makes her hesitant and risk-averse in situations not related to performing her clinical profession (fixing people, no problem, as long as someone else is reassuring her the paperwork is done) or combat (the same precision with pressure points, joint locks and weak spots that makes her a good healer also makes her a deadly killer - or was that the other way around?).

Appearance: 5’6”, 135 lbs.

She wears her hair long and flowing. She has many tattoos and only regrets not having more skin. Each tattoo represents a personal achievement of some kind, including service to her family and (back on Vine) noble lady.

Powers: She has exceptional endurance and superhuman speed, coordination and reaction time.

She has a magic sword, and has mastery with any kind of sword, or sword-like weapon.

Notes: This was random chargen. Turns out she is kind of a combat monster. She typically has three actions per turn, a crazy high chance of hitting her foes (with the sword), and can do enough damage to take many opponents out of the fight in one hit.

I'm thinking V&V is crazy flexible, but also crazy fragile and easy to “unbalance” in a lot of ways.

We reconciled this a bit by playing up (but not overplaying to the point is irritation) the “fish out of water” hesitation thing, giving other PCs some screen time when otherwise Yaffa’s crazy high attributes might have made her a natural star. Because, you know, I may be a strong and dominant personality, but I have more fun when everyone at the table has a chance to shine :)

I'm working on Living Legends and Mighty Protectors hacks, but both systems have better controls over runaway damage powers, so I'm not really happy yet with either hack.

Model Ryan Ashley Malarkey

Yaffa Gamila Cuesta - Villains & Vigilantes

Str 15, End 24, Int 13, Agl 27, Cha 23, 135 lbs., level 7

Basic Hits 3; Hit Mod. (1.4) (3.0) (1.1) (2.8) = 7.8936; Hit Points 24; Power 79; Move 66” ground; Carrying Capacity 390 lbs.; Basic HTH 1d6; Accuracy +5; Damage Mod. +3; Detect Hidden 16%; Detect Danger 20%; Heal 2.1; Inventing Points 9.1

Heightened Agility B: +14
Heightened Attack: Damage +7 with all attacks
Heightened Charisma A: +8
Heightened Endurance B: +15
Heightened Expertise: Attack +4 “to hit” with swords, such as her Special Weapon
Heightened Senses: She has infravision, ultrasonic hearing, and enhanced (though not superhuman) senses of smell and taste, +6% Detect Rolls
Special Weapon Device: Magic Sword, Attack HTH +5 “to hit,” Damage HTH +2d6, unique and virtually indestructible, plus see below.
Special Requirement (Weakness): The magic sword has its own requirements to keep its enchantment active, or it just works like a normal sword.
Training: Attack +2 “to hit” with unarmed HTH, Attack +2 “to hit” with Special Weapon

Stormguard, Bringer of the Crown
Weapon: broadsword
Alignment: good
Wielded By: a specific bloodline
Look: seems to blur when moved
Fame: hardly known
Quirk: none
Main Effect: can blind opponents
Secondary Effect: gives the wielder semi-prophetic dreams
Restriction: can only be used by females
Restriction: gives the wielder mood swings
Current Status: undefined
Created: in secret
Created: to save a realm
Draws Power From: past triumphs

Combat Summary:
Unarmed: Attack HTH +7 “to hit,” Damage 1d6+10 or 3d8 (avg 13.5)
Sword: Attack HTH +16 “to hit,” Damage 3d6+10 or 3d12+1 (avg 20.5)

Boilerplate Stuff

Model  Ryan Ashley Malarkey. Character by I.A. Riley, July, 2017.

Document Copyright (C) 2017 by I.A. Riley. All rights reserved. Portions Copyright others; no attempt is made to infringe upon their rights.

Villains & Vigilantes and the Monkey House Games logo are trademarks owned by Monkey House Games, ©2010 Monkey House Games. All rights reserved. Made in the U.S.A.

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Fiction Friday - Kerry the Undying

Wafiya Janna Kerry the Ever-Living

Background & Origin:  She has pegged last April 27 as the day she woke up dead. Well, not so much “dead,” as just “not alive.” She’s decided on the term “ever living,” as having a nice ring to it, since she is most definitely not “undead,” and “undying” still has a bit of negative connotation (as well as seeming to invite idiots to actually try to kill her).

She was living alone at the time, and remembers waking in the night with terrible heartburn and feeling like someone had kicked her in the chest. She had just started the tour of Europe she had promised herself since childhood, and she was not going to let a little pain slow her down.

It was a wonderful month in Europe, and she remembers the food as being so satisfying she ate almost nothing the whole time.

It was after she got home, and someone pointed out she looked exactly the same - no tan, no new muscle tone from all the walking, hair the same length despite not cutting it - as she had when she left, that she saw a doctor. 

The doctor sent her to some government research scientists.

The scientists called in some wizards. 

The wizards called in some priests.

Eventually, everyone settled on the idea that her metabolism had simply stopped; that - despite the obvious incongruity - her body still ran some critical processes like self-repair and sensory stimulus response, but was otherwise just permanently unchanging.

She had gotten on so well with the government guys that she took a job with the facility, and now sometimes moonlights as a superhero.

Combat Tactics: She is a brawler with some training and lots of practical experience. She doesn't have any special defenses against most damage forms, so she tries to out-think foes rather than go toe-to-toe.

Personality Traits: She has a public identity (it was a rather unusual Origin, even for a capes universe) and runs a video blog where she comments on current events and superhuman activity. 

(Top two items on her FAQ: “I'm not a zombie,” and “I'm not married, and not interested.”)

Appearance: 5'7", appears 130 lbs, actually 235 lbs. (High density flesh, for unrevealed reasons.)  Natural blond hair, brown eyes.

She looks exactly the same as she did when she stopped having a metabolism. She doesn't age, she doesn't tan, she doesn't scar. Changes to her hair always return to same point (she is really glad she got her hair styled, and the wax job that day, in prep for her vacation). She makes frequent use of makeup and bodypaint, because even bad ideas wash off.

Powers: If her body is altered without actually dying, e.g. haircuts, sword cuts, crushed by a boulder, etc., then everything regenerates until eventually restored to how she looked at the time of the change. 

Notes: Model Lindsay Elyse. Character by I.A. Riley, August, 2017.

This all started with a weird dream I had one morning. Mighty Protectors final release had just dropped, so I decided to see if I could model the dream.

She is a utility character with flavor. She can survive in outer space and many other hostile environments. She has damage resistance to the weirder combat attacks like Ice Powers, Devitalization Ray, and Death Touch, but remains vulnerable to the most common, such as punches, lasers and lightning bolts. I toyed with permanent Density Increase, but finally decided it really wasn't worth the hassle.

I like that her points are at an “in-between” power level, just because it's more interesting.

This also creates an odd rule violation, because under strict MP rules, there is a point cap on power levels, and to have this much Adaptation (I actually wanted a bit more), she would need to be a 225-point character. Frankly, I opted to ignore that rule, and no one seemed to care.

If I were to boost her to the 210-CP level, I'd give her Armor 3/2/1/0 (because that fills the holes her Adaptation and Invulnerability don't cover), ST +6 (improving her role as brick), CL +6 (mostly to improve initiative, but it also just makes her more likeable for public relations and such) and -2 CP from Knowledge (just because that's an easy place to pull two points from).

#FictionFriday

Wafiya Janna Kerry - Mighty Protectors

Strength 21 (Carrying Capacity 960 lbs., Basic HTH d10+1)
Endurance 24 (Save 13, Heal 3.9)
Agility 15 (Save 11)
Intelligence 18 (Save 12)
Cool 12 (Save 11, Initiative d6)

Hit Points 26
Power 78
Physical Defense 3
Mental Defense 4
Move 20
Inventing Points 9
Wealth d6
Luck 13-
Weight 235 lbs.
Total Cost Basic Characteristics (90) + Abilities (130) - Weaknesses (20) = 200

Abilities
Adaptation: Asphyxiation (Doesn’t Breath), Blood Loss (Doesn’t Bleed), Disease, Low Pressure, Low Temperatures, Poison, Radiation, Sleep, Starvation, Time, Venom (45 CP)
Experience Levels: Attack +2, Defense +2, Skills +2 (20 CP)
Heightened Endurance: Fit, +6 EN, +4 IN (included above)
Heightened Strength: Strong, +10 ST (included above)
Invulnerability: Bullets damage form, Disintegration damage form, Entropy damage type (30 CP)
Knowledge: Languages (5 CP)
Luck: Luck +3 (7.5 CP)
Regeneration: 1 Hit Point per 3 hours, Modifiers: Constant, Unlimited (15 CP)
Wealth: d6 Wealth roll (2.5 CP)

Gear Pool/Inventions/Power Stunts
Punch Gauntlets - Natural Weaponry:  Attack +2, Damage +2 Blunt Kinetic, Modifiers:  Gear (-5) (5 iCP)
Weaknesses
TBD (-10 CP)
Public Identity (-10 CP)

Combat Summary
Initiative: d6
Unarmed: Attack 16-, Damage d10+1 or d12 (avg 6.5)
Punch Gauntlets:  Attack 18-, Damage d10+3 or 3d4+1 (avg 8.5)

Boilerplate Stuff

Document Copyright (C) 2017 by I.A.Riley. All rights reserved. Portions Copyright others; no attempt is made to infringe upon their rights.

Mighty Protectors and the Monkey House Games logo are trademarks owned by Monkey House Games, ©2017 Monkey House Games. All rights reserved. Made in the U.S.A.

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