angrydurf

It might be best just to drop the wealth optional rule and convert wealth into equipment for folks. The wealth option in the book is pretty open ended for a wealthy character to just buy any and all equipment he might want that isn't restricted. It wouldn't take long to do so with a +25-35 check bonus.

Just having it as a descriptor without cost seems fine as long as you don't get "but I'm filthy rich" freebies that effect the game.

On equipment though it seems that there is some stuff that should be worth less than a full EP like a flashlight or cell phone etc. maybe a list of common Items that you can pick 5 or ten of them for a single EP? This of course if we don't let your lifstyle as described by your background or benefits give you basics like that.

So do you need the selective PF to fire out of your force field? Normal protection doesn't require you to buy selective to attack and forcefield is a 0 point trade off from normal protection so basically a descriptor.

Secondarily does force field prevent touch based powers that can't penetrate (defeat the toughness save) the forcefield? Would selective allow beneficial powers (healing) to go through then?

6. Freedom City: PbP will be using a very basic version of the Wealth variant. All characters will be considered to have access to a middle-class lifestyle (Wealth +8): a place to live, a car if needed, money for food, clothes, etc. The players will be free to determine the details of where that wealth comes from. Players who wish to have access to a more lavish lifestyle may purchase ranks of the Benefit (Wealth) feat (+4 per Rank), which works out to something like:

Starting Wealth = Middle Class

Benefit 1 (Wealth) = Affluent

Benefit 2-3 (Wealth) = Wealthy

Benefit 4-5 (Wealth) = Rich

Benefit 6+ (Wealth) = Filthy Rich

(*Note: Ranks of profession can also increase your wealth bonus. See page 132 for details.)

The wealth level describes the character's entire lifestyle, not just the amount of cash they have on hand. So a teenage hero who has very little "allowance" but who lives in a mansion, goes to an exclusive school, and drives around in a limo, would, in fact, be Wealthy or Rich.

We will not be requiring players to make wealth rolls. Just assume that your character has access to anything that a "normal" person of your level of wealth could buy through "normal" channels. Players will not be permitted to use their wealth to buy things that are of significance to the game system: equipment, weapons, etc. Use the Equipment feat for that.

I think its taken from the lines I bolded above

It seems to indicate that we have the stuff someone of our wealth level would have. Of course if its gonna need game stats and be equipment it is stated that that needs to be bought as such. So you can have a private jet to vacation in but if you want to use it to chase down or attack a villian in his airship armmada it needs to be equipment. Of course with wealth you can get a jet short term for that but if you want ot always hav access you'll need the equipment feat.

OK that makes more sense

So you can "buy" a jet with wealth but if you want to use it every adventure you'll need to put the PP into equipment for it.

So what does wealth get you?

the description seems to indicate it gives you everything from that lifestyle (in the book it goes into how to buy stuff with it but you don't use that here)

So if you just want a mansion (not an HQ with a super computer and defense systems etc) you still need to buy it with equipment points?

The Limo and or sports car you take to the clubs, or the private helecopter that flies you to board meetings all need to be bought with equipment points?

It seems like wealth doesn't really do anything then.

I always interpreted the equipment feat as stuff you have either bought or stolen or made and the wealth benefit to be your bank account but since you can't use the bank account to buy new stuff it seems kinda worthless if it doesn't at least give you the basics for your lifestyle.

Ace Danger

Power Level: 13/15 (200/223PP)

Trade-Offs: None

Unspent PP: 23

 

Alternate Identity: None

Height: 6'

Weight: 185

Hair: Blonde

Eyes: Blue

 

Description: Ace has a sturdy six foot frame not overly muscled but certainly well defined in an almost careless way that suggests given effort he could develop quite the physique. His head is topped by thick blonde locks that are maintained in a perfect semblance of disarray. He retains much of his fathers classic lines but softened slightly, a strong jaw and chin, but not quite chiseled, his bright blue eyes always have a slight twinkle of mischief dancing in them. Despite his advanced age he appears an attractive man of 24. He dresses well socially though favors a somewhat beaten down Fedora and bomber jacket while "on duty", and favors a kind of retro chic look without looking like he can't keep up with the times.

 

History: The first of the Danger children was born on July 4th 1925, named Ace after Ace Adams his godfather also his fathers pilot and close campanion through many an adventure. His early childhood was fairly normal despite his fathers extended absences with two more sibblings following A brother and a sister (the youngest) over the next five years. The family relocated to Africa where his famed father made his fortune in diamonds of dubious origins by todays standards. Once Ace reached the age of eight his father decided to make up for lost time and Ace joined him on his various adventures throughout the 30's and into the early 40's despite the dangers Ace enjoyed this time though he was always felt he had fallen short of his fathers larger than life expectations of his first born.

 

As Ace came of age his brother was included in more and more of his fathers travels and Ace found himself at loose ends. While he could certainly claim a unique education it was perhaps even worse suited than he was to acedemia. Eventually, out of boredom as much as anythign else, he joined the military. By the time he was out of basic of course the war had drawn to a close and his family name was considered more of an asset than any of his skills. It wasn't long before his mavrick stylings and controversial activities had him discharged (honorably thanks to family connections) to his fathers deep disapointment.

 

After his socialy disasterous military career Ace fell to the baser accusations of his father and became the exact layabout his father claimed him to be and dear old dad seemed to just give up and instead focused on his second born Rex. By 1950 Ace had earned quite the reputation as a libertine and despite the efforts of Little sister Donna to control the rumors he was steadily erroding the familys reputation. Her answer was simple and with some manuevering of family money and contacts she neatly made him some one elses problem as he was inducted into service with the CIA where he was the very picture of the dashing spy later immortalized in print and film. He roamed the world much as he had with his father only now it was a deadly game of cat and mouse with the Soviets rather than twarting Nazi schemes. He was well suited to the work and relished the risk. Due to his unique contacts and knowledge from his days traveling with his father he was assighned to the more esoteric missions no simple spying on abasadors for Johnny Dagers son when there were communist backed voodoo cults in Havana or Soviet reaserchers developing doomsday devices in the himalayas. His fast and loose interpretation of regulations kept him fairly stationary in the organization despite his successes but at least he wasn't bored. It was during this time that his training with Shambala monks and blessings from witch doctors and voodoo queens led to some of his more extrodinary abilities though he carefully hid these from his antsy employers given the political climate.

 

It was only natural that whent he fledgling AEGIS organization cropped up he was optioned off to it though that barely lasted a year before he was drummed out for disrespecting a superior officer. The family stepped in once more to keep the specifics quiet but he was still blacklisted form government work. By this time his sister and her children were fully running Danger Industries and hsi father was retired having passed the torch to Rex who continued to live up to all of the Danger elders expectations. Ace for his part also prided himself on living up to every claim his father made. He with pride says that his actions alone supported the feldgling tabloid industry through the sixties and early seventies and its not far from the truth. He publicly partook of much of the worst the decades had to offer and was teh center of most major scandels of the era.

 

Likely he much like the rest of the counrty would have continued on the self destructive course they were on if not for the Big One. The Terminus invasion was a rather brutal wake-up call for everyone but it was particularly so for Ace. His brother Rex had recently spirited him away from yet another party gone too far when the call came in. The city was under attack. Rex being Rex immediatly spun the car in the direction of the trouble and told Ace to stay out of the way if he could. They never even had a chance as the burning lance of energy sliced through the car. Ace's last memory was his brothers scream as they were both vaporized. Ace woke up still in the tangled wreckage of the car after it was all over. In the end Rex was yet another in a long list of Heroes who fell in the invasion, Ace was sure to embelish the story the press got, to everyone else Rex went out like a Hero should.

 

His brothers death affected Ace strongly, he had experiance and more than a few tricks up his sleeve, he would do what Rex would have wanted. He became a Hero too, though granted still with his own specific idiom. In hero work a handsome smile and flare for the dramatic turned out to be as much a benefit as it had been a hindrance in his days at the agency. Of course he still had his fathers globe trotting tendancies and soon was swept up in events throughout the world. His niece Rachel is fairly supportive of such activities but has slowly convinced him to stick to freedom city for now on and with Ace Danger is back in town the funs sure to start soon.

 

Personality & Motivation: Ace has really been training for the Hero gig almost since birth and despite some unorthodox methods he's good at it. He's a larger than life presonality from a larger than life family and lives it up as such. To most appearances he's a shallow attention grabbing playboy with too many toys, and thats not entirely inaccurate but he does have a strong sense of justice and feels a responsbility for the people of freedom. Rex's death puled him out of a pretty self destructive spiral but that hasn't kept him form havign fun while doing good in the here and now.

 

Powers & Tactics: Every person who asks how Ace got his talents gets a different answer each more unbelievable than the last some of them are probably even true. He has been blessed by mystics of many traditions for long life and thats likely the actual core reason for his immortality, He most often will say however that he's to pretty to die. In his travels he has also picked up more than a few tricks. He has learned many martial arts forms from various groups through the years that has left him a capeable hand to hand fighter though no specific style really take preeminance and his fathers wicked left hook is still his most signature move. He has also trained with various yogi's and mystics throughout the world to hone his mind and has picked up on the tricks that he most liked granting him a suite of mind tricks harnessing the power of his mind. He has also made some upgrades to his home to better fit with his new "super" lifestyle, using daka crystals he has pulled it off the grid and aplified his own mind clouding abilities to hide the entire structure from prying eyes, hte instalation of a comunacations and computing suite made it in his mind the perfect luxurious base of operations. Also it helps with dodging the ever present paparrazi.

 

 

---

Complications:

Disarmed!: Aces gadget power is hard to lose as he has to be stripped of all of his devices to completely lose access. However many of the individual items are hand held and can be disarmed as normal.

Fame

Honor (Hero code: don't kill or main, no torture, protect innocents etc)

Reputation (Wastrel playboy)

 

 

Stats: 8+0+12+6+0+14=40pp

Str: 18 (+4)

Dex: 10 (+0)

Con: 22 (+6)

Int: 16 (+3)

Wis: 10 (+0)

Cha: 24 (+7)

 

 

Combat: 28pp

Attack: +8 (+12 melee, +16 Unarmed)

Grapple: +16

Defense: +13 (+3 flat-footed)

Knockback: -4

Initiative: +0

 

 

Saves: 19pp

Toughness: +9 (+6 Con, +3 Hidden Vest)

Fortitude: +9 (+6 Con, +3)

Reflex: +8 (+0 Dex, +8)

Will: +8 (+0 Wis, +8)

 

 

Skills: 104r = 26pp

Bluff 17 (+24)

Diplomacy 7 (+14, +20 with Wealth)

Disguise 9 (+16)

Gather Information 7 (+14, +20 with wealth)

Investigation 2 (+5)

Language 4 (Cantonese, Dakanan, French, Tibetan; English is native)

Notice 17 (+17)

Search 7 (+10)

Sense motive 17 (+17)

Stealth 17 (+17)

 

 

Feats: 53pp

Attack Focus: Melee 4

Attack Specialization: Unarmed 2

Beginners Luck

Benefit (Wealth 3/Filthy Rich)

Challenge 2 (Fast Feint, Fast Taunt)

Connected

Contacts

Distract (bluff)

Dodge Focus 7

Equipment 6

Hide In Plain Sight

Improvised Tools

Inspire 5

Jack of all Trades

Leadership

Luck 4

Power Attack

Quick Change 2

Redirect

Set-Up

Skill Mastery (Bluff, Disguise, Notice, Stealth)

Sneak Attack

Teamwork 3

Taunt

Uncanny Dodge (mental)

Well Informed

 

 

Quote

Possessions

Ace day to day carries his smartphone (Cell/PDA/wireless internets, whichever brand/model is 'hot') and for business keeps a laptop in his briefcase. When driving himself he prefers a snazzy sports car but for formal events will arrive by limo unless he feels the need to "make an entrance" he maintains a membership at the Northbay Yacht Club and participates in the regatta aboard his sailboat 'Albatross'. He maintains a penthouse downtown for business and discrete liaisons in addition to the less well known Danger Manor.

 

Equipment [30 equipment points]

Hidden vest [4]

Smoke Grenade (Obscure 2 [Visual; Independent]) [5]

AP: Shuriken, Masterwork (Blast 1 [Autofire] w/ +1 to hit)

 

Danger Manor [total 21]

Toughness 10 [1]

Size Large [2]

Combat Simulator [1]

Communications [1]

Computer [1]

Dock [1]

Defense system (Stun 12 [Crazy Purple Knockout Gas; Extra: Sleep, area; Flaws: Limitation{Gas attack, stopped by Immunity suffocation, or Immunity poison}][1]

Fire prevention system [1]

Garage [1]

Gym [1]

Hangar [1]

Infirmary [1]

Library [1]

Living space [1]

Personnel [1]

Pool [1]

Power system [1]

Security System x 3 (DC 30) [3]

 

 

Powers: 14 + 3 + 16 = 33pp.

 

Gadgets 2 (Be Prepared; 10pp; Flaw: Hard to Lose) [14pp]

 

Immunity 3 (aging, disease, poison) [3pp]

 

Regeneration 14 (Disabled 6 [1/round], True Resurrection 8 [1/round]; PFs: Persistent, Regrowth) [12pp]

 

 

Drawbacks: 0pp

 

 

DC Block:

ATTACKS: SAVE DC: DAMAGE TYPE:

(Name of Attack) (Save DC/Type) (Type of Damage: Bruise/Injury, or other)

Unarmed ------ 19/Toughness ----- Bruise/injury

Sneak Attack Unarmed ------ 21/Toughness ------ Bruise Injury

Shuriken ------ 16/Toughness ------ Bruise/Injury

Sneak Attack Shuriken ------ 18/Toughness ------ Bruise/Injury

 

 

Totals: Abilities 40 + Combat 28 + Saves 19 + Skills 26 (104r) + Feats 54 + Powers 33 - Drawbacks 0 = 200/223

As a fellow codgery old Gamer I can see where hellbound is coming from the fluidity of M&M when coming from the perspective of pre-D20 D&D or HERO games make it look like Amber.

But really on the complexity and sheer wonk scale its no worse than any of the relitively universal systems like GURPS or Champions. I mean when I played Champions a sure sign of noobness was actually buying superspeed with wallrunning as we all knew that you just bought flight with "must be at ground level" limitation. The one thing Champions really did well with all of that though was tell the GM up from that thier players were gonna be a bunch of cheesy bastards and to feel free to say NO early and often to such behavior. M&M is a little more subdued than that.

It takes some getting used to and its a delicate line to walk between power gamer/minmaxer and so un-optimized it can't compete. Its really what comes out of this more freeform playstyle off the table top. With 5 guys at your kitchen table itspretty easy to say shut up frank and don't be cheesy when there are 20+ players it gets tougher its why LARP usually has much firmer rules than Tabletop even for the same games/systems.

Hi I'm the angrydurf and I'm a gamer ...

So that taken care of I'm a stay at home dad and part time student of the Culinary Arts, which is a fancy way to say i take comunity college cooking courses when they fit my schedual and my wife works too hard. Once the little one is off to school for most of the day I'm looking to be ready to work as a pastery chef. Outside my bubble of domesticity I mostly am, as I said above, a gamer, Computers to LARP to PbP/PbEM too many games to count over the years really.

I started with M&M in the first edition when it crossed the shelves at the game store I was working at at the time. I ran a few games and even managed to get someone else to run one at least once and picked up 2E as I have been able despite not being a huge fan of the genre. Never been much of a comics guy but I love comic book movies and cartoons but the wife more than makes up for it and has succesfully retrained my brain to how the storylines actually go.

I'll be putting up a character as soon as I get him succesfully polished and presentable and look forward to getting into the game.