Gizmo

A few of us were discussing this in chat and wanted to get a referee ruling on it. Do the following feats allow Attack to exceed PL caps in the way that Power Attack or Defensive Attack do? Improved Block Improved Disarm Improved Sunder ... and so forth. For instance, Jack of all Blades has an attack bonus of +15 and two ranks of Improved Block; does he make his attack roll to block at +19 or not?

Let's wait a bit to give everyone a chance to okay it or not. Is there anything else that needs to be on there besides the roster? Are we assuming the location of The Underground and Doc A's involvement are simply un-find-out-able, at least with a check?

Right. I think the example I used in chat was, if All-Star is throwing cars at a giant robot, who's going to notice Razorwing sneaking around the back of the warehouse to disarm the bomb? So, in broad strokes: DC 10: The famous speedster Velocity and the paragon-class hero All-Star have been working together on a new superteam. DC 20: Called The Interceptors, the team has at least a half-dozen members, including the western-themed Colt and the swashbuckler Jack of all Blades. DC 30: The remaining members of the team are Blink, a convicted thief, the shapeshifter known as Grimalkin and the brooding vigilante Razorwing. The Interceptors seem to confine their activities to Freedom City. Beyond that, our individual reputation charts can determine how much someone knows about each of us. Are the DC placements about right for everyone?

A few of us were talking in chat, and basically decided that so long as Marcus doesn't overtly draw attention to the brownstone, we're covered by genre conventions and suspension of disbelief. So, y'know, no bringing dates back to his place of flying out the third floor windows. The way I figure it is this: Marcus is known to be All-Star, fine. It's still not particularly strange to find him living with or hanging out with people his own age. 'Wing wears a mask, Velocity and Jack wear masks and wigs, Blink and Grim can look like anybody they want to. True, Colt doesn't conceal his identity, but he's only had time to meet a few people; if he gets some non-cowboy clothes to wear around, who'd recognize him? Worst case scenario he could pose as his own alternate-universe double. So long as we don't take any team photos, I think we're fine. As for revealing secret identities to each other, if Doc A's 'pitch' were interrupted by some emergency before they had time to decide, a successful team-up might go a long way to getting them to trust each other, right? Regarding the info DC, I really think we should just set up a chart like the personal reputations, with different team members being revealed at different difficulties. Knowing a sports team exists doesn't mean you can name all of the players. Some are more famous than others.

Turning to the fantastic being, Jack nodded with exaggerated amicability. "Well, sure, Mr. Glowy-Shifty-Migrane-Causing-Energy-Man. A non-life. Y'know, I was just going to say that?" The swordsman glanced down at the blade of flame in his right hand. He had a feeling it wouldn't do much good against humanoid elemental, but out in the middle of the woods he didn't have many other energy types available to him. He looked over his shoulder to the earlier arrival with the Southern drawl. "How about you, 'hoss'? Got a case to state? I'm an easygoing guy, far as weirdness goes," Jack said slowly. The swashbuckler gestured casually with his sword. "Breaking a few natural laws right now myself, but you're both pushing my tolerance levels, comprende?"

I like the idea of everyone under one roof; disparate personalities working together is drama, disparate personalities living together is comedy. Best of both worlds. As far as Jack goes, he'd have to unmask, but he could simply let everyone keep calling him Jack. All-Star would recognize him from the carnival, but none of them would have any reason to know who Erik Espadas is. That's kinda fun because it gives him the chance to reveal more to the team as he learns to trust them more. I think the assumption here is that Doc A at least has used his resources to learn everyone's true identity, in order to track them down an invite them to the team. If we go with the scaled reputation for the team, it'd take at least DC 30 to figure out the whole roster; until then it wouldn't be obvious that Marcus' housemates are his teammates as well. So long as he doesn't advertise where he lives too much and we operate under the theory that civilians in this sort of setting are kinda slow on the uptake, we should be fine.

I'd say DC 20; The Underground definitely needs to be a secret, as do the Brownstone appartments. Doc's involvement is supposed to be under wraps as well, as I understand it. That said, I don't see the team operating solely from the shadows. It's probably a staged thing, since the members have different levels of fame. DC 10 probably tells you that All-Star and Velocity have been seen working with a group of heroes, DC 20 tells you the team is called The Interceptors, and a better idea of the full roster (that there's around a half-dozen members, who some of them are) and DC 30 reveals who all seven members are, their powers and habits as a group.

Hey, Grim could even be inside already and answer Blink's knock!

Yeah, that makes sense. They're both pretty useful abilities, and there isn't anyone on the team who can replicate them.

I think they know varying amounts at this point. The Doc hasn't revealed himself to everyone yet. Grim and Velocity probably know the whole score, though. I made Jack's summons particularly vague because that's what would best attract his attention; if something's going down in the West End, he needs to check it out and learn more. He would have viewed a letter delivered to his home, where his family lives, as tantamount to an attack. Conversely, a bizarre television message? No way he could just let that pass.

As Erik reached the edge of the crowd gathered for the fire-eating display, he spotted Ellie and her date, who walked over to greet him. The younger Espadas carried a large, plush rabbit made of pink and purple fabrics. Andrew moved to let go of Ellie's hand when he recognized her brother, but she continued to grip his, giving the nervous young man a reassuring look. Sparing his feelings, Erik pretended not to notice. "So, won the lady a prize, eh, slugger?" he grinned, slapping Andrew on the shoulder. "Uh, actually, she won that herself. I'm... not so good with the..." the high-schooler vaguely mimed playing skee ball. Ellie interjected, saying, "We decided to come and check out the fire-breather. This guy's supposed to be amazing, maybe even a meta." She gave her brother a significant glance, and Erik raised an eyebrow. His extra sense would certainly make him aware if that was the case once the show started; energy created and manipulated using superpowers always had a noticeably different... texture than its mundane counterpart. Andrew gave a soft snort. "C'mon, like anyone with powers would be hanging out at a place like this.

See, now, that's an acronym! MAVERIC is fantastic, well done. Not to belabour the press issue, but since we're talking about it, it strikes me that certain members are more likely to act as the 'public face' of the team than others. 'Wing and Blink certainly aren't trying to advertise their location, and I know Jack avoids being recorded when he can, but it'd probably be more suspicious if All-Star and Velocity started avoiding reporters.

Ha, good point. I'll have to get back to you on that.

I definitely want to go with a mandatory linking, with the Extra and Flaw canceling each other out, point-wise. The whole idea here is an 'equal and opposite reaction' sort of power set. I think it would be pushing it to categorize the Cold Control as a Side Effect Flaw. I mean, it might be annoying to leave an ice slick everywhere you run, but combined with super speed, it would let you coat an entire battlefield in ice with a single action, for example. The mechanics seem pretty straightforward; treating Array as a power in and of itself, Link two Arrays together, resolving which alternate power you use from each container separately. You'd have to use an A and a B, but you could choose A1+B3 or A2+B1, for example. Obviously it'd take some tweaking, matching up action types, making sure everything could pair up without breaking any rules, but that's all details. I guess what I'm really asking for is a ruling on whether or not this would be allowed. I don't think it would be unbalancing - the flexibility is offset by forcing the Link - but it is a bit outside the box.

That's it exactly. The idea is that he can't do one without the other; the kinetic energy needs to come from somewhere and it needs to go somewhere. He can't go fast without making things cold, and vice versa.

I've been toying with the idea of a speedster who works by robbing the kinetic energy from the molecules around him. Basically he'd have linked Super Speed and Cold Control. My question, then, is whether I can link two arrays together, so that he could basically choose any power from Column A and any power from Column B. Obviously I could just use a single array of linked powers, but I like the flexibility of the first option. So. Can this work?

I kinda like the ground vehicle. Sooner or later we're going to want to load it up with explosives and remotely pilot it into something. You know it'll happen. The added Defense and Toughness are nice, too. I wonder about the caltrops; how often are we going to be driving away from somebody? Mostly I'm just surprised the name's not an acronym, quote!

Hey, you can't let society dictate where you post! IC, OOC, it's all just labels, man! Throw off the shackles! Fight the power! Oh, and shouldn't 'Interceptors' have a second 'e' in it, Doc?

The West End, the prior evening... Jack of all Blades used his foot to roll the unconscious burglar over on to his back, making sure the man hadn't received any serious cuts while flying out through the window he himself had broken to gain entry to the small electronics store. The swashbuckler shook his head and used the electricity sparking from a damaged DVD player to form a crackling blade of energy. As a few quick flicks of the wrist cut the hero's calling card into the criminal's shirt, Jack was startled by slow applause coming from behind him. Rounding in an instant, sword at the ready, he was chagrined to find it was only a television set in the store's window, displaying what looked like a gregarious talk show host. "Well, that's a little embarrassing," Jack muttered to himself, standing up straight. "On the contrary, Jack, that was one heckuva performance!" the man of the screen proclaimed enthusiastically. The swordsman blinked. After a long pause, he gravely intoned, "Alright, level with me. Is this some sorta power-fueled dementia? 'Cause the whole 'energy sense' thing always made be a little nervous, getting in my head and all." The host laughed heartily. "I tell ya, Jack, you're a real card! Hey oh!" He pointed to someone off screen and a rim shot sounded. "But seriously, you're not crazy." Placing a hand beside his mouth, he continued in a stage whisper, "At least not crazier than other guy running around in a mask and tights, am I right?" The host guffawed along with a laugh track. Jack looked down at his pants briefly. "They're not actually-- No, you know what? Forget it. What's your deal, pal?" The man of the screen tapped his finger to his nose then pointed to Jack. "See? Right there. You're quick. I am your pal, and I do have a deal for you!" The host picked up an envelope from his desk and held it to his forehead. "To protect the West End, to meet other super guys and gals and to put his little sis through med school!" He opened the envelope and read the piece of paper inside. "'Things Jack of all Blades wants to do!'" Canned applause came from the hypothetical audience, and the host gave a small bow. Jack took a step towards the television set. "What do you know about my sister?" he asked in a humourless tone, his jaw set dangerously. The host raised his hands. "Easy killer! All will be revealed! Just head to the address below tomorrow and get ready for the offer of a lifetime!" As a street address scrolled across the bottom of the screen, the host pointed off screen again, and a guitar and saxophone lick flared from the television. "Good night, folks!" the host cried, tossing his cue cards over his shoulder. With that, the screen shut itself off, leaving a bewildered Jack standing over a groaning burglar. The swashbuckler even stop staring at the television as he gave the thief a swift kick back into unconsciousness. 83rd Avenue, brownstone apartments... As Jack slid down the drain pipe of the building across the street from the one the address had specified, he spotted a dark haired woman approaching the apartment. With surprise he realized he recognized her from the Leon Mighty's training session in Wharton State Forest. Removing his lighter from his pocket, he rolled it in his palm, but held off on summoning a sword of fire. Shoving his hands into the pockets of his greatcoat, he followed her across the street to the front door.

Argh, alright, apparently flickr pulled a fast one on me and changed the url to: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3477/401 ... 94bf_o.jpg Sorry about that. Last time, honest. Reshuffled by Doc

Jack grinned. "Leon, buddy, if it punches through bricks like a monk and meditates under waterfalls like a monk, then-- jeez!" The swordsman dropped his foil to the ground and gripped the side of his head. Out in the middle of the forest, away from the 'white noise' of power lines and crowded streets, his energy sense was much clearer. As such, it came as all the more of a shock when his brain started freaking out in two directions at once. To the west he sensed something that turned his stomach; something that was so close to a regular person that the vague 'wrongness' was all the more discomforting. In the opposite direction was veritable pillar of energy, concentrated to such a degree that Jack felt like his eyeballs were vibrating. Concentrating through the unsettling sensation, the swordsman flicked out his lighter, calling forth a fiery sword with practiced ease. He glanced around the edge of the clearing warily. "Hold that thought, Leon, we got company. Freaky company."

Another quick one, could I get this added as an image to Jack's sheet: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3477/401 ... a2e0_o.jpg Jack of Blades updated by the Ace of Spades

For the sake of argument, with Set-Up, Distract, Fascinate and Taunt running off of a +19 Bluff, Jack should already be able to provide some support services, as the need arises. As an added bonus, improved Charisma for Inspire will pump that as well. Synergy! Don't forget that Velocity can actually hit just as hard as All-Star should the need arise, at DC 27 each. Colt can match that too, up close, but obviously attacking from a distance gives him way more options, putting his raw damage in the same ballpark as Grim's claws, with Jack, 'Wing and Blink being the lightest touches. There are other considerations, like Blink's mad Grapple skills or Colt's ability to Affect Insubstantial, of course, but that the general hierarchy of smashiness. As far as teleporting goes, don't forget about distance. Right now, 300 feet is the max. Even without the Short-Range flaw, Teleport 3 can only make 1000 feet on the Extended Range Table. With Progression 2, Blink can already transport 500 lbs, which is enough for any three of us other than All-Star, so it probably makes sense to focus of range first. Buying off Short-Range would be 3 points, with each new rank being another 3 after that. That's 9 point to get to 5 miles, for example. In the mean time, I guess we could just make multiple jumps to get where we're going.

Yeah, I expect it'll take most of us a while to reconfigure into 'team mode'. Which, conveniently, works in character, too. I figure four more points of Charisma for Jack, five for Inspire, probably a couple ranks of Luck to make it all worthwhile... Not happening overnight, but it's doable. It works out well; he's designed to dance around an opponent and wear them down without getting hit himself. If the team needs a one turn, Inspire-fueled Hail Mary pass, giving up his turn to do it seems like a good deal. We were talking a bit about developing various teamwork abilities earlier; now that we've got a final roster, maybe we should revisit that. If we spread things around, we won't have to sacrifice as much of each character's personal development. Pumping Blink's teleportation to serve as transportation is a great example of balancing the two concerns.

Alright, I'm just putting this out there: Jack is not getting carried. There's always one dude on the team who has to get carried around by his armpits by a flier, and he always looks like a complete twit. So... no. That said, he could hitch a ride on the back of one of the cycles if need be, or with Blink once her teleporting is upgraded. It might make sense to have some kind of support vehicle anyway; you never know when you'll have cart out supplies or civilians or something.