Post by frobones on Aug 5, 2012 17:22:17 GMT -8
Character Creation Tool
There's a trial version of Hero Lab you can use. It's fully functional, but you can't save your hero. So just take some prnt scn and a paint program to save it. I recommend using this to create your hero as it will be 99-100% valid.
Complications
3ed requires two complications in your build. They are categorized as Complications and Motivation. I ask you all to pick at least one Motivation and one Complication. However, in addition to these picks there are some mandatory Complications dependent on your backstory:
Identity/Secret: If you have a dual identity: Costume persona and civilain
Relationship: This is mandatory unless you are an orphan and a social loner
Responsibility: If you have a job, family, etc
Fame: If you are a public figure
Your complication pick cannot overlap with the ones you mandatorily receive.
Focus on human development
When you develop the origin of your powers in your backstory, also develop the “human” side of you as well; life outside of being a hero. Take Spiderman for example, in addition to fighting crime he has to juggle his part-time job at the Daily Bugle, the responsibility of caring for his Aunt May, and attending college. All the while trying to romance Mary Jane Watson. Stories and complications, which will lead to RP, will arise from the part of your origin that doesn’t concern your powers (for the most part). Spiderman’s power origin can be summed up in one sentence: He was bitten by a radioactive spider. However, what he was before it happened, what he did with his powers and what ultimately lead him to donning the mask and fighting crime is what makes his origin interesting. So just keep these things in mind when developing your character.
If your character does not have development in his civilian side, i.e. skills or advantages that relate to your day job, your experiences growing up, or your life outside of being a hero, you will have to re-tool your build to include these things.
Power Creation
As of now there are no restrictions on power, so go crazy. However, all builds are subject to my approval.
When you create your powers, they all must have an Origin, Source, Medium, and Result descriptors. For example:
Origin: Mutant, Invented, Training/Natural, etc.
Source: Biological, Magical, Cosmic, Divine, Technological, Psionic, etc.
Medium: Fire, Ice, Lightning, Physical, Mental, etc.
Result is the most interesting one, it’s you telling me what happens when a power effect lands. Let’s say you have a power that immobilizes a bad guy. How exactly is he immobilized? Did you throw bolas at his legs? did you encase him in ice? did you put a fire cage around him? did you poison him with a paralyzing agent? did you cut off the mental synapses from his brain to his legs? Depending on the nature of the power, this doesn’t have to be set in stone.
Details starting on page 152 of the M&M 3ed Handbook
Meeting Power Level Caps
I should mention… be sure to hit PL caps on Toughness, Parry/Dodge, Attack, Effect (i.e. damage). The PL is a guideline for me to know what I can throw at you guys. So if you fall under the PL, you are not really at that PL and might get clobbered by my challenges.
Skill PL caps (which is 20 for us) are a different thing though, RP backstory should determine those. Use these guidelines to determine proper ranks in a skill:
Basic: 5-8
Professional: 9-12
Expert: 13-16
Mastery: 17-19
There's a trial version of Hero Lab you can use. It's fully functional, but you can't save your hero. So just take some prnt scn and a paint program to save it. I recommend using this to create your hero as it will be 99-100% valid.
Complications
3ed requires two complications in your build. They are categorized as Complications and Motivation. I ask you all to pick at least one Motivation and one Complication. However, in addition to these picks there are some mandatory Complications dependent on your backstory:
Identity/Secret: If you have a dual identity: Costume persona and civilain
Relationship: This is mandatory unless you are an orphan and a social loner
Responsibility: If you have a job, family, etc
Fame: If you are a public figure
Your complication pick cannot overlap with the ones you mandatorily receive.
Focus on human development
When you develop the origin of your powers in your backstory, also develop the “human” side of you as well; life outside of being a hero. Take Spiderman for example, in addition to fighting crime he has to juggle his part-time job at the Daily Bugle, the responsibility of caring for his Aunt May, and attending college. All the while trying to romance Mary Jane Watson. Stories and complications, which will lead to RP, will arise from the part of your origin that doesn’t concern your powers (for the most part). Spiderman’s power origin can be summed up in one sentence: He was bitten by a radioactive spider. However, what he was before it happened, what he did with his powers and what ultimately lead him to donning the mask and fighting crime is what makes his origin interesting. So just keep these things in mind when developing your character.
If your character does not have development in his civilian side, i.e. skills or advantages that relate to your day job, your experiences growing up, or your life outside of being a hero, you will have to re-tool your build to include these things.
Power Creation
As of now there are no restrictions on power, so go crazy. However, all builds are subject to my approval.
When you create your powers, they all must have an Origin, Source, Medium, and Result descriptors. For example:
Origin: Mutant, Invented, Training/Natural, etc.
Source: Biological, Magical, Cosmic, Divine, Technological, Psionic, etc.
Medium: Fire, Ice, Lightning, Physical, Mental, etc.
Result is the most interesting one, it’s you telling me what happens when a power effect lands. Let’s say you have a power that immobilizes a bad guy. How exactly is he immobilized? Did you throw bolas at his legs? did you encase him in ice? did you put a fire cage around him? did you poison him with a paralyzing agent? did you cut off the mental synapses from his brain to his legs? Depending on the nature of the power, this doesn’t have to be set in stone.
Details starting on page 152 of the M&M 3ed Handbook
Meeting Power Level Caps
I should mention… be sure to hit PL caps on Toughness, Parry/Dodge, Attack, Effect (i.e. damage). The PL is a guideline for me to know what I can throw at you guys. So if you fall under the PL, you are not really at that PL and might get clobbered by my challenges.
Skill PL caps (which is 20 for us) are a different thing though, RP backstory should determine those. Use these guidelines to determine proper ranks in a skill:
Basic: 5-8
Professional: 9-12
Expert: 13-16
Mastery: 17-19