Non-Supers

[Kevin McIntyre]

I am starting a new game with a new group. I haven't ran a game in a while so I'm a bit rusty but still I push on. I wanted to start a new game but have everyone create non-super power characters. Just joe shmoes. Is there somewhere in any of the books to create something like this? Just curious. Wanted to start from the ground up.

Any ideas?

[RockJock]

If you are wanting non powered heroes do as GMA said and look at Special Training. If you are wanting a group of average Joes without special training, hardware abilities or similar there are several options in other titles. One example is the BtS Victim. Dead Reign, and Chaos Earth have similar. You could also roll up a character using the HU following the standard education rules, just with no power category.

[Stone Gargoyle]

I guess I am just having a hard time understanding why you are having them create them as normal people in a HU game. Are you intending to have them get powers eventually, or just have them go up against opponents more powerful than they are?

[Kevin McIntyre]

I want them to roll up non-supers so they will know how weak they can be. Humble them some. Basic time frame is 2012 when E-Day happens (Evolution Day). An event occurs where some of the population gains abilities. When this happens they will gain abilities but not all at one time. They will come into them slowly. I didn't want them to come out the gate with all of their powers and naturally thinking they were far more powerful than anyone else.

Good advice though I will look at it tonight when I get home from work. Thanks guys.

[Stone Gargoyle]

I want them to roll up non-supers so they will know how weak they can be. Humble them some. Basic time frame is 2012 when E-Day happens (Evolution Day). An event occurs where some of the population gains abilities. When this happens they will gain abilities but not all at one time. They will come into them slowly. I didn't want them to come out the gate with all of their powers and naturally thinking they were far more powerful than anyone else.

Good advice though I will look at it tonight when I get home from work. Thanks guys.

That seems a bit demeaning, but it's your game. I have never had players think they were more powerful than anyone else; and if they did, that perception was changed once play began.
You will have to roll them up as base stats which can be modified once they pick their power categories, and then walk them through the mutation process. It sounds as if you will want to go with the Mutants category with powers that evolve over time.

[Kevin McIntyre]

That seems a bit demeaning, but it's your game. I have never had players think they were more powerful than anyone else; and if they did, that perception was changed once play began.
You will have to roll them up as base stats which can be modified once they pick their power categories, and then walk them through the mutation process. It sounds as if you will want to go with the Mutants category with powers that evolve over time.

Demeaning isn't the word I was thinking of. Two of the players are notorious meta/power gamers and they are the type that would buy a module once they figured out where it was from to try and cheat the system. They have never run with me as the GM so I like to set it out first that this is something unusual for them is all.

[Stone Gargoyle]

Just seems a bit odd to do it that way, but I understand your reasoning.

[gaby]

Well I try to give a special skill for Special training to give them a chance.

Any ideas for Special skills?

[Stone Gargoyle]

That is exactly why I make them roll everything random. No maxing out on skills either if rolling low on education. This is why I said they wouldn't last long in my game.

[Kevin McIntyre]

Could you have them roll up which powers they will eventually be getting, and then give them those powers over time? Example: Player A and Player B roll up the powers they are going to receive. Player A ends up with 2 major, while Player B ends up with 1 Major and 1 Minor. Player A rolls APS Plasma and Create Force Constructs, Player B rolls Super Power Punch and Unnoteworthy. This way the players can't complain about one getting all the cool stuff and the other getting the shaft because they rolled these up beforehand. And to stop them from munchkining their characters beforehand, make them do everything about character creation BEFORE they roll the powers. This would ensure that the mutations are random. You know, not everyone who ends up with SNPS was a boxer.

That was my thinking exactly. Time-line wise, at the beginning of the game there are no one with super powers. With the introduction of some alien event (Think District 9 mixed with some events from Heroes the TV show) random people will be given special abilities. With the advent of these powers they will have to find out how to use them. How does a person who can fly know they can fly? With the introduction of a stresser I plan on having them realize they have powers.

[Gryphon Chick]

Unless you plan to railroad the characters, there is still no guarantee that once you give them powers they won't overplay them. All players push the limits.

[Rahmota]

I have run a game similar to this. In my game the players' characters where high school students. They spent a couple years doing some adventure type stuff like the scooby gang or something and all. Then they where given the opportunity in game to take special training, or there where some who where exposed to metagenic compounds (ie mutant stuff) or other triggers to give them the bigger power base.

How I did it though was I used the Beyond the Supernatural or Hero's Education level and stats without choosing any O.C.C. or power category. They all automatically got the high school education (except for the one street punk dropout. But as this was before HU2 we just kinda gave him a few basic skills and reduced his percentages) Then like I said we played for a while and in game one of them entered the military after graduation and got "invited" to participate in a super-soldier program. I don't recall any of the others though I do think one either went or got mutated.

And its not railroading if you give them a set of options to choose from but keep those options to ones you like or otherwise control/have planned out at certain points. Sort of like playing cards at the casino. You know the game is fair enough but the odds are definately on the house's side. And yeah the players then go off on their happy way thinking they got the upper hand on you and made you give them the powers they wanted.

[RockJock]

Ok, so the group starts as flatlines then add powers after the event. Do the players know each other before hand? Think about trying something like this. Either let them each pick a profession, or make a simple chart of 20 jobs/professions and let them roll. Then make a character with skills and education that make sense for that job without knowing their random powers.

[Iczer]

Joe averages? Pretty easy.
Attributes: as normal
Skills: as normal.
SDC: 2D10.
HP: as normal.

In fact to create a normal guy all you really have to do is not add powers (and of course, lower the starting SDC)

Batts

[Kevin McIntyre]

Ok, so the group starts as flatlines then add powers after the event. Do the players know each other before hand? Think about trying something like this. Either let them each pick a profession, or make a simple chart of 20 jobs/professions and let them roll. Then make a character with skills and education that make sense for that job without knowing their random powers.

Yes. I had them all come up with a concept for their characters and to all come up with a reason why they would know each other. Two decided to know each other from the same gym they both work out in, one actually works there as a personal trainer. While the others decided to attending college together.

Now they will eventually get powers yes, but not for a few adventures it seems. I will end up allowing them to discover their powers progressively. One a level or so...

[Crucible]

Hey man! If you're still interested its quite easy as you don't have to choose a class for everything.

Go with rolling a character as normal, but making it more important on the education level. Yes, the ed level is where you get the skills. For SDC you can start by having them roll 5d6 to start out and add with the physical skills.

Also, they can use their actual skills to make a part for themselves as a heroic group.

You can still have...
A strong guy
An occultist
A speedy guy
A martial artis
A mechanic/engineer

actually anything is possible...

Let me know what you think.

[Overlord Rikonius]

Kinda reminds me of a game I almsot ran once (fell through at the last minute).
My idea was, the PCs are all mutants, but they start as norms. Easy setup really, they just did everything in Mutant section except powers and mutant traits, because I was gonna do those and have them activate during an event in-game.

[Kevin McIntyre]

Seems to be a popular idea then. Glad I'm not the only one.

[Stone Gargoyle]

TrumbachD, that link is a big fat BOMB-DIGGITY! I am so gonna use that for characters instead of the whole education tables in the books.

And to the mods - any way we can get the link stickied here somehow?

Thanks, LK!
Love the idea of using a more specific education system too, just wonder how to build a chart based on it or just to alllow gamers to pick from it.
As to the "Sticky" Thing, I'm much newer to the forums than other members here.
I'm afraid I know literallynothing about the stickying process. yo'll need to ask someone more experienced in that kind of thing.

For an off-site link, you might try posting it to Heroes Unlimited Creations By The Fans For The Fans- Redux or getting Nimmy to post it there.

[Kevin McIntyre]

Seems to be a popular idea then. Glad I'm not the only one.

Nope, I think fleshing out the PC's "Pre-Super" lives is a really cool idea!
The link below has a ton of "Joe/Jane Schmoe" OCC's you could have the players pick from instead of using the random education table if you,as the GM, so desired.

Although a few are Macross specific, most look good for a "Pre-Powered" or even a full on "Non Pwered game "Civilian" Game if you wanted although you're probably straying into BTS territory there.Though I don't actually own that particular game so I can't really say for sure.
(I understand there are certain unique mechanics in BTS Like your ISP varying based on the opponent you're facing at the time)

but anyway,
Here is that link I mentioned: http://unsd.macrossroleplay.org/occcivilian.html

Damn, I wish you had posted this a week ago I so would have had the guys use this instead. I can already see two or three professions that they are using anyway so they would have fit much better and easier ot do with the new guys. But I will keep this for future reference.

[Sir Blayse]

Well I think the idea seems pretty interesting. Personally I always control power gamers with xp. If they are obviously not having trouble with the opponents, then they gain little or no experience. A lot of the strongest characters learned to have a lot of strength in restraint. Of course most of them were decent RPers for the most part. I would also enforce the GM approval for characters, I also prefer if they make their characters at the table with me present. I can make sure they roll properly and that any questions can be answered. If all your characters go for super strong tough guys, make the first few mission cerebral ones. Something that they realize can not be solved with muscle alone. Hopefully someone will willing to be the Batman type. No real powers, but the ability to solve problems and think before acting.

[gaby]

Show your ideas for non-super characters gimmick weapons and gagets?

tell me What gimmick and gagets from different Palladium books do you use for your non-power characters?