V&V: My Powers/Flaws Tables/Rules

[Ja§on]

A couple of the things that bothered me about V&V random generation (although I overall love the process) were the limited scope of the Magic/Psi Table, the closeness in frequency of odd (Stretching, Venom) and fundamental (Heightened Stats, Flight) powers, and the near-crippling nature of the Weaknesses Table (The open-ended ones were cool, the reduced stat ones were horrible).

So, I generally go with something a little like this. (http://gamergeekxl.tripod.com/vnv.html)

NOw, bear in mind that as a GM I am all about getting the rules to mechanics to fit the concept, and not the other way around, so even the relatively involved process described on that link is just a kickstart/jumping-off point to hammering out a cool, effective character. I'll allow wide varying of Power and Flaw particulars.

What do you think of this generation variant, and what are some that you've used?

[Imaginos]

Very interesting tables. I'm attaching my power generation tables, which were created by combining ideas from other games (such as Golden Heroes) and other people's ideas (I regret that I did not mark who I borrowed what from). Anyway, here are my tables (these are the same tables I posted to the V&V Yahoo group a LONG time ago.

I'm curious why you don't have Natural Weaponry set as a power roll from Technology or Magic. Also, do you have rules anywhere for the new powers you list?

[baldingfatman]

Interesting. Ja§on, I thought it was curious that you have Body Power listed under the Skills table. That's not something I would have thought to do. What kind of Body Powers were you thinking of for this option?

I have also been tinkering with my tables, for some of the same reasons you have: I found it odd how some powers that are pretty rare in comics seem to have a disproportionately high presence on the table, while more common ones do not.

I am splitting Magic and Psionics into two separate tables entirely, to allow players to randomly generate purely magic or purely psychic powers without accidentally rolling an inappropriate result (i.e.: Magic Spells for a psychic character or Psionics for a magic-using one).

I'm also thinking about listing Pet and Animated Servant, along with a couple new ones: Sidekick and Faithful Companion (the latter meant to represent characters like Alfred the butler), on a separate table (called Allies).

I am stripping out the Reduced attribute weaknesses from my weakness table. I think they are: a) too crippling and b) not as representative of the kinds of physical and psychic limitations and disabilities you see in the comics as some of the other weaknesses (some of the V&Vers on the old board some pretty good arguments for retaining them, but in the end I just don't like 'em and don't want to use 'em).

[bishoplogan]

Ja§on
QUESTION would the player pick what flaws table to roll from
or would the Gm decide?

[Ja§on]

I'm curious why you don't have Natural Weaponry set as a power roll from Technology or Magic.I figure any tech-based HTH-helper, be it cyber-claws, wired combat maneuvers, or impact gauntlets would be covered better by Special Weapon, Artificial Body (My catch-all for Android Body, Bionics, and Robot Body), or Unique Device. A supernatural being with useful fangs or the like probably has them via Magical Heritage (One of many open-concept powers I employ). And for the rare magical order that teaches its adepts martial arts, Special Training (another open-ender, allowing any range of learned skills and abilities) could cover it pretty well.

Also, do you have rules anywhere for the new powers you list?Not at the moment, although I'll try to put some together. Just a quick few: Animation is the solid-energy version of Illusions, broken into its own power and expanded to cover manipulating any one nonliving material or force. Elemental Body means the character is composed of something other than normal animal-body stuff (stone, fire, mercury, et al), and has whatever offensive/defensive/multipurpose abilities the player and GM can agree upon. This leaves Chemical Powers designating abilities that involve producing/projecting chemical agents for particular effects: a venomous touch, hallucinatory fog, bolts of phlogiston, etc. Talismans are unique, living magical items with awareness and symbiotic relationships with their wielders that had a particular role in the campaign for which I developed these tables. Life Force Powers encompasses Revivification, Death Touch, Devitalization, or any other ability manipulating "Life Force". Special Resources is another open-ender, which could mean anything from a personal fortune to an arcane library to a secure fortress at the north pole. Most of the rest are open-mechanic powers left to players and GM to flesh out, with conceptual direction pretty apparent in their names.

What kind of Body Powers were you thinking of for this option?That covers extraordinary but not superhuman physical edges. Examples might be Double-Jointed (bonus to escaping bonds, grapples, and other tight spots, as well as general feats of extreme flexibility), Huge (Character is the size of Shaquille O'Neal, gaining a slight move increase, leeway to bump up their weight past normally randomizable levels, and maybe usable combat reach, getting the ability to bump up HTH attacks a few phases to counterattack a smaller assailant), or Perfect Equilibrium (Character takes only half knockback, and gains a bonus on rolls for climbing, balancing, and resisting effects of Powers where it might be applicable - Gravity Powers or certain types of Illusions, for example).

I have also been tinkering with my tables, for some of the same reasons you have: I found it odd how some powers that are pretty rare in comics seem to have a disproportionately high presence on the table, while more common ones do not. I'd certainly be interested to see them.

I'm also thinking about listing Pet and Animated Servant, along with a couple new ones: Sidekick and Faithful Companion (the latter meant to represent characters like Alfred the butler), on a separate table (called Allies).That should work nicely. I just use the Special Companion open-ended power for that.

I am stripping out the Reduced attribute weaknesses from my weakness table. I think they are: a) too crippling and b) not as representative of the kinds of physical and psychic limitations and disabilities you see in the comics as some of the other weaknessesI couldn't agree more, particularly on point b.

would the player pick what flaws table to roll from
or would the Gm decide?For each table the character uses for powers, he must also roll on the corresponding Flaws table. So if a character has both Training and Technology abilities, for example, he must roll once on the Mundane Flaws tale and once on the Technological Flaws table.

Yes, this leads to multiple flaws being the norm, but the reasons this is workable are twofold. Firstly, there is a higher minimum number of powers (4) than the traditional rolling process, meaning that dropping Powers to lose Flaws is a bit less painful. Second, all of the flaws are concept-oriented, allowing player and GM to work out interesting and livable specifics, rather than "Wow, your character has the IQ of mayonnaise, that should a fun roleplaying challenge" or "Oh, look, yet another speechless superhuman" results form the original system.

[baldingfatman]

I'd certainly be interested to see them.
Right now I am working on re-writing the descriptions for each power. As I am doing so, I realize that a certain power should actually be a sub-power of another power rather than having its own place on the tables, that other powers that should have their own place on the tables do not, etc., but it keeps changing as I continue the write-ups. So I am waiting until I have the write-ups completed to my satisfaction before crunching the numbers for the new tables. When I have done so, I'll post 'em here.

[bishoplogan]

Ja§on
QUESTION would the player pick what flaws table to roll from
or would the Gm decide?

In my haste to skim through,
I didn't notice the BIG paragraph at the beggining(duh)

has anybody ever thought of making up a life path chart for superheroes,
similar to cyberpunk 2020:shoot:

[Imaginos]

In my haste to skim through,
I didn't notice the BIG paragraph at the beggining(duh)

has anybody ever thought of making up a life path chart for superheroes,
similar to cyberpunk 2020:shoot:

There is a book called Central Casting Heroes Now! It is a generic life path generator for modern characters. There are issues with it in that it has some narrow minded views in there. But if you can look over that, or are just looking for a baseline to work from, it isn't bad.

[bishoplogan]

There is a book called Central Casting Heroes Now! It is a generic life path generator for modern characters. There are issues with it in that it has some narrow minded views in there. But if you can look over that, or are just looking for a baseline to work from, it isn't bad.
hhhmmm never heard of it but will look for it.
If I find it may rewrite it to fit a more open minded mature superhero genre.

[AnotherSKip]

written by Paul Jacquays (not bad for a canadian dude IIRC)

he also wrote a fantasy version (heroes of Legend?) and one for the sci fi future.

[Imaginos]

written by Paul Jacquays (not bad for a canadian dude IIRC)

he also wrote a fantasy version (heroes of Legend?) and one for the sci fi future.

Yep. IIRC, the books are Heroes of Legend, Heroes Now, and Heroes of Tomorrow.

[bishoplogan]

Yep. IIRC, the books are Heroes of Legend, Heroes Now, and Heroes of Tomorrow.

cool I'll look for them

[bishoplogan]

There is a book called Central Casting Heroes Now! It is a generic life path generator for modern characters. There are issues with it in that it has some narrow minded views in there. But if you can look over that, or are just looking for a baseline to work from, it isn't bad.

written by Paul Jacquays (not bad for a canadian dude IIRC)

he also wrote a fantasy version (heroes of Legend?) and one for the sci fi future.

Yep. IIRC, the books are Heroes of Legend, Heroes Now, and Heroes of Tomorrow.
got them pretty good.
reading them now I'll try to incorprate superhero stuff:sacool:

[Ja§on]

I'm not overly fond of background generation tables, but, like random powers in V&V, I find that it can spark some really neat ideas.

There's something in any random character generation that makes things seem a lot more like real life: You don't always turn out the way you want to. And what you do with the things with which life blindsides or gifts you says more about you than how things go when it's all predictable.

[AnotherSKip]

Yeah i had a general idea for The Rooks (my main character) background but on a lark (and because one of my buddies swore"the dice just know") I rolled up his background. It was sweet. the dice "did know".

[bishoplogan]

the new M&M wildcards source book has charts for random power gen.
It looks pretty good.
:sawink2:

[bishoplogan]

my last bump:sacool: