Rants, Raves and Ramblings

Everything has a natural explanation. The moon is not a god but a great rock and the sun a hot rock.
- Anaxagorus, ca. 475 BC

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What's A Hero?
Pre-Game Rant (May 9th, 2003)

You are the master of the unspoken word; once spoken, you are the slave.
- Russian proverb

What's a super hero? No it's no joke. The kid from the TV Show My Secret Identity was. Why? Not because he had powers (The Millenium fellow did) but because he had the mind set of one. A super hero is an individual who has dedicated his life towards improving the human condition, one human at a time, and who possesses a few special powers which help him in this task and set him apart from a regular ol' human. They're set apart from other average heroes by having abilities and accomplishments of a much grander scale. A heroic scale. In most cases, a superhero and power was inescapably part of each other: the person is built around their ability. (Obviously, for PCs who aren't born with their powers. this will require more work.) In game terms, this means your PC has powers. Generally speaking, they're either defensive or offensive for the most part. If you go the defensive route, feel free. Just keep in mind that combat is part of the world (for better or ill) and your PC should be able to acquit themselves in it, or learn how to quickly.
So a super hero is somehow who acts for the greater good over his own, who protects others because she can, or believes they have to, or for any other reason. This is what the PCs are. You're the Good Guys (no matter what the law, other super heroes and sometimes your friends might think). You're fighting the good fight, for whatever heroic reasons you desire. It's a good thing, a necessary thing: hopefully, Sparkie will agree :p

I choose you [insert pc name]!
#1! (June 17th, 2003)

The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.
- Thucydides

So you've decided to play your PC. Eight sessions have gone by, so I'm hoping you've gained a feel for the city/world and your PC, along with any NPCs they are friends with. By this point, you should have some idea of your PCs personality. The question for all of you then ... where do you want the group/team to go in game? And, as importantly, what goals do you want your PC to achieve in game? Out of game ideas for some goals or problems? Discuss them with me and we'll see what we can do. Have plot ideas? Toss 'em over. the game can currently go in any direction you all want - want to save Haven from a threat and become media darlings? Or deal with the issue of the missing kids and run into politics? Try and find Void? Figure out the caramilk secret?
Hah. Got you. You'll never manage the last! But, seriously, talk to me about the rest and we'll see what happens.
RULES UPDATE:

Experience can now be "burned" (i.e. used) to reduce the damage from an attack. This can only be used with unspent experience and works the moment you get hit, reducing the severity of damage. You must let the GM know you're doing this the moment you get hit.
New powers can be added to PCs, but *only* with GM approval. And it must fit into the current PC. For example, Needles would never get telepathy because he's geared for direct combat. Once you have spent points into a power, they are used. There will be no moving points between powers after they're used. (The definition of a power *could* be altered by spending experience for what amounts to permanent power manipulation, but keep in mind PM is just for stunts, mostly; it can't let you do something your power wouldn't normally do.)
Lastly, experience for sessions is now going to top out at 5, for most sessions. (This won't include msg notices of +1 EXP for something neat.) Important events will lead to more than 5, but expect it to be the max.

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