New RPG (BRAINSTORM)

[Turbo 13]

Ok, this is a new thread for ideas on a new RPG. I realize that Purposes has been the main focus recently. And that Purposes is finally going to get on the roll of actual re-posting soon. But I also realized that if took a really long time for that to happen. So I was thinking that we could get a slight jump on the next one.

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So, to start if off, here's the main idea.

This is a brainstorm thread, so it means no actual scenes or any dialogue. This is strictly for ideas and thoughts for a new team.

My first idea is that it be about teenagers that are actually real teenagers. In Purposes, no one goes to school or really has much of a secret identity that they use. Sure, Blue Lantern has one, but we never get to see it in action. Force and Damn have been raised using their normal names when they fight crime and have just recently gotten their codes names. Zelda's a runaway who doesn't have a real name on record. And Nightmare's a freaking demon (sorry, had to use the Dogma reference). So, let's do a story where most of the characters are normal kids.

Here are my ideas and thoughts:

- The story could start in the summer, and then school could pick up later.

- You could have one or two characters that don't have a secret identity, or don't go to school. That would open the door for someone to be at the base for the majority of the time.

- You should probably have most of the kids either recently gain their powers or have them and just not be used to using them.

- You should definately have the whole "secret identity" issues going on. I don't know how many of you have read "Animorphs" or "Young Justice" but those two series had some pretty good parts in them that wouldn't have been there if it wasn't for the fact that they characters had to enteract with normal people while pretending to be normal people.

- Also, I don't think these character's powers should be so fantastic that they're almost invincible, *cough*Superman*cough* because it would make the story difficult. I mean, if you have a guy who can do just about anything, or survive just about anything. It really removes a good part of the conflict. It also makes their enemies have to be really super powerful too, which wouldn't work out well in this because these kids are part-time heros.

- And finally, the team the characters form should either be unsanctioned, or secretive in some way. For example, Young Justice was "tolerated" by the U.S. government because they ended up being a help to them. And the Animorphs wasn't santioned by the U.S. government, but was known of by various organizations (mainly extraterrestrial ones), and some times assisted and was assited by them.

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Alrighty, there ya go. Have at it.

(Also, try to keep the name of the team away from anything involving "Titan" because then posting it as an actual story would be more difficult.)

[Blue Lantern]

[Blue Lantern bows in awe before the grandeur that is Turbo's idea.]

Sounds good and gives me a chance to use one of my unlimited supply of characters.

[Mauser]

I'm up for it, but tell me. When you talk about the powers not being "fantastic", how weak are we talking? Like one or two powers a person, or just more limitations to the powers?

[Turbo 13]

Either way will be good, I just think the characters' powers should be limited enough to wear none of them would be able to handle a major mission alone. Minor missions would be ok, but I think that they should atleast be limited to a point where they can't wage a one person war against a large group of people and win. Put up a decent fight, yes. Win, no.

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I'm also liking the idea of diverse and original powers. We can't just keep making carbon copies of the same half a dozen stereo-types. Here are some links of the really stereotypical ones.

1) Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, durability, an immunity to harsh environments, and an ability to create blast of concussive energy.

Now, take that. And look at these links:

Captain Marvel - www.spider-bob.com/heroes/marvel/CaptainMarvelIII.htm

Superman - www.spider-bob.com/heroes/dc/Superman.htm

Green Lantern (No offense to our residential Lantern) - www.spider-bob.com/heroes/dc/GreenLanternV.htm

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Here's a popular, and very interesting power that has been used frequently.

2) Chemically and electrically enhanced ability to achieve speeds just short of light-speed; lend speed to or borrow speed from moving objects, become intangible by vibrating molecular mass, perform both limited time and inter-dimensional travel and heal personal injuries by accelerating his metabolism.

The Flash - www.spider-bob.com/heroes/dc/FlashIII.htm

Quicksilver - www.spider-bob.com/heroes/marvel/Quicksilver.htm

Max Mercury - www.spider-bob.com/heroes/dc/MaxMercury.htm

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Now, here's another little power list that we see alot.

3) Normal human with above average strength, stamina and agility for a person of their age. An exceptional hand to hand combatant an above average intelligence. (Ok, just for the sake of being picky, if it's above average, then they're not "normal".)

Arrowette - www.spider-bob.com/heroes/dc/Arrowette.htm

Batman - www.spider-bob.com/heroes/dc/BatmanI.htm

Captain America - www.spider-bob.com/heroes/marvel/CaptainAmericaI.htm

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And another:

4) Ability to create and control forms of energy.

Argent - www.spider-bob.com/heroes/dc/Argent.htm

Lightray - www.spider-bob.com/gods_monsters/dc/Lightray.htm

Jade - www.spider-bob.com/heroes/dc/Jade.htm

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And finally:

5) Enhanced senses, an advanced healing ability capable of mending physical wounds and granting immunity to all known diseases.

Wolverine - www.spider-bob.com/heroes/marvel/Wolverine.htm

Deadpool - www.spider-bob.com/heroes/marvel/Deadpool.htm

Maverick - www.spider-bob.com/heroes/marvel/AgentZero.htm

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All this being said. There's nothing wrong with a speedster, there's nothing wrong with an above fighter, there's nothing wrong with an energy wielder, and there's nothing wrong with a healer with heightened senses. They're just very common. But I'd like to point out that a way of using these types and still keeping it original would be the following:

-Good backstory of aquiring powers
-Reasonable limitations for powers
-Reasonable combinations of powers. (Don't give them super strength, speed, flight, and agility. That would make them the one-person army we're trying to avoid.)

Heh, I hope I don't sound to bossy or anything. If I am, let me know. I just think it'd be cool to do a story with more original powers, that's all.

Tell me what you guys think.

[Blue Lantern]

Actually, sounds marvellous.

[Turbo 13]

Funny you should mention Marvellous.

I was hoping that we could do this story in the Marvel Universe. Of course, it's not up to just me, but that's my vote on it.

If you don't know the differences here are the main ones.

DC has:

- The Justice League
- The Justice Society
- The Teen Titans
- Superman
- Green Lantern
- Batman
- The Flash

and in the DC Universe, Metahumans are accepted as a regular thing. Most of the people in the DC Universe are aware of Metahumans.

now for Marvel.

Marvel has:

- The X-Men
- The Fantastic Four
- The Avengers
- Spiderman
- Wolverine
- The Punisher
- The Hulk

and in the Marvel Universe, they aren't called "Metahumans" they're called "Mutants". Also, in the Marvel Universe, the mutants are usually feared and hated by most of mankind and seen as freaks of nature.

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But not all superpowered beings in DC are Metahumans and not all superpowered beings in Marvel are called Mutants. There are acceptions like Batman for DC and The Punisher for Marvel. But mostly, that's how it works.

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So far, "Purposes" is pretty much coming off as if it was taking place in the DC Universe. Whether it actually is or not (Actually, since the original Titans get mentioned in it, it probably is.), it seems like it is because of the way the characters are viewed. In 'Purposes' they get to live in a government sponsored HQ and save the city as their actual job. That definately fits the DC bill, that would most likely never happen in Marvel. One of the only big government sponsored teams in Marvel is The Avengers. And The Avengers consist of Captian America, Iron Man, and Thor. They're some of the most well accepted heros in the Marvel Universe, and even they aren't liked by everyone.

So I was figuring that for a change of pace, this one could be in the Marvel Universe. If you don't know much about the Marvel Universe, don't worry, it doesn't matter that much. Just remember that in the Marvel Universe, mutants are more hated and feared than they are liked and respected.

[Blue Lantern]

An excellent idea. Finally will the people we're protecting run in fear of us and make our jobs of saving them easier!

[Turbo 13]

Haha, exactly. Now for some more ranting from me.

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Two things, One:

I think that in this RPG we should co-create ALL the characters. That way we can write it easier. Don't get me wrong though, I love the way "Purposes" has seperate characters with individual backstories. That's what makes it great, it's a team of very different people, trying to work together. That's the main conflict of a story like that. But in this RPG, it'll be a little different. They wont be coming from far away places, since they're mutants, and they're trying to work together to survive, they'll need a little bit more motivation to stay together than to just save the people who hate them.

This time around, they should live in the same area. They don't have to know each other that well, but they need to go to the same school or something. In "Purposes" each character was unique and has their own conflicts. In this, they're sharing one of the biggest conflicts, being a mutant.

[Blue Lantern]

Hey, Turbo, if you get a chance, critique my idea for a character for this thing. After seeing the movie gladiator, I was struck with the inspiration for a gladiator like hero, but not wearing Roman armor cuz that stuff would look silly, and eventually rested upon the idea of a partial beserker character who recieved only the abilities provided with beserking, and most importantly, does not have any other powers, mainly healing.

The back history would be something like genetic experiments (with torture-like qualities) would cause him to be able to access beserking powers, which if I remember my lore correctly consists entirely of muscle speed/senses enhancement, meaning that all other human aspects would remain the same. Plus, the speed increase would be fairly counterable with new age technology, ensuring that he would not just be a one man army.

Thoughts?

[Turbo 13]

I like it, the beserker idea is a good one. Perhaps we could add a little more to his ability other than beserker. Something minor to make sure that while beserker, his high tolerance of pain and adrenaline rush wouldn't cause him to get vitally wounded and not realize it until it's too late.

How about something similar to the Hulk. Nothing quite that far gone though. Something that takes the "power" element of the hulk, combined it with Colossus' ability to condense his epidermis.

How about the ability to increase strength, speed, stamina, agility, and all of that along with the hardening of the skin. Nothing to hard, like rock. But something like they harden over to scales.... I'll check out some sources and link them when I find what I'm looking for.

[Blue Lantern]

Perhaps seeing something that might lead people to call him the Dragon...?

[Turbo 13]

Marrow (M) = Mutation resulting in an uncontrollable protrusion of bone through the surface of muscle and skin. Bones can be removed at great pain and used as weapons. Excellent hand-to-hand combatant.

Hulk (M) = All current manifestations of the Hulk possess superhuman strength enabling him to lift in excess of 100 tons. His highest strength levels are obtained when enraged. The Hulk can lift only 70 tons in a calm state. He is also able to leap vast distances, and has demonstrated a powerful healing factor and immunity to harsh environments and all known diseases. The Savage Hulk has shown a capability for sensing ethereal entities such as ghost and astral projections.

Wolverine (M) = Possible mutation resulting in enhanced senses, an advanced healing ability capable of mending physical wounds and granting immunity to all known diseases; and foot-long razor-sharp retractable claws housed in the forearms that can be extended at will through the knuckles.

Pitt (I) = Superhumanly strong and tough, heals quickly, reacts to pain as a stimulant that makes him stronger and faster. Has retractable claws.

Abomination (M) = Gamma radiation induced mutation resulting in superhuman strength enabling him to lift in excess of 100 tons; also possesses a powerful healing factor, an immunity to harsh environments all known diseases and is capable of leaping vast distances.

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I suggest that we combine these tweak these different mutant powers into one.

Here's a brainstorm idea:

He has the normal mutant ability of heightened senses to a degree. In his "normal" mode he can do the following:

Condense his body into a harder, leather-like substance. It doesn't make him invulnerable, it just makes him more durable. With his body condensed it gives him a higher tolerance to pain, as well as increasing his strength. Because if his muscles become denser, then his strength will increase. This will also add for the icreased speed and whatnot.

In his "beserker" mode he could do the following:

His body condenses even farther, to the point where bone actually begins to form on his skin. Along the areas like the elbows, knuckles, knees, shoulders, and other places like that. This could add to his endurance. This, added to the adrenaline rush would work quite nicely.

What do you think?

[Blue Lantern]

Sounds very good. It also eliminates the need for a weapon all the time for him to be useful. Also adds to survivability without making him overpowered.

Damn you work fast.

[Turbo 13]

Heh, thanks.

[Mauser]

Alrighty, here you are man.

A hero who can alter the levels of probablility to give himself good luck. I think this may border on some type of psychic ability. I also thought about giving him a healing factor, just because it'd be funny for the only real power he has being luck, and when he's "unlucky" the healing factor's there to help.

Have at it guys.