2e PL 8 "the rookies" OOC.

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Poodle
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2e PL 8 "the rookies" OOC.

Post by Poodle »

In a world with supervillains cops need the best of the best.

A group of 3 or 4 has been found
.
Last edited by Poodle on Thu Jun 03, 2021 2:05 am, edited 3 times in total.
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mrdent12
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Re: Interest check. 2e PL 8 "the rookies"

Post by mrdent12 »

Would the pcs be highly trained normals or street level supers wanting to join the cops?
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Poodle
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Re: Interest check. 2e PL 8 "the rookies"

Post by Poodle »

Either... a mix would be good. My understanding is that there is a weigjted selection process to be a police officer. Special forces, superpowers etc would all be positives. In my head I have dreamed of a tv show where normal humans have to work out how to take down supers. The boys ticked a few boxes. I think game wise there would be too many people overlapping with overlapping skills to make it fun for everybody if everybody was normal.

My last campaign was overly complex so I thought I wouldgo for something simpler. Find the bad guy. Beat him up.
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mrdent12
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Re: Interest check. 2e PL 8 "the rookies"

Post by mrdent12 »

So darker themed, greyish, four colour, or something in between.
jmucchiello
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Re: Interest check. 2e PL 8 "the rookies"

Post by jmucchiello »

Could be fun. What's the minimum Profession: Police rank? :) Or maybe, what's the maximum?
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Bladewind
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Re: Interest check. 2e PL 8 "the rookies"

Post by Bladewind »

interesting.... need a little more to go on though... :)
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Poodle
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Re: Interest check. 2e PL 8 "the rookies"

Post by Poodle »

Max rank ... Think of yourselves like a swat team.You guys have been handpicked. Because you are a specialist unit rank is going to be a little more informal. You are all officers. You outrank patrolmen.

As for tone..I naturally veer towards a grittier universe although anti heroes(psychotic punisher types) and brooding loners I can do without.
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pathfinderq1
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Re: Interest check. 2e PL 8 "the rookies"

Post by pathfinderq1 »

Interested- of course you HAD to post this litterally on the day I put my 2e books back on the shelf after the Justice League game folded ;)


Danielle (Danni) Morgan
PL 8/ 120pp (2e)
Real name: Danielle Christine Morgan
Codename/Nicknames/etc: Danni
Role: Sharpshooter
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 150
Hair: light brown
Eyes: grey
Skin: caucasian (light tan)
>Description:

Concept/role: Sharpshooter

>Abilities: (50pp)
-STR 16 (+3)
-CON 22 (+6)
-DEX 18 (+4)
-INT 18 (+4)
-WIS 26 (+8)
-CHA 10 (+0)

>Defenses: (5pp)
-Toughness +6 (+10 with body armor)
-FORT +7 (CON 6, +1pp)
-REF +8 (DEX +4, +4pp)
-WILL +8 (WIS 8, +0pp)

>Combat: (16pp)
-Attack: +4; Ranged +8; Ranged/Rifle +10 (8pp)
-Defense +4, Dodge +6, FF +2; (8pp)
-Initiative: +8

-Light Pistol: +8; DC 18 (+3)
-Assault rifle: +10, DC 20 (+5), Autofire; Ranged (RI 50)
-Sniper rifle +10, DC 21 (+6), Crit 18-20; Ranged (RI 600)
-Basic unarmed: +4, DC 17 (+2)
-Melee (ASP) +4, DC 18 (+3)
-Stun gun: Melee +4, FORT 17, Stun


>Skills: (40sp= 10pp)(Max ranks =13 at PL8)
-Acrobatics +5 (1sp); Climb +5 (2sp); Concentrate +10 (2sp); Craft (Custom- Gunsmith/armourer) +8 (4sp); Disable device +5 (1sp); Drive +5 (1sp); Intimidate +1 (1sp); Investigate +5 (1sp); Knowledge (Tactics) +5 (1sp); Knowledge (Streetwise) +5 (1sp); Knowledge (Behavioral sciences) +5 (1sp); Knowledge (Physical sciences) +5 (1sp); Knowledge (Technology) +5 (1sp); Languages 1 (Spanish) (1sp); Medicine +9 (1sp); Notice +13 (5sp); Profession (Police officer/ SWAT) +13 (0sp- campaign bonus); Profession (Soldier) +9 (1sp); Search +6 (2sp); Sense motive +9 (1sp); Stealth +13 (9pp); Survival +9 (1sp); Swim +4 (1sp)

>Feats: (31pp)
-Campaign bonus feats: Benefit x1 (Status- SWAT officer), Contacts, Equipment x (SWAT Gear)

-Accurate attack; Attack focus (Ranged) x4; Attack Specialist (Ranged- rifle) x1; Critical strike; Deadeye (see below); Direction sense; Dodge focus x2; Eagle eye; Equipment x3; Favored opponent x1 (Super-tough metas); Hide in plain sight; Immunity to disease; Improved aim; Improved critical (Rifle) x2; Improved initiative x1; Improved sunder; Low-light vision; Luck x1; Move-by action; Power attack; Precise shot x2; Quick draw x1 (Reload); Rapid healing

-Deadeye: With a successful Concentration check (DC 15), Danni can take the Aim maneuver as a Move action instead of a Full action. Using Aim in this fashion does NOT grant the benefits of Improved Aim- that still requires a Full action. Normal restrictions on Aim still apply (unless noted elsewhere). Prerequisite= Improved Aim. (This is basically a Challenge feat, of the Fast Task variety, with Check Required applied for an extra step- if the GM prefers, this can be moved from a Feat to a Power). (Firearms only)

>Powers: (8pp)
>"Cool under fire":
-Immunity 6 (Fear, Interaction effects 5); Limited- half effect; (3pp)

-Super-senses 2: Danger sense (Vision), Distance sense; (2pp)
-Feature 1: Can "hold" Aim maneuver (For Cover, Ready, etc.) or take a 5ft step with maintaining Aim; (1pp)
-Feature 1: Power attack or Critical hit bonuses count as "Base" damage (Against Impervious, etc.); (1pp)

-Enhanced Advantage 2: Improved critical (Rifle) +2 (Stacks, x4 total), Limited- only for Aimed shots; (1pp)


>Background: Danni was a military brat, and she lived in a half-dozen places by the time she was 12. Her father was a career Army soldier, spending most of his time as a military policeman- his family had a long tradition of law enforcement careers at various levels. Moving around so much, Danni didn't have many long-term friends as a kid, and she was an only child (though her parents had long wanted more kids). In his spare time, her father was an amateur gunsmith and target shooter, and he shared both of these hobbies with his daughter- she ended up liking them a lot more than she liked the dolls and frilly dresses that her mother kept trying to give her...

When her father mustered out of the military, he joined the police force in Plano (Texas), a small-but-growing city on the northern edge of the DFW metroplex. He continued his competitive target-shooting, and became friends with some of the members of DFW's SWAT team who were also regulars at the local gun range. From time to time, he would even help them out with his gunsmithing expertise. Danni was in the local police Explorers club in high school, and she intended to join the police after her graduation. When her first application to the academy failed (on a procedural technicality), she was disappointed, but not crushed- she enlisted in the Army instead. After her basic training, she was sorted into the Military Police- but in hostile territory around the world the MPs often saw secondary duty helping to guard vehicle convoys. While her squad did not have a full-time sniper, Danni was able to qualify as their Designated Marksman, and she sometimes saw duty as a spotter when her squad worked with other units.

On a battlefield somewhere in the Middle East, Danni got her first real exposure to a role which would come, in many ways, to define her life. The supply convoy that her unit had been assigned to guard was attacked by a terrorist cell-one supported by a known metahuman agent (whose file indicated superhuman strength and toughness). Those terms were cold and clinical, nothing like the visceral experience of watching a man tear trucks apart with his bare hands and shrug off automatic weapons like gnats.

After the initial disorientation passed, Danni knew she had to DO SOMETHING. Operating in a sort of a haze of nearly supernatural calm, she moved to where one of the convoy's sharpshooters had been killed in the initial ambush and she claimed his heavier rifle. In the space of a few seconds, she found a clear spot and braced the weapon. Aimed. Fired.

With their superhuman muscle-man lying dead on the ground, the attackers broke and fled. There were interviews, reports- and disbelief. In the end, Danni had a brief note in her personnel file, and she went back to normal duty. She applied for Ranger training, and narrowly missed the selection- but she was approved for actual sniper training.

Then it happened again. This time her unit was working perimeter guard duty on a temporary base outside what was supposedly a safe city. MOST of the attackers were men with normal weapons, dressed in anonymous local garb- but one of them was a telekinetic, surrounded by a corona of glittering impenetrable force. Well, ALMOST impenetrable...

More debriefing, more reports- and this time there were pictures, and footage from the perimeter security cameras. Another note in her file. But two weeks later a purely mundane attack targeted the convoy she was guarding- and in the debriefing of some of the captured attackers, Danni was specifically mentioned. Her reputation, if not her exact name, was known- and it made her a target, which, in turn, made her unit a target. She COULD have been selected for a specialized unit- but in the end, her enlistment was almost up and she mustered out.

After few weeks back home, she got a call from one of her father's friends, who had been working as a recruiter for the Houston police department. Danni was selected for their police academy program- with her background she completed the six-month program easily, and went through her six month probationary status as a newly-minted patrol officer just as easily. She had been planning to apply for the department's regular SWAT unit as soon as she was eligible- but the people who were forming a brand-new dedicated Superhuman Response SWAT team actually called her first, inviting her to apply for a spot...

>Complications:
-Serve and protect (Motivation): Danni was raised to respect the role of justice in society

-Cape hunter (Reputation): After her military experiences, Danni has a bit of a reputation (though only amongst a very narrow community) for taking on superhumanly tough targets. This may bring attention (positive or negative, depending) from those who are aware of it- but it is likely to grow, given the role her new team has taken up...

-No one left behind (Responsibility): In any kind of combat situation, Danni has a strong instinct to minimize civilian casualties, and to make sure that other law enforcement personnel (and ESPECIALLY her own team) are not exposed to unnecessary danger. She will take risks, even put herself in danger, if needed to protect civilians or other LEOs.

-Relationship (Family): Danni is an only child, and while she is much closer to her father (who has recently retired after a long career, and is starting to really feel his age) than her mother, she is still on good terms with them both. While she has no siblings, she has a number of cousins who might need her attention or assistance...

>Accounting: Abilities 50pp, +Defenses 5pp, +Combat 16pp, +Skills 10pp +Feats 31 +Powers 8= 120/ 120pp (Unspent 0)

>Equipment (Bonus- SWAT gear): Tac vest, commlink, handcuffs, first aid kit, pepper spray, stun gun, light pistol

-Duty rifle (Barrett M107 heavy rifle): Ranged damage 6 (Ballistic), Range increment 600ft (+3)(15ep/ 3pp)(She typically carries her assault rifle under normal duty conditions, and only uses the Barrett when needed; when acting in a sharpshooter role against 'normal' targets she uses the Barrett with subsonic match-grade rounds).

>Equipment (Purchased): Body armor/helmet (+4 Protection), Alternate weapon (1ep, Alt for the Barrett)- Assault rifle (Ranged 5, Ballistic, Autofire); Scope (10x, modular), Bipod (for Barrett), Multitool, Masterwork toolkit (Craft- gunsmith), Smartphone, ASP (Collapsible baton; Strike +1, Mighty 2; DC 18 total; collapsible; 4ep)
Last edited by pathfinderq1 on Thu Jun 03, 2021 2:27 pm, edited 8 times in total.
mrdent12
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Re: Interest check. 2e PL 8 "the rookies"

Post by mrdent12 »

The idea sounds tempting. I have been itching to play a telepathic fighter type.
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Poodle
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Re: Interest check. 2e PL 8 "the rookies"

Post by Poodle »

All ideas sound good so far. I will suggest K.I.S.S. I am.not a very experienced game master and I would hate for your fantastic ideas to be lost in translation.
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pathfinderq1
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Re: Interest check. 2e PL 8 "the rookies"

Post by pathfinderq1 »

So:
-Big city or small city? Real city or made-up city?
-How common are superhumans? (A dozen in the country? A dozen in the state? the city? The average block?)
-And, in general, how powerful are superhumans? At Pl 8 are we small fish, banded together as a unit for our own safety- or are we about average among active metahumans?
-How long have superhumans been active in the world? Recent 'arrival', 20-30 years, 50+years?

-We are the special unit for (City)- are there other such units in other cities, or are we the first one? Is there some kind of federal agency that handles metahumans (and presumably runs a "Super-prison" somewhere? Or are superhumans so new (or so rare) that such an agency doesn't exist yet?
-Likewise, are there laws and such that specifically reference superpowers, are we using "normal" laws to handle rogue power use? (that is- is attacking someone with a fire blast or mind control basically just Assault or A&B, or is there a 'Hostile Power Use" offense?)

-Are we looking at typical American police, with military-grade hardware? (Affects Equipment choices if nothing else)

-These are just off the top of my head, so I can start thinking of more fully-formed ideas...
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Poodle
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Re: Interest check. 2e PL 8 "the rookies"

Post by Poodle »

You are in a big city. Most big police departments have a swat team like yours Using superpowers is the same as using anything else. If you use it to do harm it is considered assault with a deadly weapon.
There have always been people with powers. Fortunately they keep themselves in check and mostly limit themselves to fighting each other. Technology is as per technology today. If supergeniuses have better tech they sure as hell aren't sharing it. That goes for characters as well.
JLA, the Avengers are PL10 or higher They are rarer than 1 in a million.. Even your power level is pretty rare. There are people with minor knacks. These are telatively common. If you were athletes you would be competing at a state level maybe even national.

Yes, there are government agencies dealing with superheroes. Some you might have heard of. Everyone wants a piece of the superhero action. Not part of your job description though. Although you deal with super criminals you may be called to help out with natural disasters and other emergencies.

Yes, you are a typical police force. Military hardware. If you are an inventor or gadgeteer there is no reason why you don't have your own stuff too. Lots of SWAT guys have their own gear..You also will get a few benefits and skills just for being a swat officer.
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pathfinderq1
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Re: Interest check. 2e PL 8 "the rookies"

Post by pathfinderq1 »

Awesome- thank you for the info.
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Poodle
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Re: Interest check. 2e PL 8 "the rookies"

Post by Poodle »

As for theme. You are elite cops. You do want to uphold the law. You are a highly visible part of the police force. You need to be seen to be doing the right thing.

However, the world is a grim and gritty place. We all have our demons and complications, maybe a few shortcuts we are willing to take. Your moral compass is up to you BUT you were chosen because you had no hints of corruption and because you had self-control and could work as part of a team.

Tl;dr? No psychos, no loners, try to minimise douchebaggery with other players and superior officers.

Sources of powers. No aliens (although alien tech is fine). Try to make genuine characters and show a little restraint on variable powers especially, and the usual munchkin builds..bathtub mentalist, mesomorph Ben10, do anything guy, meet my horde guy, I can kill you with my mind guy, characters.

Keep it human. Although I really enjoyed "bright" the movie, adding non human races as players changes the whole dynamic of the game IMVHO.
Last edited by Poodle on Fri May 21, 2021 6:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination circles the world. -Albert Einstein.
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Re: Interest check. 2e PL 8 "the rookies"

Post by Poodle »

Setting is Houston. If anyone comes from there let me know.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination circles the world. -Albert Einstein.
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