SL,
  Yes, I agree, its not a game about super heroes if the characters aren't, in fact, heroes first.
  I thought the little narrative snippet made it clear that Steve Forester had made that choice to stand up and make a difference in this world. Was the example not strong enough, or just not complete or?
  I compare them to rock stars, but I don't want them to actually be narcissistic jerks, just that they are that famous and treated that way by the public.

  In fact, that will be one of the steps I am adding to chargen, describing your first heroic act that occurred before the campaign began. I think I am going to have the players design a super villain at the same time they design their character, what do you think?

  Also, the mechanics are resolved by determining how the characters' actions changed the environment around them. In fact, it costs extra to extend that effect to your own character. So, I'd like to think that I am doing my best (as much as I can do as a designer) to push people to think about saving the city instead of making money or something.

  Gent, thanks for taking the Chancel discussion out of this thread. I think this game is definitely different from nobillis. I see what SL is saying though and am fortunately familiar enough with the game/setting to steer clear of it with relative ease.

  I guess that is what this game is about, characters that want to make a difference. I will admit that in this setting there will be the following:
Super heroes
Heroes
Good Samaritans
Ineffective people
Apathetic people
Cynical/Depressed people
Bad guys
Super villains

  All of them with AND without powers.
  Chargen for the PCs will be about making powered individuals that are either heroic or super heroic. Again, there might be a character that has super powers and uses it to get free lap dances, but this game is not about those characters and they will be relegated to NPCs if they appear in the campaign at all...

  Steve Forester, in our example, knew he had ice powers since before he could remember. He knows how to control it and what it can and can't do. He chose not to use it in a heroic manner until he was an adult in a flawed attempt to "fit in." Now he is a super hero who saved the city. And that is when the campaign starts, after that event has change his life/perspective.

  Makes sense?

PS
  Sorry about the long post, I am working this out as I explain it, thanks for your patience and making it this far down the post!

Quote from: dindenver;221786In fact, that will be one of the steps I am adding to chargen, describing your first heroic act that occurred before the campaign began. I think I am going to have the players design a super villain at the same time they design their character, what do you think?

"Heroes defined by what they oppose", then? Would that be a different personal nemesis for each PC, or a single villain who somehow connects the entire group together and whom they all oppose for reasons of their own?

Gent,
  I think it COULD be a nemesis, but doesn't HAVE to be. I think its a way for the players to indicate what kinds of conflicts interest them. Like, if a player makes a Super Villain who is a 1st degree mason and has mind control powers, then that says a lot about what kind of game they want to play in, right?
  Hmm, now I have to come up with rules to let the players pool chargen for the villain to make a super big boss...
  Good thought!

Quote from: dindenver;221821Hmm, now I have to come up with rules to let the players pool chargen for the villain to make a super big boss...
  Good thought!

Good idea. You might simply let them pool points towards a group of conflicts. I mean after all X-men are "conflicts with humanity" at times and less about the supervillains (although supervillains are part of the their lives its not always their chief motivator.)

 I could see an all woman team championing womens rights/opposing glass ceilings, or a fervent team working for to better the environment (without going too far like some.)

The big bads don't have to be people--they could be organizations, groups, ideals. Although these also work as embodied by particular villains. (A corporate sponsored super for example, might be sending the wrong messages to kids.)


I do like where you are going, just wanted to make sure the track you were on.

SL,
  Well, the bad guys have to be real super powered guys. They can use high minded concepts for their own nefarious ways, but they have to be aler to raise the challenge and win (or be defeated).

  Also, the characters are made from Tags, not points. But, yeah, I can provide rules for pooling tags to make one big super-bad guy.