So on the way home from our game last night, I was thinking about maybe running some Golden Age V&V adventures. I was re-reading the thread's on Golden Age V&V, and about the Mystery Men comic. A non-gaming friend is loaning me The Twelve, about 12 Golden Age Marvel heroes who were captured during WW2, and are freed in the modern day. I asked to borrow it as I've been in a golden age mood of late. There's been a series of releases for another rpg featuring Golden Age characters in the Public Domain, so collecting those has been getting me in the mindset for some Golden Age gaming.

Anyway, figured I'd post here, and see if the rest of the group has any interest in this. No guidelines or background yet, as I want to see if there's any interest first.

Of course I would be interested!!

THE ONI wrote on May 19^th, 2012 at 4:27pm:


Cool.

Originally I had plans to run something with straight V&V (since I had hoped to do some 3rd party stuff), but I might just run it as per John's version.

I guess that means I should figure out some guidelines for character creation then 

I like the names, though I prefer Jack Maxim.

What I'm thinking for the start of the game is to set it in 1941, probably a few months prior to Pearl Harbor. Very few actual super humans exist so far; most heroes/villains are either pulpish "Mystery Men" types, or have devices (either scientific or magical).

The only known team of heroes currently is The Crimebusters, who work with the U.S. Government The team consists of the following members:

Ace Sterling, G-Man extraordinaire

Mordecai the Magnificent, occult expert and stage magician who uses gadgets to perform tricks (and fight crime).

Sky Marshal, rocket pack wearing US Marshal

The Wraith, dark avenger of the night

Prof. Steele, Man of Iron. He is considered the world's first publicly known super human.

Their best known enemies are called The Crime Guild. The guild has many members, but the following all have a reason to hate a member of the Crime Busters:

The Highwayman: Flamboyant robber who has clashed with Sterling numerous times.

Malachi the Malevolent: Mordecai's twin brother, and actual practitioner of dark magic.

Sky Pirate: Aerial Pirate with a custom dirigible and crew of cuthroats. Enemy of Sky Marshal

The Lynx: Sexy burglar with a cat motif who has battled The Wraith on occasion.

Professor Steele has no opposite in the Guild as of yet (being new to the Crime Busters), but he has clashed with Baron Wulfgang von Stahl, an German agent of The Thule Society with abilities similar to his own

I was thinking something magic based, thats why his dad is a curator.

the name Kid Babylon keeps popping into my head, but I don't know what he does yet.

Weakness: He is naive and falls in love with every girl he sees!

If you don't like Kid Babylon, how about the Sweet Scientist?

Since Boxing is the Sweet Science,  Brock Jenkins  was a master of both physics and the physical.   He graduated top of his class at MIT but it was his street smarts and boxing skill that got him the scholarship!

John,

Interesting concepts. I actually like both. If you do decide to go with Kid Babylon, I actually have a villain that is tied to Mesopotamia, though she wouldn't show up right away as she'd be fairly powerful.

Oni,

Not sure. What would you guys prefer? I'm kind of open ended on whether you pick or roll for powers.

My only caveat is that certain character types can only pick/roll from certain tables. For instance, if you want to play more of a Mystery Man type, then you'd roll or choose powers from Devices and/or Skills (though I'd allow magic/psionic items depending on the origin, as many mystical characters during the time period did use magic items over having actual powers).

So how about this: You can choose or roll powers at your discretion (and if you roll, you can change a power if it doesn't work with your concept).

Some basic archetypes:
Actual supers can use the Powers table, as well as skills

Mystery Men use the Skill table, and depending on the concept, Devices or Psionic/Magic items

Magic/Psychic types use the Magic/Psionics table, skills, and possible Magic/Psionic items (again depending on concept).

Science Heroes use Devices and skills

Anything that doesn't fit these basic archetypes we can discuss if need be.

If that sounds cool with you guys, I'll start putting together a word doc with all this info.

a classic period phrase lol

John wrote on May 20^th, 2012 at 11:05pm:


If everyone wants to work on them now, I'm ok with that. If not, we can always see about rolling them up next time we get together.

I haven't had time to work out any more guidelines other than what I posted earlier. I figure you just roll stats normally, etc.

As for powers, etc, you can either roll or choose; I don't have a problem with people choosing if they have a concept in mind, as long as you don't go overboard.

I'm trying to be somewhat flexible

John wrote on May 20^th, 2012 at 11:05pm:


Of course! I look forward to seeing what he looks like

THE ONI wrote on May 21^st, 2012 at 6:51pm:


That's fine. I like the name too (and in the spirit of the genre, his powers don't have to fit the name anyway)

I like this idea Gerry and John and Oni seem very enthusiastic and have some kewl ideas! I was thinking of an animated statue called the Ivory Avenger for playing in this new world.

here's a speed origin on the fly:

Dr Einhardt, a scientist and historian discovers a secret passage among the Stonehenge Monuments that leads to an ancient underground city. There he finds Seven statues, Guardians of an ancient time lost people that may have been Atlanteans. Each one is carved of a different substance and adorned with strange markings and knotwork reminiscent of ancient Celtic Art.  Dr Einhardt is thrilled by the discovery of a lifetime only to find his jubilation dashed by the Nazi's Thule society. The occult wing of Hitler's War machine had been casing Dr Einhardt for over a year and had used him to find the secret of Stonehenge. Now a prisoner of Hitler's thugs they chained him to one of the Guardians that seemed to be carved of some sort of white marble or ivory and the torture began. They wanted detailed info on the  statues. They believed they embodied some type of awesome magical power, perhaps a conduit between worlds. Once they had this information they promised to let Einhardt go but he pierced the veil of their lies all too easily. This discovery belonged to the world and its secrets and powers belonged to the Elders of Ancient times. He would die before letting narrow minded, goose-stepping thugs usurp this legacy of Human History. The Nazi's produced his wife and daughter as well as his Father. All beaten savagely and desecrated in unholy ways like animals. Einhardt wailed and cursed the Nazi's to hell with their fiend of a Fuher. He sobbed and apologized to his family as each one was pressed against him and executed, bathing him and the statue he was joined to in the blood of his kin until finally they turned their foul lugers upon him,emptied his blood onto the floor and left him for dead chained to the statue. As his life ebbed away there was a peel of Thunder, angry and muffled as though lightning had struck underwater. A light filled the room, blue and crisp and 12 Nazi's stared in disbelief as the great statue, it's celtic war paint glowing with brilliant turquoise, its carved armor ringing with the sounds of animate life and its eyes smoldering with White Hot Fury, set upon them and ripped them limb from limb easier than a vicious child pulls the wings from an insect to ease a summer's boredom.

The Ivory Giant knelt down as Dr Einhardt's last breaths fled his body. He smiled, "They would never had let a Jew like me live.." he rasped. "Their master is small and needs a great people to bring low to raise himself again but he has failed..." his words were soft...distant. "My blood has awakened you, the blood of a just man and his family , a man of truth and peace..do not let my sacrifice be in vain great one..".

A single tear of crystal blue flowed from a unblinking eye and mute stone lips seemed to quiver as though they lamented the inability to speak.

"Do not weep for me my Ivory Avenger..as long as you go into the world and herald the spirit of an ancient justice mine and my families rest will be peaceful indeed! Go forth and may the wicked fear your heavy step."

As Dr Einhardt's mind slipped into darkness the last image it embraced was an ivory face, brilliant and angelic and a voice thick and sweet, like honey on velvet "Be at peace and know that I will avenge you and all those like you. Sleep in the arms of the ancients"

Then the ancient, heavy foot of an Elder Guardian stepped forth onto a waking modern Earth and all creatures of darkness that dwelled upon it felt a slight, shivering chill... though they know not why.

Hmmmm....

Man. All I got was friggin Speed Bonus.

Type A 

I was kidding. I did not roll him up yet.

That would have been nice. You never know what will happen the way I have been rolling lately.

THE ONI wrote on May 25^th, 2012 at 10:15pm:


The Public Eye? You could always change the weaknesses if the character fits

I like it! Will be funny to see how he treats Ivory Avenger, seeing as he's a mystical statue 

never read Tom Strong, but I know a little about the character from reading about him online. Sounds interesting.

Powers...hmmm. well here's a list of what I think would fit. I need an idea of power level to know where to go with him though...

Size change larger: minimum level which I think is like 9 feet and 1.5 times weight or something
Heightened strength and endurance of some degree make sense
he's a hardy durable statue so some defensive abilities: adaption, invulnerability or a type of willpower

I thought it would be cool for him to be mute and as a twist I thought maybe he could actually be telepathic, or at least communicate through telepathy.
I was fiddling with the concept of having some type of elemental power like earth control which I guess could be simulated by Illusions type B.

I'll think about it a bit more and send some rough stat and power drafts to you and you can help guide me on this Gerry.

John wrote on May 26^th, 2012 at 1:50am:


Sounds good to me

I cannot tell anyone what powers Dr.Mysteriuos will have, even during the game. he is too Mysterious for that.

Especially since I have not rolled them yet.

Well it better not be "Animated Statue Control" you sneaky GIT!!!

John wrote on May 27^th, 2012 at 12:51am:


Yeah, I think we will. Originally I was thinking about doing some stuff officially, but as I mentioned last game session, I don't see that happening now. That being the case, I see no point in making people play a version they are not used to

The Proffesor of Pugilism.

John wrote on May 28^th, 2012 at 12:07am:


That could be his hero name: Professor Pugilism. Opposed by hie nemesis, Professor Plagiarism (who copies everything Pugilism does, but claims he created it himself)

THE ONI wrote on May 26^th, 2012 at 9:14am:

He should have just regular illusions, but pretend they are grand and real.

Shit-Smasher! Protecting our homefront from the Bundist saboteur menace! Buy war bonds and smash shit where you work or bank!

OK Gerry. I will post a character over the weekend. Even though I like The Dr. Mysterious idea I am going a different way. Keeping the Jack Maxim name however.

Picture Kurt Russell from Big Trouble in Little China but worse.

"Hey Winston, none of that Mr Maxim nonsense, My Friends call me .........MAX.

OK then. It seems you are the second one to tell me that so I will roll out Dr. Mysterious and tweak him as needed. if i could see the other characters posted it would be helpful since I would like to keep around the same power levels.

I will make my character and put the sheet up in this thread for your approval this week.

Here is the Sweet Scientist.

John,

Just looked him over. Looks perfectly fine to me. Now we just need to get the other characters written up 

Oni,

Looks good to me. Did you take the power you dropped back? If you dropped one to remove the weakness, but kept the weakness anyway, you should take the power back. If it was one you didn't feel fit the character, you could always replace it with something else

Heightened Senses. Not sure how you treat this. Roll a certain die for how many???

Not sure if you're stereotyping me or I'm stereotyping myself if that's possible.

Must be you guys that just drive my characters nuts.

THE ONI wrote on Aug 15^th, 2012 at 8:06pm:


According to the rule book, the player chooses some sort of sensory ability. This can be acute, or something more like night vision, sonar, radar, etc.

What sense (or senses) did you want heightened? It's normally one (from the gist of the text in the 2.1 rules), but if you want more, we can work something out.

As far as I know, we're on for Friday. I think it's just you and John playing, as I haven't seen Eric post in the thread for this week's game.

I made up the villain last night at work, so hopefully he will be a sufficient challenge for the both of you. He was for the hero he fought in the golden age of comics 

I dunno.  I just think the rules read Heightened Senses as it sounds better, grammatically, than Heightened Sense.

I've always ruled it as one sense per roll of the power. 

Of course it all depends on the power level of the game and the proposed heightened sense or senses.

I figured the 1d4 but did not want to assume for Gerry.

We can figure it out quickly tomorrow night I think.

Heightened Sense of the Dramatic for DR. Mysterious.

Majestic wrote on Aug 16^th, 2012 at 3:22pm:


Many super hero games list the power as Heightened Sense, but refer to the fact that you can have one or more.

Anyway, if Oni decides what he wants in terms of how many, I'm sure we can work it out before we play. If he has a clear idea which ones he wants, then he can take them, and not have to roll.

Gerry,

Nice job last night. Dr. Mysterious enjoyed his debut.

Perhaps not everything may be expalined by Science Professor Sweet.

  Perhaps.

Of Course, Professor Sweet.

We certainly would not wish you to trip again in such Emergency situations.

John wrote on Aug 18^th, 2012 at 9:27am:


I suspect Sweet will believe that once he encounters Ivory Avenger (or whatever Eric's character is called)