Yesterday we continued the story, and actually ended up playing for about 5-6 hours (lots of good role-playing!).  This was actually, in the 33 years I've been playing V&V, the first time used/seen Mammoth in play, too!

#2 – Mammoth Problems – After a short rest, the quartet fly in the L’Engle to the multi-story home in the north part of the city.  They make their way inside, where they are assaulted by Chris Temba, a man amped up on the drug “body”.  Meanwhile, Contagion races upstairs and finds Mammoth and his right-hand man “Heater” Jenkins with captive prosecutor Mattheson; he quickly downs both criminals.  The others take down Temba and move to the upper floor, where Jenkins awakes.  Contagion misses with a neurotoxin attack, and it strikes Rejuvenator, knocking him out.  Mammoth and Jenkins each come to numerous times, only to be repeatedly dropped again by the heroes.  Psilight gets Mattheson to safety outside.  When Rejuvenator wakes up, he is confused and belligerent, and doesn’t recognize his companions.  Chronovator attacks him, and in response, believing that he is on the opposing side of the conflict, Rejuvenator wakes up Mammoth.  The villain is taken out again, and Rejuvenator leaps out the upper window and hides nearby.  Chronovator contacts F.I.S.H., and when their agents and police arrive there is much confusion, as Rejuvenator describes his teammates as supervillains.  The group debriefs at a local F.I.S.H. office, and the agency suspends Rejuvenator’s license; he also agrees to undergo further testing.

Thanks, Phrennzy!  When Contagion's player had him run upstairs, he had to make that instant choice.  I figured for sure he'd go for the big, hairy guy (I didn't even use counters at that point, as the other players didn't know what was going on away from them), but he chose the guy with the gun.

The PCs queried some of the Horns of Hades gang members at a table in the back.  It should be noted that most of those bikes parked outside were Harleys (or, if you like Mystery Men, "Harley-compatibles")

You...you have a grid map but drew the map askew to the grid...what kind of monster are you?

While Contagion (shrunken to 1/4" tall) spied on the amped-up thug inside and Psilight and Rejuvenator waited outside the door, Chronovator used Non-Corporealness to pass right through into the kitchen, where she confronted Temba.

Seeing that Tenba was in good hands (facing the other three), Contagion (still small) raced upstairs, where he found the seated kidnapped prosecutor as well as Mammoth and 'Heater' Jenkins.

LOL! 

Mammoth wakes up again!

The wrap-up outside, with F.I.S.H. and the police on scene.  Fortunately, the prosecutor was there to vouch for Psilight and the others, since Rejuvenator fingered his teammates as supervillains!

This next issue we played in two parts.  The first was a couple of months ago, and then we played for a few hours and finished it off last night.

#4 – The Hero Within - Chronovator, Rejuvenator, Raijin, and Psilight respond via the L’Engle to a break-in at a Medynamics warehouse south of San Francisco.  They attempt to apprehend intruder Omega Girl, but the powerful paranormal escapes with some stolen items.  The team follows her trail north in the L’Engle into the Dogpatch neighborhood, where they spot black-clad operatives guarding a building.  They subdue a number of Tic-Tac-Toe agents, then blast their way into the abandoned warehouse the men were protecting.  Inside they interrupt a meeting between Omega Girl and Mindlynx, flanked by two more agents.  Battle is joined, and the vigilantes take down everyone inside.  Later, they hear that Omega Girl claims to be a former police officer forced to work for the research group that gave her superpowers.

The misunderstood heroine, Omega Girl.

They kept knocking her back into tons of fallen-down shelving.

I love your counters.  The font is perfect.

Thanks, all!

The next day we continued, this time with five players.  Note that we'll still probably finish things off (as the players want to go after the two villains that escaped):

#6 – Rising Sun – Days later, while the three heroes are joined for lunch at the Pinecrest Diner by Contagion and Rejuvenator, they oversee breaking news about a major strike by supervillains on an S.A.C.C. processing plant just outside the city.  The five race to a scene straight out of a war zone.  News and police helicopters hover overhead while emergency personnel attempt to contain the situation and rescue trapped and injured plant workers.  Smoke fills the air, several chemical storage tanks burn uncontrollably, and chemicals leak and spill everywhere.  Psilight and Wraith race into the chaos and rescue civilians, while Raijin, Rejuvenator, and Contagion engage Divine Right in the gravel parking lot north of the carnage.  Raijin duels Tetsuronin while the others battle Boufuu, Inabikari, Oni, and Yamakuzure.  Wraith and Psilight join their companions, and together the vigilantes begin to get the upper hand.  When their teammates go down, Oni leaps away, and eventually Tetsuronin flees as well.  The adventurers aid police, fire, and emergency crews as they help the many casualties and extinguish the fires.

One note about that last issue (#7): In the original, play through, the final battle was incredibly anti-climatic.

Psilight one-shotted Oni, which was fine (he was low on HP from the previous battle).  Then Contagion, as so often has happened, immediately dropped Tetsuronin with his obnoxious Paralysis attack.

I even have it spelled out in my supplemental rules how a GM should really watch out for Paralysis Ray, but - against my better judgment - I'd allowed it with this PC.  This fight was the final straw, however.  Before we replayed this final fight (right after Oni was felled), I sat down with the player and we worked out a new solution for his attack.  In most ways it remained the same, but I made it so that bigger, tougher characters had a greater chance to shrug it off.

So on our normal D&D night, we played out this final fight again.  This time it worked out much better, and more like expected.  It allowed Tetsuronin (who is actually a perfect arch-nemesis for Raijin) to get away, and being blasted way off the boat led to the death of Contagion (the player was eager to make a new PC anyway; he said the only reason he still played him was because of how "OP" he was).

Some pictures:

https://imgur.com/a/pHOIX

This first one is after the heroes first arrive at the upscale apartments, where some thugs wait outside.  The PCs stayed focused and ignored the bait of these felons, rushing inside and upstairs.

I dont think that would be an issue. I'll have to take  a look and see if there is some sort of setting messing with that.

In the mean time, if it's one photo it's best to just attach it to your post and it will automatically create a nice thumbnail for immediate viewing in your post.

**Update** I am not seeing you on the ban list and your account is deemed active so I'm not really sure what happened here. I can also see the link to your image and the image link works.  I didn't see any settings about outside links to images.  The only thing I can think is that maybe the firewall was detecting a script coming in from imgur (which happens with photobucket) and blocked it and temp banned your IP.

Ok cool. And you should be able to attach more than one image, I think up to like 5 maybe. So below the reply box you will see the attachment box where you can choose a file. To the left of that you will see the word "Attachments" with a drop down arrow next to it. If you hit that arrow it will add another attachment box, which you can do up to 5 times.

If you need me to up the number of attachments let me know.

Store your avatar image locally as well. Seems to be a dead link or maybe on imgur.

Paul, I've tried, but I'm unable to log in to this site from home.

It gives me 404 error messages.

Paul wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2017 at 3:17pm:


I'll try to get you the IP address.  I've cleared the cache and all cookies and tried resetting the computer.  Also tried using Google and other methods besides just manually inputting the address but got the same result.

I'll try getting you the IP address.  The fact I couldn't get in on my desktop and phone makes me think that's the likely problem.

Thanks for the help in getting this resolved, Paul!

My IP address is 192.168.86.1

I'm able to connect at home only by turning off wi-fi on my phone.

FYI , it doesn't show me any ip addresses in the lower right of a post. It shows a little symbol and below that symbol it says 'ip logged'.

Will do when I get home.  Thanks for the help, Paul!

Ok must be another IP in there I'm missing. Do me a favor, go to google and just type in "what is my IP" without the quotes, and it should tell you your public IP.

PM that to me, don't post it.  Thanks.

In the meatime I'll check for more prior IP's.  *update: saw one other that could be an old one but I doubt it, try it again but if it doesn't work please send me your public IP but also check your bookmark (see a few posts above for the correct link as you may have to modify if manually).  *

The "what is my IP" in google is a known thing so I would go with that.

And you should probably create a bookmark for this site just in case something is screwey with your redirects or cache etc. Use this:

https://www.villainsandvigilantesforum.com/public_html/cgi-bin/vandv/YaBB.pl

Quote:


Yeah I just worry that my redirects might not be auto pointing that address to the https site as opposed to the older site that's all.  And a lot of that is dependent on your DNS servers your ISP uses and how often they update etc.

Awesome!!

A few weeks ago, I ran sort of an intro to "Revenge of the Yakuza".  Being as the first part "Search for the Sensei" was run a couple of decades ago (nearly 23 years, in-game) in my campaign, I had to set up a new operation of the Tong in order for them to want revenge on the heroes.

10 – Ronin – Chronovator returns with Alchemist, a companion from Victorian England.  Psilight calls a team meeting, and the time-travelling pair join him, along with Revivicator (the alternate personality of Rejuvenator), Wraith, Raijin, and novice hero Shadowfist.  Liaison Braddock asks the team to participate in a civic parade, and the adventurers ride a float representing the Sentinels, with the L’ Engle flying above.  Police contact Sampson alerts them of a potential murder happening that night, so the group switches to civilian guises and stakes out the Kabuki Hotel in Japantown.  Armored villain Ronin enters, but is magnetically stopped by Wraith.  Ten ninjas ambush from hiding places in the ceiling and from outside, but the vigilantes swiftly take them out.  Ronin appears to be a reluctant hired assassin, but the ninjas all have a dragon tattoo on their forearm identifying them as belonging to the Tatsu Tong.

I've been continuing with "Revenge of the Yakuza" with my Tuesday night group:

#12 – Revenge of the Yakuza – Chronovator and Alchemist leave as Raijin and Shadowfist arrive.  Unable to meet up with friends, Revivicator invites Dr. Drake Ramoray and Andrei Vladimirescu to the police station where the Mukadé operatives are interrogated.  ColdSnap stays outside and the others observe as the police question the pair; Japanese Kamikaze refuses to speak, but American Preying Mantis does not take long to talk.  The assassin squad was sent on the direct orders of the Ichiban Sama via someone named Naginata, who told them in the Tokyo offices of Hachiji Scientific.  Ramoray departs, and after the team secures power dampening equipment from F.I.S.H., Vladimirescu arranges for a private jet and sets up a meeting with Hachiji.  Significant modifications are made to the craft to accommodate a sedated ColdSnap, then Vladimirescu, Raijin, Revivicator, and Shadowfist fly to a C.H.E.S.S. base in Tokyo.  ColdSnap stays at the base while an Agent Kenzu accompanies the other four, all disguised as businessmen, to the famous upscale Ginza District.  On the top floor of the Tokyo Memorial Trade Building they enter the offices of Hachiji Scientific, where executive Masatake Hachiji gives them a brief tour and meeting in his office.  Shadowfist observes that their host is upset about something, and Raijin finds a tabloid article about his father not being seen for some time.  Vladimirescu offers help, but the businessman declines their offer and hurries them out.

#14 – Terror in Tokyo – As the fight rages, the heroes begin to gain the upper hand.  An exhausted Kabuki flees, followed by a fatigued Swiftblade, and eventually only Naginata remains.  The champions overwhelm the samurai, then some rush over to the onlookers, where the Hachiji security guards try to suppress the crowd’s recordings of the battle.  Naginata arises and contests the team again, but is finally subdued.  Shi-Kaze orders security to return to the building and informs the Sentinels that he was under Naginata’s thumb, a crime-fighter forced to work for the Yakuza as they hold his father Iyeyasu captive.  Phantom Strike awakens and floats away into the ground.  C.H.E.S.S. arrives and arrests Naginata and Negatron.  Shadowfist’s group returns and explains that the Tong kidnapped renowned scientist Haruzo Torinaga.  Revivicator promises Shi-Kaze that they will rescue his father, and their former enemy takes them back upstairs to the top floor.  With help from C.H.E.S.S. they search Naginata’s bedroom and office and recover six vials with clear liquid labeled Y-12 and X-12; Shi-Kaze believes them to be a drug and antidote.

And last night, it took a 5+ hour session, but we finished it!

#16 – Climax at the Castle – C.H.E.S.S. and Japanese authorities descend on Tanegashima and help detain workers and rescue captive scientists and engineers.  Kirin and Shadow Dragon alert Ichiban Sama at the main Dragon Tong headquarters on Yakushima.  After resting and healing, the next morning the team makes their final assault on the island.  Their C.H.E.S.S craft is warned to stay away, so drops below radar until over Yakushima, and it dodges laser fire after the squad parachutes onto a dormant volcano.  They travel through jungle to the compound, which has a moat and high stone wall.  Raijin and Shi-Kaze challenge the Yamaguchi from outside, but Ninja Master leaps to the wall and cautions them that they face certain death if they continue.  Shadowfist grows large and teleports onto the wall, while Raijin and Rejuvenator (towing ColdSnap) leap over, where they fight Ninja Master, Kirin (again as a dragon), and a ninja.  Kirin is felled, and when Shadowfist forces the drawbridge down, Shi-Kaze, Psilight, and Final Pulse also enter the courtyard.  Surrounded, Ninja Master drops a flash grenade, temporarily blinding Raijin and Shi-Kaze before he flees into the feudal Japanese castle.  The heroes enter through the front door and engage Kabuki, Shadow Dragon, Phantom Strike, Swiftblade, Ninja Master, Ichiban Sama, and many elite ninjas inside.  After a furious battle, Phantom Strike flees, and the rest of the villains are defeated.  Ichiban Sama takes off his mask, revealing that he is Iyeyasu Hachiji!  He congratulates his honorable opponents, reveals his disgust that son Shi-Kaze chose the wrong side, and commits seppuku by blowing up himself and his magical rings via a powerful explosion!  Dr. Torinaga is rescued, and many records are recovered that lead to the end of the Dragon Tong.

I believe we had more crits than any other MP game I've been involved with.

One player critically fumbled, so was permanently blinded by another PC's blinding flash.

My PC - Solomon Kane - has a negative chance to dive clear from a Siphon Area Attack, partly because he had to jump so far (6") to get out of the blast radius.  But I rolled a 1, then rolled another 1, for a crit success!  Only a 1 in 144 chance, but he pulled it off!

This Tuesday my son ran some of us through the latest adventure for the Sentinels.  There were others that wanted to play, but he capped things with six players (a good problem to have!).

I thought he did an outstanding job, especially in spotlighting my daughter's PC (Princess Midna); often she's not that invested in the game, but this time she was really, really into it, and the session was tense and exciting!

He also returned a couple of PCs (for two other players) that had been believed to be dead for many years (they went out with a vampire villain); in this one he revealed that they had been shunted to this place, where time passed differently.  So he brought back a major villain for his game, but also resurrected two deceased PCs.

Lastly, he brought back the Pet of one of his old PCs, saying that in the years since he played it, this chimaera (heads of a goat, lion, and dragon) had died and was now an undead minion serving his villain.

#19 – Unexpected Returns – While dining at a restaurant with Flashbot, Princess Midna is surprised by a message in her native language via her Sentinel communicator indicating that the Wellspring of her home world (Mu) has been tainted.  She requests assistance from her teammates and allies.  Responding to the team’s base is Solomon Kane and a new ally he just met at a library, the mouse-like Basil, as well as Raijin and his friend Nigel (Mindgasm).  Part of a doorway to Mu forms there, and Midna completes it, allowing the six heroes to travel through.  Four royal guards accompany the princess and the others into the underground chamber of the Wellspring, where there are shallow channels of water, force field walls, and a large, robotic guardian in the center.  Magical pillars throughout with (Earth-like) symbols and candles are spaced around the large room.  As sand passes through an hourglass and tremors shake everything, Raijin and Mindgasm deduce the order of lighting the candles, and the force fields drop.  Flashbot finds an adjacent secret room with bodies of numerous slain royal guards.  Dangerous ghost-like shades emerge from the outer walls and menacingly float toward them all.  The adventurers begin pushing the large guardian onto nearby pressure plates, but Midna calls many rocks onto it instead and the entire center section drops them all deeper underground.  They move down a passage into a large room, where the disembodied head of Lord Malek floats.  Water drips on him from the Wellspring high above, and the impish Skarhone hangs upside down nearby.  The royal guards with them suddenly turn on Midna, but are swiftly taken out by Frostbite and Rockasaurus, who along with Malek had been trapped in this place for many years, supposedly deceased.  Four shades observe, while Malek is assisted by two specters and his new guardian, the now undead chimaera Dark Guthix.  The vigilantes begin to battle the villains, and Skarhone teleports away.  Things look bleak for the champions after many of them are hindered, some inadvertently blinded by Flashbot and some turned against their friends by Lord Malek.  Shades surround Midna and help break her free of the vampire’s control.  Terrified by Kane’s staff, Dark Guthix flees through a portal, and shortly after a battered Malek also goes through, promising to return.  Rockasaurus and Frostbite, both controlled by Malek, attempt to leave as well, but Midna prevents it with a magnetic wall.  Afterwards, her people honor Midna for her courageous deeds.  The original message summoning her home is found to have been sent by Skarhone.

So I'm guessing we'll see Cold Rage again.