[WGP] Tarnished
Wordmaker:
Moving my thread on our new With Great Power... game here:
Background Pitch:
Everything changed the day Superman died. Metropolis is gone. Nothing remains but a crater and the surrounding ruins. The government calls it a memorial to humanity, a reminder that mankind cannot rely on people in masks and capes. The last attempt by Lex Luthor to defeat his old foe involved a Kryptonite-laden bomb, with two primers, one lowering into the other. The Man of Steel tried to hold them apart, unable to reach the control panel which could have stopped the device. Eventually his strength gave way and the bomb detonated. No-one survived to tell of how he was watched by frightened people, none of whom answered his pleas for help.
Maxwell Lord moved quickly to pin the blame on superhumans and anyone else in a mask or cape. Over time, heroes dwindled, as they were recruited into government agencies, killed in action, arrested, or simply retired. The loss of Superman started society's steady fall as people stopped believing in heroes, that one person could stand for something greater than himself.
Years later, there was only Batman left, keeping a lonely vigil over the city of Gotham. He was struck by a stray bullet, stopping a mugger from killing a husband and wife in front of their young son. The wound was mortal, and he died there in the alleyway. Perhaps if Jim Gordon was still alive, the police wouldn't have revealed his identity to the world, but as it was, the Dark Knight was finally unmasked. The last great hero was revealed to be nothing more than a man. The dream was over. There were no more heroes. Just men who could be broken, bought, or killed.
The funeral of Bruce Wayne was lavish, but cold. Media hype was turned against him and those like him as people lost the last of their faith.
Shortly afterwards, the Joker broke out of Arkham one last time. Witnesses reported that the Joker laid flowers on Bruce Wayne's grave, before taking a gun from his pocket. His last words were said to be "I always thought I wanted the last laugh. But in the end, it turned out the joke just wasn't that funny."
Now it is ten years later.
The Age of Heroes has passed, and the world is poorer for it. Crime, corruption, and war threaten to rip apart the last shreds of society's soul.
Now, a small few have decided that enough is enough, and it is time for old heroes to bring their legend back to life, and for new heroes to forge their own.
Wordmaker:
On Saturday we had James and Maegan over to make characters for With Great Power. We also had home-made shortbread and mini calzones. Yum.
We chatted a lot about the system and the ideas for the setting. Despite Aonghus not being able to make it I also gave a quick summary of his character. After commenting that the game would work very well with sometimes rotating GMs and players being in one story arc but not the next, I went and made a character too, figuring I'd like to get a chance to play at some point.
So we have the following heroes:
Jen:
Lady Hood/Olivia Queen. The daughter of Green Arrow and Black Canary. Her parents refused to retire when the government and popular opinion turned against heroes, and were killed by a Checkmate team led by Huntress, who had joined the organisation.
Aspects:
The Bandit of Gotham - Power Asset, Personal Scale. Lady Hood has inherited her mother's talent for martial arts, and her father's abilities as a marksman.
"My Father's Bow." - Origin Asset, Personal Scale. After her parents' funeral, Olivia took her father's bow and began training herself in its use.
Millionaire Philantropist - Identity Asset, National Scale. Olivia inherited her father's fortune, which she uses to help fight poverty and promote urban renewal.
"I Will Make My Parents Proud" - Duty Motivation, Personal Scale. Olivia is determined to carry on her parents' legacy as a hero in her own right.
Freedom is Every Man's Right - Conviction Motivation. Like her father, Olivia has quite liberal political views which are at odds with the current authorities.
Barbara Gordon - Friend Relationship, Personal Scale. Barbara Gordon withdrew from her activities as Oracle after the death of Green Arrow and Black Canary, a move which alienated her from Batman. Barbara took Olivia in and raised her as her own.
James:
The Elementalist/Lord Baron Rockford. A treasure-hunter and inheritor of a large fortune and title from his father. His father was an avid hunter, which Baron detested, putting him at odds with his family.
Aspects:
Elemental Totems - Power Asset, Municipal Scale. Baron possesses 3 elemental totems giving him control over Earth, Air and Water. The power of these totems can only be given up voluntarily, or upon the bearer's death. He has come to Gotham to find the Totem of Fire.
Family Heirloom - Origin Asset, Personal Scale. The first totem that Baron received was the Totem of Earth, a family heirloom which he inherited.
Last Member of the Rockford Family - Identity Asset, Global Scale. Baron is the last living member of his family, an old line of European nobility.
People Are All Basically Good - Conviction Motivation. Baron's over-riding belief is that there is good in everyone, it just needs to be given a chance to show.
Manservant (not yet named) - Partner Relationship, Personal Scale. Baron travels everywhere with his faithful manservant.
Maegan*:
Kallisto/Kali Fox. Kallisto is a Muse. Specifically, she is the Muse of Rock and Roll. Born along with rock music, she inspites social upheaval and freedom through music.
Aspects:
The Power of Rock! - Power Asset, Municipal Scale. As a Muse, Kallisto has enhanced strength and agility. She can also generate sounds of varying frequencies which can influence emotion, dampen noise, or break down walls.
The Tenth Muse - Origin Asset, Global Scale. When rock and roll was born, so too was Kallisto. For decades she has been the embodiment of artistic rebellion for the modern age.
Rock Star and Talent Agent - Identity Asset, Global Scale. In her persona as Kali Fox, Kallisto poses as a rock star to spread her rebellious influence, with an accompanying career discovering and inspiring new talent.
"We Will Rebuild This City on Rock and Roll" - Duty Motivation, Municipal Scale. Seeing Gotham as the most opressed city in America, Kallisto has decided it will be the next subject for her influences. Gotham will be freed, by her direct action, or by the inspiration she will bring to others.
Never Sell Out - Conviction Motivation. As an embodiment of rock and roll, Kallisto is dedicated to maintaining her artistic and idealistic integrity, rather than doing something for money or flattery.
Apollo - Family Relationship, Cosmic Scale. Being a Muse can lead to all manner of strange "family matters..."
Groupies - Friend Relationship, Municipal Scale. Kali Fox is one of the most popular artists today. Now that she has moved to Gotham, she is frequently surrounded by adoring fans.
Myself:
Templar/Ben Grant. The young boy whose life, and those of his parents, were saved by Batman on the night he died.
Aspects:
Secrets of the Bat Cave - Power Asset, Personal Scale. When Wayne Manor was destroyed in a fire shortly after Batman's death, many believed that the Bat Cave was also destroyed. Years later, Ben has now found the Bat Cave and uses the equipment there to improve his fighting and deductive skills.
Last Person Saved by Batman - Origin Asset, Municipal Scale. Unlike most people, who were disillusioned to learn that Batman was, in fact, just a man, Ben realised the power one man could have if he allowed himself to become something more than a man. He is somewhat famous within Gotham for being the last person Batman saved, but dislikes the attention.
Scholarship Student - Identity Asset, Personal Scale. Ben is on a scholarship program at Gotham University. Naturally this causes problems as he tried to juggle his course work with protecting the streets at night.
Honour the Legacy of Batman - Duty Motivation, Municipal Scale. Batman gave his life to save Ben, someone he didn't even know. Ben believes such a man does not deserve to have the city he protected simply disregard him, and that people should continue his fight for him.
"Gotham Needs a Dark Knight" - Conviction Motivation. The loss of heroes did not make the world a better place. Gotham needs something, someone, to believe in again.
District Attorney Patrick Grant - Family Relationship, Municipal Scale. Ben's father is Gotham's district attorney, a man who believes in the rule of law and its use for the betterment of society. Ben knows his father would not approve of him being a vigilante, but hopes that he can become an ally of Templar.
Erica Sanders - Romance Relationship, Personal Scale. A fellow student, Erica helped Ben explore the caves underneath the Wayne estate and locate the Bat Cave. She is the only one who knows what he's doing, and though Ben has a crush on her, he hasn't worked up the courage to do anything about it.
*There were a fair few details about Kallisto's powers which weren't clarified, but I figured this might make a good suggestion. It could all change, though, depending on Maegan's preferences and final decision.
Aonghus, another player, couldn't make it but wants to play the only surviving witness to what happened to Superman. The blast caused him to absorb Superman's powers because of a combination of kryptonite radiation and how close he was. He knows the truth, that Superman survived the blast but has turned his back on protecting humanity because no-one would help him when it was his turn to be saved. His hang-up is that he feels responsible for the loss of Superman, and wants to make amends.
We'll be introducing his character in the second session.
Wordmaker:
After our Deadlands game tonight, Aonghus got his WGP character made.
Scion
The last witness to the destruction of Metropolis, the person who coud have saved Superman, but instead was too afraid, and in the blast, and gained Superman's powers.
Aspects:
Scion of Superman (Origin Asset, Personal Scale) - Scion was there when Lex Luthor's bomb destroyed Metropolis. The radiation gave him Superman's powers, and in the wake of the explosion, he had to face Superman's anger and resentment that no-one would help him, before the Man of Steel flew away, leaving humanity behind.
Adopted Son of Krypton (Power Asset, Municipal Scale) - Scion has all of Superman's powers and weaknesses as a result of the explosion.
Cab Driver (Identity Asset, Personal Scale) - Scion works day to day as a Gotham City cab driver.
Redeem Superman's Faith (Duty Motivation, Global Scale) - The world needs Superman, and if Scion had acted faster, been braver, it would not have lost him. He feels it is his duty to make the Man of Steel realise that the world needs and deserves him.
"People can't save themelves" (Conviction Motivation) - Although people want to be better, do better, they need something to follow. They need something, someone to believe in, to inspire them and protect them from the things they can't fight.
Overprotective Mother (Family Relationship, Personal Scale) - Scion lives with his mother, who feared she'd lost him in that awful disaster in Metropolis. She won't risk losing her only son again.
Co-Worker (Friend Relationship, Personal Scale) - One of Scion's friends at the cab company who covers his shifts whenever he has to disappear unexpectedly. He does not know Scion's secret, and things he's got a woman he doesn't want his mother finding out about.
James_Nostack:
Hey, I was wondering two things:
1. It's interesting that you decided to set your game as connected to published comic-book characters and settings. Was this decision made deliberately, and if so, by whom? (I ran a "Justice League of America" game 6-7 months ago at a mini-con, and the decision to do so was partially because of immediate familiarity with the characters, but also because somehow playing with the "real" toys seemed to make everything just a little more bad-ass. I actually really liked this approach, and would kind of like to try it again and compare it to using a homebrew.)
2. Have you guys gotten around to playing the game yet, beyond character generation? (As written, With Great Power requires explicit stakes and counter-stakes in conflicts, and I'm wondering what would happen if you didn't bother with explicit stakes-setting and just did some sort of narration-swapping instead, sort of like Trollbabe. In my experience, devising explicit stakes and counter-stakes, and then honing them down, takes a good 3-5 minutes especially in a multi-player conflict scene, and that kind of interrupts the flow.)
Wordmaker:
It was my decision. I made the pitch to some people who were interested in trying out the game, and most of them jumped at it. I've wanted to run a game in a setting like this for a good while, one where I could bring in a strong focus on themes like the need for heroes and what they actually represent.
We had our first session yesterday and I'll be posting a report later. Getting to grips with stakes, and the mechanics for Conflict scenes, did slow things down a bit, but I think it's all just practice.
Also, our 5th player, Philip, got his character made before our session on Saturday:
Green Lantern/Desmond Doyle - A Gotham University professor who has a Green Lantern power ring and believes the world needs its heroes back, but lacks the confidence and will to become a hero himself.
Origin Asset: "My brother un-masked Batman."
Powers Asset: From the Ashes - He has a powerful artefact recovered from the ruins of Wayne Manor
Identity Asset: Bestselling Author of "Bruce Wayne & Batman - The Man or the Mask?"
Conviction Motivation: The World needs Heroes
Duty Motivation: Rebuild the Justice League
Family Relationship: His brother is the head of the GCPD Homicide Unit, and the former beat cop who unmasked batman
Friend Relationship: One of his colleagues, the Professor of Metahuman Biology
Romance Relationship: He has a massive crush on one of his grad students, but nothing has ever happened.
Philip actually went and came up with sample lecture slides for his character's lectures, with titles like "From Gilgamesh to the Man of Steel," and "Batman - Too far or not far enough?"
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