Aberrant: First Look questions

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Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Am I just missing something, or am I correct in noticing that there
appears to be a large "gap" in the potential types of Supers you can
get from the novas -- specifically, gadgeteers like Iron Man and
Weapon-oriented types like Captain America and the original Thor?

--
Sea Wasp
/^\
;;;
Live Journal: http://www.livejournal.com/users/seawasp/
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Sea Wasp wrote:

>
> Am I just missing something, or am I correct in noticing that there
> appears to be a large "gap" in the potential types of Supers you can get
> from the novas -- specifically, gadgeteers like Iron Man and
> Weapon-oriented types like Captain America and the original Thor?

You didn't miss anything.

The default setting assumes that you cannot create an device that
bends the laws of physics, while for some reason novas themeselves
can bend the laws of physics. Yeah, that's a little odd, but
not unprecedented. The Wild Cards books used a similar premise;
the device won't work if seperated from its creator (notable
exceptions in both settings though).

You can set up a character who is an uber-tech master, but he'll
be using gadgets that are just slightly ahead of today's cutting
edge, and you can easily set up weapons masters, but the
weapons themselves will rarely be exceptional.

There are some suggestions in the Player's Guide for doing
tech characters but I don't recall them very well.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

"Sea Wasp" <seawasp@wizvax.net> wrote in message
news:408309FA.4080506@wizvax.net...
>
> Am I just missing something, or am I correct in noticing that there
> appears to be a large "gap" in the potential types of Supers you can
> get from the novas -- specifically, gadgeteers like Iron Man and
> Weapon-oriented types like Captain America and the original Thor?
>

Well Aberrant is not a superhero game--its a people with powers in a vary
narrow setting game--technology like Iron Man should be possible (as in
there were wierdo invenntors in Adventure!) so they should have had
analogues of the games had been written in chronological order, and of
course really were connected in other than the barest ways of setting so
that they could call them a "line" --WW history with single games who don't
mesh with each other should have warned ya bit. (Even if in the same
"setting")

You could of course fake it..by letting someone buy powers and saying
they're a Nova genius whose Nova powers are devices powered by their
inherant quantum (which would get you powered armored guys ad such) but
since Aberrant tech isn't hugely advanced from Earth of the era you aren't
going to see "normal" people making such technology and getting it to work.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Sidhain wrote:
>
> Well Aberrant is not a superhero game

Nah, it is a superhero game.
It just doesn't try to cover the whole genre.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Sidhain wrote:
> "Sea Wasp" <seawasp@wizvax.net> wrote in message
> news:408309FA.4080506@wizvax.net...
>
>>Am I just missing something, or am I correct in noticing that there
>>appears to be a large "gap" in the potential types of Supers you can
>>get from the novas -- specifically, gadgeteers like Iron Man and
>>Weapon-oriented types like Captain America and the original Thor?
>>
>
>
>
> You could of course fake it..by letting someone buy powers and saying
> they're a Nova genius whose Nova powers are devices powered by their
> inherant quantum (which would get you powered armored guys ad such) but
> since Aberrant tech isn't hugely advanced from Earth of the era you aren't
> going to see "normal" people making such technology and getting it to work.
>

There were optional rules for going this exact route in the Abberrant
Player's Guide. It's assumed that all such "super-technology" was
destroyed in the Abberrant Wars, which is why it didn't exist in the
Trinity future.

--
Michael Sears armitage@mhcable.com
"No turning back where the end is in sight.
There's a job to be done, a fight to be won."



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Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 23:06:20 GMT, Sea Wasp <seawasp@wizvax.net> wrote:

>
> Am I just missing something, or am I correct in noticing that there
>appears to be a large "gap" in the potential types of Supers you can
>get from the novas -- specifically, gadgeteers like Iron Man and
>Weapon-oriented types like Captain America and the original Thor?

There are no people like Captain America or Thor in the Aberrant
universe. Gadgeteers were slated for a later release.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

"David Johnston" <rgormannospam@telusplanet.net> wrote in message
news:408327a6.19699693@news.telusplanet.net...
> On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 23:06:20 GMT, Sea Wasp <seawasp@wizvax.net> wrote:
>
> >
> > Am I just missing something, or am I correct in noticing that there
> >appears to be a large "gap" in the potential types of Supers you can
> >get from the novas -- specifically, gadgeteers like Iron Man and
> >Weapon-oriented types like Captain America and the original Thor?
>
> There are no people like Captain America or Thor in the Aberrant
> universe.

The core concept of Captain America is that he is simply a highly-trained
human -- someone like him *could* (but probably doesn't) exist in our real
universe. What prevents him from existing in the Aberrant universe?


--
David Meadows
Heroes: www.heroes.force9.co.uk/scripts/
A comic book -- without the pictures
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

> The core concept of Captain America is that he is simply a highly-trained
> human -- someone like him *could* (but probably doesn't) exist in our real
> universe. What prevents him from existing in the Aberrant universe?
>
>

Mostly the fact that humans can only reach a certian potential of
attributes--Captian America is /on par/ with many superheroes, while
Aberrant could mimic him he'd have to be a Nova to accuratly portray his
capabilities (and spend his Nova points on default attributes and
skills)--the system can do it, but its the "normal human are flubs in one
attribute" that causes the issues--i.e core Storyteller system. Being a
apportioned point system (spend X points but only in the following pattern)
rather than a broad point system--here are X points spend however you
like--creates the problem.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

"Sidhain" <sidhain@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:%KUgc.609$eZ5.150@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>
> > The core concept of Captain America is that he is simply a
highly-trained
> > human -- someone like him *could* (but probably doesn't) exist in our
real
> > universe. What prevents him from existing in the Aberrant universe?
> >
> >
>
> Mostly the fact that humans can only reach a certian potential of
> attributes--Captian America is /on par/ with many superheroes, while
> Aberrant could mimic him he'd have to be a Nova to accuratly portray his
> capabilities (and spend his Nova points on default attributes and
> skills)--the system can do it, but its the "normal human are flubs in one
> attribute" that causes the issues--i.e core Storyteller system. Being a
> apportioned point system (spend X points but only in the following
pattern)
> rather than a broad point system--here are X points spend however you
> like--creates the problem.

Yes, I see what you mean. It's a while since I played Storyteller (Vampire)
and I had forgotten how the point allocation system worked.


--
David Meadows
"I might play rock for another year then do a mediaeval
album or something" -- Ritchie Blackmore, 1976
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 23:06:20 GMT, Sea Wasp <seawasp@wizvax.net> wrote:

>
> Am I just missing something, or am I correct in noticing that there
>appears to be a large "gap" in the potential types of Supers you can
>get from the novas -- specifically, gadgeteers like Iron Man and
>Weapon-oriented types like Captain America and the original Thor?

Since all Aberrants are essentially what other games would consider
mutants (or accidental scientific triggered mutants) not a huge
suprise.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 18:36:50 +0100, "David Meadows"
<david@no.spam.here.uk> wrote:

>"David Johnston" <rgormannospam@telusplanet.net> wrote in message
>news:408327a6.19699693@news.telusplanet.net...
>> On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 23:06:20 GMT, Sea Wasp <seawasp@wizvax.net> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > Am I just missing something, or am I correct in noticing that there
>> >appears to be a large "gap" in the potential types of Supers you can
>> >get from the novas -- specifically, gadgeteers like Iron Man and
>> >Weapon-oriented types like Captain America and the original Thor?
>>
>> There are no people like Captain America or Thor in the Aberrant
>> universe.
>
>The core concept of Captain America is that he is simply a highly-trained
>human -- someone like him *could* (but probably doesn't) exist in our real
>universe. What prevents him from existing in the Aberrant universe?

The fact that in practice, he's superhuman even if his concept doesn't
make him one. You _can_ get close analogs of someone like him (minus
shield) using Mega-Attributes though.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 19:27:25 +0100, "David Meadows"
<david@no.spam.here.uk> wrote:

>"Sidhain" <sidhain@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>news:%KUgc.609$eZ5.150@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>>
>> > The core concept of Captain America is that he is simply a
>highly-trained
>> > human -- someone like him *could* (but probably doesn't) exist in our
>real
>> > universe. What prevents him from existing in the Aberrant universe?
>> >
>> >
>>
>> Mostly the fact that humans can only reach a certian potential of
>> attributes--Captian America is /on par/ with many superheroes, while
>> Aberrant could mimic him he'd have to be a Nova to accuratly portray his
>> capabilities (and spend his Nova points on default attributes and
>> skills)--the system can do it, but its the "normal human are flubs in one
>> attribute" that causes the issues--i.e core Storyteller system. Being a
>> apportioned point system (spend X points but only in the following
>pattern)
>> rather than a broad point system--here are X points spend however you
>> like--creates the problem.
>
>Yes, I see what you mean. It's a while since I played Storyteller (Vampire)
>and I had forgotten how the point allocation system worked.

Though it's not really that bad; if you put the "bad" (i.e. average)
attributes in the mental set, and then buy up a couple of them with
Bonus Points it shouldn't look off; while Cap isn't stupid, he's never
come across as generally brilliant.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

In article <hgUgc.34497$Y%6.4460274@wards.force9.net>,
David Meadows <david@no.spam.here.uk> wrote:
>The core concept of Captain America is that he is simply a highly-trained
>human -- someone like him *could* (but probably doesn't) exist in our real
>universe. What prevents him from existing in the Aberrant universe?

Nothing. He's just on a lower power scale. In fact, he's really a
Daredevil with some Super Science in the form of his shield (an expenditure
of Background points). He'd be better built in Adventure rules then frozen
in a block of ice for a few decades. Maybe give him a couple nova points to
spend after revival (like, say, buying the ability to survive being frozen in
ice).

Dave Van Domelen, raised the Iron Man issue during Aberrant playtest
too, as did a lot of people. It's a Setting Thing.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 18:36:50 +0100, "David Meadows"
<david@no.spam.here.uk> wrote:

>"David Johnston" <rgormannospam@telusplanet.net> wrote in message
>news:408327a6.19699693@news.telusplanet.net...
>> On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 23:06:20 GMT, Sea Wasp <seawasp@wizvax.net> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > Am I just missing something, or am I correct in noticing that there
>> >appears to be a large "gap" in the potential types of Supers you can
>> >get from the novas -- specifically, gadgeteers like Iron Man and
>> >Weapon-oriented types like Captain America and the original Thor?
>>
>> There are no people like Captain America or Thor in the Aberrant
>> universe.
>
>The core concept of Captain America is that he is simply a highly-trained
>human -- someone like him *could* (but probably doesn't) exist in our real
>universe. What prevents him from existing in the Aberrant universe?

The shield.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Sidhain wrote:
>>The core concept of Captain America is that he is simply a highly-trained
>>human -- someone like him *could* (but probably doesn't) exist in our real
>>universe. What prevents him from existing in the Aberrant universe?
>>
>>
>
>
> Mostly the fact that humans can only reach a certian potential of
> attributes--Captian America is /on par/ with many superheroes, while
> Aberrant could mimic him he'd have to be a Nova to accuratly portray his
> capabilities (and spend his Nova points on default attributes and
> skills)--the system can do it, but its the "normal human are flubs in one
> attribute" that causes the issues--i.e core Storyteller system. Being a
> apportioned point system (spend X points but only in the following pattern)
> rather than a broad point system--here are X points spend however you
> like--creates the problem.

AND the fact that his origin and shield aren't really in the
picture pretty much completes the impossibility. Cap may not BE his
Shield, but it IS one of the things that defines him.



--
Sea Wasp
/^\
;;;
Live Journal: http://www.livejournal.com/users/seawasp/
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

"David Meadows" <david@no.spam.here.uk> abagooba zoink larblortch
news:hgUgc.34497$Y%6.4460274@wards.force9.net:

> "David Johnston" <rgormannospam@telusplanet.net> wrote in message
> news:408327a6.19699693@news.telusplanet.net...
>> On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 23:06:20 GMT, Sea Wasp <seawasp@wizvax.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > Am I just missing something, or am I correct in noticing that there
>> >appears to be a large "gap" in the potential types of Supers you can
>> >get from the novas -- specifically, gadgeteers like Iron Man and
>> >Weapon-oriented types like Captain America and the original Thor?
>>
>> There are no people like Captain America or Thor in the Aberrant
>> universe.
>
> The core concept of Captain America is that he is simply a
> highly-trained human

The core concept is that Captain America is a highly-trained "Nova"-like
character, given that he is one of the very few recipients of the "Super
Soldier Serum".
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Bryan J. Maloney wrote:

>
> The core concept is that Captain America is a highly-trained "Nova"-like
> character, given that he is one of the very few recipients of the "Super
> Soldier Serum".

At times the serum as been described as merely transforming his body
to the peak of human ability.

At other times authors conveniently forgot or ignore that.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Wayne Shaw <shaw@caprica.com> abagooba zoink larblortch
news:b0df792ffd092b65b3369473c3e2c29a@news.nntpserver.com:

> On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 18:36:50 +0100, "David Meadows"
> <david@no.spam.here.uk> wrote:
>
>>"David Johnston" <rgormannospam@telusplanet.net> wrote in message
>>news:408327a6.19699693@news.telusplanet.net...
>>> On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 23:06:20 GMT, Sea Wasp <seawasp@wizvax.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> >
>>> > Am I just missing something, or am I correct in noticing that
>>> > there
>>> >appears to be a large "gap" in the potential types of Supers you
>>> >can get from the novas -- specifically, gadgeteers like Iron Man
>>> >and Weapon-oriented types like Captain America and the original
>>> >Thor?
>>>
>>> There are no people like Captain America or Thor in the Aberrant
>>> universe.
>>
>>The core concept of Captain America is that he is simply a
>>highly-trained human -- someone like him *could* (but probably
>>doesn't) exist in our real universe. What prevents him from existing
>>in the Aberrant universe?
>
> The fact that in practice, he's superhuman even if his concept doesn't
> make him one. You _can_ get close analogs of someone like him (minus
> shield) using Mega-Attributes though.
>

And he got the Mega-Attributes from the Super Soldier Serum. Captain
America is not another Batman. He is super-powered, just not highly
super-powered.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Wayne Shaw <shaw@caprica.com> abagooba zoink larblortch
news:53ac0a0d267f458e2db632130a7deec3@news.nntpserver.com:

> On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 23:06:20 GMT, Sea Wasp <seawasp@wizvax.net> wrote:
>
>>
>> Am I just missing something, or am I correct in noticing that there
>>appears to be a large "gap" in the potential types of Supers you can
>>get from the novas -- specifically, gadgeteers like Iron Man and
>>Weapon-oriented types like Captain America and the original Thor?
>
> Since all Aberrants are essentially what other games would consider
> mutants (or accidental scientific triggered mutants) not a huge
> suprise.
>

Captain America: Triggered by Super Soldier Serum.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Bryan J. Maloney wrote:
> Wayne Shaw <shaw@caprica.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 23:06:20 GMT, Sea Wasp <seawasp@wizvax.net> wrote:

>>> Am I just missing something, or am I correct in noticing that there
>>>appears to be a large "gap" in the potential types of Supers you can
>>>get from the novas -- specifically, gadgeteers like Iron Man and
>>>Weapon-oriented types like Captain America and the original Thor?
>>
>> Since all Aberrants are essentially what other games would consider
>> mutants (or accidental scientific triggered mutants) not a huge
>> suprise.
>
> Captain America: Triggered by Super Soldier Serum.

And note that this fits with at least some of the official explanations of
the Marvel Universe: some humans were given the potential for
super-abilities by the Celestials, and that potential gets activated in
different ways. Those who wind up having it activated before birth and are
born with or grow into their powers are "mutants"; but there are others who
don't wind up having it activated until later on in life, such as
Spider-Man ... or Captain America. The reason why the "super soldier
serum" never enabled the mass-production of super-soldiers in the Marvel
Universe is that it only works on those who already have the potential.

Of course, this being comics and stretching over 40-odd years, Marvel has at
times contradicted this, and since it's an afterthought explanation in any
case, it sometimes doesn't fit things well. But it is one of the
"official" explanations that Marvel has offered at various points.

--
ZZzz |\ _,,,---,,_ Travis S. Casey <efindel@earthlink.net>
/,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ No one agrees with me. Not even me.
|,4- ) )-,_..;\ ( `'-'
'---''(_/--' `-'\_)
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Sorcier <sNoErMcOier@cavtel.net> abagooba zoink larblortch
news:ls2hc.105$HQ4.87766@news.uswest.net:

> Bryan J. Maloney wrote:
>
>>
>> The core concept is that Captain America is a highly-trained
>> "Nova"-like character, given that he is one of the very few
>> recipients of the "Super Soldier Serum".
>
> At times the serum as been described as merely transforming his body
> to the peak of human ability.
>
> At other times authors conveniently forgot or ignore that.
>

So, obviously, Cap can be written one of those authors. Thus, Cap can fit
the setting.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 13:00:35 GMT, "Bryan J. Maloney"
<cavaggione@sbcglobal.not> wrote:

>> At times the serum as been described as merely transforming his body
>> to the peak of human ability.
>>
>> At other times authors conveniently forgot or ignore that.
>>
>
>So, obviously, Cap can be written one of those authors. Thus, Cap can fit
>the setting.

Except for his shield.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 01:22:25 -0400, Sorcier <sNoErMcOier@cavtel.net>
wrote:

>Bryan J. Maloney wrote:
>
>>
>> The core concept is that Captain America is a highly-trained "Nova"-like
>> character, given that he is one of the very few recipients of the "Super
>> Soldier Serum".
>
>At times the serum as been described as merely transforming his body
>to the peak of human ability.
>
>At other times authors conveniently forgot or ignore that.

And more to the point, the definition of "the peak of human ability"
is a moving target in the Marvel Universe.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 03:29:41 GMT, "Bryan J. Maloney"
<cavaggione@sbcglobal.not> wrote:

>Wayne Shaw <shaw@caprica.com> abagooba zoink larblortch
>news:53ac0a0d267f458e2db632130a7deec3@news.nntpserver.com:
>
>> On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 23:06:20 GMT, Sea Wasp <seawasp@wizvax.net> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Am I just missing something, or am I correct in noticing that there
>>>appears to be a large "gap" in the potential types of Supers you can
>>>get from the novas -- specifically, gadgeteers like Iron Man and
>>>Weapon-oriented types like Captain America and the original Thor?
>>
>> Since all Aberrants are essentially what other games would consider
>> mutants (or accidental scientific triggered mutants) not a huge
>> suprise.
>>
>
>Captain America: Triggered by Super Soldier Serum.

Still only works if you buy he was only able to get the benefit
because he's a nova. Doesn't work for everyone. And the shield is a
problem.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

Wayne Shaw wrote:
>>> The core concept is that Captain America is a highly-trained "Nova"-like
>>> character, given that he is one of the very few recipients of the "Super
>>> Soldier Serum".
>>
>> At times the serum as been described as merely transforming his body
>> to the peak of human ability.
>>
>> At other times authors conveniently forgot or ignore that.
>
> And more to the point, the definition of "the peak of human ability"
> is a moving target in the Marvel Universe.

As it is in this world, as well.
--
-=[ The BlakGard ]=-
"Somewhere there's danger;
somewhere there's injustice,
and somewhere else the tea is getting cold!"
 
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