Saturday, February 25, 2012

Over on Sword and Board, where Dan has been doing tons of HiLo Heroes write-ups, Jeff Moore (the creator of HiLo Heroes) said,
"I thought you might be interested to know that between your works here and The Bane's work over at his blog I have been inspired to do a rewrite of Hi/Lo Heroes. If nothing else, I want to get an editable copy of the game on my hard drive. I only have the PDF because I am awful at keeping back ups. I plan to change as little as possible, but I was thinking of changing the opposed roll mechanic to a fixed difficulty model. It means eliminating dice rolling from the referee side of the game and making everything proactive on part of the player? I would love to hear your opinion on this. Also any other suggestions are welcome. Finally, I will make this version "Creative Commons" allowing anyone to develop further for the game"
First and foremost, I really love that Jeff  is considering releasing HiLo Heroes under the 'Creative Commons' license.

Now, let me preface my response to the idea of making rolls "a fixed difficulty model" with; I haven't gotten to thoroughly play-test the current HiLo Heroes rules set, but I'm not sure I would change it. I am familiar with other fixed difficulty models, I have played them in the past, and they work. I can also see where it makes a little more sense for a Supers style resolution mechanic. You want your Super character, well, super. With the current mechanic there is the chance, though remote, that lowly Norm could take down a Super with a series of 'lucky' rolls.  

I hope to here more about this change, hopefully on Jeff's site, about why and how this change might come about.

I am interested to see what Jeff comes up with, though I personally would prefer to see both mechanics presented if at all possible because, given the chance (see CC License comments above), I would use the mechanics for a Fantasy setting.

Best,
TB

Friday, January 27, 2012

Vampires of the Underworld

Watched Underworld: Awakening while I was on my business trip...



Identity - Vampire
Hero Name: Various
Civilian Name: Various
Professional Career: Various
Hobby Career: Various
Charge: Other Vampire(s) Sired

Note
Vampires have a natural sever allergy to UV (sun) light. Vampires exposed to sunlight take a +3 Damage (Fantastic) attack per minute of exposure.

Template
Build:  [X] Quick  [  ] Powerful
Mentality:  [X] Logical  [  ] Intuitive
Temperament:  [  ] Bold  [X] Cautious

Action Dice and Powers
Move Die:  [X] High (Q)  [  ] Low (P)  [  ] Weak
    Movement Powers: Blurring Flash +2
To Hit Die:  [  ] High (B) [X] Low (C)  [  ] Weak
    Targeting Powers: Keen Sight +1
Evade Die:  [X] High (C)  [  ] Low (B)  [  ] Weak
    Evasion Powers: Experience of the Ages +1
Damage Die:  [  ] High (P)  [X] Low (Q)  [  ] Weak [X] Heroic +1
    Mundane Attack Powers: Strength +1
    Fantastic Attack Powers: Feast of Blood +2
Block Mundane Die:  [X] High (L)  [  ] Low (I)  [  ] Weak
Block Fantastic Die:  [  ] High (I)  [X] Low (L)  [X] Weak
    Barrier Powers: Toughness +1

Stats
TL: 6
Life: 16
Training: Various 
Doubles: 0

Update

Home at last, home at last. Back from my travels and hope to really get cranking on this blog now...

TB

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

House Rules

I really like what Dan is doing on Sword and Board. It has renewed my interest in HiLo Heroes. Okay, maybe not my interest, because I have always been interested in it, but maybe my passion.

Anyway, I have been thinking of some character creation House Rules, un-play-tested of course, for character creation.
  • Degrading/Nullifying Powers - Instead of doing Life damage, they damage or nullify the opponent's power
  • Life increases by a +1 with each 'advancement'
  • Life can be purchased for 10 Doubles, out of combat
  • Individual Powers can be advanced to a maximum of +3
  • 'Add-on' Powers can be 'tagged' to Individual Powers, such as; Shadow Blast +3 (Heroic +1), designating a Heroic Shadow Blast for a total of +4, but can not exceed a total +5 modifier. (Still have to figure out the Doubles pricing for this.
  • All 'advancements' are out of combat
More to come when I have a chance....

TB

Monday, January 23, 2012

HiLo Monster: Goblins

Second post of the day, I'm on a roll! The Necromancer needed minions!

Goblins, I must confess, are my favorite monster. If I DM a game, expect to see some form of Goblin around at any level.

So, HiLo Goblins:



Archer

Notes 
Goblins are "Thugs" and as such have fewer Life, but can roll for Blocking
Goblins have two weaknesses, and compensate with an additional 'Power'.

Template
Build:  [X] Quick  [  ] Powerful
Mentality:  [  ] Logical  [X] Intuitive
Temperament:  [  ] Bold  [X] Cautious

Action Dice and Powers
Move Die:  [X] High (Q)  [  ] Low (P)  [  ] Weak
    Movement Powers:
To Hit Die:  [  ] High (B) [X] Low (C)  [X] Weak
    Targeting Powers: Hail of Arrows +1
Evade Die:  [X] High (C)  [  ] Low (B)  [  ] Weak
    Evasion Powers:
Damage Die (DO NOT add +1):  [  ] High (P)  [X] Low (Q)  [  ] Weak
    Mundane Attack Powers: Shortbow +1
    Fantastic Attack Powers:
Block Mundane Die:  [  ] High (L)  [X] Low (I)  [X] Weak
Block Fantastic Die:  [X] High (I)  [  ] Low (L)  [  ] Weak
    Barrier Powers: Leather Armor +1

Stats
TL: 0
Life: 3
Training: Stealthy Bugger (Evade +1)
Doubles: 0
----------------------------------------------------------


Shaman

Notes 
Goblins are "Thugs" and as such have fewer Life, but can roll for Blocking
Goblins have two weaknesses, and compensate with an additional 'Power'.

Template
Build:  [X] Quick  [  ] Powerful
Mentality:  [  ] Logical  [X] Intuitive
Temperament:  [  ] Bold  [X] Cautious

Action Dice and Powers
Move Die:  [X] High (Q)  [  ] Low (P)  [  ] Weak
    Movement Powers: Quick as a Whip! +1
To Hit Die:  [  ] High (B) [X] Low (C)  [X] Weak
    Targeting Powers:
Evade Die:  [X] High (C)  [  ] Low (B)  [  ] Weak
    Evasion Powers: Lost in the Crowd +1
Damage Die (DO NOT add +1):  [  ] High (P)  [X] Low (Q)  [  ] Weak
    Mundane Attack Powers:
    Fantastic Attack Powers: Mischievous Deeds +1
Block Mundane Die:  [  ] High (L)  [X] Low (I)  [X] Weak
Block Fantastic Die:  [X] High (I)  [  ] Low (L)  [  ] Weak
    Barrier Powers: Protected by Choas +1

Stats
TL: 1
Life: 4 
Training: Sizin' 'em Up (To Hit +1) 
Doubles: 0 (30 Doubles spent on 4th Power, 3rd Power free for second weakness)
----------------------------------------------------------

Blade

Notes 
Goblins are "Thugs" and as such have fewer Life, but can roll for Blocking
Goblins have two weaknesses, and compensate with an additional 'Power'.

Template
Build:  [X] Quick  [  ] Powerful
Mentality:  [  ] Logical  [X] Intuitive
Temperament:  [  ] Bold  [X] Cautious

Action Dice and Powers
Move Die:  [X] High (Q)  [  ] Low (P)  [  ] Weak
    Movement Powers:
To Hit Die:  [  ] High (B) [X] Low (C)  [X] Weak
    Targeting Powers: Attack in Numbers +1
Evade Die:  [X] High (C)  [  ] Low (B)  [  ] Weak
    Evasion Powers:
Damage Die (DO NOT add +1):  [  ] High (P)  [X] Low (Q)  [  ] Weak
    Mundane Attack Powers: Jagged Blade +1
    Fantastic Attack Powers:
Block Mundane Die:  [  ] High (L)  [X] Low (I)  [X] Weak
Block Fantastic Die:  [X] High (I)  [  ] Low (L)  [  ] Weak
    Barrier Powers: Leather Armor and Shield +2

Stats
TL: 1
Life: 4
Training: Stealthy Bugger (Evade +1)

Doubles: 0 (30 Doubles spent on 4th Power, 3rd Power free for second weakness)
----------------------------------------------------------

Assassin

Notes 
Goblins are "Thugs" and as such have fewer Life, but can roll for Blocking
Goblins have two weaknesses, and compensate with an additional 'Power'.
Goblin Assassin continually lick their blades making them quite deadly (equivalent to a +2)

Template
Build:  [X] Quick  [  ] Powerful
Mentality:  [  ] Logical  [X] Intuitive
Temperament:  [  ] Bold  [X] Cautious

Action Dice and Powers
Move Die:  [X] High (Q)  [  ] Low (P)  [  ] Weak
    Movement Powers: Quick as a Whip! +1
To Hit Die:  [  ] High (B) [X] Low (C)  [X] Weak
    Targeting Powers:
Evade Die:  [X] High (C)  [  ] Low (B)  [  ] Weak
    Evasion Powers: From the Shadows +1

Damage Die (DO NOT add +1):  [  ] High (P)  [X] Low (Q)  [  ] Weak
    Mundane Attack Powers: Poisoned Blade +1 (Reduce Opponent's Evade -1 on a Hit)
    Fantastic Attack Powers:
Block Mundane Die:  [  ] High (L)  [X] Low (I)  [X] Weak
Block Fantastic Die:  [X] High (I)  [  ] Low (L)  [  ] Weak
    Barrier Powers: Leather Armor +1

Stats
TL: 1
Life: 4
Training: Stealthy Bugger (Evade +1)

Doubles: 0 (30 Doubles spent on 4th Power, 3rd Power free for second weakness)

HiLo Villian: Necromancer

Dan, of Sword and Board, has renewed my interest into HiLo Heroes, written by Jeff Moore. To be honest, I never lost interest in it. I just have no one to play a Supers game with, and I am not all that big of a fan of the Super's Genre. But I intend to press on, focusing on how to incorporate it into more of a Fantasy or Punk setting.

So, without further ado: PANDORA (Necromancer)
--------------------------------------------------------------


Identity
Hero Name: Pandora 
Civilian Name: Vineal Gith
Professional Career: Taxidermist
Hobby Career: Madam
Charge: Daughters Corpse

Notes
Vineal Gith was a small town Taxidermist, making trophies of Adventurer's kills, until the death of her only child. Now she seeks out a way to revive her. How, she does not care.

Template
Build:  [X] Quick  [  ] Powerful
Mentality:  [X] Logical  [  ] Intuitive
Temperament:  [X] Bold  [  ] Cautious

Action Dice and Powers
Move Die:  [X] High (Q)  [  ] Low (P)
    Movement Powers: Weakness - Walk of the Dead
To Hit Die:  [X] High (B) [  ] Low (C)
    Targeting Powers:
Evade Die:  [  ] High (C)  [X] Low (B)
    Evasion Powers: Martial Dodge +2
Damage Die (add +1):  [  ] High (P)  [X] Low (Q)
    Mundane Attack Powers: Poisoned Blade +1
    Fantastic Attack Powers: Life Drain +1 
Block Mundane Die:  [X] High (L)  [  ] Low (I)
Block Fantastic Die:  [  ] High (I)  [X] Low (L)
    Barrier Powers: Invulnerable +1, Leather Armor +1

Stats
Life: 12 
Training: Undead Minion (Phantasmal Force), Damage +1, Mundane 
Training Level: 4
Doubles: 0 (60 spent: 4 Powers, 2 Life)


--------------------------------------------------------------

Doubles really should be (30+40+50+20 for Powers, or three additional Powers with one increased to a +2, +20 Life = 160 Doubles!). I don't like the exponential increase in cost for them at moment, for Powers. Granted it is easier to increase an already existing Power, but I will have to ruminate on this a bit. Just how long would it take to roll 160 doubles?! Play-testing required!

Thoughts?

TB

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

I Am Back... I Think...

Ok, been some time... actually a really long time since I have posted. I won't go into a long drawn out explanation here, but suffice it to say, real life can be a bitch.

I hope to be furthering my HiLo blogging within a few days and have some ideas I will be releasing on one shot encounters that should be able to be dropped into any HiLo campaign as well as a "mini-module" for HiLo Fantasy that I want to put together for a play test with my kids and their friends.

Best,
TB