Hunting Metas

[L.J.Steele]

This is for my Fate Core supers game. Just about a year ago in game-time, a large meteorite exploded over San Diego right around ComicCon. A handful of people started developing powers, which they think may be meteor-related. The first couple of adventures had been pretty low key; in the last session, some of the PCs went public to help some folks trapped by a fire so cat is out of the bag.

So I'm pondering a villain (highly trained norm) who's hunting metas. The basic idea is to set some bait (I was thinking a series of fires) with traps inside the structure to take down the responding heros (and perhaps accidentally endangering a few firefighters). I've learned from the radiation vampire adventure not to put the villain, even if ludicrously overpowered, on stage before the last act -- the PCs will spend all their resources to take the foe down on sight if he lacks a viable exit strategy.

Other than fires, what might a hunter do to bait heros and villians? Think first season Flash or Arrow for power levels. Tone is more Flash than Arrow.

[ericthered]

The meteorite hit comic-con? umm... wow. Talk about Meta.



suicide jumpers are a classic way for supers to show off their powers, but that depends on your PC's.



If they react so strongly to supervillians, staging a fake supervillain and using him as bait would work.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by L.J.Steele

Other than fires, what might a hunter do to bait heros and villians?

Depends a bit on what the metas have previously demonstrated an interest in. Alternately, it's probably fair to assume that metas are interested in other metas, so fake metas...

[RogerBW]

If people are running anything like traditional superheroes, then "innocents in danger" is the key concept. A mix of "accidents" like fires, bridge collapses, and so on, and criminal activity like hijackings and hostage situations (via patsies, but they might provide the beginnings of a trace to the villain) would seem best.

[Astromancer]

A second vote for "innocents in danger."

Try stealing action film plots, with the villain admitting he watched those films and want different endings. You wouldn't need a trap in every one, but paranoia should build fast.

[Anaraxes]

Originally Posted by ericthered

The meteorite hit comic-con? umm... wow. Talk about Meta.

Oddly enough, everyone that developed super abilities did so in accordance with the way they were dressed for cosplay at the con. Nobody dressed in mundane clothing has so far shown any meta abilities.