05-07-2012, 07:30 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Toronto, Canada
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differing power levels within a party: The Avengers
The Avengers, as portrayed in the current movie, are an example of a team with radically different power levels. The major leaguers (Thor, Iron Man, Hulk) are nearly invulnerable to the attacks of the minors (Hawkeye, Captain America, Black Widow). Yet they manage to work together and do useful things.
What's not so clear is how many plot strings the writers have to pull to make this happen. |
05-07-2012, 07:57 PM | #2 | |
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Lawrence, KS
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Re: differing power levels within a party: The Avengers
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But this looks like a job for drama points, as used in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer RPG with (in my experience) brilliant success. Bill Stoddard |
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05-07-2012, 08:02 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Berkeley, CA
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Re: differing power levels within a party: The Avengers
Quite a lot, though it helps that the characters have significantly different skill sets. Some sort of plot token system can help, though I'd be in seeing a system that tries to handle the "I'm good at X, and the adventure is all about Y" situation as well.
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05-08-2012, 12:38 AM | #4 | |
Computer Scientist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Dallas, Texas
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Re: differing power levels within a party: The Avengers
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05-08-2012, 12:50 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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Re: differing power levels within a party: The Avengers
Captain America is not in the same league as Black Widow or Hawkeye. He's super-strong (though not as strong as the other three), super-agile (hence his super-human shield-throwing skill), and super-tough (though not bullet proof). If you remember from his movie, he was chasing down cars on foot and punching through boxing bags.
Black Widow and Hawkeye are highly skilled humans. Captain America is a highly skilled human with the super-soldier serum running through his veins. It's debatable whether that puts him on the same footing as Thor, Iron Man or the Hulk, but it certainly puts him head and shoulders above our highly skilled humans.
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05-08-2012, 12:50 AM | #6 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon
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Re: differing power levels within a party: The Avengers
In any group, the evil tank could punch out any of the good not-tanks.
That's the point of any team really; boost up everyone else's faults with your strengths. The GM's task to create situations in which that's possible.
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Beware, poor communication skills. No offense intended. If offended, it just means that I failed my writing skill check. |
05-08-2012, 01:19 AM | #7 | |
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Lawrence, KS
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Re: differing power levels within a party: The Avengers
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Bill Stoddard |
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05-08-2012, 01:48 AM | #8 | |
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(If you have to ask . . .) Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Somewhere high up.
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Re: differing power levels within a party: The Avengers
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But, if you're going to have variable power levels within a party you are almost required to have niche protection. And you have to watch it, closely, until your party gets used to the idea. |
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05-08-2012, 02:52 AM | #9 | |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
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Re: differing power levels within a party: The Avengers
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I mean, they can get to the scene early (but alone), and can maybe do research and the like faster (depending), and they're sorta adequate in combat (but not as much as various Innate Attack blasters, including some tricky Maledictors). |
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05-08-2012, 03:06 AM | #10 | |
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Re: differing power levels within a party: The Avengers
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