Re: [HOE] New Mundane Background: Action Hero

[Theo McGuckin <tsm@jlab.org>]

> Hmm.  I don't know about this.  A simple tackle involves grappling and
> such, and is quite a bit different than a flying kick...but that's
> neither here nor there.  I think I see your intent. IMO, it just needs
> to be toned down a tad and clarified.  What about this:
> 
> "If the Action Hero does not have the "Martial Arts Training" edge or
> even the  "fightin': marshal arts" aptitude, he can learn a few
> manuevers as if he did.  He gets a number of them equal to half of his
> "fightin': brawlin'" aptitude, rounded down. Whenever one of these
> manuevers references the Action Hero's "fightin': martial arts",
> substitute his "fightin': brawling".  Note that all damage inflicted
> using manuevers in this way is considered brawling (and not lethal)
> damage."

Well I gave him full skill level in manuevers because, after thinking
about it the MB needed a little more boost. Especially for non-martial
artists. Don't get me wrong, I realize the "no movement penalties" is
really good, but in order to utilize it the character has to be charging
out there and basically throwing himself into the line of fire. Meanwhile
all his friends have (wisely) gone for cover and are much better
protected. Besides with the pinnacle rounding-down system a non-martial
artist Action Hero would get TWO manuevers to start tops. That seems kind
of chinsy. Definitely include the thing about only brawling damage. That's
a pure Fightin: Martial Arts thing.

P.S. You can't take fightin: martial arts without the Martial Arts
Training edge ;)


> I agree with Heroic, but instead of Level Headed, how about Insane
> Bravado (edge listed in the Deadlands Dispatch in the back of The
> Junkman Cometh), Quick Thinker (edge from Waste Warriors, pg. 84) and
> Brave.  Then instead of Curious, I'd say that Big Britches for
> impulsivity and "outta my way, I can do it!" factor fits the bill
> nicely.  This way, the point breakdown is:

I don't have JMC so I don't know what Insane Bravado does. Quick Thinker
makes you hard to surprise? I picked level-headed because it seems like in
the movies the action hero is always the one that doesn't flip out and
lose his cool. While everyone else is flipping out and spraying bullets
in the air he's the one that keeps his cool and maintains control. Of
course this DOES kind of go against the whole running around guns blazing
thing. So I could see the change. I don't know about Quick Thinker though,
not being surprised easily doesn't seem to fit. Maybe some other edge... I
also didn't want to give out a long laundry list of edges and hinderance
because then it seems like I'm/we're telling someone what type of
character to play. Plus it takes away some good ones to make them spend
points on/let them get points for :)

> How's that - what do you think?  Overall, it makes up a really nice
> background package.  I like this one, Theo!  Wanna home for it?

Sure. We should bang out the details and hopefully get some more
input/opinions for the list... hello?

Theo McGuckin - SysAdmin, JLab

   	Reason #173 to fear technology...

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