Jump to content

Heroes of Tomorrow (HoT) background and mods


Noir

Recommended Posts

gallery_185_72_150625.jpg

 

Hello all. I am back and looking to run a game using the "Batman Beyond" setting (nobody is playing Batman. Heh.) using slightly modified Adventure! and Aberrant rules. The PCs will be new, (most likely) young heroes coming together to try and make a difference in the dark, sunless streets of Gotham. Here are the basic character generation mods with more background info for those unfamiliar (or just rusty on the setting) to follow. It will be a slightly more dark/gritty than and cartoon aimed at kids was though.

 

 

 

Character Generation mods...

 

Keep in mind that characters are not actual "Novas" or "Inspired" as in Aberrant and Adventure! (respectively) Instead the PCs are pissed off/dedicated humans, splicers, metahumans, aliens, homo magi, amazons and so on.

 

 

Mods for ALL characters:

 

- ALL characters start with a dot in Computer for free.

 

 

Mods for "nova build" characters:

 

- 30 NPs

 

- Quantum and Node are still used to reflect power level and such. Taint is still used though at times handled a little differently.

 

- Eufiber is still possible with good reason/concept in the form of "Unstable molecules", "Dreamstuff" and so on.

 

- There is a fairly firm limit on no Mega-Atts past 1

 

- Q5 max at creation

 

- Players are strongly encouraged to flesh out characters and go for depth (skills, backgrounds) over simply lots of powers and M-Atts.

 

- Only the core book and the other officially published books are used. For example, nothing from the M-Att books is permitted (at this time at least).

 

 

 

Mods for "inspired build" characters:

 

- Standard creation (though skills like computer are available)

 

- The purchase of other archetype knacks are permitted (i.e. a Daredevil buying a Stalwart knack) as long as there is no double stacking (i.e. 2 different initiative knacks) and no powergaming (come on, we are all adults here)

 

- Players are strongly encouraged to flesh out characters and go for depth (skills, backgrounds) over simply lots of Knacks

 

- Super-Science Medical Experimentation options can be taken to reflect being a 'splicer'. In general, every two  obvious non-human options impose a +1 difficulty on all Social rolls, except those that are specifically intended to inspire fear or loathing. Dealing with other splicers, aliens and friends may not impose this penalty.

 

 

 

Background to follow!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gotham 2063...

 

The Batman had not been seen for over 30 years and faded away into obscurity as an urban myth for the new generations.

 

Bruce_Beyond_zpscb74d173.png

One of Batman's last know apperances, circa 2033

 

An odd thing happened with the disappearance of Batman, costumed super criminals began to disappear from the streets of Gotham as well. Some grew older, others retired, a few died and the rest seemed to  leave. It was almost as if the challenge of crime in Gotham was gone without the risk of Batman showing up to oppose them. Crime was not eradicated though, the face simply change. Super criminals were replaced by ruthless corporations and executives. Organized crime did not die either, the various gangs and syndicates simply learned to conceal and shield themselves better. Of course petty street gangs still ran the dark streets of Gotham, though the old guard yielded to a new generation...

 

Jokerz_zpse9f4bb52.png

 

...like the Jokerz...

 

 

Ts_zps618538ff.jpg

 

...and the T's.

 

 

The police have tried valiantly to keep Gotham a safe and just place under the direction of Commissioner Barbara Gordon, the daughter of the late Commissioner Jim Gordon.

 

Commissioner_Barbara_Gordon_in_Batman_Be

 

 

But as the art deco and art nouveau architecture of Old Gotham.....

 

BTAS-Gotham_City_zps0e507bc1.jpeg

 

 

...gave way to sleek, enormous towers, neon and elevated roadways of Neo-Gotham...

 

Future_Gotham_zps9e601563.jpg

 

...the city grew and population swelled. Slowly the lower levels saw less and less of a police presence and response as the well to do moved higher and higher up. Gotham became a place where the lower class was quite literally the lower class, inhabiting the lowest levels of the city where some streets were never even greeted by the sun again. Despite the growth of rebirth of Gotham, little had changed for the better.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Around the turn of the century several serious attempts were made to conquer the Earth by Darkseid and his forces from Apokolips (including a brainwashed Superman) several times, the Imperium (which brought about the formation of the Justice League), and the Thanagarians (among others).

,,

The end result of these invasions has been largely twofold...

,,

First, humanity now fully grasps that it is a part of a much greater galactic community. Earth has been rather isolationist though since the general populous has a somewhat negative opinion of aliens in general.

,,

And second, the governments and corporations of the world grabbed up as much of the alien technology as could and began to reverse engineering it.

,, ,,

Technology

,,

The reverse engineering of the various alien technology, largely led by Wayne Enterprises and LexCorp, resulted in an enormous tech boom.

,,

Things like anti-gravity technology become rather commonplace, the most often seen form of which is the AG car or truck. AG technology is so common that it is used in various forklifts and even arcade games. High schools even have AG Hockey teams, an AG variant of hockey played in a large, tube-shaped arenas that generate the AG field.

,,

AGHockey01_zps455384f4.jpgAGHockey02_zps0340d245.jpgAGHockey03_zps108f8a81.jpg

,,

AGHockey04_zps5ba98c5a.jpgAGHockey05_zps4404fc8a.jpg

,, ,,

Things like neural interfaces can be seen nearly daily, usually in the form of a 'halo', allowing the swift operation of complex machinery, such as GoLeMs.

,,

halo_zpsa74f8547.jpgGoLeM_zpsf3bfd7e2.jpg

A GoLeM operator using a 'halo' interface. A GoLeM (Galvanic Lifter Machine) in operation.

,, ,,

Energy weapons have largely replaced the projectile firing handgun. (Most stats are still roughly the same, but now they are just energy weapons)

,, ,,

Cybernetics and have advanced greatly though are highly restricted except in the case of a medical prosthetics (when a cloned replacement is not possible), and even then cybernetics are not legally allowed to exceed human norms.

,, ,,

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence have also seen significant progress. The most common robots are simple cleaning units (like the Rhumba's big brother) that roll or hover above the ground, vacuuming, spraying a cleaning solution, mopping, pushing chairs back in place. Automation is manufacturing is now even more commonplace as well.

,,

CleaningRobot_zps70cf7954.jpg

A typical vacuum & mopping robot (roughly 2 feet long)

,, ,,

Humanoid (in shape, not appearance) androids are used in training simulations and other purposes as well. Androids are strictly regulated. Synthoids (androids made to look and behave human) are illegal.

,,

Z82_zps47e0dd16.jpgZ8_zps1e3c4de5.jpg

,, ,,

Artificial Intelligence exists in varying levels. The news in Gotham is delivered by an AI anchorman and anchorwoman. These limited AI's are programmed to be pleasing, somewhat cheerful and engaging.

,,

GNN_zps2050f90f.jpg

The GNN AI anchorman in a typical broadcast

,, ,,

Humanity has maintained several space stations in orbit around the Earth as well as other planets of the solar system along with several research stations and even colonies.

,, ,,

Transportation

,,

Most people who have personal transportation still use wheeled cars and motorcycles on Neo-Gotham's elevated roadways. Nicer cars and some large construction vehicles use limited AG, allowing them to hover a few feet off the ground resulting in a smoother ride, less wear and tear on the road.

,,

AG technology has also led to the creation of the "aerodyne" (a full AG flying car). Aerodynes for personal transport come in a variety of sizes and models (from economy to luxury), just like the cars they resemble.

,,

aerodyne01_zps984fda3f.jpgGCPDPatrolAerodyne_zps03b43e06.jpgGCPDPatrolAerodyneLanded_zps326c16ec.jpg

A mid-range aerodyne. Seats 4 GCPD Patrol Car aerodyne. Armed & Seats 2 GCPD Patrol Car aerodyne landed

,, ,,

Police even still use mostly wheeled cars with the occasional aerodyne or and LTA craft. The fire department and paramedics use aerodynes as well, which is a must in a city that is so vertical.

,,

GCPDCars_zpse0692f8e.jpg

GCPD cars and aerodyne bike (from the rear)

,,

High-speed Mag-Lev trains connect Gotham to both Metropolis and Blüdhaven with much limited service late at night.

,,

A city as vertical as Neo-Gotham certainly has a multitude of elevators, though most only carry 5-10 passengers and service a small number of levels (5-10 levels typically) forcing a pedestrian in most areas to take multiple elevators, escalators and/or even stairs if they wish to traverse a significant number of levels. To help compensate for this, elevators in some areas serve as major vertical thoroughfares for pedestrians (akin to a vertical bus route) servicing anywhere from dozens of levels to the entire vertical height of the city. In these areas the common elevator is replaced with one roughly the size of a bus or subway car, complete with seating, multiple monitors with a constant news feed and the occasional street performer, small vendor or GCPD officer.

,,

GCPDUniforms_zps810bc3ad.jpg.

The GCPD in various uniforms.

The white/black uniformed officers drive the patrol cars/aerodynes and respond to calls.

The gray/yellow uniformed officer walks a beat. Note the rain garb incorporated into the uniform.

,, ,,

More to come...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some slang of the period...

,,

SHWAY

Cool; awesome

"The new Batmobile is totally shway."



RIPS

Kicks ass

"Have you tried the new game? It rips!"

,,

SLAMMING

Kidding

"You gotta be slamming me."


BURN IT

,,

Step on the gas; Hurry up

,,

"Batman is on our tail. Burn it!"

,, ,,

SLAG

Wreck; destroy

"That was a bad accident. He totally slagged his new car."



SLAGIT

Damnit

"Slagit! Batman is after us."



DREG

Lowlife; deadbeat

"I have better things to do than hang around with a dreg like you."



TWIP

An annoying person; idiot; twerp; twit

"My little brother is such a twip."




CREDITS (or Creds)

Money stored on cards (Credcards)

"I'd go to the movie with you, but I don't have the credits."



FIZ

A popular beverage among underage kids/teens

"Wanna hang out and get a fiz?"



REM

Sleep

"I have been studying so hard that I am seriously rem deprived."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...