Cassandra Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? Golden Age and Sinanju have brought up innocents, which makes me think of another thing a Superhero Universe needs. An Infrastructure. The world must have accepted the existence of superpowered people. This doesn't mean approval. A campaign can get along very well if your heroes are the first, or there are only a few. But regardless of numbers or how popular superhumans should be considered real. The reaction to them in society would depend on the actions of those with powers. If they are like Superman, Wonder Woman, or Captain Marvel, those true blue heroes who save innocent lives, then society will more quickly come to accept them. On the other hand, those who use their powers to main or kill, like the Watchmen, then society would reject them. Acceptance means superheroes become like celebrities. Songs are written about them, movies tell their "true" life stories, there are TMZ ("The Hero Zone?") like shows following their exploits. Hostility means harsh criminal sentences for being a superhero, possibly even psychological commitment. So who would you rather be, the Justice League, or the Watchmen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clonus Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? A big cheese sorcerer, (Doctor Strange, Doctor Fate) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? A powerful political/business leader who in fact is an evil mastermind despite his good reputation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywind Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? A big cheese sorcerer' date=' (Doctor Strange, Doctor Fate)[/quote'] Dr. Strangefate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenAge Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? A powerful political/business leader who in fact is an evil mastermind despite his good reputation. Meet Edward Draxton of Draxton International - AKA Crime Boss! (See write-up of Crime Boss upthread here) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? Superhero Teams There should be groups of superheroes, each with a different style/objective/tactics. Some would be a mix of members with various powers and abilities (Justice League/Avengers), while others would have a common power source/origin (X-Men being Mutants, and Teen Titans being Sidekicks). Teams in comic books -- at least the successful ones -- all seem to have a common theme which makes each team distinctive. You have the surrogate family (Fantastic Four), the misunderstood/ outcast heroes (X-Men, Doom Patrol), the heirs to the previous generation (Infinity Inc.), the new kids on the block (New Warriors), and so on. Most settings also include a team like the Avengers or the Justice League, an "all-star" elite group who together make up the world's greatest heroes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? I'd also just like to point out that most of what's been brought up on this thread as great super setting elements, are present in the official Champions Universe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DusterBoy Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? Internal consistency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psyber624 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? Not sure exactly how to state this, but "The ability to adapt to lasting changes." Nothing bugs me more in tv/comics/movies etc when one episode something is destroyed, built, remodeled and the next issue/episode its back to the old way. Also, if you have a huge fight that destroys half of downtown, it shouldn't be back up and running the next day. These sorts of wounds take time to heal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DusterBoy Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? Yeah, exactly. And I'd like to see evidence that elemental powers, such as fire, actually effect the environment in a realistic manner. Ferex, how many times have we seen the Human Torch fly close to flammables and not set them on fire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywind Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? Maybe that's just power control on the Torch's part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kahuna's bro Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? Maybe that's just power control on the Torch's part. or its INTENDED to be power control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? Psyber624 had a great point. Marvel is better at that kind of Continuity the DC. With DC is was purely episodic, while Marvel had an entire universe effected by actions taken in other titles. But DC had a more friendly and stable environment for superheroes. So we're looking for A Silver Age DC World With Marvel Continuity and a Touch a Realism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psyber624 Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? I vaguely remembered one TV show (I think it was The Tick, but I could be wrong) that got this right and always made me smile. In one of the early episodes a villain builds a laser and starts writing or drawing something on the moon. EVERY time we saw the moon after that you could still see the drawing/writing (including the squiggle at the end where the hero knocked the laser off target). Every time I saw that moon I smiled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywind Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? The Tick Chairface Chippendale tried writing his name on the moon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psyber624 Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? THanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? I loved American Maid, but mostly because I love black high heels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted November 30, 2012 Report Share Posted November 30, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? That reminds me, a great superhero setting should have a few (very few IMO) silly, basically harmless supervillains and superheroes, for occasional comic relief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kahuna's bro Posted November 30, 2012 Report Share Posted November 30, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? it shoild have a variety of power levels from superman/power girl levels to bustice sole power of, to put it tactfulyy limited invlnerabilty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted November 30, 2012 Report Share Posted November 30, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? I like the idea of Joxer class villains and heroes. They make good sidekicks. The master villain will have a "Smithers" to help his feel superior, and carry out high risk tasks. They could have some skills, though not combat oriented. New heroes, even if they're not teenagers, could cause the Superheroes a great deal of trouble having to save them all the time. Lois and Jimmy fall in to this category. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinanju Posted November 30, 2012 Report Share Posted November 30, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? I like the idea of Joxer class villains and heroes. They make good sidekicks. Whereas, I hate them with a white-hot passion. They're a contaminant, ruining any scene they're in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Main Man Posted December 1, 2012 Report Share Posted December 1, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? Pouches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen Archer Posted December 4, 2012 Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? Whatever I need to capture and enhance the mood I'm trying to create. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenAge Posted December 4, 2012 Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? Did anyone mention a cult? Ya gotta have a cult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Re: What elements should a great superhero setting contain? Superheroes Rules of Engagement 1. Protect the Innocent 2. Use Minimum force necessary 3. Cooperate with the Authorities Superheroes (Those with Powers) and Crime Fighters (Those without powers) who follow the rules of engagement will earn respect from the authorities and public support. Those who don't are vigilantes and will be hunted by superheroes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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