hawkfu Posted March 24, 2015 Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 I got some great help with death traps from here recently, and I wanted to throw out another idea to see what kind of feedback people might have. The general idea is that there is an underworld court and a judge who sends out his bailiff's to capture superheroes. They are dragged before the court and made to answer for their "crimes" against super villains. My idea is that there is this black book of criminal laws...and the heroes are forced to try and defend themselves in court. I need to figure out the charges, of course... Anyway, they would get sentenced and punished in some way that allows them to fight back and of course win the day ultimately. Maybe some kind of Running Man style gauntlet..I don't know yet. Anyway, that's the idea. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Have a great day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywind Posted March 24, 2015 Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfu Posted March 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 Hey! That's right! Completely forgot about that scene. I'll have to watch that movie again. Thanks for pointing that out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted March 24, 2015 Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 I'm reminded of the scene in the movie M. There was also a Miami Vice episode obviously inspired by M. Lucius Alexander And the verdict is - Innocent! Feed them to the palindromedaries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freakboy6117 Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Batman the animated series also had an episode where batman is put on trail by the inmates in arkham with the Joker as judge . season two episode ten "the Trial" if your interested . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wcw43921 Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Hey! That's right! Completely forgot about that scene. I'll have to watch that movie again. Thanks for pointing that out I'm afraid I don't recognize the movie. Could someone clue me in, please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 The Dark Knight Rises. The Rt. Hon. Dr Crane presiding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba smith Posted March 28, 2015 Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 if Dr crane AKA the scarecrow is "right honorable" about ANYTHING then I;m the goddammed batman [batman 66 maybe] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted March 28, 2015 Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 Sarcasm, Bubba. Sarcasm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba smith Posted March 28, 2015 Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 I should HOPE it's sarcasm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JmOz Posted March 28, 2015 Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 The crimes should be twisted versions of real crimes: Assault on the good honest criminals of city Prevention of being able to earn a living Things like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wcw43921 Posted March 28, 2015 Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 The Dark Knight Rises. The Rt. Hon. Dr Crane presiding. Thank You, Marcus. The crimes should be twisted versions of real crimes: Assault on the good honest criminals of city Prevention of being able to earn a living Things like that The classic scenario for that one is the hero accidentally causes the death of someone close to the villain, who then has the hero brought to "trial" for murder. I remember a Golden Age Batman story where a gang of robbers, all brothers, died one by one as a result of being chased by Batman. (For example, one of them was being pursued at a carnival and in trying to get away stumbled into the back of a shooting gallery, where he was shot by the patrons.) The leader of the gang blamed Batman for all the deaths, and after managing to capture him basically sentenced him to death right then and there. He took him into a specialized execution room, and forced Robin to choose between an electric chair, a gallows, a firing squad, and a couple of other methods which I don't remember. Another possibility is a villain with an anarchist/madcap bent puts the hero on trial for being the "ultimate conformist"--that by fighting crime and striking terror into people's hearts they encourage compliance and submission to authority, and in doing so impose conformity and suppress freedom and creativity. Or something like that. Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheQuestionMan Posted March 28, 2015 Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 Excessive Force Unlawful Confinement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nothere Posted March 29, 2015 Report Share Posted March 29, 2015 You are hearby charged with the following. One count of Upholding societies laws. One count assaulting a criminal in performance of his crimes. One count returning stolen property. And one count honesty. How do you plead? Guilty or guilty with criminal circumstance. After all interfering with a robbery to return the money is one thing. Interfering to keep the money yourself is another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clonus Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Here's one weird approach. The court could actually be set up not to be the kangaroo court you'd expect but instead to try both heroes and villains fairly for the violation of rules that don't exist in the conventional legal system. Offenses like "revealing another's secret identity to the public", "killing a disabled foe by means other than a deathtrap", "violating neutral ground". Comic book laws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted March 31, 2015 Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 Here's one weird approach. The court could actually be set up not to be the kangaroo court you'd expect but instead to try both heroes and villains fairly for the violation of rules that don't exist in the conventional legal system. Offenses like "revealing another's secret identity to the public", "killing a disabled foe by means other than a deathtrap", "violating neutral ground". Comic book laws. Now THAT is an idea I like. Call it the Comics Code Authority? Lucius Alexander The palindromedary says there'd even be construction codes requiring lairs and bases to have a ventilation system accessible by a ninja or someone with equivalent training..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted March 31, 2015 Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 I like Clones' idea. Crimes: Ignoring A Surendor, Excessive Brutally In Aperhention, Murder Of A Criminal In The Act Of Commission Of A Crime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 Note: A superhero stopping a crime is NOT a 'jailable' offense in the Underworld Court. It is simply a hazard of doing the job. What IS an offense is anything which is considered 'excessive', like the use of superpowers against someone without them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister E Posted April 3, 2015 Report Share Posted April 3, 2015 http://teamventure.org/vbwiki/Level_5_Weapons http://teamventure.org/vbwiki/Hate_Floats http://teamventure.org/vbwiki/The_Guild_of_Calamitous_Intent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted April 3, 2015 Report Share Posted April 3, 2015 Quintion Guard: Guilty or Inocent? Quontion Judge (turns to show the face of death): Inocent. Robotic Victim: Aha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfu Posted April 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Thanks, everybody - I appreciate all the responses and ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted April 9, 2015 Report Share Posted April 9, 2015 Your welcomed. Just remember to post us the results of your use of the Underworld Court. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
procyon Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Ok, I love clonus' idea. I have a group of mentalists in my game that have been in the background and not active or well defined. Yet. But having them 'apprehend' the PC's for supposed crimes against the super powered community - wow. "We aren't here to keep you from fighting, or even killing, each other. But you will have to do it the right way." So cool... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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