Rich McGee

Rule Zero is the main reason I hardly ever run a game anymore. I suggest something different to my friends, and they're not interested. They want same old same old, but I'm bored stiff with same old same old. We also disagree in genres. I'm not interested in superheroes; they don't like comedy or political intrigue. I'll happily play in a game they run, but they don't want to be the GM. So it all falls apart before anything ever starts.

Wish more people remembered that.  No wrong way to paint miniatures as long as you enjoy yourself doing it - which made doing commission work kind of a poor choice for me in the long run.

Isaac Arther devotes an episode to "Dumbest Alien Invasions," on why the standard excuses for heroic Earthlings battling nasty conquering aliens don't hold up to even cursory scrutiny. (I'm surprised that in the "Steal Our Water" segment he doesn't mention V. Ye gods, more than one writer thought this made sense?)
 
I enjoyed the running joke of how the rules of warfare are numbered.
 
(Incidentally, some earlier episodes explain Mr Arthur's voice. It's a speech impediment, not an accent. As he says once in onscreen text, if you've never heard of rhotacism  -- difficulty pronouncing the letter R -- it's because people who have it can't say it.)
 
 
Dean Shomshak

Mind Wrangler
Before there was Clint Eastwood style cowboys in film, heck, before there was John Wayne, there was the singing Cowboy. Now rarely mentioned save as the subject of much parody and what some might call satire. Well, had scrawny Peter Billington but know that the cowboy hat he was trying on was more than your standard bit of Texas habberdashery, he might have just left it plumb where it lay. Soon enough he was transforming left and right to a singing cowboy hero folks to calling 'the Mind Wrangler'. He likes to sing and serenade his foes with powerful warbling ballads causing them to dance along, or mayhaps take a little siesta. Course, he can't talk what northern city folk would call 'normal' like this. Even if he manages not to sing, which is not easy, he still has a sweet western tone known to make the cows happy and the ladies all aflutter. Most feared of his powers is up to debate, but folks sure do not take a cotton to his form of telepathy. See, he don't just read your thoughts, no, the power in that hat makes one sing out your secrets for all to hear! To be fair, something in it makes you better than you'd normally be at the singing, but still, not many a desperado like confesses in a falsetto fashion bout his nefarious plans, or how he's pretty sure his mistress is  flirting with his no account henchmen on the side. Poor Peter comes along for the ride on these adventures, and is having a harder and harder time not helping those in need. You see, it's a white cowboy hat, and sure is tender hearted.
 
(Next person can do another hat then pick a new concept for another hero team, or just pick another hero team and skip the hat)
 
 

With regard to comics locking out new young readers, I don't think it's really the complexity that's the issue most of the time.  It's the cost.  $4-5 per floppy is crazy, especially in an era where standalone stories are almost unheard of and storytelling decompression is forced on everything to fit in trades properly.  Combine that with endless crossover events that try to get you to buy large numbers of titles to get the whole story (and interrupt ongoing stories in individual books in the process) and comics are a terrible value for your entertainment dollar even adjusting for inflation.
 
There are many other issues with modern comics, especially from the Big Two, but at the end of the day they just plain cost too much to compete with the thousands of other entertainment options kids have these days.  And among those options are countless free webcomics, some of which (eg Silverback and its side stories, Magellan) are as good as anything being printed on paper these days.  They have a tendency to up and die or go on eternal hiatus without much warning (eg Strong Female Protagonist, Edison Rex, PS238) but regular comics get cancelled the same way too.

With regard to comics locking out new young readers, I don't think it's really the complexity that's the issue most of the time.  It's the cost.  $4-5 per floppy is crazy, especially in an era where standalone stories are almost unheard of and storytelling decompression is forced on everything to fit in trades properly.  Combine that with endless crossover events that try to get you to buy large numbers of titles to get the whole story (and interrupt ongoing stories in individual books in the process) and comics are a terrible value for your entertainment dollar even adjusting for inflation.
 
There are many other issues with modern comics, especially from the Big Two, but at the end of the day they just plain cost too much to compete with the thousands of other entertainment options kids have these days.  And among those options are countless free webcomics, some of which (eg Silverback and its side stories, Magellan) are as good as anything being printed on paper these days.  They have a tendency to up and die or go on eternal hiatus without much warning (eg Strong Female Protagonist, Edison Rex, PS238) but regular comics get cancelled the same way too.

With regard to comics locking out new young readers, I don't think it's really the complexity that's the issue most of the time.  It's the cost.  $4-5 per floppy is crazy, especially in an era where standalone stories are almost unheard of and storytelling decompression is forced on everything to fit in trades properly.  Combine that with endless crossover events that try to get you to buy large numbers of titles to get the whole story (and interrupt ongoing stories in individual books in the process) and comics are a terrible value for your entertainment dollar even adjusting for inflation.
 
There are many other issues with modern comics, especially from the Big Two, but at the end of the day they just plain cost too much to compete with the thousands of other entertainment options kids have these days.  And among those options are countless free webcomics, some of which (eg Silverback and its side stories, Magellan) are as good as anything being printed on paper these days.  They have a tendency to up and die or go on eternal hiatus without much warning (eg Strong Female Protagonist, Edison Rex, PS238) but regular comics get cancelled the same way too.

Mysterious origins can definitely be a good thing, but not putting down what makes a hero or villain tick is definitely not a good thing.

That rather reminds me of the "lickers" from the remake of the video game, Resident Evil 2.

Complaints, complaints.  The burning in your eyes and the throbbing headache will pass when you finish your entry.  It's supposed to be a challenge, and so it is. 
 
So here's my take on him:
 
Mangorilla's latest rampage had been going on for about ten minutes when the first superhero showed up on the scene.  The big ape-man had snatched a police car off the ground and was just starting to swing it down on the pair of officers who'd been crouched behind it when a streak of color flashed by.  A pair of red-gloved hands wrenched his improvised weapon loose in passing, setting it down gently as the super touched down a few yards away.  Staggering, the furious villain wheeled around...and stopped cold in surprise as he saw his opponent.
 
"Who the hell are you?" Mangorilla grunted, a sneer spreading across his bestial features.
 
"Hadn't really decided on that yet, but it didn't seem like the right time to worry about a supranym with lives in danger.  Let's just say I'm the guy who's going to put you back in jail."
 
"Ha!  Big talk, but I suppose you have to be pretty gutsy just to go out in public like that!"
 
"Seriously?  You're going with that?"
 
"Better get used to it until you get a better tailor.  What were you thinking with that costume?  I thought the Particolored Man was an eyesore, but you - I'll be doing you a favor beating you senseless before the news crews show up so you're not caught on camera like that."
 
The newcomer sighed as Mangorilla leapt forward, furry fists swinging - and then he stepped forward, delivered a single efficient uppercut and stepped aside as the unconscious brute collapsed in an untidy heap.
 
"Well, that could have gone worse." he thought as the police advanced warily.  "He should be out for a while, officers.  If you want I can deliver him somewhere?"
 
"Uh, no, we've got backup on the way with a containment truck and lifting equipment." the sergeant replied.  He looked askance at the unfamiliar super.  "You new at this?  I don't recognize you and that costume's...uh...pretty distinctive."
 
The hero sighed again.  "Yes, this is my first time in public.  Went through some MONITOR training when I realized I had powers, and they did a lot of testing before they figured out what I could do exactly."
 
"Well, MONITOR knows their stuff, but...did they talk to you about, y'know, PR and stuff?  That stuff's pretty important for you supers in the long run."
 
"This is about the costume, isn't it?"
 
The sergeant's partner desperately smothered a laugh.  "Well, you have to admit it's...pretty colorful.  Wait, is this one of those alien super-suit deals where you get your powers from it?  Like that schoolteacher back in the Seventies?  I didn't mean to..."
 
"No, it's not quite that simple.  But MONITOR told me not to talk about it too much, so..."
 
At that moment a news van squealed to a halt nearby, the cameraman leaping out with his rig already running.  As he swept the camera around the scene he froze as the most garishly-dressed super he'd ever seen came into his viewfinder.  And laughed.  A dark-haired reporter kicked his shin as she advanced, microphone in hand.  "Hello there. I'm Mary Morgan from TV12 news and I'd like an interview.  I'm afraid I don't recognize you, sir.  May I ask what your supranym is for the viewers at home?"
 
The hero restrained a sigh this time and looked down at his brilliantly-colored outfit, complete with that godawful belt buckle logo and the fake muscles.  Well, fine, he'd known this going to be a problem, so he might as well lean into it.  Besides, he'd always liked his dad's ZZ Top albums.
 
"Well, ma'am, you can just call me the Sharp-Dressed Man."
 
 
 
Mitch Salvatore discovered he had superpowers on Halloween night.  It was a complete accident.  His parents had never celebrated the holiday and he'd grown up without all the costumes and trick-or-treating and pumpkin-carving stuff.  But when a co-worker invited him to costume party on October 31st he'd thrown together a lame superhero costume using some gym shorts, a towel for a cape and a stupid lightning logo pinned to his chest just to fit in.  That turned out to be fortunate when a couple of muggers jumped him (and his date the Sexy Librarian) on the way to the party.  The first one broke three fingers when he punched Mitch in the nose (which remained very unbroken) and the second one broke his flip knife on that stupid paper logo like it was hardened steel.  Mitch was surprised but not dumb, and discovered he could pick two grown men up and knock their heads together without a struggle.  Also had to be careful about not cracking his girlfriend's ribs when he gave her a triumphant hug afterward.
 
It was much later that night he discovered his powers vanished when he was naked, but that's between him and the Sexy Librarian.  They also didn't seem to work when he showered and dressed the next day - until he tried pinning on his "cape" again, and then he was stronger than normal but not on par with last night, and he still nicked himself shaving.
 
Thoroughly confused, he called a 900 number for MONITOR's "superpower breakout" hotline, and within a few hours he was enrolled in their testing and training program while their experts tried to figure things out.  It wasn't long before they decided he had what they called a "psychosomatic power set" that was tied to some element of his subconscious and how it regarded his current wardrobe.  His impromptu Halloween costume had granted him "street level" hero abilities, but after some time (well, a lot - months worth) the scientists found he had a lot more potential than just that.  A whole lot more.  They eventually found that his subconscious preformed at absolute optimum when he was wearing...well, look at that image.  
 
It was almost enough to put him off the whole idea of hero work, but MONITOR could be pretty persistent with someone whose peak performance was up in the top 1% of known supers.  Mitch was eventually convinced to "do the right thing" as his trainers put it, and has begun making a name for himself as the Sharp-Dressed Man.  A silly name, and one connected to a ludicrous costume, but he's still doing good deeds and saving people from danger.
 
The Sharp-Dressed Man is a classic FISS and ranks well up in the top tier in terms of power level when he's in full costume, as well as having the ability to electrify himself at will, with voltages ranging from merely stunning to a full-on lightning bolt.  His outfit is as indestructible as he is, making disrobing him in combat fairly tricky even for those who understand his powers - which are still fairly few.  His extended testing period with MONITOR also led him to getting a lot of training time, so he's quite a bit more clued-in to how the supers community really works than most relative newbies.
 
That same testing period found that he can manifest weaker but still useful levels of power without the full costume.  A simple belt with that logo grants him about the same street-level strength and toughness as he originally manifested, as well as enough electrical generation to sting, mess up most electronics, jump-start a car or recharge his phone, although he can't fly.  Adding a domino mask almost doubles his durability and physical strength as well as speeding his reaction time, and accessorizing with red gloves (even less tacky ones) help even more.  No matter how "dressed" he is he can't seem to fly without the tights and boots, and he's not great at it unless in the full costume.
 
Perhaps not the most serious of concepts, but it's way better than getting random powers from a rotary phone dial many readers today will never have seen. 

Given that I didn't know the thread even existed prior to you doing so, I'm glad you did.

My father died on this date two years ago, following a very short but agonizing battle with lung cancer.  A small piece of history to most, but meaningful to me.

Mocker made his way through the wilderness of the Cascade Mountains.  He’d heard stories of a hairy mountain man raising hell in the area, and hoped it was Bull.  But a sudden snow storm
had hit and he was forced to go to ground.  Fortunately the cold weather didn’t bother him and so he continued to trudge through the snow.  
 
That was when he found the first body.  High tech gear, but not TRADE.  The nomenclature was unfamiliar to him so he continued on.  Later he found two more bodies.  Whoever had attacked them was swift and incredibly strong.  Bull?!
 
Over the next rise he saw a squad of the agents setting up an attack to what seemed a target hiding in a dense wooded area.  
 
“Let's see what pans out!” Mocker thought.  
 
As the agents started their atack, a giant of a man erupted from the snow to their right.  
 
“WT>>>>!  How?”  But it was too late, he was among them using his great strength to pound each successive agent unconscious.  Within a minute, it was over, the giant standing over seven trained agent types.  The giant started looting the bodies.  Mocker approved.  He stepped into view.
 
The giant looked up and his eyes widened “Mocker?”
 
“Bull?” Mocker quizzed!  “You’re a bit different.”
 
“Yeah, being stuck in a different world for two years changes you a bit.” Bull said.
 
“Two years? Bull!  It’s 2023, over twenty years!”  Mocker exclaimed!
 
“For me it was two.  Had to fight for my life daily until I escaped into the mountains.  There I learned to live off the land.  Eventually I got caught up in a BBEG plot to destroy the world, got zapped by his malfunctioning device and ended up back here.  But I can guess that you’re not here to catch up on old times!  You got plans?  If so I’m in.  I’m tired of living like a mountain man!”  Bull stated!
 
“Nice.  Now all we need is Marion….” At Bull’s growl, Mocker stopped.  “I take it you didn’t part on good terms?”
 
“No, we did not.  Getting even with her was one of the few things that kept me going all those years!” Bull yelled!
 
One of the agents groaned and began to get up.  Mocker screamed him back into unconsciousness.  “Who are these guys?”  
“No idea.  Snowstorm hit and next thing I know they are tracking me.  I had to do a lot of wood craft to lay false trails and ambushes.”  Bull stated matter of factly.
 
Mocker was at a loss for words.  The old Bull was never so devious.
 
“OH well, not my problem.  C’mon, I’ll introduce you to the new Crushers!” Mocker said!

The whole legal situation with Harmony Gold and the Battletech IP is a convoluted mess, especially when you move beyond the tabletop games and onto the more lucrative PC and console games.  It's a deep rabbit hole when you start really getting into it, with a lot of dubious claims from some very shady people.  FASA's founders are probably still regretting the decision to license art for Battledroids rather than pay for original work to this day, but that Warhammer sure did make for a striking cover.

Wish more people remembered that.  No wrong way to paint miniatures as long as you enjoy yourself doing it - which made doing commission work kind of a poor choice for me in the long run.

My father died on this date two years ago, following a very short but agonizing battle with lung cancer.  A small piece of history to most, but meaningful to me.

May his memories be a blessing, sir.

My father died on this date two years ago, following a very short but agonizing battle with lung cancer.  A small piece of history to most, but meaningful to me.

I cannot imagine writing these posts on a phone, let alone something as long as you often will share.

My father died on this date two years ago, following a very short but agonizing battle with lung cancer.  A small piece of history to most, but meaningful to me.

Winner, most awesome theme song.  Which is saying something, considering some of the operas out there. 

Framboise
Eleanor Harris used to doodle, heck, she used to draw. When she was a girl, she thought about becoming an artist. Her parents gave polite lip service to her skills then, but as she got into high school they figured it was time to bring her down to earth. Art would not sell. Choose something more sensible, more logical, that they'd always need. Maybe accounting like dad, or insurance like mom.
So Ellie put aside her dreams, and did the logical sensible thing. The cautious thing. Two years community college, then the most economical college she could find for her finishing bachelor while she did her job in a cubicle. Don't stick your neck out. Don't make waves. The tallest nail gets hammered first, after all.
It is all safe, practical, secure, and oh so bland. Then? Just last month, she did something she hadn't done in years. She gave into a whim. It was a raspberry beret, the kind you hear about in old 80s songs or imagine on some French girl touring Paris. The sort that looks artsy, and even borderline rebellious. She bought it.
And when she put it on, her world was changed forever. The beret gave her a whole new wardrobe, and more than that, the ability to create flowing artistic force constructs of raspberry hue! Now she finger paints forcewalls , she gestures art nouveau entangles, she makes bold strokes of energy blasts! She also finds herself faking a pretty good French accent as she gives into a new found artistic temperament where she supeheroes HER way. Or is it the hat's way? It's scary, it's exciting, and it's fun.
She's not sure she can stay at her boring cubicle for long.
 

Set up a base i the bit that gives me pause.
 
Beyond that, it is the old Instant Change power (now a cosmetic transform) with a focus (probably IIF).
 
Doc

Yeah, I think we've made this point, but it's worth repeating.  5E somewhat, and 6E *definitely*, is VERY hard to take in initially.  I was cross-checking the Mind Scan point above?  So I have the PDF open.  The Mind Scan text takes up 5 pages.  That counts the tables, but not the illustration.  In Champions Complete, it's about a page and a half.  Some of that is layout-related...the 6E book has excessive margins that cramp its text columns, for example.  Particularly the outer page edge, where the chapter number is located.  But that sheer Wall Of Text is intimidating, and makes finding some things very difficult.