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Post by stevemitchell on Sept 11, 2018 11:27:12 GMT -6
Hi Simon. I posted a review of Light Superheroes over at RPGNow. For some reason, it shows that the review was written by "Customer Name Withheld"; guess I did something wrong when I was entering the information. But it's a favorable review regardless of the author's byline.
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Post by simonw on Sept 11, 2018 12:21:26 GMT -6
Cool and thanks! I don't know what you did either. Did you have any trouble with the Superheroes Extended coupon?
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Post by stevemitchell on Sept 11, 2018 18:56:46 GMT -6
Hi Simon. I haven't received the coupon for Superheroes Extended yet. Not in my spam filter, either.
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Post by simonw on Sept 12, 2018 2:17:34 GMT -6
PM me your address and I'll send you a comp copy. Maybe your listed not to receive emails from RPGNOW?
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Post by simonw on Sept 12, 2018 8:59:34 GMT -6
Light Superheros - now in print on LULU link
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Post by stevemitchell on Sept 12, 2018 16:07:26 GMT -6
Hi Simon. I already went ahead and ordered Superheroes X. My financial empire is not going to crumble, and you can invest the "savings" in whatever you are working on next. I like all the things you added in Superheroes X! Especially Super-Leap, for the 1938-1941 Superman, and Water Adaptation, for the Sub-Mariner, the Shark, Namora the Sea Beauty, Aquaman, etc.
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Post by simonw on Sept 12, 2018 16:16:06 GMT -6
Tell you what, I'll send you a comp copy of Space Adventures X if you PM me your email. I appreciate your support and enjoyment of my rpgs!
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Post by stevemitchell on Sept 12, 2018 17:14:14 GMT -6
Er, I already bought Space Adventures X too. Don't worry, I am very satisfied with my expenditures. And on first glance, it looks like Space Adventures X should be broadly compatible with Superheroes X. Here come Cosmic Carson, Spacehawk, and Mysta of the Moon!
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Post by simonw on Sept 13, 2018 2:31:29 GMT -6
I aimed it to be more compatible with Swords & Wizardry, but yes, it shouldn't take much to mix it up with Superheros X.
Watch out for Pulp Tales X coming soon!
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Post by stevemitchell on Sept 21, 2018 12:15:40 GMT -6
I've been updating my Light Superheroes conversions to the Superheroes X rules (not really too much to change), and have now added a Fighter to my roster:
*****
Superhero Name: The Purple Tigress Character Name: Ann Morgan (called Ann in her first appearance, then Anita later, so take your pick) Origin: Highly Trained Class: Fighter Adventures: 0 Level: 1
STR: 12 INT: 13 (speaks English and French) WIS: 12 CON: 14 DEX: 18 CHA: 13
Basic Hit Bonus: +1 Armor Class: 13 Saving Throw: 14 Hit Die: 1d8 Hit Points: 9 Movement Rate: 12
Superpowers: Super Dexterity, Super Senses
Equipment: None Advantages: None Disadvantages: None
The beautiful and wealthy socialite Ann Morgan is also secretly the enigmatic crime fighter known as the Purple Tigress. Ann’s entourage of suitors are equally smitten with the Purple Tigress, but neither they nor anyone else ever seem to notice that Ann and the Purple Tigress are the same person. How this is possible, considering that her costume has no mask, is a real mystery!
(The Purple Tigress was created and published by Fox Comics.)
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Post by stevemitchell on Sept 21, 2018 12:24:37 GMT -6
And--I just received my print copy of Light Superheroes from Lulu today. VERY nice print job on this--looks sharp and classy. I hope you will be doing print copies for Superheroes X, Terror Tales X, and Space Adventures X as well.
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Post by stevemitchell on Sept 21, 2018 16:48:06 GMT -6
Okay, I just checked Lulu, and it looks like all your recent Light-X titles are in print now, except for Wild West Light.
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Post by simonw on Sept 22, 2018 0:23:34 GMT -6
I've been updating my Light Superheroes conversions to the Superheroes X rules (not really too much to change), and have now added a Fighter to my roster: Hi mate, just wondered whether you'd mind me using the characters you've written up in a "Golden Age Hero Roster" for Superheroes X! thast I will work on at some point when I've finished work on "Screaming Seas X! (pirates)?
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Post by stevemitchell on Sept 22, 2018 11:43:39 GMT -6
Simon, please feel free to use anything I have posted here if you wish. Just bear in mind that my write-ups for these characters are purely my own interpretation--somebody else could take them and handle them in another way.
Amazona, the Blue Flame, Lady Satan, the Purple Tigress, the Purple Zombie, and the White Streak are all in the public domain, I think, so you shouldn't run into any issues on using them.
Lady Luck belongs to DC (through their purchase of the Quality rights) and Mercury belongs to Marvel (from their Timely imprint), so you may not be able to use them.
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Post by stevemitchell on Oct 27, 2020 11:25:50 GMT -6
There was a considerable overlap between the heroes and heroines of comic books, newspaper comic strips, old-time radio programs, pulp magazines, and serials. The Shadow, for example, appeared in all five formats. A number of comic book heroes had their live-action film debuts in the serials, including Captain Marvel, Spy Smasher, Captain America, Batman, the Vigilante, Congo Bill, Superman, and Blackhawk. And at least one heroine (Nyoka the Jungle Girl) began life in the serials, before moving on to comic book series with Fawcett and Charlton.
In a Golden Age setting, I would have no problem mixing some of the alt-media characters in with their four-color peers. With that in mind, what follows are write-ups for five serial protagonists that could be used with Superheroes X! There is nothing “official” about these conversions, they just represent my personal take on the characters. So if you feel that Captain America should have a higher Strength rating, or that Rocket Man should have a lower Dexterity rating, by all means, make changes to suit.
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Post by stevemitchell on Oct 27, 2020 11:27:09 GMT -6
CAPTAIN AMERICA:
Superhero Name: Captain America Character Name: Grant Gardner Origin: Highly Trained Class: Fighter Adventures: 0 Level: 1
STR: 14 INT: 13 (speaks English and 1 more) WIS: 13 CON: 13 DEX: 18 CHA: 13
Basic Hit Bonus: +1 Armor Class: 13 Saving Throw: 14 Hit Die: 1d8 Hit Points: 9 Movement Rate: 12
Superpowers: Super Dexterity, Super Leap
Equipment: Pistol Advantages: None Disadvantages: None
Background: District Attorney Grant Gardner is secretly the masked sentinel of liberty—Captain America! His dual identity is known only to his secretary, Gail Richards. As the District Attorney, Gardner works in close cooperation with Mayor Randolph and Police Commissioner Dryden.
Comments: Captain America appeared in the 1944 Republic Pictures serial of the same name. The serial made many changes to the comic book version, including taking away the Captain’s shield, giving him a pistol instead, and then dropping his Steve Rogers secret identity in favor of Grand Gardner. Still a good serial in its own terms, and, incidentally, the most expensive of all Republic’s 66 serials.
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Post by stevemitchell on Oct 27, 2020 11:27:28 GMT -6
CHANDU THE MAGICIAN
Superhero Name: Chandu the Magician Character Name: Frank Chandler Origin: Highly Trained Class: Psychic Adventures: 0 Level: 1
STR: 12 INT: 16 (speaks English, Egyptian, and Hindi) WIS: 13 CON: 12 DEX: 12 CHA: 12
Basic Hit Bonus: 0 Armor Class: 10 Saving Throw: 15 Hit Die: 1d4 Hit Points: 4 Movement Rate: 12
Superpowers: Heal Others, Mind Control, Telepathy
Equipment: None Advantages: Lucky, Wealthy Disadvantages: Enemy (Baron Roxor), Public ID
Background: Frank Chandler learned the secrets of magic and mysticism while traveling in India. Returning to the United States, he became known as Chandu the Magician. His companions include Princess Nadji of Egypt, his sister Dorothy Regent, Dorothy’s husband Robert, and their children Bob and Betty Regent.
Comments: Chandu the Magician was the title of a radio program that appeared from 1932 to 1935, and then again from 1948 to 1950. A film adaptation called Chandu the Magician was released in 1932 from Fox Film Corporation; it featured Edmund Lowe as Chandu and Bela Lugosi as his arch-nemesis Baron Roxor. In 1934, Principal Releasing Corp. brought out a serial called The Return of Chandu, with Lugosi taking on the hero’s role this time.
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Post by stevemitchell on Oct 27, 2020 11:27:59 GMT -6
DAUGHTER OF DON Q
Superhero Name: Daughter of Don Q Character Name: Dolores Quantero Origin: Highly Trained Class: Daredevil Adventures: 0 Level: 1
STR: 11 INT: 13 (speaks English and Spanish) WIS: 12 CON: 13 DEX: 18 CHA: 13
Basic Hit Bonus: +1 Armor Class: 13 Saving Throw: 15 Hit Die: 1d8 Hit Points: 9 Movement Rate: 12
Superpowers: Danger Sense, Super Dexterity
Equipment: Bow Advantages: Wealthy Disadvantages: Public ID
Background: Dolores Quantero is a descendant of Don Quintus Quantero, one of the early Spanish landowners in what would later become Los Angeles. She is a wealthy socialite and sportswoman who has dedicated herself to investigating crimes in the Los Angeles area, often with the assistance of crime reporter Cliff Roberts.
Comments: Daughter of Don Q is the title of a 1946 serial from Republic Pictures. Adrian Booth starred in the title role (she had appeared in three previous Republic serials as Lorna Gray.)
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Post by stevemitchell on Oct 27, 2020 11:28:29 GMT -6
THE MASKED MARVEL
Superhero Name: The Masked Marvel Character Name: Robert (Bob) Barton Origin: Highly Trained Class: Daredevil Adventures: 0 Level: 1
STR: 13 INT: 13 (speaks English and 1 more) WIS: 12 CON: 14 DEX: 18 CHA: 12
Basic Hit Bonus: +1 Armor Class: 13 Saving Throw: 15 Hit Die: 1d8 Hit Points: 9 Movement Rate: 12
Superpowers: Super Dexterity, Super Leap
Equipment: Pistol Advantages: None Disadvantages: None
Background: Bob Barton is an insurance investigator assigned to high-profile cases. He is also the scourge of spies and saboteurs known as—the Masked Marvel! His friend Alice Hamilton, the daughter of an insurance executive who was murdered by Axis agents, is the only one who knows the secret of his dual identity.
Comments: The Masked Marvel was the heroic lead of the 1943 Republic Pictures serial of the same name.
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Post by stevemitchell on Oct 27, 2020 11:29:07 GMT -6
ROCKET MAN
Superhero Name: Rocket Man Character Name: Jeffrey (Jeff) King Origin: Highly Trained Class: Gadgeteer Adventures: 0 Level: 1
STR: 13 INT: 14 (speaks English and 1 more) WIS: 12 CON: 13 DEX: 13 CHA: 12
Basic Hit Bonus: 0 Armor Class: 11 Saving Throw: 15 Hit Die: 1d6 Hit Points: 7 Movement Rate: 12
Superpowers: Energy Blast, Flight
Equipment: Ray Gun (conveys the power of Energy Blast), Rocket Backpack (conveys the power of Flight) Advantages: None Disadvantages: None
Background: Jeff King is a member of the Science Associates, an organization of America’s greatest scientists. With the help of fellow member Dr. Millward, he developed the flying apparatus that enables him to take to the skies as—Rocket Man! Aside from Millward, only King’s friend Glenda Thomas, a magazine reporter and photographer, knows the secret of his dual identity.
Comments: The iconic Rocket Man first appeared in a 1949 Republic Pictures serial called King of the Rocket Men. Although this was Jeff King’s only outing as Rocket Man, his flying harness and helmet would be used by other heroes in three further Republic serials: Radar Men from the Moon (1952), Zombies of the Stratosphere (1952), and Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (1953).
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Post by stevemitchell on Oct 27, 2020 20:02:28 GMT -6
Some further thoughts on using serial heroes and heroines with Superheroes X!
You could make a pretty lively Golden Age setting just by drawing on the heroes and villains from the old chapter-plays.
First, assume that the characters from the Columbia, Republic, and Universal serials all exist in the same continuity, along with the stragglers from the off-brand serial outfits.
Second, pick a broad time period—pre-War, World War II, post-War. (Personally, I’d go with World War II, just to bring in all those Axis threats.)
And then, start your draft:
Serial heroes derived from comic books could include Batman, Blackhawk, Captain America, Congo Bill, Captain Marvel, Spy Smasher, Superman, and the Vigilante.
From comic strips—Dick Tracy, Jungle Jim, Mandrake the Magician, the Phantom, and Secret Agent X-9.
From radio programs: Captain Midnight, Chandu the Magician, and the Green Hornet.
From the pulps—the Shadow and the Spider.
Original figures from the serials—the Black Commando, the Copperhead, the Masked Marvel, Nyoka the Jungle Girl, and Rocket Man.
And for your villains: Fu Manchu, the Scorpion, Lex Luthor, Doctor Daka, the Wizard, the Purple Monster, the Crimson Ghost, the Spider Lady, the Black Widow, Doctor Satan, Doctor Vulcan, Captain Mephisto, and the list goes on and on.
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Post by daveb on Jul 14, 2021 16:14:33 GMT -6
Loving these write-ups Working on a Gotham City 1955 mini campaign for my Gamers using Superheroes X.
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