Justice Legion - Supers vs Aliens - OOC

[Bladewind]

In 2004, an alien alliance arrived in Earth's solar system. We were terrified at te the sight of their chosen representative. The image that communicated with us was gaunt, pale yellow and had large prominent teeth. Dark eyes and a large red circle on its forehead clawed at our darkest fears. Still, fearing that we would be easily overwhelmed, the governments of the world offered greetings and extended welcome.

Seven cities around the world were chosen as landing areas. World leaders were invited to meet with chosen representatives of the Alliance, in the interest of bringing the people of the Third Planet from the Sun into galactic affairs. Promises of interstellar flight, cures for diseases, the means to eradicate hunger… the world jumped even as conspiracy theorists and paranoid people panicked.

The Seven Cities were of no real importance to the world as such. None were capitals of their countries (although some were provincial or territorial capitals); none were any more historically significant or relevant than any other and none were major players on the world stage. The cities did not even boast any military presence as such or technological resources to make them stand out. True, they were large and prominent cities on one level or another, but strategically we saw no rhyme or reason. Perhaps the only common element was population.

The cities were Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada), St. Louis (Missouri, USA), Cologne (Germany), Baotou (China), Sapporo (Japan), Daegu (South Korea), and Patna (India).

Preparations were hastily made in the locations chosen by the aliens and security was a must. In hindsight, evacuating the areas would have been a good idea, but we were eager to show good faith. It was to be an error that the world would remember forever.

On August 16th, 2004, those seven cities were destroyed. Not through ground forces invading, not through nuclear assault. It was far more savage. Orbital bombardment with weapons we could scarcely dream of reduced cities and infrastructure to ruin. The decimation was not total however, and to this day we don’t know if there are any survivors still amongst the desolation. The worst part is the clarity of the message. Our world leaders weren't even there yet. They were a full two days from departing.

We understood. The aliens were not benign. But one thing we did not know is what they wanted… We never saw examples of the yellow skinned aliens, and have no way of knowing if they are true representations or merely a facsimile… But reptilian troops make their way down to hound us. We have armies standing wherever we can, but it’s just not enough. The aliens take what they want, where they want all the while tormenting us from orbit with the threat of what they can do to us…

Although we live in a climate of fear, humanity has had to move on. We try clandestinely to manufacture weapons to make a stand. We even let some of these be discovered in the hopes that others, perhaps more viable and important, can continue unimpeded…

One such important research facility became known as the Garden. A location disguised as a water filtration facility, the rare aliens that we managed to defeat and/ or kill were brought for study. Reverse engineering of their technology and genetic experimentation that would be totally unethical under any other circumstances were carried out. Humankind's best hope was discovered in 2012, when Dr. Kimmo Tuolema perfected a process where alien DNA could be grafted to human volunteers to create th world’s first real Super Heroes. This was a two-step process that allowed people with a specific type of genetic structure to have a new metabolism overlayed on top of their original one, granting them enhanced physical attributes. The second phase of the process would allow for unique superhuman powers.

Dubbed the Justice Legion in order to bring hope to people by referencing a fictional team of superheroes, as many volunteers that can be secreted to locations around the world are being drafted to become members of smaller Justice Leagues to at last bring the fight to the enemy… (Some call these leagues Strikeforces.)

Will you answer the call during your world’s greatest need?

CHARACTER CREATION

Ideally, characters will be late teens, early twenties. The only thing I am going to insist on is that there is a screening process. No sociopaths will make it into the group. What happens after you get your powers is another matter. All walks of life are acceptable and viable. Soldiers are no more likely to get chosen than “geeks” and “nerds.” The latter may even become more powerful in their new forms…

PL 11/ 165 points, M&M 3E. No PL trade-offs.

Characters all have the Phase One package at no charge. At a minimum, all characters can lift 400 lbs. with ease. Further, when designing your character, tell me what alien genetic code was unlocked or technology reverse engineered to grant you your power. Be aware, any alien you choose is automatically added to the Alliance. (No shapeshifting or morphing aliens will be accepted. If you want said abilities, pitch them and we’ll see if they work. I just don’t want a level of paranoia as characters try to determine of Skrulls, Durlans, Martians or Grue are among you…)

Phase 1: Density 2, Power Lifting 1
Density: +2 STR, +2 STA, +2 mass,

Phase 2 powers are created as normal when generating a character, but characters should be a “one trick pony” with perhaps an array based on said trick. Think more like the X-Men or Legion of Superheroes when creating characters as opposed to Swiss Army Knives.

Additional Freebies:
All characters receive a Commlink that enables them to communicate with each other. This commlink is standard equipment and subject to failure or interference.
All Legionnaires have a minimum equivalent rank of Captain (Air Force). This includes security clearance. Mission Commanders can outrank them based on situations as per normal military ranking systems. Characters wishing a higher rank must purchase the advantage at full cost (meaning at least two ranks for the Captain rank and then a third for higher).

Submissions thus far:
please edit these posts when working on your characters, unless you haven`t posted anything yet...

Tinker - Enigmatic One, Ork "Mekboy" (Khundian offshoot) verified
Dr Greene - flynnarrel - Gorn/ Badoon verified
Saber Wolf - Shadow13 - Loboran Lupine verified
Blue Beetle kenmandragon - Reach Scarab verified
Caesar Militus XeroKhan - Dalek verified
Wormy Mr.United - Alien DNA ???/ build ? verification in process
The Marian optionqb - Nautolan verified
Andy Jemal - Tesslans (I may link into another race) verified
AAD - Evolucion - Droid/ Combat Robot Prototype verified
Leviathan Aerlock verified
Guyver zeone3000 verification in process
Jennifer Vecta TempestII verified
anansi McGuffin verified

Withdrawn Submissions
Lexus TempestII - Vampiric Character/ DNA ??? also, Original submission
Lightning Bug - Spectrum - Alien DNA: Energon
Sparks Nillaman - Alien DNA ???

The Justice Legion
All personnel that go through the process of splicing their DNA with that of the invaders are referred to as members of the Justice Legion or simply as Legionnaires. Although the group has not assembled together in one spot for any type of offensive that such power could muster, there is a secret hope that each has of being part of the Legion on the moment that we retake the Earth once and for all.
For now, the Legion is divided into smaller units and fight for the most part a guerilla war effort.

Solo and Partnered Heroes
Most Legionnaires are partnered in pairs or even operate solo as support for a military unit. This is of necessity, as putting all of the powerful soldiers in one place is a recipe for disaster and defeat.

Strikeforces
Strikeforces are assigned and reassigned for specific missions and often chosen for their specific ability set. Strikeforces are among the best operatives due to the fact that they constantly change team dynamics.

Strikeforce Epsilon (Strikeforce E
Epsilon consists of four members and is currently MIA in the Amazon. It consists of Psyche (Rachel Grayson, a telepath), Jotun (Garth Brande, a powerhouse), Snapdragon (Veronica Raymond, E-M Energy controller) and Shadow (Bruce Higashi, concealment abilities).

Justice Leagues
The Justice Leagues are a group of seven or more super soldiers regrouped for longer periods of time. Their powers may or may not complement each other directly, but personality and background wise they are chosen to work together and stay together.

The Leagues are also subdivided into two categories. Rarest of the rare grouping of the Legion is the high profile League which serves to bolster morale and be "superheroes" in the comic senses. Of the two such leagues active, these are the most human looking in terms of mutation.

The other type of Justice League is slightly more common and is permitted to stay together because despite concerns of attacks that could hit multiple soldiers at once, there are many benefits to a unit forming and working together.

The Collective
Telepaths are very rare and very mistrusted. As such, the handful that the Justice Legion has have come together and formed a mini-society called The Collective. An informal organisation, when they congregate their telepathic abilities entwine them into an experience of closeness that no other human could fathom, ensuring that even those who might be rabidly opposed on anything from politics to religion, feel a familial bond with each other that transcends the physical and enters the realm of a mental collective. As such, they are an extremely close-knit and loyal group, despite the variety of backgrounds.

Naming Conventions
Legionnaire Names
Legionnaires are encouraged to come up with callsigns. The Alliance has shown no interest in looking for family links when attacking them, but the added anonymity of a callsign in battle and the accompanying uniform (even if designed in black or camouflage colours)

Team Names
The naming convention for teams is is that they are assigned a letter - JLA, JLB, JLC... SFA, SFB, SFC... (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie.) The official records record the letter as either Military Alphabet. Strikeforces use the Greek Alphabet (Alpha, Beta, Gamma...) The teams themselves tend to take the letter and rename themselves and are encouraged to do so.. The team designaation can be re-used if the team is disbanded or otherwise dissolved. The team name will not be re-used.
Here are some examples for team names; JLA - Justice League Alpha (keeping the designation), JLE - Justice League Extreme. Strikeforce Mu - SFM - Strikeforce Morituri...

[Spectrum]

To throw out a D) and see if it'll be of interest to Bladewind.. Pacific Rim with supers?

[Bladewind]

I was thinking of a superheroes vs. alien invaders scenario and wanted to gauge interest. So… I have a few ideas on said scenario:

A) Comic Universe, can be a “combined earth scenario” with Marvel, DC, Ronin Earth characters or their legacies. The invasion was about ten years ago. Earth was conquered, the survivors are now for the most part laborers for the conquerors. A few chosen humans act as liaisons to the alien oppressors, living in floating “palaces” and enjoying an almost illusory lifestyle that mirrors the old world and mocks the people below. Some of these “sympathizers” secretly work to better the lot of the people below but most do as they are told, not out of malice or spite, but out of fear of losing what little they have managed to hold onto…

Superheroes were almost all wiped out in the invasion, with the few scattered survivors deep in hiding for fear of the reprisal that displaying their powers or even colors could cause.

The last human uprising was seven years ago, when some of the top operatives – including heroes and villains in civilian garb – attacked the yearly tithing ceremony. The consequence was the near total destruction of Australia. With our satellite infrastructure still intact, it was broadcast to the world… no one has dared stand up since.

Rumors abound about shadow warriors in and around the war ravaged city of Gotham have recently surfaced. The aliens downplay the incidents to not fan the embers of hope. Truth is, whatever is out there has them scared spitless. There are also rumors that Superman has returned, a soft murmur of fear mixed with hope about people claiming to have been saved by a man with the familiar S shield on his chest… meanwhile there is a human resistance, nigh futile as it is, that is trying to find any supers that might still exist…

B) “Our World” in the near future. A coalition of aliens sits in orbit, plundering and pillaging our resources at their leisure. They know we can`t match their might and enjoy toying with us. They come down to hunt and take whatever they want and we are powerless to do anything about it.

Not anymore.

Just about a year ago, after a rare victory against a marauding force, some of the best minds in the world managed to splice the DNA with brave volunteers. The result… Superheroes ! Now, with a fighting force capable of moving fast and doing more damage than entire armies hope is returning to the world. There has been escalation, but the aliens are being forced to deal with the supers more and more and escalation and retaliation has become secondary.

Characters will be able to choose powers based on alien DNA. So far I have a pretty wide base of aliens as I am using the aliens from the DC Invasion! Series published in ‘89 . As examples, this gives you Kryptonian Class characters from the Daxamites (either as the bundle or individual powers), shapeshifting from the Durlans, winged flight from the Thanagarians, Yuatja technology… … other aliens could be introduced to account for other powers but be careful what you wish for. If the alien body was used to give your character powers, chances are that there are more up there with similar powers… (So, if you were a smart @$$ like me and wanted to submit an Autobot, I`d say suuuuure... and promptly add the Decepticons to the invading force...) Being fair though, I have only set one or two of the aliens thus far, and rest are going to be a "name your poison" kind of thing, allowing me to add them based on submissions.

C) A similar world to option A, but the invasion is happening now. The heroes are being mobilized alongside their villainous counterparts. Most are working directly for the government under the oversight of Captain America and Captain Atom among others. The JLA and the Avengers are putting aside rivalries to work with the Freedom League and provide a united front… but this is going to be tough. With Australia serving as their beachhead, the aliens are already firmly entrenched…

Random Notes:
All scenarios lend to similar stories and encounters. The main difference is in the resources and allies available to you. In A and B you`re pretty much it in terms of the resistance. In option A there could be a few heroes in hiding, but don`t expect Thor, Superman and the heavy hitters to all show up to save the day. It might be neat if the heroes that do surface start taking the names of the heavy hitters with time to inspire hope.

In option A, the mode is gloomy and the threat of reprisal should hang over you pretty heavily.

In option B, resources and allies are more readily available and to be honest, the think tank that discovered the process is working PDQ to churn out as many heroes as possible. There are screening processes to go through and not just anyone can become a superhero… but the bottom line is that you are not totally alone.

Option C is the most “hopeful” of the bunch, with the most room for allies. The trick there will be letting the PCs shine without resorting to killing off superheroes left and right although there will need to be some of that to keep things “realistic” and give the heroes reason to rally.

Looking at my last two games, one of which is still running, I don`t see the same problems arising here. The story is more direct and though I won`t railroad PCs, the options are limited so the stories will be pretty linear which is great for PbP. As for Suicide Squad, since I`m not trying to control the PCs with the threat of death for not obeying orders, it should be all good…

Any interest ? Preference ?

[Bladewind]

Freebies
Equipment
All characters receive a Commlink that enables them to communicate with each other. This commlink is standard equipment and subject to failure or interference.

Rank
All Legionnaires have a minimum equivalent rank of Captain (Air Force). This includes security clearance. Mission Commanders can outrank them based on situations as per normal military ranking systems. Characters wishing a higher rank must purchase the advantage at full cost (meaning at least two ranks for the Captain rank and then a third for higher).

Skills
All characters can use Expertise: Alien Tech for their chosen DNA source untrained.
All characters can use Expertise: Alien Alliance untrained for their chosen DNA source.
Characters who purchase either skill gain a +2 circumstance roll to all rolls related directly to their chosen DNA source. The GM has final say whether the DNA modifier is applicable.

HOUSE RULES
The following House Rules are in effect. The list may be expanded upon as needed for game balance and need.

Benefit: Rank
This is for determining rank purchased with the benefit background. For the purposes of the Player Characters, rank in the Legion is determined using the Air Force Structure:

Code: Select all

Benefit   Military      Navy        Notes
 Rank     Rank*         Rank
0       
1       Lieutenant   Ensign   
2       Captain      Lieutenant   Legionnaire Security Level/ Honorary Rank
3       Major        Lt Cmdr   
4       Lt Colonel   Commander   
5       Colonel     Captain

*Marine, Air Force and Military rank use the same progression for the purposes of this game.

1.3.2 Shape-Shifting
There are no shape-shifting races that have yet to make themselves known to the people of earth. As such this trait is not available for player characters
 
1.3.3 Regeneration
Regeneration count starts on the first round of combat regardless if a character is injured or not. Once injured, a character will regenerate per their ranks on the round that they are permitted using this count. This means that characters will regenerate their first condition sooner, making lower ranks of the power worth the power point expenditure.

1.3.4 Impervious Toughness
Costs 2 points per rank and works at Rank Effect. Therefore rank 10 Impervious Toughness negates the need for a save on any effect with a rank of 10 or less. (Characters who wrote it at the normal 1 per rank are not required to rewrite.)

1.3.5 Reputation (From the Game Master’s Guide)
These rules are in effect. This reputation is Fame based.

A difference to the rules as written is that characters cannot buy Renown as an advantage/ benefit. It must be earned.

All characters begin with a Reputation Score of 13 (Power Level +2 for being in the Legion.) This based solely on the patch on their uniforms or the knowledge that they gave their humanity to fight the invaders. Earned (i.e. paid for) rank modifies that score as per normal (+2 per rank in the benefit). This stacks with the +2 for being a Legionnaire.

Known telepaths suffer a -2 to Reputation. Telepathy is feared by the common man, and many soldiers are uneasy around them.

1.3.6 Lethal Damage (From Game Master’s Guide)
All Alliance attacks use Lethal Damage.

The key difference with Lethal Damage is that it inflicts additional conditions on a failed resistance check, as follows:

• Failure (three degrees): In addition to being staggered, the target is disabled.
• Failure (four degrees): In addition to being incapacitated the target is dying.

All of the conditions from lethal damage also recover at a slower rate: one hour per condition rather than one minute. Effects like Healing and Regeneration speed this up normally.
 
1.3.7 Wealth (From the Game Master’s Guide)
As written, although it will not come up often, Wealth is an integral part of one of the PC’s backgrounds and bears mentioning.

Wealth Checks are not required for inventing. The availability of materials in a given situation will influence the DC for the checks as determined by the story.

1.2.8 Knockback (From the Game Master’s Guide)
These rules are in effect

Knockback = Damage - Toughness - modifiers

1.2.9 Mass Combat (From Game Master’s Guide)
These rules will come into play as needed/ if needed.

[EnigmaticOne]

A) B) and C) all sound great.

B) sounds like X-Com with mix and match aliens.

[Bladewind]

Hadn`t seen that, but yes, indeed.

To throw out a D) and see if it'll be of interest to Bladewind.. Pacific Rim with supers?

Truthfully, I hadn`t thought of that.... In thinking of the scenarios I have in mind though, I have to admit that they are not as easily transferable to that concept.

[jemal]

C would be my favourite, though I do have a concept for a crippled army guy turned scientist that would fit perfectly into B..

but my first vote is definitely C.

[zeone3000]

Definitely interested, can't choose my favorite right away though.

[Horsenhero]

Personally, I like option "B" because it reminds me of "Strikeforce Morituri", probably my favorite "superheroes vs. aliens" comic series of all time.

[Bladewind]

Personally, I like option "B" because it reminds me of "Strikeforce Morituri", probably my favorite "superheroes vs. aliens" comic series of all time.

*** Whistles innocently while kicking the ground and looking around... ***

Nope. Don't have that series. No idea what you're talking about. No inspiration taken from there...

[Shadow13]

This sounds intersting

Here is a little background I worked up for this

It has been 10 years since they came. 10 years of surviving death squads, friends dying, enemies becoming allies and people selling us out for protection. The weak died and the strong are left. Good, bad it makes no difference there is only war now, only surviving. These things want something and they have yet to find it. I aim to ensure they don’t find it but die like they killed everyone else.
It took me years to find him. I knew I had to show him I was strong, that I was the best and I had no weakness. Survival of the fittest is his thing, who knows he maybe knew this was coming and all the trials in the past was to prepare a select few for this. It don’t matter anymore these creatures wanted a war and I am going to give them one.
I give tribute of my kills to him. I am covered in the blood of my rivals from trial of combat to prove to him I am the one. For years my nature has been a fighter. For years people have tried to enhance me into a killing machine a weapon for war. All those years fighting wars to hone my skills, Weapon X, SHIELD, HYDRA, The Hand and even becoming Death by him were just trials for this day.
Apocalypse I have past your trials of the past and present. I have survived the culling of the weak from the strong. I have survived everything this planet has thrown at me and what the invaders have sent after me. They came here looking for a fight and I have been fighting them and anything else in this war to end it. Now I want to be War to end this. I am going to end this because I am the best at what I do bub, and what I do is not nice.

So what Pl are we looking at?

[McGuffin]

I'm interested in all of the options, in order of A-B-C. I'd probably play She-Hulk or a kind of legacy/alternate backstory of her, I've been wanting to give her a try for a while now. So a brick, possibly with a splash of scientist thrown in there in scenarios A or B.

[Bladewind]

For option B, I have actually only set one or two of the aliens thus far, and rest are going to be a "name your poison" kind of thing, allowing me to add them based on submissions.

Let me see if I have the tally right so far...

Enigmatic One expressed interest in all of them.
zeone3000 as well
Jemal expressed a preference for C, with possibly a nod towards B
Horsenhero has a liking towards B
Shadow13 prefers option 3 (judging by the character pitch, but could probably go A as well)
McGuffin has in interest in all 3...

By my count that puts B and C on equal footing but A close behind. Looks like however I do this, there could well be some interest...

So far it's not enough interest to hump to recruitment (which is a good thing for now ).

So what Pl are we looking at?

I'm leaning towards 11 with the possibility of a tradeoff option (PL/10/180, PL 11/165, PL 12/150)
It will honestly depend as I intend to hand out

[kenmadragon]

Well, I am interested as well. I actually already have a character pseudo-worked out, mostly since I'm gonna be repurposing an old build from XeroKhan's Joker the Immortal game (which seems to have sputtered out, sadly). I'll likely be changing the background and the names and complications and stuff, but the idea is that he's a young adult (16-17) with the powers of a TK Paragon. Think Superboy style, save his TK has actualy range. The build is here. It's built at PL 10, but can definately be shifted once more stuff is detailed, and this actually shifts to recruitment.

O, and I am sorta leaning A and B over C.

[jemal]

I was going to come post that I've been thinking about it for the last two days and the more I think about it the more my crippled-scientist turned superman character would make an awesome fit for B, and was thinking of changing my vote...
but then I saw Ken's post, and I doubt there's room for two TK supermen, so I'll stick with C.