Monday, May 30, 2005

Vanguard Mission Log

As things get more complex, I decided it was prudent to record something of my adventures as Vanguard. I don't know where this journey will take me, but I feel like I cannot take these powers for granted. I'm currently forming my team for a run at the state assembly. Hopefully this will be the first step on the road to the White House. A mutant in the White House, now that would shake things up.

Date: (Brad help me out here)

I've been talking to American Eagle about acquiring the old super base downtown. I'm not sure if we qualify as a "super team" just yet, but a place to meet seem like a good idea.

Heard that there was gunfight, and Crusade killed White Lightning. I can't say as I'm sorry to see White Lightning go, but I can't condone Crusades methods. I might have to take him down.

The Professor brought to my attention some recent reports of people bursting into flame and burning up. A Jamaican gang called the Ogouns has taken credit. Together with the Flea, we looked up all the past victims.

  • Crysta Gayle : exotic dancer at "The Creamery"
  • Jason Bakerfield: an LAPD police detective
  • Bob Wilkins: a hacker who goes by "radioflyer"
  • Darla Chase: middle manager for yoshima corp.
  • Jengis Quan: leader of the Mongle Hoard gang
  • Alif Gradinger: a pharmaceutical scientist for Fordem Chemtech
  • John Taggart: killed outside a7-11
  • Arthur Paindragon : a rap singer
Flea looked up Wilkins on the internet. He was rumored to have developed a virus, to have been killed by black ice, and to be new to the net. We were unable to tell the veracity of these rumors.

I called some police contacts, and found out the Mongle Hoard have been taking over territory from the Tiger Claw gang in China town.

The Hooligan checked out "The Creamery." Found out that Crysta had a respitory illness last year.

The Flea investigated Taggart. Found out he ran the Pair-a-dice club, an illicit gambling place. He was charged, but the charges were dropped.

We were not able to get much on Chase, she had no close friends or family in the area.

Talked to Grandinger's widow. He was working on a secret project for work. He burst into flames while at the beach. Recently, he had skin grafts from chemical burns received on the job. Picked up some files on the job, sent them to a friend of the Prof's for analysis.

Found out that Paindragon checked into the Jim Morrison dependency clinic a while back. He used to be involved in gang activity, but that was many years ago.

I talked to Bakerfield's partner, a Detective Gehl. He said that Bakerfield was acting "itchy" right before it happened. He was investigating the Shadowfists, who basically run the drug trade in L.A. Bakerfield had the location of a possible drug factory, probably manufacturing Flame. The Shadowfists are well financed, well equipped, and employ super-powered muscle. Six years ago, they basically ended the new Guardians as a group.
Bakerfield recently had medical problems also. This is becoming a pattern.

Lastly, we went to question some Mongels about their leader, Jengis. They said it was the Ogouns who killed him. They claim he was treated recently by Dr. Black. They said that two para-medics, Gasser and Mack know where to find Dr. Black.

At this point things got out of hand. I provolked the gangers into attacking us. It was not my intention, I was just trying to project a "tough" street attitude. For some reason, I went to far. Does this have something to do with having so much power? Does power really corrupt? Maybe it was just the Irish in me. Heh. We easily dispatched them, but it didn't have to go down this way. Have to keep track of my temper. I want to display a positive public image as a mutant.

There definitely seems to be a pattern here of drugs, gangs, and strangely enough, medical problems among the victims. We will probably follow up on the Dr. Black lead next.

--Vanguard

Memorial Day

"...Thanks for the memories..."

Not really, This is just a reminder that several of us agreed to meet at Nigel's this evening to help playtest the political party, trick card game, Big Top Party. I figured I would show up in a couple of hours and make him fire up the grill, cook some food and wait for a bit, maybe play some shorter games.

Who's with me...lets GOOOOO! - Bluto from Animal House.

Friday, May 20, 2005

Gaming Next Week

Just a note to remind people:

Brian, Shawn, and Jeff, you are still on for Wednesday. We will NOT be switching days to Thursday, it will stay Wednesday.

Nigel, Tim, and Matt are on for Monday next week, then back to the regular Thursday after that, unless someone knows something I don't. That is all.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

POST IT you fools!

About a month and a half ago, Tim posted some character questions for 50 fathoms. I eagerly waited to see what people would post. Finally I posted my answers, figuring I'd get the ball rolling. To this date nobody else has answered. I realize that the post in question is probably out of people's minds by now, which is why I am reminding you of it. I want to see what people write, SO DO YOUR DUTY. Besides, it's more xp, and the more you people level the longer you will keep my sorry ass alive.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Champs History

Nigel and I were talking about Brad's proposal for us to write down everything we can remember about the Champs games. We thought it would work better if we did it as a GROUP, maybe take an hour or so and work through all the plot lines together while someone takes notes. Then we could write it up later. Whadda think?

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Cinco de Matto

For those of you interested, an evening of beer, food, and trivia will be had at Old Chicago on Thursday, May 5th, which may or may not be linked to the fact that that day is my 30th birthday.

I'm hoping to be there by 6:30, and I'm not sure how long the Old Chicago portion of the evening will last before I head downtown. Long enough to re-establish my NTN dominance*, anyway.

So...come one, come all.

Incidentally, how cool is the Old World Bestiary?

* - That's right, Tim. Dominance. Suck it. Suck it long, suck it hard.

It's Christmas!

Everybody: Your gaming orders have arrived! If you all are coming to Matt's B-day party on Thursday, please let me know. I will bring you your stuff and you will bring me the money plus $2 shipping...I need to send Shawn a check soon. If you are not going to make it on Thurs, please make arrangements to get your stuff and pay in the next few days. Brian, I did not give you an invoice yet, but the Warhammer book you ordered is in and cost $30.00.

Thanks!

Oh, and in other news, I am a character in the new Hudson City supplement for Champs. HAHA!

Monday, May 02, 2005

Hooliganisms

So, I was preparing the new character sheets for the Champs run, making them on the Hero Designer program to replace the old Heromaker sheets. I'm probably going to have to give you back your old sheets too, because a lot of you kept notes and stuff on the sheets themselves. Some people kept lists of NPCs, enemies, plot lines, etc. (In fact, I might suggest that people get themselves folders like Nigel had for our characters in his game, it may help for keeping track of notes and things) Matt, however, kept quotes on his character sheet. Just random stuff people said during the course of the game, completely without context...and they are hysterical (and mostly uttered by Jeff). I thought I would share his collection of quotables with the group:

August 14: "This may not be TOTALLY bad..." --Jeff

Sept. 4: "I was hoping you would suffer more." --Jeff

Sept. 11: "Well, yes...that particular money he stole." --Jeff

Sept. 25: "Go home you idiot." --Jeff

Oct. 24: "It's like he was gay, but no-one allowed him to get any ass." --Brad

Oct. 24: "G. Gordon Liddy finds you heartless." --Tim

I remember the context of two of those quotes...the Sept 4th was in reference to the Hooligan's punishment for attempting to murder White Lightning, and the G Gordon Liddy quote was in response to Jeff's suggestion that the gang of mutant kids squatting in the abandoned building should be evicted. If anyone remembers the context of the others, including my own, I kinda want to know. I find the Sept. 11 quote to be particularly hilarious.

Tim had one on his sheet too, which I believe was in reference to a statement Jeff made to the effect that he had hired Price to be the muscle..."To be fair, he did outsmart you. Maybe you hired him as brains." But I don't know who said it.

Funny as hell though.