"Tin Can Batman" - cost of gear?

kevperrine · Post by **kevperrine** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 6:26 am

I've asked about the cost of "gear" in the past. I understand the options I've been pointed toward. Namely the options for Advantage: Resources or Disadvantage: Destitute.

I completely agree with the idea for not needing to pay for all or individual "gear", weapons and equipment that are completely NORMAL items. That's neat.

However. I got to thinking today (talking to my buddy that played in a comedic "ZeroeS" style game I've ran on occasion) about making a normal dude with every bit of "Mcgyver" gear bits he could carry (that you can have for FREE!!! per the game rules) and no powers at all.
Heck... if I wanted I could spend another Character Point or two (or none if I took another Disad to balance!) and get Advantage: Vehicle and/or HQ. hehe

Even in a low "Character Scale - Mystery Men" campaign I'd get like 14-19 Hero Points each session!!!

What do you think of THIS character option?

Not that I don't know most of the answers, but... LOL
Tell me why this is actually a BAD option (even for a serious game).
thanks!
-kev-

Boost · Post by **Boost** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:45 am

A lot of your gear is actually classified as a power in game. flak jackets are bought as armor, pistols wouldn't provide anything to hit unless it was bought as special attack, or you took weapon technique (hand guns). In the gear example section I believe a knife would be classified as a x1 weapon, the big wrench might qualify as a x2.

BeardedDork · Post by **BeardedDork** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 12:35 pm

You also have to pay for the climbing power if you intend to use you climbing kit as the power.

If you intend to duplicate a power with equipment, you have to pay for the power, probably with some form of the gadget limitation.

kevperrine · Post by **kevperrine** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 12:27 am

Boost wrote:A lot of your gear is actually classified as a power in game. flak jackets are bought as armor, pistols wouldn't provide anything to hit unless it was bought as special attack, or you took weapon technique (hand guns). In the gear example section I believe a knife would be classified as a x1 weapon, the big wrench might qualify as a x2.

Flak Jacket = YES, you are correct. It should be listed as a "Power: Armor 1" and update the Soak to x2.

The pistols/grenades/weapons - NO. You are incorrect. From my understanding weapons (or any gear) that does not do special things (that normal gear can't do) do NOT cost anything. They're FREE. And not represented as powers.

BeardedDork wrote:You also have to pay for the climbing power if you intend to use you climbing kit as the power.

If you intend to duplicate a power with equipment, you have to pay for the power, probably with some form of the gadget limitation.

Buy climbing as a power? Really? I was thinking that with the SKILL Specialty "climbing" this character would be able to use the climber's kit to climb and maybe get a +2 Dice Bonus for the kit.

That seems to track more with my understanding of the system. I could be wrong though?
Am I?

thanks!
-kev-

MrJupiter · Post by **MrJupiter** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 2:17 am

Yeah, I'm inclining toward the skill as being a good way of handling climbing (I hope he doesn't fail a climb check halfway up the Empire State Building... Ouch!)

What about the character having some kind of advantage defining that he carries a great number of mundane gear? Maybe OVERPREPARED BOYSCOUT!

Other things to consider would be penalizations during stealth checks, and slowed movement due to his heavy encumberance. Though I could see the character wasting an action trying to dig out the appropriate piece of equipment, I think that this guy would be a very flavorful element to the campaign.

Tin Can Batman should consider getting himself a good, solid, and reliable station wagon (Special Vehicle) to help tote around some of his gear. I recommend that it be painted black and be a little beat up.

Neat character concept!

Lindharin · Post by **Lindharin** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 3:49 am

kevperrine wrote:
Boost wrote:...pistols wouldn't provide anything to hit unless it was bought as special attack, or you took weapon technique (hand guns)
...The pistols/grenades/weapons - NO. You are incorrect. From my understanding weapons (or any gear) that does not do special things (that normal gear can't do) do NOT cost anything. They're FREE. And not represented as powers.

You're correct that the gun is free, but I'm not sure where you are getting the x3 Hit that you have in parentheses next to the pistol. He has Agility 1, and nothing that improves it. I don't recall seeing anything about equipment providing accuracy bonuses.

I think that is what Boost was commenting on.

kevperrine · Post by **kevperrine** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 6:25 am

Lindharin wrote: You're correct that the gun is free, but I'm not sure where you are getting the x3 Hit that you have in parentheses next to the pistol. He has Agility 1, and nothing that improves it. I don't recall seeing anything about equipment providing accuracy bonuses.

Oops. the x3 is a mis-typed mistake. So it should be x1 correct? (don't have my book)

MrJupiter wrote: Tin Can Batman should consider getting himself a good, solid, and reliable station wagon (Special Vehicle) to help tote around some of his gear. I recommend that it be painted black and be a little beat up.

Neat character concept!

LOL
Black Station wagon... hehe

On the concept note.
If this were a "real" character to be published (in a Tick style product) what's a good name for him?

I actually LIKE "Tin Can Batman" but I'd say I couldn't use that for sake of DCs trademark, hehe.
Maybe...
Tin Can Bataman? hehe

Seriously... how about "Tin Can Vigilante" or "Tin Can Hero"?

hehe...
here's an updated picture (suggested by BASHMAN) with a bunch of crap to represent the bulk of gear.

[/img]

Protheuz · Post by **Protheuz** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 6:51 am

What about giving the character a Spanish ascendancy(or just think he'll sound cool), and be "El morcego" (the Bat) or "Tin Can Morcego".

MrJupiter · Post by **MrJupiter** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 11:31 am

This new pic really cements the character. I'm really lovin' the "Tin Can Hero" but I'm sure most will refer to him as just Tin Can.

PS. Great artwork!

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 1:37 pm

Protheuz wrote:What about giving the character a Spanish ascendancy(or just think he'll sound cool), and be "El morcego" (the Bat) or "Tin Can Morcego".

Um, not to be a nit-picker, but that would be "El Murcielago".

A possible rendition of his name in Spanish could be "Murcielago Basurero" (essentially "Trash Can Bat").

As for the name change for copyright purposes, my vote is for "Tin Can Vigilante."

Digging the artwork, too. One of my first superhero characters was a street-level martial artist with a bunch of home-made gadgets.

Protheuz · Post by **Protheuz** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 2:13 pm

"Mind if I borrow your droid to move these mercenaries?"

(Protheuz clubs himself in the head)
I've the tendency of using Portuguese words when "speaking" Spanish. (making it a sort o spantuguese)

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 10:14 pm

S'awright.

I tend to use Spanish when I try to make Latin-sounding phrases in games, so it's all good.