Zenith Comics Presents: The Blog!

Merged Blogs

2011-02-06T16:31:00.000-05:00

Hey there,

I have merged my personal blog and this blog, they can be found here;

http://factactor.blogspot.com/

Please come follow me there. Cheers!

You Ever Have One Of Those Lives?

2010-11-03T22:30:00.000-04:00

So between school, layouts, life and everything else I have totally neglected this blog.

For that I apologize.

The good news is that I have started up a new Zenith Universe campaign (in the aftermath of the previous one, no not the 2 session aborted one, the one with the time travel stuff).

So that's good and playtesting goes full steam ahead.

More to post when I have it, including the first session notes from John!

Cheers!

Zenith Comics Presents: The Role Playing Game - Playtest Report

2010-10-18T11:12:00.000-04:00

Hey all, just a quick note to let you know that this past weekend there was an "outside" playtest performed and the reports are that a fun time was had by all!

This makes me happy!

Not Dead

2010-10-13T21:22:00.000-04:00

Hey folks

Just a quick note to let you all know I am not dead, still plugging along and will have news very soon!

Thanks for sticking with me and look forward to showing you all what has eaten so much of my time.

As a side note, I have a weird glitch that redirects my Blogger stuff when I click on it. Anyone else have this? The internet can't seem to decide if it a is a virus/trojan or nothing at all.

Help?

Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Vol. 1 - Art Preview

2010-09-21T22:35:00.000-04:00

Hey hey,

As layouts enter the final stage, I just received some updated art of Damselfly and Energion, so I thought I would share it with you.

Cheers!

P.S. We are very close to release now... I am getting all excited and nervous about it!

Forgot one...

2010-09-03T14:52:00.000-04:00

I forgot to add another book we are adding to the line-up;

Zenith Comics Presents: Belle Isle

Belle Isle is the superhuman maximum security penitentiary, located off the shore of Capitol City. This book will not only showcase the prison itself, but some of the long-term inmates and staff of the facility.

So with that we are looking at;

Roster Books
Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Volume 1
Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Volume 2
Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Volume 3
Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Volume 4
Zenith Comics Presents: Dastardly Duos & Terrible Trios
Zenith Comics Presents: Mayhem Inc./Ravage V
Zenith Comics Presents: Mercenaries & Masterminds

Setting Books
Zenith Comics Presents: A.S.A.G.A.R.D.
Zenith Comics Presents: The Citadel
Zenith Comics Presents: Capitol City
Zenith Comics Presents: The Golden Age
Zenith Comics Presents: Belle Isle

Adventures
Zenith Comics Presents: The Ultimus Invasion*

As well, don't forget there will be plenty of freebies given away on this very website as well, including heroes, various npcs and more. One of the statements I made earlier was that I won't produce roster books of heroes, since that seems counter productive to me, and that will continue. Sure a hero or two will show up in the setting books, but I have no plans to produce a full out heroes roster book. So the heroes of the Zenith Universe will be given away for free on the website.

Cheers!

*I may change the name of this (or other products) as we move forward. This name may be due to an already existing event that has occurred in the Zenith Universe time-line called the Ultimus Invasion.

Zenith Universe Update!

2010-09-03T09:59:00.002-04:00

Hey all, sorry I haven't posted in a while, but work has been ramping up on the Zenith Universe and related product. Without further ado, here is what happening in the Zenith Universe.

First off Zenith Comics Presents: The Role-Playing Game has been pushed to the back burner for now. The reason for this is two fold, one Jim Stoner (my game design partner and stat-block wizard extraordinaire) and I want to make sure this game is as good as it can be, so we are taking the design slow and play-testing thoroughly (stay tuned for the beta-playtest announcement to get your chance to be part of it) before we consider letting this game escape... er... I mean release.

Secondly Anthony Green (the outstanding Zenith Comics line-artist) and I have been keeping up with our meetings and the decision has been made by both of us to keep expanding the Zenith Universe through roster books and now setting books as well! So as Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Volume 1 nears release (we are in layouts as we speak and then we launch!) we have mapped out the future of the Zenith Comics line.

For the roster books we have;

Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Volume 2 - Probe, Glamazon and Dr.Power are just some of the names you will encounter in this volume of fully developed original villains.

Zenith Comics Presents: Dastardly Duos & Terrible Trios - What do a speedster, stretcher, three military mecha, two Irish terrorists and three astronauts have in common? They are the villains you will find in this roster book from Zenith Comics.

Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Volume 3 - Icefire, Psiren and Galatea stand deviously along side 7 other villains in next volume of the Zenith Comics villain roster series.

Zenith Comics Presents: Mayhem Inc./Ravage V - Two teams of five villains each that work together like well oiled machines, with which to challenge your heroes or teach them some humility through defeat.

Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Volume 4 - Black Swan, Gargantuan and Sir Blood lead the pack for 10 more vile super villains from the Zenith Universe.

Zenith Comics Presents: Mercenaries & Masterminds - This book covers two concepts, those who want to rule the world and those who they hire to help with the task. Only in the early stages of this one, but it is looking pretty sweet so far.

While they will release in no particular order, the next one up I can tell you is Dastardly Duos & Terrible Trios and the art samples are already coming in!

"But wait..." you say, "How can I play in a Zenith Universe campaign with only roster books at my disposal?" Good question and Zenith Comics has you covered! Introducing the Zenith Comics Presents setting line of supplements;

Zenith Comics Presents: A.S.G.A.R.D. - The American Specialized Government Action Response Department are responsible for providing the firepower and resources when it becomes time to take down terrorists organizations or rampaging super villains (or heroes). From their hidden base called Valhalla, Viking power troopers, backed by Valkyrie medics take the field and keep the peace.

Zenith Comics Presents: The Citadel - The number one threat to world-peace this organization, lead by the tyrannical Lord Sovereign, has vowed to rule the world! Using paramilitary shock troops and super powered agents, they are challenged by A.S.G.A.R.D. at every turn as well as heroes of all stripe.

Zenith Comics Presents: Capitol City - This is where it all happens, the premiere super city of the Zenith Universe. From the Titan Observatory on Citadel Hill to the back alleys of Boxtown, welcome to a fully realized city and surrounding environ that is ready to have your heroes take to the streets. This setting has been developed through actual play and expansion for the past 20 years. Now I have taken all that information and begun editing and expanding to turn it into an exciting place for your heroes to call home.

Zenith Comics Presents: The Golden Age - Those who know me know that it is no secret I love the "All-Star Squadron", "the Invaders" and "Pre-Crisis Earth 2". There is something about that time that just sings to me and in this setting book I will explore the Golden Age of the Zenith Universe. Meet the heroes that started it all and the villains that they built their reputations on.

And once all those settings are in your hands, there is a special project I am really excited about;

Zenith Comics Presents: The Ultimus Invasion - Along the lines of the adventure path concept meets the 12 issues crossover event in comics, The Ultimus Invasion is a 12 part adventure story that can be played as a solid pre-made campaign set in the Zenith Universe that will be for all the marbles. Your heroes will make the journey from nobodies to being the world's only hope as they travel to the four corners of the Zenith Universe and fight alongside its legends against the greatest threat they have ever known, the return of Ultimus!

As always these products will be stated out for use with BASH UE, ICONS, V&V2.1 and M&M3e.

Cheers!

The characters and concepts presented are the intellectual property of Zenith Comics

That's That... Or Is It?

2010-08-21T13:52:00.000-04:00

So with sessions 12 and 13 done, the Zenith Universe is rebooted.

What does this mean exactly? It means that I have run a darn fun story arc that taught me a lot and in the end cleared up a lot of what I need to do (and not to do) with the Zenith Universe.

With the reboot, a new campaign is forming that will focus less on global occurrences and grand conspiracies, and more on local city level heroing, with occasional forays into the larger scene.

Another big change that will be happening will be the advancement of the timeline from 1964 to 2010, with appropriate changes of course.

This was an overwhelming choice from the players, and I agree. The reason being that unless we were focusing on say the Cold War aspects of 1984 it didn't really play a big part of things, except making references to era related setting things (Regan as president, etc).

Stay tuned as more information about the new timeline/setting starts to arrive. I have worked up a broad strokes narrative timeline and hope to make a more point based one off of that.

Also plan to start doing articles called "The Encyclopedia of the Zenith Universe" where I can put in interesting characters, items, events, etc...

All this while continuing to develop roster books (first one is in layouts now!) and the seemingly never ending work on the Zenith Comics rpg!

Cheers!

John's Notes - The Sentinels - Session 13 - AKA Zenith Comics Giant Sized Special!

2010-08-21T13:46:00.000-04:00

 With John away on a cruise for this session, Anthony was kind enough to step in and take notes.  Here they are;

Session 13:
The players:
Tick Tock - Robin
Max Plastic - Mike
Kenji/Galvanos/Galvana (but mostly Kenji) - Renzo
Doc Tesla - Pat
Monolith - Anthony

Game opens with Max Plastic dreaming, during his dream he feels a weird disturbance which wakes him up. He gets up and walks out of the door to his room and finds himself in a sci-fi corridor. He turns around and the door he just left is now a sliding sci-fi door. While wondering what is going on, he gets attacked by a charging knight on a horse. Max wraps himself around the knight’s lance and flips him off his horse. He spins around only to find horse and knight gone. He spots a wall sign indicating the command deck and rushes over there only to find Guardsman there on monitor duty. Max’s confusion clearly apparent, Guardsman decides to call on Doc Tesla to check on Max.  Tesla is as confused as Max since the last thing he remembers is teleporting the mansion to Arizona. While Max and Tesla leave to go to the med bay Guardsman continues to track Zero-G, now a villain who has recently destroyed an island off South America killing millions.  Confusion is clearly king here.

Monolith and Galvana (Kenji controlling Eve’s robot body) head through the door to check out the structural damage to the mansion from the teleport. They find themselves now in the Amazon jungle.  Kenji also finds that Galvana is now the Galvanos robot. Before they can try and make sense of what’s going on, a T. Rex storms out of the jungle attacking both heroes. The dinosaur grabs Galvanos in its mouth and slams him into Monolith knocking him out. As Galvanos fights the T. Rex his communicator bleeps but he keeps his mind on the fight. Finally the super seizure eyes can come into play and he zaps the T.Rex... along with half the jungle and maybe the Amazon version of Tarzan to boot.

With the T. Rex down, Galvanos takes the call and freaks out when Guardsman is on the other line, not knowing what to do, he hangs up on Guardsman and wakes Monolith up. This time Monolith answers the call and both he and Galvanos get teleported where they find themselves onboard the orbiting satellite of the Guardians. There they encounter Sparrowhawk and Gyro who are heading out to hunt Zero-G back on the Earth.

Making their way to the command deck, they meet Guardsman (heroic this time) who suggests they get a check up in the med bay first and then to go interrogate their prisoner… Tick Tock.

In the med bay, Max and Tesla access the computer banks and bring themselves up to speed with the changes. They find out that Zero-G joined up with the Odd Squad and together they killed the island of San Bonito. When Zero-G turned his attention to the Guardians satellite, Monolith, Max Plastic, Doc Tesla and Galvanos helped the Guardians which allowed them to join the team. At this point Monolith and Kenji join the others and compare notes. They all decide to head down to the prisoner level and see if Tick Tock also knows if things are wrong.

When they arrive not only do they find Tick Tock knows things are different, but so does Brainflex. Brainflex believes there is something which caused an alternate timeline and that we need to join forces to find out what it is and undo it. The team decides to talk to Guardsman about this and leave Tick Tock in his cell in order not to provoke a fight. The team also decides to leave Brainflex where he is since working with him never works out for the heroes.

While Monolith and Kenji go to talk to Guardsman, Tesla and Max go to the lab to find out why they remember the old timeline. When they get there they find Doctor Destiny fooling around with Tick Tock’s pocket watch, which they find out is the source of Tick Tock’s powers. Destiny mentions that the watch seems broken and is firing off bursts of temporal energy. Destiny is called away which leaves the heroes there to grab the watch, which they find out is behind a force field.

On the command deck Monolith and Kenji find Guardsman with Lady America and before they explain what’s going on, a call comes in that there are pirates in the commissary. Guardsman runs off to fight them leaving Lady America who also remembers the old timeline. As they try to think of the next step to take, Major Victory walks in and kisses his girlfriend Lady A, which wouldn’t be creepy if the heroes didn’t know he died in WW2. When the Major finds out about pirates, he also runs off to fight them. Lady A realizes that if Major Victory is alive, then her dead sidekick Spangle might be alive as well. She then runs off leaving Monolith and Kenji alone and with nothing done.

Kenji asks if this change might not be so bad and Monolith explains that time is falling apart based on the weird things happening randomly. Alerts sound across the board as the main screens light up in the command deck giving Monolith and Kenji dozens of views of Zero-G destroying Moscow. Putting even more pressure to try and correct the timeline.

Before anyone can do anything else. Guardsman calls on all available heroes to meet at the teleport pads to try and take down Zero-G. Kenji offers to stay onboard and get Tick Tock’s watch back to him while Monolith goes down to help contain Zero-G. Tesla decides to also stay onboard and Max Plastic offers to help stop Zero-G as well. As Max and Monolith teleport down into a war zone, Tesla and Kenji try and get their hands on the watch with Tick Tock’s help. They finally get the watch just in time to get caught by Captain Adventure the Time Ranger.

Back on earth, Monolith gets blindsided by Lady A who doesn’t want time fixed because Spangle is alive. When Max tries to stop her, she ties him up into a knot easily.

On the satellite, Captain Adventure explains that the rangers were trying to catch up to Tick Tock in order to explain how to use the watch, not to take it away from him. Tick Tock needs to go to the end of time in order to unwind the watch and release the stored time locked in it. Before they do that, Kenji teleports all those who know about the time change back to the satellite. Not knowing that Lady A is anti-time fix, she jumps Tick Tock who pushes the time eraser button. The entire group starts falling through a time tunnel and land on an asteroid… Before we can react, Lady A de-clocks Tick Tock and Tesla tries to solve the situation the way he solves everything… with blasts of electricity.

Amazingly enough, Lady A is faster than lightning, (literally) and she starts the time fall again. Landing at the beginning of time, Lady A breaks down since she can’t save Spangle. Relinquishing the watch to Kenji and Monolith she closes up.

Kenji and Monolith pop open the watch to see if they can do something with it to get them going the other way. Inside the watch there is a double helix of energy which shows that the watch is alive and leaving the science nerds puzzled. Lady A demands that when everything is figured out we need to save Spangle, the team logics her back down from that request. As the team tries to figure out what to do, Tick Tock goes with his gut and touches the source of power of the watch which is connected to the Heart of Time.

Tick Tock is brought to a timeless place where he meets the anthropomorphic personification of time the Time Master. They switch places (willingly) and he meets the team. He explains that he is in fact Tick Tock after exposure to the Heart of Time and that he needs the team to help Tick Tock stop the Time Rangers who have locked up time from doing what it needs to do. The Time Master explains he has been fighting the Rangers for a while and cannot attack them directly, so he used an avatar of himself to try and free time. He warns the team that if Tick Tock finds out he is not real, he will cease to exist. He switches place with Tick Tock who now knows how to unwind the watch and drags everyone to the end of time across the span of all history. The trip is so mentally dangerous that it drives Tesla sane.  Lady A tries to take command and is shot through the head by Captain Adventure who has gone TIME MAD! This leads Tesla to solve the problem using high amounts of electricity… it really can solve everything.

Approaching the Time Ranger base, the team tries to think of a way to sneak in. Monolith decides to handle the gate guards by shooting up to 60 feet and charging while shrinking back down at a gradual rate which really confuses the guards since it looks like someone running in place until he hits them, knocking both out. Max slips through cracks and gets the rest of the team in by opening the gates. Inside Tick Tock uses the watch as a compass to hunt the Heart of Time.

Before the team can get too far in, alarms start sounding and encourages them to get the lead out. Running down a corridor of time windows, the team is assaulted by Rangers. Max bowls a few through a window, Monolith uses another window to scoop away a few more and Kenji strafes a few using weapons in his cool hover/assault wheelchair. Tick Tock decides not enough people were shooting at him so he decides to get their attention again. Once again running past time windows, Tock spots the moment he pick pocketed his own future self and got the watch. In the weirdest moment, he leaps into the window. He then ends up stealing
the watch from his younger self who is stealing it from his oldest self. The universe finding this too weird spits him back out the window.With more and more Rangers converging on the heroes, Monolith brings down the ceiling on the corridor behind them to give them a chance to get to the Heart of Time. Unfortunately he can’t get out of the way in time and gets crushed along with the Rangers. Pleading with the others not to worry, they can fix the deaths later. Meanwhile Tesla sees a window to the moment just before Westinghouse betrays the original Tesla and he flies through and kills Westinghouse. Nikola Tesla, horrified, uses his Tesla coil to absorb Doc Tesla trapping him as electrical current. Down to 3 heroes, they rush to a set of stairs with another small group of Rangers in pursuit. The stairs act like a mobius strip and everyone gets stuck on them. Tick Tock negotiates them easily leaving everyone else stuck. Max stretches himself out for Kenji to get through, the remaining Rangers decide to pepper Max with shots since he’s now a massive target. Max goes down in a hail of gunfire leaving Kenji and Tick Tock remaining.

Tick Tock finds himself at the Heart of Time, sealed behind a crystal cage. He tosses his watch shattering the cage and approaches the Heart. He hears a voice and turns around to see the Time Marshal, leader of the Rangers, pointing a gun at him. He is about to reveal that Tick Tock is an avatar of the Time Master when Kenji zooms from the stairwell ramming the Marshal and sending both of them into a wall where they blow up. Tick Tock responds to this with “How did you not see this coming?”. He turns to the Heart of Time, taking a breath and then rams his hand into it.

Fade to white.

John's Notes - The Sentinels - Session 12 - Part 2

2010-08-21T13:32:00.000-04:00

Sentinels - Issue 12 pt. 2 - July 31, 2010 – ZCP System

Robin – Tick Tock

Renzo – Kenji/Galvanos

Anthony – Monolith

Pat – Doc Tesla

John – Bronco

So a fray is imminent and the tension is palpable.

Everyone waits for Monolith's move. Gal has called for backup. Guardsman has eluded that backup for him is en route...

The heroes go first, Champion leading the 6 on 1. Guardsman does well, resisting Tock's slow down trick and he takes down Monolith in one shot. Then he uses Monolith as a swing stick.

The fray continues in earnest. Guardsman tries to make a run and get away from the dogpile, when suddenly there's a dump truck in his way – courtesy of Tick Tock.

Guardsman run head on into the truck. Tock honks the horn. What an odd edition to the fray.

Guardsman goes to blow the gas tank. Champion interrupts and shakes Tock out of the truck.

The Guardsman-pile reforms and the fray continues. Doc Tesla arrives, somewhat confused by the enormity of the fray, but happy his arrival brings a brief detente and time for the start of a conversation.

Champ suggests Tesla should zark the water Guardsman is standing in. He obliges. Guardsman is still kicking.

10 Metal Militia men burst on the scene. Tesla talks to Tesla and gives him a suggestion. Doc Tesla lets loose a giant EMP. [Anthony out of game to Pat, pondering the implications of the emp: Fuck Astro Boy – kill HALO!!"]

Kenji survives the EMP, Galvanos does not, nor do the 10 Militiamen. Bronco coup-de-graces Guardsman and a moment of calm descends.

Champion grabs Kenji and runs for it. Eve calls Tesla, the only one with a working communicator. He teleports out as four new squads of goons teleport in to help Guardsman.

Tock pauses things and goes around grabbing grenades and ammo from the new goons. In paused time a new Time Ranger arrives. Tock pops a pin on a grenade. 'Are you insane?' he asks Tock. Tock drops the grenade, smiles, then runs back to real time.

New dude gets fragged back to real time. Lady A recognises him as Captain Adventure. She goes to investigate.

Monolith, recently back up, gets knocked down again. Goons strafe Tock. Lady A takes a rare opportunity to interpose the shots. In doing so she saves Tock and Cap Adventure. And gets tagged by some flying lady coming into the fray.

Bronco squares off against Guardsman, who tries logic on the big Native. Bronco lets him leave to fight on better terms another time. Guardsman orders retreat as more villains flood the field. Monolith keeps fighting with another giant sizer named Rampart.

Tesla returns with reinforcements of our own – Masonic Knight, Renard Roux, Galvanna (under Kenji's control), The Angel and Little Dove.

Then Lord Sovereign bursts in and takes down Guardsman (whut?) interrupting his sounding of retreat. The Angel takes control of Lord Sov's mind and has him sound retreat instead.

Tock is amazed by the fisticuff punishment Iron Lady and Lady A are dishing back and forth on each other.

Seems personal. He interrupts their party and sees that Iron Lady is a perfect match to Lady A. Great. More clones.

Tock pauses time again. More Time Rangers coming. Grabs a taser and zaps everyone in the pond, including himself.

Tock gets back up promptly, just as Lord Sov is breaking his mind control. He sticks with the retreat and the villains bail en mass from the fray. Bronco goes looking for Guardsman – who was last slammed into the bushes. Finds him and calls Monolith over.

Tock brings a nullifier, Tesla modifies it to hold Guardsman. Tick finds a letter from Cap Adventure.

Reinforcements depart as friends and the team heads back to base. Amazingly Renard didn't get killed this time.

As we're discussing what to do with Guardsman, we have to go interrupt Champion whaling on the old hero.

Champ steps out and we talk.

Guardsman tries to talk his way out. Bronco prompts him to lay it all on the line and explain the whole deal. He does.

He used to run information and such between Doc Titan in America and Doc Fear in Nazi Germany. They're brothers, playing both sides for their own and they've created lots of supers on both sides. A while ago Guardsman and Ubermann got to talking about the futility of the fight and carved up the world as personal empires. And he seems to be evil and deranged. Megalomaniacs...

He continues to explain all the evil shit they've done. Explains the cloning and mental imprinting. He explains the Lady A cloning thing. And how he, Ubermann and Sovietsky Soyuz are in cahoots and all his plans are well entrenched and impossible to stop now.

Guardsman really really thinks his militaristic fascism plan is the right one. The debate goes back and forth, but Guardsman is firm. And nuts.

Doc Tesla wants to use the Citadel's resources to build his Teslanauts. Who's more nuts now?

Monolith wants to use Guardsman as bait. We convene a team meeting to discuss. Doc Tesla stays behind and has a conversation/debate with himself.

At the team meeting we decide to go public and explain the whole shebang to the media and the people. The doorbell rings at our public HQ. Bronco heads to see who's visiting now.

Guardsman tries to manipulate the madman in the lab. Seems to be gaining ground.

It's Van Jove at the door – who everyone in the world has forgotten is Brain Flexx. He joins in on the team meeting a re-informs us of his identity and all the other information we've been made to forget. And in five minutes Lord Sov will be at their location.

He's offering himself to help us in our impending fray. We discuss cloning and spitball other ideas.

Down in the lab Doc Tesla precision teleports Guardsman's locator out. Flexx compels Guardsman to talk. Then he makes up all forget again, including Guardsman's world domination plan. Guardsman demands to be taken to the world court in The Hague. Tesla, Flexx and Guardsman 'port out.

They arrive, and there's Trauma waiting for them. She freaks Tesla out. Smilidon also walks in. They're waiting for Guardsman, but they'll let Doc Tesla live.They give him a message that Brain Flexx says thanks. Tesla breaks the fear and tries to bail with Guardsman. Trixie and Smilidon both tag Tesla on the way out, but Tesla does make it back to the base with Guardsman. Bleeding heavily.

Bronco goes running for Little Dove. Tock freezes time and Monolith helps stop the bleeding. He sees the whole of the Citadel approaching the island. Monolith declares he's gonna fight. The team follows as Dove heals Tesla back to full. Tesla immediately starts having a conversation with himself.

Tesla calls back in the reinforcements and anyone else who can come. The team goes out to hold the line.

Meanwhile, Doc Tesla gets it into his head that he can teleport the whole island elsewhere, or at least the house. Doc Titan calls in, Tesla cuts the conversation short by frying the transmitter.

Doc Tesla then telports the entire base to the Arizona desert.

Lady A for no reason in particular, punches Bronco in the face while she has a blank expression. Not knowing what's going on, Bronco returns the favour, knocking her out.

Detente is reached, however confusingly.

Though all but Telsa had forgotten the Brain Flexx stuff, the recorders in the lab picked up the whole conversation explaining everything. The team is brought back up to speed, again.

-END OF SESSION-

Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Vol. 1 - Cover Preview

2010-08-10T20:30:00.000-04:00

With the art completed and the writing done, the layout begins and the final approval from Basic Action Games can be sought!

So here is a mock-up/preview of the cover for your enjoyment. I think Anthony's art is really good on this. Please keep in mind this is a mock-up and the final will be cleaned up (artifacts on the art, etc...) but I was so excited I couldn't wait to show you all!

Click here to see the full size!

You ever have one of those games?

2010-08-01T11:57:00.000-04:00

Your plans go out the window.

You tip your hat too soon.

Your carefully constructed campaign is revealed and it was no where as cool as you thought it would be.

These are the things that happened to me last night.

After an exhausting 2 hour combat (which was quite the kick butt fight btw) I found myself going against my instinct and revealing too much and making it go too fast.

Now as this is issue 12 - Part Two, it could be said that after five months of playing I was just a bit burned out. Or it could be that the night was tiring, we were all exhausted after the fight, and that lead to me making some really dumb moves.

Both of these are valid reasons, but in the end I have only myself to blame.

Let me explain.

I have been running a fairly tight campaign thus far, and I have all sorts of ideas of things I want to do with the characters and the story being told. I have plots, conspiracies and even awesome fights planned. I have put a lot of work into this and thinking it through, the Zenith Universe is not random.

The thing is that I wanted this to be a Bronze Age campaign and, as one player put it, the big reveal and craziness of last night made it into a Modern Age as written by Mark Millar. Now I don't mind Mark Millar comics as a general rule, it isn't very Bronze Age. In fact it is too much and too crazy and, for lack of a better word, wrong.

The campaign certainly was doing just fine, but as I went along my reach started to exceed my grasp and I got caught up in all the crazy fun and conspiracy metaplot and less on the heroes fighting crime and doing their thing.

As another player said, referring to an old campaign, it went to the moon.

That's like saying it jumped the shark.

This has always been a problem I have as a storyteller. I put a lot of work into my campaigns and that is good and bad. It is good because there is always something happening and it bad because there is always something happening.

The first rule of campaigning, that I seemed to forget, is that this is about the players and their interactions with the world, not the world and its interaction with the players. The latter is just a bad idea from the word go as it will make the players feel like passengers and not drivers.

Fortunately I have a group of players who are very understanding and tolerant. They accept my foibles and my missteps, trusting that I can either make it better or fix it. That's a lot of trust and something I hope to live up to with this current campaign.

So yeah, just needed to get that off my chest.

Thanks for reading.

John's Notes - The Sentinels - Session 12

2010-07-28T17:01:00.000-04:00

Session Notes - ZCP Unnamed System - Sentinels - July 17, 2010

Robin - Tick Tock

Renzo - Kenji/Gal

Mike - Max Plastic

Anthony - Monolith

John - Bronco

So Max is having an awesome night. He's been getting drinks sent to him for a while before finding out it's an inebriated and recently fired Tori. They wake up the following morning together. Max sees a blue-grey guy. Then he gets a zarking.

Tock's hunting for food at the HQ. Then a blue-grey guy appears. Zark.

Doc Tesla's off base and out of communication. He has a reason, but no one understands it.

Monolith's going through the lab to see what Doc Tesla's up to. Seems the Doc's into cloning. Lots. He opens the door to leave the lab after hours of snooping. And gets zarked.

Bronco's having a good time rassling. It's a good card. Better party afterwards. Lady A's there as Amanda Reese and a good time is had. Then drinks, a snack, and back to her place. Time pauses, a blue-grey guy appears. Zarkage.

Kenji's rolling around the base. Still pondering death and such. 10am rolls around and still no sigh of anyone. He searches to find an empty house. Also finds the Gal chassis missing.

The heroes wake up somewhere else. Lady A in lingirie, Bronco in a towel, Max naked, Tock clothed - holding a jar of pickles, Monolith in a lab coat. Gal chassis just standing there looking impressive.

As we discuss where we might be, the door opens. It's one of the blue-grey zarkers with a clipboard and a pair or purple reptile-men as escorts. They apparently have no sense of humour, but they do have remote control shockers for the control disks we're all wearing. He explains we're on the Arena ship of the Gamemasters. We're to fight for them, gladiator style. And here's our general - Jonathan Wilder. He doesn't seem to remember being a superhero. Doesn't remember anything after the shuttle accident. Might be a cloan. But he does have the powers he's supposed to.

0G: "So I was cloned? So am I a clone?? How do I know you're not a clone...?"

Bronco: "We don't - that's the fun part."

Mono tries to snow Wilder on how to activate the robot. Wilder's charming, but Mono's not falling for his charms.

The Zarker comes back. Paralyzes the lot of the heroes. He takes Tock out to see if he knows anything about the robot. The interrogation is a big zarkfest. He breaks and tells them about Kenji.

Meanwhile, back at the HQ... Kenji finds Garrison. They confer. Garrison 'aw-hell's it and goes for a look-see. Kenji goes looking in the system for Eve. Finds her. Ahem, he senses something behind him. Blue-grey dudes. They zark him.

Tock's brought back to the hero barracks. He's in rough shape. He talked. Kenji's brought in, unconscious. Mister Zark is upset with all the delays. Mono hacks into the base to provide long-distance radio life control for Kenji though some tech stuff. Eve answers the phone at the base. Tock freezes time, keeps Mono out of time, and blipverts the whole story and how to help to Eve. Then 2 scifi soldiers start coming out of the shadows. It's Time Rangers, on the hunt for Tock. Tock pops them back into regular time.

Eve links Kenji virtually with Galvanos. And Eve is still in Kenji's head.

Then Wilder comes in. Gal hugs him. Oops, says the massive robot.

Monolith fills Wilder in on what we know as history. Eve shows footage of aliens retrieving the bodies from the moon. Gal holos the dataa. Mono shares the aliens making supers subplot. He then asks Tock about the Time Rangers and gets no good answer.

Into the arena we go... We get a nice big intro. Seems we're the underdogs. They kind of imply Lady A's a clone. Our opponents are being lead by Guardsman/Lord Sovereign. And his team.

U, F, and O come out first with Guardsman. Then Gyro and Starbird. And Garrison, in his Champion costume.

A horn sounds and the fray is on. Lady A begins with a kick sprung from Max at Guardsman. He takes it. Bronco runs into Obelisk. The shockwave sends Flora flying. Flora is caught by Monolith. Aww. The fray rages everywhere. Max one-shots Flora, again, as soon as she's back on the ground again. Gal ricochets a rocket fist off Gyro and into Obelisk, knocking the big man down. 0G drops Obelisk onto Uranium, taking down the radioactive madman. Monolith slaps Gyro out of the sky. Tock takes Starbird surprisingly out of the air. Leaving Guardsman standing. Just ready to take hits, as the only villain standing.

Lady A is still down. Max tries to talk to Guardsman. He shatters Max's illusions of friendship. He then sonic slaps everyone out of his way. Tock slows down the big man's hands so lessen the impact of the slap. As the dust settles most of the villains get back up again.

Starbird frees herself from her shock disk, gives Tock a prophecy about control to Tock, then bails. Garrison finally rips off his control disk. He then grabs the 60' foot tall Monolith and swings him mightily around. The dust of the fray clears, Max and Bronco combo hit Guardsman into the wall.

Lady A gets back up and tries to kick Guardsman for all she's worth. She lands it. Garrison stops Kenji from frying the Guardsman. So the aliens fry the lot of us for having no desire to kill everyone. We almost all pop our control disks. Guardsman take the lead with the assembly (setting the fray aside for the time being). Max and Bronco take on the incoming guards. Champion and Guardsman fight together for the first time in decades and do quite well for themselves. Then the aliens gas us all. Leaving Galvanos. Kenji (with Eve's help) reverses the air flow from the arena into the rest of the ship, and gasses the lot of everyone else. Everyone makes it back up. Guardsman dispatches Tock to go get Kenji so they can all leave.

-In this meantime, Tock has a four-issue miniseries about the quest to get Kenji while dodging the Time Rangers-

Gal hacks a hole down out of the arena. We get to a ship, next to another ship that Tock crashed in his miniseries. We escape back to Earth.

Wilder heads off to find Starbird and Gyro. And U.F.O. as well. Detente is reached.

Guardsman doesn't really want to come in to be arrested for killing the president just yet. He still has an agenda he plans to follow. Max turns his back on Guardsman and walks away.

Everyone else, really juiced on the idea of fighting Guardsman, jumps into a new fray, lead by Champion and Lady A...

-END OF ISSUE-

Fast And Dirty Summertime Update!

2010-07-25T00:06:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone.

Just stopping in to let you know I am not dead and work continues.

The writing for "Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies" is done, and now comes the editing and layout process.

The art is all but done, only the cover remains to be done.

I don't think I will make a July release, but August looks more than good.

The Podcast continues to do well and the line-up of guests continues to be strong.

Last but not least, work on "Zenith Comics Presents: The Roleplaying Game" moves along at a very nice pace. No predictions as to when the product will be ready, it will just come out when it does.

I will try to make more updates here as the dog days of summer approach.

Cheers!

Oh and say hi in the comments, it can only encourage me. ;)

John's Notes - The Sentinels - Session 11

2010-07-18T08:33:00.000-04:00

Session Notes - Sentinels (New System) - July 3, 2010 - Session 11

Anthony - Monolith
Mike - Max Plastic
Robin - Tick Tock
Renzo - Kenji/Galvanos
Pat - Doc Tesla
John - Bronco

So here we are on the field of battle at the White House - what's left of it.

0G is dead. Lord Sovereign/Guardsman, too.

Lasseter King arrives. He's upset at us again. The Veep wants to put us all in jail.

He likes the 'We've got the strength to stand up to more clones' thing as an angle to keep us free.

"If you mention cloning again; I will eat you. I will grow to a larger size and actually eat you." Monolith to Doc Tesla

Elsewhere the recently released Tick Tock is watching the heroes on tv. Sees this Max Plastic dude he used to hang with. Decides to go to Washington to join in with the exciting world of heroics. Steals a car, slows time and is almost instantly (to everyone else's perspective) in DC. He strolls into the secure area where the heroes are awaiting their fate. Then resumes time. The Sentinels are more than a little surprised by a Mad Hatter-looking dude with a clock cane coming in.

He's recognized by Monolith and Doc Tesla. Doc Tesla knows what his powers can do, also knows he's out of jail from good behaviour.

He can't reverse time, sorry Mr. President. Monolith is the only one really troubled by Tick Tock's appearance.

Lady A comes in. Hilarity ensues. He wants to join the team. Then Champion (Garrison) and Galvanos arrive.

Doc Tesla 'ports us all to the not-so-secret HQ.

We search for Kenji, find him on the floor of the control room in bad shape. He seems catatonic. Max wakes him up, Garrison kicks everyone out. He tries to make Kenji feel good about killing Uberman. Kenji still feels bad about it. Garrison goes on a mini-rant about Uberman's atrocities to try and bring Kenji around.

Garrison gives him a talking to about the reality of life and death with a giant sword. Kenji kicks Garrison out. Garrison points out the choice Kenji needs to make about being on board with the deal or getting off now. He then leaves and instructs the team not to disturb Kenji until he's ready.

Meanwhile in the bar with Tick Tock and Monolith...

"Oh, you're the urrrrrr (a la Frankenstein) Monolith!" says Tock in a brilliant realization of having a drink with a fellow ex-criminal.

The rest of the team coalesces. Monolith grills him on the source of his powers. Bronco moots the point and interrogation by sponsoring Tock for membership. Doc Tesla wants to kidnap Tick Tock for study. Nicolai agrees in Doc Tesla's head. Tock leaves the team to discuss matters. He liberates a hotel room for the night, planning to be back at the HQ the next day at noon.

And then Marbles, the retarded rock guy is there. And he's upset. Little Princess asks Marbles to put Tock down. They've broken out of jail. And they're putting the old gang back together specifically to kill Max Plastic.

Tock calms Little Princess down as they sit down for a tea party. Apparently Marble is immune to the power nuillifiers. Tock calls the base with Monolith's borrowed comlink. Conveniently Max is on the monitors. Tock fills him in. Then he's spotted by Mr. Bearkins, Princess' animated teddy-bear companion. Tock boots him down a laundry chute. Marbles tags Tock hard into the wall. Tock runs for it and gets away.

Time doesn't seem to work for him, as he slows down he spots a sniper from his rogue's gallery taking a bead on him.

Tock bails on stopped time and runs like hell. Then Marble catches up. The team, meanwhile is homing in on the comlink.

Doc Tesla gets Marbles' attention. He charges. Bronco takes the freight train hit. As the full bore fray begins, Doc Tesla is much distracted by Mr. Bearkins flinging itself on Doc Tesla's face. Doc Tesla in surprise and disgust fries the stuffed companion. Little Princess screams. Marbles is distracted from hitting Bronco for a moment. Bronco lays a massive hit in, causing Marble to bawl.

Tock finds Princess hiding and hits her with a rolling dumpster. She sends it right back at Tock. Marbles misses Bronco as Doc Tesla fries Little Princess. She is lifted off the ground by the zarking and lands unceremoniously in the now-ubiquitous dumpster. Bronco catches Marble in a sleeper hold and puts him down.

Belle Isle sends a retrieval team. Doc Tesla informs them of the nullifier issue with Marbles. He explains a new way to adjust the gear, which is spectacular and well received by the retrieval team.

Doc Tesla and Monolith convince Tick Tock to come back to the base.

Monolith to Max Plastic: "Keep an eye on Tesla..."

Max Plastic back to Monolith: "Keep an eye on Tick..."

Back at the base...

Lady A's back. She makes fun of us for fighting the Odd Squad. She then has a private meeting with Monolith and quits the team, again. This time for good, again. They discuss the exciting field of cloning. Lady A shuts that door hard before any real discussion can be had.

In the lab Tock refuses to use his power. Doc Tesla finally relents.

Monolith tries to console Kenji, who replies: "Thanks, Monolith, but the only person I can talk to is dead..."

Ouch.

Kenji then reveals he killed Uberman. He calls it a day and leaves Monolith to ponder that.

Cut to Belle Isle... As Marbles and Little Princess are being lead through the halls they head past a door marked Brain Flex. Van Jove is intrigued by hearing Max Plastic's name. He calls the guard over, mutters a control word and expedites his own release by casually walking out the front door...

-END OF ISSUE-

The Announcement

2010-07-01T09:32:00.000-04:00

Happy Canada Day all!

As promised it is the 1st of July and I have an announcement to make!

I am making my own superhero role-playing game.

That's right.

Staring my 40th birthday (July 3rd) in the face I knew this was my year to move. The recent boom of superheroes once again also let me know the time was right.

Now there may be some who feel I am jumping on a bandwagon, but those who know me know that this has been coming for the past 20 years.

I have assembled a dynamic team of contributors/consultants who are helping me develop the system, including James O'Rance proposing a fantastic dice mechanic that just sings to me!

The name of the game, for now, is "Zenith Comics Presents: The Role-Playing Game!" Now this could stay as the title or just be a working title. Only time will tell, though to be sure it's hard to get a name that hasn't already been taken by one of the numerous amazing superhero rpgs already on the market... but I digress.

I have also assembled (notice a theme of assembling here?) a team of outstanding artists. Some published, others on their way to being published, to design and create the "look" of the art. These dudes know their stuff and I am very excited to see how it will all turn out!

And last (never start a sentence with "and"), but by no means least, I have a publishing partner which means this will see actual dead-tree status! Right now we are talking digest sized and... wait for it.... BOXED SET! Oh hell yeah!

Of course any of the above information could change at a moments notice, so don't hold my feet to the flames on any of it. We shall do our best and try our hardest to bring you this fantastic (at least in our opinion) game!

What does this mean for Zenith Comics other project, Public Enemies?

Public Enemies continues on track and will be released towards the end of the summer for BASH (the hopefully ICONS and M&M3rd Edition... also once again trying to secure permission to make a V&V 2.1 version) and based on sales and demand, there may be more issues.

Though that said, every copy of "Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies" that is sold will add to the coffers for the role-playing game's production (a.k.a. art costs) so if you are inclined, feel free to pick up a copy and support this project!

Keep watching this space for news and updates as the project continues and I won't be so arrogant as to give a release date, since we all know those are slipperier than ... well... something really slippery!

Cheers!

Zenith Comics Presents: The Podcast - Issue 2!

2010-06-27T12:29:00.000-04:00

Go here!

Warning there is only a very large file up right now. John is gonna break it down into smaller files for me later this week!

Cheers!

Role Play Media Network... I'm On It

2010-06-19T08:16:00.002-04:00

Here

Check it out and friend me :)

V&V Returns! Great Success!

2010-06-18T06:41:00.002-04:00

This is a good piece of news for us old timers.

Hopefully if their sales are good they will do another boxed set :)

Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Vol. 1 - Art Preview 6!

2010-06-17T05:58:00.000-04:00

Back with another, this time in colour!
Presenting the shocking Energion!

John's Notes - The Sentinels - Session 10

2010-06-16T19:20:00.002-04:00

Session Notes - Sentinels Session 10 (rectified issue numbering) - BASH - June 5, 2010

Robin - 0G
Renzo - Kenji/Gal
Pat - Doc Tesla
Mike - Max Plastic
Anthony - Monolith
John - Bronco

So the team has blacked out the city, draining power for a prototype MRI.

Bronco strolls into the HQ just in time to see the lights go out.

Garrison and Bronco catch up to the team in the darkened hanger looking at a screen.

There is certainly another floor.

The shut the machine off, which brings the lights back.

The team openly discusses Eve. Kenji leaves to call his father for advice.

He actually leaves the room to discuss things with Eve.

0G and Monolith discuss recent events. Monolith revisits the Starbird origin story - including how she saw 0G get his powers.

Kenji returns. The consensus is to punch through the floor. It takes no effort to pop the elevator's false bottom.

Kenji sends Gal in. HE then reroutes video for the rest of the team to watch. A quick glimpse of Eve pops on the screen before vanishing.

Gal can't pry the door so Bronco tries. He gets it open, then klaxons sound and Max retreats his hands before the hatch snaps shut and Bronco gets gassed. He tries to punch his way out, fails, and succumbs to the gas.

Doc Tesla teleports blindly in to the elevator shaft, then succumbs to the gas, too.

Gal steps in, whips out the sword and carves a hole in the hatch. Max takes in the gas, and Eve reverses the vents. This creates a vacuum momentarily. 0G's training kicks in and he offers a suggestion which helps everyone who's not unconscious. The smoke clears and the elevator shaft is devoid of Bronco and Tesla. 0G pops the big inside door with ease. It's a big shiny tech room.

Kenji hears and understands the Japanese voice issuing warnings on the other side of the door. And then the robots attack.

Gal flattens 5 with his rocket fist. Gal hears the warning voice getting ready to up the ante.

Now it's 8 robots in an octagonal room versus the heroes. Doc Tesla and Bronco are in glass tubes in the middle of the room.

A fray breaks out. Max and Gal go for four, Monolith and 0G go for the other four.

The fray abruptly stops at a big deactivation. The robots stop. The big screen pops to life and Jume, Kenji's dad's major domo is on the screen. He berates Kenji for the interruption, then deactivates Galvanos. He releases Bronco and Doc Tesla, then reveals the origin of Kenji Kobayashi.

Mom, Dad, and little Kenji were in an accident. A bad one. The last occupied tube in the room is occupied by a little Japanese boy. And Kenji that we know is a robot. And he doesn't know anything about any of this. He asks us, in a totally non-threatening slightly guilt-trippily, to keep quiet about the bot thing. We agree. He leaves the screen, and the new big door back out of the room opens.

Kenji's on his way down in a wheelchair. We conspire to keep this from the little robot under the guise of 'important personal effects' of his father's. Doc Tesla wants to study the gear. 0G really really doesn't want any studying at all. Gal is picked up and the heroes leave the room.

Van Jove starts talking in 0G's head. Tesla is confused by 0G's non-sequitor responses. Van Jove links 0G's mind to Tesla's. He points out Tesla's pseudo-insane split-personality. They leave his mind. 0G wrecks the hallway on the way out. Tesla points out he can teleport. The grumpiness continues. Van Jove keeps baiting and talking over 0G as Nicolai is talking over Doc Tesla. Doc Tesla teleports out in frustration.

The doorbell rings. Bronco goes to answer. Monolith and Max Plastic meanwhile are trying to explain to Kenji why he shouldn't go push the big shiny red button in the basement.

It's Garth at the door. He wants to talk to the team. Bronco shuts the door in his face and heads to find 0G. Lady A comes in moments later. She calls the team to a meeting. She's pissed at us, again. This time about the power blackout. Maybe EAGLE will be chill if we share our new MRI with them.

Garth is brought in. He has an offer. He wants the team. Again. 0G tells him to go away. Tesla wants him to keep talking. Garth leaves. Eve is next on the discussion agenda. Kenji admits he didn't create Eve, he got her from Garth. On that note the meeting is called and the heroes head off to ponder recent events. Monolith and Tesla keep talking. Lady A comes back in to send them to bed. Tesla points out that he didn't appreciate getting a talking to...

0G sleeps. Dreams. He's on the shuttle again. And Van Jove is his copilot. The have a chat. He says Guardsman's not dead. He warns of a storm coming. Van Jove refers to the mysterious They that are running things. Now they're in Berlin and Lady A's getting killed. Then Dallas. Lady A seems to die a lot. She's a clone. So is Guardsman. Now there's a German boy who's only a mind. They are using him. Van Jove is mounting a resistance. 0G is to be the lynch pin. He's the runner up, though, he wanted Gravity originally. Oops, time to wake up. A couple more cryptic warnings and he's gone. 0G wakes up, barely holding on to the revelatory dream.

0G gets up and heads to the machine shop to seek out Tesla. He wants to go back to the room. He convinces 0G and they go and disturb Jume again. His mood is no better than last time. They chat. Jume encourages them to not trifle any further with the room. At all. Anymore. The agree and leave.

(I didn't keep good track of who 0G spoke to about dropping the leadership of the team, or when. So we'll just skip to breakfast).

At breakfast Lady A announces the change in leadership of the Sentinels. Lady A also mentions a shitstorm is coming.

As if on cue, a helicopter is coming in. It's another guy in a suit summoning us all to DC, again. He leaves. 0G does his sliding trick and boom, we're in DC. We go to visit the President himself. Introductions are made, lip service is paid, and incidentally, Ronnie knows Kenji's dad. He has an offer for us. More of an imposition than an offer. He's going to nationalize the team. Though a partnership with Garth. He leaves to let us think about a creative way to say yes.

Van Jove warns 0G. Then an explosion rips through the White House. It's Lord Sovereign in the remains of the Oval office. Fight or run? We fight. Tesla sends Kenji back to the base to get Gal. Garrison's gearing up, too, in his old costume. The fray begins in DC.

Lord S shrugs off most damage. It goes back and forth... just kidding, we don't do shit against him. Lady A grabs a bazooka. Lord S sees it coming and reverses it. Bronco gets in the way and takes the hit for Lady A. He seems to be dead, but gets back up never surrenderedly and wallops Lord S astoundingly, cracking his helmet; revealing his the Guardsman. Oh shit. Gal and Garrison enter the fray. Guardsman bails, Garrison follows. Van Jove wants 0G to talk to the people and take control. He resists and breaks the connection with Van Jove. He follows Guardsman. Monolith orders Gal and Tesla to catch us with 0G. A streak takes Garrison down. Gal peels off to help him.

Tesla catches up and zaps Guardsman. 0G uses the distraction to slide himself and Guardsman into space, where he hits Guardsman with the Moon. 0G catches up to the Moon and goes to see the crater. Guardsman dead. Dead dead. Then 0G's mind kind of snaps. Then he realizes he's screwed. The radiation seeps through his shield and he dies on the Moon next to Guardsman.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, Gal is pursuing the Garrison hit. He's in the Caribbean on a small island. It's Uberman whaling on Garrison. Gal comes in hot. He pulls the sword and whales right back on Uberman. He cleaves the Nazi hard, killing him with one shot.

So back at the White House, the president is dead and EAGLE is debriefing us.

The issue ends with a shot of the Moon, and the dead bodies of 0G and Guardsman in his Lord S outfit.

--END OF ISSUE--

Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Vol. 1 - Art Preview 5!

2010-06-14T06:53:00.002-04:00

Meet Black Shroud!

Something Is Cooking At Zenith Comics!

2010-06-13T20:22:00.000-04:00

I don't want to say anything right yet, and in the end maybe it will be less impressive than I am making it sound, but something is cooking that might be fun.

More details to come when I make further headway.

System Mania!

2010-06-12T16:45:00.000-04:00

So as those of you who have been following this blog know I plan to release villain roster books for BASH Ultimate Edition, ICONS and Mutants & Masterminds 3rd Edition.

I had hoped to do Villains & Vigilantes, Champions and a couple of others, but in the end they either never got back to my request, or I didn't like their licensing deals.

But...

You also know that I plan to post up Zenith Universe heroes for free on the website, so there need be no licensing issues as I believe it falls under the provisions of "fair use". Please correct me if I am wrong on this one.

So what systems would you like to see heroes statted up in? The above three are a given, plus V&V and Champions. I was also thinking 4C and SAGA as well.

Any others?

Cheers!

Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Vol. 1 - Art Preview 4!

2010-06-11T06:34:00.000-04:00

Here he is, the fastest man in the West! Also the fastest gun! Colt!

Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Vol. 1 - Art Preview 3!

2010-06-10T07:10:00.001-04:00

Here he is. The manliest man of them all!

Adonis, the Roman God of Beauty!

I use Roman Gods in the Zenith Universe for two reasons, the first that the Greek Gods have been done-to-death in comics and because I grew up listening to Wonder Woman say "Merciful Minerva!"

Cheers!

Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Vol. 1 - Art Preview 2!

2010-06-09T11:42:00.003-04:00

Here she is, the deadliest player in the game. A former kid-sidekick turned assassin, I give you Nightviper!

Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Vol. 1 - Art Preview!

2010-06-08T22:24:00.002-04:00

So here is the first piece I promised you Damselfly!

More to come as the week progresses.

Cheers!

Update!

2010-06-08T17:06:00.000-04:00

Anthony and I had a meeting today. It went well. We had decided two weeks ago to scrub the previous art and go in a whole new direction, a more "animated" direction. That doesn't me going in a Timm way, but instead going for a more simplistic yet dynamic direction/style.

About 3 days ago I started to have doubts and began second guessing myself.

Well after seeing all 10 characters pencil sketches (which I will start previewing here and on various boards tonight or tomorrow), of which 6 were done at the table, I can say that this was the smartest choice we made!

Zenith Comics will now have a definite style and look to it which is a really awesome thing. I say this because for me "branding" has become a very important process for me. I recognize the strength and the power of it and I look forward to having the Zenith "shield" become something of an association with quality.

Dan House is hard at work on a new front page image for the website as well, which is based on a classic comic cover and will be sure fun.

Also another decision I came to today is this. While I will be selling villain roster books, I am going to be giving away heroes for free on the website. Why? Well with players in your games already playing heroes, what you would need more than MORE heroes would be a hole in the head. Villains? Sure. Absolutely, but to try and sell hero books doesn't sit right with me.

Oh and I will be giving them in BASH, ICONS and M&M3rd variants, which eventually all the villain roster books will be released in as well.

The also I am happy to announce a new member of the Zenith Comics family, Jim Stoner! Jim has an understanding of building characters that just blows my mind. As such he has come on-board to the stat blocks for the villains to be in "Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Volume 1", and I hope to keep him for all future volumes as well.

Beyond that my end of it all, the writing, is back on track and I am shooting for a mid-July release of the first book, end of August at the latest.

Oh and the first issue of "Zenith Comics Presents: The Podcast!" got a great response with over 300 downloads! Issue 2 (interview with Steven Long of HERO games) is in production now and have set a date for the Issue 3 interview with Jeff Grubb.

It's shaping up to be a very Zenith summer!

John's Notes - The Sentinels - Session 9

2010-05-31T21:37:00.001-04:00

With John absent from the session, Renzo steps in as the special guest writer :)

=-=-=-=-=-=

Session Notes for the 22nd 0f May 2010

Players:

Mike: Max Plastic

Anthony: Monolith

Pat: Dr. Tesla

Robin: Zero G

Renzo: Galvanos?/Kenji

John: Bronco(in absentia)

At the mansion, Monolith wakes startled from a bad dream involving this alleged 3rd subbasement.

Monolith decides it's time to get some answers, so of course he goes straight to 13 year old Kenji.

Monolith asks Kenji about Eve, they get into a frank conversation about Kenji's new AI, as frank as possible considering Kenji is keeping some truth's about Eve to himself(Sterling's little creation who conveniently is duping Stirling himself).

As Monolith and Kenji stroll through the base debating Eve, they happen upon the Lab where Dr. Tesla is having a spirited debate with Tesla himself(another wacko joins the team) a conversation about the 3rd subbasement ensues and how we can take a look without having to tear things apart, Dr. Tesla insists we can make an MRI 10 years before it's time, things don't work out perfectly Dr. T kicks them out. We'll get back to T&T a little later.

Meanwhile outside drunk superman (forgot his name) is BBQing what he lovingly refers to as bourbon squirls. (old family recipe)when Zero G and Max happen upon him and luckily there is enough squirl to be had by all.

Lady A shows up, she asks for help transporting SKULLSMASHER to Belle Isle, Zero G kindly offers his assistance, she explains the whole team will be needed for this of course.

Back at science central Kenji introduces Monolith to Eve they hit it off(Monolith seems concerned).There conversation is interrupted by a call from Doc Titan explaining that whatever it is that we are doing is causing severe electrical interference with the city and he'll be coming to the mansion within minutes. A few minutes later he shows up, Monolith meets him outside and explains, Doc Titan loves the MRI idea (nerds assemble) Doc and Kenji go Downstairs.

Monolith ever vigilant in his role as second in command debriefs Zero G about Eve and the 2 Tesla's, Zero G seems to be quite relaxed about it all, almost distant. Zero G tells Monolith about this evenings SKULLSMASHER mission and Monolith leaves to join the brain trust downstairs.

Success!!!! thanks to Kenji's apparent genius and everyone else's help of course the MRI is completed in record time. Doc Titan is impressed by Kenji's genius and somewhat perplexed. Which leads to Monolith feeling the need to voice his concerns about Eve to yet someone else and a conversation ensues with Doc Titan.

Time for our meeting with Eagle to help transport SKULLSMASHER, we meet LadyA on the outskirts of the city.

An energy pulse from space shatters the containment unit with SKULLSMAHER in it.

Most of the team gets hit by debris except Gal and Zero G. Dr. T, Max and Monolith go flying off the bridge Zero G stops them from hitting the water.

Before SKULLSMASHER can do anything Dr. T fires off a powerful blast as he realizes SKULLSMASHER is immune to electrical attacks and he laughs it off.

Gal comes in for a double rocket-fist fly-by to no avail.

While SKULLSMASHER is busy laughing at us, LadyA comes in with a masterful pounding giving Monolith an opening to step on SKULLSMASHER, he takes it like a man.

Meanwhile ZeroG goes out to help EAGLE agents in need.

Monolith goes to step on SKULLSMASHER again when he let's loose with an energy blast and gives Monolith a toasty foot shot. SKULLSMASHER now seems annoyed (oh shit!)

Max comes in with a tube toss with the debris from SS's containment tube, ZeroG adds weight to the attack intensifying the hit and they take SS out. Yay! Oops we were wrong...

SS chucks a truck at ZeroG, Gal interposes and goes flying into the river.

Dr. T decides to track were the signal came from and tracks it back to a satellite in space.

Monolith keeps chucking stuff at SS, SS goes from being annoyed to being mad. Thanks Monolith.

Gal decides we haven't pissed SS off enough so he pulls out his energy sword and takes out part of the bridge, surrounding cars and trucks but has no effect on SS. When will this end?

Dr. T'S electrical attacks having no effect he decides to charge into him instead(mad man) IT WORKS!! SS is out. The resulting impact collapses the bridge Max heroically strings himself up acting as the girders for the bridge, ZeroG realizes this and lightens the load for Max, SS is already backup by this point.

Monolith and SS go at it mano-mano/ Monolith is out, his poor nuts.

ZeroG and Gal go at SS together, SS throws Monolith at them. WTF!!!

Gal moves out of the way, ZeroG gets hit giving Gal a clear shot at SS who is under the water and can't be seen, Gal fires blind and hits. Everyone else is up and ready to fight, we need to take SS DOWN NOW!!!!!

Max creates a vortex under the water clearing a path for the rest of us to see SS. Why does SS have a smile on his face?

ZeroG weakens SS in hopes of wrapping this up, SS has other plans and ground pounds the river bed causing a tsunami to emanate from him out (there are millions of people in Capitol City).

Gal closes the distance and super seizure eyes SS, ZeroG with a wave of his arms stops the tsunami and collapses it back onto SS and takes him out. Yay!!!

The side of Belle Isle opens up and there is the brightest flash of light, a super from the golden age called Atomicles is standing there waiting for Dr.T to teleport SS to Belle Isle. The doors close.

ZeroG goes up to LEO following Dr.T's find as he gets close to the satellite he sees a black rook on the side of the satellite just before it blows up.

The next morning back at the mansion Major King comes to visit. He is going to debrief us on classified information about an organization called the Citadel.

We find out about a man named Lord Sovereign and the Citadel’s agenda to change the world order, also there apparent association with the Metal Militia. We are asked to forget about Atomicles.

Major King leaves w decide it s time to test our MRI, low and behold Monolith is not insane. There is what seems to be a 3rd subbasement...........

The End

What Would You Like To See Here?

2010-05-27T22:08:00.001-04:00

As I don't update my blog very often I turn to you all and ask, what would you like to see here?

Give me your ideas, throw me your suggestions, sent me your death threats... etc ;)

Cheers!

Steve Long Interview

2010-05-26T22:03:00.001-04:00

Hey all,

I am interviewing Steve Long of Hero Games this Sunday.

Anyone got any questions for him?

John's Notes - The Sentinels - Session 8

2010-05-18T17:38:00.001-04:00

Session Notes: Sentinels (BASH) - Session 8 - May 8/10

Anthony - Monolith
Mike - Max Plastic
Robin - 0G
Renzo - Kenji/Gal
Pat - Doc Tesla
John - Bronco

The trial of the century begins. A special tribunal lead by the Supreme Court Chief Justice has been called by the President. Very tight lid on the case. 0G has been having issues getting a lawyer to defend someone on trial for high treason and attempted assassination of the President. Then a lawyer arrives at his digs in the Belle Isle isolation block. His name is Jack Kane, and he feels everyone is entitled to a defense. But he thinks 0G's case sucks. He suggests 0G pleads guilty and throws himself on the mercy of the court. 0G concurs and asks to see Monolith before the trial. Really? The convicted criminal on the team? OK.

Monolith arrives to have the probably no-so-private conversation. 0G's not optimistic, but doesn't mention his intention to plead guilty.

Meanwhile the government wants Gal's hardware and recordings from the event in DC. Kenji and Eve discuss. They create a mock hard drive to fool the Man. Kenji hands over the fake.

The trial begins. 0G pleads guilty. Lady A calls Monolith to inform him. Monolith freaks. Kenji suggests we take Garth Stirling up on his offer of a lawyer. A team meeting is called. Still no Angel. Lady A strolls in and announces she's been fired. A group called Strikeforce USA has been assigned presidential detail, superseding the Secret Service.

Garrison suggests we go bust him out. Kenji objects. Just in time to help out Tori calls a press conference to quit up and join up with Garth. Very nice of her. Then Stirling himself hacks his way through Kenji's firewall and interrupts our meeting. He offers help and security information about 0G's impending transfer to Strikeforce USA's secret location. Lady A points out this is a loophole and we should break him out now. Monolith wants to go. Kenji's down with whatever Lady A suggests we do. Max still thinks UFO is the key to this mess and exonerating 0G, negating the whole break-him-out-of-jail thing.

So Max and Bronco are going to stay behind while Kenji breaks into NATO's satellites, the rest are headed to Belle Isle.

Meanwhile, in 0G's cell... The guard bringing dinner zones out and Van Jove cones to have another chat with 0G. He berates him for pleading guilty and reminds him of his (Van Jove) intention to kill The Angel in a really painful way before he hunkers down to help 0G escape but walking him out the front door, using the guard as a cover. 0G disables the nullifiers, puts them on and they head off.

Just as they're ready to head out, in comes Strikeforce USA from one direction, and the Blue Jay from the other. 0G wrecks the landing pad, preventing either side from having access. Strikeforce USA members come in flying and a fray breaks out. Some flying spangler zaps 0G with an energy bolt. Some bug guy named Rushmore enters the fray as well, and Monolith joins in on the fun. Strikeforce USA kicks much ass, aided by the impression that they're in the right. It's Americana, Rushmore and American Eagle. They fly their shuttle at ours. Both crash into each other. The shuttle on shuttle action breaks both vehicles entirely. Steel Patriot escapes their shuttle and Lady A escapes ours as they crash. 3rd shuttle destroyed by the Sentinels in as many issues.

0G tries to tell Lady A about Van Jove. Nothing comes out.

Steel Patriot strafes the area. The fray continues, makes the news. Kenji spots the story and informs Bronco and Max before going back to his hacking.

Monolith and Lady A finally triumph with 0G's help as, meanwhile, Kenji has successfully broken into NATO.

He tracks the irregular radiation to Arizona. He radios the team. 0G drags the lot to the HQ, with Steel Patriot in pursuit. Garrison comes out to meet the Strikeforcer and annihilates the Patriot's armour.

Kenji grabs up his portable unit and mentions Eve out loud in front of Bronco.

They plan to head to Arizona. 0G rather surprisingly gravity shifts the entire team to Arizona.

So Doc Tesla... Out in the desert, stealing stuff from airplane graveyards. And conducting experiments. He spots a big spike on his meters. He suits up and heads out to see the Sentinels appear in his backyard electrical field spot. 0G puts up a shield and Lady A makes nice with the strangely dressed desert man. Fields and shields are shut down and a full conversation begins. Spikes are identified as coming from around that Native Reservation over there. Bronco gets tired of waiting for more than five seconds and takes off. Lady A, Max and 0G follow, Little Dove in the lead flying. She catches up, but veers to the res to check on people who are reportedly sick. The team catches up further upriver, just as the Earth itself is trying to attack Bronco. They enter the fray and radio Monolith about this new development. Doc Tesla offers to get Monolith there. Then teleports him, bringing on a 'What the Hell...?!' from Monolith upon arrival.

Bronco breaks free as Gal's coming in hot. His Geiger counter's going crazy. Plants are attacking, too. 0G tries to fight the plants, finds the roots go deep, and deduces the villains must be underground. Bronco, hearing mentioned they might be underground, solves the questioning by groundpounding the shit out of the local terrain. He causes a full-scale cave in.

0G catches Bronco before he falls in with the avalanche of landscape. Max, spotting an opportunity, Flattens the newly revealed Flora in one shot. Monolith stomps Obelisk. Doc Tesla kazarks Uranium. Hard.

Uranium declares his newly found desire to kill Doc Tesla. For that declaration, he earns another kazark. Just as hard. Third time's the charm when backed up by Galvanos jumping in with his giant sword to fell Uranium with a massive hit. 0G locks them all in a forcefield and detente is reached. EAGLE is called.

The lot of us head back to DC. As we land 0G hears Van Jove say in his (0G's) head that we owe him. Once we touch down UFO spontaneously and gregariously confesses their crimes.

Being now all squared with the law, we head back to HQ, with Doc Tesla in tow. Garrison's bar-b-qing when we get back. Introductions are made all around. And he's drunk.

After dinner 0G hears, then astrally sees Van Jove. Walter reminds him that real threats are coming, and he should start getting really ready...

-END OF SESSION-

I Made A Favicon!

2010-05-17T15:28:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, hardly news... but for me it was really awesome and cool!

Head to the Zenith Comics website to see it :)

Cheers!

Zenith Comics to be Super Powered by M&M!

2010-05-15T15:38:00.000-04:00

With this announcement by Green Ronin yesterday I have decided to hold off on making the Zenith Comics Presents line available for Mutants & Masterminds until 3rd Edition is out.

The reason has a lot to do with the fact that they will be ending the Superlink program for sure, but also because I like the attitude they are taking towards this entire 3rd edition business.

Green Ronin has always been a classy company from day one that understands the community of hobby publishers very well.

I will be looking forward to producing material for use with their flagship system, as well as for my primary choice BASH!

As a side note, don't forget that I plan to also make the material available for ICONS from Adamant Entertainment. So that means if you are into Supers roleplaying, Zenith Comics will have you covered!

Still not word on Villains & Vigilantes support though as I have had no luck in contacting them. :(

For those who were wondering about Hero/Champions versions of Zenith Comics, at this time I have to say no solely due to their licensing deal. It just doesn't sit right with me.

Cheers and stay tuned for more previews of the art from "Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Volume 1" this week. Brought to you in living colour no less!

Zenith Comics Presents: The Podcast - Episode 1

2010-05-14T07:15:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone.

While the webpage is being worked on (and is not ready yet) I have decided to at least put up the first episode of Zenith Comics Presents: The Podcast for everyone to listen to. The first guest is none other than Jeff Dee, of Villains & Vigilantes fame.

The webpage will be coming soon.

Take a listen and feedback is always welcomed.

Cheers.

New Logo Bliss :)

2010-05-07T08:21:00.000-04:00

Above you see a new logo for the site, by none other than Dan Houser!

The two characters leaning on that Zenith Comics shield are none other than Lady America on your right and Gyro on your left.

While this is a temp logo (I still have tweaks to do on the lettering) I thought it would be fun to share it with you right away.

Cheers!

John's Notes - The Sentinels - Session 7

2010-05-02T15:55:00.002-04:00

Session Notes - Sentinels Session 7 - April 24, 2010

Renzo - Kenji/Gal
Mike - Max Plastic
Anthony - Monolith
John - Bronco

So the team leader's in jail, but at least President Ronnie is still in our corner.

The investigation continues, we keep our heads down.

Starbird's been hanging out, acting odd.

Little Dove also still hanging out. No recent visions.

Stirling offers a great high-priced lawyer. We turn him down.

Eve has been helping Kenji with the defensive stuff for the now public HQ. Very helpful.

Garrison's a little crusty about everyone being underfoot.

Day 3... brainstorming team meeting. Then an explosion.

Guys invade in metal suits. Bronco dives into the fray to protect Little Dove. Gets taken down by combined fire.

*click* "Max Plastic...?"

*click* "Oh he sucks."

*click* "OH @#$%*!!!"

As Max Plastic takes three of them out of the room and on to the lawn. Follows them out to finish his takedowns.

3 flyers coming in on a strafing run. They tag Max Plastic, but not out.

Gal, Monolith and Starbird enter the fray.

The Metal Militia continues taking the fight to us, with missiles. The fray starts turning to the heroes and the Militia 'bodyslide''s out. An odd detente.

Eve and Kenji discuss the upgrades. Eve just wants total control and she can totally improve Galvanos. So he gives her the keys to the kingdom, but not the Gal suit.

Bronco and Little Dove get it on. Monolith and Starbird conversate. They bring Gal in on the conversation as he, through Eve, seems to have lots of information all of a sudden. Monolith wants to pursue UFO and the Metal Militia. He calls Lady A (on Presidential Detail) to see if she has a contact who can help. Lasseter King calls back. They discuss.

Eve wants to break international banking laws to dig deeper. Kenji convinces her otherwise.

Major King informs Monolith of the impending court proceedings after stonewalling him on meaningful information.

Monolith and Max continue the discussion. There's also 8 robots working in the yard.

Kenji tries to stay up and watch what Eve's doing, eventually falls asleep.

Next morning the grounds look lovely and rebuilt.

The robots are wearing clothes today. Monolith goes looking for Kenji. Finds him in front of a bank of security monitors. He sends Kenji to the showers and starts digging into the system. Finds there are 20 bots on the base. Goes deeper.

Finds a blank spot on the map. Curious, he goes for a stroll there.

He finds a big vault door and no cameras. He goes back for the elevator. Waits a while. Gets tired of waiting and grows bigger. Then rips the doors apart as he smells something eggy. Then he wakes up in his bed.

First thing is to call Kenji. He has no knowledge of Sub Basement 3. They meet at the elevator. No button. Odd. Max catches up and joins in the investigation. They head to SB2, the hanger deck. Max pours himself under the elevator and hits the floor quickly. No further space under the elevator.

The whole team gathers and investigates the missing floor, and the bottom of the elevator, right where it's supposed to be according to everyone by Monolith. He retells the story of the vault door. As Max is investigating further, the perimeter alarms go off. We rush to the grounds to find le Renard Roux tangled in tentacles on the lawn. We let him loose.

He wants to rejoin the team, and has a file to share from the Masonic Knight. It shows the Cayman Islands Support Group paid for the Metal Militia's attack.

Kenji, meanwhile, suspects Monolith is going crazy.

Monolith wants to dig further into the banking. Kenji's still worried about the legality. Monolith promises to ask nicely at first.

The meeting breaks, the boys start boy talking. Renard puts his foot in his mouth about Kenji in his chair. Kenji gets a call about a big fire. We pile into the rebuilt Blue Jay. The ship gets radiation readings as we approach the big forest fire.

Then the proximity alarm sounds. Then we get hit. Monolith loses control. We crash.

Big monster hands rip open the ship. Renard identifies Red Guard and Morningstar. Starbird declares they're here for her. A fray beings in earnest. Lots of loose energy being thrown around by the Russians.
Bronco launches debris at the flyers. Morningstar zaps Monolith as Bronco continues to launch parts of the ship at them. The parts fly right through her.

Gal ties the super seizure eyes on her, fails. Renard gets tagged by White Wolf, entering the scene. Also coming in and heading for Bronco is Malotok. He's a wrestling fan, and expresses his respect and honour in fighting Bronco. They throw down.

He's airborne, be's a danger to us, he's Galvanos. He's being attacked by Red Guard.

Max starts elastic launching debris, too. Renard opens up Wolf's midsection. Wolf returns the favour and slaughters Roux. Starbird hits him in retaliation, almost flattening Wolf. Hammer goes for Gal with an open opportunity, and hits him - hard.

Little Dove slips in and heals Monolith. Bronco comes back in the fight and continues to whale on Malotok. He continues to be good-natured about being pounded by the big Indian.

Bronco dodges a big gold palmslap from the air. Monolith throws Max Plastic at Red Guard. Max balls up and bounces Guard into the middle of next month. Then there's a growl, and Roux is all werefoxey. And he seems to be berserk.

Monolith tags Malotok as the fray continues. Wolf does all wolfman and the fur really starts to fly. Malotok misses. Monolith and Bronco combine. A super clothesline from hell off the ropes of Max Plastic and flattens Malotok.

Max springs at Morningstar and tags her on the way through. They teleport out, and we're left with a crazy Werefox. He goes for Dove. Bronco gets in the way and takes heavy hits instead of her. She heals back some of Bronco's damage. He slashes Gal while dodging Monolith. Dove chills him out on the second try with some Indian mind trick. He revers and the fray is fully over.

EAGLE arrives just in the nick of time to miss everything. We're debriefed and cut loose. Starbird carries us back to the base in the shell of the wrecked Blue Jay. Again.

Back at the base Starbird reveals her origin as a MiG pilot opposite the American pilot who became Gyro. She says there were others kidnapped by aliens. Like Wilder and the rest of UFO. Aliens are building supers for some unknown reason.

She offers to leave to stop drawing undue attention to us. We giver her a communicator, and she departs.

We get a call from the DA to say we're due in court tomorrow morning.

-END OF SESSION-

Updates Mania!

2010-04-28T19:31:00.001-04:00

So just got back from another art meeting for "Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Volume 1" and we are now up to colour and cover discussions. So that's awesome!

Gonna go with an exclusive distribution via DriveThroughRpg.com and their POD service as well I think.

Look for a June release at this point.

Also recorded the first edition of the Earth Alpha Podcast on Sunday, wherein I interviewed Jeff Dee (of Living Legends/Villains & Vigilantes fame). Should have that all edited and up for download next week if all goes according to plan.

And last but not least, been looking for a way to export this blog to my webpage and it isn't going well. This means I may move the blog over there to a WordPress based blog and only post update links here moving forward.

We shall see.

Otherwise, things are looking good, spring has sprung (despite 4 inches of snow yesterday that is all but gone today) and the Zenith Universe is in full swing.

Cheers!

John's Notes - The Sentinels - Session 6

2010-04-15T15:39:00.002-04:00

Session Notes - Sentinels Session 6 - April 10th, 2010

Renzo - Kenji/Galvanos
Robin - 0G
Mike - Max Plastic
Anthony - Monolith
John - Bronco

So about Prince Zorin, Sword of the Valek Empire...

0G has been at NASA for three weeks, tracking the arrival of Valek's pod. He tries with his powers to stop it, fails and passes out. Wakes up, radios in, and heads to Cap City to see where it's landed in town.

The rest of the team, meanwhile, has piled into the Blue Jay. The Angel is strangely absent.

Radio tells us Vanguard is already on scene, getting their asses handed to them. Gal gets launched in first. Zorin takes the hit without moving out of the way, and swipes a glancing blow at Gal as he goes by.

Lady A and Max Plastic enter the fray, with little success. The fray goes into full effect with the Sentinels. The heroes have trouble landing solid hits, the villain doesn't do much better. Bronco scores first noticeable hit. Gal takes first damage on the team. 0G moves Gal out of the way from Zorin, just in time to be cleaved in half, he instead is only cleaved _mostly_ in half. Lady A is paralyzed by grief over the loss of a teammate, and mentally shuts down. Zorin takes this chance to run Lady A through with his sword. Max Plastic takes the hit for her and gets knocked out of the way and out.

Bronco pounds, Monolith pounds, 0G drops the pod on the blue skinned mofo. Zorin bursts out of the debris with his sword. Lady A scores a big hit, and Monolith takes Zorin's follow up to Lady A instead of her. Monolith gets dropped. 0G immobilizes Zorin, Bronco takes a free shot. Lady A takes him all the way out with her free shot follow up.

EAGLE arrives, Zorin rises, and relents to superior fighters. 0G directs him to leave. Ok, but he'll kill any one of us whom ever leave this planet. Detente, cleanup, and head back home with Gal's half-busted chassis.

0G tells the team he was at SpaceLab tracking Zorin. A mild team meeting ensues. Lady A continually defers to 0G. Kenji goes to check on the Gal wreck.

Later the night 0G gets a call from Nightstar, the last Guardian. She invites herself over to talk Guardians. She offers the team name to us, then leaves 0G to think about it.

0G finds a drunken Lady A first. Gets her to bed with Bronco's help. Calls Max back to base for a meeting. Max says no, and continues to try to have a life. He goes to the repair bay. He's ignored for a while by Kenji and Monolith, then they talk, and the assembled team goes for ice cream.

Over ice cream 0G lays out the Guardians thing. We'll pass is consensus. 0G calls Nightstar back and decliner the offer.

A couple days pass... Tori flips out about the Guardians thing. 0G retorts with something snotty. She takes him to task for his professionalism.

Comic reader cut to Tori in a hot tub with Garth Sterling drinking champagne.

Cut back to her still giving 0G shit.

Kenji receives an invite to Stirling Tower. Goes to 0G for advice first.

0G gives no meaningful advice, while making it appear to be full of wisdom.

Kenji then crosses paths with a freshly showered Lady A. They establish he's not hitting on her. He solicits her advice. She suggests we go public with our HQ location. Kenji's not down with that. Still no meaningful advice about the whole Stirling thing.

Cut to 0G at a PR tree dedication. Mid-sentence he's attacked by the tree he's dedicating. Then a big stone guy emerges from the ground, kidnaps 0G and retreats with the team leader.

Meanwhile, at Stirling Tower, Kenji is met by Rachel MacPhearson, Garth's assistant. She pushes Kenji's wheelchair into the rain forest office of Garth Stirling, and parks him in front of a massive obsidian desk. She leaves him alone to ponder the surroundings.

Garth arrives. They discuss the impressive desk. He springs the Gal secret thing. Then sows the seeds of dissent in Kenji's mind. Garth monologues about the nature of genius. His in particular, but Kenji's, too. He declares he's fired Vanguard for losing a fight to Zorin. He wants to bankroll the Sentinels. Then he introduces Kenji to Eve, his pet AI. He'll give Eve to Kenji if the Sentinels take the Guardians name and throw in with him.

Meanwhile, Bronco's at the rasslin, and he's met in his dressing room by a girl who calls herself Little Dove. She's had visions of Doom for 0G. Bronco checks in with 0G, fails, and calls Monolith instead. Bronco heads to 0G's last location with Little Dove, to find EAGLE still cleaning up the park mess. He hears of the abduction from a 3 Pips and A Bar ranked EAGLE dude. Bronco informs Monolith, who rallies the team. Kenji bails on Garth on good terms, after having been shown the plans for Galvanna on the way out. Then Garth offers the kid a ride home in his helicopter. Max also cuts his day short to join the team, missing another opportunity to have a part of a normal life. And why didn't Tori know anything about all this...?

Meanwhile 0G wakes up 'elsewhere.' With a green-haired woman in front of him. 0G thinks she should be blonde as his faculties slowly come back to him. It's one of the co-pilots from his shuttle crash who was thought to be dead. Captain Sarah Carpenter is now calling herself Flora. The big rock guy was Lieutenant Jack McMichaels, now he's Obselisk. And they have powers. 0G asks about Col. Richards, the mission commander, he's called Uranium, now. They dialogue. Seems the three of them aren't happy with the results of the power lottery. So they'll turn 0G into a villain. As he begins a protest, Brain Flexx astralls enters the room. He monologues about his ability to do that. Cut back to the park, where we have just heard that 0G is attacking Washington, DC.

The team has rallied at the park. Eve calls up Keni. He zones out a moment. She offers to pilot the shuttle. If she can have the password. After a moment's pause, Kenji gives Garth's computer access to his. He makes her promise to be quiet about the whole giving-away-passwords thing. Eve so promises. They rocket to DC to stop their team leader from killing the nation's leader. And then Eve turns Kenji's Gal perspective into interactive VR, with Kenji's further permission to Garth's computer. We arrive to see 0G fighting Team Justice, and taking them down effectively. Gal is first on the scene, and first back out ofthe scene. 0G tries to take down the Blue Jay, and succeeds handily. Bronco dives out, protecting Little Dove from the crash. Max embubbles Lady A and Monolith in plasticy goodness and bounces through the shattering windshield as they crash. Max is dazed, but all are alive to fight their powerful team leader. Lady A connects with a hit right away, followed up by Bronco ground pounding him further back from the White House. MP gets up and goes looking for a nullifier among all the EAGLE debris. Monolith grows and pounds at 0G, knocking him down. Max gets grass-grappled on his search for nullifiers. 0G gets up from his knockdown and immobilizes the area. A big hand grabs Gal and smashes him big time. Bronco moves in on 0G, gets repelled. Monolith grabs 0G, gets relelled - into Bronco. Goes back for more. Grabs and throws the leader a ways away from the White House. 0G decides to flatten the building. And incoming Starbird alters that plan as she attacks him, then restrains the falling 0G in a cosmic claw. This shift in balance causes Obelisk to abandon his fight with Gal and retreat.

Introductions are made with the russian Starbird. Little Dove identifies her as another aspect of her 0G vision. Eve informs Kenji she's got a file on the Starbird. She seems to be the other half of the accident that gave Gyro his superpowers. She was the Russian MiG pilot he had the incident with. We head back, Lady A stays behind. Starbird is nice enough to use her powers to carry the busted Blue Jay back to base. Eve relays a bunch of info though Gal to the team, but asks Gal not to mention her: "I'm sorry to make you lie to your friends, but they wouldn't understand our friendship..."

We get back. 0G first wakes in a private conversation with Van Jove/Brain Flexx. He talks about the Monolith visit that 0G didn't know about. And the whole killing-The-Angel-Soon thing, too. He, Van Jove, has a plan, and it's a goodie, but 0G can't be allowed to remember this conversation... yet. He snaps his fingers and 0G wakes up for real this time on the couch. He spots Starbird and remembers the Uranium, Flora & Obelisk (UFO) attack but nothing else. His understanding is that Flora used hallucinogenic and suggestive plant pollen to brainwash him. He feels this is reasonable. He also remembers Starbird from the hospital he was at after he survived his shuttle crash and got his powers.

Lady A saunters in in the middle of this revalation and reveals EAGLE is with her, and they want to arrest 0G for the attack. He'll go without a fight.

As 0G is being lead away in cuffs, the issue comes to a close.

-END OF SESSION-

Zenith Comics Presents: The Victory Squad

2010-04-15T09:52:00.002-04:00

The Victory Squad is most famous for being the American team of Major Victory, Lady America and their respective sidekicks Kid Victory and Spangle. While it is true that the focus of this team was these costumed super-patriots, many people do not realize that there was also a team of highly trained soldiers from almost every branch of the US Army that were also part of the Victory Squad.

To understand the Victory Squad we must look at their origins, then their run as the most effective Allied unit and their eventual demise at the raid on Castle Fear.

When the Victory Program was first launched, most in the military saw it as a waste of resources. While they saw the potential devastation of Germany's super man, Die Übermann, many didn't believe he was as powerful as the news reels had made him out to be.

The idea of American super soldiers at a cost of millions of dollars to develop to them was a waste of millions that could be spent on gear and training infantry men to do the same job.

When Doctor Phineas Titansky (come Doc Titan) was able to not only produce results by testing his super power granting Infinity Serum on himself but also producing four other super soldiers, a lot of opinions changed.

When the four were deployed to the European theatre in 1942 they fell under the command of Allied Commander, Major General James E. Chaney. It was no secret that Chaney was not at all interested in having them in the theatre and equally felt the costumed soldiers were nothing more than a morale booster. As such he confined them to USO Camp Shows and only in England, far from the front.

The shows they appeared at were a great success and their displays of physical ability thrilled the soldiers, but they had been reduced to little more than show ponies. It is even reported that Lady America and Spangle would do song & dance routines to the cat calls of the soldiers in attendance. This use of the super soldiers infuriated Doctor Titansky, who beseeched President Roosevelt to force General Chaney to use the super soldiers as actual soldiers, but the President refused, citing his absolute trust in the General’s decisions. All that changed on December 24th, 1942.

At a Christmas Eve USO show at the ETOUSA HQ in London, with the new Commanding General, European Theater of Operations, General Eisenhower in attendance, Die Übermann and a whole team of Axis supers called the Super Axis (Actually they were known to the Nazis as Die Blitzkriegers or the Lightning Warriors, but it was translated into English by the Allies as the Super Axis, which is also how it appeared in the comic exploits being published about the Victory Squad back home). The Nazis attacked in force, along with a full squad of reanimated undead Nazi paratroopers. Their mission was to kill the all the Allied commanders in one fell swoop. Unfortunately for them the Victory Squad was performing at that show.

What resulted was an epic battle where the four American supers soldiers were not only able to save the Allied Commanders, but also drive off the Nazi villains. History tells us that General Eisenhower was so impressed by what he saw that he changed his mind on the Victory Squad that very night and they would go on to legend.

What most don’t know is that there were a dozen American soldiers involved managed to secure weapons from undead paratroopers and use them to harass the Nazi villains as well. Of the twelve quick thinking soldiers, only two survived; Corporal Jack Jenkins and Sergeant Hank “Hurricane” McShane (A baseball legend who played for the Capitol City Blue Sox). No fool, and perhaps seeing the need for a support team backing the costume soldiers, General Eisenhower assigned these two men to the Victory Squad and ordered that ten more volunteers be found to join them to bring their numbers back to twelve, in honour of the ten men who had died at the USO show fighting back.

At first many of these men felt they were being asked to “volunteer” for either a soft detail or babysitting. Many jokes were made at their expense by other soldiers, but after their first foray into occupied France left half of them dead, they started to see it as an elite unit. It should be pointed out that the “volunteer” part was no more voluntary than the draft was. Many found themselves “volunteering” for the duty. For many new volunteers the idea of working with Lady America and Spangle was an insult. The vets of the team knew differently as they had witnessed first hand Lady A’s ferocity and her dedication to Victory Squad. It was not unheard of for a new squad volunteers’ gripes about “working with a dame” to be met by veteran members of the squad standing up for her and telling the tales of how she had saved their lives on more than one occasion.

A sidenote about Lady America showed her tenacity and drive to be taken seriously as a soldier. In May 1942, Lady America requested better uniforms for her and Spangle, as it seemed too many soldiers were looking up her skirt during battles. She also asked that the four costumed soldiers be given sidearms as well. The request was refused by Eisenhower’s office, so Lady America and Spangle marched into his office, whipped off their skirts, threw them on his desk and announced that they would battle Hitler with their with undergarments visible from that day forward. Her request was reconsidered and approved the next day.

For the duration of the war Sergeant McShane and Corporal Jenkins managed to survive the longest, being the only members of the original Victory Squad, other than the costumed heroes, to be part of the last battle. It is rumoured, though never proven, that there was an attempt to make a recruitment news reel featuring the two that was scrapped due to Jenkins inability to not swear ever other word and McShane’s lack of acting ability making him seem wooden and unappealing.

The ultimate fate of the Victory Squad would be a tragic, yet heroic one. Volunteering to lead a raid on Castle Fear, the base of operations for the Super Axis, then entire team would be wiped out in the resulting battle (except for Lady America) that achieved its mission of removing the Nazi supers as a battle force. This act assured that the Allied troops descending on Berlin in 1945 were not impeded by the Super Axis.

In 1979 Lady America petitioned to have a monument raised in honor of the Victory Squad, though the petition was defeated in Congress due to costs, a sad end to a story of the incredible heroism of normal soldiers alongside the greatest super soldiers in American history.

Earthalpha.net Purchased!

2010-04-12T20:15:00.001-04:00

Hey there,

School continues, relearning French and all that. On a business note I purchased earthalpha.net tonight and set up hosting. The page is not yet active and I am debating transferring my blog there, but not sure if I can. Anyone know anything about Blogspot and hosting it on your own domain? Or so I have to go with a Wordpress one?

More news to come as development continues.

Not Dead, Just Busy

2010-04-09T12:37:00.001-04:00

Hey there,

A quick note to say I am not dead, I am just back in school (studying French) and have been busy busy.

The art for Public Enemies is coming along nicely and I will be getting the writing going next week probably.

Look for a June or July release.

Cheers!

John's Notes - The Sentinels - Session 5

2010-04-02T13:19:00.002-04:00

Session Notes - Sentinels Session 5 - March 27, 2010

Pat - The Angel
Renzo - Galvanos/Kenji
Mike - Max Plastic
Anthony - Monolith
John - Bronco

So Bronco and Garrison square off. The fight goes wildly back and forth. Bronco didn't think Garrison was that tough. The fight ends in a draw after an extended stalemate, ultimately leaning on Garrison for the win.

Then Van Jove calls the house. Monolith answers and is invited to chit chat with Brain Flexx.

The Angel wants to go, too. Mono is fine with that. Off to Bell Isle they go, and boy, is Van Jove pissed that The Angel is there. He leaves and Monolith and Van Jove have a sit down. Van Jove goes on for a while about how much he's gonna screw The Angel for the whole punching out Trauma's heart thing. They discuss the recent luck of the Sentinels and the NZG event. Van Jove plants seeds of dissent involving Doc Titan. He then proceeds to talk more shit about The Angel. Then he suggests the NZG might not have been real at all. He then demands to be returned to his cell, as he's done talking. Monolith catches up to the Angel and relays the litany of threats and they rehash vital points of the conversation with Van Jove. The whole anti-matter things is discussed again.

Meanwhile... Max Plastic, on patrol, is grabbed by Il Duce, the super Italian. He literally ties Max up around some poles in the shape of a wrestling ring and uses Max's communicator to contact the team. He calls Bronco out and waits. The team heads downtown. As soon as they arrive a fray beings. Bronco takes Il Duce, the rest go to crowd control and disperse. Monolith gets taken out by Il Duce while doing crowd control. Gal unties Max while Duce's distracted beating up Monolith. Lady A scores with a justified cheap shot. The painfully long fight ends when Galvanos super-seizure eyes' the cocky Italian. Takes half the team out as well. EAGLE is called, we go home.

Lady A, upon arrival, gives Kenji a bunch of shit over homework and such.

So the news media seems pretty cool with us. Tori calls in to let us know about insurance issues. And she wants to access some of Kenji's money to deal with this kind of stuff. We'll think on that. Team discusses. Kenji will giver her some cash, but keep her on a short leash.

Monolith and Lady A have a heart to heart in 0G's office. She doesn't want any leadership responsibility, and reveals a chunk of her origin and her 50 year old ghosts.
Monolith then goes to find Kenji. Mono convinces the kid to wait for 0G to make any firm financial decisions.

Meanwhile, The Angel is on patrol. He meets Katana Dan in an alley. And a woman behind him - Lady Steel. And Night Raven, with all his bad repute, lands in a flourish. The Capitol City Irregulars are offering The Angel a place on their team. He'll give it some thought.

Next morning Max is a guest on Cap City AM tv. It's a bush whacking - they place the 'Sentinels Are A Menace' angle. He tries to hold his own, fails, leaves.

Lady A continues the Kenji slave driving. "Do you want to go to public school...?" Kenji replies in sotto voce: "Might be better than here..." Lady A then continues to rag on Tori, who leaves.

Garrison talks a lot of shit to Max about the heroes he idolizes, and reveals his history, as well.
The doorbell rings. Monolith answers. It's Gyro. He wants to talk to him and Bronco in private. He wants them to join Vanguard. He leaves his card and departs. Bronco and Monolith discuss not spending too much time thinking about the offer.

The Angel sees a bullshit statement in the news that didn't come from us and calls a team meeting. That's followed up by a live statement from Tori, digging us further in the hole.

So how do we un-fuck outselves...? Kenji plays some of the messages flooding in to the HQ. Most are surprisingly favourable, in an anti-heroic kinda way. Tori arrives, smugly proud. She defends her move and leaves the team to discuss.

We chat, and bring her back in. We're happy. Surprised, but happy. She asks us for autonomy or she walks. We agree to keep her, in a display of democratic abstention.

Garrison and Max have another chat after the meeting. He thinks we should turf Tori and go our own way, let being a hero play out properly. He's here to help form and train a team - not publicity.

Max and Lady A have a tete-a-tete of their own. Lady A reiterates her disdain for Tori.
Max continues his tour and meets Monolith in 0G's office. They discuss worries and tendencies and have a nice Hallmark moment.

The brief period of calm is once again shattered by a kaboom. We rally to see what's going on.
A big pod has landed in the city. A blue-skinned dude gets out and starts screaming in an alien language. He hooks up a translator. He kinda challenges the team, kinda. He's Prince Zorin, and he wants to fight.

-END OF SESSION-

Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Vol. 1 - Update 2

2010-03-30T16:46:00.001-04:00

So I just got back from a meeting with Anthony, we are really close this time. 9 out of 10 characters are finalized and going to inks+colours soon and the 10th character is being worked out as well. His look is almost perfect!

We also discussed the cover and the layout a bit as well. It's gonna be very very cool.

Instead of sharing more sketches I thought I would give you a preview of the characters that will be in Volume 1 of Public Enemies and then the names of the coming volumes as well.

Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies - Volume 1

Adonis – The Roman God of Beauty, he comes to Earth to either challenge those men he feels are contenders for his beauty or to woo the hearts of women he finds attractive. His attention is like that of a puppy, he moves on quickly with no concern for the damage he causes as he goes.

Nightviper – She used to Nightsparrow, the side-kick of Nightraven. That was then. Now having turned on her mentor, she uses her training as an assassin for hire. She is a martial-artist who uses batons with spiked ends and has no problems killing heroes for money.

Black Shroud – Consumed by the darkness that inhabits his soul, this gothic lad can control shadows, project darkness and even teleport through the inky blackness of his soul. He is an unhappy young man, prone to fits of anger.

Colt – Everything is bigger in Texas... and faster! Colt is a wild-west themed speedster who uses twin Colt .45s to rob banks, armoured cars and even do stick-ups at ATMs. His true super power seems to be his ability to keep his 10 gallon hat on at high speeds.

Damselfly – She shrinks. She blasts. She has bug wings. She's seven different kinds of crazy! Damselfly is the kind of villain no hero wants to face. She is hard to hit, does decent damage and has no logical behaviour patterns.

Energion – Once a scientist studying the stars accidentally captured a being of pure cosmic energy who just happened to be flying by the Earth. That being fused with the scientist and now together they are Energion, and Energion is not happy.

The Green Gargoyle – A gargoyle given life by a stray bolt of mystic energy in a fight between Doctor Diablo and Lord Necron, the Green Gargoyle is a solitary but powerful creature. Normally he protects a building, but through spells more than one evil wizard has bent him to his will.

Jackie Frost – What happens when a ski-bunny-party-girl dies in an avalanche and is reborn with the power of ice and snow? The party gets hotter! Um... er... colder? No that's not it... um... Yeah like awesome ice powers!

Skullsmasher – Powered by antimatter energy and a bad attitude, this energy wielding brick is the very definition of the irresistible force. He is huge, powerful and likes to rob banks, jewelry stores, whatever.... and he L-O-V-E, loves to battle punk heroes who think they are tough!

Wolfen – Cursed with the power of the Beast Lords, the man known as Wolfen has given into his new animal nature and uses it for personal gain and to hunt heroes with Beast Lord powers. Like the werewolves of old though, 3 days of the Full Moon every month he goes into a murderous blood frenzy!

So there you have the roster for the first volume of Public Enemies! I am willing to bet that at least one or two of those villains sounds like someone you would want to use in your campaigns. Of course I subject my players to all of them. ;)

Also, moving forward, we have planned out what we intend to do as follow-up books, and though plans change, this is what it looks like for the most part after Public Enemies Volume 1;

• Zenith Comics Presents! Public Enemies Vol 2 - Another 10 unique villains for use in your campaign. Featuring the winner of the Earth Alpha: Who Is This Guy? contest: The Bug!

• Zenith Comics Presents! Dastardly Duos & Terrible Trios! - Two duos and two trios that are themed villains who work together.

• Zenith Comics Presents! The Citadel - A secret society that has plans to over through America. This one will have their soldiers, their super agents and their mysterious leader, Lord Sovereign!

• Zenith Comics Presents! Mayhem Inc/Ravage V - Two teams of five villains each that are the stuff of legends... or nightmares for heroic teams. These two teams are made to test your heroes to the limits!

• Zenith Comics Presents! Master Minds & Mercenaries - 3 would be world conquerors and the types of villains they hire to carry out their agendas. This one will make an excellent Iron Age roster book, though it will be usable with Bronze Age or Modern Age campaigns.

• Zenith Comics Presents! Public Enemies Volume 3 - And if the previous volumes weren't enough, we return to where it all started with another 10 villains to challenge your heroes with and make them earn their capes!

So there you have it. These are the plans for Earth Alpha moving through 2010 and into 2011. The supplements will first be released for BASH! Ultimate Edition, but will be followed by versions for Mutants & Masterminds (via Superlink) and ICONS (the new games by Steve Kenson).

So cheers and I hope at least something in there caught you eye. ;)

Preview: Zenith Comics Presents - Public Enemies - Adonis

2010-03-28T19:55:00.001-04:00

Up next is an image of one of those bothersome villains, Adonis the Roman God of Beauty. He is essentially one of those arrogant types who either challenges male heroes who are deemed attractive by the media or goes after any female hero that strikes his fancy, attempting to win her heart through feats of combat and being an all around great looking guy.

He even has a harp.

I asked Anthony, why he had armour and a helmet and his answer was along the lines of Adonis knows he will get into fights and doesn't want to get his pretty face all mussed up.

I loled.

Company Renamed!

2010-03-24T17:05:00.001-04:00

Hey there, just a side note to let you all know that I have decided (since the time is rapidly approaching to decide these things) to call my hobby-publishing company;

Earth Alpha

That's it. Not Earth Alpha Games, or Earth Alpha Publishing, just Earth Alpha.

Originally I was going to call it Tin Hill Press, but that is too locked into fantasy for me. Then I was going to go with Andrew Collas Games but nah, that's too arrogant for me.

So Earth Alpha it is ... thank you for reading this completely unimportant message and we now return you to your regularly scheduled day. ;)

Preview: Zenith Comics Presents - Public Enemies - The Green Gargoyle

2010-03-23T18:19:00.001-04:00

Well no sooner do I suggest a preview than I get a lovely email with some sketches from Anthony Green (click on his name to see his DeviantArt page) the artist for the project.

Without further ado I give you the rough sketch of The Green Gargoyle!

Now a little bit on this guy, he is essentially a mindless brute style character.

His story is that he is an actual gargoyle that was brought to life by a stray blast of magical energy from a random supers fight and now haunts the city. All he wants is to sit atop a building and protect it, with quiet and peace.

Of course that allows for players to accidentally disturb him in his task from time-to-time, making him a great mid fight spoiler, etc... and of course evil magicians can take magic control of him and use him as a soldier/brute as well :)

More previews to come. Cheers!

Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Vol. 1 - Update

2010-03-23T17:08:00.001-04:00

Just a fast update to let everyone know that I had a meeting with our artist today and of the 10 characters for the first volume, 8 are ready to go to finalized images and 2 remain in the design stages.

I don't want to curse myself, but I am very excited about the speed this project is moving forward at and should have some preview art soon.

We also moved forward on the cover image and other details related to the graphics for the project.

With me returning to school full time in April, my writing time is going to be limited but it will be more focused as a result.

I do much better under pressure after all ;)

Contest Winners

2010-03-22T17:14:00.001-04:00

So the contest entrants have come in and after careful consideration I have made my determinations.

Let's start with the Runners Up and work our way to the winner.

3rd Runner Up;

We have a tie. Two entrants who both stood out and also interestingly enough had the same name for the character. That name was Bombardier Beetle. Both presented a different take on the idea, but both were quite interesting and fun to read. Congrats Congrats to;

Kevin Scrivner
Mike Ceranko

You will both be receiving a PDF copy of the Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies #2 when it releases.

The 2nd Runner Up;

The 2nd Runner up not only provided a very disturbing and weird character idea he also taught me a new name for a cockroach; Steamfly. Congrats goes out to;

Marc Gacy

You too will be receiving a PDF copy of Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies #2 upon release.

1st Runner Up;

The one that came close to winning was an interesting character with a nice magical and Egyptian angle, that I must confess was very intriguing and quite well thought out, the name of Scarabaeus was also very cool. Nice job;

Justin Myers

The Winner;

The one entry that really stood out to me was that it took a character that could be a hero, could be a villain, but was really in the end just a pain in the butt to both, The Bug!

Congratulations and a nice job to;

Walkerp (real name withheld on request)!

Look forward to your creation (with all new custom art) and full credit to you as creator in Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies #2, of which you will of course be receiving a free PDF copy of as well!

Thanks to everyone who entered and let me say I was very happy with the turnout for the contest and with the creativity shown by everyone involved. I will certainly do this again!

Cheers!

John's Notes - The Sentinels - Session 4

2010-03-20T15:06:00.002-04:00

Session Notes - Sentinels Session 4 - March 13, 2010

Renzo - Galvanos/Kenji
Mike - Max Plastic
Anthony - Monolith
Pat - The Angel
Robin - Zero-G
John - Masonic Knight/Bronco

So the public is liking the team. Almost as much as they still like Vanguard... Team Justice is still working for the Man, so they're off most of the public's radar.

It's early spring in Capitol City, and 0G is returning to the base after lunch with Tori. Lots of brainstorming and cursing the general policies of those Vanguard pricks.

0G notices the not-quite-rightness of the skies overhead. Reminiscent of the Anti-Matter events of a couple issues ago. As he's admiring the effects, a monster crackling with energy drops down and attacks him. Though 0G takes a hit, a divebombing manoeuver dispatches the monster handily.

0G's radio call to base is interrupted by an Earth-shattering kaboom. Renard and Gal spring into action and the team rallies at the Blue Jay.

So a big anti-matter storm and a huge pillar of energy are centered on Hero's Hill. 0G is first on scene, and sees ground zero is The Guardian's memorial entombment crypt cairn. He lands, puts up a shield, and gets knocked unconscious by a really big fist.

The rest of the team arrives to see the Negative Zombie Guardsman looking dessicated and pissed off. He drops the unconscious 0G and begins a fray with the whole team at once.

NZG gets all ragey after Monolith punches him soundly. Gal sends a fist off into the night. NZG punches Monolith in the face. Monolith gloriously holds his ground.

Then gets punched again, and is out of the fight for a while. The fray continues.

The Angel pokes into NZG's mind only to find no cognitive mind. NZG continues to flatten the team. Then Gal whips out the giant fucking sword and manages to inflict the first actual damage on NZG. NZG retaliates and knocks Gal offline, sword still glowing.

Monolith grows more and loses his mind attacking NZG. NZG returns the favour and goes a little more crazy, too. He continues to pound the team and shrug off most of the damage we're dishing out.

Then Gal comes back online and fuckstabs NZG mightily.NZG keeps coming. Finally the stomping eases off and the heoes turn the tide of battle. Monolith strikes the coup-de-grace and NZG looks like he's going to explode. 0G ties to jettison the bastard. Enough altitude isn't reached and the team takes some additional damage when he goes kablooie.

Fight over. Dust clears. EAGLE shows up just in time to miss everything.

At the base, The Masonic Knight learns he's needed elsewhere and quits the team. Renard Roux also quits as he's been killed too many times recently and is becoming more and more afraid of his beast within.

The Sentinels reconvene and have a team meeting at HQ. 0G and Tori have a private conversation about the future of the team. It is decided they need to recruit "female and ethnic" members, or at least Tori decides this. On Tori's suggestion the team heads out to an Unlimited Power Wrestling match to scout for super powered wrestlers.

She didn't want them all to go, they just do, anyway...

On the way out Garrison get's Max's goat. Max takes a swing, and gets punched out for his efforts. He's woken up and they head out to see the rasslin'.

Garrison's interested in checking out a prospect (once that's explained is the purpose of the wrestling field trip). He and The Angel steal a car and head to the arena, too.

The lead in to the main event is a women's championship match, handily won by Amanda Reese. Then the main event is Eric Bluemoon, a tall drink of water with a Native American theme, and The Kenyan Lion, who seems to be a lion beast master. Eric does well, but does the job and the Kenyan Lion retains his title and looks great in the match.

Tori arranges for backstage passes, 0G and Kenji go with. While waiting to see the champ, Kenji gets to meet the lady's champ.

Amanda Reese is quite pissed that Kenji came to see her, revealing her identity as Lady America, and surprising the hell out of Kenji. "Ooh, I gotta tell 0G about this!" He suggests that she join the Sentinels. Lady A doesn't really want to join the team, but is horrified by the environment this child is existing in. She nearly goes ballistic when Kenji explains robot servant jousting.

Meanwhile 0G and Tori have made their way to Bluemoon's area in the lockers and have a brief conversation with the naked Indian.

Tori's more than impressed, 0G offers him an opportunity to join the team, which he'll take them up on. He likes the name Bronco as a codename.

0G, Kenji and Tori leave the arena with Max and head over to WYM to bug the Wiccan, and maybe get some tits for the team.

She categorically denies the request, citing the amount of chaos we generally attract. She feels the team's cumulative blood debts are attracting bad things. Then she kicks them out.

So... team meeting with Bronco. The team seems cool with him, and Tori's doe eyes are fluttering, so he's in. Then an EAGLE shuttle lands on the lawn and Amanda Reese gets out. She wants in, too.

"So Lady America's joining the team, too...?" Monolith

"Amanda Reese is Lady A...?" Bronco.

She's retired from EAGLE, but really really wants to team to stop being jackasses.

Lady A reveals the president is upset at Vanguard, and it's up to us to distinguish ourselves.

Angel takes some flak for recent shenanigans. He dishes some back, but is ultimately aware of his issues. But he still defends his attitude.

Lady A and 0G have a tete-a-tete in 0G's nice new office. They discuss staffing issues. She expresses that the Wiccan is a full of shit side-liner and should be ignored. And she has dirt on everyone. Particularly Tori. They emerge from their meeting, only to have Tori grab 0G and drag him back. Tori doesn't want Lady A on the team. Thinks she's a lesbian. 0G points out the demographic widening of the team. Tori leaves in a huff.

So now Monolith wants an office, too.

The Angle, Monolith, and Bronco head to the boathouse to see Garrison.

A fight is picked and the session comes to an end...

-End of Session-

-J

Quick Contest Update!

2010-03-17T20:04:00.001-04:00

It seems that some folks are having troubles sending me info via Blogger/Blogspot... so if you are, use the following email address;

(removed with contest end)

Hopefully that will help.

Earth Alpha Contest #1: Who Is This Guy?

2010-03-15T15:46:00.001-04:00

So last night, in a fit of fevered creativity I made this bug based character;

I really like the look and I am sure it has been inspired by a bunch of different looks I have seen over the years, but regardless this guy insisted on crawling out of my brain last night and wouldn't let me sleep until he did.

The problem is, I have no idea who he is, or what he does. After buzzing about my mind and finally crawling out that was it. Nothing else.

At a loss for the identity of this character and who he is, I decided that maybe it wasn't up to me to figure that out. So I decided to open it up to you all and why not make a contest out of it.

That contest being; come up with a name and background for this guy.

Who is he?

What does he do?

What is his story?

Is he a hero?

Is he a villain?

Does he walk the fine line between hero and villain?

You tell me. Contest deadline is Friday midnight PST.

The winner will have their idea presented, with full credit given, in an issue of "Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies" (I am targeting issue 2 since issue 1 is already underway).

Also the winner, and two runners-up, will receive a free copy of the pdf upon release!

I will post the winner and runners-up on Monday, March 22nd (1 week from today).

Also, please don't post your ideas here in the comments, send them to me as a message via the private message feature of Blogspot (click on my name and it should take you to a profile page where you can send me a message.

Good luck everyone!

Note: After speaking with a legally inclined friend of mine, I must also add the following for legal reasons; the character chosen as the winner will become the property of Andrew Collas Games Inc. and may not be published by any other company. I wish I didn't have to put this in, but the nature of our litigious society forces me to. Understand I am not trying to be a jerk, just have to cover my butt. I totally understand if anyone doesn't want to participate because of this.

Most Wanted? Public Enemies? Other?

2010-03-09T21:15:00.001-05:00

So work began today in earnest on the Zenith Comics Present: X villain roster books I will be producing as for sale PDFs (BASH, Mutants & Masterminds and later ICONS versions to be released).

The only stumbling point for me is... do I call it Most Wanted (used originally for some V&V roster books) or maybe Public Enemies (no idea if that has been used) but the actual whole title would be "Zenith Comics Presents: Most Wanted" or "Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies".

Which do you prefer? Or do you have another idea?

How To Find An Aritst?

2010-03-05T16:23:00.001-05:00

So one of the by products of my working on the Zenith Universe is that I have finally managed to solidify a lot of the story for the inevitable Lady America comic I have wanted to write for the past decade or so.

Now before I start writing it, one of the things that always has kept me from writing comics is the lack of artistic talent or the ability to find an artist to draw what I write.

I have known a lot of artists over the years, but alas most of them also want to write so they have little to no interest in working on another writer's project.

Hiring an artist is just out of the question as the cost would be fantastically expensive and ultimately I would not be trying to sell this comic, but putting it online for free as a sort of webcomic.

So, as I do at times like these, I turn to you all and ask your guidance and advice, how would one go about finding an artist?

If you have any other ideas or thoughts about this, please let me know.

P.S. I also promise my next post will be about my Zenith Universe and MSH since I haven't posted one of those is a long time. Cheers :)

20 Followers? Thank you.

2010-03-02T02:02:00.001-05:00

I just noticed tonight that this blog now has 20 followers. Wow. That's a milestone for me and it really makes me a happy camper to see this many people have taken interest in my ravings and ramblings.

I know there are others who follow this blog as well, who are not subscribed via Blogspot, so to you as well I say thank you.

I hope I continue to provide interesting reads and entertaining ideas.

Like Bartles & James used to say, thank you for your support.

John's Notes - The Sentinels - Session 3

2010-03-01T16:05:00.002-05:00

So my best friend is back in the game after a brief hiatus and he is taking notes like he always does. :)

For those who don't know, I present his notes unedited, typos and all. Feel free to ask questions if you want clarity. Remember this is from a player's perspective, hence he only notes what he thinks is important or what caught his attention.

There are none for session 1 or 2 as he was not there. I will see what I can do about making an "Our Story So Far..." post later.

Enjoy

=-=-=-=-=

Session 3 Notes - Sentinels - Feb. 27

Mike - Max Plastic
Robin - Zero-G
Renzo - Galvanos
Pat - The Angel
John - The Masonic Knight

So as of late the media has been unsympathetic to the exploits of our heroes. One outlet likes us, otherwise...

Capitol City isn't really happy, but they do like Vanguard.

Cut to the Masonic Knight in a big windowless room with a nice oak table. He's directed to go make contact with the Sentinels. They have a public image problem, and Vanguard is almost certainly staging their exploits.

MK flies out to their secret base after checking the security on satellite pictures and rings their doorbell.

It's an exciting household, busted robots and everything. Zero-G answers the door. MK explains he wants to join and a team meeting is assembled. Renard Roux and MK exchange some familiar greetings and a team meeting ensues. Renard vouches for MK on the square, but Angel is apprehensive.

Cut to Max Plastic working a matinee dinner theater show. The rough day on stage is brightened by the appearance of the rather attractive blond Tori Fields. She suggests he cash in on his powers. And she wants to talk to the team about the same. She gives her card and leaves with a flourish. She's an Entertainment Agent/Manager.

Max returns as the team meeting is still going on and brings news of the offer. Renard psychoanalyzes Tori based on her card and boldness. Max confirms he's bang on and the team decides they want to work with her. Tori first destroys her telephone when Zero-G calls, but communication is eventually made.

Plans are made for brunch, and half the team goes out on patrol.

Things were going well until Angel accidentally blew up a tanker truck. Not so good for the press image...

And Renard is going to be on the late night news. He behaves, and now 1 out of 12 citizens like the team, specifically because Renard is a part of it. "1 in 12?" says The Angel; "I'll take it."

Next morning 0G goes to meet Tori for brunch.

She has lots of ideas about the team... Plastic needs more face time, 0G needs a jacket, Gal needs to age-up his voice, Monolith needs to shut up, The Angel, too. Follow the rules, success will ensue.

Three weeks pass. First week highlights: Gal breaks some shit, but 0G spins it well with a cheque and a smile; Max has a great comedy show and hits one out of the park, gets a spot on morning television as a result; 0G gets good ink in the Chronicle. Second week: Angel dramatically burned down a prostitution league, and is getting underground fans; MK saves a busload of teens; Plastic bombs on stage. Third week: Angel gets some good face time on the Dick Walsh Show; A lodge in England gets into some hot water, MK takes some flak over a local connection and not doing well in a presser; Plastic hits the stage again and goes over reall well when he plays the meltdown card; 0G on the other hand, has an unspectacular week; and Renard popularity continues to grow.

Tori gets a team meeting together to discuss the last three weeks, and her media intervention therein.

She wants us to do an opening bit in the upcoming Sylvana Wolfe concert.It would be a great public appearance as everyone except MK has a fan base.

She also wants us to train with a retired Golden-Ager named the Champion - aka Bob Garrison.

We agree, a week passes, the concert arrives. As we hit the stage calamity ensues.

Starts with Gal getting an EMP.

Then the ice wall forms up and a fray begins with Ravage 5.

The heroes certainly get their attention, but Ravage is clearly getting the better of the heroes to start.

The Mexican Non-Union Wolverine does significant damage to multiple members of the team, most to Renard, before 0G introduces him to the harsh mistress - Gravity.

Angel squares off against Trauma and gloriously punches her heart out. This proves to be a turning point.

Brain Flex warps the team's minds and tries to make good an escape. Gal boots back on line and the tide swings back to the players. He opens with shattering Frostbite with a rocket fist. Trixie's shot at Max Plastic is interposed by MK. Gal attacks Brain Flex with his other hand and the retreat is fully halted. Gal, with his hands back, flies through the crowd and super laser sword attacks Brain Flex directly. The villains are subdued, heroes are triumphant, and EAGLE arrives to clean up the aftermath.

Renard, however, is dead from his wounds. As the team is mourning the loss of their teammate, their dead teammate walks into the scene to ask why everyone is so sad. He explains his resurrection is from being a beast lord. MK and the Angel nod knowingly, everyone else seems to get the gist of it.

Tori arrives all oh-my-god-ing and super excited. She wants us to go rest, there will be a big presser in the moring on the steps of City Hall - please everyone be sober; I'm looking at you, Angel...

We get back to the base to find that Bob Garrison has let himself in, and wants to work with us.

-End of Session-

MSH: Short Draft Info

2010-02-27T14:22:00.001-05:00

I put together a short draft for my players, a just-the-facts-ma'am version that has clocked in at 13 pages with charts.

This doesn't include the With Great Power rules for point building or Firebomb's Quirks.

Fun times.

Mighty Super Heroes Are Go!

2010-02-25T18:48:00.001-05:00

Hey there,

So I am getting back on the horse. I want to take this moment to thank everyone once again for their kind support and their warm humanity with my recent batch of troubled times. It was very very appreciated.

Now as to what is this "Might Super Heroes" thing all about?

As you may notice to the right hand under the "What I am playing" section there is a mock-cover for the not really real Mighty Super Heroes RPG. What happend to BASH! UE? What's going on? Has the world gone crazy?

Well a note about BASH! UE. I still think it is a tremendous game and the first ever power builder I actually enjoyed. I will continue to move forward with my plans to publish roster books for it (and M&M and ICONS, but not HERO since they want a cut of sales for the privilege and the pie will already be super small after the online distributors take their slice) but I won't be running it at my table. Nothing against the game, I just can't fight my Marvel Super Heroes RPG roots. They go over 20 years deep and I just don't feel comfortable running my style of game in another system.

That said MSH (get it?) has a lot of problems, or old mentalities. So one of the things I am doing is updating the FASERIP engine to be more modern. This actually has a lot to do with other super hero games.

For example I am adding the "Callings" from the Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game (SAGA), the "Mental Malfunction" of BASH!, the "Wound Track" from Mutants & Masterminds and other things, some even my ideas too!

Not sure if you guys want to see this here yourselves, but I may post about it and will certainly put up characters with the stats from it.

I will not publish it ever. I might make up a pdf of it but only as a free download and never for cash. Might Super Heroes isn't about that, it is merely about the game I have loved for 20+ years getting a bit of a pimping.

Face front true believers, this is gonna be fun!

*The art used for the cover was taken from the internet and is used without permission. No offense intended.

A Personal Update

2010-02-21T04:06:00.001-05:00

On February 11th, 2009 my mother passed away. 13 years earlier she had been diagnosed with throat cancer and we got lucky and she beat it, but she lost her voice box. Still she soldiered on for 13 years, took up painting and made a better life for herself.

Then the cancer came back.

Last night, February 19th 2010, my father had another heart attack and had to be flown from the local hospital where he lives to Quebec City where they are going to perform an angiography tomorrow and hopefully only have to add another stent.

Needless to say I am stressed.

Now, in June of 2009 I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, brought on not only from poor diet and exercise, but also do to the stress accumulated from my mother's passing, having a job that was just too stressful and then losing that job thanks to lay offs.

I have made a good run of it and have managed to keep my blood sugar levels in check and get my A1C down to 5.45% which is the same as being non-diabetic. This does not mean I am not diabetic, it just means I am holding off the complications that will come later in life.

Stress does not help at all.

I can't sleep. I couldn't eat today, though I forced myself to. I am smoking way too much, which is not good either. All in all I am a wreck today. Like a car that has been driven hard and bounced off too many barriers I feel all dinged and broken.

I know this will pass and I am staying positive in my mind for my father, believing that he will only need another stent and perhaps this will be a wake-up call for him to start taking his heart meds like he should.

It has been a hard year for him. My mother, his wife, was also his best friend and partner in life. They fought and carried on and acted like savages sometimes, but they loved each other and saw each other through some pretty hard times.

I spent a month with him at Christmas, not wanting him to be all alone at that time of year without Mom. I could see the sadness in him, the depression and the guilt for a million things he blames himself for from their years together.

I can't say I was surprised when I got the call this morning from one of my sisters telling me he what had happened, but it threw me for a loop nonetheless.

Why am I posting this here? I dunno, I just needed to write it down I suppose. Get my feelings out in a form that allowed me to ramble on and still have a point.

Nevertheless, I still can't sleep.

When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?

2010-02-17T18:06:00.001-05:00

So after a barrage of posts recently things have dropped off here at the old Earth Alpha.

Well let me explain.

February 11th was the anniversary of the passing of my mother. As that day got closer and closer I started feeling less and less "chatty" I guess would be the term. Fortunately my girlfriend and my friends were more than supportive and the dreaded day passed without any drama.

The other thing is that I was getting depressed by the lack of employment opportunities as I watch my EI slowly dwindle and get ready to go away. Not a lot of fun. One of the primary reasons I have decided to leave Montreal at the end of my lease and relocate back to Vancouver.

The last issue has been dealing with the Final Age project (the fantasy setting we are working on) and then looking at costs for art and such for the Zenith Comics Presents project, so that was sort of taking up my mind as well.

That said, while there are still no jobs on the horizon, I am ready to get back to work and start getting down to brass tacks with the projects. So hopefully over the next few days I will be able to start posting again. Let's stay positive.

Cheers

New BASH! Forums

2010-02-12T15:21:00.001-05:00

Hey all, just a quick note to tell you all about a new set of BASH! forums that are now online.

Stop on by, sign up and have fun!

Brief Update

2010-02-10T23:52:00.001-05:00

Sorry there's been no movement this week, but I am taking a week to myself while I sort some things out.

I'll be back next week :)

The Red Menace & More Public Domain

2010-02-08T02:18:00.001-05:00

As the loyal readers know I am working on developing and hashing out my Silver Age for the Zenith Universe, as that will have a direct link to the Bronze Age which the campaign is set at the latter edge of.

In doing so I get to do something I haven't had a chance to do for a long time... develop Soviet supers!

For me the Cold War, while not a lot of fun in the real world, provides an excellent and deep pool to dive into for creativity and story telling. Back in the 80's and early 90's I had developed a crap-load of Soviet supers, complete with authentic Russian names thanks to my roommate at the time who had studied Russian in college.

More on that as it develops.

As for the Public Domain, I have come to a most excellent decision as to how I am going to progress on using it.

There is a team in my world called the "Protectors of New York". I had used them once for a campaign, but had never really developed them beyond some PCs who stepped in after the original team was killed in the collapse of the Twin Towers.

Since I have no notes and they were always just sort of this "other" team, I have decided to tap the Public Domain heroes and create a team who's names can never be on the front cover!

The premise is that they were a bunch of heroes who came together during the Golden Age and were battling Nazis or what have you, when they all got turned into statues by some evil axis magician character (you can see I have really fleshed this out ;) ) and were left in a warehouse in New York from 1942 on.

Flash forward to 1976, the country's Bicentennial and somehow (haven't decided yet) the spell is broken and they are all suddenly 33 years later than they should be.

This to will be more on it as it develops.

As always thoughts, suggestions, comments and feedback are more than welcomed, they are sought.

Alias the Spider

2010-02-06T16:18:00.001-05:00

In 1936 young Thomas Hallaway was a rich, bored playboy with far too much money and no where near enough motivation. His drunken outings and string of inappropriate encounters left him the embarrassment of the upper crust. After getting the daughter of a rather important international financier pregnant, a group of "old money" conspirators got together and decided to do something about Tom.

Using their contacts, they hired a secret group of assassins known as the "Society of the Spider" to kidnap and assassinate Hallaway, thereby having his entire estate fall into the possession of his unscrupulous cousin Howard. The plan went off without a hitch, and Thomas was soon in the clutches of the Society. With all the conspirators there to witness the event, the acolytes of the Society lashed Hallaway to a giant web and called forth a gargantuan spider, that they worshiped as a god, to feed on him.

Unknown to the conspirators or the Society, Hallaway's loyal valet Chuck had followed them and infiltrated the meeting. As the giant spider bit into Hallaway, Chuck lept from the shadows and fired his .45 into the giant spider, killing it. The cultists were horrified but that quickly turned to rage as they swarmed Chuck seeking revenge. No one noticed on the web that Hallaway was not dead. In fact he was better than before. Somehow the spider's venom had transformed him, making him a very peak of human potential.

Leaping from the webbing and joining the fray, Hallaway quickly dispatched of the cultists and tied up the conspirators in the webbing. At Chuck's urging they left the scene, but not before calling the Police to round up the criminals.

Deciding that his life had been spared for a reason, Hallaway decide that he would use his second chance to make something more of himself. Fashioning himself a costume and using his vast resources to acquire various gadgets and weapons for the fight, he called himself the Spider and began his crusade on crime.

=-=-=-=-=

This character is based off the public domain version of "Alias the Spider" thought with heavy modifications added in to make him more than just a boring guy with a bow.

I thought about giving him a crossbow, but am not sure about it. I also debated giving him a gun too.

I see him having a network of spies, street kids, etc which he calls his "web" sort of like the Shadow's network of informants. I also see him being quite obsessed to the point where he eventually becomes that dark loner in a cave, waging a one man war on crime. When the government orders all heroes to unmask in the early 50's, the Spider doesn't even acknowledge them.

I also see him fighting the remains of the Society of the Spider, sort of Spider-Ninjas etc...

So thoughts?

The Roster of the Banner

2010-02-06T01:00:00.001-05:00

Okay these are the peeps in the picture from left to right;

Back row: Doc Titan, Sparrowhawk, Guardsman, Titan, Black Atlas, Thunder, Mariner, Bronco, Brute, Cyberknight, Amazona, Max Plastic and Zorn.

Middle row: The Angel, Optic, Jack Flash, Nightstar, Turbo-Fox, Doctor Diablo, Liberty Lass, Zero-G, Golden Hornet 2, Dragonfly, The Spider, Wisp, Doctor Destiny and Aqua.

Front row: Dr. Dynamite, Glitter, Major Victory, Kid Victory, Spangle, Lady America, Vapor Girl, Micro, Telepath, The Scarlet Wasp, Gyro, Magnet, Gravity and The Golden Hornet.

There ya go :)

Edit: Forgot to add in Optic in the middle row :P

Yet Another Stab At The Banner

2010-02-05T16:28:00.001-05:00

So I have added every hero I have made an image for so far into this thing.

Thoughts?

I Need A Batman

2010-02-04T17:50:00.001-05:00

Yup that's right.

As I work on the Silver Age for the Zenith Universe, I have my Superman (Guardsman) and I have my Wonder Woman (Lady America) but I am missing a Batman. The guy who uses brains and skill instead of powers. The guy who everyone wonders if he is a hero or a villain. The guy, who when the American Government says "Unmask or go to jail." in the 50's doesn't say anything, he just ignores them and keeps going.

Now the hard part of this is that I don't want him to be a dead-to-rights rip-off of the Bat. Certainly Guardsman doesn't strike anyone as Superman on first blush. He isn't an alien, he started in 1944 and was powered by a magical helmet. Lady America (nicknamed the American Amazon for those who might miss it ;) ) isn't directly Wonder Woman either. She has no powers, uses Martial Arts and is a wrapped in the flag patriot. Essentially she is Wonder Woman masquerading as Captain America.

So how to have a Batman who isn't really a Batman at first glance.

I am wracking my brain on this one and coming up empty, so I turn to you all for input, ideas and guidance.

One caveat, please don't offer me characters from your own campaigns or creations unless you are also giving me permission to use them in publishing ventures (for which proper credit will be given to you if the character is used) as well as to twist, fold, spindle and/or mutilate as I see fit to make them work in the Zenith Universe.

Just had to get that out of the way.

New Banner Test 3

2010-02-04T02:06:00.001-05:00

Okay so this is the direction I am going for as I keep testing this stuff.

Thoughts on this one?

Setting Idea

2010-02-03T17:59:00.001-05:00

So Bashman suggested my compiling all my setting information into a source book, presumably for BASH! but certainly could be stated for other games as well.

Now I have plans to release roster books of villains for $4.99 on pdf each, but now I am considering this in stead.

There are a few points to consider as I think about this;

1] My campaign is designed and set in 1984. While I can ignore this with roster books, not so much in a setting book. Is there a market for a 1984 set campaign universe? Really?

2] Art. Right now I have some irons in the fire to get characters drawn up in static poses for roster books, but to do it as a setting will require more "action" or "scene" art. That's a lot more involved and not sure how to get that for cheap or profit-sharing.

3] I originally made my setting as a full world, then as a city and now I am not sure. I think global settings are lacking and that Freedom City, while great, is too focused for my tastes. That said the success of the project cannot be denied.

So, any thoughts on this train? ;)

Mighty Super Heroes! or Excelsior! ?

2010-02-03T16:50:00.001-05:00

This is the question.

I have promised to do a retro-clone this year of MSH Classic (FASERIP for those who remember) in response to my feelings on 4C. Yes I wasn't very impressed.

Now over on Grognardia there was some talk about MSH Classic today and I posted about this. Naturally I posted about my plan to do this and how I wanted to call it "Mighty Super Heroes!" Get it? M-S-H?

Anywho, an upright citizen named Delta reminded me and everyone that Marvel and DC hold the trademark on the term "super hero". Now while I don't fear that they would come after me for a "free" project, nonetheless anarchist (yes I see the delicious irony in that) suggested calling it "Excelsior!" instead. I like that too.

So what do you think folks? What are you thoughts on title?

Comment please :)

Thoughts?

2010-02-03T02:09:00.001-05:00

That's my first go round at a new banner.

Thoughts?

Temporary Logo Change

2010-02-01T22:25:00.001-05:00

Feeling the need to spruce the place up a bit while I work on this superhero stuff I am going to be playing with the banner at the top a bit.

For now I am using a place holder of the Zenith Comics Presents! logo.

This will more than likely change soon.

Tomorrow I get my new laptop... oh joy! It's like Christmas Eve or the last day of school! Tomorrow is just full of possibilities now. Tee hee.

Cheers.

Gods Bless Stellar Phoenix Recovery!

2010-02-01T12:42:00.001-05:00

So there's good news and bad news.

Bad news: Computer still dead, no resurrection or zombie action here.

Good News: Using Stellar Phoenix Recovery I was able to save all my role-playing documents that represent all 25 years I have been creating and writing stuff down! So much so am I impressed with them that I will be adding a hero to the Zenith Universe named Stellar Phoenix and they will be good! :)

Yay! I hereby declare this a day of celebration for all life on Earth Alpha!

Go forth! Be happy! Heck multiply a bit if you'd like!

;)

Quick & Dirty Update

2010-01-31T23:43:00.001-05:00

Computer died.

Doing recovery on HD to save about 2 to 3 months of work.

Working on old, very slow P4.

GF is going to get me a laptop, ain't she wonderful?

End of line...

Just What Is The Silver Age?

2010-01-27T14:40:00.001-05:00

"A silver age is a name often given to a particular period within a history, typically as a lesser and later successor to a golden age, the metal silver generally being valuable, but less so than gold."

Nope that sounds bad. Making it not as good as the Golden Age. Hmmmmm.

"The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the period from 1956 to circa 1970, and was succeeded by the Bronze and Modern Ages."

Well that just tells me when it was... le sigh. I need a better definition of what the Silver Age was... what it means.

Wikipedia you have failed me!

"The Silver Age of comic books began with the “second generation” of superheroes from 1959 to 1963 or so. Silver Age comics tended to feature more powerful heroes than their Golden Age predecessors (with the exception of a few godlike Golden Age characters). Silver Age comics also had a decidedly science fiction bent to them, with more aliens, fantastic technology, and scientific origins, especially involving atomic energy and related mutations. Many classic comic book characters first appeared in the Silver Age, or settled into their now-familiar forms and mythologies during this time."

That's from Mutants & Masterminds by-the-way.

Hmmm... it doesn't really help though does it?

Okay science and aliens are up. Got it. The classic characters either start or settle into themselves in this era. I am guessing that means what we know as the Flash, Wonder-Woman, Batman and Superman from DC or the entirety of Marvel Comics.

It would be fair to say that DC's Silver Age was much sillier than Marvel comics, though some also say that Marvel Comics are part of the "Atomic Age", though I am not going into that in this campaign.

So for me, the idea of the Silver Age becomes defining it for myself with an eye to what it was in the real world of comics. Those comics range from the 50s to about 1970. Interestingly enough that is an age that starts, in American history, as a sort of idealized innocence and ends with that innocence ripped away and reality really hitting home. The Korean War vs the Vietnam War. Eisenhower's America vs the Civil Rights movement. Elvis Presley vs the Beatles. Okay I better stop I can do this all day.

So given that my Silver Age needs to start with an idealized and somewhat naive view and end with a more realistic view, that gives way to the Bronze Age.

So at the end of the Golden Age we have the postwar heroes falling victim to the "Red Menace" fears and Dr. Dynamite getting shot. The other heroes have all but retired or vanished. Some have stuck it out, like Guardsman, who is very much into the whole 1950s America. White picket fence, nuclear family, etc... Racisim exists but no one talks about it in polite company and while there may be greasers, most middle-class white kids are essentially what Archie comics gave us. Oh and no one talks about the poor people.

In my timeline I have the SS Titan getting hi-jacked in 1958. A but late for the Silver Age to kick off, certainly later than the 1953 or 56 proposed in the above quotes. I had certainly decided that before I had created the idea of Guardsman as well. Still it is easy to say that with Guardsman running around doing various "American Things" in the early to mid 50s and Captain Comet showing up in 1958 the Silver Age get's kicked off with a flood of new heroes.

Though that makes me unhappy as well, for it means I lose out on the wonder and excitement of the whole early and mid 50s idealism and innocence. Interesting the onyl superheroes of note in those days in our world were Superman and I think Batman. Wonder Woman may have been in that time as well, I can't remember. Oh and there may have been a commie battling Captain America as well. Hmmm.

So I either adjust my timeline and move the beginning of the Silver Age back, or have Captain Comet show up earlier in the timeline, which is the same as moving the beginning back.

Now I am just thinking out loud.

I suspect I will need to do more research on this and so I will end this post by asking any and all of you to feel free to comment or share your thoughts on this topic.

Cheers.

I Just Noticed...

2010-01-26T22:08:00.001-05:00

This will make 23 posts for January.

Wow I guess I really like my superheroes and have a lot to say about them.

Interesting realization that is.

Cheers.

To Public Domain or Not to Public Domain.

2010-01-26T13:25:00.001-05:00

In my preparation for this campaign, I have managed to score permission to publish roster books or heros and villains using the BASH! system (I also intend to make versions for Superlink M&M and possibly 4C). This has allowed me the freedom to pour over the volumes of old campaign documents I have collected this past 25 years, as well as scour the internet (what did I do without it for all those years?) for inspirations as well.

Imagine my surprise to find this;

Public Domain Superheroes!

Yes a public domain heroes (and villains) wiki.

This site is fantastic and it focuses on the concept of heroes & villains who have not had their original copyrights renewed and as such have lapsed into the public domain.

Many are surprising, such as the original Blue Beetle (no not the Charlton one that DC now owns) as well as interesting characters like the original Wonder Man (and Wonder Boy) and such luminaries as Captain Atom (again a very specific early version).

For those who have read Project Superpowers or Terra Obscura, you have seen how these characters can be used, updated and even modernized a wee bit.

The tricky part is the trademark stuff. You have to be careful not to seem like you are trying to confuse people into thinking yours is the same one being published by DC or Marvel or whomever. That said, it seems to me that despite the fact that a lot of the modern copyright laws were modified to protect Mickey Mouse, the end result is not that DC or Marvel would think I am trying to pass off my Blue Beetle as their Blue Beetle, but instead that they simply have large law firms and I don't.

Still with some cleverness it can be done. For example on the original Blue Beetle;

"After his father was killed by a gangster's bullet, young Dan Garret joined the New York Police Department, but he soon tired of the slow pace and red tape of police work. He donned a blue three-piece suit and a white mask and established a costumed identity, fighting crime as the Blue Beetle. He had no powers, but he used a gun and a wrist-mounted mini-radio to get an edge on the criminals he was fighting. His calling card was a small beetle-shaped marker that he left in conspicuous places to alert criminals to his presence, using their fear of his crime-fighting reputation as a weapon against them."

See the a comic page here!

Now to me that is a much more interesting Blue Beetle than yet another spandex clown with super powers. I like the Dick Tracy aspects of this guy. Your mileage may vary, of course.

So I continue to ponder this topic and see where it takes me, but I must say that I am intrigued. Please feel free to share your thoughts on the matter.

Zenith Comics Universe: The Golden Age or What's Going On?

2010-01-24T17:35:00.001-05:00

So today those of you who follow this blog were bombarded by information about the Golden Age in the Zenith Comics Universe and there should be at least a couple of questions in your minds now if I have done my job correctly.

I would love nothing more than to peel back the curtain and give you the inside scoop, but alas players in the campaign read this blog too.

Damn players. ;)

Take heart though, because part of the campaign will be learning the truth about the Golden Age and such. So when the sessions notes start coming, the story should unfold a bit more.

Now that I have this done, I can turn my attention to the Silver and Bronze Ages, without that 4 colour distraction nagging at the back of my brain.

Zenith Comics Universe: Golden Lies

2010-01-24T17:31:00.001-05:00

The following is a transcript from a late November 1983 broadcast of “The Nightowl” radio talk show on WMSH 1460 AM in Capitol City. The interviewer is right-winged host , Jack Porter.

=-=-=-=-=

Porter: (Slightly monotone voice) Joining us in the studio this hour is Robert Hoyt, who has written a book entitled “Golden Lies: A True History of the Golden Age of Heroes”. A book that… well.. a book that takes everything you thought you knew about the Golden Age and turns it on its’ ear. That about sum it up right Bob?

Hoyt: (Nervous) Yes Jack, that’s about the long and the short of it.

Porter: (matter of factly) So Sun Man was a homosexual?

Hoyt: That’s correct.

Porter: Dr. Dynamite was assassinated on purpose?

Hoyt: Yes

Porter: Supergang and the Sentinels fought the Swastika Seven together… (nonchalantly) well we’ve all heard that one before…

Hoyt: (laughs a bit) Yes one of the worst kept secrets of the…

Porter: (Interrupting him) Ubermann was created by Doc Titan’s brother and was brought to America after the war?

Hoyt: Yes (swallows as if setting himself) Piter Titansky was trapped in Poland where he lived with their mother after the divorce in 1928, while Phineas…

Porter: (Cutting him off) But here’s the biggest bombshell of the book… There was no Castle Fear? Are you listening friends. The Victory Squad never fought at Castle Fear and … hang on to your seats on this one… They were killed in Berlin fighting Ubermann over Hitler’s bunker! Can you believe that!?

Hyot: (Hesitant sensing a trap) Yes… that’s true Jack…

Porter: (Not stopping) And they were all killed! Major Victory? Killed there. Kid Victory? Yup! Spangle? (speaks staccato) Torn in half by Uberfrau. (back to normal) That’s right!

Hoyt: This was all seen…

Porter: (still going) And Lady America! That’s right, our own beloved Lady A was killed as well. (goes deep serious voice) Think about this for a second. (pause) Lady America. Dead in 1945. So who has been running around as her since then?

Hoyt: Well they…

Porter: (Explosively interrupting) A succession of replacement women! Trained for the job and surgically altered to look just like the original! Can you believe it listeners?

Hoyt: (Emphatically) Yes Jack! And this is all true!

Porter: So why not have the other three, Major Victory and Kid Victory? And the girl, Spangle? Why not have them running around too? Why create this whole Castle Fear story?

Hoyt: (Sheepishly) That I don’t know Jack.

Porter: (Decidedly) You don’t know. (sighs) You just don’t know.

Hoyt: The rest of this information comes from a good source though! I…

Porter: (Interrupting aggressively) Your source was none other than Lady America herself!

Hoyt: (Triumphantly) That’s right!

Porter: (Condescendingly) In 1982! 1982! Everyone knows that was not really Lady America at all! That was an evil clone! Set loose by the Citadel no-less! And you expect us to believe anything this woman had to say?

Hoyt: (Fighting back but not strong) What… what about the Russian soldier who witnessed the fight in Berlin?

Porter: (Dismissive) A Commie soldier? What are you crazy? Those pinkos would say anything to discredit our great nation, especially in our greatest victory! Poppycock!

Hoyt: (almost a mewling sound) But you don’t… I need to…

::Microphone Feedback::

Porter: That’s it! I’ve cut off your microphone! Now I want security to get this lunatic out of the station right now! We gotta go to break! (Yelling away from mic) GET SECURITY IN HERE!

=-=-=-=-=-=

It should be noted that Robert Hoyt committed suicide three weeks later when the publisher of this book, Heritage Press, refused to pay him for the book, leaving him penniless.

Zenith Comics Universe: The Golden Age

2010-01-24T16:34:00.001-05:00

This essay is taken from the book "The Golden Age; A Collection of Essays on the Heroes of Yesterday" by Tribune Press, from 1981. These are the thoughts of Air Force Major Amanda Reese, the first female pilot to engage in a dogfight with enemy fighters. Her call sign is "Lady A" after her favorite superhero and role model Lady America.

1. Before The War

The Golden Age, as it has been called by historians, is the age wherein the "Super-Hero" or "Mystery-Men" first appeared. It's official staring date would be 1935, when the Masked Avenger broke up a Chicago gangland gambling den and killed Mob Boss Victor Sciscenti in retaliation for the deaths of nine Chicago police officers. He never took a name, and in fact was given the moniker the Masked Avenger by the papers, based on eye-witness accounts. Although the Masked Avenger was enigmatic, he did from time-to-time come into contact with other members of the Golden Age elite, but her never joined a team, and no one ever found out who he was under the mask.

Within one year of the Masked Avenger's beginning exploits, there occurred an explosion of super-heroes and mystery-men across North America, and in a limited sense overseas. Perhaps some of the most notable of the time were Golden Gloves and Sunboy, who would go on to become Sunman later in the early 40’s. Golden Gloves was nothing more than a boxer turned crime-fighter when the Irish mob began terrorizing non-Irish immigrants in Hell's Kitchen, New York city. Sunboy was the promise of what tomorrow would bring, he was just a teenager from the Mid-West who was imbued with the powers of the Sun, of course he could operate at night, but then only at half power due to the reflected sunlight of the moon. These two set the stage for the rest to come. They were in fact the models that all others would be based for awhile.

The first collection of supers as a team was not heroes, but in fact a group of villains calling themselves the Supergang. Lead by a man named Black Eagle, these villains perpetrated scores of crimes, only ever being stopped, and never captured by super-heroes of the time.

The response to their teaming was the formation of a team of mystery men called appropriately enough, the Gangbusters. Made up of a half dozen of the union suit vigilantes of the day, they would stick together until the war and keep the streets of New York City as safe as could be.

The is also a story that suggests that during the war, Supergang and members of the United Sentinels of America (hereafter: USofA) teamed up to stop a team of 5th columnists called the Swastika Seven from destroying the then Boulder Dam. While there is no proof to back this story, those surviving members of the USofA have never denied it.

One other person of note would be the first woman to don a costume and take up crime fighting. Although she would be the first to retire, in 1942 with a spinal injury causing her to lose the use of her legs, Night Woman was a figure-head for the other women heroes to come. She was in fact the widow of a man who had decided to try and fight crime as Night Man. After about 2 months of action, he was shot by the mob and barely managed to get home, where he died in his wife's arms. Enraged, she chose to extract a measure of revenge on the mob for the murder, and copied her husbands plans and desires. On January 10th, 1940, she made her first move, smashing up the book-making offices of the mobsters who killed her husband. This brought her to the attention of the Masked Avenger, with whom she teamed for almost the rest of her career. Night Woman suffered her injury at the hands of the Mafia connected hitman Hammer Hurricane (who would later gain powers under less than noble circumstance) during a battle in the Bowery section of New York City. Lucky to be alive, she retired and faded from the stage, and was never heard from again. Still she had broken ground and paved the way for other such notable heroines as Silver Sparrow, Grass Hopper, Lady Luck and Miss Liberty, all of whom would have a major impact on the Golden Age, each in her own way.

Silver Sparrow and Grasshopper were the first America supers to battle Nazi saboteurs, In New York on December 21st 1941. This action caught the attention of local newspapers and soon their names were well known to Americans. It is sad how many texts on the time still credit these two as being the first super-heroines, as Night Woman had a very quiet career and disappeared relatively quickly. It is equally sad how Grasshopper, a Japanese-American, was interred during the war, a black spot on our nation’s history to be sure.

The concept of Lady Luck and Miss Liberty was cooked up by the War Department as a way to sponsor war bonds. A talent search was held, and the two ladies who won had their visages plastered all over America. They became an overnight sensation, and did more touring than crime-fighting, but still they managed to make a huge impression and develop a following. An interesting side-note is that neither woman was super-powered in any way, and aside from gymnastics training, neither had any combat related skills to speak of. Still they were invited to join the USofA after the war. In light now of how their lives ended, they may have been on the greatest losses of the aftermath of the Golden Age.

2. Heroes At War

The war was the next major event for the heroes, and it produced the newest form of super-hero, the patriot. Contrary to popular opinion the first flag-wrapped hero did not come from America, but in fact from it's northern neighbor Canada. Already involved in the war, before the Americans, the Canadian Government, along with British support, began a project to create a super-hero under controlled conditions. They labored for a year, and on January 21st, 1940 they struck success by bonding a strange energy to a man who would become the Red Ensign, the carrier of the flag, and the first official super-hero to do battle with the Nazis. The Red Ensign was also without a doubt the most powerful hero of his day, he could lift in excess of 20 tons, rifle rounds bounced off of him and tank shells only knocked him to the ground. He could fly by controlling the winds around him and seemed immune to aging and disease. Only later would it be discovered that the energy that had been fused to him was in fact an air-elemental, and that it was slowly taking over his body.

Although this was the first allied hero, the Japanese, Italians and Germans already had super-powered soldiers in the field. Hengeyokai, Yokozuna and Tsunami lead the charge for the Japanese in 1931 against the Manchurians. Imperator crushed opposition for Italy during the invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 and Übermann, Überfrau, Herr Vulture, Wotan and Stuka were unveiled by Hitler in 1938. While these were to be the first Axis supers, they would not be the last, and even benefited from a Soviet super by the name of Vikuz, although she left and joined up with allied supers after Hitler's betrayal of Russia in 1941.

America was not to be left behind in the super-hero race, and astounded Commonwealth scientists by producing not one, but three super-powered soldiers only one year after their success with the Red Ensign. Using a technique that is perhaps still one of the closest guarded secrets in the world, the War Department was able to take four normal people, one man, one woman, a young boy and a teenage girl, and enhance their physical attributes to the peak of human conditioning. The three were rushed into intensive training, and emerged as Major Victory, Lady America, Kid Victory and Spangle.

Once the war was under way, many felt it was important for the heroes to come to the aid of their government and fight in the war, but that would not be. Excluding an elite group of heroes and mystery men, code-named the Victory Squad, put together by the Allies for that purpose, the majority of heroes and mystery-men would never leave North American shores during the war. The reason for this was the belief that the Axis Supers would be drawn into the fray and many lives would be lost. The Victory Squad’s purpose was simple, neutralize the Axis supers. To this end they were joined by a number of European supers, and even an supposed Atlantean called Mermaid. There would be two more mystically inclined supers to join up; from England, the English Knight, a man who claimed to wield the magical sword of King Arthur, Excalibur, and from Greece, Aegis, whose sword, helmet, shield, armor, bow and sandals were supposedly gifts from the Olympian gods of old. Whether that fact was true of not is irrelevant to this text, both men would face foes who claimed to be their mystical antithesis. For the English Knight there was Sir Blood, who claimed to be a vampiric knight empowered by Morgan LeFey. While it was never proven, Sir Blood did posses abilities classically attributed to such undead creatures. Aegis though faced an even older threat; according to his own testimony, Imperator was granted magical artifacts of war by Ares, the Olympian god of war, who wished to see the struggle in Europe continue. While there is much debate as to whether or not these claims were true, most who witnessed the clashing of these titans agree that they did in fact wield powerful artifacts.

Certain heroes even hung up their cowls and joined the armed forces, wanting to fight for their country. Some even ignored the decision from the War Department for them not to engage the enemy and headed overseas anyways. The war certainly was a test of fire for the heroes, as they spent the majority of it protecting the home-front against subterfuge and terrorism perpetrated by the enemy. The largest collection of these heroes and heroines would be the USofA. Formed by Golden Gloves and Sunman, by the war's end almost every home-front hero would be a member. Still, the names of the originals are perhaps the most important of the day, they were Golden Gloves, Sunman, Dr. Dynamite, Grasshopper, Silver Sparrow, Thunder-Man and Doc Titan. These seven would form the backbone of the team and remain loyal to it's ranks until the very end.

Another home-front team that did not fair as well were the Mysterymen. Only three strong, The Mysterymen fought against saboteurs and fifth columnists on the west coast. Comprised of the enigmatic Silver Squid, the hulking Stone and the quantum powered Schrodinger Kid, the team met its end when they were forced off a sea-side road during a high speed chase with Nazi agents, crashing more than two-hundred feet to their deaths. Never incurring much press or media, they still managed to provide an example of all American's desire to what they could during the war.

Perhaps the greatest tragedy of the war was the loss of a number of heroes in battle at Castle Fear, near the war's end. Lead by the Victory Squad, every Allied hero and Axis super in the European Theatre were there. While the details remain sketchy and classified, it is known that during the battle the USofA arrived to lend a hand, which helped to turn the tide in favor of the heroes. Of the losses, it is known that the British super Hawker was killed by Stuka, Canadian hero Grizzly by Wotan and Spangle was killed at the hands of Überfrau. The falling of these heroes seemed to unleash the fury of the Allied supers against their enemies and more than eight fell on either side, including Major Victory and Kid Victory. Oddly enough, there are reports that some sort of advanced robot, housing the brain of Hitler emerged from a spatial vortex and aided many of the Axis supers in fleeing. While the American government nicknamed this robot the Iron Fuhrer, they did not honestly accept its existence as a reality. Other than the heroes and villains who witnessed the event there is no proof to collaborate their testimony. Regardless of these rumors, the battle broke the will of the Axis supers who were routed, many escaping into the Alps. Those that were captured would go on to stand trial at Nuremberg.

All-in-all the war time took it toll of the population of heroes with some deaths, some disappearances and some retirements, but for the most part they went on strong. In 1949 the USofA held it's last meeting, and official disbanded. Many recall it as a tearful day, and the press covered it almost as much as the day the war ended. For many an era had come to an end, but it was not so, as soon enough many villains, including the Supergang returned to threaten the world. The American people called for their heroes again, and they returned. On a cold October night in 1950 the USofA returned to battle Supergang one last time. Lead by Sunman and Golden Gloves, they were heroes to millions and seen as the only heroes who could stand for all that was good about America. It was not to last.

3. The End Of The Golden Age

The end of America's Golden Age heroes was not one that befit all that they had accomplished. Mired down by paranoid-anti-communist fears, they were soon turned on by those they had sworn to protect, and many voluntarily went into retirement to protect their families. In 1952 the Golden Age truly came to an end when Dr. Dynamite was shot and killed while fleeing police who were under orders to arrest him due to the Superhuman Loyalty Act.

4. Last Notes

I would go into details on the events that ended the Golden Age here, but it is really a tale more fitting the Silver Age. I say this because while it was the close of one age, it was instrumental in the formation of the next. Also, for very personal reasons, I find it hard to write objectively about what I and many others see, as the betrayal of America's greatest heroes, and I shall leave it at that.

I hope that this short treatise will serve to further this document on the history of super-heroes, as it culminates over 25 years of research. My prayer is that perhaps, in these darker times, people can take hope from the past and maybe understand why more than ever the world needs heroes. I hope you enjoyed it and more importantly share it, we must never forget.

Amanda Reese, April 4th, 1981.

I Had A Strange Dream

2010-01-24T12:19:00.001-05:00

I don't normally do this, but it was so vibrant that I felt the need to get it down and heck why not share it.

It started out I was home in the Gaspé visiting my father when I noticed some police going through our basement. I mean a lot of police. So I went down to find out what the hell was going on and was pretty much told to mind my own business.

My father was there and he demanded to know as well, this angered the police who tried to threaten us away, but my father held his ground until one of the cops got fed up, he seemed to be in charge, and grabbed by father's head and snapped his neck with inhuman strength.

"Kill the other one."

On hearing that I tackled the closest cop and wrestle his gun away. Shots were fired. I know I hit at least two of them, including the leader who I killed.

The dream then had me on the run, through shrubs and bushes and backyards. I avoid a dog, some kids out playing on their bikes late at night, etc... Somehow I have been on the run for months and have made it from Gaspé to Vancouver, where I used to live (for anyone who doesn't know Canadian geography that's like going from Cape Code to Seattle). The other things I have figured out is that the cops I saw were actually aliens pretending to be humans and that they had infiltrated our society on every level.

Shades of V, They Live and the Arrival... I know, but hey I didn't write this stuff... or did I? What creative control do we have over dreams? Sorry, getting off topic.

So I am back in Vancouver, where being a homeless drifter is easy to blend in. For some reason I am heading to a semi-private bar I used to drink at called the WISE Club (Welsh, Irish, Scottish and English Club), though I have no lucid knowledge why in the dream.

Once inside I see Monte, who I used to drink scotch with. He lets me in and tells me to go clean myself up in the bathroom. I do and then come out of the stall to be greeted by two goons, who I quickly learn are aliens. Naturally a fight breaks out and I am not doing well as these Aliens are super strong.

I manage to run, and suddenly I am not longer in the WISE but some sort of truck stop/motel. I don't know. I manage to kill one of the aliens chasing me with a hastily grabbed fire-axe and just as the other is about to shoot me he is instead shot in a timely fashion. I look up to see a young black man and a young white blonde woman. They give me to old "Come with us if you want to live."

I go with them where they introduce me to an older scientist lady in a wheel chair, played by Kate Bush in this dream. I have "cleaned up good", naturally as you do in such films, and Dr. Kate starts to explain what is going on.

The aliens have been here for years, slowly infiltrating all levels of power. They use a visual light-bending technique to hide from us, in plain sight, but she has developed a lense that let's you see them. Told you it had They Live elements in it.

She tells me that she is part of a resistance that are trying to figure what the aliens want and how to stop them if possible. When I ask her how she knew about me, on cue Monte enters the scene, just like in a good movie.

I put in the contact lenses and we go for a walk around Vancouver, Gas Town to be precise. I can see these aliens everywhere. They are talk and ugly with big black eyes, essentially a mix of the Psychlos and the Greys. That's right, Battlefield Earth has infiltrated my dreams. Dear goddess help me.

We fast forward somewhat, I am not a valued part of the team and an action hero it seems. The blonde who rescued me and I have some kind of unspoken mutual romance thing going on, naturally, but dare not speak its name. It's all very Sci-Fi Original, as in not original at all.

There is some sort of raid on our secret base, Blonde Love Interest is kidnapped, Dr. Bush is killed, Monte, Black Guy and I all escape with a captured alien. We are in a field on the other side of a bridge, somewhere in the country. We torture him to get answers, which we do.

Then the phone rings and wakes me up.

Now why am I telling you about this? Well two reasons;

1] I rarely have dreams that follow a cohesive narrative, even one ripped off from a bunch of movies I have seen.

2] This is, as far as I know, an untapped genre in rpgs. The "aliens walk amoung us" type of thing. Why is that?

That's it. That's all I got on this. If you have any thoughts about this, please feel free to share them. Otherwise I am blaming this one on the bad potatoes I fried up for supper.

Zenith Comics Universe: The Ages

2010-01-23T23:28:00.001-05:00

The Ages

Introduction

The purpose of this document is to provide a very quick overview of the period of super-humanity in the 20th century. This time is divided into 3 “ages” based on the classical Greek Ages of mythology. While those ages in legend refer to better times, we make no claims that the previous ages of heroes were better or worse than the next, it is used simply as a handy way of measuring the distinct times.

The Golden Age

The Golden Age started in 1928 when the Masked Avenger first made headlines in his one man war on organized crime. He may have been the first, but he was far from the last. His actions seemed to herald a tide of mystery-men and women who would first spread across America and then the world.

Colorful circus strongman and wrestler costumes were the order of the day and most wore masks to hide their identities and to avoid prosecution by some over zealous District Attorneys on charges of vigilantism. In time though the Police and most cities came to accept the costumed crusaders in their midst and even work with them.

The first costumed criminal was also the first super-powered being of the Golden Age and also the leader of the first super-team, though it was a villain group called the Super Gang. The Black Eagle had tremendous large black wings and carried a raygun that could melt steel. He would clash with almost every hero of the time, but his primary enemy was Golden Gloves, a non-powered mystery man who used boxing to thwart crime.

When Hitler unveiled the first Nazi super in 1938 the world held its collective breath. Die Ubermann changed the face of international politics and as he would prove in North Africa, modern warfare. The mad dash to match the super human arms race started by the Germans would lead to many a great hero and some truly tragic accidents.

By the time America joined the war in 1941, there were dozens of heroes on all sides, villains to match and the catch term for the day went from “Mystery Man” to “Super Hero”. For reasons never revealed, after one brief excursion into German controlled territory, the most powerful super heroes were sent to protect their home lands, leaving essentially the non-powered mystery men and women to man the Allied strike force, the Victory Squad. At home the remaining heroes were unified under the flag of the United Sentinels of America by order of President Roosevelt.

By the end of the war, though many supers had died on all sides, a significantly large number survived and returned to their prewar crime-fighting activities. While some were able to make the transition to civilian crime-fighting again and some were not, the American government wasn't either. When the United Sentinels of America refused to deploy to the Korean theatre, some within the government soon where asking “Why masks?” and “Could the Scarlet Streak really be a Red?” When the orders came down they were direct and simple, unmask and sign loyalty statements or be considered vigilantes and be hunted. Scores of super heroes vanished over night, refusing to unmask for the safety of their loved ones. Some fought on, but when Dr. Dynamite was shot to death by Police in a botched arrest attempt in 1952, the Golden Age came to an end.

The Silver Age

There is some debate as to when exactly the Silver Age began, but for most the starting point is 1958 when the flying luxury liner SS Titan was saved from crashing by Captain Comet and his Rocket Rangers. Their daring rescue of the first and only flying liner got world wide coverage and rekindled the heroic ideals of Americans.

The Silver Age was also about something else that may have always been present, but really came into its own, the notion of space. Science and space played such a large part of this time that some think it should be renamed the Space Age. Certainly the Golden Age saw plenty of space and science related heroes and villains, but this age was swamped with them.

Not long after Captain Comet's appearance, like the Masked Avenger before him, a new wave of heroes and villains began. Space men, super spies and the ever present mystics, made up the lion's share of these men and women. Hope for tomorrow and a brighter future drove these colorful costumed folk on and the public was happy to have them, but then the 60's came and the world began to change again.

When JFK was killed, Lady America was reported as having been assigned to guard the Vice-President that day. When she later questioned why she had those orders, stories say LBJ gave her a dressing down in the Oval Office. She was later deployed to Vietnam, seemingly as a punishment.

The Vietnam war and the Civil Rights movement were not to be spared the touch of the super hero or even the super villain, but in the end these events were their own and certainly not overly affected by the actions of the costumed set.

As the 70s came in things began to change, the heroes were growing darker and more ruthless. Soon many were openly carrying guns and other lethal weapons. There was a shift coming but first a shorter age would have to be passed through. The Silver Age slid into the Bronze Age in 1975 with the arrest of Captain Thunderbird for the murder of two Chicago mobsters.

The Bronze Age

The world had changed, the OPEC Crisis, the Watergate Scandal and rampant inflation was changing America and slowly it was changing her heroes as well. More and more stories were surfacing about heroes being more aggressive, not accepting surrender of criminals without a “finishing blow” and even killing their enemies.

For 10 years the media ignored this and slowly the public began to become suspicious of the heroes and their behaviors. The premiere hero group of the day, the Guardians did their best to uphold more noble ideals, but theirs was a battle to be lost. The self indulgence of the 70s and the greed of the 80s were just not instep with upright, moralistic, old school thinking.

The Bronze Age can therefore been seen as one last gasp of a previous generation to hold onto something that was a bit nobler than their times, but the times were calling for a new type of hero.

In 1979 Dr. Walter Van Jove, the foremost expert on superhumans in the world wrote a book entitled “The Shape of Things to Come: The Super Future”. In it he predicted an explosion in the population of superhumans globally within the coming decade as well as major leaps forward in technology, pioneered by what he termed “Super Geniuses” whose only powers would be to invent, improve or develop new technologies.

In late 1983 something happened that shook the world. The Guardians were attacked in their base by a team of anti-democratic and despotic themed villains called the Axis of Evil, lead by none other than die Ubermann. They destroyed the satellite base of the heroes and when all was said and done the leader of the Guardians, considered to be the World’s greatest hero, Guardsman was dead.

On a cold January 3rd 1984, Guardsman was put to rest at the Heroes Hill cemetery in Capitol City. The crowds lined the streets as his funeral procession went by, thousands deep. The funeral itself attended by heroes from all corners of the world, 3 former Presidents and the current one as well. It was televised globally to millions of viewers and it sent a powerfully dark message to all. The world they had known was forever changed.

Afterword

Some say that the death of Guardsman marks the end of the Bronze Age and the beginning of an inevitable Iron Age. Still others say that it is just the midway point and the Bronze Age may yet not be over. Whether or not this is the case, many wonder if Dr. Van Jove’s promised wave of supers and technological advances will come to be or is simply a pipe dream.

According to EAGLE files there are over 500 known superheroes and villains globally and an estimated 200 more who have powers but do not “suit up” to coin a phrase. There has also been an increase in the number of governments that are employing superhumans in their militaries and other agencies. Some have speculated that this many superhumans will either lead to a new dominant form of humanity or a culling of the herd in some sort of crisis.

While the future remains unclear, for now superhumans are here to stay, for good or bad.

Zenith Comics Universe

2010-01-23T15:02:00.001-05:00

Hi there,

I just felt a need to let you all know that I am reposting the old characters I have put up where need be or making changes to their stories so as to bring them up to speed with the emerging backstory of the Zenith Universe as I develop it further.

The biggest change right now is changing the Golden Guardsmen to the Guardians. It just sits better with me.

I hope to have a basic timeline up and ready this week, before the first session.

Wish me luck ;)

Gyro, Gyro, Gyro!

2010-01-23T13:32:00.001-05:00

With those words the hero Spartacus summed up how he felt about Vixen's constant deferral to the hero who was also her lover at the time. Out of game it gave all of us a great laugh and later proved to me how a properly used GMPC can enhance a game, so long as you allow them not to be a Mary Sue and are willing to kill them once in a while.

I don't see GMPCs as a bad thing, though I have read enough horror stories to see how they can go bad. While this is an article for another time, I just wanted to say that if used as a falvouring/seasoning a GMPC can add to a game. If used as a starring role or constantly saving the heroes butts and telling them what to do, then it is a bad thing.

Like too much salt.

I have reposted the "My Thoughts" part of the original posting at the end of this one, but enough about that though.

So here he is, my first hero I ever created back in V&V in 1985 and one of the most iconic characters of the Zenith Universe;

GYRO Richard Wilkerson
35pts (Stats 16/Powers 21/Weakness -2)

Stats

Brawn: 2 Agility: 4 Mind: 2

Weakness
Damaging Weakness: Sonics

Skills
Athletics: Aerobatics
Pilot: Tricks/Evasion/Control
Investigation: Gut

Powers
• Boost: Mind 2 (For Energy Blast)
• Energy Blast: Special Attack 5 [Enhancement: Variable]
- Standard Blast: Mid Range, +1 Hit, +2 Dm
- Short Blast: Close Range +1 Hit +3 Dm
- Long Blast: Long Range, +1 Hit, +1 Dm
- Wide Angle: Close Range, Small Burst, +3 Dm
- Dodge This: +5 Hit
- Haymaker: +5 Dm
- Spin-Blast: Medium Burst, +3 Dm
• Flight 5 [Enhancements: Space]
• Immunity 4 [Suffocation, Vacuum, Temperatures, Radiation]/ Personal Force Field: Armour 3 [Enhancement: Linked]
• Super Speed 5 [Limitations: Only In Flight/Only Movement]

Advantages
Appeal

Disadvantages
Social Stigma: Mocked

Mental Malfunction
To prove himself

Background
Richard Wilkerson was born the son of Nathanial Wilkerson III, owner and head of Avitech, a large military contractor to the US. Raised around aviation it was only natural that Richard would become a pilot. Flying for the USAF, Richard was on a routine mission chasing a stray MiG back across the Bering Strait when something he could never have imagined happened.

A UFO came onto the radar and bathed both Richard’s F-15 Eagle and the Russian’s MiG in a strange golden glow. According to Air Force documents and statements, both jets dropped off radar over the Bering Strait. 2nd Lieutenant Richard Wilkerson was first listed as MIA and then 48 hours later as KIA.

Six months later, a fishing boat off the coast got the surprise of their lifetimes when they pulled a blonde, alive man in with their nets. His Air Force Dog Tags still on, they radioed to shore and were met there by a military detachment.

It is unknown what happened in the debriefing, but this much is know. Wilkerson was discharged after an Air Force Lawyer named Karen Winston brought his story to the media. The Air Force discharged her as well. Wilkerson moved in with her in Seattle for a time, where he began complaining of migraines. Then one night he began glowing with a tremendous golden energy and flew out of their penthouse, not stopping until he reached Japan.

Over a short period of time he came to learn that somehow he had developed tremendous powers. He went to his father immediately, explaining the situation. His father promised to help, but instead called the USAF and offered to hand over his son to them. EAGLE intercepted that call and stepped in.

Richard was given the choice of joining up with EAGLE or returning to the Air Force. He chose EAGLE and very soon found himself with a costume, a code name and a position on Team Justice. Now called Gyro he was suddenly a member of the premiere American super-hero team. To say he fit in would be a lie.

It didn’t take long for Gyro to get kicked out of Team Justice for undisclosed reasons, though rumours say it involved the villainess Trixie of Ravage V. EAGLE then convinced Guardsman to make him a member of the Guardians, which turned out to be the best thing for Gyro.

He respected Guardsman and looked to him as the father he wished he had. He learned to control his powers and his hot headedness under Guardsman’s careful tutelage and watchful eye. Eventually though this too would end for Gyro.

With the details having made all the gossip rags at the time, we will just sum it up by saying his romantic dalliance with Guardsman’s girlfriend at the time Sparrow Hawk, lead to both Gyro and her being removed from the Guardians. In a morbid turn of fortune, this occurred one week before the team was devastated by the Axis of Evil and Guardsman was killed.

Now without a team and cut loose by EAGLE, Gyro has taken up residence in New York City and hopes to prove that there is a hero inside him, the hero that Guardsman told him he could be. If only he could make everyone else see that.

Pictured
Current Cosutme as of 1984 (top right) and original costume (left)

My Thoughts
Gyro was my first character I ever made. I made him in V&V and man did he get into trouble. My buddy Graeme was running the campaign and Gyro was actually a member of Team Justice. Then they captured Trixie from Ravage V and she worked her feminine wiles on poor old Richard and sure as shit he let her go. He was promptly kicked off the team.

When I started the Guardians campaign back in '89, I had Gyro with the rest of the PCs trying out for an open slot on Team Justice. Yup, he was such a thick head that he was determined to get back on the team. Needless to say he didn't make it but he did band with the PCs to stop a fight between King and Mega-Man (no relation), two other tryout rejects.

When they announced to the media that they were forming a superhero team, the first question asked was "Gyro! Gyro! Sally Such-in-such for the Blather Press Daily. Will you be kicked off this team too?" I recall having Gyro lose his temper and declare the press conference was over.

The funny thing was, the players really liked Gyro and decided to make him the team leader. Nowin those days no one in our group knew the term GMPC and certainly I didn't favour Gyro. So much so that years later one of the original players confessed to me that he knew it was a serious night when I had Gyro get killed flying a nuclear bomb into orbit as the first act of the session.

That's right. I killed my pet NPC two sessions into the campaign.

Something most folks won't understand, especially those who have been on the bad end of a GMPC experience, is that I treat my NPCs far worse than my PCs. I beat them, kill them, rape them, torture them, humiliate them, etc... all so that the players understand how the world works. Then I can do it to them without worry of them thinking I am picking on them.

Some players get it, some don't. Those who get it though have been coming to my table on and off for 25 years. So I must be doing something right.

Will Gyro be in the new game? Hell yes. This is the 25th Anniversary game! You bet your ass my first ever superhero will be in it, without a doubt!

Team Justice: Gravity!

2010-01-21T16:29:00.001-05:00

GRAVITY

Karen Harris

(Stats: 9pts/Powers 33pts/Weakness -2pts = 40pts)

Stats

Brawn: 1 Agility: 2 Mind: 2

Weakness

Negating Weakness: Stellar Matter

Skills

Military: Tactics

Pilot: Evasion/Control

Science: Physics

Powers

• Boost; 2 Mind with Gravity Powers

• Anti-Gravity: Flight 3 [Enhancement: Usable on Others]

• Gravity Manipulation: Telekinesis 5
• Gravity Screen: Force Field: 5 [Enhancement: Variable]
• Gravity Blast: Special Attack: 5 [Enhancement: Variable]

• Gravity Multi-Power: 10pts

- Deflect 3

- Push 5 [Area: Burst Medium]

- Immobilize 5 [Enhancement: Variable]

- Slow: Huge Burst. Resist with Brawn

Advantages

Never Surrender

Disadvantages

Duty

Mental Malfunction

Patriot

Background

Gravity was supposed to be the first American woman in space. Lt. Karen Harris had been selected for the astronaut program and was training day and night. Her placement had not yet been announced when an accident removed her from that role and gave her a new one as a super hero. The details of the accident remain classified at the highest levels, even today, but the end result of that accident was that she was imbued with mastery over the very forces of gravity itself.

Placed on Team Justice as a military aspect by demand of the Pentagon, she served as a 2nd in Command to Magnet. There were rumours that they were linked romantically, though none can be confirmed.

Her personality was a more laid back one than Magnet's, certainly she was easier going and more open to the ideas of the other teammates and in combat she could improvise quite well, making her unpredictable to enemies.

In 1980 she left the team under undisclosed circumstances and joined the Guardians. Alas her life was lost in the deadly attack by Übermann in 1983.

Fast Update!

2010-01-21T14:04:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to give a shout out to the new followers I seem to have picked up this past week. Cheers and welcome.

Also been slow on the updates as I have been dealing with my oh so fun bronchitis infection thing. Not getting a lot of sleep what with the coughing and the crying and the gnashing of teeth.

Hope to put more stuff up this weekend at the latest.

Going to see Avatar 3d tomorrow with the GF, so that should be nice.

Peace.

Team Justice: Magnet!

2010-01-19T11:23:00.001-05:00

This is intended to be a series of posts wherein I will post up members of various superteams, good and bad, with their stats as well as a brief history.

First up;

In 1978, when the Guardians became an officially UN Sanctioned superteam, the American government recruited Dr. Walter Van Jove, the world preeminent expert on superhumans, to help them develop a new American team. At first their idea was to recreate the patriotic Victory Squad from WW2 and even recruit the still active Lady America to lead it. Van Jove advised not to, stating that with it only being two years since the Bicentennial, a flag draped team of heroes would seem like a gimmick. Instead he proposed assembling a team of the best candidates from a secret government operation called "The Program" and elsewhere, so long as they weren't already known to the public. They agreed and Van Jove hand picked the original members of Team Justice (he did not alas have any control over the naming of the team and or the candidates from the Program).

The team was based out of a public headquarters in abandoned embassy of the former nation of Vaslavia (Liberated from Nazi control by the Soviets at the end of WW2). Conveniently their base of operations would be nicknamed "The Embassy" by the media. The Embassy was a combination of state-of-the-art and classic elegance. Keeping much of the original look of the Vaslavian embassy, it had a rather extensive subterranean complex added to it for special activities, housing of superpowered threats, storing of the team shuttle, etc... all built under the watchful eye of the Army Corps of Engineers.

With a home base and a name, all that was needed were members. The first, hand picked by Dr. Van Jove, was;

MAGNET
Dr. Martin Fowler
(Stats 14pts + Powers 26pts = 40pts)

Stats
Brawn: 1 Agility: 2 Mind: 4

Weakness
None

Skills
Computers: Programming
Drive: Control
Pilot: Control
Science: Physics +1AM
Technology: Repair

Powers
Animation 4 [Limit: Metal objects only]
Deflect 3 [Limit: Only vs. Metal/Energy based attacks]
Flight 3
Force Field 5 [Limit: Only affects metal/energy based attacks]
Magnetic Blast: Special Attack 5 [Enhancement: Variable]
Magnetic Mastery 4
Telekinesis 5 [Limit: Only affects metal]

Advantages
Versatile

Disadvantages
Rogue’s Gallery

Mental Malfunction
Control, Must Be In Control

Background
Magnet, really known as Dr. Martin Fowler, was American's leading expert on magnetism and stellar energy collection. Not a product of the Program, he gained his powers when his attempts to capture part of the Van Allen Belt for study using a long range Stellar Energy Converter went wrong and the resultant explosion bathed him in the strange energy. With the power to control magnetic fields, he was recruited by Van Jove from the government facility he was recovering at.

Made the leader of the team, his personality is best described as no-nonsense and straightforward. In fact his reliance on logic has been exposed as an Achilles Heel by some of his enemies, finding him predictable. That said though, his massive amount of power balances that out, even playing to his favour.

He was rumoured to be romantically linked to his teammate Gravity and then after that Telepath, though no proof of these affairs has surfaced.

Pictured: Original costume (top) and recent 1984 costume (left)

Last One For Today!

2010-01-18T19:43:00.001-05:00

Here is the all new and king-sized Lady America modern costume.

The hair is still not right, but that's the way it goes. I am not an artist, so I make do with what I have until I have cash to pay folks to do stuff for me ;)

More Sneak Peaks!

2010-01-18T15:34:00.001-05:00

Lady America's original USO costume and her later more military costume, both from the Golden Age :)

Fast & Dirty Update!

2010-01-18T15:30:00.001-05:00

Sorry no updates for a week. Been getting settled in back home after spending the holidays with the family.

Also I have bronchitis, so that's fun. :(

Updates to come, I promise.

For now, here's a WIP of one of the players characters, Dragonfly!

New Pictures!

2010-01-09T11:15:00.001-05:00

So I realized I was doing something wrong with the way I did my character pictures. So I redid them all and in the process redesigned a little bit :)

Here we go;

First up is my Lady America. I spent a lot of time working on this look and in the end it became a mix of two different Lady America costumes. The first one ever and the City of Heroes look I used that won me oh so many costume contests in Atlas Park.

The hair is still wrong, as it it supposed to look like the singer from Roxette's hair but I just could get that right at all.

It should look like this;

But the problem is that I have little to no artistic talent freehand and drawing said hair would have been beyond my talents.

Still I am happy with how she turned out. Even if her boobs are too big. ;)

Up next is the rework of Gyro. Again I added something to the picture, which was the new chest symbol. I like it a lot more than the one that came built into the Fabrica program, so off to Photoshop I went. In the end I think he looks more streamlined and faster, which is sort of what I was aiming for.

Like Lady A, Gyro is a character that is near and dear to my heart. When I couldn't get his name in City of Heroes I wound calling him Ex Astris, which was fun... but it wasn't right. I can still hear Farrel in my head saying in his Spartacus voice "Gyro! Gyro! Gyro!" in a very Brady Bunch moment.

Sigh those were good time.

Continuing the trend of remake and redesign, I came to my buddy Guardsman. I just couldn't get it right. No matter how I tried to do it, it wasn't coming out the way I wanted.

Then I tried this and everything was okay;

It is amazing what a half-cape and some colour introspection can do for a character. I am beyond happy with how Guardsman turned out. Now he looks like the bad-ass super hero I saw him as originally.

Well that's it for now.

More to come, as there are already designs on the plate that haven't been seen yet. Some of which still need to be stated out as well.

Cheers and enjoy!

Guardsman BASH!

2010-01-08T15:22:00.001-05:00

GUARDSMAN
Nathan Prince
36pts (Stats 20pts/Powers 20pts/Weakness -4)

Stats

Brawn: 4
Agility: 4
Mind: 2

Weakness
Devastating Weakness: Argonite (Negating/x3 Damage) (-4pts)

Skills
Acrobatics: Throwing/Running/Climbing/Jumping
Military: Command/Tactics

Powers
Ability Boost: Brawn (Uppercut Punch!) 3
Armour 3
Attack Weak Point
Eye Beams: Special Attack: 5 (2 Range/+3DM)
Fleet of Foot
Flight 5
Martial Arts: Tough Style

Advantages
Leadership
Never Surrender
Security Clearance

Disadvantages
Arch-Enemy
Public ID
Rogue’s Gallery

Mental Malfunction
Square jawed hero.

Background
Guardsman started out as a hero in the Golden Age. A bit late to the show, he only appeared on the scene in 1944, but his arrival was a giant impact on the day.

He claimed to have been given his powers from a magical helmet he had found, but more than once he had the helmet knocked off his head and never seemed to depower.

Never a member of the wartime super teams, he did work with plenty of them throughout the Golden Age and seemed to attract the attention of German super die Übermensch in a big way. The two had epic battles, the last being over Berlin as the Allies closed in.

Returning home he agreed to President Truman's request that he form up a national team for the protection of America. He called that team the Golden Guardsmen, after himself of course.

According to all other heroes who knew him, the one thing greater than his power was his ego. Still his impressive nature and awesome powers served him well and he became the gold standard for superheroes for the next three decades.

In 1983, while still leading the Golden Guardsmen, Guardsman was killed in battle by die Übermensch and his team of anti-American villains, the Axis of Evil. It was a tremendous loss for a nation and the world.

His funeral was broadcast around the world and was attended by many leaders of the free world and a who's who of the heroes of the world. Even Soviet hero Red Guard issued a statement praising the heroics of Guardsman, and of course condemning his capitalist politics.

To say the world is lost without their premiere hero is an understatement. The Golden Guardsmen, all lost save one in the attack, are no more and Team Justice does what it can to hold the line, but Guardsman's absence has left a large void to fill.

Gyro - BASH!

2010-01-07T20:40:00.001-05:00

GYRO
Richard Wilkerson
36pts (Stats 16/Powers 22/Weakness -2)

Stats

Brawn: 2
Agility: 4
Mind: 2

Weakness
Damaging Weakness: Sonics

Skills
Athletics: Aerobatics
Pilot: Tricks/Evasion/Control
Investigation: Gut

Powers
• Boost: Mind 2 (For Energy Blast) 2pts
• Energy Blast: Special Attack 5 [Enhancement: Variable] 6pts
- Standard Blast: Mid Range, +1 Hit, +2 Dm
- Short Blast: Close Range +1 Hit +3 Dm
- Long Blast: Long Range, +1 Hit, +1 Dm
- Wide Angle: Close Range, Small Burst, +3 Dm
- Dodge This: +5 Hit
- Haymaker: +5 Dm
- Spin-Blast: Medium Burst, +3 Dm
• Flight 5 [Enhancements: Space] 4pts
• Immunity 4 [Suffocation, Vacuum, Temperatures, Radiation]/ Personal Force Field: Armour 3 [Enhancement: Linked] 6pts
• Super Speed 5 [Limitations: Flying Movement only] 4pts

Advantages
Appeal

Disadvantages
Social Stigma: Mocked

Mental Malfunction
To prove himself

Background
Richard Wilkerson was born the son of Nathanial Wilkerson III, owner and head of Avitech, a large military contractor to the US. Raised around aviation it was only natural that Richard would become a pilot. Flying for the USAF, Richard was on a routine mission chasing a stray MiG back across the Bering Strait when something he could never have imagined happened.

A UFO came onto the radar and bathed both Richard?s F-15 Eagle and the Russian?s MiG in a strange golden glow. According to Air Force documents and statements, both jets dropped off radar over the Bering Strait. 2nd Lieutenant Richard Wilkerson was first listed as MIA and then 48 hours later as KIA.

Six months later, a crab boat off the coast got the surprise of their lifetimes when they pulled a blonde, alive man in with their nets. His Air Force Dog Tags still on, they radioed to shore and were met there by a military detachment
It is unknown what happened in the debriefing, but this much is know. Wilkerson was discharged after an Air Force Lawyer named Karen Winston brought the his story to the media. The Air Force discharged her as well. Wilkerson moved in with her in Seattle for a time, where he began complaining of migraines. Then one night he began glowing with a tremendous golden energy and flew out of their penthouse, not stopping until he reached Japan.

Over a short period of time he came to learn that somehow he had developed tremendous powers. He went to his father immediately, explaining the situation. His father promised to help, but instead called the USAF and offered to hand over his son to them. EAGLE intercepted that call and stepped in.

Richard was given the choice of joining up with EAGLE or returning to the Air Force. He chose EAGLE and very soon found himself with a costume, a code name and a position on Team Justice. Now called Gyro he was suddenly a member of the premiere American super-hero team. To say he fit in would be a lie.

It didn?t take long for Gyro to get kicked out of Team Justice for undisclosed reasons, though rumours say it involved the villainess Trixie of Ravage V. EAGLE then convinced Guardsman to make him a member of the Golden Guardsmen, which turned out to be the best thing for Gyro.

He respected Guardsman and looked to him as the father he wished he had. He learned to control his powers and his hot headedness under Guardsman?s careful tutelage and watchful eye. Eventually though this too would end for Gyro.

With the details having made all the gossip rags at the time, we will just sum it up by saying his romantic dalliance with Guardsman?s girlfriend at the time Sparrow Hawk, lead to both Gyro and her being removed from the Golden Guardsmen. In a morbid turn of fortune, this occurred one week before the team was devastated by the Axis of Evil and Guardsman was killed.

Now without a team and cut loose by EAGLE, Gyro has taken up residence in New York City and hopes to prove that there is a hero inside him, the hero that Guardsman told him he could be. If only he could make everyone else see that.

My Thoughts
Gyro was my first character I ever made. I made him in V&V and man did he get into trouble. My buddy Gramme was running the campaign and Gyro was actually a member of Team Justice. Then they captured Trixie from Ravage V and she worked her feminine wiles on poor old Richard and sure as shit he let her go. He was promptly kicked off the team.

When I started the Guardians campaign back in '89, I had Gyro with the rest of the PCs trying out for an open slot on Team Justice. Yup, he was such a thick head that he was determined to get back on the team. Needless to say he didn't make it but he did band with the PCs to stop a fight between King and Mega-Man (no relation), two other tryout rejects.

When they announced to the media that they were forming a superhero team, the first question asked was "Gyro! Gyro! Sally Suchinsuch for the Blather Press Daily. Will you be kicked off this team too?". I recall having Gyro lose his temper and decalre the press conference was over.

The funny thing was, the players really liked Gyro and decided to make him the team leader. Nowin those days no one in our group knew the term GMPC and certainly I didn't favour Gyro. So much so that years later one of the original players confessed to me that he knew it was a serious night when I had Gyro get killed flying a nuclear bomb into orbit as the first act of the session.

That's right. I killed my pet NPC two sessions into the campaign.

Something most folks won't understand, especially those who have been on the bad end of a GMPC expirence, is that I treat my NPCs far worse than my PCs. I beat them, kill them, rape them, torture them, humilate them, etc... all so that the players understand how the world works. Then I can do it to them without worry of them thinking I am picking on them.

Some players get it, some don't. Those who get it though have been coming to my table on and off for 25 years. So I must be doing something right.

Will Gyro be in the new game? Hell yes. This is the 25th Anniversary game! You bet your ass my first ever superhero will be in it, without a doubt!

"EVIL CLONE" Lady America - By Request

2010-01-06T14:07:00.001-05:00

1980's "EVIL CLONE" LADY AMERICA
Amanda Reese

LADY AMERICA
Amanda Reese
31pts (16 Stats/15 Powers)

Stats

Brawn: 4
Agility: 2
Mind: 2

Powers
Armour 2 (x5 Soak)
Eye Beams: Special Attack: 4 (+2DM/Mid Range)
Flight 4
Mind Spikes 5

Skills - Physical
Athletics – Aerobatics
Drive – Steering
Pilot – Control
Stealth – Evading Security

Skills - Mental
Military – Command
Security - Surveillance

Advantages
Leadership
Never Surrender
Quick Thinking
Security Clearance

Disadvantages
Duty*
Nightmares**
Rogue’s Gallery
Secret

Mental Malfunction
Super Patriot

Background
According to the EAGLE file on this one, the Citadel (or VENOM depending on whose files you read) captured and cloned Lady America and gave her different powers. They then sent her out to pretend to be the actual Lady America. A ruse that lasted from 1981 to late 1983. In late 83 the real Lady America escaped capture and confronted her doppelganger, who had gone crazy and was attacking the Project Liberty HQ. The battle was brilliant and brutal, but ended with the real Lady America holding her dieing clone in her arms. The clone's last words were "Why?".

I'm Living In the 80's!

2010-01-04T13:46:00.001-05:00

I had made a passing comment on wanting to set my new Ultimate Guardians game in 1985. I never expected my players to like the idea, but so far a couple of them do and now I am looking at it realistically.

I am rereading Watchmen and the Elementals to get myself back into that 80's superhero headspace.

I am also reading a bunch of alternate history stuff to see if there are any events I want to change, ala Watchmen-style.

Of course the big upside to this is that in 1985 I still have my Soviets! The 60's weren't so long ago. Lots of heroes can have tours in Vietnam in their backgrounds. Oh and the music Rocks!

So any ideas or suggestions you might have to make this even more fun would be very much welcome.

Cheers.

Lady America - BASH!

2010-01-03T16:54:00.001-05:00

Here is Lady America written up in BASH Ultimate Edition for the new Ultimate Guardians campaign.

Note that due to players being able to read this blog, I have had to leave a couple of things blank. These are things to be discovered through play.

Also I have included a Timm done of her in her City of Heroes costume. While not perfectly how I see her, it is a good look.

With out further ado;

Lady America
Amanda Reese
Power Level: 35pts

Stats (16)

B: 2
A: 4
M: 2

HP: 3/_
XP: _

Powers (16)

Attack Weak Point
Disarm Expert
Fleet of Foot
Keen Senses
Martial Arts 3
Mind Spikes 5
Swift Strike

Skills - Physical
Athletics – Acrobatics
Drive – Steering
Pilot – Control;
Stealth – Evading Security

Skills – Mental
Military – Command
Security - Surveillance

Advantages
Leadership
Never Surrender
Quick Thinking
Security Clearance

Disadvantages
Duty*
Nightmares**
Rogue’s Gallery
Secret

Mental Malfunction
Super Patriot

*Duty - New Disadvantage; You work for or are beholden to some group or organization that can call upon you to perform tasks or such, thereby interfering with your life and your heroing.

**Nightmares - New Disadvantage; You suffer from nightly nightmares due to something in your past, outside forces, premonitions (work it out with your Narrator). As such each morning you must make a difficulty 20 Mind check or suffer 1d6 Setbacks for that day.

Campaigns of 2010

2010-01-02T12:30:00.001-05:00

As the new year is upon us and on the 16th of January the Ultimate Session of Book 1 of the New Dawn of the West (wow that's a mouthful) will be occurring, I have to think about what 2010 will mean roleplaying wise.

For certain I have Ultimate Guardians on the plate, as well as my ongoing Final Age playtest group. The main thing though is that the Fortknights, the group that has been playing New Dawn of the West, are my oldest and primary group. One player has been gaming with me since grade 9!

So Ultimate Guardians for sure. Superheroes is how this group came together, and super heroes is still their favorite game.

I am also thinking of a Star Trek campaign, but I can't decide what flavour yet. I know for sure I will make a SAGA version of Star Trek though, using cards and such. It just seems like a natural mix to me.

I like TOS, but my "Trek Sweet Spot" is Star Trek 2 - 4 with cherry pickings from everything after. Wrath of Khan, Search for Spock and Voyage Home are the sweetest Trek trilogy ever and frankly my view of what Star Trek should be. Very FASA Trek I know.

That said there was a lot I liked about the new Star Trek (Abrams-Trek) and a lot I really really didn't. It is funny how when I walked out of the theatre I was simply blown away by that movie. Every subsequent review I have disliked it more and more. I find giant plots holes or logic-fails in the story (1 super nova is going to destroy the whole galaxy? WTF?) and like it less and less. I really hated the bridge and the "utility" look of the engineering. Arrgggh! I just reminded myself of more stuff I didn't like! Peh! Enough of that.

And don't even get me started on TNG.

So yeah TOS or Movie Gen? That is the question.

After Trek I need a third choice. One that works with a group of 6 players. Cyberpunk, while fun as hell, is not realy good longterm stuff for me. I kill characters far too easily and often for that to happen.

Horror rpging has never gone well with my groups. Smaller ones yes, but big groups no.

Western Horror might be fun though, some seriously toned down Deadlands could be a hoot.

Any suggestions?

25th Anniversary!

2009-12-30T11:14:00.001-05:00

So with 2010 right around the corner, I realized something. This is going to be my 25th anniversary of roleplaying! I started way back in 1985 as a freshmen in high school and never looked back int he quarter century since.

Wow.

Unlike most people I didn't start with D&D but actually with FASA's Star Trek game. I quickly moved on to Villains & Vigilantes and then dabbled a bit in D&D.

Fantasy rping always took a back seat to Star Trek or Superheroes, that's just the way it was up until 1989. Then I discovered a game that made all others moot for me, it came in a minimalist black box and cost my $18 at Captain Quebec (uFLGS) and it was called Cyberpunk.

I ran Cyberpunk for years (both 2013 and 2020) and was considered quite a lethal referee. I still am. I have always warned players that all other games I run for them to have fun and explore the world... Cyberpunk I run for me. And I like shootouts, double-crosses and non-stop action. All of these things lead to very high PC bodycounts in Cyberpunk and I am quite fine with that.

The other two themes I have ran to death are Superheroes and Star Trek.

I was the only person in my circle of gamers who held onto MSH Classic (FASERIP) after everyone else had moved on to Mutants & Masterminds. I just never got into all that book keeping. Wasn't for me. MSH was elegant, fast and I could eyeball a threat/power level in seconds. I didn't need to then perform a bunch of caculations based on that eyeballing, all I needed to do was add some ranks and Bob's your uncle.

I have run homegrown campaigns, Marvel Universe campaings, DC Universe campaigns and a weird folded Universe that lasted a bloody longtime as well.

Star Trek is another game I have ran in almost every incarnation, though not the one that came before FASA Trek. I have run Next Gen Campaigns, Movie Gen Campagins, Post-Gen Campaigns and even my own Ultimate Universe version of Star Trek. I have run Prime Directive using the original rules and D6. I know my Trek, but surprisingly only became a fan after I start RPGing it. That is why the FASA Universe will always be in step with how I see Star Trek and as such Movie Gen being Trek to me.

So with my 25th Anniversary of gaming looming I plan to spend 2010 revisiting these awesome genres (as well as continuing work on Final Age) and really have some old school fun with myself. The only difference is that I will use SAGA instead of FASERIP for my supers. I don't know what I will use for Trek and I will use my melange of 2013/2020 rules for Cyberpunk.

It's gonna be a good year for gaming!

Zenith Comics Presents: Ultimate Guardians

2009-12-28T15:12:00.001-05:00

Well the die is cast and I am underway working on my Ultimate Guardians campaign. There has been a lot of enjoyment in my mind of working out various things and such.

The question of system is still up for debate (my declaration of BASH as a winner earlier may have been a bit premature) and it seems the old FASERIPer is in the running, but maybe as 4C. I will know as soon as I start to write stats down.

I have also teamed up with my buddy Longbow from the Super Buddies forums and he has started doing some art for me in the Bruce Timm style from the DCAU.

The first piece up is my old favourite, Lady America;

This is an old costume of hers and not her final look for sure, but it was nice to see her come to life in the first costume I ever designed for her!

While she isn't a Guardian at the start of the campaign, she will be an ally of them team.

The characters (no art yet) are as follows;

Galvanos - A Japanese Robot in the Shogun Warrior style controlled by a handicapped Japanese youth.

Max Plastic - A smart mouthed former-crook-turned-hero who can stretch and shape himself into almost anything.

Kestrel - An angry young mutant with the looks of an angel. His temper is legendary.

Traxx - A speedster who embraces all the traditional stereotypes about speedsters.

Zero-G - An ex astronaut turned superhero with power over gravity itself. A southern gentleman.

Arrow - A soldier/archery expert with hand-to-hand skills to match. He is secretive about his past.

Cascade - A mutant aquatic woman form Australia who studies marine biology and is at best a relunctant hero.

Now the game will be set in Capitol City, which I am going to do an big overhaul of. I am going to make it sort of a Chicago of the East, more on that later.

The big trick to the game is this. All the characters are from the older campaigns I have run, but this time it won't be the player who made them playing it. For example, Galvanos' player won't be playing Galvanos, etc... Really shaking it up.

More as it develops