The Council of Champions

The Thursday Crisis

2011-01-01T15:42:00.001+13:00

This summer your favourite super-franchise delivers another action-packed episode:

For seven years the planet has enjoyed peace and security thanks to the magnificent efforts of the reunited Council of Champions. When we mark Champion day this January 23rd, we give thanks to the All-American hero Captain Hope, British Super-Genius Professor Eternity, Spanish Gun-Slinger Salvo, the giant Ground Zero, and all the other champions who risk their lives to safeguard global prosperity.

Things haven’t always been going smoothly for the champions of late; twenty six passenger planes have gone missing during the last month - creating a world-wide panic, while temporal distortions have been wrecking havoc in the streets of the world’s most populous cities. Then there’s Hope and Eternity’s teenage son Daniel’s very public rift with his parents, which has been tabloid fodder for months, and the reported production problems and cost overruns with Captain Hope’s grandiose biopic.

Will the Champions manage to master this latest mysterious malevolence?

Can our protagonists prevent pandemonium or will personal predicaments prevail?

Find out at Kapcon XX on January 23rd...

Villain - Captain Despair

2008-01-16T14:56:00.000+13:00

Background:
Captain Despair comes from an alternate dimension where the Champions are Villains. He was brought to this dimension by Vex.

Powers:
Super Strength, Super Charisma, Flight, Deflection, Energy Blast

Villain - Yoga Master

2008-01-16T14:55:00.001+13:00

Background:
Yoga Master is a college student who thought his new powers were the way to fame and fortune. He robbed a bank with others from his dorm at the urging of Vex.

Known Powers:
Self-Levitation

Villain - Magna-tic

2008-01-16T14:54:00.000+13:00

Background:
Magna-tic is a college student who thought his new powers were the way to fame and fortune. He robbed a bank with others from his dorm at the urging of Vex.

Known Powers:
Mild Magnetism

Villain - Jack-o-Lantern

2008-01-16T14:51:00.000+13:00

Background:
Jack-o-Lantern is a college student who thought his new powers were the way to fame and fortune. He robbed a bank with others from his dorm at the urging of Vex.

Known Powers:
Self-Illumination

Villain - Silhouette

2008-01-16T14:48:00.000+13:00

Background:
Little is known about Silhouette other than she assisted Vex by abducting the UN Secretary General.

Known Powers:
Alternate Form: Shadow, Mind Cotnrol, Fatigue

Villain - Kalak the Mystic

2008-01-16T14:44:00.000+13:00

Background:
Kalak claims to be an Ancient Mayan Sorcerer-Prince devoted to Ah Pook the Destroyer. Although his appearence has changed over years, Kalak is determined to gain power through destruction and death on a grand scale.

Powers:
Sorcery

(Kalak is featured in 'Crooks' a M&M 1st Ed. publication)

Villain - Redhawk

2008-01-16T14:42:00.000+13:00

Background:
Redhawk claims to be from the distant future and was responsible for an attack on the world Share Market.

Known Powers:
Armour, Flight, Super Strength, Energy Blast

(Redhawk is featured in 'Crooks' a M&M 1st Ed. publication)

Villain - Johnny Reb

2008-01-16T14:40:00.000+13:00

Background:
Johnny Reb is a white supremicist who formed an organisation known as the Incorruptable Society and was responsible for a series of Church bombings during the 1990's.

Known Powers:
Super Stength, Super Charisma, Weapon (flaming sword)

(Johnny Reb is featured in 'Crooks' a M&M 1st Ed. publication)

Villain - Dr Dungeon

2008-01-16T14:35:00.001+13:00

Background:
Dr. Dungeon is a magalomaniac obsessed with his public image. A former archeologist he recovered advanced body armour and went on a bank robbery spree.

Known Powers:
Armour, Flight, Energy Blast, Super Strength, Teleprortation (victims only)

(Dr. Dungeon is featured in 'Crooks' a M&M 1st Ed. publication)

Villain - The Other Woman

2008-01-16T14:32:00.000+13:00

Background:
Little is known about the original Other Woman, she seems to have multiple clones involved in a multitude of roles/positions/nations.

Known Powers:
Duplication, Horde

(The Other Woman is featured in 'Crooks' a M&M 1st Ed. publication)

Villain - The Crush

2008-01-16T14:06:00.000+13:00

Background:
Consumed with the latest fashion this young criminal has only been involved in minor offending thus far. The Crush claims to be irresistable to men.

Known Powers:
Super Charisma, Mind Control (limited to men)

(The Crush is featured in 'Crooks' a M&M 1st Ed. publication)

Villain - Iron Cross

2008-01-16T14:00:00.000+13:00

Background:
A Nazi superman who survived the end of the War and went on to mastermind a large international network, which was known to be involved in Smuggling, Robbery, Piracy, Fraud and Assassination.

Known Powers:
Flight, Super Strength, Natural Protection

(Iron Cross is featured in 'Crooks' a M&M 1st Ed. publication)

Villain - Legion

2008-01-16T13:58:00.000+13:00

Background:
Legion claims to be a demonic entity determined to open a gate to hell. Legion inhabits human "hosts" and forces them to its will.

Known Powers:
Mind Control

Villain - Vex

2008-01-16T13:54:00.000+13:00

Background:
Vex is a talented doctor and inventor previously know as Vanessa Exeter. Her husband of 6 years was involved in a car crash and was being rushed to a New York hospital in an ambulance when the EMP blast hit the city one year ago. He died before he could reach the emergency ward and Vex blamed the Champions for her loss.

Known Powers:
Armour, Super Intelligence

November Falling (Plot)

2008-01-13T11:37:00.000+13:00

Summary: Vex is a talented doctor and inventor previously know as Vanessa Exeter. Her husband of 6 years was involved in a car crash and was being rushed to a New York hospital in an ambulance when the EMP blast hit the city one year ago. He died before he could reach the emergency ward and Vex blamed the Champions for her loss.

Vex plans to take revenge on the Champions and the world as a whole. She has forulated a plan to steal an aircraft and take over a lighter-than-air US weapons platform called November 6, in order to show the impotence of the Champions and destroy several large cities. To cover her tracks she has devised several 'distractions' which will take place at the same time as the theft and delay the Champions.

To this end Vex has constructed a powerful teleportation device, and recruited help from several other super villains, some seeking glory and others revenge!

November Falling

The Council of Champions had reformed to combat new menaces to global security. Their reforming created a groundswell of renewed public attention and adoration. Spook meanwhile, disconsolate about his involvement in Legion’s plan (see The High Price of Spandex) had left the group to ponder his future.

Captain Hope and Professor Eternity had reconciled and together with their son, 6 year old Daniel Hope, were about to begin their wedding rehearsal in the Rose Garden at the White House. As the rest of the Champions were preparing to take their places at the rehearsal, the proceedings were interrupted by the arrival of a FLASH message, delivered by Col. Williams, alerting them of four incdients currently in progress.

1- A disturbance at the US Mint in Philidephia
2 - A runway incursion at Andrews Air Force Base
3 -An alarm at the UN Secretary General's residence in New York
4 - A robbery in progress by super villains at the Chase-Manhatten bank in New York

The Champions decided to tackle the bank robbery first. Some initial surveillance revealed that the super villains were currently in the bank. Jack-o-Lantern (Powers: Self Illumination) and Yoga Master (Powers: Self Levitation) were in the lobby threatening hostages while Magna-tic (Powers: Mild-Magnetism) was in the vault helping himself to cash. Ignoring the large modern sculpture, under construction outside, the Champions hurried in and rapidly overpowered the villains whose powers turned out to be extremely weak.

Just as they began to wonder at the ease of their victory the ‘sculpture’ outside began to hum ominously and abruptly the champions were hurled into another dimension…

They found themselves in the midst of a bank robbery, just as before, only they now seemed to be in the midst of subduing staff and guards. As the Champions began apologising and returning the cash they found stuffed in their large carry bags a loudhailer outside crackled to life and Iron Cross of the Justice League told them that they were surrounded and they should immediately let the hostages leave.

Eternity deduced that the sculpture at the bank had, in fact, been a machine which had locked onto their genetic signatures and teleported them to an alternate dimension where the Council of Champions were Super Villains, and the Super Villains were heroes!

Now fugitives from justice the Champions fled the bank and hid while Professor Eternity scrounged parts to create a machine to return them to their own reality with only a minimal time lag.

Upon returning the Champions hurried to the Secretary General’s apartment. Finding his security detail having apparently shot one another they proceeded to the Penthouse apartment.

In darkened corridors, with light bulbs removed and drapes drawn they were hunted by Silhouette and super-villainess who lives in shadow with the power to change and enhance emotions. After a lengthy battle (with each other) the Champions rescue the Secretary General and nuetralise Silhouette.

Once the Council has completed the 4 leads they receive an urgent briefing from General Cleveland of the 89th Air Wing.

The Boeing 707 that was stolen from Andrews is a specialist aircraft designed to dock with and re-supply the Composite Hull High Altitude Powered Platform (CHHAPP) known as November 6.

November 6 has lost contact with the Strategic Air Command 15 minutes ago, soon after they reported that the re-supply plane was approaching.

November 6 has a crew of 12 and has a payload of 20 AGM Maverick ‘s and 10 AGM-129 Advanced Cruise Missiles with nuclear Payloads.

The Council must find November 6, which has disappeared from radar, board it and take it back.

Aboard November 6 the Champions confront Vex, who has constructed power armour capable of unleashing terrible blasts of power, and Captain Despair, an evil version of Captain Hope from an alternate dimesnion (where the Champions had previously been teleported). As the battle rages aboard the craft Vex sets the platform to crash into a city far below and only quick thinking by the Champions can save the day.

The High Price of Spandex (Plot)

2008-01-12T21:08:00.000+13:00

Summary: The High Price of Spandex involved four villains. These included Nazi super-fiend Iron Cross and mechanically enhanced archeologist Dr. Dungeon, both of whom had previously been defeated by the champions and were incarcerated in a secret super-max prison beneath Liberty Island (New York). Legion a demonic entity able to control the mind and body of living creatures masterminded the plan whilst Other woman, a villainess with a penchant for cloning herself, also assisted.

Legion had fooled Iron Cross and Dr Dungeon into believeing that the use of an artifact known as the Richtoven Plate and the blood of innocent souls would open a gate to another dimension where the third reich had won World War 2 (In fact it would open a gate to Hell). Legion then used the resources of Iron Cross to take over the detention facility and allow Iron Cross and Dr. Dungeon their freedom.

Legion also took control of Champion Spook and had him infiltrate the CIA to steal the plate and implant a worldwide message. As the plan swung into motion Legion then worked to distract the Champions from realising its true intent until it was too late...

The Fiendish Plan June 2002 – July 17 2004

June 2002 - Iron Cross and Dr. Dungeon hatch a plan to take over the Liberty Island facility during a mistake, which overlaps their exercise time.

August 2002 -Dr Dungeon posts a crossword in an Archaeological Digest magazine with a message hidden within notifying Legion of the location of the secret facility beneath Liberty Island.

November 2002 - Legionuses Other Woman to infiltrate the Liberty Island complex and speak with Iron Cross and Dr Dungeon.

December 2002 - Legion and Other Woman uncover Iron Cross' stash of Nazi Gold in South America and return to the USA

January 2003 - All guards and Warden Lewis at Liberty Island complex bribed. Iron Cross and Dr. Dungeon assume control of the facility.

February 2003 - Legion convinces Iron Cross that it is possible to change history and restore the Third Reich by using the Richtoven plate taken from Hitlers Bunker after the war. Dr Dungeon and Legionnaire begin to search for records of the Richtoven plate.

August 2003 - Dr Dungeon locates the Richtoven plate in a secure government bio-weapons facility beneath the Pentagon

September 2003 - Legion tries to steal the Richtoven plate, using Spook – who is under his mind control. The attempt fails when Spook is asked for a final password.

December 2003 - Legion tries again, this time he uses his mind control powers to ensure success, despite heightened security. Spook steals 10 vials of Indigo 12 (a biological weapon) to cover the theft of the plate.

January 2004 - The villains put the finishing touches on their plan. Legion and Other Woman will create a diversion by making the authorities believe they intend to release Indigo 12. While the government and the Champions try and stop this threat Dungeon and Iron Cross will enact the final stages of the ritual, travelling to the maternity ward of a hospital and killing 20 innocent souls.

July 2004 - Legion controls Spook one final time. Spook infiltrates the Government Communications Centre in Virginia and programmes the delayed message. Approximately six hours later, at 11:00am on Saturday July 17 the message is broadcast across the world using the US satellite network.

The Fiendish Plan - July 17 2004

11:00am - The message “In 24 Hours Everyone Will Die” is broadcast across the globe from the CIA central communications centre in Virginia.

11:14am - CIA Central Communications Centre Chief advises the CIA Director that communication was internal. CIA Director advises President who orders an immediate investigation.

11:17am- Champions pagers are messaged advising standby.

11:23am - Agent Chambers, who heads investigation orders immediate inventory of Chemical, Biological and Nuclear Weapons.

11:35am - Discovery of missing Indigo 12 vials (and Richtoven Plate). Agent Chambers informed. Champions ordered mobilised.

11:40am - Council Chambers on sub-level 3 of the UN Building opened and cleaning crew enters

11:51am - Champions picked up and en-route to UN Headquarters.

12:15pm - Champions arrive at sub-level three and are briefed by Agent Chambers

1:30pm - Legion attempts to contact Champions to gloat and mislead them

2:22pm - Other Woman attempts to distract and mislead Champions

4:30pm - Iron Cross and Dr Dungeon argue about their positions in the new Reich Government

5:30pm - Iron Cross and Dr Dungeon leave Liberty Island and travel to Manhatten Hospital. They set off a localised EMP and commence the ritual in the Maternity Ward.

Yesterday's Woe

2007-07-14T17:14:00.000+12:00

Strap in for the next Super Installment!

Barely 6 months have passed since the Council of Champions averted global catastrophe by preventing the lighter-than-air weapons platform November 6 being taken over by revenge-obsessed supervillianess Vex.

In that time, All-American-Hero Captain Hope and English Super Genius Professor Eternity have tied the knot and, in an effort to make up for the flagging domestic sales of Hope's new album 'older and wiser', reluctantly agreed to feature in a new reality show 'Super-Newlyweds'.

But, when a time capsule is discovered in New York's Battery Park with a cryptic warning for the Champions, things start to get very strange!

Can the Champions unlock the portents of past peril?

What despicable new danger dares to disrupt our determined do-gooders?

Find out on August 4th, 2007

Champion - Zia the Magnificent

2007-02-16T17:27:00.000+13:00

Real Identity: Unknown
Nationality: American

Background

Zia emerged from the Quin Liu’s Cabinet of Wonders one night, during a stage show in Las Vegas. She appeared disorientated and confused about her location and the date. It soon became clear that Zia had travelled from some time in the recent past through the use of her exceptional magical powers.

An instant celebrity it did not take her long to team up with the newly formed Council of Champions and in 1994, it was her wide repertoire of magical abilities that allowed her to escape the clutches of the villainous Johnny Reb and rescue her comrades from certain death.

In recent years

Zia’s private life has become the subject of much speculation. She has a large following and acted and produced in several television specials during the late nineties. It is widely reported that she know owns major interests in several Las Vegas Casinos where she still performs from time to time. In 2002 it was rumoured that she had exchanged secret nuptials with former team member Captain Hope, a report denied by Zia and Hope alike. In early 2003 Zia was admitted to the Betty Ford clinic for a period of rehabilitation after temporarily paralysing a heckler during one of her performances.

In The High Price of Spandex...

Zia discovered that her accountant had been defrauding her and had fled the country, leaving her broke and with a $6 million IRS bill.

In November Falling...

Zia had been working to pay off her tax bill by appearing on a number of reality television show, such as Celebrity Survivor Sahara with the proceeds going to the federal government.

SUPERPOWERS: Sorcery

Champion - Salvo

2007-02-16T17:17:00.000+13:00

Real Identity: Unknown
Nationality: Spanish

Background

Salvo came to public attention in the early nineties when he single handedly foiled an attempted hijacking of an American Airlines flight in Barcelona in a spectacular shootout captured by a local news crew. His dark, rugged good looks and predilection for leather jackets and motorcycles soon earned him a wide following and several large fan clubs. Movie director John Woo, who became a close personal friend, would later base many of his film’s characters on the reclusive superhero.

Salvo joined the Council of Champions in 1993 following a joint request from the Spanish Prime Minister and the UN Secretary General . His phenomenal reflexes and impressive skill with firearms helped the Champions to defeat crazed super-archaeologist Dr. Dungeon later that year. His relationship with the Champions, particularly leader Captain Hope, was often reported to be strained and he was the first to quit the group following the now infamous Stockholm incident.

In recent years

Little is known about Salvo’s recent activities. In 1998 he was acquitted of wounding a tabloid reporter who trespassed on his sprawling Nevada Ranch. Following the Madrid train bombings of 2004 he returned to Spain to assist with the investigation.

In the High Price of Spandex...

Salvo was trying to come to terms with his recent alcohol addiction following a whirlwind romance, Vegas wedding and messy divorce, which had left him broke.

In November Falling...

Salvo was back on his feet (barely) and encouraging Daniel to misbehave whenever possible.

SUPERPOWERS: Super Dexterity, Regeneration, Weapons

Champion - Daniel Hope

2007-02-16T16:58:00.000+13:00

Real Identity: Daniel Tiberius Hope
Nationality: English/American

Background

Daniel is the six year old son of Captain Hope and Professor Eternity. He has been raised and schooled by Eternity in the relative isolation of her country manor in England. Until last year Daniel had never met his father or the other champions.

In November Falling...

Daniel got to hang out with his parents on one of their adventures! He enjoyed himself, but was stressed by the personal conflict between his father and the other champions.

SUPERPOWERS: Super Strength, Super Charisma, Regeneration, Flight, Stun

Champion - Ground Zero

2007-02-11T23:33:00.000+13:00

Real Identity: Unknown
Nationality: American

Background

Ground Zero is a former wrestler and was a founding member of the Council of Champions in 1991, and was critical to the group’s early efforts to put an end to Iron Cross’ four-year reign of terror in former East Germany and Poland. He gained a high profile for his fiery temper, which notoriously led to involuntary instances of explosive combustion. After devastating several luxury penthouse suites during the mid 1990’s the Champions were barred from most leading hotel chains when travelling abroad.

Despite his volatile temper Ground Zero is a key member of the Champions. His phenomenal strength and combat prowess have been the downfall of many villains and his explosive ability is often the groups ace-in-the-hole.

In recent years

Ground Zero has worked tirelessly with many charities, brining aid to war ravaged parts of the world. He was appointed a UN special Ambassador in 1999 and worked extensively to combat poverty in Africa and Eastern Europe. Following the attacks in New York on September 11 2001, Ground Zero returned to America and worked tirelessly to extract survivors from the site of the fallen towers. Earlier this year Ground Zero was appointed a commissioner of the Terror Alert task force, designed to inform the American public of terror threats and the current alert status.

In The High Price of Spandex...

Ground Zero hoped to heal the rift between Captain Hope and Salvo. He also wanted to tell the Champions about Stacey Claybourne, a fantastic girl he had met at the gym.

In November Falling...

Ground Zero realised that reporter Stacey Claybourne was a Supervillain known as Other Woman. He was deeply embarrassed by this revelation.

SUPERPOWERS: Super Strength, Alter Form: Explosive

Champion - Spook

2007-02-11T23:26:00.000+13:00

Real Identity: Unknown
Nationality: Unknown

Background

Spook remains an enigma to the general public. He (or she) joined the Council of Champions in 1992 and was publicly thanked on several subsequent occasions by Captain Hope for providing invaluable assistance. It is known that Spook can assume the likeness and abilities of any person or object.

In recent years

There have been no confirmed sightings of Spook as his (or her) normal appearance is not known to the media. it is rumoured that Spook enjoys art and has purchased an extensive collection including works by past, and contemporary masters.

In The High Price of Spandex...

Spook discovered that he had been the victim of a Supervillain named Legion who had used his unique powers as part of his evil plan to open a gate to Hell. Following Legion's defeat Spook left the Council once more to try and discover her true identity.

SUPERPOWERS: Shapeshift

Champion - Professor Eternity

2007-02-11T23:10:00.000+13:00

Real Identity: Elizabeth Cartwright
Nationality: English

Background

Professor Eternity began her career sometime around 1860 after the death of her father, who bequeathed his London house and workshop to her. She soon proved herself an inventor of extraordinary talent, but was shunned by the great minds of her time because it was considered unseemly for a woman to pursue such activities.

Ignoring the society which would not appreciate her talent Professor Eternity immersed herself in her work. Around 1870 she created arguably her most brilliant invention, the Bodice of Multitudinous Function, which rendered her immune to aging, disease, poison and many other hazards.

Reclusive and often frustrated with both society and national governments the Eternal Professor remained a national treasure, who emerged from her workshop from time to time during the passing decades. She joined the Council of Champions in 1992 employing a range of fantastic devices to fight Redhawk, a villain from the future following a request by Queen Elizabeth II.

In recent years

There have been few sightings of Professor Eternity, although it is rumoured that in 1997 she produced a device, on commission, that led to the development of the modern cellular phone.

In The High Price of Spandex...

Professor Eternity revealed to Captain Hope that he had a son, Daniel. Eternity's unexpected pregnancy was the reason that she left the Council, and she has been secretly raising Daniel in England for the past 6 years.

In November Falling...

While preparing for marriage to Captain Hope, Professor Eternity struggled to reconcile Daniel's involvement in dangerous missions with his natural curiosity and fathers wish for his son to learn how to become a 'hero'.

SUPERPOWERS: Super Intelligence, Armour, Datalink, Gadgets.

Champion - Captain Hope

2007-02-11T11:18:00.000+13:00

Real Identity: John Hope Jnr
Nationality: United States of America

Background

John Hope is an all American hero. A former quarterback for the New England Patriots football team, Hope left the game he loved, to serve with the elite Delta Force in the late 1980’s. During his military service he obtained the rank of Captain and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honour for bravery under fire in Grenada and Panama. Suffering crippling injuries in the line of duty Hope volunteered for an experimental program which resulted in him not only making a full recovery, but also developing several extraordinary superpowers including the ability to fly and produce blasts of pure energy from his fists.

Captain Hope co-founded the Council of Champions with Ground Zero in 1991 establishing an international organisation of hero’s to fight threats to the security of the planet.

In recent years

Hope has had a busy career. He released a debut album in 2000, which despite disappointing domestic sales was remarkably popular in Europe and Asia. He has cameoed in many movies and television shows and regularly attends large fan conventions. In 2003 he was named ‘Hero of the Next Generation’ by Pepsi International.

In the High Price of Spandex...

Captain Hope tried to reconcile his relationship with Professor Eternity, then discovered he had a son, Daniel, that Eternity had kept secret from him for 6 years.

In November Falling...

Captain Hope prepares for marriage to Professor Eternity while fearing that Daniel has been too coddled by Eternity.

SUPERPOWERS: Super Strength, Super Charisma, Flight, Deflection, Telepathy, Energy Blast.

November Falling - Teaser

2007-02-10T20:45:00.000+13:00

The only thing better than a Superhero Scenario, is a Super Sequel!

It’s hard to believe that only a year has passed since the Council of Champions thwarted the evil plans of the villainous Legion and his evil accomplices Iron Cross ™ and Doctor Dungeon™ from opening a gate to Hell in a New York hospital, but the re-formed Council of Champions has had a lot on it’s plate…

Dashing all-American hero, Captain Hope and English super-genius, Professor Eternity are about to tie the knot in what will undoubtedly be the wedding of the century, yet the bookmakers have the odds of the ceremony not being disrupted by super-villanry at less then 10 to 1.

After last summers sensations showdown what calamity can now confront the Council of Champions?

What new nightmare will disrupt the noble nuptials?

Find out on January 21 2006

The High Price of Spandex - Teaser

2007-02-10T20:29:00.000+13:00

In 24 hours everyone will die.

That’s it.

No ransom demands, no calls to the President, no cackling villains taunting captive hero’s. Just a single, chilling sentence beamed to every television set across the globe.

Who will save us? You? But you traded in the Super Hero game a few years ago for the quiet life. After all, the really bad villains were locked up and the medical bills were getting too high, besides your therapist told you it was just too much stress…

Can the defunct Council of Champions convene to cancel catastrophe?
Will the world be saved by our weary, wayward warriors?
Only you hold the answers.

The High Price of Spandex is a three hour Mutants and Masterminds scenario that will be run at Victoria University games club mini-convention Confusion, on August 14th 2004 and in the first round of Kapcon XIV in January 2005.

What's it all about?

2007-02-10T17:28:00.000+13:00

I have always loved superhero games, an attachment that I attribute to a long running Villains and Vigilantes saga in my formative years. So, when I saw Mutants and Masterminds (1st Ed.) on the shelves of the local gaming store, I knew that this was the perfect opportunity to broaden my current gaming horizons.

Doubtless, my motivation was also helped by the folks in Hollywood who chose that time to produce a number of popular superhero movies, such as X-Men, Spiderman, The Incredibles etc.

So, for my first foray into Mutants and Masterminds I determined a few basic criteria:

1. The games would be run at conventions
2. The games would feature pre-generated characters
3. The characters would be an established and popular ‘super group’ who enjoyed fame and success in the game world.
4. The characters would have established and complex relationships with one another, culminating in at least one or more roleplaying ‘goal’ for each player in each game, entirely separate to the main plot.
5. The games would be fairly ‘open’ allowing the players to formulate any plan or strategy that they could come up with.
6. The game world would closely mirror the real world, with the obvious addition of a recent history of super heroes/villains

Following the first game, The High Price of Spandex, which I ran at Confusion 2 and Kapcon XIV, I introduced a couple more elements for subsequent games:

7. In each subsequent game an existing character would be replaced by a new character.
8. Each subsequent game would continue the story, and take place after a determined period of elapsed time for the characters.

Anyway, that's the background. I set this blog up primarily so that would-be players of future episodes can read about past episodes, characters and villains, and to promote future games.