Datafile Inspiration - Heroclix!

[MidnightBlue]

I've seen a lot of people say that they are using Heroclix as minis representations for their MHR games. A natural fit of course.

But it also got me thinking that you could probably go the other way easy enough. Use a Heroclix dial/card as inspiration for an MHR datafile.

So I'm giving it a go. (Note: I still haven't completely read the rules yet and this is my first datafile creation. I didn't venture too far away from the Basic Game options other than to change names for flavor purposes. Be forgiving.)

Okay...I just pulled out my Ghost Rider #37 from the Incredible Hulk Heroclix expansion. This is Daniel Ketch and represents his time in The New Fantastic Four with Spider-Man, Joe Fixit (Hulk) and Logan (Wolverine).

Some of you will look at this datafile and say, "But that's not Ghost Rider...where's his super strength (etc.)." Please note that, like I've become used to in Heroclix, this is just one aspect of the character and one measure of how he reacts to threats and the world around him. This is also a direct translation of a Heroclix card and dial which is just a snapshot of the character. A different datafile might highlight another take on the character.

Ghost Rider (Daniel Ketch - New Fantastic Four)

Affiliations: Solo D10, Buddy D6, Team D8

Distinctions: Spirit of Vengeance; Leather and Bones

Power Set 1: Mystical Transformation
Enhanced Stamina D8
Riding into the Fray (Superhuman Speed) D10
Superhuman Durability D10
Hellfire Chain D10

SFX - Animated Chain (Afflict - Grapple)
SFX - Hellfire (Unleashed)
SFX - Drive By (Multipower)
SFX - Hellfire Chain Swing (Area Attack)
SFX (Original) - Demonic Bike - Spend 1 PP to move over liquid, vertical &/or upside down surfaces.

Limit: The Spirit Satisfied (Exhausted - Modified) - Gain 2 PP when you shutdown Mystical Transformation (except for Riding into the Fray which gets stepped back to D6) and shutdown Mystic Expert, Vehicle Expert and Menace Master.

Power Set 2: Penance Stare
I sense your guilt! (Godlike Senses) D12
Psychic Blast D12

SFX: Feel the pain you have inflicted on others! (Dangerous)

Limit: Vengeance must be sated! (Uncontrollable)
Limit (Original): Dependent Power - If Mystical Transformation is Shutdown, so is Penance Stare. Recover Penance Stare when Mystical Transformation recovers.

Specialties: Mystic Expert D8; Vehicle Expert D8; Menace Master D10.

Milestone 1: The New Fantastic Four
x1 XP - When you join with other heroes to act on a common goal.

x3 XP - When you convince your teammates to allow you to dispense vengeance your way.

x10 XP - When you forgo dispensing vengeance and allow your teammates to convince you to show mercy.

Milestone 2: Avenge The Fantastic Four
x1 XP - When you follow a clue leading you towards The (original) Fantastic Four's murderer.

x3 XP - When you uncover the reason behind the senseless murder of The (original) Fantastic Four.

x10 XP - When you use your Penance Stare on the person ultimately responsible for The (original) Fantastic Four's suffering.


Okay...this is my attempt at a direct translation of the Heroclix dial and card. Many of the power/distinction names come straight from the card itself.

Why is there no super strength? Not on the dial.

Why is his Stamina so low? There was just a single click of Regeneration on the dial. Seemed like a good translation.

Why is his Durability so high? He's got a dial almost entirely filled with damage reducers.

Why do his Specialties go away when Mystical Transformation is shutdown? Daniel Ketch is just a kid that doesn't really have any specialties (from what I read at the time).

Milestones were just kind of thrown together. This would likely be one personal milestone (attempting to learn to work with a team and gain control of his urge to punish the guilty at any cost). The other milestone would likely be from an Event geared towards a retelling of the story that brought The New Fantastic Four in the first place.

Thoughts?

I look forward to translating other Heroclix dials and cards into MHR datafiles!

[MidnightBlue]

Ghost Rider edit...I missed a SFX when typing him up..."Hellfire Chain Swing."

Posted above.

Anyway...to discuss further (got to leave work and I'm just now getting back online)...

From the Heroclix card for the Ghost Rider miniature I picked up all kinds of power names and other bits and pieces for inspiration.

The Mystical Keyword and Team Ability led me to the Mystic Expert specialty.

Seeing both the Fantastic Four Keyword and Team Ability and the Midnight Sons Keyword had me value GR's Team affiliation higher than his Buddy affilation.

The Heroclix card's power flavor names gave me all kinds of material to work with:

-"Riding into the Fray" became a Superhuman Speed power trait to represent GR's motorcycle.

-"Animated Chain" became a SFX for the Hellfire Chain power trait to represent the ability to grapple targets with the chain.

-"Hellfire Chain Sweep" became an Area Attack SFX.

-"Leather and Bones" almost became a Durability power trait, but I thought it sounded like a better Distinction. Whenever GR's otherworldly appearance/physique can be a boon D8...namely when being attacked or intimidating opponents. However, when GR is trying to gain aid, calm or interact with bystanders and the like, he's going to be rolling that D4.

-"Mystical Transformation" seemed like the perfect catch all for most of the GR abilities and became the first Power Set name. At this time in the comics, Danny Ketch had to touch his bike when the time was right for vengeance and he would turn into Ghost Rider. Once the reason for vengeance seeking was sated (or at least temporarily delayed), he changed back. That is represented by the Exhausted Limit. I pumped it up to a 2 PP benefit since the Limit not only shuts down the power set, but also all of GR's Specialties which are tied to the demon-fueled alter ego.

-"The Spirit of Vengeance" was another good Heroclix flavor power name that seemed like a good Distinction name. The search for vengeance can be a driving force (D8) in some circumstances or a hinderence (D4) when it becomes an all-consuming obsession.

-"Penance Stare" seemed like the name for a second Power Set. While tied to his Mystical Transformation, GR's Penance Stare is a big enough part of the character (and a Special Power on the Heroclix card/dial) that I felt it would be better served as a separate power set. I tied his ability to "sense" guilt and his Penance Stare (Psychic Blast) which uses that guilt as a weapon under the same Power Set.

-With the Heroclix powers Running Shot and Charge on the dial (move and attack powers), I translated those into the SFX "Drive By" (Multipower) and the Vehicle Expert specialty. (Why not Vehicle Master? I wanted to save the step up for a Johnny Blaze GR since he actually is a motorcycle stunt rider in both alter egos.)

-With a click of Regeneration on the Heroclix dial, I translated that to "Enhanced Stamina."

I rounded out the rest of the datafile with story and character tidbits floating around my head. Apologies if some of that got mixed up on the way out. It's been a bit since I read the New Fantastic Four storyline or my Danny Ketch Ghost Rider comics.

[MidnightBlue]

Oh great mods...could I get this thread moved to the fan-made datafiles subforum?

[EldritchFire]

Oh great mods...could I get this thread moved to the fan-made datafiles subforum?

Done!

-EF

[gebeji]

Do you have conversion notes to go from Heroclix to Marvel Heroics ?

I'm always looking for information sources to base datafiles off them, but i'm not that familiar with Heroclix

[MidnightBlue]

Do you have conversion notes to go from Heroclix to Marvel Heroics ?

I'm always looking for information sources to base datafiles off them, but i'm not that familiar with Heroclix

My notes are pretty much what I typed above.

It's definitely a subjective thing.

The character cards themselves (which have been around since the League of Superheroes starter and Avengers sets) often have great flavor text and power names to use as distinctions and power set flavor.

Going from Heroclix to datafile is likely going to give you less of a generic comic book datafile and more of a snapshot on the character.

I looked at Heroclix powers on the dial and tried to see what that represented...

Regeneration = Stamina

Damage Reduction powers (Impervious, Invulnerability, Toughness) = Durability/Resistence/Invulnerability SFX/Immunity SFX.

Stat numbers on the dial &/or how long a power remains on the dial can be indicators of die rating.

Specialties can be a problem...but throw in a wiki search if you don't already know the character and that can help you out.

Again, this was mostly an exercise in helping potential players that are familiar with Heroclix, but new to MHR, make datafiles off of their favorite Heroclix figures.

[MidnightBlue]

Oh...and Keywords and Team Abilities can help you make decisions regarding Affiliations and Specialties.