Look to the Skies! or "Building a Campaign Theme"

For Mutants & Masterminds prep and discussion.
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erilar
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Post by erilar »

I think I'm most interested in the Bronze Age era for two reasons:

1) I'm the more familiar with that feel, and I have the most nostalgia for that period.

2) My character concept has a bit of a dark side to it, and it might not work quite as well in the Silver Age setting.

I like the idea of doing Bronze vs. today's/modern comics. Some possibility of dark elements, but not overly gritty.

I want to make a comment about super villains and their goals here, though. Super villains have *always* wanted to kill off their rivals. Red Skull wanted to kill Cap. Doc Ock wanted to kill Spidey. The Joker wanted to kill Batman and Robin - etc., etc.

The distinction come in the outcome. Did any of the villains ever pull it off, and if so how was it depicted? I think the sinister intent was always there, but when the outcome was always a bit of a pulled punch, it wasn't so shocking, realistic, or gritty. The bad guy went to jail vs. being killed - the superheroes escaped the trap, but were beat up really bad.

I think we can try to go for an Incredibles kind of approach where the villain obviously wants to do in the heroes, but as plot smiths, we try not to let that happen. We also try not to turn the villain into a bloody stain if avoidable, but rather focus on "bringing them to justice".
"This enemy you cannot kill. You can only drive it back damaged into the depths, and teach your children to watch the waves for its return." - Quellcrist Falconer
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NukeHavoc
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Post by NukeHavoc »

erilar wrote:The distinction come in the outcome. Did any of the villains ever pull it off, and if so how was it depicted? I think the sinister intent was always there, but when the outcome was always a bit of a pulled punch, it wasn't so shocking, realistic, or gritty. The bad guy went to jail vs. being killed - the superheroes escaped the trap, but were beat up really bad.
Right, so the intent was there, but the execution was spotty, especially once the villains got monologuing in front of their tanks full of laser-beam wielding sharks.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'll try and be a tad more quiet as I desperately struggle to break free -- and save all creation!" -- Doctor Strange
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Lars Porsenna
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Post by Lars Porsenna »

Ok, then. I think Bronze age is definitely what I vote for. Silver age doesn't hold any real interest for me at all, since all the stories I've read from that period are pretty one-dimensional and lacking depth (i.e Peter Parker again missing out on the behive hairdo girl due to his football playing rival...oh yeah and the Vulture attacks in his latest caper to "get even."). However the Bronze age (which would be the "Golden Age" for me) showed the audience had a bit more sophistication, had better character development, etc.

Damon.
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