Supercape

La Rosa are a successful criminal gang of Brazil but more specifically RiO. Their leadership is unknown - possibly because it is a loose knit organisation, possibly because the leaders are very skilled or powerful. There are large concerns about its link with police and politics, and corruption. Whilst pretty ruthless and criminal, they have avoided the worst of crimes such as murder or people trading. They operate more via gambling, extortion, prostitution, and drug running. A nasty bunch, but not the most violent.

GM Ana, who was still with the three heroes, and showing them the detail of the stage and fireworks, raised an eyebrow at Velocities entrance. "My, you do work fast!" she said with a smile on her face. "I would love to see the world through your eyes for a day. Or, perhaps, a year, depending on how you look at it! You must have a unique perspective on the flow of life, hmmm?" She looked solidly on as Velocity gave her explanation of Luiza's rant. "I know this woman. I passionate woman, a voice that is without age. She speaks, no doubt, from her heart. I feel that. But what do you make of these words? what is behind them? what does it mean?" she asked emphatically, and impossibly. "Nothing should stop Carnival Night!" she said, stamping her foot down like a spoilt child.

I have been pretty darn busy in RL too, Elegy, but I thought I would make a few moments to answer this. 1. First off, credit for running threads and GMing them. It is not easy. Just trying to do what you have done is great. 2. The Pace of threads is a difficult thing. It is not like a PnP game. It has advantages (you have plenty of time to consider responses and it is much easier to wing it), and disadvanatges (you can't pick up on non verbal cues). The pace of threads naturally ebbs and flows. As Thevshi said, dropping a few kindly hints is ok, and going on to chat is very helpful. However, one of the best tools you can use is to discuss things in OOC, and make scene cuts when a scene starts to flag. 3. On a related note, you don't need to have an all-powerful GM who controls the entire story. You can discuss how you want the story to proceed with players - it is their story too. Don't inflict your vision on players - you provide the raw ingredients that may (or may not) cause conflict, and together you cook. 4. On that subject, as Arichamus has said, ask players what they want. There is no right way to play an RPG, despite what some may say. There is no right way to play M&M, either (although there probably are a few wrong ways). The site has guidelines about what to avoid, but within that scope there are massive differences in preferences. Some like murder mystery, some like drama, some like combat. Some players want to "win" and feel in control, some what the opposite. If you have in mind a tense murder-drama-investigation with lots of characters who have a complex relationship, you are going to bore stiff a player who just wants a dust up and chance to use the powers of his/her PC. Equally, that style might be exactly what a player wants - the same player who likes an occasional fight but would be bored silly with a "line up up, knock em down" series of goons at a bank robbery. 5. Be patient and kind on yourself. Overall, despite doing a hell a lot of GMing here, and many people liking my GMing - I know that a ) My style is not fgor everyone and b ) No matter how hard I try (and sometimes I think trying and planning actually worsen a thread - very Zen), about one third of threads rock, one third of threads are an enjoyable mediocre, and one thirds limp along, possibly dying en route. And there is no point getting to upset about it. Its fair enough to take constructive criticism or advice (if you solicit it), but if anyone calls you out on being a bad GM, I can bet you they have never GMd themselves (PS: Knowing our player base, nobody is going to do this...) 6. Finally, kick back and enjoy.

Tag this folks! Unless you want to do anything else, I suggest I cut to the two identified locations: The Sterling Gentlemans Club (for Carrie) and the Snooty Fox Pub (for Cannonade) For reference, disguise rolls, taking 20, and with Madam Redpowder's abilities and teamwork 3 giving you a +5 aide other bonus from herself, and +2 bonus for the resources and disguises she has (masterwork) for a total of +7. I make that 20+7+3 =30 for Cannonade and 20+7+0 for Carrie Of course you may have some idea to boost that with extra effort or a stunt or something else you consider would be worth a +2 bonus. Could you confirm!

GM "Hot issues? Well, I don't think the Luddites need much encouragement to get hot. Any discussion on factory conditions or unemployment will do. You could throw in the Clapham Power Station if you wish, its just being upgraded courtesy of the Institute for Metaphysical Engineering and of course the Luddites are up in arms about how the extra power will create more factories and less jobs. If you want to get on their good side, just spit at that and poetically muse on the virtues of crawling around in the dirt eating earthworms and taking an annual bath in cold water without soap" said M, words caustic. As Redpowder dolled up Carrie in a respectable ankle length skirt, a maid's outfit, and a splendid one at that, he continued. "The Cannonites have been successful, to a degree. Not that the Government needed much pushing, to be honest. Everyone knew working conditions were far from ideal, and it just needed some impetus to make conditions better. Wealth is more fluid now, although Class remains ingrained. There is coninual pressure to get the colonies like India more of a vote and power, although it is a headache in terms of power and politics.,,," "And now you two both look ready!" he clapped his hands in encouragement. "Madam Redpowder, you have excelled yourself as always! all that remains is the mission!"

A high Reflex save, but no evasion. 1d20+12=25 for half effect 1d20+12=24 for no effect! Round 2: 19 Super Spetznas - Unharmed 14 Hronos - Injured - 0HP The Super Spetz is now 100 feet away. Easy picking for his Sniper Rifle. Another Shifted Attack 1d20+13=20 which is another hit and another DC 22 TOughness Save He is taking up partial cover behind the Defunct buggy. Hronos is up again!

GM Boris did not hesitate. His reactions were incredibly fast. With one hand, he fired his rifle with a loud crack, straight into Hronos. "You be suiting the self, then!" he answered, Revving up the tracked baggy and speeding off in a circle around the Robot, towards the Cave where the fragment was. The rifle was a high powered sniper rifle, a dangerous weapon in any hands, but particularly so in the Russian's. He clearly knew his way around weapons, and was a crack shot. "Do not be the following! I will be completing of mission, and will be shooting at the stop makers!" he shouted back as the Buggy sped off, tearing up snow into Hronos face as the tracks whipped across the snow fields of the Antarctic.

Round 1: 19 Super Spetznas - Unharmed 14 Hronos - Unharmed - 0HP So the Septznas will fire off a round from his Rifle as a standard action: Shifting this +2 DC, -2 Attack 1d20+13=30 will hit, and its a DC 22 Tough Save. For his move action he will set off in the Buggy, driving around Hronos. In this weather it will travel as if Speed 2 (i.e. 25mph). Including having to take a detour, that will put him at about 100' away.

GM Luiza pulled the mask away, a look of rejection and anger on her face. "Then if you are not one of us, you are against us!" she said, glaring at velocity. "I know you are powerful. I cannot fight you in body. But the streets will be won with hearts and minds, even if you arrest me, beat me, or...yes, even kill me. You cannot stop what is in motion here, sister!" she said in a sing song voice. "The force that guides us is too strong, even for you, with all your speed, all your strength. You cannot be everywhere at once. You cannot hope to defeat the power that spreads, even now, like a plague, amongst the sisters of this fair city. Tonight is Carnival night, and with the setting sun, the night shall be ours!" she said. "Do what you will. You cannot win. The police, the courts, the army, La Rosa, they will are all being taken over by us. Every node of influence and power is being swept up by the sisters...." "But I will not speak more! Do what you will!" she said defiantly, crossing her arms and looking at the crowd, who seemed to be under her spell and were spitting hisses and boo's at Velocity.

1d20+15=19 If you could post Hronos responding or starting to act, and Boris will cut in!

GM Boris paused, and frowned. The Rifle didn't waver an inch. "You are speaking of the rubbish" he said, slowly. "My mission is clear. The artifact is for Russia. No interference, no stealing. The Captain may be willing to compromise, but I have been trained to obey orders..." "My mission is clear" he repeated to himself with steel in his voice. "Now, you are getting in my way, or you are getting out of the my way?" he asked, baring his teeth and hissing out a steamy breath. He revved up the Buggy to indicate his intention. "Do not stop me!" he commanded as he edged forward.

Welcome! Popping into chat is a good idea to throw ideas around.

GM Cord, despie himself, gave a chuckle. "You know, I'm pretty sure they do. Real trains that go on rail tracks and everything. It's just that UNISON hired this here plane, and this here pilot. And air travel is a heck of a lot faster, except perhaps in Tokyo. But Japan is for another day, kid" he smiled. He gave another look at his watch. "Every hour is another hour the trail goes cold. I heard you can track nearly anything, but the clock is ticking here. And it's time to get on board. Such are the perils and trials of an agent of UNISON, my friend. Which, incidentally, you are for the duration of our little excursion!" he added, with encouragement. "He'll, if I knew you were going to chicken out, I could have brought some sleeping gas or something!"

Could I have a Sense Motive Roll from Velocity please!

The Hound scratched his unshaven jaw, wishing he had remembered to drag a blunt razor over it, as was his habit once or twice a week. He had an urge for caffeine and nicotine, but could sate neither. "What a crock" he muttered, more audibly this time. "Look, I don't like standing up in court. Heck, I don't like standing up, full stop. Ducking is more my style. It helps avoid bullets. Or streaming bolts of plasma, or lightning bolts. Whatever supervillians like throwing about in Freedom City. As if bullets weren't bad enough..." he shuddered. He had been shot once or twice, and didn't much like the experience. "So I gotta gets up there and show my ugly mug for the world, as a P.I, whilst Mr. Evil gets to hide behind a mask. That's just real special, that is!" he complained. "Don't worry, I gots yer back!" chuckled the Mess at his partners distress. "We gets to put away the bad guy, end of story!" he concluded, slamming one bludgeon fist into a spade like palm of his other hand.

Rene looked at the faces of the two soldiers. It appeared his bumbling speech was only effective in comedic terms, rather than its desired effect in bluff and intimidation. "Oh to hell with it!" he said, stamping his foot. Arcane power did not flow naturally at this juncture, but it flowed well enough. He visualised the world as a dream, and painted his thoughts on to it, as if contructing a masterpiece in the air. A whistful white lance of light flowed through the air into the nearest soldier. He even paused to admire its texture and brilliance as it flashed light into the air around them. "I did warn you!" he said, grumpily, as he strode backwards, putting some space between him and the soldiers.

Well as Rene doesn't want to get Iron Age on their ass, he will dazzle one of them! Ill Shift -2 Attack, +2 DC. If they are minions I will take 10 for a 16 Result (? hit) if not: 1d20+6=16 well how about that...16 anyhow. Thats a DC 18 Reflex or blinded. For his move action he will move!

GM "Indeed we can!" replied M full of self worth. "The Royal Society for Metaphysical Engineering has proven most helpful to the Ministry of Extraordinary Affairs" he explained, handing them both a small copper trumpet with a wind up handle, and elegant spring. "We call this an Tele-etheric verbaliser" he explained. "Wind up here, speak here, and insert this in your auditory orifice" he explained, pointing to the various ends of the device. "They are attuned to each other, so you can easily communicate. What splendid contraptions, eh?" he smiled. "You may wish to try the Gentleman's club The Sterling. A lot of politicians hang around there. Often pickling their brains in the finest port. I can get you in, although women are of course not permitted as guests. A waitress or so forth could easily be arranged. I am sure Madam Redpowder has something in your size and with suitable cut!"

GM "Several people. So far" explained M. "But my suspicion is that it is only a matter of time. Some of these individuals have things that could be exposed. I know of their indiscretions but am disinclined to expose them. My job really" he explained. "Some, and regrettably few, are as clean as the proverbial whistle. Outstanding gentlemen. Now, what concerns me most I suppose is if one of these fellows ended up in this mess. I suppose the most obvious target would be Sir Earnest Pennyworth. Thoroughly decent fellow, campaigns tirelessly for the colonies. Well liked. Loved even. Tipped to be the next PM. Went to Eton with him. Terrific batsman" he said, his face beaming at the recollection. "Why he made two centuries against Durham in the under 18's, you know. Fellow like that, can't be bad!" he said, grinning.

"That's not good..." muttered Pitch. "Howitzer's or Hellhounds. Its the same principle. We got incoming!" she said to her team. "Nikki, whatever you are up to, I think you better get your ass in gear, before we get chomped up, spat out, and barbequed. Possibly at the same time..." she shouted to her as emphatically as possible. "This church ain't going to be standing for long...." She backed off a few steps, pulled back her hand and envisaged the endless chains, steel and fire of the Infernal Forge, a mindless dimension of molten metal and smoke that never stopped angrily spinning, melting, and forging. It was, she realised, the arcane equivalent of cocking a shotgun. She half wished she had one of those too... "Take cover..." she said, crouching down.

Rene frowned and pushed his spectacles further onto his face as Agnus approached. "Who might you be, my de..." he started, before spluttering into his coffee. "Why! That face! It may have been over a century ago, but it is branded to my eyes! If I am not mistaken, you appeared to me with words from...wait.,,," He paused a moment, contemplating the conundrum. "Me!" he concluded, stabbing his chest with his finger. "But what a mystery! what a cold shiver runs down my spine. Delicious and fearful at once. Gallia has vexed me for years beyond mortal counting, like a sore that never heals. I remember the days of my youth, being twisted, turned and manipulated by her. I could ill afford any trust, although trust I gave, to a vision of myself from the future. Why, with my waxing years, that message must be delivered soon, no?" he asked Agnus. "Or...well, the complexities of time are beyond me. I understand these kwon-tom physicists can explain it all with a few sums and so on..." he rambled, dismissively. "I never quite understand why such marvels need to be distilled down to numbers. It so saps the wonder of it, no?" he said airily. He was almost rambling from shock. "But perhaps you could loosen the knot of mystery here, my dear....could you illuminate?"

GM "I'm leaving all right!" retorted Detective Chance, with hints of fear and regret in her voice. "I didn't bargain for that!" she said, pointing her gun at Gauntlet. "As for what I know, it's more than I should..." she said, heading off down the tunnel. "And less than I need...." Gauntlet resounded to the boxing Revenant gave him. Hollow booms echoed almost painfully around the cave as if he was a still drum. But for all her inhuman strength, Gauntlet was made of sterner stuff. Revenant could bend steel, but Gauntlet was more than mere steel now, as the flare of burning light behind the helmet testified. His eyes glowed no more, no less. "Your strength is great...." he groaned, like rusting metal grinding slowly. "But mine is greater. The beast rune is power that cannot be chained..." "but is chained in me, nonetheless!"

Hi Defence is +7 (+4 Flat Footed) due to size. So that sure hits! His toughness, however is more weighty... .... ...tumbleweed.... *ahem* Anyway 1d20+17=32 A walking lump of magically animated steel! Detective Chance is merely going to run with the empowering Native American Artifact - although somewhat slowly due to the conditions. Meaning Arcturus is up!

"Shine...Diamond...yes I see what you did there...." Lord Steam gave a curl of his mouth which was hard as his eyes. "Yes, she is a fascinating creature is she not! It has been a while since I was vexed so, I confess. And I relish the feeling..." He dusted himself off, a few shards of broken cane and a coiled spring had lodged themselves on his waistcoat. "Well, I have no doubt that I shall cross swords with her again. In fact, I insist on it!" he demanded to the ether. "As for me...us...I suggest we take that suggestion of departing without delay. I do so hate the tedious banality of police questioning. No panache. It bores my silk socks off!" he said, ushering Blod and El Heraldo out and following suit...

Agreed. Nice nemesis, thanjyou TIff!