Download - CO Lore Primer July 2013
CHAMPIONSLore Primer
A guide to the
setting and role-playing in it.
“We must shut down ALL the beacons” — Defender
CO Lore Primer: • Table of Contents • �
TABLE OF CONTENTS
One: Introduction 5 Official Sources 5Two: Champions Universe Timeline 8Three: The Superhuman World 16 Current Events 16 Law and Government 16 PRIMUS and UNTIL 17 PRIMUS 17 UNTIL 17 UNITY 18 Superhuman Media 18 Hot Spots 19 Club Caprice 19 Grand Cienelago Island 19 Sports 19 Corporations 20 Security Agencies 22 Scientific Agencies 2� Mystical Agencies 24Four: Who’s Who 25 Major Setting NPC Heroes 25 Major Setting Villains 27 Major Setting Villainous Organizations 29 Significant Canon Characters From Around the World �0 Heroes and Villains Through the Ages ��Five: What’s What �6 Materials �6 Mutagens �6 Super Soldier Projects �6Six: Where’s Where �7 Arcadia �7 Atlantis �7 Beast Mountain �7 Force Station Steelhead and the Lynx’s Fold �8 Hudson City �8 Lemuria �9 Millennium City 40 Monster Island 41 Niikwan 41 Shambalah/Agharti 41 Sunday Pond, Maine 41 Thaar 41
CO Lore Primer: • Table of Contents • 4
Vibora Bay 42 Yeng-Tao Temple 42Seven: Aliens 4� Dendrians 4� Elder Worms 4� Ergons/Thorgons 4� Fassai 44 Gadroon 4� Hzeel 44 Malvans 44 Mandaarians 45 Mon’dabi 45 Perseids 46 Qularr 46 Roin’esh 46 Selenites 46 Siriians 47 Vayathurians 47 The Star*Guard 48 The Galaxars 48 Chrono 48 The Progenitors 48Eight: Other Dimensions 49 The Assaiah 49 Yetzirah 49 Briah 49 Atziluth 50 Qliphoth 50 The ban 50Nine: The Mullet’s Guide to RP 52Index 62
CO Lore Primer: • Introduction • 5
ThisisaquickintroductiontotheChampionsOnlineuniverse.It’sexcerptsonissuesofimportancetoChampionsOnlinerole-playersandpeoplewhowanttoworkwiththebackgroundofthisuniversetobuildcharacters.Ifyouneed,say,acorporatesponsororanalienraceaspartofyourbackground,thisbookwillsuggestonesthatexistincanonthatyoucanuse. ThisisbasedonexistingworksintheChampionspaperandpencilgameline.Itonlyscratchestheeagerestsurfaceofthesetting,soit’sstronglyrecom-mendedthatyoupickupthesebooks--andtheyarecommercialworksandnotfreeware--togetthefullstory.Butthisexcerptwillgiveyouataste,anideaforacooloriginandmightevensettleanargumentortwo. Inafewcases,I’maddingmyinterpretationorRPadvice;I’llnotetheplaceswherethisoccurs:they’llbemarkedasOpinionCorner.Feelfreetoignoreit. ThisdocumentisnotmeanttoshovecanondownthethroatsofunwillingRPersandIhopeitdoesn’tgetusedforthat.However,peoplewhoareinterestedinthesettingcanuseitasanintroductionandawayofgettingtoknowtheworld. ItshouldgowithoutsayingthatthisdocumentcontainsSPOILERS.I’msayingithereanyways.Ifyoudon’twanttoknow,thennofurthergo!
AND NOW HERE’S SOMETHING WE HOPE YOU’LL REALLY LIKE.... ChampionsisbasedonanintellectualpropertycreatedfortheHEROSystem,apaperandpencilrole-playinggamethatwasfirstpublishedin1981byHeroGames.MuchoftheuniversewasbuiltontheworkcreatedprimarilybyGeorgeMacDonald,butalsobyBruceHarlick,StevePeterson,andGlennThain. In1996,HerojoinedforceswithR.TalosorianGamesandcreatedChampions:TheNewMillennium,witharevampofthesettingbyEricBurnham.MostofEric’ssettingworkwasexcellent,unfortunatelythesystemwasnotverywell-received.
WhenSteveLongandDOJ,Inc.tookoverCham-pionsin2002,Steveconsolidatedalotofworkdonebyfreelancersovertheyears,threwmuchofitout(goodbyeCLOWN),andaddedmuchofhisown(mostlyexcellent)material.WhenCrypticboughttheIPin2008,theyaddedtheirownsignificantcontribu-tions. WARNING:ChampionsPnPsupplementsuseamuchdifferentsystemthanChampionsOnline,sodon’texpecttoseecharacterswrittenupasChampi-onsOnlinebuildsorwiththeirpowersasdirectcor-relationsofCOpowers.However,theyareaninvalu-ablesourceoflore.Ifyouareinterestedinthesetting,pleasesupportHeroGames.Yes,RPGsupplementsarepricy,whichisunderstandablegiventhesmallprofitmarginsoftheindustry.However,theHerofolksdoaterrificjob.Ifyoucanaffordit,pleasemakeaninvestmentinsomeofthelorebooks.AndifyoufindanythingthatI’vegottenwronginthisdocument,letmeknow!Thanks!
OFFICIAL SOURCES Recommendedcommercialproducts,withlinksforPDFtothesitewheretheycanbepurchased, IfyouhavetogetONEbook,getChampions Universe (6thedition).Infact,thisprimerisonlyatasteofthatbook.Ifyouenjoythisprimerandfindituseful,pleasepickupacopyofthisbook. Ifyoucanaffordthreebooks,get Champions Uni-verse,Champions Beyond(6thedition),andtheMystic World(5thedition).Thisgivesyouacomprehensiveoverviewofmajorpartsofthesetting. Ifyoucanaffordmorethanthreebooks,getthosethreeandthenlookoverthislistandfindabookonwhateversubjectmostinterestsyou.
I: Introduction
CO Lore Primer: • Introduction • 6
(by Steven Long) Thelife(andtoycatalog)ofAlbertZerstoiten,thedeadliestmaninthehistoryofthehumanrace,betterknownasDr.Destroyer.AndsomejackasscallinghimselfShadowDestroyertoo.
https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=232563
BOOK OF THE EMPRESS (by Steven Long) AbookonIstvathaV’Han,EmpressofaBillionDimensions,alsofeaturingadditionalmaterialonChampionscosmologyfromanon-mysticalperspec-tive.
https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=262911
CHAMPIONS BEYOND (by Steve Long) Thehighlyanticipated,definitivesourcebookonaliensinthesetting.CurrentlyavailableinPDF.
https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=255418
CHAMPIONS UNIVERSE (by Steven Long and Dar-ren Watts) Anoverviewoftheuniverse.Thisisthemostcom-pleteoverviewoftheChampionsOnlineworld,asithasbeenapprovedbyCrypticStudiosandisthemostrecentlywrittenworkonthesetting.Becauseitisthelatestwork,thisdocumentconsidersthisbooktobedefinitivewhencontradictionsexistwithpreviousworks.Highlyrecommended.
https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=247924
CHAMPIONS VILLAINS Vol 1, 2, �. (by Steven Long) ThemostcurrentuptodatesourceonmajorChampionsvillains.
https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=250189https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=252375https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=251488
CHAMPIONS OF THE NORTH (by Scott Bennie) TheCanadasourcebook,withbackgroundonmanyofthecharactersfoundaroundForceStationSteel-head.
https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=227526
DEMON: SERVANTS OF DARKNESS (by Allen Thomas) AnexcellentguidetothevillainsofthesecondAdventurePack.
https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=201768
HIDDEN LANDS (by Darren Watts and Allen Thomas) AbookcoveringplaceslikeAtlantis,Lemuria,Arcadia,andmuchmore.
https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=194632
MILLENNIUM CITY (by Darren Watts) TheguidetothemostimportantcityintheCham-pionsUniverse.
https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=220731
CO Lore Primer: • Introduction • 7
MONSTER ISLAND (by Steve Long) AsourcebookdedicatedtothemostmonstrousplaceonEarth(insertDisneylandjokehere).
https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=232564
THE MYSTIC WORLD (by Dean Shomshak) ThedefinitivesourceonthemysticalcosmologyoftheChampionsOnlineuniverse.
https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=208418
UNTIL: DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM (by Darren Watts and Steve Long) Thesearethegoodguys,theirhistory,theirpeople,theirtoys.Abitdated.
https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=208417
VIBORA BAY (by Darren Watts, Derek Hiemforth, Jason Walters, and Steve Long) Florida’sfavoritesupernaturalmetropolis.PredatesCObyaconsiderablemargin,andthushasgaps,butitstillhasvalueasasourcebook.
https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=220391
VIPER: COILS OF THE SERPENT (by Steve Long and Scott Bennie) They’remeanandgreenandtheirgoalsareobscene.MeetVIPER,aruthlessterroristorganizationdedicatedtorulingtheworld.
https://www.herogames.com/viewItem.htm?itemID=220393
BEAHERO!SupportHEROGames!
AllartinthisdocumentcomesfromtheChampi-onsOnlinewebsiteauthoringkit,providedbyCrypticStudios.
CO Lore Primer: • Timeline • 8
II: Timeline
ThisisaChampionsUniversetimelinethat’sbasedontheoneinChampions Universe (6th edition)buthewingalittleclosertotheChampionsOnlinetime-line,withreferencestomostcharacterswhoaren’tinthegameomitted.Formoredetail,consultChampions Universe.
c. 2,000,000 BC TheProgenitorsseedtheancestorsofthehumanraceandjumpstartitsevolution.
c. 500,000 BCTheProgenitors’experimentsresultinthecreationoftheEmpyreans,asuperhumanrace.
267,584 BCBattle of the Coreward FieldsturnstheMalvan-ElderWormwarinthefavoroftheMalvans.SomeElderWormsmaketheirwaytoEarth.
c. 70,000 BCBirth of Evil.Kul-Tarak,wholaterbecomesTako-fanes,isborn.
�7,52� BCLemuriafoundedbyascientist-sorcerer.
�6,964 BCTheLemuriansattacktheEmpyreanswiththeMan-dragalore,apowerfulmagicalweapon.ItbackfiresandLemuriasinks.
c. �5,000 BC Thesnake-godNamaisborninWestAfrica. RiseofAtlantis.
c. �0,598 BC Sharna-GoraktheDestroyercausesthedestructionofAtlantis.
c17,698 BC LemuriansorcererscreatetheBronzeKingtoturnthetideinaLemuriancivilwar.
c12,000 BC IntheLynx’sFoldofwhat’snowNorthernCanada,thespiritoftheLand,aidedbyhumanshamans,defeatsthespiritoftheIce.TheIceAgeends,bringinginthestartofthemodernage.TheInuitgodKigatilik,whosidedwithIceoverLand,iscastoutofthatpantheon.HebecomesanagentoftheIce,seekingvengeanceontheshamanswhoopposedthem.
c. 520 AD SirGilesdeMorphant,ablackknightinthedaysofKingArthur,isslainbyLancelot.HeislaterrevivedasthesupervillainBlackPaladin.
c. 1000 AD ViperiaisborninAfrica.Atthebehestoflocaltribes,Namaplacesherinsuspendedanimationtoavoidthedestructionofthecontinent.
c. �0 AD The Ban is Set.ThedeathoftheprophetYeshuasealstheBanondivineanddemonicsupernaturalintervention.
CO Lore Primer: • Timeline • 9
1459 AD VladTepesistransformedbymagicintoDracula.
1772 ADThefirstBlackMaskappears.Heisthefirstcostumedheroinrecordedhistory.
178� AD TheCircleoftheScarletMoonisfoundedbydecadentFrenchnobles.
1800 AD TheEmpyreanArvadleadsarebellionagainstKingHazor,butisdefeatedandexiled.
c. 1800 ADTheTrismegistusCouncilisfoundedtoserveasguard-iansofwhitemagic.
18�8 ADAnAmericansecretsociety,thePatriotLodges,whohavevowedtooverthrowBritishinfluenceinNorthAmerica,launchaninvasioninCanada.They’redefeated,butnotbeforeswearingamysticaloaththattheirdescendentswouldnotabandonthecauseofrepublicanism.
1864 ADArvaduseshismentalpowerstoseizecontrolofLemuria.
1865 ADTheUnholyOrderoftheGrandReptile,thepredeces-sorofVIPER,isfoundedinLondon.
1908 AD TheCircleoftheScarletMoonkillsearth’sArchmage.Theearthgoeswithoutamajorprotectoragainstoccultthreatsforoveracentury.
1917 AD BirthofAlbertZerstoiten,thefutureDoctorDestroyer.
1925 AD DEMONisfounded,committingthe“DogDayMur-ders”inNewYorkCity.
19�7 AD Afterthemurderofherfather,PrincessMarabecomesrightfulqueenofAtlantis.Unabletogetherthrone,sheestablishesherselfasthemysterywomanSeaHawk.
19�8 AD May1.Birth of Modern Superhumans.ANaziritualattemptstoendowaGermancultwithmysticalpowers.Instead,itunlockstheambientmagicalpow-ersofearth,greatlyincreasingtheinfluenceofmagic,increasinglinkstotheimaginalrealmsthatessentiallyallowsforasecond,contradictorylawofphysicstoco-existwiththelawsofthephysicalworld--thelawsofmetahuman--makingsuperpowerspossible.Thefirstsuperhumansappear:DerSturmvogelinGermany,CaptainPatriotinAmerica.
TheSirians,analienrace,invadesNewJersey.Foursuperhumansrespond.Aftertheirvictoryoverthealiens,theheroesfoundtheDefendersofJustice,theworld’sfirstsuperteam.
1940 AD Pulpadventurerandscoundrel,EdgarLancelynEssecfallsunderthespellofNamawhileexploringacaveinWestAfrica.
1941 AD InthewakeofthePearlHarborattack,Americansu-perhumansvolunteerforwar,TheDefendersofJusticeareamongthefirstvolunteers.TheUSArmysetsupasecretsupersoldierprojectinHaynesvilleKansas,whereCaptainPatriotwascreated.
1942 AD LemuriajoinstheAxissideinthewar.TheyattempttoinvadeCalifornia,butarerepulsedbyanewteamofheroeswhocallthemselvestheJusticeSquadron.
194� ADTheDefendersofJusticehelpMararecapturethethroneofAtlantis.
1944 ADAlbertZerstoitenbetraystheNazisandfleestoSouth
CO Lore Primer: •Timeline • 10
America.
1945 ADSturmvogeliskilledinthedyingdaysofthewar.
1948 ADTheHaynesvilleProjectisclosed.TheDefendersofJusticedisband.
1954 AD BroughttogetherbyNama,thirtymenandwomen,survivorsandsympathizersoftheAxiscauseandtheUnholyOrderoftheGrandReptile,foundVIPER(Ven-omousImperialPartyoftheEternalReptile),swearinganoathontheSerpentLantern.
1959 AD FirstappearanceofVanguard,theworld’smostpow-erfulsuperhero.
1962 AD August22. “Green Monday”.VIPERmakesitsfirstpublicappearance,performingnumeroustargetedas-sassinationsaroundtheglobe.TheUnitedNationssetsupatribunaloninternationallawasaresponse.
1964 AD *ThesupervillainRevengerconquerstheSelenites,theMoonpeople,andusesthemastoolsinhisplantoconquerhumanity.
Kigatilik,imprisonedcenturiesagobytheInuitgods,isfreed.TheLandempowersfourpeople,theMightyCanadians,inresponse(Celestar,Kivioq,Timberline,andBonneVivian).
1965 AD ThefirstQularrinvasionnearlydestroysTokyo.
UNTILisfounded.TheUSrefusestorecognizethemorletthemoperateonAmericansoil.
1966 ADAnotherLemurianinvasionofthesurfaceworldisfoiled.
1967 ADAsecondSirianinvasionisthwartedbysuperheroes.
*ChinafoundstheTigerSquadasitsofficialheroteam.
1968 AD VIPER’ssecondmajorschemeofconquest,OperationCoil,isthwarted.
DEMONmakesitsfirstmodernappearance,steal-ingtheBasiliskOrbandperformingaritualontheCarolinaIslands.TheyarestoppedbyUNTIL.
*TheStar*Guard,agroupofgalacticpolice,buildabaseonEuropaandsendarepresentativetoEarth.
*TheSovietUnionfoundsthePeople’sLegionasitssuperheroteam.Theyremainactiveuntil1989.
Mega-TerakleavesMonsterIslandandrampagesthroughTokyoforthefirsttime.
1969 AD FirstappearanceoftheAll-American,asuper-soldiercreatedbythePerseusProject,anoffshootoftheresearchdonebytheHaynesvilleProjectinWW2.
1970 ADSuperheroesdefeattheRevengerandfreestheSel-enitesfromhiscontrol.Revengerdiesinacave-in.
1971 AD LewisFrey,akaMasqueradeI,iscapturedbyBlackMask.Hespendsthenextfourteenyearsinprison.
197� AD FirstvisitoftheMandaarians,seeminglybenignaliens,toearth.
1975 AD Destroyer Walks the Earth.FirstappearanceofDr.Destroyer,ashisattemptedconquestofCaliforniaisbarelydefeated.
TheMightyCanadians’finalbattle.TheysealKigatilik
CO Lore Primer: • Timeline • 11
intheFrostTomb,butalloftheirmembersexceptCelestararesealedwiththem.
1977 ADBattle for the Planet.ThefirstGadrooninvasionescalatesintotheworstconflictbetweenhumansandextraterrestrialsinthisplanet’shistory.Afteroveramonthoffightingaroundtheglobeandinorbit,withmanymajocitiesbadlydamaged,theinterventionofDoctorDestroyerturnsthetide.DestroyerruthlesslyannihilatestheGadroonfleet,andadvocatespursuingthefleetandutterlydestroyingthem.Tohisdisgust,theJusticeSquadronandVanguardnixhissuggestion.
1978 AD StrongholdisbuiltintheAmericansouthwest.
Ooops.Anaccidentinvolvinga“deltabomb”trans-formsWhiteSandsNewMexicointoBurningSands.
FirstappearanceofDarkSeraph.1979 ADDr.DestroyerallieswithVIPER,butit’sarusetoallowDestroyertogetcontroloftheSerpentLantern.Intheend,bothsideslosetheLantern.
FirstappearanceoftheSlug.
1980 AD ARGENTisfounded.PromptedbythedeprivationsofDoctorDestroyer,theUnitedStatespassesthefirstsuperhumanregistrationact.
1982 AD DeathofCaptainPatriot.
*TheInstituteforHumanAdvancement(IHA),ananti-mutantorganizationisfounded.
198� AD ARGENTisexposedasacriminalorganization.Theirlawyerskeeptheminbusiness,buttheirleadersfleethecountry,eventuallyrelocatinginthemiddle
easternnationofAwad.
*DisaffectedDanishpoliticianDanarNicolequitstheEuropeanparliament,eventuallyfoundingthevillainteamEurostar.
1984 AD March30-June24:Reign of the Destroyer.Usingmindcontrolsatellites,Doctor.Destroyerseizescontroloftheglobe.HeisdefeatedbyVanguardandhisislandbase,DestrugaI,isdestroyed.
PerhapsinspiredbyDestroyer,SebastianPoefoundsPSI.AsecondGadrooninvasionisdefeated.
1985 ADThe Machine Starts.FirstappearanceofMechanon.
Dr.SilverbackisrescuedfromtheclutchesofMoreau.
Mega-TerakattacksOsaka.
1986 ADPRIMUSisfounded,withGoldenAvengerRobertKauffmanasitsfirstleader.Strongholdinstitutes“hotsleep”.
AlabaccidentinadvertentlycreatesGrond.
The Demonflame Incident.LutherBlackraisesatowerinBostoninanattempttosummonandabsorbthepowerofSharna-GoraktheDestroyer.Heisdefeatedbysuperheroes,andbyVIPER,whoareinstructedbyNamatodefendhumanityagainstSharna-Gorak.
TheFrenchgovernmentpassesalawrequiringtheregistrationofsuperhumans.
*ThomasCassidyfoundsSNN,theSuperNewsNetwork.
TheUnitedStatescreatestheDepartmentofSuperhu-
CO Lore Primer: •Timeline • 12
manandParanormalAffairs(DOSPA),acabinetlevelagencytoregulatesupers.
1987Dr.SilverbackwinsBritishcitizenshiprights,becom-ingthefirstknownnon-humancitizenofaterrestrialcountry.
FirstmodernappearanceofTakofanesinOklahoma.Heraisesanundeadarmyandmarchesfortheeastcoast,butisstoppedbysuperheroesinKentucky.Severalheroesarekilledintheprocess.
Day of the Destroyer. DoctorDestroyerthreatenstoeliminate90%ofhumanitywithdeath-raysatellites,butiseventuallydefeatedbyanallianceofsuperheroteams.
UNTILfoundsitsownofficialsuperteam,UNITY.
*Eurostarfirstappears,releasingitsEurostarMani-festoasastatementofintent.Eurostar,Europe’smostpowerfulvillainteam,isborn.
1989BinderandBlackstarformtheUltimates,another
powerfulvillainteam(who’veyettoappearinCham-pions).
*FirstappearanceofthesupervillainknownastheMonster.
JackTiptreebecomesthelatestAll-American.
1990First Human Star*Guard.Star*GuardBrinReiTarnisslainbyMordace.HeisreplacedbythefirsthumanStar*Guard,AndreAlmena.
WilliamCarlEckhardtsucceedsJuanMartinezasSecretary-MarshallofUNTIL.
1991Dr.Destroyerraiseshissecondislandbase,DestrugaII,andattemptstogainstatehood.Heisrebuffed,andDestrugaisdestroyedbysuperheroes.
1992July 2� The “Battle of Detroit”: Dr.DestroyeriskilledbattlingEarth’ssuperheroes,butactivatesadevicethatdestroysmostofDetroit.Vanguardis
CO Lore Primer: • Timeline • 1�
killeddefendingtheearthfromDestroyer’sasteroidweapon.Fourteenothersuperheroesarekilled,fightingvariousmonsterssummonedbyDestroyerorDestroyerhimself.
TheAmericangovernment,severalmajorcorporations(includingACIandHarmonEnterprises),andnumer-ouscharitablefoundationsformtheMillenniumProjecttorebuildthecity.
SeeingthatVIPERneedsguidance,NamawakesEdgarLancelynEssecfromslumberandchristenshimasVIPER’sSupremeSerpent.
199�TheUnitedStatessignstheTribunaltreaty,allowingUNTILtooperateonAmericansoil.
EurostarhiresTeleiostoclonethemanarmy,whichtheyuseinanunsuccessfulinvasionofPoland.Teleiosbecomesknowntothegeneralpublic.*FirstmodernappearanceofBlackPaladin.
”My Name is Foxbat and this is my Master Plan!”FirstappearanceofFoxbat,whotriestostealtheEmpireStatebuilding.
*TheWarlordappearsandtriestoconquerVietnam.
JTF-2isfoundedinCanada.JTF-X(Excalibur)isaddedasitssuperhumanbranch.1994TheGadrooninvadenorthernCanada.ForceknightIIIfoundsthethirdNorthernGuardtostopthem.He’ssoonjoinedbyJusticiar,who’srescuedfromcryosleepinthelabofacyberneticvillain.
ProjectSunbursttakesplace.
FirstappearanceofBlackMaskX.
1995LewisFrey,theretired(andallegedlyreformed)villainMasqueradeI,opensClubCapriceinMillenniumCity.
1996UNTILcompletesconstructionofitsGatewayspacestation.
VIPERgoestowarwithEurostartocontrolEurope’scriminalnetworks(andconquerthecontinentingeneral).
1997RobertJohnsonsucceedsRobertKauffmanasGoldenAvengerofPRIMUS.Kauffmandoesn’tretire,andeventuallytakesapositiontocleanupthemessatProjectGreenskin.
1998TheNorthernGuarddisbands.MarkDerringer,former-lyAvengerofSUNDER,becomesleaderoftheRCMP’ssuperhumanresponsedivision,theSteelheads.ForceStationSteelheadisconstructedtokeepaneyeontheLynx’sFold.
IstvathaV’Han,so-calledEmpressofaBillionDimen-sions,launchesherfirstinvasionofEarth.
Inherfirstmodernappearance,VIPERunleashesVi-periaagainstEurostar,forcingthatgrouptowithdrawandendingtheVIPER-Eurostarwar.
1999ConstructiononMillenniumCityiscompleted.GrandCienelagoIsland,asecretresortforsuperhe-roes,opensintheCaribbean.
2000*RusskiyeZashchitniki(“TheRussianDefenders”),aninformalsuperheroteam,formsinMoscow.
*FirstappearanceofthesupervillainessGravitar,fightingMechanon.
UNTILcompletesMoonbaseSerenity.
CelestarandForceknightIIIfoundStarForce,Toronto’sofficialsuperheroteam.
CO Lore Primer: •Timeline • 14
2001 DefenderfoundstheChampions,accordingtosome“theworld’smostpowerfulsuperteam”.TheoriginalteamisDefender,Nighthawk,andSapphire;Ironclad(whoarrivesonearthearlyintheyear)andWitchcraftjoinsoonafterwards.
Firewingcomestoearth,challenginganyworthysuperhumantotrialbycombat.
2002*FirstappearanceofthetimetravellingvillainCaptainChromos.
FirstappearanceofShadowDestroyer,widelybelievedtobeAlbertZerstoitenreturnedfromthegrave.(Heisn’t.)
*SoftwarebillionaireHoratioGoodmanfoundstheGoodmanInstitute,aprivately-fundedorganizationthatprovidesscientificassistancetosuperheroes.
200�JusticiarbecomesleaderofStarForce,joinedbyDustDevil,Argosy,andPrismGirl.
AfactionofLemuriansrejectArvad’sauthorityandrevivethecultoftheBleakOnes.TheyuseamagicritualtotransformtheirshapeintosomethingthatcansurviveonthesurfaceandseizecontroloftheancientLemuriantempleofAndrithonMonsterIsland.Arvad,who’sbeenabrutaltyrantandavillainformostofhislife,experiencesachangeofheartatseeinghispeopleindanger.Heattemptstoreconcilewiththeheroesofthesurfaceworld,notaneasypro-cessafterdecadesofbeing“themenacefrombeneaththewaters”.
2004 DescendentsoftheHunter-Patriots,performamagicritualtogainpowersandbecomeactiveinthemod-ernworld.
2006NighthawkleavestheChampions,replacedbyKinetik.
2007 TheConstablejoinsStarForce.
2008TheGadrooninvadeCanadaandcreateabeachheadnotfarfromForceStationSteelhead.
2009August28:Crisis in Millennium City! (startofCO).TheQularrinvadeEarth.ApluckyherohelpstheChampionsshutdownallofthebeaconstopreventShadowDestroyer’ssignalfromdrivingtheQularrcrazy.IroncladlauncheshimselfattheQularrmother-ship,sinkingitintheDetroitRiver.
TakofanescausestheBloodmoontoriseoverMillen-niumCity,andbrings13ofthe15heroeswhodiedintheBattleofDetroittoamockeryoflife.Localheroeseventuallylaythemtorest.
Stronghold Breakout. Mentonescapesfromhotsleep,triggeringabreakoutinStronghold.
MordaceattacksCONTROL,nearlycripplingtheStar*Guard.
Canadian Crisis! AtthebehestofShadowDestroyer,RakshasafreesKigatilikfromtheFrostTomb.
2010Vibora Bay Apocalypse! Inaconfusingepisodeinvolvingtimetravel,thefallenangelTherakielat-temptstoconquerheavenandhell,butisthwartedbyJuryrig,RobertCaliburn,andagroupofsuperheroes.CaliburnbecomesthenewArchmageofEarth.
The Serpent Lantern.TheSupremeSerpentattemptstousetheSerpentLanterntounitequar-rellingfactionsinVIPER,butUNTIL,aidedbyapluckysuperhero,destroystheLanternbeforehecandoso.
The Fall of Black.LutherBlackimprisonsfiveoftheKingsofEdominanattempttoelevatehimselftogodhood.HeisfoiledbyWitchcraft,ProjectHermes,andabravesuperhero,whoenterstheQlipthotictofreetheKings.
CO Lore Primer: • Timeline • 15
2011TakofanesperfectstheBloodmoonritual,makingitappearfrequentlyoverMillenniumCity.
FoxbatdefacessignsaroundMillenniumCityonAprilFool’sDay.Resistance.HeroesdefeatShadowDestroyerinMul-tifaria,thoughthey’reforcedtofreethelongmissingAlbertZerstoitentodoso.
Aftermath.UNTILforcesmysteriouslyvanishnearCampLanterninAfrica,eventuallyleadingtoashow-downwithweakenedavatarsoftheKingsofEdom.
Whiteout. Workingforamysteriouspatron,aRoin’eshshìpisshotdownbytheStar*GuardandcrashesinCanada.TheRoin’eshattempttostealanartifactsecuredinForceStationSteelhead,butarefoiled.
2012 RedWintertakesoverAmerica’snucleararsenal,butarefoiledbyacollectionofsupeheroesinabigbrawlthattakesplaceinthesouthwestdesert.
Questionitelacedmeteorsfalltoearth.Numerousheroesandvillainsattempttocollectthem,withARGENTbeingespeciallyaggressiveintheirpursuitoftheraremineral.
GravitarwrecksasectionofMillenniumCity.
Nighthawkappearstobecomeavillain,attackingtheStoneLabssubsidiaryofACI.Eventually,theformerChampionisexnerated,andFranklinStoneisindicted.
HiPan’sattempttogaintheblessingofacelestialdragongoesawry.
DoctorDestroyerreturnsandlayssiegetoChampionsHQwithanew,advancedgenerationofMega-De-stroyers.
201�Le,murianinvadersfloodpartsofMillenniumCityandsummontheGreatLeviathantocementtheirconquest.Theyaredrivenbackbyanarmyofheroes.
ThepresenceofaMalvangladiatorialarenaonthemoonisrevealedtoearth’sheroes,andateampartici-patesinthegames.TheymanagetowithstandFirew-inglongenoughthatthegreatgladiatotretreats,impressingtheMalvans.
*Thisentryindicatesateam,individual,ororganiza-tionthatpresentlyexistsintheChampionsUniverse,buthasyettoappearinChampionsOnline(thoughtheymaydosoinfuture.)
CO Lore Primer: • The Superhuman World • 16
Current Events OneoftherulesoftheChampionsUniverseis...it’sexactlylikeourworld.exceptwhentheexcep-tionsarenoted.Therewasa9/11,thereisawarinAfghanistan,thereisaneconomicdownturnwhentheeconomygoesbad,etc.Thismaybealittlehardtoswallow,butitgivespeoplecommonreferencepointswithwhichtowork.
Do You Believe In Magic?Despiteobviousevidencetothecontrary,such
astheBloodmoon,vampiresupervillains,etc.mostpeopleintheChampionsUniversedoNOTbelieveinmagic,explainingitawaywithscientificexplanationssuchasoddmutationsandsuperhumansadoptingsupernaturalmotifsinordertofrightenpeople.Itisthenatureofmagicthatordinarypeoplewillrejectituntiltheyhavenootherchoicebuttoaccept.Peopleinplaceswheremagicisfrequentlyencountered,likeViboraBay(andtoalesserextentMillenniumCity)areprobablyfarlessskeptical,andthegovern-menthasmadelawsaboutsomeaspectsofit,suchasundeadrights(whichskepticsmayfindhighlyconfusing).
(Infact,it’sadvisedthatifanRPgroupignoresthisprohibition,youshouldplayalongwithit.)
LAW AND GOVERNMENT
Superhuman RegistrationMostwesterncountries,includingtheUnited
States,requireregistrationwithagovernmentauthority.Thesedatabases,builtwiththehelpofsuperhumangeniuses,aresomeofthemostsecurecomputernetworkseverassembled.WhethertheycancontinuetoholdupagainstcybervillainslikeInterface--orMechanon--remainstobeseen,andtheirsecurityisacontinuingconcerntomanysuper-humanswhorefusetoregisterwiththem.
III: Current Events
America’sversion,theAmericanSuperhumanandParanormalRegistrationAct(ASPRA)waspassedin1980.ThislawrequiressuperhumanstoregistertheirabilitieswiththeBureauofAlcohol,Tobacco,andFirearms.Thesuperhumanregistrationlawsarenotheavilyenforced.
DOSPAIntheUnitedStates,thereisacabinetlevelagency
thatoverseessuperhumanaffairs,DOSPA(theDepart-mentofSuperhumanAffairs).ItisledbyAndrewRochester,formerlyaMajorwithDesertStorm.Rochesterisviewedassympathetictomostsuperhu-manissues,andfriendtomanyofthemostprominentsuperheroesinthecountry,includingtheChampions.
Secret Identities Secretidentitiesarenotprotectedunderthelaw.
Opinion Corner: Undead rights: 5e vs.
6e
Thisiscontroversial,as Champions Universe6theditionrepeatsmuchofthe5theditiontext,contradictingother
5theditionwritingwhichstatesthatundeadanddemonshavenorightsandcanbekilledwithimmunitytothe
law.As6theditionworkssupersedepreviouscanon,thereversionbackto“Congresshaspassedlimitedrightstoall
sapients”isconsideredtheguidingprinciple.
Ifyou’replayingwithaheavilyhorrorcenteredgroupandyou’reusingtheVanHelsingActandotherearliermaterialascanon,justbeawarethateveryonemaynotbeplaying
onthesamepageasyou,lorewise.Ontheotherhand,thatmaterialismuchmoredetailedthancurrentcanon
andmaybeseenaspreferableforthatreason.Restraint and negotiation in the event of lore disputes is
highly recommended. Don’t use lore as a club or be a “lore Nazi”. Knowing more lore does not make you
a better RPer.
CO Lore Primer: • The Superhuman World • 17
Non-Human Rights Theissueofnon-humanrightsisanongoingone,particularlywhenplayerstaketherolesofvampires,demons,extradimensionals,clones,extraterrestrialsandrobots. Atpresent,the14thAmendment’sguaranteesofdueprocessandequalprotectionapplytohumansandindividualswhosegeneticmaterial(clones,mutatesandmutants)arederivedfromhumans.Theydonotapplytoextradimensionals,extraterrestrials,constructs,andcreatureswhohavebeenpronouncedaslegallydead(i.e.undead).AccordingtoChampionsUniverse(6e):“Congresshas,however,passedlawsgrantingatleastlimitedrightstoall“independent,free-willed,sentiententities”inAmericanterritory”Presumably,thisincludesthebasicrighttonotbekilledonsight,andprobablytherighttoholdprop-ertyandseeklegitimateemployment,butnottherighttovote.
Stronghold Theworld’smostsecureprisonsystemisStrong-hold.Usingadvancedtechnology,thisprisonisbuiltwithcustomizableforcefieldenclosuresdesignedtokeepthemostpowerfulsupervillainsfromescaping.ThefirstandbestknownStrongholdisinNewMexico,notfarfromBurningSands.ItisnotatrivialprocesstogetacriminaltransferredtoStronghold;youneedtobeabletodemonstrateincourtthatnoothertypeofincarcerationwillsafelyholdtheprisoner. Formajorthreats,themostextrememethodofcontainmentisHotSleep.Thisisaninducedcomadesignedtokeepthemostdangerousprisonersunconsciouspermanently.
PRIMUS and UNTIL PRIMUS(ParanormalResearchandInvestiga-tionMissionoftheUnitedStates)isanUNTIL-likeagencythatworksasabranchoftheUSDepartmentofJustice.They’retheresponseoftheUnitedStatesgovernmenttosuperhumancrime,oftenassumingaparamilitaryrole.Theirfieldagentsareenhancedbyanexperimentalsupersoldierserum(effectiveinonlyasmallnumberoftestsubjectsbuteffectivewithonlymildaddictivesideeffects);localleadersarecalledSilverAvengers,whilethetopagentisknownasthe
GoldenAvenger. PRIMUSdealswiththreatsthatnormalpolicecan’t
handle.They’realsoresponsibleformaintainingandprotectingtheASPRAdatabase,andassistingthefederalBureauofPrisonsbytransportingsuperhumanprisonersforincarceration.PRIMUS’scurrentGoldenAvengeisDaniel(“DJ”)Johnson.
Note:PRIMUShashadseveralsourcebooks,butallareatthispointobsolete.APDFbookwrittenbyShelleyMcTyreinthelate1990sisthemostcurrent,buteventhatcontainsinformationthat’sgreatlyatvariancewithChampionsOnlinecanon(suchasformerGoldenAvengerKauffmanbeingdeceased).
UNTIL UNTIL(UnitedNationsTribunalonInternationalLaw)
isaUnitedNationsorganizationdedicatedtoprotectinghumanityfromsuperhuman,global-scalethreats,orasapoliceforceinareaswithnonationaljurisdictionlikeMonsterIsland.Theyoperateinmostnationsaroundtheworld,exceptforroguestateslikeAwad,ChiquadorandLugendu.TheyhaveonlyoperatedintheUnitedStatessince1993,andittooktheDetroittragedytofinallyforcetheUStoallowthementry.
TheSecretary-MarshallisWilliamEckhardt,whotookoverfortheoriginalUNTILcommander,JuanMartinez.ThechieffieldcommanderisFieldMar-
MMOS, Repeating Events, and RP.
BecauseeveryonegoesthroughtheStrongholdscenarioatsomepoint,there’sastrongtendencyonthepartofsomerole-playerstoseeStrongholdasasieveanduse
thatasajustificationforruthlessvigilantism.Incanon,however,therehaveonlybeentwobreakouts,onein
1990and2009.Thesecurityoftheinstitutionshouldberespected,andthecontinuousstreamofplayermissions
toStrongholdshouldbehandwaved.
Infact,there’sageneralruleaboutMMOeventsandRP:ignoretherepetition.Don’tworrythatyournemesisis
buildingadeathrayforthethousandthtime.Changeittoamindcontrolray,orignorethatpartoftheplotentirelyandstateyournemesisisdoingsomethingelse.Running
SerpentLanternagain?Itcanbesetinanyjungle-tornpartoftheworldandinvolveacompletelydifferent
McGuffin.Thegameislimitedinitsscenarios,butyoudon’thavetobe.Becreative.
CO Lore Primer: • The Superhuman World • 18
shallDavidBen-Israel.Theyhaveanumberofspecialprojects:ProjectSnakecharmeristheiranti-VIPERtaskforce,ProjectHermesistheirmysticismdivision(largelydedicatedtofightingDEMON),andProjectShivaistheirlong-standinganti-Dr.Destroyertaskforce.
UNTILgenerallyconfinesitsoperationstoglobalorinternationalthreats,buthasbeenknowntointerfereinlocaljurisdictionsfromtimetotime.Naturally,conflictsoccur.
UNITY UNITYisthesuperheroteamthat’sattached
toUNTIL.ItisledbyQuasar,anenergybeingwhowasatechnicianwhoonceservedDr.Destroyer.OthermembersincludeMyrmidon,Dr.WhiteandDr.Black,Psiclops,andElPicaro.Mentiacisaformermemberandfrequentadvi-sor.InChampionsOnline,theyhaveasponsor-shipprogramforextremelycapablesuperhu-mans,sendingthemouttoglobalhotspotstocombatnumerousthreatslikeVIPERandtheQularr.
SUPERHUMAN MEDIA EntertainmentintheChampionsOnlineuniverseismuchthesameasours.Superheroesareacelebrityclassandreceivealotofmediaattention.
Television SNN,theSuperNewsNetwork,istheprinciplesourceofsuperheronews.Showssuchas Behind the Mask(in-depthinterviewswithsuperhumanswhoseidentitiesarepubliclyknown),Super History(ahistoricalanalysisofsuperhumanevents)andGadgets!(ashowonsuperhumantech)areparticularlypopular. SuperheroesmakeappearancesonregularTVshowsandonepopularsoapopera, To Save Tomorrow,focusesonthestrugglesofthefictitiousJusticeForceOmegateam,wherebattleswithsuperhumansareoftensidelinedforpaternitytests,eviltwins,andamnesia,andnooneisachildsuperheroforverylong.
Opinion Corner: They’re the good guys, folks!
PRIMUSandUNTILarebothmeanttobe“goodguy”organizations.Theydooperateinapoliticalworld,anddon’talwaysmakethemostmorallycorrectchoice,however,theydotrytoplaythingsethically,arehonestwithpeople,
supportsuperhumansingoodfaith,playbytherulesandoperateintheopen.Theyhaveintelligencedivisions(soanUNTILspyisanappropriate
characterconcept)butarenotlikelytohavesecretassassinationsquadsoruseblackopsteamsforanythingexceptintelligencegathering.If“realpolitik”
tacticsareemployed,itwouldbeonacasebycasebasis.
Nowtheyaren’ttheboyscouts.Theyareparamilitaryorganizations,andmissionsareoftenspecify“captureifyoucan,killifyoumust”orders.
Theydoemploylethalforcewhenappropriate--buttheydosoopenly,likethecopsorthearmy,notinsecret.
There’sstillplentyofroomforconflict.Bothagenciescanbeoverbear-ingandabusiveoftheirauthority.Sometimescorruptelementswill
infiltratethemandcauseproblems.Ingeneral,however,theheroescancountonthemforsupport.(Iftheycouldn’t,alotofthemissionchains
andadventurepackswouldn’tmakemuchsense.)
If you wish to fun a storyline involving The “Evil government black ops conspiracy”,which is astapleofsomecharacterback-
grounds,youcanstilldoit.Justdon’tturnthemainUNTILfolksintoIronAgeheartofstonebadasses,orborderlinebadguys:theconspiracycanoriginatefromotherareasofgovernment(especiallytheeverpopular“blackboxproject”).OrUNTILandPRIMUShave“rogueelements”that
canbeidentified,opposedandeliminated.
That’s Not American!ThequestionoftenarisesonwhyUNTILisallowedtooperateonAmeri-
cansoilandwhattheyareallowedtodohere.
UNTILisessentiallySHIELDmeetsTHUNDER.Itreflectsamuchmorepositive,SilverAgeviewoftheUnitedNations,wheretheyarecompetent,capable,andreasonable.Theirexistenceiseasiertojustifyinaworldwhich
hasexperiencedsixsignificantalieninvasions,andsortiesfrominterna-tionalconquerorsandvillainslikeDestroyerortheWarlordwhohavethe
militarymightofaroguestate.Mankindfacesmanymoreexternalthreatsthanitdoesonourworld,promptingamoreunifieddefense.Evenwith
this,theUnitedStatesisareluctantparticipant
Thesignatorytreaty,asratifiedbyallparticipatingcountries(includingtheUS)definesUNTIL’sjurisdictionasthefollowing:crimescommittedby
superhumans,crimesinvolvingsuperhumantechnology,crimescommittedbyaliensandextradimensionals,crimescommittedbynon-humanterrestrial
species,andcrimescommittedininternationalwatersorterritories.
ThefirsttwocategoriesoftenleadstoconflictwithPEIMUSandtheFBI.Inpractise,UNTILdeferstolocalauthoritiesandcoordinatestheiraction
andinvestigationswiththelocals,includingPRIMUS.Thisdoesnotpreventthemfrombuttingheadsorbeingfriendlyrivals.
CO Lore Primer: • The Superhuman World • 19
Print Media Super-World Magazineisthemostprominentprintmagazinededicatedtosupers.Runningsince1972,italsoperiodicallypublishesUncaped,whichfeaturesnakedorhalf-nakedsuperheroinesposingPlayboystyle. Behindthecelebrity,however.isfear.Manysu-perheroesaretargetedbythemedia(inmanycases,justlyso)fortheirexcesses.Tabloidstoriesarefilledwithwildallegations;inthemainstreammedia,theAdairPublishinggroup(whichownstheMillenniumCityFreePress)goesoutofitswaytocriticizetheChampionsandothersuperhumans.Adaircolumnistandnewspersonality(whohostsashowonMillenni-umCity’srightwingTVstationWTFL)CurtCurruthershasaparticularlystronghatredfortheChampions(especiallyWitchcraft,whomhebelievesiscorruptingchildrenbypresentingtheoccultinapositivelight).
It’sknownthatVIPERhasanongoingcampaigntoinfiltratethemediaandsmearsuperheroes.
Comic Books ComicbooksarepopularintheChampionsUniverse.Themarketisdividedinto:(a)fictional(andembellishednon-fiction)titlesaboutreallifesuperhe-roes;(b)fictionaltitlesaboutfictionalsuperheroes;and(c)titlesaboutnon-superheroes.(Superherocomicsarelesspredominantthaninourworld,butstillhaveaheavypresenceinthecampaignworld.)
HOT SPOTS
Club Caprice ThepremieresocialhotspotinthesuperhumanworldisMillenniumCity’sClubCaprice.Foundedin1995byretired(andnowreformed)supervillainLewis(MasqueradeI)Frey,whowasasuperhumanthiefactiveinthe50sand60s,thisclubhasseveralfloorsdesignated“forsuperhumansonly”. Despiteaslightlysleazy,“anythinggoes”reputa-tion,theclubisextremelywell-protected;thebounc-ersaremostlysuperhumananditssecuritysystemwasdesignedbyDr.Silverbackhimself.Criminalshaveinfiltratedtheclubonoccasion,andthoughFreyenjoysthenotoriety,hedoesn’tlikeitwhenthepoliceandvigilanteslikeNighthawkputpressureonhim.
Grand Cienelago Island VictorPutnam,theretired60ssuperheroSilverShield,builtasecretCaribbeanresortforsuperhe-roestorelax.Itstruenatureconcealedbyadvancedtechnology,onlyprovensuperheroesareinvitedtovacationhere. ThisdoesnotyetexistinChampionsOnline,thoughpartsofMonsterIslandmightsubstituteforit.
SPORTS Peoplewithsuperhumanabilitiesarebarredfrom
mostsports.Thoughnaturallygiftedathleteshavebecomesuperheroes,it’sconsideredunethicalforpeoplewithpowerstoexploitthemovernormals.Superhumans,ofcourse,engageinfriendlycompeti-tionwitheachother,and(ofcourse)therearecharityboxingandwrestlingmatches.
The Arena Oneareathatflourishesisfighting.There’sanundergroundfightingcircuitcalledtheArenathatoperatesinmanymajorAmericancities;duelstothedeatharerare,butnotunknown.(TheArenaisnotmentionedbyname(yet)inChampionsOnline,how-evertheyaretheonesbehindtheFightClubscenarioinMillenniumCity:BlackMaceisawell-knownArenacombatant.
The Hero Games InMillennium,City,thetamer(butstillbrutal)HeroGamesallowssuperhumanstosafelycompetewitheachotherinvarioussimulatedarenas. NotethattheHeroGamesdoesnotexistinPnPcanonandmightnotberecognizedasanactualin-gameorganizationbysomeRPers.
The Tournament of the Dragon Forthoseseekingtheultimatesuperhumansport-ingprize,there’stheTournamentoftheDragon.ThisisamartialartstournamentheldeverysixtyyearstodecidewhichsuperhumanfighterwillprotecttheworldfromtheeviloftheDeathDragon.Thisdoesnotyetexistingame.
CO Lore Primer: • The Superhuman World • 20
CORPORATIONSOneareawhereChampionsOnlinedeviatesheavily
fromtherealworldisinitscorporateenvironment.RealworldcompanieslikeMicrosoftandGoogleexistalongsidecompanieslike:
ACI. (AdvancedConceptsIndustries):Foundedin1973bytheextremelyformidableFranklinStone,thisindustrialconglomerateownseverythingfromoilfirmstoNarcColaandAceBurgers.Stoneisproudofhis“takenoprisoners”attitudeanddismissalofbusinessethics.Whilehe’softenbeensuspectedofcriminalwrongdoing,noonehasevermanagedtomakeachargestickagainstStone,thoughNighthawkrecentlyuncoveredenoughevidencethatchargeswerelaidagainsthim.
ACIaremajorrivalsofARGENT,butwhiletheirmethodsaresimilar,ACIiscapableofextraordinarysubtletyandknowswhennottopushitsluck--andhasitscriminalinterestshiddenbehindseverallayersofdummycorporations.
ARGENT (AdvancedResearchGroupENTerprises)isacor-
poration/criminalgroup.Foundedin1980,theywereexposedin1983forsellingmilitarysecretstotheSoviets,Chinese,VIPERandDr.Destroyer.TheirboardofdirectorsfledthecountryandsettledinAwad,howevergoodlawyerskeptthecompanyinbusiness.In2003,theChampionscapturedthesupervillainInterface,whoimplicatedARGENTinnumerouscrimes.Again,goodlawyerskeptthemfrombeingshutdown,andonlynowhasARGENTrecoveredfromcommerciallossescausedbythescandal.
ARGENTisknownfortheirbrutallyeffectiveagents,andtheirutterdisdainforlocallawsandtheenvironment.
ARGENTisalsoexpandingintospace.They’rebehindRogerCorwin’sSkyProspectprojecttominetheasteroidbelt.
Binary Corporation: Aconglomeratewhoseprimaryinterestsarein
computersandbiotechnology,geneticengineering,andplasmaweaponsystems.In2001,itwasrocked
byscandalwhentheChampionsrevealedoneofitstopexecutiveswasaDEMONMorbane.Theboardofdirectorswaseventuallyclearedofsuspicion--thecorporationislegitimate.
BinaryCorporationfieldsanofficialsuperhero,BinaryMan.HehasnotyetappearedinChampionsOnline.
Cambridge Biotechnical Aleadingbiochemicalresearchfirm,and(more
famously)thecompanythatemploysDoctorSilver-back.
Drake-Victoria Drake-Victoriaisadefensecontractingfirmre-
sponsibleformanyofthesystemsusedinStronghold.ArthurDrakeIVistheCEO.BasedinAmes-Iowa,itssecondlargestofficeisinMillenniumCity.Drake-Vic-toriahasnotyetappearedinChampionsOnline.
Opinion Corner: Argent
ChampionsOnlineandtheChampionsPnPhavesomewhatdifferentviewsonARGENT.Inthepenandpaper,they’remoresubtle(theydon’tpatrolbuildingswithgunsand
shootpeopleonsightoutintheopen)andyetmorediscredited(theytendtohidebehinddummycorporationsratherthanoperatingopenly).IntheMMO,however,they
havetheirownbuildings,armedguardsopenlypatrolsidewalkswithheavyarmament,andtheyevenoperategasstations,butcanbeblatantabouttheircrimes.Some
playersliketreatingthemasVIPERgoonswithanothersetoflongjohns,whileotherswantthemtobeseenasalegitimatebusinessandbeinganARGENTsuperheroisa
perfectlyreasonablecareerchoice.
Thisisprobablygoingtobealong-termconflictwithnorealsolution.Mysuggestionisthat:(a)ARGENTisnot
perceivedpublicallyasa“morecorporateorientedversionofVIPER”,(b)thattheirpublicreputationissuspect,par-
ticularlytothosewhoarehostiletolargecorporations,butthey’renotseenascriminal(andthey’reoftendefendedasgoodcaoitalists),and(c)veteranheroescanknowthey’re
rottentothecore,butARGENTlawyerswillcomedownonthemiftheyspeakoutpublicly,somostmajorsuperheroesarecircumspectenoughtokeeptheiranti-ARGENTstate-
mentstendtoremainbehindcloseddoors.
CO Lore Primer: • The Superhuman World • 21
Duchess Industries ThispowerfulGermancorporationisheadedby
thebeautiful,charming(andpossiblyimmortal)DuchessHenriettaVanDrotte.Seeminglyanoldmoneycorporationinvolvedmostlyinheavyindustryandmanufacturing,whatthegeneralpublicdon’trealizeisthatDuchessIndustriesistheindustrialarmofVIPER,andtheDuchessisamemberoftheCouncilofThirty,perhapsthememberwho’smostloyaltotheSupremeSerpent.TheyhavenotappearedinChampi-onsOnline.
Dynamic Technologies Research Group Thiscorporationisactuallyafrontcompanyfor
ARGENTinMillenniumCity.ItisrunbyDr.VictorHopewell,withtheassistanceofhisgiftedadminis-trator,LucindaSadler.
FutureScope Acomputercompanyresponsibleforthecreation
ofSOCRATES.
Harmon Industries HarmonIndustriesisadefenseandaerospace
companywithaheavypresenceinMillenniumCity.It’swell-knownforitsphilanthropyandtheplayboywaysofitsne’erdowellCEO,JamesHarmonIV.(Harmonis,ofcourse,secretlyDefenderoftheChampions).
Ironwood Industrial Technologies ArivalofHarmonIndustries,thisaerospacefirm
builtUNTIL’sGatewayspacestationandhelpeddesigntheV-Jet.ItsCEO,JamesJ.Roswell,isarivalofHarmon’sforthetitleofMillenniumCity’smosteligiblebachelor.ThishasyettoappearinChampionsOnline.
Pharos Industries PharosranksbehindACIasoneoftheworld’s
greatcorporations,thoughinfrastructureandmedicalcyberneticsareitstwobigareasofexpertise.ItsCEOistheveryoutgoingphilanthropist,LindaMcCormack.Thishasnotyetappearedingame.
SECURITY AGENCIESThereareanumberofprivatesecurityfirmsthatcan
formpartofthebackgroundofcharacters(orserveaspart-timeorfull-timeemployers).Thetwomostfamousonesare:
Bastion Alpha AfreelancesecurityfirmfoundedbytheretiredsuperheroAnderson“Titan”Powell,BastionAlphamutatesitsemployeesintolowlevelsuperhumansviathehighlysecret“Bastionprocess”.Therehavebeennumerous(unproven)allegationsthatthefirmhiresitsemployeesouttoworkasthugsforsupervillains,andseveralemployeeshavemysteriouslyvanishedinthelastfewyears,leadingtosomedarkspeculationsaboutthesafetyoftheBastionprocess.Thisagencyhasbeenmentionedingame,buthasnotmadeanappearance.
Executive Control Sanctions Foundedin1993bythreeex-UNTILagents,thissecurityagencyiswellknownforitsbountyhunterteams,whousestateoftheartgeartopursuesuper-humans.Thisagencyhasnotappearedingame.
SCIENTIFIC AGENCIES
Angelstone Laboratories Foundedin1938atthestartofthesuperhumanage,thiscompanyspecializesinthestudyofsuperhu-mansandsuperhumantechnologies.Ithas(argu-ably)themostextensivedatabaseofsuperhumansintheworld.They’reextremelyhelpful,buttheyarea“forprofit”organizationandtheirservicescanbeexpensive.Theyhavenotappeared(yet)inChampionsOnline.
The Goodman Institute Doyouneedateamofscientiststoaccompanyyouonamission?Doyouneedtosendamysteriousartifactsomewhereforanalysis?Thesearetheguysyouwant.FoundedbyHoratioGoodmanandledbyretiredheroPeter(AmazingManII)Renton,thisagencyactivelyseekstoassistsuperheroes.Itdoesnotchargeforservices,however,ifthere’smoneytobemadefromsomethingfoundonamission,theIn-stitutetakestheprofits(andconvertsitintooperatingcapital).
CO Lore Primer: • The Superhuman World • 22
L’Institut Thoth AEuropeanbasedoffshootofUNTIL,whoresentedbeingusedby“rightwingmilitarists”,thisresearchlabspecializesinthestudyofsuperhumans,inhelpingsupersunderstandthenatureoftheirsuperpowers,andprovidingmedicaltreatmentwhentheybecomedangerousorgetoutofcontrol.Theywillworkwithvillains--healingpeopleandhelpingfolksmasterdangeroussuperpowersishumanitarianwork--butnotactivelyhelpthemcommitcrimes.Theyalsotakeinalimitednumberofstudentstoteachthemthescienceof“paraphysics”,astheyrefertoit.
SPACE Earth’sspaceprogramsarefarmoreadvancedintheChampionsUniverse,thankstoidealisticsuper-science,superhumanscapableoftravellinginspaceandcontactwithalienspecies.Mankindhasmadeanumberofremarkableadvances,including:
GATEWAY. UNTIL’sspacestationisthenervecenterof
mankind’spresenceinspace.Establishedin1996andcommandedbyCommanderRodneyCurrieofCanada,over200peoplemanthemostimpressiveofEarth’sorbitalstructures.GATEWAYistheheartofEarth’searlywarningsystemagainstpotentialalienattackandthevanguardofitsspacedefense.
Moonbase Serenity ConstructedbyUNTILin2000,thislunarfacilityisman’sfootholdonearth’ssatellite.Overfortyscien-tistsandmilitarypersonnelarestationedhere.
The VSO TheVenusScientificOutpost.Launchedin2004,
theVSOisaneightmanpermanentspacestationinorbitaroundVenus,whosemissionisprimarilyscien-tificexaminationofEarth’shothousesisterplanet.ItiscommandedbyLt.ColonelAaronVee.
Marsbase. Establishedin2008,humanityestablishedthefirstmansettlementonMars,AresI.CommandedbyColo-nelJohnSchad,adozenscientistsliveatpermanentdomesstationedonUtopiaPlanitia.Theresearch
performedbythescientistshasuncoveredremnantsofacivilizationthatoncelivedontheplanetoverabillionyearsago.ThereisalsoanabandonedSirianbaseonMars,but(promptedbythewarningsofvarioussuperheroesandCaptainChronos)itremainsuntouchedbyanysystematicexamination.
Man’smostconcertedeffortsstopatMars(fornow).Therearesomecompanies,includingGerma-ny’sSkyProspect(anARGENTfront)makingthefirsttentativestepsatsurveyingandminingtheasteroidbelt,andDr.Destroyerhasabaseononeoftheaster-oids(Zertorenstern).
NASAhasonesuperheroonitspayroll--Victory.ThisairforceofficerperformsmanydutiesfortheUSairforce(mostrecentlyinAfghanistan),butprefersherNASAduties.She’sexploredmostoftheworldsoftheoutersolarsystem,beingthefirsthumantostepfootonmanyofthemoonsofSaturn,Uranus,andNeptune.
MYSTICAL AGENCIESThereareseveralplayer-friendlymagicalagencies
intheChampionsUniverse.
Trismegistus CouncilHeadquarteredinScotland’sMackenzieHouse,the
CouncilisthepreeminentknownorderofwhitemagiconEarth,thiswasfoundedintheearly19thcenturytocountertheCircleoftheScarletMoon.GenerallyknownonlytothosewhodealwiththemysticsideofChampions.Mostlyworkinginasupportroleforad-venturers,thegroup’sprimarygoalsaretoencouragemagestoresponsiblyusemagicandsafeguardtheworldfromthreatsfromotherdimensions.TheyareenemiesofDEMONandtheCircleoftheScarletMoon.
The ArchmageThepreeminentmagicalprotectorofEarthisthe
Archmage.ThecurrentArchmageisRobertCaliburn,whoascendedtothatroleinthebattleagainstTher-akielafteracenturyofvacancy.
CO Lore Primer: • The Superhuman World • 2�
CO Lore Primer: • Who’s Who • 24
IV: Who’s Who
TherearealotofnamesinChampionsOnline,mostofwhichareexplained(atbest)inpassing.Here’saquickoverviewofsomeoftheheroesandvillainsinthegame.MoreinformationofsomeofthesemaybefoundatCO-Wiki.
MAJOR SETTING NPC HEROES
Amphibian GeoffLambwasamutantwhowastakenunderthewingofthesuperheroSeaKing.Forwhile,heservedasthehero’ssidekick,buteventuallybecamedissatisfiedwiththatlifestyle;believingtheseasneededmoreaggressiveprotection,hejoinedvariousenvironmentalgroups,graduallydriftingtowardecoterrorism.Whenhisactivitiesledtotheexposureofhis(andSeaKing’s)identity,itledtoaboutofalcoholism,Heeventuallybrokeoutoftheaddiction,onlytosuffertwoblows:thedeathofhismentor,andbetrayalbythewomanheloved,theAtlanteanprincessStingray.
Arvad Longoneofearth’smosthatedsupervillains,thisrogueEmpyreanseizedcontrolofLemuriatwohundredyearsagoanduseditasawarmachineinnumerousattemptstoconquerthesurfaceworld.Inrecentyears,therebellionoftheBleakOnespriest-hoodhasledtotwostartlingconclusions:first,thatheloveshispeopleandwantstodorightbythem,andsecond,thatheneededthesurfaceworld’shelpifhewastoprotectthem.
Inrecentyears,he’swonacceptanceasachangedman,thoughnoteveryonebelievesthathe’ssincereinhisdesireforredemption.
Black Mask TenthinthelineofcrimefightersdatingbacktotheAmericanRevolution,JenniferWardistheprotectorixofViboraBay.Capablewithagunand
agoodmartialartist,BlackMaskhasspentfifteenyearsintheroleofheiresstotheworld’slongestlivedcrimefightingfamily.
Celestar LonnieLawrencewasgivenvastcosmicpowersbythegreatLandSpiritofNorthAmerica,whichheusedasamemberoftheMightyCanadianssuperheroteam.In1975,allbutCelestarweretrappedintheFrostTombwhileengagedinafinalbattlewithKigati-lik.Lonnietriedrepeatedlytofreethem,butfailed.Heabandonedearthforseveralyears,andonhisreturn,triedtofightcrimeintheWindsor/Detroitcrimeregion,butwasdeniedbyAmericanofficialsafterascandal.Becauseofthis,hewasnotabletointerveneintheBattleofDetroit,afailurewhichresultedinacompletenervousbreakdown.Lonnieeventuallyover-camehispsychologicalconditionsandco-foundedStarForce,alongwithForceknightIII.HavinghandedtheteamovertoJusticiar,hespendshistimeassistinginForceStationSteelhead.
DefenderLeaderoftheChampions,JamesHarmonisconsid-
eredane’erdowellplayboy,buthecomesfromalonglineofheroesandthedestructionofDetroitin1992steeledhisresolvetomakeadifferenceintheworld.Cladinsturdypowerarmor,DefenderleadstheCham-pions,consideredbysometobethemostpowerfulsuperheroteamintheworld.
Doctor KaAmysticalherowhosefamilywaschosenbythe
EgyptiangodOsiristoopposehisenemySet,Dr.Kabecameasuperheroafterstudyingatthefeetofhisfamousuncle,Dr.Scarab.ThedeathofDr.ScarabledKatorepudiatehisservicetoOsiris,andnowopposesthemeddlingofanydeitywhocircumventstheBantobringmiserytohumanity.
Doctor Silverback AMillenniumCitybasedheroandsuperscientist.
CO Lore Primer: • Who’s Who • 25
OriginallyanordinaryRwandanmountaingorilla,SilverbackwascapturedbyMoreauandbroughttohisUkrainianbase,BeastMountain,wherehewasmutatedintoasuperintelligentcreature.EscapingMoreau’sclutches,heeventuallyemigratedtoBritainandthentoAmerica,whereheservesasadvisorandreservememberoftheChampions.
Gadget Boy SasukiKatsoruisachildprodigywhofirstcametoprominencewhenhehelpedJapan’sgreatestsuperhero,Tetsuronin,defeatthegiantmonsterDraja.NowstationedonMonsterIsland,youngSasukiassistsUNTILindealingwithassortedthreats,fromMega-TeraktotheQularr.
Ironclad Aliengladiator,bornonDorvala,andkidnappedtofightinthearenasofthedecadentplanetMalva.Fol-lowedtheexampleoftheMalvanchampionFirewingandcametoearth,butsoughtcomradeshipinsteadofbattle.MemberoftheChampions.
Juryrig DamonArmstrong,akaJuryrig,isabrilliantifhighlyeccentricengineerfromViboraBay.Hedevel-opedhiscostumedpersonatocombatVIPER,whosetheftsofhisinventionsdeeplyirritatedhim.BasedfromanunassuminggarageindowntownViboraBay,Juryriglendshisexpertisetoanyherostalwartenoughtocombattheoccultthreatsofthatcity.
Justiciar DavidBurrellistheCEOofBurrellIndustries,who
wasbadlyinjuredthirtyyearsagoinamountaineer-ingaccident.Againsthiswishes,hewaskeptaliveandgivencyberneticlimbsbythesupervillainCyberlord.BurrellwasplacedinsuspendedanimationtoserveasCyberlord’spuppet,butwasfreedbytheNorthernGuard,aCanadiansuperheroteam.DubbinghimselfJusticiar,BurrelljoinedtheGuardandservedwithdistinction;he’scurrentlyleaderofCanada’smostprominentsuperheroteam,StarForce.Justiciarisalsooneofthefewknowngaysuperheroes,thoughhetendstokeepthisprivate.
Kinetik Superherospeedsterwhoobtainedhispowersinalabaccident.MemberoftheChampions,whojoined
Opinion Corner: Defender
AlotoffolksinterpretDefenderasajerk.He’snot,butthememe’sbecomeprettyentrenched--alsobecausethe
game’sAIislacking,Defenderhasareputationamongtheplayerbaseforincompetence.It’sfairerandmorerespectful
tothecharactertoignoreit,butgamersarenotalwaysfair,especiallytoauthorityfiguresor“devpetNPCs”.(ThereseemtobealotfewerdevpetsinChampionsOnlinethaninCity of HeroesorWorld of Warcraft,fromwhichmuchof
theanimosityoriginated).
Also,don’tpretendit’scommonknowledge---wink,wink--thatJamesHarmonandDefenderareoneandthesame,
whenhegoestothesomelengthstoprotecthissecretID.That’sanothersymptomofplayergodmodingtolaud
themselvesoverprominentNPCstomakethemselveslookgood.
CO Lore Primer: • Who’s Who • 26
theteamafterthedepartureofNighthawk.
Kodiak JohnCowens,Minnesota-bornmutantFBIagentassignedtofightthegangsonthewestsideofMillen-niumCity.AllyoftheChampions.
Mark Derringer HeadoftheRCMPSteelheaddivision,acenturyoldmutantwhowasactiveasapulpadventurerinthe1920sand1930s,andwasamemberofVancouver’sSUNDERteaminthe1980s.Markcomesacrossasano-nonsensearmycommandertype.
Nighthawk AvigilantenamedMarkWhittaker,whosedisfig-urementbyVIPERservedasawakeupcall.AnearlymemberoftheChampions,NighthawkcametoblowswithDefenderovertheuseofforceagainstcriminalsandlefttheteam.HeservesasapatrontovigilantesactiveintheWestSideofMillenniumCityandoc-casionallyaidstheChampionsininvestigations.Hehasnopowers,butisclosetomaximumhumanlevelsinstrength,toughnessandagility,andisbolsteredbynumerousgadgets;healsofliestheHawkwing,anadvancedjet.
Ravenspeaker BillyEdenshaw,descendentofHaidaspiriteldersandanAnglicanmissionarywhowasdeterminedtosavetheHaidafromthedeprivationsofEuropeanset-tlers,wasaresidentoftheHaidavillageofNiikwan,whichhadbeenhiddencenturiesagobyRaven.Edenshawbrokeavillagetaboowhenheaccidentallykilledawhiteraven,andwaspunished--orrewarded-bytheHaidagodbybeinggiventhetongueandeyesofRaven.HebecameinvolvedinthebattletoprotectNiikwanfromRaven’sarchenemy,theHaidadeathgodTax’et.Afterdefeatingthedeathgod,Ravenspeaker,asBillywasnowdubbed,becamethemysticprotectorofCanadaandatruesuperhero.
Robert Caliburn Theso-called“MagnumMage”(forhishabitofmixingpistolswithsorcery),recentlyrevealedasthenewArchmageofEarth,RobertCaliburnwasoriginal-
lyRobertCole,anAmericansoldierinVietnam.Stum-blingintoanancientVietnamesetemple,hecameintopossessionoftheFlameGem,whichgrantedhimgreatmagicalpower--andwhichwasdestinedtobeusedinthefinalbattleagainstTherakiel.
Sapphire MutantpopsensationwhousesherenergycontrolpowersasamemberoftheChampions.
Witchcraft BethanyDusquenewasayoungsorceresswhorejectedtheevilwaysofherparents,whobelongedtotheCircleoftheScarletMoon.Unlikehertwinsister,Talisman,Bethanychosetouseherknowledgetoprotectpeople.BethanyisthegirlfriendofJamesHar-mon,currentmemberoftheChampionsandallyoftheTrismegistusCouncil.WitchcraftwasoncebelievedtobeaprimecandidateforArchmage.
MAJOR SETTING VILLAINS
Black Harlequin Psychoticwhohideshisloveofkillingbycallingthem“escapades”andusingmurderousattacktoystocarryouthiswishes.
Crowns of Krim Agroupofvillainswhowearmysticcrownsofpowercraftedtensofmillenniaagobythedemon-godKrim.Activesince1993,thisteamisledbyDark Seraph,aboredEnglisharistocratwhowastransformedintoamockeryofangelsandwhoseIronCrown,inadditiontoacommandofvastmysticpower,guaranteestheteam’sloyaltytohim.Othermembersinclude:Bloodstone(whowearstheBloodCrown),Eclipse (whowearstheShadowCrown),Force(whowearstheGoldenCrown), Phoenix(whowearstheShiningCrown),andTemblor(whowearstheEarthCrown).ThecrownsaresubordinatetothedragoncrownofTakofanes,thoughthearchlichistheirdeadlyenemy.TheyarealliesofBlackPaladin,andDarkSeraphwasamentorofTalisman.
The Death Dragon Anevilentity,possiblytheembodimentofall
CO Lore Primer: • Who’s Who • 27
humanevil(oroneofitsprimeservants)whoescapesfromimprisonmentonceeverysixtyyears,requiringahumanchampion(winneroftheTournamentoftheDragon)tobeathimback.TheCultoftheRedBanner,activeinChinaandinChinatownsthroughoutNorthAmerica,arehisservants.
Doctor Destroyer BornAlbertZerstoiten,sonofadollmaker,AlbertwasarenegadeNaziweaponsengineerwhoalsoaidedinexperimentsonsuperheroes.HeescapedthefalloftheNazisand,inspiredbythesuperheroesandvillainsofthe1960s,becameamastervillaininMarch1975,makingamajorimpactinanattemptedconquestofCaliforniathatwasbarelystoppedbyacoalitionofheroes.
Hebecametheworld’spreeminentsupervillainforthenextseventeenyears:hisfoiledplotsinclude:usingMentonandMentallatomindcontrolanarmyofvillainsinanattempttoconquerWashingtonDCin1980;attemptingtofreezetheplanetin1981,conqueringtheworldwithamindcontrolsatellitetoconquertheworldforthreemonthsin1984;nearlywipingoutnine-tenthsoftheworld’spopulationin1988,andfinally,in1992,destroyingDetroitafterstudentsfromtheRavenswoodAcademydiscoveredhisDetroitbase.
DestroyeralsoaidedtheearthagainsttheGadroonin1977andwasresponsibleforVIPERlosingtheSerpentLanternin1979.
Zerstoitenwantstoelevatehumanitytoautopianstate,withhimselfasitsruler.“Destroyer”isapunonhislastname(“Zerstoiten”comesfromthesameGermanrootworldas“destruction”),andhedoesseehimselfasa“destroyer”inthesensethatdestructionmustbeaprecursorofrenewal.Hisresourcesarevastandspreadacrosstheplanetandthesolarsystem,andhisscientificexpertiseismatchedonlybyafewspecialistintheirfields,andnooneisevenclosetohisleagueasageneralist.Overtheyears,he’sdevelopedafanaticaldistrustofmagicandsorcery,whichsetshimatoddswithmanyofearth’sheroesandvillains.Hisservants,theDestroyers,includethevillainsGigaton, Rakshasa,andBlack Talon,andDestroyer’sengineeringgeniushasproducedfleetsofDestroidandMega-Destroidrobots.
Eurostar Widelyconsideredtobethemostpowerfulsupervillaingroupintheworld,EurostardesirestouniteallofEuropeunderitsironfistandbringittoworldprominence,doingthingsthatthepoliticalcompromisesoftheEUcannotachieve.Theteamwasfoundedin1988andhaswagednumerousactsofterrorandassassination.TheyalsowagedawellpublicizedwaragainstVIPERinthe1990s,
ItsmembersareFiacho,Durak,Feuermacher,Mentalla(thesisterofMenton), Pantera,Scorpia,Ul-trasonique,andder Westgote.IthasnotyetappearedinChampionsOnline.
Firewing BornAriaxThone,thisMalvansupergladiatorwithimmensefirecontrolabilitiesarrivedonEarthin2001toseekbattleagainstEarth’sgreatestheroes.mostfamouslyina2002battleagainsttheBritishheroHy-perionthatdevastatedmuchofLondon.Firewinglivesforbattle,stylinghimselfasanhonorablecombatant,butcapableofgreatpettiness.
Foxbat Insanebutcraftyvillainwhousesgadgets,martialartsanda“pingpongball”gun,FoxbatissecretlyFrederickFoswell,playboyfromaonceprominentfamilywhouseditsfortunetoamasshimselfresourc-esforaseriesof“masterplans”.Foxbatfirstappearedin1993,whenheattemptedtostealtheEmpireStateBuilding,andhisplanshaveonlygottensilliersincethen.
Gravitar EnormouslypowerfulFrenchvillainesswhowishestobeacknowledged“mistressofearth”.Whilesheshowedsignsoftacticalinexperienceandpetulanceearlyinhercareer,morerecentbattleshaveshownamuchmorepoisedandintelligentcombatant.Rarelyemploysminionsorallies(thoughshe’sworkedwithtwoothermastervillainsagainsttheIHA).
Istvatha V’Han “Empressofabilliondimensions”,thisinterdimen-sionalconquerorrulesanunimaginablyvastempireandhashersightssetonthisone.She’sattackedearth
CO Lore Primer: • Who’s Who • 28
severaltimes,usingherD-soldiers,butherschemeshavealwaysbeenthwartedbyearth’ssuperheroes.Mostrecently,sheappearedtotheGadroonfleetandofferedanultimatum:becomehersubjects,orfacegenocide.Choosingtomakehertheirsovereign,theGadroonarenowhervanguardintheconquestofthisdimension,thoughsheemployssubtlermethodsaswell,willingtoofferthecarrotaswellasthestick,andshelikestostyleherselfasabenevolentdespot.Comparedtosomeofherdimensionalrivals,suchasTyrannon,thisdescriptionisnotinaccurate. Sheismentioned,buthasyettoappearingame.
Kigatilik “Theslayerofshamans”,anoutcastmemberoftheInuitpantheonwho’sanenemyofallofthenortherngods(TheNorseknowhimasAeskaldr,the“ColdLord”,thegodtowhomnooneprayed)andthosewhoservethem.Imprisonedlongagoinabasaltprison,Kigatilikwasreleasedin1964,promptingthepowersofthenorthtocreatetheMightyCanadiansin1964tobattlehim.SealedintheFrostTombin1975,KigatilikwasreleasedbyRakshasain2009atShadowDestroyer’sbehest.HenowplotsagainstalltheheroesofCanada,especiallyRavenspeakerandCelestar.
Mechanon Roboticentityfromthedistantfuturewhowassentbackintimetosavehumanity,butwhoseprogrammingwentawry.MechanonnowseekstheexterminationofalllifeonEarth.Hehasmanybases,includingfactorieswhichreproduceanew,upgradedMechanonmodelaftereverydefeat.Hehasyettoappearingame,butisrumoredtobemakinganap-pearanceatsomepointinthenearfuture.
Menton BornAlejandroMedina,thisSpanishtelepathwasraisedtoserveDr.DestroyeralongsidehissisterIsa-bella,firstaidingDestroyerin1980when,aged10,hetookmentalcontrolofanarmyofsupervillains.AfterDestroyer’sseemingdeathin1992,Medina,callinghimselfMenton,becameamastervillaininhisownrightandsoonestablishedhimselfastheworld’smostdangeroustelepath.CapturedandplacedinStrong-hold,hewasresponsiblefortheStrongholdbreakout
of2009(that’sthebasisfortheStrongholdscenarioingame).
Necrull AcenturiesoldEgyptianscientistwhosegrislyex-perimentshaveturnedhimintoaquasi-undeadstate,Necrullusesscienceasabizarreformofnecromancyasheseeksthesecretofeternallife--inaparasiticformthatfewwouldwant.NecrullisresponsibleforthedeathsofmanyCanadiansuperheroes.
Shadow Destroyer JamesHarmonIVfromthedimensionofMultifar-ia,whocombinedscienceandsorcerytogainpower,onlytofallpreytoQlipothicinfluences.Inspiredbyourworld’sDr.Destroyer,hecrossedintoourworldandclaimedtobeDestroyer-rebornafterhisdeath.Possessingvastpowersofmagicandscience,in2011,ShadowDestroyerwascastintotheQlipothicrealmbyDr.Destroyerandsomeuneasyallies,theheroesofourearth,intheResistanceadventurepack.
Stingray PrincessThalassaofAtlantis,whowasoftenne-glectedbyherparentsinfavorofherbrother,PrinceMarus.Turningtothestudyofforbiddenmagickstooccupyhertime,heractivitieswerediscoveredbyacourtadvisor,whomshemurderedtoprotecther
CO Lore Primer: • Who’s Who • 29
secret.Thisactseemedtobreakhersanity,andshefledAtlantisandquicklyestablishedherselfasoneoftheaquaticworld’smostdangerousvillains.
Takofanes KnownastheUndying,TakofaneswasoriginallyaTurakiannecromancernamedKul-Turakwhoruledmuchoftheworldseventythousandyearsago.Afterhisdeath,hereturnedasalich,andtheworldjoinedforcestosealhiminatomb,hopefullyforeternity.OildrillingreleasedhimfromslumberinOklahomain1987;hisattemptedadvancetothepopulatedcentersoftheeasternUnitedStateswashalted,butsixsuperheroeswerekilledintheprocess.In2009,TakofanescausedaBloodmoontoriseoverMillen-niumCity,summoningtheghostsofthirteenofthefifteenheroeswhodiedfightingDr.Destroyerin1992.TheBloodmoonhasreappearedwithgreaterfrequency,becomingamajorthorninthesidesofthecities’heroes.Takofanes’smasterofsorceryisincred-ible,aidedbytwoartifacts:theDragonCrownofKrim,andtheSceptreoftheUndying.
Teleios BornJakobStroessen,thismasterscientististheworld’sforemostcriminalgeneticist.Aconsummateplanner,he’salwaysbeenonestepofhisenemies,whichincludesmostofthegreatestsuperheroesontheplanet.Obsessedwithhisbeliefthathe’stheembodimentofperfectioninhumanform,Stroessenhastakenthename“Teleios”(GreekforPerfection).Amonghiscrediblefeatsofsciencearetherecreationofdinosaurs,whichhe’snamed“teliosaurs”andthecreationofanarmyofclones.
Therakiel ViboraBay-basedvillain,leaderoftheHighApos-tolicChurch.AfallenangelwhowasalsobarredfromHell,Therakielplanstousehumanityasanapocalyp-ticarmytowagewaronbothofhismysticenemies.
MAJOR SETTING VILLAIN-OUS ORGANIZATIONS
DEMONAmysticalbrotherhooddesignedtogiveitsfounder,
LutherBlack,thepoweroftheKingsofEdom,powerfulQliphothicentities.Foundedinthe1920s,DEMONusessummonedcreaturesandsorcererscalledMorbanesinanattempttoenforceBlack’swill.
In2010,BlackcreatedtheGatewayBetweenWorlds,ahabitablezoneintheQliphothic,andmanagedtosurprisetheKingsofEdomandtakethemprisoner.HisattempttowresttheirpowerwasthwartedbyUNTI’sOperationHermes,Witchcraft,andanalliedsuperhero.TheKingsimprisonedBlack,butlaterDemoiselleNocturnedestroyedBlack’sbodytofreehimfromthatprison,placinghismindwithinhernightmares.
DEMON’scurrentstatusisunknown.
The Hunter-Patriots AWesternCanadianseparatistgroup,descendedfromAmericanPatriotlodgememberswhoseinvasionofCanadawasdefeatedin1838.MembersofthissecretsocietysworeasacredoathtocontinuetheirstruggleuntilalltracesoftheBritishcrownwerethrownoutofNorthAmerica.Toensuretheiroathwouldnotfalter,theyperformedamagicalritualtobindthem--andtheirdescendents--tokeeptotheirpurposeuntilitwasachieved.
Inthe1980s,descendentsoftheoriginalHunter-PatriotsfoundedanorganizationthatfosteredWesternCanadianseparatisminthe1980s,butwasdefeatedbythesuperheroteamSUNDER.SUNDERdidn’tcompletelydestroytheorganization;traces--includingtheFrontiersmansupersoldierproject--layhiddeninvariousenclavesacrossCanada.
Intheearly2000s,anunknownindividualreacti-vatedtheancientmysticpactofthe1838Hunter-Pa-triots,bindingthedescendentsoftheoriginalH-PstotheCause.Theyusedacombinationofexperimentaltechnology(someofwhichwasdevelopedbytheir1980spredecessors),stolenUNTILtech,FrontiersmanProjectmutants,andatelepathiclinktriggeredbythepact,toadvancetheiragenda,pushingfortheoverthrowoftheCanadiangovernment.
TheHunter-Patriot’sleaderisClydeVonSchoutz.
The Institute for Human Advancement (IHA) Anti-paranormalgroup,focusingonmutants,withalegitimatepoliticalarm(SenatorPhillipGlassman
CO Lore Primer: • Who’s Who • �0
ofWyomingistheirmosthighly-placedmouthpiece)andaterroristwing.SomeIHAmembersaredecentfolkswithlegitimateconcernsaboutsuperhumans:manyhowever,arenot.ThemostextremeelementsoftheIHAwouldliketoeitherexterminatemutantsorconsignthemtoworkcamps;they’reconsideredafringemovement,buttheygainsupportaftermajorparanormal-causeddisasters.
VIPERAmodernterroristgroupdedicatedtoworld
domination.ItsrootsaredescendedfromtheamoralAfricansnakegodNamaandthepulperasecretsociety“TheUnholyOrderoftheGrandReptile”,AfterWW2,agroupof30industrialistsandpoliticiansmettodevelopaplanforpost-warworlddomination,developinganarmytoseizecontroloftheworld.ChristeningthemselvesVIPER(“VenomousImperialPartyoftheEternalReptile”:mostmodernnestspreferthelessanachronistic“VictoryInPerpetuitythroughEternalResolve”),theystrucksuddenlyin1962withaconcertedcampaignofworldconquestthatalmostsucceeded.
VIPERwasoriginallyledbytheshadowyCouncilofThirty.Intheearly1990s,afterastringofdefeats,NamaappointedthemysteriousSupremeSerpenttoleadthegroup.TheSupremeSerpentisactuallypulperaBritishadventurerEdgarLancelynEssec,who’sbeendescribed(ratheraptly),as“CecilRhodesassupervillain”.VIPERcontinuouslydevelopsnewstrategiesandplans.Fieldinganarmyofwelltrainedagentswithadvancedweapons,VIPERisactiveovermostoftheplanet.Theyalsohavenumeroussupervil-lainsintheiremploy(“DragonBranch”).
WithinDragonBranch,VIPER’sprimaryopera-tiveingameisVIPER-X,afallenSilverAvengerwho’sregardedasanagent’sagent;he’salsooneofthefewVIPERoperativeswhoposessesamodicumofhonorandwillactuallynegotiatewithheroes.OtherVIPERsofnoteingameincludethefrozenscientistFreon,theschemingnestleadersDraconis,Redstone,andMecha-niste,andthemadscientistDr. Demogaard.MoreimpressivearethemonstrousRipper,abrickwhorivalsGrondinstrength,andViperia,ademi-goddesswho’sNama’sobscenelypowerfulpsychoticoffspringthat’softendeployedasaVIPERWMD.
VIPERisprimarilyatechnology-basedorganiza-tion,howeverwillemploywhatevermethodsgainsthempower;inAfricaandpartsofAsia,VIPERdeploysSerpent-Magestoassisttheircause,howevertheyarerarely(ifever)seenStateside.
VIPEr’sgoalsareamixofthenobleandthebase.MostVIPERagentsjustwantwealthandpower,afewhowever,viewthoseasthemeanstoanend,thataworldbuiltonVIPERphilosophywillultimatelybeabetterplace.Theirphilosophyisnotespeciallycondu-sivetomostsuperheroes:theyhavea“survivalofthefittest”ethos.Intheirliterature,theydescribethem-selvesas“predators”whocombatthescavengersofthehumanracethatwoulddragitdowntomediocrity.
TheSerpentLanternisanartifactcreatedbyNama,containingtheessenceofoneofhischildren,theSerpentoftheLantern.TheLanternwasusedtoenforceapactbetweentheFounders:theywouldreceiveimmortality,buttheholderoftheLanternwouldhavethepoweroflifeanddeathovertheindi-vidualwhosworetheoath.Becauseitcouldbestowimmortality,itwascovetedbyDr.Destroyer,whotriedtoseizecontrolofit.Intheensuingbattle,theLanternwaslost.Itresurfacedin2010,whenEssecattempted
CO Lore Primer: • Who’s Who • �1
toseizeitanduseitquellconflictswithintheCouncilofThirty,howeverasuperheroseeminglykilledtheSerpentintheLantern,negatingitspower.
Namais notVIPER’sleaderandplaysnorolesinitsday-to-dayaffairsorstrategicplans;he’smerelythepatronofthegroup.NamahasintervenedononlyfouroccasionssincethefoundingofVIPER,andtwoofthoseinterventionsweretouseVIPERtohelpman-kindagainstDEMON(firstlyinthe1986Demonflameincident,andsecondlyintheAftershockcomicseries,whereheprovidedprotectionforEssecandtheSer-pentMagesagainsttheKingsofEdominanattempttodenythemaccesstonewavatars).TheSerpent’sidentityisunknown,eventoNestLeaders.VIPER’smainbaseishiddendeepwithinMbangMountaininCameroon,this(ofcourse)isacarefullyguardedse-cret(thatNOplayercharacter,evenex-VIPERs,shouldknowabout).
SIGNIFICANT CANON CHARACTERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Sometimesit’susefultoknowthenamesofmajorheroeswhoresideoutsideMillenniumCity,ifonlyasreferencesforcharacterswhocomefromthoseplaces.
The United States InChampionsOnline,DefenderreferstotheCham-pionsasthe“world’smostpowerfulsuperteam.”PnPlore,however,begstodisagree.EvenintheUnitedStates,theJusticeSquadronandSentinelsareolderandprobablymorepowerfulthantheChampions,andthereareplentyofotherswhotakearunatthetitle.MajorAmericanheroesinclude:
AtlantaTeam:None.SoloHeroes:Surge.
BaltimoreTeam:None.SoloHeroes:Straight Arrow.
BostonTeam:TheNewPaladins(Dr. Eclipse, Bodyguard, Lux,
Python, Tandem).
SoloHeroes:None.
ChicagoTeam:ThePeacekeepers(Dwarfstar, Arc, Inframan,
Jack Flash, Zenith).SoloHeroes:None.
CincinnatiTeam:None.SoloHeroes:Thunderhead.
DenverTeam:TheAlliance(Captain Glory, Contact, Crossbow,
Impetus, Mandala, Silver Scorpion),SoloHeroes:None.
HoustonTeam:TheHeroCorps(La Bruma, Green Knight,
Paradox, Sparrowhawk, White Lynx).SoloHeroes:The Messenger.
Kansas CityTeam:None.SoloHeroes:Roundhouse
Los Angeles/Southern CaliforniaTeam:TheCaliforniaPatrol(Downshift, Firewall,
Faultline, MeteorMan III, Sequoia, the Silicon Kid, and the Zodiac Man.)
SoloHeroes:WhiteShroud(SanDiego)
MiamiTeam:TheWatch(Arsenic, Corsair, Jetstream, Mage,
Voltage).SoloHeroes:None.
New York CityTeam:TheJusticeSquadron(Brawler, Blink, Drift,
Flashover, Superstar, Tomahawk),theSentinels(Black Rose, Diamond, Bravo, Diadem, Dr. Vox, Proteus),Nova(Decibelle, Arcane).
SoloHeroes:Electrotitan, the Brooklyn Avenger, Shadowman, Magneton.
New OrleansTeam:None.
CO Lore Primer: • Who’s Who • �2
SoloHeroes:VoodooDoll.
PhiladelphiaTeam:TheLibertyLeague(The Mechanic, Atlas, Blue
Flame, Oak, Streamline, Vortex).SoloHeroes:None.
PhoenixTeam:None.SoloHeroes:Fallout
San FranciscoTeam:BayGuardians(Eldritch, Blacklight, Druid,
Hannibal Grey, Stigma, Totem);theFreedomPatrol(Condor, Windshear, Retrograde).
SoloHeroes:None.
SeattleTeam:Sea-TacSentinels.SoloHeroes:Cascade.
Washington DCTeam:CapitalPatrol(American Avenger, FalconMan,
Pentagram, Monument, the Insider).SoloHeroes:TheAll-American.
THE WORLD
Australia MajorSoloHeroes:Walkabout,Harrier,Brigade.MajorHeroTeams:NoneAgencies:None.Villains:Taipan.
CanadaMajorSoloHeroes:Ravenspeaker,Celestar,Forcek-
night.MajorHeroTeams:Starforce(Toronto-basedteam
foundedin2000byCelestarandForceknight:thecur-rentteamis:Justiciar (leader), The Constable, Argosy, Prism Girl, Dust Devil);L’espritsGuardiens(Montreal-basedteam.it’sledbyLe Fort,othermembersinclude:Surcheval, Voyageur, La Chatelaine);COMET.
Agencies:RCMPSteelheadDivision.Villains:Borealis,Augury,theLandsman,Teleios,
BaronNihil,Necrull,Kigatilik,Tilingkoot,Mechaniste,
ChainGang.
ChinaMajorSoloHeroes:Jín Lóng Quán(“GoldenDragon
Fist”),Bai Hou(“WhiteMonkey”), Dīshēng Long (“WhisperingDragon”).
MajorHeroTeams:TheTigerSquad(Boxer, Daughter of the Moon, Dragonfly, Earthquake Fist, Eight-Ways Lightning, Gossamer Storm, GraniteMan, Heart of the People, Immensely Strong One, Immortal Philosopher, Iron Horse, Lady of a Thousand Fires, Leafmaster, Mighty Hammer, Peach Blossom Spirit, Phantom Soldier, Phoenix, Quicksilver, Red Bullet, Shaolin Five, Shining Dawn, Soothing Touch, Steel-Shattering Fist, Summer Cloud, Swarmlord, Technocrat, Winter Dragon.)
Agencies:NoneVillains:Dr,YinWu,LiChuntheDestroyer,LamKuei
(“Blue-FacedDemon”),Ying,theOverlord.
EgyptMajorSoloHeroes:Maat,Pharos.MajorHeroTeams:None.Agencies:NoneVillains:Anubis,TheLivingSphinx.
England/WalesMajorSoloHeroes:Hyperion,Albion,MajorHeroTeams:NewKnightsoftheRoundTable,
TheLondonWatch(Blazon, Yeoman, Swift Swallow, Repulse),theNightWatch(Shade, Drune, Rhiannon, Talisen).
Agencies:MinistryofSuperhumanAffairs(between1953and1966itwas“BureauS”).
Villains:Crusher,theCat,Samhain,Thrash,Clock-work.
FranceMajorSoloHeroes:Seine,Autour,Bastille.MajorHeroTeams:TheSixteenthBureau(Tricolor,
Volt, the Musketeer, Valere Noyer, Siffleur)Agencies:None.Villains:VeninVert,Obeliske,Bonc.
GermanyMajorSoloHeroes:Mondfeuer,Geschwindigkeit,der
Bogenschutze,Zeitgeist.
CO Lore Primer: • Who’s Who • ��
MajorHeroTeams:Nomajorteams.Agencies:None.Villains:Panzer,Der Scwarz Tode,Neutron.
IndiaMajorSoloHeroes:TheMongoose,Pantheon,Spark.MajorHeroTeams:TheSuperheroDivision(military
teamof18heroes,includingRashindar,Ushas,Teja Vayu(“SwiftWind”),Chakram,Suryabala(“Sun-child”),Daktara Upaya(“Dr.Gadget”),Lohe Sainika(“IronWarrior”),Saba Devatao,(“Anvil”);Mumbai Santari(“theMumbaiSentinels”,whichincludes:Chamakana Dhala(“ShiningShield”),Bhutatodana(“Demonbreaker,”),Tapalahara(“Heatwave”),Surkha Khamba(“theRubyMonolith”),Badhana(“Stretch”).
Agencies:MinistryofSuperhumanAffairs.Villains:Dr.Destroyer,BlackTiger,Monsoon,theLord
ofRats,Survalesh.
IranMajorSoloHeroes:TheFistofAllah.MajorHeroTeams:None.Agencies:None.Villains:None.
IrelandMajorSoloHeroes:Cuchullain,Dweomer.MajorHeroTeams:None.Agencies:None.Villains:Redcap.
IsraelMajorSoloHeroes:TheLiberator(Palestinian)MajorHeroTeams:Sayeret-19(Ballistic,theAdept,
Ha’Pele(“theWonder”),Ambush).Agencies:None.Villains:None.
JapanMajorSoloHeroes: Tetsuronin,Akumashibaru,Charm
Girl,Shōnen no Kufū(GadgetBoy).MajorHeroTeams:TokyoSuperSquad(Tō(“Tower,”),
Kiku(“Chrysanthemum,”),Fidobakku(“Feedback”),Kōdōtai (“Zodiac”).
Agencies:None.Villains:Kagamishoki,Kazeronin,Kazan(“Volcano”),
Teikei (“Trapezoid”),Tetsuryu (“IronDragon”).
RussiaMajorSoloHeroes:Vulnapyezdka(“Waverider”),
Gyeroy Vedun(“HeroWizard”)MajorHeroTeams:Russkiye Zashchitniki(“The
RussianDefenders”):Stalnoy Volk(“SteelWolf”),Zem-pletpyasenee(“Quake”),Syeryebro(“Silver”),Mamont (“Mammoth”),Kapitan Ukrayina(“CaptainUkraine”),
Agencies:None.Villains:Slun (“theBishop”),Molnya(“Lightning”),
Technyik(“theTechnician”),Beek(“theOx”).
Saudi ArabiaMajorSoloHeroes:Caracal(“DesertCat”),A’asifa
Rumlia(“theSandstorm”).MajorHeroTeams:None.Agencies:None.Villains:TheIfrit.
ScandinaviaMajorSoloHeroes:Potenstorm(Sweden),Beowulf
(Denmark),MajorHeroTeams:None.Agencies:None.Villains:None.
South AfricaMajorSoloHeroes:TheBoer(retired),Blaze,the
Gazelle.MajorHeroTeams:None,Agencies:None.Villains:Ironhorn.
TurkeyMajorSoloHeroes:None.
“Get off Our Lawn, ur... Axis!”
ThankstothesorceryofTotenkopfandIronFather,AlliedsuperhumansintheGoldenAgecouldnotenterAxisterri-torywithoutlosingtheirpowersandeventuallyfallingpreytoawastingsickness.Costumednormalswereunaffected.
CO Lore Primer: • Who’s Who • �4
MajorHeroTeams:TheChildrenofAtaturk(Gune-talev(“Sunfire”),Cekic(“Hammer”),Gizli (“Occult”),Yorunge(“Orbit”)
Agencies:None.Villains:None.
HEROS AND VILLAINS THROUGH THE AGES
Golden Age Heroes: (US):CaptainPatriot,TheDefendersofJustice(Opti-
mus, Dr. Twilight, Sea Hawk, Cowboy;theyweresoonjoinedbyMeteorMan and Captain Patriot,andlatermorphedintotwoteams:
(Defenders[Homeguard]):MeteorMan, Dr. Twilight, Streak, American Eagle, Sergeant Battle);LadyMystery.
(FreedomBattalion[Europe]):Optimus, Scarlet Archer, Nightengale, Bulletproof, Liberator(originallyCowboy).
(Canada):PrincessAureole,RedEnsignI,RexSterling(HoundofTomorrow),TheHumanPistol,DeuceLaRoche,TommyCanada,AceHellion,AceHelenaandtheHellcatSquadron,Dr.Cerebro.
(UK):LadyLightning.ScarletArcherI.(Russia):GeneralWinter.
Golden Age Villains(US):TheLiquidator,Sub-Zero,TheMink,theBlack
Legion(fifthcolumnistspiesandsaboteurs).TheSocietyofEvil(villainteam).
(Canada):KingVultok.(Germany)DerTotenkopf,Sturmvogel,Arlequin,
Loge,Moorbrand,andNordwind.(Japan):IronFather.(Attlantis)Dargon,SteelShark.(Lemuria)Arvad.
Silver Age Heroes (1950s-70s)US:Vanguard,Hornet,Dr.Scarab,Mountain,
Dreamsinger,BlackPower,BlackMaskIX,ScarletArcherII,SeaKing,MasqueradeII.
TheFabulousFive(Amazing Man, Siren, Streak II, Diamond, and Kid Chameleon)
TheJusticeSquadron:(Vanguard, Ocelot, Drifter, Skygirl, Brawler II, Tomahawk, Rowan, Starburst.)
TheSentinels(MeteorMan, Rocketman, Microman, Dr. Phantom, and Beowulf)
Mexico:ElSpectroCanada:RedEnsignII,ForceknightI,LeFort.TheMightyCanadians(Celestar, Timberline, Bonne
Vivian, and Kivioq).
Silver Age VillainsUS:(50s):TheGargoyle,Dr.Macabre,Rockslide,
Bookworm,Humbug,andCyraxtheConqueror.(60s):Revenger,Ultivac,VIPER-X(original),Mas-
queradeI,Fatalla,Serpentine,theGuru,PlagueI,TheMocker,JackFlash,Typhoon.
(70s):ProfessorMorlak.Canada:Kigatilik,Atomica,ClaireDeLune,Cana-
doom(group).
Bronze Age (mid 70s to late 80s) HeroesUS(later70s):Draco,Dart,StreakII,Diamond.Canada:LoupeGarou,CanadianGhost,Laurentian,
Beacon,andMariner.
Bronze Age VillainsUS(later70s):Archimago,Leviathan,theSlug,
Buzzsaw,Rictus,Scirocco,andtheGriffin.
In Memorium (Prominent Superhero Deaths)
KilledbyDr.Destroyer(1975):KidChameleon,Ocelot.
KilledbyTakofanes(1987):Archangel,Hardball,Delphi,theHyperkineticMan,Tightwire,FlechetteI,andGoldfire.
KilledbyBorealis(1991):ForceknightII.KilledintheBattleofDetroit(1992):Vanguard,
AmazingGrace,Crusher,Eclipse,Firefight,FlechetteII,Goblin,Icestar,JohnnyHercules,Nimbus,Radion,Shadowboxer,SwashbucklerII,Tiger,Vigil.
KilledbyDarkSeraph(2000)inParis:Skydragon.KilledbyBaronNihil(2007):RedEnsignIII.KilledbyNecrull(2007):Vanguard(Vancouverbased
team),ForceknightIV.
CO Lore Primer: • What’s What • �5
SUPER-MATERIALSSomeofthemostuniquematerialsintheChampi-
onsUniverseare:
Destreum ApowerfulmetalcreatedbyDr.Destroyerand
usedintheconstructionofhisdestroidsandhisincrediblebattlearmor.
Fordite Averypowerfulconcentratedexplosive.
Kendrium AformofsteelinventedbyProfessorKendrick,
substantiallystrongerthansteel,andnotmuchheavier.
Neutronium Thestrongestknownmetal,allegedlythe
remnantsofaneutronstar(thoughsomescientistsdisputethis).Extremelyheavy.
Orichalcum Mysticalmetal,originallyfromAtlantis,thismetal
holdsmagicalchargesextremelywellandisusedbyAtlanteansintheirtechnology.Orichalcumisbrown-orangeincolorandcloselyresemblescopper.
Questionite Amazinglydurable(andrare)metalknownforbe-
ingabletokeepanextremelysharpedgeindefinitely.Notcommonlyfound(despiteitbeingacurrencyin-game.)
DRUGS
Cyberline MutagendevelopedbyPRIMUS.AllSilverAvengers
aswellastheGoldenAvengerexperiencethistreat-ment.Cyberlineaugmentshumanstrength,resil-iency,anddexteritytonearhumanlevelswithoutsideeffects,howeveritonlyworksonasmallpercentage
ofthepopulation.
Draysha MutagendevelopedbyVIPER.TheDrayshaprocess
greatlyaugmentsthephysicalcharacteristicsoftheagent,makingthemconsiderablystronger,quicker,andmoreresilientthananormalhuman,andtheprocessisonlyfatalin7%ofitscases!However,evensuccessfulcandidateshaveagoodchanceofdevelop-ingterminalleukemiawithinayearandeveninabestcasescenario,areunlikelytosurvivemorethanfiveyears.Italsocausestheusertoshedallofhis/herbodyhair.
SUPER SOLDIER PROJECTS
Soyou’replayingasuper-soldier?Andyou’rewonderingwhatsuper-soldierprojectsareincanon,ratherthanreinventingthewheelforthethousandthtime?Well,therehavebeenmanysuper-soldierpro-gramsovertheyears,mostofwhichwerespectacularfailures(suitableforPCbackgrounds).
World War 2 The Haynesville Project:Anexaminationofsuper-humansintheirAmericanbirthplace,HaynesvilleKansas,Itsdatawasacornerstoneofmanylaterprojects.
Project Achilles:Producedtwosuccessfulsuperhu-mans,AchillesandtheComet.
Project Ascension:Consideredafailure.
TherewerenumerousAxisprojects,someofwhichinvolvedDr.AlbertZerstoiten.
The 1960s Project Perseus,ProducedtheoriginalAll-Ameri-canin1969.
The 1970s Project Yeoman.ProducedtheoriginalAmeriforce
V: What’s What
CO Lore Primer: • What’s What • �6
superteam.(Lowlevelsuperstrength,toughness,andspeed). Several Unnamed Projects.It’smentionedthatProjectPerseushadotheroffshoots,names,subjects,andsuccessesunknown.
The 1990s Project Sunburst. ThemostinfamoussuperhumansoldierprojectsawtheUSarmyexpose200soldierstoaradioactiveburstinanattempttoseewhatsuper-powersemerged.Mostdied,andthefewwhodidn’t:Sunburst,Gigaton,andArmadillo.
SeveraloftheindividualsresponsibleforSunburstremainintheUSmilitary.
Project Onslaught. Thislate90sgeneticmodifica-tionprojectproducedthemilitarysuperheroJanissaryandthesupervillainOnslaught.
CO Lore Primer: • Where’s Where • �7
VI: Where’s Where
Arcadia (Notyetingame);AlsoknownastheCityofGold,hometotheEmpyreans,thishiddenlandislocatedinahiddenAntarcticvalley,concealedbyadvancedtechnologyfromtheworld.TheEmpyreansweretheworld’sfirstsuperhumans,thedescendentsofthetwelveEmpyreanswhoweremutatedbytheProgeni-tors500,000yearsago.
Withintheclimatecontrolledcomfortoftheirhiddenvalley,theEmpyreansliveinseclusion,interruptedonlybyperiodicwarswithLemuria(theLemuriansbuilttheMandragaloreasaweaponagainsttheEmpyreans)andtheoccasionalevilrebelleaderlikeOgurn,Whenhumanityascendedtomoderncivilization,someEmpyreansdecidedtoleaveArcadiaandinteractwiththesenew,interestingcreatures.Theirking,KingHazor,hasgiventhemleavetodoso,providedtheykepttheirpowersasecret,andneverrevealArcadia’sexistencetotheoutsideworld.ArcadiawasdiscoveredbytheFabulousFivein1966,andwhiletheEmpyreanshavemanagedtokeepalidontheirsecret,Hazorknowsit’sonlyamatteroftimebeforeitbecomesknowntotherestoftheworld.
ArcadiaissustainedbyProgenitorsuper-technol-ogyaswellasthepsionicpowersoftheinhabitants.
Atlantis Agreatunderseakingdom,Atlantiswasa
continentthatsunkinacataclysm32,000yearsago,when,duringaterriblecivilwar,amagesacrificedhissoultotheKingsofEdomtobecomeSharna-GoraktheDestroyer.ThegodPoseidonpreservedafewoftheAtlanteans,andgavethemtheabilitytobreathewater.Overthecourseofmillennia,theyrebuilttheircivilizationbeneaththewaves.
In1937,avillainusurpedcontrolofthekingdomandtherightfulruler,QueenMara,fledtothesurfaceworld.ShemadefriendsamongtheDefendersofJusticesuperheroteam,andhelpedfightHitlerinWorldWar2.In1943,withthehelpoftheDOJ,sheregainedcontrolofthethroneandhasruledAtlantiseversince(withtheexceptionofabriefperiodin1968when
thesupervillainSteelSharkusurpedthethrone.Maraisveryfriendlytothesurfaceworld:hersonMarusattendedRavenswoodAcademyandservesasaparttimememberoftheNewYork-basedSentinelsteamaswellasAtlantis’sunofficialrepresentativeattheUnitedNations,HerdaughterThalassa,however,hasembarkedonadarkerpath—she’sthesupervillainessStingray.
Atlantisisawalledcityontheoceanfloor(atadepthofabout800feet)locatedabouteighthundredmileswestofCapeVerde,100milesnorthoftheEquator,inthemiddleoftheAtlantic.Thecityitselfisaringofconcentricwalls,thelargestofwhichisthreemilesinradius.Thecityhasapopulationofover100,000.Therearealsoseveraloutlyingbarbar-iantribes,mostofwhomarefriendlytoQueenMara(withthenotableexceptionoftheKrosk,abarbar-iantribelocatedseveralhundredmilesnortheastofAtlantis,ruledbythefiercechieftainGundhar.
Atlanteansaregreenskinnedhumanoidswithfinsonthewrists,elbows,anklesandupperbackandwebbedfingersandtoes.Theyhavealifespanofabouttwohundredyears.
Atlanteancivilizationgenerallyusesmagicinsteadoftechnologyandalchemyinplaceofindustry.Thekeytotheircivilizationisthered-orangemetalOrichalcum,whichtheAtlanteansjealouslyguard;becauseofitsabilitytostoremagicalcharges.Atlan-teansveneratethegodPoseidon,andaGreco-themeisfoundinalotoftheirbuildingsandart.Atlanteanslovetheirqueen,butarelesswelcomingto“Landers”thantheirsovereign.
Beast MountainPriortohismovetoMonsterIsland,Dr.Phillipe
Moreau’sbasewashere,amountainstrongholdintheUkraine.ItwasherethatDr.Silverbackwascreatedin1984,alongwithmanyothermanimals.MoreauwasdrivenoutofBeastMountainbyateamofBritishsuperheroesandthemanimalshavelivedapeacefulexistencethereeversince(thoughtheirleader,FatherElk,lefttohelpthemanimalsofMonsterIslandin2008.
CO Lore Primer: • Where’s Where • �8
Force Station Steelhead and the Lynx’s Fold
InNorthAmerica,fourgreatspiritsoncedomi-natedtheworld,fourgreatspiritswhoabide(withoneexception)inextra-dimensionalrealms:theLand,spiritoftheearthandthenaturalworld,intheHappyHuntingGrounds;theSea,spiritofthevastoceans,intheGreatWater;theIce,spiritofthepitilessnorthernwinter,intheFrostTomb,andtheSky,whichdwellsinourrealm.Inancienttimes,attheendoftheIceAge,mankindgaveitsallegiancetotheLandinsteadoftheIce,andthatwasthetippingpoint.TheGreatWinterended,andtheIcelostitsdominantgripovertheworld.Inthisstruggle,therewasaplacewheretheSpiritsmetwithMan.Thatplace,inNorthernCanada,cametobeknownastheLynx’sFold,orCat’sCradle.
There’snocanoninformationonwhenorwhyForceStationSteelheadwasconstructed.ItwasprobablybuiltafterthedissolutionofthesecondNorthernGuardin1998,whentheRCMPandMarkDerringerbecameawareofthestrategicimportanceoftheareainthefightagainstsuperhumans,andthediscoveryofquestionitedepositsintheregiondrewalotofattentionthere:Argent,theHunter-Patriots,andVIPERwouldprobablynotbeintheareawithoutthepresenceofQuestionite.Itdoesseemthatforavarietyofreasons,alotofindividualgroups(fromsasquatch
tribestoGadroontoNecrull)haveconvergedonthearea,makingitoneofthemoststrategicallyimpor-tantcontrolpointsinNorthAmerica.
Hudson City Alarge,grittycityinNewJersey,notedforcor-
ruption,vigilantism,andahostileattitudetowardtraditionalcostumedsuperheroes.
Hudson City, the Urban AbyssisthesettingfortheDarkChampionsRPGofvigilantejustice.Itishowever,partoftheChampionsIPandCrypticdoeshavetherighttouseitinChampionsOnlineiftheysochoose.
.
Opinion Corner: Brrrr!
Canadaisnotpermanentlycold,noteveninthenorthern-mostparts.Itfrequentlygetsupto70degreesF/21degrees
CattheNorthPoleinJulyandAugust.
MyexplanationforthecoldaroundForceStationSteelheadisthetearthatletKigatilikintoourworldalsocreateda
slightdimensionaltearthatletsinacontinuoussupplyofsupernaturalcoldfromtheFrostTomb.Thisisn’tcanon,
however,andyou’rewelcometouseitorignoreitasyouseefit.
CO Lore Primer: • Where’s Where • �9
Lemuria Theolderofthetwounderseakingdoms,Lemuria
wasfoundedbyaraceofreptilemenabout40,000yearsago.TheyoriginallyworshippedQliphothicenti-tiescalledtheBleakOnes.Themagicofthesorcerer-kingFaltrahLemstrippedthemoftheirshape-chang-ingpowersandtransformedthemintoahuman-likeappearance.AwaragainsttheEmpyreansledtothecreationofagreatengineofdestruction,theMan-dragalore,butitbackfired,sinkingLemuriabeneaththewavesoftheIndianOcean.ThesurvivingLemuri-ansdweltinunderseacommunitiesandbecameruledbyaconstructcalledtheBronzeKing.
In1800,KingHazor’sbrotherArvadfledfromArcadiaafterattemptingtousurpthethroneandtookcontrolofLemuria.AfterconsolidatingcontroloverLemuria,hebegantoplottheconquestofthesurfaceworld.HewasakeyNazisubterraneanallyduringWorldWar2,andlaunchednumerousattacksduringsubsequentdecades.However,thedecadesworeawayatArvad’sdefianceandhefoundhimselfwith
unexpectedfeelingsforhissubjects.Arvad’svillainousnaturesoftenedenoughthatUNTILevensentadiplo-maticmissiontoLemuria:unfortunately,neithertheynorArvadcountedonthereturnoftheBleakOnes:rebelswhorevertedbacktotheLemurians’originalform.NowArvad,themanwhomadetheBronzeKingkneel,themanwhohasbeenthesurfaceworld’smostpersistentenemyforsevendecades,findshimselfincommoncausewiththesurface-dwellers.
Lemuriaitselfislocatedinfourdomes,locatedabouttwomilesbeneaththesurfaceaboutsevenhundredmilessouthoftheMaldives,Themaindomeisamilehighandtenmilesindiameter.
Lemuriansemploymagicandslave-powerinplaceoftechnologyandshunthemechanismsofthesurfaceworld,whichtheyviewascrudeandinferior.
LemuriansaredividedintonobleandMoleMen(slave)castes.Lemuriannoblestypicallybelongtooneoftwelvenoblehouse,andaresub-dividedintowarrior,sorcereranddecadentcastes.Theyhavedarkhairandextremelypaleskin,andhavealifespanof
CO Lore Primer: • Where’s Where • 40
aboutthreehundredyears.
Millennium City FormerlyDetroit,this“cityofthefuture”was
rebuiltafterDr.Destroyerdestroyeditin1992(seeSidebar).ThecitybecameahightechMecca:manycompaniesflockedhere,andmanyothershavemajorbranchofficeshere.Sincethe2009Qularrinvasion,manysuperheroeshavedescendedonthiscity,thegreatestofwhom(atleastaccordingtothemedia)aretheChampions.
MillenniumCitywasrebuilt(completedinlate1999)withadvancedtechnologysuchasmovingwalkwaysandafullyautomatedtransitsystem.InMillenniumCity,youdon’tdrivecars—carsdriveyou!
NorthofMillenniumCityisthecityofWindsor,inCanada.Althoughsparedmostofthedamage,thoserebuiltsectionsofthecityaredubbed“MemorialCity”.
Ravenswood Academy:LocatedinthesuburbofOrchardsville,thisprestigiousprivateschoolhasbeenthepremier(ifsecret)institutionsforyoungsuperssincetheearly1980s.RunbytheHeadmistressHeadmasterKristinaPelvanen(secretlytheretiredsuperheroineRowan),numerousyoungsuperheroeshavegraduatedfromitsranks.
The West Side Gangs: TherearefivegangsinWestsidethathaveperiodicallycausedtrouble.TheNewPurpleGangisaresurgenceofaninfamousProhibitionGangofthe1920s.TheCobraLordsareabikergangnotedforthedrugtradeandinvolvementinanundergroundmetahumanfightingcircuit,theArena,thathaschaptersacrosstheUnitedStates.TheManiacsisagangofanarchistswhoproudlydisplaysociopathictendencies,TheBlackAcesisagangwithaplayingcardmotif.ThesefourbattleforcontroloftheWestsidewiththeRedBanners.
Officials:MillenniumCity’smayorisCalvinBiselle,acharismaticAfrican-Americanwhorelisheshisceleb-ritystatus:itspolicechiefisJamesSurhoff.Biselle’sbiggestpoliticalrivalisLeonardBerman,aconserva-tiveThecity’schiefprosecutorisGeorgeKrugar.
(Biselle’smayoraltenureshouldhaveendedin2012,howeverCrypticignoredhistermlimit.Thiswasnotasurprise(alotofin-gameart,voiceworkandmissionswouldhaveneededtohavebeenredone.)Biselleis
The Battle of Detroit
OnJuly23,1992,Dr.Destroyer,angeredbyadefeatwhichhadcosthimhisislandbaseDestruga,putintomotiona
plantousetractorbeamstodrawasteroidstoearth,hop-ingtocauseacatastrophethatwoulddestroycivilization
andgivehimachancetorebuilditaccordingtohisdesigns.StudentsfromtheRavenswoodAcademyaccidentally
stumbledontohisbase,forcingZerstoitentosethisplansintomotion.RealizingwhatDestroyerwasabouttodo,asmallarmyofsuperheroesdividedintotwoteamstostophim:oneteamwouldgointospaceandstoptheasteroids
directly,thesecondwouldremaininDetroittoconfrontDestroyerdirectly.
ThefirstwaveofasteroidswasstoppedbyVanguard,whogavehimlifebyplowingfullspeedintothelargestplanetoid.TheheroineElectronmanagedtoreversethe
meteor-tractorbeamandrepelledtheasteroids,whiletheremainingheroesfoughtDestroyertothedeath.Zerstoitenkilledseveraloftheheroes,butonthevergeofdefeat,he
bowedandtriggeredanorbitalweaponsplatform.TheareaaroundDestroyerforseveralblockswasimmediatelydis-
integrated,andthebeamcutaswathofdestructionacrossthecity.Destroyerwasbelieveddead,buttheonlythingfoundwashiscrackedhelmet.Itturnedoutheactually
teleportedaway,Hewaslatercapturedbyhisimperson-ator,ShadowDestroyer,andimprisonedinMultifariauntil
hisescapein2011.
60,000peopleandfifteensuperheroeslosttheirlivesintheholocaust.
politicallyambitiousanddoeshaveplanstorunfotofficeatboththestate(probablyasgovernor)andfederallevel.Heisstronglypro-traditionalcostumedsuperhero,thoughlessthrilledbythoseofamorevigilantenature.Undercuttinghisreputationasanadroitpoliticalthinkerishislonglistofmalapropisms
Biselleishonest,butnoteveryoneatCityHallsharesthisquality.Onememberofthecitycouncil,PhillipMcCaullife,isaVIPERstoogewho’salsobeingworkedbyMedusa.Anothermember,VincentDooley,isfirmlyentrenchedinthepocketofFranklinStone.
The Media:MillenniumCity’smajornewspapersaretheAdairownedMillenniumCityFreePressandthemoreconservativeMillenniumCityNews.Thefor-mercarriesarelativelybalancedofviewsthatisoftenoffsetbyAdairSyndicateanti-metahumancolum-nists.Thelatterincludesasuperhumannews/gossipChristineHewitt,whocanoftenbeseenhobnobbing
CO Lore Primer: • Where’s Where • 41
wuithheroesinClubCaprice’sVIPlounge. Millennium’smajortelevisionstationsinclude
WCOC,homeofsomeofMillenniumCity’smostbe-lovedbroadcastteam.MorecontroversialistheAdair-ownedWTFL,whose“newspersonalities”includethepreviouslymentionedanti-metahumancolumnistCurtCurruthers.
Homestead and SOCRATES.OneofthemostprominentlandmarksinMillenniumCityisHome-stead,homebaseoftheChampions.Herethefamedsuperteamkeepswatchonthecity,assistedbyoneoftheworld’smostadvancedAIs,SOCRATES.Despitethemasculinename,SOCRATESprojectsafemininepersonaatherinfokiosks,whicharescatteredthroughoutMillenniumCity.
Monster IslandIn1965,theQularrlandedonalargevolcanic
islandlocatedonehundredmilesofftheeastcoastofJapananduseditasabreedinggroundforgiantmonsters.TheQularrweredefeated,butthegiantmonsterswerenotquiteaseasytobeat.andsoKaijuIsland(asit’sknowninJapan)isanaturalpreserveofthemostterrifyingcreaturesonEarth.
NiikwanNeartheturnofthe19thCentury,Europeanexplor-
ersmadecontactwiththelocalFirstNationstribeson
theCanadianWestCoast.ToprotecttheHaidapeople,thegodRavenremovedonevillagefromtheworld,perfectlypreserved,exceptforonesmallAnglicanchurch,builtbythemissionarywhowarnedNiikwanagainsttheravagesoftheEuropeansandwhocon-vincedthemtoacceptRaven’sofferofprotection.
Niikwanhasbeenvisitedoccasionallybyheroesandpulpadventurers.ItiscovetedbyTax’et,theGodofViolentDeathintheHaidapantheon,whowasdeniedthepleasureofravagingitwiththesmallpoxepidemicsofthe19thCentury.
Project GreenskinAhugearmybaseintheNewMexicodesert,built
nearthesiteoftheDeltaBombincidentwhichirradi-atedmuchoftheareain1978.Greenskinwasbuiltin1995asaforwardbasefortheUnitedStates’programtocontainGrond.ItisheadedbyGeneralRobertKauffman,theoriginalGoldenAvengerofPRIMUS.Itsmissionistostudytheeffectsofradiationontheareaanditspeoples(chieflytheIrradiatemutants)butit’sprimarymissionistohuntdownandcontainthesuper-humanlyradioactivemonsterGrondandkeephimfromdoingdamage.Thebase’sheadofresearch,Dr.NelsonDupree,wascrippledinGrond’sinitialattack,andhasdevelopedanobsessionabouthelpingthecreature,us-ingadvancedscienceandneurologytocalmhimdown.
Thepresenceofsomanymonstrositieshasat-
CO Lore Primer: • Where’s Where • 42
tractedanumberofinterestedpartiestothearea,particulartheQularrandVIPER.Itisalsouncomfort-ablyclosetothesiteofStronghold.
ThereisagiantstatueofGrondstationedatthebase;thisis(presumably)thesamestatuethatwas,originallybuiltbytheIrradiatessotheycouldwor-shiphim.Noone’squitesurewhythearmykeepsit,perhapsKauffmanneedsareminderofwhyGreenskinexistsinthefirstplace.Orperhapsdisposingofitwouldinvolvetoomuchpaperwork.
Shamballah/AghartiInacavernundertheHimalayas,notfarfrom
MountEverest,liesthehiddencityofShamballah.Ledbynineimmortalmonks,whitemagicmartialartstechniquesaretaughttothosewhomanagetonavigatetheshadowymazethatguardsthecityandprovethemselvesworthy.Everyfightingtechniqueontheplanetistaughthere:exceptforthoseexclusivetotheYengtaoTempleandAgharti.
Shamballah’seviloppositenumber,alsolocatedundertheHimalayas,isthecityoffAgharti.Thetwocitiesarelockedinacontinuouswar.
Sunday Pond, MaineLocatedinthewoodsofcentralMaineisthesleepy
townofSundayPond,centerofmuchstrangenessandoccultactivity.SundayPondisanexus,wheretheconnectionsbetweentheworldsisatitsweakest,andmonstersfromotherdimensionsenterourworld.Onemanstandsasavanguardagainstthesehorrors:theWitness,whohelpsunwarytravellersfindtheirwayhome,andwhoputsmonstersintheirplace(usuallytheground).
ThaarTwelvethousandyearsago,aliensmutateda
birds(probablyaspeciesoffalcons)intoaspeciesofwingedhumanoids,whosettledonamountainpeakinthesouthernIndianOcean.Thisisland,Thaar,becameasanctumforthebird-people.ItisruledbyQueenKea,andisanofficialprotectorateoftheUnitedNations.Fewbird-peoplehaveevervisitedtheoutsideworld,exceptforKlee(thecaptainoftheQueen’sGuard)andthenowdeceasedsupervillainGyrfalcon.
(Note:TherearehintsthatThaarwillbeusedinanupcomingmini-seriesinChampionsOnline,butmayhaveitslocationchangedtoamoreArcticlocation.We’llupdatethisdocumentattheappropriatetime.)
Vibora BayAcityintheFloridapanhandleknownasthe
QueenCity,ViboraBayisthecenterofthemysticworldinAmerica.ItisastrongholdformysticalheroeslikeDr.Ka,aswellasthemagnummageRobertCali-burnandalargechapteroftheTrismegistusCouncil.
Thecityiscurrentlyplaguedbyanumberofpredatoryoccult-orientedgangs:theDogz(agangofwerewolvesledbyBlackFang),theSovereignSons(avoodooorientedgang),theNewShadows(acovenofvampiresledbyVladicDracul,fatherofthelegendaryDracula;andtheTreyKings,agroupoftwistedabomi-nations.AnotherplagueonthecityisthegangsterGuySweetland,arivalofBlackFang.
ViboraBayisthecenteroftheHighApostolicChurch,areligionthatisafrontforthefallenangelTherakiel.11%ofthecity’sthreemillionresidentsaredevoteesofthisfaith,avoodooreligionwithChristiantrappings.
Themayorofthecityis:RichendaBarker.OutsideofthecityisSanSebastienswamp,home
ofthelegendarySkunk-Ape.Tosome,theSkunk-Apeisamyth,toothers,arampagingmonster,andtostillothers,theprotectoroftheswampanditsmysteries(theSkunk-ApehasyettomakeitintoChampionsOnline).
Yengtao TempleInahiddenvalleyinChinaliestheYengtaoTemple,
whereforgenerations,thosewhoachievedunityofmindandbodycouldstudytheexclusivemartialartsoftheTemple.Manyoftheworld’sgreatestfightersstudiedhere,howeververyrecently,itseemsthattheTemplewasdestroyed,probablybythesupervil-lainJadePhoenixatthebehestoftheDeathDragon,whosoughttopreventtheirtechniquesfrombeingdisseminatedtothosewhowouldfightintheTourna-mentoftheDragon.
CO Lore Primer: • Aliens • 4�
VIi: Aliens
MAJOR RACESTherearenumerousintelligentspeciesinthegalaxy,
aswellascosmicentitiesthatpredateeventhem.Theonesbestknowntoearthinclude:
DENDRIANSLocation:MilkyWayGalaxy,closetoearth.IntentionsTowardHumanity:Neutral.PropulsionTechLevel:SlightlyAdvanced(lowlevel
FTL)MilitaryTechLevel:SlightlyAdvancedMedicalTechLevel:AdvancedComputerTechLevel:AdvancedPhysicalDescription:Average(1.6-1.9meterstall)
purpleskinnedhumanoidswithbluetoblackhairandfivefingersandtoes.
Homeworld:DendrisGovernmentType:Planetarycongress.
Locatedamere58LightYearsfromEarth,Dendrisisapeacefulifconservativeplanetthatkeepstoitselfanddoesnotwagewaronitsneighborsnorseektobuildgalacticempires.Nonetheless,Dendriansarerenownedasengineers,andthosewhoseekadven-tureoraltruisticserviceoftenjointheStar*Guard.AndreAlmena’spredecessorintheStar*Guard,BrinReiTarn,wasaDendrian,asisAlmena’sassistantKalaTahBreval.
ELDER WORMSLocation:Extra-galactic.IntentionsTowardHumanity:Hostile.PropulsionTechLevel:Advanced.MilitaryTechLevel:AdvancedMedicalTechLevel:AdvancedComputerTechLevel:AdvancedPhysicalDescription:Average(1.6-1.9meterstall),
ochre-coloredannelidoidsHomeworld:Shug’hla-WthelgGovernmentType:SupremeMonarchy
Oncetheterrorofthegalaxy,theElderWorms
ruledhalfthegalaxyinthenameoftheirQlipothicgods,forwhomtheywerepreparedtosacrificethegalaxy.Ahalfmillionyearsago,theMalvansandtheStar*Guardwenttowaragainstthemandwon,destroyingtheirhomeworld.Formanymillennia,theElderWormswanderedtheuniverselookingforbasestorebuildtheirspecies--theyfoundoneonEarth.Now,aidedbytheirfoultelepathicpowers,theyseektocorruptandtransformhumanityintobecomingtheseedsofanewelderwormrace.
ERGONS/THORGONSLocation:Relativelyclosetoearth.IntentionsTowardHumanity:Neutral.PropulsionTechLevel:Advanced.MilitaryTechLevel:SlightlyAdvancedMedicalTechLevel:AdvancedComputerTechLevel:AdvancedPhysicalDescription:Short(probably1.2-1.5me-
terstall)humanoidswithpaleskin(withredstripes),andtranslucent,pupillessredeyes.Thorgonsaetaller(probably1.6-1.8m.tall)withdarkerskin.
Homeworld:ErgathGovernmentType:Unknown
CO Lore Primer: • Aliens • 44
OneofthemostcontentiousspeciesinknownspacearetheErgons,thebadtemperednativesofErgath,havecreatedclonescalledtheThorgonstodotheirdirtyworkforthem.Dirtyworkincludesspaceexploration,whichbringsthemincontactwithotherspecies.Bredtobecoldandpitilessbrutes,theThorgonsdonotusuallymakeagoodimpressiononthosetheyencounter.
FASSAILocation:MilkyWayGalaxy,othersideofthegalaxy
fromearthIntentionsTowardHumanity:Neutral.PropulsionTechLevel:SlightlyAdvanced(lowlevel
FTL)MilitaryTechLevel:SlightlyAdvanced(blaster
weapons)MedicalTechLevel:SlightlyAdvancedComputerTechLevel:SlightlyAdvancedPhysicalDescription:Average(1.6-1.9meterstall)
dark-skinned(greytoblack)humanoidswithridgesinsteadofhairandfivefingersandtoes.
Homeworld:KadrigarGovernmentType:Councilofrepresentatives.from
theHundredHouses,therulingfamiliesoftheplanet.
AmemberspeciesoftheVeldarianConfederacy,atradefederationfromtheothersideofthegalaxy,theFassaiwouldbecompletelyunknowntoEarthexceptforthepresenceofthesuperhumanHerculan.TheFassaiareanoddlyfeudalrace,dividedintoahundredmajorfamiliesthatcontrolmostoftheirplanet.TheyarecurrentlyembroiledinagreatcivilwaragainstotherstatesoftheConfederacy.
GADROONLocation:MilkyWayGalaxy,closetoearth.IntentionsTowardHumanity:HostilePropulsionTechLevel:Slightlyadvanced(lowlevel
FTL)MilitaryTechLevel:Advanced(graviticweaponsand
forcefields)MedicalTechLevel:SlightlyAdvancedComputerTechLevel:SlightlyAdvancedPhysicalDescription:Short(1.2-1.4meterstall
greenskinnedbrachiadhumanoidwithfourfingers
andtoes.Homeworld:None.GovernmentType:Absolutemonarchyintheservice
ofIstvathaV’Han.
PerhapsthegreatestcurrentextraterrestrialthreattoEartharetheGadroon,TheGadroonhavelaunchedthreemajorinvasionsofEarth,withtheultimategoaloftransformingitintoanewhomeworldfollow-ingthedestructionoftheirhomeworldGadro.TheGadroonareanomadicspecies,howeverrecentlytheextradimensionalconquerorIstvathaV’HanforcedtheGadroonfleettobowtoherrule,givingV’Hanafootholdinouruniverse.
TheGadroonarecurrentlyatwarwiththeQularr.Humanityhasnumeroussamplesoftheirtechnology,buttothisdayit’sdefiedanalysis,evenfromthemostbrillianthumanminds.
HZEELLocation:MilkyWayGalaxy,closetoearth.IntentionsTowardHumanity:HostilePropulsionTechLevel:Slightlyadvanced(lowlevel
FTL)MilitaryTechLevel:Advanced(beamweaponsand
forcefields)MedicalTechLevel:SlightlyAdvancedComputerTechLevel:SlightlyAdvancedPhysicalDescription:Short(1.2metertall)blue-grey
skinnedhumanoidwithredeyesandfourfingersandtoes.
Homeworld:Zeel.GovernmentType:Corruptplutocracy.
ThenearesthostileempiretoEarthistheHzeel(orBlueBoys).CurrentlyatwarwiththeDorvalans,they’relookingatacquiringearthasabeachheadtostageamajoroffensive,andarestudyingQularrandGadroonattemptstoconquertheplanet.TheHzeelarecleverandadaptable,buttheirunifiedgovernmentencourag-escorruptionanditsleaderswouldbeconsideredcrimebossesonEarth.(ThinkofthemasacrossbetweentheFerengiandClassicTrek’sIoatians(thegangsterplanet)andyou’dprobablynotbetoofaroff.)
CO Lore Primer: • Aliens • 45
MALVANSLocation:MilkyWayGalaxy,closetoearth.IntentionsTowardHumanity:Neutral,withsome
exceptions.PropulsionTechLevel:HighlyAdvanced(abletocross
theMilkyWayinaweek)MilitaryTechLevel:HighlyAdvanced(abletoshift
planetsoutoforbit)MedicalTechLevel:HighlyAdvanced(extended
lifespansintomillennia)ComputerTechLevel:HighlyAdvancedPhysicalDescription:Tall(1.9metertall)darkbronze
tolightgoldskinnedhumanoidwithlargeeyes,redorvioleteyes,andlargefeatheryeyebrows.
Homeworld:Malva.GovernmentType:Monarchy.
Themostadvancedcivilizationknowntoman,Malvaisinfamousfortworeasons:itsgladiatorialcircuitkidnapsterrestrialsuperhumansandforcesthemtocompeteintheirgames,andthesupervillainFirewing,oneofthemostbrutalandpowerfulvillainseverseen.Inreality,Malvaisagreatgalacticpower,whooncesavedtheuniversefromtheElderWorms,butwhohavenowdeclinedintodecadenceandindolence.Slavestoendlessfashionfads,theMalvanaristocracyhasoneconstant--theyenjoygladiatorialgames,andwhiletheyhavethetechnologytopro-ducesuperhumansondemand,theyprefernaturallybredandtrainedcompetitors.
Malvawasn’talwaysdecadent,andtherewasatimethattheirGoldenHuntersworkedhandinhand
withtheStar*Guardtoprotectthegalaxy,butthosedays,itseems,arelongpast.
MANDAARIANSLocation:MilkyWayGalaxy,locationunknown.IntentionsTowardHumanity:Friendly.PropulsionTechLevel:HighlyAdvanced(abletocross
theMilkyWayinaweek)MilitaryTechLevel:Unknown.MedicalTechLevel:HighlyAdvanced(extended
lifespansintomillennia)ComputerTechLevel:HighlyAdvancedPhysicalDescription:Average(1.6-1.9meters
tall)light-skinnedhumanoids(almostidenticaltoCaucasianhumanswithgoldandsilvercat-likeeyes,slightlypointedears,andfivefingersandtoes.
Homeworld:MandaarGovernmentType:Meritocracycouncilofthe144
finestintellects.
Perhapsthefriendliestspeciestoencounterhuman-ityaretheMandaarians,averyhuman-likeraceoftelepaths.Livinginanear-utopia,theMandaarianslivelivesofpeacetranquility,pursuingintellectualandaestheticpleasures.Theirsocialscientistshavevisitedearthseveraltimesandexpressedanapprecia-tionofhumancultureandhavesharedsomeoftheirart(thoughnoneoftheirtechnology)withhumanity.
MON’DABILocation:MilkyWayGalaxy,locationunknown.IntentionsTowardHumanity:Neutral.
CO Lore Primer: • Aliens • 46
PropulsionTechLevel:SlightlyAdvanced(FTLcapable).
MilitaryTechLevel:EqualtoEarthtechnology.MedicalTechLevel:Unknown,probablyequalto
earthtechnologyComputerTechLevel:Unknown,probablyequalto
earthtechnology.PhysicalDescription:Tall(1.9meterstall)reptilian
humanoidswithscalyskin,alongthicktail,afaceresemblingagilamonster,andfourfingersandtoes.
Homeworld:Mon’daGovernmentType:Unknown.
AraceofaggressivereptiloidmenwhosepathhasnotyetcrossedEarth.
PERSEIDSLocation:MilkyWayGalaxy,2300LYfromearth.IntentionsTowardHumanity:FriendlyPropulsionTechLevel:Slightlyadvanced(lowlevel
FTL)MilitaryTechLevel:SlightlyAdvanced(beamweap-
onsandforcefields)MedicalTechLevel:SlightlyAdvancedComputerTechLevel:SlightlyAdvancedPhysicalDescription:Tall(2metertall)blackskinned
humanoidwithbonyforeheadandshoulderridges.Homeworld:Dorvala.GovernmentType:Unified,typeunspecified.
Dorvalans,orPerseids,areIronclad’srace,atallrigidlystructuredsocietythatlivesonahostileplanet.It’sasocietywherethestrongareexpectedtodominatetheweak--theinfirmareroutinelyforcedtocommitritualsuicidebytheirteenyears
QULAARLocation:MilkyWayGalaxy,2300LYfromearth.IntentionsTowardHumanity:FriendlyPropulsionTechLevel:Slightlyadvanced(lowlevel
FTL)MilitaryTechLevel:SlightlyAdvanced(beamweap-
onsandlargescaleforcefields)MedicalTechLevel:SlightlyAdvancedComputerTechLevel:SlightlyAdvancedPhysicalDescription:Man-sized(1.8mtall)insect/
crustaceanhybridswithtwofingersandathumb.Homeworld:ReqaatGovernmentType:Caste-drivenoligarchicRepublic.
ThemostrecentsignificantalieninvasionwaslaunchedbytheQularr,aninsectoid-crustaceanspeciesthatoccupiesasmallempirebeyondPerseidspace.SeeingonearthnumerousspecimensofGiantMonstersandsuperhumans,theQularrinvadedtheplanethopingtounlockthesecretofparanormalabili-ties,andcollectgiantmonsterstofightagainsttheirenemies.Theirinitial1965invasionwascenteredonMonsterIslandandwasrebuffed,butthestingofthedefeatlingered,andwhenShadowDestroyertriggeredaspecialbeacon(anokaysignalfromtheirscoutstoinvade),theQularrlaunchedasecondinvasionworld-wide.Thisinvasionwasalsodefeated,howevertheQularrmaintainedapresenceonMonsterIsland.
TheQularrarecurrentlyatwarwiththeGadroon,whichhasacceleratedtheneedforbiologicalweap-ons(i.e.monsters)andtheirstudyofsuperhumans.
ROIN’ESHLocation:MilkyWayGalaxy,distantfromEarth.IntentionsTowardHumanity:Unknown.PropulsionTechLevel:Advanced(capableofinter-
stellartravel)MilitaryTechLevel:Unknown.MedicalTechLevel:Unknown.ComputerTechLevel:Unknown.PhysicalDescription:Averagesized(1.6metertall)
humanoidwithbrownish-greyskin,andverticalfur-rowsontheirforeheads--butarecapableofshape-changing.
Homeworld:Taroindar.GovernmentType:Unknown
TheRoin’eshareaslavespeciesoftheMalvans,whofindtheirshapechangingabilitiesamusing.TheRoin’eshchafeattheirbondage,andschemetobreakfreeoftheirmastersandbecomeagalacticpower.
SELENITESLocation:Selenus,Earth’sMoon.IntentionsTowardHumanity:Neutral,withhostile
factions.
CO Lore Primer: • Aliens • 47
PropulsionTechLevel:NoneMilitaryTechLevel:SlightlyAdvanced(stolen
supervillaintech).MedicalTechLevel:Advanced,butlackingthetech-
nicalexpertisetofullyemployitComputerTechLevel:Advanced,butlackingthe
technicalexpertisetofullyemployitPhysicalDescription:Short(0.9metertall)insect-
likesiliconoidcreaturewithalongnarrowface,abeetle-likepurple-greyshell,andtenlimbs,twoforelimbsandeighthindlimbs.
Homeworld:Themoon(cityofSelenus)GovernmentType:Rulingcouncil.
Thenativesofthemoon,theSelenitesawokefrommillenniaofslumberin1938.TheywereusedasslavelaborbythesupervillainRevenger.Inthe1980s,thedictatorGrishlattemptedtousestockpilesofRevenger’sweaponstolaunchanattackontheearth,butwasfoiledbyMeteorMan.Sincethen,theSeleniteshavepursuedanisolationistpolicy,thoughsomefactionsstilldreamofattackingtheearthagain.
SIRIANSLocation:NeartoEarth.IntentionsTowardHumanity:Hostile.
PropulsionTechLevel:Unknown.MilitaryTechLevel:SlightlyAdvanced(stolen
supervillaintech).MedicalTechLevel:Unknown.ComputerTechLevel:Unknown.PhysicalDescription:Short(1.2to1.5metertall)
humanoidswithabroadupperskullandapointedchin.Grey-skinnedSiriansareshorterthanGreen-skinned.Theyhavealmondshapedeyes,thatarepitchblackincolor.
Homeworld:Siria.GovernmentType:Dictatorship.
Thefirstraceencounteredbymankind,theSirianinvasionofearthin1938werefoiledbythemilitaryandtheworld’sfirstsuperhumans.Desperatetosavetheirworldfromimminentdestruction,theSiriansrecklesslylaunchedanattackonMalvain1985.Theattackwaseffortlesslyrebuffedandtheircounterat-tacknearlycompletelydestroyedtheSirianspecies.TodayafewhundredSiriansurvivorsinasmallflotillaofshipsattempttokeeptheirracefromextinctionbyanymeanspossible.
VAYATHURANSLocation:3500LYfromEarth.IntentionsTowardHumanity:Neutral.PropulsionTechLevel:EquivalenttoEarth.MilitaryTechLevel:EquivalenttoEarth.MedicalTechLevel:EquivalenttoEarth.ComputerTechLevel:EquivalenttoEarth.PhysicalDescription:Average(1.6to1.6metertall)
humanoidswithgoldskinandlargeblueorgreeneyes.
Homeworld:ThemoonofMogar.GovernmentType:Clan/guildhybrid.
Becauseofthe1999arrivalofateleportingexplorer,Far-Strider,humanityknowsagreatdealabouttheVayathurancivilization,Locatedmanylightyearsaway,theVayathuransarealsobeginningtoemergeandexploreouterspace.Theyareahedonistic,poly-androusspecies,famedfortheirculture(Far-Striderbroughtwithhimhistories,novels,andotherculturalartifactstotradewithhumans),pleasuresandlackofclothing.
Opinion Corner: Do it yourself!
So,youdon’tseeanythinginthecanonracesthatfitsyourconcept?Fine!Createyourown.Spaceisbigandthealien
raceselectioninChampions Beyondwasnevermeanttobecomplete.
Please,however,avoidthe“biggestandbaddest”syndrome.Youralienracecanbeancient,butdon’tmakethem“themostancientracethateverwas”.Yourracecanruleabigchunkofthegalaxy,butdon’tmakethem“the
dominantraceinthegalaxy”.Youcanbelocatednearearth(relativelyspeaking),butyou’renottheclosestmajor
threat.That’stheHzeel.
Therearecanonracesandotherplayers’aliensinthesandbox.Don’tputthemdowntoliftyourraceup.Youcanstillcreateseriousthreatstotheplayerswthoutit.
Also,othergalaxies,withtheexceptionofAndromeda,arelargelyundocumented.Feelfreetogiveyourraceabigrole
inoneofthose.
CO Lore Primer: • Aliens • 48
THE STAR*GUARD AdiscussionoftheChampionsOnlinecosmoshas
toincludeitsgreatestforceforjustice.FoundedaboutamillionyearsagobyGlorantheGreatofOstrugar.BasedonOstrugar,governedbyCONTROL,themostpowerfulAIintheknownuniverse,theStar*Guard(alsoknowninChampionsOnlineas“StarGuard-ians”)serveasapoliceforceonlawlessplanetsanddiplomatswhohelpbringemergentcivilizationsintothegalacticcommunity.They’vehadtheireyeonearthfordecades,whichtheywatchonahiddenbaseonEuropa,Jupiter’smoon,TheStar*GuardassignedtoearthisAndreAlmena,aformerSpanishpolice-man.HisMarshals(assistants)areKalaTahBreyel,aDendrianwoman;PeteLangford,anexperthumanmechanic,andTor’Tagla,oneofthefewsurvivorsoftheAntharirace(whichwasdestroyedbyValak).
Star*GuardwieldStar*Staffs,aweaponwhosetelekineticfieldsgiveaStar*Guardmanyoptionsinafight.TheyrideinStarJets(aninterstellarvehiclecapableofseating11peopleandflyingat1LY/min-ute.TherearespecialtydivisionswithintheGuard:StarAvengers(theheavyweaponssquadoftheStar*Guard),StarKnights(whospecializeindefenseandprotection,especiallyofinnocentbystanders),StarScouts(formissionsthatrequirespeed,diploma-cy,andreconnaissance),andAnodynes(whoengageindisasterreliefandmedicalmissions),
TheStar*Guardhaveenemies,ofcourse.ChiefamongthemistherogueStar*Guard Mordace,amanwhowouldbecomeabrutalgalactictyrant.Mordace’s2009attackonCONTROL,employinganarmyofgalacticmercenaries,greatlyweakenedtheStar*Guard.Anothernoteworthytyrant,Valak,wasdefeatedonearthbyaplatoonofStar*GuardandNewYork’sSentinelssuper-teamin2006andimprisoned.Unfortunately, Valak escapedinMenton’s2009StrongholdbreakoutandhasvowedrevengeontheStar*Guard.PerhapsthemostthreateningofthemallistheinsanemutantscientistXarriel,“princeofthecosmicfires”whosepowertoreshaperealityrivalseventheGalaxarsthemselves.
The GalaxarsAmongthemostpowerfulbeingsintheknown
universearetheGalaxars,cosmicentitieswhohaveanobsessionwithaparticulartheme,whichthey
champion.Theytravelfromworldtoworld,insearchofthings--orevents,orindividuals--thatinterestthem,rarelyhesitatingtoimposetheirwillonthepeoplestheyencounter.
KnownGalaxarsinclude:theExaminer,theLawbringer,theShaper,Geon,theRecorderandtheWarmonger.
Chrono Inourdimension,theorderlyflowoftimeisgovernedbyoneincrediblypowerfulbeing:Chrono.Verylittleisknownabouthim,exceptthathe’sintervenedtwiceinknownhistory,onceduringtheSecretCrisisof1985(whichbroughttogethermostofthesuperheroeswhohaveeverhadoreverwilllive,thoughmosthaveforgottenit)andtheRealityStormof2004,whichinvolvedaversionofDr.Destroyerandasimilarconquerorfromanotherdimensionjoiningforces).Chronodoesnotintervenedirectlyinconflict,butsendshisservantLordEntropusasaproxy.
Chronodoesn’tseemtoguardagainstalterationsofthetimestream,onlythosethatwouldhaveadestructiveeffectontime.
The ProgenitorsPerhapsthemostimportantaliensofallarethe
Progenitors.They’recertainlythemostmysterious.Twomillionyearsago,theProgenitorsdiscoveredearthandbegantoplaywithhumanbiology,aidinginitsdevelopmentandgivingthespeciestheabilitytodevelopsuperhumantraits.500,000yearsagotheyreturned,andelevatedtwelvemembersofthehumanraceintotheEmpyreans,theworld’sfirstsuperhu-mans,whowentontofoundArcadia.
TheearthisnottheonlyworldwheretheProgeni-torsinteracted.TheinteractedonaworldknownasPhytia,anearth-likeplanetintheasteroidbeltthatwasthehomeofbotanicallife,butwhichdestroyeditselfwhenitdevelopedcivilizedlife.ThedestructionofPhytiahasseededProgenitortechnologyintheasteroidbeltforthosewhoarewillingtolook.
CO Lore Primer: • Other Dimensions • 49
VIII: Other Dimensions
TheChampionsUniverseusesaquasi-Kaballistichierarchytodescribeitscosmology.Theschemeisknowntomystics,butrelativelyunknowntomostsuperhumansandnotreallyknownoracceptedtothegeneralpublic.TheseareknowntomysticsastheFourWorlds.TheyarecommonlyenvisionedastiersorbranchesontheGreatTreeofLife,theSephirot.
ThoughtheChampionscosmologyisbasedontheSephirot,itisadvisablenottodrawtooheavilyfromtheKabballah,asChampionsdownplaysandomitsmanyofthespiritualelements(suchastheplacementofangelichierarchy).
Thecosmologyofthemysticworldisnotcommonknowledge.Mostoftheseelementsareunknowntoanyoneoutsidethemysticalcommunityandveteransuperheroes.
The Assiah TheMaterialPlane,theplaneofsubstances.This
includesouruniverse,anditsmanyparalleluniverse.NaturallawrulestheplanesoftheAssiah,thoughmagicalforcesfromthehigherworldsmayleakintosomeoftheseuniverses,allowingforsmallpocketswheremagicandnaturallawscoexist(suchasontheearthoftheChampionsUniverse).
Parallel WorldsTheAssiahishometoaninfinitenumberofparallel
universes.Notableonesinclude:
CabotiaAworldwhereBritainsuppressedtheAmerican
Revolution,andaunitedAmerica/CanadawentontoaggressivelyconquerNorthandCentralAmericaanddominatetheworld.
LaurentiaWorldwheretheworshipofCybelesuperseded
Christianity,andaQuebecCatholicnundiscoveredanalienartifactthatallowedFrenchCanadatoconverttheworldtotheirreligionanddominateitpolitically.
The Left Handed WorldA“mirror”universeworldwhere90%ofthepeople
onEarthareleft-handedandheroesonthatworldarevillains,andvillainsareheroes.SimilarinsomewaystohowthegameportraysMultifaria,whichisactuallyratherdifferentinthePnPincarnation(seebelow).
MultifariaAworldwheretimeandplacearemingled.which
givesusscenarioswhereWilliamShakespeareisnowopeninghisnewplayinLondon’stheaterdistrict,tobecritiquedbyChurchill,Boadicea,andCharlesIIintheroyalbox,whiletheBeatlesplayedforKingWilliamV.
The YetzirahAbovetheMaterialworldistheYetzirah,the
FormativeorAstralworlds.Theserealms,orParterres,areformedoutoftheAstralbyhumanbelief,legend,andsubconsciousexperiences.Heremagicallawsholdsway.Theyinclude“TheLandofLegends”(alsoknownasFaerie;thisincludesthevariousrealmsofmythiccreatures,suchas Avalon,thatdonotinvolveheavenorhell),Elysium,(thevariousmythologicalheavens), the Netherworld(variousmythologicalHells),and Babylon,theCityofMan,acitybuiltanddominatedbyman’sspiritofingenuityandgreedandwhereoutsideforces(suchasmagicandgods)playlittletonopart.TheserealmsareconnectedbytheAstralPlane.AbarriercalledtheVeilseparatestheYetzirahfromthehigherrealms.
OthernotableworldsintheYetzirahinclude: The Blood Tide:Theimaginalrealmofanimals,a
realmthat’salien--andhostile--tohumanthought. The Dream Time:Theastraldimensionof
dreams. The Frost Tomb:Arealmofelementalsupernat-
uralcoldruledbytheIce,oneoftheancientspiritsofNorthAmerica(wherethreeoftheMightyCanadiansareimprisoned).
The Even Wilder West:ThisistheOldWestofmovies,legends,andtallcampfirestories,wrapped
CO Lore Primer: • Other Dimensions • 50
intoonepackage. Thereareothertypesofimaginaryrealms,listed
onesincludetheSpooky,EmptyHouse,theHighSchoolWhereYou’reNaked,andtheSkyWhereYouFly.Morespecificplaces,likeGothicMetroplexandWindyburg,resemblestylizedversionsofactualplacesonEarth.
The BriahTheBriah,theCreativeRealm,iswherealltraces
ofthematerialfade,andtherealmsarepurestatesofconsciousness.It’sthehomeofPrimeAvatars,whosecharacteristicsaredrawnonbythegodsoftheLandsofLegends.ItisalsothehomeofthefourZoas,elementalbeingswhoareprimearchetypes.
Urizen,PrinceofLightandPrimeAvatarofOrder.Luvah:AvatarofChaosandEmotion.Urthona,PrimeAvatarofArtandArtifice.Tharmas:PrimeAvatarofNature.
OtherplacesintheBriahincludetheGardenofEarthlyDelights(aplaceofsumptuouspleasuresandcomforts),thePlaneofNumbers(heavenforthemathematicallyinclined,hellforthosewhoarenot),andDeath’sDominion(whichappearsdifferenttoeachvisitor,dependingontheirideasaboutdeath).
It’seasytogetconfusedbetweenthesecondandthirdworlds.Ifaplaceorcreaturecomesdirectlyoutofmythology(suchasZeus,Thor,orOlympus),itbe-longstotheYetzirah.Ifit’saJungianconceptbegindmanymyths(suchastheTripleGoddess,Death,ortheTrickster)itbelongstotheBriah.Briahticconceptsarefarmorepowerfulthanmythologicaldeities,andmayevenusethegodsintheYetzirahinamannersimilartogodsusingavatarsinthephysicalworld;asvesselstoextendpowerandinfluenceintothelowerworlds.
The AtziluthThehighestrealm,theArchetypalrealm,isthe
Atziluth.It’salmostasdifficulttoreachasitistode-scribe;Hereeverythingbreaksdownintoabstractions.HerewehavefundamentalforcesofCreation,Form,andtheAbyss,arealmofirrevocabledestructionwhichistheendofallthings.It’sallbutunheardofforanyonetosuccessfullycrosstheAbyss.
TheapexoftherealmisKether,theCrown,wheretime,space,powerandrealitydissolveintoaunitythatis,forallintentsandpurposes,God.
Qliphoth Therealmofanti-life,anti-creation.Thisdimen-
sionistheshadowoftheSephirothicTreeofLife,i.e.Creation’sshadow.“TheShiningDarkness”isaplacethatabsolutelycorruptsalllivingthingsittouches.Manyofthemostvilemagesthroughouthumanhis-toryhavedrawnonitasapowersource,atgreatcosttotheworldandtothemselves.
ThetrueQliphothisbeyondtheabilityofanythingfromcreationtosurvive,howeversomecreatureswithinQlipthoth,suchastheKingsofEdom,haveattemptedtoextendtheirinfluenceintoourworld.RecentlyLutherBlack,afterdecadesofwork,createdarealmwithintheQliphothicwhereCreationand
Opinion Corner: Don’t Overuse
Qliphoth
Theoriginalconceptfor“theQ”isthatit’sprettymuchano-goforpeopleonthisplane:mageslikeKul-Turakcandrawonitspower,butcharacterscanenteritandsurviveinitonlyunderthemostspecialcircumstances.
DemonflameandAftershocktookplacein“theGatewayBetweenWorlds”.It’sstronglyimpliedthiswasasafezoneofcoexistencethattookLutherBlack,oneofthegreatestsorcerousmindsinhistory,decadestoconstruct,andatbest,borderedontheunfathomablerealm.
Cryptic,however,hashadotherideas,andmanymysticalplayercharactershavefollowedsuit,totheextentwheretherisksofQ-exposurehavebecometrivialized.Thegeniecan’tbeputbackintothebottle,howeverifyou’reconsideringapowersourceforyourcharacterandoriginsforyourvillains/occultanti-hero,pleaseconsideralternateplanarsourcestotheQ.There’ssourceslikethedarkerpartsofFaerie,theNetherworld,theBriah,andtheAtziluth.
If you want to run a mage character with the “one who heroically struggles against the corruption of dark magic that gives him power” theme,thenusethenetherworld,orblackmagicdimensionswithintheAstral,FaerieoreventheBriah.Youdon’tneedtheQtosuccessfullyemploythistheme.
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anti-Creationcouldco-exist.TheGatewayBetweenWorldswasdestroyedwhenBlack’sbodywasab-sorbedintodreamsbyDemoiselleNocturne.
TherearecountlessdenizensoftheQliphoticandmanykingsofEdom,including Vulshoth,theEyeoftheVoid,who’sbeentrappedforbillionsofyearsinapocketdimensioncalledtheBlackMaze,andDeizzhorath the Dissolver,whosebodyhasbeendividedintocountlessfragmentsscatteredthroughtimeandspace.
THE BANSincethedevelopmentof“ethical”religions,suchas
BuddhismandChristianity,whichplacesasmuchofanimportanceofproperbehaviorasworship,accesstoearthhasbecomemoredifficultfordeitiesandmythicpowersofeverypantheon,includingdemonlords(sorryClubCapriceoccultRPgodmodders).
Theadventoftheageofsuperpowersin1938soft-eneditslightly,howeverdeitiesandpowerscannotenterourplaneatfullstrength.Theyneedtoemploythefollowingmethods
Avatars:Avatarsofadeityareweakenedversionsofthegod,capableofexistingforlongperiodsoftimeontheAssiah.Thesearegenerallycomparableinstrengthtosomeofthemostpowerfulterrestrialsuperhumans.
Demigods:Adeitycanimpregnateamortal(orbeimpregnatedbyamortal):theoffspringareanaturalpartofourworldandmaydwellherewithoutpenalty.Ofcourse,thesedemi-godsarealsocomparableinstrengthtosuperhumans.
Mystical Objects/Relics: SomemysticalartifactswerecraftedbeforetheBan,andremaininourworldasconduitsfordivinepoweratitsmostpuissant.
Nexus Points: Therearenaturalnexuspointsbe-tweenourplaneandtherealmsofgodsanddemons,Withinimmediateproximityofthesenexuspoints,deitiescanfunctionattheirfullpower.
Sacrificial Ceremonies: Magicalritualscan,forashorttime,allowaccessbyadeitytothisplaneathisfullpower.Thisrequiresthedestructionofpowerfulmagicalartifacts,thedeathsofmanyhumans,orasuperhuman.
Note
Somegods,suchasNama,arenativetotheworldandexistherebecauseofthatreason.Ofcourse,anyonecancallthemselvesagod,butthatdoesn’tputthemonparwithactualdeitiesintheirhomedimension.
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Ix: The Mullet’s Guide to RP
What is RP?RPispretendingtobeacharacterandtakinghim(orher)throughanexperience.It’sessentiallyaversionof“Let’sPretend”or“CowboysandIndians”forolderpeople.Somealsocompareittoimprovisationaltheater. RPbeganasagameactivityviathetabletopgameDungeonsandDragons,whichwasinventedbyE.GaryGygaxandDaveArneson.In1981,GeorgeMacDonaldandStevePetersoninventedthetabletopversionofthisgame,Champions.ThelicenseforChampionswaspurchasedbyCrypticStudiosin2008andtheMMOwasreleasedinSeptember2009.
What’s the Appeal of RP in Champions?Forfansofcomicbooksandcomicbookmovies,Championsgivesyouachancetocreateacharacterinagenreyoulove,interactwithfriends,andfollowyourheroonadventures.It’screative,social,andcanbealotoffunwiththerightgroupofplayersandtherightmixofcharacters.Ontheotherhand,iftheideaofpretendingtobeacomicbookcharacterdoesn’tappealtoyou,chancesarethatyou’renotreallygoingtoenjoyRP.That’sokay--nosingleactivityappealstoeveryone.
What’s the Difference Between RP and Just Pretending While You’re Playing the Game?It’smuchthesameasthedifferencebetweensoloplayandteamplay.You’reinteractingwithotherpeople.
What Types of RP Are There?RPgroupsusuallydefinethemselvesinthreeways:Immersion,CharacterTheme,andEnvironment.Here’swherewestarttogetintothedetails.
Immersion isgenerallyjudgedbytwothings:(a)areyoupretendingtobethecharacterallofthetime,ordoyoutotakebreakstocrackjokesandact“outofcharacter”,and(b)doesthesessioninvolveheavy
dramaandconflict,orisitlessseriousandmoreinterestedinsocialinteractionthanstory? Dramatic,largely(ortotally)in-characterRPiscalled“heavyRP”.Social,frequentlyoutofcharacterRPiscalled“lightRP”.“MediumRP”fallssomewhereinthemiddleofthetwoextremes.
Character Themeissimplythetypeofcomicbookormoviethatyou’retryingtoemulate.ChampionsOnline’sRPcommunitiestendtoembraceawidevari-etyofthemes.Somewanttoplaytraditionalheroes;otherswanttoplayhardboiledmercs,otherswanttoplaymonstersorsupernaturalcreatures.
What are comic book “ages” that I keep hearing about? Golden Age, Silver Age, etc.?It’sacommoncategorizationscheme.Golden AgeismeanttoemulatethecomicsofWW2(mostlylow-power,rangingfromcamptogrittypulpintone).Silver Age isinspiredbythecomicsofthe50sand60s(widelyvaryingpowerlevels,oftenwithacamporfancifultone,mostlyaimedatkids),Bronze Agedrawsonthecomicsofthe70sand80s(amorerealisticandmoreadultfocusedversionofSilverAgecom-ics,unafraidtotacklesocialthemesshunnedbytheSilverAge,oftenwithmorecharacter-focusedserialstories).Iron Ageresemblesthecomicsofthe1990s(agrimmerandmorerealistictonethatstronglyreactedagainstSilverAgetropes).Modern Ageisltheageofcurrentcomics,somethingofaretreatbacktotheBronzeAge,butwithagreaterwillingnesstochangethestatusquo,andsomeIronAgeandSilverAgetropesmixedin.
And Environment?Environmentiswhetheryousticktoacentrallocation.SomeRPtendstocenteraroundateambase.oracommonareawhereRPerscanfrequent.Thelatteriscalled“tavern-based”RP,stemmingtoitsoriginsinfantasyMMOs.OtherRPlikestogooutintotheworldandusein-gamemissionsasabackdrop.You
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andanotherplayergothroughamissiontogetherandinteractasyourcharacterswould.Or,oneplayermightserveasaGamemaster(akaa“GM”)andcreateanevent,describingasituationandcallingonotherplayertopretendtobetheircharactersandresolveit.
Where Do I Find RP?RPcanbefoundinallcornersofthegameworld.Goingtocentralhubsisonewayoffindingit.InChampionsOnline,Club Caprice inMillenniumCity’sRenCenteristheprimaryspotforthat,withSherrera’sandCarl’s GyminWestside,City Hall,Champions HQ,andtheACI blimpinMillenniumCityand the MinefieldinViboraandvari-ousPowerhouseTheaters(usuallytheonesawayfromMillenniumCity)assecondaryhubs. LessprominentplacesincludeBelle Starr’s (asaloonintheravinejustnorthofthethemeparkentranceintheDesertzone,andtheSS Bayou Queen (thesteamboat)inVibora.PopularoutdoorspotsincludetheexteriorofMercy Hospital,theRenCenterfountain,Sakura Park,andDarren’s PizzainMillen-niumCity.Someplayerssavemissionlocalessuchasthe Dog Poundand the Crimson Lounge inViboraandthe ARGENT Hunting LodgeinMionsterIsland,thoughthosehavethehandicapofonlyallowingfiveplayers. MoreRPlocales,theinteriorofWCOC,theoldMu-nitionstrainerlocatedjustsouthofCarl’sGym,theoldArcanatrainer(nowlocatednearWitchcraftindown-townMillenniumCity)andtheoldInventionstrainerlocatedjustnortheastofDynamixTechnologies,wereaddedinarecentpatch.Hopefullythesewillnotbe
thelastsocialinstancesaddedtothegame.Hideouts,personalizedbasesthatcanholdamaximumof11players,aretheothermajorRPlocale. Alertswithfullteamsoffive,especiallyGrabalertswhereyouarenotpressedfortime,arealsogreatplacesforRP,butmuchhardertoaccessasalocaleatamoment’snotice.I Played Tabletop RP. Caprice doesn’t remind me of that at all!Tavern-styleRPowesmoretoLARP(LiveActionRP)thanitdoestotabletop. Ifyoucomefromatabletopbackground,youmightfindhub-basedRPdoesnotappealtoyou(moreonthatlater),butthere’salotmoretoRPthanCaprice.Additionally,youcanfindgroupsthatdon’tusetheselocations,butwhoadventurethroughoutthegameworld.OneoftheseisCORP(ChampionOnlineRole-Players),anallianceofrole-playersinthisgamewhohavebeenpresentsincelaunch.Ifthisdoesnotappealtoyou,youcanfindrole-playersontheSupergroupRecruitmentStationsectionoftheChampionsOnlineforums.RPGroupsthathavebeenaroundforalongtimeincludetheSilverAgeSenti-nels,theUltimateGuardians,theSilverGuard,theSentinelSquadron,andtheBlackwatchDefenders.Ortaketheinitiativeandstartupyourown!
How do I differentiate between OOC and IC com-ments?Thiscansometimesbedonebycontext,howeverthe
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mostcommon(andsensible)methodistomarkOOCcomments.Somegroupssurroundthemintwoclosedbrackets((likethis)),othersprecedetheircommentwiththedesignation[OOC].Usewhateveryoufeelcomfortablewith.
Some people use emoticons while RPing. LOL!ThegeneralconventionoftheRPcommunityistoavoidemoticonsandwriteinfullsentences.Asusual,though,abidebytheconventionsthatbestfitsyourgroup’scomfortzones.
What about grammar and spelling mistakes?Doyourbesttobegrammaticallycorrect.However,especiallywhenyou’rewritingonthefly,typosandothermistakesfrequentlyhappen.Trynottogettooupsetwhentheyoccur.Noone’spayingyoutobeanEnglishteacheroraneditorinthisgame.Ifyouseeaconsistenthabitinanotherperson’swritingthatbothersyou,quietlyandpolitelypointitoutafteranRPwhenyourcharactersarenotbusy.
I want people to know details about my charac-ter. How can I do that?Thereisspaceinthe Info tabtowriteabriefdescrip-tion.Byrightclickingonsomeone’scharacterportraitandscrollingdownto“Info”,youcanreadwhateverthey’vewrittenabouttheircharacter. Formoredetaileddescriptions,there’sthePrimusDatabase.http://primusdatabase.com/index.php?title=Main_Page
How can I insert paragraph breaks into my Info?InfousesalimitedamountofHTMLcode.Use</p>attheendofyourparagraphtoinsertaparagraphbreak.Clickonyourportraitandusethecommand/Target_infotoproofyourInfoasotherplayerswillseeit.
How do you resolve a conflict between players in an RP?Therearetwocommonmethods.Oneisusingtext-basedcombat,wheretwoplayerstypeouttheirordersandattempttocometoaconsensusabouthowthefightwouldturnout.TheotherisbyPVP.Neithermethodisoptimal:text-basedcombatrequirestrustonthebasisofallparticipants,andthat’snoteasyto
findifyougetinvolvedinRPingwithastranger.SomeRPersdon’ttakedefeatwell,haveinflatedviewsoftheircharacterandrefusetoloseatall,letalonegracefully. GoodRPcombatislikeprowrestling.Winningisn’ttheobject:the object is to work together to tell an entertaining story. PVPisafairermethod,howeveritdependsonthestrengthofthecharacterbuilds,notthestrengthoftheconcept.Inacomicbook,forexample,thePunisherwouldn’tbeabletobeatSupermanwithoutanedgelikekryptonitebullets.InChampionsOnline,however,therearefewertiesbetweenpowerlevelandtraditionalchar-acterthemes,soaPunisher-typecharactercouldeasilybeataSuperman,oraThor,oraHulk,withoutresortingtothetricksthatwouldmakesuchamismatchbeliev-ableinanarrative.Notethatitshouldbepossible:seemycommentsbelowoncoexisting.However,thegame’spowerssystemsdon’talwaysrespectthesamepriorityschemesasthemilieuit’stryingtoemulate,forreasonsthat(somewhat)makesensefromagamingperspective. Thereareothermethods.OnethatIlike(butwhichisseldomused)iswhatIcallnon-competitiveduel-ing.Thisiswhenpeopleworktogetherinaduel,butgivethemselvesbreakstomakequips,seteachotherupfordramaticlookingmoves,ortakeadvantageofsomeofthemoreinterestingthingsthatmighthappeninPVPcombat.Theoutcomemaybeprede-termined,orplayersmayjustgowiththeflow.It’safunwaytoenjoytheactionpartofthegamewhilestillRPing,butmostgamersdon’tusethismethod. Intheend,allMMOconflictresolutionboilsdowntotrust.Treatpeoplewithrespect,communicatecalmlyandclearly,andhavefun.
I’m a Level 40, and he’s a Level 10. I should win in an RP text fight, right, regardless of their concept?Notinallcircumstances.IfaGMneedsavillainforanevent,theyhavetohavethelibertytobeabletocomeupwithacharacteronthefly.Inthatcase,levelnevermatters.AneventvillainneedstobeaspowerfulastheGMwishesthemtobetoprovideachallengetothegroup. Againstanotherplayer,thereareanumberoffactorsthatinfluencesthecombat:thepowerleveloftheconcept,thepowerlevelofthecharacter,theplayer’sstandinginthelocalRPgrouporcom-
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munity(walkingintoalong-establishedRPgroupandexpectingtobeataveteranplayerismuchlikeanewcharacterappearinginacomicbookfilledwuithveterancharacters;ifyoudon’tproperlyestablishthatthecharacterisalegitimatethreat,readerswillrebel.Theywon’tmarvelatthepowerofthenewcomer,they’llwonderwhyourheroesweresuchwimps.RPrequiresasimilarlayingofgroundwork.YouearnyourstripesthroughgoodRP,afriendlyattitude,andyournaturalcharisma,notbyflashinganumberatpeople. There’satendencyinsomequarterstodismisslow-levelcharactersinRPconflictsasgodmodderswhoarelazytoplaytheactualgame.Insomecases(particularlythestereotypicalL6ClubCaprice“god”),thisisareallyeasyattitudetoadopt.However,ulti-matelyRPcombatboilsdownnottonumbers,orevenconcept,thoughbothareimportantfactors:winningandlosingisamatterofcommunicationbetweenplayers,asenseofgoodstorytelling,andrespect.Everycomicbookconceptisnotcoveredbythegameengine;sometimesyouneedtoextrapolatebeyondthegame.Becareful,however,thatyourattempttomodelthecharacterconceptisn’tseenasapowergrab,oryouwilllosetherespectofthepeopleyouplaywith.
I have friends who believe it’s suboptimal or even downright impossible to RP in an MMO. I’vedonetabletopRPfor37years.IknowRPwhenIexperienceit.Therearedifferencesinthemediums,butthereisnothinginthecomputerMMOsthatinhibitsrewardingandsatisfyingRP.Alittlesuspen-sionofdisbeliefisrequired,butthat’spartofanyexperienceofthefantastic.IftabletopRPersdon’tbelievethis,IhavesometranscriptsofRPsessionsIcanshowthem.Idefythemtoarguethatwhatwedidwasn’tRP.
What are some of the pitfalls of RP?TherearesomedooziesthatcanmakeRPalessthanpleasantexperience.I’llmentionthefivebigonesthatcanreallyblowupinyourface. Godmodingisabigone.ThisisverycommontonewRPers,it’ssimplystatingthatsomethinghappenstoanotherplayerwithoutgivingthemachancetoreact,orignoringtheiractionsentirely.Itnegates
RPingasasocialactivitybymakingtheotherperson’sactionsuseless.Whenyoudescribeyouractiontrytoavoidusingphraseslike“IpunchXinthefacerepeat-edly.”Instead,usephraseslike“IattempttopunchXinthefacerepeatedly”,evenifit’sobviousthatXishelplessandcan’tdefendhimself.Givetheotherplayerthepowertoadvancehisstory. Personal dramaisthesecondbiggestpitfall.Dramaisawordthat’sbecomedebased:characterdramabetweentwomatureplayerswhoknowhowtoseparatein-characterandout-of-characterdramaisgreat!Thatisthestuffofgoodstorytelling.Personal,outofcharacterdramathatisoverblownegosandraginghormones,however,isn’tsogreat. RPingisadramaticactivitythatsometimesdrawsinthosewhoarenarcissisticandpronetooverblownreactions.Theywanttobethecenterofattention,butdon’treactwelltoadversity.TheywanttoturnallRPintoaspotlightonthem,andcanbeveryunpleasanttogamewith.Everyonegetsalittleself-centeredandlossperspectiveonceinawhile,sowhenconflictsarise,trytobeunderstanding.However,ifsomeoneismakingahabitofitandwillnotrespondfavorablytoyourattemptstocommunicatewiththem(dotrytocommunicatefirstandgetthemtorecognizetheirproblem),itisbesttoavoidthem,eitherbyremovingyourselffromthegroup,orbyremovingthemifyou’reinapositionofauthority. Metagamingisthethirdmajorareaofconflict.It’sanothermarkofaninexperiencedplayer(orinmycase,whenI’mreallytired):usinginformationthatyourcharactershouldn’tknowandbringingitintothestory.Ifyou’vemetapersonforthefirsttime,andthey’renotpubliclyknown,youdonotknowtheirnameorsupergroupaffiliationjustbecauseit’swrittenabovetheirhead!Thatinformationisn’tpresentinthegameworld!Similarly,acharactermayhaveinformationwrittenintheirbiothatclearlyisn’tmeanttobepublicknowledge. Metagamingcansometimeshappenbyaccident.Whenyoudoit,politelyapologize,andasktheotherplayersto“rewindthescene”and“retcon”.Whenotherplayersdoit,politelybringitup,andsuggestthattheydothingsover. Conversely,there’santi-Metagaming,whichisrefusingtoacceptelementsofacharacter’sback-
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ground.Hassomeonedecidedheorsheisafamoussuperhero?Ignorethat,eventhoughtheirbiosaysthey’reahouseholdname!Youdon’tlikethatsome-oneisplayingaparticularrole?Refusetogivethemanyacknowledgementforit!Whilesomebiosaresouberorpoorlywrittenthattheyinvitethisreaction,ingeneral,thisisprettyrude.Respectpeople’sconceptsinthesamewayyouwantthemtorespectyours. Theme Conflictisthefourthmajorsourceofconflictbetweenplayers.There’salotofthemesincomicbooks,eachthemeappealstoadifferentfan-baseandnotallofthemarecompatible.Whenyour“codevs.killing”heromeetsupwith“BloodyMassacreMcGuns”,expecttheretobetrouble,bigtrouble.Youmayfinditdifficulttoco-exist.Lookforplayersandgroupswhocloselyalignwithyoursensibilities.IfyoujointheSilverAgeLegionnaires,andyou’replayinga90sstyleanti-herowhothinksthatwearingtightsaresexuallydubious,you’reinthewronggroup. BewareplayingcharacterswhoareInstantCon-flict Magnets.ThemostcommonoftheseincludetheJerkwhoTicksEveryoneOff,theGoody-Two-ShoesWho’sAlwaysWantingtoSmiteEvil,theGuyWho’sAlweaysGettingDemonicallyPossessed,andtheHomicidalMadDogWhoReallyNeedstobePutDownForEveryone’sSake.Similarly,pleaseavoidtheRobotWhoCallsAllOrganicsMeatbags,theGlibBadassWhoCan’tTakeAnythingSeriously(notethatoneortwoinagroupisfine,butapreponderanceoftheseinagroupgenerallykillsdrama),andtheImmortalWhoSneersat“PunyMortals”.It’sokaytoplaytoneddownversionsofthese--intercharacterdramaisagoodandnecessarythingthatkeepsagamefromgettingdull--butthemostextremeandoverblownofthesecom-moncharactertypesarejustaskingforOOCconflictthatcankillanRPgroup. Conflictshouldbesavedfordramaticmoments;itshouldn’tbethestatusquoforagroup. Also,betolerantofstylisticdifferencesandprefer-ences.YoumaythinkSuperman,Punisher,Wolverine,Lobo,etc.isabadcharacterordislikeaparticulareraofcomicsoraparticularcreatororstoryline.Thesemayseemlikeoutofgameissues,butthesefactorsextendtoourattitudetocharactertypesandstory-linesingame.Beawarethatthereareotherpeopleoftasteandintelligencewhohavedifferentopinions,
andareentitledtothem!Alotofusaregeeks,andgeekscanbeopinionated,anddiscussionscanbeinteresting.Butdon’tbeajerkaboutit,anddon’tdriveyouropinionsintotheground.ThereisnoOneTrueWayofanythingunderthesun. Rolemongeringisanothersourceofconflict.Thisisanotherhallmarkofyoungplayerswhowanttobeascoolaspossible,sotheirninjais“thegreat-estninjaintheworld”ortheirbrickhouseis“thestrongestdudeintheworld”.Moresubtly,therearepeoplewhotreatcharacterresources(beitbygivingthemselvesanextremelywealthycharacterorgreatmagicalpowersorbeingsosmartorexperiencedthattheyinstantlyhavethesolutiontoeverything)asaadevicetohandwaveconflictand/ormakethemselvesinvincible.Don’tplayinvulnerablecharacterswhocandoeverything:theytendtoannoypeople.Respectotherpeopleinthesameniche. Somepeoplewanttoplaythepoorstrugglinghero(alaPeterParkerintheAmazingSpider-Man).Don’thaveyourDaddyWarbucksguygouptohimandstriphimofhispreferredcharacterbackground--Iappreciatethatyouwanttoplayaphilanthropist,butgivethemawayout.Evenmoreobnoxiously,don’ttreatmagicorsuperintelligenceorhigh-powerlevelsasatrumpcard.Thisisacomicbookgenre,magesandmanysupersareverypowerful.However,noone’sinvulnerable,andnoonehasthesolutiontoeveryproblematthedropofahat.Uber-charactersareboring.It’sokaytoplayaheavyweight,butmakesurethatyourcharacterhassomewayofreasonablynotmoppingthefloorwitheveryone. Therearealsonoinherentlysuperiorpowers.Magicdoesnotautomaticallytrumpnon-magic,psionicsdoesnotautomaticallyturnanon-telepath’sbrainintotapioca,etc. WhileIdidn’tputitinthetopfive,IneedtoincludeLogisticsasanothermajorconcern.RPisacommitment,especiallynon-LightRP.YoucanjoinalargeRPgroupandfindit’sdraggingoryou’rejuststandingarounddoingnothing.Ifalongscenarioistemptingyoutoshiftyourattentionawayfromthegroup.trytokeepaneyeonthingseveryfewminutesandbereadywithyourordersasquicklyasyoucangivethem.Sometimes RP is an exercise in patience. Ifyou’reGMing...well,that’saseparatearticleon
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itsown.First,runwithothergoodGMsasaplayer,andstealliberallyfromtheirmethodsofkeepingagamerunningsmoothly.Trytomakesurethere’sachallengeforeveryone,thateveryonewhowantsonegetsatleastOneMomentofCool.Don’tbeoverpro-tectiveofyourvillains--theyareNOTyourchildren--andbemindfulthatyourjobistochallengetheheroesandmakethemearnatriumphinafunway. Ifsomeonehastoleaveagameearly,don’tgetmad.Reallifehappens,andit’smoreimportantthanourRP.Trytoavoiddoinganythingwithotherpeople’scharacterswhilethey’reawayunlessthey’vegivenyoupermission--ifnecessary,handwavethemoutofthescenario.
I want to RP but I just can’t seem to connect with anyone! Why is RP so damn hard?Thisisabigproblemformany,includingmyself.Atitscore,RPissocialinteraction,andifyousuckatsocialinteraction,chancesare,youwon’tbeverygoodatRP,atleastatthestart. YoushouldviewRPasaskilltobedeveloped,notasanattributethatyounaturallypossessthatneverchanges.Socialskills,likeanyskill,takespractisetodevelop.ForthosewithpsychologicalconditionslikeAsperger’sorADHD,itisdoublyhardtodevelopthisskill,becauseyou’relackingtheemotionaltoolsetortheattentionspantomakegoodRPwork,andironically,RPoftenattractspeoplewiththosecondi-tions.Atitsworst,itcanleadtoconstantrejectionthatfeedfeelingsofself-loathingandcontributestodepression.Therearepeoplewhoshouldn’tRP,justasthereareout-of-shapepeoplewithherniasshouldn’tpractisetheshotput.They’rejustnotsociallyoremo-tionallycutoutforit.Ifyou’reconstantlymiserableorfrustratedwhenyouRP,considerdoingsomethingelsewithyourtime.There’snoshameinwalkingaway.However,ifyoudon’toccupythatextremeandyoustillhavetroubleconnecting,here’ssomebasicadvice. First,RPcharacterswhoareinteresting(boringisaturnoff)andsociable(don;tbesurprisedifnoonewantstobearoundyourpsychoticorincrediblyrudecharacter).Thiscanrequirealotofpractisetofindtherightbalance.Aperfectcharacterisdull;yourchar-acterneedstohaveflaws.Buttheflawscannotbeso
badthatthey’reaturnofftootherplayers,orbalancethemwithqualitiesthatwillmakeyourveryflawedcharacterinterestingtoothers. Second,becommunicative,especiallyoutofcharacter.Thisisveryhardforyouifyou’reahardcoreimmersionistandheavyRPer,becauseyoudon’tlikebreakingcharacter.Iunderstand.Butdoitanyways.Peopleneedtogettoknowyouandfeelcomfort-ablearoundyou.Theyalsoneedtodiscoverthatthepersonathatyouprojectisn’tnecessarilyyours.Youshouldalso,atcomfortablemoments,bewillingtocanvasspeopleaboutyourRP,particularlyifyouhaveafeelingyou’veunintentionallybotheredsomeone. Third,beproactive.FindacommunityofpeoplewithsimilarRPinterests.Don’texpectpeopletocatertoyourRPneeds.Areyoubored?TurnamissionoranAlertintoamini-event. Fourth,beattentive.KeepaneyeoutforpeoplewhoareofferingRPopportunities.Ifmostofthegoodstuffispostedaheadoftimesonforums,don’thuff“Ineverdogameforums”andgetpissedoffbecausethe“cliques”ortheSGIlluminatiareRPingwithoutyou.Instead,getonthoseforumsandpayattentiontoeventlistingsandthreads.Youdon’thavetopartici-pateintheforumculture. Fifth,bepatient.Youshouldbeproactive,butdorememberyou’redealingwithhumanbeingsandnotautomatons.Ifyouaskifanyone’sRPingandnooneanswers,chancesareit’snotaboutyou.Peopledon’thateyou,they’rebusywithotherthingsornotpayingattentiontowhateverchannelyou’reusing,oryou’vecaughtthematabadtime.Ifyou’veaskedtwiceandnoone’svolunteeredtorunalairwithyou,don’tragequit.Yes,you’retryingtobeproactive,andthat’sgreat!Butcutpeoplesomeslack,evenwhenitseemsobviousthey’rejerkingyouaround. Sixth,bepositive,especiallyoutofcharacter.Yes,therearethingsinthegamewhichsuck.TherearepeopleinthegamewhoarenotgoodRPers.Therearemanybadbiostomock.Therearelotsofthingsyoucouldcomplainaboutandbeabsolutelycorrectinev-erythingyousay...butconstantnegativityfrequentlyproducesatoxicsocialenvironmentandthat’sgoingtorepelpeople.Again,yoursocialskillscanmitigatethissomewhat,evenso,it’sbettertoappreciatethegoodthingsyouhavethantofocusonthebadstuff.
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There’ssomereallygoodpeopleandRPinthisgame,andtheydeserveyourattentionaheckuvalotmorethansomeminorbitchofthemoment.Avoidtheimpulsetomockpeople(exceptwhenit’sgood-hu-moredandyouknowtheydon’tmind)orventaboutpeople,regardlessofhowgooditmaymakeyoufeelinthemoment.Argueonlywhennecessary,andpickyourbattlescarefully.Somethingscan’tbeunsaid,sodon’tsaythematall.
Do you have advice for writing my orders?Keepthingssimple.Ifyourdescriptionsfrequentlyrequiremorethantwoparagraphblocks,you’reprobablywritingtoomuch.Avoidthe“walloftext”syndrome.
How important is continuity to the Champions RP community?Itvariesfromgrouptogroup.Manydon’tknowthelorethatwell,andabidebytheirown.Thiscanmakeforsomeconflictsbetweengroups,butChampionsloreisveryflexible,andaccommodatingtoawideva-rietyofconcepts.Groupcontinuityismoreimportantthanuniversecontinuitythanworldcontinuity.TheloreinthisdocumentisanattempttohelppeopleinpartoftheRPcommunitygetonthesamepage,but(again)avoidloreargumentswhenyoucan.
What if I don’t like the lore?Mostpooplearecriticalofsomeaspectsoftheloreand/oritsinterpretationingame.Champions’originalPnPcreatorswereheavilyinfluencedbyBronzeAgeMarvelComicsandmadenoapologiesaboutcreatinghomages.BecauseIwasweanedonthosesamebooks,Ilikethat,butmanywithmoreIronAgesensibilitiesdonot.Additionally,muchofthegamewasoriginallywrittenwithalight/camptonethatisn’tappealingtoamoreseriousroleplayingperspec-tiveanditcangrate(thoughthegame’stonehasevolvedastimehasgoneby).Youshould,however,beabletofindsomeelementsoflorewithwhichyoucanconnectyourcharacter,oragroupthatexistsmostlyoutsidegameloreifyoustilldon’tlikeit.
Is it okay to play canon characters, or someone who’s related to a canon character?
Thegeneralconsensusisthatit’sproblematic,andmanyRPerscamefromWorld of Warcraft,wherechar-acterswhowerecloselyrelatedtocanoncharacterswerenotwellreceived,andleftabadtasteinmanyplayers’mouths.However,characterswithconnec-tionstocanonorganizationssuchasPRIMUSandUNTILarecommonandwidelyaccepted.
Is it okey to play characters from comic books, such as Conner Kent or Mark Grayson?Thegameprohibitsclones,directcopiesofcharactersfromcomicbooks.forlegalreasons.RPers,alongwitheveryoneelse,shouldabidebytherestrictionsofthegameandhonortheiragreementtoabidebytheTermsofService,whichwedidbeforewefirstranthegame.Additionally,manyRPerslookdownonclones,orpeoplewhochosetodirectlyimportelementsfromothermediaintoChampionsOnlineRP,suchasSaiyans,fortheirlackofcreativity.However,quiteafewgroupshave,particularlythosewhoplayurbanfantasy/occultgames,importedlargeamountsoftheoriginalWorld of Darkness settingfromWhiteWolfintothegame,andafewothershavebroughtthegrimdarknessofWarhammer 40KintoChampionsOn-line.Theconventionvariesfromgrouptogroup,mostpeoplepreferthatyoucreateanoriginalcharacter.
That sounds kind of elitest!RPershavecertainlybeenaccusedofthat,butelitismcanbefoundinanysegmentofagamepopulation.Snobberyandcliquishnessdohappen,anditcanbeunfortunate,howevermanyRPershaveatleastafewgoodreasonsfortheirstandards.It’sokaytohavestandards,butit’sbadtobesoexclusionistthatyouunnecessarilyshooawaygoodRPersfromyourgame.Aswithmanythingsinlife,worktowardfindingagoodbalance.
So how compatible is Champions Online to World of Darkness?Morethanyoumightexpect;DeanShomshak,whowrotemuchofthemysticloreforthesetting,alsowroteforWhiteWolf.However,playersdobringsomeproblemswiththem. Thereisn’tmuchvampireloreinChampions,justasthereisn’tmuchsuperheroloreinWorldofDark-
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ness;thetwogamesarenottryingtodothesamething.ThefirstknownvampireinloreisVladTepes,howeverhe’snotstatedasthefirstofhiskind(infact,nooneis). IfyoubringWorldofDarknessloreintoChampionsOnline,pleaseabidebytworecommendedrestric-tions.First,keeptheeditionwarstoyourself.Idon’tcarehowmuchyoumaythinkNWoDsucked,espe-ciallyMage,justasyoudon’tneedtohearmearguewithaChampionsgrognardonwhetherornotthe4theditiongroupCLOWNdeservestobeinthesetting.Editionwarsaretedious.Secondly,pleasenotethatvampiresandWoDcharactersareonaneventfootingwitheveryoneotherplayercharacter.SomeWoDplay-ersliketoactasiftheircharactersareatthetopofthefoodchain.Thetruthis,inthisworld,you’renotmorespecialthantheothercharactersofthesetting.Actingasthoughyouaremerelygivesurbanfantasyplayersabadreputationinthegame.
Can I create my own supernatural race?InthewordsoftheapostlePaul,allthingsareper-missable,butallthingsarenotbeneficial.Championscan(andshould)rewardcreativity,however,becarefulnottogetsowrappedupinthecoolthingsyourracecandothatit’sseenasapowergrab.Thatsaid,asyousawfromthesectionondimensions,theuniverseisprettyopen.Playersshouldbeencouragedtobecreative.
What about my City of Heroes character? Can I bring her into Champions Online RP?ManypeoplechosetocontinuethestoryoftheircharactersfromCityofHeroes,andotherschosetomake“paralleluniverse”versionsfortheChampionsIP.Someplayersfrownontheformer,especiallyifthecharactersjumpbackandforthfreelybetweenthetwosettings(PleasenotethatIdon’thaveaproblemwiththisatall,butothersdo).However,therearemanygoodcharacterswhostartedinCityofHeroesandtheRPcommunitywouldbepoorerwithoutthem. WithCiityofHeroes’unfortunaterecentclosure,there’sbeenaverywelcomeinfluxofgoodRPersinroChampionsOnline.Thereis,however,nouniiversallyagreedonresolutionoftheeventsofCityOf...Some
peoplearetreatingtheendofthegameasacatastro-phefromwhichheroesandvillainsarefleeing.Othersareignoringtheendofthegame.Thisissomethingthatshouldbedecidedbyindividualgroupsandplay-ersshouldtrytorollwithdifferingexplanationsastheyencounterthem. ChampionsOnlineplayersshouldberespectfultoplayerswho’vecomefromParagon;similarly,City of Heroes playersshouldn’tcomeintothegameonlytoragontheloreandthegameplay.ChampionsOnlinewouldn’texistwithoutthetrailblazingeffortsofCityofHeroes;similarly,theoriginalCoHbackgroundwasdevelopedinaChampionsPnPRPG.Thetwogamesshareacommonlink.It’sokaytohavepreferences,buttrytobepositiveandrespectful.
I was in Caprice, and I saw a group calling them-selves Caprice Inc., and they didn’t know the lore! Should I go up to them and tell them that they’re doing it wrong?Um,onlyifyoucandoitreallydiplomaticallyandbewillingtoacceptthattheymaynotbeplayingalong.Noteveryoneknowstheloreofthisgame--muchofitisnotreadilyavailable--andsomepeoplejustwanttoplayarolelike“clubowner”withoutanyonespoilingtheirfun.Ifthey’regoodplayerswhoarefuntorole-playwith,it’sbettertoforgiveafewloreviolationsthanbecomeahardcaseandactlikeajerk. You are not the lore police.Iwroteabitofthelore,andI’mnotthelorepoliceeither!Trustme,youdon’twantthejob.
What’s up with Caprice anyway? It’s supposed to be a superhero club, yet all I saw were demon/vampire halfbreed lesbians and furry creatures! Capricedoesattractaparticularcrowdthatloudlyad-vertisesitsfetishes.You’rewelcometonotlikethemandignorethem.Pleasedon’tgointotheplacetotellthemhowmorallywrongtheyare.Oddsaretheywon’tlisten. Capricehasastigma,likemanyMMORPhubs,fortheextremepersonalitiesandcharactertypesitat-tracts.AsaRPlocus,italsoattractspeoplewhoarenewtoRPwhoarestillintheprocessoflearningit,sothereisalotofbadRPtofoundthere.Thiscancolorone’simpressionsofthisgame’sRPandevenRPingeneral. But.. TherearegoodRPerstobefoundtheretoo,even
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amongsomeofthefolksplayingcharactersyoumightinitiallydismissas“ERPtoons”.Beopentolookingforthem.Don’tletafewbadexperiencescoloryourimpressionsofeverymemberofthatcommunityanddon’tsmearitasawhole,eitheronchannelsorprivately.
What’s ERP?Eroticrole-play.EssentiallyusingRPasacombinationofphonesexandpornwritingtoexperiencesexualactivitybetweenplayers. IfyouchosetoERP,pleaseabidebytworestrictions.First,keepitprivate.Youdon’tneedtobroadcastthevolumeofyoursuper-orgasmorthesizeofyoursupermanhoodforalltheworldtohear.Second,keepitlegalandconsensual.Ifyou’reanadultplayer,pleasedoyourbesttomakesurethatnoneoftheotherplayersinvolvedareminors.AvoidrapeRP,andavoidERPwithgrosslyunderagecharacters(andyes,the500yearoldvampirewholookslikeakidstillcounts).Onitsown,likeitornot,ERPalreadystigmatizestheRPcommunityofanyMMO.Howeveritsmoreextremeand“deviant”areasreallyhurtourreputation.PleaserespecttheothermembersoftheRPcommunitybyavoidingthem.
Ew!Inagamewithabroadcommunitythough,thingswillhappenthatyouorImaynotapproveof.Trytobereasonableandrespectfulofotherpeople’stastesandsensibilities.Thereareafewareas,suchastheaforementionedtypesofERP,whereIdrawtheline,howeverit’sgoodtodrawlinesonlywhennecessary.
Someone told me Caprice was neutral ground, while another person said it was for villains! Lorewise,it’sneither.NoAmericanlawenforce-mentagencywouldallowsuchahighprofilelocationtobeahavenforwantedsupercriminals.MillenniumCityclearlystatesthat.althoughLewisFreylikesthehintofscandal,hehasstayedonthestraightandnarrowsince1985.Furhermore,theauthorities(andNighthawk)watchhimprettycarefully.It’snotavil-lainclub,norneutralground. However... Muchofthecommunitydoesn’tknowthislore,andwouldn’tcareeveniftheydid.Theydon’tcareif
theplacewouldn’tbeallowedtoexistoverthelongtermifmurdersweretakingplacedailythere.Theyaren’tinteresredinplayingclassicheroes:they’reheavilyinfluencedbytheurbanfantasyandIronagegenres,andtheywantan“anythinggoes”placeforRP,becausetothem,asocialinstancewithoutfrequentconflictisboring,andanybarrier(suchascontradict-inglore)thatgetsinthewayoftheirfunshouldbeignoredwithextremeprejudice. Inessence,CapriceistwoRPcommunitieescoexistingsidebyside.Onecommunityshunsconflict,williignoreitwhenithappens,andwillresistbeingdrawnintoit.Theotherthrivesonit,pullingoutweaponsandthreateningpeopleatthedropofahat. Sowho’sright? Lorewise,Isidewiththefirstgroup.Bouncersshouldbestoppingfights,thesecuritysystemshouldberecordingtroublemakerswhoshould,attheveryleast,bebarredfromtheclub.Peopleshouldrecog-nizeitasasuperheroclubandbecircumspectaboutstartingtrouble. ButRPisn’taboutlore,it’saboutcharacteradop-tionandhavingagoodtimeinteractingwithpeoplesocially.MuchoftheClubCapricecommunitylikestheclubasan“anythinggoes”zone,andit’snotreallymyplacetotellpeoplethey’redoingitwrong. Ifyouchoosetoshunconflict,anditbreaksoutaroundyou,trytoavoidsnarkycommentsandletthemhavetheirfun,evenifitseeemsridiculoustoyou.Ifyou’reinitiatingacombat,don’tdrawinunwill-ingpeopleanddon’tgetupsetifsomepeopleignoreyou.TheRPidealisthateveryonehasagoodtime,andoneperson’sideaofagoodtimeisn’tnecessarilyyours.Trytorespectthis,evenifyoudisagreewithit.
So, when I see an evil character in Caprice, my hero should arrest him?Inmyexperience,thisisarecipeforOOCtrouble.RPconflictrequirescooperationandtrust.andmostplayerswhoplay“evil”inCapricearen’twillingtogiveitunlessyou’veearneditthroughextensiveRPwiththeirgroup. Iknowit’shardtoplayaclassicherowhenfivefeetawayfromyou,agroupofdemonsiscommittinganunspeakableatrocity.However,you’renotcomingoutofthesituationasawinner,regardlessofwhatyoudo.
CO Lore Primer: •The Mullet’s Guide to RP • 61
ifyou’rewellintegratedintotheCapriceRPsubcommunity,thenyoucanprobablybeinvolvedinconflictswithoutOOCdramaandenjoythem.How-ever,don’texpecttogetawaywiththisuntilyou’vebuiltuparapportwithyourfellowplayersanddon’timposeyourplaystyleonpeoplewhoaren’twillingtogoalongwithyou. Also,ifyouareRPingalawenforcementcharac-ter,pleaserememberthathearsayisnogroundsforarrest.ApersoninCapricecanboastaboutbeingaserialkilleranddoingthousandsofevilacts.Withoutevidence,it’sjustajerkmouthingoff,andwon’tholdupincourt.However,ifyou’replayingadetective,youmightusetheirremarksasastartingpointforaninvestigation(pendingcooperationfromtheotherplayer).
I saw a child character in Caprice. Are children really allowed in nightclubs?Intherealworld,thereareclubsinMichiganwhereminorsareallowed;somelimitittoearlyeveninghoursandrequireadultsupervisioninthebararea.ThereisnoloreonanyrestrictionsofthisnatureinCaprice,butit’sreasonabletoextrapolatethatsuchrestrictionswouldexist. Again,thisisoneofthosesituationswherearguingaboutitisn’tworththehassle.Attheveryleast,PMtheplayerfirstbeforeinitiatingaconflictovertheissue,bepolite.anddon’tbeoffendediftheygetdefensive.
I was in Caprice and there were people there who were clearly not role-playing. Should they have been there at all?Capriceisasocialinstance.It’sforeveryone,notjustRPers.Don’tassumeeveryonethereisanRPer.Wedon’towntheplace,weallneedtocoexist.
How should RPers interact With Non-RPers?Ascourteouslyandreasonablyaspossible.AvoidRPinverycrowdedareasofthegameworld,suchasthePow-erhouse.Don’tRPinZonechat.Don’tuseRPconventions(suchasdoublebracketingoutofcharacterremarks)whileteamingwithnon-RPers.Don’tactinanywaythatsuggestsyou’reevangelizingRPorforcingitdownthethroatsofnon-RPers.Asidefromthat,doitproudlyandenjoyit.MMOsareanoutgrowthofPnPRPGs.We’rethe
reasonthegenreexistsinthefirstplace.Wehavenoth-ingtobeashamedof,andanyonewhotriestomakeyoufeelashamedofbeinganRPerisanidiot.
What should I do if someone harasses me for RPing?Harassing,orGriefing,asit’ssometimescalled,isshal-lowandstupidandamarkofimmaturityonthepartofthebullywho’sdoingit.RPersareseenasexcessivelydramaticandthereforeattractsbulliesinthesamewaythatthesmallnerdykidontheplaygroundattractsthem.Sometimesyoucanshamethebulliesbygivingbackworsethanyouget,butI’vefoundthebestthingtodoistouseyourIgnoreListimmediately.They’reinterestedinprovokingaresponsefromyou,don’tgivethemone,andthey’llusuallymoveon.Ifit’sreallyegregious,reportthem,butleavethatasalastresort. Pleasenote,however,thatit’seasytomistakeasillycharacterwho’sbeingaminornuisanceintheirRPforagriefer.Iftheydon’tbreakdownthefourthwallorgoOOC,don’tputthemonIgnore.Trynottogetsodefensiveaboutgriefersthatyouloseyoursenseofhumor.
There’s a lot of negatives here. Are you sure RP is fun?Anyseriousanalysistendstofocusonnegatives,andhumanbeingsareoftenwiredsothatpainhasagreaterandmorelastingimpactthanpleasure.However,whenanRPgoeswell,andyoureallydofeellikeyou’vesteppedintoacomicbookoragreatadventuremovie,it’sanincrediblycoolexperience,andwellworthdealingwithalotofcraptoenjoy.Furthermore,thereareatonofgreatpeopleingame,andRPisawonderfulmediumtogettoknowthemandforgelong,lasting,andenjoyablefriendships.So,havefun,andgivetothecommunitywithgusto!Yougetoutofthishobbyonlywhatyouputintoit!
CO Lore Primer: • Index • 62
X: Index
AA’asifaRumlia33Abyss,the38,50AceBurgers20AceHelena34AceHellion34Achilles35ACI12,15,20,21,53AdairPublishinggroup19Adept,the33Aeskaldr28Afghanistan16,22Africa8,9,15,30,33Agharti42Akumashibaru33Albion32All-American10,12,32,35All-American,the10,12,32,35Alliance31Alliance,the31Almena,Andre12,43,48AmazingGrace34AmazingMan34AmazingManII22Ambush33AmericanAvenger32AmericanEagle34Amphibian24AngelstoneLaboratories21Anodynes48Anthari48Arc31Arcane31Archangel34Archimago34Archmage9,14,23,26Archmage,the9,14,23,26Ares22ARGENT11,15,20,21,22,53Argosy14,32AriaxThone(seeFirewing)Arlequin34Armadillo36Armstrong,Damon(seeJuryrig)Arsenic31Arvad9,14,24,34,39Assiah,the49,50AstralPlane,the49Atlanta31Atlantis6,8,9,28,29,35,37Atlas32
Atomica34Atziluth,the4,50Augury32Autour32Avalon49Awad11,17,20
BBabylon49Badhana33BaiHou32Baker,Richenda42Ballistic33Baltimore31Ban,the8,50BaronNihil32Bastille32BastionAlpha21BattleofDetroit12,14,24,34,40BayGuardians32Beacon34BeastMountain25,37Beatles,the49Beek33BehindtheMask18Bennie,Scott6,7Beowulf33Beowulf(silverage)34Berman,Leonard40Bhutatodana33Binder12Biselle,Calvin40Black,Luther11Black,Luther(seeLutherBlack)BlackAces,the40BlackFang42BlackHarlequin26BlackLegion,the34Blacklight32BlackMace19BlackMask9,10,13,24,34BlackMaskIX34BlackMaze,the50BlackPaladin8,13,26BlackPower34BlackRose31Blackstar12BlackTalon27BlackTiger33
Blaze33Blazon32BleakOnes14,24,39BleakOnes,the24Blink31Bloodmoon16Bloodstone26BloodTide,the49BlueBoys44BlueFlame32Bodyguard31Boer,the33Bogenschutze,der32Bonc32BonneVivian10,34BookoftheDestroyer6BookoftheEmpress6Bookworm34Boston11,31Boxer32Bravo31Brawler31,34BrawlerII34Briah,the4,50Brigade32BrinReiTarn12,43BronzeKing,the8,39BrooklynAvenger,the31Bulletproof34BureauS32Burnham,Eric5BurningSands11,17Burrell,David(seeJusticiar)Buzzsaw34
CCabotia49Caliburn,Robert14,23,26,42California9,10,27,31CaliforniaPatrol,the31Cameroon31CampLantern15Canada6,8,9,13,14,15,22,25,26,28,
29,32,34,38,40,49CanadianGhost34Canadoom34CapeVerde37CapitalPatrol32CaptainChronos22CaptainGlory31
CO Lore Primer: •Index • 6�
CaptainPatriot9,11,34Caracal33CarolinaIslands10Cascade32Cassidy,thomas11Cat’sCradle(seeLynx’Fold)Cekic34Celestar10,11,13,24,28,32,34Chakram33ChamakanaDhala33Champions3,5,6,7,8,13,14,15,16,17,
18,19,20,21,22,24,25,26,27,31,35,38,40,42,47,48,49,52,53,54,56,57,58
Champions,the5,6,7,8,13,14,15,16,18,19,20,21,22,24,25,26,31,35,38,40,48,49,53,56,58
Champions:TheNewMillennium5ChampionsBeyond5,47ChampionsoftheNorth6ChampionsOnline5,6,7,8,15,17,18,19,
20,21,24,25,27,31,38,42,48,52,53,54,57,58
ChampionsVillains6CharmGirl33Chatelaine,La32Chicago31ChildrenofAtaturk34ChildrenofAtaturk,the34China10,27,32,42Chiquador17Chrono48Cincinnati31CircleoftheScarletMoon9,22,26ClaireDeLune34Clockwork32CLOWN5ClubCaprice3,13,19,41,50,53CobraLords,the40COMET32Condor32Constable14,32Constable,the32Contact31CONTROL14,48Corsair31Cowboy34Crossbow31CrownsofKrim26Crusher(Britishvillain)32Crusher(hero)34Cryptic5,6,7,38,40,50,52Cuchullain33Currie,Rodney22Cybele49Cyberline35Cyberlord25CyraxtheConqueror34
DDaktaraUpaya33Dargon34DarkSeraph11,26,34Dart34DaughteroftheMoon32DeathDragon,the20,26,42Decibelle31Defender3,13,14,21,24,25,26,31,6,9,
10,18,20,22,29,31DefendersofJustice,the9,10,34,37DeizzhoraththeDissolver50DEMON(organization)6,9,10,18,20,22,
29,31DEMON:ServantsofDarkness6DemonflameIncident,the11Dendrians43Dendris43Denver31Derringer,Mark13,26,38DerScwarzTode33Destreum35Destroid27Destruga11,12,40Detroit12,14,17,24,27,34,40DeuceLaRoche34Diadem31Diamond31,34DīshēngLong32DoctorDestroyer9,12,27Dogz,the42Dooley,Vincent40Dorvala25,46Dorvalans44,46Dorvalans,the44,46DOSPA11,16Downshift31Dr.Black18Dr.Cerebro34Dr.Demogaard30Dr.Eclipse31Dr.Ka24,42Dr.Macabre34Dr.Phantom34Dr.Scarab24,34Dr.Silverback11,19,37Dr.Twilight34Dr.Vox31Dr.White18Draco34Draconis30Dracul,Vladic42Dracula(VladTepes)9,42DragonBranch30DragonCrownofKrim29Dragonfly32Draja25
Drake-Victoria21DrakeIV,Arthur21Draysha35Dreamsinger34DreamTime,the49Drift31Drifter34Druid32Drune32DuchessIndustries21Dupree,Dr.Nelson41Durak27Dusquene,Bethany(seeWitchcraft)DustDevil32Dwarfstar31Dweomer33DynamicTechnologies21
EEarthquakeFist32Eckhardt,WilliamCarl12Eclipse26,31,34Eclipse*hero)34Edenshaw,Billy(seeRavenspeaker)Egypt32Eight-WaysLightning32ElderWorm8ElderWorms,the43Eldritch32Electrotitan31ElPicaro18ElSpectro34Elysium49EmpireStateBuilding27Empyreans,the8,37,39,48England32Ergath43,44Ergons,the44Essec,EdgarLancelyn9,13,30Europa10,48Eurostar11,12,13,27EvenWilderWest,the49Examiner,the48ExecutiveControlSanctions21
FFabulousFive,the34,37Faerie49,50FalconMan32Fallout32FaltrahLem39Far-Strider47Fassai,the44Fatalla34FatherElk37Faultline31Feuermacher27
CO Lore Primer: • Index • 64
Fiacho27Fidobakku33Firefight34Firewall31Firewing14,25,27,45FistofAllah,the33FlameGem26Flashover31FlechetteI34FlechetteII34Force26ForceknightII34ForceknightIII13,24ForceknightIV34ForceStationSteelhead6,13,14,15,24,38Fordite35Foxbat13,15,27France32FreedomBattalion34FreedomPatrol32FreedomPatrol,the32Freon30Frey,Lewis10,13,19FrontiersmanProject29FrostTomb,the11,14,24,28,38,49FutureScope21
GGadgetBoy25,33Gadgets!18Gadro44Gadroon11,13,14,27,28,38,44,46Galaxars,the48Gargoyle,the34Gateway13,21,29,50Gateway(UNTILspacestation)21GatewayBetweenWorlds29,50GatewayBetweenWorlds,the29,50Gazelle,the33GeneralWinter34Geon48Germany32Geschwindigkeit32Gigaton27,36Gizli34Glassman,Phillip29Gloran48Goblin34GoldenAvenger11,13,17,35,41GoldenHunters45GoldenHunters,the45Goldfire34Goodman,Horatio14,22GossamerStorm32GothicMetroplex49GrandCienelagoIsland3,13,19GraniteMan32
Gravitar13,15,27GreenKnight31GreenMonday10Griffi,the34Grishl47Grond13,30,41Gundhar37Gunetalev34Guru,the34GuySweetland42GyeroyVedun33Gyrfalcon42
HHa’Pele33hampionsUniverse*book)5HannibalGrey32Hardball34Harlick,Bruce5Harmon,James21,24,25,26,28HarmonEnterprises12HarmonIndustries21Harrier32Haynesville9,10,35HaynesvilleProject10,35HaynesvilleProject,the10,35Hazor9,37,39HeartofthePeople32HellcatSquadron,the34Herculan44HeroCorps,the31HeroGames(company)5HeroGames,the(televisedcombat)19HEROSystem5Hewitt,Christine40HiddenLands(sourcebook)6Hiemforth,Derek7HighApostolicChurch29,42HighSchoolWhereYou’reNaked,the49Himalayas42Himalayas,the42HiPan15Hitler,Adolph37Hopewell,Dr.Victor21HotSleep17Houston31HudsonCity38HumanPistol,the34Humbug34Hunter-Patriots,the14,29,38Hyperion27,32HyperkineticMan,the34Hzeel,the44,47
IIce,the38Icestar34
Ifrit,the33IHA11,27,29,30ImmenselyStrongOne32ImmortalPhilosopher32Impetus31India33Inframan31Insider,the32Iowa21Ironclad14,25,46IronHorse32IronwoodIndustrialTechnologies21Irradiates,the41IstvathaV’Han6,13,27,44
JJackFlash31,34JadePhoenix42JakobStroessen,Jakob(seTeleios)29JamesJ.Roswell21Janissary36Japan25,33,34,41Jetstream31JínLóngQuán32JohnnyHercules34JohnSchad22Johnson,Robert13JTF-X13Juryrig14,25JusticeForceOmega18JusticeSquadron9,31,34Justiciar13,14,24,25,32
KKadrigar44Kagamishoki33KalaTahBreval43Kansas9,31,35KansasCity31KapitanUkrayina33Kauffman,Robert11,13,41Kazan33Kazeronin33Kea,Queen42Kendrium35Kentucky12KidChameleon34Kigatilik8,10,14,24,28,32,34,38Kiku33Kinetik14,25KingArthur8KingsofEdom14,15,29,31,37,50KingVultok34Kivioq10,34Klee42Kodiak26Kōdōtai33
CO Lore Primer: •Index • 65
Krim26,29Krosk,the37Krugar,George40Kul-Tarak(seeTakofanes)
LL’espritsGuardiens32L’InstitutThoth22LaBruma31LadyLightning34LadyMystery34LadyofaThousandFire32Lamb,Geoff(seeAmphibian)LamKuei32Lancelot8LandofLegends,the49Landsman,the32Langford,Pete48Laurentia49Laurentian34Lawbringer,the48Lawrence,Lonnie(seeCelestar)Leafmaster32LeFort32LeftHandedWorld,the49Lemuria6,8,9,24,34,37,39Leviathan34Liberator34Liberator,the33LibertyLeague,the32LiChuntheDestroyer32Liquidator,the34LivingSphinx,the32Loge34LoheSainika33LondonWatch,the32Long,Steve5,6,7LordofRats,the33LoupeGarou34Lt.ColonelAaronVee22Lugendu17LutherBlack11,14,29,50Luvah50Lux31Lynx’sFold8,13,38
MMaat32MacDonald,George5,52MackenzieHouse22Mage31Magneton31Maine42Malva45Mamont33Mandaar45Mandaarians10,45
Mandaarians,the10,45Mandala31Mandragalore,the8,37,39Maniacs,the40Mara9,37Mariner34Mars22Martinez,Juan12,17Marus28,37MasqueradeI(seeFrey,Lewis)MasqueradeII34MbangMountain31McCaullife,Phillip40McCormack,Linda21McTyre,Shelley17Mechanic,the32Mechaniste30,32Mechanon11,13,16,28Medina,Alejandro(seeMenton)Mega-Destroid27Mega-Terak10,11,25MemorialCity40Mentalla27Menton14,27,28,48Messenger,the31MeteorMan31,34,47MeteorManIII31Miami31Microman34MightyCanadians,the10,24,28,34,49MightyHammer32MillenniumCity13,14,15,16,19,21,24,
26,29,31,40,41,53MillenniumCity(sourcebook)6MillenniumCityFreePress19,40MillenniumCityNews40MillenniumProject,the13MinistryofSuperhumanAffairs32,33MinistryofSuperhumanAffairs(india)33Mink,the34Mocker,the34Mogar47MoleMen39Molnya33Mon’dabi45Mon’da46Mondfeuer32Mongoose,the33Monsoon33MonsterIsland(sourcebook)7Monument32MoonbaseSerenity13,22Moorbrand34Mordace12,14,48Moreau,Dr.Phillipe11,25,37Mountain34Multifaria15,28,40,49MumbaiSantari33
Musketeer,the32Myrmidon18MysticWorld,the5
NNama8,9,10,11,13,30,31,51NarcCola20NASA22Necrull28,32,34,38Netherworld,the49,50Neutron33Neutronium35NewKnightsoftheRoundTable32NewMexico11,17,41NewOrleans31NewPaladins,the31NewPurpleGang,the40NewShadows,the42NewYorkCity31Nightengale34Nighthawk14,15,19,20,26NightWatch,the32Niikwan26,41Nimbus34Nocturne29,50Nordwind34NorthernGuard,the13,25,38NorthPole38Nova31
OOak32Obeliske32Ocelot34Ogurn37Oklahoma12,29Onslaught36OperationCoil10OperationHermes29Optimus34Orchardsville40Orichalcum35,37Osaka11Osiris24Ostrugar48Overlord,the32
PPantera27Pantheon33Panzer33Paradox31Peacekeepers,the31PeachBlossomSpirit32Pentagram32People’sLegion10
CO Lore Primer: • Index • 66
Perseids46PerseusProject10Peterson,Steve5,52PhantomSoldier32Pharos(Egyptianhero)32PharosIndustries21Philadelphia32Phoenix26,32Phytia48PlagueI34Poe,Sebastian11Poseidon37Potenstorm33PRIMUS3,11,13,17,18,35,41,57PrincessAureole34PrismGirl32ProfessorMorlak34Progenitors,the8,37,48ProjectAchilles35ProjectAscension35ProjectGreenskin13,41ProjectOnslaught36ProjectPerseus35,36ProjectSunburst13,36ProjectYeoman35Proteus31PSI11Psiclops18Putnam,Victor19Pwell,Anderson(Titan)21
QQliphothic29,39,50Questionite15,35,38Quicksilver32Qularr10,14,18,25,40,41,44,46
RR.TalosorianGames5Radion34Rakshasa14,27,28Rashindar33Raven(Haidatrickstergod)26,41Ravenspeaker26,28,32RavenswoodAcademy27,37,40RealityStorm,the48Recorder,the48RedBanners,the40RedBullet32Redcap33RedEnsignI34RedEnsignIII34Redstone30RedWinter15Renton,Peter(seeAmazingManII)Repulse32Retrograde32
Revenger10,34,47RexSterling34Rhiannon32Rictus34Ripper30Rocketman34Rockslide34Roin’esh15,46Roswell,JamesJ.21Roundhouse31Rowan34RusskiyeZashchitniki13,33
SSabaDevatao33Sadler,Lucinda21Samhain32SanDiego31SanFrancisco32SanSebastien42Sapphire14,26sasquatch38SasukiKatsoru25SasukiKatsoru(seeGadgetBoy)Sayeret-1933ScarletArcher(goldenage)34ScarletArcherI34ScarletArcherII34SceptreoftheUndying29Schad,Col.John22Scirocco34Scorpia27Scotland22Sea,the38Sea-TacSentinels32SeaHawk9,34SeaKing24,34SecretCrisis,the48Seine32Selenites10,47Selenites,the10,47Selenus46,47Sentinels31,32,33,34,37,48,53Sentinels,the31Sephirot,the49Sequoia31SergeantBattle34Serpent-Mages30Serpentine34SerpentLantern10,11,14,17,27,30Shade32Shadowboxer34ShadowDestroyer6,14,15,28,40,46Shadowman31Shamballah42ShaolinFive32Shaper,the48
Sharna-Gorak(theDestroyer)8,11,37ShiningDarkness,the50ShiningDawn32Shomshak,Dean7Shug’hla-Wthelg43Siffleur32SiliconKid,the31SilverAvengers17,35SilverScorpion31SilverShield19Siren34Siria47Sirians,the9,47Skunk-Ape42Sky,the38Skydragon34Skygirl34SkyProspect20,22SkyWhereYouFly,the49Slug,the11,34Slun33SNN11,18SocietyofEvil,the34SOCRATES21SoothingTouch32SovereignSons,the42SovietUnion,the10Spark33Sparrowhawk31Spooky,EmptyHouse,the49StalnoyVolk33Star*Guard,the10,12,14,15,43,45,48Star*Staffs48StarAvengers48Starburst34StarForce13,14,24,25StarGuardians(seeStar*Guard)StarJets48StarKnights48Steel-ShatteringFist32Steelheads,the13SteelShark34Stigma32Stingray24,28,37Stone,Franklin20,40StoneLabs15StraightArrow31Streak34StreakII34Streamline32Stronghold11,14,17,21,28,41,48Sturmvogel9,10,34Sturmvogel,der9,10,34Sub-Zero34SummerCloud32Sunburst36SundayPond42SUNDER13,26,29
CO Lore Primer: •Index • 67
Super-WorldMagazine19SuperheroDivision,the33SuperHistory18Superstar31SupremeSerpent13,14,21,30Surcheval32Surge31Surhoff,James40SurkhaKhamba33Survalesh33Suryabala33Swarmlord32SwashbucklerII34SwiftSwallow32Syeryebro33
TTaipan32Takofanes8,12,14,26,29,34Talisen32Talisman26Tapalahara33Taroindar46Tax’et26,41Technocrat32Technyik33Teikei33TejaVayu33Teleios13,29,32Temblor26Tetsuronin25,33Tetsuryu33Thaar42Thain,Glenn5Thalassa28Tharmas50TheArena19theCat32TheGoodmanInstitute21Therakiel14,23,26,29,42TheSixteenthBureau32TheTournamentoftheDragon,the20Thomas,Allen6Thorgons,the43,44Thrash32Thunderhead31Tiger34TigerSquad,the10,32Tightwire34Tilingkoot32Timberline10,34Tō33Tokyo10,33TokyoSuperSquad33Tomahawk31,34TommyCanada34Tor’Tagla48ToSaveTomorrow18
Totem32Totenkopf,der34TreyKings,the42Tribunaltreaty,the13Tricolor32TrismegistusCouncil9,22,26,42TrismegistusCouncil,the9,22,26,42Typhoon34Tyrannon28
UUltimates,the12Ultivac34Ultrasonique27Uncaped19UnholyOrderoftheGrandReptile,the9,
10,30UnitedNations10,17,18,37,42UnitedStates,the11,13,16,17,18,29,
31,40,41UNITY3,12,18UNTIL:DefendersofFreedom7Urizen50Urthona50Ushas33
VValereNoyer32VanDrotte,Henrietta21Vanguard10,11,12,34,40Vanguard(Vancouverbasedteam)34VanHelsingAct,the16Vayathurans,the47Vee,Lt.ColonelAaron22Veil,the49VeldarianConfederacy44VeldarianConfederacy,the44VeninVert32VenusScientificOutpost22VenusScientificOutpost(VSO)22ViboraBay14,16,24,25,29,42ViboraBay(sourcebook)7Victory(superheroine)22Vigil34VIPER7,9,10,11,13,14,18,19,20,21,25,
26,27,30,31,34,35,38,40,41VIPER-EurostarWar,the13VIPER-X30,34VIPER-X(original)34VIPER:CoilsoftheSerpent(sourcebook)7Viperia8,13,30VladicDracul42Volt32Voltage31VonSchoutz,Clyde29VoodooDoll32Vortex32
Voyageur32Vulnapyezdka33Vulshoth50
WWaed,Jennifer(BlackMaskX)24Wales32Walkabout32Walters,Jason7Warlord,the13Warmonger,the48WashingtonDC27,32Watch,the31Watts,Darren6,7WCOC41,53Westgote,der27WhiteLynx31WhiteSands11WhiteShroud31Whittaker,Mark(seeNighthawk)Windshear32Windsor24,40Windyburg49WinterDragon32Witchcraft14,19,26,29Witness,the42WTFL19,41
XXarriel48
YYengtaoTemple42Yeoman32Yetzirah,the4,49Ying32YinWu,Dr.32Yorunge34
ZZeel44Zeitgeist32Zempletpyasenee33Zenith31Zerstoiten,Albert(seeDoctorDestroyer)Zertorenstern22Zoas,Four50ZodiacMan,the31