(Superpowered Campaign Concept) The Spindoctors.

[The Unshaven]

I had a mad and terrible idea for a superpowered campaign today.

The PC group are in the employ of either a large metropolitan city council or a superhero organisation itself, I can't decide what would be funnier. Probably the council.

Their job is to... manage... problems as they arise regarding the big, high-profile superpowered beings fighting crime in the city.

Captain Astounding didn't read his prescription for flu-meds right and is now pantsless (but with cape!) terrorising the downtown bus station? Who gets to go contain him while making sure it's obvious that this is his evil duplicate from the Nth Dimension?

Yeah.

Someone blackmailing Thundersword and the Redcap with images from their little peccadillo regarding that thrown bus and the daycare center? ('factually reported' as being the act of disgruntled Mole People - very useful, Mole People)

Guess who needs to go get the negatives and prevent a repeat performance?

Yeah.

The public faces get all the glory. You get to clean up the messes and make the buggers shine - while keeping enough dirt on them to give leveredge if someone gets uppity again.

And no. You don't get a codename.

Because you were never there.

It'd be a fun mix of Men In Black and The Boys, if spun from a different angle.

- The Unshaven.

[MoonHunter]

So we have people without powers (to work the crowd and the comptuer), people with mind control powers, and paparatzzi (who can help take the photos nd documents), and there abouts. Having someone who can "magically repair things" would be handy too.

We have minor supers and smart agents cleaning up the mess of big supers.

[The Unshaven]

Originally Posted by MoonHunter

So we have people without powers (to work the crowd and the comptuer), people with mind control powers, and paparatzzi (who can help take the photos nd documents), and there abouts. Having someone who can "magically repair things" would be handy too.

We have minor supers and smart agents cleaning up the mess of big supers.

I was thinking of leaving some of the approach left up to the players. If they want to pitch people useful to the situation, that'd be cool... but on the other hand the whole "How do we solve this problem with the skills we have available?" lateral thinking is a big part of what we enjoy.

I've been reminded of that recently in our 1st Ed Shadowrun games...

But yeah, there's enough potential black-humoured comedy there that I think it'd grab us more than straight supers.

- The Unshaven.

[OneSmallGod]

For true delight, the characters, like all city employees, are trying to get by on what is effectively a Zero Budget. Being able to throw money at the problem is cheating!

Name: Royston Baker
Special Ability: Can "rewind" physical objects back along their "morphic signature track", essentially returning broken or mangled items to their pre-broken or pre-mangled states.
History: Upon discovering his powers, Baker tried to employ them to "fix" his mother's arthritis. Due to a power surge, he's now looking after a four-year-old version of his 58-year-old chainsmoking abrasive-tongued mother, who isn't looking forward to growing up all over again. Since then, he's restricted his activities to inanimate objects.
Nickname: Likes to be called "Mr. Fix-It", but his teammates generally just call him "The Tool". Which, if he overhears them, is because he can fix just about anything. If he can't overhear them, well, you get it...
Notes: Roy's powers work better (and more controllably) on monolithic objects with extremely simple failure modes. Panes of glass are cake, a brickwall is actually very simple (though the sheer volume can be daunting), but things with lots of interacting parts can easily slip out of control as he tries to Fix them. Cars are a prime failure point. Don't ask him to "Fix" your computer. And really don't ask him to heal your bursitis.

[DisgruntleFairy]

Ohhh, I really like this idea. If you don't mind I may steal it.

I think I would play a psychic office drone based off Drew Carey. If I was playing in it.

Spend most days whipping and altering peoples memories while wearing horn rim glasses and fighting with the super powered brute secretary.

Sam

[Coyote's Own]

Originally Posted by OneSmallGod

Name: Royston Baker
Special Ability: Can "rewind" physical objects back along their "morphic signature track", essentially returning broken or mangled items to their pre-broken or pre-mangled states.
History: Upon discovering his powers, Baker tried to employ them to "fix" his mother's arthritis. Due to a power surge, he's now looking after a four-year-old version of his 58-year-old chainsmoking abrasive-tongued mother, who isn't looking forward to growing up all over again. Since then, he's restricted his activities to inanimate objects.
Nickname: Likes to be called "Mr. Fix-It", but his teammates generally just call him "The Tool". Which, if he overhears them, is because he can fix just about anything. If he can't overhear them, well, you get it...
Notes: Roy's powers work better (and more controllably) on monolithic objects with extremely simple failure modes. Panes of glass are cake, a brickwall is actually very simple (though the sheer volume can be daunting), but things with lots of interacting parts can easily slip out of control as he tries to Fix them. Cars are a prime failure point. Don't ask him to "Fix" your computer. And really don't ask him to heal your bursitis.

I'd limit his powers to inanimated objects. Otherwise the guy should making millions.
If got terminal cancer, or any other illness that became terminal but could have been treated earlier, he can fix you. Sure there's a chance you'll become a toddler or even get tuened in to fetus (which would quite lethal itself), but it still beats dying, doesn't it?

[Coyote's Own]

Originally Posted by DisgruntleFairy

Spend most days whipping and altering peoples memories while wearing horn rim glasses and fighting with the super powered brute secretary.

Sam

So you'd play Noah Bennett and the Haitain rolled in to one?

[DisgruntleFairy]

Originally Posted by Coyote's Own

So you'd play Noah Bennett and the Haitain rolled in to one?

Rather similar, but I plan on playing it for more laughs and sarcasm. With the occasional blow out fight and many practical jokes.

[The Unshaven]

Originally Posted by DisgruntleFairy

Ohhh, I really like this idea. If you don't mind I may steal it.

Go right ahead!

And yes, the 'Zero Budget' approach will be necessary for Schenanigans.

Or perhaps take the Atrocity Archives approach: A budget is available, but you must account for papercllips used in filing the paperwork to let you get access to the budget.

Ridiculous bureaucracy.

- The Unshaven.

[OneSmallGod]

Another Bob Howard fan! Yes, I'd love to run a Delta Green/Special Laundry Services campaign, if I could get the right group of people. (And the right prescription medications, I think...)