Where have I seen these guys before?

[beyonder]

Well, it's been a LOOOONG time since I've posted on the Mighty MURPGS Messageboards, but I just had to share this idea with some fellow geeks, in the hopes that somebody out there might understand. Here goes.

I'm planning to introduce to my game a hero team which consists entirely of example characters (from all three Marvel systems). Follow me, here.

The team's founder is from TSR's MSH Campaign Book. He was called Mach 1, but after strong words with a certain member of the Thunderbolts he opted to change his codename to Quetzal (Battle cry: "Quit looking at my feet!").

The next recruits, and the core of the team, are the three examples from TSR's Advanced Player's Book: Commander Salamander ("I'm not Pyro!"), Lodestone ("I flunked out of fourth grade!"), and L.E.O.P.A.R.D. ("My armor morphs into a kitty!"). Also from that book comes the "character modeling" example, the only team member to ever appear in an actual comic (albeit for only one page of one obscure issue), the truly useless and deluded Osprey ("I'm not nearly as tough as Frog-Man!").

I almost forgot to look into my disused copy of TSR's Realms of Magic, but that's where the team got its mage-type character, the demon-hunter Cerberus ("I don't know Doctor Strange, so stop asking!").

Years passed as these six would-be heroes "operated in the tri-state area" (as the Advanced Player's Book says) as a totally unknown hero team. The addition of a new super from the MSH Adventure Game, the hapless Hedgehog ("Ball-of-Spikes maneuver, GO!"), sadly did little to enhance their renown.

But now, a powerful and mysterious new heroine has emerged to join the team. With luck, the woman known only as Blue Lightning (y'all recognize this one, right?) will lead to prominence the super-group called ....

[shadow=red,left,300]the EXEMPLARS! [/shadow]

Well? Any thoughts?

[The Punisher]

Word. That's straight-up awesome.

[beyonder]

;D Thanks! *Does the "I'm not the biggest nerd in the world 'cuz somebody else gets it dance"*

My feeling of self-worth is restored. Now all I need is a reason for the Osprey to exist. Seriously, this schmuck translates to a twelve-point MURPG character. Tops. (Some of the others are in the sixties!)

Maybe he can be comic relief or the team accountant or mascot or something.

[andalusi]

beyonder said:

;D Thanks! *Does the "I'm not the biggest nerd in the world 'cuz somebody else gets it dance"*

My feeling of self-worth is restored. Now all I need is a reason for the Osprey to exist. Seriously, this schmuck translates to a twelve-point MURPG character. Tops. (Some of the others are in the sixties!)

Maybe he can be comic relief or the team accountant or mascot or something.

You know, he could probably trail big banners behind him at football games or over the city park on Valentine's Day. That's like a couple hundred dollars per gig or something! Plus, the Exemplars can tout it as an environmentally friendly alternative to prop planes.

[beyonder]

Andalusi, my Mom says we can't play together anymore, 'cuz yer a bad influence and you encourage my wierdo behavior and I always get all hyped up on comix and Kool-Aid. But she's not the bossa me.

[vicsage]

I think that's the best idea I've heard in a long time. I've always harbored a peculiar fondness for those poor example characters from games. How about including the example characters from DC Heroes, like Pulsar, Echano, Grenadier, and Foxbat (2nd Edition) or even the whole team of P.I.S.T. (1st Edition) (although I don't recall any listing of who they were)?

I would love to play in that game!

Oh, and "The Exemplars" is just pluperfect!

[vicsage]

The Osprey should definitely make the team. After all, it's not the power level that makes the hero, or else Captain America would never make the Avengers, nor would Ant-Man. Perhaps The Osprey has heretofore unseen leadership skills, or something of value to contribute to the Exemplars. He could even have won the lottery and become their financial backer, much in the vein of Tony Stark and the Avengers.