[Glorantha] Re: Superheroes, Jar-Eel

[Nic Hughes]

>Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2006 02:17:41 +0200 (EET)
>From: Mikko Rintasaari <rintasaa at mail.student.oulu.fi>
>Subject: [Glorantha] Do we have numbers for Jar-Eel, Harrek, Red
>	Emperor...?
>
>I'm wondering if there is an offiscial (or close) version of central
>heroic and superheroic level character in existance?
>
>I'd love to see the stats on Moonson, and especially Jar-Eel.
>
>  
>
Beyond knowing that superheroes are at 10W4 levels in their best 
abilities? Moonson would be about a level of mastery lower than Jar-Eel.

>I've been trying to work out the Razoress myself, but I just can't find
>enough information to go on. The Superheroes from Dragonpass (boargame)
>seem to be pretty much immune to magic, but don't seem to use any magic
>themselves.
>  
>
I cannot find a reference for it now but this as I recall it had a great 
deal to do with their band of followers each of whom was of near-hero 
levels themselves. Magic directed at the superhero would be distributed 
across the band of followers, as each of those would likely have 
abilities at or close to the W3 range it is easy to see how even a 
regiment of magicians would be ineffective. This defence is extremely 
effective but is not unlimited, the attacks of a dragon can threaten a 
superhero unless they concentrate on self-defence. If I had to medel it 
in game mechanics I would say that superheroes have found a way to 
become both the leader and the Guardian of their own heroband and gained 
the Defence ability to collectively defend against magical attacks.

Superheroes can use offensive magic, its just that they only do so when 
very very angry (and  become in some ways more vulnerable when they do 
so). I would model this as ceasing to use the Defence ability they have 
as leader/guardian and using a more aggressive abilility instead.

>Is Jar-Eel a demonically strong and powerful swordswoman with a lot of
>magical equipment and followers, or is she also a 10w3+ range magicuser?
>So does the razoress cut things down with ungodly skill, or does she also
>draw down crimson fire from her mother, or something like that?
>
>  
>
Jar-Eel was born to be an incarnation of the Red Goddess (so could be 
regarded as a demigod) and additionally is equipped with an amount of 
fabulous magical items; the moonsword, her harp, others which I forget. 
She is also fantastically skilled. There is an article on just why 
superheroes are so powerful at 
http://www.glorantha.com/library/board/wbrm-defense.html

In terms of stats you could just do a scaled up version of the list 
method and assign 10W4 to each of them, then adjust for flavour. For 
Jar-Eel I would start with Scimitar Combat, Moonsword, Sentient Harp, 
Protective Charms, Singing. You could trawl through references to find 
others. Her affinities are probably around the W4 region as well, she 
appears to be primarily theistic. Her Lunar virtues would certainly be 
at this level, she is a living embodiment of the lunar way.

Then work out how that little lot adds up in Augments, it soon becomes 
clear why superheroes are so feared. So far as I can tell they primarily 
use "normal" attacks augmented with all their magic - bear in mind that 
magic is sensible and the sheer power of it will be plain for all to 
see. A superhero in battle would shine out across the battlefield and be 
visible to all, larger than life and terrifying to any sane opponent 
(excepting another superhero).

--
Nic