New Feat: Divide by Zero

Here's a feat for use with the NUELOW Games superpowers d20 System rules, or just for the hell of it in particularly crazy games. (Well, even when used as a superpower, it probably works best in particularly crazy games...)

All text in this post is presented under the Open Game License, and it may be reproduced in accordance with its terms. Copyright 2022 Steve Miller.

DIVIDE BY ZERO [Meta-Gaming, Minor Power]
Nothing is impossible. NOTHING!
   Prerequisite: Lucky feat
   Benefit: Whenever you fail a d20 roll (attack, saving throw, or skill check), you may reroll by announcing to the DM that you are doing so.
   Special: There are two outcomes from invoking this feat.

   If the re-roll is successful, treat it as a critical success (when appropriate). You gain a +1 bonus to all d20 rolls for the rest of the game session.
   If the re-roll fails, you (and possibly the other player characters) suffer one of the following random consequences. (DM's choice/creation or random selection by rolling 1d8 from the following table.)
   1. Your character suffers a -1 penalty to all d20 rolls for the rest of the game session.

   2. Your character suffers a -2 penalty to all d20 rolls for the rest of the game session.

   3. Your character's shadow disconnects from him or her. At the beginning of the next round, the shadow solidifies into a exact copy of the character, with the same attributes, hit points, skills, and combat abilities. All gear and equipment is copied as well. This shadow-being immediately attacks the character from which it sprang. It does not stop until it or the character is defeated (below 0 hit points), at which time it dissolves with a shriek of frustration and pain.
   4. Your character's shadow disconnects from you at the end of the encounter and become an independent creature. Until you manage to recover it, you will cast no shadow.
   5. Your character no longer cast a shadow, nor does he or she have a reflection. This condition persists for 1d6+1 days.
   6. Your character's reflection in mirrors has a 50% chance of emerging from the mirror and attacking him or her if no one else is around. This mirror image of the character has  the same attributes, hit points, skills, and combat abilities. All gear and equipment is copied as well. This being attacks the character until it or its target is defeated (reduced below 0 hit points). It then it explodes into hundreds of mirror fragments, with a dying shriek of frustration and pain, and inflicts 1d4+1 points of damage upon . This condition persists for 1d6+1 days.

   7. All PCs and major NPCs present during when the failed re-roll was made, and who are alive at the end of the encounter, are subject to a -2 penalty to all d20 rolls until they unite to seek out the Monkey King at the center of Reality. All living characters must undertake this journey together, or none will be liberated from the curse by the Monkey King.

   8. The character's physical form changes. Roll on this table to determine determine the character's new sex and on this table to determine his or her new race.

Coming Soon: 'The Original Peacemaker'!

We're finalizing a new release that's been on-again, off-again since 2017 or so. (While this can be said of most of our planned releases lately, this one has been more-so than some of others.)

Given that there's a TV series currently headling the Peacemaker, we figure the time is now or never to  time to bring out THE ORIGINAL PEACEMAKER! It will collect half-a-dozen early Peacemaker tales by the character's creators, Joe Gill, Pat Boyette, and Dick Giordano and feature new d20 System content. We hope this first release will be the first of two volumes.

By way of a preview, here's draft material of some of the d20 System content that will be in the book first book. The art with this post is an unfinished draft of the cover for the projected second volume in the series, as well as panels from the comics, taken from raw scans. (As per usual, they'll be cleaned up a bit and in black-and-white in the actual book.)

 

NEW EQUIPMENT

Here are d20 System rules for some of the more unique items in the Peacemaker's armory, . All are the product of Christopher Smith's singular genius, and he will only share them with his most trusted allies.

BRAINWAVE AUGMENTATION HELMET

During his brief association with NASA, Christopher Smith had the opportunity to study some alien technology that had been recovered on the Moon. The device, which looked like a chair, allowed a person sitting in cause it to rise into the air and slowly float in whatever direction the user wished. the person in the chair could also cause small items to float in the air and even bring them to him or her, or cause them to float toward targets. 

   Smith managed to reverse engineer and miniaturize the portion of the alien device augmented human brainwaves to grant limited telekinetic and telepathic powers. He encased his invention in the helmet he wears as the Peacemaker. 

   Although the helmet appears solid, it can be collapsed into an almost flat state (just three inches in depth) and can easily be concealed in a briefcase, for example.

    Using the Brainwave Augmentation Helmet: When wearing the Brainwave Augmentation Helmet, the user can make a Willpower saving throw to either use telepathy to project thoughts to a single target within line-of-sight, use telekinesis to manipulate small objects, or fire the laser built into the front of the helmet.

   When a would-be user puts on the helmet for the first time, he or she feels like someone just crushed his or her head with a rock. The character must roll a Fortitude saving throw (DC12) or become unconscious. If the character wears the helmet for three full rounds (with a successful DC12 Fortitude save required each round), the pain stops as immediately as it began, and he or she is now attuned to the helmet and may wear it without difficulty going forward. If he or she became unconscious or removed the helmet, the process must be repeated. 

   Projecting Thoughts: The character wearing the Brainwave Augmentation Helmet must specify the target to whom thoughts are to be sent. As a full round action, upon making a successful Willpower saving throw, the character may then transmit a statement, question, or command to the target. The target hears the character's voice in his or her head, in the target's native language. The difficulty of the Willpower saving throw is DC4, with +2 added for each word sent, and +2 added for every 20 feet of distance between the sender and the target. The player must specify the message before the roll is made, and if the saving throw fails, the target does not hear the thoughts. 

    The user of the helmet can try to send messages to a target as many times as he or she wishes, with a new Willpower save required for each attempt. The target does not typically receive a saving throw to resist, but if he or she is aware of what's happening and does not want to give the user access to their head, the target's Wisdom bonus is added to the user's Willpower DC.

   Manipulating Small Objects: As standard action, the user of the helmet can flip switches, pull triggers, turn handles, or do any other manipulation of small objects within his or her line of sight. He or she can also lift small objects and cause them to float slowly in the air in whatever direction he or she wills, so long as he or she concentrates on the object.

   To use the telekinetic powers granted by the Brainwave Augmentation Helmet, the wearer must specify an object and an action. Then, he or she must roll a Willpower saving throw (base DC2, with +2 added for every 5 feet of distance between the user and the object, as well as an additional +2 for every 5 pounds of weight).

   Firing the Helmet Laser: As a free action, the user must aim the laser by looking at the target and then fire it by making a successful Willpower saving throw (base DC0). The user must then take a standard attack action and roll a ranged attack to see if he or she successfully hits the intended target. 

   The wearer can choose to just fire individual shots or cause sustained damage. The laser has a range increment of 10 feet, and it deals 3d6 points of damage (energy/piercing/heat) per shot, or 3d6+6 damage (energy/piercing/heat) per round if the damage is sustained. It also causes metal s The user can take no other actions while inflicting sustained damage with the helmet laser, and if he or she suffers damage or otherwise is subjected to a condition that can cause distraction, he or she must make a successful Concentration skill check (DC12+damage suffered) or the laser stops working. The character can attempt to reinitialize it the following round.

   To use the helmet laser to maximum efficiency, a character must possess the Exotic Weapon (Helmet Laser) feat. Otherwise, he or she suffers a -4 penalty to the ranged attack roll.

JETPACK
Peacemaker's jetpack is a marvel of miniaturization, and, is once again one of Christopher's unique inventions. It consists of a small backpack and fuel cells capable of producing powered flight for up to 6 hours. A character equipped with a jetpack can hover in place and fly at a maximum speed of 80 feet per round (good maneuverability). The speed is reduced to 40 feet if the user is Encumbered (such as if carrying another person or some heavy object).

   With the flick of a switch, the jetpack can be reset to propel the Peacemaker under water at speeds up on 40 feet per round.

  

PLIABLE BODY ARMOR

The Peacemaker's helmet and uniform are made from an ultralight, absorbent material invented by Christopher Smith. It feels like cotton when worn, but provides protection from normal bullets fired by handheld firearms, as well as limited protection from explosives and other damage from kinetic energy sources.

   The Pliable Body Armor does not increase a character's Defense Rating, but instead reduces damage from projectiles, explosions, and falls by 3 and converts additional damage (up 20 points) to non-lethal damage. 

   The Pliable Body Armor may be worn under regular clothing or even other types of armor. It is not breathable, however, so characters who wear it for extended periods in extreme temperature conditions will have to make Constitution attribute checks (DC11, with the difficulty increasing by +1 for each check). The character becomes Fatigued after the first failed check, and Exhausted after the second. The character becomes Unconscious after the third failed check.

STUN PELLETS

Identical in shape and size to regular bullets, and compatible with firearms of the appropriate caliber, these turn lethal weapons into non-lethal ones. This special ammunition is the creation of Christopher Smith, and he typically carries at least one firearm or magazine loaded with this type of round so he may disable rather than kill his opponents.

   When a living target is struck by a stun pellet, he or she suffers 1 point of damage, plus an amount of non-lethal damage equal to whatever the standard lethal damage would be (subject to Damage Reduction, if any). If the damage reduced the character to 0 hit points or less, he or she becomes Unconscious. Otherwise, the struck character can take no actions for the rest of the round, other than to fall prone to the ground.

NEW FEATS

The following feats can be added to the Charismatic Hero and Smart Hero bonus feats lists if they are included in a campaign.

EXOTIC WEAPON PROFICIENCY: HELMET LASER [General]

You have mastered the thought-controlled laser in the Peacemaker helmet.

   Prerequisite: Base Attack Bonus +1

   Benefit: You make ranged attack rolls with the helmet laser normally.

   Normal: Attacks with the helmet laser are made with a -4 penalty.

   
MILITANT PACIFIST [General]
You don't start fights, but you sure will try to finish them.
    Prerequisites: Charisma 14, Negotiator feat, Diplomacy 4 ranks
    Benefit: When you declare you wish to use this feat, you automatically give up initiative for the encounter, except for the following actions: 

    You must reveal yourself to potential foes, confronting them openly and free of any cover. While facing them head on like this, you must offer your foes a chance to resolve the conflict peacefully. If they choose to not take you up on the offer, you  gain a +4 bonus to hit and damage rolls, and a +2 bonus to DR/AC for the duration of the encounter.. 

    The GM may call for a Bluff or Diplomacy skill check to see if your effort to convince the enemy to resolve matters peacefully  is successful or not. If any of your allies attack the enemy while you are trying to take to them, you automatically fail, and still lose initiative.
    This feat can only be used against creatures with Intelligence of 4 or better.

d20 System Feat: Like a Phoenix

Here's a d20 System feat similar to something we may already have done something similar to in Secrets of the Immortals. If we didn't, we probably should have.


LIKE A PHOENIX [General, Minor Power]
When the character dies, he or she is instantly reborn in a blast of fire.
   Prerequisite: Strength 12, Constitution 13, Charisma 12

   Benefit: Whenever the character is reduced to -10 hit points, his or her body explodes, causing 1d10+10 points of fire damage to all living beings within melee range. Any non-magical items carried or won by the character are reduced to smoldering ash, as is the character's body.
   The player of the deceased character should roll initiative for the following round. On the indicated initiative, a swirl of embers and smoke solidifies into the character's body, at full hit points, and cured of any temporary penalties to attributes or levels. The character is completely nude when resurrected in this fashion.

   Special: Whenever the character is recreated from his or her ashes, the character loses a maximum of 500XP (to the minimum needed to retain his or her current level). The character's age is also reduced 1d6+6 years (to the minimum starting age). Additionally, the player must roll a successful Fortitude save (DC18). If the saving throw fails, the character suffers a permanent loss of 1 Constitution point.

   If the character's Constitution is reduced to 11 or lower, this feat no longer provides any benefit.

(All text in this post is presented under the Open Game License, and it may be reproduced in accordance with its terms.)

OGL Cuties: Character Creation Rules and Class

You've heard of the Netflix sensation and gift to the world's pedophiles! Maybe you've even seen it! Now, here are character creation rules inspired by it. Make Cuties! Sing and dance and twerk! Beat the living hell out of pedos! (Well, maybe or maybe not. Hopefully, you will find this post contains some interesting and fun rules, even if its creation was sparked by a truly terrible movie.)

OGL CUTIES

By Steve Miller

(with some stuff borrowed from L.L. Hundal)

OGL Cuties uses the d20 System rules and it can be applied to any variant of that game. The Cuties character class is designed with the OGL Modern rules-set in mind, but it is easily adaptable to other variants. 

   The rules here allow for the creation of child characters who have been thrust into the world of adults much earlier than most. They may not be the equal of their adult counterparts, but they have skills and abilities that set them apart from their peers--depending on the campaign, these can. (Uses for this material is to create characters who are students at an arts academy or sidekicks to superheroes. Or the campaign can focus on 11-year-old twerkers. But we like the other suggestions better, especially the superhero sidekick one. That way, the Cuties can "graduate" to the Super Hero character class.)

   All text in this post is released under the Open Game License, and may be reproduced in accordance with its terms.

CHARACTER GENERATION

The basic process for character generation is familiar to experienced d20 System players. The range of character ages are from 8 to 14, while attributes range from a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 16. Additionally, the only character class available is the Cuties Class. This class only has four levels, and characters must multi-class as they "grow up" and move on from being child performers to being adults. (Cuties characters start out "weaker" than most player characters, but they emerge into adult world stronger through their experiences.)

The Steps

1. Determine Your Character's Age.

    Roll 2d4+6. The result is your character's age in years.

2. Determine Your Character's Attributes

    Roll 2d6+4 six times. once each for Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma, assigning individual results to whichever ability you wish.

3. Choose a Race.

    We are assuming Cuties are Human, but any player character race that's allowed in the campaign could conceivably be used with GM permission. (Some adjustment to Step #1 may be required, however.)

4. Select Starting Occupation (if used in rules-set)

    Cuties are limited to a choice of the following Staring Occupations: Celebrity, Creative, or Student. The age requirements are disregarded.

4. Select Starting Skills and Allocate Skill Ranks. 

   (See the Cuties class description for class skills.)

5. Select Starting Feats. 

    All Cuties have the Simple Weapons feat. Cuties also have two additional starting feats, at least one of which must be from the Cuties bonus feats list. (See the Cuties class description for details.)

6. Record Starting Hit Points

    All Cuties have at least 6 hit points when they are created at 1st level. This number may be increased by starting feats and the Constitution bonus.

7. Apply 1st-level benefits from the Cutie class (including selecting the 1st level talent).

8. Finishing Touches.

    Jot down some notes about your character's appearance, personality, likes and dislikes, family and home-life, and so on. GMs can also consider using this optional system to randomly generate the character's race.

    

THE CUTIE CLASS

Cuties are children who work in the entertainment business as performers, be they acrobats, actresses, actors, or dancers. They are destined for greatness, either onstage or offstage, bringing joy to the world and possibly fighting evils in the world.

The Cutie

Restriction: This class can only be selected at 1st level, and only as part of the Cutie character generation process.

Key Ability: Charisma or Dexterity.

Hit Die: 1d6

Action Points: Cuties gain a number of action points equal to 5 + one-half their character level, rounded down, at 1st level and every time they attain a new level in this class.

Class Skills: A Cutie's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Computer Use (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Handle Animal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Jump (Strength), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (all, pick individual groupings separately) (Cha), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language (none), and Tumble (Dex).

Also, the starting occupation the character selects can provide additional class skills to choose from.

Skill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int modifier) x2.

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Table 1: The Cutie
Class Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Class Features	Defense Bonus	Reputation Bonus
1st	+0	+1	+1	+0	Talent	+1	+0
2nd	+0	+1	+2	+1	Bonus feat	+1	+1
3rd	+1	+2	+2	+2	Bonus  ability points	+2	+1
4th	+1	+2	+2	+3	Bonus skill points	+2	+2

Cutie Class Features

The following are the class features of the Cutie class.

   Talent: At lst level, the Cutie gains a talent from one of the following trees. The character must meet all prerequisites before selecting the talent.

   Command Animal, Increased Speed (see the Fast Hero class), Insightful (see the Dedicated Hero class), Magical Transformation, Too Dumb To Die,

   Starting and Bonus Feats for Cuties: During character creation, the Cutie selects at least one feat from the following list. At 2nd level, the Cutie gains an addition feat from this list. The character must meet all prerequisites before selecting the feat.

Acrobatics, Alterness, Animal Affinity, Athletic, Attentive,  … But Don't Fall Down, Baby Roll, Bad Idea, Calm Animals, Creative, Dancing Queen, Feets Don't Fail Me Now!, Finger Gun, Fast Healing, Ghost Spotter, Lucky, Nimble, Run, Stealthy, Weaponized Smirk 

   Bonus Ability Points: At 3rd level, the Cutie gains four ability points that must be immediately assigned to any of the six abilities. No more than three points may be assigned to a single ability, and no ability may be raised above 18 using these points.

   Bonus Skill Points: At 4th level, the character gains a total number of bonus skill points equal to (6 + Int modifier)x2. These skill points must be allocated to skills immediately. They can be used on skills to which points have already be assigned, or to acquire new skills. Level restrictions apply.

CUTIES 4th LEVEL AND BEYOND

As should be obvious, Cuties will need to multi-class in order to keep progressing. Standard classes that build more effectively on the Cutie class are the Charismatic Hero, Dedicated Hero, and Fast Hero from OGL Modern, or other classes that draw on Dexterity- and Charisma-based abilities, such as Bards and Rogues. (And, as mentioned above, Cuties can serve as a lead-in to a superhero campaign, as the characters graduate from being Bucky, Wonder Girl, and Robin to being Captain America, Wonder Woman, and Batman when they adopt the Super Hero character class.)

The Daddy Cool Talent Tree

This talent tree is that latest addition to the NUELOW Games d20 System feat and talents based superpowers system. (You can see the basics by clicking here.) It was inspired by the 1976 Boney M song of the same name, "Daddy Cool". We've embedded the song and its original video for your viewing enjoyment, below. (All text in this post is presented under the Open Game License and my be reproduced in accordance with its terms. Copyright 2019 Steve Miller.)

The Daddy Cool (or Mama Cool, for female characters) talent tree works well for characters who have emotion manipulation as their main shtick.

DADDY COOL TALENTS
Your power is your charisma.
   Essence of Cool: Gain a permanent +2 bonus to all Bluff, Intimidate and Perform skill checks.
   Prerequisite: Any one Minor Power feat.
   Crazy Like a Fool: Gain a spell-like ability that mimics confusion. The character's total number of levels equals the caster level. The character may choose to limit the confusion affect to a single target, imposing a -6 penalty to the Will save to resist. This ability may be used a number of times per day equal to 1/2 the character's Charisma bonus (round up).
   Prerequisite: Essence of Cool.
   Dance with Daddy: Gain a spell-like ability that mimics irresistible dance. The character's total number of character levels equals the caster level. This ability may be used a number of times per day equal to 1/2 the character's Charisma bonus (round up).
   Prerequisite: Crazy Like a Fool
   Trust in Daddy: Gain a spell-like ability that mimics charm person. The character's total number of levels equals the caster level. This ability may be used a number of times per day equal to 1/2 the character's Charisma bonus (round up).
   Prerequisite: Essence of Cool
   Trust in Daddy II: Gain a spell-like ability that mimics charm monster. The character's total number of levels equals the caster level. This ability may be used a number of times per day equal to the character's Charisma bonus.
   Prerequisite: Crazy Like a Fool, Trust in Daddy




(For the record, when we dance here at NUELOW Games, it looks something like Bobby Farrell in this video.)

The Secret Life of Bessie Love

In 1915, 17-year-old Juanita Horton's family was struggling to make ends meet, so her mother told her to go down to Biograph Studios to see if they'd give her work. Producer and director D.W. Griffith thought she'd be great on camera, and after a few bit parts, Juanita was on her way to stardom under the stagename Bessie Love.

But unbeknowst to the adoring movie-going public, Bessie Love was far more than just another Hollywood star... she was also the mysterious masked adventuress known as the Love Bug!

SECRET ORIGIN OF THE LOVE BUG
In the very early morning of September 3 of 1924, Bessie Love was awakened by frantic knocking at her door. Outside, in the swirling fog, was an elderly woman with a small suitcase. She thrust the case at Bessie and said, "You have been chosen."
   Before Bessie could react, the woman retreated into the fog and vanished. The confused actress took the suitcase into the sitting room and opened it. Inside was a strange bejeweled costume consisting of a mask, a curious-looking headdress, a backless leotard, and matching shoes. As she touched the mask, her mind was filled with images of and facts about an ancient order of mystics locked in an eternal battle with a demonic cult bent on bringing about literal Hell on Earth. The "costume" was in truth ancient ceremonial garb and mystically powered armor that assisted the wearer in her fight against demons... and Bessie had been chosen to carry on the fight. The vision had told her all she needed to know, as well as the powers of the outfit... and from that day forward, she split her time between acting and combatting mystical evils where she found them throughout Southern California.
   For the next year-and-a-half, newspapers carried reports of a mystery woman who fought crime and brought secret cults to light by defeating them. After rescuing children that had been slated for sacrifice to a dark god on February 14, 1926, she encountered a newspaper reporter who wanted to know her name. "Call me the Love Bug," was her swift, unthinking reply. The name stuck.
   As the 1930s dawned, Bessie found it increasingly difficult to balance her life as a Hollywood star with that of a cult-busting mystery woman. She eventually committed herself full-time to the battle against evil and left her glamorous life as an actress behind.

   By the mid-1930s, Bessie had relocated to England in order to learn more about the original creators of her magical gear and to stem the rising demonic tides at their source. Over the next decade, she faced evil mystics all over Europe and she found allies in the secret magical order The Daughters of Burdick. She still appeared in the occasional movie, but more often than not, her accepting roles was to bring her into the orbit of suspected cultists or other evil-minded people.
   In 1950, at the age of 52, Bessie decided she was getting to old for the physical demands of life as the Love Bug. She began searching for a replacement, a young woman to whom she could give the armor as it had once been given to her. Once that had been accomplished, she returned to acting full time.


THE LOVE BUG'S POWERS
The rest of this post is released under the Open Game License and may be reproduced in accordance with its terms. Copyright 2019 Steve Miller.
   The Love Bug's powers are derived entirely from her mystical armor, which radiates faint magic of an indeterminant type if such is detected for. The entire outfit must be worn for any of the powers to function. It is described below in terms of the d20 System roleplaying game rules.
   The Jewel-lined Domino Mask: This is a black mask, the edges of which are lined with tiny diamonds. It only covers the area around the wearer's eyes. Once per day, as a standard action, the wearer can invoke the spell-like ability of true seeing. The effect is just like the spell of the same name, as if cast by a 12th-level caster, but with a duration equal to twice the wearer's Wisdom bonus in minutes.
   The Bejeweled Headdress: Two jewel-encrusted insect-like anttenae rise from this tight-fitting headcover. It provides the wearer with a +4 bonus to all saving throws to resist mind-affecting magic and spell-like effects. In addition, once per day, as a standard action, the wearer can invoke the spell-like ability of telepathy. This ability functions as if cast by a 12th-level caster, but with a duration equal to twice the wearer's Wisdom bonus in minutes.
   The Bejewled Leotard: The jewels covering this tight-fitting garment are arranged in the patterns of Atlantean sigils of protection. It grants the wearer a +2 bonus to AC/DR, as well as a +2 bonus to Fortitude and Reflex saving throws. These bonuses stack with other similar bonuses.
   The Bejeweled Shoes: The wearer's base movement rate is increased by 10. The shoes also provide a +4 bonus to all movement and balance-related skill checks.
--
   As previously mentioned, for any of the powers to function, all four pieces of the set must be worn. If the wearer enters an area where magic is suppressed or otherwise doesn't usually work, the powers don't function, but they return immediately upon leaving that area. If dispel magic is cast at the wearer, she must make a successful saving throw (DC12), or the armor ceases to function for a number of minutes equal to the level of the person who cast dispel magic.
  
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The Super Hero Class (for d20 Modern)

Some five years ago, NUELOW head-honcho Steve Miller had an idea for a system of super powers that could be grated onto any d20 System game that used the feats and talents mechanic to advance character abilities. It began with the post linked here, and Miller and his partner in NUELOWness, L.L. Hundal, has been expanding upon it ever since... through posts here at the blog and with content in many of the comics/rpg hybrid products that they've produced.

   Miller & Hundal have agreed that they think they've just about covered all their favorite comic book heroes and their abilities via the rules they've been creating... and that it may be time to pull all the bits and bobs together into a unified and coherent whole and release an actual product! One of the last pieces may or may not be this new base class while Hundal has been using in her d20 Modern games for the last few go-arounds.

   All text in this post is released under the Open Game License and may be reproduce in accordance with its terms. Copyright Steve Miller 2018

THE SUPER HERO CLASS

By L.L. Hundal & Steve Miller

There are Fast heroes, Smart Heroes, Strong heroes... all the kinds of heroes you find described in the d20 Modern Standard Reference Document. But the Super hero stands above them all. Whether driven by supernatural forces, family heritage, or some life-altering trauma, the super hero has powers and abilities beyond those of mere mortals that he or she puts to use to defend the innocent from criminals and other evil people and entities that would prey upon them. It is a versatile class with access to the wide range of talents, as well as minor power feats.

THE SUPER HERO CLASS

Ability: Player's Choice; Super heroes come in all shapes, sizes and intelligence quotients.

Hit Die: 1d8

Action Points: Super heroes gain a number of action points equal to 5 + one-half their character level, rounded down, at 1st level and every time they attain a new level in this class.

Class Skills: The Super hero's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (mechanical) (Int), Drive (Dex), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Jump (Strength), Knowledge (current events, science [pick individual branches separately], streetwise) (Int), Move Silently (Dex), Pilot (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language (none), and Tumble (Dex).

Also, the starting occupation the character selects can provide additional class skills to choose from.

Skill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int modifier) x4.

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 5 + Int modifier.

Table: The Super Hero
Class Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Class Features	Defense Bonus	Reputation Bonus
1st	+1	+0	+1	+1	Talent	+2	+0
2nd	+2	+1	+1	+1	Bonus feat	+3	+1
3rd	+3	+1	+2	+1	Talent	+3	+1
4th	+4	+2	+2	+2	Bonus feat	+4	+2
5th	+5	+2	+3	+2	Talent	+4	+2
6th	+6/+1	+3	+3	+2	Bonus feat	+5	+3
7th	+6/+1	+3	+4	+3	Talent	+5	+3
8th	+7/+2	+4	+4	+3	Bonus feat	+6	+4
9th	+7/+2	+4	+5	+3	Talent	+6	+4
10th	+8/+3	+5	+5	+4	Bonus feat	+7	+5

Starting Feats

In addition to the two feats all characters get at 1st level, a Super hero begins play with the Combat Martial Arts feat, or a Weapons Proficiency feat of the player's choice. The character must meet any prerequisites before selecting a feat.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Super hero.

Talents

At 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th level, the Super hero may select a talent from any the following talent trees. Some trees have a set order that must be followed, while others provide a list to choose from.

   Any and all Super Power talent trees for which the Super hero meets the prerequisites.

    No talent can be selected more than once unless expressly indicated in its description.

Feats

At 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th level, the Super hero may select a bonus feat from the following list.

   Any [Minor Power] feat, plus Alertness, Athletic, Blind-fight, Builder, Combat Expertise, Educated, Gearhead, Improved Disarm, Frightful Presence, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Meticulous, Studious, Trustworthy, Weapon Focus.

d20 Supers: The Combination Hero

There are a number of superheroes who are actually one or more individual beings who merge, either temporarily or permanently, into the hero. The most famous of these may be DC Comics' Firestorm, but Yankee Doodle Jones (who will be seen in a forthcoming anthology from NUELOW Games) also falls into this category.
   This post presents rules for the d20 System game that will let you create your own superhero who is greater than the sum total of his or her parts. It's an involved process that involves generating multiple characters that eventually become one, but we think the end result will be worth it for the story and roleplaying potential it offers.
   Part of this article is a random origin generation (the tables titled How Did the Combination Hero Come to Be? and How is the Combination Undone?), but we encourage you--in cooperation with your GM--to come up with a carefully considered backstory instead. You might even want to create a history for each of the characters who become the Combination Hero, so that if and when they become separated, you know how to play one or more of them.

CREATING THE COMBINATION HERO (for the d20 System)

By Steve Miller

Step One
Roll 1d3+1. The result is the number of characters that makes up the Combination Hero.

Step Two

By Everett Raymond Kinstler

Generate each character, using the standard character generation rules for the campaign/game you are playing in. (If alternate rules are in play that allow for more generous attributes [such as rolling 4d6 and dropping the lowest] they should not be used.)
Assign the results to attributes in the order they were rolled.
   Randomly generate the level of each character by rolling 1d4. Assign character classes skills, feats, talents, and everything else that a character would have for each one, bringing the character up to its highest level. (You can shortcut this stage by only defining the individual characters' skills, although having each of the character that makes up the whole to come might be important in certain situations.)

Step Three
Transfer the highest stats of the previously generated characters to a new character sheet. These are the starting attributes for the Combination Hero.
Add the total levels of the previously generated characters together; this is the starting number of levels for the Combination Hero.
   Note any skills possessed by the original characters that had 5 or more ranks on the Combination Hero's sheet. These are Permanent Class Skills for the Combination Hero.
   Select a bonus feat for each character that makes up the Combination Hero. This is where you can begin to give the character superpowers, for example, if you're using NUELOW's feats- and talents-based power system. (The Combination Hero must meet all prerequisites in order to have the bonus feat.)
Assign character classes, skills, feats, talents, and everything else that a character would have for each one, bringing the character up to its highest level.

HOW DID THE COMBINATION HERO COME TO BE? (Roll 1d10)
Use this table to randomly determine how the combination hero came into existence. Some of the results require an additional roll on the How is the Combination Undone? table, below, since many Combination heroes can separate back into those who make them. Most of these sub-results also describe how the characters can then recombine.
   Naturally, you can also just read these tables and pick a result that you want to be you the point of origin and/or method to uncombine/recombine for your character.
   1. The characters were struck by a mysterious ray from space. (Roll on the How is the Combination Undone? table)
   2. The characters performed a mystic ritual that worked as intended. The combination is undone when the combination hero utters a magic phrase.
   3. The characters performed a mystic ritual that went awry. (Roll on the How is the Combination Undone? table.)
   4. The characters were subjected to a mystic ritual by evil cultists. (Roll on the How is the Combination Undone? table.)
   5. The characters were joined into a single being by an Atlantean artifact. The artifact must be used against to undo the combination.
   6. The characters were killed, but a powerful entity gave them a change for a new life as a single being. Only the entity who created them can undo the union (which may or may not kill the individual characters).
   7. The characters volunteered to become a single being through super-scientific means. (Roll on the How is the Combination Undone? table.)
   8. The characters were abducted by a mad scientist and forced to become one being to prove his theories. (Roll on the How is the Combination Undone? table)
   9. The characters offended a Tibetan hermit who cursed them into existing as one being until they make amends. (Roll on the How is the Combination Undone? table)
  10. The Combination Hero woke up in the middle of smoldering wreckage or ruins with no notion of how he or she came to exist. (Roll on the How is the Combination Undone? table)

HOW IS THE COMBINATION UNDONE (Roll 1d10)
   1-2. It is permanent unless undone through the will of a powerful god.
   3-4. The hero must speak a magic word that is only known to a mystic order that dwells in a remote, hard to access place. Any of the characters who made up the hero will be able to speak the work and re-combine them all.
   5-6. The hero must be exposed to rays from a specific alien device.
   7. The hero must touch a particular object. When the characters who were combined all touch the object again at the same time, they will re-combine into the hero.
   8. When the hero is subjected to a rare type of radiation or a specific type of magical energy.
   9. The hero must die.
  10. The hero must bathe in the Pool of All. This causes the characters to separate, although they do not become immortal unless they enter the Pool individually. (See Secrets of the Immortals for more.)

--
All text in this post is presented under the Open Game License and may be reproduced in accordance with its terms. Copyright Steve Miler 2018.

The Power of the Ninja Cutie!

Every couple decades, it seems Ninjas enjoy a brief moment as "the new hotness" in pop culture. We think Ninjas are about to strike again... so we bring you this fabulous d20 System add-on! (All text in this post is released under the Open Game License and may be reproduced in accordance with its terms. Copyright Steve Miller 2018.)

NINJA CUTIES
A Ninja Cutie isn't made. Well, they're partly made, but they're also born. They are selected for the secret training from among the cutest, most outgoing children, and then trained in secret arts that only the prettiest and most handsome Ninjas will ever learn.
   A few rare individuals are brought into the Secret Circle of the Ninja Cuties after having impressed a Master Ninja Cutie... but these are few and far between indeed.
   Most Ninjas Cuties belong to the Bard or Rogue class (in D&D/Pathfinder); or the Charismatic Hero or Fast Hero class (in d20 Modern). but they can belong to any class. As part of the secret training, Ninja Cuties learn a special kind of magic. These spells are gained through the selection of feats and talents. If the character gains spells through class abilities, the Ninja Cutey spells are added to the number of spells that can be cast each day as indicated in the feat or talent descriptions.

NEW FEATS
These feats define the Ninja Cuties.

MASTER OF OBSCENITY [Bard. Rogue, Charismatic Hero]
Washing your mouth out with soap wouldn't even begin to make a difference.
   Prerequisite: Bluff 4 ranks, Cha 15
   Benefit: As a standard action, you can let lose with such an impressive string of obscenities (spoken and/or gestures) that you can bring all actions around you to a halt. The attention of everyone within earshot is momentarily focused on you.To use this feat, other characters must be able to hear you.
   All initiatives must be re-rolled. You gain a +2 bonus to re-rolling your initiative, as well as to Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate skill checks for the rest of the encounter.
   Special: Other characters with the Master of Obscenity feat do not have to re-roll initiative, but are immune to its effects. They may choose to continue to attack targets, including the character who used the feat, on their initiative, or they may choose to engage him or her in an Obscenity Square-Off.
   In an Obscenity Square-Off, the character with the highest Charisma goes first (if tied, the one with the highest Intimidate skill rank goes first). Each player rolls a Bluff skill check, as they curse and swear and generally behave in as offensive a fashion as possible. The best two out of three Bluff checks wins, and the winner's allies share in the +2 bonus to the re-rolled initiatives.

NINJA CUTIE [Fast Hero, Rogue]
You're cute... and deadly!
Prerequisite: Combat Reflexes feat, Cha 13
   Benefit: Add your Charisma bonus to attack and damage rolls. (This bonus stacks with all other bonuses.)

   Special: Add twice your Charisma bonus to sneak attack rolls.

NINJA CUTIE MAGIC [Rogue, Fast Hero, Charismatic Hero, Minor Power]
You have learned the basic secrets of Ninja Cutie Magic
   Prerequisite: Cha 13
   Benefit: Each day you may, at will, cast a number of 0-level Ninja Cutie spells equal to your Charisma bonus. You also add your Cha bonus to Will saves when resisting spells and spell-like effects. Your character level is your caster level.
   Any material components listed in the spell description are unnecessary when the Ninja Cutie versions are cast.

NEW TALENT TREE
These talents give Ninja Cuties access additional magic power.

NINJA CUTIE MAGIC TALENTS
The talents from this tree model track the growing magical ability of powerful Ninja Cuties.
   Killer Cuteness: The DC for saving throws against. your Ninja Cutie spells is increased by your Charisma bonus.
   Prerequisite: Ninja Cutie Magic feat.
   Intermediate Cutie Caster: Each day, you may, at will, cast a number of 1st- and 2nd-level Ninja Cutie spells equal to your Charisma bonus. Your character level is your chaster level.
   Prerequisite: Ninja Cutie Magic feat
   Advanced Cutie Caster: Each day, you may, at will, cast a number of 3rd- and 4th-level Ninja Cutie spells equal to your Charisma bonus. Your character level is your chaster level. Any material components listed in the spell description are unnecessary when the Ninja Cutie versions are cast.
   Prerequisite: Intermediate Cutie Caster
   Superior Cutie Caster: Each day, you may, at will, cast a number of 5th- and 6th-level Ninja Cutie spells equal to your Charisma bonus. Your character level is your caster level. Any material components listed in the spell description are unnecessary when the Ninja Cutie versions are cast.
   Prerequisite: Advanced Cutie Caster

NINJA CUTIE SPELL LIST
The Ninja Cutie Magic feat and talents allow for the casting of the following spells.


0-level Spells: Daze, Ghost Sound, Message, Prestidigitation
1st-level Spells: Expeditious Retreat, Hypnotism, Obscuring Mist, Touch of Idiocy
2nd-level Spells: Darkvision, Gust of Wind, Pyrotechnics, Spider Climb
3rd-level Spells: Blink, Fly, Clairaudience/Clairvoyance, Sleet Storm
4th-level Spells: Arcane Eye, Charm Monster, Dimension Door, Fear
5th-level Spells: Dominate Person, Mind Fog, Sending, Telepathic Bond
6th-level Spells: Mislead, Probe Thoughts, Repulsion, Shadow Walk

Art by Rumiko Takahashi

Click here to read more about the Ninja Cuties!

Now available: 'Tricks of the Mind' for d20 Modern

We've just released our latest supplement for the d20 System--Tricks of the Mind. It lets you add psychic powers (both real and fake) to your games that use feats and talents without needing to layer additional systems onto the game, like psionic points or keeping track of how many spells of which level per level. Click to get a copy, or see previews, at DriveThruRPG or RPGNow.

Cover art from Tricks of the Mind by Jack Kirby.

Since we like to do added value to our promo posts, here's a new starting occupation, for any all-new psychics you want to create! (The rest of this post is presented under the Open Game License. Copyright 2018 Steve Miller.)


STARTING PROFESSION: PSYCHIC
You either have a supernatural gift, or you have a talet for flim-flam. You may have been prepared for life as a professiona psychic from an early age, or it's a life you stumbled into. Either way, you were good at it--good at seeing people's inner needs and helping them through their problems... or maybe just helping seperate them from their money.
   Prerequisite: Age 18+
   Skills: Choose two of the following skills as a permanent class skill. If a skill the character selects is already a class skill, he or she receives a +1 competence bonus on checks using that skill. Bluff, Concentrate, Knowledge (Arcane Lore), Knowledge (Mysticism), Move Silently, Perform (Acting), Search, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Spot.
   Feats*: Select one of the following feats to receive as a bonus feat. The character must meet any prerequisites. Dream Viewer, Empathy, Foresight, Informant Network, Shameless.
   *All feats listed are contained in Tricks of the Mind, but may also have appeared (possibly in a different form) on this blog or in other NUELOW Games releases.

The Power of the Finger Gun!

They've been suspending kids for making "finger guns" at school. We have the Minor Power feat and talent tree to explain why. (This d20 System material is presented under the Open Game License. Copyright Steve Miller 2018. It was designed by L.L. Hundal & Steve Miller.)

FINGER GUN [Minor Power]
Your imaginary gun is deadly.
Benefit: Make a gun-shape with your hand and point at a living target. Roll a ranged attack as if using a weapon you’re proficient in. If you hit the target, it suffers 1d6+2 points of damage. Making a finger gun is a free action. Using your finger gun is a standard attack action. The range increment is 20 ft.

FINGER GUN TALENT TREE
Your imaginary gun is versatile and potentially very deadly.
   Finger Cannon: Make a gun-shape with your hand and point at a living or inanimate target. Roll a ranged attack as if using a weapon you’re proficient in. If you hit the target, it suffers 2d6+4 points of damage. Making a finger cannon is a free action. Using your finger cannon is a standard attack action. The range increment is 60 ft.
   Prerequisite: Finger Gun Minor Power feat.

   Finger Flame Thrower: Make a gun-shape with your hand and point at a living target. Roll a ranged attack as if using a weapon you’re proficient in. If you hit the target, it must roll a successful Fortitude (DC12+your Will bonus) or momentarily bursts into flame, suffering 2d6+2 points of fire damage. If the save is successful, the target takes half damage. The range increment is 20 ft.
   Prerequisite: Any Minor Power feat.

   Finger Stun Gun: Make a gun-shape with your hand and point at a living target. Roll a ranged attack as if using a weapon you’re proficient in. If you hit the target, it must roll a successful Fortitude (DC12+your Will bonus) or fall unconscious six rounds. If the save is successful, the target is disoriented and loses all actions for the rest of the round and must re-roll initiative with a -2 penalty on the following round.
Making a finger gun is a free action. Using your finger gun is a standard attack action. The range increment is 20 ft.
   Prerequisite: Any Minor Power feat.
  Two-Finger Firing: You attack as described in other Finger Gun feats, but you make gun-shapes with each hand. Gain an extra Finger Gun attack at your full attack bonus.
   Prerequisite: Any one talent from the Finger Gun Talent Tree. 

It's our first release of 2018!

Nothing can throw a campaign off-kilter quicker than a TPK... and that's where the latest release from us here at NUELOW Games comes in!

Cover art by Dick Giordano

Hard to Kill: Feats and Talents for the d20 System provides character abilities and mechanics that will allow PCs to stare Death in the face and laugh. Even if Death shoves that laughter right back down their throats and causes them to explode in a fine mist of gore and bone shards, this booklet provides the means for the character with the right combination of feat to literally come back from the dead.

Hard to Kill contains five feats, four talent trees, and an add-on to the character generation system that gives a newly created character a random reason for why enemies shout, "Why won't you die?!" Although designed with d20 Modern in mind, this material is easily adapted to popular d20 System variants such as StarFinder, or any d20 System variant that uses feats and talents.

As an added bonus for those of you who have been following our comics/rpg hybrid products. Hard to Kill also expands further on the d20 Supers System that was introduced in Madden's Boys. (The material stands perfectly fine on its own, like the various game sections in the aforementioned comics/rpg hybrid books.)

Hard to Kill is available for download at RPGNow and DriveThruRPG.

--

Speaking of our comics/rpg hybrid releases, in Ghost Woman... Also Featuring Spooks, we included d20 System rules for keeping a player character active and in the hands of its player even AFTER death. Such a character isn't just hard to kill... because how do you kill someone who's already dead? (The rules also include a way to give a "second life" to a major villain who falls at the hands of the player characters.

d20 Supers: The Reports of My Death Were Exaggerated!

A couple superpower feats, yet more parts of the d20 Supers game that we may or may not ever produce. This pair of feats exist to explain how certain characters can come back from the dead over and over and over. (As always, these are released under the Open Game License. Copyright Steve Miller 2017.)

LUCKY [Minor Power, Meta-Gaming]
You lead a charmed life.
   Prerequisite: One attribute above 12

   Benefit: Once per game session, you may declare a single attack roll, skill check, or saving throw that faled to be a success. The success is never a critical.
   Special: This feat can be replaced with The Reports of My Death... under the right circumstances. See The Reports of My Death... for more details.


THE REPORTS OF MY DEATH... [Minor Power, Supernatural]
You were dead... but you got better!
 Benefit: If the character dies (reduced below -10 hit points, disintegrated, blow to tiny bits, lost and drowned at sea, eaten by rabid weasles--any death, no matter hor mundane or terrible), this feat allows them to instantly return from the dead. The character reappears somewhere out of harm's way, with 1/4 of his or her hit points and a semi-plausible explanation of how he or she survived (the GM or player may invent something).

Art by Everett Raymond Kinstler

     The feat can only be used once. After the character has miraculously (perhaps literally) escaped death, the feat must be replaced by one of the following (with all prerequisites needing to be met): Attentive, Better Lucky Than Good, Cautious, Dodge, Lucky, Never Say Die
   Special: There is no benefit from this feat until the character dies. If the character possesses the Lucky feat, the character can replace it with this feat after he or she is killed, essentially getting a two-for-one on rising from the dead.
   If the character replaces this feat with Lucky, the cycle can repeat itself.

You can see the first parts of this game approach here, and everything on this topic that's been posted here. Much more (and refinements of these posts) have also been featured in many of our comics/rpg hybrid releases.

Another bit of d20 Supers: Spider Power!

Here's another entry in the ever-growing collection of d20 System feats and talent trees designed to incorporate superpowers into campaigns. Someday, we'll actually get around to doing a base class (all that will be needed is one--two at most), and collect all the d20 Supers material into a NUELOW Games release. 

Meanwhile, we hope you enjoy this latest bit of material; and we're sure it's obvious where some of the inspiration came from. As always, your feedback is welcomed, and the text is released under the Open Game License and may be reproduced according to its terms. Copyright Steve Miller 2017.

You can see the foundations of this system here and here. The whole collection of posts so far can be read here.

Protection of the Spider [Minor Power]

You suffer no harm when injected with natural venoms, such as those delivered with spider or snake bites.
   Benefit: You are immune to all venom, as well as harmful compounds derived from them.

The Astonishing Spider Queen! (Art by Kinstler)

Kin of the Spider (Super Power Talent Tree)
Whether gained through magic, mutation, or the bite of a radiated arachnid, you have spider-powers! (Note that unlike most superpower talents, Gift of the Spider requires specifically the Protection of the Spider minor power feat).

   Gift of the Spider: You have a +3 bonus to all Balance, Jump, and Climb skill checks.
   Prerequisite: Protection of the Spider minor power feat
   Spider Sense: You have a +4 bonus to all Sense Motive and Spot skill checks.
   Prerequisite: Gift of the Spider

   Call of the Spider: Make a successful Concentration skill check as a full round action (DC12) while thinking of a target within your line of sight. The following round, dozens of spiders begin to emerge from cracks and crevices, swarming toward your chosen target. On the next round, they deal 1 point of damage to the target. Spiders keep arriving for the next three rounds, with the damage inflicted increasing by 1 each round. (The target may roll a Fort save for half damage.) On the 5th round, the spiders withdraw, although you may call them again if you choose.
   Prerequisite: Any one Minor Power feat
   Spider Growth: Focus your will upon a spider within your line of sight. Make a successful Concentration skill check (DC12) as a full round action. With the beginning of the next round, the spider transforms into a Giant Spider and attacks a target by your command on your initiative. Commanding the spider is a free action. It attacks for four rounds (after which it reverts to normal) or until slain.
   Prerequisite: Call of the Spider
   Salvation of the Spider: If you are reduced to -5 or fewer hit points (but not -10), a spider-web like substance excretes from every pore of your body, encasing you in a thick, impervious cocoon. This process takes one round, and any person or creature in physical contact with you is forced away and suffers 1d4 points of slashing damage.
   The cocoon remains for 48 hours, during which time you heal 4d20+8 hitpoints, recover any lost attribute points and regrow any severed limbs, up to your fully-healed state. The cocoon dissolves into a fine dust at the end of the time period, and, although you are unconscious while in the cocoon, you are immediately fully alert and ready for action.
   Prerequisite: Gift of the Spider

The feat to prevent TPK!

Here's another Metagame feat for your enjoyment. It's inspired by a plot device that appears in many horror films and a handful of sci-fi ones, too, and the Alan Hewetson/Pablo Marcos short story "An Event in the Night" that will appear in a forthcoming NUELOW Games release, which is tentatively titled Events in the Night: Horror Stories Illustrated by Pablo Marcos.

WAS IT ALL JUST A NIGHTMARE? [Minor Power, Metagame]
Was that horrible dream of death and carnage just that--a dream--or was it a preminition?
   Prerequisite: Foresight
   Benefit: You may invoke this feat once per game session after your character dies or is horribly maimed, or after the party suffers a total defeat. Your character wakes up, covered in cold sweat with heart pounding in the chest. The entire day that led up to the disastrous defeat was just a dream. Any items gained, XP earned, and character injuries that occurred during it are completely undone. It's as if the events never happened, because they didn't.
The events are now played again, and the players may used player knowledge (assuming your character shares the details of the dream with his or her comrades). The GM may make alterations to the scenario (and should, to keep ir fresh), but the broad strokes remain the same. But your character and the rest of the party will have a chance to at least attempt to correct their mistakes and avoid death.
    Special: After this feat has been evoked and the disastrous encounter has been successfully survived, roll a d20. If the result is 4 or 13, you suffer a -2 penalty to all saving throws for the entirety of the next game session... as Fate and Death stalk your character, angry that he or she eluded their grasp. (If you use "Was It All A Nightmare" again during that session, the saving throw penalty increases to -4 during the next game session and so on.