Everyone has a skeleton or two in the closet, something that they keep
quite about because of embarrassment or incrimination. This happens everyday all
over the world, and has been recorded in time, why should a Hero System™
settings be any different?
Heroes and their secrets
A secret may be a simple thing that happens to normal people, being sick, for
example. Maybe something a little more drastic like being an ex-criminal. To the
far end of the spectrum, having willfully taken someone’s life. Regardless of
the secret it is the reaction of the character, when confronted by another’s
knowledge of the secret, that makes it a problem. Human nature makes us take
steps to keep secrets safe; the lengths that we are willing to go determine how
valuable that secret is. Secrets can clearly be used as disadvantages within the
Hero System.
One could say that Secrets fall into the realm of Psychological Limitations,
however, their current write-up does not account for the actions and reactions
revolving around preventing the revelation of a secret and what consequences are
imposed (either to one’s self or toward others) once the secret has been
discovered. Most Psychological Limitations give points for the effect the
situation has on the character. For example, a Code versus Killing shows that a
character will take a certain action when confronted with the decision to kill
or capture someone. It is a known response, villains will use it to there
advantage is the situation arises. A secret, however, is different as it is not
known to many (if any) people other than the one who is effected, and a constant
effort is made not to reveal said secret.
While the fear of being found out is defiantly there, this is only half the
disadvantage. We describe in this half what the secret is and how strongly the
secret is to be kept. The other half determines what actions will be taken
depending on how many people or who finds out about the secret. For example, a
hero with a secret identity has a iys a newspaper report snooping into his past,
the report stumbles on something and confronts the hero with the secret, will
the hero deny the allegation, payoff the reporter, or kill him (possibly
creating an addendum to the initial secret). It is how the character perceives
his secret, and the anticipated reactions of others that dictate the value of a
secret. Obviously, abuse is inherent with any disadvantage, and like the others,
the GM should understand the particular disadvantage and how it affects the
mechanics of his game. Some players could see an easy 10-point disadvantage!
Because of the effects these points can have regarding power levels, and on
campaigns themselves, this disadvantage should only be taken once. This
disadvantage should not be “linked” to another disadvantage as secrets should be
all encompassing (hence this write-up and the descriptions provided herein to
describe why this should be taken as a separate disadvantage).
GMs should decide how and if they work secrets into their campaigns. Players
should think carefully before taking a secret, as with other disadvantages, they
will need to decide the secret and the ramifications of it on their character.
However, as described above secrets tend to have greater implications than other
disadvantages
So, a new disadvantage for your viewing pleasure
Secret
This disadvantage may only be taken once
The Secret
5 pts Secret known may or may not have any effect on life or circumstances.
10 pts Secret known would change life and circumstances
15 pts Secret known would radical effect life and circumstances
Modifiers0 pts Doesn’t want people knowing secret. e.g.. Tries hard to convince anyone of keeping his secret
5 pts Takes action to insure secret not known e.g. Would threaten/pay anyone to keep his secret
10 pts Takes radical action to insure secret not known. e.g. May harm or worse anyone who knows secret.
Examples of secrets for different genres:
Secrets In Champions
Male hero is actually a women-would only plead for secret not to be
told
This would be a 5pt disadvantage depending on the background of
the campaign. If the background of the campaign was such that male and female
heroes were treated equally, then this is worth 5pts. It’s not really going to
have a big effect on the character. However, if the background shows that women
are treated differently and not given large roles in policing agencies then this
would be worth 10 or even 15 depending.
Hero is an ex-convict, would only plead for secret not to be
told
This would be a 10pt disadvantage depending on the background of the
campaign. If the public at large found out that Sergeant USA, a trusted and like
hero, use to be a villain working for Viper the fall out would be great. He
might be arrested, bystanders might run or throw things at him. The other heroes
that he normally patrols with might even avoid him or arrest him. If there’s the
treat of a trial and jail this could easily be a 15pt disadvantage.
Bulldozer is my dad - would only plead for secret not to be told:
This would be a 5-10pt disadvantage depending on the background of the
campaign. If a well-known villain is the relative of a hero this could cause
many problems. If the hero fails to catch him, then he let him get away. The
villain could try and use it to his advantage as well. Policing agencies and
other heroes may no longer trust the hero.
Secrets in Fantasy Hero, Star Hero, Ninja Hero:
Male hero is actually a women-would only plead for secret not to be
told.
This would be a 5pt disadvantage depending on the background of
the campaign. This could be a 10 or 15-point base disadvantage, depending on the
GMs decision on how it will affect her life.
In a Ninja Hero setting a male-based society such as feudal Japan this
could have a radical effect. Women normally weren’t allowed to learn the martial
artist till much later. So having learned them and used them against males could
cause the hero some problems with the local towns people and the authorities in
the area.
In a Fantasy Hero setting women could have a similar problem. While some
villagers may have no problem with their priest being women, they might not want
their guards being women. Women could have problems being hired for a job or be
offered much less in payment.
In a Star Hero setting a female ship captain could have problems finding a
crew or finding clients willing to hire her. The may advance through the ranks
slower and be held back for job promotions. It maybe the 24th century but that
doesn’t mean that all attitudes have changed.
Forefathers were of an enemy’s race, would only plead for the
secret not to be told.
This would be a 10pt disadvantage, fore this could change their lives. The characters great grand or grand parents may
have been from a race that is considered the enemy or an “evil” race. If the
character is found out they could be discharge from the service they are in or
even killed depending on the campaign.
In a Fantasy Hero setting if a character is Elven and one of his
forefathers were of an evil Elven race he wouldn’t want this know. He could be
treated as outcast or even out right killed. If a character was of Orc
descendant then the character could be treated as an outcast, forced to live by
himself and never trusted.
In a Star Hero setting if the character is the descendant of a race that was
the sworn enemy of the organization the character belongs to, this would cause
problems. The character could be imprisoned or kick out of the organization.
NPCs who had the loved one killed could decide to take it out on the character.
In Ninja Hero setting is the character is the poplar winner of martial arts
tournaments. It becomes known that he is the nephew of a hated combatant. He may
no longer be allowed in tournaments, the crowd could turn on him and boo him
instead of cheering. If the relative is a known cheater then everyone may assume
that the character cheats as well.
These are merely suggestions and GMs should change them to fit their
campaigns.