User:Bill/Murcon's Syndrome
Setting[edit]
Murcon's Syndrome has infected nearly the whole of humanity; if such a distinction still means anything. Three years ago superheroes were the stuff of imagination and escapist entertainment. Then people started getting sick. A high fever followed by severe headaches or muscle cramps would leave the infected incapacitated for four days on average. Afterward, most went back to their lives thinking nothing more of it. That's when the permanent changes started revealing themselves. The infected started manifesting exceptional abilities. Nothing like leaping over tall buildings or throwing trucks, but small things like Jeff Richards' power. The world famous 98 pound power-lifter. He's as strong as men who have trained their entire life, but a stiff wind would carry him off.
Dr. Robert Murcon, a researcher with the CDC put it all together. Not before too many people to contain the disease had been infected though. Murcon's team discovered a treatment that would suppress and ultimately eliminate the powers, but too late. Many people have chosen to be inoculated with the treatment voluntarily, trying to get back to normal, but millions resist.
The world is in chaos. Superhuman abilities have spread through virtually every population center on the planet. Religions have struggled to explain the phenomenon while police forces battle to contain a radical upheaval in the social order. Politicians must work out how to govern these abilities while educators become totally overwhelmed by classrooms full of students that manifest unpredictable powers. Some nations have responded to the infection by mandating treatment while others attempt to integrate the new abilities into the fabric of their society. A few well-meaning or insane "superheroes" have emerged as have some "supervillains". The United States government doesn't approve of vigilantism though and considers all costumed types to be dangerous criminals. Under the Drummand Act, passed in the early days of the plague, anyone arrested is given the treatment even if they are not formally charged.
Characters[edit]
You will be playing fairly normal people, perhaps even yourself, who have been infected by Murcon's Syndrome and have manifested a superhuman ability. For any reason you care to adopt, your character has decided to keep his or her power.
The game will mostly be about how your characters cope with the chaos going on around you. As you gain more points you will be allowed to improve your superhuman ability, though at a slow rate. The game should slowly evolve from what is mostly character driven drama into full-blown superhero smack-down, but I want the characters to be pretty fleshed out before we get there.
Your character's power will be completely reliable, but not terribly impressive by itself. You may have any single power that you can construct, but it must not exceed 25 points and it must include a wiggle die. You may not have more than three dice in any power and you may not exceed a total of five dice in any ability or skill. You may not purchase more than one power under any circumstances. Points not spent are lost.
Rules[edit]
While this idea is based on Wild Talents, it's easily adaptable to almost any other superhero game. If you have a preference other than Wild Talents, say so.
