World of Project VIGILANCE Factbook

Some setting notes…

• The ‘Vigilance’ Act of 1971 – passed under the Nixon Administration, this Act was in response to increased Metahuman activities across the U.S., both costumed vigilantes and villains. The act created two federal agencies; the Federal Office of Metahuman Control (FOMC) and the Federal Investigations and Security Headquarters (FISH), who were tasked with creating a coordinated response from so-called ‘masked heroes’. FISH would sponsor teams of superheroes in major cities around the country. In agreeing to responding U.S. government requests for aid (if available and capable), FISH would provide these semi-independent teams with money for a base of operation and equipment (basically the ‘team’ will get so many Equipment Points for free that could be spend on a Headquarters, Vehicles, and minor equipment like communicators, night goggles, etc). FISH would also then provide these team legal representation and insures to cover any expenses they might incur while acting on the governments behalf. Team members are allowed to maintain a secret identity, only need to file their ‘supers’ name with the government. Those metahumans who do not register with the government in this way are subject to fines, incarceration, revelations of their true identities if apprehended and are denied access to government faculties and resources in all cases.

• FOMC – Federal Office of Metahuman Control is based out of Washington DC and coordinates metahuman laws and legal issues. They present detailed reports every quarter to a Senate Subcommittee on Metahuman Activity over the last quarter, budget issues for themselves and FISH, and response and research any laws or bills dealing with metahumans.

• FISH – Federal Investigations and Security Headquarters is the elite federal agency that deals mostly with the metahuman community most directly. Their operate off of one of three Super-Flying Carriers code-named Hammerheads (think of them as Marvel’s SHIELD, and the Flying Fortresses). Headed by General Marcus Hammer, the agency projects stability to the general population of the U.S. in controlling (or at least containing) the metahuman population (and they also run the various federal metahuman prisons in the U.S.). They also have offices in Washington DC and every city where there is a Project VIGINANCE sponsored team. They can provide access to federal databases and files on known meta-villains, along with agent support in cases of emergency.

The five other FISH sponsored super teams, the members and their locations…

• the Crusaders – based in L.A., they are lead by Manta-Man (super-science; battlesuit. An advanced SCUBA suit that also allows him to fly and fire electrical bolts). Other members include Evergreen (elemental? Has powers over Plants, is very resistant to damage and as a poisonous venom), Enforcer (accident. Former super-spy who can create powerful force fields), Dreamer (psionic. Powerful illusionist), Blizzard (mutant. Cold Controller), and LaserFire (empowered, alien force? Controls fire and light elementals).
• the Protectors – based out of New York City, team leader is Captain Cold (accident. Cold Control). Other members include Empress (empowered? Magic and Hellfire? Control), Archangel (empowered, or alien. Winged flight, low-level super strength, carries a ‘magic’ flaming sword), and the Blue Knight (super-science; battlesuit. Advanced power armor that looks like Medieval plate-and-chain armor and carries a battleaxe that can project energy bolts).
• the Centurions – bases out of Washington DC, lead by Action Man (mutant, super-science. With limited Cosmic Energy control – fires blasts and heightened awareness, he also wears an advanced combat battle suit). Other members are Avenger (accident. Super-strength and limited invulnerability), Magnetic Man (mutant. Magnetic control), Micro-Girl (mutant. Shrinking powers but retains her original weight and gets stronger the smaller she shrinks), Morning Star (super-science; battlesuit. Wears an advanced combat powered armor with two heavy ‘mace’ weapons that can extended out from each arm up to 100ft), and Raven (skilled. Trained athletic, with superior fighting skills)
• the Guardians – based out of Miami, has no dedicated team leader. Members include Jane-Be-Quick (accident. Super-speedster), Mammoth (mutant. Super strength, who looks something like a big-foot), the Mouser (skilled. Olympic gymnast, with superior fighting abilities), and the Pharaoh (empowered. Carries the magical ‘Staff of Ra’ that grants him various powers including flight, magical energy control, force-field projection.
• the Seekers – based out of Chicago, has no dedicated team leader. Members include War bird (super-science and skilled. Older hero whom wears a special suit that provides him winged flight, super-strength and limited resistance, and is very skilled combatant), Big Chill (mutant. Super-strength and Cold Control), Portal (accident. Portal teleporter), and the Magnus (magic. Sorcerer from Earth past, magic wielder)

Seattle WA facts you might not know (as they are unique to the World of Project Vigilance)…