arc/team themes

[znbrtn]

i'm trying to work out a power/naming theme to tie together a group of hypothetical characters, but i A) don't want to use one that's been done before, and B)can't seem to get my brain working, so i'd like to see what others can think of.
for examples of where to start and ruling out those that are not possibilities, here is a short list of themes that do *not* work:
elements:frankly, it's been done to death. maybe an add-on, but nothing more.
animals in general: same as above, really.
specific sub-sets of animals: fish, birds, big cats, insects, spiders, so on.
playing cards: card suits, card values, card royalty
the tarot: same subsets and reasons as above.
musical groups and songs: may not seem like it's been done to death, but to anyone that keeps up with jojo's bizarre adventure will know otherwise.

and with that, i wait to see what you fine forumgoers can come up with.

[Stone Gargoyle]

Sports team themes are rarely done. You might try something like a team of hockey or baseball style characters.

[znbrtn]

Sports team themes are rarely done. You might try something like a team of hockey or baseball style characters.

i would likely go more for each character having a different sport as their theme; that's still a pretty good idea though.

another couple that i thought up that would be possibilities:
types of plants, most likely flowers
sort of weird, but types of vehicles, like car, truck, bus, etc.

[Stone Gargoyle]

Sports team themes are rarely done. You might try something like a team of hockey or baseball style characters.

i would likely go more for each character having a different sport as their theme; that's still a pretty good idea though.

another couple that i thought up that would be possibilities:
types of plants, most likely flowers
sort of weird, but types of vehicles, like car, truck, bus, etc.

Types of Trees goes along with the flowers thing.
You could also do them after planets in the solar system or the zodiac, but zodiac characters have been done to death, too.
Possibly make them model themselves after a pantheon of gods.

[gaby]

How about teams based on the following...

the 4 winds

each member taking a name from a Gems.

Movie monsters or characters.

[Gryphon Chick]

Movie monsters or characters.

Movie monster groups are overly done, IMO.

[gaby]

Each member take a name of a edged weapon and ther team name is the blades.

a Military theme.

the Brain trust each member have a Psi-powers.

A Fantasy/Faerie tales group.

a holiday group

the seven sins.

A National group

A Court of law group.

[Overlord Rikonius]

How about an era themed group, with each member embodying a specific era of human history.
For example:
You could have an Industrial Age steampunk themed hardware type
A medeival knight type
An Egyptian Pharoah type
A Roman themed hero
A cowboy themed Hardware Weapons type
A 1950's/1960's greaser themes hardware: mechanical
A Revolutionary War themed hero

[znbrtn]

yish you guys work fast.. i'll see what i come up with.
how about character themes/groups based on objects? or emotions?

objects work, but it would have to be a specific sub-set of objects to really work, i think. gaby's edge weapons idea is a good example.
i'm hesitant to use emotions, because such designations kind of railroad a character either directly into or directly away from their designated stereotype.

[znbrtn]

fine by me... feel free to use or ignore my suggestions.

i don't mean to put you down or anything; just to refine your ideas.

[Soldier of Od]

Further to the sports team ideas: an old team I made up were the 'Olympians', with magic 'weapons' - Javelin, Discus, Shot and Hammer. Other athletics based characters could also work (Marathon, Sprinter etc.).

I recently made up a supervillain team who were all 'Agents of Chaos'. A quick glance at a thesaurus and I came up with the characters of Anarchy, Bedlam, Mayhem and Pandemonium. The thesaurus is your friend.

[Kevin McIntyre]

Without realizing it, this just helped me tons with throwing an organized group at my players. I love the Chaos group and the Olympian themed group.

[znbrtn]

Without realizing it, this just helped me tons with throwing an organized group at my players. I love the Chaos group and the Olympian themed group.

hehe, glad to hear. this thread is for everyone's benefit, and there's the proof.

[gaby]

How about a Gambing Theme

Each member take a name from a Game of Chance,like Slots,Roulette,lottery and so on.

A Tools theme,A Drinks theme,theatre theme.

[Gazirra]

I have a supervillain team that was inspired by the bit bad-guy from The Incredibles: Bomb Voyage.

Need a team name, but you can have:

Hiroshima: Self-Detonation and Control Radiation
C-4: Multiple Selves (3 copies), Teleport, Detonation
Mr. Bombastic: Charge Object with Explosive Energy, Energy Spheres, Fireworks
Bomb Voyage (Don't know if this'd be a conversion, seeing as how he's only in the movie for a couple minutes): Weapons Expert centered around explosives and demolitions

[gaby]

How about characters from a Faerietales or book like Alice in Wonderland or the Wizard of OZ.

Hey how about we try to put a Power Catagory with a name of a Faerie tale,s characters?

[Stone Gargoyle]

How about characters from a Faerietales or book like Alice in Wonderland or the Wizard of OZ.

Hey how about we try to put a Power Catagory with a name of a Faerie tale,s characters?

I did ones from the Wizard of Oz once for the occupants of an apartment complex who had mutant/super powers- The Yellow Brick Apartments on Oz Road.

[PapaMambo]

I'm surprised noone said the Signs of the Zodiac, or perhaps the Chinese Zodiac.. This opens up a lot of different possibilities (Animal/supernatural animals for chinese Zodiac)

Zodiac
- Aries the ram - the Agrarian Worker (works the land also known as the God of War) - natural combat ability??
- Taurus the bull - the "Steer of Heaven" - could be supernaturally strong
- Gemini the Twins - Twins (need I say more?) - Gestalt heroes, Psychic Union (a la Stars and Stripes - Villains Unlimited), Energy Doppleganger, Multiple Lives etc etc...
- Cancer the crab - Water powers, radiation powers (actually GIVES cancer), armor powers etc..
- Leo the lion - Animal Metamorphosis, Divine Aura etc (He is the King of the jungle after all)
- Virgo the virgin - Sorry - I got nuthin' (nothing I dare repeat here), maybe psionics a healer of somesort or perhaps magic??
- Libra the scales - maybe his/her powers are centered around evening the playing field - negate super powers, borrow power etc..
- Scorpio the scorpion - Insect powers scorpion, adhesion, etc..
- Saggitarius the Centaur Archer - targetting, weapons mastery (bow) etc
- Capricorn the goat (or sea-goat) - healer (provided sustenance to Zeus)
- Aquarius the water bearer - With a name like Aquarius, he'd BETTER have water powers
- Pisces the fish(es) - "According to one Greek myth, Pisces represents the fish into which Aphrodite and her son Eros transformed in order to escape the fire god Typhon; they are tied together with a cord on their tails, to make sure they do not lose one another." So, perhaps teleportation (good to get out of trouble), etc..

The Chinese Zodiac presents all sorts of wonderful differnt options for you. All 12 are based on different animals, but that doesn't necessarily mean that their powers need to be animal based, as all of these animals represent personality traits.

From Wikipedia

1. Rat - 鼠 (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water): Forthright, tenacious, intense, meticulous, charismatic, sensitive, hardworking, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, artistic, shrewd. Can be manipulative, vindictive, self-destructive, mendacious, venal, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, scheming.
2. Ox - 牛 (Water buffalo in Vietnam) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Water): Dependable, ambitious, calm, methodical, born leader, patient, hardworking, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.
3. Tiger - 虎 (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish, aggressive, unpredictable, moody.
4. Rabbit - 兔 (Cat in Vietnam) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Gracious, good friend, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, shy, astute, compassionate, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, stubborn.
5. Dragon - 龍 (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, jealous, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous, loyal. Can be tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous, brash.
6. Snake - 蛇 (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious, suffocating, cold.
7. Horse or also Stallion - 馬 (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile - mentally and physically, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, arrogant, childish, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn.
8. Goat, or Sheep or Ram - 羊 (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, determined, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer, weak-willed.
9. Monkey - 猴 (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, artistic, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, selfish, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, suspicious.
10. Rooster - 雞 (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific, responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, opinionated, given to empty bravado.
11. Dog - 狗 (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amicable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, sensitive, easy going. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.
12. Pig - 亥 (Wild boar in Japan and Elephant in Northern Thailand) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water): Honest, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent. Can be naïve, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.

Lots of choices in there for your game I would imagine. And these could be some pretty large teams if you so chose. 12 members on a team might be too much to keep track of, so I would suggest you pare things down and pick the 5 or 6 that best suit your needs.

[novatomato]

how about historical figures? for a group of heroes you could get. Da Vinci, Clausewitz, Tesla etc.
Or literary figures; Don Quixote, Gulliver, Holmes, etc.

[DtMK]

I'm currently assembling an NPC group with each member based on one of The Seven Deadly Sins. Each one alone is dangerous, but together they should strike fear into the hearts of heroes.

[Sir_Spirit]

YOu could try a color/rainbow themed team, it has been done a couple of time w but not that many.
OR perhaps a "Forces" themed team?
Gravity/ Mantic/ electrical/ entropy[decay, necluer weak force], and atomic attraction-binding[nuclear strong].

[Danger]

I think a team based on Santa's reindeer (name-wise, not appearance-wise) would be fun.

Dasher
Dancer
Prancer
Vixen
Comet
Cupid
Donner
Blitzen

[Her0man0]

how about band names and songs

power puff girls did an inspired Beetles theme episode.

all the bad guys got together and were called the beat alls and the entire episode was in beatle lyrics if i remember right.

about a decade ago when i was in highschool i did a Metallica theme named after the metallica albums

And Justice for All
Ride the Lightning
Black album
Load
Reload
etc....etc...

[Hound]

For something different how about a theme on different types of comedy?

Examples can be:

Slapstick- Physical powers, like bulletproof or indestructible, or even zombie flesh

Highbrow- Psionic powers like Bio-manipulation or Mental Stun (OW! The puns!)

Satire- Copy Super powers, imitation powers and things like Enlarge Body Parts

Vaudeville- Multiple selves (your own Chorus line?)

Black/Gallows Humor- Darkness powers

Silly/Cartoon/Clown Humor- Control Static Electricity, Glowbug, Energy Expulsion water blast

[DtMK]

I was recently inspired to make an unlikely team of bounty hunters whose main theme is that they are short in stature, thus people tend to underestimate them. I call them Lilliput Inc. I also borrow from other settings to incorporate beings not normally used to this world as Aliens.

Damjat Singh: Ancient Master focusing in Thai Kick Boxing, 4'11"
Bullet Ant: Experiment with Shrink, Gravity Manipulation and Disruptive Touch, can shrink to a speck.
Tarantula Hawk: Mega Mutant with Flight: Insect, EE: Light, Tentacles of Hair, Super Bounce and Venomous Stinger: Paralysis. Must transform to use powers, and when T-Hawk stings someone, it feels like something is moving around inside the victim.
Korudon Creed: Nuhr Dwarf Rune Maker, pirate with magic weapons.
Hop-Frog: Gnome Physical training character focusing on speed and agility.
Banger: Terlin disguised as a child, focusing on magic and weapons to bind their prey.

[Danger]

For something different how about a theme on different types of comedy?

Vaudeville- Multiple selves (your own Chorus line?)

Funny. I'm currently playing in a 1940's Champion's game, and my character is a magician named Vaudeville.

I had a friend who created a master villain in another game, who used goofy cartoon booby-traps as his main theme. He was called The Comedian.