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"Registered crimefighter" - How exactly does it work?

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The Hybrid
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"Registered crimefighter" - How exactly does it work?

I have some questions about the concept of registering to be a licensed crimefighter. I'll just put them in a list, see if we can come up with good answers.

1. Does this apply to everyone who fights crime as someone who isn't part of the official law? You see, the relevant lore post states registering powers for use. Except, that in itself is tricky. You got your Batmans and Green Arrows who don't have actual superpowers, and in a world where superpowers exist, are the non-powered, non-law enforcement heroes grouped together with them? Example: In the Civil War event from Marvel, the SHRA was about controlling the superhuman populace. But superheroes who weren't actually superhuman (such as Hawkeye/Kate Bishop, Daredevil, Black Widow etc.) were still expected to sign the SHRA willingly or otherwise. On that note, what about a superhero who draws powers from an external object, like how Star-Girl has a magic staff but is otherwise powerless without it, or Blue Beetle with his scarab? What exactly does it entail?

2. Does registering to be licensed crimefighter function as a gameplay mechanic? Can you choose not to register, and instead act like a Punisher/Red Hood type of vigilante who takes matters into their own hands, usually in a brutal fashion? That would be interesting.

3. If the above is the case, how do you register anyways? Is there a place for it, an in-game internet? I'd like to know.

4. How much of a gameplay mechanic does being a licensed crimefighter play into the game itself?

Thanks.

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From Page 15, Question 21:

From Page 15, Question 21: "This includes weapons and gadgets, magical abilities, and even special skills, as well as inherent powers."

So the answer to your first question is, Yes, this means you.

As for how and where, my understanding is that it's one of your first choices affecting how Lawful you are.

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Huh, how did I miss that? I

Huh, how did I miss that? I've read it multiple times, but I guess I just skipped over it by accident. Anyways, good to know.

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The Hybrid wrote:
The Hybrid wrote:

I have some questions about the concept of registering to be a licensed crimefighter. I'll just put them in a list, see if we can come up with good answers.

1. Does this apply to everyone who fights crime as someone who isn't part of the official law? You see, the relevant lore post states registering powers for use. Except, that in itself is tricky. You got your Batmans and Green Arrows who don't have actual superpowers, and in a world where superpowers exist, are the non-powered, non-law enforcement heroes grouped together with them? Example: In the Civil War event from Marvel, the SHRA was about controlling the superhuman populace. But superheroes who weren't actually superhuman (such as Hawkeye/Kate Bishop, Daredevil, Black Widow etc.) were still expected to sign the SHRA willingly or otherwise. On that note, what about a superhero who draws powers from an external object, like how Star-Girl has a magic staff but is otherwise powerless without it, or Blue Beetle with his scarab? What exactly does it entail?

Your linked source (which Foradain mentioned already) includes the following:

Quote:

Any dangerous or intrusive power must be registered before public use for a nonemergency purpose or within thirty days of first use for an emergency purpose (including initial manifestation). This includes weapons and gadgets, magical abilities, and even special skills, as well as inherent powers.

That seems to cover most of your first question.

The Hybrid wrote:

2. Does registering to be licensed crimefighter function as a gameplay mechanic? Can you choose not to register, and instead act like a Punisher/Red Hood type of vigilante who takes matters into their own hands, usually in a brutal fashion? That would be interesting.

In CoH this idea of "registering" was always just an informal pretense. In fact the activity of "creating" your characters was technically (roleplay-wise) taken to be the character registering themselves into the game. But it would be interesting if they made it something you had to make a post-creation decision about. You could assume that most "villains" would likely never willing register themselves but it does beg the question about those borderline vigilante/rogue types who might not want to register yet still sort-of act for the public good.

The Hybrid wrote:

3. If the above is the case, how do you register anyways? Is there a place for it, an in-game internet? I'd like to know.

Again this wasn't really a "thing" you overtly did in CoH - it was kind of assumed it was taken care of during the literal act of "creating" your characters. To make it something you could "choose not to do" they'd have to make an in-game place (city hall?) where you'd go to do it dynamically.

The Hybrid wrote:

4. How much of a gameplay mechanic does being a licensed crimefighter play into the game itself?

Maybe the question should be what would be the ramifications for -not- registering considering that's probably going to make the character in question be the "exception to the rule". Maybe it would give you some automatic penalties versus certain factions (like the Titan City police force) and act like the "survival/hard" mode in Fallout 4 did to give you an extra challenge while playing the game.

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It is actually post-creation

It is actually post-creation where you make this decision, in the bank tutorial to be exact.

Yes, there is a dynamic included for those whot register vs those who do not.

Technical Director

Read enough Facebook and you have to make Sanity Checks. I guess FB is the Great Old One of the interent these days... - Beamrider

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Whoa whoa whoa now.

Whoa whoa whoa now.

Black Widow has her own super soldier serum going. She has powers :p

Which, I keep hoping we'll find out in the MCU :p

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Brand X wrote:
Brand X wrote:

Whoa whoa whoa now.

Black Widow has her own super soldier serum going. She has powers :p

Which, I keep hoping we'll find out in the MCU :p

That's funny... I never realized Black Widow was "juicing" to be more than just a very exceptional "normal". Does that mean she'll have a "asterisks" by her name just like all those athletes in the various halls of fame with their "questionable" records? ;)

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Doctor Tyche wrote:
Doctor Tyche wrote:

It is actually post-creation where you make this decision, in the bank tutorial to be exact.

Yes, there is a dynamic included for those whot register vs those who do not.

This is interesting news (at least news to me at any rate). Could it be said that not registering is going to be like playing on "hard mode" or is it just going to be different?

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Lothic wrote:
Lothic wrote:
Doctor Tyche wrote:

It is actually post-creation where you make this decision, in the bank tutorial to be exact.

Yes, there is a dynamic included for those whot register vs those who do not.

This is interesting news (at least news to me at any rate). Could it be said that not registering is going to be like playing on "hard mode" or is it just going to be different?

It changes the way NPC's react to you.

Not harder, just different.

Technical Director

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Doctor Tyche wrote:
Doctor Tyche wrote:
Lothic wrote:
Doctor Tyche wrote:

It is actually post-creation where you make this decision, in the bank tutorial to be exact.

Yes, there is a dynamic included for those whot register vs those who do not.

This is interesting news (at least news to me at any rate). Could it be said that not registering is going to be like playing on "hard mode" or is it just going to be different?

It changes the way NPC's react to you.

Not harder, just different.

That sounds good - I have several vigilante-type characters who have never been good "joiners" so when I ran them in CoH I used to always have to "gloss over" the idea that they would have ever officially "registered" for anything. ;)

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Doctor Tyche wrote:
Doctor Tyche wrote:

It is actually post-creation where you make this decision, in the bank tutorial to be exact.

Yes, there is a dynamic included for those whot register vs those who do not.

Nice. Our first alignment choice. And like Foradain guessed, this one decision would probably help determine your lawfulness score.

Would how we deal with the other factors in the bank job help us understand the violence and honor alignment axes also? So not only is the bank heist a tutorial for game mechanics, it can also be a tutorial for some softer game concepts like alignment? Cool.

If characters choose not to sign up in that mission, would there be a place they can go if they change their minds at a later time?


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
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Huckleberry wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Doctor Tyche wrote:

It is actually post-creation where you make this decision, in the bank tutorial to be exact.

Yes, there is a dynamic included for those whot register vs those who do not.

Nice. Our first alignment choice. And like Foradain guessed, this one decision would probably help determine your lawfulness score.

Would how we deal with the other factors in the bank job help us understand the violence and honor alignment axes also? So not only is the bank heist a tutorial for game mechanics, it can also be a tutorial for some softer game concepts like alignment? Cool.

If characters choose not to sign up in that mission, would there be a place they can go if they change their minds at a later time?

Right. Are you there to stop the robbery, or are you the person running it? Do you work with the authorities, or reject them? Do you use violence to get what you want or do you use coersion? Do you follow through on your promises?

So, taking a Punisher type character: Stop the robbery, reject the police, use violence, keep promise.

And your gameplay will allow you to shift these choices as well over time.

Technical Director

Read enough Facebook and you have to make Sanity Checks. I guess FB is the Great Old One of the interent these days... - Beamrider

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Yay! Don't want my main

Yay! Don't want my main registered, with the idea that the head of Naval Intelligence knows her and keeps her off the list but with plans to still use her from time to time :) Her permitting of course. :p

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Doctor Tyche wrote:
Doctor Tyche wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Doctor Tyche wrote:

It is actually post-creation where you make this decision, in the bank tutorial to be exact.

Yes, there is a dynamic included for those whot register vs those who do not.

Nice. Our first alignment choice. And like Foradain guessed, this one decision would probably help determine your lawfulness score.

Would how we deal with the other factors in the bank job help us understand the violence and honor alignment axes also? So not only is the bank heist a tutorial for game mechanics, it can also be a tutorial for some softer game concepts like alignment? Cool.

If characters choose not to sign up in that mission, would there be a place they can go if they change their minds at a later time?

Right. Are you there to stop the robbery, or are you the person running it? Do you work with the authorities, or reject them? Do you use violence to get what you want or do you use coersion? Do you follow through on your promises?

So, taking a Punisher type character: Stop the robbery, reject the police, use violence, keep promise.

And your gameplay will allow you to shift these choices as well over time.

Insightful. Thanks!

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Excellent! So each character

Excellent! So each character we make can have a unique immersion depending on our choices! This is an excellent feature. One I felt COX didn’t do exceptionally well. I look forward to the experience.

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Did anyone see the latest

Did anyone see the latest Hijinx? Nice tie-ins with some CoT lore we're familiar with.

1. Officer Aurelia from Tales of the TCPD was in it.
2. There is a mention of registering with the Department of Public Safety no later than 30 days after first "Emergency Use of Powers."

I don't think I gave anything away that would be protected IP by Patreon or MWM.


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
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Huckleberry wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:

Did anyone see the latest Hijinx?

No, I hadn't! Thanks for the heads-up, I might not have seen it for a few more hours!

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My impression of this is that

My impression of this is that it’s similar to the (real life) laws some places have regarding martial artists: black belts (or equivalent) are required to register their bodies as a deadly weapon. Partly so that police are aware, in case they have to attempt to apprehend these people, or if a murder or other crime involving martial arts is committed, they have a list of possible suspects to look at.

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velvetsanity wrote:
velvetsanity wrote:

My impression of this is that it’s similar to the (real life) laws some places have regarding martial artists: black belts (or equivalent) are required to register their bodies as a deadly weapon. Partly so that police are aware, in case they have to attempt to apprehend these people, or if a murder or other crime involving martial arts is committed, they have a list of possible suspects to look at.

Uh ... there's a problem with that assumption.

Let's begin with the notion that any sort of registration of super-ness system is going to basically involve putting that information on file ... somewhere.

First question ... is that information publicly available? (Y/N)
If yes, you're playing in a videogame where all you need to do is use an Inspect function to get perfect information about a target.
If no, you're in a more realistic world where stuff like this tends to wind up in filing cabinets (or computer databases) ... somewhere.

Second question ... is that information available on an As Needed basis in real time? (Y/N)
If yes, you're playing in a videogame (or a movie) where everything is at your fingertips the instant that you ask for it, because you've asked for it.
If no, you're playing in a more realistic world where records searches don't happen "instantly" when consulting databases (or filing cabinets, or binders full of women, or whatever).

Third question ... is this information "secured" in any way so as to restrict access to it somehow? (Y/N)
If yes, you may be looking at Privacy Laws or even just simple proprietary databases and the like restricting access to this information.
If no, the world you're playing in functions a lot like having your personal information embroidered on your costume, including your social security number, birthday, credit card numbers, logins and passwords, etc. all hanging in the breeze begging for anyone (and everyone, including your opponents) to scoop them up and use them against you in what is now known as Identity Theft.

My point with this being that any sort of super registration system is going to be of remarkably little use "in the heat of the moment" of a confrontation with people, whether they be law enforcement or just your "man on the street" type of stuff. Even with any sort of "flash a badge" type of thing, you still have to worry about counterfeiting and verification before you place unfettered trust in such a declaration. I mean, think about it ... if people take these kinds of registrations for granted, then that's a pretty serious inducement to FORGE them, now isn't it? That's just how people work. If something's "too easy" to exploit, then someone's going to get the bright idea to start exploiting it.

And if you take THAT as a given, then the real purpose (and use) of any sort of registration system is going to be relevant pretty much only in an After The Fact(s ma'am) kind of way where there isn't any duress involved ... like a legal proceeding in a courtroom. In other words, ain't nobody got time to be checkin' yer registration out on the streets ... but you better believe it's going to matter and make a difference if you get hauled in front of a judge, either as a defendant or as a witness/subject/target of an investigation. Furthermore, it would be extremely unusual for functionally EVERY NPC in the game to be able to run what amounts to an "instant background check" on every PC with absolute veracity in every instance, in zero time, just by looking at your PC. I mean, even credit card transactions take a few seconds to clear when you're purchasing stuff, right? And you have to use the card reader, and sometimes you need to enter your PIN ... and so on.

So my point is that any sort of registration system is going to be a lot less useful in a wide variety of contexts, but it would be useful in a context of storylines that revolve around detective work and using what amounts to "fingerprinting" of supers, which typically aren't combat heavy when such checks are needing to be made. Such a database would often get used for sorting for suspects based on evidence, or needing to prove a case (which could be simple liability with respect to property damage) in a court of law, I'm thinking. And while you could potentially carry around a "card in your wallet" like you do with a credit card, such cards (just like credit cards) can be lost or stolen (or hacked) and would need to be "run" for verification before taking them at face value. I mean, nobody lets you buy groceries at the store just because you "flashed" a credit card at the cashier, without letting them run it for verification ... right? That would be dumb. And people's credit card info isn't supposed to be in "public circulation" where anyone and everyone can inspect it for any reason whatsoever (including no reason at all) on demand.

So yeah, it's probably a smarter play to think about super registration as being more like a "credit card" with a major "bank" of some sort, protected by passwords and assumptions of privacy (and so on and so forth), than as being something that will automagically modify the behavior of everyone in the world depending on whether you have it or not. Unless you're famous/notorious (like Anthem and the rest of the Paragons), whether a specific PC is registered or not should never be assumed for a gateway of modifying NPC behaviors unless the NPC has both means and motive to verify the PC's super registration status somehow. It shouldn't be something that "everyone knows" somehow, short of fame or notoriety of the PC (and even then, it's still context/personal history dependent).


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I think it does/should work

I think it does/should work like the black belt thing. Though in this case I think you can just register your superhero moniker. Just like, "Hi, I'm fire guy, I shoot fire." That way if there's a crime in which an unknown shot fire the police/law enforcement could stop fire guy next time they see him to ask him some questions.

Likely the more info you give to law enforcement about who you are and what you do the more they and the government would trust you.

All this info is probably kept in some super secret government database, possibly maintained by some super smart guy, then in order for local law enforcement to access the info they'd likely need to send word up the chain, which could take a bit. But probably less than 20 mins if the department with all the info is manned 24/7.

Just my thoughts on it.

"Let the past die. Kill it if you have to."

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One assumption I don't make

One assumption I don't make is that anyone who registered told the registrar everything with complete honesty. Broach may say, "I can make portals to anywhere in town that I've been". She may not mention that she can also make one to the far side of that wall, or that her effect range limit is that her parents have ordered her not to leave town and the true maximum range that she's tested is over eight thousand miles straight down (Indian ocean off of west coast of Australia)...

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Yeah, I'm sure law

Yeah, I'm sure law enforcement would like to know everything, but there's nothing AFAIK mandating you tell them everything.

Strict laws with super hero registration just makes for a lot more super criminals. Having heroes work with the police and having a cooperative relationship would be paramount.

It'd be neat if you chose to be unregistered in the game the police or other registered NPC heroes would bring it up, and ask you to register. Or have a place where you can go and register after the fact, to boost your faction rep with the cops/gov agencies.

"Let the past die. Kill it if you have to."

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Groucho Marx wrote:
Project_hero wrote:

It'd be neat if you chose to be unregistered in the game

Please accept my resignation. I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member. - Groucho Marx ;)

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I'd prefer to see the cops of

I'd prefer to see the cops of Titan City not like most of the heroes and see them as vigilantes. If they want to fight crime, why not put on a badge and uniform? Do they believe the police force truly corrupt? Think they're better?

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Brand X wrote:
Brand X wrote:

I'd prefer to see the cops of Titan City not like most of the heroes and see them as vigilantes. If they want to fight crime, why not put on a badge and uniform? Do they believe the police force truly corrupt? Think they're better?

I wonder what the paperwork on "I blasted him with my fire powers till he didn't move no more" would be like.

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I think the 30 days to

I think the 30 days to register clock starts ticking only after the first "acknowledged" use of the power. And it would need to be acknowledged by the media or the authorities, not just used in some back alley and seen by some guy pushing a grocery cart.

I'd imagine that eyewitness accounts would also be required. So I'd expect that there would be some agents from the Department of Public Safety whose job it is to canvass locations where powers were used to collect eyewitness accounts and look for evidence or traces. I'd also expect there would be a superpowers hotline or a number to text to if anyone sees a power being used.

Obviously there wouldn't be a great need to investigate known powers, but keeping track like this would alert them when new powers arrive in town or are gained by a known power-user.

If I were the Mayor, that's what I would do. The possibility of an unknown power user out there who can wield lethal forces indiscriminately and anonymously would probably scare the slippers off the people of the city. And so I would owe it to them to at least be able to identify as many as possible and even have an accountability system set up.


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
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Huckleberry wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:

I think the 30 days to register clock starts ticking only after the first "acknowledged" use of the power. And it would need to be acknowledged by the media or the authorities, not just used in some back alley and seen by some guy pushing a grocery cart.

I'd imagine that eyewitness accounts would also be required. So I'd expect that there would be some agents from the Department of Public Safety whose job it is to canvass locations where powers were used to collect eyewitness accounts and look for evidence or traces. I'd also expect there would be a superpowers hotline or a number to text to if anyone sees a power being used.

Obviously there wouldn't be a great need to investigate known powers, but keeping track like this would alert them when new powers arrive in town or are gained by a known power-user.

If I were the Mayor, that's what I would do. The possibility of an unknown power user out there who can wield lethal forces indiscriminately and anonymously would probably scare the slippers off the people of the city. And so I would owe it to them to at least be able to identify as many as possible and even have an accountability system set up.

I see a "mandatory" super powers registration system in Titan City only devolving down to a variation of China's Social Credit System. Sure the CoT version of it might be a bit more "benevolent" in intent or even practice, but still it would be a clear step towards Orwellianism.

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Lothic wrote:
Lothic wrote:

I see a "mandatory" super powers registration system in Titan City only devolving down to a variation of China's Social Credit System. Sure the CoT version of it might a bit more "benevolent" in intent or even practice, but still it would be a clear step towards Orwellianism.

I agree that making it mandatory to register superpowers would be a bit heavy-handed. But registering the actual use of superpowers would certainly be acceptable and far less invasive than our contemporary system of registering handguns whether they are used or not.


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
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Huckleberry wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Lothic wrote:

I see a "mandatory" super powers registration system in Titan City only devolving down to a variation of China's Social Credit System. Sure the CoT version of it might be a bit more "benevolent" in intent or even practice, but still it would be a clear step towards Orwellianism.

I agree that making it mandatory to register superpowers would be a bit heavy-handed. But registering the actual use of superpowers would certainly be acceptable and far less invasive than our contemporary system of registering handguns whether they are used or not.

The fun part I suppose is knowing how my little group of planned characters would likely react to it RP-wise. I have some who'd probably be first in line to sign up for anything like this while I have others who would easily die first and/or laugh their asses off for even suggesting they be a part of it. ;)

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The system is bad, because it

The system is bad, because it will screw with secret identities, and those who want one (a secret identity) know, that no assurances can be given, that the list can't be hacked.

CoH tried to say it was hack proof, but then they said that on lots of things :p

CoH had the most honest and respected police officers in the world, they were just under funded (until they got some funding).

So in CoH everything was really just supposed to be all nice. :p Med ports work all the time, except for that rare exception! No secret IDs will ever be found! Except that's not true. Not to mention, such a thing usually has some player who's character can and has hacked both those things. :p

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Brand X wrote:
Brand X wrote:

The system is bad, because it will screw with secret identities, and those who want one (a secret identity) know, that no assurances can be given, that the list can't be hacked.

I disagree that it would screw with secret identities. I would assume that the power registration would be for whatever alias you choose to adopt.

This means that a person with superpowers could theoretically use those same powers as another alias; but if they are found out, they would need to register again as the new alias, and so on and so on. This is one of the reasons the Department of Public Safety would conduct some research, so they would recognize known powers and would thus know if someone was trying to circumvent the rules.

I don't think any of the powered people would register if they had to sacrifice their true identity to do so. The law would have never passed if that was the case.


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
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Secret identities are bad, no

Secret identities are bad, no assurances can be given that they won't be found out.

Pretty sure like, 100% of heroes with secret identities have had their identities discovered. It's a plot thing.

Everything is hack proof... Till it's not.

And yeah, setting up a peaceful status quo that at least attempts to mesh the lore with the game mechanics is a pretty good thing.

If a player made a character that hacked the secret ID system in CoH then they're not playing by the lore of the game. Which, I mean, most people didn't care about, but it's kinda like saying you're a Norse god while RPing in WoW.

"Let the past die. Kill it if you have to."

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Project_Hero wrote:
Project_Hero wrote:

Secret identities are bad, no assurances can be given that they won't be found out.

Pretty sure like, 100% of heroes with secret identities have had their identities discovered. It's a plot thing.

Everything is hack proof... Till it's not.

And yeah, setting up a peaceful status quo that at least attempts to mesh the lore with the game mechanics is a pretty good thing.

If a player made a character that hacked the secret ID system in CoH then they're not playing by the lore of the game. Which, I mean, most people didn't care about, but it's kinda like saying you're a Norse god while RPing in WoW.

Well, same goes for those who said "I hacked the mediport system to teleport myself anywhere." If one can accept one (and many accepted the mediport hacks) lore break, it stands to reason they should accept others.

And yes, getting secret identities discovered is a plot thing and it's okay :) However, it's a plot thing you can work with yourself.

Being forced to register would seem likely to forgo any of that. What's the point of registering, if they don't know who you really are? That's why they did it the way they did in Marvel.

"I'm Firestar! I shoot fire! That's all you need to know right?" doesn't work, when you then get spotted doing something and you can just say, "That wasn't me. That was someone else pretending to be me."

Registering is the idea that doing so will keep you from doing something the government doesn't like and they can control you. Can't do that with just a code name and power usage.

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I mean, you can say "that

I mean, you can say "that wasn't me, that was someone pretending to be me!" Even if you're fully registered.

The difference is if your fully registered it'd likely be easier to prove that it wasn't you.

"Let the past die. Kill it if you have to."

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My main character is sorta

My main character is sorta 'Paris Hilton' about it. His face was common knowledge before he manifested as a Titan. Now he manages a Public Identity and the only real difference between 'Peregrine Smythe' and 'Perfect Perry' is the costume and the day-job.

Be Well!
Fireheart

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Redlynne wrote:
Redlynne wrote:
velvetsanity wrote:

My impression of this is that it’s similar to the (real life) laws some places have regarding martial artists: black belts (or equivalent) are required to register their bodies as a deadly weapon. Partly so that police are aware, in case they have to attempt to apprehend these people, or if a murder or other crime involving martial arts is committed, they have a list of possible suspects to look at.

Uh ... there's a problem with that assumption.

Let's begin with the notion that any sort of registration of super-ness system is going to basically involve putting that information on file ... somewhere.

First question ... is that information publicly available? (Y/N)
If yes, you're playing in a videogame where all you need to do is use an Inspect function to get perfect information about a target.
If no, you're in a more realistic world where stuff like this tends to wind up in filing cabinets (or computer databases) ... somewhere.

Second question ... is that information available on an As Needed basis in real time? (Y/N)
If yes, you're playing in a videogame (or a movie) where everything is at your fingertips the instant that you ask for it, because you've asked for it.
If no, you're playing in a more realistic world where records searches don't happen "instantly" when consulting databases (or filing cabinets, or binders full of women, or whatever).

Third question ... is this information "secured" in any way so as to restrict access to it somehow? (Y/N)
If yes, you may be looking at Privacy Laws or even just simple proprietary databases and the like restricting access to this information.
If no, the world you're playing in functions a lot like having your personal information embroidered on your costume, including your social security number, birthday, credit card numbers, logins and passwords, etc. all hanging in the breeze begging for anyone (and everyone, including your opponents) to scoop them up and use them against you in what is now known as Identity Theft.

My point with this being that any sort of super registration system is going to be of remarkably little use "in the heat of the moment" of a confrontation with people, whether they be law enforcement or just your "man on the street" type of stuff. Even with any sort of "flash a badge" type of thing, you still have to worry about counterfeiting and verification before you place unfettered trust in such a declaration. I mean, think about it ... if people take these kinds of registrations for granted, then that's a pretty serious inducement to FORGE them, now isn't it? That's just how people work. If something's "too easy" to exploit, then someone's going to get the bright idea to start exploiting it.

And if you take THAT as a given, then the real purpose (and use) of any sort of registration system is going to be relevant pretty much only in an After The Fact(s ma'am) kind of way where there isn't any duress involved ... like a legal proceeding in a courtroom. In other words, ain't nobody got time to be checkin' yer registration out on the streets ... but you better believe it's going to matter and make a difference if you get hauled in front of a judge, either as a defendant or as a witness/subject/target of an investigation. Furthermore, it would be extremely unusual for functionally EVERY NPC in the game to be able to run what amounts to an "instant background check" on every PC with absolute veracity in every instance, in zero time, just by looking at your PC. I mean, even credit card transactions take a few seconds to clear when you're purchasing stuff, right? And you have to use the card reader, and sometimes you need to enter your PIN ... and so on.

So my point is that any sort of registration system is going to be a lot less useful in a wide variety of contexts, but it would be useful in a context of storylines that revolve around detective work and using what amounts to "fingerprinting" of supers, which typically aren't combat heavy when such checks are needing to be made. Such a database would often get used for sorting for suspects based on evidence, or needing to prove a case (which could be simple liability with respect to property damage) in a court of law, I'm thinking. And while you could potentially carry around a "card in your wallet" like you do with a credit card, such cards (just like credit cards) can be lost or stolen (or hacked) and would need to be "run" for verification before taking them at face value. I mean, nobody lets you buy groceries at the store just because you "flashed" a credit card at the cashier, without letting them run it for verification ... right? That would be dumb. And people's credit card info isn't supposed to be in "public circulation" where anyone and everyone can inspect it for any reason whatsoever (including no reason at all) on demand.

So yeah, it's probably a smarter play to think about super registration as being more like a "credit card" with a major "bank" of some sort, protected by passwords and assumptions of privacy (and so on and so forth), than as being something that will automagically modify the behavior of everyone in the world depending on whether you have it or not. Unless you're famous/notorious (like Anthem and the rest of the Paragons), whether a specific PC is registered or not should never be assumed for a gateway of modifying NPC behaviors unless the NPC has both means and motive to verify the PC's super registration status somehow. It shouldn't be something that "everyone knows" somehow, short of fame or notoriety of the PC (and even then, it's still context/personal history dependent).

A couple of things you’re forgetting here: when police stop someone, for example, for speeding, they already have everything on file about you before they even get out of their car (often before they even pull you over). Modern police cars have not only radios, but computers with wireless connectivity that keeps them linked to the police database at all times. They look up your license plate, and begin with the assumption that the car’s owner is driving, unless it’s been reported stolen.

Also, when they check your ID, they immediately look it up on the computer. And that records search only takes a few seconds. It takes longer to read through the data than it does to get the results, for the most part.

Is such information available to the public? No, only law enforcement has access. And law enforcement is where the registration is most important. :P

Most likely, registration status/info is attached to your driver’s license or state-issued ID card, so you don’t have to carry half a dozen cards each proclaiming different bits of information about you.

Will Joe Random on the street have access to all of your personal information? Not unless you’re foolish enough to post it on Facebook.

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velvetsanity wrote:
velvetsanity wrote:

A couple of things you’re forgetting here: when police stop someone, for example, for speeding, they already have everything on file about you before they even get out of their car (often before they even pull you over). Modern police cars have not only radios, but computers with wireless connectivity that keeps them linked to the police database at all times. They look up your license plate, and begin with the assumption that the car’s owner is driving, unless it’s been reported stolen.

And where is the corresponding equivalent to a license plate on your costume?
We expect to see identification numbers on prison jerseys, for what should be obvious reasons ... but not on super costumes.
Logos and badges, sure, like the Bat symbol for example ... but not an ID number that you can (easily) run before walking up to the super to interact with them.


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Redlynne wrote:
Redlynne wrote:

And where is the corresponding equivalent to a license plate on your costume?
We expect to see identification numbers on prison jerseys, for what should be obvious reasons ... but not on super costumes.
Logos and badges, sure, like the Bat symbol for example ... but not an ID number that you can (easily) run before walking up to the super to interact with them.

Interesting question.

I would expect that the super powers registration act would probably include a provision that makes it illegal to impersonate a registered hero. But if something like that doesn't make it into the final bill, I would expect that it would be up to the heroes to police themselves.

But of course, having a rule written is completely different than enforcing it.


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
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Redlynne wrote:
Redlynne wrote:
velvetsanity wrote:

A couple of things you’re forgetting here: when police stop someone, for example, for speeding, they already have everything on file about you before they even get out of their car (often before they even pull you over). Modern police cars have not only radios, but computers with wireless connectivity that keeps them linked to the police database at all times. They look up your license plate, and begin with the assumption that the car’s owner is driving, unless it’s been reported stolen.

And where is the corresponding equivalent to a license plate on your costume?
We expect to see identification numbers on prison jerseys, for what should be obvious reasons ... but not on super costumes.
Logos and badges, sure, like the Bat symbol for example ... but not an ID number that you can (easily) run before walking up to the super to interact with them.

Start with a variation of facial recognition software that takes into account costume design, colors, etc. Add in that capes tend to be rather public figures, between the exploits and the costumes.

The costume, combined with general characteristics (height/weight/build/etc) is your “license plate”.

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As far as this "super powers

As far as this "super powers registration" things goes you guys realize that having the authorities rely on being able to "recognize your costume" is NOT going to be a reliable means of identification.

I had several CoH characters routinely rotate through 8-10 costumes almost every time I played them, not to mention that I was constantly tinkering with many of those costumes every few days/weeks beyond that. I wasn't doing that on the basis that they were "trying to hide" their identities or anything like that - I did that mostly because I figured they were "fashionable" enough that they simply didn't want to keep wearing the same "clothes" every single day.

Just because Superman has been flying with a red cape for the last 80+ years doesn't mean that -every- superpowered character is going to be wearing the same thing all the time.

CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012

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Lothic wrote:
Lothic wrote:

As far as this "super powers registration" things goes you guys realize that having the authorities rely on being able to "recognize your costume" is NOT going to be a reliable means of identification.

I had several CoH characters routinely rotate through 8-10 costumes almost every time I played them, not to mention that I was constantly tinkering with many of those costumes every few days/weeks beyond that. I wasn't doing that on the basis that they were "trying to hide" their identities or anything like that - I did that mostly because I figured they were "fashionable" enough that they simply didn't want to keep wearing the same "clothes" every single day.

Just because Superman has been flying with a red cape for the last 80+ years doesn't mean that -every- superpowered character is going to be wearing the same thing all the time.

I would expect that if a registered powers user changes appearance, there would be a mandatory time period to update the registry with the new appearance. Just like registering a new car. I think there would be allowances for operating in stealth or in disguise. The key point here is that you shouldn't need to register the new look before you change, only after you've done so.


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
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Huckleberry wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Lothic wrote:

As far as this "super powers registration" things goes you guys realize that having the authorities rely on being able to "recognize your costume" is NOT going to be a reliable means of identification.

I had several CoH characters routinely rotate through 8-10 costumes almost every time I played them, not to mention that I was constantly tinkering with many of those costumes every few days/weeks beyond that. I wasn't doing that on the basis that they were "trying to hide" their identities or anything like that - I did that mostly because I figured they were "fashionable" enough that they simply didn't want to keep wearing the same "clothes" every single day.

Just because Superman has been flying with a red cape for the last 80+ years doesn't mean that -every- superpowered character is going to be wearing the same thing all the time.

I would expect that if a registered powers user changes appearance, there would be a mandatory time period to update the registry with the new appearance. Just like registering a new car. I think there would be allowances for operating in stealth or in disguise. The key point here is that you shouldn't need to register the new look before you change, only after you've done so.

I'm saying if you want the authorities to worry about how to identify you they should NOT be relying on the clothes/costumes you're wearing. Real live police don't care what you're wearing on any given day they might need to arrest and ID you - they rely on characteristics that are bit more permanent/unchangeable like height, fingerprints, DNA scans and the like. I'm just saying that relying on the "registration" of outfits/costumes is relatively pointless precisely because they can be changed almost at will.

CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012

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Lothic wrote:
Lothic wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Lothic wrote:

As far as this "super powers registration" things goes you guys realize that having the authorities rely on being able to "recognize your costume" is NOT going to be a reliable means of identification.

I had several CoH characters routinely rotate through 8-10 costumes almost every time I played them, not to mention that I was constantly tinkering with many of those costumes every few days/weeks beyond that. I wasn't doing that on the basis that they were "trying to hide" their identities or anything like that - I did that mostly because I figured they were "fashionable" enough that they simply didn't want to keep wearing the same "clothes" every single day.

Just because Superman has been flying with a red cape for the last 80+ years doesn't mean that -every- superpowered character is going to be wearing the same thing all the time.

I would expect that if a registered powers user changes appearance, there would be a mandatory time period to update the registry with the new appearance. Just like registering a new car. I think there would be allowances for operating in stealth or in disguise. The key point here is that you shouldn't need to register the new look before you change, only after you've done so.

I'm saying if you want the authorities to worry about how to identify you they should NOT be relying on the clothes/costumes you're wearing. Real live police don't care what you're wearing on any given day they might need to arrest and ID you - they rely on characteristics that are bit more permanent/unchangeable like height, fingerprints, DNA scans and the like. I'm just saying that relying on the "registration" of outfits/costumes is relatively pointless precisely because they can be changed almost at will.

Right, but the very nature of the supers are that they have a public persona. And it is in the hero's own interest to carefully guard their public persona. And I would expect that it is this persona which is registered. Part of that persona is appearance, another is the powers that you allow yourself to use publicly. This way they don't have to ask you for your personal identity. (although I fully expect the Department of Public Safety would probably be collecting DNA , hair, and have aura readers on hand for spiritual identification, etc. Even if all those things aren't actually required for the registration.)

So, pointless or not, it polices itself. Just like being able to drive anyone's car if you have their keys. We know what the rules are, and it is up to us to follow the rules.


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
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Huckleberry wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Lothic wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Lothic wrote:

As far as this "super powers registration" things goes you guys realize that having the authorities rely on being able to "recognize your costume" is NOT going to be a reliable means of identification.

I had several CoH characters routinely rotate through 8-10 costumes almost every time I played them, not to mention that I was constantly tinkering with many of those costumes every few days/weeks beyond that. I wasn't doing that on the basis that they were "trying to hide" their identities or anything like that - I did that mostly because I figured they were "fashionable" enough that they simply didn't want to keep wearing the same "clothes" every single day.

Just because Superman has been flying with a red cape for the last 80+ years doesn't mean that -every- superpowered character is going to be wearing the same thing all the time.

I would expect that if a registered powers user changes appearance, there would be a mandatory time period to update the registry with the new appearance. Just like registering a new car. I think there would be allowances for operating in stealth or in disguise. The key point here is that you shouldn't need to register the new look before you change, only after you've done so.

I'm saying if you want the authorities to worry about how to identify you they should NOT be relying on the clothes/costumes you're wearing. Real live police don't care what you're wearing on any given day they might need to arrest and ID you - they rely on characteristics that are bit more permanent/unchangeable like height, fingerprints, DNA scans and the like. I'm just saying that relying on the "registration" of outfits/costumes is relatively pointless precisely because they can be changed almost at will.

Right, but the very nature of the supers are that they have a public persona. And I would expect that it is this persona which is registered. Part of that persona is appearance, another is the powers that you allow yourself to use publicly. This way they don't have to ask you for your personal identity. (although I fully expect the Department of Public Safety would probably be collecting DNA , hair, and have aura readers on hand for spiritual identification, etc. Even if all those things aren't actually required for the registration.)

Clearly MOST supers will have a public appearance/persona that they'll likely want to keep as consistent as possible. Again I'm simply pointing out that's not going to be the case 100% of the time.

Let's just say that even though CoT will not likely allow for shapeshifting on the order of magnitude of say a Mystique it will allow people to have so many different costumes at any given time that they'll be able to look as differently as they want to from moment to moment that the idea of having a single "registered visual appearance" will (again) be pointless for them.

CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012

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Lothic wrote:
Lothic wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Lothic wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Lothic wrote:

As far as this "super powers registration" things goes you guys realize that having the authorities rely on being able to "recognize your costume" is NOT going to be a reliable means of identification.

I had several CoH characters routinely rotate through 8-10 costumes almost every time I played them, not to mention that I was constantly tinkering with many of those costumes every few days/weeks beyond that. I wasn't doing that on the basis that they were "trying to hide" their identities or anything like that - I did that mostly because I figured they were "fashionable" enough that they simply didn't want to keep wearing the same "clothes" every single day.

Just because Superman has been flying with a red cape for the last 80+ years doesn't mean that -every- superpowered character is going to be wearing the same thing all the time.

I would expect that if a registered powers user changes appearance, there would be a mandatory time period to update the registry with the new appearance. Just like registering a new car. I think there would be allowances for operating in stealth or in disguise. The key point here is that you shouldn't need to register the new look before you change, only after you've done so.

I'm saying if you want the authorities to worry about how to identify you they should NOT be relying on the clothes/costumes you're wearing. Real live police don't care what you're wearing on any given day they might need to arrest and ID you - they rely on characteristics that are bit more permanent/unchangeable like height, fingerprints, DNA scans and the like. I'm just saying that relying on the "registration" of outfits/costumes is relatively pointless precisely because they can be changed almost at will.

Right, but the very nature of the supers are that they have a public persona. And I would expect that it is this persona which is registered. Part of that persona is appearance, another is the powers that you allow yourself to use publicly. This way they don't have to ask you for your personal identity. (although I fully expect the Department of Public Safety would probably be collecting DNA , hair, and have aura readers on hand for spiritual identification, etc. Even if all those things aren't actually required for the registration.)

Clearly MOST supers will have a public appearance/persona that they'll likely want to keep as consistent as possible. Again I'm simply pointing out that's not going to be the case 100% of the time.

Let's just say that even though CoT will not likely allow for shapeshifting on the order of magnitude of say a Mystique it will allow people to have so many different costumes at any given time that they'll be able to look as differently as they want to from moment to moment that the idea of having a single "registered visual appearance" will (again) be pointless for them.

Ah, but if the ability to change your appearance was your registered power, then that kind of answers itself doesn't it? Your character would probably establish a single base appearance you would assume for public appearances. Or maybe establish yourself as several different heroes, each with his or her own "official" appearance. Doing so would be a great disinformation tactic for a shapeshifter hero, I would think.


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
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Huckleberry wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Lothic wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Lothic wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Lothic wrote:

As far as this "super powers registration" things goes you guys realize that having the authorities rely on being able to "recognize your costume" is NOT going to be a reliable means of identification.

I had several CoH characters routinely rotate through 8-10 costumes almost every time I played them, not to mention that I was constantly tinkering with many of those costumes every few days/weeks beyond that. I wasn't doing that on the basis that they were "trying to hide" their identities or anything like that - I did that mostly because I figured they were "fashionable" enough that they simply didn't want to keep wearing the same "clothes" every single day.

Just because Superman has been flying with a red cape for the last 80+ years doesn't mean that -every- superpowered character is going to be wearing the same thing all the time.

I would expect that if a registered powers user changes appearance, there would be a mandatory time period to update the registry with the new appearance. Just like registering a new car. I think there would be allowances for operating in stealth or in disguise. The key point here is that you shouldn't need to register the new look before you change, only after you've done so.

I'm saying if you want the authorities to worry about how to identify you they should NOT be relying on the clothes/costumes you're wearing. Real live police don't care what you're wearing on any given day they might need to arrest and ID you - they rely on characteristics that are bit more permanent/unchangeable like height, fingerprints, DNA scans and the like. I'm just saying that relying on the "registration" of outfits/costumes is relatively pointless precisely because they can be changed almost at will.

Right, but the very nature of the supers are that they have a public persona. And I would expect that it is this persona which is registered. Part of that persona is appearance, another is the powers that you allow yourself to use publicly. This way they don't have to ask you for your personal identity. (although I fully expect the Department of Public Safety would probably be collecting DNA , hair, and have aura readers on hand for spiritual identification, etc. Even if all those things aren't actually required for the registration.)

Clearly MOST supers will have a public appearance/persona that they'll likely want to keep as consistent as possible. Again I'm simply pointing out that's not going to be the case 100% of the time.

Let's just say that even though CoT will not likely allow for shapeshifting on the order of magnitude of say a Mystique it will allow people to have so many different costumes at any given time that they'll be able to look as differently as they want to from moment to moment that the idea of having a single "registered visual appearance" will (again) be pointless for them.

Ah, but if the ability to change your appearance was your registered power, then that kind of answers itself doesn't it? Your character would probably establish a single base appearance you would assume for public appearances. Or maybe establish yourself as several different heroes, each with his or her own "official" appearance. Doing so would be a great disinformation tactic for a shapeshifter hero, I would think.

Right but in this case I'm not talking about a "power" that changes your clothes/costume. I'm just talking about having off-scene access to a very large walk-in closet. ;)

Don't get confused about my reference to Mystique. I'm not talking about "shapeshifting" as a power, just the side-effect ability of her being able to wear any kind of clothes that'd she want to wear at any given moment.

If the superpower registration authorities want to waste disk space on these characters by maintaining a "has been seen wearing this" database with dozens of pics that's their problem, not mine. ;)

CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012

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Lothic wrote:
Lothic wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Lothic wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Lothic wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Lothic wrote:

As far as this "super powers registration" things goes you guys realize that having the authorities rely on being able to "recognize your costume" is NOT going to be a reliable means of identification.

I had several CoH characters routinely rotate through 8-10 costumes almost every time I played them, not to mention that I was constantly tinkering with many of those costumes every few days/weeks beyond that. I wasn't doing that on the basis that they were "trying to hide" their identities or anything like that - I did that mostly because I figured they were "fashionable" enough that they simply didn't want to keep wearing the same "clothes" every single day.

Just because Superman has been flying with a red cape for the last 80+ years doesn't mean that -every- superpowered character is going to be wearing the same thing all the time.

I would expect that if a registered powers user changes appearance, there would be a mandatory time period to update the registry with the new appearance. Just like registering a new car. I think there would be allowances for operating in stealth or in disguise. The key point here is that you shouldn't need to register the new look before you change, only after you've done so.

I'm saying if you want the authorities to worry about how to identify you they should NOT be relying on the clothes/costumes you're wearing. Real live police don't care what you're wearing on any given day they might need to arrest and ID you - they rely on characteristics that are bit more permanent/unchangeable like height, fingerprints, DNA scans and the like. I'm just saying that relying on the "registration" of outfits/costumes is relatively pointless precisely because they can be changed almost at will.

Right, but the very nature of the supers are that they have a public persona. And I would expect that it is this persona which is registered. Part of that persona is appearance, another is the powers that you allow yourself to use publicly. This way they don't have to ask you for your personal identity. (although I fully expect the Department of Public Safety would probably be collecting DNA , hair, and have aura readers on hand for spiritual identification, etc. Even if all those things aren't actually required for the registration.)

Clearly MOST supers will have a public appearance/persona that they'll likely want to keep as consistent as possible. Again I'm simply pointing out that's not going to be the case 100% of the time.

Let's just say that even though CoT will not likely allow for shapeshifting on the order of magnitude of say a Mystique it will allow people to have so many different costumes at any given time that they'll be able to look as differently as they want to from moment to moment that the idea of having a single "registered visual appearance" will (again) be pointless for them.

Ah, but if the ability to change your appearance was your registered power, then that kind of answers itself doesn't it? Your character would probably establish a single base appearance you would assume for public appearances. Or maybe establish yourself as several different heroes, each with his or her own "official" appearance. Doing so would be a great disinformation tactic for a shapeshifter hero, I would think.

Right but in this case I'm not talking about a "power" that changes your clothes/costume. I'm just talking about having off-scene access to a very large walk-in closet. ;)

Don't get confused about my reference to Mystique. I'm not talking about "shapeshifting" as a power, just the side-effect ability of her being able to wear any kind of clothes that'd she want to wear at any given moment.

If the superpower registration authorities want to waste disk space on these characters by maintaining a "has been seen wearing this" database with dozens of pics that's their problem, not mine. ;)

Exactly. You get it.

Your problem as a registered power user is to register the powers you want people to know that you use, and also a means of identifying yourself. If you're a hero that doesn't have a consistent appearance, then maybe you need to have your ID card handy whenever you might need it.


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
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Huckleberry wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:

If you're a hero that doesn't have a consistent appearance, then maybe you need to have your ID card handy whenever you might need it.

Pro-tip ... that ID card can't be scanned from a distance by people before they approach you (like cops can run the license plate of a car before approaching).


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Maybe not, but if they ask

Maybe not, but if they ask the power user to identify him or herself, they can. Was there some position you are trying to buttress with that observation?

Heroes and villains are probably very interested in managing their public face. Hell, in CoX the in-game currency was actually called "influence" for blue side and "infamy" for red side. Without a known identity, how could you ever bank inf?

So it is that I am assuming power users would have a built-in motivation to maintain a consistent identity, and so the law would depend in part upon this motivation and leverage it for its own benefit.


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
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Huckleberry wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:

Exactly. You get it.

Uh... the only thing I get is that you're assuming every superpowered person is going to fit (or going to want to fit) inside the "box" you're trying to create with this superpowers registration idea.

Huckleberry wrote:

Your problem as a registered power user is to register the powers you want people to know that you use, and also a means of identifying yourself. If you're a hero that doesn't have a consistent appearance, then maybe you need to have your ID card handy whenever you might need it.

Your kidding with this right? These characters of mine who aren't maintaining a "constant" public appearance are probably not the ones that are going to bother to keep an ID card handy either...

Huckleberry wrote:

Heroes and villains are probably very interested in managing their public face. Hell, in CoX the in-game currency was actually called "influence" for blue side and "infamy" for red side. Without a known identity, how could you ever bank inf?

Remember that even though the notion of INF was not "strictly intended" to represent currency there was really nothing preventing people from roleplaying INF as currency if it fit their specific roleplay concepts for specific characters. In the case of at least one of my "multi-costumed" characters in question I simply envisioned her having more money than Bruce Wayne ever dreamt about so in her case her INF was effectively "money" that wasn't based on "public notoriety". She simply used it to "buy" anything she wanted.

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Lothic wrote:
Lothic wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:

Your problem as a registered power user is to register the powers you want people to know that you use, and also a means of identifying yourself. If you're a hero that doesn't have a consistent appearance, then maybe you need to have your ID card handy whenever you might need it.

Your kidding with this right? These characters who aren't maintaining a "constant" appearance are probably not the ones that are going to bother to keep an ID card handy either...

Yes indeed. I don't doubt it. But I believe those will be the exceptions rather than the rules. A power user who doesn't maintain a consistent appearance is a red flag for every law enforcement provider, and will undoubtedly be closely watched and have the largest profiles made of them. And like I stated to Redlynne, if power users are going to register themselves, it is really not in their interest to be unknown. Even villains want to be known. Remember the genre we're in.

However, if your assumption is that a powered user is registered as part of some sort of incarceration against their will, then no amount of identification will be taken for granted after their release short of an ankle tracker.


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
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Huckleberry wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:

Yes indeed. I don't doubt it. But I believe those will be the exceptions rather than the rules. A power user who doesn't maintain a consistent appearance is a red flag for every law enforcement provider, and will undoubtedly be closely watched and have the largest profiles made of them. And like I stated to Redlynne, if power users are going to register themselves, it is really not in their interest to be unknown. Even villains want to be known. Remember the genre we're in.

However, if your assumption is that a powered user is registered as part of some sort of incarceration against their will, then no amount of identification will be taken for granted after their release short of an ankle tracker.

I already accepted that what I'm talking about here will be an exception rather than a rule. Apparently most superpowered people don't mind wearing their same dirty outfits every day. ;)

All I'm suggesting here is that not everyone's going to neatly fit into a rigid government system, even a system for superpowered people.

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Lothic wrote:
Lothic wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:

Yes indeed. I don't doubt it. But I believe those will be the exceptions rather than the rules. A power user who doesn't maintain a consistent appearance is a red flag for every law enforcement provider, and will undoubtedly be closely watched and have the largest profiles made of them. And like I stated to Redlynne, if power users are going to register themselves, it is really not in their interest to be unknown. Even villains want to be known. Remember the genre we're in.

However, if your assumption is that a powered user is registered as part of some sort of incarceration against their will, then no amount of identification will be taken for granted after their release short of an ankle tracker.

I already accepted that what I'm talking about here will be an exception rather than a rule. Apparently most superpowered people don't mind wearing their same dirty outfits every day. ;)

All I'm suggesting here is that not everyone's going to neatly fit into a rigid government system, even a system for superpowered people.

Right, because you can’t have multiple identical costumes, just like patrol cops and military don’t have multiple uniforms and just like you can’t walk into Walmart and buy 5 pairs of jeans that look alike, or a pack of underwear that contains several pair that are the same color ????

For a costumed crimefighter (or criminal), their costume is a work uniform. They’re going to have spares because they’ll get damaged or need cleaning. You’re silly. ????

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velvetsanity wrote:
velvetsanity wrote:
Lothic wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:

Yes indeed. I don't doubt it. But I believe those will be the exceptions rather than the rules. A power user who doesn't maintain a consistent appearance is a red flag for every law enforcement provider, and will undoubtedly be closely watched and have the largest profiles made of them. And like I stated to Redlynne, if power users are going to register themselves, it is really not in their interest to be unknown. Even villains want to be known. Remember the genre we're in.

However, if your assumption is that a powered user is registered as part of some sort of incarceration against their will, then no amount of identification will be taken for granted after their release short of an ankle tracker.

I already accepted that what I'm talking about here will be an exception rather than a rule. Apparently most superpowered people don't mind wearing their same dirty outfits every day. ;)

All I'm suggesting here is that not everyone's going to neatly fit into a rigid government system, even a system for superpowered people.

Right, because you can’t have multiple identical costumes, just like patrol cops and military don’t have multiple uniforms and just like you can’t walk into Walmart and buy 5 pairs of jeans that look alike, or a pack of underwear that contains several pair that are the same color ????

For a costumed crimefighter (or criminal), their costume is a work uniform. They’re going to have spares because they’ll get damaged or need cleaning. You’re silly. ????

Sure I suppose some people are going to have dozens of copies of the same outfit ready to go. We see characters preparing for that all the time in the comic books...

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Just like we see them making

Just like we see them making potty breaks? ????

Are we there yet? ????

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Lothic wrote:
Lothic wrote:

Sure I suppose some people are going to have dozens of copies of the same outfit ready to go. We see characters preparing for that all the time in the comic books...

Sometimes we actually do.

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velvetsanity wrote:
velvetsanity wrote:

Just like we see them making potty breaks? ????

Are we there yet? ????

Sometimes we actually do

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blacke4dawn wrote:
blacke4dawn wrote:
Lothic wrote:

Sure I suppose some people are going to have dozens of copies of the same outfit ready to go. We see characters preparing for that all the time in the comic books...

Sometimes we actually do.

And sometimes people write the perfect post that calls for that most perfect of replies...

The exception that proves the rule. ;)

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velvetsanity wrote:
velvetsanity wrote:

Just like we see them making potty breaks? ????

Are we there yet? ????

Only if you can acknowledge that if you're going to have a closet with 100 outfits it's likely a tiny bit insane if all 100 of them are identical. ;)

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I'll register my powers when

I'll register my powers when you pry them from my cold, dead hands!

... Wait, that's not how it goes...

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Lothic wrote:
Lothic wrote:
velvetsanity wrote:

Just like we see them making potty breaks? ????

Are we there yet? ????

Only if you can acknowledge that if you're going to have a closet with 100 outfits it's likely a tiny bit insane if all 100 of them are identical. ;)

I wear exactly the same uniform to work every day and I do have around 10 identical sets. But 100 would be crazy! :)

FIGHT EVIL! (or go cause trouble so the Heroes have something to do.)

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C'mon people, unless the

C'mon people, unless the system works like this ...


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Empyrean wrote:
Empyrean wrote:
Lothic wrote:
velvetsanity wrote:

Just like we see them making potty breaks? ????

Are we there yet? ????

Only if you can acknowledge that if you're going to have a closet with 100 outfits it's likely a tiny bit insane if all 100 of them are identical. ;)

I wear exactly the same uniform to work every day and I do have around 10 identical sets. But 100 would be crazy! :)

Yeah but even the TV version of Wonder Woman had at least six different superhero costume/outfits (if you count the changes to her main costume between ABC and CBS):

Being stuck with just one is, boring to say the least.

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Redlynne wrote:
Redlynne wrote:

Well sure if you consider the "cape outfit", her other "secret identity" outfits and even stuff she wore on Themyscira:

You could probably account for dozens of seperate "costumes" from a CoH/CoT point of view.

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Registration is an

Registration is an interesting concept to bring into the game. The unfortunate side being that it can't be used to full effect, as in a table top game. None the less I like seeing it included. That the npc's will have seperate reactions depending on a characters choice should be fun to see in action. I will say though that I am concerned that those not registered will automatically be viewed in a poor light. My hope is that this can be somewhat offset if the character has been doing good guy things to build up his/her reputation...

Eitherway, given the nature of registration and the paths it tends to lead down...White Peregrine will not be registering. He has a secret identity and intends to keep it that way. If the government wants to view him as a vigilante, so be it. He would rather be called a vigilante than have any of his information stored in some database that could potentially used against him, his friends or his family.

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I don't understand why people

I don't understand why people think that registration means giving up our secret identities. Go back to City of Heroes. The very first thing you do is type your character's name in your registration ID card. It never asked you for your secret identity, why should City of Titans ask us for it? Besides, what about those character concepts for which there is no secret ID? No, MWM and by extension Titan City Department of Safety will ask you for your Alias name only when asking you to register your superpowers.


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
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Huckleberry wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:

I don't understand why people think that registration means giving up our secret identities. Go back to City of Heroes. The very first thing you do is type your character's name in your registration ID card. It never asked you for your secret identity, why should City of Titans ask us for it? Besides, what about those character concepts for which there is no secret ID? No, MWM and by extension Titan City Department of Safety will ask you for your Alias name only when asking you to register your superpowers.

To be honest it's kind of hard to explain. For me it's not a specific "fear" that registration means giving up a secret identity. It's more of simply asking the roleplay question, "What would [insert name of one of my characters] do when faced with the question of registration?"

Remember back in CoH the main pretense was that "character creation equaled automatic registration" and it supposedly provided an explanation for why the city would automatically teleport you to a hospital when you died. For some of my characters (regardless of being red or blue side) the tacit pretense of being registered with the city was fine or even desirable. But I had other characters where the very notion of "being registered" was total anathema and consequently I did my best to mentally pretend that it never happened to them.

Something like "being registered" should be a roleplay choice, not an automatic given. If the Devs want to structure it so that characters will enjoy material advantages for being registered and disadvantages for not being registered that's completely fine, but again it should be our choice one way or the other.

In a world of near-infinite possibility I simply don't like "choices" like superpower registration being forced to be automatic and frankly I sort of consider the fact that CoH was designed that way to be a basic design flaw. Not a serious flaw, but a flaw nonetheless.

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Huckleberry wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:

I don't understand why people think that registration means giving up our secret identities. Go back to City of Heroes. The very first thing you do is type your character's name in your registration ID card. It never asked you for your secret identity, why should City of Titans ask us for it? Besides, what about those character concepts for which there is no secret ID? No, MWM and by extension Titan City Department of Safety will ask you for your Alias name only when asking you to register your superpowers.

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Lothic wrote:
Lothic wrote:

To be honest it's kind of hard to explain. For me it's not a specific "fear" that registration means giving up a secret identity. It's more of simply asking the roleplay question, "What would [insert name of one of my characters] do when faced with the question of registration?"

Remember back in CoH the main pretense was that "character creation equaled automatic registration" and it supposedly provided an explanation for why the city would automatically teleport you to a hospital when you died. For some of my characters (regardless of being red or blue side) the tacit pretense of being registered with the city was fine or even desirable. But I had other characters where the very notion of "being registered" was total anathema and consequently I did my best to mentally pretend that it never happened to them.

Something like "being registered" should be a roleplay choice, not an automatic given. If the Devs want to structure it so that characters will enjoy material advantages for being registered and disadvantages for not being registered that's completely fine, but again it should be our choice one way or the other.

In a world of near-infinite possibility I simply don't like "choices" like superpower registration being forced to be automatic and frankly I sort of consider the fact that CoH was designed that way to be a basic design flaw. Not a serious flaw, but a flaw nonetheless.

This brings to my mind an interesting idea. I wonder if they considered such a mechanic? In order to use the hospitals you must be registered otherwise you have some other means of coming back and then use the junkyard, abandoned lab, or whatever gimmick to Rez... I’m not sure if this is a good or bad idea just made me start thinking. I mean it would allow for deeper immersion for the RP’er whose character would loathe registering yet allow another mechanism for the Rez that may fit their concept better...

"A sad spectacle. If they be inhabited, what a scope for misery and folly. If they be not inhabited, what a waste of space." ~ Thomas Carlyle

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rookslide wrote:
rookslide wrote:
Lothic wrote:

Something like "being registered" should be a roleplay choice, not an automatic given. If the Devs want to structure it so that characters will enjoy material advantages for being registered and disadvantages for not being registered that's completely fine, but again it should be our choice one way or the other.

This brings to my mind an interesting idea. I wonder if they considered such a mechanic? In order to use the hospitals you must be registered otherwise you have some other means of coming back and then use the junkyard, abandoned lab, or whatever gimmick to Rez... I’m not sure if this is a good or bad idea just made me start thinking. I mean it would allow for deeper immersion for the RP’er whose character would loathe registering yet allow another mechanism for the Rez that may fit their concept better...

The thread covering What Happens When Your Hero is Defeated has circled around (probably several times by now) the suggeston of having alternative resurrection points depending on your character concepts.

I'd have no problem at all if a consequence of NOT registering your superpowers required you to choose "non-traditional" places to res when killed (i.e. back alley clinics, abandoned labs, graveyards, etc.).

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Lothic wrote:
Lothic wrote:

The thread covering What Happens When Your Hero is Defeated has circled around (probably several times by now) the suggeston of having alternative resurrection points depending on your character concepts.

I'd have no problem at all if a consequence of NOT registering your superpowers required you to choose "non-traditional" places to res when killed (i.e. back alley clinics, abandoned labs, graveyards, etc.).

Indeed it has. One of the times around there was a discussion about building reputation with emergency services providers to unlock resurrection options. I think this is good segway to tie back into that idea.

Remember how the devs have said that the decisions we make at the initial bank heist intro can be reversed through effort later on. Here's the citation:

Doctor Tyche wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Doctor Tyche wrote:

It is actually post-creation where you make this decision, in the bank tutorial to be exact.

Yes, there is a dynamic included for those whot register vs those who do not.

Nice. Our first alignment choice....

If characters choose not to sign up in that mission, would there be a place they can go if they change their minds at a later time?

Right....[snip] And your gameplay will allow you to shift these choices as well over time.

So, if our resurrection choices are determined by our decision to register and we have the ability to farm reputation with emergency services providers, then we should be able to regain the ability to resurrect at hospitals and other registration-required locations. In other words, while this lets us make our choices matterTM, it also allows us to reverse the consequences at a later time should we choose to do so.

I like it.


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
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Huckleberry wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Lothic wrote:

The thread covering What Happens When Your Hero is Defeated has circled around (probably several times by now) the suggeston of having alternative resurrection points depending on your character concepts.

I'd have no problem at all if a consequence of NOT registering your superpowers required you to choose "non-traditional" places to res when killed (i.e. back alley clinics, abandoned labs, graveyards, etc.).

Indeed it has. One of the times around there was a discussion about building reputation with emergency services providers to unlock resurrection options. I think this is good segway to tie back into that idea.

Remember how the devs have said that the decisions we make at the initial bank heist intro can be reversed through effort later on. Here's the citation:

Doctor Tyche wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Doctor Tyche wrote:

It is actually post-creation where you make this decision, in the bank tutorial to be exact.

Yes, there is a dynamic included for those whot register vs those who do not.

Nice. Our first alignment choice....

If characters choose not to sign up in that mission, would there be a place they can go if they change their minds at a later time?

Right....[snip] And your gameplay will allow you to shift these choices as well over time.

So, if our resurrection choices are determined by our decision to register and we have the ability to farm reputation with emergency services providers, then we should be able to regain the ability to resurrect at hospitals and other registration-required locations. In other words, while this lets us make our choices matterTM, it also allows us to reverse the consequences at a later time should we choose to do so.

I like it.

And conversely there's no reason why a character that's been "properly registered" couldn't eventually build up a good(?) enough "reputation" with the seedy underbelly of the city to be allowed access to the less savory places to res (if desired/necessary).

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Lothic wrote:
Lothic wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Lothic wrote:

The thread covering What Happens When Your Hero is Defeated has circled around (probably several times by now) the suggeston of having alternative resurrection points depending on your character concepts.

I'd have no problem at all if a consequence of NOT registering your superpowers required you to choose "non-traditional" places to res when killed (i.e. back alley clinics, abandoned labs, graveyards, etc.).

Indeed it has. One of the times around there was a discussion about building reputation with emergency services providers to unlock resurrection options. I think this is good segway to tie back into that idea.

Remember how the devs have said that the decisions we make at the initial bank heist intro can be reversed through effort later on. Here's the citation:

Doctor Tyche wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:
Doctor Tyche wrote:

It is actually post-creation where you make this decision, in the bank tutorial to be exact.

Yes, there is a dynamic included for those whot register vs those who do not.

Nice. Our first alignment choice....

If characters choose not to sign up in that mission, would there be a place they can go if they change their minds at a later time?

Right....[snip] And your gameplay will allow you to shift these choices as well over time.

So, if our resurrection choices are determined by our decision to register and we have the ability to farm reputation with emergency services providers, then we should be able to regain the ability to resurrect at hospitals and other registration-required locations. In other words, while this lets us make our choices matterTM, it also allows us to reverse the consequences at a later time should we choose to do so.

I like it.

And conversely there's no reason why a character that's been "properly registered" couldn't eventually build up a good(?) enough "reputation" with the seedy underbelly of the city to be allowed access to the less savory places to res (if desired/necessary).

I imagine it’s possible they could also lose the ability to use hospitals should they lose good guy cred... hmmmm interesting...

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whiteperegrine
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Superhero Registration

Superhero Registration
this is definately a RP thing and for a good number of people it is an important facet of any character they make. registration implies that the characters secret id (if they have one) is out there on some database in some fashion. given the nature and reasoning behind registration it is not a viable option for a good number of characters.
Registration of individuals due to their superhuman abilities is a tough thing to consider and where exactly are the lines on who is and is not superpowered? Where do people like Green Arrow, Ironman, Black Widow, Batman, etc fall as they are actually just normal folks who use amazing tech and/or have fighting skills well above those of your average joe? Then there is the matter of how is the registration itself going to be enforced, implimented and not to mention the eventual need to verify said individual is who they say they are?

as such, for any registration to really function for the safety of not only the public at large but the individual as well means there would have to be some sort of unique identifier put in place. the easiest is using the legally given name of the individual, but given that many super powered folks run with a Secret ID (for various reasons) this is likely not going to be a popular option. The other viable option would be DNA sample, again though, for those that wish to remain anonymous this really is not a viable option either, especially in todays society much less one where tech is ahead of the curve with relation to real life as we know it.

As registration relates to an MMO there will be, no matter how it is worded and put in place, a bit of "hand waving" on the part of the player, especially if the Registration Act does not align with their particular characters background. we had this in COH and we will have it in CoT. registration itself, as I had mentioned previously is a great tool for table top games and while there will be restrictions/limitations I am glad none the less that they are making the attempt to include it into the game and make it that much more immersive.

I like the idea that the "where" an individual awakens could/can change dependant on their alignment. makes sense to this kid.

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Huckleberry wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:

In other words, while this lets us make our choices matter™, it also allows us to reverse the consequences at a later time should we choose to do so.

Mostly I see the "crossover res locations" idea sort of in terms of CoH old-style vigilante/rogue mechanics.

For instance a self-styled (registered) Vigilante (i.e. Punisher) might want to be able to gain "cred" with the low-life scum he's fighting against so being able to get help from a back alley doctor would be good. On the other hand you might have a Rogue-type character who (for whatever reason) lives on the "wrong side of the tracks" but has proven that they can be counted on for big world-shattering fights (i.e. Han Solo). These "crossover" character types ought to be accounted for in terms of where they can go to get patched up.

CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012

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whiteperegrine wrote:
whiteperegrine wrote:

Registration of individuals due to their superhuman abilities is a tough thing to consider and where exactly are the lines on who is and is not superpowered? Where do people like Green Arrow, Ironman, Black Widow, Batman, etc fall as they are actually just normal folks who use amazing tech and/or have fighting skills well above those of your average joe?

As I mentioned above, Page 15 Question 21, covers this: if it's dangerous and/or intrusive, it should be registered before public use or within 30 days of emergency or initial public use. Weapons, gadgets, magic spells, Martian arts, inherent powers, whatever. It's the legal equivalent of "æsthetic decoupling". ^_^

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velvetsanity wrote:
velvetsanity wrote:

My impression of this is that it’s similar to the (real life) laws some places have regarding martial artists: black belts (or equivalent) are required to register their bodies as a deadly weapon. Partly so that police are aware, in case they have to attempt to apprehend these people, or if a murder or other crime involving martial arts is committed, they have a list of possible suspects to look at.

Just because the “register fists as lethal weapons” trope was taken as a fact in this thread, I’d like to point out that in the US, this is only the law on Guam:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/03/31/these-hands-and-feet-are-registered-as-deadly-weapons-in-guam/

I checked with Guam’s code online and 4 years later that’s still on the books.

But outside of the tiny island I once lived on years ago, there is no registration process for martial artists. I think it’s silly that Guam has it also, but there were many silly things about that place.

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Huckleberry wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:

I don't understand why people think that registration means giving up our secret identities. Go back to City of Heroes. The very first thing you do is type your character's name in your registration ID card. It never asked you for your secret identity, why should City of Titans ask us for it? Besides, what about those character concepts for which there is no secret ID? No, MWM and by extension Titan City Department of Safety will ask you for your Alias name only when asking you to register your superpowers.

Because CoH's registration had nothing in the way of RP really, other than "Oh hey, this is your registration."

They just wanted to put the meta in the game and when you do that, it made for a bad RP and a really terrible comic :p

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Brand X wrote:
Brand X wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:

I don't understand why people think that registration means giving up our secret identities. Go back to City of Heroes. The very first thing you do is type your character's name in your registration ID card. It never asked you for your secret identity, why should City of Titans ask us for it? Besides, what about those character concepts for which there is no secret ID? No, MWM and by extension Titan City Department of Safety will ask you for your Alias name only when asking you to register your superpowers.

Because CoH's registration had nothing in the way of RP really, other than "Oh hey, this is your registration."

They just wanted to put the meta in the game and when you do that, it made for a bad RP and a really terrible comic :p

In other media, Super-power registration and super-being registration is a law-enforcement thing, for fixing responsibility. Our laws say that, for instance, the accused criminal has the right to face their accuser, not just a cardboard cutout in a mask, which implies that, legally-speaking, the government has to have a way to verify that the person making the accusation is able to make that accusation and identify the accused (and vice-versa). Which is another reason why there is a law-enforcement officer behind every speed-camera, who will show up at your trial if you demand one, and why trials are expensive.

In fact, weapon registration is one reason why the baseball bat in your bedroom can be problematical, if you use it on a Burglar. Police have to establish an evidence trail between the burglar, your bedroom, and the Bat, in order to explain how the poor, helpless criminal came to have a concussion. They have to show that you didn't just go out and concuss some passing stranger, then lead him back to your place. They need criminal evidence to waive your 'assault with a deadly bat' charges. If you have registered your hands and feet as weapons, then they can prove that They Knew that your Kung Fu was best and, to some extent that the 'criminal' could have known it, too. The newspapers could publish 'Doing Business As' listings - "This person (headshot) DBA 'Billy Danger' can seriously funk you up! So be warned that you should not 'do nefarious business' with 'Billy Danger' unless you Want your butt seriously funked up!" Citizens believe in their right to be informed of 'Billy Danger'.

Be Well!
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Fireheart wrote:
Fireheart wrote:
Brand X wrote:
Huckleberry wrote:

I don't understand why people think that registration means giving up our secret identities. Go back to City of Heroes. The very first thing you do is type your character's name in your registration ID card. It never asked you for your secret identity, why should City of Titans ask us for it? Besides, what about those character concepts for which there is no secret ID? No, MWM and by extension Titan City Department of Safety will ask you for your Alias name only when asking you to register your superpowers.

Because CoH's registration had nothing in the way of RP really, other than "Oh hey, this is your registration."

They just wanted to put the meta in the game and when you do that, it made for a bad RP and a really terrible comic :p

In other media, Super-power registration and super-being registration is a law-enforcement thing, for fixing responsibility. Our laws say that, for instance, the accused criminal has the right to face their accuser, not just a cardboard cutout in a mask, which implies that, legally-speaking, the government has to have a way to verify that the person making the accusation is able to make that accusation and identify the accused (and vice-versa). Which is another reason why there is a law-enforcement officer behind every speed-camera, who will show up at your trial if you demand one, and why trials are expensive.

In fact, weapon registration is one reason why the baseball bat in your bedroom can be problematical, if you use it on a Burglar. Police have to establish an evidence trail between the burglar, your bedroom, and the Bat, in order to explain how the poor, helpless criminal came to have a concussion. They have to show that you didn't just go out and concuss some passing stranger, then lead him back to your place. They need criminal evidence to waive your 'assault with a deadly bat' charges. If you have registered your hands and feet as weapons, then they can prove that They Knew that your Kung Fu was best and, to some extent that the 'criminal' could have known it, too. The newspapers could publish 'Doing Business As' listings - "This person (headshot) DBA 'Billy Danger' can seriously funk you up! So be warned that you should not 'do nefarious business' with 'Billy Danger' unless you Want your butt seriously funked up!" Citizens believe in their right to be informed of 'Billy Danger'.

You obviously don't live in Florida where we have our nationally famous "Stand Your Ground" laws and our traffic cameras are mostly manned by for-profit, non-law-enforcement third party companies which are motivated to rack up as many "violators" as possible. ;)

CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012

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Nope, I'm from California. I

Nope, I'm from California. I've been exposed to those third-party camera operators a few times, but the principle is similar. In order to validate their position on your violation, they will send a sacrificial 'officer' to your trial, if you call for it. I've experienced the 'joy' of court from various positions.

Anyway, in other media, a 'registered Super' may testify in their registered costume, complete with mask, and be considered valid, and not be forced to reveal their actual secret identity in 'public', because it is presumed that their official registration documents allow the government to 'know' who they really are. This also means that Statesman will not be called in for something Frozone did, because freezing is not one of his registered abilities. Although, I'll grant that Statesman might be able to produce a freezing effect... He'd not be the first choice when a 'villain-cicle' is discovered, slowly thawing on the loading dock, down at the Precinct.

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Having my char being a

Having my char being a registered hero?

Silhouette my dear, what do you think about such a move?

IMAGE(http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/watchmen1.jpg)

Oh, yeah. I forgot; that is what happens when you loose control about your hero/normie ID. I think I'll pass up until the system manages to have been proven to be 110% reliable. And then I merely start considering.

I do love that its not mandatory and that you are not automatically a villain for rejecting. I think I prefer my main char to be more in the Superman direction with being a total do-gooder but with a secret ID.

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That's why Spider-Man keeps

That's why Spider-Man keeps it secret!

Sure, the game itself won't have any downsides for you if it's known, but RP wise!

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The Fantastic Four seem to do

The Fantastic Four seem to do alright with a public ID. So does Tony Stark.

Edit: Cause, you know, as a comic book they can decide on how revealing their IDs has impact. Maybe you revealed your ID but your character is such a badass that no one would dare mess with them. There's many ways it can be handled and no real right answer.

"Let the past die. Kill it if you have to."

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I think the distinction may

I think the distinction may be that those with the economic leverage to keep the general masses at arms length will have an easier go of it than those of limited means.

Also those public groups don’t have an Aunt Mae to worry about... We keep our identities private to protect those we love, not ourselves.

"A sad spectacle. If they be inhabited, what a scope for misery and folly. If they be not inhabited, what a waste of space." ~ Thomas Carlyle

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How did this discussion get

How did this discussion get back to the assumption that characters' secret identities would be known, requested or even revealed? They won't.

Nothing about it assumes that anything other than the character's costumed identity will be registered. Besides, just think about it. No law would have been able to be passed if superheroes had to provide their secret identities in order to register. Well, let me rephrase that: The law could be passed, but only one or two superheroes would have ever signed up for it. No, the only way for the law to have been acceptable and successful would be for superheroes and even "lawful" supervillians to keep their true identities secret.

But at the same time, nothing is preventing government and non-governmental entities from trying to identify registered and unregistered identities of all the superheroes and supervillians and keeping their own files on them. But such effort by these entities would be separate and distinct from the registration.


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
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The relevant passage in the

The relevant passage in the lore (link is up in the OP) says, "You do not need to disclose your real name upon registering, but if you choose not to, you must select an appropriate alias."

I disagree with Huckleberry's assertion that only a few heroes would register if it was a legal requirement to reveal their identity, I think it would depend on how hard it would be for a given hero to keep the secret. After all, if the government is likely to be able to learn your identity anyway, why not tell them and avoid the legal hassles? But this also depends on what the hero thinks the difficulty is, so maybe Huck is closer to right in more cases than I would be.

But in the CoTverse, an "appropriate alias" is sufficient to be in compliance with the law, at least in the United States. So the government actually has to do the legwork to find out that Hero X is really Citizen K. Which they could do whether Hero X is registered or not.

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“Impersonation of an Alias”

“Impersonation of an Alias” is probably a serious crime in the Titanverse. But it might be hard to prove. If you register as Red Roach and someone else claims to be Red Roach and starts committing acts in your name that make you look bad (maybe not breaking the law but doing stupid things) then you’d want to stop them from dragging your name through the mud. How can you prove you’re the real Red Roach if your secret identity is, well, secret?

I wonder if you could have some “security questions” or other privileged info established at registration which you would know and an impostor wouldn’t. But then if someone stole that info (blasted telepaths!) they could commit super identity theft.

A smart hero might pay for Alias Insurance with a group like Super Life Lock which monitors news feeds for activity related to your identity and notifies you if something seems suspicious. “A person named Red Roach just fought a giant ape on the Main Avenue Bridge, if this was you press YES, if not press NO and a representative will assist you.”

This whole subject seems fascinating to me. You could do a whole story on alias rehabilitation companies that try to fix a hero’s alias.

Also, I wonder if switching an alias without properly notifying registrars would be a crime? If your alias is trashed by some poser, why not just go with a new name and costume? It also seems like a good way to hide from crimes and other misdeeds you might have committed in the past. Maybe law enforcement has a Costumed Identity Investigations (CII) team that tries to link different aliases together to prove that a person committed a crime as a different identity?

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Atama wrote:
Atama wrote:

“Impersonation of an Alias” is....

This whole subject seems fascinating to me....

I agree. What an entertaining thought experiment


I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.

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