Basic Action Super Heroes!

This is a minor but relatively BIG question I've had about BASH!'s basic assumption of the "true identity" of a hero.

My question.
Is it the base assumption of BASH! that ALL heroes have a "secret identity"? One that they will keep from most everyone, except close confidants - such as family & friends (sometimes) or (especially) teammates.

I ask this based on the following two DISADs:

Public ID:
The public at large knows that you are a superhero you have no secret identity to protect your own privacy or that of your family.

Secret:
You have a secret you try to protect at all costs. The Narrator decides if the secret is damaging enough to allow it as a disadvantage. Note that this secret is something that NOBODY other than yourself knows. If your family or team-members know it, then you cannot take this disadvantage (for this reason most Heroes who have a secret identity don’t have this disadvantage).

These two DISADs, looked at in context together, lead me to believe that the assumption is all PC-Heroes have their identity as a "secret identity", but do not need or take either of these.

IF HOWEVER...
You want to have a character that IS "Public ID" (such as Iron Man/Tony Stark)
OR
You should take "Secret: Identity" when you want a hero that *needs* to protect his secret very strongly (such as Spider-Man/Peter Parker, who took a LONG time before telling trusted heroes like Human Torch, Daredevil, and Captain America is secret identity)


Does that jive with the base assumption for BASH! PC-Hero's identities?

-kev-

I would agree with this, though I may not even be inclined to give Spider Man the Secret disad.

Hey Kev

The Secret Disad for me is something that would damage your hero's personal and superhero reputation and relationships.

An example Secret Identity for me would be your hero used to be a supervillain or convicted felon. I personally don't see Spidey having a particular Secret per se. For example, Aunt May accepted Peter Parker and started working to improve Spidey's public image.

Your Shield Bearer Secret is good that he's actually addicted to a supervillain drug.

Maybe Daredevil actually being blind could be a Secret. I'm drawing a blank on obvious comic Secrets, because they are more-or-less exposed.

cheers

Saker wrote: The Secret Disad for me is something that would damage your hero's personal and superhero reputation and relationships.

An example Secret Identity for me would be your hero used to be a supervillain or convicted felon. I personally don't see Spidey having a particular Secret per se. For example, Aunt May accepted Peter Parker and started working to improve Spidey's public image.

Okay...
Damage the hero's reputation or relationships, I can get that.

As for more on the "SECRET" (as a DISAD) Identity vs. "Public ID" vs. the *default identity* of a PC-Hero in BASH!...

I'll continue with my Spider-Man example - Yes...
In modern comics, it is true - Spider-Man has become more "open" with his secret identity. He first told Mary Jane, then told Johnny Storm, then told several of the Avengers (Cap and Iron Man), then he told Aunt May.

In essence I would say his "player" bought off that original DISAD with Experience Points. Afterall, I've found that a tiny pet peeve for many supers RPG players I've known is DEALING with the "hassle" of keeping secret a "Secret". Not many want to deal with that type of drama/storyline as part of a game session, especially if its Secret Identity. They'd rather just let it come out and be public.

However...
The reason I'm asking about the DEFAULT of BASH! PC-Hero Secret Identities is I'd like to consider how to handle it as a Narrator. And Spidey is a great example.


As I was saying...
In the beginnings Peter was devastatingly scared of having his Secret ID revealed for fear all his Rogues Gallery would come after the ones he loved. A fun show of proof to this is:

The Amazing Bag-Man
First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #258 (1984)
After the Fantastic Four helped rid Peter of the alien symbiote (the first time, anyway), our hero found himself without a costume and stuck at the FF's headquarters. So the Human Torch lent him – an out-of-date Fantastic Four costume - and a paper bag to wear over his head for the swing home. The "kick me" sign he pinned to his buddy's back? That was just a bonus.

Back in the day... Pete was PARANOID in all-caps! He didn't even tell trusted heroes like the FF or Captain America. Back before he just let it all spill (starting with MJ), the ONLY heroes that knew "who" Spider-Man was, were: Daredevil (because he could match the heartbeat with Peter Parker's) and Wolverine (because he could match the scent with Parker's).
Even Professor X didn't know who Spidey was, as he "respectfully" told Spider-Man he wouldn't "read" that info from his mind (but knowing Xavier the way we do now, he probably did anyway!).


All that said.
I'd say that early Spider-Man is a great example of WHY that all PC-Heroes are assumed to "default" to have a Secret Identity, UNLESS they take "Public ID". However, that Secret Identity isn't something that the Narrator needs to focus on a great deal (more than one story really) unless the PC-Hero took the "Secret" as a DISAD to hide his Secret Identity.

That's my thought.
-kev-

I'd say the difference between the Secret disad and a usual secret identity is this:

Secret Disad: Using Spiderman, if he told his family that he was Spiderman, he would fear Aunt May shunning him.

usual Secret Identity: Using Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), he keeps his identity a secret, but if he told his girlfriend he was Green Lantern, it be okay for their relationship.

I'd say if you're going to use Secret for the purposes of Identity, you should probably have something like On the Run, or Social Stigma.

All that said.
I'd say that early Spider-Man is a great example of WHY that all PC-Heroes are assumed to "default" to have a Secret Identity, UNLESS they take "Public ID". However, that Secret Identity isn't something that the Narrator needs to focus on a great deal (more than one story really) unless the PC-Hero took the "Secret" as a DISAD to hide his Secret Identity.

I agree with this. I believe Disadvantages signal to the Narrator how the player wants to bother their Hero. From this perspective, maybe Spiderman would have the Secret disad. I guess I never read enough Spidey to appreciate this plot-line.

cheers