Conundrum: Big Bad villain with a Life device

[MrJupiter]

I've run into a bit of a dilemma. I’m constructing a villain for a Cavalcade entry that is intended to be a major foe the likes of Magneto and Doctor Doom. Without going into the details I’ve envisioned this foe as having a device capable of the Life power (at around level 20).

I was originally thinking that I’d have that cost paid for by his Headquarters’ build points. Unfortunately, that one power is so points expensive that it leaves nothing for any Traps or Weapons Systems powers.

I was wondering if I should just move the Life power over into the villain’s build and just call it a gadget (and offer a limitation that it is only usable back at the HQ). The villain is already a 45pt character and that would push him up to 64pts (with the limitation savings factored in). This route troubles me:

Point #1:
The villain would now become a 64pt character!

Point #2:
The headquarters would now have 32pts available for powers (and I think that this is just crazy). Besides, I’d go crazy trying to spend all those points. I don’t think BASHMAN could fit a Headquarters, with so many powers, onto the Cavalcade character sheet!

Point #3:
That’s a lot of Hero Points for the players - for something the villain can’t access until he gets back to HQ - and even then it’s only something of a plot device -Device.

All this just leaves me wondering if it would okay to just label the Life power as a plot device power without factoring in its 20pt cost? The gadget would be a large machine that fills the room and would be somewhat Fragile (well, as fragile as a 20 point device can be). Its basically just a gimmick to allow the villain to create his henchmen but could be used against the players if the Narrator so wishes.

I know how I’d handle it for my own games but, since this is for Cavalcade, I thought I’d let the larger BASH community weigh in.

[texaspoet]

On the one hand- 64 points!

On the other hand- he's your major villain, make him to handle the team, and don't worry about the points, because they don't really matter for a foe of this magnitude that you are creating all of his resources and the point cost doesn't reflect /just/ his personal powers.

[urbwar]

I went with making it a plot device. Seems that even though it's part of his HQ, he uses it only when creating henchmen? If it's limited to just that, then definitely plot device imho

[kevperrine]

My opinion.... The points a villain is built with are separate and different than the points you consider when totaling the villains "points" for challenge to the PC-Heroes (ie. the points you balance them against to give them Hero Points).

My meaning.
The power Skillful for example. It's not often that a villain will be going toe to toe with a Hero specifically in a skill challenge (unless the villain is a Riddler/Joker type that focuses on beating a hero with direct skill competition).

So often times powers (or any ability/advantage) that "round out" a villain inflate the villain unfairly (in the Hero Point award scheme of things). Is having 4 ranks of Skillful (or several odd Advantages or other powers) actually beneficial when it comes to the villain and hero challenging one another??

So...
In my humble opinion. Build the villain as much as you like. Make that a device or a HQ. Or make it a complete and separate "thing" to stat out (as you might create a secondary villain that's not necessarily the Big Bad's sidekick or minion) and then look at the overall villain.
What's "in his *" all the time that WILL threaten the hero? Add to the challenge?
If the thing does this, include the points in the "build" of the villain. If not, don't. That way it's a true picture of the "power level" and "challenge rating" of the villain that DESERVES awarding the heroes with Hero Points.


Lastly...
A sidebar/note.
I would definitely STAT it out though. I love systems that are robust enough to stat out things other systems (and other GMs) call "plot devices".
Yes.... Yes... I *GET* that Galactus or the Cosmic Cube, etc... "are" plot devices... But, for me, part of the fun sometimes is being able to stat out those things.
Always falling back on "it's a plot device" or "it's an x stat" is (to me) a big lazy cop out. If you don't have time or interest, that's one reason not to even try. But... a system that allows the unique way to stat out something SO BIG is awesome-fun-cool. BASH! happens to BE one of those type systems robust yet simple enough to do so.
Why NOT create the stats! Especially if it's for a published product! You can always note that some folks consider this a "plot device" so feel free to ignore the stats if that's how you enjoy the game.
But not building it... eliminates that option.
It's the lazy cop out.

-kev-

[MrJupiter]

Thanks guys, for the input! I'll deffinately call it a Plot Device and not add the points to his build or that of his HQ. But I'll definately put some stats to it, as kevperrine suggested.

Thanks