Book of Magic Design Journal #5

Sanctums Sanctorum: Mystic Headquarters
Mystic heroes, just like any others, need a place to hang their capes and shut out the troubles of the outside world to meditate and practice their arcane arts. Moreover, mystics often need places of power, strongholds in their battles to protect the world from hostile forces beyond mortal ken. Thus, many mystics (or groups of mystics) have a headquarters of some sort.

Mystic headquarters are created according to the same guidelines as given on pages 145-148 of M&M. As mentioned there, headquarters are not like other “equipment,” in that they are locations rather than things characters carry around with them. Thus headquarters are an exception to the guideline that magical items are normally Devices; mystic HQs can have mystic powers just as other HQs can have super-science equipment, and still be acquired using equipment points.

New HQ Features
The following new features are appropriate for mystic headquarters, although they may apply to others, at the GM’s discretion.

Dimensional Portal
The headquarters has a portal or gateway to another dimension or dimensions. This can range from an otherwise innocuous-looking door or a high-tech portal surrounded by support equipment and monitors. The portal provides two-way travel to and from the other dimension, and may even reach a number of related dimensions. At the GM’s discretion an appropriate skill check, typically Knowledge (arcane lore or technology) may be required to operate the portal.

Dual Size
The headquarters has two separate Size categories: it’s inside category, purchased normally, which determines the structure’s interior space, and an outside category, one or more size categories smaller. In essence, the headquarters is larger on the inside than on the outside. So a small house, for example, might contain the space of a huge castle on the inside. This costs 3 points (for Huge) plus the cost of this feature. The GM may even allow size categories beyond Awesome, with each additional category increasing size by the standard value progression (to 10,000 ft., 25,000 ft., 50,000, etc.); expensive HQs could be pocket universes!

Personnel
The headquarters has a staff of personnel commensurate with its size and facilities. The staff is made up of characters created and controlled by the GM and tasked with serving the headquarters. As such, they shouldn’t be considered all-purpose Minions of the occupant(s) of the HQ. So, while an HQ’s personnel may help defend it in case of attack, they’re not going to go with the owner on adventures or otherwise assist outside of their duties. This feature simply ensures there’s someone taking care of the headquarters while the owner isn’t at home.

Sealed
This is similar to the Isolated feature except the HQ is sealed off from the outside world rather than being isolated by geographic location. It may be behind a barrier, or a structure with no doors, windows, or other outside access. Only the HQ’s owner and designated guests may enter, although the GM should determine means by which trespassers might do so, including alteration or movement powers like Insubstantial and Teleport.

Self-Repairing
The structure of the headquarters “heals” any damage done to it over time. Essentially, it recovers like a character does, removing an injured condition per hour and recovering from a disabled condition in a day. If this feature is taken twice, the structure will even rebuilt itself in a week if it is destroyed! If it cannot rebuild in its original location, it reappears in the nearest suitable place.

Temporal Limbo
Time within the headquarters actually moves at a different rate than that of the world outside the headquarters! Time within the structure is either slowed or sped up compared to the normal passage of time, passing at half or twice the normal rate. Each additional application of this feature moves the ratio of time passage one step up the Value Progression Table: one-fifth or five times, one-tenth or ten times, and so forth.