This page is intentionally left blank. Encounters The characters Scorpion's tail: is made of' Incredible malerial. When it hits, it does Amazing Spider-M an (50 points) damage- The rail also contains Kcal namc: Pcrer Parker, photographer a Plasma projector that does Remarkable Fighting: Remarkable damage at a range of2 areas. Agility: Amazing Strength: Incredible J. Jonah Jarneson Endurance: IncrcdibIe Fighting: Poor Reason: Excellent Agility: Typical Intuition: Amazin~ Strength: Typical Psyche: Incredible Endurance: Typical Health: 160 Reason: Typical Karma: 110 Intuition: Typical Popularity: 40 Psyche: Typical Resources: Poor 4/20 Health: 22 Karma: 18 Powers Resources: Excellent (20 r/ 500r) Wall-crawling: Spidey sticks to normal Popularity: 58 (Rernarkablc) wall surrkces, bur must make an Agility J. Jonah Jameson is n hard-news journal- FEAT for wet or slippery surfaces. ist who has raised himseIf up from being a Spider sense: Whenever Spider-Man is beat reporter to his present position as placed in immediate danger, he must publisher of the Daily Bugle. As pub- make an Intuition FEAT. IIFhe makes the lisher, he has always had a prejudice FEAT, he is warned in time to react. against super-powered heroes, and partic- Web-shooters: These shoot webs of Monstrous strength up to 2 areas away. The webs do not conduct electricity. Spider-tracers: Spider-Man owns sev- eral miniature homing devices (range: one mile) each tuned to his spider-sense. Scorpion Real name: MacDonald "Mac" GarganTA Panic in the New York Subway! Thc Fighting: Remarkable Scorpionm has taken over an IRT subway Agility: Incredible car which now rests on an abandoned Strength: Incredible sidetrack beneath 7th Avenue. The car's Endurance: Incredible passengers have been chased off and are Reason: Typical fleeing down the tunnel to the safety of a Intuition: Typical nearby platform. One passenger remains Psyche: Good as a hostage - Publisher J. Jonah Jarne- Health: 150 sonf". Scorpion has delivered an ultima- Karma: 22 tum: Spider-Man'" must show up within Powers the hour orJamcsnn will die! The ultimatum, carried by the fleeing Scorpion can climb any surrace he c passengers, is quickly relayed to the get a grip on, either by wedging hi offices of the Daily Bugle. Freelance pho- fingers into small cracks or creat- tographer Peter ParkeP heads For the ing handholds in concrete. subway to get pictures of the story. Peter's Scorpion's costume: Absorbs true interest in the crisis is revealed as the 20 points of damage from any young photographer dashes intn a closet attack due to its steel mesh and to changc into the Amazing Spider-Man, rubber construction, and and swings off for his rendezvous with the provides Remarkable protection Scorpion. From electrical damage. 4 Issue # 1 B Lrve rail i ....................................... ....,........................... ............................ ,........- ...-. ................................................... ...... ...............,.................... -.-. ... *. ........ ; : ; ; ........ t ..............................,...................... .....'. " ........................ ................................- . ............................L..i.v..e.. .r..a..i.l. ... ..............................1......................... 1 " 3 1 I ularly aSainsi Spider-Man (tIl(>uqhJ onall Jarnrsun, who filncicd thc cxpcri~nent, pnwrr in tl~ctw o sitlc rracks. Thr nurth- pays Spidey's alter cp, Pctcr I'arker. for and Spider-Man, his oricinal tarvt. urn two tracks are carrying a live charge. phoros of Spider-Man's exploits). A self- Whcn Spider-Man gets close cnough, Any charactcr who is slammed into one of centered egotist who subjects his emplay- he can ace Scorpion and Jameson in the thcse areas must make an Agility FEAT ees to long harangues and his rcading car. If Spider- Man docs nor make himself or land on the thirrl rail. taking: 80 points public to ovcrhlown accounts of' his own known to Scorpion (who is lost in his own of damage and wiII be ~incanscioush r5 exploits, Jonah still Fecls he has his finger mcmerics and hatred), Scorpion will rounds. Should this happen to Spider- on the pulse of a great city. decide by the third round thar Spidcy is Man,S corpion will leave him Ibr dcad, not coming and will start thrashing Jamc- and the wub-siinger will he rescued by the The battle son. Scorpion will nor use his full strength SWAT team. Usc thc map provided, showing a section against Jarneson, hut will cause 10 points Aftermath of the subway. The ncarest entrance is 5 of clamage per round. Jameson will try to arcas away, and conics up ourside the dodge Scorpion's thrashing !ail. IF Spider-Man del'cats Scorpion. hc ~ains Keash Mall on side one of the boxed Oncc Spidrr-Man makes it known that 40 Karma points. If Sp~dcr-Mantu rns gamc map. Scorpion and Jameson arc in he is on thc sccne (either by attacking Scorpion over to the policc, he gets an the center of the stopped car. Scorpion, calling out, or creating a distur- additionit1 30 points. If Jarneson ia Scorpion has spent rhe past 45 minutes bance in the tunnel}, Scorpion will ignore injured, Spider-Man loses 30 points (and threatening Jameson and reminding the Jamesun and concentrate on smashing the gets a blistering cditorial in the Bugle). If' publisher of his guilt in the Scorpion's wall-crawler. Jarnemn has no love for Jarneson is killed, Spider-Man loses all of crearion. Early in Spider-Man's carccr, Spider-Man, and will t~ ro flec the area. his Karma points. II' Spider-Man fights Jonah paid for super-poweretl agents to He will return seven rounds latcr, hacked the SWAT team, he loses 2Q Karma hc creatcd. Mac Gargan was one such up 'by a 10-man SWAT ream carrying paints. IF Spider-Man must I>c rescued by agent, intent on dercating Spiclcr-Man. sub-machine guns and grenades. The r t~Sr WAT Icarn, hc loses 30 Karma The transformation gave Gargan the SWAT team has heen bricfed on how points for a public dcfeat. ISSpirlcr-Man proportional ahilitics of a Scorpion, and dangerous the two cornhatants are, and gcts any pictures of the fight, he gets 10 he was fitted with a wicked tail as a will opcn firc on both Scorpion and Spi- Karma points. weapon. Thc transformation, howevcr, der-Man il'thc two arc locked in cambat. 0 drove Scorpion mad. Scorpion hates bath Finally, Scorpion has shorted out the n: Marvtl Comics Croup. POLYHEDRON S by Steve Winter the Fantastic FourTMY. ULdI on't star1 t11r Samc 1 , ~so llinq rlirr anrl gcncrating statistics. you takc a hcro that you alrcady know ant1 Face Fmnt, Marvclites! It's herc! You'vr heard ahoul it! love and start learning to play the garnc. You've read about it! You've wai~cdf ur it! Now you can play it! Thc first thing io Icarn is, what 1s this hero guy? Hcwes have The rumors have been running around for months, anrl now srven abilities: Fighting, Agility, Strength, Endurance, Rrason. we can lay then1 to rcst. The MARVEL SUPER HEROESTM lntuitinn, and Psyche. Or FASERIP, as we like to call it. Fighl- Rolc-Playing Gamc is finished. Ry the time you rcad this, yuu ins measurrs how well thc hcro can fight. Caplain America, for could he marching clown to the local hobby shop or. honk store cxamplr, is a iiqhti~lgf ury, whereas DazzlcrTMis about as pl~gilis- and buying thc cvcr-lovin' thinq for your very own. ric as your average, benutirul nightclub singer. A$itva nd What? You haven't snagged one yel? You want to know what's Strength arc just what they sound likc: phy~iracl uordination arid in it for you? Perk up yotlr caw, fans. Your hard-earrlcd mnnry physical strength. Endurance rncasurcs how wcll thc hrro stands buys you a cnlossus cornucupia of comic buok cnl turc: up undcr strain, how quickly he recovcrs rrom wounds, and how resis~anth is system is tu poisons anrl nasty environments. Koason a 16-pagc Emle Book with basic rules Fnr fighting ancl measures smarts, hut it also mcitsures familiarity with tcchnicd moving cquipmen~a nd tliu ahility to think IogicaIIy. Intuition is a surt ol' a 48-pagc Campaign Book with rxtcnslvc rulca Ibr supcr-hcro sixth sense, as well as wi~asn d cornrnori scnst: (somc hcrocs are campaigns just more in turjc with thr cosmos than others) And finally, 25 Full-color, two sided, dic-cut counters Psyche is likc wi1lpc)wer. but it also measurcs the hero's capacity a 21112 33 inch lull-color, double-sidcd map to deal with magic, cithcr resisting its effects or wielding it a 16-page adventure, "Day of the Octopus.'' and himself. two 10-sided dicc Instead nl'assigniny a numhrr to cach of thcsc abilities, So what, you say? We've scrhni t all before, you say? Nay, I MARVEL SUPER HEROESn game uses ranks. Each ability is say! You havcn't sccn anything like iMARVEL SUPER ranked Feeble, Poor. Typical, Good, Excelleni, Rcmarkablc, H EROESm Kame bcrbre, not horn TSR nr from "those othcr IncredihIc, Amazing, Monstrous, or Unearthly. No morr boring guys.'' But talk is cheap, and so is typc. You want prooh so hcrc "I'm guing to pick him up with my Strength, which is 53." Hn it is: a guided tour through the MARVEL SUPER HEROES" hum Now you can look thc Judge in the cyc and announce. game box. "I'm pickitig him up with my Amxzinq Strrngth and tossing the Let's lind out what gucs into a Marvel Super Hcro" character. reprol>atc thmugh the wall?" We're not talking about Albedo-Man and Captain Compctcncc. Each rank I~ias nurnl2cr, ton. Rank nutnbcrs hclp determine These are the big boys: Spiclrr-Man", Captain American, how much damaye a heru can dihh jut and how much hr can take, among other things. other nifty stuff. The seven basic abilities don't change during the game, unless The Campaign Book starts out with more information on somcrhing awful happens. Besides them, a hero has Four other heroes: what they can do, and how various heroes compare to variable abilities: Hedth, Karma, Resources, and Popularity. A each other. Then it launches into details about money, finances, hero's Health equals the sum oFhis Fighting, Agility, Strength, jobs, and public opinion. Let's Face it, part of what makes Mar- and Endurance rank numbers. His Karma (which 1'11 explain in vel@C omics great is that MarvelB heroes live in the real world, a minute; cool your jets) starts out equal to the sum of his Rea- with reaI cares. They face problems in their personal lives that son, Intuition, and Psyche rank numbers. Resources represent are as compelling and time-consuming as their public lives: prob- money, credit, possessions, and other material wealth. Popularity lems with money, jobs, friends, relatives, loved ones. Add to that is just what it sounds like. Thc public's opinion of a hero tends to the average citizen of Manhattan, who owes a huge debt of grati- go up and down, and has an imporrant impact on how effective a tude to his super-powered protectors, but can be pretty stingy hero can be. when it comes to acknowledging that debt. Hence, MARVEL But wait, you say? Isn't this "MARVEL SUPER SUPER HEROES" game goes into areas that have been ignored HEROES"" role-playing game? What about the "Super" part7 in the past, because there's more to a super hero than meets the Each hero has several super powers, explained in detail on his eye. character information card, highlighted by a full-color illustration What else is in store? Well, there's magic, courtesy of Earth's of the hero. Like abilities, each super power has a rank, from Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Stran<; vehicles magnificent anti Fecblc to Unearthly. mundane; inventions and electro-mechanical devices to amaze OK, you've got your hero, you know everything there is to the most jaded technophile; background information on other know about him, and you're itching to start playing. How docs dimensions, animals, NPCs, the law, and trids; a look at the this thing work? A Fair question! world from the bad guys' perspective; and some tips for the game When heroes do thr things that make them heroes, they are Judge on how to manage his players and his campaign that'll just performing FEATS: Functions of Exceptional Ability or Talent. knock your socks off! When Spider-Man shoots a web and snags a grenade out ofrhe Last, but not least, is "The Origin Of. . ." Sure, this is the air, that's a FEAT! When the ThingTM rips up a concrete abut- MARVEL SUPER HEROEST" game, and Marvel"@ heroes are ment, that's a FEAT! Whcn Reed Richards pours a glass of milk, as exciting as they come, but some people like to hranch out, to that's not a FEAT (unless he's pouring with his eyes closed). move into uncharted territory. The last ten pages of the book So Spider-Man shoots his web at the grenade that's looping its explain how new, original heroes are created, and how any of the way toward the mayor's car - what happens next:? The player heroes from MarveI" Comics, past or present, can be brought rolls percentile dice and consults (fanfare of trumpets) thc Uni- into the gme. And since everyone will auk if 1 don't just blurt it versal Table! out, here it is: there are 60, count 'em, 60 powers, in 10 catego- The Universal Table is an exquisite little invention that does ries. But that isn't really accurate, because a lot of those arc everything, with no moving parts. The 10 ability ranks are listed general powers that could manifest themselves in lots of ways. across thc top, plus three extras: Shift 0, Shift X, and Class InOfl. After all, a hero doesn't wake up one morning with super powers Dice roll ranges are listed down the left side. The player cross- that he understands Fully and controls perfectly. Heroes discover indexes his dice roll with the character's ability rank, and the their capabilities and limits on the job, and so do Marvel Super table gives him a color: white, green, yellow, or red. The colot. HernesT' characters. Thr game describes pretty specificallv what tells rhe player what happens: nothing, something, something is possible, bur only experience {and some negotiation betwcen real good, or something tremendous. Judge and player} reveals thc true cxtent of a supcr power. If players want, it can be as silnplr as that. On the other hand, And, of course, we wouldn't give you this titanic treasury if' players want, it can be a lot more detailed. The Battle EFFects without including a mind-hoggling tale or action and suspense, in Table gives specific effects for specific actions, depending on what the Mighiy Marvrl Manner? We proudly present "Day of thc color came up on the Universal Table. For example, when Cap- Octopi~s,"a 16-page adventure starring evcrvhody's favorite tain America throws his mighty shield. he could miss his targct nemesis, Doc Ock! This time, the ever-nasty doctor is unleashing entirely, hit it, hi1 it exactly rhr way he wantcd to (Bull's-eye?), or his 30,fbot menace, the Octodroid, on thr unsuspecting inhahit- hit it so hard he almost kills it. When Cap punches a bad guy, he ants of the Big Apple. Players can takr the parts of Spider-iMan, might just Fan the air, or hit the villain in the jaw, or knock him Captain America, the Fantastic Four, Captain Marvel", or down, or knock him inlo the next county. It's Ijst, it's flashy, and MtolverineTHto save the city that ncvcr sleeps from a ni~htmareo r hest ofa ll, it's Tun? Everything players and judges need to play destruct ion! wall-smashing, head-bashing, villain-thrashing M:irvelm battlcs is And there's plenty more where that came rrom! The second on one handy table. and third advrnturc modules - "Rreeder Bombs" starring the And for thosc who complain that dice play ton big a part in Uncanny X-Men", and "Time Trap" starring the Mighty role-playing games, we proudly in troducc Karma. Karma is like AvengersM - arc avaiIabIe as you read this, or will be shortly. cosmic brownie points; whcn the universe Iikes you, you can't be The MARVEL SUPER HEROEST" Juclge's Screcn and Heroes' stoppcd. But when the universe has other matters to think ahout, Guide to New York is another goodie to ask for at vour friendly, watch out! Players can use their characters' Karma to raise or neighborhood hobby shop. In the works or on the drawing board lower their FEAT dice rolls. Once Karma is used, it's gone, Jack. are adventure rnodulcs Featuring Daredevil. the Fantastic Four. Characters get it back by doing what they're supposed to, in the Alpha FlightTM, the Hulk", and the whole cast and crew of Mar- cosmrc order OF things: heroes by hring heroic, and villains by vel's@S ECRET WARS" epic. Keep your eyes open, true belirv- being vilIainous. Rut beware the day when the Karma dries up; ers, because you won't want lo miss one spine-tingling, 0 even super powers wan'[ help when Lady Luck turns her back. puke-pounding moment! Rut wait! There's more! Thar's just the first book! Sixtven pages! There's still a 48-page Campaign Book FuI1 of' advanced MARVEL SUPER HEROES. SECRET WARS, and a11 Marvel characters arc rulcs, optional rules, campaign rules, vehicle rules, and 101s or tradcrnarkr of lhc Marvcl Comics Group. POLYHEDRON RAMPAGE *,I hlanl.li-harrrtm. Ihrirli*mll"u."."iid blAllVI 1 %II.bll 818 iltlll.," llllll.lll.lll..l lIh1 III#~.I Ii.llIl lll.<;"lll,l. ,."\Iim ii,,1 ,11,1, -,:? ,,,,I > .,,,>,. ,,,,,,,, cl,l ,.,,? ,.I,,,,,, "lli ...,, ,I ,,,* ,,,., 1, .l.n,.,,. by Roger E. Moore not flipped on her relevision set. The first radius of the Abomination. Hercules starts show she saw was a live interview from Ncw the scenario at any area on thc border of the A number ofmembers have written to com- York with Hercules. Thc mighty Avenger" map, heading far the scene of the fight. plain about the lack of articles on the was discussing his rolc as a hero and was Titania will arrive anywhere on the edge of MARVEL SUPER HEROES" Game in the happily elaborating on some of his past the map at a run, two rounds after the start Newszinc, and some of their letters were exploits. of the scenario, ready to pound thc Grcek published in the last issue. Never one to let a Hcrcules was his usual charming, muscle- warrior into submission. chailenge go unanswered, Roger Moore flexing, storytelling self. He easily stole thc wrote another MSH encounter, which was show from the commentator, along with the approved by Marvel Comics Group for hearts of many women in the TV audience. publication. HQ shamelessly stole thc sce- Ofcourse, the show had the opposite efSect nario and used it for tournaments at Glathri- on Titania, who became progressively con and at Origins, where it was angrier and more embittered as Hercules well-received, and now we present "Ram- bragged on his conquests and displayed his page" for your enjoyment. (Now how about awesome musculature. Focusing her ragc a few anides from the rest of the MSH fans? an Hercules, Titania pounded her TV set We can't let Roger have all the glory. . . .) into atoms, dug her costume out of her It seems to me that the most difficult thing closet, and picked up a onc-way bus ticket about the MARVEL SUPER HEROES to New York City. Game is designing a scenario that will chal- Unbeknownst to anyone, the lenge the most powerful heroes, such as Abomination" had manaced to break free Thor", the Hulk", or Hercules". After all, from his imprisonment by the U.S. govern- to send someone like Thor against ordinary ment at about this same time. A careless criminals (or even most extraordinary ones) technician with a loud mouth had ribbed would be nothing more than an exercise in him once too often about his many losses to overkill. Characters likc Thor tend to the Hulk, and the Abomination's anger unbalance most scenarios, which is proba- gave him the strength and motivation to bly why the rules and modules frequently escape (and to send the technician to an suggest that such powerful characters be emergency room). Knowin%t hat hc is pub- used only as NPCs. licly regarded as a loser and a coward, the On the other hand, it should be possiblc Abomination now wants to make one last Notes on Conducting Play to give the players who are fond of brawny bid to regain his status as one of the mighty characters a run for thcir money. - ifhe can overcome his terror and cow- Certain circumstances may cause the Hulk DRAGONB Magazine (Issue #88) Save ardice. ro experience an immediate adrrnalinc Thor some bad-guy competition in the form Hearing that the Hulk has arrived in surge, or cvcn to attack targets other than of the evil Loki" and Ulik". Certainly New York City, rhe Abomination has made the Abomination. For cxam~lea,n yone who something can be cooked up for poor little his own way there and issued public chal- defcats Abomination before the Hulk can Hulk and Hercules, too. . . . lengcs for the Hulk to come and meet his do so will immediately be attacked by the match. The scenario starts as the Hulk Hulk, who will bc at shift X strength and Rampaging characters closes in on his old enemy -as Titania, Amazinc Fi-c htinc (effective at once - unaware of the brewing storm, hunts regardless of previous scores - unless This scenario is designed for four players. the streets of the city for Hercules. Herculcs Streng-t h is already at Class 1000). Two will play villains, one will play a hero, is the only major hero in the area at the If attacked by mare than one her<,o r and one will play a "sometimes hero" (the moment who can interccpt the Hulk and villain at a time, the Hulk will grow an~rier Hulk, of course). The referee can control Abomination to prevent their battle, using His Strcngth will risc to Shift X, and his other minor characters, such as crowds, cither words or force. Fighting will become Incredible. If attacked police, and National Guardsmen. The Starting Play by three (or more) heroes or villains, the referee may also wish to add other minor Hulk's Fighting ability will rise to Amazing. Marvel Super Heroes" or Marvel Super Takc the players aside one by onc and Ifthe Hulk is already at Shift X Stren~th Villains" to the conflict. briefly acquaint thcm with the cvrnts which and Amazing Fighting and is thcn rcduced Complete character sheets far all four led up to cach character's appearance on the to halfof his ori~inalH ealth points, there is characters have been printed on the back SCPIIC. a 25% chancc every round thcreaftcl. that mailer cover, which may be detached for Using the map of New York City pro- his Strength will jump to Class 1000, at ~onvrnien~e. vided with thc basic MARVEL SUPER which point he will attempt to bash every- Referee's Information HEROES Game boxed set, the referee may one in sight. place civilians, police, National Guard If the Abomination's Health is reduced lo Things would have worked out very differ- units, and assorted vehicles in thc strcets one-quarter of thc initial score, he must ently if Mary MacPherran (Titania"), before thc scenario starts. The player of thc n:.tkr .: I':\<.IIL, FP..Al' roll ur ~uccuc>>rlu>I ) ,. hiding out in her Denver apartment and Abomination should place him near the , r .I I l k I licw ,.X!LU lt tlw:~ fecling particularly depressed and upset center ofthc map. The Hulk begins the talk the Hulk out of attacking him (by ovcr a numbcr of personal problems, had scenario at any spot within a three-area directing his attcntion lo cither Hercules or Ianue a25 Titaniam),t hen he will flee by the fastest means possible, using any means he can to help cover his escape. Hercules" must make a Reason FEAT roll to recognize Titania. If successful, he will recall tales told of her by other Avengers" who have returned from the Secret Wars". Rampage Goals and Karma Awards In addition to the usual Karma awards as described in the Campaign Book, the char- acters have the opportunity to earn addi- tional Karma points for achieving thc specific goals set forth for each below. The Abomination'' The Abomination has suffered much under the fists of the Hulk", and this fight may be his last chance ever to recover any of his ruined self-esteem. He will make extensive use of thrown objects in an attempt to wear the Hulk dawn before joining battle. The Abomination is torn between his terrible desire for venceance and his awful fear of " the Hulk's powers. He has no such fear of rhe others, thoua-h he dislikes Hercules greatly and cares nothing for Titania unless she challenges him. Karma awards For defeating the Hulk within 10 rounds by himself + I00 For defeating the Hulk otherwise + 50 For defeating Hercules or Titania + 50 For running away from the Hulk -30 Hercules Initially, Hercules wishes only to prevent the Hulk and the Abomination from com- pletely destroying part of New York City He may use any means desired to accom- plish this task, though he would probably try to reason things out with the two green- skinned fighters at first. He knows he can- not get further help for the time being, and he would prefer not to let the two wear each other down before interfering, since this would ensure the destruction of a couple of - city blocks in the process. ability and strength, it will only make her The Hulk, from the moment he lays eyes Hercules might find Titania quite attrac- more determined to beat him. But if he on the Abomination, will want to attack his tive, and in any case, he will probably try to praises her fighting skills and power, she old enemy at once. He cares nothing for flatter her in the hopes of assuaging her may be less inclined to be vicious, although any other hero or villain, unless such a anger. Regardless of the outcome of the character tries to interfere in his fight with she still desperately wants to beat him in a battle, Hercules should continue to acc in a light. If she loses the light, she will become - Abomination in any way. chivalrous and gentlemanly fashion If he manages to conquer the even more depressed and dispirited than she perhaps even apologizing if he has to punch was before. She has no immediate quarrel Abamination and is otherwise left alone, the out Titania. with either the Hulk or the Abomination, Hulk will then leave the area by making Karma Awards Unearthly leaps, cutting a highway of but if she defeats Hercules, she may be tempted to add to her conquests by trying to destruction through the rest of New York For stopping the HulkIAbomination defeat one of the two green titans - or both City in the direction of open country, where fight within 10 rounds + 100 of them, if possible. (hopefully) no one will bather him. For capturing each of the other thrce characters + 100 Karma Awards Karma Awards per character Far defcating the Abomination within For defeating Hercules within 10 For lctting Hulk and Abomination 10 rounds by himself + 100 rounds by herself + 100 fight for 3 rounds or longer without interfering, at any time -20 For defeating the Abomination with For defeating Hercules otherwise + 50 help from others + 50 For defeating either thc Hulk or per time For defeating Hercules or Titania + 50 Abomination + 50 POLYHEDRON
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