There are a good many comic books in publication that center around individual superheroes who go out and save the neighborhood, the city, the world, stray dogs, etc. However since Champions is usually a group role-playing event, individual characters usually aren't alone - they're members of something larger - a group or team. It can be pretty boring when a group of player characters takes on solo villains, so hero groups usually interact with other groups. And here is some information on some of the more well-known groups that can be found in my fictional universe, cross-referenced with my index of characters.

The groups currently listed are:

• The Sentinels
• The Aces
• APEX
• The Defenders
• Eagle Force
• EarthNet
• Liberty Brigade
• Project Ares
• Project Artemis
• Project Valorous
• The U.S. Superhuman Resources Directorate
• Victory Squadron
• The Whispers

The Aces: America's largest group of supers, a loose group of heroes from the Golden State. Features: Dr. Gee!, Dead Boy, Micron, Valkyrie, Maragor, Shelly Gebrandt, Matrix, Captain Oblivion, Scorpion, The Stage Manager, Wild Flower, Big Fritz, Corona, Umbra, Mr. Pink, Powerplay and Punchline.

APEX: A Boston-based team of supers, and possibly the biggest cause of property damage in Massachusetts. Their base is the top 5 floors of a downtown skyscraper. Since their debut in the late 1980s APEX has been a very high-profile team that tends to deal with the more earth-threatening supervillains than supercriminals. Members include Storm Ryder, The Stranger, Nightfire and Material Girl.

The Defenders: Genuine world-class supheroes who actually find the time to go out and beat the snot out of your garden-variety street criminals. Officially a government group, they're considered the flagship team of the SRD. Members include White Knight, Professor Chrome, Hydrostream, Flare, Road Trip and Philosopher.

Eagle Force: A government superteam, formerly codenamed Strike Force SRD. Since they take their orders from the United States Superhuman Resouces Directorate (USSRD), they'd rarely be thought of as heroes (especially since a portion of their membership is based on immunity against prosecution for past crimes) if it wasn't for the great publicity apparatus they share as a part of the SRD. Members include Fantasy (formerly Sprite), Squadron, Rampage, Talon (formerly Firebird), Nightshade, Lynx and Pratfall.

EarthNet: a vast computer and satellite network created by Mastermind in the early 1970s. Earthnet is the main resource of Victory Squadron. However, they don't fully control it since the system is run by an artificial intelligence and the the override codes died with Mastermind in 1973. The network also serves as a BBS for "supers" and gives out free accounts to almost any super that applies.

Liberty Brigade: A superteam formed by the government when they found certain elements of Strike Force SRD to be too unwilling to follow orders. Formerly it's codename was Strike Force II. It's membership is composed entirely of people who accepted immunity to prosecution for past crimes and includes: Hunter, Psycho Kid, Cerebus, Slipstream, Sorority and Stinger.

Project Ares : The Department of Defense's personal powered armor project.

Project Artemis: The Justice Department's powered armor project, designed to deal with super-powered criminals.

Project Valorous: This now-defunct Defense Department project was the code name given to the recruitment of Valar into government service. It was absorbed in the SRD in the early 1990s.

The Sentinels: An independent group of heroes operating out of Coyote City, California. The current team roster includes Slumber, Johnny Midnight, Black Dwarf, Gremalkin, The Stygian Shade, Arcturus, The Thimble and Snake Eyes.

United States Superhuman Resources Directorate (USSRD or SRD): This agency of the U.S. government was formed in the early 1990s. It effectively merged several government superteams into one larger, more coordinated talent pool which the government can call on. The Director of Superhuman Resources is member of the Cabinet. Member groups include The Defenders, Eagle Force, Liberty Brigade, Project Valorous and The Whispers.

Victory Squadron: the wealthiest and most famous supergroup on the planet - or at least they were twenty years ago before they retired to an island in the south pacific (Victory Island and EarthNet). The surviving members now vie for control of their multi-billion dollar conglomerate. Features: Marathon, Reflex, Strong-Arm, Crusher, Shelly Gebrandt, Mastermind, Adamantine, Hydrostream. Supporting Cast: all of their agents.

The Whispers: [classified] Let's just say there is absolutely no evidence to indicate that the CIA ever had a super-team.