One of the official (IE: selected and published)fanfiction stories hosted by this site states there is a small stipend for heroes.
My character also has (well, had) a job as well.
Check out the Whitmoore Apt thread for some good RP/character stories.
Steele Magnolia
AR/DEV Blaster
Pinnacle
Together we entered a city of strangers, we made it a city of friends, and we leave it a City of Heroes. - Sweet_Sarah
BOYCOTT NCSoft (on Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/517513781597443/
Governments have fallen to the power of social media. Gaming companies can too.
My main character, Capt Justice, is Detective John Edward Law of the Paragon Police Department. He is a MA/Regen scrapper that fights crime by night and works cases during the day. 
Same with Psylencer. She is Det. Roselyn Alonso, head interrogator. Goes into an interrogation room with a cup of coffee, doesn't say a word, waits 2 hours, and the suspect signs a confession weeping out their ears. Psylencer is a Mind C./Storm S. Controller with a heart of cold... 
Your haracter can have a job or not according to your whims really.
Jobs can range from helping his heroic ID, such as lawyer, police officer, or the ever present builder/tinkerer, to having nothing at all to do with being a hero, such as pizza delivery driver, photographer, or chauffer. (BTW, every one of those above jobs, some published hero has 
)
You could work for the government, hate the government and work for a militia group... the options are only bounded by your imagination.
Be a layabout playboy(girl), wealthy socialite with nothing better to do then fight crime, or be a homeless person who slept in the wrong pile of garbage... Its all good.
Personally, I have a cheerleader who broke a medallion and "swallowed" her powers on accident, a clone who was made by the governement, and a woman who was trained from birth to be an assasin until her life was saved by a hero... just a few ideas to get the creative juices going.
Long stories, all our character's histories are in Ladies of the Lake RP section.
Mainly: Sibling-the twins work at a nightclub, believe it or not they danced (female form) on stage, and came up with pretty good tips. Now, Cliff works freelance for the Paragon Times (officially!) and Angela is a Psychotherapist with her own office in KR (Mind Controller).
Gal 'O War- recently opened a restaurant and bar near the loft she shares with Sibling. Great Southern Cook (Chefs are people who use spices to cover up their bad tasting food ), good atmosphere.
Narshawn-Sister of The Order, full time sage, works for Azuria on very esoteric spells and magics. Requires little outside the Sisterhood to survive.
Gypsy's Queen- Had to run from her country, but derives a stipend from the government for her family's land and holdings.
[ QUOTE ]
One of the official (IE: selected and published)fanfiction stories hosted by this site states there is a small stipend for heroes.
My character also has (well, had) a job as well.
Check out the Whitmoore Apt thread for some good RP/character stories.
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I'll look at the Whitmoore Apartments thread when I have (lots of) time. Coincidentally, (my sole character) Carmina Enzeru is looking for some lodgings (as well as a steady day job).
I'll also have to look at the fanfics. How much of a stipend, really? Minimum wage, token gratuities, a reasonable salary, per arrest made, something else entirely?
Thanks for all the help, everyone.
Current main:
Schrodinger's Gun, Dual Pistols/Mental Blaster, Virtue
Avatar: Becky Miyamoto from Pani Poni Dash. Roulette roulette~
Arthur Hawks, my broadsword/regen scrapper is a traffic cop.
Deamon Avenger, my flame tank, is a deamon and has no day job.
Dark electrics, my blaster, used to be a secretery, got blown to bits in an explosion, rebuilt as a cyborg killing machine and is now a full-time vigilante, recieving cash under the table from several organizations.
Midnight Hound, my claws/reflexes scrapper is independantly wealthy (rich family, had a good paying executive job, and won powerball), spent most of his money on his cybernetic enhancements to make him run faster, jump higher, of yeah, and the mithril claws, too. And he put the rest int he bank, and lives off the interest, and the money he gets from busting bad guys.
Seventh Sister, my illusionist makes her money by apearing at various fantasy conventions with her hair dyed white, being an evil (insert D&D dark elf here) priestess. Or by preforming minor illusions for entertainment.
Sewer Crocodile, my SS/invuln tanker, lives in the sewers, doesn't have a job and is too much of a freak to get one. And she bites.
Neon Comet, My empath, is a Triage (sp?) nurse.
And Radiazione is an exotic dancer. 'nuff said.
First Strike Security, one of the few groups that does the heroic biz -and- pays its employees rather handsomely. Well, the boardmembers, at least. I think Slip gets free meals and a turkey on thanksgiving..
Hee.
((Hadn't thought it through for .all. my characters, but the following applies for the two I have.))
Cold Sore (That's CS, thanks!) is a student at one of the local high schools. As such , she's not often out at night, gametimes.
Hit People Guy runs a really small moving company, called 'Bruno Bosko's Boxes' under his secret ID. He recently just saved enough to put his mama up in one of the nicer parts of Steel Canyon. Sometimes, being SS/INV makes for quick moves. Being able to carry the piano yourself is a good thing.
None of my heroes would take money for hero-ing. It's just a little too wierd for them, I think.
Easter is homeless...not too new a thing for her. She hitchhiked across the US before coming to Paragon, and has been sleeping in those open spaces above the restrooms in the tram stations. She only recently discovered the official stipend for being a hero, though...and is looking at getting her very first apartment.
Aether Stream is a magickal sprite that took physical form...well, for fun, really. Money? What is this? Job? She's still having trouble with the concept of NAMES, let alone money or jobs. 
The Bodman gets an allowance from his mother. Shh, don't tell.
Finally, Alastriona belongs to a dwindling order of Battlemages. The order itself dates back to the days of Merlin (Arthur was a geek ), and while it is fading away in modern times, it still has sufficient resources to care for its remaining members.
Oh, yeah...all on Virtue.
***edit***
Google-fu...heh...! STARS FOR YOU!
My three mains (Paravespula, Fulmino, Legion-001) are all employees of a corporation (Gladius Corp.) that tries to enhance and protect human life through various means including employing heroes. Even though Gladius Corp hasn't a building in Paragon City, all three of them have been sent there. Paravespula also works as a biochemist in the same company.
Powersets I'd like to see:
Water or Wind-related powers (not just Storm Summoning)
More Minion-types
Demolitions Blast set (and maybe a Specialty Explosives Buff/Debuff) in tribute to the greatest explosives villain ever, Evil Midnight Bomber
Have only thought about it for a couple (the ones in double-digit levels).
MOUT is in the military.
Spirit Girl is in high school and lives at home.
Forum Game: Lower the Rep
My Character is a Hero as a hobbie.
He uses his real name in costume.
He's actually a college student, and is looking to become a buisness major, as to inheret his families mage craft buisness. While unable to use magic himself, his exploits as a hero have garnered the respect he needs to maintain control.
He lives in a suped up appartment in Founders Falls with a techie moogle named Holm.
That's my character
Neat question!
Miss Komodo used to run a martial arts studio in San Diego, specializing in teaching people with non-conventional powers to use them for self defense. Perhaps she gives private lessons to similar students in Paragon (she's too busy to run a school full time here). She might still have some money left over from her villain days, too.
Doctor Maningzhoue is an M.D. Internal Medicine, Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, IAAP Licensed Psychotherapist. He's emergency on-call surgeon for PCH, and gives lectures in pharmacology and Criminal Psychology at PU. He also does consulting and occasionally field work for Paragon SWAT. He has half a dozen folks in once-a-week analysis sessions, including Clamor herself. He serves on the board for Paragon City Heroic Works, chairing a comittee charged with an ongoing evaluation of superhuman rehabilitation and incarceration. And he does a lot of expert testimony in trials where his medical, psychological, and crimfighting credentials are crucial to convicting the guilty and exonerating the innocent. Needless to say, doc has no social life.
Oak Tree photosynthesizes.
Choosing a Controller V2 | Splattrollers | Plant/Rad | Fire/Storm | Mind/Emp & Mind/Rad
Weird Controller Powers | Conf & XP/Time | Controller Damage
Being a Healer | The word Necessary | Natural Concept Characters
Just a quick post before bed:
The Claims Adjuster (Eric Unterwald) is the chief claims adjuster for Highlife Insurance.
Miss Fulcrum (Christine Abalest) is part of an old, old, old money family; she attends a private college. When she feels like it.
Dark Soul Golem could, in theory, work any job that a 'thorned' person had performed before being displaced. As it contains thousands of displaced souls, it might be capable of many things that it hasn't told the Abalests about. But it's a golem. It doesn't do anything resembling gainful employment unless explicitly instructed.
Power Drain managed to blow a generator in the Abalest mansion while trying to get a midnight snack, and is paying for it by running errands and moonlighting as a sniper for the Paragon City Swat Team. She has, unfortunately, been banned from entering Terra Volta due to her unusual appetite.
Golden Soldier: Works for Highlife after a dishonorable discharge (or would have been, if his existance was unclassified) got him tossed out of the army.
My Motto: "Debt is merely another Goal."
"Wow Abalest--you manage to start a discussion even when you ain't given a topic" -Ghostman
Abalests on Infinity:
Miss Fulcrum
Dark Soul Golem
Power Drain
I usually create a "Mystery Bio" for my chars. Speculative on the part of authorities as to who they are rather than who they really are.
Dr Dane Hammond aka Neutron, Dr Frank Deveraux aka P.R.I.M.E., Dr Jason Cross aka Stormbringer, Major Shane Pierce aka Airhammer and Lieutenant Anton Pierce aka RE-FLEX, all basically work under the Department of Defense under the F.I.S.T project. They are engineers and test pilots for the US Army's Exoskeleton Program.
I have origins already written for most of my heroes.
The hard things I can do--- The impossible just take a little bit longer.
If numbers are so much more important than a teammate who is fun to play with, forget about the game altogether and go play with a calculator instead. -Claws and Effect-
Dark September is a vampire who subsists off her villainous prey. Her monetary woes are compensated from the same. After all, when she's finished with them, they don't need it anymore. Not very heroic, but that's vampirism for you.
Autumn is a spokeswoman for Green Giantess, Inc. She makes a decent living peddling vegetables to supermarkets and restaurants and such.
Intel Inside is now the Assistant Manager at the City of Gyros in Galaxy City. It's largely a ceremonial position because he spends the large part of his time there as the Pita Toaster. His services there, however, have proven to be very valuable, hence the promotion.
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First Strike Security, one of the few groups that does the heroic biz -and- pays its employees rather handsomely. Well, the boardmembers, at least. I think Slip gets free meals and a turkey on thanksgiving..
Hee.
[/ QUOTE ]
I pay slip pretty well when he isn't quiting or being docked cash for being moody
Emo scrapper.
Roger is busy, you know, running the company and all. I suppose that qualifies as a job.
Neko's LAw offically works for both the PCPD as a aprentice to Blue Steel and frelances for First Strike...she even use to Date Roger but he sees to have gotten to busy (we can never meet in game) so their startign to drift
AE # 67087: Journey through the Looking Glass - Save the World
LLX VirtueVerse! - Check out my crazy Toons
This is the size of group that we have balanced AVs for, 6.
-Positron 06/07/06 07:27 PM
Hmm..
Adam Smasher: He's a particle physicist and he's trying to find a cure for his condition.
Chaos Merchant: Unknown... deadhead?
Sis(ter) of No Mercy: Well she's a nun.. that might give a clue
T-Bot: Robot- full time Super-hero
Conn-Ed: full time student
Mad Gremlin got his start from M.A.G.I. having dropped in (literally) from a magical dimension. Since then he has worked for and consulted with magic shops (e.g. Tabitha Fabish), the police, and anyone else interested.
My other characters range from living off family money or Paragon stipends to continuing their old (pre-hero) jobs or being a robot/AI who doesn't really need a place to sleep or food (upgrades and repairs are "arranged" with influence and city hall).
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
SweetThang (Inv/SS Tanker) is a community fund-raiser for Kings Row. He also does charity wrestling events.
Shock Bubble a.k.a. Bubbles (FF/Elec Defender) - Like her friend Sibling, she danced before her accident with the Clockwork. Now, she is independently wealthy from a settlement with Crey. Long story. Now, she lives in a penthouse right behind Icon in Steel Canyon.
Dark Vegas (DM/SR Scrapper) - Was a security specialist at a casino in Las Vegas, before she took a leave of absence quite suddenly. She is trying to find consultant work in Paragon. Ramen noodle budget.
Psi Punk (MC/Kin Controller) - Teenage exchange student from England. Spends more time running in the streets than in the books....but we don't need no education...we don't need no thought control.
My latest alt, Outcast Hunter (Fire/Ice Blaster) is a vigilante/bounty hunter who gets leads from flyers on the Atlas City Post Office wall. He's an ex-Outcast who's looking for some payback. Frostfire set him up and he did 6 years in prison. Fight fire & ice with fire & ice.
So, to sum it up. Most of my heroes are unemployed. What kind of employer would let them go on timed missions during coffee breaks?
Great thread guys, alot of really good ideas here.
This is my take on the subject from the prespective of my primary character Amp-Rage.
Stipend. As a licensed card carring Hero of Paragon city we are an extension of the city law enforcement and therefore receive a salary.
Bonus. Anytime we arrest crimals or complete missions we receive Influence. This could be looked at as an additional subsidy or possibly hazard pay. For example......Say you bust a drug lab that was manufacturing Superdrine. As part of the bust $1,000,000 in drug money was confiscated. If 99% of that money when to the city and only 1% to the hero as a bonus or hazard pay that would still be a $10,000 dollar bonus.
Gratuity. When we save someone they often give Inf as well as praise. This one I have a bit of a problem with as my instinct would be to turn it down. Since we are not given that option in game the best I can come up with is that maybe the 1st few times I tried to turn it down, and they became upset because I was trowning this gift back in their face. So I just deal with it.
Finally as a mutant and member of G.I.F.T it would stand to reason that I would participate in medical reserch on genetic mutation.
So between Stipend, Bonus, Gratuity and reserch pay I can easily explane the 2+ million Inf in my account. Which would allow me to concentrate on being a hero full time. Thanks.
Amp-Rage lvl 37 elect/elect Blaster 
Protector
I'm very much a newbie to the forums, so I haven't seen any threads about this (or even know how to start looking). I lack the Google-fu, which means that the Search function doesn't help much.
That said... what do most heroes do for a living? Does being a full-time hero pay well? For those who have civilian alter-egos or are passably "normal" (in the sense that a potential employer won't have too many problems from the get-go), do you have jobs that you go to? If not, where do living expenses come from? What about those who aren't "normal"?
Mainly, I was trying to come up with a backstory for my character, and I realized that I had no idea whether she needed a job apart from being a hero. She's probably not going to be working at a fast-food joint, but...
Current main:
Schrodinger's Gun, Dual Pistols/Mental Blaster, Virtue
Avatar: Becky Miyamoto from Pani Poni Dash. Roulette roulette~