My 4th Edition Champions: BASH style

[Sijo]

It's funny because Champions was both my best and least liked superhero rpg.

Loved the universe. The rules? Not so much (too much math. )

(And yes I mean 4th Edition here too. Haven't seen the later ones. What are they like?)

[DevastatingWeakness]

I kind of gave up on the HERO/Champions system when the core rules got thicker than the Beijing phone book.

I found a tattered copy of the 1st edition of Champions in a second hand bookstore, and I loved how flexible it was for such a skinny little book. I think the system subsequently set a record for accretion of bloat.

[Solarblast]

So did I. Found myself smiling while I was reading.

[Solarblast]

I GMed Champions for years and after a while I just go tired of doing all the work. People are so intimidated by the rules that they never try to learn them. So when I found BASH I pretty much couldn't go back.

[Solarblast]

Here is the new Defender. Always liked the whole legacy thing with his character.

Defender
31 points (18 Stats, 13 Powers )
James Harmon IV grew up surrounded by the portraits of his famous ancestors. There was James Harmon, a African explorer, James II, a member of Eliot Ness’ “Untouchables,” and his father James III, an Army Ranger who won the Congressional Medal of Honor and turned Harmon Industries into a top notch defense contractor. James III, who fathered his son late in his years, made it abundantly clear he expected young James to establish a similar record of accomplishment, “to give back to others of what you’ve so richly received… intelligence, money, and strength.” His father’s wish was always to witness his son’s achievements before he ever passed on. However, all James really liked doing was puttering around with electronics and computers, perhaps he could satisfy his father with some sort of technological breakthrough ? Then one day, he watched in horror as supervillains destroyed Detroit. Someone needed to protect those people, and he could be just the man to do it. He built himself a suit of powered armor with the best systems his genius could design and his father could afford. Christening himself Defender, he would join the forces of truth and justice and… promptly get his armored behind handed to him. Humbled, and learning from his mistakes, he put out the word that he was looking to form a team of heroes. This team, The Champions, would then go on to help save the world on numerous occasions.

Mental Malfunction: Defender is the epitome of the word hero. He gives of himself unconditionally, taking on any mission to combat evil or save the helpless. He cares nothing for the dangerousness of a situation if only he can do something helpful. He considers himself a role model and conducts himself accordingly. His attitude and achievements have inspired respect and admiration across the nation, allowing him to take advantage of that fact in order to lead charity drives and help other causes. With his good looks, poise, self-confidence, and reputation, it’s no wonder James attracts a lot of female attention (including his teammates), what’s surprising is that he seems completely oblivious to it. He’s not an anti-social, “relates better to machines than people” type, it’s just that he gets so caught up in his mission that he overlooks the possibility of things like romance.

Brawn 3 Agility 3 Mind 3
x3 Defence, x7 Mental Defence, x5 Soak

Powers

• * Armor 2 (+2 to Brawn to Soak damage.) (2pts)
  * Bolo Missiles : Immobilization 3 (Difficulty of Brawn check to break free is 20. +1DM to Hit.) (4pts)
  • * Enhancement: Range (Mid) (Range of 5x power's damage multiplier, or 5x power level (15 sq.).)
    * Limitation: Charges (Per Day) (Power has 6 uses (charges) per day.)
  * Visor : Mind Shield 2 (+4 to Mind to resist mental attacks.) (1pts)
  • * Limitation: Only Affects X (Power only affects certain things, or in a limited way (X).) Only vs. Daze attacks
  * Illusion 2 (2 levels for size/range/visual/audio/tactile/olfactory illusion. Last while in line of sight, plus 3 pages. Includes Variable for free.) (1pts)
  • * Limitation: Energy Cost (You have 10 Energy Points; using power takes 1 points per use. Recover 5 Energy points if you Rest for a page.)
  * Visual Enhancement : Keen Senses 1 (+3 to Mind for one sense.) (0pts)
  • * Limitation: Energy Cost (You have 10 Energy Points; using power takes 0 points per use. Recover 5 Energy points if you Rest for a page.)
  * Targeting systems : Special Attack (Hand to Hand/Thrown) 4 (Agility +4DM to Hit and Brawn +0DM to Damage; total x7 to hit, x3 damage.) (3pts)
  • * Limitation: Energy Cost (You have 10 Energy Points; using power takes 3 points per use. Recover 5 Energy points if you Rest for a page.)
  * Boot Rockets : Flight 3 (Fly 15 squares per panel.) (2pts)
  • * Limitation: Energy Cost (You have 10 Energy Points; using power takes 2 points per use. Recover 5 Energy points if you Rest for a page.)

Skills
Mental Skills: Computers/Programming x3, Technology/Invent & Repair x3
Physical Skills: Pilot/Evasion & Pursuit x4
Advantages & Disadvantages
Gadgeteer: Once per issue, swap one gadget power for another. Spend one hero point to pull out a novel gadget.
Resources: You are wealthy.
Headquarters: You have a Headquarters built on 20 points.
In a Relationship: You have a significant other that is a source of conflict. Wendy Brooks
Normal: You are a normal person (max Brawn and Agility 2) when not in super form.
Arch-Enemy: You have an enemy worth similar character points. Armadillo
Other
Priority: x3, Defence: x3, Mental Defence: x7, Soak: x5, Hits: 100

Lift: 5 tons, Run: 9 squares, Jump: 9 squares, Climb: 3 squares, Fly: 15 squares, Swim: 3 squares

[DevastatingWeakness]

Nice - kind of like a non-douchey version of Tony Stark.

[Solarblast]

One of the reasons I liked Ray Palmer from the Arrow/Flash universe is that he is a really nice Tony Stark type character.

[Solarblast]

Here is Solitaire

Solitaire
24 points (12 Stats, 12 Powers )
Solitaire never knew her parents. From her earliest memories, she was trained by a cabal of magicians to serve them in the ways of the occult. She surprised even them with her capacity for magic and learning, reaching the end of her training in her late teens. Sent forth to slay a politician whom the cabal deemed evil, she discovered that the man was innocent and that all she had known was a lie. The cabal was out for power and targeted her for assassination for betraying them. This sudden loss of innocence led her to pledge the remainder of her life to helping others and to finding the true, morally proper path for herself. To that end, she has joined the Champions and, as their youngest member, helps keep the team on the right path by questioning all of their actions.

Brawn 1 Agility 2 Mind 3
x2 Defence, x6 Mental Defence, x3 Soak

Powers

• * Mystical Field : Armor 2 (+2 to Brawn to Soak damage.) (2pts)
  * Widget : Boost (Mind) 3 (Increase Mind by 3 in specific conditions or circumstance.) For Magical Powers Multipower (2pts)
  • * Limitation: Gadget (Easily Taken) (Gadget has 60 hits and Soak 30. Can be disarmed or taken by enemies.)
  * Blink : Teleportation 3 (Teleport 50 squares as a move; teleport across USA with concentration (thousands of miles).) (2pts)
  • * Limitation: Energy Cost (You have 10 Energy Points; using power takes 2 points per use. Recover 5 Energy points if you Rest for a page.)
  *Magical Powers Multi-power: (6pts)
  * Mind Control 5 (Attack Mind x6 vs Mind to issue command to target for one panel.)
  • * Enhancement: Multi-power (Same Power Suite) ()
    • * Multi-power: (5pts)
      * Mind Spikes (Mind Blast) 4 (Make attack of Mind x6 vs target's Mental Defence; inflicts 4DM damage, soaked by Mind and Mind Shield (instead of Brawn and Armor).)
      • * Enhancement: Multi-power (Same Power Suite) ()
        • * Multi-power: (6pts)
          * Telekinesis 4 (Attack using Mind x6 vs Agility, inflicting 4DM damage.)
          • * Enhancement: Multi-power (Pick a power worth up to 4 pts. Powers can not be used together.)
            • * Magical Blast : Special Attack (Ranged) 2 (Agility +0DM to Hit and Mind +2DM to Damage; total x2 to hit, x8 damage.) (4pts)
              • * Enhancement: Range (Mid) (Range of 5x power's damage multiplier, or 5x power level (10 sq.).)

Skills
Mental Skills: Deception/Disguise x6, Occultism/Artifacts & Rituals x6
Physical Skills: Perform/Acting x2, Stealth/Hiding x2Other
Priority: x2, Defence: x2, Mental Defence: x6, Soak: x3, Hits: 100

Lift: 50 lbs, Run: 6 squares, Jump: 1 squares, Climb: 1 squares, Swim: 1 squares, Teleport: 50 squares

[Solarblast]

[DevastatingWeakness]

Nice writeup Solarblast. Couple of suggestions:
- I think you are putting the Multi-power enhancement on each power in the multi-power, instead of applying it to the base power each time you add a new power to the multi-power. (So you have a Multipower in a Multipower in a Multipower...)
- You can use the Tag function to associate the Boost with the powers that it affects.

Here's how that would work:

Solitaire (v2)
29 points (12 Stats, 17 Powers )
Description...

Brawn 1 Agility 2 Mind 3
x2 Defence, x3 Mental Defence, x3 Soak

Powers

• * Mystical Field : Armor 2 (+2 to Brawn to Soak damage.) (2pts)
  * Mystical Talisman : Boost (Mind) 3 (Increase Mind by 3 in specific conditions or circumstance.) This magical talisman increases the effectiveness of Solitaire's magical multi-power. (3pts)
  • * Applies to powers tagged with [Talisman]
  * Blink : Teleportation 3 (Teleport 50 squares as a move; teleport across USA with concentration (thousands of miles).) (3pts)
  * Multi-power: (9pts)
  * Mind Control 5 (Attack Mind x6 vs Mind to issue command to target for one panel.)
  • * Tagged with [Talisman]
    * Enhancement: Multi-power (Pick a power worth up to 5 pts. Powers can not be used together.)
    • * Mind Spikes (Mind Blast) 5 (Make attack of Mind x6 vs target's Mental Defence; inflicts 5DM damage, soaked by Mind and Mind Shield (instead of Brawn and Armor).) (5pts)
      • * Tagged with [Talisman]
    * Enhancement: Multi-power (Pick a power worth up to 5 pts. Powers can not be used together.)
    • * Telekinesis 5 (Attack using Mind x6 vs Agility, inflicting 5DM damage.) (5pts)
      • * Tagged with [Talisman]
    * Enhancement: Multi-power (Pick a power worth up to 5 pts. Powers can not be used together.)
    • * Magical Blast : Special Attack (Ranged) 3 (Agility +0DM to Hit and Mind +3DM to Damage; total x2 to hit, x9 damage.) (5pts)
      • * Tagged with [Talisman]
        * Enhancement: Range (Mid) (Range of 5x power's damage multiplier, or 5x power level (15 sq.).)

Skills
Mental Skills: Deception/Disguise x3, Occultism/Rituals x4
Physical Skills: Perform/Acting x2, Stealth/Hiding x2Other
Priority: x2, Defence: x2, Mental Defence: x3, Soak: x3, Hits: 100

Lift: 50 lbs, Run: 6 squares, Jump: 1 squares, Climb: 1 squares, Swim: 1 squares, Teleport: 50 squares

http://www.bashcreator.net/#/load/28vk2

[Solarblast]

Thank you for fixing that. One more left, Jaguar and then I think I will do all the characters in the BBB.

[DevastatingWeakness]

I've been trying to think through how a multi-power in a multi-power in a multi-power ought to work according to the rules. I think it would work pretty much like a normal multi-power (where you have one base power, with other powers each attached with the Multi-power enhancement)... but mostly it hurts my head.

During character creation for my current campaign, one of my players submitted this partial design / abomination:

Ring of Fire (Abusive Edition)
32 points (22 Stats, 10 Powers )
Ring of Fire has volcanic powers, able to summon and manipulate lava.

Brawn 4 Agility 3 Mind 4
x3 Defence, x4 Mental Defence, x4 Soak

Powers

• * Multi-power: (10pts)
  * Magma Flood : Immobilization 5 (Difficulty of Brawn check to break free is 30. +2DM to Hit.)
  • * Enhancement: Multi-power (Pick a power worth up to 9 pts. Powers can not be used together.)
    • * Continual Damage 5 (Agility x3 vs Agility attack to hit. Does does 5DM damage per page; continues until Soaked.) (11pts)
      • * Enhancement: Linked (Linked to one power worth up to 9 pts. Both used simultaneously. Both must have same range/area.)
        • * Weaken (Mind attack, weakens Brawn) 5 (Roll your Mind x4 vs target's Agility. If hit, roll contest of 6DM vs target's highest Stat. If win, target's Brawn has -4 Dice Penalty for the scene, which reduces damage and Soak rolls.) (9pts)
          • * Enhancement: Variable (When you use this power, you can trade levels of this power for points in Area or Range effects.)
            * Enhancement: Range (Mid) (Range of 5x power's damage multiplier, or 5x power level (25 sq.).)
            * Enhancement: Area (Small Burst) (Affects 2x2 square area.)
        * Enhancement: Variable (When you use this power, you can trade levels of this power for points in Area or Range effects.)
        * Enhancement: Range (Mid) (Range of 5x power's damage multiplier, or 5x power level (25 sq.).)
        * Enhancement: Area (Small Burst) (Affects 2x2 square area.)
    * Enhancement: Variable (When you use this power, you can trade levels of this power for points in Area or Range effects.)
    * Enhancement: Range (Mid) (Range of 5x power's damage multiplier, or 5x power level (25 sq.).)
    * Enhancement: Area (Small Burst) (Affects 2x2 square area.)

Other
Priority: x3, Defence: x3, Mental Defence: x4, Soak: x4, Hits: 100

Lift: 50 tons, Run: 9 squares, Jump: 16 squares (10/panel), Climb: 4 squares, Swim: 4 squares

You may not be surprised to hear that I turned this design down. Two Level 5 attack powers Linked... one of which weakens the stat that you use to resist the other... and that in a multi-power with another Level 5 attack power that's also resisted by the same weakened stat. Oh, and that's usable over range and area, with variable applications. I could hear my campaign cooking under a thick layer of lava.

Fortunately, after imposing a few limits on Linked abuse, he was able to build quite a fun character, and has been enjoyably blasting foes with pryoclastic flows and magma eruptions.

[Solarblast]

Here is the last one. Pretty easy build.

Jaguar
25 points (14 Stats, 11 Powers )
Description...

Brawn 3 Agility 3 Mind 1
x3 Defence, x1 Mental Defence, x5 Soak

Powers

• * Claws : Special Attack (Hand to Hand/Thrown) 4 (Agility +0DM to Hit and Brawn +4DM to Damage; total x3 to hit, x7 damage.) (4pts)
  * Werecat resistance : Armor 2 (+2 to Brawn to Soak damage.) (2pts)
  * Ultraviolet Vision, Tracking Sense Smell : Super Senses 3 (Pick 3 extra senses.) (3pts)
  * Sight : Keen Senses 1 (+3 to Mind for one sense.) (1pts)
  * Fleet of Foot 1 (Run 12 squares per panel. Jump 10 squares. Does not stack with other forms of super movement.) (1pts)

Skills
Mental Skills: Outdoor/Tracking x1
Physical Skills: Athletics/Running x3, Stealth/Prowling x4
Advantages & Disadvantages
Alter Ego: You have a useful alternate personality.
Frightening Presence: +2 dice bonus to intimidate or frighten others.
Involuntary Change: You cannot control your ability to change into your super form. Changes back if weakened with gas or poisons
Normal: You are a normal person (max Brawn and Agility 2) when not in super form. Santiago Villagatos
Other
Priority: x3, Defence: x3, Mental Defence: x1, Soak: x5, Hits: 100

Lift: 5 tons, Run: 12 squares, Jump: 10 squares, Climb: 3 squares, Swim: 3 squares

[Solarblast]

Here is the human form. Gave him the Jack of all Trades instead of trying to buy all of his skills.

Santiago Villadoras
18 points (12 Stats, 6 Powers )
Description...

Brawn 2 Agility 2 Mind 2
x2 Defence, x2 Mental Defence, x2 Soak

Powers

• * Martial Arts Mastery (Fast, Tough, Defensive Styles) 3 (<i>Fast</i>: Priority is Agility + 1.<i>Tough</i>: +2 Brawn to soak hand-to-hand attacks (max 5, does not stack with Armor).<i>Defensive</i>: +2 Agility to defend against hand-to-hand attacks (max 5).) (3pts)
  * Street Fighting : Special Attack (Hand to Hand/Thrown) 2 (Agility +1DM to Hit and Brawn +1DM to Damage; total x3 to hit, x3 damage.) (2pts)
  * Skillful 1 (Gain 2 extra skill slots.) (1pts)

Skills
Mental Skills: Investigation/Finding Clues x3, Streewise/Gather Information x3
Physical Skills: Drive/Control x2, Stealth/Shadowing x2
Advantages & Disadvantages
Jack of All Trades: When rolling default skill, roll -1 die penaly (not -1 multiplier penalty).
Involuntary Change: You cannot control your ability to change into your super form. Will turn into Jaguar Form if hurt or angered
Other
Priority: x3, Defence: x2, Mental Defence: x2, Soak: x2, Hits: 100

Lift: 400 lbs, Run: 6 squares, Jump: 4 squares, Climb: 2 squares, Swim: 2 squares

[Solarblast]

So here is my interpretation of the first Champions character to appear in Champions. Crusader

Crusader
29 points (14 Stats, 15 Powers )
Sam Saunders’ real name has been lost to iniquity. A budding, small time reporter, he stumbled upon what seemed to be a shady deal between some government agents and an informant. Caught doing so, the agents had no recourse but to capture him, as they couldn’t allow news of the meeting to spread. Brainwashed, he was then trained and used by the CIA to infiltrate the villainous organization known as VIPER, with orders to sanction a suspected high ranking official, and then do the same to himself in order to close up loose ties. Deep under cover, crime after crime, he grew ever and ever closer to his programmed goal. This duplicity was uncovered however, and a robotic decoy was destroyed in place of the offical. His mission unsuccessful, the second portion of his orders was never initiated. VIPER, instead of immediately eliminating this traitorous agent, reversed the brainwashing. They then sent him after his former “employer”, again to self-sacrifice himself in the process, two birds with one stone, poetic justice, so to speak. To further foment public outcry, he was given a patriotic costume and gimmick, expecting news would then spread that the U.S. government was at odds with and resposible for killing a national hero. This “hero” had been trained too well, and he privately succeeded in this mission. His former contact was but another faceless agent however, not an important CIA figure. This garnered little news attention, and was likely even covered up. However, the intense, psychological strain of this murder broke the conditioning before he could take his own life. He remembered all that he had been through, and where it had started. He indeed had a breaking story, but at what cost? He had enough information to make him dangerous to either side and neither ever expected, nor wanted him to live. Would he admit to murder? Would he even be believed? WHO could he trust? Whose ends would he serve? He decided he would start over, “take back” this new identity, a bright, inspirational hero, and never be responsible for taking another life. He would take up the neverending battle to stop this nation’s murderous scourge, and thus was Crusader truly born.

Brawn 2 Agility 3 Mind 2
x6 Defence, x2 Mental Defence, x2 Soak

Powers

• * Attack Weak Point 2 (If attack and hit by 20+, do +10 damage per 10 extra (up to +50). Can spend Hero point to use dice of attack roll as dice for damage roll.) (2pts)
  * Martial Arts Mastery (Five Styles) 5 (<i>Fast</i>: Priority is Agility + 1.<i>Tough</i>: +2 Brawn to soak hand-to-hand attacks (max 5, does not stack with Armor).<i>Defensive</i>: +2 Agility to defend against hand-to-hand attacks (max 5).<i>Grappling</i>: Get reversal of 10+, even on foe's panel. +1 multiplier on wrestling rolls.<i>Tricky</i>: If an attack on you misses and you roll doubles on defence, get free unarmed attack.) (5pts)
  * Disarm Expert 2 (+2 Dice bonus to attacks to disarm or break a gadget. Can swap a disarm for damage any time you make attack by 10.) (2pts)
  * Shield : Deflect 3 (+3 to Agility to defend against attacks. If succeed and roll doubles, attack is reflected. Cannot deflect Bursts.) (2pts)
  • * Limitation: Gadget (Easily Taken) (Gadget has 60 hits and Soak 30. Can be disarmed or taken by enemies.)
  * Gliding 1 (Glide 12 squares per panel, to maximum distance of 4x height descended.) (1pts)
  * Karate unarmed combat : Weapon Technique (1 to Hit, 1 Damage) 2 (+1 to Agility to Hit, and +1 to damage multiplier with specific weapon.) (3pts)
  • * Enhancement: Variable (When you use this power, you can trade levels of this power for points in Area or Range effects.)

Skills
Mental Skills: Investigation/Analysis x2, Streewise/Gather Information x2
Physical Skills: Athletics/Acrobatics x3, Stealth/Prowling & Shadowing x3
Advantages & Disadvantages
Contacts: Pick three useful contacts; play a hero point to locate an additional contact.
In a Relationship: You have a significant other that is a source of conflict. Girlfriend Sally Robinson
Other
Priority: x4, Defence: x6, Mental Defence: x2, Soak: x2, Hits: 100

Lift: 400 lbs, Run: 9 squares, Jump: 4 squares, Climb: 2 squares, Glide: 12 squares, Swim: 2 squares