kev's BASH!-BUILDS: Ameri'kid & Talon

[Saker]

OK Now on to Power-gaming and effective characters...

I played Champions for many years, because of my love of math and crunching numbers. As a geeky engineer by training, the game gave me a high to create elegant and effective powers with minimal points. I personally approach every game with the same efficiency and honestly get aggravated if my build sucks or is especially ineffective. However, age has given me four additional perspectives:

1. Everyone is not like me. I've played with lots of people who don't care or even notice if their character sucks in combat or is "effective." They enjoy thinking up new ways to do things. Or they enjoy role-playing. Or they enjoying participating with their friends. Optimality is not on their list of priorities. Therefore, I need to make room at my table of them and their pursuit of happiness.

2. The corrolary to point 1 are that there are players who know their build sucks or is ineffective but are incapable of improving it. Special attention should be paid these players, because they will stop gaming if they are not helped. It is especially difficult if these players suffer in silence or are sensitive to help. My point is that if "effective" builds are required at your table to save the team, then watch out for these players.

3. I've played lots of games and have modeled many complex systems in engineering. In both cases, there is a notion of "corner solutions." Yes, the rules or model may allow it; however, it deviates from the intent or spirit of game balance or model "reality." BASHMAN's limitation of only 1 point limitation on powers (with unlimited enhancements) is an attempt to curb those "corner solutions" on powers that I personally twisted in Champions. And I believe the maximum three Ads and Disads is another attempt by BASHMAN to constrain the rules to avoid unbalance.

4. Effective characters depend on context. You can build a water-based character who sucks on land and rocks in the ocean. The points maybe equal but the context can change effectivity. The same is true between Bricks, Blasters, Mentalists, etc. Its possible to face something that drives a wedge into your armor. Personally, I always build a hole in my character's defenses for the Narrator to exploit. Otherwise, I've found that if I don't have an Achilles' heel, then the Narrator is forced to Deus Ex Machina stuff to inhibit my character from affecting a desired plot device... which I find annoying. I also believe that it's very comic-booky for characters to have an obvious openings that gets exploited when the story needs to. That's why I seldom buy Mind Shield on my characters, but that's just me.

Bottomline, I hope that I've conveyed that I'm a points-crunching spirit, too. However, I hope my additional perspectives illuminate why it must be tempered.

cheers

[Michael]

Pinacle:

1. "Forbidden Limitations & Enhancements:
Cosmic powers may not have any of the following
Limitations or Enhancements: Multi-Power, Linked,
Burn-Out, Energy Cost, or Finite. or Recharge."
Cosmic Might cannot be in a multi-power. Otherwise we would start seeing cosmic stats being linked which would get silly very quickly.

2. Also looks like 27 points of powers (some multipower slots are for powers from different categories).

3. I'm not sure if having a duty that you help people because they're weaker than you is really a disadvantage, it sounds more like a motivation instead.

Saker and Kevperrine,
Good points on character efficiency.

[urbwar]

Kev,

How do you get the sheets to display hits, movement rates and Hero Points, etc? It doesn't do that when I make a sheet

[kevperrine]

How do you get the sheets to display hits, movement rates and Hero Points, etc? It doesn't do that when I make a sheet

Not to derail this build thread.
I'll reply to this HERE, in case you wanna chat more about it.
Hope that helps.
I also answered alot of thoughts you had on the Excel sheet on your other thread.

[kevperrine]

Just wanted to pipe in that I like Pinnacle; he's kind of like old school sub-mariner or early Majestic (who is also a superman type) in attitude. I do like the fact that he can't do all this stuff at once.

Thanks urbwar!
I may "depower" his stats a bit, dropping him down in some areas (below cosmic) and also opening up some "weak spots" to allow for better play.
Most of these (recent) builds are for my PC-Hero ideas, so they need to fit in a bit more with our power level of the campaign, which seems to be in the Mid to High range of Street Level. As is, Pinnacle is (as he was imagined) nearer to the World Class levels.

So to have him as an option, I'll likely tone him down some. Attitude remains the same, heehe..

As for Shield Bearer: My only issue is with his Susceptibility. Honestly, I find your description kind of confusing. You should try and make it clearer, imho. Past that, I don't have any issues with the character, as I actually use the optional system for ads/disads costing/giving points

Yep.
I'm gonna be re-vamping his ADs/DISADs and Weakness overall. Simple-them-up. That's why I like "vetting" them here and with my player group.

thanks!
-kev-

[urbwar]

I really like the detail you put into your characters. You definitely think outside the box with your writeups, something I wish I was more adept at.

Also, where did you get the art for Colony, Shield Bearer & Pinnacle? Pinnacle looks like it's a modified Sub-Mariner image, but I'm curious where Colony came from

[kevperrine]

Pinacle:

1. "Forbidden Limitations & Enhancements:
Cosmic powers may not have any of the following
Limitations or Enhancements: Multi-Power, Linked,
Burn-Out, Energy Cost, or Finite. or Recharge."
Cosmic Might cannot be in a multi-power. Otherwise we would start seeing cosmic stats being linked which would get silly very quickly.

Thanks for pointing those out! I gotta take a better look at the Cosmic stuff for future character ideas. But that shouldn't matter now... As noted, I'm going back and updating him based on comments/ideas as well as pulling him back a little on the power scale.

2. Also looks like 27 points of powers (some multipower slots are for powers from different categories).

I'll double check but in the character build I specifically watched for the MultiPower slots from DIFFERENT categories to make sure I got the cost correct.

Do you have any specific miscalculations you see?
I made them in Simpson's Excel Builder, so the breakdown of the powers and cost is EASY to see and update. I'll go back and look. In the meantime... here is a snapshot of that power-build tab for you to see how I costed it out...

3. I'm not sure if having a duty that you help people because they're weaker than you is really a disadvantage, it sounds more like a motivation instead.

PINNACLE's quick note on his Duty is:
Since I am better, I must protect them.

the "new" Disadvantage DUTY reads as:

Duty: You owe your allegiance to someone or some organization (you specify what your duty is to). You obey all orders from your superiors within that organization without question. If it means sacrificing your life, so be it. Often, Duty means great inconvenience that requires you to suddenly drop everything to follow your orders.

So my additional thought on his Duty idea is more of a "concept" (like Cap's duty "concept" might be to the "American Dream", which he follows strongly).
The entire motivation (and theme) of PINNACLE is that he doesn't want to have to do all this heroing... not really. He's not an cold unscrupulous guy with no heart - but he IS self absorbed and feels superior to most everyone, since his powers allow him to BE completely Immune to alot of things and be very very strong, etc... (the core classic Superman abilities)
So...
His duty "Since I am better, I must protect them." comes out as a Disadvantage because regardless of the danger (even if he KNOWS he's not immune or fit for the challenge in a specific situation... i.e. a Cold/Ice based encounter, or a social situation, etc...) THAT "pedestal" he's put himself on won't allow him to not argue and tell YOU to stay back... even if you're the Hulk, Thor, Batman, Superman, etc... He knows he's just better (most of the time) and otherwise even if he knows he's not... he's got a REP to maintain.

I thought "following" that ego... would be an okay DISAD because it forces him into situations even if he's NOT the "best" for the situation.
On top of that... it's a big role-playing "challenge" in that (like a NAMOR) he'll often be at odds with his fellow heroes or law enforcement because they'll see his blathering as a extremely egotistical *.

No?....

Saker and Kevperrine,
Good points on character efficiency.

Hey cool!
I'd love your (and other) thoughts to continue the fun debates and ideas!

thanks
-kev-

[kevperrine]

I really like the detail you put into your characters. You definitely think outside the box with your writeups, something I wish I was more adept at.

hehhe... thanks.
I like thinking of a hero trope I love such as COLONY as an Ant-Man type (basically insect controller using them in fighting crime) and either twist it a bit (al la Giant Growthing the bugs instead of them being itty-bitty) and/or sometimes mixing them with other hero ideas. In this case... a little Aquaman - since Colony basically controls BIG critters as I am fond of seeing Aquaman do with whales and such.

Also, where did you get the art for Colony, Shield Bearer & Pinnacle? Pinnacle looks like it's a modified Sub-Mariner image, but I'm curious where Colony came from

Well... almost all my images I either custom illustrate/color and/or find cool images (many times from "concept art" or "redesigns" of mainstream heroes) and then use photoshop to warp, twist, re-color, add things, etc... to make them custom images.
I'm just not a classic pen/paper illustrator. But I can "design" a character with bits I find and source. Sorta like rebuilding a car. I'm not making the parts, I'm finding things in the junk-yard to build what I want. Sometimes more original or successful than others.

IF I were to go to publish some of them, I would look closely at the image and how DIFFERENT I've custom made it from the source and determine if I need to have it "re-illustrated" by another artist. To change it and "make it mine" more. Because sometimes (especially when GMing/Narrating) I will find an image someone's made and use it as is for a quick image.
But for my fully original characters, they'll tend to be unrecognizable to the original as best I can.

As for where those "came". As noted... all are highly customized photoshop images. "Built" from six to a dozen DIFFERENT images. Many times I'll find a perfect face, perfect arm, a weapon, even a simple belt from an image and clip and modify it to put it on my original image.

If I remember correctly:

COLONY: was actually constructed from several different images from the Ben 10 cartoon. I think. Adding arms, and many of the little things on him, then re-coloring completely.

SHEILD BEARER: was based on a cool image of Captain America I found only. Obviously he'll still have the same image-design of Cap with the SHIELD. But otherwise... the only thing the image has in common with the original is the pose. I added, changed, drew alot on that one.

PINNACLE: he was quicker, but still alot of changes. He's from a re-design I found for Superman. His pose, his face, and the bare chest and shorts he wears didn't change from the sample I found much at all. I was looking at Namor art (because that's part of his theme/style) so I wanted that "look" Namor might have for his facial expression - So I had to change his hair, and his general "smile" from a superman look into the grimace I wanted. Then all the colors are re-down. I made the PINNACLE icon on his belt from scratch and drew in the cape - because even though he doesn't wear a shirt, I loved the cape idea. hehe.



Alot of times as a Graphic Designer this is how I was trained to work. Get an idea from the client and modify it to what the client wants for the product image/style to make it an original logo or whatever but reminiscent of the original idea.
So...
If I want a Superman style character with a Namor attitude... I look for imagery to support those. Then create from there.

Make sense?
-kev-

[urbwar]

Totally makes sense. I have no skill with photoshop, etc, so I'm glad to be able to work with some talented artists who can bring my concepts to life for me. *, I couldn't even get through using Fabrica (the original DCUA version), so I give you kudos for being able to even manipulate images the way you do.

[kevperrine]

I'm glad that you took the comments well. I also take your comments positively. Too often, discussion/debate gets ugly, because email is difficult to communicate tone and humor.

TOTALLY!
It's the best way!
We're all on the same team, mostly/sorta. hehe.

I'm luke warm about the Protect'em all and would personally replace it with Enhancing the Deflect with Affects Others (+1) and Range Small Burst (+2). The concentration on Force Field and its mechanics don't feel right to me with the shield. By combining with Deflect, you effectively have one Defensive multi-power slot that protects him and those around him.

hmmm.... interesting idea. Let me consider that. My friend (and Narrator soon) suggested to "buy-off" the Concentration with an Enhancement on Force Field to do a similar thing.
I like your solution though. Just not sure which would PLAY better... I'll think about it.

And I LOVE the Indian.

LOL- Me too! ROCK ON!

I would remove in order of preference:
1. Normal - With a Brawn of 3+3, this guy is not normal. Brawn 2+3 yes. He's always on the drugs to supe him; otherwise, he hits the Weakness. You could shift the Brawn to offense and defense boosts.

Sort of agree. I don't know what the "hard line" for normal is. I suppose you're right that it's probably x2+3 (Heightened)

2. Ward - You can role-play him, but with everything else going on with this character I don't think that you need to make him a pawn for villains... like Spidey's Aunt May.

True. But other than removing a DISAD to shave the shear number of DISADs... I actually wanted and like having this Ward EXACTLY in the frame-of-mind as an Aunt May type NPC. So... I'd say that it would lose prominence if not listed as a DISAD. That's what this option/rule is for... to ensure that as a fun role-played NPC for the Narrator to mess with!
That's what I wanted!

3. Addict - You're taking the Weakness with the super-drug. If you truly don't care about the points, just set his post Weakness Stats to 0.

I'm confused at your point? Or which you're suggesting I drop the point's granted from? The Weakness or the DISAD?
Either way...
In my concept.... both served a purpose .... HOWEVER, now that you've brought this to my attention... I see that ONE is simply an extension of the other. There's no reason to have both, it WOULD compound the problem (bumping up the negative penalties ALOT) but both do basically the same things to greater/lesser extreme.

This is a great point. I took them seperately at different times when building so I didn't make that connection..

I will be changing this. Probably keeping the Weakness - as I wanted it to be SEVERE.

4. Ethical Susceptibility can always be role-played if you don't care about the points.

True.
You can also role-play and roll stats with no character stat sheet built at all. Buuuuuuuuuuuuut... one of the fun things in gaming is to make up what you want with the stats. So... I can apply all sorts of role-played things. But as you noted elsewhere, they aren't really paid attention to as greatly if not an actual stat on the sheet that gives "real" negative consequence. Otherwise they're STORYLINES from the Narrator, not personal to the hero really.
That said.
This is one I'd look at to cut the number of DISADs when I do that.

Personally I like the BASHMAN limit of three maximum disadvantages. It forces players to prioritize the top 3 that they want. I think this is important due to spotlight time.

Every character has a certain amount of spotlight time, energy and drama. For good campaigns, this spotlight should be shared equally to ensure everyone is getting equitable story attention.

When characters have excesive disadvantages, the Narrator is forced is to bring them into play a lot, because the character is always getting the bonus points for them. In my experience, this skews the spotlight toward these heavily disaded characters.

And if the Narrator doesn't skew the spotlight, then players of low disad characters get aggravated that they are being affected as often as a character with lots of disadvantages... and getting fewer points for their character build.

Bottomline its my philosophy of equal character time that becomes the contraint on lots of disads. I've been in too many campaigns where overly neurotic characters drive the storyline over and over and over again.

I totally understand all of this. And actually agree with and look to promote all this in my gaming style.
I just have to remember it more when geeking out in making builds. hehe

I personally approach every game with the same efficiency and honestly get aggravated if my build sucks or is especially ineffective. However, age has given me four additional perspectives:

1. Everyone is not like me. ... Therefore, I need to make room at my table of them and their pursuit of happiness.

2. The corrolary to point 1 are that there are players who know their build sucks or is ineffective but are incapable of improving it. Special attention should be paid these players,

Agreed again!

3. there is a notion of "corner solutions." Yes, the rules or model may allow it; however, it deviates from the intent or spirit of game balance or model "reality." BASHMAN's limitation of only 1 point limitation on powers (with unlimited enhancements) is an attempt to curb those "corner solutions"

I don't understand what you mean by "corner solutions". Can you explain that term/idea more?

4. Effective characters depend on context. ... Personally, I always build a hole in my character's defenses for the Narrator to exploit. Otherwise, I've found that if I don't have an Achilles' heel, then the Narrator is forced to Deus Ex Machina stuff

Agreed 100%....
My thing... I usually build to the maximum, then post places like here for comments, then re-think and pull back. So inherently my first draft is the MAXIMUM that character will be statted up too...
I totally agree with having Achilles Heel spots in heroes AND villains!

great thoughts!
-kev-

[Saker]

I don't understand what you mean by "corner solutions". Can you explain that term/idea more?

Wikipedia... "a corner solution is a solution to a minimization or maximization problem where the non-corner solution is infeasible" or "A corner solution is an instance where the 'best' solution is achieved based not on the ... maximization of related quantities, but rather based on brute-force boundary conditions. " and "Such a solution lacks mathematical elegance..."

I'm applying this terminology to the notion of creating a 'legal' character build that pushes the rules past the point where the spirit and intent of the rules desired.

Yes, the rules or model may allow it; however, it deviates from the intent or spirit of game balance or model "reality." BASHMAN's limitation of only 1 point limitation on powers (with unlimited enhancements) is an attempt to curb those "corner solutions" on powers that I personally twisted in Champions. And I believe the maximum three Ads and Disads is another attempt by BASHMAN to constrain the rules to avoid unbalance.

Is that clearer?

cheers

[Michael]

kevperrine,

"So my additional thought on his Duty idea is more of a "concept" (like Cap's duty "concept" might be to the "American Dream", which he follows strongly).
The entire motivation (and theme) of PINNACLE is that he doesn't want to have to do all this heroing... not really. He's not an cold unscrupulous guy with no heart - but he IS self absorbed and feels superior to most everyone, since his powers allow him to BE completely Immune to alot of things and be very very strong, etc... (the core classic Superman abilities)
So...
His duty "Since I am better, I must protect them." comes out as a Disadvantage because regardless of the danger (even if he KNOWS he's not immune or fit for the challenge in a specific situation... i.e. a Cold/Ice based encounter, or a social situation, etc...) THAT "pedestal" he's put himself on won't allow him to not argue and tell YOU to stay back... even if you're the Hulk, Thor, Batman, Superman, etc... He knows he's just better (most of the time) and otherwise even if he knows he's not... he's got a REP to maintain.

I thought "following" that ego... would be an okay DISAD because it forces him into situations even if he's NOT the "best" for the situation.
On top of that... it's a big role-playing "challenge" in that (like a NAMOR) he'll often be at odds with his fellow heroes or law enforcement because they'll see his blathering as a extremely egotistical *.

No?.... "


This sounds more like describing a mental malfunction.
"An easy way to come up with an answer is to think “what drives this character to put on a costume and risk life and limb?”

[kevperrine]

This is one of my first draft builds for a super-teen game tonight!
I'd love any last minute help if I missed anything or something's wonky.

Power-House
Kid-Atlas
Name: Christopher Clarkson
Mental Malfunction: With the strength of Atlas, I've got a lot of weight to bare…
Quote: I'm just a little stronger… Okay. I'm a ton stronger than I look. Deal.

----------Stats----------
BRAWN: 5+3, AGILITY: 2, MIND: 1
SOAK: x2+3, (Boost: no Soak)
DEFENSE: x2, HITS: x3 at -70, x4 at -50
MENTAL DEFENSE: x1

----------Powers----------
I'M STRONG (Boost Brawn) Circumstance: no Soak.
IT'S NATURAL (Heightened Brawn).

GETTIN' BETTER (Boost Agility) Condition: x3 at -70 HITS.
GETTIN' BEST (Boost Agility) Condition: x4 at -50 HITS.

AIRBORN! (Super Jump) 250 sq;
366 yd / 183 yd Vertical (10 sq per panel).

WORK IT! (Paired Weapons) extra HtH @ -1DP.
L: Tiring (2 pages without pushing).

GOTCHA! (MAM: Grappling) win by 10+ & reverse hold.

----------Advantages----------
Blaze of Glory, Never Surrender, Versatile

----------Disadvantages----------
Age, Susceptibility [Don't Know My Strength: -3DP when delicacy/fragile is necessary.], Alter Ego [Someone else must say the magic words; say it again = Weakness)]

----------Skills----------
Athletics 2 (x3+)/Throwing
Occultism/Legend

----------Weakness----------
Devastating Negating-Anyone can say the magic words… (Normal; B/A=1; x3 Dmg/page)
WEAKNESS / ALTER EGO - magic words:
“At dawn carry the world like Atlas;
At noon, strive and bare the masses;
At dusk presist or bend beneath it;
At night, have courage or be defeated."

----------Breakdown----------
Breakdown: 22= Stats: 16, Ads/Disads: 0, Powers: 10, Weakness: -4

BUILD COMMENTARY

Power-House is a pretty *simple* build........for me. hehe.
THe core idea is he's the "strongest one there is" simply. Based off an idea for origin of a mix of Shazam (hence the Alter-Ego) and the power origin of the Wrecker (Marvel Comics), Power-House was mystically originated in the spirit of the Titan Atlas.
Now... of course he doesn't KNOW the full origin of his power. He's just a kid with unbelievable strength. SO STRONG that he "Doesn't know his own strength" a Susceptibility DISAD he has to represent the negative modifiers anytime he's doing ANYTHING with fragile material or that requires delicacy. From picking up his mom's new china dish, to not reeking massive collateral damage. Susceptibility is the best DISAD I could think of for what I wanted with this...

Anyway... All his powers are focused around Brawn and sheer Strength. Though with "circumstance" Boosts to Brawn he can't use it as his Soak or Knockback. So he's intentionally a "glass-house" in that way - leaving only a x2+3 "natural" Soak/Knockback if hit by anything!

I wanted to have him sort of get better with battle/action if hurting, to simulate the TITAN muscle-memory pushing through to hopefully save the day.
So the "conditional" on his Boost Agilities are seperate, hence also seperate Boost Agilities! With "Age" as a kid, he only has 80 HITS, so my thought was to have two Boosts to get better with punching stuff (and Defense) when at a certain HITS. I decided with the ADV "Blaze of Glory" that gives a DB when reduced to 30 HITS or less, that I'd even out the Boosts evenly between 80-30 (for 70 or less, then 50 or less). So at -70 HITS he's at x3 Agility, -50 he's at x4, then -30 he's at +2x4 Agility!

Airborn and Gotcha are naturals for a super strong hero. His leap is amazing over three and a half football fields! and being a wrestler "Ben Grimm, THING" style combatant is cool.

I liked the idea of the few powers but also being able to hit hard quick, but not without problem. So I limited his extra Hand-to-Hand (from Paired Weapon) with his fists to being Tiring.

Now... the most complex bit.
His "Alter Ego" I decided would be a DISAD, because it dove-tails with his Weakness. The key here is Power-House is similar to Billy Batson / Shazam but instead of him saying the power-word to transform to or from Power-House form... he canNOT empower the words! Someone else has to say it. It's a short phrase and he's got to trust someone to say it for him... theoretically he could have his mom say it to him on the phone, but I'd say it MUST be real-time... so no cheesy recordings.
That said... it's also a huge "Secret" as his DISAD, since any villain could also yell it out while he's picking up a dump truck and he's pancake! Hence the Weakness - so he's got to form into Power-House mode every day or so, or it's like his kryptonite. It actually hurts NOT to empower with the might of Atlas!

WEAKNESS / ALTER EGO - magic words:
“At dawn carry the world like Atlas;
At noon, strive and bare the masses;
At dusk presist or bend beneath it;
At night, have courage or be defeated."

thoughts?
-kev-

[kevperrine]

Here's my second option for tonight's teen-hero game!
As always... I'm looking for suggestions, fixes, math, rules and ideas for my build. I'm still learning!

KID WRANGLE
Lariat Lad
Name: Owen Harlen Montana

Mental Malfunction: Life'll throw you lemons… So dodge outa the way and make Justice! Adventure is the call - cowboyin' ain't really an option in the modern age. Heroin' is better anyhow!

Quote: Rope Trick? Nah, this is like Ropetastical!! Way I figure it, crooks don't like being tied up. So they're gonna hate me! THWiiirp!

----------Stats----------
BRAWN: 1, AGILITY: 2+3. MIND: 2
SOAK: x1, x3 (MAM: Tough), vs. unarmed & Knockback
DEFENSE: x2+3, (Heightened)
MENTAL DEFENSE: x2

----------Powers----------
ROPE JUSTICE (Immobilization 4) x4 BRAWN; +x4 Atk (x6+3).
Close Rng: 5 sq (25'); Small Burst Area: 2x2 sq.
Brawn vs. Diff 10/Lvl = 40 once per panel. 10+ success acts as normal.
(LINKED: Weapon Technique 4) +x4 Boost Agility w/Ropes.
L: Gadget - Fragile: 40 HITS; 20 Soak.

LARIAT LINE (Swinging) 4 x Agility,
Catch yourself in mid-fall (w/ 20 Acrobatics check).
L: Gadget - Fragile: 40 HITS; 20 Soak.

MINE (Disarm Expert)
+2DB to disarm. Hit by 10+ can choose to disarm.

HYYY-YAH! (Martial Arts Mastery)
Fast: Priority +x1, Kick-up (w/ 20 Acrobatics check).
Tough: Soak +x2 & Knockback for unarmed atks.
Tricky: roll doubles on a HtH Defense when missed, get a counter atk.

NANITE MUSCLE-POWERED (Heightened Agility)

SCHOOLIN' (Skillful 1) +2 Skills.

----------Advantages----------
Dumb Luck, Versatile, Super Vehicle [The sky cycle is my steel horse.], Sidekick/Pet [His Lariat rope is a marvel of technology!], Resources

----------Disadvantages----------
Age [14 year old.], In a Relationship [Cindy Armstrong's his gal…], Normal [It’s the Lariat & Nanites that make the hero.], Arch-Enemy [The creator of his technology, unbenownst to KW is a villainous organization!]

----------Skills----------
Athletics 2 (x4+3)/Acrobatics, Pilot/Tricks, Escapology/Improvising
Security/Disabling Security, Outdoor/Tracking, Technology/Repair

----------Weakness----------
Devastating Negating-Water! Strange as it seems the very same nano-tech that drives KW's lariat & powers, are also the secret source of his increased ability. KW needs to power up the nanites & make sure they're in his system. Any water based Dmg (including drowning) shorts out the nanites aiding his muscle memory.

----------Breakdown----------
Breakdown: 21= Stats: 10, Ads/Disads: 1, Powers: 14, Weakness: -4

----------The Origin Of...----------
Bucked from so many homes as a kid, foster home to foster home. The rodeo-circus was Owen's calling. And from there the multi-millionaire media mogel in Centropolis fostered him toward a new school and life in the big city. A very talented rope-trick and acrobatic specialist, it was the vast resources of him new mentor that aloud him to (secretly) develop his Lariat & sky cycle, the training came hard, but it was nanite technology that increased his ability to be able to compete with other crime-fighters. The heroing… well, he's just awesome at it!

BUILD COMMENTARY

I love KID WRANGLE! He's like MY unique version of a Robin-type. The idea is there's this normal kid. He's been in/out of foster homes his whole life but one thing that remained was his love of and ability with ropes and acrobatics - so much so he got involved with rope-tricks on vaudeville style stages (like famous roper/cowboy Will Rogers) and through that... the circus!

Up until recently he was on his own pretty much. But then a wealthy Centropolis philanthropist took him under his wing in hopes to adopt. He sent Owen to the Raven School for gifted youngsters and gave him an unlimited bank account. But in the end has been much like former foster parents... not available. Luckily his bank account IS!
[SIDEBAR: see KW's DISADs, secretly his foster father is inline with a villainous tech-organization that led Owen to discover, create and use his nanites and gear!!]

That might have been a little too much because a kid with the ability and enthusiasm as Owen matched with unlimited resource. Well ... that spawned him searching (secretly he thought) for some way to enhance his ability and rope-tricks.
This came in the form of a "nice" science group in Centropolis. They studied his physiology and developed three things:
#1. Muscle-Memory Nanites: ingested as a daily dose of meds, these nanites are actually microscopic machines that quicken/strengthen Owen's natural ability.
#2. Kid Wrangle's Lariat: this tech-wonder is actually an ingenious computer cord that only looks like a normal quality lariat. It has abilities of it's own that Owen can have it perform. Moving on its own like a coiled snake, it's scan and senses abilities are unparrelled. It also makes for a strong and handy Immobilizer!
#3. KW's sky cycle: his "steel steed" of justice! This relatively simple vehicle controls like many Vespa's or smaller motorcycles, but can fly and engage in high-speed prusuit, has several minor AI functions (it thinks it's a horse!) and is useful for many tricks!

Okay... and now the stats explained!
"Rope Justice" & "Lariat Line" are the keys of Kid Wrangle's crime fighting. Both are the Lariat gadget - NOT easily taken like many gadgets due to KW's sheer ability to handle his rope. It is vulnerable - not only can the Immobilization power be escaped as normal by Brawn checks but the rope can ALSO be broken! - with the "fragile" Limitation.

"Mine" and Hyyy-Yah!" show Kid Wrangle's natural acrobatic and rope-trick styles. I loved the idea for Disarm Expert, and haven't used it or seen it used much. Should be fun in play!

"Nanite Muscle-Powered" is the additive to KW's natural ability. An Agility 2 as a 14 year old kid is really good, add Heightened for the nanites and his skill Acrobatics 2 for a really great roll on Acrobatics at x4+3!

ADs & DISADs are pretty standard. I really like the idea of Versatile to be able to stunt things with his rope (such as a variety of powers including straight up old fashion Dmg).
Everyone in the game for the teen heroes was required to have Age (and with it an AD) so his ADs/DISADs aren't as many as it seems... I loved this idea of having a girlfriend for a teen game be a DISAD. And the Arch-Enemy for his background will be loads of fun to see.

I wanted him to have a descent set of Skills, so I went with a level of Skilled to get a few more. I like the idea that he's got both cowboy-ish style skills and tech type things... Sooner or later he may figure out the meds he's taking are NOT just meds... they're MACHINES!! He can also repair his Lariat and sky cycle a little...

I wanted a Weakness. I like Weaknesses. I almost went with an EMP/Electric style form for his Devastating Negating. But then decided Water would be even worse and iconically cool.
I imagine that he can still take showers, etc.. but with the new meds he gets queezy in the tub and pool. He just thinks it's an alergy or something at this point since it's relatively new (he's been taking them for only a few months). But it's without his meds (he's now hooked) nightly or a blast of water (or drowning and long water exposure) that interupts the signals that give the muscle memory ability as well as (secretly) tracking back data for the secret science team!!

And that's Kid Wrangle!!

[Michael]

Kid Wrangle:

1. Devastating Negating Weakness -4. This means he takes X3 damage each page he is within 5 squares of water, in addition to it turning off his powers.
2. Weapon Technique is a maximum of 2, not 4.
3. Weapon Technique cannot be linked. He is not going to forget his training. Looks like the power might not be weapon technique but is labeled that way.
4. Agility cannot be boosted above 5.
5. I don't think it makes sense to link a boost with immobilize. He is only good with ropes when he is using that particular rope for that particular task? Would be easier to just give him a +2 Boost Agility to Hit (x4 instead of x5, but simpler and applies to more situations).