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

[kevperrine]

This is an update of Cinderella Man, which I think I'll be playing tomorrow in ISSUE #4 of our CENTROPOLIS campaign. Thanks everyone for the thoughts. I'm open to more.

My normal BUILD COMMENTARY is up-thread, in the original post for "CINDY"... I've included a pic with this one. It's a highly modified Photoshop version of a M&M1e archetype pic. I've always loved that image, so I used it as the base to make Cinderella Man my custom.
Enjoy...

Cinderella Man
the punching bag
Name: Jake "Jacob" Lawrence Sullivan

Mental Malfunction: Some people can't fight. Those are the nice folks ya gotta fight for & the more he faces, the harder it is to break him. That's the way he likes it, constantly spoilin' for a fight. He just never knows when to quit, even when he's beaten.

"Quote: hey… HEY! That ain't right!
What the * do you think yer doing'??"

----------Stats----------
BRAWN: 3, AGILITY: 2, MIND: 1
SOAK: x3,
DEFENSE: x2
MENTAL DEFENSE: x5, (Mind Shield)

----------Powers----------
SHAKE IT OFF (Healing 3) Concentration;
Combat panel to heal Dmg = Healing Lvl roll. Downtime: Heal 10 Hits/hr per Lvl.
L: Activation - roll d6: on a result of “1” does work for the page.

PIG-HEADED (Mind Shield 2) +x4 Mental Def.
L: Tiring; two consecutive Pages only (unless Push Yourself).

WHAM! (Paired Weapons) Extra HtH/panel at -1DP each.

BAM! (Swift Strike) Extra HtH/page at -1DP each.

WHEN I HURT, YOU HURT! (Special Atk 4) E: Variable;
L: Situational - Dmg can only get better equivalent to his HITS.
80 HITS: x3 Dmg; x6 Atk.
70 HITS: x4 Dmg; x5 Atk.
60 HITS: x5 Dmg; x4 Atk.
50 HITS: x6 Dmg; x3 Atk.
40 HITS: x7 Dmg; x2 Atk.
LINKED: LIGHTS OUT (Daze) E: Repels target; x4 vs. Mind; success loses Panel until 20.
LINKED: GO DOWN! (Boost Mind 3) Circumstantial - Only for Daze.

HEAVE-HOE! (Push 2) Brawn shoulder throw x3 Atk, x8 Knockback.
L: Situational - Must hit with a basic melee (x3 Atk).

URBAN CLIMBER aka BRACHIATION (Swinging) 8sq; 40';
Hang in place, Mid-fall 20 Acrobatics. L: needs landscape obstacles.

----------Advantages----------
Never Surrender 2 ["Snap out of it" twice], Blaze of Glory [+2DP <30 HITS], Immortality [Yeah, he's really really old…]

----------Disadvantages----------
Age [Yeah, he's really really old…], Cursed [Trouble magnet; 1/Issue Narrator can tell you to re-roll, take worse], Unskilled [Book learnin' sucks. Default a skill at -x2MP], Public ID [Minor Celebrity: a popular boxer (won/lost Championships half-dozen times)], Rogue’s Gallery [Half the mugs & crooks in the city wanna pummel him (and have!)]

----------Skills----------
Athletics/Acrobatics

----------Weakness----------
Damaging-x2 Dmg vs. Hand-to-Hand Atks, 'cause bein' a boxing bruiser just hurts… "Cindy" bruises easily & feels every iota of every lump he takes. Getting popped stinks!

----------Breakdown----------
Breakdown: 26= Stats: 12, Ads/Disads: -1, Powers: 17, Weakness: -2

----------The Origin Of...----------
"Jake "Jacob" Lawrence Sullivan is older than dirt. He doesn't look it, actually he's semi-hansome, if you can see through all the bruises and such. Jake's been "around" so long he literally doesn't even remember when he was born. Maybe it's from all the boots to the head he's taken over the years, but all he remembers are splashes of details through the centuries - mostly of fights and bar brawls. That's not amnesia, it's just natural. How can anyone (that's not the smartest tool in the shed) be expected to remember hundereds (if not thousands) of years of a detailed life? What Jake knows can be summed up as this:
Jake accounts him "never-quit" attitude & his limited fighting styles to his life in Greece back in the day. He wasn't so much into learning the classic wrestling moves & such, but "not going down" was his talent. That, & somehow getting stronger as his opponents beat him more. Working his way through antiquity, through the Dark Ages, through the Victorian times, all the way to WWII, Vietnam, & various other scrapes - Jake remembers most the fight. Not for himself, afterall - if it's just him... he'll take the lumps & let it go many times. "Pride before the fall" - he learned that in toga-times. It's the fight for the little-man, the guys/gals/kids that can't stand up for themselves that gets Jake's goat. Through all his life he's always been down on his luck, bad juju always finding him. But a tussle, a bar-brawl, and finally the ring turned his attitude up, getting in a scrape just made the world simpler. Doing it for the right reasons made it poetic and just.
While fighting for competition's always been there, Cinderella Man was born in-name in the mid-1800s, with a short (annual) stint as champion in the boxing ring. The name stuck when the papers linked the boxer Jake Sullivan with the super-vigilantee who'd been patrolling Centropolis slums. "Cindy", as his friends call him, isn't a big-bang superhero but he's got the goods when it counts. In his mind, it's not the damage power that makes the hero... it's the heart to not go down when people need ya."

[kevperrine]

another of my PC-Hero ideas.
As always... love to hear thoughts, corrections and ideas for making it cooler.

Doctor Daktylos
Doc Dak
"Name: Dr. Markus Daxter (name-redacted) "

Mental Malfunction: Almost insanely driven to the concept of truth... Doc Dak has devoted his existence to rooting out corruption & deceit wherever it may reside. He’s flat-out nutty enough to go after the Justice Legion itself if he believed they were up to something shady.

Quote: This just does not feel right…

----------Stats----------
BRAWN: 1, AGILITY: 2+3, MIND: 2+3
SOAK: x1,
DEFENSE: x5+3, (Heightened), (Deflect)
MENTAL DEFENSE: x6, (Mind Shield), x5+3 Int checks

----------Powers----------
CRIMINAL MIND (Boost Mind 3)
Circumstantial: Only for Deduction & Mental Skill checks.

CRIME FIGHTER (Heighten Agility & Mind)

THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE (Skillful 2) +4 Skill Slots

PSYCHOTIC STUBBORNESS (Mind Shield) +x4 Mind.

SHAKE IT OFF (Healing 2)
Combat panel to heal Dmg = Healing Lvl roll. Downtime: Heal 10 Hits/hr per Lvl.

TACTILE VISION (Super Senses) Sonar, substitue for sight & more!
L: Gadget Easily Taken (the Tactile Apparatus)

BLIND (Immunity 1) vs sight based attacks/illusions.

MACGYVER-IT (Conjuring 3) Mind check: 15-40 (flashlight-jet)
L: Situational - Found Items, reasonable to location.

DEDUCTION (Scan 3) Finding all clues & hidden things (x5+3).
L: Must analyze clues with touch; fingerprints, DNA, etc…

TRENCH COAT SWING (Deflect 3) Rngd doubles reflect.
L: Gadget Easily Taken

----------Advantages----------
Contacts, Photographic Memory, Headquarters

----------Disadvantages----------
On the Run [The Government, Police, other Heroes - any may have a grudge.], Secret [No one knows Dr. Markus Daxter is alive (Secret Idetity).], Unpleasant Quality [-2DP socially - psychoticly stubborn: Truth is everything.], Normal

----------Skills----------
Escapology 2 (x4+3)/Improvising, Athletics/Acrobatics, Stealth/Evading Security
Social Science 2 (x4+3)/Forensic Psychology, Investigation 2 (x4+3)/Finding Clues, Deception/Detect Deception, Computers/Hacking, Streetwise/Gather Information

----------Weakness----------
Negating-Doc Sigil created the apparatus that allows Doc Dak to extend his sense of touch…granting most of his Scanning & Deduction abilities.

----------Breakdown----------
Breakdown: 26= Stats: 10, Ads/Disads: -1, Powers: 19, Weakness: -2

----------The Origin Of...----------
"Doctor Markus Daxter was a brilliant forensic scientist working for the post-human crime division of the Centropolis CSI. Working late one night, Markus was present for super-villain break-in. Caught in a blast, Dr. Daxter had his eyesight scorched away… Feeling betrayed by his peers & abandoned by a corrupt & blinded legal system… Markus staged his own death as a means of giving birth to something else… something with the freedom to reach out to help those he could not… the power to touch the untouchable… & the untraceable anonymity that would keep every greedy soul in the city looking over their shoulders.
Thus Doctor Markus Daxter died, & Doctor Daktylos was born. "

BUILD COMMENTARY

Doc Dok is an idea I had a while ago, but never really conceptualized him so much until now. "Daktylos" is the Greek root that became "Finger-Print". The idea overall is this character that's in the style of Rorshach and the Question, but more of a scientist.

Hence some of his first powers...
"CRIMINAL MIND", "CRIME FIGHTER", and "THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE" are all toward the direction of deduction, being one of (if not THE) best detective on the planet, with massive CSI type skill.

"PSYCHOTIC STUBBORNESS" also backs up his mind... a mind hinging on insanity for understanding the criminal mind and (maybe as an unintended, but not unwanted, result of) bringing crooks to justice. This stubborness mimics his mind working overtime to figure things out, therefor not having "time" to BE beaten by mind-screwing!

"SHAKE IT OFF" continues the theme of just too darn determined... Being able to work/fight through things - from fatigue to battles.

"TACTILE VISION" is the "fix" for Doc Dak's blindness. Similar to Matt Murdock (Daredevil), Daktylos has a sort of "sonar" vision. This isn't from his own ability, but rather the gizmo he and his collegue "Doc Sigial" made when he found himself blind. This "Tactile Apparatus" allows for Daktylos to touch surfaces and feel the vibrations and ridges that set the surroundings (like reading brail but in a big area). Ultimately this is a power that "replaces" his sight, at the same time offering a little more in the form of the Super Sense.
Next to that (sort of attached in concept) is the power "BLIND". It's a misnomer though. The power is actually something that comes from his Tactile Vision...

"MACGYVER-IT" is the fun name for his skill in using what's around him. Doc Dak doesn't (normally) take time (or think to rather) "gear up"... so he's constantly without any weapon or other gear, such as his scientific and investigative materials. So... the Conjuring power allows him to come up with whatever he needs. The Limitaiton is the idea that he must use whatever's around. So if he needs a microscope, cobbling together a magnifying glass, and other random items, he comes up with a functioning tool.

"DEDUCTION" is the core of this character. It's one of his keen abilities. I can imagine Power Stunting other investigative type powers off of it. This as a power, takes his "skill" beyond human potential and into a superhuman fascination and ability. The Limitation being he's still got to investigate in classic CSI style.

"TRENCH COAT SWING" is my description for a Deflect power. The idea being that he uses his clothing as a matador would a cape against a bull.

ADs & DISADs are fairly straight forward. Photo Memory continues his intelligence abilities. HQ is basically his sanctum (that I'm still thinking about). Contacts are really only the thugs he pummels for clues in the bad parts of town mixed with any former science colleagues.
However...
One the Run, Unpleasant Quality and his Secret - all lead to those contacts not really knowing who they're dealing with at all. Everyone has something to fear from the man that won't let lies linger...

I love the detail oriented idea of his Skill in Escapology, he's so focused he's just good at getting out of tight spots and traps.

As with a few of his Limitations of his powers, taking away the Tactile Apparatus not ONLY removes the "gadget" for that power, but it actually reduces most of his others... confusing and breaking his spirit. As if taking away a "saftey blanket" of sorts. So all his abilities fail. It's like the classic - Take away the young kid's glasses, and when the kid is nearly blind without them... it REALLY screws with them. Many times almost paralyzing with fear of not being able to see/act. Same principal with his Apparatus.

And that's my PC-Hero idea for DOC DAK.
thoughts?
-kev-

[Saker]

Hi Kev

This character would appear terribly fun for a focused role-player but seems terribly challenging for the narrator... giving away plot.

Build comments below:

PSYCHOTIC STUBBORNESS (Mind Shield) +x4 Mind.

Maybe it's me, but it seems every character you make has Mind Shield. This guy has very low soak, so it's OK by me for balance.

SHAKE IT OFF (Healing 2)
Combat panel to heal Dmg = Healing Lvl roll. Downtime: Heal 10 Hits/hr per Lvl.

I'm luke warm about Healing * this concept. Maybe you need it with the low soak. However, I've always imagined these self-healers as Wolverine or Terminator 2, but that's me.

MACGYVER-IT (Conjuring 3) Mind check: 15-40 (flashlight-jet)
L: Situational - Found Items, reasonable to location.

I don't think that you can find jets with Conjuring 3. At most an economy car. I think that you need Conjuring 5 for a jet.

cheers

[kevperrine]

This is another potential for play in our upcoming game...
The character was based on the image, which I found and augmented a little. Great and fun idea.

Black Wave
the Asphalt Kid
Name: Rory Ryder

Mental Malfunction: When Rory Ryder closed his pizza-shack for the day to catch a wave he found himself whisked far off-shore in a harsh storm. It was an tar-like alien pod that branded Rory. On that day he took a new meaning in life, no one eats for free! Crooks beware - BLACK WAVE!

Quote: Streets are lookin' GNARLY! Better watch, they'll jump up an' bite-cha!

----------Stats----------
BRAWN: 1, AGILITY: 5, MIND: 1
SOAK: x1, x4 (Density Increase), x4 Brawn (lift 25 tons)
DEFENSE: x5, -3DP (Density Increase)
MENTAL DEFENSE: x1

----------Powers----------
BLACK-TOP RIDER (Flight 4) 20 sq (120');
L: Gadget - Fragile; bust up the Dark-Matter: 50 HITS, 25 Soak.

ASPHALT GOD (Dark-Matter Mastery 3) Concentration;
Rng 100 miles, Area 1 mile; alter environment, up to 30 Diff Power check;
E: brings Dark-Matter into existance;
L: Narrow - Dark-Matter.

DAT CRAP BURNS! (Damage Shield 4) x4 Atk (Boost); x3 Dmg;
L: Weakness - fire/heat = double dmg;
Medium Burst Area 5x5 sq (25'x25' - around Black Wave);
full panel, delayed until end of page; 1 Lvl FF & 4 Lvls Dmg;
40 HITS; 10 Soak. Trap unwilling = Mind vs. Def (cannot use deflect).
LINKED: Boost Mind 3 - Circumstantial: Mind x4 for powers.

HEAVVVY! (Density Increase 3) 10 tons; surfaces take 30 HITS Dmg/page.
-3 DP; +15 RB to all Brawn rolls; add Power Lvl to Brawn;
Can lift 1/2 your weight (5 tons; Brawn 3);
Hold off Panel or HD to interrupt, shrink in reaction to attack to avoid DP.

----------Advantages----------
Headquarters [The "Pizza My Heart" shop is also the LAIR!], Instant Change, Versatile

----------Disadvantages----------
In a Relationship [Jennie Rodriguez is just a babe!], Obvious Presence [The dark-matter "asphalt", just oozes out of time/space.], Phobia [Paralyzing fear of pyrophobia (fire), as Daze.], Involuntary Change [When heroing calls Dark-Matter comes! (If aware, Mind to resist, only delays inevitable.)]

----------Skills----------
Athletics 4 (x8+3)/Acrobatics, Ride/Tricks
Commerce/Business

----------Weakness----------
Damaging-When things get MENTAL, Rory suffers. Mental damage hits hard for double Dmg!

----------Breakdown----------
Breakdown: 29= Stats: 14, Ads/Disads: -1, Powers: 18, Weakness: -2

----------The Origin Of...----------
In the dawn of an early summer morning something broke the clouds and rained down on North Beach in Centropolis. It was only a drizzle at first, which is what excited Rory Rider. The waves would RAWK! If he could get out quick enough. So with a skip in his step, Rory propped up a big "Closed for Surfing" sign on his shop, grabbed his long board and rushed to the shore. Diners would not have their tasty pies from "Pizza My Heart", because Rory wanted to ride!
Paddling out beyond the pier line, beyond the safety markers - Rory waited for the perfect swell. What he would find was a bit different... Bobbing in the harbor Rory overturned a large, Volkswagon Beetle sized dome shaped thingy. As it weebled over a splash of black tar-like goo splattered on Rory's board. Then the rain clouds burst. And before he knew it some of the goo had krept onto Rory's leg, then arm, then back!!
Time stopped and the world spun. It was two days later when Rory's dog Sir Barks-A-Lot woke him up licking his face along the shore. Rambling home, not knowing the days he'd lost, Rory opened for lunch and pizza was had. Sir Barks-A-Lot was very happy... But that day was unusual. Before the dinner rush Pizza My Heart had been robbed at gun-point by a couple lousy crooks. Small time, but nothing Rory whated to lose his life over. And then the big thing happened. The shop next door was a pancake! Sure... Rory thought, they sold pancakes but the entire building wasn't FLAT like a pancake... until now! The ultra-supervillain GRAVITAS had struck! Smashing the building in attempts to crush the hero team working the scene. And seconds before Rory would be smashed, the uplifted ape hero Gorilla X catapulted in, snatched up a slice of today's pie (but not before asking very nicely) and vaulted the pizze-cook out as Pizza My Heart was no more! Flipping and flying through the air across Adam Apes backside - Rory saw something... Something big and yellow tearing out of the now very small building - his yellow long board. But now it was flying! Zipping up toward the monkey-hero, Rory could see a black mass of "Dark Matter" that had formed some sort of wave-image on the board. The very same shape that now rippled across his own chest. As Gorilla X made a perfect landing on the board, he looked to Rory. But Rory was Rory no longer! And from that day forth, BLACK WAVE would ride the streets for JUSTICE!!

BUILD COMMENTARY

My idea for BLACK WAVE, as I noted, was completely based on the cool pic I found and augmented! Plus the fact that I love SILVER SURFER!
My idea morphed into a "Dark-Matter" energy controller of sorts. I always liked "DARKSTAR" (an obscure Marvel villainess) that could call forth this weird tar-like goo... And I think there was a character in the SQUADRON SUPREME of the 80s (another villain) that could do the same.

The core idea evolved into a guy that could use/control this "asphalt" like material for various effects. The image drove creation of his backstory. BW isn't a "surfer dude", I don't plan to play him completely that way, but yeah... I'd be crazy not to think I'll have a little "whoa!" (Keanu Reeves, style) in his play. hehe...
I had fun imaging his backstory, as owner of a pizza shop who liked to close up to go catch a wave... In Centropolis' harbor... a landlocked city, LOL...

Okay! Powers & such!

"BLACK-TOP RIDER" simple flight, with a Limitation of Gadget - Fragile. I was imagining his flight is on his surf board but propelled by the asphalt "Dark-Matter" material beneath him like ICEMAN's ice slide. If a villain busts up the asphalt behind him, he'd crash and burn! NOTE: I got this idea from a build I'd seen modeling up "TERRA" of the Teen Titans, using a boulder to fly on. That, mixed with ICEMAN's ice slide is the result.

"ASPHALT GOD" is simply the X-mastery of the extra-dimensional goo that he was "infected" with. I imagine it as a cross between a "VENOM" type syrupy goo with hot chunks like real asphalt. Totally a new "element" from SPAAAAAAAAAAACE!! Hence, giving it an Enhancement to "bring it into existance" since X-mastery normally can't do that. I didn't want to make any conjuring or summoning things with it... So I figured a simple Enhancement for an "Extra Effect" would work for bringing it out of nowhere. (there may be a better solution for this?)
My idea is when called, it just seems from a rift in time/space and pours out as needed. But definitely a NARROW scope.

"DAT CRAP BURNS" is to mimic the HEAT normally associated with asphalt. My brother once tripped and fell face-first onto a newly asphalted road! (he was on the work crew), I remember the asphalt didn't seem hot, but it glued itself to his hands and litterally melted his skin off. Luckily he did catch himself in push-up position and only burn (severely) his hands!
So...
THAT! I decided to make it into a Force Field (Damage Shield) to mimic glooming it onto villains, surrounding them (al la Force Field) then letting the asphalt material burn.
The Boost Mind LINK was necessary (I felt) to be able to have a chance to hit... Not sure thought, I'd have to look thinking about it now. As I'm not sure if the "Area" would allow for this not to need a to-hit attack roll as normal Areas do... need to check this...

Okay... so my "hey that's neat" aspect of Wave, was that the Dark-Matter was ALSO extremely dense and heavy. So pulling it into existence (on/around him, since I believe X-Control makes you immune to your own X-control substance??) He basically gets stronger, tougher, and heavier!
I'd not used the Density Increase power, but when I imagined the actual weight something covered in asphalt would do... I couldn't resist!
This power really changed the dynamic of Black Wave. At first I imagined a massively high Agility hero, speedy with Flight, etc... Then I morphed with the idea of gaining this strength with the weight, yet still being "quick".

ADs & DISADs... Somewhat simple.
I liked the HQ idea being his pizza shop "PIZZA MY HEART". And the Instant Change seemed appropriate for the Dark-Matter goo enveloping him (see his DISAD!). And I always love a good love interest!

Obvious Presence and Involuntary Change are related. My thought for I.C. is really a neat call to be a hero. ANYTIME there's trouble where he's needed (the Dark-Matter reads the area and his sub-conscious for what's appropriate!) the Dark-Matter glooms onto him forcing the change! It's really a great way for the Narrator to insert him into a story. Since he can fly fairly fast the trouble could be an across town fire or just a cat up a tree outside his pizza shack!

His weakness... I wanted to be really bad for him. (YES, this is before Saker mentioned I "always" use Mental Shields, hehe...) So... I decided that any Mental based Damaging attack would be the weakness! Harsh considering his MIND for that defense is only x1, and his Soak is also only x1!!
I'm curious to watch/see how this plays out in-game to know just HOW harsh this weakness can be.

and that's BLACK WAVE!!
thoughts?

-kev-

[kevperrine]

This character would appear terribly fun for a focused role-player but seems terribly challenging for the narrator... giving away plot.

If that's a problem or hard to handle for the Narrator... they shouldn't be Narrating.

[EDIT: sorry, re-reading... that sounds snarky. Apologies. My point with the character WAS to challenge those mysteries though... So yeah, I suppose it'd need a quick thinking/planning Narrator. Any suggestions on helping that problem?]

Maybe it's me, but it seems every character you make has Mind Shield. This guy has very low soak, so it's OK by me for balance.

It's you.
It happens the last two characters did have Mind Shield, the previous two (minimum) do not. And the new one I just posted doesn't.

[EDIT: sorry again, snarky sounding again... Guess I should never reply on one hour of sleep, hehe... But yeah... it only seemed like I used Mind Shield alot. Those are the only two character builds I've used it with of my own (I think). I actually have been thinking about making up a MENTALIST character because so many of my ideas are more physical in nature.]

I'm luke warm about Healing * this concept.

I actually referenced a version two of BASHMAN's character builds: Wildcat and Rorshach (if I remember correctly). Both had this. So it inspired me.

[EDIT: Yep... this is true. I like to reference builds other's have done, especially for *known* heroes. You can see BASHMAN's "KID DYNAMO" has healing and I've seen a WILDCAT build with this as a power:
NEVER SAY DIE: Healing 2 (get a "second wind") [Limitation: only works in combat] 1pt]

So that was my take... I also figure with very little immediate combat output, he may need some way to get better while figuring out a way to fight (i.e. using Conjuring to get something)

I don't think that you can find jets with Conjuring 3. At most an economy car. I think that you need Conjuring 5 for a jet.

I may have read the chart wrong.
It's really only a note for my reference during game. The rule is to roll for what you can get as you want it.

[EDIT: You're correct here. I read the chart/power wrong. It's whatever level you're at is the MOST you can "conjure". And yes - at Lvl 3 that's an economy car. Good catch!

Thanks again!
Get to play tonight (I think), not sure who I'm playing until gametime! HOORAY!
I'll drop back by with thoughts on how whichever played out in-game!

-kev-

[Morsamare]

Actually looking at this concept you have to be careful your blindness as sonar (ranged touch), you can't read most pages, you can't see computer images, you can't see a fingerprint on a glass pane or * any one of dozens of other things...

I have trouble even picturing a successful blind detective, So you can feel a pen under a desk, but if you can't see that on his computer screen it says "I will kill him at 7pm", you're losing out on quite a bit.

Even if you have the tools to let you function in dark world, the rest of the world takes for granted that it doesn't have to. You're arch nemesis will forever foil you by simply laminating all his incriminating documents.

The scan while a bit broad for my taste would probably be better served with a clairvoyance (past) only 1 point with a 5 mind you'll get specifics on an 8 general facts on a 6, and fits more in the concept of having an idea of what went on there.

While you don't have a disadvantage for being blind, it would easily qualify as such. At least so far as the concept goes. In the end, this does feel like Rorschach or the Question, but somehow crossing them with Daredevil doesn't make them better.

[Michael]

1. I don't see how pig-headed justifies making a mind shield tiring.

2. Link is only between 2 powers, not 3. So you can't link special attack to daze AND boost.

3. Linking boost to a power that it boosts is just silly. By linking its condition to a power you are giving yourself effectively double the point break. You are linking a power that only works when it does already.

4. Calling dark matter into existence is really conjuring instead of mastery. The easiest way to run that might be linking mastery of dark matter to conjuring dark matter.

[kevperrine]

1. I don't see how pig-headed justifies making a mind shield tiring.

BASHMAN thought so...
http://bashtalk.org/modules.php?name=Fo ... opic&t=864

2. Link is only between 2 powers, not 3. So you can't link special attack to daze AND boost.

True. I forgot that.
Need to re-look at this. Fix it to be correct by the rules for the character.

3. Linking boost to a power that it boosts is just silly. By linking its condition to a power you are giving yourself effectively double the point break. You are linking a power that only works when it does already.

I don't follow this double point break logic. However, I'm looking to correct the linking two powers on a power anyway. So it's likely to be a mute point.

4. Calling dark matter into existence is really conjuring instead of mastery. The easiest way to run that might be linking mastery of dark matter to conjuring dark matter.

Thing is... I don't WANT to "conjure" anything. I don't want any of those power abilities. I only wanted simple "X-Mastery". It just happens that the "X" isn't something that exists "in the world" like sand or heat, etc... It's a new "comic book element" made up for our setting. It's an alien element, that exists in another space/time for the description.

My point... I didn't want to conjure, I only wanted the "minor effects" that X-Mastery suggests to explain the rest of the powers such as the Damage Field, Flight, etc...

I figured making an Enhancement - Extra Effect, that was to open that time/space rift to be able to control the Dark-Matter for use with other powers... I figured for a +1 pt Enhancement, that would be cool to say/do. Because essentially I could just swap out my "Dark Matter" descriptor for all the powers and for X-Mastery with "Earth" or "Ice", etc... and have the exact same effects.

If that doesn't make sense by the rules, I'm happy to rethink it. I suppose I just need a good arguement to understand.


anyone?
-kev-

[Michael]

1. I don't have a problem with mind shield having a limitation. I just don't see how pig-headed goes with a tiring limitation. Pig-headed means you will keep struggling past the point where it makes any sense to.

3.
Daze 3 pts
+3 Mind 6 pts
9 pts

point break 1:
Daze 3 pts
+3 Mind only for Daze 3 pts
6 pts

point break 2:
Daze 3 pts
linked to +3 Mind only for Daze 2 pts
5 pts

It's not a moot point since Black Wave also has a boost given a discount for being linked to the only power it can work on anyways.

4. Good points. I thought by dark matter you meant actual dark matter, which is fairly common in the universe, and not some made up comic book element.
I would be fine with instead of needing conjuring, having the dark matter mastery defined as a broad group since as a special effect he can summon the dark matter he can control. This would be more useful than ice mastery since he can always summon the dark matter from another dimension to control and there isn't always ice around.

[Michael]

Black Wave:
A Density Increase of 3 gives a soak of X1 +15 result instead of X4, and the ability to lift an additional 5 tons.

[kevperrine]

Thanks again Michael for your comments/help.
Wanna try to clear up the confusions to get it right so... here we go!

1. I don't have a problem with mind shield having a limitation. I just don't see how pig-headed goes with a tiring limitation. Pig-headed means you will keep struggling past the point where it makes any sense to.

So. You just have a problem with the name I chose to represent the power? The name "Pig-Headed".
If that's true...
Okay. I get that. I could change it... Perhaps to simply: "STUBBORN". I don't see the need though. Most people don't have a Mind Shield (to represent *their* Pig-Headedness) at all... "Cindy" just happens to be a lot more "Pig-Headed" (enough to HAVE a Mind Shield) than those normal people. So it's just a matter of perspective on choosing the name for the power. hehehe

Daze 3 pts
+3 Mind 6 pts
9 pts

point break 1:
Daze 3 pts
+3 Mind only for Daze 3 pts
6 pts

point break 2:
Daze 3 pts
linked to +3 Mind only for Daze 2 pts
5 pts

I don't understand your shorthand breakdown or math.
If I'm reading you right....
You're saying that BOOST MIND 3 originally costs 6pts? And with "only for Daze" it reduces it to 3pts?
That's not true. (if I'm not mistaken somewhere)
Boost is 1:1 cost with a mandatory "conditional or circumstantial" requirement.

So the base cost is:
- DAZE (Enhancement: Repel) [3pts]
- BOOST MIND 3 - Circumstantial: only for powers. [3pts]
For a TOTAL 6pts.

But since both powers are 3pts, so you can LINK one to the other, reducing the cost of one of the powers (Boost Mind) to 2pts as a Linked power. For a new TOTAL cost of 5pts for the entire two power set.

It's not a moot point since Black Wave also has a boost given a discount for being linked to the only power it can work on anyways.

Well... first...
I was looking at other characters built as examples. BASHMAN has a few examples that donot specify *THE* single power so specifically. But rather saying the Circumstantial on Boost is "only for Powers". So I changed it to that, to be consistant with examples.

But I don't understand what you're arguing on a "discount"??
(if I'm correct in reading the cost/rule of Boost)
There IS NO "discount" on Boost for having the "Circumstantial" requirement. Boost costs 1pt for +x1 Stat. The only "discount" is going from Boost 3 [3pts] to being a Linked Boost 3 [2pts].

Am I wrong about the original cost of the Boost power?

4. Good points. I thought by dark matter you meant actual dark matter, which is fairly common in the universe, and not some made up comic book element.
I would be fine with instead of needing conjuring, having the dark matter mastery defined as a broad group since as a special effect he can summon the dark matter he can control. This would be more useful than ice mastery since he can always summon the dark matter from another dimension to control and there isn't always ice around.

Okay.
To clear things up... Let's just call it Dark-Goo instead.

So are you suggesting that to be fair I should build this with BOTH:

to KEEP the
"Enhancement: bring Dark-Goo into existence". [+1pt]
and ALSO
to REMOVE the
"Limitation: Narrow - Dark-Goo". [-1pt]

Black Wave:
A Density Increase of 3 gives a soak of X1 +15 result instead of X4, and the ability to lift an additional 5 tons.

I've not used the Growth power much.
How did you figure those two things out?
(where did I figure wrong?)


thanks!
-kev-

[Dustland]

I don't really want to get involved in the Linked Boost issue (it's only a 1 pt difference and only matters with Boost 3), but in Michael's 1st example (of 3) he was showing the cost of Purchasing Mind 3 (6 pts) rather than using Boost. It's not really relevant to the argument of linking Boost to a power as being a sneaky way to steal a point.

I've not used the Growth power much.
How did you figure those two things out?
(where did I figure wrong?)

Check out the table at the bottom of p56.

Growth gives Results Bonuses to Brawn and Dice Penalties to Agility.

Hope that helps!

[Dustland]

Oh yah, I really like the concept of Black Wave, really cool!

[Michael]

Kevperrine,

I'm saying that mind +3 costs 6 points, +3 mind only for daze costs 3 points, and that by instead paying 2 pts for making it linked to daze, you are trying to get a point break by limiting a power to only work in the situations where it can work.

For Dark-Goo, that sounds fair, and less wordy than what I was suggesting.

[kevperrine]

WOW... haven't built a hero for myself in awhile!!
Hope this thread is useful to showing some new ideas again...

PS...
I'm always open to ideas, critiques, suggestions, and any fixes for editing on the character build. If you see anything that breaks a rule, speak up (and give me a solution if you can)... it's just likely that I missed it.
If I have different ideas or interpretations, I'll toss out my thought to compare.

Also... I tend to enjoy building more "complex" characters than the traditional BASH! book builds. It's just what I enjoy. I've made several characters, then made an "essential" version of them to reduce their complexity. So I'm open to ideas on simplifying as well.


This is another potential for play in our upcoming game...
The character was based on the image, which I found and augmented a little. Great and fun idea.

AMERI'KID
Name: Daniel “Danny” Hart

Mental Malfunction:
Learning of the vanishing of the world's greatest heroes, Danny Hart rushed to get the news to his great uncle - “Statesman”. When the great hero's mystic power vanished, hobbling his uncle, Danny became his protector & with guidence & tutelage for this responsibility “Amerikid” was born!

Quote:
"DOOD!?!!! ...You think with a name like Ameri'kid I'm not gonna totally kick yer butt?!??"

----------Stats----------
BRAWN: 0
AGILITY: 3
MIND: 1
SOAK: 1d6, (6s explode)
DEFENSE: x8, Deflect 3, DangerSense
MENTAL DEFENSE: x1

----------Powers----------
HERO TRAINING! (Skillful 1) +2 Skill Slots.
CHOP-SAKI! (Martial Arts Mastery 1) Fast: +x1 Priority; kickup.
KA-POW! (Atk Weak Pt) hit 20+ double dmg; spend HP:Atk=Dmg.
E:Multi-Power - DROP IT! (Disarm Expert) +2DB; or hit 10+ auto-disarm.

SUITED UP! Helmet (Immunity 3): Suffocation, Fire, Cold.
E:Multi-Power – RED FLAGS (Danger Sense) +x2 Def/Priority.

BOARD-BEATDOWN! (Dmg Shield 3); x3DM touch; Concentration.
E:Multi-Power – BOARD BETWEEN! (ForceField 1) 10Soak/40Hits.
E: Area Small Burst 2x2; L: cannot trap opponents.
L: Situational – only used with skateboard.
SWING AWAY! (Deflect 2); Agility x5 to defend; doubles reflect.
L: Situational – only used with skateboard.

AMERI'KID's BOARD (Super-Vehicle) [18 of 18 pts]
B:0 A:3 M0; E:Unbreakable (Awe:7); E: VoiceControl. [8]
Secure; Open (hit by 10+ or hit board); No Seat-Belt; [-1]
CRAZY-AWESOME! (Fly 3); 25yd; E: Linked – Bouncing; [5]
L: Tether(Awe:7); [-1]
SEND IT! (Special Atk 4) Atk x5; Dmg x2; [4]
Mid Rng x5 (15sq/75'); Medium Burst 5x5 (25'x25'); [4]
L: Gadget – Weakness EMP. [-1]

----------Advantages----------
Jack of All Trades [-1DP (untrained)], Dumb Luck [1 re-roll.], Fearless [+2DB to Intimidate.], Quick-Thinking [1 interupt.], Mentor [“Statesman”.], Headquarters [At ½ Character Pts. [12]], Super Vehicle [At -5 Character Pts. [18]]

----------Disadvantages----------
Age [Age: 14.], Normal, Ward/Secret [Caretaker of “Statesman”.], Duty [American laws/authority.], Ward/Secret [Caretaker of “Statesman”.], Duty [American laws/authority.]

----------Skills----------
Athletics x2 (x4+1DB)/Acrobatics, Stealth/Evade Security
Security/Disable Security, Technology x2/Modify & Sabotage

----------Breakdown----------
Breakdown: 23= Stats: 8, Ads/Disads: 2, Powers: 13, Weakness: 0

----------The Origin Of...----------
Unlike the other great heroes of the world, Statesman has not yet disappeared – although the mystic power enhancing his patriotic power left him. Be it fortune saving the hero or the power itself vanishing, he remains. It was through Danny's extreme interest in heroes that he stumbled on a secret knowledge that soon the mega-level powered people would be gone. As events progressed, Danny took on the responsibility that his uncle could no longer rise to. In rapid aging & declining health, it was with training & artifact treasures Statesman agreed to mentor his protege. As Danny protects & cares for his hidden uncle, he takes to streets in hopes that perhaps a new legend can return the heroes!

BUILD COMMENTARY

My idea for AMERI'KID, as I noted, was completely based on the cool pic I found and augmented! Plus the fact that I love ROBIN & BUCKY & CAPTAIN AMERICA types!

Power Commentary - if anyone's interested I'll go into it. Anyone?

and that's AMERI'KID!!
thoughts?

-kev-