Basic Action Super Heroes!

Just curious if anyone is willing to share some information on how you've created some of your favorite builds - for example, did you think of the powers first then the character, or did you think of the name and fill in the powers to match, or did you think of the story and then filled in the rest? Or, none of the above?

Also curious if any of your favorites ended up quite different than how you first envisioned them.

With the Future Force characters, each one was different. Wildstar started as a power set, then a sketch, then a somewhat long and agonizing search for a name, and then a background and personality. Kid Marvel started as a name, then a power/skill concept and background. Varos started as a generic strong guy sketch, then got powers and background, and finally a name.

So I guess the answer is yes.

For me its the powers, then I cast around for a name and background. Often the types of powers informs the background and name.

I mostly find myself building villains.

When trying to fill out a 'Rogue's Gallery' I think about archetypes and making sure that there is plenty of variety. I also think about how individual villains would work together if they teamed up.

There is also the whole nemesis thing. So a hero design will usually suggest an appropriate villainous foil.

Whether a hero or villain, creating a super character is one of the most enjoyable things I like doing. A source of inspiration could come from a picture, or a complimentary set of powers, or a name. I've even been inspired by character(s) from a movie (which would be like looking at John McClane from DIE HARD and imagining him with super powers).

One of my favorite things is to take an established hero/villain and totally reimagine him/her. This usually begins with something like "What would this hero be like if he was just a robotic drone?" Before long this process turns IRONMAN into IRONGUARD.
http://www.bashrpgbuilds.org/builds/hom ... /ironguard

I love how my ideas evolve over time. The character I based my Avatar on started out as a clone of the Marvel hero Giant-Man. He was basically an African American with growth power and named after the largest planet in the solar system. Later, I started to explore the name Jupiter as it applies to the Romanized version of Zeus. That’s when powers like hurling lightning bolts and teleporting became part of his established abilities.

MR. JUPITER
http://www.bashrpgbuilds.org/builds/hom ... mr-jupiter

I got the players to come up with a concept and background, then built the character within the rules.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your thoughts!