America's Finest

[Saker]

Michael

I really like the Renaissance Man and have a similar one in draft. And my standing praise of your concepts, presentation and artwork remains in awe.

Is there a reason you gave him Gliding? With Conjurations 3 & Quick-Thinking, he could conjure a parachute, glider or a Flight 1 jet pack from the Kick-* movie.

Maybe replace the gliding with Armor 1 or Armor 2 with that limitation when it doesn't work on a 6 to represent that it is a flak jacket or something. If a human doesn't have Spidey Sense, I think the notion of self-preservation should extend to heroes... even Batman admits to wearing armor.

I would suggest replacing Gadgeteer with Quick-Thinking. I don't have my book with me, but my understanding of Gadgeteer is that you power stunt to replace powers with new powers. RM doesn't have many powers to do that. If my understanding is incorrect, trash bin this comment.

my two cents.

cheers

[BASHMAN]

Quick note- In the new printing, I changed "Tough Style" martial arts to give +2 Soak vs. all Hand to Hand attacks- whether it is from a fist, baseball bat, etc- as you can "roll with the hit". It's more useful that way, I think.

[Michael]

Saker,

Excellent points, and I loved the Kick-* reference. I am definitely going to replace gadgeteer with quick-thinking.

I gave Renaissance Man gliding since I like the power, it fits his concept really well, and it leaves his conjuring free for other effects. I don't plan on giving Renaissance Man any armor even though realistically most characters should be wearing some.
He already has a 3 soak (5 vs melee), which isn't too bad for a 30 point character.

[Michael]

And the powerful telekinetic national hero of Iran.

[Michael]

In nuclear fire, Ryoku was born in Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945, where he woke crying to a now silent city.

With Ryoku's biological parents and all records lost to the flames of the blast, the Emperor took him in and Ryoku eventually married the Emperor's daughter Kimiko. Ryoku's own origin resembling the Imperial Family's descent from the sun goddess Amaterasu.

Ryoku's aging has slowed since his 20th birthday. Kimiko is now in her 70s, while Ryoku still looks to be in his late 20s. With now half a dozen children, and twice as many grand children... many of whom are coming into thier own as heroes, Ryoku represents to Japan determination and hope overcoming any obstacle.

It is a rather open secret he has a live in mistress, but his loyalty if not his love belongs to his wife.

[BASHMAN]

Captain Iran seems interesting- but I'm wondering is he a Hero who supports the Greens (which would make him a criminal in Iran where he has to battle the Religious Secret Police to save the lives of innocent protesters) or is he a Villain who supports the government of Iran no matter how heinous its actions, and is therefore presented as a "hero" to the people.. but he is no more than an extremely competent member of the religious police? Or is he something else entirely?

[Michael]

Captain Iran is a villain and does not support the Greens. He works for the Ansar-ol-Mahdi Corps responsible for protecting the Ayatollah (among other things), which is an elite force in the Revolutionary Guards (hence his police powers). Captain Iran was not sent to suppress protesters because it was unnecessary and bad for public relations, or due to dissension between the conservative factions and the radicals loyal to President Ahmadinejad.

[Morsamare]

I tend to picture him a pretty nice guy that believes whole heartedly in the Ayatollah, and well as powerful as he is, the Ayatollah doesn't use him for things that would risk that belief. As it stands he's a hero in service an corrupt regime, if anyone ever got through to him how badly they are abusing people he'd be compelled to help, but surrounded by new wives for his loyal service to Allah as well as all the material things he could be provided, he doesn't mean to turn a blind eye, but he's fairly easily distracted.

Over time he may become a true villain, the creature comforts he enjoys overshadowing his good nature, or perhaps, his eyes will finally be opened, and he'll truly become a hero to the people. Up to the Gamemaster to decide his final fate

[Saker]

Guys, let's be careful here. I've had the opportunity to work closely with many Persians (Iranians); some who support the government, and some who do not.

They've indulged me with many political conversations for me to understand/compare their perspective and the one generated by American media.

I think the best culturally sensitive way to describe Captain Iran is who he supports. I would suggest that he supports the Grand Ayatollah and leave it there. I'm sure this character can have as many moral issues as Captain America has had serving his country.

cheer

[Dustland]

Ditto Saker.

[Michael]

Updated Renaissance Man with Quick-Thinking, and replaced gliding as Saker suggested.

[Saker]

Updated Renaissance Man with Quick-Thinking, and replaced gliding as Saker suggested.

cheers

[Michael]

Updated Ryoku's background story.

[Michael]

Ruby Blackstone serves as the assistant director of the FBI's Meta-human Enforcement Response Imperative Taskforce (M.E.R.I.T.) for Megapolis. Formerly a very successful MERIT field agent, Ruby has proven to be a very effective director, although she is sometimes annoyed that as an assistant director, she is now too valuable to risk on field work.

Ruby Blackstone is married to Edward Blackstone, the head of Blackstone Incorporated. Their daughter, Amber is a famous scientist in Megapolis.

As M.E.R.I.T. often gets called in to deal with supercrime, many heroes in Megapolis end up meeting the assistant director at some time or other.

[/img]

[BASHMAN]

Wow, I never knew Amber's mother was still around! I'd only ever read her father mentioned before.