Date: Sat, 11 Mar 1995 17:49:11 -0500 (EST) From: Benjamin Hsu To: champ-l@omg.org Subject: semi-character post Heres a character that I've been working on. Unfortunately I've been unable to complete it so I'm sending it to the list in the hopes that somebody out there can help. Is there still someone out there willing to GM a PBEM? If so, would this be an acceptable character? (with appropriate fleshing out) Otherwise, feel free, as always, to use him as an NPC I managed to have a bundle of points left over, any suggestions? More specific requests for input are at the end. Also some disadvantages. -------------------------------Begin Character "Copyright Ben Hsu, 1995. Permission is granted to the editors of the Net.Champions Compendium to edit and include this work in the Compendium and distribute it electronically and to users of the Net.Champions Compendium to distribute this electronically and print it for personal use, as long as this copyright notice is included. Permission is granted to the editors of the Net.Champions Compendium to use this work in future versions of the Compendium and to publish this work in printed versions of the Compendium. All other rights reserved." ====================================================================== Character Name: Pike (250 points) by Ben Hsu OCV: 6 PD 5 ED 5 Levels: +2 with polearms +2 DCV requires weapon +2 w/Block Disarm Bind, OAF DCV: 6 rPD 12 rED 12 Defenses: ECV: 3 Total 17 Total 17 Description: Out of costume, Andy's a caucasian male in his hate 20's with light brown hair and wire-rimmed glasses. His costume consists of a red bodysuit over which are pieces of protective armor covering his torso, forearms and calves. His helmet covers the upper half of his face. Pike's weapon is a polearm whose exact appearance and form he can change at will. When it changes it appears to morph ala T1000 style 15 Str 5 18 Dex 24 15 Con 10 10 Body 18 Int 8 8 Ego -4 8 Pre -2 12 Com 1 5 PD 5 5 ED 5 8 Rec 4 5 Spd 22 36 End 30 Stun 5 Total: 77 Dex Roll: 13- Int Roll: 13- Per Roll: 13- Ego Roll: 11- Cost Skills/Talents/Perks: ===================== 3 Contact: person at art museum 3 Breakfall 3 Scholar 5 KS: muscle-powered weapons, +3 to roll (16-) 7 KS: polearms: +5 to roll (18-) 4 Weaponsmith:common melee, uncommon melee 2 KS: Art History 2 PS: curator 2 Fam: polearms, staff 31 total Cost Powers: ======= 25 Martial Arts, useable with polearms (default) Thrust: defensive strike hack: fast strike parry: martial block disarm: martial disarm takedown set vs. charge: +0/+1, Str+2d6 + v/5, abort 8 +2 Damage classes 26 Multipower: 55pt reserve. OAF polearm. Not useable in confined quarters e.g. coffins, phone booths, or may take CV penalties 4 2d6 HKA ## 4 1d6+1 HKA AP ## 4 1d6+1 HKA +1 stunx ## 2 +6d6 HA ## 3 1d6+1 HKA range ##, if thrown, cannot use MP until weapon recovered 4 4" stretching persistant 1 +2 with block, disarm, bind ## := var SFX (different polearms), 1/2end 24 +12 pd +12 ed armor, act 14- 10 +2 with all polearms 5 +2 DCV, must be using a long weapon, must have opponent at that range (i.e. won't help in close-quarters or range) ----- 120 Total 31 Skills 77 Charateristics 228 Total Bonus Disadvantages: ============== 15 Secret ID 15 Wants to prove that he can be a hero 10 lack of confidance 15 Protective of his weapon 20 2x effect from ego powers 15 Hunted by group who wants to use his weapon 10 DNPC: fellow worker, normal, 8- ----- XXX Total Character Concept: ================== Pike is a curator (is that the word?) at a museum who stumbled across an apparently magical weapon, and feels obligated to use it responsibly. However he is new to the heroing business, and feels out of his element. Explanation of Powers: ====================== Pike's weapon is a polearm which can be altered to suit the situation. He has changed its ends into a variety of cutting, thrusting and bludgeoning devices. It can stretch from 5' long to 25' long. I know that the +2 with block, disarm and bind is not normally permitted in a MP, however I feel that the SFX fits the MP very well: he changes his weapon into something with many hooks on it to entangle other weapons. The "set vs. charge" maneuver was built using Ninja Hero. The 14- activation on the armor may seem like minimaxing, but I feel it fits in with the image of him as wearing partial armor, not a full suit of armor. Background: =========== When Andrew Steele was nine years old he stumbled across a book about weapons, and he was bedazzled by the different polearms which were pictured in the book. Young Andrew was an inquisitive boy, and the bedazzlement turned to fascination to obsession as he tried to learn more about this spectrum of weaponry. This obsession lasted far longer then the normal childhood obsession. Andrew studied first polearms, then other muscle-powered weapons. He studied their history, their use in different parts of the world and how they were used in combat. Andrew eventually became a curator at the local museum, specializing in the Arms and Armour section. He has been called in several times by police to help identify murder weapons. Then there came the day when an unusual weapon was located by in a raid on a DEMON lair. Andrew was called in for his expertise in the area. However it was like nothing he had seen before. Andrew held this polearm in his hands and began comparing it to what he has seen. At this point it became apparent that the weapon was responding to his thoughts. As he compared it to a halberd, it slowly shifted form to be a replica of the halberd in his mind. Further tests showed that the weapon can change its form and length, according to what the wielder imagines, as long as it still resembles some form of staff-weapon. At this point several things began to enter Andrew's mind. He realized that this was his chance to be one of the superheroes who receive so much publicity. He also felt that, with his knowledge of these weapons, he is best suited to use this magical weapon. Andrew convinced the local hero group of this, and after several months of training, a new hero was born. Identifying Quotes: ================== Tactics: ======== Pike is still learning how to best use the versatility of his weapon. In a one-on-one situation he would attempt to hold his opponent off at 1-2" away with his superior reach. He would use his stretching to help out a comrade by tripping or disarming another enemy from across the room. He has also used it to fight from behind the team brick. Sample Encounters/Shtick: ======================== Possible Extensions and Campaign Use: ===================================== There are several ways in which Pike can be extended. He might find new and innovative ways in which to use his weapon or develope new maneuvers. Also, he might learn more skills from either his "normal" vocation at the museum or from his costumed vocation (a KS villains of the world won't hurt) Does anyone out there have any suggestions as to implementing a sode-garami or mancatcher? The first is a polearm with several crossbars on it, and these crossbars have hooks and barbs on them to entangle the sleeves of the robes worn in Japan. The second is a circle open at one end, this is meant to catch the limb or waist of an opponent and throw him/her to the ground. The circle ma have barbs in it to cause injury... Would +N Dex, only for initiative, be good for simulating the longer reach of his weapon? As you can see I have a few points left over...any other suggestions? I was thinking about other backgrounds for him. Two alternatives to the museum curator are a soldier/warrior from several centuries back who was placed in suspended animation, and a member of the Vatican guards. Design notes: This character was inspidered by the pikemen of Switzerland. The two forces which had a hand in ending the reign of the knights and putting power back in the hands of infantry were the bow (the English Archers) and the pike (the Swiss Pikemen), and while many have heard of the archers and there are several characters who use the bow, there are few who use the pike. Also, I have been fascinated by the multitude of polearms out there. At your service, Ben Hsu ~~~~BenHsu+@CMU.edu~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~hsu@ivory-tower.pc.cc.cmu.edu~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/usr/bh2b/home.html~~~~~~~~~ "Shall we share space with those whose only escapes are dancing colors and intertwined limbs?" --John M. Ford, "Web of Angels"