Please evaluate this Midnighter clone? [Archive]

Katherine

Oct 2nd, '04, 04:12 AM

There's something about this character that rubs me the wrong way, but I can't put my finger on just what. He's basically a Midnighter Clone, a cyborg combat machine constructed from a former martial arts pro by an an "evil industralist". The setting/campaign "New Justice" is going to be somewhat "Iron Age" but I'm hoping to make it more Bronze/Stainless Steel before the players realize. :D

The player is a friend of mine but he's not on the boards. Any comments?

Ebon Avenger

Player: Brian Redding

<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right">Val  </td><td>Char   </td><td>Cost</td></tr><tr><td align="right">25  </td><td>STR</td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td align="right">30  </td><td>DEX</td><td>60</td></tr><tr><td align="right">23  </td><td>CON</td><td>26</td></tr><tr><td align="right">18  </td><td>BODY</td><td>16</td></tr><tr><td align="right">15  </td><td>INT</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td align="right">18  </td><td>EGO</td><td>16</td></tr><tr><td align="right">20  </td><td>PRE</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td align="right">10  </td><td>COM</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td></td><td> </td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="right">10/18  </td><td>PD</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td align="right">10/18  </td><td>ED</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td align="right">6  </td><td>SPD</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td align="right">10  </td><td>REC</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">50  </td><td>END</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td align="right">50  </td><td>STUN</td><td>7</td></tr><td></td><td> </td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="right">6"  </td><td>RUN</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">2"  </td><td>SWIM</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">5"  </td><td>LEAP</td><td>0</td></tr></table>Characteristics Cost: 187

<table border="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td align="right">Cost  </td><td>Power</td><td align="right">END</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">20  </td><td>Combat Computer: Aid: Dexterity 4d6, Delayed Return Rate (points return at the rate of 5 per Minute) (+1/4) (50 Active Points); Self Only (-1/2), Only for Combat Value Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-1/2), Only vs opponent studied for a phase Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (-1/4), Restrainable (Cyborg Implant) (Only by means other than Grabs and Entangles -1/4) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">8  </td><td>Pain Editor: Physical Damage Reduction, Resistant, 25% (15 Active Points); STUN (or BODY) Only (-1/2), Restrainable (Cyborg Implant) (Only by means other than Grabs and Entangles -1/4) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">22  </td><td>Artifical Adrenal Gland: Aid: Strength and Stun at once 3d6, Can Add Maximum Of 20 Points, Delayed Return Rate (points return at the rate of 5 per Minute) (+1/4) (39 Active Points); Self Only (-1/2), Restrainable (Cyborg implant) (Only by means other than Grabs and Entangles -1/4) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">20  </td><td>Combat Analysis: Find Weakness 13- (Related Group of Attacks (HTH)) (30 Active Points); Living Creatures only Power loses about a fourth of its effectiveness (-1/4), Restrainable (Cyborg Implant) (Only by means other than Grabs and Entangles -1/4) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">16  </td><td>Armored Long Coat: Armor (8 PD/8 ED) (24 Active Points); OIF (-1/2) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr></table>Powers Cost: 86

<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right">Cost  </td><td>Martial Arts Maneuver</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5  </td><td>Killing Throw: 1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, +0 DCV, HKA 1d6, Target Falls </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5  </td><td>Joint Break: 1/2 Phase, -1 OCV, -2 DCV, Grab One Limb; HKA 1d6, Disable </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">4  </td><td>Martial Dodge: 1/2 Phase, -- OCV, +5 DCV, Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">4  </td><td>Martial Strike: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +2 DCV, STR +5d6 Strike </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5  </td><td>Offensive Strike: 1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, +1 DCV, STR +7d6 Strike </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5  </td><td>Flying Dodge: 1/2 Phase, -- OCV, +4 DCV, Dodge All Attacks, Abort; FMove </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">12  </td><td>+3 HTH Damage Class(es) </td></tr></table>Martial Arts Cost: 40

<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right">Cost  </td><td>Skill</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">3  </td><td>Acrobatics 15- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">3  </td><td>Demolitions 12- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">3  </td><td>Stealth 15- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">3  </td><td>Interrogation 13- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">2  </td><td>KS: The Martial World 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">8  </td><td>Defense Maneuver: I-III  </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">3  </td><td>Breakfall 15- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">10  </td><td>+2 with HTH Combat </td></tr></table>Skills Cost: 35

<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right">Cost  </td><td>Talent</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">2  </td><td>Lightning Reflexes: +2 DEX to act first with All Actions (3 Active Points); In Hand to Hand Combat only Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-1/2), Restrainable (Cyborg Implant) (Only by means other than Grabs and Entangles -1/4) </td></tr></table>Talents Cost: 2

Total Character Cost: 350

<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right">Val  </td><td>Disadvantages</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">15  </td><td>Hunted: Marcus Oswald (CEO of Oswald Technologies) 8- (As Pow; Harshly Punish; Extensive Non-Combat Influence) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">10  </td><td>Distinctive Features: Extensive Cybernetic replacement (Not Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Uncommonly-Used Senses) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">10  </td><td>Physical Limitation: Requires special medical care (Frequently; Slightly Impairing) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">15  </td><td>Enraged: Imprisoned (Uncommon), go 11-, recover 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">15  </td><td>Social Limitation: Secret ID (Frequently; Major) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">10  </td><td>Vulnerability: 1 1/2 x STUN Electrical Attacks (Common) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">10  </td><td>Physical Limitation: Can be affected as machine class of minds (Infrequently; Greatly Impairing) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">10  </td><td>Physical Limitation: Powers can be shut down by Cyperpaths (Infrequently; Greatly Impairing) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">15  </td><td>Psychological Limitation: Violent, solves problems with his fists (Common; Strong) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">10  </td><td>Psychological Limitation: Short Tempered (Common; Moderate) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">15  </td><td>Psychological Limitation: Headstrong and stubborn (Common; Strong) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">15  </td><td>Psychological Limitation: Vigilante mentality (Common; Strong) </td></tr></table>
Disadvantage Points: 150

Base Points: 200
Experience Required: 0
Total Experience Available: 0
Experience Unspent: 0

CourtFool

Oct 2nd, '04, 04:28 AM

This is all just opinion...

This character is all but useless outside of combat. A master martial artist with no KS Martial Style? By the way, what is his style? Do you really need a 30 Dex (10 OCV) + 4d6 Dex Aid (+2 OCV) + 2 w/HTH (+2 OCV for a grand possible total of 14)? Not to mention you are now looking at a possible 8 SPD. Violent, Short Tempered and Vigilante? Someone wants to play hack-n-slash.

OddHat

Oct 2nd, '04, 04:29 AM

Just a quick thought:

The DEX Aid is a construct I've seen a few times, but as built it will cost an action for (on average) +1 CV versus one target. Two levels with all combat and 4 points of lightning reflexes would do more on average for the same cost, with no lost action. Add a few limits and the levels become an even better choice. Make the levels HtH Combat Levels with a limit or two and they become much, much better than that Dex Aid as written.

Maybe give him the Analyze Combat skill, then levels in HTH combat, requires Analyze Combat Skill Roll (-1/2), Cybernetic (-1/4, if it will regularly come into play). More bang for the buck that way.

Katherine

Oct 2nd, '04, 05:00 AM

This is all just opinion...

This character is all but useless outside of combat. A master martial artist with no KS Martial Style? By the way, what is his style? Do you really need a 30 Dex (10 OCV) + 4d6 Dex Aid (+2 OCV) + 2 w/HTH (+2 OCV for a grand possible total of 14)? Not to mention you are now looking at a possible 8 SPD. Violent, Short Tempered and Vigilante? Someone wants to play hack-n-slash.

Yeah he is kind of limited outside of combat. His background sort of justifies it. He doesn't recall most of his past or skills from before his augmentation. He was sent to assasinate the other member of New Justice before they managed to get into his head and reprogam him. Hopefully, once the game starts he'll put some experience into "relearning" his skills. The "style" is most a conglomeration of things, sort of like UFC style. A little Karate, Judo, etc.

Maybe give him the Analyze Combat skill, then levels in HTH combat, requires Analyze Combat Skill Roll (-1/2), Cybernetic (-1/4, if it will regularly come into play). More bang for the buck that way.

Thanks, that makes allot of sense. I'll pass it on to Brian.

DoctorItron

Oct 2nd, '04, 08:55 PM

I dislike Aid in combat situations because it requires too much bookkeeping. This character will have a fluctuating DEX and STR. More work than I like as a player, and as a GM I'd only allow it on a trial basis until the player can prove that it doesn't slow down the game.

Character has too little versatility for my tastes. No movement power, no attacks other than PD damage, no enhanced senses, etc.. Depending on the opposition, the character is either unstoppable or helpless.

Character has a "wastefully high" OCV. Remove the DEX Aid, boost the DEX a tiny bit, and put the leftover points into skills.

The violent, short tempered, and vigilante disads seem to overlap quite a bit. Maybe the violent and short tempered should be replaced with an Enraged Whenever He Sees A Potential Enemy?