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waygood
Feb 28th, '05, 06:27 AM
Hello,

I am about to start playing and have looked at creating a character. But I dont have an idea of what to do. The DM is the only person who has the experience to help with this, but he is also spending a lot of time with others. So to speed things up, I'd like to put a character idea your way, so you can pick holes in it and make some suggestions.
The reason I am doing this, is that a few years back I played runequest, and ended up with a weak character that just seemed to heal the wounded. I dont want to change characters after a while and end up falling behind.

Character idea:
Elemental nuclear reaction controller.
Restricted to own body, after nuclear accident.
Must maintain great deal of mental effort to control the reaction, while in comany of others to prevent hurting them.
Can reduce control to produce reaction and heat which can be directed/released.
Has bio-suit which can contain the radiation from escaping, and also has built in cooling system. No mental control required.
Cooling system can be controlled to produce intense heat.
Requires daily replenishment of water/fluid.
Can intensionally contaminate the coolant to produce radioactive cloud of gas. But reducing coolant, increases temperature, and require replacement quickly.
Not replacing coolant (daily or through draining it) or loosing control while unsuited (unconcious/mind controlled) would build to meltdown.
Can remove gloves for radioactive killing blow, otherwise blows are standard.

Due to weight of suit (radiation clocking and coolant) has to enhanced strength etc.
Weight means slow acceleration, but great deal of momentum for ramming attacks. Low values on my dodge ability.
Suit suseptable to piercing weapons, which would release radiation. So close attackers would get blasted. Ranged weapons (snipers) could injure friends.
Suit could absorb energy.
Body could absorb radiation (including cosmic)

Any suggestions on changes, weapons and restrictions.

AliceTheOwl
Feb 28th, '05, 06:44 AM
It sounds like you have a good concept, but if you're worried about being bogged down, you might want to reduce a few of the limitations you're talking about.

For one, moving slowly in combat may just drive you up a wall. (I'm forever taking characters with a 4 or 5 speed, and everyone else takes characters with a 5 or 6. Drives me NUTS having to wait through all their turns.)

It sounds like you have a pretty good idea down for an energy blaster. Build some transport powers and armor into all that, and you should be okay.

though don't ask me about the actual numbers part. I'm just a concept kinda person.

waygood
Feb 28th, '05, 06:53 AM
Great, this is just what i was looking for. I'll make sure I have a good movement figure to start with. I can always add a jet pack, hover or wheels later on.
I'll put it to the guys tomorrow night when we meet up.

waygood
Mar 3rd, '05, 03:08 AM
Hello,

I put it to the GM and he didnt think it would work as is. So it has been changed to the following:-

Disabled guy, very weak. Muliform character of robot. Wheelchair turns into robot around the guy.
Robot has increased density, fast run, armoured, tazer blast

CourtFool
Mar 3rd, '05, 03:41 AM
Powered Armor Guy is pretty standard. Do you have Champions (https://secure.compnetco.com/herogames/viewItem.jsp?id=72983)? You could 'roll' up a dude and then adjust a little to taste. That should give you a fairly balanced character. Unfortunately I do not have my books with me or I could help you with that.

Ask the GM what the campaign guidelines are and try to stay close to those. That should keep you from being useless in combat. You might also want to consider some levels of Combat Luck so you have a chance to survive if caught without your suit.

red_eagle123
Mar 3rd, '05, 03:53 AM
The updated concept sounds a lot like a standard power armor wearer, with the twist that the suit turns into a wheel chair in Secret ID. A Multiform is probably the best way to build this, as you mentioned.

As the Owl Wife mentioned, keep in mind travel ability, SPD and defenses. If you're looking for some ideas, there are some websites out there that list off a whole lot of sample characters. Perhaps one of them will have a sample of Iron Man or Warmachine. The only problem is that they're very likely to be 4th edition, but that should only take a little bit of updating to bring into 5th edition.

Hawksmoor
Mar 3rd, '05, 04:45 AM
Sorry to hear your GM passed on the concept. It seemed like it would have been a more interesting character to make. The concept is very similar to the Presence, Nuke (of the Squadron Supreme) and a one off of Jack of Hearts.

The great thing about HERO and Champions in particular is that you can still sharpen your skills by sitting down and hacking out this PC. I heartily suggest you try it, your GM (if he is even remotely sane) will be pleased that you are taking an interest and trying to learn the mechanics of the system.

Do you own Sidekick? It is a HERO-lite subbook that you can either purchase here in the online store or your own FLGS. It is not expensive and can be a great primer on the HERO system and Character creation.

Hawksmoor

waygood
Mar 3rd, '05, 04:46 AM
Cheers for the help people. We had a little time on Tuesday night and didnt have time to finish it, so when we meet up next I'll have a full character to share.

I've seen some samples here on the forum, and they have given me some ideas of what to have and what to get when we get exp to spend. Suggestions will be nice when I post my characters. Thanks again people.

waygood
Mar 3rd, '05, 05:04 AM
I dont have anything yet, because as a newbie, I dont fancy forking out for stuff that maybe useless. I think I'll play a few times first to see where I'm falling over, and get the appropriate books.

The characters the others are going to use are:-
Swordsman - highlander type character, that was a musketeer etc..
Ratman - just overheard but dont know any details.
Wraith - Matrix wraith, invisible and desolid, with secret identity of normal solid person.
Earth mover - Like character from Captain Planet cartoon (although nobody knew what i was talking about. I have a much younger brother so others must have missed it)
Black hole guy- Crichton

We are going to start off by fighting each other, to get used to the system.

Tech
Mar 3rd, '05, 05:33 AM
I dont have anything yet, because as a newbie, I dont fancy forking out for stuff that maybe useless. I think I'll play a few times first to see where I'm falling over, and get the appropriate books.

The characters the others are going to use are:-
Swordsman - highlander type character, that was a musketeer etc..
Ratman - just overheard but dont know any details.
Wraith - Matrix wraith, invisible and desolid, with secret identity of normal solid person.
Earth mover - Like character from Captain Planet cartoon (although nobody knew what i was talking about. I have a much younger brother so others must have missed it)
Black hole guy- Crichton

We are going to start off by fighting each other, to get used to the system.

Ah, fighting each other.. that's always loads of fun. :) Earth Mover is a character similar to Kwame from Captain Planet (thought I'd help you with the name).

waygood
Mar 3rd, '05, 06:22 AM
Nice to see someone else remembers. Thanks for the memory jog on the name.

p.s. I remember buckaroo banzai (dont you think timecop ripped off their smashing into the wall idea)