GM Mistake

[Tom McCarthy]

Just a little anecdote.

I included Blowtorch in a recent battle. I'd used him under 4th edition many times and felt I had a good grasp of his capabilities. I used the 5th edition writeup and was dramatically shocked by the result.

Although he's still limited to 67 active point attacks, Blowtorch's main attack seems to have gone from 9D6 Autofire EB to 3D6 AP RKA. And he still has Find Weakness with it.

In my campaign, where defences are typically 20 PD/ED, with 10-12 resistant and no hardening, he's gone from a worthy opponent to a no-nonsense killer.

For some reason, the revised Bulldozer had jumped right out at me, but Blowtorch's tuneup snuck by me until it nearly killed a PC.

[Tech]

Blowtorch is one of my favorite villains to whip out at a team.
SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHO HE IS (just in case).
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Okay, the Find Weakness ability of his continues to be nasty, regardless of which Blowtorch you use. I personally think for the new Blowtorch that a combination of the first Blowtorch with the CKC will produce interesting results. I must say, the 'soak someone with fluid and light them on fire' is very devious. After I pulled that off on a PC, all the other PC's became very weary of him. Personally, I do wish they'd have kept him 8d6 EB but that's my own opinion. Killing Attacks, depending on how you handle them in your campaign, can be very ineffective and that's all he's got - Killing Attacks.

I got a laugh out of the players after Blowtorch recently attacked a PC, another PC pulled out his sword (which became a flaming sword) and said: "You think you're so tough with your fire? Try THIS on!" Blowtorch's reaction was to stop still for a phase and stare at the fiery blade saying, "Oooooo!"

[Lord Liaden]

Originally posted by Tech
I got a laugh out of the players after Blowtorch recently attacked a PC, another PC pulled out his sword (which became a flaming sword) and said: "You think you're so tough with your fire? Try THIS on!" Blowtorch's reaction was to stop still for a phase and stare at the fiery blade saying, "Oooooo!"

That's the kind of little character detail that really helps a NPC come alive for the players. Nice touch, Tech. :cool:

Yeah, it's easy to overlook changes to old favorite villains because you knew the earlier version so well. Tech, I agree with your approach to combining elements of Blowtorch; one of the neat things about having multiple versions of a character written up is that you can pick which elements work for you and put them together. Kind of a villainous Mr. Potatohead. :p