John Henry based brick

**nexus** · Nov 29th, '04, 01:53 PM

I'm working on a brick themed about the tall tale of John Henry and I wanted to toss out some ideas and see if anyone had any others. I see the character as a Everyman Hero, demonstrating the themes of Endurance, Will and the Strength of the Common Man. So I don't see his powers are being extremely flashy and focussing on sheer dogged determination. Here's what I have come up with:

A HTH Attack (Hammer), may or may not be magical.

Incredibly high Constitution, Body and Endurance, almost tireless, great physical strength. Average Intelligence but high Ego and Pre.

I'm thinking his Defenses should possibly be invisible. Bullets, blows, et al, don't boucce, they wound him but he carries on regardless.

A "Quick Recovery style" Aid/Healing. If he can take a moment, he can recover from almost anything quickly.

Jack of all trades as a skill enhancer and lots of blue collar Ps's.

Mental Defense (Indomitable Will)
Power Defense ( Overcomes adversity)

Lastly, I was thinking perhaps some kind of Aid that lets him exceed his limits by a great deal but risks (or definiately) killing him.

***OddHat*** · Nov 29th, '04, 02:15 PM

Cool looking concept.

May I suggest:
1) Very High Con (38+), High Bod, Combat Luck and Regeneration rather than standard defenses. Or maybe some Damage Reduction. That gets you the I Endure effect.

2) Extra STR that costs double end and has a side effect (Body Drain) that occurs whenever it is used. This could even be applied to an entire MP of Strength Tricks. Several of my characters use this approach. It works vry well for those Once Every Few Adventures powers.

3) A few KS relating to America would be good for flavor, and some city and area knowledges. Maybe Streetwise as well, depending on the tone of the campaign and the history of the character. A modern John Henry should probably speak Spanish at the basic conversation level.

4) Rather than the Aid, I'd put everything the GM will allow into the CON, STR, and Regeneration aspects of the character. It's a more cost efficient way of simulating the Super Tough but not Invulnerable thing you're going for. Consider buying a few defensive maneuvers as well, as coordinated attacks can wipe out High Con characters.

EDIT: CON 43 + STR 80 gives you a REC of 25; that will let you come back from almost anything in a couple of phases.

**Rapier** · Nov 29th, '04, 02:20 PM

I've got three of em around here someplace (John Henry I, II and III). The magic is in the hammer. I don't think I've put em into HD yet...but I will look through the stack of sheets and see if I can't find em.

**Just A Guy Name** · Nov 29th, '04, 02:24 PM

Heh.. My first thought was that this was something to do with the Red Sox owner

***OddHat*** · Nov 29th, '04, 02:58 PM

Here is one way to do it:

<table border=1><tr><td bgcolor="white">The Great John Henry 
<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right">Val  </td><td>Char   </td><td>Cost</td></tr><tr><td align="right">100  </td><td>STR</td><td>70</td></tr><tr><td align="right">18  </td><td>DEX</td><td>24</td></tr><tr><td align="right">43  </td><td>CON</td><td>66</td></tr><tr><td align="right">25  </td><td>BODY</td><td>30</td></tr><tr><td align="right">13  </td><td>INT</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td align="right">13  </td><td>EGO</td><td>6</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">16/28  </td><td>PD</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">9/21  </td><td>ED</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">4  </td><td>SPD</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td align="right">25  </td><td>REC</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">86  </td><td>END</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">87  </td><td>STUN</td><td>0</td></tr><td></td><td> </td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="right">9"  </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">20"  </td><td>LEAP</td><td>0</td></tr></table>Characteristics Cost: 221
 <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">8  </td><td>John Henry's Hammer: +20 STR (20 Active Points); OAF (Magic Hammer; -1), No Figured Characteristics (-1/2) </td><td valign="top" align="right">2</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">18  </td><td>I Shall Endure: Healing 2 BODY, Can Heal Limbs, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Persistent (+1/2) (50 Active Points); Extra Time (Regeneration-Only) 1 Turn (Post-Segment 12) (-1 1/4), Self Only (-1/2) </td><td valign="top" align="right">0</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">6  </td><td>Big and Tough : Knockback Resistance -3" </td><td valign="top" align="right">0</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">6  </td><td>Running +3" (9" total) </td><td valign="top" align="right">1</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">20  </td><td>My Great Strength: Multipower, 60-point reserve, (60 Active Points); all slots Increased Endurance Cost (x3 END; -1), Side Effects, Side Effect occurs automatically whenever Power is used (2d6 Killing Attack to Self when activates power; -1) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">2u  </td><td>1) My Mighty Hands: Hand-To-Hand Attack +6 1/2d6, Personal Immunity (+1/4), Area Of Effect (One Hex; +1/2) (58 Active Points); Increased Endurance Cost (x3 END; -1), Side Effects, Side Effect occurs automatically whenever Power is used (2d6 Killing Attack to Self when activates power; -1), Hand-To-Hand Attack (-1/2) </td><td valign="top" align="right">18</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">2u  </td><td>2) My Great Strength: +60 STR (60 Active Points); Increased Endurance Cost (x3 END; -1), Side Effects, Side Effect occurs automatically whenever Power is used (2d6 Killing Attack to Self when activates power; -1), No Figured Characteristics (-1/2) </td><td valign="top" align="right">18</td></tr></table>Powers Cost: 62

 <table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right">Cost  </td><td>Skill</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">10  </td><td>Defense Maneuver I-IV  </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">3  </td><td>Jack of All Trades [Notes: I Know The Work Of America] </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1  </td><td>1) PS: Carpenter (2 Active Points) 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1  </td><td>2) PS: Manual Labor (2 Active Points) 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1  </td><td>3) PS: Mason (2 Active Points) 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">3  </td><td>Traveler [Notes: This Land Is My Land] </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1  </td><td>1) AK: America (2 Active Points) 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1  </td><td>2) AK: America's Small Towns and Great Cities (2 Active Points) 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1  </td><td>3) AK: The Roads of America (2 Active Points) 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">3  </td><td>Linguist [Notes: I Speak the Languages of my people] </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1  </td><td>1) Language: Cantonese (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">0  </td><td>2) Language: English (idiomatic; literate) (5 Active Points) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1  </td><td>3) Language: Spanish (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1  </td><td>4) Language: Vietnamese (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">3  </td><td>Scholar [Notes: I Know The Heart of America] </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1  </td><td>1) KS: American Culture (2 Active Points) 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1  </td><td>2) KS: American History (2 Active Points) 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1  </td><td>3) KS: American Magic (2 Active Points) 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">9  </td><td>+3 with Hammer Blow, Punch, Grab [Notes: I have Fists of Iron] </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">0  </td><td>WF: Clubs </td></tr></table>Skills Cost: 43

 <table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right">Cost  </td><td>Talent</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">24  </td><td>Combat Luck (12 PD/12 ED) </td></tr></table>Talents Cost: 24

 <table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right">Val  </td><td>Disadvantages</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5  </td><td>Unluck: 1d6 </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5  </td><td>Money: Poor </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">15  </td><td>Psychological Limitation: Champion of the Working Man (Common, Strong) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">15  </td><td>Psychological Limitation: Will Not Back Down (Common, Strong) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">10  </td><td>Psychological Limitation: Fearless (Common, Moderate) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">15  </td><td>Psychological Limitation: Help the Helpless, Protect the Weak (Common, Strong) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">30  </td><td>Hunted: Viper 11- (Mo Pow, NCI, PC has a Public ID or is otherwise very easy to find, Harshly Punish) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">15  </td><td>Social Limitation: Public ID (Frequently, Major) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">20  </td><td>Enraged: In Combat (Common), go 11-, recover 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">10  </td><td>Distinctive Features: Huge mountain of a man, impossibly muscled, covered in scars (Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">10  </td><td>Dependent NPC: Sob Story of the week 8- (Normal) </td></tr></table>Disadvantage Points: 150
<hr>
Cost Summary:
Base Points:200
Disadvantage Points: 150

Total Experience Available: 0

Total Character Cost: 350
<hr>
<table width="100%" valign="top"><tr valign="top"><td>Height: 2.00 m</td><td>Hair: Brown</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Weight: 100.00 kg</td><td>Eyes: Brown</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Appearance: </td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Personality: </td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Quote:</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Background: </td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Powers/Tactics: </td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Campaign Use: </td></tr></table>
</td></tr></table>

**Foxiekins** · Nov 29th, '04, 03:10 PM

What about Singing...? John Henry was always singing... I tried to do a John Henry character with a Hammer that would pick up a flaming aura that grew as he used it...

**Doug McCrae** · Nov 29th, '04, 03:23 PM

You know DC already used this idea, right?

**Filkerman** · Nov 29th, '04, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by Doug McCrae

You know DC already used this idea, right?

Are you referring to Steel (John Henry Irons)? If so, I see Steel and nexus' idea (and OddHat's implementation) as two diffrerent characters. Steel is a technological hero, sort of an Iron Man without the ranged weaponry. His strength and toughness come from his suit. I always got the feeling that his name happened to be John Henry and he had a hammer was an in-joke, not really part of his background per se.

The Great John Henry as described by nexus and written up by OddHat is more of a myth made real - either the embodiment of the John Henry of legend, or a man imbued with his powers the collective unconscious' shared idea of who John Henry can do.

**nexus** · Nov 29th, '04, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Doug McCrae

You know DC already used this idea, right?

I'm generally pretty sure ANY character idea has been used that isn't hopelessly lame or too surreal to comprehend. It was cool and original to me and that's what counts.

**Foxiekins** · Nov 29th, '04, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by Filkerman

The Great John Henry as described by nexus and written up by OddHat is more of a myth made real - either the embodiment of the John Henry of legend, or a man imbued with his powers the collective unconscious' shared idea of who John Henry can do.

Yeah, the John Henry character I was contemplating was a young man who's powers emerged in his teens, and when they did, it was via the strongest image in his subconscious... All the stories about John Henry that his grandfather had told him from childhood onward...

**JmOz** · Nov 29th, '04, 06:13 PM

RE: DC's Steel:

At least in his first couple of appearences it was made clear that he had some inhanced Str/Toughness (He rips a car door off with out his suit)

**Stephen Mann** · Nov 29th, '04, 07:02 PM

Well, if you recall what made John Henry famous, perhaps making him somewhat of a Luddite might not be off track. If your character is a modern character based on JH, then perhaps what allows him to fully tap into the myth force is his resistance to the mindless worship of high tech in modern society.

**Big Willy** · Nov 30th, '04, 07:49 AM

Ah, John Henry: the man who worked himself to death for a bet.

There's heroism.

**Silbeg** · Nov 30th, '04, 08:31 AM

Now, If I am reading this correctly, he has a max STR of 160? Wowsers.

Maybe a different idea would be to make the "My Great Strength" multipower work a little differently. I am assuming you want him to have the 100 STR, but even that seems excessive to me... I would perhaps do it as a +1/2 Variable Advantage on STR...

Another way would be to replace the "John Henry's Hammer" and the "My Great Strength" with the following:

10 John Henry's Hammer: Multipower, 40-point reserve, (40 Active Points); all slots Side Effects, Side Effect occurs automatically whenever Power is used (2d6 KA when using power; -1), OAF (John Henry's Hammer; -1), Increased Endurance Cost (x3 END; -1)
1u 1) My Great Strength: +40 STR (40 Active Points); No Figured Characteristics (-1/2) 12
1u 2) Can Break Through Anything: Penetrating (+1/2) for up to 80 Active Points of STR (40 Active Points) 12
1u 3) Sweeping the Hammer: Area Of Effect (up to One Hex; +1/2) for up to 80 Active Points of STR (40 Active Points) 12
1u 4) Knock 'em to Timbuktu: Does x1 1/2 Knockback (+1/2) for up to 80 Active Points of STR (40 Active Points)

Adding additional slots would be trivial as well (just look in "Ultimate Brick" for ideas).
This shows the tremendous expenditure he would have to do to use the powers...

***OddHat*** · Nov 30th, '04, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by Silbeg

Now, If I am reading this correctly, he has a max STR of 160? Wowsers.

Surprising what you can do on 350 points without even particularly cheesy limits, isn't it?

Note that he can also take an average 20d6 blow (70 stun) without being stunned himelf.

By all means he should be tweaked to match whatever the limits of the campaign are, but I would suggest that points taken away from STR be fed into support powers (Night Vision, mental and power def) and brick tricks. I prefer the Hammer work as a source of extra STR rather than as a HA, but either would work, and the point cost per d6 of extra damage is the same.

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