Urban Fantasy Setting: Here There Be Monsters

[Killer Shrike]

We're building out a new Urban Fantasy Monster Hunter campaign based in part on my old Demon Hunter: FBI setting from the Haymaker and EZHero days, and influenced heavily by the recent novel Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia.

Here is the site:

Here There Be Monsters.

UPDATE:

The site is fully fleshed out with Origins, custom Abilities and Powers such as Hex, Intervention, Invocation, Exorcism, and Supernatural Suppression, 20 sample starting characters across the five Origins of Believer, Mystic, Psychic, Innati, and Professional, 20+ NPCs (and growing), 3 "Vignette" adventures with character writes ups and plot-lines, and sundry other things.

This is a collaborative process, and content submissions are welcome.

[Panpiper]

Well, it just so happens that while fiddling a couple of weeks ago, I built a 'monster hunter' for a hypothetical Dark Champions game. This is a US military special forces operative tasked with identifying and neutralizing monster threats. Basically the liaison between the authorities and the group so they can get on with their job. Unfortunately the perks required for the conception, cost so much that there was not room for martial arts and a few more 'flavor' skills to more define the character's military background. I assumed a standard 225 points for a Dark Champions campaign.

Killroy

Val Char Cost
20 STR 10
13 DEX 6
13 CON 3
13 BODY 3
18 INT 8
13 EGO 3
18 PRE 8
4 OCV 5
5 DCV 10
3 OMCV
3 DMCV
8 PD 6
3 ED 1
4 SPD 20
7 REC 3
30 END 2
30 STUN 5
13m RUN 1
4m SWIM 0
4m LEAP 0
Characteristics Cost: 94

Cost Power
3 "Really Tough": Resistant Protection (1 PD/1 ED)
6 "Only a Flesh Wound": Resistant Protection (3 PD/3 ED) (9 Active Points); Limited Power Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (Does not protect from first point of body; -1/2)
7 "Melee Awareness": +3 DCV (15 Active Points); Limited Power Power loses about half of its effectiveness (Only in Hand to Hand; -1)
3 +1 PER with all Sense Groups
Powers Cost: 19

Cost Skill
12 +4 with a small group of attacks "Sniper Rifles"
4 Penalty Skill Levels: +2 vs. Range Penalties with Sniper Rifles with to offset a specific negative OCV modifier with any three maneuvers or tight group
3 "Concealed Rifle" +7 with single Skill or Characteristic Roll (14 Active Points); Limited Power Power loses about two-thirds of its effectiveness (Only for concealing Rifles; -1 1/2), Limited Power Power loses about half of its effectiveness (Only when wearing a trench coat; -1), Requires A Roll (Characteristic roll; Requires a Dex roll if engaged in vigorous movement.; -1/2), IIF (Special harness; -1/4)
3 Concealment 13-
3 Stealth 12-
3 Tracking 13-
3 Conversation 13-
3 High Society 13-
3 Bureaucratics 13-
3 KS: Military 13-
3 PS: Military General 13-
Skills Cost: 43

Cost Perk
5 "Monster Hunter - Detached Special Forces - Rank" Fringe Benefit: General
27 Contact: US Military (Contact has access to major institutions, Contact has extremely useful Skills or resources, Contact has significant Contacts of his own, Good relationship with Contact), Organization Contact (x3) (27 Active Points) 12-
10 Fringe Benefit: Improved Equipment Availability Advanced Military equipment
10 Fringe Benefit: License to Kill
5 Fringe Benefit: International Police Powers
2 Fringe Benefit: Concealed Weapon Permit (where appropriate)
2 Fringe Benefit: Heavy Weapon Permit
1 Fringe Benefit: International Driver's License
1 Fringe Benefit: Passport
6 Money: Wealthy
Perks Cost: 69

Cost Standard Equipment (Equipment costs do not actually figure in Total Cost. They are included here for reference only.)

"CQB/Sniper Custom .50 Cal. Barret 95, 20" Barrel, 36" Length, 17 lbs": Killing Attack - Ranged 3d6+1, 8 clips of 6 Charges (-0), +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+1/4), Armor Piercing (+1/4), Line Of Sight (+1/2) (100 Active Points); STR Minimum 19 and higher (STR Min. Cannot Add/Subtract Damage; -1 1/2), OAF (-1), Lockout (-1/2), Required Hands Two-Handed (-1/2), Restrainable (-1/2), Beam (-1/4), Conditional Power Power does not work in Uncommon Circumstances (Does not work in extremely confined spaces; -1/4), Real Weapon (-1/4), Side Effects (Extremely loud; -1/4)

Trijicon ACOG Red Dot Sight & Riflescope: (Total: 34 Active Cost, 34 Real Cost) +2 with Ranged Combat (Real Cost: 16) plus Penalty Skill Levels: +4 vs. Range Modifiers with to offset a specific negative OCV modifier with all attacks (Real Cost: 12) plus +4 versus Range Modifier for Sight Group (Real Cost: 6)

Concealed 'Dragon Skin' Body Armor Clothing: (Total: 40 Active Cost, 15 Real Cost) Resistant Protection (3 PD/3 ED) (9 Active Points); Half Mass (-1/2), Real Armor (-1/4), IIF (-1/4), Requires A Roll (14- roll; -1/4) (Real Cost: 4) plus Resistant Protection (3 PD/3 ED) (9 Active Points); Half Mass (-1/2), IIF (-1/4), Real Armor (-1/4), Requires A Roll (12- roll; -1/4) (Real Cost: 4) plus Resistant Protection (6 PD/6 ED), Hardened (+1/4) (22 Active Points); Requires A Roll (9- roll; -1), Half Mass (-1/2), IIF (-1/4), Real Armor (-1/4) (Real Cost: 7)

S&W .460 Caliber, Model 460 XVR Revolver - 8 3/8": Killing Attack - Ranged 2d6+1, +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+1/4) (44 Active Points); STR Minimum 14-18 (STR Min. Cannot Add/Subtract Damage; -1 1/4), OAF (-1), Beam (-1/4), 4 clips of 6 Charges (-1/4), Real Weapon (-1/4)
Military Frequency Hopping, Burst Transmission Radio: Radio Perception/Transmission (Radio Group), Concealed (-8 with Radio Perception/Transmission PER Rolls)
Total Character Cost: 225

Base Points: 225

[Killer Shrike]

Iconic Characters:

I have identified the following iconic characters to start with. I'll eventually get around to making them if no one else will, but I think it would be really interesting to see other people's take on them as well. This list isn't meant to be comprehensive; in fact if I run true to form I'll end up with many more iconics before its all said and done.

The Iconics have been used in examples for custom campaign abilities, so I've extracted the abilities they are mentioned to have from the text. Other than that, its an open field.

Each iconic should be a starting character, 125 points (Base 75, Max Complications 50, Experience 0), with 25 free points to seed Resource Pools in addition to base and complications. Characteristic Maxima of 20 and Skill Maxima of 14- are in effect.


Iconics:

Joseph Blanc - Mystic Hermetic Wizard, Alert, two Wands and a Staff (note, in the Hermetic Wizard document I goofed and called the character Joseph Waller because I couldn't recall what I originally intended to name him. I'll get that changed tonight to be Joseph Blanc)


Tyrone "Big T" Jackson - Believer, 5d6 Heroic Recovery


Leo Gattling - Professional, 2d6 Lucky Damage Dice


Michaila Bast - You Pick - Miraculous Survival (at least 2 levels)


Doc Allosious Jones - Psychic - Supernatural Resistance: 5


Hopefully some of you will lend your talents to this task. If your character is used you will be credited, so be sure to include the name under which you would like to be credited.

[Killer Shrike]

Well, it just so happens that while fiddling a couple of weeks ago, I built a 'monster hunter' for a hypothetical Dark Champions game. This is a US military special forces operative tasked with identifying and neutralizing monster threats. Basically the liaison between the authorities and the group so they can get on with their job. Unfortunately the perks required for the conception, cost so much that there was not room for martial arts and a few more 'flavor' skills to more define the character's military background. I assumed a standard 225 points for a Dark Champions campaign.

Cool.

This character could be toned down a bit to fit HTBM; a lot of the Perks are streamlined which would yield back a lot of points. The Improved Access perks aren't used at all; the Equipment Pool is for standard and street stuff, the Professional Pool covers the remainder without need for an additional perk so that recoups 10 points.

The 1 point Monster Hunting License covers the MH perk you have as well as a License to Kill, and a Concealed Weapon Permit within the context of hunting monsters so that recoups 16 points. (The Monster Hunter License covers a lot of things and should properly cost more, but as all PC's are assumed to have it as a campaign enabler, the cost is set to 1 point to avoid needless inflation.)

Wealth 6 is over HTBM starting limits and would be dialed down to at least 5, recouping at least 1 point.

"Really Tough", "Only a Flesh Wound", "Melee Awareness", and "Concealed Rifle" would all be moved into the Professional Pool, shifting 19 points.

In HTBM, Hunters are free agents similar to Bounty Hunters and only liaison w/ government types as necessary, so if the character were recast as a former Special Forces guy that became a Hunter after leaving the service the expensive Contact could be watered down or removed; also the Contact Resource Pool would be used to cut the cost further if some vestige of it remained.

His stats could be watered down a bit and still be competitive in the lower power level of HTBM, and some of his Skill are marginal or could be Fams to start out to make up the remainder of points if that didn't get us under points.

[Manic Typist]

I dig. I also recognize a lot of your Metacyber stuff, which I love.

However, I suggest you edit the "Experience" paragraph under the Starting page of the paradigm assumptions. It references hacking a corporate mainframe as an example, but that doesn't seem as pertinent to this game/your other examples.

[Killer Shrike]

I dig. I also recognize a lot of your Metacyber stuff, which I love.

However, I suggest you edit the "Experience" paragraph under the Starting page of the paradigm assumptions. It references hacking a corporate mainframe as an example, but that doesn't seem as pertinent to this game/your other examples.

Yes, I see that. Thanks! Stupid Copy & Paste errors.

I also see that the chart for points shows the right numbers, but the lead up text says 100 base points when it should say 75, and on the Assumptions page there is a mention of 5 points to seed resource pools when its actually 25. There are also some minor unclear terms or names here and there.

As always, I need an editor. I give everything a few once-overs, but stuff still slips through.

[bigbywolfe]

I assumed the 100 points stated earlier was including the 25 resource pool points and it just wasn't spelled out well.

[Killer Shrike]

I assumed the 100 points stated earlier was including the 25 resource pool points and it just wasn't spelled out well.

Nope, its an actual error.

[Killer Shrike]

Yes, I see that. Thanks! Stupid Copy & Paste errors.

I also see that the chart for points shows the right numbers, but the lead up text says 100 base points when it should say 75, and on the Assumptions page there is a mention of 5 points to seed resource pools when its actually 25. There are also some minor unclear terms or names here and there.

As always, I need an editor. I give everything a few once-overs, but stuff still slips through.

I've corrected all the obvious errors that I'm aware of, including the MetaCyber artifact Manic Typist found, and the rename of example character Joseph Waller to Joseph Blanc previously noted.

[The Suave]

Panpiper: Your "Really Tough" and "Only A Flesh Wound" seem to be slightly odd to me. OAFW doesn't protect against the first point of body, but Really Tough, which is 1 resistant PD/ED, would protect against it, making the Limitation not limiting. What am I missing?

[Panpiper]

Panpiper: Your "Really Tough" and "Only A Flesh Wound" seem to be slightly odd to me. OAFW doesn't protect against the first point of body, but Really Tough, which is 1 resistant PD/ED, would protect against it, making the Limitation not limiting. What am I missing?

The first body gets stopped by the "Really Tough", making him essentially impervious to minor cuts and scratches. Whatever body penetrated that first level of protection, reaching the "Only A Flesh Wound" with have the first body inflicted, followed by three body stopped. So:
1 body is completely stopped.
2 body and one gets through
3 body, one gets through
4 body, one gets through
5 body, one gets through
6 body, two gets through, as will any additional body.

Note however that if additional armor is worn, as for instance a bullet resistant vest as equipment, the vest would have effect before the points bought 'powers'. (At least that is how I would treat it.) So if the character were wearing a Def 6 vest and it was struck, 7 body total would be stopped by the vest and the one point of "Really Tough". The eighth body would penetrate, and the nineth, tenth and eleventh body would then be stopped by the "Only A Flesh Wound".

[kahuna's bro]

Well, it just so happens that while fiddling a couple of weeks ago, I built a 'monster hunter' for a hypothetical Dark Champions game. This is a US military special forces operative tasked with identifying and neutralizing monster threats. Basically the liaison between the authorities and the group so they can get on with their job. Unfortunately the perks required for the conception, cost so much that there was not room for martial arts and a few more 'flavor' skills to more define the character's military background. I assumed a standard 225 points for a Dark Champions campaign.

Killroy

Val Char Cost
20 STR 10
13 DEX 6
13 CON 3
13 BODY 3
18 INT 8
13 EGO 3
18 PRE 8
4 OCV 5
5 DCV 10
3 OMCV
3 DMCV
8 PD 6
3 ED 1
4 SPD 20
7 REC 3
30 END 2
30 STUN 5
13m RUN 1
4m SWIM 0
4m LEAP 0
Characteristics Cost: 94

Cost Power
3 "Really Tough": Resistant Protection (1 PD/1 ED)
6 "Only a Flesh Wound": Resistant Protection (3 PD/3 ED) (9 Active Points); Limited Power Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (Does not protect from first point of body; -1/2)
7 "Melee Awareness": +3 DCV (15 Active Points); Limited Power Power loses about half of its effectiveness (Only in Hand to Hand; -1)
3 +1 PER with all Sense Groups
Powers Cost: 19

Cost Skill
12 +4 with a small group of attacks "Sniper Rifles"
4 Penalty Skill Levels: +2 vs. Range Penalties with Sniper Rifles with to offset a specific negative OCV modifier with any three maneuvers or tight group
3 "Concealed Rifle" +7 with single Skill or Characteristic Roll (14 Active Points); Limited Power Power loses about two-thirds of its effectiveness (Only for concealing Rifles; -1 1/2), Limited Power Power loses about half of its effectiveness (Only when wearing a trench coat; -1), Requires A Roll (Characteristic roll; Requires a Dex roll if engaged in vigorous movement.; -1/2), IIF (Special harness; -1/4)
3 Concealment 13-
3 Stealth 12-
3 Tracking 13-
3 Conversation 13-
3 High Society 13-
3 Bureaucratics 13-
3 KS: Military 13-
3 PS: Military General 13-
Skills Cost: 43

Cost Perk
5 "Monster Hunter - Detached Special Forces - Rank" Fringe Benefit: General
27 Contact: US Military (Contact has access to major institutions, Contact has extremely useful Skills or resources, Contact has significant Contacts of his own, Good relationship with Contact), Organization Contact (x3) (27 Active Points) 12-
10 Fringe Benefit: Improved Equipment Availability Advanced Military equipment
10 Fringe Benefit: License to Kill
5 Fringe Benefit: International Police Powers
2 Fringe Benefit: Concealed Weapon Permit (where appropriate)
2 Fringe Benefit: Heavy Weapon Permit
1 Fringe Benefit: International Driver's License
1 Fringe Benefit: Passport
6 Money: Wealthy
Perks Cost: 69

Cost Standard Equipment (Equipment costs do not actually figure in Total Cost. They are included here for reference only.)

"CQB/Sniper Custom .50 Cal. Barret 95, 20" Barrel, 36" Length, 17 lbs": Killing Attack - Ranged 3d6+1, 8 clips of 6 Charges (-0), +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+1/4), Armor Piercing (+1/4), Line Of Sight (+1/2) (100 Active Points); STR Minimum 19 and higher (STR Min. Cannot Add/Subtract Damage; -1 1/2), OAF (-1), Lockout (-1/2), Required Hands Two-Handed (-1/2), Restrainable (-1/2), Beam (-1/4), Conditional Power Power does not work in Uncommon Circumstances (Does not work in extremely confined spaces; -1/4), Real Weapon (-1/4), Side Effects (Extremely loud; -1/4)

Trijicon ACOG Red Dot Sight & Riflescope: (Total: 34 Active Cost, 34 Real Cost) +2 with Ranged Combat (Real Cost: 16) plus Penalty Skill Levels: +4 vs. Range Modifiers with to offset a specific negative OCV modifier with all attacks (Real Cost: 12) plus +4 versus Range Modifier for Sight Group (Real Cost: 6)

Concealed 'Dragon Skin' Body Armor Clothing: (Total: 40 Active Cost, 15 Real Cost) Resistant Protection (3 PD/3 ED) (9 Active Points); Half Mass (-1/2), Real Armor (-1/4), IIF (-1/4), Requires A Roll (14- roll; -1/4) (Real Cost: 4) plus Resistant Protection (3 PD/3 ED) (9 Active Points); Half Mass (-1/2), IIF (-1/4), Real Armor (-1/4), Requires A Roll (12- roll; -1/4) (Real Cost: 4) plus Resistant Protection (6 PD/6 ED), Hardened (+1/4) (22 Active Points); Requires A Roll (9- roll; -1), Half Mass (-1/2), IIF (-1/4), Real Armor (-1/4) (Real Cost: 7)

S&W .460 Caliber, Model 460 XVR Revolver - 8 3/8": Killing Attack - Ranged 2d6+1, +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+1/4) (44 Active Points); STR Minimum 14-18 (STR Min. Cannot Add/Subtract Damage; -1 1/4), OAF (-1), Beam (-1/4), 4 clips of 6 Charges (-1/4), Real Weapon (-1/4)
Military Frequency Hopping, Burst Transmission Radio: Radio Perception/Transmission (Radio Group), Concealed (-8 with Radio Perception/Transmission PER Rolls)
Total Character Cost: 225

Base Points: 225

wouldn't the license to kill havea"monster only "stipulation?

[DusterBoy]

Looks good, KS. I just wish I could join in with my write-up of Dusterboy.

[The Suave]

Oh!

In that case: Good build.

[Steve]

3 "Really Tough": Resistant Protection (1 PD/1 ED)
6 "Only a Flesh Wound": Resistant Protection (3 PD/3 ED) (9 Active Points); Limited Power Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (Does not protect from first point of body; -1/2)

With these abilities in operation, I'm curious if stinging insects, poisoned blades or other types of carrier attacks would affect this character. If an attack must do body first in order to apply the character attack, you'd need an attack that can do two points of killing damage. I guess he doesn't need to fear poisoned shuriken.

Maybe drop the "Really Tough" ability and just go with "Only a Flesh Wound"?