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VIPER: Who's Your Dragon?


steriaca

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I've used Occulon and Viper-X to great effect. I even managed to turn Occulon into "not a chump." I did use Viperia in one scenario. She was, of course, scary. The heroes had to out-think her on the battlefield and had to focus on their mission objective rather than just beating her. Overall, I felt she was overpowered and that her powers were slapped on "just because" She was a little to narrow for me, personally, to use over the long-haul. She was more of a "doomsday weapon" than a well-rounded character. 

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14 hours ago, Ninja-Bear said:

Brick 55 STR 25 PD/ED 38 CON 17 DEX 

Thanks. I don't know if I want to recreate Brick for this project, but it is an option.

 

Brick could be the end result of a Dr. Blank failure (his first attempt at creating a snake person instead created an stone skinned man with memory problems).

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Here are my takes on the various sub-teams in the Dragon Branch (aka Viper Force Insert Number Here). Your mileage may vary.

 

Viper Force 1.

Leader: VIPER-X.

Membership: There is a semi-pediment roster, but VIPER-X can hand chose temporary members based on the needs of the mission. VIPER-X will only choose members with a well known track record of successful missions, and working well with others. (He is not going to risk another mess up like Krate in his team again).

 

Viper Force 2.

Leader: Depending on the situation, Oclone or Vipera.

Membership: This is a group put together anew for each mission which calls for the group. All members are picked much like in Viper Force 1 (worked well together, successful mission in the past, mission needs). Oclone is more likely to pad the group with his friends (Freon, Halfjack, ect, ect) but knows when to put his frindships on hold for the greater glory of VIPER.

 

Viper Force 3.

Leader: Oclone, even if he leads from afar.

Membership: This team is made up of new Dragon Branch members, and exists primary as a test to see how well the new dragons work well together and react to things. If is considered an honor to 'graduate' from Viper Force 3 to full Dragonhood.

 

Viper Force 4. (AKA "The Loser Squad")

Leader: Oclone, but he will never admit it.

Membership: Screw up to many times, and your sent to VF4 for refinement. VF4 members are giving 'busy work' of no great importants to VIPER itself. There are three ways out of VF4; capture (where VIPER reports that you were never a dragon in the first place, and that you were only a "long term mercenary hireling" to avoid embarrassment), death, or retirement. If you don't screw up to much, your likely to rejoin normal dragonhood, and eventually be a candidate for VF2 or VF5.

 

Viper Force 5.

Leader: Oclone, on request by various nest leaders or Concle of 30 members.

Membership: VF5 is meant to be a one off group, formed depending on need of a mission and the mission can't be handled by VF1 or VF2. It is formed for the sake of a mission only, then dissolved right after it.

 

Viper Force 6.

Leader: Oclone, but he is considered to valuable to be on the front lines for this.

Membership: VF6 is created for the mission, and is only formed in the most dire of situations. Basically, the group is formed only for suicide missions.

 

Union Of The Snake.

Leader: Adder, Boa Constrictor, and Black Mamba.

Membership: Less a team than a group of friends who looks over the shared interest. Mostly comprised of Dragon Branch members with a snake name or a name which directly deals with snakes. Whenever three of them or more get together for a mission, they are "Union Of The Snake". In spite of her name, Vipera is never considered a member of this sub-group.

 

The Young Dragons

Leader: Oclone.

Membership: Teenagers with attitude problems and superpowers who are not full fledged Dragon branch members yet. Think a teenage version of Viper Force 3.

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  • 6 months later...

This will sound crazy, but... the 5e version of Oculon. He's the most "super-agenty" member of the group and can be used in agent-level games with very little downward power adjustment. If you strip out Armstrong's super-stats, he can be used that way, too - and is still a baddass agent buster. Why do I prefer that? Because I feel like the Dragon Branch, Avengers, Prime Team, and Unity are 100% necessary but also underscore a huge power gap. Most player characters make fielding agents, even equipped with super-tech, pointless. Without these teams these organizations aren't tactically effective. This is not a right or wrong. That is how a lot of people like it. But, for me, I prefer to run super-agents with powers (and resource points). Admittedly, that's a lower power level than a lot of people want to play at, but its what works for me and its proven both fun and sustainable over time. I do have supers out there, but they tend to be a little more down to Earth.

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On 10/15/2017 at 9:29 PM, Lord Liaden said:

 

 

I respect anyone's personal preference, and don't call you wrong for favoring Viperia. For my part, I feel a disconnect between her power set and her origin that bothers me. Like the 4E version of Viperia she has the classic Supergirl/ Kryptonian array of powers, but for me that doesn't jibe well with her mythic/magical origin as the daughter of Nama. It's a flavor thing, and I recognize it's my issue which others may not share.

 

I agree. A few ideas:

 

  • Make her like Serpentor. A genetically perfect super-soldier with the memories of the ancient queens and warriors she's built from. Atalanta, Bouddicia, Candace of Menroe, Cleopatra, Empress Jingu, Khutulun, Lozen, etc. Indeed, discovering Viper is going after the DNA of a dozen famous warrior women and trying to discover / stop what they are up to could be an entire campaign in of itself.
  • Make her a Gorgon like Medusa. First, its has a strong snake feel. Also, you could give her a combination of scary gaze powers without really turning people into stone. Paralyzing Gaze, Fear Gaze, Hypnotizing Gaze (post hypnotic suggestion, lost time, mental domination, etc).
  • Make her a vessel for channeling the spirits of ancient snake cultists / mages. A living, breathing "well of souls" of sorts. The spirits in her could give her enhanced characteristics, regeneration, and ancient knowledge on top of spells. 
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