Allied Heroes

[assault]

Originally posted by st barbara

As an Australian I suspect that we may need an entry here. So may I suggest "Bluey"

 

So what's his sidekick's name: "Curly"?

 

That's a reference to a humourous comic strip of the period, for those who don't know.

 

More seriously, the first Australian superhero comics were produced during WWII, so there are some precedents. Most were pretty standard ripoffs of US characters.

 

In addition, though, a larger number of non-powered and non-costumed characters were being published.

 

Australia was more directly affected by the war than the US: the Japanese were in New Guinea, Timor, the Solomons and so on - within spitting distance of Australia. In those circumstances, I would suspect that Australian supers would have been more militarised than their US counterparts.

 

What I would do, in fact, would be to actually use very few Australian supers, but to supplement them with a larger number of highly trained normals, possibly initially drawn from former pulp adventurer types. These would probably be organised into some kind of military framework.

 

Historically, there were a number of Australian covert special operations and intelligence organisations during the war. One, 'Z' Special Unit, specialised in covert commando operations behind enemy lines. Their best known operations were the raids by the fishing boat "Krait" on Singapore harbour.

 

In my Champions Universe, 'X' Special Unit also exists. It consists of highly trained (and in some cases superpowered) operatives, who specialise in countering Japanese superbeings (who are themselves mainly non-powered ninjas and similar). 'X' is thus a mixture of superteam and agent group.

 

It's quite possible that a specialist Air Force unit might exist too, as flying adventurers were quite common in the source material. You could even have a Blackhawk type outfit, with Dutch, Chinese, French and even Portuguese pilots finding their way to Australia...

 

Finally, having a character that is a "homage to" the Phantom would be quite appropriate. There have been Australian editions of the Phantom printed for many decades. In many more remote areas, it has often been the only regularly available superhero comic. It is also available in places like Papua New Guinea, and probably other Pacific island nations, where DC, Marvel and so on aren't.

 

I would probably base this "homage" somewhere in northern New Guinea. This would give him lots of access to areas where piracy was quite prevalent in quite recent historical times, and, for that matter, still exists today. It also gives him access to interesting "natives", as well as the very thin on the ground Australian patrol officers, who could be treated as a "Jungle Patrol" of sorts. Alternatively, you could place him in Dutch territory...

 

Anyway, somewhere in this mess there should be some useful ideas.

 

Alan

[Enforcer84]

Originally posted by Blue

I know I'd fear lions with guns. But then Jack Handy once said...Contrary to what most people say, the most dangerous animal in the world is not the lion or the tiger or even the elephant. It's a shark riding on an elephant's back, just trampling and eating everything they see.

 

But the problem is, bigotry is fun! (I don't see an emote on the list that says 'sarcasm' to me. Oh well.)

 

Forgive me if my information is incorrect, but isn't the Lion and the Unicorn a symbol of Britain? Perhaps a team, the Lion could have a gun too!

[Twilight]

Originally posted by Enforcer84

Forgive me if my information is incorrect, but isn't the Lion and the Unicorn a symbol of Britain? Perhaps a team, the Lion could have a gun too!

 

Good idea, except that the British ranks are getting kinda crowded at the moment. I mean we already have Mr. Fog, Colnel Sterling, Hammer Sullivan, the Sky Knight, the Hooded Man and eventually Arthur and Merlin! Allied heroes are cool but we don't want TO many of them running around.

[Enforcer84]

Good point. Let's see. How about Roland and the Sword Durandal? I have always liked the name Durandal and have seen it used as a basis for a super hero in Palladium's Century City, as well as a starship in Xenosaga.

[Twilight]

Originally posted by Enforcer84

Good point. Let's see. How about Roland and the Sword Durandal? I have always liked the name Durandal and have seen it used as a basis for a super hero in Palladium's Century City, as well as a starship in Xenosaga.

 

Oh! Good idea!

 

The latest weilder of Durandal comes forth to aid the French Resistance against the Nazi's and those Vichy collaborators. I LOVE IT!!

 

[st barbara]

T "Assault" But of course ! Now the question is, what powers to give to "Curly"? How about beer powered super speed and agility ? Or maybe projectile vomiting (if we want to be gross) !

[Brick]

As a German, I would like to include a German superhero who fights against the Nazi regime in that dark time - which means that in his own country, he would be declared an outlaw/supervillain. This freedom fighter calls himself DIE WEISSE ROSE (White Rose), after the freedom movement that got killed by the nazis.

Powers? No concrete idea, but the name for me invokes the sound of a white-clad two-fisted fighter/martial artist with a white hood and a blood-red full-face mask, red boots and gloves, rose motif on chest. Maybe some dart-throwers on his wrists ("thorns").

He fights a very lonely fight, but he would rather die than see all of Hitler's horror and do nothing against it. Could be an interesting ally for other superheroes.

Be honest, guys... How does it sound?

[Siberian Tiger]

White Rose sounds good to me. Not sure about the dart-throwers on the wrist - a bit too modern for a Golden Age champions campaign methinks. Maybe best left as a non-powered combatant relying on his fists. If he was to have pwoers then made some form of control over plants or is that too obvious?

 

Now for my contribution to the campaign - Pax. Not pox but Pax - the Latin for Peace. I'm thinking a warrior woman who is willing to fight for peace. An italian superheroine fighting against the Facsists ? In my campaign world, she would retire from crimfighting and set up the Pax Institute whose agents use what ever means are necessary to prevent war and bloodshed.

[Southern Cross]

New Zealand Heroes

 

How about for New Zealand Heroes,have a descendant of Maui find his ancestors trademark weapon,and finds out that while wielding it,he is possessed by the spirit of Maui himself,which grants him all of Maui's abilities and powers,which include:high INT and shapeshifting abilities (Maui is the perfect example of the Trickster Hero archetype),the ability to communicate with birds,immunity to fire Usable on Others (One of Maui's feats was,with the help of his four elder brothers,the crippling of the Maori sun god so that the days would be a reasonable length),great stength and growing abilities (Maui's most famous legendary feat was him pulling up the North Island out from the bottom of the sea.The South Island was supposed to be Maui's canoe).

[wcw43921]

Originally posted by Brick

As a German, I would like to include a German superhero who fights against the Nazi regime in that dark time - which means that in his own country, he would be declared an outlaw/supervillain. This freedom fighter calls himself DIE WEISSE ROSE (White Rose), after the freedom movement that got killed by the nazis.

Powers? No concrete idea, but the name for me invokes the sound of a white-clad two-fisted fighter/martial artist with a white hood and a blood-red full-face mask, red boots and gloves, rose motif on chest. Maybe some dart-throwers on his wrists ("thorns").

He fights a very lonely fight, but he would rather die than see all of Hitler's horror and do nothing against it. Could be an interesting ally for other superheroes.

Be honest, guys... How does it sound?

 

 

It sounds really great to me. I was thinking myself there should be some way to include a German hero in this discussion, and you seem to have nailed it close to what I had in mind. Good Job, Mein Herr.

 

And keep the dart-shooters if you like--the secret agencies on both sides of the war were coming up with all knids of unique, nifty stuff. They sound all right to me.

[assault]

I like the White Rose character. Very cool. Consider the idea borrowed and filed.

 

The dart throwers are fine. An alternative might be some kind of crossbow type gadget, but its rate of fire might be a problem.

 

On a more general note: how about some Vichyite "heroes"? After all, the Vichy government was the internationally recognized government of France for a couple of years, with the Gaullists being seen as an appendage of Britain. ("Internationally" probably really means "by the US" in this case, of course.)

 

Alan

[Twilight]

I'm also liking White Rose, he/she sounds like a character with great potential for roleplaying and stories for when my characters have to infiltrate Nazi Germany. Considering that the White Rose orginization was a Christian one [according to the one mention of it in Golden Age Champions] it would be interesting to see how the White Rose character would balance his/her faith with the fight against the Nazi's. Yes, I'm liking this character quite a bit. Thinking he/she works with Allied spies and what not as well. Perhaps a ring working in accordance with a Col. Hogan? [Yes I'm a huge Hogan's Heroes fan, I just had to work them in there. ]

 

Siberian Tiger, to me Pax sounds like the Vatican's contribution to the war. As I recall they weren't terribly fond of Mussolini and his fascists and Pax just seems like a character a Pope would create. For some reason I'm getting a mental image of William Christopher as Father Mulcahey here.

 

Southern Cross. Maui does sound cool, but he seems a titch more powerful then I'm looking for here. Don't want to overshadow the PCs after all.

[altamaros]

Originally posted by assault

On a more general note: how about some Vichyite "heroes"? After all, the Vichy government was the internationally recognized government of France for a couple of years

For the first years at least; it's unlikely : due to the restrictions imposed by the armistice on the Vichy govt. they would not have been allowed to "own" their own "heroes".

 

But after 1941, the Vichy govt installed a legion of french volunteers fighting with germans against (USSR) communists.

This legion became the Division Charlemagne in 1943 ( 33e waffen SS division).

So maybe you can use a agent called the "commandant Charlemagne". (by doing this search, i found neo-nazis websites who consider these guys as heroes, creepy! )

... with the Gaullists being seen as an appendage of Britain. ("Internationally" probably really means "by the US" in this case, of course.)

De Gaulle and Roosevelt hated each other apparently. the U.S. supported more the general Giraud who was later put aside by De Gaulle.

 

Siberian Tiger, to me Pax sounds like the Vatican's contribution to the war. As I recall they weren't terribly fond of Mussolini and his fascists and Pax just seems like a character a Pope would create.

I just read this morning in the newspapers that some newly released documents from the Vatican secret archives show the evidence of a non-agression pact between Nazi germany and Vatican.

[assault]

Originally posted by altamaros

For the first years at least; it's unlikely : due to the restrictions imposed by the armistice on the Vichy govt. they would not have been allowed to "own" their own "heroes".

 

True.

 

I was mainly thinking of the colonies, where there was a power struggle between Vichyites and Gaullists. An example might be somewhere like Syria, where Vichyite and Gaullist forces came into serious conflict.

 

Images from "Casablanca" come to mind too.

 

French Indochina might been another likely spot for supers.

 

Most wouldn't be official, I suspect, although local officials might wink at their activities.

 

Some might eventually defect to the Gaullists, but others might go the creepy fascist road, like below:

 

But after 1941, the Vichy govt installed a legion of french volunteers fighting with germans against (USSR) communists.

This legion became the Division Charlemagne in 1943 ( 33e waffen SS division).

So maybe you can use a agent called the "commandant Charlemagne".

 

Hmm. Maybe.

 

Such a character could have quite an interesting career after the war as a "disgraced flagsuit". Not exactly a supervillain, but a controversial hero of the far right, seeking to be rehabilitated by fighting for France in Algeria, Vietnam and so on...

 

Meanwhile, former Resistance fighters fall out of favour due to their cooperation with Communists!

 

I like it. A lot.

 

Thanks.

 

Alan

[st barbara]

What about some quasi mystical or occult characters ? According to some sources (Ravenscroft, Sklar, King, Brennan) the nazis are suppossed to have been heavily into the occult. If the occult is real, and the Nazis had characters with occult powers, wouldn't the allies want something similar ? (I can just see Winston Churchill saying "We canot allow an Occult gap !") Other sources have suggested that there was at least one active Witch covern in Britain during the war, perhaps a low powered magician could be appropriate ?

[Twilight]

Originally posted by st barbara

What about some quasi mystical or occult characters ? According to some sources (Ravenscroft, Sklar, King, Brennan) the nazis are suppossed to have been heavily into the occult. If the occult is real, and the Nazis had characters with occult powers, wouldn't the allies want something similar ? (I can just see Winston Churchill saying "We canot allow an Occult gap !") Other sources have suggested that there was at least one active Witch covern in Britain during the war, perhaps a low powered magician could be appropriate ?

 

 

A valid point Barbara. One of the PC's is a mage and there will of course be magical villains. However, since Merlin's probably gonna show up at some point in the game [me being a huge Arthurian Mythos fan] I'm pretty sure that covers things for the Brits. However, if you can suggest a few others, go right ahead.

[Twilight]

bump

[ShinDangaioh]

Originally posted by Twilight

A valid point Barbara. One of the PC's is a mage and there will of course be magical villains. However, since Merlin's probably gonna show up at some point in the game [me being a huge Arthurian Mythos fan] I'm pretty sure that covers things for the Brits. However, if you can suggest a few others, go right ahead.

On the Russian front, this could cause some tensions. Baba Yaga. Normally, she's a NASTY witch, but I think she'd NOT want the Germans around her.

 

Prester John could show up. His kingdom is somewhere in Europe or Asia. Just no one knows where.

 

I'm curious about something. WHY did Hitler mess around with the Nordic mythos? Valkyries, Thor, etc. I would think that he would have perfered to use Iberian mythos.

[Twilight]

Originally posted by ShinDangaioh

On the Russian front, this could cause some tensions. Baba Yaga. Normally, she's a NASTY witch, but I think she'd NOT want the Germans around her.

 

Prester John could show up. His kingdom is somewhere in Europe or Asia. Just no one knows where.

 

I'm curious about something. WHY did Hitler mess around with the Nordic mythos? Valkyries, Thor, etc. I would think that he would have perfered to use Iberian mythos.

 

 

Oh Baba Yaga will show up, I can virtually assure that. However I can't say she could properly be refered to as an Allied Hero. *evil grin*

["V"]

If I recall correctly, Hitler & several other of the inner circle of the Nazi hierarchy were members of the Thule Gesallschaft, whose beliefs promoted the nordic master-race notion, suggesting their descent from the inhabitants of the sunken continent of Thule. Thus the link to the Nordic mythos. Throw in a large dose of Wagnerian Parsifal/Arthurian idealism and the political clout to indulge in a practical exploration of those ideals and you've got a recipe for global disaster right there.

 

That's power for you. Anybody that wants it should be barred from having it.

["V"]

briefly back to "covens"

 

It's an article of (ahem) faith with British wiccans that covens worked massive joint rituals, especially in the New Forest area, to counter Nazi attempts to invade during Operation Sealion. Gerald Gardner, the founder of the modern Wiccan movement (so he claims) says that he took part in these rituals under "Old Mother Clutterbuck."

 

So WWII Wiccan characters can show up, probably wearing tweeds and riding old bicycles.

 

However in a nice twist on this, it has been alleged by one Amado Crowley (who claims to be Aleister Crowley's illegitimate son, but imho is more likely to be the Crown Prince of the Moon) that "Old Mother Clutterbuck" was in fact Aleister Crowley's codename when he was recruited by the British Secret Service to conduct said rituals.

 

So the allied heroes could also include occultists of a different nature, possibly stringing along the wiccan types.

 

All good fun back then. If it wasn't for the bombs falling it would almost have been enjoyable methinks.

[st barbara]

I would be careful labelling ALL Nazis as occultists . While there is SOME evidence that some of them may have been into the occult (most particularly Himmler) or influenced by occultists the information is inconclusive. If you want books on the subject you could try to get hold of "The Occult Roots Of Nazism" by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, "Unholy Alliance" by Peter Levenda, "Satan and The Swastika" by Francis King or "The Spear Of Destiny" and its sequel "The Mark Of The Beast" (The first by Trevor Ravenscroft, the second by Ravenscroft and Tim Wallace-Murphy). If you want a nazi occultist character try to get hold of "Emerald Cup-Ark Of Gold" by Colonel Howard Buechner. Lt. Otto Rahn S.S. would make a fascinating character(with some occult powers for a "Champions" game, merely as an adventurer for a "Pulp" style of campaign).

[Rage]

Originally posted by st barbara

What about some quasi mystical or occult characters ? According to some sources (Ravenscroft, Sklar, King, Brennan) the nazis are suppossed to have been heavily into the occult. If the occult is real, and the Nazis had characters with occult powers, wouldn't the allies want something similar ? (I can just see Winston Churchill saying "We canot allow an Occult gap !") Other sources have suggested that there was at least one active Witch covern in Britain during the war, perhaps a low powered magician could be appropriate ?

 

yeah the Nazi Cult Of The Blood was heavily ocultish.

And Britains supposed to be crawling with people who live forever from an earlier age. Throw a stone in Devon & the chance that you've hit an imortal is as high as you getting beaten up for throwing rocks at people...

["V"]

"And Britains supposed to be crawling with people who live forever from an earlier age. Throw a stone in Devon & the chance that you've hit an imortal is as high as you getting beaten up for throwing rocks at people..."

 

Tell me about it. Mostly you meet them standing in large crowds outside Post Offices talking endlessly about how "this was all fields when I was a lad" and "young people today" and "of course in the war we couldn't get bananas you know, and we had to make do with powdered egg." and "Don't get me started about the Picts, layabouts the lot of them" etc.