UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

[teh bunneh]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

Oh no.... he's going IMAGE on us!!!

 

Clear out!! Before he is united with a beautiful female martial arts assassin, a huge brick who is a greater thinker, a rebellious dark brooding character and a short older character that has an attitude problem. Oh wait... this isn't a Liefield comic so we may be safe.

 

I actually ran a supers game set in the Liefield/Image universe, many years ago. It was pretty funny, and quite bloody.

 

Bill.

[teh bunneh]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

During Grond’s rampage, New Man spotted seven mysterious people teleporting onboard Yggdrasil using Bifrost. He contacted Straight Arrow who (on Myrmidon’s enraged orders) ordered his team to deal with the new intruders.

 

Team C ran with all speed to LOKI’s mainframe, where the interlopers seemed to be heading. Along the way, they found several UNTIL teams unconscious but unharmed. Also, LOKI himself kept protesting that there was nothing wrong – his sensors detected no unauthorized personnel in that area. Straight Arrow reasoned that Grond’s rampage had damaged the sensors.

 

The heroes reached LOKI and found the blast doors wide-open. They cautiously looked inside, and saw the six, who were apparently waiting for them. Five of the intruders looked like they were ready for trouble; the sixth (a shapely woman whose naked body was covered head-to-toe in circuitry) was at one of LOKI’s terminals, busily at work on some project. No one wasted any words; the fight began.

 

(Though formal introductions were never made, for simplicity’s sake I’m going to let everyone know the names of the guys they were facing: Midnight (the martial artist dressed in a black cape and cowl); Marionette (the tall, thin woman dressed in a skin-tight red, white, and yellow striped uniform, her face painted like a mime); Bantamweight (the Samoan in black tights with a red bird silhouetted on his chest); Fiend (the short, green gargoyle); Scalpel (the dark-skinned man wrapped in what appeared to be scrap metal); and the girl on the computer was Circuit Breaker).

 

The battle was hard-fought and furious. Both Straight Arrow and Red Dragon found themselves disarmed of their primary weapons quite quickly, and Ifrita kissed the pavement when Fiend hit her with some sort of neural-disruptor touch. But Marionette found her own neurons scrambled by New Man, and when Fiend tried his touch on Aurora he got a rude surprise as feedback knocked him out. Red Dragon went round and round with Midnight (who alternately complimented his foe’s fighting ability, and gave him instructions on how to do better – all of which only served to enrage the samurai further!). Bantamweight hurled Straight Arrow across the room, but this gave the archer a better shot at Circuit Breaker. Aurora finished off Scalpel, and the huge Samoan finally fell to a combined team effort. The only villain left standing was Midnight, and when he found himself alone, he vanished into thin air.

 

As the team was dusting themselves off, their fallen foes flickered and disappeared, as if they’d never existed. Aurora noticed an odd energy signature flickering around them just before they vanished. The heroes wondered if the entire battle was just an illusion or a hologram of some sort, but then Straight Arrow noticed something.

 

After he shot Circuit Breaker, she dropped something. He looked around to try to find it, and came up with a small data disk. Not sure what to do with it, he pocketed the disk. He then logged on to LOKI (who was still assuring everyone that nothing was wrong) and found that all of the computer’s defenses were down. Apparently, Circuit Breaker was trying to dive into the mainframe to collect some information from the database, and was shutting off LOKI’s defenses as she went.

 

Not wanting LOKI to be infected with Spyware or the Anna-Kornikova virus, the team’s leader began turning things back on. When he turned the sensors in the mainframe room back on, LOKI was shocked. The computer had no idea that a battle was going on right under its electronic nose!

 

At about this time, UNTIL technicians arrived to put everything back together. Team C heard from the other UNITY teams; they “dealt with†Grond by smashing him through an airlock and sending him drifting into orbit. They also learned all the dignitaries were safe and sound, had already been loaded into escape vessels, and were being brought back down to Earth.

 

The heroes of Team C were put in lockdown until they could be debriefed. While they waited, Straight Arrow took out his laptop and began examining the disk he found. Thanks to a phenomenal Computer Programming role, he easily cut through the disk’s security and discovered what was contained within – information that Circuit Breaker was apparently trying to steal. He read the information, then put the disk away safely so he could have time to digest this new bombshell – but he did not tell his team what it contained.

 

UTC was then taken to be debriefed by UNTIL Intel (try saying that five times fast!). They were skeptical that anyone had broken into LOKI – after all, station security records show nothing unusual. They even seemed suspicious, as if they suspected Team C of orchestrating the whole thing. However, Ifrita and Straight Arrow managed to convince them of the truth. As Intel was closing up the briefing, they asked, “Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?â€

 

Red Dragon piped up. “Well, there’s that disk that Straight Arrow found.†Straight Arrow blanched under his helmet.

 

“What disk?†Intel asked.

 

Straight Arrow warred with himself – his loyalty to his superiors fighting with what he had seen on the disk. Finally, his loyalty won out. He grudgingly handed the disk over to the Intel guys, knowing he might regret it, but unable to do anything about it.

 

The team was released, and headed back to their Mjolnir ship to fly back to Earth. Straight Arrow, lost in his own thoughts, didn’t say a word the entire time.

 

...

[teh bunneh]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

And what was on the disk that Straight Arrow found? Well, the disk contained information about two things:

 

First, it had files regarding UNITY Team Omega. Early in the life of the program, Mentiac (one of the founding members of UNITY) believed the team might be infiltrated by aliens, so he and a handful of unnamed others began a secret program. They created a second UNITY program, known (unofficially) as UNITY Team Omega. It was completely off the books, with no record of its finances or its membership. Not even the other members of UNITY or the higher-ups in UNTIL know about it. According to the files, the membership has rotated several times since its founding, always in secret, but no one knows who the current (or past) members are.

 

The second thing on the disk are files related to Project: Jotunheim (Jotunheim was the home of the Norse Giants, a place of darkness and powerful monsters). Some twenty years ago, a secret unfunded division of UNTIL began performing unethical experiments on superhumans and normals. They were looking for the “X†gene that creates super-powered humans in the hopes of manipulating it. Most of the subjects of these experiments wound up either dead or hopelessly insane. The project was shut down about ten years ago, its personnel were shuffled around, and its records were locked up under highest security.

 

It looks like whatever Circuit Breaker was looking for, she didn’t get it – all the files Straight Arrow found were very high-level stuff, no details at all.

[Libra]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

Oh Dear, Black-Ops and unethical Frankensteining around. This will all end in tears. And once again Straight Arrow is to the fore. I like this tale. May I ask a favour? If it is alright could someone post Straight Arrow's stats and significant background info please? I may have to borrow hom for my own nefarious schemes . . .

[teh bunneh]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions CampaignHere's Straight Arrow (the most recent copy I've got, at least...)EDIT: Replaced the HTML with text.-----Straight ArrowPlayer: MikeVal Char Cost20/40 STR 1024 DEX 4220/30 CON 2013 BODY 618 INT 815 EGO 1020 PRE 1014 COM 210/25 PD 610/25 ED 65 SPD 168 REC 040 END 035/50 STUN 213" RUN 02" SWIM 014"/18" LEAP 0Characteristics Cost: 138Cost Power30 Tekbow: Multipower, 60-point reserve, (60 Active Points); all slots OAF (-1)1u 1) Close Combat Bow: Hand-To-Hand Attack +6d6 (30 Active Points); OAF (-1), Hand-To-Hand Attack (-1/2)2u 2) Impact Arrow: Energy Blast 12d6 (60 Active Points); OAF (-1), 8 Charges (-1/2)2u 3) Broadhead Arrow: Killing Attack - Ranged 4d6 (60 Active Points); OAF (-1), 6 Charges (-3/4)2u 4) Cluster Arrow: Energy Blast 8d6, Autofire (5 shots; +1/2) (60 Active Points); OAF (-1), 6 Charges (-3/4)2u 5) Explosive Arrow: Energy Blast 8d6, Explosion (+1/4) (50 Active Points); OAF (-1), 6 Charges (-3/4)2u 6) Glop Arrow: Entangle 4d6, 4 DEF, Sticky (+1/2) (60 Active Points); OAF (-1), 6 Charges (-3/4)1u 7) Grappler Arrow: Stretching 11" (55 Active Points); OAF (-1), 6 Charges (-3/4), Only To Grab Targets (-1/2), Always Direct (-1/4), Range Modifier Applies (-1/4)1u 8) Grease Arrow: Change Environment 8" radius, -6 to DEX-based rolls to move on/through, Long-Lasting 20 Minutes (40 Active Points); OAF (-1), 6 Charges (-3/4)2u 9) Halon Arrow: Dispel 16d6, any Fire power one at a time (+1/4) (60 Active Points); OAF (-1), 6 Charges (-3/4)1u 10) Line Arrow: Swinging 20" (20 Active Points); OAF (-1), 8 Charges (-1/2)2u 11) Neural Disruptor Arrow: Drain STR 4d6, Ranged (+1/2) (60 Active Points); OAF (-1), 6 Charges (-3/4)1u 12) Shrieker Arrow: Hearing Group Flash 8d6 (24 Active Points); OAF (-1), 6 Charges (-3/4)2u 13) Smoke Arrow: Darkness to Sight Group 5" radius (50 Active Points); OAF (-1), 6 Continuing Charges lasting 1 Turn each (-1/4)2u 14) Strobe Arrow: Sight Group Flash 8d6, Area Of Effect (One Hex; +1/2) (60 Active Points); OAF (-1), 6 Charges (-3/4)2u 15) Stun Gas Arrow: Energy Blast 4d6, Area Of Effect (One Hex; +1/2), No Normal Defense (LS: Self Contained Breathing; +1) (50 Active Points); OAF (-1), 6 Charges (-3/4)2u 16) Tangler Arrow: Entangle 4d6, 5 DEF, Entangle And Character Both Take Damage (+1/4) (56 Active Points); OAF (-1), 6 Charges (-3/4), Cannot Form Barriers (-1/4)1u 17) White Noise Arrow: Darkness to Hearing and Radio Groups 5" radius (30 Active Points); OAF (-1), 6 Continuing Charges lasting 1 Turn each (-1/4)30 Combat Armor: Armor (15 PD/15 ED) (45 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)7 Polarized Visor: Sight Group Flash Defense (10 points) (10 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)7 Audio Dampeners: Hearing Group Flash Defense (10 points) (10 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)3 Encephalon Shielding: Mental Defense (8 points total) (5 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)10 Advanced Servos: +20 STR (20 Active Points); OIF (-1/2), No Figured Characteristics (-1/2)10 Shock Absorbers: +10 CON (20 Active Points); OIF (-1/2), No Figured Characteristics (-1/2)10 Padded Interior: +15 STUN (15 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)7 Oxygen Supply: Life Support (Self-Contained Breathing), 1 Continuing Charge lasting 6 Hours (+0) (10 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)19 Sealed Systems: Life Support (Immunity All terrestrial diseases and biowarfare agents; Immunity All terrestrial poisons and chemical warfare agents; Safe in High Pressure; Safe in High Radiation; Safe in Intense Cold; Safe in Intense Heat; Safe in Low Pressure/Vacuum) (29 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)6 Sensory Augmentation: +3 PER with all Sense Groups (9 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)3 Nightsight: Nightvision (5 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)6 Telescopic Lenses: +6 versus Range Modifier for Sight Group (9 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)6 Parabolic Hearing: +6 versus Range Modifier for Hearing Group (9 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)3 Thermalsight: Infrared Perception (Sight Group) (5 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)2 Ultrasonic Hearing: Ultrasonic Perception (Hearing Group) (3 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)7 X-Ray Scanner: N-Ray Perception (not vs lead, gold, or Force Fields) (Sight Group) (10 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)6 UNITY Radio: High Range Radio Perception (Radio Group) (12 Active Points); OIF (-1/2), Sense Affected As Sight, Hearing, and Radio Groups [very common Sense] (-1/2)9 Hydraulics: Running +7" (13" total) (14 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)7 Hydraulics: Leaping +10" (14"/18" forward, 7"/9" upward) (10 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)Powers Cost: 216Cost Martial Arts Maneuver5 Defensive Strike: 1/2 Phase, +1 OCV, +3 DCV, 4d6 / 8d6 Strike4 Martial Block: 1/2 Phase, +2 OCV, +2 DCV, Block, Abort4 Martial Dodge: 1/2 Phase, -- OCV, +5 DCV, Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort4 Martial Strike: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +2 DCV, 6d6 / 10d6 Strike3 Martial Throw: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +1 DCV, 4d6 / 8d6 +v/5, Target Falls1 Weapon Element: ClubsMartial Arts Cost: 21Cost Skill12 +4 with Tekbow Multipower8 Penalty Skill Levels: +4 vs. Range Modifier with All Attacks (12 Active Points); OIF (-1/2) 2 AK: British Isles 11-3 Acrobatics 14-3 Breakfall 14-3 Climbing 14-3 Combat Driving 14-3 Combat Piloting 14-3 Computer Programming 13-3 Criminology 13-3 Demolitions 13-3 Electronics 13-3 Inventor 13-3 Linguist0 1) Language: English (idiomatic) (4 Active Points)1 2) Language: French (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)1 3) Language: Gaelic (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)1 4) Language: German (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)1 5) Language: Russian (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)1 6) Language: Spanish (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)3 Mechanics 13-2 PS: Boywer 11-2 PS: UNTIL Agent 11-3 Paramedics 13-3 Scholar1 1) KS: Espionage World (2 Active Points) 11-1 2) KS: International Law & Law Enforcement (2 Active Points) 11-1 3) KS: Military/Mercenary/Terrorist World (2 Active Points) 11-1 4) KS: Organized Crime (2 Active Points) 11-1 5) KS: Supervillains (2 Active Points) 11-1 6) KS: UNTIL (2 Active Points) 11-1 7) KS: United Nations (2 Active Points) 11-1 8) KS: World Politics (2 Active Points) 11-3 Scientist1 1) SS: Chemistry 11- (2 Active Points)1 2) SS: Metallurgy 11- (2 Active Points)1 3) SS: Physics 11- (2 Active Points)3 Security Systems 13-3 Stealth 14-3 Systems Operation 13-9 TF: Common Motorized Ground Vehicles, Combat Aircraft, Helicopters, Large Planes, Small Military Ships, Small Motorized Boats, Small Planes, Tracked Military Vehicles, Two-Wheeled Motorized Ground Vehicles, Wheeled Military Vehicles3 Tactics 13-3 Teamwork 14-7 Weaponsmith (Biological Weapons, Chemical Weapons, Energy Weapons, Incendiary Weapons, Muscle-Powered HTH, Muscle-Powered Ranged) 13-Skills Cost: 118Cost Perk2 Reputation: British Superhero (A medium-sized group) 11-, +2/+2d6 5 Donation for Base (Midgard Base)5 Donation for Vehicle (Mjolnir Jet)5 Fringe Benefit: International Police Powers1 Fringe Benefit: Passport2 Fringe Benefit: UNTIL MembershipPerks Cost: 20Cost Talent3 Lightning Reflexes: +2 DEX to act first with All Actions 2 Absolute Range Sense (3 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)2 Absolute Time Sense (3 Active Points); OIF (-1/2)Talents Cost: 7Total Character Cost: 520Pts. Disadvantage20 Dependent NPC: Children (Riley and Kyle) 11- (Normal; Group DNPC: x2 DNPCs)15 Hunted: Rogue's Gallery 11- (As Pow, Harshly Punish)20 Hunted: VIPER 11- (As Pow, NCI, Harshly Punish)15 Hunted: Scarlet Spectre (Arch-Enemy) 11- (As Pow, Harshly Punish)15 Hunted: UNTIL 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, PC has a Public ID or is otherwise very easy to find, Watching)15 Psychological Limitation: Code Against Killing (Common, Strong)20 Psychological Limitation: Code of the Hero (Very Common, Strong)15 Psychological Limitation: Protective of Innocents (Common, Strong)5 Reputation: Straight-laced by-the-book do-gooder, 8-5 Rivalry: Professional (Other Gadgeteers; Rival is As Powerful; Seek to Outdo, Embarrass, or Humiliate Rival; Rival Aware of Rivalry)5 Rivalry: Professional (Other Archers; Rival is As Powerful; Seek to Outdo, Embarrass, or Humiliate Rival; Rival Aware of Rivalry)15 Social Limitation: Secret Identity (Frequently, Major)20 Social Limitation: Subject to Orders (Very Frequently, Major)1 Quirk: Always follows the rules1 Quirk: British accent worsens when stressed1 Quirk: Buys toys from exotic locations for his children1 Quirk: Rarely drinks and never smokes 1 Quirk: Rugby and soccar fan5 Secret DisadvantageDisadvantage Points: 195Base Points: 200Experience Required: 125Total Experience Available: 131Experience Unspent: 6Appearance:Simon is a tall and lean-muscled man of about thirty. He wears his light brown hair short and neatly trimmed and tries to stay clean shaven. He has intelligent brown eyes, a strong jaw, and a number of old battle scars. As Straight Arrow, he wears a custom-made suit of gold-bronze battle armor with a smoke-dark undersuit that not only provides protection but also enhances his already formidable physical prowess. His helmet contains sensory gear and cover the top part of his head, although it can be sealed when necessary. His Tekbow is constructed of advanced plastics and a large armored quiver of "trick-arrows" is strapped to his back.

Personality: Simon is a straight-forward and relatively uncomplicated guy. He loves fighting the bad guys and defending the innocent. He takes great pride in his family heritage and hopes to bring honor to the family name by his actions. He is aware of his position as a role model not only to his own children but also to young people around the world (not that he is a public member of UNITY). He takes this role very seriously and works to maintain an honest, law-abiding, and courageous demeanor. He genuinely enjoys his work as Straight Arrow and can't imagine doing anything else.

 

Since his wife's death, Simon has made certain to devote time to his children Riley (age 10) and Kyle (age 7). He now understands why his father tried to keep him out of the family business and worries constantly about whether his superhero career will negatively affect his young children. Both youngsters are aware of their father's identity and are proud enough of him that they've learned to maintain his secret. In fact, both have shown interest in following in their father's footsteps...a situation Simon isn't sure of how to deal with yet.

Quote:"Don't worry, citizen. We're here to help."Background: Simon Montgomery-Pryce was the only child of English banker Richard Montgomery-Pryce and his wife Doreen. The small but happy family had moved to downtown London when Simon was very young. Life was simple (sometimes almost dull) for Simon, but he never wanted for anything. However, even as a child Simon was already developing a protector-complex. He stood up to bullies both in school and on the London streets, getting into more than a few scraps while defending another kid. These were the only times that Simon heard his normally mild-mannered father raise his voice. Richard Montgomery-Pryce refused to allow his son to become a hoodlum who resorted to violence at every opportunity. It didn't matter why Simon was fighting. It didn't matter who started the brawl or who Simon had helped out. His father demanded that Simon cease his ruffian ways.

 

Simon was never able to fully curb his protective and adventurous nature. When he was older, he decided to join up with the British Army, figuring this would be an opporunity to focus his aggressive tendencies. His parents were shocked and outraged at the suggestion. Simon's father had intended for him to follow Richard Montgomery-Pryce's footsteps into the financial world. Not only did this sound dreadfully dull to Simon but he knew he wanted more out of life than just balancing numbers on an accounting sheet. He preferred action but managed to pacify his father by taking part in extracurricular sports at school. He was particularly skilled at archery and won several trophies in school tournaments. However, when he was of age, he disobeyed his father's wishes and signed up with the British military.

 

Simon excelled at his military training. He began as a infantry soldier and eventually was transferred to an armored division. He spent only a couple of years in the service when he received word that his parents had died in an automobile accident. Taking an extended leave for bereavement reasons, Simon was lingering after his parents' funeral when a man approached him. This man, an older and well dressed gentleman, introduced himself as Alister Montgomery-Pryce, Simon's uncle. Simon was surprised since his parents had never mentioned that any other family even existed. Alister explained that Richard had never been keen on the "family business" and had left for London to keep his wife and son out of it. Simon learned from Alister that he was part of a long line of adventurers and heroes stretching back to the days of Queen Victoria.

 

Alister spent the next few days with Simon, telling him about the family lineage Simon had never known about. The earliest hero was Charles Montgomery-Pryce, who served the Queen Victoria as a special agent and even worked with the renowned Sherlock Holmes. In World War II, Lance Montgomery-Pryce volunteered for a military "super-soldier" project and became the masked hero called the Phantom Knight, fighting alongside his fellow Knights of the Round Table (including Union Jack and the Crimson Lion) against the Nazi threat. Lance eventually retired and married his teammate Emma Reed (aka Spitfire). Alister and Richard were their children. Alister himself had spent a few years as the costumed crimefighter Neotronik until bad luck in a fight against one of his enemies left him with a shattered knee.

 

Alister left Simon after these revelations, having only wanted to pay his respects to his estranged brother and make sure that Simon knew the truth about his family. Simon was understandably stunned by the news. This was the reason he felt the urge to stand up to those who took advantage of others; it was in his blood! Simon returned to active duty after a couple of weeks but his mind was always on what his uncle Alister had told him. There must be a way for him to carry on the family tradition despite his father's efforts.

 

In the meantime, Simon served with distinction in the British military, eventually being offered a position in the special operations division of MI6. There he worked as a special surviellance and combat operative, even going so far as to command his own small team of agents. All the while, he wondered how to carry on his family legacy. He didn't have any special powers of his own (that he knew of anyway). What he did have was a keenly intelligent and inventive mind. Requesitioning some combat equipment from the tech divisions of MI6, Simon took his natural kit-bashing talent and combined it with his uncanny archery skills. He designed a suit of combat armor based on some experimental designs within the agency. He developed several micronized grenade-like devices that were easily attached to carefully rigged arrow shafts. After a few preliminary tests, Simon secretly went into action as the armored archer Longbow.

 

The results were excellent. Simon finally had an outlet for his pent-up need to fight the good fight against all who take advantage of others. He spent over three years as Longbow, struggling to balance a double life as a secret agent and a costumed vigilante. During this time, he met, fell in love with, and married another MI6 agent: Lisa Doyle. Simon let her know his secret identity and, although she was unsure about his risking his life more than already necessary, she helped him maintain his ruse. It wasn't until after the birth of their second child that Simon's superiors discovering his moonlighting activities.

 

These was a general inquiry and even talk about a court martial. Simon had, after all, mis-used government equipment for his personal vigilante crusade. Simon's superiors debated the subject for several months, during which time Simon was ordered not to operate as Longbow. Finally it was decided that Simon's otherwise impeccable service record along with the real good he had done as a costumed crimefighter outweighed his infraction. However, from that point forward, Simon would be expected to operate as an agent of the British government rather than a lawless vigilante. Simon, glad to have the deception at an end, agreed wholeheartedly.

 

With the British government now officially backing him, Simon saw his combat armor and weapons upgraded and improved. Additionally, his superiors insisted that he change his appearance and codename to Straight Arrow, representing not only his archery skills and style but also the new expectation that Simon would follow the rules and his orders to the letter. Now that he no longer had to maintain the double life, Simon was able to operate more openly and racked up quite an impressive number of victories.

 

Tragedy struck a couple of years later when MI6 was performing a raid on the lair of the arch-criminal Scarlet Spectre. The Spectre, both a criminal genius and a borderline madman, had rigged his hideout with explosives. The destruction of the lair cost several agents their lives, including Simon's wife Lisa. Simon was devestated and vowed to bring the Scarlet Spectre to justice. The two have clashed several times over the years since then but Spectre has always managed to escape.

 

Recently, Simon's superiors decided to answer the call by the UNTIL agency for new superhumans to join their team UNITY. Simon was sent to UNTIL, who approved of dedicated and experienced hero. Simon was also pleased with the transfer, knowing that UNTIL could provide not only more advanced technology to add to his combat gear but also greater opportunity to battle evil across the globe.

Powers/Tactics: Straight Arrow's powers derive from his Tekbow, "trick arrows," and combat armor. The Tekbow gives him an assorted array of ranged attacks and his armor enhances his strength and endurance (which combined with his martial arts training make him a dangerous close combat fighter). His armor is also equipped with a variety of advanced sensory and communications equipment. Straight Arrow is always looking for new ideas for trick arrows and is constantly tinkering with his armor to improve it.

 

Straight Arrow is a highly talented inventor of weapons and minor gadgets, a talent that allowed him to develop his armor and Tekbow. He has had extensive training and experience in the military and espionage world and his skills reflect that background. He is also a skilled pilot and has been cleared for a number of military and civilian aircraft and vehicles. He has a natural head for tactics.

 

Straight Arrow prefers to fight at range, using his Tekbow Multipower to disable his opponents. His armor grants him a great deal of protection so he is usually not far from the center of the action. His armor also makes him extremely mobile, which he uses to his advantage. He will use his Running or Leaping to constantly move around the battlefield.

Campaign Use: Straight Arrow is a Gadgeteer whose inventions turn him into a low level Brick and Blaster. He is geared toward leadership of a superteam.

[teh bunneh]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

Remember when Lonewalker and I were commenting about how Straight Arrow was never going to live down the fact that he let Penny Dreadful go? Well, here is the fruit of that discussion...

 

-----

Now that Yggdrasil is finished, UNITY is going through some mission/force re-design. Team A (unofficially nicknamed "Astra") is permanently stationed off-planet, to explore the galaxy and deal with threats before they reach earth. Simian Fury is to be reassigned to Team A, because they need a mystic.

 

Team B (unofficially nicknamed "Los Bravos") is to be stationed on Yggdrasil. They are to be the northern hemisphere's Rapid Response Team, to be instantly beamed anywhere there is a large amount of trouble –- a massive supervillain attack, an outbreak of war or rioting, or signs of alien involvement. Gadget Man has been reassigned to Team B, because they need a gadgeteer.

 

Team C is permanently stationed in Midgard. They are UNITY's Investigation Wing, to look into suspicious activity and try to stop it before it gets too hot. UNTIL is trying to recruit a magician to fill Simian's roll.

 

Team D is now being recruited and trained. Once Vanaheim (the southern satellite) is finished, that will be their permanent base. They will be the Rapid Response Team for the southern hemisphere.

 

Straight Arrow has been getting letters, emails, and text messages from a mysterious crush. However, he didn’t tell his team about it. He did ask LOKI to send an UNTIL team to track her down and see if they could find her. He thought it was a lead worth following, but didn't want to spend the time doing it himself.

 

In line with their mission, Team C began watching various news sources closely to keep an eye out for trouble before it got out of hand. Straight Arrow's eyes were drawn to a series of reports involving a rash of thefts and deaths in England.

 

A number of high-tech firms throughout London have been raided and equipment stolen. These have all been deadly raids – the perpetrator flooded the entire building with poison gas and then waltzed in, took what he wanted, and waltzed out. Straight Arrow told the rest of the team that the gas matches that used by the criminal genius Scarlet Specter, who hasn’t been active for nearly 3 years and who has a history of conflict with Straight Arrow.

 

The heroes started by doing their legwork, and they learned that the crimes have several links. They have all been robberies of brand-new, high-tech defense industry labs. All these companies are one year or less old, all of them work on bleeding-edge technologies, and all of them have defense industry contracts (some for UNTIL, some for Euroguard). There have been four robberies so far in the past five days:

 

• Tynsyn Electronics is working on the next generation of satellite based GPS for use by the military (they are working on improving the focus of Yggdrasil's Bifrost teleportation system).

• Debson & Debson Security Materials, Inc. is working on a new radar-absorbing material to make stealth jets from (they are doing something for EuroGuard, but that information is classified).

• United Industrial is designing a defensive laser system to shoot down missiles (working to improve Yggdrasil's defensive systems).

• Rapid Deployment, Ltd. is designing a new low-visibility, low-signature jet engine for use on military aircraft (they are also working for EuroGuard, and what they are specifically building is classified).

 

All four companies have shut down completely, not just from the robberies but also from the deaths of several of their top scientists and engineers. A little research revealed that the Specter released the gas into the buildings' air conditioning units. He raided computers at each site, copying information off the hard drives and then destroying them by releasing a virus which corrupted the entire system. He also stole prototype materials and/or designs from each site.

 

The heroes, being a proactive bunch, did a search on other companies that matched the profile. They found two: Lehume Information Systems, and Bluejack Aerospace. The teams split up to investigate each one -– Red Dragon, Aurora, and Tank went to Bluejack; Straight Arrow, New Man, and Ifrita headed to Lehume.

 

At Bluejack, the heroes met with the founder and president of the company. Simon Bluejack greeted the heroes warmly, and shared their concerns about the latest raids. He seemed happy to assist them in their inquiries – but he would not let them into his labs because of proprietary intellectual properties. He was quite firm and would not yield this point. All he would say was that they were designing a new hypersonic wing for military aircraft.

 

After some discussion, the heroes decided to hide Red Dragon on the roof. Aurora would stay near a light socket through which she could teleport to the roof if necessary, and Tank would remain hidden near the building's lobby. As Red Dragon realized he hadn’t got something to eat or drink before he hid, night began to fall.

 

At Lehume, the heroes met with Robert Lehume, Jr., the company's president. He was thrilled to meet with UNITY agents in person, but when told of their fears, he became very worried and offered to shut down his entire facility. They thought it would be a good idea for him to clear out his personnel, and they called in an UNTIL team to take their places – they feared that Specter would not want to raid the place if he thought the heroes were onto him.

 

They then all hid near the roof and waited. About that time, Straight Arrow got a phone call (forwarded from LOKI) from his children. He was in for a surprise, for when he answered he heard a familiar voice. "Hi honey, it's me! I didn't think that would work -– gosh, I didn't know you had kids! How romantic! I get all dreamy when I think about the kids we'll have, you and me. I want two girls and a boy. I bet you want two boys and a girl! That’s so typical of you! Oh, listen to us! We’re having our first fight!" and so on.

 

He demanded to know how she got his number, and she just laughed. "Oh, it's amazing the stuff you can find on the Internet these days! I've been trying to get ahold of you for so long; I decided to pretend I was your family and they let me right through!"

 

Straight Arrow put her on hold for a second, and told LOKI to trace the call. Then he got back on with her, hoping to keep her on the line long enough to trace it. She insisted on meeting with him, "And just you!" she said. "I don't want you bringing your friends along and spoiling our romantic interlude! You know how cross I get, and when I get angry, people get hurt!"

 

She told him to meet her at an old TV studio in London. "Carnations are my favorite flowers," she said. "And you'd better not stand me up, sweetie, or these cute little boys with the smart blue-and-white uniforms you sent to find me will get what’s coming!"

 

LOKI told Straight Arrow that the call was traced to an UNTIL radio. The team that was sent to find her has not reported back, they are not answering their calls, and their tracking devices are off-line. With a heavy sigh, Straight Arrow told his comrades that he had to go and deal with something –- that UNTIL lives were on the line –- and that they were to take care of Scarlet Specter if and when he arrived.

 

Meanwhile, Red Dragon was not having much fun waiting on the roof. It was raining, and he really had to use the toilet. But then, out of the darkness he saw a cloaked figure on an airsled silently fly up to the roof, near the air conditioning units. Red Dragon saw him pull out some kind of device which he started to attach to the AC. That was enough for the samurai. He called Aurora and Tank, and then burst out of hiding to charge.

 

It was a very short fight. Scarlet Specter went down easy; he never laid a glove on Red Dragon. Aurora suspected something was wrong, so she teleported back inside the building just as Tank arrived to help the samurai. As the two heroes were facing the badly beaten Specter, the villain's armor erupted in a blinding flash of light. The two blinded heroes found themselves under heavy fire from above! It was all a trap!

 

Meanwhile, Straight Arrow found himself in an old abandoned film lot. He decided to go through the roof, but accidentally tripped an alarm on his way in. The building was dark, but he found a big sign that pointed the way to "Da Penny D Show/Wedding Chapel."

 

He cautiously entered the studio and found five UNTIL agents tied up in the center of the stage. They appeared to be unhurt, just bound and gagged. He crept over as silently as he could and began to untie the first agent, but then the door slammed shut, the lights came up, and Penny's voice rang out – "Welcome one and all to DA PENNY D SHOW! Tonight's very special guest: my new sweetie! That’s right, folks – the heartthrob of heroes, the super-stud of the super-set, the darling of derring-do, the romantic Robin Hood, Straight Arrow! Come on down so we can get to know each other a little better!"

 

Penny Dreadful herself came out, posing and preening for the "studio audience" (a bunch of mannequins with a cheap canned laugh track from the 70s as their applause). Straight Arrow noticed that the TV cameras around the room were now active. He told Penny that he wanted nothing to do with all this, but she pressed a button and a huge iron cage dropped from the ceiling above to trap him.

 

The two of them fought for a couple of rounds, Penny insisting that they were destined for each other, Straight Arrow trying to convince her that he’s not that kind of guy:

 

SA: "You're a psychotic mass-murderer; I'm a boy scout!"

PD: "Isn't it funny how opposites always attract?"

 

Meanwhile, back at Bluejack, the heroes were in trouble so they radioed for help. Ifrita and New Man left their own stakeout to assist their teammates. They arrived shortly thereafter to find Tank and Aurora already down, and Red Dragon weathering a hail of fire from a half-dozen identically-dressed men on airsleds! The worst part of it was that obviously the Scarlet Specter had been planning this for a long time, as he knew everybody’s weaknesses! Ifrita and Red Dragon went down hard (though Red Dragon managed to take out one of the flunkies before he was dropped). New Man stayed conscious long enough to radio Straight Arrow that they needed assistance, and then he too was dropped.

 

Straight Arrow and Penny had stopped fighting for a moment and were trying to discuss their "relationship" like rational adults when New Man's call came in. "I’m sorry Penny," Straight Arrow said. "I have to go. My teammates need me."

 

"Aw, how sweet!" Penny gushed, little anime hearts appearing in her eyes. "You're so brave and heroic! That's why I love you so much!"

 

He turned to leave, but then she grabbed his shoulder. "Wait!" she said. "I've got a great idea! Why don't I go with you and help you rescue your team? That'll prove that we’re meant to be together, fighting side-by-side against the forces of evil! What do you say?"

 

To be continued!

[teh bunneh]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

And this is Lonewalker (Straight Arrow)'s response to Penny Dreadful's offer:

 

-----

> He turned to leave, but then she grabbed his shoulder. "Wait!" she

> said. "I've got a great idea! Why don't I go with you and help you rescue

> your team? That'll prove that we’re meant to be together, fighting side-by-

> side against the forces of evil! What do you say?"

 

NO! Absolutely not! screamed the emotional side of Straight Arrow's mind. What is she? Insane?

 

Yes she is, replied the rational side of his mind. What did I expect?

 

Straight Arrow, his face grim behind his helmet, pulled away from Penny Dreadful as he tapped an open communications line to LOKI. "This is Straight Arrow. LOKI, I've lost contact with my team. Can you get a lock on them?"

 

There was a momentary pause. "Negative. There appears to be some sort of interference, preventing me from getting a clear signal."

 

Typical of Scarlet Spectre, Straight Arrow thought. "I require backup. Who's available on Team B?"

 

Another pause. "I'm sorry, sir. All members of Team B are currently occupied dealing with an earthquake in India. Very suspicious circumstances. But," the AI added brightly, "I may be able to assign another team of UNTIL agents..."

 

Straight Arrow sighed. "No, never mind. Good as our agents are, Spectre will undoubtedly have prepared too dangerous a greeting for them. Just get me the last known position of Team C and I'll handle things on my own."

 

Turning back to Penny, who was still staring dreamily at him, Straight Arrow reluctantly told her, "Well, I guess I get to take you out for a night on the town after all..."

 

Penny squealed her delight but Straight Arrow quickly and sternly interrupted, "With some conditions! First, no killing! Second, you follow my instructions! Third, you do not risk the lives of my teammates in any way! Fourth, you accept that after all this if over, I may be forced to arrest you. Are we agreed?" He extended a hand to the woman.

 

She ignored it completely and pounced on him, wrapped her arms around his neck. "Abso-tively, posi-lutely, sweetie!" she cheered, planting a kiss on his visor and leaving a smeared pink lipmark between his eyes. "I knew you'd come around! It's destiny!"

 

Straight Arrow pushed her away and wiped the lipstick mark on the back of his gauntlet. "Work now. Play later," he told her. Checking to make certain the captured UNTIL agents had freed themselves, he led Penny Dreadful out of the building to the Mjolnir jet.

 

I have to be out of my mind, he thought grimly to himself, but beggars can't be choosers...

[Scifi_Toughguy]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

I love it!

[Kyle A.]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

I want more! Give me more and I'll give you some rep. Don't you want rep? It rep-a-licious!

[Red Knight]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

I LOVE IT!!! I NEED MORE!!!!

 

Penny is a true psycho.. What better love interest for the stalwart hero

 

 

 

Great job... keep it up.

[teh bunneh]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

I'll have to see if I can scan some of the "love letters" that Penny sent Straight Arrow. I think you guys would get a laugh out of them.

 

Bill.

[Libra]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

 

Oh Boy, looks like our little Arrow has found his Canary in the most unlikely of places . . .

 

Just for kicks, what exactly does Penny look like? If her name is anything tio go by Joanna Lumley has a homicidal realtive . . .

[teh bunneh]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

Personality: The woman known as Penny Dreadful is a cheerful, bouncy, fun-loving, psychotic killer. She always has a smile on her lips and a song in her heart... unfortunately, that song is "Kill 'em All." She would be little more than a petty (but talented) thief, but for the strange paranormal ability she has -- she has complete control over human pheremones. She can cause people to obey her every command, and worse than that, she can kill with but a touch. Some say this power has made her insane; it has most certainly made her careless with people's hearts and with their lives. She frequently kills people for petty transgressions -- or indeed, for no reason at all. She seems to think it's all one big joke.

 

Quote: "You probably thought I was just another bubble-headed blonde bimbo! Ha! The joke's on you, buster -- I'm not even a real blonde!" (shamelessly stolen from Batman: The Animated Series)

 

Powers/Tactics: Penny Dreadful bounces around the battlefield, never staying in one place for too long. She does not hesitate to use her devestating pheremone attack. If she's hurt or in danger of losing, she'll use her mind control ability to cause one man in the party to become her "protector," just long enough for her to get away.

 

Appearance: Penny Dreadful is a beautiful and buxom blonde woman with an athletic build, bright green eyes, and a crazed grin. She appears to be an American (based on her accent), but was nevertheless welcomed into Eurostar. She wears blue and green tights, pointed elf-shoes, and a harliquin's mask (complete with bells).

[Red Knight]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

So if I may paraphrase... A Baywatch Babe with super powers??

 

Gotcha...

 

In a Champions game I ran before, one of the characters had a love interest that was a supermodel / weapons dealer. Imagine a Female Punisher that looked drop dead in a swimsuit....

[Trebuchet]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

Personality: The woman known as Penny Dreadful is a cheerful, bouncy, fun-loving, psychotic killer. She always has a smile on her lips and a song in her heart... unfortunately, that song is "Kill 'em All." She would be little more than a petty (but talented) thief, but for the strange paranormal ability she has -- she has complete control over human pheremones. She can cause people to obey her every command, and worse than that, she can kill with but a touch. Some say this power has made her insane; it has most certainly made her careless with people's hearts and with their lives. She frequently kills people for petty transgressions -- or indeed, for no reason at all. She seems to think it's all one big joke.

 

Quote: "You probably thought I was just another bubble-headed blonde bimbo! Ha! The joke's on you, buster -- I'm not even a real blonde!" (shamelessly stolen from Batman: The Animated Series)

 

Powers/Tactics: Penny Dreadful bounces around the battlefield, never staying in one place for too long. She does not hesitate to use her devestating pheremone attack. If she's hurt or in danger of losing, she'll use her mind control ability to cause one man in the party to become her "protector," just long enough for her to get away.

 

Appearance: Penny Dreadful is a beautiful and buxom blonde woman with an athletic build, bright green eyes, and a crazed grin. She appears to be an American (based on her accent), but was nevertheless welcomed into Eurostar. She wears blue and green tights, pointed elf-shoes, and a harliquin's mask (complete with bells).

I want to play in your campaign! Would you consider running one session a month in El Paso?

[Lonewalker]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

Penny is a true psycho.. What better love interest for the stalwart hero

 

You're not helping, mate...

 

Lonewalker

[Lonewalker]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

I'll have to see if I can scan some of the "love letters" that Penny sent Straight Arrow. I think you guys would get a laugh out of them.

 

Bill.

 

Oh, yes, grand. Telegraph my misery across the world, why don't you?

 

(I'll bet that crazy bird even lurks on these boards...)

 

Lonewalker

aka Straight Arrow

[Lonewalker]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

Oh Boy, looks like our little Arrow has found his Canary in the most unlikely of places . . .

Every job has its downsides, mate...

 

Just for kicks, what exactly does Penny look like?

Oh, she's a right headturner, she is.

 

('Course, by 'headturner,' I mean turning your head 'til the neck bloody well snaps!)

 

Lonewalker

aka Straight Arrow

[teh bunneh]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

I want to play in your campaign! Would you consider running one session a month in El Paso?

 

No, but if you'd like to commute up to Colorado I can probably fit you in.

 

Bill.

[Scifi_Toughguy]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

No, but if you'd like to commute up to Colorado I can probably fit you in.

 

Bill.

When I grow up, I want to commute to Colorado!

[Libra]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

Cheer up Lonewalker, you might meet her British cousin Penny Black . . . All the looks and none of the mental problems. .

 

(Mind you, Penny Dreadful would probably be a bit of a handful between the sheets, I mean Supervillains are probably into all sorts of kinky stuff . . . )

[Red Knight]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

(Mind you' date=' Penny Dreadful would probably be a bit of a handful between the sheets, I mean Supervillains are probably into all sorts of kinky stuff . . . )[/quote']

 

That might be true.... but it is the quiet ones that can turn out to be the bigger freaks!!

 

Penny: "Who's your bowmaster now? Say my name b***h."

Straight Arrow: " You are! You are my Bowmaster!!"

[Lonewalker]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

That might be true.... but it is the quiet ones that can turn out to be the bigger freaks!!

 

Penny: "Who's your bowmaster now? Say my name b***h."

Straight Arrow: " You are! You are my Bowmaster!!"

 

You lot are nuts. This is the absolute last thing I need.

 

(To say nothing of the PR hit UNTIL will take if the gossip magazines hear about your jests!)

 

Lonewalker

aka Straight Arrow (who is trying SO hard to be good!!)

[Red Knight]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

Well... You could spin it to your advantage....

 

Embrace Penny as a convert... Hold a big press conference to declare to the world that Penny is turning to the good side and that she is going to be assisting UNITY with thier quest to stop the bad guys. Also hint that she is providing intel.

 

Once you do this... you will make UNITY look good for being able to "convert" a bad girl and also you will have alerted all the bad guys to her presense. They will probably be afraid of what she is going to tell UNITY so the first order of business will be to silence her.

 

One assassination later....

 

You don't have a love-sick psycho on your hands

UNITY gets GOOD PR for converting the bad girl

One less super criminal in the world.

 

After the assassination, you hold another press conference and state that you are deeply saddened (try squeezing out a tear) by her loss but that it only goes to show that UNITY had in fact converted her and that the baddies were afraid of what she might say.

 

Like I said... A WIN WIN situation.

 

Of course there is always that moral issue of whether or not you are responsible for her death.....

[Libra]

Re: UNITY 2010: A New Champions Campaign

 

Lonewalker: Will you hit him or shall I?

 

Red Knight: That is one nasty megavillain-esque suggestion. Are you sure you actually want to be a Superhero?