Character: Oscar Gordon

[Susano]

Although technically a fantasy character (since Glory Road is "technically" a fantasy novel), I felt E.C. Gordon fit best in this section. Enjoy!

 

Val	CHA	Cost	Roll	Notes
18	STR	8	13-	Lift 300kg; 3 1/2d6 HTH Damage
18	DEX	24	13-	OCV:  6/DCV:  6
18	CON	16	13-
13	BODY	6	12-
15	INT	12	12-	PER Roll 12-
18	EGO	16	13-	ECV:  6
20	PRE	10	13-	PRE Attack:  4d6
9	COM	0	11-

7	PD	3		Total:  7 PD (0 rPD)
6	ED	2		Total:  6 ED (0 rED)
4	SPD	12		Phases:  3, 6, 9, 12
8	REC	0
36	END	0
31	STUN	0		Total Characteristics Cost:  109

Movement:	Running:	6"/12"
	Swimming:	2"/4"

Cost	Powers & Skills
Martial Art: Fencing; Use Art with Swords
Maneuver	OCV	DCV	Damage
5	Ballestra	+2	-2	Weapon +2DC, Half Move Required
5	Lunge		+1	-2	Weapon +2DC
4	Parry		+2	+2	Block, Abort
4	Prise de Fer	+1	-0	Bind, +10 STR
5	Slash		-2	+1	Weapon +2DC
5	Thrust		+1	+3	Weapon

17	Lady Vivamus:  HKA 1d6+1 (2d6+1 with STR), +1 OCV, Reduced Endurance 
(0 END; +1/2); OAF (Sword; -1)
10	Center Health Plan:  Life Support (Immune to Disease)
5	Long-Life Treatment:  Life Support (Immune to Aging)
4	Running:  +2" (8" Total), END 1
10	Luck:  2d6

Perks
7	Contact:  Dr. Rufo (Contact has access to major institutions, Contact has significant 
Contacts of his own, Contact has very useful Skills or resources, Contact has a very good 
relationship with character) 8-
8	Contact:  Star, Empress of the Twenty Universes (Contact has access to major 
institutions, Contact has significant Contacts of her own, Contact has very useful Skills 
or resources, Contact has a very good relationship with character) 11-
4	Reputation: Hero (to citizens of Center) +2/+2d6
15	Wealthy:  Filthy Rich (if he needs it)

Talents
3	Bump of Direction

Skills
24	Combat Skill Levels:  +3 with All Combat

0	AK:  California 8-
1	AK:  Center 8-
1	AK:  Europe 8-
1	AK:  Nevia 8-
1	AK:  Vietnam 8-
3	Bribery 13-
3	Bureaucratics 13-
1	CK:  Paris 8-
0	Climbing 8-
3	Concealment 12-
0	Conversation 8-
0	Deduction 8-
1	Demolitions 8- 
2	Gambling (Card Games) 12-
2	KS:  Army History & Customs 11-
3	KS:  Fencing 12-
3	KS:  Guns/Weapons Identification 12-
1	KS:  How to Live Cheap In Europe 8-
2	KS:  Military World 11-
2	KS:  Multi-universe History 11-
4	Language:  Center (Idiomatic)
0	Language:  English (native)
3	Language:  French (Completely Fluent)
4	Language:  Nevian (Idiomatic)
5	Navigation 13-
0	Paramedic 8-
3	PS:  Drafting 12-
2	PS:  Football 11-
0	PS:  Jeweler 8-
2	PS:  Soldier 11-
0	Shadowing 8-
2	SS:  Engineering 11-
2	SS:  Mathematics 11-
0	Stealth 8-
1	Survival (Tropical Forest) 12-
3	Tactics 12-
1	TF:  Small Motorized Ground Vehicles, Horse
4	WF:  Small Arms, Blades, Bow, Heavy Machine Gun
204	Total Powers & Skills Cost
313	Total Character Cost

150+	Disadvantages
10	Distinctive Features:  Scar across face and nose (C)
10	Distinctive Features:  Style
10	Hunted:  Star (MoPow, NCI, Watching) 8-
20	Normal Characteristic Maxima
10	Psychological Limitation:  Afraid of Rats (U, S)
15	Psychological Limitation:  Craves Adventure, Can't Stand To Be Idle (C, S)
15	Psychological Limitation:  Stubborn And Strong Willed, Does Not Like To 
Give Up (C, S)
5	Unluck:  1d6
68	HERO Bonus
313	Total Disadvantage Points

 

Background/History:

Oscar Gordon is the main character of Robert Heinlein's novel Glory Road. Born sometime around 1940 to a military family, Oscar found himself without much money, and few options for obtaining any, when the time came for him to enter college. Unable to avoid the draft, he decided to pre-empt the process and volunteer, hoping to enter service in the Navy like his father. As his luck would have it, Oscar ended up in the Army, and spent some time slogging through the mud of Vietnam fighting in what was labeled a "police action."

 

A nasty encounter in the jungle resulted in Oscar taking a slash across the face, which left him in the hospital for some time. Upon discharge, he traveled to Europe with hopes of meeting his family in West Germany (and possible attending college at Heidelberg). His family, however, were now in Alaska, and Oscar spent his time relaxing and recovering in the south of France. While there, he answered an ad asking if he was "a coward."

 

At this point he met Star, a woman who promised him adventure and a hero's reward at the end of it. Agreeing to this deal, Oscar was taken to the world of Nevia to fight Horned Ghosts, giant rats, huge pigs, and dragons. From there he journeyed to a "place," not a world, but a place, to rescue the Egg of the Phoenix. That done, he received his reward -- Star as his wife, and his position as consort to Star -- the Empress of the Twenty Known Universes (well, not quite "Empress," but it fits well enough.).

 

Growing bored with a life of fairly idle luxury on the world of Center, Oscar realized he'd have to leave if he was to stay sane and stable. Saying goodbye to Star, Oscar got in touch with Star's grandson Rufo, and went off in search of adventure.

 

This write up is set at this time point, after he has left Center and gone off in search of adventure.

 

As a side note, Oscar has managed to accumulate a whole host of names over time. These include: Evelyn Cyril Gordon (his real name), "E.C." Gordon, "Easy" Gordon, "Flash" Gordon, "Truthful James," "Scar," and "Scarface."

 

Personality/Motivation:

Oscar, simply put, craves adventure and excitement. He wants to be a Hero, to adventure in strange lands, battle dragons, and rescue princesses. If he's not doing that, then he wants to be busy being useful, as he can't stand to sit around and do nothing. In addition, Oscar has a stubborn streak. Once committed to a project, he won't give up, or give way, and tends to win through sheer determination and cussedness. This streak also results in him being fairly blunt and a straight talker, which is why he kept getting busted from corporal back to private in the army.

 

Due to a childhood experience with a rat-infested home, Oscar is deathly afraid of rats, and has to steel himself to be around rats, or even the sound of rats.

 

Quote: "I want to walk the Glory Road."

 

Powers/Tactics:

Oscar is a fairly typical Heinlein "superman." He is strong (physically and mentally), smart, tough, and capable in a broad range of situations. On top of that, he is an accomplished fencer, a skilled football player, runs track, is an excellent draftsman, speaks French (and maybe German), and has extensive combat experience in Vietnam (I'm guessing 2-3 years).

 

In a fight, Oscar doesn't try to be reckless. He will plan ahead if possible, and prefers to have the proper equipment at hand before starting anything. When he does fight, however, he goes all out, and won't give the enemy a second chance if he can help it.

 

Due to his experiences in Nevina and Center, Oscar can speak the languages of either land. Medical treatments on Center have set him at 24 years of age permanently, and have ensured he will never get sick.

 

Appearance:

As Glory Road is written from the first-person, Oscar never really describes himself in full. Oscar does state that he is "...190 pounds of muscle..." and that he had never been called handsome by anyone (and that was before he broke his nose). A good guess puts him at six foot, or six foot one, with an excellent physique. A long scar runs from his left eye, across his broken nose, and to his right jaw.

 

Due to his Life-Extension treatments at Center, Oscar is now permanently 24 years old. He is in perfect health, and pretty much can expect to stay that way. According to a prediction of his future, he won't die in bed, but most likely will be killed in action.

 

(Oscar Gordon created by Robert Heinlein, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)

[OddHat]

Re: Character: Oscar Gordon

 

Been years since I read the book, but it was one of my favorites. Very nice take on the character, and I agree that Pulp is the best genre for him.

[Susano]

Re: Character: Oscar Gordon

 

Been years since I read the book' date=' but it was one of my favorites. Very nice take on the character, and I agree that Pulp is the best genre for him. [/quote']

 

BTW -- the Horned Ghosts are over in the fantasy section.

[OddHat]

Re: Character: Oscar Gordon

 

BTW -- the Horned Ghosts are over in the fantasy section.

 

Your link to that write-up in the post above is broken.

[Susano]

Re: Character: Oscar Gordon

 

I took the link out. It works on the website.

 

Here's the link to the message board posting for a Horned Ghost.

 

http://www.herogames.com/forums/showpost.php?p=817673&postcount=1

[OddHat]

Re: Character: Oscar Gordon

 

I took the link out. It works on the website.

 

Here's the link to the message board posting for a Horned Ghost.

 

http://www.herogames.com/forums/showpost.php?p=817673&postcount=1

 

Thanks.