Golden Age Characters

[fredrik_nilsson]

In my campaign I indeed to use some of the Golden Age characters in the Champions Universe. Besides what's written below, is anything know about them:

 

• American Eagle: Flight powers
  
• Black Mask VIII: CK: Chicago, Fringe Benefit: Local Police Powers, PS: Policeman, Social Limitation: Secret ID (Jeffrey Layton Ward)
  
• Black Owl: Deep Cover (Lefty LeGrand), Social Limitation: Secret ID (Bill Jeffries)
  
• Bulletproof: Bulletproof suit made by Dr. Ping
  
• Captain Patriot: See Champions Universe
  
• Cobra: Martial Arts: Generic, CK: New York City
  
• Dr. Twilight: Social Limitation: Secret ID (Robert MacDonald), CK: Harlem, powers over light and darkness (granted by Osiris), Social Limitation: Harmful Secret (communist connections)
  
• Cowboy: Social Limitation: Secret ID ("Kid"Brown), PS: Circus Artist, Trick-shooting
  
• Futurian: Rocket-Pack and Electro-Pistol
  
• Grey Guardian: CK: San Francisco
  
• Lady Mystery: Magic tome (VPP: Magic?), Social Limitation: Secret ID (Abigail Chase)
  
• MeteorMan: PS: Scientist, Social Limitation: Secret ID (Harrison Chase), see MeteorMan III in Champions Universe
  
• Nightingale: CK: San Francisco, Social Limitation: Secret ID (Leticia Henry), PS: Showgirl
  
• Optimus: Money: Well Off, Social Limitation: Secret ID (Drake Wilson)
  
• Scarlet Archer: Fringe Benefit: Lower Nobility, Social Limitation: Secret ID (Sir Peter Tanfield), skilled archer
  
• Sea Hawk: Social Limitation: Secret ID (Princess Mara), Hunted: Dargon, DNPC: Amy Levesque, DNPC: Navy Lieutenant Barry Colville, Fringe Benefit: Higher Nobility, see older version in Hidden Lands
  
• Sgt. Battle: Fringe Benefit: Sergeant, the world's mighiest non-com (what's that?)
  
• Streak: Speedster
  
• Swashbuckler: ?

[fredrik_nilsson]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

These are my guesses:

 

• American Eagle: Hawkman homage
  
• Black Mask VIII: Phantom homage
  
• Black Owl: Batman or Nite Owl (Watchmen) homage
  
• Bulletproof: ?
  
• Captain Patriot: Superman homage
  
• Cobra: The Shadow homage
  
• Dr. Twilight: Either a Dr.Fate homage or a Dr. Mid-Nite homage
  
• Cowboy: Robin homage
  
• Futurian: Rocketeer homage
  
• Grey Guardian: Spectre homage
  
• Lady Mystery: Inza Nelson (Dr. Fate's wife) homage
  
• MeteorMan: Golden age Green Lantern homage
  
• Nightingale: Silk Spectre (Watchmen) homage
  
• Optimus: Ozymandias (Watchmen) homage
  
• Scarlet Archer: Green Arrow homage
  
• Sea Hawk: Namor the Sub-Mariner homage
  
• Sgt. Battle: Captain America homage
  
• Streak: Golden age Flash homage
  
• Swashbuckler: ?

[fredrik_nilsson]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Are there any more official golden age supers (good and bad)?

 

The Millennium City book has the Spirit homage Mr. X.

[Agent X]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Are there any more official golden age supers (good and bad)?

 

The Millennium City book has the Spirit homage Mr. X.

Did I miss Sturmvogel on the list? I think he's statted out somewhere, maybe in Digital Hero.

[fredrik_nilsson]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Did I miss Sturmvogel on the list? I think he's statted out somewhere' date=' maybe in Digital Hero.[/quote']

I just wrote down the good guys (read, the americans).

 

Totenkopf, Iron Father, Steel Shark, Northwind, and so on all belong to this era.

 

American Eagle (and his sidekick Winger) both have Digital Hero write-ups. don't know if they are offical. Calling American Eagle high-flying in CU seems a bit weird when all he has is a glider. CU doesn't mention Winger or American Eagle II at all. It's not that I don't like'em, but I wouldn't have done them in that way.

[Darren Watts]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Hey Frederik- since most of these characters are from my campaigns, let's see if I can't help you out a bit...

 

[*]American Eagle: Flight powers

 

Yeah. He wears a giant set of wings he got in a mystical land of bird-people.

 

 

[*]Black Mask VIII: CK: Chicago, Fringe Benefit: Local Police Powers, PS: Policeman, Social Limitation: Secret ID (Jeffrey Layton Ward)

 

Pretty much. Two-fisted pulpy adventurer, good detective-y skills.

 

 

[*]Black Owl: Deep Cover (Lefty LeGrand), Social Limitation: Secret ID (Bill Jeffries)

 

Yup. Swings around the city on a rope, no powers but a utility belt of gadgets.

 

 

[*]Bulletproof: Bulletproof suit made by Dr. Ping

 

Until 1944, yes. Outstanding h-t-h combatant- our universe's Wildcat or Atom I. Gets super-indestructibility in 1944- see Galactic Champs for the considerably higher-powered version.

 

 

[*]Captain Patriot: See Champions Universe

 

[*]Cobra: Martial Arts: Generic, CK: New York City

 

Steve's, so I don't know yet.

 

 

[*]Dr. Twilight: Social Limitation: Secret ID (Robert MacDonald), CK: Harlem, powers over light and darkness (granted by Osiris), Social Limitation: Harmful Secret (communist connections)

 

Yup. Fairly well-covered in VB.

 

 

[*]Cowboy: Social Limitation: Secret ID ("Kid"Brown), PS: Circus Artist, Trick-shooting

 

Develops spy skills as he goes along, as well.

 

 

[*]Futurian: Rocket-Pack and Electro-Pistol

 

[*]Grey Guardian: CK: San Francisco

 

[*]Lady Mystery: Magic tome (VPP: Magic?), Social Limitation: Secret ID (Abigail Chase)

 

Yes. IIRC she did have a Multipower of specific spells, as she mastered them.

 

 

[*]MeteorMan: PS: Scientist, Social Limitation: Secret ID (Harrison Chase), see MeteorMan III in Champions Universe

 

[*]Nightingale: CK: San Francisco, Social Limitation: Secret ID (Leticia Henry), PS: Showgirl

 

Yup. Our "Black Canary," basically.

 

 

[*]Optimus: Money: Well Off, Social Limitation: Secret ID (Drake Wilson)

 

Yes. Gobs of PRE and speechifying skills, and also mastery of Pankration. He's a Classicist.

 

 

[*]Scarlet Archer: Fringe Benefit: Lower Nobility, Social Limitation: Secret ID (Sir Peter Tanfield), skilled archer

 

Does have some lower-tech trick arrows. Also, not American but British.

 

 

[*]Sea Hawk: Social Limitation: Secret ID (Princess Mara), Hunted: Dargon, DNPC: Amy Levesque, DNPC: Navy Lieutenant Barry Colville, Fringe Benefit: Higher Nobility, see older version in Hidden Lands

 

 

[*]Sgt. Battle: Fringe Benefit: Sergeant, the world's mighiest non-com (what's that?)

 

A non-commissioned officer (an enlisted man, basically, and proud of it.) "Don't call me 'Sir,' son, I work for a living!" A brick who received his powers the same day Pearl Harbor was invaded.

 

 

[*]Streak: Speedster

 

[*]Swashbuckler: ?

 

As I recall, a cloaked swordsman fond of fencing, swinging from chandeliers and romancing the ladies. dw

[Theron]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Information neatly filed away for my next campaign. Thanks (and rep) to the original poster for compiling the list and Darren for the descriptions.

[FenrisUlf]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Hey Frederik- since most of these characters are from my campaigns, let's see if I can't help you out a bit...

 

[*]Black Owl: Deep Cover (Lefty LeGrand), Social Limitation: Secret ID (Bill Jeffries)

 

Yup. Swings around the city on a rope, no powers but a utility belt of gadgets.

 

Him I'd like to know more about, as he comes from my hometown (almost). Sort of a Quaker City Batman, I guess.

 

[*]Cowboy: Social Limitation: Secret ID ("Kid"Brown), PS: Circus Artist, Trick-shooting

 

Develops spy skills as he goes along, as well.

 

I always figured him for a Vigilante trib.

 

[*]Nightingale: CK: San Francisco, Social Limitation: Secret ID (Leticia Henry), PS: Showgirl

 

Yup. Our "Black Canary," basically.

 

Does she have the same fashion sense? And if so, then can we count on seeing a picture of her in Golden Age Champions when it gets published?

 

 

[*]Optimus: Money: Well Off, Social Limitation: Secret ID (Drake Wilson)

 

Yes. Gobs of PRE and speechifying skills, and also mastery of Pankration. He's a Classicist.

 

To me, he just screams 'Mister Terriffic'. That's the vibe I'm getting, anyway.

 

[*]Sgt. Battle: Fringe Benefit: Sergeant, the world's mighiest non-com (what's that?)

 

A non-commissioned officer (an enlisted man, basically, and proud of it.) "Don't call me 'Sir,' son, I work for a living!" A brick who received his powers the same day Pearl Harbor was invaded.

 

Great minds think alike! I always saw him as a brick -- indeed, I was considering that he'd survived into the present-day (got Life Support:Longevity along with everything else) and went on to a long career as an official US Army hero/officer in charge of superhuman soldiers.

 

[*]Streak: Speedster

 

Didn't he have three or four 'legacies' following him? I was considering having a Streak show up in the 70's who got his powers from experimental drugs as part of campaign backstory at one point. He wound up calling himself the Speed Freak. (Then he got killed by the Iron Agey psycho vigilante. Kinda sad, really.)

 

But thanks for all the info on these characters!

[austenandrews]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

A Golden Age character named "Optimus?" I'm not seeing it.

[MitchellS]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Didn't he have three or four 'legacies' following him?

Streak II was a founding member of the Fab Five. I don't believe there were any others.

[Theron]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

A Golden Age character named "Optimus?" I'm not seeing it.

 

Optimus, the Optimal Man? I could see it.

[Darren Watts]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

I disagree, obviously. Classical cultures were big providers of character backgrounds in the GA, even if they were sometimes a little sketchy on the exact details- look at Hawkman (Egypt) and Captain Marvel (a hopeless melange of history and myth.) The player who played him originally certainly had in mind a "what if Ozymandias hadn't gone bad"-type character, but I don't think it's particularly out of place. dw

[Darren Watts]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Streak II was a founding member of the Fab Five. I don't believe there were any others.

 

Yeah, the second Streak was a pretty big deal, so so far nobody's taken on the mantle to be a third. Yet, anyways... dw

[austenandrews]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Optimus' date=' the Optimal Man? I could see it.[/quote']

Sounds more Silver Age to me. *shrug*

[Agent X]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Sounds more Silver Age to me. *shrug*

Golden Age had immense variety. What we read nowadays are the survivors. If you do some google searching and survey all the golden age comic covers in old Overstreet price guides, I think you will see that Optimus is not out of place for a name.

[austenandrews]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Golden Age had immense variety. What we read nowadays are the survivors. If you do some google searching and survey all the golden age comic covers in old Overstreet price guides' date=' I think you will see that Optimus is not out of place for a name.[/quote']

I've got a fair share of obscure GA sources. Still sounds off to me. Not really worth posting any more about, though.

[Werehawk]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Hey Frederik- since most of these characters are from my campaigns, let's see if I can't help you out a bit...

[*]American Eagle: Flight powers

 

Yeah. He wears a giant set of wings he got in a mystical land of bird-people.

 

He seems to lean more towards Timely's Red Raven than Hawkman since his powers and origin are almost identical.

[fredrik_nilsson]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Hey Frederik- since most of these characters are from my campaigns' date=' let's see if I can't help you out a bit...[/quote']

Thanks for the help Darren. If I have understood this correctly some of these heroes will be a part of your next book. May I ask which of the good guys (and the bad guys) that will make it into the book?

 

I would be very glad if you could also add the character point, so that I get an idea of what to expect.

 

[*]American Eagle: Flight powers

 

Yeah. He wears a giant set of wings he got in a mystical land of bird-people.

Those he have any more powers besides this, or is he a weapon master like Hawkman? Is there anything more of interest known about him, like the secret idea (name and profession).

 

[*]Black Owl: Deep Cover (Lefty LeGrand), Social Limitation: Secret ID (Bill Jeffries)

 

Yup. Swings around the city on a rope, no powers but a utility belt of gadgets.

Those he have any more equipment of interest, like vehicles?

 

[*]Bulletproof: Bulletproof suit made by Dr. Ping

 

Until 1944, yes. Outstanding h-t-h combatant- our universe's Wildcat or Atom I. Gets super-indestructibility in 1944- see Galactic Champs for the considerably higher-powered version.

Is his secret ID known (name, profession)?

 

[*]Dr. Twilight: Social Limitation: Secret ID (Robert MacDonald), CK: Harlem, powers over light and darkness (granted by Osiris), Social Limitation: Harmful Secret (communist connections)

 

Yup. Fairly well-covered in VB.

I don't have Vibora Bay yet. Is he Dr. Ka?

 

[*]Cowboy: Social Limitation: Secret ID ("Kid"Brown), PS: Circus Artist, Trick-shooting

 

Develops spy skills as he goes along, as well.

What is his real name?

 

[*]Nightingale: CK: San Francisco, Social Limitation: Secret ID (Leticia Henry), PS: Showgirl

 

Yup. Our "Black Canary," basically.

It would be interesting to see her be built with the gymnastics martial art from Digital Hero. That martial art is cool, and it would be fun to see used in one of your books.

 

[*]Optimus: Money: Well Off, Social Limitation: Secret ID (Drake Wilson)

 

Yes. Gobs of PRE and speechifying skills, and also mastery of Pankration. He's a Classicist.

Ozymandias has some stuff with an Egyptian theme, like the base Karnak. Does Optimus have anything similar?

 

[*]Sgt. Battle: Fringe Benefit: Sergeant, the world's mighiest non-com (what's that?)

 

A non-commissioned officer (an enlisted man, basically, and proud of it.) "Don't call me 'Sir,' son, I work for a living!" A brick who received his powers the same day Pearl Harbor was invaded.

What is his real name?

 

[*]Streak: Speedster

What is his secret ID (name, profession)? As for powers, how similar are they to Kinetik or Streak II?

[Theron]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Out of curiosity, and before I go digging through the books myself, has anyone put together a similar list of CU Golden Age villains? The next campaign I'm running deals with generations of supers and the legacy of power, and making the legacy something that runs on both sides of the law is a very useful thematic angle.

[fredrik_nilsson]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Out of curiosity' date=' and before I go digging through the books myself, has anyone put together a similar list of CU Golden Age villains? The next campaign I'm running deals with generations of supers and the legacy of power, and making the legacy something that runs on both sides of the law is a very useful thematic angle.[/quote']

As far as I know, this thread is the closest thing to what you're searching for. When we're done, I can make a PDF of this that the Hero Games guys can post in the Free Stuff section.

[fredrik_nilsson]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

The Champions Universe History

 

1929

Black Mask VIII, hero

 

1932

Jimmy Tompion, hero

 

Mid-1930s

Cobra, hero

Futurian, hero

Grey Guardian, hero

 

1936

Black Owl, hero

 

1937

Sea Hawk, hero

Dargon, villain

Nereus, villain

 

1938

Der Totenkopf,villain

Sturmvogel, villain

Captain Patriot, hero

Dr. Twilight, hero

MeteorMan, hero

Tasho, villain

Donner,villain

Optimus, hero

Cowboy (later called Liberator), hero

Nighingale, hero

The Sirians, villains

 

1939

Liquidator, villain

Sub Zero, villain

Mink, villain

The Black Legion, villains

Iron Father, villain

 

1940

Lady Mystery, hero

Scarlet Archer, hero

The Society Of Evil, villains

 

1941

Arlequin, villain

Loge, villain

Moorbrand, villain

Northwind, villain

General Winter, hero

Lady Lightning, hero

Steel Shark, villain

The Dragon-Riders, villains

The Streak, hero

American Eagle, hero

Sergeant Battle, hero

Swashbuckler, hero

Bulletproof, hero

Tsunami, villain

[Theron]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to fredrik_nilsson again.

 

Take a "You Effin' Rock!" Point instead. Thanks kindly.

[fredrik_nilsson]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

Thanks kindly.

I'm glad that I could be of help.

[fredrik_nilsson]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

List of abbreviations

* = The characters has official stats

AA = Arcane Adversaries
CKC = Write-up is published in Conquerors, Killers & Crooks
CU = Champions Universe
DHxx = Digital Hero #xx
GC = Galactic Champions
GBG = The Genre By Genre Document (or 5ER)
HL = Hidden Lands
MC = Millennium City
MW = The Mystic World
VB = Vibora Bay

 

Defenders of Justice

These characters found the team in 1938

 

Cowboy/"Kid"Brown (CU): Trick-shooter at Funtime Family Circus, bounty hunter

Dr. Twilight/Robert MacDonald (CU, VB*): Powers over light and darkness,lives in Harlem

Optimus/Drake Wilson (CU): Millionaire playboy, Pankration master, Classicist

Sea Hawk/Princess Mara (HL*): Atlantean exile, patrols the coast of New England

 

Defenders of Justice - Additions

These characters becomes members in the year 1939

 

Captain Patriot/Don Randall (CU*): Brick, lives in Haynesville

MeteorMan/Harrison Chase (CU): Scientist, has ring made from meteor stone

 

Defenders of Justice - Reserves

These independent heroes becomes memebers during WWII

 

American Eagle (CU): Wears gigantic wings recieved in a land of bird-people

Bulletproof/Max Wroblewski (GC*): Brooklyn, boxer, bulletproof suit

Lady Mystery/Abigail Chase (CU): Has a magic tome, MeteorMan's wife

Nightingale/Leticia Henry (CU): San Francisco, former showgirl

Scarlet Archer/Sir Peter Tanfield (CU): Brittish, skilled archer

Sergeant Battle (CU): The world's mighiest non-com, brick

Streak (CU): Speedster

Swashbuckler (CU): Cloaked swordsman

 

Independant Heroes

 

Black Mask VIII/Jeffrey Layton Ward (CU): Legacy hero, patrols Chicago

Black Owl/Bill Jeffries (CU): Dark avenger, Philadelphia, undercover as Lefty LeGrand

Cobra (CU): New York, martial artist

Futurian (CU): Fights crime with his rocket-pack and his electro-Pistol

Grey Guardian (CU): San Francisco

 

Ubermensch

Supers fighting for the Axis

 

Der Totenkopf/Erik Hessler (CU): Talisman's and Witchcraft's mother

Steel Shark/Phorcys (CU): Atlantean warrior

 

Independant Villains

 

Black Legion (CU): Bundist spy ring

Liquidator (CU): American

Mink (CU): American

Sub Zero (CU): American

Society Of Evil (CU): American's most powerful criminals

 

The Military World

See also Captain Patriot and Sergeant Battle.

 

Barry Colville (CU): Navy Lieutenant, friend of Sea Hawk

 

The Scientific World

See also MeteorMan.

 

Dr. How-Yang Ping (GC): Chinese-American scientist, Bulletproof's friend

 

Normals

 

Amy Levesque (CU): Wheelchair-bound orphan, friend of Sea Hawk

[MitchellS]

Re: Golden Age Characters

 

I don't think this one is correct:

 

Der Totenkopf/Erik Hessler (CU): Talisman's and Witchcraft's mother

 

Other then that this is another great list from you!