Just a Low-Rent Superhero

[Matt Frisbee]

For your pleasure and commentary, I proudly present (in 4th Ed. Stats and Rules):

Low-Rent

VAL .. CHAR .. POINTS

15 .. STR .. 5 12- Lift 200 kg, 3d6

18 .. DEX .. 24 13- OCV 6 / DCV 6

15 .. CON .. 10 12-

12 .. BODY .. 4 11-

13 .. INT .. 3 12- PER Roll 14-

11 .. EGO .. 2 11- ECV 4

15 .. PRE .. 5 12- 3d6 PRE Attack

10 .. COM .. 0 11-

8 .. PD .. 5 16 PD / 5 rPD

8 .. ED .. 5 16 ED / 5 rED

4 .. SPD .. 12 Phases: 3-6-9-12

8 .. REC .. 4

30 .. END .. 0

30 .. STUN .. 2

CHAR COST IS: 81

POWERS

PTS .. ITEM

32 Mutant Abilities

(5) Damage Resistance (5 PD / 5 ED): Mutant Toughness

(6) +2 PER with All Senses: Always Alert

(3) Ultrasonic Hearing: Mutant Senses

(5) Ultraviolet Vision: Mutant Senses

(8) +4" Running (10" Total, NC 20"): Enhanced Physique

(5) +5" Superleap (8" w/STR, NC 16"): Enhanced Physique

10 Homebuilt Thrash Armor (bought with OIF-Armor)

(5) +8 PD

(5) +8 ED

TALENTS

PTS .. ITEM

3 Ambidexterity

5 Combat Sense 13-

PERKS

PTS .. ITEM

3 Jack of All Trades

SKILLS

PTS .. ITEM

3 Breakfall 13-

3 CK: Bay City 12-

3 Climbing 13-

3 CSL: +1 with Dirty Infighting Martial Arts

3 Concealment 12-

3 Deduction 12-

3 KS: Known Fugitives 12-

3 KS: Known Supers 12-

3 KS: Local Organized Crime Families 12-

3 KS: Organized Crime 12-

3 Persuasion 12-

1 PS: Cashier 11-

1 PS: Janitor 11-

1 PS: Laborer 11-

1 PS: Security Guard 11-

1 PS: Telemarketer 11-

1 PS: Waitstaff 11-

3 Stealth 13-

3 Streetwise 12-

21 Dirty Infighting Martial Arts

(4) Punch (OCV +0 / DCV +2 : 6d6)

(5) Roundhouse (OCV -2 / DCV +1 : 8d6)

(4) Low Blow (OCV -1 / DCV +1 : 2-1/2d6 NND)

(4) Disarm (OCV -1 / DCV +1 : 30 STR Disarm)

(4) +1 DC with Martial Arts (already figured in)

119 Perk, Powers, Talents & Skills Cost

81+ Characteristics Cost

200 Total Cost

DISADVANTAGES 100 + Points

PTS .. ITEM

15 Hunted by Organized Crime (More Powerful)

20 Normal Characteristics Maxima

5 Wealth Disadvantage: Poor

15 PSY: Code Against Killing (Common, Strong)

15 PSY: Protects Innocents (Common, Strong)

5 REP: Crimefighter (8-)

15 Secret Identity (Joe Smith, temp slave)

10 Watched by Bay City Police (More Powerful, Non-Combat

Influence, Limited Geographic Area, 11-)

200 Disadvantages Total

BACKGROUND / ORIGIN:

Life is tough for a kid in the Lower Downtown District, but Joe had it better than most. First, he had parents who gave a damn and did their best to provide him the opportunities they didn't get. Second, he was born a mutant with abilities that allowed him an edge over the bullies, creeps, crazies and thugs. Third, he developed a sense of morals which helped him past the landmines of youth. In the comic books, a combination of those things usually put you into the good life. But just as he was getting ready to graduate high school, an industrial accident claimed his father's life and his mother soon after in a traffic accident.

Joe was a survivor, though, and was used to juggling school and work, so after graduation, he threw himself into his work. A year went by in a blur of sleep deprivation and mind-numbing boredom as he hustled to pay for the funerals of his parents and keep a roof over his head. Thoughts that other ways to get money in Lodo danced around him, but he refused to entertain them. He'd seen the meatgrinders of crime at work in the city all of his life, and knew to well what would happen if he got caught. Being a metahuman, albeit a low-powered one, things would probably be worse.

And then came the night when he was coming home from work and stumbled across a common sight in the Lodo -- a group of four 'bangers doing a shakedown on one of his neighbors in an alley. Getting involved with these jokers would mean getting hurt. He looked around desperately, seeing one of the city's superheroes flying overhead, and waived his arms desperately to flag the hero down. The hero flew along, oblivious, and that made Joe angry. "Too busy to help the folks in Lodo, ain't ya!" he yelled in the hero's wake. He felt his fists balling into tight knots of tension, trembling as the adrenaline rush mounted within him. Maybe the high and mighty of the neon spandex crowd didn't have time for Lodo, but Joe did.

It wasn't a comic book fight. The 'bangers gave as good as they got in that street fight, but Joe kept swinging and, aided by his mutant abilities, Joe eventually turned the beat down against them. They ran, leaving their victim bruised and scared, but still in possession of her purse. As he helped her to her feet, she asked, "Who are you?"

"Just your basic Low-Rent Superhero, ma'am," Joe replied.

POWERS / TACTICS

Joe has several low-level mutant abilities, including skin tough enough to turn a knife, the ability to run faster than most people and leap higher and further even the best olympic athlete, plus eyes that see very well in the dark and ears that hear beyond the human range. Since he has made the decision to become Lodo's protector, he has added a set of metal-reinforced sports pads as a sort of homebuilt armor. He has made a concession to vanity and added some spraypaint decoration to the armor.

When he has time and energy to patrol his neighborhood, he typically sticks to the rooftops, relying on his enhanced senses and knowledge of the neighborhood to home in on trouble. Low-Rent typically stays out of gang-on-gang action, unless innocent people are caught in the crossfire. It is crimes against the residents he fights -- let the predators prey on each other all they like. His priority in any fight is protecting the victims first, and often he will use a presence attack to try to scare his attackers off rather than dive in and start swinging. In cases where he is obviously outmatched, he will attempt to draw the attention of attackers away potential victims.

QUOTE: "I don't care if you sell that nose poison, but I'm gonna work you over if I catch you selling it in Lodo again."

CAMPAIGN USE:

Low-Rent is a great way to introduce your more four-color characters to a street-oriented adventure or two, such as a battle against terrorists or a VIPER Nest. He's just four-color enough to relate to the characters, but also has a street flavor that would make a break for characters who are used to rubbing elbows with the famous and powerful. He would also fit into a Dark Champions campaign as the optimistic (though potentially misguided) youngster who is fighting crime for more idealistic reasons.

Let me know what you think!

Matt

[wcw43921]

Re: Just a Low-Rent Superhero

 

Very nice character. Love the background.

 

Consider yourself repped.

[Baphomet Jones]

Re: Just a Low-Rent Superhero

 

I second that. He's very cool.

[Furry Fox]

Re: Just a Low-Rent Superhero

 

Yes it is nice to see a low-powered hero that is actually low powered!

A rarity these days. Good job.