Character: Thaddeus Gibberne, the Accelerated Man

[OddHat]

A sample villain built using the new Speed Zone rules. I'll also post an example using a more traditional build. Also posted in the Champions section.

 

THE ACCELERATED MAN

Val Char Cost Roll Notes

15 STR 5 12- Lift 200.0kg; 3d6; [1]

14 DEX 12 12- OCV 5 DCV 5

13 CON 6 12-

10 BODY 0

18 INT 8 13- PER Roll 13-

10 EGO 0 11- ECV: 3

15 PRE 5 12- PRE Attack: 3d6

10 COM 0

 

3 PD 0 Total: 3 PD (0 rPD)

3 ED 0 Total: 3 ED (0 rED)

4 SPD 16 Phases: 3, 6, 9, 12

6 REC 0

26 END 0

25 STUN 0 Total Characteristic Cost: 52

 

Movement: Running: 6" / 12"

Swimming: 2" / 4"

Leaping: 3" / 6"

 

Cost Powers END

Martial Arts:

Maneuver OCV DCV Notes

4 1) Jab +2 +0 5d6 Strike

5 2) Cross/Uppercut -2 +1 7d6 Strike

4 3) Block +2 +2 Block, Abort

Manly Fisticuffs

 

The Gibberne Accelerator Fomula

137 1) Enter the Speed Zone Five Minutes Microspeed Level: Custom Power, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½) (171 Active Points); Requires A Chronopsychometrics Roll (Active Point penalty to Skill Roll is -1 per 20 Active Points; -¼) 0

20 2) Speed Zone Senses: Sight and Touch: Custom Power (20 Active Points) 0

7 3) Speed Zone Touch: Custom Power (7 Active Points) 1

30 4) Speed Perception: Rapid ( x1,000,000) with Sight Group 0

20 5) Reflexive Acceleration: Lightning Reflexes: +20 DEX to act first with Enter the Speed Zone

5 6) Outside of Time: Life Support (Longevity: Immortal) 0

 

Skills

3 Lockpicking 12-

3 Mechanics 13-

3 Streetwise 12-

3 PS: Doctor 13-

3 PS: Mercenary 13-

3 Paramedics 13-

0 Language: English (idiomatic; literate) (5 Active Points)

1 Language: French (basic conversation)

27 Chronopsychometrics: Power 25-

3 Scholar

1 1) KS: Intelligence World (2 Active Points) 11-

1 2) KS: Mad Science World (2 Active Points) 11-

1 3) KS: Secret History (2 Active Points) 11-

3 Scientist

2 1) SS: Chemistry 13- (3 Active Points)

1 2) SS: Dimensional Engineering 11- (2 Active Points)

2 3) SS: Mad Science 13- (3 Active Points)

2 4) SS: Medicine 13- (3 Active Points)

2 5) SS: Pharmacology 13- (3 Active Points)

1 6) SS: Physics 11- (2 Active Points)

1 7) SS: Physiology 11- (2 Active Points)

 

Total Powers & Skill Cost: 298

Total Cost: 350

 

200 Disadvantages

20 Hunted: Law Enforcement Agencies 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Capture)

15 Social Limitation: Wanted Criminal: Thadius Gibberne (Occasionally, Severe) Note: Gibberne's identity is known to the intelligence and law enforcement communities, making everyday living far more difficult.

5 Reputation: WWI Science Hero turned Science Criminal, 11- (Known Only To Intelligence Agencies and the Adventuring World)

5 Distinctive Features: Metahuman (Not Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable Only By Technology Or Major Effort)

10 Psychological Limitation: Pedantic, endlesly lectures (Common, Moderate)

10 Psychological Limitation: Greedy, Lecherous, Selfish and Self Indulgent (Common, Moderate)

10 Psychological Limitation: Scientific Curiosity (Common, Moderate)

10 Psychological Limitation: Cynical and Sarcastic (Common, Moderate)

5 Psychological Limitation: Not half the man or scientist his father was, and resents it (Uncommon, Moderate)

5 Rivalry: Professional (Other Scientists, especialy Mad Scientists; Rival is As Powerful; Seek to Outdo, Embarrass, or Humiliate Rival; Rival Aware of Rivalry)

5 Physical Limitation: Accelerated Metabolism, needs frequent food and sleep (Infrequently, Slightly Impairing)

50 Experience Points

 

Total Disadvantage Points: 350

 

Background/History: 1898 - Prof. Alfred Gibberne develops his New Accelerator. His human test subjects display amazing, near impossible speed, but almost invariably die from complications.

1898 - Mlle. Sara Nugent, noted adventuress, marries Prof. Gibberne.

1899 - Prof.Gibberne dies from complications caused by his New Accelerator shortly before the birth of his son, Thaddeus.

1916 - Taken with patriotic fervor and hoping to prove himself, Thaddeus Gibberne lies about his age and joins the army.

1917 - An injury in the trenches leads to a blood transfer from American Hugo Danner.

1917 - While still in hospital, Thaddeus attempts to re-construct his father's New Accelerator. He tests the Accelerator on himself, gaining near impossible superhuman speed. His attempts to interest the Ministry of War in his discovery bring him to he attention of those coordinating His Majesty's Extraordinary Operatives. Volunteers taking the New Accelerator are invariably killed by its side effects.

1918-1922 - Thaddeus serves his nation as an Extraordinary Operative.

1923 - Rebelling against his government handlers, Thaddeus Gibberne goes rogue, setting out to build a new life as a Science Criminal.

 

 

Personality/Motivation: Once an idealistic young adventurer, his time serving His Majesty's government hardened Thaddeus Gibberne, leaving him utterly cynical. He now seeks only his own pleasure, and cares nothing for the law or the hypocritical morality of common men. He knows that his scientific achievements are trivial in comparison to those of his father, and attempts to prove himself by challenging Science Adventurers. He does retain some faint traces of genuine scientific curiosity.

 

Thaddeus is not a traditional mad scientist, though he may work with them.

 

On a personal level, Thaddeus is pedantic, cynical, sarcastic, selfish, and remarkably unlikable.

 

Quote: Wonderful, more *******ery. Don't you people have jobs?

 

Powers/Tactics: Long use of the New Accelerator has allowed the Accelerated Man to virtually stop time for up to five minutes from his subjective point of view. During this period in the Speed Zone (Ultimate Speedster, p.257-261), he is able to do more or less as he wills with people and objects trapped in "slow time". He rarely uses this ability to kill, but thinks nothing of humiliating or seriously injuring a persistent foe.

 

Dr.Gibberne is a reasonably skilled medical doctor and scientist, with a particular interest in wild fringe theories and technologies. These skills are often every bit as in demand as his ability to stop time. He is also quite a skilled boxer and not incompetent at basic spy craft.

 

Gibberne will remain focused on his mission goal; he has no interest in tussling with heroes for its own sake. He will generally accelerate and depart when in danger.

 

Campaign Use: In a Pulp Hero or Champions game, Gibberne may be used as an unstoppable thief, a rival to the heroes, or a source of information. He may also serve as the chief scientist to a Super Criminal, with a surprising ability to defend himself.

 

Gibberne is a hero who went bad, a cautionary tale. Players might wonder just which government sponsored heroes today may become villains tomorrow.

 

In Champions, upgrading Gibberne with a gadget pool, speedster powers, better stats, etc may be appropriate, but he is not meant to be a master villain, and he's not interested in punch outs. He may build a time machine allowing the Super Criminal to gather an army of Dinosaurs, but he himself is not out to conquer the world.

 

Appearance: Tall, slim, fit, bald Caucasian man, often dressed in lab coats or unfashionable suits.

 

Character by Robert Dorf, 2006. Alfred Gibberne by H.G. Wells.

[Susano]

Re: Character: Thaddeus Gibberne, the Accelerated Man

 

Funny... I was thinking of the same thing -- except it would require some sort of bulky device the character would carry or wear.

[OddHat]

Re: Character: Thaddeus Gibberne, the Accelerated Man

 

Funny... I was thinking of the same thing -- expect it would require some sort of bulky device the character would carry or wear.

 

In the New Accelerator, Gibberne's formula was (iirc) just a pill. However, I like the image of a bulky Victorian Punk Time Suit.