CrosshairCollie Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 More brainstorming on my part ... I usually run Avengers/Justice League style supers games, with international (and interdimensional) travel, world domination/destruction plots, alien invaders, all that kind of jazz. I was thinking perhaps, for a change, do something smaller, a street-level Champions game where the PCs largely remain in the same city and deal with more pedestrian crime. However, most supers that fit onto that level of power aren't as well known as the big names like Superman. Outside of Spider-Man and Batman (in his own books or in his original animated series, not in JL), I doubt most of my players have heard of any of them. Guys like Daredevil or Moon Knight in Marvel, or Vigilante from DC are not likely to be well-known. So, I'm looking for ideas for characters along that power level from sources that I'm not familiar with, most notably anime since the rest of my group are at least passing fans of anime, with at least one really into it. General guidelines: 1. Not totally bulletproof. A thug with a Saturday Night Special might not be a real threat, but the character shouldn't feel confident in his ability to simply stand there and let it bounce off his chest. Even if the bullet doesn't penetrate his skin (or body armor), he should at least have a chance of feeling it. 2. By the same token, not grossly powerful on offense. Lifting a car, yes, flinging a full tanker truck, no. Probably in the 8-10 DC range. 3. No truly plot-bending powers, like reliable Precognition, open-ended transformation (a la Sersi or Firestorm) or open-ended Magic Pools. Psychic powers by themselves, however, are acceptable. Some examples I can think of: The TMNT (technically comic characters, but better known in other media) The TV version of the Incredible Hulk (possibly a little too damage resistant) Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow from GI Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnia Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics The Shadow from the pulps and radio might be a good example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrosshairCollie Posted October 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics The Shadow from the pulps and radio might be a good example. Probably is, though I think anybody in my group is going to be more familiar with his movie depiction by Alec Baldwin. Which is ... slightly cheesier than I'd like to get, but not too bad on the whole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escafarc Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics How about Dexter Riley: http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0032818/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheeljack Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics Gunsmith Cats, as far as staying in one city and worrying about local criminals goes. Bean Bandit definitely has some super-strength. The Green Hornet is also based in one city and deals with criminals, having no powers except martial arts and gadgets (and a great car). Trigun, in that most of the foes are killers with guns and a superhuman edge for using them. Vash has to worry about getting shot (and he does get shot). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kahuna's bro Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics col. steve austin ,the six milion dollar man would count as low powered steet level espionage hero especaily the original cyborg novels by martin caidin or either version of jaime sommer the bionic woman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrosshairCollie Posted October 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics How about Dexter Riley: http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0032818/ Would need a means of offense (probably weaponry), but not a bad starting point. Gunsmith Cats, as far as staying in one city and worrying about local criminals goes. Bean Bandit definitely has some super-strength. The Green Hornet is also based in one city and deals with criminals, having no powers except martial arts and gadgets (and a great car). Trigun, in that most of the foes are killers with guns and a superhuman edge for using them. Vash has to worry about getting shot (and he does get shot). Green Hornet's a good one that I do know. I'll have to take your word for the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RexMundi Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics How about, Jesse and of course Control from the old "Hard Times on Planet Earth" series? Got beat to the 6 Million Dollar Man already, but there's an entire family there to draw off of, heh. There's also the new show "The Cape" coming out soon, if it's not already out. You can youtube the trailer for that. ~Rex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrosshairCollie Posted October 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics The Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman are good ones, especially since they actually have superpowers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RexMundi Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics They've got better then that. They have Max. ~Rex Shows his age..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeropoint Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics I've got to recommend Darkman here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndianaJoe3 Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics Misfits of Science was an old (well, 80s) TV show about people with low-level mutant powers. Knightrider might qualify if you consider, "supercar" to be a super power. (Likewise, Airwolf, only with a helicopter.) The Sentinel featured a cop with incredibly enhanced senses. Mantis was about a paraplegic who fought crime with a suit of powered armor he built himself (IIRC). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics Since you say your players are familiar with anime, have you trawled Michael "Susano" Surbrook's magnificent collection of anime/manga HERO conversions? http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptationsanime/animechar.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranxerox Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics Almost anyone from the Streetfighter and Mortal Kombat video games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrosshairCollie Posted October 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics Almost anyone from the Streetfighter and Mortal Kombat video games. That's a good call. Especially since it adds to the Energy Projector/Psychic count. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kahuna's bro Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics or the powells no ordinary family Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkdguy Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics There's also Mr. Terrific. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKJAM! Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics The Destroyer (Remo Williams), particularly in the first few books of the series (later on, when he gets a full handle on Sinanju, he might be a bit too much.) The Avenger (pulp) is a good one for street-level (especially with his useful aides), the second radio Avenger might be interesting because his "psychic power" is so easily limitable. (It's a Immobile Focus, Telepathy, thoughts connected with strong emotions only, Area Effect Radius, Megascale, requires Systems Operation skill roll.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics Almost anyone from the Streetfighter and Mortal Kombat video games. Hey, Surbrook has a bunch of those too: http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptationsvideogame/videogamechar.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics The Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman are good ones' date=' especially since they actually have superpowers.[/quote'] The Destroyer (Remo Williams)' date=' particularly in the first few books of the series (later on, when he gets a full handle on Sinanju, he might be a bit too much.) [/quote'] Now I'm just turning into a broken record. http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptationsbook/steveaustin.html http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptationsbook/remo.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKJAM! Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics Ooh ooh! He's a bit on the silly side, but Darkwing Duck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinanju Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics Doc Savage and his team would qualify. Doc's a Renaissance Man of Science! . A paragon of mental and physical prowess, with a metric buttload of science and knowledge skills, plus wealth, a not-so-secret base (the Empire State Building), vehicles, allies, etc. Yes, he had plenty of globe-trotting adventures, but he also dealt with street crime and mobsters. Bullet-proof vest, yes. Bulletproof body? Emphatically not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csyphrett Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics If street level anime is on the table, I recommend Amon, and Robin from Witch Hunter Robin, most of Section 9 from Ghost in the Shell, Maybe L from Death Note. Most pulp heroes such as Doc Savage and the Spider are good. Western heroes like Jonah Hex and the Two Gun Kid can be updated into the modern day. Most Ghost Riders fit here. Many of the heroes from the golden age like The Press Guardian, Sandman, and Wildcat also fit. Jess Nevins's site used to have a list of them you could use. CES CES Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Khan Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics Buffy Summers would qualify, as would many of her allies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OddHat Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Examples of low-powered/street level supers not from comics Now I'm just turning into a broken record. http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptationsbook/remo.html Wow! Great to see my old Remo Williams write up again. It's important to note that this version of Remo Williams is really from around books 1-3. Remo today is a 1200+ point monster, maybe more, and that's if a lot of his stunts are folded into a VPP. OTOH, the Removerse is an incredibly rich Pulp setting with hidden Magic and Superscience. Pretty much any American TV Super from the 70s-80s fits a Street level game; the SFX budgets weren't up to cosmic adventure, and even comic book cosmic characters like Wonder Woman (or Captain Marvel) ended up fighting street crime and rare not-very-ambitious Supervillains. So, Man from Atlantis, various versions of The Invisible Man, Greatest American Hero, TV's Wonder Woman (on the high powered side), The Greatest American Hero, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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