Chuckem Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Looking for ideas on building an Arabic hero. Should they be male or female? Male Female Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clonus Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character Personally I start with a name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. MID-Nite Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character Probably male...as females are generally given second class status in ME society....though...going against the grain could lead to interesting role playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheQuestionMan Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character List of Middle Eastern Superheroes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Middle_Eastern_superheroes Middle Eastern Mythology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Eastern_mythology Middle Eastern Folklore http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Eastern_folklore_(disambiguation) Cheers QM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escafarc Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character List of Middle Eastern Superheroes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Middle_Eastern_superheroes Cheers QM Good list but they forgot: Prince Turhan Princess Nida Fariek Bez Raseem and Zazoom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnia Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character Probably male...as females are generally given second class status in ME society....though...going against the grain could lead to interesting role playing. Might depend on which region/country the character is located in. Not to mention, Arabic/Middle Eastern doesn't necessarily mean "Muslim" automatically. The character could be of a Christian sect (like Coptic) or even atheist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckem Posted June 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character Personally I start with a name. Gotta start with the gender before we choose a name. Otherwise we may have a boy named Sue. Besides, the name should be chosen after the powers are decided upon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywind Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character But a heroic name may lead to gender and power set ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnia Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character Is this for a specific type or theme of campaign? That might help narrow matters down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Hawk Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character Middle East covers a lot of territory. Sticking with just Arabs, you have Lebanon, Palastine*, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq and what did I miss? For religions, we have Shia and Sunni Muslims, Samaritans, Jews, Coptics, other Christians, Bah'ai, and others. I usually start with a name then powers, but sometimes reverse it. And also, did the person pick a name, or did the newspapers/government pick one for them? Are they living in the Middle East? Are they just from there? Descended from there? (Arab-American? Arab-British? Arab-French? Arab-Other?) Too many questions to be answered before we answer the first question! *I know, I'm using the term to differentiate between Arabs living in Isreal and European Isrealis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character Besides' date=' the name should be chosen after the powers are decided upon.[/quote'] Not necesssarily. Lucius Alexander A palindromedary named Bob. (Bob was there too.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pizza Man Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character Hmmm. you could have fun with this. Take a hero who's powers don't have foci, but rather physical manifestations. Flight. Flying carpet. Disappears when he's done flying. Multipower 60 active points 4D6 Hand Killing attack no focus, but manifests as a scimitar. 60 points. 40 STR TK. Manifests as a summoned Genie. 12D6 E Bast vs PD (also the summoned genie-he punches the target) 2D6 Killing attack area of effect (a swarm of Arabian soldiers w/scimitars attack everyone in area of effect and disappear) The hero carries a non-magical genie lamp and rubs it as if his powers comes from it. Its just to fool his enemies-it has no power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
薔薇語 Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character That's a cute idea, Pizza Man. I used to have a list of varied Arabic names since I was trying to build a couple different heroes from that time. Personally, when it comes to building heroes, I normally start from a couple different points: power set in mind (Precog, blaster, etc), specific concept that I want to build on (Circus act, Samurai decedent), and quite rarely base it off a specific HERO name that gives me a vivid image. La Rose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Arc Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character Here are some that I've created Five Pillars, a super-hero group with a female in the group and a super-villain group Fatwa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckem Posted June 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character No specific scene. Just randomly letting others guide me into a totally random character. Character will be an NPC to loan out to on-the-spot players who are new or want to play and not have a character ready. I like the flying carpet idea. I want to keep the character simple in the event new players show up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Tom 2009 Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character There was a story that I read long ago called "The Lance of Kanana", in which the central character was a Bedouin boy whose family thought to be a coward because he wouldn't fight; whenever he was asked if he would fight, his response was that he would not raise his lance except "for Allah and Arabia". A modern-day superheroic version of Kanana might be similar to Gambit of the X-Men -- able to infuse objects with a charge of energy (in this case, lances or spears), which he then throws at his target. Major Tom 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragitsu Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character Probably male...as females are generally given second class status in ME society....though...going against the grain could lead to interesting role playing. Things are changing on that front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Hawk Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character If you're setting up a quick start character for new players, it's hard to get easier than your basic brick. Super strong, super tough, and a little on the slow side. It's easy to play and forgiving of mistakes. Tying in to the earlier material, do you remember Sinbad the Sailor cartoon from (OMG I'm old!*) the 1960's? The story was heavily Anglisized from the original, but a magic carpet, sword, and belt (giving super strength) would fit right in. *Tranquility Base here. The Clue has landed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character I developed my version of a hero group mentioned in the first edition of Champions Universe (for 4E) called The Right Hand, who protect the Middle East; they are all supposed to be devout Muslims. I used names and motifs from the region: The Mahdi is a figure from Arab folklore who will arise to defend Islam from internal or external threats. My version wields powerful magicks that he believes are a gift from God, and leads the team. Hannibal is a martial artist and master of many weapons, and the team's battle commander. Kaaba is an Arabic word for a square building, and also the site in Mecca housing the sacred Black Stone. This character is the main "brick" for the Right Hand. Hegira refers to the flight of Mohammed from Mecca to Medina; my character is a super-speedster. Shamshir is a curved Oriental sword from which we get the word "scimitar." The hero of that name is cybernetically enhanced with armor and attached bladed and ranged weapons. Sahat is the Moroccan word for the hot southern desert wind which is called a "scirocco" in Italian. Sahat the hero is a flying energy projector with heat-based powers. Sharia means "the way" or "the path," and is the name for the code of Islamic law. The heroine Sharia is a mentalist mind-controller and clairvoyant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckem Posted June 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character I was thinking of someone easy to play like a brick or a martial artist. Someone with easy action for a new person. I'm still a very inexperienced GM too so I want the char to be easy for me as well, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheQuestionMan Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character Hassassin Muezzini Saladin SCUD Sand Devil Cheops Sahara Jihad Sinbad Uzi Samson Fractal Golem Maccabee Solomon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Samson Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character I once put my group against a Middle eastern team. They were a simple Fantastic Four homage based on the types of Jinn (Genies). Maybe one of the names will help you. The Jinn Ghoul - Sand (Earth) powers Shaitan - Smokeless Fire (Fire) powers Ifrit - Sirocco (Air/ Wind) powers Marid - Seven Sea (Water) powers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Tom 2009 Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character I once put my group against a Middle eastern team. They were a simple Fantastic Four homage based on the types of Jinn (Genies). Maybe one of the names will help you. The Jinn Ghoul - Sand (Earth) powers Shaitan - Smokeless Fire (Fire) powers Ifrit - Sirocco (Air/ Wind) powers Marid - Ocean/ Sea (Water) powers Isn't Shaitan an Arabic name for Satan? Major Tom 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alverant Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character Personally I start with a name. I usually do a concept first. Names are usually pretty difficult. That's how I wound up with a hero named for a caper movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alverant Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Re: Arabic/Middle Eastern based Character To continue Shadow Hawk's comment about the different nations and cultures, it should be pointed out that the name Arabia goes back to the ancient greeks. In theory you could include every civilization in that area including Persia, Sumeria, Babylon, Akkadian, Hurrian, Mesopotamia, etc. Civilizations that have a rich mythology and history to use as a basis for a time-lost hero. Particularly the ancient Sumerian goddess Inanna would make a good female character. One of her myths involves sacrifice for love and returning from the dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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