Darren Watts Posted January 2, 2014 Report Share Posted January 2, 2014 The All-Stars game for 2014 is inspired by a failed proposal Steve Englehart once sent to DC called "The Tragedy of Batman, the Prince of Denmark." We have little else beyond that to go on, but the mere existence of the title wormed itself into my brain until I had a What If? adventure positing that the iconic Justice League had all been created by William Shakespeare. Here, for example, is Prince Bruce of Gotham, whose father was mysteriously killed and then his ghost reappeared to him (as a bat in part of the vision, as a bone-white figure in a green cloak for the rest) to press him to solve his murder and avenge him. His mother, Queen Martha, remarried while Bruce was abroad, to a portly lord named Sir Oswald of Cobblepot. Bruce has begun his search by terrorizing the underworld of Gotham while dressed as a bat. [cs]Prince Bruce of Gotham, aka “The Bat” Val Char Cost Roll Notes 20 STR 10 13- Lift 400 kg; 4d6 HTH damage [2] 20 DEX 20 13- 20 CON 10 13- 20 INT 10 13- PER Roll 13- 20 EGO 10 13- 25 PRE 15 14- PRE Attack: 5d6 7 OCV 20 7 DCV 20 3 OMCV 0 3 DMCV 0 5 SPD 30 Phases: 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 8 PD 6 Total: 14 PD (6 rPD) 6 ED 4 Total: 12 ED (6 rED) 8 REC 4 40 END 4 13 BODY 3 40 STUN 10 Total Characteristics Cost: 176 Movement: Running: 12m/24m Swinging: 16m/32m Cost Powers END 10 Bat-Sword: HKA 1d6+1 (2-1/2d6 w/ STR) (OAF) 2/4 5 Bat-knives: HKA 1/2d6 (1d6+1 w/ STR), RBOStr (+1/4); OAF (-1), 10 ch. (-1/4) 0/2 8 Bat-Rope: Swinging 16m (OAF) 6 Bat Costume: Resistant Protection (3 PD/ 3 ED); OIF (-1/2) 4 Perching: Clinging (20 STR); Only To “Perch” (-1/2), Requires Climbing Roll (-1/2), No Resist (-1/4) Martial Arts: Fencing (Weapon Element Rapier is free) Maneuver OCV DCV Notes (Damage Assumes STR) 3 Cut +2 +1 2.5dK 4 Disarm -1 +1 30 STR Disarm 4 Parry +2 +2 Block, Abort 3 Trip +2 -1 5d6 Strike, Target Falls 4 Void - +5 Dodge, Abort Martial Arts: Brawling Maneuver OCV DCV Notes 4 Escape +0 +0 40 STR vs. Grabs 3 Grapple -1 -1 Grab 2 Limbs, 35 STR to hold 4 Pressure Point -1 +1 2-1/2d6 NND 4 Strike +0 +2 7d6 Strike 4 +1 DC with Brawling Perks 15 Filthy Rich 5 Contact: Gordon 11- 5 FB: Prince of Gotham 5 Base: Cave beneath Stately Wayne Castle Talents 6 A Handsome Fellow: Striking Appearance +2/+2d6 6 Combat Luck (3 PD/ 3 ED) Skills 16 +2 HTH 6 +2 with Concealment, Shadowing and Stealth 3 Acrobatics 13- 3 Acting 14- 3 Breakfall 13- 3 Charm 14- 3 Climbing 13- 3 Concealment 13- 3 Contortionist 13- 3 Deduction 13- 3 Disguise 13- 3 Eavesdropping 13- 3 Fast Draw 13- 3 High Society 14- 3 Interrogation 14- 3 AK: Gotham 13- 3 KS: The Underworld 13- 3 Lockpicking 13- 3 Paramedics 13- 3 Persuasion 14- 3 PS: Prince 13- 3 Shadowing 13- 3 Stealth 13- 3 Streetwise 14- 2 WF: Common Melee Total Powers & Skills Cost: 199 Total Cost: 375 300 Matching Complications (60) 15 DNPC: Queen Martha 10 Hunted: Watched By King Oswald 20 Psych Comp: Seeks Justice (Particularly His Father’s Killer) (Com, Tot) 15 Social Comp: Secret Identity (Freq., Major) Total Complications Points: 60 Experience Points: 75 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaycheckHero Posted January 2, 2014 Report Share Posted January 2, 2014 Hmm. Where is "Indecisive brooding procrastinator, very common, total"? He's just not the Prince of Denmark without that. I eagerly await your writeup of The Hulk: The Moor of Venice. Nobody acts prematurely like the big green guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
assault Posted January 2, 2014 Report Share Posted January 2, 2014 Sweet! Also, an Darren Watts Batman writeup! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enforcer84 Posted January 4, 2014 Report Share Posted January 4, 2014 Darren sighting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epiphanis Posted January 10, 2014 Report Share Posted January 10, 2014 Perhaps the king was murdered by Yorick, the albino court jester who dyed his hair green, at the behest of Sir Oswald. Prince Bruce's confidant Pennyworth witnessed the ghost with him. Sir Oswald enlists the aid of Prince Bruce's school friends, Bullock and Montoya, to convince him to settle down; things do not end well for them. The Chancellor at Wayne Castle is Lord Gordonius, whose daughter Lady Barbara had a crush on Prince Bruce; when he rebuffed her she attempted to drown herself; she failed but was left crippled. Her brother, Sir Jason the Odd, is incensed and seeks revenge on Prince Bruce. Faraday, newly crowned King of Norway, is visiting Gotham with his army. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epiphanis Posted January 10, 2014 Report Share Posted January 10, 2014 Fearing for his son's safety, King Henry entrusts the infant to be secretly raised by his most loyal retainer, the Earl of Kent. Unaware of his true heritage, the boy Hal falls in with a bad crowd of bandits and prostitutes, including the dissolute Sir Perry Whitestaff, formerly the king's herald who fell to disgrace. When Hal learns of his true heritage with his father's death, he must put aside his delinquent ways to lead the nation. The revelation of this previously unknown heir thwarts the ambition of the bald Lord Lancaster, who swears enmity against him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epiphanis Posted January 10, 2014 Report Share Posted January 10, 2014 Years ago, on the summer solstice Queen Hippolyta of the Amazons dallied with King Theseus of Athens under the influence of the faerie queen Titania. As compensation for her entertainment, Titania granted the resulting daughter, Princess Diana, abilities beyond those of mortal women. Titania's jealous husband, the dwarf like King Oberon, granted magical powers to Scott Freeman, a liberated serf, who became known as the Master of Miracles. Oberon and Titania wage proxy battles of one - upsmanship through their respective champions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epiphanis Posted January 10, 2014 Report Share Posted January 10, 2014 Duke Zataro of Milan had been deposed and exiled to a magical island with his young daughter Zatanda. Zataro wrested control of the island from the sorceress Tala, Queen of Evil, and learned magic (which he also taught to Zatanda). The duo were served by two magicallly-bound spirits: the angelic Zauriel, whom Tala had bound into a cloven pine, and the demonic Etrigan. Zataro retires back to Milan to reclaim his throne, but the naive Zatanda seeks out the Justest Men to learn more of this brave new world. She is accompanied by Zauriel and Etrigan, who are forced to obey her but have agendas (which naturally conflict with each other) of their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Watts Posted January 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 First exposure of the character sheets to the playtesters went well last night, and the first actual play is scheduled for next week. This will either be incredibly cool or an utter disaster. dw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 I eagerly await your writeup of The Hulk: The Moor of Venice. Nobody acts prematurely like the big green guy. I think there are some similarities between Dr. Bruce Banner/Hulk and Dr. Jeckyl/Mr. Hyde. In some incarnations Hyde even has superhuman powers. Granted in most incranations Hyde is pretty much total evil, but still a point to start with. If it fits the whole idea of Mediaval Justice League Writeups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epiphanis Posted January 18, 2014 Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 Here is a group shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Watts Posted January 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2014 Second playtest went very well- the heroes were suckered into a trap by the Legion of Doom, with the aid of Felix Faust and the Demons Three who barely need any changes to fit into a Shakespeare play. With a bit of tightening up, this just might work. Next up, Darkseid! dw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epiphanis Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 Hark--to the heavens turn thy gaze! There be a sight that doth amaze! Be it a bird, taken to its wing, Or mayhap a falling star from the firmament doth fling? Nay, 'tis a spectacle more like to overwhelm: Tis Superman, strange visitor from a distant realm! Swifter than a musket-ball in flight, Stronger than a siege-engine's might. Yet, unbeknownst to man or child doth he affect a manner surpassing mild; better thus to fight without surcease to uphold Veracity, Honour, and England's peace! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 Fearing for his son's safety, King Henry entrusts the infant to be secretly raised by his most loyal retainer, the Earl of Kent. Unaware of his true heritage, the boy Hal falls in with a bad crowd of bandits and prostitutes, including the dissolute Sir Perry Whitestaff, formerly the king's herald who fell to disgrace. When Hal learns of his true heritage with his father's death, he must put aside his delinquent ways to lead the nation. The revelation of this previously unknown heir thwarts the ambition of the bald Lord Lancaster, who swears enmity against him. Hal turns to God and the Bible for the courage to change his life and lead his country, and is inspired by the story of Samson. He devoutly prays to God for the strength to defend the people, and takes the vows of a Nazirite like Samson. God answers his prayer by bestowing the might of many men upon him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Watts Posted February 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Well, the Justest Men survived playtest and are going on the road, premiering at Dreamation the 20th. The final playtest went well, with Princess Diana barely saving Prince Bruce from death-by-Omega-Sanction and King Orin abruptly ending the career of Duke Luthor. Now I have to pretty up the character sheets. dw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epiphanis Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Do you need the character illustrations separately, or is the PDF sufficient for your needs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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