TheImperialKhan

Re: PULP HERO -- What Do *You* Want To See? Yes, absolutely

Re: PULP HERO -- What Do *You* Want To See? If HC:TUA is any indication it's sure to be fantastic. I don't gush praise very often but I really think this is the best setting book I've ever seen by far. The downside is that other material just doesn't seem so good in comparison. (Sorry, Darren, but HC blows MC completely away.) And of course there is now that extremely high level of quality and completeness to attain in future sourcebooks. So, Steve, about when do you think you're gonna get to Hudson City 1935? I did a quick and dirty adaptation of Justice, Not Law some years back but it was more or less a stand alone. Follow the link and scroll down towards the bottom of the page for a look: http://www.geocities.com/blademaster01757/dochawkstar.html

How about a contest to create sample characters . Let it run for about a month with characters submitted either to the forum and voted on or directly to Steve who will pick the ones he likes best. The winning characters will be included in either Pulp Hero or one of the upcoming Pulp Hero sourcebooks. The winners get credit and a copy of the product that their character appears in. How does this idea strike you folks?

Re: PULP HERO -- What Do *You* Want To See? What would I like to see? Well to start off with I want to see the classic stereotypes explored: the Strong-Jawed Hero, the Stalwart Lieutenant, the Great White Hunter, the Gumshoe Private Eye, etc., etc., etc. On the weapons tables don't forget to list the year that they became available. It might also be useful to list a price for them as well. Speaking of prices I definately want to see a fairly substantial price list for the era, at least a full page bur preferably 2 or even 3. I know that you'll have to list two prices (pre and post Black Tuesday) but I think that this will actually drive home the impact of the Great Depression better. Also it might be a good idea to increase the cost of Wealth during the 30s. It took a lot more work to be rich then than it had in the 20s. Don't want to pay the increased cost? Oh well, your wealth has just dropped to what you've paid for. Thus if you have 0 points in wealth when the Market crashes you go from Middle income to Poor, likewise if your character was Poor he became Destitute, and so on. On the subject of a timeline, I'd suggest having two running parallel along the page with one showing the events of the real world and the other showing where the Champions Universe diverges from it. Sort of like was done with the one from 4th Edition Golden Age Champions. The timeline should dovetail nicely with the one that will be in the 5E GAC. Although this really isn't for the Pulp Hero genre book, please have a talk with Aaron Allston. He has a ton of material that was planned for JI which never made it out when JI's sales weren't as big as they'd expected. I'd buy the stuff as an e-book if that were the only way you could publish it, and I hate e-books but for this I'll buy them. I may have more later but that's it for now. And Thank you, Steve, I've been waiting a long time for this.

Re: Pulp Heroes Ben, can you please move this thread over to the Pulp Hero forum?

Re: Whoot! Pulp Maps! It sounds like you're looking forward to this almost as much as I am. Go, Steve, Go! Go, Steve, Go! Free copy of Uncommon Valour if you know what I'm paraphrasing from, Mr. L.

Re: Character: Mack Bolan, the Executioner Thanks very much, LL. As Bolan would say - "Live large guy." There was some talk about the Punisher back when he first came out. Pendleton looked on it as a case of imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Considering how much of Bolan Marvel... borrowed, shall we say, he could have raised quite a stink over it but choose not to. Good thing for Marvel that Pendleton wasn't like them, considering their legal action against City of Heroes.

Re: Character: Mack Bolan, the Executioner Bolan switched to the 93R early on in the Terrorist Wars. But during the earlier Mafia War when Pendleton was actually writing them Mack carried the M1951 Beretta Brigadier, which he first used in #5 Continental Contract and carried throughout the rest of the Mafia War. In the early days Bolan used whatever was handy and changed personal sidearms from book to book. He picked up the .44 AutoMag in #11 California Hit. This write up shows him as he was following # 21 Firebase: Seattle. Another favored firearm was the awesome Weatherby Mark V .460 magnum big game rifle which Bolan used as a sniper's rifle. This was another weapon that he picked up in #5.

Re: Character: Mack Bolan, the Executioner I wound up giving him a familiarity with a bunch of cities, bringing him up to Firebase: Seattle and +5 with CK that takes one week to activate to represent his pre-combat recon of the area. That seems to simulate things pretty well in game terms, basically he has maps and guidebooks to give him the basic familiarity with the city and then his recon of the area goes from there. Be my guest as far as Able and Phoenix are concerned. I'm sure you can do a much better job than I with them. Here's the new file with the corrections.

Re: Character: Mack Bolan, the Executioner I can't find Universal Traveller anywhere in any of my books are you sure you don't mean the Skill Enhancer - Traveller? I agree that he tends to pick up Area and City Knowledge skills quickly. Usually during the pre-campaign recon period which lasts about a week or so. I guess he picked up the rest during his days at Stony Man Farm cause I can't recall him having them during the Mafia Wars. shadowcat1313, I'm afraid I was never a reader of Able Team so I doubt I could do Lyons justice. Frankly I still think of him as the idealistic young cop he was in Death Squad. Susano, Permission is most happily granted. Just let me clean up a few typos and settle his Area Knowledge questions and I'll send you a fresh copy of the file. Oh and thanks for the rep guys. I'll be sure to pass it on.

This is Bolan as he was during the Mafia Wars. If he feels up to it perhaps Doug could make whatever changes are needed to show a modern day Bolan and post him below. THE EXECUTIONER Val Char Cost Roll Notes 20 STR 10 13- Lift 400.0kg; 4d6; [2] 18 DEX 24 13- OCV 6 DCV 6 20 CON 20 13- 18 BODY 16 13- 18 INT 8 13- PER Roll 13-/16- 18 EGO 16 13- ECV: 6 35 PRE 25 16- PRE Attack: 7d6 14 COM 2 12- 7 PD 3 Total: 7 PD (0 rPD) 6 ED 2 Total: 6 ED (0 rED) 5 SPD 22 Phases: 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 10 REC 4 50 END 5 50 STUN 12 Total Characteristic Cost: 173 Movement: Running: 7" / 14" Swimming: 3" / 6" Leaping: 5" / 10" Cost Powers END Martial Arts: Commando Training Maneuver OCV DCV Notes 3 1) Aikido Throw +0 +1 4d6 +v/5, Target Falls 4 2) Boxing Cross +0 +2 6d6 Strike 4 3) Choke Hold -2 +0 Grab One Limb; 2d6 NND 4 4) Escape +0 +0 35 STR vs. Grabs 4 5) Judo Disarm -1 +1 Disarm; 30 STR to Disarm 4 6) Karate Chop -2 +0 HKA 1d6 +1 4 7) Kung Fu Block +2 +2 Block, Abort 2 8) Weapon Element: Clubs, Empty Hand, Knives 15 Luck 3d6 12 Expert at Reading Mafiosi: Telepathy 6d6, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (45 Active Points); Limited to Mafiosi [single species/type of mind] (-1), Extra Time (Full Phase, Only to Activate, Character May Take No Other Actions, -1/2), Must Be Able to View Subject, Including Facial Expressions (-1/2), Surface Thoughts Only (-1/2), Does Not Provide Mental Awareness (-1/4) 1 +3 PER with Normal Sight (3 Active Points); Limited Power Power loses about two-thirds of its effectiveness (Only to counter darkness penalties; -1 1/2) Perks 13 Contact: Leo Turrin - Underboss in the Pittsfield family, Undercover Federal Agent and Bolan Ally (Contact has significant Contacts of his own, Contact has: extremely useful Skills or resources, Very Good relationship with Contact) 16- 6 Contact: Jack Grimaldi - Ex-US Army Copter Pilot, Mob Flyboy and Bolan Ally (Contact has: useful Skills or resources, Good relationship with Contact) 13- 8 Contact: Hal Brognola - Number 2 Cop in the US DOJ and frequent Bolan Ally (Contact has access to major institutions, Contact has significant Contacts of his own, Contact has: very useful Skills or resources, Good relationship with Contact) 12- 6 Money: Wealthy 2 Reputation: Will not fire on Cops (A large group - Police and Reporters) 11-, +1/+1d6 Talents 9 Ambidexterity (no Off Hand penalty) 6 Combat Luck (3 PD/3 ED) 16 Deadly Blow: +4d6 (only when attacking from behind) 16 Deadly Blow: +4d6 (only when attacking from stealth) 18 Evasive 8 Lightning Reflexes: +8 DEX to act first with Guns 4 Resistance (4 points) 3 Lightsleep Skills 3 Acting 16- 3 Analyze: Combat 13- 5 Accurate Sprayfire 5 Concentrated Sprayfire 5 Rapid Autofire 5 Skipover Sprayfire 3 Breakfall 13- 3 Bugging 13- 3 Climbing 13- 3 Combat Driving 13- 16 +2 with All Combat 15 +3 with Ranged Combat 9 +3 with All Pistols 10 +2 with HTH Combat 10 Penalty Skill Levels: +5 vs. Hit Location modifiers with all small arms 9 Penalty Skill Levels: +3 vs. Range Modifier with All Attacks 6 Penalty Skill Levels: +4 vs. Range Modifier with a sniper's rifles 3 Concealment 13- 3 Conversation 16- 3 Criminology 13- 1 Cryptography 8- 3 Deduction 13- 10 Defense Maneuver I-IV 3 Demolitions 13- 3 Disguise 13- 5 Fast Draw 14- 1 High Society 8- 3 Scholar 7 1) KS: Guerilla Warfare (8 Active Points) 17- 7 2) KS: Mafia Operations (8 Active Points) 17- 7 3) KS: Mafia Rituals (8 Active Points) 17- 7 4) KS: Mafiosi (8 Active Points) 17- 7 5) KS: Military Operations (8 Active Points) 17- 7 6) KS: US Army (8 Active Points) 17- 1 Language: English (imitate dialects) (5 Active Points) 2 Language: Italian (fluent conversation) 1 Language: Polish (basic conversation) 1 Language: Vietnamese (basic conversation) 3 Mimicry 13- 2 Navigation (Land) 13- 3 Paramedics 13- 3 Persuasion 16- 6 PS: Sniper 15- 6 PS: Soldier 15- 8 PS: Warrior 17- 5 Rapid Attack (Ranged) 3 Security Systems 13- 3 Shadowing 13- 10 +1 Overall 3 Stealth 13- 3 Streetwise 16- 10 Survival (Arctic/Subarctic, Temperate/Subtropical, Tropical, Desert, Mountain) 13- 11 Tactics 17- 3 Tracking 13- 13 TF: Common Motorized Ground Vehicles, Hanggliding, Parachuting, Advanced, Parachuting, Basic, SCUBA, Skiing (snow), Small Military Ships, Small Motorized Boats, Small Rowed Boats, Snowmobiles, Tracked Military Vehicles, Two-Wheeled Motorized Ground Vehicles, Wheeled Military Vehicles 10 Two-Weapon Fighting (Ranged) 11 WF: Emplaced Weapons, Small Arms, Blades, Clubs, Fist-Loads, Flamethrowers, General Purpose/Heavy Machine Guns, Grenade Launchers, Shoulder-Fired Weapons, Thrown Knives, Axes, and Darts, Vehicle Weapons - Bradley AFV 8 Weaponsmith (Firearms) 16- Total Powers & Skill Cost: 494 Total Cost: 667 200+ Disadvantages 20 Hunted: The Mafia 11- (As Pow, NCI, Harshly Punish) 10 Hunted: Local Law Enforcement 8- (Less Pow, NCI, Harshly Punish) 20 Hunted: Federal Law Enforcement 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Harshly Punish) 25 Dependent NPC: various civillians caught up in his war 14-, Normal, Group DNPC: x2 DNPCs 15 Psychological Limitation: Will not fire on Police, not even a dirty badge (Uncommon, Total) 15 Psychological Limitation: Sworn to destroy the Mafia (Common, Strong) 20 Psychological Limitation: Will not allow innocents to come to harm (Very Common, Strong) 5 Social Limitation: Semi-secret Identity, Not recognized out of blacksuit Occasionally, Minor 337 Experience Points Total Disadvantage Points: 667 Standard Equipment: Cost Powers END Standard Weapons (, ) 11 1) "Belle" 9mm Beretta Brigadier: Killing Attack - Ranged 1d6+1, 4 clips of 8 Charges (+0), Invisible to Hearing Group (Silencer; +1/4) (25 Active Points); OAF (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4) (, ) 19 2) "Big Thunder" .44 Automag: Killing Attack - Ranged 2d6+1, 4 clips of 8 Charges (+0), +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+1/4) (44 Active Points); OAF (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4) (, ) 20 3) 9mm Uzi SMG: Killing Attack - Ranged 1d6+1, Autofire (5 shots; +1/2), 16 clips of 30 Charges (+3/4) (45 Active Points); OAF (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4) (, ) 33 4) 5.56 mm M16A2: Killing Attack - Ranged 2d6, +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+1/4), Autofire (5 shots; +1/2), 16 clips of 30 Charges (+3/4) (75 Active Points); OAF (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4) (, ) 4 5) Knife: Killing Attack - Hand-To-Hand 1d6-1 (1d6+1 w/STR) (10 Active Points); OAF (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4) (, ) 1 30 M203 40mm Greande Launcer: Multipower, 60-point reserve, (60 Active Points); all slots OAF (-1) (, ) 2u 1) 40 mm Fragmentation Round: Killing Attack - Ranged 2 1/2d6, Explosion (+1/2) (60 Active Points); 8 clips of 1 Charge (-1), OAF (-1) (, ) 2u 2) 40mm Flechette: Killing Attack - Ranged 2d6, Armor Piercing (+1/2), Explosion (+1/2) (60 Active Points); 4 clips of 1 Charge (-1 1/4), OAF (-1) (, ) 2u 3) 40 mm Concussion Round: Energy Blast 8d6, Explosion (+1/2) (60 Active Points); 8 clips of 1 Charge (-1), OAF (-1) (, ) 2u 4) 40 mm Gas Round: Energy Blast 3d6, No Normal Defense (+1), Area Of Effect (3" Radius; +1), Conforming (+1/2) (52 Active Points); 4 clips of 1 Charge (-1 1/4), OAF (-1) (, ) 70 Warwagon: Vehicles & Bases (, ) Background/History: When Mack Bolan's war with the Mafia had only been a few months old and already the man had become a legand and a modern day folk hero. Law enforcement agencies at every level of government and throughout the land had taken to keeping a special file on the exploits of the man known as The Executioner, in the months that followed various foreign capitals were added to the alert network of international police organizations. Others, also, sought the lifeblood of Mack Bolan. It was common knowledge that a $500,000 death contract had been issued against Bolan by the ruling council of bosses of that vast "invisible second government" known as the Mafia or La Cosa Nostra. This was an open contract with bounty hunters of every walk and stripe invited and encouraged to participate in the hunt. It was also rumored that the various individual family bosses had added attractive bonuses to the final payoff in the event that the murder contract was closed in their territory; it has been estimated that in several areas of the country Bolan's head would be over a million dollars to his killer. What sort of superman could inspire such nationwide awe, fear and respect from both sides of a modern society? Bolan himself would be the last man to attempt to answer that question. He knew that he was no superman. Like any other man, he bled when wounded, trembled when frightened, felt loneliness in isolation and regarded life as preferable to death. Short months before his war with the Mafia had begun, this "superman" had been on combat duty in Vietnam, in his own eyes just another non-com fighting another version of the impossible war. But in that war there had been comrades, a sense of national purpose, and the brawn and brains of the United States government backing him. Now he was alone, often doubting his own moral imperatives, and with only his own abilities and instincts to stand against what often seemed to be the entire world. When Bolan killed enemies in Vietnam, he was decorated for heroism and applauded by the bulk of his society. When he killed enemies at home, he was charged with murder and hounded as a dangerous threat to that same society. In that other war there had been respites from combat, a reasonably safe place to lay the head and rest the soul; in this new war there were no places to pause, no zones of safety, no sanctuaries for the man whose battlefield was the entire world and whose enemies were both infinate and often invisible. No --- Mack Bolan was no superman, and none knew this better than the man himself. Bolan was perhaps a bit too modest in his assessments of self, however. He had received the tag "The Executioner" by virtue of his unusual military specialty in Vietnam. A sniper team sharpshooter, the young sergeant had repeatedly penetrated hostile territories and strongholds, often spending days behind enemy lines on deep-penetration strikes against Viet Cong terrorist leaders and officials. Steely nerves, precision tactics and remarkable self-sufficiency had spelled the difference for sniper Bolan, the difference which had kept him alive and functioning through two combat tours in Southeast Asia and earned him the respect and admiration of superiors and peers alike. But Sgt. Bolan had been mmuch more than a sniper. Executing an important defector or enemy field commander on his own soil could be ticklish business. Merely locating and identifying the target in unfamiliar territory was challenge enough; to then make the strike, hang around long enough to verify the success of the mission, and then to safely withdraw through miles of aroused hostile country required considerable personal resources. Bolan had obviously possessed those resources. He had been regarded as a highly valuable weapon of the psychological warfare being waged for the soul of Vietnam. Now it appeared that Bolan, along with legions of other young Americans, had lost his own soul in that conflict - a point that many homefront moralizers were hastening to make. He had been editorialized as "a government-trained mad dog", and lamented on the floor of the U.S. Senate as "America's military sins coming home to roost." It being conveniently forgotten that this same man had earned a second and far different nickname in Vietnam. To medics, battlefield surgeons and Red Cross personnel he was "Sergeant Mercy" for his humane and compassionate treatment of civillians and the other unfortunate victims of the the war. All of this was inconsequential to Mack Bolan. He had not expected medals for his war at home. He would admit, even, that his initial strike against the Mafia had been largely motivated by a desire for vengeance. His parents and teen-aged sister had died violently as a result of Mafia terrorism and the police had been helpless to do anything about it. Bolan had not been helpless and he had done something about it. He took his pound of flesh from the Sergio Frenchi family and his sense of personal justice had been satisfied in the lightning strikes that left that Mafia arm in shambles. Long before that first battle had ended, however, Mack Bolan came to realize that he had entered into another war without end. The mob would not, simply could not hold still for that sort of treatment. The entire premise for there survival was based on the idea of their invincibility and omnipresence in the American society. They had to crush Bolan and run his head up their pole for all to see and beware. Bolan's war thus became a holy war, good versus evil, and he clung to his battle philosophy as his only buttress against a disapproving society. And as the war raged on, from front to successive front, his growing familiarity with the syndicate served to intensify this certain feeling that he was fighting the most vicious enemy to ever threaten his nation. The mob was everywhere, in everything - controlling, manipulating, corrupting, wielding and influence such as no political party had ever dared dream. Invisibly they reached out to touch every man, woman and child in the country - stealing more from the poor than from the rich - squeezing the working man with invisible taxes and tributes, demoralizing and enslaving the young with drugs and insidiously corrupt pleasures, canniblizing industry and victimizing both retailers and consumers, seizing the reins of government through blackmail and the exploitation of human greed - and everything they touched turned rotten and spoiled and ugly and corrupt. This was Mack Bolan's vision, his sustaining truth and reason for living when often the most pleasurable thing possible would be merely to die. He earned the distinction "The Executioner" in the jungles and hamlets of Vietnam and it was this same brand of warfare that he brought to the American continent. A police lieutenant in Pittsfield, Bolan's home town and scene of his first Mafia encounter, was responsible for the nickname living on through the translation from Vietnam to hometown - but it was Bolan alone who endowed the name with the terrible attributes that rocked the Mafia ship of state and struck deep dread into the the bones of Mafiosi everywhere, from the lowest street soldier to the most exalted Capo. The Executioner was not a cop; he could go and do as no cop could. The Executioner was not a judge or jury; he was not interested in legal technicalities, bribes or threats. The Executioner was not a prison guard or trustee, he was not impressed with political or underworld influence and intimidation, and he had no reasons whatever for granting special favors or dispensations. He was incorruptable, non-negotiable, ready to die and willing to kill, he was THE EXECUTIONER, and his target was the Mafia, La Cosa Nostra, anywhere and everywhere, so long as he should live. Personality/Motivation: From Mack Bolan's War Journal April, the start of the Washington campaign. I try to tell myself that I don't mind being called a murdering lunatic... but I do, I do mind. No man who is sane enjoys being pointed out as an enemy of his society. I guess what I mind the most, though, is that so damned much official attention is going to my side of the war and not to the other. I didn't really want this war with the Mafia. I sort of edged into it. Once in, though, there was nothing left but to see the thing through, for better or worse. I couldn't run from the mob now. That would give them a strength they've never had before. It would wipe out every advance I've made, and it would actually make things worse than when this war had started. I have a feeling that the entire focus of my life has become fixed on this spot; that I will very likely die here. If that's the way it has to be, then okay. I've known all along that there was only one way out of this mess for me. What I mind is failing, and failing at such a hell of a critical time. Also, I don't feel that it will be the mob that puts me down. I believe it will be the law, and I'm afraid that the focus will go the wrong way. Big deal, they got Mack Bolan. Never mind the marauding cannibals who were left around to pick up the pieces. That's what bothers me. Ten years ago I would have been so worried about this. We were a different nation then. I guess what scares me is the sinking feeling that the country has lost its guts. Everyone seems so hung up on ideas of doing their own thing, living in peace and sweetness and love. Hell I can't blame anyone for wanting that. I want it too, not this hell I'm stuck with. But all those nice things come with a price tag. Someone has to be willing to settle the bill, or there will be no seller and no buyer. Quote: "The Mob are their own judges, their own juries. I'm just the executioner." Powers/Tactics: Combat vetern of Vietnam, highly skilled specialist in "destruct missions" against enemy commands; recieved nickname "the Executioner" in Vietnam by virtue of high proficiency in this regard. Considered highly adept at penetration/intelligence techniques; military tactician and strategist of the highest order; a master at both the "quiet kill" and "massive kill" disciplines of jungle guerrilla warfare. Expert marksman, various personal weapons catagories; skilled armorer and munitions man. All of the forgoing constitute Bolan's M.O. Wages all-out warfare using all facets of combat character. Identifies, infiltrates and destroys "the enemy" sometimes with wiles, sometimes with full-dress frontal assaults. Has been known to use various personal combat weapons as well as field mortars, light anti-tank weapons, demolition devices etc. Bolan strikes are easily identified by the presense of a military marksman's medal that he leaves at the scene of each action. Primary personal weapon, however, appears to remain a 9mm Beretta Brigadier equipped with silencer and worked in for precision kills at close range. Latest personal sidearm, described as "a big silver hawgleg" by official witnesses has been identified as a .44 caliber autoloader, "the .44 AutoMag." This latter weapon exhibits impressive accuracy at extremely long ranges and should be considered equivalent in many respects to a big-game rifle. Appearance: Tall, darkly handsome with vaguely Italian features as a result of cosmetic surgery. Described as being very light on his feet, almost catlike, in his movements. Often affect costume of skintight black combat garb - commando style, but has also been known to wear various innocuous outfits in subtle applications of "role camouflage". Eyes routinely described as blue ice and "penetrating", obviously highly developed night vision.

Re: Re-imagining the Star Wars universe. Actually Lucas wanted to do Flash Gordon at the beginning but couldn't get the rights. He was still a relative novice at the time. So he created Star Wars instead.

Re: "So, Thor hits Superman with Mjolnir..." That tends to be true of any Superhero. Particularly in their own comic.

Re: A Quick Question for Steve or Darren I hoped that that would be it. Thanks for clearing that up.

In Champions Universe when you did the write-up for the first Black Mask, what on earth possessed you to arm him with a pair of Matchlocks?! Matchlocks had been obsolete for centuries by then and in any case were totally unsuited to use as anything but weapon in a full scale military-style battle even when they weren't obsolete. A far better choice would have been a high quality pair of rifled flintlock pistols or barring them a pair of smoothbore flintlock holster pistols. So why the matchlocks?

Now that Pulp HERO is on the horizon I thought it might be fun to create and post some characters that could be used in a Pulp HERO campaign. So how about it Heroes, are you up for the challenge? Who knows, if he likes them Steve might use some in the Pulp Hero book. I'll start with one of mine... JAKE CALLAHAN, LIEUT. USN RET. Val Char Cost Roll Notes 15 STR 5 12- Lift 200.0kg; 3d6; [1] 17 DEX 21 12- OCV 6 DCV 6 15 CON 10 12- 11 BODY 2 11- 13 INT 3 12- PER Roll 12-/14- 13 EGO 6 12- ECV: 4 15 PRE 5 12- PRE Attack: 3d6 14 COM 2 12- 7 PD 4 Total: 7 PD (0 rPD) 3 ED 0 Total: 3 ED (0 rED) 3 SPD 3 Phases: 4, 8, 12 6 REC 0 30 END 0 27 STUN 0 Total Characteristic Cost: 63 Movement: Running: 7" / 14" Swimming: 2" / 4" Leaping: 3" / 6" Cost Powers END Martial Arts: Maneuver OCV DCV Notes 4 Fast Strike - Mean Right Cross +2 +0 5d6 Strike 3 Life Support (Immunity: Alcohol) 2 Sharp Eyes: +2 PER with Normal Sight Perks 1 Fringe Benefit - Commercial Pilot's License: License to practice a profession 1 Reputation - Great War Flying Ace (A small to medium sized group) 8-, +1/+1d6 Skills 1 Bureaucratics 8- 11 Combat Piloting 16- 3 KS: Aircraft Identification 12- 2 KS: Aviation 11- 2 KS: Aviators 11- 3 Mechanics 12- 4 Navigation (Air, Land, Marine) 12- 4 PS: Cargo Pilot 13- 3 Stealth 12- 3 Systems Operation 12- 3 Tactics - Air 12- 3 Trading 12- 4 TF: Combat Aircraft, Large Military Ships, Large Planes, Small Motorized Ground Vehicles, Small Planes 3 Traveler 1 1) AK: Carribean (2 Active Points) 11- 2 2) AK: East Coast (3 Active Points) 12- 1 3) AK: Europe (2 Active Points) 11- 1 4) AK: North America (2 Active Points) 11- 1 5) AK: South America (2 Active Points) 11- 1 6) AK: South Pacific (2 Active Points) 11- 1 7) AK: West Coast (2 Active Points) 11- 3 +1 with S&W M27, Winchester 94 and Trench Knife 4 WF: Small Arms, Aircraft Weapons, Blades 2 Weaponsmith (Firearms) 12- Total Powers & Skill Cost: 77 Total Cost: 140 75+ Disadvantages 10 Distinctive Features: pre-maturely white hair Concealable, Noticed and Recognizable, Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses 20 Psychological Limitation: Believes in fighting fair Very Common, Strong 15 Psychological Limitation: Incurable Romantic (Common, Strong) 15 Psychological Limitation: Loyal to Comrades (Common, Strong) 5 Rivalry: with all other pilots over who's the best Professional (; Rival is As Powerful; Seek to Outdo, Embarrass, or Humiliate Rival; Rival Aware of Rivalry) 0 Experience Points Total Disadvantage Points: 140 Background/History: Name's Callahan, Jake Callahan. I'm the world's greatest pilot. Oh I know some of you out there are snickering "World's greatest pilot, huh. A legend in his own mind!" Well don't take my word for it, check it out. Ask anybody. Ask Jim Dolittle or Charlie Lindbergh, Billy Bishop or Eddie Ricken-backer. Go ahead, I'll wait for ya … Satisfied? Okay let's get to it. You guys want the straight dope so here it comes. And boys, sharpen your pencils, this one's a real world-beater. I was born in New York City - 1899, didn't stay there long though. By the time I was four the old man moved us outta' the city and upstate. That's where I first heard about it. 17 December 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Wright Flyer # 1, the first powered flight, all of 12 seconds long. Didn't make much of an impression on me at the time, too remote I guess. But it wasn't remote six years later. July 1909, I was outta' school for the summer and swimmin' in the creek that run behind our house when I saw it. It was Glenn Curtiss' Golden Flyer on the flight that won it the Scientific American Prize, 25 miles nonstop. More important Glenn Curtiss was setting up shop right there in my own home town. But thing's didn't stop there, not by a long shot. Curtiss needed mechanics and the best in 20 miles was my old man. Curtiss offered him twice the money he was makin' at the time; I think he thought it over for all of 15 seconds. From that moment on all most alla’ my free time was spent at the airfield. I swept floors, sorted parts, greased axles, helped the old man, and talked to the pilots. In May of 1910 Gene Ely took me up for the first time in the Albany Flyer. I was there cheering him on six months later at Hampton Roads when he took off from the deck of the U.S.S. Birmingham. I first soloed on 28 July 1914 in an old model D-IV. From that moment on I was one of Glenn Curtiss' test pilots. I worked on Saturdays during the school year and all week long during the summers. I even helped Curtiss design the JN-1 Jenny trainer in the spring of "16". I graduated from high school in June of 1917 and immediately enlisted in the service, as most of our contracts had been with them I joined the Navy. Within three months I was commissioned an Ensign and posted as a seaplane test pilot at Pensacola. I got to fly a lotta new planes, but that wasn't really what I wanted. After all there was a War on, and I wanted to be in on it. I had made a few connections when I worked for Curtiss and was able to wrangle a slot on detached service with the Royal Flying Corps in France. The Brits put me in an SE 5a assigned to Mannock's Squadron. In 14 weeks I racked up 17 kills, then the Navy yanked me back and put me in a big RS-3 flying boat hunting U-boats in the Irish Sea. Now those goddamned gooney birds have all the speed and handling of a pregnant elephant. Their one saving grace is their strength and I was determined to make the most of that. I had a big 1 pounder Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon mounted in the nose, 4 Vickers Mk I .303 caliber machine guns mounted on the wings, and a pair of Lewis guns in a flex-mount in the rear cockpit. This was in addition to the two 230 pound bombs the plane carried. By the time the war ended in November 1918 we had sunk 4 U-boats, 7 light gunboats, and shot down 5 more aircraft, 3 of them Zepps. With the war over I was back at Pensacola as a test pilot. I flew the Nieuport 27s that the government bought from the Frogs in 1919, and helped organized the navy's first fighter squadrons. I commanded VF-3 at San Diego from 1920 to 21; my departure from the navy was precipitated by a little difference of opinion with a pompous asshole of a battleship captain. I was sayin to a buddy of mine at one of the base commander's receptions, that within ten years, twenty at the most, aircraft would be able to take on and sink battleships. This little twerp of a four-striper sez to me that my statements just go to prove that aviators are all lunatics but if I give up all this flying nonsense I might be saved from the bughouse. Well that displeased me some, and I expressed my displeasure by dumping a bowl of punch on the dickless little faggot's head. There was some talk of having me court-martialed for assaulting a superior and conduct unbecoming. But I was a war hero, 22 air victories had made me the number two U.S. ace behind Rickenbacker. So they just let me quietly retire from active duty, although I stayed on the reserve list until 1927. I went back to work for Curtiss as head of their stunt team, competing in air shows, races, and trophy competitions all over the country. In 1923 I won the Pulitzer Trophy flying an R2C-1, I flew an R3C-2 into first place in the Schneider Trophy competition at Hampton Roads on 13 Nov. 1926. I won the 1927 National Air Race in a Hawk XP-6A at an average speed of 204 mph. Flying Glenn Curtiss' hot stuff was fun but I was workin' for somebody else, and after the fiasco in San Diego the only person that I really wanted to work for was me. So in "29" I bought an old Curtiss Navy NC-4 reconnaissance plane, gave Curtiss my notice, and set up shop on my own. From "29" to "32" I flew into and out of some of the worst hellholes man has ever created. Some of my cargoes were ... how should I put it ... cloaked in secrecy. Was it smuggling? Yes. Was it dangerous? Again yes. In the summer of "32" four Chilean Spad 13s jumped me while I was flyin' this Frog archeologist named Belloq. I took out two of them but the NC-4 was riddled with bullet holes and one of my engines was shot to hell and gone. I survived the crash, the NC-4 didn't. I never did find out what the Spics were so pissed at. So there I was in 1932, a pilot without a plane and no real hope of gettin' my hands on one, so I did the only thing I could ... I signed on with Imperial Airways as a passenger pilot. I flew the San Francisco to Hong Kong route as captain of a Consolidated Commodore flying boat. Not the most exciting job in the world, but I made contacts, and started scraping together enough money to put a down payment on a new plane. A pal of mine at the Postal Air Service managed to hold onto an air mail route along the west coast for me, now all I needed was a plane. Then it happened. Douglas Aircraft introduced the DC-3. Practically overnight all other airliners were obsolete. With that, the air mail route, and my down payment I was able to get my hands on a brand new Boeing 247D. I ordered her in bright silver with her name printed in red along both sides ... the Argent Eagle. For any of you slobs who happen to be illiterate argent means silver. I flew the mail route until 1938 when I lucked onto a big wad of cash. I was on a special job for a buddy of mine when I came into possession of a German Dornier Do 26A seaplane. I sold the Kraut and used the money to pay off my loan, and refurbish the Eagle with a pair of brand new Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp 14 cylinder radials, 830 horsepower each. Since then I've done pretty much what I want. I buy, I sell, but mostly I fly. I fly where I want to and when I want to. And I don't take shit from any pimple-assed jerkweed with a big title and no brain. One more thing before you boys go. I respect the hell out of Charlie Lindbergh's ability as a pilot, but the man is a political idiot, and so are you if you buy all that shit he's been spouting. Knocking the friggin' Nazis on their collective asses is an absolute necessity if this country wants to still be here in 30 years. They can't be bargained with, or talked reasonably to, and they sure as hell can't be trusted. That poor sap Chamberlain found that out. Now there's a second world war going on, and this country can fight it now with allies or later all by it's lonesome. 'Cuz you better believe it, if the Brits fall those little Hun bastards will be all over us like ticks on a dog. And if you think they won't then ask yourself this little question: What's to stop them? Personality/Motivation: Jake is confident in the extreme in the air or among aviators. Jake’s been flying the not-so-friendly skies for 27 years in every kind of plane and all kinds of conditions. If it has wings he's flown it and better than anyone before or since. He's owned his 247D the Argent Eagle since 1935 and he and it have been to hell and back together more than once. At his age Jake should be slowing down, but if he is no one can see any sign of it. Around women Jake changes almost completely, becoming almost humble. His confidence, although still there, is toned down greatly and nowhere near as “in your face†as it is among men. He tends to be over-protective of any women in an adventuring party and will politely advice them to not to take any chances. This comes from his association with Amelia Earhart whom he tried to dissuade from her around the world flight. He still blames himself for her death. Quote: “Of course I can fly it.†Powers/Tactics: Jake firmly believes in putting bureaucrats in their places, which to him is somewhere beneath sheep dung. On the few occasions when words fail to get the point across, a solid right usually does. If things escalate Jake will remark that the conversation was going downhill anyway and match the violence with fists, his trench knife’s knuckle-duster, the blade or his S&W. He won’t resort to lethal force unless threatened with it but he has no problem using it when he feels it’s needed. Others have a tendency to underestimate him because of the quantity of booze he consumes not realizing that it has no effect on him. Jake often takes advantage of this to appear drunk before nailing his opponents with his trademark right cross. It also tends to keep the police off his neck as his opponents are too embarrassed to admit that a white-haired old drunk beat them in a fair fight. Although quite illegal in the US, the Argent Eagle mounts a single Vickers Mk I .303 caliber machinegun in the nose. Campaign Use: Not only will Jake take the fool adventurers where they want to go but he’ll go with them when they get there to keep them out of trouble. Of course sometimes he winds up getting them in trouble instead but it’s usually nothing he can’t handle. Appearance: Jake is a ruggedly handsome man in his early 40s with startlingly blue eyes. He is clean-shaven, stands 6’ 1†and weighs about 180 pounds. His hair is completely white and has been for nearly twenty years. He usually dresses in light gray slacks with matching shirt and brown boots. A brown leather aviator’s jacket, his old naval officer’s cap and a pair of those new-fangled dark aviator’s glasses complete his ensemble.

Re: Early Firearms

Re: 2006 Schedule Blurbs Please tell me that GAC is going to be serious this time and not tongue-in-cheek as in the first two versions.

Re: [Compilation] "to Star HERO Conversions & Adaptations" What, no Duck Dodgers in the 24th and a half Century HERO? That sucks. I always wanted to play the Eager Young Space Cadet.

Re: Dream Park HERO! An article for running Dream Park like games using HERO was presented in Hero System Almanac 2. It was titled Running Cinema Campaigns! and written by Bruce Tong and Greg Lloyd. Of course it was for 4E but you shouldn't have any trouble using it with 5E or 5ER.

Re: Wild West Hero For 4th Edition but it still might be useful to you. http://geocities.com/blademaster01757/westernarms.html

Re: Crisis of Infinite Boredom Centurion: "Are you nuts? I run a Fortune 25 corporation, not 500, 25. I'm ruler of the Hong Kong city-state, a founding member of Strike Force: Boston, overall Strike Force Commander, a Nobel-prize winning scientist and happily married father of three so far. I had to give up my post as SF:B Team Leader when my daughter Katie was born for lack of time and consider the 30 hour day to be my greatest invention. Who has the time to be bored? Patriot: "Boredom just means the bad guys are sneaking around preparing something nasty. That's when it's time to do a little legwork, find out what it is and nip it in the bud before good Americans get caught in the crossfire." Nighthawk: "Boredom really never becomes an issue when you're a crimefighter in Hudson City."

Re: TOS Star Trek and The Warp Drive Uhhh, No I can't say that it did. But I HATE the weaselly little bastard so what do I know?

Re: TOS Star Trek and The Warp Drive That was my thinking as well. Excalibur didn't blow-up but she was a hulk. I seriously doubt she would have been repaired. Although its possible I suppose.

Re: TOS Star Trek and The Warp Drive It was the Defiant that vanished in interphase, Hood was part of Commodore Wesley's Task Force in The Ultimate Computer but came through intact, although Excalibur was destroyed and Lexington severely damaged. Just setting the record straight. BTW I love that Q quote on your sig. In three short sentences it sums up why kids in general and Weaselly Crusher in particular don't belong on starships. That part of TNG was an idiotic idea right from the get go.