Mobsters and Trophies, Pubic Domain or Original

[order99]

  I think we've had fun with the 'Original Heroes' Thread, so how about we Lurkers generate and/or model some Comics-derived and/or Original Trophies, Bad Guys, Weird Guys and possible SCMs?

 Since it was my idea, i'll dip my toes in the Stygian waters first-and as always, if anybody wants to snatch them for use or publication, all of my Posts may be considered Open Source. And with no further ado:

 Portable Dynamic Tension set (minor Trophy-Appeared as an Ad in Eerie Comics #1, Jan 1947 )

 XP Value: 400  Dollar Value: $200

  A set of high-quality workout devices consisting of high-tension springs, hooks, grips and bars, made for quick assembly/disassembly and easily carried in a small suitcase. When used on a regular basis in conjunction with regular exercise and training, the results are quite astonishing. Any PC supplementing regular training with daily light workouts (the PC must be using it in at least one Scene per Adventure, preferably during Rest Turns) will see 'Astonishing Results Within Weeks!' on their next Level Increase-in addition to rolling for Ability Score Advancement (H&H 2.2 Page 10) the Player may pick either Strength or Charisma and get two more rolls for that Ability-or one extra roll apiece-as they sweat their way to a fitter and shapelier physique! Superheroes with True Strength can only gain one extra roll unless they can neutralize their own Powers at will or possess an Alter Ego.

 There is obviously a diminishing rate of return on the targeted Abilities, and no benefit at all once they are at 18s...just remember that donating this Minor Trophy (along with a rousing speech) to some skinny guy/gal with average or less Ability Scores is definitely a Good Deed-and the Editor might allow even Chaotic Heroes to do so without a Save vs Plot if the target is a SCM they care about or their Sidekick (Tough Love,little Billy, Tough Love... ).

[order99]

 The Cursed Paints of Van Rejk (Mystic Trophy-First Appeared in 'Heritage of Horror', from Witchcraft #1, Mar-Apr 1952)

 XP Value: 5000  Dollar Value: $75000

  The infamous Van Rejk is known for two things by the Art World-fantastic, prodigious Talent-and falling to Madness at the peak of his career. To the Mystic Underground, Van Rejk is known as one of the most powerful Ritual Magicians and Alchemists of his era...and a few tubes of his greatest creation may yet lurk in a few of his lesser-known studios...the better known ones have been looted down to the plaster walls. The only thing that keeps these paints from being classified at Artifact Level is 1) the ease with which they can be destroyed and 2) the extremely limited supply, since no one has (yet!) been able to duplicate the mixture-a Detect Magic will probably cause temporary blindness in the Caster for a Combat Turn or so...

 The binding agent is oil-based and thick, and the usual oil-based pigments may be added without diluting the mixture's mystic potential. The user must be able to envision a scene or situation that can be visualized in representational art on canvas, describe it completely to the Editor in detail-and make a Hard Skill Check with any Hobby or Background bonuses as needed. This process can take months if needed-but once the oils are completely cured and hit with a fixative, the situation comes true. With careful planning, this paint can duplicate any Power, Spell, Ability or Trophy in the H&H Rulebook-more if the Editor wishes! The effects last forever-unless the painting is damaged, in which case all of the subjects are also damaged in the same way. This can result in permanent crippling or death of the subjects.

 Example One: Magnifico the Modest comes across the Paints and decides to gift himself an amazing bulletproof Supercar complete with Lasers (despite his Level Advancement Magnifico has WIS 5  ). Seven weeks of proper dabbling later, he has a painting of a lovely modified 1937 Buick hardtop sedan, with off-screen bullets bouncing off of panels, windows, and even tires-and twin lasers firing from the headlights. There is even a tiny Magnifico in the background holding a tiny Title to the vehicle. The Editor decides that Magnifico's car is AC 3/16 and twice the HP, normal speed and gas requirements, but since the 'lasers' were not shown to actually destroy anything they are downgraded to really bright headlights-while the tiny owner with Title indicates that only Mystico can operate the vehicle.

 Three months latter the Tapestry breaks into Mystico's apartment and sets the painting on fire. While Our Hero ignores the issue and subdues the thief, Sidekick Mystic Molly (WIS 13) Shrieks in abject horror and throws a pitcher of iced tea across the flaming canvas. Mystico loses his Supercar and his entire garage, but escapes death  thanks to Molly-only losing 1 point of permanent CHA  due to heat smudge near his icon. Afterword, Molly dries tiny Mystico between bamboo plates, wraps the amulet in cotton ribbon and drenches it in epoxy-while suggesting that Mystico do his best to make his new bauble indestructible. Decades later (his bamboo amulet as hard to Wreck as a Tank) a wiser Mystico realizes that he is unable to age or die...and he is not happy about that. In the far distant future, he will have a last perfect meal, dissolve his mystic wards and toss his amulet into the city's Reactor Core, dying instantly.

 Example Two: Mystic Molly wisely decides not to use the Paints at all-but keeps them for a Cosmic 'Break Glass' scenario. Three years later she nearly dies due to massed Tommygun fire, and after a long, painful recovery she begins taking Art Courses. Her finished work depicts Mystic Molly in her Working Duds, Focus presented prominently on her gloved finger to indicate she is still an M-U...while at the same time shedding multiple bullets from her skin and holding a construction girder in one hand. The Editor decides that this will imbue her with AC 4/15 and True Strength but no other powers. Molly carefully sandwiches the canvas between two plates of bulletproof glass, vacuum-seals it, tosses the work into a wall safe and tosses that into the wet foundations of a nearby office complex, ensuring an Immortality much like her mentor's. Two Issues later a Random Encounter indicates that her extra powers only work in Costume, so Molly researches a Lvl 1 Instant Change spell...250 years later the office complex holding her portrait is demolished, and Molly messily explodes into bloody rags during a Family Reunion-at least it was quick.

 Note: for those Editors deciding to allow this Liquid Infinity Gauntlet into their nice clean campaign, I suggest only enough for 1D3+1 paintings. This should be more than enough raw Mystic Nuke for anybody to chase after, protect from Mobsters and/or use to terrify the World as we known it....

[Adminenkainen]

I love this! Particularly since you're looking ahead much further than me, still stuck in 1940...

[az]

Yeah,me too

[order99]

Well, Comic Book ads work in any era...


***

  Hi, Mrs Stokely? I'm Ben Fletcher from over at 126 Hathaway, and-

  No Ma'am don't worry about the blood, i've gotten worse picking blackberries-but I need you to contact the Crimson Fist...because I was there Ma'am, 9 years back-yeah, the drugged-up ten-year-old in that stupid getup. No Ma'am, not quite dead from the fall, but close enough that Dad fell out of his Doctor Bright personality long enough to get shipped off to the Funny farm-yeah, Asa Fletcher, fixes radios and wires up the older houses, lives less than 15 miles from here, small world I guess-and before we go any further I really need for the Crimson Fist to know that Dad's medicines don't work on him any more and that he's making things again, can you please-

 The Cops? I already called them, they're at the house taking anything more suspicious than the toaster, maybe that too-but they didn't get these. Yeah, that's the last of the Toy Soldier squad, trussed up in bread ties...Doctor Bright comes back and the first thing he creates is the one experiment that he could never control? Pretty sure that's the last bit of Dad fighting back...and the letter's for you-well, the both of us I guess. Nothing will bring back Jared Stokely Ma'am, but-

 I know that you want him dead Mrs Stokely-and so does Asa Fletcher. Doctor Bright isn't my Dad, it's a...a disease. If i've lost Dad to that, that thing? I'll put it down myself if I have to. No, keep the Soldier for the Crimson Fist to examine, maybe she'll find a quick and easy way to get rid of 'em all. I'm going to some of the old places Bright used to hang out at, see if I can tip off the Cops if I find that thing with my Father's face...

***

The Toy Soldiers (inspired by ad in  US Tank Commander #2, Aug 1952)

Number Appearing: 1D3 Squads

Hit Dice: 1, 2 or 3

AC: 7/12  (small and plastic)

Attacks: 1 attack at 1D3, 1D6-1 or 1D6+1, range up to 25 ft.

Move: 6

Alignment: Chaos

Save: F2

Morale: 8, 9 or 10

Trophies: none

Mobster Level: 0, 1 or 2

 Made of Plastic-immune to poisons, drowning, charm, spook or sleep effects. Temperatures below freezing paralyze them-and individually they can be Wrecked as Door, +3 to the Check.

 Swarm Defense- the Toy Soldiers cannot take more than 1 pt of damage from a directed attack as they are a Hive Mind. Wreck at Range, Area effect Powers or Spells and

any explosive attacks/effects work normally, as do sprays of acid or flamethrowers. At 1/2  of total HP, the Toy Soldiers degrade in effectiveness to the next lowest squad HD.

 Enemy Territory-the Toy Soldiers do not recognize anybody as an Ally-the most positive Reaction check possible will only get you ignored as a target. Toy Soldiers of the same color will merge into a bigger squad-otherwise they will fight each other.

 Description: tiny plastic men the size of your smallest finger, tiny tanks the size of a child's shoe, Plastic towed Artillery-if there is water nearby the tanks will slowly re-shape into strange armored boats that no one in 1939 has yet seen.

  Editor's Note: I tend to House Rule Morale on 2D6 for more compatibility with some other OSR games, the better to steal  get inspiration from. Standard H&H used the D20 so some adjustments may be needed for a 'pure' game.

  Okay, anybody care to join in? Come on in, the water's fine....

[Adminenkainen]

Ah, if only we had other contributors...

It reminds me of the old days when I was really into the Kingdoms of Kalamar campaign setting. On their messageboard, I was gungho about trying to start a group project to plot where more rivers needed to be on their world map. I got no takers; all passive fans.

Keep at it! Maybe someday people will appreciate what we do.

[order99]

 Nobody yet? Okay, i'll take another turn...

***

 Filthy, dust everywhere, mildew creeping in...nine years, nine years of rot! Trapped in that dull unimaginative clay, my spark all but dead-and my beautiful laboratory falling into decrepitude...unforgivable. Well, i'll just have to begin from scratch...tools and spare parts mostly intact, the fuel in the generators will need draining and replacement, sodium-salt battery bank still at 5% charge, good, good...

 MINION!  Show your diminutive lazy carcass immediately and grab a mop and bucket! Where is that useless, error-prone-

 ( -broken spine, cracked skull, twisted and shattered pelvis OH GOD the blood i'm so sorry Ben, don't leave m-)

 Ummm...blasted migraine. Nine years under that cursed Elixir, some withdrawal symptoms are to be expected. Ah, my trusty coffeepot, nothing like a fresh cup-

 ( -pancakes with real butter and a brandy-creme glaze, none of that syrup nonsense, coffee with molasses, Ben's first Paper Route, so eager-)

 NNNGGGGGH. Need to distract myself with work, nothing gets done without hard work. Oh, the twin Sunbeam Cannon, still intact! let's trickle a bit of charge and test the capacitors...and my lovely coat! Let's see if the Prism Array still works-hmm.  Rheostat needs replacing, diodes as well perhaps-

 ( Here we go Ben, replace the ground, add some mass to the antenna wire and Miss Riordan will get radio all the way from Mexico-)

 Blast You Asa Fletcher, nine years trapped in your pedestrian little existence! I'll bury you deeper than I ever was, you will never surface again-

( Both of us poisoned Lambent Bright! We'll die together if you don't use your Madness to fix our son! You work for me now-Ben Fletcher lives or the Antidote remains hidden, do you understand? DO YOU? )

 Just echoes Asa, and those gone soon-the Boy's grown a bit though hasn't he? Maybe i'll  sew him up a larger suit in case he pops by-a single dose of my Loyalty Serum and Doctor Bright will once again be reunited with his minion Kid Meatshield!  I could use a good distraction...nothing to say Asa?  Buried already...good. Stay dead-ugh, that meddler the Crimson Fist will probably stick her nose in again like she did before...canister vacuum cleaners?  Well, waste not, want not I suppose...

***

Doctor Lambent Bright-Soon-to-be-Ruler of Lakefront City (Inspired directly from one of my favorite Steampunk musicians, Doctor Steel)

Number Appearing: 1 (Cloning Chamber still being Blueprinted, alas)

Hit Dice: 2D+1 (11 HP)

AC 9/10

Attacks: as Weapon or Invention

Move: 12

Save: SH 3

Morale: 9 (arrogant but not stupid)

Alignment: Chaotic

Trophies: 1D6+1 Tech

Mobster Level:3

 Abilities:Scientists can identify poisons and create poison antidotes as skills. They have a 2 in 6 chance of finding secret doors. Scientists can also wreck a lab, as if a superhero one level lower.What scientists mainly do, of course, is invent things with science! See H&H version 2.2, Page 66.

 Inventions that Doctor Bright will be equipped with include:

 Amplifier Wristbands-each has one ampoule of Amplifier Serum ready to be auto-injected in case of emergency. Effects are-immediate recovery of 1D3 HP, +3 Move, +1 Initiative, effects last for 2+1D3 Turns, then Exhausted and must rest.

 Twin Sunbeam Cannon- range 250 ft, Damage 1D6+1. On a Damage Roll of '2' the gun is out of power or overloaded and needs a quick repair...which is why he carries two.

 Prism Array-this device appears to be a 19th century oilskin lab coat-but a twist of a dial can alter his image to blend into the background or a crowd(+1 to Hide). The second setting makes the wearer appear to be a blurred Magic Lantern of a man, hard to target (AC 7/12).

 Loyalty Serum-easily avoided unless Grappled or tied down.A dose from this hypodermic will duplicate the effect of Charm Person on the target (1D3+2 Turns). This will not change Alignment in the least, but potential fistfights could easily turn into gentle lectures...

 ***

Cleaner/Guard Drones-Canister vacuum cleaners equipped with spindly grasping limbs and terrible purpose.

Number Appearing: 1D3+1

Hit Dice: 1D+1

AC: 6/13 (unfeeling steel and Bakelite)

Attacks: 1 melee at 1D3+1 or Ranged Attack 20 ft, Special

Move: 9

Save: F2

Morale: 11 (implacable)

Alignment: Neutral

Trophies: none

Mobster Level: 1

 Special Abilities: In addition to cleaning, the Cleaners may also repair technology-but anything not belonging to Doctor Bright gets an Alien Environment penalty. Once per combat, the Cleaners may empty a stream of pressurized dust at any target within 20 ft-treat this as a Tear Gas Pellet (H&H V2.2 page 76) but of only 1D3 Combat Turns maximum-this will completely empty the unit for that Combat. The Cleaners must make a Save vs Science in order to navigate stairs, otherwise they are helpless for a full Combat Turn. If submerged in liquid of any kind they must make a Save vs Science or be considered Wrecked. Reaction Checks do not indicate friendliness-a Low Roll means you are identified as an Intruder, a High roll means they think you belong there...

[Adminenkainen]

Does "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" play whenever the cleaner guards arrive?

[order99]

Wouldn't put it past the twisted fiend...

[order99]

The Amazing Sun Watch (minor Trophy, appeared in Eerie #2, Apr 1951)

 XP Value: Bragging Rights     Dollar Value: $2.00

 This astounding windless timepiece is well-crafted, accurate, no moving parts-and has 9  functions, a tiny Tool Kit you can wear about the wrist! No Super-Science or Magic needed for this baby, just good ol' 20th Century American Know-How!  Why do we still not make this stuff? I want one so bad...

 I could gush on at length, but just this once i'll let the Ad speak for itself...

[Adminenkainen]

I like the "weather forecaster" - changes colors when it gets wet, let's you know when it's raining!

[Adminenkainen]

Actually...that sounds a lot like a trophy item I would make...

[order99]

  Larry Trent- former and current World Heavyweight Boxing Champion (First Appearance: Superman #2, August 1939)

Number Appearing: There's only one of me Pal

Hit Dice: 4+4  (19 HP)

AC 9/10, +1/-1 AC in Melee

Attacks: 1D3+2 Unarmed, or as Weapon

Move: 12

Save: F4

Morale:8 (has his Ups and Downs)

Alignment: Neutral

Trophies: The Heavyweight Championship Belt

Mobster Level:4

  Abilities: The Champ- Larry is in every way a Lvl 4 Fighter, capable of using any weapons or armor (though he normally doesn't) and can attack up to 4 Mobsters of Lvl 1 or less per turn. His training and conditioning lets him cushion and slip blows, while his great strength and skill let him hit like a truck. His status and experience get him a +1 on Reaction checks in the Boxing World, and let's him attempt to analyze fighting Styles, strengths and weaknesses and figure odds(+1).  Also, he looks enough like Superman that he could pass as him in dim light and the right outfit...

 His Story: Back when Larry Trent was the heavyweight champ, his manager made a deal with a crooked gambler and spiked his drink, so that when he was out in the ring, he couldn't swing straight and lost the bout... and his title. Since then, He hasn't been able to get his spirit back, failing at whatever job he took. All seemed lost-but as the former Champ jumped off a bridge, a certain meddling alien from Krypton intervened. Superman decides to help Larry get back to the top of his game, winning several bouts while disguised as Larry, while at the same time having the former Champion train constantly against the Kryptonian Powerhouse. The last, greatest fight was all Trent's-and after  pummeling the Man of Steel for weeks with his bare hands, Larry Trent was unstoppable!

 Editor's Notes: Larry Trent was never featured after this story again, though a man of the same name was part of the NYPD Radio Squad (More Fun Comics #23).  One could assume a decent career and retirement for The Champ-but with WWII on the horizon Trent could also have joined the Army, either as a soldier or with the USO. Given the Timeline, Larry Trent could easily have been either a fan or a protege of Ted Grant/Wildcat, and could easily serve the same role as a mentor to any fledgling Heroes.

[order99]

 Pa and Ma Ames- Caleb and Evelyn Ames, proud parents (Inspired by the Kent Family from Action Comics #1 and the Ma and Pa Kettle films starting 1949)

Number Appearing: 1 or 2

Hit Dice: 2+2 (10HP) and 1+1 (6HP)

Attacks: As per Weapon, both

Move: 11(two missing toes)  and 12

Save: F2 and F1

Morale: 9(WWI Vet) and 8(Seen Plenty)

Alignment: Neutral for both

Trophies: Beat up Tractor, farm tools, 1916 Model T...you want money, go rob a bank...

Mobster Level: 1 and 0

  Abilities: Caleb fought at Verdun and won some medals-he can use any Armor if somebody hands it to him, and any weapon. He is also a farmer born of farmers, and gets a +1 for raising crops, judging soil quality, predicting approaching weather and foraging. Evelyn doesn't know armor from wallpaper, is limited to Simple Weaponry plus rifle and Shotgun (Caleb trained her). She is a natural with animals (+1 Reaction Checks) and can make meals fitting for royalty out of random ingredients (+1 Cooking).

 Their Story: Not a lot to tell really-tall farm girl at the local pharmacy, her Aunt Louise's funeral still fresh in her mind...a war-weary vet returning home,memories of chlorine stench still wafting through his head, an almost reflexive offer of a handkerchief, a tiny pebble that started the avalanche-and less than 5 weeks later they were wed. Oh, how the tongues did wag...

 Sadly, the young couple appeared to be barren. Whether it was the diseases and chemicals Caleb had been exposed to in the trenches, or the Scarlet Fever Evelyn had recovered from as a child, or both...it just wasn't in the cards.  Carla Gianna had it far worse though-her Guiseppi  had never returned from Flanders, never heard the first cry of little Theresa...but the Gianna cottage was only a few minute's walk away, and the Ames' were more than happy to spoil the infant while Carla worked two jobs 7 days a week. It was almost inevitable that the Widow Gianna would collapse from the strain-and it was dire enough that Carla asked Caleb and Evelyn to adopt the baby. But the shadow of Death passed her by, Praise Jesus, and now baby Terri had two homes, two Mamas and a Papa...

 The Ames' were out on the lake sharing coffee and sandwiches and kisses and doing very little fishing-when the sky went white and an artillery shell of some kind fell to earth. No way a WWI vet was going to ignore something like that-but it turned out not to be a shell at all, and the creature that oozed out of it wrapped itself around his wife. But-it wasn't crushing or choking or biting her, and it was-purring? And when Evelyn tried to leave it whimpered and whined like a lost infant...they had the first argument Caleb could ever recall then, polite and quiet and deadly earnest for all of that-and the couple named the creature Tiny, took it home and fed it milk, eggs and chopped liver-their new pet ate it all-and made a place for it in the hall closet.  Little did they know that Tiny could operate doorknobs, not until they found it curled around Terri in the crib,purring happily....and two weeks later the situation became oh so stranger as Tiny started walking around on human feet, smiling a human smile and gurgling 'Ma-ma' and 'Pa-pa' and 'Bay-bee'. Much discussion was had and much coffee drunk, and Caleb asked Doc Webster for the biggest favor ever, and 'Tiny' officially became Tina on the Adoption Forms...

 Less than a year later, Doc Webster showed up with a sullen and resentful 6-year-old, John and Molly Running Bear's kid from near the state boarder. The Spanish Flu had done what no German bullet or Mustard gas could accomplish, and the young half-Chippewa had built a cairn around his parents, left the door unlocked and attempted his Father's last request, walking over 70 miles to the Ames residence in order to deliver the box of medals to John Running Bear's old CO.  Caleb kept Steven busy over cornbread and gravy and old War letters and photographs while Evelyn had a whispered conversation with Richard Webster...and an invitation was made. Eventually, Steven decided that his parents would have wanted this, and he legally became Steven Running Bear Ames...

 It's been a wonderful life-the girls are grown and thriving in Lakefront City Illinois, Steve's spending more time with Doc Webster and talking about college. But the farm...not doing so good this year. A series of...incidents... had occurred, and half the crops were burned or poisoned in the fields. There were strange lights at night, movement in the woods...Caleb sent some soil samples to the State labs. Meanwhile, the shotgun is oiled and ready-just in case. And the larder is fully stocked with cookies, biscuits and gravy, coffee and tea-also just in case. No reason these critters need be hostile, right? Might just be some new neighbors in need of some understanding...

  Editor's Notes: Ma and Pa Ames are Plot Hooks waiting to happen. They could well need rescuing-or be a welcome distraction.  These are exactly the type of folk to take in stray, wounded Mobsters fleeing Cop and Hero alike-and could easily end up hostages, or just as easily help said Mobsters escape or surrender. The Ames are in need of some Hired Hands this Spring if the soil bounces back-or maybe some firepower if it doesn't. Ma and Pa are also happy to pass their Skills along to any eager PCs. Just don't hurt them, their kids are no pushovers...

[Adminenkainen]

>Caleb fought at Verdun and won some medals

I think, like The Village of Hommlet, lots of small towns in the 1930s-40s would have some mid-level fighters in them who had served in The Great War.