james
Good Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by james on May 28, 2024 23:28:54 GMT
The recent thread about Atomic Age heroes got me thinking that it might be fun to create a thread to post suggested H&H stats for some Golden Age characters who didn't already appear in Supplement IV (parts 1-2) or elsewhere. I might try my hand at one or two characters in the coming weeks.
|
|
james
Good Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by james on May 29, 2024 4:07:03 GMT
Supplement II features the Superhero subclass Speedster, citing the following examples: Flash, Silver Streak, Hurricane, and Quicksilver. Although the Whizzer from Timely Comics would also seem like an obvious choice, I describe him below more generally as a Superhero as I don’t read Whizzer as having s high enough Constitution score to meet the minimum requirements for the subclass: “Superheroes with a Constitution and Dexterity score of at least 15 in each, and a Strength score of at least 12, may opt to become Speedsters.” WHIZZEROrigin: Young Robert Frank faced certain death following the venomous bite of a cobra. Robert’s father surmised that a blood transfusion from a mongoose would save the boy. Not only did Robert survive, but he also developed superhuman powers. As an adult, Robert became the costumed hero known as the Whizzer, fighting street-level crime during the early 1940s. Soon after World War II, the Whizzer took on greater foes as a member of the All-Winners Squad. Supplement IV (part 2) includes character sheets for three other members of that team: Captain America, Human Torch, and Sub-Mariner. Role Playing: Whizzer is congenial in his interactions with law-abiding citizens. In contrast, he tends to be bold and brazen in combat. He also has a self-deprecating side to his personality. Whizzer’s comic book tagline is the King of Speed. Real Name: Robert Frank Class: Superhero Race: Human Alignment: Lawful Good Armor Class: 8 (costume) Level: 5 Hit Points: 19 Strength: 15 Intelligence: 13 Wisdom: 14 Constitution: 13 Dexterity: 15 Charisma: 14
Powers, typically First Level: Get Tough, Multi-Attack (x2, replacing his initial power Race the Train)
Second Level: Find Evidence, Race the Plane (x2)
Third Level: Race the Bullet
|
|
|
Post by Adminenkainen on May 29, 2024 4:43:12 GMT
The speedster class was more of a cute way to skin the monk class than an accurate emulation engine for speedster heroes; I don't use it anymore either.
|
|
|
Post by order99 on May 29, 2024 21:39:31 GMT
I remember making a Speedster Class of my own as well-but none of my group ever played it. Pretty Sure I got the idea from Trophy Case Vol 2 No 3 article on Silver Age Sub-classes, but it didn't quite scratch my itch any more than Scott's 're-skinned Monk'.
(Note to Self-'Skinned Monk' would make an awesome Gothic Mobster, work on that later)
I am curious why Robert Frank wasn't given the Race: Half-Human to take advantage of the Alien's Faster Movement Rate- a sauntering Speed of 27 (240 in 1st Edition) without Powers seems tailor-made for the King of Speed...
|
|
james
Good Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by james on May 29, 2024 22:23:14 GMT
I remember making a Speedster Class of my own as well-but none of my group ever played it. Pretty Sure I got the idea from Trophy Case Vol 2 No 3 article on Silver Age Sub-classes, but it didn't quite scratch my itch any more than Scott's 're-skinned Monk'.
(Note to Self-'Skinned Monk' would make an awesome Gothic Mobster, work on that later)
I am curious why Robert Frank wasn't given the Race: Half-Human to take advantage of the Alien's Faster Movement Rate- a sauntering Speed of 27 (240 in 1st Edition) without Powers seems tailor-made for the King of Speed...
I listed Whizzer as Human because in the comics he was presented as a human. I haven't read any accounts of him being half-alien (unless the blood transfusion from a mongoose counts).
|
|
james
Good Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by james on May 30, 2024 1:13:53 GMT
BLACK MARVELOrigin: The dying chief of a Blackfeet tribe grew concerned when he was unable to find a worthy successor. Finally, a white man named Dan Lyons asked to be considered. Dan proved triumphant during the first part of the test, passing numerous physical challenges. Next, he pledged to help others and destroy evil. Only then did he earn the right to call himself Black Marvel. Role Playing: Black Marvel can come across as the embodiment of a well-chiseled costumed crimefighter of the early 1940s. He remains confident, even arrogant, when fighting gangsters or occultists. Black Marvel does not draw attention to the tribal meaning behind his heroic name. Real Name: Dan Lyons Class: Superhero Race: Human Alignment: Lawful Good Armor Class: 8 (costume) Level: 4 Hit Points: 22 Strength: 18 Intelligence: 13 Wisdom: 16 Constitution: 18 Dexterity: 18 Charisma: 13 Powers, typically First Level: Feather Landing, Multi-Attack, Race the Train
Second Level: Bulls-Eye, Get Tougher (x2)
|
|
|
Post by Adminenkainen on May 30, 2024 4:07:53 GMT
I remember making a Speedster Class of my own as well-but none of my group ever played it. Pretty Sure I got the idea from Trophy Case Vol 2 No 3 article on Silver Age Sub-classes, but it didn't quite scratch my itch any more than Scott's 're-skinned Monk'. (Note to Self-'Skinned Monk' would make an awesome Gothic Mobster, work on that later) I am curious why Robert Frank wasn't given the Race: Half-Human to take advantage of the Alien's Faster Movement Rate- a sauntering Speed of 27 (240 in 1st Edition) without Powers seems tailor-made for the King of Speed... I listed Whizzer as Human because in the comics he was presented as a human. I haven't read any accounts of him being half-alien (unless the blood transfusion from a mongoose counts).
In 2nd ed I included altered humans under the umbrella of half-humans.
|
|
|
Post by Adminenkainen on May 30, 2024 4:10:31 GMT
The Whizzer had a long publication history; how many stories is that write-up based on for him?
|
|
james
Good Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by james on May 30, 2024 4:17:49 GMT
The Whizzer had a long publication history; how many stories is that write-up based on for him? I drew upon his solo stories in USA Comics and adventures in the All-Winners Squad.
|
|
james
Good Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by james on May 30, 2024 4:26:36 GMT
I listed Whizzer as Human because in the comics he was presented as a human. I haven't read any accounts of him being half-alien (unless the blood transfusion from a mongoose counts).
In 2nd ed I included altered humans under the umbrella of half-humans.
When I was working on Whizzer, I relied on the races outlined in the blue Basic rules and the original Men and Supermen book. I purchased Supplement V this week and didn't think to check under Half-Alien to see if it would also include altered humans.
|
|
james
Good Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by james on May 30, 2024 6:51:50 GMT
I appreciated the feedback about Whizzer. Here is an updated character sheet that includes the advantages of his half-human, half-mongoose physiology.
WHIZZEROrigin: Young Robert Frank faced certain death following the venomous bite of a cobra. Robert’s father surmised that a blood transfusion from a mongoose would save him. Not only did Robert survive, but he also developed superhuman powers. As an adult, Robert became the costumed hero known as the Whizzer, fighting street-level crime during the early 1940s. Soon after World War II, the Whizzer took on greater foes as a member of the All-Winners Squad. Supplement IV (part 2) includes character sheets for three other members of that team: Captain America, Human Torch, and Sub-Mariner. Role Playing: Whizzer is congenial in his interactions with law-abiding citizens. In contrast, he tends to be bold and brazen in combat. He also has a self-deprecating side to his personality. Whizzer’s comic book tagline is the King of Speed. Real Name: Robert Frank Class: Superhero Race: Half-Human Alignment: Lawful Good Armor Class: 8 (costume) Level: 5 Hit Points: 19 Strength: 15 Intelligence: 13 Wisdom: 14 Constitution: 13 Dexterity: 15 Charisma: 14
Alien (mongoose) special ability: run fast (90 feet base rate at 1st level, plus 30 feet each subsequent level)
Powers, typically First Level: Get Tough, Multi-Attack (x2, replacing his initial power Race the Train) Second Level: Find Evidence, Race the Plane (x2) Third Level: Race the Bullet
|
|
|
Post by Adminenkainen on May 30, 2024 14:34:34 GMT
That's about 30 Whizzer stories you read, way more than I have. We mock him an awful lot for his name and origin, but the stories hold up okay?
I double-checked and half-humans are in the 2nd ed basic book, with "altered humans" even listed in the description of what it covers.
|
|
|
Post by order99 on May 30, 2024 20:05:18 GMT
Didn't mean to cause a kerfluffle, both versions work just fine!
Scott really should have warned you about me. I'm the idiot who stole the Half-Pint's "Don't Hit Me Mister!" schtick, mixed it with the Half-man's "Animal Ambush!" thingamabob and came up with Comic Book Invisible ("They know i'm here but they can't Lay a Glove on me!") and then created a 'Super-Science Artifact' out of the Standard Equipment List and some Wacky Glue...I never play with the toys the way the designers meant-
(Hides Cigar Box Guitars and blueprints for the Wooden Crutches Recumbent Trike behind futon)
|
|
james
Good Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by james on May 30, 2024 20:12:52 GMT
Didn't mean to cause a kerfluffle, both versions work just fine!
Scott really should have warned you about me. I'm the idiot who stole the Half-Pint's "Don't Hit Me Mister!" schtick, mixed it with the Half-man's "Animal Ambush!" thingamabob and came up with Comic Book Invisible ("They know i'm here but they can't Lay a Glove on me!") and then created a 'Super-Science Artifact' out of the Standard Equipment List and some Wacky Glue...I never play with the toys the way the designers meant-
(Hides Cigar Box Guitars and blueprints for the Wooden Crutches Recumbent Trike behind futon) Not a kerfuffle. Half-Human was an option I overlooked. Your suggestion was on point!
|
|
james
Good Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by james on May 30, 2024 22:30:01 GMT
JACK FROST Origin: After living for centuries in solitude, the legendary Jack Frost left his home in the desolate north to fight crime in the United States during the early 1940s. During Jack’s adventures, police routinely suspected him of being a criminal. Role Playing: As a hero, Jack Frost shows a general disregard for authority and occasionally plays practical jokes on bystanders. He uses his powers to generate ice blasts, hold doors shut with ice, and encase opponents in blocks of ice. Jack uses superhuman breath to extinguish fires. Real Name: Jack Frost Class: Superhero Race: Alien Alignment: Chaotic Good Armor Class: 3 (frosty skin) Level: 5 Hit Points: 21 Strength: 14 Intelligence: 12 Wisdom: 8 Constitution: 15 Dexterity: 15 Charisma: 7 Powers, typically First Level: Blast I, Get Tough, Hold Portal Second Level: Blast II, Hold Person (x2) Third Level: Gust of Wind or Hold Breath Alien abilities: run faster, bulletproof skin, leap higher Alien vulnerability: Jack’s body is ice cold, making everyone within five feet of him physically uncomfortable.
|
|