Golden Age Characters (Supplemental)

[james]

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]

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.”

WHIZZER

Origin: 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

[Adminenkainen]

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.

[order99]

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]

May 29, 2024 21:39:31 GMT order99 said:

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]

BLACK MARVEL

Origin: 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)

[Adminenkainen]

May 29, 2024 22:23:14 GMT james said:

May 29, 2024 21:39:31 GMT order99 said:

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.

[Adminenkainen]

The Whizzer had a long publication history; how many stories is that write-up based on for him?

[james]

May 30, 2024 4:10:31 GMT Adminenkainen said:

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]

May 30, 2024 4:07:53 GMT Adminenkainen said:

May 29, 2024 22:23:14 GMT james said:

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]

I appreciated the feedback about Whizzer. Here is an updated character sheet that includes the advantages of his half-human, half-mongoose physiology.


WHIZZER

Origin: 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

[Adminenkainen]

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.

[order99]

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]

May 30, 2024 20:05:18 GMT order99 said:

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]

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.