Sigh.
I was not comparing Despot to Thunderbolt... my intent was to express the fact that I feel the Despot needs a movement power of some sort as it is a glaring deficiency in the design. He is not tough enough in my opinion to be a team wreaker because of that.. but only just shy of it. He needs a movement power to make himself a threat that a team would need to work very well together to defeat... IF he had at least one movement power.
Pitting Thunderbolt a 2nd level character solo against a 13th level mastermind villain complete with minions is flatly unfair... but for devil's advocate I'll humor this...
Thunderbolt has an agility of 16 which means he will always get two actions. Assuming he realizes the danger this mastermind villain represents ... it is a certainty he will use one of to do evasion. Thats a -6 {1/10th 'Current' Power} to any attack Despot send his way. This would not be enough and TB would likely {one of his favorite tactics actually} parry with a Magnetic Power controled object.
Assuming the Despot's Robot minion - Black Watch are 4th level {like most minion level foes and not lieutenants}, we'll assume TB can defeat at least two of them. They are robots so easily manipulable with Magnetic Control. Make them duplicates of the Prince Despot so they weigh 180lbs each for a total of 360lbs {well within his Magnetic Control capacity}, that's a Parry Factor of 3 for a grand total of a -9 with evasion for any attack the Prince Despot sends TB's way.
Add in roll with blow which the Prince would be hard pressed to stop TB from knowing of his presence he has {Radar Sense} that's 6 pts of damage he could immediately shut to power damage as opposed to hit points. Add to that with TB's parrying bonus [Heightened Expertise +4, Dam Mod +1, Acc +2] that's a total of 10pts if I add the object weight parry factor or maybe 11 if I use the robots basic hits{as structure rating} for the total damage which can be blocked per parry. That's a Grand total of 16 points of damage per attack blocked... so not likely any one hit KO's. LOL... well at least until the objects is disintegrated then he'd have to grab another 'meat shield'/random rubble shield.
Of course TB doesn't need to use Black Watch minions as parry objects - any heavy partially metal object could work even concrete with metal rebar within it would work.
So the biggest advantage Prince Despot would have is his level {and let's face it that's a BIG advantage}..that's a bonus +5 to hit Thunderbolt and inflicts a -7 on Thunderbolt to hit him. Nasty and overmatched...
However, Prince Despots biggest weakness is his Bionic body and Cybernetic form... all metal! Not the foe you place against a Magnetic/Electrical controller!
Now I'm sure the Prince will realize though he may be megalomaniacal enough and Arrogant enough not to be cautious and use an action for evasion as well... that would be an additional -12 to Thunderbolt's attack against him and he could also roll with blow and shunt 12 damage per attack to his power. On average the Prince Despot will get 3 actions so he can easily spare it. I'll assume part of that "GM with tactical acumen" would do this even though his description would more likely point to him underestimating the lvl 2 young hero.
Anyways with Lightning Control vs Bionics Thunderbolt has a modified 22- to hit. With level Adjustment that is a 15- {not bad odds}. If Prince Despot Evades Thunderbolt still has a 3- chance to hit {not so good mostly looking at luck here}. The Prince Despot has a modified 18- chance to hit Thunderbolt with his disintegration ray. With level adjustment that's a 23-. As Thunderbolt will be evading every turn that is a 14- chance to hit. But Thunderbolt is parrying with an object so he may not even take any damage.
Now the issue. The Prince Despot's disintegration ray has a range of 28". Thunderbolt can attack him with Lightning at a range of 32"... which is the issue as Thunderbolt has a movement power and can easily keep his distance. Now reading the rules of V&V I don't see anywhere that it lets you use a power outside of its range {its not a range increment like 3rd Edition D&D but seems to be an absolute range}. Which is weird cause the Prince Despot's power of Cybernetic Eyes-Heightened Sense says it halves range penalties... well he has no powers that reach into range penalty catagories 31 to 60 inches {-1 to hit} - Table 3.2 b. Though that table seems to be meaning move/distance speed difference between attacker and defender for penalties. Not clear on that.
But RAW If Thunderbolt stays 29" away.. Despot can't attack with his disintegration ray. But Thunderbolt can still attack with lightning control if he stayed say 31" inches above.
My point again... the Prince Despot needs a movement power!
Now to use magnetic control Thunderbolt would have to risk getting closer only a 17" range on that. Thunderbolt would have a 20- to hit, with level adjustment 13-, if the Prince Despot Evades 1- {not good odds if the Prince Despot decides to evade... which tactically he should}.
So, Should Thunderbolt keep his distance and pot shot at the Prince Despot he could put up a fight, sort of.
If Prince Despot does not evade Thunderbolt will eventually wipe the floor with him; likely hitting with his surge electronics power to shut his eyes down... no eyes - no ranged attacks, no evasion cause he can't see his foe and the fight is pretty much over. Though Thunderbolt would likely have to hit him multiple times with the Surge power to work.. it is only a 32% chance {but not modified by level}.
At that point Thunderbolt could pick him up by his eyeballs, if he wanted, and throw him around like a dirty rag doll Until he dropped {though any portion of his bionic body would do for magnetic control}.
Also evade or no... if Thunderbolt Ever hits him with magnetic control successfully.. the fight is practically over as TB can merely pick the Prince Despot up and turn him to face away from Thunderbolt.. he's not a robotic body so he can't turn his head all they way around. So it would be merely move actions on Thunderbolt's part to keep him turned away and unable to target TB with his eye beams. He can't break Thunderbolt's magnetic hold on him; unless TB moves him within reach of any terrain he can use his strength on the break free {and it better not be made of metal either} as Prince Despot has no movement powers like flight to resist with... something he could reasonably apply his strength against to pull free of the Magnetic control. With no movement power he can apply - NO MORE EVASION! TB would just hammer him down from his rear flank in total safety with lightning until he was done.
As I said... an unfair fight.
oh, and TB's armor is only a safeguard against unfortunate combat misfortune. TB does nto consider it his major defense its there to help soften the inevitable damage he will eventually suffer in battle... but he really doesn't rely on it as his major defense.. magnetic & lightning control are his real defenses.
It really becomes a who rolls lucky fastest often enough... in that case. The Favor is on the Prince's side but its Thunderbolt's ability to keep his distance that makes it a fight at all!
If the Prince Despot continues to evasion... Thunderbolt would only hit with his magnetic control on a shear lucky roll ... not likely on a modified 1. But if he did.. the fight would be practically over.
The Prince Despot could not just without effort put TB down... unless, Prince Despot had a movement power he could easily defeat Thunderbolt cause TB could not then keep his distance... especially if the Prince keeps evasion up.
Which was MY original real point.. Prince Despot needs a movement power to be a true team wreaker.
EDIT: Yeah castle defense was not something I was calling into question as I would assume a team of heroes would not be assaulting him in his home... that's illegal unless there is a cause. I was stating power-wise he needs a movement power. Now as a Inventor he could easily make something that would help a lot.
Devil's advocate again.. on Thunderbolt. Automated defenses..yeah machines... made of metal.. yeah. Again not really an insurmountable threat to a hero who can control machines electrically or manipulate metal with a thought.
But Again.. my original critique of Prince Despot was not about THUNDERBOLT it was a general assessment of Prince Despot's capabilities. I still think he needs a movement power! Really, I don't compare EVERY posted villain to Thunderbolt.. why do you?
And AGAIN.. Thunderbolt is not unbeatable.. but foes that rely on technology or have metallic body parts are NOT good foes to put against him.. they are Vulnerable to his powers.. from the get go!