Sorry, that was a typo. 

As far as the X-49 goes, it's something that Rampart may get to play with at some point. If you guys look through some of this stuff, you'll see I'm trying to add in elements from your various backgrounds into the stuff I'm posting. The last character I posted, Damocles, is working as a "security consultant" for the guys that are responsible for Thunderbolt, and his sister, gaining their powers.

Plus I figure until I can get things rolling again, you guys should be able to play around with this stuff, and flesh out your back stories, and "supporting cast" a bit more.

All due respect to our young meta-lord I disagree about Despot. After hopefully finding a way through the garrison of robots, the Despot himself will be fresh and his Disintigration Beam (half on range modifiers due to his Cybernetic eyes) will do almost 20 hit points per attack. With 16 hp of his own our young meta-lord has almost a 50/50 chance to take that first shot on the chin for a knockout. 48 ADR is fine if you can roll 48 or less to take the damage but the odds are not in your favor.

Not that he couldn't be beat but ran by a GM with some tactical acumen Depspot is a team wrecker 

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!

LOL.  Nice but your thinking only in two dimensions...

Thunderbolt is 32 inches UP lateral not horizontal... he moves a few inches blasts  Even if the Prince moves his 90" away Thunderbolt can easily move over him with his over 1,000" of flight speed and maintain his altitude of 32"... 'rinse and repeat.'

But yes you are correct IF the villain knew Thunderbolt was coming and knew he was a magnetic manipulator... he could indeed prepare non-ferrous materials to defend with, but that is beyond my Devil's advocate example. 

Thunderbolt has with him always metal that is ferrous to manipulate.. his costume and weapons which admittedly would not hold up for indefinitely versus the Prince Despot's strength.. but its just as likely there would be something ferrous in the environment to manipulate even if the Prince was prepared to not have ferrous components in his body.. a tricky thing to do even fiber-optic power transmissions still needs something conductive and likely ferrous to manipulate the electrical flow of technology... likely small discrete components in circuitry that were TB to magnetically grab and pull at those delicate components might be even MORE detrimental than grabbing the Prince's metal arm {electronic components are rarely load bearing structures and TB can apply 1,700lbs of pull!}.

Thunderbolt would never assault a villain mastermind of this magnitude solo  IF he suspected the villain was expecting him.  Prince Despot is a Inventor... with an army.  I was just comparing stats unprepared in an open stat to stat engagement. 

Its just as likely TB would invent a EMP Blaster powered by his own Magnetic and electrical powers to neutralize the Princes bionics.. {Call it a paralysis ray..only for electrical powered devices} but again that's beyond my example and off my point that I think The Despot needs a flight power!

Thank you for your critique though... I'm REALLY trying to get a handle on the game mechanics and master them!

LOL. Yeah... Thunderbolt would have to have a VERY STRONG and personal reason to attack this Despote In his contry IN his castle with HIS Army of cronies guarding him!

Thunderbolt is more focused on getting at the people who experimented upon his sister and himself - GENOM!  He's 'currently' more a street level crime fighter...

Now... were the Prince Despot to abduct his sister... Sarah, well THAT would be motivation and no international law or army of minions would stop Thunderbolt from storming the castle to save his sister!  He's kinda over protective of her {needlessly so}.

Thunderbolt would go to WAR and would not come ...unprepared... or alone!

The Black Watch



The Black Watch is the royal guard of the Morovian royal family. Each member is hand picked to be a member of this elite unit, where they serve until they no longer capable of doing so. The following stats are the minimum needed to gain entry.

STR: 13
END: 14
AGL: 13
INT: 11
CHR: 11

Individual members will be 4th to 6th level, and Officers will be 7th to 9th level in experience. In addition they each receive a +2 to hit with firearms, as well as a +2 to hit in HTH attacks. Each is armed with a dagger, semi-auto pistol, assault rifle, and equipped with an armored (ballistic material) uniform that is ADR=48.  Heavier weapons are available as needed.



A member of the Black Watch with a Jump Pack prepares for a routine patrol.

Ok.  Prince Despot has a Cool Cadre of minions!

Lelouch / Zero, would be rightfully envious!

Thunderbolt wrote on Jan 1^st, 2014 at 1:37pm:


Great point, and you're absolutely right (if one character is using flight).  Of course, the land-based character can counter by getting indoors, or under cover, to force the flyer to come down to their level, but that's not always possible.

Thunderbolt wrote on Jan 1^st, 2014 at 1:37pm:


Good stuff!  That's some nifty info for me to know as well, being as one of my current PCs (Compass) is a magnetically controlling character, too! 

Oh, and before I forget. You guys are more than free to use this material in the fiction you've been posting. I always enjoy seeing how people use stuff I post.

Advanced Research and Electronic Systems Corporation
A.R.E.S. Corporation

A.R.E.S. is a European based military armaments company, producing a variety of high-tech weapons systems for the world's militaries. They're also more than willing to sell to rouge nations and dictators, as long as the sales can't be traced back to them. They're the primary suppliers of weapons to countries like Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Nambia, the Kingdom of Morovia, and the Sultanate of Qatan.

GENOM

GENOM is a North American based multinational medical/pharmaceutical research company and drug manufacturer. Unknown to the general public, the company is involved in a number of nefarious deeds, everything from producing designer drugs, to illegal cloning research and genetic engineering, as well as other yet undiscovered schemes.

It was their attempts at producing a performance enhancing drug that led to the development of the dangerous designer drug Boost, that's been appearing on the streets of Empire City.

They’re also rumored to have had a hand in the creation of several of Empire City’s superhuman population.

The Trinity Foundation

The Trinity Foundation is a West Coast based new age religious group, that's recently begun making headway into Empire City. They espouse new age enlightenment, an alcohol and drug free lifestyle, and charitable works, as a way to reach a higher state of consciousness.   

Founded by the enigmatic, but charismatic, Father Tristan Love, many high-profile celebrities have become members of the organization espouse the group's ideology as a cure for many of the world's ills. Members of The Foundation, as they like to refer to themselves, all have one thing in common, deep pockets, and their ruthless pursuit of anyone who speaks out against the Foundation or its teachings, especially former members. Their attornies are quick to take legal action against their critics, as well as PR department that attempt to discredit them in the press.

Inside Investigation

A new investigative TV program that looks to "expose" "questionable activities of corrupt politicians, greedy corporations, etc. They've gotten into hot water with several of EC organized crime families as their investigations have shed light on some of their more low key criminal activities.

E-City Currents

A locally produced weekely newspaper, and online electronic publication, covering the arts and entertainment scene in Empire City. It contains everything from movie, book, restaurant, and music reviews, upcoming entertainment emvents, etc., as well as sections on local artists, etc.

The Omega Syndicate

The Omega Syndicate is a Russian crime syndicate formed by former members of the various Soviet security, intelligence, and military services. The US Dept. of Justice, CIA, INTERPOL, MI-5, MI-6, and BSI consider them a major player in human trafficking and illegal arms trade, as well the the use of what the EU terms as "enhanced humans". They're known to make extensive use of superhuman operatives while conducting their activities, especially former Soviet military "super soldiers".

From what law enforcement and various Western intelligence agencies have been able to determine, they've continued research in former Soviet "super soldier" programs shutdown with the collapse of the former Soviet Union. The program got its start using captured Nazi research at the end of WWII.

While they primarily restrict their operations to the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, they've recently begun to expand their sphere of influence, due to a wave of Russian immigrants to Western Europe and North America.

Empire City's MCU has had several run ins with known members, over the past two years, and fears that this may be the beginning of some sort of major power play.

• Steel Wolf: A former Soviet super soldier, now super powered Omega Syndicate enforcer.
• Surge: An energy welding villain currently  in the Omega Syndicate's employ.

The Yakuza

While not a prominent as the various Empire City Triads, the Yakuza is alive and well within Empire City. At the moment, the Matsuoka-gumi are the largest group currently operating in EC, and are the focus of ECPD's Asian Gang Task Force. They're also on Major Crime's radar due to their use of contract capes. Namely a female villain by the name of White Lotus, a martial artist with the ability to alter her density. She can become diamond hard (Invulnerability), or Non-corporal at will.

Spectre Industries - A relatively new company that sprung up approximately five years ago, and took the tech industry by storm, filing several new patents for products that are literally decades ahead of anything their competitors have developed. Their "Ghostware" is reportedly in use by the NSA and other government agencies. Their SBox 3000 is the hottest video gaming system on the market.

Their elusive president, and CEO, Simon Drogo has never been seen in public, leaving the day to day operations of his company to his employees.

I'm bumping this up, as I just ran a "one off" game, and the guys have expressed interest in the game continuing. I'll be using certain elements of EC as the basis for the new game, as there's no reason for me to reinvent the wheel.

Avatar wrote on Feb 6^th, 2024 at 4:33am:


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