Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Land Warrior Rig

A request from the Classic Marvel RPG forum on Facebook, I thought I'd repost it here.





F: -
A: -
S: -
E: +1cs (Max Ex 20)
R: -
I: +1cs (Max Rm (30)
P: -

Abilities:
Land warrior modifies existing technology and materials to create a 21st century infantry support system, conveying the following:

- Increase Strength and Endurance. Although not shown, the LSAT land warrior system includes trauma plating options which can increase Endurance for the purposes of stun and slam upwards of +1cs
- Telelocation/GPS: The Land Warrior system provides Gd (10) NavSat navigation systems as well as automatic feeds which can assist units in coordination and navigation. As a bonus, Land Warrior enhanced soldiers can gain a +1 to actions through coordination.

Communications relay - Providing Ex (20) ranged communication with Gd (10) Encryption systems. Peltor headsets and helmet mounted displays provide communication.

Computer relays: The Land Warrior can also use built-in CPUs to manage and transmit data with Gd (10) rank.

Battery Source: The Land Warrior system has a rechargeable battery allowing 10 hours of operation before needing recharge.

Armor - The Land Warrior helmet provides Gd (10) protection to head.

Limitations to rig: The Land Warrior's battery used to have issues of overheating or becoming unstable if damaged. Later models have corrected this.

Damage: Older Land Warrior rigs require a reliability check when damaged over 40% (A basic FEAT versus Gd (10) to determine if the system remains active). The later models resolved many of the issues.

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Sorry for the delay

Hello all;


As you might see, I'm finally getting around to reposting Halloween write-ups. This has been a long and ardous process, and I apologize as I'm still working on cleaning up the existing write-ups to include up-to-date images.

I will be, over the course of the next few months, working on new write-ups. No real time-table, as I've been working on The Distinguished Society MSH campaign which is running online and in the Mid-Atlantic. The DS is a campaign dedicated to being heroes in the modern day and solving a mystery - What happened to the greatest heroes of a generation? The campaign is eight adventures long, and has proven to be a lot of fun.


If you have Facebook, please check out the site:

The Distinguished Society RPG


Thanks!


U-198 and crew from 'The Night Boat' (1980)



You glimpsed Hades, Moore. You saw the place of eternal torture and damnation. And yet you are a fool to think it was a nightmare, to think you are safe, because the things you fail to understand cannot reach you. But I tell you, they can!.”

Robert McCammon’s 3rd published novel back in 1980, The Night Boat had a very interesting premise – Nazi zombie submariners freed from 50+ years at the bottom of the ocean, the result of a voodoo curse which kept them between life and death, but still decaying and thirsting for both revenge and flesh. While not the greatest horror novel (and certainly not my favorite McCammon book…that write-up is for a later date), I found that The Night Boat offered something different and memorable. The zombies weren’t the traditional or typical undead, but a mixture of ghoul, spirit, and malicious tangible hate.



U-198 and crew


U-198:

U-198 is a German u-boat of the German VIIC, armored and able to withstand pressure and depth as well as armored with both torpedoes, an 8.8 cm cannon, a 28mm fixed cannon, and 2 C30 20mm cannons. Due to the damage and corrosion of being on the bottom of the ocean, the cannons are initially inoperable, but when capable are able to shell from ten areas away hitting two square areas for Am (50) damage. The light cannons and the fixed gun do from Rm (30) to In (40) damage, halving effective armor protection.

U-198 is initially unable to utilize its external weaponry, but its twin torpedo tubes are functional when unsealed.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The U-198 has the following stats:

Control: Gd (10)/ Pr (04)
Speed: Gd (10)/Pr (04)
Body: Rm (30)

U-198 is considered to be externally damaged when encountered initially, hence the secondary stats. Once access to materials for repair, it can be repaired within 24 – 72 hours by trained mechanics (as seen in the book).


The Crew of U-Boat 198






 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
F: Gd (10)
A: Gd (10)
S:  Ex (20)
E:  Ex (20)
R: Typ (06)
I: Typ (06)
P: Typ (06)

Health: 60
Karma: 18
Resources: Fe (02)
Popularity:  -10* (See Limitations)

Talents:
The crew of U-198 have the same skills as they had in life, including:

Military
Navigation
Sailing
Vehicle Operations and Repair: Submarine
Firearms

As a result of their curse, the crew are considered to have Mystic Origin*


Powers:
Undead
Due to their actions during the war, the crew of U-198 were condemned to undeath, trapped in the bowels of U-198 for over forty+ years, rotting away and growing hateful towards the living. The crew’s perpetual state and cursed nature grants them their higher strength and Endurance, while their rotting nature has actually done very little to slow them down. As effectively cursed zombies, the crew are immune from poisons, toxins, disease, and normal environmental effects. The crew does not need to eat or breathe, nor do they require rest. The desire to eat the flesh of the living is more to do with the hate they possess and the curse they are under rather than a requirement.

The crew of U-198 shrug off most normal attacks below Gd (10), except for direct head-shots and fire, which can destroy them.  Due to their putrid nature, the Crew of U-198 are easily detected by smell, giving them a -1cs to all stealth checks. Finally, the Crew of U-198 are immune from effects which control or curse undead, as they are held in check only by their captain. The crew of U-198 only pause when their captain orders them to, and seemingly only listen to him.

Horrifying Appearance
Due to their rotting appearance, whenever a person first encounters the crew of U-198, they must make a Psyche FEAT vs Ex (20) intensity and require a yellow success or higher. Failure results in a round of abject terror from the sight of the creatures. In addition, each encounter with the crew of U-198 only lessens the effect only by degrees, requiring only a Psyche FEAT vs. Gd (10) intensity only requiring a Green result.

Group Attack:The crew usually attack in numbers of 3-4 or more, and are adept at using group tactics to attack and hunt. As such, unless impaired or wounded they will all act on the same initiative and attack as a coordinated group.

Contacts:
The crew of U-198 had various contacts in life, in death they have none.


Captain Wilhelm Korrin


The captain of U-198, Captain Korrin is the leader of the undead crew, cursed to wait at the bottom of the  trench until inadvertently freed.

F: Gd (10)
A: Gd (10)
S: Ex (20)
E: Ex (20)
R: Gd (10)
I: Rm (30)
P: Rm (30)

Health: 40
Karma: 70
Resources: N/A
Popularity: - 10* (See Limitations)

Talents:
Military
Leadership*
Firearms
Knowledge: U-boat operations
Knowledge: Allied shipping routes
Knowledge: Ships
Navigation
Mystic Origin*

Powers:
Captain Korrin has the same abilities and powers of the others of his crew.

Contacts:
During Life, the Captain had contacts within the German Navy. In death, the Captain has no contacts.

Limitations:

The crew and captain of the U-198 share the same limitations, born out their curse:

Cursed:The captain and crew of U-198 were cursed after their attack on the island of Coquina during WWII. While U-198 was sunk, the curse prevented the crew from dying, instead keeping them in a rotting undead state, trapped below the undersea shelf across an abyssal until freed. The crew cannot easily be killed, requiring the destruction of the U-boat in order to end it, although individual members of the crew were able to be destroyed by reducing their active health to ‘0’. The crew will continue to exist and are bound to continue their war until destroyed, and will focus purely on repairing U-198 and continuing their attack.  Due to the nature of the curse, Exorcism and similar powers do not work to free the crew…they must be destroyed individually or through the destruction of U-198. 

Hideous: While a benefit in some ways (terrorizing as it is), the hideous and putrid nature of the crew gives them a permanent -2cs reaction bonus for any interactions. Even those who knew the crew if are affected. 


Flesh for life: The Crew are not required to feed on the flesh of the living, but do so as if possessed by spirits and will kill and devour anyone who they can during their forays and attacks.   

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Vanessa Ives from 'Penny Dreadful'



”Do you believe there is a demimonde, Mr. Chandler? A half world between what we know and what we fear. A place in the shadows, rarely seen but deeply felt. Do you believe that? “


The heroine of Penny Dreadful, Vanessa Ives is both the terrified victim and the stoic, tortured hero whose path through the shadow world often makes one wonder if she’s not the villain as well.

I appreciate Vanessa quite a bit, and she epitomizes both the Victorian heroine who is tortured by the actions of the past and the modern heroine who must make difficult choices but does none the less. In many ways, Vanessa is the heart of Penny Dreadful, and as such is as much responsible for driving the action forward in the adversities they engage again as she is a victim of those very things.

Vanessa also represents danger – The danger of someone on the brink of great darkness that is always openly tempted by it, and always finding that such temptation is more alluring and more dedicated than she initially believes. The real danger is never if Vanessa succumbs, it is when she does and takes over that darkness what will she do.



Vanessa Ives
 


Vanessa Ives

F: Gd (10)
A: Gd (10)
S:  Typ (06)
E:  Rm (30)
R: Gd (10)
I:  Am (50)
P: Am (50)

Health: 56
Karma: 110
Resources: Rm (30)
Popularity:  0*/40 (In occult circles, especially extra-dimensional circles)

Talents:
Vanessa is well-skilled in a variety of esoteric occult-related skills, which combined with her training include:

Occult Lore*
Knowledge: Demonology
Knowledge: London Underworld Locations
Knowledge: Victorian Society
Knowledge: Multi-Lingual
Knowledge: Fortune Telling
Knowledge: Places of Power
Knowledge: Herbology
Knowledge: Symbology
Knowledge: Victorian Literature
Knowledge: Victorian Spiritualism
Knowledge: Zoology
Artist: Taxidermy
Firearms
Markswoman*
Sharp Weapons




 Powers:

Powerful Medium and Witch:
Vanessa is clearly the most sought after figure by the powers of evil due to her extensive abilities and powers, some of which are discovered during the course of the Penny Dreadful series. Vanessa’s witchcraft and capabilities with the Verbis Diablo actually make her more than a match for several of the entities that attempt to sway, control, or destroy her….but her unwillingness to concede to her inner darkness and the physical cost associated with such limits her willingness to use those powers. Still, Vanessa has displayed the following abilities:


  • Precognition: Vanessa’s precognitive powers allow her to foretell the future, occasionally occurring in flashes, but usually through the use of her custom Tarot deck or through tassomancy – the study of tea leaves. Vanessa leaves nothing to chance, and consults her deck on every major decision prior to undertaking such (especially for ‘night work’ as it is called). Vanessa has Am (50) ability to foretell the future.
  • True Sight:  Vanessa can, when directing herself to do so, perceive the true nature of someone or some thing. To do so, Vanessa must make an opposed Psyche FEAT against herself, as she often does not trust her vision or her decisions about such. Once Vanessa has perceived something as it truly is, it cannot hide from her again – Vanessa sees it pure and simple as it truly is represented. Vanessa will never willingly use the sight to check, it is something that the Judge will determine and make a roll regarding.
  • Medium: Although not a practicing Medium of the era, Vanessa is able to channel powerful spirits (and even demons and gods) through her, acting as a conduit for their will being ‘possessed’. Vanessa cannot control this ability, as it is more of a possession than an actual channeling. Vanessa has been nearly killed while being possessed. During such times, Vanessa must make Psyche FEATS vs. her rank intensity. If she gets anything less than a Yellow result, Vanessa is ‘possessed’ and must be restrained.
  • Witch: Vanessa is a witch of the highest order, capable of manipulating the Verbis Diablo (The Devil’s Tongue) naturally while at the same time using the dark powers to banish the devil. Vanessa’s potential with magic is noticible to any who can see it, and comes naturally to Vanessa. Vanessa has used her witchcraft (and the Verbis Diablo) to read the minds of others, use her blood to create impassible wards against witches and spirits, command animals to do her bidding, banish demons, witches, and devils, cast flame and fire, create hardship or issues, destroy the physical form of the Devil and other fallen angels, and even manipulation of people. Vanessa’s skills are so natural that she’s able to perform complex abilities with no training….although she had formal training at the hands of one of the most powerful witches in England. Vanessa’s command over the Verbis Diablo is so powerful she can even command/defeat/destroy demons who use it as a native tongue.

Contacts:
Vanessa Ives maintains a close and connected set of contacts within her circles. Sir Malcolm Murray is a second (and perhaps real) father to her, although there was tension. John Clare (The Monster) is also close to Vanessa, as is Membe and Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Vanessa’s major contact is with the American sharpshooter Ethan Chandler, whom she has a strong connection to and perhaps the only person she truly loves and trusts. At one time, Vanessa could call upon Dorian Gray, but it is uncertain as to her relationship. Ironically, Dracula himself would answer Vanessa’s call should she ever willing choose to ask…


Limitations:
Dark Fate
Vanessa’s fate is always bound into darkness – Everyone that knows about it believes that Vanessa will ultimately be the cause of the end of the world and the reign of dark forces. Vanessa herself believes this herself, and is proven right on more than one occasion.
Susceptibility to Possession:
Vanessa’s gifts are so strong that powerful forces have taken a great interest in her and attempt to sway or possess her if she shows the slightest bit of relaxing her mental and spiritual controls. Vanessa was once possessed for over eight days, blinding a priest in one eye and requiring several strong men to hold her in check while such. Vanessa’s will allow her to fight the spirits and gods, but she cannot free herself from their hold completely.   
Target of Interest:
Vanessa is sought after with zeal by the forces of darkness, which causes a fight between ‘brothers’ as to who will have her. Vanessa is also sought by the Nightcomers, the witches dedicated to darker powers as both a sacrifice and membership within the order.
Loyal:
Vanessa is extraordinarily loyal to those whom she considers friends, risking life, limb, and her immortal soul if her friends and ‘family’ were in danger. Indeed, Many times Vanessa dips into the darkness to save those closest to her.
Guilt:
Vanessa feels extraordinary guilt over her choices and her actions. It is Vanessa’s guilt which drives her as much as the need to see things through. Vanessa’s guilt is as strong as Vanessa’s loyalty – Vanessa often finds herself in situations due to her sense of guilt and will often be blind to certain situations due to it.