Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (and Twiki)

 From early stories in 1928 by Philip Nowlan and reworked in late 1929 by Flint Dille, the science fiction Rip Van Winkle helped define the idea of science fiction in the 1930s, being the first Science Fiction radio show as well as one of the first pioneering figures in television. The parallels between Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers are fairly obvious: Strong pulp heroes that usually encounter a situation or environment that they must use their natural abilities in skills to overcome their new world. Unlike Gordon's Dale Arden, Wilma Deering is far from helpless, and is often an equal if not superior to the future-struck Rogers.

This write-up is a combination of several sources, but I won't lie, it's the 1980s Buck Rogers that sticks in my mind the most.




Buck Rogers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William "Buck" Rogers

F: Rm (30)
A: Rm (30)
S: Gd (10)
E: Rm (30)
R: Typ (6)
I: Rm (30)
P: Rm (30)

Health: 100
Karma: 66
Resources: Gd (10) as an Earth Operative
Popularity: 50 as Buck Rogers, the man from the 20th Century, but "0" as having a data file or ident chip

Talents:

• Athletics
• Military
• Guns
• Pilot
• Leadership*
• Knowledge: Football
• Knowledge: Earth Directorate Protocols
• Knowledge: Earth Directorate Enemies
• Firearms
• Astrogation
• Resist: Domination*
• Martial Arts A, E
• Knowledge: 20th Century
• Detective/Espionage
• Artist: Cooking

Powers:
Roger's Luck: If faced with a kill result or difficult situation, luck will be in Rogers's favor. Rogers will always have an avenue of escape, make the last minute save, or dodge the certain death awaiting him.

Contacts:

• Colonel Wilma Deering: Earth Defense Force
• Dr. Huer: Director of the Defense Directorate
• Twiki: Buck's sidekick and robotic ambuquad
• Dr. Theopolis: The attache to the Defense Directorate from the Computer Council
• Princess Ardala: while often a nemesis and clearly early on an enemy, it is probably that if Buck truly needed help, Ardala would provide it in an instant.
• Hawk: Buck's former Nemesis and associate on-board the Searcher

Limitations:
Cocky: Bordering on Arrogant, Buck has a reputation of being just one hair shy of cocky. Rogers has been put into positions due to his attitude more than once that have been made difficult.
Man out of time: While adjusting to the future, Buck is still influenced and often confronted with his differences as being a man five centuries out of date. From clothing to mannerisms, Buck is often noticed as being occasionally 'odd'.

Twiki

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F: Typ (6) A: Typ (6) S: Pr (4) E: Am (50) R: Gd (10) I: Ex (20) P: Ex (20)

Health: 66 Karma: 50 Popularity: 10 Resources: N/A

The ambuquad assigned to Buck Rogers, Twiki has shown his loyalty, will, and quirkiness more than once. Constructed as a mining robot, Twiki has none the less represented a iconic addition to Buck's history.
 

Powers:

• Robotic Construct: Twiki is a robot, and does not need to breath, eat, or sleep (Although he does need to shut down). Twiki is not affected by disease or normal radiation, and has shown that he can survive the rigors of space. Constructed for more of a role as a support robot, the materials used in his construction grants Twiki RM (30) body armor vs. Physical damage, including corrosives, and Ex (20) vs Energy.
• Short Stature: Twiki is less than 4' in height, and requiring a -1 cs to hit him at range.
• Total Memory: Twiki's memory capacity has yet to be reached, and he can recall items quickly and Communication: Twiki can tap into standard communication systems.

Talents:
Twiki literally could be programmed with any talent imaginable given time and limited by his physical features. As such, Twiki currently has displayed the following within the series:

• Pilot
• Repair/Tinker
• Electronics
• Knowledge: Outlaying systems
• Knowledge: Earth Defense Directive systems
• Knowledge: Searcher protocols
• Knowledge: 20th Century Mannerisms
• Knowledge: 20th Century history
• Guns
• Astrogation

Contacts:

• Dr. Theopolis
• Crichton
• Buck Rogers

Limitations:  

• Limited Mobility: Twiki may have better accuracy and agility, but he does not move very fast. Twiki can only move 1 area per round at top speed, and cannot easily navigate stairs or the like. 
• Communication glitch: Twiki begins communication with a 'Beeda Beeda Beeda'. 

 

This write-up was originally published on ClassicMarvelForever.com on 17 November 2009