NOV 2003

In this issue: • Monsters • Kangaroos

• Barons • Undead • Pharaohs
• Blacksmiths • Ghosts • DEX
the secret special page
DIGITAL HERO #15
DIGITAL HERO
Table of Contents Publisher
Hero Games
Editor
H E RO H I G H WA Y C H A RA C TER C ORNER Dave Mattingly
Authors
WHEN LAST WE LEFT OUR HEROES… BATTLEFORGE W. Jason Allen
Keep up with the news from Hero Games. This fully-armored and magically armed Steven S. Long
This issue – Monsters, Minions, and mage creates his own enchanted equipment. Michael Satran
Marauders and Alien Wars. 2 And he’s on a vendetta. 31 Michael Surbrook
Jason Walters
HEROGLYPHS GHOST STORIES W. Ross Watson
See how Steve Long himself answers There are various types of spooks in Artists
rules questions. This issue – experience the mythology and legend, and they’re here to Lisa Hartjes
joy of DEX. 4 haunt you. 36 JP Hyde
Eric Lofgren
YOU GOTTA HAVE CHARACTER BARON ROBERTO Tom Miskey
Hatshepsut (gesundheit!) was the This very powerful energy manipulator Dave Schrader
Pharaoh Queen, divinely chosen as ruler of could be the next right-hand man for your Derrick Thomas
Egypt, but dressed as a man. 6 campaign’s master villain. 42 Cover Artist
Jeff Ward
DREADWOOD, MISSOURI SECRET ORIGINS
Online
Saddle up, pardner. Your group of Doctor Brutallo and the Alliance of Evil herogames.com
Western Hero outlaws has entered the town terrorize today’s world committing crimes To Subscribe
what no man leaves alive…. 12 with yesterday’s morals. 47 herogames.com/
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Issue #15 (November 2003)
1
 DIGITAL HERO #15

When Last We Left Our Heroes…

by Steven S. Long
Let’s take a look at monsters… for various of them. The final appendix is an alphabetical
genres! Hero’s got two books coming out over summary chart of all the monsters in this book,
the next month or so, and they both focus on plus other useful reference tables.
monsters in some respects.
ALIEN WARS
MONSTERS, MINIONS, AND The monsters in our second November book
MARAUDERS are the Xenovores, the evil aliens trying to
In the first case, it’s obvious from the title: conquer (and eat) Humanity during the twenty-
Monsters, Minions, And Marauders, our second fourth century conflict depicted in Alien Wars,
supplement for Fantasy Hero. “MMM” contains our third supplement for Star Hero. “AW” is a
over 100 monsters and opponents for use with Military Science Fiction setting, with an
any Fantasy Hero game. Unlike The HERO emphasis on battles, military technology, and
System Bestiary, MMM focuses largely on similar subjects.
humanoid monsters such as orcs, trolls, giants, Chapter One, A Century Of Conflict: A
ogres, cat-folk, nymphs, and the like – but it has History Of The Alien Wars, details the history of
a few more “bestial” monsters that I’ve the 2300s as they occurred in the Hero Universe.
uncovered since I wrote the HSB. After setting the stage for the war by reviewing
Most of the monsters in MMM are easily the major events of the 2200s, it describes the
recognized standards of Fantasy gaming, but initial invasion, Humanity’s response, and the
you’ll also find some more unusual creatures – subsequent Xenovore offensives and Human
monsters that feed on dreams or mental energy, counter-offensives. But the history leaves plenty
horrors from the Qliphothic dimensions, and the of room for you to fit your own characters,
like. Additionally, many of the monsters come adventures, and battles into the tapestry of the
from non-European cultures, such as the cipactli war.
(Aztec), delgeth (Navajo), erqigdlit (Inuit), and Chapter Two, Species Of Terran Space,
shedu (Assyro-Babylonian). describes several alien species living within the
To give you some examples of how to Human sphere of influence whom players might
customize “generic” monster writeups for your choose for their characters. Since Military Science
own game, we’ve got text and sidebars Fiction usually focuses exclusively (or nearly so)
throughout the book with descriptions of on Humans, there aren’t many species described
specific, individualized monsters of the type on here... but that’s enough to spice up the PC mix,
the same page. For example, along with the Dark and of course you can always adapt species from
Elf monster sheet, there’s information about the Terran Empire setting book if appropriate.
Hraynul Shadowstep, a dark elven ranger who Chapter Three, United Earth And Beyond,
patrols the caverns near his home city. It tells describes the worlds and governments of Human
you how to customize the Dark Elf sheet to space. While Humanity in this time period only
create Hraynul, and describes the gear and holds sway over space within about 5,000 light-
enchanted items he carries, his personality and years of Sol, that still leaves plenty of planets
combat tactics, and other useful information. and unknown territory for the characters to
These NPCs are all from Hero’s Turakian Age explore... or fight battles in.
setting, but you can easily adapt them to your Chapter Four, Life In A Time Of War:
own games. Human Society, tells you what life is like in the
In addition to the monsters which form the twenty-fourth century. It covers such topics as
bulk of this book, MMM has several Appendices travel, trade, communications, and crime, with
of useful material. The first contains templates information on how the Xenovore Wars affect
for humans and humanoid monsters (such as things.
orcs, goblins, and trolls); examples include Chapter Five, Sword And Shield: The
Barbarian, Chieftain, and Shaman. Like the United Earth Military, reviews the UE Army and
templates in The HERO System Bestiary, you can Navy during the century, beginning with their
apply them to any appropriate monster to make initial unpreparedness and incompetence and
him more powerful or interesting. progressing through the years as they learn how
The second appendix contains some to fight the enemy, develop new ships and
“generic” human adversaries – city guards, technologies, and eventually strike back. It
soldiers, pirates, and so forth. You can use these discusses military organization, tactics,
as stock enemies and NPCs for your heroes to subdivisions, and other relevant subjects.
2 encounter, or customize them with templates and
other changes to make “named” adversaries out
artwork by Eric Lofgren
DIGITAL HERO #15
Chapter Six, Pilot, Adept, Soldier, Spy: Chapters Nine through Eleven are the GM’s
Character Creation, has approximately 30 section of the book, written for his eyes only.
Package Deals appropriate to the setting and Chapter Nine is The GM’s Vault, which contains
period, ranging from civilians (pirates, traders, a few tidbits of secret information about the
technicians) to all sorts of Army and Navy universe of the Xenovore Wars that were
personnel. It also includes notes on special deliberately omitted from earlier, player-
applications for Skills, Perks, and other game oriented, chapters. Chapter Ten, The Xenovores,
elements. presents the full information about the alien
Chapter Seven, The United Earth Armory, invaders for the GM. It discusses their history
describes the Human technology of the period, and society in broad detail. Chapter Eleven,
ranging from the relatively primitive tech of the Stories Of Battle: Alien Wars Campaigns,
early 2300s (slugthrowers, spin-induced artificial provides the GM with some advice about
gravity) to the more advanced laser weapons, running a Star Hero campaign in the Alien Wars
Thibault gravity plating, and other devices setting. It includes suggested campaign types
invented to help Humanity fight the Xenovores. (with plot seeds for each) and a general
Chapter Eight, The Threat From Beyond: discussion of how to run Military Science
The Xenovores, describes Humanity’s enemy Fiction games. My initial plans to write a large
from the player characters’ perspective. It appendix on Military SF in the HERO System in
provides you with the information the PCs would general had to be abandoned due to lack of
know, organized by time period to reflect the fact space, but hopefully there’ll be enough interest
that Humans learn more about Xenovores as the in the subject that we can devote a whole book to
war progresses. The GM should tell his players it at some point.
which sections of this chapter they’re allowed to
read. – Steven S. Long
HERO System Line Developer

3
 DIGITAL HERO #15

HEROglyphs by Steven S. Long

Broken-Down DEX SPEED
Variant Rules for Dexterity Using these DEX Characteristics means
Dexterity, according to the rulebook, changing some of the rules for things related to
“represents a character’s agility and reaction DEX, such as SPD. You have several options for
time [and] accuracy[.]” As such, it’s extremely SPD. In all cases, the special rounding rules for
important for just about every character and SPD apply – you always round down.
character conception, so most PCs and NPCs First, you can calculate SPD as (1 + ((ACC
spend at least a few points on it despite the fact + AGI + REA)/30)). In other words, add ACC,
that it’s the most expensive Primary AGI, and REA together, divide by 30, and add 1
Characteristic – 3 Character Points per point. In to the result. Since the total cost of ACC, AGI,
fact, it’s so useful that many characters buy high and REA is in theory at least close to the cost of
DEXs even when that doesn’t fit their conception DEX, this should derive a SPD roughly the same
particularly well. as what you’d get using the standard DEX rules.
Since DEX provides so many benefits – CV, Second, since INT is supposed to represent
Skill Rolls, initiative, SPD, and the like – one (at least in part) a character’s ability to react to
way to customize characters a little more, and unusual or dangerous circumstances, you could
hopefully to prevent them from buying a high work it into the mix. Now SPD becomes (1 +
DEX just for the sake of the game-related ((ACC + AGI + REA + INT)/40)).
benefits they obtain, is to divide DEX into three Third, since REA is supposed to represent
Primary Characteristics instead of one. These reaction time and initiative in combat, you can
“new” Characteristics are: use it alone to calculate SPD: (1 + (REA/10)).
However, because REA is much cheaper than
Accuracy DEX, this tends to create “SPD inflation,” so the
Agility GM needs to pay close attention to characters’
Reaction SPDs, and perhaps even change the calculation
Each of these “DEX Characteristics” costs 1 (to, for example, REA/20 or REA/30) to
Character Point per point (but see Game Balance maintain game balance.
Considerations for more discussion). SKILLS
Accuracy (ACC) represents a character’s
Here’s how the DEX-Based Skills break
eye-hand coordination and general ability to
down in the new system:
attack accurately. It’s used to calculate a
character’s Combat Value – CV equals the Skill Characteristic
character’s ACC divided by 3. Acrobatics Agility
Agility (AGI) represents a character’s Breakfall Agility
general nimbleness, adroitness, and Climbing Agility
dexterousness. It’s the basis for the character’s Combat Driving Agility
“DEX Roll” (ACC and REA do not normally Combat Piloting Agility
have a Characteristic Roll) and for most DEX- Contortionist Agility
Based Skills (aptly named “Agility Skills”). Fast Draw Reaction
Reaction (REA) represents a character’s Lockpicking Agility
reaction time and related attributes. It’s the basis Riding Agility
for a character’s initiative (when his Phase Sleight Of Hand Agility
occurs in a Segment, and whether he goes before Stealth Agility
or after someone else). Teamwork Reaction

4
DIGITAL HERO #15
GAME BALANCE CONSIDERATIONS
Keeping the costs of the DEX
Characteristics at 1 Character Point per point
each in theory results in characters spending as
much on these three Characteristics as they tend
to spend on DEX. But theory doesn’t always
work in practice, so this may cause problems.
First of all, if you want to prevent “DEX
abuse,” this may not do the trick; characters can
end up with the same “DEX” as they would
otherwise have by buying all of the DEX
Characteristics to the same level. ACC 20, AGI
20, and REA 20 costs 30 Character Points in
total, just like DEX 20.
Second, you may find players “min-maxing”
their characters by buying one or two of the DEX
Characteristics to high levels. For example, with
ACC costing only 1 Character Point per point, a
base CV 10 only costs 20 Character Points. This
could unbalance some campaigns (though since
all characters have the same ability to buy high
CVs, it’s just as likely simply to increase CVs
across the board, leading to no significant
balance changes in many games).
Correcting or compensating for these
problems is usually just a matter of changing the
costs of the DEX Characteristics. For example, if
you change them all to 2 Character Points per
point, min-maxing becomes less attractive, and
“DEX abuse” across the board becomes twice as
expensive. Alternately, you could weight them
depending on what you think is most important
or useful in your campaign. For example, maybe
ACC is 2 Character Points per point, AGI is 1
Character Point per point, and REA is 3
Character Points per point (thus allowing SPD to
be 1 + REA/10 and provide the same results as
DEX). If you like to alter character standards
based on archetype, you could vary the cost that
way as well – perhaps speedsters and rogues pay
only 1 Character Point per point for all of the
DEX Characteristics, bricks and warriors pay 3
Character Points per point for all of them, and all
other characters pay 2 Character Points per point
each.

5
 DIGITAL HERO #15

WHERE CREDIT
IS DUE You Gotta Have Character by Jason Walters
I would like to
personally thank “Life is lived forwards, but understood point to the sky, and whisper something
Digital Hero reader backwards” - Kierkegaard briefly into her dainty ear.
Daniel Dickson for “That constellation, my Pharaoh, is
pointing me in the known as The Cat,” he murmured
The small fleet of seven ships rowed quietly, “while we call that one The
direction of Pharaoh quietly through the still night, a bright
Hatshepsut, yet Scorpion. They hunt one another across
and watchful moon staring down upon the night eternally, each seeking to best
another of history’s their labors like the face like a chubby,
great neglected the other for the pleasure of the gods.
cheerful midwife. With the winds still There are many, many patterns in the
heroines. Once again, and silent, each ship surged forward
gentle readers, I ask sky, placed there by your father Amun-
under the power of thirty skilled rowers, Ra when the world was shaped to help
you to have patience powerful yet thin fellows whose arms
with me as we untie guide men in their daily tasks. This is
moved back and forth with that casual why the oracle of your father sleeps
the royal barge of grace which can only be produced by
imagination from the through his days; so that he might spend
those who are thoroughly confident in his nights pouring over ancient scrolls
solid dock of their work. They needed no drum nor
accuracy so that we atop his ziggurat, watching the ocean of
taskmaster; each ship’s captain had only stars spin above….”
might better navigate to glance periodically down the length
the Nile of “The oracle of my father Amun-Ra,
of his narrow, arrow-like vessel to make blessed be his name, sleeps during the
roleplaying, stopping certain that everyone was performing
off in the fabled lands day because he spends his nights
their duties. Perhaps the gaunt, silent drinking the fermented juice of tamarin
of What If and figures had been practicing their art for
Wouldn’t It Be Cool. fruits and chasing naked teenaged slave
so long that it was no longer a task at girls up and down his ziggurat,” she
As usual, I have taken all, but a meditation. A prayer.
quite a few literary retorted, “he only sobers up when the
Up front on the lead boat, a bald, lookouts that he has rather wisely
and factual liberties well-muscled man in an ornate kilt
with this fascinating posted along hilltops nearby spot the
leaned casually against the ship’s royal entourage winding its way into the
historical character narrow mast. He gazed impartially
who, at one point, valley my grandfather gave him. How
about in every possible direction: down the old drunken fraud figured out that
may very well have at the nearby shoreline, out to the
been the single most drought was coming, I’ll never know,
seemingly infinite sea, upwards at the but he’s made the most out of it ever
powerful person in even more unlimited sky where only the
the Western World. since. The only reason he sent us on this
gods dwelt. Beside him an ‘sacred expedition’ is that my regular
Enjoy. indescribably lovely woman sat stiffly visits – just to get our holy and sacred
upon an equally startling throne made money’s worth, you understand – has
of sandalwood, ivory, and gold. She been getting in the way of the constant
always seemed to stare straight ahead. frolics which constitute his oracular
The two were like a pair of uneven duties.”
bookends, a study in contrasts: the man The large man chuckled deeply.
bulky, hairless, and almost naked save “Then why go?”
for his decorative cloth sari. The “Because,” she responded, a
woman, on the other hand, was slim, somehow charming sneer winding its
impeccably coifed, and dressed in the way across her lovely, somewhat
most ornate clothing imaginable for an phosphorescent cheek, “eight years of
Egyptian noble: the shendyt kilt, the ruling the Kingdom of Upper and
nemes headdress with its uraeus, and a Lower Egypt has left even me, the
khat headcloth, She even had an daughter of a god, bored, tired, and
insanely long false beard strapped to her cynical. They say that Punt isn’t boring
dainty chin. It was made of camel hair or stressful or even especially
woven with gold and silver thread. dangerous, so I’m all for a vacation in
The woman glowed a bit, which Punt. Yea Punt! Plus, from the time he
seemed to make her ship’s crew a bit was old enough to take himself to the
nervous but didn’t appear to bother her royal latrine, my idiot nephew
companion in the slightest. One could Thutmose has been freakishly eager to
gather from his calm expression that rule the nation… so I’ve let him. Three
very few things made him nervous – or winter months isn’t enough time for
6 even frightened. Every so often, he him to invade Palestine, pull off an
would lean over to his stern counterpart, insurrection, or impregnate every
DIGITAL HERO #15

serving girl in the palace, so I figure it’s Queen Hatshepsut was one of the very few WHAT’S IN A
safe enough. Maybe a taste of women pharaohs to rule ancient Egypt. Though NAME?
responsibility will sour his appetite for there had been female rulers of that venerable
Hatshepsut’s full
conquest.” and mysterious land before her, Hatshepsut was
name is composed of
“Perhaps, my goddess, but it’s a a uniquely independent, intelligent, irreverent,
four parts. The first,
gamble. What if a taste of conquest and effective leader who combined a shrewd
her “standard” name,
merely whets his appetite for understanding of the intricacies of royal power
is “she who is rich,
responsibility?” with a widely successful cult of personality.
powerful through her
“I’m not sure that actually makes During her reign, Hatshepsut accomplished what
‘ka’s, her doubles.”
sense, Senmut, but it at least sounds no woman before her ever had: she successfully
The second, read as
profound so I’ll respond in kind: then, ruled the most powerful, advanced civilization in
nebti refers to the
at some point in the distant future, the world for an unheard of period of almost
pharaoh’s dominion
Egypt gets a better ruler than it would twenty years.
over both East and
have otherwise. What about you, royal Before she was born, Hatshepsut’s mother
West. The third is her
courtier, what’s your reason for taking a Ahmose was visited by the great god Amun-Ra,
“Horus” name,
break from your eternal building and Lord of the Hidden Sun, who appeared to her in
reading “The divine
going on sabbatical? Aren’t there the form of her husband Thutmose I. When the
one in her risings.”
sphinxes to erect out in a deserted god drew near her, however, his unearthly scent
Finally, her name
valley somewhere or the other?” betrayed his divine nature, so that when he took
continues with two
Senmut stiffened, frowning slightly. her to bed the Queen knew that she had not slept
cartouches, the first
“It is my duty to serve my Queen with her mortal husband. When he finally
reading Kamara, the
Hatshepsut, goddess and Pharaoh, revealed himself to her as one of the most
“true double of Ra.”
wherever she may go, even if I have to powerful of ancient Egypt’s deities, both
The second cartouche
row the royal barge myself….” Ahmose and her husband felt blessed. The
has no holy meaning
Hatshepsut snorted. product of this divine union was Hatshepsut, the
but instead reads her
“It wouldn’t exactly be the first time infamous transvestite woman-pharaoh of the
name given at birth,
you rowed the royal barge, my noble ancient world.
“Hatshepsut.”
architect, now would it?” The twenty-year rule of Hatshepsut was one
Thus her full name,
To a man the ship’s crew all stared of the most prosperous and peaceful in Egyptian
as inscribed on her
studiously off into the night in an history. A great deal of energy was put into
official “great seal,”
incredible imitation of a sudden, rebuilding temples and other public buildings
was: The Horus,
contagious outbreak of mass deaf- destroyed during previous conflicts with early
mighty by his Kas, the
mutedness, hoping that they wouldn’t Semitic peoples (known as Hyksos or “desert
lord of East and West
be put do the sword for overhearing princes”). Trade with other nations was
abounding in years,
anything that they couldn’t help but improved or expanded, allowing for a significant
the good goddess, the
overhear. Senmut smiled gaily. increase in the average Egyptian’s standard of
pious lady, the golden
“Well, it’s a rugged job only suitable living. Although well liked by her people,
falcon, divine in her
for an equally rugged man, my Queen, Hatshepsut wasn’t without her enemies. Many of
rings, the King of
but even the noblest of ships have to be the more traditional members of the priesthood
Upper and Lower
taken out to sea every now and again. resented her ascension to power, her obvious
Egypt, Kamara, the
Plus, who better to help you retrieve the divine constitution, and (perhaps most of all) her
daughter of Ra,
treasures of Punt than myself – noted irreverent, almost irreligious nature. As her reign
Khnumit Amon,
scholar, soldier, architect, and went on, these powerful priests made common
Hatshepsut.”
conversationalist. There are prodigious cause with her disgruntled nephew, Thutmose
amounts of pygmies, giraffes, and the Third, who feared that her demigod abilities,
unicorns to be tracked down and which seemingly included physical immortality,
imported….” would prevent him from ever ascending to the
“And cinnamon wood, myrrh, pure throne of Egypt. Together they conspired to get
ivory, and khesyt,” she interrupted. rid of Hatshepsut, eventually casting a powerful
“Not to mention apes, panther skins, spell with the help of a renegade Canaanite
cosmetics, ebony, and green gold,” he wizard which threw her from her own time into
finished the 21st Century.
They smiled at one another. Then,
seemingly on some sort of cue, grew
quiet again, resuming their pre-
conversational brooding. The evening’s
waves lapped soothingly against the
ships sides as the moon began to rise,
huge and yellow, above an eastern sky
filled with seemingly endless ocean.
7
 DIGITAL HERO #15

Maat-ka-Ra Hatshepsut (“She”) Skills

3 Bureaucratics 14-
Val Char Cost Roll Notes 3 Conversation 14-
10 STR 0 11- Lift 100 kg; 2d6 HTH [1] 3 High Society 14-
23 DEX 39 14- OCV: 8/DCV: 8 3 KS: Ancient Egypt 13-
25 CON 30 14- 3 KS: The Ancient World 13-
10 BODY 0 11- 2 Literate
18 INT 8 13- PER Roll: 13- 3 Oratory 14-
18 EGO 16 13- ECV: 6 5 Persuasion 15-
25 PRE 15 14- PRE Attack: 5d6 3 PS: Politician (INT-based) 13-
20 COM 5 13- 3 Seduction 14-
8 PD 6 Total: 21 PD (13 rPD) 3 Tactics 13-
18 ED 13 Total: 36 ED (18 rED) Total Powers & Skills Cost: 184
6 SPD 27 Phases: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12
9 REC 4 Total Cost: 350
50 END 0
200+ Disadvantages
28 STUN 0 10 Distinctive Features: Dressed as a Male
Total Characteristics Cost: 166 Pharaoh but Obviously a Woman (Easily
Concealed, Major Reaction)
Movement: Running: 6”/12” 15 Hunted: Thutmose III 14- (Less Pow,
Swimming: 2”/4” Watching, NCI, PC has a Public ID)
Cost Powers END 15 Hunted: Conservative Priests of Ancient
1 Celestial Nature: Life Support, Egypt 8- (Less Pow, Harshly Punish, NCI,
Longevity: 200 Years 0 PC has a Public ID)
20 Daughter of Amun-Ra (solar powers): 15 Psychological Limitation: Ambitious
Elemental Control, 40-point Powers — (Common, Strong)
13 1) Divine Aura (creates a soft light): 15 Psychological Limitation: “Control Freak”
Change Environment 8” radius, (Common, Strong)
Reduced Endurance 0 END (+½), 15 Psychological Limitation: Irreverent and
Persistent (+½); Always On (-½) 0 Irreligious (Common, Strong)
21 2) Hathor’s Shield: Force Field (13 5 Rivalry: Professional (Thutmose III and
PD/18 ED/10 Flash Defense: Sight Hatshepsut both wish to be Pharaoh, Rival
Group) 4 is Less Powerful, Seek to Harm or Kill
20 3) Pharonic Resplendence: Flash 2d6 Rival, Rival Aware of Rivalry)
(Sight Group), Area Of Effect (One 20 Reputation: Irreverent and Irreligious 14-
Hex; +½), Reduced Endurance 0 END (Extreme)
(+½), Damage Shield (+½), Offensive 20 Social Limitation: Woman Pharaoh (Very
(+¼), Continuous (+1) 0 Frequently, Major)
Perks 20 Social Limitation: Public Identity (Very
15 Royal Wealth: Money (Filthy Rich) Frequently, Major)
12 Transvestite Pharaoh of Ancient Total Disadvantage Points: 350
Egypt: Reputation (Large Group; 14-)
+4/+4d6
33 Ancient Egyptian State: Contact
(Access to Major Institutions, Very
Useful Skills or Resources, Slavishly
Loyal to Character, Organization) 14-
15 Fringe Benefit: Head of State,
Member of the Aristocracy/Higher
Nobility

8
DIGITAL HERO #15
Furthermore, the perception and position of HE SAID, “SHE”
women in Egypt at the time was markedly SAID
different from that of other ancient
When I was six
Mediterranean cultures. Egyptian women were
my father Thutmose
allowed to own property, hold official positions,
the First
inherit from their parents or deceased husbands,
lifted me up to sit
and, in the case of a dispute, were entitled to take
beside him
their case to court to defend their legal rights.
on his throne of
So, when Thutmose II died in 1504 leaving
Amen.
the infant Pharaoh Thutmose the Third (a love
He said, Flower of
child by his somewhat more leprosy-tolerant
Egypt,
mistress Isis) as a successor, his step-
you will be a ruler.
mother/aunt Hatshepsut was made regent until he
came of age. Only Hatshepsut didn’t want to be
He took me with him
regent; she wanted to be Pharaoh! A favorite
on his royal barge
daughter of a popular monarch, as well as a
down the Nile to
charismatic, beloved ruler in her own right, she
Memphis, to
sat down with her friend, confidant, lover,
Sakkara,
professional architect, and member of the court
to Giza, to see my
with 15 other titles Senmut to plan out a PR
kingdom.
campaign amongst the Egyptian people. First,
Hatshepsut gathered together a meeting of the
He said to the farmers
most important leaders of Egypt’s various
and nobles
religious cults, where she certified her divine
crowding the water
bloodline through a series of demonstrations:
steps
glowing softly, blinding them with bursts of
This is my goddess
Background/History: Maat-ka-Ra Hatshepsut, light, and (as a direct result) having sword blows
daughter
better known in 21st Century America as “She,” glance off of her holy person. With the
Hatshepsut
was born in the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes priesthood convinced, or at least terrified into
who will be crowned
during the 18th Dynasty in 1524 BCE. The submission, she donned the clothing of a male
with the crown
product of a bit of deific adultery between the Pharaoh down to the smallest detail before
of Upper and Lower
Royal Queen-Sister Ahmose and the powerful taking her show on the road to the common
Egypt
god Amun-Ra, Lord of the Hidden Sun, Egyptian people. For six months she rowed up
when she becomes a
Hatshepsut was raised by her loving step-father and down the Nile river from Tanis to Edfu,
woman.
Thutmose the First to take an active role in the giving out food, cash, and prizes while putting
running of the newly reestablished Egyptian on a stupendous (if blinding) lightshow. When
I knew that Amen-Re,
State, which had only risen from the ashes of her tour was concluded, Hatshepsut declared
Lord of Thebes,
Hyksos conquest due to the efforts of her herself Pharaoh as well as sole ruler of the
King of Karnak, took
grandfather Ahmose. Kingdom of Upper and Lower Egypt. Everyone
my father’s form
Though Hatshepsut had two brothers, was either too stunned or frightened to argue.
and came down to my
Ouazmosou and Amenmosou, both died at a With the unpleasantness of a public relations
mother, Ahmose,
young age, leaving her half-brother Thutmose campaign concluded, Hatshepsut got down to the
as she slept in the
the Second in direct line for the throne. When business of ruling with a vengeance. Trade
beauty of her
Thutmose I died in 1509, the succeeding Pharaoh relations with the neighboring countries of Nubia,
palace.
(Thutmose II) followed traditional customs and Kush, Libya, and Phoenicia were reopened or
She woke at the
married the oldest daughter of his father, who in expanded. Temples destroyed or damaged by the
fragrance of the
this happy case was Hatshepsut. Together the Hyksos were rebuilt, while ambitious new
god
two ruled in what was technically a co-regency, construction projects were undertaken left and
and rejoiced at the
although Thutmose II seems to have been in poor right: a massive three-tiered temple to Amun-Ra
sight of his
health, afflicted with a crippling skin disease, was constructed by the banks of the Nile, new
beauty,
and therefore content to leave the reigns of sphinxes carved in Thebes, enormous red granite
and he went into her
power firmly in the hands of his bright, obelisks from Central Africa were raised at
and his love
ambitious wife. This wasn’t a radical or Abydos, and new (if small) pyramids were
came into her body.
unthinkable situation in ancient Egypt; assembled at Giza to name but a few. In the eighth
And my mother
Hatshepsut was preceded by a number of year of her reign as Pharaoh, Hatshepsut
said
influential queens, Tetisheri, Ahhotep II, and undertook a fantastic journey to the near-mythical
Ahmose-Nefertary, who during the 17th Dynasty land of Punt (modern day Somalia). To the
succeeded one another in the successful running ancient Egyptians, the land of Punt, with its
of the government. This gave the Egyptian distinctive beehive-shaped houses raised on stilts
establishment an understanding that women above water, its native pygmies, and its bizarre 9
rulers could provide stability and order. animals was the most exotic and mysterious of
 DIGITAL HERO #15

How wonderful to see places to visit – or to receive visitors from, for feeling worn down by her duties as the sovereign
you face to face, more than once the Royalty of Punt came to the ruler of the most powerful and advanced nation
your dew is in all my court of the Pharaoh in Egypt. They considered it on Earth; her rigidity and snippiness are merely
limbs. a sort of bizarre private garden for the gods, an byproducts of her exhaustion. She has a wicked,
And Amen, Lord of emporium of goods for powerful deities such as sharp, and “snarky” sense of humor, which she is
the Two Lands, Amun-Ra, which gradually acquired an air of extremely fond of turning on those fortunate (or
said to her, fantasy, like that of El Dorado or Atlantis. When unfortunate) enough to be close to her, especially
Khnumit-Amon- Hatshepsut’s trade fleet returned with its ships’ her councilor/lover Senmut and her irritable
Hatshepsut is the holds laden with spices, precious metals, bizarre nephew Thutmose. The former found this deeply
name of the animals, curious slaves, and exotic woods, the amusing, while the later wasn’t amused at all –
daughter Egyptian public went wild. Once again, she had which is presumably why he has spent most of
I have planted in your achieved a smashing public relations success with his adult life plotting against her.
body. She shall her people. Hatshepsut’s divine nature and powers have
be king For fifteen years Egypt enjoyed a period of made her more than a little arrogant… even for
in this whole land. prosperity, peace, wealth, and strength which an absolute monarch! This has blinded her to the
My soul is hers, would, in later generations, come to be thought fact that “lesser” people (like her nephew) can
my crown is hers. of as one of the golden ages of that nation’s really be very dangerous to her, given enough
history. Yet, like any great age in any country, it time, energy, and motivation. It is also why she
— Ruth Whitman, was not destined to last, for success inevitably is currently inhabiting the 21st Century.
from Hatshepsut, breeds enemies. Thutmose III, whose seething Nevertheless, it will take several more hard,
Speak to Me anger at having been pushed aside in favor of his painful lessons before she will accept that she
aunt had made him something of a national joke, isn’t completely invulnerable – lessons that the
had secretly been meeting with a variety of very metahumans of the modern era will almost
powerful, very reactionary priests who resented certainly be quick to administer.
Hatshepsut’s reign for a wide variety of reasons. You would think that Hatshepsut would be
Together they made contact with a renegade eager to return to her own time; but with both
Canaanite wizard named Benebaal. Using Senmut and Nefrure dead, she has little desire to
powers given to him by the evil god Melech, return home to the intrigues of 18th Dynasty.
Lord of Murder, Benebaal surprised Hatshepsut Modern America seems to be filled with wealth,
while she was praying at her temple and opportunity, and (best of all) enormous numbers
banished her to the future through a swirling of people looking to be led, especially by an
time vortex. With the powerful Pharaoh Queen incredibly attractive demigod: why, just look at
gone, Thutmose III massacred her priests, her how well that young fellow from Palestine is
lover Senmut, and their young daughter Nefrure. doing for himself after two thousand years!
He then set about a decade-long campaign of
removing every memory of Hatshepsut that he
could find: her name was erased from
hieroglyphics, her image defaced, replaced, or
renamed on sculptures, and her obelisks tumbled
down. Her fabulous three-tiered temple to
Amun-Ra was abandoned, left to be buried by
the sands of the desert.
Hurled through time and space, Hatshepsut
was flung out of the vortex directly onto the
streets of Dearborn, Michigan, very close to
Millennium City. After some initial
misunderstandings and misadventures, she has
been taken in by the local arab community in the
Dix neighborhood in the eastern portion of the
town. Having learned how to speak English,
Hatshepsut has renamed herself “She” in
preparation for her new career as a superhero…
or villain… or movie star. She hasn’t really
decided yet.
Personality/Motivation: Hatshepsut is
extremely ambitious, exquisitely attractive,
highly intelligent, and frankly more than a little
irascible. A modern person would probably
10 consider her a “control freak,” but in reality
Pharaoh Hatshepsut spent a great deal of time
DIGITAL HERO #15
Hatshepsut, who is now going by the simpler Campaign Use: If some incredibly inventive
name “She,” is uncertain of what path to take. GM were to adopt Scott Bennie’s fabulous book
Should she try to restart her cult of personality? Testament (Green Ronin Publishing) for use with
Should she become one of what these modern the HERO System (hint, hint, people),
people call “superheroes,” or would villainy be Hatshepsut instantly becomes a wonderful NPC.
more to her liking? Should she continue dressing Or perhaps the PCs have been hurled back
like a man? Maybe she should become what they through time to the Middle Kingdom to help her
call a “movie star” so that she can do all of these destroy some sort of evil foreign deity which
things at once…. threatens her land. Maybe you are running a
Fantasy Hero campaign which takes place in an
Quote: “You! Yes, you over there, smart guy! ancient, mysterious desert kingdom run by an
Stop gawking at me and get over here so that you all-powerful legendary queen who dresses like a
can make yourself useful: there isn’t any break man… which beats having the kingdom ruled by
time when the Pharaoh is in town. Now pick up an all powerful king that dresses like a woman.
that suitcase and follow me.” That’s been done to death, girlfriend!
Powers/Tactics: Hatshepsut is as beautiful and Most likely, however, She will be used as a
powerful as many of the legendary gods which minor villain, hero, movie star, or religious
populated her ancient land. During her reign as leader (she is hoping to combine three of the
pharaoh she learned how to be a skilled above) in the Champions Universe. To bring her
diplomat, a compelling orator, an accomplished up to date, replace her Hunted: Thutmose III
bureaucrat, and a decent (if untested) tactician. with a Hunted: Anubis (he wants to make her his
Her nearly inhuman beauty, when combined with bride, or steal some magic item, or whatever;
her actually inhuman presence, made her almost he’s crackers) and her Hunted: Evil Priests with
impossibly persuasive, especially with men. One a Hunted: Amoral Archaeologists (they have
of the single most wealthy monarchs of her time, questions, dammit!). Then remove her Contact
she commanded the largest, best equipped and Head of State perks, as they are no longer
military force that existed during the Bronze valid. Add Light Beam of Amun-Ra: EB 12d6,
Age, which was, in turn, backed up the largest, Beam (-¼), No Knockback (-¼) and Flight 12”
best organized bureaucracy in the world. In before raising her STUN to 32 points.
short, she was the greatest non-military leader of Appearance: Maat-ka-Ra Hatshepsut or “She”
the greatest superpower of her age. is a short, insanely attractive woman with
Hatshepsut is the daughter of Amun-Ra, shoulder length brown hair, a petite yet aquiline
Lord of the Hidden Sun, gifted not only with the nose, and large almond eyes. When in costume,
inhuman DEX, CON, and PRE of a god but also she wears the royal attire of an 18th Dynasty
with a variety of light-based powers as well. Egyptian Pharaoh: the shendyt kilt, the nemes
These include an innate glowing field of pleasant headdress with its uraeus, and a khat headcloth.
soft light which emanates 8” around her on all She has an insanely long false beard of woven
sides, a reasonably powerful force field which camel hair and golden thread strapped to her
also has flash defense built into it, and a damage dainty chin. To be honest, she looks a little bit
field which can constantly emit 2d6 flash attacks. like Cher. Only younger.
She generally uses this in conjunction with a
zero-Phase 5d6 PRE attack to frighten and
confuse opponents. Hatshepsut, while not BIBLIOGRAPHY
immortal, is incredibly long-lived. She will look Books:
like a teenager for the next 100 years. Atlas of Holy Places and Sacred Sites, Colin
If Hatshepsut is used in the modern era, she Wilson (DK Publishing), 1996
will gain the use of a very powerful light beam Hatshepsut, Speak to Me, Ruth Whitman (Wayne
(see below) as well as the ability to fly. She will S.U. Press), 1992
naturally use both of these to her best advantage Hatshepsut: The Female Pharaoh (Penguin
in a combat situation, staying well away from USA), 1998
opponents so that she can blast them or blind Testament, Scott Bennie (Green Ronin
them at a safe distance. Publishing), 2003

Web:
http://campus.northpark.edu/history/WebChron/
Africa/Hatshepsut.html
http://www.bediz.com/hatshep/index.html

11
 DIGITAL HERO #15

Dreadwood, Missouri by Jason Walters

Dreadwood, Missouri is a one-shot Western The GM should take several period-specific
Hero adventure for between five and seven technical matters into account when running this
players which uses pregenerated characters based game. The bullet was a relatively new and
on real historical figures. These are rough and expensive technology during the Civil War (the
dangerous men, hunted fugitives who, in their revolver had only been invented a few scant
desperation to escape a group of relentless decades before). The characters all have fairly
pursuers, must brave a ruined town filled with primitive “cap-and-ball” weapons which were
restless, malevolent undead creatures bent upon loaded by hand using a time-consuming four-step
wreaking a terrible vengeance upon the PCs. process that cannot be replicated during combat.
Their only ally in this reckless undertaking is a Each of them only has a few rounds left when the
mysterious Indian medicine man who, adventure begins, and that’s all they get until they
incidentally, may be an incarnation of the ancient discover more in town. You should also note that
Roman god Janus. a majority of the characters have only loaded five
The adventure is essentially a morality play of the six cylinders in their revolvers. This was
intended to teach the players that sometimes the commonly done for safety reasons; as the old
only way to defeat a great evil is with, well, yet “cap-and-ball” black powder weapons were quite
more evil. The Medicine Man, who intercepts the volatile, it was considered best to leave the
PCs at a dismal crossroads in a cursed natural hammer on an empty chamber. The only character
maze, makes it clear that he has few delusions who is crazy enough to break this basic safety rule
about the nature of his chosen champions. They is Jesse James – known to his friends as “Dang”
are hard, callous veterans of Bloody Missouri; a after an amusing incident in which he shot off the
fratricidal guerilla conflict which was going end of one of his fingers. Roll a 1d6 anytime
strong years before the American Civil War even Jesse’s player opens his mouth. If one of his guns
formally broke out. After half a decade of visiting is holstered and you rolled a one, he has shot
murder and destruction upon the homesteads of himself by accident.
Union sympathizers along the Kansas border, they
find themselves isolated and surrounded in the
smoldering ruins of their Confederate dream.
Chased ceaselessly across Missouri into the
brambles and bayous of a then notoriously
dangerous Cedar County, they are desperately in
need of food, ammunition, liquor, and fresh
horses. They must acquire all four of these
precious commodities if they hope to make it out
of a final deathtrap of swamp, pinewood, and
bramble, and into the seemingly endless open
planes of the Nebraska Territory, where they can
begin a new life free of the taint of their misdeeds.
The players have to guide their characters
through a series of encounters with the unnatural
beings who inhabit Dreadwood, ranging from the
necromantic to the demonic. These entities,
victims of a previous Confederate attack, are
eager for revenge not only against the living but
most especially against the Southern living – a
category into which the player characters most
emphatically fall. Players should be properly
motivated to “get into” their historical characters,
if in only a stereotypical sort of way. For
example, suggest that they speak with
outrageous and outdated “Foghorn Leghorn”
accents, make pseudo-Clint Eastwood
comments, act ridiculously gun-happy and/or
drunk, and so forth. They should be encouraged
to actualize their “inner redneck” during the
course of the adventure. A few pertinent “yee-
12 haws” should be strongly encouraged, especially
during battle scenes. artwork by Tom Miskey
cartography by Lisa Hartjes
DIGITAL HERO #15
MY THREE SUNS
The Guerrilla seldom become
merciless all of a sudden. Pastoral in many
Dreadwood, Missouri “There are three
cases by profession, and reared among the The Broken Dreams of Brutal kinds of suns in
bashful and timid surroundings of Kansas… sunflowers,
agricultural life, he knew nothing of the Men sunshine, and sons of
tiger that was in him until death had been Throughout the War Between The States bitches.”
dashed against his eyes in numberless and you’ve all been members of Quantrell’s Raiders, — The Outlaw
brutal ways, and until the blood of his own busily staging incursions into Kansas from Josey Wales
kith and kin had been sprinkled plentifully Missouri and Arkansas. Your leader, Captain
upon things that his hands touched, and William Quantrell, has been unfairly labeled an
things that entered into his daily existence. outlaw by the Federals for his guerilla attacks on
And that fury of ideas also came to him pro-Union forces, but you know that he’s really
slowly, which is more implacable than the just a patriotic, free-spirited hero of the
fury of men, for men have heart, and Confederacy doing his best for his country.
opinion has none. It took him likewise Though you’ve all been involved in numerous
some time to learn that the Jayhawker’s vicious skirmishes with the Jayhawkers, a brutal
system of saving the Union was a system of pro-Union militia group, you always tried to
brutal force, which bewailed not even that maintain at least a semblance of decency in the
which it crushed; that it belied its doctrine way you treated civilians and captured soldiers
by its tyranny; stained its arrogated right by by adhering to the principals of accepting enemy
its violence, and dishonored its vaunted surrender. Two things changed your attitudes
struggles by its executions. But blood is as pretty drastically in 1862, however. First, the
contagious as air. Commander of the Department of Missouri,
Thus, almost from the first, a large Major General Henry W. Halleck ordered that
majority of Quantrell’s original command “unconventional” fighters such as yourselves
had over them the shadow of some terrible would be treated as robbers and murderers if
crime. This one recalled a father murdered, captured, not normal prisoners of war. You were
this one a brother waylaid and shot, this one to go to the gallows straight away with no hope
a house pillaged and burnt, this one a of fair trial nor any of the recourse which an
relative assassinated, this one a grievous honorable opponent is normally afforded. After
insult while at peace at home, this one a that, Captain Quantrell gave an order to give ‘no
robbery of all his earthly possessions, this quarter’ to enemy forces be they in uniform or
one the force which compelled him to not. You’ve not taken a prisoner since.
witness the brutal treatment of a mother or Secondly, in that said same infamous year
sister, this one was driven away from his the Federals kidnapped several dozen of your
own life a thief in the night, this one was sisters, wives, and daughters and transported
threatened with death for opinion’s sake, them away from their homesteads to a women’s
this one was proscribed at the instance of prison in Kansas City. Before you could organize
some designing neighbor, this one was a rescue, that supposed penitentiary (which was
arrested wantonly and forced to do the really just a deathtrap) collapsed mysteriously
degrading work of a menial; while all had one day, maiming and killing a number of your
more or less of wrath laid up against the female relations. In retaliation, in you set your
day when they were to meet face to face sights on Lawrence, Kansas – a hotbed of
and hand to hand those whom they had decadent Yankee sympathizers as well as the
good cause to regard as the living home of Senator James H. Lane, that nefarious
embodiment of unnumbered wrongs. poltroon of the lowest sort and an enemy to
Honorable soldiers in the Confederate army Confederates everywhere. Lane managed to
– amenable to every generous impulse and escape that day, racing through a cornfield in his
exact in the performance of every manly nightshirt like the Yankee coward he is… but his
duty – deserted even the ranks which they fellow townspeople were not so fortunate.
had adorned and became desperate Actually, the whole thing is a little unclear to
Guerrillas because the home they had left you now as you’d all been drinking heavily,
had been given to the flames, or a gray- riding all day in the hot sun, and feeling so
haired father shot upon his own hearth- powerfully angry that it’s hard to say exactly
stone. They wanted to avoid the uncertainty what happened, but when it was over, the town
of regular battle and know by actual results lay in flames and 183 men and boys lay dead in
how many died as a propitiation or a streets of that same village, some dragged from
sacrifice. Every other passion became their homes to be murdered in front of their
subsidiary to that of revenge…. families. The North’s newspapers have labeled
this a “massacre,” while history’s fickle hand has 13
— John Edwards
inscribed it as the most pointless killing of this
 DIGITAL HERO #15

FOOD FOR entire pointless war… as if the murder of your The next several days are spent traveling
THOUGHT grey-haired Pappy, lying in a grave behind his through this labyrinthine ruin of nature, seeing
own cabin with a Yankee bullet in his chest, had neither man nor beast. Then one humid morning
“Shouldn’t we bury
some point to it. as you come around the corner of a narrow,
’em Josey?”
The Lawrence Massacre, as they call it, led bramble flanked deer-trail you are confronted
“To Hell with them
to swift retribution. Cruel-eyed Union troops with a choice. Your route splits in two – one path
fellas. Buzzards gotta
fresh from the slums of the North forced the continuing in the southwesterly direction you
eat, same as worms.”
residents of four Missouri border counties onto have been traveling while the other heads off in
— The Outlaw
the open prairie while Jayhawkers looted, an uncertain northern direction. But before you
Josey Wales
burned, and ravaged their way through everyone can make up your minds one way or t’other, a
and everything that got left behind. Quantrell’s bizarre figure on horseback rides seemingly
Raiders naturally took part in the Southern straight out of the roadside brambles. He’s
retaliation for this atrocity, but when Union obviously some sort of ancient, wizened Indian
forces drove the Confederates back, your leader perched atop a dappled pony, his brow adorned
fled to Texas in fear of his life. Your valiant with the tanned hide of a buffalo and his
band had to break up into several smaller units, withered flesh dyed a darkest purple-black. In
including one headed by his most capable addition, there are various bizarre symbols
lieutenant “Bloody Bill” Anderson, a man painted upon his surprisingly well-proportioned
known for his amusing habit of wearing a chest and arms. He clutches an odd-looking
necklace of Yankee scalps into battle. tomahawk in one hand and a bag made of
That would be your unit, soldier. deerskin in the other.

The Bramblewood For The GM: Dramatically pause so

You are a band of gaunt, grim, silent, and that the PCs can announce their various
desperate men worn from hard riding, much reactions. When they are finished, have
starving, scant sleep, and continual fighting. Your Jim Whitsett make his KS: Religion
ammunition has been exhausted along with your role. Should he make it he will quickly
provisions, liquor, and much of the value of your realize that the symbols painted on the
mounts. The country in every direction is Indian’s body aren’t native symbols at
swarming with Federal troops. They are by the all; they’re actually ancient Greek or
streams and crossings, at the ferries and bridges, Roman. Next have Bloody Bill should
in the towns and on the main roads, on scouting make his PS: Indian Fighter roll. If he
expeditions and harrying marches. They are makes it, he will know that this is a
killing everywhere, watching everywhere, waiting Medicine Man of some sort. If he
everywhere. And why not? Time is on their side; makes his role by 2 he will know that
if your tiny band of holdouts cannot get free of the this, specifically, is a Missouria Nation
rolling hills and tangled brambles of southwestern Medicine Man. They only problem is
Missouri out onto the open prairie of Nebraska that there are no more Missouria – they
they soon will have you… and there won’t be any were wiped out by the Otoe Nation over
trial for the men who followed William Quantrell. a generation ago.
With these thoughts perched upon your The Medicine Man will never give
souls like so many black crows poised upon a his name nor explain anything about his
weathered fence, you enter bloody Cedar appearance nor directly answer any
County, that Valley of the Shadow of Death for questions about his motivations. He is
any Southern man where snipers wait behind an invulnerable plot device, not meant
every tree and informers sit upon every horse, to be fought or attacked by the PCs. If
ready to race off on a moment’s notice into the they insist on behaving violently or
loving embrace of your enemy. Cedar County, a disrespectfully he will simply sigh,
land almost entirely given over by its very nature politely ignoring them (see below).
to dark bog, bramble, dank rot, and brooding
ruinous decay. For days you have hungrily made “You are the Grey Warriors who have
your way down tracks made by animals or paths fought against the Bluecoats across fields of
long abandoned by hunters, the slow drizzle of a blood and smoke,” the ancient man announces.
Missouri autumn your most constant and “Now you flee for your lives as the falcon flees
intimate companion. Just when things seem to be the eagle’s talons. Hey-hey-hey! You face a hard
at their most miserable, you exit the dark woods choice, Grey Warriors, as you travel to your fates
due west of the decimated town of Kader (you down a river of blood; but that is nothing new for
know it’s decimated on account of you any of you.” He turns and slowly points down
decimated it) to find yourself in a maze of each path in turn.
14 bramblewood, ivy, and scrubtree which fills your
vision out to the horizon.
DIGITAL HERO #15
“If the Grey Warriors take that route,” he For The GM: Pick a character. The
points southwest,” it will lead them to certain medicine man tosses the two objects to
death. But if they take that route,” he points north, him in a non-threatening manner. The
“it will take them to a death less certain. Let the tomahawk is, as stated earlier, a
father of the sky hear my cries! Hey-hey-ho!” strangely constructed axe made of some
sort of dark wood combined with a
For The GM: At this point it is very
large, sharp crystal. The deerskin
likely that the players will have some
medicine bag contains two dozen small
questions for the Medicine Man. Feel
clay balls with a luminescent red onyx
free to ham it up as much as you like
impressed into each one. They are about
because, much like the great “Crying
the size of a .44 lead ball. These items
Indian” Iron Eyes Cody (a.k.a. Oscar
all have special properties. The
DeCorti), Medicine Man isn’t really an
tomahawk is a 1d6 NND HKA against
American Indian… he’s just pretending
any undead or unnatural creature
to be one (like DeCorti he’s actually
(everything in Dreadwood qualifies).
Italian.) Feel free to do a tiny “rain-
The clay balls, when used as
dance” around the table anytime he says
ammunition in any revolver or rifle, do
something like “Hey-hey-ho,” and
the same amount of damage (1d6 NND
answer the PCs’ questions in the most
RKA).
cryptic manner possible. Here are some
sample answers: “You have chosen as best you could, Grey
1) “In the spring it rains and flowers Warriors, but that does not mean that the way
burst forth from the ground. Yet you have chosen is best. When a man goes to
sometimes the earth gives birth to a war does he bring his fishing net? When a man
black liquid which poisons every flower goes to fish does he bring his bow? Take my
which it touches. Both are children of sacred tomahawk and medicine bag that they
the land – who can say what each might serve you well in your trials to come.”
season shall bring?” With these words the venerable Indian
rotates his pony around and, with a slight
2) “Some things are not seen because kicking motion, begins to move it towards the
they do not wish to be seen. Some brambles from which he originally emerged.
things are not seen because nobody But as he leaves he turns his eerily painted body
wants to see them. And some things are in the saddle, faces you, and raises one hand
not seen because they are not there.” into the air.
3) “A little rain never hurt anybody –
but if it comes down long enough a For The GM: Medicine Man will not
little rain can become a flood, washing answer any specific questions about the
everything in its path away.” town to the north – only that it is there.
If the characters at last decide to take
After a while the players will that route, he will turn his pony to
probably get aggravated with your briefly step in front of them.
enigmatic indirectness and start to
become cranky. You should then “Sometimes I wonder why good so seldom
encourage them to take the path to the triumphs over evil. It seems natural that it would;
north – otherwise you will probably end yet it so rarely does. Perhaps this is because one
up wiping them out when they hit the man’s fortune in another man’s failure, and the
thirty-man squad of Jayhawkers that are Sky Father has a hard time figuring out which is
waiting in ambush for them about half a which. Or maybe good will win more battles
mile down the road to the southwest. when it learns to fight dirty. Either way, it
shouldn’t matter much to any of you Grey
He lifts his army slowly upwards, shaking Warriors.”
the tomahawk and deerskin bag as he does so. The old Indian then turns his pony about and
“If you take the road north,” the aging vanishes into the brambles along the side of the
Indian points vaguely, “you will find a town in path.
which you might acquire ammunition for your
weapons, liquor for your spirits, food for your
bellies, and – most importantly – fresh mounts. If
you go the other way,” he gestures vaguely
southeast, “the Blue Coats might be kind enough
to made a cross to mark your gravesite. Sky 15
Father, hear me! Hey-hey-hey!”
 DIGITAL HERO #15

For The GM: Attempts to follow him The town, which probably wasn’t much to
will prove futile; he has simply begin with, appears to have been looted and
vanished off the face of this Earth. Have burned at some point in the last year. Its
your players make a PER roll. If they unpainted pineboard buildings sag in their
succeed, they notice that there is a face foundations, looking for all the world like a
clearly painted onto the back of his bunch of battered old men sitting wearily around
buffalo skin headdress in a substance a card table which, like themselves, has seen
the color of fresh blood. The face is better days. For the most part, the remaining
very much like his, save that it is buildings are the usual assortment of structures
grinning like a skull. one would expect to find in just about any tiny
southern hamlet: a battered looking tavern with
The northern road, as you could well its second story burned completely off, a general
imagine, is not a pleasant road. Every step down store with all of its windows smashed, and a
it finds your horses’ hoofs ever deeper in the primitive stable which looks to not have been
muddy earth as the “clop-clop” of their unshod much in the first place. But the most remarkable
feet grows ever more weary. Most of you building in Dreadwood is its church; an
instantly begin to regret following the old man’s enormous, unadorned black structure which
advice; it looks as though nobody has used this seems to have been built right in the middle of
trail in years. It stands to reason that it couldn’t the road on the far end of town, effectively
possibly lead to a town. Yet, after a half an hour blocking the only other exit from this depressing
of slow, plodding riding the brambles clear out little burg.
in front of you and you find yourself confronted 1) Notelek’s Tavern: This roomy, two story
with a small town. structure appears to have been constructed of
Or what used to be a small town. roughly cut pine boards held together with a fair
amount of pitch, plug, and prayer. A sign which
Dreadwood, Missouri
must have once adorned its now missing upper
No more than a dozen decaying, partially level lies facedown in the mud on the street
burnt buildings line up along a mud street. None below (GM: If the players flip it over it reads
of them have back yards as they end right where “Notelek’s Tavern” on the other side). Its one
the seemingly impenetrable forest of brambles remaining swinging door hangs limply on a
and scrub begins. It seems impossible that single hinge. Inside, you can hear the sound of a
anyone would voluntarily build this way; it’s piano’s ivories being tickled. Its musician is
more likely the town’s inhabitants forced a banging out a melancholy, off-key version of
begrudging opening from the ever-hungry maws Yankee Doodle Dandy.
of the Bramblewood. A pair of battered wooden The inside of the tavern is gloomy, foul
signs hang high overhead, suspended between a smelling, and damp. A long crude bar covered in
pair of roughly hewn tree trunks. Ravens swirl cobwebs and broken bottles dominates the far
evilly in the purple-hewed, gloomy sky far side of the structure, while behind it the remains
above, occasionally alighting on building or of an enormous shattered mirror still cling
bramble. One caws at you mockingly from the tenaciously to the wall. A half dozen card tables
sign above. lay scattered across the floor in various states of
disrepair. The corpse of a man, flesh obviously
For The GM: If the players chose to long rotten from its frame, lays face down on one
look up and read the signs (you can table with a hand of poker still clenched in his
never be certain), the larger of the two bony fist (GM: A PS: Bushwhacker roll by any
reads “Dreadwood, Missouri” while a of the characters will tell them that its a marked
smaller one below conjectures deck; the stiff had been cheating. Bushwhackers
“Population 50.” It seems, however, know this kind of stuff). Two other bodies,
that the “50” has been crossed out and similarly heavily decayed but attired in tavern-
replaced with a “20,” which has in turn keeper’s clothing, lay sprawled across the bar
been crossed out and replaced with an and piano respectively. The piano, obviously a
eight. This in turn gives way to a three, “player” piano, is slowly but finally spewing its
then a zero, and finally a negative ten. music roll out of a ragged hole in its side and
onto the floor. As you come in it slowly winds
down and stops.

16
DIGITAL HERO #15

For The Game Master: There are “Rebel scum!” she hisses at you through
several items of potential interest to the clenched teeth. She has a distinct, and to your
players left in this structure. Behind the tiny minds sexy, German accent. Actually, she
bar are 3 full bottles of Old Revelator looks and sounds just like Madeline Kahn’s
whisky which, although stoppered with character Lili Von Schtupp from Mel Brooks’
knucklebones and lead, are still Blazing Saddles (GM: Make your R’s sound like
reeeeaaaal potent. Anyone taking a pull W’s.) “This used to be a nice, respectable town
should make a constitution check; before you traitors came through and wrecked it!
failure means that the character suffers You rebel scum make me feel ashamed to have
a 1d6 CON Drain which lasts for a full been alive. Oh, you should really never have
minute. However each swig will also killed me – because now I’m going to return the
restore one point of BODY permanently favor! Get them boys! Get them out of my bar!”
(there are five shots in each bottle.) At this point the three skeletons rise up,
There is also a fully loaded and gripping long sharp slivers of glass from the
functional black powder shotgun behind floor as they rise….
the bar which is nearly identical to
For The GM: The dead hooker (you
Henry Hockensmith’s. Their liquor
don’t get to say THAT every day, do
worries are over.
you? Actually, if you do and you’re not
Once the characters disturb any of
an LA cop, don’t tell me) is a ghost as
these objects, however, the following
spelled out on page 120 of the HERO
happens….
System Bestiary. Her “boys” are
Suddenly you hear a high, feminine voice skeletons as detailed on page 123 of the
clear her throat from above. As you all look up, same book. The slivers of glass when
you see a luminescent figure descend down the combined with the Skeleton’s strength
stairs from where the building’s second story are a 2d6 KA. The skeletons will fight
would have been. A tall, rather attractive, and until destroyed, but the ghost will
undeniably translucent woman with long blond disappear and flee before being
hair glares down at you, her hands gripping the terminated.
air where a railing undoubtedly used to lie. She Ghostly Hooker
has the dress and mannerisms of what you
10 STR 18 DEX 10 CON 10 BODY
imagine to be an expensive prostitute (GM:
10 INT 18 EGO 20 PRE 15 COM
George Maddox can make an KS: Ladies of Ill
5 PD 5 ED 3 SPD
Repute roll to determine this if you like).
4 REC 20 END 20 STUN
Abilities: Drain STUN 2d6, Affects Physical
World, Reduced Endurance (0 END);
Telekinesis (10 STR), Affects Physical World,
Reduced Endurance (0 END); Invisibility to
Sight, Hearing, and Smell/Taste Groups, No
Fringe, Reduced Endurance (0 END), Persistent,
Inherent; Desolidification (affected by Medicine
Man’s objects), Reduced Endurance (0 END),
Persistent, Inherent, Always On; +20 PRE, Only
for Fear-Based Presence Attacks; Life Support:
Total; No Hit Locations; Flight 8”, Reduced
Endurance (0 END); Spatial Awareness; Detect
Rebel Scum 11-, Range, Sense
75+ Disadvantages: Physical Limitation:
Human Size; Physical Limitation: Reduced
Leap, Cannot Leap (Infrequently, Slightly
Impairing); Psychological Limitation: Destroy
Rebel Scum (Very Common, Strong)

17
 DIGITAL HERO #15
Skeleton 2) Eibmoz’s General Store: This large, single-
15 STR 12 DEX 10 CON 10 BODY story structure appears to have been converted
5 INT 0 EGO 13 PRE 6 COM into a general store from an old barn of some
2 PD 2 ED 2 SPD considerable size. Its battered tin roof has seen
5 REC 0 END - STUN better days, though, as it seems to have been
patched up with boards and tar where it’s rusted
Abilities: Reduced Endurance (0 END) for
through. There’s a large sign over its front door
STR; Does Not Bleed; No Hit Locations; Takes
which reads “Eibmoz’s General Store.” (GM:
No Stun; +2 PD, Only Protects Against Slashing
assuming the players chose to go in…) Inside, the
or Piercing Attacks; +2 PD, Only Protects
store seems to be comprised of a single giant
Against Piercing Attacks; Damage Resistance (6
room crisscrossed with four rows of shelves
PD/2 ED); Life Support: Total; Reduced END
which are approximately four feet tall. All of
(0 END) on Running; Reduced END (0 END) on
them are easily visible from a single long wooden
Leaping; Reduced END (0 END) on Swimming;
counter which runs along the back wall
Infrared Perception (Sight Group); +4 PER with
(obviously to prevent theft of any sort). There are
all Senses, Only to Perceive Images Created By
four townspeople currently shopping in the store:
Means Other Than Necromancy
two men in farmer’s clothing with large, floppy
75+ Disadvantages: Physical Limitation: straw hats, a woman in her tattered Sunday’s best
Affected By Necromancy (Infrequent, Greatly with a bonnet on, and what might be her child
Impairing); Physical Limitation: Machine standing next to her. They are scattered amongst
Intelligence (Frequently, Greatly Impairing); the shelves, examining the store’s dry goods
Physical Limitation: Can Only Leap 1” closely and obviously shopping. A storekeeper
(Infrequently, Slightly Impairing); Vulnerability: stands behind the counter, contemplating its
2x BODY from Blunt Weapons (Very Common) surface as he very, very slowly wipes it clean with
a washrag.
Skeleton As the players enter the storekeeper slowly
looks up from his work; his face is a rotted,
maggot-infested ruin. “Brains!” he cries out
through puttered lips, his voice little more than a
sickening wreck. His customers all look up, but
their faces are also little more than disgusting
mockeries of their former humanity. “Brains!”
they all echo as they begin to slowly move
towards the characters….

For The GM: These townspeople are

all zombies, similar to the ones listed on
page 127 of the HERO System Bestiary.
Once they have been defeated (IF they
are defeated) the players can search the
store. They will find that, although most
of the groceries which once lined the
shelves are rotten, damaged, or
otherwise destroyed, there is still
enough boxes of “hardtack” biscuits,
beans, and cornmeal to outfit the group
for another week. In addition, the
general store contains enough .44
caliber balls, percussion caps, and black
powder as the characters can possibly
carry. Their food and ammunition
worries are over.

18
DIGITAL HERO #15
Zombie 3) The Stables: This medium-sized structure is
20 STR 10 DEX 10 CON 10 BODY basically a large lean-to built out of small pine
5 INT 0 EGO 13 PRE 6 COM logs which have been stripped of their bark
4 PD 2 ED 2 SPD before being driven into the ground at an angle.
6 REC 0 END Its walls are constructed out of shaped stones
crudely mortared together with a mixture of mud
Abilities: Reduced Endurance (0 END) for
and ox blood (gross, but not unusual). Through
STR; Does Not Bleed; No Hit Locations; Takes
an opening in the front of the building you can
No Stun; +2 PD, Only Against Slashing or
hear the sounds of horses from within, as well as
Piercing Attacks; +2 PD, Only Against Piercing
the sound of a man singing happily to himself.
Attacks; Damage Resistance (8 PD/ 2 ED); Life
“Goober peas, goober peas, how I love those
Support: Total; Running -4”; Reduced
goober peas! Goodness how delicious, eating
Endurance (0 END) on Running; Reduced
goober peas….”
Endurance (0 END) on Leaping; Reduced
(GM: Assuming the players go in…) There
Endurance (0 END) on Swimming; Infrared
are a dozen good, strong horses in various stalls
Perception (Sight Group); +2 PER with all
within this building, all obviously well fed and
Senses; Only To Perceive Images Created By
properly taken care of. On the far end of the
Means Other Than Necromancy; Climbing 11-;
construction from you a large figure in dirty
Stealth 11-; WF: Common Melee Weapons
coveralls is moving hay into one of the stalls
75+ Disadvantages: Physical Limitation: using a pitchfork, singing to himself all the
Affected By Necromancy (Infrequently, Greatly while. When you come several feet into the
Impairing); Physical Limitation: Machine building, however, the figure suddenly spins
Intelligence (Frequently, Greatly Impairing) about to face you for the first time. He is wearing
Physical Limitation: Can Only Leap 1” some sort of bizarre white wooden mask
(Infrequently, Slightly Impairing ventilated with tiny holes over his face (GM: A
successful KS: Indian Fighter roll will tell
Bloody Bill that this is NOT any sort of Indian
Zombie mask) and is gripping the pitchfork in his hand
so tightly that his knuckles are turning white.
With a shriek he screams “Goober Peas!” before
charging straight for you….

For The GM: “Goober Peas” is a

Slasher similar to the one detailed on
page 210 of the HERO System Bestiary
save that he wields a pitchfork rather
than a knife (treat it the same for
damage purposes). If the players
manage to put an end to him, they will
find his stable well stocked with
excellent, well-fed mounts. Their riding
worries are over….

19
 DIGITAL HERO #15
Goober Peas (Slasher) 4) The Black Church: This long plain black
15 STR 15 DEX 20 CON 20 BODY structure seems to have been built right in the
15 INT 15 EGO 20 PRE 10 COM middle of the road, effectively blocking the only
8 PD 8 ED 3 SPD western exit from Dreadwood. Although
10 REC 40 END 40 STUN obviously a church, it has no steeple, bell, nor
any remaining windows – they all seem to have
Abilities: HKA 1d6 (2d6 with STR); +10
been knocked out before being boarded up.
REC, Requires CON Roll 13-; Healing 2d6
There’s glass everywhere.
(Regeneration; 2 BODY per Turn),
The church’s two front doors swing back
Resurrection (others can stop by burning body),
and forth on their warped hinges, making
Reduced Endurance (0 END), Persistent, Self
periodic yet always shocking slamming noises.
Only, Extra Time; Combat Luck; +3 with
From within you can hear the familiar sounds of
Hand-To-Hand Combat; Climbing 12-,
a sermon being given, although you cannot make
Contortionist 12-; Stealth 13-
out any distinct words. You’re going to have to
75+ Disadvantages: Psychological Limitation: go in to do that.
Unquenchable Urge To Kill Southerners (Very (GM: Assuming the players go in…) Pews
Common, Strong) lay broken and scattered throughout this
elongated rectangle of a building, creating an
open path through a seeming ocean of wooden
Goober Peas (Slasher) debris wide enough to ride a horse through.
Obviously a portion of the inner roof collapsed
into the structure at some point in the past. On
the far side of the room a man in the garb of a
protestant minister is giving a sermon. He is
waving his Bible in the air wildly, beating it
against his pulpit, and gesticulating to some
unseen crowd of churchgoers. As you center you
catch the very tail end of his sermon.
“And when JE-S-EUS stepped out of that
boat he was immediately met by a man, a DE-
MON-IAC, fresh out of the tombs of Gerasenes
an’ filled with an unclean spirit of SATAN! He
lived amongst the tombs, for none of his kinfolk
could restrain him with chains any longer. For
though he had been oft restrained with shackles
and chains, WITH SHACKLES AND CHAINS,
he done wrenched those chains apart and broken
those shackles into pieces. No one had the
strength to subdue him, no one had the strength
to….”
The minister seems to notice you all for the
first time. He looks up at you warily for a
moment, then grins a magnificent grin entirely
comprised of long, sharp teeth. For the first time
you notice that there are two tiny black horns
growing straight out of his forehead into the
wide brim of his parson’s hat. The letters “L-O-
V-E” are tattooed on his left fingers while the
letters “H-A-T-E” are tattooed on his right.
“You need some churchin’ you rebel scum,”
he howls, “an’ I aim to give you some churchin’
– Dreadwood style churchin’ that is!”

20
DIGITAL HERO #15

For The GM: The Minister is a Lesser The Minister (Lesser Demon)
Demon very similar to the one detailed 25 STR 20 DEX 23 CON 20 BODY
on page 54 of the HERO System 20 INT 20 EGO 25 PRE 8 COM
Bestiary. He will enter combat by 15 PD 15 ED 4 SPD
unleashing a series of “demonic blasts” 12 REC 46 END 45 STUN
before charging down amongst the Abilities: Energy Blast 10d6, Reduced
player characters and attempting to rend Endurance (½ END); HKA 1½d6, Continuous,
them with his claws. While he fights he Damage Shield, Penetrating, Reduced Endurance
will spout out various Bible quotations (½ END), No STR Bonus; HKA 1½d6 (2½d6
in mangled rural American English with STR), Armor Piercing; Damage Resistance
(chose your personal favorites). The (8 PD/8 ED); Physical and Energy Damage
only character with anything capable of Reduction, Resistant, 50%; Mental Defense (9
cowing The Minister is Jim Whitsett, Points Total); Power Defense (5 Points); Life
who is not only a religious man but Support: Total; Running +3” (9” Total); Infrared
possesses a well thumbed (if ragged) Perception (Sight Group); +1 Overall;
copy of the King James version of the Concealment 13-; Stealth 13-; WF: Common
Bible. The Minister is kind of allergic to Melee Weapons
holy objects (his “bible” is actually a 75+ Disadvantages: Distinctive Features:
copy of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Horns and Sharp Teeth (Concealable With
Tom’s Cabin), so if Whitsett “presents” Effort; Causes Fear); Enraged: If Confronted
his Bible in conjunction with a Presence With Rebel Scum (Uncommon, go 11-, recover
Attack and a good ol’ “hellfire” 11-); Psychological Limitation: Overconfident
quotation of his own, he gets to make a (Very Common, Strong); Psychological
5d6 PRE roll against The Minister, who Limitation: Utterly Evil (Very Common, Total);
must match or best Whitsett’s roll with Susceptibility: to Bibles, see blue text
a 5d6 roll of his own. If the Minister (Common)
fails, he has to skip his next Phase,
presumably giving the players a chance
to fill him full of .44 clay bullets.
Some of The Minister’s sample
bible quotations might include:
“My eye will not spare ya, I shall
have no pity – I shall punish you
for your rebel ways while yer
abominations number amongst ya!
Then you shall know that I am the
Lord! Ezekiel 7:04, you lily-livered
killers!”
“Withhold not correction from the
child for if thou beatest him with
thy rod he shall not die… Proverbs
23:13, you rebel scum! Church
learnin’!”
“I came not with peace but with a
sword. For I am come to set every
man at against his father, and every
daughter against her mother…
Matthew 10:34, you heathens!”
“Y’all are of your father the Devil,
and y’all want to do the desires of
your father… yer not the chillens of
God! John 8:44, sinners!”
When, and more importantly if, he
is defeated, the players at long last have
a clear path out of Dreadwood. They
can ride their new horses straight
through the church and into the next 21
section.
 DIGITAL HERO #15

Nebraska Territory For The Game Master: If you still

After trials and tribulations of a Herculean have more time on your hands and want
disposition which surely would have impressed to give your players a little more hell
Sampson or any other Biblical hero of old, you before they finally get free, have two
have fought your way free of the frightful and squads of Jayhawkers laying in wait for
terrible town of Dreadwood, Missouri. Your them as the exit the Bramblewood.
packs are filled with food, ammunition, and These rough semi-soldiers will be riding
medicinal spirits while your tired behinds rest hard from both the north and south on
squarely upon fresh, spirited mounts. Exhausted light warhorses (see page 169 of the
yet exhilarated with heavy hearts but lightened HERO System Bestiary) in squads of six
burdens you make your way due west towards to intercept the players from 24” away
the Nebraska territory and freedom. as they come out into the open. The
The Bramblewood, which just yesterday Jayhawkers will fight until one third of
haunted your dreams with dark and forbidding their number has fallen, then retreat
visions, seems today to be somehow less evil in back the way they came… like the lily-
its disposition. Here and there a late blooming livered poltroons they are!
flower sprouts out amongst the thorny branches,
Jayhawker
while blue birds and robins flutter overhead
calling back and forth to one another in the 13 STR 12 DEX 12 CON
carefree manner of children at play. Spurring 10 BODY 10 INT 10 EGO
your mounts forward, laughing amongst 10 PRE 10 COM
yourselves, you exit the terrible labyrinth off 3 PD 2 ED 3 SPD
occult and sorrow out onto the endless plains of 5 REC 24 END 23 STUN
blue, purposeful blue. Abilities: WF: Small Arms, Riding
12-, +1 with carbine, Tracking 11-
Equipment: Cattleman’s Carbine
(2d6-1, six shot, +1 OCV, +1 Stun, +2
Range) Light War Horse

22
DIGITAL HERO #15

Filmography
Appendixes The Stranger Wore A Gun (1953) with Randolph
Appendix Three: Speed Chart Scott
and Bibliography Quantrell’s Raiders (1958) with Steven Cochran
Ride With The Devil (1999) with Toby Maguire
Speed Chart Appendix Two: Character Sheets
This handy speed chart will help you keep The following character sheets are to be
track of combat in Dreadwood, Missouri without given as handouts to the players. Each one lists
having to use the standard HERO System speed the characters statistics, skills, and equipment,
chart. The number on the left represents a along with a brief historical quote relating to the
segment, while the characters who can take an character. It should be noted that all of the
action on that segment are listed in order to the characters have KS: Bushwhacker, a general skill
right with DEX scores already factored in. This covering the art of guerilla fighting. This
chart should help to speed up the process of includes ambushing, concealment, small-scale
playing this scenario, allowing you and your tactics, improvised weaponry, and general rural
friends to complete the entire thing in three to terrain knowledge as well as a working
four hours (at the most). knowledge of the history of the Missouri Border
War. A roll with this skill should be made
1) Nobody whenever the player feels that his character may
2) Nobody know a reasonable item of information on those
3) The Minister, James subjects that he himself does not.
4) Ghost Prostitute, Goober Peas, Anderson
Younger, Maddox, Hockensmith, Whitsett
5) Nobody
6) The Minister, James, Skeletons Zombies
7) Nobody
8) Ghost Prostitute, Goober Peas, Anderson,
Younger, Maddox, Hockensmith Whitsett
9) The Minister, James
10) Nobody
11) Nobody
12) The Minister, Ghost Prostitute, Goober Peas,
James, Anderson, Younger, Maddox,
Hockensmith, Whitsett, Skeletons Zombies

Bibliography
Noted Guerrillas or the Warfare of the Border,
1861-1865 by John Edwards
Western Lawmen & Outlaws by Jay Robert Nash
The Story of Cole Younger by Himself; Being an
Autobiography of the Missouri Guerrilla
Captain & Outlaw, His Capture & Prison
Life by Cole Younger
Jesse James and the Civil War in Missouri by
Robert Dyer

23
 DIGITAL HERO #15

“Bloody Bill” Anderson

Val Char Cost Roll Notes
15 STR 5 12- Lift 200 kg; 3d6 HTH [1]
14 DEX 12 12- OCV: 5/DCV: 5
13 CON 6 12-
10 BODY 0 11-
13 INT 3 12- PER Roll: 12-
11 EGO 2 11- ECV: 4
14 PRE 4 12- PRE Attack: 2½d6
10 COM 0 11-
6 PD 3 Total: 6 PD (0 rPD)
4 ED 1 Total: 4 ED (0 rED)
3 SPD 6 Phases: 4, 8, 12
6 REC 0
26 END 0
26 STUN 1
Total Characteristics Cost: 43
Description
Movement: Running: 7”/14” “The most desperate man I ever met… (He)
Swimming: 2”/4” never took prisoners but always shot captives
Cost Powers END out-of-hand… he was a walking and riding
2 Running +1” (7” Total) 1 arsenal, usually with four Navy Colt pistols in
his waistband, four rifles on his horse, a saber, a
Skills hatchet, and a bag of pistols wrapped around the
8 +1 with All Combat horn of his saddle.”
2 KS: Torture 11- — Western Lawmen & Outlaws by Jay Robert
2 KS: Indian Fighting 11- Nash
3 PS: Bushwhacker 12-
3 Riding 12-
5 Stealth 13-
3 Tactics 12-
4 WF: Common Melee Weapons, Small
Arms
Total Powers & Skills Cost: 32
Total Cost: 75
50+ Disadvantages
15 Hunted: Jayhawkers 11- (Less Pow, NCI)
10 Psychological Limitation: Sociopath
(Common, Moderate)
Total Disadvantage Points: 75
Equipment
Four .44 Confederate Navy Revolvers
(2d6-1 RKA, five shots loaded, -1
OCV, +1 STUN)
Bowie Knife (1d6 HKA)
Hatchet (1d6 HKA)
Light Warhorse with Saddlebags
Tattered Grey Clothing and Boots

24
DIGITAL HERO #15

George Maddox
Val Char Cost Roll Notes
13 STR 3 12- Lift 150 kg; 2½d6 HTH
14 DEX 12 12- OCV: 5/DCV: 5
13 CON 6 12-
10 BODY 0 11-
13 INT 3 12- PER Roll: 12-
11 EGO 2 11- ECV: 4
13 PRE 3 12- PRE Attack: 2½d6
12 COM 1 11-
5 PD 2 Total: 5 PD (0 rPD)
4 ED 1 Total: 4 ED (0 rED)
3 SPD 6 Phases: 4, 8, 12
6 REC 0
32 END 3
26 STUN 2
Total Characteristics Cost: 44
Movement: Running: 7”/14”
Swimming: 2”/4”
Cost Powers END
2 Running +1” (7” Total) 1 Description
Skills “All tenacity and endurance. Tried in the
4 +2 with Revolvers fire of fifty desperate combats, he was a fatalist
to the extent of believing that the fates took good
5 Fast Draw 13- care of him. He did not speculate, he did not
2 KS: Ladies of Ill Repute 11- build air castles at night for the mists of the
3 PS: Bushwhacker 12- morning to dissipate; if he was an hungered and
3 Riding 12- could not get to eat, he drew his revolver belt a
1 Shadowing 8- hole or two tighter and forgot that he had an
5 Stealth 13- appetite. As he rode he sang, or was glad or gay.
3 Tactics 12- Air and exercise put iron into his blood as wine
3 WF: Blades, Small Arms puts fire into the brain.”
Total Powers & Skills Cost: 31 — Noted Guerrillas or the Warfare of the
Border, 1861-1865 by John Edwards
Total Cost: 75
50+ Disadvantages
15 Hunted: Jayhawkers 11- (Less Pow, NCI)
10 Psychological Limitation: Fatalist
(Common, Moderate)
Total Disadvantage Points: 75

Equipment
Two .44 Confederate Navy Revolvers
(2d6-1 RKA, five shots loaded, -1
OCV, +1 STUN)
Bowie Knife (1d6 HKA)
Pearl Handled Shaving Kit
Light Warhorse with Saddlebags
Tattered Grey Clothing and Boots

25
 DIGITAL HERO #15

Henry Hockensmith
Val Char Cost Roll Notes
15 STR 5 12- Lift 200 kg; 3d6 HTH [1]
14 DEX 12 12- OCV: 5/DCV: 5
12 CON 4 11-
11 BODY 2 11-
13 INT 3 12- PER Roll: 12-
11 EGO 2 11- ECV: 4
13 PRE 3 12- PRE Attack: 2½d6
10 COM 0 11-
6 PD 3 Total: 6 PD (0 rPD)
3 ED 1 Total: 3 ED (0 rED)
3 SPD 6 Phases: 4, 8, 12
5 REC 0
24 END 0
25 STUN 0
Total Characteristics Cost: 41 Description
Movement: Running: 7”/14” “Solid as a young oak, built like a grizzly
Swimming: 2”/4” bear for depth of chest and might of muscle, cool
as a grenadier, schooled by Quantrell, drilled by
Cost Powers END George Todd, and graduated from a school that
2 Running +1” (7” Total) 1 knew no peril that would not flee if faced and no
10 Tough Fellow: Physical Damage bloody ground that would not give up its ogres if
Reduction, 25% 0 penetrated.”
7 Bare Knuckle Fighter: HA +2d6 (5d6 — ”Noted Guerrillas or the Warfare of the
with STR); HA Lim (-½) 1 Border, 1861-1865” by John Edwards
Skills
5 +1 with Hand-to-Hand Combat
2 AK: Rural Arkansas 11-
3 PS: Bushwhacker 12-
3 Riding 12-
2 WF: Small Arms
Total Powers & Skills Cost: 34
Total Cost: 75
50+ Disadvantages
15 Hunted: Jayhawkers 11- (Less Pow, NCI)
10 Psychological Limitation: Violent
(Common, Moderate)
Total Disadvantage Points: 75
Equipment
LeMats Pistol (2d6-1 RKA, eight shots
loaded, -1 OCV, +1 STUN with
miniature shotgun underbarrel 3d6
RKA, one shot, +3 OCV, +1 STUN,
-3 Range)
Double Barreled Shotgun (2½d6 RKA,
two shots, +1 OCV, +1 STUN, +2
Range)
Light Warhorse with Saddlebags
Tattered Grey Clothing and Boots

26
DIGITAL HERO #15

Cole Younger
Val Char Cost Roll Notes
13 STR 3 12- Lift 150 kg; 2½d6 HTH
14 DEX 12 12- OCV: 5/DCV: 5
13 CON 6 12-
10 BODY 0 11-
13 INT 3 12- PER Roll: 12-
11 EGO 2 11- ECV: 4
12 PRE 2 11- PRE Attack: 2d6
10 COM 0 11-
4 PD 1 Total: 4 PD (0 rPD)
4 ED 1 Total: 4 ED (0 rED)
3 SPD 6 Phases: 4, 8, 12
6 REC 0
26 END 0
26 STUN 2
Total Characteristics Cost: 38
Movement: Running: 7”/14”
Swimming: 2”/4”
Description
Cost Powers END “Conflicts and troubles centered on our
2 Running +1” (7” Total) 1 home that planted a bitterness in my young heart
which cried out for revenge, and this feeling was
Skills only accentuated by the cruelties of war which
5 +1 with Ranged Combat followed. I refer in particular to the shameful
2 AK: Rural Missouri 11- and cowardly murder of my father for money
3 Demolitions 12- which he was known to have in his possession,
5 Fast Draw 13- and the cruel treatment of my mother at the
4 KS: Literature 13- hands of the Missouri Militia.”
3 PS: Bushwhacker 12- — The Story of Cole Younger by Himself: Being
3 Riding 12- an Autobiography of the Missouri Guerrilla
5 Stealth 13- Captain and Outlaw, His Capture and Prison
3 Tactics 12- Life, by Cole Younger
2 WF: Small Arms
Total Powers & Skills Cost: 37
Total Cost: 75
50+ Disadvantages
15 Hunted: Jayhawkers 11- (Less Pow, NCI)
10 Psychological Limitation: Vengeful
(Common, Moderate)
Total Disadvantage Points: 75
Equipment
Two .44 Confederate Navy Revolvers
(2d6-1 RKA, five shots loaded, -1
OCV, +1 STUN)
Sawed-Off Double Barreled Shotgun (2d6
RKA, two shots, +2 OCV, +1 STUN,
-2 Range)
Light Warhorse with Saddlebags
Tattered Grey Clothing and Boots

27
 DIGITAL HERO #15

Jesse James
Val Char Cost Roll Notes
11 STR 1 11- Lift 115 kg; 2d6 HTH [1]
14 DEX 12 12- OCV: 5/DCV: 5
13 CON 6 12-
10 BODY 0 11-
10 INT 0 11- PER Roll: 11-
10 EGO 0 11- ECV: 3
13 PRE 3 12- PRE Attack: 2½d6
12 COM 1 11-
6 PD 4 Total: 6 PD (0 rPD)
4 ED 1 Total: 4 ED (0 rED)
4 SPD 16 Phases: 3, 6, 9, 12
6 REC 2
26 END 0
26 STUN 3
Total Characteristics Cost: 49
Description
Movement: Running: 7”/14” “He seemed to be afraid of nothing. In one
Swimming: 2”/4” skirmish with the enemy… [James] was seen
Cost Powers END riding pell-mell into the Union ranks, the reins of
2 Running +1” (7” Total) 1 his horse held by his teeth, firing two pistols. He
shot down six Northern soldiers and was
Talents credited with killing three of them.”
3 Ambidexterity (Reduce Off Hand — Western Lawmen & Outlaws, by Jay Robert
Penalty to -2) Nash
Skills
6 +3 with Colt Navy Pistols
5 Fast Draw 13-
2 KS: Train Robbing 11-
3 PS: Bushwhacker 12-
3 Riding 12-
2 WF: Small Arms
Total Powers & Skills Cost: 26
Total Cost: 75
50+ Disadvantages
15 Hunted: Jayhawkers 11- (Less Pow, NCI)
10 Psychological Limitation: Reckless
(Common, Moderate)
Total Disadvantage Points: 75
Equipment
Two .44 Confederate Navy Revolvers
(2d6-1RKA, six shots loaded, -1
OCV, +1 STUN)
Light Warhorse with Saddlebags
Tattered Grey Clothing and Boots

28
DIGITAL HERO #15

Jim Whitsett
Val Char Cost Roll Notes
13 STR 3 12- Lift 150 kg; 2½d6 HTH
14 DEX 12 12- OCV: 5/DCV: 5
13 CON 6 12-
10 BODY 0 11-
15 INT 5 12- PER Roll: 12-
12 EGO 4 11- ECV: 4
13 PRE 3 12- PRE Attack: 2½d6
12 COM 1 11-
5 PD 2 Total: 5 PD (0 rPD)
4 ED 1 Total: 4 ED (0 rED)
3 SPD 6 Phases: 4, 8, 12
6 REC 0
26 END 0
26 STUN 2
Total Characteristics Cost: 45
Movement: Running: 7”/14” Description
Swimming: 2”/4” “All nerve, and dash, and rugged
appearance”
Cost Powers END — ”Noted Guerrillas or the Warfare of the
2 Running +1” (7” Total) 1 Border, 1861-1865” by John Edwards
Talents
10 Danger Sense 12- (Intuitional)
3 Lightsleep
Skills
2 KS: Ancient History 11-
2 KS: Religion 11-
3 PS: Bushwhacker 12-
3 Riding 12-
3 Tracking 12-
2 WF: Small Arms
Total Powers & Skills Cost: 30
Total Cost: 75
50+ Disadvantages
15 Hunted: Jayhawkers 11- (Less Pow, NCI)
10 Psychological Limitation: Religious
(Common, Moderate)
Total Disadvantage Points: 75
Equipment
New Texas Army Pistol (2d6-1RKA, five
shots loaded, -1 OCV, +1 STUN)
Enfield Black Powder Rifle (2d6+1RKA,
one shot, +1 OCV, +1 STUN, +2
Range)
Light Warhorse with Saddlebags
Tattered Grey Clothing and Boots
King James Bible

29
 DIGITAL HERO #15

Appendix Three: Map of

Dreadwood, Missouri
Though it contains a dozen-odd ruined
shells, there are only four actual buildings which
remain standing in the tiny town of Dreadwood.
In each case the dreaded Bramblewood grows
directly to the back of the structure, leaving only
a single entrance as well as a single exit. The
overall effect is claustrophobic.

30
DIGITAL HERO #15
BATTLEFORGE
Battleforge by W. Jason Allen PLOT SEEDS
The largest
Background/History: Jake Sullivan’s hands on yer face. Here, take ye this.” He handed Jake a museum in town is
glowed red with power as he focused his will into small leather pouch that jingled when he took it. featuring a new
the long sword he had recently taken hot from the “What is it?” exhibit – rare gems
forge. The glow spread from his hands to the “Payment fer a job well done. Dinna open it from around the
blade, suffusing the sword from pommel to point, now; ye’ll know when. And get used ta making world. Security will
then slowly fading to nothing. Grinning, Jake things for others, young Jake. Yer good at it, and be extra tight, but
hefted the blade, and it burst into flame. Satisfied, it’s a terrible skill ta waste.” The bearded man Battleforge is
he placed it carefully on a rack, next to other was gone before Jake thought to ask his name. confident he and a
items he had recently empowered. Soon he would That night, Jake couldn’t sleep. Restless, he few friends can get
be ready to seek his vengeance. finally got out of bed and went outside. He sat on the goods. Will the
As he cleaned the forge-soot from his face, a stump in the backyard, staring out into the night, PCs arrive in time to
Jake recalled how he grew up in a small town when he realized the leather pouch was there on stop him?
deep in the Midwest, hating every moment. The the stump next to him. Jake didn’t remember
only joy he found was in blacksmithing, working bringing it out with him, yet there it was. Jake A PC pauses his
for a local historical museum. His parents picked it up and opened it without thinking, patrol when someone
disapproved of his learning such a “useless” skill; pulling out the gold coins within. yells for help from a
they wanted him to be an engineer, or something “Good evening, young Jake.” nearby alleyway.
useful and profitable. Jake just enjoyed making Jake yelped in fright, the coins flying Three street thugs
things with his own two hands. Working the forge everywhere. It was the bearded man, sitting on his threaten a terrified
made him feel complete somehow. horse, suddenly there with no sound of approach. citizen! When he
One day, as Jake tended the forge by himself, “Who – who are you?” moves to aid the
a large, well-built man with a thick black beard “I have been known by many names, Jake. hapless victim, one of
entered the shop. He remembered it as though it Ye may call me Wayland.” the thugs points a
were yesterday: “You, lad. Who runs this “What do you want from me?” dagger at him – and
establishment?” Wayland smiled. “I want nothing from ye, the dagger shoots a
Jake frowned. The man’s speech marked him lad. Rather, I wish to give ye something. The bolt of lightning,
as a foreigner, probably a Scot, though he forging of the horseshoes was but a test. While ye knocking the hero
couldn’t quite place the accent. He didn’t like the worked, I observed. Ye have a rare talent for through a wall. Where
way the man called him “lad.” Jake was nineteen, making things. Ye put yourself into whatever it is did they get such a
a man grown! “My manager does, sir. But he’s off yer makin’, and that’s rare in this day. The smiths dangerous weapon?
at a meeting right now. Something I can do for of old could make things of power by doing as ye Has Battleforge
you?” Jake just wanted him to leave. did. Alas, that talent is all but lost now.” He eyed lowered his prices?
“Can ye forge shoes?” Jake carefully, as though measuring him Or is a more dire plot
“Shoes?” Jake blinked in confusion. somehow. about to unfold?
“Horseshoes, lad. M’ horse threw a shoe and “Will ye learn from me, lad? I can teach ye to
Battleforge returns
I couldna find the thing. I need ye ta make me a imbue magic inta everythin’ ye make. Only a
home one night to
new one, if’n yer master’s nae here ta do it.” handful in this age have the talent fer it, and yours
find his items of
“Well, yeah, I can make horseshoes. You just is the strongest I’ve yet seen. What do ye say lad?
power missing. He’s
caught me by surprise, that’s all. Most people who Will ye become a true smith?”
been robbed!
need them mail order their horseshoes. It’s “I’d like that. All my parents can talk about is
Respecting the PCs
cheaper.” how I should go to college and learn some real
despite their clashes
The man chuckled. “Well, I’m not most skills I can make money with. I don’t care much
in the past, he goes to
people, lad. Come check m’ horse, then get to about making money, really. I just enjoy making
them for help in
makin’ that shoe. I have things ta be about, and things. But I can’t just disappear. What will
reclaiming his
standing here is’na gettin’ ’em done.” happen to them if I leave?”
property. Will they
Jake got to work making the horseshoe. He “Well, they’ll miss ye, lad, as all parents do
help him, or seize the
ended up making a whole set, as the shoes that when their sons leave home. They want what’s
chance to bring
hadn’t been thrown needed to be replaced. They best for ye, and in this day, that means being
Battleforge to justice?
were severely worn, as if they hadn’t been made wealthy. Once I’ve taught ye, yer talents will be
Who raided his forge,
to withstand being ridden on pavement. Before he much sought after. Wealth will likely be yours
and what all did they
realized it, the set was done and on the horse’s whether ye want it or no.”
get?
hooves. Jake grinned, realizing the potential of
“Lad, ye have the knack of forging. What’s showing his parents that his own dreams could be
yer name?” of value, despite what they thought. “All right,
“Jake, sir. Jake Sullivan.” Wayland. I’ll go with you.
The man smiled. “And yer polite, even when
ye’d rather a stranger like me be off and away. 31
Dinna be offended, lad. Yer thoughts were plain
artwork by Dave Schrader
 DIGITAL HERO #15
“That’s a good lad. Go and collect yer things. mercenary, making contacts and earning favors.
Leave yer parents a note, if ye wish, but dinna Nearly anyone might find reason to employ
mention my name or what it is ye’ll be learning. Battleforge, but his services don’t come cheap. He
They wouldna understand. Now hurry, lad; time is sometimes raids warehouses or laboratories for
short.” raw materials, especially if he hears of inherently
Jake spent years in the Land of Legends, magical materials such as Dwarven silver-steel,
learning the art of Artificing. He stayed away adamantine, and orichalcum.
from the natives of the Land of Legends as much The price Battleforge charges depends largely
as he could, fearing them for their strange on the person making the purchase. He will sell to
appearances and practices. Several natives asked anyone, hero or villain, as long as they have cash.
Jake to forge items for them, but he refused, The only people he won’t knowingly sell to are
saying he was only an apprentice and not ready to Dark Seraph and anyone associated with
accept commissions. But he promised to DEMON. DEMON once raided his forge for the
remember them, and would accept commissions secrets of making items of power, believing his
when his learning was done. secret to be arcane in nature rather than inherent
Shortly after his 30th birthday, Jake skill. Battleforge, upon discovering his ruined
completed his apprenticeship. Wayland returned workshop, quickly and messily took his revenge,
Jake to his home, where the smith gave him one causing immense property damage and making a
last instruction. name for himself as a dangerous villain.
“Lad, always remember – what I have taught
ye is yours. Use it as ye will. There are those in Quote: “Don’t tell me what to do. And if you
the world who would seek to use ye as a tool for think you can force me, think again.”
their own ends. Dinna let them. Yer power canna Powers/Tactics: Battleforge’s primary ability is
be forced from ye, only bought or given as ye making magic items, or items of power, as he
choose or coerced as ye allow. Ye are yer own calls them. It isn’t easy, though. He must
master now. Dinna allow another to usurp yer free physically create or forge whatever he wishes to
will.” enchant. Then the enchantment process takes at
Wayland’s last lesson echoed in Jake’s mind least an hour of concentration. Once he performs
as he looked over his handiwork. When Dark an enchanting, it takes a week before he has the
Seraph heard of Jake’s skill, the villain quickly energy to enchant something else.
moved to capture Jake’s skill for his own ends. It is suggested the GMs use the Enchant Item
Jake refused, even when he was forced to watch power as follows: when Battleforge enchants an
his parents suffer torture and death at Dark item, he rolls the 15 dice and adds the total. In
Seraph’s hands. Scoffing at Jake’s tears, the addition to determining if the enchanting was
villain released him, promising that Jake would successful (by rolling double the target object’s
come to serve him freely. Jake promised a silent body or more), the roll indicates the maximum
vengeance. Real Points that can be spent on building the item.
Jake went into hiding and set up a forge for The maximum Active Point value is
himself. There he made his armor and weapons, recommended to be 90, the maximum possible
and empowered them from his imagination. He roll on 15d6. GMs may wish to waive that if a
took the name Battleforge and began a personal specific plot calls for a more powerful item.
crusade to destroy Dark Seraph and any others Any points not used are lost, and he can
who would usurp his free will. create any sort of powers in the item he desires.
Personality/Motivation: Battleforge remains He prefers Multipowers (like his Flaming Sword
very bitter over the deaths of his parents. He left and Wand of Day and Night), items with multiple
home to develop his skill at smithing and prove to powers outside of a Power Framework (like his
his parents that it was worth learning. Instead, his Plate Armor of Glory) and single power items
parents were tortured to death for the skill he (like his Helm of Defense and Ring of Phasing).
learned. Battleforge fully intends to kill Dark Though not reflected in a Limitation, GMs should
Seraph, by any means necessary. This drive for disallow Battleforge from making Variable Power
vengeance hardened Battleforge to the point that Pool items, unless required for a specific plot.
he became willing to commit crimes in order to Anyone buying something from Battleforge
gain the strength and resources needed to destroy must either pay Character Points for the item (in
Dark Seraph. addition to whatever monetary price Battleforge
Battleforge knows that destroying Dark charges), or be able to fit it in a Power Framework
Seraph won’t be easy or swift. In the meantime, of some kind. Battleforge can use any item he has
he makes items of power for any who will pay his made without paying points for it, unless he
price. Both heroes and villains have improved begins using it on a regular basis. In that case, he
must pay points for it, as he did for his current
32 their arsenals with items he has forged. He also
equipment. GMs who wish for Battleforge to keep
accepts custom orders, and has worked as a
DIGITAL HERO #15

Battleforge

33
 DIGITAL HERO #15

Battleforge 2u 3) Night-Shroud: Darkness to Sight

Group 4” radius, Personal Immunity
Val Char Cost Roll Notes
(+¼); OAF (-1), 8 Charges lasting 1
25+20 STR 15+10*# 14-/18- Lift 800kg/12½ tn;
Turn each (removed by light-based
5d6/9d6 [2/4]
powers; -½) [8cc]
15+5 DEX 15+7*# 12-/13- OCV: 5/7/
20+10 CON 20+10*# 13-/15- DCV: 5/7 24 Ethereal Crossbow: RKA 3d6,
15 BODY 10 12- Affects Desolidified (+½); OAF (-1),
14 INT 4 12- PER Roll: 12- 8 Charges (-½), No Knockback (-¼) [8]
13 EGO 6 12- ECV: 4 9 Shocking Gauntlets: HA +4d6
20+5 PRE 10+3* 13-/14- PRE Attack: (affects ED, not PD); Hand-to-Hand
14 COM 2 12- 4d6/5d6 Attack (-½), OIF (-½), 8 Boostable
Charges (-¼) [8bc]
10 PD 5 Total: 30 (20rPD)
30 Plate Armor of Glory: Armor (12
8 ED 4 Total: 28 (20rED)
PD/12 ED), Hardened (+¼); OIF (-½) 0
3+2 SPD 5+13* Phases: 4, 8, 12/
31 Helm of Defense: Force Field (8 PD/
10 REC 2 3, 5, 8, 10, 12
8 ED/5 Sight Group Flash Defense/
40 END 0
5 Mental Defense/5 Power Defense),
40 STUN 2 * OIF (Armor; -½)
Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½);
# No Figured (-½)
OIF (-½) 0
Total Characteristics Cost: 143 10 Shield of Deflecting: +4 with DCV;
OAF (-1) 0
Movement: Running: 10”/20”
30 Amulet of Phasing: Teleportation
Teleport: 15”/30”
15”, Reduced Endurance (0 END;
Cost Powers END +½); OIF (-½) 0
35 Enchant Item: Major Transform 15 Ring of Hiding: Invisibility to Sight
15d6 (item into enchanted item, heals Group, Reduced Endurance (0 END;
back by Dispel vs. magic or anti- +½); IAF (-½), Only When Not
magic field), Improved Result Group Attacking (-½) 0
(any enchantment, see text; +½); 8 Fast Runner: + 4” Running (10” total) 2
Limited Target (items Battleforge has 15 Magic Sense: Detect Magic 12-,
personally made; -½), 1 Charge (-2), Discriminatory, Range 0
Charge Takes 1 Week to Recover
Skills
(-½), Costs Endurance (-½), Extra
32 +4 with Combat
Time (1 Hour; -3), Concentration (0
DCV, must Concentrate throughout; 3 Breakfall 13-
-1), No Range (-½), Roll Result is 3 Mechanics 12-
Maximum Real Points Available to 3 SS: Gemology 12-
be Spent on Item with Maximum of 3 SS: Metallurgy 12-
90 Active Points (-¼), Points Not 3 Tactics 12-
Used Are Lost (-¼) [1],34 5 Weaponsmith (Muscle-Powered HTH,
Muscle-Powered Ranged) 13-
30 Flaming Sword: Multipower, 60-point
6 WF: Common Melee Weapons,
reserve; all OAF (-1)
Common Missile Weapons, Flails, Staffs
3u 1) Flaming Blade: HKA 2d6 (3d6+1
with STR), Armor Piercing (+½), +1 3 Jack of All Trades
Increased STUN Multiplier (+¼), 3 1) PS: Jeweler 13-
Reduced Endurance (½ END; +¼); 3 2) PS: Leatherworker 13-
OAF (-1) 3 3 3) PS: Metalworker 13-
3u 2) Flame Blast: EB 12d6; OAF (-1), 3 4) PS: Smith 13-
12 Boostable Charges (-0) [12bc] 3 5) PS: Woodworker 13-
25 Wand of Day and Night: Multipower, 3 Scholar
50-point reserve; all OAF (-1) 1 1) KS: Arcane and Occult Lore 11-
2u 1) Day-Burst: Sight Group Flash 1 2) KS: Fantasy 11-
10d6; OAF (-1), 8 Boostable 1 3) KS: The Mystic World 11-
Charges (-¼) [8bc] 2 4) KS: Weapons and Armor 12-
1u 2) Day-Light: Sight Group Images,
Increased Size (16” radius; +1), Total Powers & Skills Cost: 357
Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½); Total Cost: 500
34 OAF (-1), Only to Create Light (-1) 0
DIGITAL HERO #15
200+ Disadvantages
10 Distinctive Features: Mystic Aura (Not 20 Psychological Limitation: Hates Dark
Concealable; Always Noticed; Detectable Seraph and DEMON (Common, Total)
Only With Unusual Senses) 10 Psychological Limitation: Mercenary,
15 Enraged: takes BODY damage Will Do Almost Anything For Money
(Uncommon), go 11-, recover 11- (Common, Moderate)
15 Hunted: Dark Seraph 8- (Mo Pow, 10 Psychological Limitation: Vengeful
Enslave) (Uncommon, Strong)
20 Hunted: DEMON 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, 15 Social Limitation: Secret Identity
Enslave) (Frequently, Major)
5 Hunted: Trismegistus Council 11- (As 15 Susceptibility: to anti-magic fields, 3d6
Pow, Watching) damage per Minute (Uncommon)
15 Psychological Limitation: Hates Being 150 Experience Points
Manipulated or Coerced (Common,
Strong) Total Disadvantage Points: 500

extra items of power on hand should give him a insult or actually wound him though, earn his
suitable Variable Power Pool. undying enmity. Battleforge creates some
Battleforge fights in a fairly straightforward deviously unpleasant things in the name
manner. He won’t resort to stealth tactics unless vengeance….
he knows he’s outmatched or planning an Battleforge lives outside of Campaign City,
ambush. Ranged combat, however, is his favorite on a small plot of land near a mountain where he
way to start a fight, most often using his Flame set up his second forge after DEMON destroyed
Blast or Ethereal Crossbow. If he needs a tactical his first one. He created a portal to the Land of
advantage, he’ll create a couple of Night-Shrouds Legends recently, and charges a moderate fee for
or go invisible. For melee combat, he leads in its use. He has thought about making portals to
with his Flaming Blade, and sometimes throws a other realms, but has not yet done so.
punch with the Shocking Gauntlet. The sudden To make Battleforge more powerful, add
switch sometimes draws a Surprise bonus. The more items to his arsenal and improve the power
Amulet of Phasing is used for strategic of his current items. You might give him a VPP
maneuvering, the Ring of Hiding for a stealthy for plot-based items he makes. To trim him down,
retreat. decrease the power of his items, and have his
Enchant Item power take a month to recharge.
Campaign Use: Battleforge can be the origin for
characters who purchase or otherwise obtain Appearance: Jake Sullivan is a large, well-built
magic items from him. One such character is man in his early thirties, over six feet tall, bald
Shadowspy, a mutant speedster and thief who with a thick, red beard and green eyes. He
bought several shadow-based items to normally wears a well-worn leather apron while
complement her mutation. working at the forge. When out relaxing, he
Battleforge’s continuing quest for vengeance typically wears jeans and a t-shirt.
against Dark Seraph and (to a lesser degree) Battleforge wears plate armor of a late
DEMON can easily bring him into conflict with medieval style with a great helm and full,
the PCs. He stages a raid on most any valuable midnight blue cloak. His sword bears runes unlike
metal he hears about, especially if it has magical any known on Earth, which glow through the
properties. Often he’ll hire some villains to help flames it creates. The shield appears to be of
him, if the take is big enough or he expects simple white oak with steel bands, and like the
opposition. On the rare occasion when he wants to breastplate of his armor, bears his insignia in red –
get away from the forge and relax, he makes his a smith’s hammer poised over an anvil with rays
way to a favorite bar in the city, plays some pool of light surrounding them. The armor is
and talks sports with the other patrons. surprisingly quiet when Battleforge moves.
Any PC with a sense of vengeance might find The Wand of Day and Night appears to be
a bit of sympathy for Battleforge. He came to about 2 feet long, made of blue metal with a
villainy through tragedy, after all. Had large round crystal at the tip. His crossbow and
circumstances been different, Battleforge might gauntlets appear to be normal, except for runes
have become a hero. Who knows? Perhaps he still etched in gold upon them. The Amulet of
may. Phasing depicts a starburst pattern on a gold
Heroes who severely cross Battleforge may medallion, while the Ring of Hiding is a simple
find themselves regretting it, however. He silver band with runes carved around the surface.
remembers those who thwart him, and enjoys 35
giving them a sound thrashing later. Those who
 DIGITAL HERO #15

PUTTING THE
SLIME IN SLIMER Ghost Stories by Michael Surbrook
Ectoplasm is a
“From ghoulies and ghosties. Skeptics have pointed out that many ghosts
semi-solid substance
and long-legged beasties, and other alleged hauntings have natural
said to extrude from
and things that go bump in the night; explanations. Many ghosts are witnessed by
the pores and other
good Lord deliver us.” those in their beds, and in this case the person
bodily orifices of a
— Scottish prayer seeing the ghost is probably still asleep, although
spiritual medium.
they think they are awake. Other ghosts are
This material can
The belief in ghosts, defined as the spirit (or hallucinations brought on by stress, fear or
assume life-like
soul) of someone who has died and is still exhaustion. Still more ghosts may be explained
forms, including
wandering the earth, is an almost universal as tricks of the light, clouds of mist or fog, or the
arms, faces, and entire
concept among all the cultures of the world. manifestation of an electrically charged
figures. When
According to many belief systems, the soul is atmosphere (many ghosts are associated with
extruded, it is warm
released from the body after death and eventually thunderstorms).
to the touch, but may
have a rubbery or travels to some form of underworld or afterlife.
doughy feel. Depending on the culture, there may be a period
Ectoplasm apparently of time between death and the actual trip to the
reacts strongly to afterlife in which the soul may remain near its
bright light, and can original body. For some tribes of American
only be produced by a Indians this was a period of four days; the
medium in a dark or Chinese, 10 days; for the Japanese this time
dimly lit room. The period can be as long as 42 days; and the
production of Egyptians believed that one portion of the soul,
ectoplasm was a large the ba, never left the body. If the soul becomes
part of many séances lost, isn’t given the proper funeral rites, or never
of the late nineteenth leaves to begin its trip, then it may become a
and early twentieth ghost.
centuries. According to more modern belief systems,
Photographic ghosts seem to occur when someone dies
evidence of ectoplasm suddenly, especially from violence, or if a person
gives one the dies before some important task can be
impression it is a completed. Other ghosts are said to be the
fairly disgusting psychic impressions of a person, usually attached
substance to to something the person particularly liked (such
encounter, especially as a favorite chair or room).
when one sees from The modern image for the “classic” ghost is
where ectoplasm was a white, sheet-draped figure, usually moaning
commonly produced. and howling and accompanied by clanking
Naturally, skeptics chains. In reality, most alleged hauntings involve
have tried to expose strange sounds and odors, spots of cold, and
the production of moving objects. Actual figures are usually hazy,
ectoplasm as visual and if clear enough to be identified, are dressed
trickery, and small in clothing typical of the time period in which
samples of the the ghost originally lived. Homer described the
material, when ghosts of the Iliad and the Odyssey as shades,
analyzed, have proved which assumed solid form after being given
to be ground-up paper animal’s blood to drink. In Japan ghosts are said
or altered animal to have no feet, while Chinese ghosts are said to
organs. lack their chin.

36
DIGITAL HERO #15

Ghost Campaign Use: The write-up presented here is

for a fairly generic ghost. It can be used as a
Ecology: Being dead, ghosts do not eat, drink,
template to represent almost any of the ghosts
or sleep (at least as humans understand it). They
described in this section, especially if you add in
exist simply because of some strong tie to the
any of the optional powers. Note, this template
mortal world. This can be a desire for revenge, a
has no skills; it is up to you to determine what (if
desire to protect their descendants, unfinished
any) skills a specific ghost had.
business, or an improper burial. Places of
As written, the Generic Ghost is well-suited
extreme violence are commonly inhabited by
for heroic-level games. It could be used with
ghosts. This category includes: battlefields,
ease in a Justice Inc., Fantasy Hero, Horror
prisons, hospitals, and torture chambers.
Hero, or Western Hero campaign. When dealing
Personality/Motivation: Most ghosts seem to with Champions campaigns, you should feel free
have little free will and simply pantomime a to discard this template. Ghosts in comics books
series of actions repetitively every night (or on usually are much more vocal, active, and
specific nights). Others may have strong desires intelligent than the traditional ghost. Comic book
relating to their existence as a ghost. For ghosts usually have more (and stranger) powers
example, the ghost of a murder victim may wish as well.
to have its body uncovered and properly buried,
Appearance: When manifesting a visual
the ghost of a miser may stand guard over its
presence, a ghost is usually a filmy translucent
buried treasure, while the ghost of a faithful dog
figure. It may (or may not) have any sort of
may eternally await the return of its master, and
definitive shape, and often lacks facial features.
so on. Some ghosts seem to have a certain degree
Humanoid ghosts are dressed in a manner fitting
of intelligence. These ghosts may take action
the time period in which they lived, while
against those who disturb their rest and
shapeless ghosts often resemble blobs of light or
residence. Others may become protective of
shadows. It should be noted some ghosts take the
those who live near them. In general, it is
form of animals (such as dogs or cats) or
impossible to create a blanket set of desires for a
vehicles (phantom ships and carriages are
ghost, as their personalities are so variable.
common).
Powers/Tactics: Ghosts don’t engage in open
combat, instead they tend to harass and menace
anyone to whom they have taken a disliking.
This harassment often takes the form of strange
noises, cold spots around the house (or other
buildings), and the movement of objects. Some
ghosts may actively throw objects about, often
doing so when a specific person is in the room
with them. This poltergeist activity can reach
extreme proportions in some cases, and can
include the hurling of heavy objects, breaking
fragile ones, emptying drawers, moving
furniture, and opening and closing doors.
Other ghostly powers include the ability to
extrude an eerie aura. This will disturb cats, dogs
and other animals, activate most forms of Danger
Sense and generally “spook” those who are
easily startled, nervous or sensitive to the spirit
world. Ghosts are also known to produce writing
and other symbols on walls, the floor, and blank
slates. This “automatic writing” varies greatly in
legibility and content, but is usually the only way
a ghost can communicate with the living.
As the typical ghost is insubstantial, most
conventional attacks will not harm it. If it can be
harmed by an attack of some sort, it seems likely
the average ghost would flee the local area as
quickly as possible.

37
 DIGITAL HERO #15

Ghost 75+ Disadvantages

0 Physical Limitation: Human Size
Val Char Cost Roll Notes
5 Physical Limitation: Reduced Leap,
0 STR -10 9- Lift 25 kg; 0d6 HTH [0]
cannot leap (Infrequently, Slightly
13 DEX 9 12- OCV: 4/DCV: 4
Impairing)
10 CON 0 11-
20 Physical Limitation: Tied To The Site Of
8 BODY -4 11-
Its Death Or A Specific Location
5 INT -5 10- PER Roll: 10-
(Frequently, Fully Impairing)
20 EGO 20 13- ECV: 7
20 Psychological Limitation: Single-Minded
30 PRE 20 15- PRE Attack: 6d6
And Locked Into Habits (Very Common,
6 COM -2 10-
Strong)
2 PD 2 Total: 2 PD (0 rPD) 310 Experience Points
2 ED 0 Total: 2 ED (0 rED)
Total Disadvantage Points: 430
2 SPD 0 Phases: 6, 12
2 REC 0
OPTIONS
20 END 0
Cost Optional Ghost Powers
15 STUN 2
5 Self-Awareness: INT +5 0
Total Characteristics Cost: 32 (+10 w/ NCM) 2 Human Appearance: COM +4 0
86 Full Poltergeist Effect: TK (20 STR),
Movement: Running: 0”/0” Area Of Effect (3” Radius), Affects
Flight: 6”/12” Physical World (+2), BOECV (+1),
Cost Powers END Invisible To Sight Group (+½), Reduced
43 Poltergeist Effect: TK (10 STR), Affects Endurance (0 END; +½); Affects Whole
Physical World (+2), BOECV (+1), Object (-¼), No Range (-½) 0
Invisible To Sight Group (+½), Reduced 45 Fading: Invisibility to Sight Group, No
Endurance (0 END; +½); Affects Whole Fringe, Reduced Endurance (0 END;
Object (-¼), No Range (-½) 0 +½) 0
60 Insubstantial Form: Desolidification 30 Automatic Writing: Cosmetic Transform
(affected by magic), Reduced Endurance 3d6 (blank wall to wall with writing);
(0 END; +½), Persistent (+½), Inherent Affects Physical World (+2), Invisible
(+¼); Always On (-½) 0 To Sight Group (+½), Reduced
15 Insubstantial Form: Does Not Bleed 0 Endurance (0 END; +½); Extra Time
50 Undead Vitality: Life Support: Total (Full Phase; -½), No Range (-½) 0
(including Longevity: Immortality) 0
8 Single-Minded: Mental Defense (12
points) 0
10 Insubstantial Form: No Hit Locations 0
24 Floating About: Flight 6”, Reduced
Endurance (0 END; +½), Persistent (+½) 0
-12 Only “Flies”: Running -6”
-2 Only “Flies”: Swimming -2”
38 Create Cold Spots: Change
Environment 1” radius, -3 Temperature
Levels, Affects Physical World (+2),
Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½) 0
70 Fearful Presence: Change Environment
4” radius, -5 PRE Roll for resisting
effects of the ghost’s presence, Affects
Physical World (+2), Reduced
Endurance (0 END; +½); No Range (-½) 0
94 Mysterious Noises And Smells: Hearing
and Smell/Taste Group Images, -5 to
PER Rolls, Increased Size (2” radius;
+¼), Affects Physical World (+2),
Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½) 0
Total Powers & Skills Cost: 398
Total Cost: 430
38
DIGITAL HERO #15

Poltergeist Cost Powers END

86 Full Poltergeist Effect: TK (20
Description: The term “poltergeist” comes from
STR), Area Of Effect (3” Radius),
the German words poltern (“to knock”) and geist
Affects Physical World (+2), BOECV
(“spirit”). Thus a poltergeist is a “knocking
(+1), Invisible To Sight Group (+½),
spirit.” Poltergeist cases are a very common form
Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½);
of haunting and usually involve thrown objects,
Affects Whole Object (-¼), No
moving furniture, slamming doors and windows,
Range (-½) 0
loud and unusual noises, strange smells, and
71 Poltergeist Effect: TK (10 STR),
physical assaults. Modern poltergeist cases
Fine Manipulation, Affects Physical
report such things as phones that dial themselves
World (+2), BOECV (+1), Invisible
and spinning light bulbs. In general, the actions
To Sight Group (+½), Reduced
of a specific poltergeist can be traced to the
Endurance (0 END; +½); Affects
presence of a certain person. When that person is
Whole Object (-¼), No Range (-½) 0
present, the poltergeist is active, if the person
60 Insubstantial Form: Desolidification
leaves, the poltergeist is quiet. Statistics show
(affected by magic), Reduced
this person to commonly be a female under the
Endurance (0 END; +½), Persistent
age of 20.
(+½), Inherent (+¼); Always On (-½) 0
In an attempt to explain poltergeist activity,
15 Insubstantial Form: Does Not Bleed 0
some researchers have offered the theory that the
50 Undead Vitality: Life Support: Total
actions are the result of the subconscious use of
(including Longevity: Immortality) 0
psychokinesis (i.e. telekinesis). As many (but not
8 Single-Minded: Mental Defense (12
all) of the people on whom the poltergeist
points) 0
activity is centered are young, it is believed to be
10 Insubstantial Form: No Hit
a side effect of puberty and stress. One theory
Locations 0
states that poltergeist activity is the result of
24 Floating About: Flight 6”, Reduced
suppressed anger and hostility. Other theories
Endurance (0 END; +½), Persistent
point to spirits of the dead, or the idea that the
(+½) 0
person under stress projects part of their psyche
-12 Only “Flies”: Running -6”
into an independent being.
-2 Only “Flies”: Swimming -2”
45 Fading: Invisibility to Sight Group,
No Fringe, Reduced Endurance (0
END; +½) 0
Poltergeist 94 Mysterious Noises And Smells:
Val Char Cost Roll Notes Hearing and Smell/Taste Group
0 STR -10 9- Lift 25kg; 0d6 HTH [0] Images, -5 to PER Rolls, Increased
15 DEX 15 12- OCV: 5/DCV: 5 Size (2” radius; +¼), Affects Physical
20 CON 20 13- World (+2), Reduced Endurance (0
8 BODY -4 11- END; +½) 0
15 INT 5 12- PER Roll: 12-
23 EGO 26 14- ECV: 7 Total Powers & Skills Cost: 449
20 PRE 10 13- PRE Attack: 4d6 Total Cost: 524
10 COM 0 11-
75+ Disadvantages
4 PD 4 Total: 4 PD (0 rPD) 0 Physical Limitation: Human Size
4 ED 0 Total: 4 ED (0 rED) 5 Physical Limitation: Reduced Leap,
3 SPD 5 Phases: 4, 8, 12 cannot leap (Infrequently, Slightly
5 REC 2 Impairing)
40 END 0 20 Physical Limitation: Tied To The
20 STUN 2 Emotional State Of A Specific Person
(Frequently, Fully Impairing)
Total Characteristics Cost: 75 (+6 w/ NCM)
15 Psychological Limitation: Subject To
Movement: Running: 0”/0” Sudden Mood Swings (Common, Strong)
Flight: 6”/12” 15 Psychological Limitation: Violent
And/Or “Playful” (Common, Strong)
394 Experience
Total Disadvantage Points: 524

39
 DIGITAL HERO #15

Old Hag Ecology: The Old Hag can be found almost

anywhere, in locations all over the world. At
The Old Hag is a ghostly creature that
night they will leave their lairs (usually located
comes during the night to “ride” its victims,
in deserted parts of the countryside) and seek out
pressing on the victim’s chest and slowly
their prey. They attack those who are sleeping,
suffocating him. Interestingly enough, the Old
pressing down on the chest of their target,
Hag is unique of all the entries in this article in
causing severe pains, general tightness, and
that it is the one thing most likely to have been
troubled breathing. This form of attack is known
actually experienced by a reader. The
as “hagging” or “riding.” It is said that pointing
phenomenon of the Old Hag is quite real,
one’s shoes away from the bed, hanging a
although it does not necessarily have a
horseshoe over the bed, or keeping lit candles
supernatural explanation. The Old Hag effect is
around the bed will keep the Old Hag away.
caused by a form of sleep paralysis, and may be
Old hags are also known by the following
experienced by as many as one in every six
names: hag, mahr, mara, mare, nightmare,
people. In his book The Terror That Comes in
zashiki-warashi.
the Night, David J Hufford describes the Old
Hag as follows: “[the] state in which this Personality/Motivation: Old Hags are
experience occurs is probably best described as a malicious and evil spirits that come out at night
sleep paralysis with a particular kind of to haunt men. They delight in riding a man to
hypnagogic hallucination….” Of course, near death and exhaustion and are even known to
knowing what the Old Hag effect is still doesn’t attack the local livestock in the same manner.
make it any less frightening when it occurs.
The Old Hag effect is common to cultures Powers/Tactics: The Old Hag attacks its
all over the world and the experience of being victims while they are sleeping. It enters into
ridden is invariably described the same way. The their bedroom and then fixes them with a fear so
Norse blamed these attacks on a creature they intense they are rendered unable to move. At this
called “mara,” which is where we get the term point the Old Hag will ride its victim,
“nightmare” from. To the English, an old hag suffocating its target and leaving them feeling
was the culprit, giving rise to the terms of “hag- weary and drained. If uninterrupted, the hag can
ridden” and “haggard.” The Japanese blamed the and will ride its victim to death. However, the
ghosts of children, who sat on a sleeper’s chest hag only attacks one victim a night, and if the
and stole their breath away. The Norse believed victim is able to break paralysis (or is moved by
in a walking corpse they called the dragur, which a friend or loved one) the hag’s control is broken
could transform itself into a cat. In this form it and she will be forced to flee (for the
would sit on a sleeper’s chest, slowly gaining moment…).
weight until its victim suffocated. Campaign Use: Old Hag is best suited for
A loose relation to the Old Hag was a fantasy or horror settings, although it could
demonic creature known as an Incubus. The easily be used in pulp or superhero settings. With
Incubus was a male demon that came in the night a little bit of modification it could even be used
to seduce a woman and enjoy sexual congress in a science fiction setting, especially if one
with her. The female form of the Incubus was decided to treat it as a form of psionic vampire.
called a Succubus, which seduced men. Some
believed the Incubus and Succubus to be one and Appearance: An Old Hag normally appears as
the same, switching sex depending on their an old woman, although its face is horrifying to
intended victim. Some medieval scholars went behold. Its approach is heralded by the sound of
even further, stating that the Incubus, being a footsteps followed by a great weight pressing on
demon, was incapable of impregnating a women, the victim’s chest.
and had to gather the needed semen by first
seducing a man. In any case, the attack of either
an Incubus or a Succubus would leave the victim
exhausted, much like the victim of the Old Hag.

40
DIGITAL HERO #15

Old Hag
Val Char Cost Roll Notes
25 STR 15 14- Lift 800 kg; 5d6 HTH [2]
14 DEX 12 12- OCV: 5/DCV: 5
18 CON 16 13-
10 BODY 0 11-
13 INT 3 12- PER Roll: 12-
23 EGO 26 14- ECV: 8
35 PRE 25 16- PRE Attack: 7d6
2 COM -4 9-
10 PD 5 Total: 10 PD (0 rPD)
6 ED 2 Total: 6 ED (0 rED)
3 SPD 6 Phases: 4, 8, 12
9 REC 0
36 END 0
32 STUN 0
Total Characteristics Cost: 106 (+26 w/ NCM)
Movement: Running: 6”/12”
Flight: 12”/24”
Leaping: 5”/10”
Swimming: 0”/0”
Cost Powers END
16 Paralyzing Fear: Mind Control 12d6,
Telepathic (+¼); One Charge (-2), No
Range (-½), Set Effect (“Stay with
me”; -1), Mind Control Effects are
Automatically Dispelled if the Victim 100 Insubstantial Form: Desolidification
Moves or is Moved (-¼) [1] (affected by magic), Reduced
183 Suffocation: EB 2d6, NND (Defense is Endurance (0 END; +½), Persistent
No Need to Breathe, or Self-Contained (+½), Inherent (+¼) 0
Breathing; +1), Affects Physical World 5 Can See In The Dark: Night Vision
(+2), Continuous (+1), Reduced
Skills
Endurance (0 END; +½); No Range
4 +2 OECV with Mind Control
(-½), Only Affects Victims Under Mind
Control (-½) plus Riding: Transfer 1d6 3 Concealment 12-
(Target’s BODY to Character’s 7 Shadowing 14-
BODY), Delayed Return Rate (5 7 Stealth 14-
Character Points per Season [3 months]; 3 Tracking 12-
+3), Affects Physical World (+2),
Continuous (+1), Reduced Endurance Total Powers & Skills Cost: 409
(0 END; +½), Linked (to EB; -¼) plus Total Cost: 515
Riding: Transfer 1d6 (Target’s END to
Character’s END), Delayed Return Rate 75+ Disadvantages
(5 Character Points per Hour; +1), 15 Physical Limitation: Dispelled (forced to
Affects Physical World (+2), flee) if Mind Control is Broken
Continuous (+1), Reduced Endurance (Infrequent, Fully)
(0 END; +½), Linked (to EB; -¼) 0 0 Physical Limitation: Human Size
47 Undead Vitality: Life Support: Total 15 Physical Limitation: Restricted by
(except for Diminished Eating, Certain Talismans (Infrequent, Fully)
including Longevity: Immortality) 0 20 Psychological Limitation: Malicious;
36 Floating About: Flight 12”, Reduced Enjoys Tormenting Humans (Very
Endurance (0 END; +½) 0 Common, Strong)
-2 Doesn’t Swim: Swimming -2” (Total 10 Reputation: nighttime horror 8-
0”) 0 (Extreme)
380 Experience
Total Disadvantage Points: 515
41
 DIGITAL HERO #15

Baron Roberto by W. Ross Watson

Background/History: Little is known of Baron The elite superhero he’s hunting is intended
Roberto’s past. The son of an obscure Spanish to be left open for a suitable Player Character.
nobleman, Roberto mysteriously took over his Normally, that Player Character would be
father’s estate a little over thirty years ago. In responsible for Baron Roberto’s missing eye,
that time he’s been married and has a daughter, thus explaining the animosity between them.
but there is no sign of his spouse. UNTIL files
propose that she sought, and was granted, a Quote: “You’ll never escape!”
divorce, but PRIMUS believes that Roberto “Your plans have all come to naught.”
killed her in a fit of rage. Whatever the truth, “Only I will chart the destiny of the world!”
Roberto’s next step was to ally himself with the “You heroes have accomplished nothing.
most powerful supervillains the world has ever You are a reactive force, responding to whatever
known. (Exactly who makes up the elite group is the emergency at the time is. You have no vision
up to the GM.) to change the world.”
The origin of the Baron’s powers is “I, Baron Roberto, remain the most
similarly a mystery. UNTIL analysts believe he powerful… challenge me if you dare!”
may be a mutant, who honed his abilities over Powers/Tactics: It should be apparent that
the decades to razor-sharpness. PRIMUS has Baron Roberto is extremely powerful. In fact, he
reports that Roberto’s powers were “created” in is intended for play in a very high power
him by another supervillain, identity unknown, campaign. (See the HERO System 5th Edition,
who tampered with the Baron’s DNA. page 15.) He was created to fill the place of a
UNTIL has a file on Roberto’s daughter, world-class supervillain’s right hand man…
known as The Magician, who is a minor Baron Roberto would fit right in at the side of
supervillain in her own right. Roberto’s lackey Doctor Destroyer, for example. When an elite
Ivan the Terrible likewise is noted in most supervillain or elite superhero is mentioned, it is
agencies’ (such as PRIMUS and UNTIL) intended to represent a hero or villain with
records. enough Character Points to be considered among
Roberto’s Spanish estate was seized by the world’s best.
authorities shortly after his debut as a His follower, Ivan the Terrible, is a normal
supervillain, but his noble title has never been superheroic level supervillain, and GMs are
revoked. encouraged write up Ivan however they wish.
(Baron Roberto’s background is Ivan should be a messenger boy for Roberto and
purposefully left vague in order for GMs to have nuisance to the Player Character group.
free reign in order to incorporate a character as Baron Roberto’s powers are based on a
powerful as the Baron into their campaigns.) mastery of the kinetic energies infusing the
Personality/Motivation: Baron Roberto is a universe. He can let loose with hideously
man who exists to make things interesting. He powerful energy blasts that can destroy nearly
believes in changing the world, for the anything. He’s fully capable of walking into a
betterment of himself. He also believes in being superhero base and laying it to waste with a
proactive as opposed to reactive. He rarely wave of his hand. Any hero should feel worried
hatches a plan or plot of his own. He is more if he is the target of Roberto’s kinetic blasts. His
often encountered enforcing the edicts of other kinetic powers also enable him to move at
elite supervillains and acting as an able assistant frightening speeds: Roberto can keep up with a
to a world-class villain like Doctor Destroyer. speeding car easily, or leap to the top of tall
Roberto loves his daughter, The Magician, towers, or swim with torpedo-like velocity deep
but rarely shows his affections beyond regular under the ocean.
correspondence. He respects power and courage. Strangely, Roberto’s stylish suit never seems
An honorable hero will gain Roberto’s attention, to be rumpled, not even in the midst of
for there is enough of the Spanish nobleman left catastrophic superhero combat or gigantic
inside to make Roberto return the favor. explosions.
One thing he does not tolerate is being Baron Roberto can, with great effort, assume
manipulated or tricked. He feels that he has different shapes in order to hide and observe his
earned his position as a preeminent supervillain, enemies. He does this only if absolutely
and being toyed with or betrayed ensures that he necessary, for it requires him to focus his iron
will become an implacable enemy. Roberto may will into unflinching concentration, taking
even end up assisting the superheroes if he feels control of his own molecules’ kinetic force and
misused by the elite supervillain group! reshaping it to change forms.
42
artwork by Derrick Thomas
DIGITAL HERO #15
The scientists of the elite supervillain group Campaign Use: Baron Roberto only Hunts
that he belongs to constructed Roberto’s those he deems worthy of his attention… but
monocle for him. (The GM should come up with those who are worthy receive his complete
a suitable group for his campaign.) The monocle attention. He prefers to Hunt only elite-level
can transmit and receive television signals, superheroes, formidable foes who can match him
allowing Roberto to communicate with his elite and provide a challenge. When he is a Hunter,
group and Ivan whenever he wishes. The Baron Roberto focuses his attention on the
monocle can also extrude a small radar dish to Hunted when he encounters him, often to the
see in many different frequencies. exclusion of whatever mission he is on at the
Roberto’s most unusual ability is his near- time. However, he rarely seeks Hunteds during
immunity to death itself. Time and again he has his spare time… he has better things to do, such
been defeated, his enemies assuming he’s dead, as conquering the world.
only to reappear hale and hearty! This ability can To make Baron Roberto more powerful
be explained by the Baron’s total control over his (yikes… you want a more powerful villain?)
own molecular energy. His body heals all raise the active points in his attack Multipower to
wounds by restructuring the kinetic energies of 350, add some more Combat Skill Levels, raise
his atoms, rearranging the molecular chains to his SPD to 8, and add another 10 points of
re-knit any damage. Much like other great resistant defense to his PD and ED. To scale
villains (such as Batman’s nemesis, the Joker), down Baron Roberto (whew!) lower his attack
Roberto’s body can rarely be found after his Multipower’s active points to 150, reduce his
apparent “death.” Combat Skill Levels by 3, and his SPD to 5.
The Magician, Roberto’s daughter, shares a Baron Roberto’s primary use in a campaign
mind link with him. Whenever they is to exist as the right-hand man for the
communicate, The Magician’s shadow morphs campaigns supreme supervillain. While Roberto
into the silhouette of Roberto, and her voice is capable of creating a world-dominating plot by
changes to sound like her father’s. On Roberto’s himself, he prefers not to… it’s so much easier to
end of the mind link, there are no apparent let someone else handle that.
changes, however. (The Magician’s Mind Link is He is the one who will get things moving in
bought with the Visible Limitation, -¼.) a very high-powered campaign, issuing
While Baron Roberto lacks any challenges or threats on behalf of his employer,
Susceptibilities or Vulnerabilities, the nature of or as a direct assault on the heroes’ base in
his powers makes him affected more than other revenge for a defeat.
villains by entangles and grabs. Any heroes who In a campaign with lots of intrigue and an
live long enough to attempt these kinds of epic-level story, Roberto may come to assist the
attacks may find them more successful than they heroes as he is manipulated behind the scenes by
might otherwise think. the schemes of other elite supervillains.
In battle, Roberto will choose the elite hero Finally, the link between Roberto and his
he’s hunting as a primary target. If that hero is daughter The Magician could be exploited by a
not around, the Baron mixes hand-to-hand GM. (The character of The Magician is left to
combat with ranged blasts, preferring to make the GM to create for his own campaign.)
every attack a display of power. (The Baron Any heroes who tangle with The Magician
attempts Presence Attacks every other Phase or should be prepared for a visit from Roberto. It
so, using the “violent action” and “display of may not even involve combat… the Baron is
powers” benefits constantly.) He prefers to start likely to offer a meeting for lunch at a posh
by putting half his levels into offense and the restaurant if his daughter was not treated badly.
other half into defense, but is a smart and
cunning foe… his levels will switch around (Baron Roberto was inspired by the character of
depending on who he’s fighting. If enraged, he Lord Alberto from the anime series Giant Robo.)
tends to put all his levels into either offense or
damage and blast away at range. Appearance: Baron Roberto is a tall, slender
Roberto enjoys combat, but even more he man in good shape in his late 40s. Despite hints
likes destruction. Bases or Vehicles are preferred of grey in his goatee, his hair is otherwise raven
targets for his kinetic blasts. He enjoys using black. He has a pencil thin mustache and
Area Effect blasts to disrupt the battlefield and eyebrows. He is always wearing a very stylish
make the heroes’ jobs harder as innocents are put black three-piece suit, with a white undershirt
into danger. and black tie. A cigar is nearly always clamped
between his teeth or held in one hand, and a
cybernetic monocle has replaced his right eye.
He is very handsome and suave, possessing
faintly Spanish features and a light tan to his 43
skin.
 DIGITAL HERO #15

Baron Roberto

44
DIGITAL HERO #15

Baron Roberto 40 Hyper Movement: Multipower, 40-

point Reserve
Val Char Cost Roll Notes
4u 1) Hyper-Running: Running +20”
20 STR 10 13- Lift 400kg; 4d6 HTH [2]
(26” Total) 4
27 DEX 51 14- OCV: 9/DCV: 9
4u 2) Hyper-Leaping: Leaping + 22”
20 CON 20 13-
(26” Total), Accurate, Reduced
20 BODY 20 13-
Endurance (0 END, +½) 0
20 INT 10 13- PER Roll: 14-
2u 3) Hyper-Swimming: Swimming
20 EGO 20 13- ECV: 7
+20” (22” Total) 2
30 PRE 20 15- PRE Attack: 6d6
8 Cybernetic Monocle: High Range
18 COM 4 13-
Radio Perception; OIF Durable (-½) 0
10 PD 6 Total: 35 PD (25 rPD) 15 Cybernetic Monocle: Radar, Increased
10 ED 6 Total: 45 ED (35 rED) Arc of Perception (360o); OIF Durable
7 SPD 22 Phases: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 (-½) 0
15 REC 14 3 Cybernetic Monocle: Infrared
40 END 0 Perception; OIF Durable (-½) 0
60 STUN 20 3 Cybernetic Monocle: Ultraviolet
Perception; OIF Durable (-½) 0
Total Characteristics Cost: 223 15 Immaculate Suit: Cosmetic Transform
Movement: Running: 26”/52” 2d6 (one set of clothing into a clean,
Leaping: 26”/52” perfectly dry and stylish three-piece
Swimming: 22”/44” suit), Reduced Endurance (0 END,
+½), Persistent (+½); Limited Target
Cost Powers END (clothes, -½) 1
270 Hyperkinetic Force Manipulation: 40 Metamorphic Disguise: Shape Shift
Multipower, 90-point Reserve, (Sight, Hearing, Radio, and Touch
Reduced Endurance (0 END, +½), Groups, any shape), Cellular, Costs
Variable Advantage (up to +1 END Only to Change Shape (+¼);
Advantages, can only select from a Concentration (0 DCV Throughout, -¾) 6
group of four: No Range Penalty, 5 Family Bond: Mind Link with The
Penetrating, Area Of Effect Radius, Magician, Psychic Bond; Only With
Autofire, +1¾); Gestures (-¼) Others Who Have Mind Link (-1) 0
27u 1) Hyperkinetic Blast: EB 18d6;
Gestures (-¼) 0 Martial Arts: Wing Chun Kung Fu
27u 2) Hyperkinetic Bolt: RKA 6d6; Maneuver OCV DCV Notes
Gestures (-¼) 0 4 Block +2 +2 Block, Abort
12u 3) Forceful Fists: HA +12d6 (16d6 4 Disarm -1 +1 Disarm, 30
with STR); Gestures (-¼), HA Lim STR
(-½) 0 4 Dodge — +5 Dodge,
90 Hard to Kill I: Armor (25 PD/35 ED) 0 Abort
40 Hard to Kill II: Desolidification (Not 4 Escape +0 +0 35 STR vs.
versus Electricity), Reduced Endurance Grabs
(0 END, +½), Persistent (+½); Only To 3 Grab -1 -1 2 Limbs, 30
Protect Against Attacks That Would STR to Hold
Take Him Below 0 BODY (-1) 0 3 Legsweep +2 -1 5d6 Strike,
25 Ridiculously Hard to Kill: Healing, Target Falls
3d6 (Regeneration; 3 BODY per 4 Punch +0 +2 6d6 Strike
Hour), Resurrection (prevented by
finding the body and immersing it in Perks
acid), Reduced Endurance (0 END, 70 Ivan the Terrible: Follower (350 points)
+½), Persistent (+½); Extra Time + 5 Fringe Benefit: Member of the
Increased Time Increment (3 BODY Aristocracy
per Hour, -1), Self Only (-½), 5 Fringe Benefit: Member of the Inner
Resurrection Only (-½) 0 Circle of Elite Supervillains
120 He’s Dead, But Where’s the Body?: 3 Money: Well Off ($300,000 per year)
Invisibility to Hearing, Mental, Radio, 8 Reputation: Mastermind-level Incredibly
Sight, Smell/Taste Groups, Reduced Dangerous Supervillain (The Entire
Endurance (0 END, +½), Persistent World) +4/4d6
(+½), Trigger (when Roberto is at -1
BODY or less, +¼); Bright Fringe (-¼), 45
Chameleon (-½) 0
 DIGITAL HERO #15
Talents 200+ Disadvantages
3 Absolute Range Sense 10 Distinctive Features: Dapper, Debonair
15 Combat Sense 13- One-Eyed Man in a Stylish Suit
15 Danger Sense (Self Only, Out of (Concealable)
Combat, Intuitional) 13- 10 DNPC: The Magician (Roberto’s
3 Simulate Death Talented Daughter) 14- (Slightly Less
Powerful, Useful Skills)
Skills
20 Enraged: Enraged in Combat versus the
40 +4 Overall Levels
Hero He’s Hunting (Uncommon), 14-, 11-
40 +5 with All Combat
20 Enraged: Enraged in Combat with Elite
3 Acrobatics 14- Superheroes (Very Common) 8-, 11-
3 Analyze Combat Technique 13- 30 Hunted: Superhero Group 14- (Mo Pow,
3 Breakfall 14- NCI, Capture)
3 Bureaucratics 13- 20 Hunted: Elite Superhero Group 8- (Mo
3 Concealment 13- Pow, NCI, Capture)
3 Conversation 13- 10 Hunted: Elite Supervillain Group 11-
3 Deduction 13- (Mo Pow, NCI, Watching)
10 Full Defense Maneuver 15 Hunted: Police 11- (Less Pow, NCI,
3 Gambling 13- Imprison)
3 High Society 13- 10 Physical Limitation: Addicted to
3 Interrogation 13- Smoking Cigars (Frequently, Slightly)
3 KS: The Criminal World 13- 15 Psychological Limitation: Hunting Elite
3 KS: Elite Superhero Organization 13- Superhero (Uncommon, Total)
3 KS: Elite Supervillain Organization 13- 10 Psychological Limitation: Despises Being
3 KS: Kung Fu 13- Manipulated (Uncommon, Strong)
3 Oratory 13- 10 Psychological Limitation: Protective of
3 Persuasion 13- The Magician (Common, Moderate)
5 Rapid Attack (Hand-to-Hand) 15 Psychological Limitation: Ambitious
5 Rapid Attack (Ranged) (Common, Strong)
3 Shadowing 13- 20 Reputation: Murderous, Master-Class
3 Stealth 13- Supervillain 14- (Extreme)
3 Streetwise 13- 10 Rivalry: Professional (with fellow
3 Systems Operation 13- members of Elite Supervillain Group for
3 Tactics 13- approval of leader, Rivals outnumber
3 Tracking 13- Roberto, Rivals aware of Rivalry)
15 Social Limitation: Subject to Orders
3 Linguist (Frequently, Major)
1 1) Language: English (Fluent, Spanish is 649 Experience Points
native)
1 2) Language: French (Fluent) Total Disadvantage Points: 1289
1 3) Language: German (Fluent)
1 4) Language: Japanese (Fluent)
Total Powers & Skills Cost: 1066
Total Cost: 1289

46
DIGITAL HERO #15

Secret Origins by Michael Satran

Remember the good old days? When good SCENARIOS FOR THE ALLIANCE OF
was good and evil was evil, and the secret, yet EVIL
just forces of the government warred against evil Mighty Comics: Doctor Brutallo stumbles
villains too terrible to reveal to the public? upon an issue of Mighty Comics, only to
That’s the way things were in many of the discover that he is featured in it, and he hasn’t
comics of the 1950s and 1960s. Regrettably, the committed the crime within. Only a fool would
concept of super-prisons hadn’t been developed, dare to misrepresent The Alliance Of Evil!
so many of these terrible criminals were secretly Doctor Brutallo begins to seek revenge on
placed in suspended animation, never, in theory, Mighty Comics, attacking comic stores, comic
to threaten the world again. This is the story of book conventions, and kidnapping the editor,
one of those groups. Behold Doctor Brutallo and demanding redress for the crimes that he has not
the Alliance of Evil! A team of supervillains so committed. If the PCs discover the connection
horrifying that the government struck their between the government and Mighty Comics,
existence from the minds of men, and hid them they may put two and two together, and discover
deep beneath the earth in temporally suspended the secrets of the Super Six, and what the
slumber…. government actually did.
A few words about the era that these villains
come from should be mentioned at this point. Digging Up The Dead: In this scenario,
Many superhero adventures during this time only Doctor Brutallo has been awakened, and it’s
period involved either fighting the communists, a race against time to stop him before he can
or superheroes as secret agents, or some reassemble the Alliance of Evil. Suggested order
combination thereof. These themes are reflected for maximum playability is The Terrible
in the villains below. Because of the fact that the Titanoid, Kanga The Dominator, Atomicus, and
villains are also from the 1950s, there will be The Armageddon Mind. If the group is very
some things that the villains consider morally powerful, add Brutalloids to taste.
reprehensible and just won’t do. Villain Tutor: Doctor Brutallo decides that
For example, a husband and wife superhero younger villains don’t know how to really be
duo with public identities steal a kiss in public. villains anymore, and sets up classes for them
Doctor Brutallo, witnessing this, is shocked, and somewhere. Heroes must decide whether to stop
shows up to offer them membership in The him, or hold out hope that he might actually
Alliance Of Evil. Real Heroes don’t do that sort teach them something that might keep them alive
of thing; therefore, they must be villains. An all- a little longer. Alternatively, villains might reject
out battle ensues instead, as Doctor Brutallo his tutelage, causing some really nasty battles
discovers that the future doesn’t share the strict that the heroes might have to stop.
moral code of the ’40s and ’50s.
As another example, Doctor Brutallo Total Domination: Kanga The Dominator
witnesses a hero or villain use language that in begins taking over criminal organizations in
the ’50s would have been considered foul and order to rule the world through crime. His mental
unacceptable. He immediately offers them powers combined with the ruthlessness of
membership in The Alliance Of Evil, assuming Organized Crime make a deadly combination, as
that no hero would willingly contribute to the well as giving Doctor Brutallo access to a much
moral depravity of youth, not realizing, of greater range of illegal equipment.
course, that youth is a lot more jaded than it used The Return of Captain Unity: Doctor
to be. Brutallo decides that there are no more worthy
Above all, these villains are different than opponents to face anymore, and decides to
what most of your players have probably seen resurrect Captain Unity, his greatest enemy, to
before. While in some ways they are a standard prove how mighty he is, since the new Captain
supervillain team, in others, they are more like a Unity will serve only Doctor Brutallo. In order to
dysfunctional family similar to Leave It To accomplish this, he will need to build a new
Beaver or other 1950s television shows. Dimension Z machine, which will require several
Watching the villains cope with the changes to extremely expensive parts (though the parts will
the world during the fifty-year gap should be as be slightly smaller than he is used to), and the
much fun for your players as it is for the GM dead body of Captain Unity.
running the adventure. There’s really not a lot
more to be said here, except for Excelsior! Enjoy
the ride, True Believers.
47
artwork by J.P. Hyde
 DIGITAL HERO #15

The Alliance Of Evil

48
DIGITAL HERO #15

Doctor Brutallo the Dimension Z Project activated with a terrible, PLOT SEEDS
The Most Brilliant Mind on Earth! ratcheting shudder.
Russia Redux:
The explosion transformed Carlton into a
Background: Doctor Brutallo was born Nicolai Russian Agents
paragon of Justice, physically perfect, handsome,
Borodenko, in 1907, to a family loyal to the contact Brutallo, now
and powerful, capable of projecting eyebeams of
Tsar, in the outlying reaches of Moscow. As he that the menace of
the strange Dimension Z energy. Doctor
grew up, he was treated well, and his family communism is over,
Borodenko apparently disappeared in the
discovered that he had something of a brilliant and ask him to work
explosion, hurled through the wall in a fit of
mind, sending him to the best schools available for his old country.
quantum light. Outside, he discovered that
in Moscow for young nobles. But at the age of Brutallo accepts, but
something wonderful had happened to him. He
ten, all that came to an end, and he was spirited is he sincere, or is it
understood all there was about Dimension Z, and
out of the country by a faithful servant, watching really a sinister step in
more concepts filled his mind at an astounding
his parents burn in a proletarian riot as the his latest plan to take
rate. He mastered fields at which he was a novice
communists came to power. He would never over the world?
in seconds, putting together concepts he never
forgive them…. could have before. Then he howled in agony as Doctor Brutallo
He fled first to Europe, then to America, just he stared into a car mirror, at the apish, devolved Falls in Love: (with
ahead of the communist agents who wanted his face that stared back at him from the light of the one of the PCs, of
blood. Conservative elements in the United window. Seeing Carlton’s perfection in the light course.) Brutallo’s
States agreed to protect him in exchange for his of the window, he grew filled with rage. The affections are sincere,
working on secret government projects regarding Dimension Z energy had evolved his mind, and although he faces two
mysterious dimensional energies, which he devolved his body. How could he, the brilliant major obstacles in
gladly accepted out of fear for his life. By 1935, Doctor Nicolai Borodenko, be transformed into pursuing the object of
he was well ensconced as the theoretical director this horrible apelike creature, while his weak- his desire. One, he’s
of the top secret Dimensional Project Z. He minded assistant had received the true powers of still evil, and he will
became best friends with the military attaché, a Dimension Z? He had become a monster! attempt to prove his
Carlton Hughes, who he began to confide in as a Fleeing into the night while Carlton repaired the love for the PC by
close friend, the first American he had ever truly burning laboratory, he vowed revenge on the doing things like
felt comfortable around. small-minded and the puny who had forced him stealing national
Throughout the war, he worked on into this. If he had become a brute, then he monuments and
Dimensional Project Z, always hoping that when would become the noblest brute ever. With his delivering them to
the time came, the United States would roll over brilliant mind, he would rule the world! And her, capturing her
the Germans and crush the communist threat that thus, Doctor Brutallo was born. enemies and
he knew to be on the horizon. Several attempts to The battles between Doctor Brutallo and reprogramming their
kidnap him by Nazi superbeings were thwarted Captain Unity, as Carlton now called himself, minds, and vowing to
by superheroes, and he began to theorize a way quickly escalated into open warfare, which the conquer the world in
that it might be possible to infuse a target with government strove hard to keep quiet in light of her name (always bad
the energy of Dimensional Project Z, granting the developing situation with the Soviet Union. for a stalwart hero’s
them superpowers and abilities. Carlton was still As Doctor Brutallo acquired allies, built robots, reputation). Two,
there, though he was much older, and slowly, the and stole the wealth of ancient civilizations, Brutallo is hideously
government began to cut funding to the hiding it for his own evil purposes, Captain ugly, and this obstacle
Dimension Z project, as the war had ended. Unity recruited superbeings of his own in the is probably far more
Doctor Borodenko pressed on as funding secret war against the forces of Evil. Several difficult than the first.
slowed to a crawl, his friend Carlton carrying times, Doctor Brutallo nearly triumphed in
him onward as his health began to fail from the Doctor Brutallo
taking over the world, once in a very public way.
dangerous radiation experiments he was Dies!: In the course
To cover up the fact that Doctor Brutallo was
conducting, unable to afford the funding for of a combat with the
real, the United States Government created
shielding against the lethal radiation. Slowly, PCs, or even with
Mighty Comics in 1949, and called the whole
members of the project began to turn against NPCs, Brutallo is
thing a publicity stunt. Mighty Comics was very
him, suspecting him of being a communist and killed. At his funeral,
successful, featuring “The Secret Adventures of
maintaining Soviet Sympathies, even though that a cryptic note is
Captain Unity and the Super Six.” The false
was the furthest thing from his highly rational received that indicates
adventures were almost more bizarre than
mind, though slowly, Carlton had begun to that Brutallo might
Brutallo’s real plans, though some of the villains
suspect that his friend had suffered from the still be alive. Has the
that the Super Six faced were either real, or
radiation, and was slowly going mad. In most brilliant mind on
parodies of the enemies of other superteams.
December of 1945, shortly after the war was Earth faked his death,
In 1951, the Super Six cornered Doctor
over, Nicolai Borodenko, in a laboratory bereft or is a sinister
Brutallo and the Alliance of Evil, as Brutallo
of assistants, decided to activate the Dimension imposter out there,
now called his allies and minions, deep inside an
Z Device, and prove to the world that his somewhere…?
abandoned Salt Mine in Southern Virginia, and
research for fifteen long years had not been in Doctor Brutallo was defeated, just before he
vain. Carlton tried to stop him, in a struggle that could activate his sinister Seismotron. The 49
carried the two men far beyond camaraderie, but villains were too dangerous to keep in a standard
 DIGITAL HERO #15
prison, but Captain Unity, unable to put his old Armageddon Mind. Once Doctor Brutallo
friend in jail, hoped that the future would find a discovers that no one uses Vacuum Tubes
way to deal with the villains properly. Placing anymore, he will find this vastly amusing and
them in specially designed suspended animation continue to use them, as everyone will continue
capsules of Doctor Brutallo’s own design, to be afraid of electromagnetic pulses…but him.
Doctor Brutallo and the Alliance of Evil were
buried deep beneath the earth, never to be seen Appearance: Doctor Brutallo appears to be a
again. Or so they thought…. Cro-Magnon apish man, hairy and stunted, with
The Present… A group of construction long arms and bow legs, wearing a yellow
workers breaking ground for a new housing jumpsuit covered with devices, as well as a belt
project drilled slowly downward, testing for to hold up the pants of the jumpsuit. On his head
surface stability, broke into the cavern housing is an old style helmet with a large side pod for a
Doctor Brutallo’s suspended animation capsule, radio, and his eyes are concealed behind an
pushed slowly towards the surface of the earth ominous visor. His voice is gravelly and rough,
by a massive explosion caused by a super-battle and were it not for his intelligence, it would
in the mountains some years before. The capsule seem to be little more than a piggish grunt.
opened, to the shock and surprise of the workers, Campaign Use: In lower powered campaigns,
to reveal Doctor Brutallo, clad in a yellow give Doctor Brutallo’s gadget pool a half-Phase
jumpsuit. When he told them of his plans to to change, or even a full Phase, unless he is in a
recover his might, and rule the world, they laboratory. Reduce the amount of sciences on his
laughed at the ape-man, as he stumped down the sheet so that he cannot be as effective with the
road. How much of a threat could he really gadget pool. Remove one of his gadget levels as
be…? well.
Quote: “You may think my apish countenance Remember that Doctor Brutallo needs to
foolish, but know that you face the most brilliant operate a portion of his defenses out of his
mind on earth, in this or any century! Face gadget pool in a standard campaign, or he will
Doctor Brutallo, dolt! And know that your become a super smear.
powers are no match for his ultimate genius!” In high-powered campaigns, increase Doctor
“Know that you are doomed, at the hands of Brutallo’s gadget pool to 75, 90, or even 120
the (fill in the appropriate thing here, followed Active Points. Increase his body armor to 20 PD,
by a dramatic pause) …of Doctor Brutallo!” 20 ED to give him defense outside of his gadget
pool. Whatever devices are most commonly used
Author’s Note: This led to several comments should be removed from the pool as well, and
on the part of the players of the playtest scenario bought on his standard power listing. Replace the
such as “We have disabled The Jeep …of Doctor leaping boots with a 25” flight belt, and add 2
Brutallo,” and “Observe …The Line Drawing of Combat Skill Levels.
Doctor Brutallo,” not to mention the ominous
“The Flowers …of Doctor Brutallo” which
deserves special mention here.
Powers/Tactics: Doctor Brutallo was the most
brilliant mind of his time, but even in the modern
era, his brilliance shines in devious and terrible
ways. Doctor Brutallo’s gadgets cannot be
affected by electromagnetic pulses, since all of
his devices still work on vacuum tubes
composed of the mysterious element he created
himself, Brutonium. He carries a Brutonium
battery back on his belt to power his mysterious
devices. His goal is to rule the entire world, and
nothing less will satisfy him. His tactics are
typical of an evil genius, though he will follow
the code of villainy to the letter. Even in
suspended animation, his brilliant mind
functioned, building and designing weapons of
subtle power as well as brute force. If a character
has a weakness, Doctor Brutallo will exploit it
with a device located somewhere in his awesome
arsenal. He deliberately builds devices to exploit
50 the strengths of his teammates, the Titanoid,
Atomicus, Kanga the Dominator, and the
DIGITAL HERO #15

Doctor Brutallo 3 Bureaucratics 13-

The Most Brilliant Mind on Earth! 3 Computer Programming 15-
3 Concealment 15-
Val Char Cost Roll Notes 3 Cryptography 15-
30 STR 20 15- 1½ tons, 6d6 HTH [3] 3 Deduction 15-
23 DEX 39 14- OCV: 8/DCV: 8 3 Demolitions 15-
23 CON 26 14- 3 Disguise 13-
15 BODY 10 11- 3 Electronics 15-
30 INT 20 15- PER Roll: 15- 15 Gadgeteering 20-
20 EGO 20 13- ECV: 7 3 Inventor 15-
20 PRE 10 13- PRE Attack: 4d6 3 Lockpicking 14-
4 COM -3 10- 3 Oratory 13-
3 PS: Scientist 15-
10 PD 4 Total: 15 PD (5 rPD) * 10 Weaponsmith (All) 15-
10 ED 5 Total: 15 ED (5 rED) *
5 SPD 17 Phases: 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 3 Linguist
12 REC 2 3 1) English (Idiomatic, Russian is Native)
46 END 0 3 2) Arabic (Idiomatic)
50 STUN 8 3 3) Cantonese (Idiomatic)
3 4) French (Idiomatic)
Total Characteristics Cost: 178 3 5) German (Idiomatic)
Movement: Running: 6”/12” 3 6) Hindustani (Idiomatic)
Leaping: 20”/40” 3 7) Polish (Idiomatic)
Swimming: 2”/4” 3 Scientist
Cost Powers END 2 1) SS: Anthropology 15-
100 Gadget Pool: VPP, 60-point Reserve, 2 2) SS: Archaeology 15-
0 Phase to Change (+1); OIF (-½) var. 2 3) SS: Biochemistry 15-
13 Power Cells: END Reserve (100 END, 2 4) SS: Biology 15-
10 REC); OIF (-½) 0 2 5) SS: Biophysics 15-
13 Jump Boots: Leaping +14” (20” Total), 2 6) SS: Botany 15-
Accurate; OIF (-½) 4/2 2 7) SS: Chemistry 15-
10 Reflective Jumpsuit: Armor (5 PD/5 2 8) SS: Dimensional Physics 15-
ED); OIF (-½) 0 2 9) SS: Exobiology 15-
8 Helmet Radio: High Range Radio 2 10) SS: Genetics 15-
Perception, OIF (-½) 0 2 11) SS: Inorganic Chemistry 15-
19 Helmet Visor: Sight Group Flash 2 12) SS: Mathematics 15-
Defense, 10 Points; OIF (-½) plus 2 13) SS: Medicine 15-
Infrared Perception; OIF (-½) plus 2 14) SS: Metallurgy 15-
Nightvision; OIF (-½) plus Ultraviolet 2 15) SS: Nuclear Physics 15-
Vision; OIF (-½) 0 2 16) SS: Physics 15-
13 Helmet Radar: Radar, 360o, OIF (-½) 0 2 17) SS: Organic Chemistry 15-
4 Extreme Longevity: LS: Increased 2 18) SS: Pharmacology 15-
Aging (800 Years) 2 19) SS: Robotics 15-

Talents Total Powers & Skills Cost: 480

5 Eidetic Memory Total Cost: 658
3 Lightning Calculator
6 Speed Reading; 100x Rapid 200+ Disadvantages
15 Distinctive Features: Apelike Humanoid
Perks
(Concealable, Major Reaction)
50 Headquarters Deep in the Mountains of
10 Enraged: when Plans Thwarted
Peru: Base (250 Points)
(Uncommon), go 8-, recover 11-
60 Brutalloids: 16 Followers (100 Base +
20 Hunted: US Government 8- (Mo Pow,
100 Disadvantages)
NCI)
10 Treasure of the City of Gold: Wealth:
20 Hunted: UNTIL 8- (Mo Pow, NCI)
Multimillionaire
20 Psychological Limitation: Megalomania
Skills (Common, Total)
10 +1 Overall Level 20 Psychological Limitation: Code of
10 +2 OCV with Gadgets Villainy, Always Captures Hero, Puts in
Deathtrap,Tells him his plan, etc… 51
(Common, Total)
 DIGITAL HERO #15
10 Psychological Limitation: Overconfident 30 Plasma Amplifier Pistol: EB 12d6;
(Common, Moderate) OAF (-1) 6
20 Vulnerability: 2x STUN and BODY from 30 Neural Disruption Ray-Gun: Drain
Dimensional Energy Attacks (Uncommon) DEX 4d6, Ranged (+½), OAF (-1) 6
323 Experience Points 30 Gyrojet Pistol: RKA 4d6; OAF (-1),
8 Charges (Only uses 7, -1) 0
Total Disadvantage Points: 658 24 Psychic Field Rifle: Drain EGO 3d6,
Area Of Effect (6” Cone, +1), OAF
DEVICES FROM THE GADGET POOL (-1), No Range (-½) 6
…OF DOCTOR BRUTALLO! 30 Dimension Z Field: Entangle 8 DEF,
30 Hypno-Ray: Mind Control 12d6; OAF 4d6 BODY; OAF (-1) 6
(Device makes a “Mwoom-Mwoom- 15 The Dreaded Seismotron of Doctor
Mwoom” Noise, -1) 6 Brutallo: RKA 1d6, Area Of Effect Hex
16 Force Field Belt: Force Field (10 PD/ (+½), Uncontrolled (+½), Continuous
10 ED), Reduced Endurance (½ END, (+1), Penetrating (+½), Sticky (+½);
+¼); OIF (-½) 1 Doesn’t Work against Living Beings or
25 Neural Disruptor Grenades: Drain Their Equipment (-1), OAF (-1), 1
DEX 2d6, Ranged (+½), Resetting Charge Lasting 1 Hour (-0), Immobile
Trigger (+½), Returns 5 points per (A city-destroying device, which slowly
Minute (+¼), Personal Immunity (+¼); expands outward from the central hex.
16 Charges (He will only ever use 15, More hexes touch each other on each of
due to the way the rules on Gadget Doctor Brutallo’s Phases, slowly
Pools work, -0), OAF (-1) 0 crumbling buildings and leveling
everything in sight, -1).

Doctor Brutallo
The Most Brilliant Mind on Earth!

52
52
DIGITAL HERO #15

The Brutalloids The Brutalloids PLOT SEEDS

Background: In his quest to battle Captain Val Char Cost Roll Notes Discovery: A
Unity and the forces of Justice, Doctor Brutallo 45 STR 35 18- Lift 12½ tons, 9d6 HTH group of construction
created the inexorable Brutalloids. Loyal soldiers 18 DEX 24 13- OCV: 6/DCV: 6 workers uncovers
in the secret war, they battle endlessly in the 23 CON 26 14- Doctor Brutallo’s
name of Doctor Brutallo. 10 BODY 0 11- secret Brutalloid
8 INT -2 11- PER Roll: 11- Factory! Can the PCs
Quote: None, Brutalloids don’t speak. 5 EGO -10 10- ECV: 2 get inside and disable
10 PRE 0 11- PRE Attack: 2d6 it before Doctor
Powers/Tactics: The Brutalloids have one
8 COM -1 11- Brutallo arrives to
tactic. Leap into battle and smash. They are not
make more?
very intelligent, but do make good shock troops, 15 PD 6 Total: 15 PD (10 rPD)
which is what Doctor Brutallo uses them for. 15 ED 10 Total: 15 ED (10 rED) Genesis: A group
4 SPD 12 Phases: 3, 6, 9, 12 of Brutalloids develop
Appearance: The Brutalloids look like dull, independent thinking
grey, faceless humanoids, with three fingers on a 14 REC 0
46 END 0 and tactics, and split
hand and absolutely no distinguishing body from Doctor Brutallo,
parts. The closest description of their appearance 45 STUN 0
waging war on him
would be Jack Kirbyesque, faceless tofu-men. Total Characteristics Cost: 100 for imprisoning their
Campaign Use: In a lower-powered campaign, fellow Brutalloids.
Movement: Running: 6”/12”
remove the Brutalloids’ Combat Skill Levels, This causes lots of
Leaping: 15”/30”
reduce their Mental Defense to 10 points, and property damage, and
Swimming: 2”/4”
subtract their Power Defense entirely. Lower since all Brutalloids
their Strength to a 35, and their defenses to 12. Cost Powers END basically look alike,
In a higher-powered campaign, add two 10 Android “Skin”: Damage Resistance, chaos ensues.
more Levels with Punch, Grab, and Haymaker, 10 PD, 10 ED 0
increase their Mental Defense to 25 points, and 16 Android Mind: Mental Defense, 16
Power Defense to 15 points. Raise their Strength points 0
to 60, and their PD and ED to 22. 10 Android Body: Power Defense, 10
points 0
27 Android Body: Life Support: Does
Not Age, Self-Contained Breathing,
Safe Environments: Cold, Heat,
Radiation, Vacuum, High Pressure 0
11 Android Legs: Leaping +6” (15”
Total), Accurate 1
20 Android Radar: 360o Radar 0
Skills
6 +2 with Punch, Grab, and Haymaker
Total Powers & Skills Cost: 100
Total Cost: 200
100+ Disadvantages
15 Distinctive Feature: Faceless Robotoid
(Concealable, Major Reaction)
20 Hunted: UNTIL 8- (Mo Pow, NCI)
20 Hunted: US Government 8- (Mo Pow,
NCI)
20 Psychological Limitation: Loyal to
Doctor Brutallo (Common, Total)
30 Vulnerability: 1½ x STUN and BODY
from Electricity (Common)
Total Disadvantage Points: 200

53
 DIGITAL HERO #15

PLOT SEEDS The Terrible Titanoid At last, activating the switch on the small
Dimension Z generator, the robot was infused
Rampage: The Background: Soon after Doctor Brutallo’s with power, and as the horrible crackling
Titanoid goes on a first evil plan was foiled by Captain sounds rang through Doctor Brutallo’s
rampage, and the Unity, he realized that the reason for secret base, The Terrible Titanoid at last
heroes have to stop it, his defeat had been Captain Unity’s strode through the world of men!
but something goes superior physical strength. Doctor Brutallo no longer needed
horribly wrong, and it Regrettably, he was not the to do battle with
breaks open a physical superior of Captain Unity.
genetics facility. Can Captain Unity, The awesome
the heroes stop the and so he was power of the
Titanoid before it forced to Titanoid
spreads a deadly resort to would do
virus? other means it for
Into the Titanic of dealing him.
Realm: The Titanoid with the
is found unconscious flying
in the desert, and sentinel.
emitting strange
waves of Dimension
Z radiation. When the
characters approach
the Titanoid,
they are
transported to
a place where they
are all giants, and
everyone around Rarely did
them is very the loyal robot ever
tiny. How will leave Doctor Brutallo’s
the players Carefully stealing
side, except when
cope when components in secret, he
commanded by his master.
they are treated as managed to build a small Captured along with the
they treated the Dimension Z generator
other members of the
Titanoid in his that would enable him
Alliance of Evil, the
previous plot seed? to build a robot strong
Titanoid was allowed to
How will they get enough to battle
return to normal size, and
Captain Unity in
home? placed in suspended
combat, when
animation, hidden
properly infused
somewhere deep within
with the mysterious
the bowels of the Earth.
energy. For months
he labored, Quote: None, the
creating a Titanoid does not speak.
powerful robot
capable of
absorbing
energy from
any source,
the material
designed to
expand upon
contact with
almost any sort
of power.

54
DIGITAL HERO #15

The Terrible Titanoid 200+ Disadvantages

20 Physical Limitation: Blind, Sees by
Val Char Cost Roll Notes Radar (Common, Frequently)
40 STR 30 17- Lift 6½ tons, 8d6 HTH 20 Hunted: UNTIL 8- (Mo Pow, NCI)
20 DEX 30 13- OCV: 7/DCV: 7 20 Hunted: US Government 8- (Mo Pow,
35 CON 50 16- NCI)
15 BODY 10 12- 20 Psychological Limitation: Loyal to
10 INT 0 11- PER Roll: 11- Doctor Brutallo (Common, Total)
10 EGO 0 11- ECV: 3 30 Vulnerability: 1½x STUN and BODY
25 PRE 0 14- PRE Attack: 5d6 from Electricity (Common)
8 COM -1 11- 102 Experience Points
30 PD 22 Total: 30 PD (18 rPD) Total Disadvantage Points: 412
30 ED 23 Total: 30 ED (18 rED)
5 SPD 20 Phases: 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 Powers/Tactics: The Titanoid takes a front line
18 REC 6 position in front of its teammates, along with the
70 END 0 Armageddon Mind. It knows only one purpose,
65 STUN 12 fighting for the glory of Doctor Brutallo. Its
Total Characteristics Cost: 202 strategy is simple. Smash anything Doctor
Brutallo designates as an enemy. A fully
Movement: Running: 6”/12” amplified Titanoid is a gruesome opponent,
Leaping: 20”/40” when backed up by the other members of the
Swimming: 2”/4” Alliance of Evil, it is even worse. The Titanoid is
programmed to interpose itself between attackers
Cost Powers END
13 Titan: Growth, 1 Level, Inherent and other members of the Alliance. This gets
(+¼), Persistent (+½), Reduced easier as it gets bigger.
Endurance (0 END, +½), Trigger Appearance: The Terrible Titanoid is a large,
(resets when hit, +½) 0 grayish green robot similar to the Brutalloids in
48 Amplification: Physical and Energy overall appearance. It wears a set of skintight
Absorption 6d6 to Growth, Increased olive swim trunks, but underneath them, it is
Maximum (40 Points), Fade at 5 anatomically incorrect. The Titanoid is faceless,
Points per 5 Minutes (+½) 0 and has no lips, nose, mouth, or eyes, seeing and
18 Android “Skin”: Damage Resistance targeting by radar. It has two wide, fat, stubby
(18 PD/18 ED) 0 fingers on each hand, and an opposable thumb.
15 Android Mind: Mental Defense 17
points 0 Campaign Use: To weaken the Titanoid for
10 Android Body: Power Defense, 10 lower-powered campaigns, lower its STR to 30,
points 0 take its ED down to 20, and remove the
50 Android Body: Total Life Support 0 Absorption Growth. Slow its SPD to 4.
17 Android Legs: Leaping +12” (20” For higher-powered campaigns, increase the
Total), Accurate 2 Titanoid’s STR to a whopping 60, increase its
30 Shielded Radar: 360o Radar plus PD and ED to 40 each, and raise its SPD to 6.
Radio Group Flash Defense, 10 points 0 Increase the Absorption Growth to 10d6, with
the same return rate.
Skills In all cases, be sure to keep careful track of
6 +2 with Punch, Grab, and Haymaker the Titanoid’s Growth. It drastically affects the
3 Rubbery Body: Breakfall 13- character’s DCV and STR. At maximum output
Total Powers & Skills Cost: 210 (which Doctor Brutallo will sometimes pre-
pummel the Titanoid for), The Titanoid, in a
Total Cost: 412 Standard Campaign, has a STR of 85, additional
reach of 4”, +9 BODY, +9 STUN, and 9” of
Knockback Resistance. This makes for a fairly
fearsome opponent.

55
 DIGITAL HERO #15

PLOT SEEDS Kanga the Dominator Kanga, or so the humans called him,
Original Concept by James Silverstein traveled with the Alliance of Evil, longing for the
Life’s A Zoo:
day when he would return to the world of Ru,
Kanga hides out in the Background: Kanga the Dominator was born and conquer it for his own. However, Doctor
local city zoo, and Kaangaa, in the City of Valperon, on the world Brutallo’s enemies, the Super Six, tracked them
mind controls the of Ru. A poor and shiftless Ru, he was easily down and placed them in suspended animation,
staff into committing turned to a life of crime by several of his equally their dreams of conquest frozen in icy sleep.
robberies for him. poor associates in the slums of Valperon. He
Hiding out with the never knew his pouch-rearer, and may not even Quote: “Bah, you pitiful humans dare to match
local Kangaroos, he have had one, a sign of shame among the Ru. wills against Kanga the Dominator? Feel the
believes his disguise Kaangaa grew up cold and heartless, awesome power of my mind, and know that
to be impenetrable. stealing from his fellow Ru, and rising in the Ru yours is puny in comparison!”
Hostile Takeover: underworld, his ability to cause illusions Powers/Tactics: Kanga the Dominator fights
Kanga the Dominator indicating that perhaps, he was the result of a mostly with his mental powers, though he has
slowly manipulates tryst between a Ru noble and a common pouch studied the primitive Ru of Earth and discovered
Doctor Brutallo into for coin. The idea that his parents had thrown their aptitude for a unique sport which humans
doing his will, using him into the street, to be raised by cutpurses favor. He has become an excellent boxer, though
subtle mental inspired in him a dark rage, and he began to plot he prefers to rely on his psychic abilities to crush
movements and against the crown of Valperon. opponents from a distance, and enters hand-to-
diversionary tactics. Over the years, Kaangaa’s plots bore fruit, hand combat only as a last resort. The future
Suddenly, Kanga is in and eventually, he managed to assassinate the Dominator of Ru does not sully his hands with
control of the Dominator of Valperon, through his physical fighting unless absolutely necessary.
Alliance of Evil, and manipulations of two Ru princesses and an Kanga enjoys using suggestions to crush his
Doctor Brutallo must outworlder named Jorath. This was too much for foes, humiliating them with his subtlety.
figure out a way to the royalty of Valperon, and after many brutal
wrest control back battles in the slums of Valperon, Kaangaa was Appearance: Kanga the Dominator is a six foot
from him. captured, and sentenced to imprisonment in the two kangaroo with a pouch. It is, however, a
Zone beyond life. With horror, Kaangaa was cast male kangaroo with a pouch, which should clue
Ru Invasion: The into the nebulous void, to float forever in the in PCs with animal handling that something is
Ru invade Earth, and horrid space, screaming and wailing that one not quite right. He is occasionally carrying
Kanga comes to the day, he would return to Valperon, and have his several of Doctor Brutallo’s gadgets in his
PCs for help. The revenge on those who had opposed him. pouch, which should prove a rude surprise for
invasion must be Kaangaa floated in the void for what seemed heroes who dare to reach inside.
repelled, or Kanga like an eternity, until suddenly, a golden sphere
will be executed for of light seemed to float before him, widening Campaign Use: In lower-powered Campaigns,
his crimes against the reduce Kanga’s Mind Control to 10d6 or even
into an enormous portal. Barely sane, Kaangaa
Ru. He will not tell 8d6, reduce his EGO to 23 and his SPD to 4.
drifted towards the light, and slammed on to the
them this part, of cold concrete floor. Drop his DEX to 18 and remove his Martial
course…. “Goodness,” purred a deep gravelly voice. Arts. Lower his defenses to 15 PD and 15 ED,
“What have we here?” and eliminate his Danger Sense.
Kaangaa struggled to move, but the In higher-powered games, increase Kanga’s
DEX and SPD to 26 and 6, his EGO to 30, and
dimensional travel had made him weak, too
weak to resist as Doctor Brutallo’s Hypno-ray his Mental Powers to a whopping 20d6. Add
bored into his mind, making him reveal all of his levels and damage classes with his martial arts
deepest secrets to the strange, hunched monkey abilities, and increase his defenses by 10 PD and
creature. As Kaangaa and Doctor Brutallo spoke, 10 ED. Add 5 to his Damage Resistance as well,
and add Mind Scan 15d6 at 0 END outside his
Kaangaa felt a strange kinship with the outcast
Multipower.
creature, and vowed to rule this world as he had
once planned to rule Ru. Of course, eventually,
he would replace Doctor Brutallo as the ruler of
this world, and then return to conquer Ru, as his
scheming mind plotted the possibilities of
ultimate power. The foolish ape creature could
not even pronounce his name properly, clearly a
sign of inferiority.
The ape creatures and Brutallo’s enemies
feared him greatly, choosing to name him The
Dominator, which brought him great amusement,
though the strange little ape man’s brilliance,
56 while disturbing, seemed to find it fitting with
the Ru’s mental abilities.
DIGITAL HERO #15

Kanga the Dominator

57
 DIGITAL HERO #15

Kanga the Dominator Talents

20 Universal Translator 14-
Val Char Cost Roll Notes
20 STR 10 13- Lift 400 kg, 4d6 HTH [2] Skills
23 DEX 39 14- OCV: 8/DCV: 8 3 Animal Handler (Kangaroos) 12-
23 CON 26 14- 3 Breakfall 14-
12 BODY 4 11- 3 Combat Driving 14-
23 INT 13 14- PER Roll: 14- 3 Combat Piloting (TF: Spaceships Free) 14-
26 EGO 32 14- ECV: 9 3 Computer Programming 14-
15 PRE 5 12- PRE Attack: 3d6 3 Electronics 14-
10 COM 0 11- 3 Mechanics 14-
3 Navigation 14-
20 PD 16 Total: 20 PD (10 rPD) 3 Oratory 14-
20 ED 15 Total: 20 ED (10 rED) 3 Persuasion 14-
5 SPD 17 Phases: 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 3 Power (EGO-Based) 14-
10 REC 2 3 Security Systems 14-
46 END 0 3 Tactics 14-
40 STUN 6 3 Teamwork 14-
Total Characteristics Cost: 185 Total Powers & Skills Cost: 270
Movement: Running: 11”/22” Total Cost: 455
Leaping: 10”/20”
Swimming: 2”/4” 200+ Disadvantages
20 Distinctive Features: Kangaroo
Cost Powers END Humanoid (Not Concealable, Major
70 Mental Powers: Multipower, 70-point Reaction)
Reserve 20 Hunted: UNTIL 8- (Mo Pow, NCI)
7u Seizing the Mind: Mind Control 12d6 20 Hunted: US Government 8- (Mo Pow,
(Human, Alien) 6 NCI)
7u Burning the Mind: Ego Attack 6d6 10 Physical Limitation: No Opposable
(Human, Alien) 6 Thumbs (Common, Frequently)
7u Deceiving the Mind: Mental Illusion 10 Psychological Limitation: Driven to
12d6 (Human, Alien) 6 Conquer the World (Common, Moderate)
27 Combat Precognition: Danger Sense 15 Psychological Limitation:
14- (Personal, Out of Combat, Any Overconfidence (Common, Strong)
Danger); Flashed as a Mental Sense (-0) 0 15 Psychological Limitation: Vengeful
10 Mental Protection: Mental Defense (Common, Moderate)
(15 total) 0 10 Rivalry: For Leadership with Doctor
10 Tough Hide: Damage Resistance (10 Brutallo
PD/10 ED) 0 20 Vulnerability: 2x STUN and BODY from
10 Bouncy Legs: Running +5” (11” Magic (Uncommon)
Total) 2 115 Experience Points
11 Bouncy Legs: Leaping +6” (10”
Total), Accurate 2 Total Disadvantage Points: 455
Martial Arts: Boxing
Maneuver OCV DCV Notes
4 Block +2 +2 Block, Abort
3 Grab -1 -1 2 Limbs, 40
STR
5 Hook -2 +1 10d6 Strike
5 Jab +1 +3 6d6 Strike
4 Punch 0 +2 8d6 Strike
8 +2 Damage Classes (added in)

58
DIGITAL HERO #15

Atomicus, The Radioactive Man Leonard committed crimes throughout the PLOT SEEDS
southwest for a while, robbing a bank here and
Background: Leonard Carlsen was a smalltime Mutation
stealing a car there. He barely made enough
thug in 1947 – the kind of smalltime thug who Madness: Another
money to survive, and his money was running
made cheap talk but could never get anything villainous scientist
out when Doctor Brutallo found him, asking him
done. He had run out on his family; he couldn’t kidnaps Atomicus in
to front an operation to steal the legendary
trust his friends; and he had stolen three order to mutate his
treasure of the City of Gold from its rightful
thousand dollars of Big Frankie’s money. He minions into
holders. It was better than the life he had, so he
was leaving town to set up a new life somewhere something else by
joined Doctor Brutallo’s Alliance of Evil,
in New Mexico, where Big Frankie and his thugs bathing them in the
becoming Atomicus, the Radioactive Man.
couldn’t find him. radiation field of the
Leonard never did see any of the money,
Regrettably, Leonard also was not Dastardly Villain!
though he knows that Doctor Brutallo holds it in
particularly adept at covering his tracks, and Big Doctor Brutallo tells
a secret location, to mint the currency he will
Frankie’s thugs trailed him into New Mexico, the heroes, in the
need to keep the world running. Leonard figured
always a step behind him. He finally noticed hope that they will
as long as he stuck with Doctor Brutallo, he has
them driving into a small gas station, and hurried track down Atomicus
a bright future in the New World Order.
into the desert, the gunshots cracking behind and save him from an
Such was not to be, however. Leonard and
him, gas slowly leaking from the hole in the tank awful fate.
his compatriots were cornered by the Super Six
as he drove into the sand dunes, heedless of the deep in South Virginia, as Doctor Brutallo was Revenge of the
signs warning of atomic testing. about to activate his Seismotron, and crumble the Radioactive Man:
Leonard chose that moment to look behind country beneath a wave of earthquakes. Leonard Atomicus has
him, as the bullets flew, and one caught the gas was placed in suspended animation with his discovered that Big
tank again just as he vaulted over the edge of a comrades, hopefully never to be freed from Frankie has
tall cliff, the car sailing downward, erupting in a captivity, buried deep in the New Mexico atomic descendants living in
fireball in midair, the bright white light in the testing area that first created him… the heroes’ campaign
distance signaling that some sort of radiation test city, who still have
was being conducted. Big Frankie’s thugs Quote: “Shut yer yap! Yer lookin’ at Atomicus. mafia ties. Atomicus
headed back the way they had come, intending to Dat’s Right, Atomicus! The Radioactive Man! attacks these people,
report that Leonard Carlsen was dead. Now yer gonna Fry!” trying to erase them
But Leonard did not die…. for trying to kill him
Powers/Tactics: Atomicus is a rather powerful over fifty years ago.
Leonard’s body hurtled through the air, dull man without much education. He is a good team
and limp as the radiation suffused his dying The Mafia retaliates,
player because Doctor Brutallo has trained him and the Alliance of
body, filling it with power as his senses slowly to respond tactically to situations. His radiation
returned to consciousness, his eyes filled with Evil retaliates against
field can be shut off if it suddenly presents a the Mafia. All out
stark terror as he commanded his falling body to danger to his own team. Left to his own devices,
stop. It did. Leonard could fly, and he was battles ensue!
he simply blasts away at the weakest opponents
surrounded by a reddish-hot field of blinding he can, trying to cause as much harm with his
energy. He flew down towards the retreating car, radiation powers as possible.
laughing maniacally as he approached the
somewhat quiet men inside. Appearance: Atomicus is the most colorful of
The men turned to look, the driver placing the Alliance of Evil. He wears a bright red
his foot on the accelerator as the laughing, costume with a greenish visor, spiked gauntlets
glowing man closed in on them, wishing they and spiked shoulder epaulets. He has a bright red
could drive faster than he could fly. belt with a shiny “A” etched across it, and the
They had not driven far before Leonard helmet shows most of his jaw and mouth. He
caught up with them…. sports a bright red cape that trails behind him,
down to his knees. There is a large biohazard
symbol on the chest of the red costume, and the
gauntlets and shoulder epaulets, as well as his
boots, are a sickly medium olive color.
Note: This costume is very similar to the
costume on the cover of the first Champions
Rulebook from 1981. This is intentional.

59
 DIGITAL HERO #15

Atomicus, The Radioactive Man

60
DIGITAL HERO #15

Atomicus, The Radioactive Man Skills

8 +1 with All Combat
Val Char Cost Roll Notes 3 +1 with Multipower
20 STR 10 13- Lift 400 kg, 4d6 HTH [2] 6 +2 versus Range Penalties
23 DEX 39 14- OCV: 8/DCV: 8
33 CON 46 16- 3 Animal Handler 13-
15 BODY 10 12- 3 Interrogation 14-
10 INT 0 11- PER Roll: 11- 3 Power (EGO-Based) 12-
15 EGO 10 12- ECV: 5 3 Stealth 14-
20 PRE 10 13- PRE Attack: 4d6 3 Streetwise 13-
12 COM 1 11- 3 Teamwork 14-
Total Powers & Skills Cost: 298
5 PD 1 Total: 20 PD (15 rPD)
19 ED 12 Total: 34 ED (15 rED) Total Cost: 463
5 SPD 17 Phases: 3, 5, 8, 10, 12
14 REC 6 200+ Disadvantages
66 END 0 10 Distinctive Features: Radioactive (Easily
45 STUN 3 Concealable, Major Reaction)
25 Enraged: when Wounded/Takes BODY
Total Characteristics Cost: 165 (Uncommon), go 11-, recover 11-,
Berserk
Movement: Running: 6”/12”
20 Hunted: UNTIL 8- (Mo Pow, NCI)
Flying: 18”/288”
20 Hunted: US Government 8- (Mo Pow,
Swimming: 2”/4”
NCI)
Cost Powers END 15 Psychological Limitation: Overconfident
22 Radioactive Energy: Elemental Control (Common, Strong)
(44-point Powers) 15 Psychological Limitation: Hatred of US
23 1) Force Field: Force Field (15 PD/15 Government (Common, Strong)
ED), Reduced Endurance (0 END, +½) 0 30 Vulnerability: 1½x STUN and BODY
42 2) Flight: Flight 18”, 16x Noncombat From Lead Attacks (Common)
Multiplier, Reduced Endurance (½ 128 Experience Points
END, +¼) 2
53 3) Radioactive Wasting: Drain REC Total Disadvantage Points: 463
and STUN 2d6, Continuous (+1),
Damage Shield (+½), Reduced
Endurance (0 END, +½), Persistent
(+½), Inherent (+¼) 0
75 Radiation: Multipower, 75-point
Reserve
7u 1) Beam: EB 12d6, Reduced
Endurance (½ END, +¼) 3
7u 2) Blast: RKA 4d6, Reduced
Endurance (½ END, +¼) 3
7u 3) Bang: Flash vs Sight and Hearing
Groups 10d6, Reduced Endurance (½
END, +¼) 3
7u 4) Bomb: Drain STUN 3d6, Ranged
(+½), Explosion (-1 DC per 2”, +¾),
Reduced Endurance (½ END, +¼) 3
10 Radioactive Shielding: Power Defense,
10 points 0
10 Radioactive Shielding: Sight Group
Flash Defense, 10 points 0

61
 DIGITAL HERO #15

PLOT SEEDS The Armageddon Mind Quote: “You who stare at my horrifying
Original Concept Geoff Depew appearance, know that it is the will of Doctor
Rallying Point:
Brutallo, the greatest genius ever to walk the
The Armageddon Background: Jacob Cosmovich was a Earth, and future ruler of the world! Now, my
Mind takes over a speechwriter, a pamphleteer trying to save the beauty, you shall reside forever at the side of The
printing press, in an world from Communism in the late 1940s. His Armageddon Mind!”
attempt to replace the writing was not terribly inspirational, and in the
main character of postwar atmosphere, the Russians were still Powers/Tactics: The Armageddon Mind is a
every novel with friends to the United States. Looking for people slow, ponderous engine of destruction. It lumbers
Doctor Brutallo. (The who shared his views of facing down the forward, and tries to destroy anything Doctor
Armageddon Mind is Communist threat, he found very few takers, and Brutallo orders it to, except women, which it tries
not a great planner.) If he fell upon hard times. to capture and collect. Doctor Brutallo has tried to
The Armageddon Using the last of his savings, he put an ad in cure it of this habit, however, everything he has
Mind isn’t stopped, the newspaper, as his last few pamphlets failed to tried has failed. The Armageddon Mind is easily
this leads to novels sell, collecting dust on bookstore shelves, the most powerful member of the Alliance of Evil
like The Secret Affair advertising for a speechwriter. Unfortunately for in a fight, though it often spends lots of time
of Doctor Brutallo Jacob, it was Doctor Brutallo who answered his expounding on why Doctor Brutallo should rule
and self-help books ad. Doctor Brutallo did not need a speechwriter. the world. This irritates Atomicus greatly. Note
like Cooking However, Doctor Brutallo needed a brain. In that the Armageddon Mind does not have any idea
Malaysian With Jacob, he had found the right sort of brain he what to do with the women it collects. Sometimes,
Doctor Brutallo. needed. in the middle of combat, the Armageddon Mind
False Mind: Jacob didn’t make a sound as his body will pause to place one of its Why Doctor Brutallo
Doctor Brutallo sends slumped to the floor, and Brutallo carried him Should Rule The World pamphlets on the body of
The Armageddon from the building where they met. He didn’t make a defeated foe.
Mind on a rampage, a sound on the operating table, as his life slipped Appearance: The Armageddon Mind is a nine-
but when the away from him, his girlfriend, his car, his tiny life. foot tall saucer shaped robot with four extendable
characters get there It all seemed so insignificant now. When Jacob legs, rocket pods, and a central brain surrounded
and fight it, The awoke, he felt strange, different. He tried to look by cameras, floating in a liquid preservation gel.
Armageddon Mind is around, but it felt like he was looking out of a Sliding doors on the rotating saucer reveal various
a pale imitation of its television camera at Doctor Brutallo, a man who weapon ports and long mechanical tentacles,
usual self. Where is was supposed to only exist in comic books. ending in various claw and hand shapes. It is a
the real Armageddon Jacob listened to Doctor Brutallo, for in his highly disturbing creation. If knocked out, the
Mind, and what is new body, at the side of Doctor Brutallo, he creature slumps to the ground, unmoving.
Doctor Brutallo up would fight communism as no one ever had. Attempts to dismantle the Armageddon Mind in
to? Jacob turned to look at himself in the mirror, and the past have proved fruitless, as they would
he was impressed. Whereas, before he had been a clearly kill the brain inside.
weak, scrawny individual, now his brain was
encased in a massive robot body, a titanic metal Campaign Use: In lower-powered campaigns,
saucer with retractable legs and ten tentacle arms. remove The Armageddon Mind’s Damage
Whereas before, he had to struggle to get a Reduction, add 5 points of raw PD and ED, and
girlfriend, now he could simply take any woman reduce the Multipower to 60 Active Points.
he wanted. Jacob decided to test his new abilities, Remove one Combat Skill Level, and remove the
and together, with the rest of the Alliance of Evil, Hardening from its defenses.
they stormed a drive-in theatre and made In higher-powered games, increase the
everyone flee in panic. Jacob was christened The Armageddon Mind’s Damage Reduction to ¾
Armageddon Mind, the newest member of the Resistant to Physical and Energy, and add 10
Alliance of Evil. points of Physical and Resistant Energy Defense.
Jacob worships Doctor Brutallo, for Doctor Doubly Harden its PD and ED, and increase the
Brutallo had taken him away from an unhappy life Multipower to 120 Active Points. Increase the
and made him one of the most powerful SPD of the Armageddon Mind to 6, and its DEX
supervillains on Earth. Clearly, Doctor Brutallo’s to 20. Add 4 more levels with OCV for its main
brilliant mind had made Jacob a better person. weapons systems.
Clearly, Doctor Brutallo was best suited for ruling
the Earth, precisely as he had explained. Clearly,
the brain transplant had driven poor Jacob mad,
for he was Jacob Cosmovich no longer. He was
simply The Armageddon Mind.
The Armageddon Mind was placed in a
suspension chamber somewhere underneath
62 Wyoming, where, the Super Six prayed, no one
would ever discover its whereabouts.
DIGITAL HERO #15

The Armageddon Mind

63
 DIGITAL HERO #15
Skills
The Armageddon Mind 16 +2 with All Combat
Val Char Cost Roll Notes
80 STR 70 25- 1600 tons, 16d6 HTH [8] 3 KS: Why Doctor Brutallo Must Rule
18 DEX 24 13- OCV: 6/DCV: 6(4) the World 11-
30 CON 40 15- 3 Power 11-
15 BODY 4 12- 3 PS: Composer 11-
10 INT 0 11- PER Roll: 11- 3 PS: Musician 11-
15 EGO 10 12- ECV: 5 3 PS: Pamphleteer 11-
25 PRE 15 14- PRE Attack: 5d6 3 Teamwork 13-
4 COM -3 10-
Total Powers & Skills Cost: 330
20 PD 4 Total: 20 PD (20 rPD)
Total Cost: 502
20 ED 12 Total: 20 ED (20 rED)
4 SPD 12 Phases: 3, 6, 9, 12 200+ Disadvantages
22 REC 0 25 Distinctive Feature: Brain in a Robot
60 END 0 Body (Not Concealable, Causes Horror)
60 STUN 5 20 Hunted: UNTIL 8- (Mo Pow, NCI)
20 Hunted: US Government 8- (Mo Pow,
Total Characteristics Cost: 172 NCI)
Movement: Running: 20”/40”
Flying: 20”/640” Physical Limitation: Large (16x Mass, -2
Leaping: 12”/24” DCV, -4” Leap)
Swimming: 2”/4”
Cost Powers END 15 Psychological Limitation: Covets Women
75 Weapons Systems: Multipower (75- and Collects Them (Common, Strong)
point Reserve) 20 Psychological Limitation: Loyal to
7u 1) Armageddon Missiles: RKA 5d6, 4 Doctor Brutallo (Common, Total)
Charges (-1) [4] 15 Psychological Limitation:
7u 2) Protonic Ray: EB 12d6, Reduced Overconfidence in Doctor Brutallo
Endurance (½ END, +¼) 3 (Common, Strong)
5u 3) Mindwave Ray: EGO Attack 3d6, 30 Vulnerability: 1½x STUN and BODY
Explosion (-1 DC per 3”, +1), Reduced from Electricity (Common)
Endurance (½ END, +¼); Based On 211 Experience Points
DEX (-½) 3
7u 4) Sonic Ray: EB 6d6, NND (Defense
is Hard Ear Coverings or Hearing Flash
Defense, +1), Reduced Endurance (0
END, +½) 0
5u 5) Synth-Gel of Doctor Brutallo:
Entangle, 8 DEF, 4d6 BODY; 8
Charges (-½) [8]
60 Robotic Body: 50% Damage
Reduction, Physical and Energy,
Resistant 0
25 Robotic Body: Damage Resistance, 20
PD, 20 ED, Hardened (+¼) 0
10 Robotic Body: Hardened PD and ED 0
10 Robotic Body: Mental Defense, 13
points 0
10 Robotic Weight: Knockback
Resistance -5” 0
60 Rocket Pods: Flight 20”, 32x
Noncombat Multiplier 4
28 Robot Legs: Running +14” (20” Total) 4
5 Robot Limbs: Extra Limbs (Up to 14,
10 Arms, 4 Legs) 0

64