Mad Scientist

Did you want a Perception roll again? I didn't want to post any sort of result, as I'm not sure yet how extensively you're planning on taking this cotangent, :)

Given his cue, Wildcat made a similarly dramatic entrance, dropping into the middle of the parking lot in a crouch -- it's raining heroes, hallelujah! -- nearby some of the discarded bottles currently disgorging their contents onto the dirty tarmac. His sudden appearance amongst the crowd prompted a few startled cries and a general drawing-back of the gathering, like a drop of dish soap introduced into greasy water. Prompted, not in the least, by the fact that nobody knew just who this was. Not immediately drawing himself up to his feet, Wildcat took a moment to sniff at the drinks that had been spilled nearby. If, indeed, the entire supply of this 'MAUL' had been tainted, there would very likely be a large medical emergency in short order. But...he wasn't so sure that would be the case -- if so, shouldn't there be a lot more sick people here and now, or scattered about? There wasn't just eight or ten people involved, but anyone who happened to be passing by and was willing to accept a free drink. If it was anyone who had put any of this stuff into their system, there was going to be a lot of people who needed some immediate help, and that was a prospect he found...daunting. He was no sort of doctor, he was well aware of that....

In all the years I've played MnM, nobody has pointed out to me that Comprehend: Languages at 1 rank is an either/or for speaking and comprehending languages, not a 'speak any one at a time, and understand many at once' effect. I'll know that going forward, and added another rank of Comprehend and clarified what each rank is for. Half Effect was to just be on the Starvation and Thirst, but if half-PPs aren't allowed I'm just axing it altogether -- it was more for flavour than anything else. Plus, I need to help pay for another rank of Comprehend. Enhanced Skill ranks were subsequently also brought into full PP lines, and learned skills adjusted to maintain desired results. Redid the math, points should all work out. And thanks for alphabetizing powers listed -- I'll keep that in mind for future endeavours.

Eileen clapped a hand to her mouth, her eyes wide. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, speaking loudly and slowly. "I didn't know you were deaf!" Why would they give her a deaf roommate? She would have to learn sign language immediately! Giving a bit of a flustered look to the others, she forged on gamely. "We don't know each other. But I was told my roommate, Vickie, was arriving today," she explained loudly. "I'm just new here too -- my name is Eileen," she introduced herself, gesturing emphatically to indicate that 'Eileen' meant herself. Yes, she would definitely have to learn sign language....

Reputation 20Q Active Threads: April Showers Bring... A Welcome Lunch Southern Hospitality 2: Freedom City Sirens The Ashes of This World Voice of the People Closed Threads: Buddies a-Brewing

Eileen had been at Claremont Academy for a grand total of a day and a half, and had thus as of yet avoided falling into the trap of thinking that she knew what was what with the goings on of the school. It was hard to forget, after all, when one got lost on average of about every forty minutes or so. She had been told, however, that her roommate was scheduled to arrive today, and so she had been popping by the front gates whenever she had a spare moment, hoping to run across her fellow newcomer on her way in. And.... Hey, was that her? Slipping out through the gates, the curvy blonde gave everyone assembled a little wave. "Hey, everybody," she said, flashing a quick smile but keeping the majority of her attention upon the new girl. "Sorry, but -- are you Vickie?" she asked enthusiastically.

Hmmmmm. I composed a message doing just that via my phone, but the mobile format wouldn't allow me to post it....

And Cerulean has arrived! I don't know if it'd be better to pair new transfers with established students as roommates, or to put two newbies together -- thoughts?

CERULEAN Gather Information DC 10: Cerulean is newly arrived to Freedom City, but seems to be pitching in in classic heroic fashion. DC 15: Her powers are magical in nature, and she seems to focus on ranged combat. DC 20: It is nearly impossible to fool Cerulean -- she sees right through it. Knowledge: Arcane DC 15: Cerulean’s powers have a distinct mystical flavour to them – there is magic at work here. DC 25: You’ve discovered something Cerulean herself doesn’t know about her powers! Let me know what it is. Knowledge: Current Events DC 10: A new heroine calling herself Cerulean has appeared in Freedom City, flying about and unleashing blue bolts of energy in an enthusiastic fashion. EILEEN LABATT Gather Information (Claremont students and faculty receive a +10 bonus to these checks) DC 10: Is a student registered at Claremont, living in the dorms. DC 15: Born and raised in Boston, Mass, mother Kelly Labatt, older sister Bonnie Labatt, father John Labatt (Deceased) DC 25: Eileen is the new heroine, Cerulean. Knowledge: Arcane DC 15: The tattoos on the insides of her wrists have mystical significance. DC 30: You’ve discovered something Eileen herself doesn’t know about her tattoos! Let me know what it is.

Toughness Save DC 18: 1d20+5 6 ...okay, that cannot stand. Spending my HP for a reroll. Toughness Save DC 18, HP Reroll: 1d20+5 16 ...aaaand minimum possible HP reroll result. Orokos has it in for me. :D Result: Bruised.

Well...considering everything that's going on, that entirely understandable. I'm still interested, so thanks. :)

I'm wondering if maybe I shouldn't look at doing a different submission -- this one doesn't seem to be thrilling anyone.

Player Name: Mad Scientist Character Name: Hūhunu Power Level: (10) (150/155PP) Trade-Offs: None Unspent Power Points: 5 In Brief: Elite soldier trained in reconnaissance, armed with advanced armour and weaponry. Alternate Identity: Tamahine Identity: n/a Birthplace: Ipukarea Occupation: Marine Affiliations: Praetorians Family: Long deceased. Description: Age: 24 (DOB: over 2,000 years ago) Gender: Hermaphroditic Height: 4'3" Weight: 149lb Eyes: Orange Hair: None Tamahine, like all of the Ipukar, possesses a relatively short, squat build. Not possessing the dead protein strands of mammals, his hide is smooth, mottled between hues of burnt orange to russet brown. Her eyes are a slit-pupiled orange of a lighter shade than his skin, and the flaps running along his nasal ridge reveal a shockingly bright coral colour on their interior when they open. Bipedal and bilaterally symmetrical, each foot is long and slender, and possesses six toes. Her hands have four broad, blunt fingers, used for applications of strength, and tucked away to protect them are two long, much more delicate digits that can be used for finer manipulation. When wearing his Hūhunu (his native Rarotongan for 'recon') armour, she presents a blank-masked face to the galaxy. A stylized mottling of colour that mimics the natural camouflage of his skin, a pattern than blends well with her home world of Ipukarea, it can employ an aversion field that makes it difficult to notice even when not concealed within the environment. Advanced Phase Tech allows the storage and retrieval of gear, including the dark, snub-nosed energy carbine favoured by the now-extinct Ipukar marine corp. Power Descriptions: While not possessing any intrinsic powers in the greater sense, Tamahine has assigned to him the Phase Tech Marine Recon armour and Variable EM Marine Carbine of the Ipukarean Marine Corps. This technology is sufficiently advanced to have allowed an entire platoon of the Corps’ Recon Companies to be requested by, and assigned to, the Praetorian Guard. The Phase Tech of the armour allows for the majority of the tech to be stored away in a perpendicular dimension when not in use, anchored by a forearm-clasping control unit. When the Phase Tech is employed, it exhibits an eye-bending distortion in the air as the remained of the armour is called out into realspace. This distortion effect is likewise exhibited when storing away equipment or bypassing solid matter. The majority of the armour’s tech displays little in the way of discernible effects, a crucial element to a recon unit. Communications are dampened, and even the armour’s very physical presence can be made to become…obscure, allowing the Marine to evade detection even when out in the open. The EM carbine can be set to emit up and down the electromagnetic spectrum, fine-tuning often allowing for a particular defense to be overcome through creative frequency use. With pulse and long-range sniper settings, as well as a short range bioneural stunner and a five-round fission grenade launcher – by far the most violent and overtly destructive of the Marine’s arsenal – it can handle a wide variety of situations. History: Tamahine was a highly-trained, young noncom Marine who had been given the great honour of serving with the rest of Ipukar’s contributed force to the Praetorian Guard. This honour nearly killed him when the insidious might of the Communion was turned back only at the great personal cost of a large fraction of the Praetorians. One of the few – possibly the only one – of the Recon platoon remaining, she was collected with the rest when the Caretaker took an interest in them, and sunk deeply into cryogenic storage – a nightmare for the tropical-loving Ipukar, and one that took him a long time to recover from. Personality & Motivation: Tamahine is young and enthusiastic, but capable of showing sharp focus that is a hallmark of the intense training the Ipukar Marine Corps puts its privates through. She is, understandably, shaken by the realization that not only were the majority of his Praetorian colleagues wiped out, but thousands of years have passed and the galaxy has moved on. The return of the Communion is a grim reminder that it all can be lost all over again, and she is determined not to let such a pyrrhic victory occur again, if he can at all manage it. Powers & Tactics: The Hūhunu are all about subtlety, avoidance, and distraction, and tend to only fight fair when forced into a corner and left with no other options. The use of the armour’s matter phasing to pass through objects, the gravity leveller’s ability to reorient personal gravity to any object with more mass than the wearer, and the perception filter that makes it difficult to see the marine even when directly observing the wearer – these things combined allows for an excellent opportunity to come at opponents at unexpected times from unexpected directions. The carbine’s long range sniping capability also allows for unexpected, precise attacks; should it become necessary, however, it is also useful as a full infantry support weapon. Complications: If All You Have Is A Hammer: Military trained and with military hardware, Tamahine’s reflexive responses are usually military in nature. Which is fine if dropped into the middle of a firefight, but less so if helping a kid with his bullying problem, or intervening with a drunk townie at the local bar. It’s Everyone Else Who’s Weird: The Ipukar are a hermaphroditic species, with each individual possessing both of the sexual traits that others consider ‘male’ and ‘female’, and their mating process is a more complex procedure than that of many others. As a result, they have a difficult time wrapping their heads around a galaxy full of ‘half species’, and often will confuse pronouns and traditional gender roles, at times unfortunately in what could be considered an unintentionally insulting manner by some. What Are My Orders? While recon units are trained to be independent in the field, they nonetheless have had instilled in them a strong tendency to obey the orders of a superior, and when a situation arises that requires more complicated judgment a strong desire for someone to tell them what to do manifests. Barring useful input, there is a tendency to default to Hammer, above. Abilities: 2 + 10 + 4 + 4 + 0 - 2 = 18PP Strength: 12 (+1) Dexterity: 20 (+5) Constitution: 14 (+2) Intelligence: 14 (+2) Wisdom: 10 (+0) Charisma: 8 (-1) Combat: 12 + 12 = 24PP Initiative: +9 Attack: +6 Melee, +8 Ranged Grapple: +10 Defense: +10 (+6 Base, +4 Dodge Focus), +3 Flat-Footed Knockback: +5 Saving Throws: 7 + 7 + 7 = 21PP Toughness: +10 (+2 Con, +6 Protection (Armour), +2 Defensive Roll) Fortitude: +9 (+2 Con, +7) Reflex: +12 (+5 Dex, +7) Will: +7 (+0 Wis, +7) Skills: 72R = 18PP (* = Skill Mastery) *Acrobatics - 10 (+15) Computers - 4[8] (+6[+10]) *Disable Device - 9[13] (+11[+15]) Investigate - 2 (+4) Knowledge: Galactic Lore - 2 (+4) Knowledge: History - 1 (+3) Knowledge: Tactics - 4 (+6) Knowledge: Technology - 4 (+6) Language - 2 (Rarotongan (native), Delaztri, Galstandard) Notice - 10 (+10) Pilot - 4 (+9) *Search - 8 (+10) *Stealth - 8 (+13) Survival - 4 (+4) Feats: 8PP Attack Focus: Ranged [2] Dodge Focus [4] Defensive Roll [1] Skill Mastery [1] (Acrobatics, Disable Device, Search, Stealth) Powers: 48 + 1 + 16 = 65PP Device 12 (Marine Recon Armour; 60PP Container; Flaw: Hard to Lose) [48PP] Communication 6 (Radio; Feats: Subtle; [Range: 20 miles]) [7PP] Comprehend 4 (Languages [Spoken, Singly], Languages [Understood], Languages [Written], Codes, Flaws: Duration: Sustained) [4PP] Datalink 1 [1PP] Dimensional Pocket 1 (Phase Tech; Flaws: Grapple Required) [1PP] Enhanced Feat 6 (Environmental Adaptation (Zero Gravity, Low Gravity, High Gravity), Hide in Plain Sight, Improvised Tools, Improved Initiative) [6PP] Enhanced Skills 8 (Computers +4, Disable Device +4) [2PP] Feature (Video Camera) [1PP] Immunity 9 (Life Support) [9PP] Protection 6 [6PP] Speed 2 (250’ per move action, 25mph) [2PP] Super Movement: (Wall Crawling 3) (Gravity Leveller) [6PP] Super Movement: (Permeate 1) (Phase Tech) [2PP] Super Senses: (Extended Hearing, Extended Vision, Direction Sense, Distance Sense, Infravision, Microscopic Vision, Time Sense) 7 [7PP] Super Strength 3 (Heavy Load: 1/2 ton) [6PP] Device 5 (Marine Carbine; Easy to take away; Feats: Accurate) [16PP] Weapons Array (21PP, Feats: Alternate Power 4) [25PP]BP: Blast 10 (Variable Focused EM Blast; Feats: Variable (EM) [1]) {21/21} AP: Blast 10 (Sniper Beam, Extras: Penetrating [4]; Flaws: Action (Full Round); Feats: Progression [2], Improved Range [3], Subtle [2]) {21/21} AP: Blast 7 (Burst Fire, Extras: Autofire) {21/21} AP: Blast 9 (Fission Charge, Extras: Area: Cloud, Penetrating [3]; Flaws: Unreliable (5 Uses); Feats: Incurable; Drawbacks: Full Power) {21/21} AP: Stun 8 (Bioneural Discharge. Feats: Extended Reach 4, Subtle) {21/21}Feature: Iron Stomach (Racial Trait) [1PP] Drawbacks: -4 = -4PP Vulnerability (Cold Effects. Frequency: Common; Intensity: Moderate) [-3PP] Disability (Racial Trait: No sense of taste or smell. Frequency: Uncommon; Intensity: Minor) [-1PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC16 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Variable Beam Ranged DC25 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Energy) Sniper Beam Ranged DC25 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Energy) Burst Fire Ranged DC22 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Energy) Fission Charge Ranged DC24 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Energy) Bioneural Disch. 20' DC18 Fortitude (Lasting) Stun Totals: Abilities (18) + Combat (24) + Saving Throws (21) + Skills (18) + Feats (8) + Powers (65) - Drawbacks (4) = 150/155 Power Points

Wildcat's keen senses had no trouble picking out details as he perched on the rooftop, surveying the situation and getting his breath back. This was, possibly, the most manageable of immediate scenarios -- there wasn't going to be fight to keep them from continuing to try and force samples on people or anything. "If those kids have any idea what's really going on, I'll be shocked," he muttered to Jill. "They're clearly short-term hires to hand out promotional drink samples." He'd never done that kind of job himself, but it wasn't an uncommon thing. He glanced over at the super-powered health care professional. "You wanna take point on this?" he inquired. "People around here know who you are, they'll probably listen better to you than just some random guy who comes jumping in out of nowhere." He wasn't able to keep all of the disgruntlement out of his voice, but he did keep it to a minimum. He didn't have to like the fact that he was pretty much a nobody, but that didn't mean he had to be a total dick about it, either. He'd have his day, soon enough.

That's it exactly -- you can take 10 to attack minions, they're not supposed to be serious opponents.

Wildcat wasn't entirely enthused at how she referred to his neighbourhood as 'her territiory', but he decided it was something they could hash out later if it became necessary. "Either way, they're going to pay," he agreed grimly. If it was a screw-up, the lawyers would have a field day; if it was deliberate, then things would get a little more low-brow. "I'm thinking it's no accident, though," he told her as he loped along easily at her foot pace. "This stuff doesn't smell a little 'off' -- it's vile," he told her with a an expression of disgust. He honestly didn't know how a normal nose didn't detect it -- or was it that people expected their energy drinks to be nasty, a Buckley's Effect? "Come on," he told her, abruptly wanting to make sure that nobody else got taken down by this crap. Picking up speed, he bounded for the rooftops, counting on her to be right with him.

I'm in the process of creating the Ipukar, a hermaphroditic tropical-dwelling species that lack olfactory senses but can digest anything organic that's not actively toxic.

Revised 'Normal Identity' to a vulnerability to cold effects, and shifted some points back out of the armour to the marine. Fun fact -- now that Normal ID is removed, the entire armour can be stored via Phase Tech in a forearm bracer, to be donned in a flash at need.

Anyone have any more input? :)

I'm just wondering if greater mobility or melee capability might be an avenue to explore. I'm not sure what might work best, for Praetorian scale of things.

Shifted some more points over to the armour, that should be about half, now.

That's definitely a positive thing, being able to play with a few extra points; however, getting enough shifted over without losing the credibility that he's a highly trained soldier as well as a bundle of techie toys is harder. I'll get her sorted out, though.

Huh -- it never even occurred to me that I wouldn't have at least half of his points set up into the Heroic Identity -- I'll have to look at shifting some more over, I guess. Otherwise: The carbine has a rank of Accuracy on it, bringing ranged attacks with it to +10. For Sniper Beam, yes the progression increases max range, max range and range increments now listed. For some reason I listed 5pts in feats on the final totals, rather than 9 ranks amongst 5 feats. Fixed, totals are 150PP.

Well, that clearly hadn't been his most fruitful idea to date -- but then again, all this computer and web searching stuff wasn't really his thing. It had just...seemed like a good idea, at the time. "Green Elm Strip Mall, right," he agreed, checking location on the map and taking a few moments to orient himself by landmark like he'd been taught not so very long ago. "I'll let you know if anything comes up about the scent," the cat-masked hero agreed, tucking his phone away again. He hesitated half a moment, then figured he should probably get things clarified before they ran across anything important. "So...if we do find whoever's doing this, what's the plan?" he asked. He was entirely game for getting physical if necessary, but Jill was some sort of healer, wasn't she? She might have other ideas, and he didn't want to piss her off by doing something she might find...objectionable.

Player Name: Mad Scientist Character Name: Hūhunu Power Level: (10) (150/150PP) Trade-Offs: None Unspent Power Points: 0 Progress To Bronze Status: 0/30 In Brief: Elite soldier trained in reconnaissance, armed with advanced armour and weaponry. Alternate Identity: Tamahine Identity: n/a Birthplace: Ipukarea Occupation: Marine Affiliations: Praetorians Family: Long deceased. Description: Age: 24 (DOB: over 2,000 years ago) Gender: Hermaphroditic Height: 4'3" Weight: 149lb Eyes: Orange Hair: None Tamahine, like all of the Ipukar, possesses a relatively short, squat build. Not possessing the dead protein strands of mammals, his hide is smooth, mottled between hues of burnt orange to russet brown. Her eyes are a slit-pupiled orange of a lighter shade than his skin, and the flaps running along his nasal ridge reveal a shockingly bright coral colour on their interior when they open. Bipedal and bilaterally symmetrical, each foot is long and slender, and possesses six toes. Her hands have four broad, blunt fingers, used for applications of strength, and tucked away to protect them are two long, much more delicate digits that can be used for finer manipulation. When wearing his Hūhunu (his native Rarotongan for 'recon') armour, she presents a blank-masked face to the galaxy. A stylized mottling of colour that mimics the natural camouflage of his skin, a pattern than blends well with her home world of Ipukarea, it can employ an aversion field that makes it difficult to notice even when not concealed within the environment. Advanced Phase Tech allows the storage and retrieval of gear, including the dark, snub-nosed energy carbine favoured by the now-extinct Ipukar marine corp. Power Descriptions: History: Personality & Motivation: Powers & Tactics: Complications: Abilities: 2 + 10 + 4 + 4 + 0 - 2 = 18PP Strength: 12 (+1) Dexterity: 20 (+5) Constitution: 14 (+2) Intelligence: 14 (+2) Wisdom: 10 (+0) Charisma: 8 (-1) Combat: 12 + 12 = 24PP Initiative: +9 Attack: +6 Melee, +8 Ranged Grapple: +10 Defense: +10 (+6 Base, +4 Dodge Focus), +3 Flat-Footed Knockback: +5 Saving Throws: 7 + 7 + 7 = 21PP Toughness: +10 (+2 Con, +6 Protection (Armour), +2 Defensive Roll) Fortitude: +7 (+2 Con, +7) Reflex: +12 (+5 Dex, +7) Will: +7 (+0 Wis, +7) Skills: 72R = 18PP (* = Skill Mastery) *Acrobatics - 10 (+15) Computers - 3[8] (+5[+10]) *Disable Device - 8[13] (+10[+15]) Investigate - 4 (+6) Knowledge: Tactics - 4 (+6) Knowledge: Technology - 4 (+6) Knowledge: Galactic Lore - 2 (+4) Knowledge: History - 1 (+3) Language - 2 (Rarotongan (native), Delaztri, Galstandard) Notice - 10 (+10) Pilot - 4 (+9) *Search - 8 (+10) *Stealth - 8 (+13) Survival - 4 (+4) Feats: 8PP Attack Focus: Ranged [2] Dodge Focus [4] Defensive Roll [1] Skill Mastery: Acrobatics, Disable Device, Search, Stealth Powers: 1 + 48 + 16 = 65PP Feature: Iron Stomach (Racial Trait) [1PP] Device 12 (Marine Recon Armour; Difficult to take away) [60PP] Protection 6 [8PP]Immunity (Life Support; Starvation & Thirst (Limited: Half Effect)) [9.5PP] Super Movement: (Wall Crawling) 3 (Gravity Leveller) [6PP] Super Movement: (Permeate) 1 (Phase Tech) [2PP] Super Senses: (Extended Hearing, Extended Vision, Direction Sense, Distance Sense, Infravision, Microscopic Vision, Time Sense) 7 [7PP] Feature: (Video Camera) [1PP] Communication 6 (Radio; Feats: Subtle) [7PP] Datalink 1 [1PP] Speed 2 (250’ per move action, 25mph) [2PP] Comprehend 3 (Languages, Written, Codes, Flaws: Duration: Sustained) [3PP] Dimensional Pocket 1 (Phase Tech; Flaws: Grapple Required) [1PP] Super Strength 3 [6PP] Enhanced Feat 6 (Environmental Adaptation (Zero Gravity, Low Gravity, High Gravity), Hide in Plain Sight, Improvised Tools, Improved Initiative) [6PP] Enhanced Skills 10 (Computers +5, Disable Device +5) [2.5PP] Device 5 (Marine Carbine; Easy to take away; Feats: Accurate) [16PP] Weapons Array (21PP, Feats: Alternate Power 4) [25PP] DBP: Blast 10 (Variable Focused EM Blast; Feats: Variable (EM) [1]) {21/21}AP: Blast 10 (Sniper Beam, Extras: Penetrating [4]; Flaws: Action (Full Round); Feats: Progression [2], Improved Range [3], Subtle [2]) {21/21} (Max Range: 5,000'; Range Increment: 1,000') AP: Blast 7 (Burst Fire, Extras: Autofire) {21/21} AP: Blast 9 (Fission Charge, Extras: Area: Cloud, Penetrating [3]; Flaws: Unreliable (5 uses); Feats: Incurable; Drawbacks: Full Power) {21/21} AP: Stun 8 (Bioneural Discharge. Feats: Extended Reach 4, Subtle) {21/21} Drawbacks: -4 = -4PP Vulnerability (Cold Effects. Frequency: Common; Intensity: Moderate) [-3PP] Disability (Racial Trait: No sense of taste or smell. Frequency: Uncommon; Intensity: Minor) [-1PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC16 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Variable Beam Ranged DC25 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Energy) Sniper Beam Ranged DC25 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Energy) Burst Fire Ranged DC22 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Energy) Fission Charge Ranged DC24 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Energy) Bioneural Disch. 20’ DC18 Fortitude (Lasting) Stun Totals: Abilities (18) + Combat (24) + Saving Throws (21) + Skills (18) + Feats (8) + Powers (65) - Drawbacks (4) = 150/150 Power Points